Zhang Xiu had ultimately rebelled.
Just as in the original course of history, although Qin Tian's butterfly effect had come into play, it had ultimately failed to change the outcome of Zhang Xiu's rebellion.
Hearing the commotion outside, Dian Wei sighed inwardly.
If only he had known, he should have trusted Qin Tian just this once. What difference would it have made?
But in the end, he was only a general. Seeing that Cao Cao was drunk, he hurriedly said in a deep voice:
"Zhang Xiu has rebelled. My lord, leave at once!"
"The strategist must have made arrangements before he left. Let me hold the camp entrance while you escape through the rear camp!"
At that moment, alcohol had numbed Cao Cao's mind, leaving him barely half-conscious. When he heard that Zhang Xiu really had rebelled, he immediately cursed:
"Zhang Xiu, you brat! I treated you so well—how dare you betray me?"
"Truly fickle and treacherous, a despicable villain!"
"Someone, bring me my sword! Today, I, Cao, will behead that brat Zhang Xiu!"
Cursing, he tried to stand, but the world spun around him. He had only just risen before he toppled back onto the couch.
Seeing how drunk Cao Cao was, Dian Wei furrowed his brow and cupped his hands to him.
"My lord, forgive me for my impropriety!"
With that, he grabbed one of Cao Cao's arms, hoisted him onto his shoulder, and headed outside the tent.
Compared to Dian Wei's nine-foot frame, Cao Cao's less-than-seven-foot body looked rather small. He was like a child slung over Dian Wei's shoulder.
They made their way out of the main tent, only to find the camp surrounded by enemy troops. Spears and halberds stood in dense ranks, fires blazed everywhere, and a large force was assaulting the camp entrance.
A junior officer, his face covered in blood, hurried over.
"My lord, Zhang Xiu's army has rebelled. They're attacking the central camp!"
"Our camp is in chaos. We can't launch a counterattack!"
Hearing this, Cao Cao sobered up somewhat. He hurriedly pounded Dian Wei's back and shouted:
"Dian Wei, put me down! I'll kill Zhang Xiu today!"
But Dian Wei didn't budge. He looked at the junior officer and said in a deep voice:
"Take my lord to the rear camp at once. I'll hold the enemy here!"
As he spoke, he set Cao Cao down and strode toward the camp entrance.
"Someone, bring me my pair of iron halberds!"
Because Qin Tian had warned him, Dian Wei had been on guard. Neither of his halberds had been stolen, so when the soldiers brought them over, he took them and charged toward the camp entrance.
Seeing Zhang Xiu's soldiers already breaking through the gate, one foot soldier rushed inside. Dian Wei seized him with one hand and flung him back out.
Then, gripping an iron halberd in each hand, he planted himself at the entrance like an iron tower and cried out with fearless bravado:
"Dian Wei stands here! Who dares come forward?"
The soldiers saw Dian Wei standing in their way, and fear showed in their eyes.
At that moment, Zhang Xiu was behind them with his troops, mounted on horseback. Seeing what was happening, he pointed his spear at the camp entrance and shouted:
"We have rebelled! Cao the bandit will never spare us! Cao Cao is notorious for massacring cities. Our families are all in Wan City. If you gentlemen don't fight with all your might, our families will all lose their lives!"
"Cao Cao is in the central camp right now. Kill Dian Wei, and we can capture the bandit Cao!"
At a time like this, Cao Cao's evil reputation turned against him. As soon as the soldiers heard those words, they surged toward Dian Wei.
They might have feared Dian Wei enough to hold back, but they also feared Cao Cao's revenge.
In an instant, countless spears and lances thrust toward Dian Wei.
Seeing this, Dian Wei went berserk. Swinging his twin halberds, he charged into the fray and led his personal guards to hold the camp entrance.
Meanwhile, the soldiers helped Cao Cao along, jostling him as they went. His stomach churned, and he vomited as he stumbled forward.
Yet as he watched the soldiers rushing past in panic, he shouted:
"Don't run! Hurry to the camp entrance and reinforce General Dian Wei!"
He kept shouting as they went, but not one person obeyed.
Forcing down his drunkenness, Cao Cao grabbed a fleeing soldier and roared:
"Why aren't you fighting?"
The moment the soldier saw Cao Cao, he cried out in panic:
"My lord, we had a feast in the camp today. We weren't issued weapons or armor!"
Hearing this, Cao Cao nearly slapped himself.
Why had he gone and ordered the whole army to take off their armor and weapons?
Now, even though his army had the advantage in numbers, they lacked weapons and armor. Zhang Xiu, meanwhile, had already taken the weapons and armor back under the pretext of preventing the soldiers from fleeing.
It was clear that Zhang Xiu had been harboring thoughts of rebellion all along. How had he failed to see it?
But just as he was blaming himself, a group of black-armored soldiers charged toward them from a distance. They were led by Hu Che'er, one of Zhang Xiu's men, and had been sent to stop Cao Cao from escaping through the rear gate.
Seeing Cao Cao there, Hu Che'er immediately shouted:
"Cao the bandit, don't run! Your life is mine!"
He spurred his horse forward and led his soldiers straight at Cao Cao.
Seeing this, Cao Cao closed his eyes and cried out in despair:
"My time has come!"
Just then, someone shouted:
"Rebel, don't you dare harm my lord!"
Cao Cao opened his eyes and saw a young officer leading troops out to block Hu Che'er's path.
Delighted, Cao Cao turned around and saw Yu Jin leading his men toward them.
When he saw Yu Jin arrive, Cao Cao hurried forward and grabbed him, overjoyed.
"General, where have you come from?"
Yu Jin replied with a stern expression:
"Today, the young lord conveyed the strategist's order and had me move my troops to patrol the central camp. When I heard the camp was in chaos, I came to rescue you!"
"The situation is urgent. Please say no more, my lord. We must head to the rear camp!"
When Cao Cao heard the words "conveyed the strategist's order," his heart clenched. But when he heard the rest, he hurriedly said:
"General, split off some troops and send them to the front camp. You must reinforce General Dian Wei!"
Yu Jin nodded and obeyed. He sent men to escort Cao Cao toward the rear of the camp.
They had not gone far when Cao Ang and Cao Anmin arrived with their troops.
Seeing Cao Ang, Cao Cao was overcome with guilt and hurriedly said:
"I regret not listening to you, Zixiu. I never thought Zhang Xiu could truly harbor such wicked intentions!"
But Cao Ang had no time to exchange words with him. He quickly dismounted and said:
"Father, no more words. Mount the horse at once. Anmin will escort you out of the camp!"
Seeing Cao Ang offer him his horse, Cao Cao stopped, unable to bring himself to accept.
"If I ride your horse, Zixiu, how will you escape?"
Cao Ang smiled gently at Cao Cao's question.
"Don't worry, Father. The strategist predicted that the enemy would attack the rear camp first and set fire to the stables. He ordered me to hold the rear camp, so there are still horses we can use!"
"I'm staying to reinforce General Dian Wei. Once we've brought him back safely, I'll find a way to escape!"
Hearing this, Cao Cao's lips moved, but he couldn't speak. After a moment's hesitation, he could only caution him:
"Zixiu, don't get caught up in the fighting. If you truly can't rescue him, withdraw at once. Don't throw your life away!"
"Father, there's no need to worry. I'm already a grown man!"
Cao Ang smiled reassuringly again and signaled for Cao Anmin to take Cao Cao away on horseback.
Seeing Cao Ang's smile, Cao Cao was overwhelmed by an ache in his heart that he couldn't put into words.
What a good son. If he died in Wan City, Cao Cao truly didn't know how he could face Lady Ding!
After these two ordeals, Cao Cao was covered in sweat, and most of his drunkenness had worn off.
But just as they reached the rear camp, a clamor rose behind them. Cao Cao saw his flank camp catch fire, while shouts and the sounds of killing rang without end.
Seeing this, Cao Cao cried out in alarm:
"Could the enemy have already broken through our flank? Zixiu is in danger!"
He was about to turn his horse around when Cao Anmin stopped him and said with a smile:
"Uncle, wait! The enemy hasn't broken through our flank camp!"
"This is our army suppressing the rebellion!"
Cao Cao turned around and asked:
"How do you know, Anmin?"
Cao Anmin smiled faintly.
"Before the strategist left, he predicted that once Zhang Xiu rebelled, the Qingzhou Soldiers would take advantage of the chaos to cause trouble. So he ordered General Li Zheng to wait inside the camp. If the Qingzhou Soldiers rebelled, he was to kill their ringleaders and stabilize the army!"
"Once General Li Zheng has put down the rebellion, our army can launch a full-scale counterattack!"
At this point, Cao Cao could no longer hold himself together.
Qin Tian's three plans before leaving had all struck the heart of the matter!
Though he was absent, he had single-handedly steadied the chaos in Cao Cao's camp.
Could such wisdom truly be within the reach of an ordinary man?
What was more, Qin Tian had been scolded by him time and time again, yet he had still made such careful arrangements before leaving. What loyalty and kindness!
The thought filled Cao Cao with regret. He grabbed Cao Anmin and hurriedly asked:
"Has Xun Yu found Zixuan yet?"
He had only one thought now: find Qin Tian and apologize at once.
He had finally seen clearly. Qin Tian could still live very well without him, but without Qin Tian, he simply couldn't manage!
At least tonight, without Qin Tian, he would have been in mortal danger!
Before you continue