In the dancing glow of the candlelight,Dian Wei,already an imposing figure,seemed all the more heroic.Cao Cao's eyes were drawn to him,his admiration growing with each passing moment.So entranced was he that he almost forgot the purpose of his visit and his intended conversation with Lin Yu.

Observing this,Lin Yu swiftly interjected with a smile,"Lord Cao,this man is not only my subordinate but also my sworn brother,Dian Wei."The unspoken message was clear:Lord Cao,Dian Wei is under my wing;do not entertain thoughts of taking him from me.

Cao Cao managed an awkward smile.True,he had been on the verge of asking for Dian Wei,but Lin Yu's words left him feeling a touch sheepish.Well,since Dian Wei is Lin Yu's sworn brother,as long as Lin Yu remains in my service,Dian Wei will surely follow suit,he mused.With this thought,his smile regained its luster,and he said,"Sir,you recently proposed the establishment of the'Gold Diggers Command'and assisted General Zilin in sorting out the military accounts.Your contributions are truly remarkable."

"Lord Cao,you are too kind,"Lin Yu replied humbly."As your servant,I am dedicated to your affairs.Since I have chosen to serve you,I am bound to fulfill my duties with unwavering commitment,until death parts us."

Upon hearing this,Cao Cao's eyes sparkled.What a noble vow of duty until death!This man's eloquence is truly a marvel!

After the exchange of pleasantries,Cao Cao signaled to Xiahou Dun,who then stepped outside the tent.Noticing this,Lin Yu also asked Dian Wei to leave.In an instant,only Cao Cao and Lin Yu remained within the tent.

"Sir,we shall depart tomorrow to join forces with other armies and oppose Dong Zhuo,"Cao Cao slowly revealed the purpose of his visit."However,I must confess,an uneasiness has been gnawing at my heart,and thus I have come to seek your counsel."

Lin Yu paused for a moment of thought,then asked with a smile,"Why,Lord Cao,do you wish to oppose Dong Zhuo?"

"To eliminate the treacherous and restore the Han dynasty,of course,"Cao Cao replied without hesitation.

However,at this,Lin Yu couldn't help but chuckle.This laughter left Cao Cao bewildered and somewhat displeased."Why do you laugh,Sir?Do you think my ambition lacks grandeur?"At this time,Cao Cao was still a young and zealous man,his thoughts consumed solely by the restoration of the Han dynasty,with no inkling of overthrowing it himself.

Lin Yu regained his composure,a faint smile on his lips."Lord Cao,your ambition is truly noble,and I hold it in the highest regard."Then,he deftly changed the subject."Alas,the outcome of this confrontation with Dong Zhuo is likely to be far from favorable."Cao Cao's brow furrowed slightly,a hint of disbelief in his eyes.

Seeing this,Lin Yu continued,"At this Suanzao alliance,there are,aside from you,Lord Cao,seventeen other forces."

"Yet the leaders of these seventeen forces,though they claim to be loyal to the Han,are in truth no different from warlords!"

"They plot against one another,presenting a facade of harmony while harboring dark motives within their hearts."

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"Besides you,Lord Cao,how many truly yearn to restore the Han dynasty?"

"Most are merely calculating,hoping others will take the risks while they reap the rewards."

"In such a state,despite the seeming might of the allied forces,how can they hope to vanquish Dong Zhuo?"

Lin Yu's analysis was logical and compelling.Nevertheless,Cao Cao remained skeptical after hearing it.After all,he had yet to engage in actual combat with Dong Zhuo,nor had he even encountered the other warlords.How could Lin Yu be so certain of the allied forces'failure against Dong Zhuo?

"If Lord Cao doubts my words,we need only wait and see,"Lin Yu said,aware of the historical course that lay ahead and thus speaking with a calm smile,offering no further elaboration.

Cao Cao was silent for a while before asking,"What,in your view,is the trend of the world,Sir?"

"The world tends to unity after long division and division after long unity.First came the upheaval of the Yellow Turban Rebellion,followed by the current chaos of warlords vying for power.It seems the Han dynasty's days are numbered,"Lin Yu stated placidly.

Such words bordered on treason.Were court officials to hear them,Lin Yu would surely be charged with spreading false rumors and apprehended.But Cao Cao,upon hearing them,remained quiet.Though filled with passion and focused on restoring the Han,he could sense the truth in Lin Yu's words.

"Though there are many heroes in the world,only one can unite it and bring order to the chaos!"

"Who might that be?"Cao Cao couldn't resist asking.

"Far in the heavens,close at hand,"Lin Yu's gaze was intense as he stared directly at Cao Cao.

Cao Cao's heart skipped a beat.He had never expected such high regard from Lin Yu!

"Sir,you are overly flattering."

"Not at all,"Lin Yu waved his hand and said with a smile,"Lord Cao,you possess great ambition,are replete with wise strategies,and have an excellent eye for and use of talent.You are truly a hero."

Hearing this cascade of praise,Cao Cao felt both flattered and a sense of elation.

"Sir,with your great talent,it is a waste to have you merely managing grain and supplies,"Cao Cao said with a smile."Why not serve as the Chief of Staff in our army?"

"No,no,no.I am quite content as I am!"Lin Yu shook his head vigorously.

Joking aside,although Cao Cao currently had only a few generals like Xiahou Yuan under his command,once his power expanded,the internal dynamics would grow complex,with factionalism emerging.One misstep could be fatal.It was better to be a minor official in charge of supplies,living a peaceful life and flowing with the tide.Meanwhile,he could offer the occasional advice to Cao Cao and even cause some headaches for Liu Bei.Once Cao Cao achieved prosperity,even without significant contributions,he would still have his share of the spoils and could then enjoy a life of wealth and honor.How splendid.

Cao Cao persisted in his persuasion for a while,but seeing Lin Yu's resolute stance,he did not press further.After a few more idle remarks,Cao Cao rose and took his leave.

After leaving Lin Yu's quarters,Cao Cao's steps were lighter,and he even hummed a tune.

Xiahou Dun,walking beside him,couldn't help but ask,"My lord,what did Lin Yu discuss with you that has you in such high spirits?"

Cao Cao chuckled and recounted his conversation with Lin Yu in brief.

"Although this man is rather bold and his actions and words somewhat unconventional,he is humble and always has your interests at heart.In this regard,he is not likely to be Dong Zhuo's spy,"Xiahou Dun mused.

"You're right.That's my thought asWell,let's see if the outcome of this campaign against Dong Zhuo unfolds as Lin Yu predicted.If he is correct,I will reward him handsomely,"Cao Cao resolved in his heart.

...

The next morning,the Cao army prepared and set off on the road to Suanzao.

Unlike the nervous soldiers,Lin Yu was completely at ease.He lay on the cart,leaning against the sacks of grain,basking in the warm sun with great comfort.

Dian Wei sat in the front,driving the cart as he grumbled,"Brother,Lord Cao wanted to promote you.Why did you turn it down?"

"Why seek promotion?Isn't it good as it is?"Lin Yu asked with a smile,a straw between his teeth.