How to Capture a Woman's Heart (2)
Cao Cao managed herself with a rigorous emphasis on cold, hard pragmatism. She did this to guard against ruining great affairs through complacent judgment.
Hesitation only reveals weakness.
How many powerful officials had lost their lives to a moment's hesitation?
General-in-Chief He Jin seized absolute power by executing the Regular Attendant Jian Shuo and taking command of the Imperial Guard. But in the end, his indecisiveness left him trapped by the eunuchs' slander, and he met a brutal end, beheaded at the palace's Han Fu Gate.
She would not repeat the path of foolish losers.
With this resolve, she demonstrated a decisive will.
"Father refused again?"
"Yes... The elder wishes to remain in Langya Kingdom with his household."
A new worry had arisen for Cao Cao, who had been tackling problems on all fronts with swift efficiency. It concerned her father and relatives who were staying in Langya Kingdom in Xu Province.
Langya Kingdom in Xu Province was the territory of Liu Chong's army.
From the moment Liu Chong's army and Tao Qian's army entered an all-out war, she had constantly urged her father and relatives to flee to Yan Province. But despite the earnest requests, her father sent a reply saying he would spend the remainder of his days in the quiet and peaceful Langya Kingdom.
"Could it be that the Liu Chong army is threatening him? Threatening to slaughter the household if he tries to escape?"
A woman, a close aide and younger cousin of Cao Cao, spoke with a meaningful look.
Lustrous black hair tied tightly to one side.
Eyes gleaming like red gems.
Jewelry adorned with dazzling gold and precious stones.
She flaunted her wealth in direct contrast to the Pure Stream Faction scholars who valued simplicity and frugality. The picture of a nouveau riche.
Cao Hong.
She was Cao Cao's most favored general.
And also the wealthiest magnate representing Pei Kingdom.
There was a joke among the idle talkers of the world: "All the gold and jewels under heaven gather in the Donghai Mi Clan of Xu Province, the Xiapi Lu Clan of Yang Province, and the Pei Cao Clan of Yu Province."
"Rare jewels and delicacies from mountains and seas await Uncle, so... why does he insist on living in a backwater village? For someone who spent half his life in Luoyang, that village life must be nothing but filthy and uncomfortable."
"Father wants to stay in Langya Kingdom of his own free will. I don't know the reason, but perhaps he resents his daughter for her constant unfilial acts."
"Th-that can't be! Sister, you've missed Uncle so much...!"
"..."
She had conquered Yan Province and extended her influence to Sili Province and Yu Province. It was the result of defeating and subjugating countless warlords in Guandong.
She wanted to show him the achievements and military exploits she had accomplished.
She had devoted herself entirely to repaying her father, who had raised his only daughter alone after losing his wife, and had seized this glory today. She even felt resentment toward his stubbornness in insisting on village life, as if he were ignoring her exhaustive efforts.
"Mengde! To negotiate an alliance with traitors...! Surely you haven't called them to Qiao County to harm them?"
Just as she was agonizing over her unsympathetic father,
a voice rang out, brimming with indignation.
It was Cao Cao's old friend and comrade in raising an army, the Governor of Chenliu, Zhang Miao.
Zhang Miao, having learned of the alliance talks with Liu Chong's army, was displaying his fury. It was only natural for Zhang Miao, a loyal and righteous man who valued the Han Imperial House and the Court, to fly into a rage.
"It's true, Mengzhuo. We will discuss an alliance with Liu Chong's army."
"This is utterly unjustifiable! How can you discuss an alliance with traitors who have falsely claimed the title of Emperor? Have they not trampled on the authority of the Imperial House and the Court head-on!"
Cao Cao's army and Liu Chong's army had maintained a friendly relationship as forces that had participated in the anti-Dong Zhuo coalition. However, not all figures in Cao Cao's army welcomed Liu Chong's army.
Zhang Miao.
And his younger brother, Zhang Chao.
Numerous local gentry of Yan Province had joined this faction.
Xun Yu, the advisor to Cao Cao's army known as the Talent Assisting a King, also held a negative stance toward an alliance with Liu Chong's army, which had declared usurpation. Unlike the raging Zhang Miao, however, Xun Yu did not reveal his inner thoughts.
"Do you wish to kill Liu Seong-hwi?"
"Of course! All loyal and righteous men of the Han Dynasty desire the severed head of the traitor! Mengde, if you permit it, I will deploy the warriors of Yan Province to take Liu Seong-hwi's life!"
Zhang Miao was a hero of the era who hated evil and valued righteousness. It was shocking to see such a hero discussing a covert strike using warriors.
If left unchecked, who knows what trouble might arise.
The beauty with the lustrous black hair and gleaming red eyes issued a sharp warning.
* * *
Pei Kingdom was currently divided and ruled by Liu Chong's and Cao Cao's forces. When Liu Chong's army absorbed Tao Qian's territory, they had naturally taken Xiaopei City in Pei Kingdom.
Xiaopei City.
A strategic point and forward base in the Yu Province region.
A refuge for Liu Bei's army, as every Three Kingdoms reader knows.
The location for the Alliance Conference was set at Qiao County in Pei Kingdom, close to Xiaopei City.
Cao Cao's army temporarily withdrew the troops stationed in Qiao County, creating a demilitarized zone. It was likely a gesture to ensure the alliance talks could proceed smoothly.
"There's a possibility assassins are lying in ambush. Please be careful."
"Of course, that could be the case."
He could station 5,000 troops on the outskirts and enter with only 500 guards.
That was the condition he had agreed to with Cao Cao's army.
Liu Seong-hwi had readily accepted Cao Cao's proposal. He stopped Liu Bei and Sun Ce, who wanted to take charge of his protection, and entered Qiao County accompanied only by Zhao Yun, Taishi Ci, and the guards.
"The home of the Pei Cao Clan... I'd wanted to visit it once."
Qiao County in Pei Kingdom.
A blessed land that had produced numerous founding fathers of the dynasty.
But contrary to the expectation of finding some kind of rare "dragon vein," the home of the Pei Cao Clan was just an ordinary backwater village. The barren wilderness and dense forests surrounding the county made it clear this was a harsh land that many local gentry had shunned over the years.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
He advanced under the escort of his heavily armored guards.
Upon reaching the center of the county,
a massive old estate, presumably the main house of the Pei Cao Clan, came into view.
"Fengxian?"
"Crown Prince! We finally meet!"
A beauty with ash-blonde hair cascading down appeared, exuding a gallant presence. He encountered her at the front gate as if she were guarding the main house of the Pei Cao Clan, the venue for the Alliance Conference.
Hmm.
Still huge.
A chest of overwhelmingly magnificent proportions.
He stole a glance at the massive breasts spilling over the red armor.
He had heard she was stationed in Henei Prefecture as a wandering army when she formed an alliance with Cao Cao's army, which was advancing into Sili Province. Even after they captured the counties of Sili Province, her army had maintained an equal cooperative relationship with Cao Cao's army.
'Could it be the ripple effect of changing history so many times...? Just as Liu Yu, who met a tragic end in the original history, allied with his archenemy Gongsun Zan—whereas the original history would have seen Lü Bu's army and Cao Cao's army fight a bloody battle for supremacy in Yan Province. Did these changes in the flow of history create a new outcome where Lü Bu's army and Cao Cao's army forge an alliance?'
Liu Yu's army and Gongsun Zan's army.
Cao Cao's army and Lü Bu's army.
Sworn enemies who should never have gotten along had joined hands.
Bizarre and perplexing.
And a variable that sparked strong interest.
Could one say that streams deviating from the main current had converged again to form a massive ocean? Looking at the results born from these historical changes before his eyes, he let out a faint smile.
"You've achieved remarkable deeds. I heard you even advanced to Tong Pass, the entrance to Chang'an City? As expected of the Peerless Under Heaven, known as the pinnacle of all warriors."
"Hmph, naturally."
As soon as he laid on the flattery, Lü Bu immediately reacted with a swagger.
Still such an easy woman.
"You should call me big brother. You wouldn't go back on your promise now, would you?"
"Hmph! A philanderer who parades around with women!"
The gallant heroine called Peerless Under Heaven practically ground against the escorts Zhao Yun and Taishi Ci, shouting accusations. At her reaction, he gave a bright smile and wrapped his arm tightly around her slender waist.
"Jealous already? Isn't it a bit too early to be acting like a wife?"
"I am NOT!"
He whispered, watching Lü Bu's face turn as red as a ripened fruit.
Lü Bu reacted more fiercely than ever before.