The next morning.
By the time Cao Cao awoke, Zhang Jing had already led his army to the gates of Puyang.
“If Puyang does not fall, the Qihuo Army shall never return!”
Supported by Cao Ren, Cao Cao looked at the Yellow Turban soldiers roaring outside the city.
His face flushed red as he ordered:
“Send word to all units: cross the Puyang Ford and withdraw to the north bank of the Yellow River. Miaocai, take a detachment at once to Chenliu and escort my family to Ji Province.
“The hatred between the Yellow Turbans and myself shall be repaid another day!”
With that, Cao Cao no longer looked outside the city walls and turned to leave the battlements.
“Your subordinate obeys!”
Xiahou Yuan cupped his fists respectfully in acknowledgment.
An hour later, the Cao army had completely abandoned the city.
……………
“Sima Ju!”
Standing where Cao Cao had previously stood, Zhang Jing gave his orders:
“Now that Puyang has fallen and the Cao army has retreated north, I command you to lead twenty thousand troops and relocate all the civilians and grain south of the Yellow River in Dong Commandery to Wuyan.
“Afterward, station troops in Rencheng and defend the strategic route through Kangfu.”
Kangfu County was located within the Kingdom of Rencheng in Yan Province.
Its Chancellor had been killed by Zhang Rao and the territory was now effectively leaderless.
The Kangfu Route was an important official road linking Yan and Xu Provinces.
Ancient records described its terrain as follows:
“The passes of Kangfu are so perilous that carts cannot travel side by side and horses cannot ride abreast. A hundred men guarding the pass can stop a thousand from crossing.”
Now that Cao Cao had retreated to the north of the Yellow River, Zhang Jing also needed to begin reorganizing the army and restoring civil order.
Among the remaining commanderies and counties of Yan Province, only three local officials remained:
Zhang Miao, Administrator of Chenliu
Wu Zi, Administrator of Jiyin
Ying Shao, Administrator of Taishan
As for:
Yuan Yi, Administrator of Shanyang
Bao Xin, Administrator of Jibei
Zheng Sui, Chancellor of Rencheng
Li Zan, Chancellor of Dongping
Xiahou Dun, Administrator of Dong Commandery
They had either died or left Yan Province altogether.
None posed any threat to the Qihuo Army.
“Your subordinate accepts the command!”
Sima Ju clasped his fists and acknowledged the order.
………………
Dong Commandery, Yan Province
Fagan County, Xuzhou Army Camp
After hearing his subordinate’s report, Tao Qian was stunned.
His face was filled with disbelief.
“You’re saying Cao Cao was defeated? Defeated even while holding fortified cities, and driven out by the Yellow Turbans?”
“Yes, my lord.”
The officer sighed with emotion.
“According to reports from our scouts, that is indeed the case. The remnants of Cao Cao’s army claim that the Yellow Turbans possess a siege weapon of extraordinary power—supposedly a hundred times more powerful than a trebuchet.
“I cannot say whether this is true.
“But the information is very likely accurate.”
“These rebels…”
Tao Qian frowned deeply and muttered:
“To think they possess such capabilities.”
“Cao Bao.”
Returning to his senses, Tao Qian spoke with some hesitation.
“Do you think we should cross the river and join forces with Cao Cao to attack the Yellow Turbans?”
“My lord, absolutely not!” Cao Bao hurriedly objected.
“The weather is freezing cold. This is hardly the time for military campaigns. Furthermore, we came here to support General of the Left Yuan Shu, while Cao Cao is clearly one of Yuan Shao’s followers.
“If we attack the Yellow Turbans now, it may appear that we are upholding the court’s cause, but in reality it would place you in a position of injustice.”
“My lord, consider this carefully.
“If Cao Cao were to absorb and recruit those surrendered Yellow Turbans, would he really allow our army to remain here? More likely, he would join forces with Yuan Shao and drive us out of Yan Province.”
Cao Bao came from one of Xuzhou’s great clans.
Already uneasy about fighting far from home, he saw no reason to attack the Yellow Turbans in Yan Province.
In his view, it would be a thankless effort that offered little reward.
“That is a reasonable point.”
After some thought, Tao Qian said:
“Very well. Send a message to General of the Left. If he sends troops into Yan Province, then I shall dispatch forces to support him.”
“My lord is wise!” Cao Bao respectfully acknowledged the order.
“Go.” Tao Qian continued:
“From now on, keep a close watch on developments in Yan Province. The army is to remain on constant alert and must not grow complacent.”
“Your subordinate obeys!”
Cao Bao cupped his fists, accepted the order, and departed.
As for fighting the Yellow Turbans, Tao Qian had only been putting on a show before his subordinates.
After all, he was still the Imperial Court’s Inspector of Xu Province.
And just as Cao Bao had said:
If Cao Cao emerged victorious, he would never tolerate Tao Qian remaining in Yan Province.
A military confrontation between the two sides would be inevitable.
……………….
Pingyuan Commandery, Qing Province
Gaotang City, Liu Bei’s camp along the Luo River
“Cao Cao was defeated?”
Liu Bei looked at the messenger before him, his eyes filled with confusion and shock.
“Big Brother!”
Zhang Fei, a burly man with leopard-like eyes, a swallow-shaped jaw, and a tiger-like beard, shouted from the side:
“I think that Cao Cao is all bark and no bite—looks impressive, but can’t get the job done!”
“Just last month!”
“Tens of thousands of Yellow Turban troops surrounded Duchang in Beihai Commandery. We only needed three thousand infantry and cavalry to send those Yellow Turbans running for their lives!”
“And those Yellow Turbans in Yan Province?”
“Didn’t they come from Qing Province in the first place?”
“Cao Cao supposedly commands tens of thousands of elite troops, yet he still got beaten by the Yellow Turbans while defending fortified cities. What a useless fool!”
“A few months ago, when Cao Cao was defeated by the Yellow Turbans, Big Brother was still making excuses for him. What do you have to say now?”
“…”
Zhang Fei’s words left Liu Bei speechless.
“Big Brother!”
Seeing Liu Bei remain silent, Guan Yu—standing nine chi tall, with a magnificent beard and dressed in green robes and a green headscarf—quickly stepped in.
“Just give me three thousand infantry and cavalry, along with five hundred axemen, and I will break into Yan Province and relieve Cao Cao’s predicament!”
“My second brother is invincible under heaven!”
After a moment of contemplation, Liu Bei shook his head.
“Your elder brother naturally knows your abilities. However, Brother Bogui suffered defeat at Yuan Shao’s hands only a month ago and is currently struggling with manpower shortages. I am merely serving under him as a guest—how could I dispatch troops so casually?”
“Besides, it is well known that Cao Cao and Yuan Shao are as close as men wearing the same pair of trousers.”
“If I were to send troops to rescue Cao Cao now, would I not be putting Brother Bogui in a difficult position?”
“Alas…”
As if thinking of something, Liu Bei sighed.
“I wonder when I, Liu Bei, will finally have a place of my own to stand in this world.”
“Hmph!”
Seeing Liu Bei’s melancholy, Zhang Fei immediately became indignant.
“Big Brother, if you ask me!”
“Gongsun Zan simply doesn’t trust us!”
“Look at him! When he attacked Ji Province, he appointed Tian Kai as Inspector of Qing Province, Shan Jing as Inspector of Yan Province, and Yan Gang as Inspector of Ji Province!”
“Big Brother has governed Gaotang for three years.”
“And you’ve served under Gongsun Zan for over two years.”
“Yet whenever there’s a benefit to be had, he never once thinks of Big Brother!”
“Just look at the inspectors he appointed.”
“None of them are particularly scholarly, nor especially martial. What kind of people are they?”
“If it were me—”
“Third Brother, enough!”
Seeing that Zhang Fei was getting carried away, Liu Bei quickly interrupted him.
“This is not Brother Bogui’s fault. We merely serve under him as guests; we are not his sworn retainers. It is only natural that there is a distinction between those close to him and those who are not.”
“As for Shan Jing, Tian Kai, and Yan Gang, each possesses both civil talent and military ability. They are far superior to me, Liu Bei.”
“Third Brother.”
Looking at Zhang Fei, Liu Bei shook his head.
“Do not say such things again in the future.”
“But—”
“Third Brother, listen to Big Brother.”
Seeing Zhang Fei still wanting to argue, Guan Yu also turned toward him and shook his head, just as Liu Bei had done.
“Fine.”
Zhang Fei deflated immediately and muttered:
“Then I won’t say it. I just hate seeing Big Brother put in such a difficult position.”
“Your concern is understood, Third Brother.”
Liu Bei smiled warmly and said sincerely:
“Today I command eight thousand soldiers, have brought peace to the people of Gaotang, and still have my brothers by my side.”
“For that, I am content.”
— The end of the Chapter–
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