Shouchun Citadel (6): The Vacant Throne
Shouchun. A man and a woman stepped into the government office of Shouchun Castle—which had served as a makeshift imperial palace—treading over the charred pillars still smoldering from the flames.
"Liu Bei, do you see? This is the fate of those who dare to insult the Han."
"Yes, General."
"Haha, when we're off the battlefield, you can call me sister."
Was it the bond forged in battle? Cao Cao grinned broadly and clapped Liu Bei on the back.
"Have you forgotten how you called me sister back in Xuzhou?"
"That was..."
"Sure, we clashed over Xuzhou and turned red in the face, but we're both servants of Han all the same."
Cao Cao pointed to the grand jade throne at the center of the hall.
"Yuan Shu abandoned his role as a servant of Han and dared to crown himself emperor."
"And now he's fled in defeat."
"Exactly. We must punish all who refuse loyalty to Han. Let me ask you: are you truly a servant of Han?"
"Of course, General."
Liu Bei nodded solemnly. Cao Cao turned toward the throne and continued.
"Then why cling to the frontiers forever?"
"Pardon?"
"His Majesty needs an elder by his side to protect him—not some outer warlord, but a pillar of the imperial house right there in Heodo."
"But you yourself are there, General. Why say such things?"
"No."
Cao Cao gave a wry smile and shook her head.
"I'm not the one who can do it. The imperial house needs a man for that role."
"That's..."
"His Majesty has suffered Dong Zhuo's tyranny since childhood and trusts no one. Isn't this the moment for a 'Liu' to stand by his side and protect him? If you're recognized as true imperial blood."
Cao Cao drew close to Liu Bei and whispered softly.
"That way, we prepare for any misfortune that might befall His Majesty."
"Lord Cao."
Liu Bei's face stiffened as he spoke.
"Are you plotting rebellion right here, in the wake of vanquishing rebels?"
"...Ha, is that how it sounds?"
"If not rebellion, then what is it?"
"Unbelievable. I'm speaking in dead earnest for the Han house, and you suspect me of insulting it and plotting treason."
Cao Cao let out a hollow laugh of exasperation.
"You can't trust me that little?"
"Who in the realm could easily trust Lord Cao? Do you think I don't know your true intentions?"
"My intentions?"
"To turn the Emperor into a puppet and seize control. It may be impossible in your generation, but marrying your children to His Majesty's bloodline to become imperial in-laws. Mixing Cao blood into the Liu imperial house, so you can wield unchecked power."
Cao Cao's lips curled up to her ears at Liu Bei's words.
"As expected, you're a hero of these chaotic times. No ordinary man. Right?"
"I'm no hero, but if no one steps up, I can strive to become one."
Liu Bei's fists trembled as he stepped back from Cao Cao.
"Will you kill me here, then?"
"I won't kill you. Now that I see your true colors, I want to keep you alive even more."
Cao Cao beamed and pointed to the throne.
"As you say, I can't sit there even if I want to. I'm no Liu, and I'm a woman of the Cao clan. But as you pointed out, my children might. Or I could become Empress right away?"
"...That's a bit much."
"Hahaha! Just kidding. Even I wouldn't go that far—taking on His Majesty, who's lived less than half my years, would be beyond irreverent. But..."
Cao Cao pointed at Liu Bei.
"Linking blood with another of imperial descent is a fine idea. What do you say? If you have a son later, we arrange a marriage?"
"......"
Liu Bei blinked at the proposal.
"You're going too far with the jest."
"No jest. Nod, and I'll work to put your son on that throne. Do you serve the Han state, or the Han house?"
"I serve the Han state."
"As do I."
Cao Cao ran her sword lightly over the armrest of the throne where Yuan Shu had sat.
"I want this nation to endure. Even if a new one rises, would the people accept it easily?"
"The one who ravaged Xuzhou now speaks of the people? Ha."
"True, I was ruthless then. But serving His Majesty changed me. Meeting new people enlightened me to how wicked I'd been."
Cao Cao leveled her sword at Liu Bei with a sly smile.
"Depending on your answer, I might reform further—or grow even more wicked."
"Forgive me."
Liu Bei straightened and spoke calmly.
"I won't join one who swings the blade mercilessly at the people."
"What?"
"Lord Cao, if they block your path, you'll carve through the people without hesitation."
"Not a sacrifice for the greater good?"
"You must consider the oxen being sacrificed. Having been in that position once, I'll stand with the unjustly slain."
Liu Bei cupped his fists and stepped back once more.
"Kill me if you must. But slay me now, and no warlord will ever ally with you easily."
"Why?"
"Of all people, this lowly Liu Bei rushed to your side and risked his life—only to be executed. Who would aid Lord Cao then? 'When the hare dies, the hound is cooked'—a proverb from four centuries past."
"......"
Cao Cao sheathed her sword.
"So Xuzhou's grudge lingers like this."
She chuckled dryly and set her blade aside.
"One day, you'll mull over this talk and regret it. Don't come crying then. Understood?"
"If it warranted regret, I'd kneel before you now."
"Fine, fine... You're the real deal."
Cao Cao smacked her lips and waved Liu Bei off.
"Take plenty from here as you go. And I'll visit Xuzhou again soon."
"I came not for riches, but to answer His Majesty's edict. I arrived empty-handed; leaving the same is only right. We take our leave."
Liu Bei bowed and departed the ruined office. Cao Cao stared at the empty throne for a long while—
Slash!
—then cleaved it in two with her sword. Her eyes, reflected in the blade, burned with thick killing intent.
"Hmph... Just you wait."
Cao Cao spat in fury, jamming her sword into the throne.
"You think you're the only Liu man out there? Even without a Liu, you think there are no imperial kin in the realm?"
She clenched her fist.
"Just wait. The day will come when you regret this. The day someone not you... ascends that throne."
"Ptooey!"
"Oh, Master. Feeling chilly?"
"Nah, what chill in this autumn weather? Just felt like someone was cursing me again."
I'd stepped out to the fields with Sima Yi to watch the farmers hard at work harvesting grain.
"So quiet. The east is in chaos."
Yuan Shu had been defeated. He hadn't died, but the self-proclaimed emperor of Zhong had lost his capital—a massive loss of face. More than face, really.
Of his thirty-odd myriad forced levies, he'd barely scraped together three myriad to flee to Yeonam. Most conscripts—handed a single sword and called soldiers—were slaughtered before Cao Cao's army, fled, or dropped their weapons to surrender as farmers again.
Cao Cao's hundred thousand included over ninety percent elites; Yuan Shu's were mostly peasants dragooned under his false imperial banner. With their 'emperor' abandoning the palace, who among the remnants would fight? Cao Cao's forces cut them down.
But even a hundred thousand couldn't bury two hundred thousand corpses.
About a hundred thousand dead in total, probably.
Between both sides. Yuan Shu's survivors, terrified, returned to farming; Cao Cao seized Shouchun to flaunt Han's might.
"What an incredible woman."
"You mean Cao Cao?"
"Yeah. I couldn't have pulled that off."
You never know till you fight. Facing overwhelming numbers might break you, but she staked everything for a decisive duel with Yuan Shu.
"If Cao Cao truly unifies the realm..."
Even as regent with the Emperor's backing, who could stop her? Or should anyone?
This war's dead stemmed from Yuan Shu's usurpation. If assigning blame, Yuan Shu bore more than Cao Cao. He was wrong; she restored the four-century Han dynasty.
"So she claims the center of power."
"Hmm... Master."
Sima Yi grabbed my hand, her face grave.
"Not much time left till graduation. Should I enlist with Cao Cao's army?"
"What?"
"If she's rising to Chancellor, better lay groundwork now for a high post later. My other master holds a key role there— I'd get a spot right away, right?"
"Hm..."
Sima Yi entering service. I hadn't thought deeply on it yet.
"...Two or three years left? Plenty of time—let's think it over slowly."
"Hehe, yes. But first, shall we show some 'sincerity' to the ones right in front of us?"
Sima Yi turned east, eyes like a tiger eyeing prey.
"Introduce me to General Mun Bing. Yuan Shu's remnants fled right to our doorstep in Xinya—we need a plan."
She was furious her war games hadn't predicted reality—like Cao Cao's execution of supply officers. So she craved real battle.
"Against Yuan Shu's lot, I can scheme without a twinge of conscience."
Currently, northeast of Xinya. Rumors reached us that Yuan Shu's army had arrived, just a fortnight's march over the dense forest paths.