Cao Cao raised his sword to strike Zhang Liao. Liu Bei stepped forward and grabbed his arm. Guan Yu knelt before him. Liu Bei said, “This is a man of true loyalty and sincerity. Such a one ought to be kept.” Guan Yu said, “I, Guan Yunchang, have long known Wenyuan to be a man of loyalty and righteousness, and I am willing to stake my life to protect him.” Cao Cao tossed the sword aside and laughed. “I knew Wenyuan was loyal and righteous, so I was only playing a trick.” He personally untied him, gave him fresh clothes, and invited him to take a seat beside him. Wenyuan understood his intent and submitted.

Cao Cao appointed him Zhonglang General and granted him the marquisate of Guannei. He ordered him to pacify Zang Ba. When Zang Ba heard that Lü Bu was dead and that Zhang Liao had submitted, he also led his main force to yield. Cao Cao rewarded him richly.

Zang Ba next persuaded Sun Guan, Wu Dun, and Yin Li to submit, but Chang Xi alone would not acknowledge him. Cao Cao made Zang Ba the Governor of Langye. Sun Guan and the others each received offices and were ordered to guard the coast in Qing and Xu. He had Lü Bu’s wives and children brought back to Xu.

After giving substantial rewards to the three armies, he ordered the encampment withdrawn and the troops to march back. When passing through Xu Province, the people burned incense and lined the road, begging Liu Bei to remain as administrator. Cao Cao said, “Liu Bei has great merit. Wait until I give him an appointment and title. To return later will not be delayed.” The people knelt in thanks.

Cao Cao summoned Che Zhi Quan, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and put him in charge of Xu Province. Cao Cao’s army then returned to Xuchang, where he distributed rewards among those who had gone out and campaigned, then left Liu Bei in a residence near the Chancellor’s house to recover.

The next day, the Former Emperor held court. Cao Cao submitted his account of Liu Bei’s services and sought audience for him.

Liu Bei, dressed in formal court robes, knelt on the altar terrace. The Emperor ascended the upper hall and asked, “Who is your ancestor?”

Liu Bei said, “Your servant is a descendant of the Emperor Jing of Han, of King Liu Sheng of Zhongshan. I am Liu Xiong’s grandson and Liu Hong’s son.”

The Emperor ordered the imperial genealogical register brought and had the Master of Lineages read it aloud:

Emperor Jing had fourteen sons. His seventh was Liu Sheng, King Jing of Zhongshan.

Liu Sheng had Liu Zhen, the Marquis of Lucheng Pavilion.

Liu Zhen had Liu Ang, the Marquis of Pei.

Liu Ang had Liu Luo, the Marquis of Zhang.

Liu Luo had Liu Lian, the Marquis of Yishui.

Liu Lian had Liu Ying, the Marquis of Qingyang.

Liu Ying had Liu Jian, the Marquis of Anguo.

Liu Jian had Liu Ai, the Marquis of Guangling.

Liu Ai had Liu Xian, the Marquis of Jiaoshu.

Liu Xian had Liu Shu, the Marquis of Zuyi.

Liu Shu had Liu Yi, the Marquis of Qiyang.

Liu Yi had Liu Bi, the Marquis of Yuanzhe.

Liu Bi had Liu Da, the Marquis of Yingchuan.

Liu Da had Liu Buyi, the Marquis of Fengling.

Liu Buyi had Liu Hui, the Marquis of Jichuan.

Liu Hui had Liu Xiong, the magistrate of Fanyu in Dongjun.

Liu Xiong had Liu Hong.

Liu Hong did not enter office. Liu Bei was the son of Liu Hong.

The Emperor checked the register and saw that Liu Bei was indeed his uncle. He rejoiced and invited him into the side hall for uncle-nephew audience. The Emperor thought inwardly, Cao Cao has taken control of the state. The affairs of the realm no longer proceed by my will. Now that I have found this hero as my uncle, he will surely help me. So he appointed Liu Bei as Left General and Marquis of Yicheng Pavilion.

A banquet was held. After honoring him, Liu Bei offered thanks and left court. From then on, everyone called him “Imperial Uncle Liu” (Liu Huangshu).

When Cao Cao returned home, Xun Yu and other advisors were ushered in and said, “Now that the emperor has recognized Liu Bei as his uncle, it may not do much for your benefit, my lord.”

Cao Cao replied, “If he is already recognized as the Imperial Uncle, then if I command it through an imperial edict, he will be even less likely to dare disobey. As for keeping him in Xuchang, he may be near me in name, but truly under my control. What should I fear?” He continued, “What I worry about is Grand Commandant Yang Biao. He is kin to Yuan Shu, and if he coordinates with the two Yuans, their inner collusion could do grave harm. Remove him at once.”

He then sent men secretly to accuse Biao of secret dealings with Yuan Shu. Biao was arrested and brought before the court, and Cao Cao ordered Man Chong to investigate.

At this time, Kong Rong, the Administrator of Beihai, happened to be in Xuchang and remonstrated with Cao Cao: “Yang Gong has kept himself pure through four generations. Can we punish him merely because of ties to the Yuans?” Cao Cao replied, “It is how this court works.”

Kong Rong said, “If King Cheng had killed the Shang Gong, could the Zhou Gong fail to speak out?”

With no better course, Cao Cao discharged Biao from office and sent him back to farming.

An adviser named Zhao Yin submitted a memorial, charging Cao Cao with usurping imperial authority and summarily arresting high ministers. Cao Cao grew furious, seized Zhao Yin, and had him killed. Then all officials were stricken with dread.

Cheng Yu advised Cao Cao, “My lord, your name and influence rise daily. Why not take this opportunity and act as a hegemon king?” Cao Cao answered, “There are still many in the court who act as the state’s shoulders and arms. It is not yet the moment for a light move. I will ask the emperor for a hunt, so we can observe how things stand.”

Cao Cao then chose excellent horses, renowned hawks, and swift hunting dogs, with bows and arrows in readiness. He first gathered troops outside the city and then petitioned to take the emperor on a hunt.

The Emperor replied, “A hunt can hardly be said to be the correct way.”

Cao Cao said, “The emperors of old practiced spring pasture, summer planting rites, autumn hunting, and winter drives. Four times in the year they rode out to the suburbs to display martial vigor before the realm. In these times when all under Heaven is in turmoil, this is exactly the moment to use a hunt to rehearse arms.”

The Emperor could not refuse. He mounted the Xiaoyao horse and set out with bow, jeweled-hawk quiver, and gold-tipped arrows in hand. Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei each bent their bows, nocked arrows, wore armor beneath their robes, took up weapons, and followed with several dozen cavalry.

Cao Cao rode a claw-yellow horse that flew like lightning and, with a host of one hundred thousand, hunted with the emperor at Xu Field.

The soldiers of the host opened a ring. The encirclement spread over more than two hundred li. Cao Cao and the emperor rode side by side, keeping only one horse-length between them. Behind came Cao Cao’s close officers and retainers. Ministers and military officials followed at a distance, and none dared come near.

That day, when the emperor reached Xu Field, Liu Bei was positioned by the roadside. The emperor said, “I wish to see the Imperial Uncle Liu shoot in the hunt.”

Liu Bei mounted on command. Suddenly a rabbit burst from the grass. He shot; the arrow struck dead-center. The emperor cheered.

After circling a mound of earth, they saw a large stag break from the thorns. The emperor shot three arrows, none of them true, and said to Cao Cao, “You try.” Cao Cao took the emperor’s prized hawk bow and the gold-tipped arrows and loosed one shot that struck the stag’s back and sent it down into the grass.

Officers and court guards saw only those gold-tipped arrows and assumed the emperor had made the kill. They shouted cheers and praised him.

Cao Cao drove straight through the line, placing himself in front of the emperor to receive the applause. The crowd turned white.

Behind, Guan Yu’s rage flared. He raised the ridged brows and eyes like vermilion phoenixes, drew his sword, and leaned into the saddle, ready to strike Cao Cao down.

Liu Bei saw this and frantically shook his hand and gestured. Seeing his brother so, Guan Yu did not move.

Liu Bei bowed to Cao Cao and said, “The Chancellor is an archer whose skill even history cannot match.”

Cao Cao laughed. “That was the emperor’s good fortune.” He turned back toward the emperor and offered congratulations. He did not return the hawk bow, but kept it on himself.

After the encampment was cleared, the party feasted at Xu Field, then returned to Xuchang and the participants dispersed.

Guan Yu asked Liu Bei, “Cao is a villain who deceives the throne and tramples on superior authority. I want to kill him and remove this danger to the realm. Why do you restrain me?”

Liu Bei replied, “Throwing a mouse into a crock makes one hesitate to use any vessel.” Cao Cao and the emperor were only a horse-length apart, and his trusted men ringed them closely. If you act on sudden anger and the matter fails, it will harm the emperor, and blame will fall on us.”

Guan Yu said, “If we do not kill this villain now, it will only become disaster later.”

Liu Bei said, “Keep this inside us. Do not speak of it lightly.”

When the emperor returned to the palace, he spoke in tears to Empress Fu: “Since I ascended the throne, one rogue tyrant after another has risen. First we suffered Dong Zhuo’s disaster, then the turmoil of Huo and San. No one else has borne this burden except you and me. We later accepted Cao Cao as a minister who would serve the state, yet he has seized the state’s power, arrogating authority and dispensing rewards and punishments without my command. Every time I face him, it is like a thorn scratching my back. Today, in the hunting grounds, he had me receive his compliments publicly and in person. That is the height of impropriety! He will surely scheme someday. You and I do not know when death will come for us!”

Empress Fu said, “All the high ministers at court eat Han stipends, and not one can rescue the kingdom from danger.”

Before they finished speaking, someone entered from outside and said, “Your Majesty and Empress, set aside your worries. I can produce one man who could eliminate this threat.”

The emperor looked up and recognized him as his father-in-law, Fu Wan. He said, wiping his tears, “Your Honor too knows how Cao, this villain, is overbearing?”

Fu Wan said, “Everyone saw the hunt at Xu Field. If there is any who is not of Cao’s family, it is his underling circles. If it is not my kin, who would remain to punish this villain with sincerity? I have no official power, and the task is hard. But General of Chariots and Cavalry, your Imperial Uncle Dong Cheng, can be entrusted.”

The emperor said, “Dong Cheng, the imperial uncle, has repeatedly gone out to my aid in trouble. I know him well indeed. Summon him inside so we can discuss major state matters.”

Fu Wan said, “Your Majesty is surrounded by ministers loyal to Cao. If this leaks, the disaster will be deep.”

The emperor answered, “Then what can be done?”

Fu Wan replied, “Make one robe and one jade belt. Give him the belt as an honor. Stitch inside the lining a secret edict for him. Let him return home by night and day and shape a plan; spirits and ghosts will not see it.”

The emperor accepted this plan. Fu Wan withdrew.

The emperor drafted a secret decree himself, bit the tip of his finger, and wrote it in blood. He secretly instructed Empress Fu to sew it inside a layer of purple brocade on the jade belt. He then donned the same brocade robe, tied the belt, and ordered the court usher to present Dong Cheng.

When Dong Cheng entered and paid respects, the emperor said, “My lord, last night I spoke with the empress about the hardships by the Bahe River. I know your great service to your uncle-by-marriage, so I have called you only to offer comfort and thanks.” Dong Cheng kowtowed and thanked him.

The emperor led him out of the audience hall to the ancestral temple, then into the Hall of Meritorious Ministers. After offering incense and ritual, he showed him the painted images there. In their midst hung the portrait of Emperor Gaozu of Han. The emperor said, “Where did our founding emperor begin his life, and how did he begin his undertaking?”

Dong Cheng answered, “How can your majesty mock your minister so?” Then, with composure, he said, “Your highness’s honored grandfather began at Sipang Pavilion, took up a three-foot sword, and rose in the Snake-Rebellion; he marched in all directions across the four seas. In three years he brought down Qin, and in five years he overthrew Chu, winning the realm and laying foundations for ten thousand generations.”

The emperor said, “Our ancestor was such a hero while his descendants are so cowardly. Is this not a matter for lament?” He pointed to two paintings near him and said, “Are these not Lord Liu, Zhang Liang, and Marquis Zang, Xiao He?”

Dong Cheng said, “Yes, your majesty.”

The emperor replied, “Han Gaozu built this realm and founded this state relying on those two men.”

Then the emperor glanced around and, in a low voice, said, “You should likewise stand at my side as those two once did.”

Dong Cheng said, “I have no merit. How can I stand at your side?”

The emperor said, “Your service in rescuing me at Xiadu has not been forgotten. I have nothing else worthy of giving you.” He touched his own robe and belt and said, “Wear this robe and belt and tie this belt often. Imagine I am by your side.”

Dong Cheng knelt deeply and thanked him. The emperor removed the robe and belt and presented them to him and whispered privately, “When you return home, examine this carefully and do not disappoint my intent.”

Dong Cheng understood, put on the robe, tied the belt, and, after thanking the emperor, withdrew from the hall.

Not long after, someone reported to Cao Cao: “His Majesty spoke with Dong Cheng in the Hall of Meritorious Ministers.” Cao Cao entered court at once.

When Dong Cheng came out of the hall and had just passed the palace gate, he chanced to meet Cao Cao. With no place to slip away, he stood to the side of the road and offered formal salutation.

Cao Cao asked, “Why is the imperial uncle here?”

Dong Cheng said, “The emperor had just summoned him, and this robe and jade belt were imperial rewards.”

Cao Cao said, “Why were you granted these?”

Dong Cheng said, “It was for the old service of rescue in Xiadu. That alone won me this gift.”

Cao Cao said, “Take off the belt so I can see it.”

Dong Cheng knew there must be a secret hidden there, and he feared Cao Cao might discover it, so he delayed. Cao Cao shouted at those nearby, “Unfasten it at once!” After looking for quite some time, he laughed and said, “It is indeed a fine jade belt. Take off the robe too; let me see.”

Dong Cheng, fearful in his heart, dared not refuse and removed the robe. Cao Cao lifted it with his own hands and, in the sunlight, studied it closely. After he had finished, he put it on himself and tied the jade belt. He turned to his attendants and asked, “How does it fit?” They praised it.

He said to Dong Cheng, “So the imperial uncle has returned these same robes and belt to me?”

Dong Cheng replied, “It is a gift from Your Excellency. I dare not return it as a favor. I can make another and give my devotion.”

Cao Cao said, “The imperial uncle received this robe and belt from the Son of Heaven. Why should I take them from him? It was just a joke.” He then removed and returned robe and belt to Dong Cheng.

Dong Cheng bowed farewell and returned home.

At night he sat alone in his study and examined the robe repeatedly. No object appeared. He thought, “The emperor gave me this robe and belt and ordered close inspection. Surely he did not do so without meaning. Why is there no sign now?”

He then checked the jade belt. It was milky white jade carved into small, delicate dragons set through the flowers, with purple-cotton backing and careful stitching. There was nothing there either.

Still doubtful, he laid it on the table and searched again and again. After a long time, exhaustion took him. As he was about to lie down, a lamp ember fell onto the belt and caught the lining alight. He put it out in alarm, but one patch had burned open, exposing a strip of plain white silk and a faintly visible blood mark. He quickly took up a knife, split it open, and found the emperor’s handwritten blood secret order.

The decree read:

*I know that in human relations, sonship comes first, and parent to child is first of all. Of hierarchical order, ruler and ministers are the most weighty. Of late, the bandit Cao has monopolized authority and oppressed the Son of Heaven and his father; he has formed a coterie and ruined the court order. He issues rewards and punishments without my command. I have worried through the night and day, fearing that all under Heaven will be imperiled. You are one of the state’s great ministers and my own closest relative. Recall how the High Emperor founded this state with such hardship. Join the loyal and upright with a single mind, annihilate the treacherous clan, and restore the peace of the realm. Our ancestors will take joy in this.

I broke my finger and wrote this in blood. I send this edict to you. Be doubly careful and do not fail my wish!

Edict, spring, third month, fourth year of Jian’an.*

Dong Cheng read it to the end. Tears of grief and rage rose; he could not sleep all night. At dawn he returned to the study, looked again and again at the edict, and found no way to act. He placed it on the desk, then sat in deep thought, trying to devise the means to kill Cao. He lay back, half asleep.

At that moment, Wang Zifu, the Court Gentleman, arrived. The gatekeeper, aware that Wang Zifu was close to Dong Cheng, did not block him and he entered directly into the study.

He saw Dong Cheng lying still in a half-nodding stupor, with plain silk from the edict tucked beneath his sleeve, peeking out with the character “朕” showing. He looked at it silently, then quickly slipped it into his sleeve and called out, “Imperial Uncle, how are you so comfortable? How can you sleep through this?”

Dong Cheng jolted awake and, seeing the edict gone, seemed to lose spirit in his limbs and body. Wang Zifu said, “If you want to kill Minister Cao, I will offer my head.”

Dong Cheng wept and said, “If you do that, the Han house will be lost.”

Wang Zifu said, “I am only jesting. Our ancestors all served the Han revenues for generations. Are we without loyalty? I am willing to lend one arm to brotherly aid. Let us together execute the state-destroying traitor.”

Dong Cheng said, “Brother, this means great fortune for the realm.”

Wang Zifu said, “Let us write a declaration of justice in private and each abandon three clans in common punishment for this, so that we may answer the Han lord.”

Dong Cheng was delighted. He took a strip of white silk and first wrote his name. Wang Zifu did the same.

Then Wang said, “General Wuzilan is very close to me and can conspire with us.”

Dong Cheng said, “Among all ministers, only Colonel Zhong Ji of the Changshui unit and Registrar Wu Shuo are trusted in my innermost circle; they can stand with me.”

As he was speaking, a house servant entered to report that Zhong Ji and Wu Shuo had come to call.

Dong Cheng said, “Heaven has assisted me.” He told Wang Zifu to hide for now behind the screen. He then received the two in the study. They sat, drank tea.

Zhong Ji said, “Do you still resent the incident at the Xu Field hunt?”

Dong Cheng said, “I do, but there is nothing I can do.”

Wu Shuo said, “I swear to kill this villain, yet no one else will aid me.”

Zhong Ji added, “If our task is to remove danger from the state, even dying brings no complaint.”

Wang Zifu came out from behind the screen and said, “You two would kill Cao the Chancellor! I will be the first to lead. Dong, the imperial uncle, has asked me to stand witness.”

Zhong Ji frowned, then said angrily, “A loyal minister does not fear death. We would prefer to become Han ghosts than to cling to the villain’s faction.”

Dong Cheng laughed and said, “We meet you for this matter. Master Wang’s words were made in jest.” He drew out the secret edict from his sleeve and showed it to both.

The two read it and could not stop weeping.

Dong Cheng asked that they sign. Wang Zifu said, “The two of you wait a little. I will go invite Wuzilan.”

He had not gone far before he returned with Wu Zilan, and all met together. He too wrote his name.

Dong Cheng invited everyone to the rear hall for a shared drink.

Then word came that Ma Teng, the Governor of Xiliang, had come to visit.

Dong Cheng said, “Say I am ill and cannot receive him.”

The gatekeeper conveyed this, but Ma Teng grew angry: “I just came through Donghua Gate at night and saw him leave in a robe and jade belt. How can he hide behind illness? I did not come for no business. Why refuse me?”

The gatekeeper reported Ma Teng’s rage. Dong Cheng stood up and said, “Gentlemen, wait a moment. Let me go out for a moment.” He immediately went out to receive him with courtesy.

After receiving him with ceremony, they sat.

Ma Teng said, “I returned from court audience and came to bid farewell. Why was I turned away?”

Dong Cheng said, “His household has a severe illness; I have failed in welcome and am at fault.”

Ma Teng said, “Your face still has the freshness of spring. I do not see you as sick.”

Dong Cheng had no answer.

Ma Teng swept his sleeve and rose, then sighed as he reached the lower step and said, “There are none among us who are true to rescuing the state!”

Dong Cheng hurriedly detained him and asked, “Who, then, do you mean is not rescuing the state?”

Ma Teng said, “At Xu Field’s hunt, my fury was still in my chest. You, imperial uncle foremost in the household, still linger in wine and women and do not think of punishing the traitor. How could you be a rescuer of disasters to the court?”

Dong Cheng, fearing deceit, feigned surprise: “Cao the Chancellor is a great minister and pillar of court. Why do you speak this way?”

Ma Teng snapped, “Do you still take this Cao-ruffian for a good man?”

Dong Cheng said, “I hear well enough from near and close. Please lower your voice.”

Ma Teng replied, “A man who clings to life and fears death is unfit to discuss major things.” He had only just stood when Dong Cheng said, “I know your loyalty and righteousness. Please stay. See this document,” and invited him to the study.

He showed him the edict.

After reading it, Ma Teng’s hair stood on end. He bit his teeth and chewed his lips until blood ran into his mouth.

He said to Dong Cheng, “If you now move, I will summon the Xiliang armies as outside support.”

Dong Cheng asked him to meet the others and showed him the oath register.

Ma Teng was asked to write his name.

He took wine and blood to swear, then said, “We swear by life itself: we will not fail this pledge.” He pointed among the five seated and said, “With ten men, the great matter can be accomplished.”

Dong Cheng replied, “A loyal man is not easy to gather. If those we take are unfit, we only hurt one another.”

Ma Teng ordered the family register known as the Yanxing Register brought and examined. When it reached the Liu clan, he clapped his hands and said, “Why do we not discuss this with this person?” All asked who that was.

Ma Teng, unhurried, named that person. It was as if to say:

It begins because the Imperial Uncle Dong had accepted the edict in full clarity, And now one sees Zonghuang serving and aiding the Han court.

How this turned out will be told in the next chapter.