A few days later, a simple iron shop was built in a courtyard of the General's Autumn Shop. It was filled with exotic flowers and plants. Every morning, there would be a tinkling sound coming from inside. It was Tong Yuan, who was holding a hammer in his hand and doing something in the hot weather.
Cao Ang took time off every day to ask Tong Yuan for advice, but Tong Yuan only let him stand outside and watch him forge the spearhead. After several days of this, Cao Ang couldn't help but feel bored. What the hell is this old man doing!
Today, Cao Ang came to Autumn Delicacy as usual. He saw Tong Yuan wearing a thin cloth robe. His skinny body looked as if it would fly away if the wind blew. Cao Ang stood quietly at the side, watching Tong Yuan forge the spearhead bit by bit. He couldn't help but sigh.
After a while, Tong Yuan put the completed spearhead into the water with the big pliers. After a " chi " sound, he raised the spearhead in the pliers and observed it carefully for a while. He nodded and continued to forge carefully.
Cao Ang finally couldn't hold it in any longer and said,""Master, the books and bamboo slips that you wanted, I've bought them with scriptures.”Tong Yuan stood up and took the letter from Cao Ang's arms. He said,""Very good, very good."
Cao Ang took a deep breath and forced a smile."In that case, can we start practicing the spear?”Tong Yuan shook his head and took out a Book of Filial Piety from the inner room. He said to Cao Ang,""Me, blacksmith. You, copy the book."
"Ah?" Cao Ang was stunned when he heard this. He gritted his teeth and said,""Transcription? Master, didn't you want to teach me how to use the spear?”Tong Yuan turned around and took out a long iron pen from the pile of guns he had forged. There was a black iron ball hanging at the end of the pen." Write with it."”
Cao Ang took the strange pen and felt that it was unusually heavy. He glared at Tong Yuan angrily and then picked up the bamboo slips and the Book of Filial Piety. He started to write on the stone table beside the iron shop. After writing twice, he felt his wrist ache. Just as he was about to straighten it with his left hand, he saw Tong Yuan walking over with a piece of iron that he had forged himself. He placed it in Cao Ang's left hand and said in a deep voice,"No, use your left hand to hold it.”
Cao Ang's right hand was copying the book with great effort, while his left hand was holding the unformed copper block. His face began to gradually turn red as he gritted his teeth and said,"Master, I want to learn spear techniques from you!”Tong Yuan silently said,"I'll learn it again when my handwriting looks good."”
F * ck! It would be strange if it could be written well like this! Cao Ang couldn't help but curse in his heart, but he saw Tong Yuan looking down at the two words he had just written. They were really big and crooked. He shook his head and sighed,"No, you, write Little Zuan." Cao Ang almost fainted when he heard this! Old man, you're ruthless!
After an entire morning of hard work, Cao Ang had finally finished copying the entire scroll. Tong Yuan walked over and looked at it carefully. Then, he said," It's alright. In the afternoon, I'll make the spearhead." Cao Ang waved his trembling hands and said in surprise,""But, I still have to go to the Military Advisor Guard Camp at noon.”
"Up to you." Tong Yuan turned around and left. Cao Ang gritted his teeth and angrily looked at Tong Yuan, who sat down and continued to swing his hammer. He said in a deep voice,"Forget it! Yours Truly will fight with you today!"
At noon, the scorching sun hung high in the sky. Tong Yuan carefully sized up Cao Ang who had walked into the iron shop."Have you forged iron before?" Cao Ang shook his still numb hands and said calmly,"No, but it doesn't seem difficult, right?”
"Oh, I see. "Alright." Tong Yuan turned around and picked up a piece of copper and iron."Make the spearhead and shape it." Cao Ang looked at it with disdain, then picked up the pliers and placed the copper block into the fire. After the iron block turned red, he placed it on the casting table and hammered it down.
In an instant, sparks flew in all directions. The originally full copper block was dented into a big pit. Tong Yuan shook his head and sighed."This isn't a spearhead, it's a shovel." Cao Ang's face immediately turned red and hot. He continued to raise the hammer, and after thinking about the strength, he started to hit it bit by bit.
————
"Old Man Tong! You win!" In the evening, Cao Ang dragged his arms that were almost numb as he slowly walked back to the Self-restraint Pavilion. Shi Huan had been waiting for him for a long time. When he saw Cao Ang enter, he hurriedly said,"General, why didn't you go to the camp today?”
"Are there many things in the camp?" Cao Ang turned his head and asked snappily. Shi Huan trembled when he heard that and said,"It's just training. There's not much to do.”
"That's good. Do I have to go every time to train soldiers? What do I want a lieutenant like you for?”Shi Huan shuddered when he heard this. Did the general eat something bad today to have diarrhea? He was so angry.
"Old Man Tong, you're amazing! If you don't want to teach me, I'll waste my time with you!”Cao Ang might seem easy-going, but he was also a donkey in his previous life. With a low shout, he grabbed the three-pointed double-edged saber from the rack and began to wave it around the courtyard with his sore arm. Shi Huan, who was at the side, looked at Cao Ang curiously. For some reason, he felt that the general's three-pointed saber dance was especially smooth today. It seemed to be more fluid and confidential than usual.
In the following days, Cao Ang rarely went to the Military Advisor Guard Camp. He only wrote and forged iron with Tong Yuan every day, doing his best. As long as he met Tong Yuan's requirements, he would have no reason to refuse. He was not afraid that this old man would not teach him spear techniques!
After nearly two months of training, Cao Ang himself did not realize that it was not a problem for him to write ten small words in one morning. Moreover, he seemed to have mastered the trick. With the help of that heavy pen, he had to concentrate when writing. Otherwise, once he was distracted by Tong Yuan's hammering sound, he would not be able to control his strength. The bamboo slips were either stained with ink or the traces of earthworms.
As for forging the spearhead, Cao Ang found that it was indeed much uglier than he had imagined. The spearhead was different from forging a sword. Not only was it small, but it also had to be balanced. It had to be narrow at the top and wide at the bottom. This required the cooperation of eyes, hands, strength, and dexterity. Over the past few days, Cao Ang's hands had gotten countless blisters and calluses, and his arms had suffered countless burn marks and scratches. Two months later, he finally forged a spearhead that could make Tong Yuan nod his head. However, the old man's next words almost angered him to death."Talent, not bad, it's a pity not to be a blacksmith.”
Just as Cao Ang and Tong Yuan were fighting, an urgent report was sent to Xudu. Lu Bu had sent troops to besiege Xiaopei. Liu Bei sent someone to report to Cao Cao, hoping that he would send troops to help.
"Lu Bu…Did you see through me in the end?" Looking at the urgent report in his hand, Cao Cao's proud eyes flashed with a strange light. At this moment, he was in the Sikong Residence's study, with three people standing on his left and right. They were Xiahou Dun, Xun Yu, and Guo Jia.
"Lu Bu attacked Xiao Pei this time because he knew that I and Liu Xuande were plotting against him and struck first.”Cao Cao muttered to himself after a moment of silence. Guo Jia smiled and said," The Central Plains is now divided into two. Ming Gong and Lü Bu will not be able to get along. Since Lü Bu knows our intentions, it is reasonable for him to take the initiative. Yesterday, the scouts reported that Yuan Shao is preparing for the Northern Expedition, so we don't have to worry about him for the time being. Now, we are afraid that he will collude with Yuan Shu. It will be difficult to deal with him then."”
Cao Cao's eyes flashed, but he remained silent. Xun Yu said,""Since that's the case, we can take advantage of the moment when they start to rebel and their hearts are uncertain to eliminate this huge threat in one go.”
Cao Cao slapped the table and stood up,""Good! Since that was the case! Send troops to Xuzhou!" "Then what about Liu Bei?" Guo Jia hurriedly asked.”Cao Cao sighed and said,"Liu Xuande is trapped because of my life. I will send troops to rescue him."”
Guo Jia seemed to want to say something, but after opening his mouth, he swallowed his words. Cao Cao stroked his beard and said,"It's just that it's difficult for my army to arrive, so I'll send the vanguard to reinforce them.”"Xiahou Dun is willing to be the vanguard!”
Xun Yu also said softly,"Your Excellency, now we have tigers and leopards riding on the stirrers of our steeds, and our warhorses and sabers are all equipped. This time, we will be able to have a decisive battle with Lu Bu's wolf cavalry."”"Good!" Cao Cao said in a low voice. In that case, we will prepare to pack up in Xudu first. Yuan Rang will lead his troops to Xuzhou to help Liu Bei resist the enemy.”
Guo Jia rolled his eyes and said," The General's General's Military Advisor Guard Camp is also idle. Why don't we let it assist General Yuan Rang to go and defeat the enemy?"”Cao Cao pondered for a moment and nodded. Thus, the Eastern Expedition against Lu Bu started with Xiahou Dun and Cao Ang as the vanguard.
After the meeting, Guo Jia hurried over to the rear general's manor. Cao Ang had just finished a day of writing and blacksmithing lessons. Hearing that Guo Jia had come, he couldn't help but feel strange, but he also invited him into the Self-Restraint Pavilion to meet.
No matter how busy or free Guo Jia was, he would always be calm and collected. This was something that Cao Ang could never learn. When Guo Jia saw Cao Ang, he smiled and greeted him," General, the lord has appointed your general as the deputy general of General Xiahou Dun. We are both in the vanguard. Congratulations on having a good opportunity to make contributions again."
Cao Ang sighed helplessly. It must be Guo Jia's doing again, right? "Thank you for your recommendation, Brother Fengxiao. Cao Ang will remember it.”Guo Jiawei waved his hand and continued,"There's no need for you to go this time. It's just that I have some small matters that I need to borrow your hand."”
After he finished speaking, Guo Jia stood up and came to the map hanging behind Cao Ang. He drew a circle on a place with his finger. Cao Ang looked carefully and realized that it was Xiao Pei.
Liu Bei! Cao Ang suddenly understood what Guo Jia wanted him to do. He was worried about Liu Bei! Thinking back to the time at Runan border, when Guo Jia looked at Liu Bei with disdain and vigilance, Cao Ang suddenly understood.
"General, what kind of person do you think Liu Xuande is?”Cao Ang feigned ignorance." He's straightforward, daring, and trustworthy. He's a benevolent gentleman."”Guo Jia hurriedly replied," General, you are both right and wrong. You are right. Liu Bei is a benevolent person. He is not strong, but he is not someone to be underestimated. On the surface, Liu Bei is submissive to you, but in reality, he is a strange person with a firm and unyielding heart. Ming Gong was ambitious and talented, drinking the Yellow River and fighting for the world was his wish. However, he had forgotten about Liu Bei. The battle was like a game of chess. A superficial opponent like Lu Bu wasn't scary. The true victor was often someone you didn't pay attention to.”
Cao Ang couldn't help but secretly sigh at Guo Jia's ability to judge people, and said seriously,"Brother Fengxiao, you are right. Although Liu Bei is not as talented as my father, what is amazing is his forbearance and ability to use people. Conceal is to plan, entrust is to seek wisdom. Liu Bei had a deep relationship with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, and after many years of wandering, his forbearance had long been different from ordinary people. His forbearance was the deepest one Cao Ang knew in his life, and its harm was definitely greater than that of Lu Bu.”
"Well said, well said!" Guo Jia looked excited." I didn't expect that I would have a confidant in Xu Du, and I didn't expect that this confidant would be Ming Gong's eldest son! Alright, since I've said so much, you should understand why I recommend you to go out, right?”
Cao Ang sighed." It's difficult to get rid of this person. However, Cao Ang will do his best. Even if he can't get rid of him, he will cripple half of his soldiers!"”
November Book Group
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