Wuxia: The Super Slave Master

Page 359

"Liu Qi was also assassinated in Jingzhou last month, and I've already instructed Cai He of the Court of Justice to investigate." Liu Biao glanced around and noticed Cai He sitting in the corner: "Cai He! Have the results come out yet?"

Cai He was startled, not expecting Liu Biao to bring up the matter again. He had assumed Liu Biao had long forgotten about it, so he had only given a perfunctory answer, roughly disposed of the body, and comforted the guards and their families who had died protecting his eldest son, without intending to investigate anything further. Moreover, it was obvious to anyone with eyes that Cai He wouldn't be so foolish as to investigate further and uncover a political force or a political giant; before he could even prosecute the other party, he would lose his own life. Besides, hadn't Cai Mao hinted to him that this matter should be handled simply? Cai Mao said the situation was complicated now, and it was best to maintain unity; further investigation would cost lives, which was definitely not the best course of action. "Um, my lord. The Court of Justice has been focusing its efforts on verification for the past month… conducting a thorough investigation of Jingzhou City…"

"Just tell me the result," Liu Biao said impatiently.

“Okay…” Cai He swallowed nervously. This was a good thing; he wouldn’t have to rack his brains to fabricate a story on the spot. “Because the assassin was cautious and left no valuable clues, our work is still in the investigation phase, and we haven’t discovered the person’s identity yet.”

"No identity discovered? It's been almost two months, and you still don't have a basic understanding of the murderer. They wanted to kill the young master, and you don't even know who they are?" Liu Biao was furious. "Are you unwilling to investigate properly, or are you just too stupid?!"

Seeing this, Cai He lowered his head and dared not say anything more, and the assembled officials remained silent. Cai Mao had no choice but to nudge Cai He: "Tell me the next steps."

"Uh, yes." Cai He seemed to snap out of his daze. "We are still doing our best to verify the information and try to find clues to the killer's identity as soon as possible... We will not give up until we find them!"

"Enough, that's utter nonsense!" Liu Biao wasn't buying it at all. "Two months, everything that needed to be investigated has already been investigated, and everything that needed to be covered up has already been covered up. What's the point of investigating anymore!"

As he spoke, Liu Biao glanced down again, and Cai Mao felt his gaze linger on him for a moment: "In Jingzhou now, there are all sorts of ulterior motives... Do you think I don't know?" Liu Biao spoke each word slowly and deliberately, and Cai Mao listened with a chill running down his spine, cold sweat breaking out all over his body. Was Liu Biao referring to him? Perhaps Liu Biao was already deeply dissatisfied with the Cai family's control of power? Perhaps Liu Biao had already noticed something amiss in these two assassination attempts?

Who was Liu Biao? Although Liu Biao was generally weak and indecisive, he was still a powerful warlord who dominated a region. He entered Jingzhou alone and unified the nine commanderies of Jingzhou in less than a year. When Dong Zhuo seized power, he responded to the call of the Guandong Army and sent troops north to participate in the campaign against Dong Zhuo. After the Guandong Army disbanded, he struggled with the forces in Jiangdong and other areas for a long time. He allied with Yuan Shao in the north, plotted to kill Sun Jian, leading to the collapse of the Jiangdong forces and eliminating a major threat in the southeast. Speaking of political maneuvering, when Liu Biao was navigating these complexities, Cai Mao was just a minor official. He was only promoted and given important positions by Liu Biao because of his sister, gradually establishing the Cai family's political group. In terms of power struggles, Cai Mao was a novice in Liu Biao's eyes.

Cai Mao observed that Liu Biao, who usually neglected state affairs, was becoming increasingly arrogant and reckless, a situation that many discerning people could see was amiss. Cai Mao wasn't particularly afraid, as Liu Biao typically didn't concern himself with such matters and often listened to Lady Cai's advice in decision-making, seemingly keeping him in the dark. Unexpectedly, Liu Biao issued such a serious warning at this high-level meeting.

Liu Biao's words left those who didn't understand completely bewildered, while those who did were terrified. Which of the ministers present wasn't cunning and shrewd? How could they not understand the implication? The issue was far too sensitive; everyone lowered their heads in silence, afraid to take sides. Cai Mao, seeing that not a single minister who usually fawned over him stood up to soften the stance, couldn't help but feel annoyed.

Liu Biao may have wanted to say something more, but he seemed quite tired. He rubbed his forehead and said, "I've been quite tired lately, so I hope you all can handle things efficiently and not worry me."

"Yes," the officials replied, finally relieved. These past few minutes had felt like an eternity; a single misstep could have cost them their lives. Just as they were about to leave, Liu Biao suddenly said, "Yi Yin, it seems Cai He is no longer capable of managing the Court of Justice. You will take over his position. But the assassination attempt need not be investigated further."

Chapter Ninety-Six: Madam Cai

Liu Biao spoke casually, but all the officials were shocked. Not to mention Cai He, Cai Mao, and others, even Yi Ji was quite surprised.

This order carries a significant weight of information. It's widely known that Yi Ji is a staunch supporter of Liu Qi, the eldest son, and often speaks out in front of Liu Biao on behalf of Liu Qi, Liu Bei, and others. Recently, he has attracted Liu Biao's attention, but also incurred the hatred of Cai Mao and others, who despise him at the mere sight of him. However, Yi Ji holds the position of Grand Councilor, making it difficult for Cai Mao to dismiss him easily. As for assassination, Yi Ji is quite shrewd, making it unlikely to succeed and too risky, so Cai Mao has no such plans. Today, Liu Biao suddenly dismissed Cai He from the Cai clan's faction and placed Yi Ji, a supporter of the eldest son, in charge of high-level criminal investigations. This is the first time Liu Biao has suddenly appointed an administrative official himself; previously, appointments were made according to custom or recommendations from the Cai clan. Yi Ji has suddenly gone from a Grand Councilor to an administrative official, suddenly possessing not only the power to advise but also real power in criminal investigations.

The Court of Justice was a high-level criminal investigation and supervision agency, handling cases often involving high-ranking officials. It dealt with official corruption, treason, and political cliques, making it a sharp sword in political struggles. Now, with a single sentence from Liu Biao, this sword was taken back from the Cai family and placed in the hands of his eldest son's faction.

The assembled officials were shocked. The air they had just breathed in was now tense again, and the hall was deathly silent. This extreme silence underscored the weight of the words spoken and the highly sensitive atmosphere. Even a fool would sense something was amiss, though everyone tacitly agreed.

"This..." Yi Ji was suddenly appointed as the head of the Court of Justice, and he couldn't help but break the deadlock. "My lord, although Cai He has made mistakes, he has served in this position for many years..." Yi Ji wanted to offer some advice, but then stopped himself. This was a life-or-death political struggle, so why pretend to be polite? If it's given to you, just take it. Why refuse? So Yi Ji stopped halfway through his sentence and simply fell silent.

Liu Biao seemed not to hear him, merely rubbing his forehead and saying, "Lately, my mind has been foggy; I'm truly getting old." With that, he returned to his inner chamber, leaving his ministers looking at each other in bewilderment. Seeing this, Yi Ji didn't linger, but stood up and strode confidently past the crowd. Only a few staunch supporters of the eldest son bowed to him in celebration; none of the other members of the Cai clan or the centrists dared to look at him or offer any congratulations. For to offer congratulations would be to take sides, and Cai Mao was present.

Cai Mao didn't linger; he stood up proudly and strode away. Seeing this, the crowd dispersed.

Cai Mao didn't go anywhere else. He had only taken a few steps outside when he led his guards back to Lady Cai's residence. After confirming that Liu Biao was not there, Cai Mao went straight inside.

Madam Cai said, "Why are you in such a hurry? You came to my residence right after we finished discussing matters. If people find out, they will say that the Cai family is forming a clique."

"Something terrible has happened!" Cai Mao, once inside Lady Cai's room, no longer concealed his panic. "Liu Biao lost his temper today, dismissing Cai He from his post and replacing him with that old bastard Yi Ji. And what's worse... he also warned that he knows some people have ulterior motives. Isn't this clearly targeting my brother and me?!"

Madam Cai was taken aback: "He really said that?"

"You bet I was terrified. It gave me the creeps." Cai Mao plopped down on the bed, picked up a pear and started eating it, mumbling, "Sister, if Liu Biao keeps going like this, he might even strip me of my position as Grand General! That would be terrible!"

"The Court of Justice is now under Yi Ji's jurisdiction, so isn't it becoming a place that's watching us?" Lady Cai was also a little nervous. "After all these years of building up our reputation, Liu Biao can turn us into enemies with just one sentence?"

“Not necessarily,” Cai Mao said. “Although Cai He has been dismissed, Liu Biao can’t dismiss all the officials in the Court of Justice. Cai Hua, the head of the interrogation department, was placed there by me. There’s no problem with that. His department is the core of the Court of Justice. Without Cai Hua’s help, Yi Ji can’t accomplish anything. I, Cai Mao, have many people in the Court of Justice, so I don’t need to worry about it turning against us now.” Cai Mao seemed smug. “But this matter shows Liu Biao’s attitude. It shows that Liu Biao has begun to distrust the officials we’ve placed and is starting to weaken our power while strengthening the power of the eldest son.”

Madam Cai nodded thoughtfully.

"By the way, sister, have you noticed Liu Biao's attitude lately? Is he really planning to make his eldest son his heir? If so, we need to be very careful."

"No, that's not true. Although those old fogies like Yi Ji keep advising Liu Biao not to depose the eldest son and establish the younger one, Liu Biao hasn't made any statement yet, so the succession has been vacant all this time. By the way..." Lady Cai lowered her voice, "Liu Biao's health has been very poor lately, and I'm starting to doubt whether he can even survive the winter."

“Not bad…” Cai Mao nodded. “During the meeting, he kept saying that his head was spinning and he looked very tired.”

Lady Cai continued in a low voice, "Liu Biao won't last long. Think about it, once Liu Biao dies, who will rule Jingzhou? Right now, Yi Ji and his ilk are arrogant, but they don't have any real power. Liu Bei, although leading troops, is far away in Xinye and won't affect the Jingzhou government for the time being. If we control Jingzhou and announce Liu Cong's succession, there will be almost no resistance! So you don't need to be afraid. Let them be arrogant now. As long as we firmly grasp power in our own hands, let's see who laughs last!"

Upon hearing the analysis, Cai Mao was overjoyed, as if he could see himself controlling Liu Cong, wielding all military and political power in Jingzhou, and becoming a powerful maternal relative like Huo Guang. He was no longer flustered and left Lady Cai's residence with a smug look on his face.

Liu Bei led his troops, traveling day and night, until they reached Jingzhou, where he met with Liu Biao. Liu Biao comforted him, and Liu Bei offered some humble words before taking his leave of Jingzhou. Yi Ji saw him off. Seeing the disciplined nature of Liu Bei's troops and the imposing presence of the general at the front, Yi Ji couldn't help but praise, "Lord Liu's troops are exceptionally well-trained; I have never seen anything like them in my life."

Liu Bei hurriedly replied, "No, no, thank you for your trouble, sir. Congratulations on taking on the concurrent post of Chief Justice."

Yi Ji chuckled, but seeing that many officials of all ranks in Jingzhou had come out to see him off, he decided it was not appropriate to talk too much and stopped being polite: "Young Master has gone to Jiangxia and Governor has returned to Xinye. Although it is a good thing, only a few old bones like us are in charge of Jingzhou. The Cai family group is too powerful!" He then leaned close to Liu Bei's ear and said: "Governor, when you met Liu Jingzhou today, how did you see Liu Jingzhou's health?"

Liu Bei made no attempt to hide his opinion, saying, "In my humble opinion, I'm afraid Liu Jingzhou's health is quite poor, and he probably won't last another year or two."

"Exactly!" Yi Ji sighed worriedly. "I fear that once Liu Jingzhou passes away, Cai Mao and his ilk will immediately seize control of Jingzhou's government."

Chapter Ninety-Seven Hebei

Meanwhile, while escorting Liu Bei back to Xinye, Yi Ji expressed his concerns about Liu Biao's death. If Liu Bei were in Jingzhou, things would be fine, but since he was in Xinye, if anything unexpected happened, Yi Ji, who was in Jingzhou, would have no control over the situation.

"I still believe that Governor Liu will make arrangements in advance..." Liu Bei said helplessly. "I must also obey Governor Liu's orders. Governor Liu shouldn't allow relatives of the empress to seize power..."

Yi Ji sighed. He was helpless in this situation; the Cai Group was still very powerful. He said, "My lord, please be careful on your journey. I have heard of the assassination attempt last time, so please be extremely cautious. If anything changes, I will inform you immediately."

"Understood," Liu Bei said briefly, then mounted his horse, waved goodbye, and rode away in a cloud of dust.

Meanwhile, after Cao Cao's great victory over Yuan Shao at Guandu, Yuan Shao soon passed away. Cao Cao, harassed from behind by Luo Chen, was forced to turn back and lead his army to Tongguan to confront Luo Chen. Unexpectedly, Luo Chen quickly mediated, and Cao Cao and Luo Chen reconciled. Luo Chen then marched north to attack the Xiongnu, while Cao Cao returned to Hebei.

After Yuan Shao's death, Yuan Shang, following his dying wish, succeeded to the throne and ruled over the four provinces of You, Qing, Bing, and Ji. Although most of the territory of those four provinces remained, many strategic locations had been seized by Cao Cao's troops, and the main force in Hebei had been almost entirely wiped out, leaving only miscellaneous troops. The soldiers and civilians of Hebei had lost their morale, trembling with fear at the sight of Cao Cao's army, and were engaged in factional infighting, leaving them with no strength to resist.

Seeing Yuan Shang accept the throne, how could Yuan Tan be content? He discussed with Guo Tu, saying, "As the eldest son, I cannot inherit the throne, while the brat Yuan Shang has become the ruler of four provinces. How can I accept this?" Guo Tu said, "We can invite Yuan Shang to a banquet and kill him there." Just as they were discussing this, a report came from outside: "A special envoy from Ji Province has been sent to transfer 30,000 troops from the Liyang camp." Upon hearing this, Yuan Tan was furious: "Ji Province? A special envoy? What nonsense! The Liyang camp is my troops! How can Yuan Shang just transfer them away like that?" With that, he drew his sword, went out the door, mounted his horse, and headed towards the Liyang camp. Guo Tu and a group of men followed him.

The commissioner was Wang Xiu, the inspector of Ji Province, who was a member of Yuan Shang's faction. Wang Xiu was speaking with the general of the Liyang camp when he sternly declared, "Yuan Shang, the lord of the four provinces of Hebei, orders your troops to immediately advance westward to Cao Cao's front lines." However, the Liyang camp, always under Yuan Tan's command, was completely unmoved and ignored him. Yuan Tan rode to the camp and, seeing the troops as usual, breathed a sigh of relief. He said, "Oh... isn't this Wang Xiu? I heard that as the inspector of Ji Province, instead of investigating corrupt officials, you're busy purging dissidents." Wang Xiu sneered, "Young Master Yuan Tan, the lord ordered the troops of the Liyang camp to the front lines to fight the enemy. It has nothing to do with you. What are you doing here?" Yuan Tan, upon hearing this, felt a surge of anger, but still sneered, "Nothing to do with me?..." Seeing Wang Xiu's smug expression, Yuan Tan couldn't contain his fury. Suddenly, Yuan Tan drew his sword and shouted, "Wang Xiu! You're quick to switch sides, aren't you? How dare you speak to your grandfather like that?" Wang Xiu, seeing Yuan Tan's imposing manner, was greatly surprised: "Yuan Tan, why did you draw your sword when you were speaking properly?... What did I do to offend you? You injured me, and Young Master Yuan Shang will not forgive you." Yuan Tan hadn't originally intended to do anything to him, but Wang Xiu's use of Yuan Shang to threaten him enraged him. He stepped forward and thrust his sword at Wang Xiu. Wang Xiu never expected Yuan Tan to act so impulsively; he screamed and fell to the ground, dead.

After killing Wang Xiu, Yuan Tan acted as if nothing had happened, wiping the blood from his sword and saying, "Listen up, soldiers of the Liyang camp! We will not move without Yuan Tan's orders!" With that, he mounted his horse and rode away.

Liyang was not far from Jizhou. Yuan Shang, seeing no news of Wang Xiu, sent men to check, only to find Wang Xiu dead. Enraged, he mobilized all the troops of Jizhou to attack Yuan Tan. The Jizhou soldiers surrounded Liyang and began shouting insults outside: "Yuan Tan, you killed my commissioner! Are you planning a rebellion?" Yuan Tan met the attack, cursing back: "Yuan Shang, you poisoned my father! Now you want to attack me too? This is outrageous!" The two fought, exchanging insults. Yuan Tan thrust his spear, but Yuan Shang, quick as a flash, dodged to the side, drew his sword with his other hand, and slashed. Yuan Tan, caught off guard, lost his balance. Yuan Shang seized the opportunity, threw away his sword, and thrust his spear, striking Yuan Tan squarely in the thigh. Yuan Tan cried out in pain, turned, and fled. Yuan Shang ordered his men to pursue and kill him. The Jizhou soldiers, numerous as they were, attacked from all sides. Guo Tu, seeing Yuan Tan wounded, dared not fight back and hastily ordered his men to retreat to the city and hold their ground. Yuan Tan's army suffered a major defeat and fled to Liyang City to hide. The Jizhou troops launched a fierce attack from all sides, but as darkness fell and they realized they could not take the city, they retreated with curses.

After Cao Cao's troops withdrew from Tong Pass, they acted without delay, just as Guo Jia had said, racing against time. Taking Hebei to the east would allow them to quickly expand their strength, and then they could move south to seize Jingzhou, gaining a clear advantage in the final showdown.

The two Yuans fought for several days, neither able to defeat the other. Cao Cao's army advanced rapidly, and in less than two days, his 300,000-strong force reached the walls of Ji Province. Seeing no advantage there, Yuan Tan abandoned Liyang and fled north to You Province with 40,000 to 50,000 cavalry. Yuan Shang, seeing Yuan Tan's escape and Cao Cao's massive army at the gates of Ji Province, became somewhat panicked.

Shen Pei said, "Cao's army is powerful. I suggest that you temporarily abandon Ji Province and retreat north. There are many Yuan troops in the north. You can move north and regroup your forces to fight Cao's army. At present, the forces in Ji Province are less than 100,000, and the people are panicking. They are simply unable to resist."

Yuan Shang hesitated, terrified by the dark mass of Cao Cao's army before him. But then he looked back at Yuan Shao's mansion and palace, the prosperity of Ji Province, and the seal of the ruler of the four provinces of Hebei. He shook his head and said, "Sir, I am the ruler of Hebei. I should be stationed in Ji Province. How can I face my father if I flee in such a panic?" As he spoke, Cao Cao's army shouted curses from all sides, and the army began to assemble to prepare for the attack on the city. A large number of troops also circled around the city to besiege it.

Upon hearing the commotion outside, Yuan Shang said, "Come on, help me put on my armor and bring me my spear! The army is preparing to march out of the city to meet the enemy!"

Shen Pei was shocked: "Absolutely not! My lord! Going out like this is suicide! Cao Cao's army is too powerful; how can we face them head-on? My lord, only by heading north to avoid the enemy will we have a chance! Even defending Ji Province to the death is better than this!"

Yuan Shang shook his head, donned his armor, and prepared to leave. Shen Pei grabbed Yuan Shang's sleeve, saying, "My lord, please reconsider! There's still a chance to break through!" Yuan Shang wept, saying, "How could I not know what you mean... but even with my father's great talent, leading 900,000 troops in Hebei, he still suffered a crushing defeat. I am now the ruler of Hebei; even if Cao Cao takes Hebei, he will step over my dead body!" With that, he shook off Shen Pei, mounted his horse, and led his troops out of the city. Hearing this from behind, Shen Pei knew that Hebei was doomed, and overwhelmed with grief, he wailed loudly.

Chapter Ninety-Eight: The Death of Yuan Shang

Dong Zhuo summoned Yuan Shao, intending to depose the emperor and install the Prince of Chenliu in his place. At that time, Yuan Shao's uncle, Kui, was the Grand Tutor. Yuan Shao feigned agreement, saying, "This is a matter of great importance; I should discuss it with the Grand Tutor." Dong Zhuo replied, "The Liu family line is not worth keeping." Yuan Shao did not respond, brandishing his sword and bowing deeply before leaving. After leaving, Yuan Shao fled to Ji Province. According to the *Records of the Three Kingdoms, Biography of Yuan Shao*, Dong Zhuo drew his sword and rebuked Yuan Shao, saying, "How dare you, you brat! The affairs of the world are not in my hands! If I wish to do it, who dares to disobey?" Yuan Shao replied deceitfully, "This is a matter of great importance to the state; please allow me to discuss it with the Grand Tutor." Dong Zhuo again said, "The Liu family line is not worth keeping." Yuan Shao angrily said, "Among the strong men of the world, is Dong Zhuo the only one?" He brandished his sword, bowed deeply, and left. He hung his imperial staff at the East Gate and fled to Ji Province.

—Biography of Yuan Shao, Book of the Later Han Dynasty

Yuan Shang picked up his spear and rode his horse out of the city.

Cao Cao was greatly surprised to see Yuan Shang come out on his own. He said to his men, "This Yuan Shang actually has some guts; he didn't run away or hide in the city." Some of the generals and advisors remained silent, while others sneered. Xu You mocked, "Yuan Shang is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot; his death is not far off."

Cao Cao spurred his horse and rode to the front lines. Cao Hong took the signal flag and ordered all units to cease attacking and stopping the drumming. Cao Cao said, "Young Master Yuan! Your father, Yuan Shao, and I have a good relationship. You can return to the city, gather all the records of Ji Province, and surrender. I guarantee you will be ennobled and appointed as a marquis. You can then assist in governing Ji Province." Upon hearing this, Xu You hurriedly said, "Why is Lord Cao so generous? Now that the army has arrived, why be so polite?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shang sneered, "You killed my father, and now you hypocrite, invading my four provinces of Hebei, pretending to be benevolent! I have an irreconcilable hatred for you!" With that, he charged towards Cao Cao, spear in hand. Zhang Liao and Xu Huang, one wielding a spear and the other an axe, blocked Cao Cao's path. Xu Huang, without hesitation, mounted his horse and charged directly at Yuan Shang. Seeing Xu Huang had already gone, Zhang Liao, feeling embarrassed to join the fray, reined in his horse and watched. Before Yuan Shang could even raise his spear, Xu Huang swung his axe at him, striking down. Yuan Shang hastily blocked with his spear, but Xu Huang's blow was powerful, and Yuan Shang instantly bled from his hand, turning his horse to retreat. Xu Huang, however, was not about to let him off so easily, and charged forward with his axe. Knowing he was doomed, Yuan Shang stopped running and thrust his spear forward, shouting, "Cao Cao, you traitor! If you want to take Hebei, you'll have to step over my dead body first!" Xu Huang dodged and swung his axe, striking Yuan Shang squarely on the forehead. Yuan Shang immediately fell to the ground and died.

Upon seeing Yuan Shang's death, some of Cao Cao's soldiers cried out in alarm, while others cheered. Yuan Shang's troops were all stunned and terrified. Cao Cao, though somewhat prepared, was still surprised and saddened that Yuan Shang had been killed so easily by Xu Huang. Seeing Yuan Shang dead, Cao Hong ordered his troops to launch a full-scale attack, and Cao Cao's army launched a fierce assault from all sides.

Shen Pei, watching from the city wall, saw it all. Under Xu Huang's axe, Yuan Shang, charging forward, froze instantly, then slumped limply from his horse, blood slowly seeping onto the ground. Shen Pei's head was spinning. The so-called ruler of the four provinces of Hebei had died so easily. Looking around, Shen Pei saw that the Yuan army on all sides had lost all will to fight and surrendered on the spot. The gates of Ji Province were open, and Cao Cao's army poured in, their ranks swarming in. The Yuan army scattered like birds and beasts, terrified by Cao Cao's forces. Seeing no hope of defending the city, and that Hebei was doomed, Shen Pei resolutely drew his sword and committed suicide.

In less than a day, Cao Cao's army completely occupied Ji Province, capturing 100,000 Yuan Shao's troops. The Yuan army throughout the major province of Ji surrendered or disbanded, leaving the province in a state of anarchy, with only local clan elders maintaining order. Cao Cao's army swept through the region unopposed, occupying most of southern Hebei within days, their advance reaching the Yellow River. Zhang Liao was ordered to lead over 50,000 cavalry eastward to the Shandong Peninsula, advancing with impunity. Yuan Shao's Qingzhou troops surrendered or disintegrated, abandoning their uniforms and weapons to return to their villages and farm. Zhang Liao continued eastward and southward, joining forces with the Xu Province troops.

Cao Cao led the rest of his main army north to attack Youzhou.

Cao Cao entered Ji Province and visited Yuan Shao's tomb. He addressed the crowd, saying, "Yuan Shao and I have known each other since childhood. In our youth, we served under General He Jin, and together we led troops to eliminate the eunuchs. When Dong Zhuo seized power and wanted to install his young son as emperor, Dong Zhuo threatened Yuan Shao with a sword. Yuan Shao drew his sword and said, 'How can my sword not be as sharp as yours!' Even now, thinking back on our confrontation with Dong Zhuo, he was still incredibly heroic!" He finished speaking with a sigh, tears streaming down his face. "After Yuan Shao returned to Bohai, he quickly consolidated Hebei within a year or two, stationed troops northward, deterring the Xiongnu from advancing south and forcing Gongsun Kang of Liaodong to submit. Unfortunately, we each controlled our own territory, and war was inevitable."

After Cao Cao finished offering his condolences, he seemed to suddenly remember something and said to Cao Hong beside him, "Yuan Shang is indeed worthy of being Yuan Shao's son and the successor to the title of Lord of Hebei. Give him a proper burial." Cao Hong agreed verbally and sent men to search at the city gate, but unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of Cao army infantry and cavalry had trampled through, and they could not find a trace of him. They could only find a few pieces that looked like fragments, carved Yuan Shang's head out of wood, and gave him a grand burial with music and fanfare.

Cao's army was in high spirits and marched north into Youzhou without stopping for a moment.

Yuan Tan assembled an army of 100,000 in Youzhou and marched into the main city, ignoring the surrounding smaller towns. Cao Cao's army advanced from all directions, occupying most of the cities in Youzhou and besieging the main city.

As expected, Yuan Tan panicked again. Cao Cao's army captured most of the cities, completely surrounding Youzhou and cutting off its food supplies. Panic gripped Youzhou, and Yuan Tan's army, already demoralized, showed no willingness to fight to the death in this situation. Cao Cao's army, under the command of Xiahou Dun and Cao Hong, launched a fierce attack from all sides, and Yuan Tan's army suffered a crushing defeat. Yuan Tan, however, was prepared. Seeing that Youzhou was indefensible, he led a light cavalry force and fled north. This time, Yuan Tan's escape was more thorough; he headed directly for Liaodong, fleeing to Gongsun Kang's side.

Currently, Yuan Shao's original territory only lacks the Wuhuan tribe, which is prone to rebellion and is relatively close to the Central Plains, posing a significant threat. Gongsun Kang of Liaodong is still undecided, and Cao Cao has no immediate intention of controlling Liaodong; as long as Gongsun Kang submits, that's sufficient. After all, Hebei is wealthy, and Cao Cao has acquired too many soldiers and taxes from Hebei, allowing him to easily march south and conquer Jingzhou. Liaodong, on the other hand, is barren and largely undeveloped.

Then there's Xu You, who, ever since Cao Cao occupied Ji Province, boasted to everyone he met. After Cao Cao occupied You Province, Xu You became even more arrogant. When Xu Chu led his men on an inspection tour of You Province, Xu You, sitting atop the city wall, shouted to Cao Cao and his men, "Lord Cao! Without me, Xu You, could you have conquered Hebei?" Cao Cao, eager to discuss attacking the Wuhuan, smiled but didn't refute, and slowly rode past. Unexpectedly, Xu Chu was quite dissatisfied, saying, "Without us generals bravely fighting the enemy, how could we have conquered Hebei?" Xu You sneered, "You are all mere commoners, not worth worrying about. How can you compare to great wisdom and strategy?" Xu Chu was furious and killed Xu You, bringing his head to Cao Cao. Cao Cao was greatly shocked, severely reprimanded him, and ordered him to be given a grand funeral.

Chapter Ninety-Nine: Wuhuan

Meanwhile, with Youzhou now under siege, Yuan Tan fled to Gongsun Kang's camp in Youzhou. Cao Cao and his advisors discussed the capture of the Wuhuan and the subsequent intimidation of Liaodong.

The Wuhuan were also an important force in northern Hebei. Relying on the desert, they were known for their fierce and warlike nature, and even the Xiongnu could not subdue them. Since the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Wuhuan had maintained an independent state. After Dong Zhuo seized power, the court was in chaos. The Guandong Army and Dong Zhuo's forces clashed, and wise men throughout the land saw that the Eastern Han Dynasty was doomed and there was no possibility of restoring order to the court. Thus, heroes rose up, and those who possessed armies effectively became local kings. The Wuhuan had already become independent, but retained the title of subjects of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Seeing Dong Zhuo and the Guandong Army clashing, and Dong Zhuo moving the capital and deposing the emperor as if it were child's play, they brazenly declared themselves kings, no longer retaining the title of subjects of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Unexpectedly, Yuan Shao rose rapidly in the south, annexing four counties in Hebei and possessing an army of a million, making him almost the most powerful warlord in the land. Yuan Shao once told Cao Cao that annexing the four counties in Hebei, extending north to the desert, and east to Liaodong, would result in a wealthy country, a large population, and a secure geographical location. He has his sights set on the world from the south and east. When the time is right, he can advance westward to take Luoyang and Chang'an, then declare himself emperor. With his overwhelming power, he can then march south to annex the south and thus unify the world.

How could Yuan Shao sit idly by and watch the Wuhuan, such a formidable threat, seduce him? Yuan Shao repeatedly dispatched generals like Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Zhang He, and Gao Lan northwards, steadily encroaching on Wuhuan-controlled territory, establishing fortresses, and essentially consolidating the security of the Yellow River Plain to the south. The Wuhuan, frequently attacked by Yuan Shao, had limited domestic production capacity, and their supplies were cut off by Yuan Shao. Their repeated southward incursions were all thwarted by Yuan Shao's powerful generals, overwhelming forces, and dense fortifications. Left with no other option, the Wuhuan submitted to Yuan Shao and requested trade. But Yuan Shao was no pushover. He wouldn't let the Wuhuan off easily. Yuan Shao initially summoned his generals to discuss conquering the Wuhuan and completely eliminating their power. However, Yuan Shang still possessed some strategic vision…

Yuan Shang said, "Our biggest threat now is no longer the raids from the north, but Cao Cao. Although Father's northern expedition against the Wuhuan was successful, it inevitably cost a lot of troops and money. After the conquest, we had to send a large number of troops to defend the area. The Wuhuan people are fierce and will expend a lot of energy to suppress any rebellion."

Yuan Tan disagreed and couldn't help but question whether they were going to let the Wuhuan go and raise a tiger to cause trouble.

Yuan Shang said, "We can force the Wuhuan to agree to form a cluster of fortresses in key Wuhuan locations. There shouldn't be too many fortresses, but they should be strategically located and have sufficient troops. This way, we can control the Wuhuan's vital areas." Shen Pei and others agreed, and even neutral figures like Xu You and Tian Feng supported this approach.

Following this method, Yuan Shao constructed numerous fortresses in the southern part of the Wuhuan region. These fortresses were mutually supportive, with key towns in the Central Plains to the south providing supplies and provisions, and each stronghold cooperating to ensure unimpeded supply lines. In this way, although the southern part of the Wuhuan was nominally under Wuhuan control, its military and economic lifeline was entirely in Yuan Shao's hands. As for the north, it was quite barren, and the herders suffered greatly, forced to rely entirely on Yuan Shao's influence.

The implementation of this strategy fundamentally resolved the Wuhuan problem. From then on, only the Xiongnu were seen acting arrogantly, while the Wuhuan no longer raided. Scholars in the Central Plains greatly appreciated this, and even scholars in Jiangnan studied this case. After Luo Chen was stationed in Yizhou in the southwest, he explicitly ordered Zhang Juzheng to study this matter as a reference to prevent the southwestern barbarians from causing trouble and affecting the security of the Yizhou regime.

Today, Cao Cao summoned his generals to discuss the campaign against the Wuhuan. The generals and the main army had just defeated the Hebei forces, marching swiftly and sweeping through the four commanderies of Hebei without a moment's rest. The soldiers were inevitably exhausted, and having just defeated Yuan Shao's army, they were prone to complacency. Furthermore, the army's supply lines had just been extended and urgently needed consolidation. Cao Cao said, "The Wuhuan are a major threat from the north. I intend to take this opportunity to march north and crush their power, thus securing the Central Plains and the Yellow River Plain. What do you all think?"

The generals looked at each other, their faces showing difficulty.

Xu Huang said, "The soldiers are exhausted and the supply lines are fragile. If we launch a rash attack, we might be surrounded and wiped out by the Wuhuan."

Everyone agreed, even the usually warlike Xu Chu expressed his concerns. Xu Chu said, "Although Yuan's army is relatively weak and easier to defeat, the territory of the four prefectures in Hebei is too vast. Our troops have been marching for five consecutive days. Although we haven't encountered much resistance in the towns we've reached, taking over prisoners and settling refugees has left our soldiers with little rest. If we continue to fight the Wuhuan, our soldiers will have to make a long march to the desert. The soldiers will be exhausted, and the Wuhuan army is fierce. We are likely to suffer heavy losses."

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao hesitated. His generals' words were true. A hasty northward march could very well lead to a disastrous defeat. While Cao Cao was cunning and daring in battle, he fundamentally avoided unprepared campaigns and always needed absolute certainty in every fight. Even his surprise attacks were based on his confidence and determination. This attack on the Wuhuan, however, was not driven by self-assurance but by strategic necessity. It required maintaining peace and stability in the grain-producing plains of the lower Yellow River, a region with highly developed tax revenue and population, to support Cao Cao's subsequent campaigns for hegemony. An unstable rear, frequently harassed, was a grave mistake.

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"After Yuan Shao's defeat at Guandu, the Wuhuan were unable to attend to him and immediately severed ties with him. Now, Yuan Shao's southern fortresses have all been destroyed, his soldiers have lost their fighting spirit and are fleeing south in droves. Furthermore, the Wuhuan are frequently raiding from the south, and some towns along the lower reaches of the Yellow River have been destroyed overnight, people have fled, agriculture has been abandoned, and this has brought immense damage to our Central Plains," Cao Cao said with great anguish. "I know everyone is exhausted, but if we don't strike now, who knows when the opportunity will come? Didn't that Luo Chen also abandon his southward expansion and decide to crush the powerful Xiongnu at any cost?"

. ..... ...

The generals remained silent.

However, Cao Cao hesitated: "This time, I, Cao Cao, will not issue an order. Let us discuss and decide together. After all, the soldiers are exhausted and the supply lines are fragile. Everyone knows the danger involved. If I force the soldiers to attack and they suffer a major setback, how can I face the soldiers who follow me and their families?"

The generals remained silent. They all understood the strategic significance of this attack on the Wuhuan, but the risks were too great. Choosing to attack might result in heavy casualties for their soldiers; choosing not to go would cause enormous damage to the Cao family, especially considering Cao Cao's great favor. It was a very difficult decision.

Guo Jia, who had been silent all along, spoke up: "Although the Wuhuan are strong, they are arrogant and do not believe that our army will attack their core territory, relying on the desert barrier. They may be caught off guard."

The generals began to discuss amongst themselves, agreeing that it made sense. Although Cao Cao's army was exhausted, their sudden appearance before the arrogant and unprepared Wuhuan people would force them to hastily engage in battle, making them vulnerable to defeat.

Chapter 100 Hurricane Surge

Regarding the attack on the Wuhuan, the generals were divided, all believing that a long and arduous campaign would make them vulnerable to attack and defeat, and many held a negative attitude. Guo Jia, however, argued that the Wuhuan, relying on the desert, had long been arrogant and would surely be unprepared.

Upon hearing Guo Jia's words, Cao Cao no longer hesitated and sternly declared, "The Wuhuan are a major threat in the north, extremely arrogant. Only by conquering them can we demonstrate our military might and safeguard the safety of our Yellow River heartland." Hearing this, the generals realized Cao Cao's mind was made up and he was ready to give the order. They all stood up and said, "We will obey your command, my lord."

"I order Xiahou Dun to lead 100,000 troops to advance from the west, and Cao Hong to lead 200,000 troops to follow me from the east, forming a pincer movement. We must defeat the Wuhuan in one battle and force them to submit." Seeing that his generals strictly obeyed his orders, Cao Cao issued them without hesitation. "Fengxiao, what do you think of the 'Four-Five-Three' strategy?" Cao Cao specifically asked Guo Jia to confirm.

"Your lord is wise," Guo Jia replied with a slight bow.

Guo Jia was thin and spoke softly, but when he did, all the generals, and even Cao Cao himself, held their breath and listened intently. This young genius was Cao Cao's top strategist. Cao Cao's conquest of the north, the Battle of Guandu, the defeat of Yuan Shao, and the control of Luo Chen—most of these strategies were devised by Guo Jia.

"Alright." Cao Cao nodded, indicating his understanding. Over the years, he and Guo Jia had maintained a considerable tacit understanding. Guo Jia seemed to be able to read his mind, knowing what he wanted and offering direct advice or answers. His strategies often left Cao Cao in awe. Guo Jia understood Cao Cao, knew him, but never flaunted it, unlike figures like Yang Xiu. It seemed that what he did wasn't to achieve his own goals, but to help Cao Cao achieve hiss. Cao Cao's self-realization seemed to be intertwined with Guo Jia's self-realization; to some extent, their fundamental goals and strategies for self-realization were aligned. This was different from Xun Yu. Xun Yu also possessed profound strategic vision, but his fundamental goal didn't seem to be helping Cao Cao achieve his grand ambitions, but rather the so-called restoration of the Han Dynasty. Everyone raised the banner of restoring the Han Dynasty, including Luo Chen, but everyone knew that the Han Dynasty was already finished; it was just a slogan. Cao Cao sometimes didn't trust Xun Yu, so he transferred him from his core command position to be in charge of logistics. How could Xun Yu, a man of profound strategy, not see through this? He and Cao Cao established a different kind of tacit understanding: Xun Yu quietly handled logistics and focused on his work, voluntarily withdrawing from Cao Cao's core strategic team. Cao Cao, in turn, continued to treat Xun Yu with great respect, granting him an extremely high position.

"Fengxiao, you've lost quite a bit of weight lately, probably from overwork. Please remember to take care of your health." Cao Cao looked at Guo Jia's pale face and tired appearance, and couldn't help but feel worried. "What does Guo Jia usually eat? I'll have the Imperial Household Department allocate people to ensure your nutrition. You should also take care to rest."

"No need, no need," Guo Jia waved his hand and smiled palely. However, seeing Cao Cao's insistence, he didn't refuse directly. Those familiar with Guo Jia knew he was truly a man of few desires. He devoted himself daily to studying history and classics, mastering geography and military strategy, and even having a thorough understanding of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements. As for material comforts, he had virtually none. His daily meals consisted of simple rice and noodles, a few small stir-fries; if his family members indulged in extravagance, he would severely reprimand them.

Without further ado, Cao Cao's army marched out, and as expected, their advance was smooth, reaching the heart of the Wuhuan stronghold. They encountered little resistance along the way.

Xiahou Dun led 100,000 troops, abandoning their baggage train, on a long march, directly entering the desert from the west. As expected, the Wuhuan cavalry along the way were disorganized. Xiahou Dun led the charge, his light cavalry charging directly. The Wuhuan soldiers, barely managing to organize a defense, had their central formation shattered. With their central formation in disarray, the Wuhuan cavalry instantly collapsed, and the cavalry on both flanks quickly retreated. Xiahou Dun, not to be outdone, led over 10,000 light cavalry in a rapid advance, and large numbers of the Wuhuan army surrendered. Xiahou Dun roared, "Get out of the way! Surrender to the infantry behind you! Don't block my cavalry's path!" He then unleashed his light cavalry in a sweeping attack. The Wuhuan army, unable to mount any effective organization, almost completely routed. In three days, Xiahou Dun traversed the Wuhuan's stronghold, directly reaching the southern part of the Xiongnu territory. Cao Cao was forced to order him to slow his advance to ensure the effectiveness of his pincer movement.

Xiahou Dun was quite pleased with himself: "Back then, I swept through the Xiongnu; now I'm sweeping through the Wuhuan. The so-called Rong and Di cavalry far surpassing those of the Central Plains is nothing but nonsense. They just haven't met me, Xiahou Dun." That night, Xiahou Dun ordered his cavalry to set out on a long patrol and set up camp to rest. He then ordered the infantry to catch up quickly. Xiahou Dun's cavalry had advanced at breakneck speed, leaving the infantry far behind. Furthermore, the infantry had taken over a large number of prisoners and needed to wait for supplies. The supply lines were newly built, but their transport capacity was weak, often causing delays for Cao Cao's army. To maintain his advance speed, Xiahou Dun abandoned a large amount of baggage and heavily armored cavalry along the way, forming a second force that also lagged behind the light cavalry. Xiahou Dun only had about ten thousand light cavalry with him. Upon encountering the Wuhuan troops, he launched a fierce attack, causing the Wuhuan to scatter in disarray. Xiahou Dun then led his troops to kill their general and destroy their fortifications before continuing his assault. The takeover and consolidation were carried out by the second and third forces behind him.

That night, Xiahou Dun was resting in his central command tent when suddenly fires broke out all around, and deafening shouts erupted from all directions. Xiahou Dun was greatly alarmed; the Wuhuan army had been defeated, and he was unsure how to organize a counterattack. Xiahou Dun jumped out of bed, grabbed his spear, and went out of the tent. Upon seeing the enemy cavalry being slaughtered, he immediately realized that they were Xiongnu soldiers.

"Don't panic! Hold the camp and fight to the death!" Xiahou Dun shouted, casually slashing down the Xiongnu cavalry charging towards him. Although Xiahou Dun was a warrior, he was also a seasoned general, how could he not recognize the danger of the Xiongnu attack? He could only blame himself for focusing solely on attacking the Wuhuan, forgetting that the Xiongnu to the north were watching him intently. This Xiongnu attack was premeditated, and judging from the scale of the attacks from all sides, the Xiongnu forces numbered in the tens of thousands, possibly far exceeding Xiahou Dun's light cavalry. Dividing forces on the battlefield and recklessly advancing with light cavalry, while effective against weak and unprepared enemy forces, would be extremely dangerous if there was another enemy waiting for the light cavalry to reveal an opening before attacking.

Without hesitation, Xiahou Dun mounted his horse and, with dozens of guards, charged left and right. How could the Xiongnu soldiers stop him? At first, they charged fiercely, but Xiahou Dun thrust his spear, and Xiongnu soldiers fell from their horses and died one after another. Xiahou Dun charged again, and the Xiongnu soldiers scattered. Xiahou Dun's maneuvering left and right effectively organized Cao Cao's troops and boosted their morale. Seeing Xiahou Dun, Cao Cao's army stopped retreating and continued to fight desperately.

Chapter 101 Night Battle with the Ghost