“Intention”: War for the Han Frontier sample -- TPMThorne.com

“As someone that is indifferent to death’s release, I cannot answer the last point,” Guo Jia chuckled. “What went wrong between you and Yuan Shao…? Undoubtedly ‘ambition’, Lord Cao; it consumed the bond between you both long ago.”
“…I want to be able to say that I am blameless, but I am not,” Cao Cao said. “I took longer… am taking longer… to be fully consumed, but it was always both of us. I just wish that our ambitions had somehow been compatible with friendship.”
“Ridiculous,” Guo Jia said. “One can have total power or some friends; it is only a madman that tries to have both. You’ve always known that.”
Cao Cao lowered his head, smiled and replied, “Yes, I have.”
“…You’ve been delaying the talks between Ma Teng and Han Sui,” Guo Jia noted. “Why…?”
“I’m doubtful that they wouldn’t try to kidnap or assassinate me,” Cao Cao admitted. “I’m the most powerful statesman in the country, Fengxiao: that makes me a target for such things, and the Qiang are especially untrustworthy.”
“Inspector Wei has a competent army, the venue is well-chosen, and their feud is no ruse,” Guo Jia replied. “You’ll have Xu Chu, Zhang Liao, Xiahou Dun, Cao Xiu and Yue Jin with you, and Jia Xu and Cheng Yu for counsel…”
“Yes!” Cao Cao chuckled. “I’ll have Jia Xu at my side, and Zhang Xiu at my rear for a discussion with the Qiang warlords in the middle of Liang Province, surrounded by the remnants of Dong Zhuo’s old band… aren’t Duan Wei and Wu Xi still around…?”
“That’s why you’ll have Zhang Liao and quite a few of the other men that followed Lü Bu, all of whom betrayed Dong Zhuo and have no love for the men that were loyal to Dong’s memory in the aftermath,” Guo Jia explained. “Jia Xu is seen as a man that ultimately betrayed Li Jue and Guo Si, and might I remind you that Duan and Wu were the ones that killed Li and Guo…?”
“…It’s all so complicated,” Cao Cao sighed. “But yes, you’re right, Duan and Wu are no threat, and regardless of later divisions, they all dislike the Qiang.”

“R-right,” Guo Jia said as he winced from a pain in his stomach. “What you… must do, my lord, is… is just go and get them to agree to your terms, as we discussed.”
“…I’m losing you for a week again, I see,” Cao Cao lamented.
“You don’t need me!” Guo Jia said encouragingly. “You have… better men.”
“…Go and rest,” Cao Cao ordered. “I’ll see you when I return.”
Guo Jia got to his feet with great difficulty, bowed respectfully and staggered out of the meeting room.
“…Aiee… what a waste,” Cao Cao murmured as his heir Cao Pi passed Guo Jia and entered the room.
“Guo Jia is sick again,” Cao Pi noted.
“Unfortunately, yes,” Cao Cao replied.
“You are going to Liang Province to mediate peace between the Qiang, aren’t you?” Cao Pi said. “I should like to accompany you.”
“I have to pass Wan City,” Cao Cao replied. “I don’t feel comfortable travelling past that place with my heir, since I came back alone the last time I did that.”
“But that’s partly why I’d like to go, to pay respects to my cousin and brother, and to Mister Dian,” Cao Pi insisted.
“…Not this time,” Cao Cao retorted. “There will be safer opportunities for that in the future, son… I doubt that I’ll feel safe doing so myself. But it is a nice thought, son. As I said, perhaps we’ll go another time.”

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