Chapter 152: Cao Cao's Acting Skills, Xu Chu's Punishment

"Murder!"

Xu You had actually been beheaded in the streets of Jizhou city, his blood staining the ground and blossoming into numerous crimson flowers.

The surrounding onlookers fled in all directions in panic.

As for the killer, Xu Chu, he had already mounted his horse and ridden away.

He was not a fool; naturally, he knew he could not linger after committing murder.

However, as a true man of honor, Xu Chu would never shrink from taking responsibility for his actions.

Right now, he was heading straight to Cao Cao to confess his crime and await punishment.

Meanwhile, inside the Jizhou prefectural office, a spirited Cao Cao was discussing future strategies with his civil and military officials.

Now that Jizhou had been secured, it was time to set their sights on the remaining provinces of Qing, You, and Bing, as well as the lands of Liaodong.

The opportunity to unify the northern territory was right before their eyes.

Not only Cao Cao, but all the civil officials and military generals under his command wore expressions of great joy.

They had no idea that Xu Chu had just delivered such a massive "surprise" to them.

When Xu Chu reached the entrance, he happened to run into Cao Peng.

Cao Peng had temporarily stepped outside to attend to some military matters.

Noticing the look of utter dejection on Xu Chu's face, Cao Peng walked over and asked, "Zhongkang, what is the matter with you?"

"Ah, I'm afraid I've brought a catastrophe upon myself this time," Xu Chu said gloomily.

A sudden realization struck Cao Peng, and everything became clear to him, though he still needed to confirm the details.

"No matter what has happened, Zhongkang, just tell me. I will surely help you," Cao Peng said earnestly.

Sensing absolute sincerity in Cao Peng's words without a trace of hypocrisy, Xu Chu was deeply moved.

Thus, he recounted the entire incident from beginning to end without holding anything back.

Hearing the sequence of events as narrated by Xu Chu, countless dark lines appeared on Cao Peng's forehead.

It seemed that the fellow's original intention was merely to teach Xu You a lesson, but Xu You had been far too arrogant, ultimately leading to such a grave disaster.

Cao Peng said, "I will go with you to see the Prime Minister. I won't let you suffer."

Xu Chu never expected Cao Peng to be so fiercely loyal, and he gazed at him with eyes full of gratitude.

"Anmin, you are truly a friend!"

"Heh, if you were actually executed, wouldn't I lose a drinking companion in the future?"

When Cao Peng led Xu Chu into the grand hall, Cao Cao took one look at Xu Chu's expression and knew at once that the fellow had stirred up trouble again.

Causing trouble every couple of days was simply his nature.

Therefore, Cao Cao did not take it to heart and asked out of sheer habit, "Xu Chu, what kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?"

With a grim look on his face, Xu Chu stepped forward, cupped his fists, and said coldly, "Reporting to my lord, I have killed Xu You!"

The entire assembly was instantly shocked.

Xu Chu had killed Xu You?

"How dare you! How could you be so audacious as to kill Xu You?!"

"Do you not know that he was the primary meritorious contributor who allowed us to take control of Jizhou?"

"Furthermore, he was a childhood friend of mine, you brute!"

Cao Cao's face was instantly contorted with rage.

Seeing Cao Cao in this state, those around him felt a surge of apprehension.

Only his core strategists knew that Cao Cao was merely putting on an act.

The fact that Xu You had been raving madly and had offended Cao Cao was already common knowledge throughout Jizhou city.

Ever since Xu You entered Jizhou city, he had behaved so outrageously that everyone knew he was destined to die.

Therefore, Xu Chu killing Xu You actually brought a sense of great satisfaction to Cao Cao; he wasn't angry in the least.

However, if he did not put on a show, his reputation would suffer.

"Speak, why did you kill him?" Cao Cao asked, feigning anger.

"I have nothing to say. Xu You was so arrogant that I felt I was right to kill him!"

"Besides, the fellow actually dared to stretch his neck right under my blade. If I hadn't killed him then, I would have become his grandson! At worst, I'll just trade my head for his!"

Sticking out his neck, Xu Chu argued defiantly, going tit-for-tat with Cao Cao.

Cao Cao flew into a towering rage and shouted sternly, "Fine, well said! Someone, drag this brute out and behead him!"

No sooner had the words left Cao Cao's mouth than the tiger guards beside him stepped forward to seize Xu Chu.

These elite guards only knew how to execute Cao Cao's commands blindly.

Even if Cao Cao ordered them to kill their own mothers, they would not bat an eye.

Xun Yu, Guo Jia, and the others furrowed their brows, never expecting Xu Chu to be so utterly foolish.

It was glaringly obvious that Cao Cao was just making an empty show of force.

Yet Xu Chu failed to read the room and refused to offer any diplomatic evasion, instantly killing the conversation.

Cao Cao's roaring voice still echoed through the grand hall.

Just as everyone else was too terrified to speak, Cao Peng stepped forward.

Cupping his fists, Cao Peng advanced and said, "Uncle, there are extenuating circumstances to this matter; Zhongkang cannot be blamed entirely."

Cao Cao had been waiting precisely for someone to step forward.

Unfortunately, the others had disappointed him, but fortunately, Cao Peng was there to save the day.

A seasoned actor himself, Cao Cao immediately slipped back into character without a trace of stage fright.

Reseating himself, Cao Cao narrowed his eyes slightly and asked in a deep voice, "Could there be some other hidden secret to this matter?"

"Xu Chu acted to uphold the dignity of the Prime Minister and our army, and executed Xu You in the street. His actions are entirely understandable," Cao Peng replied.

"Oh? Such a thing? Tell me the details," Cao Cao prompted.

Hearing this, everyone present knew that Cao Cao intended to pardon Xu Chu.

And events unfolded precisely as they anticipated.

After Cao Peng had detailed the entire course of events, Cao Cao feigned deep thought, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the table.

Yet, they still lacked a final push.

Someone else of substantial weight needed to step up and speak on Xu Chu's behalf.

Guo Jia looked at the assembled strategists with amused interest, curious to see who would take the initiative.

"My lord, Zhongkang is a vital pillar of our army. How can we break our own arm simply because of a babbling madman like Xu You?" The speaker was Xun Yu.

Cao Cao countered, "But Xu You's contributions this time were quite significant—first his service at Wuchao, and now the flooding of Jizhou..."

Xun Yu immediately smiled. "As for the matter of Wuchao, if we must speak of it, that was the achievement of General Cao Peng. As for the flooding of Jizhou, from what I have heard, it is likewise inseparable from General Cao Peng..."

Having said this, Xun Yu fell silent.

At times, silence speaks louder than words!

Internally, Cao Cao shouted in approval—brilliant!

Xun Yu's timing was absolute perfection.

Moreover, Cao Cao was pleasantly surprised to find that ever since Xun Yu had aligned himself with Cao Peng, he had grown much bolder in voicing his opinions.

Judging that the act had gone on long enough, Cao Cao took the convenient exit provided, though he still maintained a look of lingering displeasure.

"Your capital crime is pardoned, but your living crime is inescapable. Get down there and serve as a groom for a month, and you are forbidden to drink alcohol during this period."

"What?!"

Xu Chu was dumbfounded. Being banned from drinking for a whole month was far more agonizing than execution.

He twitched his lips, wanting to argue further, but Cao Peng had already stepped in front of him.

"Uncle is wise!"

The matter was settled once and for all, and the death of Xu You was rendered as insignificant as that of a mere ant.