Chapter 7: The Generals of Danyang, Who Dares to Claim the Merit?

Twenty miles outside Tan County, at Cao Bao’s main camp.

“The news is confirmed. Many counties in Yanzhou have risen up, supporting Chen Gong and Zhang Miao, all simultaneously rebelling.”

“Now Cao Cao has already mobilized the main army and is rushing back to quell the rebellion!”

Within the camp, Xu Dan wore a face full of excitement as he addressed the assembled generals.

He was a Lieutenant General serving Tao Qian, a commander of the Danyang faction, currently under Cao Bao’s command.

Seated at the center, Cao Bao stroked his beard, both surprised and pleased by the news.

Unlike the usual depictions in Three Kingdoms picture books or games—where he is portrayed as a sneaky, unattractive figure—Cao Bao was a handsome middle-aged man with a refined and scholarly appearance.

Early this morning, Liu Bei’s camp sent word informing them of the uprising in Yanzhou.

Cao Bao dared not take it lightly and hurriedly dispatched messengers to contact his intelligence network within Yanzhou while secretly monitoring Cao Cao’s troop movements.

As expected, upon learning of the unrest in Yanzhou, Cao Cao decisively ordered a retreat.

“Generals, this is a providential opportunity. Since our uprising began, we have repeatedly been defeated by Cao Cao.”

“Lord Tao has grown increasingly disappointed with us. Now, as Cao Cao withdraws unprepared, if we strike swiftly, victory is assured.”

Xu Dan excitedly proposed this to the generals.

The soldiers had been harboring a burning desire for this moment for days, waiting eagerly for this chance.

Cao Bao furrowed his brow, hesitating slightly.

“Cao Cao is a master strategist. If he has already anticipated this, a rash attack could lead to defeat and dampen our morale.”

Xu Dan hurriedly responded,

“The situation in Yanzhou is critical. If Yanzhou falls, Cao Cao will have nowhere to call home!”

“Cao Cao is solely focused on resolving the Yanzhou crisis and cannot spare attention to defend against us.”

“Our Danyang troops are all seasoned warriors. Though we were defeated before due to being outnumbered, now, striking from behind while Cao Cao is unprepared, how could we not win?”

As he finished speaking, a guard entered and bowed respectfully.

“General, Commander Zhang and others outside the tent have heard of Cao Cao’s retreat and request an audience!”

“Let them in!” Cao Bao said gravely upon hearing the report.

Shortly after, led by Sima Zhang Kuang, more than twenty mid-to-low ranking officers entered the tent.

They were all commanders of the Danyang faction—its core members.

“General Cao, now that various counties in Yanzhou have erupted in rebellion, Cao Cao cannot attend to both ends. His withdrawal will surely leave many vulnerabilities.”

“If we strike now, we will surely achieve a great victory!”

“We earnestly urge you, General Cao, not to hesitate—decide swiftly!”

Zhang Kuang spoke with the greatest fervor.

“The Cao army has long pillaged Xuzhou, oppressing the people. The elders and commoners of Xuzhou harbor deep resentment.”

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“Now Lord Tao is advanced in years and incapable of controlling the situation in Xuzhou. Chen Gui and Chen Deng, father and son, along with Mi Zhu and others, all favor that fellow Liu Bei.”

“They have whispered in Lord Tao’s ear repeatedly, causing him to divide Danyang troops to Liu Bei. This was their doing.”

“If this continues, it will not bode well for our Danyang faction.”

“We hope General Cao will consider this carefully!”

Zhang Kuang’s views echoed those of the other Danyang commanders.

The high-ranking officers of the Danyang army were Tao Qian’s loyal retainers and his main support.

Now that Tao Qian was old and unwilling to pass Xuzhou to his heirs, he instead showed favor toward Liu Bei.

Liu Bei, being an outsider from the north, was naturally distrusted by the Danyang faction.

Their aim was to quickly win a decisive battle to regain Tao Qian’s trust and secure greater prestige.

Should anything unfortunate befall Tao Qian, they could leverage their military achievements to support Tao Qian’s sons’ succession.

Both of Tao Qian’s sons were weak; if they inherited Xuzhou, real power would effectively fall to the Danyang faction.

Thus, the Danyang commanders all eagerly petitioned to fight, urging Cao Bao to seize this opportunity before Liu Bei could.

Liu Bei was the greatest political rival of the Danyang faction. When he first came to Xuzhou to aid in resisting Cao Cao, Tao Qian had allotted him four thousand Danyang troops, thereby significantly weakening their strength.

Old Tao Qian had ill intentions—he deliberately set the two factions against each other to balance power.

But the Danyang commanders were helpless; they could not simply wait idly for their demise and had to strike back.

Before Cao Bao could speak, another guard rushed in.

“Report—”

“General, Liu Bei’s main force has mobilized, heading toward Pengcheng.”

What!?

Upon hearing this, the faces of all present changed.

“Pengcheng is the direction of Cao Cao’s retreat. Liu Bei’s move must be to pursue Cao Cao!”

Upon hearing this, Cao Bao, who had been hesitating, flew into a rage.

Drawing his sword, he furiously severed the chair before him.

“That big-eared bandit! How dare he compete for credit with me!”

Cao Bao now confirmed it: Liu Bei was determined to contend for power with him!

In name, Liu Bei had come from Qingzhou to assist Tao Qian in resisting Cao Cao.

Now that Cao Cao had already withdrawn, Liu Bei’s refusal to leave and his reckless pursuit could only mean he sought glory and influence.

It seemed this big-eared bandit planned to settle permanently in Xuzhou.

He truly did not regard our Danyang faction at all.

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With this thought, Cao Bao’s anger deepened. He immediately issued orders:

“Generals, rise and return to your camps. When Cao Cao’s army has fully withdrawn, we will pursue in their wake and surely achieve success!”

“Yes, sir!”

The generals and soldiers within the tent responded with roaring enthusiasm, their spirits unyielding.

Meanwhile, Cao Cao’s army was steadily marching along the official road through Xuzhou. Along the way, all that remained were bleached bones.

But Cao Cao himself, at the head of the column, was deeply troubled.

His distress was not due to the rebellion in Yanzhou, but because the leader of the uprising was none other than his close friend Zhang Miao, to whom he had entrusted his wife and children as if they were his own.

When Cao Cao first campaigned against Xuzhou, Tao Qian was strong and Cao Cao weak; he had little confidence in victory.

So he entrusted his family to Zhang Miao, saying, “If I do not return, you must take care of my family.”

This trust spoke volumes of the deep bond between Cao Cao and Zhang Miao.

In recent days, Cao Cao had wracked his brain trying to understand why Zhang Miao would betray him.

He had even defied his elder brother Yuan Shao, refusing to kill Zhang Miao when ordered.

“Why, Meng Zhuo, why do you betray me?” Cao Cao murmured, perplexed.

Ironically, he once told Chen Gong, “Better I betray others than others betray me.”

Meaning he could wrong others, but could not endure being wronged.

Yet now, in the campaign in Xuzhou, the one who stabbed him in the back was a close friend.

This truly wounded Cao Cao’s heart deeply.

“Lord Cao need not worry excessively. Our army will depart today and will return before Lü Bu seizes Yanzhou.”

The speaker was Cao Ren, Cao Cao’s cousin and a favored general.

Cao Cao sighed softly upon hearing this.

“My concern is not Yanzhou’s crisis, but the matter of Meng Zhuo’s betrayal.”

Cao Ren snorted.

“Lord Cao treated Zhang Miao generously, yet this fellow harbored ill intentions. Once we return to Yanzhou, we shall eradicate his entire clan to avenge our grievance!”

At that moment, another rider hastened to Cao Cao’s side.

This rider was not a warrior, but a scholar.