Chapter 13: Retreat in Defeat

A few days after the council, Guo Jia returned, charged with investigating the deaths of many generals' heirs. To his surprise, despite a lengthy inquiry, he found not a single clue.

All these heirs had died in apparent suicides: some hung themselves from trees with rope, others had a single knife wound at the throat, the dead grasping a dagger in their own hands. Each death bore the unmistakable mark of suicide, yet everyone knew such a thing was impossible.

If not suicide, then who was the murderer? Guo Jia was nearly driven to despair. The only solace he found was that, since his return, no further incidents had occurred.

On Cao Cao’s side, the investigation yielded no answers. Many generals lived in constant anxiety, fearing for their families. Days later, with morale shaken, Cao Cao's army was ambushed by Lü Bu. The forces suffered a crushing defeat and retreated toward Xuchang.

On the road, Cao Cao was furious.

“Damn it! Truly damn it!” he muttered angrily in his carriage as it rolled back to Xuchang. “Who dares to cause chaos in my rear ranks?”

He blamed the defeat not on Lü Bu, but wholly on the mysterious killer wreaking havoc behind his lines, slaughtering the heirs of his generals. With so many unable to fight with peace of mind, the campaign ended in failure.

“My lord, who do you think could be responsible?” Xun Yu asked quietly, walking beside him.

Cao Cao looked at him, puzzled. “You have a suspect?” he asked.

He knew Xun Yu well; such a question would not be asked without reason. In truth, Cao Cao himself could not guess the culprit. In this domain, he was the master—who else possessed the power to slaughter the heirs of his generals?

“My lord, there is another with considerable authority in Xuchang,” Xun Yu mused.

“Oh? Who?” Cao Cao asked instinctively, then soon realized what Xun Yu implied.

“You’re not referring to the Emperor, are you?”

Yes, apart from Cao Cao, there was another who held great power in Xuchang—Emperor Liu Xie. As emperor, his status far exceeded Cao Cao’s.

“But that shouldn’t be possible. The Emperor is surrounded by my people. If he made any move, I’d know immediately. No word has come from the palace.”

Cao Cao trusted those he had placed around Liu Xie—palace maids and eunuchs alike he considered reliable. He thought they would report any sign of trouble.

“My lord, I advise a thorough investigation,” Xun Yu urged gravely. “If things continue this way, the army will be shaken. If our generals cannot keep their heirs safe, none will wish to fight for us.”

Cao Cao’s expression grew stern. He understood perfectly what Xun Yu meant. After the defeat, he withdrew his forces at once, intent on resolving the matter swiftly. If not, trouble would only increase.

Gradually, Cao Cao’s thoughts turned to Liu Xie. He trusted the palace staff, but wondered—who in Xuchang could orchestrate such killings?

In Xuchang, two men held the highest position: himself and Liu Xie. Beyond them, he could think of no one.

Though Liu Xie’s every move was under his supervision, he dared not guarantee that no mishap could occur.

Thus, several days later, Cao Cao returned to Xuchang and immediately went to the palace to see Liu Xie.

“Prime Minister Cao, you recently led troops to conquer Xuzhou. How goes the war?” Liu Xie inquired softly.

At this, Cao Cao’s face darkened. “Your Majesty, while I was away campaigning, trouble arose in Xuchang. The heirs of many of my generals were murdered. Have you heard of this?”

Cao Cao questioned coldly.

“What?” Liu Xie feigned astonishment, crying out in disbelief. “Prime Minister Cao’s generals’ heirs were killed?”

“How could Your Majesty not know of this?” Cao Cao pressed.

“How would I know? I certainly didn’t kill them,” Liu Xie replied, pretending indifference. “I only wish to live quietly and care nothing for such matters.”

“Your Majesty truly knows nothing?” Cao Cao stared into Liu Xie’s eyes, repeating his question with utmost seriousness.

Liu Xie rolled his eyes in mock helplessness. “Prime Minister, what are you getting at? You don’t mean to suspect me, do you? What exactly do you mean? Do you think I’m not obedient enough? If so, perhaps I should go to your prison myself.”

With that, Liu Xie rose as if to leave.

“Your Majesty, that is not my intention,” Cao Cao said anxiously.

He was at his wit’s end with Liu Xie—always ready to cry, throw a tantrum, or threaten suicide, endlessly troublesome.

“Prime Minister, I’ve done all this, and you still won’t let me be?” Liu Xie complained, casting him another irritated look. “I just want to live as an ordinary man, away from your endless schemes. Why must it be so difficult?”

Cao Cao hurriedly stood and bowed. “Your Majesty, you misunderstand. I never meant such a thing. It’s just that the matter has caused great turmoil, and I fear more trouble in Xuchang.”

Now, before Liu Xie, Cao Cao dared not utter a single harsh word. To command the princes, he must wield the Son of Heaven; Liu Xie was the lynchpin. If anything happened to Liu Xie, all his efforts would be for naught.

Thus, for Cao Cao, as long as Liu Xie remained under his control, everything else could be managed. Though Liu Xie sometimes acted frivolously and treated him poorly, for the sake of his grand ambition, Cao Cao endured it.

But after returning, the words of his own followers began to make him reconsider.