Chapter 51: So This Is What It Feels Like to Torment Cao Cao—Please Accept My Bow!

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Xiangyang, Xiao Residence.
“Xiao Bowen, Xiao Bowen, please wake up!”
Outside the room, Guan Yinping knocked loudly on the door, her voice tinged with excitement.
“This early in the morning, you can’t even let someone sleep well—really!”
Xiao He reluctantly climbed out of bed, mumbling complaints as he groggily reached the door.
Without much thought, he swung the door open in one swift motion.
“What’s the matter? Must you wake me up so early?”
Xiao He struggled to open his heavy eyelids and saw Guan Yinping standing outside with a bright, joyful expression.
At the moment the door opened, Guan Yinping froze in place.
The joy on her face vanished; her eyes widened as she trembled and glanced down at him.
Then a blush suddenly spread across her cheeks.
“Why do you sleep without wearing any underclothes? Aren’t you ashamed?”
Guan Yinping quickly turned away, unable to meet his gaze, her flushed face full of embarrassment and irritation.
Xiao He blinked a few times before realizing what she was complaining about.
“It’s more comfortable this way, and I’m wearing clothes below the waist. Only my upper body is bare…”
Muttering to himself, he turned back into the room and put on his clothes.
According to the customs of the time, anyone with some status was supposed to wear close-fitting undergarments to bed; only commoners went bare-chested.
But during the humid warmth of the late Han dynasty, though autumn had arrived, Xiangyang was still not cool. Closing the door, Xiao He naturally chose to sleep in whatever way was most comfortable.
“Could it be that sleeping bare-chested is a custom among those mountain hermits…”
Guan Yinping lowered her brows in thought, silently speculating.
When she looked up, she suddenly saw Xiao He fully dressed, standing before her.
The awkward moment just passed flashed again in her mind.
Her calm heart began to race once more, and a faint blush reappeared on her cheeks.
“You woke me so early—could it be that the battle at Deng County has been decided?”
Xiao He paid no special attention to the change in her expression.
Guan Yinping took a deep breath, forcing down her pounding heart, and gently smoothed her hair to hide her flushed face.
After a few coughs, joy returned to her face:
“Truly, nothing escapes your notice. The battle at Deng County indeed has a result.”
“Father sent word ahead with the good news. Last night, uncle and the others successfully stormed the Cao camp, setting ablaze four hundred thousand hu of the enemy’s grain supplies!”
“Father also captured Yu Jin alive—twice over!”
“Bowen, your strategy succeeded; you have achieved great merit for uncle!”

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At these words, Guan Yinping beamed at Xiao He, her bright eyes filled with gratitude.
Xiao He let out a sigh of relief.
It seemed all the mental strain over the last few days had not been in vain; they finally won this battle.
Losing four hundred thousand hu of grain, even for Cao Cao’s vast empire, was a massive blow.
If Cao Cao acted rationally, he should now withdraw quietly northward, and the Xiangyang crisis would be considered resolved.
“Well, we won. Now I can finally sleep soundly.”
Saying this, Xiao He yawned, stretched, and turned to go back to catch some more sleep.
Guan Yinping frowned and complained,
“With such great news, how can you still sleep? We should hurry to the naval camp to welcome uncle and the others back in triumph.”
“You earned the first merit in this battle. How could you miss the victory banquet?”
Without giving him a chance to argue, she pulled him toward the door.
“There’s no need to be so rushed. Can I at least get some more sleep? Last night was so hot and stuffy, I hardly slept…”
“No way!”
…
Near noon, at the naval camp.
The soldiers left behind, having received the early news, gathered along the shore, excitedly awaiting Liu Bei’s triumphant return.
“Brother Bowen’s single clever move easily destroyed four hundred thousand hu of Cao’s grain.”
“Only today do we truly understand what divine strategy means!”
Waiting in advance on the dock, Xu Shu saw Xiao He approach and bowed from afar.
Xiao He quickly helped Xu Shu up, intending to be modest but unsure what to say.
After all, his reputation as a brilliant strategist was deeply entrenched in their minds; no matter how he explained, they took it as humble concealment of true ability.
So he simply gave a wry smile, choosing not to clarify further.
“Bowen, what military texts do you usually study? Could you share a bit?”
Xu Shu stepped closer, eyes eager to learn.
Obviously, he thought that Xiao He’s profound strategy must come from some secret or esoteric military classics.
“If I said, Brother Yuanzhi would laugh at me. Honestly, I haven’t really studied any military texts.”
Xiao He’s expression was slightly embarrassed.
As a strategist, it was basic practice to be well-versed in various military doctrines.
Though skilled in history, he had barely read any classic military treatises like The Art of War, only knowing the surface.
When Xu Shu asked, he couldn’t help but feel a bit ashamed.
Xiao He was sincerely embarrassed, but Xu Shu’s eyes grew even more curious upon hearing this.

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“You’ve never studied military texts, yet you come up with such brilliant strategies?”
“Then this Xiao Bowen must either be extraordinarily gifted or secretly possess some unknown military classic he refuses to reveal.”
“In my opinion, he probably has both.”
“This Xiao Bowen is truly unfathomable, impossible to figure out…”
Xu Shu studied Xiao He intently, his curiosity deepening.
As they chatted, a fleet of warships drifted downstream, entering the naval camp.
The victorious soldiers disembarked, spirits high, greeted by cheers from those who stayed behind.
“Hearty congratulations to master for setting fire to Cao’s camp and returning with a great victory!”
Seeing Liu Bei step ashore, Xiao He and others smiled and went forward to welcome him.
Liu Bei stepped up and helped Xiao He to his feet.
“For half my life, I have fought Cao Cao as an enemy but was always defeated. I never dared to dream of defeating him even once.”
“If not for you, Xiao Bowen, how could I have such a thorough and resounding victory over Cao today!”
“Bowen, please accept my deepest thanks!”
Liu Bei helped Xiao He stand, then solemnly bowed.
“Master, this…”
Taken aback by Liu Bei’s unexpected bow, Xiao He hastened to steady him, unsure how to respond.
Seeing Xiao He’s embarrassment, Liu Bei relaxed and laughed heartily:
“Enough formalities! Let’s go back to camp and have Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and the others recount last night’s battle!”
Guan Yinping behind them smiled and said,
“Uncle, the victory banquet has long been arranged, and the wine is all ready.”
Liu Bei nodded approvingly and gestured to everyone,
“Since Yinping has thoughtfully prepared the wine, let’s drink our fill!”
“And we must feast to reward the troops!”
Xiao He smiled.
Xu Shu, Guan Yu, and Zhao Yun all laughed heartily.
The soldiers of Liu Bei’s army, fresh from battle, were jubilant and lively.
Within and beyond the naval camp, joyful cheers thundered louder than the roaring river…