Chapter 5: Empty Talk Dooms a Nation, Practical Action Revives It

Fu Wan had not finished speaking when Liu Xie reached out and covered her mouth. “Some matters are best left unspoken until the time is right. Today, let me teach the Empress what it means when they say, ‘Empty talk leads the nation to ruin, but practical work brings it prosperity.’”

As he spoke, Liu Xie and Fu Shou’s upper garments had somehow already been cast aside onto the floor. Outside the doors of the bedchamber, a palace maid pressed her ear tightly against the crack, let out a soft laugh, then quietly removed her ear and slipped away.

While Liu Xie was enjoying the daylight within his own palace, in the Ministry of Works, Guo Jia hurried into Cao Cao’s study. The master of the room still wore his official robes, stroking his long beard, brows knitted, his gaze shifting restlessly—clearly troubled by something.

“Any news?” he asked.

“When His Majesty returned to the bedchamber, the Empress and her father were waiting. Afterwards, they exchanged a few words about the General of Chariots and Cavalry, then Fu Wan departed. Following that… His Majesty and the Empress began their private matters.”

At these words, Cao Cao gave a cold snort. “Our emperor truly has no idea what a tangled web he’s caught himself in. But perhaps that suits us just fine. Isn’t this precisely the kind of emperor we need?”

Guo Jia nodded slightly, then sat on the long bench below Cao Cao’s seat, speaking slowly. “Though His Majesty is young and impulsive, he did have one point—before we march against Yuan Shao, we cannot delay in dealing with Liu Bei any further. If you had not released him to intercept Yuan Shu, then by now, Liu Bei would already be a fish in your net!”

In truth, it had only been a few months since Liu Bei fled from Xuchang. Now, in hindsight, Cao Cao realized that Liu Bei had indeed outwitted him. While it was true that Yuan Shu wished to join Yuan Shao, Liu Bei had deliberately brought this up when neither of Cao Cao’s chief advisors—Guo Jia and Cheng Yu—were present in Xuchang. Reflecting on it now, his intentions were plain.

“No matter. I have already dispatched troops to contact Liu Bei. If he harbors any disloyalty, he will not be spared.”

“Whether you send messengers or not, the result is the same. We might as well prepare now. Settle the matter of Liu Bei first—there will be time enough for Guandu.”

Cao Cao’s trust in Guo Jia stemmed from the man’s uncanny foresight; in matters of people and strategy, Cao Cao had never met a counselor more accurate or swift.

“Liu Bei commands few troops, but his generals are formidable. In Xuchang, I tried to bribe and tempt them with gold and beauties, yet could not sow discord among them. Such an army may be easy to defeat, but hard to destroy.”

Though Cao Cao looked down on Liu Bei’s duplicity, he had to admit that the man possessed a rare talent for winning hearts—once someone fell into his orbit, it was nearly impossible to lure them away. In contrast, among his own ranks, aside from the brothers of the Cao and Xiahou clans and a handful like Guo Jia, there were many who, while serving under him, still exchanged letters with Yuan Shao, renewing old friendships. Cao Cao was not blind to their intentions.

“This Liu Bei must be killed. If he grows any stronger, he will become your gravest threat. He is, after all, of imperial blood. If he does not die, neither you nor your sons will ever hold true legitimacy.”

Cao Cao understood Guo Jia’s meaning. At this point, only Guo Jia dared to speak so plainly with him.

“You mean that I should lead the army myself? But if Yuan Shao hears of this, won’t Xuchang be in peril?”

“No need for concern. After so many dealings, surely you see that Yuan Shao is indecisive and vainglorious. For all his supposed genius at seizing fleeting chances, if he had succeeded even once, you would not be the one supporting the emperor now. Besides, Liu Bei hasn’t fled far; wherever he goes, his footing is shaky. Taking him down will take mere days.”

With Guo Jia’s words, Cao Cao finally nodded in earnest. “Once Liu Bei’s whereabouts are confirmed, we’ll march at once. This time, I’ll lead the army myself. You’ll accompany me, while Zhongde (Cheng Yu) remains in Xudu to investigate the matter of the Emperor’s secret edict. Aside from Dong Cheng, I want to know exactly who else is involved.”

For several days afterward, Liu Xie behaved as though nothing had happened regarding the secret edict. He spent his time in the bedchamber with Fu Shou, practicing new intimacies, and at court he no longer spoke out. That was, until one day, when Cao Cao requested an audience once more.

“Your Majesty, I have learned that Liu Bei flagrantly disobeyed your command to intercept Yuan Shu. Yuan Shu is now dead of illness, yet Liu Bei has not returned to report, but instead occupied Xuzhou and killed Che Zhou. It is clear he intends to establish his own domain! I…”

“Enough!” Before Cao Cao could finish, Liu Xie slammed the table in front of him, sending a shock through the sleepy old ministers below.

“So it is true! To think I called him ‘Imperial Uncle’—traitor! Traitor! Minister Cao, you must send troops and bring me Liu Bei’s head!”

Cao Cao smiled faintly at this. The little emperor still could not control his temper. In this vast Han realm, who truly acted out of loyalty to the dynasty? In truth, who among them was not a rebel at heart?

“Your Majesty, rest assured. This is precisely why I seek your leave—I shall personally lead the army to Xuzhou and present Liu Bei’s head to you!”

“Good! Should you return victorious, honors and titles await you!”

Since the affair of the secret edict, Cao Cao sensed that Liu Xie had come to rely on him even more. But he could hardly blame the young emperor; after all, when even his own father-in-law would forge imperial decrees, who else at court could he trust?

When Cao Cao set out for Xuzhou—though the foe was another member of the imperial Liu clan—Liu Xie still personally escorted him beyond the city gates. Only after returning to his distant bedchamber did Liu Xie shed his ever-present smile and say to Fu Shou, “Send word to my uncle in secret. Have the letters I sent earlier been delivered? If there is any reply, bring it to me directly.”

Seeing the gravity in Liu Xie’s expression, Fu Shou dared not delay and summoned her father to her own quarters that very day.

That night, as Fu Shou lay beneath Liu Xie, she whispered, “Censor Zhang Hong departed Xuchang the very day he received your letter.”

“I can only hope it is not too late… Whether we can escape Xuchang depends on him now!”

“To leave Xuchang? Your Majesty, this is the imperial capital. If you leave, won’t you be forced into exile once more? Should the lords learn of it, the consequences would be dire!”

Having gone through so much alongside Liu Xie, Fu Shou understood their situation well. Though life in Xuchang was hardly comfortable, at least it was safe. The memory of their last flight into exile was still deeply etched in her mind, and hard to shake.