The War Horse of Cao Cao's Army [Romance of the Three Kingdoms] - Chapter 4

“It’s truly an honor to meet you, Yuanji! How about we go for a drink?”

“All of a sudden?”

Though I was on my way to Langya, there was no way I could pass up this opportunity with Xu Shu standing before me.

“I’ve heard of your righteous deeds all the way back in my hometown of Wu County. I must insist on treating you. Please join me.”

“What an odd fellow you are. But if it’s a drink you’re offering, I won’t say no.”

With that, I led Xu Shu into the bustling streets of Guangling.

We soon found an inn, and I brought Xu Shu inside.

“Welcome—uh, h-huh?!”

“Blo-Blood!”

The inn looked like it was run by a kind, husband-and-wife duo, and since there weren’t any other customers, it was the perfect spot.

Xu Shu entered first, quietly taking a seat, and I followed, ready to order. But the expressions on the innkeeper couple’s faces were something else.

Oh, right… we were still covered in blood from the fight.

“Aren’t you going to take our order?”

“Uh… well….”

I pointed to my bloodstained clothes and explained.

“Is it because of this? We were traveling by boat up from the south and ran into river pirates on the Yangtze. Barely escaped with our lives.”

“Wh-what?”

“Those pirates are terrifying. Fortunately, this swordsman here managed to fend them off.”

“Is that so?”

I pulled a few Wuzhu coins from my pocket and placed them on the table.

“After barely escaping those pirates, of course, we need a drink. Now, hurry and bring us something to eat and drink.”

“Right away, we’ll prepare it immediately.”

Two men, covered in blood and armed with swords, appearing in broad daylight—it’s no wonder they were scared. After I gave a quick explanation, the innkeepers whispered among themselves but eventually retreated to the kitchen to prepare our meal.

“I suppose we’ll need to get some fresh clothes if we want to avoid more misunderstandings, won’t we?”

“Hmm….”

I tried to lighten the mood with some small talk, but Xu Shu remained silent.

As soon as the food and drink were served, I poured a cup of alcohol and downed it in one gulp.

“I don’t know how you learned my name, but let this be the end of our encounter.”

“No, I insist on traveling with you, Yuanji.”

Xu Shu narrowed his eyes at my words.

“It’s an honor to meet the great knight errant Xu Yuanji, and I hope to travel with you to learn many things.”

“Are you mocking me?”

“Excuse me?”

“From the moment we boarded that ship, you called me a knight errant. But I left my homeland because I wanted to abandon the bloodthirsty reputation of the sword.”

“Ah….”

“So when you kept calling me a knight errant earlier, were you mocking me?”

I quickly thought about his words. It was true—Xu Shu was known in historical records for having led many bands during his younger years. While ‘knight errant’ was a flattering term, it was also a bit of a euphemism. To be blunt, he was more like a gang leader, wielding a sword with a group of fighters during chaotic times—more akin to a thug.

Realizing this, I decided to shift the conversation.

“Then, if you’ve given up the path of the chivalry, where are you headed now?”

“For now, I’m wandering the world, trying to learn about it. I’m searching for a great teacher.”

“A teacher?”

“In my hometown of Yingchuan, there was once a renowned scholar named Master Shui Jing,” Xu Shu began. “I had decided to leave behind my reckless lifestyle and pursue the path of learning under him.”

Ah, Master Shui Jing—that would be Sima Hui.

Sima Hui was a famous scholar of the time, and many brilliant minds studied under him. In actual history, Xu Shu was one of his disciples. However, at this moment, it seemed the timing was off, and Xu Shu had yet to meet his future master.

“But,” Xu Shu continued, “Master Shui Jing left Yingchuan, and no one knows where he went. So, I’ve been wandering, searching for another teacher.”

It all started to click into place. According to what I knew, Sima Hui would have gone to Jingzhou by now, where he would mentor many military strategists. Xu Shu would eventually reach Jingzhou and pursue his studies under Sima Hui’s guidance.

With this understanding, I immediately made a proposal to Xu Shu.

“If you’re ready to set aside the path of the sword and pursue the path of learning, I can help you with that.”

“What did you say?” Xu Shu asked, surprised.

“I am Cao Xiu, from the Cao family of Qiao County, Peiguo. I am currently on my way to Langya to meet with the former Grand Commandant, Cao Song.”

“And?”

“Travel with me, and I will introduce you to the Grand Commandant. He has connections with many esteemed scholars, and he’s on his way to Yanzhou. There, you can embark on your scholarly journey.”

“Hmmm….”

At this point in time, Xu Shu was still like a sharpened blade—focused and driven, yet open to conversation.

He was clearly wavering. Mentioning that he wanted to leave the life of a knight errant behind and pursue learning, then hearing about my family and invoking the name of the former Grand Commandant, Cao Song, naturally piqued his interest.

“Would you pour me another cup?” I asked, extending my empty glass.

Without a word, Xu Shu poured the wine for me.

“So, where is this man now?” he asked.

Got him!

“He’s currently in Langya, Xuzhou.”

“That’s about five days’ journey from here.”

“Will you join me on the journey?”

Xu Shu downed his drink in one gulp and replied to my question.

“Let’s get some new clothes first, and we’ll depart tomorrow.”

“Great!”

In that moment, I had gained an incredible ally—Xu Shu. With him by my side, the chances of protecting Cao Song and his family in Langya had just risen.

The next day, we set out, both of us dressed in new clothes, riding on horseback from Guangling to Langya.

Having secured someone as skilled as Xu Shu would greatly strengthen my position, both when it came to guarding Cao Song and eventually meeting Cao Cao.

Yet, despite the progress, unease still gnawed at me.

I couldn’t help but worry. With hundreds of bandits targeting the Cao family, there was no way just the two of us could protect them.

As we approached Langya, I shared my concerns with Xu Shu one night by the fire.

“So, what you’re saying, Wenlie, is that you brought me along because you need my help to guard the elder of a wealthy family?” Xu Shu asked.

“That’s part of it, yes, but I also genuinely want to help you find your path to scholarly pursuits in Yanzhou.”

“Hmm, but it all hinges on whether this Grand Commandant, Cao Song, reaches Yanzhou safely, doesn’t it?”

“Exactly.”

Xu Shu poked the fire with a stick, thinking for a moment before something seemed to dawn on him.

“Before we reach Langya, there’s a town called Dongcheng. There’s a prominent local nobleman there—someone I know from my past.”

“Oh, really?” I asked, intrigued.

“He doesn’t follow the Governor of Xuzhou and instead commands many renowned strongmen in his hometown. Would you like to meet him?” Xu Shu asked.

“Of course! If there’s such a hero, I’d be eager to meet him,” I replied.

Xuzhou, before Cao Cao’s infamous act, was a prosperous land, home to many esteemed scholars and nobles. Xu Shu had mentioned that this man, someone who valued righteousness, was someone worth meeting, and my expectations grew even higher. If Xu Shu spoke so highly of him, he had to be an incredible person.

After camping for the night, we rode to Dongcheng, Xuzhou the next day, and I was stunned once again.

In this small town stood a massive estate, larger than the local government offices, owned by a wealthy man of immense stature.

His name was Lu Su, courtesy name Zijing.

Lu Su, known not only as a famed wealthy man but also as the future Grand Marshal of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period.

“Master Yuanji, I thought you’d embarked on a long journey, but here we are meeting again so soon?” Lu Su greeted Xu Shu warmly as he welcomed both of us into his home without hesitation, even offering us tea.

My first impression of Lu Su was that he was strikingly handsome, with bold, chiseled features. Despite being in his early twenties—much younger than Xu Shu—he sported a long beard, perhaps to appear more dignified.

Xu Shu and Lu Su, two exceptional figures. Just bringing them to Cao Cao would be a huge advantage.

I was about to explain the situation to enlist their help.

“Nice to meet you. I am Cao Xiu, courtesy name Wenlie. We’re in urgent need of loyal and capable soldiers, which is why I’ve come.”

“I do have some well-known strongmen in the village, but they aren’t exactly soldiers trained for war… Hmmm.”

Lu Su sipped his tea quietly before speaking.

“I typically don’t lend my men to anyone without asking any questions, but I can spare ten of my strongmen.”

“Pardon?” I asked, a bit taken aback.

Xu Shu, sitting quietly, lifted his teacup and glanced at Lu Su. With a small smirk, Lu Su spread his fingers.

“But, for Yuanji’s sake, I’ll add another ten. And these will be men who can ride horses.”

“Really?” I asked, surprised.

“There are always some, you know. Whether driven by revenge for family or by a sense of justice, eager to take down bandits and make a name for themselves… Many such men have come to me for help, but I never pry into their reasons. You’re here to borrow warriors, not wealth or provisions, so I won’t ask questions either.”

Lu Su was truly a cool and straightforward person.

Without asking too many questions, he willingly offered twenty cavalrymen—skilled in swordsmanship and spearmanship—to help, just like that.

“You said your name was Cao Wenlie, right? Since you brought Yuanji along, it seems the two of you have formed a strong bond. Rest here for a while, take my men with you, and once your task is finished, return them to me.”

“I sincerely thank you, Master Zijing!”

Initially, I had thought I would be journeying alone to save Cao Song, but after crossing the Yangtze and defeating the river pirates with the mighty knight errant Xu Shu, I now had twenty cavalrymen, thanks to Lu Su.

With this, I had a real chance to protect Cao Song and his family.

“Master Zijing, I am deeply grateful, and I would like to share something with you. I am originally from Qiao County, Peiguo, a member of the Cao family. On my way to Yanzhou, I can tell you that Governor Cao is actively seeking talented individuals such as yourself.”

At that moment, Lu Su smiled and extended his hand.

“Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that.”

“Master Zijing, the man I speak of will one day be a hero of the realm, and if you were to meet him….”

“Let’s stop there. If I start feeling uneasy, those twenty men I promised might suddenly vanish,” he said, his tone light but firm.

At that moment, Xu Shu gently nudged my side with his sheathed sword.

“I don’t leave my friends behind. I’m already waiting for the right moment, and my future is set,” Lu Su added.

That friend he referred to was surely Zhou Yu.

If I had more time, I would have stayed longer, tried to persuade Lu Su to join us and head to Cao Cao. But time was not on my side, and I had to make a choice. Instead of lingering, I decided to focus on saving Cao Song’s family and securing Cao Cao’s trust.

Thanks to the help of Xu Shu and Lu Su, I was able to arrive in Langya with the twenty cavalrymen in tow.

Remarkably, the timing couldn’t have been better. After half a day of hard riding, we caught up with Cao Song’s family just after they had left Langya.

Everyone was safe, and all the carriages—over a hundred, loaded with gold and treasures—were intact.