Chapter 74: The First Phase of the Cultivation Plan, Part Three

“Ah Fu, why did you leave Wenchang behind in Runan?”

Dian Wei was full of frustration as he turned in the saddle to question Cao Peng, who rode beside him.

He truly was vexed, and with good reason. He had held it in all day, but once they had finally left Pingyu behind, he could no longer restrain himself.

In his eyes, Wei Yan was a man of exceptional martial skill. If he went with them to Xu Capital, he would surely win their lord’s trust.

That had been the plan everyone discussed beforehand, yet in the blink of an eye, Cao Peng had changed his mind. To speak of it plainly, Dian Wei and Wei Yan were on very good terms. After all, back in Wan City, it had been Cao Peng and Wei Yan together who had saved Dian Wei’s life. Could it be that Cao Peng had grown wary of Wei Yan? Or was it jealousy, and a deliberate attempt to suppress him? Dian Wei could not make sense of it.

What surprised him even more was Wei Yan’s own attitude.

When Dian Wei told him of the matter, he had made his meaning very clear: if you do not wish to stay, I can refuse on your behalf.

Who would have thought that Wei Yan would nod eagerly, showing not the least trace of displeasure?

What medicine were Cao Peng and Wei Yan selling from the same gourd?

Cao Peng smiled and said softly, “Uncle Dian, do you think I left Brother Wenchang behind out of jealousy, or for some other reason?”

“Uh…”

“Heh. Anyone else would likely think the same. It is nothing extraordinary.” Cao Peng lightly pressed his heels to his horse’s flanks. The warhorse trotted forward a few steps and drew level with Wei Yan. The two rode side by side, and only then did Cao Peng grow serious. “Uncle Dian, what sort of man do you think Brother Wenchang is?”

Dian Wei was taken aback. “A fine warrior.”

Cao Peng laughed aloud. “Brother Wenchang is indeed a fine warrior, and I know it well. But Uncle Dian, do you know how generals differ from one another?”

“I do not.”

“In my view, there are only two kinds of generals.

“One kind fights in the thick of battle, cuts down enemy officers, seizes banners, and in the midst of a million troops takes the enemy commander’s head. Such men I call warrior-generals. They can fight and kill, yet know nothing of military strategy, understand nothing of governing troops, and cannot truly command an army in war. Uncle Dian, you are the finest of warrior-generals. Killing men and fighting battles are no problem for you. But if one asked you to wield an army of a million like Han Xin, to direct it as easily as moving one’s own arm, with the blade of your host invincible wherever it pointed, I fear that would not be your strength. Those men may not necessarily be braver than you, Uncle Dian, but they can command great armies and wage war across the realm.

“Such men I call commanders.

“They need not be especially valiant. Some may even lack the strength to truss a chicken, yet still win every battle and take every stronghold. These two kinds complement one another. No matter how gifted a commander may be, without warrior-generals he can accomplish little; no matter how mighty a warrior-general may be, without a commander’s direction he cannot win true victory. Brother Wenchang’s martial skill is formidable, but his real greatness lies in his talent for training troops and commanding them.

“To remain by Lord Cao’s side would indeed bring him closer to Lord Cao, and perhaps win him many opportunities. But if that happened, Brother Wenchang would lose the chance to temper himself. If he stays in Runan, with Governor Man’s high regard, he can gain all the experience he needs. For him, that is the outcome he truly desires. Beside Lord Cao there is no shortage of fierce generals. With a loyal great captain like you, Uncle Dian, to guard him, that is more than enough…”

After hearing this, Dian Wei fell into thought.

“If not for your clarity, Ah Fu, I might have ruined Wenchang’s future.”

After a long while, he let out a sigh and reached over to pat Cao Peng on the shoulder.

“On some matters, you see farther than I do.”

Farther?

Cao Peng himself did not think so.

If he had not possessed the advantage of one who knew what was to come, if he had not known Wei Yan’s abilities, he would never have done such a thing. To have a terrifyingly powerful fighter at one’s side was security enough. But if leaving Wei Yan behind would harm his future, then that was no true gain. A man of overwhelming martial strength was certainly a safeguard—but if that same man could also command an army, would that not be an even greater safeguard?

At the thought, Cao Peng secretly savored a moment of self-satisfaction.

“Oh yes—will Shusun be able to handle this matter properly if he remains in Runan?”

Dian Wei suddenly remembered Deng Ji’s affair and could not help feeling worried.

Cao Peng said, “A mere Cheng Yao is not enough to trouble my brother-in-law. If he cannot even deal with such a man, then he may as well stay home honestly from now on. Besides, did not Governor Man grant him full authority in this matter? Uncle Dian, just set your mind at ease.”

Only then did Dian Wei stop asking.

As for how Deng Ji would deal with Cheng Yao, and how he would quietly remove Cao Hong from the affair without anyone the wiser, Cao Peng did not know.

But he believed this had never been a truly serious matter to begin with.

Had Cao Hong not been entangled in it, Man Chong would likely have sent men to execute Cheng Yao without hesitation. By letting Deng Ji resolve it instead, he was in truth testing him. If Deng Ji handled the affair well, he would naturally win Man Chong’s favor.

And so long as Man Chong approved of him, Cao Peng’s purpose would be achieved.

After entering Yu Province, Cao Peng could clearly sense the difference between the lands under Cao Cao’s rule and those under Liu Biao’s.

In Jing and Xiang, things were tight on the outside and loose within.

The defenses appeared strict, yet in reality many counties lay in the hands of local great clans. At least in Nanyang Commandery, that was the case.

But in Yu Province under Cao Cao, it was loose on the outside and strict within.

On the surface, all seemed peaceful and harmonious. In truth, however, Cao Cao’s defenses throughout the region were exceedingly rigorous.

Though the great aristocratic houses remained famous and influential, they were plainly in a dependent position. Cao Cao had not held Yu Province for long, yet it was evident he had already gripped it firmly in the palm of his hand.

Compared with him, Liu Biao’s methods truly fell short of Cao Cao’s.

“Peng’er, that little thing you mentioned—what exactly is it?”

That day, as they neared the border between Runan Commandery and Yingchuan Commandery, Cao Ji pulled Cao Peng into the carriage and asked in a nervous voice.

Cao Peng had sworn confidently that he would win a stroke of fortune and honor for his father.

But what exactly was this fortune?

Seeing the anxious look on his father’s face, Cao Peng could not help but laugh.

He leaned his head out of the carriage and called, “Brother Tigerhead, bring me the bundle hanging from my saddle.”

Wang Mai had been talking with Wang Meng. At Cao Peng’s call, he immediately spurred his horse over. Cao Peng’s own horse was currently being ridden by Deng Fan.

At Deng Fan’s side, Xiahou Lan was quietly instructing him, while Deng Fan rode pale-faced and exceedingly cautiously.

“Big Bear, you really are hopeless!”

Wang Mai took the bundle from the horse. Seeing Deng Fan’s timid posture, he could not resist lifting his snake spear and smacking the horse on the rump.

Startled, the warhorse gave a shrill neigh.

Deng Fan’s eyes bulged round, and from atop the horse he roared, “Tigerhead, are you trying to get me killed?”

Before the words had even finished, the horse reared and bolted. Terrified, Deng Fan threw his arms around its neck, shouting at intervals. Hearing the commotion, Deng Juye and Lady Hong from the carriage behind hurriedly looked over. There they saw Deng Fan sprawled over the horse’s back, yelling at the top of his lungs in a most miserable state.

Xiahou Lan and two stout fellows from Tufu Mountain kept close at Deng Fan’s side.

“Big Bear, straighten up—don’t lie flat on it… yes, slowly straighten your waist… not ramrod straight, tuck your chest and lower your breath, put your strength into your hips and waist… don’t force it too much… don’t relax, you’re too loose! Right, just like that. Hold the reins, don’t panic, follow the points I told you before… don’t try to control the horse outright. Find a way to soothe it, let it feel your intent…”

“Tigerhead, what are you doing!”

Wang Meng shouted in fury. Deng Juye and Lady Hong looked worried as well, though all they could do was try to smooth things over.

Wang Mai said, “Back when Ah Fu learned to ride, he mastered it in a single day! But look at Big Bear… he’s being far too careful. If the horse doesn’t run, what’s he going to learn? Ah Fu said you survive only after being driven to the brink. If he keeps being this timid, he’ll never learn to ride in this lifetime. Look—even now he’s already better than before. At least he can control the horse a little. If not like this, then how many months or years would it take him to learn?”

After the first rush of panic, Deng Fan had gradually begun to cast off his fear.

In its place arose the exhilaration of galloping freely, and little by little he and the horse seemed to enter into a kind of accord.

Wang Meng was so angry he wanted to thrash Wang Mai.

But Cao Peng said, “Uncle, don’t blame Brother Tigerhead. If not for this, Big Bear would never overcome the fear in his heart. It is a bit dangerous, yes, but the result is good. Besides, with Xiahou and the others there, Big Bear won’t be in any danger. Uncle Juye, Aunt Hong, please don’t worry.”

Wang Mai handed the bundle to Cao Peng, who then withdrew back into the carriage.

Outside came Wang Meng’s scolding, Wang Mai’s defense, the conciliating voices of Deng Juye and his wife, and Dian Wei’s hearty laughter.

“You children… Big Bear has only just begun learning to ride. Why be in such a rush?

“Your Uncle Juye and Aunt Hong have only this one son. If anything happened to him, let’s see how you would answer to them.”

As he spoke, Cao Ji took the bundle from Cao Peng and carefully opened it.

Inside was a small box no bigger than a handspan. When he opened the box, he found a stack of drawings.

“What are these?”

“Father, look. This is called a stirrup, and this is called a saddle… it is different from the flat saddle we use now. This saddle here is called a high-bridged saddle. When a man rides with his feet set in the stirrups, not only can he sit more securely, but in battle his fighting strength will also increase.

“Tell me—if these things were presented to Lord Cao, what would happen?”

At this, Cao Ji’s eyes lit at once.

Though he was only a blacksmith, he could plainly see the importance of these “little things.”

Holding the drawings, he studied them for a long while before saying softly, “To tell the truth, these things would not be difficult to forge… Peng’er, did you come up with all this yourself?”

Cao Peng smiled. “How could I have such ability? It was all taught by that old immortal.”

Who knew who that wandering adept had really been back then? In any case, he had now become Cao Peng’s finest shield.

No one knew his name, no one knew where he had gone… and in these chaotic times, perhaps he was long dead already.

The dead leave no testimony.

Cao Ji believed it without the slightest doubt.

“And this?”

Cao Ji picked up a sheet covered in writing and looked at Cao Peng in puzzlement.

Cao Peng hesitated, then pointed to the characters on it and said in a low voice, “Father, this is the method the old immortal taught me for forging sabers. I was afraid I might forget it, so I recorded it in the heavenly script he passed on to me… You must keep it safe and never let anyone see it. Those characters are the writing of immortals. If others were to see them, your son would likely…”

Cao Ji shuddered violently and his eyes widened.

At once he clapped a hand over Cao Peng’s mouth, then stuck his head out of the carriage and saw that the driver was wholly intent on guiding the horses, paying no heed to their conversation.

Only then did he draw back inside and say in a hushed voice, “Peng’er, leave this with me. When there is time, you can teach me what is written here. Once I have learned it, I will burn it at once… This is not something people like us ought to possess. If word got out, it would be a crime punishable by death.”

Cao Peng nodded with grave solemnity.

“Ah Fu…” Dian Wei’s call came from outside the carriage. “I fear we’ve missed our lodging stop. It looks as though we’ll have to camp in the open tonight.”

Camp in the open?

Cao Peng stepped out from the carriage. “Uncle Dian, I leave it entirely to your arrangements.”