Commanding the Emperor (4): Those with Power Inevitably Crave to Wield It

Those who possess power have always yearned to wield it. Cao Cao began to enjoy true authority by borrowing the Emperor's name. She schemed to elevate herself from Rear General to Grand General and bestowed high offices on the generals who had served under her since the Anti-Dong Zhuo coalition days. She granted positions to her own people and conferred titles on the various warlords of the realm to suit her tastes.

Yes, conferred. What motive could the Emperor possibly have for granting offices to warlords he'd never even met? Out of gratitude for their participation in the Anti-Dong Zhuo coalition? To commemorate their protection as he fled Chang'an for the Han court? No. It was all just Cao Cao's way of placating the warlords with ranks and honors to avoid making enemies of them.

After hijacking the Emperor, Cao Cao had preemptively oiled relations with the other warlords, forging alliances to ensure they wouldn't see her as the new Dong Zhuo. It was a plea to the strong: please don't attack us. And a warning to the weak: disobey my orders, and I'll brand you traitors and crush you.

The first sacrificial lamb—or rather, the first victim—was Liu Bei, Governor of Xu Province.

"We obey the Emperor's edict."

"Huh? An edict? We never issued any such order..."

"...Your servant, Xu Province Governor Liu Hyun-deok, vows to subjugate the enemies of the Han court."

Under the pretext of loyalty to the court, he followed Cao Cao's secret directive, mustered his army, and marched south from Xu Province. Until then, Liu Bei had sat idle despite Lü Bu's provocations, Yuan Shu dispatching massive forces, and pleas for aid from Qing Province. But a single imperial decree from the Emperor spurred him to lead a great host southward.

Thus, Cao Cao confirmed the reality of her formidable power.

"What kind of trash would actually fall for this?!"

"I made this warlord move! I can control the warlords! Hijacking the Emperor, commanding the warlords!"

With the Emperor on her back, she could bend the warlords to her will! Under the banner of imperial orders, Cao Cao could now manipulate them with a single letter!

A realm where Cao Cao bids them live, and they live; bids them die, and they die!

"Yuan Shao tore up the letter with the secret directive."

At Sun Uk's words, Cao Cao slapped her hand to her forehead and flopped right onto her back. Her body reeked of liquor, and she seemed utterly unwilling to think at all.

With only female advisors present, none complained about Cao Cao's behavior.

"My lord, this is no time for that."

"We must devise countermeasures at once."

"The Rear General ponders solutions to her own mistakes—she doesn't drown everything in drink."

"........."

They merely demanded the posture expected of a faction's leader.

"It's infuriating."

Cao Cao's voice brimmed with resentment.

"Do you know how many times I've been compared to Yuan Shao since I was a kid?"

"My lord, not that again..."

"I know! I know I've repeated this a thousand times! But it's unfair—what can I do?!"

Listening to a drunkard's lament is the greatest torment.

"How long must I grovel under that bastard Yuan Shao?!"

The other advisors held their tongues as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠long as they could, but Guo Jia—the most familiar with drink—calmed them with a mouthed whisper:

'Let her puke it out once, and she'll be fine.'

The advisors decided to indulge her drunken whining. As they sat silently, Cao Cao thumped her chest and sighed.

"I'm the son of an eunuch, and he's the scion of a noble house! The comparisons started with our births—people treated me like his concubine! Even though I had zero intention of marrying a guy who dithers for over a watch's time between pork and beef as drinking snacks!"

Cao Cao began venting her grudges against Yuan Shao.

"Even during the Anti-Dong Zhuo coalition! The coward who fled home in fear of Dong Zhuo became the alliance leader? When I risked my life sneaking into Dong Zhuo's bedchamber and drawing the Seven Star Sword, that bastard was dithering over slicing pork for a full watch! And there were people saying I, a woman, seduced Dong Zhuo with my body just to get into his bedroom—what the hell did Yuan Shao do?!"

"My lord."

"Fine! After the coalition disbanded, I rebuilt with his help? I admit it! I admit it! Ah, Lord Yuan in Hebei! Thanks to your boundless grace, this Cao Mengde claimed Chenliu! That Governor of Chenliu post you bestowed was so sweet, I couldn't bear to lose it!"

Before hijacking the Emperor, the office Cao Cao held was "bestowed by Yuan Shao." Just as Liu Zhang succeeded Liu Yan in Yi Province after his death and clashed with the court-appointed governor, the land was rife with duplicate titles sparking conflicts. And Cao Cao's Governorship of Chenliu wasn't from the Emperor in Chang'an either—it was practically fake.

Now, it had become a true office recognized by the Han court. Even if granted by the machinations of a woman named Cao Mengde.

"I received so much from Yuan Shao! Yes, so now I'll repay that massive debt in one go! He even offered the Grand Commandant post! He should be satisfied with that!"

Cao Cao tore at her hair, fuming.

"Right. My mother bought the Grand Commandant post with money. I know it's a powerless honorific. But so what? Aren't I the one protecting the Emperor, paying stipends, and feeding them all? Yuan Shao doesn't even send taxes or grain to the court—obviously I deserve the higher rank!"

A heartfelt truth she wouldn't voice to others.

"What makes me inferior to that Yuan brat? Why must I live my whole life in his shadow?! Why!!"

Inferiority complex. Beyond gender or family, it was raw fury at the sum of all circumstances.

Cao Mengde envied Yuan Bencho.

"You've spent your life bowed beneath Yuan Shao."

At Sun Uk's words, Cao Cao covered her eyes with her hand. Her visible eyelids were quite red.

"But bow just a little longer."

"...Until when?"

Guo Jia had spoken true. Though her voice remained gloomy, Cao Cao seemed to have purged the alcohol churning inside her, growing calm.

"Be specific. How much longer must I bend my back and bow my head to that bastard?"

"It's hard to say, but bow until he's blind to the dagger hidden at your chest."

At Jeong Uk's words, Cao Cao looked up.

"A dagger?"

"Yes. Yuan Shao won't bow of his own accord. So make him. Wield the divine art that bends all heads equally."

"Stab a dagger through his heart, and anyone would kneel."

"........."

Cao Cao sighed deeply.

"Endure, endure, and endure some more."

"The time will come eventually."

"Fine. We'll bow for now. As humiliating as it is..."

Cao Cao unrolled a sheet of silk, her face still flushed with emotion.

"......I'll have to wet this letter with some ink—and tears."

* * *

"Hear me all. Once again, an envoy from the court. Cao Cao dared decline the Grand General post offered to her and recommended me, Yuan Bencho."

At Yuan Shao's words, his advisors smirked mockingly at Cao Cao. Most wore expressions of she got what she deserved for overreaching.

"What now?"

"The current Emperor's titles still chafe, but Grand General is worth considering."

"Indeed. Grand Commandant isn't worth a speck of dust, but Grand General wields influence over military authority, no?"

"Ascending to Grand General would pressure Gongsun Zan further. I approve."

"She got whipped once this time, so Cao Cao won't dare act up again. No more imperial edict games."

"Acting up... True enough, but isn't she still our lord's old friend?"

"Haha, Lord Xun You, arrogant women are—"

"Enough."

Yuan Shao raised a hand, silencing his advisors.

"Though ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the current Emperor was installed by Dong Zhuo, he's undeniably the Son of Heaven. The rightful line of the Han, blood of High Ancestor Gaozu. Right?"

"Precisely."

"Then who else among the worthy imperial kin remains?"

"........."

One man flashed through their minds. The man who, had he not declined, would now be hailed Emperor in Ye. The image of the man who could have been Emperor lingered.

"None. Without a rival claimant, we can't keep denying this Emperor. I'll gladly accept Grand General."

No thanks given. Merely satisfaction at claiming what was due.

"You lot, think how to demand more than Grand General. It was the bare ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠minimum we should've gotten. This Yuan Bencho must hold the highest office after the Emperor himself. And above all..."

Bam! Yuan Shao slammed his fist on the tear-stained letter.

"I must outrank that arrogant bitch who squeezed out crocodile tears to mock this Yuan Shao."

"My lord, word is Yuan Shao's gathering troops north of the Yellow River."

"Damn it, let him come! Let's see whose blade is sharper!"

"War with Yuan Shao now means death for us all."

"Endure it, my lord."

"...Damn it, should I make him King of Hebei too? That bastard!"

"Yuan Shao. Laugh it up while you can. I'll drive a dagger into your heart someday. Hic."

Cao Cao tilted her cup, sighing in relief at news that Yuan Shao's tens of thousands by the Yellow River had withdrawn, then buried her head.

"......In ten years, I'll have my revenge."

She carefully placed the silk inscribed with "Grand General" beside her name into a box and stowed it under her bed.

"Definitely."

"My lord! Disaster!"

"What! W-Wait, did Yuan Shao cross the Yellow River?!"

"Lü Bu has seized Xu Province... Xiapi!"

"........."