Chang’an, the residence of the Grand Coachman.
In a side hall, Cao Cao wore a face full of remorse, while Zhao Qi was equally shaken by the news Cao Cao had brought.
The two remained silent for quite some time.
“Alas!”
After glancing at Cao Cao, Zhao Qi sighed and said, “This matter is not your fault, Mengde. Your plan could indeed have curbed the growth of the Taiping Prefecture while simultaneously enhancing the prestige of the Imperial Court. No one could have anticipated Li Jue’s malice.”
Naturally, Cao Cao had omitted part of the story.
He merely said that Li Jue intended to appoint Minister over the Masses Yang Biao as the imperial envoy, using him as a pawn in a borrowed knife to kill scheme.
“Duke Binqing, what should we do now?”
Filled with guilt, Cao Cao said, “If Lord Wenxian truly dies because of my plan, even a hundred deaths would never atone for my crime.”
“I shall enter the palace at once to seek an audience with His Majesty.”
Rising to his feet, Zhao Qi declared, “If Li Jue and the others arrive, I will volunteer to serve as the envoy to Yan Province. Perhaps I can save Minister Yang’s life.”
“Your righteousness is admirable, Duke Binqing.”
Cao Cao stepped forward to block Zhao Qi’s path and bowed respectfully.
“However, I’m afraid your wish will not be granted. While I was at Li Jue’s residence, I already tried to persuade him, but he was utterly resolute. I’m afraid the envoy sent to Yan Province can be none other than Lord Wenxian.”
“Then what are we to do?”
Zhao Qi’s expression grew heavy.
“We cannot simply watch Minister Yang walk into mortal danger and do nothing.”
“Duke Binqing.”
Taking a deep breath, Cao Cao looked at Zhao Qi and said, “At this point, the only solution is to let Lord Wenxian accept the appointment. Once he leaves the Sili region, he should immediately seek refuge in Ji Province. Only then can he escape this calamity.”
His scheme against the Taiping Prefecture had never been particularly ingenious.
If their positions were reversed, and he, Cao Cao, were Zhang Jing, he would certainly execute Yang Biao in public the moment the latter arrived, using his head as a sacrifice to inspire the troops.
As for Yang Biao’s predicament Cao Cao considered it an accident.
When he had devised the plan, he had never intended for the Imperial Court to send an envoy to Yan Province in the first place.
Earlier, he had simply been misled by Li Jue’s foolishness.
“This…”
Hearing this, Zhao Qi slowly sat back down.
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
“If the Minister over the Masses leaves the court, then we loyal servants of the Han will become even more isolated. Not long ago, I received word from Grand Minister of Ceremonies Huangfu Song. After returning to his hometown, he fell gravely ill. I’m afraid he has little time left.”
Though officials like them struggled merely to survive in Chang’an they nevertheless had their own political circle.
And within that circle, Yang Biao and Huangfu Song were its two towering pillars.
Should Yang Biao also withdraw from court the blow to their faction would be immeasurable.
People like Dong Cheng simply could not compare with Yang Biao and Huangfu Song.
“Rest assured, Duke Binqing.”
Cao Cao’s feelings were complicated upon hearing this, but his expression remained resolute as he bowed.
“So long as I, Cao Mengde, still draw breath, I shall never abandon my resolve to restore the Han.”
“At present, I have already gained Li Jue’s preliminary trust.”
“My men from Huayin have also been gradually entering the tuntian camps. Once the time is ripe, we shall rally behind His Majesty and eliminate those criminal generals of Liang Province.”
Li Jue had authorized him to recruit three thousand soldiers.
Naturally, Cao Cao had sent word to Huayin, summoning his former subordinates to come in batches.
By now, Cao Cao already commanded a respectable force outside Chang’an.
Zhao Qi slowly nodded, his face filled with relief.
“That the realm still has a man as outstanding as you, Mengde, is truly a blessing for the nation.”
As if suddenly recalling something, Zhao Qi’s expression turned solemn.
“However, if you intend to accomplish great things, there is one man you must be wary of.”
“Who?”
Cao Cao’s expression tightened.
“Secretary Jia Xu, courtesy name Wenhe.”
With utmost seriousness, Zhao Qi said, “He is a native of Guzang in Liang Province and formerly served as an adviser to the traitor Dong Zhuo. After Dong Zhuo’s death, when Li Jue, Guo Si, and the others led their troops to besiege Chang’an, I heard that it was all his doing.”
“However, after assuming the post of Secretary, he has not blindly supported Li Jue and his faction. On the contrary, he has done his utmost to stabilize the court.”
“Although Jia Xu keeps a very low profile in Chang’an and never takes part in court discussions unless the matter is of great importance…”
“I know that his standing within the Liangzhou Army is extraordinarily unique. Even men like Li Jue and Guo Si give him considerable respect.”
“So, Mengde, if you wish to achieve your ambitions, you absolutely must not underestimate him.”
Zhao Qi’s feelings toward Jia Xu were exceedingly complicated.
The man had clearly been the mastermind behind Wang Yun’s death and was the one who tore away the Imperial Court’s last veneer of dignity.
Yet Zhao Qi found himself unable to hate him.
Jia Xu was an exceptionally low-key individual, and as Secretary, he oversaw the selection and recommendation of talented officials.
The men Jia Xu promoted were almost all renowned scholars and men of great reputation.
How could scholars like themselves, who prided themselves on being righteous gentlemen, bring themselves to resent such a man?
The truth was, Jia Xu simply knew all too well how to conduct himself.
Therefore, even within Chang’an, there were very few court officials who ever spoke ill of Jia Xu.
“What?”
Cao Cao’s face filled with astonishment.
“The attack on Chang’an by Dong Zhuo’s former forces… was actually this man’s doing?”
His shock was understandable.
When Li Jue’s army attacked Chang’an, Yan Province was in the midst of the Yellow Turban invasion.
The Yellow Turbans had killed Liu Dai, the Inspector of Yan Province, while Cao Cao himself was busy positioning himself to succeed Liu Dai as Inspector.
He simply hadn’t had the time to pay attention to events in Chang’an.
By the time the influential clans of Yan Province had recommended him for the post of Inspector, everything in Chang’an had already been settled.
Afterward, he was occupied with suppressing the Yellow Turbans.
Naturally, he had neither the time nor the energy to investigate the details of the court coup.
Now, upon learning that the mastermind behind it all was not only still alive but living quite comfortably, how could he not be shocked?
He had always assumed it was merely Li Jue and the other remnants of Dong Zhuo’s faction seeking revenge for Dong Zhuo’s death.
He had never imagined that Jia Xu had been involved behind the scenes.
As for Jia Xu himself, although Cao Cao had been in Chang’an for several months and had crossed paths with him twice, he had never paid the man much attention.
“Almost certainly.”
Zhao Qi nodded slowly.
“Otherwise, there would be no explanation for why Li Jue, Guo Si, and the others treat him with such courtesy. In any case, just remember what I’ve told you, Mengde. Under no circumstances should you underestimate him.”
Although Jia Xu had only made one notable move, Zhao Qi trusted his own judgment.
Surely Jia Xu wasn’t merely a recluse who kept to himself, pretending to be some unfathomable mastermind?
“I will remember your words, Duke Binqing.”
Cao Cao’s expression turned solemn as he bowed deeply.
Inwardly, he resolved to seek Jia Xu out another day and judge the man for himself.
“There is no need for such formality, Mengde.”
Zhao Qi rose and waved his hand.
“You should return now. I must pay a visit to the Minister over the Masses’ residence, lest Wenxian harbor any resentment toward you.”
“My deepest thanks, Duke Binqing.”
Cao Cao’s expression grew serious as he bowed once more.
No matter what, this trouble had been caused by him.
Even if his intentions had been entirely for the good of the realm.
……………
Around the Hour of Shen (3:00–5:00 p.m.).
Yang Biao, his expression grave, personally saw Zhao Qi off.
“Xiu’er.”
Returning to the main hall, Yang Biao’s face darkened.
“Do you think Li Jue has noticed something?”
Yang Biao had indeed been secretly plotting.
Specifically, he had been sowing discord.
Having learned that Guo Si’s wife was fiercely jealous, he instructed his own wife to tell her that Guo Si was having an affair with Li Jue’s wife.
And Guo Si’s wife had already fallen for the deception.
“Father, why worry so much?”
A handsome young man, dressed in a white brocade robe embroidered with cloud patterns, stepped calmly out from the inner hall.
His features were refined, his eyes bright, and his demeanor composed.
“If Li Jue had truly become suspicious, then the one who came to our residence today would not have been Duke Binqing.”
“Chang’an is a land of constant peril.”
“Leaving this place may well prove to be a blessing for our Yang family.”
— The end of the Chapter–
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