007. The Struggle for Lady Zou

Night had fallen over Wan City. More than a dozen knights rode their tall steeds through the empty streets, the clatter of hooves echoing crisply in the silence.

“Uncle Six, if it hadn’t been for you today, things would have gotten out of hand,” Cao Ang sighed.

“Haha, there’s no need for thanks among family,” was the cheerful reply, accompanied by a wave of the hand. At noon, he had been practicing with his spear at home when a subordinate reported that there was a large-scale mutiny at the military camp outside the city—thousands of soldiers involved. Cao Ang was unable to suppress the chaos and had asked him to come and take command.

After Zhang Xiu’s surrender, Cao Cao had ordered the construction of four military camps around Wan City to house both the Cao army and the Xiliang troops. The camps were close enough for easy supply and surveillance. Within the camps, several marketplaces had sprung up, offering food, drink, brothels, and gambling, to satisfy the material and physical needs of tens of thousands of soldiers—otherwise, trouble was bound to brew among so many idle men.

Just as it had tonight: what began as a quarrel in a brothel between a few soldiers from the Cao army and the Xiliang troops, with the officer siding with the former, escalated as the Xiliang soldiers took offense. The dispute grew, culminating in a massive brawl that left twenty dead and a hundred twenty-four wounded—a loss rivaling that of a small battle.

Cao Xin had charged into the heart of the riot with over a hundred Langya cavalrymen, cutting down several men. Under his iron-fisted suppression, the rebellious soldiers finally calmed, falling to their knees to beg for forgiveness.

After that, matters were straightforward: those who deserved death were executed, the rest arrested or punished as appropriate. Following this bloody reckoning, the camp gradually returned to order.

But Cao Xin knew the underlying danger remained. The Xiliang troops were notorious for their arrogance and ferocity; they had served under warlords like Dong Zhuo, Fan Chou, Li Jue, Guo Si, and Zhang Ji. Their discipline was poor, and they were difficult to integrate with the Cao army.

The Cao army itself was a mixed force—Qingzhou, Yanzhou, and Xuzhou soldiers; surrendered Yellow Turbans and bandits; and retainers from noble families—all bringing their own set of issues.

It would take time to forge these men into a single force.

“Uncle Six, I’m thinking of proposing to my father that we divide the Xiliang army into two groups. The obedient ones can be integrated into our ranks, with each general absorbing a few hundred. The rest remain under their original Xiliang officers, forming an independent unit under the Xiliang banner. What’s your opinion?” Cao Ang asked, frowning.

Cao Xin considered this. It was feasible, but giving the Xiliang troops their own flag and commanders could lead to insubordination. If, for instance, Cao Cao ordered them to storm a city and they thought it meant certain death, they might refuse. If ordered to make an urgent rescue, they might delay, causing serious consequences.

Cao Cao was a master strategist; he would never tolerate such a threat within his own army.

Cao Xin voiced his concerns to Cao Ang.

Cao Ang nodded helplessly. “The Xiliang troops are formidable. If used well, they’re a sword in our hand; if not, they’ll cut us instead. The Chancellor has been losing sleep over this and wishes he had a good solution.”

“No need to rush. Take it step by step,” Cao Xin said, patting his shoulder with the horsewhip.

Clip-clop, clip-clop—

Suddenly, urgent hoofbeats echoed ahead.

It was Liao Hua approaching at a gallop.

“General, Young Master!” Liao Hua saluted with cupped fists. “General, General Cao Hong led two hundred armored soldiers to break open the Zhang Residence’s gates and forcibly took away Lady Zou. General Zhang Xiu has sent word, requesting you intervene to retrieve her.”

“Uncle Hong raided Zhang Xiu’s mansion to seize someone? That can’t be,” Cao Ang exclaimed in shock.

Cao Xin was momentarily stunned, then grew excited. In unofficial histories, it was said that Cao Cao’s great defeat at Wan City began with Lady Zou. Once, after drinking, Cao Cao asked, ‘Are there any courtesans in the city?’ His officers replied they’d seen a beautiful woman at Zhang Xiu’s residence and asked if he wanted her. Cao Cao said yes, and the officers seized Lady Zou, leading to Zhang Xiu’s rebellion.

Was this incident really happening? Time to earn some merit points.

“Yuanjian, when did this happen?”

“About the time it takes to burn an incense stick ago. General Cao Hong has already left Zhang’s residence, heading from the crossroads to the Chancellor’s temporary quarters,” Liao Hua replied.

“After him!”

Cao Xin raised his horsewhip, and his steed neighed loudly, hooves pounding as they raced down the street.

—

“General, no one from General Yangwei’s residence is pursuing us,” a knight reported, catching up with Cao Hong at the crossroads.

“Pah!” Cao Hong spat on the ground. “Zhang Xiu really is a spineless wretch. I took his aunt right from his house, and he doesn’t even dare make a peep. Cao San, spread this news tomorrow—I want Zhang Xiu’s name to be shamed forever.”

“Yes, master,” Cao San replied with a sly grin.

“And quietly hint that Lady Zou and Cao Xin were lovers, that they had pledged themselves to each other, but to curry favor with the Chancellor, Cao Xin gave her up. He’s a heartless, shameless man, trading women for glory,” Cao Hong sneered.

“Heh, I understand,” Cao San grinned obsequiously.

The sound of many hooves thundered from up the street, shattering the stillness.

Cao Hong reined in his horse and looked up. Cao Xin was leading more than a dozen cavalrymen, riding hard, their armor and mounts still dusty and bloodstained—as if straight from battle.

Cao Hong grinned to himself. So it was true about Cao Xin and Lady Zou; why else would he come running so urgently? This was getting interesting.

“Cao Zilian, what a fine thing you’ve done!” Cao Xin shouted.

“Haha, Cao Little Six, what did I do to make you so angry?” Cao Hong laughed.

“Cao Zilian, General Zhang Xiu is a colleague, yet you broke into his house with troops and forcibly took his kin. Isn’t that going too far?” Cao Xin rebuked, reining in his horse.

“Uncle Hong, did you really go to General Yangwei’s residence and seize someone?” Cao Ang eyed the carriage.

“Zixiu, don’t listen to that scoundrel Cao Ziyu. I just went to visit Zhang Xiu and told him the Chancellor lacked attendants in Wan City. Zhang Xiu, knowing his place, offered Lady Zou himself. I didn’t seize her,” Cao Hong chuckled, glancing at Cao Xin. “Cao Ziyu, Lady Zou willingly serves the Chancellor. Why are you so anxious? Is it true you’re in love with her?”

Cao Xin raised his brows. “Cao Zilian, enough nonsense. Everyone knows the Chancellor is busy with affairs of state, hardly has time to eat, let alone seek women’s company. The whole world knows the Chancellor is a paragon of virtue, faithful to his wives, never straying. How could a man like him send you to seize women? I advise you to watch your words and not slander the Chancellor’s reputation, or you’ll answer to me.”

Cao Hong’s face darkened. Paragon of virtue? Faithful? Which Chancellor are you talking about?

“Uncle Hong, Uncle Six is right. My father is busy day and night—he wouldn’t be looking for women now,” Cao Ang shook his head.

“Zixiu, you’re overthinking it. The Chancellor just wants to discuss poetry with Lady Zou, nothing improper,” Cao Hong glared at Cao Xin. “Cao Little Six, move aside. The Chancellor’s waiting—I have no time for your nonsense.”

“Cao Hong, you may leave, but the carriage stays. If you take it, you’ll only confirm the rumors that the Chancellor is lecherous and depraved. As a subject, I cannot permit anyone to slander him,” Cao Xin replied coolly.

“Nonsense! We’re all fighting men—who doesn’t visit women? So what if the Chancellor does? Stop making trouble!” Cao Hong retorted.

Cao Xin shook his head. “What others do is their business, but not the Chancellor. He’s the Prime Minister of Han, destined to be a sage like Duke Zhou or Duke Shao. He must remain spotless, and as his kinsman, it’s my duty to keep his name clear.”

“Outrageous!” Cao Hong’s rage boiled over as he drew his broadsword with a clang, pointing it at Cao Xin. “Cao Ziyu, last time: will you step aside or not? If not, I’ll cut you down!”

With a series of metallic shings, the two hundred armored soldiers behind Cao Hong drew their blades.

Cao Xin sneered, raising his spear and bellowing, “Langya Troops!”

“Present!” came the unified roar of fourteen Langya cavalrymen.

“Form attack formation! If anyone makes a move, kill without mercy!”

“Yes, sir!” The fourteen ironclad cavalrymen wheeled their horses back, lances leveled, eyes fierce as they glared down the street at the armored soldiers.

Two hundred enemies? So what? They had faced formations of five thousand without flinching—what were two hundred to them?

Cao Hong trembled with fury at the Langya formation, his broad face flushed red as he glared at Cao Xin. “Cao Ziyu, I repeat: I act on the Chancellor’s orders to take Lady Zou. Do you dare disobey?”

Cao Xin leveled his spear at Cao Hong. “Cao Zilian, keep slandering the Chancellor and you’ll answer to me.”

“Cao Ziyu!” Cao Hong brandished his blade, his face crimson with rage.

“Cao Zilian!” Cao Xin swung his spear, his face murderous.

“Uncles, please, restrain yourselves!” Cao Ang rode between them to mediate. “Since this concerns the Chancellor, why don’t we all go to his residence and ask him directly?”

“Very well!” Cao Xin agreed. Cao Cao was a man of pride—he would never admit to this in person.

“Uncle Hong?” Cao Ang looked to Cao Hong.

Cao Hong could not accept this proposal. The Chancellor’s drunken request for a woman was a private matter; if all of them, including Cao Ang, went to ask him about it, how could the Chancellor possibly admit it in front of his own son?

Glaring at Cao Xin, he said, “If you don’t believe it’s the Chancellor’s order, I’ll fetch his written command. Wait here—no one is to move!”

With that, Cao Hong spurred his horse and rode off.

“Uncle Six, I’ll go as well,” Cao Ang said.

“Very well,” Cao Xin agreed. Once Cao Hong had left, he ordered his men to escort Lady Zou’s carriage away. The two hundred armored soldiers left in the street dared not stop him.

—

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