Chapter 31 Concealment? Pursuit?

A night spent in reflection, a night spent in questioning, and Xun Yu finally understood—this was no impulsive kidnapping, but a meticulously planned operation.

Cao Ren had been gone for several hours. Though Xun Yu harbored a faint hope, he knew Zhang Hong all too well. The saying “a biting dog doesn’t bark” described him perfectly. Xun Yu had always wondered why such a renowned scholar from Jiangdong would be sent by Sun Ce as a mere envoy to curry favor with Cao Cao, and why, after receiving only a nominal benefit from Cao Cao, Zhang Hong had indulged himself in Xu Chang.

Now it became clear—it was all part of their scheme. They used Zhang Hong, allowing him to linger in Xu Chang for a year or two, in exchange for the opportunity to abduct the emperor. Sun Ce, only twenty-five years old, possessed a cunning and foresight that Xun Yu had not anticipated.

Though he regretted not uncovering this sooner, Xun Yu was not yet overwhelmed by worry. Before Cao Cao’s expedition, he and Cheng Yu had repeatedly warned that Sun Ce might seize the chance to take action against Xu Chang while Cao Cao’s army was away, but Guo Jia had dismissed their concerns with enigmatic words, insisting that Sun Ce was too reckless, bound to meet his end because of it.

Had Guo Jia voiced this once, they might have thought he was joking, but after he said it several times, Xun Yu sensed there might be some hidden truth he could not openly discuss, and so he ceased worrying about Sun Ce.

Xun Yu knew Guo Jia well. Though a scholar, Guo Jia’s schemes were more decisive than any other advisor under Cao Cao. He had quietly resolved countless crises before, and plotting against Sun Ce was nothing beyond his capability. Guo Jia’s judgment of Sun Ce was correct—he was nothing more than a reckless youth.

If this were truly the case, then Jiangdong would already be in chaos. After Sun Ce departed, whichever brother succeeded him would surely not dare accept Liu Xie.

Of course, this was Xun Yu’s ideal scenario. Liu Xie’s identity was unique and held fatal allure for many warlords, especially since the struggle between Yuan Shao and Cao Cao had not yet been resolved, emboldening all.

Thus, Xun Yu hoped Liu Xie could be recovered before he got too far.

Up to this point, Xun Yu believed Liu Xie had been drugged and carried away by Zhang Hong, just like the palace maids and eunuchs. As for whether Liu Xie would willingly collaborate with Zhang Hong in such a scheme, Xun Yu had not considered it in the slightest.

It was not for lack of intelligence on Xun Yu’s part, but rather that, over the past four or five years, Liu Xie had had countless better opportunities if he wished it—yet he never did. Once habitual thinking forms, it is hard to break free.

Xun Yu waited for news from Cao Ren, and meanwhile, another dilemma occupied him.

Should he inform Cao Cao about what had happened in Xu Chang?

Xun Yu sat alone in his study, picking up and setting down his brush repeatedly, weighing the impact this news might have on Cao Cao’s campaign.

He had no doubt about Cao Cao’s psychological fortitude, but feared that, if word leaked during transmission, neither he nor Cao Cao could control the fallout.

Yet if he kept it secret and failed to recover Liu Xie within days, whether Liu Xie reached Jiangdong or was intercepted by another power, the news would be announced immediately upon arrival.

Xun Yu’s men had searched the imperial palace thoroughly, but all items symbolizing the emperor’s authority had been looted. Even Lady Dong, who was pregnant, had been taken. To Xun Yu, this clearly showed Zhang Hong’s deep cunning: if Lady Dong bore a prince, Cao Cao could make him emperor, but now, no opportunity remained.

“Minister, in this dilemma, I ought not to conceal the truth!” he sighed, hesitating for more than an hour before finally putting brush to paper.

After breaking the siege at Baima, Cao Cao did not return directly to Guandu, but continued his risky maneuvering.

After slaying Yan Liang, Cao Cao decided to relocate Baima’s populace westward along the Yellow River; Baima could not serve as a battleground against Yuan Shao—the only strategy was to fortify and evacuate, engaging the enemy with all his might.

Yuan Shao, having lost Yan Liang to a clever ploy, would not let the matter rest. He immediately sent troops across the river in pursuit, personally leading his forces south of Yanjin before dispatching Wen Chou to continue the chase.

Within this, Yuan Shao played a crafty hand. When Guan Yu killed Yan Liang, Yuan Shao’s soldiers had already seen it happen.

At this time, Liu Bei brought his ragged remnants from Xuzhou to take refuge with Yuan Shao, fighting against Cao Cao alongside him. For Liu Bei, this was merely a temporary expedient; following Yuan Shao, he contributed little effort, seeking only to survive.

When Yuan Shao learned that Guan Yu was serving as a general under Cao Cao, he was so furious he nearly had Liu Bei executed on the spot.

As Yuan Shao’s guards were about to drag him out for execution, Liu Bei knelt and declared solemnly, “Lord Yuan, rest assured. Let me go forth in this campaign. I will persuade Yun Chang to defect; if he refuses, I shall slay him on the battlefield!”

Yuan Shao’s reputation for indecisive scheming was well known—here was indecision personified. Although aware of Liu Bei and Guan Yu’s relationship, Yuan Shao believed Liu Bei could win Guan Yu over, even fantasizing that Guan Yu would turn traitor and slay several of Cao Cao’s commanders.

Thus, after Yan Liang’s death, as the army pursued Cao Cao’s six hundred cavalry to Yanjin, Yuan Shao sent Wen Chou and Liu Bei with thousands of horsemen in pursuit, some of them Liu Bei’s own guards.

By now, Tian Feng and Ju Shou had given up hope for Yuan Shao.

Cao Cao indeed had only six hundred cavalry, stationed at Nanban, while Yuan Shao’s Wen Chou and Liu Bei commanded five or six thousand horsemen, with Yuan Shao himself leading large infantry forces behind. Clearly, the advantage was his.

Faced with this, Cao Cao was anxious—he needed to shake off Yuan Shao’s troops and retreat to Guandu, so he could stand firm against Yuan Shao. Here, he could only await death.