An Era Defying Common Sense (2)
The Yizhou governor's affairs were a perfect topic for teaching the children. It was an issue that allowed for deep reflection and discussion on the problems arising between people in these chaotic times, and where those people were headed.
But Xuzhou was different. Among the new disciples at Suyeon Academy were children from Xuzhou like Zhuge Liang, and bringing up Xuzhou unnecessarily would only stir their mental anguish.
Yet the Xuzhou matter was worth discussing. No, it had to be addressed and gotten past.
Because the horrors in Xuzhou were so brutal, and their repercussions were already rippling straight into Jingzhou.
The hereditary rule in Yizhou had little impact on Jingzhou, but Xuzhou's chaos affected not just Jingzhou but every corner of the realm. And for a realistic discussion on this, I summoned someone separately to my private quarters.
"Yi-ya. Sorry to call you so late."
"No, Master. I love these quiet talks with just the two of us."
Sima Yi appeared in a single layer of mourning garb, facing me squarely. She had grown into a fine young woman now; I made a mental note to stop summoning her so late at night from here on.
"You didn't have to."
"...Huh?"
"Master, your thoughts are written all over your face."
"What was I thinking, then?"
"That calling a woman this late might spark weird misunderstandings?"
"......You little ghost."
Sima Yi let out a low chuckle and sat down across from me. We lit a single small oil lamp and unrolled a map of Xuzhou between us.
"I haven't mentioned Xuzhou yet. It's something that hasn't happened."
"But it's about to, right? Did Xun You tell you?"
"Yeah. She's campaigning with them again this time."
Cao Cao, the moment winter ended, had decided to march back into Xuzhou.
"There was some pushback in her army, from what I hear. But she pushed east anyway."
"Shouldn't we warn them?"
"By the time the courier arrived, they've probably already moved. Tao Qian's scouts will spot them faster than any letter from us to Xuzhou, so no worries there."
I shifted most of Cao Cao's forces from Puyang toward Xuzhou.
"Her rear's wide open, but with Yuan Shao's army back there, she can advance without a care. Even if Li Jue and Guo Si show up, Yuan Shao'll send word."
"Less justification than last year, but doesn't the saying go, 'A gentleman's vengeance is worth waiting ten years for'?"
"Isn't that for down the road? No need to rush."
"It means you sharpen your blade for a full decade with that burning grudge. Hehe. But..."
Sima Yi shoved Cao Cao's markers all the way to Xuzhou City.
"Parents' killer. Recycling last year's excuse this year too. Cao Cao really is the picture of filial piety."
"Yi-ya, mocking her?"
"No. Dead serious. Who else in the world would slaughter like this over a dead mother? Hehe."
Sima Yi covered her mouth, smiling faintly. A trace of disdain for Cao Cao lingered in that laugh.
"I figured you'd like her. You love cavalry, right?"
"If it was just good cavalry command, I'd admire Gongsun Zan or Dong Zhuo's crew too. It's not about that. Cao Cao's army isn't even that great with cavalry, um."
Sima Yi toyed with her lips for a moment—a habit when she hesitated before her real opinion.
"If I had to say... I don't think much of Cao Cao one way or the other. No like, no hate."
Unexpected. I'd pegged her as a good match for Cao Cao, but apparently not. "Don't you go for capable types?"
"Right. I want a place that recognizes my talents, lets me run wild with them. Bonus if I can win there. But... Cao Cao's a little off."
"How so?"
"Working under her would feel like skating on thin ice, you know? Hehe."
Sima Yi hid her smile behind her fan.
"I'd just spend every day on edge, wondering when I'd tweak a nerve and end up headless."
"...Just play it smart, no?"
"Master. Even the ones who kiss up and get big roles—who knows what happens years later?"
Sima Yi tapped the Cao banner over Chenliu.
"Loyal wife sticks by during hard times, but once he's up and beds a nobleman's daughter, he dumps her. Happens all the time."
"Cao Cao'll purge her own retainers?"
"Emperor Gao of Han purged many of his greatest meritorious officials after founding the dynasty. Why would Cao Cao be any different?"
"Fair. But look at the hell they're going through right now."
I'd never met Cao Cao face-to-face. But judging from her nature so far...
"She's the type who looks after her people properly."
"Master, you see the best in folks. The woman who turned Xuzhou into that—think she'll spare her cronies later?"
"Not seeing her in a good light, exactly. Just... can anyone be that rotten?"
Be a demon to your foes, sure—but benevolent to your own, right?
"Trash or not, they're hers. She gonna just toss 'em?"
"You know the rumor from the marketplace lately? About what went down when Cao Cao fled Dong Zhuo."
"Huh?"
First I'd heard.
"Yeah. Involves this acquaintance of hers, Ye Baisha..."
Sima Yi's tale:
While fleeing Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao got aid from friend Ye Baisha—but paranoid he meant to kill her, slaughtered his household.
"......Misunderstanding."
"Yeah. He was out at the time, luckily."
"Poor Ye Baisha must've been livid."
"Can't be. He's dead. Cao Cao killed him."
"...What."
Cao Cao hunted him down and finished the job. Supposedly saying,
— Attributed to Cao Cao —
"...No way she said that."
"Who knows. With what she's doing in Xuzhou, she's exactly the type. Hehe."
Never imagined Cao Cao pulling that. If true, I'd have reassessed her ages ago.
"...But it's fishy."
"What? Fake?"
"Nah. This blowing up as marketplace gossip? Out of nowhere?"
Doesn't add up.
"Anti-Dong Zhuo coalition formed and fell about four—no, five years back. No whisper of this till now? Nah."
"Maybe Cao Cao buried it deep."
"Sure. If real, yeah. But why surface now? Anyone knowing would've spilled sooner. Dong Zhuo gets wind, he sits on that? No shot."
"...So a five-year-old story popping suddenly feels off to you?"
"Yep."
Off. "The Xuzhou massacre triggered it? Someone got sick of her crap. A follower finally snapped over the slaughter."
"Spreading nasty rumors on purpose?"
"Less 'rumor,' more drunk talk turning into whispers: 'That bitch actually...'"
Intentional or not, Cao Cao's rep tanks harder.
"...My bad, shortsighted. Cao Cao didn't just lose Xuzhou locals. Lost folks from her own camp too."
"Xun You maybe...?"
"Nah, not her or Xun Yu. Though they might not tell me."
I toppled the Cao banner over Yanzhou.
"Still, a revolt? Against the one who razed Xuzhou? Hell no, too scared of backlash."
"If it were me? I'd do it."
Sima Yi smirked slyly, flicking Chenliu's banner with a fingernail.
"Inside job. Revolt. Liberation. Wipe Cao Cao's army. Kill the backlash source."
"...Can't argue."
If Cao Cao drops...
"...Hope Xun Yu and Xun You make it."
Not like I like her or anything. Just got friends serving her, y'know?
"Rear's Yuan Shao only."
"Yuan Shao hitting Cao Cao? Common sense says no."
"Right? Yeah. Hm."
Common sense.
That same moment. Zhang Miao, newly minted Puyang magistrate, lay wide awake in gnawing dread.
"Mengde..."
A sword rested on Zhang Miao's bed—for self-defense against any assassin, or suicide if "something" went down.
Who'd kill Zhang Miao? Dare touch the ex-Chenliu magistrate, one of the eighteen warlords against Dong Zhuo?
...Not Chenliu magistrate anymore. Puyang's, sure—but real power gripped by Cao Cao's man Xiahou Dun.
A figurehead. Cao Cao called him "friend," but death could come anytime.
"Damn it, damn it. Think I'm your damn underling...!"
Cao Cao. Yuan Shao. Zhang Miao.
Pre-Dong Zhuo, thick as thieves. Then Yuan Shao hit Hanzhong; bonds cracked. Zhang Miao took Hanzhong in—beef with Yuan Shao. Cao Cao soothed: "Yuan Shao wants you dead, but friends don't do that, right?"
That terrified more. Yuan Shao ordering it meant Cao Cao could anytime.
"Will Cao Cao kill me? If Yuan Shao says? Urgh, uwaaa...!!"
"Milord."
A clear, lovely voice from outside. Zhang Miao bolted upright—this hour, unlikely caller.
"...Chen Gong?"
"Yes. Chen Gong."
The black-haired woman, visiting late, spoke to Zhang Miao.
"Milord. You sheltered those fleeing Yuan Shao recently, yes?"
"Ah, w-well. They were so pitiful..."
"Does Lady Cao Cao know?"
"You idiot! Just loaned a villa short-term! Loyal patriots, after all..."
"Yes. They killed Dong Zhuo. Where are they now?"
Chen Gong pressed on calmly.
"Let me meet Lü Bu."