Chapter 68: One More Piece of News

Cao Cao threw his head back and laughed, his laughter ringing in the ears of nearly every soldier around him. Gradually, they too began to laugh with him. The Battle of Guandu had not been easy for Cao Cao—despite a string of victories, he had constantly been at a disadvantage. Up until this very moment, a single misstep could have plunged him into irredeemable ruin.

The reason Cao Cao had shouted so boldly that Heaven would not destroy him was because even he had not foreseen such an outcome; one could say that Yuan Shao had shattered his own winning hand. Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Zhang He, and Gao Lan—these four were the most formidable commanders Yuan Shao had in Hebei. The rest were little more than rabble.

Now, with two killed by Cao Cao and two surrendered, and with Tian Feng, Ju Shou, and Xu You each having turned from Yuan Shao to varying degrees, Cao Cao understood that Yuan Shao’s cause was lost.

Though Yuan Shao had been the attacker in this campaign, with his main force and generals decimated, he no longer posed a threat to Cao Cao.

"Send the order—we return first to Guandu. Once there, the army will march back to the capital!"

Upon receiving the news, Cao Cao immediately realized it was time to return and restore order to the court, which by now must have fallen into chaos. Though Emperor Xian was gone, as soon as word of his victory reached the capital, Cao Cao believed he would still be able to maintain control.

"Lord Chancellor… there is one more matter." The deputy general under Cao Hong, hearing this, did not immediately go to deliver the order but lingered before Cao Cao, stammering out his words.

Seeing his expression, Cao Cao knew at once that what was to come was not good news. He dismounted and, lowering his voice, said, "Speak—tell me what you know."

"Lord Chancellor, just as I was leaving Guandu, a trusted aide of Master Xun Yu from Xuchang arrived. He reported that His Majesty has announced the relocation of the capital to Wu Commandery and has issued a proclamation denouncing you. News of this has already reached Xuchang and will reach Yuan Shao’s camp within a day."

Having finished, the deputy glanced anxiously at Cao Cao, but seeing little change in his expression, he relaxed somewhat.

"Keep this matter quiet for now. Simply carry out my earlier orders. Go back and tell Cao Hong to make ready for our return to Xuchang."

As Cao Hong’s confidant departed, Cao Cao’s brow furrowed once more. Clearly, Sun Ce had intended to strike at him from behind while he was locked in fierce battle with Yuan Shao. He had narrowly escaped disaster—had this news arrived just two days earlier, even Yuan Shao, for all his shortcomings, would not have missed such an opportunity.

"Hold the Emperor hostage and command the feudal lords."

This was what all under heaven knew Cao Cao to be doing of late. Yet with the Emperor in his grasp, no warlord dared speak ill of him, for he could always rebuke them in the Emperor’s name.

But one truth remains unchanged through the ages: when the wall falls, all push.

Cao Cao did not know the content of the proclamation, but he was certain of one thing—once an edict in Liu Xie’s name was issued, all those who had previously dared not reproach him would begin to denounce him.

With matters as they stood, Cao Cao made up his mind. Since Yuan Shao was now incapable of challenging him, he must return to Xuchang and proceed cautiously. At the very least, after this battle, few in the Central Plains could match him if it came to a direct clash.

With his remaining two thousand men, Cao Cao set off at once for Guandu.

When he arrived, Cao Hong had already prepared men and provisions for the return to Xuchang. The campaign had lasted nearly half a year, and to emerge with such a result was nothing short of miraculous.

"Where are Zhang He and Gao Lan?" Cao Cao’s first question upon his return was about these two. Unlike those killed with Chunyu Qiong at Wuchao, Zhang He and Gao Lan had faced him in battle for months; Cao Cao recognized them both as capable generals—especially Zhang He, who was skilled in leading troops.

The moment the news of their surrender reached him, Cao Cao was intent on keeping them. As Yuan Shao’s pillars, they would be valuable even under his own banner.

"I have already arranged for them to rest," Cao Hong replied. "That wretch Yuan Shao, in his folly, ordered them to storm Guandu in a day despite having no provisions. Outraged, the two dispersed their troops and surrendered with only their personal retinues."

Cao Hong spoke in detail, making clear that only these two came over—bare officers with no troops at their backs. Yuan Shao’s elite soldiers, numbering in the tens of thousands, were disbanded in a fit of anger by Zhang He and Gao Lan—a testament to their deep resentment toward Yuan Shao, and proof to Cao Cao that these men were principled. They surrendered without using Yuan Shao’s troops as their bargaining chip—something not many could do.

"So be it. Soldiers can be raised again. Has word from Xuchang leaked out?"

Cao Hong knew what troubled Cao Cao and shook his head slightly.

"Back to Xuchang—we will discuss everything else later."

Within two or three hours of Cao Cao’s return to Guandu, his army withdrew hurriedly to Xuchang. At the same time, two critical messages were delivered to Yuan Shao, who waited anxiously for news of the battle.

"What of the Battle of Guandu?" Yuan Shao asked, forcing himself to remain calm as a harried deputy of Zhang He stumbled in.

"My lord, Zhang He and Gao Lan surrendered to Cao Cao right on the battlefield!"

"What? How dare they…"

Yuan Shao could scarcely believe his ears. He had always trusted in their loyalty. Even if he had, on Guo Tu’s advice, issued a harsh command to take Guandu, it had been meant more as intimidation than a real ultimatum.

Now, there was no turning back. The four great generals of Hebei were lost, and so too his elite troops. The Battle of Guandu was a crushing defeat—his overwhelming advantage erased the very moment Zhang He and Gao Lan went over to Cao Cao.

For a long while, Yuan Shao could not utter a single word; none of his confidants dared speak, either.

The messenger who brought the news knew it was his report that had left Yuan Shao in such a state, but as a proper general, he pressed on with his duty.

"My lord, there is one more piece of news..."