Chapter 69: Guan Yu in Astonishment

Yuan Shao still remained silent, but the general understood that he had no choice but to grit his teeth and report this matter; otherwise, if he was found hiding the truth, his own head would be in jeopardy.

“News has come from Xuchang: the Han Emperor, Liu Xie, is no longer in Xuchang. He was taken by Sun Ce of Jiangdong to Wu Commandery, has already announced the move of the capital to Wu, and has issued a proclamation denouncing Cao Cao!”

As these words fell, the strategists around Yuan Shao erupted in astonishment.

What sort of twist was this? To them, this was a piece of tremendous good news!

But something felt off. The battle had already been fought. With such a huge advantage, had this news arrived just a few days sooner, the outcome would have been utterly different from what it was now.

After hearing this, Yuan Shao stared blankly ahead, silent for a long time.

At last, his body trembled, and after a violent shudder, he spat a mouthful of dark blood and collapsed into unconsciousness.

This emotional rollercoaster was simply too much for Yuan Shao to endure.

What truly shatters a person is not losing hope, but to be told, after all hope is lost, that success was within reach all along—only you never knew it.

Who could bear such a blow, especially someone as once-ambitious as Yuan Shao?

The moment Yuan Shao passed out, Guo Tu seized the opportunity, issuing Yuan Shao’s orders at once: all remaining generals and soldiers were to withdraw and return to Ye City.

Given that Liu Xie had been spirited away by Jiangdong, he judged that Cao Cao would not be able to seize Yuan Shao’s territory for the time being.

Though Yuan Shao had, in effect, handed Cao Cao an advantage in this campaign, the enemy of one’s enemy is a friend; Jiangdong, in a way, had helped Yuan Shao catch his breath.

Thus, the Battle of Guandu came to an end. This was supposed to be the battle that united the North under Cao Cao, but Sun Ce’s audacious stroke had robbed it of its destined grandeur.

When Cao Cao received the news, he did not immediately disclose it to his commanders. After all, he had held Liu Xie in his grasp for years, never allowing him to leave the palace—a fact impossible to whitewash.

There was nothing to be said in defense; nor did Cao Cao wish to. In any case, he had already forced Yuan Shao into submission, and he believed that Sun Ce, having only just pacified Jiangdong, would not immediately have designs on the Central Plains. After all, possessing Liu Xie would not suddenly make the soldiers of Jiangdong any fiercer.

Though Cao Cao kept silent, rumors have a way of spreading everywhere. Soon, nearly all his generals knew of it.

On the road back to Xuchang, Zhang Liao also heard the news.

“Yunchang, do you know why the Grand Minister, after achieving victory, is leading the army back to Xuchang in such haste?”

Seeing that Guan Yu was unaware, and knowing that both Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan—Cao Cao’s kinsmen—were reluctant to tell him, Zhang Liao moved to Guan Yu’s side to inform him. The loss of Liu Xie was a grave blow to Cao Cao; many lords who had clung to him would now reconsider their allegiance, and after the defeat of Yuan Shao, the opportunity to carve up his territory was nearly lost.

“Perhaps someone has caused trouble in Xuchang? Otherwise, with the Grand Minister’s mind, he would never let Yuan Shao slip away so easily.”

Guan Yu’s face remained emotionless, and he showed little curiosity at Zhang Liao’s words.

Zhang Liao shook his head slightly. He could see perfectly well that Guan Yu’s heart was not in serving Cao Cao. Yet Liu Bei’s fortune was even worse—no land, no soldiers; to rise again would be all but impossible.

“Be that as it may, this time the Grand Minister has suffered a great loss. News has already arrived from Xuchang, and in a few days it will be an open secret: our Han Emperor Liu Xie, in the months since the Grand Minister marched to Guandu, was somehow spirited away by Zhang Hong of Jiangdong, has now arrived in Wu Commandery, announced the move of the capital, and issued a harshly worded decree against the Grand Minister…”

Zhang Liao thought Guan Yu would not care, but upon glancing at him, he saw Guan Yu’s expression had changed dramatically; his eyes, usually narrow, were now round with shock.

“Yunchang, you need not be agitated. With the Grand Minister’s strength, even without His Majesty, it will only bring some extra trouble. Yuan Shao has been utterly broken by this defeat; and though Jiangdong seems impressive, it is but a corner in the south.”

“Was it only His Majesty who was taken by Jiangdong, or everyone in the imperial palace?”

Guan Yu’s expression hardly changed, but he asked this out of nowhere.

“That… I do not know. Likely only His Majesty was taken. Zhang Hong is not one to trouble unrelated people. Wait—Yunchang?”

Before Zhang Liao could finish, Guan Yu had already spurred his horse and ridden off, destination unknown.

Inside his carriage, Cao Cao was frowning and lost in thought when the guard’s voice sounded outside.

“Grand Minister, the Deputy General is here with an urgent matter.”

“There is no one else inside. Let him come in,” Cao Cao replied.

His carriage was not just a place for rest on the march, but also a mobile council chamber for pressing affairs.

In a moment, the curtain was lifted and Guan Yu slipped in, sitting opposite Cao Cao.

“Grand Minister, I have heard that His Majesty was seized by the Jiangdong forces and taken to Wu Commandery, and that the capital has been moved. May I ask the current situation in the palace at Xuchang? Are my two sisters-in-law safe?”

Clearly, Liu Xie was of little concern to Guan Yu; what truly weighed on his heart was the fate of his two sisters-in-law.

Cao Cao was not angered by this and merely shook his head slightly. “I have only heard bits and pieces. Xun Yu has yet to send a detailed report. From what little I know, everyone in the palace was drugged into unconsciousness. Precisely who was taken is still unclear, but it is certain there was no slaughter in the palace.”

Hearing this, Guan Yu breathed a little easier, but then immediately said solemnly, “Grand Minister, I ask your leave to ride ahead to Xuchang and learn the truth for myself.”

At this Cao Cao frowned inwardly, thinking: This is too much. I have just lost the emperor and am plagued with troubles, and here you are, worried about Liu Bei’s two women—who may have already forgotten you. Is this not needless anxiety?

But for a talent like Guan Yu, Cao Cao would not rebuke him. After a moment’s silence, he said, “You may go, but I will have Cao Hong accompany you.”