Chapter 12: I Only Considered It for Sikong's Sake

By all rights, having claimed victory in Xuzhou and acting under the imperial edict of Liu Xie, Cao Cao should have gone straight to the emperor upon his return to Xu Chang to report his success. Yet, upon reaching the Minister of Works’ residence, Cao Cao simply decided to rest. The new year came and went, and now, in the fifth year of Jian’an, Cao Cao was forty-five—a man no longer considered young in these times.

After every campaign, he found himself weary. The mere act of kneeling in the imperial palace before Liu Xie in a show of fealty only left him more exhausted. So he chose not to go, instead slipping into the bed of one of his concubines to rest—wasn’t that far more pleasant?

Cao Cao understood very well that before his final clash with Yuan Shao, he still needed to feign humility before Liu Xie. But once Yuan Shao was gone and the northern territories of the Han were unified under his command, this young emperor would no longer matter as much. So long as Liu Xie remained alive and ready to relinquish his throne at any time, that would be sufficient.

Of course, Cao Cao wished to sit upon that exalted seat within his lifetime, but he also knew that if he claimed it too soon, it would be nothing but trouble.

Cao Cao had once placed great hopes on Cao Ang. Cao Ang was of similar age to Liu Xie; in a few years, if Liu Xie could be made to abdicate in Cao Ang’s favor, the throne would naturally pass to the Cao family while Cao Ang was still in his twenties. But Cao Ang’s death two years prior was a heavy blow. Now, with Cao Pi at thirteen and Cao Zhang at eleven, neither was old enough to accompany the army in battle. Thus, Cao Cao had to bear the burden himself, knowing that at this point, he could not stop. If he faltered, everyone who followed him would be doomed.

“Your Majesty, the Minister of Works has returned to his residence. Shouldn’t you make some preparations in case he comes?”

Ever since Cao Cao’s return, Lady Fushou had been uneasy. When Liu Xie had no schemes in mind, things were better; now, harboring secret plans, her fear increased.

“I am the emperor; he is my minister. If anyone should prepare for an audience, it is he. What have I to prepare? Besides, he’s not young anymore—after a campaign, does he have the energy to come see me? Most likely, he’s enjoying himself in the bed of some beauty!”

When Liu Xie had first said such things, Fushou would blush from her forehead to her toes. Now, she only colored faintly. Liu Xie noticed this change and thought to himself that his tireless instruction—day and night—had been quite effective. As the emperor of Han, one day he would have three palaces, six courts, and seventy-two concubines as his basic configuration, but there could only be one empress. After all, it was the empress who most often shared his bed. Others might not need to master many arts, but Fushou certainly must.

“I wonder when the Minister of Works will go to campaign against Yuan Shao.”

“That matter weighs on him more than on us. While you walk in the harem, be careful not to let anyone notice.”

At this, Liu Xie’s jesting expression faded. Fushou understood what he feared and nodded repeatedly.

The next day at court, Cao Cao, full of vigor, led a host of Han officials in congratulating Liu Xie: the traitor Liu Bei had been defeated by the Minister of Works leading Han forces; Liu Bei’s followers had been killed, wounded, or captured—even his wife was lost. It was a pitiful sight.

“With the Minister of Works, the Han has hope! The merit of the Minister of Works is beyond words, truly beyond words! Why not, in celebration of Liu Bei’s defeat, promote him to Chancellor today?”

While Cao Cao and the other officials exchanged the usual polite formalities, no one expected Liu Xie would suddenly propose to make Cao Cao Chancellor.

Anyone with sense knew that Cao Cao had only taken the title of Minister of Works because external enemies abounded and he wished to avoid criticism. Crushing Liu Bei had been no more difficult than squashing an ant.

To grant the title of Chancellor for such a matter—many officials once again thought only two words: “foolish ruler.”

“Your Majesty, it is my duty to protect the Han and eliminate traitors. Liu Bei is of no consequence. I beg Your Majesty to retract your decree, for the Han still faces a hard battle.”

Cao Cao had already declared in court that Yuan Shao was his true opponent—Liu Bei was merely incidental.

“Minister of Works, you have just returned. Must you march out again so soon? I think you should rest in Xu Du for some time; Yuan Shao cannot escape, after all.”

Hearing Liu Xie’s words, the officials below shook their heads, inwardly cursing the emperor’s foolishness. Once Yuan Shao was gone, would Cao Cao still honor an emperor with no real power? Would he still respect these Han ministers? Yet, though they cursed in their hearts, they smiled on the surface, watching Cao Cao and Liu Xie with expressions of perfect harmony.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. But on the battlefield, the situation changes in a moment—opportunity is fleeting. This old minister’s body can still endure! Your Majesty need not worry; for the Han, I would die a hundred deaths without regret!”

“Good! Since the Minister of Works has such confidence, I will say no more. But since you have captured Liu Bei’s wife and his general Guan Yu, when do you plan to execute them? Unless they are put to death, I will not be satisfied!”

Previously, Cheng Yu had warned Cao Cao that Liu Xie, upon learning that Liu Bei’s wives and Guan Yu had been captured, had expressed a wish to have them executed. At the time, Cao Cao had not paid much attention. Now, hearing Liu Xie raise the matter in court, he was taken aback—he had not expected the emperor to be so fixated on killing Liu Bei’s wives and Guan Yu.

Yet both in reason and in law, Liu Bei was a traitor who had forged imperial edicts. Guan Yu had followed Liu Bei—executing him was justifiable.

No matter how bold Cao Cao was, he could not say in open court that Guan Yu was a talent worth keeping, not when the emperor had just demanded his death.

“Your Majesty, if this were any ordinary man, I would have beheaded Guan Yu on the battlefield. But he declared himself a loyal servant of Han, devoted to Your Majesty! Moreover, his skills are considerable. That is why I brought him back alive, and I humbly beg Your Majesty to allow him to redeem himself through service to the Han!”

With these words, Cao Cao had given Liu Xie all due deference—and, in another sense, honored Guan Yu as well.

“Oh? The Minister of Works makes a reasonable argument. Yuan Shao does have some worthy generals—using Guan Yu may not be a bad idea. Still, I grant this only for your sake, Minister of Works. If he does not redeem himself, when he returns, I will have him executed!”