Chapter 84: Cao Cao Bestows Horses

  Cao Cao walked quickly out of the camp and saw three people standing in front of the troops at a glance, and couldn't help but secretly praise them.

  These three men, although their clothes were tattered and dusty, had a certain air about them. Especially the big man in green robes, who was at least nine feet tall, with an imposing presence, and holding that shining large knife, seemed like a god descended from heaven. The other two were not inferior either. One of them was eight feet tall, with a ring-shaped head and leopard-like eyes, exuding a fierce aura, full of vigor. The youngest one, although pale-faced, had a straight waist, a calm expression, and a resolute gaze. Compared to the other two, he may not have been as intimidating, but he had more elegance.

  Cao Cao separated the soldiers and walked forward with big strides, without saying a word, he burst out laughing: "Haha, isn't this Liu Bei, Liu Xuande, the disciple of Lu Zhi from Zhuo County?"

  Liu Bei listened and suddenly had a few more good impressions of this big step flow star little guy, and hurriedly cupped his hands and said: "I am Liu Bei, I don't know who you are..."

  "Haha, I am Cao Cao of Qiao County. Currently, I'm serving under the command of Yuan Shao as a General of Valiant Cavalry. Brother Liu Bei, I've had the pleasure of befriending your respected teacher, Lu Zhi. He often spoke of you, and I never expected to meet you in person today." Cao Cao warmly grasped Liu Bei's hand, sizing him up from head to toe before turning around to look at Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, exclaiming: "Indeed, they are heroes! Are these all under your command, Brother Liu? With such subordinates, you will surely achieve great things in the future!"

  Liu Bei burst out laughing. He had traveled in the Central Plains for many years, but it was the first time someone looked at him with such importance. Even knowing that Cao Cao was a eunuch, he still found Cao Cao lovely. He smiled and said: "General, you are mistaken. They are not only my subordinates, but also my sworn brothers. This is Guan Yu from Hedong, styled Yunchang, and this is Zhang Fei from Zhuo County, styled Jide."

  Cao Cao nodded repeatedly, his eyes scanning Zhang Fei and Guan Yu's faces before finally settling on Guan Yu's red face. "Forgive my impertinence, may I ask about Yunchang's fate?"

  Guan Yu's eyes widened: "You also know about fate?"

  Cao Cao smiled: "I've heard it before."

  Guan Yu nodded and then proudly said: "I am Qing Feng."

  Cao Cao's eyes flashed with a smile: "Indeed. So it seems we have two phoenixes now."

  Guan Yu did not think so, but Liu Bei understood and hastily asked: "Who else is the phoenix bird?"

  Cao Cao's mouth slightly curled up: "Lord Yuan."

  Liu Bei's face looked a bit unsightly, and after a moment, he bowed deeply to Cao Cao: "Thank you, sir, for reminding me. As a rustic and ignorant person from the border regions, I am grateful for your guidance."

  Cao Cao burst out laughing. From these few words, he could see that among the three brothers, Guan Yu's martial arts might be the highest, but in terms of strategy, Liu Bei was clearly more skilled. No wonder Guan Yu had the fate of Qing Feng, yet only Liu Bei was looked up to as a leader. It seems that Liu Bei's fate won't be bad either, he just hasn't realized it yet.

  Cao Cao led Liu Bei and others to his own camp. Liu Bei had few soldiers, looked poor and shabby, and Yuan Shao didn't think much of him. If it weren't for the fact that Lu Zhi was Liu Bei's teacher, Yuan Shao wouldn't have considered accepting Liu Bei. Seeing this, Cao Cao took on the responsibility of accommodating Liu Bei and others himself. Originally just a task, but after seeing Liu Bei and his two companions, he changed his mind.

  Upon arrival at the camp, he arranged for the campsite and allocated grain and tents to Liu Bei. He then invited Liu Bei to his own tent and briefly explained the current situation.

  Yu She and Pan Feng fell under Zhang Liao's spear, now the leader is not pleased, the hospitality is not warm, and asked Xuande to stay for a day or two. Cao Cao said politely: "Xuande will temporarily accompany me, wait until we take down Xiangyang, attack Luoyang, the leader will reward according to merit, naturally will not be stingy with Xuande."

  Liu Bei nodded in agreement, but Guan Yu on the side was furious. He had come from afar to assist, yet Yuan Shao wouldn't even grant him an audience; this was too humiliating. Just as he was thinking of finding an opportunity to show off his skills, he heard that Zhang Liao had killed two top generals and immediately became spirited. Standing up, he cupped his hands and said: "General Cao, Guan Yu is not talented, but I am willing to go into battle, behead Zhang Liao, and present his head to the commander's tent."

  Cao Cao glanced at him: "Zhang Yue is no ordinary person. Although Yunchang's martial arts are good, he doesn't have a full grasp of it."

  Guan Yu snorted disdainfully: "With the Green Dragon Crescent Blade, even Lü Bu would be beheaded by me, let alone the insignificant Zhang Yue."

  Cao Cao shook his head: "Since that's the case, I'll go report to the alliance leader. However, there is one thing I want to say beforehand."

  "Please go on."

  "I see that you are a great hero with exceptional martial arts skills, and your Green Dragon Crescent Blade is no ordinary treasure. However, Yunchang, you lack one thing."

  "What's missing?"

  A fine horse.

  Guan Yu heard this and immediately felt disheartened. He indeed lacked a good horse. Being nine feet tall and weighing much more than an average person, plus holding the 81-jin heavy Guandao, equivalent to the weight of two ordinary men, his warhorse could not withstand it at all. He had been wanting to find a good horse, but good horses were hard to come by, and he hadn't found a suitable mount even after being in the northern border for so long.

  Although he was thus spoken to, Kuan Yu still refused to give up: "I will take him at the first encounter; if I fail, it will be of little matter."

  Cao Cao smiled and turned to Xiahou Yuan, making a gesture with his eyes. Xiahou Yuan turned around and went out. After a moment, the sound of horseshoes came from outside the tent. Cao Cao stood up, pulling Liu Bei out of the tent, followed by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. Outside the tent, Xiahou Yuan was holding a fiery red horse, waiting. As soon as Guan Yu saw this horse, his eyes lit up, and his slender phoenix eyes widened like Zhang Fei's leopard eyes.

  Cao Cao smiled and said: "This horse is called Absolute Shadow, it's a fine steed from Dayuan. I'll give it to Yunchang to help him in battle, what do you think?"

  Guan Yu opened his mouth, intending to make a polite remark, but the words of refusal could not be spoken. Cao Cao's gift was too much to his liking, hitting his weak spot. He did not want to decline it no matter what.

  Liu Bei raised an eyebrow and immediately regained his composure, with a hint of a smile on the corner of his mouth.

  ……

  "Is Guan Yu going to fight Zhang Xiu?" Yuan Shao looked at Cao Cao with suspicion, "Yu She and Pan Feng couldn't even withstand one encounter with Zhang Xiu, what's the point of sending out a rustic bumpkin to make a fool of himself?"

  Cao Cao shook his head and advised, "Alliance leader, Guan Yu is a man from Hedong, he has read some books, not an unrefined person. Moreover, he is tall and strong, seems to have some martial arts skills, why not let him try, if he wins, it would also be good to curb that foolish king's arrogance."

  Yuan Shao shrugged and said indifferently: "Since Meng De insists, let him try then."

  "Thank you, Lord." Cao Cao turned around and left the tent, personally selecting 200 elite soldiers to accompany Liu Bei and Zhang Fei out of the camp to sweep the battlefield for Guan Yu. Seeing this scene, Guan Yu became furious and vowed to kill Zhang Yang, letting Yuan Shao see his skills and regret his current impolite behavior.

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