In the Three Kingdoms period, the opening scene features the killing of Huang Gai, shocking Zhou Yu!

After the grain was distributed, thankfully it was a small amount, with each household receiving only one shi (a unit of dry measure) initially.

By the time the last person who received the grain left, full of gratitude, it was already midnight.

Even the strongest man couldn't withstand the arduous task of carrying and distributing grain for most of the day, which weighs over 60 kilograms.

Yang Song's "Grand Master's Residence," which was looted by the common people until not a single hair was left,

It has now been converted into the temporary command post of Cao Cao's army in Chenggu.

In the main hall, not even a single intact armchair remained. Zhao Yu, holding a cup of hot tea, slumped unceremoniously on a tattered straw mat that had been brought from who-knows-where, humming contentedly.

Beside him sat Sun Shangxiang, the "Nuclear Good Supervisor" who had single-handedly maintained order in the distribution of grain that day, sitting on an overturned, broken wooden box, rubbing her aching calves with a pained expression.

"I'm exhausted... The way these people were working when they were getting their grain rations was terrifying."

Sun Shangxiang muttered to herself, then grabbed a piece of pastry from the table and stuffed it into her mouth.

"My dear husband, you're all relaxed, just talking all the time. I'm practically hoarse from shouting down here!"

You didn't see it, but an old man who received his rice insisted on grabbing my hand and calling me a living Buddha.

Zhao Yu smiled and took a sip of tea, then fawned over and began massaging Sun Shangxiang's shoulders:

"Madam, you've worked so hard! You've suffered so much!"

The moment the lady stood atop the grain pile today, her aura was simply that of the greatest female warrior of the Han Dynasty!

"It's a good thing the Prime Minister wasn't present today. If he were, he would have at least best appointed you as the 'Grand General Who Protects the Nation's Grain Supply.'"

"Tch, don't try to fool me with these empty platitudes."

Although Sun Shangxiang complained, her eyes crinkled into crescent moons with laughter as she let Zhao Yu massage her shoulders.

"But to be honest, seeing those people receive the food made me feel... quite happy."

It was even more exhilarating than winning a battle.

Zhao Yu's hands didn't stop moving.

"War is about killing people, but distributing grain is about winning hearts and minds. Three hundred thousand shi of grain have bought the hearts and minds of one hundred thousand households in Hanzhong. This deal is not a loss."

"Brother Zhao! Brother Zhao! You have to save me, I can't do this job anymore."

It was a wail coming from outside the door.

The main hall doors opened,

Yang Xiu, the army's chief clerk, entered with disheveled hair and rumpled clothes.

The most dangerous thing was that four Taoist priests dressed in Bagua robes were hanging on his two thighs!

These Taoist priests were like koalas clinging to a tree; no matter how Yang Xiu tried to shake them off, he couldn't.

Sun Shangxiang, who was sitting on the box complaining of being tired, jumped up immediately upon seeing this scene.

"Well, where did this old Taoist priest come from, daring to attack an official of the imperial court?"

"No, no, no! Please, heroine, have mercy! We're not assassins!"

The fat Taoist priest hanging on Yang Xiu's left leg trembled in fright.

He quickly let go and knelt on the ground with a thud.

"Mr. Zhao! Madam! What a huge misunderstanding! We are grassroots priests of the Five Pecks of Rice sect in Chenggu County."

We are here...to assist Laozi (the Supreme Lord Lao).

"Laozi?"

Sun Shangxiang was stunned. Following the direction the Taoist priest pointed, she saw Yang Xiu, who was panting heavily.

Zhao Yu immediately understood the situation and joked with a smile.

"Hey, Brother Dezu, what... what's going on? How did you manage to rise to the ranks of immortals and receive offerings from others in just one night?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Xiu trembled with rage.

"You, you, you... You're still laughing! It's all because you overdid your Laozi act last night!"

It turns out that only the three of them and those few Sheniu soldiers knew about the story of impersonating Laozi.

But the army was full of gossip, and somehow the news spread.

If it were just something to circulate and amuse within Cao Cao's army, Yang Xiu would have accepted it, even if it meant holding his nose.

But somehow, this news leaked to the ears of these local Taoist priests! These people insisted that Yang Xiu was Laozi reincarnated and were determined to become his disciples.

Yang Xiu, a scholar, had never seen anyone who wanted to become a disciple right away.

You can't shake them off, and you can't drive them away by scolding.

Yang Dezhu's lifelong innocence has been completely ruined by Zhao Yu!

Upon hearing this incredibly fantastical reason, Zhao Yu couldn't hold back any longer and burst into laughter, rolling around on the mat while clutching his stomach.

Sun Shangxiang also laughed so hard she almost fell over.

"Laugh, you two are still laughing."

Yang Song wanted to stomp his feet to vent his dissatisfaction, but to no avail, as there were still three Karas blocking his way, and he couldn't lift his leg at all.

"Hey! You three, let go of me right now! Stop hugging me! You've met the person in charge, so tell him what you need and he can arrange things for you."

The Taoist priests then reluctantly released Yang Xiu's legs.

"Registrar Yang... oh no."

Your Majesty, please calm your anger! Lord Zhao, you are wise! Actually, we didn't recognize him at first.

But tonight, when the grain was being distributed in the streets, Clerk Yang was standing below the stage. A few of us secretly compared his voice and physique, and realized, "Isn't that the same living deity who stood on the rooftop last night?"

"At first, we weren't sure, so we shamelessly went to ask the soldier in charge of distributing the rations, and only then did we realize it really was you!"

"My name is Zhang Biao. I am the 'Chief Priest' of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect in Chenggu County. I can barely be considered a mid-level leader."

Zhang Biao felt increasingly aggrieved as he spoke.

"Lord Laozi, Lord Zhao, we have come to beg for shelter. Last night you had Lord Laozi appear and smash our signboard, and this noon you bought all our believers with 300,000 shi of real grain!"

Now we really don't even have a bite to eat.

We had just stepped out onto the street in the afternoon when two middle-aged women chased us for three blocks with brooms, yelling at us for being fake deities!

Another Taoist priest echoed him with a mournful face.

"Yes, we used to make a living by collecting donations from donation boxes. Now that people have torn down all the talismans in their homes, we grassroots employees really have nothing to eat, so we came to Grandpa Laozi for help."

Seeing these Taoist priests who once held sway over the grassroots in Hanzhong now begging to come to the enemy camp to "convert" them for a living, Zhao Yu was truly amazed.

"Got it, so you want to switch jobs and work for me, right?"

Zhao Yu's smile vanished, and he adopted the damned demeanor of an HR professional.

"Our Cao camp is one of the most ethical businesses in the Han Dynasty; we don't support idlers."

"Although you lost your original positions, you've come to work for me. Since I'm free right now, I can't just kick you out. Come on, tell me what your core competencies are."