Chapter 263: Family Ties Exist, But Not Abundantly
The cold of the Deep Winter Month was just temporary, but for Cao Kun, it was a long and terrifying ordeal.
The Cao Clan’s eighty thousand troops had besieged Lingzhou City for a month already. Piles of corpses lay under the city like mountains, and the city walls were scarred with battle marks, yet there was no sign of breaking the city. The He Clan banner on the city head still fluttered in the wind, as if in sarcasm of the Cao Clan.
Old Master Cao had returned to Qiuhe City early on. Though not yet Emperor, Old Master Cao already had some imperial demeanor. Henceforth, he rarely left his old nest of Qiuhe City. As for leading troops in battle, he left it to his two capable sons, Cao Laosan and Cao Laojiu.
As for the renowned eldest Cao, Cao Laoda, he could now only serve as a provisions escort officer, supporting his two younger brothers in the siege from the rear.
This was already Cao Kun’s third time delivering grain.
After handing over the provisions to the deputy generals of his two younger brothers, he wanted to see them, but the deputy generals said the two young masters were currently planning the city assault and had no time to see their elder brother.
Lingzhou City had high walls and deep moats, abundant provisions, and the He Clan members had long resided there. Everyone knew that once the city fell, they would die without a burial place. Thus, no matter how Cao Laosan and Cao Laojiu threatened or lured them, the people inside remained steadfast in defending the city.
Moreover, up to now, He Tian had only lost ordinary city guard troops. His true elite Tiger Guards had yet to appear in large numbers on the battlefield.
Cao Kun was very worried that if the city held out too long, they might suffer a counterattack from He Tian.
His two general younger brothers refused to see him, fearing he would give rash advice that would lead to the fall of Lingzhou City.
1 The weather was cold. Cao Kun sat alone in his army tent, carefully using an abacus to calculate the gains and losses of both armies.
1 Calculating gains and losses with numbers was a method he learned from Yun Ce, and also an art he understood after studying 《The Art of War》 thoroughly. This thing demanded accuracy and precision with numbers. Once all situations were converted to numbers, Cao Kun reached a conclusion—the Cao Clan would definitely lose this battle.
1 The army had besieged the sturdy city for a month. Every day, Cao Clan troops challenged them to battle, but He Tian in the city ignored them. Once the Cao Clan attacked, they used ample defensive weapons to kill the enemy, suffering little loss themselves.
1 On the surface, it looked like the Cao Clan had the advantage, but in reality, He Tian did. In his agitation, Cao Kun swept the arranged abacus beads under the table. The casualty ratio was already four to six, with the Cao Clan at six. He truly didn’t know what Cao Laosan and Cao Laojiu were so smug about.
1 Cao Ling lifted the tent flap, carrying a tray inside. There wasn’t much good food on the tray, just a large full bowl of noodles. Judging by the topping, it should be whistle noodles.
1 Cao Kun composed himself and ate the noodles. In an instant, the large bowl went into his stomach, generating a warm flow that dispelled much of the chill.
1 Cao Ling gathered the fallen abacus beads, inserted them into the bamboo tube, and seeing Cao Kun finished, prepared to take the bowl out.
1 “What do you say, if Third Young Master and Ninth Young Master are defeated, how should I act?”
1 Seeing Cao Kun ask, Cao Ling thought for a moment and said: “Certainly rescue them with full force.”
1 Cao Kun laughed: “Can’t I just stand by and watch?”
2 Cao Ling said: “In principle, yes, but those who die are all Cao Clan sons, and these sons will serve the young master in the future. This subordinate believes we must save them.”
2 “Aren’t you afraid that once Old Three and Old Nine grow powerful, you, as the eldest’s close follower, will die without a burial place?”
2 Cao Ling snorted with laughter: “With their measly skills?”
2 Cao Kun laughed, stood up, patted Cao Ling’s shoulder, and headed straight to Cao Laosan’s army tent. This time, whether Cao Laosan wanted to see him or not, he had to say what needed to be said.
2 Fortunately, Cao Kun had good prestige in the military. Even when he arrived at Cao Zheng’s place and someone tried to block him, he whipped them away.
2 Entering the tent, Cao Kun looked at Cao Zheng and said: “The camp is too close to Lingzhou City, and the tents are too densely packed. Though close for convenient attacks, it also makes it easy for the enemy to raid.”
2 “Especially since Lingzhou shehuo is not under our control, this is too dangerous.”
2 Cao Zheng was only six days younger than Cao Kun. Though blood brothers, their appearances differed greatly. Cao Kun had a square face—men found it imposing, women ugly.
2 Cao Zheng was different, a man with feminine features. Even casually sitting there, he gave a dashing impression, especially those peach blossom eyes, which Cao Kun always wanted to gouge out himself.
2 Fanning himself in deep winter was something only Cao Zheng would do. After hearing Cao Kun’s admonition, he covered half his face with the fan and smiled: “Elder brother is right.”
3 Seeing Cao Zheng hadn’t taken it to heart, Cao Kun swallowed and continued: “I know this makes you uncomfortable, and I don’t expect you to see it as goodwill. Just for the sake of these Cao Clan disciples around you, be more careful. If we can’t take the city quickly, we’ll take it slowly.”
3 “Besieging Lingzhou City is already good enough. Even if they have lots of stored grain, it will run out eventually. Our provisions are even more abundant. We can starve He Tian to death.”
3 Cao Zheng chuckled: “Elder brother is right.”
3 Cao Kun stood and came before Cao Zheng: “Third Brother, withdraw the troops fifteen li and set up camp again.”
3 Cao Zheng nodded: “I shall obey elder brother’s order.”
3 Cao Kun sighed, feeling there was nothing more to say, and walked out of the tent. Before going far, he heard Cao Zheng roar from inside: “Assemble the troops, attack the city!”
3 He turned to head to Old Nine Cao Ying’s tent and saw chaos in that army camp, as if their troops were also mobilizing.
3 Heavy drum sounds rose from the camp, one after another, making one’s scalp tingle.
3 Cao Kun quickly returned to his own logistics camp and said to Cao Ling: “Unload the grain, load the horse carriages with sand and stones, hitch thirteen horses per carriage, and have mute drivers.”
3 Cao Ling swiftly went to arrange it. Cao Kun then sat back in the chair obtained from Yun Ce, poured a cup of hot tea, held it in his palms, and sipped it slowly.
4 Half a shichen later, the fierce city assault began again. Watching arrows fly wildly, stones smash about, and fireballs streak through the air, Cao Kun sighed, feeling a chill all over, and wrapped his cape tighter.
4 Zheng Tianshou lifted the flap and entered, looking at Cao Kun: “Why bother getting angry with idiots.”
4 Cao Kun shook his head: “An idiot’s flash of inspiration is the deadliest. While losses are still controllable, I must drive these two stupid pigs from command, or who knows what disaster they’ll bring to the Cao Clan.”
4 Zheng Tianshou frowned: “There are other ways.”
4 Cao Kun shook his head: “Use the radioactive source? Yun Ce would die laughing.”
4 Zheng Tianshou said: “We have other means.”
4 Cao Kun kept shaking his head: “Uncle Ya is dead. I trust no one else.”
4 Zheng Tianshou said again: “How do you know He Tian will act tonight?”
4 Cao Kun shook his head: “I don’t know. I only know if I were He Tian, I would definitely raid these next few days. If not tonight, then tomorrow or the day after. Within ten days, there will certainly be a raid.”
4 Zheng Tianshou shook his head: “There’s no reasoning to guard against thieves every day.”
5 Cao Kun said: “I must guard against it. If those two stupid pigs collapse, the Cao Clan’s eighty thousand troops might be buried under Lingzhou City.”
5 Zheng Tianshou sighed: “Since the young master is determined, this old slave will lead five hundred cavalry to back you up.”
5 Cao Kun said incredulously: “The deputy commander has only five hundred cavalry under him?”
5 Zheng Tianshou chuckled: “When the Patriarch left, he said to give the young ones a chance to train. From then on, this old slave could only command his own five hundred cavalry.”
5 Cao Kun gritted his teeth: “In that case, Uncle, cover for me. I’ll personally lead our three thousand cavalry, hidden behind the carriages, to bite He Tian hard—a big bite—for He Yu’s revenge.”
5 Yun Ce saw his own Black Feathered Eagle perched on the gate. When the Red Date Horse came in from outside, it suddenly jumped down, stomped hard on the Red Date Horse’s head with its two sturdy claws, then flew into the sky. The dizzy Red Date Horse, not waiting to recover, stumbled around, turned, and ran out chasing the Black Feathered Eagle.
5 E Ji lay on a couch holding her stomach, covering her face with her sleeve, letting the sunlight warmly shine on her body. An Ji guarded nearby, kicking away any approaching pup with one foot.
5 The Patriarch had said that pregnant women should stay away from furry pets.
5 Zhang Min lay on the other side, watching her husband clean a room with alcohol. After cleaning, he lit a fire to bake it. Though the room blazed with firelight, the wood inside showed no burning traces.
5 Snow-white cloth sheets and thick quilts hung drying on the rope, all things that had been boiled in water before being sunned under the sun.
6 “Say, who of us will enter that room first?”
6 E Ji covered her face and said firmly: “Certainly me.”
6 Zhang Min frowned: “You won’t compete for the eldest legitimate son or daughter and endanger the child by giving birth early, will you?”
6 E Ji laughed: “I’m not that shameless. Even if you give birth first and I later, my child will still be the legitimate son.”
6 Zhang Min laughed: “Only the eldest legitimate son is impressive. A mere legitimate son is nothing. Look at Cao Kun—that’s the eldest legitimate son. His days now are so carefree.”
6 “Carefree. Just wait a few more years and see him then.”
6 Yun Ce removed his gloves, tossed them on the low table, picked up his teapot, and took a satisfying gulp.
6 “How so?” Zhang Min reached out her hand, and Yun Ce helped her up.
6 “Liang Kun is currently in Cao Kun’s army. Last night, Flying Bird brought a message saying Cao Kun is preparing to hugely sabotage his two younger brothers. He delivered the grain overnight and has fled thirty li away to an unnoticed high ground, ready to watch a big show.”
6 E Ji, holding her stomach, was also helped by Yun Ce to sit up. Seeing neither understood, he continued explaining: “Cao Kun delivering provisions to Lingzhou City didn’t return, panicking his two brothers who had besieged Lingzhou City for over a month with no progress. Now they’re attacking the city at all costs.”
7 “Even a scholar like Liang Kun thinks they’ll be exploited by He Tian, fearing death amid the chaos, and fled overnight. Guess what Cao Kun will do?”
