The Girdle Edict affair had enraged Cao Cao. Besides slaughtering people wholesale in Xudu, Liu Bei, far away in Xiaopei, was also a thorn in his side.
Cao Cao summoned his civil and military officials, intending to personally lead a campaign against Xu Province. Everyone tried to dissuade him, citing Yuan Shao's massive army poised at the border. Although Zhang Xiu had surrendered with his troops at the end of the previous year, if Yuan Shao launched an attack while they were fighting Liu Bei, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Cao Cao sighed. "Liu Bei is a hero. If I don't attack him now, he'll become a future scourge."
Just as the officials fell silent, Military Advisor and Libationer Guo Jia stepped forward and said, "Yuan Shao is slow-witted and suspicious by nature. Even if he marches south, he won't do so quickly. Liu Bei has only just gained Xu Province, and the people's hearts are still unsettled. If Your Lordship sends troops against him swiftly, he'll surely be defeated."
Cao Cao slapped his thigh. "What Fengxiao says is exactly what I had in mind. Liu Bei spoke so brazenly before, saying that even if I came in person, the outcome was uncertain. This time, I'll show him what I, Cao, can do."
With that, Cao Cao gathered his troops and headed for Xiaopei.
With a great battle between Yuan Shao and Cao Cao imminent, Yuan Shao was currently strong while Cao Cao was weak. Many people in Xudu secretly pledged themselves to Hebei, and news of Cao Cao's eastward expedition soon reached Ye City.
Tian Feng, Assistant Governor of Ji Province, advised Yuan Shao, "Cao Cao has personally led a campaign against Xu Province, which will take a great deal of time. If Your Lordship raises an army and marches south to attack his rear, you can smash Xudu in a single battle. This is a heaven-sent opportunity."
At that time, his youngest son, Yuan Shang, was still ill and had not recovered. Yuan Shao used this as his reason for refusing to raise an army against Cao Cao.
Hearing Yuan Shao's excuse, Tian Feng struck the ground with his staff and sighed. "Fate waits for no one. How can we let an infant's illness make us miss such an opportunity? What a pity."
One major reason Liu Bei had ignored Lan Tian's advice was that he believed Yuan Shao would keep Cao Cao in check. He thought Cao Cao wouldn't dare risk coming in person, and that the situation in the Central Plains was still uncertain. That was why he had boasted so boldly after beating back Liu Dai and Wang Zhong.
When he learned that Cao Cao had really come, Liu Bei was thrown into a panic. How does this bastard wage war without following the rules?
At the time, Guan Yu was still in Xiapi. Liu Bei had no one at his side to discuss a plan for defeating the enemy, so he and Zhang Fei conspired to use the same camp-raiding ambush that had defeated Liu Dai and Wang Zhong.
The two men gathered all the troops in Xiaopei, split them into two forces, and set out at night to raid Cao Cao's camp.
Cao Cao had spent many years commanding armies and was highly experienced at guarding camps and supplies.
After charging into Cao Cao's camp, Zhang Fei discovered it was completely empty. Realizing he had fallen for a trap, he wheeled his horse around and fled. At that moment, the ambushers Cao Cao had hidden rose up on all sides, and the sky filled with the deafening roar of battle cries.
Relying on his personal valor, Zhang Fei fought his way out of the encirclement, with only a few dozen horsemen left to follow him.
With pursuers closing in from every direction, Zhang Fei was driven to the end of his rope and had no choice but to flee toward Mangdang Mountain.
Liu Bei's force had also fallen into Cao Cao's ambush. After the armies clashed, his men crumpled at the first contact. The bold words he had recently left for Liu Dai and Wang Zhong drifted away on the wind like burning smoke.
After the failed raid, Liu Bei fled to Qing Province with the remnants of his troops. He was later escorted to Hebei by Yuan Tan, the Inspector of Qing Province.
Cao Cao captured Xiaopei and took Liu Bei's general Xiahou Bo prisoner. Then, with lightning speed, he marched on Xiapi.
When Guan Yu heard that Xiaopei had fallen, he was stunned. In haste, he organized his troops to prepare for the enemy.
Lord Guan understood the art of war. He planned to lead one force to camp outside the city while ordering his deputy to hold Xiapi, forming a mutually supporting position—exactly the same as the plan Chen Gong had once proposed to Lu Bu.
During this period, Lan Tian had spent his days slacking off at work, reading books and growing vegetables in his spare time. The days had passed quickly. Now, as the city descended into chaos and rumors ran rampant, he suddenly remembered that Xiapi was about to fall again.
Lan Tian prepared a brocade pouch and handed it to Guan Yu before he left the city. "General Guan, be very careful on this mission. Open this pouch if you find yourself in danger. Remember, remember."
Guan Yu took the pouch, puzzled. The situation in Xiapi was already perilous, so he couldn't afford to dismiss Lan Tian's warning. He tucked the pouch close to his body, told Lan Tian to look after his two sisters-in-law, then led his troops out of the city.
Lan Tian returned to the residence of Gan Qian and Mi Zhen and told them to pack their belongings and not wander off. He had somehow gotten hold of a sword and stood guard at the door, as if facing a formidable enemy.
"Little Brother, what are you doing? Have bandits come to Xiapi?"
Since Guan Yu had become the Administrator of Xiapi, he often left the city to suppress bandits. The two ladies still didn't know that Cao Cao's troops had arrived.
Lan Tian said, "I heard Cao Cao came to Xu Province in person. His troops will reach Xiapi soon. The people in the city are panicking, and General Guan has already led an army out to meet the enemy."
"Master said General Guan is invincible under heaven. Surely Xiapi can hold out," Mi Zhen said, sounding unconcerned.
"Little Brother, if Cao Cao has come to Xiapi, then what happened to Xiaopei? And what will happen to Husband?" Gan Qian asked anxiously.
Lan Tian shook his head. "No scouts have come to report, but I expect Xiaopei has already fallen. I doubt Xiapi will be able to hold out either."
"Then Husband..." Gan Qian said, worried.
"My brother-in-law has commanded troops for many years. He knows when to advance and when to retreat, so he should have escaped safely. I doubt his life is in danger. Sister, you can rest easy," Lan Tian reassured her.
Mi Zhen said helplessly, "It looks like we're going to be prisoners again."
The two women had grown accustomed to this kind of ordeal. Though Gan Qian worried about Liu Bei's safety, with Lan Tian by her side, she felt inexplicably secure.
"At a time like this, we have to guard against unrest within the city. Whatever you do, don't wander around," Lan Tian reminded them.
"We'll do as you say, Little Brother," Gan Qian said.
"Understood," Mi Zhen echoed.
Cao Cao's army arrived swiftly, and Guan Yu was soon locked in a bitter struggle outside the city. Cao Cao also came to Xiapi in person to oversee the battle. After several encounters, he had grown deeply fond of Guan Yu and wanted to recruit him, just as he had once recruited Zhang Liao.
Cao Cao summoned Zhang Liao and instructed him, "I'm very fond of Yunchang. After the battle, you should repay his kindness by persuading him to surrender."
Zhang Liao clasped his hands. "I also admire General Guan's character. I'll persuade him to surrender to Your Lordship as soon as I can."
"Excellent. Order the vanguard to speed up the siege. Once we break through Xiapi's walls, Yunchang won't be able to defend both ends. Then we can capture him," Cao Cao said with a stroke of his beard and a smile.
"Your Lordship's command of the army is truly divine. This subordinate admires you immensely," Zhang Liao said flatteringly.
Cao Cao nodded. "This time, Wenyuan was the one who offered the plan: using Lu Bu's former troops as the vanguard. As expected, it has made our progress twice as swift."
"Reporting to Your Lordship: someone at all four gates of Xiapi has offered to open them. The vanguard has already entered the outer city." As the two men spoke, a messenger galloped up to report the situation.
Cao Cao laughed heartily. "Liu Bei is nothing special. Wenyuan, go assist Xu Gongming, and while you're at it, tell Yunchang this good news as well."
"Yes, sir." Zhang Liao clasped his hands, turned his horse, and rode away.
With Guan Yu away from the city, the turncoats in Xiapi soon persuaded their servants to sneak open the gates after the fighting began. Thus, the city fell to Cao Cao's army before it could hold out for long.
Lan Tian stood guard at the residence where Gan Qian and Mi Zhen were staying. The clamor in the street grew louder and louder. Guan Yu had left only a dozen or so men to guard this place, and Lan Tian had no idea whether they were in any danger.
He knew the outcome would be that they were taken to Xudu, but he had no idea how many people would go with Guan Yu.
Before long, the clashing of metal rang out beyond the residence, as if someone were fighting their way toward them.
Though it was only the first month of the year, the hand gripping Lan Tian's sword was already slick with sweat.
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