Chapter 59 Indirect Persuasion

The abduction of the deposed Emperor Liu Bian, though ultimately unsuccessful, sent shockwaves through both the court and the country.

Although Liu Bian was eventually intercepted by Lü Bu, Empress Dowager He perished amidst the chaotic melee, and Lady Tang, consort to Liu Bian, went missing without a trace.

According to the eyewitness testimony of Lü Bu, who was present at the scene, the mastermind behind the emperor's abduction appeared to be Cao Cao. Dong Zhuo immediately dispatched men to search Cao Cao's residence, only to discover that, aside from a few domestic servants and bondservants, the entire Cao household had vanished into thin air, leaving behind an empty estate with their whereabouts entirely unknown.

Furious, Dong Zhuo issued a nationwide warrant for Cao Cao's arrest. Portraits of Cao Cao, featuring his thick eyebrows and small eyes, were plastered across the walls of every city, accompanied by a proclamation: "Whoever captures and delivers him shall be rewarded with a thousand catties of gold and enfeoffed as a Marquis of Ten Thousand Households!"

It remained unclear who started the rumor that Yuan Wei’s nephew, Yuan Shu, was also implicated in the plot. However, on one hand, eyewitnesses such as Lü Bu and the guards of the Southern Palace testified that they never saw Yuan Shu appear at the scene; on the other hand, the only physical evidence was a headless and tailless letter that proved nothing. Coupled with Yuan Wei’s tearful and wailing protests of innocence, Dong Zhuo had no choice but to drop the matter and pursue it no further.

By this point, Luoyang’s supreme triumvirate of elite young masters—Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, and Cao Cao—had all successively fled Luoyang, embarking on their respective paths as regional warlords.

For his meritorious service, Lü Bu was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Wen, appointed as the Commander of the Northern Army, and rewarded with a thousand catties of gold...

After the incident, Lü Bu even sent someone to deliver a message to Fei Qian, expressing his gratitude for Fei Qian's guidance in helping him acquire the Heavenly Halberd, which had enabled him to achieve this great merit, and inviting him to share a cup of wine whenever he had spare time...

When Fei Qian learned of all this afterward, he truly did not know whether to laugh or cry. Was he really not the one who caused this mess? If Senior Brother Cao Cao ever found out that he had a hand in it, would he hold a grudge for the rest of his life? But come to think of it, didn't Cao Cao originally offer a precious sword? How did it turn into abducting the emperor?

Had his arrival altered something, causing reality to diverge from his impressions? Where exactly was history heading now?

Was the Three Kingdoms era still the original Three Kingdoms he knew?

Ah, if things continued like this, what foresight advantages would he possibly have left?

Previously, Fei Qian had hoped to walk the thin yellow line of predicted history to evade risks, but now he suddenly discovered that even the yellow line beneath his feet had vanished. A sudden chill swept through his entire body, and he could not help wondering how many concealed blades and spears were lurking in the darkness, aiming straight for him...

Fei Qian shivered involuntarily.

***

Fei Qian decided to visit Cai Yong’s residence to sound him out. After all, Cao Cao, the perpetrator of this deed, was Cai Yong’s disciple, and it would spell trouble if Dong Zhuo decided to investigate further. It would be ideal if he could persuade Cai Yong to leave with him under the pretext of taking refuge.

After all, he was currently weak and isolated; even with lofty ambitions, what could he achieve? Luoyang was far too unsafe; it was best to flee sooner rather than later. It was simply too perilous, and he constantly worried about when disaster might strike without warning...

When Fei Qian arrived at Cai Yong's residence, Cai Yong was reading a book in his study.

After the maidservant served tea and they exchanged some casual pleasantries, Fei Qian said, "Your disciple has recently been studying the Zuo Zhuan and has encountered a doubt, which I have come specifically to ask the Master to clarify."

"Speak your mind," Cai Yong replied. In truth, Cai Yong was also deeply troubled by the current state of affairs, but hearing that Fei Qian sought academic guidance, he temporarily pushed his worries aside and asked what problem Fei Qian had encountered.

Fei Qian began: "In former times, Duke Xian of Jin wished to install Lady Li as his wife. He cast turtle shells for divination, and the result was inauspicious; he then cast milfoil stalks, and the result was auspicious. The Duke followed the milfoil and eventually Lady Li gave birth to Xiqi. When he wished to install Xiqi as heir, Lady Li told the crown prince to offer sacrifices at Quwo. She kept the sacrificial meat for six days, poisoned it, and presented it to the Duke. This disciple has privately pondered: the sacrificial meat smelled like rotting wild ginger, why could the Duke not perceive it?"

This was the story of Duke Xian of Jin, a fascinating historical tale recorded in the Zuo Zhuan.

Duke Xian of Jin was a ruler of the State of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period. In an era when changing rulers was as effortless as swapping dishes at a banquet, he managed to reign for twenty-six years, making him a relatively long-reigning sovereign.

As soon as Duke Xian came to power, he showed no mercy to the descendants of Marquis Wen of Jin who might have threatened his throne, slaughtering every single one of them without leaving a survivor, and subsequently adopted a policy of honoring the king to elevate his own prestige. During his reign, he conquered the states of Li, Rong, Geng, Huo, Yu, and Guo, prompting historical records to praise him as having "annexed seventeen states and subdued thirty-eight."

How could such a formidable figure be deceived by a piece of stinking meat?

Would anyone believe it?

This was precisely the historical account of Duke Xian of Jin that Fei Qian brought up to consult Cai Yong.

—Duke Xian of Jin wanted to make Lady Li his primary wife, so he used tortoise shells for divination, but the oracle was inauspicious; then he used milfoil stalks, and the oracle was auspicious. Following the milfoil, Duke Xian made Lady Li his wife. Later, Lady Li bore a son named Xiqi and desired to make Xiqi the crown prince. Thus, Lady Li tricked the crown prince of Duke Xian—his eldest son—into performing sacrifices at Quwo, and after the prince brought back the sacrificial meat, she kept it in the palace for six days before presenting it to Duke Xian.

The question, then, was how Duke Xian of Jin could possibly have been deceived by this foul-smelling meat? Could he not smell the stench of the meat?

***

Clearly, Cai Yong was also well-versed in this historical allusion. He nodded and said, "Duke Xian's installation of Lady Li showed him to be willful and autocratic. Lady Li deliberately let the meat rot so that Duke Xian would smell it and refuse to eat it, thus enabling her to frame and harm the crown prince." —From the episode of Duke Xian installing Lady Li, one could see that he was an arbitrary and self-willed person; Lady Li intentionally allowed the meat to putrefy so that Duke Xian would notice the stench and avoid eating it himself, thereby making it possible to harm the crown prince.

Fei Qian then asked, "If he detested the crown prince, and the crown prince was already dead, why execute Du Yuankuan?" —Later on, Duke Xian drove his own eldest son to his death, and not only that, but he also executed the crown prince's tutor, Du Yuankuan.

"Fearing the crime of bad counsel..." Cai Yong stopped midway, deep in thought.

Fei Qian had gone to great lengths to speak in riddles precisely so that Cai Yong would understand the subtext: Dong Zhuo was just as arbitrary and autocratic as Duke Xian of Jin. A man like Dong Zhuo would often kill on a mere whim. Now that Cao Cao, who was Cai Yong's disciple, had enraged Dong Zhuo, how could they ensure Dong Zhuo would not suspect that Cai Yong had been instructing him behind the scenes?

Even if Dong Zhuo was not troubling the Master right now, could anyone guarantee that he wouldn't suddenly suspect him one day?

Fei Qian secretly observed Cai Yong's expression and pressed on, "Sheng stayed within the capital and died, while Chonger fled to foreign lands and lived. Why is that?" —Sheng referred to the eldest son who was wrongfully accused by Lady Li; when Duke Xian sent men to arrest him, he stayed behind and consequently died. Chonger was also later framed by Lady Li, but Chonger ran fast, fled, and as a result survived...

"..." Cai Yong remained silent and gave no reply. By this point, he fully understood why Fei Qian had come to consult him with obscure questions; it was evidently out of concern that Dong Zhuo might redirect his anger and harm him, prompting Fei Qian to advise him to seek temporary refuge.

Putting everything else aside, simply for Fei Qian's heartfelt concern for his safety, Cai Yong felt he had not misjudged his choice of disciple. However, such a momentous decision could not be made lightly after just a few words. After all, having lived in Luoyang for so many years, even if he were to leave, he had to carefully consider a safe destination first, did he not?

Cai Yong looked at Fei Qian with a trace of gratification and said, "Your intentions are clear to me. Let me ponder on this for a while..."

Thinking to himself that it was already a good start if old man Cai was willing to consider it, Fei Qian prepared to take his leave. However, he was called back by Cai Yong, who mentioned that his senior fellow apprentice, Cai Yan, had left instructions earlier: if Fei Qian came by, he was required to submit his assigned lessons.

Fei Qian almost coughed up a mouthful of blood. How could he possibly have had any time to work on assignments these past few days? This was practically a death sentence...