Dragon Trapped in the Well
In the end, Liu Bei's army's destination became Xudu—no, Xuchang. It had earned the lofty title of "capital" now that the emperor resided there.
'Technically, folks in this era wouldn't even call it Xuchang.' But for the sake of later generations' convenience, that's the name it got stuck with. And it had already spread among the people, so Three Kingdoms media always referred to it that way.
Anyway, enough of that.
By the way, Cao Cao was now the Chancellor. The emperor's officially recognized number two.
From Liu Bei's perspective, this gave him the perfect excuse: he'd taken imperial orders to seek refuge in Xudu.
"They say heroes attract heroes, and the generals following you, Brother Xuande, all carry that heroic air!" Cao Cao laughed as he looked us over.
"And... there's Lady Fengxian too. I respect the resolve that raised a blade against the traitor Dong Zhuo." Cao Cao smiled, glancing at the Xiliang troops as well.
We'd once been enemies, but that didn't matter now. They were potential allies, so he was laying on the charm.
"And that brazen attempt to loot Xudu? It gave this Cao Mengde quite the chill." Cao Cao chuckled, his eyes flicking between Lu Bu and Zhen Gong in turn.
"Hmph..." Lu Bu caught the look and immediately bowed her head. Zhen Gong dipped his slightly, looking awkward.
Or maybe they're plotting revenge on the down-low.
Anyway.
"Hm. Seems my reputation precedes me." Lu Bu played it off with a flourish. The girl had come a long way in social skills since before.
From Cao Cao's view, he'd hooked a prime catch. Liu Bei's army and Lu Bu's Xiliang forces. A chance to swallow both whole—and he wasn't one to let opportunities slip. Classic Cao Cao.
"Well then, Brother Xuande. Join me in the carriage. Ha ha." Cao Cao gestured for Liu Bei to take the seat beside him.
"...!" Cao Cao's generals stared at Liu Bei in astonishment.
When a faction leader invited someone into his carriage, it meant something big. It showed he truly valued them.
In Cao Cao's camp, only someone like Xun Yu might ride alongside.
And now he'd put Liu Bei there. A clear signal: he'd treat him like a close confidant.
'And that's exactly what happened.' Surprisingly, Cao Cao was genuine with Liu Bei. Historical records noted they rode to work together daily, chatting whenever boredom struck. Even entrusting him with a city like Pei showed it.
Of course, things soured when Liu Bei secretly built his power base in Xudu, cozying up to the emperor. The final nail? Liu Bei's name on an assassination plot against Cao Cao. End of friendship.
Liu Bei wasn't one to stay under anyone forever. Cao Cao learned that the hard way.
'Man, badasses recognize badasses.' Lu Bu had tried looting empty Xudu houses while Cao Cao was away, and Zhen Gong had stirred up the Yen Province clans for rebellion. Yet Cao Cao glossed right over it.
'Guess he doesn't dig up the past if you're useful talent.' Pure pragmatism. Some call him petty, but this was big-hearted. After all, he'd taken in generals who'd nearly killed him, like Jia Xu.
Made sense. Zhen Gong was glaring daggers at Cao Cao, but he didn't bat an eye. Refreshingly straightforward guy.
'Zhen Gong... hope he doesn't stir up trouble.' That worried me a bit. My real hope was he'd stay quiet while we hunkered down in Xudu.
'If not, we cut off the tail.' That was my stance. If he manipulated action-oriented Lu Bu, that'd be trouble—but I had her leash tight.
Upon arriving in Xudu, a message popped up in my status window.
+1 Fate Point
Observed the dragon trapped in the well.
Yeah. Witnessing Liu Bei's refuge with Cao Cao's forces earned me 1 Fate Point.
'Sigh... Fate Points.' What a double-edged sword. I'd planned to bail on Liu Bei's crew, stockpile points, swap jobs, and chill in the Central Plains. But I'd gotten in too deep, and everything went sideways.
I had some saved, but no prime moment to spend them. Too wasteful to force a single choice change.
"Ideally, I'd present you to His Majesty right away and throw a feast, but you've fought and ridden all day. Rest up first." Cao Cao smiled.
Moments like this made him seem benevolent. He knew just how much courtesy to offer without overwhelming. Ruthless bastard one minute, saint the next—that's Cao Cao's charm. Unpredictable.
"Then we'll accept your kindness." Liu Bei dismounted gracefully, his tone polite.
"Ha ha. Do so." Cao Cao directed soldiers to escort us into the newly built palace inside Xudu. Modest compared to Chang'an's imperial city, but still impressively regal.
Following their lead, our group settled into lavish quarters unlike anything we'd seen in Xu Province.
"Brother, Cao Cao's climbed high. Heh heh." "He seems far more dignified than before." Zhang Fei and Guan Yu remarked to Liu Bei.
"We'll bide our time here, build our strength. Lord Mengde promised aid to retake Xu Province—fortunate indeed." Zhao Yun sounded optimistic.
"...It's never that simple." Liu Bei sighed, gazing at the ceiling.
"We're trapped in Cao Cao's vast pond."
The room fell somber at his words.
Now inside Cao Cao's camp, I realized things had gone seriously awry.
'Cao Cao... can't trust that guy.' Blame his weird tastes. Cao Cao had a hardcore thing for married women with kids—a total milf fanatic.
"Yonghwa, and Guan-nuna." I pulled them both into a hug.
"Eek... We just fled, and you're already raring to go...?" "Kim, what's this all of a sudden...?" Yonghwa and Guan Yu blushed.
"Don't open the door for strangers. And don't trust any men!" I spat my enmity toward Cao Cao.
"Kyahaha. Hee hee. Jealous much?" "Don't worry... I'm only interested in you. And I can protect myself." Yonghwa and Guan Yu laughed, hugging me back and easing my mind.
Meanwhile.
After ushering in the new guests, Cao Cao summoned Xun Yu, Xun You, Guo Jia, and Cheng Yu to his quarters. His most treasured advisors.
"What is it, Chancellor?" Xun Yu clasped his fists in salute and asked.
"What to do with Liu Bei?" Cao Cao eyed them all.
He had a habit of probing his subordinates like this, testing their mettle—that was his style.
"Kill him." Cheng Yu lifted his wrinkled, stern face and stated flatly.
"I agree with Lord Cheng." Guo Jia smirked lazily from his slack features.
"The reason?" Cao Cao prompted them.
"In just eight months, he seized Xu Province's hearts. He draws heroes like moths to flame. Not a man to serve under others. Leave him here, and he'll build his own faction and plot." Cheng Yu read Cao Cao's mind.
"You've always seen Liu Bei as a threat. He's dangerous. The emperor's faction under Dong Cheng secretly hates us. If they pull Liu Bei in, it gets messy. Best eliminate him now, like we did Hu Wan." Guo Jia echoed similarly.
"Xun Yu, Xun You—what say you?" Cao Cao turned to them.
"Spare him." Xun Yu smiled.
"Hm? Explain." Cao Cao chuckled, urging them on.
He never played favorites, moderating like a perfect host. It fostered healthy debate among his advisors.
"Killing a man in distress after he seeks refuge? Word spreads, and talent will shun us. You're already infamous in Xu Province... This would arm Dong Cheng's faction." Xun You gave the textbook take.
Xun Yu added the nuance.
"Don't you covet the heroes under Liu Bei?" Xun Yu pierced Cao Cao's heart.
"...Indeed." Cao Cao admitted it openly. Even Lu Bu, Liu Bei's ally, tempted him—feelings aside. Her generals Zhang Liao and Go Sun were fierce. And personally, Cao Cao lusted after that general Kim: brains, brawn, the full package. That's why he rated him so highly.
"Liu Bei's men treat him like kin. Lu Bu's alliance holds firm. Kill him, and they won't submit—they'll fight to the death. You'll have to slaughter them all."
"Go on."
"Then you lose reputation and the talent you want, as Lord Xun just said. Better keep him alive, give a token post with no power, erode his strength gradually, and absorb them bit by bit."
Cao Cao burst into laughter at Xun Yu's words.
"Excellent! We'll spare Liu Bei then. Crystal clear now!" He praised Xun Yu heartily.
The other advisors saluted without complaint at his decision.
Meanwhile.
Sun Jian gazed at Xu Province with a hollow expression.
The expedition had yielded results despite losses. Setting up an outpost here, then crushing Yuan Shu to reclaim Nanyang—that would be a solid achievement. What the Sun clan craved: expanding beyond Jiangdong northward.
But Sun Jian wasn't satisfied.
Xu Province was far poorer than expected. Once known for fine salt and thriving commerce, a rich land. That was the old Xu Province.
After Cao Cao's rampage, it was depopulated, barren. Liu Bei had barely restored some loyalty, but the foundations were shockingly weak.
Too much sacrifice for this scrap. He'd be lying if he felt no resentment. Like getting scammed on real estate.
"..." Sun Jian schooled his discomfort and summoned the two to reprimand.
"Fetch Ce and Quan."
He'd scold them publicly for their solo actions that let the enemy escape.
"..." Soon, Sun Ce and Sun Quan entered the tent, looking like abandoned puppies.
Sun Jian fixed them with a stern glare before his subordinates.
"Explain why you released that man Kim." He demanded answers from his children.