Chapter Eighty: Yuan Shu’s Invitation

Upon arriving at the camp, Cao Hong did not linger. He immediately ordered Shi A to mobilize the troops. Aside from the two thousand seasoned soldiers under Chen Wen’s command, the remaining thirteen thousand were untrained laborers. To require them to march long distances clad in armor and bearing halberds was simply unrealistic; after all, the armor itself was heavy, and under such a burden, these untrained men could never maintain formation. Besides, Cao Hong had over ten thousand livestock to drive along. Therefore, only Chen Wen’s two thousand soldiers were equipped with thirty tempered ring-hilted swords and long halberds, in addition to the lamellar armor they already wore. The other thirteen thousand marched lightly, unencumbered.

All the tempered ring-hilted swords, iron-spined spears, crossbows, and bolts were loaded onto four-wheeled carts drawn by the livestock. Fifty county soldiers from Xiangyi remained on horseback. As for Sheng Meizhen’s carriage, it was surrounded by a crowd of servants who had chosen to accompany Cao Hong north. The Qiao sisters joined Sheng Meizhen in the same vehicle.

Cao Xiu, Cao Hong’s nephew, rode alongside Sheng Meizhen’s carriage. Cao Hong, fearing that Cao Xiu—raised in the south—might not be accustomed to riding, had arranged this so that the boy could rest beside the driver if he grew tired. Soon enough, however, Cao Hong realized his precautions were unnecessary. Cao Xiu’s horsemanship was superb, surpassing even the fifty county soldiers from Xiangyi who had grown up in the north. Most importantly, he was gifted with naturally strong and slender legs—ideal for riding. If Cao Chun were to train him, in time, he would surely become a master horseman.

The column traveled by land toward Lujiang, for the waterways of Lake Tai could not possibly bear such a multitude. Thus, they would enter Yuzhou from Lujiang.

After leaving Wu County and traveling more than ten li, a lone rider galloped up beside Cao Hong, calling out, “Zilian! Zilian, wait! Wait!”

Cao Hong turned and saw, to his surprise, Gu Yong. Spurring his horse, he rode out to meet him and asked, “Yuantan, what brings you here?”

Gu Yong smiled and said, “I’m glad I caught you in time.” He drew from his bosom a lustrous jade qilin pendant and smiled: “Zilian, do you remember our childhood vow? Whichever of us had a son first, the other would become his godfather. I heard from Lord Sheng that Meizhen is with child, so I rushed here to give a token to my godson.”

He handed the jade pendant to Cao Hong, who gazed at it, then at the handsome youth before him. Moved, Cao Hong understood Gu Yong’s meaning. Cao Hong had sold all his property, staking everything on this venture; his actions declared he would succeed or perish. Gu Yong’s gift carried two messages:

First, if you—Cao Hong—are defeated, do not seek death for honor’s sake; remember, you now have a child.

Second, I—Gu Yong—am your child’s godfather. No matter what happens, the Gu family is his support. As long as my family stands, should you ever return to Yangzhou, you may rise again.

Receiving the pendant, Cao Hong solemnly clasped his fist in salute to Gu Yong atop his horse. “Yuantan, thank you.”

Gu Yong waved a hand and laughed, “If you ever achieve glory, Zilian, don’t forget to return home in fine raiment!”

Cao Hong nodded. “I promise!”

Gu Yong laughed loudly, “Take care!” With that, he spurred his horse and rode off.

Watching this future Chancellor of Sun Wu, Cao Hong was filled with complicated emotions. If one day they met on the battlefield, he knew he could never raise his hand against Gu Yong—nor even against Lu Qian. The great clans, the great clans! So deeply entrenched—of one breath and one branch, sharing in the same fate. Truly, a society in which a few control most of the resources.

Cao Hong smiled helplessly and resumed the march. Five days later, the army passed out of Yangzhou into Yuzhou. The Ruyang commandery of Yuzhou was under Yuan Shu’s control. When Cao Hong’s grand procession of soldiers, livestock, and baggage reached the border between Runan and Lujiang at the former state of Lu, the local magistrate was startled by the sight. Only after confirming the banners bore Cao Hong’s name and hearing Shi A’s explanations did the magistrate dare to open the gates and allow them passage.

As they passed the former state of Lu, Liu Ye remarked, “I wonder which lord or marquis this fief once belonged to. Doubtless its owner has long since vanished, and so the place is festooned with Yuan Gonglu’s banners.”

Shi A, standing nearby, asked, “Ziyang, as a member of the imperial clan, do you also have a fief?”

Liu Ye burst out laughing. “Perhaps my ancestors did. The court has grown weak and wary of the imperial family causing trouble; restrictions on fiefs abound. They’re little more than a means for officials to line their pockets—fiefs in name only, not in substance.”

This was why Liu Ye felt no attachment to his imperial kinship. It brought him no benefit, and left him prey to bandits like Zheng Xiao. How could he feel any fondness for it?

Cao Hong said, “We’ll continue north. In three days we’ll reach the state of Gushi. There we’ll rest a day, purchase provisions, and then head north to the state of Chen. Beyond that lies Chenliu Commandery. We’ll go first to Xiangyi to settle our families and retainers, then take the army north to Henei to find my elder brother.”

Liu Ye replied, “I leave all arrangements to you, General.”

Cao Hong nodded, thinking that Cao Ren and Yue Jin, who had also been sent to raise troops, had been assigned regions closer by, and had likely already joined Cao Cao.

After leaving the former state of Lu, Cao Hong marched along the official road, only entering a county if its seat lay directly on their path; otherwise, he would bypass towns to quicken their pace. One day, when Gushi was still thirty li ahead, a great cloud of dust arose in the distance—a force was approaching. Judging by the tumult and the thunder of hooves, it was a sizable body.

This was Yuan’s territory. Though Yuan’s family could not claim absolute control over all thirty-seven counties in Runan, they held most firmly. No one but Yuan’s men could mobilize such a troop here. Cao Hong ordered the column to halt, curious as to why Yuan Shu’s men were blocking his path.

Before long, a company of four hundred cavalry appeared. At their head was a general clad in shining armor and wielding a golden spear, his presence formidable. His cultivation had reached the level of transforming spirit—a true warrior.

He halted three hundred paces before Cao Hong’s force, then rode forward alone and shouted, “Is this the army of General Cao Zilian, under Lord Cao the General of Martial Valor?”

Cao Hong stepped forward and replied, “It is. May I know your name, General?”

The man answered, “I am Li Feng, a Lieutenant General under Lord Yuan Gong.”

Li Feng? A lieutenant general? Cao Hong recalled that Ji Ling, a famed warrior under Yuan Shu, also held that rank. For Li Feng to share such a title suggested he was no minor figure. Studying him, Cao Hong judged him to be about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, of average build—around one seventy-five in height. Aside from his cultivation, he seemed unremarkable.

Cao Hong wondered but asked aloud, “What brings you here, General Li?”

Li Feng replied, “The Rear General has long admired your renown and invites you to the commandery seat for a few days’ stay.”

Yuan Shu wants to see me? I don’t even know him—why seek me out? This is odd. In history, there was never mention of Yuan Shu summoning Cao Hong after his recruitment drive. Was it a historical omission, or was it because he’d raised too many troops, attracting Yuan Shu’s notice and thus triggering this butterfly effect—a thing that should never have happened?

Yuan Shu invites me—should I go or not? Instinctively, Cao Hong glanced at Liu Ye by his side.