Chapter 067: Reunion

The sound of hooves grew clearer, accompanied by a series of unusual whistles. Zhou Cang let out a long breath.

“Old Zhou, you’re back!” A booming voice came from beyond the temple gate, and immediately after, a burly man strode into the Daoist temple.

The rain was heavy, but everything inside the temple was plain to see.

At the sight of a stranger, Wang Meng halted abruptly, instinctively gripping his spear tighter and stepping back.

“Father!” A figure raced down the steps and flung himself at Wang Meng.

That cry pierced Wang Meng’s heart like a chill, and his spear slipped from his grasp with a metallic clang, splashing into the muddy water.

“Tiger Head!” Wang Meng hurried forward and caught the boy, Wang Mai, in his arms.

Before the main hall, Cao Ji, Cao Peng, and Deng Ji stood quietly, watching this reunion between father and son with smiles on their faces. By the calendar, today was the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Father and son had been apart for fifteen days! Yet in those fifteen days, how many changes had taken place? The worries in their hearts were beyond what outsiders could imagine.

Wang Mai had never shown any sign of longing, but in this moment, the emotions he had hidden burst forth.

Cao Peng, who had always thought he understood Wang Mai, was unexpectedly moved.

He sighed inwardly, and an image of a white-haired old man surfaced in his mind.

In this lifetime, perhaps he would never again be reunited with his father.

A large hand rested on his shoulder! Cao Peng turned to see Cao Ji’s kindly smiling face.

A warmth spread in his chest. He gripped Cao Ji’s arm tightly: In my past life, I failed to take care of my father, but in this life, I will never let anything go wrong.

After the initial excitement, Wang Meng also saw Cao Ji.

The two old friends embraced at the steps of the main hall, speechless with all they wished to say.

At Deng Ji’s urging, Cao Ji invited everyone into the hall.

The once spacious hall now felt crowded as over twenty people poured in.

Zhou Cang settled his men, while Deng Juye brought out steaming bowls of simple noodle soup.

These men, used to feasting on meat and wine, were hungry after a long day’s journey. Unmindful of the meal’s plainness, they ate heartily.

Wang Meng and Zhou Cang each had a bowl before opening up to talk.

“Commander…” Zhou Cang asked, “How did things go?”

Wang Meng grinned, “A bunch of fools—what could they do to me? I led them in circles around Jiyang and slipped away. By now, those fools are probably still wandering around the gorge, and won’t catch up any time soon. How did things go on your end?”

“Much the same. They couldn’t catch us either,” Zhou Cang replied, and the two burst into laughter.

“Uncle, this hero Zhou…” Cao Peng ventured.

Zhou Cang waved his hands, “Young brother, I’m no hero, truly. If not for the Commander saving my life, I’d have been a pile of bones long ago. It’s a pity he later hid his name, or the leadership of Mount Tufu wouldn’t have fallen to me.”

Clearly, Zhou Cang held great respect for Wang Meng.

Wang Meng blushed.

“So, old Wang, what’s your plan now?”

“Next…” Before Wang Meng could reply, Zhou Cang said, “Plan? Of course, we’ll return to Mount Tufu and enjoy ourselves. Brother Cao, you should all come too. I can tell your group is full of talent. Life on Tufu Mountain is free and easy.”

“We can’t stay in Jiyang any longer,” Wang Meng said, “so Mount Tufu is our only option for now… Old Cao, why don’t you come with me? With your nature, you’d be bullied anywhere else. Old Zhou’s situation isn’t bad—he’s got two or three hundred men, and the local troops can’t do much to them.

Let’s settle on Mount Tufu for now, and wait for the times to change before making new plans. What do you think?”

Their words displeased someone: Dian Wei burst out, “A true man should serve his country! You are all capable men—why stoop to thievery?”

Wang Meng and Zhou Cang bristled. “And who might you be?”

“I change neither name nor surname: I am Dian Wei of Chenliu,” he declared.

Their words crackled with tension.

Cao Ji tried to intervene, but Cao Peng gently held his arm, shaking his head to signal him to stay silent.

But when Dian Wei announced his name, Wang Meng and Zhou Cang were stunned.

“You are Dian Wei?”

“I am.”

“Are you the mighty officer under Lord Cao, Dian Junming?”

Dian Wei stood tall and nodded proudly.

His bearing alone made Cao Peng nod in secret admiration—only Dian Wei would dare declare his name so boldly in such a situation.

“I’ve long heard of your prowess, Sir Dian. It’s an honor to meet you at last. Please forgive my offense!” Zhou Cang stepped forward to bow, and Wang Meng also gave a respectful salute.

They looked to Cao Peng and the others, who nodded in confirmation.

“We heard that Sir Dian was in Wancheng…”

Dian Wei flushed, but answered readily, “It’s true. I was ambushed in Wancheng and nearly lost my life. If not for A’fu and Wen Chang, I’d be dead now. You two are too complacent! I’ll say it again: a man should use his skill to win glory with the sword, not waste his life as a bandit and drag his children into disgrace!”

Wang Meng and Zhou Cang exchanged a wry smile.

“Sir Dian, it’s not for lack of ambition,” Zhou Cang said, “but… you know, we once served the Yellow Turbans. After General Zhang Mancheng died, the government scattered us, and we became drifters. We did consider serving the court… but later…”

Wang Meng was more blunt, “We’re outlaws. Once a thief, always a thief. No matter what we do, the authorities keep us at arm’s length. Old Zhou once tried to surrender, but nearly got killed by the troops… what was the man’s name again? Old Zhou, you told me.”

With a bitter look, Zhou Cang said, “Simma Wenpin of Nan Commandery.”

Wei Yan suddenly remembered, “I recall now—weren’t you the Green Woods bandits?”

Zhou Cang paused, then nodded.

“At first, we lived on Green Woods Mountain. When Liu Biao took over Jingxiang, he started purging the heroes. That Wenpin fellow tricked us into coming down the mountain, then… we suffered heavy losses and barely escaped to Tufu Mountain.”

“I see…” Wei Yan murmured.

Dian Wei frowned, “Liu Jing-sheng is a petty warlord and never amounted to much. If he didn’t want you, why didn’t you go to Lord Cao?”

“We wanted to,” Zhou Cang said, “but had no one to recommend us. Besides, Lord Cao hadn’t yet taken Yuzhou. Even if we wished to join, we couldn’t have gotten through. You know how the gentry of Runan and Yingchuan hated us.”

Back in the Yellow Turban uprising, those regions suffered greatly, especially the local noble clans. After the defeat at Changshe, the gentry of Yuzhou ruthlessly hunted down the remaining Yellow Turbans. The Prince of Chen, Liu Chong, also cracked down hard, forcing the survivors to flee far afield.

Zhou Cang might seem rough, but he knew the stakes. Dian Wei now understood.

“In that case, why not come with me? I may be unworthy, but I can introduce you to Lord Cao. There, you might win glory, rather than living as bandits and seeing your sons mocked for it,” Dian Wei urged.

Zhou Cang’s eyes lit up, but he hesitated and glanced at Wang Meng.

Wang Meng looked to Cao Peng…

“Old Wang, let’s go to Xudu!” Cao Ji, seeing Wang Meng’s worry, said, “Since Brother Dian has offered, this is a chance. Our lives are what they are, but we should think of the children—they can’t be bandits forever, can they? Before, we had no friends in Xudu and feared being bullied. But now, with brothers there, we have support… Tiger Head’s not a child anymore. If he goes to Xudu, he could train, and maybe one day become a general.”

Cao Ji’s words struck a chord with Wang Meng. He had left the Yellow Turbans not only because he saw their cause as doomed, but also for Wang Mai’s future.

“In that case, we must trouble you, Sir Dian!”

Dian Wei laughed heartily, pounding his chest in promise, which reassured Wang Meng and the others.

“Commander…”

“Old Zhou, if we’re to join Lord Cao, don’t call me ‘Commander’ anymore. Just call me brother!”

Zhou Cang nodded, “Brother, I still have people in the mountains…”

“Bring them all,” Dian Wei said with a grin. “Lord Cao is set on restoring the Han. He needs men. Once I return, I’ll introduce you.”

“My camp still has matters to settle. Not all my men will want to come… How about this: Brother, you and Dian Wei go first. I’ll return to the camp with Zuo Qiu, deal with things, and bring the willing to Lord Cao afterward. What do you say, Sir Dian?”

Dian Wei didn’t mind and nodded.

Cao Peng reminded, “Uncle, when Zhou Cang and his men arrive in Runan, they’ll need proof of identity. Leave something with them to make things easier and reassure their men.”

“In that case… Take my great halberd.”

Dian Wei thought for a moment, then handed one of his iron halberds to Zhou Cang.

They gathered and discussed the details…

Outside, the rain gradually subsided.

“The rain’s stopped; we’d best be on our way. It’s hidden here, but not entirely safe… Old Zhou, leave ten men with me, and you and Zuo Qiu take the rest back to Tufu Mountain. We’ll meet in Xudu and build something great together,” Wang Meng said.

Zhou Cang agreed, picked ten to stay, and left with the others.

Cao Peng and his group packed up, Deng Juye drove the carriage, Zhang and Hong Niangzi and Cao Nan sat inside, while the rest rode on horseback, departing the old Daoist temple under the slanting rays of the post-rain sun.

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In the main camp at Nine Maidens’ City, Huang She sat blankly in the center.

Chen Jiu knelt before him and said, “Young General, I am to blame; I let those bandits escape!”

Huang She glanced at Chen Jiu and waved him off, “Let them go… those lowborns can’t stir up much trouble anyway.”

“Young General…”

“It’s time to go home!” Huang She stood and said quietly, “Old Pang has reported us! Who’d have thought the old fool would do it for a bunch of peasants… My father’s sent word that things are restless in Jiangxia—we’re to return immediately. Tomorrow morning, Deng Ji will come to take over.”

With that, he skirted the desk and left the tent.

The air after the rain was especially fresh.

Huang She took a deep breath, then suddenly smirked and muttered to himself, “Cao Peng, count yourself lucky!”