Chapter 35: Guo Jia’s Trump Card

Cao Cao gazed at the letter in his hands, his fingers unconsciously trembling—a reaction he had not experienced in a long time. Though his complexion had only grown a shade paler, those standing beside him, such as Guo Jia and the others, immediately sensed the gravity of the matter. They cast questioning glances at Cheng Yu, who merely shook his head in response.

After reading the letter, Cao Cao let his hands fall to his sides, lowering his head in deep contemplation for some time. Ordinarily, he would have handed the letter to Guo Jia and the others behind him, but this time, it remained tightly in his grasp.

During this brief interval, no one dared disturb Cao Cao, though the hearts of all present in the room steadily sank.

"Fengxiao, have a look," Cao Cao finally said, his voice weary as he handed the letter to Guo Jia.

Guo Jia, along with Xun You and the others at his side, immediately fixed their eyes on the contents of the letter. They had never seen anything that could so deeply unsettle Cao Cao.

Moments later, the group exchanged glances, as motionless as statues, before their eyes converged once more on Cao Cao’s face.

“I did indeed underestimate Sun Ce and Zhang Hong. Zhang Hong stayed in Xuchang for nearly two years. At first, I suspected him, had him watched, but he managed to outlast our vigilance and seize this opportunity,” Cao Cao murmured, his gaze unfocused, as if speaking to himself.

Truly, though the man had escaped from under Xun Yu and Cao Ren’s watch, he understood it was not their fault. This was an enterprise plotted for two years; once set in motion, they left no trace for suspicion.

“Sikong, though His Majesty cannot affect the outcome of our war with Yuan Shao, once news spreads that the emperor is no longer in Xuchang, it will deal a heavy blow to our army's morale. Those allied lords who have depended on us may well falter. Sikong, we must prepare for this battle at once!” Cheng Yu, being the first to learn of the matter, had spoken to no one these past days but had been pondering a strategy.

The emperor’s abduction was indeed a weighty matter, but the greater concern was the looming conflict with Yuan Shao.

With the emperor gone, Cao Cao could still be a mighty regional lord, but if he lost this battle, then the fate of Liu Bei today would become Cao Cao’s tomorrow—a truth too damaging to morale to voice aloud in such a setting.

Cheng Yu also felt a pang of regret; they had previously warned of Sun Ce, but Guo Jia had dismissed their concerns. Now, with Liu Xie abducted by Sun Ce, Cheng Yu was curious to see what plans Guo Jia had prepared for Sun Ce.

“Fengxiao, what do you make of the Sun Ce affair?” Cao Cao’s question clearly invited Guo Jia to explain his prior actions, perhaps for his own sake, perhaps for Cheng Yu and the others.

Upon reading the letter, Guo Jia’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. Clearly, some matters had diverged from his expectations—an exceedingly rare occurrence.

“Sikong, I refrained from speaking openly before because it was not suitable to discuss this publicly. However, concerning Sun Ce, I have already stationed a small team deep within Wu Commandery, and I am fully confident they will assassinate Sun Ce there!”

“What—assassinate Sun Ce?”

“Yes. Since Sun Jian’s death, Sun Ce’s momentum has become overwhelming. He has already pacified the lands of Jiangdong. If he lives, even if he cannot yet reach for the Central Plains, in time he will not be easily destroyed. It is better to eliminate him now, while his foundation in Jiangdong is still tenuous and enemies surround him,” Guo Jia finally revealed.

Indeed, though subterfuge between lords was typically reserved for the battlefield or diplomacy, sending assassins against another lord was not unheard of. Yet if such methods became widespread, it was not an outcome Cao Cao wished to see. Should the other lords of Han learn of Guo Jia’s actions, they would turn against Cao Cao in unison—for who does not wish to sleep soundly at night?

In this era, such acts could well be summed up by a later sage’s words: “The young do not respect the way of chivalry.”

But this was no time to quibble over propriety—now, they had to resolve the crisis of the emperor’s abduction.

“How soon, by your plan, can Sun Ce be assassinated?”

“At the beginning of this spring,” Guo Jia replied with certainty. Though no one knew what kind of people he had found, his confidence was apparent.

“So, it seems Sun Ce’s plot to abduct His Majesty was long prearranged with Zhang Hong, waiting only for us to engage Yuan Shao,” someone remarked.

“Exactly. But if my assassination plan succeeds, by the time Zhang Hong returns to Jiangdong with His Majesty, Sun Ce will already be dead. His brothers are of no consequence—none possess Sun Ce’s talent or resolve. All are under twenty years old; even if they gain the emperor, it will be a burden too hot to hold.”

Their analysis revealed that the situation was not as dire as it first seemed.

“Fengxiao, how can you be sure whether Sun Ce has indeed been assassinated?” Cao Cao was not one to indulge in speculation; he demanded certainty.

“Whether the attempt succeeds or fails, once our men move, someone will return to inform me. Now that the situation has changed, I will seek confirmation directly from our contacts in Jiangdong.”

Cao Cao nodded slightly. At least Guo Jia’s thinking remained clear. The immediate priority was to learn whether Sun Ce had indeed been successfully assassinated. If Sun Ce was dead, then even if Liu Xie was taken to Jiangdong, Cao Cao need not fear. But if Sun Ce survived, they would need to prepare for what might follow.

“Very well, then we shall continue our preparations to battle Yuan Shao—holding Guandu to wear down his forces. As for Sun Ce’s situation, report to me once you have news, Fengxiao. Until then, this matter must be treated as if it never happened.”

Hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. They all knew that utmost caution was required. If even a whisper leaked and Yuan Shao caught wind, their entire plan would be thrown into chaos. This, above all, must be kept secret.