The sun had already set, and the remnants of its light cast long shadows.
At the base of the city wall, by the west gate of Xudu City, a large crowd of people remained, their voices a cacophony. Suspended above the gate were several wooden cages.
Within them, starkly displayed, were the bloody heads of Dong Cheng, Wang Zifu, Wu Shuo, and Zhong Ji.
Countless citizens and scholars exchanged fearful whispers among themselves:
"Prime Minister Cao has even killed the Imperial Uncle! I heard the Consort and the Crown Prince were also victims of foul play, and those implicated in this upheaval… Prime Minister Cao ordered the extermination of all nine generations of their kin! This is the first time in years Prime Minister Cao has shown such ruthless severity towards the Han court!"
"It's understandable, though. After all, the Han court made the first move. Prime Minister Cao's anger is only natural."
"Alas, it is said that when a ruler commands a subject to die, the subject must die. But now… the world has changed! Nine generations, how many people will be affected by this?"
These words tumbled out…
Accompanied by sighs and laments…
Some scholars even whispered, "Then, does the Son of Heaven not count as part of Dong Cheng's nine generations?"
As these words were spoken, someone quickly covered the scholar's mouth.
Everyone understood the unspoken truth, but no one dared to answer!
The so-called nine generations referred to four paternal clans, three maternal clans, and two in-law clans!
The correct answer was that Emperor Liu Xie was indeed one of Dong Cheng's nine generations.
Just then, a civil official ascended the gate tower and, looking down, began to read Cao Cao's imperial edict:
"As Prime Minister, I have already reached the pinnacle of human nobility, my ambitions fulfilled. If what I say now appears presumptuous, let it be so. If this nation were without me, how many would declare themselves Emperor? How many would declare themselves King?"
"Some, seeing my might, claim I harbor disloyal ambitions. Thus, there were rebels like Dong Cheng, Wang Zifu, Wu Shuo, and Zhong Ji, who plotted to assassinate me. If I did not eliminate these traitors, and if disaster befell us, the state would be imperiled. Therefore, I could not pursue a hollow reputation at the cost of actual calamity!"
"Not pursuing a hollow reputation at the cost of actual calamity…"
These words held a certain resonance, akin to the saying, "A gentleman does not stand beneath a tottering wall," or perhaps… "It is better that I betray the world than the world betray me!"
In the crowd, an old man's face was filled with sorrow. He used his sleeve to wipe away tears that traced paths down his cheeks. This was the former Grand Commandant, Yang Biao. He thought to himself, "General Dong, General Wang, this old man… this old man comes to pay his respects."
Yang Biao seemed to have drunk a considerable amount, and his body swayed precariously. Despite his efforts to conceal his emotions, his tears still dampened the yellow earth beneath him!
"If this nation were without me, how many would declare themselves Emperor? How many would declare themselves King?"
Cao Cao's edict quickly spread throughout every street and alley of Xudu City…
It also reached the gates of the Grand Tutor's mansion and the ears of Sima Yi.
The sun had set, and the sunset painted the sky with vibrant hues…
Sima Yi still stood lingering before the Grand Tutor's mansion, waiting. The five daughters of the Zhen family had entered, and they had emerged, yet… there was still no notification from the Dragon Cavalry. He, Sima Yi, was unable to gain entry.
Finally…
Footsteps echoed. It was Dian Wei emerging from the mansion.
Sima Yi's eyes lit up, and he quickly stepped forward.
"Commander Dian… Does Chief Lu wish to see his disciple?"
Dian Wei replied coldly, "Young Master Lu does not wish to see you. Go back!"
Ah…
Sima Yi froze. He immediately grabbed Dian Wei's sleeve. "Could you please inform him again, Commander Dian? Just tell him… tell him that the imperial academy student Sima Yi urgently requests an audience!"
Heh…
Dian Wei sneered again. "Do you think this Grand Tutor's mansion is some pleasure house? That you can come and go as you please? You are merely an imperial academy student, the son of a condemned official. Every matter within this mansion is more important than yours! Hurry along now, don't force me to act!"
In his state of helpless anxiety, Sima Yi suddenly saw Guo Jia emerge from the mansion…
He strode forward, as if finding his last strand of hope, and cupped his hands in a bow before Guo Jia.
"Master Guo… I beg you, please introduce me, let me see the Chief! I… I am willing to die in my father's stead!"
Hmph…
"Willing to die in your father's stead?" Guo Jia paused, then gently shook his head. "Your father's head is at least useful to make an example of him. But what use is your head? It is utterly worthless!"
This…
Sima Yi was speechless!
Guo Jia's voice continued, with a hint of deliberate meaning and a touch of profound implication: "Zhongda, you see, the five daughters of the Zhen family could enter the Grand Tutor's mansion because they brought sincere intentions. But what about you? You just bring two shoulders and a head? Where is your sincerity? Without sincerity, do you think Grand Tutor Lu will see you?"
"Consider Yang Xiu, Yang Dezhu, from the past, and then consider yourself, Sima Zhongda, today! Why was Yang Dezhu able to become Grand Tutor Lu's personal disciple and entrusted with important tasks? While you remain unwelcome?"
This…
Sima Yi, being exceedingly intelligent, seemed to grasp something from Guo Jia's words.
Yang Xiu? Entrusted with important tasks?
Sima Yi? Sincerity?
So it was… sincerity?
Now that the crisis within the palace walls had passed, what was Grand Tutor Lu, or rather… Prime Minister Cao, most urgently seeking?
Suddenly, Sima Yi understood.
— So this is it, so this is it…
He immediately cupped his hands in a bow, feeling that such an expression was insufficient. With a "crack," he knelt on the ground, his head striking the floor with a clear sound!
"What are you doing?" Guo Jia was startled, while Sima Yi bowed his head twice more. "The guidance of Master Guo is a favor Sima Yi will never forget!"
With these words, Sima Yi rose, turned, mounted his horse… and galloped away!
Night began to descend, and the Grand Tutor's mansion, shrouded in shadows, appeared even more mysterious and imposing. Occasionally, the sound of Qin music, played jointly by Diao Chan and Cai Zhao Ji, added to the mansion's unfathomable aura.
Lu Yu slowly walked out from the main hall…
He hesitated for a moment, then asked the Dragon Cavalry guards beside him.
"Has Fengxiao left?"
"He has already left!"
"And Sima Zhongda?" Lu Yu continued to ask.
"He has also left!" the Dragon Cavalry guards replied truthfully. "He left on horseback in a hurry… seeming quite urgent."
Upon hearing this, Lu Yu nodded, then faced the empty air.
He sighed.
"I hope this lad can appreciate my good intentions. No, if he can't appreciate them, then he wouldn't be Sima Zhongda, who excels at 'lying low'!"
With this thought… Lu Yu's eyes gleamed, and a hint of confidence suffused him!
The drunkard's intention is not the wine!
His target… or rather, Prime Minister Cao's target, was never the Prefect of Jingzhao, Sima Fang, but rather…
Just as he thought this…
A Dragon Cavalry guard reminded him, "Young Master Lu, Cai Yan's maid has just sent word that tonight, Young Master Lu is required to go to… Shui Yifang!"
Uh…
Upon hearing this, Lu Yu was slightly taken aback, then snapped back to reality.
This was indeed a good sister, even arranging where he needed to go tonight…
Speaking of which, the two Qiao sisters of Lujiang, the younger one being Xiao Qiao and the elder one being in Shui Yifang, Zhong Yao's personally inscribed plaques described them perfectly.
…
…
Prefect of Jingzhao's Mansion, Sima Yi stood silently in the courtyard.
The night was deep, and his spirits were already flagging. He raised his head to gaze at the moon rising above the willow branches, watching the crows caw incessantly. A sudden chill ran through him, and he stumbled, picking up a bucket of water!
He abruptly poured it over his head, feeling a sense of immense clarity…
Hmph…
With a long exhale, as if invigorated by the cold water, he gained a measure of composure!
Never before had he grasped the situation so clearly.
"Are you mad?"
A wisp of cloud drifted by, obscuring the moonlight and the face of the newcomer. It was a woman, unlike ordinary women, for she held a sword in her hand.
Her name was Zhang Chunhua, daughter of Zhang Wang, the former magistrate of Suyi County. Because her father owed a debt of gratitude to the Sima family, when she was very young… before her father's death, her marriage to the second son of the Sima family had been arranged.
Initially… she had been quite disdainful of this arrangement, and had even roamed the martial arts world for several years, known as "Spring Little Taizi."
However, ultimately, she did not wish to defy her father's dying wish and married into the Sima household as planned. This was already… the second year of her marriage.
Her husband, Sima Yi, was quite timid and feared her in every way. Of course, in terms of combat, Sima Yi was no match for her.
At this moment, Zhang Chunhua strode out of the pavilion, holding her sword upright before her chest.
"It's just your father's affairs! Is it necessary to be like this? Tomorrow, I'll go to Dali Temple and rescue him. We'll return to Hewei together. I don't believe Cao Cao can act with impunity in the land of Hewei!"
"You don't understand…" Sima Yi retorted to his wife, a rare occurrence. "Hewei already belongs to Prime Minister Cao. In the near future, Hebei and Guanzhong will also become Prime Minister Cao's. Unless we can escape this Great Han… otherwise… otherwise…"
"Then… you will just remain like this? Sighing and lamenting, blaming heaven and earth, doing nothing?" Zhang Chunhua was hot-tempered and did not give Sima Yi any face with her words.
"I… how am I blaming heaven and earth? I… I am thinking of a solution!" Sima Yi said with emotion.
"Then? Where is this solution?" Zhang Chunhua continued to ask.
"The imperial edict in the belt… the imperial edict in the belt!" Sima Yi recited immediately. "Whether it is Prime Minister Cao or Grand Tutor Lu, what they most urgently want is the imperial edict in the belt, and the list it contains. Therefore… therefore, to save my father, we must… we must…"
"But… where is the imperial edict in the belt?"
"It's… " Sima Yi's wet hair suddenly flicked. "It's with me!"
With these words, Sima Yi's eyes widened…
He quickly walked towards the door. In fact… he had already thought of all the deployments beforehand, but felt something was still not thoroughly considered.
But… now!
He understood. It was all clear now.
Where the imperial edict in the belt was located was not important. What was important was… Grand Tutor Lu and Prime Minister Cao wanted to use the "imperial edict in the belt" to eliminate those they wished to eliminate!
This was the essence of saving his father!
Then…
Who was it that they both wanted to eliminate?
Suddenly, in Sima Yi's mind, the Qingmei land on the outskirts of Xudu City surfaced, and the person working there, who was also skilled in concealing his thoughts—Liu Bei! Liu Xuande!
Where the imperial edict in the belt was, was not important. The truth of the names on the imperial edict in the belt was also not important… What was important was that Prime Minister Cao and Grand Tutor Lu wanted Liu Bei's life!
And his father's life must be exchanged for Liu Bei's life.
Stomp stomp…
With great strides, Sima Yi walked out of the Sima mansion.
Zhang Chunhua stared at him dazedly. For a moment, she suddenly felt… that her husband had become much more of a man!
The maid beside her quietly asked Zhang Chunhua, "Madam? Do you think the Sima mansion can get through this?"
Zhang Chunhua shook her head slightly.
"Whether we can get through it or not, I will be with him!"
"There is no great matter in life other than death. As people of the martial world, how can we fear death!"
…
…
On the outskirts of Xudu City, in the Qingmei land…
A fruit vendor carrying a shoulder pole came to purchase green plums. Liu Bei warmly greeted him.
"Look, how well these green plums have grown… As for the price, it's still the same…"
Liu Bei's voice was loud, not only audible to his brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who were toiling daily and were utterly speechless, but also enough for the watchers on the periphery to hear clearly.
"Then I'll inspect the goods and see how much these green plums weigh."
Saying this, the vegetable vendor squatted down.
Liu Bei also squatted down, and the two of them seemed to be discussing the weight and quality of the green plums.
But in reality…
Their conversation had just begun.
"At a time like this, why would His Majesty still send you to take such a risk? How is His Majesty now?"
These hushed words came from Liu Bei's mouth…
Indeed, the person who arrived was Leng Shouguang, the Chief Eunuch of the Imperial Palace, and he had indeed come at great risk. The crucial point was… he could not trust anyone else with this matter.
"His Majesty is not well. His Majesty cries out in pain every day, saying, 'The Great Han is about to perish, I cannot protect my wife, I cannot protect my ministers. I am merely an ant at your feet!' His Majesty also speaks nonsense, asking why Prime Minister Cao still ties him to this position, why he refuses to let him go!"
Upon hearing this…
Liu Bei's expression became somber. The Emperor's suffering was also his suffering!
How could he not empathize?
"Please, ask His Majesty to hold on…" Liu Bei consoled…
"After the leak of Uncle Dong's imperial edict in the belt, Duke Xuande and Duke Fu are His Majesty's only two hopes. Duke Fu is gathering strength in secret, but Duke Xuande must grow in the open!"
Leng Shouguang's words came out softly…
Liu Bei's eyes narrowed. How could he not understand the meaning of these words? In the open… how to be in the open? He had to find a way to escape Xudu!
"Duke Xuande, please lean closer…"
Leng Shouguang beckoned, then brought his ear close to Liu Bei's ear. Under the cover of the green plum grove, it was perfect for shielding the eyes of the watchers.
"xxx, xxx, xxx."
Initially… as Leng Shouguang spoke, Liu Bei's expression remained calm and collected. But… as the conversation progressed, his eyes suddenly widened, and his chest heaved.
By the end, he involuntarily exclaimed.
— "What…"
As if realizing his lapse in composure, he quickly… stood up and explained, "These plum trees in the grove are growing better, but why are you trying to drive down the price? Isn't this a breach of faith!"
"Alas…" Leng Shouguang also reacted instantly. He slowly stood up as well. "Your plum grove is growing well, but… other plum groves are also growing well. It's only natural to lower the price slightly. Whether you sell it or not, I'm not interested in buying it!"
"I won't sell it!" Liu Bei waved his hand, but he signaled to Leng Shouguang…
Meaning, he understood… His Majesty's intention!
Leng Shouguang snorted coldly, "Unappreciative. I'm leaving… Wait a few days, and the price will be even lower than today!"
With these words, he picked up the shoulder pole, carried the vegetable basket, and put on an angry demeanor, leaving sluggishly…
In fact, it was normal for vegetable vendors and fruit farmers to come to Liu Bei to purchase melons and fruits.
Liu Bei's land grew a variety of crops, not just green plums. Coupled with his reputation for benevolence that spread throughout the land, countless fruit farmers and vegetable vendors were drawn to him, so it did not arouse suspicion.
Of course, the watchers on the periphery had received orders to ensure that Liu Bei remained in this plum grove.
According to Cao Cao's intentions, as long as Liu Bei remained within sight, he would have no wings and certainly could not fly away!
Watching Leng Shouguang's receding back…
Alas…
Liu Bei sighed softly, then perked up again.
He called out, "Second Brother, Third Brother, accompany me into the city…"
"Big Brother?"
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's faces stiffened, and they instinctively reached for their Eighteen-Foot Serpent Spear and Azure Dragon Crescent Blade.
Liu Bei, however, waved his hand. "No need to bring those. We are going to purchase some medicine!"
Medicine?
Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei's eyes twitched. "Big Brother, what are you doing? You went into the city to buy seeds not long ago, and now you're buying medicine? Does Big Brother truly intend to settle down on the outskirts of Xudu City!"
Hearing this, Liu Bei glared at Zhang Fei.
He deliberately raised his voice.
"What's wrong with settling down here? The mountains are green and the water is clear, far from worldly disputes…"
"In the past, I fought against rebellious officials and traitors. Today, I fight against these green plums in the fields, the seedlings, and the lush green sprouts? Isn't that also endlessly enjoyable, finding joy in it!"
Uh…
Liu Bei's words completely stunned Zhang Fei!
After all, he suffered from his lack of education. He didn't even know how to refute. How awkward!
It was Guan Yu, whose eternally unchanging, poker face twitched slightly. It seemed… he had perceived some deeper meaning in his Big Brother's words!
"Third Brother, do not speak further. If Big Brother wants to buy medicine, we shall accompany Big Brother to buy medicine."
As these words were spoken, Zhang Fei scratched his head and asked curiously, "What medicine are we buying?"
Liu Bei paused, then softly recited, "Five-stone powder. I heard that Cao Cao's adopted son, He Yan, has recently become infatuated with a drug called 'Five-stone powder.' It is said that after taking this drug, one can feel as if soaring through the clouds, as if in a dream! Your elder brother shall purchase some to try!"
Could it be… Five-stone powder?
Upon hearing this, Guan Yu's brow furrowed. How could he not have heard of this Five-stone powder?
Although at this period, Five-stone powder was not as popular as it would become during the "Wei-Jin" era, it had already appeared and begun to circulate within a small scope.
And its most significant characteristic was that after consumption, it could lead to a state of delirium, as if one were in the clouds, and it was addictive…
Guan Yu held the utmost disdain for such mind-confusing drugs. He intended to advise his elder brother, but then… he thought, how could his elder brother not know about this?
This might all be within his calculations.
Immediately…
His mouth, which had been about to open, closed again. He let out a sigh…
He also did not know… what kind of tomorrow awaited Xudu City, and what their future as three brothers would be.
…
…
Xudu City, School Office!
The next day was calm and uneventful…
That evening, Cao Cao appeared at the School Office, accompanied by an old man wearing a bamboo hat.
"As usual, present your reports!"
Following his command… Cao Ren and Cao Hong immediately ordered the school officials to retrieve various scrolls.
A school official reported, "Last evening, five women from the Zhen family of Zhongshan Wuji visited Grand Tutor Lu. They seemed to have had a pleasant conversation. In the end… Grand Tutor Lu specifically sent Young Master Cao Ang to escort them out. Afterwards, the Zhen family presented large quantities of grain and money to the granary and treasury!"
As he spoke, he placed a scroll on the table, depicting the scene of the five Zhen daughters visiting Lu Yu.
A second school official reported, "It has been confirmed that among the fruit vendors who went to the Qingmei land where Liu Bei cultivates on the outskirts of Xudu City, there are people sent by His Majesty. As per Prime Minister Cao's orders, we did not alert them, and have already dispatched additional personnel to ensure Liu Bei cannot escape this plum grove!"
The scroll was unfurled, showing Leng Shouguang disguised as a fruit vendor entering the plum grove.
A third school official reported, "Sima Yi visited many places yesterday and met many people. His purpose seemed to be to search for Liu Bei's handwritten correspondence, and he also found some from a pawnshop!"
As usual, the scroll was unfurled…
It showed Sima Yi entering and exiting the pawnshop, obtaining Liu Bei's handwritten correspondence!
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao gently tapped the table with his hand, then turned his head to ask the old man wearing the bamboo hat.
— "Wenhe? What do you think?"
…
…