Chapter 090: Cao Cao’s Lethal Intent

Compared with the elite Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, the rabble at Cao Pi's side was nothing but a mob of disorderly men.

Cao Pi gathered his courage and asked, "General Xu, Cao Peng caused my father's death. Why are you still protecting him?"

Xu Chu heard this and snapped coldly, "Nonsense. How could my lord have a son like you? You have utterly shamed the House of Cao!"

Cao Pi was stunned by the rebuke. "General, why speak to me so harshly?"

Xu Chu looked at the pitiful wretch and said, "My lord is alive and well, and he has already returned. He will be here before long."

What?

The news struck like a bolt from a clear sky.

Outside the Chancellor's residence, the air grew heavy and still, so oppressive that everyone felt it difficult to breathe.

Cao Pi, Fu Wan, and the others did not even dare draw breath.

Cao Cao was truly not dead?

Then had everything been deliberately staged for the world to see?

Though the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry numbered only a little over four hundred, their presence was no less intimidating than an army ten times their size.

Once deployed, they surrounded everyone there in an iron ring, and no one dared move.

Ma Teng had already sized up the situation. A man long seasoned by battle, he knew clearly that there was no escape no matter what.

The difference in strength was far too great.

Before long, the sound of orderly footsteps announced the approach of an army.

"The Chancellor has arrived!"

That single cry extinguished every last hope in their hearts.

Cao Ren personally led the troops, and at the center of them came Cao Cao's carriage.

When Cao Peng looked again at the faces around him, Cao Pi and the others seemed like frost-stricken eggplants, stripped of all their earlier confidence and arrogance.

"We are finished..."

Cao Pi wore a bitter expression. It was as if he had been dreaming, and even now he still had not awakened.

He simply could not believe that his life had ended this way.

Only when his father, Cao Cao, whom he knew better than anyone, stepped down from the carriage and looked at him with blazing anger beneath that broad beard did reality finally crush down upon him.

Cao Cao was not angry because a father's love was wounded; he was angry because his son had been so foolish as to let himself be used as another man's spear.

Such a son might as well not exist.

Cao Cao's expression hardened. He strode forward and slapped Cao Pi across the face.

"Cao Pi, you have certainly become quite capable! Has no one told you that mutiny is treason? Were you trying to kill your elder brother? Were you trying to destroy the foundation of the House of Cao?"

With every question, Cao Cao's hand came down again, leaving another searing slap across Cao Pi's face.

At last, the final blow sent Cao Pi sprawling to the ground. He collapsed there, weeping bitterly, and did not rise again.

Cao Cao shook his head at him in disappointment, then issued the order.

"Take them!"

Cao Ren immediately waved a hand, and countless armored soldiers surged forward to bind everyone present.

This chaotic affair had finally come to an end.

Cao Cao patted Cao Peng on the shoulder and said with feeling, "Anmin, if not for you this time, my life would have been lost!"

Cao Peng cupped his hands and replied respectfully, "It is only my duty to relieve my uncle's burdens!"

Cao Cao let out that familiar laugh of his, then said, "Come, follow me to the palace and see what that little emperor has to say now."

Leading the army into the imperial palace, Liu Xie already knew that things had gone terribly wrong.

Whether he could keep his life was uncertain.

After Cao Cao and Cao Peng entered the great hall, they immediately ordered the soldiers to fetch Liu Xie.

When he was found, Liu Xie was hiding beneath his own bed.

The soldiers dragged him out by both arms and brought him before Cao Cao. Liu Xie was trembling all over, curled into himself like a frightened child.

Cao Cao looked at his terrified state, then crouched down with a smile that was not quite a smile and spoke to him.

"Your Majesty, why is it that people are never content?"

"After Dong Zhuo's calamity, there came the chaos of Li Jue and Guo Si. At that time Your Majesty fled east from the Guanzhong region, wandering in utter misery, not even able to eat a single hot meal. How wretched you were.

"Your Majesty issued an imperial decree and called on Yuan Shao and the others to come to the rescue, but none of them would come. It was I who led troops to welcome Your Majesty to Xu City without invitation, providing you with fine clothes and rich food.

"When Yuan Shu proclaimed himself emperor, it was again I who led the campaign against him. Had I not done so, the realm would surely have seen many men declaring themselves kings and emperors by now. What, then, would remain of the great Han?"

By the end, Cao Cao's voice had grown louder and louder, and the more he spoke, the more frightened Liu Xie became.

Perhaps inflamed by his own words, Cao Cao even felt a surge of emotion, believing himself to be indeed a loyal minister of the Han.

Liu Xie was filled with terror, fearing that in Cao Cao's agitation he might be killed.

He trembled and crawled backward, finally falling onto the steps.

Over and over he begged Cao Cao for mercy. "Chancellor, Chancellor, it was all my fault. I beg you, spare me this once..."

Cao Peng could not bear to watch any longer. "Enough, Uncle. Why waste time with such a man? Let us get to the business at hand."

Cao Cao nodded and signaled that everything thereafter should be left to Cao Peng.

Cao Peng had two soldiers support Liu Xie beneath the arms and help him up onto the dragon throne.

Looking at the terrified emperor, Cao Peng said, "Your Majesty, you do not wish to die, do you?"

Liu Xie hurriedly shook his head and cried, "General, please beg the Chancellor for me. I do not want to die!"

Cao Peng smiled, and the smile was bright. "In that case, Your Majesty must obey us. Otherwise, I cannot guarantee your safety."

Liu Xie nodded so rapidly it was like a chick pecking grain. "General, I will listen to whatever you say. I will listen to everything."

Cao Peng smiled. The fellow had clearly been scared witless; there should be no problem now.

Next, this chaotic affair needed to be brought to a close.

Cao Peng ordered, "Man Chong, send men to invite all the lords and generals to attend court, and then go fetch those condemned ministers."

"Yes."

After Man Chong left, Cao Peng began instructing Liu Xie on what he must do next.

Soon after, the civil and military officers under Cao Cao's command arrived.

Xun Yu, Guo Jia, and the other strategists stood to the left, while warriors such as Cao Ren and Zhang Liao stood to the right.

A little later, the court's nobles and ministers also arrived.

Seeing the Emperor of Han trembling on his seat, and Cao Cao seated below with murderous intent about him, everyone guessed that something momentous would occur today.

At last, Man Chong returned, bringing Fu Wan, Dong Cheng, Yang Biao, and the others up in chains.

Dong Cheng and the rest had already been tortured in prison. They were battered and bruised, hair disheveled, their faces still smeared with blood and mud.

Seeing such a scene, Liu Xie wore a face of deep distress. What Cao Peng was about to force him to do was truly humiliating beyond measure.

"Traitor Cao!" Dong Cheng cried out fiercely at the sight of Cao Cao.

Cao Peng instantly rose to his feet, drew the sword at his waist, and in a single stroke severed three of Dong Cheng's fingers.

Blood gushed forth like a spring. Dong Cheng fell to his knees, his face contorted in pain.

Before anyone else could speak, Cao Peng seized the initiative and declared, "As a condemned minister, you dare insult the present Chancellor in the imperial court? Your crime merits death!"

Cao Peng's ruthlessness shocked everyone present, and the hall fell into an unexpected silence.