Three Kingdoms: The Peerless Strategist of Wei

Chapter 33 Still stubbornly refusing to admit it? Kill them!

Gu Cheng responded to Cao Ang's questioning with two rhetorical questions in succession.

Cao Ang gasped sharply, his eyes filled with utter shock, unable to contain any emotion of parting.

"My brother-in-law, who usually doesn't concern himself with court affairs, has an uncanny understanding of the political situation, big and small, and can even decipher the emperor's edict in a glance!"

"Such unfathomable wisdom is truly beyond comprehension. No wonder Father placed all his hopes for conquering the world and bringing peace to the four seas on him!"

Cao Ang was secretly amazed.

Immediately afterwards, he leaped up and strode out of the stone pavilion, shouting for his trusted guards. He then wrote a personal letter on the spot and ordered it to be sent back to Xuchang by fast horse.

Inside the stone pavilion.

"My throat is almost dry from talking for so long."

Gu Cheng casually picked up a wine flask from the side, about to tilt his head back and gulp down a few mouthfuls.

But when he turned his head, he saw Da Qiao and Diao Chan, their hands supporting their cheeks, their cherry lips parted into exaggerated circles, staring at him blankly without blinking.

"What's with those expressions on your faces?"

Gu Cheng asked, looking puzzled.

Da Qiao was the first to recover her senses, and asked in surprise and curiosity, "Young Master, Zhou Youping and the others always say that you are no ordinary person. Today, Wan'er has finally witnessed it with her own eyes. How exactly did you manage to do all this?"

"That's right, young master."

Diao Chan nodded emphatically and said, "It's one thing that you, young master, could deduce that Dong Guojiu wanted to rebel, but how could you even predict such a top-secret matter as the Emperor bestowing an edict upon Dong Guojiu with such accuracy? It's as if... it's as if..."

She searched her mind for the right words for a long time, and suddenly blurted out: "It's as if the young master was there at the time, and witnessed all of this happening with his own eyes."

"Well..."

Gu Cheng cleared his throat and coughed twice, then said with a smile, "If I said that all of this was just my guess, I don't know if you would believe me or not."

"All just guesswork?"

Da Qiao and Diao Chan exchanged a glance and shook their heads vigorously, like rattles.

"Well, we've eaten and drunk our fill. Getting on with our journey is the most important thing now. Let's set off."

Gu Cheng didn't offer any further explanation, and simply got up and walked out.

Diao Chan had served him for a long time and was used to his mysterious and unpredictable nature, so she didn't ask any more questions and followed him out.

Da Qiao remained standing there, gazing intently at Gu Cheng's departing figure, her eyes filled with subtle and indescribable emotions.

"It seems that everything in the world, and everyone in the world, is under your control. Young Master Gu, Wan'er can see through you more and more..."

The carriages and horses slowly set off.

Cao Ang also personally led his troops to escort him eastward.

Meanwhile, another swift horseman, already carrying his handwritten letter, changed course and galloped towards Xuchang.

...

As night deepened, in the Sikong Mansion.

Cao Cao was discussing the strategy for his eastern expedition with his advisors and generals.

"Yuanrang, this time I am personally leading a large army on an eastern expedition. Xuchang is still entrusted to your defense. You must ensure the safety of this home!"

Cao Cao patted Xiahou Dun on the shoulder and gave him a serious warning.

Xiahou Dun said with an arrogant expression, "Mengde, you can rest assured. With me here, Xuchang will be as safe as Mount Tai and there will be no mishap."

Among Cao Cao's relatives, only Xiahou Dun was qualified to address Cao Cao by his courtesy name.

Cao Cao nodded slightly, the weight that had been hanging over him finally lifted.

It was at this time that...

Dian Wei rushed in, holding a letter aloft with both hands, and announced loudly, "Your Excellency, the eldest son's personal guard has sent a letter by express courier, saying that there is an extremely urgent matter to report to you."

Urgent!

Cao Cao frowned slightly and reached out to take the letter.

After taking a few glances at the package, Cao Cao's expression hardened, and a hint of surprise flashed across his eyes.

"Mengde, what did Zixiu say in his letter?"

Xiahou Dun hurriedly asked.

"You'll see for yourself."

Cao Cao casually handed the letter to Xiahou Dun.

"In his letter, Zixiu said that Dong Cheng would collude with Han officials in the court to rebel while you, Mengde, were away on campaign, and that the Emperor had even personally bestowed upon him a secret edict hidden in his belt?"

Xiahou Dun gasped sharply, his eyes wide with disbelief, and quickly looked at Cao Cao.

"We thought we had a perfect surveillance of the emperor, with our eyes and ears everywhere in the palace, but we never expected that even the best-laid plans can have a flaw."

"Luckily, Liheng saw through their scheme at a glance; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable!"

Cao Cao sighed deeply, his face showing lingering fear.

"Li Heng?"

Reminded by him, Xiahou Dun quickly lowered his head to read the letter more carefully, only to find that Cao Ang clearly mentioned in the letter that all of his speculations came from Gu Liheng.

"Mengde, who exactly is this Liheng, that he possesses such astonishing wisdom?"

"Among your top strategists, I don't recall ever having seen anyone like this before?"

Xiahou Dun was completely unaware of the details and was naturally bewildered and confused.

"I'll explain the details about Gu Liheng to you later."

A murderous glint suddenly ignited in Cao Cao's eyes, and he roared in a deep voice, "What you need to do now is immediately take your troops and bring Dong Cheng to me!"

"I see!"

Xiahou Dun clasped his hands together, turned around, and strode away with a murderous aura.

Cao Cao sat upright in the main seat and ordered Dian Wei to bring in dozens of swordsmen and axemen, who stood in two rows on both sides of the hall.

A heavy, chilling atmosphere instantly filled the hall.

Not long after.

Under heavy guard, Dong Cheng, filled with trepidation, stepped into the main hall.

Upon seeing this scene, Dong Cheng secretly gasped, a sense of unease rising in his heart.

He forced down his inner turmoil, feigning composure as he bowed and asked, "Minister Cao, why have you sent such a large force to summon me here so late at night?"

Cao Cao did not answer, but looked him up and down, finally settling on the jade belt tied around his waist.

That jade belt was a gift from Emperor Liu Xie, but unexpectedly, Dong Cheng had been wearing it close to his body all along.

According to common sense, items bestowed by the emperor should be respectfully kept at home and would never be worn unless on a major ceremonial occasion.

However, Dong Cheng wore this jade belt at all times, almost inseparable from it.

Cao Cao hadn't paid much attention to it before, but now, after Gu Cheng's reminder, he felt that the jade belt was suspicious in every way.

"Dong Cheng, you colluded with treacherous officials and rebels, plotting to launch a rebellion while I was on my eastern expedition to Xuzhou. Now that your scheme has been exposed, why don't you confess your crimes immediately!"

Cao Cao's eyes narrowed suddenly, and he roared out in a fierce voice.

The shout was like a thunderclap, and Dong Cheng's heart trembled violently. A look of undisguised horror flashed in his eyes.

"Our plan was so secretive, there was absolutely no way a word of it could have leaked out. How did he figure it out?"

Dong Cheng was filled with doubt and unease, and his forehead was instantly covered with a layer of cold sweat.

"This must be just his suspicious nature, a wild guess. He has no evidence whatsoever, so how dare he conclude that I'm going to rebel!"

Dong Cheng's mind raced, and he quickly suppressed the panic in his heart.

He immediately feigned surprise and said, "Minister Cao, what makes you say such a thing? You have truly wronged this humble official."

"Injustice?"

Cao Cao snorted coldly and questioned sharply, "Dong Cheng, I ask you, did the Emperor give you a secret edict, ordering you to use it to rally those traitors to attack me?"

Secret edict!

Upon hearing those two words, Dong Cheng's heart trembled violently once again, and a layer of cold sweat instantly seeped out from his back.

"What secret edict? The Emperor has never given me any secret edict!"

Dong Cheng immediately denied it, saying with a wronged expression, "Someone must be trying to frame me. They deliberately went to Minister Cao to speak ill of me. Minister Cao, you must not fall for the schemes of such a villain."

"Injustice?"

Cao Cao's lips curled into a cold smile, and he shouted sternly, "Men, bring me the jade belt that Dong Cheng is wearing."

Dong Cheng was instantly horrified, his legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground.

Just now, he was certain that Cao Cao had no evidence and still had the confidence to hold out.

But now, Cao Cao mentioned this jade belt as soon as he opened his mouth, and the little bit of confidence in his heart was instantly shattered.

"This is a jade belt bestowed upon me by the Emperor himself. What does Minister Cao want with it?"

Dong Cheng hurriedly gripped the jade belt at his waist tightly, his voice trembling as he demanded an answer.

Cao Cao completely ignored him, simply flicking his sleeve in a cold gesture.

Dian Wei immediately strode forward, grabbed Dong Cheng and pinned him down, tearing off the jade belt from his waist without a word and presenting it to Cao Cao with both hands.

Cao Cao held the jade belt, examining it from head to toe.

Dong Cheng was already drenched in sweat, his heart was in his throat, and he didn't dare to even breathe.

"Sizzle!"

Cao Cao suddenly exerted his strength and tore the jade belt in his hand apart.

Sure enough, the inside of the jade belt was covered with densely packed small characters, which could be recognized at a glance as the handwriting of Emperor Liu Xie.

Dong Cheng's spirit collapsed instantly, his body swayed violently, and he staggered back several steps.

Cao Cao read the secret edict from beginning to end, and its contents were exactly as Gu Cheng had predicted. It was an order from the emperor, instructing Dong Cheng to unite with Han officials in the court and find an opportunity to kill Cao Cao.

"Fortunately, I, Cao Cao, have a son-in-law like Li Heng; otherwise, I would surely have been killed by this heartless little emperor today!"

Looking at the lines of cold handwriting, Cao Cao felt both immense relief and a surge of rage.

Cao Cao gripped the secret edict tightly, glaring angrily at Dong Cheng, and shouted sternly, "The evidence is irrefutable, Dong Cheng! Do you still want to deny it?"

Dong Cheng's face was filled with sorrow. He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

"Bang!"

Cao Cao slammed his fist on the table in front of him and roared, "Guards! Throw Dong Cheng into prison immediately! Arrest all the court officials who have had close contact with him, throw them into prison, and torture them severely!"

Dian Wei waved his hand, and the Tiger Guards behind him immediately pounced fiercely and tied Dong Cheng up tightly on the spot.

"Cao Mengde!"

Dong Cheng, his face filled with resentment and indignation, roared, "Since I have failed, I have nothing to say. I only want to know how you deciphered the Emperor's edict hidden in his belt!"

Cao Cao disdained to answer his question and simply waved his hand indifferently.

Tiger Guard immediately dragged him out of the hall.

"Cao Cao, tell me, how exactly did you uncover the secret edict? Tell me, so I can die in peace—"

The mournful and desperate roar gradually faded into the night.

"Your Majesty, when you returned east in your destitution, you couldn't even get a hot meal. Your imperial authority was completely gone, and none of the feudal lords in the land respected you!"

"It was I, Cao Cao, who respected and served you, allowing you to once again enjoy the majesty of an emperor. Instead of being grateful, you treat me this way; you are truly utterly hateful!"

Cao Cao gritted his teeth and slammed his fist hard on the table.

Xiahou Dun, his face filled with indignation, said, "Mengde, this young emperor is utterly ungrateful and hateful. Why not simply depose him and install a new emperor?"

Cao Cao remained silent.

After a long while, he sighed and said, "Forget it. If I rashly depose the emperor, how am I any different from Dong Zhuo? It will only give Yuan Shao an excuse to criticize me. Let's let that little emperor go for now."

Followed by.

Cao Cao's eyes flashed with a chilling killing intent as he coldly declared, "But none of those treacherous dogs like Dong Cheng can be spared. After interrogation and verification, all those involved in the treason must be executed without mercy!"

"clear!"

After Xiahou Dun accepted the order, he couldn't help but ask, "Mengde, who exactly is this Gu Cheng you mentioned earlier?"

"This Gu Cheng is truly an unbelievable and extraordinary person..."

Cao Cao stroked his long beard and immediately recounted the whole story to Xiahou Dun, his most trusted relative and general.

Xiahou Dun found it increasingly mysterious as he listened, his expression shifting between shock and astonishment.

"Now, Yuan, you should know just how capable my son-in-law is."

Cao Cao spoke with a smile, his face full of pride and honor.

Xiahou Dun was completely shocked and lost in thought, and it took him a long time to calm down.

Another half a day passed.

He finally came to his senses and exclaimed in astonishment, "So, the counterattack against Zhang Xiu at Wancheng, the burning of Cai Mao at Bowangpo, the surprise attack on Xiachai, and the swift capture of Shouchun—all of these were his doing!"

"That's not all. When Xuchang suffered a salt shortage before, it was Liheng who produced green salt, helping us through that life-or-death crisis!"

Cao Cao then added with a smile.

"So, the Gu family's salt, which is famous throughout Xuchang, also originated from him?"

Xiahou Dun gasped sharply, his eyes filled with utter shock.

Seeing his brothers so amazed and impressed by their son-in-law's abilities, Cao Cao felt secretly pleased, and a smile of satisfaction unconsciously appeared on his lips.

Xiahou Dun took several deep breaths before he could barely calm the turmoil in his heart.

Unable to contain his excitement, he exclaimed from the bottom of his heart, "Mengde, Gu Cheng's talent and strategy are simply comparable to a strategist reborn into the world. You are truly blessed by Heaven to have such an extraordinary son-in-law. You are destined to sweep across the land and reach the pinnacle of your great cause!"

Cao Cao stroked his long beard, smiled calmly, and did not speak.