The Left Wise King's Fall
There was simply no room for discussion. Chae Ae-aeng—oh? Blocking it? The Left Wise King of the Xiongnu, Liu Bao, had parried my first strike even after I brought my full strength down upon him. His guards rushed desperately to protect their lord. But the moment they caught up to me, it was already over.
“Do not interfere!”
I cut down the Xiongnu soldiers blocking my path. The Tiger and Leopard Cavalry around me were also struck from behind while protecting their commander, falling one by one. In the chaos, I saw the Left Wise King Liu Bao trying to flee once more. I had no intention of letting him escape. Raising my spear, I aimed it like a harpoon and hurled it with all my might at his back.
The spear flew true and buried itself in his back.
“Kuhk!”
“Hmm?”
I thought it would pierce straight through and kill him instantly, but even after falling from his horse with the spear in him, he tried to rise again. Either his armor was too thick for a clean penetration, or my arm had lost some strength from the long campaign.
“Well, it does not matter.”
Shrrrng—
I drew the sword at my waist and charged. Liu Bao staggered as he tried to pull the spear from his back. I brought the blade down cleanly across his neck.
Chwaaaak—
With that, the entire line of Xiongnu royal descendants from the era of the Sixteen Kingdoms was severed. The succession struggle for the next Chanyu after Hu Zhutian would be fierce. In the future, when Yuan Shao and Cao Cao fought over Hebei, the Xiongnu would be in no position to intervene.
“Your Majesty, the former General of the Household Cao Xiu, who lost his post after the Yidai Zhao incident, now presents the head of Liu Bao, the Xiongnu commander who invaded the Han, at this very place.”
A splendid return. After the Yidai Zhao incident, I had become the image of a man driven out for standing against Cao Cao’s attempt to execute even Dong Guiren. Now that image had transformed into one of unwavering loyalty: a man who, even after being dismissed, rushed to repel the Xiongnu invasion without rank and captured the enemy’s great general.
“He is truly a pillar of the state. Cao Xiu has performed a magnificent deed.”
“I am unworthy, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor, who had attempted a grand coup with the Yidai Zhao incident only to fail, could only seethe inwardly, powerless to touch the Cao and Xiahou clans. In that situation, Cao Cao made a suggestion.
“Your Majesty, rather than merely rewarding the repulsion of the Xiongnu, would it not be fitting to bestow a new office upon Cao Xiu for personally beheading the Xiongnu Left Wise King?”
“Do so.”
“Cao Xiu has shown great talent in commanding troops. I suggest he be granted the title of Fujun and appointed Zhonglangjiang.”
“It shall be done.”
Thus the promise Cao Cao and I had made—“return and you will be Zhonglangjiang”—was fulfilled.
“Cao Xiu is hereby granted the post of Fujun Zhonglangjiang and awarded three hundred catties of gold for beheading the enemy commander.”
“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless!”
I was now a Zhonglangjiang. After leaving the audience chamber, Cao Cao placed a hand on my shoulder.
“I was going to scold you for coming without being summoned. But then Miaocai told me you brought the enemy commander’s head yourself. Is that true, Zayul?”
“I was enjoying my leave when word came that the Southern Xiongnu had invaded, so I came at once.”
“This rascal. And why does your face look like that? It has only been a month, yet you are half the man you were.”
Even Cao Cao was now saying I looked emaciated. It seemed I really would have to eat five meals a day and train to put on weight.
“Nothing happened while I was away?”
“All who plotted rebellion have been dealt with. Only one remains.”
Cao Cao had purged Dong Cheng, Wang Zifu, Wu Zilan, Chong Ji and their entire faction. The one left was, of course, Dong Guiren. I had tried to stop it, but her execution had become inevitable. Once she gave birth, her fate was sealed. Moreover, she had actively participated in the Yidai Zhao plot by personally delivering secret letters between the Emperor and the ministers at her father Dong Cheng’s command. There was no way to spare her.
“Shall we go, then?”
“Uncle, the place we are going is not your residence, is it?”
“Ah, I have been supporting my wives’ hobbies lately.”
Hobbies? What was that supposed to mean?
Following Cao Cao with that question in mind, Dian Wei also moved as though accustomed to the route. One by one, hidden villas on the outskirts of Xudu came into view. They stood in remote locations, yet were guarded so that no one dared approach.
“Chancellor, you have arrived.”
“Nothing happened?”
With Xu Chu and soldiers guarding the place, of course no one could come uninvited.
“Aigoo, I am dying from all the crying babies.”
“Hahaha, how can a man with children say such a thing?”
Just as Cao Cao had said, the area was filled with the sound of infants crying. Had he set up a separate household and hidden his illegitimate children here? When we entered, Cao Cao’s wives were inside.
“Oh dear, you wet yourself again? I will change your diaper right away.”
“What a cute little one. How did you come out so beautiful?”
“There, there—stop crying now.”
Lady Huan, who had given birth to Cao Chong, Lady Du whom we met in Xuzhou, and Lady Chu from Wan—all of them were gathered, caring for the babies. Each child was adorable and pretty, but there were simply too many to be the legitimate children of these women.
“I saw so much blood spilled in Xudu that my heart ached for the abandoned infants with nowhere to go. So I brought the children of women who had just given birth, as well as those from families that had been wiped out and left destitute.”
Had he suddenly opened an orphanage? Indeed, many of the babies were so new they could not even hold their heads up. The fact that all the concubines except Lady Ding and Lady Bian were raising them showed how much attention Cao Cao paid to the matter.
“When these children grow up, dozens of princesses will remember the Chancellor’s kindness.”
“Hahaha, provided I am still alive by then.”
Dozens of princesses? Did that mean they were all girls? It was almost as if… whenever a boy appeared, he could be swapped out… No, surely not.
“Zayul, this is simply my private hobby. The only ones who know are Wenruo, Dian Wei, Xu Chu, my wives, and you.”
“I understand.”
“If word got out that the great Cao Cao was raising other people’s children, the gossips would say all sorts of strange things.”
“I understand.”
So after returning, I would probably have to escort the wet nurses coming and going from this place. Including Ladies Huan, Du, and Chu, the other concubines would also be visiting.
Some time later.
“Well? How did it go?”
“It seems the labor is difficult. She has been struggling for several hours without delivering.”
“Hmm. I see.”
Cao Cao was receiving reports at home about the birth of a Guiren inside the palace. The eunuchs and palace maids he had bribed came out in disguise to deliver the news naturally. He opened his strongbox and generously rewarded those who brought the information.
Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he took me for a walk through the government district. When he opened one particular door, a young girl was having her makeup done by her maids.
“Ah, my lord!”
“Father…”
She was an extraordinarily beautiful girl. Though small in stature, her large eyes and snow-white skin, enhanced by the makeup her maids had applied, gave her a loveliness that would turn every man’s head.
“Heh. Dressed up like this, you are truly beautiful. You are my daughter, yet how can you be so lovely?”
“You flatter me, Father.”
This was Cao Cao’s daughter, Cao Jie. The very same girl Xiahou Dun had once teased about: “Your daughter is quite pretty. How about sending her into the palace so you can become the Emperor’s father-in-law?”
Today, seeing her so carefully adorned, the sight was strangely moving.
“Jie, your father will always move for your happiness. You understand what I mean, do you not?”
“Yes, Father.”
With a satisfied fatherly smile, Cao Cao nodded and instructed the maids to prepare finer face cloths and clothing before leaving. Not long after, another message arrived from the palace.
“Chancellor.”
“Well? Has the Guiren given birth to a fine, plump imperial son?”
“That… that is…”
“Haha, it is all right. Speak.”
The flustered eunuch prostrated himself before Cao Cao.
“After many hours of difficult labor, the Guiren lost too much blood and passed away during childbirth. The child also failed to draw breath. The imperial physicians tried, but in the end…”
What? Dong Guiren had died giving birth, and the child was stillborn? She had been fated for execution after the birth anyway, but this was… an unexpected turn.
Death in childbirth was common in this era, but for an imperial consort to die during labor was another matter entirely.
“Heh… How unfortunate. Truly unfortunate. His Majesty must be devastated.”
“Indeed, Chancellor.”
Clap. Clap. Clap.
When Cao Cao clapped three times, the door opened and Cao Jie, now fully adorned, stepped out. With a bridal veil covering her face, anyone could see what this meant.
“I had wanted to bring Zisu, but I ended up sending that boy to Puyang.”
Unable to find Cao Ang, Cao Cao had chosen another son. At that moment, Cao Pi, having somehow heard the news, came running.
“Father, what is happening? Why is Elder Sister dressed like that…?”
“Hmmmm.”
Cao Pi looked as though he had caught on. Cao Cao simply nodded without much thought.
“Zihuan, you will enter the palace with Zayul. Make your preparations.”
“Yes! I will do so at once.”
Cao Pi’s mouth stretched into a wide grin, the picture of an innocent boy who thought he had finally scored points with his father. Together with me, he escorted Cao Cao into the imperial palace.
“Your Majesty, your servant, the Chancellor Cao Cao, requests an audience.”
“……”
The Emperor sat in a daze, having lost both wife and child. Cao Cao spoke with perfect composure.
“Your Majesty, how great must your grief be? The imperial line must continue, and as one who receives the state’s stipend, my own heart aches as well.”
“Chancellor…”
Countless emotions—resentment, rage, hatred, emptiness, resignation, regret—crossed the Emperor’s face.
“In these turbulent times when great events have shaken the capital, this servant Cao Cao finds it unbearable to see Your Majesty suffer the additional loss of the Guiren. Therefore…”
Cao Cao clapped his hands before the Emperor. The door opened and Cao Jie entered. Dressed as a bride, she approached and performed a proper bow before the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, though I lack virtue, I have raised my children strictly and with love so that all might cherish them.”
“……”
“The imperial harem cannot remain empty. Though my daughter is unworthy, I wish to send her into the palace. I beg you to set aside your sorrow and accept this new family.”
The moment Cao Cao spoke those words, a chill ran down my spine. Cao Cao was truly… No matter how many massacres or violations of heavenly law I prevented, this man would never become kind.
“Your Majesty, I entrust my elder sister to you.”
Even Cao Pi stepped forward to add his voice. If it had been Cao Ang, he would have gently suggested, “Even so, should we not wait until the mourning period ends?” But Cao Pi openly tried to curry favor with his father.
“So be it.”
“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless! This servant is deeply honored that his eldest daughter may become the consort of the supreme ruler under heaven.”
Having calmly offered his daughter to the Emperor who had just lost his wife and child, Cao Cao performed one final bow and withdrew.
“Father, does this mean Elder Sister is becoming Empress right now?”
“Lower your voice. And do not say unnecessary things.”
Cao Pi could not stop smiling, clearly proud of what he believed he had accomplished. He looked around the palace with an arrogant air, treating the eunuchs, maids, and imperial guards as beneath him. The more he grew, the less likable he became.
“Zayul, thank you for your service as escort today. From now on, whenever I have a private audience with the Son of Heaven, I will use you as my guard. I am counting on you.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
After that terrifying scene, I returned home with an uneasy feeling. Inside, the household was bustling, with piles of fruit stacked everywhere.
“I am back.”
“Ah, my lord.”
I wanted to think about nothing at all. Still wearing my official robes, I walked blankly into my room and sat down. What must the Emperor be feeling, having lost his wife and child only to be calmly presented with a new woman? Only the dead were truly pitiable.
“My lord.”
“Hmm.”
Cai Yan came and sat quietly beside me. Her face was unusually flushed, and her voice was a soft whisper.
“What is it, my lady?”
“The physician says… I am with child.”
“!?”
“Not only me. The physician confirmed that Lady Yuan and Lady Qiao are also…”
In the midst of everything, I received news of my wives’ pregnancies. In this deeply ironic moment, I simply held Cai Yan in silence.