Cao Wei
Cao Wei came looking for me first thing in the morning, putting on airs yet again. I had been packing, about to leave — the man was nothing if not persistent.
It felt as though he was desperate to forge some semblance of a connection with me before he ran into any actual Wei officials.
"Well? Depending on your answer, something good might come of this."
I sighed inwardly and replied.
"Yes. My answer is exactly what Your Lordship expects it to be. We need to leave for Xuchang soon ourselves, so please return home. We did not come here for leisure. We are an envoy — more precisely, we came to offer condolences. We are here on important business."
"Hmm?"
When I cut him off so cleanly, he looked a little flustered and glanced at Fei Yi beside him. But Fei Yi, unlike yesterday, showed no particular interest and wore only a listless expression, which only darkened Cao Wei's face further.
"Come now! Did you read the letter I gave you yesterday? If so, explain in a little more detail what that answer of yours means."
"Yes, I read it. I know perfectly well it means nothing at all, so please go home. We have our own work to do."
"Ugh…"
At my blunt refusal, he scowled. Still, he showed no intention of leaving empty-handed.
"Is that so? I wonder if you'll still say that after seeing this. You there — bring it."
He spoke to the servant he had brought along, and the man set something wrapped in cloth upon the table.
"What is this?"
"You'll know when you see it."
When Fei Yi asked out of curiosity, Cao Wei squared his shoulders just as he had the day before. At his chin-jerk, the servant unwrapped the cloth, and at once we could see what it was.
"Oh. A coral tree."
Fei Yi murmured in admiration.
A coral tree with lush branches spreading in every direction displayed its splendid form right before our eyes.
Coral that grew in the sea was, in this age, a treasure of considerable value. I could see it was precious enough — but what exactly was I supposed to do with it?
"Do you know where I received this? Sun Quan, the King of Wu, sent it to me personally as a gift of friendship."
"Pardon? Is that true? From His Majesty the King of Wu himself?"
"Do you understand now? I am a man of such standing that even the King of Wu sends me gifts. Do you have any idea how valuable this is?"
When I showed a flicker of surprise, he grew smug once more. But I was startled for a rather different reason.
Sun Quan sent him this? If that's true, then Sun Quan didn't just write a few letters — he got played harder than I thought. He'll be furious when he finds out he was swindled by this idle freeloader. How on earth did Sun Quan end up tangled up with a man like this?
"Yes. It is a magnificent treasure. We've enjoyed the viewing. We have business to attend to, so we must be going."
"Yes. We need to head for Xuchang now. Good day to you, then. General Jin, shall we prepare to depart?"
Fei Yi, who already knew the man was a fraud, quickly wiped the look of admiration from his eyes.
"Wait — just a moment! You're simply leaving?"
Of course we're leaving. What else would we do? Offer him a bribe?
"We are here solely as a condolence mission, carrying out official duties. We have no time to spare for other matters, so please take your leave."
"Do you even know who I am?! I am a man who has received such a precious gift from the King of Wu!"
Relentless. Truly.
"Listen here, Lord Cao Wei."
"What is it?"
"You are a subject of Wei, are you not? Or if not a subject, then at least a man of Wei?"
"W-well, yes."
"We are on our way to offer condolences for the late King of Wei's passing. Why not come with us and attend the funeral rites?"
"I— I should?"
"Yes. Even we, who have come from another land, are here to pay our respects. As a man of Wei, would it not be fitting to go and do the same? It would be far more meaningful than standing here boasting of treasures. Someone of your distinguished station attending the rites would please everyone greatly."
"Hmm…"
If he goes to the funeral, Cao Pi and all the great houses of Wei will be thronging there. If word gets out of what he's been up to, they won't even leave his bones. Assuming he can even get in the door.
"Why hesitate? You'll see many people of far higher rank than us. His Majesty the current King of Wei will be there, along with most of Wei's senior ministers. Hmm. You might even see the Marquis of Yanling, Lord Cao Zhang, or the Marquis of Linzi, Lord Cao Zhi."
"Hmm? Cao Zhi? You say I might see Lord Cao Zhi?"
"Yes. As a son of the late King of Wei, he would naturally attend."
The moment I casually mentioned Cao Zhi, Cao Wei's face — which had briefly darkened — brightened a little, and that thoroughly disagreeable smile of his came flooding back.
"Hmph. To think Lord Cao Zhi would simply show up and attend. You are still poorly informed."
Hmm?
Fei Yi and I exchanged a brief glance, then feigned ignorance and drew him out.
"Are you saying Lord Cao Zhi will not come?"
"Why would you say such a thing? Lord Cao Zhi is the third son of the late King of Wei. I see no reason he would not attend."
As Fei Yi and I took turns playing dumb, Cao Wei grew even more animated.
"You two truly know nothing. Word has been circulating quietly that Lord Cao Zhi and His Majesty the current King of Wei are on poor terms. Some even say the two of them refuse to look each other in the face."
I've heard the rumors that Cao Pi and Cao Zhi don't get along — if even this man knows about it, it must have spread quite far.
"Well. Even if they are on poor terms, wouldn't he still attend his own father's funeral?"
"Hah. You really know nothing at all. Seeing as you are General Jin Cheong, I'll drop a little hint. Have you heard of Yang Xiu?"
"Yes, I have. I know him as Lord Cao Zhi's trusted confidant."
"That Yang Xiu nearly received punishment from His Majesty the current King of Wei not long ago. I don't know the reason, but he must have done something to earn disfavor. Just before the sentence fell, however, he caught wind of it, slipped away, and fled to Yecheng where Lord Cao Zhi resides. Even now, they say, Lord Cao Zhi keeps making one excuse after another and refuses the King's order to hand Yang Xiu over."
Yang Xiu. In the original history he was executed over the Chicken Ribs affair in Hanzhong — but for now, at least, he is alive.
I thought Cao Cao might dispose of him later over the succession, but it seems he never did kill him in the end. I don't know why.
And Cao Zhi holds Ye as well.
In the original history, Cao Zhi contested the succession with Cao Pi, but afterward he lived quietly with little to show for it. He even lamented that he was never put to use for the realm.
But if this man is telling the truth, the two of them are on the verge of open confrontation. Yang Xiu's survival in particular could become a variable. I'll need to look into this more carefully later.
Having sorted my thoughts, I continued to play ignorant. For all I knew, the man was exaggerating again.
"Well. Even if the two of them are on poor terms, isn't that a bit overstated? And though Yang Xiu is Lord Cao Zhi's confidant, I understand he once served the late King of Wei at his very side. I see no reason he would stay away from the funeral."
"You'll find out when you go yourself."
"Then why not come with us and see? Whether Lord Cao Zhi attends or not. If you have no intention of coming to the funeral, then please go home. We need to get on with our own business."
"Come now, must you really do this?! I already told you I'm not going."
Would you stop clinging already.
"Lord Cao Wei. I know exactly what you're thinking and exactly what you're doing. Stop it, even now. I am saying this for your own good. Do you understand?"
I was not speaking empty words. If he kept this up, he would genuinely lose his head — a warning that he would do well to look after himself while he still could.
"No! I cannot leave like this! I showed you the King of Wu's letter and even his treasure, and this is the treatment I receive?!"
What is so special about showing us that thing that he's making this much of a scene? He's not even giving it to us. Am I supposed to bow my head and beg him to look kindly on me?
"Very well. Then I will write a reply and give it to you."
"Truly?"
"Yes. Truly."
I unrolled a bamboo slip, roughly wrote out a poem from the Classic of Poetry, and handed it to him.
"What is this?"
Cao Wei looked at it for a moment, then asked back in a clumsy tone.
"Go and read it carefully, and you will find your answer. We must be going now as well. Yu Eun, Zheng Sui. We depart shortly."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Cao Wei still looked ready to cling, but I managed to send him off at last.
He fretted over the bamboo slip I had given him, turning it this way and that, then scratched his head and left. Go on — taste a bit of your own scheme for once.
Once Cao Wei was gone, I spoke briefly with Fei Yi.
"We'll need to look into Cao Zhi and Yang Xiu a little more later. They may become variables in the northern campaigns ahead."
"Yes. I was thinking the same."
Having rid ourselves of the bothersome fly, we packed our things again and prepared to leave for Xuchang.
What we did not know then was that the fly was still circling around us.