Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

On the tenth day after Cao Rui arrived in Chaisang, which was March 9th, the grain and military supplies in Chaisang were finally ready.

Cao Zhen's directly subordinate Wuwei Army and Liaodong infantry and cavalry, Cheng Xi's Yulin Right Army, Lu Xun's 50,000 naval troops, as well as Huan Fan's cavalry and outer troops, totaling 100,000 men, with an actual number of 95,000, set out westward at 7:00 AM on the 10th of March, in accordance with the imperial edict.

The phrase "a hundred thousand troops" is best described as a vast and mighty force. Chaisang is located in Jiangnan. General Cao Zhen led his own Wuwei and Liaodong infantry and cavalry, a total of 20,000 troops, from Jiangnan. Lu Xun led the navy in the center, while the Yulin Right Army and Huan Fan's main infantry were stationed on the north bank of the river.

Cao Rui seized the Imperial Guard Left Army cavalry originally under Huan Fan's command and personally led three thousand elite cavalry from the Central Army to follow Cao Zhen.

The central army was the emperor's personal guard, and even if it was temporarily drawn from the army, there was no need to worry about its loyalty to the emperor. The officer in charge of the 1,000 cavalrymen and the deployment of these 3,000 cavalrymen was none other than Li Tong, the colonel who had nearly captured Sun Quan earlier.

Li Tong distinguished himself in various military campaigns, rising from a squad leader to a military commander and then a marquis in Guannei during the Liaodong campaign, and further to a colonel with a salary of two thousand piculs during the Chaisang campaign. In his early thirties, he accomplished a feat that many of his comrades could not achieve in their entire lives. Cao Zhen and Huan Fan both petitioned for his commendation, and Cao Rui was pleased to see such a rapidly promoted young general in the army.

One can only say that luck is also an important factor in becoming a famous general.

The war against Wu had been going on for more than two months. The 100,000-strong army set off from Chaisang without any extra ceremony. The emperor simply issued an imperial edict, and Cao Zhen gathered the generals to announce the order. That was all. It was as uneventful as a regular military march.

But from Cao Zhen down to the ordinary officers, everyone understood the extraordinary significance of this military expedition, and a flame seemed to burn within each of them. The various commanders, officers, and divisions within the army had already been notified that Sun Quan, the pseudo-emperor of Wu, was in Wuchang. After Sun Quan was defeated, the overall situation would be stabilized, the world would be at peace, and the court would reward with land, bestow honors, and promote and grant titles to those who had made outstanding contributions.

Li Tong never imagined he would be given the duty of directly protecting the emperor. Today, the emperor was in his army. Li Tong rode slowly through the ranks, feeling even more excited than when he chased Sun Quan.

Sure enough, after traveling several miles, Cao Rui summoned Li Tong to his side.

"Is Minister Li's family in Didao?" Cao Rui asked calmly, seated on his horse.

"This humble general is from Didao in Longxi Commandery. My father and grandfather were both farmers. I originally served as a soldier in Longxi Commandery. In the second year of Taihe, I was selected to join the central army as a supplementary force because of my skill in riding horses, and I have been in the central army ever since," Li Tong replied carefully.

Cao Rui chuckled lightly: "It seems you've always been lucky. How many people are in your family? Are you married?"

Li Tong, unaware of the emperor's intentions, answered even more cautiously: "My mother has passed away, but my father is still alive. I have seven brothers: three elder brothers and four younger brothers. I... I have always been in the army and have not yet married."

"How many?" Cao Rui turned his head and raised an eyebrow at Li Tong, asking with slight surprise, "Including yourself, are all eight brothers born of the same father and mother?"

"Yes," Li Tong said with an awkward smile, "We're all brothers."

“That is indeed a strange matter.” Cao Rui shook his head. “I have only seen one case of eight brothers in this dynasty. Do you know the current Minister of Works, Sima? His family has eight brothers, called the ‘Eight Talents of Sima.’ However, none of them are from the same mother. Boda, Zhongda, and Shuda are born of the same mother, while the remaining five are born to Sima Fang’s three concubines… It is indeed rare to see a family like Li Qing’s.” “You are already thirty-three years old, why are you still not married? Is it because the rewards from the army are not enough?” Bored on the march, Cao Rui asked Li Tong a few more questions.

Li Tongqi, half a body length behind Cao Rui on horseback, bowed somewhat apologetically and replied, "The army has provided ample rewards, but I have been stationed in Luoyang with the army. General Wen has always been kind to me and has arranged several marriages for me. There are daughters of local officials in Luoyang County, as well as daughters of wealthy families... They approve of my appearance and official position, but upon hearing that I am from Liangzhou, that my ancestors had no official positions, and that I have no house or wealth in Luoyang, they all leave."

“Luoyang…” Cao Rui shook his head upon hearing this: “Luoyang is usually like this. I’ve heard about it in the Forbidden City. This is the custom among the common people. When the Empress Dowager was filling my harem, she spent two million coins on the dowry for each concubine. However, I’ve always known about the salaries and rewards of the Left Guard of the Imperial Guard. Over the years, they must have accumulated several hundred strings of cash. Buying a house shouldn’t be difficult, right?”

Li Tong lowered his voice further: "My ancestors were poor and had no savings. Property in Luoyang is too expensive. I sent all my savings back to my hometown to build a house and to help my brother get married in Longxi. In recent years, I have been stationed with troops in the country, and the wedding has been postponed again and again, so I have no plans to marry him."

Cao Rui sighed softly and beckoned to Liu Ye and Huang Quan, who were riding behind him. The emperor's conversation with Li Tong hadn't been kept secret; as the two approached, Cao Rui immediately said:

"Of the 50,000-strong Central Army, there are fewer than 100 officials with a salary of 1,000 shi (a unit of grain measure), and even fewer with a salary of 2,000 shi. Minister Liu, please compile a list later. If there are any men of marriageable age who are still unmarried, like Colonel Li Tong, report it to me. The Ministry of Works will build a batch of houses for them to be bestowed upon them. They are all my personal guards and generals; surely they shouldn't have trouble getting married because of some material possessions!"

"Your subjects obey the decree." Liu Ye and Huang Quan responded in unison, while Li Tong bowed on horseback to express his gratitude.

After Liu Ye responded, he watched Li Tong's retreating figure and couldn't help but marvel at his good fortune. The emperor was always generous in rewarding his generals, and now that Li Tong had caught the emperor's eye, what was there to worry about regarding marriage and land? A 30-something-year-old captain with a salary of 2,000 shi—this man's future was limitless!
Sure enough, while Liu Ye was still pondering Li Tong's past experience, Cao Rui glanced at Li Tong a few times and smiled:
"Minister Li, you appear quite composed. Since I have done a good deed today, I will introduce you to another marriage. Are you familiar with the late General Cao Zilian?"

"How could I not know?" Li Tong replied, "I was able to enter the central army in the past because of General Cao's kindness in selecting soldiers."

"Hahahaha." Cao Rui laughed a few times: "You can be considered to have a connection with his family. Cao Zilian has a daughter who is of marriageable age. If I remember correctly, she has not yet been betrothed. I heard from people in the palace that this girl is clever and beautiful, and his family has always been very wealthy. If you can marry Cao Zilian's daughter, you will have enough land and houses for ten lifetimes, let alone land and houses."

"I've come to act as your matchmaker. Are you willing?"

Li Tong was taken aback at first, then immediately reined in his horse, dismounted, knelt down, and kowtowed: "This humble general thanks Your Majesty for your grace! This humble general is willing to die for Your Majesty!"

"Get up and follow me." Cao Rui chuckled lightly, glancing down at Li Tong but not lingering any longer.

Liu Ye, standing behind, looked around, frowning, as if recalling an old story. If he remembered correctly, Cao Hong's daughter had been engaged to Xun Yu's youngest son, Xun Can. Later, the Xun family was exiled for their rebellion, and the daughter remained unmarried at home, probably around twenty-three or twenty-four years old.

Li Tong… he really is lucky. (End of Chapter)