The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 304 Cao Cao grieves the loss of his beloved son, Liu Bei gains his third son.

Meanwhile, Cao Cao employed psychological warfare tactics, successfully deceiving the Shu people and causing them to lower their guard.

Taking advantage of the situation, they launched a surprise attack on Xichuan and captured the two important passes, Baishui Pass and Jiameng Pass, in one fell swoop.

Hanzhong was originally the best barrier for Sichuan, but without Hanzhong...

We could only rely on the two passes of Baishui and Jiameng, but unexpectedly, Cao Cao also captured these passes.

In this way, the Wei army is not far from Chengdu.

When Liu Zhang, the ruler of Shu, heard that Cao Cao had killed generals Yang Huai and Gao Pei and then attacked two passes in succession, he was greatly alarmed and exclaimed:
"I never expected this would actually happen today!"

"The brothers Zhang Su and Zhang Song have misled their lord!"

He then gathered civil and military officials to inquire about strategies for repelling the enemy.

Registrar Huang Quan advised:
"We can send troops to Luo County overnight to block the vital road."

"Although Cao Cao had elite troops and fierce generals, he could not overcome them."

"Then we divided our troops to garrison Fushui Pass to ensure the smooth flow of traffic through Luo County."

"If things go well, Chengdu will have nothing to worry about."

There is no other choice now that things have come to this.

Liu Zhang had no choice but to accept the order, and immediately appointed four generals, Liu Gui, Ling Bao, Zhang Ren, and Deng Xian, to allocate 50,000 troops.

They rushed to Luoxian and Fushui Pass under cover of darkness to defend against Cao Cao.

As the four generals were marching, Liu Gui suddenly remembered something and said to the other three:
“I have heard that there is an extraordinary person in Jinping Mountain, whose Taoist name is Zixu Shangren, who knows people’s life, death, nobility and lowliness.”

"We are marching today, passing through Jinping Mountain."

Why not try asking them?

Zhang Ren, however, didn't take it seriously and scoffed:
"How can a great man, when leading troops to repel the enemy, seek advice from men in the mountains and fields?"

Liu Gui shook his head. "Otherwise."

As the sage said: "Sincerity can lead to foresight."

"If we consult wise people, we can avoid misfortune and seek good fortune."

"Cao Cao's army is invincible, and our future is uncertain."

"If we could find out the details, it would be of great benefit to our military campaign, wouldn't it?"

So the four men led fifty or sixty horsemen to the foot of the mountain and asked a woodcutter for directions.

The woodcutter pointed to the summit of a high mountain, saying that was where the venerable one lived.

Upon reaching the summit, one sees towering pines and cypresses, shrouded in mist, with a Taoist temple hidden among them.

A plaque hangs above the entrance, bearing the three characters "Zixu Temple".

The brushstrokes are vigorous and powerful, seemingly possessing an ethereal quality.

The four men straightened their clothes and knocked on the door to request an audience.

A moment later, a young boy opened the door and, seeing that it was a military general, led him into the inner hall.

The Taoist Master Zixu, with his white hair and youthful face, sat upright on a futon, his eyes slightly closed, seemingly asleep but not quite.

The four generals stepped forward to pay their respects, and only then did the Taoist open his eyes, his gaze sharp as lightning, piercing straight to the heart.

Liu Gui cupped his hands and said:
"Immortal Master, Cao Cao has now launched an invasion, and we are ordered to defend against the enemy."

"I am unsure of whether this will bring good or bad fortune, and have come to seek your advice."

"...I am but a useless man from the mountains, how could I possibly know of good or bad fortune?"

"The villagers all revere the immortal, for the immortal is certain to know good and bad fortune."

Master Zixu remained silent for a long time before finally speaking:

"The four generals have come from afar with great difficulty, but the secrets of heaven should not be revealed lightly."

Ling Bao said urgently:

"Immortal Master, please have mercy! If Cao's army is too powerful to defeat, we should make preparations as soon as possible."

The Taoist sighed, took out a scroll of silk, and handed it to the four generals, saying:

"There are a few lines of verse here, which you can study for yourself."

The four generals unfurled the silk scroll, revealing eight lines of ink strokes that resembled dragons and snakes.

Its characters are as follows:

"The golden scale measures the image, a wisdom unparalleled in the world."

"The fledgling phoenix sang its clear voice, but its wings were broken and it perished."

"Even grains of millet are boiled together, and those from the same root compete fiercely."

"The wind and rain at Wei Terrace have turned it into an autumn pond."

This……

The four of them looked at the thirty-two-character verse over and over, but they still couldn't understand it.

Then Liu Gui asked, "What is the fate of the four of us?"

Master Zixu said, "The will of Heaven is already set, so why bother asking?"

When Liu Gui tried to ask again, the monk lowered his eyebrows and closed his eyes, as if he were asleep, and did not answer.

The four had no choice but to descend the mountain.

Zhang Ren was somewhat indignant and complained:
"For this pedantic scholar, so much time is wasted."

Liu Gui, however, said, "The words of an immortal should not be disbelieved."

"Hmph." Zhang Ren snorted lightly, "What good will it do to listen to this madman?"

So the four of them continued on their way, and when they arrived at Luo County, they divided their troops and guarded the various passes and checkpoints.

Liu Gui addressed the crowd:

"Luocheng is the safeguard of Chengdu; if it is lost, Chengdu will be in danger."

"The four of us have decided to appoint two men to guard the city."

"The two went to Fushui Pass in front of Luo County, and set up two villages by the mountain and the steep terrain."

"In this way, we can form a pincer movement, supporting each other and preventing the enemy from reaching the city."

Ling Bao and Deng Xian will volunteer to guard Fushui Pass.

Liu Gui agreed and divided 20,000 troops among the two men.

After acquiring the troops, the two men set up camp at the Fu River.

Generals Liu Gui and Zhang Ren then defended Luocheng.

This city, this pass, and these 50,000 Shu soldiers formed Chengdu's last line of defense.

If this is lost, the foundation laid by Liu Zhang's two generations will be in jeopardy.

……

Meanwhile, Cao Cao seized the two passes of Baishui and Jiameng in one fell swoop, and his army stopped at Zitong.

On this day, a banquet was held in front of the central command tent to celebrate the victory.

Newly surrendered generals from Shu and strategists from the Central Plains gathered together.

Suddenly, a clear child's voice was heard outside the tent:

"Father, please look at the new things I have made!"

Then, thirteen-year-old Cao Chong entered, carrying a wooden box in his hands. His brocade robe and jade belt made his face look like jade.

Cao Cao stroked his long beard with a smile, "Is Cang Shu showing off his cleverness again?"

Although said in jest, it was full of pride.

After his eldest son Cao Ang died a glorious death in battle, Cao Cao seemed to have lost his soul.

Among all the philosophers, none could be found to be as remarkable as Cao Ang.

Until six years ago, Cao Cao accidentally acquired an elephant.

At that time, he was eager to know the weight of the elephant and asked his subordinates, but none of them had a solution.

Cao Chong suggested, "We can place the elephant on a large ship and mark the waterline."

“By weighing the objects and carrying them, the grading can be determined.”

Cao Cao was overjoyed, and indeed, his prediction came true, and the weight of the elephant was measured.

From then on, Cao Cao paid close attention to this observant and exceptionally intelligent child.

However, Cao Cao was busy at that time joining forces with Liu Bei to deal with Yuan Shao.

After Yuan Shao's defeat and death, he fought with Liu Bei for control of Hebei.

They had no time to attend to the matter of the crown prince.

Until last year, Cao Cao's beard fell out, and his health deteriorated significantly.

Only then did I realize that I was already fifty-three years old.

In ancient times, this age would have been considered the age for burial.

However, Cao Wei was unable to even decide on a successor.

Compared to Cao Pi and Cao Zhi, Cao Cao indeed preferred the more intelligent Cao Chong.

Especially since he is already thirteen years old, in another two years he will be able to lead troops on his own.

Therefore, in front of all the civil and military officials, Cao Cao did not hesitate to give Cao Chong a chance to show off, and asked loudly:

"What is this?!"

Cao Chong then opened the wooden box, which turned out to be an exquisite sand table depicting the mountains and rivers of Shu.

The rivers were filled with mercury, and each pass was marked.

Because Cao Cao had previously obtained Zhang Song's map of Western Sichuan, and Cao Cao was accustomed to keeping his sons by his side for training.

Cao Chong glanced at it by chance and then secretly made a small sand table.

Of course, this wasn't Cao Chong's original idea.

Legend has it that the sand table map was first invented by Ma Yuan, the Han general who subdued the waves, who was also the ancestor of Ma Chao.

However, due to various factors such as technological level, cultural needs, and actual application scenarios, sand tables can only serve as auxiliary tools during wartime.

It is mostly used in specific fields such as military tactical planning and architectural design display.

Due to the limitations of productivity development, the technical conditions for creating detailed sand tables are not yet mature.

Cao Chong, on the other hand, created a relatively detailed sand table.

Although it doesn't cover the entire Western Sichuan region, it does include the areas that Cao Cao currently wants to conquer.

"...This item can help Father King deduce military strategies."

Cao Chong tapped his fingertip lightly, indicating where an ambush could be set up and where troops could be deployed.

His talents and aspirations are most similar to those of Cao Cao.

Cheng Yu couldn't help but stroke his beard and sigh:

"This old minister has traveled throughout the nine provinces and has never seen such ingenious ideas!"

"Young Master Cang Shu is truly exceptionally intelligent."

Upon seeing this, the other ministers also chimed in with cheers and applause.

"I have heard that when you were young, you saw a warehouse official being punished for having his saddle gnawed by rats."

He then stabbed his own clothes with a knife, pretending it was a rat gnawing at them, so that Duke Wei would pardon him.

"Such benevolence and wisdom are truly a gift from Heaven!"

"...Indeed, when Qin Shi Huang was twelve years old, he could discern the deceit of Lü Buwei, and when Emperor Zhao of Han was fourteen, he could see through the treachery of Shangguan."

"Judging from your wisdom, sir, you are no less than the ancients."

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao was overjoyed. He raised his cup, looked around at everyone, and said meaningfully:

“My son Cangshu, though young, has extraordinary insight.”

"If he has a good teacher to guide him, he will surely become a great man in the future."

Upon hearing this, the entire room fell silent.

Yang Xiu lowered his eyes, and Mao Jie coughed lightly.

Cao Pi's wine cup trembled slightly, and some wine spilled out.

Cao Zhi stared at the remaining wine on the table, then suddenly raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp, a smile playing on his lips.

After Cao Ang's death, Cao Cao wavered between Cao Zhi and Cao Pi.

Because Cao Chong was still young at the time, and the Cao Wei regime was unstable, Cao Cao admired Cao Chong's talent.

However, they have not yet considered making him the heir apparent.

It wasn't until Cao Chong grew older that Cao Cao realized he was becoming more and more like a ruler.

Cao Pi remained calm and rose to congratulate him, saying, "Brother Chong is exceptionally intelligent; even I am ashamed of my own inferiority."

After speaking, he respectfully poured wine for Cao Cao, his demeanor calm and composed, without any flaws.

However, his left hand was tightly clenched in his sleeve, and his fingernails were deeply embedded in his palm.

Cao Zhi then raised his cup and left his seat, his brocade robe and wide sleeves billowing in the wind, and said in a loud voice:

"Since you gentlemen have praised me so highly, I, Zijian, would like to compose a poem for my younger brother Chong."

After speaking, he struck the cup with his chopsticks, the clear sound startling the crows roosting outside the tent.

“A child can measure the weight of an elephant, and a wise man can decide the weight of a carriage.”

"A tall pine tree will surely be broken by the wind, and a beautiful orchid will surely be destroyed by the dew."

"Those planted on the same tree can still flourish, but those in different rooms cannot grieve for each other."

"I would rather be a stepping stone than a beam or pillar."

Upon hearing this poem, all the scholars in the room clapped their hands in admiration.

Cao Pi was openly expressing his humility.

Cao Zhi expressed himself through poetry, willing to be a stepping stone rather than fight among his own family.

Cao Cao seemed to be deep in thought, then suddenly laughed:

"...Very well, with my sons so united, the Great Wei will surely rise in the hands of you three brothers."

"Now that we have obtained the Jiameng and Baishui passes, we can proceed to take the Fushui River."

Cao Cao seemed unwilling to discuss this topic further and instead brought up the matter of advancing troops.

Someone might advise:
"The generals guarding Fushui Pass are the famous generals of Shu, Deng Xian and Ling Bao, who are deeply loved by the army."

"In addition, the pass is strategically located and the grain and fodder are sufficient for three years."

"It would be better to bypass this pass and go directly to Luocheng."

Cao Cao stroked his long beard and shook his head:

"If that is the case, the garrison commander of the Fu River will surely be attacked from both sides."

"This journey is too dangerous; I do not wish to undertake it."

Therefore, he decided to personally lead an army of 30,000, with banners obscuring the sun, and head straight for Fushui Pass.

Upon receiving the report, Ling Bao and Deng Xian immediately discussed countermeasures.

Both men agreed that Cao Cao had previously caught the Shu army off guard by deception and a surprise attack.

That's how he managed to obtain the Baishui and Jiameng passes by sheer luck.

The Shu army is now well-prepared, and Fushui Pass is well-stocked with troops and supplies.

Given the perilous nature of the Shu roads, there's no reason why they couldn't stop the Wei troops.

When Cao Cao arrived at the pass, he first sent an envoy with one hundred yi of gold and one thousand bolts of brocade, along with a letter that read:

"I have long admired the loyalty and bravery of the two generals, and I am here today to present them with this small gift."

"If you two are willing to submit, you will be treated as marquises."

Deng Xian read the book and flew into a rage, throwing his ceremonial robes to the ground.

"Does Cao Cao intend to smear me with money and profit?"

Therefore, he immediately beheaded the envoy and hung his head in front of the pass to show his determination to resist.

Ling Bao, however, was secretly thinking to himself:
"Cao Cao's power was great, and the people in Shu each had their own agendas."

"Even if I fight to the death, I may not be treated well by the people of Shu in the end."

"It's always good to have a way out."

He then secretly kept half of the gold and silk, pretending not to know anything about it.

He continued to resist Cao Cao's army with Deng Xian, but ordered his own troops not to fight to the death.

He wanted to preserve his army.

Cao Cao had been informed by spies long ago, and he smiled and said to his men:

“Ling Bao is greedy and Deng Xiangang is strong; they can be sown together.”

At the third watch of the night, Cao Cao's camp suddenly sounded drums and gongs, and flames soared into the sky.

Deng Xian hurriedly climbed the city wall to see what was happening and found that Cao Cao's army was attacking the pass in three routes. He quickly deployed heavy troops to defend it.

The battle raged until dawn, only to find that Cao Cao's army had merely planted empty banners, while the real Cao Cao had already retreated.

After seven consecutive nights of this, the Shu army was exhausted.

"Is this a tactic of exhausting the enemy?"

"This is a tactic commonly used by Li Yi. How did Cao Cao learn it?"

Everyone has heard that Li Yi was the one who loved to use the tactic of exhausting his troops.

Cao Cao suffered greatly from the tactics of exhausting his troops.

Now they're following suit and applying it to the Shu army.

On the eighth day, Cao Cao ordered Yue Jin to lead 3,000 elite soldiers, dressed in Shu army armor, to infiltrate the grain transport team.

Due to exhaustion from several days of work, Ling Bao's troops were not properly inspected and were able to sneak into the pass.

At midnight, a fire broke out, and Yue Jin charged out from inside, breaking through the gates and locking the gates.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Cao Hong led his cavalry to charge in. Deng Xian fought desperately with his spear, but was shot in the right arm by a hidden archer. Exhausted, he was captured.

When Cao Cao ascended the tent, he saw Deng Xian, who was bound by iron chains, yet held his head high and refused to kneel, while Ling Bao prostrated himself to beg for forgiveness.

Cao Cao personally released Deng Xian from his bonds:

“General, you are a true hero! If you are willing to surrender, I will bestow upon you the title of General Who Conquers the West.”

Deng Xian sneered: "Kill me if you want, why bother with this pretense!"

Cao Cao, instead of being angry, laughed and suddenly ordered the gold and silk that Ling Bao had secretly hoarded to be seized:
"General Ling, since you have accepted my courtesy, why not surrender sooner?"

"This……"

Ling Bao's face turned ashen, and he didn't know how to respond.

Cao Cao then sternly rebuked, "Greed breeds rebellion; what use are they?"

He ordered him to be executed. He then spoke to Deng Xian in a warm tone:

"I killed the traitorous general, not the loyal minister."

"If the general is unwilling to surrender, he may return to Chengdu, regroup his army, and fight me again."

After saying this, he ordered someone to escort Deng Xian out of the camp.

They gave him another horse, indicating that he could leave.

Deng Xian hesitated for a moment, glanced at Cao Cao, and saw that he was smiling and had no ill intentions.

He then spurred his horse and galloped away.

As Deng Xian watched him walk away, Cao Cao's smile froze, replaced by a look of displeasure between his brows.

Huang Xuer walked over with a bow, nocked an arrow, and was about to shoot.

Suddenly, the sound of approaching hooves could be heard.

Deng Xian, who had gone far away, rode back again.

Cao Cao hurriedly ordered Cao Zhang to put away the bows and arrows.

He then personally went forward to greet them, saying:

Why did General Deng leave and then return?

Deng Xian said:

“I am deeply moved by Cao Cao’s righteousness, and I felt ashamed when I left just now.”

"If Lord Cao does not despise me, I am willing to serve him with utmost loyalty!"

Cao Cao was overjoyed and quickly helped Deng Xian off his horse, appointing him as General Who Conquers the West.

Why did Cao Cao value Deng Xian so much?

Because he was a high-ranking general in Shu.

Cao Cao's move was also aimed at winning over the hearts of the people of Shu.

It wasn't that he valued Deng Xian, but rather his status.

Appointing him as General Who Conquers the West was also for the purpose of spending a fortune to buy horse bones.

Hopefully, more Shu generals will refrain from becoming his enemies in the future.

Having accepted Deng Xian's surrender and captured Fushui Pass, the next step was to advance on Luocheng.

Deng Xian took the initiative to suggest:
"...This humble general has received great kindness from Your Excellency, but has never been able to repay it."

“Zhang Ren and Liu Gui, the garrison commanders of Luocheng, are old friends of mine.”

“I am willing to go and persuade these two to surrender.”

After saying this, he took the defense map of Luocheng and handed it to Cao Cao.

Cao Cao was overjoyed and immediately ordered someone to bring wine.

"If you succeed in this mission, General, you will be my greatest contributor to conquering Shu."

"But I have heard that Zhang Ren is upright and honest, and I am afraid he may not be willing to surrender."

"General, you may not be able to persuade him if you go."

Upon hearing this, Deng Xian raised an eyebrow and said seriously:

"If he does not surrender, I will take his head and bring it to Duke Wei."

After saying this, Deng Xian tilted his head back and drank it all, the wine mixed with blood sliding down from the corner of his mouth.

That night, after observing the stars, Cheng Yu urgently remonstrated with the emperor:

"Lord Wei, I observed the stars one night and saw that the Pleiades was encroaching on the Purple Palace, which I fear might be a sign of a feigned surrender."

Cao Cao smiled and pointed to the map on the table:

"...Zhongde is overthinking things."

"The city defenses drawn by Deng Xian are exactly the same as those reported by the spies."

"Moreover, I killed Ling Bao and released Deng Xian in order to win his heart."

"How could he possibly betray me?"

This is what is meant by "if you doubt someone, don't use them; if you use someone, don't doubt them."

At times, Cao Cao's level of confidence was often extraordinary.

Cheng Yu plucked out several strands of his beard and said with deep concern:

"Even if he truly surrenders, given Zhang Ren's fiery nature..."

"Didn't Deng Xian say that if Zhang Ren doesn't surrender, he will bring me his head?"

"Zhongde, don't worry about it."

"...Well, I hope I'm just overthinking it."

Meanwhile, Deng Xian took his leave of Cao Cao and rushed back to Luocheng.

Upon meeting Zhang Ren and Liu Gui, he relayed the news that Fushui Pass had fallen.

Both generals were startled, and Liu Gui angrily rebuked them:
"The Fushui Pass has been lost, how dare you return?"

Deng Xian prostrated himself on the ground and wept bitterly:

"This humble general endured humiliation and feigned surrender to Cao Cao, all for the sake of serving my lord today!"

Zhang Ren sneered:

"Cao Cao is cunning and scheming; how could he easily trust you?"

Deng Xian took out a secret letter from his pocket and handed it to the two men:

“Cao Cao has fallen into the trap. He promised me that he would pretend to surrender and let me be an inside agent in Luocheng.”

"I'll take this opportunity to lure him into the city and wipe him out in one fell swoop!"

"If the Wei army is defeated, Xichuan will be safe."

Liu Gui read the letter and, seeing that it was indeed written by Cao Cao, was overjoyed and said:

"If you can truly kill Cao Cao, I will report your achievement to our lord."

Zhang Ren still had many doubts:
"Cao Cao is cunning and treacherous; he should not be trusted."

Deng Xian said with emotion:
"If General Zhang does not trust me, he may set up an ambush to test me."

"I will write a letter to Cao Cao tonight, inviting him to attack the city at midnight three days from now, so that our army can ambush him inside the city."

"If Cao Cao really comes, then it will prove that what I said is true."

"If he doesn't come, I'm willing to accept military law!"

Liu Gui slammed his fist on the table and said:
"Alright! Let's proceed with this plan!"

That night, Deng Xian personally wrote a letter and sent it to Cao Cao's camp with his trusted confidants.

The letter read:

"Lord Wei, please be wise:"

"This humble general has already gained Liu Gui's trust, but Zhang Ren is stubborn and vows to never surrender."

"The defenses of Luocheng are lax. At midnight three days from now, I can open the west gate to welcome the royal army into the city."

"If we kill Zhang Ren, the gateway to Xichuan will be wide open, and our great cause can be accomplished!"

"I hope you will not have any doubts and will act quickly to avoid hesitation and chaos."

Upon receiving the news, Cao Cao summoned his advisors to discuss the matter.

Everyone on the left and right said:
"Deng Xian has just surrendered; his intentions are difficult to fathom, and I fear there may be a trap."

Cao Cao pondered for a long time, then said slowly:
"If Deng Xian was feigning surrender, why would he walk right into a trap?"

"Furthermore, if Luocheng falls, there will be no more defensible terrain in Xichuan. This is a golden opportunity!"

"How can we afford to lose this opportunity!"

Cao Chong suddenly stepped forward and said:

“Father, I am willing to go with the army.”

Cao Cao touched his forehead and laughed:
“My son is intelligent and needs to gain experience.”

Three days later, Cao Cao personally led his elite troops and approached Luocheng under cover of night.

The drawbridge at the west gate of Luocheng creaked ominously in the north wind.

Cao Cao reined in his horse and stared at the open city gate. In the moonlight, Deng Xian's figure was faintly visible among the battlements.

Cao Hong suddenly grabbed Cao Cao's horse reins:

"Lord Wei, this humble general seems to smell kerosene!"

Before he finished speaking, hundreds of torches suddenly lit up the city walls.

"Execute the traitors!!"

Deng Xian's roar tore through the night sky.

The heavy gate crashed down, cutting Cao Cao's rear guard in two.

The houses on both sides suddenly collapsed, revealing barbed wire and horse traps all over the street.

Zhang Ren's elite troops swarmed out of the cellar, their spears like a forest pointing straight at the central army.

The tiger and leopard riders were crammed together in the narrow streets.

A rocket streaked past Cao Cao's helmet and ignited the banner behind him.

"It's a bad trick!"

"Quickly! Protect Lord Wei!"

Cao Hong stood tightly in front of Cao Cao, desperately resisting the chaotic army coming and going.

He was known as the "Xu You of Wei Camp," but the biggest difference between him and Xu You was that he was truly loyal to Cao Cao.

"Where is Chong'er! Where is Chong'er!"

Cao Cao shouted and ordered his men to quickly find Cao Chong.

Cao Chong rode in the carriage, dashing left and right amidst the chaos.

The boy suddenly noticed Deng Xian waving a command flag on the city wall, and immediately drove his chariot straight into the enemy ranks.

"Young master, you mustn't!"

Le Jin reached out to stop him, but only managed to tear off half of the ripped brocade robe.

Seeing Cao Chong charging in alone, Deng Xian grinned and lowered the iron gate:

"That brat from the Cao family dares to come here to die!"

But then the exquisite carriage suddenly disintegrated, revealing a load of saltpeter and sulfur.

The moment Cao Chong lit the tinderbox, Deng Xian was horrified.

Finally, I could see the boy's lips moving: "Ask not for whom the bell tolls, for you it tolls!"

boom!
The earth-shattering explosion collapsed half of the city gate tower.

Cao Cao saw Deng Xian's burning body fall from the sky through the smoke and dust, and his Chong'er—

Only a broken finger, inlaid with a jade pendant, remained, lying quietly on the smoking, scorched earth.

When the remnants of his army retreated to Fushui Pass, Cao Cao clutched his severed finger tightly.

Cheng Yu came to report that all the supplies had been lost, but he saw his lord burying his face in Cao Chong's blood-stained cloak, his shoulders shaking violently but without uttering a sound of crying.

Outside the tent, the wind and snow howled, and suddenly a heart-wrenching scream rang out.

Everyone in Cao Cao's camp lowered their heads and remained silent.

This scene seemed familiar.

Generally speaking, a person will not fall into the same pit twice.

Unless this trap is really tempting.

After Cao Cao formulated his strategic plan to conquer Shu, things proceeded quite smoothly.

First they captured Hanzhong, and then successively conquered several strategic passes in Shu.

With Chengdu within reach, Cao Cao was momentarily blinded by victory.

I was careless again...

Cao Chong's death was a great blow to Cao Cao, who ordered a retreat to Zitong to reorganize.

The entire army wore white mourning clothes and observed three days of mourning.

It is:

His wisdom was unparalleled, his wisdom measured the world; for thirteen years he shone brightly on the Wei frontier.

Despite being consumed by flames, he remained devoted to filial piety and righteousness; his noble spirit will forever be remembered in history.

Just as Cao Cao was grieving the loss of his beloved son, Liu Bei, far away in Xiapi, Xuzhou, received another piece of good news.

……

In the winter of the thirteenth year of Jian'an (208 AD), in Xiapi, Xuzhou.

The Prince of Qi's mansion was brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and a joyous atmosphere filled the air.

Liu Bei's first wife, Yuan Ying, gave birth to their second son, whom he named "Li," meaning "to follow the will of Heaven and act in accordance with reason."

When this child was born, the orchids in the mansion sprouted in the dead of winter, filling the room with a wonderful fragrance, which amazed everyone.

Including Liu Li, Yuan Ying has given birth to two sons for Liu Bei.

However, the second son was not his biological child, but rather the son of his concubine, Lady Gan.

His name was Liu Yong, and he was born out of wedlock.

The eldest son, Liu Shan, and the third son, Liu Li, were both legitimate sons.

A group of civil officials, led by Lu Su, jointly submitted a letter to Liu Bei to congratulate him:
"In the past, King Wen had a hundred sons, and the Zhou dynasty prospered."

"Now that our lord has had three sons, this is a blessing from Heaven for the Han dynasty."

In ancient times, men were highly valued, and as a result, Liu Bei had three sons in a row.

In ancient times, this would definitely have been a grand celebration.

Zhang Fei's booming voice shook the dust on the beams.
"I, Old Zhang, will teach my nephew how to use the eighteen-foot spear!"

"……Hahaha."

Inside the mansion, wine cups were clinked and people chatted, a joyous and harmonious atmosphere prevailed.

Liu Bei, holding his infant son, noticed his handsome features, which resembled his mother, Lady Yuan, and couldn't help but smile:

"This child resembles his mother and is destined for nobility."

Yuan Ying leaned against the couch with a smile. Although she was weak after childbirth, she could not hide the relief in her eyes.

She came from the Yuan family of Runan, a family that had produced three dukes across four generations.

After marrying Liu Bei, she first gave birth to Liu Shan, and now she has Liu Li, making her position even more secure.

In addition to local officials from Xuzhou offering their congratulations, officials from other prefectures and counties also sent their best wishes.

A pair of bronze and gold-inlaid Pixiu (mythical creatures) were sent from Hebei Province.

The animal head holds a dew-collecting plate, inside which are beads of snowmelt from Youzhou.

The letter of farewell reads:

"The black ice of northern Hebei can quench the summer heat. The fierce-looking Pixiu can ward off evil spirits."

This implies that Liu Bei should emulate King Zhao of Yan in recruiting talented individuals.

Upon reading the memorial, Liu Bei couldn't help but burst into laughter:
"The Prime Minister never forgets to advise me, even when it comes to sending a congratulatory gift, he puts so much thought into it."

Then came the octagonal glass box from Huainan, containing the belly of Jiujiang shad.

It is wrapped in wild rice leaves from Shouchun and coated with Huai salt frost and snow.

Because Huainan is very close to Xiapi, if it is urgent, it can be delivered in less than a day.

The attached bamboo slips of the Huainanzi state, "When a fish leaps in the abyss, its offspring become a dragon."

This not only showcases the prosperity of the Jianghuai region but also celebrates the "Three Scales of the Liu Family".

"Yuanlong is very kind."

Liu Bei nodded in satisfaction and distributed the fish belly to high-ranking officials in the court.

Qingzhou sent a coral tree from the East China Sea, which was planted in a ceramic pot.

Twelve tiger-striped shell carvings hang among the branches, each engraved with a famous quote from the Spring and Autumn Annals.

Intaglio printing on the bottom of the pelvis —

"How majestic is Mount Tai! Its verdant peaks stretch endlessly across Qi and Lu."

This phrase was written by Li Yi to congratulate Guan Yu on taking office in Qingzhou.

Because Qingzhou is located in the heart of the Qilu region, this statement is quite fitting.

Guan Yu, being very considerate, ordered someone to carve these words and send them back to Liu Bei.

The majestic beauty of the mountains and seas symbolizes the noble spirit that one should cultivate in one's nephew.

The last gift to arrive was from Lü Bu of Pingzhou.

A black fox fur coat from Liaodong was used to weigh down a birch bow, and three eagle-feathered arrows were inserted into the quiver.

The arrowhead is engraved with the three characters "并", "幽", and "冀".

While ostensibly congratulating his three sons, he was actually subtly boasting about his achievements on the frontier.

Liu Bei read it and laughed:
"Marquis Wen has served the country on the border for many years and has made great contributions."

"He has previously rendered meritorious service in the campaign against Goguryeo, and should be rewarded."

So, Liu Bei, who was already in a great mood, took advantage of this joyous occasion.

With a wave of his hand, he bestowed 50 million coins upon Liaodong.

Finally, there was the local congratulatory gift.

Pengcheng craftsmen created the "Nine-Link Lock," whose core contains five grains from Xusi.

Tao Qian's former subordinates, including Cao Bao, presented a painting titled "Spring Ploughing in the Huai and Si Rivers," in which three stalks of fine grain are faintly visible among the ridges of the fields.

Special congratulations on the "Three Harvests in Succession".

Mi Zhu went even further and announced that he would donate 100 million yuan to congratulate Liu Bei.

In short, the entire state of Qi was celebrating Liu Bei's newborn son.

So much so that people forget that at that very moment, someone is weeping over the death of their beloved child.

"Your Majesty, in my opinion, this is not just one joy, but two joys."

Grand Tutor Lu Su suddenly spoke.

"Oh, what else do I have to be happy about?"

Liu Bei asked with a smile.

(End of this chapter)