Chapter 4

Yanzhou, Chenliu Commandery, Qiao-Pei Military Camp.

Early in the morning, Cao Ren gracefully entered the camp.

This was the army that had followed Cao Cao the longest, directly led by Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan.

These soldiers... had followed Cao Cao since the campaign against Dong Zhuo. Most of them were from Cao Cao's hometown, Qiao County in Pei Commandery, and could be considered Cao Cao's most trusted troops!

This time, Cao Cao wanted to select some young people with wisdom to personally cultivate, to enrich the future strategic talents of the Cao camp.

Cao Ren did not dare to be careless and started by selecting from this most trusted army.

The deputy generals had received the news early in the morning and had already lined up the troops, waiting for Cao Ren's arrival.

"Your subordinate greets General Cao."

"Brothers, no need for formalities." Cao Ren waved his hand. "I have been ordered by my elder brother to find some trustworthy young people with wisdom in the camp. I hope for your full cooperation!"

"Not at all..." The deputy general appeared polite. Both General Xiahou Dun and General Xiahou Yuan had instructed that the cultivation of strategic talents was crucial for the future of the Cao camp, and they must assist General Cao Ren.

"General Cao, tea and water have been prepared in the main tent! Please..."

Tea had only recently become widespread in the Han Dynasty, and only those of noble status could taste it.

"I'll take a look at the young people in the camp first!" Cao Ren waved his hand and smiled.

Governor of Yanzhou, Cao Cao, was already stretched thin.

The desire for strategic talents had reached a point of desperate need, and Cao Ren did not dare to waste a moment!

"Understood..." the deputy general said. "I have already gathered all the literate young people from our Qiao-Pei camp in the parade ground, as you instructed. This way, General Cao!"

"Thank you!"

Guided by the deputy generals, Cao Ren inspected every literate young person from Qiao-Pei.

However, these fellow countrymen somewhat disappointed him.

Upon reflection, this disappointment was understandable. After all, in times of chaos, those who could read and write were few, and most were from noble families. How could they be found among the lowest-ranking soldiers in the camp?

The literate young people selected by the deputy generals could barely recognize a few characters and write their own names at most!

This was far from what Cao Cao wanted—people with wisdom, talent, and potential for cultivation.

"Alas..."

He looked around at everyone in front of him.

Most were pale and thin, and there were a few middle-aged men in their forties with gray temples, who had attended private school for half a year and could recognize a few dozen characters!

But... these... could not serve as strategic talents or as Cao Cao's disciples.

Cao Ren shook his head helplessly, muttering to himself, "It seems my elder brother's hopes are in vain."

Wait!

Suddenly, Cao Ren's eyes caught sight of something. It was the direction of the kitchen, where a young man of about fourteen or fifteen was sitting at the entrance.

This was not the main point; the key was that his build was not robust, he was not particularly tall, and he was exceptionally refined... holding a bamboo scroll in his hands, with a stack of scrolls and books as tall as a person beside him.

Is this... what they say, "searching high and low for something that comes easily"?

It was like a drought meeting a timely rain, and Cao Ren's eyes widened instantly!

But...

Upon closer inspection...

Cao Ren noticed that the young man read the bamboo scrolls at an extremely fast pace, changing to a new one in less than half an hour.

He muttered to himself from time to time and occasionally paused in thought.

One must know that bamboo scrolls in the Han Dynasty were heavy and contained a lot of content!

How could he finish reading and understanding them in less than half an hour?

Cao Ren, who had been excited at the thought of finding a suitable candidate, suddenly became serious.

This is just fooling around, right?

Reading bamboo scrolls and books so quickly, what could he possibly remember?

Or, is this young man really reading, not just fooling around?

In the Qiao-Pei camp, among countless robust soldiers, this refined and slender young man seemed to have little presence.

But... since Cao Ren noticed him, all his attention was on him.

His clear and handsome face stood out;

Holding a bamboo scroll, his slender figure was particularly striking...

Most importantly, he did not look like a soldier at all.

Even as a kitchen helper, he should not be so slender and weak, right?

On the battlefield, wouldn't he just be a sitting duck?

"Generals," Cao Ren's face darkened. "Is this young man also one of our soldiers? How can such a weak person charge into battle? Isn't he just asking to die?"

"Was it your idea to recruit him, or the idea of the two General Xiahou?"

His voice was low, and his eyes were filled with a cold light.

The recruitment in Qiao-Pei by the Cao army was particularly strict...

They selected robust soldiers who could charge into battle, not cannon fodder.

"General Cao..." The deputy general raised his eyebrows and explained hurriedly. "This young man is not a soldier in our army. He is the younger brother of Cai Zhaohui, the daughter of Left Middle Counselor Cai Yong!"

"The sister and brother came to seek refuge with Lord Cao, who had a past relationship with Cai Yong, and thus took them in... to ensure their safety, they were temporarily placed in the Qiao-Pei camp!"

Hmm?

The daughter of Left Middle Counselor Cai Yong? Cai Yan, Cai Zhaohui? And a younger brother?

Cao Ren raised his eyebrows. As the closest cousin to Cao Cao, how could he not know of the relationship between Cai Yong and his elder brother?

But, he had only heard that Cai Yong had two daughters, never a son.

Who is this young man?

Cao Ren asked, "Is he really the younger brother of Cai Yan, Cai Zhaohui?"

"Absolutely."

Upon hearing this, Cao Ren's eyes narrowed, and his expression became solemn.

After all, the names of Cai Yong and Cai Zhaohui were significant, which made Cao Ren more curious and hopeful about this young man.

"Cai Yan's younger brother, interesting..."

Cao Ren repeated, then waved his hand. "I'll go take a look."

With that, he quickly walked towards the kitchen.

The other officers hurried to follow...

Because Cao Ren deliberately kept his steps light, every officer walked quietly.

Even when they reached behind the young man, he was unaware, still reading the bamboo scrolls and books at a rapid pace!

Half an hour, an hour...

Cao Ren observed quietly for an hour.

He was astonished to find that the young man was reading military treatises...

One must know that military treatises were known for their profound and difficult content, requiring a certain amount of experience and repeated deliberation.

Cao Cao had spent three years in seclusion to complete his commentary on "The Art of War by Sun Tzu."

But this young man read at a rapid pace, pausing only briefly at key points, as if in thought.

This left Cao Ren completely baffled!

Such serious reading did not seem like he was struggling to understand.

"Sir, what is your name? What are you reading?" Cao Ren could not help but ask.

This question finally pulled the young man out of his book.

He looked up at the group, blinked, and then closed the bamboo scroll.

"General, I am reading 'The Art of War by Sun Tzu'!"

His words were clear and confident, without a hint of nervousness.

He displayed a maturity beyond his age.

Hiss...

"The Art of War by Sun Tzu"?

Cao Ren was taken aback. He had read "The Art of War by Sun Tzu."

Of course, that was not the point. The key was... without Cao Cao's commentary, he, Cao Ren, would be completely lost and unable to understand it!

But... the scroll the young man was reading was the original, with obscure and difficult text, and no commentary.

The key was that he was reading it with great interest, completely engrossed, not at all like someone reading a book in a foreign language!

Goodness, this was the work of the great military strategist Sun Wu from the Spring and Autumn period, a classic of military strategy. A young man, without guidance or teaching, reading it with such interest and understanding?

If he really understood it, he would truly be an extraordinary and wise talent!

"General, my name is Lu Yu, and I am fifteen years old!"

At that moment, the young man's voice rang out again.

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