Chapter Eighty-Nine: Let’s Call It Quits

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At this moment, Liu Ye spurred his horse forward, saluted Cao Cao with clasped hands, and Cao Cao, sizing up Liu Ye, asked, "Zilian, who is this gentleman?"

Cao Hong replied, "Elder brother, this is Liu Ziyang from Huainan. His ancestor was the Prince of Fuling, son of Emperor Guangwu, making him a member of the imperial clan. When I went south to recruit troops, Ziyang, admiring your reputation, came to join us."

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao nodded repeatedly and said with a smile, "Sir, as a member of the imperial clan, following a wanderer like myself is truly a hardship."

At present, not only is Cao Cao without a fixed abode, he is also dependent on others and has suffered defeat; naturally, his tone was humble.

Liu Ye responded, "My lord, you overstate the matter. The Inspector of Youzhou and the Governor of Yizhou are both fellow clansmen of the Han, yet faced with the tyrant Dong, they turn a blind eye. Only you, my lord, have taken up the call to rally heroes against his atrocities. Such spirit is rare in all the land. To serve you is my greatest fortune."

The Inspector of Youzhou, Liu Yu, was even granted the title of Grand Marshal by Dong Zhuo to placate him, while the Governor of Yizhou, Liu Yan, likewise did not answer Cao Cao's call. Liu Ye's comparison was apt.

Cao Cao, hearing these words, allowed his grim face to ease, stepped forward, and grasped Liu Ye's hand. "Sir, I am unworthy of such praise. Hereafter, I shall receive you as an honored guest."

Liu Ye hastily replied that he dared not accept such honor. Cao Cao laughed, then invited all into the fortress. Cao Hong instructed Shi A to settle the troops and supplies properly and only then followed after Cao Cao into the fortress.

The fortresses of the late Han were distinctive structures, sometimes built from massive timbers, sometimes from earth and stone, or even massive boulders, in little different from city walls. Most often, they housed garrisons but could also serve as residences for local magnates, meant to control the surrounding fertile lands.

This particular fortress in Wen County belonged to the Sima family. Normally, it was used to station troops for the county's defense, these being the Sima family's own private soldiers. Under such circumstances, any official passing through Wen County dared not offend the Simas, since their fortress encircled the county seat and could cut off its supplies at will.

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At this time, Cao Hong was walking together with Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren, while up ahead, Cao Cao rode side by side with Liu Ye, engaged in lively conversation. Occasionally, Cao Cao's hearty laughter could be heard, showing his spirits were high.

Seeing this, Cao Hong was pleased for Liu Ye; it seemed Cao Cao was quite fond of the young man.

Cao Ren quietly asked, "Zilian, what have you brought with you? Tell us."

Cao Hong replied, "Two thousand government troops, three thousand untrained conscripts, six hundred famed Xiliang steeds, a thousand crossbows, ninety thousand bolts, a thousand forged ring-pommel swords, a thousand iron-spined long spears, ten thousand ordinary halberds, three thousand thirty-refined ring-pommel swords, ten thousand head of mules, horses, and oxen, over ten thousand laborers, sixty thousand taels of horse-hoof gold, and a further one million two hundred thousand taels of horse-hoof gold taken from Yuan Shu. I gave three hundred thousand taels to Sun Wentai, kept two hundred thousand in Xiangyi, so there remain eight hundred thousand taels of horse-hoof gold."

Cao Ren and Xiahou Dun exchanged astonished glances, speechless for a long while. Finally, Xiahou Dun let out a long sigh and said, "Zilian, you are truly wealthy! Excluding the gold seized from Yuan Shu, the men and materiel you've brought are more than what Mengde presently commands."

Cao Hong laughed, "The rise or fall of the Cao family rests on our elder brother. Even if I must sell all I have, I will help him return to power."

At this, all three laughed, and Cao Ren, even more excited, cursed cheerfully, "Damn it, that's marvelous! With such strength, we can return to Chenliu and Xiangyi to garrison our troops, no longer forced to endure the attitudes of others here."

Cao Hong was briefly taken aback—did this mean Cao Ren was not enjoying his stay here? Xiahou Dun, seeing Cao Hong's surprise, sighed, "Zilian, you see for yourself. Despite all this commotion, not a single member of the Sima clan has come to check on us. They've left us a few fortresses as if we were stray dogs to be shooed away. Apart from hosting Mengde once, none of us have ever entered Wen County proper. According to the Simas, they're afraid our scattered soldiers would disrupt the household registry if let into the county, and if any committed crimes, they'd be hard to apprehend."

The Sima family was truly arrogant—refusing even to allow entry? That was harsh indeed! Though Cao Cao was in dire straits, this was excessive. Cao Hong thought this but asked, "If that's so, why not just return to Xiangyi?"

Cao Ren cursed, "It's all the fault of those so-called 'Four Friends of the North.' Zang Hong says the allied army is encamped at Suanzao, making no progress, discipline lax, with soldiers often plundering the surrounding populace, and crimes against women frequent, so military discipline must be strictly enforced."

Cao Hong was puzzled, "That's a good thing! But what does it have to do with going to Xiangyi?" Suanzao was now filled with troops from all provinces, and if they could not vent their desires in camp, they would inevitably turn to pillaging. Since the army was idle, the men would seek amusement; enforcing discipline was only right. But what did this have to do with them relocating to Xiangyi?

Xiahou Dun sighed, "Zang Hong and Yuan Benchu claim that Mengde's troops are all new recruits, undisciplined and poorly supplied. If we move to Chenliu or Xiangyi, they fear we'll loot the countryside for provisions; thus, when Mengde proposed returning to Xiangyi to regroup, Yuan Benchu rejected the idea."

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Cao Hong exclaimed, "Outrageous! Isn't this just open suppression? Now we're camped outside someone else's door, as if we're just their gatekeepers!"

Cao Ren agreed, "That's exactly it! But now that you're back, Zilian, we can equip all our troops—one thousand cavalry and five thousand infantry, and all that gleaming horse-hoof gold. Who can say we're under-supplied or undisciplined? If the Four Friends of the North keep it up, we'll give them a beating!"

Cao Hong nodded, "Cousin, you're absolutely right."

Xiahou Dun laughed, "I too agree with you both, but ultimately, this is for Mengde to decide. After all, while Zilian has brought abundant arms, only two thousand men are trained. How best to equip them requires careful planning."

Cao Ren and Cao Hong nodded in agreement. By now, the party had entered the fortress. Cao Cao beckoned Cao Hong forward, who, after a word to Cao Ren and Xiahou Dun, urged his horse ahead.

He had never imagined that Cao Cao, now so oppressed by the Sima family and the factions of Zhang Chao and Zang Hong, could not even return to Xiangyi nor enter Wen County, forced to reside in a fortress. If not for the efforts of Cao Ren, Cao Hong, and Yue Jin in raising recruits and funds, Cao Cao might well have met his end this time.

Yet, despite his predicament, Cao Cao's easy laughter and composure gave no hint of distress. In this, his steadiness and resolve as a leader were truly exemplary.

As Cao Hong rode up, Cao Cao said, "Zilian, I have heard from Ziyang of your experiences in Runan. That scoundrel Yuan Shu dares dream of emperorship—treason of the highest order! It is clear now that the Yuan brothers are birds of a feather. Not long ago, Yuan Shao summoned me to Suanzao, saying that the Emperor would soon be forced west, his fate uncertain, and that a new sovereign must be chosen. He asked if I would support Liu Bo'an, Inspector of Youzhou, as emperor—he even had a new imperial seal carved, which he showed to me. I managed to brush the matter aside."

Cao Hong inwardly cursed Yuan Shao's treachery—this man was no better than Yuan Shu. He suddenly recalled that the history books did record such an episode. He said, "Dong Zhuo has yet to move the Emperor west, and Yuan Shao already wants to enthrone another. Clearly, the coalition is riddled with discord, and Yuan Shao knows things are falling apart. Elder brother, why not simply break with them?"