Chapter 10: Jia Xu’s Deadly Scheme, Cao Peng Returns to Camp

Jia Xu returned to camp, and Zhang Xiu immediately summoned him for questioning.

“Sir, have you gathered any news?”

Jia Xu shook his head and replied calmly, “Lady Zou is not in Cao’s camp. However, I did see that fellow Hu Che’er. He’s hiding in Cao’s camp, afraid to return and even afraid to meet me. It seems he truly did something to betray you.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiu let out a few cold laughs.

“To think I’ve always treated that wretch well, yet he turned out to be a traitor, betraying his lord for gain and forgetting all gratitude!”

After he finished speaking, Jia Xu continued, “Cao Mengde flatly denies that Lady Zou’s disappearance has anything to do with him.”

At these words, Zhang Xiu’s brow furrowed tightly.

This complicated matters; with Lady Zou missing and Cao Cao refusing to admit involvement, Zhang Xiu had no grounds to accuse him.

“That scoundrel Cao is truly a despicable and shameless villain!”

Zhang Xiu gnashed his teeth in hatred but could find no way to act.

Seeing Zhang Xiu’s frustration, Jia Xu knew it would be impossible for him to simply swallow this humiliation.

His expression turned somewhat conflicted.

“Master Wenhe, if you have something to say, speak freely.”

Having spent so much time with Jia Xu, Zhang Xiu could already tell from the subtle change in his expression that he had something on his mind.

Jia Xu nodded. Since he could not reconcile Zhang Xiu and Cao Cao, he might as well go all the way.

A sinister plan began to take shape in his mind.

“During my reconnaissance, I discovered that Cao’s camp has only two thousand troops. If you follow my strategy and strike by night, we can kill Cao Cao.”

“But you must understand, General: if we kill Cao Cao, there will be no turning back for us!”

Jia Xu’s words caused even the Spear King of the North, Zhang Xiu, to pale.

Though he hated Cao Cao and wished to kill him, he was not blind to Cao Cao’s formidable power. Who was Cao Cao? The Grand Minister of Han who held the emperor hostage to command the lords, commanding elite soldiers and ample provisions. His generals, such as Dian Wei and Xu Chu, were each worth ten thousand men; his strategists, men like Guo Jia and Xun Yu, could devise plans that won battles from a thousand miles away.

That was precisely why Zhang Xiu had agreed to surrender to Cao Cao in the first place.

Had Cao Cao not pushed him too far, he would not have chosen to oppose him.

“There’s no need to overestimate Cao Cao, General. Since raising his army, he’s met with nothing but smooth sailing. Complacency is the greatest taboo for any commander. If we plan carefully this time, killing Cao Cao is not difficult.”

“Once Cao Cao is dead, the fate of the realm will change. You can lead your Xiliang cavalry, sweep up Cao’s routed troops, and take Yanzhou by storm!”

As Jia Xu painted this enticing vision, it unfurled before Zhang Xiu’s eyes.

Excitement surged through him; his fists clenched, his face flushed with anticipation.

He was the Spear King of the North, his ambitions far from ordinary.

His earlier shock vanished without a trace.

Thinking of the benefits that would follow Cao Cao’s death, he was willing to take the risk.

“With you by my side, how could I not achieve great things?” Zhang Xiu exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement.

...

Outside Wancheng, on the upper reaches of the Yu River.

Cao Peng stood atop a hill, barely a hundred meters from Cao’s camp.

“There lies Cao’s camp ahead. Are you certain about this?”

Having spirited away the beauty, Cao Peng now had to keep up appearances.

His meaning was clear: it was not he who kidnapped her, but she who chose to follow him.

“You need not worry, my lord. I have already made up my mind. No matter how far or wide the world, I will follow you, serve you, and never regret it in this life.”

Determination flashed across Lady Zou’s delicate face; she was not jesting in the least.

By the values of this era, Lady Zou’s actions would be deemed unchaste and fickle.

But Cao Peng did not see it that way.

On the contrary, he felt women were far too constrained by the times.

For Lady Zou to harbor even a hint of rebellion was remarkable—she was a clever woman.

In this war-torn world where life was as cheap as dirt, most women could only be men’s belongings. Any woman who lost her value or brought shame to her man would be hard-pressed to survive.

Lady Zou knew that if she remained with Zhang Xiu, misfortune would befall her sooner or later.

Thus, now that she had encountered a man she cherished, who was willing to love and protect her, she was willing to follow him—no matter if she was one day abandoned, she would have no regrets.

Cao Peng, of course, was unaware of her inner thoughts.

At this moment, his mind was on the conversation soon to come with Cao Cao and how to ensure it went smoothly.

A day and night had already passed; surely Cao Cao was eager to see him.

He knew it was time to return and face Cao Cao.