Tiger Guards

Chapter 413 Careful Thoughts

In addition to sending envoys, Cao Cao abandoned his main force and personally led more than 3,000 men of his central army by boat ahead of him.

On the Honggou Canal, Cao Cao's more than three thousand men rowed downstream day and night without stopping, covering a distance of four hundred li in a single day, a remarkably fast pace.

With the setting sun nearby, the Cao army fleet on the Honggou Canal was in complete disarray, with each ship racing against the current, the two ships separated by more than thirty li.

The ships varied in age, size, and design, and the sailors who operated them also differed in courage and skill, which led to the fleet becoming disorganized.

Even so, Cao Cao dared not stop.

Since the only option is to get involved, then we must try our best to meet Zhao Ji's various demanding requirements.

He received Zhao Ji's order to urge him to advance during the night. After preparing overnight, he led the central army ahead the next morning and arrived near Chen County in the evening.

Despite the department's in disarray, he had strictly implemented Zhao Ji's requirements.

On the west bank of the Honggou Canal, Zhao Ji led a thousand chariots and cavalry to the crossing point to welcome Cao Cao.

Currently, only Cao Cao's vanguard has arrived. These soldiers have disembarked and are organizing their camp while awaiting Cao Cao's arrival.

Observing the reaction of Cao Cao's vanguard officers and soldiers, Zhao Ji remarked to Han Shu and Guan Shang who were accompanying him, "Heroes are emerging one after another in the Central Plains. Last year, we almost wiped out his entire army. Observing his vanguard officers and soldiers, they are well-ordered and disciplined. It can be seen that Cao Cao's military discipline is strict and he has shaken off the influence of the Battle of Chenliu."

Han Shu asked directly, "So, should we fight or not?"

"let me think again."

Zhao Jizhen never expected that Cao Cao would lead a light army on a rapid march to Chen County. If he wanted to kill someone, he should have done so immediately.

Killing Cao Cao would be easy, but this would inevitably lead to Xiahou Yuan, Xun Yu, Cheng Yu, Cao Hong, and others who were in charge of the large army in the rear joining Yuan Shao's cause.

The addition of these elite troops from outside Hebei to Yuan Shao's ranks would immediately disrupt the balance within Yuan Shao's ranks, allowing him to force the natives of Hebei to back down, or even carry out a large-scale purge similar to that in Taiyuan and Nanyang.

In other words, if Yuan Shao kills Cao Cao now, his military power will increase dramatically, giving him the strength to crush the powerful clans of Hebei.

If Yuan Shao really went this far, it would be no different from rebellion. Objectively, it would liberate the productive forces in Hebei, and the mobilization mechanism in Hebei would become more rational and efficient.

In the eyes of the world, he had unjustly killed Cao Cao, which frightened Yuan Shao into rebelling against the Han Dynasty out of necessity for survival.

Cao Cao may have had higher overall qualifications than Yuan Shao, but after Yuan Shao absorbed Cao Cao's old troops and further integrated the powerful families of Hebei, his overall qualifications might not have been inferior to Cao Cao's at present.

People learn and grow, and various forces influence each other.

Seeing Zhao Ji's solemn expression, Han Shu said, "Grand Marshal, Cao Cao has come at great risk; he is gambling with his life. Such a person should not be allowed to live."

"Are you afraid?"

How could I not be afraid?

Han Shu solemnly advised, "When I recently read the Records of the Grand Historian, I felt that the Feast at Hongmen was not very reasonable. But if King Xiang had used the remnants of the Qin army to kill Emperor Gaozu, then who in the world could have rivaled King Xiang?"

As his personal status changed, Han Shu studied more diligently and began to understand the situation and background of the time.

Previously, Han Shu viewed Xiang Yu as an extremely brave man, perhaps similar to Zhao Ji; but now, through his study, Han Shu sees Xiang Yu as a meticulous man who is adept at adapting to changing circumstances and winning people's hearts.

Xiang Yu's killing of Song Yi and seizure of power was almost equivalent to Zhao Ji's remonstrance at Anyi.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji placed his hands on the railings of the chariot and gazed at the campfires that were being lit one after another at the crossing point.

To be fair, the Cao Cao who died was the better Cao Cao.

He had no interest in outwitting or outmaneuvering Cao Cao, and Zhao Ji felt absolutely nothing about Cao Cao's personal charisma.

Even if we let him go this time, and later, by adapting to the changing situation, we can defeat Cao Cao and eventually get SSS, what is the meaning of such a life achievement?
Killing Cao Cao directly will lower your life rating to SS, and it might be lowered to S or A later... No matter how bad the rating is, as long as you achieve final victory, even if others give their final judgment, you can give the final judgment to Cao Cao and his ilk first!
While killing Cao Cao directly would certainly damage one's reputation, and Lü Bu or those former officials would incite public opinion... what these people want is nothing more than greater political participation and control in the court.

If Lü Bu had killed Cao Cao, he would probably have been secretly pleased, so how could he possibly have condemned him?

Lu Bu is in stable condition, so what is there to be afraid of?

After withdrawing the troops and returning home, I can focus on building up the situation for several years. By then, the court will be in complete chaos, and the wise emperor and virtuous officials will see this and be heartbroken, which will surely prompt me to take action.

The emperor is sixteen years old and has already undergone the coming-of-age ceremony. In three to five years, there will definitely be a fierce power struggle.

Unable to withdraw voluntarily, he killed Cao Cao without authorization and then retreated to Xizhou amidst public condemnation from the court, subsequently sending Lü Bu to meet the strongest impact.

Having made up his mind, Zhao Ji turned his head and asked, "Where is Mr. Shumao?"

Guan Shang replied, "I have returned from Xudu and am currently preparing a banquet with Kong Wenju."

"Ah Shang, go and select men to protect Mr. Shu Mao and Kong Wenju should any action occur during the banquet."

Zhao Ji couldn't bear to see Zhao Jian injured. Perhaps it was the experience of his family almost being wiped out that made Zhao Jian's personality very different from other scholars. He was a rare kind-hearted person who showed compassion and understanding to everyone around him, regardless of their social status.

Having such a person around can act as a lubricant, effectively mediating conflicts among those around them.

Han Shu watched Guan Shang leave, then asked Zhao Ji with an excited expression, "Grand Marshal, have you made up your mind?"

"Deploy the guards as usual, but don't reveal anything."

Zhao Ji was also afraid that Han Shu and the officials below him would cause other trouble due to their murderous appearance, so he warned them, "I want to see what Cao Cao has to say."

"Here."

Han Shu composed himself, cupped his hands in greeting, and said that he had been following Zhao Ji in killing people since he was a squad leader... dealing with disputes and conflicts was too much of a hassle, killing people was the simplest thing to do.

Taiyuan became the foundation of the Zhao family, not because the Zhao family was virtuous, but because the powerful clans and gentry of Taiyuan had been almost completely eradicated. Even so, Zhao Ji left about 20,000 reserve troops in Taiyuan for each of his three military campaigns.

On the other side, in the temporary banquet area, curtains were set up and five-colored flags were displayed.

Kong Rong noticed that the servants who were transporting supplies all wore sleeveless two-piece armor, but with a purple and red two-piece long jacket over it, with a one-foot square number indicating their affiliation printed on the back of the jacket.

The civil and military sleeves and the overcoat were all invented under Zhao Ji's leadership, and people have become accustomed to them... The Zhao family's adoption of nomadic dress and archery was a family tradition. Zhao Ji's courage to reform clothing was something that people with open minds like Kong Rong would naturally welcome.

The burqas were issued as standard equipment to Zhao Ji's army, becoming a distinctive and recognizable symbol.

Especially after the tiger-shooting contest with Sun Ce, Zhao Ji gifted Sun Ce a set of iron cavalry armor and three warhorses. The iron cavalry armor came with matching civil and military sleeves, and after Sun Ce wore it, this kind of clothing quickly became popular in Sun Ce's army.

Lu Bu's army had seen the original version of the civil and military sleeves last year, and from Lu Bu down, they began to imitate it.

For soldiers, they are like male birds, all liking to adorn themselves in bright and colorful attire.

The civil and military sleeves were bright and gorgeous, combining both literary and martial qualities, and were very popular among scholars; while the simple overcoat, although it could also cover half of the body and be used as a civil and military sleeve... clothing also had to be divided into different levels.

Therefore, the robe was often used as a short-sleeved jacket with a front opening, and the fabric was dyed in a simple style, making it suitable for ordinary soldiers.

Military officers wore embroidered sleeves in shades of crimson and purple, which clearly distinguished their rank.

The cloak also concealed the insignia on the armor, so a wooden board was used to carve the insignia directly onto the back of the cloak to indicate the unit number and affiliation.

At this moment, Kong Rong looked at the soldiers who were coming and going in their robes. Although he could not see their armor, it made the atmosphere at the banquet a little more relaxed.

In essence, the robes were merely a disguise; these officials and soldiers were still fully armed and wielding weapons.

Just like the current imperial court, it seems that the emperor is sitting in the Mingtang Hall and the world is about to be well-governed and peaceful; but in reality, all of this is based on the fact that Lü Bu and Zhao Ji are on good terms and united against external forces.

If one of these two people falls in the future, the situation will inevitably be different.

As Kong Rong pondered this, he saw Zhao Jian return and asked, "Shumao, where has Cao Jiande gone?"

"His vanguard has already lit campfires, and it is said that Cao Jiande is less than ten miles away."

Zhao Jian saw that some officials were throwing a bundle of artemisia into a small campfire, so he led Kong Rong over to use the smoke to drive away mosquitoes.

Kong Rong spread his wide sleeves to enjoy the smoke, and after the officials and soldiers had gone far away, he asked, "Why did the Grand Marshal invite me specifically when he was hosting a banquet for Cao Jiande?"

Zhao Jian paused for a moment, then said, "I do not know."

Why did Shumao hide it from me?

Kong Rong raised his hand and placed it on Zhao Jian's shoulder, looking up at the gradually rounding moon: "The Grand Marshal wants me to discuss literature with Cao Jiande to distinguish between the genuine and the fake. There are people in the world who look and act very similar, so we must be careful."

Zhao Jian was puzzled: "How could Lord Wenju think such a thing? The Grand Marshal also has people around him who know Cao Jiande well, how could he be mistaken?"

"No, Uncle Mao, you don't know."

Kong Rong looked at Zhao Jian with a complicated expression: "The court has just recruited a Tiger Warrior, and there is one who looks remarkably like Cai Yong. If there is someone who looks like Cai Yong, then there is naturally someone who looks like Cao Jiande. They can imitate his appearance and mannerisms, but they can hardly match his talent."

"Is there such a thing?"

Zhao Jian was surprised and immediately said, "Now that this matter is settled, thanks to Lord Wenju's introduction, I also want to see the valiant demeanor of this tiger warrior."

"This is not difficult."

Kong Rong agreed, and couldn't help but smile, feeling that he had already guessed Zhao Ji's true intentions.

Although he had known Cao Cao for a long time, they had never liked each other.

As for Zhao Ji, he had already become Cai Bojie's son-in-law. Even if Zhao Ji was in the wrong at this moment, Kong Rong would help him.

While laughing, Kong Rong observed Zhao Jian's changing expression and felt that Zhao Jian might genuinely be unaware of the situation.

But it didn't matter anymore. Kong Rong just wanted to see Cao Cao's head, otherwise he would have been bitten by mosquitoes for nothing tonight.

As the two were chatting, Mi Heng came over with two freshly grilled meat skewers and immediately handed them out to Kong Rong and Zhao Jian: "Lord Wenju, Lord Shumao, please have a taste. These are lambs from Xihe, and they are the freshest and most tender."

Kong Rong rolled up his sleeves, caught the meat, and ate it. It was slightly burnt, but he still nodded and said, "Zhengping's cooking skills are not good. The meat is black and salty, and it is really hard to eat."

He took another bite and added, "The sheep from Xihe are indeed extraordinary."

Zhao Jian chewed on a meat skewer and immediately smiled and said, "Since you like it, sir, when the sheep are fat in the autumn, the Grand Marshal will present a batch of fat sheep to Xudu. We will bring more of them and give them to you then."

Mi Heng, worried that Kong Rong would refuse, said, "Fat mutton and fine wine at the banquet are the greatest pleasures in the world."

Kong Rong nodded in agreement and remarked with emotion, "In such a world, what more could one ask for than to cook a lamb and drink wine?"

Seeing that Kong Rong was willing to accept it, Zhao Jian's smile became even brighter.

While they were eating skewers, Cao Cao disembarked and went ashore. Looking at the dark sky in the distance and at the procession of chariots and horses carrying torches three or four miles away, his expression was solemn.

However, he chose to trust Xun Yu's judgment. Zhao Ji was a meticulous and ambitious man. As long as he was humble enough, Zhao Ji would not bother to kill him.

Even so, Cao Cao would not submit to execution.

He looked back and saw that the guards who had disembarked with him were all wearing double armor and had eaten and drunk their fill.

(End of this chapter)