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Chen Gong stood by the bed, his sword raised before Cao Cao's chest, but the turmoil in his heart surged like a flood. The moonlight illuminated his face, and his expression shifted between hesitation and resolution.
"Cao Cao is ruthless and ungrateful; if I do not kill him today, he will surely become a great disaster in the future. However..." He lowered his head, his thoughts in disarray. "I pledged my loyalty to him for the sake of the country, hoping to eliminate Dong Zhuo and bring clarity to the realm. To kill him now would mean losing sight of my original intentions."
His hand slowly lowered, and his gaze turned to the cold moon outside the window. With a long sigh, he sheathed his sword and murmured, "Though this man is full of schemes, if he can truly rid us of Dong Zhuo's chaos, perhaps he could still benefit the world. If I kill him, am I not the same as that Traitor Dong?"
Having said that, Chen Gong gently opened the door and glanced back at the sleeping Cao Cao, a complex expression crossing his face. He spoke softly to himself, "Cao Cao, your path is yours to choose, but I will no longer accompany you on it."
Chen Gong strode quickly to the stable, leading out his horse. The armor glinted faintly in the moonlight as he mounted and rode away against the dawn wind, his figure gradually fading into the night.
As dawn approached, Cao Cao awoke to find the room empty. Chen Gong was gone, and even the wine cup on the table was spotless. He surveyed his surroundings in silence for a moment before sitting back on the edge of the bed, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.
"Indeed, he harbored doubts about me being unfeeling and ungrateful, so he left," Cao Cao murmured softly as he donned his outer robe, his gaze deep as an ancient well. "In this world, there are truly few who can understand me, Cao Mengde."
He hurried to the stable and roused a young servant, instructing him to prepare supplies. "I cannot delay any longer; since Chen Gong has left, it is time for me to set out."
In one night, Cao Cao rode to Chen Liu and met with his father who was residing there. As soon as he entered, he knelt before his father and recounted all that had transpired in detail. His tone was passionate; when he spoke of Lu Boshe's family being murdered, though there was a hint of unease in his expression, determination prevailed.
His father, Cao Song, stroked his beard with a furrowed brow. Upon hearing everything, he sighed softly and said, "Mengde, your journey is fraught with danger. If you wish to achieve great things now, you will need substantial funds; however, our family's resources are limited and may not suffice."
Cao Cao frowned in thought for a moment before his eyes brightened. "Father, I have heard that the filial and honest Wei Hong is generous with his wealth and possesses great riches. If we can persuade him to assist us, it may lead to success!"
Cao Song nodded solemnly. "Wei Hong is indeed a man of generosity and righteousness. This matter should be addressed swiftly; you must visit him and earnestly request his support."
Cao Cao rose to his feet, his eyes shining with determination. He clasped his hands and bowed to his father, saying, "Father, rest assured, I will persuade Wei Xiaolian to pave the way for our great cause!"
Cao Cao meticulously arranged a grand banquet, inviting Wei Hong to attend. The hall was illuminated by candlelight, filled with the aroma of exquisite dishes, creating a solemn atmosphere. As soon as Wei Hong entered, he was warmly welcomed by Cao Cao. Cao personally assisted him to his seat, his face sincere and his gaze resolute.
After several rounds of wine, Cao Cao set down his cup and spoke solemnly: "Wei Xiaolian, I have specially organized this banquet not only to honor your virtues but also to discuss a matter of great importance concerning the world." He paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and continued, "Now that Dong Zhuo is wreaking havoc in the court, deposing the rightful ruler and establishing usurpers, the palace is filled with bloodshed and turmoil, leaving the common people in despair. The righteous men of the world are filled with righteous indignation, and I, Cao Cao, harbor the ambition to restore order but find myself isolated and weak. Today, I humbly ask for your assistance in this noble cause!"
Upon hearing this, Wei Hong furrowed his brow and pondered for a moment. He raised his wine cup and looked intently at Cao Cao, speaking firmly: "Mengde, though I am not a world-renowned hero, I have long been pained by Dong Zhuo's tyranny. If I can join you in this endeavor to eliminate treachery and bring peace to the people, it would be my lifelong wish!"
Cao Cao was moved to stand and express his gratitude, grasping Wei Hong's hand with tears in his eyes: "With your support, my great enterprise will surely succeed! The common people will finally find relief!" Wei Hong laughed heartily: "Mengde is too modest. Though my family's resources are limited, I am willing to contribute what I have to assist you in this grand undertaking!"
Not long after, relying on Wei Hong's support, Cao Cao began planning his campaign. Under the pretense of issuing an imperial edict, he sent urgent messages throughout the land calling for all to join in the fight against Dong Zhuo. At the same time, he personally oversaw the recruitment of soldiers and raised a massive white flag outside Chen Liu City inscribed with two large characters: "Loyalty and Righteousness."
As news spread from Chen Liu, a sense of urgency swept through the land; yet the righteous were stirred with excitement. Within days, countless individuals arrived from all directions. The training grounds outside the city buzzed with activity as young farmers set down their plows eager to become warriors; even reclusive wanderers emerged from the mountains with swords in hand, all hoping to contribute to the fight against Dong Zhuo.
Standing atop the training platform overlooking the assembled soldiers, Cao Cao's expression was resolute. He announced loudly: "Today we gather here not for personal gain but to eliminate treachery and restore clarity to the Han Dynasty! I vow alongside all of you comrades that we will stand together through life and death; we shall not rest until our goals are achieved!"
The news of Cao Cao raising an army spread far and wide, attracting many talented individuals who aspired to restore order in the world. One day, a man named Le Jin arrived at Chen Liu. He hailed from Yangping Wei and was known as Wen Qian; he was well-versed in military strategy and held great respect for Cao Cao. They engaged in deep conversation, and immediately after, Le Jin was welcomed into Cao Cao's ranks as an important advisor.
Soon after that, Li Dian from Julu in Shanyang also came forward to offer his service. Known as Man Chen, he was calm by nature and skilled in martial arts with a keen intuition for battle. Cao Cao greatly admired his talents and personally arranged a position for him.
Then came two figures walking side by side—Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan. Both hailed from Pei Commandery Qiao and were relatives of Cao Cao. Xiahou Dun had trained in martial arts since childhood and gained fame early on for avenging his mentor; his cousin Xiahou Yuan was known for his decisiveness and agility. Each led over a thousand valiant men who joined Cao Cao with unwavering loyalty. After years apart, their reunion overflowed with brotherly affection as they expressed immense joy at their arrival.
Moreover, another group of important figures from the Cao family soon arrived to lend their support. Cao Ren known as Zi Xiao and Cao Hong known as Zi Lian each led over a thousand men into service. Both were skilled in military strategy and possessed remarkable abilities. Their arrival infused Cao Cao's army with formidable strength.
Wei Hong spared no expense to equip the Army of Righteousness with weapons and banners. Support from all directions poured in, with groups of people bringing supplies that turned the entire village into a temporary military camp.
As these future renowned figures of the Three Kingdoms pledged their allegiance one by one, Cao Cao gradually gathered an undeniable force under his command.
Yuan Shao received Cao Cao's urgent edict in Bohai, and he was deeply shaken. He immediately summoned his civil and military officials for a meeting. With a serious expression, Yuan Shao scanned the crowd and said in a deep voice, "Cao Mengde has risen for righteousness to punish Dong Zhuo and restore order to the world. What do you all think?" The generals below eagerly requested to take part, their voices booming. Yuan Shao promptly decided to mobilize thirty thousand Elite Troops to march south from Bohai to meet with Cao Cao and join forces against Dong Zhuo.
Cao Cao distributed proclamations to various prefectures, calling upon heroes across the land with a powerful message filled with righteous fervor:
"We, Cao Cao and our righteous allies, hereby announce to the world:
Dong Zhuo, this treacherous villain, has openly destroyed nations and murdered kings, defiled the palace, and wantonly harmed the common people; his crimes are too numerous to count! His cruelty knows no bounds; he treats the world as his butcher's block and the people as mere meat. His wickedness has accumulated to such an extent that it fills heaven and earth.
Now, under the secret edict of the Emperor, I, Cao, along with righteous men, rise together to gather the Righteous Army from all corners, vowing to cleanse Huaxia of evil and eradicate all villains, restoring peace to the realm!
We call upon those with ambition to join the Righteous Army, uphold justice, support the Han Dynasty, and participate in this grand endeavor; for the welfare of the common people and to seek justice for the world! Upon receiving this proclamation, you should prioritize righteousness and act swiftly!"
The proclamation quickly spread throughout the land, its stirring words igniting righteous indignation among the people and gentry everywhere. Local strongmen responded one after another, and where the proclamation reached, the Righteous Army sprang up like mushrooms after rain. Thus began a nationwide movement against Dong Zhuo.
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