Chapter 73 Drunk and Dreamy (Part 2) I will definitely let you see what you most want to see...
The day before the expedition, Ayu nervously went to the Sikong Mansion to ask someone to summon Guo Jia.
"Master, the lady has been buried..." Ayu didn't know that Guo Jia was leaving tomorrow; she was just there to tell him the news.
"Oh, okay," Guo Jia replied calmly.
"But there's something strange. During the few days that the body has been laid to rest, the lady's spirit hasn't decayed; instead, it's emitting a strange fragrance. Everyone says it's because the lady did good deeds and accumulated merit, and Heaven is taking good care of her."
"...Perhaps it's because I've been using too much medicine or incense..." Guo Jia tried his best to find a more reasonable explanation.
Seeing that he didn't react much, Ayu was about to bow and take her leave when Guo Jia suddenly looked up, grabbed her, took out a silk book from his bosom, and stuffed it into her hand.
"This is the land deed for our small house. I'm going to Youzhou with the army tomorrow and won't be back for a while... I'll leave it with you for safekeeping."
Even if Ayu was dull-witted, how could he not understand this action?
"You absolutely must not, Chief Priest!" Ayu wanted to refuse, but Guo Jia held her tightly.
"Just keep it safe. If Yi'er wants a keepsake in the future, you can just take him for a walk in the backyard."
Ayu was never good with words, and in the end, all she could manage to say was, "Please take good care of yourself, Chief Priest..."
"I'll be going home today." Guo Jia turned and left, waving goodbye to him.
Guo Jia went to the School Affairs Office, where things were still bustling. However, most people had never seen Guo Jia's changed appearance before, and they were all shocked and hurriedly bowed.
He went straight inside and found Lu Hong, inquiring about the preparation of the map.
"Reporting to the Grand Master, the map is ready and has been sent to the military camp," Lu Hong reported, returning the slightly frayed draft to Guo Jia.
Guo Jia didn't even glance at it before putting it into his sleeve. "Alright, that's two portions in total."
"The marching route from this place to Wuzhong is clear, so the Chief Minister need not worry. General Zhang already has it."
"That's true." Guo Jia nodded, then grabbed Lu Hong's wrist and pulled it slightly. "I don't know when I'll be able to return. The Imperial Academy will be in your hands from now on. Keep a close eye on your subordinates."
"In Xuchang... I've heard quite a few rumors about Zhao Da. You must also be careful. If anything seems amiss, inform the lord immediately, lest Wenruo be put in a difficult position."
Lu Hong sensed an underlying unease in these words, but Guo Jia raised his hand to stop him from saying anything more, "No need for further words, I'll be leaving now."
As Lu Hong watched his departing figure, he recalled the scene at the old Yangdi residence where Guo Jia led Deng Jie out of the house, and a bitter feeling welled up in his mouth.
Perhaps some words would be superfluous for a clever man like Guo Jia, but Lu Hong was not good with words, so he could only bow deeply to the empty front yard.
When Guo Jia left the Imperial Academy, the sun had already begun to set.
He gazed at the blinding sunset and slowly walked towards home.
Why can't we bump into each other again?
Guo Jia walked to the concave corner, turned around in place, not knowing what he was looking for. Unable to find it, he sat down on the ground in a daze.
He lowered his head, unsure of how he would feel upon returning to the yard. The cat, here, mentally prepared itself, picked up a broken stone and scratched it on the sand.
Then a figure loomed over him.
"Guo Fengxiao?"
Guo Jia looked up at him and felt that the scene was familiar: "Oh, it's Brother Changwen."
Chen Qun swallowed and said in a low voice, "...Come home with me for a meal."
Guo Jia was taken aback, frowned, and suddenly stood up, brushing the dust off his clothes. He laughed and said, "Hey, I said I was going home today, so why don't you come to my house instead!"
Before Chen Qun could react, he was pulled forward: "Wait, wait? What else do you have at home now..." He started to say, but then stopped, not daring to finish.
Guo Jia simply stood ahead, facing the setting sun, and said, "I have wine at home! Tomorrow I will be going on a long expedition with the army. I don't know when we will meet again. Brother Changwen, would you be willing to accompany me?"
Upon hearing that they were going to drink, Chen Qun quickly stopped, saying, "I...I need to send someone to tell Shen Ge..."
Guo Jia chuckled, "Very well, I'll have Ayu inform your good wife in a bit!"
As he spoke, he dusted off his sleeves and looked up with emotion, saying, "I never expected that in the end, it would be Brother Changwen who would be the one to indulge with Jia."
Chen Qun watched his seemingly relaxed back as his eyes dimmed: "I never thought of this either... Never mind, this will be the only time."
Back in the familiar courtyard, Guo Jia deliberately avoided looking at the herb garden and bedroom, but he couldn't shake off the longing in his heart. His steps were somewhat unsteady as he wandered around, leaving Chen Qun somewhat puzzled.
"What are you looking for?" Chen Qun couldn't help but ask.
"Looking for what?" Guo Jia was taken aback by the question. He stared at Chen Qun for a while before clapping his hands. "That's right, that's right, looking for wine!"
He muttered, "Wine, wine..." as he ventured into the wine cellar, searching for a wine jar that could be opened.
"Ayu! Ayu!" Guo Jia's voice was somewhat anxious. "Which jar can still be opened? Quickly help me find one! It has to be the best one to drink, Brother Changwen is not good at drinking!"
Upon hearing this, Ayu rushed over, burying herself in the cellar, and asked Guo Jia, "How's the fruit wine? We can open either the mulberry wine or the Changdi wine!"
"Alright! Bring them all out!" Guo Jia urged. "We need as many as you have. It's a rare honor for Clerk Chen Cao to grace our humble abode with his presence; how can we let him go so easily?"
Given Chen Qun's personality, he should have reprimanded him in this situation, or at least interrupted him. However, seeing Guo Fengxiao looking around and searching for something, he finally held back his temper, thinking to himself: I'll just have to accompany you, even if it means risking my life.
That night, Guo Jia pulled Chen Qun to sit in his study, setting out wine jars and wooden cups. He talked on and on, finally sighing, "I know we don't think much of each other, but because of our cooperation during the trip to Xiapi, I've discovered a different side of Brother Changwen. It's also thanks to Shuo Yi for opening up this situation for your wife..."
Chen Qun saw many unspoken words in Guo Jia's eyes, but dared not offer any words of comfort or condolence, and simply urged him to drink.
In the latter half of the night, Chen Qun had already fallen asleep on the mat, while Guo Jia remained wide awake.
He strolled through the chilly backyard, and alone in the darkness, he came to the back building.
He lit a candle and stared blankly at Deng Zhao's memorial tablet, wondering if he should also make a memorial tablet for Deng Jie. But then he remembered he was leaving soon and gave up the idea.
Just as they were about to leave, they unexpectedly discovered an incense burner in the very center of the altar, with traces of freshly burned incense still visible on it.
He glanced around and saw that the incense altar had been moved from in front of the ethereal spirit tablet.
I wasn't home, yet a stranger came in.
Although he was somewhat unwilling, he was now powerless to pursue the matter any further.
The next morning, Xun Wei went to Guo's residence and found that Guo Jia was not there. Only Chen Qun was lying in Guo Jia's study, with the bedding hastily draped over him.
The streets were still chilly from the early morning. Guo Jia walked to Gao Rou's residence and was about to knock on the door when he heard the sound of a carriage stopping behind him.
"Who comes to our door so early in the morning?" Gao Rou asked as she got out of the car.
Guo Jia slowly turned around, and his appearance startled Gao Rou so much that she exclaimed, "Chancellor?!"
The carriage curtain was immediately lifted, and Guo Yi crawled out of the carriage. When she saw Guo Jia's gray hair and pale face, she almost fell off the carriage, "You, you..."
Guo Jia took a step back and reached out to Guo Yi to help him up: "It's nothing, it just looked a bit intimidating. Are you alright?"
Gao Rou stepped forward to support Guo Yi, "We've returned from outside the city, and the army is about to set off. Should the Chief Minister also accompany the army?"
"That's natural." Guo Jia took out a document from his robes and handed it to Guo Yi. "I've come today to deliver this."
Guo Yi took it and saw that it was a contract from Jingnufang.
"I said before that I would entrust Yi with your care while she was pregnant, and I think it's the safest thing to do now."
After giving his instructions, Guo Jia bowed slightly and turned to leave.
"Brother!" Guo Yi could no longer hold back and pushed Gao Rou aside, taking two steps to catch up.
Guo Jia froze on the spot.
"Brother..." Guo Yi couldn't hold back her sobs. She rushed forward, grabbed his sleeve from behind, took out the jade pendant, and held it out to his front over his back.
Guo Jia could easily recognize the three-lined grain pattern on it. He immediately recalled the subtle fragments that had been hinted at, which he had been preparing for but had simply overlooked.
He didn't dare turn around yet, thinking of Deng Jie's words, "Since I have recognized her as my sister, then she is your own sister," and tremblingly covered the hand that held the jade pendant with his hand.
"Ah Yi...?"
Guo Yi let out a "whoosh" and leaned forward, bumping into him from behind and hugging him tightly.
Gao Rou stepped forward and said apologetically, "Feng Chun hesitated about the position of Chancellor because of Guo Gongze's matter... so he asked us to keep it from you... I'm sorry."
Guo Jia felt that he had let her down and let them down, and he dared not bear the burden of this apology.
He suddenly turned around and pulled Guo Yi into his arms.
"It was Jia's oversight, I'm so sorry!" He took two steps back, put his hand on Guo Yi's shoulder and looked her over carefully. The more he looked at her, the more affectionate she seemed. He gently called out, "Ah Yi... good, that's great."
Guo Yi, tears streaming down her face, reached out to support his arm, gazing at his withered, gray hair with heartache. "Brother... Brother, you've been injured to this extent..."
Guo Jia smiled and shook his head, "It's nothing, it's all in the past. Now that I know my sister is alright, has her own home and her own family, that's better than anything."
He looked at Gao Rou, feeling a sense of relief: "Wenhui, thank you. I hope you will continue to treat her well in the future."
Gao Rou straightened her body and bowed with her arms raised: "Don't worry, Master. This is my duty. I will protect Feng Chun."
Guo Jia breathed a sigh of relief and helped Guo Yi straighten up: "That's good. Jia should go now."
He scrutinized Guo Yi for a moment longer, and just as he was about to let go, Guo Yi grabbed his hand tightly.
"Brother!" Guo Yi could see clearly that there was a sense of farewell hidden in his eyes. "Brother, you must live well..."
Guo Jia froze upon hearing this. The scene felt strangely familiar, but he never imagined that he would go from being an observer to being caught up in it.
It was the same when they parted from Deng Zhao. The younger sister held onto her older brother and told him to live well, while the older brother kept quiet and kept quiet, hiding it from his sister.
So that's what Brother Yuanming was thinking back then...
Guo Jia only fully understood this today.
He looked at Guo Yi in front of him, whose expression was exactly the same as Deng Jie's, and his heart ached even more.
Guo Jia was thinking about these things and did not answer immediately.
Guo Yi choked back tears: "You must come back! You must come back alive..."
She gritted her teeth and vowed, "I...I will definitely let you see the person you most want to see!"
The person I most want to see...
He understood the purpose behind these words, just as they had advised Deng Zhao to accept Lu Yu's advice.
His gaze swept over Guo Yi with extreme complexity. Apart from the youngest son in the Sikong Mansion, the only one he cared about was her.
"Rest assured... I promised Shuo Yi that I would live to assist you, my lord, and quell the chaos of this world..."
"So... I won't die."
He still made a promise against his will, different from the one made by Deng Zhao back then.
Cao Cao led his large army on a long march, carrying a great deal of baggage. It took them a full month to reach Yicheng.
Guo Jia was extremely worried and strongly argued that speed was of the essence in warfare, and that they should travel light.
The army then unloaded its supplies at Yicheng and finally arrived at Wuzhong in May.
Unexpectedly, the rainy season arrived, and the roads became muddy, too shallow for vehicles and too deep for boats, making it difficult for the army to move.
The rain continued for two whole months without stopping. The hermit Tian Chou, after being invited and recommended, gladly accepted.
Tian Chou suggested they change their route to Lulong Pass and launch a surprise attack on Liucheng from Pinggang City.
Guo Jia was overjoyed and took out a map to compare with him: "This is exactly what we've been waiting for! Can it really lead us this way?!"
"So you were prepared all along!" Tian Chou was also very surprised. He immediately pointed to the map and explained to everyone, "This road has been in ruins for more than two hundred years, and outsiders would hardly know about it. Although it is difficult to travel, I can lead you to avoid the dangers in the mountains and take a shortcut to launch a surprise attack on Liucheng. Tadun will definitely not expect this!"
Zhou Buyi seized the opportunity and suggested, "Why don't we feign a retreat to lull them into a false sense of security, while secretly infiltrating Xuwu Mountain and taking the route through Lulong Pass!"
Tian Chou turned his gaze to the seventeen-year-old boy and exclaimed, "The young men under Cao Cao all have such insight!"
Cao Cao then adopted their advice, and the army set off to retreat, using the logistics troops as cover. They entered Xuwu Mountain, headed north along the Ru River, rested at Baitan, and then marched east to Pinggang City.
However, when the army left Pinggang City and entered the wilderness, things began to go wrong. Guo Jia and Qian Zhao ordered their men to search for water sources according to the map, but they could not find any.
This map was drawn by the two of them and Zhou Buyi together. The path through the towering mountains in front of them still overlaps with the fields by about 70-80%. The information here was obtained by Qian Zhao himself, so there should not be such a mistake.
Tian Chou examined the map closely, frowned, and said, "Although I have never been here before, I have some knowledge of the distribution of water sources. What this map shows... is completely different from what I know."
Everyone was shocked. Qian Zhao hurriedly flipped through the bamboo slips to check the information, only to discover that the pictures and text contradicted each other!
"The School Affairs Office... has a traitor within!" Guo Jia secretly regretted his carelessness and failure to pay more attention.
Cao Cao was furious: "When we return to Ye City, I will thoroughly investigate the Imperial Secretariat!"
But the predicament he was in was even worse, leaving him in a dilemma, which inevitably made him want to give up.
Guo Jia suppressed his surging blood and calmed Cao Cao down, saying, "My lord, do not worry. We have experience with this. It's just another time. Plus, we can survey the area locally, which will make things even simpler."
Cao Cao certainly believed he could do it, but looking at the sky that hadn't cleared for several days, he still had doubts. "Fengxiao's astronomical calculations still require a clear night, but now our food supplies are almost exhausted, and we have no water..."
“At least the direction of Liucheng is right! Let us proceed, and we will also spread out our search for water sources.” Guo Jia continued to encourage him.
Cao Cao's heart sank, but he finally made up his mind: "...Very well, let's follow Fengxiao's plan. Regardless of life or death, we will be together, and I will have no regrets!"
After several more days of arduous marching, they exhausted their water and food supplies, and even reached the point where they were at their wits' end and had to kill their horses to save themselves.
The day finally cleared up, but the daytime heat was unbearable and the nighttime chill was biting cold. This ordeal caused Guo Jia, who was already physically weak, to develop a high fever that night.
Inside the campsite, the cold wind tore at the campfire.
Despite being wrapped in a thin cloak, Guo Jia insisted on setting up an astrolabe outside the camp, intending to rebuild the map with Qian Zhao and Zhou Buyi.
Cao Cao heard that he was coughing incessantly and hurried over to find him.
"Fengxiao! Let Wenzhi take care of it. You are still recovering from your illness, how can you let yourself catch a cold!"
Zhou Buyi replied with great concern, "Master, we have already advised our master... but..."
Guo Jia raised his hand to wipe the bloodstains from his lips, but his tone was somewhat indifferent: "It's alright. Wenzhi is still lacking in experience. This plan concerns the life and death of the entire army, and I must do it personally."
Cao Cao was about to persuade him again, but Guo Jia raised his hand to stop him, his eyes unusually firm in the firelight: "If you, my lord, perish here with your army, not only Ye City and Xuchang, but the whole world will surely fall into chaos again! I will do my utmost to help you, my lord, crush the Wuhuan and open a path to survival!" After speaking, he let out another heart-wrenching cough.
Cao Cao's eyes were filled with sorrow as he took off his heavy fur coat and wrapped it around the man's body: "But your health..."
Guo Jia didn't stand on ceremony. He tightened his fur coat and forced a bitter smile: "If my life could save you and tens of thousands of soldiers... that would be an immense blessing..."
He glanced at Cao Cao's worried gaze, then forced himself to smile easily: "...Knowing that I had promised my wife and sister that I would see you, Your Excellency, pacify the four seas...how can I fall so easily?"
Although, as he said, drawing the map was a piece of cake, the desolate wilderness was still cold and windy, and as the night deepened, Guo Jia's head grew heavier.
He coughed so hard it was excruciating, the familiar, disgusting, and sweet-smelling taste rising up several times, yet he still forced himself to adjust the astrolabe and check with Qian Zhao every potential water source.
When Zhou Buyi finished writing the last stroke, Guo Jia's taut string suddenly relaxed, and after vomiting a mouthful of blood, he completely fainted.
After that night, Guo Jia was placed alone in the main camp of the army, while Cao Cao led the vanguard on a rapid march.
According to the new map, the supply team dug more than 30 zhang (approximately 130 meters) into the ground at the location Qian Zhao had explored before finally finding water, thus rekindling the army's hope.
This narrow escape allowed the army to catch its breath and eventually emerge from the wasteland.
Cao's army marched all the way to Bailang Mountain, where they encountered the Wuhuan leader Tadun in battle.
In this battle, Zhang Liao was valiant and decisively defeated Tadun, capturing over 200,000 prisoners before marching into Liucheng in a grand procession.
The hardship had finally turned into happiness, which greatly boosted the confidence of Zhang Liao and others. They looked forward to Cao Cao ordering a direct attack on Gongsun Kang in Liaodong to completely annihilate the Yuan clan.
Cao Cao hesitated.
On one hand, Gongsun Kang and the Yuan family were close at hand; on the other hand, the lightly armed Tiger and Leopard Cavalry had suffered losses in the wilderness.
Seeing that Cao Cao was hesitant, Guo Jia, supported by Zhou Buyi, joined the military discussion.
"Liaodong is a long and cold road, and our army is exhausted and has not yet had a chance to rest... Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang have sought refuge with Gongsun Kang. Although they are living under someone else's roof, the Yuan family still has prestige. Gongsun Kang treats them leniently on the surface but is actually wary of them... If we launch a strong attack now, it will only unite them to resist... If we show them a retreat, Gongsun Kang will surely fear a backlash from the Yuan family."
Guo Jia's words were like a wake-up call for Cao Cao, who clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Fengxiao's words have awakened me and are exactly what I wanted to hear!"
Therefore, following Guo Jia's strategy, the army was ordered to retreat slowly.
Sure enough, not long after the retreat, Gongsun Kang sent someone to deliver the heads of Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang. Cao Cao was overjoyed and immediately ordered that Gongsun Kang be granted the title of Marquis of Xiangping.
On their return journey, they passed by Jieshi Mountain. Cao Cao led his troops to the top of Sendai Peak, filled with boundless pride, and wrote down his expansive sentiments: "The sun and moon seem to rise from within it; the starry sky seems to emanate from within it."
Although Guo Jia was waiting for him at the foot of the mountain, he was filled with emotion as he looked at the high mountain and the figure behind him.
In this battle, Hebei was finally pacified, and I feel I've done my part. Is this one step closer to peace? Tell me, this time Jia really didn't lie to you, did he?
Cao Cao returned to the camp and reached out to feel Guo Jia's cold forehead. "Fengxiao, are you feeling any better?"
Guo Jia, already exhausted, weakly grasped his hand: "My lord, please don't worry about these things... There are still remnants of the Wuhuan in Shangjun and Daijun, so please go ahead... But... Jingzhou... I'm afraid... I won't be able to accompany you any longer..."
Cao Cao couldn't bear it, but he understood Guo Jia's meaning. He left a small squad of personal guards to protect Zhou Buyi and have him take care of him closely.
Before his departure, he leaned against the camp and held Guo Jia's hand tightly, unwilling to let go: "Fengxiao... take good care of yourself! I will be waiting for your return in Yecheng!"
Guo Jia blinked slowly, a smile in his eyes, "I have no regrets..."
After Cao Cao left, he sent fast horses back every day to inquire about Guo Jia's condition, but the news brought back by the messengers grew heavier with each passing day.
Zhou Buyi, holding the prescription left by Deng Jie, searched for doctors and medicines in the city and stayed by Guo Jia's bedside.
Guo Jia smelled the familiar scent of medicine, and his heart stirred slightly. Looking at Zhou Buyi's gaunt face, also ravaged by the ordeal, he waved his hand at him: "Wenzhi... there's no need to trouble yourself anymore... He's gone, beyond medical help, I have nothing left to cherish..."
When they finally returned to Yicheng, the slightly warmer weather that day gave Guo Jia a sense of renewed energy.
Zhou Buyi chose a quiet inn with a courtyard for Guo Jia to stay in, and then dismissed the guards.
There was almost no wind that night. Guo Jia got up alone, straightened his gray hair, wrapped himself in the fur coat left by Cao Cao, and sat alone under the eaves in the courtyard.
As he thought this, his gaze unconsciously drifted in that direction again, and there, in the sky above the Yin position, a lone star was still twinkling intermittently.
“Say it…” he murmured.
"Filial piety."
Guo Jia felt his eyelids growing heavier and heavier. "You've come to pick me up... That's so good..."
Before he closed his eyes, he seemed to see that familiar, gentle face.
"So, when I'm about to die... I really can... see you..."
Not long after Cao Cao had accepted the surrender of the two Wuhuan tribes in Dai and Shang counties, he received news of Guo Jia's death from Yicheng.
The joy of victory was instantly replaced by the sorrow brought by this terrible news.
After privately mourning Guo Jia, the first thing he did upon returning to Ye City was to thoroughly investigate the matter of the maps.
He just didn't expect that before he even stepped into the Sikong Mansion, he would see a figure kneeling in front of his residence, carrying thorns and begging for forgiveness.
"Lu Hong?!" Cao Cao's anger was now burning with murderous intent.
"My lord! I am guilty! I deserve to die ten thousand times!" Lu Hong kowtowed heavily.
Cao Cao suppressed his anger and brought him into his residence, demanding that he explain the whole story.
Lu Hong apologized to Cao Cao after news of the army's capture of Liucheng reached Yecheng. His wife, Qingwu, confessed to him that she had altered the original map Guo Jia had given Lu Hong and replaced it with a fake one.
"It was her?!" Cao Cao was both shocked and furious. He slammed his fist on the table and roared, "She's just a lowly maid! I gave her her life, I gave her her slave status, and I even made her an official's wife! How dare she do this?!"
What angered him even more at that moment was that, because of such a lowly maid, he and his army had almost perished abroad, and his most beloved strategist had died far from home, his spirit still not returned.
“She said…she knew that Lady Deng died because of the Chief Minister and…and…” Lu Hong hesitated to continue, stole a glance at Cao Cao, gritted his teeth and continued, “and the Minister of Works…and therefore hoped…hoped…that the two of them would perish on the way.”
"Absurd! How could a mere maidservant have such audacity, and how could she possibly understand maps?!"
"Hong also questioned her in the same way!" Lu Hong said urgently. "Qingwu just cried and said that she couldn't get over her hatred... I originally asked if someone else had instigated this, or if we could find a way to exonerate her..."
Although Lu Hong was somewhat guilty about saying this, he knew that hiding it from Cao Cao would not do him any good.
"But she just shook her head and said she didn't know who was behind it."
"I don't know?!" Cao Cao narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
“Yes, she said that on the night of Madam Deng’s funeral, a beautiful woman with completely white hair came alone to speak to her at the coffin.” Lu Hong’s eyes were earnest, seemingly genuine. “She said that she had also received kindness from Madam Deng and, like Qingwu, despised the person who ‘killed’ Madam Deng…”
Lu Hong paused, and seeing that Cao Cao was thinking seriously, he continued, "The woman also took Qingwu to the back room of the Guo residence. Qingwu said that she saw a blank memorial tablet in the back room and silently shed tears, which strengthened their resolve."
"A white-haired woman? A blank memorial tablet?" Cao Cao's suspicions deepened, yet his eyes seemed to see through something.
"After the woman finished offering incense and handed over the map to Qingwu, she left. Therefore, Qingwu truly did not know her whereabouts!"
Seeing that Cao Cao had calmed down, Lu Hong thought there was still a chance to exonerate himself and took the lead in taking responsibility: "...Therefore, when Qingwu learned that our army had captured Liucheng, he believed that he could not escape death and did not want to implicate Hong...However, as a Colonel of the Imperial Secretariat, I failed to realize that my wife had been turned against us, which led to the near annihilation of the army...and even caused the Imperial Advisor to..."
Speaking of Guo Jia, he finally lost his nerve and banged his forehead heavily on the ground again, "...Hong knows that his crimes are unforgivable. My wife and I only ask for death. Please punish us, my lord!"
Cao Cao looked down at Lu Hong, who was bowing his head in apology, and let out a short, cold laugh, filled with a murderous intent that seemed to see right through people: "You think that by carrying thorns on your back and pleading guilty, taking all the blame, I will let you go? Do you think you can pay for Fengxiao's life?!"
He approached Lu Hong and said, "It just so happens that... you are also a 'family member' that Fengxiao brought from his old residence in Yangdi. Qingwu also made a fuss about wanting to enter his residence. Why don't you two go together to be reborn and accompany him?"
Cao Cao came to Guo's residence alone, passed through the backyard, entered the inner room, lit candles, and examined the memorial tablets one by one.
The first one on the bottom layer was the blank spirit tablet. He carefully examined the other spirit tablets and even found people he knew: Wang Hou, Xu Ta... He suddenly remembered the sachet tied to the jade disc that was found when Xu Ta died. Guo Jia had said that Deng Jie had given it to him on purpose.
It seems that Madam Deng is particular about those she knows and handles... If so, in her eyes, there shouldn't be one blank spirit tablet, but two.
Cao Cao's eyes suddenly lit up, and he headed straight for Ye Prison.
Deep within the dark and damp prison cell, Hua Tuo was writing furiously by candlelight.
"Hua Yuanhua!" Cao Cao's voice boomed like thunder as he forcefully pushed open the prison door and strode in with a heavy aura.
Hua Tuo was so startled by the sudden sound that his hand trembled, leaving a ink dot on the bamboo slip.
"How's your plan for Chong'er's medicine coming along?" Cao Cao asked in a low voice, starting with this question.
Hua Tuo put down his brush, slowly turned around, knelt before Cao Cao across the cage, and bowed his head, saying, "Master Sikong, your illness, young master's... is a congenital ailment. I have exhausted all my knowledge, yet I still cannot fathom its meaning..."
"Why did you have someone reduce the amount of cinnabar treatment he received earlier? Didn't you know he's started to swell up again?!" Knowing that Cao Cao was returning, Huan Shi sent people to Cao Cao every day to report on Cao Chong's condition.
Hua Tuo sighed, "I am unwilling to feed you that poison that only quenches thirst... Without cinnabar, you should be able to recover better."
Cao Cao slammed his fist on the prison pillar in a fit of rage, then suppressed his anger and revealed the purpose of Cao Cao's visit: "...Fine, let's set that aside for now. I'll ask you, in your half-life of practicing medicine, have you ever saved any... people who deserve to die?!"
"What about those who are already dead?!" Cao Cao, unwilling to dwell on such matters, pressed on, glaring angrily at Hua Tuo, "Those who should have died, but were brought back to life by you!"
Hua Tuo stiffened, and spoke evasively, "...What does the Minister mean by this? I do not possess such ability to bring the dead back to life."
"What do you mean?" Cao Cao sneered. "Last year, when we met your 'Emperor's envoy,' wasn't there one who slipped through the net? Wasn't it a white-haired woman?!"
Hua Tuo's face immediately turned ugly, and he involuntarily shrank back, not daring to answer.
Cao Cao realized, "As expected! Could that person be... Consort Dong?!"
Hua Tuo looked up at him with his mouth agape, his eyes filled with fear.
Cao Cao snorted coldly and paced back and forth in front of the prison. "Deng said on the spot that she used Mafeisan to relieve her pain, but Lu Hong said that she bled after using Mafeisan... But you have also used Mafeisan on pregnant women to assist in childbirth, so it is clear that Mafeisan should not be harmful to the fetus?!"
He pondered this information in his mind and continued to question Hua Tuo: "That day, she specifically summoned you to Fengxiao's house. Was it to send you to the mortuary outside the city to rescue Consort Dong?!"
Hua Tuo was chilled to the bone by Cao Cao's sudden gaze, his body trembling with cold sweat, unable to refute it.
"So that's how it is... Just as I suspected!" Cao Cao laughed in anger, his eerie laughter echoing in the small prison cell. "What a Deng! She deceived Fengxiao and played this 'benevolence and righteousness' act right under my nose!"
As he spoke, his anger intensified, and his voice rose: "Do you know! It is your 'benevolence and righteousness' that almost caused me to die on the expedition! That tens of thousands of troops were nearly wiped out! That the world was on the verge of falling into chaos again! And that has already caused... Fengxiao to die because of this!"
"What?!" Hua Tuo, upon hearing this, finally snapped out of his daze and lunged at the prison pillar, his withered fingers gripping the wooden post tightly. "Fengxiao is dead?! Then... what about Yijun?!"
"Yijun... long ago..." Hua Tuo slumped to the ground, tears streaming down his face, "Those two actually..."
“Yuanhua, tell me where Consort Dong is, and I will still release you. You can stay in the manor and focus on your research for Chong’er.”
Hua Tuo shook his head blankly: "I really don't know... After I saved her, I gave her a talisman and some money, and then let her go on her own... She only came looking for me last year, and that's when I learned that the medicine would turn her black hair white... But the people from the Imperial Academy interrupted our conversation, and she ran away without leaving any information. I really don't know where she is..."
Hua Tuo knew that he was referring to Cao Chong, so he could only kowtow deeply: "I am deeply sinful, I must not harm the young master again..."
"Fine, fine!" Cao Cao sneered, taking two steps back. "You think you'd survive if you didn't save my son?!"
"I want to kill you! I don't even need to fabricate any charges against you! Do you know why you've been imprisoned here all this time?! Do you think I really need any medicine from you?! Your wife, daughters, and disciples are all long dead! Gone! You're all alone in this prison. Let's see how many more days you can survive here!"
"Dead...dead?! They're all dead?!" Hua Tuo looked at Cao Cao in horror, tears streaming down his face.
He waved to the door, ordering his men to open the prison door, take away all the bamboo slips from his desk, and throw them into the brazier.
After the muffled thud, there was a deathly silence.
Cao Cao watched coldly, having lost all his strength.
He turned around, waved his hand, and told the jailer to lock the cell door.
"If they're not dead, keep them locked up. Once they're all dead, throw them out."
In May of the thirteenth year of Jian'an (208 AD), without Hua Tuo's life-saving intervention, Cao Chong ultimately died young.
He carried too many expectations from Cao Cao, and ultimately, like a shooting star, he followed Guo Jia in his demise.
The loneliness here is something only Cao Cao and Zhou Buyi could understand.
He once joked with Cao Chong in private that in the future, the two of them would become close friends, like Guo Jia and Cao Cao, who were honest with each other.
But unexpectedly, in less than a year, the two of them passed away one after the other.
When Cao Pi entered the mansion, he saw Zhou Buyi, who had lost Guo Jia and Cao Chong. He secretly thought that the opportunity had come and couldn't wait to ask Cao Cao for favor, hoping to be given to him to accompany him.
Cao Cao merely scrutinized him coldly, saying, "You...can't control him."
He even summoned Zhou Buyi himself and asked him, "Wenzhi, Cang Shu is dead. Now, would you rather accompany Zi Huan or Zi Jian?"
Zhou Buyi was incredibly shrewd. Cao Cao deliberately brought Cao Zhi and Cao Pi together, seemingly letting him make a choice, but in reality, he was deliberately creating a struggle for the throne and concealing a reason to kill him at any time.
He closed his eyes, a hint of relief even playing on his lips, and faced death with a sense of liberation. His ideals were extinguished; what joy was there in living?
Cao Cao was very satisfied with his choice, and gestured to Cao Pi as if to say, "Look, this is his own choice."
Cao Pi wanted to persuade him again, but Cao Cao raised his hand to stop him, and Zhou Buyi was taken away.
Cao Pi was finally able to fill the void in his heart, and a few months later, he welcomed the person destined for him.
In December, Cao Cao suffered a crushing defeat at the Battle of Red Cliffs. On the banks of the Yangtze River, he burned cloth as a sacrifice to Guo Jia, lamenting, "If Guo Fengxiao were here, I would not have come to this."
If these words could still be considered an excuse for his defeat, then looking at the sparks being swept into the air, Cao Cao recalled Guo Jia's last words to him, "Jia has no regrets," and couldn't help but shed tears, revealing the true feelings in his heart. He cried out, "Alas, Fengxiao! What a tragedy, Fengxiao! What a pity, Fengxiao!"
In the dead of winter, Xun Wei took advantage of his return to his hometown and went on a detour to Yangdi with Chen Qun.
“At least they’re back, let’s go see them,” Xun Wei suggested to her husband, and prepared offerings to visit the graves of Guo Jia and his wife.
They just didn't expect that as soon as they got off the car, they saw two people already standing in front of the lonely grave.
One of them was a woman dressed in plain clothes, silently wiping the tombstone.
Beside him stood a tall, upright boy, about thirteen or fourteen years old, clearing the weeds around the grave.
Xun Wei was surprised, having never seen these two people before. He stepped forward and asked gently, "May I ask who you are, Madam and Young Master...?"
The woman looked up at the sound, her eyes clear but she remained silent, then looked at the boy.
The young man turned around somewhat awkwardly, bowed respectfully to Xun Wei and Chen Qun, and said with difficulty, "This junior, Deng Mu, is my mother... Madam Lu. We are here to pay our respects to my uncle... and aunt."
"Deng Mu?! You are Mu'er?!" Xun Wei's eyes lit up. She had heard Deng Jie mention this nephew before. He was born in Kuaiji County in the second year of Jian'an. Later, he was sent back to his hometown of Xinye because of Deng Zhao's plan to assassinate Sun Ce.
“You are Deng Jun’s second wife…” Xun Wei looked Lu Yu up and down. She knew about the discord between Deng Jie and Lu Yu, and was quite surprised that she would bring her son here. However, so many years had passed, and the grudges had long since faded away. After all, she was someone who was related to her son by blood.
Chen Qun stepped forward and bowed respectfully, saying solemnly, "So it is Young Master Deng and Madam Lu. I am Chen Qun from Yingchuan, and this is my wife, Madam Xun. We have come to visit an old friend today."
Deng Mu quickly returned the greeting, his speech was not very fluent due to a stutter, but his attitude was extremely respectful.
Seeing the boy's frightened appearance, Xun Wei felt a pang of pity. After paying his respects to Guo Jia and his wife, he invited them, "It's cool here, why don't you come back to our residence with us for a while?"
Deng Mu looked at his mother, and Lu Yu nodded slightly, showing a grateful expression.
In the warm hall of the Chen residence, Deng Mu revealed to Chen Qun and his wife the events of the fifth year of Jian'an.
Years ago, Lu Yu was prevented from leaving the Yu clan. To protect her husband Deng Zhao's identity, she swallowed burning charcoal in front of Deng Mu, rendering her unable to speak. Young Deng Mu witnessed his mother's suffering, which traumatized him both physically and mentally, causing him to have difficulty speaking from then on.
This year, because Jingbei was taken in by the Minister of Works, they had to move to Runan with their clan. But this also gave them the opportunity to come to Yingchuan to pay respects to Guo Jia and his wife.
Chen Qun was curious; although his speech was not fluent, his thoughts were clear, and he had even received training in the clan school.
Deng Mu cupped his hands and replied, "Fortunately, my uncle entrusted someone to give me the book... My father left me some money, which allowed me to continue my studies with my master."
Listening to the boy's hesitant yet sincere narration, looking at his slightly flushed cheeks from trying to express himself, and then at Lu Yu standing silently beside him, gazing tenderly at his son, Xun Wei was filled with mixed emotions.
She sighed softly: "I had a brief encounter with your father, Deng Jun. He was a chivalrous and heroic man, and also Fengxiao's best friend. Seeing you today, your physique already bears a strong resemblance to your father. Although you have difficulty speaking, your accumulated knowledge and talent are already evident... Given time, you may very well reach the level of Guo Fengxiao. You are a rare and promising talent."
As she said this, she deliberately looked at Chen Qun.
In fact, the two of them discussed the issue of scholars from poor families entering officialdom after Guo Jia and his wife passed away.
Unlike aristocratic families like their own, they possessed profound political resources and long-standing political experience, making them prone to becoming deeply entangled in political struggles. Some, like Deng Jie, were unable to accept it, while others, like Guo Jia, left themselves no way out.
After they reached this consensus, Chen Qun proposed the idea of the "Nine-Rank System for Officials," which was approved by Xun Wei.
Now that they saw the young man's true talent, they felt a pang of reluctance. Xun Wei's intention was to subtly suggest that Chen Qun could recommend him.
Chen Qun naturally understood his wife's meaning, nodded slightly, and invited Deng Mu to tour the mansion.
As they approached the ancestral hall, a simple and ancient stone tablet caught Deng Mu's attention.
"This is a monument commemorating my grandfather's virtuous governance," Chen Qun explained to him.
Deng Mu stood there for a long time, gazing at the inscription "Literature serves as a model for the world, conduct as a standard for scholars," and a surge of emotion welled up in his heart.
Chen Qun was slightly taken aback, then stroked his beard and smiled, praising, "Good ambition! Deng Fan, Deng Shize, good names! Shize, continue to study diligently, and I will definitely recommend you for a position in the future!"
Deng Mu was overjoyed and bowed deeply to Chen Qun.
But then Lu Yu's eyes flickered, and after hesitating for a while, she stepped forward, took Deng Mu's hand, and gestured to indicate that they shared the same name.
Deng Mu immediately understood his mother's reminder: there was already an elder in the clan named "Deng Fan," and to avoid using that name, they could not adopt it.
A hint of disappointment flashed across the boy's face, but he quickly regained his thoughtful expression.
The boy's eyes gleamed, and he bowed deeply again, saying, "Thank you, Lord Chen. From now on, I will be known as..."
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The author says: [1] Biography of Deng Ai in Records of the Three Kingdoms: Deng Ai, courtesy name Shizai, was a native of Jiyang in Yiyang. He was orphaned at a young age. After Cao Cao conquered Jingzhou, he was moved to Runan and became a farmer raising calves. At the age of twelve, he went to Yingchuan with his mother. He read the inscription on the stele of Chen Shi, the former magistrate of Taiqiu, which said, "His writing is a model for the world, and his conduct is a model for scholars." So Ai named himself Fan and his courtesy name Shize. Later, when there were relatives with the same name, he changed it.
Some soliloquy:
As a historically accurate ending, this story features few unexpected events for the main characters. Instead, it focuses on explaining the fates of the supporting characters and concluding the relationships between them. Therefore, despite its length, the writing is somewhat rushed due to limited skill.
For me, the initial idea was to write a serious drama, a novel entirely with Guo Jia as the protagonist. However, due to my own limitations, I unexpectedly ended up writing a romance novel... It's funny, but at least I've achieved all the elements I originally wanted to build, so I have no regrets.
The next chapter will bring Guo and Deng to a perfect conclusion. If all goes well, we will write one or two more short side stories after they survived the ordeal, restarting their relationship and starting over.
Thank you to everyone who has read this far. Regardless of your feelings, I feel that being able to create content for love is the greatest joy.
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