Three Kingdoms: The Peerless Strategist of Wei

Chapter 17 With this person as my bodyguard, I can roam the world with impunity.

Diaochan, who was standing by, looked at the two of them so affectionately and felt extremely envious. Her cheeks turned red without her realizing it.

After finishing a hot pot meal, Cao Jie kept Gu Cheng's plan firmly in mind. Under the pretext of visiting her parents' home, she hurriedly went to the Sikong Mansion to meet Cao Cao.

Gu Cheng personally escorted her to the gate of the mansion.

As soon as he turned around, the system notification sounded in his mind.

"Ding, the seclusion mission has been successfully triggered. The mission will last for two months. Please choose your seclusion location."

The images of the three cities—Xia Cai, Puyang, and Tancheng—instantly flashed into his mind.

Gu Cheng's eyes lit up instantly.

Successfully triggering the system task means another generous reward is on the way.

Xia Cai was located within Yuan Shu's territory, right next to Shouchun City. It was a place that had always been rife with trouble, so naturally he eliminated it immediately.

Tancheng is located within Xuzhou, and is within Lü Bu's control.

Although Xuzhou is relatively stable at the moment, it is still the territory of the opposing camp compared to Xudu. It is best to avoid going there if possible.

Puyang, located in Yanzhou, was under Cao Cao's absolute control, making it the safest and most secure place to go.

"It seems I'll have to stay in Yanzhou for two months."

Gu Cheng turned back into the courtyard and immediately called Diao Chan and Zhou Tai over, intending to instruct them to make preparations for the long journey in advance.

Before he could speak, Zhou Tai stepped forward and cupped his hands, saying, "Liheng, I'd like to ask for a few days' leave to go back to my hometown in Xia Cai."

"Back to Xia Cai? Why is that?" Gu Cheng asked.

"After Yuan Shu declared himself emperor, he levied exorbitant taxes and levies in the Huainan region, and Xia Cai was no exception. I still have many relatives in my hometown, and they are now living a very difficult life."

"Right now, Huainan is in the midst of war again, and the flames of war could spread to Xia Cai at any time. I am worried about my relatives, so I want to go back and bring them all to Xudu to settle them down."

Zhou Tai explained the reasons in detail.

Gu Cheng suddenly realized that Zhou Tai was originally from Xia Cai.

Between him and Zhou Tai, there was not only the boundary of the relationship between master and subject, but also the bond of brotherhood forged in life-or-death situations. How could he possibly refuse Zhou Tai's request to return to rescue his family?

"He just happened to be heading back to Xia Cai, and of the three cities the system provided, Xia Cai was one of them. What a coincidence..."

With a quick thought, Gu Cheng immediately had an idea.

He patted Zhou Tai on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Youping, don't worry. I will personally accompany you to Xia Cai to bring all your relatives back!"

Zhou Tai shuddered, his eyes filled with gratitude and astonishment, and involuntarily looked at Gu Cheng. "Li Heng, I appreciate your kindness, but Xia Cai is a dangerous place, and I absolutely cannot let you put yourself in danger."

Despite his heartfelt gratitude, Zhou Tai still resolutely refused.

Gu Cheng laughed and said, "What, Youping, don't you even have the confidence to protect me?"

"Even if it costs me my life, I, Zhou Tai, will protect you, Li Heng."

Zhou Tai's face was full of solemnity, but he continued, "However, there are always unexpected things. What if we really run into one?"

"Don't worry, Yuhei, I'm not as vulnerable as you think."

A cold, sharp glint flashed in Gu Cheng's eyes, and the hand on his shoulder suddenly tightened its grip.

"Click!"

A cracking sound came from Zhou Tai's shoulder bone, followed by a sharp pain.

"He's incredibly strong!"

Zhou Tai was both shocked and horrified. Instinctively, he jerked his shoulder, trying to shake off the hand.

But who would have thought that even with a shrug of his shoulder, using 70% of his strength, he still couldn't shake off Gu Cheng's fingers.

Zhou Tai's expression changed drastically, and he could only grit his teeth and use all his strength.

With this sudden exertion, Gu Cheng's five fingers, which were like iron clamps, were barely shaken open.

Zhou Tai looked Gu Cheng up and down, his astonishment beyond measure.

Gu Cheng asked calmly, "So, Youping, are you still worried?"

Zhou Tai then came to his senses and quickly cupped his hands in admiration, saying, "It turns out that Li Heng, you are a man of great talent. Now I am completely relieved. If you want to go to Xia Cai, we will go together."

Having demonstrated his abilities and successfully persuaded Zhou Tai, Gu Cheng instructed them to pack their belongings immediately.

At the same time, Cao Jie had already entered Xudu by carriage and arrived at the gate of the Sikong Mansion.

Inside the stone pavilion in the garden of the mansion, Cao Cao was discussing the current situation in Huainan with Xi Zhicai.

"As Li Heng had predicted, Sun Ce and Lü Bu have completely turned against Yuan Shu and started a war. Yuan Shu is now besieged on both sides and his situation is extremely precarious."

"We just need to wait until they fight to the death, and Yuan Shu suffers a heavy blow, then we can march south, take Shouchun City in one fell swoop, and recover the entire Huainan region."

Xi Zhicai spoke eloquently and clearly, outlining Cao Cao's subsequent strategic plan.

Cao Cao agreed wholeheartedly and nodded slowly.

"The daughter has met her father."

Cao Jie walked slowly into the stone pavilion, stepped forward, and bowed in greeting.

Cao Cao smiled and waved, saying, "The festival has arrived, come and sit down quickly."

Cao Jie then went into the pavilion and sat down.

"Jie'er, you're returning home at this time. Does your husband have some brilliant idea to share?"

Cao Cao immediately noticed something amiss.

Cao Jie then spoke up, "Just now, when my husband and I were having dinner, we chatted casually for a bit. My husband said that neither Lü Bu nor Sun Ce are reckless brutes. They would never fight Yuan Shu to the death, but instead let you, Father, reap the benefits."

Cao Cao and Xi Zhicai were both startled and involuntarily exchanged a glance.

Gu Cheng's judgment was completely opposite to their previous plan.

After a moment of contemplation, Xi Zhicai looked ashamed and said self-deprecatingly, "I was careless. Lu Bu has Chen Gong to assist him, and Sun Ce has Zhou Yu to strategize. These two are the top strategists of our time. With them planning for him, Lu Bu and Sun Ce will indeed not fight Yuan Shu to the bitter end."

"In that case, our plan to reap the benefits and eliminate Yuan Shu in one fell swoop is probably not going to work."

Cao Cao's brows furrowed instantly.

Just then.

Cao Jie then spoke up: "However, my husband also mentioned a plan that can quickly capture Shouchun and wipe out Yuan Shu in one fell swoop."

"really!"

Cao Cao's furrowed brows instantly relaxed, and he said with a face full of joy, "I knew it! Li Heng must have some ingenious plan. Jie'er, tell me quickly."

Cao Jie immediately repeated, word for word, Gu Cheng's plan: to sail swiftly down the Ying River, launch a surprise attack on Xiachai, and then lead his troops across the Huai River to unexpectedly encircle Shouchun.

After hearing this, Cao Cao immediately rushed to the map and scanned the area in the direction of Huainan.

"Brilliant! Young Master Liheng's plan is truly ingenious!"

Xi Zhicai was overjoyed and exclaimed sincerely, "Young Master Liheng has such a thorough understanding of Yuan Shu's troop deployment, the strength and weakness of his camps, that I believe this plan is absolutely feasible!"

"Bang!"

Cao Cao slammed his hand on the map and laughed loudly, "My son-in-law is truly a reincarnation of a strategist! Heaven has been incredibly kind to me, Cao Cao!"

He suddenly turned around, waved his hand, and shouted sternly, "Pass on my order! Immediately and secretly assemble the troops! I will personally lead a large army south along the Ying River and take Xia Cai City directly!"

"promise!"

Xi Zhicai gladly accepted the order.

After relaying Gu Cheng's plan in its entirety, Cao Jie breathed a sigh of relief and got up to take his leave.

At the time of parting.

Cao Jie then asked, "Father, now that I am married to Li Heng, he is our Cao family's son-in-law. When do you plan to reveal my identity to him? I feel guilty for keeping it from him all this time."

"What you said makes sense. It's not a long-term solution to keep hiding this. Liheng is very intelligent, and he will eventually see through the deception."

Cao Cao frowned again, lowered his head and pondered without responding.

After a while...

Cao Cao said, "How about this, Jie'er, you go and sound him out first, see if he has any intention of taking up an official post. If he does, then everything will be easy."

"My daughter understands."

Cao Jie bowed respectfully and then took his leave.

When she left Xudu and returned to Gujiazhuang, it was already dusk.

As soon as he stepped through the gate, Cao Jie froze on the spot.

The carriage in the courtyard was already prepared, and Diao Chan was directing the maids and servants of the mansion to load all kinds of valuables and luggage onto the carriage.

Cao Jie asked with a puzzled look, "Husband, are we going on a long trip?"

Gu Cheng said in a calm tone, "Youping is going back to his hometown of Xia Cai. I heard that the scenery there is beautiful, so I plan to accompany him to stay for a while. Madam, you should also pack and prepare. We will set off shortly."

"Go to Xia Cai?"

Cao Jie's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly said, "Xia Cai is Yuan Shu's territory. If that Minister Cao leads his army there, wouldn't it become a war zone? How can we risk our lives?"

"Madam is overthinking it. The idea of ​​a surprise attack on Xia Cai was just something I mentioned casually. Cao Sikong might not have thought of that, so the war won't break out."

Gu Cheng, however, said with a completely dismissive expression.

Cao Jie was filled with words, but couldn't utter a single one.

She couldn't very well tell Gu Cheng that his father-in-law was none other than Cao Sikong, who had used Gu Cheng's plan and was about to launch an attack on Xia Cai.

Seeing the hesitation on her face, Gu Cheng said, "If Madam doesn't want to go, she can stay at home and look after the house. I'll be back in two months at most."

Cao Jie, filled with helplessness, bit her rosy lips and said resolutely, "We are husband and wife, how can we be separated so easily? Even if my husband has to go through fire and water, I will stay by your side."

"Silly girl, don't make it sound so serious. We're just going sightseeing, don't overthink it."

Gu Cheng extended his fingertip and gently brushed the tip of her nose.

This intimate gesture immediately made Cao Jie's cheeks flush red, and she lowered her head and smiled shyly.

That afternoon.

Gu Cheng then boarded a ship in Xu County with dozens of guards and attendants, and sailed south along the Ying River.

After two days of sailing, they arrived at the territory of Ruyin County, less than a hundred miles from Xiacai City.

As darkness was approaching, Gu Cheng ordered the merchant ships to dock and rest there for the night, continuing their journey after daybreak the next day.

As soon as Gu Cheng stepped onto the riverbank, a deafening tiger roar suddenly rang in his ears.

Following closely behind were bursts of mournful wails.

"Protect the young master and his wife!"

Zhou Tai instantly became alert, drew his sword, and led his guards to block Gu Cheng and Cao Jie.

Curiosity took hold, Gu Cheng told Cao Jie and the other women to return to the boat and wait, while he led Zhou Tai and a few others to push aside the reeds on the shore and go to check the situation.

There was a carriage parked on the path by the shore, and a dozen or so people were lying around it, all of them injured and bruised.

In an open space not far away, a burly man with a thick back and a full black beard was fighting a tiger with his bare hands.

The fierce tiger with its piercing eyes, weighing several hundred pounds, was pinned to the ground by the burly man and unable to move.

The burly man freed one fist and smashed it hard into the tiger's head, causing the tiger to howl in pain.

"This man can actually fight a tiger bare-handed! What amazing skills he possesses!"

Gu Cheng couldn't help but cheer.

Zhou Tai couldn't help but click his tongue in admiration, "That tiger was pinned to the ground and couldn't move an inch. This man's strength is actually greater than mine!"

While the two were praising it, the tiger's skull had been shattered, and it was on the verge of death.

Just then.

A second tiger suddenly leaped out of the woods, letting out a deafening roar, and pounced on the burly man from behind. "Watch out!"

Gu Cheng shouted a warning, and without thinking, he drew his Longquan sword from his waist and hurled it at the tiger in mid-air.

"Whoosh!"

The Longquan sword flew through the air for more than ten steps before accurately piercing the tiger's belly in mid-air.

His strength was already extremely high, and the Longquan sword was a sharp sword that could cut through iron like mud. In an instant, it completely pierced through the tiger's belly.

The tiger let out a mournful howl and crashed to the ground in mid-air.

Zhou Tai turned back to look at Gu Cheng with a face full of surprise, clearly not expecting that he would have such amazing abilities.

Hearing the commotion, the burly man who had been fighting the tiger suddenly became alert and turned around to see the tiger lying on the ground, wounded by a sword.

The burly man then realized what was happening and couldn't help but gasp.

He leaped to his feet, glanced around, and shouted sharply, "Who came to my aid?"

Xu?

Gu Cheng looked the burly man up and down, his eyes darting around, when suddenly he remembered something.

"I have long heard that Xu Chu and Xu Zhongkang are tiger warriors of our time, and seeing them today, I can confirm that their reputation is well-deserved."

Gu Cheng smiled and stepped out of the reeds to greet him.

Xu Chu's expression changed slightly, and he bowed respectfully, saying, "Young master, how do you know my name?"

Gu Cheng smiled faintly and said, "In this area around Huai and Ru, besides you, Xu Zhongkang, is there anyone else who can fight a tiger bare-handed?"

Xu Chu then realized what was happening, scratched his head, and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Has my name, Xu Chu, really spread this far?"

The words had barely left his mouth.

Xu Chu's expression changed abruptly, and he rushed towards the carriage.

"Mother, Mother—"

Immediately following, Xu Chu's panicked shouts came from inside the carriage.

Gu Cheng quickly stepped forward and saw an old woman lying motionless in the carriage, looking as if she had stopped breathing.

"Brother Xu, please step aside, let me take a look!"

Without a word, Gu Cheng pushed Xu Chu aside and stepped forward to examine the old woman's condition.