Three Kingdoms: The Peerless Strategist of Wei

Chapter 24 Sun Ce is shocked to take in Da Qiao.

"Sit down quickly. If you keep moving around like this, the wound might reopen, and all my efforts will have been wasted."

Gu Cheng quickly stepped forward and steadily supported her, and together with Cao Jie, they carefully helped her sit down.

Immediately afterwards, Gu Cheng gave the order to have the maids who accompanied him bring her some hot porridge to eat.

When Xu Chu and the others heard that the girl had woken up, they all rushed over, filled with curiosity about the girl's identity.

Da Qiao slowly finished a bowl of hot porridge, and her face regained its color. She had finally recovered some strength and was no longer as weak and powerless as before.

"May I ask your name, Miss?"

As Gu Cheng asked her questions, he handed her a clean silk handkerchief.

Da Qiao gently wiped her lips and said with a light smile, "My family calls me Wan'er, and you can call me that too, young master."

She was still unaware of Gu Cheng's background and dared not reveal his surname, only giving her his given name.

"Miss Wan'er, could you please tell us what happened to you?"

Gu Cheng pointed to the carriage riddled with arrows and said.

Da Qiao sighed softly and said, "My family originally lived in Shouchun. On the day the city fell, my whole family fled together. But I got separated from my family halfway and was chased by Cao Cao's army. I was shot by an arrow, and when I woke up again, I was already like this."

"You mean, Shouchun City has already fallen?"

Cao Jie's eyes flashed, and he hurriedly asked.

Da Qiao nodded slightly: "Judging from the dates, Cao Cao's army should have breached Shouchun City two days ago."

Cao Jie let out a long breath, his eyes filled with joy and admiration, and turned to look back at Gu Cheng beside him.

Diao Chan, Zhou Tai, and Xu Chu all looked at Gu Cheng, their eyes filled with undisguised amazement.

Why are you all staring at me like that?

Gu Cheng, however, spoke with an innocent expression.

Xu Chu immediately gave a thumbs up, his face full of admiration, and said, "Young master, it must have been that young general from Cao Cao's camp who presented your plan to Cao Cao, which is why we were able to capture Shouchun so quickly. Young master, I have truly witnessed your unparalleled wisdom today!"

Da Qiao's expression suddenly changed, and deep surprise welled up in her clear eyes.

"Before my father and I were separated, he mentioned that Cao Cao had a reclusive mastermind behind him who possessed extraordinary wisdom. It must have been that man who offered the strategy that helped Cao Cao conquer Shouchun!"

"Judging from their words, could that extraordinary person be none other than the young master Gu standing before me?"

A surge of emotions welled up in Da Qiao's heart, and the look in her eyes as she gazed at Gu Cheng was no longer just simple gratitude.

"Ahem, Miss Wan'er."

Gu Cheng turned his gaze to Da Qiao: "What are your plans for the future?"

A deep sadness appeared on Da Qiao's pretty face, and she said in a low voice, "I was separated from my family on the way. I'm afraid they have all died in the chaos of war. Now I am all alone, with no one to rely on. I don't know what to do."

"Since that's the case, if you don't mind, come back to Xudu with me to recover from your injuries. We'll make further plans once you've fully healed."

Gu Cheng then made the suggestion.

Da Qiao was overjoyed and quickly stood up to bow, saying gratefully, "Then Wan'er thanks you for taking me in, young master. Please accept my bow."

"Please don't pray. If you keep doing this, the wound will reopen, and I won't be able to sleep peacefully tonight."

Gu Cheng didn't have time to think and quickly reached out to support her arm.

The moment their hands touched, Da Qiao's heart skipped a beat.

She suddenly looked up and met Gu Cheng's gaze; the two were only inches apart.

She could see that handsome and dashing face clearly.

It was only then that Gu Cheng noticed that the girl he had personally rescued possessed a stunningly beautiful face, truly an absolute beauty.

Da Qiao's cheeks flushed instantly, and she involuntarily lowered her head.

"Chan'er, help Miss Wan'er back to her room to rest."

Gu Cheng then handed Da Qiao over to Diao Chan, who was standing nearby.

Diao Chan quickly stepped forward and helped Da Qiao into the room.

"My lord, this Miss Wan'er is truly a rare beauty."

As Cao Jie watched Da Qiao's departing figure, he suddenly uttered a word of praise.

Gu Cheng nodded slightly and said with a serious expression, "What you say is absolutely right, Madam. Her appearance is at least seven-tenths as beautiful as yours, and she can be considered a rare beauty."

She was only seven-tenths as good as him; the implication was that she was inferior to him.

Cao Jie felt a sense of satisfaction upon hearing this and couldn't help but purse his lips and secretly smile.

"Women..."

Gu Cheng glanced at Cao Jie's smug expression and couldn't help but shake his head and sigh inwardly.

Just then, a system notification sounded in his mind.

"The host's two-month seclusion period in Xia Cai has ended, and the mission has been successfully completed."

"Congratulations, host, you have obtained the [Star Gazing Technique], [Salt Making Method], and [Snow-Treading Black Steed]."

The three rewards were then stored in the system's storage space.

This art of stargazing allows one to predict future weather and weather patterns by observing changes in the stars at night.

Wow, this is practically like having a built-in weather forecast!

The Snow-Treading Black Steed is a peerless steed, moving as swiftly as the wind. It also possesses a unique ability to maintain twice the speed of an ordinary horse for a quarter of an hour.

This reward is quite good, like a top-of-the-line sports car. If you encounter danger at a critical moment, you can just step on the gas and drive away.

As for this salt-making method, Gu Cheng couldn't think of any significant use for it yet.

"Whatever, something is better than nothing. Let's save it for now!"

Gu Cheng was immediately in a good mood. He reached out and gently put his arm around Cao Jie's slender waist, and said with a smile, "Madam, let's pack our things. It's time for us to head home."

"Yes, it's time to go back."

Cao Jie nodded gently, her eyes lowered and a faint smile on her face, and nestled obediently in Gu Cheng's arms.

inside the room.

Da Qiao did not lie down, but secretly observed Gu Cheng in the courtyard through the crack in the window.

Seeing the loving and affectionate way he and Cao Jie were together, Da Qiao couldn't help but sigh softly, "It seems that this young master Gu and his wife are truly a loving couple."

Suddenly, she jolted, as if she had remembered something important.

"My wound is on my back. To treat it, I would have to cut open my clothes. Young Master Gu said he treated my wound himself. Does that mean he saw everything about me?"

Da Qiao's cheeks instantly flushed crimson like the sunset, her eyes filled with unconcealed shyness.

...

The city of Hefei was filled with the rich aroma of wine.

Two handsome and distinguished young men were drinking together atop the city wall.

A large flag embroidered with the character "Sun" is fluttering in the wind atop the city gate.

"Hefei has been captured. If you, Bofu, are willing, our army can reach the walls of Shouchun within three days!"

The handsome and refined general spoke with a smile.

Sun Ce tilted his head back and downed a cup of strong liquor, laughing loudly as he said, "If it weren't for your brilliant plan, Gongjin, how could I have defeated Zhang Xun so easily and captured Hefei?"

Zhou Yu smiled without speaking, a hint of undisguised arrogance playing on his lips.

"General Bofu, now that we have captured Hefei, why not immediately march our troops forward and take Shouchun City? Why are you still leisurely drinking wine here!"

The veteran Han Dang beside him spoke with great urgency.

Veteran general Huang Gai chimed in, "Yes, General Bofu, if we continue to delay like this, it will be too late once Cao Cao takes Shouchun."

Sun Ce revealed a playful smile and turned to look at Zhou Yu beside him.

"Generals, please don't be impatient. Hefei is a fortified city with ample food reserves. Even if Cao Cao is a brilliant strategist, it's not something that can be taken overnight."

"What we need to do is conserve our strength and wait until Cao Cao's army is exhausted and its morale is worn down before we march on Shouchun and reap the benefits."

Zhou Yu spoke eloquently, revealing the deeper meaning behind Sun Ce's decision to remain inactive.

Generals Han Dang and Huang Gai then realized what was happening.

"Gongjin, when we visited Qiao Rui back then, we saw his two daughters with our own eyes. Do you still remember the vow we made together then?"

Sun Ce suddenly spoke up and asked.

"Of course I remember."

Zhou Yu nodded and smiled: "We swore back then that one day we would march back to Shouchun and marry the two Qiao sisters!"

Sun Ce said with a beaming smile, "Qiao Rui is currently trapped in Shouchun City, and the two Qiao sisters must also be in the city. The day we conquer Shouchun will be the day we fulfill our vow and marry the two Qiao sisters!"

Zhou Yu nodded heavily.

Sun Ce sneered again and said, "Back then, in order to get back the troops left by my father, I had no choice but to give the Imperial Seal of the State to Yuan Shu. This time, I want the beauty, and I will definitely take back the Imperial Seal of the State as well!"

Zhou Yu raised his wine cup high and declared with boundless pride, "Bo Fu, I, Zhou Yu, will do everything in my power to help you reclaim everything that belongs to you!"

"good!"

Sun Ce raised his wine cup, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

The two looked at each other and burst into laughter, truly displaying the spiritedness of youth.

Just at this time.

General Pan Zhang rushed up to the city wall, bowed, and said, "My lord, Shouchun City was captured by Cao Cao two days ago. Yuan Shu was killed by Cao Cao, and the Imperial Seal of the State has disappeared!"

"What?"

Sun Ce and Zhou Yu exclaimed in unison, their faces instantly turning pale with shock.