Chapter 65: Cao Cao: Is there any beauty here?

Zhang Xiu’s surrender signaled the complete fall of Wancheng.

After entering the city, Cao Cao entrusted his soldiers with managing it and then hosted a grand feast to reward his troops.

Everyone gathered at the magistrate’s residence.

Cao Cao held up a cup of wine as he smiled at the assembled soldiers. “This victory was not easily won; all of you have worked hard. I toast each one of you!”

He downed the contents of the cup in one gulp.

The other soldiers cheered, the atmosphere warm and lively. Only Zhang Xiu and his subordinates sat silently within the banquet hall, standing out starkly amidst the festivities.

As defeated generals who had surrendered after leaving the city gates, they were the lowest of the low in the eyes of everyone else present. This celebration of victory was pure torment for them.

“Why doesn’t General Zhang drink?” After finishing his own cup, Cao Cao noticed Zhang Xiu still holding his untouched wineglass, smiling faintly.

Zhang Xiu forced himself to smile back. “This humble general is thinking of those brave soldiers who died in battle, feeling guilty that we could have saved their lives if only we submitted to Sikong earlier.”

Of course, this was merely an excuse; he couldn’t possibly say that he felt shame over surrendering. If he did, Cao Cao might very well lose his temper.

These words seemed to imply that Cao Cao was growing weary of his presence.

“Ha ha ha ha—”

Cao Cao threw his head back and laughed heartily before continuing, “In warfare, how can one avoid casualties? General Zhang’s decision to surrender has saved the lives of not only the soldiers under your command but also those of the civilians in Wancheng; it is you who should be celebrating.”

“Come, this cup of wine is for General Zhang’s wisdom and righteousness.” As he spoke, Cao Cao raised his cup in toast toward Zhang Xiu across the table.

“How dare I, how dare I,” Zhang Xiu quickly stood up to return the toast, though he could hear the mocking tone beneath Cao Cao’s words. He dared not show any hint of discontentment as he obediently finished his own cup of wine.

Only then did Cao Cao seem satisfied. His expression turned stern once more. “Now, the traitor Yuan Shu has declared himself Emperor, and the Son of Heaven has ordered all lords to march against him.”

“As the nephew of the traitor Zhang Ji, you have already earned amnesty from your uncle’s crimes through meritorious service, yet why do you still refuse to lead troops against Shu?”

This explained why Cao Cao had launched this campaign against Wancheng. Because Zhang Xiu refused to heed the Emperor’s edict and march against Yuan Shu! If even someone as insignificant as Zhang Xiu dared openly defy the orders of the Son of Heaven, how would the authority of future Emperors’ decrees endure?!

And so, Cao Cao had sent his troops to punish him as an example for others!

Zhang Xiu looked troubled. “Great Sikong, it is not that this general is unwilling to send soldiers, but rather that Yuan Shu possesses great strength and has many soldiers under his command, far beyond what this general can handle.”

“If Great Sikong sends soldiers to punish Yuan Shu, this general will certainly lead his own army to join the campaign against the ungrateful…”

“Hmph—!”

Before Zhang Xiu could finish, Cao Cao slammed down his wine cup, his face darkening with anger.

“Who do you think you are, haggling over imperial decrees?”

“You were once part of Dong Zhuo’s forces, and even assisted your uncle in attacking Luo Yang! To spare your life when we could have executed you is already grace on our part! Do you still deny your crimes?!”

Cao Cao’s moods fluctuated wildly, and seeing him suddenly lose his temper shocked everyone present.

Zhang Xiu immediately knelt before the hall and bowed low. “This traitor knows his crimes. I shall gather my soldiers forthwith and set out to punish Yuan Shu!”

The sight of Zhang Xiu respectfully bowing eased some of the anger on Cao Cao’s face.

“That’s more like it,” he said. “If General Zhang had acted thusly from the beginning, would I need to besiege Wancheng?”

“All right, stand up. Continue drinking.”

Only then did Zhang Xiu rise from the floor, wiping sweat from his brow, and silently return to his seat.

The banquet continued without further incident.

Cao Cao and his army returned to their lodgings at the magistrate’s residence, drunk with wine, while Zhang Xiu was left with no choice but to yield his estate and take his trusted subordinates to another residence.

“Dian Wei! Dian Wei!”

Inside one of the side rooms, Cao Cao lay sprawled on the bed, calling out Dian Wei’s name repeatedly.

Dian Wei stood outside the room awaiting his orders. At the sound of Cao Cao’s call, he walked inside and respectfully asked, “My lord, what instructions do you have?”

“You…come here!” With bleary eyes, Cao Cao grabbed Dian Wei by the collar and pulled him close before narrowing his eyes and asking, “Is there any beauty among the women in this city?”

Startled, Dian Wei nevertheless understood his lord’s preferences well enough to respond after some thought, “This humble general did see Zhang Xiu leading his family members to reside elsewhere just now, and among them was a woman who possessed great beauty.”

“However…that woman is Zhang Ji’s widow, Zou, Zhang Xiu’s aunt.”

“Hah.” Cao Cao scoffed softly at these words, then sat up unsteadily as he burped from drinking too much wine. “Z-Zhang Xiu? A defeated general—how dare he become enraged?”

“Send fifty armored soldiers to bring her here.”

Dian Wei naturally had no objections to this order from Cao Cao and turned around immediately to leave the side room, heading out to find the woman.

After leaving the magistrate’s residence, Zhang Xiu took his wife and trusted subordinates to another manor within the city.

However, before long, Dian Wei arrived with fifty heavily armored soldiers, forcibly taking Boule away from her home.

When the news was reported to Zhang Xiu, he was discussing strategies for their next move with his subordinates in his study. He paled at the news, shocked beyond belief.

“Caesar kidnapped my aunt?!” Zhang Xiu shot up from his seat, grabbing the servant by the collar as he interrogated him.

The servant’s face was swollen on one side, but he sobbed through his words, “Yes, General. The kidnapper is a great general under Cao Cao named Dian Wei.”

“He claimed that Cao Cao wanted to invite the madam to discuss important matters, but when we tried to stop him, he killed everyone present!”

Luckily, the servant had only received a single slap, allowing him to survive.

“Ahhhhh! That Caeser! You’re going too far!” Zhang Xiu’s eyes were about to burst from their sockets with fury; he swiftly rose from his seat, intending to take his sword and go seek vengeance against Cao Cao himself!

The many strategists gathered in the study hurriedly stepped forward to hold him back.

“General, you mustn’t! Please calm yourself!”

A slightly corpulent scholar hurriedly stepped forward and embraced Zhang Xiu, firmly restraining him.

“Jia Xu! Let go of me at once!”

Zhang Xiu’s rage burned hot; his eyes were red with fury. “My aunt raised me since childhood—I consider her my mother!”

“You speak of calming down, but if someone violated your aunt, could you remain indifferent?”

“Let me go! I must take that traitor’s life with my own hands!”

Jia Xu clenched his jaw. “General, going now would be throwing away your life! If you truly wish to kill Cao Cao, then heed my words!”

At these words, Zhang Xiu finally returned to his senses. He ceased his struggle and stared at Jia Xu, panting heavily as he asked, “You have a plan to kill the Caeser?”

“I do.”

Seeing Zhang Xiu had calmed, Jia Xu breathed a sigh of relief. After straightening his attire, he confidently declared, “This scheme will surely see Cao Cao perish within Wancheng!”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiu’s sword clattered to the floor, and he bowed deeply before Jia Xu, gnashing his teeth as he demanded, “Please enlighten me!”