Three Kingdoms: A wise grandson, Cao Wei can last for three generations!

The convoy headed south.

After traveling for three days, passing Runan, and nearing Hefei, Cao Rui encountered his first problem.

"Young master, there are bandits ahead." The leader of the guards was named Xu Hu, Xu Chu's distant nephew. He was burly and had a menacing face. "Shall we take a detour?"

Cao Rui lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the mountain road ahead. (Don't ask why he wasn't riding a horse; his butt hurt.)

How many bandits were there?

"The scouts report that there are about a hundred people."

How many of us are there?

"Including the young master, there are fifteen."

Fifteen to one hundred, that's a rather lopsided ratio. But when Xu Hu said this, there was no fear on his face, but rather a kind of eager excitement.

Cao Rui pondered for a moment. Fifteen against one hundred, damn it, the advantage is on my side!

"Uncle Xu, are our men capable of fighting?"

Xu Hu grinned, revealing a set of white teeth: "Don't worry, young master, the Prime Minister selected veterans who have seen countless battles. A hundred bandits wouldn't even be enough to fill a tooth gap."

Cao Rui thought about it and made a decision.

"Then let's not go around that route. Let's walk there."

Xu Hu was taken aback: "Young Master, are you really going to fight?"

"No, we won't fight." Cao Rui shook his head. "Let's walk over and let them deal with it themselves."

Xu Hu looked bewildered, but still did as instructed. The convoy continued onward, slowly making its way into the mountain road.

After walking less than two miles, countless figures suddenly appeared on both sides of the hillside, wielding knives and spears, shouting as they charged down.

"Halt! This road is mine, these trees are mine, if you want to pass, leave your toll!"

Xu Hu reined in his horse, coldly observing the bandits without making a move. The bandit leader, a one-eyed burly man, was somewhat bewildered to see that this group was neither running away nor panicking.

"You...aren't you going to run?"

Cao Rui poked his head out of the car and looked at him with a smile.

"Hero, may I ask your honorable name?"

The one-eyed man was stunned. What was going on? A little child was asking him his name?

"What I call myself is none of your business!" He brandished his broadsword. "If you know what's good for you, leave your valuables behind, and I'll spare your lives!"

Cao Rui ignored him and continued, "Where are you from, hero? How did you end up in this line of work? Do you still have family?"

The one-eyed man was completely dumbfounded. Had the world changed? Were children no longer afraid of bandits?

In all his years as a bandit, he had never seen anything like this before—they didn't run away, surrender, or resist; instead, they started chatting with him about everyday things.

"What...what exactly do you want to do?"

Cao Rui smiled and took out a piece of gold from his pocket.

"Good sir, look at this."

The one-eyed man's eyes widened in disbelief. That piece of gold must have weighed at least ten taels.

"How about this, you let us through, and this piece of gold is yours."

The one-eyed giant swallowed hard, glanced at Cao Rui, then at the guards behind him, and quickly began to calculate in his mind.

Ten taels of gold would be enough for these people to eat for three months. Besides, this group didn't seem like a simpleton; if a fight broke out, even if their side won, many of them would die…

"Deal!" He waved his hand. "Let it go!"

Xu Hu was stunned. That was it? He looked at Cao Rui, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Cao Rui tossed the gold to the one-eyed giant and said with a smile, "Good man, until we meet again."

The convoy continued on its way.

After walking quite a distance, Xu Hu couldn't help but ask, "Young Master, why didn't you fight? Those bandits are no match for us at all."

Cao Rui shook his head: "Uncle Xu, we're going to Jiangdong to recruit people, not to fight. We should avoid trouble along the way. If a fight breaks out, a few people might die, or someone on our side might get injured, delaying our journey. It would be a loss."

Xu Hu fell silent. Looking at the six-year-old child, he suddenly understood why the Prime Minister dared to send him to Jiangdong alone.

Ten days later, Cao Rui and his entourage arrived in Jianye.

The prosperity of Jiangdong exceeded his expectations. The streets were bustling with people, lined with shops, and filled with the soft, melodious sounds of Wu dialect. Cao Rui lifted the carriage curtain and curiously surveyed this Nanjing city a thousand years later—of course, it was still called Jianye for the time being.

"Young master, where shall we stay?" Xu Hu asked.

Cao Rui thought for a moment: "Find an inconspicuous inn, so as not to attract the attention of the authorities."

Xu Hu nodded and gave the orders. After everything was settled, Cao Rui called Xu Hu to his side.

"Uncle Xu, can you help me find someone?"

"Who?"

"Pang Tong, Pang Shiyuan. He used to be a clerk under Zhou Yu, and he should be in Chaisang now. Find out what he's been up to lately, where he lives, and who he's been associating with."

Xu Hu accepted the order and left.

Three days later, the news arrived.

Pang Tong was very unhappy in Chaisang.

With Zhou Yu's death, he lost his backer in Jiangdong. Sun Quan disliked him, and the scions of powerful families like Zhang Zhao and Gu Yong looked down on him even more—he was ugly, spoke rudely, and always had an expression that said, "You're all idiots."

He now lives in a small courtyard outside Chaisang city, drinking all day long and not seeing anyone.

After listening, Cao Rui remained silent for a moment.

"Prepare the car, let's go to Chaisang."

"Young master, shall we go now?"

"Go now."

Outside Chaisang city, there is a dilapidated little courtyard.

The courtyard gate was ajar, and a strong smell of alcohol wafted from inside. Cao Rui stood at the door, straightened his clothes, and raised his hand to knock.

No one answered.

Knock again.

Still, no one answered.

Cao Rui pushed open the door and went inside.

The courtyard was a mess, with wine jugs scattered everywhere. A man sat on the porch, leaning against a pillar, holding a wine jug in his hand and drinking from it.

He was dressed in coarse cloth, his hair was disheveled, and his face was covered in stubble—but his eyes were surprisingly bright.

Cao Rui walked over and stood in front of him.

"Mr. Pang?"

The man didn't move, but merely raised his eyelids and glanced at him.

"Where did this little baby come from?"

Cao Rui smiled and bowed, saying, "I am Cao Rui, a junior from Xudu, and I have come here to pay my respects to Mr. Pang."

The man's hand paused for a moment.

"Cao Rui?" He put down the wine pot, his eyes narrowing. "Cao Cao's grandson?"

"Yes."

Pang Tong stared at him for a long time, then suddenly laughed.

"Interesting. What's Cao Cao's grandson doing in Jiangdong? Aren't you afraid I'll kidnap you and hand you over to Sun Quan?"

Cao Rui shook his head: "Sir, you wouldn't."

Why?

"Because you are a smart man, and a smart man wouldn't do such a stupid thing."

Pang Tong paused for a moment, then burst into laughter. His laughter echoed through the courtyard, startling a flock of sparrows.

"Good! Good!" After he finished laughing, he looked at Cao Rui, "Little brat, what do you want from me?"

Cao Rui met his gaze and said, word by word:

"Please go to Xuchang, sir."

Pang Tong's laughter stopped. He looked at the exquisitely beautiful little child before him, and for the first time, a serious look appeared in his eyes.

"What did you just say?" he asked. "You invited me to Xuchang?"

"Yes."

Do you know how badly your grandfather lost at the Battle of Red Cliffs?

"Know."

"Do you know that I played a part in that?"

"Know."

"So you're still going to invite me?"

Cao Rui nodded and said earnestly, "Sir, my grandfather could tolerate even Jia Wenhe, how could he not tolerate you?"

Pang Tong narrowed his eyes.

"Jia Wenhe?" he repeated. "What's your relationship with him?"

"I am his disciple," Cao Rui answered honestly, "I just became his disciple and haven't studied with him for more than a few days."