Chapter 342: Southbound Chariot, Clattering Onward—What Is It You Seek?

In the twelfth month of the sixth year of Zhongping, in the depths of winter, the north of Bing Province was so cold that dripping water turned to ice.

Leveraging the momentum of forcing the Xiongnu rebels to surrender, General of the Guard Gongsun Xun carried out a series of rewards, punishments, appointments, and dismissals in Yinguan City, the administrative seat of Yanmen Commandery, then led his rested and reorganized troops to continue their march south.

Without any excess losses, and even gaining over a thousand sons of Yanmen, his force of over twenty thousand combat troops and over ten thousand support troops, plus more than ten thousand newly acquired warhorses and over ten thousand pack horses, split into two columns and cautiously moved south together through Yanmen Pass and Loufan Pass (also known as Ningwu Pass), then reassembled within the borders of Guangwu and Yuanping counties at the southernmost tip of Yanmen Commandery.

Although this area still belonged to Yanmen Commandery, it was already the upper reaches of the Hutuo River basin, and geographically speaking, it was actually the transitional zone between the Datong Basin and the Taiyuan Basin. In fact, the tens of thousands of people in the three counties of this region had originally belonged to Taiyuan Commandery, and had only been transferred to Yanmen Commandery a few decades ago.

"Yanmen Commandery takes its name from the ancient Yanmen Fortress, and the ancient Yanmen Fortress takes its name from Mount Yanmen... The terrain here is truly majestic and perilous, no wonder even wild geese returning south or flying north can only pass through this place." Although they had already passed the dangerous pass and reached flat ground, and were encamped by the city wall, Xi Zhong, standing on the walls of Yuanping County, still sighed repeatedly as he gazed north toward Mount Yanmen.

"Is Zhicai regretting that we didn't see any wild geese when we passed through there?" It was the depths of winter, and Lou Gui was too lazy to even stroke his beard, merely standing with his hands tucked in his sleeves and smiling. "Such a magnificent sight is something one can encounter but not seek..."

"I fear that is not the case." Tian Feng, similarly wrapped in a fur cloak, frowned slightly beside them. "Master Zhicai is probably worried about the difficult roads, and moreover the bitter cold of deep winter, with logistics impossible to sustain, is he not? The reason he left the official residence and came up onto the wall this time was also to see just how cold the weather truly is."

"Both military advisors are correct." Xi Zhong tightened the clothes on his body, and following Gongsun Xun's example, used a distinctive form of address, calling the two not by their title of General of the Household, but as military advisors. "I am both reminiscing about the majesty of the Yanmen Fortress we passed earlier, and pondering the matter of winter logistics... To continue advancing in such deep winter is likely no ordinary hardship. Just now at Ju Gongtiao's place, I saw a document stating that from the time we set out again from Yinguan, casualties along the way due to ice, falling rocks, and frostbite have already exceeded a hundred. In that great battle we fought at Mayi before, the number of killed in action was roughly the same."

"Well said." Lou Gui could not help but turn serious as well. "Earlier at Yinguan, the Administrator of Yanmen, Han Zhuo, discussed with the great clans of the commandery, and citing Yanmen as a border commandery that was poor but skilled in war, they were willing to send three thousand troops to assist. But our lord only selected a little over a thousand of them, organizing them into cavalry modeled on the various commanderies of You Province... This was certainly out of consideration that Yanmen had been in turmoil for over half a year, with the intent to spare the people's strength, but was it not also due to worry that logistics could not sustain it? Thus, he would rather have fewer combat troops, so as to leave more soldiers and horses in Yanmen Commandery to ensure the security of the supply lines."

"Is that why our lord is encamped here?" Just then, a voice suddenly came from below the wall, and the speaker walked as he talked, appearing on the city wall by the time he finished his sentence. It was none other than the important military staff officer just mentioned, Ju Zong, styled Gongtiao. Having hurried up onto the wall, he hastily cupped his hands in greeting to the three whose rank was above his own. "Two military advisors, Adjutant Xi... I was just about to ask, may I inquire why exactly our lord has halted here? Could it truly be because of the cold, and he is preparing to wait until after the new year, when spring begins, to advance the army?"

"That may not necessarily be the case." Tian Feng, paying no heed to the other's gesture of goodwill, merely frowned again. "In my view, as long as logistics can be guaranteed, the General will certainly advance. Stopping here now seems somewhat like waiting for some kind of news... I suspect it might be Feihu Path? Earlier at Yinguan, didn't the General send orders to Changshan, using the pretext that Changshan is a large commandery, instructing them to dispatch a force of a thousand troops to garrison Lucheng and guard Mount Shufu? He should be waiting for that, and then will continue south, right?"

The others were momentarily taken aback, but quickly nodded in agreement one after another.

It turned out that the Hutuo River wound its way around the Mount Wutai region of the Taihang mountain range, occupying two of the Eight Passes of Taihang at its head and tail: one was Jingxing south of Mount Wutai, directly facing Changshan Commandery; the other was Feihu Path north of Mount Wutai, directly facing the junction of Dai Commandery and Changshan Commandery.

And the two counties of Guangwu and Yuanping, where the You Province army was currently encamped, lay directly eastward, precisely at Feihu Path.

It should be mentioned that back when Gongsun Xun was a Separate Division Major at Pingcheng in Yanmen, during his newlywed bliss, he had once attempted to go to Mount Wutai. Passing through Mount Shufu on Feihu Path, he lamented the toil of the garrison soldiers, was stirred with emotion, and turned back halfway... but that was already over ten years ago.

Returning to the present, Feihu Path was in fact not simply a strategic pass. One could not assume this route was completely safe just because the territories at both ends now belonged to Gongsun Xun—after all, the million bandits of Taihang were not vegetarians!

In reality, those bandits were living, breathing people, who ate both meat and vegetables, not picky at all. And they had entered the mountains precisely because they could not survive. If they were truly starving, how could they refrain from plundering military grain passing through the mountain paths just because it bore the name Gongsun?

As for the General of the Household Who Pacifies Difficulties, Zhang Yan, as the overlord of the northern section of Taihang, although he showed some deference to Gongsun Xun for certain reasons, when the number of bandits reached the scale of hundreds of thousands or even a million, quantitative change led to qualitative change... Not to mention how he could possibly restrain every single group of bandits, if a famine truly struck the mountains, believe it or not, he himself would be the first to lead troops down to attack his former lord! This kind of thing was simply not something he himself could decide, was it?

Under such circumstances, it was only natural for Gongsun Xun to pause briefly, send men to establish garrison points, and attempt to ensure the unimpeded flow of Feihu Path, thereby greatly reducing the pressure on logistics.

"The million bandits of Taihang are a mortal threat to our heartland!" On the city wall, Lou Zibo, who had turned from facing south to facing east, paused slightly, then suddenly delivered a verdict with absolute certainty.

"Exactly so!" Tian Feng nodded in agreement without the slightest hesitation. "If Taihang is not pacified, Hebei cannot become a unified entity."

"These words are sincere and to the point." Xi Zhong also concurred.

"As early as back in Changping, Chief Clerk Lu, as well as the General of the Household Who Garrisons the Army (Wang Xiu), and the two Administrators Du Bohou and Chang Bohuai, had already spoken of this matter." Ju Zong also interjected. "At that time, they all said that if we could clear Taihang, not only would You, Bing, and Ji Provinces become one, but more importantly, with a million unclaimed people in hand, whether for military colonies or civilian colonies, or re-registering them as common households, we would have no worries about funds, grain, or troop strength! However, after the campaign against Dong Zhuo, I believe we should first seize the rich and fertile lands of Jizhou and Qingzhou. A single commandery there has a million people; if we can annex them, then the realm is within sight. As for Taihang here, if Zhang Yan knows what's good for him, it can be postponed."

Lou Gui and Xi Zhong both remained noncommittal.

Tian Yuanhao, however, still gave no face to his friend's younger brother. The man slowly shook his head and directly refuted: "I, on the contrary, believe that after the campaign against Dong Zhuo, regardless of success or failure, if we are to turn back, we should first take Taihang... Because if Bing Province, Taihang, and You Province are all in our grasp, then the plains north of the Great River will be ours to take at will, from a commanding height. On the other hand, if we ignore Taihang at our backs and directly strike at Hebei, I fear there will be oversights, leading to setbacks."

Before today, Ju Zong had been quite polite to Tian Feng, even taking the initiative to mend relations, but upon hearing these words, he was utterly unconvinced: "A bunch of bandits, what climate can they achieve? The Xiongnu at least have bows and horses, but these Taihang bandits have nothing! If it's truly urgent, just dispatch a great general with ten thousand troops as a detached force, and from north to south, slowly root them out one by one."

Tian Feng had intended to retort with sarcasm, but recalling the embarrassment he had suffered during the handling of the Xiongnu, he stifled his desire to argue.

However, while Tian Yuanhao did not wish to speak, someone else did.

"What use is there in debating this now? At this moment, there are nearly forty lords across the realm campaigning against Dong Zhuo, and we too have only these two words: campaign against Dong!" Gongsun Xun said as he walked up onto the wall, and could not help but laugh. "Why are so many people standing here in the wind? Do you think the weather isn't cold enough? All of you, go down quickly, warm yourselves by the fire in your rooms and play some cards to rest. Otherwise, when we set out tomorrow, the military advisors, being frail... especially Zhicai... might very well fall ill."

"My lord." Xi Zhong quickly cupped his hands and inquired. "Have the Changshan Commandery troops arrived at Lucheng via Feihu Path?"

"They arrived long ago." Gongsun Xun answered casually. "They were already there when we passed through Yanmen Pass. It's just that this matter falls under logistics, and after I received word, I directly had Youxi pass it on to Shuzhi, which is why you were unaware."

The people on the city wall looked at each other in dismay.

"Hurry back to your rooms and warm up!" Gongsun Xun urged once more, then turned and descended. "Gongtiao, come with me. Let us go find Shuzhi, and then together inspect the encampments outside the city to see if the soldiers have sufficient means to keep warm..."

Ju Zong naturally had nothing to say.

However, Tian Feng, his heart filled with doubt, could not help but take an extra step forward and press a question: "Then may I ask, General, whom or what exactly are you waiting for, halting here this time?"

"I am merely waiting for an old friend from the Hutuo River." Gongsun Xun replied somberly as he walked downward. "But three days have now passed, and I have done all that duty and decency require... It is laughable that in this world, not everyone has a scale in their heart like Zhao Ping... Some for fame, some for substance, some for righteousness, some for profit, some for family status, and some whose brains are simply waterlogged... such people exist too..."

By the end, his voice was already drifting up from far below the wall, and the several 'military advisors' on the wall looked at each other and pondered for a moment, before finally descending to warm themselves.

Setting aside the matter of the old friend from the Hutuo River and brains being waterlogged, in truth, as Gongsun Xun had said, in the deep winter of the sixth year of Zhongping, although one could not say for the entire realm, the main theme for almost all of Guandong was simply the campaign against Dong Zhuo!

Just as Gongsun Xun had captured Yanmen and was preparing to brave the winter cold to continue south, aiming to seize Taiyuan, the vital central commandery of Bing Province, far away south of the Yellow River where communications were cut off, the Guandong coalition organized by Yuan Shao had finally, thoroughly, transformed from paper into a true allied army... Among them, the various lords of the Central Plains, with over a hundred thousand troops, had already assembled at Suanzao County, located within Chenliu territory—or rather, at the intersection of the four regions of Chenliu, Dong Commandery, Henei, and Henan Yin, which belonged to Luoyang—and were preparing to swear an oath and campaign against Dong Zhuo!

The initiator of this unprecedentedly massive coalition was Cao Cao; the one who formally issued the invitation in the name of an imperially appointed official was the current Administrator of Dong Commandery, Qiao Mao; the main early coordinators were the brothers Zhang Miao, Administrator of Chenliu, and Zhang Chao, Administrator of Guangling, along with Bao Xin, Chancellor of Jibei. But the actual leaders were, without question, the brothers Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, who had gained immense prestige among the scholar-officials for exterminating the eunuchs.

And among them, the one who commanded the most popular support was undoubtedly Yuan Shao.

After all, the scholar-officials of the realm, especially those of the Central Plains, were mostly connected to the partisans of Ru'nan, Yingchuan, Wan, and Luoyang, and Yuan Benchu was himself a leader of the partisans, and moreover the actual overall commander of the operation to exterminate the eunuchs. His prestige and standing here at Suanzao were beyond question.

Yet, what was truly interesting was that although Yuan Shao's position as coalition leader was as good as in the bag, although the Suanzao coalition numbered over a hundred thousand and was still continuously gathering, and although Henan Yin, which belonged to Luoyang, was just over ten li outside Suanzao, no one organized the oath-taking, blood-smearing ceremony, the election of a coalition leader, and the immediate dispatch of troops.

The reason was very simple: neither of the brothers, Yuan Benchu and Yuan Gonglu, had shown up!

You read that correctly!

For the famous Suanzao Alliance, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, these two brothers—one with the highest prestige, the other with the strongest power, the only two main characters—had both failed to come!

Taking it a step further, why didn't they come?

The reason was even simpler. Yuan Shao's position as coalition leader was unshakeable, yet Yuan Shu refused to accept him. So Yuan Gonglu could not be bothered to join the fun, merely sending an envoy to indicate that he himself, located in Nanyang, along with Sun Jian, whom he had nominated as General Who Defeats the Caitiffs, were willing to join the coalition, and then remained inactive at Luyang... In his own words, he would handle matters south of Luoyang himself!

And when Yuan Shao heard that Yuan Shu himself was unwilling to come, he too put on airs and did not intend to show his face at Suanzao, which was only separated by a river. And since he was unwilling to come, Han Fu, the Governor of Jizhou, Wang Kuang, the Administrator of Henei, and Zhang Yang, the Administrator of Shangdang, who were also in Hebei, were even less inclined to make the trip.

At this point, not to mention Cao Cao, even Zhang Miao, the Administrator of Chenliu and the local host, was about to explode with rage!

With over a hundred thousand troops gathered here, consuming food for men and fodder for horses, and in the depths of winter, who could endure it? Thus, after several rounds of discussion, everyone finally decided not to wait for the two Yuans any longer. The various lords present at Suanzao would directly swear a blood oath and form the alliance, at most remotely honoring the 'General of Chariots and Cavalry' Yuan Shao as the coalition leader.

And besides, according to the military plan devised by Cao Cao, they were supposed to attack from three directions: Yuan Shao would lead the several lords of Hebei to occupy the three ferry crossings along the Yellow River line; Yuan Shu and Sun Jian would strike out from Nanyang to attack the three passes south of Luoyang; and finally, the lords of the Central Plains, driven by Cao Cao himself, would advance directly toward Xingyang and Chenggao, knocking on the door of Hulao Pass!

A three-pronged pincer attack—even if they could not break through the passes and enter Luoyang, as long as they maintained the offensive and cut off communications, it would be enough to pressure Luoyang, causing the people's hearts within to waver and the city to collapse without a fight.

The idea was certainly excellent, even perfectly sound, but even after deciding to abandon the two Yuans and proceed with the alliance and troop dispatch first, there was still a major problem... Who would replace Yuan Shao in presiding over the alliance and continue the ceremony of smearing blood and swearing the oath?

Logically, it should be Cao Cao. The various Inspectors and Administrators also felt that a fugitive like Cao Mengde was the most suitable person for this task, but Cao Cao knew clearly that he truly could not do this!

Because doing this would bring him not the slightest benefit, and would instead incur Yuan Shao's hostility—as childhood friends, others might not know, but how could he, Cao Mengde, not know what kind of narrow-mindedness that fellow had? Yuan Benchu would truly bear a grudge against him, Cao Aman, for such a trivial matter!

Yet with the realm in such turmoil, no matter what, Yuan Benchu was the leader of the Guandong coalition, and they still had to rely on him to rally people's hearts. If they wanted to accomplish anything, they had to depend on this man. At a time like this, there was truly no need to antagonize Yuan Shao over such a thing.

The three sacrificial animals had long been prepared, the altar had long been piled up, over a hundred thousand troops idled in their camps, and the various lords... at the very least, the various lords of the Central Plains, were all at Suanzao, engaging in lofty discourse all day long, yet no one dared to step onto the altar, smear a handful of blood on their face, and command the entire army to march west and punish Dong Zhuo!

Day after day passed, and Cao Cao gradually wavered. Just as he was hesitating whether to risk Yuan Shao's jealousy and take the stage, one day, a man suddenly arrived at his camp, requesting an audience with Cao Cao.

The visitor was a member of a renowned family from Guangling, a subordinate Merit Evaluator under Administrator Zhang Chao, not yet thirty years old: Zang Hong, styled Ziyuan.

"Ziyuan, what brings you here? Has Governor Zhang invited me to drink?" Zang Hong came from a renowned family, and Cao Mengde naturally would not slight him. Before the visitor even entered the tent, Cao, hearing the footsteps, narrowed his eyes and asked with a smile from within.

"That is not the case." Zang Hong wore iron armor, his hand resting on a treasured blade, and was draped in a scarlet cloak — clearly in full military attire. He entered the tent alongside Yue Jin, but neither took a seat nor offered a greeting. Instead, he stopped just inside the tent entrance and raised his voice in reply. "I, Hong, have come to ask General Cao about a private matter."

"What matter?" Cao Cao, who had been nominated by Yuan Shao as General of Valiant Arms, did not take offense. He even restrained Cao Hong beside him from showing anger. He was genuinely curious.

"Why does the army not swiftly swear an oath and form a covenant, then march west to punish Dong Zhuo?" Zang Hong stood inside the entrance and demanded boldly. "Was it not agreed that we would not wait for the General of Chariots and Cavalry or the General of the Rear?"

Cao Cao, hearing this, gave a light laugh. He rose directly from the commander's seat in the tent and came forward to explain in person before the other man: "Ziyuan misunderstands. It is merely that the military strategy has not yet been settled..."

"Why must the General deceive me?" Zang Hong's voice turned stern and his expression hardened. "Do you truly think I, Zang Hong, am still the youth of years past? I ask the General to speak plainly — is it that all you lords, commandery governors, and generals fear that if you take it upon yourselves to ascend the platform and organize the covenant, you will incur the jealousy and resentment of the General of Chariots and Cavalry and the General of the Rear?"

Cao Cao raised his head and carefully studied this imposing young man, who stood a full half-head taller than himself. A thought stirred in his heart, and he gave a soft sigh. "Exactly so!"

"Then what if I were to organize the covenant?" The moment the other man's words ended, Zang Hong spoke up loudly.

Cao Cao answered with silence.

"My status is lowly, yet I am a family friend of every general in this army, so ascending the platform would not be awkward!" Zang Hong continued without even glancing at the other man. "But precisely because my status is lowly, it would not cause the various generals to grow suspicious of one another. Furthermore, my late father was a former subordinate of the Yuan clan, and I have known the two Yuans — in Henei and Nanyang — since my youth. They should not blame me for this matter."

Cao Cao turned away, hands clasped behind his back, weighing the pros and cons, yet still remained silent.

"General Cao!" Seeing this, Zang Hong suddenly gave a sharp shout, stopping him once more. "At a time like this, you still hesitate? Do you think I am doing this because I am a young man seeking to stand out? I have known the two Yuan generals since my youth — do you think I truly do not know their temperaments? But Dong Zhuo has usurped the government, coerced His Majesty, and poisoned the Empress Dowager. As ministers of Han, should we not press forward with courage?"

Cao Cao turned his head and fixed his gaze on this man.

"General Cao, look at this realm!" Zang Hong remained impassioned and vehement. "The General of the Guards was the first to issue a call to arms, yet he marched west into Bingzhou — nominally to punish Dong Zhuo, but in truth to swallow up provinces and commanderies! The General of Chariots and Cavalry and the General of the Rear, one south and one north, are within a stone's throw of Luoyang, yet they have wasted months without achieving anything. And now, because the brothers contend for supremacy, they have let the opportunity slip away... With a great enemy before us, every one of these great figures harbors private ambitions! But so what if they have private ambitions? Did we, the lesser men, gather here because of them? If these great figures have not declared their stance, shall we simply do nothing? What I do today is precisely to emulate the General Cao who once forged a letter to rally the masses... That is all!"

Cao Cao was just about to open his mouth when Zang Hong suddenly drew his blade, startling Yue Jin and Cao Hong — who had, in truth, been stunned speechless — into reaching for their own swords. But a moment later, both men released their grips, for Zang Hong had drawn his blade only to kneel upon the ground and offer it up with both hands.

"What is the meaning of this, Ziyuan?" Cao Cao, startled, could only ask helplessly.

"If the General believes in my resolve to punish Dong Zhuo, then grant me permission. If you do not, then slay me!" Though kneeling, Zang Hong raised his head and met Cao's gaze. "Either way, I am unwilling to waste away here in idleness."

Cao Cao stared blankly for a moment, then suddenly burst into loud laughter. He personally helped the man to his feet. "Ziyuan is so impassioned and vehement — if I do not lend you a hand, will not every man of insight in the realm look down on me, Cao Cao?"

Zang Hong rose to his feet, his expression unchanged, which only deepened Cao Cao's admiration and respect.

At once, the two men stood right there at the tent entrance, supporting one another as they began discussing how to persuade the other lords, as well as the details of the covenant itself.

But midway through their discussion, someone else suddenly entered from outside the tent and nearly collided with them. However, when Cao Hong and Yue Jin saw that it was Xiahou Dun, they actually stepped back half a pace on their own.

Xiahou Dun, for his part, was in considerable haste. Ignoring Zang Hong's presence, he spoke directly: "Meng De! Someone has come from Luyang, outside the camp!"

Cao Cao did not think much of it. "Luyang has Yuan Gonglu and Sun Wentai — is it not routine for them to send someone?"

"It is not a messenger. Someone has arrived leading several thousand troops." Xiahou Dun hurriedly explained. "Their forces have already reached the camp perimeter. They just sent a scout rider into the camp to report and request permission to set up camp under the coalition's banner... Go and receive them at once!"

As the de facto 'minister without portfolio' of the Suanzao coalition, how could Cao Cao ignore such a matter? Even Zang Hong tactfully paused their discussion, preparing to go out with Cao Cao to welcome the arrivals and see whom Yuan Shu had sent, and why he had dispatched several thousand men.

And so, Cao Mengde, accompanied by Zang Hong and Xiahou Dun, hastily rode out to receive them. Before they had even left the camp fortifications, Xiahou Dun, with his sharp eyes, and Zang Hong, with his height, both spotted the commander of the several thousand troops outside the camp already approaching the camp gate. In unison, they let out a surprised "Oh?"

Cao Mengde was baffled, but when he rode out through the main gate of the camp, sudden understanding dawned on him. The man who had come was seven chi tall, fair-skinned with a sparse beard, large-eared and long-armed — an old acquaintance!

"Elder Brother Mengde!" Liu Bei saluted with clasped hands from afar, having dismounted, a wry smile on his face.

"Younger Brother Xuande!" Cao Cao was overjoyed and spurred his horse forward. "How is it that you come from Luyang?"

"The various lords of the south nominated me as Commandant of Cavalry and provided military funds, sending me to punish Dong Zhuo." Liu Bei put away his smile and resumed his usual impassive demeanor. Without haste, he spoke slowly before his troops. "Coming from the southeast toward Luoyang, naturally I first headed to Luyang. But after arriving at Luyang and wasting away for a long time, the General of the Rear suddenly said he would handle the Nanyang affairs himself and told me to come here..."

"So that is how it is!" Cao Cao dismounted, increasingly delighted and amused. He understood perfectly well — this was surely Yuan Shu failing to act decently, earning Liu Bei's disgust. But he could not be bothered to ask further.

"Elder Brother Yuanrang!" Liu Bei continued saluting. "It has been many days! Ziyuan — since we parted in Xuzhou, I never imagined you two would arrive even faster than I did."

Xiahou Dun and Zang Hong naturally hastened to dismount, bowing deeply in return.

"I will allocate a campsite for you right now, right beside my own camp. We shall set up camp together. Xuande, come into the tent and warm yourself by the fire!" Cao Cao approached and clasped hands with his old friend Liu Bei.

Liu Bei naturally had no objections, and the two men at once walked hand in hand into the camp.

However, as they passed beneath the camp gate, Liu Bei suddenly recalled something. "Elder Brother Mengde!"

"What is it?"

"Coming from Luyang, I am aware of certain matters... Here at Suanzao, the army has been unable to march for so long. I hear it is because neither the General of Chariots and Cavalry nor the General of the Rear has arrived, and no one dares to preside over the covenant?"

"Indeed, that is the case." Cao Cao could not help but narrow his eyes in a light smile, and he even glanced back at Zang Hong, who was following behind him.

"Dong Zhuo has usurped the government, and His Majesty is trapped in Luoyang. This is precisely the time for heroes to put their might to use... How can we drag on like this?" Liu Bei's expression remained as composed as ever. "Everyone fears the General of Chariots and Cavalry and the General of the Rear, but Liu Bei does not fear them! I wish to emulate Elder Brother Mengde's past deed of forging a letter to rally the masses, and once more take the lead for the realm! What do you think?"

Cao Cao's hand trembled. He halted, raised his head, and carefully studied this old friend from whom he had not been parted for very long.

At that moment, Zang Hong, standing behind, gazed at Liu Bei with unconcealed admiration and then spoke aloud: "Among the heroes of the realm today, there are only two lords — Cao and Liu!"

——————I am the dividing line of daring to take the lead for the realm——————

"At the end of the Zhongping era, Dong Zhuo usurped the government. East of the passes, all rose in arms simultaneously, each with tens of thousands of men, gathering at Suanzao. At that time, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, from a line of four generations of Three Excellencies, commanded widespread esteem; Han Fu, Liu Dai, and Kong Zhou sat upon their provinces; Qiao Mao, Zhang Miao, Zhang Chao, and Bao Xin were each masters of a commandery or a state. Only Cao Cao, under Yuan Shao's influence, acted as General of Valiant Arms, and Liu Bei, under Tao Qian's influence, acted as Commandant of Cavalry — each with a few thousand troops, possessing neither land nor a multitude, seated in the rear ranks. The many lords thought little of them. Only Zang Hong of Guangling, a merit evaluator, surveyed all the lords and then sighed: 'Though the lords here are many, those who may be called heroes of the realm are only Cao and Liu!'" — A New Account of the Tales of the World, Chapter on Recognition and Judgment

PS: Continuing to kowtow for New Year greetings... apologies for the lateness.

The new group is 931557287, those interested may join.

(End of Chapter)