The Strife of Chaos Chapter Forty-Six: Cao Cao's Intentions

When news of the fall of Moonlit Pass swept across the continent, the people, long accustomed to peace, finally realized that war had truly begun.

Han Empire, Chixiao Hall.

Since the new Han Emperor’s ascension, the court had remained tranquil, but today chaos erupted. The ministers, who had spent years in comfort and complacency, now sensed the crisis of annihilation looming over them. Their greatest bulwark—the so-called Iron Wall, Moonlit Pass—and the invincible General Huo, revered as the god of war, had both fallen beneath the enemy’s iron hooves.

“Dong Quan, look at what you’ve done! Moonlit Pass has fallen, General Huo is dead, and you have become Han’s greatest traitor!”

“If you had only sent reinforcements, Moonlit Pass would never have been lost.”

“You must answer for General Huo’s death!”

Dong Quan, observing these ministers—usually silent, concerned only for their own safety—now postured as patriots, each more impassioned than the last. Rage welled within him. He dragged his corpulent body upright and roared, “When Huo Qing was alive, not one of you showed him much respect. Only now, after his death, do you remember his name?”

The ministers, stung at their weakness, fell silent.

Seeing their cowardice, Dong Quan continued, “If Huo Qing is dead, so be it—he was incompetent. What good is it to chase after blame now?”

A leading minister demanded, “Then what do we do? The Qin army will soon be at our gates!”

But Dong Quan smirked. “The one hundred thousand strong Qin army isn’t here yet. We’re no match for them. If we fight, we must also fear Liu Bei and Cao Cao stabbing us in the back. In my view, why not—”

“Why not surrender the Han Emperor to gain Qin’s favor—am I right?” A deep, forceful voice interrupted as a man with a thin mustache strode into the hall.

“Cao Cao, what are you doing? Guards! Someone seeks to harm His Majesty!” Dong Quan shrieked in terror.

But Cao Cao ignored him, heading straight for the Han Emperor at the dais. The guards tried to intercept him, but soldiers at Cao Cao’s side, trained and deadly, struck them down at a single blow.

Reaching the trembling emperor, Cao Cao knelt on one knee and said gravely, “Your servant has come late to your rescue. Forgive me for the fright, Your Majesty.”

Realizing Cao Cao was not there to kill him, the emperor finally exhaled in relief, though he still stammered in fear, “General Cao, you arrive just in time. I—I am unharmed.”

“As long as Your Majesty is safe, leave the rest to me.” Cao Cao rose, turned, and announced solemnly to the assembled ministers, “Now, in Han’s darkest hour, with Qin’s army at our doorstep and traitors wielding power over the throne, and with General Huo Qing fallen in battle, my heart is filled with grief. Today, I bring my army not to usurp, but to slay the traitor Dong Quan, restore the Han dynasty, and unite all forces against mighty Qin.”

“Lies! Cao Cao, you covet Han for yourself!” Dong Quan shouted, pointing in rage.

“What use arguing with a traitor? Lin Xuan, bring me my blade.”

“At once,” Lin Xuan replied, handing him a long sword.

Cao Cao took the sword, striding toward Dong Quan. Each heavy step hammered at Dong Quan’s heart.

“No, Cao Cao! General Cao, you can’t kill me! My troops surround the palace. If you kill me, you’ll never walk out of Chixiao Hall alive!” Dong Quan threatened, wild-eyed.

But Cao Cao showed no hesitation. Lifting the blade, he said coldly, “While you reveled in power, my men wiped out all your forces.”

“What? You—” Dong Quan began, but the sword fell before he could finish.

His head rolled down the steps, and several ministers, unused to such sights, could not restrain their nausea.

Cao Cao, blood-stained, lifted the sword high and declared, “The traitor Dong Quan has been executed before the throne. From this day forth, I, Cao Cao, will unite all Han’s might against the Qin army and drive them from our lands.”

Three days later, Shu Han City.

“Cao Cao has executed Dong Quan and rescued the emperor in this time of peril. The emperor has appointed Cao Cao as the new Chancellor and Grand General, charging him to build new defenses and halt the Qin advance. To raise morale, the emperor himself will lead the army from Beiwei City,” Liu Bei read from the newly received dispatch.

“Brother, it seems Cao Cao could wait no longer,” said Guan Yu at his side.

Liu Bei folded the dispatch, replying slowly, “Cao Cao has plotted this for some time. Seizing upon the chaos after General Huo’s death, with the court in panic and Dong Quan’s grip weakening, he stormed the capital, swiftly purged Dong Quan’s faction, and executed Dong Quan before the emperor and ministers—demonstrating his own power and winning the court’s allegiance. A masterful move indeed.”

A burly man with a dark face grumbled, “I think Cao Cao just wants to become the next Dong Quan.”

Guan Yu turned to Liu Bei. “Brother, what should we do? Now that Cao Cao, as Chancellor, orders all lords to join the war against Qin, should we still bide our time?”

Liu Bei shook his head. “With General Huo dead, the Qin army will surely sweep in. Whatever Cao Cao’s true intentions, resisting Qin must be our first priority. Our differences will have to wait.”

“Then let me lead our troops to Beiwei City and face Cao Cao. Given our past relations, he will not harm me,” Guan Yu suggested.

“No, neither of us should go. Our third brother will lead two thousand White-robed Guards and forty thousand soldiers in support.”

Zhang Fei, surprised, pointed at himself. “Brother, you mean me—alone?”

Liu Bei clapped him on the shoulder. “Yes, you alone will command, with two strategists to assist you.”

At Zhang Fei’s look of astonishment, Guan Yu asked skeptically, “Will it be safe for only our third brother to go? Might Cao Cao have some hidden scheme?”

“It’s safer this way. Cao Cao has fifty thousand troops, commands the full five thousand Tiger Assault Troops and three thousand Leopard Cavalry—he’ll be the star of this campaign. We must not compete with him for glory. By sending our third brother, we show our willingness to accept his lead.”

“Wise as ever, brother! This time I’ll smash the Qin army completely!” Zhang Fei exclaimed, though a faint misgiving lingered—why, by sending him, did they yield leadership to Cao Cao?

“There’s no time to lose. Third brother, prepare the troops and depart at once. Be cautious,” Liu Bei urged.

“Don’t worry, brothers—just wait for my good news!” With that, Zhang Fei turned and left.

Watching his brother go, Guan Yu remained uneasy. “Brother, are you sure he’ll be all right?”

Liu Bei gazed after Zhang Fei and sighed, “For now, we can only hope our third brother proves reliable this time.”

Meanwhile, in Beihe City, Bai Qi too received news that Cao Cao had been made Chancellor and was forming a coalition army against Qin.

“This Cao Cao is truly formidable. He feigned allegiance to us, even offering three cities, but all he wanted was to have us eliminate Huo Qing for him,” Bai Qi said ruefully. He had suspected Cao Cao’s defection was not genuine, but with Beihe and Linjiang Cities already in hand and the Qin Emperor having his own precautions, Bai Qi had relaxed his guard. He had not expected this turn of events, which took everyone by surprise.

“General, what should we do? Now Cao Cao has united all of Han against us, which is very different from our original plan,” asked Wu Zhan, commander of the Qin Iron Cavalry.

Originally, the three commanders of the Qin Iron Cavalry—Ying Zhengqin of the First Corps, Zhu Long of the Fifth, and Wu Zhan of the Seventh—were not inclined to obey Bai Qi. But after the battle at Moonlit Pass, they had witnessed firsthand his legendary might. His strategic brilliance and personal strength had won over these young commanders.

Bai Qi looked into the distance and said calmly, “We fight as planned. Do you think a Cao Cao can stop the iron cavalry of Great Qin? All he’s done is make it easier for us to crush them completely.”

The generals and strategists below, seeing Bai Qi’s unwavering confidence, felt no doubts; indeed, their own faith in victory grew. In the army’s words, this was the charisma of a true commander.

Far away in Qin, the emperor, having learned of Bai Qi’s great victory at Moonlit Pass, found his worries dispelled and readied his next moves.

“Your Majesty, with Moonlit Pass taken, our army can advance unchecked. This is splendid news!” a minister said joyfully.

“But last time, didn’t you call for General Bai to be replaced? What’s changed?” another minister mocked.

“I only meant—”

“Silence,” the emperor intoned from the dragon throne.

Once order was restored, the emperor looked to the chancellor, Li Mi, standing foremost among the ministers. “Chancellor Li, do you still doubt General Bai?”

Li Mi bowed his head. “I was foolish before, unable to grasp the general’s grand designs. Now, with this victory, I am truly convinced.” Though he still resented the losses Bai Qi had caused, the results spoke for themselves, and he dared not protest further.

“Good. Since you have no objections, I have a task for you.”

“I await Your Majesty’s command.”

“Now, the Celestial Empire is our ally, but the bond is fragile. I wish you to serve as envoy and propose a marriage to the Heavenly Emperor on Qin’s behalf, to secure our alliance,” the emperor said expressionlessly.

“Your Majesty, as chancellor, I have endless affairs of state. If I leave, the court cannot function!” Li Mi protested.

The emperor appeared faintly pleased. “Do not concern yourself; Zhao Gao will handle all matters in your absence.”

Li Mi wished to argue, but seeing the emperor’s displeasure, quickly changed his question. “Your Majesty is wise. For which prince do you wish to propose marriage?”

The Qin emperor had three sons. The eldest, Ying Fuqin, was clever in governance, amiable, and beloved by the people. The second, Ying Zhengqin, had outstanding martial talent, becoming a grandmaster at twenty-four and commander of the First Iron Cavalry Corps—perhaps soon to reach the realm of the Martial Saint. The youngest, Ying Xingqin, though slightly less accomplished in politics and war, blended his brothers’ strengths, able in both governance and command. At only eighteen, he was already a top martial master and led the Tenth Corps.

All were exceptional, each with strengths, and all could be heirs. It was plain to see: the Heavenly Emperor had but one daughter, Princess Yun. Whoever married her would likely become the next Qin Emperor, perhaps even ruler of both nations. Through this marriage, the emperor could annex the Celestial Empire without bloodshed. That was why Li Mi asked.

But the emperor gave a most unusual answer.

“Propose for all three of them. Let Princess Yun choose freely among my sons. She may wed whomever she desires.”