There was naturally a chance of victory.
Cao Cao understood this well.
The problem was that the odds were not very high.
A far more likely outcome would be exhausting the people and draining the treasury, only for everyone to withdraw and return home to recuperate.
That was not what Cao Cao wanted.
What he was really doing now was selling anxiety.
He intended to use Zhao Qi’s voice to carry that anxiety into the imperial court.
And through it, Cao Cao would gain a measure of initiative and influence until he achieved his own objectives.
“Mengde.” After some thought, Zhao Qi’s heart sank.
He found himself agreeing with Cao Cao’s reasoning.
With a grave expression, he asked:
“Then in your opinion, what should be done now?”
“Lord Binqing.” Cao Cao glanced around before speaking in a low, solemn voice: “Can I trust you?”
“Mengde, what do you mean by that?” Zhao Qi looked at him and lowered his voice as well.
“I am an imperial envoy. Whatever you wish to say, speak freely. I am not the sort of reckless person who cannot keep confidence.”
“With those words, Lord Binqing, I am reassured.” Cao Cao nodded slightly and said quietly:
“In my opinion, the most pressing issue does not lie in the Central Plains.”
“It lies in the imperial court.”
“To be frank, Lord Binqing— In my eyes, with the sole exception of Liu of You Province, every one of these warlords is a traitor.”
“Every one of them harbors ulterior motives.”
“Every one of them seeks to maintain private armies and increase his own power.”
“Mengde, such words cannot be spoken lightly!” Zhao Qi immediately became nervous.
“Why does Lord Binqing pretend not to understand?” A look of grief and indignation appeared on Cao Cao’s face as he replied in a low voice:
“If Yuan Shao and the other warlords had fulfilled their responsibilities back then, we would have already welcomed the Son of Heaven back.”
“Would we be facing today’s chaos otherwise?”
“Now Zhang Yuheng occupies Yan Province.”
“Though his influence is considerable, his ambitions are far greater.”
“As long as no one provokes him, he will not easily launch military campaigns.”
“If we can restore the authority of the imperial court, then Zhang Yuheng will cease to be a major concern.”
“Mengde’s loyalty—I understand it now.” Zhao Qi’s face showed both relief and bitterness.
“Yet the situation in Chang’an is equally one where a single move affects everything.”
“Guo Si and Li Jue each command large armies, yet they constantly quarrel and could come to blows at any moment.”
“The Son of Heaven is still young.”
“To those two men, he is treated as though he were nothing.”
“As for the officials of the court, under their oppression they cower like frightened quail, barely able to protect themselves.”
“Originally, I had no intention of discussing these matters with you.”
“But your devotion to righteousness compels me to speak.”
“If you have a way to rescue the Emperor and restore the prestige of the Han, then even at the cost of my life, I will fully support your efforts.”
As he finished speaking, Zhao Qi prepared to bow deeply to Cao Cao.
To outsiders, officials of the imperial court still appeared dignified and influential.
But only they themselves knew how miserable life at court had become.
Especially after the affair involving Wang Yun.
The remnants of Dong Zhuo’s forces no longer regarded them as human beings.
Together with the Emperor, they merely struggled to survive from day to day.
Now, Cao Cao appeared both willing and capable.
Naturally, Zhao Qi was willing to gamble on him.
“Lord Binqing, you honor me too greatly!” Cao Cao hurried forward to stop him and said with heartfelt sincerity:
“There is no need for this. Reviving the Han dynasty is also the lifelong aspiration of me, Cao Mengde.”
At that moment, Cao Cao knew.
Zhao Qi now trusted him completely.
The next step would be dealing with Yuan Shao.
……………
The following day, before Cao Cao could seek him out, Yuan Shao came looking for him first.
“Hahaha!”
Holding a bamboo slip in his hand, Yuan Shao strode toward Cao Cao with high spirits.
Laughing loudly, he said:
“Virtuous brother Mengde, come and take a look!”
“This is a letter from Gongsun Zan.”
“Its tone is most sincere. It seems he has finally been frightened by me. Hahaha!”
As he spoke, Yuan Shao burst into hearty laughter.
Over the years, the situation had completely reversed.
At first, Gongsun Zan had been the stronger of the two.
Then Yuan Shao defeated him and now, Gongsun Zan had softened his stance and sought peace.
For Yuan Shao, it was a source of immense pride and satisfaction.
“Hahaha!” Cao Cao accepted the bamboo slip with a grin and exaggerated excitement.
“Then this foolish younger brother must take a careful look!”
“After all, this is a letter of submission from the famous White Horse General.”
“Had my elder brother not commanded armies with such divine skill, how could ordinary men like us ever hope to see such a thing?”
“Congratulations, elder brother! Congratulations indeed!”
After reading the letter, Cao Cao smiled broadly and spoke with apparent sincerity:
“From this point onward, if you simply follow the current momentum, all three provinces of Hebei will fall into your grasp.”
“Hahaha!” Yuan Shao laughed and scolded him playfully.
“Mengde, do not speak such nonsense.”
“I, Yuan Benchu, am an official of the imperial court.”
“I am not like that foolish younger brother of mine.”
“Even Ji Province is merely territory that I safeguard on behalf of the court.”
“It is not my private property.”
“Hahaha!” Cao Cao quickly laughed and played along.
“Indeed, this younger brother misspoke.”
“At the victory banquet later, I shall punish myself with three cups of wine.”
“Yes, you certainly should.” Yuan Shao nodded emphatically.
Then, with a magnanimous expression, he said:
“Now that hostilities with Gongsun Zan have ceased, it is time for me to lend my worthy brother a hand.”
“As long as Mengde asks, I will immediately dispatch fifty thousand troops to help you retake Yan Province.”
At this moment, Yuan Shao genuinely meant it.
For quite some time, his attention had been focused mainly on Gongsun Zan and Qing Province.
He had not paid much attention to affairs in Yan Province.
As for Yuan Shu’s defeat, he naturally knew the details.
However, he attributed it to his younger brother’s stupidity rather than the strength of the Yellow Turbans.
Now that Gongsun Zan had backed down, and further campaigning in Qing Province was no longer possible,
Yuan Shao felt stronger than ever.
If Cao Cao wished it, he truly would mobilize fifty thousand troops to help him recover Yan Province.
“Your kindness is deeply appreciated, elder brother.” Cao Cao’s expression became serious.
“But attacking Yan Province now is no longer feasible.”
“Moreover, I currently have matters of even greater importance to attend to.”
“Retaking Yan Province is impossible? Why?” Yuan Shao was momentarily stunned.
He had expected Cao Cao to happily accept his offer.
Instead, he received this response.
“It is a long story.” Cao Cao’s expression turned grave.
“Let me begin with Zhang Yuheng.”
And so, Cao Cao essentially repeated the same arguments he had previously given Zhao Qi.
He wanted Yuan Shao to fully appreciate the threat posed by Zhang Yuheng and thereby work to restrict his growth.
“This Zhang Yuheng has some nerve!” After hearing the explanation, Yuan Shao erupted in anger.
“How dare he?”
“How could he possibly dare?”
“Not only has he slaughtered members of the noble clan, he has distributed their lands to common peasants!”
“And he has even altered the tax laws on his own authority!”
“What exactly is he trying to do?”
“Is he trying to rebel?”
Cao Cao glanced at Yuan Shao.
He felt that Yuan Shao already knew the answer and was merely asking for effect.
“Mengde.” Yuan Shao was, after all, a clever man.
He immediately looked toward Cao Cao and declared:
“We cannot allow Zhang Yuheng to live.”
“He must die.”
“Otherwise, he will become a catastrophe for all of us.”
“At this very moment, we should contact the warlords across the realm and unite to exterminate him.”
When the Han lost its mandate, all the lords of the realm began competing for it.
The struggle among warlords had become inevitable.
Everyone was still operating within the established rules.
But Zhang Yuheng was different.
He had flipped over the entire table.
He had struck directly at the foundations of the powerful clans and landed gentry.
One had to admit:
For the common people, he had done something remarkable.
But for a warlord like Yuan Shao, a man who regarded the interests of his family and clan as paramount, Zhang Yuheng’s actions were unforgivable.
To Yuan Shao, Zhang Yuheng was guilty of the gravest possible crimes.
— The end of the Chapter–
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