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Chapter 231
Chapter 231 - Diao Chan and Cao Cao
Wang Yun and his bodyguards had left Luo Yang three hours ago. They parted from the east gate, heading toward the direction of Hulao Gate.
Wang Yun glanced at his adopted daughter with a deep frown. She was still sleeping peacefully.
"We're out of the Capital. You can stop pretending sleeping now."
Hearing the words of Wang Yun, Diao Chan's eyes snapped open. She sat up as if she had never been sick.
"Situation?"
Wang Yun shook his head, "As you have predicted, Liu Yu lost. Still, they managed to wither down Dong Zhuo Army somewhat."
"That's good enough. One of the three Liu is finished, and they have served their purpose."
...
The day after Diao Chan had gained her consciousness, she advised Wang Yun and forced him to follow her plan.
The plan was immoral and sinister. She wanted to betray Liu Yu and make both Dong Zhuo and Liu Yu killing each other while they escape from the capital city.
Diao Chan had held Wang Yun by her side, not allowing him to assist Liu Yu in the battle. In addition, she faked illness that she had not regained her conscience after the day she had collapsed to give Wang Yun an excuse to stay behind. As they stayed behind, they could to flee from the Capital when the time was right.
Wang Yun was not satisfied by her goal, so he bickered with her for a while.
"What are you going to do with other governors and lords after the war? Do you have to confidence that you can control them after you experienced what those officials did with their private soldiers?"
Wang Yun swallowed his words. Had they won the battle, their military power would have been crippled, and they would also have had to deal with the remnants of Dong Zhuo Army at Hongnong, Tianshui, and other cities in the west.
He and Liu Yu would have faced a dead-end as they would have been surrounded by enemies by all sides. Yuan Shu of Wan was ambitious. Dong Zhuo's remnants controlled the west. The north had the rebel army. Dangerous warlords were everywhere!
Realizing what awaited them if they were to win, Wang Yun followed Diao Chan's suggestion, betraying the Han Dynasty and Liu Yu to make Dong Zhuo win.
...
"What's next, little girl?" Wang Yun asked.
"Now that Dong Zhuo took over Luo Yang, he will find the Imperial Seal and Emperor Sword I have left behind and abused them. Once the words get out, all lords will naturally desire them and wage war on Dong Zhuo. We will simply spread the words to other officials in all cities in the central plain. Then, we watch the chaos, and let those greedy politicians kill each other to the last man."
Wang Yun widened his eyes when he heard that the Imperial Seal was still in the Capital.
"You..."
"It's nothing but an object that arouses greed and desire. Keeping it with us on this trip will bring us death. Leave them behind, and Dong Zhuo's eyes will be elsewhere."
Thinking about the future plan that Diao Chan explained to him, Wang Yun sighed.
"So, we're heading to Xuchang?"
"Yes, we will resupply at Xuchang, but we'll have to keep moving east to avoid the conflicts for now."
...
...
A day later.
Just as Diao Chan had predicted, Dong Zhuo's men found the Imperial Seal and delivered it to their lord.
Receiving the dragon jade seal and the Emperor Sword, Dong Zhuo laughed.
"Wenyou! Draft me an edict! Make it so that I will be the next Emperor!"
Li Ru was shocked by the order and the Imperial Seal. At first, he was reluctant to allow Dong Zhuo to claim the throne without proofs of the seal and the abdication edict from the previous emperor. However, with the seal, they could forge the documents and make them more believable.
The two became engrossed to the preparation and disregarded the escaping Diao Chan and Wang Yun.
"We're not looking for them anymore?" Hua Xiong asked Li Ru.
"Just go with your men and take Hulao Gate. If you find them, then it's all good. If you can't, just leave them be and protect the gate. They don't have the Imperial Seal or any proof of their identity. Those two can't do anything to us now."
Hua Xiong shrugged, "Alright, at my casual pace it is."
...
...
December 14th.
The small caravan of Wang Yun and Diao Chan went through Hulao Gate and headed southeast. They reached Xu Chang City without a pursuit from Dong Zhuo's forces.
Xu Chang Commandery was a city with population and city size rivaling the capital city, Luo Yang. This was also the future capital city of Wei during the Three Kingdoms Era as it had the most developed domestic and infrastructures during the time.
Similar to Luo Yang, the wall of Xu Chang was over ten meters in height. The massive span of the wall intimidated all bandits around the areas as it hinted everybody that "I'm a tough nut to crack. Try me if you dare!"
As the caravan was approaching the gate to the check-point, Wang Yun was surprised when they reached Xu Chang City gate. There was a group of noble scholars waiting for them.
"These people are?" Wang Yun was baffled by the reception.
A handsome scholar stepped forward and bowed politely to greet them.
"Welcome to Xuchang, Chancellor Wang. My name is Xun You from the Xun family. We're here to escort you and Her Majesty."
"The Xun family?"
Wang Yun had heard about this family. It was a prominent family with many talented scholars, which several of members in this family held various posts around the country for ages.
Oddly enough, the Xun Manor of the main branch located in Xuchang, but they refused to govern this gigantic city. All of them either served other lords or became prefects of small counties instead.
"Wait, you knew about our status?"
Xun You nodded as he whispered, "It's inconvenient to speak here. Please follow us to our manor first. We'll talk in private."
The group entered the city and proceeded to the high-class resident area. It did not take long for them to enter the biggest manor in this wealthy zone.
Wang Yun glanced around and bit his lower lips.
'As expected of a talented family. They should have completely controlled this city already. What is their purpose?'
Wang Yun and Diao Chan left the caravan and were escorted into the main building. In there, several men stood in lines as if they had an assembly in the government hall.
The two were guided to the main seat of the hall instead of sitting on the guest chairs. Xun You allowed Diao Chan to sit on the center seat and gave Wang Yun a seat beside her.
As both of them seated, Xun You bowed at the two.
"My apologies for escorting both of you here. This city has many noble families, so sensitive news cannot be discussed outside."
"It's understandable. But, how did you know?"
Xun You smiled and shook his head, "It is not my family or me that knew about you. It is the gentleman over here."
Xun You stepped back, allowing the other man in a blue scholar robe to stand in the middle of the hall.
He was a man with sharp eyes and a serious expression. Wang Yun also recognized him as well.
"Mengde!"
Cao Cao, or Cao Mengde, was standing before them.
"Long time no see, senior Wang. I hope you don't mind that I've dragged you here. And also, it's good to see that you've recovered, Your Majesty."
Diao Chan, who had been silent for all these times, glared at Cao Cao.
"I don't like being in a roundabout. What are all of you planning?"
Cao Cao had a faint smile on his face, "Similar to Your Majesty. At least, I'm trying to end the chaos, but it seems that you want all warlords to fight each other to the death. You even backstabbed Liu Yu and left him to death. Isn't it improper for the empress of the country?"
Wang Yun and Diao Chan were flabbergasted. The plan about having all warlords fighting each other was never discussed or revealed to anyone. How did this person know?
"If you're thinking how I learned about it, the answer is your escort bodyguards. My intelligence agents have been monitoring the Capital for several years. Even your forged edict is in my hand."
Cao Cao opened his palm in gesture, and one of Wang Yun bodyguard passed Cao Cao the edict scroll that Diao Chan had forged.
"I have to admit that it's an ingenious plan to steal the throne from that incompetence Liu Ping. Unfortunately, had you taken it for the ethical reasons, I would have mobilized my army to assist you in the previous fight with Dong Zhuo. Really unfortunate..." Cao Cao spoke as he read the scroll.
Diao Chan took a deep breath, "Since you knew everything and guided us here, what do you want?"
Still reading the scroll, Cao Cao answered, "A cooperation proposal. Well, similar to what you proposed to Dong Zhuo. I'll allow you to be the empress, but I want the Prime Minister position in the Court. Of course, I'll control everything, military, and domestic affair."
"You want to use me as a puppet?"
"Not exactly. I need a cause to unify the country again, so you'll be an idol for the country while I do all the work. What will you do? Assist me, or help me?"
Diao Chan deepened her glare, locking her killing intent on Cao Cao.
"You don't afraid that I will betray you as I did to Liu Yu?"
Cao Cao shrugged and laughed as if the killing intent did not affect him, "A true man beds all married women. The true man among true men won't be afraid of a nibble of a little girl!"
Staring at Cao Cao for a while, Diao Chan collected her thought.
'He's different from the otherworld's history. At this time, he should have either been in the Capital with He Jin or joined with Zhang Miao in Chenliu. But he changed his plans and moved to Xuchang and recruited the Xun family before he did in the other world. '
'He's aiming for something else other than the unification!'
Finished gathering her thought, Diao Chan probed Cao Cao.
"Do you know about the identities of otherworlder?"
"Ah, I do. You are one of them as well, no?"
"Yes. How much do you know about them?"
Cao Cao squinted his eyes. He stopped smiling and asked back, "Tell me what you know first, and I'll tell you what I know. Extorting information from me is impossible.
Diao Chan harrumphed. She thought about it for another minute and revealed all identities about the surviving otherworlders to Cao Cao, except Tong, Friday, Hua Shi, and Li Feihong.
She also sneaked a glance at her status menu.
The number of survivors was now [6:6] from [6:4] as Liu Yang and Diao Chan had been added to the list.
...
***************************
**Status**
Name: Diao Chan
Age: 6
Lifespan: 7, 171, 030 Years
***************************
...
Her lifespans had not been erased or reset from Lilim's nerf. It was fortunate for her that she had drained life essence from more dead bodies before all wings and her power were erased.
Meanwhile, Cao Cao was comparing Diao Chan's information with his intelligence reports.
'Her intel has more info than what I have, but she doesn't know about Zhang Tong and his followers. She didn't pay attention to the rebels?'
Cao Cao resumed his faint smile and told Diao Chan about his knowledge about otherworlders. He included the names of Tong's allies in it to probe Diao Chan.
...
While both Cao Cao and Diao Chan were exchanging information, a pair of eyes were watching them without blinking.
Xun You, the scholar that escorted Wang Yun and Diao Chan here, was recording all information in his brain.
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