By this time, it was too late for Cao Cao to pursue and attack Li Huan.
A breeze picked up on the river, and the straw boat fleet sailed more than ten miles away, easily shaking off Cao Cao's pursuit.
Lu Su and Sun Shangxiang stood on the deck, looking at the scarecrow that resembled a hedgehog, and finally understood the "borrowing arrows with straw boats" strategy.
"I thought you were setting up a stall to sell boxed lunches, but actually you were trying to provoke Cao Cao!" Sun Shangxiang's eyes were full of admiration.
"Taking advantage of the thick fog to borrow arrows with straw boats—brilliant! I admire you, I admire you!" Lu Su gave a thumbs up.
Li Huan smiled calmly: "Borrowing arrows with straw boats was Liang Ge's plan. I was just taking the opportunity to tease Cao Cao and provoke him to shoot more arrows!"
Zhuge Liang said, "Brother Huan's trick of selling boxed lunches to Cao Cao is a perfect example of adding insult to injury!"
Sun Shangxiang quickly estimated: "Forty warships, covered with crossbow bolts, at least two hundred thousand!"
"Hahaha..." Lu Su laughed happily, "Mr. Kongming has exceeded the arrow-making task and delivered on time. Gongjin will definitely be amazed!"
Sun Shangxiang said, "With five hundred taels of gold, Li Huan will definitely sell the secret sauce and precious ingredients. Sister Xiao Qiao will soon get what she wants!"
...
It was almost noon.
Zhou Yu and Xiao Qiao stood on the shore, watching the soldiers busily carrying bundles of crossbow bolts, and the two were very surprised.
Lu Su immediately reported, recounting in detail the events of "borrowing arrows with straw boats" and "selling boxed lunches on the river."
Sun Shangxiang would occasionally chime in, praising Li Huan to the skies.
Zhou Yu was increasingly astonished as he listened, and his two sword-like eyebrows furrowed together involuntarily.
Then, his gaze revealed a chilling murderous intent.
Zhuge Liang cupped his hands and said, "One hundred thousand crossbow bolts, not one missing! Is the Grand Commander satisfied?"
Zhou Yu remained silent, his face cold.
Li Huan said, "Give these 100,000 crossbow bolts to the Grand Commander! Send the other 100,000 crossbow bolts to Liu Bei!"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yu's expression became even more displeased.
He turned to look at Lu Su: "Zijing, you secretly prepared boats and made many scarecrows. Why did you hide it from me and keep me in the dark?"
Zhuge Liang hurriedly said, "This matter is not Zijing's fault. I was just afraid that the news would leak out and arouse Cao Cao's suspicion, so I asked Zijing to keep his mouth shut."
"Hmph!" Zhou Yu's face turned ashen.
Li Huan asked, "Governor Zhou, what about your five hundred taels of gold? Shouldn't you give it to me now?"
Zhou Yu raised his head: "What five hundred taels of gold?"
"Damn it!" Li Huan blurted out, "You owe me fifty boxed lunches, a total of five hundred taels of gold!"
"Why should I owe you for meals?" Zhou Yu asked with an air of superiority. "Those fifty boxed meals that night were clearly given to you voluntarily, without accepting any gold!"
"Damn it!" Li Huan was furious.
Xiao Qiao hesitated, then remained silent.
Sun Shangxiang couldn't help but say, "Grand Commander, you made a deal with Li Huan to buy fifty boxed meals first. If Zhuge Liang can make 100,000 crossbow bolts within three days, you will pay him five hundred taels of gold! If he can't make 100,000 crossbow bolts, then Li Huan will not charge you a penny for those fifty boxed meals!"
Zhuge Liang said, "Zijing can be our witness!"
Zhou Yu asked Lu Su, "What do you think?"
Lu Su replied, "Master Kongming has delivered the arrows on time, and the Grand Commander should pay Li Huan five hundred taels of gold..."
Zhou Yu then asked Zhuge Liang, "Mr. Kongming, do you remember the military order?"
Zhuge Liang waved his feather fan: "Of course I remember! If I cannot produce 100,000 crossbow bolts within three days, I will be subject to military law!"
Zhou Yu sneered: "I'm not deliberately cheating! It's just that the military order clearly states that 100,000 crossbow bolts must be manufactured within three days! May I ask, Mr. Kongming, which of these 200,000 crossbow bolts are you responsible for supervising their manufacture?"
Instantly, the scene fell silent.
Zhuge Liang was taken aback and stopped waving his feather fan.
Zhou Yu continued, "I originally wanted to see Mr. Kongming's ability to supervise the manufacture of crossbows, but who knew that Mr. Kongming would take advantage of the situation, use Zijing, and join forces with Li Huan to deceive Cao Cao into giving him 200,000 crossbows!"
"Such a trivial skill is not worth mentioning! But Mr. Kongming is so smug, and Li Huan is so arrogant, trying to extort five hundred taels of gold for his meal! How ridiculous and absurd!"
After hearing this, Li Huan wished he could smash Zhou Yu's mouth open with his fist!
This jerk is deliberately nitpicking and acting like a scoundrel in public!
Zhou Yu continued, "However, Mr. Kongming tricked Cao Cao into giving us 200,000 crossbow bolts, which solved our army's urgent problem. As for whether Mr. Kongming personally supervised their manufacture, I am magnanimous and will not pursue the matter further!"
After saying this, Zhou Yu turned and left.
Zhuge Liang was so angry that his face turned red. He raised his feather fan and pointed at Zhou Yu's back: "I have never seen such a shameless person!"
Xiao Qiao stood there, extremely embarrassed.
Sun Shangxiang said indignantly, "Sister Xiao Qiao, how could Zhou Yu go back on his word and break his promise!"
Xiao Qiao looked ashamed and avoided Li Huan's gaze.
Lu Su hurriedly said, "Master Kongming's timely delivery of the arrows was completely unexpected by Gongjin. He lost the bet with Li Huan and lost face, which is why he was unwilling to pay the gold. I hope Master Li Huan will understand!"
"I forgive you, my ass!" Li Huan shouted angrily. "You damned, heartless witness, instead of upholding justice, you spoke well of Zhou Yu. You've completely turned black into white and can't distinguish right from wrong!"
Lu Su was sweating profusely from the scolding, and stammered, "Mr. Li Huan, please calm down. I'll pay for the five hundred taels of gold for your meal on behalf of Gongjin..."
"I don't need your help!" Li Huan immediately refused. "I just want Zhou Yu's gold! Paying for a meal is a matter of course! Zhou Yu can't cheat me!"
Xiao Qiao quickly said, "I'll go and try to persuade Zhou Lang."
Li Huan stopped him: "Don't try to persuade Zhou Yu. I want him to obediently kowtow and admit his mistake, and hand over five hundred taels of gold!"
Xiao Qiao asked softly, "The secret sauce and precious ingredients, can they still be sold?"
Li Huan shrugged and spread his hands: "What do you think?"
Xiao Qiao sighed, her face full of helplessness, and turned to leave.
Li Huan thought quickly and made up his mind.
He said to Zhuge Liang, "Send someone to row a boat and take me to Cao Cao's camp."
Zhuge Liang was greatly surprised: "Brother Huan, why are you going to Cao Cao's camp?"
Li Huan laughed and said, "I'll set up a stall and sell boxed lunches!"
Lu Su was puzzled: "Going to sell boxed lunches again? The thick fog has dissipated. If you go to Cao Cao's camp, aren't you just walking into a trap?"
Li Huan said impatiently, "With your intelligence, it's hard for me to explain to you."
Lu Su's expression formed a perfect "囧" (jiǒng) shape.
Sun Shangxiang hurriedly said, "Li Huan, you must not go to Cao Cao's camp to sell boxed lunches again! Once you fall into Cao Cao's hands, your life is over!"
Ignoring Sun Shangxiang's advice, Li Huan rode his electric tricycle and quickly boarded the warship.
Zhuge Liang thought to himself that Li Huan must have his reasons for going to Cao Cao's camp this time, and that Li Huan was skilled in "light escape" and could get away at any time.
Therefore, Zhuge Liang ordered his soldiers to pilot the warship for Li Huan.
Standing at the bow of the boat, Li Huan said loudly, "Brother Liang, go ahead and use your strategies to join forces with Zhou Yu to deal with Cao Cao."
Zhuge Liang urged, "Brother Huan, please take good care of yourself!"
Watching the warships sail away, Sun Shangxiang's eyes were filled with worry...
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