The three of them made their way to the outside of Lin Yu's shop.Beholding the scene of a teeming mass of people scrambling to purchase Moutai,they were taken aback."Is business truly this prosperous?"Xun Yu exclaimed in surprise."Presumably,his wine is of such fine quality that it has drawn in so many people.It seems we shall have excellent wine to enjoy today,"Xi Zhicai said with a hearty laugh.

Just then,Guo Jia's eyes were caught by a pair of vertical scrolls adorning either side of the wine shop.They read,"All the sages and worthies in ancient times were lonely;only the drinkers left their names."His eyes sparkled."This is a magnificent poem!""Indeed.The one who could pen such a verse must be brimming with talent.I wonder who the author is,"Xi Zhicai concurred,nodding in admiration.

The three entered the wine shop and chanced upon Lin Yu,the proprietor,engaged in merriment with Cao Cao and the others."Greetings,Lord!"they promptly saluted."It's a day of leisure.There's no need for excessive formality,"Cao Cao greeted them with a warm smile."Mr.Lin Yu's wine is truly splendid.You're in for a treat."

After a few pleasantries,they found seats.Observing Lin Yu chatting jovially with Cao Cao,Guo Jia's mind was stirred,and he couldn't help but murmur to Xun Yu and Xi Zhicai,"I hadn't expected the Lord to be so deferential to Lin Yu and even come to offer his support in person.""So what?"Xun Yu replied with a dismissive smile."The Lord has a fondness for fine wine.Besides,Lin Yu's two sworn brothers made significant contributions during the battle against the Black Mountain Bandits."

"Yes.Does Feng Xiao still suspect that Lin Yu is the mastermind?"Xi Zhicai asked with a smile.Although there was no solid evidence,for some inexplicable reason,Guo Jia remained convinced in his heart that Lin Yu was more than what he appeared to be on the surface.

Just then,the waiter arrived with the wine jars.Without a word,he simply invited Xun Yu and the others to partake.When the clear,fragrant wine was presented before them,they were all deeply moved."Such clear wine exists?""Especially the aroma of the wine,so elegant and mellow!"Without further ado,the three of them raised their glasses and downed the contents in one swig.

After the initial sharpness on the palate,a cool and refreshing sensation followed,accompanied by a faint,sweet undertone."Mellow,sweet,and with a lingering aftertaste!No wine of this era can compare,"Guo Jia praised."I hadn't expected Lin Yu to be capable of brewing such excellent wine.I truly underestimated him."After that single glass of fine wine,Xun Yu's perception of Lin Yu had significantly altered.

"Ha ha,I told you,Brother Wenruo.One should not be so quick to judge and look down upon others,"Guo Jia said with a laugh,raising his glass."Come,let's have another drink!"

...

As night fell,at Lin Yu's residence,he sat cross-legged on a couch.Opposite him,Zhao Yun was rapidly working an abacus,the beads clicking away.Once done,Zhao Yun couldn't contain his astonishment."Elder Brother,we've earned nearly a hundred thousand coins today?!"One should know that a dan of high-quality millet cost only four hundred coins,and an acre of prime fertile farmland was around ten thousand coins.

In other words,the money Lin Yu had earned in a single day was sufficient to purchase over two hundred dan of grain or ten acres of excellent farmland."Zilong,there's no need to be so astounded,"Lin Yu said,not overly surprised.The reason for such a lucrative day was not solely due to the delicious Moutai fine wine.There were other contributing factors.Firstly,the government had previously prohibited winemaking,leaving people deprived of wine for an extended period.Secondly,Cao Cao,the Prefect,had come to show his support that day.Moreover,Xun Yu,Xiahou Dun,and other noble and powerful families in the city had also purchased wine out of respect for him.

However,even if future profits were only a tenth of today's,it would still be ample.After all,this was just the small city of Puyang.In the future,if the business of Moutai wine expanded to Dongjun,or even the entire Yanzhou,and further to Xuzhou,Yuzhou,Qingzhou...The profits from wine sales would be astronomical.

Besides,he was not only proficient in winemaking.He could also handle the production of items like toilet water,soap,and table salt with ease.But the prerequisite for making money was a peaceful world.With the current state of bandits running amok and various warlords carving up the land,how could he hope to amass wealth?Thus,whether for Cao Cao's sake or his own pursuit of wealth,he was determined to assist Cao Cao in rapid development to unify the world.Lin Yu was filled with ambition.

...

In the subsequent period,Lin Yu and Zhao Yun busied themselves with expanding the business of Moutai fine wine.On Cao Cao's end,after recruiting tens of thousands of the Black Mountain Bandits,he sent the old,weak,sick,and disabled to work the land.The remaining able-bodied men were trained according to the military strategy provided by Lin Yu.In just one month,although the combat effectiveness of these new soldiers still had room for improvement,they had already learned to strictly obey orders and exhibited a touch of the elite army's discipline.

However,it was at this very moment that Cao Cao received news that a large number of Yellow Turban rebels from Qingzhou were advancing from the east.

...

In the main hall,Cao Cao sat upright,looking down at those assembled below him,and said slowly,"Regarding the incursion of the Yellow Turban rebels from Qingzhou into Yanzhou,what are your thoughts?""There are as many as a million Yellow Turban rebels from Qingzhou,advancing with great menace.This bodes ill,"Xiahou Yuan said,frowning.

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At this time,Guo Jia merely smiled faintly."In my view,this is actually an opportunity for the Lord,"he said.Everyone was startled,failing to understand his reasoning.Guo Jia stepped forward unhurriedly,bowed to Cao Cao,and surveyed the room before speaking."If the Yellow Turban rebels from Qingzhou had not come to invade,given our current situation,where would we expand?"These words plunged everyone,including Cao Cao,into deep contemplation.

To the north lay Yuan Shao's Jizhou.Cao Cao currently had to rely on him,so expansion in that direction was out of the question.To the south was Liu Dai,who held more than half of Yanzhou.To the west was Henei Prefecture and the already devastated Luoyang area.To the east was Qingzhou,infested with a million Yellow Turban rebels.Under these circumstances,no matter which direction Cao Cao chose for development,it seemed unwise.

"But now that the Yellow Turban rebels from Qingzhou are invading,their primary target will surely be Inspector Liu Dai,not us,"Guo Jia analyzed slowly."We need only await the opportune moment.When Liu Dai and the Prefect of Qingzhou are locked in a deadly struggle,we can play the role of the mantis stalking the cicada,with the oriole waiting behind.""What Feng Xiao said truly resonates with me!"Cao Cao exclaimed,slapping the table and rising to his feet with a laugh.

"The Lord is too kind,"Guo Jia said with a modest smile,a touch of pride swelling in his heart.This time,I must have surpassed that mastermind,right?

...

After the discussion concluded,Cao Cao took Dian Wei and made his way directly to Lin Yu's residence."Sir!"Cao Cao called out as he entered the courtyard,greeting Lin Yu with affection."Greetings,Lord!"Lin Yu rose and saluted.Cao Cao had developed a habit.Whenever there was a significant matter,even after conferring with his subordinates,he would still come to consult Lin Yu.Thus,Lin Yu was not at all surprised.

Sure enough,after taking a seat,Cao Cao couldn't wait to recount to Lin Yu the news of the Yellow Turban rebels from Qingzhou's invasion."Lin Yu,what are your thoughts on this matter?"Cao Cao asked,his eyes filled with anticipation.

Lin Yu pondered for a moment,his expression turning grave."This is indeed a grave matter,Lord Cao.The Yellow Turban rebels are a formidable force,and their invasion poses a significant threat to our domain.However,as Guo Jia has pointed out,this could also be an opportunity for us."

Cao Cao leaned forward,eager to hear Lin Yu's thoughts."Opportunity,you say?How so?"

Lin Yu smiled slightly,his eyes gleaming with strategy."The Yellow Turban rebels,while numerous,are not known for their discipline or tactical prowess.They are a force to be reckoned with,but they can also be manipulated.If we position ourselves correctly,we can use their momentum to our advantage."

Cao Cao's eyes narrowed,considering Lin Yu's words."Explain further,"he urged.

Lin Yu leaned back,steepling his fingers as he spoke."The Yellow Turban rebels are driven by desperation and the promise of a better life.They are not loyal to any particular lord or territory.If we can offer them a path that seems more favorable than their current course,we might be able to divert their attention,or even turn them against our enemies."

Dian Wei,who had been silent until then,spoke up."But how do we ensure they don't turn on us as well?"

Lin Yu nodded,acknowledging the valid concern."We must be careful,indeed.We should not engage them directly unless absolutely necessary.Instead,we should focus on strengthening our own defenses and preparing for any eventuality.We should also gather intelligence on their movements and leadership,to understand their weaknesses and exploit them."

Cao Cao stroked his beard,deep in thought."You suggest a cautious approach,then.To observe and strike only when the time is right."

"Exactly,Lord Cao.Patience is a virtue in warfare.We must be like the snake in the grass,waiting for the perfect moment to strike."Lin Yu's voice was calm but firm.

Cao Cao stood,his decision made."Very well.We shall prepare our defenses and gather information.And when the time is right,we shall strike with the force of a thunderbolt."

With that,Cao Cao and Dian Wei took their leave,leaving Lin Yu to his thoughts.Lin Yu knew that the coming days would be fraught with danger,but he also saw the potential for great gain.If they played their cards right,the Yellow Turban rebellion could be the key to expanding their influence and power.

In the following weeks,Lin Yu focused on expanding his Moutai business,using the profits to bolster his own resources and influence.He also quietly began to gather information on the Yellow Turban rebels,sending out trusted scouts and using his connections to infiltrate their ranks.

Meanwhile,Cao Cao busied himself with training his troops and fortifying his positions.He took Lin Yu's advice to heart,preparing for a long and potentially grueling conflict.

As the days turned into weeks,the situation in Yanzhou grew more tense.The Yellow Turban rebels,a massive and unruly force,swept through the countryside,causing destruction and chaos in their wake.But as they approached Cao Cao's territory,they found a well-prepared and disciplined army waiting for them.

Cao Cao,following Lin Yu's strategy,avoided direct confrontation with the rebels,instead using hit-and-run tactics to harass their flanks and slow their advance.The rebels,frustrated and unable to engage the main force,began to lose momentum.

Seeing their opportunity,Cao Cao's forces struck with precision and force,catching the rebels off guard and inflicting heavy casualties.The tide of the conflict began to turn,and the Yellow Turban rebels found themselves on the defensive.

In the midst of the turmoil,Lin Yu continued to operate his Moutai business,using the profits to support Cao Cao's military efforts and to aid the affected civilians.His wine shop became a symbol of resilience and hope amidst the chaos,a place where people could find solace and a brief escape from the hardships of war.

As the conflict dragged on,the Yellow Turban rebellion began to falter.The rebels,beset on all sides and facing a well-organized and disciplined enemy,started to lose heart.Their numbers dwindled,and their will to fight waned.

Finally,after a series of decisive battles,the Yellow Turban rebellion was crushed.The remaining rebels scattered or surrendered,and peace was restored to Yanzhou.

Cao Cao,standing atop the battlefield,looked out over the carnage with a heavy heart.He had won the battle,but he knew that the war was far from over.There were still many challenges ahead,and the path to unification was long and fraught with peril.

But for now,they had a respite.And as he turned to make his way back to his camp,he couldn't help but think of Lin Yu and the role he had played in their victory.Without his counsel and the profits from his Moutai business,the outcome might have been very different.

Cao Cao resolved to reward Lin Yu handsomely for his contributions.He was more than just a wine merchant;he was a strategist,a provider,and a friend.And as Cao Cao's influence grew,so too did Lin Yu's,their fates intertwined in the complex tapestry of war and politics.

The Yellow Turban rebellion had been a test,and they had passed.But the future held greater challenges,and they would need all their wits and resources to overcome them.As the sun set on the battlefield,Cao Cao and Lin Yu stood ready to face whatever came next,united in their determination to shape the fate of their world.