The Three Kingdoms: My Wife is a Great and Good Teacher

Liu Zhaoqing felt a little confused when he heard this. Logically, Cao Cao should be older than Liu Bei, but the Cao Cao in front of him seemed to be less than 20 years old?

After Liu Bei and Cao Cao asked each other about their ages, it turned out that Cao Cao was indeed younger than Liu Bei.

When Liu Zhaoqing heard Cao Cao call Liu Bei "sister", although she had already accepted the fact that the world was no longer the same as it used to be, she still felt a little strange.

"The title is not important, what's important is the person." Cao Cao took out a porcelain cup and used a small spoon to scoop a spoonful of hot water from the porcelain bowl next to it and poured it into three black wine glasses.

Then he lifted his sleeves and poured the water in the washed cups into the wooden barrel beside him.

"The cup has a foreign taste, and hot water is needed to clean it so that you can taste the wine better."

As Cao Cao spoke, he placed the clean wine glass on the table in front of him and reached out for the wine jug.

Liu Bei was about to remind Cao Cao that the lid of the pot was already heated to a scalding temperature and that he should be careful not to get burned, but when Cao Cao approached, he naturally turned the spoon in his hand over.

Use the curved tip of the spoon as a hook to lift the lid of the wine jug and set it aside.

Then take another wine spoon, scoop a spoonful of hot wine and pour it into three black porcelain wine glasses.

The wine in the three glasses was exactly the same, and not a single drop of wine was spilled during the pouring process. The whole process was smooth and flowing, as if he had done it more than a hundred times to master it so skillfully.

As Cao Cao placed the two wine glasses in front of Liu Zhaoqing and Liu Bei respectively, the plum fragrance that he had already smelled became stronger.

"It's only June now, and plums are not yet ripe. Although green plums are suitable for making wine, this season is not the best time to pick them. It was I who asked Zihe to find a talented person in my hometown who has the gift of cultivation to plant a few plum trees early, so that we can enjoy such beautiful things now."

"Zihe?"

"Oh, it's Zixiao's sister, and also my cousin, Cao Chun." Cao Cao explained to Liu Bei.

Liu Zhaoqing had guessed it long ago. After all, she was Cao Ren's sister, and the only person Cao Cao could take to the war was Cao Chun.

As the commander-in-chief of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry in the previous life and another powerful general of Boss Cao's family, even if Liu Zhaoqing had never met her, he knew that she was most likely a talented person with the natural ability to lead an army.

Although the two men in front of him were both dragons among men and masters of two-thirds of the world in their previous lives, their "starts" were indeed quite different, whether in the previous life or this life.

But Liu Bei, who has Guan and Zhang, is naturally not bad either, especially in today's world where a powerful and outstanding person can defeat an ordinary army.

"It seems like Meng De drinks a lot?" Liu Zhaoqing said.

Cao Cao was honest. He nodded and said, "When I was in Luoyang, I often went to the wine house. Sometimes I went there because I was sad that the court was plagued by the eunuchs and I was powerless to do anything about it. Sometimes I went there just to drink to relieve my boredom. Sometimes I thought of a good poem and wanted to express my thoughts with wine to see if I could write a good work."

“There are many reasons.”

As if he didn't hear Liu Zhaoqing's complaints, Cao Cao smiled and said, "Of course it is. Especially during the time when Zhaoqing came to Luoyang, everything you did made me happy, and every work you wrote that woke me up from my dreams made me drunk in the restaurant all night."

After saying that, Cao Cao propped up half of his face, looked at the hot wine in his other hand and smiled again: "But, often when I wake up, Sister Benchu ​​is already sitting next to me with a cold face."

"Don't worry. Does Alliance Leader Zhaoqing think that I'm the kind of person who would mess things up because of drinking?" Cao Cao looked at Liu Zhaoqing and said.

This is indeed true. Cao Cao is a person who clearly understands what to do and when. Otherwise, when Lu Bu took out the emperor's edict, he and Liu Zhaoqing would not have thought of the same response method almost at the same time.

"Okay, but this is just the first time. You can drink as much as you want in the future."

"I will follow the leader's orders." Cao Cao bowed his head to Liu Zhaoqing.

Liu Zhaoqing was speechless.

He even suspected that Cao Cao "instigated" Yuan Shao to give himself the position of leader of the alliance just to tease him and make him busy.

Liu Zhaoqing took a sip of the hot wine. The warm and mellow taste made his body relax, while the unique sourness kept his mind clear. He had to admit that Cao Cao really had a good taste in wine.

Seeing Liu Zhaoqing pursing her lips after taking a sip of wine, Cao Cao smiled. She knew that Liu Zhaoqing must like this green plum wine.

After taking a sip, Liu Bei showed a look of surprise. She noticed something that Liu Zhaoqing didn't notice.

"It seems... this wine has the effect of calming the mind and healing injuries?" Liu Bei said softly.

Cao Cao was slightly surprised, then his eyes moved slightly, and he understood: "It seems that Prime Minister Liu has a gift of exploration?"

Liu Bei shook his head, then hesitated for a moment before explaining: "It's just... I just happen to be familiar with this."

"Familiarity means having a similar healing gift?" Cao Cao asked.

“It’s not a gift from heaven, it’s potential.”

"Potential?" Cao Cao became curious. "Healing is actually potential. Doesn't that mean there is infinite power to heal?"

Liu Bei suddenly stopped talking.

Seeing this, Cao Cao realized that this must be someone else's secret. After returning to normal, Cao Cao took the initiative to skip this topic. He then explained that this was because the water used to make wine was not ordinary. It came from a clear spring in a mountain where a auspicious beast lived.

Liu Zhaoqing was surprised again: "So extravagant?"

"This is not luxury." Cao Cao shook his head. "The things enjoyed by those wealthy members of the royal family, provincial governors and governors are much more luxurious than what I have."

"Really?"

"Of course it's true. If you don't believe me, you can ask Sister Xuande."

Liu Zhaoqing looked at Liu Bei.

Liu Bei nodded: "Using deer fur as blankets, white rhino horns as wine jars, and enjoying the mimicry of birds, these are all normal things."

"Yes, only someone like Zhao Qing, who has never thought about enjoying the past, would appear to be so worldly-wise." Cao Cao sighed.

Liu Zhaoqing was speechless again.

He had seen very few extravagant people, but they were all corrupt officials like He Jin's Ten Eunuchs, so he thought their extravagance was normal.

The other great scholars he met, such as Lu Zhi and Wang Yun, and relatives and governors like Liu Yu, were all people who didn't care much about how good the environment around them was.

This made him subconsciously think that people like He Jin's Ten Eunuchs were only a minority. But in fact, the Han Dynasty had reached such a point. At the end of the dynasty, how could those with power and wealth not indulge in luxury?

"Okay, okay, stop teasing me and let's talk about business." Liu Zhaoqing had to admit that he was too ambitious and didn't think about these things.

It's time to talk business.

Then Cao Cao spoke, first telling the two that she had received secret news from Luoyang that Dong Zhuo's adviser Jia Xu had left Luoyang earlier today, heading east.

Although the message was brief, Liu Zhaoqing and Liu Bei immediately realized that Jia Xu was going to Hulao Pass east of Luoyang, to find Lu Bu.

Then the sudden call for Lu Bu to withdraw his troops might have been given by Jia Xu.

This also means that Dong Zhuo has already started taking big moves.

"However, I received news before that there has not been a large number of reinforcements seen at Hulao Pass. If Dong Zhuo's actions were aimed at us, Jia Xu should have dispatched a large army when he went there," said Liu Zhaoqing.

"That's right." Cao Cao nodded, "So, the target is not us."

"The order that made Lu Bu withdraw his troops and keep them in place must have been issued by Dong Zhuo himself. We are guarding Hulao Pass, and Hulao Pass will also be keeping an eye on us at this time."

Liu Zhaoqing frowned slightly. In this way, Dong Zhuo’s goal was actually very clear.

"Is she going to take the initiative against the other two anti-Dong coalition forces?" Liu Bei also asked.

"That's what it looks like at the moment." Cao Cao nodded.

"We have thought about this before. Since Dong Zhuo can sit back and watch us gain momentum in our anti-Dong movement, he must want to capture us all in one fell swoop. He will definitely have thought of countermeasures for most of our decisions." Liu Zhaoqing added.

Simply put, Liu Zhaoqing had already mentioned the possibility that Dong Zhuo would attack the other two routes during the alliance meeting.

Cao Cao and Liu Bei were both present at the time. Liu Bei also remembered what Liu Zhaoqing said at the time and nodded, saying, "Yes, Zhaoqing had already mentioned this possibility at the time and told them how to deal with it."

"I did say that, and the princes all heard it." Cao Cao raised his head and took a sip of wine, then looked at the two of them and smiled again.

"But, are you really sure they will listen?"

"This concerns their success, failure, and even life and death. It's impossible for them not to listen, right?" Liu Zhaoqing asked.

"Yes, it is impossible that they cannot listen." Cao Cao stroked the rim of the cup with his thumb and said calmly: "What if they listen but cannot do it?"

"Ah? Didn't we say before that we should retreat first? If Dong Zhuo really takes the initiative to attack, then we should retreat first. If Dong Zhuo really dares to enter the area under their control, it will be like a turtle falling into a jar."

"If we don't go in, then we can just stand off to the side and then send some teams to harass them. By doing this, we can find a way to break the impasse and gain a lot of opportunities for ourselves along the way."

Liu Zhaoqing said: "Isn't this a very simple matter?"

He thinks a three-year-old child can learn it.

But Cao Cao shook his head and said: "You overestimate the heroes of the world."

"In Zhaoqing's eyes, He Jin should be a man without strategy and courage, right? But in fact, most of the princes in the world are not as good as He Jin." Cao Cao said and looked at Liu Bei: "Isn't it, Sister Xuande?"

Liu Bei was at a loss for words. "If we talk about character and loyalty to the Han Dynasty, I think there are many who are better than He Jin, but if we talk about strength and the ability to lead troops in battle... then it is true."

Liu Zhaoqing frowned: "Meng De means... Han Fu and the others are going to be in trouble?"

"'Suffering a disaster' is already the best outcome. The worst possible outcome is being nearly wiped out like the vanguard troops." Cao Cao said as he poured the wine again.

"We should all be aware of Zhang Miao's strength as a vanguard. They are definitely stronger than the other two princes. Even so, they were almost annihilated. So why did Han Fu and his men only suffer minor losses when Dong Zhuo led the expedition in person?"

"When a building collapses, there will be more termites and ants. Among the eighteen princes, there are some who can be called 'heroes', but the leaders of the other two are definitely not among them."

Cao Cao said, "So, we should not only think about how to deal with Lu Bu, but also how not to be influenced by the servants."

Liu Zhaoqing fell into deep thought, and Liu Bei also thought for a moment, then she looked at Cao Cao: "Then, Captain Cao, who do you think is the hero among the princes?"

"That must be the leader."

"Besides the leader of the alliance?" Liu Bei asked.

"Sister Xuande, why don't you give me a guess?" Cao Cao asked with a smile.

At this time, Liu Bei also knew that the "heroes" Cao Cao was talking about should refer to people who can be trusted and entrusted with great responsibilities. Those are the real "allies" in the alliance.

If Liu Bei was asked to guess, he would think: "Yuan Shao?"

"Sister Benchu..." Cao Cao pondered for a moment.

"That's it."

Cao Cao then looked outside and said, "It's been a long time since I realized it. It seems to be getting late."

Then Cao Cao, Liu Bei and Liu Zhaoqing stood up, nodded to each other, and prepared to leave.

Liu Bei walked out of the tent first, but when Liu Zhaoqing was about to leave, he was stopped by Cao Cao.

Cao Cao asked him to sit at the table and poured him another glass of wine.

Then he asked thoughtfully: "Who do you think is the 'hero' among the princes?"

"Meng De, Yuan Shao, Gongsun Zan can also be counted, and then there are Sun Jian, Zhang Miao and others..."

"Did we miss anyone?" Cao Cao asked.

"You mean, Sister Xuande?"

"Yes." Cao Cao looked at Liu Zhaoqing: "In my opinion, she is the greatest 'hero' besides Zhaoqing and me."

Then she narrowed her eyes slightly, revealing a coldness that was both familiar and unfamiliar to Liu Zhaoqing.

"Not only does she have two great generals, but she also has lofty ambitions. Now that the climate is ripe, given time, when the east wind blows, she will surely soar. By then, she will certainly not be just the prime minister of a county."

"So Zhao Qing, I hope you can think it over carefully."

"Think...it...carefully?" Liu Zhaoqing didn't understand what Cao Cao meant.

"'Conquer' or 'Strangle'." Cao Cao looked at Liu Zhaoqing: "You must choose one."

After a moment of silence, Liu Zhaoqing said, "I've thought about the former, but I think it's not appropriate to take them here now."

Cao Cao shook his head: "I said 'receive', not 'subdue'."

"I took her body."

Liu Zhaoqing opened his mouth: "Ah?"

"This...Meng De, do you know what you are talking about?"

"Of course I know." Cao Cao said calmly: "Take her as your concubine, or as your lover, this is what I mean by 'take'."

"Perhaps you will think that this has nothing to do with what I said about 'receiving' and 'strangling', and that it makes no sense, but Zhao Qing, you have to know..."

"If you want to tie a woman down, 'trapping her body and soul' is far more important than any promise or alliance."

"For a normal woman, love is a shackle that can never be broken free of, but it must be put on early, otherwise when you are lonely and disappointed and choose to live alone, it will be difficult to put it on again."

Cao Cao took a sip of the hot wine and smiled.

"I can assure you that this is true. If you don't believe me, go ask the two generals around you or Miss Xun, or... you can just ask me directly."

"..."

Chapter 271 Yuan Shu Comes to Surrender

After walking out of Cao Cao's tent, Liu Zhaoqing looked up at the night sky. The moon was dim and the stars were sparse. It was almost midnight.