Ninety-Two: Plan First, Act Later

On the first of three pages

Thank you to the book friend 2508673672 for the generous reward of one hundred QDB.

Drunk and muddled, Cao Cao had just enjoyed a warm bath with two lovely maids and was preparing to take to his bed for another battle when the household guard, Dian Wei, dutifully interrupted his pleasures to inform him that Cao Hong had come calling with Liao Hua, Pan Zhang, and a captain of a thousand from the soldiers of Dong Commandery.

With a helpless smile, Cao Cao dressed and received them in the main hall. In a mild voice he asked, "Ziliian, what brings you here at this late hour? And where on earth did you find a soldier from Dong Commandery?"

Cao Hong glanced around the hall. Since it was deep night, no maids stood by to attend them; only the guard, Dian Wei, stood behind Cao Cao in protection. Then he said, "Big Brother, this man is Wen Gui's fellow townsman. His name is Qiao Fa. He serves as a captain of a thousand under Qiao Yuanwei, the prefect of Dong Commandery. Because the Governor of Ji Province, Han Wenjie, has cut back the grain and supplies for the camp at Sour Jujube, the allied army is short of provisions. And since Qiao Yuanwei has bad blood with Liu Gongsan, the Inspector of Yan Province, Liu has blocked his efforts, leaving him unable to transport grain from Dong Commandery to Sour Jujube. In desperation, he sent troops to seize grain, offending Zhang Menggao, the prefect of Chenliu. Zhang Menggao was then egged on by Liu Gongsan and struck at Qiao Yuanwei's grain-seizing troops, forcing Qiao Yuanwei to leave Sour Jujube and return to Dong Commandery. But on the way he was ambushed by Liu Gongsan; his men were scattered, and so Qiao Fa could only come here to seek refuge with his fellow townsman, Wen Gui."

For a good mercenary, it is very important to summarize a mission's progress in a concise and direct way. Cao Hong put what he had learned to practical use and briefly explained to Cao Cao the cause and effect behind Qiao Fa's arrival. In a few sentences, he revealed several important pieces of information: first, Han Fu, the Governor of Ji Province, had already reduced his support of grain and supplies to the allied army; second, Liu Dai, Inspector of Yan Province, and Qiao Mao, Prefect of Dong Commandery, were now at odds within their own ranks; third, Qiao Mao had already been defeated by Liu Dai.

After hearing Cao Hong's account, Cao Cao's weariness faded at once and his expression grew serious. He said to Dian Wei, "E Lai, go and bring Mister Liu here."

It seemed that during Cao Hong's absence, Cao Cao had given Dian Wei a sobriquet: E Lai.

Dian Wei acknowledged and left. Cao Cao stood up, walked to Qiao Fa, and looked him over from head to toe, making the already uneasy man even more apprehensive. Cao Cao smiled and said, "This fellow is wearing the clothing of my army's labor camp. You've been here some time, haven't you?"

Cao Hong knew that such a matter could not be concealed from Cao Cao, so he answered frankly, "Indeed, for quite a while. He has been mingling with the labor camp simply to inquire after Wen Gui's whereabouts."

With so many people in the fortified camp, it was not strange for someone to slip in. And it was not easy to find Pan Zhang; after all, he was not some famed general. This excuse was perfectly plausible. Cao Hong had not told the whole truth because concealing knowledge of such a matter was a grave offense, and he could not implicate Pan Zhang that way.

Besides, Cao Hong was confident that Cao Cao was not the sort of man who insisted on prying until every detail was laid bare. He cared only about what threatened him or benefited him; as for the rest, he paid little mind. In short, he valued results, not the process, much like the formidable employers Cao Hong had encountered before.

So even if Cao Cao had doubts, he would not ask further. First, the matter was harmless enough; second, he trusted Cao Hong completely. Thus he only smiled and said, "So that is how it is. Captain Qiao, is what Ziliian says true?"

Qiao Fa replied, "To the Valiant Martial General, what General Cao has said is entirely true."

Within the allied army, Cao Cao had been appointed Valiant Martial General, and so Qiao Fa addressed him thus.

Cao Cao nodded. "Very well, I understand. Yuan Jian, Wen Gui, take him down."

At their orders, Pan Zhang and Liao Hua escorted Qiao Fa away. After seating Cao Hong, Cao Cao said, "Even a captain of a thousand has fled to Henei. It seems Qiao Yuanwei's army has likely been wiped out."

Cao Hong said, "Qiao Fa says the same, brother. I mean, this..." He hesitated, then continued, "The prefect of Dong Commandery is probably in dire straits, you see..."

Cao Cao smiled. "I understand what you mean, brother. You want me to march on Dong Commandery, do you not?"

Cao Hong nodded. "Exactly. Big Brother, while I was back in Yang Province these past days, I thought through some matters. Elder Brother Xiaoci holds sway in Pei Kingdom, and my own holdings are spread across Yang Province. Yet you, Big Brother, do not wish to build your foundation in those two places. That is because Pei Kingdom lies within Yu Province, where the Yuan clan of Runan has deep and entrenched power. To the east it borders Xu Province, where Tao Qian, Governor of Xu Province, commands both civil and military affairs for an entire province. Under the pressure of strong neighbors, it is hard to develop. And in Yang Province, the local gentry and the people of the mountain Yue tribes have stood for many years in opposition to one another. Their private armies are fierce and they put their own interests first, so Big Brother would find it difficult to govern Yang Province entirely according to your own will. Moreover, Yang Province is full of talented gentry, whom one must make use of; otherwise the region cannot be stabilized. Entering Yang Province is like binding one's own hands."

These were conclusions Cao Hong had drawn in his spare time while recruiting troops in Yang Province. Now that he said them aloud, Cao Cao nodded repeatedly and said, "Now Ziliian fully understands my intentions."

Cao Hong said, "But Yan Province is different!"

He was about to go on when Liu Ye's voice rang out from beyond the doorway:

"Yan Province is indeed different. First, Yan Province was the very center of the Yellow Turban chaos, and remnants still ravage it to this day. The local great clans have already been badly weakened and are no longer a force to be reckoned with, so my lord's efforts there would meet far less resistance than in Yu Province or Yang Province. Second, the terrain of Yan Province is complex: to the east, Mount Tai forms a barrier against Xu Province; to the north, the Yellow River cuts it off from the lands beyond the Huai; and to the west, the great pass of Hulao guards the gateway. Third, Yan Province was the starting point of the campaign against Dong Zhuo. My lord's call to arms was once made known to the whole world, and the people of Yan Province know it especially well. If my lord takes root in Yan Province, it will surely draw even more worthy men to his banner, for it will be as if proclaiming to all under heaven that my lord still possesses the resolve to punish the traitor Dong. Otherwise, he would not have settled himself in Yan Province!"

Cao Cao clapped and laughed. "Excellent! Ziyang speaks truly!"

Liu Ye strode slowly into the hall, with Dian Wei following just behind him. Then Liu Ye smiled at Cao Hong and said, "Is this what General Cao was trying to say?"

Cao Hong scratched his head. "Exactly. Though I never thought to set it out so clearly in three points."

For him to explain it, the reasoning would not have been as clear as Liu Ye's.

Cao Cao looked at Cao Hong and smiled. "Ziliian is willing to observe the winds and currents of the age. I am very pleased. Ever since you were young, I have always thought you only liked riding horses and walking dogs, and enjoyed bold deeds and fierce contests. I never expected that even now you would apply your mind so carefully. It seems that before long, our Cao family will produce a fierce general accomplished in both civil and military affairs."

Cao Hong hurriedly replied, "I am still far from that, Brother. In martial matters I am no match for Guard Dian, and in learning I am no match for Brother Ziyang. I still have much hardening to do."

Cao Cao laughed twice, then continued, "Although Qiao Mao's life or death is still unknown, Liu Dai's reckless move suggests he must already have planned his counterstroke. Perhaps he has even sent someone to take over as prefect of Dong Commandery. After all, he is the Inspector of Yan Province; he has that authority."

By now Cao Cao referred to Qiao Mao and Liu Dai by their given names without ceremony, which showed he had no fondness left for those two troublemaking worms within the alliance. Perhaps he had no fondness left for the entire allied army.

Liu Ye said, "Because we do not know the situation, we must plan before we act. My lord may send scouts into Dong Commandery to gather information and see whether anyone has already taken over as prefect there. He can also send men to investigate what has become of the camp at Sour Jujube. Only after that should a course be decided. For now, it is enough to bide our time, conceal our strength, and train the troops."

That is the advantage of having a strategist: at any time, he will tell you what should be done, sparing the decision-maker much vexation. Of course, if the strategist is a fool, the effect is the opposite. But Liu Ye was clearly no fool; in fact, he was very clever.

So Cao Cao decided to do as advised.

After a brief discussion, everyone took their leave in turn. The day of Cao Hong's reunion with Cao Cao thus came to an end.