Chapter 120: Guan Yu: He Is Merely Offering His Head for the Taking

Before Yuan Shao could speak, Xu You interrupted Ju Shou, saying, "Tian Feng harbors sinister intentions, yet you still plead for him. Are you perhaps his accomplice?"

Tian Feng let out three cold laughs and pushed Ju Shou aside. "Xu You, stop acting like a mad dog, biting everyone you see. Today's matter has nothing to do with him."

Yuan Shao was instantly enraged and ordered Tian Feng to be dragged away and beheaded. Liu Bei stepped forward to dissuade him, and Yuan Shao finally relented, though he had Tian Feng imprisoned to await further judgment. With Tian Feng in jail, no one dared to speak any more words of discouragement or obstruct Yuan Shao from attacking Cao Cao.

Liu Bei, who had brought the Emperor’s blood-written decree, was treated as an honored guest. For the next several days, Yuan Shao spent his time with Liu Bei, discussing plans for the offensive. Throughout this process, the person most shaken by the events was Zhang Fei. He discovered that his eldest brother was truly a man of immense talent. He knew better than anyone that the blood-written decree in Liu Bei’s hands was absolutely fake. Back in Xuchang, Liu Bei had gone to great lengths to distance himself from the royalist faction and the young Emperor; there was no way he could have obtained such a decree. Yet, Liu Bei had used this counterfeit document to completely bewilder Yuan Shao and convince everyone of its authenticity.

Though Zhang Fei was a simple-minded man who usually didn't overthink his brother's actions, he felt a pang of sadness realizing that after gaining favor with Yuan Shao, his brother seemed to have gradually stopped thinking about their second brother, whose fate remained unknown.

Since a military campaign was imminent, the next task was to find someone to draft a formal declaration of war. Xu You recommended a man named Chen Lin in Jizhou, whose literary talent was exceptional, claiming he would surely be able to tear Cao Cao to shreds with his writing. Yuan Shao immediately sent men to find Chen Lin, but they returned empty-handed. Neighbors claimed they had no idea where he had gone; it was as if he had vanished into thin air.

Despite failing to find Chen Lin, the declaration still had to be written. Ultimately, it was drafted by one of Yuan Shao's own strategists. Because the prose was mediocre and lacked a commanding force, the declaration failed to stir much debate across the land.

Several days later, under the planning of Yuan Shao’s strategists, it was decided that the army would launch an attack on Baima. If Baima were taken, it would be like a fish bone stuck in Cao Cao’s throat. When it came time to select a general, Wen Chou volunteered.

Wen Chou declared, "My elder brother Yan Liang was ambushed and murdered by that nameless thief. This time, I must lead the army myself to avenge him!" Knowing his thirst for vengeance and recognizing that Wen Chou possessed the greatest martial prowess among his remaining ranks, Yuan Shao granted him command.

On the march, Liu Bei asked with curiosity, "I have heard that General Yan Liang’s martial arts were no less than those of Lu Bu. Who exactly was responsible for his death?"

Yuan Shao’s face darkened as he replied coldly, "It was a nameless nobody in Cao Cao's army named Cao Peng!"

Upon hearing the name Cao Peng, Liu Bei felt a jolt of alarm. He had not expected Cao Peng to be capable of such a feat.

The news of Yuan Shao’s attack on Baima was quickly intercepted by the Embroidered Uniform Guards. Cao Cao led 150,000 troops, hastily divided into three columns, to meet the threat. After receiving three urgent dispatches along the way, Cao Cao was forced to lead 50,000 troops ahead to confront the enemy at Baima.

After camping on an endless plain, Cao Cao took Cao Peng with him to observe the situation. They saw Yuan Shao’s army of 100,000 arranged in formation, a vast and imposing sight that was truly startling.

"Who dares to go out and fight Wen Chou?" Cao Cao asked.

Cao Peng had brought Guan Yu along this time; just as Guan Yu was about to step forward, Cao Peng held him back. Cao Peng’s reputation had already grown quite large, and he wished to remain on the sidelines for once.

Cao Ren stepped forward and said, "Why not give Song Xian and the others a chance?"

Cao Cao looked at the men Cao Ren mentioned; he remembered them as former subordinates of Lu Bu. Cao Peng nearly laughed out loud. These men were among the "Eight Generals" under Lu Bu, but Cao Peng had only recruited Zhang Liao and Zang Ba, deeming the others' martial arts unworthy. Cao Ren, eager to prove himself, had become the patron for these men. Since Cao Ren was pushing for them to fight, Cao Peng was curious to see how they would make fools of themselves.

"Very well!" Cao Cao saw that Cao Peng had no intention of stepping out, so he nodded and agreed to Cao Ren's suggestion.

As Wen Chou rode forward with his broadsword to provoke them, Song Xian and Wei Xu rode out to meet him. Unexpectedly, Wen Chou shouted toward the Cao camp, "Cao Peng, are you only capable of hiding like a coward? Why do you only send out these rats to die?"

Hearing this, Cao Peng remained silent, but Song Xian and Wei Xu were incensed, feeling deeply slighted.

The two charged toward Wen Chou, brandishing their spears and swords. "Don't be so arrogant, you bandit! Prepare to die!"

They rushed forward with ferocious strikes, looking quite like brave warriors. Wen Chou stood his ground, wielding his blade; he repelled Song Xian with a single strike and then swung back to slay Wei Xu. Song Xian, not expecting the enemy to be so fierce, tried to flee, but felt a sharp pain in his back. He fell from his horse, and Wen Chou severed his head with one strike.

"To think the Cao army is filled with such useless trash!"

Hearing the provocation, Cao Cao immediately looked to his generals. "The enemy is so arrogant; whoever can slay him shall receive a great reward."

Cao Ren, who had recommended Song Xian and the other, felt humiliated and was forced to step up himself. Xu Huo, who was on good terms with him, saw that Cao Ren might be killed by Wen Chou and joined the fray, spear in hand. The two charged out, attacking Wen Chou from both sides, yet they could not gain the upper hand. After twenty rounds, Wen Chou actually held the advantage.

Watching from afar, Cao Cao grew increasingly distressed. He hadn't cared much about the deaths of Song Xian and Wei Xu, but he could not afford to lose Cao Ren and Xu Huang. In this moment, he could only look to Cao Peng.

"Anmin, it seems this man’s martial prowess is truly formidable, you..."

Cao Cao placed his hope in Cao Peng not only because of his strength, but also because the warriors under Cao Peng’s command were on a different level than Cao Ren and Xu Huang. Not to mention Guan Yu, even Zang Ba was a renowned fighter.

Cao Peng smiled faintly and nodded in agreement. Since Cao Cao had personally requested his help, he would grant them a favor.

Cao Peng looked at Guan Yu and said with a light smile, "Yunchang, look at this enemy general—is he robust or not?"

Guan Yu narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly and said with arrogant disdain, "In my eyes, he is nothing but a man wearing a price tag on his head, waiting to be killed!"

As these words left his lips, everyone turned to look at him in awe.