Awakening and Becoming Stronger
I had been appointed Military Affairs Attendant.
In truth, what mattered more than the title itself was the fact that it had come directly from Cao Cao. Even more significant, this was the very position he had once reserved for Chen Gong—the man he had trusted until the bitter end, the one he had tried to keep close but ultimately failed to retain. Now he had given that seat to me.
It carried enormous symbolic weight.
“I will carry out the duties of Military Affairs Attendant with utmost diligence, Governor of Yan Province.”
“Good. Since you understand, I’ll entrust you with my seal. Use it to inform the other generals.”
I received the appointment document that had been hastily written on the battlefield and stepped outside. It was clearly a moment for celebration, yet the moment I left the tent my destination was already decided.
“Head Wei, where is Uncle Xiahou?”
“We’ve temporarily converted a mansion in the Puyang market district into a field hospital. Lord Xiahou is there.”
“Thank you. I’ll head there at once.”
“I’ll accompany you.”
After receiving the information from Wei Hong I broke into a run, with her following close behind. Inside the makeshift field hospital, military physicians and officers were busy at work. When they saw me they offered respectful greetings.
“Ah, Lord Jia Zuo, and Young Master Cao as well.”
“It’s no longer Young Master Cao. From now on I am to be addressed as Military Affairs Attendant.”
“Pardon?”
“Lord Wenlie has received an official post. Make sure everyone is informed.”
“Understood.”
“Is everyone inside?”
“Yes, they are.”
Cheng Yu instructed the officers and soldiers about my new position, then led the way deeper into the building. The residence had once belonged to a wealthy local clan, so it contained numerous rooms. In the main chamber, many military physicians were treating the wounded.
“Uncle Xiahou!”
When I opened the door, Xiahou Yuan and Cao Hong were already there.
“Brother Dun, do you know who’s come to visit?”
“Get up and see for yourself.”
At their words, the figure lying on the bed slowly sat up. Xiahou Dun rose with his face heavily wrapped in bandages, the cloth around his head still stained with clotted black blood. Despite everything, he grinned and waved when he saw me.
“Uncle!”
“Ah, you’re here? You barely escaped death yourself, didn’t you?”
“…”
His entire face was swathed in bandages and his head still seeped dark blood, yet Xiahou Dun spoke with genuine cheer.
“Are… are you all right?”
“Of course I’m not all right. My skull was cracked open along with the helmet. And now one of my eyes is ruined.”
He explained that when the helmet shattered, the fragments had driven into his face and destroyed the eye. I had never imagined Xiahou Dun losing an eye in this manner, yet here we were.
“Commandant Xiahou, His Lordship has appointed Lord Wenlie as the new Military Affairs Attendant.”
I command Military Affairs Attendant Cao Xiu to lead five thousand troops and capture Shengshi County. The magistrate there, Li Jian, is a man I trust, yet we have received no word from him. Something must have happened.
“Oh? Not that Chen Gong bastard, but Wenlie? That’s far better.”
“Wenlie, congratulations. You’ve finally received an official post.”
Xiahou Yuan and Cao Hong clapped me on the shoulder in congratulations, but the sight of Xiahou Dun left me only with sorrow.
“Wenlie, do you have anything more to say?”
“I’m sorry, Uncle.”
“Hmph…”
Xiahou Dun rose from his bed and walked over to me. Without warning he smacked the top of my head twice with his open palm.
“That’s enough. Stop drowning in pointless sentiment. Now that you’re the Attendant, go organize your adjutants and commanders so they can fight beside you!”
“Yes, sir!”
“You must bring me an enemy general’s head. Without fail!”
Xiahou Dun drew a thumb across his own throat in a cutting gesture. I swore I would capture an enemy commander and present his head.
After that I visited Xu Shu, who was resting in the next room.
“Brother Yuanzhi, how is your body?”
“There isn’t a single place that doesn’t ache. Still, I survived against Lu Bu—the so-called strongest under heaven—so I suppose that counts as a victory.”
Xu Shu showed me his bandaged arms and legs. It was clear he would not be returning to the front lines anytime soon.
“I’ll fight your share of the battles as well. Please focus on recovering.”
“If you do that, I can rest easy. Wenlie, I wish you good fortune.”
Only after paying my respects to those who had saved Cao Cao from the flames and fought beside me against Lu Bu in Puyang did I finally leave.
Some time later, three thousand cavalry arrived at Puyang.
“Father, are you safe?”
“Zisu? How did you get here? And what is all this cavalry?”
Cao Ang had come.
“Father, when I heard what happened in Puyang I rushed here from Qiao County. These cavalry are the elite troops trained by Uncle Zihua. And this is…”
“Hmm.”
Cao Cao unfolded the bamboo slip his son offered, read it, and gave a small chuckle.
“Xun Yu was overly cautious. More cavalry is always welcome, but we didn’t need quite this much reinforcement.”
Xun Yu, who had remained in Chenliu to manage rear support, had learned of the rebellion in Puyang and immediately sent word to Qiao County. He had informed Cao Chun, who was training the elite cavalry, and dispatched Cao Cao’s eldest son Cao Ang to assist.
“Still, since the troops have already arrived we might as well use them. Wenlie.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
When I answered the summons, Cao Ang’s face lit up with pleasure and I returned his greeting.
“Now that you are the Attendant, have you appointed any commanders to serve as your adjutants?”
“Not yet.”
“Then take this fellow with you.”
“!”
No matter how I looked at it, Cao Ang was Cao Cao’s eldest son and only a year apart from me in age. Yet here he was, casually telling me to take him as my deputy commander.
“I said I would strike in ten days, didn’t I? I plan to begin with the capture of Shengshi County, and I intend to make you the vanguard.”
In other words, Cao Cao was appointing me as vanguard in the current campaign to suppress Lu Bu’s remnants and ordering me to take his eldest son Cao Ang as my second-in-command so we could fight together.
“Father, I came to assist you. You may use me as an ordinary soldier or a simple cavalryman if you wish.”
“Is that so? Then we march tomorrow. Prepare yourself and fight well.”
Cao Cao patted his son on the back, told him to do his best, and sent us off together.
The following day.
Cao Cao’s reorganized army of twenty thousand marched out of Puyang, and the first battle began at Shengshi County.
I received my orders and gathered five thousand elite soldiers, then raced toward the battlefield. This was the first time I had ridden out to fight since the campaign in Xu Province.
Beside me rode Cao Ang, whom Cao Cao had personally assigned as my deputy.
“At last the two of us will face real combat together.”
“I’m counting on you. The fact that my father assigned you to me means we must win this battle at all costs.”
“Then from now on I will treat you with the respect due an Attendant. Feel free to make full use of Deputy Commander Cao Ang.”
This battle carried many layers of meaning.
It was the fight to completely secure Yan Province for the Cao faction. It was the purge of traitors who had turned their blades against the family, and the bloody revenge against those who had targeted us. It was the repulsion of Lu Bu’s forces, who had intervened as outside invaders. And with even Cao Cao’s son joining the fray, it would also be the battle in which the eldest son earned his first military merit—while ultimately remaining a conflict belonging to the Cao and Xiahou clans.
“Attendant, look there!”
One of the officers at the front shouted. When I looked, enemy troops had already formed up before Shengshi County. They had prepared for open battle as if they had been waiting for our arrival.
The banners were not those of the county magistrate. These were unfamiliar standards.
“It seems Lu Bu’s army has already pushed this far.”
“Attendant, what are your orders?”
“We fight, obviously.”
There was no time to craft some elaborate plan. We had to clash with them head-on.
“Master Zhongde told me the ground around Shengshi County is firm and flat—perfect for cavalry to charge at full speed.”
“I-I see. Then shall we charge immediately? Who will lead the first assault…?”
“I will.”
“Huh?”
I left overall command of the army to Cao Ang and selected two thousand capable cavalrymen.
“I’m going to strike their center directly. Sound the advance drum. Watch the situation. If it looks like I’m about to be surrounded, keep signaling with drums and trumpets from the main formation.”
“U-understood! Attendant… I mean, Wenlie. I wish you victory.”
He seemed extremely nervous—it was his first real battlefield after all—yet he still offered me a proper fist-in-palm salute. I quietly closed my eyes, gripped my spear, and slowly rode forward.
This was the very spear Cao Cao had given me during my first battle.
The enemies before me were the ones who had invited us to Puyang only to try to kill us all. They were the masterminds who had summoned Lu Bu. I had nearly died several times, and those who had saved me had asked me to take revenge.
“All troops…”
At my command the cavalry surged forward with a thunderous war cry. I rode at their head, spear raised, trampling the infantry that tried to block our path.
The impact boomed like thunder.
After the first collision I drove deeper into their ranks, swinging my spear at any enemy who thrust blade or spear at me. With every sweep, necks and arms flew cleanly through the air. The sensation of cutting through flesh was satisfying, yet each vigorous movement sent a dull throb through my wounded side.
“Catch the enemy general! You bastard! I’ll take you—”
I drove my spear straight through a charging cavalryman’s stomach. Before he could even scream I knocked him from his horse and trampled him beneath iron-shod hooves, then wrenched my blood-drenched spear free.
“Stabbing is more effective than slashing.”
Even as the enemy cavalry thundered toward us I never slowed. I aimed for the gaps in their armor—throats, thighs—piercing them one after another and hurling them from their saddles. Those who somehow clung on I simply speared through their horses, killing the mounts and sending both rider and beast crashing down.
Right now only one thought filled my mind.
Any enemy who stands in my way will die.