Chapter 8: Relatives

At the General of the West’s headquarters, Cao Cao’s attendants were anxiously looking for Chen Cong, who had not yet reported for roll call. Just as they were about to send someone to fetch him, Chen Cong came rushing in.

“Father-in-law! Where’s the wine? Good wine?”

Seeing his behavior, Cao Cao understood immediately. He cleared his throat lightly and turned to Xun Yu and the others. “Gentlemen, please wait a moment. Yesterday I scolded this brat a bit; I don’t know what madness has taken him today. I’ll go try to calm him down.”

Xun Yu, without suspicion, smiled and bowed politely. “Do as you see fit, Lord.”

Cao Cao nodded slightly, strode out of the main hall, and grabbed Chen Cong, pulling him along outside.

Of course, this was only because Chen Cong was humoring him. Otherwise, with Cao Cao’s stature, even ten men couldn’t drag him away like that.

“Father-in-law…”

“Silence!”

Only after leaving the main hall did Cao Cao ask, “Did someone come from Guanzhong? Niu Fu or Li Ru?”

If it wasn’t either of those two, his son-in-law wouldn’t be so distraught.

Chen Cong didn’t answer but instead asked, “Father-in-law, are you avoiding Xun Yu?”

“Hmph. I, who once tried to assassinate Dong, how could I be in league with traitors?”

Chen Cong was even more confused. “If I’m in league with traitors, how could you be uninvolved?”

“Didn’t I come out specifically to reprimand you? Who would have thought you’d not only disobey but also talk back? A child’s rebellion pains me deeply, keeping me awake at night! But what can I do? After all, you’re my son-in-law and have illustrious military achievements. I can’t just arrest and punish you.”

Chen Cong: ……

Cao Cao then brought out two jars of fine wine from a side hall and handed them to Chen Cong. “Let’s go. I’ll accompany you.”

“Aren’t you against being involved with traitors?”

Cao Cao stroked his beard and smiled. “If one can merely say with empty words that a rebel has abandoned darkness for the light, that is a great achievement indeed.”

Chen Cong was silent for a moment.

“Father-in-law.”

“Hm?”

“Nothing, just suddenly thought that Xu Shao is quite accurate in judging people.”

Xu Shao?

Cao Cao suddenly recalled the phrase, “In times of peace a capable minister; in times of chaos a cunning hero.” Not ashamed but proud, he chuckled softly.

“Indeed, I never expected that Master Xu really had some skill. Had I known this, I would have drawn my sword to kill him back then, so he wouldn’t have been able to cast fortunes for others.”

Amid laughter, the two men entered the General of the West’s mansion.

With Cao Cao personally drinking alongside, Niu Fu also felt honored, and the wine flowed freely.

Niu Fu did not mention Hua Xiong once throughout.

In fact, Niu Fu was completely unaware of the Flying Bear’s change of command; he thought he was just delivering a gift.

Or perhaps Dong Zhuo’s great-grandson simply forgot about Hua Xiong. Had anyone mentioned it in front of Niu Fu, he certainly wouldn’t have kept silent.

After staying in Luoyang for three days, they set the time, and Niu Fu, along with Cheng Zhuo and the Cao father-in-law and son-in-law, parted reluctantly.

-----

“Master, we’re arriving in Luoyang now.” The young attendant lit incense and handed it into the carriage.

“Mm, stop and rest for a while. The servants have been traveling tirelessly and must be tired.” The young man was in elegant attire, appeared just over twenty, wearing a scholar’s robe with jade belt, a tall cap on his head, a sword hanging at his waist with jade tassels, holding a scroll with a calm expression.

At first glance, not a great magnate; at closer look, certainly a noble.

“Master, is the famed invincible general truly a collateral branch of the Chen family?”

The attendant was puzzled. Many minor branches of the Yingchuan Chen clan had tried to connect with them before, yet this time, the other party hadn’t even presented a genealogy, and the household hastily accepted this relative.

Even if that Chen Invincible was brave, he was still just a common man, right?

“Get down and smack yourself.”

“Yes, sir…”

Soon, the sound of slaps came from outside the carriage.

Only then did Chen Qun drop the scroll, curling his lips into a meaningful smile.

Whether Chen Cong was a collateral branch or not was unclear and unimportant.

What mattered was that Cao Cao held Luoyang like a tiger crouching, treating the jurisdiction of the capital as his own possession.

This man’s path had been legendary: first conspiring to assassinate Dong Zhuo, yet escaping unscathed when it failed; then rallying forces to punish the traitor, rising all the way to General of the West. Later, he refused to assume the post of Governor of Bingzhou, appointed by Yuan Shao, instead occupying Luoyang to eye the Central Plains.

In the past, this might have been insignificant.

Strong military might alone did not necessarily sway the tides of fate.

But times had changed; even the two Xun brothers of Yingchuan were under his command, making him a formidable force with both civil and military talents—a tiger with double wings soaring skyward, unstoppable.

Could the mere Capital Defense Commander Wang Kuang stand against him?

In other words, Cao Cao could seize the entire jurisdiction of the capital with a flick of his hand.

And then?

Then he would connect with Yingchuan as one.

Chaos had arrived; the Chen family naturally could not remain hidden and inactive. The foremost issue was choosing a lord.

But looking around, there was no other worthy sovereign to choose.

Moreover, with the Xun clan as guarantors, the various peoples of that land would undoubtedly accept Cao Cao as their master. How could the Chen family remain aloof?

If they chose Cao Cao as their lord, the Yingchuan Chen clan would admittedly be late to the game, yet now they could ride the east wind of Chen Cong. Whether or not this man was a descendant of the rebel, even just the surname Chen was enough for the Yingchuan Chen clan to carefully examine their genealogical records, hoping to find a connection.

Without this connection,

How else could he become a provincial aide at such a young age?

The faint sound of horse hooves echoed.

Chen Qun lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and saw a young man on a tall horse, carrying a spear and a sword, riding freely. Behind him followed over a hundred cavalrymen, imposing and majestic.

He immediately dismounted.

“Is this my younger uncle Chen Zining in person?”

Chen Cong swung down from his horse, stuck his spear into the ground, and greeted with a smile, “Are you Changwen?”

Indeed,

Chen Cong was becoming increasingly fond of cultivating relatives.

Though distant, seemingly minor relatives might not seem important, surviving in chaotic times required more than fighting; it required social skills and connections.

Otherwise, no matter how many people he killed, how could he have gained a Flying Bear of fifteen hundred soldiers from Dong Zhuo?

Otherwise, even if he had broken Yuan Shu’s head, how could he have made him mine minerals, land, and even marry off daughters?

And as for the Yingchuan Chen clan—

That was his own family.

To put it bluntly, just having the clan lightly check his name on the genealogy meant sharing honor and disgrace as one family.

The Chen family was no different.

With Chen Cong added to the genealogy, why would they still rely on the Yingchuan strategist branch? Why endure the hardship of living off the breath of the Xun family? They would be relatives by marriage to the Cao family, a kinship. If they were to align themselves, it would be with the founding elders of Qiao County!

Chen Qun confirmed the visitor’s identity and bowed formally at ninety degrees. “Nephew Chen Qun, courtesy name Changwen, pays respects to uncle.”

“Hahaha, well said. Come, let me introduce Changwen to his comrades.” Chen Cong clapped his hands, and a soldier immediately brought over a curly-maned, blue-maned horse.

“Better to obey than be polite.” Chen Qun, without hesitation, took the reins and mounted.

The scholars of the Han dynasty were versed in the six arts of the gentleman; riding swiftly was no challenge.

He quickly left behind the household servants and carriage, galloping to follow Chen Cong.

Naturally, Chen Cong would not take Chen Qun to meet the two Xuns, Xi, or Cheng.

Instead, he rode directly through the four camps, introducing each general of Cao’s army in turn.

After all, family was family, and they would certainly be on the same side. Only a fool would push them away.