My Three Kingdoms is not right

Cao Cao has arrived.

When the large banner bearing the character "Cao" emerged from behind the mountain valley, only this thought remained in Liu Xun's mind.

She knew this moment would come after she traveled to this dimension.

The ambitious Cao Cao went to Luoyang to welcome the emperor, thus beginning his path to hegemony by controlling the emperor and commanding the other lords.

Liu Xun, too, has his own path to walk...

Smoke and dust filled the sky, and the sound of horses' hooves shook the ground.

Five thousand armored soldiers, their armor gleaming and their banners in perfect order, were like heaven and earth compared to the bandits from before.

No, it should be said that compared to any army in or around Luoyang right now, it's like heaven and earth.

Liu Xun glanced silently at the group of female soldiers behind him who had just finished fighting and were panting heavily.

The armor was tattered, the horse was thin, and the weapons were of ragtag quality.

Yes, the contrast is stark.

……

Beneath the banner bearing the character "Cao," a young girl is surrounded by a group of generals.

She wore a red cloak and rode a tall, chestnut horse. Her figure was exquisite, yet her aura was imposing, and her phoenix eyes flashed with an undisguised sharpness.

"My lord," the scout dismounted, "the bandits ahead have scattered. Should we proceed with the attack as planned?"

Cao Cao raised an eyebrow. "Wasn't it said that Yang Feng and Han Xian's troops weren't nearby?"

"Judging from the banners, they are the Tiger Guards and Imperial Guards."

A hint of surprise flashed across Cao Cao's eyes: "The Imperial Guards still possess such fighting strength? I'll go and see."

He then led his troops forward on horseback, circling the hill. There, on the official road, a troop stood ready in battle formation.

Cao Cao was surrounded by seasoned generals who had fought many battles, and upon seeing this, they all wore solemn expressions.

Although the Imperial Guards were few in number, they exuded a chilling aura.

"The commander must be a good general," Cao Cao said to his strategist Cheng Yu. "It's just a pity that our troops are so few. If there's an opportunity, we can try to recruit him to our service."

As the distance between the two sides closed, the commander in the center of the army gradually became clear—a silver-armored black-clad rider, with a tall and straight figure. Although his face was not visible, he exuded a heroic aura.

Cao Cao gave Cao Ren a wink. Cao Ren understood, spurred his horse into battle, and shouted:

"General Who Guards the East, Marquis of Feiting, and Governor of Yan Province, Cao Cao, has been summoned to protect the Emperor! Who goes there? Make way at once!"

A captain of the Imperial Guard stepped forward and replied, "The Tiger-Ben and Feathered Forest Guards are here with Princess Wannian in her carriage. Please, General, greet them according to protocol."

Princess???

Cao Cao was slightly taken aback and looked up.

The silver-armored general opposite them raised his hand to remove his helmet, revealing a handsome young man's face.

His lips were as red as cinnabar, and his eyes as black as lacquer. The specks of blood on his armor only made him look even more dashing and radiant, like a lone peak reflecting snow, breathtakingly beautiful.

Cao Cao's breathing paused almost imperceptibly.

Given her status and position, she had seen no shortage of handsome men.

Mature, beautiful, charming, and graceful... but I have never seen a young man as dashing and ethereal as the one before me.

For a moment, he was stunned and stopped his horse, feeling a slight heat in his ears and a pounding heart.

"Ahem," Cheng Yu coughed lightly to remind him.

Cao Cao suddenly came to his senses, quickly led his generals to dismount, and respectfully bowed:

"Upon hearing that Your Majesty was in distress, I was extremely anxious and only thought of rescuing you. Please forgive me for any rudeness I may have displayed."

Liu Xun also scrutinized Cao Cao's appearance.

The cunning and ruthless Cao Cao actually became a beautiful young woman!

Her skin was as white as jade, and although she had a delicate oval face, it was paired with a pair of captivating, slender phoenix eyes. Her figure was also exquisitely beautiful, and even wearing armor could not conceal her curvaceous figure.

That face, that figure...

No, this is Cao Cao! A dangerous man!

On the road to restoring the Han Dynasty, this young girl is the greatest opponent!

Don't be fooled by her appearance!

But I couldn't help but glance again at that slender waist and... cough.

Regardless, the imperial court still needs her to save its life.

The emperor and his entourage had traveled from Chang'an to Luoyang amidst constant turmoil and were now in a sorry state.

Luoyang, once the most prosperous and bustling imperial capital in the land, was burned to the ground by Dong Zhuo's great fire, and the wealthy families in the city were forcibly relocated to Chang'an.

The streets were overgrown with weeds up to knee-high, and foxes and rabbits were occasionally seen.

Yang Feng, Han Xian, and Dong Cheng, who were "escorting the emperor," didn't even have enough rations for their own troops, let alone the imperial court. As a result, the emperor even sent high-ranking officials below the rank of Shangshu Lang out to dig for wild vegetables.

Without outside assistance, half of the officials in Luoyang might starve to death by the end of the month.

Thinking of this, Liu Xun's tone became exceptionally kind and gentle:

"General Cao, please excuse the formalities. What crime has the general committed in worrying about the country? Please wait here for a moment, I will return to the palace to see the emperor and arrange a place for the general and the soldiers to be stationed."

Cao Jun was already impressed by his demeanor and appearance, and now, seeing his humble and friendly attitude, without any of the arrogance of a noble family, their goodwill towards him increased even more.

After exchanging pleasantries, Liu Xun left a troop of imperial guards to escort him, and then rode off towards the Southern Palace.

The moment he turned around, he always felt a gaze watching him from behind.

Rumors are on the back.

He subconsciously glanced back—

Cao Cao was speaking to his advisor with his head down, his expression calm and composed.

It's probably just my imagination.

……

What he didn't see was that after he turned around, Cao Cao's gaze quietly followed him.

"My lord?"

Cao Ren tentatively called out.

Cao Cao asked expressionlessly, "What is it?"

"Do you know that princess?"

"I don't know him."

"Then why did you stare at her for so long..."

Cao Cao blushed slightly: "Zixiao, are you very free?"

Cao Ren immediately shut up.

Cao Cao waved his hand: "You lead your troops to pursue the remaining bandits, collect their heads, and build a mound of heads here."

"Does the lord intend to establish his authority?" Cao Ren quickly realized.

"Since Luoyang is still putting on airs," Cao Cao chuckled, his fingertips casually stroking the reins, "we naturally can't be too polite, lest we be looked down upon."

-----------------

The following morning, Cao Cao entered the city as ordered.

She brought 5,000 armored soldiers with her when she entered Luoyang. They were all elite troops from Yanzhou, with bright armor and neat banners.

She herself was not dressed in military uniform, but in a red deep-colored court robe with a purple sash around her waist, making her appear even more dignified amidst the surrounding generals.

The people of Luoyang were used to the noisy and chaotic nature of the soldiers and bandits, and had not seen such a disciplined army for many years.

As his gaze swept across the devastated streets and alleys, a barely perceptible hint of sadness flashed deep in Cao Cao's phoenix eyes.

She lived in Luoyang for many years.

In the past, Luoyang was a city where the streets were brightly lit, officials and nobles filled the air, the Zhuque Gate towered high into the clouds, and the North and South Palaces stretched for dozens of miles.

What about now?

Looking around, all you see are broken walls and ruins.

The strategist Cheng Yu beside her seemed to sense her emotions and said softly:

"In the past, when King Wen of Jin accepted King Xiang of Zhou, the feudal lords followed him in reverence; when Emperor Gaozu of Han held a funeral for Emperor Yi, the people turned to him. Now that the capital is in ruins and the emperor is in exile, your plan this time is all the more significant."

Cao Cao nodded slightly, the look of nostalgia in his eyes replaced by burning fighting spirit.

Looking up, Nangong had already come into view.