Cao Cao Falls Ill, Unsuccessfully

On the road back to Xudu, the troops and horses stayed the night in Liuxian.

Guan Yu had noticed Cao Cao's strange demeanor during the day. Knowing Cao Cao's character all too well, he did not stay in his own room but went to the small hut where Lady Gan and Lady Mi were staying, only to find Lan Tian already standing guard at the door.

"Ziyu, have you not gone to rest?" Guan Yu greeted him.

Lan Tian cupped his hands and said, "That Cao the Rebel is lecherous. I fear he might harbor ill intentions toward my elder sister, so I am keeping watch here."

Guan Yu nodded. "Guan also worries about this. Since we have a moment of leisure, could Ziyu resolve the confusion regarding the silk pouch?"

Lan Tian smiled. "I have long heard that General Guan is a man of immense loyalty, preferring to be a shattered jade rather than an intact tile. I worry that if you throw your life away in vain, there will be no one left to look after my sister and the others."

"Ziyu's considerations are thorough, but why are you so certain that Big Brother is still alive?" Guan Yu asked, puzzled.

"Whether my brother-in-law was captured or killed, Cao Cao would not be trying to recruit General Guan," Lan Tian analyzed.

"How so?"

"The General and my brother-in-law have sworn to live and die together. If my brother-in-law were captured, he would surely be used to threaten the General. If my brother-in-law were already dead, how could Cao Cao dare to keep an enemy by his side?"

Guan Yu stroked his beautiful beard and nodded. "Ziyu's words have cleared the fog from my mind."

After saying this, Guan Yu saw Lan Tian's indifferent expression. He suddenly stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Big Brother does not know of Ziyu's talents, hence the slight. Guan offers you an apology on his behalf."

Lan Tian waved his hand. "Why be so formal among family? Actually, I was quite content working in the Household Bureau in Xiapi; I managed to read quite a few books there."

"I heard you personally killed two villains? I never imagined you were skilled in martial arts," Guan Yu said suddenly.

"Just two ruffians, not worth mentioning," Lan Tian replied modestly.

"I have already heard about it. Your sword strikes were fast and powerful; you are clearly someone who practices regularly. Since the weather is cold, let us spar a little to warm our bodies." Guan Yu rubbed his palms together, ready to begin.

How could I possibly spar with you? Lan Tian thought. After Lu Bu died, who would dare provoke you? What right do I have to do this?

"It is no matter, let us just have a simple exchange," Guan Yu said, removing his armor and urging him on.

Lan Tian had no choice but to trade blows with Guan Yu. Being smaller than his opponent, he was much more agile. Guan Yu possessed great strength but intentionally held back, and the two of them traded moves back and forth.

Just as they were working up a sweat, Guan Yu suddenly halted his offensive as Xu Chu and Zhang Liao arrived together.

"General Guan, you are in high spirits," Zhang Liao said with a cupped-hand salute and a smile.

"Wenyuan, is something the matter?" Guan Yu asked, looking puzzled. He had some friendship with Zhang Liao, but Xu Chu was Cao Cao's personal bodyguard—why would he have come here as well?

"Oh, we intended to invite General Guan for a drink, but we found you were not in your room, so we tracked you here," Zhang Liao said cheerfully.

"Guan must guard my two sisters-in-law, so I shall not spoil your fun. Please return," Guan Yu signaled.

Xu Chu looked stunned, and Zhang Liao hurriedly said, "Very well, we shall drink once we reach Xudu."

After Zhang Liao left with Xu Chu, Lan Tian looked at their retreating backs and said, "It is true that Zhang Liao wanted to invite the General for a drink, but that other general had ulterior motives."

"Xu Chu had ulterior motives?" Guan Yu looked back at the hut where his sisters-in-law were staying, as if he suddenly understood something.

When Xu Chu and Zhang Liao arrived at Cao Cao's quarters, Cao Cao looked disappointed to see them return empty-handed.

Xu Chu reported, "My Lord, Guan Yu is guarding Liu Bei's family throughout the night. I could not find an opening. I beg for your forgiveness."

Cao Cao sighed. "Yunchang is truly a man of loyalty and righteousness."

At this, Zhang Liao advised, "My Lord, although Lady Gan is a concubine, she is, after all, Liu Bei's woman. If you force her to attend to you, I fear you will be loathed by Yunchang. It is easy to accept a surrender, but difficult to win a heart."

Cao Cao nodded. "Wenyuan's words are correct. It is fortunate you two did not act rashly. From now on, I shall abandon this thought."

"If the Lord is... perhaps we could look elsewhere in Liuxian?" Zhang Liao suggested.

"Forget it. In this biting spring chill, I merely felt the bed was a bit cold."

"My Lord, I can warm it for you," Xu Chu volunteered as soon as Cao Cao finished speaking.

Cao Cao laughed in spite of himself. He took off his own cloak and said, "The night air in the first month is as cold as water. You two must go back once more and present this cloak to Yunchang to ward off the cold."

"Yunchang was just sparring with a soldier to keep warm. With this cloak bestowed by the Lord, I believe he will not be cold tonight," Zhang Liao added.

Cao Cao sat cross-legged on the bed and said with a smile, "Yunchang's martial arts are extraordinary. There is actually a soldier who can trade blows with him? Is he not afraid of being beaten to death in three or four moves?"

"I observed that Guan Yu was intentionally holding back, so the soldier was in no danger of his life," Xu Chu replied.

If you say it like that, how is the Lord supposed to continue the conversation? Zhang Liao thought. Are you not ruining the Lord's mood? He immediately cupped his hands and said, "My Lord, General Xu should remain to guard your safety. Let me deliver the cloak alone."

"Go," Cao Cao said, then turned over and lay down on the couch.

After Guan Yu and Lan Tian exchanged a few more moves, the warmth in their bodies quickly rose.

In the second half of the night, Lan Tian suggested they take turns resting. He found some wood to build a fire for warmth, and the two sat around the flames chatting, Lan Tian's face glowing red from the heat.

After the group arrived in Xudu, Cao Cao no longer coveted the beauty of Gan Qian. He appointed Guan Yu as a General of the Van, not only bestowing upon him Lu Bu's Red Hare but also gifting him clothes and supplies, treating him with great generosity.

When Lan Tian saw the Red Hare, he immediately thought of Lu Lingqi. He wondered how she was doing in Xinye and if she had managed to secure her footing, but with Gao Shun there to protect her, her life should be safe.

In the second month of the fifth year of Jian'an, after Yuan Shao received the Girdle Edict from Liu Bei, he felt that the mantle of righteousness was in his hands. He ordered Chen Lin to write a manifesto, calling upon the heroes of the world to join in punishing Cao the Rebel, and began sharpening his weapons and horses in preparation for moving south.

In the third month, Yuan Shao led Liu Bei to advance on Liyang and dispatched the great general Yan Liang to surround Baima. The Administrator of Dong Commandery, Liu Yan, immediately sent a request for reinforcements to Xudu.

With the great war between Yuan and Cao imminent, Guan Yu had no friends in Xudu. Before the expedition, he found Lan Tian to discuss the matter: "The Prime Minister intends to lift the siege of Baima; how should I conduct myself?"

Lan Tian said, "General Guan should naturally volunteer, and you must fight with valor. Only by slaying generals and establishing merit will you have the capital to make your escape."

"If Cao Cao refuses to send me to the front, what then?" Guan Yu asked again.

Lan Tian smiled and said, "Yuan Shao occupies Hebei like a tiger, and he has many brave and battle-hardened generals under his command. This time, there will surely be an opportunity for you to strike, and from Xudu, I shall wish for your name to shake the world."

"I accept your auspicious words, Ziyu. I only wonder how my eldest brother and third brother are faring, and when we might finally escape Xudu," Guan Yu said.

"Rest assured, General Guan. My brother-in-law is a man of great fortune; he will surely be unharmed," Lan Tian comforted him.

"I hope so."

Following the advice of his strategist Xun You, Cao Cao led his army to feign a river crossing at Yanjin, baiting Yuan Shao into splitting his forces. He then led a light force in a rapid advance, launching a surprise raid on Baima to catch the enemy off guard.

Yuan Shao indeed fell for the ruse and divided his troops, but at Baima, Cao Cao encountered the obstruction of Yan Liang.

Yan Liang was a great general under Yuan Shao, renowned as the bravest in Hebei. He slew several of Cao Cao's officers in succession, to the point that no one in the Cao camp dared to face him. Left with no other choice, Cao Cao dispatched Zhang Liao and Guan Yu to engage him.

Zhang Liao fought him but was also forced to retreat. Seeing this, Guan Yu spurred his horse and charged into the enemy formation. The Hebei troops could not withstand him at all; Guan Yu cut off Yan Liang's head amidst the ten thousand soldiers and returned, shaking the world with his name from that day forth.

With their commander slain, Yan Liang's troops collapsed in an instant. Cao Cao ordered his main force to slaughter them, and the siege of Baima was thus lifted.