Cao Cao's soul transmigrates into Murong Fu's body

"Chief Quan, Chief Qiao is renowned throughout the martial world, his heroic spirit soaring to the heavens. How could he not be the leader of your Beggars' Clan?"

Seeing Quan Guanqing's hesitant expression, he glanced at Kang Min, exchanged a few words, and she nodded slightly.

He couldn't help but think to himself, "Has Murong Fu also succumbed to Kang Min's charms? No wonder, he's too young!"

"Young Master Murong, although Qiao Feng's martial arts are unparalleled, he is..."

"Qiao Feng was a Khitan, right?"

Upon hearing Cao Cao's words, Quan Guanqing looked at Kang Min in disbelief.

He then turned to look at Murong Fu. He hadn't expected Kang Min to reveal everything to Murong Fu. This was a top secret among top secrets of the Beggars' Sect!

"Young Master Murong, this matter must be kept secret!"

"Master Quan, everyone here is one of us, so I won't beat around the bush."

"Your goal is to expel Qiao Feng from the Beggars' Sect. That's easy to do. You want to be the sect leader, and I can help you take that position. However, our most urgent task is to convene a Beggars' Sect general meeting!"

Quan Guanqing's desire for power exceeded everyone's imagination, but no one expected Murong Fu to be so direct.

"Then thank you very much, Young Master Murong."

Quan Guanqing was a smart man, so he didn't ask too many questions. Now that they were on the same side, they naturally had to get what they needed.

Cao Cao explained the next steps of the plan to Quan Guanqing in detail, and no further instructions on how to proceed were needed.

After Quan Guanqing left, Kang Min was very puzzled and asked, "Young master, although Quan Guanqing has the title of 'Ten Scholars of the North,' he is extremely cunning and cannot be trusted!"

After Kang Min was taken into Cao Cao's harem, she transformed into a "strategist." Given her understanding of the Beggars' Sect, this question arose.

Cao Cao's skill in managing people was superb; he saw through Quan Guanqing's ambition at a glance.

Moreover, he has the ability to do so, which is why he plans to support Quan Guanqing to take the position!

"Minmin, do you know what the meaning of 'Shifang' in 'Shifang Xiucai' is?"

Although Kang Min was very intelligent, he had not read much, so his knowledge was not as profound as that of Cao Cao, who was a writer, thinker, and poet.

"I don't know."

"In Taoism, 'ten directions' refers to the spirit traveling to the ten directions, while in Buddhism, the ten directions refer to all things in the universe. Therefore, Quan Guanqing's title of 'Scholar of the Ten Directions' is definitely not to be underestimated!"

"And according to what you've said, the Beggars' Sect plans to expel Qiao Feng this time under the pretext that he's a Khitan. It's Quan Guanqing who's behind this scheme. What is he going to such lengths for? Isn't it the position of sect leader?"

"But Quan Guanqing..."

"Minmin, don't worry, I can keep Quan Guanqing in check!"

Cao Cao was well aware of Kang Min's concerns, which were nothing more than the fear that Quan Guanqing would betray him after obtaining the position of gang leader.

And why didn't Cao Cao become the leader of this gang, but instead supported Quan Guanqing?

"Minmin, the Beggars' Sect is a prestigious sect in the Central Plains, and it is cautious in choosing its leader. Even if Qiao Feng is a Khitan and has made great contributions to the Beggars' Sect, we can't just dismiss him like that."

"My nominal identity is Murong Fu, a descendant of the Xianbei people. Although I have become heavily Sinicized, I have always used the restoration of my kingdom as my banner. The Beggars' Sect will not let me be the leader, so it is better for me to stay behind the scenes."

There was one thing Cao Cao didn't say: he didn't care about the title of leader of the Beggars' Sect!

It would be better to support someone in the public eye, and Quan Guanqing would be a better spokesperson.

Cao Cao now not only surpasses Quan Guanqing in military strength, but also in political strategy.

The Beggars' Sect Conference in Luoyang will be held in one month!

Quan Guanqing convened a meeting with the four elders, which was quite a show of force.

However, it was the leader of the gang, Qiao Feng, who was the last to learn the truth. At that moment, Qiao Feng was on his way from Jiangnan to Luoyang.

Having learned that Ma Dayuan's death was related to Murong Fu, he rushed to Jiangnan to investigate.

Unexpectedly, instead of finding Murong Fu, they received news of a Beggars' Sect meeting.

Luoyang, Mingzhen Restaurant.

"Waiter, bring me 10 catties of liquor, 2 catties of beef, and a whole fat chicken!" Qiao Feng's shout immediately made him the center of attention in the entire restaurant.

Ordinary people can't possibly finish all this food, and the prices at Mingzhen Restaurant are not low.

"Sir, are you alone? This seems like too much for you to finish."

Beggars' Sect in Luoyang

Don't worry, the two of them should be able to finish eating.

Cao Cao recognized the travel-worn Qiao Feng at a glance. In the past month, under Quan Guanqing's planning, the Beggars' Clan has become more united than ever before.

The four elders and the highly respected Elder Xu have reached a tacit agreement to bring Qiao Feng down, and they are just waiting for the Beggars' Sect meeting to be held!

Therefore, as soon as Qiao Feng entered Luoyang, Quan Guanqing told Cao Cao, who was standing behind the scenes as Murong Fu, about the news!

Qiao Feng looked Murong Fu up and down. He saw that the man was handsome and had a face like jade. He was obviously from a noble family. As a regular customer of Mingzhen Restaurant, the waiter recognized him and went to prepare food and wine.

"Brother, it's fate that we met. Come, have a drink!"

The wine arrived first, and Qiao Feng didn't say much. He poured two large bowls of wine and drank them down.

"Excellent wine!"

Cao Cao didn't waste any time, downing the wine in one gulp. Holding the large bowl, he commented, "This is yellow wine. It's slightly spicy, not strong enough, and not smooth to the taste. Guards!"

"Bring me the Puzhong wine I left here!"

"Yes, young master!"

"Puzhong wine? Isn't this imperial wine?"

When Qiao Feng saw the dishes were served, he secretly pondered for a moment while enjoying his meal.

Kaifeng and Luoyang belonged to Tokyo and Xijing respectively, and were not far apart. It was possible for high-ranking officials and nobles from Tokyo to come here.

It is known that Zhao Kuangyin, the historical emperor, was quite fond of Puzhong wine. It is estimated that the wine in the story of "releasing military power over a cup of wine" was Puzhong wine, which is also called Sangluo wine!

The wine's name clearly indicates its brewing method: it uses fallen mulberries as yeast, and then uses mulberry leaves that fall on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, along with the yeast and water, to brew the wine.

The process is quite complex, resulting in an extremely rich and mellow flavor. Its unique fragrance even makes the large, fat chicken in Qiao Feng's hand seem less appealing.

"Brother, may I...?"

"Good wine should be shared!"

Cao Cao poured Qiao Feng a cup of imperial-grade pu wine, the fragrant pu wine a stark contrast to the yellow wine he had just drunk.

"Let us drink and sing, for life is short!"

"Like morning dew, the days gone by are fleeting and sorrowful!"

……

"What can dispel sorrow? Only wine!"

Qiao Feng became engrossed in listening to it; he had heard this song, "Short Song Ballad," before.

Cao Cao's famous quotes and poems were still widely known even in the Song Dynasty.

"Brother, I think the only way to relieve your worries is to drink alcohol?"

"And which tastes better, Dukang wine or Pu wine?"

Qiao Feng was a man who loved wine and was extremely sociable, so after sharing wine with Cao Cao, Qiao Feng opened up and started talking.

"Du Kang was a figure from the Xia and Shang dynasties, and can be considered the ancestor of wine..."

Cao Cao began to explain the meaning of Du Kang, and it was wine that Cao Cao was drinking when he was reciting poetry.

The brewing technology is still different from what we have now. If we really compare them, Pu wine is still superior.

Qiao Feng was already quite interested in wine culture, but he never expected that wine would be so mysterious.

In Cao Cao's account, the story of Du Kang inventing wine is quite captivating; the tale of the immortal appearing in a dream and brewing wine with three drops of blood is recounted with great familiarity.