Zhang Chen turned his head to look, and saw that the person who had come was none other than Cao Cao.
At this moment, he was riding a pure black steed, galloping towards him.
Upon arriving nearby, Cao Cao dismounted, and Zhang Chen also dismounted to greet him.
Cao Cao walked forward, patted Zhang Chen's shoulder, and said with a smile, "Brother Zifan, why are you leaving the capital in such a hurry? I haven't had a chance to thank you for your help! That day, following your plan, sure enough, my father no longer believed my second uncle's words, and even felt that what he said about me before had hints of instigation. Brother Zifan has helped me so much, I should properly repay him."
Zhang Chen couldn't help but smile and said, "Brother Mengde, what are you saying? It was merely a small effort, nothing to mention."
"I also have no good gifts to offer, but recently I obtained a treasure by chance, which I will give to you, considering it a token of thanks." Saying this, Cao Cao led the pure black steed from behind him and said, "This horse is named Jueying (Shadow Runner). It is a fine steed from Dayuan, with excellent stamina and extreme speed. I see that your weapons and armor are extraordinary, but the only thing you lack is a good mount. Today, this horse is given to you!"
Cao Cao's words caused Zhang Chen to be greatly surprised.
Zhang Chen looked at the black horse in astonishment.
【Jueying (Shadow Runner): Gallop (Purple), Strong (Purple)】
【Gallop (Purple)】: Greatly increases speed.
【Strong (Purple)】: Excellent stamina, can travel a thousand li a day.
【Requires: Master Horsemanship】
This was actually Cao Cao's mount, the famous horse "Jueying (Shadow Runner)"!
It is said that this horse was extremely divine and swift, as fast as lightning, leaving no trace, hence its name.
During the Battle of Wan City, it was thanks to this horse that Cao Cao narrowly escaped. At that time, the horse was hit by three arrows, yet still galloped fiercely, and finally, unfortunately, was shot in the eye, causing it to fall to the ground and die.
If not for this horse, Cao Cao would have likely perished in Wan City, and there would be no future creation of the Wei Kingdom, dividing the world into three!
He didn't expect that in this life, Cao Cao would actually give it to him!
Zhang Chen couldn't help but walk forward, reaching out to stroke Jueying (Shadow Runner)'s mane, his face full of affection.
"Brother Mengde, are you truly willing to part with such a fine steed?"
Cao Cao laughed heartily and said, "A good horse is paired with a hero. Brother Zifan is a hero and a man of valor, and this horse is well-suited for him."
"Since that is the case, then I shall not be overly modest." Zhang Chen was overjoyed upon hearing this, cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "Brother Mengde's kindness in gifting this horse is deeply etched in my heart. Please accept my bow!"
"Haha, you are too polite, Brother." Cao Cao quickly helped Zhang Chen up, sighing softly, "Brother, this time, although following your method resolved many of my second uncle's criticisms of me, it also made me realize something. For these past thirty years, I have been living aimlessly, without making any contributions to the state or benefiting the common people. Now that I think about it, I realize that my second uncle's usual words were also for my own good. I feel deeply ashamed!"
Zhang Chen said, "You are a man of great talent, why worry about not being able to achieve great deeds?"
Cao Cao said, "Currently, the imperial court is in chaos, and the Great Han's empire is precarious. Recently, there is a children's rhyme in Luoyang City that I overheard by chance, and I feel deeply uneasy about it."
"Oh? What children's rhyme?"
"Imperial aura thrives in the eastern capital, ill omens hidden in the central hub. A demonic star appears in the northwest, chaos originates from it."
!!!
Zhang Chen couldn't help but slightly change his expression.
Wasn't this the children's rhyme he heard in Ye City that day? It had spread to Luoyang in just a few days?
More importantly, what the children's rhyme sang about was exactly what he had said to Dong Zhao and Ju Shou back then.
Zhang Chen could only pretend to be calm and said, "Children's rhymes are passed by word of mouth, just for fun, they cannot be taken seriously."
Cao Cao shook his head and said, "Not so, children's rhymes have always had premonitions since ancient times. Moreover, what the children's rhyme sings, 'Imperial aura thrives in the eastern capital, ill omens hidden in the central hub,' doesn't that mean that although Luoyang's imperial aura is strong, there are dark omens in the central hub of the court? Doesn't this refer to the Ten Attendants and their like?"
"Ah! Yes, yes." Zhang Chen agreed, thinking to himself, that day I clearly said that ill omens were Entanglement the imperial star, predicting that Emperor Ling's fate was not long. I didn't expect it to be misinterpreted in this way.
However, this is also good. If it were said that the emperor's life was not long, wouldn't that be a crime punishable by death?
"But I haven't fully understood the latter two lines. A demonic star in the northwest? Could it refer to the rebellion in Liang Province?" Cao Cao said, "Regardless, according to the children's rhyme's premonition, the world may fall into great chaos. I cannot continue to be idle. This time, I am preparing to leave Luoyang and return to my hometown in Qiao County. Firstly, to meet with my kinsmen and Brothers, and secondly, to re-study military strategy and tactics, awaiting the opportune time."
After speaking, Cao Cao looked at Zhang Chen with a scrutinizing gaze and said, "If the world truly falls into chaos, what do you intend to do, Brother?"
Zhang Chen was slightly startled, then said, "As a minister of the Han Dynasty, I shall wield a three-foot sword, sweep away the filth in the world, and restore a bright and clear sky to the land!"
"Good! You are indeed full of heroic spirit, Brother!" Cao Cao praised, "If one day the world is in chaos, I hope you and I, as Brothers, can join hands, sweep away the filth in the world, and restore a bright and clear sky to the land!"
After saying this, Cao Cao cupped his hands and bowed, bidding farewell and departing.
Zhang Chen looked at Cao Cao's receding back, a touch of emotion stirring in his heart.
Cao Cao, he is a Brother, and even more, a respectable opponent!
Let it be. When we meet again, I hope we both still remember the words spoken today...
Zhang Chen, with his personal guards and carriages, traveled north all the way to Ye City.
After several days of travel, they were nearing the border of Ji Province, with about two more days of travel left to reach Ye City. By then, they would arrive just in time for New Year's Eve, to reunite with everyone.
I wonder what expressions Gongyu and the others will have when they learn that I have been appointed Governor of Ji Province?
As Zhang Chen was thinking to himself, suddenly, a rapid sound of hooves came from a distance.
Listening to the sound of the hooves, there were faint traces of a military formation, with at least five hundred cavalry.
Strange, where did these cavalry come from?
Zhang Chen felt suspicious and quickly reined in his horse, looking around.
In the distance, dust billowed, and not long after, a troop of cavalry was seen galloping forward, actually forming a battle array in front of Zhang Chen and his group.
Seeing this situation, Zhang Chen thought it was bad. He immediately gripped his spear and became fully alert.
He saw that the cavalry troop was well-disciplined, with three generals sitting on horseback, standing at the front of the formation. Zhang Chen's eyes swept over them, and his face instantly changed dramatically.
Zhang Chen did not recognize these three people, but he was extremely familiar with the weapons in their hands.
The oldest person in the center had a face like jade, lips like rouge, and large ears that almost reached his shoulders. That person sat on his horse with a kingly bearing, and in his hands was a pair of male and female double swords!
The person on the left wore a green robe, had a face like a ripe date, a beard two feet long, phoenix eyes, and silkworm eyebrows. His appearance was solemn and exuded power, and in his hand was a Green Dragon Crescent Blade!
The person on the right wore a coarse linen shirt, was eight feet tall, had a leopard's head and round eyes, a swallow's jaw and tiger's whiskers, and in his hand was an eighteen-foot steel-tipped spear!
It was precisely Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, the three Brothers!
Why would they appear here? And, having formed a battle array at this moment, what exactly was their intention?