My Three Kingdoms is not right

Was Cao Cao out of money?

How could the dignified Minister Cao, who controls the two major provinces of Yan and Yu, still complain about being poor?

"Your Highness is unaware of the situation," Xun Yu sighed softly, his elegant face filled with helplessness. "Since welcoming the Emperor and his officials into Xuchang, the court's expenses, the officials' salaries, the construction of palaces... everything requires money."

"In addition, Cao Cao has been constantly expanding his army and preparing for war, which has led to a significant increase in the expenditure on food and supplies, making it inevitable that the treasury will be stretched thin."

Liu Xun secretly grumbled to himself: Back in Luoyang, I wonder which cunning young girl patted her chest and promised that after the court moved the capital, it would no longer have to worry about money and food.

A woman's mouth is a deceitful devil!

"Originally, we planned to increase revenue by implementing the military-agricultural colony system," Xun Yu sighed, "but in practice... it has been quite difficult."

"How exactly is it not going well?"

"The displaced people are difficult to appease, and many have fled; powerful clans are interfering and secretly opposing them. So far, there has been little progress. Lord Cao is quite worried about this matter."

Liu Xun nodded thoughtfully and then asked for some more details.

You should know that when playing games in my previous life, Cao Cao's land reclamation system was a god-tier skill! Start by farming, then mass produce troops later, it's definitely the pinnacle of the farming strategy.

But after hearing Xun Yu say this, it turns out that there were so many troubles at the beginning of its implementation.

Just then, the maids carried plates of steaming dumplings into the pavilion.

This is also what makes Wannian Garden special: while other ministers mostly employed male servants in their homes, his family was entirely staffed with female servants.

There's no deeper meaning to it; it's purely a personal hobby.

"The dumplings are here!" Liu Xun greeted the guests with a smile. "Please enjoy them while they're hot!"

White dough, shaped like a gold ingot, with a rich aroma.

Everyone present was extremely tempted.

Before they could even pick up their chopsticks, a maid rushed in from outside: "Your Highness, Minister Cao is here!"

what?

Liu Xun, completely bewildered, hurriedly went to greet them, and the others in the pavilion also got up and followed him.

Cao Cao arrived gracefully in a crimson robe and stood smiling at the door.

"I have long heard of Your Highness's elegant residence and exquisite cuisine. I have been waiting for Your Highness's invitation every day, but I have never received one. Today I hear that you are having a joyful gathering here—"

The girl paused, raised her phoenix eyes slightly, and looked at Liu Xun with a half-smile:

"Feeling resentful, I had no choice but to come uninvited and become an unwelcome guest!"

Liu Xun greeted her with a forced smile, inwardly complaining:

The purpose of befriending court officials is to keep you in check, okay?! Can you explain what's going on?

"Mengde, please don't be offended. I've wanted to invite you for a long time, but seeing how hard you work for the country and how busy you are with state affairs, I didn't dare to disturb you."

Cao Cao smiled and took his seat. "Fine! One cup of penalty wine, and I'll forgive Your Highness!"

Liu Xun decisively picked up the wine cup on the table and drank it all in one gulp.

The movements were crisp and clean, full of momentum.

Then Zhong Yao exposed him without any mercy.

"Don't be fooled by His Highness, my lord," she said with a smile. "He's drinking tea."

"Cough cough!" Liu Xun almost spat out his tea: "Well, I really don't drink any alcohol, please forgive me, Mengde."

This is the truth.

In his past life, he could drink a bit of beer, but in this body he transmigrated into, he would black out after drinking...

this is too scary.

If I say something and those cunning guys overhear me, my game might be over.

Therefore, he resolutely refuses to drink alcohol.

Anyway, as a man, I can justifiably refuse to drink.

Xun Yu also gently explained on his behalf: "Your Excellency is wise. When we gather, His Highness always drinks tea instead of wine and truly does not drink a drop of alcohol."

Cao Cao glanced at Xun Yu, his handsome nose wrinkling slightly:

"Wenruo, oh Wenruo,"

"So now you're not taking my side?"

Xun Yu didn't respond, but simply gave a gentle smile.

Cao Cao shook his head helplessly, his gaze falling on the plate of jade-like dumplings on the table: "What is this? Could it be some kind of novel pastry? It looks quite unique."

Liu Xun observed this and understood that Cao and Xun trusted each other implicitly, which was why they could get along so naturally.

It seems that although I can increase Xun Yu's favor, I still have a long way to go to win her over to target Cao Cao.

He stopped thinking about it and introduced the dish to Cao Cao: "This dish is called 'Crescent Dumpling.' The outer skin is made of wheat flour, and the inside is filled with pork and chives. Mengde, you might as well try it."

"Did His Highness make this?"

"Exactly."

Cao Cao cautiously sniffed the aroma first, then gently poked the dumpling skin, picked one up, and put it in his mouth.

After a couple of bites, his eyes widened instantly: "The wheat noodles are so thin and chewy, and they even have a meaty aroma inside. When you bite into them, the broth is so flavorful—it's truly delicious!"

As she spoke, she picked up another one, and her gaze toward Liu Xun held even more admiration.

This young man was just as capable as any woman on the battlefield and in the imperial court, but who would have thought he would be so virtuous in his daily life!

Guo Jia, watching from the side, swallowed hard: "My lord is eating so deliciously, it makes me drool too."

Cao Cao laughed heartily and invited everyone, "Don't be shy, everyone, have a taste!"

For a time, praises echoed throughout the pavilion.

"Fresh without being greasy, a perfect blend of meat and vegetables! Exquisitely crafted!"

"Incredibly wonderful!"

"This is truly a delicacy!!"

……

Liu Xun listened to the praise, appearing humble on the surface but secretly pleased inside.

Level 6 cooking skills, the realm of "effortless mastery," do you think this is a joke?

After everyone had finished eating, Cao Cao casually asked, "What were you all talking about before I arrived?"

Without hesitation, Xun Yu replied, "Just now, when Your Highness asked why the expenses for the Imperial Guards were delayed, I was explaining the matter of the military farms."

Upon hearing the words "military agricultural colonies," Cao Cao's expression turned serious: "If military agricultural colonies could be implemented smoothly, the problem of money and grain could be alleviated."

"But..." she sighed softly, "The government's distribution of land to those displaced people was a benevolent act that benefited both the country and the people, but they were afraid of hardship and suffering, and not only did they not know how to be grateful, many of them fled."

"And those local gentry and powerful families, fearing the loss of tenant farmers, criticized the military farms in the court for competing with the people for profits, while secretly spreading rumors to slander and obstruct them."

She rubbed her temples. "I can't help but get a headache whenever I think about this lately."

Silence fell over the pavilion for a moment.

They had discussed this matter privately, but no one could come up with a good solution at the moment.

Guo Jia had just arrived in Xudu and was hearing about this for the first time. He was fiddling with the ends of his hair, deep in thought, when Liu Xun suddenly spoke.

"Cao Sikong and Xun Lingjun."

His form of address became more formal at this moment.

"Xun does have some ideas about land reclamation."

Cao Cao raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"

Xun Yu also leaned forward slightly, adopting a listening posture.

"We'll have to try it to know how effective it will be," Liu Xun continued. "Could we allocate a portion of it as royal estates for me to manage?"

The group looked at each other in bewilderment, and for a moment, only the murmuring of the stream could be heard in the pavilion.

They all knew that this princess was brave and skilled in battle, and possessed extraordinary courage.

But could he possibly be knowledgeable about agricultural administration?

How could a boy raised in the inner palace compare to officials who have been in government for a long time?

Nobody believes that.