Chapter 124: Guo Fengxiao, a Heaven-Born Genius

"Young Master."

"Hoo—"

"Young Master..." Jing Shu called out softly.

"Hmm..." Zhang Yu struggled slowly to open his drowsy eyes.

After days of continuous travel, even with the careful arrangements made by Hua Tuo to minimize the intensity, Zhang Yu’s frail body had yet to fully recover from his severe injuries. While he hadn't faced any major complications, the waves of exhaustion made him feel completely drained, causing him to fall asleep almost as soon as he entered the carriage.

He looked around, took a breath, and changed his posture, closing his eyes once more. But in the next moment, he snapped wide awake as if pricked by a needle.

Outside the carriage, he heard a sound far too familiar to him.

"Is... is that you, Young Master?"

The voice was gentle, tinged with a delicate, watery shyness. Even with the curtain between them, the image of that adorable girl with the large, bright eyes remained vivid in Zhang Yu’s mind.

"Yes, it’s me!" Zhang Yu scrambled to leap off the carriage like a flash.

As he brushed past Jing Shu, her previously gentle and soft expression vanished. She straightened her face, rose slowly, and stepped down from the carriage behind him.

"Young Master!" When Han Yan saw Zhang Yu jump from the carriage, she first covered her cherry lips with her pale, delicate hand. Thunder and lightning seemed to flash in her jewel-like eyes, as if a torrential downpour were about to break at any moment. Then, she pressed the back of her hand against her mouth and bit down hard.

"Hiss—" Seeing Han Yan’s face contorted in pain, Zhang Yu felt it more than she did. He rushed forward, pulled her hand away, and cupped her cheeks.

"I’m back."

"You’re back..."

"Yes, I’m back."

"You’re back!" Han Yan threw herself into his arms, and before long, Zhang Yu felt the warmth of her tears soaking his chest. Soon after, Han Yan pulled her small face away from his chest and dashed into the courtyard.

"The Young Master is back!"

Like a swallow, or perhaps a magpie bringing good news, she spread the word of Zhang Yu’s return throughout the entire Zhang estate, as if scattering happiness and prosperity in her wake.

Not long after, Han Long and the others arrived. As for why they were fashionably late, perhaps the sight of the Eighteen Riders standing guard around Dong Bai like stars circling the moon explained it.

Zhang Yu walked toward the main courtyard, his heart beating a little faster. This was the first time since arriving in this world that he had traveled so far and been away for so long. As the saying goes, one feels a sense of trepidation when nearing home, and he found himself wondering how his parents would react when they saw him.

He soon had his answer.

"Yu-nu'er!" It was Lady Liu’s voice—filled with joy, longing, anticipation, and relief. Only a love as great as a mother’s could contain so many emotions in a single word.

"Mother, your son has returned." Zhang Yu tried hard to lift the corners of his mouth, but his lips felt heavy and drooped. The moment he saw Lady Liu, his nose stung.

In his previous life, his biological parents still held a place of immense importance in his heart, but here, Zhang Shiping and Lady Liu were undoubtedly those who loved him most, and whom he, in turn, should love the most.

Throughout his journey, he had been called "Yu-lang," "Young Master Yu," and later "Young Lord," "Imperial Brother," "Jade Sword Immortal," and "Lord Marquis," but to Zhang Yu’s ears, none were as melodious as this "Yu-nu'er."

"It is good that you are back, so good!" Lady Liu smiled and pulled Zhang Yu’s arm.

"Why are you only back now?" Zhang Shiping emerged from the room with a stern face, though his sleeves trembled slightly. "Come and eat!"

"As you command, my father—and to the one watching from the shadows, join us!"

"Hmph, I don't want to eat with a heartless master!" Ying'er muttered, though her body betrayed her as she walked over.

"Ying'er, go and arrange things for Han Long and the others first. Yu-mo, go prepare meals for those guests," Lady Liu commanded. "Since Yu-nu'er’s dear friend is still here today, we shall all gather together."

"My dear friend?" Zhang Yu was stunned.

"Master Yu’s grace truly lives up to his name; it makes me, Jia, feel somewhat inferior."

A man walked out from the hall with a smile, holding a wine cup. "If Master Yu’s immortal brew weren't so delicious, I might not have come all the way to your home to find you."

"Er... may I ask—"

"To hear a hundred times is not as good as seeing once; it is better to come uninvited than to wait for an invitation." As he spoke, the young man toasted Zhang Yu with his wine cup and drained it in one gulp. "I am Guo Jia of Yingchuan, here specifically to behold the grace of Master Yu."

...

Around the wine table, the lamps were bright.

"Father, about what Fengxiao just said... Yu-nu'er, you two don't know each other?"

"We have long been friends in spirit..." Zhang Yu replied.

"Exactly. Though we have never met, I have long considered Master Yu a soulmate."

Zhang Shiping lowered his head in silence, wondering if his own learning was insufficient or his perspective too narrow. Perhaps this was just how scholarly, cultured young men like his son made friends?

Hearing Guo Jia say this, Zhang Yu was immensely excited. Who was Guo Jia? Later generations had praised him in verse: "If only Guo Jia were here..."

In Zhang Yu’s understanding, if Guo Jia were still alive, the stalemate of the Three Kingdoms could well have been rewritten.

In the original course of history, Guo Jia’s first venture into official service was under Yuan Shao. At that time, Yuan Shao’s power was in its prime, the strongest contender for hegemony in the eyes of the world. Yet, after staying in Hebei for only a few dozen days, Guo Jia saw through Yuan Shao’s numerous flaws—that he was not a man destined for greatness—and resolutely departed.

Leaving the Yuan Shao of that time not only proved Guo Jia’s immense courage, but history would later show he possessed extraordinary insight and divine foresight—a genius of strategy. His decision could not have been more correct.

Guo Jia remained idle for several years. It wasn't until 196 AD, after Cao Cao’s strategist Xi Zhicai passed away and Cao Cao sought a new advisor, that he was recommended by his friend Xun Yu. Cao Cao was overjoyed upon hearing this, welcoming Guo Jia from afar into his camp to discuss the affairs of the world.

After their meeting, Cao Cao remarked, "The one who will help me achieve great things is surely this man." And Guo Jia said, "He is truly my lord."

From then on, Guo Jia became Cao Cao’s primary military advisor, and a legendary partnership between lord and subject began.

He helped Cao Cao overcome the "Flying General" Lu Bu.

He devised the famous "Ten Victories and Ten Defeats" against Yuan Shao, boosting the morale of the Cao army and steeling Cao Cao’s resolve to engage him.

He secured the peace in Liaodong with lightning speed.

He analyzed the trends of the various warlords with unerring accuracy. He even predicted the assassination of Sun Ce. Such a man was beyond the descriptions of "talent," "great talent," or "genius."

He was a "Ghostly Talent"—a strategist with wits as unfathomable as a deity, unparalleled in the world.

Cao Cao always followed Guo Jia’s advice, save for one instance: when Guo Jia suggested keeping Liu Bei under house arrest, Cao Cao let him go to attack the invading Yuan Shu. Upon hearing this, Guo Jia rushed to stop him, declaring, "You must not let Liu Bei lead an army out; if he leaves, he will certainly rebel." Cao Cao realized his mistake, but it was too late. As predicted, Liu Bei killed the Xuzhou Governor Che Zhou and gathered his forces in Pei to rebel against Cao.

In Zhang Yu’s previous life, people’s admiration for Guo Jia was arguably on par with that for Zhuge Liang. It was not just because of his ability, but his personality.

He was dashing, loved freedom and spontaneity, and lived an unconstrained life. He seemed vastly different from all the other strategists of that era of blood and iron, possessing a refreshing and vibrant quality.

In Cao Cao’s camp, where discipline was strict, Guo Jia often acted in ways that defied convention. But to Cao Cao, who favored him, "This is an extraordinary man; one should not constrain him with ordinary rules."

It is recorded that the two shared the same carriage and the same mat. Another strategist, Chen Qun, once reported Guo Jia for his lack of decorum, but Cao Cao praised Chen Qun for his diligence while ignoring the complaints about Guo Jia. Furthermore, Cao Cao secretly applauded Guo Jia’s unconventional lifestyle.

Guo Jia was fortunate to have met a lord like Cao Cao, who was both a friend and a soulmate. Cao Cao was also fortunate to have possessed this natural genius during his prime, which enabled him to unify the North, with Guo Jia’s contributions being paramount.

When the fires of Red Cliffs burned away the hope of a unified empire, Cao Cao sighed toward the heavens, "If Fengxiao were here, I would not have come to this!"

If Guo Fengxiao were truly there, would the world have been different?

In 207 AD, the year of Zhang Yu’s previous life, two great events occurred.

First, the "Ghostly Talent" Guo Fengxiao fell ill and passed away like a shooting star.

Second, the "Crouching Dragon" Zhuge Liang emerged from seclusion.

Some joked, "As long as Guo Jia lives, Zhuge Liang will not emerge."

Zhang Yu, however, thought perhaps the world’s supply of wisdom simply wasn't enough to be shared between the two.

Looking up at the slender, handsome young man before him, a string of data appeared in Zhang Yu’s vision.

Guo Jia.

Intelligence—98 (100).