The Battle of Shouchun (1)
Cao Cao raised an army. Bearing the emperor's command, she had personally received the sword from the emperor himself, claiming full authority over all commands. With the title of Grand General Protector of the State—the guardian of the realm—she mobilized her forces.
"Vassals who have received this edict: All join Grand General Protector of the State Cao Cao to subjugate the rebel Yuan Shu!"
Cao Cao's army numbered roughly one hundred thousand.
Cao Cao was staking everything on this battle. She scraped together every available soldier—and then some—placing Cao Hong at the vanguard to lead this massive host straight toward Shouchun, where Yuan Shu lurked.
"How should we gather the troops?"
"Use the Qingzhou troops! Spare the Ho Biao Qi elites for the golden guard, but round up every last one of the rest. How many does that give us?"
"If we muster every Qingzhou soldier fit for the battlefield, it'll be seventy thousand—no, eighty thousand at least."
"Then a regular commander won't cut it, will he?"
"Just tell the man in charge, Cao Hong, to take overall command. Qingzhou's his responsibility, isn't it? Ugh, just five years ago, I had to beg Yuan Shao for a few thousand men, and now I've got a hundred thousand!"
This sudden surge in numbers was, for all intents and purposes, the full might of Cao Cao's forces.
That was because, aside from around thirty thousand elite veterans, every other soldier was a green recruit with less than two or three years under their belt. The Qingzhou troops—Cao Cao had granted land to the three hundred thousand Yellow Turbans of Qingzhou, folding them into her domain. From those, she'd selected the ones she could control and forged them into soldiers through rigorous training. Cao Hong oversaw it all, and now she planned to deploy them en masse for the Yuan Shu campaign.
After all, it was the only way to stand a chance against Yuan Shu's two hundred thousand-strong horde!
That left just the bare minimum garrison in Heodo, freeing her to march this colossal army southward.
"With this, victory is all but guaranteed."
On the road to Shouchun, Cao Cao rode in a palanquin symbolizing the emperor's own proxy, exuding utter confidence. The emperor had bestowed it upon her to signify her role as his stand-in, and she preened like she'd claimed the throne herself.
"I hope we crush these traitors quick and head home."
"Of course, my lord."
"Once we've smashed this pretender emperor, His Majesty will surely grant us something extra."
"Not grain, maybe, but an official post or title at least?"
"A higher office than this? Hahaha!"
Her advisors, trailing alongside, chimed in one by one.
"Indeed. Let's topple Yuan Shu, claim triumph, and return to Heodo in high spirits. Hahaha!"
Every advisor save Xun Yu, who guarded Heodo, had gathered for this—Yuan Shu's subjugation was do-or-die.
A single continent could not suffer two nations. For the Han imperial house alone, Yuan Shu's pretender Zhong dynasty had to be erased.
"Still, something nags at me."
Three concerns weighed on her mind.
"First: Will Lü Bu really take our gift and stay put?"
Lü Bu in the rear. The very name stirred unease. No matter how she turned it over, that man wouldn't sit idle. Word of her pulling every Qingzhou soldier might goad him to swing wide around Beihai and hit Puyang again. Lü Bu was more than capable of it.
"How dare they march on rebel Yuan Shu like this!"
"I, Lü Bu—"
"You old fool!"
Lü Bu wouldn't strike Puyang outright. He took fierce pride in his status as a Han general. But if he did attack, it'd be as a minister of Zhong.
"What if Lü Bu truly allies with Yuan Shu?"
Intelligence from Heodo painted a grim picture.
"What if he actually marries off his daughter to Yuan Shu?"
Yuan Shu had elevated his son to crown prince—and offered Lü Bu's daughter the role of crown princess!
Cao Cao's agents had sabotaged the match talks repeatedly. No direct operatives sent to the enemy, but letters had flown back and forth; the negotiations had advanced in earnest.
Just as Cao Ang's marriage had sealed an alliance with Zhang Su's forces in Wan, nothing barred Lü Bu from binding himself to Yuan Shu through wedlock.
"If Lü Bu marches out, Yuan Shu will too, right?"
A blood tie would forge an unbreakable pact. Tension was inevitable.
So Cao Cao had sent Lü Bu a letter—and a gift—not to placate Yuan Shu.
"He'd better appreciate our gift."
"You mean the official post as Xuzhou Inspector, my lord?"
"Exactly."
Before departing for Yuan Shu, she'd prepared the edict recognizing Lü Bu as Xuzhou Inspector.
"The Han emperor's seal on Xuzhou Inspector... or the pretender's nod as crown princess. Which holds more value for Lü Bu?"
"The former."
"Agreed."
All her advisors bet on the inspectorship.
"Lü Bu's proud of finishing what he started—assassinating Dong Zhuo for the greater good. Li Jue and Guo Si hounded him out, but he'd climbed to Vice General and even Upper General. He won't forget that power."
"Isn't Upper General different from Xuzhou Inspector?"
"The key is it's from the Han court. It reminds him—and the court—that he's still a Han servant, that they haven't forgotten his time as Upper General."
"Risky for us if he officially becomes Xuzhou Inspector, but he'll focus on expanding there."
"And above all, the man loves his hats."
"Tch. Promoting anyone to Upper General would be tricky now."
By leaving Upper General vacant, they reaffirmed Lü Bu's loyalty to Han.
It was Cao Cao's ploy to keep Lü Bu from a rear raid or reinforcements to Yuan Shu during the campaign.
"Hate to admit it, but Chen Gong's at his side. She'll rein him in."
Cao Cao muttered through gritted teeth, like she was chewing wax.
"Whatever else, Chen Gong will secure their survival. She knows backing Zhong spells doom."
Cao Cao's camp was certain.
Unaware that Lü Bu had already accepted gifts from Yuan Shu's envoy.
"Is this truly the list of betrothal gifts from the Zhong emperor?"
"Yes, General."
Lü Bu swallowed hard, eyes devouring the densely packed list before him.
"Generous hand. Reminds me of Dong Zhuo."
"...Ahem."
"Whoops. My apologies. Just saying he's got the wealth for it—no offense."
Lü Bu flashed an awkward grin at the envoy, who'd bristled at the Dong Zhuo comparison.
It was true, after all: the gifts promised were vast enough to rival those of the tyrant.
"Anyhow... anything else?"
"Haha, naturally. Grain—one hundred thousand shi—is en route from Shouchun to Xiapi as we speak."
"One hundred thousand!"
Lü Bu jolted upright at the staggering figure.
"Gifting a hundred thousand shi of grain?"
"Haha, indeed. Consider it His Majesty's personal regard for you, General."
"Mm, grateful. I'll use it to fill my people's bellies. Hahaha!"
How much would actually reach the masses was anyone's guess, but Lü Bu clutched the silk list tight.
"I'll have my daughter prepare at once."
"Ah...! An honor. Good thing I brought the palanquin, just in case!"
"Hold."
A woman's voice rang out, sharp and unyielding from beyond the door. Lü Bu flinched, thinking it his wife—but it was Chen Gong who entered.
"You've sent the betrothal gifts?"
"Y-yes."
"Then we must observe proper etiquette. We can't send the bride first and invite scorn. We'll prepare a dowry befitting the imperial house, so return to Shouchun ahead, envoy."
"Pardon? B-but..."
"General Lü. I disagree, but scum like Cao Cao might claim you're peddling your daughter for a mere hundred thousand shi of rice."
Bang! Lü Bu smashed his fist on the desk. A leg splintered with a crack.
"Do I strike you as some petty peddler hawking his daughter for rice?!"
"It's how others will see it. Send your daughter off without dowry, and will she be treated as a true empress?"
"Hell no! My bloodline won't suffer shabby betrothal from strangers!"
Lü Bu shot to his feet, jabbing a finger at the envoy as he bellowed.
"Tell the emperor: Gifts received in good order—response required. Good tidings soon. Now off to Shouchun with you."
"Ah, th-that..."
"Envoy, be on your way. Or do you aim to paint General Lü a shameless wretch who grabs gifts and shoves out his daughter?"
"N-no, of course not! We'll meet again shortly!"
The envoy bowed frantically and fled. Alone now, Lü Bu averted his gaze from Chen Gong's piercing stare.
"The weather's fi—"
"Have you lost your mind?!"
Chen Gong's shriek made Lü Bu shrink despite himself.
"Lost my mind's a bit much."
"Take the gifts on impulse? Now you've swallowed their rice—what if Yuan Shu demands aid against Cao Cao?"
"No, the grain's for Xuzhou's people. I accepted graciously..."
"Sigh. You'll be branded a rice-gobbling mute."
"Mm..."
Lü Bu nodded gravely.
"Petty?"
"Very."
"But helping Yuan Shu smash Cao Cao—doesn't that make him the real emperor?"
"At best, a realm's traitor. Your slaying of Dong Zhuo? Branded naked power-grab, not loyalty to Han."
"Can't have that. But we did take it..."
Lü Bu snapped his fingers, grinning at Chen Gong.
"Gifts are just gifts, no...?"
"You're not saying eat it—"
Slurp.
"Why not? The Xuzhou Inspector seizing enemy provisions for his people."
Lü Bu wiped his mouth after a sip of tea.
"Lü Bu seizes a hundred thousand shi of Yuan Shu's army grain. Heh, exploits already mounting!"