It Only Worked Because It Was Me!
The situation was urgent, yet strangely entertaining.
In Hongnong territory, General Zhang Jie was escorting the Emperor. From the north came the White Wave Bandits, the forces loyal to Li Jue and Guo Si, and the Southern Xiongnu army descending upon them. From the south, the remnants of the powerful clans rose up, creating a chaotic melee as various factions surrounded Zhang Jie’s army from all eight directions.
If I hadn’t possessed all this knowledge, could I have survived here? Not knowing who was friend or foe, I would have simply slaughtered every enemy before my eyes until dawn broke and the truth finally dawned on me.
The Emperor would have survived in the most pathetic state imaginable, forced to beg his way all the way to Luoyang.
“Halt, you scoundrel!”
“?”
I had been about to follow after confirming the imperial procession had safely departed when a general on horseback blocked my path. The face was all too familiar.
“Lord Xu! I have been waiting for you.”
“Where have you spirited His Majesty away to?!”
“Spirited away? I nearly died getting him to safety. Can’t you see all the blood on these clothes…?”
Clang—
“You really are impatient.”
I knocked aside Xu Huang’s axe-spear with my blade as he attacked without warning.
“This time I’m mounted, so things will be different from before.”
His killing intent burned even hotter now, and the soldiers around him were clearly moving to encircle and kill me. Their plan was likely to secure the Emperor and deliver him to the White Wave leaders Yang Feng and Han Xian. Once they received official titles like Li Jue and Guo Si, they would become warlords who held the Emperor in their grasp.
“Lord Xu, look around you and judge for yourself.”
“What nonsense is this?”
“Do these look like loyal subjects trying to save His Majesty? To me it looks like White Wave Bandits, Xiongnu, Zhang Jie’s army, and the remnants of the powerful clans all tearing at one another in a free-for-all.”
“Enough of your rubbish!”
“Are you acting out of sincere loyalty to save the Emperor, or are you simply following the orders of your sworn brother Yang Feng?”
“…!”
When the great Xu Huang flinched at those words, I delivered my final statement.
“If you wish to realize the truth yourself, come to Luoyang. From this moment on, the Son of Heaven’s carriage heads for Luoyang.”
Whether he reported this to Yang Feng, the Southern Xiongnu, or the other warlords, or whether he gained enlightenment and brought his own troops to Luoyang, was entirely up to Xu Huang. But if he was the Xu Huang I remembered from history, he would realize it here—that he had merely been used by the White Wave Bandits.
“However, if you choose to follow me, I will judge for myself as well.”
I left Xu Huang’s forces behind and spurred my horse after the imperial carriage. Naturally, no one pursued me.
Still, because I had spoken those words, Xu Huang would surely come to Luoyang. Whether he continued serving under Yang Feng or arrived as an independent warlord made no difference to me.
In the depths of night I could see the Emperor’s carriage racing ahead. Since a horse was faster than a carriage, I caught up quickly.
“Young Master Cao!”
“Is everyone safe?”
“We escaped without harm. What of the rear?”
“What do you think? It’s a complete disaster!”
Riding alongside the Wei merchant caravan’s carriage, I checked the one driven by Jeong Yun. Through the window I could see Cai Yan and Cai Lin sitting quietly inside. Having confirmed their safety, I moved farther forward.
“General Dong!”
“Ah, Registrar Cao! What happened?”
“They’re all tangled up fighting each other. Absolute chaos.”
“Hmm… This was not in the plan!”
They had probably expected the White Wave Bandits to collude with the powerful clans, ambush Zhang Jie’s army, and either kidnap the Emperor in the confusion or drive out Zhang Jie’s forces and seize him.
The problem was the unexpected variable of the Southern Xiongnu joining the fray. The resulting pandemonium meant no one could tell who was on whose side anymore.
“For now we must keep running and put as much distance as possible between us and the battlefield before sunrise.”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
It had become a contest of endurance.
For two full days we fled without rest. Now we had reached the point where we lacked even proper food and water.
“General, this is serious. We don’t have enough food fit for His Majesty.”
“What? How can that be?”
“All the baggage trains were caught up in the fighting, and in our haste to escape…”
Watching the flustered eunuchs and court ladies, I felt a pang of pity and approached Dong Cheng.
“General.”
“Ah, Registrar Cao.”
“How long would it take to reach Huayin from here?”
Normally the distance from Hongnong to Huayin County could be covered in half a day, but because we had fled in panic and taken winding paths, we had been racing through barren wilderness with no proper roads. The infantry, eunuchs, and court ladies were beginning to tire.
“If it’s Huayin, the way we’ve twisted the route means it will still take half a day even after heading north again.”
“Then that’s fine. Might I be granted an audience with His Majesty?”
“What are you suggesting?!”
“I have a plan to save everyone. Please, I beg you.”
Dong Cheng still regarded me with suspicious eyes, but realizing he had no other choice, he eventually opened the carriage door and secured me an audience with the Emperor.
Instead of merely seeing him from afar, I was now able to greet him directly inside the palanquin.
“This humble subject Cao Xiu greets Your Majesty.”
“R-raise your head.”
The young Emperor was using honorifics even toward a mere knight-errant, trembling with fear. Actually, this was perfect. I could speak plainly through the clans present here.
“Yes, you are helping Us out of a sense of righteousness and chivalry. I shall certainly not forget your merit.”
“Your Majesty, I originally came from Yan Province.”
“Yan Province… you say…”
“I am the nephew of Lord Cao Cao, current Governor of Yan Province, and I serve as Military Affairs Attendant of Yan Province. Hearing that Your Majesty was suffering in Chang’an, I joined the merchant caravan to protect you.”
“W-what?”
“What? That knight-errant was sent by the Governor of Yan Province?”
“The nephew of Cao Cao, Governor of Yan Province? Cao Cao is the son of Grand Assistant Cao Song, is he not?”
Oh, Grand Uncle Cao Song, are you watching? Can you hear this? The Grand Assistant position you bought for one hundred million coins from Emperor Ling—the current Emperor’s father—had become the family’s greatest honor in the next generation.
“Y-Yan Province Governor Cao Cao? Is he not the son of Cao Song, who served as Grand Assistant during the previous Emperor’s reign?”
“That is correct, Your Majesty.”
“And you are also a member of Grand Assistant Cao’s family.”
The Grand Assistant position had been a ministerial seat Cao Song purchased through bribery, yet in this moment it had become a valuable credential. This truly was one of history’s ironies.
It was then.
“Your Majesty! This is terrible!”
“W-what is it?”
“Your Majesty, it seems a decisive battle has already occurred in Hongnong. According to the messenger, Li Jue and Guo Si have led a great army across Hangu Pass, and the White Wave forces have scattered in all directions.”
“T-this!”
“Isn’t this a disaster? So those bastards are pursuing us after all!”
Well, General Dong Cheng’s plan had completely collapsed. The others had no real strategy either; they were simply thinking of fleeing east as fast as their legs could carry them.
“Your Majesty, I’m scared!”
The noble consorts—slightly older than the Emperor but still young girls—clung desperately to his trouser legs in terror.
“What should We do?”
Yet the one most gripped by fear was the Emperor himself. From this point forward, I held all operational authority.
“Your Majesty, please take refuge in Huayin first.”
“Huayin? What is there if we go?”
“Before coming here, I prepared an escape route and hid it in Huayin territory. If we go there, we can escape safely.”
“What do we do once we arrive? You must tell me now, or the procession will not move!”
Even with Li Jue and Guo Si approaching, Dong Cheng was still being obstinate. Fine. I would tell him.
“We are going to Luoyang!”
“Luoyang?”
“Your Majesty, the Yellow River flows north of Huayin. Though we must descend the cliffs, I have already prepared boats there. Please board them and proceed to Luoyang.”
“Luoyang has long been in ruins…”
“Your Majesty, please do so! If we remain like this, I fear those bandit scoundrels will capture us and harm your precious person!”
Only when Consort Dong finally spoke did the Emperor gather his resolve.
“V-very well! You said you were the Military Affairs Attendant of Yan Province? Attendant Cao, take the lead.”
“I am deeply grateful, Your Majesty!”
That was it!
I immediately obtained the Emperor’s approval and summoned the Wei merchant caravan. Gathering Vice-leader Jeong, the merchants who also served as intelligence agents, and those capable of becoming warriors, I addressed them.
“Now we move according to our plan. From this moment, I will lead the escort of the Son of Heaven.”
“Young master, then what should we do next?”
“Since I mentioned preparations in Huayin, we head there first. And those fast boats I had you prepare on the Yellow River?”
“Yes, the ones you ordered us to secure… Ah!”
Jeong Yun looked at me with wide-eyed astonishment, his gaze filled with awe as if asking how I had known to prepare such things. Well, I was the only one with this knowledge, so executing the plan was entirely possible.
“There’s no time. The horses are exhausted, and even after reaching Huayin we must descend the cliffs, board the boats, and travel by water. We need to hurry.”
“Understood. We’ll prepare at once.”
From here on, it was my stage.
I first informed Dong Cheng and the various civil officials that we were heading to Huayin, set our course, and galloped ahead. The Emperor’s procession followed me, and the Wei merchant caravan escorted alongside the Huben troops.
The horses were beginning to tire, but we somehow reached Huayin. In the distance, however, columns of smoke rose as the enemy pursuit drew near.
“Young Master Cao! Over here!”
At a certain spot along the cliff, Dian Wei stood with dozens of strong men, raising his great sword high to greet us. It was done.
“Lord Dian!”
“How did so many people come? Are they all refugees who escaped Chang’an?”
“Correct. Moreover, His Majesty the Emperor and his consorts are among them.”
“W-what? Oh dear!”
The moment he heard the word “Emperor,” Dian Wei panicked, not knowing what to do. But there was no time for such reactions. I guided the imperial party down from their palanquins toward the cliff.
“Your Majesty, look below. We have prepared fast boats waiting on the Yellow River. Board them and you may escape.”
“H-how can I descend such a treacherous cliff?”
“Do not worry. Everything is already prepared… but?”
“Lord Dian.”
Dian Wei had prostrated himself, yet kept sneaking glances upward, trying to catch even one glimpse of the Emperor’s face. It was rather amusing to see the big man speak so boldly and then peek like that… Still, the preparations he had made after arriving days earlier were thorough.
Iron stakes had already been driven into the cliff and secured with sturdy ropes. They were strong enough to lower even an ox without breaking.
“The strong men here will tie ropes around your bodies and lower you slowly.”
“Even me personally?”
“Your Majesty, if you will forgive the rudeness, the men will carry your precious body down in their arms.”
“Do… so.”
It was a magnificent sight.
Like special forces conducting a rappel insertion, the strong men Dian Wei had gathered embraced children and women first, entrusting themselves to a single rope as they descended the cliff. The fast boats waiting below received them one by one and loaded them carefully.
“Where did you find such men?”
“Sailors have always been full of righteousness. These are knight-errants who settled along the Yellow River to avoid the chaos of war. I met them one by one, persuaded them, and brought them here.”
“How did you persuade them…?”
“For a man, it’s either alcohol or this.”
When Dian Wei showed me a fist larger than my face, I understood perfectly. The scars from repeated punches that had healed over were also visible.
Still, it was fortunate they could escape this way. In the original history, everyone had clung desperately to just a few small boats. Dong Cheng, Yang Feng, and Han Xian had struck down the reaching hands with spears and swords, severing them, turning the Yellow River into a sea of blood before barely escaping. That tragedy would not happen now.
So far, everyone had safely descended using the knight-errants’ ropes.
“Make way! This body shall personally escort the Emperor!”
Dian Wei knelt before the Emperor with his massive frame, then lifted the boy’s body—which was less than half his own size—with one hand.
“N-no, look at that!”
“General Dong. Right now, getting his precious body to safety is the priority.”
“Hmmm!”
Dian Wei carried the Emperor over his shoulder like a sack of rice, grabbed the rope with one hand, and leaped down the cliff. A moment later a loud voice echoed up: “His Majesty has safely boarded!” Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
“How on earth are we supposed to go down like that?”
“Jeonghui, look. Even His Majesty and the noble consorts are descending in the arms of men.”
“I-I’m scared. Just looking down makes me feel like I’ll die…”
“It’s all right. Your sister will go down with you.”
Cai Yan was comforting her younger sister Cai Lin, but the girl couldn’t take a single step. We had come this far only for her to freeze up now. It was rather frustrating.
“General! General Dong!”
“General Dong has already descended to escort His Majesty. Report to me.”
“Attendant, the enemy army is approaching. They will arrive within two gak at the latest.”
“Damn, that’s some pursuit speed!”
I immediately shouted to everyone.
“Hurry! The enemy is pursuing us. They’ll be here within two gak, so multiple people descend at once!”
Hearing that, even the eunuchs and remaining civil officials frantically grabbed the ropes and slid down. Their palms tore on the ropes, they slipped and rolled across the deck, but they descended anyway in order to live.
“Sister!”
“Ah, at a time like this!”
“Young Master! Hurry and get on!”
At that moment Dian Wei climbed back up and announced that only we remained. I immediately took Cai Lin’s hand.
“It seems you’ll only go down if I do it this way.”
“?”
I covered her face with a sack.
“Mmmph! Mmph!”
“Lord Dian! Quickly lower this girl in the sack!”
“Hahaha, understood! I shall escort her very quickly!”
Just as he had lifted the Emperor with one hand, Dian Wei carried Cai Lin’s body like a doll, grabbed the rope with one hand, and descended.
Now only Cai Yan and I remained. Unlike her usual calm demeanor, her face was flushed as she looked around.
“Have you packed everything?”
“All I have is this bundle.”
Inside the small cloth bundle were an inkstone, a few brushes, the books and bundles of bamboo slips that her father Cai Yong had left behind. She clutched them tightly. In the distance I could already see countless soldiers swarming toward us.
“Young Master Cao! Hurry! The enemy is truly right before us now!”
Hearing the shout from the boats, I drew my sword and cut the lines of the horses that had suffered with us all this way, setting them all free.
“You worked hard to get this far. Either find new owners or become wild horses and run far away!”
After releasing all the horses and sending them galloping toward the enemy position, I finally ran to Cai Yan.
“Excuse me—”
“!?”
I embraced her as Dian Wei had done, grabbed the rope, and descended the cliff. The finger guards I wore for archery tore from the tremendous friction.
“Ugh!”
But I kept descending while holding Cai Yan tightly, and she clung to my body without letting go.
“Done…?”
At that moment a heavy response came from below.
“Good work!”
Dian Wei had caught us.
“All right! Helmsmen, row with all your strength! We head straight for Luoyang!”
“Let’s go! Across the Yellow River!”
The boatmen and knight-errants set off with excited shouts.
Ten fast boats glided leisurely along the Yellow River’s current. The pursuit forces of Li Jue and Guo Si who arrived late could only stand atop the cliff, cursing at us and firing arrows. Naturally the arrows couldn’t reach us; they merely sprinkled like rice into the yellow waters.
“Whew~”
No one had died. We had safely escaped Chang’an.
When the tension finally released and I sat down, Cai Yan was still on top of me.
“…”
“Sister! Sister!”
“Ah! Jeonghui.”
Her younger sister Cai Lin had boarded the neighboring boat in accordance with Dian Wei’s movements and was calling out to her with a tearful face.
Thus, the Emperor’s escape from Chang’an was a complete success!
And it was not Li Jue, Guo Si, Zhang Jie, the White Wave Bandits, or the Southern Xiongnu, but the Cao family that safely escorted the Emperor along the Yellow River’s waterways toward Luoyang.
It was the Jian’an era… no, it was the second year of Xingping.