The Emperor's Decree and the Gathering Storm
The time had come to set out on campaign.
"We hereby command you to exterminate the traitor Yuan Shu and his rebel forces."
“How lamentable. How utterly lamentable. How can the Yuan clan, one of the Three Excellencies who have eaten the Han’s grain for generations, commit treason against the empire?”
“Your Majesty, this is a grave misfortune.”
“It is because We lack virtue that such a thing has come to pass. This feeble self of mine cannot support the Han.”
Emperor Liu Xie despaired from the bottom of his heart.
Even while remaining a puppet in the capital of Xu, the Cao faction had maintained order. Local officials, at least in name, swore loyalty and continued to collect taxes.
Yet now, Yuan Shu had finally declared independence from the Han, proclaimed himself emperor, and established his own calendar. The emperor could not help but fall into deep self-doubt.
“Your Majesty, this is nothing more than the desperate thrashing of an ignorant rebel. Please issue an edict ordering their extermination.”
Grand Tutor Cao Song was the one who steadied the emperor’s crumbling spirit.
Perhaps more than handling complicated state affairs, serving as an honorary advisor in one of the Three Offices suited the wealthy patriarch perfectly.
“We… shall issue the decree. We declare Yuan Shu a traitor and command the destruction of the so-called ‘Zhong’ empire he has founded.”
“We are endlessly grateful for Your Majesty’s benevolence.”
On the surface it seemed the emperor was finally showing some imperial dignity, but a subtle change had appeared in his eyes. If this was the moment that planted the seed of his future darkening, then the road ahead would be fraught with danger.
And so the campaign to punish the traitor Yuan Shu and his Zhong empire began in earnest.
“Double the intensity of military training at once! A great campaign will begin soon. Allow not even the slightest mistake!”
Cao Ren, Administrator of Guangyang and Palace Attendant, threw himself into drilling Cao Cao’s elite troops.
“The cavalry detachment sent by Administrator Cao Chun of Qiao County has arrived? Cover their training expenses from our coffers and integrate the new soldiers so they can fight alongside the central army.”
Cao Hong, General of the Household Gentlemen of the West, received the cavalry from Cao Chun and personally paid for their training costs out of his own pocket.
As expected, raising an army required money, and Cao Hong gladly opened his own storehouses, spending lavishly to forge elite soldiers.
“I will head to Yan Province to gather troops for the coming campaign. My adjutant Xu Shu should be organizing the forces there by now.”
“After taking Henei, another war already? The logistical burden will be no small matter.”
Xiahou Yuan announced he would return to Yan Province to recruit more men, while Xiahou Dun remained behind with his brother to prepare supplies after the conquest of Henei.
Xun Yu oversaw the organization of the army and the stockpiling of provisions, while Xun You and Guo Jia dispatched secret agents throughout Huainan and Xu Province to gather intelligence firsthand.
I, too, trained relentlessly alongside Cao Ang, incorporating even our personal retainers into the drills.
And as for Cao Cao…
“Come, everyone. Come and greet your new mother.”
“…”
“This servant greets you. I am of the Yun clan.”
A graceful woman who appeared to be in her mid-to-late thirties stood before us—a classic mature beauty. She wore a bold orange silk gown that daringly exposed her shoulders and cleavage. Beside her stood a small boy.
A widow with a child… Of course it was Cao Cao.
“All of you, treat Lady Yun well. Especially you, my principal wife.”
“Ugh…”
Cao Cao had pointedly singled out Lady Ding among his wives. Lately she had been displaying increasingly hysterical behavior, yet here he was, openly bringing in a new consort right in front of her.
Moreover, this widow Lady Yun was none other than the daughter-in-law of the late Grand General He Jin and the wife of He Xian. The boy beside her was He Jin’s grandson and He Xian’s son, He An.
I had only ever thought of Cao Cao as a perverted eccentric with bizarre tastes who somehow also authored commentaries on the Analects. But this was on another level.
“I will be in your care, elder brother.”
“Ah… yes. I shall show you to the main residence.”
Lady Ding had always managed to suppress every new concubine Cao Cao brought in, but this time she could not do the same to Lady Yun.
The reason was simple. While all of Cao Cao’s previous consorts had come from humble backgrounds, Lady Yun was a daughter of a prestigious noble house—just like Lady Ding herself.
“Since His Majesty has commanded the relief of the people and ordered widows to remarry, should not I, the Minister of Works, set an example?”
“…Say no more.”
In the end, Lady Ding withdrew from the room, and it was Lady Bian who guided Lady Yun to her quarters.
For the time being, it seemed the fiery Lady Ding would remain out of sight. Or perhaps another round of palace intrigue was about to erupt. Either way, it was still a complicated matter.
After settling the affairs at the main residence, I returned to my own separate courtyard. There, waiting for me in the garden, was a welcome face.
A towering warrior over two meters tall, with a massive frame and a long beard fluttering in the wind—Guan Yu.
“Ah, Uncle Yunchang. What brings you here?”
“I heard preparations for war were underway, so I came.”
“Then why were you waiting outside? Please, come inside and have some tea.”
“How could I enter when the master is absent and only the mistress remains? I had to wait until you arrived.”
I couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast between Cao Cao boldly bringing a new wife into the main house and Guan Yu refusing to step inside simply because I wasn’t home.
“I came to see whether your skills had dulled before the coming war.”
When Guan Yu leveled his Green Dragon Crescent Blade at me, Cai Yan gasped and covered her mouth in alarm. Of course, I was used to this.
“The spear techniques I learned from you at the Battle of Wancheng proved extremely effective.”
I picked up a spear from the rack in the garden and pointed it at him.
Yes. Since war was inevitable anyway, I might as well spend this time sparring with Guan Yu and honing my martial skills even further!
“We hereby command Minister of Works Cao Cao and Governor of Yuzhou Liu Bei to exterminate the rebel Yuan Shu and his forces.”
“We are endlessly grateful, Your Majesty.”
“Minister Cao, receive Our battle-axe.”
Cao Cao received the battle-axe, the symbol of supreme military authority.
It was the fifth time the current emperor had bestowed the axe—following the tyrant Dong Zhuo, the traitors Li Jue and Guo Si, and the great general of Hebei, Yuan Shao.
With that, the army was fully organized. Cao Cao’s main force of fifty thousand, Liu Bei’s ten thousand, and an additional twenty thousand from Yan Province that would join later were all prepared.
From within the great host marching under the emperor’s battle-axe, I followed behind Cao Cao. Liu Bei rode at his side as well.
“Xuande, how long has it been since we last rode to battle together?”
“I too consider it an honor to march against a traitor alongside you, Brother Mengde.”
Cao Cao and Liu Bei riding side by side, united in purpose. The sight truly stirred the soul.
We marched until midday, then pitched camp for the night. Rather than resting, however, we immediately convened a late-night strategy meeting.
“My lord, this is a letter from Chen Deng of Xu Province.”
“Let me see it.”
Cheng Yu handed it over. Cao Cao unfolded the letter and read it line by line before bursting into loud laughter.
“Hahaha!”
“Brother Mengde, what is it?”
“It seems Yuan Shu has proposed a marriage alliance with Lu Bu. He wants to wed his son Yuan Yao to Lu Bu’s daughter.”
A familiar name.
“Of course, it doesn’t look like it will happen. On the contrary, Lu Bu claims he remains loyal to the court and will strike down the traitor Yuan Shu.”
“Truly? That Lu Fengxian?”
“Naturally, he demands a price for it. He wants to be appointed General of the Four Directions.”
Lu Bu was always quick to look after his own interests. If we could use this wild boar to clash with Yuan Shu’s army and cause them both to destroy each other, there could be no greater gain.
“Brother Mengde, then allow me to take ten thousand men, make contact with Lu Bu’s forces, dissuade him from the marriage alliance, and strike Yuan Shu’s army from that direction.”
Liu Bei volunteered to lead his own troops. It made me uneasy—not because it was anyone else, but because it was Liu Bei. Yet Cao Cao accepted the proposal without hesitation.
“Very well, do so. However, we will still need to face Yuan Shu’s main force here, so leave one of your sworn brothers behind. I intend to use him as my vanguard.”
“In that case, I shall entrust Yunchang to you.”
Although Liu Bei would head to Xiaopei, Guan Yu remained with Cao Cao’s main army.
“The twenty thousand troops coming from Yan Province, plus additional levies from Qiao County, will bring our total to forty thousand. Combined with your forces, you should have fifty thousand. Use them to repel Yuan Shu’s army in the Xiaopei region.”
“Understood, Brother Mengde.”
Surprisingly, Liu Bei obeyed the orders without complaint. Then again, it made sense. As someone who constantly proclaimed himself a descendant of the Han imperial line, he would naturally burn with zeal against Yuan Shu, who had defied the Han and founded his own independent empire.
The next day, Liu Bei departed for Xiaopei with ten thousand men, taking his sworn brother Zhang Fei along with his chief advisors Jian Yong and Mi Zhu.
Guan Yu was appointed co-vanguard alongside Dian Wei.
“Co-vanguard? Just don’t get in my way.”
“Long-bearded friend, I’ve never been pushed back by anyone. You’d best watch your tongue.”
“How amusing. I’ve seen you a few times in the capital, but I wonder if that massive body of yours actually matches your skill?”
The clash of egos between Guan Yu and Dian Wei was truly spectacular.
Both men possessed overwhelming pride in their own strength. As co-vanguards, they moved their respective units as if competing with each other.
“Thanks to Uncle Yunchang, we’ve been assigned as the secondary vanguard. I wonder if we’ll get a chance to shine.”
“Zilie, the enemy numbers are nothing to scoff at. This won’t be an easy fight.”
Cao Ang and I were placed in the secondary vanguard, while Cao Cao himself took the main position, flanked by Cao Ren and Cao Hong, ready to maneuver the army at any moment.
Before we could even reach Shuchun, we encountered the enemy on the open plains. Their forces numbered fifty thousand.
“They say Yuan Shu’s total army approaches three hundred thousand. Truly impressive.”
“The majority of them are remnants of the White Wave Bandits and the Black Mountain Bandits, along with soldiers recruited from the south of the Yangtze.”
At Xun Yu’s explanation, Cao Cao showed interest and carefully observed the enemy commander.
“The enemy general is a man named Qiao Rui. He was appointed Grand General in Yuan Shu’s self-proclaimed empire.”
“Hah! First bandits calling themselves Grand Generals, and now every dog and cat gets to hold the title.”
Then a thunderous shout erupted from the enemy lines.
“You decrepit remnants clinging to a decaying Han! I am Grand General Qiao Rui, sent by the decree of His Majesty, Emperor of the Great Zhong Empire!”
His aura alone was truly formidable.
“The Han imperial house was already destroyed long ago by Dong Zhuo. That puppet Prince of Chenliu, propped up by a false chancellor and two bandits from Xiliang, is laughable. You are nothing but the dregs of a fallen empire.”
Upon hearing those words, Cao Ang’s face twisted in fury and he muttered under his breath.
“That madman… My father the Minister of Works and my grandfather the Grand Tutor have barely managed to restore the Han, yet these wretches dare—!”
“…”
It felt strangely surreal hearing Cao Ang say that. From the very beginning, Yuan Shu had declared that the Han was finished and openly revealed his greed to found a new empire before the entire world. Now the time had come to crush that colossal mass of ambition.
“All troops, charge!”
“Everyone attack! Do not fall behind the long-bearded one’s army!”
Guan Yu and Dian Wei charged forward simultaneously as the vanguard.
Cao Ang and I, as the secondary vanguard, also raised our spears and prepared to rush forth.