Chapter 85: Green Plums Boiled in Wine

Cao Peng returned to Xudu with the three brothers, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei. Rather than going to his own residence, he led them straight to Cao Cao's mansion.

It was the season when green plums ripened, and the courtyard of Cao Cao's estate was filled with lush plum trees, their verdant foliage lending a unique charm to the scenery. Leading the three men to a small pavilion in the garden, Cao Peng said, “Honorable Uncle, please rest here for a while. I have some matters to attend to and will return shortly.”

Liu Bei replied calmly, “General, please go about your business.”

After leaving the courtyard, Cao Peng made his way to the main hall of Cao Cao’s mansion. He sat at the head of the assembly for a moment, until the generals of Cao’s army began to arrive one by one—Xu Huang, Yue Jin, Zhang He, and others among them.

When they saw Cao Peng seated in the place of honor, all were taken aback.

“How can this be? Did Xu Chu not say the lord summoned us?”

“Where is the lord?”

The hall was soon abuzz with murmurs and confusion, which only ceased when Xu Chu himself strode in and shouted with a thunderous voice, “Generals, be silent! Hear me out!”

His shout brought instant quiet. Xu Chu, not known for eloquence, could only restore order and then motioned for Cao Peng to speak.

Cao Peng produced a token, recognized by all as the seal for commanding troops on Cao Cao’s authority.

“In the presence of this token, it is as if the lord himself is here!”

The generals, realizing the gravity of the situation and aware of Cao Peng's standing and his relationship with Cao Cao, immediately dropped to their knees.

“We respectfully greet the lord!”

There could be no doubt. If Cao Peng was wielding Cao Cao’s seal, he had full authority to command them.

Once he saw their submission, Cao Peng addressed them: “You all have likely heard that our lord was attacked at Xutian. The root of this trouble lies with traitors within the city. To put an end to this menace, our lord devised a plan and sent me back to take command of you all, to sweep up these villains once and for all!”

The generals voiced no objection, shouting in unison, “We obey!”

After issuing orders regarding discipline, Cao Peng reminded them that only Cao Cao’s most trusted officers had been summoned, and that under no circumstances was word to leak out. None were to leave the premises unless ordered.

Having made his arrangements, he returned to the garden, leaving Chen Qun to oversee the relay of commands and the execution of orders by the generals.

In the garden, the three brothers sat in the pavilion, with food and wine already set before them. Liu Bei sat composed and unruffled, while Zhang Fei, bored, busied himself with drinking. Guan Yu, however, appeared preoccupied, wanting to speak several times before finally giving voice to his thoughts.

“Cao the traitor deceives the emperor and usurps his power. I wish to slay him for the good of the realm. Brother, why do you restrain me?”

Liu Bei was momentarily at a loss, uncertain how to explain his own ambiguous conduct. His second brother had become singularly devoted to righteousness, to the point of stubbornness.

Not wanting to damage his own reputation, Liu Bei carefully chose his words to placate him. “Yunchang, we must act with prudence. One must not act rashly out of momentary anger. This is Cao Cao’s stronghold, surrounded by his loyal followers. If you act in haste, you will put the emperor in grave peril, and if the attempt fails, our lives will be forfeit for naught...”

Though Guan Yu was not convinced, he answered out of respect, “Brother, your caution is well founded. It is I who have been short-sighted.”

Liu Bei could tell from his tone that his brother’s words did not match his heart, but there was little he could do.

At that moment, Cao Peng arrived.

Since the three brothers could not be allowed to leave, he decided he might as well enjoy a cup of wine with Liu Bei amid the green plums. It would not take long; by sunset the following day, he planned to have Xudu purged of traitors.

Cao Peng sat down calmly, ordered a dish of green plums and a pot of hot wine, and personally poured a cup for Liu Bei.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei did not sit, but stood behind Liu Bei, eyes wide and fierce, hands on their sword hilts.

Cao Peng, for his part, was unconcerned; his own martial prowess was no less than theirs.

Liu Bei was uneasy, uncertain of Cao Peng’s intentions. But Cao Peng genuinely seemed to wish only to drink and chat, making idle conversation.

As the wine flowed and the mood mellowed, dark clouds suddenly gathered above, harbingers of a coming storm.

Cao Peng suddenly asked, “Xuande, do you know how the dragon transforms amidst the clouds?”

Liu Bei shook his head blankly. “I am ignorant and do not know.”

Cao Peng stood and invited Liu Bei to join him at the railing to gaze at the sky.

“The dragon may be great or small, may rise or hide. When great, it calls forth clouds and exhales mist; when small, it conceals itself within the shell of a creature. When it rises, it soars through the cosmos; when it hides, it dwells within the waves. In times of turbulence, the dragon can transform with the times, just as a hero seizes opportunity to roam the world. I wish to ask you, Lord Xuande, in these troubled times, who can truly be called a hero?”

Liu Bei, reluctant to answer, tried to defer, but Cao Peng pressed him.

Left with no choice, Liu Bei said, “Yuan Shu of Huainan, with ample troops and supplies—could he be considered a hero?”

Cao Peng laughed. “A skeleton in his grave, his end is near.”

Liu Bei continued, “Yuan Shao of Hebei, born of four generations of high office, surrounded by strategists and generals, holding the land of Jizhou—does he qualify as a hero?”

Cao Peng scoffed, “He may appear fierce, but is a coward at heart—a paper tiger, indecisive and unworthy of mention.”

Liu Bei named Liu Biao of Jingzhou, Sun Ce of Jiangdong, Liu Zhang of Yizhou, as well as Zhang Xiu, Zhang Lu, and Han Sui.

Cao Peng dismissed them all as mediocrities.

Liu Bei began to frown. Was this man merely toying with him?

Bewildered, he finally said, “In that case, I truly do not know.”

Cao Peng smiled enigmatically, causing Liu Bei’s heart to race.

At last, he spoke slowly, “In my view, in all the world today, the only one who may be called a hero—is none other than you, Xuande.”

At these words, Liu Bei’s face changed dramatically.

Just then, a torrential rain burst forth, lightning cracking across the sky!

Startled, Liu Bei dropped his wine cup to the ground, while behind him Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, illuminated by the lightning, looked like guardian deities glaring furiously at Cao Peng.

Cao Peng suspected that any rash movement on his part would see these two draw their blades.

He burst out laughing. “Xuande, I never thought you’d be afraid of thunder!”

Liu Bei forced down his fear, his expression quickly returning to calm as he replied with an easy smile, “I am but a mortal man—naturally, I am afraid!”