The Deer and the Horse
“By the way, what’s your name?”
“It’s written with the character Jing from ‘respect,’ so… Yuan Jing.”
Yuan Jing, Yuan Jing… Huh. That name sounds a lot like some empress’s.
“Until the war ends, you can stay in this tent.”
“Thank… you.”
Her polite speech actually felt more burdensome.
“Speak comfortably. You’re a princess, aren’t you?”
“You said if I said that again I’d be executed as a traitor… right… I mean….”
Her face, her whole demeanor—she was overflowing with cuteness.
If Cai Yan was a mature, graceful goddess who smiled without restraint, then Yuan Jing was… well, the very picture of a young noble lady of her age.
At first she tried to act haughty, but she caught on to the situation incredibly fast and showed a wide range of expressions. More than smiling, she trembled like a rabbit frozen in terror, and that was oddly fun to tease.
After she washed up, even without makeup her face was small and snow-white. With those large, sparkling eyes and a high nose bridge, she was an undeniable beauty just from the neck up.
And her chest… it was on par with my primary wife Cai Yan. No, looking at how tightly bound it was, maybe even bigger? Well, I could always take them both to bed and compare later.
But what was truly impressive was her lower body.
She was short, yet her breasts and hips were magnificent. On top of that, the thighs I’d glimpsed when she was riding were thick and powerful, while her calves and ankles were slender. When she walked, she looked precarious, which stirred both a protective urge and a desire to conquer her completely.
Just looking at her with my eyes was already enjoyable.
“Anyway, that’s enough for today. Time to sleep.”
“Ah, then I should go inside….”
Yuan Jing hesitated, clutching the ties of her robe tightly with both hands as she trembled.
But I simply grabbed an extra pillow from the sleeping area and lay down beside her.
“There’s another battle tomorrow. I’m not going to waste my energy on pointless things.”
“Ah….”
No matter what, she was the noble princess of the Yuan clan. I couldn’t possibly take her first time in a stinking military tent on the battlefield.
I was surprisingly particular about mood.
When I made it clear I wouldn’t touch her tonight, Yuan Jing carefully watched my expression before curling up tightly and squeezing her eyes shut.
To be honest, even someone with decent mental fortitude would be terrified. She had desperately tried to escape with her brother to find their parents, only to suffer a major accident, then suddenly found herself in the camp of a murderous 150,000-strong army, receiving the lustful stares of countless men.
In that situation, being dragged into my quarters by the man who’d spared her life, only to be told they’d sleep together without doing anything—it was perfectly natural for her to keep trembling.
“Sleep… well.”
“Mm.”
Even the way she continued to shiver was cute.
Maybe I could at least knead that honey-like ass and those thick thighs a little?
The next day.
I woke up first. Yuan Jing, who had been so terrified yesterday that she only fell asleep with great difficulty, was still buried under the blankets.
I quietly gathered my clothes and stepped outside. My officers were already waiting.
“Vice Commander Yue.”
“Yes, Colonel.”
I pointed at the tent and said,
“What happened to those old servants we captured as prisoners?”
“Two are receiving treatment, and the rest are fine.”
“Send those servants into my tent to attend to that girl. Also, pick about ten especially trustworthy soldiers and have them guard this tent and the woman inside.”
“Understood, Colonel.”
Since I left it to Yue Jin, Yuan Jing’s safety would be guaranteed even on the battlefield.
When I entered the command tent for the military meeting, Cao Cao greeted me warmly.
During the morning briefing over tea, Cao Cao declared with firm resolve,
“From now on, we launch an all-out assault. Shuchun Castle will be handled with the forces currently here.”
“My lord, with four generals already departed, will that be alright?”
Cheng Yu asked worriedly, but Cao Cao’s decision was final.
“Don’t the people here also know how to swing a blade? Zayul and Zisu, for instance.”
Cao Cao had decided to pour everything into the siege of Shuchun.
“Zisu.”
“Yes, Father.”
“You must take on the role in place of Zixiao. Strike the southern gate of Shuchun so no one can escape southward.”
“Understood, Father.”
“Zayul.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“You will take the eastern gate in place of Yunchang. Coordinate with Zisu at the southern gate.”
Cao Ang would replace Cao Ren at the southern gate, and I would replace Guan Yu at the eastern gate.
The northern gate, which Xiahou Yuan had originally been in charge of, would be personally led by Cao Cao at the vanguard.
That left only the western gate. Since it faced Yuzhou and Runan, heading there would be the same as walking to one’s death.
“Good. We will take this castle within ten days. Understood?”
Everyone shouted vigorously before Cao Cao and marched out to the battlefield.
BOOM— CRAAASH—
“Break through! We’re almost there!”
Today marked the fifth day since I had taken charge of the eastern gate assault.
Shuchun had already been hammered from all four directions by renowned generals—Guan Yu, Cao Ren, Cao Hong, and Xiahou Yuan.
No matter how sturdy the castle, it was already down to half its strength and was now being struck again.
And among them, the eastern gate had received an especially brutal beating.
“The moat has been filled using cavalry to hurl sandbags, and ballista bolts have been driven into the walls. All we need is a rope and we can climb right up.”
Moreover, the castle wall itself was already heavily damaged.
In truth, if Guan Yu had charged it directly for a few days, it would have fallen immediately.
It was the perfect setup. Since they had given me such excellent bait, I decided to devour it to my heart’s content.
KWANG— KWAaaaaang—
“There’s a crack in the wall!”
“Vice Commander Yue!”
“Yes, Colonel.”
“Redirect all soldiers climbing the wall to focus on the gate. We can bring it down for sure.”
From here on, it was a pure contest of strength.
It was now clear that Yuan Shu was no longer inside Shuchun. We had to smash it open and charge in.
And finally, the result came.
CRACK— CRAAAAAACK—
Along with the sound of the gate’s crossbar shattering, a massive army pushing with a single battering ram finally forced the gates to begin opening.
“IT’S BREACHED!!!!”
I clenched both fists tightly and immediately ordered the drums to call for reinforcements.
The drumbeats spread through the Cao army at the southern and northern gates. Just as the gate collapsed and we prepared to charge, reinforcements came rushing from afar.
“Lord Zisu’s forces from the southern gate and Master Zhongde’s troops from the northern gate are approaching.”
“Perfect. Shuchun is ours!”
The moment the eastern gate fell, I ordered the entire army to charge.
With that, we broke through the gates and entered.
The battle was over.
Cao Cao personally entered Shuchun to begin suppression. The remnants of generals Li Feng and Yang Gang, along with the foul-smelling stragglers who had been defending the city, were all captured.
Among them, General Li Feng had been killed in battle against Cao Ang’s forces.
What remained was the cleanup after occupying Shuchun.
As expected, Yuan Shu had already fled with numerous wives and concubines to the territory of Lujiang Governor Liu Xun, following the suggestion of his subordinate Yang Hong.
After receiving orders through the returning Cao Hong and Cao Ren to reorganize Shuchun, we were finally able to return home.
With this, Yuan Shu’s faction had been reduced to nothing more than bones in a grave. There was no way they could ever rise again.
After the occupation of Shuchun, the return of the great army was met with universal cheers in the imperial capital of Hudu.
The Emperor himself came out to congratulate everyone, and each person received rewards and titles.
“Duke, congratulations on your victory.”
“We offer our sincerest congratulations, Duke.”
“Thank you all.”
Aside from Grand Tutor Cao Song standing beside the Emperor, every civil and military official in Hudu was practically rubbing their palms together, trying to curry favor with Cao Cao.
At that moment, Cao Cao leaned over and whispered to me.
“Since we’re in front of the imperial palace, open the door of that carriage and show the girl.”
“You mean Jing? Wouldn’t it be better to take her home quietly without anyone noticing….”
“Heh heh heh. It’s fine. Let your second wife have a look around Hudu.”
Since Cao Cao said so, the moment we left the palace I approached the waiting carriage and servants and opened the door.
“Come out.”
“Eek?!”
“We’ve arrived at the capital. You should at least take a look around.”
When I took Yuan Jing’s hand, she stepped out of the carriage with a nervous, cautious expression.
When I showed her Hudu, which was far more prosperous than Shuchun, her large eyes darted around in every direction.
“You’ll be living here from now on. It’s a good place, so you can relax.”
“Huuu… It does look nice, but….”
It was then.
“Wait, Duke! That girl the Colonel is escorting….”
“That… that’s definitely…!”
There were those who recognized Yuan Shu’s daughter.
It was only natural. During Yuan Shu’s time in Luoyang, many people knew the entire Yuan clan’s household.
I had tried to bring her quietly precisely to avoid this kind of situation.
But Cao Cao immediately told them,
“She is Benchu’s daughter. When we were in Shuchun, Yuan Shu fled and left his niece behind, so I took her in.”
“Hmm?”
Cao Cao casually told the other officials that Yuan Jing was not Yuan Shu’s daughter, but Yuan Shao’s.
At that moment, Gate Colonel Chong Ji stepped forward and spoke quietly.
“Duke, I have been observing the traitor Yuan Shu’s family for a long time. No matter how I look at her, that child appears to be Yuan Shu’s daughter, ‘Yuan Jing.’”
“Nonsense. Yuan Shu’s entire family fled to Lujiang. This child is not that traitor’s daughter—she is Yuan Heng’s daughter, I tell you.”
It was the classic “calling a deer a horse” while covering one’s eyes.
Yet Cao Cao openly and boldly declared, “This child is not from the Yuan Shu family, which deserves extermination of all three generations, but a daughter of the Yuan Shao family.”
Those who truly knew about Yuan Shu’s daughter tried to speak up, but when Cao Cao stepped forward like this, the other officials hesitated.
“Duke, in my humble opinion as General Who Guards the Capital, Wu Zilan…”
“Enough, enough. She is the bloodline of the great general Yuan Benchu, whom we barely rescued from the enemy camp. I have taken her into my household. Do you all not know that I am well acquainted with that family?”
Cao Cao continued smiling as he raised his hand and spoke.
This child is the daughter of Yuan Benchu. Any who doubt this may visit my residence. I shall serve tea and allow you to examine her at your leisure.
“If any of you still find this strange, come to my house. I will serve you tea and let you examine the child closely to confirm.”
“….”
“How about it, General Wu? Will you make time to visit my home?”
General Who Guards the Capital was a high-ranking general who protected the Son of Heaven within the palace. Yet when Cao Cao pressed so aggressively, he dared not speak.
And if anyone here said something like “But she is still the daughter of a traitor…”, they would likely end up experiencing the “Daerisi special course” presided over by Man Chong, just like Grand Commandant Yang Biao last time.
“…If you say she is the great general’s daughter, then that is how it must be.”
“Exactly!”
In the end, General Wu Zilan averted his gaze from Cao Cao and reluctantly acknowledged it.
“Zayul, Zisu! Let’s head home now. We must go see our wives and children.”
“Yes, Father.”
Cao Ang followed behind Cao Cao while I helped the still-terrified Yuan Jing back into the carriage.
“Take her home safely.”
“Yes, young master.”
The coachman drove her away, and I walked after Cao Cao.
In any case, Yuan Jing had safely arrived in Hudu and received recognition from the civil and military officials that she was not of a traitor’s bloodline.
Even Xun Yu, after witnessing this absurd display of “calling a deer a horse,” simply said quietly,
“Duke, do you have any plans after subjugating Yuan Shu?”
“Send a letter to Hebei. Tell Benchu in Yecheng that I have taken his daughter as my nephew’s wife and will raise her well.”
Cao Cao said he would genuinely send that to Yuan Shao.
Some time later.
Yuan Shao, who held the titles of Marquis of Yecheng and Grand General in Hebei, tilted his head in confusion after receiving a rather bizarre letter.
“What on earth is this? Where would I have a daughter of marriageable age in the Central Plains?”
“My lord, what kind of letter is it to make you react like that?”
His advisors Feng Ji and Xu You stood beside him and asked.
“Look at this. It’s a letter from Aman. It says that fellow Cao Zayul has married my daughter in the Central Plains, and he hopes the bond between the Cao and Yuan clans will grow even stronger.”
From Yuan Shao’s perspective, his face was one of pure bewilderment, as if asking, “What the hell is Cao Cao talking about?” He scratched his head.
Then Feng Ji, as if something had occurred to him, immediately spoke.
“My lord, recently didn’t Cao Cao mobilize Liu Bei of Yuzhou and Lu Bu of Xuzhou to destroy Yuan Gonglu’s forces and occupy Shuchun?”
“Hmm, that’s right. We drove out that disgrace to the Yuan clan.”
“At that time, information from the merchant guilds said that one of Gonglu’s daughters was captured. Could he not be referring to that child?”
“Hmm. Then that would be Gonglu’s daughter. Why would he call her mine?”
At that moment, Xu You, standing beside Feng Ji, stepped forward.
“My lord, this is it. This is exactly it!”
“What is ‘it’?”
“Originally, the moment Gonglu declared himself emperor, he became a traitor deserving death, and his entire clan should have been exterminated.”
“That is only natural.”
“Yet when Gonglu’s daughter was captured, instead of killing her, he performed ‘calling a deer a horse’ before the high officials of Hudu, claiming she was ‘your lordship’s daughter.’”
“Why would he do that?”
“It means that even if he destroys Gonglu’s forces and kills him later, he intends to spare the children of the Yuan bloodline. He is showing consideration for you, my lord, who resides in Hebei, and dares not mistreat anyone bearing the Yuan surname.”
After Xu You’s “explanation that made the listener feel extremely good,” Yuan Shao nodded with a satisfied expression.
“Ohhh… So it can be interpreted that way?”
“Indeed, my lord.”
“That Aman fellow. They say he’s running wild in the provisional capital with the Emperor in his grasp, and now he’s even pulling stunts like this? What a cute rascal. Very well, I shall acknowledge this marriage. That Cao Zayul is one of the Cao clan members I recognize.”
After hearing the full story from his advisors, Yuan Shao willingly accepted his detestable younger brother Yuan Shu’s daughter as his own.
“I should send Aman a nice gift soon.”
I don’t know what kind of gift Yuan Shao had in mind, but among the high nobles the matter was settled this way. In Hudu, Cao Xiu’s sweet newlywed days continued.
