Battle of Gyeonseong - Black Mountain Bandits Subjugation (6)
As humans, we're bound to feel basic gratitude toward anyone who saves us, no matter who they are. Even if that savior is a murderer who kills others, as long as they didn't harm us, we can still sincerely thank them for pulling us from the brink. Just like right now.
Waaaaah—————!!
Is this what it feels like to be a triumphant general? We strolled down Henei's main avenue, exchanging greetings with the throngs of cheering residents lining the streets. A simple wave or nod of the head was all it took, but they roared their approval with wild fervor.
"Cao Cao! Cao Cao! Cao Cao!"
"Cao Cao! Cutie! Cao Cao!"
"The cheers for Lady Cao Cao are piercing the heavens."
"This isn't Xuzhou, though."
Henei lay in the complete opposite direction from Xuzhou. Cao Cao had never attacked or plundered here before, and since Henei had always been close to Luoyang, folks didn't hold a particularly bad view of her.
—Everything else was fine, but that crazy stunt in Xuzhou after his parents died is a black mark.
—What about the Yeobaeksa incident?
—Wasn't that slander by Lü Bu's subordinate? No one would actually do something like that.
—Shh. Still, he's the benefactor who saved our lives. At least let's be grateful for now.
'Yeah, that's right. The Cao army saved us from the bandits, so we owe them thanks.'
As humans, basic gratitude is a must. Survivors owe thanks for their survival, and we'll be grateful for the cheers and modest gifts from Henei's people going forward.
What do I mean? Well...
"Greetings, General Cao Ren. I am Sima Bang, representing Henei's noble clans."
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Cao Ren. For now... I offer my heartfelt thanks for your daughter's service at the front."
Sima Bang...
...The family head himself had led the noble clans out to the government offices to welcome us.
"And where is Henei's prefect?"
"He fled. If he has any shame left, he won't dare return."
"Good heavens... How could such a tragedy befall us?"
"It's lamentable. For nearly a decade, Henei's prefect has sucked the people dry without lifting a finger against even a single bandit. General Cao! When you return to Heodo, please ensure an upright prefect is appointed to protect our people."
"Understood. I'll make sure to bring it up with the Prime Minister."
Cao Cao doesn't appoint prefects herself. But if the Emperor sends one through her channels, it declares Henei part of her domain. If war with Yuan Shao comes, it lays the groundwork for an advance on Ye City via a slightly longer but well-paved route.
Take it or leave it.
If no war with Yuan Shao erupts... it becomes a solid base for pushing west and reclaiming Luoyang.
"We've prepared all measures for your rest. This way, please."
"My thanks. This is almost embarrassing—I'm not even the prefect here."
"Haha, how can you say that? You protected us, so who knows? You might end up as the real prefect someday."
"Hahaha, you never know."
Cao Ren entered the government offices, chatting amiably with the noble clan escorts Sima Bang had provided.
"...It's been a while, Yi'ya."
"It has, Father."
After finishing with Cao Ren, Sima Bang approached us. With his grown daughter leading troops to save Henei, he must have been filled with all sorts of emotions.
"...Honestly, I half-expected you'd demand the marriage certificate the moment we met."
"I thought about it. But after seeing you in person..."
Sima Yi's voice caught slightly. No wonder—last time we'd seen him, Sima Bang had been hale and hearty, but now he looked a decade older, haggard and worn as he greeted us.
"...Asking if you've been well feels wrong. Maybe I should just say thanks for holding on."
"I've got to see my daughter married. I'm still the family head, aren't I? I won't close my eyes until the youngest is wed too. Haha."
Sima Bang reached out a wrinkled hand toward Sima Yi's shoulder—
"...No, can't do that. She's a married woman now." He lowered his hand, stepped toward me instead, and clapped my shoulder. "Thank you, son-in-law."
"...Thank you."
One simple phrase, but it hit me unexpectedly hard. The hatred and resentment from our first meeting had faded considerably—not entirely gone, but his gaze now held the warmth of gratitude toward his family's lifesaver.
"Welcome home, Yi'ya."
"I'm back, Father."
Sima Yi bowed to Sima Bang, wiping away tears with the back of her hand.
"Now, time to give me mine."
"Knew you'd say that, so I brought it."
Sima Bang casually drew a silk scroll from his bosom. Sima Yi unrolled it like a bamboo slip and spread it wide before me with a beaming smile.
"Husband!"
"...Finally."
In accordance with custom, Sima Bang, head of the Sima clan, hereby recognizes the marriage between his daughter Sima Yi and [Name].
Finally. My union with Sima Yi was now officially recognized by her clan. This silk scroll would prove the most valuable spoil from the entire Battle of Gyeonseong—worth more than anything else.
Meanwhile, at Ye City's general's mansion.
"Guo Tu failed."
Shen Pei reported calmly, but the elegantly sipping man—Yuan Shao—continued drinking without a flicker of emotion.
"All the Black Mountain Bandits in Gyeonseong are dead. General Wen Chou claimed the head of their leader, Su Gao."
"Good work."
Even with the operation a failure, Yuan Shao remained composed, as if he'd known it would end this way from the start.
"Shen Pei. Great expectations breed great disappointments, don't they?"
"Yes."
"If you never expect anything to begin with, there's no room for disappointment."
Shen Pei let out a dry chuckle at Yuan Shao's words.
"Yet you expected quite a bit, for someone saying that."
"True enough. At least we learned how strong Cao Cao's elite troops really are. The Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, was it? Interesting. We smashed the White Horse Volunteers, and now she breeds yet another cavalry force."
Yuan Shao fiddled with his teacup, chuckling softly.
"...Tell Zhang He and Gao Lan to focus training on massed cavalry tactics. Have the smiths mass-produce spears from the forges."
"Understood. And my lord, one concerning detail..."
Whisper whisper.
Yuan Shao's eyes widened in surprise at Shen Pei's words.
"They used a battering ram?"
"Yes. Wheeled, horse-drawn, then cut the ropes just before it hit the wall. The momentum alone smashed the gate."
"We got played. If the gates aren't thick enough like Gyeonseong's, they shatter. We'll need to inspect every gate in Ye and all our fortresses. Sigh."
Yuan Shao let out a deep breath.
"Are Cao Cao's men all mad too?"
"Victory still lies with us, regardless."
"True. ...But Shen Pei, since victory is already in hand, what if we wait a little longer?"
"My lord!"
Shen Pei grew agitated.
"Beiping will be settled soon—why delay further?"
"......I don't want to delay either. I know we need to push south immediately. I know we can't afford games with bandits in Henei—we should strike Heodo now. But you know as well as I..."
For the first time, worry creased Yuan Shao's refined features.
"Yuan Shang is ill."
"...Young Master Yuan Shang will surely recover swiftly from his bed."
"We can't know that. My mother said she was fine too, lay down... and never rose. At least wait until Yuan Shang recovers before we move. Gongsun Zan's remnants aren't even cleared yet."
"......."
Yuan Shao had no intention of crossing the Yellow River. No persuasion could sway him while his beloved son lay sick—it was impossible.
Yuan Shang. Yuan Shao's youngest son and third, after eldest Yuan Tan and second Yuan Xi, had grown up basking in his father's love. But frail and sickly from birth, prone to ailments, Yuan Shao kept delaying the southern advance for his treatment.
"One year from now, we march without fail. I promise."
"No need for promises. How could a vassal defy his lord's will? Merely..."
Shen Pei bowed deeply, observing proper etiquette.
"This Black Mountain Bandits operation was regrettably a failure, but it yielded some results. Failure may not be pretty, but we must keep shaking Cao Cao's forces."
"How do we shake them?"
"I've already prepared for that."
Shen Pei outlined the plans from himself and the other strategists to Yuan Shao, who nodded repeatedly in satisfaction at their varied schemes working in unison.
"Yes, yes. This is how you fight without clashing—helping each other."
"...Not quite there yet, but we all agree Cao Cao must fall. Especially, though I hate to admit it..."
"Hate to admit?"
"Tian Feng's agitation ploy and Ju Shuo's... well, it might be too grand a picture, headache-inducing even, but if it's Ju Shuo, it's possible. Not comparing, of course."
"I know. I'd never intend to."
Shen Pei cleared his throat awkwardly and bowed again.
"Expect results. I'll think of a good way to topple Cao Cao's army too. And my lord."
Shen Pei noted once more that Yuan Shao hadn't glanced his way even once. It pleased him—that meant he was engrossed in the materials brought.
"...Any gains?"
"Might study some history, though it's a bother."
Yuan Shao tapped the imperial 'family registry' Shen Pei had brought.
"Who is the current Emperor the son of?"
"The late Emperor Ling, who granted you commandery status."
"...Son. Yes, child of the Emperor two reigns back. And he was someone's child—the 26th Emperor, Emperor Huan."
"I know Cao Cao's grandfather, Cao Teng, as a eunuch played a major role in elevating him to the throne."
"Right. He had three daughters. Do you know who the youngest was?"
"Lady Liang Dizhang, I believe."
No wonder—Shen Pei himself had investigated it.
"Yes. Lady Liang Dizhang. A woman of the imperial house who married near Yingchuan, close to Cao Cao's lands."
Yuan Shao's tapping finger stopped on the registry desk. It pointed below 'Lady Liang Dizhang'—to a blank space.
"If she truly bore a son, he'd have bloodline more legitimate than the current Emperor's, wouldn't he?"
"Of course. Emperor Huan may have weakened the realm somewhat, but he didn't fall under the Ten Attendants' sway like Emperor Ling."
"Right. Better than the blood of that incompetent Emperor Ling."
Yuan Shao stroked his goatee, grinning.
"So find him. Lady Liang Dizhang's son. When chaos erupted in Yingchuan's Liangdi, he fled here."
Yuan Shao pointed to Henei.
"A son of the Zhang and Liu lines would be nearly thirty now. ...Heh."
Yuan Shao smacked his lips.
"Perfect age to claim the throne."