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Chapter 248 – Two Raging Battles At The Same Time

 

This time the story is of course, regarding two battles that is raging while Pang Tong of Runan is planning against Liu Mang of Shouchun. Those battles are Brother Zhuge vs Zhou Yu at Jiangxia waters and Cao Cao vs Yuan Shao at Guandu. They are all projecting heat so much that even steel will melt when nearing them.

 

Cao Cao with his 100,000 troops is fighting against Yuan Shao’s 300,000 troops. Because that big difference, Cao army can only be on defensive and suffered heavy casualties. The last casualties report really made Cao Cao’s head spinning so much, it is said in the report. Yuan Shao’s army lost 50,000 troops while Cao Cao lost 30,000 troops. If this kind of casualties continues, Cao Cao will need another at least 80, 000 troops to complement this kind of loss, but Cao Cao cannot afford any more troops from his bases, cannot afford to get anymore provisions or even war funds now, that is why he was really sad. Cao Cao had lost too many troops, ordnances and too many losses at this juncture. It is true that his fiefdom is larger than most of warlords, however in the process of gaining those lands, Cao Cao had exhausted his soldiers and provisions. And when he had yet to recuperate, another battle is raging, and another and another, depleting the provisions that he harvested. Out of his losses, Cao Cao felt exceptionally sad for the battle of Fort Wan, where he lost Cao An, his eldest son, and his senior general Dian Wei. He also felt sad about the Battle Of Kaiyang, where he lost Li Dian, Cao Chun as well huge chunks of his Tiger Leopard Cavalry.

 

His heart felt really bad regarding this event, that even speaking hurts his heart so much. Cao Cao, pressured by his already depleted provisions, said to his men during war council “This battle must be concluded in two months!!!” And with that order, casualties that Cao Army’s suffered granted their provisions a moment of reprieve as well as grief to Cao Cao himself. Right now Cao Cao is sleeping while working, then said these words deliriously as if he is tapping his historical timeline self at this very juncture “Li Dian, I will assign you 2,000-shi provisions. Zihe, you take 1000-shi provisions and launch Tiger Leopard Cavalry. Miaocai, take 2000-shi of provisions for your long-raid troops and attack them!!!” After that he woke up, realizing that he has been asleep and held his head. Guo Jia is at craftsmen place right now and the only one outside is Xu Chu, so everything is handled by him. Out of three people that Cao Cao mentioned, two are six-feet underground and the last one is in Xu Du, still under recovery. With that delirium and everything falling apart, made Cao Cao’s stress piled up to the top and his head pained again. “AAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!” Cao Cao is holding his head painfully, his sweat is flowing profusely. Even his pen dropped to the floor and now both his hands are holding his head and quickly rolled down on the ground. Up till now, he had been receiving attacks like this only 3 times, first was when Lu Bu attacked his Yan Province from Puyang, second was when Liu Bei stabbed him in the back by snatching Xu Province from him and killing his general Che Zhou, the third one is just now.

 

“Someone, someone!!!” Said Cao Cao softly, he is trying to scream but cannot find anymore strength to do so. Cao Cao then regained some of his consciousness and slowly moved toward to his Sword of Heaven. Some little trivia on this Sword of Heaven, this particular sword was found by Cao Cao when he was still studying. At that time, he passed the rock with a sword stuck on it. (TN: YAY, LEGEND OF EXCALIBUR ALA THREE KINGDOMS) Many people tried to pull it but no avail, Cao Cao then tried it, but only using 3 fingers, his thumb, his index finger and his middle finger. Then he pulled the tip of the hilt and the sword comes out easily. When other people saw him pull the sword, everyone kneel down and said that he is the wise emperor this nation need. However only one person who laughed at him and said that Cao Cao will indeed become the wise lord, but his son will become emperor as he pulled the sword in half-hearted manner. That man said “To grasp this nation firmly, one need five fingers. You who pulled this anointed sword half-heartedly, will only create a foundation for your empire, you will never be an emperor. And those two fingers, you left dangling, will become your arch-enemies. Their surnames are Liu and Sun. Best you remember that. Hahahahahaha!!!!” Then he disappeared into thin air. Such person who laughed at him and gave him prophecy was Zuo Ci, one of Three Greatest Taoist of Han. Remembering that, really made Cao Cao hung his head. Not to mention that Sun and Liu, right now he is halted by Yuan Shao, with no progress at all. Cao Cao then put his Sword of Heaven on his neck. Better for me to end everything right here. My great cause can go to hell, as long as I am freed of this pain forever. Thought Cao Cao. However, when Sword of Heaven is about to be pressed on his neck, suddenly he hallucinated.

 


He saw in front of him, there is a figure of a young man with his face but his skin is fairer and he is taller than him. That figure then opened his mouth and said in regretful tone “Oh father, why did you already give up?!” “Ang, my son!!!” Exclaimed Cao Cao. Indeed that figure is Cao Cao’s oldest son Cao Ang who died in Fort Wan. Cao Ang was born by Lady Liu, Cao Cao’s first wife. She was betrothed to Cao Cao by Cao Song and Emperor Ling blessed their marriage as she is one of House of Liu clansmen. Their marriage is ultimately a happy one and she always urged Cao Cao to have high aspiration in his heart. However, after having Cao Ang, Lady Liu died because her body is always weak.

 

So, whenever he saw Cao Ang, he always remembered his first wife Lady Liu. However, the reason Cao Cao  really treasured Cao Ang is because Cao Ang is a very tolerable person. When Cao Cao remarried Lady Bian, he did not show disrespect to his new mother being a former prostitute, he obeyed her and loved her as her new mother. Lady Bian, in return also imparted her wisdom and loved him as his own son and told him that family must stick together no matter what happens. Cao Cao liked Cao Ang for his intelligence and likable attitude. So even when his 27 other sons were born, Cao Cao never averted his eyes from Cao Ang and remained his favorite.

 

When Cao Ang reached 20-years-old, he passed Xiaolian examinations with the highest score. Made Cao Cao proud to no end, so proud that he rarely spoke with envy tone regarding other people’s children. However, Cao Cao’s happiness doubled with Zhang Xiu’s messenger came and said he wanted to surrender Yu Province to him. Cao Cao’s state at that time, can be said flying into the air as he received 20,000 Xiliang Cavalries without even lifting a finger. After that, he gave Zhang Xiu a position as Prefect of Luoyang that was held by Dong Xuan previously and gave Jia Xu as Chief of Secretariat.

 

When Cao Cao reached Fort Wan, he become even more happy. He seduced Zhang Xiu’s aunt Lady Zou and it enraged Zhang Xiu. Therefore, he consulted Jia Xu and the rest is history as you read it, dear readers. Dian Wei got drunk; Fort Wan was assaulted; Cao Cao flee in his pajamas; Dian Wei, Cao Ang and Cao An Min sacrificed their lives so that Cao Cao escaped and out of 50,000 troops that Cao Cao brought, only 5,000 returned. Cao Cao regretted that day the most, for his most beloved son died for him, his general Dian Wei died for him and his nephew Cao An Min died for him. Lady Liu’s final legacy is lost forever. (TN: historically, Cao Cao still got one more son and a daughter from Lady Liu. But, what the hell, this is a fiction right? Fuck that.) Right now, Cao Cao is already 39 years old. He is already a middle-aged man without a proper successor. He already had too many regrets. So, when he sent Zhang Xiu to his death by ordering him to subjugate Wuhuan tribe, it is already a hollow victory.

 

Now the already-died Cao Ang appeared in front of him, this event made Cao Cao really excited and screamed “ANG, MY SON!!! IT IS REALLY YOU!!!!” All this while holding his hand. Cao Ang’s eyes is full of sadness and said “Oh, father. You really going to give up this foundation that you built from scratch?! Are you truly going to give up conquering this country?!”

 

“Ang, my son. Father is tired. Father already sick and tired of this very life. This meaningless life!” Said Cao Cao while helding Cao Ang’s hand. Cao Cao has been utterly tired, battling nonstop since Yellow Turban Rebellion, continued with Dong Zhuo Uprising and kept battling almost non-stop for almost 10 years until now, Battle of Guandu. He is also tired, being accused by everyone as a traitor. Traitor Cao, Cao the Thief, Cao Ahman the unloyal, those are the small portions of the insults he had to bear. He had been trying so hard to be loyal to Han Dynasty, to the Han Emperor, however the more he tried to be loyal, the more he looked like a replacement of Dong Zhuo to everyone else.

 

“Ang, my son. Please take father with you, I longed to be reunited again with you and your mother once more!” Said Cao Cao with very bitter tone. Suddenly in front of Cao Cao, appeared his wife Lady Liu, his father Cao Song, his general Cao Chun, all bearing sad expression. Ah, everyone is here to pick me up!!! Now I can finally go. Thought Cao Cao while drifting away to sleep.



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