Late that night, Cao Cao was still pacing back and forth inside his tent. His son, Cao Pi, was watching him from his spot on the cot. "Father, why do you insist on hurting your brain like this? It will not be good for the future of Wei if you lose your mind over something so simple."
"But it is not so simple." Cao Cao finally stopped and looked out into space. "I remember her when she was eight years old. But she was a servant at the time. I know it. So why does she claim to be the daughter of Yang Shui?"
Cao Pi shrugged. "Perhaps she is. Of all the leaders in Jiang, only two had the cunning to play such a ruse. Ma Teng, whom we managed to dispose of, and Yang Shui, who was disposed of for us by Zhang Jiao. I would not be surprised if he pulled a trick like that on us."
Cao Cao frowned. "I still don't like this. I had thought that the people of Jiang Si were gone. I had no idea that some survived, including this Lady Yang." He gave a small grin. "Nor did I have any idea what a beautiful and cunning young woman she had become."
"Yes, she has grown into quite the flower, hasn't she? A little tall and a bit rough around the edges, but a beauty nonetheless." Cao Pi thought a moment. "Perhaps there is some way to turn this in our favor, father. Tomorrow at this feast that Yuan Shao has planned up, I have a feeling that these rebel leaders will decline his invitation. But there is nothing that says we can't invite them to join our own armies. To make it safe for us, we should invite Sun Jian and Liu Bei to do the same, but if you can convince her that Wei is the place for her, then maybe she will abandon this army and join you. You may not have been able to convince her father to join you, but we know nothing of how Lady Yang sees these opportunities."
"My son, I believe you may have something there." Cao Cao stuck his head out of his tent, where Dian Wei was guarding them. "Dian Wei, I have a favor to ask of you. Please inform Lords Sun Jian and Liu Bei that there will be a change of plans at the feast tomorrow. Tell them that, if they wish, they may invite the Rebels of Jiang to join them instead of Yuan Shao. I daresay they'll want in on this pool as well." Dian Wei grinned and headed off into the night.
The sun seemed to rise quicker and brighter than in the past. As dawn approached, a feeling of relief and calmness seemed to wash over the camp. There was no scraping of armor being put on. There was no rushing to obtain weapons. There was not even a call to rise for battle as the sun started to shine. The camp awakened at its own pace, coming to life slowly. By noon, however, the camp was bustling with activity. Yuan Shao had ordered a feast in celebration for the victory, and everyone was busy preparing for it.
The soldiers talked of nothing else in the dining tent that afternoon. All were excited for a chance to finally celebrate rather than fight. But there were scattered comments about other things inside the tent. Mainly about the rebel soldiers protecting their camp from outside of it.
"What do you make of these vagabonds?" Cao Cao asked as he sat down. As one of the leaders, he could sit in the center with the other kingdom leaders. Sun Jian and Liu Bei were already seated, but Yuan Shao was taking his sweet old time.
"I would not call them such," Sun Jian answered as Cao Cao settled himself. "They saved the lives of many of our soldiers and helped us defeat the enemy."
Cao Cao grunted. "But they are so common. And their leaders let them walk all over them."
"They trust their people," Liu Bei said. "And their people trust them. With such a small group of people, it is possible to have this kind of a relationship. I think it is fascinating."
"Well, I am going to see how far this 'relationship' can be tested. After this, I am riding over to their camp and finding out more about these rebel leaders myself. I don't trust them."
Sun Jian and Liu Bei stared at Cao Cao for a moment. "Perhaps this is a good idea," Sun Jian said after a moment. "I might join you with some of my officers and see more of these leaders for myself" Both men looked at Liu Bei, who nodded after a moment more.
"Yes, I shall do so, too. Besides, there are two of the leaders that I need to thank." Cao Cao grunted but said nothing. Liu Bei was still thinking of Man Zhu, the young man who had rescued him and his brothers. There was something about him that he really liked, although he couldn't quite put a finger on what it was just yet. He also thought of Lady Yang Xing and her brief meeting with them after the army's return. There was an aura of power around her that Liu Bei had only felt in great warriors like his brothers and even Cao Cao and Sun Jian. He hoped that this meeting later would shed some light on the mysterious personalities of the Rebels of Jiang.
"Why does it have to be so stinking hot?" Pang Qui complained. He had been busy for the last hour or so loading up weapons and armor into carts, now that they were no longer needed. Even though it was early in the day, the noon sun was high above and while no one else complained, the heat was felt by everyone.
"Stop whining and keep going!" Qui let out a short laugh as Zhang Rui came over with a load of swords in his arms. "The great sun beats on us all. Besides, if we can get everything loaded before the feast tonight, we can leave by sunrise tomorrow."
Pang Qui nodded and took a brief rest on the ground. "And we finally get to go home." Rui loaded the swords onto the cart and also stopped for a moment. "I can't even tell you how happy I'll be to start rebuilding the provinces again. Heck, we might even be able to combine them and finally be completely united."
"Better watch that kind of talk in present company," came a voice from behind them. Deng Liao had a frown etched in his brow and pointed towards the gate behind him. The other two leaders stood quickly as Lords Cao Cao, Sun Jian, and Liu Bei marched into their camp, along with several of their officers in tow.
Qui snorted. "What do those high and mighty fools want now?"
Deng Liao elbowed him in the stomach. "Watch your mouth." Zhang Rui said nothing but wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. Cao Cao noticed the two of them and dismounted his horse. Several of the black and white soldiers approached the leaders, bowed, and led the horses away. Cao Cao, followed by his son Cao Pi and his bodyguard Dian Wei, marched over to them. They bowed respectfully to him, but his snarl was imprinted in his face.
"So, you are three of the regional leaders of Jiang. Where are the rest of you?"
Zhang Rui gave a slight bow again before answering. "We may be leaders among these people, Lord Cao Cao, but when there is much to be done, we do what we can to aid them. I believe that the others are helping the people load up our carts and such in preparation for our return home."
"I see." Cao Pi pretended not to be interested in what was being said, looking around the camp instead. Dian Wei simply stared at Cao Cao, waiting for an order.
"I still do not understand why you insist on stooping down to the level of your subjects. But I guess it is something that I will never understand."
Deng Liao cleared his throat. "Perhaps it is because of our different situations, Lord Cao Cao. You rule over a vast territory to the north, where I am sure it would be difficult to get as close to many of your people. But we leaders of Jiang are divided and can afford to have a more intimate relationship with them. I apologize for you not understanding."
Cao Cao grunted again. Cao Pi seemed to find something of more interest and left the group, heading to another several yards away. Pang Qui had to hold back a comment as he noticed Yang Xing get up from behind one of the carts. It had been hard to restrain himself during their meeting last night when he noticed both father and son eying Lady Yang. In the few years that he had known her, she had become like his sister. Both he and Man Zhu were very protective of their lady friend.
"Ah, it seems Lord Cao Pi has found the Lady Yang," Dian Wei said gruffly, a sickening smile coming to his face. Cao Cao grinned as well, turning back to the three leaders.
"Well, I am sorry to cut this conversation short, but I must speak with Lady Yang. There is a question I need to ask of her. I bid you all a good day, and I shall see you later this evening."
"What important question could you possibly have for Yang Xing?" Pang Qui asked rather boldly. Cao Cao was getting on his nerves, and even sharp glances from Zhang Rui and Deng Liao could not keep his thoughts in check.
Cao Cao frowned. "I made her father an offer once, and now that I have become reacquainted with his daughter, I would like to make the same proposal." With that, he turned and left Pang Qui fuming behind him.
"A proposal?" Zhang Rui asked. "Of what kind, do you think?"
Qui scowled. "A proposal to join Wei," he answered. He could feel his fists balling up, and he crossed his arms to prevent them from hitting something. "I was there when Cao Cao asked Yang Shui to join him, and he flat out refused. Yang Xing had pretended to be a servant at the time because her father feared that she would become involved if Cao Cao knew about her."
Rui sighed and moved to stand next to his friend. "You are forgetting that Yang Xing is a strong willed woman and would not easily fall into a trap of Cao Cao. Let her handle this on her own. We all know how she truly feels, so there are no worries about her joining with Wei." Pang Qui let out a rather sharp grunt and turned to return to his work, wishing that Xing had decided now to work at the opposite end of the camp where Cao Cao and his son wouldn't find her.
She knew who they were before they reached her. Yang Xing had stopped working when she heard hoof beats enter their camp. She watched as Sun Jian looked around, dismounted, and wandered off with a few of his officers. Liu Bei had arrived with some of the men she had met yesterday. But her heart sank as she noticed Cao Cao and his son and his bodyguard also enter. Xing knew that they were looking for her. Their eyes had been on her last night and she knew why. She just hoped that she would have the same courage to tell them no.
Cao Pi had noticed her first. As he walked over, she cursed her tendency to continue working even when she knew she should stay out of sight. When he was close enough, she finished packing up her load of bows and bowed respectfully. He made no motion, but continued to look her over.
"Greetings, my lady. May I ask what you are doing working on such a wonderful day?"
Xing frowned. Her politeness only went so far, as she was grouchy from the heat as well as the company. "I am doing my part to help my people, Lord Cao Pi. You should try it sometime. It might do you good."
"Such a temper from a lovely young woman. But I guess some hardening is to be expected from a warrior of the Jiang Provinces." Cao Cao and Dian Wei were on their way over now, and Xing felt her frown deepen.
"May I ask why you and your father and the others are here?"
Cao Cao had finally reached them and managed to match her scowl. "That is not how you address the son of the Imperial Protector, Lady Yang. I expected better from you."
Xing grunted. "You may control the northern territories, Lord Cao Cao, but I, too, am a leader. My people may be fewer in numbers but they are just as important. And I still did not get an answer to my question."
Cao Pi let out a laugh. "We just came to see what the Rebels of Jiang are really like, my lady."
"We are not much different than everyone else. There is nothing to see, I promise you."
Cao Cao began to form a grin and took a step forward. "We would also like to make a proposal to rival Yuan Shao's. Both you and I know that he is an inadequate commander and serving him would do nothing for you or your people. I promise you that Wei would be a much better option for you and the other leaders. I would even be grateful if just you joined with us, Lady Yang. You would make a valuable addition to our veteran officers."
There was a pause. For a moment, Cao Pi thought Yang Xing was going to laugh. She composed herself and looked Cao Cao square in the eye. "I will tell you the same thing that I will tell Yuan Shao tonight. No. I will be returning to the Jiang Provinces to help rebuild what was destroyed. I seek no alliance with any other kingdom and it would be foolish to try and convince me otherwise. Now please leave me, as I have a lot of work remaining."