Three Kingdoms: Fusion of Entries, Change of Destiny

Chapter 161 Building a Palace in Luoyang: Zhang Yang's Unconcealable Secret Thoughts

Cao Yan led Cai Yan and Li Ru, striding towards where Cao Cao was.

When Cai Yan met Cao Cao, time seemed to stand still.

Cai Yan raised her eyes and looked at Cao Cao. Memories of the past surged into her mind like a tide, and a thousand emotions churned within her.

Cao Cao stared blankly at the white moonlight in his heart, his mind filled with a thousand words, yet he didn't know where to begin.

He carefully examined Cai Yan. Now a married woman, she had shed her girlish naiveté and gained a more mature charm.

At this moment, in Cao Cao's eyes, Zhao Ji was more beautiful than ever before.

The two had not seen each other for a long time, and when they stood facing each other again, they were silent.

Cai Yan recalled how Cao Cao had spoken eloquently about his ambitions in front of her and her classmates.

At that time, he had a bad temper and was straightforward. He wasn't good-looking either, and he was also the descendant of a eunuch, so everyone laughed at him for overestimating his abilities.

But now, as time has passed, he has become a powerful regional warlord, and those boasts that were once considered jokes seem to be coming true one by one...

Looking back at herself, she was once a favored daughter of heaven, adored by everyone. Now, however, she has endured many hardships, looks like a beggar, and was almost abducted by the Huns.

Such drastically different circumstances filled the two of them with mixed feelings.

For a moment, I really didn't know where to begin.

Cao Yan saw all of this and knew that it was time to give Cao Cao and Cai Yan some space to be alone.

He slightly raised his hand, beckoning Li Ru, Xun Yu, and the others, and said softly, "Gentlemen, let's go first."

The group understood and followed Cao Yan away, leaving the place to Cao Cao and Cai Yan.

Xun Yu went to attend to military affairs.

Seeing that only Cao Yan and his guards were present, Li Ru asked, "General, why don't you reveal my identity? Do you really want me to serve you?"

Cao Yan turned around, looked at Li Ru calmly, and said slowly, "You escorted Cai Yan all the way here. No matter what your purpose was, you have at least done a favor for my elder brother. I will not kill you, nor will I expose you. You can go wherever you want, but just don't do anything that would harm our side."

Upon hearing this, Li Ru was taken aback. He had thought that once his identity was exposed, he would surely die, but he never expected Cao Yan to be so magnanimous.

After a brief moment of surprise, he asked, "May I go to Chenliu County?"

Cao Yan smiled slightly and replied, "Of course."

After saying this, he turned and left, preparing to return to his own army.

Just then, a system notification sounded in Cao Yan's mind.
[Li Ru's favorability towards you has changed; current favorability: 45%]

……

One night passed,
It's unclear what Cao Cao and Cai Yan discussed that night.

The next morning, Cao Cao appeared before everyone with a ruddy complexion.

In front of Cai Yan, he triumphantly tossed his cloak aside, waved his hand, and proclaimed loudly, "Soldiers, follow me on the expedition to welcome the Emperor!"

The soldiers shouted slogans, their voices echoing through the sky.

Li Ru originally intended to leave, but Cai Yan tried her best to persuade him to stay.

Cai Yan knew in her heart that if it weren't for Li Ru's careful protection along the way, she would probably have been captured by the Xiongnu long ago.

Despite Cai Yan's sincere pleas, Li Ru ultimately stayed, remaining with Cai Yan in Cao Cao's army as her servant.

The army marched in great numbers and soon arrived at Hulao Pass.

Cao Cao and Cao Yan stood below the pass, looking up at the towering fortress.

Hulao Pass is strategically important and a battleground for military strategists. After discussing the matter, the two concluded that although the garrison at Hulao Pass was small, a direct assault would result in significant casualties, which was not the best strategy.

After pondering for a moment, Cao Yan said to Cao Cao, "Brother, I think we can send Cao Ang and his 8,000 Mandarin Duck Army across the Yellow River and circle around to the rear of Hulao Pass from Hanoi County."

Now that Fan Chou is dead, and Li Jue, Guo Si, and Zhang Ji are still plotting to kidnap the emperor, it is impossible for Hulao Pass to receive reinforcements.

"We'll first besiege the pass, then send envoys to persuade them to surrender. The defending general will surely succumb to the pressure."

Cao Cao nodded slightly and said approvingly, "Zian is absolutely right. We will follow your plan." So, Cao Ang accepted the order and led eight thousand Mandarin Duck Army soldiers to set off quickly toward the Yellow River crossing.

Cao Yan then had Zhao Yun, Xiahou Lan, Dian Wei, and others challenge the enemy at the pass every day, but did not launch an attack.

Three days later, Cao Ang arrived at the other side of Hulao Pass.

Cao Cao sent an envoy to the pass, who shouted to the defending general, "Listen up, General! You are now surrounded by our army, with no reinforcements from the outside and no food supplies from within. If you know what's good for you, open the gates and surrender now, and you may be spared. Otherwise, when the city falls, you will surely die a horrible death!"

The garrison commander stood on the city wall, looking at the densely packed Cao army outside the pass, his heart filled with terror.

Cao Cao's army is numerous and powerful, and now their retreat has been cut off. If they continue to resist, they will only face certain death.

Thinking of this, the garrison commander gritted his teeth and finally decided to open the gate and surrender the pass.

With a loud creak, the gates of Hulao Pass slowly opened, and Cao Cao's army entered the pass smoothly.

After passing Hulao Pass, the road becomes flat.

After passing Hulao Pass, the plains ahead stretched out before them, and Cao Cao's army quickened their pace, galloping towards Luoyang.

Meanwhile, in Luoyang, there was a group of soldiers, including Zhang Yang, the governor of Henan, who was building a palace in Luoyang and waiting for the emperor to arrive!
Zhang Yang was initially appointed by Dong Zhuo as the governor of Hanoi, responsible for resisting the Guanzhong coalition.

He was a friend of Lü Bu, and naturally not on the same side as Cao Cao. With Cao Cao's army coming, Zhang Yang was filled with unease.

Zhang Yang, who was directing the construction of the palace in Luoyang, suddenly heard a soldier report: "General, something terrible has happened! A large army is approaching from afar. Judging from the banners, it seems to be Cao Cao's army."

Cao Cao's army deliberately slowed its march and approached Luoyang.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yang's face turned deathly pale, and the riding whip in his hand fell to the ground with a "crack".

His troops in Luoyang numbered only a few thousand, which were like ants in the face of Cao Cao's tens of thousands of elite troops.

Zhang Yang arrived at the city wall and gazed at the Cao army slowly approaching like a black torrent in the distance. His heart was filled with worry: "Could it be that Cao Cao came here to take the opportunity to annex me? But I still have an alliance with Yuan Shao. He should have some reservations."

The adjutant beside him said cautiously, "General, Cao Cao is too powerful. We should retreat! With our few thousand troops in Luoyang, it's like throwing an egg against a rock in front of Cao Cao's tens of thousands of elite troops."

Zhang Yang did not reply, but kept his eyes fixed on the approaching Cao army.
Cao Cao rode a tall horse and walked at the head of the procession.

He gazed at Luoyang City in the distance, a slight smile playing on his lips, and said to Cao Yan beside him, "Zi'an, what do you think Zhang Yang's feelings are right now?"

Cao Yan smiled and replied, "Zhang Yang and Lü Bu are good friends. He must be terrified when he sees us coming."

"Zhang Yang is rebuilding the palace; it seems he also intends to curry favor with the emperor." After a moment's thought, Cao Cao asked, "How should we respond?"

“The entire city of Luoyang is already in ruins. What’s the point of rebuilding a palace?” Cao Yan said dismissively.

Cao Cao understood and nodded, saying, "Then, Your Majesty, are we going to bring you directly back to Yanzhou?"

“Let’s take him to Yingchuan,” Cao Yan replied. “Whether for safety or for the sake of influence, the emperor cannot remain in Yanzhou.”

Cao Cao understood and then said, "Then send it to Yingchuan. As for the specific destination, we'll see what suggestions Wenruo has."

"Well, it's not too late to discuss it after we receive the Emperor."

Cao Cao's army passed through Luoyang and saw Zhang Yang on the city wall in the distance.

When Zhang Yang's soldiers saw Cao Cao's army stretching endlessly, with banners waving and a magnificent military appearance, their legs trembled with fear.

Fortunately, Cao Cao did not order an attack on the city; instead, the army continued westward.

As Cao Cao's army left Luoyang, Zhang Yang stood on the city wall, watching the departing Cao army, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He was glad that he hadn't acted impulsively and avoided a possible disaster, but he also felt that he had lost face in front of Cao Cao and was very unhappy.

What he was most unwilling to accept was that
If Cao Cao succeeds in rescuing the emperor on this trip, all his efforts will be in vain.

But what can you do if you're unwilling to accept it?

If they were to fight, he would be no match for Cao Cao.

They could only swallow their anger and keep quiet for the time being.

(End of this chapter)