NOVPUBIn that autumn, during the intercalary eighth month, Xi Zhicai passed away, and Cao Cao personally arranged the funeral. Soon after, Cao Cao proclaimed throughout the land his admission of everything he had done in Xuzhou. There was widespread condemnation, with countless denouncing him in speech and writing, yet the Feudal Lords found it difficult to seize this opportunity to attack Cao Cao. 𝚗𝚘v𝚙𝚞b.𝚌𝚘m
Sima Yi, following Hu Zhao through the frost and snow, traversed the Xianbei Beyond the Great Wall. When they were preparing to return to the Central Plains to choose a worthy lord to serve, that proclamation reached the hands of Sima Yi and Hu Zhao.
"This Cao Mengde is quite the hero," Sima Yi commented with a cold laugh. "Won’t you accompany me to see him, Teacher?"
"I will go to Liu Xuande and take a look. Perhaps there will be new insights." Hu Zhao shook his head and said. He was very interested in Liu Bei’s system, and more importantly, Liu Bei’s realm had not collapsed from the universal education initiative as he had anticipated.
"Then, Teacher, this is where we part ways," said Sima Yi, bowing deeply to Hu Zhao. He knew he could not integrate into Liu Bei’s command and wouldn’t waste time trying. Now, seeing Cao Cao, who had the courage to take responsibility and was not pedantic, Sima Yi saw him as a very suitable choice.
Chen Gong, looking at the two reports in his hand, silently burned the one from Zang Hong stating that Li Youu was Li Ru. However, he surreptitiously made a calculation in his mind, just as Xi Zhicai had speculated before his death. Chen Gong’s brain, which wasn’t inferior to that of any top strategist, had made its own estimation upon receiving the report, and he indeed confirmed the speculation.
As a result, Chen Gong could only abandon Liu Bei’s cause, for to him, the significance of Lyu Bu needed no explanation. In his eyes, Lyu Bu was merely seeking his own status, albeit in a somewhat foolishly endearing way.
"Feudal Lords’ Nine Virtues?" Chen Gong quietly gathered up the entire proclamation. If Cao Cao’s admission of the Xuzhou incident led to him being lambasted by denouncements, then the part where Cao Cao swore by the rejection by gods and men, the "Feudal Lords’ Nine Virtues," would inevitably make the Han Civil Officials and Noted Scholars ponder.
The Han people are always forgiving. Killing Cao Cao would not bring the Xuzhou victims back to life, and if Cao Cao truly achieves what he promised, it might not be a bad thing. The "Feudal Lords’ Nine Virtues" can be considered the highest moral conduct for a Feudal Lord. If Cao Cao can fulfill it, it would be a good thing for the land. Amidst the collapse of the Han Dynasty, the emergence of such a capable official is indeed fortunate.
Cao Cao, looking at a row of books and letters—or rather, a series of reports—on his desk, all indicated one thing: the ditinguished scholars of the realm did not wish to pursue past events. They were only concerned with whether Cao Cao would keep his oath. Since Cao Cao proclaimed his mistakes to the world, they seemed willing to spare him further pursuit in consideration of his promise.
"My Lord," Xun Yu, dressed in white, bowed deeply to Cao Cao.
"Wen Ruo, what did you and Zhicai do on the day of his death?" Cao Cao asked.
"Zhicai replicated Chen Zichuan’s spiritual talent, albeit incompletely, yet he still used it," said Xun Yu tersely.
"Was it worth it?" Cao Cao seemed to be asking Xun Yu, yet also seemed to be questioning himself, as Zhicai had thus departed.
"Chen Zichuan’s talent had a great enhancement on the Celestial Phenomenon, and although my spiritual talent can also alter the Celestial Phenomenon, the cost is too great. Thus, Zhicai took a gamble before death, and fortunately, he succeeded," Xun Yu said with a sense of reflection.
Xi Zhicai had gambled, not to mention whether he could replicate Chen Xi’s incomplete talent. Even if he managed to do so, the activation of it led to his own demise. As such, it was very possible that the spiritual talent would vanish before Xun Yu could inherit it.
With so many possibilities, Xi Zhicai still took the risk, and fortunately, just as he had estimated, Chen Xi’s spiritual talent protected itself from dissipating while also preventing the loss of spiritual talent thanks to the free spirit energy.
Xun Yu did not say that because the replicated spiritual talent was incomplete, it could only be maintained by his huge input of spiritual power before a sufficient amount of free spirit power formed. However, everything was worth it, as he estimated that in some time, the spiritual talent would stabilize completely, and then it would be much easier for him to perform large-scale Changing Heavens.
"Alas, it’s still incomplete after all. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have needed to intervene for the natural consolidation of the heavenly timing in my territory," Xun Yu sighed and said.
"Zhicai..." Cao Cao murmured to himself.
"Please, my lord, take heart. I’m sure Zhicai wouldn’t have wanted to see the lord in this state either," Xun Yu said, bowing his head in consolation. The death of Xi Zhicai was a heavy blow for him too, but compared to Cao Cao, Xun Yu’s heart was rarely shaken by others.
"Wen Ruo, prepare to enter the passes," Cao Cao took a deep breath, suppressing his chaotic thoughts and looked at Xun Yu with a determined gaze, saying, "The dead are long gone, and the living must go on."
"Zhicai, I will let you see the moment when my empire is realized, Han General of Western Campaigns, I will campaign in the Northwest, I will campaign against the Xianbei, I will sweep through the Western Regions, not for the Han Dynasty, but for the glory within my heart. I will make future generations remember you, not for anything else, but because you chose me!"
The moment Cao Cao stood up, Xun Yu distinctly felt a change in him. He had difficulty pinpointing exactly what aspect had changed, but he was still quite pleased with Cao Cao’s resolve to start advancing westward.
"Wen Ruo, this time it is still you who will hold Chenliu. I will personally go to Guanzhong!" Cao Cao made his decision. Facing adversity, Cao Cao erupted with an astonishing charisma, much to Xun Yu’s satisfaction.
"As you command," Xun Yu nodded. He had already planned everything that needed to be planned. What remained was for those entering the pass to perform. Xun Yu had begun to doubt Cao Cao’s combat abilities after the defeat at Xuzhou, but now, seeing Cao Cao’s resolute expression, he decided to take another gamble.
A few days later, the same day Gao Shun encountered the vanguard, Cao Cao, leading a small number of infantry and with Xun Youi as the mastermind, set off towards Chang’an. Perhaps to most of the world this seemed like a suicidal journey, but for Cao Cao, who believed Xi Zhicai was still scheming for him even in his last moment, what right had he to speak of surrender?
"Guanzhong, here I come!" Holding the reins, Cao Cao looked in the direction of Chang’an, and with a surge of heroic spirit welling up inside, he couldn’t help but shout out.
Xun Youi, Cheng Yu, and others also had eyes sparkling with an eagerness, knowing that the fate of the Cao Clan’s foundation hung in the balance, victory or death!
Mounted atop the Jueying Horse, Cao Cao stood at the West Gate of Chenliu City and inexplicably looked back to the east, "Lyu Bu, I will come back, and this time when I return, I’ll defeat you with my own hands, and I will subdue you. My Cao Mengde’s broadmindedness is enough for you to gallop freely! Chen Gongtai, wait for me. When we meet again, I will surely make you submit!"
"Forward!" Cao Cao roared, and immediately led the charge toward Chang’an!
(To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation vote and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
