Chapter 140 The Last Plan to Secure Liaodong
When Cao Cao led his army back to Yizhou, I was squatting under that tree full of white flowers, feeding Xiao Mao.
Little Mao lay listlessly under the tree roots, ignoring me.
I grabbed its long ears, held a radish in my hand, and stuffed it into its mouth.
It shook its head, completely ignoring me.
"Hey, food is the most important thing for people, please accept my condolences." I pulled its ear and coaxed it gently.
It still had its donkey head drooping, ignoring me.
"Are you perhaps planning to starve yourself to death?" I glanced at it sideways. "Please, those who starve themselves to death are loyal and valiant horses, you're a donkey! Why are you trying to imitate them..."
"Here's the deal: from now on, you'll work for me, and I promise you'll live the high life, how about that?"
I promise I won't shave your hair.
"How about I give you meat to eat?"
“If you don’t eat, I’ll kill you and eat donkey meat! Have you ever heard of a dish called ‘Live Screaming Donkey’… I’ll send you to the Chunfeng Deyilou Restaurant, and then I’ll carve a piece of flesh off you while you’re still alive… Listening to your screams, while the guests in the front hall are enjoying your fresh, juicy meat… It’s truly a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate…” I approached Xiao Mao ominously, “If you like, you can also try your own flesh, okay?”
I appealed to their emotions, reasoned with them, tempted them with benefits, and even added threats and intimidation...
Little Mao remained lying there listlessly, not even glancing at me...
"Daddy!" Baozi rushed out from outside the house.
I turned my head and saw Cao Cao standing at the door, dressed in military attire, looking at me.
I stood up, leaning against the tree trunk; my legs were a little numb.
Cao Cao picked up the steamed bun and looked at me.
"Have you offered sacrifices to Fengxiao?" He opened his mouth, and the first thing he said was this.
"Hmm." Cao Cao nodded.
I went back to my room to retrieve the letter written by Guo Jia and handed it to Cao Cao. "He wrote it before he died. He said that if we act according to this plan, the Liaodong affair can be settled."
Cao Cao put down the steamed buns and took the scroll. "What else did he say?"
He said... "I can't wait to see Brother Mengde achieve great things."
Cao Cao clenched his fist and held it for a long time before releasing it.
Cao Cao lowered his head and opened the scroll. He read it carefully, and after a long while, he gripped the scroll tightly. "No one understands me better than Guo Fengxiao."
"Prime Minister," Xiahou Dun entered from outside, clasped his hands in greeting, and reported, "Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang have fled and are now in Liaodong."
Cao Cao nodded.
"Gongsun Kang, the governor of Liaodong, has always been dissatisfied with the Prime Minister. Now that Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang have gone to join him, why not take this opportunity to conquer Liaodong in one fell swoop and eliminate future troubles?" Xiahou Dun suggested again.
"Although we were fortunate to win the previous expedition, our army is exhausted and our horses are weary. Let's all take a rest first," Cao Cao said slowly.
“But what is the point of this battle if we don’t take this opportunity to wipe out the remaining forces of Yuan’s army in one fell swoop?” Xiahou Dun insisted.
“Yuan Rang need not worry. In a few days, Gongsun Kang will surely deliver the heads of Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang.” Cao Cao narrowed his eyes slightly.
Xiahou Dun frowned, then glanced at me, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and left, clearly indicating that he did not believe Cao Cao's words.
I felt a chill run down my spine as he stared at me with his only remaining eye. Did he think my arrival had dampened Cao Cao's fighting spirit...?
I don't think I had that much influence over Cao Cao.
"What are you daydreaming about?" Cao Cao's voice rang in my ears. I snapped out of my reverie and saw Cao Cao staring at me.
"Ah! Uncle Hua said he'd teach me to identify herbs!" Baozi suddenly exclaimed, turning and running away, winking at Cao Cao as he ran.
Cao Cao even blinked.
I was dumbfounded. Did these two, father and son, think I was blind?
Cao Cao took my hand very naturally and led me back to the room.
He dragged me back to the room. He was dressed in military uniform, which looked different from his usual attire. I could almost see countless drops of blood seeping through his uniform.
Back in the room, he let go of my hand, lay down on the couch, closed his eyes, and didn't move at all.
I stood against the wall and sensed that he seemed extremely exhausted, so I remained silent.
“With Fengxiao’s death, I have lost an arm.” He suddenly spoke just as I was about to leave.
I turned around in surprise; his eyes were still closed.
"This expedition to the desert was hampered by cold and drought, with no water for two hundred miles and insufficient food supplies..."
"I ordered the horses to be killed for food, and the earth to be dug thirty or forty feet deep before water could be found..."
He spoke with his eyes closed, his voice soft.
Imagining such a harsh environment, I slowly walked forward and sat down next to him.
He covered my hand with his, and with a sudden pull, I found myself nestled in his arms.
"Hey! Let me go." I struggled.
He held me tightly and wouldn't let go.
I could only stand there stiffly, feeling a slight pain on my neck from the prickling of his stubble.
"My head hurts so much..." He murmured in my ear as his lips moved.
His hands were around my waist, and I could only straighten up with some difficulty to look at him.
His eyes were closed, and his brows were furrowed tightly.
"Let me go," I said.
He didn't move at all, completely ignoring me.
"Let go of me, let me rub it for you," I sighed softly, then said again.
His grip loosened slightly, and my eyebrows twitched. This guy…
I got up and helped him take off his armor. I sat on the couch and gently massaged his temples. My movements were so gentle that I couldn't believe it myself.
He suddenly opened his eyes, which had been closed, and stared at me.
"It's so good to see you when I get back," he said softly.
I gritted my teeth. This guy just wanted to come back and see me, so he stubbornly ignored my wishes and forced me to stay by his side.
I was about to unleash a torrent of curses when I looked down and discovered that he had fallen asleep with his head on my lap, his eyes slightly closed and his breathing even.
It is said that Cao Cao was suspicious and ruthless, and his saying "I would rather betray the world than let the world betray me" sends chills down one's spine.
But at this moment, looking at him sleeping, I felt a little dazed.
Without realizing it, I raised my hand and gently stroked his eyebrows and eyes. He moved, which startled me. I quickly tried to pull my hand away, but he grabbed my hand, held it in his palm, and placed it against his chest.
He didn't open his eyes and continued to sleep.
He was truly exhausted.
There was a slight noise at the door. I looked up and saw Zhao'er, also dressed in military uniform, standing at the door, looking travel-worn. He had obviously heard that I was in Yizhou and rushed over from the camp. However, his joyful expression froze slightly when he saw Cao Cao sleeping in my arms.
"Zhao'er?" I smiled and was about to get up when I realized I couldn't move at all.
Zhao'er pursed her lips, turned and left.
I looked down at Cao Cao, who was sleeping peacefully, and sighed helplessly.
Cao Cao stationed his troops in Yizhou and remained inactive, thus failing to launch a campaign against Liaodong.
Xiahou Dun, Zhang Liao, and others all advised him, fearing that Liu Biao of Jingzhou might harbor rebellious intentions. They suggested that if he did not conquer Liaodong, he should return to Xuchang immediately.
Cao Cao ordered that once the heads of Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang arrived, he should immediately return to Xuchang.
Rumors quickly spread throughout the military camp. Since ancient times, there has never been a case of a force being defeated without being attacked, and everyone secretly laughed at Cao Cao.
Within ten days, someone came to report that Gongsun Kang, the governor of Liaodong, had sent an envoy to request an audience.
When the message was received, Cao Cao was teaching Baozi sword dancing.
The messenger brought a large box containing two human heads placed side by side; they were Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang.
Cao Cao gladly accepted the gift and rewarded the envoy handsomely, bestowing upon Gongsun Kang the titles of Marquis of Xiangping and General of the Left. Everyone was overjoyed.
All the officials were astonished.
Cao Cao kicked the wooden box away, and watched as two human heads rolled out of it like winter melons. He laughed loudly, "Just as Fengxiao predicted!"
But for some reason, I could hear sorrow in that laughter.
None of the officials understood his meaning.
Cao Cao took out the letter that Guo Jia had written before his death from his bosom and handed it to everyone.
On the scroll, there was still a dark red bloodstain, the blood that Guo Jia spat out when he was writing at his desk that day.
The crowd read it aloud carefully: "We have heard that Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang have gone to Liaodong. Your Excellency must not send troops. Gongsun Kang has long feared the Yuan family's attempt to annex his territory. He will surely be suspicious of the two Yuans' arrival. If we attack them with our troops, they will surely unite to fight us, and we will not be able to take them quickly. If we delay, Gongsun Kang and the Yuan family will surely turn against each other. This is the inevitable outcome." (From Romance of the Three Kingdoms)
I suddenly remembered that day, that sickly strategist. Although he was bedridden and unable to join the army on a long expedition, he remained calm and collected, taking a holistic view of the situation and planning everything meticulously.
When Yuan Shao was alive, he harbored ambitions to annex Liaodong. Now that Yuan Shao is dead and Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang have been defeated, they have no choice but to seek refuge in Liaodong. However, the Liaodong governor, Gongsun Kang, will undoubtedly suspect him of plotting to seize power and will want to kill him. But if Cao Cao were to launch an attack on Liaodong at this time, Gongsun Kang would have no choice but to join forces with Yuan Shao's army to resist Cao Cao. Even if Cao Cao's army wins, it will inevitably suffer losses. However, if Cao Cao remains inactive, Gongsun Kang will have no worries about his rear and will naturally eliminate the two Yuan brothers first, presenting their heads to Cao Cao. This would both remove a thorn in his side and gain Cao Cao's trust.
Those clear eyes saw through everything.
In this battle, Cao Cao decisively defeated the Wuhuan, eliminated the remaining forces of the Yuan clan, and unified the north.
However, the sickly strategist and the man in the blue robe were unable to witness all of this.
After obtaining the heads of Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, Cao Cao led a group of officials to hold a memorial service before Guo Jia's spirit tablet.
"Guo Jia, the military advisor, served for eleven years since the campaigns began. In every major discussion, he devised strategies to adapt to changing circumstances. When my plans were undecided, Jia always brought them to fruition. His contributions to pacifying the realm were paramount. Unfortunately, he died young, his work unfinished. His merits are truly unforgettable. His fief shall be increased by eight hundred households, bringing it to one thousand." (From *Records of the Three Kingdoms*)
White banners fluttered in the sky, and a few sticks of incense burned.
He was posthumously honored as Marquis Zhen.
The next day, Cao Cao prepared to lead his troops back to Xuchang, and sent people along the way to escort Guo Jia's coffin back to Xuchang for burial.
In that case, we can be considered to have gone together and returned together?
The army is ready and set off.
"Uncle Xiahou, your horse is so beautiful!" Baozi followed Xiahou Dun, flattering him.
Xiahou Dun snorted and mounted his horse.
"Uncle Xiahou, your horse is so majestic!" Baozi looked up at Xiahou Dun with admiration.
Xiahou Dun, feeling restless under Baozi's gaze, leaned down to look at him and asked, "What is it?"
"Uncle Xiahou, will you take me horseback riding?" Baozi's obsidian-like eyes were wide open, seemingly shining, and his face was full of anticipation.
“No, please have the young master and his wife ride in the carriage,” Xiahou Dun shook his head and said coldly.
Baozi looked at Xiahou Dun with a forlorn expression, looking pitiful, like an abandoned puppy, only lacking a wagging tail.
Xiahou Dun stared at him for a long time, then his face began to twitch.
I sat inside the carriage, watching Baozi wrap around the one-eyed Xiahou Dun through the window, and chuckled mischievously.
"Let's go!" someone shouted.
Baozi remained unyielding, still looking pitifully at Xiahou Dun. So, Xiahou Dun gave in and reached out to lift Baozi onto his horse.
Baozi cheered and quickly flattered, "Uncle Xiahou is the best!"
Xiahou Dun blushed slightly, quickly spurred his horse, and followed the army forward.
I smiled and sat down on the cushion, then looked at Zhao'er, who was riding a horse and protecting the carriage. He had been very busy these days, so busy that he hadn't spoken to me.
Hua Yingxiong also rode his horse, following the army from a distance.
I could only vaguely see his figure. We had traveled together on the way here, but now he was deliberately avoiding me.
I recalled his earlier statement about avoiding suspicion.
Beside Guo Jia's coffin was a small cart with a small wooden coffin on it.
Lying in that small wooden coffin was Xiao Mao.
That hairless little weird donkey...
It starved to death.
Hard to imagine, right?
That greedy little Mao actually starved to death...
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