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

Chapter 47 Cao Bao: Where is my son-in-law Fengxian?
"Gentlemen, heed my command: march on Xuzhou!"

"only!"

Everyone obeyed the order and followed Lü Bu to Xuzhou.

As they approached Xiapi, the capital of Xuzhou, Chen Gong rode his horse closer, gazing at the imposing armored soldiers atop the city walls.

"Previously, I asked the general to deliberately befriend Cao Bao and marry his daughter as a political alliance. Now is the time to do so."

Cao Bao was a former subordinate of Tao Qian and was in charge of military affairs in Xuzhou.

Although Liu Bei has now seized military power, there are still many in the army who are grateful for his kindness and loyalty and are willing to serve him.

Since the general went north to attack Cao Cao, I have often used his daughter as a pretext to communicate with him under the guise of family letters.

Hearing that the general intends to take control of Xuzhou, he must have already devised a plan to provoke Zhang Fei into drinking and anger. We should take him in and coordinate an attack from within and without. When the signal fire is raised, we can lead our troops to attack the city and break through in one fell swoop.

Lü Bu nodded with delight, "Gongtai's plan is brilliant, I will follow it."

Meanwhile, the halls of the Xiapi government office were brightly lit by candlelight, which made the carved windows look like flowing snow or silver frost.

After Zhang Fei escorted Xuande north to attack Cao Cao, he took on the post of guarding the capital. All miscellaneous affairs were entrusted to Chen Yuanlong for management. He carefully considered important military matters and was quite diligent during the day.

However, without the supervision of his elder brothers at night, he often indulged in drinking and banquets, inviting officials to the feast, and tonight was no exception.

After everyone was seated, Zhang Fei slammed the rhinoceros horn cup heavily on the table, his expression extremely angry.

"When my elder brother was about to leave, he entrusted me with important matters and told me to drink less alcohol, lest I cause trouble."

Now I am tempted by fine wine and have been drunk day and night. How can the important affairs of Xuzhou be handled like this?

From now on, I will never continue to be so decadent. All officials, please bear this with me. Tonight, let's get drunk. Starting tomorrow, I will abstain from alcohol!
Tonight, gentlemen, let us drink to our hearts' content. But if anyone dares to mention drinking again tomorrow, may he be whipped one hundred times. Do not say you were not warned.

After speaking, he raised his cup with the officials. Chen Deng looked troubled and was about to get up to offer advice when Cao Bao, who was beside him, stepped forward and slammed his hand on the table, standing up with a righteous and awe-inspiring air!
“The three generals said the same thing yesterday and the day before. Since Lord Xuande left, it has been going on and on. How can you say that I did not warn you?”
"If I were to drink today, I would whip myself a hundred times to show my resolve!"

Chen Deng: "???"

Seeing his generous expression and righteous words, Chen Deng, who had been interrupted, couldn't help but look at him strangely.

We have worked together for many years since Tao Qian, and I never knew that Cao Bao was such a loyal and righteous man.

However, the Third General is impulsive by nature. Even if one were to advise him, one should do so gently and patiently. To speak rashly and impulsively now would likely lead to trouble.

As expected, Zhang Fei's expression changed drastically, but knowing he was in the wrong, he forced himself to remain calm and raised his wine cup to Cao Bao.

"I said I would abstain from alcohol tomorrow, and I will decide on that tomorrow. You should not say anything more tonight, lest you spoil the fun for everyone. Please drink to your heart's content."

"I have abstained from alcohol, and I truly do not drink alcohol."

"Heavenly Ring?"

Zhang Fei immediately became angry, "If you drank yesterday, why don't you drink today?"

Cao Bao laughed coldly, "I mistakenly believed your words before, General, and thought that I would drink last night and not drink tonight, so I was giving you face."

I never expected the general to do this every night. He promised not to, but I thought it was just empty talk and deception. How could I drink again?

Zhang Fei was both in the wrong and ashamed, and glared angrily at him.

"Didn't I just say that I know it's really bad to drink day and night like this, so I've decided to quit drinking!"

I truly won't drink tomorrow, so why would I try to fool you? Let's drink this cup to the brim and enjoy ourselves with everyone tonight. No need for further words.

"I have vowed never to drink!"

"I have already said that anyone who drinks with me tonight will be whipped one hundred times if he mentions drinking again tomorrow."

"You refuse to enjoy yourself with me now, are you trying to disobey my orders and receive a hundred lashes?" Cao Bao, surprisingly fearless and prioritizing righteousness, replied, "General, you already said that yesterday, and now you've brought up drinking again. If that's the case, then I should personally receive a hundred lashes as a warning to others."

Seeing Cao Bao's tough stance and his willingness to argue with Zhang Fei, all the officials lowered their heads and dared not utter a word.

Only Chen Deng was extremely anxious!
He actually understood Zhang Fei. Before each drinking session, he was the one who genuinely abstained from alcohol, thinking only about drinking one last time and resolving not to drink the next day.

But the next day, he couldn't resist the urge to drink again.

The Third General has been under the control of Lord Xuande and the Second General for many years. Now that he has been freed from all restraints, how easy is it for him to persuade a pair of alcohol addicts to quit drinking? We must plan this carefully.

Anyway, after he got drunk, Chen Yuanlong took care of all the military and political affairs in Xuzhou, which was even more reliable than Zhang Fei's, so why force him?
But Cao Bao, bound by the heavenly precept against drinking alcohol, had always given Zhang Fei face before, but now that this had continued day after day, he could no longer tolerate it and spoke out for justice.

Chen Deng was truly helpless. He said, "You said you couldn't drink alcohol, so you should have told me in advance. If you hadn't come, I would have explained it to you in front of the Third General. Why did you have to go to such lengths?"
Seeing that Cao Bao refused to drink, Zhang Fei, in his drunken rage, ordered his soldiers to seize him and whip him.

Chen Deng hurriedly stepped forward to stop him, "Third General, please do not act rashly. General Cao is also an old man from Xuzhou. He was entrusted to Xuande by Tao Gong. How can he be humiliated?"

Since he refuses to drink, let him leave; we will keep the general company and enjoy himself.

Zhang Fei knew he was in the wrong, but Cao Bao kept provoking him with his words, leaving him in a difficult situation. Now, with Chen Deng's advice, he was ready to take the opportunity to back down and get rid of the ignorant Cao Bao.

Unexpectedly, Cao Bao stopped Chen Deng, glancing at Zhang Fei with a contemptuous look.

“Yuanlong, there’s no need for further words. Let alone Lord Tao and Lord Xuande, even for the sake of my son-in-law, how dare he hit me?”

"Oh?"

Zhang Fei found it amusing, "Who is your son-in-law? Dare to state his name?"

"How could there be such a person in this world, someone who makes me afraid to hit his father-in-law? I had no idea!"

Cao Bao laughed loudly and uttered only two words.

"Lu Bu!"

Zhang Fei: "!!!"

Upon hearing this, his eyes widened in surprise, and he was momentarily stunned.

"My son-in-law, Lü Bu, is unparalleled in his time and invincible under heaven!"
"If you dare to attack me today, General, when you return from your campaign against Cao Cao, you will surely avenge me."

"."

Zhang Fei smiled.

"Lu Bu? I'll fight you!"

On that day, he dared to call me "brother" and insult my elder brother. Such a traitor who has served three masters and has no ruler or father will surely cause trouble in the long run.

I had long wanted to get rid of him for my elder brother and fight him for three hundred rounds, but my elder brother and second brother stopped me time and time again.

I didn't want to hit you, but you had to bring up Lü Bu to scare me.
She even arranged a marriage between them, fearing that they might have already secretly been having an affair and were plotting to seize my elder brother's estate in Xuzhou.

I will not only beat you, I will kill you right here and now to prevent future troubles!

Cao Bao was shocked!

He originally intended to provoke Zhang Fei by using Lü Bu's name, but he never expected that his son-in-law's name would be too effective.

His thoughts were exposed in a single sentence, and he was terrified. Fortunately, he saw that Zhang Fei's eyes were blurry with drunkenness and that he was just talking nonsense, which calmed him down a little.

He still pretended to be calm and acted righteously!
“The general was displeased because I advised him to abstain from alcohol, and that is why he wanted to kill me here. Why fabricate charges against me and suspect that I am plotting to seize Xuzhou?”
"If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext. Now, if you want to beat someone, beat them; if you want to kill someone, kill them. There's no need for further words."

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(End of this chapter)