Chapter 23: Benevolence and Righteousness Must Not Be Abused; My Lord, Please Execute This Traitor!

Cao Bao’s body gave a violent jolt, and in an instant, he froze like a stone statue.

The expression on his face was locked in a moment of complex, conflicting emotions. Shame, helplessness, terror—all these negative feelings surged from the soles of his feet to engulf his entire being. As a traitor who had colluded with Lu Bu to launch a backstabbing rebellion, he had nearly driven Liu Bei to a dead end. Now, leading three thousand troops, he had pursued relentlessly, driven by the intent to exterminate Liu Bei once and for all. Yet, Cao Bao had never imagined that his own fate would end so miserably. He had failed to kill Liu Bei, and instead, he had become a prisoner, kneeling in humiliation before his intended victim. For a time, Cao Bao remained stiffly on the ground, unable to accept this unbelievable reality.

"Cao Bao, you treacherous dog!"

A roar of fury interrupted Cao Bao’s dazed state. Before he could react, Zhang Fei lunged forward, his face burning with rage, and slammed a heavy iron fist into his face.

A solid, muffled thud echoed, followed by a cry of agony. Cao Bao was knocked flat to the ground, rolling several paces away before coming to a stop. He spat out a mouthful of blood, within which two front teeth were embedded. While Cao Bao was still reeling in dizziness, Zhang Fei leaped upon him, straddling his body, and rained down blows like a storm upon his face.

"You shameless villain! I’ll show you for betraying my brother, for colluding with Lu Bu, for wounding my sister-in-law! I’ll beat you to death!"

As Zhang Fei roared and cursed, his fists fell like rain, venting the long-pent-up fury in his heart. The sound of heavy blows landing on flesh, the sound of Zhang Fei’s curses, and the wailing of Cao Bao mingled together, echoing across the hillside.

The onlookers were stunned, left speechless by the scene. Even Liu Bei was momentarily taken aback; he had not expected his sworn brother to be so violent, pummeling Cao Bao before he could even speak. It was only when Cao Bao’s face was swollen beyond recognition and he was half-dead that Liu Bei finally reacted.

"Yide, stop!"

Hearing Liu Bei’s command, Zhang Fei stopped, though clearly still unsatisfied. He wiped the blood from his fists onto Cao Bao’s clothes and stood up. When Liu Bei looked down, he saw that Cao Bao’s face had been beaten into a bloody mess, to the point where even his son-in-law, Lu Bu, likely wouldn't recognize him.

There was not a shred of pity on Liu Bei’s face, nor did he utter a single word of reproach toward Zhang Fei. He, too, had a temper. Had it not been for Cao Bao’s betrayal, how could Lu Bu have easily seized Xiapi and driven him to such a desperate plight? If not for the good fortune of meeting Xiao Fang, he would likely be in such a state of utter disgrace, forced to endure humiliation and beg Lu Bu for mercy. How could Liu Bei not harbor hatred for Cao Bao? It was merely that he possessed the magnanimity of a lord and deemed it beneath him to resort to personal violence to vent his spite.

Zhang Fei’s punches, however, had vented that foul air for him, and deep down, he felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction. Liu Bei’s expression turned cold, and he said in a deep voice:

"Cao Bao, by Tao Qian’s dying wish, you were ordered to place the Danyang troops under my command. You gave your word to Tao Qian yourself. Since I succeeded as the Governor of Xuzhou, I not only kept you in command of the Danyang soldiers but also ensured that all rations and military supplies were provided to you as a priority. I gave you a rank higher than both of my sworn brothers. I even intended to appoint you as the Chancellor of Xiapi to show you my trust. How I treated you, everyone in Xuzhou knows full well. Yet you defied me in everything, speaking ill of me behind my back at every turn? When Yuan Shu’s army invaded, you openly betrayed me, colluding with Lu Bu to ambush Xiapi, nearly driving me to destruction! Now that I have retreated from Xuzhou, you are still relentless, pursuing me with your troops, determined to wipe me out! Cao Bao, now that you have fallen to this state, what else do you have to say for yourself?"

The more Liu Bei spoke, the more indignant he became, as if the suffocating frustration he had carried since the loss of Xiapi was finally being released. Cao Bao’s body trembled, his neck flushing red and then turning pale. With his face covered in blood and filth, it was impossible to tell if he was feeling shame, fear, or resentment. Facing Liu Bei’s interrogation, he remained stiffly sprawled on the ground, saying nothing.

"Brother, why are you talking to this treacherous villain? Just give the word, and I will tear him limb from limb right now!" Zhang Fei was blunt and crude; his sword was already unsheathed, waiting to strike.

Cao Bao, who had been silent, suddenly shuddered. After a moment of hesitation, he struggled to crawl up and knelt before Liu Bei once more. This time, it was not forced, but voluntary.

"Lord Xuande, I was wrong! It was a moment of foolishness; I was bewitched and incited by Xu Dan, which led me to commit such a grave error and betray your kindness. Since the fall of Xiapi, I have been filled with remorse, wishing every moment to make amends for my crimes. Lord Xuande, please, for the sake of Tao Qian, give me one more chance to redeem myself. I will surely serve you with my life and prove my loyalty!"

Cao Bao’s tearful confession painted him as an innocent soul, led astray by the wicked Xu Dan. Since Xu Dan had already been executed by Wei Yan, he could heap all the blame on the dead man without fear of being contradicted.

"Bullshit! Do you think my brother is a three-year-old child who would believe your lies? If you truly felt remorse, would you have pursued us so relentlessly, trying to hunt my brother down?" Zhang Fei kicked Cao Bao to the ground and unleashed another torrent of curses.

Cao Bao endured the humiliation and crawled up again, his expression one of deepening regret as he defended himself: "General Zhang, please calm your anger. Lu Bu never trusted me; he forced me to pursue Lord Xuande to prove my loyalty. I was coerced and had no choice but to lead the troops here. I had originally intended that once I caught up with Lord Xuande, I would simply bring the troops back under your command. Who would have thought that Lord Xuande would set such a brilliant trap, leaving me without a single man left!"

After his defense, Cao Bao bowed his head deeply to the ground: "Xuande, you are kind and righteous; please show mercy and give me, Cao Bao, a chance to make up for my mistakes. I, Cao Bao, swear I will go through fire and water for you to prove my heart."

Facing this emotional plea, Zhang Fei found himself momentarily unable to refute him. Meanwhile, advisors like Mi Zhu and Sun Qian were sneering. Their cold gazes held undisguised contempt. At this point, it was clear to everyone that Cao Bao was merely spinning shameless lies to gain Liu Bei’s mercy and save his own life. To be so cowardly and devoid of integrity, how could they not despise him?

As for Liu Bei, he certainly did not believe Cao Bao’s defense. However, looking at the man kneeling and begging, his brow furrowed, and his eyes revealed a touch of hesitation. Xiao Fang, watching from the side, read Liu Bei’s mind the moment he saw that emotional shift. He was thinking of sparing Cao Bao. It wasn't that Liu Bei was stupid or couldn't see through the lies; it was simply his nature—he was a benevolent and kind man, not one to exterminate others. Even though Cao Bao had betrayed him, seeing him kneel and beg for mercy made him feel that perhaps there was no need to take his life.

But this time, Xiao Fang could not allow Liu Bei’s soft-heartedness to be misused on a person like Cao Bao. He stepped forward slowly, his eyes as sharp as blades, and said sternly:

"My Lord has treated this scoundrel well. Not only did he fail to repay that kindness, but he sold out his master for glory, betrayed his oath, and led Lu Bu to ambush Xuzhou, nearly driving you to a dead end! The sage says: 'If you repay injury with kindness, then how will you repay kindness?' How many of our soldiers have died because of this man’s rebellion! If you forgive his capital crime, how will you face the loyal men who died for you? If you do not execute Cao Bao today, will you not appear in the eyes of your subordinates as a weak and easily bullied leader, devoid of authority? Without authority, how can you command the respect of your officials? If the soldiers do not respect you, how can your great cause of restoring the Han Dynasty ever succeed?"

Hearing Xiao Fang’s stern and forceful words, Liu Bei felt a sudden jolt, as if he had been awakened to the truth. Xiao Fang took a deep breath and bowed to Liu Bei:

"Cao Bao’s crimes are unforgivable; he must be executed! My Lord, you must not show him misplaced benevolence. I request that you put this villain to death!"