Chapter 9: Execute Guan Yu for Me!

Liu Bei never imagined that, just after he had executed Che Zhou in Xuzhou and sent Guan Yu to Xiaopei, Cao Cao would immediately lead his army in person.

In his mind, Cao Cao should have first tangled with Yuan Shao—a conflict that would occupy him for at least a year or two, leaving little attention for Liu Bei’s modest forces.

It was only when he heard that Dong Cheng had been imprisoned for the matter of the Imperial Edict sewn into a belt that realization dawned.

Liu Bei was a man of sharp intellect. He understood that, at this point, if he fell into Cao Cao’s hands, there would be no hope of survival. Thus, when defeat was imminent, he could only cast aside his second brother and his wife—abandoning pawns to preserve the king, as the saying goes.

A wife lost could be replaced with another; a brother lost could be sworn anew. But if his life were lost, all would be lost.

Yet Guan Yu was unaware of Liu Bei’s calculations. For a man as proud as he, defeat and capture were a bitter fate. Still, recalling Cao Cao’s peculiar tastes and glancing at the women behind him, whose beauty and bearing were exceptional, Guan Yu resolved that, if humiliation was inevitable, he would endure it. Cao Cao had once tried to recruit him in Xuchang, and though Guan Yu had ignored him then, he knew that Cao Cao would not immediately kill him. After all, Cao Cao was a shrewd man; between indulging in Liu Bei’s wives and winning Guan Yu’s allegiance, Guan Yu believed Cao Cao would choose the latter.

“Yunchang,” Cao Cao addressed him, “I once told you: a fine bird chooses a good tree to nest in. Today, I say it again. What is your answer?”

Cao Cao was a man of temperament. This battle had sent Liu Bei fleeing in disgrace; though he had not managed to kill Liu Bei himself, capturing Guan Yu satisfied him. Liu Bei’s talent lay in persuading a handful of followers—if those followers were gone, who would he persuade?

Guan Yu, with a face like a ripe date, eyes bright as stars, a long beard, and a slender face, stood with a tiger’s back and a bear’s waist. Though bound, he planted his feet firmly and stood tall before Cao Cao.

Cao Ren, standing behind Cao Cao, had long been displeased with Guan Yu. It was he who had suffered at Guan Yu’s hands, and now Guan Yu stood with such defiance—it was enough to infuriate anyone.

“Lord Chamberlain, let me sever his tendons. Then we’ll see if he still stands or kneels!”

With that, Cao Ren drew his sword and strode toward Guan Yu.

One step, two steps, three steps...

“Zixiao, do not be disrespectful,” Cao Cao intervened. “Yunchang is the Prefect of Xiaopei under the Han, and I am the Chamberlain of the Han. We are both servants of the Han, differing only in rank. Why should he kneel?”

Cao Ren was merely six or seven paces from Guan Yu—another two or three steps and he would have severed Guan Yu’s tendons. Yet Guan Yu remained unmoved, standing as firmly as ever.

“Humph, Chamberlain, you play your role as a Han official well. My elder brother carries the imperial command to campaign against Yuan Shu, and now he is your enemy?”

Clearly, Guan Yu was unaware of the secret edict in the belt.

“I too act under imperial command. Otherwise, why would I ignore the traitor Yuan Shao and come to Xuzhou instead? The reasons, Yunchang, you may ask His Majesty in Xu when you arrive.”

Cao Cao coveted Guan Yu’s abilities, but after a previous failure, he was much more cautious.

“Chamberlain, wait!”

Just as Cao Ren was about to order the soldiers to take Guan Yu away, Guan Yu suddenly called out, catching Cao Cao’s attention and eliciting a faint smile.

“Yunchang, what is it?”

“Chamberlain, your rank is high and your power great. We are prisoners—kill or spare us as you wish. But my two sisters-in-law, you must not touch. If you do, so long as I draw breath, I will make you pay the price!”

Having spoken these fierce words, Guan Yu glared at Cao Cao between his legs. Though his eyes were not large, the glare was so intense that Cao Cao’s knees nearly buckled, as if something almost dropped to the ground.

“Humph, Yunchang, you underestimate me!”

With that, Cao Cao turned and swept away, his mind drifting back to the events at Wancheng—the lesson of the blade poised overhead, which he had long since understood.

After defeating Liu Bei, Cao Cao immediately marched his troops back to Xuchang.

This had been a surprise attack; Guo Jia had predicted before departure that Yuan Shao would never expect them to strike Liu Bei first. By the time Yuan Shao, slow and indecisive, reacted, they would already have returned victorious to Xuchang. Thus, timing was crucial—too fast, too slow, too deep, or too shallow would not do.

The day before Cao Cao’s return to court, Cheng Yu personally visited Liu Xie’s palace, intending to congratulate the emperor.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty! The Chamberlain led the army in person and has crushed the traitor Liu Bei of the Han. Liu Bei’s forces are almost entirely destroyed; he escaped with only a handful of followers, while his two wives and his great general Guan Yu have been captured by the Chamberlain!”

Cheng Yu knelt before Liu Xie, delivering his report with fervor, and then fixed his gaze on the emperor.

To this figurehead, Cao Cao paid little heed, but Guo Jia and Cheng Yu never felt entirely at ease. Though Liu Xie appeared weak, his subtle actions revealed an intelligence that belied his demeanor—he was no ignorant youth.

This was merely another test for Liu Xie.

A sharp sound rang out—Liu Xie’s hand slapping the table, a noise that had echoed often since his arrival in this era, though this time it was louder than usual.

Cheng Yu flinched in fright, nearly losing control of himself.

“Excellent! The Chamberlain has not disappointed me. It is a pity he did not capture Liu Bei. That scoundrel calls himself the imperial uncle of the Han, but in truth, he is the nation’s enemy! When the Chamberlain returns, let him execute Liu Bei’s wives and Guan Yu, and send their heads in wooden boxes to Liu Bei! Oh, and when will the Chamberlain return tomorrow? I will greet him at the city gate myself!”

Liu Xie’s words left Cheng Yu momentarily speechless. He hastily excused himself, saying, “Your Majesty’s health is paramount; your servant will greet the Chamberlain on your behalf,” and withdrew from the palace. Cheng Yu felt that Liu Xie had grown increasingly reckless—if he were to order the execution of Guan Yu at the city gate, it would be terribly awkward.

Watching Cheng Yu’s hurried departure, Liu Xie snorted coldly, knowing his performance had passed muster.

Dealing with Cao Cao was not difficult; Cao Cao was not petty. But his advisers always made Liu Xie uneasy. Cheng Yu was manageable, but Guo Jia’s sharp gaze unnerved Liu Xie—he felt that even a moment’s eye contact might reveal his secrets.