Taiheiki

Chapter 159 Chance Encounter
"Marquis of Guannei? Really?" Cao Cao was also somewhat surprised.

"There's no definite news yet, but if the court bestows titles of Marquis within the Passes after the suppression of the Moth Rebellion, Zhao Yannian is 90% certain he'll be on the list!"

"That's truly remarkable!" Cao Cao laughed. Although the title of Marquis within the Passes during the Eastern Han Dynasty no longer had actual fiefdoms, only stipends, and the title could not be passed down to future generations like that of a Marquis, it was still an important marker of entry into the upper echelons of aristocratic society. If Zhao Yannian could truly obtain the title of Marquis within the Passes through military merit, his descendants, whether they joined the military or entered politics, would have a much higher starting point than ordinary people.

"So Zhao Yannian is not someone that ordinary people can just see whenever they want. And you probably don't want others to know your whereabouts since you came to Xiangyang this time!"

"You don't need to worry about that! I've already made preparations!" Cao Cao took out a jade pendant from his waist pouch and placed it on the table: "Give this jade pendant to Zhao Yannian for me, and he will naturally come to see me!"

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On a hill overlooking the Xiangyang-Jiangling Avenue, a long mulberry wood table was set up, covered with a tablecloth. Zhao Yannian, who had just been promoted to General of the Central Army, had his tent next to the table. A large white flag with the character "Zhao" on a red border fluttered on a long pole. He himself was having dinner with his main subordinates here.

Wen Sheng arrived a little late. His leg wound hadn't healed after a day of riding, and his body ached. He limped up the hill towards the long table. The continuous battles and marches had left him exhausted. He just wanted to have a few drinks, then find a soft bed and a voluptuous woman to relax with. It was already dusk, and fireflies swarmed in the bushes along the road, twinkling in the dim sky like stars. Looking at the beautiful scene before him, Wen Sheng subconsciously stopped and let out a soft sigh.

When Wen Sheng walked to the long table, the cooks had already started serving dishes: rabbit stew and grilled fish. The aroma of the food made Wen Sheng's mouth water. "Give me a big bowl, I'm starving!" he said as he sat down next to Zhao Yannian.

"How are the defenses of the rear camp going?" Zhao Yannian asked. "Have the trenches and earthen ramparts been completed?"

"Li He is keeping an eye on it!" Wen Sheng's attention was completely drawn to the rabbit stew. It wasn't easy to get something hot to eat during a march. He poured himself a cup of wine while watching the cook ladle the rabbit stew into his bowl. The rabbit meat, coated in a thick sauce, was an enticing dark red. Accompanying the rabbit meat in the bowl were large chunks of radish, beans, and various wild vegetables. He hadn't seen such a tempting sight in a long time.

“This place is teeming with remnants of the Moth Bandits and mountain bandits! Although the soldiers have just won a battle, they are all exhausted, and we cannot be careless.” Zhao Yannian said, “According to General Feng’s military report, the Moth Bandits’ reinforcements have already crossed the river, and it is said that their total number is 30,000. Therefore, after we replenish our ranks with new recruits, we must immediately rush to the front line and continue the siege of E County!”

"General Zhao, could you please let me finish eating first?" Wen Sheng sighed. Having just escaped the mud, arrows, falling rocks, cold, and endless enemies, he was about to be dragged back into that infernal hell. He found that all his good mood had vanished.

Seeing the expressions of disgust on his comrades' faces, Zhao Yannian remained silent. He turned his gaze to the others around the long table, most of whom seemed to have been immediately shoved with dog excrement. Because the government troops were far outnumbered by the bandits, and in order to withstand the bandits' relentless attacks, every usable soldier under Feng Kun had been driven from one battlefield to another like donkeys pulling a millstone for the past few months, receiving no rest whatsoever. This intensive marching and fighting not only caused heavy losses to Zhao Yannian's forces, but also left the remaining men utterly exhausted.

So after achieving several victories and the situation improved, Feng Kun used newly recruited garrison troops to besiege the city of the Moth Bandits, while withdrawing several mobile forces that had been heavily depleted to replenish the new recruits and rest. However, he did not expect that on his way back, he would learn that the enemy had received new reinforcements, and his original plan to recuperate was ruined. You can imagine how he felt.

"General Zhao!" an officer at the long table asked, "Why doesn't the imperial court send a naval force? If the bandits can cross the river so easily, what's the point of our fighting here?"

"Yes! That's 30,000 men! Defeating the original Moth Bandits already exhausted all our strength, and that numbered over 100,000! At this rate, being defeated is only a matter of time!"

"Why not send a detachment to conquer Yuzhang? After Nanchang fell, Yuzhang has already fallen into enemy hands. In addition, with the addition of Danyang, Wujun, and Lujiang, the enemy can only use more and more troops, while we are losing more and more. This cannot continue!"

"The imperial court should start from Shouchun, send troops from Luoyang, cross the Yellow River to Henan County, go through the Honggou Canal, and then enter the Huai River via the Ying River to capture Shouchun. Once Shouchun is captured, things will be much easier. South of Shouchun lies a vast plain, where we can strike directly at the enemy's lair! Wouldn't that be better than us suffering here?"

"Fortunately, the court didn't do as you planned. They didn't have any troops to begin with, and then they sent troops to Shouchun. What are we going to do here?"

The officers around the long table began to speak, some complaining, some offering suggestions, expressing their opinions on the current situation. The situation was clear: after months of military operations, the bandits had not only controlled large swathes of land in Huainan, but also several prefectures south of the Yangtze River, including Yuzhang, Wujun, and Danyang. While these southern prefectures were not as wealthy or populous as later dynasties, their manpower and resources were already comparable to those of the Eastern Han Empire, which was simultaneously facing the Qiang rebellion in the northwest and the Xianbei in the north. The quantity and quality of troops that could be deployed to the front lines had naturally increased significantly. These frontline officers felt a sense of despair, facing wave after wave of enemies, a feeling of being overwhelmed.

"In my opinion, let's forget about sending a flanking force to Yuzhang or dividing our troops to attack Shouchun!" Wen Sheng finished the rabbit meat in a few bites, slammed the empty bowl on the table, patted his stomach, and laughed, "Hasn't Lord Wei already established a foothold in Jiaozhou? Why don't we just get a few dozen boats, all of us board them, cross the Yangtze River to Poyang Lake, then take the Gan River, cross the Five Ridges, and go to join Lord Wei! Surely he won't turn us away. Wouldn't that be better than suffering here, fighting these endless battles every day?"

"Yes, this is a good road!"

“Brother Wen, you’ve really spoken my mind. What have we gained by risking our lives here? I heard that my fellow villagers who joined the army with me have a mansion of more than ten acres in Panyu, Jiaozhou, with seventy or eighty servants, thirty acres of land, and gold, silver and silk. They have everything.”

"Land and mansions are minor matters; the main thing is how to make a living! I heard that the magistrate has already taken over five prefectures in Jiaozhou, which is at least thirty or forty counties! Back when we followed the magistrate to Yuzhang from Baling, there were only two or three hundred of us. As long as those guys don't do anything too stupid, they can all get county-level official positions! On the other hand, what about us? We're fighting to the death with these bandits here. Even if we survive, how many of us at this long table can become county officials?"

"Yes! It was a huge loss not to go south with Magistrate Wei back then!"

"That's right! Those bastards only fought a few battles with the magistrate in Jiaozhou, bullying the local weaklings, and they already have everything. We've been fighting the Moth Bandits every day, risking our lives, and we've got nothing. What's so great about Feng Chariot Cavalry? He's no match for the magistrate!"

The complaints around the long table grew louder and louder. Those who were qualified to sit at the table and dine with Zhao Yannian were almost all people Wei Cong had personally trained, and who had risen through the ranks to become mid-level officers in Zhao Yannian's army. They knew quite a bit about Wei Cong's actions in Yuzhang and Jiaozhou. In fact, Feng Kun was already considered to be kind to his soldiers in the Han army, and treated them quite well, but people are most afraid of comparison, especially when compared to their former colleagues in Wei Cong's army who had achieved similar success. Their mentality immediately collapsed. "Alright, alright!" Zhao Yannian saw that things were getting increasingly out of control and quickly scolded, "Are you never going to stop? Look at you all, is this even behaving properly? Everyone knows it's good to follow Lord Wei, but can you do that now? We are now under Cavalry Feng, eating the food of the court, so we have to obey orders and do what we are supposed to do. If those words get out, they will only harm yourselves, and it won't be good for Lord Wei either!"

After being reprimanded by Zhao Yannian, everyone had no choice but to bow their heads and acknowledge him. Zhao Yannian had also lost his appetite at this point, so he ate a few bites and then said he was tired and went to rest. He had just lain down for a short while when the guards from outside came in.

"General, a messenger outside requests an audience, bringing this token!" With that, the guard presented an object with both hands. Zhao Yannian casually took it, and was startled upon seeing it. It was the jade pendant he had obtained when he killed Cao Wujiu, the moneylender. But hadn't he given this jade pendant to Wei Cong long ago? Shouldn't it be in the hands of that young master Cao? How did it end up with him now? Could it be that young master Cao wants to see him? He hesitated for a moment, then asked, "What does the messenger look like, and what is he dressed like?"

"Reporting to the general, the envoy was accompanied by two attendants. They were short, dark-skinned, and about sixteen or seventeen years old. They looked like wealthy young masters!"

"It really is that Young Master Cao!" Zhao Yannian thought to himself. After pondering for a moment, he finally decided to meet him first: "Lead him in!"

"Here!"

After about half a cup of tea's time, the guard led in a young man dressed in a brown robe. Zhao Yannian recognized him as Cao Cao and frowned: "Young Master Cao, is that you?"

"Indeed!" Cao Cao smiled and looked around. "What's wrong? An old friend has come to visit, General Zhao, won't you offer him a seat?"

"This humble general is unworthy to be an old friend of Young Master Cao!" Zhao Yannian snorted coldly, but he still had his men bring over a folding chair. Cao Cao sat down with a smile: "Wei Mengde is indeed discerning, able to select a general's talent from among the fugitives!"

"Young Master is joking!" Zhao Yannian said coldly, "Before I met Lord Wei, I spent nearly twenty years in the military and never held any official position. How could I possibly be a general? Even if Lord Wei had known someone else back then, he could still hold the position I am in today! The key to this matter lies with Lord Wei, not with me!"

"That's because you haven't found the right person yet!" Cao Cao laughed. "Alright, I won't beat around the bush. I came to see you today not for anything else, but to see Wei Cong. Do you have a way to get me to see him?"

"You want to see the Duke of Wei?" Zhao Yannian glanced at Cao Cao, confirming that the other was not lying. "That might be difficult. The Duke of Wei has already gone to Jiaozhou. To get to Jiaozhou from here, you have to pass through Jiangxia and Yuzhang counties, both of which are currently at war and in chaos. Young Master, you are too delicate and precious—"

"You don't need to worry about that!" Cao Cao interrupted Zhao Yannian. "Do you think I'm a coward?"

When Cao Cao looked him straight in the eye, Zhao Yannian couldn't help but recall how Cao Cao had secretly hired boats to transport supplies to Hanshou County back in Jiangling. This man was truly not afraid of death.

"Young Master is indeed not afraid of the dead!"

"Isn't that settled?" Cao Cao laughed. "You just need to answer whether I have a way or not. As for the rest, I'll decide for myself. If I encounter an accident on the way, it's my fate to die, and I can't blame anyone else!"

Zhao Yannian remained silent for a long time after hearing this: "If there is a way, it is possible. Every now and then, an envoy from the Duke of Wei will come to see me. If you want to see him, you can go with the envoy. However, you will have to wait for a while!"

"That's easy to say!" Cao Cao said with a smile. "Then I'll have to trouble you with food and lodging during this time, General!"

"That's easy!" Zhao Yannian summoned someone to arrange for Cao Cao to stay. The army marched west for another two days and arrived at the designated encampment. Zhao Yannian ordered his soldiers to rest and reorganize, and incorporated the new recruits sent from various counties into the army to fill vacancies. Just as he was extremely busy, Wei Cong's messenger arrived.

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"Was the journey smooth?" Zhao Yannian asked as he opened the letter. He glanced at Yuan Tian and answered his earlier question: "It seems you suffered quite a bit on the journey. Yuzhang County doesn't look peaceful!"

"Yes! Our boat was attacked by bandits on the Gan River. I was the only one who escaped, and even the gift I brought for you is gone!"

"It would be great if you could just deliver the message!" Zhao Yannian laughed. "Lord Wei is really something, why would he need any gifts from us!"

"General Zhao, you have no idea how valuable these gifts are!" Yuan Tian said with a smile. "Many of them are rare items that can only be found overseas, and a lot of effort was put into preparing them!"

"That's probably for Madam Ajing. What use would it be to me?" Zhao Yannian shook his head and began to read the letter. His expression gradually became serious. Finally, he put the letter away and sighed.

(End of this chapter)