Three Kingdoms Lords: Starting by walking into the mouth of a giant python

Chapter 130 Cao Cao Becomes an Apprentice

Of the four who became apprentices, three achieved their goals, while only "Cao De" remained alone.

Seeing this, the monk Danzi said to Li Yu, "Brother Dao, if you have no sectarian taboos, why not take on a disciple? It would be a way for your overseas lineage to form a connection with the Central Plains."

Li Yu replied, "There are no taboos," but then hesitated.

Zhang Luan smiled and said, "On this fine night, it is truly a wonderful story for the four of us to take on four disciples."

Li Yu's hesitation lessened slightly, and Zhang Luan seized the opportunity to shout at Cao Cao, "Foolish child, why don't you quickly pay your respects to your master!"

Cao Cao still harbored doubts about Li Yu's identity, but given the circumstances, he had no choice but to happily perform a grand ceremony.

All four of them had received instruction from a master. The masters each presented small gifts as greetings.

Zuo Que'er gave Wang Ze a paper horse. As long as it didn't come into contact with water or fire, he could ride it as he pleased.

Zhang Luan gave Yuan Ji several [Swiftness Talismans] and [Soldier Avoidance Talismans] for self-defense.

The monk with the egg on his head asked Dian Wei with a smile what he wanted, and the latter said he wanted a fierce beast as a mount. The monk said that he would teach him the method of "taming beasts" later, and for now, he would make him a "wooden tiger".

Having said that, he took a staff and wrote talismans and symbols on it. After finishing, he told Dian Wei to straddle the staff and test it.

Dian Wei recited the incantation taught by the Egg Master and shouted, "Hurry!"

In an instant, the cudgel transformed into a fierce tiger with piercing eyes and a white forehead.

Dian Wei rode a fierce tiger and shouted, "Rise!" The tiger soared into the air. Dian Wei was very excited and rode the flying tiger into the night sky, only landing back on the ground after a long while.

With another shout of "Go!", the tiger transformed back into a whistle.

Wang Ze and Yuan Ji were extremely envious. Cao Cao turned to look at his "mentor".

Master Li didn't have the ability to "cut paper into horses" or "draw sticks into tigers," so he simply took out a few [gutless fish] from his space and asked the Egg Monk to make a [wooden tiger] for his beloved disciple.

"It's nothing, no need..." The monk waved his hand, about to refuse, but when he saw the fish, his eyes lit up and he grabbed it.

"Thank you, fellow Daoist." The burly monk chuckled, then turned to Cao Cao and said, "My dear nephew, how many do you want?"

"Huh? Just one is enough!"

The group cooked fish and ate fruit, clinking glasses and feasting until the moon was set and the stars were low in the sky, before finally going to sleep.

The next day, after finishing his official duties, Wang returned to his courtyard with some food. During the meal, he angrily recounted the despicable deeds of Prefect Zhang Deqian.

It turns out that today, the 6,000 soldiers of Beizhou Army Camp went to the prefectural government office to demand their pay and provisions.

They said they haven't received any monthly allowances or wages for almost half a year.

Those who are unmarried are a little better off. But those with elderly parents and young children to support are truly struggling to make ends meet.

"Did you get it?" Cao Cao asked.

Wang shook his head: "The granary manager won't issue it, saying the prefect won't allow it."

"You corrupt official who deserves to die!" Dian Wei cursed.

Left-Lame Man laughed and said, "Our luck has arrived."

Wang was puzzled: "What kind of good fortune?"

"It's a stroke of luck to start an uprising." Zuo Que'er instructed Wang Ze, "Go and chase after those wardens, tell them to come back and say that they'll be given a month's worth of rice."

Wang Ze asked, "Master, where did you get the money and rice?"

Zuo Que'er laughed and said, "Just tell them to come back, I'll take care of things."

Wang then accepted the order and left.

After about half an hour, Wang Ze led his men to knock on the door, and what they saw was a courtyard and a house full of piles of rice.

"Wang Du has spared no expense to prepare this rice and grain so that you may have something to live on," Yuan Ji, Cao Cao, and the soldiers explained. Everyone was deeply grateful, bowing repeatedly in thanks.

Left-Waiter waved his hand: "Just use your strength to move it, don't fuss. Lest that Zhang guy overhears and cause trouble."

The officers and soldiers entered one by one, some carrying one stone, others carrying two stones, moving as much as they could with their strength.

From noon to dusk, they moved tens of thousands of bushels of rice and grain.

The captains and commanders in the camp were extremely grateful, saying, "If Commander Wang has any orders, we six thousand brothers will go through water and fire without hesitation."

That night, the four masters and five disciples discussed the matter for a while before dispersing around midnight.

The next morning, Prefect Zhang, who usually did nothing but ask for money, sat high in the main hall and summoned Wang Ze.

Prefect Zhang said, "Wang Ze, I only learned today that you are so wealthy that you have distributed rice and grain to six thousand people."

Before Wang Ze could reply, an official dressed in a purple jacket and with a sash around his waist shouted, "Sir, the granary has been robbed, and more than ten grains of rice are missing!"

The prefect slammed his gavel: "You audacious Wang Ze! How dare you steal from the granary! Guards, seize him and throw him in jail!"

Wang cried out "I'm innocent!" but Prefect Zhang ignored him. He ordered the constables to put him in shackles and send him to prison, while the judicial authorities were ordered to investigate.

Yesterday, Wang distributed rice and grain to relieve the soldiers, causing quite a stir.

Everyone praised Wang Dupai for his righteousness, but he was imprisoned in less than a day.

Prefect Zhang De was unpopular, and people constantly cursed him behind his back, saying he was "a true beast wrapped in fine silks, feeding animals with delicacies."

Now, with the label of "generous and righteous Wang Du Pai" attached to him, he has attracted even more criticism.

Zhang Luan and Li Yu, along with several disciples, took the opportunity to go from street to street, fueling the flames and causing public resentment to boil over.

Meanwhile, Zuo Que'er found the military camp and said, "Wang Du acted out of righteousness, distributing his family fortune to everyone to distribute rice and grain, but the prefect falsely accused him of stealing from the granary. Now he has been imprisoned, beaten until his skin is torn and he is not even human. I'm afraid his life is in danger."

He added, "Zhang De is even sending men to arrest the battalion commander and hold them accountable, and he also wants to recover yesterday's rice and grain and return it to the government granary. It's infuriating!"

The six thousand soldiers were filled with righteous indignation, but when Zuo Que'er, the first-class clerk, said he would break into the prison to rescue Wang Ze, they were all somewhat afraid and dared not speak.

Zuo Que'er summoned Dian Wei.

Dian Wei walked a few steps to the camp gate, roared, and lifted a stone lion onto his shoulder.

"They're all stuffed and bloated, yet they don't care about the suffering in the capital!" Dian Wei glared angrily. "Cowardly wimps!"

The officers and soldiers blushed, and two instructors who were armed with guns and clubs couldn't help but jump out.

A man named Zhang Cheng, carrying a stick, shouted, "Wang Du is a paragon of righteousness! I, Zhang, will risk my life to save him!"

Another person named Dou Wenyu also said, "Count me in."

Everyone shouted in unison, "Go! Go!"

So Dian Wei led the stone lion in front, and the crowd followed behind, charging towards the state government office.

Some yamen runners, having heard the news, drew their swords and shields to block the road, but when they saw Dian Wei carrying a lion, like a demon king descending to earth, they were all so frightened that they retreated repeatedly.

The soldiers, their morale soaring, stormed into the prefectural government office and rescued Wang Ze. Then, they encountered the trembling prefect, Zhang De.

The corrupt official had barely opened his mouth to beg for mercy when Dian Wei threw him off the stone lion and smashed him into a bloody pulp.

The officials, including the prefect, supervisor, and vice-prefect, were so terrified that they soiled themselves.

Wang Ze led the government troops to tie them up, and then led a large number of people who were cheering loudly outside the state office to rush into the government granaries and warehouses, distributing money and grain.

Finally, they broke into the homes of the prefect and vice-prefect, bringing out countless gold and silver coins and mountains of silk and satin, which they then displayed in front of the government offices.

Wang Ze said, "These valuables represent the lifeblood and hard work of the people of Beizhou. We will divide them into three parts: one part will be distributed to the soldiers of the two battalions; one part will be given to the shops that owe money and to the families of those who were cheated out of money by the prefect; and the last part will be distributed to the poor people in the city."

Upon hearing this, the entire city of Beizhou erupted in cheers.

Wang Ze then occupied the state government office, ordered Yuan Ji to write a proclamation to appease the people, and ordered Cao Cao and Dian Wei to lead two battalions of troops, fully armored, to reorganize their weapons, repair the four gates, and fortify the city.

A few days later, news of the rebellion in Beizhou was reported to the court. Emperor Renzong summoned the Privy Council for discussion, and Privy Councilor Xia Song recommended Liu Yanwei, the prefect of Jizhou, to lead troops to Beizhou to quell the rebellion.

Liu Yanwei accepted the imperial edict, chose an auspicious day, mustered 5,000 troops, and led 1,000 men under the command of Commander Ru Gang to march on Beizhou.

Among the thousand vanguard generals were Yuan Shao, Yan Liang, and Wen Chou.

(End of this chapter)