Chapter 112: Setting Off (1/2)

At the end of the eighth month of the second year of the Jian'an era, Cao Cao swore an oath at Xudu to lead a punitive expedition against the rebels.

He appointed Man Chong, the Administrator of Ruyin, as the vanguard, stationing him with eight thousand troops at Ruyin. Guo Jia was named Libationer of the Military Advisors, and Dong Zhao, the Sima of the Ministry of Works, served as Military Sima. Generals Xu Huang, Qian Jin, and Li Dian, the Administrator of Lihu, were each ordered to mobilize ten thousand elite troops, advancing in three columns to subjugate Yuan Shu. Cao Cao assumed personal command of the main army, ordering Dian Wei and Xu Chu to lead the Tiger Guards and the Tiger-Ban Division into battle.

At the same time, General Who Pacifies the East Liu Bei, General of the Left Lu Bu, and the Marquis of Wucheng and General Ming of the Han, Sun Ce, all raised their armies, heading directly toward Shouchun. The entire realm was shaken.

Although Cao Cao had experienced hundreds of battles, this mission was fundamentally different. He was acting in the name of the Heavens to punish the treacherous; thus, he sought not only to win but to win decisively and spectacularly. Anything less would fail to manifest the majesty of the Han Dynasty.

While some offered praise, others sneered. Yuan Shao, though making no move, postured as one watching a tiger fight from the safety of the mountain. Liu Biao of Jingzhou was also ill at ease; though he considered launching a strike to harass Cao Cao, he ultimately abandoned the idea for the sake of his reputation.

Thirty thousand troops marched out in a grand display.

On the very day Cao Cao set out to conquer Yuan Shu, a caravan quietly departed from Xudu. The imperial appointment had finally been issued: Deng Ji was named Magistrate of Haixi and was to head to his post immediately.

Haixi County was the southern gateway of what would later be known as Lianyungang City in Jiangsu Province—Guannan County. In the fourth year of the Taichu era of Emperor Wu of Han, the Marquisate of Haixi was established 120 li south of Haizhou as a fief for General Li Guangli. In the third year of the Zhenghe era, after Li Guangli defected to the Xiongnu, the marquisate was converted into Haixi County, initially under the jurisdiction of Donghai Commandery and later shifting to Guangling Commandery.

Puyang Kai was in his early forties, yet he appeared quite aged due to various hardships. Born in Chenliu, he was now a schoolteacher in Waihuang County. Truth be told, had it not been for Xun Yu’s recommendation, Puyang Kai might not have thought much of Deng Ji. His temperament was somber and cold; he was not fond of idle chatter and spent his spare time reading in his room. He possessed a beautiful hand at calligraphy and loved the "Spring and Autumn Annals" above all else.

In Guo Jia’s words, Puyang Kai favored the customs of the Six States and loved reading the "Han Odes." This referred to the State of Han from the Warring States period. Within the "Classic of Poetry," were there not the "Airs of Zheng" and the "Airs of Han"? Throughout the entire volume, Puyang Kai read only the "Airs of Han," for Chenliu was the site of the former capital of Han. He long considered himself a remnant subject of the fallen state. Moreover, he was an expert in the "Rites of Zhou," strictly adhering to every gesture and action—a pedantic scholar who prioritized ritual above all else.

When Cao Peng was in Puyang Kai’s presence, he always felt immense pressure. Seeing him reminded Cao Peng of the old pedants of his previous life: stone-faced, humorless, and austere. Even Deng Ji had initially harbored the mindset of "buying the bones of a thousand-gold horse" (a gesture of sincerity to attract talent). Although Cao Peng had scolded him into awareness, Deng Ji did not truly believe Puyang Kai was all that extraordinary. People often said that some individuals possessed an aura, and Puyang Kai had exactly that. Even if he didn't utter a word, standing before him made one feel a heavy, oppressive weight. Was it righteousness? It was hard to say, but it was undeniably stressful. Cao Peng had seen his fair share of the world in this life and the last, yet he still felt nervous.

*Such an old scholar must be extraordinary,* was the first thought that occurred to Cao Peng upon meeting him.

Puyang Kai had originally decided to move his entire family to L Lujiang to join an old friend, but Xun Yu’s intervention caused him to change his mind. He told Deng Ji, "I shall accompany you to Haixi. However, if I offer sound advice and you do not accept it, nor provide an appropriate reason for your refusal, I shall resign immediately."

This statement echoed the principles of the *Art of War*: "If a general listens to my counsel, he will surely win, and I will stay; if he does not listen, he will surely fail, and I will depart." He was effectively saying, *If you want my help, you must follow my lead. If you don’t, and cannot justify it, I will leave.*

It sounded like a threat to Deng Ji, but upon reflection, Puyang Kai’s stance was not without logic. He was advanced in years with no prospects in the Central Plains. *If you are willing to listen, I will help; if you are not, why should I waste my time?* He had a son and had to plan for his future. He laid his terms out clearly—if they were compatible, they would work together; if not, they would part ways, and neither would feel slighted.

Deng Ji felt uncomfortable at first, but upon reflection, he realized it was not a big deal. *If your ideas are good, I listen; if they are bad, I don't. If you insist on what I deem a mistake, then we part ways.* Thus, Deng Ji agreed.

Cao Peng, however, sensed something unusual in Puyang Kai’s words. If a man were not truly capable, how could he speak with such conviction? Capable men often had eccentric temperaments, while the mediocre were merely sycophants who nodded at everything. Deng Ji needed a partner, not an errand boy. If Puyang Kai had no mind of his own, what use would he be? This single remark made Cao Peng look at him with newfound respect.

Puyang Kai had a son named Puyang Yi, a year younger than Cao Peng. This time, Puyang Yi did not accompany his father, having been sent by Puyang Kai to Lujiang instead. Clearly, Puyang Kai himself did not hold high hopes for Deng Ji. Perhaps he believed Deng Ji would be unable to tolerate him for long, and he would soon be moving on, so he had sent his son to his friend in Lujiang. Deng Ji could only sigh at this. That the man was willing to help at all was already a great concession; he could not expect a "buy one, get one free" deal. Cao Peng, likewise, could do nothing about it.

After arriving at the Cao estate, Puyang Kai remained aloof and withdrawn. Most of the time, he was diligently studying the official documents and records regarding Haixi County—the local customs, the climate, and the like. Every day, Deng Ji would take Cao Peng to pay their respects, and even when Puyang Kai ignored him, Deng Ji showed no signs of discontent. Cao Peng observed him in secret, trying to find a chink in his armor, but alas, Puyang Kai was a man of few desires. He cared nothing for women or wealth, living more like a standard ascetic. He rose before dawn to exercise, read in his study, took a nap of no more than thirty minutes after lunch, began reviewing files upon waking, walked for an hour after dinner, and then washed and retired. In modern terms, he followed the sun—living a highly disciplined life.

Such a person was truly difficult to recruit. As for the letter Deng Ji had sent to his fellow villager Deng Zhi, there had been no reply. Whether Deng Zhi would come remained uncertain. Truth be told, Cao Peng lacked confidence in the arrival of Deng Zhi, so he focused his energy on Puyang Kai.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, Cao Cao had launched his campaign.

Meanwhile, the imperial appointment reached the Cao estate: Deng Ji was confirmed as Magistrate of Haixi. As Guo Jia had predicted, Man Chong did not make things difficult for Deng Ji. On the contrary, upon learning of his destination, Man Chong was pleased and spoke highly of him to Cao Cao’s envoys, which ultimately firmed up Cao Cao’s resolve.

Cao Ji had already assumed his post at the He-gong workshop. Only Lady Zhang and her daughter remained at home, along with the month-old little Deng Ai. The elder Deng couple remained at the Cao estate in Xudu. Initially, Cao Nan had wanted to accompany her husband to Haixi, but Deng Ji refused, considering she had just given birth and the infant could not be parted from his mother. Aside from them, ten maids and ten retainers remained at the estate. Zhou Cang and Xiaohu Lan, along with ten heroes from Tu-fu Mountain, accompanied Deng Ji to his new post.

Cao Peng also went along. Although Deng Ji had hoped Cao Peng would remain in Xudu to study under a famous master, Cao Peng adamantly refused.

"Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles," Cao Peng argued. "By accompanying my brother-in-law to Haixi, I can broaden my horizons. I can already read the *Classic of Poetry* and the *Analects*, and I am currently studying the *Book of Documents*. If I have questions, I can ask my brother-in-law or Master Puyang; he will surely teach me."

Saying this, he glanced at Puyang Kai. The old scholar’s face remained cold and impassive, yet in the fleeting flash of his eyes, Cao Peng detected a hint of approval.

"If the young master asks, I shall withhold nothing."

Deng Ji had spent much time with Puyang Kai recently. Though cold and eccentric, his scholarship was far more profound than Deng Ji’s. Having been a teacher, his understanding of the traditional texts was incomparable. If Puyang Kai were willing to teach Cao Peng, Deng Ji had no objections, provided that Cao Peng did not formally take him as a master. After all, Puyang Kai’s reputation was poor. *A-Fu is so clever; he must eventually study under a great figure.* Deng Ji had suffered enough from the lack of a famous mentor in his own youth.

Cao Peng understood Deng Ji’s thoughts, but in his own heart, he already had a candidate in mind—though he did not know if that person would be willing to accept him.

Facing the dawn, the party set off eastward. Deng Ji rode in a carriage, as did Puyang Kai. Besides their luggage, the carriages were filled with stacks of bamboo slips and official files. Deng Ji brought all the documents Xun Yu had passed on; he knew little of Haixi and hoped to learn more during the journey.

Guo Jia had said Haixi was complex. When Xun Yu had summoned him to receive the appointment, he had also noted that Haixi was a tangled web of interests. The Imperial Secretary Xun You had even sent word: "Haixi is at the intersection of three commanderies; you must cultivate good relations with the local gentry, especially the Chen clan of Guangling." There were many such kind reminders, and even Cao Zhen had whispered to Cao Peng, "When you reach Haixi, it would be best to visit Wei Mi." The implication was clear: Haixi was dangerous, though Cao Zhen could not specify why.

"A-Fu, that old man is truly pretentious," muttered Wang Mai, who was riding alongside Cao Peng at the rear of the convoy. He glanced at the second carriage, where Puyang Kai sat.

"Brother Hu-tou, enough grumbling!" Cao Peng scolded with a frown. "Master Bo-ning is a man of true talent and vast knowledge. We must show him respect. If you keep complaining, go back to Xudu. My fifth brother and I are enough."

Wang Mai grinned and bowed repeatedly. "I didn’t mean... alright, alright, I won’t grumble anymore. Please, don’t make me go back."

Among the "Eight Righteous Brothers," Wang Mai was the closest to Cao Peng. Cao Peng didn't want to reprimand him, but they were currently isolated and weak. As a traveler from another time, Cao Peng knew many things, but he had no experience in local governance. Puyang Kai was undoubtedly Deng Ji’s most reliable ally, and Cao Peng did not want to sour that relationship.

Once Wang Mai stopped complaining, Deng Fan remained silent as well. The three of them chatted in low voices as they followed the carriages.

"Third Brother was shouting about coming along the day before yesterday... Sigh, after staying in Xudu for so long, it's hard to part."

"Are you missing Third Brother, or the prosperity of Xudu?"

"Third Brother, of course! What does the prosperity of Xudu have to do with me? I spend all day practicing martial arts; I’ve no time for play."

Cao Peng smiled. "Do you really miss Xudu?"

Deng Fan said suddenly, "I miss my father... and my mother."

Deng Fan had never been far from his parents. Now, heading a thousand miles away to Haixi, it was inevitable he would feel homesick. He had barely left the city gates before he started feeling it. Fortunately, he was with Cao Peng and the others; if he were traveling alone, he might have been in tears by now. Cao Peng didn't mock him, and Wang Mai also looked troubled.

"I miss my father too. He marched with the Lord today. I wonder..."

In his memory, Cao Cao’s campaign against Yuan Shu was a success. However, it hadn't been an easy victory, though the losses were not catastrophic.

"Brother Hu-tou, don't worry. Uncle Wang serves in the Tiger Guards, guarding the main army, not charging into the front lines. What are you worried about?"

"But at the Battle of Wancheng, General Dian was guarding the main army, too."

Wang Mai’s remark left Cao Peng speechless. It was true—Dian Wei had been guarding the main army at Wancheng and had nearly lost his life. Cao Peng scratched his head. "Brother Hu-tou, that was different."

"How so?"

"Last time at Wancheng, Cao Gong was... careless. This time, he will never make the same mistake. Besides, he has Guo the Libationer with him. You know who he is; he would never let the Lord repeat such a mistake."

Wang Mai found this logical and smiled, ready to speak, when suddenly the sound of rapid hoofbeats approached from behind.

"A-Fu! A-Fu, wait for us!"

Cao Peng pulled on the reins and looked back. A cloud of dust billowed on the road behind them. A troop of cavalry was galloping toward them from Xudu like a whirlwind. The two young leaders at the front rode black steeds; one carried twin halberds and a great axe, while the other held a bow and arrows, with a nine-foot dragon-sparrow spear strapped to his back. Behind them were twenty followers and two large carriages. Cao Peng was stunned. He turned his horse around to meet them.

"Second Brother, Third Brother, where are you going?"

The two young warriors were Dian Man and Xu Yi. They looked brimming with excitement.

"A-Fu! We’ve decided to go to Haixi with you!"

"What?"

Dian Man nodded repeatedly. "Yes! With you gone, and Hu-tou as well, Xudu has become dreadfully boring. Big Brother joined the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry and is drilling in camp all day with no time for us. The fourth and sixth brothers have gone to Luoyang and Chang'an... Da-tou and I figured, since there's nothing to do in Xudu, we might as well go to Haixi with you and broaden our horizons!"

"You want to go to Haixi with me?"

"Yes!" Xu Yi waved his arms excitedly. "I heard Haixi is chaotic right now—it's the perfect time for us brothers to make a name for ourselves!"

*Are these two treating a mission to Haixi as a game?*

"A-Fu, look, we’re all prepared! Da-tou even hand-picked twenty clansmen to come with us. Don't underestimate them; they’re very tough! They’ll definitely be able to help you once we reach Haixi!"

At this point, Deng Ji heard the commotion and stopped his carriage to investigate. "A-Fu, what is going on?" he asked, sounding somewhat displeased. "We need to make time. If we delay, we’ll be stuck camping in the wilderness after dark."

"Uh... Second Brother and Third Brother are here!" Cao Peng said with a wry smile. "They say they want to come to Haixi with us, and they’ve brought carriages!"

"What?" Deng Ji was shocked. The situation in Haixi was complex; if anything happened to these two, he could not bear the responsibility. "A-Man, Da-tou, are you both really going to Haixi?"

Xu Yi puffed out his chest. "Of course! We are sworn brothers with A-Fu; how could we bear to see him in danger?"

*Since when am I in danger?* Cao Peng cursed inwardly. *You guys coming along is what will put me in danger.* But they meant well, and he couldn't refuse.

Deng Ji tried to persuade them otherwise, but Dian Man interrupted, "Brother Deng, our fathers agreed to this, otherwise Da-tou wouldn't have been able to bring the men. If you don't agree, we won't force you. You go your way, and we’ll go ours to Haixi."

Whether Dian Wei and Xu Chu had actually agreed was impossible to verify at the moment. However, Dian Man was right—if Xu Chu hadn't agreed, Xu Yi likely couldn't have brought the men.

Puyang Kai suddenly opened the curtain. "Shu-sun, since they want to go, let them come. You will need hands once you reach Haixi. Who knows, they might actually be useful. Besides, if you don't let them, they will go anyway. If something happens on the road, it will only be more troublesome."

Deng Ji thought about it and realized there was truth in that. "Very well, you may come... but understand this: you must obey my orders!"

"That goes without saying!" Dian Man added mysteriously, "Brother Deng, we even brought three sets of armor!"

Cao Peng felt that these two were more likely to cause trouble than to help, but since Deng Ji had agreed, he couldn't object. Puyang Kai was right—Deng Ji had no one else.

"In that case, let’s get moving."

"Let's go! Let's go!" Xu Yi shouted, directing his carriage to fall in line.

Cao Peng trailed behind, watching the excited Dian Man and Xu Yi, and couldn't help but say to Wang Mai, "I have a feeling they snuck out."

"Then what do we do?"

Cao Peng scratched his head, smiling bitterly. "What else can we do? We have to keep a close eye on them and make sure they don't stir up any trouble."

*Let’s hope these two don't cause any extra complications,* Cao Peng prayed silently.