Chapter Eleven: The Council

After the farce concerning the ceding of Xuzhou had come to an end, everyone returned to their seats. Surveying the room, Tao Qian asked, “Now that Cao Cao has withdrawn his troops, and Lord Xuande first tasted victory in pursuit only to be defeated, do you all think this was a ruse to lure us in?”

Chen Deng considered carefully before answering, “It seems Cao Cao truly encountered trouble in his rear; if it were a stratagem, he would never have let Lord Xuande return.”

“That’s right,” Mi Zhu agreed. “Those troops must have been left as a rearguard. For now, it appears Xuzhou is safe.”

The reasoning was straightforward. If this had indeed been a trap, Cao Cao would never have allowed Liu Bei’s forces and half of Tao Qian’s men—already lured out—to return safely. After all, following the Battle of Pengcheng, Tao Qian’s main force had been all but annihilated; only about eight thousand troops remained in Yanzhou. Liu Bei had arrived from Qingzhou with around a thousand regulars and over two thousand refugees gathered along the way, and with Kong Rong’s three thousand, the total seemed to be six thousand, but of those, only two or three thousand could truly fight. On paper, both sides together had fourteen thousand men, but the real number capable of battle scarcely exceeded ten thousand. Tao Qian had dispatched eight thousand in pursuit.

If Cao Cao were not a fool, an ambush by a larger force would have utterly annihilated Liu Bei and Xu Dan’s troops. How could he let such a golden opportunity slip by?

Anyone of ordinary intelligence could see that this time, Cao Cao was truly retreating, not playing at subterfuge.

With Chen Deng and Mi Zhu both in agreement, Tao Qian finally set aside his worries. His gaze sharpened as he looked toward the quiet figure seated in the corner—Shen Chen—and, pleased, called out, “Where is our young sage?”

“I am here,” Shen Chen answered, stepping forth and bowing gravely, as dignified as a miniature adult.

Tao Qian turned to the others with a smile. “Gentlemen, Xuzhou has produced another prodigy, a second Xiang Tuo or Gan Luo! This young Shen Chen foresaw chaos in Cao Cao’s rear, allowing us to escape disaster.”

At this, even Liu Bei turned his gaze upon Shen Chen, and for the first time, every high official in Xuzhou committed his name and face to memory—his reputation already beginning to spread.

Chen Deng studied him with great curiosity. Shen Chen stood about five feet eight inches tall—around a meter and thirty centimeters—his complexion fair as jade, his features youthful yet resolute, showing no fear under the scrutiny of so many elders; truly, a precocious genius.

Tao Qian had once mentioned someone’s prediction of chaos behind Cao Cao, a notion Chen Deng had dismissed. Now, to discover it was spoken by an eight-year-old child, and that he had been right, was remarkable indeed.

Shen Chen bowed and answered earnestly, “Lord Tao overpraises me. I simply spent much time in the countryside, overhearing travelers speak of great affairs. I heard how Cao Cao had executed many notable men in Yanzhou, and reasoned that the local clans would resent him. With Cao Cao leading his entire force away, it seemed the perfect opportunity for those clans to act.”

Tao Qian laughed. “The Huainanzi says, ‘Discern the great from the small; seeing a single leaf fall, one knows autumn is near.’ Though young in years, you perceive the world clearly. If you had been born thirty years earlier and held high office, would the Han have ever fallen into such chaos?”

Such praise, bordering on flattery, was rare.

Shen Chen quickly waved his hands. “Lord Tao, you are too generous. My abilities are insignificant, not fit for the emperor’s court. Besides, the course of events is never certain. I merely offered a hypothesis—if the local clans of Yanzhou dared not move, then my analysis would have been proved wrong, would it not?”

Tao Qian considered this. “You make a fair point. It’s like someone predicting rain—if it comes, he seems prescient. But perhaps he was only guessing. We cannot judge a man’s abilities by a single event.”

“So then, young sage, with trouble in Cao Cao’s rear, do you think this is an opportunity for Xuzhou?” Tao Qian asked.

Shen Chen shook his head. “Lord Tao, you should first address the unrest within Xuzhou. I suspect, moreover, that Yuan Shu may soon arrive.”

“Why is that?” Tao Qian pressed.

“Before Cao Cao attacked Xuzhou, I advised Lord Tao to draw in Yuan Shu as a counterbalance. That was only because Yuan Shu coveted Xuzhou but feared Cao Cao’s strength. Now that Cao Cao is gone and Xuzhou lies weak, would a wolf like Yuan Shu pass up such an opportunity? Though trouble brews behind Cao Cao, Xuzhou is surrounded on all sides—peace will not come easily.”

History would prove this true. While Cao Cao and Lü Bu fought bitterly, Yuan Shu immediately dispatched Ji Ling to seize Xuzhou. Though Ji Ling and Liu Bei later stalemated at Xiapi, Yuan Shu’s intent to exploit Xuzhou’s weakness was plain.

Thus, Tao Qian’s hope to strike at Cao Cao during his turmoil was pure fantasy. With such limited strength, how could he not see his own limitations? To entangle himself in the conflict between Cao Cao and Lü Bu, with Yuan Shu eyeing Xuzhou hungrily from behind, would be to court certain death.

Tao Qian, hearing this, could only nod his head in disappointment. “You are right; we must first set Xuzhou’s house in order. I shall write at once to Zang Ba and Xiao Jian, calling them to return and lend their strength. Let us hope they still heed my commands.”

Thus set the tone—Cao Cao’s affairs were to be set aside for now, and the priority was internal stability. Envoys were sent to Xiapi to reassure the surviving populace, and others to Langya to summon Zang Ba and Xiao Jian.

As for Guangling, Tao Qian seethed at Ze Rong for intercepting the grain and funds of three counties, fleeing at the first sign of Cao Cao, then running off to Guangling to further trouble the people there. Unfortunately, with his own position so precarious, Tao Qian could do nothing to punish him.

After leaving Tao Qian’s residence, Shen Chen prepared to return home. Once again, Tao Qian pressed him to accept an official post as an advisor, to serve at his side. Shen Chen politely declined.

Emerging from the governor’s mansion, he found three men standing outside with their horses, imposing figures all. One wore an emerald robe, stood nine feet tall, his face the color of dark jujubes, wielding a mighty Green Dragon Crescent Blade—this must be Guan Yu. Beside him stood another, eight feet tall, dark-skinned, with a leopard’s head, round eyes, and powerful build, holding a long serpent spear—surely Zhang Fei. The last was also eight feet tall, his brows like swords and his eyes like stars, strikingly handsome, clad in bright silver armor, his spear gleaming coldly in his hand—none other than the young hero Zhao Yun.

Shen Chen could not hide his curiosity, having only encountered these legendary Five Tiger Generals of Shu Han in books or on screen. Now, seeing them in person, he studied them with keen interest.

The three, seeing a child emerge from the governor’s mansion, assumed he must be of Tao Qian’s household and paid him no mind. But when Liu Bei appeared and greeted Shen Chen courteously, saying, “So it is you, young sir. Are you not on your way home yet?” the three were startled, their eyes filled with surprise.

Hearing Liu Bei give him such a title, Shen Chen replied with a smile, “After you, Governor. When Magistrate Kong was a boy, he once yielded a pear; as the youngest here, it is only right that I defer to my elders.”

Kong Rong, who had come out with Liu Bei, laughed heartily. “Who would have thought someone still remembers such a trifling matter! You are indeed an interesting child. I plan to return to Beihai soon—would you care to accompany me? I would gladly gift you my family’s treasured books.”

Shen Chen shook his head. “Thank you for your kindness, Magistrate Kong, but the Central Plains are already plunged into chaos. Yuan Shao, Gongsun Zan, Cao Cao, Yuan Shu—all are locked in endless war. Beihai, too, is no safe haven. I predict that in the next ten years, the East will be laid waste by conflict, with nine of every ten homes deserted. Only Jingzhou retains some measure of peace. I intend to move there with my clan to escape calamity.”

Liu Bei was astonished. “Young sir, you are possessed of rare talent and are a native of Xuzhou. Will you not lend your strength to protect your homeland?”

Shen Chen replied helplessly, “I am too young to command respect. I am powerless to help.”

The two men could only nod in agreement. Liu Bei and Kong Rong had come to Xuzhou’s aid and deserved honor and gratitude, yet Tao Qian’s favor toward Liu Bei aroused suspicion and jealousy among his subordinates such as Xu Dan, who would not hesitate to use treacherous means. Liu Bei survived only thanks to his abilities. As for Shen Chen—a mere child—were Tao Qian to favor him, he would equally become a target for envy. At his age, how could he possibly evade both open and hidden threats?

Sighing, Liu Bei said, “Do you reside at Xiangben? That is far from Yanzhou and these troubled times. Allow me to escort you there. When the time comes for you to leave Xuzhou, inform me and I shall send men to protect you on your journey.”

“My thanks, Governor Liu.” Shen Chen did not refuse. He was eager to observe the true Liu Bei—an opportunity not to be missed.

He had once wished to learn the reality of Cao Cao as well, but fate had not placed him in the right year. Born in the fourth year of Zhongping, 187 AD, he was six years younger than Zhuge Liang—making him only seven years old now, though by the reckoning of the ancients, who counted the year of birth as one, he could just claim to be eight.

At such an age, he could do nothing of consequence. All he could do was listen to hearsay and the talk of travelers, judge events by what he heard and by his own recollections.

He had long wondered whether Cao Cao would truly massacre a city, whether he was truly so ruthless. When last year’s news of the slaughter at Pengcheng reached him, he knew the truth. Perhaps such was the way of the troubled times—ruthlessness was necessary to survive, and even Cao Cao could only do what he must. Yet the massacre of a city could never be forgiven or excused, for it recalled to mind a later age, when another city suffered the same fate before the coming of a new era.

Having learned the truth, Shen Chen never again considered seeking out Cao Cao.

Now, meeting Liu Bei, he naturally wished to examine his character and abilities.

Boarding the carriage prepared for him by his clan, Shen Chen watched as Liu Bei mounted his horse. With Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun at his side, Liu Bei personally escorted him on the road to Xiangben.