The Wedding

I'll admit it. I was too harsh on Sima Lang. Honestly, I could have just used Sima Jun and Sima Yi as an excuse and ended things with a clean we can't see each other anymore.

But Sima Lang wouldn't have given up that easily. She looked fragile, sure — but her character was pure steel.

If she cut ties with her clan entirely and showed up at my administrative seat, things would get even worse. A guy with nothing to his name couldn't afford to make enemies of both Sima Jun and Sima Yi at once.

So this was the conclusion I reached: hand over Sima Lang — but squeeze every last scrap of compensation out of Sima Jun first.

Thanks to that, I got a sizable plot of land for free. More importantly, I secured a one-month loan of a thousand Sima clan private soldiers.

"Uong! Why'd our troop numbers suddenly jump like that?"

"If you're only borrowing them for a month, why bother bringing them at all? We're already stretched thin feeding the Black Mountain Bandit refugees."

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, of course, completely failed to grasp the big picture behind my borrowed forces. Fine. I'd just have to show them.

"It's simple. Starting now, we're going to take the counties west of Yawang one by one, drive out their magistrates and officials, and strip them of administrative authority."

"Didn't you tell me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠before that we weren't supposed to do that kind of thing?"

"Uong! Master said so too! They're officials appointed by the Emperor same as us — we can't just punish them however we want!"

"Master Lu Zhi was right at the time, sure. But we've already declared war on Dong Zhuo and the current court, haven't we? Anyone who refuses to join the Coalition is as good as a traitor colluding with Dong Zhuo. And what excuse do you need to strike down a nest of traitors?"

"…"

Nothing to say to that, huh? The moment local governors started picking fights with the central government, the curtain rose on the age of warlords.

From here on out, first-mover advantage would shine bright. I had to occupy territory before every scrap of land got scooped up by the major powers and the whole map turned into a red ocean — only then could I throw my weight around later.

So we marched west at once. Following the river upstream, we took the administrative seats of Pa, Shen Shui, and Zhi.

Sure, there was some small-scale resistance. But what military strength could magistrates and county chiefs who hadn't even tasted the chaos of the age possibly have?

We, on the other hand, had long since swollen past two thousand after absorbing the Taihang mountain stronghold and borrowing the Sima clan's troops.

County seats with a few hundred men at best abandoned their posts and fled at the mere sound of our imposing war drums from a distance.

In less than half a month, we'd secured all three counties. First I stationed Guan Yu and a portion of the troops at Zhi County — a buffer zone bordering White Wave Bandit territory.

Then I summoned Jian Yong, Shang Lin, Han Hao, and the others, ordering them to spread the techniques we'd developed so far across each region. Of course, it wouldn't be Han Hao if she didn't pick a fight right then and there.

"Th-this is wrong somehow. How can we just drive out officials appointed by the Emperor on our own authority?"

"Han Hao, I already told you. The moment Dong Zhuo deposed and murdered an Emperor on his own whim, the rules were already broken. Those people weren't appointed by the Emperor's will — Dong Zhuo stuffed them in there however he liked. So we, who hold genuine imperial commissions, will administer things temporarily and return everything to the national treasury later."

"Is… is that so? But this still goes against a scholar's principles…"

"Then should we go do what Wang Guang did and strip the common people of every scrap of food? Those bastards have granaries at the government offices stuffed full of grain. Better to distribute a little to the starving people than let it all go to corrupt hoarding — and put the rest to good use, don't you think?"

"But still…"

But still what? Drop the Confucian holier-than-thou act and go work like a dog already.

Once I'd sent Jian Yong and Han Hao on their way, I suddenly realized only Shang Lin and I were left.

"…"

Awkward. Come to think of it, was this the first time I'd faced Shang Lin since parting with Sima Lang?

As Sima Lang's friend, there was no way she hadn't heard the news. I'd been deliberately uncomfortable about it myself and had been passing messages through Jian Yong this whole time — I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠never expected a situation like this to come up.

"What should I do?"

"Huh? Ah… Shang Lin, you should head to Shen Shui and handle things on that end. But you're not saying anything to me at all."

"Is there something I'm supposed to say?"

"I'd think there naturally would be. If you want to curse me out, go ahead. I'm fully prepared to take it."

Shang Lin knew better than anyone how Sima Lang saw me. That was exactly why she'd arranged the reconciliation in the first place, even writing poetry and playing matchmaker between us.

There was no way someone like her had nothing to say. So go on — pour out every insult on that garbage human being I am, on Sima Lang's behalf. Maybe then I'd feel a little better.

"I really don't have anything to say… I don't particularly feel much about it."

"Really? You and Lady Sima were extremely close. Honestly, I was worried sick you'd resign in a rage or something."

"We are close. But public is public, and private is private. More than that — I'm not particularly worried."

"…?"

Shang Lin smiled thinly and stepped closer. With arrogant eyes that seemed to know everything, she left me with a single line.

"People who are meant to meet… will always meet eventually."

I returned to Yawang. The takeover had finished faster than expected, so it was time to return the troops to the Sima clan.

Hiihing!!!

But before I could even return the forces, an unexpected guest arrived. The moment Zhao Yun dismounted, she strode straight into the administrative seat looking for me.

"Huh? Why are you here instead of at Yu Bi's side?"

Shhk!

Without so much as a reply, Zhao Yun thrust a letter at me. We'd even exchanged keepsakes as tokens of affection — skipping the greeting felt a little cold…

"…?"

What the hell was this? I'd been keeping my head down quietly in Yawang specifically so I wouldn't ruffle Yuan Shao's feathers — and now the man himself was summoning me?

"Any idea what this is about, Zilong?"

I knew it was stupid asking a girl who cared about nothing except guarding Yu Bi. But Yuan Shao had zero reason to call for me, so I needed something — anything — to prepare with.

Then Zhao Yun spoke. And surprisingly, it might even have something to do with my next move.

"A man named Cao Cao came calling."

I left Yawang's affairs to Zhang Fei and set out for the Coalition main camp with only Zhao Yun for company. My head was packed full of the news she'd delivered.

Cao Cao had raised his army in Yan Province with help from Zhang Miao and Bao Xin, so unlike Yuan Shao's Hebei faction, he would have set up camp at Sanzhao.

It wasn't far, sure — but was Cao Cao really supposed to be visiting Yuan Shao at this point in the timeline?

Then again, historical records only left broad strokes. You never knew the fine details of what actually happened inside them.

Maybe he just wanted to pay his respects to the coalition leader. Or maybe, true to form, he was there to snoop around.

But the interesting part came next. Because according to my plan, this was around the time I was supposed to join Cao Cao's forces.

Wang Guang's defeat had cost the Hebei faction its momentum against Dong Zhuo for the time being. But that didn't mean it was all over.

If Cao Cao could beat Xu Rong, the entire war situation would shift overnight. More than anything, Xu Rong carried the cursed reputation of dying the moment she lost — and if that happened, Sun Jian could skip past her entirely and go straight at Dong Zhuo.

If Cao Cao and Sun Jian hit from both flanks with their full strength intact, catching Dong Zhuo before he fled to Chang'an might not even be a dream. Add Yuan Shao's Hebei faction into the mix, and the odds would climb exponentially.

So my next objective was clear and certain. One way or another, I had to go to Sanzhao with Cao Cao and flip the outcome of that battle.

Hiiing!

Arrival at the main camp. Since it had been a while, I figured I should see my lord Yu Bi first and headed for her tent.

"Hnn… haah… Yu Bi, you've gotten even prettier since I last saw you. How do you smell this fragrant when you live in a tent every day?"

"A-ah… Lord Cao, why do you keep saying such things…"

A familiar voice drifted out. I checked — and sure enough… Cao Cao, who still hadn't given up even at this stage, had blocked Yu Bi's path and was mid-flirt.

"But when else am I supposed to talk to you? Watching you stuck to Benchu every day makes a man a little jealous. Though… Yu Bi, you haven't already gone pushuk-pushuk with Yuan Shao, have you?"

"W-what are you saying? Benchu and I are merely fellow members of the same coalition. I have never done anything that would shame me before others — not even a trace of it."

"Hooo… so you're still a virgin, then? Another man's pure, untouched woman… damn. Just how hard are you trying to get me worked up?"

True to form as an NTL specialist, the second he confirmed Yu Bi and Yuan Shao were strictly platonic, his lower half sprang up — boing! Yu Bi turned her head away from a sight she couldn't bear to look at.

"P-please stop. I must attend the council meeting."

"I'm going too anyway, so let's go together. That aside, you seem pretty casual with Benchu's name. You'll call me Cao Mengde too, right?"

"How could I address Lord Cao by his courtesy name? We have only met a few times in the capital. We have not yet built a friendship that would warrant…"

"Aiiiing!! Don't be like that — just say it. Come on, call me that in that pretty voice of yours, nice and sweet!"

"C-Cao Mengde…"

Only after half-coercing the form of address out of her did Cao Cao settle down a little. Yu Bi looked mortified enough that I decided it was time to step in.

"Lord Cao Cao? It's been a while."

"Do Hoji! You're here already?"

Since when was Cao Cao close enough to me to use my courtesy name the second he saw me? Yu Bi spotted me and immediately darted behind my back to hide.

"Do Yeop? This is a misunderstanding. Lord Cao Cao suddenly blocked my path and—"

"I know. That aside, I heard Yuan Shao summoned me?"

"A-ah… about that…"

"That's right! I asked him to call you. Since we're headed the same place, why don't we go together? Mind if I walk next to Yu Bi?"

"…?"

What was this? So Yuan Shao had issued the summons, sure — but the one who'd asked Yuan Shao to call me in the first place was Cao Cao?

While my head spun, Cao Cao swept Yu Bi along and headed for the tent first. In the end, I had no choice but to go and face all three of them.

"Your servant Do Yeop, answering the summons of Colonel-Director Yuan."

I entered the tent to find Yuan Shao seated in the place of honor with a grave expression. Yu Bi sat hunched to his right like a scolded child, reading the room, while Cao Cao sprawled opposite with his legs crossed.

Wink!

Behind Cao Cao stood Xiahou Yuan. The moment she saw me, she shot me a wink with that signature sultry look of hers.

Mmm… thankfully, her wounds seemed fully healed — not a single scar left on that face. If anything had marred that outstanding beauty, it would have been a loss for the entire realm.

"Mengde here asked me to summon you. Mengde — don't you think it's time you explained why?"

Yuan Shao didn't spare me so much as a glance as he called on Cao Cao, clearly displeased to see me at all. Looking at it now, even Yuan Shao himself had no idea why Cao Cao wanted me here.

"Why else? I've left an excellent retainer out in the cold for too long, so I came to collect him."

"…!?"

In an instant, the solemn council chamber erupted in murmurs. Cao Cao — what exactly did you just call me?

"A r-retainer? So he really was someone you sent, Mengde?"

"Why else would Do Hoji have gone after Dong Zhuo with Miaocai on an assassination attempt? Our hearts were already in sync from the moment I saw him at that talent showcase. And I hear he tried to reinforce Wang Guang's forces only to fail by a hair?"

Cao Cao casually spun lies and treated me like one of his subordinates. Worse, by bringing up Wang Guang in the process, he'd made it inevitable that everyone would assume I'd deliberately sabotaged the operation.

"D-Do Yeop, what is the meaning of this? Why is Lord Cao saying such things…"

Yu Bi looked even more shocked than Yuan Shao. Then again, she'd already been tricked by Yuan Shao's silver tongue once before into suspecting I might belong to Cao Cao's camp.

"That's impossible! Lord Cao Cao? I have no idea why you're saying any of this, but since when have we ever been lord and vassal? My lord is and always has been Yu Bi, who is sitting right here—"

"True, we did quarrel a bit. But in the end, an older brother can't keep winning forever against his little sister, can he? So I've decided. The marriage with Miaocai — I'll give it my full, blazing blessing."

"Hup…"

At the word marriage with Xiahou Yuan, Yu Bi went dizzy and toppled backward. If Zhao Yun hadn't caught her in time, she would have cracked her skull open on the floor.

But what the hell had this lunatic Cao Cao been spouting this whole time? Forget treating me like his subordinate — now he was acting like I was about to become his brother-in-law?

He rattled it all off so fast with that trademark silver tongue that I never even got a proper chance to defend myself. Yuan Shao, thoroughly furious, turned to Xiahou Yuan.

"Miaocai! Speak for yourself. Is what Mengde said true?"

"Well… Hoji and I did play around pretty hot and heavy, yeah? Since Mengde's given his blessing, I'm taking him home for real and holding the wedding. On that note, big brother Yuan — want to officiate?"

"I'm far too busy to officiate. But this works out well enough. Do Yeop, you must have been bored stuck in Yawang — now you can go follow that Mengde you've wanted so badly and pursue your ambitions."

Yuan Shao was baffled, but anything that got me away from Yu Bi's side was fine by him. But before that, how about listening to what I had to say?

"I have no idea what any of you are talking about, but Miaocai and I are nothing to each other. Miaocai, why are you saying that?"

"Oh reeeally? Then should I explain everything that happened in that prison cell, right here? I'm too crude to dress it up in fancy words, though. Back then, I clearly had your di—"

Whap!

I clamped my hand over Xiahou Yuan's mouth before the mortifying words could finish coming out. The little brat went mmph-mmph! with her signature theatrics, only amplifying the suspicion.

Cao Cao. Xiahou Yuan. What the hell was going through your heads?

I broke up the meeting and returned to Yu Bi's tent. She sat on the bed half out of her mind, tears pouring down her face.

"Hic… how could you do this? You already promised your future to Lady Xiahou Yuan, and yet you deceived me so completely all this time…"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"What are you even saying? I have no idea why Cao Cao and Xiahou Yuan are spouting that nonsense, but I can look up at the heavens without a shred of shame."

"Sniff… but just now, when Lady Xiahou Yuan tried to say something important, you covered her mouth, did you not? What on earth happened in that prison?"

"That… I only endured humiliation to survive. Not a single scrap of my own will was involved, and nothing like what you're imagining happened."

"A-ah… that is a relief amid misfortune. Then go to Lord Cao Cao at once and tell him you will not hold the wedding."

Yu Bi shut off the tear ducts just as quickly and let out a long sigh of relief. But now how was I supposed to break this to her?

"Uh… separate from that, I do have to go with Cao Cao. There's something important I need to do ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠there."

"W-what are you saying? Did you not just say you would not hold any wedding?"

"I'm not! I said I'm not! I'll tag along for about a month and come right back, so you stay here and hold the fort. Oh, and I seized the administrative seats of the three counties west of Yawang — try talking to Yuan Shao and get him to guarantee our autonomy over them."

"Why leave me with such a difficult task and depart? I simply cannot believe this. If you are truly innocent, Do Yeop, then perform the rite of lord and vassal with me right this moment…"

"That damned rite of lord and vassal again… this is all for your sake. If we're going to stay together from here on, I have to follow Cao Cao for now."

"A-ah… then is all of this for the sake of growing old together with me?"

"I-it's to preserve the relationship of fish and water. Haa… anyway, take care of yourself. If anything happens, Zilong here will protect you."

I finally managed to calm Yu Bi down and left her in Zhao Yun's care. Alone, I stepped out of the tent and looked up at the sky.

I'd ended up joining Cao Cao from an unexpected angle. The one stroke of real luck: it had all come together before the New Moon rose.

In that case, this was actually an opportunity. This time I'd arm myself with a perfect build — and I would defeat Xu Rong and rewrite history.