Three Kingdoms: Start by buying a governor.

Guo Jia, his face flushed from drinking, grabbed Xi Zhicai and insisted on having his fortune told, saying, "Zhicai, let me tell your fortune! Guess when our lord will unify the world?"

Xi Zhicai said, "There's no need to calculate that, it'll be done soon."

Guo Jia shook his head and said, "No, no! My calculation shows it will take two years! Two years at most!"

Xi Zhicai ignored him and picked up his teacup to drink tea.

Guo Jia then moved closer to Jia Xu and said, "Wenhe, would you like to have your fortune told?"

Jia Xu replied expressionlessly, "No."

Guo Jia, undeterred, said, "Then I'll calculate it for you..."

Jia Xu stood up, picked up his wine cup, and left.

Guo Jia was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter, saying, "Wenhe is truly a boring man!"

......

October of the first year of the Chuping era, 190 AD.

Zhang Liao led 10,000 soldiers to guard Jingzhou, while Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Lü Bu led 40,000 soldiers of the First Army back to Luoyang to report.

Also returning with the group were Cai Mao and his sister Cai Wan, concubines whom the Cai family of Jingzhou had presented to Liu Ce, the King of Yan.

On the official road outside Luoyang, the autumn leaves are turning yellow, and when the wind blows, they fall to the ground with a rustling sound.

Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Lü Bu led 40,000 soldiers of the First Army back to Luoyang in a grand procession.

When the procession entered the city, the people lined the streets to welcome them; the scene was even more lively than during the Lunar New Year.

Behind them, a procession of carriages slowly entered the city gate, with the Cai family's flags flying on the carriages and the guards in bright armor.

Leading the group was the escort team sent by Zhang Liao to protect Cai Mao and Cai Wan. Although there were only about a hundred people, they were all clad in bright armor and looked very spirited, clearly the elite of the Youzhou army.

Cai Mao sat upright on his horse, a perfectly measured smile on his face, but his heart was pounding with anxiety.

He turned his head to look at the exquisitely decorated carriage behind him. The curtains were drawn tightly, and his sister, Cai Wan, was sitting inside.

Whether the Cai family can gain a foothold in Jingzhou or Luoyang, and whether they can curry favor with the Prince of Yan, depends entirely on this trip.

Behind them... Cai Mao, riding on his horse, clicked his tongue in amazement and said, "This Luoyang city is much more magnificent than when I came here! The Prince of Yan is indeed the Prince of Yan. In just a few months, he has transformed Luoyang, which had been ravaged by Dong Zhuo, into a city that looks like a completely different place."

Cai Wan sat in the carriage, looking out through the gap in the curtain with eyes full of curiosity.

She grew up in Jingzhou and had only ever been to the area around Xiangyang. She had never seen a city as big as Luoyang.

The high city walls, the wide streets, and the bustling crowds dazzled her.

After reading it, she lowered her head, twisting the handkerchief in her hand. Her mind was filled with thoughts of entering the Prince of Yan's residence tomorrow. What would the Prince of Yan look like? Would he be easy to get along with? Would he dislike her?

After reading it, Cai Mao thought to himself that his Cai family was one of the most powerful families in Jingzhou, and they were used to being local bullies. But in Luoyang, in front of Liu Ce, they were nothing.

Although the marriage alliance with Liu Ce was arranged in Xiangyang, what kind of person was Liu Ce?

Are they easy to get along with?

Are there any taboos?

He was completely in the dark.

"General, should we send Miss Cai directly to the Prince's Mansion, or..." A guard leaned over and asked.

Cai Mao waved his hand and said, "Let's go to the old residence first. My sister has had a long journey, so we need to settle her in first. We can discuss the matter of paying our respects to His Highness the Prince of Yan tomorrow."

The procession turned several streets and stopped in front of the Cai family's old residence in Luoyang.

This house was originally purchased by his father, Cai Feng, when he came to Luoyang on business. Although no one had lived there for several years, the servants sent in advance had already cleaned it up thoroughly.

The stone lions at the entrance were polished to a shine, and the plaque above the door had been repainted, making it look quite presentable.

The osmanthus flowers in the yard are in bloom, golden and fragrant.

Cai Mao dismounted and strode to the carriage, personally lifting the curtain: "Sister, we've arrived."

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Cai Wan, supported by her maid, carefully stepped out of the carriage.

She wore a light blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with only a plain silver hairpin in her hair. She looked neat and tidy, yet her refined and elegant demeanor was undeniable.

She glanced at the lintel of the old house, then at the bustling street, and murmured, "Luoyang is indeed prosperous."

"Of course," Cai Mao said with a smile. "Once you enter the Prince of Yan's residence, it will be truly magnificent. Come, come, let's go in and rest first."

The siblings entered the house, where servants had already prepared hot water and tea.

Cai Wan sat in the hall, her face showing both nervousness and anticipation. After all, in just one more day, she would be entering the Prince of Yan's residence to meet the renowned Prince Liu Ce.

Cai Mao knew what she was thinking, so he sat down and poured her a cup of tea: "Sister, don't worry. His Highness the Prince of Yan is renowned and shouldn't make things difficult for anyone."

"It's not that I'm afraid of that..." Cai Wan blushed slightly, "It's just... I'm not sure."

"What's there to be worried about?" Cai Mao comforted her. "Sister, you are as beautiful as a flower and as well-educated as a lady. His Highness the Prince of Yan will surely like you. Besides, our Cai family is one of the most prestigious families in Jingzhou. We are worthy of His Highness."

Cai Wan lowered her head and remained silent, wringing the handkerchief in her hand even tighter.

Seeing her like this, Cai Mao also had some doubts.

He paced back and forth in the hall, feeling increasingly uncertain.

He slapped his thigh suddenly, "That's right!"

In Luoyang, he had a familiar old friend, someone who had dealt with Liu Ce quite a bit, who was his childhood friend, Cao Cao Mengde!

"Sister, you rest here for a while. I'm going out to see an old friend." Cai Mao straightened his brocade robe, greeted Cai Wan, and then turned and led his guards straight to Cao Cao's residence in Luoyang.

Cao Cao's life now is both leisurely and stable.

After surrendering with the allied forces of the Guandong warlords, Liu Ce did not make things difficult for him and gave him a sinecure.

Although he had no military power, he was still well-off and didn't have to live in constant fear.

He's an easygoing person; since there's no war to fight for the time being, he'll just enjoy life.

He spends his days drinking and reading in his residence, occasionally meeting up with a few old friends; he lives a rather comfortable life.

When Cai Mao arrived, Cao Cao was sitting under the shade of a tree in the courtyard, drinking wine with a plate of peanuts.

The autumn breeze was refreshing, and the osmanthus blossoms were fragrant. Cao Cao was half-drunk, humming an unknown tune, feeling utterly content.

The autumn sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns that warmed him.

He was squinting, enjoying himself, when he heard footsteps coming from the doorway.

"Brother Mengde!"

Cao Cao looked up, paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, rising to greet him: "De Gui?! What are you doing in Luoyang? I heard you followed Liu Bei to surrender to the King of Yan, and Jingzhou has changed hands. What? Instead of staying in Jingzhou to be your local tyrant, what are you doing in Luoyang?"

"Brother Mengde, it's been a long time! How have you been?" Cai Mao smiled and cupped his hands in greeting. The two exchanged pleasantries for a while, patting each other on the shoulder and joking about their embarrassing experiences of cockfighting and horse racing in Xiangyang back then.