Three Kingdoms: Mistakenly Becoming Liu Bei's Adoptive Father at the Start

In Cao Cao's camp.

When news of the fall of Hulao Pass reached Cao Cao, he was discussing matters with Xun Yu.

The personal guard knelt on one knee and spoke rapidly: "Report—Hulao Pass has fallen! Liu Bei's troops collapsed without firing a single arrow, and the gates are wide open. Liu Bei has entered the pass and seized countless provisions and weapons!"

Cao Cao shook the teacup in his hand, spilling half of the tea.

"What?"

The guard added, "The garrison burned their camp and fled, leaving behind mountains of abandoned supplies. Liu Bei is currently taking inventory, and a rough estimate suggests that there are no less than 30,000 shi of grain and enough armor and weapons to equip 5,000 men."

Cao Cao put down his teacup.

The table was placed too heavily, and excess water splashed onto it.

Xun Yu sat opposite him without saying a word.

Cao Cao remained silent for a moment, then stood up, walked around the desk, and went to Xun Yu.

Then, he bowed deeply to the ground.

Xun Yu stood up to make way, but Cao Cao did not.

"Wenruo," Cao Cao's voice was somewhat muffled, "I regret not heeding your advice."

Xun Yu supported his arm: "Lord Cao, there's no need to blame yourself."

Cao Cao straightened up, a bitter smile on his face.

"Yesterday, when Liu Zishan coughed at me twice in the tent, Cao Cao thought it was a trick. He figured this man was adept at scheming, and he shouldn't fall for it. But then…"

Cao Cao shook his head.

"In the end, they genuinely offered us credit, but Cao Cao stubbornly refused to accept it. Yesterday, Wenruo also advised me that Hulao Pass could be breached and urged me to advance quickly. I was foolish and did not heed his advice, so the credit fell into the hands of others. But..."

Xun Yu asked, "But what?"

Cao Cao said, "But why should Liu Liang's immense contributions in assisting Liu Bei be attributed to me?"

Xun Yu said, "Liu Zishan is indeed an extraordinary man. Yesterday, when he coughed twice, our lord suspected it was a trap. Thinking about it today, how could he not know that our lord would suspect him? He must have been grateful to Cao Cao for sending Generals Xiahou to help him at Hulao Pass, and he didn't want this credit to fall into the hands of others, which is why he hinted to you twice, inviting Cao Cao to share this great achievement."

"Ugh!"

Cao Cao sighed, walked to the tent, lifted the curtain, looked towards Liu Bei's camp, and said, "Am I... being too suspicious?"

Xun Yu said, "It's not that Lord Cao is too suspicious, it's just that this world is such that suspicion is warranted. But sometimes, if you suspect too many people, you'll miss a real opportunity."

Cao Cao remained silent.

After a long while, he lowered the tent flap again and turned to look at Xun Yu.

"Wenruo, is there still a chance?"

Xun Yu replied, "Yes."

Cao Cao's eyes narrowed slightly.

Xun Yu walked to the table and unfurled a map.

"With Hulao Pass breached, the gates of Luoyang are wide open. Dong Zhuo will surely move the capital westward and take the emperor with him to Chang'an. If you, my lord, were to advance swiftly and decisively now, you could reach Luoyang before Dong Zhuo's westward journey."

Cao Cao approached and stared at the picture.

Xun Yu continued, "If Dong Zhuo retreats, he will surely burn down the palaces of Luoyang and plunder the people. If Cao Cao personally leads a light cavalry into Luoyang at this time, he will not be able to save the palaces or the wealth, but he can save one person."

Cao Cao said, "The Emperor."

Xun Yu nodded and said, "If Lord Cao can assist the emperor in governing the world, the great cause of the world will be in his hands. At that time, which of the various warlords will be able to wreak havoc on the world?"

Cao Cao pointed to the words "Luoyang" and weighed the pros and cons.

Xun Yu said, "Yesterday's mistake can be made up for today. We can relinquish the victory at Hulao Pass. But if Cao Cao misses the opportunity to win at Luoyang, it will truly be a missed chance."

Cao Cao looked up: "Wenruo, when do you think Dong Zhuo will set off?"

Xun Yu said, "If I were Li Ru, I would surely have advised Dong Zhuo to head west that very night after Lü Bu's defeat at Hulao Pass. Delay could lead to unforeseen circumstances. Judging by the time, Dong Zhuo is already on his way."

Cao Cao asked, "If our army sets off now, will it still be in time?"

Xun Yu said, "We have enough time. But we need to travel light, travel quickly, and spare no effort."

Cao Cao walked to the tent entrance and called out, "Cao Ren! Cao Hong! Xiahou Dun! Xiahou Yuan! Li Dian! Yue Jin! Come quickly!"

In a short while, the six generals arrived.

Cao Cao said, "Yuanrang and Miaocai! Each of you will lead five hundred elite cavalry, two horses each, and ten days' worth of dry rations, and immediately follow me westward. The main force of the central army will be led by Cao Ren and Cao Hong, and you must travel day and night to catch up. Li Dian and Yue Jin, you two will cover the rear and ensure the safety of the supplies."

The generals responded in unison.

At this moment, Cao Ren clasped his hands and asked, "Where is my lord going?"

Cao Cao said, "Luoyang."

The tent fell silent.

Xiahou Dun said, "Luoyang? That scoundrel Dong Zhuo isn't..."

Cao Cao said, "Dong Zhuo is going to flee. We must get the Emperor out before he escapes."

The generals then understood and accepted the order to leave.

Only Cao Cao and Xun Yu remained in the tent.

Cao Cao straightened his armor and tightened his sword.

"Wenruo, if Cao Cao can welcome the Emperor on this trip, I will invite you to Luoyang to discuss state affairs together."

Xun Yu cupped his hands in greeting: "I await your good news, Lord Cao."

Cao Cao stepped out of the tent.

His personal guards brought him a warhorse, and he mounted it, pulling on the reins and looking back at Xun Yu.

"Wenruo, do you think Liu Zishan might have also considered this possibility?"

Xun Yu said, "I believe he must have figured it out."

Cao Cao asked, "Could he also be heading towards Luoyang?"

Xun Yu shook his head: "No."

Cao Cao asked, "Why?"

Xun Yu said, "Liu Bei has just broken through Hulao Pass and his foothold is not yet secure. If he were to advance westward at this time, his rear would be vulnerable, with Dong Zhuo in front and other warlords on either side, making him a target of everyone's attacks. Liu Zishan will not let Liu Bei take this risky step. He will only let Liu Bei stay in Hulao Pass and observe the outcome."

Cao Cao was silent for a moment, then said, "Then I will make this move for him."

Having said that, he lashed out with his whip, and the warhorse galloped off.

A thousand elite cavalrymen surged out of the camp gate like a tidal wave, their hooves thundering and raising clouds of dust.

......

It was dusk inside Hulao Pass.

Liu Liang was checking the ledgers of the captured grain and fodder when the tent flap was lifted and Liu Bei strode in.

"Father, Cao Cao has launched an attack."

Liu Liang asked, "Where to?"

"Luoyang. I don't know how many people there were, each with two horses, heading west."

Liu Liang paused for a moment, his pen still in his hand.

He then put down his pen and chuckled softly.

Liu Bei asked, "What are you laughing at, my godfather?"

Liu Liang said, "This Cao Cao is quick to mend his ways, even after the sheep are lost."

Liu Bei said, "Should we...?"

Liu Liang waved his hand: "No. We have just entered the pass. Although we have plenty of provisions, the people's hearts are not yet won over. If we advance westward now, we will face Dong Zhuo in front and other warlords behind. The odds are against us. Let Cao Cao go."

Liu Bei said, "If Cao Cao really welcomes the Emperor..."

Liu Liang said, "That's his skill. We've already attracted enough attention by taking Hulao Pass. If we extend our reach to Luoyang, Yuan Shao and his men will really have to sharpen their knives."

Liu Bei said, "How about we also send a detachment westward to protect His Majesty?"

Liu Liang's heart tightened.

Liu Bei! Truly a hero!

Could it be that they also harbored the idea of ​​using the emperor to command disobedient subjects?

Now that Liu Bei's power has grown and he has won one battle after another, with soldiers, generals, and provisions at his disposal, it is only natural that he would have such thoughts.

After a moment's thought, Liu Liang said, "Xuande's concerns are not without merit."

After a moment's thought, Liu Liang said, "Xuande can guard Hulao Pass with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to stabilize the camp. Zilong and I will lead five hundred cavalry to Luoyang to scout out the situation. If the time is right, Xuande can lead Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to march west and welcome the Emperor. In this way, we can attack or defend as needed, and be in an invincible position."

Liu Bei was overjoyed: "Excellent! Thank you for your trouble, Godfather!"

Liu Liang said, "However, this matter must be kept secret, and kept only between you and me."

Liu Bei nodded and left, leaving only Liu Liang in the tent.

Looking at the figures for the captured grain in the ledger, Liu Liang suddenly recalled the laughter from earlier.

Laugh at Cao Cao for trying to fix things after the fact.

He also laughed at himself for his cunning schemes.

Cao Cao did not heed yesterday's hint.

Liu Bei deserves all the credit for today's achievement.

Cao Cao seized the opportunity to plunder Luoyang, which was considered a matter of national righteousness.

After going around in circles, they ended up going their separate ways.

Liu Liang closed the ledger, tossed it onto the table, and muttered to himself:

"Cao Cao has my secret assistance, and Liu Bei has the halo of benevolence bestowed upon him."

"This situation is difficult to break!"