The door of the Nan Shou Hou Mansion stood wide open.
A group of elite guards stormed in. "Search thoroughly! Keep everyone under strict guard. Check the bottom of cabinets and under beds, not a single spot can be missed."
Shi A's voice echoed throughout the estate.
The guards searched everywhere, scattering books and clothes across the floor.
The male and female servants of the mansion were gathered in the courtyard under unified watch. Some household servants, astonished, asked, "What are you doing? This is the Nan Shou Hou Mansion! How dare you trespass into the Nan Shou Hou Mansion like this? Have you no regard for the law!"
Ever since the Nan Shou Hou Mansion moved to Luoyang City, the Marquis's mansion in Xuchang City had been left vacant.
Because of the recent events concerning Cai Zhao Ji and Xiahou Juan, a group of women and many servants had come to this place. Who could have imagined that the world-shaking Nan Shou Hou would one day have his mansion invaded and searched like this?
"The law?"
Facing the servants' words, Shi A sneered, "From the moment your master died in the Hidden Dragon Abyss, the law has had nothing to do with this Nan Shou Hou Mansion."
"Who are you?" Some sword-wielding female attendants asked with knitted brows, their voices filled with disdain.
"I... haha, I am the future Grand General of Great Wei's forces—Shi A!"
Shi A signaled to the guards behind him. The guards, with crude shouts of "Make way," were unexpectedly repelled by these attendants with their swords.
The Nan Shou Hou Mansion had many female dependents, so... many women had been selected and taught swordsmanship to protect the women of the household.
The number of these maidservants was not small.
Shi A sighed softly, "Not bad at swordsmanship." With that, he suddenly unleashed his attack. The attending maidservants united to resist, but after only a few exchanges, Shi A proved superior.
With sounds of crackling, countless swords fell to the ground, and the sword-wielding attendants also collapsed.
These maidservants gritted their teeth in frustration, pulling daggers from their bosoms. However... the guards behind Shi A were all personally trained by him and were not weak in martial arts. They swiftly snatched away the daggers and pressed the maidservants against the wall, their cold blades touching their faces.
"Nan Shou Hou is gone, is it worth it for you to fight so desperately?"
"Hmph, if you don't want your beautiful faces ruined, then behave yourselves!"
The maidservants' tears welled up in their eyes, but they stubbornly held their heads high, refusing to let tears fall.
Within the Nan Shou Hou Mansion...
Even the lowest-ranking maidservants were as valiant as any man.
"Continue the search! Not a single one of Nan Shou Hou's wives shall escape!"
Shi A roared again.
The guards continued to rummage through the study, making a mess of the place. In the hall, the maidservants looked at Shi A defiantly, while the servants who didn't understand martial arts stood by, clenching their fists, waiting helplessly.
After a moment...
"Nothing..."
"Nothing..."
"Nothing!"
Voices echoed from different directions.
Shi A's face suddenly turned cold. So many women had vanished into thin air?
"Continue the search!"
He looked coldly at the maidservants, drew his sword, and walked forward step by step. His sword drew closer and closer to the maidservant's body... "Where are your mistresses?"
"Do! Not! Know!"
Her voice was resolute...
"If you don't speak, your life will be forfeit!" Shi A's sword was already pressed against a maidservant's chest... her clothes had already begun to show traces of blood.
"I don't know!"
The maidservant seemed to have only these three words in her vocabulary.
Shi A suddenly raised his long sword and swung it down fiercely. The swift sword energy was about to cleave off the maidservant's head.
But the maidservant merely closed her eyes, her lips tightly shut, as if some belief supported her... her teeth clenched, saying nothing!
It was known that the Nan Shou Hou Mansion treated its servants exceptionally well. Since these maidservants entered the mansion, not only them... but even their families were taken care of.
Indeed, some maidservants were even sisters of the Dragon Soaring Camp disciples, recommended by them.
Their faith held no room for "betrayal"!
"Hmph..."
The sword stopped at the maidservant's forehead.
Looking at the woman again, Shi A's eyes were filled with admiration...
Impressive!
What kind of household could make even its servants act this way?
Shi A shook his head. For a moment, he suddenly understood Cao Pi... If Lu Zi Yu had not died, perhaps... perhaps Cao Pi would not have dared to take this step.
Of course, as Cao Pi's teacher, Shi A understood his disciple.
His patience and schemes were not something ordinary people could see through.
If Lu Zi Yu were alive, he would certainly endure... but his ambition would never fade... Great Wei... would inevitably face this day.
"Seal the Nan Shou Hou Mansion! Not a single bird or ant is allowed to enter or leave!"
"Yes!"
Shi A left this command and departed with over a hundred guards, leaving behind... countless maidservants and servants staring blankly at their retreating figures.
Perhaps, they too had once been lost...
But, united, they were incredibly strong. They firmly believed that the sky of Great Wei would not fall, and the sky of the Nan Shou Hou Mansion... would also not fall!
...
...
On the official road, Xu Shu was galloping his horse when he saw a large army approaching the direction of Xuchang City.
He slightly reined in his horse, gazing at the dust-raising troops and the large character "Zhang" on the banners. He knew it was Cao Zhang's army.
"So fast..."
Xu Shu frowned. He knew that once this army surrounded Xuchang City, no one within the city would be able to escape.
Fortunately... he knew that Zi Yu's family members had also escaped Xuchang City through the same method as him and were now placed in a safe location.
However, Cheng Yu was still inside...
The School Office of the Dragon Soaring Camp was still inside. These were all his subordinates, Xu Shu's men.
For a moment, Xu Shu felt a pang of heartache. After hesitating for a moment, he repeatedly looked back, wavering... The hand gripping the reins trembled. Finally, he sighed and rode away.
...
...
In the mourning hall of Xuchang City, a quarrel erupted. Many officials surrounded Xiahou Yuan.
Cao Zhen and Wu Zhi, who were close to Cao Pi, argued fiercely with Xiahou Yuan... Xiahou Yuan repeatedly explained, "Big Brother's demise was sudden. The new emperor has not yet been enthroned, and the late king's coffin should not remain in Xuchang for long. Xuchang is the capital of Han... At the very least, the late king's coffin should be sent to Luoyang."
Wu Zhi aggressively retorted, "According to the rules, the heir apparent should perform 'crying lament,' 'minor unction,' and 'major unction.' None of these have been carried out, so how can the late king's coffin be hastily sent away? General Xiahou should not disrespect the late king!"
"Who do you think you are? Within this curtain, do you have the right to speak?"
Xiahou Yuan glared angrily at Wu Zhi.
Wu Zhi remained silent. Cao Pi, who had been kneeling and weeping, slowly stood up. "Uncle Cai, Ji Zhong is my man, and he is also Father King's subject. It is precisely out of respect for Father King that he insists on acting according to the rules, so as not to tarnish Father King's dignity. Ji Zhong's intention is my nephew's intention. Without the heir apparent's 'crying lament,' 'minor unction,' and 'major unction,' Father King's coffin cannot be hastily sent away!"
At this moment...
Cheng Yu strode in. "Before King Wei went to practice medicine, he said that if anything were to happen, the funeral need not follow ancient customs. Now that the six armies are unstable, it is imperative to send King Wei's coffin to Luoyang quickly. In Luoyang, the capital of Wei, our Great Wei officials will jointly pay respects to the heir apparent, and to the next King of Wei. Why cling to 'minor unction' and 'major unction'?"
Cheng Yu's words... carried significant weight in this setting.
After all, every single deed he had done in the past was enough to inspire awe and dread.
Ding Yi then interjected, "Even if ancient customs are not to be followed, it cannot be done so hastily, so rushed as if fleeing. Wouldn't that make those lords look down on our Great Wei?"
Some veteran officials from Qiao Pei repeatedly nodded, "Exactly!"
Cheng Yu raised his voice, "What can stabilize the army of Great Wei and allow Great Wei to remain stable is not King Wei's coffin, but the heir apparent! The heir apparent who has the support of the people!"
The implication was...
That the heir apparent, determined under various coercions in Xuchang, lacked any justice or righteousness. He must be officially installed as the heir apparent in Luoyang City.
"Hahaha..." Ding Yi and Wu Zhi both laughed.
They exchanged glances...
Ding Yi wanted to speak, but Cao Zhi stopped him. "Zheng Li, what are you doing!"
Wu Zhi said with a loud laugh, "Mr. Cheng's current position is perhaps as Commandant of the Dragon Soaring Camp, not as a General of our Great Wei, right? Hmph, is it only by sending the King's coffin to Chang'an that Commandant Cheng will be satisfied?"
"I, Cheng Yu, am both Commandant of the Dragon Soaring Camp and a General of Great Wei." Cheng Yu argued logically, "The fire at King Wei's palace, you all know it well! Even if this old bone of mine breaks, I will not allow the foundation built by King Wei and Nan Shou Hou to be destroyed today!"
Speaking of this, Cheng Yu looked at Xiahou Yuan. "General Xiahou, you are the funeral director. Please obey the King's last command and depart quickly, away from this place of contention, the Han capital!"
"Hmph..." Ding Yi, paying no heed to Cao Zhi's persuasion. "Even if you are the funeral director, so what? Don't forget that the King's sons are still here! Will Prince Zihuan and Prince Zijian stand by and watch you insult the late king?"
As these words left his mouth, everyone's gaze turned to Cao Pi and Cao Zhi...
With so many gazes converging, Cao Zhi was momentarily stunned.
On the contrary, Cao Pi suddenly stood up.
He said coldly, "As a son, how can I stand by and watch my father be insulted by you? If Great Wei does not decide on the heir apparent and perform the ceremonies of 'crying lament,' 'minor unction,' and 'major unction,' no one will be able to take Father away!"
A direct confrontation...
The various factions refused to back down.
However, Ding Yi's eyes kept glancing towards the city gate...
From the moment Cao Zhi gave up his claim to the heir apparent position, his heart belonged to another prince outside the city gates.
This great meritorious service was called—following the dragon.
Just then.
"Report..." A scout rushed into the curtain, "Report... Young Master Ziwen, Young Master Ziwen's army has entered the city!"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Yu and Xiahou Yuan were dumbfounded. Cao Pi was also frozen in place.
Who could have imagined that the last report indicated Cao Zhang had not yet arrived in Luoyang, but this announcement meant he had already entered Xuchang...
Even a rabbit couldn't run this fast!
Only Ding Yi's eyes lit up, turning from anger to joy.
The Ding family... as the family of King Wei Cao Cao's formal wife, possessed immense power.
Opening the city gates was a trivial matter!
King Wei Cao Cao had fallen. The Ding family needed to find a new patron.
...
...
The west gate of Xuchang City was opened...
The standing army was trotting into the city. Cao Zhang, burly and majestic, sat on his horse and said, "After the army enters the city, close the city gates and enforce a city-wide lockdown. Without my token, no one is allowed to leave the city!"
The common people watched in terror.
The sound of hooves arrogantly echoed outside the King of Wei's palace...
Cao Zhang stopped outside the mourning hall. He rushed into the hall and saw his father's coffin, throwing himself upon it and weeping loudly.
"Father King, Father King... your son has returned, your son is late!"
Five hundred armored soldiers carrying halberds followed him into the mourning hall. The officials were terrified to find themselves surrounded!
Everyone stared at Cao Zhang... silent and still!
Cao Zhang, meanwhile, desperately patted the coffin and wailed.
"Father King, Father King... your son galloped for four days and four nights, your son has returned. Your son knows that many around Father King are treacherous officials. Your son has brought his soldiers too."
"Your son also wants to follow Father King to unify the world. Father King's ambitions have not yet been realized. Father King, wake up quickly, wake up!"
Cao Zhang cried with heart-wrenching anguish...
Cao Zhi couldn't help but weep again... He tried to help Cao Zhang.
"Third Brother... Third Brother..."
Ding Yi suppressed his excitement and sighed, "Please, Lord Jun, accept my condolences. Lord Jun is the King of Wei's most favored son. We still rely on Lord Jun to manage the overall situation. They are going to... forcefully conduct the funeral procession today!"
"Which one, having lost his head, dares to conduct the funeral?"
"Which one, tired of living, dares to force the funeral procession?"
Cao Zhang wiped his tears fiercely and turned to the officials, questioning them arrogantly...
Wu Zhi intended to speak, but Cao Pi stopped him.
Cao Zhang's appearance had greatly exceeded his expectations. In terms of troop numbers, he couldn't compare to Cao Zhang.
Now, he could only win by strategy, not by force.
"Where is the King's seal and decree?"
Cao Zhang looked at everyone...
Cheng Yu stepped forward. "The seal and decree are the King's property and should be delivered to the Crown Prince. Lord Jun should not ask."
"Nonsense Crown Prince!" Cao Zhang glared with anger. "Although this young lord was not in Xuchang, I have heard that the decree of succession placed by Father King behind the plaque of the King of Wei's palace was burned to ashes. What were all of you eating? You couldn't even protect a single decree. Crown Prince? Where is our Great Wei's Crown Prince?"
Cheng Yu tried to persuade him with great effort. "Lord Jun, are you saying you want to 'turn kin against kin'? This will tear Great Wei apart!"
"Does Lord Jun not think of the hardships your benefactor Fu Wan endured in founding the empire, and think of Nan Shou Hou's contributions to Great Wei?"
"Hmph!" A cold snort interrupted Cheng Yu's words.
Cao Zhang pointed angrily at Cheng Yu. "Cheng Yu! When Nan Shou Hou was here, this young lord respected you by three points. But now that your master is gone, who are you trying to scare?"
Before he finished speaking, in a flash of lightning, Cao Zhang's sword shaved off Cheng Yu's coronet, along with his topknot.
Then, the sword's path shifted, its edge almost grazing Cheng Yu's shoulder.
"Among the Dragon Soaring Camp, you, Cheng Yu, are the greatest!"
"I want Nan Shou Hou's forging workshops, workshops, School Office, Dragon Soaring Camp, and Father's official seals. If you do not hand them over, then this young lord will not hesitate to have you beheaded!"
As he spoke, Cao Zhang exerted force in his palm and thrust his sword into Cheng Yu's shoulder. Blood gushed like a spring... The officials exclaimed in alarm.
"Third Brother, you must not!"
Cao Zhi cried out and tried to pull Cao Zhang away...
Xiahou Yuan angrily drew his sword. "Zi Wen, have you gone mad!"
Cao Zhang raised his sword and roared, "Uncle, your nephew has no intention of offending you, but you cannot be blinded by these treacherous officials. Today, Father King's seal and decree, I shall have!"
On this side... the situation grew more turbulent.
On the other side, in a military tent in Henei Commandery...
— "Reporting to the Marquis, General Zang Ba's Taishan Army is in position."
— "Reporting to the Marquis, General Gongsun's newly formed White Horse Volunteers, mobilized from Youzhou, have secretly arrived in Henei Commandery!"
— "Reporting to the Marquis, 30,000 troops from Bingzhou, led by General Qu Yi, are marching south from Bingzhou."
— "Reporting to the Marquis, Ma Chao and Ma Yun Lu from Xiliang, leading 50,000 cavalry, are at the Marquis's command!"
— "Reporting to the Marquis, Zhou Yu leads over 10,000 Jiangdong youths who are secretly hiding in Rang Mountain!"
...
...