Chapter 462 - Clan Invitation Queue
A notification appeared before Cao Cao, who was patrolling his territory with his men in Xuchang.
Not only Cao Cao got this announcement from the system, Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan by his sides also got the notification as they were in the clan.
"Good riddance. He finally disbands this stupid system," Xiahou Dun did not like the clan chat as it disturbed his privacy. For him, it felt as if he was being watched by others whenever he used the clan chat.
"Ha! It’s better for us. With this, we can jump to Zhang Tong’s clan, and our survival is guaranteed."
As an opportunist and careerist, Cao Cao was happy on this occasion. Once he became a member of Tong’s clan, he could obtain more support from this son-in-law, social status, political influence, and prosperity for his Cao House, and Xiahou House.
Not being the top dog or an emperor was not a problem. Being an inflexible politician in a troubled time was the problem.
For someone like Cao Cao, who already had experienced thick and thins in the other world, struggling in a hopeless war gave him too much headache. He did not want to die by a brain tumor ever again.
"So, are we working for Zhang Tong for real now?" Xiahou Yuan was concerned.
"Half correct! We are still working for ourselves, but we will only bow to Zhang Tong when it comes to the authority tier. We don’t bow to others."
"Oh?"
Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan understood what Cao Cao had planned to do. Since they could not fight Tong anymore, they would not fight him.
However, it could not be said that they would not fight against Tong’s subordinates to expand their political influence. With both Cao Xian and Cao Qinghe in Tong’s harem, Cao Cao pondered if they could use their identities as royal consorts to draw Tong’s men to his side.
Cao Cao thought about Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, and Zhang He, whom Tong had snatched from him in this life.
"Very interesting, Kekeke!"
The minister giggled to himself, enjoying this world’s development. For the first time, he wanted to hug Tong and call him GOOD SON.
"Mengde, what about Liu Bei and Sun Ce?"
Xiahou Dun’s question interrupted Cao Cao’s happy fantasy. His face grimaced as he was reminded of unpleasant pasts.
"Sun Ce will likely surrender to Zhang Tong since that motherfucker really fucked his mother. What a nasty bastard. I also want to bang Wu Guotai, but he took her first! Come to think of it, that motherfucker stole Cai Wenji and Du Shi from me, too!"
"Cai Yan is not even your wife in the other life. She is just a successor of Master Cai Yong, no?"
"She’s still a pretty woman, damn you!"
Cao Cao threw a tantrum and pouted as if he was a child, which made both his cousins laugh. The gloomy atmosphere disappeared because of Cao Cao’s playful action.
Xiahou brothers did not know that Cao Cao did it on purpose, so they could relax a bit.
Cao Mengde got back to the point, "Well, Sun Ce and Zhou Yu is not a threat since their clan has splitted into two. We’ll only need to worry about Liu Bei and Pu Jing. But since Zhang Tong is taking the helm, we’ll sit back, relax, and enjoy a cup of tea while we’re watching them fighting each other to the last man."
"... If you say so."
All of them returned to the city hall, so they could gather all of their officers and prepare for the upcoming development.
Cao Cao’s eyes now shifted from the northern provinces toward the northwest regions, looking at the Liang Province and Chang’An.
’The latest intel said that Guan Yu has 6 wings. If he evolves into an 8-wing angel like Lu Bu, this can be troublesome. But he’s only one man at the moment. As long as my men can reach the 6-wing tier, I can hold more bargain chips to deal with both Zhang Tong and Liu Bei...’
.
Cao Cao returned to the assembly hall and gathered all executive officers for an emergency meeting.
Cheng Yu, Guo Jia, and Xun Yu rushed there right away.
Upon hearing that Pu Jing had disbanded the clan, Xun Yu requested permission to report this matter to Tong.
"Can I report this to the emperor?"
"Go ahead. Tell him that I want to be in his clan as soon as possible. I want to chat with his officers."
"Understood."
...
Xun Yu explained the new development to Tong. However, the former received an odd response.
Tong: "Tell him that our queue is full at the moment. I can only take him and his clansmen to our system clan in the next 3 years or so."
Xun Yu: "Why, your majesty?"
Tong: "I can only recruit 5 new members each year, and I only have one reserved for Zhuge Liang this year. For the next year, I plan to pick up all leftover personals in other cities."
Several new officers had not joined the clan yet, such as Hu-Che-Er, Hua Xin, Huang Wan, and many others. Tong also planned to put his non-combatant concubines into the group, so he could ensure that they could become immortals and preserve their beauty.
Moreover, he wanted to be closer to them and stop them from having a silly idea, such as pushing their daughters to the throne or make their future husband a new emperor and such.
Infighting between his children was something that Tong wanted to prevent right now.
Xun Yu: "But I thought that all senior officers have already been enlisted into our clan?"
Tong: "There are several governors that I need them into the clan for the sake of far-distance communication. Also, I heard from Zhang He that a few promising individuals are hiding in his legion, am I right?"
Zhang He: "Affirmative. We’ve found Yan Yan and Zhang Ren in our legion. They can be great assets to our kingdom if we assign them into the right job."
Yan Yan was an elite general under Liu Yan’s clan while Zhang Ren was a talented officer was said to have killed Pang Tong in the other timeline. These two generals might not have as many achievements as the other great generals in the same era, but they were exceptional commanders nonetheless.
Tong: "Tell Cao Cao that I can’t take him in just yet. Be a little patient."
Xun Yu: "Yes, your majesty."
...
Cao Cao rubbed his temples as he listened to Xun Yu. He was confused about why Tong did not want to put them into his clan first since it would bar them from rebelling forever.
Cao Cao thought that Tong should have known about the historical records since the latter came from the future. Therefore, picking generals and a few above-average officers over a dominant figure was a questionable move.
"So, Zhang Tong did not see us as the top priority?"
Xun Yu had a wry smile on his face, "I think his majesty prioritize the order of arrival. His officers are waiting to be invited into the clan for years, but his quota each year was limited."
"How many men can he invite into his clan a year?"
"The total of all otherworlders in his clan. Currently, it’s 5."
"Ah, I can’t help it then."
It was disappointing, but Cao Cao could wait. Since they had Xun Yu as a mediator between the two factions, they did not need to rush.
.
.
.
Cao Cao and his men were not the only ones who received the disbandment notification.
Meanwhile, Zhuge Liang was celebrating his freedom.
"Kekeke! You should have done so a billion years ago, Pu Jing! Your ambition is a waste of time! You’re inefficient, talentless, dumb, and inconsiderate! Kekeke!"
Because of his frustration and a teenager’s mentality, Zhuge Liang kept dissing Pu Jing behind his back.
Soon, Zhuge Liang was summoned to the throne room.
Last time, Zhuge Liang entered Ye Palace with Cao Cao as an extra. But now, he was taking the spotlight as he was explicitly summoned.
The teenager strategist was in the center of the decorated throne hall. Golden pillars and civil officers surrounded him, which made it uncomfortable.
Tong stared at this youth with a complicated expression.
’Should I give him back the memory? Will he betray me and join Liu Bei afterward?’
He hesitated if he should hire Zhuge Liang and give him the cultivation method.
There were pros and cons for giving Zhuge Liang the other timeline memory, but there were also cons for not giving this strategist what he deserved.
This strategist’s loyalty toward Liu Bei was known to be on par as Guan Yu’s. Since Zhuge Liang was a sly planner, he could potentially work for Tong on the surface, but he might give Liu Bei’s Tong’s clan chat information in secret.
Not giving Zhuge Liang the cultivation method also had many cons as the strategist was still naïve and inexperienced in this world. Tong did not know if he could be as talented as Liu Bei’s Zhuge Liang.
’Fuck it, I might as well risk it!’
Tong was about to press the invite button and give Zhuge Liang the invitation.
At the split second before he hit the button, the corner of Tong’s eyes saw Sima Fang, who was observing Tong with his emotionless expression.
It reminded Tong that there was someone with the otherworld’s memory, who was also Zhuge Liang’s nemesis.
Sima Yi!
’Right. I should ask this guy if I should give him the memory right now.’
Tong put his thought to action right away.
.
Tong: "Zhongda, are you there?"
Sima Yi did not reply right away, but his father answered for his son.
Sima Fang: "Why are you asking for my son, your majesty?"
Tong: "I need his advice before I do something stupid."
Sima Fang: "Is this matter relate to Zhuge Liang?"
Tong: "Yes. Now, Sima Zhongda! If you don’t reply before I count to three, say goodbye to Zhang Min ’cause I won’t allow you to see her ever again!"
Within a split second, Sima Yi appeared.
Sima Yi: "What does the first princess have to do with this, your majesty? Why are you threatening me?"
Tong: "Shut up! I have enough reasons to behead you for courting my daughter, you scoundrel! Don’t you think I’m not aware of your past deeds!"
Sima Yi: "... My sincerest apologies, your majesty. I only accompanied her as her retainer. I’ll shut my mouth now."
Tong: "Not yet! I need your thoughts on this matter."
Sima Yi: "But you said I have to shut my mouth?"
Tong: "Forget that order! Now, tell me, should I give Zhuge Liang the memory of the other timeline?"
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