A look of surprise manifested on Xiahou Cao's face as he heard Yang Yu's sarcasm. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were mocking me! But that would require you to know better, which is a leap of faith I'm not yet willing to take. I mean, we've only just met, and you haven't even bought me a drink yet," reasoned the general, in so much as anything he had just said could be considered reason, before grabbing Yu's tea and downing the remainder himself. "Warm, but not too hot. Astounding, it's almost as if you had ordered it that way! But where was I? Yes, the mocking that could not have been mocking. I shall repeat it to be sure!" exclaimed the general, after which he proceeded to repeat, from memory, every word Yang Yu had just said to him.Chou Yu wrote:Yang Yu sighed as the Black Horseman once again broke off into his rambles. How he wished that the man would just answer him straightforward, "I wonder if your style of leading troops is the same as the way you speak?" Yu pretended to think deeply and thoughtfully, "That may work... All those turnings and doubling back might confuse the enemy!" Yu said, not even bothering to mask his sarcasm, "Sometimes though, the straightforward method might be the best. Strike them fast and hard! That's what you said right?" Yu's grin had no mirth in it, not being able to enjoy the riddle like way the man was talking. The man was experienced however, if what he said about fighting for a decade was true.
"Protecting the borders from outside threat, while the empire crumbled from the inside eh? How ironic." Yu took a sip of his tea, his eyes never leaving the other general, "You suffer from a lack of troops you say? I assume that you have not been involved on any border battles recently then. As well as you don't...Right now, there is plenty of opportunity inside the borders, what with Xiang Yu's popularity, or lack thereof, and the regional warlords that have recently popped up as numerous as grasses on the peak of Spring."
"You are a general with no troops. Of soldiers, we have a plenty, more numerous than the able commanders to lead them. Despite your roundabout way of speaking, your way of thinking are not that far removed from mine I think. We might be able to work together..." And maybe, this will rid the need of Fang Ai's presence in the same army as I am! "What do you say?" Yu asked, straight forward, not bothering to coat his sentence with sweet words or subtle persuasion methods.
"Perfect! Take note, master Yang, for that is how one asks a proper question," lectured Cao to the man whose own words he had just reiterated. "You'll get it by the time you're my age, I'm sure. I will save you having to answer by doing so myself. Though you have insulted my thinking by analogy, I will accept your most noble proposition! If Shi Tong employs men such as yourself, then as you say, he could surely use my talents," Xiahou Cao responded with his usual, disarming smile. "I look forward to helping his cause."
'Whoever knew Pingyuan's taverns were so useful?' thought the man to himself afterwards. 'Here have I been drawn, and here have I found the fire I seek.'