Chapter 81: The Tiger and Leopard Cavalry Reveal Their Might

Zhong Ji laughed, “Young master, this is something that benefits everyone. You are a man of exceptional talent, yet because of your birth, you are always beneath others. Are you truly content with that?”

That single question—are you truly content?—lingered long in Cao Pi’s heart, refusing to leave. He was, indeed, not content, which was why he had conspired with these men.

“We’re all in the same boat. If you betray me, I won’t let you off.”

“Don’t worry, young master. At this point, why say such things?” To Zhong Ji, Cao Pi was still just a child; the arrow was already nocked, there was no turning back, yet he suddenly played at indecision.

Cao Pi handed over the letter he had prepared. Zhong Ji accepted it with respectful ceremony, then took his leave.

He rode swiftly to a remote location not far from Xu Field. Upon arrival, he sensed countless eyes upon him.

He reined in his horse and dismounted, whereupon men hidden in the grass emerged.

Some were dressed as wandering swordsmen, others as warriors or armed with spears and clubs—all manner of fighters mingled there.

“Come, take a look. Here is the promise from Young Master Cao Pi you all demanded. Now you can rest assured, can’t you?” Zhong Ji eyed these men, inwardly displeased.

“Ha ha, Captain Zhong, don’t say it like that. We only acted so for the sake of our common goal.” From the crowd stepped a young man, the only one dressed as a scholar.

Zhong Ji looked down on their conduct. The Sima family was a renowned lineage, yet acted so despicably.

Previously, the imperial loyalists had coaxed and persuaded, and finally won over the Sima clan. But the old Sima villain refused to commit, believing they could not succeed.

It was only when their alliance gained the addition of Young Master Cao Pi that Sima finally agreed to lend men, but insisted Cao Pi write a note acknowledging the loan.

There was no help for it; the loyalists had no manpower. So, for the Sima family to lend their trained death squad was, in a way, a stroke of luck.

“Alright, these men are yours now. I take my leave.” The young man mounted his horse and departed.

The Sima family dared lend out this death squad because they believed in its absolute loyalty. Whether the plot succeeded or failed, the death squad would take their own lives.

Zhong Ji took a deep breath. The Sima family truly calculated well: if they succeeded in assassinating Cao Cao, they would reap great rewards; if it failed, they could disavow any involvement.

Meanwhile, Cao Peng, accompanied by Zhang Liao and Zang Ba, was hurrying toward Xu Field.

Behind them rode three hundred armored cavalry—the fruit of Cao Peng’s recent efforts to form the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry.

Cao Peng spoke, “Generals, remember: anyone who refuses to surrender, kill them outright.”

“We obey!” The two men rode at his sides, eyes keenly fixed ahead.

In truth, Cao Peng’s warning was unnecessary; the three hundred cavalry were already elite, forged in blood. Each carried an aura of death about him. If the enemy did not surrender, they would utterly destroy them.

Though they had just set out from the camp outside the city, their speed was tremendous.

Before Zhong Ji and his death squad could enter the deep mountains, they were intercepted.

Panic spread among the conspirators; such a sudden turn left them bewildered—who had betrayed them?

Zhong Ji saw immediately that the leader was Cao Peng. He had underestimated him. How could he have penetrated their plans so thoroughly?

Cao Peng smiled, “Captain Zhong, leading so many armed men—what exactly are you planning?”

Inwardly, Zhong Ji cursed a thousand times. The plan hadn’t even begun before it was thwarted. Damn it, the scheme should have been airtight.

Now, he could only grit his teeth and shout, “Kill!”

His death squad knew, too, that only a desperate fight might give them a chance to live.

Cao Peng regarded this motley crew with a cold smile at the corner of his lips.

“Kill them all!” He waved his hand; Zhang Liao and Zang Ba charged ahead, the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry thundering behind.

Hooves struck the ground like an earthquake. Their halberds were like reapers, leaving corpses in their wake.

The ground was soon stained red with blood. Though the death squad was fearless, the overwhelming slaughter filled them with terror.

“Run!” Someone in the crowd shouted, and morale collapsed instantly.

Zhong Ji stood his ground, shouting, “Don’t run, or we’ll all die!”

But no one listened; he was even knocked down by those fleeing.

Fallen to the earth, his face covered in dirt, he no longer had the courage to stay.

Seeing him scramble and roll, Cao Peng drew an iron chain from his waist.

The chain flew through the air, catching Zhong Ji by the neck.

“Zhong Ji, accept your fate—you have no part left to play!”

After the carnage, the rabble was almost entirely slaughtered; the few survivors succumbed to poison.

Cao Peng hadn’t expected not to capture a single survivor. Clearly, the old Sima villain had been painstakingly thorough.

But if he thought that would sever all ties, he was gravely mistaken.

“Why?” Zhong Ji shouted at him, his composure shattered.

“How did you know our plan?!”

Cao Peng smiled slightly, tightening the chain so Zhong Ji could not speak, could barely breathe.

It was simple: he was a man with foresight and had placed agents to watch everyone involved with the Imperial Edict Conspiracy. Dong Cheng, Wang Zifu, all those men were close to Cao Cao—so it was impossible that only Zhong Ji would be left unmonitored. Keeping an eye on him was the right move.

Moreover, Cao Peng had long stationed the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry near Xu Field, waiting for the prey to come to him.

“General, what should we do next?” Zhang Liao asked.

Cao Peng replied, “Have Zang Ba escort him to the prison and keep it secret—let no one know. You come with me to Xu Field.”

“Understood!”

Cao Peng had no intention of revealing Zhong Ji’s capture yet; he still had plans for him, to use this as leverage for a grand drama.

The imperial court, filled with ministers and those who served in name but not in spirit—it was time to reshuffle the deck.