You're the Only One Who Understands Me, Cao Cao

Lady Yan saw Lu Bu pressing for an answer and said, "General Gao is a man of integrity, but he and Chen Gong have long been at odds. If Fengxian entrusts the city to both of them, how can they possibly work in harmony? Furthermore, that Chen Gongtai has old ties with Cao Cao. If you lead the army far away and leave such a vital task to him, what will become of me if there is a change within the city walls?"

Gao Shun's personality was rigid and unapproachable; he rarely formed close bonds with civil or military officials. In the past, when Chen Gong was in Yanzhou, he had been arrogant and favored, which was why he was not well-liked by Gao.

During the previous invasion by Yuan Shu, Chen Gong had been unwilling to offer strategies. Moreover, when Hao Meng was executed, he had implicated Chen Gong as his co-conspirator. Although Lu Bu felt it was a false accusation by Hao Meng, the suspicion had never been fully dispelled, and Lady Yan's words only deepened his doubts.

"My lady speaks with reason. The hearts of the people in Xiapi are in turmoil, and I fear a repeat of Hao Meng's rebellion. But now that Cao's forces are overwhelming, I must mobilize the army to defend the city with all our might. The safety of the manor depends on Lingqi's female guards. Where is she now?" Lu Bu asked.

"She should be with the Xianzhen Battalion," Lady Yan replied.

"Absurd! Gao Boping has no sense of priority," Lu Bu fumed, flicking his sleeves as he stormed out.

Before leaving the government office, Lu Bu secretly dispatched Xu Si and Wang Kai to slip out of Xiapi and head south to Shouchun to seek aid from Yuan Shu.

He galloped to the Xianzhen Battalion and, sure enough, found Lu Lingqi in Gao Shun's main tent.

Lu Bu burst in, seething with rage, and barked, "Cao the Rebel is attacking the city with great urgency! Why are you not at home protecting your mother instead of lingering in my general's tent?"

"I..." Lu Lingqi lowered her head, at a loss for words.

"And you! It is one thing to indulge her usual antics, but what time do you think this is?" Lu Bu turned his reprimand toward Gao Shun.

"This subordinate is guilty. I ask the General to punish me," Gao Shun said, cupping his hands in apology.

Lu Bu knew the fault did not lie with Gao Shun, so he turned to Lu Lingqi with a cold glare. "Are you not going back to protect your mother?"

"Oh."

"Wait a moment. What are you holding in your hand?"

"Huh?"

Lu Lingqi rose to leave, but Lu Bu had noticed her hands behind her back, as if she were clutching something.

"It's nothing," Lu Lingqi said, shaking her head.

"Are you not going to give it to me?" Lu Bu reached out with a large hand and shouted.

Helpless, Lu Lingqi had no choice but to hand over the bamboo slip.

With Xiapi under such tight siege, Lu Lingqi had intended to ask Gao Shun to find a way to seek counsel from Lan Tian. The man had been hesitant and evasive, eventually producing this slip—a prophecy from Lan Tian that he could not bring himself to speak aloud.

After handing over the bamboo slip, Lu Lingqi fled the Xianzhen Battalion. Lu Bu held it in his hand, pondering it repeatedly. At that moment, he noticed a strange look on Gao Shun's face and asked, "What is this?"

Gao Shun was loyal to the core, so he spilled everything about Lan Tian's prophecy, pouring it out like beans from a bamboo tube.

Lu Bu was shocked, then let out a long sigh. "This youth truly possesses supernatural insight. If I had followed my original plan to bind him and marry Lingqi to him, would I be facing this disaster today? Gongtai has misled me! Gongtai has truly misled me!"

"My Lord, what shall we do now?" Gao Shun asked.

"If Xiapi can be defended, we must defend it. If it truly cannot be held, then we surrender," Lu Bu said helplessly.

Gao Shun remained silent. After speaking, Lu Bu suddenly asked, "And who did that Lan Ziyu tell you to emulate?"

"The Seven Freaks of Jiangnan."

Lu Bu was already familiar with the story of the Eagle-Shooting Heroes. He thought to himself that the martial arts of the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan were mediocre, and their only role in the book was to mentor Guo Jing. What on earth was this Lan Ziyu trying to say?

Lu Bu paced the tent, when suddenly a flash of inspiration struck him: Could it be that this man wanted Gao Shun to protect Lingqi just as they had protected Guo Jing?

"Boping, how have I treated you?" Lu Bu stopped pacing and turned his head to ask.

Gao Shun was startled, then cupped his hands and said, "My Lord showed me grace and recognition; I shall repay you with my life."

Lu Bu raised a hand to stop him. "I have long known of your loyalty, Boping. If Lan Tian told you to emulate the Seven Freaks of Jiangnan, why do you speak so lightly of death? If I do not survive this battle, protect Lingqi for me."

"My Lord, this is..." Gao Shun was filled with confusion.

"I must go to the city walls to inspect the defenses. Take care of yourself," Lu Bu commanded.

Is this the Lord entrusting his legacy to me? Lu Bu had never spoken such baffling words before, but Gao Shun nodded in agreement nonetheless.

Xu Si and Wang Kai arrived in Shouchun to seek aid, but Yuan Shu rejected them on the grounds that Lu Bu had broken off the marriage alliance. In truth, the man had been terrified by Cao Cao; the beatings had made him realize his own reality—he had no capacity to oppose Cao Cao at all.

With Yuan Shu in Huainan refusing to send troops, Zhang Yang, far away in Henei, intended to save Lu Bu, but was killed by his own subordinate, Yang Chou.

The walls of Xiapi were sturdy, and Cao Cao could not take the city for a long time. He ordered his men to dig trenches around the city to prevent surprise sorties from tunnels.

Digging trenches was earthwork; while it spared them from arrows and stones, the soldiers were exhausted of all strength every single day.

After a month of digging, the soldiers were utterly fatigued, and Cao Cao began to consider retreating.

His advisor, Xun You, remonstrated: "Lu Bu is brave but lacks strategy. Having been defeated repeatedly, his spirit is spent. Furthermore, an army relies on its commander; if the commander is weak, the army has no heart for battle. Now that Lu Bu's morale has not recovered and Chen Gong is indecisive, we should take advantage of this to capture Xiapi, lest we raise a tiger that will cause trouble later."

While Cao Cao hesitated, Guo Jia offered a plan: "Xiapi is near the great river. Why not flood it with the waters of the Yi and Si rivers?"

Cao Cao's eyes lit up, and he laughed, "Fengxiao's plan is brilliant!"

Soon, Cao Cao flooded the city. Aside from the East Gate, the other three gates of Xiapi were submerged. The defending soldiers had to wade through the streets, making movement extremely difficult.

Ever since hearing Gao Shun's words, Lu Bu had been in low spirits, often hiding in the government office to drown his sorrows in wine with his wives and concubines. After the flooding, the need to drain the water and reinforce the walls left the defending troops utterly exhausted.

With Xiapi flooded, Lu Bu intended to go out and inspect the city to encourage his men. Rising, he saw his own gaunt reflection in a bronze mirror and muttered to himself, "I have been ruined by wine and women; I have become so haggard."

During his inspection, Lu Bu issued a ban on alcohol to all his officers.

The next day, Lu Bu returned to the ramparts to oversee the battle. He saw that the walls of Xiapi were in ruins, yet the morale of the attacking Cao army remained undiminished.

Lu Bu suddenly shouted to the Cao soldiers below the wall, "Tell Lord Cao that if he withdraws his encircling troops, I am willing to lead my men out and surrender!"

Chen Gong, who was accompanying him, was shocked: "Cao Cao is a traitorous rebel; how can you call him 'My Lord'? If the General surrenders to him today, it would be like throwing an egg against a rock. How could you possibly survive?"

The attacking Cao troops were stunned upon hearing Lu Bu's words. Just then, Chen Gong produced a bow and arrow from somewhere, nocked an arrow, and shot down a leading officer. The Cao troops let out a shout and resumed their assault on the city.

"Gongtai, you..." Lu Bu was speechless, then flicked his sleeves and departed.

Lu Bu's words reached the Cao camp, and Cao Cao summoned his advisors to deliberate: "Lu Bu already has the intention to surrender. What do you gentlemen think?"

Xun You and Guo Jia remained silent, turning their gazes toward Cheng Yu, the old rival who had defended Yanzhou against Lu Bu.

Cheng Yu had no choice but to offer his counsel: "Lu Bu is brave but lacks strategy. Accepting his surrender would be like keeping a tiger or a wolf; however, he is a man of fickle nature. This matter must be decided by you, My Lord."

"What are your views?" Cao Cao asked Xun You and Guo Jia again.

Guo Jia cupped his hands and said: "Lu Bu possesses only the courage of a common thug. He can be used, or he can be discarded. My suggestion is to execute him to eliminate future trouble."

Cheng and Xun were both startled, thinking to themselves that Guo Fengxiao remained as unrestrained and wild as ever.

Cao Cao laughed and asked: "Fengxiao, in the past you stopped me from killing Liu Bei, yet today you urge me to kill Lu Bu? Are you not afraid that I might harm a virtuous man?"

Xun You and Cheng Yu felt a secret joy, thinking that they knew the Lord would ask exactly that.

Guo Jia smiled: "Liu Bei has long held a reputation for virtue; killing him rashly would indeed be detrimental to you, My Lord. Lu Bu is merely a fickle, petty man—what harm is there in killing him? Besides, I suspect you already have a plan in mind, My Lord."

Cao Cao pointed at Guo Jia and laughed heartily: "You rascal, Guo Fengxiao, you are the one who understands me best, Cao Cao! Hahaha!"