Three Kingdoms: Start by buying a governor.

One week later, at the Cai residence in Luoyang.

When Cai Yong received his daughter's letter, he was in his study proofreading the annotations of the Book of Han.

The old steward brought in a letter: "Master, this is a letter from Youzhou, written by Miss."

Cai Yong put down his pen, took the letter, and opened it.

As I watched, my eyes welled up with tears.

In the letter, the daughter wrote about her life in Youzhou, about Liu Ce's kindness to her, about the changes in Youzhou, about the peaceful and prosperous lives of the people, and about the novel things—potatoes, sweet potatoes, curved plows, fine salt, fine wine, paper…

Finally, the daughter earnestly wrote: "Father, you are in Luoyang, dealing with petty villains all day long, and I am very uneasy. Although Youzhou is remote, under your rule, the government is efficient and the people are harmonious, and all industries are thriving. I implore you to resign your post and come to Youzhou. Firstly, so that we can be reunited, and secondly, so that you can write books, teach and impart knowledge here, without having to suffer the oppression of the court anymore..."

After reading it, Cai Yong stroked his beard and laughed heartily: "Excellent! Yan'er and Bolu have put in a lot of effort!"

He then put down the letter and let out a long sigh.

He was indeed frustrated in Luoyang. The court was rife with eunuch power and powerful families were fighting amongst themselves; he, a scholar of the pure stream, was caught in the middle.

Last year, Liu Ce quelled the Yellow Turban Rebellion and composed the "Four Lines of Hengqu," which shook the literary world. Cai Yong felt at the time that this son-in-law was no ordinary man.

Later, Liu Ce went to Youzhou and in just a few months he governed the city in an orderly manner, resettling refugees, defending the borders, and so on. His daughter Cai Yan wrote a letter to Luoyang, which amazed Cai Yong.

Now my daughter has written to say that Youzhou needs him.

"Perhaps... it's time to go somewhere else," Cai Yong murmured to himself.

He stood up and said to the old steward, "Go and pack your things. Not a single book in the study should be missing; pack up my zither, my calligraphy and paintings; take everything that can be used in the mansion."

The old butler was taken aback: "Master, this is...?"

"Go to Youzhou," Cai Yong said with a smile, "my daughter and son-in-law want me to go and enjoy a life of luxury."

In the following days, Cai Yong was extremely busy.

First, he went to resign from his post at the behest of Emperor Ling of Han, Liu Hong. Liu Hong was troubled by the rebellion in Liangzhou, and when he heard that Cai Yong was going to resign, he was a little reluctant—after all, Cai Yong was very learned and could occasionally lecture him on the classics, which would enhance his reputation.

"Is Minister Cai really leaving?" Liu Hong asked.

"Your Majesty," Cai Yong bowed and said, "This old minister is advanced in years and has been unwell lately, so I wish to retire. My daughter and son-in-law are in Youzhou, which makes it convenient for them to take care of me."

Liu Hong thought for a moment, then waved his hand: "Go ahead. But if you don't like staying in Youzhou, come back anytime. The court still needs a great scholar like you."

Cai Yong chuckled inwardly: Come back? I'm not coming back.

But he still said, "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty."

Then Cai Yong held a farewell banquet at his residence, inviting his friends Lu Zhi, Kong Rong, Yang Biao, and others.

At the banquet, Cai Yong raised his cup and said with a smile, "Gentlemen, I am going to Youzhou. My daughter and son-in-law are filial and want me to go and enjoy a life of comfort. We will meet again someday. If you miss me, please write a letter, and I will be waiting for you in Youzhou."

Lu Zhi, who was closest to him, said with reluctance, "Bojie, are you really leaving? Luoyang will lose its luster without you."

Kong Rong also said, "Now that Lord Cai has left, I don't know when we will be able to meet again."

Cai Yong waved his hand: "All good things must come to an end. I've spent most of my life in Luoyang, it's time for me to go out and see the world. I've heard that Youzhou has changed a lot, I'll go and broaden my horizons."

Yang Biao then whispered a reminder: "Brother Bojie, the situation in Luoyang is complicated, and the conflict between He Jin and Zhang Rang and others is deepening... It might be a wise move for you to leave now."

Cai Yong nodded and said, "I understand, that's why I went to Youzhou, where it's peaceful."

The banquet lasted until late at night, and the friends reluctantly parted ways. Although Cai Yong was also reluctant to leave these old friends, he was full of expectations for his new life in Youzhou.

A week later, the Cai residence was ready.

More than twenty carriages were packed full, mainly with books. Cai Yong had a collection of tens of thousands of books, and nearly twenty carriages were filled with bamboo slips and silk books. The remaining musical instruments, paintings, writing implements, clothing and other valuables were also loaded into several more carriages.

Lu Bing, accompanied by fifty Imperial Guards, disguised as bodyguards sent by Liu Ce from Youzhou, had been waiting for some time.

"Lord Cai, please get in the carriage," Lu Bing said respectfully.

Cai Yong looked at the guards, each one capable and composed with sharp eyes, and sighed inwardly: Bo Lue's military discipline is indeed rigorous.

The convoy set off and slowly drove out of Luoyang.

At the city gate, Lu Zhi, Kong Rong, and others came to see him off, waving goodbye.

Cai Yong sat in the carriage and glanced back at Luoyang.

The capital city where he had lived for decades now seemed somewhat unfamiliar to him.

"Let's go," he said softly, "to Youzhou, to see a new world."

……

In the second year of Zhongping, in April, outside Zhuoxian City.

Liu Ce and Cai Yan were waiting at the city gate early.

Cai Yan eagerly awaited her arrival, asking every now and then, "Husband, Father should be arriving soon, right?"

"It'll be here soon," Liu Ce said with a smile. "Lu Bing wrote that he will definitely arrive today."

Behind him, Zhen Jiang, Zhang Ning, and others were also present—this was to show respect to Cai Yong.

In the distance, dust rose.

The convoy has arrived.

More than twenty carriages, escorted by the Imperial Guards, slowly drove up.

Cai Yan's eyes lit up, and she lifted her skirt and ran forward, calling out, "Father!"

Liu Ce quickly followed.

The carriage stopped, and Cai Yong got out.

The man was in his fifties, with gray hair and beard, but he was in good spirits and had bright eyes.

"Yan'er!" Cai Yong's eyes welled up with tears again when he saw his daughter.

"Father!" Cai Yan rushed over, and the father and daughter embraced.

Liu Ce stood aside and waited for them to calm down before stepping forward to bow: "Father-in-law, you must have had a long journey."

"well,"

Cai Yong nodded repeatedly and said, "Bo Lue, you are very kind."

Liu Ce smiled and said, "The accommodations have been arranged, not far from the Liu residence. Please settle in first, and I will host a welcome banquet tonight."

Cai Yong patted him on the shoulder: "Bo Lue, your Youzhou... looks pretty good."

He looked towards the city wall of Zhuoxian County—the wall was newly built, tall and sturdy; people were entering and leaving the city gate in an orderly fashion, their faces beaming with smiles...

"It's better than Luoyang," Cai Yong sighed. "Luoyang now... sigh, let's not talk about it."

Cai Yong's residence was a quiet and elegant courtyard house specially chosen by Liu Ce.

Bamboo was planted in the courtyard, a pond was dug, a pavilion was built, and the study was spacious and bright, fully furnished, with even the bookshelves in the study custom-made according to Cai Yong's habits.

Cai Yong immediately liked it: "Bo Lue, you've gone to a lot of trouble."

After settling in, a banquet was held at the Liu residence that evening.

The banquet was lively, with most of Liu Ce's key figures present: Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Xun Yu, Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai, Jia Xu, Chen Gong... civil officials and strategists gathered together; military generals such as Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Dian Wei also came, but the military generals were arranged at the very edge—in case they got drunk and caused trouble.

Liu Ce introduced Cai Yong to everyone.

Looking at these talented young men, Cai Yong exclaimed, "Bo Lue has so many talented people under his command!"