Chapter 34 Strength

  Cai Yong listened to Wang Can's words, thought for a moment, and finally shook his head.

  Wang Can looked puzzled and asked: "Teacher, aren't we going to visit Dong Zhuo?"

  Cai Yong stroked his beard and smiled, saying: "It's not that I won't go to visit Dong Zhuo, but rather it's not urgent to go visit him these few days. You've just arrived in Luoyang and have no foundation here. Let me first visit Wang Yun, Ma Zun, Yang Biao and other good friends, invite them to a banquet at my residence, and then I'll introduce you to them so that you can leave an impression on Wang Yun and the others. However, I'm only playing the role of a matchmaker - whether you're a dragon or a worm depends on your own abilities. If you gain the favor of Wang Yun and the others, Dong Zhuo will look at you with different eyes."

  Wang Can nodded, silently sighing that Jiang was indeed an old and spicy one.

  With Cai Yong's strong support, Wang Can was able to establish himself in Luoyang with ease.

  At the same time, Wang Can gained a deeper understanding of Cai Yong's abilities. Perhaps Cai Yong was not good at leading troops and deploying troops, but his reputation and connections were beyond the reach of ordinary people. Just as Cai Yong could easily invite Wang Yun, Ma Rong, Yang Biao and other high-ranking officials to join him, this is the most terrifying aspect of a great scholar in the world - an unattainable reputation.

  Wang Can and Cai Yong asked each other in turn, and time slipped away in their question-and-answer session...

  At some unknown time, Cai Yong lightly coughed twice, suddenly picked up the teacup and took a light sip of tea.

  Wang Can saw the situation and knew that Cai Yong had served tea to send off the guest, so he stood up and bowed his hands to Cai Yong, asking to leave: "Hearing the teacher's words, the disciple's doubts were suddenly cleared up, and many of the puzzles in his heart were solved. However, it was already very late, and the disciple still had things to attend to at the Hero Building, so please forgive me."

  Cai Yong nodded and saw Wang Can off without delay.

  Wang Can and Cai Yong returned to the living room together, Wang Can bowed slightly to Cai Yong, then left Cai's residence with Pei Yuanshao who was still waiting in the living room.

  Cai Yong gazed at Wang Can's receding back, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes.

  A child can be taught!

  After Wang Can's back disappeared, Cai Yong's gaze fell on the right side of the living room door, where a figure was swaying back and forth. Seeing that figure, a hint of doting love flashed in his eyes. However, the loving expression flashed by, and Cai Yong's face turned stern as he scolded: "Zhao Ji, what are you doing standing outside the door? Hurry up and come in!"

  At the entrance of the hall, a lovely young girl walked in with a gentle and elegant gait.

  The girl was none other than Cai Yan, daughter of Cai Yong.

  Cai Yan wore a snow-white long dress, with a clean and plain face, her face had a hint of shyness, her small mouth was slightly raised, pouting, she walked to Cai Yong's side, sat down beside him and said: "Father, why did you entrust your daughter to Wang Can? Why not send someone to take your daughter to Wu County to stay with my brother-in-law Gu Shi? If I live in Brother-in-law Gu's house, Father won't have to worry about his daughter's safety anymore, nor will he have to exhaust himself thinking of plans for Wang Can."

  Cai Yong rubbed Cai Yan's head and shook his head: "Handing you over to Yuan Tan (Gu Yongzi) would naturally make Father feel at ease, but the journey to Jiangdong is too far away, and there is no one to protect your safety. Moreover, Dong Zhuo will not let you leave either. You might as well give up on this idea. The only thing Father can do now is entrust you to Wei Yan, letting him take care of your safety."

  Cai Yan asked: "Will Dong Zhuo agree if I entrust myself to Wang Can?"

  Cai Yong said: "I agree, Dong Zhuo will let you and Wang Can leave."

  "Why?" asked Cai Yan again.

  "Because you and Wang Can are together, if Dong Zhuo uses your father as a threat to make you return to Luoyang, you will definitely go back for fear of your father's safety. Similarly, if Dong Zhuo uses you and Wang Can as threats, your father will also be coerced by Dong Zhuo, and the two sides are interconnected. As long as Dong Zhuo coerces either side, it will take effect. Therefore, Dong Zhuo will let the two of you leave. However, there is one thing that Dong Zhuo did not calculate: once you leave Luoyang, no matter how Dong Zhuo threatens you and Wang Can with your father, you cannot return to Luoyang. Remember, this is your father's only request."

  Cai Yong's face was solemn and serious as he spoke.

  Cai Yan's face changed upon hearing this, and she almost cried out: "Father, I won't leave Luoyang, I'll stay in Luoyang to accompany you."

  Cai Yan was also a thoughtful and clever person, so she naturally understood that if Dong Zhuo allowed her to return to Luoyang, she would not be able to escape the consequences in Luoyang.

  Cai Yong heard this and immediately rebuked, "What nonsense! Luoyang City is in turmoil, you are just a young girl, what are you doing staying here? That Dong Zhuo is arrogant and tyrannical, bullying officials and hated by the people. It's only a matter of time before he meets his demise. And Father has been forcibly recruited by Dong Zhuo, tied to the same boat as him. When Dong Zhuo dies, Father will also be implicated, Father is old and his death would not be a loss, but you, Yanyan, are only thirteen years old, with your whole life ahead of you, you can't stay in Luoyang."

  "Yan'er be good, listen to Daddy!"

  Cai Yong stroked Cai Yan's raven-black and thick hair knot with a benevolent expression.

  "Waaaah~~~~"

  In the living room, intermittent sobbing sounds and sighs came over.

  Hero Building, Wang Can and Bae Won-seok have returned to their residence by car.

  "Your Excellency, Old Pei is here to offer his congratulations."

  Pei Yuanshao's dark face couldn't hide the joy in his heart, revealing infinite delight.

  Wang Can smiled and said, "Being able to make Cai Yong our teacher, this trip to Luoyang is not in vain. Now that we have Li Ru and Cai Yong's support, we can finally get rid of the nickname 'Yellow Turbans' for good."

  Pei Yuanshao nodded and smiled: "Yes, finally going to be free." After finishing speaking, Pei Yuanshao paused for a moment, then said: "We've been in the Hero Tower for several days, but haven't gone to see the gladiatorial combat inside. Today is a rare happy occasion, let's go take a look."

  In his tone, Pei Yuanshao carried a hint of yearning.

  Wang Can shook his head and refused, saying: "Old Pei, you go by yourself, I still have things to consider."

  Pei Yuanshao's face showed a look of disappointment, but it was instantly replaced by joy. He smiled and said: "Young master, I'll go now. If you have anything to tell me, just ask the servant to call me and I'll come back."

  "Go ahead then."

  "Remember, just watch and don't speak, don't argue with others, and don't stir up trouble. We are still Yellow Turbans and have not yet been recognized by the imperial court. If something happens, it will be difficult to clean up."

  "Master, don't worry, I know what's proper," said Pei Yuanshao, patting his chest.

  Wang Can shook his head and didn't speak, quietly staying in the house thinking about recent events.

  Becoming an apprentice of Cai Yong, a new beginning for Wang Can.

  Since becoming a Yellow Turban soldier, he woke up and became a centurion after shooting an arrow to kill the government general. Then rested for half a month, met Bao Hong and Ji Ling attacking the city, Wang Can took the initiative to ask for battle and went to Ge Po to hold back Ji Ling's army, and also used a plan to ambush and kill Ji Ling. Later, he encountered Bao Hong designing to kill Liu Bi and Gong Dou, while Wang Can killed Bao Hong again. Taking this opportunity, Wang Can successfully controlled Ruyang City and became the Yellow Turban leader of Ruyang City.

  Wang Can also understood that killing Ji Ling was extremely lucky. If it wasn't for the breakthrough at a critical moment, which greatly increased his archery skills, he might have been injured along with Pei Yuanshao and Zhou Cang. Moreover, Bao Hong had ambushed and killed Liu Bi and Gong Dou outside Runan City, and the outcome would have been unimaginable.

  Wang Can thought of this, and he felt a sense of urgency in his heart.

  A sense of urgency to quickly strengthen one's power.

  Without great strength, it is extremely difficult to stand firm in a chaotic world. Even with the strong support of Cai Yong, what he brought to Wang Can was only an increase in reputation and soft power, not a real increase in strength.

  Strength, only with great strength can one be completely at ease.

  Wang Can walked to the door and locked it, then pulled out a Taiping Yemu from his clothes.

  This is the most important thing Wang Can got after crossing over to the Three Kingdoms, and he had to protect it with his life. Wang Can had already memorized the true martial arts manual of Taiping Jing, and practiced every day, but the tactics of marching and deploying troops recorded in Taiping Jing were not just a matter of memorization, they required slow contemplation and study.

  So when Wang Can had some free time, he would take it out and read it carefully.

  Borrow external forces to make Wang Can's road wider.

  But reading books and practicing skills, strengthening one's own strength, is the real foundation for standing firm and the key to survival.

  In the study, only the occasional sound of pages turning remained. Wang Can read word by word the Taiping Strategic Record's deployment tactics, his whole person immersed in the understanding of the predecessors' deployment tactics. His face sometimes showed a thoughtful expression, sometimes a joyful expression, and sometimes a regretful expression...

  P.S: The third update, and there will be another one later tonight.