Late May, Yan Province
Dong Commandery, Cangting Ferry
As Guo Jia’s ferry reached the shore, Zhang Jing and the others had already been waiting for quite some time.
“Fengxiao, you’ve worked hard.”
With a joyful smile, Zhang Jing said, “I’ve already had a meal prepared in the central command tent.”
“We’ve all been waiting for you.”
“My lord has waited so long because of me.”
“That is my fault.”
Guo Jia immediately cupped his hands in salute, his heart filled with gratitude.
“No matter, no matter.”
Smiling, Zhang Jing helped him to his feet.
“You devised the strategy for our army, and personally ventured into dangerous territory.”
“Now that you’ve returned victorious, what is a little waiting compared to welcoming back a hero?”
“Come, let’s go into camp.”
In truth, Zhang Jing was already rather hungry.
But waiting a little longer was nothing to him.
“I obey.”
Guo Jia nodded heavily, then followed Zhang Jing toward the Cangting camp.
After three bowls of porridge and several courses of food, Zhang Jing finally spoke.
“Fengxiao.”
“In your opinion, how should we deal with this fierce tiger, Lü Bu?”
Did Zhang Jing want to recruit Lü Bu?
The answer was undoubtedly yes.
But considering Lü Bu’s character and questionable loyalty, even Zhang Jing couldn’t say he had complete confidence in controlling him.
That was why, despite knowing Lü Bu was being held prisoner, he had yet to visit him.
As Zhang Jing finished speaking, everyone in the tent fell silent in thought.
“My lord.”
After glancing around at the assembled civil and military officials, Guo Jia answered carefully, “In my opinion, although Lü Bu’s temperament is deeply flawed, the fact that he was willing to surrender for the sake of his wife and children shows he is not entirely beyond redemption.”
“I see.”
Zhang Jing nodded, understanding what Guo Jia meant.
“In that case, have him imprisoned for the time being.”
“Once we return to Wuyan, we’ll decide what to do with him.”
“A wise decision, my lord.”
Guo Jia nodded in agreement.
Had Lü Bu not possessed such an obvious weakness, Guo Jia would never have dared leave him alive.
Fortunately, his willingness to surrender for his family meant there was still hope of winning him over.
“Report!”
At that moment, a young officer hurried into the tent and saluted respectfully.
“My lord, the Yuan Shao army on the opposite bank appears to be withdrawing.”
“Please issue your orders.”
The generals all turned toward Zhang Jing.
“Yuan Shao is certainly decisive.”
Zhang Jing replied calmly.
“I already know of this matter.”
“You may withdraw.”
“Yes, my lord.”
The officer saluted and departed.
“Fengxiao.”
“Zhicai.”
After the messenger left, Zhang Jing turned toward the two strategists.
“Now that Yuan Shao is returning north, do you think he will still launch a campaign against the Heishan Army?”
Their primary objective in attacking Lü Bu had been to relieve the pressure on the Heishan rebels.
Now that Lü Bu had been defeated, whether Yuan Shao would continue his campaign against them remained uncertain.
Though, in Zhang Jing’s opinion, the possibility was rather low.
As far as he knew, by the time Lü Bu entered Qinghe, Cao Cao had already left Ji Province together with Zhao Qi.
Even if Yuan Shao still refused to give up, it would not be easy.
After all, the Ji Province army was far from invincible.
Old rivals such as Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shu might very well seize the opportunity to strike Yuan Shao while he was vulnerable.
“My lord.”
Seeing Guo Jia glance toward him, Xi Zhicai understood that he was expected to answer.
He immediately bowed and said, “In my opinion, Yuan Shao currently lacks the capacity to launch another campaign.”
“With Lü Bu’s recent defeat, he simply doesn’t dare take such a gamble…”
As Xi Zhicai continued his analysis, the generals gradually came to understand the current strategic situation.
When they looked at him again, their eyes now held unmistakable admiration.
This was exactly the effect Zhang Jing had intended.
There were many things he already knew, but he was more than happy to play the fool from time to time, giving his civil and military officers opportunities to demonstrate their abilities.
“Zhicai’s analysis is sound.”
Zhang Jing nodded.
“In that case, our army will remain here for several more days.”
“Once we’ve confirmed that Ji Province has stabilized, we’ll return to Wuyan.”
“Your wisdom is unmatched, my lord.”
Everyone bowed respectfully.
…………
That Night, Sili Province
After more than half a month of travel, Cao Cao finally arrived at Huayin County in Hongnong Commandery, where he received a warm welcome from the local host, Duan Wei.
After the banquet concluded, Zhao Qi took his leave.
Cao Cao remained behind alone, then bowed deeply to Duan Wei.
“Uncle Zhongming, I ask your forgiveness.”
Long before Yuan Shao had dispatched troops to aid him, Cao Cao had already established contact with Duan Wei.
Duan Wei was the younger clansman of the late Grand Commandant Duan Jiong, who had been a close friend of Cao Cao’s father.
Because of that relationship, the two families shared a longstanding friendship.
Cao Cao’s original contingency plan had been to use Duan Wei’s connections to gain the trust of part of the Liang Province army.
At the very least, it would have given him a place to establish himself.
However, after Zhao Qi began his journey east, Cao Cao revised his plans.
His new strategy became considerably more thorough, making it much easier to gain entry into Chang’an.
The only real obstacle was this— Duan Wei did not seem particularly pleased to see him.
“Sigh…”
The warmth disappeared from Duan Wei’s face.
Letting out a long sigh, he said, “Mengde…”
“You’ve truly put me in a very difficult position.”
Cao Cao wanted to establish himself in the Guanzhong region.
To Duan Wei, however, his arrival was like facing a formidable enemy.
He knew full well that Cao Cao was anything but someone who would quietly stay in his place.
It wasn’t that Duan Wei was hostile toward Cao Cao.
Rather, Duan Wei had long since lost much of his loyalty to the Han court.
He had more or less adopted a “let things be” attitude.
He had been stationed at Huayin for nearly three years.
Despite that, he commanded only about five thousand battle-ready troops.
It wasn’t that he lacked the ability to recruit more soldiers.
He simply preferred reclaiming farmland and caring for the people, hoping to live out his days in peace.
After all, his elder clansman, Duan Jiong, had rendered extraordinary service to the Han dynasty, risen to the rank of Grand Commandant, yet ultimately died after being forced to drink poisoned wine, with his entire family exiled.
That tragic fate remained vivid in Duan Wei’s memory.
Naturally, he had no desire to stir up trouble.
Cao Cao’s actions had effectively placed him over an open fire.
“Please forgive me, Lord Zhongming.”
Cao Cao bowed even lower, his face filled with remorse.
“Now that the empire is in turmoil, the authority of the Han has collapsed. The warlords wield power as they please, bandits run rampant, and the common people can barely survive. Though I was born into humble circumstances, I still understand what loyalty and righteousness mean.”
“Even if it means facing national calamity together, I will not hesitate. I only ask that you grant my request.”
“You…”
Duan Wei opened his mouth to speak, but in the end merely sighed.
He stepped forward to help Cao Cao to his feet.
“Very well. I grant your request.”
“I only hope you never forget the words you’ve spoken today.”
“Lord Zhongming is truly righteous!”
Cao Cao finally let out a sigh of relief before replying solemnly, “I would never dare forget today’s words for the rest of my life.”
Cao Cao still commanded nearly twenty thousand troops.
His request to Duan Wei was to place those forces under Duan Wei’s name.
Cao Cao himself would enter Chang’an with only several hundred men.
By doing so, he hoped to win the trust of Guo Si and Li Jue.
Of course, those troops would remain Cao Cao’s in practice.
What he needed was merely a legitimate cover, along with grain and logistical support for the army.
Duan Wei held the court-appointed title of General Who Pacifies and Brings Harmony.
Combined with the prestige of the Duan clan among the Liangzhou armies, having a somewhat larger force under his command would attract little suspicion.
“I trust you, Mengde.”
Looking at the spirited Cao Cao before him, Duan Wei couldn’t help feeling a surge of mixed emotions.
After settling his troops, Cao Cao and his entourage set out once more.
Huayin lay only about 170 li from Chang’an.
Without the burden of a large army, the journey took them only three days.
The moment Cao Cao entered the city—
Rustle! Rustle!
He found himself immediately surrounded by the forces of Guo Si and Li Jue.
Guo Si rode forward from the ranks, looking down at Cao Cao with a mocking smile.
“Cao Mengde… did you ever imagine you’d end up like this?”
— The end of the Chapter–
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