“Can a strategist not ascend the throne?”
This isn’t just a casual catch-up; it’s more like a notification.
With this special way of sending messages, it’s definitely not just two old friends reuniting after years apart.
The title of “Grand Marshal” penned by Qiao Yan makes her stance quite clear.
On top of being an “old friend,” she’s also an “enemy.”
And during a time of territorial disputes, the latter carries more weight.
But for some reason, Cao Cao couldn’t help but shake his head and chuckle as he looked at the colorful face of Xiahou Dun, clearly flustered by Qiao Yan’s unexpected visit that had upended their entire plan.
“You can still laugh?” Xiahou Dun asked with a long face.
“I’m laughing at her audacity to take what isn’t hers, without even asking,” Cao Cao replied, picking up the white cloth, then rereading the lines he had just seen. “Our strategy to invade Yu Province with the intention of leveraging two territories to shift the power balance really does feel like taking advantage of Yuan Shu’s ignorance.”
It’s a case of asking for trouble that can get people killed.
What was Cao Cao thinking when he eventually sat in Pingyu City?
Perhaps he was contemplating whether his decision to change the situation was the right choice, but at the very least, he showed he could alter his circumstances through such maneuvers.
A territory that was once under the control of the Runan Yuan family would ultimately become his stronghold.
How many people could really foresee this move from him?
Maybe even Qiao Yan thought that since he was the Governor of Yanzhou, he should just stay put on his turf.
But anyone could pull an unexpected stunt when the situation changed.
Including Cao Cao, of course.
Just like how Sun Ce, after losing his father in Jing Province, would choose to head to Yang Province.
“But if we can do this, why can’t Qiao Yan just do the same?”
She absolutely could suddenly mobilize troops and become a thorn in Xiahou Dun’s side, making it clear that Yuan Shu’s downfall was his own doing, not because Qiao Yan didn’t provide enough support.
She had already arrived at Yu Province in the quickest time possible, joining the sudden combat, and she had also made sufficient sacrifices regarding Yuan Shu’s aftermath —
One person, one horse, and one aide, meeting the enemy general outside Pingyu City to demand Yuan Shu’s body for return to Yuan Yao.
Whether it meant a father-son reunion in Yingchuan before burial or sending the body to Chang’an, for this top authority in Chang’an, it marked the utmost effort she could make in remedying the situation.
She wasn’t afraid of coming to Shenting and facing any personal safety threats; if Cao Cao was still hesitant at this moment, wouldn’t that be overly timid?
Cao Cao immediately made a decision, “Return rudeness with rudeness, politeness with politeness. Let’s see what she has to say in this three-day agreement.”
Xiahou Dun quietly asked, “Aren’t you worried there might be a trap in this?”
Who’s meeting outside the city when a major enemy is looming?
Xiahou Dun was already wary after being ambushed by Qiao Yan, and he had been pondering this piece of writing for quite some time while he was tied up before the guards of Pingyu discovered his presence, making him feel that Qiao Yan’s actions clearly had ulterior motives.
He continued, “I heard that back when they were crossing the river to subdue Dong Zhuo, Qiao Yan had once met with Xu Rong, who was still Dong Zhuo’s subordinate at the time, sparking mutual suspicion between Niu Fu and Xu Rong on the opposite bank.”
“Likewise, whether or not she’s setting a trap at Shenting, our patrolling cavalry could sift through any dangers. Her invitation and your visit would only arouse further suspicions from Yuan Shu, worrying you might turn traitor and side with the court in Chang’an!”
The more Xiahou Dun thought about it, the more he felt it could really be that way, and he gestured at Cao Hong to chime in with a word of advice.
Unfortunately, after getting smacked by Dian Wei, his gesture looked more like a muscle spasm than a signal to speak.
Before either of them could say more, Cao Cao replied, “Didn’t I send my son Pi to Leping for studies back then? Did Yuan Shu not suspect me? Even though I received permission to move from Ye City, with our advancement so swift, making Runan and Chen counties almost fall into our control, wouldn’t Yuan Shu grow even more suspicious?”
Qiao Yan’s maneuver here was at best a further incitement; it wasn’t the most direct catalyst.
Her action also undeniably held the intent to sow discord.
However, this couldn’t decisively impact Cao Cao’s actions.
While speaking, he took off the white cloth from Xiahou Dun’s head that matched the mourning outfit.
This was supposed to help him seem more presentable, but what Cao Cao didn’t expect was that inside the cloth were the words “Don’t see, don’t part.”
This writing eased the tense atmosphere initially meant for a showdown between the two leaders.
It also reminded Cao Cao of casual drinking talks back in the days of Yanxi.
He sighed inwardly.
Qiao Yan didn’t take Xiahou Dun’s life; instead, she used this dark humor to have him return with a message, allowing the two sides to take a step back from hostility. But this retreat doesn’t guarantee they wouldn’t spiral into further confrontation, especially since Qiao Yan might very well advance towards Luoyang, turning it into an unavoidable clash.
What would come of it in the end?
Her assertive entrance, defeating Xiahou Dun, only solidified Cao Cao’s belief that if there were ever a need to wage a deadly war, Qiao Yan would become a nightmarish foe.
After sending Xiahou Dun off to rest and apply medicine, Cao Cao finally voiced a question that Cao Hong thought he should have asked the moment he received the news, “How did she arrive so quickly?”
Then he turned to Chen Gong and asked, “Do you think there’s a possibility that her three-day agreement is a tactic to buy time because her reinforcements aren’t fully assembled yet?”
Qiao Yan would know that Cao Cao wouldn’t set an ambush at Shenting and take the opportunity to deal with her; she should also be aware that Cao Cao wasn’t a wishy-washy person who needed too long to make a decision on attending a meeting.
When it came to seemingly crucial questions, Cao Cao didn’t need to consult one by one; he could directly take action.
Thinking about it, this three-day waiting period was actually quite unnecessary.
If this really were her ploy to delay time, Cao Cao could choose to lead his troops straight to Lin Ying City for a change of venue, seizing back the initiative.
But then Chen Gong asked him three questions.
Was it merely because Qiao Yan ambushed Xiahou Dun that he lost in the face of such numbers that were clearly in their favor?
When considering the travel time from Pingyu to Lin Ying, it would take more than a day; with Qiao Yan ready, would the remaining time be enough for a siege? Would simply deploying forces outside the city truly hold any significance?
If the time Qiao Yan wanted to delay wasn’t for bringing troops from the northwest, but to advance towards Yanzhou to threaten the rear, could it improve Cao Cao’s position when certain commands were already given to directly threaten Qiao Yan’s safety?
Chen Gong, though sometimes perceived as slow, had a relatively comprehensive way of thinking; if not, he wouldn’t have transitioned from representing the gentry of Yanzhou to becoming one of Cao Cao’s most trusted strategists.
Cao Cao pondered Chen Gong’s three questions and realized he really should keep steady instead of acting rashly.
Of course, the lurking dangers in Runan still needed to be investigated in these three days; he couldn’t just let people swagger into his territory without a proper welcome.
“What a joke.”
“Additionally, there are two things the lord must do at this time,” Chen Gong continued.
“I have a plan,” Cao Cao responded. “First is to inform Yuan Benchu about the situation in Yuzhou and apologize to him. Second, I need Yuan Chang and the others left behind in Yanzhou to keep an eye on Dong Commandery and Chenliu, which borders Sili.”
Chen Gong chuckled, “Since the lord isn’t flustered by the old friends visiting, what harm is there in a short meeting? You might even learn some news from them.”
The benefit of having a smart lord like this is evident; during conversations, he could accurately capture most of the information subtly hinted at.
Who knows if this meeting at Shenting was initiated by Qiao Yan to showcase her victory over Xiahou Dun, or if Cao Cao saw an opportunity to profit as well?
The weather in Yuzhou had been the same for the three days leading up to their meeting.
With the drought worsening, the two rivers converging in front of Linying City had become even shallower.
Following Qiao Yan’s instructions, Yuan Huan left a small number of troops for defense here, while the rest who came in with Qiao Yan were thrown into disaster relief efforts in Yingchuan.
He had already laid some groundwork based on the info from the Leping Monthly Report, and now with Xun Yu’s expertise and high reputation in Yingchuan, things were running even smoother.
This efficient disaster relief system allowed Yuan Huan to deduce the current situation in Guanzhong fairly well.
Thanks to Qiao Yan, word reached Henan of her victory over Xiahou Dun, and the reinforcements had already dispatched many soldiers prior to the aid from Guanzhong.
Sima Fang seemed a bit unsurprising as he fathered Sima Yi.
If he quickly took a stance when Qiao Yan conquered Guanzhong, it showed his foresight; now, his timely troop movements really made it hard to forget his prior cautiousness.
This group of soldiers, arriving when Qiao Yan had already moved towards Pingyu, was redirected by Xun Yu to the borders of Yingchuan, Runan, and Jing Province in Wuyang County.
If Cao Cao’s scouts noticed the situation here, would they see these soldiers as reinforcements from Yingchuan or from Henan?
It would be hard to distinguish the two in a short amount of time.
For Jing Province, the impending orders from Guanzhong for Liu Biao to station troops in Nanyang made the increase of soldiers in Wuyang feel like a warning.
Xun Yu understood that Qiao Yan’s rapid responses to news of Yuan Shu’s death counted as extremely urgent military tactics, but it still didn’t ensure her positioning was entirely secure.
Especially with her going alone to this meeting in Shenting; relying on old friendships was the most unreliable thing. What was more guaranteed was having enough strength to make people think twice.
So it was crucial for her to receive some sort of warning in Runan.
Once he finished preparing, Liu Biao in Jing Province and Yuan Shao in Ye City got the news.
Yuan Shu was dead, Cao Cao took Runan, and Qiao Yan’s troops advanced into Yingchuan.
At this moment, Liu Biao still didn’t know that Qiao Yan had already secured her first victory upon entering Yingchuan, but after sending the visiting envoy from Chang’an to rest, he looked at Cai Mao and Kuai Yue, whom he had summoned for a discussion, with a dazed expression.
“I can’t have slept through half a year, right?”
It clearly wasn’t the case.
Then why had such changes occurred in such a short time?
Every move Qiao Yan made felt like a blade hanging over Liu Biao’s head, ready to drop at any moment, and he had no idea where it would come from.
Previously, when she hunted with Liu Yan in Hanzhong, Zhang Lu seemed the disaster’s target, but Liu Biao himself was also a victim.
The Han River from Hanzhong could directly reach his Xiangyang, and the local prefect Xu Shu was busy building a shipyard following Qiao Yan’s orders—just shy of writing “I’m up to no good” on his forehead.
Because of the intimidation this shipyard posed to Liu Biao, when Qiao Yan sent Zhang Yang via water route to Xuzhou Hailing, Liu Biao hurriedly gifted Zhang Yang a token to show he was harmless.
Then, with the passage of Jia Xu, Gan Ning, and others, Liu Biao found himself on edge again.
But at that moment, Cai Mao told him that Qiao Yan’s decision to send her junior to Xuzhou for training was perhaps good news, meaning her next target should be Xuzhou, aiming to quickly end the North-South standoff and bring everything back under Chang’an’s rule.
As long as that was the case, it would be fine!
However, the news that came suddenly didn’t suggest that.
Regardless of how Cao Cao attacked Yuzhou, why could Qiao Yan move her troops so quickly?
Liu Biao thought there was only one explanation: Qiao Yan figured Yuan Shu would struggle to manage Yuzhou during this drought and locust plague, so she simply took back his authority as the Governor of Yuzhou.
Instead of letting Yuan Shu resist after receiving his dismissal, it was better to strike first.
As it turned out, Cao Cao acted before that, and Qiao Yan ended up being the swift rescuer.
If this were so, it wasn’t merely a military action against the dead Yuan Shu, but also a threat to Liu Biao.
Once Qiao Yan held both Hanzhong and Yingchuan, she could easily launch a pincer attack into Nanyang, descending on Xiangyang, and knock right at his doorstep.
In a short time, countless thoughts raced in Liu Biao’s mind, and he couldn’t help but feel his situation was precarious, but he just asked those around him, “What do you think we should do about the troop movements in Nanyang?”
But the next thing he said made Cai Mao slightly lose composure. “How about we let the troops from Chang’an station directly in Nanyang?”
If Qiao Yan knew that Liu Biao could be this paranoid, she might have chuckled.
Sending Liu Biao’s troops was merely because there were no natural barriers between Yingchuan and Runan; thus, they had to lean on their neighbors to provide enough deterrence.
She had no extra energy to stir trouble for Liu Biao.
What was crucial was Yuzhou.
And this meeting with Cao Cao.
When Cao Cao arrived at Shenting with Xu Chu, he saw Qiao Yan sitting in the pavilion, and Dian Wei standing guard like a watchman outside.
Inside the pavilion was a small stove with a ceramic basin on it, and in front of Qiao Yan and her opposite seat, there were cups sitting.
Cao Cao initially thought they were preparing to welcome guests with wine, perhaps just a little oddly in choice of vessels.
But as he moved closer, he realized the aroma wafting through the air wasn’t of wine, but… tea and milk.
Stepping into the pavilion, he saw that the basin contained milk and tea leaves.
Qiao Yan looked up at him, her expression showing no sign of unusualness towards this unique way of hospitality, firmly stating, “We just entered May, and the alcohol ban’s timeframe hasn’t passed. Yuzhou hasn’t officially changed hands yet; we shall follow the customs of my Chang’an. Brother Mengde won’t mind, right?”
This statement and action, if she did two years ago, would have seemed childlike; now, however, it felt more like a power play.
Yet Cao Cao couldn’t tell if this intimidating gesture was due to their changed statuses from those days.
He simply responded after sitting down, “I thought after Ye Shu introduced strong liquor and soy sauce, she would then bring forth new tea and surplus dairy products.”
Qiao Yan chuckled, “Brother Mengde understands me. I’m not one to rise early without profit, and it’s not entirely out of the question.”
She handed Cao Cao a ladle from the side, then added, “But, the profits from goods are limited, land and talent are the key interests now.”
Cao Cao took it, scooping some tea leaves from the basin for a side question, “So…? Am I serving the tea leaves while you drink the final product?”
Qiao Yan laughed brightly, “Of course, we first deal with the leftovers, then separate the product.”
