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“Can a strategist not claim the throne?”
Chapter 397: Four Paths Advance Together
The decisive message delivered from the mouth of a child who barely knew a handful of characters brought an inexplicable shock.
She didn’t know who Cao Cao was, nor who Zhang Miao was, and she had no clue how crucial this message was to Cao Cao at that moment.
All she knew was that since Cao Cao stationed himself in Dong Commandery after the Dong Zhuo rebellion, Zao Zhi, who had been appointed as the屯田校尉, had gained significant leverage under Cao Cao, developing local agriculture. Apart from supplying military rations for the Yanzhou army, the locals’ farming skills had also been specially guided by Zao Zhi and his subordinates.
Thus, she understood well that Zao Zhi had bestowed upon them the gift of knowledge, deserving of the title “fatherly official.”
If this unidentified general needed her to deliver a message to someone else, she might have hesitated—especially if it had Xiahou Yuan’s name on it; to her, it would have been like reading an alien script.
But at that moment, the two characters “屯田” written on the paper were something she recognized, pointing to someone she considered safe.
Her father hesitated for a moment before making a decision, “There’s a rejected horse in the neighboring village. It’s not suitable for the battlefield, but it can still run errands. Let’s go! Since it’s that屯田校尉, let’s take a gamble!”
When someone needs to trust information to a child for identification, even if there might be alternatives, the danger level was undoubtedly high. If this person was indeed acquainted with Zao Zhi, it was only right to help them, especially given their agricultural yield over the past few years relied on Zao’s guidance!
They had no idea if they could deliver the message in time, but ignoring it altogether didn’t sit right with their conscience, especially considering how they survived calamity years.
Fortunately, just as dawn broke, they successfully arrived at Puyang City and, after informing that they needed to see Zao Zhi urgently, handed Cao Cao’s letter to him.
The letter, originally folded into a bundle and then refolded, seemed a bit mismatched for someone of Cao Cao’s stature as the governor of Yanzhou, but the moment Zao Zhi opened the letter, he could confirm it was indeed Cao Cao’s handwriting.
Upon seeing the contents of the letter, his expression changed dramatically. After ensuring the father and daughter who delivered the message were settled, he rushed straight toward the Yanzhou government office.
Hearing what was in the letter, Xiahou Yuan slapped the table in anger, “How dare Chen Gongtai act like this! And that Zhang Mengzhu is also an unreasonable fellow, actually teaming up with the Yanzhou clans for this kind of scheme!”
Xiahou Yuan completely dismissed the idea that this message was some sort of trick.
This bizarre method of communication was truly unheard of.
Cao Cao using such unconventional means to send messages could only indicate the situation had escalated to a troublesome level.
However, this news was indeed troubling.
Chen Gong and Zhang Miao’s betrayal and the Yanzhou clans’ defection—if it reached Qiao Yan’s command, it equated to Cheng Yu and the Han Dynasty’s royal family joining forces. For someone like Qiao Yan with vast territory, it would be already tough to handle, let alone Cao Cao who only held Yanzhou and Yuzhou.
Xiahou Yuan was usually brave and loyal, if a bit careless, and had been cautioned several times by Cao Cao to act prudently. If he could remain calm upon hearing about the current situation in Yanzhou, he should probably be called a sage.
“This isn’t a time to get angry,” Man Chong said, “Fortunately, the lord noticed Chen Gongtai’s unusual movements first and took the initiative into his own hands. Had Chen Liu been directly hit by the inside-outside coordination from Zhang Mengzhu and Chen Gongtai, that would have been a disaster.”
“However, there’s no need to mention Chen Gongtai’s reputation and connections in Yanzhou; it’s hard to know how many of the lord’s own troops have been swayed. Our options are limited.”
Xiahou Yuan glanced at Man Chong, recalling Cao Cao’s mention of leaving the state affairs decision-making to Man Chong before his departure and recognizing that Man Chong had indeed been recommended by Chen Gong. He felt a bit impulsive wanting to grab Zao Zhi by the scruff and ask why no adjustments were made to notify only those closely related to Cao Cao who would certainly heed his orders.
But remembering that Man Chong had demonstrated his steadfastness and wisdom these past years, which was indeed much more reliable than his own brain, and with Cao Cao’s delegation before leaving, he really had nothing to say.
When he looked at Man Chong, he found him meeting his gaze with a righteous and dignified demeanor. Realizing this wasn’t the time for them to bicker, he suppressed his indignation.
“I beg Mr. Bening to outline what we should do now.”
Seeing Xiahou Yuan’s mood had settled somewhat, Man Chong felt a little relieved, knowing that cooperation at this moment was far more critical than rushing to mobilize troops. He continued, “The lord’s troops are not entirely positioned in Dong Commandery. We can only utilize Generals Xiahou and Cao Zixiao for now. We need at least three units moving, counting the garrison, that makes four.”
Xiahou Dun had remained in Yuzhou since his defeat in Yingchuan. It’s uncertain whether he was searching for a way to redeem himself from Qiao Yan.
Half a year earlier, after Cao Chun escorted Cao Cao during that meeting at Hulao Pass, since Cao Cao couldn’t determine if Qiao Yan would breach the previous agreement made between Yingchuan and Runan, he had sent Cao Chun over.
Cao Hong, Cao Ang, and Xu Chu were all in Cao Cao’s army during the campaign against Hulao Pass.
The troops from the Li clan of Juyè were in Yanzhou’s Taishan County, alongside Yu Jin, who had been unearthed by Cao Cao managing to keep their guard against Qiao Yan’s deployment in Xuzhou to prevent any sudden incursions.
This way, the only ones left in Dong Commandery were indeed Xiahou Yuan and Cao Ren.
Cao Ren asked, “Which four routes are we considering?”
“One team will naturally go to assist the eldest son and General Zilian,” the lord clearly stated in the letter, “He has arranged a rescue mission with the eldest son for three days, and now a day has already passed. We must send troops urgently without any hesitation.”
Cao Ren nodded, “That’s obvious.”
Cao Ang was trained as Cao Cao’s successor, and Cao Hong was a close cousin; there was no way they could be put in danger.
“This unit, in my view, should route north of Bai Ma and Yan County, approaching Suanzai from the northwest, pretending to be the Luoyang forces making a surprise attack during our internal strife. The leading general must not be one familiar to the Chen Liu garrison, like Generals Xiahou or Cao.”
Xiahou Yuan frowned, “But just now, you clearly said the only generals capable of mobilizing from Dong Commandery are you and Zixiao?”
“While that’s true, it would be more precise to say that you two are the only ones explicitly entitled to lead troops. But it doesn’t mean there are only two people under the lord.” Man Chong spoke with a solemnity that naturally carried convincing weight, “Let’s not forget, once the lord escapes from Zhang Mengzhu, we still have a chance to counterattack. Under circumstances where they can’t ascertain the final result, the garrison remaining in Chen Liu won’t be pursued to the point of their entire force being exposed. This gives us room to maneuver!”
Before Xiahou Yuan could ask further questions, Man Chong continued, “I would like to request Zao Yu and Xianzhen to oversee this reinforcements.”
The Xianzhen are actually 乐进, who was recruited by Cao Cao during the talent scouting in Dong Commandery; though he was small in stature and unlike the typical imposing generals, because of his uncommon bravery, Cao Cao promoted him to a military officer under his banner.
Due to the lack of battles in Yanzhou, 乐进 was assigned to assist Zao Zhi as one of the deputies, specially responsible for selecting suitable local militia from among the farmers for training, thus known as the “Trap General.”
However,乐进’s troops were far from well-trained and couldn’t match a battle-tested regular army, yet their bravery and loyalty were not to be doubted. He was indeed a great candidate as a general for the mission of support.
What was crucial was that 乐进 did not hail from any Yanzhou noble family and had gained Cao Cao’s favor, carrying a deliberate ambition to achieve merit, making it necessary to rescue Cao Ang and Cao Hong from their predicament, requiring such resolve.
Cao Ren pondered for a moment and replied, “I think this choice is appropriate.”
By Man Chong’s account of the four military units, the one he proposed would bear the lightest responsibility.
Having been in the military for years, he was well-acquainted with 乐进’s capabilities.
Cao Cao had not entrusted him with high positions before but repeatedly assigned him tasks like military drills and anti-banditry, intending undoubtedly to let him exert his effectiveness at the right time—today indeed was that time!
Should they really wait until they were pushed out of the Yanzhou territory by those pretentious noble families before giving him the opportunity to shine?
Seeing Cao Ren’s agreement, Xiahou Yuan also gave a nod of approval, and Man Chong continued, “The second unit will go to rescue the lord. The lord should be somewhere between Watting and Puyang, and Zhang Mengzhu and his forces accompanying him aren’t overly many, so the focus isn’t on annihilating them but on safely extricating the lord from their grasp. It’s all about adaptability. This mission shouldn’t involve General Cao or General Xiahou.”
He pointed to himself, “I will undertake this task.”
Cao Ren gritted his teeth.
The safety of Cao Cao was undoubtedly the top priority in the current situation, and this rescue should not be entrusted to outsiders.
But just as Man Chong had said, this rescue clearly could not rely on brute force; otherwise, Cao Cao would not need this sort of messaging method and could just gallop directly toward Puyang City!
Zhang Miao had seen Cao Hong and Xiahou Yuan, but had never encountered Man Chong—having him do it was certainly more fitting.
He reassured himself that he might as well listen to what Man Chong argued about the necessity of mobilizing forces over rescuing Cao Cao before voicing his counterarguments—there was no rush.
Exactly so.
Man Chong saw through Cao Ren’s thoughts without exposing them verbally. He continued, “For the third and fourth units, the two generals may decide who will lead.”
“If we wait until after rescuing the lord to suppress this, the panic from the Yanzhou rebellion will definitely spread across the counties, putting us at a disadvantage. I request a general to immediately deploy towards Jiyin and Dingtao to control the main routes toward Chen Liu. If there are any unusual activities, seize those involved directly. If the situation turns unfavorable in Suanzai, we can retreat to this location and wait for the chance to counterattack.”
Cao Ren seemed to contemplate, “Then the troop placement here will serve as a coordination point.”
“Exactly,” Man Chong replied. “If we manage this intermediary position well, we might still ensnare anyone in Yanzhou responding to Chen Gongtai’s rebellion. As for how to handle that, we’ll leave it to the lord’s discretion.”
“Now, for the last unit, I have a question for you all—”
“With the new Da Yong rising in Chang’an, how much attention will the Ye City court focus on us?”
Even Xiahou Yuan, who wasn’t particularly strategic, had to admit that this attention would undoubtedly not be trivial!
Yuan Shao either needed to quickly ascertain if Cao Cao stood on the same front or eliminate him if he sensed any tendency of defection toward Qiao Yan—aiding him was out of the question.
It had been several days since Ye City received news of Qiao Yan’s ascension, and as long as Yuan Shao possessed a functioning brain, he wouldn’t just sit idle at this moment.
Who can guarantee they haven’t started mobilizing their forces to stabilize internally now?
Seeing Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan revealing hints of worry and hesitation, almost arriving at an answer, Man Chong followed up, “Before the lord makes any decisions, please have the final general cross the Great River northward, directly reaching Dong Wuyang and promptly set up northern defenses.”
“Before I welcome the lord back to Puyang, we must not allow Yuan Benchu’s forces any chance to breach our borders!”
Cao Ren slapped the table, “This plan is feasible. If the lord and Zhang Mengzhu happened to avoid your search, support from the Dong Wuyang area could indeed fill the gaps.”
“`
“In Cao Ren’s eyes, this should be called a good action.”
The reason why these noble families from Yanzhou might rebel against Cao Cao wasn’t explicitly stated in the letter he sent to Zao Zhi, but Cao Ren could still guess the gist of it.
The Cao family from Pei State was indeed lacking when compared to those pristine noble families.
This stain on their identity couldn’t just be wiped away by Cao Cao taking control of Yanzhou, Yu Province, and being promoted to General of the Chariots and Cavalry.
In fact, in the hearts of these Yanzhou noble youngsters, the very fact that Cao Cao was in this position was closely tied to their support.
Even those western Liang rascals knew to pick a gentleman to lead them as a face for their rebellion; that group of nobles in Yang Province looked down on Sun Ce, the military governor who was skilled in battle, and even contributed to his downfall; so what about Yanzhou?
If they had to choose between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao as the leader of Yanzhou, they would undoubtedly find a thousand reasons to pick Yuan.
But this isn’t about their loyalty to the Han Dynasty; it’s merely a tactic to secure their own interests—let’s cut out the grandiloquent rhetoric!
Unfortunately, while Cao Ren understood this issue well, Cao Cao had already strictly ordered him not to express any opinions outwardly.
This wariness was just the way of things.
Cao Ren looked at Man Chong with a touch of approval in his gaze.
That Chen Gong fellow wasn’t worth a penny, actually betraying Cao Cao at such a crucial moment, putting him in a tight spot, while he recommended someone who seemed capable in judicial matters, truly a genius in military strategy.
If Cao Ren were to analyze this matter, he could never cover all the angles and act on all four routes simultaneously.
Luckily, without Chen Gong around, they still had Man Bo Ning!
“Furthermore, Puyang City should still have someone stationed there,” Man Chong said thoughtfully. “It’s dawn now; our assembly shouldn’t be noticed by most. But troop movements will surely leak information.”
“While moving the soldiers, we must also secure the remnants of Chen Gong’s old department in the city to prevent chaos.”
“This person should ideally have enough prestige and wisdom.”
Cao Ren asked without hesitation, “Where on earth can we find such a person now?”
If such a person existed, they should have popped up during the assignment of duties; why wait until now?”
But the next moment he heard Man Chong confidently say, “Of course there are. I was just referring to those apt for battle. I never said we were limited to that!”
“Let Lady Ding take command, with Lady Bian assisting her. How’s that sound?”
Lady Ding is Cao Cao’s original wife and Cao Ang’s adoptive mother.
Anyone in Cao Cao’s old department that still harbors loyalty to him wouldn’t possibly ignore her orders with Lady Ding in command.
This Lady Ding, having the right fierce determination, should represent Cao Cao in conveying a reassuring attitude to the soldiers and citizens during such perilous times.
As for Lady Bian, she is the mother of Cao Pi and Cao Zhang. She was mentioned when Qiao Lan and Qiao Ting decided to escape the Qiao family; during Dong Zhuo’s turmoil, Lady Bian accompanied the troops and gathered Cao Cao’s family and remnants after Cao Cao fled Luoyang, ensuring they all exited safely without falling into enemy hands—a meticulous and wise woman.
Though it seems a bit odd for two ladies to manage the city’s affairs instead of generals, everyone present had to acknowledge that this was indeed the best solution.
“Brilliant,” Cao Ren looked at Xiahou Yuan and said, “Both of them need to be informed and must depart right away. Let’s go explain the situation to the two ladies and persuade them to take on this role.”
This statement clearly revealed his agreement.
Seeing Xiahou Yuan nod, Man Chong immediately responded, “Alright, we’ll do that! I and Zao Xiaowei will mobilize the troops, and we must set off before dawn.”
All arrangements were set, and amidst this sudden upheaval, Cao Cao had done everything he could to adapt; they too must quickly fulfill their roles and cover any gaps, ensuring no delays.
But as they scattered and exited the state governor’s door, Zao Zhi couldn’t help but sigh, burdened by the weight of the mission to send troops to Chenliu.
“Zao Xiaowei needn’t be so worried,” Man Chong, walking alongside him, noticed this and offered reassurance.
As soon as he finished speaking, he pointed to a direction, “Look over there.”
Zao Zhi followed his finger and noticed that the two messengers he had sent hadn’t paused as he had instructed; instead, they were looking toward them from a distance, seemingly wondering about the outcome of their message and whether they could return home to their fields.
He hurriedly explained a few more things to the two, and upon seeing him, they seemed convinced and followed the attendants out of sight.
“Some things just can’t be faked, like the look these two had while staring at you,” Man Chong said, interrupting Zao Zhi as he continued to gaze at their departing figures.
Zao Zhi froze a bit, “You have a point.”
Man Chong chuckled, “But look at those trying to drag your lord down; they don’t understand this. For them, these humble farmers scattered everywhere can’t impact higher-level confrontations at all. Little do they know, that Son of Heaven of Da Yong in Chang’an has already set an example—what the people wish for is the true path forward.”
At just the right moment, Cao Cao grasped this truth, effectively spreading the message.
A sudden lightness washed over Zao Zhi, and a smile crept onto his face, “Yeah, winning is indeed possible only when the people’s hearts are with you.”
From the expressions of the two people, he could clearly see in their silent message that his years of contributions in Yanzhou had not been in vain.
Not only had he stockpiled food in warehouses for this year’s urgent needs, but he had also built the people’s confidence and reliance on them.
This confidence finally blossomed on this spring day, becoming an undeniable force.
When Cao Cao decided to write about the situation with the Tuntian Colonel in his letter, what exactly was he thinking?
Probably not just that his cotton business hadn’t lost money.
Thinking of this, Zao Zhi, responsible for the land reclamation, said with a surge of bravado, “With your words, if I can’t bring back the Young Master and General Cao Zilian, I’ll bring you my head!”
“What do I need your head for…” Man Chong couldn’t help but retort, “Let me offer you two bits of advice—”
“One is, during the windy spring days, use fire to minimize casualties as much as possible. Since there’s already a rebellion from the Yanzhou noble families, our manpower is already strained, so we needn’t hesitate against those who were once our allies.”
Zao Zhi nodded.
At times like this, kindness is not only useless but might even extend the sudden rebellion across Yanzhou. It’s better to suppress it quickly.
Losing the forces of Zhang Miao and Zhang Chao, the ripples stirred by the remaining families would surely be greatly diminished.
“The second is, be careful toward Hulao Pass. Even though I said to have you pretend to be troops coming from Luoyang, I do worry about…”
Man Chong sighed suddenly, looking toward the west.
Over the years, Qiao Yan’s achievements in attacking various states were not only remarkable in military strength but also exceptional in her intelligence network.
It might really be best described as “outstanding.”
Since the other families still can’t fully grasp her channels and methods of communication, they could only watch as she repeatedly achieved unexpected victories using information advantage.
Now, with a day passed since the upheaval in Yanzhou, did the Luoyang garrison inside Hulao Pass truly remain oblivious?
Maybe not!
But if Chen Gong has stirred the Yanzhou soldiers’ rebellion, the involvement of Yuan Shao from the north would surely give them a headache. If you added Qiao Yan into the mix—
Man Chong would feel that instead of talking about how various factions have their own warriors to maintain control, it might be better to just surrender outright.
However, there was really no need to mention such things to Zao Zhi, especially not to the hot-headed Xiahou Yuan and Cao Ren.
As he thought this, he suddenly heard Zao Zhi replying, “You told me not to worry, and today you’re the one fretting. Let’s get moving already. Don’t let it be the case that by the time I’ve reached the area of Suanzao, you still haven’t brought your lord back.”
“Don’t say that,” Man Chong replied, “Let’s hope we all have good news!”
Indeed, it was useless to think further; instead, they should focus on bringing back Cao Cao.
Of course, in Cao Cao’s letter, he wrote that he had years of friendship with Zhang Miao. If this letter successfully reached Zao Zhi, it meant he was in a relatively safe state.
But such friendships are the most unreliable things to bet on!
If we’re talking about friendships, Yuan Shao and Cao Cao are old acquaintances!
And just as Man Chong speculated, Yuan Shao had already set out from Ji Province and was nearing the borders of Ji and Yanzhou.
The borders between Ji Province and Yanzhou are somewhat special; it’s not a strict boundary line, which is why Man Chong suggested a troop station at Dong Wuyang, not at some river or mountain boundary.
Two hundred years ago during Wang Mang’s new policies, there was a breach in the Yellow River.
This breach pushed the Yellow River, originally on the boundary between Ji Province and Yanzhou, further into Yanzhou territory, and due to Wang Jing’s efforts to manage the river, along with the new river’s course now being more suitable for the Yellow River’s flow, this new river passage has now been fixed, with only slight remnants of the old course still visible.
As Yuan Shao rode on, the moment he crossed this hidden boundary, he gazed south with an unspoken ambition.
He told Xu You about his trip to Yanzhou, affirming that Cao Cao must not turn traitor at this moment, solidifying this alliance.
Yet, he couldn’t help but have a fleeting thought when he received news of Qiao Yan’s ascendance—
If he could incorporate Yanzhou into the territory he holds, wouldn’t he no longer be limited to just Ji and Qing Provinces?
Yanzhou, Xuzhou, and Yu Province are almost connected; holding such resources in this clash of powers would eliminate his fears of Qiao Yan!
As a result, he felt he should take advantage of Bingzhou’s vulnerability to strike while appearing to be on the offensive but actually fleeing into Yanzhou!
The Yellow River could change course; why couldn’t he leverage Yanzhou’s resources to strengthen himself, providing a renewed chance for the Han Dynasty, which was threatened by the rise of the Da Yong dynasty?
With that thought, Yuan Shao commanded his disguised merchant attendants, “Let’s pick up the pace, and don’t forget your identities.”
After saying this, he addressed Xu You who was with him, “Once we cross the river at Dong Wuyang and settle at Cang Ting, I’ll trouble you to head west for me.”
Yuan Shao was well aware of the instability factors within Yanzhou.
One was the noble forces stirring within Yanzhou.
The other was the influential group in Chenliu, second only to Cao Cao.
It would be best for Yuan Shao to personally reach out to the nobles.
Observing whether any discord arose in Chenliu due to Cao Cao’s retreat and Qiao Yan’s ascension was a forte of strategists like Xu You.
But at this moment, he wasn’t the only strategist keeping an eager eye on Chenliu land.
Guo Jia stood atop the Hulao Pass, displaying an amused expression as he gazed toward the mountain path that led to Yanzhou.
Today, a secret letter from Qiao Yan was delivered to his desk.
It contained a line—
“Those who resist will die.”
If Yanzhou were to be conquered, would these stubborn noble forces be the very ones resisting?
