Mythical Three Kingdoms

After receiving the message, Fa Zheng quickly informed Liu Bei's Army, and their blockade against both the Cao Army and the Yuan Family was lifted. The next day, Xiahou Yuan received an urgent report sent over an incredible 800-li distance. It was encrypted intelligence from Yuan Tan's faction addressed to Guo Yuan, instructing him to retreat to Zhao County.

This encrypted message was penned by Cui Yan during his retreat. At this point, only such high-level communication could reach Guo Yuan, as nearly all other correspondence had been intercepted by Liu Bei's Army.

Upon receiving this intelligence, Xiahou Yuan learned of Yuan Shao's unexpected death and was momentarily at a loss as to how to proceed. According to Cao Cao's orders, upon confirming intelligence of a major victory by Liu Bei's Army, Xiahou Yuan was to don the ceremonial armor of the Emperor's Guard and pose as a mediation force to intervene with Liu Bei's Army.

Cao Cao calculated that in the event of such a decisive victory by Liu Bei's Army, the effect of the Mediation Order would be limited. However, the aim was not to stop the fighting completely; instead, Cao Cao sought only to delay Liu Bei, buying Yuan Shao enough time to regain his footing. In Cao Cao's view, with Yuan Shao's deep reserves, even one or two disastrous defeats would not cripple him, and these setbacks might instead temper Yuan Shao and bring him newfound clarity.

One could say that no one in the world understood Yuan Shao better than Cao Cao. He knew Yuan Shao needed time, and by engineering an impasse between Yuan Shao and Liu Bei, Cao Cao hoped to prepare thoroughly for the challenges ahead.

In Cao Cao's projections, Yuan Shao had to suffer a significant defeat before he could stand as an equal rival to Liu Bei. Based on Yuan Shao's current underestimation of Liu Bei's strength, he was far from achieving his peak potential as a military force.

The idea of Yuan Shao as a paragon in adversity was no exaggeration. If Yuan Shao survived the first clash, his combat strength in a second engagement could increase by as much as fifty percent!

This explains why Xiahou Yuan waited patiently in Puyang for the situation to unfold. Cao Cao had hoped Yuan Shao would suffer a decisive defeat, after which they could step in under the guise of the Mediation Order to secure time for Yuan Shao. This tactic would not only win Yuan Shao's gratitude but also deplete Liu Bei's forces and tarnish his reputation as a virtuous and wise leader.

To be candid, Cao Cao never truly believed the Mediation Order could stop Liu Bei from continuing his advance. Any feudal lord with even a modicum of insight would understand that, regardless of Liu Bei's formal allegiance to the Emperor, such an order was unlikely to halt his momentum. Whether it was disobedience by subordinates or the claim that the Emperor was being manipulated by a national traitor, there were always justifiable excuses.

For Cao Cao, none of this was of real concern. What mattered was that the Mediation Order would compel Liu Bei to pause and deliberate, even if only for a few moments. These minor delays could stretch into several days, and in Cao Cao's estimation, just a few days could provide Yuan Shao with ample time to resolve several critical issues.

As for what would happen after—whether Liu Bei chose to continue his campaign against Yuan Shao or suppressed his anger and refrained from further action—these were secondary concerns. With adequate psychological preparation and an adjusted perception of the balance of power, Yuan Shao, in Cao Cao's judgment, could emerge ready to compete, and he would not be far behind Cao Cao in strength.

In essence, this Mediation Order was Cao Cao's "regret medicine," designed to ensure Yuan Shao did not lose everything in a single battle. If this strategy succeeded, Yuan Shao would become a valuable ally to Cao Cao. By continuously supporting Yuan Shao, Cao Cao could buy enough time for Xun Yu to systematically solidify their foundation.

However, Xiahou Yuan received astonishing news amid his calculated leisure. The situation had entirely deviated from everyone's expectations. Across the land—whether they supported Liu Bei or Yuan Shao—no one had imagined that the conflict between the two would be resolved in a single confrontation. Most believed it would drag on for at least three years before any resolution.

In fact, almost no one apart from the likes of Chen Xi, Jia Xu, and a select few had anticipated that Yuan Shao's downfall could occur in a single battle. Even the most talented individuals within Liu Bei's faction hadn't foreseen this outcome.

Naturally, Guo Yuan was utterly stunned upon receiving this confidential message from Cui Yan, a high-ranking official in Yuan Shao's camp. Judging by Guo Yuan's intelligence—not exceptionally high but far from low—his immediate reaction was to seek mediation.

To complicate matters, Xiahou Yuan had not disguised his identity around Guo Yuan, who, sensing his imminent downfall, latched onto the Mediation Order from Xiahou Yuan like a man clutching at driftwood in a storm, pleading desperately for assistance.

Xiahou Yuan hesitated to decide whether to reveal the Emperor's Edict at this time. However, Guo Yuan's words struck a chord. If the Mediation Order were not deployed now, and Liu Bei annexed Hebei, Liu Bei's overwhelming momentum would crush all opposing forces. In the presence of this authority, would the Emperor—notionally descended from the Liu Surname Imperial Clan—even matter anymore?

Awakened by these considerations, Xiahou Yuan reflected on Liu Bei's official recognition as a member of the Liu Surname Imperial Clan. If Liu Bei wielded the strength to dominate the land, ignoring the Emperor would no longer be perceived as rebellion but rather as an internal conflict within the Imperial Clan. The fatal flaw of Han's system lay here: the Imperial Clan's members were all heirs to the throne!

Thus, in a single day, the previously unassuming Cao Army and Ma Teng's Army changed their banners to those of the Emperor. With ceremonial axes in hand to legitimize their authority, they instantly transformed from opposing armies into the trusted soldiers of the Emperor, officially deploying to mediate between Liu Bei's Army and Yuan Shao's Army.

When Xiahou Yuan's ceremonial procession underwent this transformation, Liu Bei's Army, once brimming with killing intent, also restrained their hostility. Fa Zheng, who had previously ignored Xiahou Yuan's posturing, was also content to feign ignorance—until this moment. At least until now, any accidental clashes could be dismissed with a simple statement of, "I knew nothing about it."

But with the opposing side openly declaring their intentions, Fa Zheng could no longer play dumb. When issues are kept below the surface, officials can turn a blind eye. But once exposed for all to see, there is no room for ambiguity or evasion.

"Greetings, Angel of the Emperor." Fa Zheng and Zhang Fei slightly inclined their heads. As Marquises, they were not obligated to show excessive deference to a mere envoy of Liu Xie.

"The Emperor commands: The Grand Commandant and the Great General, both pillars of the nation, must not become adversaries over minor disputes. Such discord harms the dignity of the state. The Emperor orders that, effective immediately, the Grand Commandant and the Great General are to withdraw one step each, to uphold the prestige of the Han Dynasty!" The eunuch's sharp and shrill voice grated on Zhang Fei, visibly irritating him.

"Your Grace, we must ask for your understanding. My lord is not present here. This decree would best be proclaimed directly before him." Fa Zheng casually glanced at Ma Chao and Cai Yang, who stood behind the eunuch, and spoke indifferently.

"Then, I must trouble the Marquis of Taiting to guide us to Lord Xuande. The Emperor's Edict cannot be delayed." The eunuch, with his pale and seemingly smiling face, spoke with a tone devoid of warmth.

"May I ask whether you could stay here for a few days?" Fa Zheng inquired as if unintentionally.

"The Emperor's Edict cannot wait even a single day. Should there be any delay, even someone of your rank would struggle to bear the consequences." The eunuch, clearly in the pocket of Cao Cao, responded without a shred of courtesy.

"In that case, I will say no more." Fa Zheng cast a sidelong glance at the eunuch. "However, I must ask—will you travel with me directly to my lord, or will you follow the mediation army?" Fa Zheng's tone dripped with biting sarcasm.

"Hmph!" The other party angrily flicked his sleeves and mounted his horse, leaving without further ado. Fa Zheng shrugged nonchalantly and then called out to Ma Chao.

Admittedly, calling out to the guard of an imperial envoy was somewhat improper etiquette. Still, Fa Zheng's rank afforded him certain liberties. As he had previously mentioned, if no misdeed is explicitly raised, the officials would not pursue it. Moreover, Ma Chao could have chosen to ignore him. However, since Ma Chao paused, there was much that could be discussed.

"What do you want with me?" Ma Chao said coldly. He was aware that the temporary peace allowing him to spar with Zhang Fei in recent days was entirely due to Fa Zheng's restraint in following through on certain matters.

"You don't need to be so guarded. If I truly wanted to deal with you, I wouldn't need to resort to this." Fa Zheng cast an indifferent glance at the slightly wary Ma Chao. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote or provide support. Your encouragement is my greatest motivation. For mobile users, visit m.qidian.com for a better reading experience.)