Cao Ang, Dead (2)
Cao Ang. Just past twenty this year, a youth from the Cao clan whom Cao Cao had preemptively chosen as her successor. If one had to describe his talents, there was nothing particularly outstanding about them. His skill as a warrior was average, his prowess as a strategist average. His ability to command troops was average, and his talent for governing a region was average. Of course, this "average" didn't mean he was ordinary among the countless civil and military officials—it meant he was average among the renowned generals under the various warlords.
Many wondered why this unremarkable young man had been selected by Cao Cao as her heir. No one knew the exact reason. By actual age, he was young enough to be Cao Cao's son, but she hadn't married or borne children yet. Some whispered that Cao Ang must be a secret son she'd borne in hiding, but regrettably, Cao Cao had never vanished for ten months or even secluded herself for three.
"Isn't it just because Cao Ang is the safest bet from the Cao clan?"
"Safest how?"
"Cao Ang is a direct descendant of Cao Cao's grandfather. Cao Cao was the adopted son of Cao Song, who in turn was the adopted son of Cao Teng. Cao Song had hidden her gender and lived as a man, but Cao Cao had revealed her talents to the world from a young age, rising through the ranks as a woman and making her name known far and wide. Behind her was the eunuch Cao Teng. When some questioned how a eunuch like Cao Teng could have legitimate heirs, the Cao clan simply adopted a blood relative's child to continue the line. Cao Cao had done the same, taking in Cao Ang—the closest blood kin to Cao Teng—as her adopted son. To prevent future succession disputes, she'd chosen the one who could be called the clan's 'eldest legitimate son'."
But now that adopted son might die, putting Cao Cao in a panic, like fire scorching her feet.
"Ugh, this is driving me mad."
It had already been a day since Cao Ang had left to take responsibility himself. Whispers from the soldiers outside the tent reached her ears, and Cao Cao desperately hoped the general would show some movement soon.
'No way he'd actually kill him.'
She'd sent Cao Ang into the lion's den half in doubt. There had been anger in the moment, but also a desire to test his abilities. The one who caused the mess should clean it up. Of course...
"Ugh, what if he really dies?"
She'd known it was a place where he could die in her rage, but now that he'd gone, she wanted to rush over and drag him back. Couldn't she just explain the failure to take Wan to her advisors?
"Damn alcohol's always the problem. Who loses a castle while drinking? Ugh."
Cao Cao drowned her boiling anger with liquor. She couldn't endure without it.
Cao Ang. The widow. Zhang Su. Zhang Ji.
"Ugh, my head...!"
"My lord."
A familiar voice came from outside the tent. Cao Cao hurriedly stashed her wine under the bed and composed herself.
"Enter."
"...Have you had a drink?"
"I opened it just in case. If Cao Ang comes back dead... without the power of wine, I wouldn't be able to bear it."
The vanguard scanned the area subtly at the stern Cao Cao's demeanor before indifferently handing over a bamboo slip.
"See for yourself."
"Yes, give it here."
Cao Cao scanned the bamboo slip. The handwriting was hastily scrawled, with some words hard to make out, but she inferred them from context. The contents read...
"...As expected of Kim Taeyang."
"What does it say?"
"Didn't you read it?"
"No, my lord."
Cao Cao smirked at the vanguard's reply.
"Heh. It's a perfect rundown of all the scenarios I considered. Some please me, some don't... but this lets me judge which of my thoughts are right."
She clutched the bamboo slip to her chest.
"I'm glad I met him that day. Know what it says here? He wrote it not to help me, but because he doesn't want one young man to die unjustly."
Cao Cao unfolded the slip again, her smile turning more predatory at the end.
"Spot on. He knows exactly what I want. He knows all too well what I nearly lost in this mess."
"What is it?"
"Honor. Legitimacy. Obvious, but if this blows up fatally, it could devastate our army without end."
As Cao Cao read on, her expression hardened.
"...A solution."
"Pardon?"
"A way to save Cao Ang and take Wan. Yes, very interesting..."
She stroked her chin, lost in thought.
"History has precedents. Yes, this could resolve it nicely."
"My lord."
"What?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
The vanguard rubbed his neck in frustration.
"Tell me the solution."
"Ah, right, I didn't. It's—"
"My lord, an envoy from General Zhang Su's camp."
The vanguard frowned. Cao Cao checked her state and quickly straightened her clothes.
"I'll greet them myself."
She gulped cold water and stepped out.
"Pleased to meet you, General Cao."
"A woman?"
The moment she saw her, Cao Cao thought, 'This won't be easy.'
"I am Jia Xu, style name Wenhe, advisor to General Zhang Su."
"...Jia Xu? That Jia Xu?"
"Yes."
Cao Cao felt the alcohol evaporate from her system in an instant.
"Why is the one the Emperor has sought so desperately here?"
"The Emperor seeks me? Ha, glad tidings. With you serving him well, General Cao, he's surely faring fine..."
Jia Xu straightened and drew something from her bosom.
"A letter from General Zhang Su. Please have a look."
Cao Cao took the silk and read, her face gradually stiffening.
"Th-this is..."
"General Zhang wishes to resolve all this 'splendidly.' For that, he needs your boundless magnanimity, General Cao. Well? Will you accept?"
".......No other motives?"
"None. A castle in the air, perhaps, but if realized, it would symbolize unbreakable trust."
"Ahem."
The vanguard, illiterate and unable to read the letter or grasp the women's words, was on the verge of exploding in frustration. To him, writing was just rigid black lines dancing.
"...Betroth Cao Ang and the widow."
"Ah!"
The vanguard gasped at Cao Cao's casual remark.
"No alliance firmer than marriage."
"Precisely. Though a widow, she's devoted beyond any other. Of course, her husband's absence led her to offend the young master..."
"That's on my fool son for not keeping it in his pants."
Cao Cao sighed deeply, then nodded.
"No choice. Fine. Marriage. Why not hold the wedding here while you're at it?"
"That might be hasty. If you're amenable, General, how about Heodo? A little time would make it a 'heartwarming tale' for the world."
"Heartwarming tale?"
"Night's secrets stay between us, but allies should align their words, no?"
"......."
Cao Cao glanced back at the tent. In her haste, she'd left it half-open, with a silk scroll inside.
"Gazing at the heavens from his seat."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. Your proposal flows too perfectly for me—shocking, that's all."
"Just bringing good news."
Cao Cao nodded silently.
"What’s Cao Ang doing now?"
"Well..."
Jia Xu glanced around, lowering her voice.
"...Taking full responsibility for his actions."
"Responsibility? What kind?"
"You seem unaware of your son's true talent, General. I haven't witnessed it myself, but your son... heh heh."
"......."
Cao Cao covered her face with her hand.
"I thought Cao Ang was dead the moment he touched the widow. Timeline-wise, the enraged general had time to surround him."
Jia Xu just smiled knowingly.
"Yet she didn't. I escaped with the vanguard on horseback. She could have killed me—why didn't she?"
"Lady Zhang opposed it fiercely. Reason... you know."
"Ha, insane."
Cao Cao laughed hollowly, gazing skyward.
"What the hell..."
She sighed at length, then turned to Jia Xu.
"Why approach me with this scheme personally? An envoy would have sufficed."
"Call it an eye-stamp."
Jia Xu smiled with her eyes, pointing toward Heodo.
"Who knows? With this, the court powerhouse General Cao might look kindly on me and use me later."
"Aren't you Zhang Su's advisor?"
"I merely advise him. Can't be a hanger-on forever—given the chance, I'd return to office. To that end, I prove my worth."
She pointed west.
"Help appoint Zhang Su as Wan's official prefect, General. Lend some grain from Heodo, and we'll shield against Jia Xu and Guo Si to the west, Liu Biao to the south."
"Smooth as silk. Then, Jia Xu, let me ask one thing."
Cao Cao raised a finger.
"I lost something in this. Guess what."
"......Trust in Young Master Cao?"
"That's part, but something bigger—even I didn't know."
Cao Cao glanced slyly at the silk in the tent, smiling brightly.
"My unwed son."
"Man, must sting, right? Marrying Cao Ang to the widow."
"Why?"
"I'd marry him to a stronger warlord's daughter for alliance. Say, Yuan Shao's."
"Teacher. Why not just the imperial princess?"
"......Oh. Right. Could've been in-laws to the throne."
Poor Cao Ang.
"Might've held a princess, but cradles a widow instead."
Cao Ang had kicked away a chance to join the imperial family. Unbeknownst to him.
"Marriage alliance—who'd think of that?"
"Oh? Who?"
"Who else."
"Heh heh..."
A few days later.
Word came that Zhang Su had allied with Cao Cao.