The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 360 I am different from Cao Cao. If I cannot avenge my brothers, what is the value of having a vast empire?

In the fifth year of Zhangwu, in autumn.

Luoyang, the imperial court.

"Report——"

"General He has returned in triumph and has arrived outside Xuanyang Gate!"

The messenger's voice pierced through the hall, and all the civil and military officials showed joy upon hearing it.

Liu Bei stroked his beard and smiled, then said to Li Yi beside him:

"Ziyu, with the three commanderies of Shangyong recovered, the territory of our great Han Dynasty has increased by another part."

Li Yi replied with a smile:

"Your Majesty is blessed with boundless good fortune, and General Zhang is the bravest general in the army. This is an omen of divine favor for the Han Dynasty."

Before long, the sound of orderly footsteps could be heard outside the hall.

Zhang He, clad in blood-stained armor, strode into the hall.

Behind him, his personal guards carried the head of a Cao army general and captured Wei army banners.

Upon reaching the imperial steps, Zhang He knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and proclaimed loudly:

"Your subject Zhang He has fortunately fulfilled his mission and recovered the three counties of Shangyong."

"I have slain the Wei general Cao Ren here and have come to report back!"

Cao Ren's death was definitely an unexpected surprise.

Even Zhang He's own strategic goal was merely to recover the three counties of Shangyong.

Unexpectedly, he was able to kill the two most important figures among the generals of the Cao Wei imperial family by sheer coincidence.

Liu Bei rose from his seat, quickly descended the steps, and personally helped Zhang He up.

He patted him on the shoulder and praised him:

"Junyi is truly my Han Xin!"

He turned to his attendant and said, "Go, quickly bring me my brocade robe!"

A servant brought over a brocade robe embroidered with gold thread, which Liu Bei personally draped over Zhang He.

Zhang He was flattered and overwhelmed, and bowed again, saying:

"I am merely fulfilling my duty as a subject; why should Your Majesty treat me with such kindness?"

Liu Bei took his hand and said:
"You led a detachment deep into enemy territory, not only recovering lost land but also beheading a general of Cao Wei."

"For this merit, he shall be granted the title of General of Chariots and Cavalry, and his fief shall be increased by a thousand households!"

Upon hearing this, the court officials all gasped in surprise.

Zhang He's achievements in this battle were indeed remarkable.

Not only did they actually recover the extremely important three eastern counties for the country.

He even beheaded a major military general of Cao Wei.

Although he was not directly killed by Zhang He and the Han army.

But Cao Ren did indeed die in a battle with the Han army.

This man was a formidable enemy of the Han army.

He fought against Guan Yu, Li Yi, and Zhang He of the Han Dynasty.

Regardless of the outcome, the actual fighting caused the Han army a lot of trouble.

Liu Bei hated him to the core and had long wanted to kill him.

He was a man of strong emotions, and now that Zhang He had killed him, he was naturally generous with official titles and rewards.

With Zhang He's military achievements, he truly deserved this honor.

All eyes, both civil and military, fell on Zhang He.

Some were happy, some were sad, and some were envious.

But no matter who it is, everyone understands in their hearts—

Among the military ministers of the Han Dynasty, a new star truly rose.

This is a situation that Liu Bei is happy to see.

He desperately wanted a flourishing of meritorious officials.

The reason is simple.
If you only have a few powerful ministers around you, they probably won't listen to you.

But if you have many powerful ministers around you, they will definitely listen to you.

This is the emperor's art of balancing.

Liu Bei was happy to see Zhang He take over the military achievements that Li, Guan, and Zhang could no longer take over.

He desperately wanted more people like Zhang He to emerge and further contribute to the country's achievements.

The assembled officials offered their congratulations, and Zhang He repeatedly bowed in gratitude.

After the ceremony, Liu Bei looked around at his ministers, then suddenly composed himself and asked:
"Now that Cao Ren is dead, has the State of Wei made any unusual moves?"

Cao Ren was, after all, a general from the Cao Wei imperial family and a brother of Cao Cao.

Liu Bei was very worried that the State of Wei would launch a series of military retaliations, so he planned to make preparations in advance.

It should be noted that the Han Dynasty's military strength in the Yongliang region was relatively weak.

This is very similar to the Cao Wei dynasty in history.

Because that place is too remote, with inconvenient transportation and high transportation costs.

Due to cost considerations, only a sufficient number of personnel will be stationed in the Guanzhong region for basic defense.

Only in urgent situations will additional personnel be dispatched from the central government.

If a large number of troops are stationed in Yongliang for an extended period, production and labor will be neglected.

Even Qi Han today couldn't withstand it.

Xun You stepped forward, cupped his hands, and replied:

"Your Majesty, a report has come from spies in Shu—"

When Cao Cao heard the news of Cao Ren's death, he only ordered Jiang Ji to take command of his troops.

"Another troop was dispatched to reinforce Hanzhong and strengthen the city's defenses, but there was no sign of a major retaliation."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei frowned slightly, slowly walked back to his desk and sat down, lightly tapping the table with his fingers.

The hall fell silent for a moment, with only the crackling of the charcoal fire breaking out.

After a long silence, Liu Bei sighed deeply:
"Cao Cao is truly my nemesis!"

The courtiers were puzzled and asked one after another:
"Why did your Majesty say this?"

Liu Bei's gaze was distant, as if he were reminiscing about the past:
"If I lose even one of my brothers, I will mobilize the entire nation's army to avenge him."

"However, Cao Cao, despite the loss of a senior general from the imperial clan, was able to remain patient and not retaliate."

"Such composure is beyond the reach of ordinary people."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over the assembled officials, but in reality, it was fixed on Li Yi.

It was as if he were confiding in a close friend, expressing his heartfelt feelings:

"I am not afraid of being laughed at by you, my dear ministers."

"If I cannot avenge my brothers, what value is there in having a vast empire?"

"But I also know that doing this would make the entire country bear the burden of my personal grudge."

"Fortunately, this did not happen. How fortunate!"

Liu Bei looked at Li Yi again.

It was as if he felt that without Li Yi, his brother might have really been killed.

This is not Liu Bei belittling himself.

Just as he often said to Zhang Fei—

Your punishments and killings have gone too far, and you also whip and beat strong men every day while keeping them by your side. This is a path to disaster.

Therefore, Liu Bei in history was not at all surprised by Zhang Fei's death.

Upon hearing the news of his death, he could only sigh, "Fei is dead."

Today, his brothers, including Li Yi, are still working together.

This made Liu Bei very satisfied.

"Your Majesty, now that Cao Ren is dead, the Wei regime is in turmoil."

"Perhaps this is a golden opportunity to attack Wei. Your Majesty requests permission to send troops to attack Wei!"

Chen Qun stepped forward to offer his advice, strongly urging Liu Bei to seize the opportunity presented by Wei's loss of a key military minister and destroy Wei in one fell swoop.

However, Liu Bei waved his hand listlessly.

"Now that our dynasty has just recovered the three eastern prefectures, our soldiers are exhausted and it is not advisable to wage another large-scale war."

"Moreover, Cao Cao's reinforcement of troops in Hanzhong clearly indicates that he was already prepared."

"The matter of attacking Wei needs to be carefully considered."

"Your Majesty, this is a rare opportunity."

"If we don't retrieve it now, it may be difficult to retrieve it again in the next few years!"

"All right!"

Liu Bei waved his hand, signaling Chen Qun to step down.

He paused, then said in a low voice, "Issue my decree, ordering Ma Chao, who is in charge of the troops in Guanzhong, to strengthen the defenses of Sanguan and Tongguan."

"Without my imperial edict, no military action shall be taken against the State of Wei."

"Furthermore, Xu Huang is to lead 30,000 elite troops to garrison Wancheng."

"I will obey your orders!"

All the ministers responded in unison.

This arrangement by Liu Bei clearly indicates that he does not intend to wage war against Wei for a long time to come.

Cao Ren's death was like losing an arm of Cao Cao.

Even so, Cao Wei still had a solid foundation.

Especially during the Central Plains War, Cao Wei seized a large number of people from Henan and Guanzhong.

All of this laid a solid foundation for the Cao family's rule in Shu.

Thanks to the treacherous Shu Road, the Han army would have to pay an extremely heavy price to conquer the Wei Kingdom, and success is not guaranteed.

This is no easy task for a newly established unified regime.

The martyrs are young and strong.

Liu Bei is fifty-five years old this year.

It wasn't that his ambitions had been worn down by time, but rather that this was only true for Liu Bei personally.

He had something more important to do than destroying Wei and Wu.

What's the matter?

We might as well take a look at the historical example of "wanting more after gaining something from Long."

Historically, after Cao Cao conquered Hanzhong, both Sima Yi and Liu Ye offered him advice.

Hanzhong is the throat of Yizhou. We should seize this opportunity to wipe out Shu in one fell swoop.

But Cao Cao replied, "People are never satisfied. Having obtained Longyou, they now desire Shu."

It means that I already have Longyou, so how can I be greedy and want to go to Shu?

This is originally a story about Liu Xiu, but the original quote is:

"People are never satisfied; having pacified Longxi, they now covet Shu."

It means that I have gained Long but also want Shu, implying that my subordinates should continue to work hard for me.

Cao Cao reversed the meaning, and his attitude towards Shu was to take it slow.

I'm getting old, I need to take a break.

The rest is history.

Because Cao Cao's army did not enter Shu immediately, Liu Bei not only successfully seized Yizhou, but also consolidated his rule there.

They successfully captured Hanzhong, winning the Battle of Hanzhong, which avenged their lifelong humiliation.

Cao Cao's act of "wanting Shu after gaining Long" has become a major source of criticism for him in later generations.

Later generations all think Cao Cao was brainless. If he had invaded Yizhou immediately, wouldn't the world have been his long ago?

However, Cao Cao knew that he had something more important to do than enter Shu.

In December, Cao Cao returned from Nanzheng, leaving Xiahou Yuan to guard Hanzhong.

In May, Emperor Xian enfeoffed Cao Cao as the King of Wei, with a fief of 30,000 households, and ordered him to perform imperial sacrifices to Heaven and Earth using imperial rites and music.

The ancestral temples, ancestral rites, and winter sacrifices were all conducted according to the Han system. The capital was Ye City, and all princes were enfeoffed as marquises.

In March of 217, Cao Cao re-established a marriage alliance with Sun Quan, thus solidifying his policy of appeasement towards Wu.

In April, the emperor ordered Cao Cao to set up the emperor's banners.

In October, the emperor ordered Cao Cao to wear a crown with twelve tassels, ride in a golden carriage drawn by six horses, and have five auxiliary carriages for each hour.

Cao Pi, the General of the Central Army of Wei, was appointed as the Crown Prince of Wei.

At this point, Cao Cao's situation was exactly the same as Emperor Xian of Han's.

This was something even more important to Cao Cao than entering Shu.

After a lifetime of hard work, he needed to legitimize and solidify his family business.

And ensure that children and grandchildren can receive it.

The same is true for Liu Bei today.

He has struggled his whole life, and he has completed the first step of his "three-step strategy"—legalizing his family business.

Now he needs to complete the second step: consolidate the position.

And the most important third step is to ensure that one's children and grandchildren can inherit the family business.

The old man is fifty-five years old this year.

Entering Sichuan was a highly challenging task in the grand scheme of history, and Lao Liu simply didn't have the extra energy to do it.

What he wants to do now is to ensure the stability and succession of his family business.

This is more important than anything else.

Liu Shan inherited an even larger estate than Cao Pi in history.

Moreover, Cao Pi's founding heroes were all members of the imperial clan, such as Xiahou Cao, who had a natural blood tie.

When Liu Bei founded his kingdom, he employed only meritorious officials who were not of the same surname.

This group of people fought alongside Liu Bei and established a network of shared interests.

However, Liu Shan, who was raised in the deep palace since childhood, did not have much contact with them.

In addition, Li Yi pursued a policy of suppressing powerful clans.

Especially now that the national regime is becoming more stable, Li Yi's reforms have been aimed at the aristocratic families with almost every blow.

This model of declaring war in advance,
Liu Bei was not confident that he would live to see the day when he completely defeated the powerful clans.

After all, it had been rampant for over four hundred years during the Han Dynasty.

The challenges ahead are formidable, and all Liu Bei can do now is pave the way for his descendants.

Now is indeed a rare opportunity to enter Shu, but Liu Bei has more important things to do.

After the court session, Liu Bei did not rush back to the palace to rest.

Instead, he stood with his hands behind his back in front of the hall, gazing at the gradually dispersing officials with a profound look in his eyes.

He slightly turned his head and instructed the young eunuch standing beside him:

"Summon Guan Xing, Zhang Bao, Zhao Tong, and Xu Yi to the side hall to see me."

The young eunuch bowed and accepted the order. Just as he was about to leave, Liu Bei seemed to remember something and asked:

Where is Prime Minister Li?

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Li just left the palace with Mr. Xun to discuss matters."

Liu Bei pondered for a moment, then nodded and said:

"In that case, there's no need to call him anymore. Go on."

Before long, Guan Xing, Zhang Bao, Zhao Tong, and Xu Yi entered the hall in turn.

They were all dressed in military uniforms, full of heroic spirit, and although they were still young, they already showed the demeanor of famous generals.

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects!"

The four bowed in unison.

Liu Bei raised his hand to signal them to stand up, his gaze sweeping over them one by one, his eyes full of satisfaction.

"Okay, okay, you're all very good..."

Liu Bei stroked his beard and smiled, but a hint of emotion flashed in his eyes:
"Your fathers have fought alongside me for half their lives, and now your hair is graying. I am also nearing sixty."

"I am fortunate to see you all succeed, which is a great comfort to me throughout my life."

"Remember, this will eventually belong to you."

"I and your father will grow old eventually."

"And you are in the prime of your lives, with a long road ahead of you."

Upon hearing this, the four sons all cupped their hands and respectfully said:
"We are willing to devote our lives to serving Your Majesty!"

As they were talking, footsteps came from outside the hall, and Li Yi stepped inside.

Seeing Liu Bei conversing with his generals, he paused slightly, then bowed.

"Your Majesty was unaware that you were discussing matters here. I apologize for disturbing you."

Liu Bei laughed and said:

"Ziyu has arrived just in time."

"I was chatting with some young generals about the Battle of Shangyong."

He looked around and suddenly asked, "Hey, where's your son?"

"I remember he also participated in the campaign to conquer Shangyong, didn't he?"

"Why is your son's name not mentioned in Zhang He's memorial on war?"

Li Yi's expression changed slightly, and he bowed, saying:

“My son is dull-witted and incapable of being trained, therefore I did not send him to accompany the army on the expedition.”

"Furthermore, I have recently fallen slightly unwell, so I did not accompany you to the palace."

Liu Bei gazed intently at Li Yi for a moment before speaking:

"...Ziyu is too modest."

"I remember that Li Zhi, that boy, discussed military strategy before the Emperor last year, and he had some insightful views."

"Among the sons of the second generation, your son's talent and learning are the most outstanding."

"What's more..."

He paused briefly, then said, "Zhi'er and A Dou are cousins, so they should get closer to each other."

Although Liu Bei did not have much contact with Li Zhi, he believed that the man had some unique insights.

Deep down, I think Li Zhi is the most outstanding among the second generation.

Moreover, Li Zhi and Liu Shan were cousins, and Liu Bei was eager for Li Zhi to rise to prominence and become a future important minister of the state.

After all, among the three pillars that consolidate imperial power, maternal relatives are a very important link.

Li Yi's forehead was slightly sweaty, and he said in a low voice:

"Your Majesty's kindness is truly overwhelming."

"Once my son recovers from his illness, I will bring him to the palace to pay my respects."

Liu Bei realized that Li Yi was unwilling to talk about his son, so he said no more.

He simply nodded slightly, then instructed the young eunuch:
"Summon the Crown Prince!"

Not long after, Liu Shan entered the palace.

He appeared slightly reserved upon seeing everyone gathered.

Liu Bei beckoned and said, "A Dou, come and greet your elder brothers."

Liu Bei deliberately avoided using the name "Crown Prince," instead using a method of cultivating relationships to get Liu Shan to associate with them.

Liu Shan stepped forward, about to bow, when Guan Xing and the others quickly stepped aside:

"Your Highness, you mustn't!"

"The ruler is the ruler, and the subject is the subject."

"The etiquette and laws between ruler and subject must not be abandoned."

Liu Bei took in Guan Xing's behavior and secretly sighed that this child was indeed worthy of being taught by Yun Chang.

He certainly knows etiquette.

After this action was taken, Liu Bei stepped forward, placed his hand on Guan Xing's shoulder, and laughed:
"...Xing'er, don't refuse."

“When I swore brotherhood with your father, I said, ‘I do not seek to be born on the same day, month, and year, but I seek to die on the same day, month, and year.’”

"Today, I am having A Dou treat you all with the respect due to an elder brother, which is in accordance with the principles I upheld back then."

Liu Shan understood and bowed to each of the four men in turn:

"Brother Guan, Brother Zhang, Brother Zhao, Brother Xu."

The four quickly returned the greeting, saying, "We dare not."

Upon seeing this, Liu Bei laughed loudly: "Good! Good! From now on, we will be ruler and subject in the court, and brothers in private."

He patted Liu Shan on the back and said, "A Dou, you should ask your elder brothers for advice on martial arts and military affairs."

"If you encounter difficulties in the future, don't bear them alone; seek help from your elder brothers."

Liu Bei's casual remark, however, taught him all the knowledge he had acquired throughout his life.

Liu Shan nodded and went over to exchange pleasantries with his elder brothers.

Seeing the harmonious atmosphere, Liu Bei was very pleased and instructed his servants:
"Serve the meal. I wish to drink with some of my juniors today."

Dining with the emperor was an extremely high honor.

Liu Bei did this to reward a few young men.

The younger generation was very grateful and felt extremely honored.

Before long, the waiters served up the exquisite dishes.

According to regulations, subjects were not allowed to sit at the same table as the emperor.

However, Liu Bei specially ordered people to add seats next to his desk, so that Guan Xing and others could sit on his left and right, while Liu Shan sat on the side of the head seat.

During the banquet, Liu Bei personally served dishes to everyone, showing no airs of an emperor.

He picked up a piece of roasted meat and placed it in Zhang Bao's bowl:
"Bao'er, try this. Yide loved this flavor the most back then."

Zhang Bao was flattered and quickly accepted the bowl.

Liu Bei then poured wine for Zhao Tong:

"Zilong has always been moderate, and I suppose he wouldn't allow you to drink too much at home either."

"Since you're here with me today, let's make an exception and have a drink."

Li Yi took in all of this and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Unexpectedly, after so many years, Lao Liu still chose the most primitive and "violent" way of playing.

The succubus's moves from the Eastern Han Dynasty were indeed effective time and again.

Seeing this, Li Yi took the opportunity to say a few more words.

"The Crown Prince is gentle and kind, and needs your strong support."

"Today's banquet is meant to remind you all—"

"No matter what our future circumstances may be, we should treat each other as brothers and work together to preserve the Han dynasty."

Upon hearing this, everyone cupped their hands in greeting and said, "Yes, sir."

Liu Bei was very satisfied with this.

But Li Yi felt that everyone was just young and immature, and how could they be sure what would happen in the future?
Ultimately, why were the first generation of people at Qi Han Group so united?
Or it's because there are external enemies to deal with.

In any conflict, some concessions must be made in the face of a formidable enemy.

When we are unified in the future, we will have lost our common enemy.

Then there will be nothing but internal strife and infighting.

"Ziyu, you seem to have something on your mind?"

Liu Bei placed a piece of dog meat in Li Yi's bowl and asked him with concern.

"...Ah, not really."

"I just think things are fine as they are now."

"Which aspect is Li Xiang referring to?"

"Your Majesty knows perfectly well what's going on, so why torture me?"

The emperor and his minister exchanged a smile, then clinked their glasses and drank the fine wine heartily.

Liu Bei knew that Li Yi was in charge of important affairs of the court.

Even though the situation is problematic, it won't cause too much of a stir.

With you by my side, I feel at ease.

……

Chengdu, the Palace of the King of Wei.

Dark clouds loomed over the city, and a biting wind blew through it.

After Cao Cao imprisoned the renowned physician Dong Feng, his headaches became increasingly severe.

Every night, when all was quiet, the pain felt like thousands of steel needles piercing his brain, making it difficult for him to sleep.

Even more terrifying is that whenever he manages to fall asleep...

Countless wronged souls would appear in his dreams, their faces contorted in grotesque expressions, demanding his life.

That night, Cao Cao awoke from another nightmare, his inner garment soaked with cold sweat.

He sat up abruptly and noticed a servant standing outside the tent. The servant looked unfamiliar, and his heart skipped a beat.

"Who is this?"

Cao Cao asked sternly, his hand already on the short sword under his pillow.

The old servant outside the tent hurriedly knelt down:
"Reporting to King Wei, this person is a newly transferred attendant. He was temporarily replaced because the chief steward of the king fell ill."

Cao Cao squinted and carefully examined the unfamiliar face.

The servant looked down and seemed respectful, but it set off alarm bells in his mind.

Since the Dong Feng incident, he has increasingly felt that danger lurks around him and that everyone is suspicious.

They could all be spies sent by Liu Bei to assassinate him.

"Get out!"

Cao Cao suddenly roared, startling the servant so much that he trembled and hurriedly withdrew.

When only a few trusted confidants remained in the tent, Cao Cao got up, put on his robe, and paced back and forth in the tent.

Another wave of headache washed over him. He pressed his temples, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

"I am prone to killing in my dreams. When I am asleep, you must not approach me."

The attendants on either side looked at each other, wondering what the King of Wei meant by this, and could only nod in agreement.

Cao Cao curled his lips into a cold smile and lay back down.

But she deliberately kicked the quilt halfway open, revealing half of her body.

It was the dead of winter, and although there was a charcoal fire in the tent, the chill was still biting.

The servants remembered the King of Wei's earlier warning, and none of them dared to step forward to cover him with a blanket.

About half an hour later, a close attendant named Wang Zhong arrived on night patrol.

Seeing that no one was attending to the King of Wei at his bedside and that the quilt was half-fallen, he became furious.

Are you all dead?

Wang Zhong lowered his voice and rebuked the attendants, "The Prince of Wei is of noble birth. If he catches a cold and falls ill, how many of you have heads to chop off?"

The crowd looked at each other, none of them daring to respond.

After Wang Zhong finished cursing, he tiptoed into the tent and carefully picked up the brocade quilt for Cao Cao, intending to cover him with it.

Just as the blanket was about to cover Cao Cao's body, the "sleeping" Cao Cao suddenly sat up.

A flash of cold light appeared, and before Wang Zhong could react, he felt a chill on his neck, and blood gushed out.

"King Wei...why..."

Wang Zhong stared wide-eyed at Cao Cao, who was holding a sharp sword.

Before he could finish speaking, he collapsed to the ground.

Cao Cao stared expressionlessly at the convulsing corpse on the ground, then wiped the blood off his sword onto Wang Zhong's clothes.

He went back to bed and closed his eyes to doze off.

The servants outside the tent heard the commotion, but none of them dared to go inside to investigate.

They could only stand outside, trembling with fear, unaware of what had happened.

About half an hour later, Cao Cao finally woke up slowly and exclaimed in feigned surprise:
"Guards! Who killed my close attendant?"

The servants entered with trepidation and found Wang Zhong lying in a pool of blood, already dead for some time.

The King of Wei looked completely bewildered, as if he truly had no idea what had happened.

"Reporting to King Wei."

A bold servant stammered, "Just now, Wang Zhong saw that the King of Wei's quilt had slipped down and wanted to cover him with it, but unexpectedly the King of Wei suddenly drew his sword..."

"what?"

Cao Cao was shocked and jumped off the bed. He staggered to Wang Zhong's body and looked grief-stricken.

"I actually killed my loyal servant in my dream? Alas!"

He beat his chest and stamped his feet, nearly fainting, and those around him hurriedly helped him up.

Cao Cao said with great sorrow:
"I told you long ago that I have a penchant for killing in my dreams, why didn't Wang Zhong listen?"

"How pitiful was his loyalty... Guards, give him a proper burial and provide compensation for his family!"

Just then, the registrar Yang Xiu entered and, upon seeing this scene, understood the situation.

After everyone carried Wang Zhong's body out of the tent, Yang Xiu slowly revealed the truth.

"The Prime Minister is not dreaming; it is the people who are dreaming."

Ok?
Cao Cao raised an eyebrow and glared fiercely at Yang Xiu.

This boy is indeed clever; he was able to see through my trickery at a glance.

Inside the tent, the candlelight flickered, illuminating his ever-changing expression.

He waved for Yang Xiu to step aside, then turned his attention to the dossier on the table concerning Dong Feng, impatiently tapping his fingers on the surface.

"Dezu!"

Cao Cao suddenly spoke, his voice as cold and hard as iron.

"Several months have passed since I ordered you to investigate whether Dong Feng was a spy for Liu Bei. Have you made any progress?"

Yang Xiu stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said:
"Reporting to King Wei, I have been interrogating him for several days."

"Dong Feng always insisted that he was just a traveling physician and had no connection with Liu Bei."

"I have also sent people to investigate. This person has practiced medicine for many years and his footprints have covered the Central Plains. Indeed... he does not seem to be someone who has a secret relationship with Liu Bei."

"enough!"

Cao Cao slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly, causing the bamboo slips on the table to rustle.

"After several months, this is the answer you give me?"

Yang Xiu took a deep breath and continued:

“Your Majesty, I have thoroughly investigated this man’s background.”

"We discovered that he was a leading figure in the world in both medical skills and medical ethics."

"He once provided free medical care to the poor without charging a penny."

"I also risked my life to enter the epidemic area to treat people."

"Such a physician is rare in the world."

"Why doesn't the King of Wei give him another chance?"

Cao Cao glanced at him and paced back and forth in the center of the tent.

After a long time, he slowly spoke:
"Alright, bring Dong Feng up here!"

Before long, two Tiger Guards dragged a ragged man into the tent.

The man was covered in wounds and walked with difficulty; only his back was still intact.

It was none other than the legendary physician Dong Feng, who had been imprisoned for several months.

Cao Cao squinted as he sized up the prisoner before him.

After months of imprisonment, Dong Feng was emaciated.

But those eyes remained clear and bright, showing no fear.

"Dong Feng," Cao Cao said slowly, "how have you been feeling these past few months in prison?"

Dong Feng looked up and stared directly at Cao Cao, remaining silent.

The atmosphere inside the tent froze for a moment.

Cao Cao was not offended and continued:

"I'll ask you one more time, how exactly can this headache of mine be cured?"

Dong Feng's chapped lips trembled slightly, his voice hoarse yet clear:
"...This humble citizen already made this clear several months ago."

"The King of Wei's illness cannot be cured by medicine."

"Killing too many people leads to karmic burdens, which are caused by inner demons."

"The only way to cure this is to lay down the butcher's knife and do more good deeds."

"nonsense!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao flew into a rage.

"I have killed countless people in my life, have I ever blinked an eye?"

"The idea of ​​'karmic obstacles' is utterly absurd."

Are you trying to deceive me?

Dong Feng did not back down and persisted in his opinion.

"Military affairs harm both oneself and others; even in the dead of night, one may dream of soldiers and demons."

"King Wei does not believe in cause and effect, but cause and effect are self-evident."

"Those who kill will be killed by men, and those who harm others will surely be punished by Heaven."

"If the King of Wei feels no remorse, why is he plagued by nightmares every night? Why are his headaches getting worse and worse?"

"shut up!"

Cao Cao overturned the table, scattering bamboo slips all over the floor.

"You still dare to say you're not a spy sent by Liu Bei!"

"Guards, throw this traitor back into prison and execute him on a later date!"

Tiger Guards stepped forward and lifted Dong Feng up.

Seeing this, Yang Xiu hurriedly stepped forward to offer his advice:

"King Wei, please reconsider!"

"Such a skilled doctor is rare in the world; we must not abandon him lightly!"

"With frequent outbreaks of disease in the military, we desperately need such a miraculous doctor."

"Yang Dezhu!"

Cao Cao interrupted him sharply, "This man has humiliated me time and time again. If I don't kill him, I won't be able to vent my hatred!"

Dong Feng was dragged to the tent entrance, then suddenly turned around, his gaze sharp as lightning:
"King Wei! Heaven's justice is clear: good is rewarded and evil is punished."

"Even you cannot escape this cycle of fate!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao's headache suddenly worsened, and his vision blurred.

He clutched his forehead and shouted sternly:

"Drag him away! Throw him into death row immediately!"

After Dong Feng was dragged away, the tent fell into a deathly silence.

Cao Cao slumped on his seat, drenched in cold sweat.

Yang Xiu glanced over and saw that the once arrogant King of Wei was pale and his fingers were trembling.

It was clear that the headache had reached its extreme.

"King Wei..." Yang Xiu was about to speak.

"Get out!"

Cao Cao closed his eyes and waved his hand, "All of you, get out of my sight!"

Helpless, Yang Xiu could only bow and retreat.

The night was as dark as ink, and a light drizzle fell outside the Chengdu prison.

Yang Xiu carried a black lacquered food box and slowly descended the slippery stone steps.

Upon seeing that it was Clerk Yang, the jailer dared not ask any further questions and bowed his head to open the cell door.

"Registrar Yang, the condemned prisoner is in the innermost cell."

The old jailer, carrying a dim oil lamp, said in a very low voice, "According to the rules, I can only give you half an hour."

Yang Xiu nodded, took out a piece of silver from his sleeve, and stuffed it into the jailer's hand:
"Good work."

A damp, musty smell mixed with the stench of blood hit me.

Yang Xiu frowned and followed the flickering lamplight deeper into the prison.

The innermost cell was darker than the others.

Behind the iron fence, a thin figure sat against the wall, his hands and feet chained together.

“Mr. Dong,” Yang Xiu called softly.

The person slowly raised their head, revealing a pair of clear eyes through their disheveled hair.

"Registrar Yang?" Dong Feng's voice was hoarse, but with a hint of surprise.

"What are you doing here in the dead of night?"

Yang Xiu signaled the jailer to open the cell door, and only after the jailer had left did he place the food box on the ground.

Take out a few delicate side dishes and a pot of warm wine.

"The master is due tomorrow... Alas, my authority is limited, and I cannot save the master."

Yang Xiu handed over the chopsticks, his voice a little strained.

"We've prepared some light wine and snacks to ask if you have any unfulfilled wishes, sir?"

Dong Feng stared at the food box for a long time, then suddenly laughed:
"Is Registrar Yang feeling guilty?"

Yang Xiu's fingers trembled, and the wine pot almost slipped from his hand.

"If Xiu hadn't spoken out of turn before the King of Wei, perhaps you wouldn't have ended up like this..."

He choked up halfway through his sentence.

Dong Feng shook his head, picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of fish, put it in his mouth, chewed it carefully, and then said:

“Registrar Yang is a good man, but he shouldn’t have gotten involved in this political vortex.”

Yang Xiu feigned ignorance:

"What do you mean by that, sir? What political vortex are you referring to?"

"The King of Wei has already designated Cao Pi's son as his heir."

Dong Feng took a sip of wine and looked directly at Yang Xiu, saying, "Yang Xiu, the chief clerk, still loyally serves Prince Cao Zhi, stirring up trouble in the Wei palace."

"If this continues, it will surely lead to our deaths."

The prison was silent for a moment, with only the sound of dripping water clearly audible in the distance.

Yang Xiu's expression changed several times before he finally asked:

"Even though you are in prison, you are very knowledgeable about the affairs of the court."

"In that case, is there any way to avoid disaster?"

Dong Feng put down his chopsticks, and the iron chains rattled.
"By staying out of politics, like myself, I can avoid trouble."

"Like Mr."

Yang Xiu chuckled and pointed around.

"Sir, you are now imprisoned and will face death tomorrow. Is this the result of trying to avoid disaster?"

Dong Feng remained calm, then picked up another piece of tofu and chewed it.
"Because I am just a doctor."

"I can cure the suffering of patients, but I cannot cure a country that is terminally ill."

Yang Xiu was struck dumb, as if by lightning.

After a long pause, he murmured:

"So...so you went to your death willingly, sir?"

Dong Feng stopped answering and focused on eating the dishes in the food box.

"The time has come, Registrar Yang."

The old jailer whispered a reminder from outside the door.

Yang Xiu took a deep breath and bowed deeply to Dong Feng:
"Take care, sir."

Dong Feng then looked up, a relieved smile on his lips:
“Registrar Yang, in this life, there are things you should do and things you shouldn’t do.”

"Just take care of yourself."

As I walked out of the prison, the night rain had stopped.

Yang Xiu looked up at the starry sky and suddenly felt a tightness in his chest.

Dong Feng's words, "It is impossible to cure a country that is terminally ill," struck him like a heavy hammer.

The Shu-Wei regime was a deformed regime, and the country was a sick country.

Yang Xiu had actually seen it all along, but he was unwilling to admit it.

"But do I have a choice?"

Yang Xiu sighed and returned to his residence dejectedly.

……

(End of this chapter)