Section 4, Stirrups

"You still say no, but I can see that you're about to drool," Cao Cao said with a chuckle, pointing at Cao Zhang. "Let me tell you, you shouldn't be pestering the tiger warriors for a duel all day. I know you want to become a general, but bravery is just one aspect of the five virtues required for a commander. If you only have bravery, then that is merely the courage of a common man."

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao raised his eyebrows. Cao Chun and Cao Zi were the commanders of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, while Cao Xiu commanded the Tiger Cavalry, and Cao Zhen led the Leopard Cavalry. These elite troops had been accumulated since the beginning of his military career, and recently, many Wuhuan people had been added to their ranks. In terms of strength, they were comparable to Zhang Liao's Bingzhou Cavalry and Zhang Xiu's Xiliang Cavalry. Not only were their cavalry tactics refined, but their individual martial skills were also among the best in the army, capable of matching Zhang Liao's personal guards. Although Cao Zhang was exceptionally strong and skilled in martial arts, he found it hard to believe that one person could take on the renowned Tiger Cavalry, known for their charging prowess.

No!

"Hehehe, Cang Shu, where did you hear this very strange story? I haven't heard of it before. And that name, what is it, Alibaba? It sounds odd. Where is it from?" Cao Cao clapped his hands and laughed.

After a while, the assassin commander Gao Rou walked over quickly. A moment later, he emerged from the room with a serious expression, turned around, and hurried away. With the sound of footsteps, Cao Cao came out of the room, standing on the steps with his hands behind his back. He glanced at Gao Rou's hurried figure as it receded, a hint of a cold smile appearing at the corner of his eye

Cao Cao stood outside the door and saw the harmonious scene of the brothers together, feeling a warmth in his heart. He raised his hand to stop Zhou Buyi, who was about to remind Cao Chong, and quietly stood by, listening to Cao Chong tell a story. Zhou Buyi slightly lowered his head, concealing the hint of joy in his eyes.

Thank you, Father, for your teachings. Cao Zhang was just thinking about a fight that had broken out when Cao Cao unexpectedly hit upon his thoughts, causing him to feel somewhat embarrassed, and he quickly responded.

The room of Cao Chong is now very lively. Cao Pi, Cao Zhi, and Cao Zhang are gathered around Cao Chong's bed, while Cao Ju and Cao Yu have squeezed onto the bed, staring with their big, dark eyes as they listen to Cao Chong tell a story. Today, Cao Chong is narrating the tale of Alibaba and the Forty Thieves. He possesses quite a talent for storytelling, with a rhythmic tone complemented by gestures, and a rich array of expressions on his face. At the tense moments, Cao Ju and Cao Yu are so frightened that they can hardly breathe, and even Cao Pi, Cao Zhang, and Cao Zhi are captivated, their hands resting on their thighs, unconsciously leaning forward.

Cao Hetushu.com.com is indeed more experienced than Cao Zhang. Upon seeing the stirrup, he pondered for a moment and immediately grasped its intricacies. He furrowed his brows and asked Cao Zhang: "How many people have seen this... stirrup?"

Sigh! Cao Cao noticed that the atmosphere, which had just been lively and cheerful, suddenly turned serious, and he couldn't help but feel a bit apologetic. He waved his hand for everyone to sit down and made a couple of jokes, but seeing that they all laughed so awkwardly, he had to abandon his plan to lighten the mood. He turned to Cao Chong and said: "Cang Shu, it seems that your health is basically fine now"

Xu Chu waited for a moment, and seeing that Cao Cao had no further instructions, he then stepped back to the door and turned to walk out. He stood under the eaves, looking at the tiger warriors standing upright like pine trees below the steps, gently exhaling, and beckoned to Xu Yi, who was standing at a distance with his sword drawn.

Cao Pi took a piece of paper from the low table beside him, holding it with both hands, and respectfully presented it to Cao Cao. It was the illustration of a stirrup drawn by Cao Chong. That day, he had heard Cao Zhang mention being knocked off a horse and was somewhat puzzled. Later, after Zhou Buyi explained, he quickly thought of the stirrup. It seemed that during the Three Kingdoms period, knights relied on their legs to grip the horse for balance. Therefore, most warriors of that era still controlled the reins with one hand while wielding a curved saber with the other. Only those skilled knights could ride solely with their legs, freeing their hands to wield long weapons in combat. He had been puzzled when Cao Zhang spoke of being knocked off a horse, but after Zhou Buyi's explanation, he quickly thought of the stirrup. It seemed that during the Three Kingdoms period, knights relied on their legs to grip the horse for balance. Thus, most warriors of that time still controlled the reins with one hand while wielding a curved saber with the other. Only those skilled knights could ride solely with their legs, freeing their hands to wield long weapons in combat. An inch longer means an inch stronger; when a four-foot-long curved saber meets a nearly two-zhang long halberd or spear, the outcome is essentially predetermined.

Hahaha... Cao Zhang was grinning widely, but he said, "Ah Weng, I don't have any."

"Alright, alright, let's stop here for today. Shall we continue tomorrow?" Cao Chong concluded the story, looking at the eager Cao Ju and Cao Yu, and clapped his hands.

Cao Cao noticed a hint of strangeness in Xu Chu's eyes, but he knew that as long as he did not speak, Xu Chu would never ask. He then added, "Select ten tiger warriors each for Ziwen and Zijian."

However, it was precisely due to Xu Chu's steady character that he consistently suppressed Xu Yi's promotion. Many of the elite soldiers who joined the Wu Wei Camp alongside Xu Yi have already been assigned to the military and have become significant mid-level officers, while Xu Yi only rose to the rank of Captain of a Hundred after the Battle of Liu Cheng last year

"It is true, Father. Recently, Ziwen acquired new equipment. Cang Shu drew a diagram for him, creating two items called stirrups. Ziwen suddenly felt empowered, and in cavalry charges, no one could match him for even a moment." Cao Pi teased, pushing the somewhat embarrassed Cao Zhang with a smile.

***

When Cao Zhang first took this diagram, he did not quite understand its purpose. It was only after he secured the crafted stirrups to the saddle and found a foothold that he suddenly realized its significance. After unseating Zhang Hu in a single round, he excitedly ran over to the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, taking turns to bully the riders. In the end, even Cao Xiu, the commander of the Tiger Cavalry, was unseated by him.

Upon hearing Cao Cao's voice, all the brothers of the Cao family quickly stood up to pay their respects to him. Even the imposter Cao Chong turned over from his bed and respectfully offered a bow.

Let him follow Cang Shu, and let Dian Man return as well. Additionally, send eight more Tiger Guards.

Cao Cao had always been observing Xu Chu's actions, yet he said nothing. He was waiting for an opportunity. It should be noted that he had been anticipating this day ever since he devised that ingenious method to weigh an elephant in the fifth year of Jian'an.

What is a stirrup? Cao Cao was completely baffled

Let's go and take a look at Cang Shu

"No!" Xu Chu replied

Really

Thank you for your concern, Father. I, Chong, am already well. As Cao Chong thought about how he, a man over thirty, now had to speak like a thirteen-year-old child, he couldn't help but feel a tickle in his throat.

"As long as it is good, it is good. Just thinking about it makes one angry. In this Ye City, there are actually assassins. Gao Rou, this traitorous official, doesn't know how to handle this situation." Cao Cao angrily slapped his thigh, "By the way, Ziwen, Zijian, Cangshu, I have instructed the military officer to assign each of you ten Tiger Guards as bodyguards, so that Ziwen won't always drool over Zihuan's Tiger Guards."

Cao Pi laughed and said: "Father needs to give Ziwen a lesson. These past two days, he has been quite a nuisance to Zi and Uncle. Each on their own steed, they have already gone through Wenlie's tiger cavalry, and are now thinking of challenging Zidan's leopard cavalry to a duel tomorrow"

Cao Cao smiled faintly and waved his hand to stop Xu Chu. He knew what Xu Chu was thinking. Xu Chu's eldest son, Xu Yi, was in his twenties this year. He had been following the army into battle since he was fifteen or sixteen, with his first battle likely being at Guandu. On that day, he personally led the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry along with two hundred Tiger Guards to launch a surprise attack on Chunyu Qiong's main camp. It was Xu Yi who first charged into Chunyu Qiong's central tent, striking down the grand flag with a single blow. From that day on, this young man, who bore a striking resemblance to his father, entered his line of sight, and he had been paying attention to him over the past few years. Xu Yi not only excelled in martial skills but also shared a similar temperament with his father—calm and prudent—making him a young man one could trust.