Cheng Yu frowned slightly, then said with a cold smile, "My lord, I have ten strategies that can bring back three people!"
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao immediately said, "We must not go against the will of Heaven!"
"Um...then I have five more strategies!"
"We must not go against the principles of harmony!"
Upon hearing Cao Cao's words, Cheng Yu swallowed hard, and sweat began to bead on his forehead.
"Then...I have three more strategies!"
Good heavens, it went from ten strategies to just three.
"We must not lose our moral bottom line."
Cheng Yu cupped his hands and said, "My lord, we have no plan."
Cao Cao: "..."
Cao Cao took a few deep breaths, trying to remain calm.
Cheng Yu is a devil in disguise! He'll use anything! Cao Cao is now itching to strangle Cheng Yu.
But Cao Cao couldn't vent his anger on Cheng Yu. He said in a deep voice, "Fengxiao, what brilliant idea do you have?"
Guo Jia didn't have any better ideas at this point, so he could only say, "How about... I give it a try?"
"I'm going on a diplomatic mission to bring them..."
Before Guo Jia could finish speaking, Cao Cao interrupted him, saying, "No! Absolutely not!!!"
Cao Cao wasn't stupid. If he were to go on a mission at this time, it would be like a lamb entering a pack of wolves—he would be sent to his death.
Guo Jia gave a wry smile, looked at Cheng Yu, then at Cao Cao, and finally sighed, saying, "Alas, I really have no other choice. What do you suggest, my lord?"
"Alas, I don't know either." Cao Cao shook his head helplessly.
These Yellow Turban rebels are completely unreasonable, which is the most troublesome thing. Cao Cao thought and thought but couldn't come up with a solution, so he simply sat down in his chair and remained silent.
Seeing that Cao Cao had no reaction, Guo Jia and Cheng Yu could only stand silently beside him, waiting for him to come up with a solution.
After a long silence, Cao Cao suddenly raised his head, his eyes flickering, and murmured, "Perhaps..."
As he spoke, he glanced at the doorway and whispered, "Perhaps we can take a gamble!"
Guo Jia and Cheng Yu were taken aback, then exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with confusion. A bet? A bet on what?
"This time, I, Cao Cao, will go personally!"
As soon as Cao Cao spoke, Cheng Yu immediately stopped him, saying, "My lord, you mustn't! How can you put yourself in such danger? What if something unexpected happens..."
Cao Cao smiled faintly and said, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. This matter is settled."
Cao Cao's tone left no room for doubt and brooked no argument.
Guo Jia and Cheng Yu exchanged a glance, sighed helplessly, and could only agree. After all, no one could change Cao Cao's decision.
The next day, Cao Cao left Hulao Pass and went to Ji Province alone, which surprised everyone.
Xu Huang received news that Cao Cao had left Hulao Pass and thought to himself that this was a good opportunity. He was about to lead his army to attack Hulao Pass when he suddenly received another secret letter.
After reading the letter, Xu Huang frowned. The preparations he had made had to be put on hold for the time being.
"Pass down the order: all troops must retreat fifty li without fail!" Xu Huang commanded.
"Yes, sir!" the lieutenant replied with a fist and palm salute, then left the main tent.
Xu Huang looked at the letter in his hand, smiled slightly, and murmured, "This move is indeed ruthless. I am still far inferior to the Celestial Master."
As he spoke, he revealed a confident smile.
Meanwhile, Cao Cao had already arrived in Ji Province. As soon as he stepped into Ji Province, he was captured by the Yellow Turban Army and taken to a mansion.
Cao Cao was pushed and shoved into a small hall, where he saw a young man leisurely lying on a chair.
When Cao Cao saw this man, his face darkened.
"Mr. Lu, have a good time relaxing!"
Lu Li slowly opened his eyes and said calmly, "Cao Mengde, it's been a long time!"
"Hmph! I never expected that Mr. Lu would actually betray us and join the Yellow Turban rebels!" Cao Cao said indignantly.
"oh?"
“It’s not about surrendering. As you probably already know, the Celestial Master Zhang Jiao is none other than Lai Fu.” Lu Li smiled faintly.
"Hmph! If that's the case, why does Mr. Lu still aid and abet the evildoers? You know the Yellow Turban Army is barbaric and brutal, why didn't you stop Lai Fu?" Cao Cao rebuked angrily.
“Hehe, Cao Mengde, we are different,” Lu Li explained calmly.
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao raised an eyebrow and said in confusion, "Different? I thought we were friends!"
“We are indeed friends, but we are not friends on the same side,” Lu Li said, shaking his head.
"What exactly do you want?" Cao Cao felt like he was about to collapse. He discovered that Lu Li seemed to have many secrets, and these secrets were causing Lu Li a lot of pain.
“Mengde, you are from a noble family, you wouldn’t understand.” Lu Li shook his head and said, “You are a wise person, you should know how to make choices. If you leave now, I won’t pursue the matter, otherwise…”
Looking at Lu Li's calm expression, Cao Cao knew that he was no longer the Mr. Lu he once knew.
But he still didn't understand why Lu Li would choose the path of rebellion, when he could have taken a more stable official career.
Cao Cao took a deep breath and asked, "Lu Li, tell me why you rebelled, and why you helped the Yellow Turban Army?"
Cao Cao truly regarded Lu Li as a friend, but Lu Li's rebellion was unacceptable to him.
"Because of the faith in my heart, a faith in world peace." Lu Li blurted out these words without the slightest hesitation.
"Peace under heaven? The Han Dynasty is now engulfed in war, and the common people are suffering from the ravages of war. Is this what you call peace under heaven?" Cao Cao sneered.
Lu Li did not rush to refute, but said, "Cao Mengde, you are right. The Han Dynasty is in chaos due to war, and the people are suffering. Therefore, I want to destroy and rebuild, and start all over again!"
His words exploded in Cao Cao's mind like a thunderclap; he had never heard such arrogant words before.
To destroy and then rebuild, to overthrow the emperor—this is utter madness!
Cao Cao stared at Lu Li and said, "Lu Li, do you know what you're saying?"
"I know, but so what?" Lu Li remained calm.
Lu Li's appearance filled Cao Cao with a strong sense of frustration. He knew that the Han Dynasty was now in decline and no longer as glorious as it once was.
But this does not mean that Cao Cao would allow others to easily overthrow the dynasty.
After all, he has not yet become that treacherous hero, but is a loyal Han official.
He snorted coldly and said, "I will never allow you to act recklessly!"
Lu Li's lips curled into a mocking smile as he said, "Do I need your permission?"
Cao Cao was speechless. Indeed, the two of them were not on the same level at all.
He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "So what exactly do you want?"
"What do you think?" Lu Li asked calmly.
Cao Cao gritted his teeth and said, "Do you think I came to Ji Province without any preparation?"
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