Three Strategies Before Departure, Leaving Behind His Seal

Cao Ang's attempt to dissuade him did not surprise Qin Tian.

After all, he had gotten along well with everyone in Cao Camp.

It could be said that if they learned he was leaving, perhaps ninety percent of the people in Cao Camp would try to stop him.

And that was precisely why Cao Cao feared him!

For someone like him to survive under Cao Cao, he could only be as cautious in word and deed as Jia Xu, avoiding contact with outside officials.

Jia Xu could do that, but Qin Tian could not.

After serving as a military adviser for so many years, he had already enjoyed enough wealth and glory.

The only thing he could not let go of was the War of the Five Barbarians a century from now.

As a son of the Han, having traveled through time for one lifetime, he had to change the history of the War of the Five Barbarians no matter what.

Therefore, Qin Tian had to offer remonstrance and preserve the Han Dynasty's vitality.

That was where the conflict lay. The moment he offered remonstrance, he would earn merit, and Cao Cao would become even more wary of him.

The more wary Cao Cao became, the less likely he would be to achieve his goal.

He had clearly reached a dead end.

He had to make a choice: remain safely hidden in Cao Camp and emerge again after Cao Cao died, or start over from now on and find someone else to assist.

At times, he truly wanted to raise the banner of rebellion and embark on the road to supremacy, but that idea was completely unrealistic!

Raising troops required prestige!

Cao Cao now controlled the court. The moment Qin Tian rebelled, he would immediately be branded a traitor.

Thus, Qin Tian chose the latter and decided to leave Cao Cao.

Qin Tian did not conceal anything in response to Cao Ang's attempt to dissuade him. He said bluntly:

"Zixiu, do not try to persuade me. My mind is made up. Lord Cao has already grown wary of me. If we suffer another defeat this time, he will surely blame me!"

"If I do not leave now, I will inevitably become a prisoner someday!"

Cao Ang's expression changed in shock upon hearing this. "What are you saying, sir? Even if we truly suffer a crushing defeat, you have already advised against it. How could my father blame you?"

Qin Tian shook his head and sighed. "Zixiu, you do not understand Lord Cao!"

"Xu Zijiang once said that Lord Cao was a capable minister in peaceful times and a treacherous hero in troubled times!"

"Now Lord Cao suspects that my achievements overshadow his own. Because of my merits, he can only needle me with words and is no longer close to me!"

"But if we lose this battle, our army will surely suffer grievous casualties!"

"As the military adviser, I cannot escape blame. Lord Cao will certainly use this as a pretext to censure me!"

"Even if he does not censure me, once we return to Xuchang, I will still find it hard to escape calamity!"

He had practically already foreseen his own fate.

In the original course of events, Cao Cao had not blamed anyone after losing the battle. He had merely regretted his own actions.

But things were different now. Cao Cao had grown wary of him, yet could not simply strip him of power!

Once they were defeated, Cao Cao could use the excuse that Qin Tian had disrupted military morale and forced Zhang Xiu into rebellion to drive him from the center of power.

The better outcome would be to end up like Liu Ye: not heavily employed, but still granted high office and generous wealth.

The worse outcome would be lifelong confinement, forbidden from ever taking another step outside!

After all, Cao Cao was a treacherous hero. Once he had grown wary of Qin Tian, he would never allow him to defect elsewhere.

Qin Tian could accept neither outcome!

After hearing those words, Cao Ang became even more flustered. "Sir is my father's right-hand man. How can you leave over this?"

"I shall go to the central command tent at once and persuade my father!"

With that, he stepped toward the exit.

But when he reached the entrance, he heard Qin Tian call from behind him, "Zixiu, do you mean to harm me?"

Cao Ang halted and hurriedly turned back. "What are you saying, sir? How could your disciple plot to harm you?"

Qin Tian smiled faintly. "I know Zixiu has a kind heart. But Lord Cao is already wary of me. If he learns I am leaving, he will surely send soldiers to stop me!"

"If you do not wish to harm me, then why are you going to report it?"

Cao Ang froze in place. He suddenly realized that he could not stop Qin Tian from leaving at all!

To stop him, he would have to inform Cao Cao—and that would be harming Qin Tian.

But if he did not inform Cao Cao, was he really supposed to let a genius like Qin Tian leave?

As he thought this, he saw the smile on Qin Tian's face and felt another wave of sorrow.

Cao Cao might not understand Qin Tian's character, but did he not?

From beginning to end, his teacher had never harbored any selfish motives. No matter what he did, he had never considered himself first.

How could such a person possibly harbor disloyal intentions?

Now that Qin Tian had been driven to this point, it was clear that he had truly given up on Cao Cao.

With that thought, Cao Ang could only drop to his knees with a thud and cry out, "Since sir is determined to leave, this disciple shall naturally follow. I beg sir to take me along, so that I may serve at your side."

"You foolish boy, what kind of teacher am I?"

Seeing this, Qin Tian stepped forward and helped Cao Ang up. "There are only four years between us. I have always regarded you as a brother. How can you perform such a grand salute?"

"Besides, you are Lord Cao's eldest son. How can you leave with me?"

"To break this deadlock, you must remain here. As for whether it succeeds or fails, that will depend on fate!"

"Since you do not wish to go summon Yu Jin, I have three strategies here to deal with the situation. Follow them carefully, and perhaps Lord Cao can be kept safe!"

As he spoke, he turned and walked to the desk, then took up his brush and swiftly wrote down three strategies.

"You must commit these three strategies to memory. Today, I will leave behind my seal and depart. You must not let outsiders learn of this!"

"If you dare spread word of it, then whether as teacher and disciple or as brothers, our bond ends today!"

As Cao Ang looked at the silk Qin Tian handed him, his eyes filled with tears.

His heart was moved beyond words.

Qin Tian had truly done everything he could for the Cao Clan.

Even though Cao Cao had treated him so coldly, Qin Tian was still wholeheartedly offering strategies before leaving.

Meanwhile, Cao Cao was still inside his tent indulging in women.

Who would not feel wronged in Qin Tian's place?

Thinking of this, Cao Ang's heart ached. He bowed to the ground once more and said, "It is my Cao Clan that has wronged you, sir. As a son, I should not blame my father. I can only repay your respect with this salute. I beg sir to forgive me!"

"If one day I come into power, I will surely welcome sir back and renew the bond between teacher and disciple!"

"Good, good, good!"

Qin Tian smiled with a touch of sorrow, then helped Cao Ang up again. "Zixiu, do not behave like a little girl!"

"Though I leave today, we may not be unable to meet again someday!"

"When that day comes, we shall drink until we are thoroughly drunk!"

"Indeed, indeed! If that day truly comes, I will certainly drink with sir until we are thoroughly drunk!"

Cao Ang forced out a smile, then asked, "But when does sir intend to depart? Which route will you take?"

"Let me prepare troops and see you off!"

Qin Tian shook his head again. "There is no need. Young Master, you are worth a fortune. If we make a grand show of it, Zhang Xiu will surely become alert!"

"I have prepared several fast horses. I will depart at once with my attendants and head straight for Xuchang!"

Hearing that Qin Tian was leaving immediately, Cao Ang's heart clenched again. He hurriedly said, "Xuchang is several hundred li away. There is much banditry and unrest along the way. How about I prepare some personal guards and provisions, then arrange men to escort you?"

Qin Tian smiled and slung his luggage over his back. "Say no more. Yuanzhi will escort me. There is no need to worry over a few bandits!"

"Have you forgotten, Zixiu? I already said this must not be publicized. Why bring personal guards?"

But Cao Ang was startled to hear this. "Yuanzhi is leaving with you as well?"

Yuanzhi was naturally not a name.

At the end of the Eastern Han, there were two famous men with the style name Yuanzhi.

One was the genius Zhou Buyi of Jing Province.

The other was Xu Fu, the wandering swordsman of Yingchuan, who had since changed his name to Xu Shu.

Qin Tian's acquaintance with Xu Shu had also been a coincidence.

Years ago, Xu Shu had committed a crime and fled under an assumed identity. By chance, he encountered Qin Tian, who was on his way to join Cao Cao.

The two became friends. Under Qin Tian's persuasion, Xu Shu abandoned martial pursuits for scholarship and studied under Qin Tian. They were close in age, and were both teacher and friends to one another.

However, unlike Qin Tian, Xu Shu had never entered official service. He had remained at Qin Tian's side as an assistant clerk.

As Qin Tian's disciple, Cao Ang naturally knew that Xu Shu was also a man of great talent.

Though not Qin Tian's equal, he was still a rare talent!

Now that he heard Xu Shu was leaving as well, Cao Ang felt even more desolate.

Seeing Cao Ang's expression, Qin Tian shook his head. "Yuanzhi wished to leave long ago. If I had not repeatedly urged him to stay, he would never have remained until today!"

"Now that I am leaving, how could he possibly stay?"

As the two spoke, a young scholar entered the tent and cupped his hands toward Qin Tian. "Military Adviser, the horses are ready. We can depart."

The newcomer was Xu Shu. His hair was tied up, he wore a short beard, a longsword on his back, and fitted travel clothes.

Seeing that Xu Shu had arrived, Qin Tian patted Cao Ang on the shoulder. "I am leaving, Qin Tian. Young Master, you must take care!"

With that, he hung his seal upon the desk and walked out of the camp.

Cao Ang stood where he was, watching Qin Tian leave behind his seal. Tears streamed down his face as he wept without cease.

Such an extraordinary talent, yet his father could not make use of him. What a terrible regret!