usatvline Chapter 55 Cao Cao Drinking a Messy Mess
Chapter 55 Cao Cao Drinking a Messy Mess
Li Zhao specially brought Liu Bei along to watch this battle.
At this moment.
Liu Bei stood on the high slope, looking down at the hellish scene below.
I was completely stunned.
He fought wars his whole life.
I've witnessed the madness of the Yellow Turbans, the archery skills of Gongsun Zan, and the cunning of Cao Cao.
But he had never seen a battle like this before.
This is hardly a war.
This is practically throwing money at people!
They buried people alive with a rain of arrows!
He did a rough calculation.
In that battle just now, the Divine Machine Battalion fired at least 100,000 arrows!
One hundred thousand!
At current market prices, an arrow costs at least ten coins.
That's a million dollars!
In addition, the White Horse Cavalry suffered losses in horses and depreciation in equipment...
If this battle goes wrong, it will cost at least several million dollars!
Which other feudal lord could afford to fight such a war?
Liu Bei suddenly remembered his old days.
At that time, in order to raise some military funds, he traveled from northeast to west, begging people everywhere, and only then was he able to barely scrape together enough for the military expenses.
In battle, they were extremely meticulous, using every arrow sparingly.
But what about Li Zhao?
They don't care about that little bit of money at all.
What they care about is efficiency.
So, war can be this lucrative.
Suddenly, Liu Bei felt that all his previous battles had been fought in vain.
The things I used to hold dear no longer seem so important.
Benevolence and righteousness?
Li Zhao ensured that one million people in Qingzhou had enough to eat. Isn't that the greatest act of benevolence and righteousness?
The Han Dynasty?
In this world, warlords are vying for power, and the people are suffering terribly. The majesty of the Han Dynasty has long been lost.
Only someone like Li Zhao, with both strength and courage, can truly end the chaos and allow the people to live a better life.
That is the true destiny bestowed upon them!
Liu Bei turned his head and looked at the calm-faced young man beside him. For the first time, he realized that this ordinary body contained such powerful strength.
It was only at this point that Liu Bei truly realized Li Zhao's capabilities.
He knew that he had truly chosen the right person to follow this time.
This young man possesses both the ability and the ambition to end this chaotic world.
Liu Bei was willing to be a sword or a brick in his hand.
To expand his territory and contribute to his development.
"My lord."
Liu Bei suddenly knelt on one knee, bowed deeply to Li Zhao, and said loudly:
"I have a request that I may make."
Li Zhao quickly helped Liu Bei up and said:
"Why do you say such a thing, Lord Xuande? Please rise quickly."
Liu Bei raised his head, looking firmly at Li Zhao, and said:
"I... am willing to resign from my military post."
"I request that you take charge of education in Qingzhou."
"I am willing to establish schools throughout Qingzhou for the Lord, to educate the people."
"To cultivate a group of loyal and capable grassroots officials for our lord!"
"I am willing to be the cornerstone of your cause, and to pave the way for your great and lasting legacy!"
Li Zhao was deeply moved after hearing this.
He knew that Liu Bei had completely submitted to his cause.
He gave up his forte in military command and chose the most basic, yet most arduous, work in education.
This is for Li Zhao's long-term development!
"Lord Xuande is truly righteous!"
Li Zhao held Liu Bei's hand tightly.
"With Lord Xuande's assistance, what do I, Li Zhao, have to worry about in achieving my great goal!"
"I entrust this matter to Lord Xuande!"
Since the beginning of summer, not a drop of rain has fallen in Yanzhou.
Immediately afterwards, the swarm of locusts, which blotted out the sky, spread across the ground, wiping out the last trace of green.
The red land is thousands of miles away, and the road is full of hungry people.
The once prosperous Central Plains has now become a scene of hell on earth.
On this land, Cao Cao and Lü Bu, two fierce tigers of their time, were still engaged in a desperate struggle for the last bit of living space.
This battle lasted for more than a year.
At first, it could be described as a struggle for cities and land, but later it became nothing more than a fight to snatch the last bit of food from the other side.
Both sides were exhausted.
Yanzhou, Juancheng, Cao Cao's army camp.
The cold wind howled, swirling withered yellow grass around the campsite.
The soldiers guarding the camp wrapped themselves tightly in their tattered winter clothes and huddled in a sheltered corner.
For the past three days, they have been drinking thin porridge mixed with a lot of sand and wild vegetables.
Inside the central command tent, everyone appeared listless and exhausted.
Cao Cao, wearing a patched cloak, sat by the brazier without any sense of authority.
The charcoal fire in the brazier was not burning brightly, and occasionally a spark or two would pop out.
He was holding a rough porcelain bowl, which was also filled with a dark, murky liquid. It was clear that Cao Cao was also having a hard time drinking it.
The sand inside made his mouth hurt, but he continued chewing without changing his expression.
As the commander-in-chief, he must share weal and woe with his soldiers.
"My lord..."
Man Chong walked in. This cruel official, who had once been to Qingzhou and witnessed what "wine pools and meat forests" meant, was now so thin that he looked unrecognizable, with high cheekbones and sunken eyes.
"The army... really has run out of food."
Man Chong's voice was hoarse, tinged with despair, as he said, "Yesterday, more than three hundred warhorses starved to death. The soldiers have already started killing horses for food. If we don't find a solution soon, we'll have to disband within ten days, even without Lü Bu's attack."
Cao Cao put down his bowl, let out a long sigh, his face full of exhaustion, and waved his hand weakly, saying:
"I know."
Setting down the porridge in his hand, Cao Cao slowly paced back and forth in his tent.
Cao Mengde was a strong-willed man throughout his life and never bowed his head to anyone.
Even when he failed to assassinate Dong Zhuo in Luoyang and was on the run, he had never felt such despair.
But now, faced with this irresistible natural disaster and endless war, he truly felt a sense of powerlessness.
"Any news from Qingzhou?"
Cao Cao suddenly stopped and asked.
Man Chong gave a wry smile: "Reporting to my lord, Qingzhou is still a place of peace and prosperity. I heard that Li Zhao is holding a three-day banquet in Linzi to celebrate the harvest, and all the people in the city can eat and drink for free."
"Snap!"
The chopsticks in Cao Cao's hand were broken in two.
"Li Zhao, you brat! You've gone too far!"
Cao Cao gritted his teeth.
He was eating meager rations here, while Li Zhao was throwing a lavish banquet there.
The thought of someone else eating meat while he was drinking gruel made Cao Cao feel extremely resentful.
Why was Zhao born when Cao Cao was already born?
"My lord, at this point, saving face is no longer important."
Xun Yu slowly emerged from the shadows and said softly, "For the sake of the people of Yanzhou, for the lives of these tens of thousands of soldiers, my lord... has no choice but to bow to Li Zhao one more time."
Cao Cao froze. He knew Xun Yu was right.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, as if trying to inhale all the humiliation and resentment into his stomach.
After a long while, he opened his eyes again, his gaze regaining its cold, ruthless quality.
"Boning".
"Your subordinate is here."
"You'll have to make another trip to Qingzhou."
Cao Cao's voice revealed no emotion, neither joy nor anger.
"Take my personal letter and go see Li Zhao. Tell him... Yanzhou is suffering from a severe drought, and the people are resorting to cannibalism, a truly horrific sight. Cao Cao, in his capacity as Governor of Yanzhou, is willing to borrow 300,000 shi of grain from the Chancellor of Qingzhou to save the people."
"If he wants interest, let him name his price. If he wants collateral, this city of Yanzhou... he can choose whatever he wants."
Cao Cao's voice trembled as he spoke the last few words.
This was the most humiliating decision he had ever made in his life.
……
Meanwhile, in Puyang City, at Lü Bu's camp.
The situation here is no better than that in Cao Cao's camp.
"Snapped!"
Lu Bu kicked over the empty wine jar in front of him.
"Where's the grain? Where's the wine? Where did it all go?!"