Chapter 2: Lu Chuan Didn’t Want to See Anyone

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Just a moment ago, Cao Cao was feeling quite proud, convinced that his reputation preceded him—so much so that even the small county magistrate of Lu County knew his name and had heard of his great achievements.

But the next moment, he was stunned.

So, this little guard’s words were just a setup to play a trick on me?

Xiahou Dun, known for his fiery temper, immediately drew his sword.

“You’re asking for death!”

Xiahou Dun was a man of mighty strength and fierce warrior spirit. Any ordinary person who saw him would naturally feel intimidated. When he drew his weapon, most would be too frightened even to draw a breath.

Yet these two guards showed no fear. They lifted their spears, aiming them directly at Cao Cao and Xiahou Dun.

“How dare you cause trouble in our Lu County! I think you must be tired of living! Brothers, get ready!”

At the shout, a group of soldiers surged out from within the city, brandishing spears, swords, and shields. They were vigorous, robust men, and within moments they had formed a battle formation that completely sealed the city gate.

Xiahou Dun’s expression changed drastically. Relying on his own valor, he had dismissed these two guards. He never expected the troops of Lu County to be so elite.

It wasn’t just their weapons that shocked him—what stunned Xiahou Dun most was the armor they wore!

The imperial court did not forbid private ownership of weapons, for merely having weapons was insufficient for great deeds. What the court truly valued was armor!

A full set of armor allowed a soldier to fight fiercely on the battlefield, capable of taking on three to five opponents alone. With rigorous training, one could even hold off ten.

A soldier clad in full armor completely overwhelms one who carries only simple weapons.

Could it be that the magistrate of Lu County was secretly stockpiling armor to rebel...?

Wait!

The magistrate of Lu County was also an official of the imperial court. According to Han Dynasty law, soldiers stationed in county towns could indeed wear armor.

However, the court had become corrupt and the people suffered greatly—especially after the Yellow Turban Rebellion. The realm was exhausted, and not even the commandery offices could boast many suits of armor, let alone a small county. So Xiahou Dun was accustomed to soldiers carrying weapons but lacking armor.

Strictly speaking, within the Han military, only the elite of the elite wore armor. How could this small county possibly muster dozens of suits?

Xiahou Dun was focused on the soldiers’ armor, while Cao Cao was struck by how quickly they had formed a battle formation without panic, their ranks tight and spirits high—clearly an elite force!

When he had served in Luoyang, Cao Cao had seen the capital’s elite troops, but even those so-called elite guards could not assemble so swiftly and orderly!

Could it be that the soldiers of this small Lu County were even more elite than the Luoyang capital guards?

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Cao Cao narrowed his eyes, sensing he had encountered an extraordinary talent.

Both sides stood at the brink of conflict. Xiahou Dun gripped his sword tightly, feeling somewhat trapped.

The hundred soldiers behind him had only undergone basic training and carried weapons but no armor. If they clashed with these armored elite troops of Lu County, they would surely suffer great losses.

Even Xiahou Dun’s bravery could not guarantee he could face this well-formed elite force alone.

To fight or not to fight—that was the question.

Fortunately, Cao Cao spoke in time.

“Yuan Rang, do not be rude! Since Lord Lu does not welcome us, why force the matter? Our priority is to defeat Dong Zhuo. Let us set aside matters here for now.”

Seeing a way out, Xiahou Dun lowered his sword without resistance.

“Hmph! Today, I’ll let you off!”

But as soon as they left the city gate, Xiahou Dun could no longer hold back.

“Mengde, why did you retreat just now? We have thousands of troops behind us. Surely we could overwhelm this small county with a single charge.”

Cao Cao shook his head. “Yuan Rang, my rebellion and campaign against Dong Zhuo are to restore the Han dynasty and save the emperor from peril. If I attack Lu County with these thousands of troops before confronting Dong Zhuo, wouldn’t that betray my original intention? I absolutely cannot do that!”

“Then... we just let this matter go? A mere county magistrate dares to treat you so arrogantly—I can’t swallow this indignation!”

“No matter.”

Recalling the attitude of those two guards at the gate, Cao Cao was not angry.

“Yuan Rang, haven’t you realized that the magistrate of Lu County must be a talent? If we can bring him under our banner, how could we fail in our campaign against Dong Zhuo?”

“Mengde, you mean...”

“Dress yourself up and enter Lu County incognito. I want to see just who this magistrate really is!”

---

Lu County Magistrate’s Office.

Lu Chuan set down the book titled *Friend of Military and Civil Talents*, his expression full of emotion.

“No wonder this is hailed as one of the three great transcendent texts by some online forum—it is incredibly comprehensive! Even for me, a university student who has traveled from the 21st century, fully grasping the knowledge in this book is no easy feat.”

“Such a remarkable text—well worth exchanging fifty years of my lifespan for!”

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As Lu Chuan was lost in thought, a soldier entered.

“Reporting, Lord. A man claiming to be Cao Cao attempted to enter the city just now. I followed your instructions and turned him away.”

“Good, well done! Did Cao Cao say anything else?”

“He said little, but the man beside him, a tall figure named Yuan Rang, was furious and tried to attack. However, as soon as our brothers at the gate formed their ranks, he was silenced!”

“Yuan Rang? That must be Xiahou Dun.”

Lu Chuan nodded. “If you managed to block even Xiahou Dun, that’s a notable achievement!”

“Thank you, Lord!”

The soldier quickly knelt to give thanks, then stood and asked, “But Lord, I heard that Cao Cao raised an army to oppose Dong Zhuo and is a man of great ambition. Why would you refuse such a figure entry?”

Lu Chuan smiled without answering—a secret on his person was not for others to pry.

Five years ago, Lu Chuan had traveled back to the late Eastern Han. With the help of a farming system, he had transformed the once tiny Lu family village of only a few hundred people into today’s Lu County. The hardships endured were truly unspeakable.

But he had also reaped rewards. Over five years, Lu County had made great strides in agriculture, commerce, technology, and military affairs. The system had granted him over two hundred years of lifespan, giving him hope for longevity.

A year ago, Lu Chuan decided that with Lu County as his base, he might achieve great things amid this turbulent era and vie for supremacy. He began recruiting talents.

The first to catch his eye was a fierce general originally loyal to Cao Cao.

At that time, Cao Cao had not yet raised his army, and Lu Chuan took the opportunity to recruit him.

But at the moment the general pledged allegiance to Lu Chuan, Lu Chuan suddenly felt a wave of weakness. The system warned him that his actions had disrupted the original course of history, and it forcibly deducted over thirty years from his lifespan!

Five years of diligence had earned him a reward of more than two hundred years of life, leaving him with over two hundred eighty years remaining. Yet recruiting just one general cost him over thirty years, leaving only... two hundred fifty.

Lu Chuan suspected the system was deliberately punitive.

If recruiting a single general formerly under Cao Cao’s command incurred such a penalty, then meeting Cao Cao himself and inadvertently causing historic changes might cost his entire remaining lifespan.

Therefore, Lu Chuan resolved to focus on farming and development here, accumulating lifespan steadily, and to avoid any entanglement with great figures like Cao Cao—lest he truly become a fool.