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

Chapter 349 It turns out that the King of Han was also in league with Cao Cao.
"This His Majesty"

Seeing Cao Anmin's pale face and his stammering speech, he looked terrified.

Yuan Shu shook his head and comforted him, "Anmin is my beloved minister, and I place great hopes on him."

"What? In your eyes, Minister Cao, am I such a person who disregards the lives of his subjects and would sacrifice your life for a greater cause?"

Cao Anmin: "."

My Lord, the greatest schemer of our time, aren't you one?

Fortunately, before he could even consider his words, Yuan Shu took out a prepared letter from his bosom and said to him:
"I recently heard that Cao Cao accepted Yang Xiu's plan and followed the new system of the Han Dynasty to use military merits."

With half the effort, double the reward, and the wealth of Luoyang poured out, how can this be sustained in the long run?

As I predicted, Yang Xiu's death is imminent.

I fear that soon, when Luoyang's finances become insufficient to cover its expenses and it becomes impossible to fulfill the rewards under the military merit system, that will be the day when Yang Dezu is made a scapegoat and executed by Cao Cao.

If I were to grant him a way out now, Emperor Dezu would repay him with all his might.

As Yuan Shu spoke, he looked at Cao Anmin with a slight smile.

Cao Anmin took the letter and suddenly realized what was going on.

"Your Majesty means that sending me to persuade Cao Cao to surrender is a pretense, but the real purpose is to persuade Yang Xiu to surrender."

"Openly repair the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang pass. As long as I infiltrate Huanyuan Pass under the guise of a messenger delivering a letter of surrender to Cao Cao, I can then secretly contact Yang Xiu."

Cao Anmin couldn't continue speaking halfway through his sentence; his face was completely drained of color, turning as pale as paper.

Your Majesty, your plan is excellent, but it is somewhat difficult to reassure the people.

By then, Yang Xiu will be colluding with Yuan Shikai and will start plotting to surrender the pass, but how am I supposed to get out alive?
You just said that I am your beloved minister on whom you place high hopes, and that you would not sacrifice my life to accomplish great things?
Upon hearing this, Yuan Shu coldly replied, "Nonsense."

What are you thinking, my dear minister? You're secretly plotting something right under Cao Cao's nose. I'm afraid that before your letter even reaches Yang Xiu, he'll have already killed you.

This letter to Yang Xiu is your pledge of allegiance to Cao Cao, ensuring your safety and survival.

"what?"

Cao Anmin was a little stunned, and even inexplicably a little touched.

"Your Majesty, sacrificing Yang Xiu, a spy who is highly likely to be in league with Yuan, is solely to save my life."

Your humble servant is utterly unworthy and trembling with fear!

"sacrifice?
No one needs to sacrifice themselves. Emperor Dezu is a wise man; upon seeing this letter, he will understand my intentions and will have his own way to protect himself.

As Yuan Shu spoke, he continued to instruct Cao Anmin, "Besides these two most crucial letters, I will entrust them to you."

In addition, Xiahou Yuan, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Ba, Yue Jin, Li Dian, and others wrote 132 letters to Cao Cao's old friends and former subordinates, urging him to surrender.

These letters will be delivered to the three hundred ceremonial attendants who will accompany you on this mission.

At that time, while Cao Cao is distracted by your story about Yang Xiu, they will seek out righteous men who ally with Yuan Shao and join forces to restore the Han dynasty.

Cao Anmin was enlightened!
It turns out that His Majesty was on the third floor. He and Yang Xiu were just bait to divert Cao Cao's attention. The real secret operation was here!

"Your Majesty, I understand."

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will do everything in my power to cover their actions and ensure that these letters reach the righteous men."

Faced with his expression of loyalty, Yuan Shu glared at him irritably.

"What do you understand?

If Cao Cao would send people to keep an eye on you, wouldn't he also keep an eye on these ceremonial guards and attendants?

Three hundred men sneaked into Cao Chen's residence at night. Cao Cao wasn't blind or deaf.

My dear Cao, please adjust your mindset and consider these matters from the standpoint of a loyal subject of Cao.

Didn't Cao Cao say that you came to him to bide your time and plot a rebellion?
I think this is a great opportunity.

My dear minister, please play your true self. Whether it's Yang Xiu, or these people, or even me, betray Cao Cao without reservation.

Only in this way will you have a chance to return alive and continue your grand plan of biding your time and stealing the secrets of my Han Kingdom once again.

Cao Anmin: "."

No, have you heard what people say?
What the hell? His Majesty the King of Han wants me to firmly stand on Cao Chen's side and betray his entire plan to Cao Cao?

Could it be that the King of Han was also in league with Cao Cao?

Layer upon layer, Cao Anmin felt his mind was completely overwhelmed and confused.

Yuan Shu ignored the disbelief in his eyes and patted him heavily on the shoulder.

"My dear minister, don't overthink it. Just use your usual skills and play yourself."

"Your mission in entering Cao Cao's camp is nothing more than to betray me."

Cao Anmin: "???"

Watching Cao Anmin's dazed figure disappear into the distance, Yuan Shu sat alone behind a table shrouded in mist and smiled silently.

To be honest, he never believed Cao Anmin.

Since Cao Anmin once betrayed Cao Cao to save his own life, who knows if he won't betray himself to save his own life today?
It is obvious that no matter what task Cao Anmin is assigned today, no matter how many times he is told to be careful and never to reveal it to Cao Cao.

However, Cao Anmin might still betray everything as soon as he enters Huanyuan Pass in order to save his life in front of Cao Cao.

But there was only one mission: to kill Cao Anmin. It was impossible for him to betray Cao Cao.

Because what has already been betrayed cannot be betrayed again!

If the task I assigned to Cao Anmin was to betray me, how could he possibly betray the fact that he came here to betray me?
Double negation equals affirmation; double betrayal is no betrayal!

The first layer was persuading Cao Cao to surrender, the second layer was persuading Yang Xiu to surrender, and the third layer was persuading the ministers in Cao Cao's camp to surrender. All three layers of things could be betrayed.

Only the fourth level, the task that would make Cao Anmin betray everything, cannot be betrayed.

Even if Cao Anmin wanted to betray Cao Cao, how would he explain it to him?
Uncle, Anmin is about to tell you a huge secret, but don't be surprised.

It turns out that the King of Han was also in league with Cao Cao!

My real mission here is actually to betray the King of Han, who sent me to do so.

When Yuan Shu thought of this, he couldn't help but laugh. If Cao Anmin dared to say such nonsense, Cao Cao would have to believe it too!

Cao Anmin, who was only concerned with saving his own life, would not dare to risk his life to test whether Cao Cao would believe his nonsense.

As for the letters in the first three layers...

The first letter, which persuaded Cao Cao to surrender, was merely a pretext to send Cao Anmin to Huanyuan Pass.

Yang Xiu, who is on the second floor, is a clever man who is very good at understanding people's hearts.

Then let's see if, upon seeing this letter, you can tacitly communicate with me and find a way to survive.

As for the stack of letters on the third layer...

Even if Cao Cao received news of Cao Anmin's betrayal and was able to intercept all these letters, could his suspicions really be dispelled just by looking at the names listed on the letters?
Persuade them to surrender? Or liaise with Yuan Shikai?

It's not only those who receive letters who are loyal to Yuan Shikai, nor is it only those whose names are listed on the letter who have the heart to support the Han!
After Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Li Dian, and Yue Jin, these trusted and beloved generals, defected to the Han, you are now in this situation.

Cao Cao, what will you choose?

He kept this suspicion to himself, suffering from doubt day and night.

Or perhaps it was a calculated move to test the loyalty of his subordinates?
If that's the case, then it's the fifth level, and this plan can be used to checkmate the enemy.

After all, people's hearts are most vulnerable to testing.

Moreover, all the intelligence that I had Cao Anmin sell was true, except for the number of letters.

When the numbers differ between the two sides, will you trust Xiahou Dun and his former associates, or your good nephew who will willingly betray everything to you?
Inside the large tent, the flickering candlelight and rising smoke were accompanied by the ethereal and distant sound of a bronze chime.

The King of Han gazed towards Huanyuan Pass and smiled faintly. "With Cao Cao personally overseeing the situation, given your suspicious nature, how could any minister not be on guard?"

This Huanyuan Pass was a place where Yang Xiu, Xiahou's former subordinates, and even his trusted ministers like Xun You were all present.

No matter who colluded with Yuan, it was impossible for them to surrender the city under your very nose, thus colluding with you from within and without.

The only thing that can prevent me from using my methods is your suspicion and distrust, but the only thing that can break through this city is also your suspicion and distrust.

"You can guard against anyone's conspiracy with Yuan Shikai, but you alone cannot guard against the fact that even the Chancellor of the Han Dynasty is in cahoots with him!"

Not long after, Cao Anmin received a mission from the King of Han and led three hundred ceremonial guards on a mission to Huanyuan Pass.

Three hundred men emerged from the main gate of the camp, unfurling a banner that read "Great Han Angels."

Cao Anmin, dressed in a crimson outfit with a jade belt around his waist, walked with his hand on his sword, accompanied by the sound of drums and music. Soon, under the protection of the crowd, he arrived at Huanyuan Pass.

Cao Cao was enraged upon seeing Cao Anmin and initially wanted to order him shot dead. However, he remembered that he had recently explained to the world that Cao Anmin was acting under orders to infiltrate Yuan Shao's camp and plot a rebellion.

It would be unreasonable to kill them without saying a word.

Then someone might ask: "Prime Minister Cao, didn't you say Cao Anmin was your spy planted in Yuan Shao's camp? Why did you shoot him dead the moment you met him, cutting off your own arm?"

Cao Cao was speechless.

Only then did he realize that Yuan Shu had sent Cao Anmin as an envoy, and he couldn't kill him, but he also had to help cover up Cao Anmin's identity as someone who had been biding his time. It was really just a way to annoy him.

Otherwise, if he couldn't resist, and it became clear that Cao Anmin was colluding with Yuan Shikai, then the prohibition against colluding with Yuan Shikai, which stipulated that the entire family of nine generations would be executed, would be difficult to explain.

"What a wicked Yuan Gonglu! He's truly malicious!"

Cao Cao cursed under his breath, but had no choice but to swallow his pride and temporarily bring Cao Anmin and the others to Huanyuan Pass for surveillance.

Cao Cao had made up his mind that no matter what Cao Anmin said next, he should not believe a single word. No matter how intelligent or cunning Yuan Gonglu was, he could not fool him.

Soon after, at the council hall of Huanyuan Pass.

Cao Cao sat in the main seat, with his ministers standing on either side. Suddenly, a messenger announced:
"Lord Duting, Liaison Envoy Cao Anmin, have arrived."

As Cao Cao nodded and ordered him to be invited in, Cao Anmin, dressed in a crimson outfit, soon entered the hall.

Before Cao Anmin could pay his respects, Cao Cao forced a smile and spoke first.

"Lord Duting has been in Yuan's camp for a long time, enduring hardship and humiliation to gather intelligence. It must have been very arduous. Now that you have returned, you can rest for a few more days and reminisce with me after so long apart."

His words were clearly a reminder to Cao Anmin that now that he was back, he should be clear about his own identity.

Since you're an undercover agent who infiltrated Yuan's camp to plot a defection and gather intelligence, you mustn't say anything that would put both sides in a difficult position.

Fortunately, this good nephew of mine has always been afraid of death. With just a word of advice, he knows how to speak and understands me without me even realizing it.

as predicted!

Cao Cao saw Cao Anmin take out the edict from the King of Han that he had brought, show it to everyone present, and say:

"This is an edict from the King of Han to persuade Chancellor Cao to surrender!"

After saying this, to everyone's astonishment, Cao Anmin forcefully tore it in two, speaking righteously and sternly!
"This is utterly ridiculous!"
Even if the whole world is on Yuan's side, and all the ministers can surrender, only Cao Cao cannot be surrendered to!
If Cao Xiang surrenders, we will be at his mercy, like fish on a chopping board, our lives no longer in our own hands!

Cao Anmin then bowed and paid his respects to Cao Cao.

"Although Yuan's army is powerful, it is not invincible."

Although the King of Han is strong, he is not incapable of victory.

Nephew urges Uncle to remain steadfast in his resistance against Yuan Shikai, to fight the treacherous usurper to the bitter end, and to never surrender!

Cao Cao: "."

No, we wanted you to cooperate tacitly, but haven't you gone too far this time?

If I didn't know the truth, I would have thought you were truly enduring humiliation and biding your time in Yuan's camp.

Cao Cao's ministers: "!!!"

"Marquis Duting is indeed a loyal and righteous man!"

"When Cao Xiang first told me that the Marquis of Duting was secretly infiltrating Yuan's camp, enduring hardship and humiliation, I still did not believe it."

Seeing him today, I truly understand the loyalty and righteousness of the Marquis of Duting!

"As expected of Cao Xiang's beloved nephew, his body is in Yuan's camp but his heart is in Cao's. The Cao family has produced another outstanding talent."

Listening to the words of his ministers, Cao Cao was speechless for a long time. He thought to himself, "Is this really you? My dear nephew! To save your life, you acted so convincingly."

However, before everyone could be surprised, Cao Anmin spoke up again.

"Uncle, I have been in Yuan's camp for a long time and have stolen a lot of Yuan's secrets. I am eager to lend you a hand!"

Cao Cao: “???”

Are you serious?
"Now that you have intelligence, please deliver it quickly."

Cao Anmin did not answer, but gestured to the surrounding Cao ministers with his eyes, his meaning was self-evident.

The ministers' faces immediately turned grim, but since this person had infiltrated Yuan's camp, it suggested that there might be traitors among them who were in league with Yuan, and they really didn't want to make a fool of themselves here.

Some people are upright and have nothing to fear, while others are guilty and anxious.

However, soon after Cao Cao dismissed everyone, only the two of them, the uncle and nephew, remained.

“Anmin, what do you intend to do? Tell me now.”

Cao Anmin didn't keep them in suspense and, following Yuan Shu's advice, recounted the events surrounding Yang Xiu and the 132 letters.

Cao Cao was surprised and suspicious, and hurriedly asked Xun You for advice, but Cao Anmin only said one sentence, which made Cao Cao freeze on the spot.

"Uncle, how do you know that Xun Gongda isn't among those 132 letters?"

Cao Cao remained silent, speechless for a moment.

"Now, the only ones who can discuss important matters are my nephew and uncle!"

Cao Cao: "."

Cao Cao scrutinized Cao Anmin with a suspicious look in his eyes. To be honest, after what had happened before, Cao Cao did not want to believe Cao Anmin.

To Cao Cao's disbelief, he couldn't think of a reason not to trust Cao Anmin.

Because as soon as Cao Anmin entered the room, he took the initiative to confess all his conspiracies and schemes.

Under these circumstances, both Cao Anmin and his three hundred followers will be under the strictest surveillance.

In other words, Cao Anmin's trip here could do nothing but betray Yuan Shu's conspiracy.

Cao Cao: "."

Good nephew, I haven't even questioned you yet, why are you turning yourself in right away?

This is a big deal.

Staring at the righteous and awe-inspiring Cao Anmin before him, Cao Cao felt a strange unease. He feigned a cold and stern expression, a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes, and tested him, saying:
"Yang Xiu?"

I had been on guard against him for a long time.

The best course of action now is perhaps to follow the letter's instructions and arrest all the people mentioned, better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free.

"Uncle, you're being foolish!"
Such unrest has created widespread panic; who knows if this is exactly what the King of Han planned?

"You randomly selected these people to send letters just to sow discord and make your uncle cut off his own arm?"

Cao Cao: “???”

You even confessed to the scheme to sow discord? Well then, nephew, what exactly are you here for?
You seem to be seriously infiltrating Yuan's camp, passing on messages to me.

(End of this chapter)