Three Kingdoms: Prince of the Great Wei, Prime Minister Cao

Chapter 36: Wei Wu Presents Armor! Cao Zimù in White Robes and Silver Armor!

“Child?”

Seated in the central command carriage, Cao Cao, preparing to issue orders for the army’s southward march, looked down at Cao Ju with a slight frown as the latter lowered his head in embarrassment. He reproached softly and said, “Speak properly to your father!”

After admonishing, Cao Cao glanced at Xu Chu, who stood before the command carriage.

“Xu Chu, give him the things! Then, have someone take him down to change.”

Xu Chu agreed and approached Cao Ju while holding something in his hands and said, “Young Master, this is the armor and robes prepared for you by the Lord.”

“On the battlefield, weapons have no eyes. The defensive capability of your current robe is lacking.”

Upon hearing Xu Chu’s words, Cao Ju finally noticed what Xu Chu held in his arms. It was a set of white silk robes meant to be worn underneath, and beneath the white robes was a corner of silver lightweight armor.

A white robe with silver armor?

Cao Ju’s eyelid twitched. Could he, a “battlefield scum,” handle such a high-level outfit that was exclusive to mighty generals?

Even if he wanted to wear it…

Zhao Yun, Pang De, Taishi Ci, Zhou Yu, Lü Meng, Chen Qingzhi, Luo Cheng, Xue Rengui, Xue Dingshan, Gao Sijie, Xiaoli Guang…

Flower Rong, Gao Huaide, Duo’er Gun, and other enthusiasts of the silver armor and white robe style might disagree. Perhaps they would feel inexplicably mixed with someone who seemed out of place! Being seen as an outsider didn’t bother Cao Ju. The key issue was that standing on the battlefield in silver armor and white robes was extremely conspicuous. A slight misstep could easily draw the hatred of the enemy forces, leading them to relentlessly pursue him. Cao Ju wasn’t confident that he could maneuver through the chaos of battle like Zhao Yun, leading Liu Shan, the young lord, to rampage amid the enemy forces.

Between surviving on the battlefield and showing off, Cao Ju felt mentally exhausted as he glanced at his well-intentioned father, Cao Cao. He just wanted to choose survival. Although he couldn’t help but criticize his father Cao Cao’s actions in his heart, on the surface, Cao Ju expressed gratitude.

“Father, thank you!”

Then, he stepped forward to receive the robe and armor handed over by Xu Chu and went to find a place to put on the armor. He completely failed to notice the envy in the eyes of his brothers, Cao Pi, and Cao Zhang, who stood by the command carriage. This was because when the two brothers first stepped onto the battlefield, they brought their armor and weapons.

Father Cao Cao hadn’t bestowed them with battle armor. However, when Cao Pi and Cao Zhang thought about Cao Ju arriving “empty-handed” in the south, they didn’t really mind. They simply assumed that their father, Cao Cao, disliked Cao Ju going into battle without armor and had provided it for him on a whim.

Half an hour later, when Cao Ju returned to the central command carriage after changing into the “exquisite skin,” donning the appearance of white robes and silver armor, and appeared in front of Cao Cao, Cao Pi, and Cao Zhang, the father and sons couldn’t help but look at their son (brother), who looked as handsome as jade and exuded a spirited demeanor, a little more.

“Passable at first glance!”

“In terms of general’s aura, it’s not far off from Zhao Zilong, whom Father saw on Changban Slope all those years ago, or Zhou Gongjin, who commanded the three armies on the great river.”

Although Cao Cao was internally quite impressed by Cao Ju’s appearance, his expression remained somewhat aloof when he commented. He seemed almost ready to say that Cao Ju was all show and no substance. Cao Ju completely agreed with his father Cao Cao’s assessment. Although boys in later generations had often yearned to charge and gallop across the battlefield like Zhao Yun, dressed in white robes and silver armor, wielding a silver spear, and riding a white horse, such aspirations remained just that—dreams.

How could they become a reality?

If that were the case, he even mentioned that he had fantasized about having the ability to turn invisible, strolling down the street without clothes, happily approaching girls here and there, and becoming a “train seeding maniac.”

“Father is right!”

“The child also thinks this armor set might be a bit…”

Cao Ju was about to express that this armor was too flashy and didn’t align with his discreet nature on the battlefield. He wanted to suggest to his father, Cao Cao, to get him a more ordinary set of armor. However, Cao Cao abruptly cut off his words.

“Not suitable? Hmph, then wear it anyway!”

“You didn’t prepare your armor in advance, and now you’re being picky at the last moment!”

“Where do you expect me to find so many sets of armor that fit your physique?”

“Can you handle the armor your fourth brother wears, which weighs thirty to forty catties?”

“What’s even more frustrating is that as Cao Cao spoke, Cao Zhang went along with it, patting the breastplate on his chest and producing a dull, heavy sound. That’s right, Eighth Brother!”

“You should listen to Father. The white robe and silver armor are quite good. Do you want to swap with me?”

With his thick eyebrows and large eyes, Cao Zhang took the opportunity to directly tease Cao Ju. Although Cao Pi didn’t throw salt in the wound, he adopted the attitude of a bystander, enjoying the spectacle.

Cao Ju: “…”

Seeing Cao Ju silent, Cao Cao turned his gaze towards the sky. As the sun gradually moved toward its zenith, he addressed Xu Chu without looking back, “Xu Chu, give the orders to the various armies!”

“March immediately!”

“Yes!”

With Cao Cao’s command, not long after, the assembly of two hundred thousand Cao troops stationed in the south of the city, led by Cao Hong and Li Dian as the vanguard, set off southward in an imposing manner. Flags fluttered in the wind, their momentum rivaling a rainbow across the sky. At the center of the marching army, beneath the grand banner of the central forces…

Behind Cao Cao, Cao Ju, Cao Pi, and Cao Zhang rode with armor and determination, flanking their father. Standing on the command carriage, Cao Cao leaned on the Heaven-Defying Sword at his waist, casting sidelong glances at his sons, who displayed various degrees of eagerness and composure.

A hint of contentment flashed in his eyes. Father and sons take to the battlefield together.

With a son like this, what more could a father ask for?

In the midst of these contemplations, Cao Cao’s gaze suddenly caught sight of Cao Ju, who was looking at his own white robes and silver armor with a rather melancholic expression on his face…His facial muscles twitched abruptly. At a time like this, this rebellious son of his was still agonizing over what to wear!

This rascal. Was this really the same son who had confidently talked and laughed before him just yesterday, speaking of extinguishing clans and families?