102 A Family’s Joy, Another’s Sorrow

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Today, the generals in Cao's camp were overjoyed! Fortune turns like a wheel; these were no longer the days when they had to hang the "no battle" sign high. With General Cao Ren leading alongside Li Dian and Le Jin firmly guarding the camp, they had no fear of the Yuan forces launching a surprise attack or raiding their camp.

Thus, the generals of Cao's camp indulged themselves fully in the festivities. After several rounds of wine and a variety of dishes, Cao Hong was already quite drunk. Carrying a wine jar, he approached Su Ming, putting an arm around his shoulder, drinking together arm in arm, constantly refilling Su Ming’s cup.

When Cao Hong offered more wine, Su Ming couldn’t refuse. They finished one cup, then another, several times in a row. Su Ming glanced at Cao Hong suspiciously, sensing he had something to say.

Cao Hong was a close relative of Cao Cao; by seniority, Su Ming should address him as Uncle. “Uncle Hong, do you have something you want to say?” Su Ming asked tentatively.

Cao Hong lifted his cup again, intending to pour more wine for Su Ming, but once Su Ming saw through his intentions, Cao Hong put the cup down.

“My dear nephew, your martial skills are so formidable, why don’t you just take me as your disciple and teach me a few moves!” Cao Hong finally revealed his purpose.

Take you as a disciple? According to seniority, Su Ming should call Cao Hong uncle. If he accepted Cao Hong as his disciple, how would that work out?

“Uncle Hong? How could I take you as my disciple?” Su Ming replied, bewildered. “If I took you as a disciple, wouldn’t our seniority be reversed?”

Hearing Su Ming’s refusal, Cao Hong immediately grew displeased, quickly saying, “Ah! A true man doesn’t fuss over such minor details. You take me as your disciple, you call me uncle, I call you master — we each mind our own titles without interfering!”

Quite the “each mind their own” and “no harm done.” But the reality was, Cao Hong clearly hadn’t thought it through! He was truly the comedian of Cao’s camp.

Su Ming knew Cao Hong’s real intention was to learn martial arts from him, not necessarily to formally become his disciple. So Su Ming said, “Uncle Hong, if you formally become my disciple, what kind of propriety would that be?”

“If you want to learn martial arts, as long as there’s nothing pressing, you can come to me anytime during my stay. Not just me — Qu’a, Tai Shici, and the others can teach you as well.”

“We’re all on the same side. If you want to learn, how could we refuse?”

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Hearing this, Cao Hong’s grin stretched almost to his ears. He patted Su Ming’s chest and said, “You’re the clever one, nephew! Your old uncle here believes in you!”

Su Ming was willing to teach Cao Hong because he thought him a decent person — someone worth drawing closer. Cao Cao was originally surnamed Xiahou but was later adopted into the Cao family.

Now that Cao Cao had risen to power, the generals from both the Xiahou and Cao clans were considered his household troops.

Cao Cao’s household troops were divided into two factions: the Xiahou clan led by the Xiahou brothers, and the Cao clan led by Cao Ren. Then there was the faction of generals with other surnames, like Zhang Liao, Li Dian, Le Jin, and Xu Huang.

The Xiahou brothers sat close to Cao Pi, clearly indicating their close relationship. Therefore, from Su Ming’s perspective, trying to draw the Xiahou faction closer was unlikely to succeed.

Hence, he chose to start with Cao Hong, attempting to win over the Cao faction.

Moreover, compared to the clearly aligned Xiahou brothers, Cao Hong, who was straightforward and only followed Cao Cao’s orders, was clearly more approachable.

Su Ming’s promise to teach Cao Hong martial arts was part of a larger plan.

While Cao Cao was alive, Su Ming could keep to the sidelines. But after Cao Cao’s passing, Su Ming would have to fight for what was rightfully his.

Preemptively winning over some of Cao’s generals and building good relations was advantageous for Su Ming.

One family rejoiced, another mourned.

At Cao’s camp, the feast was in full swing, with all the generals smiling broadly, their mouths stretched wide like grins reaching their crotches.

Meanwhile, at Yuan Shao’s camp, morale was low; the men looked as if their fathers had just died.

After returning, Yuan Shao immediately ordered the drums to beat, signaling a gathering.

Why beat the drums? To discuss how to fight the next battle, of course.

“Gentlemen, Cao Ah Man has gained fierce generals. Today’s duel ended in a crushing defeat, and our morale is down. How should we proceed with the next battle? Speak your minds,” Yuan Shao asked his civil and military officers.

Today’s duel had ended in a humiliating loss.

Seeing Su Ming singlehandedly fight against Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun, none of Yuan Shao’s generals dared to engage Su Ming again.

Fight Su Ming?

Should we?

The famed Guan Yu was still under emergency care! Whether he would survive was uncertain.

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At this moment, one of Yuan Shao’s generals, Ju Yi, stood up and bowed to Su Ming, saying, “My lord, today Cao Cao will surely hold a grand feast to celebrate his victory.”

“In my opinion, grant me a troop and I will lead a surprise raid on their camp. If we succeed, Cao’s forces will be thrown into chaos, and we can launch a full assault to break through their defenses.”

Ju Yi had once, at Jiaqiao, led 800 vanguard soldiers to defeat Gongsun Zan’s 3,000 White Horse Volunteers.

Though perhaps not the best at single combat, Ju Yi was an excellent commander.

Yuan Shao was tempted by Ju Yi’s suggestion, pondering whether to strike Cao Cao’s camp.

But as soon as Ju Yi finished, strategist Tian Feng immediately stood up, offering the exact opposite advice.

“My lord, absolutely not! Absolutely not!”

“Cao Mengde is a man who thrives on bold, risky tactics. He especially likes to raid enemy camps. How could his own camp be unprepared?”

“Even if Cao Mengde is throwing a banquet tonight, he will have made all the necessary precautions. If we attempt a raid tonight, we may well fall into his trap!” Tian Feng said gravely.

Tian Feng’s words were quite accurate. Cao Cao had anticipated this and, fearing a sneak attack, had assigned the great general Cao Ren, along with Le Jin and Li Dian, to firmly defend the camp.

Cao Ren was renowned for his defensive skills. Sneak attacks simply wouldn’t work.

Cao Cao’s appraisal of Yuan Shao was that he was overly cautious but indecisive.

Yuan Shao thought a lot but rarely made correct judgments.

The main issue was that he was easily swayed, always finding reason in whatever he heard.

When Ju Yi suggested a raid, Yuan Shao thought it might work.

When Tian Feng opposed it, Yuan Shao found that convincing as well.

Caught between conflicting advice, Yuan Shao was uncertain how to proceed.

He turned to Liu Bei and asked, “Xuande, what do you think?”

Liu Bei: “?????”

What was Liu Bei to say?

He hadn’t even heard the discussion.

His mind was elsewhere.

Guan Yu was severely wounded and undergoing treatment.

Liu Bei was desperate to leave the central command tent to check on his second brother’s condition.

(The chapter ends here.)