My Father in Law is Lu Bu

“The second one is Cao Cao.
Xu Shao even evaluated this person to be a hero in times of war.” Jia Xu’s reply was within Liu Mang’s expectations.
This is because it became a fact many years in the future.
Although Cao Cao did not manage to unite the land, he had left behind a huge inheritance for Cao Wei.
Had Sun Ce not die young, he would have also become one of the huge competitors.

Jia Xu was truly talented to be able to tell who was worthy of serving with just his eyes alone.

“Did Mister Wenhe decide this just based on Xu Zijiang’s comments?” Liu Mang still questioned Jia Xu.
Although Xu Shao was a reputable person, there were a lot of arrogant people who did not think well of Xu Shao’s assessment.
Liu Mang did not believe that Jia Xu would decide on Cao Cao only based on Xu Shao’s words.

“Of course not.
Cao Cao controls four provinces, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, Yuzhou and Zhili.”

“In that case, Yuan Shao should also be a Lord!” Liu Mang immediately retorted the moment Jia Xu said that the Cao Cao should be a Lord for having a large territory.
As Yuan Shao controlled five provinces, it could be said that Yuan Shao was Lord with the largest territory.

“Yuan Shao is too arrogant.
He cannot be a Lord.
Cao Cao makes schemes.
He is unconventional.
His government award the meritorious.
He forgives old grievances.
He can also resist the Emperor.
He is the most optimal choice as a Lord.
He surpasses a hero.”

Jia Xu’s evaluation of Cao Cao is really good.
Cao Cao was truly a formidable person.
Although he was paranoid, he has the willpower to make use of antique laws.
The cruel laws used is suitable for the land during troubled times.
The military policy also made contributions for this.
It was to the extent that Cao Cao manage to write a book that could be compared to the Art of War.
It was about Cao Cao’s military career.
The famous books on the art of war before the ‘New Book of Mengde’ includes ‘Sun Tzu’s Art of War’, ‘Sun Ben’s Art of War’, ‘Yin Fu’2.  After the ‘New Book of Mengde’, there was also Zhuge Liang’s The General’s Garden.
No new masterpieces appeared for centuries until Qi Jiguang’s ‘Jixiao Xinshu’ for the new peak of military theory3.
The ‘New Book of Mengde’ was fourteen chapters4 long.
Thirteen chapters was about military strategy while the remaining chapter was about politics.
Unfortunately it was destroyed by Zhang Song.

Cao Cao was not arrogant and respected the wise, unlike Yuan Shao.
He also made use of talents.
Unlike Yuan Shao whose children constantly compete against each other, the Cao Family was relatively peaceful.
He also had the support of the people.
Although he used severe punishment for those who broke the law, he still gained support as it was this law that allowed them to live in peace as opposed to continuously be exploited by the nobles.

“Cao Cao have already won Guandu and Yuan Shao has fallen ill.
Very soon, Hebei will fall.
The man is obviously a worthy Lord.”

“True.” Liu Mang nodded.
In truth, Liu Mang also initially thought of seeking asylum with Cao Cao.
Unfortunately, he had caused Cao Chun to die and also almost killed Cao Cao with his stratagem.
Lu Bu had also treated him quite well and became his father-in-law.
This was why Liu Mang did not rely on Cao Cao for help.

“Your Majesty.
I have finished speaking.
Can you allow us to leave? I will repay you in the future.” Jia Xu cupped his fist towards Liu Mang.
He had already given up in joining Liu Mang’s Army.
He would probably go to Xudou next.
He also did not want to fight against Liu Mang before leaving.
His last words to Liu Mang was a temptation and also a threat.
The viper have already shown its fangs.

“Hahaha!” Liu Mang did not make the Wolf Cavalry step aside after hearing Jia Xu’s words.
Instead, he approached Jia Xu and said, “If Mister Wenhe wants to seek help from someone else, then it is more unlikely for me to let you go!”

“Liu Hanyang! What do you want?” Jia Xu believed that Liu Mang would not allow him to leave peacefully and glared sinisterly.
If Liu Mang dared to stop him, he would definitely pay this back tenfold.

“Listening to Mister Wenhe has been very enlightening! Cao Cao and Sun Ce are both formidable heroes.
Mister Wenhe truly have good judgement!” Liu Mang praised Jia Xu and then sneered.
“But I wonder what kind of death you would face when you seek them for help?”

_____

Raws said that Jia Xu was an ‘old glass’.
Which supposedly means gay or pervert.
I am too literal minded to understand this.
-_-

Can’t find the English name for Yin Fu.
The closest I got was something about Taigong Wang.
Too many names for one book, like Zhuge Liang’s book.

Literally called Jixiao Xinshu on Wikipedia.
The ‘or’ is too long and general.
Also, guns came out thus the need for new strategies.

The worse used, 篇 could mean sheets (which should at least be two pages) or chapters.
Also, the New Book of Mengde is apparently fictional / Cao Cao plagiarized someone but since the world hates Cao Cao…