Chapter 129: Guo Tu and Xu You

“Once we force Xu You into a corner, do you think he might come over and seek refuge with us, Uncle?”

After speaking at such length, Cao Peng’s mouth had gone dry. He picked up the teacup beside him and took a sip.

Cao Cao’s eyes suddenly gleamed. He stared intently at Cao Peng.

The look sent a chill through Cao Peng.

He could not help wondering whether the old man, besides having a weakness for married women, also had a taste for men. Cao Peng was his own nephew, after all. Surely Cao Cao would not be so indiscriminate.

“Anmin, I truly cannot do without you!” Cao Cao exclaimed, his face alight with excitement.

Afraid that Cao Cao might say something overly sentimental, Cao Peng hurriedly took his leave.

The moment he stepped outside the tent, Guo Jia patted him on the back.

“Anmin, I owe you an apology for what happened before.”

Cao Peng smiled. In truth, he had never taken it to heart.

“No one is a sage. Everyone has emotions and desires. You and I are friends of true integrity, so I will not hold it against you.”

After hearing this, Guo Jia felt a measure of respect for Cao Peng.

“By the way, you have led troops here this time. Will the Qingzhou reinforcements make any move?”

“Rest assured. If they dare attack Xuzhou, it will become their burial ground.”

The two men walked away while talking. Cao Peng intended to take Guo Jia back to his tent for a hearty drink.

As soon as Cao Peng and Guo Jia left Cao Cao’s tent, another unexpected visitor arrived.

It was Cheng Yu. He clasped his hands in greeting and said to Cao Cao, “My lord, I have already heard what happened just now. Do you truly intend to follow his plan? It is merely an optimistic conjecture. If anything goes wrong at any stage, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

Cao Cao’s gaze turned cold. In a deep voice, he asked, “Unimaginable consequences? The consequences of continuing this stalemate may well be even more serious than what lies before us now.”

“Since you claim Cao Peng’s plan is unworkable, then give me a workable one.”

Cheng Yu was startled.

He had not expected Cao Cao to lose his temper so suddenly.

“I spoke out of turn. I shall take my leave!”

What a joke—to ask him for a solution.

Once the provisions were exhausted, not even an immortal could turn the tide of the battle.

Ultimately, the reason he had come to Cao Cao to disparage Cao Peng despite having no alternative was that selfishness had driven him to it.

In Cheng Yu’s eyes, so long as Cao Peng remained standing, the small faction centered around himself would never have a chance to rise again.

Cao Cao was a decisive man. Since he had chosen to trust Cao Peng, no one would be able to shake Cao Peng’s position in the Cao camp.

It seemed Cheng Yu ought to put his ambitions aside and settle down properly.

After Cheng Yu returned, Cao Ren came to visit him.

“Sir, how did it go?” Cao Ren was naturally asking about Cao Peng.

Cheng Yu sighed helplessly. “I merely sounded him out, yet my lord gave me a thorough reprimand.”

“What?”

Cao Ren panicked. Cao Cao often rebuked his military officers, but he rarely spoke harshly to scholars and advisers.

“We should stop acting rashly. From now on, give Cao Peng a little more leeway. That is the proper course.”

After saying this, Cheng Yu leaned his head against the back of his chair, his spirits utterly dampened.

Cao Ren completely abandoned his former hopes. Since even Cheng Yu had said this, there was no point in continuing to indulge in fantasies.

Cao Peng knew nothing of this little episode. Even if he had known, he would not have cared.

Inside his tent, Guo Jia had already drunk himself unconscious and was lying down.

The tent flap suddenly opened, and Man Chong entered.

“General, the evidence of embezzlement in Xu You’s household has already reached Guo Tu. That secret letter has also been sent out, and Xu You should intercept it before long.”

Cao Peng smiled faintly. As long as Xu You obtained the letter, he would surely go to Yuan Shao.

From there, everything depended on how Guo Tu, the master of timing, chose to play his part.

Guo Tu was not particularly talented when it came to strategy, but when it came to schemes, deceit, and causing trouble while dragging others down, he was undoubtedly first-rate.

“Keep a close eye on what happens next. The moment you notice any movement on Young Master Yuan’s side, report it immediately.”

After speaking, Cao Peng leaned back in his chair and narrowed his eyes. Until the situation changed again, he would not leave the tent.

He wanted nothing more than a little peace and quiet.

The news of Cao Peng’s return spread throughout Cao Cao’s camp.

The rumors went something like this:

“Have you heard? The God of War is back!”

“Have you heard? The Chancellor’s most formidable strategist has returned.”

…

Several days later, in Yuan Shao’s military camp—

Yuan Shao held a letter Guo Tu had handed him, and his expression was remarkably colorful.

After a long silence, Yuan Shao sighed.

“Alas, I never imagined that Xu You, whom I trusted so deeply, would betray and mislead me so thoroughly!”

Guo Tu immediately fanned the flames. “My lord, men die for wealth just as birds die for food. He was a greedy man to begin with. It was only to be expected that he would commit such a crime.”

Yuan Shao sighed again before saying, “This matter must not be revealed to anyone. With a great enemy before us, we cannot throw ourselves into confusion.”

“I understand, my lord!”

Guo Tu clasped his hands respectfully.

Just then, Xu You pushed open the tent flap and entered in high spirits.

“My lord, excellent news! The destruction of Cao’s army is close at hand!”

He entered with delight written across his face. But after seeing Yuan Shao, he noticed Guo Tu sitting beside him as well.

His expression changed at once.

“Oh? Guo Tu is here too.”

Guo Tu clasped his hands and gave him an innocuous smile.

Yuan Shao, however, asked coldly, “Xu You, why have you come shouting and making such a commotion?”

Though he sensed something strange in the atmosphere, Xu You still said cheerfully, “My lord, look! I intercepted a secret report Cao Cao sent to Xuchang. It says that Cao’s army is about to run out of grain.”

“Oh?”

Yuan Shao accepted the secret report and read its contents.

Xu You continued excitedly, “Heaven itself is helping you accomplish your great undertaking! My lord, you must send out the army at once. Divide our forces and attack them. On one side, pin down Cao Cao’s main army at Guandu; on the other, send three hundred thousand troops straight at Xuchang!”

Unexpectedly, Yuan Shao threw the secret report into the fire beside him.

“Xu You, this report of such importance was obtained far too easily. Don’t you find that suspicious?”

The delight on Xu You’s face vanished instantly.

Uneasy, he asked, “My lord, what do you mean?”

Yuan Shao barked, “Information acquired so easily is obviously something Cao the Traitor deliberately allowed you to obtain. He is trying to trick us again!”

At this, Guo Tu hurriedly praised him.

“My lord is truly wise!”

Xu You was furious. “My lord, this is a rare opportunity, one that may never come again. If you let it pass, you will certainly regret it!”

“Enough! Such an obvious ruse, yet you insist that I send out the army. Could it be that you have already colluded with Cao the Traitor?”

Yuan Shao’s roar echoed through the tent.