Chapter 457

Chapter 457

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Extra Extra Eight (1)

Book: Can a Strategist Not Ascend the Throne?

Chapter 457 Extra Eight (1)

(Historical Three Kingdoms characters transported to the Da Yong era)

In the 21st year of Jian’an, May, Liu Xie enfeoffed Cao Cao as the King of Wei, allowing him to handle affairs without submission, receiving edicts without bowing.

In the 23rd year of Jian’an, Liu Bei advanced his troops to Yangping Pass, intending to seize Hanzhong. Cao Cao personally led a large army to Chang’an, taking command of the Guanzhong region.

In the same year, border conflicts reignited. Cao Zhang and Tian Yu, under Cao Cao’s orders, led a northern expedition against the alliance of Wuhuan and Xianbei.

——————

The July heat in Chang’an was unusually oppressive.

In the first month of this year, the Imperial Physician Ling Ji Ben and his sons Ji Miao and Ji Mu, along with Minor Palace Geng Ji and Chancellor Si Zhi Wei Huang, attacked the camp of Chancellor Chang Shi Wang Bi. Xu Du was set ablaze at night.

Although Wang Bi and Yan Kuang suppressed the rebellion as quickly as possible, Wang Bi died from arrow wounds ten days after the rebellion. In a fit of rage, Cao Cao rushed to Xuchang and executed all those who had caused chaos under the guise of firefighting.

Half a year had passed since that disaster, and Cao Cao, now in Chang’an, still felt a lingering sense of indignation.

But what truly frustrated him was not the betrayal of the Imperial Physician Ling, but the situation in Hanzhong.

The defeat at Chibi dashed his hopes of eliminating Liu Bei and the Jiangdong regime in one fell swoop, even giving Liu Bei the opportunity to rise.

There was a saying, “Without Hanzhong, there is no Shu.” After Liu Bei used Jingzhou as a stepping stone to capture Shu, he would inevitably march north to attack Yizhou, aiming to seize Hanzhong and then plot against Guanzhong.

To prevent this scenario, three years ago, Cao Cao personally led a large army to attack Zhang Lu in Hanzhong, capturing Yangping Pass and forcing Zhang Lu to surrender.

Fortunately, the advantage in the war still lay on his side. Two years ago, he launched another southern expedition, attacking Ruxukou. This time, Sun Quan could not stop his advance and sent an envoy to surrender, forming a marriage alliance.

But this year, as his main forces withdrew from Hanzhong, Liu Bei immediately led a large army north.

Xiahou Yuan faced off against Liu Bei at Yangping Pass. Although he repeatedly repelled the enemy’s attacks, he was increasingly overwhelmed and had to request reinforcements from Cao Cao.

But it wasn’t just the defense of Hanzhong that was faltering; Cao Cao’s own health was also failing!

July was not a time for seasonal changes, but the intense heat seemed to exacerbate his migraines. At the deepest point of his drowsiness tonight, Cao Cao felt a sudden, extreme pain in his head, and the next moment, he lost consciousness.

This was not the first time such a symptom had occurred, but in that moment, Cao Cao couldn’t help but think: if he were to die from this illness now, would Cao Pi, who had just been promoted from the position of Middle General to Crown Prince of Wei last year, be able to uphold the legacy he left behind and negotiate with Liu Bei and Sun Quan?

And in the reality that the foundation of Wei and the Han Dynasty could hardly coexist, could Cao Pi achieve the goal of advancing further, as he, who styled himself as the “King Wen of Zhou,” had envisioned?

In Cao Pi’s seemingly reserved demeanor, Cao Cao could not discern any clues.

But if his lifespan was truly at its end, what concern did he have for what would happen after his death?

After an unknown period of darkness that completely engulfed him, Cao Cao finally regained consciousness.

But to his utter surprise, what appeared before his eyes was not the palace chamber in Chang’an where he had been, but a military tent.

Cao Cao: “…”

It was impossible that his subordinates had moved him from Chang’an to Hanzhong while he was still unconscious, to quickly support Xiahou Yuan.

Thinking this, he quickly pinched himself.

The pain in his leg made him realize that he was not in a dream but in a fully awake state.

Yet, everything from the furnishings around him to the smells in the air was completely different from before he lost consciousness!

Perhaps the only thing that felt familiar was that the surroundings still matched his aesthetic, and when he raised his hand to his face, he noticed a familiar scar on a hand that looked over a decade younger than before he fell asleep.

That was a scar left during the Battle of Changshe when he participated in the suppression of the Yellow Turban Rebellion!

This still seemed to be his body.

Had he somehow traveled back over a decade in a single sleep?

What was he doing back then?

If it was a military campaign, around the 10th year of Jian’an, he had pacified Ji Province and Qing Province, and after Yuan Shao’s death, he had conquered the forces under Yuan Tan, leading a personal expedition to Liaodong to completely resolve the Wuhuan issue.

Memories from over a decade ago felt somewhat blurry, making it hard for him to confirm if this was indeed the situation at that time.

Eager to determine his current location, Cao Cao didn’t care about anything else and immediately got out of bed, lifting the tent flap to step outside.

But as soon as he opened the unusually thick military tent, he saw a scene he had never witnessed before.

Rows of military tents were pitched on thick grassland, with only a cleared area around the tents. Further away from the camp, there were clusters of grazing grass.

Blocked by the surrounding tents, Cao Cao couldn’t see what lay beyond the camp, only catching a glimpse of snow-capped mountains piercing the sky in the distance.

With that one glance, Cao Cao suddenly realized that the sky above him was much clearer and bluer than what he was used to, and it seemed much closer than he had ever seen!

This daily change in the sky’s appearance would never fade from his memory, making him absolutely certain that he was not in any place he could name!

Years of navigating the treacherous waters of politics and the struggles among warlords had taught Cao Cao to keep his emotions in check, not showing any on his face.

The soldiers guarding outside the tent stood solemnly with long spears, merely calling out “General Cao,” not noticing that their superior had changed.

But before Cao Cao could change out of his sleepwear and explore further, he heard a distant call of “Father.”

Turning towards the source of the voice, he saw a man in his thirties, holding a helmet, striding towards him.

That one glance struck Cao Cao like a bolt of lightning, freezing him in place.

The man’s appearance was indeed different from what he remembered, but the contours of his eyes and brows still bore a striking resemblance to the past.

Cao Cao had no doubt that if his eldest son, who had died in the Battle of Wancheng, had lived to this age, he would look exactly like the man before him!

The man’s steps were steady, his demeanor that of a seasoned general. Though he lacked the youthful vigor of the past, he matched exactly what Cao Cao had imagined countless times in his midnight reveries.

This made Cao Cao instinctively call out “Zixiu” as the man approached.

Cao Ang, unaware that his father had changed overnight, simply smiled and said, “Father, did you sleep too deeply? His Majesty, hearing that you were attacking Cangyuan and encountering resistance from the Tangmo and Fa Qiang tribes, sent reinforcements. Since Hanzhong is secure, he allowed me to come along, giving you a chance to see your son after so many years.”

As Cao Ang pushed Cao Cao back into the tent, he added, “It’s a pity the altitude sickness here is unbearable, otherwise I would have brought your grandchildren to meet you here.”

Cao Cao was utterly bewildered.








What Your Majesty, what Tang Mao and Fa Qiang?

Why would his son, who should have been dead for over twenty years, suddenly talk about coming to support from Hanzhong, and even mention the unfortunate high-altitude sickness, saying that otherwise, he would have brought his son and daughter along?

With just a few words, Cao Cao’s brain was about to turn into mush.

It was his strong psychological resilience, which remained unshaken even in the face of a collapsing mountain, that kept him from showing any signs of distress at this moment. Instead, he casually asked, “How is your mother?”

Cao Ang’s birth mother had passed away early, and he had been raised by Lady Ding.

Based on his own physical condition and Cao Ang’s age, Cao Cao judged that if time had indeed rolled back ten years, Lady Ding should not have passed away yet. Since she had never followed the army, she should not be here either. Thus, this was a relatively safe question, and one that would allow Cao Cao to further probe the situation.

However, even though Cao Cao had prepared himself mentally, he never expected to hear from Cao Ang: “Mother has been appointed by His Majesty as one of the examiners for this year’s imperial examination. She will be in seclusion for the next six months. I didn’t see her when I passed through Sili, and I already mentioned this to you yesterday, didn’t I?”

At this point, Cao Ang glanced suspiciously at Cao Cao, puzzled as to why this question would come from his father.

But perhaps because his father’s tone, though slightly changed, still carried the usual demeanor of a father-son conversation, it didn’t strike him as particularly odd. He reached out to feel Cao Cao’s forehead, finding no signs of fever, and sighed in relief. “Father, if you’re feeling unwell, it’s best to call the physician early. Last year, Yuanhua went to Qinghai Commandery and should have screened the camp physicians again. You shouldn’t think these young people are incompetent just because of their age.”

“If you fall ill again like two years ago, refusing to see a doctor, I reckon His Majesty won’t let you take on this Western Expedition role.”

Cao Cao: “…”

Since waking up, not a single piece of news has been within his expectations.

This scene, so real and without any flaws, made Cao Cao completely convinced that this couldn’t be someone’s prank.

But with just these few words, he could already confirm that the “His Majesty” from Cao Ang’s mouth could not possibly be Emperor Liu Xie!

Liu Xie, placed in Xudu as a mere figurehead, no matter how much imperial authority the Han dynasty bestowed upon him or how clever his ideas, could never surpass Cao Cao to the point of making Cao Ang say, “His Majesty won’t let you take on such and such position.”

What kind of place is he in?

What kind of situation is he facing!

As his mind was in complete turmoil, Cao Ang pressed him onto a stool inside the tent.

Completely unaccustomed to sitting on such a high stool, Cao Cao was startled and immediately pulled back his scattered thoughts. As he turned his head, he faced a mirror.

It wasn’t a bronze mirror, but a rare piece of transparent glass with a layer of silver coating, reflecting his image clearly.

The reflection showed a version of himself that was over a decade younger, looking even more spirited than twenty years ago, giving Cao Cao a sense of overwhelming unfamiliarity. Especially with Cao Ang also appearing in the mirror, it evoked an indescribable feeling.

Knowing that he would only make more mistakes if he spoke further, Cao Cao could only follow up on Cao Ang’s words: “I must have been muddled from sleep. You’re right, I must have been muddled. This is what happens when you get old.”

Cao Ang handed the hair crown to Cao Cao, replying, “You’re only in your early fifties. Neither Cheng Zhongshu nor Jia Qingzhou have called themselves old. You’re even younger than them by a few years, even a decade or more. How can you admit to being old now?”

“His Majesty has said that although we currently only have Qinghai Commandery, since the war supplies come from Liangzhou, it’s also under Liangzhou’s jurisdiction. But if we can reclaim Cangyuan, especially pacifying Tang Mao and Fa Qiang, this area should have one or two more commanderies added. We might as well establish a new Western Province, just like how Liaodong was opened as Sui Province.”

“In your memorial from the year before last, you even said that if there were to be a Western Province, you would be its first Governor, which would better suit your ambitions for the Western Expedition than the title of General of the Chariots and Cavalry. How can you say you’re old now?”

Even though he was still inside the tent, Cao Cao felt like he was about to lose his mind in the wind!

If he wasn’t mistaken, the Cheng Zhongshu and Jia Qingzhou mentioned by Cao Ang, judging by the age range of being a few years to over a decade older than him, could only be Cheng Yu and Jia Xu among the people he knew.

But Jia Xu, after persuading Zhang Xiu to rejoin in the Battle of Wancheng, had mastered the art of self-preservation. Before Cao Cao lost consciousness, he had even shut himself off due to the succession dispute, only hinting that the eldest should not be replaced by the younger. Why is he now the Governor of Qingzhou or Qingzhou’s Prefect??

And the name Sui Province in Liaodong, from the information Cao Ang revealed, didn’t seem like it was carved out from Youzhou, but rather like a new territory acquired and added.

Which emperor of the Han dynasty could possibly have such capability to rule the world!

Cao Cao didn’t believe in gods or ghosts, but if by now he hadn’t realized that he had arrived in a different world with a divergent history from his original one, he would be unworthy of the title of King of Wei.

Maintaining a composed expression, he dressed properly and, taking advantage of Cao Ang’s inattention, flipped through a few pages of the “his own” bedside campaign notes, confirming that today was indeed the day to march.

To avoid missing the battle opportunity and to prevent others from noticing anything unusual, Cao Cao directly handed over the command to Cao Ang, saying he wanted to see how much he had improved over the years.

Cao Ang immediately took over, and together with the even more carefree Cao Hong, they mobilized the soldiers in the camp.

As the entire army set out, Cao Cao watched the unfamiliar scene unfold before him, finally seeing the outside world.

On the Cangyuan plateau west of Liangzhou, there was a landscape far less touched by human hands than Liaodong.

And when these fully armored soldiers, even more finely equipped than Cao Cao’s own elite troops, faced off against the distant Qiang forces under Cao Ang’s leadership, the vast difference between the two sides was evident without the need for further words.

But at this moment, Cao Cao did not see Cao Ang give the order for the vanguard to attack. Instead, after a brief conversation with Cao Hong, they wheeled out a strange iron tube from the rear.

Before he could clearly see what it was, the ignited iron tube emitted a deafening roar.

In the burst of flames, a black-red iron ball traced a fiery arc across the sky, crossing the distance between the two armies in a way that was utterly unstoppable, and heavily smashed into the enemy’s camp!

Regardless of whether the enemy was thrown into chaos by this sudden attack, Cao Cao instinctively turned his horse around, ready to retreat and run, lest he be caught in the fallout of this thing more terrifying than a trebuchet.

However, the surrounding troops clearly gave him no chance to retreat.

Just as he made the move, Cao Ang turned back, looking at Cao Cao in confusion: “Father?”

Author’s note:

Cao Cao: What is this thing ahhhhhhh! (I need to stay calm)

① In “Romance of the Three Kingdoms,” he was named Ji Ping, but in historical records, his name was Ji Ben. Seen in “Records of the Three Kingdoms: Book of Wei: Biography of Emperor Wu.”

Cao Cao historically died in the 25th year of Jian’an.

Choosing to time-travel in the 23rd year gives the Three Kingdoms figures some room to change history.

The Battle of Dingjun Mountain, where Xiahou Yuan died, occurred in the 24th year of Jian’an.

Guan Yu died in the 24th year of Jian’an—

(This book’s origin: Dragon and Phoenix Interconnection)