Disclaimer: I don't own them
A/N: Perhaps that DW 8 Wei Hypothetical ending may be the best case scenario on paper…Had to add Ziyan in Zhen Ji's part for personality because I'm not going full DW Zhen Ji here.
Cao Cao's Han Restoration
Part 1: Victory without Glory
Before Cao Cao's army return to Xu Chang, he went back to Chi Bi where his victory against Zhou Yu and the alliance opened the path to unification. From there, the casualties on Jiang Dong's navy were many and there's no hope of any remnant forces from Jian Ye and Wucheng to stop his cavalry forces that docked the lands of Yangzhou.
The ones who surrendered led by Zhang Zhao had already opened their gates to Sun Quan and the latter surrendered due to the grievance of Zhou Yu, Cheng Pu, Lu Su, and Huang Gai's deaths. Without the Jiang Dong elite, Wu was finished.
To the people of Jiang Dong, they were good people opposing him. He never wanted anymore good men to die over their personal beliefs on peace and prosperity. That right there was what severed his relationship with Yuan Shao. Wu feared that he would tyrannize Jiangdong like they believed after he quelled the rest of Yuan Shao's forces at He Bei.
"Fengxiao, I have to thank you for making our victory happen," Cao Cao spoke after survey the last traces of the ruined Wu navy.
"I didn't do much, prime minister, just predicted a bad omen let alone the false defection from Huang Gai. The weather can be the greatest weapon in the battlefield. We're able to reverse their advantage in terrain and repel their desperate strategy to use fire against us," Guo Jia shrugged. He does not like being over praise over a battle that could have been a historical disaster on Cao Cao's ranks.
"Why, Chi Bi? Why couldn't Zhou Yu understand that their position was futile from the start? He was a great man, very popular amongst the people! We killed a good man…." Cao Cao frowned.
"Good men stand firm to their righteous purpose. Ugh….that medicine I used earlier is making me woozy, hehehe," Guo Jia grinned.
"Liu Bei used Zhou Yu against me…" Cao Cao thought.
Flashback from Baidi Castle, he remembers Liu Bei's last words. He who fought for the will for the people easily made alliances with good men like Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong and talented strategists like Fa Zheng. He tried to convince Zhuge Liang to join him earlier prior to his Jing invasion, but was denied with a mock letter in return. Cao Cao became guilty upon the deaths of Zhao Yun and Fa Zheng. He couldn't change Guan Yu's mind because Yunchang's bond with Liu Bei was too strong.
"Mengde, you've finally saved the nation, why aren't you satisfied with this victory?" Xiahou Dun asked.
Dian Wei and Xu Zhu looked at him with concernment. They're victorious and conquered the chaos, but their leader wasn't happy. His guilty became too great to hold.
"I withheld the authority of the imperial government, but after quelling rebellion after rebellion, was it all in the name of the Emperor? Had I truly drawn myself into Dong Zhuo's level of oppression?" Cao Cao continues thinking to himself.
Victory after victory, it was just insurgents who refused to submit to order and reason because they're afraid of him and still do after their deaths. The increase in death toll continued until Liu Bei was no more and the rest of the Chinese population was spared.
No one will forget what he did: the Xuzhou Massacre, the execution of Dong Cheng, and the Chang Ban tragedy. He move on from that and continue to quell rebellion after rebellion. How did Emperor Guangwu cope with it without getting antagonized? He was a Liu and Cao Cao is not.
"There have been enough deaths for almost half a century. I'd like to give posthumous titles to the defeated at Chi Bi," Cao Cao sighed and turned his horse away preparing to return to Xu Chang.
"May I ask you a question, prime minister?" Zhang Liao came before Cao Cao and bowed.
"Go ahead, Wenyuan," Cao Cao hears out Zhang Liao's question.
"What will become of Guan Yu's family? I had his sons and daughter under surveillance," Zhang Liao asked.
"I'll have you in charge with taking care of his children. You are his friend, so we shall repay our debt to him for helping us," Cao Cao answered.
"Hmph, I wouldn't want anything to do with Yunchang's kin. Yuan is looking after Yide's children," Xiahou Dun turns away from the duo and excuses himself.
"Their children had nothing to do with this," Cao Cao thought.
"You once wiped Kong Rong's entire clan; women and children included Mengde, what changed you?" Guo Jia asked.
"Honestly, I'm tired of the deaths…for once, Chen Gong was right. I ruined good people. I don't want to ruin anymore good people after our goal has been achieved," Cao Cao resumes his trail away from the battle that opened the path towards his reunification.
At Chang Ban….
Nobles are just as guilty. They were blamed upon by the peasant during the Great Rebellion for staying their backs behind the corruption of the eunuchs. Her family had a bad history dating back almost 200 years, but they were able to recoil and continue to operate the wealth at her home. Nobles always think about their money, their possessions, and ranks.
Three women stood on the late afternoon's dusty remains of a slaughtered battle that isn't a battle, but a tragedy. Those people who followed Liu Bei here were slain mercilessly in the way of capturing Liu Bei.
"If it were me here, I wouldn't have survived," a woman who was dressed casually and looked average compare to the other two who are extraordinary beautiful.
"And not a single one of them were resisting. They were all harmless save for the soldiers who were defending them," Cai Wenji who is also called Cai Yan watched the third woman perform a sad melody.
"After my lady's battle, she was the only one who didn't join the celebration. I included, well I never leave her side as her servant," the servant woman stated.
Cai Wenji nodded, "I'm terribly sorry, Luo."
Sorry doesn't describe the immeasurable sorrow of Zhen Ji whose beauty is considered frighten amongst scholars. Her encounter with Zuo Ci foretold this tragedy. Day by day, she could not do anything, but witness the slaughter insole by thousands of Cao Cao's cavalry. There was fear, there was terror and were nothing more than sacrifices made in order to end the chaos.
"She can't be the victim anymore, Lady Cai," the servant woman told Cai Wenji.
"I know, Ziyan. I know…" Cai Wenji sighed.
In front of Zhen Ji was a long dragon spear struck under the grounds of Changban's soil as a grave to the fallen hero she cherished. She felt so terrible, year by year before and after she was married into the Yuan clan, that hero was scorned by Yuan Shao's men and now Cao Cao's men after she became Cao Pi's wife.
It doesn't get any better in her life as he was the first to lead the vanguard, hindering Cao Cao's advance into Liu Bei's main castle and then he was all alone with Zhang He, Guo Huai, Cao Zhen, and Cao Xiu trying to wore him down while her husband cowardly struck him at his vulnerable state. He was the first one to charge and the last one to die in battle.
"He had frightened Yue Jin, nearly killed Guo Huai if it weren't for Cao Zhen and Xiu's efforts to save his life. The more casualties grew after the Prime Minister breached Baidi Castle, the harder the men fought to kill Zhao Yun, and the more the latter continue to stuck the lives out of the fallen soldiers who only wanted a peaceful, war-free China," Cai Wenji explained what happened at Baidi Castle during Cao Cao and Liu Bei's encounter.
Liu Bei's Five Tigers continue to attack Cao Cao's finest heroes. Ma Chao was first to die, followed by Huang Zhong, and both men had their sub generals aiding them during the siege. The more the death toll raised, Cao Cao's army began to see the light of their adversary's opposition. But, Zhen Ji was at her breaking point.
It was said that Liu Bei's men were just a bunch of barbarians falling into Liu Bei's personality just for the sake of that personality. But, she knew one of Liu Bei generals. She knew why he joined Liu Bei and she knew why the people cherished Liu Bei before he and Cao Cao became bitter enemies over the treatment of the Han Emperor.
"This child in my hand is Liu Bei's son. My lady volunteered to adopt the boy that man saved," Ziyan showed the boy she's holding her left hand with. Liu Chan, still young, could not understand what is going on as his life was already in danger after he was born.
"It's good to know she'll protect what's left of that man's life," Cai Wenji smiled at the child passionately.
When Zhen Ji finished blowing her flute, she softly touched the dragon spear gently. It was forged by him. He had such talent no one had acknowledge until this tragedy happened. The grave of Zhao Yun is right here. She couldn't bring him back home where his mother was alone for years.
"They know, they know who you are now my little dragon," Zhen Ji sniffed.
Ziyan and Cai Wenji exchange sorrowful looks.
"There was nothing I could do to save you. I'm tired of not doing anything to save anyone and decided to save this child from being executed because he carries the blood of Liu Bei. But he also carries the blood of Han. I will protect that blood and make your heroism relevant. Good bye…" Zhen Ji stumbles into grieving his last moment. They didn't beat Zhao Yun. They murdered him. He was tired, tired of fighting back, out of breath, out of reason to live. Cao Cao was too late. Her husband killed him when he's already exhausted from hours of penetrating the main camp and trying to cut off their supply lines.
"I thought either Guan Yu or Zhang Fei was going to die last. But, Zhao Yun was the last one after Zhang Fei's death roar that stuck the entire army's will to fight," Cai Wenji revealed the final moments of Zhang Fei.
"Everyone was tired and Zhao Yun keeps on fighting until he couldn't fight anymore," Ziyan said.
"Just like what happened at Chi Bi," Cai Wenji nodded.
Zhen Ji slowly walked to join up with the pair. She looked awfully sad, Wang Yi had stopped Zhu Rong while she's been too occupied with watching Zhao Yun fighting not realizing Yue Ying's juggernaut unit was coming her way. Thanks to Cai Yan, she fought with her to destroy the juggernaut unit, but couldn't engage against Yue Ying because everything started to feel like this battle could have been avoided.
"There's no glory in this victory. Only tragedy…" Zhen Ji turns to see his spear one last time before they all departed to Xu Chang.
The radiant light reflected the blade's shining presence mirroring the three women walking directly to Xiangyang.
When they rendezvous with their escorting carriage, Zhen Ji spoke to the two of what she learned after Sun Quan's surrender, "When I visited the wives of Jiang Dong's heroes, they felt the same way as I. I've never been sorrier for those women who believed in their heroes."
Cai Wenji and Ziyan got on the carriage with young Liu Chan with them. They don't know what to say about the women at Wu. Xiao Qiao for example, she had a nervous breakdown over Zhou Yu's death and never recovered from her illness, Sun Shang Xiang killed herself upon learning of Sun Quan's surrender; Da Qiao and Lady Bu were the remaining women still alive after that.
"We should all be glad that the chaos is over my lady," Ziyan said.
"Yes, it's over," Zhen Ji sat next to her best friend and glance at the dusky fields of Chang Ban.
Hours later at Xiangyang….
"I never felt more alive in a land at peace!" Xu Huang cried.
Cao Ren has held a feast where peasants and nobles alike could join and celebrate the victory.
"Me too, Gongming," Man Chong holds his cup of wine commencing a toast.
"Pang De, I have a rhetorical question to ask," Wang Yi crossed her leg sitting next to her comrade from the same region.
"Do you need to ask, Wang Yi? We know each other from the same province, go ahead," Pang De smiled.
"Do you miss Ma Chao?" Wang Yi asked.
A brief silent surrounding Pang De with the majority of officers who sided with Cao Cao against Liu Bei's faction watched as Ma Chao's former mentor shyly answered.
"I missed how he once was a straightforward boy when he was younger. Mengqi choose to die carrying the pride of Ma family of Liangzhou. At least his father and brothers died fighting alongside with him. I'll have to carry on the spirit of Xiliang with him gone," Pang De nodded.
"The fierce Xi Liang cavalry gave our side a great deal of trouble at the beginning. Thankfully, the two of you were of great help dealing with them. Zixiao, with your cooperation on defensive coordination and my strategic guidance, we crushed Ma Chao soundly," Man Chong told Cao Ren.
"Ma Chao is the splendid after all, living up to his name," Cao Ren nodded.
"I never liked the guy anyway…he was too arrogant by his reputation in Liang," Wang Yi snorted.
"I will still miss the young lord…" Pang De sighed.
"Well, I may be the only one saying this, but I will miss Guan Yu…" Xu Huang uttered.
"No, you're not. We'll miss Yunchang. Yuanrang will miss seeing that beard he doesn't like," Cao Ren chuckled on the beard part.
"Let's not forget about the men Liu Bei won them over," Man Chong smiled.
"Yes, for Guan Yu…Consequently I wouldn't be here without him," Xu Huang sighed.
"Lady Zhen may already be in great distress with Zhao Yun. Cao Cao wanted him alive. That man made the most damage out of our entire forces," Cao Ren thought.
Wang Yi glances at the men mourning Guan Yu while she ponders to her optimism on Liu Bei's men who follow him.
At Luo Yang the next day…
Sima Yi doesn't know why he's doing this. His wife was next to him staring at him for nearly an hour after they had returned from the final battle at Baidi Castle. Zhuge Liang was all he could think and talk about with her. It was the first time in a long time he got to see a man comparable to his wits.
"He is indeed smart," Sima Yi smiled.
"So is his wife. It's the first time I've seen a woman who can create such…big toys out of military weapons," Zhang Chunhua added.
"Heheh, they're an interesting duo," Sima Yi turns to his wife with a sly grin.
"And we're going to miss them," Zhang Chunhua nodded.
The two turn to the late afternoon sun gazing the radiant light. Sima Yi mourns the one man who's considered his equal. They couldn't put it into better words on the Longzhong couple's parting.
A day later that evening at Xin Ye…
"So this was where it began," Zhen Ji thought.
"Young Liu Shan was born here," Ziyan whispered holding the child on her hand.
"I've heard that the people of Xin Ye loved Liu Bei and were treated fairly," Cai Wenji scanned the depopulated town upon mentioning the governing duties done by Liu Bei here.
"Because of him….." Zhen Ji thought as she sighed.
She kneeled on to the ground and places both of her hands together forming a prayer. Liu Shan started feeling tire from the journey to Xu Chang making an amusing yawn.
Cai Wenji heard sounds of foot marching and horse gallop coming behind her as she turns to see the hero of this land approach with his trusted advisor Guo Jia and his strongest warriors Dian Wei and Xu Zhu. Zhang Liao and Xiahou Dun stayed at Xiang Yang with Guan Yu's remaining family.
"Prime Minister Cao," Cai Wenji bowed.
"I see you haven't returned to the capital with Pi. In that case…" Cao Cao got off his horse and waved Guo Jia and the rest to wait there as he approaches his daughter in law.
Zhen Ji mumur the words in mourning and remember the last time she and Zhao Yun spoke before he left to help Liu Bei. Cao Cao stood behind her and cleared his throat to get her maid and Cai Wenji to leave them alone.
Cao Cao took a deep breath and start recapping her infamous event, "I've told my men earlier not to disturb the manor where Yuan Shao's family resides. That includes my son Pi, honestly."
She could remember the first time she met Cao Cao and his son. Many Confucian scholars condemned that event and even the people from the entire land.
"But, my son insists on entering that manor against my consent. I was busy stabilizing the palace and Shen Pei's men after the battle. It can't be helped. He was going to be an adult soon. Cao Zhang was making quite an impressive performance after the battle against Yuan Tan, so Cao Pi wanted his share of the glory and you know what that is, my daughter in law?" Cao Cao crossed his arms waiting for her reply.
"….."
"You don't have to hide it. I know you a little more now. You're a quiet and careful woman. You wouldn't dare antagonize my son even if he's the kind of guy who would threaten your life. You and Lady Liu didn't know that I wanted the two of you sparred. So, now is the time you can tell me the true about how you really feel. You're the first person who sees no glory in this victory at Baidicheng," Cao Cao uttered giving his men and the ladies exchanged looks at each other.
Zhen Ji slowly opened her eyes with an aura of resentment for her part in the inhuman slaughter at Chang Ban.
"Even if I told you, it won't change the past," Zhen Ji said clearly without turning to face her father in law.
"Indeed it won't, but I don't want to see you continuously being a distance from us. You're a good person and I swear I won't ruin you like the rest. So tell me the truth? Do you know him? Everyone in my force knows Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, Huang Zhong and Liu Bei, but we don't know who Zhao Yun was until he was the last person to die in that battle. I did not want such a talent to be wasted after Liu Bei was already dead," Cao Cao winced.
"Does it matter if I know him or not? He's dead my lord…He…he..." Zhen Ji slowly got up stumbling into a depressed state.
"I told my men not to kill him and it's the same order I told my own son to follow, but he wanted to be the man who defeated Zhao Yun. That's twice my own son broke a military order. If there's anything I could do to make it up, the time is now, Fu. You can even arrange for a divorce. I have no objections neither will Bian," Cao Cao embraced both his arms around a wailing Zhen Ji.
"He only wanted to end the chaos, just like everybody else in this heaven forsaken land! No one acknowledges his talents and never allowed him to lead! He just keeps continuing to follow orders under Gongsun Zan and things continued to get worst around him. Yuan Shao spread lies just to cause a rift between the people in my home and Zilong!" Zhen Ji cried.
"Benchu always does that to his advantage. I knew he would get someone to write that declaration of war against me at Guan Du. So, Zhao Yun once served both of those men, what else did you know? Why did he choose to go to Liu Bei and not come to serve me in the name of the Han emperor?" Cao Cao asked.
"He told me before he left that Liu Bei was the only man who understands his struggles. They shared the same ambition and that was when he took some of Yuan Shao's troops who volunteered to join him with Liu Bei to Jingzhou where Yuan Shao's ally Liu Biao resides and…and then he left. He left and you won at Guan Du and I became your son's wife!" Zhen Ji continued wailing louder that echoed the entire village.
"If Yuan Shao's army was completely organized with Zhao Yun and Tian Feng, I could never win…how could I not seen the true power of Benchu's military might if that fool had more insight like myself and treated those two as his best officers. I was very lucky to have beaten him….Now I know why Xun Yu left," Cao Cao thought.
"He's gone my lord! It's all my fault! I should never have exposed myself in this world! I've lost my father, my brother Yan….My lord, just..just let me die!" Zhen Ji shouted.
Cao Cao shifts his focus on Guo Jia and the rest. They're just as speechless hearing everything she told him.
"I had no idea a man like Zhao Yun really exist and he broke through my cavalry at Changban and saved Liu Bei's son who is right here with us now," Cao Cao told Guo Jia.
"He also humiliates Yuanrang," Guo Jia grinned.
"Yuanrang wasn't too careful to command that army at Bo Wang Po. Zhao Yun wasn't mediocre so Liu Bei had the edge. Now everything makes sense on how Liu Bei was able to revive his army and defend Xin Ye from Xiahou Dun. Hm," Cao Cao nodded and returned his gaze at a sobbing Zhen Ji.
"Prime Minister, she buried Zhao Yun at the tragic slopes of Changban with his spear entombed," Cai Wenji informed.
"I see…then on this night, we will honor Zhao Yun's heroism, Lady Zhen," Cao Cao let go of her and bowed.
She didn't speak after Cao Cao arranged a memorial moments later. All the deaths, famines, and pillaging; she often hope there was a peaceful way of resolving it without war.
A brief moment, Cao Cao told Guo Jia how he feels about Liu Bei attracting men like Zhao Yun and Guan Yu.
"I know the people comes first before order, but governmental stability is the problem and men like Li Jue, Yuan Shu, Lu Bu, and Dong Zhuo refused to acknowledge his majesty's will. I admit, I went too far with controlling the government leaving the Emperor's authority undermined and became above the law. Liu Bei did not become such a person like myself and that's why he rebelled and those men agreed with him. Look at Lady Zhen now, I felt what I'm doing is making good people suffer and Liu Bei, he made the people of Xin Ye happy while I made the people of Jiang Dong sad losing their hero Zhou Yu to my willingness to end the chaos and restore order. The trampling at Chang Ban, I only wanted to stop Liu Bei from causing inciting. He's just continuing to get more people like Zhao Yun into his side because of his empty inheritance and the will of the people," Cao Cao squeezed his hand hard as he felt a proportion of defeat over Zhao Yun's loyalty to Liu Bei.
"Prime Minister, do you consider Zhao Yun a victim to this conscience," Guo Jia curiously asked.
"I don't know, honestly. He exists out of nowhere and it frustrated me. Ask Lady Zhen; right now I have no right to call her my daughter in law. It's time we leave this sad place and report the Emperor on our success at quelling all the rebel warlords," Cao Cao leaves Guo Jia pondering over this conclusion and turns to see Zhen Ji's ghostly sorrow.
"If the people were the first priority, the stability of the Han comes after it. That does not make Zhao Yun a villain or a Han traitor. At least, he served Liu Bei and not men like Lu Bu or Yuan Shu whom already have criminal records. Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan was a different story as I had no idea what was really going on, nor the prime minister. We were so busy with Li Jue, Lu Bu, and Yuan Shu back then," Guo Jia said to himself.
"…." Zhen Ji needed some comfort, but Fengxiao has no idea what words to compensation over a tragic hero's demise.
"Lady Zhen, could you tell me what you know about the war between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan and what Zhao Yun had to do with it? I know you were younger back then and had few to understand what was going on until your marriage to the Yuans," Guo Jia asked her.
"My marriage was forced without any thought of refusal because of my father and Lord Yuan Shao's brief acquaintanceship. You're wasting your time asking me a question I'm too infuriated to answer," Zhen Ji gave a hostile glare at the fledging strategist of Cao Cao.
"I know. Lady Zhen, please we now understand about your feelings for Zhao Yun, but he was on the opposing side and you are the wife of the young lord," Guo Jia sighed.
"I'm a slave of my current husband because of my body! Zhao Yun was the man I could have lived had all this chaos never plagued the land! I tried to understand why the Great Rebellion happened, why those people are angry with nobles like my family and the former Emperor's subjects! Fengxiao, what is it you understand anything about me?! You were my enemy before and you're no Tian Feng! He did served the wrong lord, but what happens if you faced his genius?! I'd never had become Cao Pi's wife!" Zhen Ji slammed Guo Jia with words of resentment.
"Right right, Master Tian would have become our greatest threat if that happened. We would never have gone to burn all of Yuan Shao's supplies. But, you must know, Guan Du was won by Xu You and not the Prime Minister so blame Xu You till you met the young lord," Guo Jia crossed his arms and set his eyes on Liu Bei's only son who survived.
"If you're done trying to comfort me, then you have failed to make me understand the Prime Minister's intentions. I want to be alone…now," Zhen Ji voice becomes threaten and Guo Jia could see there's no compensation for losing Zilong.
He couldn't stop Zhao Yun, no one can because of the friendship between him and Liu Bei. Maybe it was better to let him die and live after Liu Bei's death. Guo Jia would be in the same place as him if Cao Cao dies in battle before him because he is also loyal to Cao Cao and Cao Cao is his friend.
"Heavens, what is the true behind the Gongsun/Yuan war and Zhao Zilong?" Guo Jia thought as he prepares to catch up with Cao Cao on the way back to Xu Chang. Leaving Zhen Ji here and alone is the best way for her comforting.
