Cao Pi and Cao Zhi
Back in his own quarters, Cao Pi exhaled a seething breath of hot air.
"Why won't Father send me? Don't tell me he truly means to name Jageon his heir."
The thought that had just struck him made it hard to breathe.
Jamun nearly seized command of the Qingzhou Soldiers for his service in the last war — and me…?
In the recent Hanzhong campaign, both Cao Pi and Cao Zhang had each suffered a defeat at Jin Cheong's hands. But Cao Zhang had redeemed himself by rescuing their beleaguered forces twice over. The credit for rallying the Qingzhou Soldiers after the loss of Zang Ba had been especially great.
Cao Pi, by contrast, had been forced to abandon Hanzhong under a general retreat order before he ever found a chance to wipe away his own disgrace.
"And if Jageon wins military glory in this war? The succession may slip beyond my reach entirely."
Cao Pi summoned Wu Zhi and Zhu Shuo, the two men he always kept close at hand, and laid the matter before them. Cao Zhi's departure was set for tomorrow. Failure would be ideal — but success could not be ruled out.
If he defeated the renowned Guan Yu, Cao Zhi's standing would be set in stone as surely as if it had been built upon bedrock. That much was plain as day.
No doubt Father had issued the marching order hoping Cao Zhi would distinguish himself. Cao Pi's chest felt tight. That the eldest son should inherit was the natural order of things — so why did everything keep twisting itself into such a tangle?
As Cao Pi sighed, Wu Zhi and Zhu Shuo leaned in and murmured.
"Do not trouble yourself, my lord. We have a plan."
"Oh? What is it?"
"Wine."
"Wine?"
"Yes, wine. What does Lord Cao Zhi love more than anything?"
Cao Pi tilted his head at the unexpected word — then understood at once and nodded.
"Of course. That method. Perfectly suited to Cao Zhi."
Cao Pi smiled with sly malice, and Wu Zhi and Zhu Shuo snickered along with him.
"We've already prepared fine wine and meat."
"Lord Cao Zhi is staying at a small residence outside the walls in preparation for tomorrow's review. As it happens, Yang Xiu is elsewhere handling military affairs. Go at once and console him with wine."
"Yes. As an elder brother, I ought to go congratulate my younger brother on his departure."
Cao Zhi's nature was mild — but if he had one great flaw, it was that he could never refuse a drink.
Once, in a drunken stupor, he had opened the Sima Gate — a gate only the Emperor himself was permitted to pass through — and nearly paid a terrible price for it. Cao Cao had flown into a rage, executed the Master of the Palace Gates who had charge of the imperial entrances, and tightened the laws still further. It had been the incident that once shattered Cao Zhi's standing in a single blow.
Even so, Cao Zhi had never managed to give up wine.
The plan was simple: pour enough drink into him to leave him dead drunk, and so sabotage tomorrow's departure. It was a base, vulgar scheme of the sort only men like Wu Zhi and Zhu Shuo would invent — and yet precisely the kind of stratagem Cao Pi was willing to carry out.
"Come. Let's go."
They hastily gathered the fine wine and meat and made their way in secret to the temporary residence where Cao Zhi was staying.
"Elder Brother. What brings you here at this late hour?"
Cao Zhi looked puzzled by the unexpected visitors.
"What else? As your elder brother, I've come to encourage you before you march."
Though mildly surprised, Cao Zhi welcomed his brother's visit. Truthfully, with the battlefield so near, his nerves had been stretched taut.
And being of a gentle nature, it never occurred to him that his elder brother might mean him harm on the eve of so important a duty. Had this not been the marching order their father had issued only after long deliberation?
"Here — take this. I've brought wine and meat."
"Elder Brother, I'm grateful for the thought, but I am to march tomorrow."
"I know. One cup will do no harm, will it? Just one — what could go wrong? Come, let your brother pour for you."
"Very well, Elder Brother. Then I'll take just one cup."
A soft gurgle filled the cup, and the corner of Cao Zhi's mouth lifted slightly.
Honestly, it had been a night when the tension made him crave a drink. He had been holding himself back for tomorrow's departure — but with his brother here like this, how could he refuse?
He drained the cup in one long swallow, and the tightness in his chest eased; his body grew comfortable.
"Elder Brother, you must have a cup as well. Allow me to pour for you."
"Gladly. Come to think of it, it's been a long time since we shared a drink."
The bottle tipped, and the cloudy liquor filled the cup to the brim.
"Ahh!"
Cao Pi downed the wine his younger brother had poured in a single draught and broke into a broad smile.
"Here — have some meat as well."
"Thank you, Elder Brother. Mm. It's excellent."
"Of course. For my little brother, only the best would do."
"That's my elder brother for you. Hahaha!"
The two brothers ate the meat and other dishes and talked as they went.
"So — how do you feel about tomorrow's departure?"
At that, Cao Zhi's face darkened a little.
"Truthfully, I'm nervous, and I worry. To face the great general Guan Yu, no less. Still — I'm not going alone. The other commanders will be with me, so I suppose it will be all right."
"Yes, yes. Don't fret too much. War is something men wage, after all. I've been to the battlefield myself more than once, and here I am, perfectly whole. Don't take the burden on yourself — just come back safe. When you return, we'll share another cup like this, eh?"
"Elder Brother…"
"What is Guan Yu, in the end? He's only a man. This may well be your chance to win great merit. Defeat him and show them what you're capable of."
Cao Zhi felt a warmth rise in his chest at Cao Pi's words. Until now, the question of succession had left the brothers nothing but awkward with each other.
I've kept too much distance over the succession. We're brothers, aren't we? Even if I never become king, I will always honor him as my elder brother.
Sharing wine like this, he believed without a shadow of doubt that their fraternal bond would only grow stronger from here on.
But while Cao Zhi felt this way, Cao Pi was thinking something else entirely.
If you've stepped into the succession struggle, you should be prepared for this much. This is war, and this is politics. I have no intention of losing this fight.
He hid the blackness of his heart behind a kindly smile.
"Come, drink more. There's plenty left."
Cao Pi kept pressing the side dishes on him. After eating so much greasy food, Cao Zhi's throat grew dry and sticky.
"Elder Brother — my throat is rather clogged."
At his younger brother's words, Cao Pi smiled faintly. Just as I thought. As if a creature like you could hold out without drinking more.
But he kept his true thoughts hidden and urged the wine on him with quiet insistence. You won't be able to refuse. Not you.
"Then wet your throat with wine. Here."
"Mm… just one more cup, then…"
"Yes — here you are."
Cao Zhi's cup filled with wine once more. He stared at it for a moment, then, with a what-the-hell resolve, gulped it down in great swallows.
The ringing through his throat and head was exactly the sensation he had been craving.
"Ahem. Truly fine wine. But Elder Brother — won't you have more?"
"Ah, I'm fine. Just watching my little brother drink is enough to fill me up."
"Hahahaha! Elder Brother, what a joke! When I return victorious, I'll treat you to a proper feast next time."
"Good — this elder brother of yours will be waiting!"
The drunkenness was rising steadily. With each cup he drained, Cao Zhi erased a little more of tomorrow's departure from his mind.
"Come, drink more, more. There's as much wine as you want."
No longer capable of sound judgment, Cao Zhi took cup after cup of that black-hearted wine and drank it down.
How much time had passed? In the end, unable to master the liquor, Cao Zhi sprawled flat on the floor and lost consciousness.
"Little brother! Little brother! Are you all right?"
Cao Pi slapped Cao Zhi's cheeks as he called out, but there was no response at all. Completely drunk and collapsed — he would not come to his senses before morning.
"Done. All of you, come in."
Sensing the matter was settled, Cao Pi called in Wu Zhi and Zhu Shuo, who had been waiting outside for their cue.
"My lord."
"Did it go well?"
"See with your own eyes."
Wu Zhi and Zhu Shuo slipped inside and found Cao Zhi sprawled in a corner of the room, utterly still. The whole chamber reeked of wine.
"It's done. Heh heh heh."
"It will only be a matter of time before he falls from His Majesty the King of Wei's favor."
Wu Zhi and Zhu Shuo wore mean little smiles. Then they lowered their voices.
"My lord, you should leave now."
"Yes — if anyone comes, this will grow serious. Especially if that Yang Xiu sees anything, it will become a nuisance."
"True."
Just as the three of them were about to step outside as though nothing had happened —
"Elder Brother… Elder Brother…"
At the sudden voice, all three froze and turned to look at Cao Zhi.
"Elder Brother… mm…"
Still lying down, Cao Zhi mumbled and shifted, knocking over the wine bottle by his head.
The liquor soaked the floor in a wide dark stain. Naturally it seeped into the clothes of the man sprawled on the ground, wetting his cheek, his hair, the nape of his neck.
He lay spread-eagled, unmoving, unaware of any of it.
"Huuuh…"
"Just talking in his sleep…"
"Whew. Took ten years off my life."
Even the usually brazen Wu Zhi and Zhu Shuo had gone rigid in that moment and now let out sighs of relief — but Cao Pi was baring his white teeth and snickering.
"I-it's done now…"
"Q-quickly, my lord, let's go. If someone comes…"
Barely recovering their wits, Wu Zhi and Zhu Shuo hurried to lead Cao Pi out.
They were just opening the door to leave when —
Rrrumble! Bang!
With a burst of noise the door swung open, and Cao Pi and the other two startled so hard they froze where they stood.
Outside stood a figure of familiar shape.
"Y-Your Majesty the King of Wei!"
"Y-Your Majesty — what brings you here?"
"Father…"
They could not believe their eyes. How had Cao Cao come all the way here?
Cao Cao said nothing. He merely frowned once, then stepped into the building.
Thud.
His heavy footfalls struck the floor with a dull, solid sound.