In the autumn of this year, during the leap month of August, Xizhi passed away. Cao Cao personally arranged the funeral and then issued proclamations throughout the land, admitting to all the actions he had taken in Xuzhou. The world responded with widespread condemnation, voices of criticism rising like a tidal wave. However, the other warlords found it difficult to seize this opportunity to attack Cao Cao.
Sima Yi and Hu Zhao, braving the frost and snow, traversed the various Xianbei tribes beyond the Great Wall. As they returned to the Central Plains, seeking a worthy ruler to serve, the proclamation from Cao Cao reached their hands.
"This Cao Mengde is indeed a hero," Sima Yi sneered. "Teacher, won't you accompany me to see for yourself?"
"I'm going to observe Liu Xuande. Perhaps I'll gain new insights," Hu Zhao shook his head. He was interested in Liu Bei's governance and, more importantly, surprised that Liu Bei's education reforms hadn't led to the collapse he had anticipated.
"Then, teacher, we part ways here," Sima Yi bowed deeply to Hu Zhao. He knew he couldn't integrate into Liu Bei's camp, and he wouldn't waste time trying. In Sima Yi's eyes, Cao Cao, who dared to take responsibility and wasn't overly rigid, seemed a perfect match.
Chen Gong looked at the two pieces of intelligence in his hands, silently burning the one regarding Li You being Li Ru. However, he had already formed an estimation in his heart. Just as Xizhi had predicted before his death, Chen Gong, whose mind was no weaker than that of a top strategist, came to his own conclusions the moment he received the information. He confirmed the suspicion.
As a result, Chen Gong could no longer consider joining Liu Bei. To him, Lu Bu was irreplaceable. Although Lu Bu's methods were somewhat foolish, they were endearing in their simplicity.
"The Nine Virtues of a Warlord, huh?" Chen Gong muttered as he put away the proclamation. If admitting to his actions in Xuzhou had plunged Cao Cao into a sea of condemnation, the subsequent declaration of the Nine Virtues of a Warlord forced the scholars and officials of the land to reconsider.
The Han people were always forgiving. Killing those Xuzhou civilians couldn't bring them back to life. If Cao Cao could truly adhere to the virtues he promised, it might not be a bad thing. The Nine Virtues represented the highest moral standards for a warlord. If Cao Cao could achieve them, it would be beneficial to the realm. Amid the collapse of the Han Dynasty, the emergence of such a capable leader was a blessing.
Cao Cao surveyed the stacks of letters and intelligence reports on his desk. They all pointed to the same conclusion: the scholars of the land were willing to let the past go. They would now focus on whether Cao Cao kept his promises. Since he had publicly admitted his mistakes, they would give him a chance to prove himself.
"Master," Xun Yu, dressed in white, bowed deeply to Cao Cao.
"Wenruo, what did you and Xizhi do on the day he passed?" Cao Cao asked.
"Xizhi replicated Chen Zichuan's spiritual talent. Although incomplete, he still used it," Xun Yu replied concisely.
"Was it worth it?" Cao Cao seemed to ask Xun Yu, yet at the same time, he seemed to be questioning himself. Xizhi had left this world.
"Chen Zichuan's talent greatly enhances celestial phenomena. Although my spiritual talent can also alter the heavens, it comes at a significant cost. So, before he died, Xizhi took a gamble. Fortunately, it succeeded," Xun Yu sighed.
Xizhi had taken a risk. Even if he could replicate Chen Xi's incomplete talent, activating it would inevitably lead to his death. There was a high chance that the spiritual talent would dissipate before Xun Yu could inherit it.
Despite the many uncertainties, Xizhi had gambled. Fortunately, just as he had predicted, Chen Xi's spiritual talent, protected by external mental energy, remained intact.
Xun Yu did not mention that, due to the incomplete replication, the talent would require a substantial investment of spiritual energy to sustain until enough external mental energy could stabilize it. Nonetheless, it was worth it. In time, the talent would become fully stable, making it much easier for Xun Yu to manipulate large-scale weather changes.
Xun Yu sighed again.
"Xizhi…" Cao Cao murmured to himself.
"Master, please stay strong. I'm sure Xizhi wouldn't want to see you like this," Xun Yu bowed his head, trying to console him. Xizhi's death had hit him hard as well, but unlike Cao Cao, Xun Yu rarely let others sway his emotions.
"Wenruo, prepare for the march into Guanzhong," Cao Cao said, taking a deep breath and pushing aside his grief. His eyes filled with resolve as he looked at Xun Yu. The dead were gone, but the living still had to move forward.
When Cao Cao rose, Xun Yu immediately sensed a change in him. The transformation was so subtle that Xun Yu couldn't fully grasp it, but he was pleased to see Cao Cao's determination to move westward.
"Wenruo, this time, you will stay and oversee Chenliu. I will personally lead the troops into Guanzhong!" Cao Cao had made up his mind. In adversity, he had tapped into a remarkable charisma that greatly satisfied Xun Yu.
"Understood." Xun Yu nodded. He had already laid out all the necessary plans; now, it was up to those heading into Guanzhong to execute them. Although Xun Yu had doubted Cao Cao's military prowess after the defeat in Xuzhou, seeing his resolve now, he decided to take another gamble.
A few days later, on the same day that Gao Shun clashed with the Xian Deng, Cao Cao, accompanied by only a small number of infantry and with Xun You as his chief strategist, set out for Chang'an. Many saw this as a suicidal mission, but to Cao Cao, Xizhi had continued to plan for him until his last breath. How could he give up now?
"Guanzhong, here I come!" Cao Cao shouted, filled with boundless ambition as he gazed toward Chang'an, clutching the reins of his horse.
Xun You, Cheng Yu, and the others felt the same surge of anticipation in their hearts. The fate of the Cao clan would be decided in this campaign—victory or death!
Standing atop his horse, Cao Cao glanced back at the east from the west gate of Chenliu.
"Forward!" Cao Cao roared, charging ahead toward Chang'an!