Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3740 The wind and rain were dark, but the rooster crowed incessantly. Now that I have seen my lord, how can I not be happy?

The secret discussions between the emperor and his ministers in the Chongde Hall seemed to spread like wildfire on the night wind, or like the ripples spreading out of a deep abyss after a boulder was thrown into it.

In Xu County, amidst the shadows of the markets and the opening and closing of doors, the Chief Secretary of the Imperial Clan Court, the officials of the Ministry of Personnel, the former officials and protégés of the Nine Ministers, and even the reclusive elders of the imperial clan, were all like insects on a spider's web, keenly sensing the tremors emanating from the palace.

The various factions harbored different intentions, and in the shadowy rooms, amidst the flickering candlelight, swords clashed and shadows flashed.

Inside a secret room in the residence of Liu Ai, the Chief Secretary of the Imperial Clan Court, flickering candlelight illuminated several pale, sorrowful faces.

Liu Ai, the Chief Secretary of the Imperial Clan Court, and Liang Shao, the Attendant-in-Ordinary, sat facing each other, the atmosphere heavy and tense.

Liu Ai's beard trembled slightly as he lowered his voice, "You've found out the truth? His Majesty... actually approved three edicts from Cao Cao? Especially the one ordering a 'personal campaign'... Isn't this handing the enemy a knife, cutting off his own path to survival?!"

Liang Shao slammed his fist on the table, his eyes blazing with fury. "Cao Mengde's wolfish ambitions are blatantly obvious! These three edicts are, firstly, meant to incite the world to punish the traitor Fei, but in reality, they are driving sheep into the jaws of a tiger, draining the vitality of our Han dynasty! Secondly, they are meant to promote Cao's henchmen, granting them empty titles and false authority, while actually usurping power! Thirdly…"

Liang Shao's voice grew increasingly icy, "The Emperor is the sovereign of all under Heaven; how can he be used for private purposes! What do you mean by the Emperor personally leading an expedition? This is asking the Emperor to sacrifice his life to suppress the Si River!"

Liu Ai sighed deeply, his voice filled with endless sorrow, "But this calamity of the Fei bandits... could it be that the Great Han Dynasty will once again fall into the hands of the Western Liang warriors? Their new laws divide the land and people, destroying our moral order. If they enter the Central Plains, the emperor may truly become a puppet... Is Your Majesty also caught in a dilemma?"

Liang Shao chuckled coldly twice, but after a moment he sighed, "A dilemma? This is Cao Cao's insidious scheme! First, by using His Majesty's name, he can coerce the powerful clans and gentry of Shandong into supplying them with provisions and men, so they can fight the Fei bandits to the death! Second, if His Majesty grants their request and personally oversees the battle at Sishui..."

Fear flashed in his eyes. "This journey may be tantamount to King Huai of Chu going to Qin! Nominally a military commander, but in reality a hostage! At that time, Your Majesty will be trapped in Cao Cao's camp, your life in the hands of this traitor, who can then use the emperor to command the other lords and rule the four directions! Even if you defeat Fei Qian, Your Majesty will be forever plunged into the abyss, never to escape this cage again! Even if you are defeated… Your Majesty will surely be buried alive with Cao Cao!"

Liu Ai said urgently, "Then what plan should we devise? Should we merely sit and watch His Majesty fall into our trap?"

Liang Shao closed his eyes, then opened them again, his eyes flashing with a sharp light. "The most urgent matter is that His Majesty must not be allowed to leave the capital! Although Xu County is like a prison, it is also where His Majesty's legal authority resides! We must unite the loyal and upright officials and strongly advise the court that the Emperor is the foundation of the state and must not lightly venture into such a dangerous place! Furthermore…"

He lowered his voice even further, "He secretly dispatched a trusted confidant, carrying His Majesty's confidential letter, to sneak into Guanzhong under cover of night to curry favor with the treacherous Fei!"

Liu Ai exclaimed in surprise, "A gesture of goodwill towards the Fei family? This... isn't this aiding the enemy?"

Liang Shao, his eyes gleaming, shook his head and said, "No! This is a strategy similar to 'Zhu Zhiwu's strategy to repel the Qin army'! Fei Qian's aim may not be the complete annihilation of the Han dynasty, but rather the breaking down of the old and the establishment of the new. We will show Your Majesty that you are controlled by Cao Cao, that you are truly powerless to change your fate, and that Your Majesty's heart is with the Han dynasty, suffering under the influence of powerful ministers. If Fei Qian still harbors any respect for the Han, perhaps we can temporarily halt our military offensive, sow discord between Cao Cao and Fei Qian, or... at least ensure Your Majesty's safety and leave room for future conflict! This is a strategy of using one tiger to devour another, fighting poison with poison! It's far better than watching Cao Cao bind Your Majesty to his chariot and cause the two to collapse together!"

Liu Ai remained silent for a long time. Although he felt the danger, he also felt that this was a glimmer of hope when he thought about the situation of Emperor Liu Xie.

……

……

The undercurrents of desire were not limited to the Imperial Clan Court alone.

Elder Chen and several other elders from Yingchuan sat together, and the atmosphere around them seemed deathly still.

Among the Chen clan, although Chen Qun was in Ye City and highly regarded by Cao Cao, the Chen clan was not content with just Ye City. In addition, Ji Province was in imminent danger, and although Ye City was wealthy, it was becoming an isolated city. As the governor of Ye City, Chen Qun's position was not considered a very good one.

Elder Chen stroked his beard, his voice laced with sarcasm: "Cao Mengde, even a cornered beast will fight! Three imperial edicts? Ha, nothing more than a death throes, trying to drag the emperor and the Shandong gentry down with him! His heart is despicable!"

The elder of the Zhong family looked deeply worried. "However, if the imperial edict is issued, especially the proclamation calling for a joint attack… our family will likely find it difficult to remain uninvolved. Fei Qian's firearms are superior, his military might formidable; Gong County collapsed in half a day! To resist him would be like throwing an egg against a rock! This is a vicious scheme by Zhi Boyao, like diverting the Fen River to flood Jinyang! He wants to drown Zhao Xiangzi, but fearing our betrayal, he intends to drown us, his vassals, first!"

Elder Chen's expression was calm, his gaze profound. "What Master Zhong said is absolutely right. Cao Cao's actions...on the surface, are gathering troops to resist Fei and preserve his power...but in reality, it's the same old trick of holding the emperor hostage to command the disobedient, using the guise of righteousness to force the world into his deadly trap!"

Elder Chen paused for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "This is Cao Cao's attempt to ruin the foundation of Shandong! If he wins, he will take the opportunity to eliminate dissidents and seize all power in Shandong; if he loses, he will drag the entire Han court and its affiliated gentry down with him, so that even if Fei takes over, he will inherit a mess that is severely weakened and filled with resentment! His intentions are wicked beyond compare!"

Upon hearing this, Elder Zhong asked anxiously, "Then what should we do? Sit and wait for death?"

Elder Chen tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "As for countermeasures, there are some… First, outward compliance but inward defiance. If the imperial edict is issued, verbally obey, but when requisitioning provisions and mobilizing private troops, we must 'consider the urgency' and 'act according to our capabilities.' Now, the struggle between Fei and Cao is nearing its end; we should wait for the right price and preserve our strength. Second, Fei previously mentioned three levels… We can send reliable people, secretly carrying a list of Shandong gentry, to deliver it… explaining that we have long suffered under Cao and are willing to act as inside agents, only seeking to preserve our family's land and our children's future… Although we may not reach the highest level, we can at least secure the middle…"

Zhong nodded, but after a moment said, "But if... the Cao family holds out... no, I mean, if the emperor really goes to Sishui... this battle..."

"Aha!" Elder Chen chuckled, "The Fei family values ​​practicality... This emperor's empty title... Ahaha, in the end... we'll have to wait and see!"

After a moment of silence, the elder Zhong nodded in agreement.

The other elders remained silent, but their eyes gleamed with a cold, calculating determination to ensure the survival of their families. In their eyes, neither Liu Xie's imperial power nor Cao Cao's hegemony were worth sacrificing for, like candles flickering in the wind, before Fei Qian's overwhelming strength and new order. They had to, and could only, consider the sake of their families; as for loyalty, filial piety, righteousness, or the fate of the emperor and the state…

Let's wait until their family is stable and secure before making any further moves!

……

……

Xi Lu, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, and several other prominent scholars sat in silence.

The tea has gone cold, and no one has touched it.

Xi Lu coughed, breaking the silence. "Lord Cao entered the palace that very night, and the next day rumors spread of three imperial edicts… His Majesty's use of the imperial seal was likely not of his own volition, but there must have been a compelling reason. Has the power of the Fei family's son truly reached such a level?"

The scholar Jia sighed, "The current system in Guanzhong, with its 'land distribution to the people' and 'replacing recommendations with performance evaluations'... all these things, as Cao Cao said, are like cutting off our foundation, destroying our thousand-year-old foundation. However, the trend has already begun, and it is probably beyond human control to reverse. Cao Cao's attempt to gather his remaining strength to resist is merely doing his best."

"Personnel? Ha, this is a matter of life and death!" someone muttered in dissatisfaction.

Xi Lu spoke slowly, his aura calm, "On the surface, it appears to be Cao Cao using the emperor's authority for a final gamble... But in reality, it is a struggle between the old and the new, a matter of the very essence of the dynasty!"

Hua Xin, who had been sitting silently to the side, nodded and said when Xi Lu mentioned the words "orthodox tradition": "Hongyu is quite right! The 'rites, laws, and hierarchy' upon which our aristocratic families depend for survival have now been broken in Guanzhong! The barriers of honor and power have been destroyed in an instant. This is a great upheaval in the relationship between 'power' and 'the Way'... In the Battle of Sishui, regardless of who wins or loses, Cao Fei... the world, alas, the world is no longer what it used to be..."

A soldier asked urgently, "Now... what should we do?"

Xi Lu pondered for a moment, then said, "We should observe the situation calmly. We must not try to stop a chariot like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, only to invite disaster; nor should we waver between two sides, for once the outcome is decided, we will only harm ourselves. We should diligently perform our duties, refrain from recklessly discussing the imperial edict, not actively align ourselves with Cao, nor openly associate with the Fei family. We should adopt the strategy of maintaining composure and waiting for the dust to settle."

Hua Xin added, “Besides that, we must also be mindful of His Majesty! His Majesty is the pillar of the nation. Regardless of who rules Xuchang in the future, as long as the Emperor is alive, we scholars will still have a moral compass to uphold and a path to offer advice. If His Majesty falls… then truly, ‘if the skin is gone, where will the hair attach?’ Therefore, we must secretly keep an eye on the palace, and if there is any danger to His Majesty's life, we must find ways to protect him. This is both loyalty to the Emperor and the foundation upon which we scholars stand!”

Everyone agreed, and after further discussion, the final strategy they came up with was to "guard the gate".

They held fast to the threshold of the bureaucratic system, preserved their status as "scholar-officials," and awaited a new ruler.

In their eyes, the emperor was more of a symbolic figurehead for maintaining the legitimacy of the "orthodox tradition," and his personal safety was more valuable than his actual power...

In Xu County, the night was as dark as ink, and the candlelight in the secret chambers of each prefecture would eventually go out.

However, this undercurrent of deduction and calculation has shattered the last vestige of cohesion in the Han Dynasty.

Those who defend the monarch seek to preserve their ruler but lack the means; those who wish to surrender plot to protect their families but lose their integrity; those who uphold the middle way seek to survive but lose their edge. Everyone is in a doomsday game, placing their pieces on the collapsing chessboard based on their own cold-blooded interpretation of the situation.

……

……

As night fell, an inconspicuous blue-draped cart rolled along a deserted country road and stopped in front of a simple thatched cottage.

A figure in black robes and carrying a sword descended from behind the curtain; it was none other than Cao Cao, Cao Mengde.

He dismissed his attendants and stood alone outside the wooden gate, gazing at the dim yellow light shining through the window. His hands, which were used to gripping sword hilts and applying cinnabar, were slightly curled up in his sleeves, as if weighing a thousand pounds.

After a long while, he finally raised his hand and gently knocked on the door.

"Squeak—"

With a sound, the courtyard gate opened halfway.

In the dim light, a woman's figure appeared, dressed in simple clothes and a simple hairpin, yet her brows betrayed a chilling coldness and weariness.

Cao Cao lit a torch to illuminate his face, forced a smile, and said, "My lady, how have you been?"

Madam Ding looked up and saw who it was. Her eyes showed no surprise, no joy, no resentment, only a stagnant, lifeless depth. "What brings you here?" she asked.

Cao Cao was slightly embarrassed. "Is this... not the proper way to treat a guest?"

Madam Ding came silently, opened the wooden door, then stepped aside without saying a word, and went back inside to sit down at her loom.

The sound of the loom began again, monotonous and persistent, as if weaving a sorrow that could never be finished.

Cao Cao silently stepped inside, closed the door, looked around, and sighed softly after a moment.

The room was simply furnished, with only an oil lamp beside the loom illuminating Madam Ding's focused yet aloof profile.

Cao Cao took off his sword and placed it on a low table by the door. The heavy iron object struck the wooden table with a dull thud.

The sound of the loom under Madam Ding's hands paused almost imperceptibly for a moment, then continued without changing the rhythm.

Cao Cao found an old chair and sat down, not too far from the loom.

His gaze fell on Madam Ding's nimble yet withered fingers, the hands that had once mended his battle robes and raised his son Xiu, now kept only by the cold shuttle.

Cao Cao's throat bobbed, as if he had a thousand words to say, but in the end, they turned into a silent reef, sinking into his chest.

The loom creaked and groaned, like the pent-up emotions of many years surging like a relentless tide. Finally, Cao Cao coughed lightly, breaking the deathly silence. His voice carried a barely perceptible hoarseness, "Madam... how have you been lately?" This was a pointless question.

But what else could Cao Cao say besides nonsense?
Or perhaps the weather is nice?

The sound of the loom continued.

Madam Ding didn't even raise her eyes, only replying calmly, "Thank you for your concern, Prime Minister. Simple meals, self-sufficiency, and good health are all I need."

Lady Ding spoke calmly, yet every word was like an ice needle, piercing Cao Cao's heart.

She calls him "Prime Minister"!

It's not "Cao Cao" (孟德), nor is it the "A Cao" (阿草) from the boudoirs of yesteryear...

The divide between ruler and subject, the chasm between life and death, had long existed between them.

Cao Cao remained silent, looked up, and his eyes were slightly red.

What appears before my eyes is that bright and cheerful girl from my youth, riding alongside me in the springtime scenery of Qiao County…

On their wedding night, under the red candlelight, the bride, shy yet with burning eyes, looked at him and said, "I am willing to share joys and sorrows with you..."

Even more so, the image of her holding her child, her eyes crinkling with a gentle smile, softly coaxing him when he was just learning to speak...

Those vivid and warm memories of the past have now been crushed by the monotonous sound of the loom and woven into the cold and gray cloth before my eyes.

Cao Cao blinked, his gaze sweeping over a small memorial tablet enshrined in the corner of the wall, and his heart skipped a beat.

Although there were no words on the memorial tablet, Cao Cao knew perfectly well who it was...

The venomous snake lurking in the shadows devoured his valiant eldest son and also destroyed the heart of his wife.

At that time, his footing was unstable, and he was surrounded by powerful enemies. He could only swallow his heart-wrenching pain, force himself to remain calm, and even...

Even keeping the death a secret!
In Madam Ding's eyes, all of this was cold-heartedness, betrayal, and the hatred between blood relatives could not outweigh the weight of power!

"Ah Wan..."

Cao Cao's throat was dry, and he subconsciously uttered this long-forgotten maiden name.

The sound of the loom suddenly stopped!
Madam Ding suddenly looked up, her gaze sharp as lightning, fixed on him. Her eyes were no longer stagnant, but blazing with a fierce, questioning rage!
"Prime Minister, be careful what you say!"

Madam Ding's voice suddenly rose, sharp with pain, "This name, only a departed friend can call upon. My friend is gone, buried in the flames of that day! Prime Minister, have you come today to mourn a departed friend, or to mourn... my poor, unfortunate son?!"

The last few words were written with tears of blood.

Cao Cao's body trembled as if he had been struck by a heavy blow.

He avoided the scorching gaze, looking down at his calloused hands, as if the warmth of Zixiu clinging to him as a child still lingered on them. After a long silence, he said in a hoarse voice, "Zixiu…my son…I have never forgotten him for a single day. His heroic figure, his filial piety and courage, often appear in my dreams…"

His words were labored, as if squeezed from the depths of his heart; each word was like a pebble, rubbing and tearing.

"In a dream?"

Madam Ding sneered, then lowered her head again, forcefully pushing the loom. The shuttle flew like lightning, as if trying to weave all the hatred and pain into the fabric. "In your dreams, Prime Minister, do you still see the flames burning Zixiu's corpse? Do you still hear my son's pitiful cries, enduring illness and pain for the so-called great cause of the Cao family? Do you still... have you, with your grand strategy of appeasing the enemy and winning over the hearts of the people before his body is even cold?!"

Every word is piercing, every sentence cuts to the bone.

Cao Cao's face turned ashen, and he was speechless.

What could he say?
It is said that in chaotic times, the ambitions of heroes cannot tolerate the pursuit of personal vendettas.

It is said that if one acts rashly at that time, the foundation will crumble and the entire Cao family will be in grave danger.

These cold and cruel political logics appear ridiculously pale and glaringly despicable in the face of a mother's heart-wrenching love for her son.

In her eyes, all his "unavoidable" actions were a desecration of the father-son relationship and a trampling of the deep affection between mother and son.

The sound of the loom gradually subsided. Lady Ding wearily closed her eyes and sighed, "Prime Minister, you hold the highest position among ministers, your power extending throughout the land. Why must you come to this humble abode to watch a widow weave? It only brings disgust… Prime Minister, please leave."

The intensity in his tone was gone, replaced by a deep-seated weariness and alienation.

Cao Cao raised his head and gazed intently at the stubborn and lonely figure under the lamplight.

He saw the premature gray hairs at her temples, the deep wrinkles around her eyes, and her hands, no longer smooth from working day and night.

He also saw the indelible pain in her eyes, and...

That lingering concern, buried deep beneath the pain, perhaps even she herself was unwilling to admit.

Although she resented and hated him, she ultimately did not shut him out.

Is this tacitly agreed meeting, this silent confrontation in the humble room, the last bit of leeway she can offer?
However, he still cannot speak.

He couldn't tell her that Xuchang was already in turmoil, with Fei Qian's army pressing in from outside Sishui Pass, their firearms overwhelming and devastating. His life's work was now facing a life-or-death crisis.

He couldn't show even the slightest sign of dejection or weakness in front of her; that would only make her despise him more, or...

It only adds to your useless worries.

He couldn't possibly ask for her forgiveness; that would be a desecration of Zixiu and an insult to her unwavering commitment.

All he could do was silently accompany him.

In this small, humble room, listening to the monotonous sound of the loom, letting the familiar, bittersweet scent of hemp thread linger in my nostrils, it's as if time has turned back, returning to those peaceful years when there was no need for power struggles, only the mundane details of daily life...

However, what is gone is gone forever.

The oil lamp dimmed, and the flame crackled and popped.

Cao Cao slowly rose, his not-so-tall figure casting a deep shadow on the dim wall. He walked to the door, picked up his sword, his movements slow and deliberate, as if carrying the weight of a thousand pounds.

He stood with his back to the loom, his hand on the door frame, pausing for a moment.

"Let us return together!"

The sound of the loom continued, never ceasing for a moment because of his movements, nor speeding up even a little because of his pause.

Madam Ding kept her head down, focused on the warp and weft in her hands, as if his presence or impending departure were no different from a gust of wind blowing through the window.

Cao Cao took a deep breath, the air carrying the chill of a thatched hut and the smell of dust, as well as a bittersweet sense of farewell. "Is there anything more I can do?"

Madam Ding still did not raise her head.

He finally pushed open the door, and the cold night wind rushed in instantly.

Just as the door was about to close, a voice, both extremely soft and extremely heavy, as if it had exhausted all his strength, drifted into the room, clearly reaching Madam Ding's ears, and striking heavily upon the already riddled-with-holes relationship between the two...

"Ah Wan...you've mastered the secret."

After speaking, the door closed slightly, separating the inside from the outside.

The footsteps faded into the distance, until they were no longer heard.

Inside the thatched hut, the sound of the loom abruptly ceased.

In the dim light of the oil lamp, Madam Ding sat motionless like a wooden statue.

After a long while, a scalding tear fell heavily onto the half-woven linen, leaving a dark, damp stain.

The shuttle she was clutching tightly fell to the cold ground with a thud.

Outside the window, only the cold wind howled, as if weeping and lamenting.

Childhood sweethearts, deeply in love, ultimately couldn't withstand the chaos of war, life and death, and separation.

He resembled her, and she resembled him, so what lay between them was a pride and a wound that neither of them had ever been, and would never be, willing to bow down first.

"The secret is here."

This parting is forever, to the netherworld or the heavens, with no hope of ever meeting again.