The child is grown now; it's time for them to pursue their own path in life.

The next day, at noon.

At the Yellow River crossing, within the central military tent.

“General Su, the Prime Minister has arrived,” reported Qin Qi, the commander guarding the Yellow River.

Cao Cao had arrived?

Since Cao Cao was here, Su Ming had to go out and welcome him. Though he never felt much affection for this nominal father, Su Ming now had something to ask of him.

He needed a place by the water to train a navy, for only then could he truly display his skills. This required a discussion with Cao Cao, so he might secure a position as a governor of a water-adjacent district.

With a request in mind, Su Ming naturally had to leave camp and greet Cao Cao.

Su Ming waited outside the encampment and soon saw Cao Cao’s grand army approaching. Behind Cao Cao marched two burly generals.

Su Ming recognized them: they were Cao Ren and Cao Hong, two famed commanders.

“You rascal, well done!” Cao Hong strode forward and delivered a hearty punch to Su Ming’s chest.

Cao Cao dismounted and addressed Su Ming, “You’ve done well. Come walk with me.”

With that, Cao Cao signaled for the others not to follow and strode alone toward the riverbank. Su Ming hastened after him.

Cao Cao and Su Ming walked along the Yellow River, the vast waters stretching before them.

After a long silence, Cao Cao suddenly spoke. “I owe your mother an apology.”

This abrupt statement surprised Su Ming. Wasn’t this the Cao Cao known for saying, ‘I would rather betray the world than let the world betray me’? For him to utter the words ‘I’m sorry’ was truly unexpected.

After a moment’s pause, Su Ming replied, “The past is past.”

“One cannot live forever in old grievances. We must look ahead, mustn’t we?”

Su Ming spoke with such ease, as if he had moved on more than Cao Cao himself. For a moment, Cao Cao was at a loss for words.

“You’ve done well this time, brought me great honor.”

“I always reward merit. What would you like as a reward?” Cao Cao asked.

Su Ming had been pondering how to broach the subject of seeking a post. Unexpectedly, before he could speak, Cao Cao himself brought it up.

Since Cao Cao had opened the door, Su Ming did not hesitate.

“My child has grown, and it’s time to build his own career,” Su Ming ventured.

With those words, he made his intentions clear: he sought his own enterprise and could not remain in Xu Du, forever at Cao Cao’s side. This statement revealed his desire to serve as an official elsewhere.

Cao Cao, who had reached his current heights, certainly understood Su Ming’s meaning.

“Hmm,” Cao Cao murmured softly.

His lukewarm response left Su Ming uncertain. Was it consent or refusal?

So Su Ming pressed on, “I once served in Jiangdong. I am skilled in training naval forces and building ships. The Prime Minister presently lacks a proper navy.”

“I am willing to serve in this regard.”

Having said his piece, Su Ming waited silently for Cao Cao’s reply.

In truth, Su Ming had struck at the heart of Cao Cao’s needs.

Cao Cao indeed lacked a capable navy.

After securing Xuzhou and Huainan, Cao Cao had three options for further conquest.

The best plan: seize Jingzhou.

Jingzhou was prosperous, rich in grain and populous, and its governor Liu Biao was weak, a mere caretaker.

The second plan: conquer Jiangdong.

Sun Ce had recently died, Sun Quan had succeeded him and his position was unstable; now was the ideal time to move against Jiangdong.

The least favorable plan: face Yuan Shao in a decisive battle.

Yuan Shao, having defeated Gongsun Zan, claimed an army of seven hundred thousand. Though this figure was likely exaggerated, Yuan Shao was undoubtedly the warlord with the largest force in the realm.

Clearly, for Cao Cao, confronting Yuan Shao in the north was the least desirable option.

But why did he not seize Jingzhou or Jiangdong, and instead choose the worst plan?

The root of the problem was Cao Cao’s lack of a navy.

He could not even muster enough ships for an expedition.

Whether the plan was to take Jingzhou or Jiangdong, both required one essential condition—a capable navy.

Cao Cao’s cavalry and infantry were formidable, but he lacked any naval force.

Thus, he could only choose to battle Yuan Shao, the most powerful warlord with the greatest army.

Now, Cao Cao thought, If my son had returned three or five years sooner, trained a strong navy for me—

Why would I risk a confrontation with Yuan Shao?

First take Jingzhou, then descend upon Jiangdong, and I, Cao Cao, would stand invincible from the outset.

Alas, there are neither ifs nor hypotheticals in this world.

“I will consider it overnight and give you my answer tomorrow,” Cao Cao said, after careful deliberation.

“Very well,” Su Ming nodded in agreement.

...

...

Upon returning to the Yellow River encampment, Cao Cao did not go to see Guan Yu.

Having learned that Su Ming had defeated Guan Yu in three moves, Cao Cao no longer felt so compelled to recruit Guan Yu.

He still admired Guan Yu’s character, but no longer considered his bravery unrivaled in the realm.

Settling into the camp, Cao Cao summoned Guo Jia alone to his tent.

Cao Cao recounted his conversation with Su Ming in detail, then walked over to the map and asked, “Fengxiao, where do you think he should go?”

Guo Jia looked at Cao Cao. The spot Cao Cao was eyeing was Huainan.

This had once been Yuan Shu’s territory, but after Cao Cao’s victory last year, it belonged to him.

Guo Jia stepped forward, pointed to a location on the map and said, “My lord, why not grant this place to Young Master Su Ming?”

Cao Cao was baffled.

“Fengxiao, that’s Liu Biao’s land, isn’t it?” Cao Cao asked in confusion.

Guo Jia had indicated Jiangxia, whose governor was Huang Zu, nominally under Liu Biao of Jingzhou.

Clearly, with a decisive battle against Yuan Shao approaching, Cao Cao did not wish to open a second front and antagonize Liu Biao.

“My lord, are you familiar with the saying: ‘Kill the chicken to warn the monkey’?”

“Liu Biao of Jingzhou and Yuan Shao have been flirting with one another. By striking Huang Zu, we send a warning, severing Liu Biao’s hopes of colluding with Yuan Shao.”

Guo Jia paused, then continued, “Liu Biao is old, a mere caretaker.”

“Once we completely isolate Jingzhou and Yuan Shao’s territory, Liu Biao would not dare fight us, unless Jiangdong comes to his aid.”

“But if we attack Huang Zu, Jiangdong would never assist Liu Biao against us.”

“Taking Jiangxia is like driving a nail into Jingzhou. Once we defeat Yuan Shao, and Young Master Su Ming has trained a navy, we can then conquer all of Jingzhou.”