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"If I don't kill Lü Bu within a month, my own head will roll."
That day, Jia Xu had promised Cao Cao with utmost confidence. Yet, from the start of the organized encirclement and assassination, to the complete failure of the operation and the news of Xu Chu’s tragic death, half the allotted time had already passed.
Other than tightening defenses in and around Xuchang, Jia Xu devoted all his efforts to blocking information.
As a result, most of the court officials—and even the Emperor himself—remained unaware of the heavy losses suffered by Cao’s army and that Xu Chu was killed by Lü Bu. However, within the core of the Cao camp, the shock left everyone reeling. The outcome made it clear: as long as he chose his battlefield wisely, Lü Bu alone was capable of annihilating an entire army!
Yet no one knew what to do. They all knew Lü Bu always sought revenge, and if provoked, he would never let matters rest. They expected Lü Bu would soon come for them, but besides maintaining tight defenses and staying on high alert, the generals could do little else.
The ones most afraid, of course, were the three surrendered generals who betrayed Lü Bu: Hou Cheng, Song Xian, and Wei Xu. Everyone believed Lü Bu’s next move would be to take the heads of these three traitors. Before long, Hou, Song, and Wei felt completely isolated in Cao’s camp; not only the high-ranking officers, but even the lower-ranked soldiers kept their distance, as if talking to them for even a moment would spell certain doom.
Traitors are unwelcome no matter where they go—let alone when their martial prowess and achievements are unremarkable, and now their heads seemed to be just waiting for Lü Bu to claim them. They deeply regretted betraying Lü Bu for the sake of promotion and fortune; their new master did not value them, and they never imagined Lü Bu would survive, leaving them in constant fear. They would have been better off surrendering after the city fell, just like Zhang Liao!
They longed to lay down their arms and return to the countryside far from trouble, but how could they possibly ask Cao Cao for permission?
Jia Xu, of course, was not faring much better.
After the failed operation and Xu Chu’s death, he had tried several times to seek an audience at the Chancellor’s residence, but Cao Cao, claiming illness, refused to see him.
Oh, so you want to cut ties with me this quickly?!
Jia Xu was indignant.
That day, however, he received a message from Guo Jia, relaying the Chancellor's words:
He understood that Lü Bu was hard to kill and did not blame the strategist. Jia Xu could continue to mobilize any available resources to continue the mission. Even if half a month later Lü Bu still wasn’t dead, the Chancellor would understand that Jia Xu had done his utmost and would not hold him accountable.
"What nonsense! Nice words, but if Lü Bu isn’t dead after a month, my head will be forfeit anyway!"
Having read the letter, Jia Xu's face twisted with anger; he slammed the table and cursed out loud.
No... I can't lose a strategist’s basic composure.
I must calm down. I’m the one who once defeated Lü Bu!
"But that was on the battlefield. Now, where is your battlefield?
Where are the soldiers under your command? Where will you set your covert formations?"
In his heart, another voice raised these questions.
Ever since Xu Chu’s death, Jia Xu’s residence had become quiet and desolate. Even though Guo Jia’s letter said Cao Cao still allowed him to use resources, whenever he sought the generals’ help, they dodged his requests; when he visited in person, they avoided him just like their lord.
Xuchang — The Chancellor’s Residence
"Lord, are you planning to leave Jia Xu to fend for himself?"
Guo Jia stood at the bedside, questioning the ailing Cao Cao.
"What else can I do? I suffered heavy losses this time, losing a beloved general. If it weren’t for Jia Xu’s previous merits against Lü Bu, I wouldn’t wait for Lü Bu to take his head!"
Cao Cao propped himself up, speaking bitterly.
The weather had changed rapidly in recent days, and he had indeed caught a cold. Given the current situation, other than hiding in the mansion under heavy guard, he couldn't think of anywhere safer.
"Jia Xu is still a master of military strategy. If he dies at Lü Bu’s hands, it will be a great loss to us," Guo Jia said.
"Fengxiao, spare me the pretense. You’ve dug up Xuchang three feet deep these past few days, yet found not a trace of Lü Bu! Compared to future gains, let’s get through this crisis first...
As for Jia Xu, if he can’t pass this test, then he’s nothing special. Nothing to regret."
Having said his piece, Cao Cao lay back down, exhausted.
Guo Jia fell silent. Indeed, with the Emperor under his control, Cao Cao held immense power; with so many talented strategists and generals, losing Jia Xu or even Guo Jia himself was regrettable, but not catastrophic.
A tall tree provides good shade; I am but one of many birds in its branches.
This was why Guo Jia, ever since serving Cao Cao, always maintained a certain nonchalance and detachment.
He said nothing more, saluted, and took his leave.
Leaving the Chancellor’s residence, he chuckled to himself.
My lord, this was never supposed to be your crisis.
Xuchang’s Outskirts — Main Cao Army Camp
"Strategist Jia, please go back. Your determination to kill Lü Bu is admirable. But my brother and I have no personal grudge with him. There’s just no need, and frankly, we don’t want to get involved in this mess," Xiahou Dun said.
Inside the main tent, the Xiahou brothers, Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan, sat grandly at the center, while Jia Xu stood before them. This was Jia Xu’s third visit; persistence had finally paid off.
Xiahou Dun spoke the truth; this was the main reason the generals were treating Jia Xu coldly. On the battlefield, orders were orders—they had to face the war god Lü Bu. But people naturally avoid danger. In a one-on-one fight, none dared think they could defeat Lü Bu.
"You may not have a grudge with Lü Bu, but aren’t you interested in avenging the eye you lost to that assassin ‘Little Meng’ among Lü Bu’s defeated soldiers?"
Jia Xu said coldly.
"You have a plan?" Xiahou Dun's thick brows rose, his one good eye flashing as he fixed his gaze on the sly strategist before him.
"According to reliable intelligence, while hiding, Lü Bu has always kept Little Meng at his side. Lü Bu must be in Xuchang now, so Little Meng is likely here too."
"Oh... So you want to use Little Meng to lure out Lü Bu. But how can you lure out Little Meng?"
Now Xiahou Dun was interested.
"I have another piece of bait that can lure out that little fish. But when the big fish shows up, I’ll need the help of you two generals," Jia Xu said with a sly smile.
"Last time in the outskirts of Yewang, Lü Bu only had the advantage of terrain. Today, if he shows himself in Xuchang, with guards every five steps and patrols every ten, plus thousands of troops, even with his unmatched martial skills, he’s just a lone man. He won’t be able to escape!"
Jia Xu knew his life was on the line, so he decided to ignore Cao Cao’s order for secrecy.
"Ha! It’s a deal! As long as Lü Bu appears, I’ll mobilize the whole army to help you capture or kill him! But that crippled soldier’s life is mine!" Xiahou Dun laughed heartily.
Xiahou Dun and Cao Cao had been close since childhood, and he was one of Cao Cao’s most trusted confidants. Although making this public went against Cao Cao’s wishes, if they succeeded in capturing Lü Bu, Cao Cao surely would not blame him.
Xiahou Yuan, sitting beside Xiahou Dun, remained silent.
He always obeyed his big brother, and since Xiahou Dun lost his eye, he had become more volatile, making Xiahou Yuan ever more reluctant to object.
Still, when Jia Xu mentioned that Lü Bu couldn't possibly escape, Xiahou Yuan couldn’t help but recall—the war god Lü Bu was also known as the "Flying General."
End of Chapter 18
Copyright Notice: Chapter 18 "The Warmth and Coldness of Human Relationships" from "Burning Dreams"
Original work by Jing Xixian (Vampire L), all rights reserved.
Without my written consent, please do not reproduce, print, adapt, transfer, translate, or use this work for commercial purposes in any form.
© Jing Xixian (King Heyin) (Vampire L), All rights reserved.
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