Here are the translations following your strict rules:
On this side... "Lu Yu" goes to the meeting alone, wielding a single saber;
On the other side, within a certain pavilion.
Roast meat sizzles on the stove, and the wine pot is filled with wine.
Sima Yi and Yang Xiu are eating roast meat.
"Having come to this land of Yongliang, if we don't eat roast meat, wouldn't it be a waste of this arduous journey?" Yang Xiu, with a sigh, picked up a piece with his chopsticks, chewed it, the meat juice rich and flavorful, his mouth slick with oil.
"A gentleman stays away from the kitchen..." Sima Yi mused, "Dezu, you've lost your Shiniang, this is a colossal blunder. Yet you're still in such spirits? Eating meat here."
"Heh..." Yang Xiu chuckled. "Zhongda, the *Six Strategies* states, 'At noon, one must clear the paths; when holding a cleaver, one must slice; when holding an axe, one must strike.' To 'hold a cleaver, one must slice' means... once a cleaver is in hand, why should it be put down?"
This...
Sima Yi found himself unable to fully comprehend Yang Xiu at this moment.
"Hold a cleaver, one must slice" is a metaphor for decisive action, acting promptly...
But... now, with his Shiniang abducted, it's not about holding a cleaver and slicing, but rather, a case of the butcher and the lamb!
"Dezu, have you gone mad? Do not think that the merits you have achieved this time... are enough to atone for the sin of losing your Shiniang. That Wang Yue is a brute, he is capable of anything!"
Sima Yi was growing agitated...
"Does Zhongda know of a valiant woman in Xiliang, the wife of Zhao Ang, a subordinate official of Great Wei, known as 'Qiangdao Ling'? Her name is Wang Yi!" Yang Xiu, however, continued to speak calmly.
Hmm...
Sima Yi froze. With his master "going to the meeting alone, wielding a single saber," Yang Dezhu was still... still talking about the wife of "Qiangdao Ling," still talking about a valiant woman.
"Dezu..."
As soon as Sima Yi's words left his mouth.
Yang Xiu's words once again cut him off, "Wang Yi's name was also told to me by Master. Master also told me that this Wang Yi is extremely resolute, a foremost valiant woman!"
"Dezu... what are you talking about?" Sima Yi was already angered.
For a moment, he felt that Yang Xiu had gone foolish... had gone mad.
Yang Xiu's words, however, continued to flow, filled with boundless emotion, "Brilliant strategies are born only in desperate situations! This scheme can eliminate Wang Yue, and resolve this threat once and for all!"
What?
Sima Yi rose abruptly. "Dezu, Shiniang's life or death is unknown, and Master insists on going to this certain death place. Yet you... you are here telling me about some brilliant strategy... about desperate situations. You... what is your true intention?"
In stark contrast to Sima Yi's furious outburst.
Yang Xiu's expression was calm, his eyes as placid as a lake, as if everything were under his control.
Whoosh...
Sima Yi grabbed Yang Xiu by the sleeve. He felt like hitting him!
"Dezu!"
Who would have thought, at this very moment.
A clear female voice echoed from the side room.
"Zhongda, do not harm your elder brother..."
This voice...
Sima Yi knew it too well. It was... it was Shiniang Xiahou Juan's voice. But... but... wasn't Shiniang Xiahou Juan... wasn't she abducted?
Yet that voice moments ago had been so real.
Sima Yi seemed to be plunged into unspeakable astonishment...
On the other side, Xiahou Juan, escorted by dozens of female soldiers, walked out of the side room.
"Zhongda, there is no need for alarm. From the very beginning, this was all your Master's plan!"
Xiahou Juan's voice amplified Sima Yi's astonishment infinitely...
Although he didn't know what this so-called plan was.
But...
Yang Dezhu's calmness!
Shiniang Xiahou Juan's safety and well-being!
These... undoubtedly plunged Sima Yi into an even larger, more illusory cycle!
"Shiniang... Shiniang wasn't abducted?"
Sima Yi asked in disbelief...
Yang Xiu patted Sima Yi's shoulder.
"Shiniang was indeed abducted, but... after just an hour, the one abducted was no longer Shiniang... Wang Yue abducted a knife, the sharpest 'knife' that could plunge deepest into Wang Yue's heart!"
Hold a cleaver, one must slice; hold an axe, one must strike!
The saber has been raised, why should it fall?
At this moment, re-examining Lu Yu's words, "Has everything been arranged for Xiahou Juan?" carried even more profound meaning!
So, the question arises...
Who was intentionally allowed to be abducted by Wang Yue?
And how did Yang Xiu know of Wang Yue's movements in advance?
For a time, endless question marks filled Sima Yi's mind.
As for Yang Xiu...
He recalled the night six days ago.
It was a tavern in Xiliang, Yang Xiu opened a heavy chest of gold. Under the dazzling radiance... a man couldn't help but pick up two gold bricks...
Very thick... yet very cold.
As the saying goes, gold is cold, but it's warm when held close to the chest...
For a moment, the man's eyes lit up.
He murmured, "Your judgment of people is truly accurate. This time, it is not I who betray my master and my teachings, but rather, you who give too much..."
As these words left his mouth...
Yang Xiu handed him a rolled-up note.
—Do everything as instructed!
It was Wang Yue who drugged Yang Xiu... and seemingly Wang Yue who took Xiahou Juan away...
But was Yang Xiu truly drugged?
And was the real Xiahou Juan in the sack?
Heh heh...
This was all just a setup!
Speaking of which, this plan... was actually presented to Lu Yu by that "valiant woman" Wang Yi.
—A secret plan often emerges in desperate situations!
Furthermore... the real big fish to be caught, the one intended to "hold a cleaver and slice," this strike aimed at more than just Wang Yue!
Everyone's perspective is too narrow!
...
...
In Xuchang City, the Wei King's palace.
From some unknown time, the guards here suddenly became stern and stood erect...
The atmosphere here had turned extremely frigid!
Wu Zhi rushed to Cao Pi's room.
"Zihuan... the Wei King, he... he has ordered Hua Tuo to perform a craniotomy!"
"I already know!" Contrary to Wu Zhi's urgency and panic, Cao Pi displayed unusual calmness and composure. "I knew this morning. Hua Tuo will be the lead surgeon, Zhang Zhongjing as his deputy... it will commence after noon today!"
This...
Wu Zhi's expression was solemn. This was the first time he had seen Cao Pi in such a state.
Cold...
Unusually cold, especially his eyes, as if they had been soaked in millennium-old ice for ten thousand years... it was as if... as if it were not his father undergoing the craniotomy, but merely an ordinary "King"!
"Zihuan..."
Before Wu Zhi could speak, Cao Pi's words came out again.
"If Father King insists on using an axe for the craniotomy, he will surely die!"
"The troops stationed in Xuchang City are from Yan Province. I have secretly sent people to track their families; they can be detained if necessary!"
"We only need to deal with the Imperial Guards!"
Speaking lightly...
Today was completely different from before. Previously, it was Wu Zhi who analyzed the situation, and Cao Pi mostly listened...
But today, he took the initiative to speak, and every word was as sharp as a blade.
Speaking of this, Cao Pi placed his hand on Wu Zhi's shoulder. "The troops I was ordered to train within the Bronze Bird Terrace were all transferred here three days ago. Once Father King perishes, these men will only obey my orders. At that time, led by Shi A, they can occupy the Wei King's palace at any moment. This time..."
Cao Pi's tone grew increasingly serious, increasingly meticulous.
"Jizhong, you and I have no retreat. If this fails, we will achieve martyrdom!"
Hoo...
A heavy sigh escaped Wu Zhi's lips.
Well said... "If this fails, then... then martyrdom!"
Never had Wu Zhi underestimated Cao Pi. Few people in all of Great Wei could truly understand this deeply scheming young lord!
But even so, at this very moment, Wu Zhi was shocked.
He had not expected...
That when Cao Pi truly reached this point, he would be so calm, so decisive! In fact, there wasn't a single sentence in their entire conversation that showed concern for his father's safety.
This was completely contrary to his usual "filial son" image in public and private!
Was this his true face?
"Your subject, Wu Zhi, pays his respects to the Heir Apparent of Great Wei... No... pays his respects to the Overlord of Great Wei!"
With a click, Wu Zhi knelt...
In contrast, upon hearing titles like "Heir Apparent of Great Wei" and "Overlord of Great Wei," Cao Pi's body trembled, but after a brief tremor, he felt a sense of exhilaration, a yearning for the pinnacle of power!
—"Great! Wei! Overlord!"
One word at a time...
Cao Pi gazed out the window, looking down upon everything within the Great Wei palace.
He was about to...
He was about to step onto the apex of power!
...
...
A lamp flickered in the wind.
"Pain, pain, pain..."
Within the Wei King's palace, Cao Cao looked extraordinarily pained, constantly clutching his head. The pain that seeped into his bones was relentlessly eroding the life of this ruler of the world.
Immersing his head in cold water, this method had already been tried and had no effect whatsoever.
So...
How to expel the "turbid energy" that was rising from the "turbid energy" from his body?
"Towel... towel..."
Cao Cao cried out in pain...
Some maids rushed to hand him fresh, cold towels.
Outside the palace doors, however...
Apart from a few high officials, there were few people around... This was because Cao Cao did not wish for too many people to see his wretched state. He had instructed everyone to attend to their duties, including all his sons!
"Wei King, Hua Tuo has... has... prepared..."
Xu Chu's voice echoed...
However, this voice was stammering.
From the bottom of his heart, Xu Chu did not support Cao Cao undergoing this craniotomy now. The conditions were too immature. Of the twenty "craniotomy" experiments conducted by Hua Tuo, only one survived, and even then, he could not dispel the high fever...
The current conditions, asking Cao Cao to try it, was no different from sending him to his death!
But...
But seeing the Wei King in such agony, Xu Chu felt even more distressed.
"Wei King... are you insistent... insistent on this?"
Xun Yu stood guard by Cao Cao's bedside...
It was strange, actually...
Previously, Cao Cao was the most opposed to "axe craniotomy." For this, he even imprisoned Hua Tuo. If not for Lu Yu's plea... Hua Tuo would likely have perished by now, and there would be no "craniotomy surgery" today...
But now, precisely... the Wei King was so insistent...
This...
Xun Yu's expression was solemn. At such a critical juncture, even he, the "Ling of Xiangxun," was bewildered. But Xun Yu knew that in the current situation... with the Marquis of Nanshouchun and Duke Cao Chong in Xiliang, if the Wei King were to have any accident, who knew what the fate of Great Wei would be!
"I... my decision is made..."
Cao Cao moaned in pain, covering his head.
"I said, whoever tries to dissuade me will be killed without mercy... Ling Jun Xun, do not speak again, do not make it difficult for me!"
"Wei... Wei King..."
As he spoke...
Doctors from the medical office had arrived.
"Wei King, Divine Physician Hua... please... please go to the silkworm room!"
Even the doctors from the medical office, at this moment, could not help but stutter...
If the Wei King had any accident during this axe craniotomy, it was feared that... it was feared that... none of them would escape!
"Zhongkang..."
Cao Cao's faint and pained voice echoed again. "I tell you, this axe craniotomy is my decision. Regardless of success or failure, you must tell all the officials... not to kill a single physician in vain. If... if..."
As he spoke, Cao Cao seemed to lose his breath...
"Cough cough cough... cough cough cough..."
After a series of coughs, he paused for a moment, then used his last bit of strength. "If I have an accident, I will place the decree of succession behind the plaque of the Wei King's palace. Zhongkang and Wenruo can retrieve it in the presence of all civil and military officials. The decree is my will, and it designates the trustworthy, future... Overlord of Great Wei... Overlord!"
Boom...
Booming sounds!
Cao Cao's words were like five bolts of lightning, like a deathbed testament.
At this moment, even the stalwart Xu Chu couldn't help but shed tears...
Xun Yu's eyes were filled with boundless tears.
"Carry me... to the silkworm room!"
Cao Cao immediately commanded...
A group of doctors lifted Cao Cao onto a stretcher and hurried towards the nearby silkworm room.
Stomp...
Xun Yu wanted to follow.
Who would have thought, Xu Chu stopped him. "Ling Jun Xun, it's best not to go... the Wei King has made up his mind this time!"
This...
Xun Yu wanted to say something, but his words choked in his throat.
He didn't know what to say, nor what else could be said in this situation.
"Ling Jun Xun doesn't know yet..."
Xu Chu's voice continued... "Externally, Hua Tuo performed twenty craniotomy surgeries, with one survivor in the end... but actually..."
The stalwart Xu Chu actually choked up.
"Actually...? How so?" Xun Yu quickly asked...
Xu Chu took a deep breath. "Actually, it was one hundred times... a full hundred times of axe craniotomy surgeries. Those... those death row inmates, only... only one survived!"
Xu Chu's voice was filled with sobs...
"Drip..."
"Drip drip!"
Two streams of hot tears fell, crystal clear...
This...
Xun Yu lowered his head and murmured, "One hundred times, only... only one success?"
At this, he suddenly thought of something.
"One hundred times... one time!"
Xun Yu repeated.
Half an hour...
An hour...
Xun Yu kept his head lowered, as if in deep thought, but soon... he completely understood.
"Stomp..."
"Stomp stomp..."
Taking continuous steps, Xun Yu quickly ran towards the silkworm room.
Along the way, for some unknown reason, there were no guards blocking him... and so, Xun Yu directly broke in.
The operating table...
Hua Tuo...
The axe... all were present... and on the bed lay a person.
"Wei King?"
Xun Yu exclaimed, and quickly stepped forward...
But upon seeing the person lying on the bed clearly, his pupils widened. As expected...
"No... it's not the Wei King!"
Xun Yu deliberately lowered his voice...
"Hahahaha..."
Who would have thought, at this moment, a similarly low laugh echoed.
—"The setup established by I and Ziyu has ultimately been discovered by Ling Jun Xun..."
This...
Xun Yu turned his head, only to see Cao Cao sitting peacefully on one side of the silkworm room, no longer weak and haggard as before. At this moment, Cao Cao possessed much more vitality and vigor, much more masculine energy!
Especially his cheek, which had been trembling due to the "headache," now had a rosy complexion. He... he was healed, no... he... he was never ill?
Xun Yu cupped his hands.
"Wei King has deceived this humble subject greatly..."
"Hahaha..." Cao Cao laughed as he handed a letter to Xun Yu, softly murmuring, "From Han Sui, we drew out Wang Yue. And from Wang Yue, we exposed an internal threat within our Great Wei! If this threat is not thoroughly removed, how can Ziyu inherit the throne?"
This...
Xun Yu felt his whole body tremble. He shakily opened the letter.
This was Lu Yu's handwriting...
And the content within was that Xiahou Juan's abduction was a ruse, the real purpose being to expose the "lurking threat" within the Great Wei palace!
Everything... was merely a net...
This was...
With a gulp, Xun Yu swallowed.
This, for the Marquis of Nanshouchun, Lu Ziyu, was so-called "attacking the heart."
This, for the Wei King... was to clear the obstacles for Lu Ziyu's succession to the throne!
...
...
(ps: I've been practically cyberbullied by you all these past two days... please go easy on me, and please wait until you've read the entire incident before criticizing!
This is a political intrigue novel. Many superficial things require deep interpretation.
Borrowing a line from the new Three Kingdoms TV series—perhaps you misunderstood my Cao Cao yesterday, and you misunderstand again today, but I remain myself.
I will not slack off. Every plot point has been meticulously crafted.
All plot points have had their outlines set from the beginning. Except for the part involving Xu Shu in the middle, which was slightly modified based on suggestions from readers in the group, bringing the formerly adversarial Xu Shu to the protagonist's side. Everything else is proceeding according to the outline. Many things cannot be judged simply by the beginning. Please evaluate after reading.)