Chapter 9: Zhang Fei, Who Reveres the Virtuous and Disregards the Petty (Please Follow for More!)

Tensions were mounting on both sides.

The conflict between Zhang Fei and Cao Bao did not arise overnight.

Zhang Fei was an intriguing character; he revered gentlemen but paid no mind to petty men.

He greatly admired scholars but despised coarse warriors.

Though he himself was a warrior, he disliked other warriors and preferred to associate with intellectuals.

Liu Bei, aware of this trait, had assigned Zhang Fei to guard Xiapi during the campaign against Yuan Shu.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Fei ended up clashing with Cao Bao, a mere spearman.

Cao Bao came from a proper official family and naturally looked down on Zhang Fei’s humble origins.

Neither side could tolerate the other.

This tension boiled over completely during Liu Bei’s expedition against Yuan Shu.

Cao Bao was appointed by Liu Bei as the Magistrate of Xiapi, a high-ranking official equivalent to a prefect.

Zhang Fei served as Liu Bei’s military commander, akin to a minister of defense.

One was a newly appointed general with strong ability but little seniority.

The other was a veteran general with average ability but great seniority.

After Liu Bei’s departure, the question arose—who was to obey whom?

Moreover, Liu Bei, having become Governor of Xuzhou, was not yet adept at managing relationships among his subordinates and failed to mediate between the old and new commanders.

Their conflict erupted fully.

Zhang Fei, fierce and bold, led his troops to break through Cao Bao’s camp and personally executed Cao Bao.

But soon after, Lü Bu arrived unexpectedly, seized Xiapi in a swift attack, and Xuzhou was lost, leaving Liu Bei homeless.

Amid this tense standoff, Zhang Fei surprisingly gestured broadly and ordered supplies of grain and rice to be provided to Cao Bao’s soldiers.

Cao Bao was stunned and quickly asked, “What do you mean by this?”

Zhang Fei snorted softly, “I am under my elder brother’s command to pursue Cao’s army. My brother explicitly instructed that if I encounter your forces, I must provide timely support and supplies.”

“You need not thank me; this is my brother’s order, not my personal intent.”

Though Zhang Fei disliked Cao Bao, he dared not disobey Liu Bei’s orders.

Cao Bao felt a swirl of emotions and was momentarily at a loss.

Zhang Fei paid him no mind and prepared to continue leading his troops forward.

Cao Bao asked again, “General, where are you headed?”

“To pursue Cao Cao,” Zhang Fei replied.

Cao Bao urgently tried to dissuade him, “No, you cannot go. Cao Cao is well prepared. I have already pursued him before and was defeated.”

“Now, chasing the victorious army with a defeated force will only bring another loss.”

Perhaps grateful for Zhang Fei’s provision of supplies, Cao Bao spoke with some kindness.

Zhang Fei smiled disdainfully.

“My elder brother has been guided by a hermit sage who says the Cao army can be pursued. How can it not be possible?”

A hermit sage?

Cao Bao was puzzled. He had fought alongside Liu Bei for some time and yet knew nothing of such a figure in the army.

“Hmph, indeed,” Zhang Fei said with a trace of reverence when mentioning the sage. Though he had never met Li Yi, he deeply respected intellectuals by nature.

“The sage said if you pursued me, you would surely be defeated, so when I encountered you, I was to provide supplies.”

“So, you should be the one thanking this gentleman.”

Cao Bao’s mind reeled.

It seemed Liu Bei had the aid of a great figure who predicted his defeat and arranged for Zhang Fei to assist him.

Who exactly was this person?

Zhang Fei said no more, simply adding, “Believe it or not as you will. I have military affairs to attend to; forgive me for not keeping you company!”

With that, he urged his horse forward.

“General, wait!” Cao Bao called out, stopping him.

“What is it?” Zhang Fei asked impatiently.

Cao Bao narrowed his eyes, took a deep breath, hesitated, and finally clasped his hands slowly, “Now that we stand with Governor Liu against Cao’s army, if General Zhang insists on pursuing Cao Cao, I am willing to join.”

Well now—

Being called “Big Brother Liu, Governor of Yu Province” caught Zhang Fei by surprise.

His elder brother held the title of Inspector of Yu Province in name only, but hearing it was pleasing.

For Cao Bao, on one hand, he deeply hated Cao Cao, who had brutally slaughtered the soldiers and civilians of Xuzhou.

In the recent battle, many of his Dan Yang comrades died, and he himself had nearly starved to death on Xuzhou soil.

Such a death was utterly humiliating.

So naturally, Cao Bao sought revenge.

On the other hand, Cao Bao was genuinely curious about the hermit sage who had predicted his defeat and ordered Zhang Fei to supply him.

He was convinced that this pursuit would be a complete victory and wanted to see for himself if the prophecy was true.

“Follow if you wish; no one will stop you!”

Another man meant another source of strength, especially since Dan Yang soldiers were fierce warriors.

Though Zhang Fei was reckless, he was no fool; this force was too valuable to refuse.

“General, about us...” Xu Dan hesitated, glancing at Cao Bao.

“No need for words!” Cao Bao waved his hand, his eyes flashing with determination.

“Cao Cao slaughtered many of my Dan Yang brothers. Don’t you want to avenge them?”

This question silenced Xu Dan immediately.

“Soldiers, now I intend to strike back and seek revenge on Cao Cao!”

“Who dares to follow me?”

Cao Bao mounted his horse again and began a rousing pre-battle speech.

“We dare!” The Dan Yang soldiers were known for their fierce and fearless nature.

Though recently defeated, they still dared to fight.

Cao Bao’s troops fell in line behind Zhang Fei’s main force.

Meanwhile, Liu Bei had already rallied his troops and was tailing Cao Cao’s army.

He did not rush to attack, waiting instead for Zhang Fei’s forces to arrive so he could unite with Zilong and Yunchang’s troops to decisively crush Cao Cao’s army.

Standing at the critical moment, Liu Bei quietly observed Cao Cao’s forces in the distance.

“Lord, Cao Bao has always been at odds with you. When he went to battle Cao’s army at Tan County earlier, it was his disobedience that led to defeat,” said Sun Qian, a renowned scholar of Xuzhou.

“Now that Cao Cao has withdrawn and Xuzhou is safe, Cao Bao is dead. Lord Tao can only rely on you,” he added.

“Since Cao Bao was defeated by Cao Cao and his troops are exhausted, why save him?”

Sun Qian was originally from Qingzhou and had been recommended by the great scholar Zheng Xuan to serve in Xuzhou, earning some reputation.

He admired Liu Bei and had joined his camp.

“Ha, Gong You only sees the surface, not the depths,” Li Yi said with a smile.

Sun Qian was also one of Liu Bei’s original comrades, and Li Yi treated him with respect.

“Oh?” Sun Qian raised his eyebrows. He knew Li Yi was the hermit sage saved by Liu Bei but knew little else, so he asked, “I am but a dullard, please enlighten me, sir.”

Li Yi spoke methodically, “Though Cao Bao and Lord Liu are not on good terms, Cao Bao was a trusted minister of Tao Qian and a general of the Dan Yang faction, holding considerable influence in Xuzhou.”

“If he dies, it would not be good for Xuzhou’s political situation.”

The implication was clear—if Liu Bei wished to rule Xuzhou in the future, he would need to rely on Cao Bao’s connections.

In fact, the historical Liu Bei was aware of this, or he would never have appointed Cao Bao as Magistrate of Xiapi.

Nor would he have tolerated Cao Bao’s quarrels with his third brother.

It was precisely because he valued Cao Bao’s influence in the Dan Yang faction and hoped to consolidate his rule in Xuzhou through him.

Alas, events did not unfold as hoped.

…