The Imperial Tomb
After Cao Cao left this world, many things changed. Naturally, the greatest among them was that Cao Pi succeeded him.
A new sovereign. A new master.
And with it, the fall of the Han and Cao Pi’s ascension to the throne.
People had not been unaware of the discord that had played out right up until Cao Pi claimed the seat of power. As a result, more than a few felt uneasy once he stepped into Cao Cao’s place.
The succession itself had proceeded more peacefully than expected, yet people could not stop fretting that this peace might shatter at any moment—especially while watching the faces of Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi. The friction between the brothers was enough to sow worry and anxiety throughout the realm.
Change came for Cao Zhang as well. The most conspicuous of all was none other than the Qingzhou Soldiers.
The Qingzhou Soldiers Cao Cao had taken in during his days in Yan Province had fought across the battlefields for decades, right up until his death. Loyal to Cao Cao alone, some of them voluntarily disbanded and returned to their hometowns once he was gone.
But that also meant a considerable number still remained—and under Cao Zhang, no less.
Originally their commander had been Zang Ba, but he fell in battle to Jin Cheong during the Hanzhong campaign. In Zang Ba’s place Cao Zhang took charge of the Qingzhou Soldiers and from that moment began to exert his influence over them. Strict discipline followed—plunder was punished—yet so did extraordinary generosity: double the usual rewards for any who rendered meritorious service.
Thus more and more among the Qingzhou Soldiers, moved by Cao Zhang’s martial skill and character, began to follow him in earnest. When Cao Cao died, those who had not left swore their loyalty to Cao Zhang.
“With the late king no longer among us, the only one we must serve is the Marquis of Yanling alone!”
And so Cao Zhang came to command the remaining Qingzhou Soldiers. At a glance it looked like a heartwarming scene, yet it was also an event that left some trembling with unease. Of all people, not Cao Pi but Cao Zhang. He might well draw Cao Pi’s jealousy.
And as for Cao Zhi…
This was before he shut himself inside Yecheng and refused to come out.
When Cao Cao died, Cao Zhi felt a direct threat to his life—from his own elder brother. Summoned without warning, he could only stare in dismay at Cao Pi’s demand.
“Your poetry is known throughout the realm. Therefore I wish to test you once. Compose a poem while walking seven paces, right here and now.”
He called it a test, but it was no different from a threat to kill him if he failed.
Under the tense gazes of everyone present, Cao Zhi steadied his heart and began to walk, one step at a time. When the seventh pace was complete, so was a poem—a masterpiece that transformed the assembly’s tension into awe.
Even Cao Pi, for a moment, forgot that he had meant to kill him and mulled over the verses. Yet Cao Pi was relentless.
I grant the poetry, but if I leave you alive you will be a future threat.
It was then that their mother, Lady Bian—Empress Wuxuan—appeared and saved him. She scolded Cao Pi, asking whether it was right to draw a blade against one’s own brother, and Cao Zhi managed to keep his life for the time being.
He returned straight to Yecheng, never set foot outside the walls again, and quietly devoted himself to internal administration.
Meanwhile, unlike Cao Zhi who had sealed himself inside Yecheng, Cao Zhang had to hurry from place to place.
After Cao Cao’s death, large and small bands of bandits rose one after another across the land. None of the uprisings was great enough to shake the state, yet the chaos was real, so Cao Zhang himself led troops to put them down.
After several months spent restoring order, he met with Cao Pi.
Cao Pi did not threaten him openly the way he had threatened Cao Zhi. Instead he offered a proposal that, surprisingly, seemed to follow the path of righteousness.
“You have worked hard traveling about to suppress the disorders. I have poured my heart into building Father’s mausoleum—how about paying a visit?”
“As a son it is only proper that I go and pay my respects.”
Cao Zhang accepted the offer gladly.
I could not even be at Father’s side at the end, yet Elder Brother has arranged this chance for me.
He had ridden day and night from Chang’an the moment he heard Cao Cao was critically ill, yet he had not arrived in time and in the end could not watch over him. That failure had always weighed on him; now he would see his father and offer his apologies.
“That over there appears to be His Majesty Emperor Wu’s mausoleum.”
“Yes. General Tian’s words seem correct.”
Tian Yu, the subordinate general who had accompanied him, spoke. Looking where he pointed, a finely built tomb indeed came into view.
Father.
As the mausoleum drew nearer, Cao Zhang’s chest filled with emotion. Recalling that majestic figure from life, his eyes naturally grew red.
“From here we dismount and walk.”
“Yes.”
Leaving the rest of the retinue behind, Cao Zhang began the walk to Cao Cao’s tomb with only Tian Yu at his side.
“Indeed, it seems His Majesty poured his heart into building it.”
The closer they came, the more admiration rose.
Though the two of them never seemed close in life, Elder Brother too now wishes to fulfill his filial duty.
“Your Highness. There are paintings on that wall over there.”
“Oh?”
Approaching the wall that surrounded the tomb, they saw finely rendered pictures, just as Tian Yu had said.
“They look like battle scenes.”
As he said, the wall showed a mounted general. Was it meant to honor the fighting figure of Cao Cao, who bore the posthumous title of Martial Emperor?
Thinking so, Cao Zhang stepped closer to the mural.
“Uh…?”
As if realizing something, Tian Yu froze in place and let out a low groan.
“Tian Yu. What is it?”
“Y-Your Highness…!”
Just as the ashen-faced Tian Yu tried to move and block his path, Cao Zhang himself recognized the painting and froze solid on the spot as if turned to ice.
Th-This is…?
The moment he grasped what the painting showed, he could not help but freeze.
The mounted general held a bow and was sniping someone. In front of him another general lay fallen, struck by the arrow.
It was a scene that could easily occur on any battlefield—yet for Cao Zhang, who had identified the archer, it was anything but ordinary.
The general’s appearance: long hair, fine eyelashes, red lips. Anyone could see it was a female general.
In all the realm there was only one general whose gender was female. And Cao Zhang had once been shot by that female general’s arrow and fallen from his horse—right in the Hanzhong campaign.
Then the fallen general is… none other than me…?
He was so flabbergasted that words failed him. He had fought with his life on the line even if he had been defeated once. Yet to be treated like this…
His body trembled; cold sweat poured out.
“Y-Your Highness….”
Tian Yu, equally pale and sweating, approached and stammered,
“Your Highness. If you are unwell, it would be best to return for today.”
Having spoken, he prostrated himself flat before Cao Cao’s mausoleum and urgently continued,
“Emperor Wu. I am most sorry to report, but as the Marquis of Yanling is presently unwell… we shall return for today. I beg you to forgive us with your broad heart.”
He rose and hurriedly tried to lead Cao Zhang away.
“Your Highness. Let us return to your residence for now. I shall escort you.”
But Cao Zhang stood rigidly in place, showing no sign of moving.
“Your Highness…?”
“The paintings… there is more than one.”
“Pardon…?”
Following Cao Zhang’s gaze, they saw another painting drawn beside the one of him. It too seemed to depict generals on a battlefield.
“That is…?”
It differed a little from the painting of Cao Zhang, yet it was drawn so clearly that one could tell at once what scene it was.
Recognizing it, Cao Zhang bit his lip. His heart grew heavy in a different way from before.
Elder Brother. Why on earth would you do such a thing…
Just then a man’s voice came from behind them.
“The Marquis of Yanling has come, I see? And beside him General Tian Yu? You have come to pay respects to Emperor Wu! I too have come to pay homage to His Majesty. I have arrived at a fortunate moment. Let us go in together….”
Recognizing the voice, Cao Zhang cut him off and cried out urgently,
“General Yu Jin?! You must not! Do not come any closer!”
Yu Jin, making his way toward Cao Cao’s mausoleum, could find no way to calm his racing heart. For long years he had followed Cao Cao and won countless military merits, yet the final “achievement” he had left behind had only bruised Cao Cao’s heart.
After barely being released from captivity he had contracted a sickness of the mind and for a time had not set foot outside his house. Around the time his body recovered its health, he received word from Cao Pi that he should visit Cao Cao’s tomb.
If it is the Martial Emperor’s mausoleum, of course I must go and pay my respects.
So Yu Jin set out, believing without doubt that if he bowed before Cao Cao his heart would heal even a little.
When he reached his destination he discovered a familiar sight: Cao Zhang, and the subordinate general Tian Yu whom he always brought along.
The Marquis of Yanling has come here as well. Good—we can pay our respects together.
Glad at heart, Yu Jin spoke.
“The Marquis of Yanling has come, I see? And beside him General Tian Yu? You have come to pay respects to Emperor Wu! I too have come to pay homage to His Majesty. I have arrived at a fortunate moment. Let us go in together….”
When Cao Zhang turned at his words, his face was unexpectedly ashen.
“General Yu Jin?! You must not! Do not come any closer!”
The words that followed were even harder to understand. But in that moment Yu Jin saw it—the painting on the wall, visible over Cao Zhang’s shoulder.
That painting.
It was Yu Jin himself. And in front of him stood a general boasting a long and beautiful beard.
Yu Jin knew well who he was: Guan Yu, whose fame as the Beautiful-Bearded Lord was known far and wide.
He himself was kneeling before that Guan Yu.
How can this be…. This painting is…
The most humiliating episode of his life—the very scene in which he had begged Guan Yu for surrender—had been painted there for all to see.
“Heh heh heh….”
Yu Jin let out a hollow laugh and collapsed to a sitting position on the ground.