Chapter 8: Dian Wei Seeks Forgiveness, Cao Cao Reflects

“Cao the Traitor, you’ve gone too far!”

Outside the city of Wan, an enraged shout thundered from within the central command tent of Zhang Xiu, the Spear King of the North. The cry was laced with murderous intent, sending chills down the spines of all who heard it.

Inside the tent, Zhang Xiu, a man over eight feet tall with a commanding and heroic presence, was seething with fury. One could scarcely imagine what he might do if his enemy stood before him at that moment.

That very morning, he had received word that the estate where Madame Zou resided outside the city had been attacked by armed men. Not a single guard survived, and Madame Zou herself had vanished. Zhang Xiu immediately dispatched men to investigate the truth.

The intelligence was clear: the previous night, after becoming drunk, Cao Cao demanded the company of a woman. He then ordered Dian Wei to lead several dozen armored troops out of the city. Witnesses claimed that the guide was none other than Hu Che’er, one of Zhang Xiu’s own officers. At the banquet, Hu Che’er had received a gold reward from Cao Cao—a fact seen by many—and it seemed plausible that he sought to curry favor by serving as guide.

All evidence pointed to Cao Cao as the culprit behind Madame Zou’s abduction.

Earlier, Cao Cao’s flirtatious glances at Jia Xu and his public reward to Hu Che’er had already provoked Zhang Xiu. Now, to brazenly abduct his young aunt-in-law was an outright insult.

Such repeated provocations were intolerable—not only for Zhang Xiu, the Spear King of the North, but for any ordinary man. Cao Cao’s arrogance had reached new heights. If Zhang Xiu failed to resist now, he would truly be nothing more than a coward.

In an era where reputation and honor meant everything, how could he continue in this world if he endured such humiliation?

“General, please calm your anger…”

The only one daring enough to counsel Zhang Xiu at this moment was his trusted advisor, Jia Xu. This man, in his thirties, wore a deep blue scholar’s robe and a matching cap. What drew the eye most were his hawk-like eyes, brimming with cunning.

“Master, to be so disgraced by that traitor Cao—how can I possibly endure it?” Zhang Xiu’s gaze was ice-cold, his rage nearly overwhelming his reason.

Jia Xu sighed, well aware of Zhang Xiu’s state of mind. Persuasion now would only sow suspicion. Besides, with Madame Zou missing, any retaliation against Cao Cao would lack just cause. After a moment’s thought, Jia Xu said, “For now, permit me to visit Cao’s camp and investigate. Let us see if Madame Zou is indeed in his hands. Should that prove true, we can then devise our strategy.”

“In that case, I am relying on you,” Zhang Xiu replied. He knew well that opposing Cao Cao required utmost caution; sending Jia Xu to investigate could only benefit their cause.

Meanwhile, at Cao Cao’s camp, upstream from the Yu River and not far from Zhang Xiu’s encampment, Cao Cao was slowly awakening from his slumber. The excesses of the previous night had left his head splitting with pain, and his memories were hazy.

“Attend me!” he called. His attendants hurried in, helping him dress and wash. As they did, an official announced, “My lord, Captain Dian has been waiting outside your tent for some time.”

Cao Cao was surprised. What urgent matter would bring Dian Wei to him so early? His memory of the previous night was entirely blank.

“Let him enter,” Cao Cao commanded with a wave of his hand.

Dian Wei, massive as a beast, entered and bowed deeply before suddenly dropping to his knees.

“Your servant has failed his mission and begs punishment, my lord!”

Caught off guard, Cao Cao hastened to help him up. But Dian Wei remained kneeling and confessed his “crimes” in detail.

For one sobering from drunkenness, nothing is more mortifying than having someone fill in the gaps of a night lost to oblivion. As Dian Wei recounted the events, embarrassment flooded Cao Cao’s heart—though his face betrayed nothing, for he was never one to blush.

He hadn’t imagined his drunkenness would lead to such folly: rewarding Hu Che’er and attempting to seize Madame Zou—acts courting disaster.

When Dian Wei had finished, Cao Cao’s face darkened with shifting emotion. In his now-clear state, he quickly grasped the full ramifications of the previous night’s actions.

Madame Zou was Zhang Xiu’s aunt by marriage, the widow of Zhang Ji. Zhang Xiu had inherited his uncle’s army and was publicly obliged to protect the widow. For Cao Cao to seize Madame Zou was a direct affront to Zhang Xiu’s honor.

Luckily, all had been averted thanks to Cao Peng’s intervention. Otherwise, a moment’s pleasure would have earned him a powerful enemy.

As Cao Cao silently counted his blessings, a soldier entered to report, “My lord, Jia Xu, advisor to Zhang Xiu, has come to call upon our camp.”

The moment Cao Cao heard Jia Xu’s name, his heart skipped a beat.

Could it be that Zhang Xiu had sent Jia Xu to inquire about Madame Zou?