Chapter Seventy-Seven: History Has Changed

“Liu Biao is spying on us?”

Zhang Xiu felt a chill run down his spine. His relationship with Liu Biao had always been that of allies cooperating together. According to their previous agreement, the surrounding counties had been allocated to him, granting Zhang Xiu considerable autonomy. This also meant, in truth, that Zhang Xiu was not Liu Biao’s subordinate.

But according to what Jia Xu said, Liu Biao had planted informants to monitor his own allies? What kind of behavior was this? It was a clear sign of distrust. Now, when Zhang Xiu was already unsettled by Cao Cao’s treachery, hearing this news naturally aroused suspicion.

Jia Xu said, “Indeed, Liu Biao must have stationed informants, at least within the city.”

“What evidence do you have?” Zhang Xiu was still somewhat incredulous. It wasn’t that he trusted Liu Biao, but he needed concrete proof that Liu Biao was indeed watching him, and to understand his true intentions.

It was obvious: having now thoroughly offended Cao Cao, seeking refuge with him was out of the question, and returning to Guanzhong was impossible as well. Thus, Zhang Xiu’s only option was to fully align himself with Liu Biao. But if Liu Biao had ulterior motives, intending to discard him once he was no longer useful, Zhang Xiu’s situation would become extremely perilous.

Therefore, he had to know whether Jia Xu spoke truthfully. And even if it were true, what was Liu Biao’s real purpose—did he simply not trust Zhang Xiu, or did he truly intend to betray him in the future?

Jia Xu analyzed, “Think carefully, General. Our plan was made in secret. Before the assault, fewer than five people knew of it. How did Gan Ning in Huyang learn about it?”

“This…” Zhang Xiu hesitated. He had found this matter strange from the very beginning. But at that time, they were engaged in battle with Cao Cao’s forces and could not afford distraction. They could only join forces with Gan Ning and eliminate the enemy first.

Reflecting on it now, there were indeed many suspicious points. For example, how had the other side arrived at such a perfectly timed moment? How did they traverse the great distance from Xinye to Wancheng? Most importantly, where did they obtain their information?

These questions had circled Zhang Xiu’s mind since yesterday, refusing to disperse. But he had been too busy to examine them deeply. Now, considering them, he found the implications deeply unsettling.

Jia Xu said gravely, “Do you understand, General? They have informants within the city, and outside as well. Perhaps even within our own army…”

Zhang Xiu’s expression immediately darkened. The matter of rewarding Hu Che’er with gold was known to Deng Hong; the affair with Lady Zou, he also knew; and, most alarming, even the plan to attack Cao’s camp was known to him. This meant that ever since Cao Cao entered the city, someone had been watching them from the shadows, and even within their own ranks lurked a spy.

Although since the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, all factions had exchanged spies as a matter of routine, no one wished their own ranks to be infiltrated. And Liu Biao’s placement of informants was a clear sign of distrust.

Moreover, considering that Liu Biao already knew of his attempted defection to Cao Cao, Zhang Xiu’s future seemed bleak…

At this thought, Zhang Xiu’s spirits sank to rock bottom. A terrifying notion struck him: if Liu Biao knew everything, why had he chosen to let Deng Hong reveal it? Was he not afraid Zhang Xiu would see through it? Or perhaps… perhaps he wanted Zhang Xiu to realize, to serve as a warning?

Liu Biao was hinting—“I know everything you’ve done. I’m giving you a way out now. In the future, behave yourself…”

“Uncle, this…”

Zhang Xiu, filled with uncertainty, asked, “Then does that mean Liu Biao already knows I once surrendered to Cao Cao?”

Jia Xu replied coolly, “Didn’t Deng Hong already say it? It was a feigned surrender.”

“He doesn’t intend to pursue it?” Zhang Xiu was surprised.

Jia Xu let out a cold laugh. “For now, we still help him guard the gateway to Jingzhou. In the future, if he no longer needs us, that will become his excuse to eliminate us.”

Zhang Xiu was silent for a moment, then said, “But this is only your speculation, Uncle. Do you have any proof?”

“I do not.” Jia Xu shook his head. “But every indication shows Liu Biao is monitoring us. Would he do so out of kindness? We cannot rely solely on him; we must remain wary.”

“Hmm… that is true.” Zhang Xiu nodded in agreement. “Then, Uncle, how do you think we might find another way forward?”

“Let me think, let me think.” Jia Xu closed his eyes, pressing his temples with both hands.

His mind was actually in turmoil. Rationally, he was more inclined to surrender to Cao Cao. Not because he thought Cao Cao was exceptionally capable, but because he held Emperor Xian as a golden talisman. The Han emperor still wielded great authority; countless gentry and powerful families flocked to Xuchang, bringing Cao Cao a wealth of talent and resources.

So from a potential perspective, Jia Xu favored Cao Cao, believing none but he could accomplish great things. But who could have foreseen that Cao Cao was so lustful, unable to control his desires, leading to today’s disaster?

Jia Xu didn’t personally care much about such things. Firstly, the victim was not his own kin. Secondly, men’s lust was natural, especially in chaotic times—many women sought to attach themselves to powerful men like Cao Cao. Yet, that woman was Zhang Xiu’s aunt, and Zhang Xiu owed his army to his uncle. If Zhang Xiu ignored the affront, his prestige among the troops would plummet.

Thus, whether it was the Lady Zou incident, Cao Cao giving gold to Hu Che’er, or plotting against Zhang Xiu, all these trespassed Zhang Xiu’s bottom line. For men of a suspicious nature, like Li Jue, even one such incident would be enough to flip the table, let alone three at once.

So, things had come to this pass, and it could only be said that Cao Cao brought it upon himself.

Still, Jia Xu felt troubled. The most fatal issue was that he was now bound to Zhang Xiu’s army. Having made Cao Cao a mortal enemy, he too could not join Cao Cao, and future opportunities for defection would be rare. Opposing such a force brought tremendous pressure…

…

Meanwhile, in Xinye County, the county magistrate Deng Mao triumphantly returned to the county office. After the battle at Huangmen Pavilion, with Cao Ren’s forces utterly destroyed, Deng Mao immediately returned to Xinye to stabilize the situation, continually dispatching men to Wancheng for intelligence, and waited to observe developments.

Soon, Wang Yi, the prefect of Nanyang, relayed an important piece of information from spies at Huangmen Pavilion: Cao Cao had gifted Hu Che’er a large platter of gold. When Zhang Xiu surrendered, Wang Yi, being a local official, had witnessed everything clearly. As the descendant of a former political faction, Wang Yi’s father had good relations with Liu Biao, so naturally, he would assist Liu Biao over Cao Cao.

Having obtained this crucial intelligence, Shen Chen quickly deduced that Zhang Xiu would soon rebel against Cao Cao. Thus, after Deng Mao regained control of Xinye, the army at Huangmen Pavilion relocated there.

Unlike Cao Cao, who, upon entering Wancheng, did not restrict the populace or enforce strict curfews, Shen Chen ordered the entire city to be sealed, allowing no one in or out. Under such rules, even if spies from Cao Ren remained in the city, they could not send information out.

Soon after, the latest intelligence arrived: Cao Cao had forcibly taken Lady Zou, Zhang Xiu had caused a commotion outside her quarters, and vowed not to let the matter rest. At this, Shen Chen knew the time had come.

He rapidly dispatched numerous agents to hide near the camps of Cao Cao and Zhang Xiu outside Wancheng, gathering intelligence and tracking troop movements. He also boldly ordered his forces to leave the city, move north to Yuyang, and conceal themselves in rural villages.

Deng Qi, as the clan leader of the Deng family in Xinye, had numerous marital connections with other powerful local families. Shen Chen had Deng Mao approach Deng Qi, who then established contact with a powerful local family in Yuyang, allowing the army to hide in their manor, undetected by outsiders.

Cao Cao, despite indulging in pleasure daily, still possessed remarkable military ability. Though he occupied Wancheng, surrounding counties sent out cavalry scouts every day. Thus, approaching Wancheng’s heartland under Cao Cao’s nose was extremely difficult—only with the support of local gentry was it possible.

This is why, for centuries, the power of local aristocrats could not be eradicated. Even in the twenty-first century, in many parts of the south, clan power remains strong; outsiders cannot succeed without relying on local ties.

Having hidden the army with Yuyang’s powerful families, Shen Chen waited patiently for two days. Then, the opportunity arrived. Zhang Xiu launched his attack. Yuyang is very close to Wancheng—just over twenty kilometers, a half-hour’s ride. As soon as the fighting began, Shen Chen’s scouts reported back immediately.

What followed was the scene Zhang Xiu witnessed last night: Gan Ning’s army, arriving from Huyang, reached the battlefield within two hours to help him pursue Cao Cao’s retreating forces. Gan Ning had ordered a forced march, covering seven or eight kilometers per hour, barely making it in time.

Thus, ancient warfare was highly inconvenient; slow communication and poor transport made strategic redeployment or rapid reinforcement exceptionally difficult. Only because Shen Chen foresaw Zhang Xiu’s rebellion and prepared in advance did they manage to arrive on time.

Even so, Shen Chen did not know the precise moment the rebellion would occur, the exact situation, or whether he had altered history in such a way that Zhang Xiu might not rebel after all. This uncertainty troubled him greatly.

Fortunately, all went well. The preparations were not in vain, and everything proved worthwhile.

After resting for a day, on the third day after Cao Cao’s defeat, Gan Ning led his forces out once more—this time to attack Nieyang.

Cao Cao had sent Cao Ren to attack Huyang and Yue Jin to assault Anzhong. When Cao Cao was ambushed by Zhang Xiu, Yue Jin had already reached Rangcheng. It wasn’t until the next day that he learned of Cao Cao’s defeat, which shocked him deeply and sent him hurrying back with his troops.

But in those days, without high-speed rail, Gan Ning could reach Wancheng in three hours only because it was close. Rangcheng was as far from Wancheng as Xinye was—over sixty kilometers. Not even Sima Yi, in his rapid campaigns, could manage sixty kilometers a day.

Therefore, Yue Jin withdrew to Nieyang, intending to cross the Yu River at the bridge north of Yuyang, reach Jiyang County, and from there head east to Wuyin County, where Cao Cao was now stationed.

Historically, though Zhang Xiu succeeded in ambushing Cao Cao, Cao Cao did not flee far—he settled at Wuyin, east of Wancheng. Zhang Xiu could only hold Wancheng, not daring to venture out. Thus, both Yue Jin and Cao Hong, who had attacked Anzhong and Huyang respectively, were able to retreat safely to Wuyin.

Later, when Zhang Xiu attacked, they defeated him, forcing Zhang Xiu to retreat to Rangcheng. Had Liu Biao not sent reinforcements, Cao Cao might have destroyed Zhang Xiu then and there.

But this time, things were different.

Cao Ren’s army was annihilated, and Cao Cao’s main forces suffered heavy losses. Now, only Yu Jin, Cao Hong, and some scattered survivors remained—barely sixteen or seventeen thousand in total. Counting Gan Ning’s troops, Zhang Xiu had eight thousand, Gan Ning five thousand, and Huangmen Pavilion fifteen hundred—over fourteen thousand in all, not far from Cao Cao’s strength. If they met in the field, the outcome would be uncertain.

However, Gan Ning refused to attack Wuyin with Zhang Xiu, choosing instead to strike Nieyang. This was Shen Chen’s idea. Although they had only a few thousand fewer men than Cao Cao, this was no longer a campaign in the open; Cao Cao would be defending a city with superior numbers. Attacking Wuyin would be like ramming a wall.

Moreover, Yue Jin was still in the rear—if they attacked Wuyin and Yue Jin struck from behind, what then? With so few troops, attacking a fortified city and risking a rear assault by a commander like Cao Cao was folly.

Shen Chen believed that, at this moment, they should not seek to press their advantage or think that a single surprise victory meant they could defeat Cao Cao head-on. One must be pragmatic—first destroy Cao Cao’s remaining forces to further weaken him, then attack Wuyin.

Unfortunately, Zhang Xiu stubbornly believed that now was the time to pursue victory relentlessly. On the third day, after his army had rested, he rushed headlong toward Wuyin.

Shen Chen saw the problem; so, of course, did Jia Xu. Yet Jia Xu did not warn Zhang Xiu—in fact, he hoped Zhang Xiu would be badly defeated at Wuyin. Only then would Zhang Xiu truly realize the gap between himself and Cao Cao, and develop a healthy respect for the imperial court.

In this way, if Jia Xu ever again discussed surrendering to Cao Cao, Zhang Xiu would not reject the idea out of arrogance, remembering only his past victory.

In fact, Jia Xu had calculated everything, waiting patiently for a key moment to surrender to Cao Cao, which would come in three years. If all went well, in future history Zhang Xiu would surrender to Cao Cao before the Battle of Guandu, and, though he died young, would at least meet a peaceful end. Apart from Cao Pi later using a pretext to eliminate Zhang Xiu’s clan, Jia Xu himself would fare well.

Unfortunately, history had changed, and things would never again unfold as he had anticipated.