Chapter 44

Xun felt puzzled, and Chen Deng found it even more peculiar: "I'm not a fortune-telling demon. How could I predict that Yuan Shao would defeat Gongsun and Cao Cao would enter Yanzhou?"

Xun frowned and asked: "A few months ago, Yuanlong said he could help me go to Yanzhou to meet Cao Mengde. Is this not the plan you proposed today? How could you predict the current situation, that Governor Tao would certainly send someone to negotiate peace with Cao Cao?"

Chen Deng smiled: "Hongfu, you've misunderstood. Yuan Shao and Gongsun each dominate a state. Even if they have disputes, it won't be resolved in a year or two. Even if Gongsun Zan lost the Battle of Jieqiao, Governor Yuan of Ji Province doesn't have the ability to instantly conquer Youzhou. However, Governor Tao only sees the distant and not the near. If Cao Cao and Liu Bei are indeed the heroes of the age, they won't remain under Yuan Shao and Gongsun for long. If they expand their influence in neighboring states, it will inevitably threaten our Xu region. The Inspector of Yanzhou, Liu Dai, and the Inspector of Qingzhou, Jiao He, are both mediocre. I predict that Cao Cao and Liu Bei will take over these two states, and the situation will change within a few months. At that time, we can persuade Governor Tao to send Hongfu to meet Cao Mengde."

Xun sighed in relief upon hearing this. It turned out that Chen Deng relied on his analysis of the surrounding situation and had long intended to persuade Tao Qian to abandon his alliance with Gongsun Zan. That's why he was confident he could arrange for Xun to meet Cao Cao. I thought you were also from the future and knew everything that would happen, which made my heart race...

He lowered his head and thought again. It seemed that history had indeed been slightly altered by his presence. In the real history, Tao Qian sent troops to attack Hua and Fei, and entered Rencheng, which led to the conflict between Cao Cao and Tao Qian, and might have been the main reason Tao Qian sent someone to kill Cao Song.

However, now it seemed that not only had Tao Qian's attack on Hua, Fei, and Rencheng been advanced, but more importantly... he seemed to have overestimated Tao Qian. As soon as he heard that Gongsun Zan had lost the Battle of Jieqiao, he immediately thought of changing sides. Was there any persuasion from Chen Deng in the real history? Did Tao Qian really want to flatter Cao Cao at this time or soon after?

This would mean that many of his previous judgments had to be completely overturned. If Tao Qian really wanted to side with Yuan and Cao, he wouldn't send someone to kill Cao Song, and might even send someone to escort Cao Song to find his son. Then...

Chen Deng found it strange that Xun was silent for a long time and asked: "What are you thinking, Hongfu? Are you afraid of angering Cao Mengde because I advised Governor Tao to attack Hua, Fei, and Rencheng, so you dare not go?"

Xun quickly waved his hands: "Why should I be afraid? I was just thinking about something..." He sat on the mat and pondered for a while before explaining: "I heard that the former Grand Commandant Cao Gong left Pei and took refuge in Xu. Now, with unrest everywhere, if Cao Gong has any mishap under Governor Tao's jurisdiction, it will be difficult to negotiate peace with Cao Cao."

Chen Deng was surprised: "Is that true? I should report to Governor Tao and ask him to send troops to protect Cao Gong, and it would be best to escort him to Dongwuyang..."

"Absolutely not!" Xun thought to himself, if Cao Song wasn't killed by Tao Qian's direct order, then the record of his death by Zhang Kai or other Xu troops is correct. If you don't send troops to escort him to Yanzhou, it might not happen, but if you do, it will cause trouble!

He didn't care if Cao Song died, or even if Cao Cao considered Tao Qian an enemy. But if history followed its course, Cao Cao would eventually launch a large-scale campaign against Xu under the pretext of revenge. He was now in Xu, and even if he had no family ties, his roots were still in Xu. It was said that Cao Cao's campaign was brutal, with rivers of blood. Who knew if it would reach him? Besides, he admired Cao Cao, and the greatest stain on Cao Cao's life was the massacre in Xu. He didn't want such things to happen.

But he couldn't tell Chen Deng this, so he found an excuse: "We just need to find Cao Gong and protect him. Then ask him to write a letter for me to take to Yanzhou, and the peace negotiations will be successful." Chen Deng laughed: "Do you want to use someone's father as a hostage? I didn't expect you to have such a devious mind."

They agreed that once Zang Ba and Cao Bao's military actions were successful, Xun would be sent to Yanzhou by Tao Qian's order—regarding Cao Song, they would find him first. Chen Deng said he would return to Tan County at night to report to Tao Qian the next morning. The Shi brothers couldn't persuade him to stay, so they sent him to the door. He got into the carriage and was about to leave when Xun suddenly remembered something and shouted: "Yuanlong, wait!"

Chen Deng asked what else he needed. Xun leaned in and asked: "What does this plan have to do with my engagement to the Cao family?" Chen Deng looked around and saw that the Shi brothers were still at the gate, so he lowered his voice and said: "If we can negotiate peace with Cao Mengde, Xu and Yanzhou will be united, and even Governor Yuan of Ji Province won't dare to underestimate us. At that time, Hongfu will have achieved great merit and will surely gain Governor Tao's trust. If we don't first engage with the Cao family, then the Shi family will be related to the Mi family, and the Cao brothers will be in a difficult position, possibly leading to more conflicts."

Xun finally understood and hurriedly bowed: "Yuanlong, you are truly a genius. I am in awe of you."

A few days later, a grand wedding was held at the Shi family estate, with Mi Zhu and Wang Xiong escorting their sisters. Xun met Mi Zizhong for the first time. He was only in his early thirties, with a long face, short beard, and a merchant-like smile. In terms of demeanor and appearance, he was far inferior to the Cao brothers. Xun consoled himself: "With Mi Zhu's looks, his sister can't be that beautiful. Liu Bei probably married her for political reasons—yes, that's it. Mi Miss isn't as beautiful as Cao Miss, so I feel a bit better."

After the wedding, Cao Bao was supposed to lead troops to Rencheng, but suddenly received urgent news that a sorcerer named Que Xuan had gathered thousands of people in Xiapi and declared himself emperor. So Cao Bao led troops to suppress Que Xuan—since he couldn't go to Rencheng, Zang Ba couldn't attack Huai and Fei either. Both armies needed to act together to achieve a strategic surprise.

In July, Que Xuan was suppressed, and Cao Bao returned to Tan County. Coincidentally, it was the day Chen Deng married the second daughter of the Shi family, and the former governor of Pei, Chen Gui, came to preside over the ceremony. Chen Deng didn't have a spacious home in Tan County, so Tao Qian provided him with a large mansion. Over the past half year, Chen Deng had not only provided strategic advice but also served as the Agricultural Inspector, personally inspecting the soil conditions and water facilities in Donghai County. Under his leadership, the harvest this year was expected to be good, and Tao Qian's trust in him grew daily. Xun often followed Chen Deng around, partly because he thought his best future development would be as a governor or administrator, so he needed to understand agriculture, and partly to avoid frequent encounters with Shi Kuan in Tan County, in case the young man brought up poetry again.

At the end of July, Cao Bao finally led troops to Rencheng, and at the same time, Zang Ba set out from Kaixian in Langya to attack Huai and Fei in Taishan. In mid-September, good news reached Tan County, and it was also reported that Cao Cao had won several battles and driven the Yellow Turbans to Jibei. If Zang Ba hadn't blocked them in time, the Yellow Turbans might have escaped through Taishan into Xu.

"Truly a close call." Tao Qian summoned Xun and asked him to take the title of Assistant to the Governor of Guangling and go to Yanzhou to meet Cao Cao. But Xun refused, saying: "The matter is not yet settled, and it's not appropriate to publicize it. I can go as a private individual." He didn't want to serve Tao Qian and be tied to Xu.

He then asked if Tao Qian had found Cao Song's whereabouts. Tao Qian shook his head: "Many scholars have recently moved to this state, and the household registration is in chaos. It's hard to find him." Xun gave up—he couldn't remember where Cao Song had gone, and it seemed the history books didn't specify either. Or were there multiple accounts? Ah, details determine success or failure. He should have paid more attention to the details of history.

Leaving the state office, he planned to return to the estate, pack his belongings, and set out with a few attendants. According to his plan, it was relatively peaceful in Xu, so he could go directly to Rencheng, ask his future father-in-law for a small troop to protect him, and then find Cao Cao. But just as the servant was leading the horse, a man ran from the corner, knelt on one knee, and said: "My master asks Mr. Shi to come to his residence for a talk."

Xun thought it was Chen Deng who wanted to see him before he left, but when he asked, the man's master turned out to be Cao Hong—the "treacherous and wicked man." What did he want? Was he asking for a letter to Cao Bao?

Entering the Cao residence, Cao Hong greeted him warmly. After they sat down, Cao Hong asked: "Is Hongfu about to go to Yanzhou to meet Cao Mengde?" Xun nodded. Cao Hong then asked: "Governor Tao has been sending people to find the former Grand Commandant Cao Gong. Do you know about this?" Xun was taken aback and replied: "I know. If we can get a letter from Cao Gong, it won't be difficult to negotiate peace with Cao Cao of Yanzhou."

Cao Hong thought for a while, then suddenly clenched his teeth, as if making a decision, and whispered: "I know where Cao Gong is." Xun perked up: "I wish to know where." Cao Hong smiled coldly: "If I ask you to kill Cao Gong, what would you say?"

A thunderclap seemed to strike Xun's head. He was stunned, suspecting his ears were playing tricks on him. "Kill Cao Gong, kill Cao Gong, kill Cao Gong..." Cao Hong's words echoed in his mind. Suddenly, he realized—so it was you!