Miss Bu
“Cao Ziyu, we have fine wine and a beautiful view here, but it lacks song and music. Why not invite that lovely lady musician to play another melody?”
At the feast held in the county office of Hefei, Guo Jia—Guo Fengxiao—gripped his wine cup, his cheeks flushed red as a monkey’s behind.
Cao Xin shook his head lightly. “We are discussing matters of the state, issues vital to the nation and its people. Such matters demand solemnity. Indulgent music only disturbs the mind; best not to listen.”
“General Cao speaks wisely,” Bu Zhi and the others nodded in agreement, though Guo Fengxiao curled his lip.
Cao Xin laughed heartily, steering the conversation toward Bu Zhi and his companions, asking if they had any intention to enter official service.
After taking Juchao, all of Huainan Commandery was under the control of the Cao army—sixteen counties in all. Most of the former officials had fled with Yuan Shu, leaving vacancies throughout the region.
Bu Zhi and his three friends spoke well, clearly well-educated and locals to boot. If they were willing to serve under Cao Cao, Cao Xin was pleased to recommend them.
Upon hearing his invitation, Wei Jing and two others readily accepted, but Bu Zhi replied that he had elderly parents at home and needed to consult them before deciding.
Cao Xin nodded, discerning some hesitation in his tone, but paid it no mind. Many in Huainan were refugees from Xuzhou, not fond of Cao Cao and unwilling to join his ranks. He would not force them.
After several rounds of drinking, Bu Zhi and his companions rose to take their leave. Guo Fengxiao, swaying, also stood, saying he would go with them.
“Guo Fengxiao, have you been wandering so long you forget where your home is?” Cao Xin laughed, pulling him back.
“Ziyu, I didn't bid farewell to Lady Bu when I arrived. Let me say my goodbyes and I'll return,” Guo Fengxiao waved dismissively.
“Rascal! You, the Cao army’s sly strategist, running off to Yuan Shu’s territory—you’re courting death!” Cao Xin ordered men to haul the drunken fool off to bed.
“Wait, Cao Ziyu, I haven’t finished speaking,” Guo Fengxiao grabbed his arm.
“What—are you going to tell me you’ve fallen for a widow, that it’s true love and you’d rather die than part? You’re acting just like the Chancellor, a coward to the core!” Cao Xin scolded him in disappointment.
“Don’t talk nonsense!” Guo Jia shook off his hand, glanced at the carriage outside the office, and said, “You wanted me to find you a beauty. That Miss Bu—young and truly lovely—I can play matchmaker for you.”
“Miss Bu? Matchmaker for me?” Cao Xin sized him up, then suddenly raised his brows.
“Oh, I see your game. You fancy Lady Bu, but want me to marry Miss Bu. That way, you become my father-in-law, can visit my house and drink whenever you like, and never have to pay your debts. Guo Fengxiao, you really are a top-tier strategist—such a clever mind.”
“Hm?” Guo Fengxiao blinked, thinking this wasn’t a bad idea, then shook his head.
“Don’t be absurd. I, Guo Fengxiao, love only wine. Beauty is fleeting to me. I merely wish to help you find happiness, nothing for myself.”
“Well said, Fengxiao. I appreciate your intentions. Go on then—I’ll handle the Chancellor for you,” Cao Xin laughed.
“Look at you! And don’t forget our agreement.”
“Agreement? What agreement?” Cao Xin asked in confusion.
“You’ve forgotten? You said if I found you a beauty, you’d forgive two thousand strings of debt. Forgotten already?”
“You want money?” Cao Xin stared in surprise. “Guo Fengxiao, do you have a black heart? The Bu family saved your life, yet you want to use their daughter to pay your debt? You truly live up to your nickname, Master Dongguo.”
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“Don’t spout nonsense. I, Guo Fengxiao, am not ungrateful. The Bu family are widows and orphans, yet so beautiful. In these troubled times, without support, they’re bound to suffer. You, Cao Ziyu, are at least a responsible man, so I thought to play matchmaker for you, all out of goodwill. Yet you question my character?!
Fine, I won’t play matchmaker then.”
Guo Jia shook his sleeves angrily and stormed out the county office. Cao Xin laughed heartily.
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The next day, Cao Xin prepared to travel in person to Linhu to bring Guo Fengxiao back.
He went as Cao Cao’s envoy to thank the Bu family for saving Guo Fengxiao’s life. Besides, after consolidating Huainan’s counties, the Chancellor was ready to return to Xuchang to reorganize the troops, seeking revenge on Lü Bu next year.
Just before leaving, Guo Fengxiao sent over a brocade pouch.
Cao Xin opened it, smiled wryly, and thought, “He truly is a genius—always full of cunning schemes.”
He summoned Zhang Baiqi, gave him a few instructions, then set off with Liao Hua, Feng Xi (brother to Juan Niang), a dozen attendants, and a carriage of gifts to visit the Bu family in Linhu.
The visit went smoothly; though he didn’t meet the beautiful Miss Bu, he saw Lady Bu—a graceful, wise, and dignified woman.
With Lady Bu so lovely, Miss Bu could hardly be less.
He also heard that Miss Bu was called Shishi, and during the Three Kingdoms, there was a renowned woman named Bu Lianshi, concubine to Sun Quan. Though not empress, she ruled the harem.
Rumor had it Bu Lianshi was not only beautiful but virtuous—a woman who brought fortune to her husband. Cao Xin suspected it was the same person, but out of propriety, didn’t ask for Miss Bu’s full name.
After the visit, Cao Xin departed with Guo Fengxiao.
As they approached the gates of Linhu County, a large force—nearly a thousand—charged toward them, led by Qiao Rui, the newly appointed Prefect of Lujiang by Yuan Shu. Qiao Rui had once been a Grand General under Yuan Shu and was famed throughout Huainan.
“Stop right there, Cao traitor!” Qiao Rui shouted from horseback.
With a thousand men advancing, Cao Xin glanced at Guo Fengxiao.
“Master Wise, any plan to repel the enemy?”
“Of course—fight! Go on, quickly!” Guo Fengxiao ducked into the carriage.
“I only have a dozen men. How am I supposed to fight?”
“You’re a match for ten thousand. This is only a thousand. You fight outnumbered, but victory is assured.”
Guo Fengxiao slammed the carriage door shut.
Cao Xin smirked, donned his helmet, drew his spear, mounted his horse, and shouted. Liao Hua and ten Langya cavalry followed.
“There’s the Cao traitor!”
“Kill!”
Qiao Rui led three or four hundred cavalry in a charge, with hundreds of foot soldiers closing in from all sides.
“Kill!”
Cao Xin swung his heavy spear, leading eleven riders straight toward Qiao Rui. His spear danced like a dragon, sweeping through enemies. Even the seasoned general Qiao Rui could not withstand more than five bouts.
“Tsk tsk, Cao Ziyu is fiercer than ever. Next time he fights Lü Bu, it’ll be quite a show,” Guo Fengxiao remarked in the carriage, munching on sunflower seeds.
“Master Fengxiao, can General Ziyu really win? We only have a dozen men,” Feng Xi, Juan Niang’s brother, crouched nervously in the carriage.
“Don’t worry—just listen!” Guo Fengxiao pointed ahead.
“Listen to what?”
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Feng Xi tilted his ear and suddenly heard the thunder of hooves and shouts of battle, approaching from the rear of Qiao Rui’s army.
He peered outside in surprise—over a hundred Langya cavalry were sweeping in, long spears raised, throwing Yuan’s soldiers into chaos.
“The outcome is decided. Let’s return!” Guo Fengxiao clapped his hands, instructing the driver to head back to town.
“Master Fengxiao, why return?”
“It’s all Cao Ziyu’s fault. He couldn’t keep a low profile visiting the Bu family, now everyone knows he was here. If we left and Yuan Shu investigated, the Bu family would surely be accused of colluding with the enemy,” Guo Jia sighed.
Feng Xi nodded.
When the carriage returned to the Bu household, Bu Zhi had already heard from friends: General Cao Xin of the Cao army had brought lavish gifts to visit, and was ambushed by Qiao Rui, Prefect of Lujiang, on his way out.
General Cao Ziyu, with barely ten cavalry, faced over a thousand of Qiao Rui’s men. He was at a disadvantage at first, but soon Zhang Baiqi arrived with a hundred Langya cavalry, and Qiao Rui was decisively defeated.
This battle showcased the ferocity of Cao Ziyu and the Langya troops, and also made clear that Linhu’s Bu family had a good relationship with General Cao Ziyu.
“What now? What now?”
“Yuan Shu is petty. If he learns our family is in contact with the Cao army, he’ll never spare us,” Bu Zhi worried.
The Bu family was anxious. None had expected that the man they fished from the lake was a trusted adviser to the Cao traitor, nor that the famed General Cao Ziyu would personally visit with gifts.
While the family debated whether to flee to Jiangdong, Guo Fengxiao’s voice sounded outside. Bu Zhi hurried out to greet him.
Guo Fengxiao entered, apologized to the Bu family, and invited them to settle in Shouchun—the Cao army’s territory, guarded by General Cao Ziyu, where no one would dare trouble them.
The family conferred. Shouchun seemed a reasonable choice—they had lived there for years; it was familiar, far better than the unknown Jiangdong.
Thus, the Bu family packed up and traveled north with the Langya cavalry.
“Mother, which one is General Cao Ziyu?”
Inside the carriage, Miss Bu lifted the curtain a bit, lips pressed together nervously as she peered at the cavalry outside.
“That’s him, the one with the heavy iron spear,” Lady Bu pointed ahead to the young leader mounted on a black horse, armored in gleaming silver, spirited and heroic.
“He doesn’t look much older than me—how can he be so formidable?” Miss Bu asked, eyes wide.
“Cao Ziyu was once a bandit. He fights fiercely, has seen hundreds of battles with few defeats. Recently, he led a few thousand men at Xinye and routed Liu Jingzhou’s fifty thousand troops—truly a young general of renown,” Lady Bu praised.
“So impressive,” Miss Bu sighed softly.
Lady Bu smiled, wrapping an arm around her daughter. “Shishi, if you could choose a husband, would you prefer a general like Cao Ziyu or a learned scholar like Guo Fengxiao?”
Miss Bu’s cheeks flushed, and she nestled into her mother, playfully replying, “Mother, what about someone who excels at both?”
“Of course, my dear girl,” Lady Bu laughed, fondly ruffling her hair.
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