Chapter 12 Successive Assassinations

Indeed, based on his twenty-first-century experience training special forces soldiers, the next step was to attempt real combat.

Since it was to be actual combat, there would inevitably be considerable danger involved—especially in these troubled times, where a single misstep could lead to dire consequences.

“Your Majesty, please rest assured. We have already faced death more than once. Just give the order, and we will follow it,” the men replied, visibly stirred.

This reaction took Liu Xie by surprise. In truth, he found himself admiring them. The soldiers of this era were far stronger than those of the twenty-first century, both physically and mentally—simply incomparable.

First, on the mental front, the world was in chaos, with war raging everywhere. These twenty men had already been elites within the army, having fought in many battles under Fu Wan. Surviving such warfare was proof enough of their capabilities. Their psychological resilience was naturally on another level—as they themselves said, surviving each battle was like walking through the gates of hell. When they claimed to have faced death more than once, it was no exaggeration.

Physically, too, this era was different. There were no cars or machinery to ease the burden of labor; nearly everything had to be done by hand. As a result, people’s physical strength was much greater. This was why Liu Xie’s months of training had yielded such remarkable results.

“Very well, in that case, I will assign the mission,” Liu Xie announced gravely.

The twenty men before him grew solemn.

“In fact, the mission is quite simple—just two words,” he said.

“Assassination.”

As Liu Xie uttered the final words, the men exchanged glances.

“Well? Do you have the confidence?” Liu Xie asked with a smile.

“Yes!” they responded in unison.

“Remember—this time, no one will help you. You will have no support or assistance. If anything goes wrong, you will be on your own,” Liu Xie impressed upon them the gravity of the situation.

At his words, the twenty men became even more serious. They understood precisely what Liu Xie meant. Should they fail, the consequences would be unspeakable.

“Your Majesty, rest assured—this assassination is our own operation. It has nothing to do with anyone else.”

A few spoke with grave determination. They knew full well that if the matter were exposed and implicated Liu Xie, it would spell disaster.

“Don’t overthink it. Just focus on your mission,” Liu Xie said. “As for your target—well…”

He smiled faintly.

That night, twenty figures darted through the streets, all clad in black, moving toward the Prime Minister’s residence.

By dawn the next day, the entire Cao household was in turmoil.

In the courtyard, a man hung from a tree, a noose around his neck. His hands dangled lifelessly—he was clearly dead. When people recognized the face, they were unsettled. It was Cao Zhen, the son of the renowned General Cao Hong.

Indeed, the infamous Cao Zhen, son of General Cao Hong, had died in the Cao residence—hanged. For reasons unknown, news of the incident spread rapidly, sparking much discussion.

Moreover, over the days that followed, similar events occurred in quick succession. First it was Cao Hong’s son, Cao Zhen; then his younger son, Cao Fu; and after that, Cao Zhen’s own son, Cao Shuang. In short, the sons of Cao Cao’s generals were dying one after another, six or seven within less than half a month.

These events shocked many when the news broke. No one knew what was happening or who was behind it, and wild speculation abounded.

As Cao Cao marched his army towards Xuzhou to confront Lü Bu, reports of these incidents arrived one after another. His generals were thrown into confusion.

“Gentlemen, do not panic. I will thoroughly investigate this matter,” Cao Cao assured them. “For now, our priority is to hurry to Xuzhou and face Lü Bu in battle. Once Lü Bu is taken, I promise you a satisfactory explanation.”

Seeing his generals so shaken, Cao Cao quickly moved to reassure them, though he himself was deeply troubled. What exactly was happening? Why had these things occurred so soon after his departure from Xuchang? He could guess the intent behind these acts.

By targeting the sons of his generals, the perpetrator clearly aimed to undermine their morale. Cao Cao understood keenly that he relied on these generals to wage war against Lü Bu. If their spirits were unsettled, his chances of victory against a formidable foe like Lü Bu would be greatly diminished.

After calming the ranks, Cao Cao immediately dispatched Guo Jia back to Xuchang to investigate, while he himself continued leading the army south to Xuzhou.

Within the imperial palace, Liu Xie found life increasingly relaxed. He continued to indulge in wine and merriment as before, yet remained ever apprised of the world beyond his walls.

The twenty men he had trained now worked covertly, carrying out his commands. From start to finish, no one knew how the sons of Cao Cao’s generals had died, and no one suspected any connection to Liu Xie. The palace remained utterly tranquil, undisturbed by even a ripple.

“Your Majesty, could the deaths of those generals’ sons be related to those twenty men?” Fu Shou, having sensed something, approached Liu Xie with careful inquiry.

Liu Xie smiled serenely and said nothing.

“Your Majesty, where have those twenty men gone?” Fu Shou pressed, curiosity in her voice.

“They’re carrying out tasks for me, of course,” Liu Xie replied calmly.

Fu Shou nodded lightly—this was more or less what she had expected. She found herself increasingly impressed by Liu Xie, who had accomplished so much in secret.

“But, Your Majesty, if we wish to restore the Han dynasty, such actions alone are not enough,” Fu Shou said with concern. “Moreover, if Cao Cao discovers the truth, with so many of his own lost, he will surely investigate thoroughly. We must prepare an escape route for ourselves.”

Liu Xie fell silent at her words. Fu Shou was known in history as one of the few truly loyal companions to the Emperor Xian, and she was clearly intelligent—a fact Liu Xie had witnessed for himself. It surprised him that she also harbored the ambition of restoring the Han.

“You’re right. We can’t rely on this forever,” Liu Xie admitted. “No matter how formidable these twenty men are, we still need troops at our command.”

He realized the gravity of the situation. With only twenty men, he might be able to vex Cao Cao, but to truly revive the Han dynasty? That would be difficult. The path to his ultimate goal remained a long one.