Chapter 48: Father-in-Law, Swear an Oath to Me

Forget it, the old villain Cao is getting on in years...
Is there anything more painful for a man than having to bow his head before sworn brothers and childhood friends?
Besides, capturing Shangdang was his, Chen Cong's, doing; capturing Yan Liang was his, Chen Cong's, achievement; and serving as the current Governor of Bingzhou was also him, Chen Cong. Swallowing his pride and acting submissively was something he should naturally bear himself.
Anyway, old man Yuan still owed him a favor.
Back when he traded Lu Bu's life for Yuan Wei's head, old man Yuan had essentially taken advantage of him for free. At worst, he could just cash in that favor.

"Father-in-law."
"Hmm?"
Hesitating for a moment, Chen Cong said, "Swear an oath to me."
"?" Cao Cao slapped Chen Cong on the back and scolded with a mock glare, "What kind of nonsense are you spouting! Why should a father swear an oath to his son-in-law?"
"Swear that those affectionate words about parental love just now weren't deliberately made up to win my heart and save your own face."
Cao Cao snorted coldly, "My feelings as a father were sincere and deep; what need is there for an oath to prove them?"
Chen Cong: "???"
Oh, really! So that's how you want to play it!
Even setting up traps for your own son-in-law? Where is the basic trust between human beings?
You treacherous Cao! You deceitful scoundrel! You wicked villain!
It took Chen Cong quite a while to calm his emotions.
He shot a sidelong glance at the old villain Cao and said speechlessly, "If you won't swear, then so be it. As for Yuan Shao, this son-in-law will find a way to explain it to him. Even though my father-in-law is hypocritical, as a son-in-law, I still have to uphold filial piety, don't I?"
Cao Cao chuckled softly for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter, holding his sides, his face full of wrinkles, leaning on Chen Cong until he was doubled over with mirth.
Chen Cong was even more speechless: "Is it that funny?"
Cao Cao waved his hand, barely managing to stop laughing: "I truly don't know who you learned this suspicious nature from. However, since Zining has such good intentions, my fatherly heart is deeply comforted. As for this matter, you really need not interfere. No one understands how to handle Benchu better than I do."

Uh...
Chen Cong felt a bit awkward and hurriedly changed the subject, "Just a Yan Liang and a Zhang Yang—can that really keep Yuan Shao in check?"
"Aren't there still several thousand surrendered troops from Jizhou?"
"Then what do we actually get out of this?"
"Weapons, armor, and grain." Cao Cao paused slightly before continuing, "In times of chaos, anything used by men is more valuable than human lives. What are a mere few thousand men? Once we secure these three things, Zining, you can just recruit as many men as you need on the spot. Alright, let's go meet Yan Liang."
"Very well."
...
When the two returned to the hall, Yan Liang was not continuing to act fierce; he was sitting cross-legged on the floor, supporting his head with one hand... lost in thought.

After all, without Chen Cong suppressing him, there were a whole hall of fierce warriors from Cao's camp glaring at him like tigers eyeing their prey.
If he, a captive, really dared to act out, he would be pinned down in a split second, needlessly losing face.

Cao Cao glanced at Yan Liang and asked with a smile, "Has General Yan figured things out?"
Yan Liang hurriedly stood up, cupped his fists, and said respectfully, "I must ask Cao Gong for enlightenment."
He hadn't quite figured everything out, but he got the message: Cao Cao had no intention of making things difficult for him!

Cao Cao stated bluntly, "I started from humble beginnings, but thanks to the support and care of Brother Benchu, I finally achieved this modest reputation today. I dare not forget his great kindness for even a moment. However, concerning the stability of the Han dynasty and the continuation of the state, I can by no means cede the territory of Shangdang. I intend to write a letter to be delivered to Benchu, and I must trouble General Yan to personally convey it."
"Really?"
"Not only that, but the surrendered Yuan troops and that turncoat Zhang Yang—General Yan may take them all with you. However..."

Yan Liang was overjoyed and bowed deeply: "Whatever you command, I dare not disobey."
Cao Cao first ordered Xu Chu to drag Zhang Yang out.
Then he continued, "I have no desire to be enemies with Benchu, and I wish to open markets for grain and horses between our two regions to trade what we have for what we lack. Yet I fear that if I bring it up first, Benchu will be suspicious. Since General Yan knows the prowess of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, you surely know how formidable the warhorses of Bingzhou are. Might you advise Benchu to bring this about?"

Without a single moment of hesitation, Yan Liang agreed outright.
"Such a great undertaking, why would my lord hesitate? Rest assured, Cao Gong, if I manage to return safely, I will certainly advise my lord accordingly."
"Good!" Cao Cao spent a short moment at his desk, wrote the letter, and handed it to Yan Liang, "If there are any in the camp who are close with General Yan, you may have them see you off. Furthermore, I shall order attendants to prepare a thousand bushels of grain for General Yan's journey home."
"Understood..."
...
The afterglow of the setting sun shone upon a departing group, leaving behind several long shadows—all of them veterans from the raided camp.

The transition between life's great sorrow and great joy had happened too quickly; Yan Liang wanted to smile, but considering Chen Cong's long face right beside him, he managed to suppress it.
The troops and horses had been accounted for.
There were over seven thousand three hundred surrendered Yuan soldiers, plus the cavalry brought away by Lü Kuang, totaling around seven thousand seven hundred men.
In other words, Yan Liang had only suffered a minor defeat, without damaging the foundation of Yuan's forces.
Although they had lost their weapons and armor, considering the wealth of the Yuan clan, this was not a fatal crime.

After a long silence, Xiahou Dun was the first to speak.
"Since Ah Liang has been captured, you'll only face cold glares when you go back. Why not surrender to Big Brother instead? Wouldn't it be wonderful for us brothers to accomplish great things together?"
"Who's to say? You're lucky this time that Big Brother is willing to let you go back, but what about next time? If we meet as enemies, you'll inevitably have to face Zining sooner or later. Old Yan, you might as well just surrender." Cao Hong chimed in, twisting the knife.
"Not necessarily." Yan Liang protested unconvinced, "A general's worth lies in strategy; this time I was merely negligent and fell into Zining's deceitful scheme. If we were to fight face-to-face, how could I lose to him?"
Xu Chu picked his nose with an expression of utter disdain, "With your crude and reckless self, do you even deserve to be called 'a general whose worth lies in strategy'? I'm afraid Chen the Undefeated has left you with psychological trauma."
Yan Liang just kept a smiling face and didn't retort.

Was being traumatized by Chen the Undefeated anything shameful?
At the very least, he had fought Chen Cong face-to-face in single combat, and that alone was enough to brag about for a while.
It was just that at this moment, Yan Liang had made up his mind: upon returning, he would diligently study military treatises and develop himself in the direction of a scholarly general.
Being purely fierce and belligerent could never last long...

At the end of the road stood the south gate of Zhangzi.
The fat meat that had reached his mouth was now flying away like this...
With a dark face, Chen Cong reluctantly handed over the reins.
The moment he saw the Cloud-Treading Wuliu, Yan Liang froze. He looked around in all directions, but the general who gifted the horse was nowhere to be seen.
"What are you looking for? Did you lose your soul?"
Yan Liang took the reins and smiled, "I still wanted to thank that general face-to-face for his kindness in gifting the horse. I do not know the hero's name; I must ask the Invincible General to inform me."
Chen Cong rolled his eyes, "Cao Chun, styled Zihito. Military Adjutant of the Bingzhou Governor's Mansion."
"I must ask the General to convey my gratitude on my behalf. When we meet another day, I will surely reward him handsomely!"
"Oh, spare yourself the trouble. What friendship do you have with Zihito that makes you worthy of him gifting you a horse?"
"Then..."
Chen Cong said with an aching heart, "To let you, a simpleton, know: when this general launched a surprise attack on Meiji and captured Yufula, I seized his personal mount—a purebred crown-prince of heavenly blood-sweating horses—and traded it in exchange for this Wuliu."
"Such great kindness cannot be adequately thanked. If there is a next time..."
Chen Cong raised a hand to stop him.
He was afraid that if he kept listening, he would truly turn into Cao's sycophant sending Guan Goddess back to Liu Da...
"Cut the sentimentality and get lost. If there is a next time, don't make this general waste his breath trying to persuade you to surrender."
Yan Liang lowered his head and dared not reply.
He dared not guarantee there wouldn't be a next time they met as enemies, nor did he dare guarantee he wouldn't be captured by Chen Cong again next time, and even less did he dare guarantee that if captured again, he would be willing to surrender to Cao.
Though comradeship was heavy, it ultimately could not outweigh these troubled times.
He swallowed the thousands of words churning in his belly.
In the end, Yan Liang left no promises behind, leaped onto his horse's back, and rode away without looking back—perhaps unwilling, perhaps not daring...