Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 274 Xuande couldn't possibly be farming!
"Is it?"

Cao Cao narrowed his eyes slightly, looking him over with a hint of a smile.

“Now that Dezu has come, he must have a good plan.”

Please try to explain.

"Since Liu Yao only discussed this plan with these four people, he must be above them."

All plans and strategies must be implemented by human beings.

The lord only needs to order someone to keep a close eye on them and see what Liu Yao and the other four do next in their residence.

Even the slightest clue can reveal something; though one cannot see the whole picture, a glimpse can still be gleaned.

Yang Xiu bowed respectfully, and the young man's haughty words sounded particularly clear and melodious in the dark room.

The note on the table was put down. Cao Cao looked up and nodded with satisfaction.

"Alright, I'll leave this matter to you. I want to see what kind of brilliant plan Liu Yao can come up with."

"Repair it, I'll get on it right away."

Yang Xiu rose to take his leave, but before he had even stepped outside the door, he heard a cold voice behind him asking a question.

"You were the one who did that thing with Kong Wenju, weren't you?"

Yang Xiu stood there, his palms sweating, but before he could think of a reply, he turned around and spoke.

The words echoed faintly once more.

"Do your job well. I don't like people who think they're clever."

Yang Xiu lowered his head and said, "Yes."

Over the next few days, Yang Xiu would come to report on the progress every day.

"Reporting to the Prime Minister."

It has now been ascertained that Liu Yao is still holding gatherings at his residence; Xu Huang is purging spies in the army to protect the capital; Liu Biao ordered Wen Ping to send a message outside the city, but the letter has been intercepted by our army; Dong Cheng has suddenly fallen seriously ill and is currently seeking out renowned physicians; Liu Bei, Liu Bei…

Seeing that he seemed hesitant to speak, Cao Cao frowned and urged him on.

"What is Liu Bei doing? Tell me quickly."

Of the group, Liu Bei was the one he paid the most attention to, and he regarded him as his only rival.

If we were to consider who among Liu Yao and others could possibly be more capable than himself, it would most likely be Liu Bei.

Seeing Yang Xiu stammering, how could one not become suspicious?

Yang Xiu, feeling pressured by his gaze, replied with a wry smile.

"Liu Bei was turning over the soil in his backyard, sowing seeds and watering the fields all day long, as if he were growing vegetables."

Cao Cao: "."

"This is impossible!
"At this crucial moment when the Han dynasty is about to launch a major undertaking, you're telling me that Liu Bei, a member of the Han imperial family and the emperor's uncle, is neglecting his duties and spending his days gardening in the backyard?"

Yang Xiu: "."

Yang Xiu gave an awkward smile and replied sheepishly.

Xiu also felt that this matter was unusual, so he dared not speak of it.

However, after several investigations, it seemed that Liu Bei was truly engrossed in growing vegetables, oblivious to his surroundings.

Cao Cao sneered as he sized him up. "Incompetent! Investigate further!"

"Investigate this thoroughly. Next time, I expect you to tell me exactly what Liu Bei is plotting."

"only."

Another day, Yang Xiu came to see him, cupped his hands in greeting, and reported:
"In Liu Yao's residence, the Han officials were in high spirits, and a major event was about to happen in just a few days."

Xu Huang strengthened the defenses of the imperial city. After his last cleanup, the palace walls were heavily guarded, making it difficult for our people to investigate further.

Liu Biao and Wen Ping are still sending people to communicate with the allied forces outside the city. We have already forged a letter in response and agreed on the signal for the uprising.

According to Dong Cheng, his condition has improved after being treated by the renowned physician Ji Ping. Furthermore, we have discovered that his servant Qin Qingtong was having an affair with his concubine Yunying.”

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao's face darkened. "Why do you have to report such trivial matters as adultery to me?"

"You know what I want to hear!"
"Liu Xuande, what has he been doing lately? Have you found any clues?"

When Liu Bei was mentioned, Yang Xiu's face turned bitter, and he could only answer reluctantly.

"Reporting to my lord, Liu Xuande seems to be obsessed with growing vegetables. Recently, he has been so engrossed in the art of gardening that he has kept his mansion closed, neglecting worldly affairs. He has even made excuses to skip gatherings at Liu Yao's residence."

Cao Cao: "."

He laughed coldly, "Yang Dezhu, is this your answer to me? Does letting him grow vegetables in his mansion mean that Liu Yao has a good plan to get rid of me?"
Did Xuande intend to poison Cao Cao with vegetables he had grown himself?

Yang Xiu was so ashamed that he prostrated himself on the ground, not daring to say another word.

"Explore again! Explore again!!!"

"You must find out for me exactly what Liu Bei is doing, or you won't need to come back!"

"only."

Another day, Yang Xiu slowly walked to the dark room.

Cao Cao didn't even look up at him, only coldly said.

"But have you found out what major things Xuande's household has been doing?"

Yang Xiu cupped his hands in greeting, “My lord, it has been confirmed that Liu Bei is indeed growing vegetables.”

"Ok?"

Cao Cao pondered for a moment, about to lash out, when Yang Xiu quickly answered.

"My lord, I think we've all misunderstood. Liu Yao's brilliant plan to eliminate Cao Cao probably really has nothing to do with Liu Bei."

Liu Bei truly did live a quiet and contented life at home, diligently tending to his vegetables.

Cao Cao: "."

Although he was speechless, Cao Cao was not an unreasonable person. Seeing that Yang Xiu was confident and spoke with great conviction, he frowned and asked him.

“How come you see?”

"My lord, please forgive me. Since you asked me to thoroughly investigate Liu Bei, but I have found nothing."

Xiu couldn't help but have doubts. Perhaps Liu Yao's strategy really didn't work on Liu Bei. It was still unknown.

So I went back and checked the other people again, and I didn't know that I would find anything there.

"Does my lord recall what I previously reported about Qin Qingtong, a servant in Dong Cheng's household, having an affair with his concubine Yunying?"

"Ah."

Cao Cao gave a soft "hmm," showing no sign of joy or anger, and said, "Tell me in detail."

"Xiu also investigated in vain, so he ordered someone to threaten Qin Qingtong with this matter to test him, saying that if he did not reveal the information, he would expose his affair."

Unexpectedly, although he was just a lowly servant, he actually knew the details of Liu Yao's plan; truly, it's hard to guard against a traitor within the family.

Yang Xiu then recounted the events that had transpired. It turned out that after Dong Cheng received the key details of the plan from Liu Yao, he returned to his residence and prepared to put it into action.

However, his status was conspicuous, making it inconvenient for him to do many things. Qin Qingtong, a servant in the mansion, had been loyal and reliable for many years. Furthermore, Yunying recommended him through her influence, so he naturally became one of his subordinates.

Thus, as Qin Qingtong was threatened into revealing the truth, Dong Cheng pretended to be seriously ill and used this as an opportunity to contact Ji Ping.

Yang Xiu recounted in detail how the two conspired to use a misdiagnosis as a pretext to legitimately kill Cao Cao.

Cao Cao felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this, and thought to himself, "That was close!"
Fortunately, he hasn't had any headaches lately; otherwise, if one had, he might have died without even knowing why.

Moreover, if it was a misdiagnosis by an incompetent doctor, even if he died, the people in Cao's camp would have a hard time getting justice.

However, since Ji Ping insisted that his medical skills were inadequate, and his eldest son Cao Ang had just died in the Battle of Wancheng not long ago, there was a real possibility that there was a power struggle in Cao's camp, which Liu Yao could take advantage of.

Cao Cao secretly realized that he had underestimated Liu Yao, and chuckled to himself.

"The heroes of this world are as numerous as carp crossing a river. There was Yuan Shu in the past and Liu Yao in the future. We cannot underestimate anyone." As he spoke, his gaze was coldly fixed on Yang Xiu.

"Dezu, don't you think so?"

"My lord thinks so highly of me, I fear I am unworthy of such praise."

Yang Xiu smiled ingratiatingly and quickly changed the subject, "My lord, now that we know Liu Yao's plans, should we immediately raise an army to quell the evil influence in the capital?"

"Not urgent."

Cao Cao's tone was indifferent, yet full of meaning: "I should feign illness to request Ji Ping's assistance."

Yang Xiu was surprised, "Does our lord intend to turn the tables on us?"

Cao Cao nodded, "If it happens once, it will happen again. This time someone hired a doctor to harm me, and next time it might happen again."

We should use this opportunity to intimidate everyone and prevent future troubles.

"My lord is meticulous in his thinking, which Xiu cannot match."

"Is it that they are not good enough, or that they dare not be good enough?"

Cao Cao smiled with narrowed eyes, his words, though spoken with a smile, sent a chill down Yang Xiu's spine.

"With Dezu's talent, surely he could have come up with such a plan?"

Yang Xiu blinked and answered him solicitously.

"This is what is meant by great minds thinking alike. My lord and I are of one mind, so why should we talk about anything else?"

Cao Cao: "."

"stop."

He seemed to have lost interest as well, and simply waved his hand, "Is Liu Bei really just growing vegetables and has no other intentions?"

"Xiu Wuneng was indeed unable to be found."

If my lord does not believe me, he may consult a more capable person.

Cao Cao nodded, "Liu Xuande, you don't need to investigate any further. I would like to personally test him on a chosen day."

Yang Xiu: "."

We've checked it countless times, Cao Gong. What we're saying is, is it possible that Liu Bei was really just growing vegetables?

Why don't you believe me?
On that day, with everything prepared, Cao Cao turned the tables on Ji Ping by feigning a headache and summoning him to administer medicine.

Ji Ping had long received secret instructions from Dong Cheng and was willing to sacrifice his life for the Han Dynasty; he had been waiting for this day.

Seeing that the time was ripe, the people of the Han Dynasty were all ready, waiting only for Cao Cao's death.

When Ji Ping secretly brought poison into the mansion, he found Cao Cao lying on his bed, suffering from a terrible headache, pale face, and foaming at the mouth, showing signs of being critically ill and about to die.

The entire Cao family was anxious. All the sons knelt before the bed, and the officials attended to them. When Ji Ping arrived, they were all worried and fearful, and hurriedly ordered him to treat the patient.

Ji Ping was overjoyed upon seeing this, thinking to himself that it was destined that this thief would perish today!
Even if this illness were to kill him soon, we would simply say that there was no hope of recovery, and no one would suspect anything.

However, as Ji Ping approached the bedside, he placed his hand on Cao Cao's pulse and exclaimed, "This is bad!"
This is definitely not the pulse of someone who is critically ill and about to die!

My life is over!

Sure enough, before Ji Ping could react, Cao Cao, who was seriously ill and beyond saving, grabbed Ji Ping's right hand as he took his pulse.

His hair was disheveled, his face was deathly pale, and his eyes were tightly closed, making him look like a ghost or a demon.

"My headache is not an illness, but a strange technique!"
One can discern a person's heart and discern good from evil even in illness. Now, do you intend to harm me?

As he spoke, to the astonishment of the crowd, he drew his sword and stabbed Ji Ping to death.

"I killed someone while I was sick; this person will surely be the one who harms me!"

After he finished speaking, his condition seemed to worsen, he was in excruciating pain, and he fainted.

Everyone was shocked and hurriedly examined Ji Ping's body.

Sure enough, they found poison hidden in his robes.

The crowd was utterly horrified and exclaimed, "Cao Cao is known to kill even when he is ill; is he truly a divine being?"

Although everyone was surprised by Ji Ping's actions, Cao Gong's condition had not improved, so they had no time to worry about anything else and hurriedly called for another doctor.

The next physician to arrive was named Li Fang, and he was naturally arranged by Cao Cao in advance.

However, unaware of Ji Ping's previous experience, they dared not be careless. After careful examination and confirmation, they allowed him to approach and treat Cao Cao.

Li Fang pretended to take the patient's pulse and said, "This ailment is easy to cure; one dose of medicine will cure it."

He then instructed the servant to fetch a silver pot, boil the liquid in front of him, and personally prepared it for him to drink.

Throughout the process, everyone watched and saw that Cao Cao did nothing unusual, seemingly unaware of Li Fang's diagnosis.

I couldn't help but wonder, could Cao Cao really see into people's hearts and know good and evil while he was ill?

Before long, Cao Cao took the medicine and recovered completely in a short time.

Suddenly waking up, just as he was about to speak with everyone, he suddenly saw blood all over the ground and a person lying there. Who else could it be but Ji Ping?
Feign surprise and anger!

"This is my trusted and excellent physician!"
"Ji Ping has long cured my illness; who dares to kill such a skilled physician?"

Everyone: "."

Everyone was speechless. When Cao Cao asked them, they had no choice but to tell him the truth.

Cao Cao was furious!
“I regard Ji Ping as my confidant, how dare he harm me?”
This must be a treacherous scheme. There must be someone in Luoyang who is in league with Yuan Shikai, trying to incite internal strife and make us fight among ourselves!

Cao Cao, by imperial decree, assumes the post of Grand Censor, tasked with purging the treacherous atmosphere and eliminating those who collude with Yuan Shikai to betray the country!

He immediately ordered a thorough investigation of Ji Ping, and within moments someone reported, "Ji Ping has been frequently associating with Dong Cheng recently!"

Cao Cao then ordered Xiahou Yuan to lead troops to attack Dong Zhuo's residence, and someone else hurriedly sent a message outside the city. He himself, along with Cao Hong and other generals, immediately rushed to the residence of the General of the Rear to see Liu Bei!

On the other side, at the General's Mansion.

Ever since Liu Bei was forced by Liu Yao to sign the imperial edict hidden in the belt, he has been uneasy.

In his own mind, having signed this edict and been ordered to suppress the rebels, he should have acted immediately, taking advantage of Cao Cao's unpreparedness to kill him in one fell swoop, lest things get complicated.

However, Liu Yao clearly did not think that way!
He leads a group of people to assemble every day, and the momentum is getting bigger and bigger, but he just doesn't do anything.

Every day, a large group of people cried from night to dawn, and from dawn to night again, talking about restoring the Han Dynasty. They were more excited than anyone else, but they just wouldn't take any action.

Liu Bei was extremely anxious!

He now seems to understand why Cao Cao, back then, scoffed at the assembled officials at Wang Yun's residence, saying that he could eliminate Dong Zhuo single-handedly with just one sword!

It's a pity that the righteous man who single-handedly assassinated Dong Zhuo to rid the country of a traitor has now repeated Dong Zhuo's deeds. But now we no longer see that brave and loyal cavalry captain who is willing to go into the mansion alone with his sword to assassinate the traitor.

To be fair, Liu Bei, like everyone else, still held expectations for Liu Yao's supposed brilliant strategy to eliminate Cao Cao.

But who would have thought!
When everyone gathered together that day, Liu Yao told the four of them their plan to eliminate Cao Cao, which was to send the physician Ji Ping into Cao Cao's residence to assassinate him.

This plan is remarkably similar to that of a certain cavalry captain back then. If everything goes smoothly, it might just lead to the restoration of the Han dynasty.

But there's a fatal problem with this plan!

The reason why a certain cavalry captain was able to assassinate Dong Zhuo first was because he had gained the trust of the traitor Dong Zhuo and could enter the mansion at any time to carry out the assassination.

But the situation is completely different now.

Although the physician Ji Ping was also trusted by Cao Cao, the problem was that he had to wait for Cao Cao to fall ill before he could enter Cao Cao's residence!
If Cao Cao doesn't get sick for a long time, wouldn't all our efforts have been in vain?

Liu Bei was truly speechless.

Liu Yao! Grand Tutor!
If I had known you intended to carry out this plan, you would have simply discussed it with the four of us in secret.

Who would make a big fuss and want everyone to know before carrying out an assassination plan?
However, he also misunderstood Liu Yao. If it weren't for using the edict in the belt to recruit people and satisfy Yuan's camp, Yuan San would not have told him about this plan.

It can only be said that it is a matter of timing and fate. Those who drift with the tide are not driven by the trend, but by it!

(End of this chapter)