Puyang Castle of Blood and Fire (1)
Cao Cao led an army of thirty thousand toward Puyang Castle.
“Munyeol.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“So I’m taking you out to your second battlefield.”
“I consider it an honor.”
“Do you now? I figured you’d be complaining that I still haven’t given you an official post and am only dragging my nephew along.”
As Cao Cao said, I was still without any formal appointment, accompanying him solely as “the nephew of Yan Province’s governor.”
Thanks to that peculiar status, I sat in on military councils and took the field under Cao Cao’s direct orders, yet held no actual rank.
It felt like receiving the treatment of a general without any of the rank that should have come with it.
“If you distinguish yourself in Xu Province this time, I’ll find you a proper position.”
“Thank you, Uncle. I will prove myself through merit.”
In truth, the bigger issue was Cao Cao’s own legitimacy.
The governorship of Yan Province was only a nominal title granted by the local powerful clans; it had not been bestowed directly by the Emperor. In this era, the majority of provincial governors in the Three Kingdoms had gained their seats either through “election” by regional clans or outright self-proclamation by force. The only true exceptions were men like Liu Yan of Yi Province or Liu Biao of Jing Province.
Had Cao Cao been a legitimate governor appointed by imperial decree, I would have received an official staff position long ago. In fact, if his authority had been properly recognized from the beginning, the friction among the local clans would never have grown so severe. A single declaration—“I hold office by the Emperor’s command; who dares resist?”—would have forced them all to bow their heads.
Which meant one thing: I need to secure the Emperor. Soon.
Thinking of the Son of Heaven enduring hardship in Chang’an, I resolved to move faster than history had originally allowed.
“Uncle, I have one question.”
“Speak.”
“Will all thirty thousand troops be able to lodge inside the castle?”
“Not all of them.”
“Then…?”
Surely Cao Cao wasn’t planning to enter the city alone while leaving the army camped outside? That would be incredibly dangerous. Xi Zhicai’s earlier warning had already set my nerves on edge; this only tightened them further.
“You’ve visited Puyang before, so you should know. The city’s layout is strangely cramped. I’ve considered expanding it several times, but conquest comes first, so I left it as it is.”
In short, Puyang’s interior was simply too small to house thirty thousand men. This wasn’t an age of apartment complexes or dedicated barracks. Soldiers slept in tents and makeshift camps, which meant the bulk of the army had to remain outside the walls.
“Places capable of sheltering this many troops inside their walls are rare across the entire continent. Ye City in northern Hebei, Xiapi in Xu Province, Jiangling in Nanjun of Jing Province, and Chang’an where the bandits hold the Emperor hostage—those are the only ones that come to mind.”
“Thank you for explaining, Uncle.”
“In the future, every territory I govern will be expanded to accommodate such numbers. Hahaha!”
Cao Cao’s casual lecture finally explained why occupying armies in the Three Kingdoms so often fell victim to surprise attacks from within the very cities they had seized.
The incident at Wancheng, when Cao Cao had taken the city from Zhang Xiu, must have happened because he left his soldiers outside while he was “busy inside.” Hearing this only confirmed my suspicions.
Tonight, no matter what, I would not drink a drop. I would remain glued to Cao Cao’s side and guard him with my life. Whoever came, I would face them. Survival demanded nothing less.
When we reached Puyang Castle, the gates stood wide open. Governor Zhang Miao and the local clans waited beneath the ceremonial banners.
“My lord, we have arrived.”
“Zhang Miao has come out to greet us first. Cao Ren!”
“Yes, Brother.”
“Take Xiahou Yuan and Cao Hong and prepare proper camps outside so the soldiers can rest.”
“Yes, Brother.”
With those three remaining outside the walls… that left me as one of the few inside.
“Munyeol, since your last visit to Puyang you’ve become acquainted with everyone inside, correct?”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“Then stay right beside me tonight and brief me on anything I need to know.”
What a relief. As Cao Cao’s personal guard, I could remain at his side the entire day.
“Aman, Zhang Miao looks like he’s prepared quite the feast. Think you can handle it?”
“When have I ever turned down someone’s hospitality? Tell them to loosen their belts—I plan to eat until my stomach bursts.”
“And the wine before a campaign is always the best part!”
Xiahou Dun laughed heartily as he entered the city with us.
Outside the walls, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, and Cao Hong oversaw the army’s encampment. Cao Cao, of course, had not entered completely defenseless; three thousand troops accompanied him into Puyang as his personal guard.
I stood to Cao Cao’s left, Xiahou Dun to his right. Cheng Yu and Xu Shu followed close behind.
While we changed clothes in the guest hall and prepared for the evening banquet, I spoke quietly to Xu Shu.
“Yuanzhi, you must remain vigilant tonight.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s the eve of war. Tension is required.”
“Ah, that.”
“Which is why I intend to guard my uncle without touching a drop of wine.”
At my words, Xu Shu seemed to reach the same conclusion. He checked his sword with renewed focus.
“Munyeol, about that sword you told me to present to the Governor of Yan Province…”
“Ah, that one…”
“For some reason he bestowed it upon me and ordered me to prepare myself well.”
The famous Xiliang blade I had obtained on Cao Cao’s errand had ended up in Xu Shu’s hands. Knowing he would stand guard tonight with that very sword eased my mind considerably.
“Also, did you notice the warriors under General Yuanyang earlier?”
“Who was with him?”
“He brought an eight-foot giant. Apparently a renowned knight-errant of Yan Province. General Yuanyang appointed him as his subordinate Sima and brought him along.”
A famous knight-errant of Yan Province, a giant over eight feet tall… I had a strong suspicion who it was. In any case, Zhang Miao’s banquet commenced, and Cao Cao attended gladly with his generals in tow.
In the lavishly prepared hall, I followed my orders and stood directly beside Cao Cao, who occupied the seat of honor.
“Governor of Yan Province, this campaign to conquer Xu Province is certain to succeed. Please, drink this departure wine.”
“Zhang Miao, you’ve always had a talent for saying exactly what a man wants to hear. Hahaha!”
Cao Cao, clearly pleased, accepted every cup offered by Zhang Miao and the assembled clans, draining them without hesitation. When people flattered him, he became the most generous and magnanimous lord under heaven. Whether he was weak to praise or simply favored those who matched his mood… it was hard to say.
In any event, today Cao Cao ate and drank to what seemed like excess.
“Young Master Cao, last time I saw you were a hero among drinkers. Why touch not even a single cup?”
Zhang Miao deliberately singled me out and offered me wine.
“I do not drink on the eve of a campaign.”
“Oh! True manly spirit indeed!”
“Even when we met before, you carried the air of a hero. The Cao family is filled with such warriors. It can truly be called the foremost martial house in the realm.”
The familiar faces were present—Lord Gao, Lord Yang, and the others I had seen last time. At that moment Cao Cao, face glowing with satisfaction, suddenly clapped me on the back.
“This fellow saved my father and has been invaluable to me ever since. My father himself said the boy possesses the qualities to become the thousand-li horse of our house!”
“The thousand-li horse of the Cao clan? Even the Grand Commandant has praised him highly.”
“So I must raise him properly. Uhahaha!”
Uncle Mengde, I’m grateful for the praise, but you really are getting far too drunk…
“Munyeol.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“You may refuse other cups, but you must accept the wine offered by Zhang Miao and Chen Gong. Drain it.”
“Y-yes?!”
“Munyeol, it’s fine. Drink. Why are you fidgeting like a puppy that desperately needs to piss?”
Following Cao Cao’s lead, Xiahou Dun—face already flushed red—joined in pressuring me to drink.
“But I…”
That was when Cao Cao suddenly leaned close and whispered.
“Wet your lips, then raise the rest high and declare it is offered for the campaign.”
“!?”
“No one will press you after that.”
He seemed completely drunk, yet his mind remained perfectly clear. I took Zhang Miao’s cup, barely touched it to my lips, then immediately lifted it high.
“Rather than drinking such fine wine immediately, it seems more proper to offer it to heaven for the success of our campaign!”
“Zhang Miao, did you hear that? This boy occasionally embarrasses even me.”
With that, Cao Cao himself raised his cup high.
“Since I march to conquer Xu Province, I raise this cup to offer it to the heavens beyond that ceiling!”
As Cao Cao led the gesture, Xiahou Dun raised his own cup, then Xu Shu, the other clans, and even Zhang Miao—though his expression remained stiff. The only person who did not raise his cup was Chen Gong.
“Chen Gong, why do you not raise yours? Surely you do not oppose my conquest of Xu Province.”
“How could that be?”
Chen Gong raised his cup with a calm face, but the hand holding it trembled violently.
“Seeing everyone offer their cups to heaven has brought something to mind.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“It concerns Bian An, eldest son of the late Bian Gong.”
The atmosphere turned ice-cold in an instant.
“I have heard that tale as well. A most unfortunate accident.”
“His son suffered an accident, but was his father’s death also an accident?”
Chen Gong had brought up Bian Yang again.
“Chen Gong, what exactly are you implying?”
“I merely… among all the great clans of Yan Province, it seems I alone mourn the tragedy that befell the most respected family of Lord Bian Wenli.”
The mood had gone far beyond awkward and was rapidly turning hostile. Yet Cao Cao raised a hand, ordering silence, then listened with arms folded and head nodding.
“I know Lord Wenli’s tragedy better than anyone. Was he not the man who, like you, supported my appointment as Governor of Yan Province?”
“Correct. Because I believed there was only one hero to whom we could entrust the land of Yan Province.”
“Hmm.”
“…The Mengde Duke of that time—”
“Lord Gongdai, perhaps that is enough…”
At that moment Chen Gong raised his wine cup. The trembling in his hand had grown so severe it looked as though the cup would slip from his fingers at any second.
Dropping the cup would be the signal. I prepared to rise immediately. But Chen Gong, staring at his own shaking hand, could not bring himself to release it. Instead he quietly set the cup back on the table.
Then he stood up abruptly.
“I… shall take my leave now.”
“Lord Gongdai!”
“Lord Chen, wait!”
The other clans, Zhang Miao, and Zhang Chao called after him, but Cao Cao, eyes still closed, spoke calmly.
“Enough. Let him go rest.”
Cao Cao kept his eyes shut, turning his head with a bitter expression. I had been certain the trembling cup would become the signal. In every era, East or West, dropping a cup at a banquet was a classic signal for assassins.
Yet Chen Gong could not do it. He left. Perhaps the situation could still be salvaged.
“I wonder why Lord Gongdai acted that way…”
“Indeed, quite strange…”
While the clans whispered among themselves, carefully watching Cao Cao’s reaction, Zhang Chao—Zhang Miao’s younger brother—suddenly rose to his feet.
“Hmph! That Chen Gong fellow remains crooked to the very end.”
“…”
Cao Cao’s eyes remained closed. Zhang Chao, as if acting in his brother’s place, raised the wine cup set before him high overhead.
“To ruin the atmosphere of such an occasion! Truly an incomprehensible man!”
Zhang Chao, attempting to repair the mood, lifted the cup even higher to draw every eye in the hall.
“What is so difficult about this!”
Then he hurled the cup violently into the center of the room.
Clang!!!!
The doors burst open. Black-masked assassins armed with weapons poured inside without pause.
“My lord!”
“Aman!”
“Uncle!”
I drew my sword on pure reflex, rose, and moved to block them.