I grabbed his hand and shook it vigorously: "Your IQ is definitely over 180!"
"So this tripartite division of the world..."
I said, "You, me, and my second brother, now only the three of us understand that this is an inevitable trend."
Guan Yu laughed and said, "I also know that Huarong Road was arranged by you. If you hadn't let Cao Cao escape to scare Sun Quan, there would be no Shu Han."
Zhuge Liang remained silent for a long time before sadly saying, "Yun Chang, from now on, our lord will rely entirely on you. I should go back to farming."
I chuckled and said, "No way. Didn't Xiang Yu still lose to Han Xin and Zhang Liang after returning to Chu-Han? You can't be worse than those two, can you?"
Zhuge Liang then regained some confidence, picked up the fan, and said, "You said you had something to ask me?"
I gave him a general explanation of the principles of Heaven, overpopulation, and the art of war, and finally returned to the question of how to poison Wu Sangui. Zhuge Liang suddenly realized, "So that's where Cao Cao's 'thank you' came from. What kind of person is Wu Sangui?"
I thought for a moment and said, "It's rather complicated, a bit like Wei Yan."
Guan Yu quickly explained to Zhuge Liang, "Wei Yan is a general we will recruit later, a traitor."
"So, this person is a bit unpredictable?"
I nodded and said, "The old man is a bit sensitive. Even if he regrets his mistake, he can't tell anyone."
Zhuge Liang nodded slightly and simply moved on from this point, saying, "To get close to someone, you have to cater to their interests—Qin Shi Huang agreed to meet you because he wanted to achieve immortality, and Liu Bang wanted to recruit talent. So, Xiaoqiang, based on your analysis, what does Wu Sangui need most right now?"
I asked blankly, "What? The old man doesn't lack anything."
Seeing my foolish look, Zhuge Liang felt a surge of intellectual superiority and confidently slammed his fist on the table: "Military strength! What he needs most is military strength. I've heard you say that Wu is fighting the whole country from a small corner of the country, so his military strength must be stretched thin."
I hurriedly asked, "Then what should we do?"
Zhuge Liang smiled slightly: "I'm afraid this time it will be tough for Zilong."
Zhao Yun stepped forward and said, "Please give the order, strategist."
Zhuge Liang took out a brush and scribbled something on the paper, saying, "Zilong, you can take 500 soldiers with Xiaoqiang to see Wu Sangui, and just say that you are going to surrender."
I apologized to Zhao Yun, saying, "I'm sorry, I've given you this task on our first meeting." Zhao Zilong is, after all, the only undefeated general in the Three Kingdoms, and my idol. It would be one thing if I didn't bring him any benefit on our first meeting, but instead, I've led him into a surrender deal…
Zhao Yun smiled gently and said, "It's alright. You have done a favor for our lord, which means you have done a favor for me. I, Zilong, would gladly die for you."
Zhuge Liang continued, "Times are difficult, and Wu Sangui will surely suspect you of treachery. Zilong, you can draw your spear and fight. You must win, not lose. Whether Wu Sangui will accept you or not depends on you."
Zhao Yun clasped his hands and said, "As you command!"
I asked anxiously, "Then how do we drug him? We're not really going to surrender."
Zhuge Liang then sealed the written silk into a small bag and said, "I have a brilliant plan in a brocade bag. After Zilong wins three games in a row, Xiaoqiang can take a look at it and then make a decision."
I hurriedly reached out to take it, but Zhuge Liang handed the brocade pouch to Zhao Yun, then picked up his feather fan and waved it, saying in a mysterious tone, "You may go now."
I had no choice but to wait outside. Zhao Yun mustered his men and came to meet me. Seeing that no one was around, I leaned forward and whispered, "Zilong!"
"Ah, what can I do for you, Brother Xiaoqiang?"
I said with a sly look, "Where's that brocade pouch the strategist gave you? Let's see what's written on it first!" I've heard so much about this legendary brocade pouch strategy. After the Battle of Red Cliffs, when Liu Bei crossed the river to marry, there were several brocade pouches prepared for him. Zhuge Liang instructed Zhao Yun not to open them beforehand unless it was an emergency. But I don't believe in such superstitions. Will opening it beforehand make it ineffective? I want to set an example and dispel superstitions!
Zhao Yun chuckled. I asked, puzzled, "What's wrong with you?"
Zhao Yun straightened his face but still smiled and said, "Before I left, the strategist called me over and said, 'Once we leave this tent, Xiao Qiang will definitely want to see the brocade pouch first.'"
I said awkwardly, "Hehe, and then what did the strategist say?"
Zhao Yun pulled out a bag and said, "The strategist also gave me a brocade pouch, saying that when you ask for your brocade pouch, I should look at this one first..."
I felt a wave of dizziness and said urgently, "Then quickly see what's written on this."
Zhao Yun opened his brocade pouch, turned his back, and glanced at it. I craned my neck, trying to peek, but Zhao Yun quickly turned back, slapped the pouch into my hand, and said, "See for yourself."
Overwhelmed with excitement, I picked it up and saw four large characters written on it:
"We can't give it to him!"
Chapter 200 The Target of the Operation: Wu Sangui
This trip to the Three Kingdoms was quite fruitful. I learned about the Battle of Red Cliffs and even met Zhao Yun and Zhuge Liang, which confirms they were both men. I say this because there's a widespread rumor online that Cao Cao was a woman, and then Zhao Yun was also a woman, leading to the downfall of Liu Bei and Sun Quan. In the end, among the heroes of the Three Kingdoms, only Zhang Fei, with his beard, escaped this fate; even he couldn't escape it. If that were true, wouldn't *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* have to be renamed *The Twelve Beauties of Jinling*? I truly despise those who write these pointless parodies!
Zhao Yun gathered his men and waited to the side. I took out my phone and called Liu Laoliu: "Help me open a military road from Xiakou to Wu Sangui's place. I need it now, quickly."
Liu Laoliu snorted and said, "I'm supposed to be a god, how come you've been directing me around like a secretary who buys you discounted plane tickets lately?"
I laughed and scolded, "Stop talking nonsense, what kind of secretary has a face full of wrinkles like yours?"
Liu Laoliu sighed, "Well, luckily I won't have to deal with you for another three months. I've already done my eight kowtows, so this one more won't make a difference."
I asked in surprise, "You're leaving too?"
Liu Laoliu said, "Nonsense, Grandpa is here to help the poor. Do you think I sold myself to you?"
I was somewhat disappointed. Although Liu Laoliu wasn't a very good person, he had helped me a lot. Besides, he was practically my superior. To be honest, it's hard to find a superior like him who you can call an old bastard so casually.
I said, "There's something else. I'll bring Lao Wu back and have him lead 50,000 people with me. Will these people be able to go back?"
Liu Laoliu said, "Kangxi will be visiting you in a few days. You can discuss this with him. When he returns a year later, you can emulate Xiang Yu and Liu Bang."
I said with a headache, "I haven't even asked you yet. Qin Wuyang is about to go back. Will I have to assassinate Qin again then?" This question has been bothering me for more than just a day or two.