Chapter 14: Cao Peng’s Strategy and Zhang Xiu’s Guilty Conscience

Inside the grand tent, silence reigned; no one could devise a plan to break the enemy’s siege.

“If only Fengxiao were here, he would surely have a strategy to defeat them,” Cao Cao sighed with regret.

He lamented not only the meager force he had brought but also that not a single one of his trusted strategists accompanied him.

Cao Peng knew it was time for him to step forward.

“I have a plan that will surely resolve this crisis.”

Three pairs of eyes fixed on Cao Peng, waiting to hear what he would say.

Lowering his voice, Cao Peng began to explain, “All we need to do is this and this…”

When he finished, the three men wore different expressions. Cao Cao, in particular, deeply suspected that this youngster might be deliberately trying to undermine him. Yet, if Cao Peng’s plan could truly be carried out as described, it would be no bad thing.

After leaving Cao Cao’s tent, Cao Ang punched Cao Peng playfully on the shoulder.

“Good lad, how come I never realized you were so clever before?”

Cao Peng could only shrug helplessly and offered no argument.

The two joked for a while, then discussed finer points of the plan. Just as they were about to go their separate ways to set things in motion, a rough voice called out.

“Wait, young general!”

Dian Wei strode over in great strides and stood before Cao Peng, bowing respectfully.

“Last night, I was merely carrying out my orders. I hope you can forgive me, young general.”

Cao Peng quickly returned the bow and replied graciously, “General, you are too courteous. I only hope that next time, you might be a little gentler with your hands.”

Dian Wei scratched his head and laughed heartily.

Cao Peng’s expression then turned serious. “The plan we just discussed will rely heavily on you, General Dian Wei.”

Dian Wei nodded solemnly. “Rest assured, young general, you can count on me.”

With that, Dian Wei lumbered away.

Watching him go, Cao Peng gained a new respect for the mighty warrior—so, he wasn’t just thick-headed after all; he could be flexible when needed.

Though, Cao Peng wondered if this had anything to do with being Cao Cao’s nephew…

Elsewhere, the captain Zhang Xiu had sent out had returned.

After hearing his report, Zhang Xiu’s face changed dramatically. He anxiously asked Jia Xu, “Sir, has Cao Cao seen through our ruse?”

The same suspicion had crossed Jia Xu’s mind. Yet, confident in his own schemes, he believed his plans could not be unraveled—never in the past, and not now.

“There’s no need to jump at shadows, General. I suspect it’s nothing but coincidence. Let us proceed as planned.”

Still, to be cautious, Jia Xu asked the captain for more details about what he had witnessed in Cao Cao’s camp.

After hearing the detailed account, Jia Xu could not imagine what flaw in his plan might have been exposed.

With the arrow nocked, there was no turning back. Zhang Xiu could not call off the carefully arranged scheme over a mere suspicion.

Yet, for reasons he couldn’t explain, Zhang Xiu felt increasingly uneasy. In the end, he decided to take extra precautions.

Jia Xu ordered a cart of fine wine to be prepared and told Zhang Xiu to bring soldiers to escort it to Cao Cao’s camp.

“Sir, at this stage, isn’t this too great a risk?”

“Don’t worry, General. Trust me.”

Though Jia Xu was usually a modest man, he had great faith in his own strategies. In his lifetime, those who had managed to unravel his plots were exceedingly few.

As long as Cao Cao held no suspicions, they were merely delivering wine—what could go wrong?

But once again, the unexpected occurred.

As Zhang Xiu’s troops escorted the wine cart toward the enemy’s camp, they found several dozen men waiting outside the camp.

At their head stood Cao Cao, with Dian Wei and Cao Peng behind him, along with dozens of armored guards.

Cao Ang was not present, for he was busy arranging the troops—should the enemy grow desperate, they must be ready for a fight.

“Young general, if danger arises, stay behind me!” Dian Wei whispered.

Cao Peng nodded. “If things turn dire, just focus on slaying enemies, general. I can take care of myself.”

Despite his words, a faint sheen of sweat appeared on Cao Peng’s palms. This was his first true brush with life and death—there was no way he could be calm.

“Lord Minister, why have you left your camp?” Zhang Xiu called out as he approached, Jia Xu at his side. Jia Xu had warned him earlier not to give anything away.

“Hahaha, Youwei, I came looking for you,” Cao Cao replied with a hearty laugh.

“Come, come—join me in my tent for a drink…”

Inwardly, Cao Peng could not help but give Cao Cao a mental thumbs-up. He had thought only the Imperial Uncle Liu could act with such divine skill; now it seemed Cao Cao was an Oscar-worthy performer himself.

Cao Cao’s demeanor was utterly natural, betraying not the slightest hint of suspicion.

But with a guilty conscience, Zhang Xiu found himself in a quandary.

To go into Cao Cao’s camp would be to walk into a trap—yet to refuse would immediately arouse suspicion.

For a moment, Zhang Xiu was caught between a rock and a hard place.