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Ma Teng and Han Sui stood inside the military tent, their gazes fixed on the map laid out on the table, their expressions grave. The supplies had long been exhausted, the soldiers were utterly fatigued, and their internal support had been exposed. The plans for Chang'an had completely failed. Han Sui sighed, "With no provisions left and no support from within or outside, we are unable to continue fighting. We must retreat."
Ma Teng nodded, his face pale but his tone resolute. "The immediate priority is to preserve our forces. We will dismantle the camp and withdraw at once, returning to Xiliang to consolidate our position before seeking another opportunity."
That night, the Xiliang Army quietly packed up and retreated westward. News of this quickly reached Chang'an, where Li Jue and Guo Si sneered upon hearing it and immediately ordered a pursuit. Zhang Ji led the troops in pursuit of Ma Teng, while Fan Chou commanded his forces to chase after Han Sui, hoping to eliminate them while they were in retreat.
Zhang Ji's army rapidly closed in on Ma Teng's rear guard, the sound of war drums echoing through the air as weapons clashed. Ma Chao held the rear line and saw Zhang Ji's forces advancing like a ferocious tiger. With a cold snort, he spurred his horse forward, spear in hand. He wielded his spear like the wind, cutting through the enemy ranks with ease. Zhang Ji's soldiers fell in disarray, forced to retreat under the relentless assault.
Meanwhile, Fan Chou's pursuing troops drew ever closer to Han Sui's forces, with Chen Cang Cheng just ahead. Realizing that his rear guard was about to be caught, Han Sui reined in his horse and turned to face Fan Chou, calling out loudly, "Fan Chou, we have known each other for many years as fellow townsmen; why must you be so ruthless today?"
Fan Chou was taken aback and also halted his horse, replying coldly, "I have orders to pursue; I cannot stop!"
Han Sui sighed deeply, his voice filled with resignation. "I came here for the sake of the country, not for personal gain. As fellow townsmen, why must you press me so hard?"
After a moment of silence, a complex expression crossed Fan Chou's face. He looked up at Han Sui and finally loosened the reins of his horse, saying softly, "I will not pursue any longer; return to your camp." With that, he turned his horse around and led his troops back.
Han Sui watched Fan Chou's retreating figure and breathed a sigh of relief before hastily leading his troops away.
However, news of Fan Chou letting Han Sui go soon reached Li Jue's nephew Li Bie. He returned to Chang'an with a secret report detailing everything that had transpired. Upon hearing this, Li Jue flew into a rage and slammed his hand on the table. "Fan Chou dares to let the enemy go and disobey military orders! This is clearly an act of treason!"
Guo Si quickly intervened, urging caution. "The situation is unstable; we face internal strife and external threats. We must not act rashly and provoke further chaos."
At that moment, Jia Xu calmly stood up, his gaze icy and his tone steady. "If the general were to mobilize troops against Fan Chou at this time, it would likely cause unrest within the army and lead to greater calamity. It would be better to host a banquet in celebration of our victory and invite both Zhang Ji and Fan Chou to attend. During the feast, we can capture Fan Chou and execute him—this will both intimidate our troops and require no additional soldiers."
Li Jue smirked at this clever plan and clapped his hands on the table. "This strategy is excellent; we shall follow your advice!" He turned to command his subordinates: "Send out orders for a celebratory banquet!"
Li Jue instructed that an extravagant feast be prepared within the city and invited both Zhang Ji and Fan Chou to attend. The banquet was lavishly arranged with golden cups and jade dishes overflowing with delicacies; amidst flickering candlelight, the atmosphere felt particularly festive as Zhang Ji and Fan Chou entered the tent. Li Jue greeted them with a broad smile, personally welcoming them as they took their seats. "Today we celebrate your great assistance in defeating the Xiliang Army; this banquet is set up in honor of your contributions!"
Upon hearing this, Fan Chou felt a slight sense of vigilance in his heart. However, seeing Li Jue's sincere demeanor and the lively atmosphere filled with music and dance, he gradually lowered his guard and shared a drink with Zhang Ji. Li Jue frequently raised his cup in a toast, and amidst the laughter and conversation, the two men unknowingly relaxed their vigilance.
As the drinking continued, just as Fan Chou lifted his cup to drink again, he noticed Li Jue's expression suddenly darken. The smile that had been on his face vanished without a trace, replaced by coldness and anger. He slammed his hand on the table and shouted sternly, "Fan Chou! You have been secretly colluding with Han Sui! What are your intentions? Do you intend to rebel?"
Fan Chou was taken aback, his cup falling to the ground, disbelief written all over his face. "General, this... where does this come from? I have never harbored such thoughts!"
However, Li Jue did not give him a chance to explain. With a cold laugh, he raised his hand and commanded fiercely, "Seize this traitor and behead him!"
As soon as he finished speaking, assassins who had been lying in wait outside rushed in, surrounding Fan Chou with their sharp weapons. Fan Chou attempted to defend himself, but in a flash of steel, he was struck down beneath the table, blood splattering across the floor.
Zhang Ji witnessed this scene and was so shocked that he dropped his cup, kneeling on the ground and trembling all over. "General, please calm your anger! I am utterly loyal to you and have no other intentions!"
Seeing this, Li Jue's expression softened slightly. He stood up to help Zhang Ji to his feet and spoke in a calm yet imposing tone. "Fan Chou conspired with external enemies and intended to rebel; he naturally deserves punishment. General Zhang is my trusted confidant; there is no need for such fear. From now on, you shall lead the remnants of the Xiliang Army."
Zhang Ji suppressed his inner turmoil and bowed repeatedly in gratitude. "Thank you for your trust, General! I will swear loyalty unto death!" He forced himself to regain composure and quickly returned to his station in Hongnong, distancing himself from the place of turmoil.
Since Li Jue and Guo Si had repelled the Xiliang Army, the situation in Chang'an had stabilized somewhat, and no one dared to provoke them any longer. However, the people's lives were still difficult, and grievances filled the air. Jia Xu repeatedly advised him, saying, "General, in these chaotic times, we should soothe the people and befriend wise men; only then can we solidify our foundation for long-term peace."
After hearing this, Li Jue seemed to understand. He ordered his subordinates to reduce their violent actions slightly and summoned local scholars to join discussions at court; thus, a glimmer of hope began to emerge within the court.
Just then came alarming news from the Qingzhou region—the Yellow Turban Army had revived; bandits were rising up everywhere with tens of thousands gathering to plunder cities and harm civilians with astonishing force. Upon hearing this news, Li Jue and Guo Si's expressions turned grave as they quickly convened a meeting to discuss countermeasures.
Tai Fu Zhu Jun stepped forward and respectfully suggested, "General, at present the Yellow Turban Army is wreaking havoc during these chaotic times; the people are suffering greatly. If we wish to quell the bandits in Shandong, I would like to recommend someone who can surely defeat them."
Li Jue asked urgently, "Who is this person?"
Zhu Jun replied in a deep voice, "Dongjun's Governor, Cao Cao, styled Mengde, is both wise and courageous, well-known for his reputation. He governs his troops with strict discipline and is deeply loved by his soldiers. His army is well-trained and capable of dealing with the Yellow Turbans; victory is within reach if he leads the campaign."
Guo Si echoed, "Mengde is indeed a fine general. Do you know where he is now?"
Zhu Jun responded, "Cao is currently stationed in Dongjun, commanding a strong and capable army that can handle this matter."
Li Jue was overjoyed and immediately ordered someone to draft an edict, personally sealing it, and commanded an envoy to deliver the decree to Dongjun overnight. The envoy rode swiftly and arrived in haste. Upon receiving the edict, Cao Cao respectfully accepted it and promptly mobilized his troops.
Cao Cao met with Bao Xin, the Prime Minister of Jibei, to discuss battle plans. He acted cautiously, dividing his forces into several routes to gradually eliminate the Yellow Turban remnants. However, Bao Xin, being impatient, led his troops deep into enemy territory without proper defenses and was ambushed, ultimately dying on the battlefield.
Upon hearing the news, Cao Cao was furious and personally led his main force to pursue the Yellow Turban Army towards Ji Bei. Along the way, he defeated enemies decisively, boosting his military prestige. Many remaining Yellow Turbans saw their situation worsening and surrendered in droves. Cao Cao ordered the surrendered troops to serve as vanguards, reorganizing them to lead attacks on other strongholds, achieving repeated victories.
Within a hundred days, Cao Cao had subdued hundreds of thousands of Yellow Turban remnants and pacified over a million displaced men and women. To strengthen his forces, he selected elite soldiers from among the surrendered troops to form the Qingzhou Army, creating a powerful unit under his command while sending the rest back home to farm.
News of these victories reached Chang'an. Li Jue and Guo Si were astonished to hear that Cao Cao had quelled the Yellow Turbans in just a few months and had gathered such a large number of troops. The court issued orders for commendation and promoted Cao Cao to General of Eastern Pacification, enhancing his prestige even further.
Cao Cao sat in his study at the Yan Province Office, holding a bamboo slip with a furrowed brow. Although the Yellow Turbans had been subdued, the situation in the realm remained unstable; various warlords held their territories, and conflict could erupt at any moment. He needed more talented individuals to assist in managing military and political affairs to strengthen his power. At that moment, a servant reported: "My lord, there are two gentlemen from Yingchuan outside seeking an audience; they claim to be relatives of the Xun Clan."
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao set down the bamboo slip, adjusted his attire with a wave of his hand, and said loudly, "Please invite them in."
Moments later, two scholars dressed in simple long robes entered the study. One was slightly older, exhibiting refined manners and a calm demeanor; the other was younger but displayed intelligence and composure in his features. Cao Cao glanced over them and nodded slightly: "You have traveled far; may I ask your esteemed names?"
The elder bowed slightly with a gentle voice: "I am Xun Yu, styled Xun Yu. I once served under Yuan Benchu but found him ambitious yet lacking in talent; thus I took my leave. I have come specifically to seek your service."
Cao Cao's eyes brightened at these words as he exclaimed repeatedly: "So it is Master Xun Yu! I have long heard of your great name; seeing you today confirms your extraordinary reputation." He then turned his gaze to the younger man: "And who might this young gentleman be?"
Xun Yu turned to the side and said, "This is my nephew, Xun You, whose courtesy name is Gongda. He once served as Chancellor but later resigned and returned home, coming here with me."
Cao Cao nodded, his smile growing wider. "Indeed, it is a gathering of fine talents. If Mr. Xun Yu and I engage in a lengthy discussion, he will surely provide me with valuable insights!" He warmly invited Xun Yu to take a seat, conversing with him for a long time. He praised Xun Yu's knowledge and abilities without restraint, excitedly exclaiming, "Xun Yu, truly you are my Zhang Liang!" He immediately appointed Xun Yu as the Sima of Xingjun and arranged for Xun You to be the Military Instructor.
After Xun Yu expressed his gratitude with a cupped fist, he suddenly brought up a matter. "My Lord, I have heard that there is a wise man in Yan Province. If we could gain his assistance, it would be like adding wings to a tiger."
Cao Cao was taken aback and asked, "Who do you speak of?"
Xun Yu smiled and replied, "He is from Dongjun, named Cheng Yu, courtesy name Zhong De. This man possesses exceptional strategies and is truly talented in governing the country and bringing peace to the world."
Cao Cao laughed heartily. "I have long heard of Cheng Yu's name but have never met him. Where is he now?"
Xun Yu answered, "I have heard that he is living in seclusion in the mountains, devoting himself to study and has not taken any official position."
Cao Cao immediately ordered someone to go to Dongjun and search for Cheng Yu's whereabouts. A few days later, scouts reported back that Cheng Yu was indeed living in seclusion in the mountains. Cao Cao promptly prepared gifts and personally wrote an invitation.
Upon receiving Cao Cao's letter, Cheng Yu read it for a moment before sighing deeply. "Cao Mengde truly knows how to recognize talent; he is no ordinary person." The next day, he packed his belongings and set off for Yan Province to meet him.
When Cheng Yu arrived at the Yan Province Office, Cao Cao had already been waiting at the door. Seeing Cheng Yu's remarkable demeanor, he approached with great joy. "Zhong De, I have long admired your reputation; today we finally meet—what an honor!"
Cheng Yu smiled slightly and replied with cupped hands, "Lord Mengde’s high regard makes me feel overwhelmed. If I can serve the country, I will certainly do my utmost."
Cao Cao laughed heartily as he personally escorted Cheng Yu into the residence. Together with Xun Yu and Xun You, they discussed matters of great importance concerning the world, feeling as if they were fish back in water—content and fulfilled.
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