In the Three Kingdoms period, the opening scene features the killing of Huang Gai, shocking Zhou Yu!

In fact, Chenggu is very close to Nanzheng, only about 30 li away.

Even if the road is rugged and has many sharp turns, it's only fifty li at most. If you travel by horse-drawn carriage overnight, you'll arrive in no time.

Returning to Cao Cao,

Cao Cao has been quite annoyed these past few days.

Perhaps it's because I'm getting older, but I'm thinking more about things now.

Perhaps influenced by Zhao Yu, he now values ​​the lives of his soldiers far more than before.

They would rather spend more money than suffer excessive casualties among their soldiers.

That's not quite right. It's mainly because we're rich and powerful now—why risk human lives when we can settle things with money?

For this attack on Chenggu, he specifically sent Zhao Yu and Xiahou Dun.

Although victory is a foregone conclusion, too many soldiers and civilians would be lost, and it would be painful to see either side suffer.

Noon the next day.

The Prefectural Office of Nanzheng.

"Report—!!!"

The messenger arrived, covered in snow and with a face full of spring-like joy.

"Reporting to the Prime Minister! A great victory has been achieved at Chenggu! General Yuanrang and Mr. Zhao have quelled Yang Song's rebellion and taken control of the entire city! They have seized 300,000 shi of embezzled grain! The value of money and other valuables is still being tallied."

"good!"

"What about casualties? Did that bastard Yang Song put up a desperate fight?"

The messenger swallowed hard, his expression growing increasingly strange.

"Reporting to the Prime Minister, our army... suffered zero casualties."

It was Mr. Zhao who split open the city gate from the inside to welcome the general into the city.

As for Yang Song…”

Oh dear, Cao Cao couldn't stand it anymore. He was so slow and hesitant in his speech, like a wronged little wife.

Too lazy to waste words, he simply stepped forward, snatched the bamboo slip, and quickly scanned it.

Upon closer inspection, the contents of the battle report were indeed somewhat abstract, which explained why the messenger stammered and couldn't utter a coherent sentence.

"Zhao Yu/Yang Xiu played tricks last night, causing a mutiny among the enemy's troops and civilians."

As night fell, Zhao Yu, wielding a knife, forcefully cleaved open the century-old elm wood door bolt, and the city gate swung open.

"The traitor Yang Song tried to escape through a dog hole, but dropped a gold ingot and was exposed, and was trampled by the mob."

During this time, Zhao Yu's wife, Sun, inflicted three "kicks that would cut off a child's offspring" on the thief. The thief's genitals were completely shattered, and he was half-dead. He has now been taken into custody and will be paraded through the streets and hung on the city gate tomorrow...

Chopping a century-old elm wood door latch with force, that's not so bad.

After all, he and Zhao Yu were fighting fiercely at Chibi, so it's not surprising that he has such strength.

When did Sun Shangxiang sneak into the army?

How could a woman do such a thing?

There was a long silence.

He sat back down in his chair and casually handed the battle report to Liu Ye, who was sitting next to him.

"Ziyang, what's wrong with Zhao Yu? Sun Shangxiang has only been married to him for a short time, how come she's already learned such things from him? What if he corrupts Jie'er too?"

Liu Ye opened his mouth, unsure whether to utter a curse word:

Prime Minister, you're meddling way too much! You're asking me about your son-in-law's private affairs? How am I supposed to know?

But on the surface, Liu Ye still had to force a smile:

"Prime Minister, General Zhao's actions were indeed beyond expectations. But as the saying goes, results matter. Without General Zhao, the battle of Hanzhong would not have been so easy."

"Yes, that makes sense."

Cao Cao nodded in agreement.

I picked up my teacup, wanting to take a sip to soothe my throat, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw that the messenger hadn't gone down yet.

I'm a little confused.

To the messenger,

"What? Is there something else?"

The messenger approached mysteriously:

"My lord, the two generals have another secret letter, which they say can only be viewed by the lord himself."

"Oh? Another person is watching? What's wrong with watching this? Just bring it up."

turn on.

"This letter is personally addressed to the Prime Minister, Xiahou Dun, and Zhao Yu:"

Your servant and General Zhao were very anxious when we heard that the Prime Minister had been working hard day and night and that his headaches were showing signs of flaring up.

Just then, they found more than a dozen "peerless medicines" at Yang Song's residence, which were most effective in relieving fatigue, calming the mind, and relaxing muscles and bones.

Not daring to keep it for themselves, they ordered people to lay out soft cushions and load it onto a cart overnight to be sent to Nanzheng.

I urge the Prime Minister to take care of himself and not refuse this offer!

Cao Cao blinked. Wasn't Yuan Rang always in charge of logistics? This time, he was only given the position to gain military merit.

When did you start learning Traditional Chinese Medicine?

A good medicine?

They even laid out soft mats? And they're loading it onto the truck overnight?

Is it gold or silver? Is it really necessary to go into such detail?

Just as he was wondering, the messenger below finally couldn't hold back his laughter and whispered a reminder:

"Prime Minister, the 'good medicine' sent by General Xiahou is waiting outside the tent right now."

Cao Cao walked out of the prefect's residence with suspicion.

Outside the gate, in the open space, three extremely large carriages stood quietly.

The outside of the carriage was covered with high-quality Shu brocade (since it was embezzled by Yang Song, he didn't care how much he used it).

Even the wheels were covered with soft cloth, clearly to prevent the "treasure" inside from being jostled.

Cao Cao strode forward, and as soon as he got close, a tantalizing scent of rouge wafted into his nostrils.

Cao Cao's heart skipped a beat, and as if possessed, he reached out and lifted the curtain of the middle carriage—

Hey!

Seated upright were Yang Song's left and right bodyguards, along with his two most beautiful concubines.

In particular, the exotic Hu woman's necklace really struck Cao Cao.

This is quite shocking; Cao Cao had never seen anything like this before.

You scoundrel Yang Song! Not only did you embezzle and accept bribes, but you also spent your money like this in private!

"Prime Minister!"

Then a sweet, delicate voice called out.

The one who spoke was the slender woman from Yangzhou. After a night of fright, this girl was the first to realize that now that Yang Song had fallen from power, in this chaotic world, following Cao Cao was far more promising than following any other Tom, Dick, or Harry!

The moment she opened her mouth, her hesitant, pitiful expression was incredibly sweet.

Zhang Lu was a lawless figure, and Yang Song was a corrupt official. It could be said that the entire Hanzhong region was his backyard. How could his judgment be bad?

I'm a little confused.

"Snapped!"

He suddenly flung the carriage curtain down.

Looking back at the gate of the mansion, the generals and strategists who had followed him out to watch the commotion all seemed to have seen nothing.

"Cough cough! Cough cough cough!"

He tried his best to suppress the wildly wide grin that was about to reach his ears, and when he turned to face the crowd, his expression had changed to one of utter disappointment:

"Absurd! This is utter nonsense!"

"I am a commander who leads troops into battle. What do these two scoundrels, Yuan Rang and Zhao Yu, take me for? Do you think I am the kind of womanizer who indulges in wine and women and seeks pleasure?"

While Cao Cao was vehemently rebuking the carriage, he kept glancing towards it out of the corner of his eye, maintaining an air of righteous indignation.

"Now that Hanzhong has just been pacified, everything is in need of rebuilding! The great Han dynasty is still in dire straits, and they actually send...send these things here!"

This is undermining my military discipline!

Those around him said, "Prime Minister, if you could tone down that smile, your words would be more believable."

And so, the scolding went on for the full time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Cao Cao, having exhausted his tirade, or perhaps having accomplished his pretense, shook his head and smoothly plopped down in the carriage whose curtain he had just lifted.

"However... this is a chaotic situation."

These dozen or so weak women were already pitiful to be taken advantage of by beasts like Yang Song.

Now that Yang Song has been brought to justice, if they are left to wander the streets, they will likely not live more than three days because they are Yang Song's widows.

Alas! In my entire life, I have only practiced benevolence and righteousness, and I cannot bear to see the people of the world suffer...

Cao Cao turned his head and looked at Xu Chu beside him.

"Alright, Zhongkang, pass on my orders. I will take the widow from the middle car. As for the rest of you, each of you will take one. If I find out that any of you have mistreated them, you will be dealt with according to military law."

"what?"

It was Xu Chu who spoke.

"If you give it to us too, my wife will kill me."

"Yes, Prime Minister, this is absolutely unacceptable, a truly terrible thing to do!"

Several generals who were afraid of their wives quickly stepped forward, wiping away cold sweat, and refused.

Cao Cao's eyes widened: "Huh?"

"If you don't want to take them as concubines, that's fine. They can become maids and receive a monthly salary from the Prime Minister's residence. No further objections are allowed."

With things already said to this extent, the generals and strategists had no choice but to accept this unexpected windfall, and no one dared to utter a word of objection.

Cao Cao nodded in satisfaction and drove his carriage into the prefect's residence.

When they reached the door, the messenger was still there.

He stopped the carriage and solemnly instructed the messenger who had just brought the message:

"Whoa—!"

"Go back and tell Xiahou Dun and Zhao Yu. They have done a great service this time, and I have recorded their merits in the merit book!"

As for this group of "female accomplices of the traitors in Hanzhong"... it's a matter of great importance, and I have reluctantly taken over their care.

Tonight, I will personally conduct a thorough "interrogation" of their crimes!

Let them fight well on the front lines; I'll take care of things at home!