Chapter Forty-three: Yuan Shao Arrives, Sun Jian Crosses the River

When Cao Hong and Xiahou Dun returned to the camp, the soldiers of Cao’s army had already gone to their respective tents. A squad of ten elite guards was stationed at the front of the camp. Upon seeing Cao Hong and Xiahou Dun, two of the guards immediately accompanied them to their assigned tents.

Cao Hong’s tent was to the left of Cao Cao’s main tent, the closest among the generals’ quarters. Cao Chun’s tent was on the right. Both men commanded the elite guards and held equal rank, but Cao Chun arranged for Cao Hong and his men to take the left, the position of honor, as a mark of respect.

As a commander, Cao Hong naturally had a tent to himself, guarded in shifts by a squad of ten. The tent’s furnishings were sparse: a circle of stones in the center holding a small fire for warmth—spring had only just begun, and the nights were still bitterly cold.

The only other items were bedding laid on the ground, made of fine silk and stuffed with goose down and furs—this was the best insulation the Han dynasty could offer. Since Cao’s army traveled light, they hadn’t brought such luxuries; clearly, these were provided by Zhang Miao for his allied guests.

Lying on his bedding, Cao Hong let out a long sigh. “Are we here to fight a war or enjoy a life of comfort?”

In the days that followed, Cao Hong drilled his men alongside the other generals. Cao’s army was one of only two contingents in the coalition that maintained daily training.

The other was the force led by Bao Xin, administrator of Jibei, whom Cao Cao had mentioned. Strict orders forbade Cao’s soldiers from visiting other camps, and since the Jibei camp was not adjacent to theirs, Cao Hong knew nothing of their condition except for the sounds of drill and shouted commands that carried across the fields—strong and disciplined, by the sound of it. Cao Chun remarked that the officer in charge of Jibei’s drills must be a man who understood the art of war; one could judge a force’s strength from the uniformity of their shouts. This knowledge brought some comfort to the generals—having a capable ally always did.

Yet, knowing how history would unfold, Cao Hong could find no joy in it. He knew with certainty that Cao Cao would suffer a bitter defeat. But as Cao Cao himself had said, for the sake of reputation, he must fight. At this point, what could Cao Hong do? Advise Cao Cao to retreat? He knew he had no grounds to persuade him.

It was only now that Cao Hong truly realized how difficult it was to alter the course of history—it required the perfect convergence of timing, location, human factors, and perhaps a little luck. He knew Cao Cao would lose, but not how. All he could do was focus on advancing his own martial cultivation—this was no game, where death meant a simple restart. Here, death was final.

Above all, Cao Cao could not be allowed to die. As the family’s visionary and unifying force, Cao Cao’s importance was beyond question. Cao Hong resolved that his first priority was to keep Cao Cao alive. If that became impossible, he would take his wife Sheng Meizhen and return to Yangzhou, living as a wealthy gentleman. Without Cao Cao to guide him, he had no confidence in surviving these chaotic times, filled as they were with powerful figures.

He was unfamiliar with the rules here. In his previous life, he had excelled because he understood the world and the mercenary business; here, he was like a fish out of water.

Day by day, time passed. Cao Hong trained both his soldiers and himself. Ten days later, his cultivation of inner energy had reached its peak, yet he remained unable to break through. His mind and blood surged with effort, but he could not unlock the hidden potential within his body.

He felt he had reached a limit. Though his spiritual cultivation was peerless, his physical constitution could not support the next leap—what he needed was a catalyst, some external stimulus to push him beyond his current limits and reach the next martial realm.

“In the end, it’s your own body that serves you best! Damn, possessing someone else is full of shortcomings,” Cao Hong muttered after his meditation, opening his eyes with a sigh.

“Young Master! Young Master!” came Liao Hua’s voice outside the tent. Though now one of Cao Cao’s most trusted guards, he still could not help but address Cao Hong as his master.

“Yuanjian! How many times have I told you—here in camp, you must call me Commander of the Left Guard, or General Cao.” Though Cao Hong and Cao Chun each led only two hundred men, they had been appointed by Cao Cao as commanders of the elite left and right guard, with rank equivalent to the thousand-man officers Cao Ren, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Yue Jin, and Wei Zi.

Liao Hua lifted the tent flap and rushed in. “Yes, yes! Commander of the Left Guard—Yuan, Yuan Shao has arrived!”

Cao Hong’s expression shifted. “He’s here? At the camp?”

“Not yet,” Liao Hua replied, “Some of the men sent on errands passed through Chenliu and saw him. Three groups, a grand procession—one is a supply train, stretching for miles, bearing the banner of Han Fu, the governor of Ji Province. The other two are led by Yuan Shao, governor of Bohai, and Wang Kuang, governor of Henei.”

“So all three have sent troops,” Cao Hong remarked. “That means the eastern coalition is gathering in full force. Sun Jian and Yuan Shu are coming from the south—they won’t circle around to Suanzao. Let’s go see what fine soldiers and generals Yuan Shao has brought.”

With that, Cao Hong led the way out, Liao Hua following. Many officers, having heard the news, were pouring toward the camp’s entrance—far more than had gathered when Cao’s army first arrived.

On this day, the coalition from the east was now assembled. Far to the south, Sun Jian had entered the territory of Wuling in Jiangzhou, preparing to cross the Yangtze.

In the Wuling prefectural office, Governor Cao Yin sat at his desk, a letter written on the fine paper of Lord Cai in his hand. The more he read, the graver his expression became. The hall was empty save for a single youth in white robes, tall and striking, who stood silently before him. Though only twenty-seven or twenty-eight, the young man’s bearing was as deep and steady as a still abyss—a master at the peak of his cultivation.

After reading, Cao Yin slowly set the letter aside, his face troubled as he addressed the young man: “Sir Changfeng, is what Master Leng said true? Did Wang Rui, Inspector of Jingzhou, truly declare he would only send troops if he received my head?”

The youth was none other than Changfeng, disciple sent by Leng Shouguang with the letter. He cupped his hands and replied calmly, “My master never speaks falsely. Moreover, everyone knows you and the inspector have long been at odds. Now that Sun Wentai has entered Wuling, should he hear these rumors about the inspector, given his desperate need for troops and his decisive nature, I fear for your safety, Governor.”

His words were sharp and persuasive, and with Leng Shouguang’s reputation, Cao Yin broke out in a cold sweat, unsure what to do—he did not consider himself a match for Sun Jian.

Seeing this, Changfeng slowly drew out a sealed letter with a smile. “This is a proclamation written by Lord Wen Yi, a close friend of Sun Wentai and an official of the imperial court. It lists the many crimes of Wang Rui, Inspector of Jingzhou, and calls for his execution. Present this to Sun Wentai, and he will recognize Lord Wen’s handwriting at once—he and Lord Wen are close. Upon reading it, Sun Wentai will surely move against Wang Rui.”

Cao Yin looked up, his eyes fixed on the letter sealed with red wax. “Is it truly in Lord Wen’s own hand?”

Changfeng smiled. “Governor, there’s no need to worry. Give it to Sun Wentai, and you will see for yourself. Or perhaps you wish to resist Sun Wentai and his three armies?”

Cao Yin forced a smile. “Of course not. Please convey my thanks to Master Leng.” He accepted the letter, knowing that because of it, the affairs of Jingzhou would once more follow the path set by history.

Historical note: The Records of the Three Kingdoms state: “When Emperor Ling died, Dong Zhuo usurped power, sowing chaos in the capital. The provinces and commanderies rose in righteous arms to punish Dong. Sun Jian also raised troops. Wang Rui, Inspector of Jingzhou, had long treated Sun with disrespect, and so Sun killed him in passing. In the same year, Liu Biao rode alone to succeed as Inspector of Jingzhou, gaining the support of Kuai Liang, Kuai Yue, Cai Mao of Xiangyang, and others, eliminating the regional warlords, bringing peace to Jingzhou, and was appointed General Who Guards the South and Governor of Jingzhou.”