Madman in the Rear (2)
Five hundred cavalry charged straight at them. They had punched right through the center of an army tens of thousands strong.
Was this even physically possible? No. But Dong Kui's forces made it happen. No—actually, it was Gongsun Zan's army, come to support Dong Kui's, that pulled it off.
"Lord Cao! Please, for the sake of this one's face, at least hear me out!"
All this just to talk.
"...Can't even see his face from this distance. What a joke."
Cao Cao couldn't believe the sheer audacity of the man kneeling far off in the distance. Even if he couldn't physically break through the infantry in the center, his voice carried through the air, booming right into Cao Cao's ears.
Far enough that his face was indistinct, but close enough to clearly make out the man's silhouette—and those distinctive long, oversized ears.
"Order to the entire army: Battle stations. And do not fire."
"All hands, battle stations—!!"
At the captains' shouts, the infantry and archers slowly lowered their weapons. Cao Cao urged her horse forward at a leisurely pace, whispering just loud enough for Guo Jia and Xun You beside her to hear.
"What do you think he wants?"
"Sounds like he's begging for a truce."
"Now?"
"He has to try, even now. It's infuriating that Dong Kui himself didn't come and sent someone else instead... but Lord Cao, don't you rather like Liu Hyun-deok?"
"Me?"
Cao Cao twisted her lips into a smirk.
"It's not Liu Hyun-deok himself I want. It's the generals under him."
Behind Liu Bei, three generals and their cavalry had formed a defensive wedge, spears leveled outward. They'd abandoned their mobility advantage, standing ready to share their lord's fate, facing down Cao Cao's army with grim resolve.
Clank, clank.
The generals who'd clashed with Liu Bei's men rode up as well, blocking the way in front of Cao Cao like a living shield.
"It's been a while, Hyun-deok. Not since the anti-Dong Zhuo coalition, I think."
"Ha, haha. Indeed, a pleasure to see you again, Lord Cao."
"Come now, call me Meng-deok. Between us."
Cao Cao dismounted and approached Liu Bei. His vanguard tried to block her path, but she waved them off casually, pointing to the sword at her waist.
"It's fine. Even if we fight, I'll win."
"But—"
"If something happens, you can always rush in and save me, right?"
Cao Cao stopped in front of Liu Bei. His retainers edged forward, hands itching for their weapons, but Liu Bei extended a hand backward, and they reluctantly held back.
"Even after all this time, your features remain as striking as ever. And... I am truly sorry for your mother's passing. Your grief must be immense. In Xuzhou now, we're searching high and low for that villain Zhang Ji—"
"Forgive me. You're a good man, but I don't have time for long preambles right now."
What situation? One where his ass was quite literally on fire. Word had come that Puyang had fallen to that irrational monster Lü Bu—and she desperately didn't want to believe it.
"Get to the point."
"Withdraw your army. For the sake of my face."
"Even if I saw your face—"
Cao Cao glared at Liu Bei for a long moment before clutching her face in her hands.
"Hyun-deok! I drew my sword for vengeance for my mother. And now you tell me to sheathe it?!"
"How dare I presume to speak lightly of your filial fury? But if you soothe her spirit with blood, she would not rest easy. She would not wish to see crimson stains on your pure white hands."
"......"
Cao Cao closed her eyes without a word. Liu Bei bowed deeply at the waist.
"I swear it. I will do everything in my power to find Zhang Ji. The people of Xuzhou are already spreading out far and wide in search of him. They don the mourning clothes daily to console her spirit and grieve her loss. Please, withdraw your army."
"......Heh, heheheh."
Cao Cao...
"Arrrgh!!"
With a guttural roar, she hurled her sword to the ground. The sudden, feral outburst startled even Liu Bei, who took a step back.
"...Very well."
Cao Cao looked up. A single strand of her already stark-white forelock seemed even whiter now, fluttering wildly.
"Tell Dong Kui this clearly: The moment they find that bastard Zhang Ji, drag him here to kneel before me! I'll tear him apart alive and splash his blood before my father's spirit!"
Cao Cao turned away. Her vanguard scooped up the fallen sword and guarded her rear.
"Entire army, fall back to Chenliu! ...Liu Hyun-deok, mark my words! Today I withdraw for your face's sake, but if this happens again, I will show no mercy!"
Cao Cao spurred her horse and rode off. Her army followed, turning their backs on Xuzhou.
"......Hah, thought I was a goner."
"Brother!!"
"That was reckless."
His two sworn brothers rushed to Liu Bei's side. He patted his face with trembling hands and nodded.
"Good thing I led with the face talk. See that look? 'What the hell is this guy babbling about?' Haha."
"Sure, but who knew Cao Cao would actually retreat? Little brother, is this right?"
"...Something must have changed for Cao Cao. No way she backed off just because she likes Brother."
"Haha, Yun-chang. Does it matter what the excuse is?"
Liu Bei spread his arms toward the now-vacant enemy camp.
"Cao Cao's gone, and Xuzhou's people are safe. Thank you. For risking your lives with me."
"Lives? If talks failed, the plan was to bolt back to the city on horseback! Hey, Zi-long! You think the enemy was really that kill-or-be-killed?"
"...I was on edge when they halted."
"Mm, that's normal. Zi-long, we still made it back to the city alive, didn't we?"
"It... wouldn't have been impossible."
"Hahaha! See? I trusted you brothers and Zi-long to make the plan work."
Roooar!! Cheers erupted from the walls—not victory cries, but joyous relief at survival.
"...We're lucky. Truly lucky. Heaven helped us. I could bow to the skies right now! Hahaha!"
That heaven was Lü Bu? He learned that a week later.
Lü Bu's raid. Cao Cao's retreat. Liu Bei's plea for peace.
...It all aligned like a miracle. But the result spoke for itself.
Cao Cao accepts Liu Bei's truce.
That was the conclusion of the Battle of Xuzhou.
* * *
Step, step.
Sima Yi opened the door and entered alone. A woman with long, unbound hair awaited her.
She was a beauty.
Sima Hui was stunning in her own right, but this woman was among the most beautiful Sima Yi had ever seen.
"So you're Yi. Nice to meet you."
"Greetings, Mother."
"Oh? And why am I your mother?"
Words like bones in the throat, they say. Sima Yi faltered for a moment at Cai Xuan's smiling words.
But she simply sat across from Cai Xuan with a quiet smile.
"Because I'm calling you Mother ahead of time."
"Oh my."
Sima Yi showed her true colors. Cai Xuan's eyes gleamed as she straightened her posture.
"Does that mean what I think it does?"
"Yes."
"Who? Master Sima Hui?"
"No."
Sima Yi placed a hand on her chest and smiled faintly. She threw her shoulders back, thrust out her chest proudly, and pointed to herself.
"I'll do it."
"So bold. How old are you this year?"
"Fifteen."
"...Marriageable age next year, then."
"Yes. But I don't think I can marry right away."
"Why not?"
"My master doesn't treat anyone under twenty as adults."
Cai Xuan let out a hollow laugh at Sima Yi's words.
"What nonsense is that? If you're going to joke like that, out with you."
"It's a direct quote from your son."
"...Sorry. That was crude. Forgive me."
"Of course, Mother. I felt the same way."
Cai Xuan let out a deep sigh.
"Sima Yi. Eldest daughter of the Sima clan, correct?"
"Yes. I can't use it yet, but my courtesy name is 'Jungdal'."
"Do you know what it means for a woman to receive her courtesy name from her father?"
"Yes. Beyond simply becoming an adult... it means she's qualified to serve in office."
Women were rarely called by name, save for the exceptional. Most were known as Empress Sima or Lady Zhuge—some man's woman.
But a rare few were different. When the family head or father deemed a girl capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with men, he bestowed her courtesy name personally.
Sima Yi had received hers from her father and clan head, Sima Fang.
The meaning of that was...
"I never got one. That's why in our Cai clan, neither I nor my younger sister inherited the headship—it went to Cousin Cai Mao. Though he does have one."
"That must have grieved you deeply."
"No. I lacked the talent for it. Never even thought of holding office. But you..."
Cai Xuan met Sima Yi's gaze. Her sunken eyes pierced through, staring intently.
"How far can you climb? Are you truly fit to be my son's match?"
"Of course, Mother."
Sima Yi rose and bowed deeply to Cai Xuan.
"I'll ensure my master never worries about food, children, or life—letting him live idly forever. That's my wish."
"Sounds a bit weak."
"Hehe, have you heard why my master avoids office?"
"......"
Cai Xuan fell silent. She seemed stung by Sima Yi's knowing expression, as if the girl already understood.
"Do you know?"
"Yes. I suspected, confirmed it, and he told me himself—"
"No. Then I won't hear it."
Cai Xuan raised a hand firmly, cutting Sima Yi off with a stern face.
"I won't hear why my son shuns office from someone else's mouth."
"Someone else? I'm hurt, Mother."
"Not yet."
"In five years?"
Sima Yi's eyes curved into crescents.
"Jingzhou's Cai clan joins with Henei's Sima clan. For the Cai, isn't that something to welcome with both hands?"
"'Join'? Sounds off. Does that mean the Sima clan moves to Jingzhou?"
"Sorry, poor phrasing. The 'joining'... is between my master and me."
Sima Yi hid her mouth behind her fan.
"In five years. I wish to hold the formal wedding rites. Accept me, Mother."
"......"
Cold sweat beaded on Cai Xuan's brow. The sheer audacity from this fifteen-year-old girl overwhelmed her.
Yes, audacity.
The same overwhelming force she'd once seen in the Grand General who visited Jingzhou lands.
"...You really should have been born a man. A born general."
"Oh, no."
Sima Yi shook her head firmly.
"Then it'd end as master-disciple. I have no intention of stopping there with my master."
"Then what?"
"Hehe, do I have to say it?"
Sima Yi bowed her head once more.
"Mother?"