Chapter 056: The Warlord’s Fall and Liu Bei’s Scheming

Within the city of Xuzhou, a great crowd had gathered. Here stood the Eight Mighty Generals who had surrendered under Lü Bu’s command, as well as the captured Zhang Liao and Diao Chan.

Cao Cao lounged lazily in his seat, with two men seated before him. One was Liu Bei, the other, Chen Gong.

Cao Cao first addressed Liu Bei, “Xuande, the capture of Lü Bu alive is due in no small part to you and your brothers. I shall memorialize the Son of Heaven to reward you.”

Liu Bei’s expression remained serene, as if he cared nothing for fame or fortune. He replied unhurriedly, “Minister, my brothers and I rose against Lü Bu for the sake of the greater good, not for reward.”

Cao Cao gave a dry laugh, saying nothing more to Liu Bei, and turned his gaze upon Chen Gong.

He sneered, “Gongtai, when you abandoned me in days past, did you ever imagine this day would come?”

Chen Gong’s face filled with indignation. “You are base and shameless; I disdained to stand by your side.”

Cao Cao laughed. “And what of Lü Bu? Was he not captured by me all the same?”

Chen Gong sighed. “I regret that he would not heed my counsel…”

By now, Lü Bu had already become a defeated general, betrayed by his own men, trussed up like a bundle of straw.

“Cao Mengde!” Lü Bu, bound hand and foot to a door plank, shouted loudly. As he cried out, the soldiers dragged him before Cao Cao.

Upon seeing Cao Cao, Lü Bu immediately begged for mercy. “Mengde, the ropes are too tight—could you loosen them a little?”

Cao Cao smiled. “You are a fierce tiger; should not a tiger be bound tightly?”

Lü Bu pleaded again, “Mengde, we were once comrades, have you forgotten? I even gave you a horse! For the sake of old times, let me live, and I will serve you with utter devotion, as a beast of burden if you wish.”

For the sake of his life, Lü Bu had cast all dignity aside.

Hearing this, Cao Cao visibly hesitated. Lü Bu was the mightiest warrior in the land; if he could be won over, it would be as good as gaining a powerful army.

Lü Bu, sensing Cao Cao’s wavering, pressed his advantage eagerly, “Mengde, I have the Sky Piercer Halberd and Red Hare; let me ride forth for you and the world will soon be yours.”

Though Cao Cao hesitated, he remained unmoved, as steady as an old hound, saying nothing.

Unknown to Lü Bu, Cao Cao’s hesitation stemmed not only from the fear of future betrayal, but also from the matter of the beautiful Diao Chan. Cao Mengde had long coveted her.

Seeing the indecision writ on Cao Cao’s face, Lü Bu turned imploringly to Liu Bei, “Xuande, please speak for me! Once, when you were homeless, I took you in!”

Faced with Lü Bu’s plea, Liu Bei nodded and stepped forward.

“General Lü once showed me kindness; I must repay it,” Liu Bei said with a smile that did not reach his eyes. Then, he turned to Cao Cao. “Mengde, I have a request!”

“Speak freely, Xuande,” Cao Cao replied, curious to hear whether Liu Bei would plead for Lü Bu.

Liu Bei said, “Lü Bu has had three sworn fathers: Ding Yuan, Dong Zhuo, and Minister Wang Yun. I beseech you, Mengde, to accept Lü Bu as your adopted son—then surely he will do great things for you!”

At these words, the faces of the Cao army were instantly dumbfounded, and then the whole crowd burst into hearty laughter.

In the midst of this laughter, only Lü Bu looked baffled. He thought Liu Bei’s suggestion made perfect sense—if he could become Cao Cao’s adopted son, his life would be spared.

“Mengde, I am willing to acknowledge you as my foster father, and serve you in war across the land!” Lü Bu declared, his face full of ingratiating hope.

The Cao soldiers roared with laughter, mocking Lü Bu’s ignorance. Even now, he failed to realize Liu Bei was speaking ironically.

Meanwhile, the Eight Mighty Generals of Lü Bu’s former command were deeply ashamed. Their leader’s utter lack of honor left them mortified, while their resentment of Liu Bei’s two-faced ruthlessness grew all the stronger.

Cao Cao’s treachery was at least open for all to see, but Liu Bei—calm when Xuzhou was lost, false in his promises to intercede—had stooped to such disgraceful trickery. Such conduct was truly contemptible.

The laughter did not cease until Cao Cao spoke.

“Fengxian, if I were to take you as my adopted son, I should die a wretched death!”

The laughter faded, and everyone knew Lü Bu’s fate was sealed.

“Men, take him away and execute him!” Cao Cao commanded. At once, Xu Chu gestured, and several soldiers dragged Lü Bu out.

No longer the peerless god of war, he was now but a beast led to slaughter.

“Big-eared thief, may you die a miserable death! Even as a vengeful ghost, I will not forgive you!” Lü Bu finally understood: it was Liu Bei’s “plea” that had steeled Cao Cao’s resolve to kill him.

“Mengde, Mengde, spare me! I swear I will never betray you…”

As Lü Bu was dragged farther and farther away, his cries faded to a whisper.

“Alas…” In the distance, Cao Peng let out a sigh of regret.

“Lü Bu, you brought this upon yourself. Of all people to beg, you chose the black-hearted, thick-skinned Liu with the great ears…”

Had you and Chen Gong not seized Xuzhou while Liu Bei was away, you would not have come to this, forced to depend on Cao Cao.

That big-eared scoundrel doubtless wished you torn to pieces a thousand times over.