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Cao Cao and Chen Gong traveled for three days before reaching the outskirts of Chenggao. As dusk fell, the evening glow cast deep shadows among the trees. Cao Cao reined in his horse and raised his whip, pointing towards a mountain lodge where a faint light flickered. He said to Chen Gong, "There lives an elder named Lu Boshe, who is a sworn brother of my father. We might as well stay there for the night and gather some news."
Chen Gong wiped the sweat from his brow and nodded, saying, "It's best to have someone familiar to protect us; traveling at night is too dangerous."
The two dismounted and gently knocked on the lodge door. An elderly man with a grizzled beard came out, looked them over for a moment, and exclaimed, "You are Mengde! I have heard that the court has issued orders to capture you. How is it that you can come here?"
Lu Boshe lowered his voice and added, "Your father has long since taken refuge in Chenliu. The situation outside is tense; it is truly dangerous!"
Cao Cao clasped his hands and bowed deeply, speaking earnestly, "If not for County Magistrate Chen's daring assistance, I would have perished long ago. I apologize for troubling you, Uncle, but it is out of necessity."
Lu Boshe turned to Chen Gong and bowed deeply, saying, "Governor Chen's great kindness will never be forgotten by the Cao family. Without you here, Mengde would not be standing before us today!"
Chen Gong hurriedly supported him and humbly replied, "Uncle overstates it. Protecting Lord Cao is my duty; there is no need for such heavy words."
Lu Boshe stood up and welcomed them inside. "The place is humble; please sit for a moment while I arrange accommodations for you."
After saying this, Lu Boshe led them into a grass hut and invited them to take a seat before turning to head towards the inner courtyard. Soon after, he returned with a jug of clear water and said apologetically, "My home is modest; I have no fine wine or dishes to offer you. Allow me to go to the west village to buy some wine; otherwise, I will feel uneasy."
Cao Cao quickly stood up to stop him. "Uncle, there is no need for such trouble. My brother Gong and I can make do with something simple."
Lu Boshe waved his hand with a smile. "You are guests who have traveled far; how can I let you go hungry? I will be back shortly."
With that, he mounted an old donkey tied outside and hurried away, disappearing into the shadows cast by the evening breeze rustling through the trees. Cao Cao watched his retreating figure with deep contemplation, remaining silent. Chen Gong whispered, "Though this place seems safe, staying even a moment longer increases our risk. Lord Cao must remain vigilant."
Cao Cao and Chen Gong sat quietly in the grass hut; the surrounding silence heightened their sensitivity. Suddenly, they heard faint sounds of grinding steel from behind the lodge. Cao Cao frowned and said softly, "Lu Boshe is not my close kin; this sound of sharpening knives raises suspicion. Let’s go investigate."
"Perhaps it's just for slaughtering livestock, we shouldn't act rashly," Chen Gong replied in a low voice.
Cao Cao, however, had already stood up, gripping the hilt of his sword and signaling for Chen Gong to follow. The two held their breath and quietly made their way to the back courtyard. Moonlight streamed through the gaps in the dilapidated windows, revealing several figures inside busily engaged in conversation. "Bind them and kill them to avoid trouble, what do you think?" one person whispered, the sound of sharpening knives particularly jarring.
Cao Cao's expression changed dramatically, his eyes glinting with coldness as he leaned closer to Chen Gong's ear and whispered, "It’s indeed a trap! If we don’t strike first, we may not escape unscathed." With that, he drew his sword and charged into the room, its blade gleaming ominously.
Chen Gong had no time to say more and could only follow. The few people inside turned in shock as Cao Cao swung his sword, and amidst the flashing blades, screams erupted. In a matter of moments, eight men lay dead on the ground, blood pooling around them.
Cao Cao strode into the kitchen, scanning the area until his gaze landed on a corner where a pig was bound. Ingredients like scallions, ginger, and garlic were laid out on the counter, clearly prepared for slaughtering the pig. Chen Gong was taken aback; blood still dripped from the tip of his sword as he said softly, "Mengde, your suspicion has led us astray! These people were only preparing to kill a pig for guests; they meant no harm!"
Cao Cao paused briefly but quickly replied coldly, "Better to wrongfully kill than to be captured. I cannot take that risk." He wiped the blood from his blade, a hint of chill flashing in his eyes.
Chen Gong suppressed his anger and helplessly followed Cao Cao as they hurried out of the estate and mounted their horses to flee.
They had not gone far when a familiar figure approached on a donkey from afar—it was Lu Boshe. His face was filled with joy; two bottles of wine hung from the saddle while he carried fruits and vegetables in his hands. He called out cheerfully from a distance, "Mengde! Sir! Why have you left so soon? I bought some wine and dishes; come back with me!"
Cao Cao halted his horse, his expression grim as he struggled to mask the turmoil within him. He replied coolly, "Uncle, we are already wanted by the court; how can we linger and bring trouble upon you?"
Boshe laughed heartily. "Since you are here, you are my guest. I have instructed my household to prepare a pig for your welcome; why rush to leave? Come back—this wine and food haven’t even been opened yet!"
Ignoring Lu Boshe's calls, Cao Cao pressed his legs against the horse's belly and accelerated away. Chen Gong followed closely behind him, unease flickering in his eyes. However, just as they had taken a few steps away, Cao Cao suddenly pulled on the reins, causing the horse to rear up. He swiftly drew his sword from his waist and turned with a cold glare back at Lu Boshe before charging towards him.
"Mengde! What are you doing?" Chen Gong exclaimed in shock, but Cao Cao paid him no mind.
As Cao Cao approached Lu Boshe, he shouted loudly, "Uncle, who are those people coming from that direction?" He pointed into the distance, his gaze fixed on Lu Boshe's reaction. Boshe paused for a moment, instinctively turning to look. In that fleeting instant, a cold glint flashed; Cao Cao drew his sword and swiftly severed Boshe's head. His body stiffened for a moment before crashing heavily to the ground from the back of the donkey.
"Mengde!" Chen Gong, witnessing this scene, was filled with shock. He immediately dismounted and rushed in front of Cao Cao, angrily demanding, "Why did you kill him again? You’ve already mistakenly killed his family; now you won't even spare him! What kind of morality is left in such actions?"
Cao Cao looked expressionlessly at Boshe’s lifeless body lying in a pool of blood and coldly replied, "If Boshe returns home and finds his family slaughtered, how could he possibly let it go? He would definitely come after us with his men, and we would be hard-pressed to escape. Rather than wait for him to strike first, it’s better to take the initiative."
"But he just came joyfully with food and wine to entertain you!" Chen Gong clenched his fists, his tone filled with accusation. "How can you treat a benefactor this way? How can you bear it?"
Cao Cao turned his head, his gaze dark and a faint cold smile playing on his lips. His voice was low and calm: "If I must choose between being the one who betrays the world or being betrayed by the world, I would rather betray the world."
Chen Gong was momentarily speechless, shock and helplessness mingling in his eyes. He sighed deeply, bowed his head in silence, and then mounted his horse. As Cao Cao rode away, he glanced back at the body lying in the bloodstained ground; his brow furrowed slightly but soon returned to its cold demeanor. The two exchanged no further words; only the sound of hooves echoed in the tranquil night, like a heavy lament.
The night was quiet, with moonlight pouring like water over the small courtyard of the inn. Cao Cao had long fallen into a deep sleep, his steady breathing blending with the moonlight seeping through the wooden window. Chen Gong sat in a corner of the room, leaning against the cold hard wall, repeatedly tightening and loosening his grip on the hilt of his sword. His gaze was fixed on Cao Cao's sleeping form, his expression gloomy as conflicting emotions surged within him.
"I thought he was a man of loyalty and righteousness, which is why I willingly abandoned my post to follow him. Yet I never expected him to be so ruthless and devoid of any sense of benevolence. Although Lu Boshe's family had no ties to him, they welcomed him with open arms only to meet such a fate in the end. A person so heartless should not be allowed to live," Chen Gong murmured to himself as he lowered his head, lightly tapping on the hilt of his sword with his fingertips like war drums echoing in his heart.
He stood up; the blade slightly unsheathed, its cold light shimmering under the moonlight. Chen Gong's steps were light yet steady, each one seeming to test his resolve. He approached the bedside and looked down at Cao Cao's face; even in sleep, Cao Cao frowned slightly and moved his lips as if still plotting his next move in a dream.
"You are a born ambitious man who excels at using everyone but will never tolerate anyone betraying you," Chen Gong silently thought as he raised his sword higher, its tip aimed directly at Cao Cao's chest.
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