Three Kingdoms: Zhang Fei was sent flying by a single spear thrust, leaving Liu Bei stunned.

When Cao Cao heard the scouts' report, he was discussing the next marching route with his strategist Xi Zhicai.

"Report—My lord! General Cao Hong has decisively defeated the Yellow Turban rebels!"

"Oh?" Cao Cao raised an eyebrow; this was within his expectations. Although Cao Hong was a bit simple-minded, he was more than capable of dealing with a group of bandits.

"What is the situation? How many casualties have we suffered?"

The scout's face still bore the marks of lingering excitement and shock.

"Our casualties were less than a hundred! The Yellow Turban rebels numbered two to three thousand, and they were... routed! Their leader was killed on the spot!"

"Hmm?" Cao Cao was genuinely surprised this time. To defeat an enemy several times their size with fewer than a hundred casualties was no ordinary victory; it was a great triumph.

"Zilian (Cao Hong's courtesy name) played very well. How did he manage that?"

The scout swallowed hard, his voice trembling.

"It's...it's Zhang Ziqian...Zhang Zhuangshi!"

"He charged into the enemy ranks all by himself, and with one move... just one move, he... stunned thousands of Yellow Turban rebels!"

"Then, with a casual toss, the bandit leader was pinned to the flagpole!"

The scout spoke incoherently, but the fervor and adoration in his eyes were undeniable.

Cao Cao and Xi Zhicai exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

One person, quelling thousands of rebel soldiers?

What does this mean?

Xi Zhicai's expression turned serious.

"My lord, this man... his martial prowess is beyond that of ordinary people. If he cannot sincerely submit to us, he may become a great threat."

Cao Cao fell silent. He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, making a soft, rhythmic sound.

After a while, he smiled.

"Zhicai, tell me, what kind of knife can be considered a treasured knife?"

Xi Zhicai was taken aback, not understanding why Cao Cao had asked such a question.

"Naturally, it is an incomparably sharp sword, capable of cutting through iron like mud."

"Wouldn't such a precious sword easily injure the wielder's hand?" Cao Cao asked again.

"This..." Xi Zhicai understood Cao Cao's meaning. "Does my lord mean that Zhang Ziqian is such a sharp and ingenious weapon?"

"That's right." Cao Cao stood up, walked to the tent entrance, and gazed in the direction Zhang Ziqian had left. "Such a peerless weapon, if it cannot be used by me, will keep it in the world, and I will have no peace of mind. But if I can hold it in my hands, why should I worry about the stability of the world?"

"But how easy is it to wield such a precious sword?" Xi Zhicai was still worried. "All he wants is to have enough to eat. Such a person, without desires or wants, is the most difficult to control."

"Who said he has no desires?" Cao Cao turned around, his smile becoming unfathomable. "He loves to eat, he loves to eat meat, that's his 'desire.' As long as he still wants something, I'm not afraid he'll escape my grasp."

"Pass on my orders!" Cao Cao's voice deepened.

"From this day forward, assign the best cooks to set up a separate kitchen for the brave warrior Zhang Ziqian. Three meals a day must include meat and wine, prepared with care, and in ample quantity!"

"In addition, send those jars of Dukang wine that I have treasured to his tent as well."

"My lord, those are yours..." Xi Zhicai said with some reluctance, as those jars of wine were Cao Cao's favorites.

"You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing your cub. You can't keep a fierce general without offering him good wine." Cao Cao waved his hand, "Go and do it. I want the whole army to know how I, Cao Cao, treat heroes!"

……

When Zhang Ziqian returned to the camp, he was greeted by countless eyes filled with awe.

Those Cao soldiers who had previously looked down on him now looked at him as if he were a living god.

Zhang Ziqian ignored all of this. He went straight to his "seat"—the grain truck—and plopped down on it.

"Ugh, I'm exhausted. I've overdone it." He rubbed his lower back and felt a bit hungry.

That whole ordeal just now must have burned a lot of calories.

Just as he was about to grab another piece of dried beef to gnaw on, a bodyguard jogged over.

"Zhang Zhuangshi, our lord requests your presence."

"What now? Didn't we just finish a battle? Can't we get a break?" Zhang Ziqian was a little unhappy. What's wrong with this boss? He just finished working overtime and now he wants to have a meeting again.

"Our lord says he has prepared a victory banquet for you," the guard replied cautiously.

"A victory celebration?" Zhang Ziqian's eyes lit up. "Is there meat?"

"Yes! The lord has ordered that the best meat be plentiful!"

"Walk!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ziqian immediately jumped off the grain cart, threw the Yuwang Spear aside, and left with his personal guards.

Upon arriving at Cao Cao's central command tent, a sumptuous feast had indeed been laid out inside.

On a large table, there was a whole roasted lamb, golden brown and dripping with oil, a braised pork hock, tender and falling off the bone, and a large bowl of fragrant meat soup. Next to it was a large wine jar, about half a person's height.

Zhang Ziqian's saliva immediately flowed out.

"Boss, you're too kind." He rubbed his hands together, his eyes practically glued to the roasted lamb leg.

"Ziqian has rendered such a great service to our army. What is this little bit of wine and meat?" Cao Cao said with a smile. He personally stepped forward, took Zhang Ziqian's hand, and pressed him into the main seat.

"Come on, Ziqian, please!"

Zhang Ziqian didn't stand on ceremony. He now saw Cao Cao as practically family.

He tore off a steaming hot leg of lamb, not caring that it was too hot, and took a bite.

"Mmm...delicious!"

The outer skin was crispy, the meat tender, and the aroma of oil filled the mouth. This skill was a hundred times better than the dried beef he had just eaten.

Cao Cao's smile deepened as he watched him wolf down his food. He liked people like that—genuine and unpretentious.

"Ziqian, eat slowly, no one will take it from you." Cao Cao personally poured him a bowl of wine. "This is my treasured Du Cheng wine, have a taste."

Zhang Ziqian picked up the bowl and downed it in one gulp.

The spicy liquor burned down my throat, and a warm feeling rose from my stomach.

"Excellent wine!"

He ate meat and drank wine with gusto, as if the wind had swept away all the debris. Cao Hong and the brothers Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan, who had just returned, watched in stunned silence.

They fought to the death, but the protagonist of the victory celebration was someone who only cared about eating.

Cao Hong, in particular, felt a mix of emotions. The credit he had wanted to claim had been taken away so easily, leaving him feeling like a mere supporting character.

Xiahou Dun had a fiery temper, and he was a little annoyed by Zhang Ziqian's nonchalant attitude.

"This brave Zhang," he said, standing up with his wine bowl in hand, "I've heard your martial arts are exceptional, even Zilian is no match for you. May I ask who your master is?"

With his mouth full of meat, Zhang Ziqian mumbled, "I didn't have a teacher, I just practiced blindly."

"Practicing blindly?" Xiahou Dun's eyebrows furrowed. "Can someone who practices blindly achieve such martial arts skills? I, Xiahou Dun, don't believe it."

His words carried a clear provocative tone.

Cao Cao glanced at Xiahou Dun but remained silent, seemingly tacitly approving. He also wanted to see just how deep Zhang Ziqian's true strength really was.

Zhang Ziqian swallowed the meat in his mouth, took another swig of wine, and let out a burp.

He raised his eyelids and looked at Xiahou Dun, who looked unconvinced.

Don't believe me?

"Would you like to give it a try?"