Undercurrents (2)
Cao Cao returned from her meeting with Mid-Army Captain Yuan Shao at the Grand General's mansion half a day later. In the meantime, Cao Hong had spent time with Lee Seong-hwi, prying into every detail of his family background and connections—matters both trivial and profoundly important—to gather intel on this military officer. Was he truly suitable as her cousin's aide? That was Cao Hong's primary concern. She didn't dare doubt her cousin's judgment, but the ever-cautious Cao Cao, who trusted no one lightly, had chosen this man as her right hand. Cao Hong simply wanted to know what kind of person he was.
"Gate Captain... that's a pretty high rank. Of course, compared to the prestige and power of our Cao clan, it's like a shabby little hut. Still, I'm sure you poured your heart into climbing the ladder for promotion, so I'll give you props for that, Aide."
It felt like she was treating him like a fool, yet somehow slipping in a compliment. There was no malice in her tone, but it grated on the nerves all the same.
"Thank you for the praise."
"If you need money, just say the word. I'll lend it at a low rate. No freebies, though. And even if you're my cousin's aide, skipping out on a debt is a no-go. If you run off without paying me back, some scary guys will come hunting you down."
"I won't borrow. And I don't need it."
"You never know with people."
Cao Hong, the wealthiest woman in Pei Guo of Yuzhou, was a merchant genius with unmatched business acumen. Her warehouses brimmed with grain and treasures, and she commanded over ten thousand servants and slaves—making her the top tycoon even among Yuzhou's noble houses. She'd inherited a fortune from her father, but most of what she owned now came from her own shrewd dealings. She dabbled in usury, silk trade, salt monopolies, and more.
"In this world, there's nothing money can't buy."
"I wouldn't know."
"Hmph, everyone says that at first. But in the end, they can't stand poverty and end up groveling, spilling their guts to hand over everything."
When it came to money, Cao Hong was deeply cynical—and notoriously stingy. If someone stiffed her, she'd probably tear them limb from limb to get it back.
"Ahem! Sounds like some grim talk."
Cao Cao cleared her throat, announcing her return as she glanced at Lee Seong-hwi's uncomfortable expression amid his chat with Cao Hong. Her cousin's arrival lit up Cao Hong's face with mischief.
"You're back, Cousin!"
"Jiam. Thanks for coming."
"When you call, of course I come. We kin have to stick together, especially in tough times, right?"
Cao Hong beamed. Stingy with wealth she might be, but her devotion to family was fierce. She clung to Cao Cao like a puppy rushing to its master, flashing a bright smile Lee Seong-hwi had never seen before—the joy of reunion.
Watching the two, Lee Seong-hwi muttered under his breath, Sisters through and through, and nodded. Black hair, red eyes, and faces so stunning they sank fish and toppled geese. Every daughter of the Cao clan seemed blessed with peerless beauty.
Still, Cao Cao—the true protagonist of the Three Kingdoms—is the fairest of them all. Cao Hong's the sub-heroine right behind her.
Cao Hong's cheeky, bold charm had massive appeal; plenty of players made her their main wife over Cao Cao. Obsessed with riches to a fault, she turned into a pure-hearted romantic the moment affection maxed out—willing to put all her assets in joint ownership. Plus, unlike her petite cousin's modest chest, Cao Hong boasted generous curves. Probably spent some of that fortune tweaking her genes.
"Aide, prepare at once. I've secured the Grand General's permission through Benchu. Time to launch our undercurrents."
"Understood, Lady Mengde."
Lee Seong-hwi bowed at Cao Cao's command. Ears perked, Cao Hong overheard and blinked in confusion.
"What's that mean? Undercurrents? You two going fishing by the river? Count me in! I fished for fun back when I was magistrate of Qi Chun County."
Misinterpreting "undercurrents" as actual fishing, Cao Hong pounded her chest eagerly, eyes sparkling. But she was in for a shock when she learned the truth.
With Yuan Shao's help securing Grand General He Jin's approval, Cao Cao began her covert moves. As Vanguard Captain, she couldn't command vast forces, but it was enough to roam the palace freely. Backed by the Grand General himself, nothing stood in her way.
First target: Guo Sheng. She'd gotten word from his household servants that he'd met Jian Shi secretly at night.
"You scum! Do you know who I am? How dare lowly soldiers block a Minor Yellow Gate Attendant like me?!"
Guo Sheng bellowed as soldiers burst into his mansion. Cao Cao nodded, and Lee Seong-hwi struck his solar plexus with the sheathed dual swords in hand.
"Gahk!!"
Guo Sheng crumpled, the soldiers who'd grabbed him forgotten as he retched and spat bile, gasping for air.
"Minor Yellow Gate Attendant Guo Sheng. Word is you slunk in like a rat to meet Master of the Imperial Stables Jian Shi. True?"
Cao Cao's voice—soft yet steely—sent shivers through the writhing man. Had their rebellion plot been exposed? Seated on the floor, Guo Sheng trembled in horror. That night's whispers were secret; how did they know?
"I haven't the foggiest...! Yes, I met the Master, but it was private business. No reason to let trash like you bully me!"
"Still doesn't get it, huh."
Lee Seong-hwi scowled at Guo Sheng's drunken ranting, despite the drool and bile. He raised the sheath again; Guo Sheng flinched, fearing another blow.
Wh-what the hell is this?! No solid evidence, and they said it was fishing! What kind of fishing happens in a Ten Attendants' mansion?!
Cao Hong inwardly screamed as Lee Seong-hwi intimidated Guo Sheng amid the soldiers. A key Ten Attendant guarding the palace's forbidden gates, Guo Sheng had been spotted in a late-night huddle with Jian Shi—but the details of their talk were unknown. No proof of rebellion, yet assaulting a powerhouse like him? Outrageous.
"Master of the Imperial Stables Zhao Zhong already confessed everything."
Lee Seong-hwi declared. Cao Hong shot him a what bullshit is this? glare. Why drag Zhao Zhong into it? Only Jian Shi and Guo Sheng were linked; no evidence implicated Zhao Zhong. She pleaded with her cousin via desperate eyes—stop him now!
"I don't know what Zhao Zhong told the Grand Chanyu, but I'm clean!"
"Then take the fall alone."
Lee Seong-hwi's conviction shook Guo Sheng. After plotting rebellion with Jian Shi, he'd consulted Zhao Zhong secretly on the plan. Hearing of the confession rattled him naturally. With the emperor's life hanging by a thread and the Ten Attendants' power crumbling, trust among them had eroded.
"Zhao Zhong really confessed everything...? Even with His Majesty's illness, how could he give up so soon?"
Guo Sheng slumped, sighing in resignation. Lee Seong-hwi nodded. Cao Hong watched wide-eyed as he folded so easily.
"Lord Minor Yellow Gate, give us evidence of the rebellion plot now. It's your only way to survive."
"...Fine. Jian Shi gave me a secret letter; I'll hand it over."
At Lee Seong-hwi's signal to the officers, they headed to Guo Sheng's bedroom for the document. Proof of the plot emerged: deposing Crown Prince Liu Bian to enthrone Princess Bohai Liu Xie. Jian Shi, that Mid-Captain of the Palace Guard, was done for.
As it unfolded exactly as he'd predicted, Cao Cao nodded and spoke.
"Aide, how did you know in such detail? No one mentioned Zhao Zhong's involvement."
"Zhao Zhong commands the palace guard as Cavalry General. Any inner-palace rebellion would naturally involve him. Plus, he's tight with Guo Sheng. Learning of Jian Shi's plot, he'd surely consult Zhao Zhong."
Lee Seong-hwi explained further at Cao Cao's question.
"And Guo Sheng's a coward at heart. Handed a treasonous scheme, he'd seek support from someone."
As a Three Kingdoms player, he knew Jian Shi's exact scheme. But he couldn't say that outright, so he claimed vigilant surveillance during his Gate Captain days enabled it.
"Oh."
Cao Hong's red eyes sparkled in awe. Fitting for her cousin's pick. Arriving in Luoyang less than a day ago, she'd confirmed it—clenching her fists in amazement. Were all Luoyang officers this sharp? She'd heard they were corrupt sellouts from the emperor and eunuchs' graft fest. Guess one gem shone through.
"With Guo Sheng's evidence as leverage, purging Jian Shi—who controls the Imperial Guard—should be straightforward. Ironclad proof of rebellion means the Western Garden Army won't budge."
The Ten Attendants' greatest fear was Jian Shi's long grip on the guard in the emperor's stead. Remove him now, and their faction would lose initiative to the Grand General's side and collapse.