A Great Star Falls
Cao Cao was strolling through the outskirts of Luoyang, Xu Chu at his side.
"Your Majesty. You have been out far too long. Would it not be wiser to return to the palace now?"
Worried for his lord's health, Xu Chu ventured the suggestion. Cao Cao only smiled.
"No. It has been ages since I last walked free, and the air does me good. A little longer, then we shall go."
So saying, he fixed his gaze on the Luo River flowing unhurried before him.
I have lived long enough. Life holds no more claim on me. And yet…
Outwardly he spoke with easy cheer, but within he hid a heavy heart. There was one matter he longed to see resolved as cleanly and freely as that rushing water.
Jageon… Cao Zhi. What am I to do with that boy?
The succession was already settled upon Cao Pi; he did not fret over who would follow him. What troubled him was the world after he was gone.
Once Cao Pi became crown prince, how would Cao Zhi—who had once rivaled him—respond?
A considerable faction still supported Cao Zhi. The brothers Ding Yi and Ding Yì, Xun Yu's son Xun Yun, and even the daughter of the renowned magnate Cui Yan, who served as Cao Zhi's concubine. And above all, Yang Xiu, Cao Zhi's most trusted man.
Yang Xiu in particular had once been a talent Cao Cao himself cherished, yet his habit of overreaching had long since cost him favor. The gravest problem was this:
That Yang Xiu has sunk his claws far too deep into the succession. And his ambition is vast.
Now that Cao Pi was named heir, power must rightly gather to him. If Cao Zhi's remaining strength stayed formidable, it could plant the seeds of future strife.
Thus Cao Cao felt the need to purge Yang Xiu and the rest of Cao Zhi's followers beforehand.
Yet something stayed his hand.
It was the memory of that night when Cao Pi was made crown prince—the sight of Cao Zhi, innocent and unknowing, fallen into his brother's snare and sleeping on, utterly unaware. The image would not leave him.
He had cast Cao Zhi aside with a show of cold resolve, but Cao Cao was still a father.
As sovereign, must I be harsher still? Or must I never again make a son weep?
He had known full well it was Cao Pi's scheme, yet he had still cast Cao Zhi out. The guilt of a father who had done his own child a cruel wrong could not simply be discarded.
And then there was the death of his firstborn, Cao Ang…
Age has made me sentimental. In younger days I would have decided at once. Still, before I die… Hm? Ugh—
Perhaps the strain of fretting in so frail a body was too much. Suddenly Cao Cao clutched his head and collapsed.
"Your Majesty!"
Xu Chu lunged forward and caught him before he struck the ground.
"Quickly! Carry His Majesty to the palace at once!"
The attendants scrambled in panic and lifted the limp form into a litter.
I thought I still had a little time left. Must I leave like this…?
That was the last thought before the thread of consciousness snapped.
"Xu Chu."
Cao Cao spoke to the bodyguard who never left his side. His eyes were too dim now to see clearly, yet he knew the man stood right there by feel alone.
"Yes, King of Wei."
"When I am gone, do not grieve overmuch. Every man must leave when his time comes. You have labored hard these many years, tending a poor lord."
"Your Majesty, why speak so weakly? You are only weary from many cares. Soon you will rise and shake it all off. This Xu Chu will yet live to see the realm under Your Majesty's hand."
"I know my own body well enough. Even without me, look after this land… and my unworthy sons."
"I shall. I have served Your Majesty all my life, and I will guard the kingdom and your sons to the end."
Heh.
Cao Cao laughed inwardly. This fellow would probably die still protecting the clan.
"You should go rest as well. You stood by me all day yesterday."
"Just a little longer… grant me leave to keep watch a little longer…"
"Stubborn as ever. Do as you will."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
At least with this one beside me on the road, I shall not be lonely.
The will was already written, the heir already named. All that remained was to hope those left behind would manage well. His foolish sons… may they not quarrel, and live in peace…
And one more matter still weighed on him…
The thought made body and mind heavier still, yet he wished to speak it now, while he could. Eyes closed, Cao Cao said:
"Xu Chu…"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Speak."
The low voice reached his ear.
"Do you think men have souls?"
The unexpected question left Xu Chu briefly at a loss.
"Souls, Your Majesty? …Why ask such a thing so suddenly?"
"I was thinking of my son Zixiu—Cao Ang. When I die, will I remain as a soul? And if—if such a thing truly exists, and I meet my son… if Cao Ang looks at me and asks, 'Where is my mother?'—what answer am I to give him?"
"Your Majesty… do not torment yourself so."
Cao Cao had never shown his feelings about that matter, yet Xu Chu, who had served closest of all, understood the heart behind the words.
He did not know how to comfort him.
Xu Chu had never been a man of ready speech, and had never much minded the fact. Yet today he cursed that lack more bitterly than ever. He could only say this:
"Your Majesty, first recover your strength. Too much fretting will only burden you further."
"Yes… yes…"
He had not expected an answer, yet being able to speak of it to someone before the end eased him a little.
"You should withdraw and rest as well."
"I will stay a while longer. I shall be quiet—rest deeply. A little sleep will restore you."
Heh. Such a stubborn mule.
He meant to say more, but his lips would no longer part.
His eyes would not open; his body felt sunk deep into the bed, immovable. Yet the headaches that had plagued him half a lifetime washed away like a sandcastle crumbling before the tide.
Xu Chu seemed to speak again, but Cao Cao gave no reply. He simply slipped into a deep sleep.
Cao Cao opened his eyes.
"Mm?"
How long had he slept? The brightness around him suggested the sun stood high.
And strangely, he felt refreshed. His body was no longer heavy; he could have risen and walked at once.
Turning his head slightly, he still saw Xu Chu's massive frame standing motionless beside the bed.
You fool—have you been here the whole day? I told you to go rest.
Cao Cao gave a small smile and sat up. He rose with an ease that made the aged body hard to believe. He felt fit enough to mount a horse and ride to battle that very moment.
"Xu Chu, I am in fine spirits today. I think I shall go out for a stroll."
A deep voice answered from beside him.
"My lord, you are awake?"
Cao Cao started. My lord? Wait—that was not Xu Chu's voice. Yet it was a voice he knew well.
He turned. A solid frame clad in sturdy armor stood there.
He looked closely at the face. Backlit by the bright light he had not recognized it at once, but now he knew. How could he ever forget that face?
"Dian Wei…"
"Yes, my lord. I have been waiting for you to wake."
"You… you still call me 'my lord'…?"
"What else would I call you? To me there is only one lord."
"Dian Wei. Thank you. And… I am sorry. Only now do I apologize."
"Why apologize? I did only what a vassal must."
"Even so…"
Dian Wei laughed heartily and continued.
"Come—we should go at once. Everyone is waiting."
Everyone…?
"Is Miaocai—Xiahou Yuan—there as well? And Lady Ding? And… is my son Zixiu among them?"
"Of course. I will escort you. Come quickly."
"Very well."
Cao Cao smiled broadly—how long had it been since he had smiled like this?
With light steps he rose from the bed. Then, side by side with his old bodyguard, he walked toward the place where the bright light shone.
"Your Majesty! Open your eyes! Your Majesty, how could you leave this servant behind and go first!"
The household was in a cold sweat—not only for Cao Cao's death, but because they had to strain every muscle simply to pry Xu Chu away from the body.
The old tiger that had been roaring and weeping suddenly went rigid. Then he crumpled where he stood and vomited a great mouthful of blood.
"General Xu Chu has coughed blood!"
Chaos doubled. Only after they had tended to the collapsed Xu Chu could they at last perform Cao Cao's funeral rites.
Cao Cao, courtesy name Mengde, was a man of Qiao County in the Pei state. In his youth the famed character-appraiser Xu Shao had judged him thus:
"In times of peace you would be a capable minister; in times of chaos, a cunning hero."
At the age of twenty he began his official career as Commandant of the Northern District of Luoyang, charged with guarding the capital's northern gate.
He first won renown suppressing the Yellow Turbans, then steadily gathered strength with those who shared his purpose.
Thereafter he received Emperor Xian, and one by one brought the warlords of the age to heel—Yuan Shao of Hebei among them.
Yet he closed his eyes in Luoyang without ever seeing the realm united under one rule.
Born in the year 155, he returned to the earth in 220. He was sixty-five years old.