Chapter 50: The Soldiers' Wrath Boils Over

Outside the city of Xiapi, a fine rain still fell from the overcast sky.

The moat defending the city was now at its most turbulent, swollen with the rushing current.

Clad in armor and covered by a conical hat and straw raincoat, Cao Peng personally led his twenty thousand troops to the riverbank. Glancing at the city not far off, excitement surged in his heart. He could not help but look forward to the moment when the great flood would breach the dikes—the spectacle would surely be magnificent.

With so many soldiers suddenly gathering beneath the walls of Xiapi, those within the city were naturally alarmed.

“What on earth are these men planning?” Upon the city walls, Chen Gong watched the enemy’s movements, but for the moment, he could not fathom the intention of Cao’s army.

As Guo Jia had once said, though Chen Gong was a man of strategy, his deliberations were often slow to fruition—his insights always came a step behind.

Although he could not yet deduce the enemy’s purpose, his instincts warned him: whatever they intended, it could not be good. It could only be wise to disrupt their plans.

Without delay, Chen Gong sought out Lü Bu.

Seeing Chen Gong arrive in such haste, Lü Bu asked, “Gongtai, what urgent news brings you here? Is there trouble from the enemy?”

With a grave expression, Chen Gong replied, “Fengxian, I saw over ten thousand of Cao’s soldiers gather on the riverbank outside the city. Though I know not what they intend, it cannot bode well! My counsel is to swiftly marshal our troops, exit the city, and probe their intent!”

Though Lü Bu was not renowned for his intellect, he was always willing to heed Chen Gong’s advice. “Very well. You see to the troops; I’ll fetch my weapons and join you shortly.”

As Chen Gong departed to make preparations, Lü Bu returned to his residence to bid farewell to Diao Chan.

Unexpectedly, Diao Chan clung to him, refusing to let him leave.

“My lady, what is the matter?”

Held tightly in Diao Chan’s trembling embrace, Lü Bu could feel her fear and hesitation. His heart wavered.

Tears streaming down her cheeks, Diao Chan sobbed, “My husband, I do not know why, but I am filled with dread. I fear that if you go, misfortune will surely befall you. Can you not stay with me instead?”

Seeing her so distraught, Lü Bu’s heart broke. Overwhelmed by affection, all else seemed unimportant.

Moved by passion, he said firmly, “Very well. I promise you, I will not leave the city. I will stay here with you.”

While Lü Bu had resolved to remain with Diao Chan, Chen Gong had already assembled the officers and troops, awaiting Lü Bu’s arrival.

Yet they waited and waited, and still Lü Bu did not appear.

Rain continued to fall from the heavens. The soldiers, armored and cloaked in straw raincoats, stood shivering in the cold. As time dragged on, restlessness spread among them.

Seeing this, Chen Gong called out, “Wait here a while longer. I will go and see why the general has not arrived.”

With that, he mounted his horse and rode swiftly back to Lü Bu’s residence. There, upon questioning a servant, he learned that Lü Bu had not yet left. Suppressing his anger, he was led inside to see Lü Bu.

Chen Gong asked directly, “Fengxian, I have the troops waiting in formation. Why do you tarry?”

Ashamed, Lü Bu replied in a subdued voice, “Diao Chan has caught a chill and needs my care. I will not go outside the city.”

Hearing this, Chen Gong was furious.

“Xiapi is in dire peril! At such a moment, the entire army is willing to stand and die with you. They wait for you in the rain, yet you abandon their trust for the sake of a woman. You are unworthy to command!”

Lü Bu did not grow angry at this rebuke. He knew well that he was in the wrong, but his mind was made up.

With a look of grim determination, he said, “My mind is set. You need not say more, Gongtai.”

With that, he closed the doors, leaving Chen Gong alone in the rain outside his residence.

“What now? Are we marching out or not?”

“That’s right! If we stand here in this bitter cold rain much longer, we’ll be soaked to death before Cao’s troops even arrive.”

“The general refuses to come, and now Chen Gong has disappeared as well. Did they call us out here just for amusement?”

With the instigation of certain officers, complaints grew louder. Even the common soldiers’ spirits began to wane, and the commotion steadily mounted.

At that moment, Zhang Liao saw Chen Gong approaching, despondent and spiritless.

He hurried to meet Chen Gong. “What news? What does the Marquis say?”

He saw at once that Chen Gong’s face was grim.

Waving him off, Chen Gong said nothing further, but went directly before the assembled men.

Mustering his resolve, he called out, “Soldiers! The order is rescinded. Return to your camps with your officers.”

“What is this? Are we being made fools of?”

Having waited in the rain for so long, only to be dismissed thus, the soldiers’ discontent only deepened.