Chapter 303

Chapter 303: Dividing the Land to Rule

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 9: The Plague of Drought and Locusts, Flying Troops to Liaodong, Chapter 303: Dividing the Land to Rule

First, remove the dregs, then share the results…

As Qiao Yan confidently spoke these words, she handed another spoon to Cao Cao.

This time, it wasn’t a slotted spoon, but a normal one for scooping milk tea from the ceramic pot.

At first glance, it seemed like she was saying that this was the context of her earlier statement—first skim off the dregs and foam from the pot, and what remains is the milk tea.

Since they were meeting here, it was only proper to follow the etiquette of hosting guests. As Qiao Yan mentioned, they were still under the alcohol restriction, so substituting wine with milk tea was acceptable.

But when this statement was made within Yu Province, and the person saying it explicitly mentioned the title of Grand Marshal in the invitation letter, there was an unspoken implication.

What Qiao Yan referred to as “dregs”—was it the used tea leaves in front of her, or Yuan Shu, who had quietly exited the stage in the recent upheaval in Yu Province?

Or perhaps something else that could interfere with the power transition in Yu Province, such as Yuan Shao, currently residing in Ye City, or the locust plague still ravaging Yu Province?

Qiao Yan didn’t clarify, simply placing the pot of milk tea, now free of dregs and foam, in front of Cao Cao, leaving him to interpret it himself.

Of course, taking her words literally was also fine.

In early May, the dry heat hadn’t yet peaked, so drinking hot tea was still pleasant.

The milk tea, brewed before Cao Cao arrived, wasn’t overly sweet. Poured into a cup, it cooled slightly from its boiling heat, and the lingering fragrance of the tea leaves helped calm the mind.

Cao Cao drank half a cup. Though he felt wine would have been more fitting for the occasion, since Qiao Yan herself seemed satisfied with her reasoning, there was little to criticize.

Just as he was about to set the cup down, Qiao Yan suddenly asked, “By the way, where’s Yuan Gonglu’s body? Why didn’t Brother Mengde bring it along?”

Cao Cao nearly choked.

Asking such a question while serving tea was truly something only she could do.

But considering she had once reduced Xiahou Dun to a lone commander and sent him a letter dressed in funeral clothes, Cao Cao had already experienced her shocking antics. Now, asking about Yuan Shu was almost expected.

Besides, the invitation had already hinted at this.

Still, Cao Cao had a rebellious streak and felt the need to maintain some dignity in this meeting.

Qiao Yan claimed she only brought one attendant, so Cao Cao decided to follow suit, rejecting Xiahou Dun and Cao Hong’s offers to accompany him and choosing only Xu Chu.

Bringing just one person and having him carry a corpse would have been strange.

Better to leave it behind.

However, Cao Cao didn’t explain this concern for appearances, instead replying, “Yuan Gonglu belonged to the Yuan Clan of Runan. Since he’s passed, he should be buried in Runan. Tracing his roots, he should return to Chen Commandery. Why insist on reuniting him with his son? It would only disturb his peace.”

Qiao Yan shook her head, holding her teacup. “Brother Mengde, you’re mistaken. Yuan Benchu once tried to move the Yuan Clan’s ancestral temple to Ye City to counter Yuan Gonglu’s claim that he wasn’t a true Yuan. Who’s to say that after Yuan Gonglu’s death, the dispute over the Yuan Clan’s lineage won’t resurface? That’s what I call disturbing the peace.”

This was hard to refute.

Cao Cao, having received substantial support from his own clan, couldn’t fully understand the rivalry between the Yuan brothers. But he had to admit, Qiao Yan’s point was plausible.

After a moment of thought, he continued, “The dead are gone. Yuan Benchu is a hero of our time; I doubt he’d do such a thing.”

Qiao Yan scoffed. “Calling Yuan Benchu a hero might make sense coming from someone like Gongsun Zan or Tao Qian, but from you, Brother Mengde, it’s quite amusing.”

“Without the Yuan Clan’s four generations of high-ranking officials and the support of scholars and generals from Hebei and Yingchuan, how could he have achieved his current status? Back in Luoyang, I once stopped him on the road and called him a gilded exterior with rotten insides. I’d say the same now.”

She paused, then added, “No, five years have passed. He might have had some looks back then, but now he’s just rotten through and through. Can’t even call him gilded anymore.”

Cao Cao coughed, relieved that only four people, including the two bodyguards, were present today. He hoped none of them would spread this conversation.

If Yuan Shao heard such words, he’d be furious.

Cao Cao didn’t need to ask who Qiao Yan considered a true hero. With her blunt way of speaking, who knew what she might say next—

“Gongsun is tyrannical, Liu Bei is pedantic, Yuan Shao is incompetent, Liu Biao is a fraud, Liu Yan can’t balance power, Sun Ce is reckless and arrogant. The only heroes in the world are you and me.”

If that got out, it would be far more damaging than calling Yuan Shao rotten.

Not to others, but to Cao Cao himself.

He quickly changed the subject. “Let’s talk business. Aside from reclaiming Yuan Shu’s body, you must have other matters to discuss with me, Yueshu.”

“Such as—Yu Province?”

If Qiao Yan came to Yingchuan just to give Cao Cao a return gift, seek justice for Yuan Shu, and reminisce with an old ally, that might convince a naive child, but not a seasoned man like Cao Cao.

She herself had said she didn’t act without benefit. Even if she once fought tirelessly for the Han dynasty, venturing to the frontiers, by now it wasn’t just youthful passion driving her.

Someone who rose to her position couldn’t rely solely on bravery. The three provinces under her rule, as depicted in the Leping Monthly Report, were proof of that.

Nor could she have so skillfully orchestrated the利益交换 at the Chang’an wine conference two years ago.

But if Cao Cao left empty-handed, it would underestimate his ambitions.

Qiao Yan’s gaze swept over the determination in Cao Cao’s eyes as she replied, “Since I’ve come personally, it’s indeed to discuss serious matters. Otherwise, a letter would have sufficed. No need to put myself in danger.”

“I won’t waste words. Some assumptions remain just talk without actual conflict. Chang’an is far, Yanzhou is near. If I said I wanted to compete with you for Runan, you wouldn’t believe me.”

“I’ll ask you one question: If I withdraw from Yingchuan immediately, would holding this place be a burden for you?”

Cao Cao was about to speak, but Qiao Yan cut him off. “I’ve been honest, so you should be too—land is always desirable. This isn’t about Han Xin leading troops.”

Cao Cao had indeed planned to respond that way, but now he had to hold his tongue.

A burden?

Yingchuan would certainly be difficult to hold.

Geographically, if Yingchuan fell into his hands, he’d have two more borders with neighboring regions, both currently hostile, increasing his military pressure.

That was the external trouble.

Internally, the Yingchuan scholars were a significant faction. Chang’an had Xun Yu, Xun You, Chen Qun, Chen Ji, Guo Jia, and Xi Zhicai. Yuan Shao had Guo Tu, Xin Pi, and Xin Ping. Cao Cao, on the other hand, only had Zhong Yao from this group, who had joined due to the drought in Yu Province.

This meant they could easily create internal problems for Cao Cao in Yingchuan.

But if he secured Yingchuan, aside from Pei State, still nominally under Liu Bei, the other counties would fall into his hands, allowing him to rule two provinces in practice, much like Yuan Shao.

Even if it was a burden, could he just abandon it?

With this in mind, Cao Cao didn’t answer directly. Instead, he scooped a ladle of the still-hot milk tea from the pot, poured it into his half-empty cup, and raised it to Qiao Yan, asking, “Is this a burden?”

Qiao Yan teased, “Brother Mengde, you’re quick to learn.”

First, she used the act of skimming tea dregs to express her stance on division. Now, Cao Cao used the hot-but-delicious analogy to show his reluctance to let go. It was indeed a case of learning on the spot.

But the world didn’t operate on wishful thinking.

Her gaze, previously gentle, now sharpened. “This burden isn’t the same as that one. I don’t need to explain it to you. With Chang’an stronger than Ye City, Yuan Benchu might yield benefits to you in Yanzhou, turning a blind eye to your dealings with the powerful families, but he won’t tolerate nurturing a potential rival.”

“If he lets you dominate Yanzhou and Yu Province, someone will inevitably ask: If Yuan Shao can support the Emperor in Ye City, why can’t Cao Mengde replace him?”

“Rather than risk pushing you toward Chang’an, he’d prefer to weaken your position in Yanzhou, cutting off your support.”

Cao Cao frowned.

Qiao Yan’s words weren’t mere scare tactics—they held truth. And because they made sense, Cao Cao had to hesitate.

He knew seizing Yu Province was both an opportunity and a risk.

Without the courage to face that risk, he wouldn’t have mobilized his troops.

But Qiao Yan’s tone didn’t seem to be urging him to retreat…








When he heard the meaning of the drum, he took the opportunity to say, “Ye Shu, just speak plainly.”

“If you want to avoid an imminent crisis, Brother Mengde has two choices,” Qiao Yan spoke unhurriedly. “First, head to Chang’an. Currently, Bingzhou, Liangzhou, along with most of Sili and Yizhou Hanzhong are under my control. Even if Mengde takes all of Yuzhou, it’s still three provinces against two. I have no reason to be jealous.”

“In the past, Mengde told me that becoming the Western Conqueror for the Han Dynasty would not betray his life’s ambitions. Now that Liangzhou is stable, the Western Conqueror title is unnecessary. How about becoming the Eastern Conqueror General instead?”

Cao Cao refused, “Let’s not talk about this. Just like Ye Shu probably won’t tell me now, what ultimate goal you, as a loyal subject, aim to achieve.”

Seeing Qiao Yan smile without speaking, her expression carrying a hint of inscrutable indifference, Cao Cao knew this was a question that wouldn’t be answered anytime soon. He then said, “Let’s talk about the other option.”

Qiao Yan spoke again, “Brother Mengde, take Runan and Chenjun, Liu Xuande takes Peiguo, and hand Yingchuan over to me.”

“Isn’t this the situation in Xuzhou that allows Liu Xuande to freely interact with the Xuzhou gentry?”

This statement left one momentarily at a loss for a rebuttal.

The situation of Xuzhou being divided by the Huai River is unfavorable to the Ye City court but an opportunity for Liu Bei.

Such a favorable situation requires specific conditions to support it.

The position of Xuzhou Governor conferred by the Chang’an court to Zhang Yi, and Zhang Yang stationed at Hailing, are all conditions that facilitate his current development.

If Qiao Yan occupies Yingchuan, creating a situation similar to Xuzhou, wouldn’t that also be a necessary prerequisite for Cao Cao spanning Yuzhou and Yanzhou?

In his hesitation, Qiao Yan added, “If Brother Mengde is willing to agree to my condition, I will have the Zhong family members from Yingchuan sent to Yanzhou, ensuring no trouble for Brother Mengde. I will also not hinder the coming and going of Yingchuan scholars. Moreover… I think I won’t be a difficult neighbor, especially under the current natural disaster situation.”

This last sentence actually hit Cao Cao’s sore spot more than the previous ones.

Before capturing Pingyu in Runan, he never expected that Runan, which should have better geographical conditions than Yanzhou, would not have accumulated enough grain in the government storehouse. This forced Cao Cao to abandon his original plan of using war spoils to promote unity within Yanzhou in the face of reality.

From this perspective, he really needs a closer neighbor to set an example.

The temperature of the tea cup in his hand gradually cooled during this negotiation, no longer as scalding as before.

Regardless of whether this can be considered a timely performance, Cao Cao had to admit that, although he still harbored ambitions for complete success, he was persuaded by Qiao Yan’s argument.

After another period of silence, he replied, “I can halt the advance on Yingchuan, but the Prefect of Yingchuan must be surnamed Yuan.”

Qiao Yan replied without hesitation, “Then let Yuan Yaoqing take this position.”

Cao Cao’s idea was nothing more than hoping this position wouldn’t go directly to Qiao Yan’s own people, and he could use Runan and Chenjun still in his hands to exert control. But whether they are truly his own people isn’t judged by today’s stance.

Qiao Yan is confident that, through this Yingchuan aid, talents like Yuan Huan are already in her pocket!

However, Cao Cao probably also has an idea about this.

What he didn’t expect was what Qiao Yan said as this meeting was about to end.

“By the way, since we’re reaching a division agreement, I should be honest with Brother Mengde and not keep hiding things, right?”

While directing Dian Wei to pack up the milk tea tools, Qiao Yan leisurely said to Cao Cao, “My coming to Yingchuan this time was purely accidental, so don’t regard me as some kind of clairvoyant deity.”

Hearing this, Cao Cao couldn’t help but twitch his eyelids, immediately thinking of the question he asked Chen Gong.

Qiao Yan continued, “The elite soldiers under my command, plus the manpower borrowed from the Xun family of Yingchuan, don’t even reach two thousand. There’s no such thing as dividing troops to harass the rear. If Brother Mengde had the courage earlier to directly attack Linying, perhaps Yingchuan would already be in your pocket, and I would have had to retreat.”

She disclosed her side’s weaknesses so frankly, without any fluctuation in her tone, making Cao Cao suddenly realize that this might have been her weakness and his only chance to attack Yingchuan, but now it’s no longer possible!

Sure enough, she then said, “Unfortunately, this best opportunity was fleeting. By the time Brother Mengde mobilizes his troops to Yingchuan, Liu Jingsheng’s forces from Jing Province should have already arrived from Nanyang, and my Guanzhong garrison has also reached Huanyuan Pass into Yu, stationed around Linying. In the competition over the Runan-Yingchuan area, although Brother Mengde and I are both from afar, I believe I have the upper hand.”

A look of frustration flashed across Cao Cao’s face.

To say he doesn’t covet the achievement of capturing the Grand Marshal of Chang’an would be a lie.

But since the opportunity has been missed, there’s no point in dwelling on such futile matters now.

He laughed, “Ye Shu, aren’t you afraid that I might immediately gather my subordinates and use our numerical advantage to capture you?”

Qiao Yan replied, “In the past, someone said, ‘The rage of a common man results in bloodshed within five steps.’ I am not a common man, but I do possess considerable martial prowess. Brother Mengde, would you like to test whether you and this strongman accompanying you can match me and General Dian?”

Cao Cao: “…”

This… let’s not compare.

Even ignoring Qiao Yan’s archery skills, just discussing martial prowess, Qiao Yan is in a league of her own among the various provincial governors.

Other achievements might rely on the support of subordinates, but the two expeditions against the Xianbei in the north truly test one’s physical endurance. Cao Cao couldn’t help but think that if such a task were assigned to him, he would likely fall ill from the forced marches.

Even if Xu Chu could luckily surpass Dian Wei, he would have already been defeated by Qiao Yan.

In the silence brought about by this comparison, Qiao Yan’s hearty laugh broke the stillness, “Since Brother Mengde has already made a judgment, please escort me for ten miles. I trust everyone else, but I’m not confident about Chen Gongtai’s ability to send troops in pursuit. We need to go a bit further.”

Xu Chu immediately responded, “Isn’t that just kidnapping?”

Just as he was about to roll up his sleeves to act, Dian Wei pressed down on his shoulder, “Calling it kidnapping sounds too harsh. It’s clearly my lord and your governor having a pleasant conversation, escorting each other for ten miles.”

Cao Cao was almost amused by Qiao Yan’s blend of honesty and shamelessness.

Dian Wei, an old acquaintance of his, who used to be a brute carrying Bo Cai and Liang Zhongning on his shoulders, has now become a master of cutting remarks, truly embodying the principle that one becomes like those they associate with.

He couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you taking Yuan Gonglu with you?”

Qiao Yan replied, “Host and guest enjoying themselves, forgetting everything else, left the gift behind. Please, Brother Mengde, send it to Linying later to complete this beautiful story.”

Cao Cao was momentarily speechless.

If Yuan Shu, who is already in the underworld, could jump out to clear his name, he would probably come to Qiao Yan to discuss whether he is a gift or a person.

But what can you do… As a hostage, and given that he and Yuan Shu didn’t have much of a relationship to begin with, there’s no need to feel too much sympathy for him.

Under the nervous glances of Cao Cao’s subordinates, Qiao Yan and Cao Cao calmly walked ten miles towards Yingchuan, discussing Cao Pi’s education at Leping Academy, before Qiao Yan mounted her horse and rode away with great flair.

Qiao Yan’s claim that her reinforcements had arrived was indeed not an empty boast to save face at the moment.

By the time Cao Cao had Yuan Shu’s body sent to Linying, two days had already passed since the meeting at Shen Pavilion outside Pingyu.

As the hearse carrying the governor’s body entered Linying, Cao Chun, who accompanied it, noticed that the well-trained soldiers in the area were not few. Besides the garrison on the city walls making the place seem impregnable, military camps had also been set up outside the city to accommodate the troops.

Upon inquiry, Cao Chun learned that Zhao Yun, originally stationed in Guanzhong, had arrived.

The Guanzhong garrison accompanying him numbered at least six thousand.

And don’t think this number is less than Cao Cao’s forces in Yuzhou.

These six thousand only need to defend Yingchuan, while Cao Cao has to be wary of Runan and Chenjun. Currently, most of Cao Cao’s troops are engaged in disaster relief efforts in Yuzhou.

After all, Yuzhou is both a coveted land and a mess left behind by Yuan Shu.

If it came to a battlefield confrontation, the cavalry Qiao Yan brought earlier, plus these six thousand reinforcements, would be more than enough, even giving Cao Cao a sense of pressure from a strong enemy nearby.

And that’s not all.

As Cao Chun was about to return after completing the handover, he saw another group heading towards Linying.

The leading general, upon reaching the city gate, loudly announced, “Huang Zhong from Nanyang, under orders from Governor Liu of Jing Province, has come to assist. Four thousand elite troops from Jing Province have arrived at Wuyang County, at the disposal of Marquis Qiao.”

Both pieces of news were reported to Cao Cao upon Cao Chun’s return to Pingyu.

Cao Cao couldn’t help but sigh, “In terms of boldness and meticulousness, there are few in the world who can match Qiao Ye Shu. She has also secured the most suitable capital for her to establish herself here.”

Cao Chun: “Then what should we do now…”

“Overthinking is futile and only brings unnecessary worries.” Cao Cao directly stopped Chen Gong’s attempt to apologize, saying, “Inform Ye City that Yingchuan is unattainable. As Qiao Ye Shu said, an incomplete Yuzhou is what we can potentially grasp.”

This is what they call, when the old man lost his horse, who could have guessed it was not a misfortune!