In a private room on the third floor of a wine shop in Xuchang City.
“With spurs sharp as blades and plumage like the sun, may they clash with fiery might in the midst of Mid-Tang.”
A young noble, no older than twenty, entered the elegant chamber with two chickens in hand, reciting poetry.
The poem was titled "On Cockfighting," and it described the rooster's spurs, eyes, tail, and wings, alongside its stances, movements, and leaps.
It captured the bird’s majestic bearing and hinted at the intensity of the battle.
His name was Liu Zhen, courtesy name Gonggan, a native of Ningyang in Dongping, and one of the Seven Masters of Jian'an, grandson of the former Minister of the Imperial Court, Liu Liang.
Seven years prior, to escape wartime chaos, he had sought refuge in Xuchang with his mother and elder brother, where he met the Cao brothers, Cao Pi and Cao Zhi, at the imperial post station.
Subsequently, he served under Cao Cao as a Chief Clerk.
During his tenure, he widely distributed letters, inviting Wang Can of Shanyang, Xu Gan of Beihai, Ruan Yu of Runan, and Ying Yang of Runan to Xuchang, forming a unique literary circle. He also re-established the Hongdu Literary Hall, making it another haven for scholars in the realm, besides the Imperial Academy in Xuchang.
He shared a close relationship with Cao Pi, considering him a brother.
And so, when Cao Pi invited him for a meeting today, he specifically brought two chickens from his hometown.
Cao Pi had been waiting inside, it seemed, for a long time.
Upon his entry, Cao Pi instinctively looked up, his expression complex, as if burdened by thoughts. “With talons sharp as jade, eyes burning with firelight. Tail feathers stir the wind, strong wings unfurl. Lightly it leaps, beak striking, then soars back!”
Cao Pi recited the latter half of Liu Zhen’s "On Cockfighting" and then ordered a servant to take the two chickens back to the Prime Minister’s estate.
After the servant had left, Cao Pi finally spoke.
“Brother Gonggan, your ‘On Cockfighting’ is masterfully written, and the chickens must be fine specimens. But if two chickens fight so fiercely, what of… the succession struggle? Surely it would be ten times more perilous than this cockfight?”
Hearing between the lines…
As soon as Cao Pi uttered these words, Liu Zhen began to ponder their meaning.
Of course.
He was unaware that Cao Pi had secretly overheard a conversation between Cao Cao and Cao Ang.
Knowing that Cao Ang, with his character of “benevolence and filial piety, kindness and goodness,” was essentially out of the running for the heir apparent position, Cao Pi’s heart was filled with burgeoning ambition.
With Cao Ang out, did that mean he also had a chance?
“Second Young Master, are you contemplating the succession struggle within the Yuan clan in the north?”
Liu Zhen smacked his lips and probed tentatively. “The Yuan clan deserves to have its foundations destroyed! Appointing the young and discarding the elder is a path to ruin, especially when bequeathing power to the youngest son while leaving the army to the eldest! Yuan Benchu is truly muddled!”
This…
Wasn’t that an evasive answer?
Cao Pi frowned. “Brother Gonggan, I invited you here today not to discuss the succession struggle in the north, but rather… but rather…”
The words caught in his throat, and Cao Pi found it difficult to articulate.
“But rather what?” Liu Zhen pressed urgently.
Alas…
Cao Pi sighed deeply and decided to recount the noon conversation between his father, Cao Cao, and his elder brother, Cao Ang.
Speaking of which, Cao Pi had only heard these words two hours ago; they were fresh in his mind and like a thorn in his throat!
He could only discuss it thoroughly with someone he could truly trust.
And there were only two people he, Cao Pi, could trust: one was Liu Zhen, and the other was Qin Lang, the son of Qin Yilu and Madam Du, and Cao Cao’s adopted son!
They were, in Cao Pi’s eyes, his own people!
Hiss…
After Cao Pi finished speaking, Liu Zhen’s eyes darted back and forth. Finally… he hurried to his feet and closed all the windows and doors of the private room.
Then, with a knitted brow and narrowed eyes, he cautiously knelt beside Cao Pi.
“Does Second Young Master wish to contend for the succession?”
This…
Cao Pi felt a sense of difficulty. If he said he didn’t want to contend, that would be untrue. But if he said he wanted to contend, then any discerning person could see that his father’s most beloved was his younger brother, Cao Chong…
Moreover, Cao Chong was indeed exceptionally intelligent. In terms of wisdom and astuteness, he was more than ten times superior to Cao Pi.
If he were to enter the Imperial Academy again, emulate Zi Jian in receiving guidance from Lu Yu, and achieve great merit… and in the future have Lu Yu’s assistance, it was hard to imagine any other brother having a chance.
Therefore… Cao Pi remained silent, unsure how to answer.
Liu Zhen, however, seemed determined to get to the bottom of it. “If Second Young Master dares not even speak it aloud, then… how can you contend?”
“Who doesn’t want to contend!” Cao Pi finally spoke. “The current situation, contending for the succession is like contending for the world. The opportunity is right before us, that position is too… too alluring!”
Cao Pi would not have been able to utter these words if he were just two years older.
Forbearance was Cao Pi’s greatest trait, but… now, in his youth, besides forbearance, he also possessed a driving ambition!
Hearing this, Liu Zhen paced back and forth, his eyes narrowed, as if contemplating…
Or perhaps, as if he were completely unraveling the entire matter.
Including Cao Chong, including Cao Ang, and including Cao Pi.
“Tap, tap…”
“Tap, tap…”
The continuous sound of footsteps echoed, and these sounds made Cao Pi’s heart a tangled mess.
“Brother Gonggan, oh Brother Gonggan, you… you must give me some advice!”
Tap…
As these words left his mouth, Liu Zhen stopped. His eyes focused, and he had figured it out. “If, if Second Young Master truly wishes to take this step, then you will need the assistance of another person, no… two other people.”
Before Liu Zhen could finish speaking, Cao Pi immediately replied, “I know one of them; it’s Lu Ziyu. Currently, Father trusts him the most. Whichever young master he stands with, that young master’s chances of success will increase exponentially!”
“Indeed!” Liu Zhen nodded.
No matter which young master, to contend for the succession, they could not bypass Lu Yu.
Lu Yu was the Imperial Censor, in charge of the Imperial Office, supervising all officials.
It was no exaggeration to say that he held the lives and deaths of the officials in his hands.
Besides that, his Dragon Soaring Camp was the most elite infantry in the Cao army, his “elder brother” Xiahou Dun commanded the largest number of infantry in the Cao army, and his “father-in-law-to-be” Xiahou Yuan commanded the “Leopard Cavalry.” Not to mention… he was Cao Cao’s closest cousin!
Let alone Xun Yu, Xun You, Jia Xu, Cheng Yu…
These officials in the Imperial Secretariat had intricate connections with him.
Among the Cao army… there were countless generals connected to him!
And also the Han court…
How sensitive was the position of Cao family’s heir apparent? The support of the Han court was also crucial, and a princess of the Han court was about to become one of Lu Yu’s consorts.
And the Imperial Academy, the leader of scholars in the realm!
And the Forging Workshop, the leader of craftsmen in the realm!
And the Medical Office, and the title of Medical Immortal, which was the leader of physicians in the realm, a beacon for patients who had suffered from cold diseases!
Even the financial power of the Great Han was in his hands!
Once he received his support, it would be as if the problems of money and grain would be smooth sailing, without any obstacles!
It was no exaggeration to say that, in Liu Zhen’s opinion, if Lu Yu’s surname were not Lu, but Cao, or Xiahou, then his becoming the heir apparent would be a sure thing, a certainty!
Of course, this assumption was not true. Therefore, if Second Young Master Cao Pi wanted to contend for the succession, the first person he needed to win over was his support.
On this point, Cao Pi and Liu Zhen were well aware.
“Brother Gonggan, who is the second person whose assistance you speak of?”
Cao Pi could not help but continue to ask.
Liu Zhen’s eyes narrowed instantly. “He is an old friend of mine. For Young Master to achieve great things, his help is indispensable!”
“How does this person’s talent compare to Brother Gonggan’s?”
Cao Pi asked next.
“Ten times superior to mine!” Liu Zhen whispered. “As intelligent as Young Master Cao Chong, he probably cannot be surpassed by him!”
Hoo…
Cao Pi exhaled, his ears perked up.
“Brother Gonggan, stop keeping me in suspense, quickly… quickly tell me his name!”
“Haha…” Liu Zhen gestured for Cao Pi to lean closer, and Cao Pi complied.
Immediately after, he heard a name, a two-character name!
Hiss?
He? Can he do it?
…
…
Yanmen, Bing Province.
Vast yellow sand, boundless desert.
Lu Bu, Lu Lingqi, and Yang Xiu were all dressed in plain clothes. Outside the city gate of Yanmen Commandery, Gongsun Zan, Qu Yi, Zhang Yan, and Tian Yu were already waiting at the entrance.
“General Ying… Young Master Yang, you have finally returned.”
They cupped their hands in salute to Lu Bu and Yang Xiu.
Lu Lingqi was disguised as a man, though… even in women’s attire, only Yang Xiu here would recognize her.
“Is everything well?”
Lu Ying asked.
“Everything is well,” Tian Yu began to explain the current deployment of the Yuan army to Lu Bu. “Yuan Shang has dispatched Han Meng with a hundred thousand troops to guard Hukou Pass, seemingly abandoning Bing Province entirely. As long as we cannot reach Jizhou, they will not interfere with anything else. For this reason, several commanderies and counties around Yanmen have recently pledged allegiance to us, and the situation is favorable for our army.”
Speaking of this…
Lu Bu nodded. “Have the Southern Xiongnu made any reckless moves?”
“No!” It was Gongsun Zan who answered this time. The generals remaining in Bing Province had clear divisions of labor: Zhang Yan’s Black Mountain Army and Qu Yi’s Vanguard Death Warriors were responsible for incorporating surrendered commanderies and counties, while Gongsun Zan was rebuilding the White Horse Volunteers. Besides garrisoning Yanmen, their more important task was to guard against the movements of the Wuhuan, Xianbei, and Southern Xiongnu.
Especially the Southern Xiongnu, whose territory was directly adjacent to Bing Province… If not careful, this volunteer army would be backstabbed by these wolves of the grassland!
“Since the passage between the Southern Xiongnu and Henei was opened, under the management of Zhen family’s eldest daughter, Zhen Jiang, countless five-stone powders have been sent to the Southern Xiongnu, while the Southern Xiongnu have transported countless cattle, sheep, and horses to Henei. The border is stable, and the Southern Xiongnu even proactively share intelligence on Yuan’s army with us.”
Pfft…
As Gongsun Zan said this, Lu Bu hadn’t reacted, but Yang Xiu chuckled first.
“What are you laughing at?” Lu Bu turned his head to look at him.
“General Ying…” Yang Xiu spread his hands. He had long understood Lu Bu’s temperament and was accustomed to it. “General Ying’s Fangtian Huaji is invincible in the world, but to quell this border threat, a mere five-stone powder is more effective than the Fangtian Huaji!”
Speaking of this, Yang Xiu raised his head and asked everyone,
“Isn’t that so?”
“Yes!” Gongsun Zan was the first to agree. “I have guarded the border for half my life, and the White Horse Volunteers struck fear into the hearts of the border barbarians, yet today is the first time I have seen the barbarians outside the frontier not only not invading us but also sending us large quantities of cattle, sheep, and horses, haha…”
“The key is that these five-stone powders will make them increasingly dependent, and their bodies will weaken. In this way, within ten or eight years, the time will come to recover the border! At that time, we will not need to emulate the Marquis of Huandou, Wei Qing, or the Marquis of Champion, Huo Qubing. We will only need a hundred cavalry, and by controlling these five-stone powders, the barbarian tribes beyond the frontier will undoubtedly surrender without a fight!”
Speaking of this matter, Gongsun Zan recalled that in the past, the Han court’s Northern Army, led by Xia Yu and Tian Ying, had launched an expedition against the Xianbei with a hundred thousand troops but fell into an ambush set by the Xianbei and Southern Xiongnu, suffering a great defeat and returning to Yanmen with less than ten thousand soldiers!
How tragic was that battle? Since then, the Han had not launched any offensive campaigns against the barbarians! This had become the eternal hatred of the border people of that generation!
But… now, because of these five-stone powders, what Xia Yu and Tian Ying, leading a hundred thousand Han court Northern Army, failed to achieve, their generation might accomplish!
The feats of the Dragon City Flying General, conquering the Xiongnu and planting the banner on Mount Lang, might be reenacted!
Every time Gongsun Zan thought of this, his heart was stirred!
He paused.
He continued, “Commander Lu’s deployment this time truly amazes me, a man who has guarded the border for half his life. I, Gongsun Zan, have always been proud and have never submitted to anyone, but today I am truly convinced by Commander Lu!”
“Haha…”
Yang Xiu laughed. “It’s no wonder General Gongsun speaks so highly. Killing is easy, but conquering hearts is difficult. A mere five-stone powder has exchanged for the barbarians’ voluntary decadence and brought us thousands of cattle, sheep, and countless warhorses. Not only General Gongsun admires Commander Lu, but I, as his disciple, am also completely convinced of my esteemed teacher’s abilities!”
Over here…
While Gongsun Zan and Yang Xiu praised Lu Yu with all their hearts, on the other side… Lu Lingqi, who was on horseback, pouted.
As if her heart was stirred… or perhaps, this stirring was a sense of unwillingness!
According to her father, this renowned Commander Lu, this esteemed teacher Lu, was supposed to be her husband!
And now?
Lu Lingqi shook her head. She didn’t know if she had missed out, or if she had been mistaken!
“Alright…”
Lu Bu spoke. “Since the Yuan clan has abandoned Bing Province, there is no need for us to be modest. We shall capture all of Bing Province! As for Hukou Pass, where Han Meng is stationed, I will personally lead the assault!”
“Yes…”
As Lu Bu uttered these words, the assembled generals cupped their hands in assent!
They had been waiting for General Ying’s command!
The advantage in Bing Province had shifted!
“Dada da…”
The sound of hooves echoed as the group entered the gates of Yanmen Commandery on horseback.
It was Zhang Yan, who had recently received some news. He rode his horse at the very back and began to converse with Yang Xiu.
“Young Master Yang? Tell me, why is General Ying so eager to capture Hukou Pass? For what purpose?”
This…
Yang Xiu’s eyes flickered. “General Feiyan, why don’t you ask General Ying yourself?”
“He seems to be in a bad mood,” Zhang Yan murmured, but then his tone shifted. “Young Master Yang, is General Ying’s swift action related to the White Horse Marquis’s wedding? Is General Ying intending to offer Bing Province and Hukou Pass as a wedding gift to celebrate the White Horse Marquis’s wedding?”
Hiss…
As these words left his mouth, Yang Xiu gasped. Even on horseback, he quickly covered Zhang Yan’s mouth.
Dare to mention the White Horse Marquis’s wedding…
Heh heh…
Yang Xiu just chuckled.
Others might not know, but Yang Xiu was most aware of why Lu Bu was in a bad mood? Wasn’t it because his troublesome daughter had been disqualified from the list of candidates for the Marquis’s wife?
If Lu Bu were to hear Zhang Yan’s words… Yang Xiu had no doubt that he would be beaten severely!
Of course…
Neither Yang Xiu nor Zhang Yan knew that the reason Lu Bu was in such a hurry to capture Hukou Pass was not to celebrate Lu Yu’s wedding at all.
The Marquis’s wife was not his daughter; what did his wedding have to do with Lu Bu?
Lu Bu wanted to open the great door for Bing Province to advance eastward!
Just like… on the battlefield of the Yellow River, only by breaking through the Liyang defense line north of the Yellow River would the Cao army truly open the gateway to the north!
Lu Bu wanted to go to Fei Long Mountain in Changshan Commandery earlier to settle accounts with that old dog Tong Yuan!
The death of his border brothers was one reason!
His daughter’s misbehavior, her exclusion from the ranks of the Marquis’s wife, this blame, who else but Tong Yuan should bear it?
Every time he thought of this.
Lu Bu felt his molars grinding, and a light blazed in his eyes, a light that could almost incinerate a person!
—Kill!
—Kill that old dog!
…
…
Jianzhang Palace, Imperial Palace, Xuchang City.
Speaking of which, this Jianzhang Palace was named after Emperor Wu, and its construction was related to Emperor Wu’s pursuit of immortality.
At that time, Emperor Wu built Jianzhang Palace west of Chang’an City and excavated Taiye Pond, in which he built three mountains symbolizing the immortal mountains of the East Sea. Therefore… although Jianzhang Palace was not as large as Weiyang Palace, its garden scenery far surpassed Weiyang Palace.
Moreover, subsequently, imperial archives, such as the Emperor’s daily records, were displayed here.
And in the imperial palace of Luoyang City, Jianzhang Palace was analogous to Chang’an…
The imperial palace of Xuchang City retained this Jianzhang Palace.
At this moment…
The wooden floor of Jianzhang Palace echoed with the sound of footsteps. Emperor Liu Xie paced anxiously in his study, holding the former Emperor’s daily records in his hand.
Every time he read a passage, he would hesitate for a moment, then sigh and stamp his foot before turning and continuing to pace!
A group of eunuchs followed him closely, holding lamps…
Thus it went, again and again…
Finally, Liu Xie stopped pacing with a “thud” and stared intently at an entry in the daily records.
His eyes widened instantly… as if he had seen something terrifying!
“You, quickly go and summon the Empress!”
“Yes!”
The eunuch responded and hurried away.
Emperor Liu Xie let out a long breath with a “hoo.”
Then, he sighed with emotion.
“As my brother-in-law said, my father… he…”
Liu Xie did not finish his words.
But his eyes were fixed on the text in the daily records… The late Emperor particularly enjoyed confining himself in his room, pacing, contemplating, and writing down his thoughts on bamboo slips.
As for…
The content on these bamboo slips…
Liu Xie shifted his gaze to the corresponding bamboo slips…
These were written by his father, Emperor Ling of Han, Liu Hong, himself!
“—The sixth year of Guanghe, this is the sixteenth year of my reign!”
“This year, in summer, there was a great drought; in autumn, the river water in Jin City overflowed; the mountain banks of Wuyuan collapsed… In winter, in Donghai, Donglai, and Langya, the ice in the wells was a foot thick! Drought, flood, and ice disasters struck together, and the lives of the people of the Great Han became increasingly difficult!”
“Heh heh, little do they know, in the fifteen years of my reign, such phenomena have occurred almost every year!”
…
—“The first month of the third year of Jianning, famine in Henan and Henei, husbands and wives ate each other.”
—“The second month of the fourth year of Jianning, earthquake, seawater overflowed, river water turned clear; in the fifth month, the ground in Hedong cracked, hail fell, and mountain springs erupted.”
—“The first month of the second year of Xiping, great epidemic!”
—“Autumn of the third year of Xiping, the Luo River flooded!”
—“The sixth month of the fourth year of Xiping, the three prefectures and counties were ravaged by locusts!”
—“Summer of the sixth year of Xiping, seven provinces were infested with locusts, and in the eighth month, an earthquake struck the capital…”
—“The second month of the seventh year of Xiping, earthquakes occurred twice in the fourth month…”
—“Spring of the second year of Guanghe, another great epidemic broke out, and in the third month, an earthquake struck the capital region.”
—“Autumn of the third year of Guanghe, an earthquake in Jiuquan.”
—“The sixth month of the fourth year of Guanghe, in the scorching summer heat, hailstones fell as large as chicken eggs.”
“I have changed the reign titles to ‘Jianning,’ ‘Xiping,’ and ‘Guanghe,’ all taking auspicious characters to pray for the favor of Heaven. I have repeatedly sent eunuchs from the palace with medicine to tour and provide relief, and I have even issued fourteen general amnesties!”
“But, why… despite my efforts, are things still contrary to my wishes, the state affairs remain in turmoil? The empire is declining?”
…
Between the lines…
Liu Xie read four words from his father’s writing—I am too hard-pressed!
…
…