Chapter 8

Seeing Cai Zhaohui bite her lip, Cao Ren thought she was too excited.

After all, who wouldn't be excited about such a thing?

One must understand that in the Han Dynasty, if following the conventional steps, a young man wanting to stand out and become an official would first have to go through the steps of studying, seeking evaluations, and being recommended as a filial and clean official.

Moreover, family background and connections were indispensable...

For example, in terms of "studying," one had to be a disciple of a famous scholar and receive their recommendation.

In the past, Gongsun Zan and Liu Bei both went to "Goushi Mountain" to study under Lu Zhi. Lu Zhi recommended Gongsun Zan, who had a low family status but a governor for a father-in-law, to the court. As for Liu Bei, without any background or connections, he could only stay where it was cool.

Regarding "seeking evaluations," the most trusted method was the Monthly Dawn Evaluation. Whoever was evaluated would see their status rise a hundredfold, as the saying goes, "Those praised rise like a dragon, those criticized fall into the abyss."

Those "virtuous and upright" talents were naturally more likely to be promoted through the recommendation system.

However, in these chaotic times, the court could barely survive from day to day, let alone have the time to promote talent.

Therefore, getting close to Cao Cao, becoming his disciple, and gradually participating in the affairs of Yuzhou, eventually standing on one's own and being granted an official position, was something many people dreamed of!

Would Cai Zhaohui and Lu Yu refuse?

Obviously not!

The temptation of "instant success" was immense!

"Cai Yan, Lu Yu, if there are no issues, let's set off immediately for the Chenliu Prefecture Office!"

Cao Ren, thinking of something, suddenly said, "Right, Miaocai... Do we have a larger carriage?"

"Cai Yan and Lu Yu probably can't ride horses..."

"This..." Xiahou Yuan frowned. "Big Brother went to fight the Yellow Turbans and requisitioned all the carriages for 'transporting military supplies.' Where would we have carriages in our Qiao-Pei military camp?"

In fact, during the Yuzhou period, Cao Cao was quite poor and didn't have much grain. However, to deceive the Yellow Turbans and boost morale, he deliberately requisitioned carriages to pretend he had plenty of grain, thus bolstering his reputation.

Therefore, there really were no carriages in the Qiao-Pei military camp.

This...

Cao Ren frowned, surely he couldn't let Lu Yu and Cai Yan walk or ride horses to Chenliu?

The bumpy journey would be no problem for Lu Yu, but could Cai Yan endure it?

"I remember that Wei Hong's estate is nearby. Miaocai, send someone to borrow a carriage from him?"

Wei Hong was the richest man in Chenliu. When Cao Cao first raised his army in Chenliu, he received great support and help from Wei Hong. Therefore, now that Cao Cao had taken control of Yuzhou, Wei Hong had become the largest merchant in Yuzhou, achieving success in both the political and business worlds, with a very high status.

"I'll send someone right away." Xiahou Yuan nodded and immediately instructed a deputy to go to Wei Hong's estate.

Of course...

Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan didn't know that Wei Hong had once met "Yin Lin."

As a descendant of the Marquis of Lie, Wei Qing, and a well-known merchant in Chenliu, two years ago, Wei Hong had planned to go to Luoyang to buy a mansion and settle in the capital. On his way, he encountered the "Yin Lin" siblings traveling south to find their relatives.

He gave the siblings a considerable amount of money, and in return, Yin Lin gave him sixteen words: "Luoyang will be in chaos, merchants will suffer, destitute and in danger of life!"

At the time, Wei Hong was skeptical but, out of a merchant's caution, decided to wait and see.

However, not long after, Dong Zhuo seized the property of the wealthy in Luoyang and burned the capital, causing widespread suffering and destruction.

Whenever he thought about this, Wei Hong felt a chill of fear.

If he had settled in Luoyang at that time, no matter how much wealth he had, wouldn't it all have fallen into the hands of the bandits, putting his life in danger? This would have proven Yin Lin's prediction!

To put it mildly, those sixteen words from Yin Lin were a life-saving grace for Wei Hong!

After that... Wei Hong tried to find Yin Lin to repay him, but... where could he find Yin Lin?

Later, he heard that Cao Cao had been guided by Yin Lin to take control of Yuzhou. Wei Hong then generously supported Cao Cao, which also fulfilled his "debt" to Yin Lin.

Unexpectedly, this move made him rise to the top of the Yuzhou scholar circle, greatly enhancing his reputation.

...

Not far from the Qiao-Pei military camp, at Wei Hong's estate.

"Borrow a carriage?" Wei Hong stroked his beard, frowning. "Who is so precious that they need General Cao and General Xiahou to prepare a carriage for them?"

"It's Cai Yan and her brother," the deputy reported truthfully. "This brother is extraordinary. At fifteen, he is well-versed in the Art of War, having read and memorized all the books in Cai Yong's collection! He is the strategic talent that Lord Cao is desperately seeking!"

"What?" Wei Hong was shocked. How could he believe it?

Since entering the scholar circle, to appear cultured, he often read military books, including the Art of War. Even understanding it...

Without someone explaining it, he couldn't even read it smoothly, let alone understand it thoroughly!

How could a fifteen-year-old, without battlefield experience or strategic training, understand such profound and obscure military tactics?

It sounded far-fetched!

"How could Generals Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan, who probably only have a superficial understanding of the Art of War, judge that this young man is well-versed in it?" Wei Hong waved his hand. "There are many who pretend to be 'Yin Lin' to defraud money, but this is the first time someone has pretended to be well-versed in the Art of War to enter the upper echelons of Yuzhou."

"Come on..." Wei Hong called to his servants. "Prepare the carriage. I'll see if it's true!"

Thinking of something, Wei Hong added, "Right, bring Xun Wenruo and Xun Gongda, who are visiting today. From their conversation, they seem to be well-versed in military tactics. Before recommending them to Lord Cao, let them help verify the true abilities of this fifteen-year-old."

With that, servants prepared the carriage and went to invite Xun Yu and Xun You.

Speaking of which, Xun Yu and Xun You, this uncle and nephew pair, came to Yuzhou because of Cao Cao's "Edict Seeking Talents." Today, they specially visited the richest man and scholar in Chenliu, Wei Hong, to gather information. They never expected to be pulled into verifying the true abilities of a fifteen-year-old!

Xun Yu and Xun You sat in a carriage, discussing along the way.

"Uncle..." the older Xun You addressed the younger Xun Yu. "Do you think a fifteen-year-old can truly understand the essence of the Art of War? And... can he really memorize all the books in the Cai family's collection of three thousand volumes?"

"Xun Gongda, let's not talk about the young man for now," Xun Yu narrowed his eyes. "Do you know Cao Cao? Do you know when he completed his commentary on the Art of War and when he gained a deeper understanding of it?"

Sigh... This...

Although he didn't know the connection between Cao Cao and the fifteen-year-old,

Xun You was very curious.

In today's world, the first person to comment on the Art of War, what did he go through?

In other words, what kind of person is the Cao Cao they are about to join?

...