Chapter 121: After the Matter is Settled, One Departs Quietly, Concealing Both Merit and Fame (Part Four)
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Dian Man and the others lingered in the room for a while before each of them took their leave.
In truth, everyone was exhausted. Whether it was King Dian Man Mai, who had fought in battle, or Xu Yi, who had gone to Chenliu to request reinforcements, neither had really rested. Yet Cao Peng’s prolonged unconsciousness kept everyone anxious and unrested, holding vigil until now.
But now, Cao Peng had awakened!
The heavy weight pressing on their hearts finally lifted.
With this relief came a wave of drowsiness. Dian Man and Xu Yi kept yawning incessantly as they spoke, and even Cao Peng found himself growing sleepy.
“Brother Hutou, you should get some rest too!”
“I’ll keep you company a little longer.”
“No need. I know my own body; nothing serious. You and Fifth Brother haven’t slept all night—don’t push yourselves! I imagine we’ll be setting off soon. The sooner you regain your strength, the sooner we can depart.”
King Mai insisted a while longer but ultimately could not hold out and had to return to rest.
However, Deng Fan stayed behind to keep Cao Peng company in the room.
“Fifth Brother…”
Before Cao Peng could speak, Deng Fan interrupted him.
“Ah Fu, you’ve been through life and death battles and were wounded too. I stayed here and achieved nothing. I know my martial skills are lacking and of little use, but I can at least watch over you here... If you keep pestering me, it’ll seem like you don’t consider me your brother.”
“Alright, alright, I won’t nag you.”
Having said this, Deng Fan’s words left Cao Peng no room to ask him to leave.
At that moment, Deng Ji arrived with a doctor to take Cao Peng’s pulse. The doctor had been brought over by Hu Hua two nights ago and had remained at Gaoyang Pavilion Station. Though unaware of the full situation, the heavy guard at the station and the constant movement of officials in and out made it clear that something significant was underway. Still, the doctor did not inquire further. Sometimes, ignorance is a form of wisdom.
After diagnosing Cao Peng, the doctor gave some instructions and wrote a prescription.
Was the doctor a medical genius?
That would be an overstatement… In a place as small as Gaoyang Pavilion, there could be no renowned physicians. He could only treat ordinary ailments; internal injuries like Cao Peng’s were beyond his capability. Thus, the prescription was simply for replenishing qi and nourishing the body.
Cao Peng understood his injuries clearly.
The main damage was internal, caused by Lei Xu’s kick.
Such injuries would not heal quickly; qi supplementation was appropriate treatment.
The rest depended on his own recovery. Cao Peng estimated it would take at least half a month to heal from Lei Xu’s blow.
But there was no rush; Cao Peng remained calm.
After chatting idly with Deng Fan, Cao Peng reached beside his pillow and gently opened a box.
“Hiss…”
He involuntarily inhaled sharply.
No wonder the box felt heavy—it contained ten taels of gold horse-hoof ingots.
Besides that, there was a piece of white silk densely inscribed with characters. Judging by the handwriting, the author was clearly educated and refined. The script was the highly popular feibai style—a calligraphy form originating from the scholar Cai Yong during the late Eastern Han.
Legend has it that during Emperor Ling’s reign, the craftsmen decorating Hongdu Gate used a broom coated with white powder to write characters. Cai Yong saw this and created the feibai script.
This calligraphy style reveals streaks of white within the strokes, resembling brushwork with a dry brush, conveying a sense of movement.
When it first appeared, many admired feibai script. Deng Ji himself was fond of it and practiced it often at home.
Cao Peng’s own calligraphy was ordinary, but having seen Deng Ji practice, he had a strong impression of feibai.
The author of such exquisite feibai calligraphy was likely no ordinary person…
“Ah Fu, what does it say?”
Deng Ji asked beside him.
Cao Peng studied the silk carefully before handing it to Deng Ji.
The letter was penned by a man named ‘Cheng’, with no surname given.
He invited Lei Xu to undertake a great endeavor and guaranteed the safety of Lei Xu and his companions. If Lei Xu was willing, he could send someone to Xuyi to make contact. Cheng also said he would leave someone at Xuyi to await Lei Xu’s arrival. Furthermore, he provided a point of contact: a rice shop named Yunshan Rice Store in Xuyi, where if Lei Xu sent someone with money to purchase grain, they would be received.
In essence, it was a recruitment letter.
The content was mysterious and vague, revealing little information.
Besides knowing the writer’s name was ‘Cheng’ and the clue of Yunshan Rice Store in Xuyi, there was nothing else.
Xuyi was a county under the jurisdiction of Guangling Commandery.
Wasn’t it supposed to be Xue Prefecture recruiting Lei Xu? Why was there suddenly this ‘Cheng’?
After reading, Deng Ji asked Cao Peng, “Ah Fu, what’s your plan?”
“Me?” Cao Peng shook his head. “My mind’s a muddle. The situation in Xue Prefecture is still unclear, and now this ‘Cheng’ shows up—I’m truly confused. Brother-in-law, do you think this ‘Cheng’ might be the backer for Xue Prefecture?”
Deng Ji pondered and smiled wryly. “I can’t say for sure.”
“Well… we’ll just see how things unfold.”
“Agreed!”
Being away from Haixi and ignorant of its circumstances, all was mere conjecture.
Neither Cao Peng nor Deng Ji could grasp the situation fully, let alone devise a detailed plan…
“So, when do we depart?”
“What do you think?”
“General Xiahou will surely come; then there’ll be another round of negotiations.”
“I think it’s best not to make too much noise about this.”
“Why?”
“This matter of Lei Xu was originally accidental. If it becomes too public, our journey east will surely encounter trouble.
Lei Xu was Xue Prefecture’s main target, yet he died by our hands.
If word spreads, it might alert Xue Prefecture, who may act before we even establish ourselves in Haixi. We don’t need such a reputation; it might backfire. I believe we should proceed quietly and work discreetly… Besides, Xiahou Houyuan might not want publicity either. After all, Chenliu Commandery is under his jurisdiction, and such an incident would be a stain on his honor.”
Deng Ji reflected and found Cao Peng’s reasoning sound.
He nodded, carefully putting away the silk and gold ingots and handing them back to Cao Peng for safekeeping.
“In that case, rest well first. I’ll go discuss things further with Mr. Puyang.”
Cao Peng nodded tiredly and leaned back on the couch.
After Deng Ji left, Cao Peng closed his eyes, mulling over the contents of the white silk.
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Lei Xu—Xue Prefecture—Chen Deng…
This had once been a very clear thread, but the appearance of this ‘Cheng’ had muddied the waters. Also, Xiao Wu earlier mentioned that Lei Cheng had referenced someone named ‘Lu Mei’. Who was this Lu Mei? And what connections did they have with Xue Prefecture and Chen Deng?
One name after another surfaced in Cao Peng’s mind, entangling and confusing him further.
Xuyi!
Cao Peng opened his eyes.
Haixi—Xuyi?
What was the connection between these two?
In the afternoon, Xiahou Yuan sent word that he would host a banquet in Yongqiu for Deng Ji and the others.
Having heeded Cao Peng’s advice and discussed matters with Puyang Kai, Deng Ji was preparing to depart for Haixi County.
Xiahou Yuan’s invitation put Deng Ji in a dilemma.
At this moment, he really did not want to attend any banquet. Yet he did not know how to decline Xiahou Yuan’s invitation.
By rights, Xiahou Yuan treating him, a mere magistrate of Haixi, to a banquet was a great honor. But if he attended, it would inevitably cause many complications.
Should he go or not?
Deng Ji felt troubled…
As dusk fell, the Yongqiu county office was brightly lit.
The banquet was arranged, and Xiahou Yuan, dressed neatly, sat in the main hall awaiting Deng Ji and his party.
To Xiahou Yuan’s right sat accompanying generals and county officials, while the seats at the upper end remained empty.
“Father, this Deng Shusun is so rude!”
A young man sitting on the right side complained.
“Zhongquan, be quiet.”
Xiahou Yuan sharply reprimanded him, and the youth immediately shut his mouth.
This youth was Xiahou Yuan’s second son, named Xiahou Ba, sixteen years old.
Because Xiahou Yuan’s eldest son, Xiahou Heng, was already married and had established his own household, Xiahou Ba stayed by his father’s side.
Though he closed his mouth at his father’s command, Xiahou Ba curled his lips slightly.
To be honest, he bore little goodwill toward Deng Ji and his group, even feeling some annoyance.
The reason lay in the oath sworn by Cao Zhen and others in Xudu. Xiahou Ba had always been arrogant, confident in his abilities, looking down on all his peers except Cao Ang. This disdain extended even to Cao Pi.
In Xudu, Xiahou Ba was among the top.
But the rapid rise of the Little Eight Righteous Brotherhood, sworn brothers, swiftly overshadowed Xiahou Ba, leaving him resentful.
Moreover, the campaign against Lei Xu was also a failure on Xiahou Yuan’s part.
Regardless of how long Xiahou Yuan had served in Chenliu, or how long Lei Xu had been lurking there, Xiahou Yuan had failed to detect him.
The seized loot—over a hundred warhorses—came from various sources. Their brands indicated they belonged mostly to merchants passing through Chenliu. This suggested Lei Xu had committed many major crimes. That Xiahou Yuan had been oblivious enraged Xiahou Ba further, making him dislike Deng Ji’s group even more.
“Why do you all have to meddle? You could have just gone to Haixi to take up your posts.”
“Instead, you interfere—it’s like a slap in my father’s face.”
So when Xiahou Yuan resolved to hold a banquet for Deng Ji and company in Yongqiu, Xiahou Ba was displeased.
As night deepened and many waited at the county office with no sign of Deng Ji’s group, Xiahou Ba’s temper grew harder to contain.
However, since Xiahou Yuan had already spoken, Xiahou Ba had no choice.
But he resolved that when Deng Ji arrived, he would find an excuse to humiliate them.
With this decided, Xiahou Ba relaxed and chatted idly with the generals nearby.
Time passed; darkness deepened.
Xiahou Yuan and others grew impatient. Just as he stood to leave, a soldier reported at the door, “General, Gaoyang Pavilion Chief Hu Hua is outside the office, claiming to bear the authority of the Haixi magistrate and bearing a letter.”
“Hm?”
Xiahou Yuan’s face darkened. “Let him in!”
“Father, Deng Ji and those people are so rude. You kindly invite them to a banquet, and they send the Gaoyang Pavilion chief instead? What kind of insult is that?”
“Zhongquan, hold your tongue.”
Xiahou Yuan was displeased too.
His sharp, chiseled features twitched slightly, but he reined in his anger and sternly silenced Xiahou Ba.
After a brief moment, a white-haired old man, holding a bamboo staff, shakily entered the office.
Under the piercing gazes fixed upon him, Hu Hua trembled and prostrated himself immediately, stammering, “Gaoyang Pavilion Chief Hu Hua pays respects to General Xiahou.”
Xiahou Yuan felt uneasy.
Just as Xiahou Ba had said, a mere magistrate of Haixi, though instrumental in quelling bandits, should not act so presumptuously.
He was about to lash out but seeing Hu Hua’s pitiful demeanor, the scolding words stuck in his throat.
“Chief Hu, stand up.”
“Old man obeys!”
Once Hu Hua stood, Xiahou Yuan scrutinized him carefully.
“Chief Hu, where is Deng Haixi and the others? Why haven’t they come?”
Hu Hua quickly replied, “Deng Haixi said they must hurry to Haixi and have already delayed their schedule. They left before dark.”
“What?”
Xiahou Yuan’s eyes widened. “They left?”
“Yes!” Hu Hua said, producing the white silk from his bosom. “Deng Haixi entrusted a clerk to deliver this letter to the general.”
Xiahou Ba rose and strode over, snatching the silk from Hu Hua.
“Zhao’s guests wear feathered hats, Wu’s blades gleam like frost and snow…”
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He read a couplet and froze.
“What is this?”
Xiahou Yuan frowned and stepped forward to take the silk from Xiahou Ba.
“Zhao’s guests wear feathered hats, Wu’s blades gleam like frost and snow. Silver saddles shine on white horses, swift as shooting stars. Within ten paces, one kills a man; one does not linger for a thousand miles. When the deed is done, one dusts off sleeves, hiding both name and self.”
It was a five-character poem in the Yuefu style.
The characters on the silk were somewhat stiff, square and unremarkable—not particularly good or terrible, somewhat below average in quality. Yet the poem itself…
“Leisurely drinking at Xinling, unsheathing the sword across the knee. Roasting meat shared with Zhu Hai, raising cups to toast Hou Ying.
Three cups to pledge solemnly, the Five Mountains seem light. After the dizziness and heat, noble spirit arises like a rainbow.
Wielding a golden hammer to save Zhao, Handan shudders first. Two heroes of a thousand autumns, illustrious in Daliang city.
Though dying, the chivalrous bones exude fragrance, unashamed among the world’s heroes. Who can inscribe beneath this pavilion, white-haired, lightly bearing the profound?”
Holding the white silk, Xiahou Yuan sank deep in thought.
This “Song of the Knight-Errant” was undoubtedly written by Cao Peng.
Since the Han dynasty, the spirit of chivalry was in vogue. Both Cao Cao and Xiahou Yuan had once been enamored with it as youths.
“Zhao’s guests wear feathered hats, Wu’s blades gleam like frost and snow…”
These twenty characters, Xiahou Yuan involuntarily recalled his youthful days as a wandering knight.
That spirit, that resolve, still vivid and lifelike in his memory.
Then “Within ten paces, one kills a man; one does not linger for a thousand miles” was Cao Peng’s declaration to Xiahou Yuan: they interfered not for fame or fortune but out of loyalty and righteousness, qualities highly esteemed in late Eastern Han.
Xiahou Yuan recalled the “Brotherhood Records”: Do not quarrel for fame or profit; do not be arrogant from talent or virtue.
The Little Eight Righteous Brotherhood had formed for a common ideal—to support the world and bring peace to the people. Now, Cao Peng and his comrades were doing just that…
What and where was Chenliu?
It was the site of the ancient Daliang.
In days past, Zhu Hai and Hou Lei, two heroes, stole the tally to rescue Zhao and seized the Jin Bi army, becoming examples to the world.
Compared to these two heroes, what were our deeds worth? Bold and generous, inspiring the pure wind, we only wished to accomplish something meaningful—not to be like Yang Xiong, who wrote the “Tai Xuan Jing,” exhausting himself without benefit to the state.
“Father, what’s wrong?”
Xiahou Ba, seeing his father silent and dazed with the silk in hand, stepped forward and whispered.
Xiahou Yuan suddenly smiled and sighed, “I was underestimated by my son!”
Then he asked, “Hu Hua, was this poem composed by Deng Shusun?”
“Uh… No!”
“Then who wrote it?”
“It was penned by Cao Peng, Deng Haixi’s brother-in-law.”
“Cao Peng?”
Xiahou Ba turned his head toward Hu Hua. “Is he the Cao Peng from the Little Eight Righteous Brotherhood?”
“Uh… this clerk doesn’t know. But since Master Cao calls young Master Dian ‘Third Brother’ and Master Xu ‘Second Brother,’ it should be him.”
The Little Eight Righteous Brotherhood was known only in Xudu.
Regardless of Cao Zhen and others’ origins, they were young.
Hence many regarded their deeds as youthful exploits. Even the name “Little Eight Righteous” was somewhat teasing.
Hu Hua had never left Chenliu.
The farthest he’d been was Yongqiu and Tian County; he knew nothing of the meaning behind “Little Eight Righteous.”
“Father, I’ll go chase after them and give them a good scolding.”
“What scolding?”
Xiahou Yuan glared. “Always fighting and competing, yet not focused on study. Look at them—some younger than you, but their insight and breadth of mind far surpass you. Deng Haixi was right; his official duties call him away, and lingering here is pointless.
Order me to keep the matter of Lei Xu secret for now… Magistrate of Yongqiu!”
“Yes!”
“You may claim publicly that bandits were found at Lutai Hill, hence the military action.”
What kind of man was Xiahou Yuan?
From Cao Peng’s letter, he vaguely discerned the truth.
Surely this Lei Xu was no ordinary man!
Turning to see Xiahou Ba’s confused expression, Xiahou Yuan frowned and thought: Zhongquan has accompanied me in the army for years; though skilled in martial arts and military tactics, he lacks experience. At his age, it’s best he studies. Keeping him always by my side might hinder his future… Perhaps I should find him a teacher?
Once this thought arose, it would not fade.
But Xiahou Yuan could not immediately find a suitable candidate and sank back into thought.
“Father… what’s wrong?”
Xiahou Ba was puzzled by his father’s sudden distraction.
Xiahou Yuan recovered and chuckled softly.
Suddenly remembering something, he took up the white silk and read it carefully again.
“Send someone!”
“Yes!”
A guard swiftly entered.
Xiahou Yuan smiled, “Bring my horse ‘Zhaoye Bai’ here. Immediately dispatch someone to catch up with Deng Haixi and gift it to his brother-in-law, Cao Peng. Tell Deng Haixi that I understand his intentions. He should do his work without worry; I will observe his great talent here in Chenliu.”
Hearing this, Xiahou Ba’s eyes widened in astonishment…