The Three Kingdoms, also known as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature, and it takes place during the late Eastern Han dynasty. At that time, eunuchs held great power, and the young emperor had no real authority. The general He Jin, who controlled the imperial family through the influence of the empress’s family, sought to completely eliminate the eunuch faction. He heeded the advice of Yuan Shao (a member of the gentry class) and secretly ordered Dong Zhuo to lead an army to the capital.
To provide some context:
Consort kin refer to the relatives of the emperor’s mother or wife, including both the maternal and paternal sides of the royal family. Simply put, these are family groups that gain political power through the marriage ties of royal women, forming a special political force that is dependent on the imperial power.
Eunuchs (specifically referring to the eunuchs of the Han dynasty) were men who had been castrated and served within the imperial court. Over time, eunuchs transitioned from serving as palace attendants to becoming a powerful political faction that deeply influenced state governance.
Noble Clan (Shìzú) refers to a specific social class that gradually emerged and dominated from the Han dynasty to the Sui and Tang periods. This class mainly consists of families who held political power, economic resources, and cultural influence through hereditary systems. The noble clan not only made up the core of the bureaucratic system but also embodied the cultural elite and local power, significantly impacting the political, economic, and cultural structure of China during the medieval period.
In this complex web of power, the outer relatives, eunuchs, and gentry interacted, using each other to gain leverage and control. When the emperor was young or when the imperial authority was unstable, the outer relatives often vied with eunuchs for influence over the emperor. There were also cases where the outer relatives and eunuchs allied to suppress the gentry, or where the outer relatives and gentry joined forces to eliminate the eunuchs.
Having provided this background, we now turn to the New Three Kingdoms television series to explore the grand and epic story of the Three Kingdoms in more detail.
This includes both a description of the story and my personal analysis and insights into the plot. If anyone has their own thoughts or views, feel free to share and discuss them with me via email.
In the final years of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Yellow Turban Rebellion raged for eight months until it was quelled.
However, old habits die hard, and the Han Empire did not prosper again.
In A.D. 189, the 14-year-old Emperor Shao, Liu Bian, succeeded the throne. His powerful maternal uncle, Commander-in-Chief He Jin, in order to exterminate the power of palace eunuchs, adopted Yuan Shao’s idea and secretly ordered Dong Zhuo to lead his army towards to the capital.
In A.D. 189, Dong Zhuo deposed Emperor Shao, Liu Bian, and put Liu Xie, the Prince of Chenliu, on the throne as Emperor Xian.
Dong Zhuo, as the self-appointed Chancellor, had the entire court under his power, Thus he provoked the wrath of Heaven and men alike, and caused the indignation of the whole nation.
Dong Zhuo was inherently cruel, and the officials in his court were terrified of him. After finishing a meeting with the ministers in the palace, as they were on their way out, a single sneeze from Dong Zhuo startled the officials half to death, making them all bow and scrape in fear.
As soon as Dong Zhuo left the palace, two eunuchs who specialized in assisting ministers with their shoes informed Yuan Wei that it was the birthday of Lord Wang Yun, the Minister of Works, and that a banquet had been prepared at his residence, inviting him to attend the celebration.
Yuan Wei asked the eunuch whether Lord Wang Yun had invited Dong Zhuo. The eunuch’s silence spoke louder than words, revealing the answer. Yuan Wei then instructed the eunuch to tell Lord Wang Yun that he would certainly attend the banquet.
Here, let me explain my understanding of this situation, which also reflects a certain cultural practice and self-preservation technique in Chinese officialdom:
At the time, Dong Zhuo wielded immense power, and the attitude of the court officials toward him was highly sensitive.
If Wang Yun had indeed invited Dong Zhuo, and the eunuch had directly said, “He was invited,” the officials nearby or other eunuchs (Dong Zhuo’s spies and supporters) would have interpreted it as Wang Yun aligning with Dong Zhuo, which would have been both safe and indirectly flattering to Dong Zhuo.
If Wang Yun hadn’t invited Dong Zhuo, and the eunuch had directly said, “He was not invited,” the eunuch might have been seen as an ally of Wang Yun by Dong Zhuo and his followers, which could have posed a serious risk. Therefore, the eunuch preferred to remain silent, avoiding a direct statement in order to mitigate the risk.
Eunuchs were at the center of power, but their actual position was low, and they couldn’t easily take sides. If they clearly stated that Wang Yun had not invited Dong Zhuo, it would have been akin to exposing the conflict between Wang Yun and Dong Zhuo, a responsibility that the eunuch couldn’t bear.
The eunuch’s silence was a way to avoid taking responsibility and to prevent offending either side with his words.
All the ministers had left the palace, leaving only Cao Cao inside. After the eunuchs helped Cao Cao put on his shoes, he stared at the eunuch for a long while and asked, “Little Eunuch, I have been waiting here for you so long. Don’t you have any message to convey to me?”
The eunuch bent down and shook his head. To his surprise, Cao Cao suddenly grabbed the eunuch’s chin, his gaze sharp and aggressive, as if interrogating him. He said, “You were whispering something to everyone just now, but why didn’t you speak to me? Are you looking down on me?”
The eunuch’s eyes revealed panic as he immediately knelt on the ground, his hands pressed to the floor, his head bowed deeply, completely adopting a posture of pleading for mercy.
The other ministers, who had just left the palace, were discussing with Yuan Wei on the steps outside: “Lord Imperial Tutor, as you can tell, everyone that Lord Wang invited to his banquet is a veteran official of the late emperor. I think the purpose of Minister Wang’s banquet is…
Before they could finish, Cao Cao caught up and called out to Yuan Wei. When the ministers saw Cao Cao approaching, they quickly excused themselves.
Cao Cao sighed and said, “Aren’t we all colleagues of the same court? Yet some are too ashamed to have me in their company”
Yuan Wei replied: “Cao Cao, You indeed have a keen insight.”
Cao Cao continued, “If the Imperial Tutor Yuan doesn’t mind my company, May I walk with you a little?
Yuan Wei responded: “As you wish.”
Cao Cao: “Please.”
The two of them then began walking together.
Cao Cao asked: “Is it Minister Wang’s birthday today?”
Yuan Wei replied, “Not only are you sharp-eyed, but your hearing is also quite good.”
Cao Cao said: Why do you think the eunuchs who were passing the message for Minister Wang invited all of you but not me? You must know that I respect no one more than you officers who served the late emperor, especially Minister Wang.”
Yuan Wei responded, “Before I answer you, let me ask you something.”
Cao Cao replied: “Please do”
Yuan Wei said, “Just as you said, Minister Wang invited everyone else. But why didn’t he invite you, Cao Cao?
As they walked side by side, upon hearing Yuan Wei’s question, Cao Cao turned to face him and said, “Good question!”
Yuan Wei, with a hint of sarcasm, laughed and said, “If you think it’s a good question, Please enlighten me.”
Cao Cao replied, I think it’s because the invitees are all from noble families, long favored by the emperor, while I, Cao Cao, in your eyes, am merely from the disgraceful family of a eunuch, a filthy and lowly person. How could I possibly be among such esteemed guests?”
Yuan Wei suddenly burst into loud laughter and said, “The fact that you can put it this way is already quite impressive.”
“But there’s more to it,” he added.
Cao Cao responded, “Lord Yuan, do you really want me to lay it all out?”
Yuan Wei said, “You wanted to walk with me, but if we are not on the same path, what difference is there between walking like corpses and walking with purpose?”
Cao Cao replied, Alright, then I’ll speak plainly. The invited guests are all former officials of the late emperor, loyal to Lord Wang Yun, who leads the imperial faction. But I, Cao Cao, in your eyes, am of low character, willing to serve as a lackey and bow down to the villain (referring to Dong Zhuo).”
Seeing that Cao Cao was so humble and self-aware, Yuan Wei thought to mock him a little more. He said, “Why stop there? Continue. How exactly are you ‘lowly’? How exactly do you bow down and serve? Which family’s lackey are you, and whose villain are you serving?”
Little did Yuan Wei know, Cao Cao was not someone to be trifled with. Seeing this mocking tone, he decided to give Yuan Wei a taste of his own medicine.
Cao Cao suddenly shouted, “The National Villain, Dong Zhuo!”
Yuan Wei was startled and hurriedly urged, “You…, lower your voice.”
Cao Cao said, “What’s wrong, Lord Yuan? Is the term ‘traitor’ not something you officials have cursed and worried over for so long? Why, in the daylight, in the imperial palace, do you not dare speak it aloud? You treat the Imperial Hall as a sacred place, yet so many self-righteous ministers are silent, trembling in fear. This is where I truly see what respect and humility mean. A single sneeze turns those who pride themselves on their nobility into nothing but cowards.”
Yuan Wei was enraged by Cao Cao’s retort, gritting his teeth and turning red in the face. He muttered through clenched jaws, “You, you, you!” unable to say anything more.
Seeing Yuan Wei fuming, Cao Cao felt a sense of satisfaction and thought, “This feels good. Let’s see how you mock me now!”
With a smile, he turned and walked away.
As nightfall descended, Lord Wang Yun, stood outside his residence to welcome the arrival of guests. Each guest came bearing gifts, offering their respects and congratulations to Wang Yun for his birthday.
Wang Yun asked his servant, “Have all the invited guests arrived?”
The servant replied, “Yes, my lord. Every guest you invited has arrived.”
Wang Yun: “Good, close the gates, put out the lanterns, and stop the music. We don’t want to disturb the night watchmen!”
The gathering, disguised as a birthday celebration, was about to begin.
The ministers and Wang Yun raised their cups and drank together. Meanwhile, Cao Cao, who had not been invited, arrived unannounced, knocking on the tightly closed gates of Wang Yun’s residence, shouting for the doors to be opened and for him to be welcomed.
One of Wang Yun’s servants came into the hall and reported the matter to him: “My lord, there is a man who claims to be the Cavalry Commander, Cao Cao. He has come uninvited and insists on offering his congratulations for your birthday!”
One of the ministers seated at the gathering turned to Wang Yun and said, “Cao Ahman(Cao Cao’s baby name. Calling an adult by his name is considered an insult) truly rude, even shameless! The moment Dong Zhuo entered the capital, Cao Cao bowed and submitted to him, lowering himself, trying to curry favor. He has completely lost the dignity of a scholar and a minister!”
Also seated was Yuan Wei, who had mocked Cao Cao earlier in the day, only to be mocked in return by Cao Cao. He angrily joined in, saying, “Yes, at first he would only pay the respect to the villain every other day, but now? Now he’s practically a daily visitor, following Dong Zhuo everywhere. He is nothing more than a lapdog. This man, I tell you, seems to be Dong Zhuo’s adopted son!”
Another minister sitting next to Yuan Wei added, “Lord Minister, Cao Cao must have come to act as Dong Zhuo’s spy, to eavesdrop and get news for him.”
The others in the room turned to Wang Yun and urged, “Yes, my lord, send him away! Get rid of him! Kick him out!”
Wang Yun raised his hand, signaling for the discussion to stop, and said, “Not necessarily. From what I see, Cao Cao doesn’t seem like the kind of man who would simply be Dong Zhuo’s lapdog. At the very least, he is not content to remain in such a position. Cao Cao has always had great ambition. On the surface, he flatters, but secretly, he is shrewd and calculating. Among his inner circle, he probably has other plans.”
After hearing Wang Yun’s analysis, the ministers nodded in agreement, saying, “Yes, my lord makes a good point.”
At this moment, I can only say: Truly, the change of attitudes is as quick as flipping through a book!
Wang Yun then said, “Let’s get back to the point. He repeatedly claims to have come to wish me a happy birthday. How can I just send a guest away?”
Wang Yun instructed his servants to set up an extra seat next to the door(The farther from Lord Wang, the closer to the gate, the lower one’s status), with a small table and a small cup, and to invite Cao Cao to take a seat.
The servant went to the entrance and invited Cao Cao, who had been waiting, into the banquet.
Cao Cao entered the hall and first paid his respects to Lord Wang Yun: “I, Cao Cao, wish Lord Wang Yun a happy 60th birthday.”
Wang Yun nodded and returned the greeting, saying, “Thank you. Please take your seat.”
The people around them began to murmur, “Cao Cao is so tactless, why did he even come?”
Cao Cao peered around, looking for his seat. Near the door, the last seat, with a table set for food and wine, was less elegant than those used by the other ministers.
At that moment, Cao Cao’s position and status were reflected in that seat and table—unremarkable, subservient, a nameless figure.
Cao Cao must have felt humiliated, for although he was a minister like the others, he was being treated unequally in Wang Yun’s residence, having to swallow his pride.
Before sitting down, Cao Cao addressed Lord Wang Yun: “Cao Cao thanks you for the seat,” and then sat down.
Immediately, the others raised their glasses and toasted.
Lord Wang Yun suddenly told the gathered ministers, “Everyone, today is not my birthday. In fact, today is the anniversary of my death.”
The ministers were confused and couldn’t understand why Wang Yun would say that today was his death anniversary.
Wang Yun continued, “Under the guise of my birthday, I have gathered everyone here to tell you that our great Han dynasty, which has lasted for four hundred years, is now on the brink of collapse. The empire is falling, its days no longer shine, the ancestral temples are being destroyed, a great villain has usurped the throne, the emperor is humiliated, the rulers and ministers are ashamed, within the court there is Dong Zhuo, rampant and unchallenged, and outside, the warlords dominate the land. Alas, the rituals and morals have broken down, and my heart is torn apart!”
At this, everyone began to cry. One minister added, “Furthermore, Dong Zhuo breaks into the palace every night, sleeps on the dragon throne, and shamelessly abuses the concubines and palace maids, behaving like a beast.”
Contrary to the other ministers, Cao Cao suddenly burst into laughter!
Wang Yun, with a serious expression, asked, “Cao Cao, why are you laughing?”
Cao Cao laughed and replied, “I laugh because here we are, a room full of men, all behaving like women. You cry from dusk until dawn, but do you think you can cry Dong Zhuo to death?”
Wang Yun asked, “What makes you think you can speak so frivolously?”
Cao Cao answered, “I, Cao Cao, may not be talented, but with a snap of my fingers, I could take Dong Zhuo’s head and hang it at the gates of the Chang Le Palace.”
Hearing this, the ministers pointed at Cao Cao and exclaimed, “So arrogant! How extremely arrogant! Such reckless words! Truly arrogant!”
Wang Yun glared at the ministers on either side, then ordered his servants, “Come! Take this daring and arrogant Cao Cao, drag him out of the hall, and throw him out of my estate.”
Cao Cao was still drinking his wine when, unexpectedly, two of Wang Yun’s servants, armed with sticks, grabbed him by the arms and began to drag him out.
As he was being dragged out, Cao Cao turned his head toward Wang Yun and said, “Wait, wait. Lord Wang, please hear me out.”
Wang Yun allowed him to speak.
Cao Cao, holding his wine cup, said, “You, though an outdated fogey, have good wine in your house. For a man as outdated as you, how do you deserve such good wine? What a pity, what a pity!”
Wang Yun, enraged, shouted, “Drag him out!” The servant threw Cao Cao’s wine cup and hurried to expel him from the estate. Cao Cao muttered, “What a pity, what a pity for such good wine.”
Cao Cao was dragged to the gates of the residence, and the servants told him to scram quickly. He muttered to himself, mocking them: “cowards, cowards, you are all cowards!”
The steward of Wang Yun was hiding behind a stone pillar, waiting for Cao Cao. Just as Cao Cao was about to leave Wang Yun’s residence, the steward hurriedly called out to him!
Steward: “General Cao, General Cao, please stay!”
Cao Cao, with a confused expression, thought to himself, “General Cao?” In the blink of an eye, I’ve regained my status? How did “Cao Ahman” become “General Cao” again? Human affections turn as swiftly as the wind. You, servant, what do you want to say to me?”
It turns out that when Wang Yun had ordered the servants to drive Cao Cao out earlier, it had all been a show.
Steward: “General Cao, my master sends his sincere apologies to you! He says that during the banquet, with so many people around, the matter of taking Dong Zhuo’s head should not be mentioned. So, he pretended to be angry and had you driven out, all in order to protect you! Please, General, wait in the study for a moment. Once the guests leave, my master will personally come to apologize to you.”
Cao Cao said, “Hmm, that does sound like something Wang Yun would do. Alright, I’ll wait in the study, but you must bring me two jugs of wine from the banquet. Don’t let me go thirsty.
Cao Cao sat in Wang Yun’s study, staring at a golden sword placed on the rack. Just as he was about to pick it up and examine it closely, Wang Yun arrived in the study.
Wang Yun said to Cao Cao, “Brother, I apologize for keeping you waiting. Please forgive me for my rudeness, and allow me to offer my deepest apologies.”
Wang Yun and Cao Cao both bowed to each other.
Cao Cao asked, “May I ask if all the ministers have left?”
Wang Yun replied, “They have just left. The banquet had many people, and it wasn’t convenient to speak in detail earlier. But, may I ask, do you really have a brilliant plan to kill the villain?”
Cao Cao: “Of course.”
The two of them sat down and began discussing.
Cao Cao said to Wang Yun, “I, Cao Cao, am neither a man who seeks fame by betraying my lord, nor someone who makes empty promises. At the banquet, the ministers misunderstood me. My submission to the villain is, in fact, to kill him.”
Wang Yun asked, “How do you plan to kill him?”
Cao Cao: “Sir, I have completely gained the trust of the villain, Dong Zhuo. Despite the guards in his manor, who are everywhere and vigilant, I can go straight into the inner hall without needing permission. However, Dong Zhuo always wears a close-fitting armor under his clothes, making it impossible for ordinary blades to harm him. Do you remember, last spring, when Wu Fu attempted to assassinate Dong Zhuo? He failed because he couldn’t pierce through the armor, and as a result, his entire family was wiped out.”
Wang Yun: “So, brother, you mean?”
Cao Cao: “I’ve heard that in your house, there is a heirloom Seven-Star Dagger, which can cut through gold and jade and is unmatched in sharpness. Is that correct? If you would lend me this dagger, I am willing to carry it into Dong Zhuo’s manor, stay close to Dong Zhuo, and wait for the right opportunity to kill him, like slaughtering a pig. Once Dong Zhuo is dead, the Xiliang army will be leaderless and scattered. At that point, everything will be settled in the blink of an eye.”
Wang Yun: “But if you assassinate Dong Zhuo at his house, wouldn’t you also be going without returning?
Cao Cao: “A true hero removes the threat for the country; how could he worry about his own life? If I can hang Dong Zhuo’s head on the city gates, my name, Cao Cao, will be etched in history. If not, then it may very well be my own head hanging there. But even so, I will not hesitate.”
After hearing Cao Cao’s inspiring and heartfelt words, Wang Yun was deeply moved and said, “Brother Cao, General Cao, if you can truly slay this great villain, your name will surely be immortal, your achievements will surpass all, and the fate of the great Han dynasty, which has lasted for four hundred years, will now rest in your hands.”
Cao Cao said to Wang Yun, “Then I shall take the dagger.”
Cao Cao rushed toward the golden dagger he had wanted to pick up and examine earlier, but Wang Yun said, “Wait, Brother, do you think this is the Seven-Star Dagger?”
Cao Cao: “Is it not?”
Wang Yun: “Please wait”
Wang Yun took a plain knife from a wooden box and presented it to Cao Cao with both hands.
Cao Cao was surprised: “The greatest saber of this era, yet it is so plain and unadorned?”
Wang Yun: “The world’s greatest treasures are often not judged by their outward appearance.”
Cao Cao: “In three days, I will make it famous throughout history, and the skies will run red with blood!”
Cao Cao took the Seven-Star Dagger from Wang Yun’s hand, slowly drawing it from its sheath, staring intently at the sharp blade, a look of unwavering determination in his eyes.
One day, Dong Zhuo invited Cao Cao to his residence. Cao Cao walked with his horse to the entrance of the Minister’s residence and said to the guards at the gate, “Cavalry Commander Cao Cao, greeting the Chancellor.”
The guard replied, “Please, sir.”
Cao Cao said, “Aren’t you going to search me to see if I have any weapons?”
The guard responded, “That’s for outsiders, you needn’t be so formal, sir! Please come in!”
Cao Cao’s actions seemed a bit provocative, almost playful.
Dong Zhuo had invited Cao Cao to meet his top general, Lü Bu!
Lü Bu, who was Dong Zhuo’s adopted son, had just returned to the capital with his army from Xiliang.
Cao Cao, trying to flatter Lü Bu, said, General Lü Bu’s reputation precedes him, and I have long heard of it. As the saying goes: “Among men, Lü Bu; among horses, the Red Hare.” With the Trident Halberd that you wield, you are truly an invincible warrior, second to none!
Lü Bu laughed heartily at the flattery, showing a wide grin.
Dong Zhuo also laughed and said, “Cao Cao’s mouth is truly unmatched in the world!”
Dong Zhuo then asked Cao Cao why he had arrived so late at the residence.
Cao Cao replied that his horse was weak, so he had been delayed.
Dong Zhuo, puzzled, asked, “Cao Cao, you hold the position of Cavalry Commander, yet you don’t have a good steed?”
Cao Cao explained, “Your Excellency may not know, but since the beginning of spring, the country has been suffering from severe drought. In the capital, there is a shortage of food, and there is no forage for the horses. My own steed is close to starving to death.”
Dong Zhuo said, “That will not do, that will not do. The rest can starve, but not your horse. I just received some Ferghana horses from Xiliang.”
Dong Zhuo then instructed Lü Bu to select a good horse for Cao Cao.
Dong Zhuo then chatted with Cao Cao, asking if he was familiar with Yuan Shao.
Cao Cao replied that he had known Yuan Shao since childhood.
Dong Zhuo said, “Yuan Shao is a bastard! I should’ve had killed him once I got to the capital. But at the time, I hesitated because of his great reputation and I was soft-hearted, let him slip away. Now, Yuan Shao has gathered eighteen warlords and raised an army to turn against him.”
Cao Cao tried to comfort Dong Zhuo, “Your Excellency need not worry. Yuan Shao has only an empty reputation and no real talent. Even with the eighteen warlords, they are no match for the Xiliang army. As long as you send General Lü Bu with thirty thousand cavalries, you’ll surely have a great victory.”
Dong Zhuo said, “Of course, of course! Besides Lü Bu, I also have generals Li Jue and Guo Si. They are also brave and peerless generals, and defeating those eighteen warlords will be as easy as slaughtering pigs.”
Seeing that Dong Zhuo was in a good mood, Cao Cao seized the opportunity to flatter him again, saying, “I believe the most important factor is you, Your Excellency. Your leadership in battle is like Han Xin, and your governance is like Xiao He(Han Xin was a famous general, Xiao He was famous statesman, both lived in early Han). In the entire four hundred years of our great Han dynasty, there have been no one like you, your excellency, with all-encompassing skills.”
Dong Zhuo laughed heartily, clearly pleased, and Cao Cao followed with a fake smile.
Dong Zhuo said, “Cao Cao, Cao Cao, hearing you speak makes me so happy.”
Dong Zhuo then asked Cao Cao, “I know that many of the ministers outwardly show respect for me, but in their hearts, they hate me. They would love nothing more than to hang my head at the city gates. You, being close to them, tell me: After hearing news of Yuan Shao raising an army, have they shown any unusual behavior?”
Cao Cao replied, “There hasn’t been much movement, but the night before yesterday was Lord Wang’s sixtieth birthday, and the ministers attended the banquet. I went uninvited, intending to scout their reaction on your behalf. But unexpectedly, I was thrown out.”
Dong Zhuo, enraged, said, “Those bastards, they’re good-for-nothings, each one living off the state’s stipend, growing fat and lazy. Besides cursing me in private, they can do nothing else. I wish I could cut off their heads and boil their flesh for soup!”
Cao Cao replied, “No, Your Excellency. A righteous man’s flesh would be too bitter.”
After some more conversation, Dong Zhuo felt sleepy and was preparing to rest in his chamber.
Cao Cao escorted Dong Zhuo to his chamber, where Dong Zhuo felt hot. Cao Cao stood nearby, fanning him, showing great attentiveness.
Cao Cao, hearing Dong Zhuo snoring after a while, began to softly call out his title: “Your Excellency, Your Excellency.” When Dong Zhuo didn’t respond, Cao Cao turned and lifted the curtain to check the movements of the guards outside. Seeing there were no guards watching, he thought to himself, “Now is the time!”
Dong Zhuo turned over in his sleep, and Cao Cao, with the Seven-Star Dagger in hand, silently crept up to him, ready to strike!
However, the light from the blade reflected off the copper mirror beside Dong Zhuo’s bed, startling him awake. He immediately sat up and shouted, “What are you doing, Cao Cao?”
The guards rushed in at the sound.
Cao Cao quickly reacted, “Your Excellency, I have recently acquired a priceless treasure, the Seven-Star Dagger. Such a masterpiece, how could I be worthy to use it? I know that you have a great fondness for weapons, so I wish to present it to you.”
Dong Zhuo took the sword and looked at it, commenting, “This is a very ordinary dagger, not at all extraordinary. How can it be called a masterpiece?”
Cao Cao asked, “Your Excellency, may I use it for a moment?”
Dong Zhuo stared at Cao Cao for a moment, then, with some doubt, handed the dagger to him. Cao Cao approached the copper mirror, which had just thwarted his assassination attempt, gripped the Seven-Star Saber with both hands, and with a slight force, effortlessly split the mirror in two.
Dong Zhuo was stunned, “My goodness, such a powerful dagger! This is truly remarkable!”
Cao Cao said, “My goodness, such a powerful dagger exists in this world! Incredible, this is truly unparalleled!”
Dong Zhuo, pleased, replied, “You are very loyal to me. I thank you for your gift!”
Cao Cao, feeling frustrated at his failed attempt, said, “Your Excellency’s great kindness, I can only regret that I have no way to repay it.”
Dong Zhuo took back the Seven-Star dagger, happy to have gained such a rare weapon.
At the same time, Cao Cao’s face reflected his sense of failure.
Rushing between two lines of guards, Cao Cao hurriedly left the residence, but just as he reached the door, Lü Bu called out to him.
Cao Cao, feeling guilty as if he were caught in the act, thought that Dong Zhuo must have realized his intentions and sent Lü Bu to capture him. He asked, “General Lü, what’s the matter?”
Lü Bu replied, “Have you forgotten? The Chancellor asked me to give you a horse. What do you think of this one? I personally picked this one out for you, a Ferghana horse from Xiliang. It can travel eight hundred miles a day.”
Cao Cao was relieved and said, “Such a fine horse, would it not be a waste for me to ride it?”
Lü Bu responded, “Cao Cao, you’re too modest. You are a great man who deserves a fine horse.”
Cao Cao asked, “May I give it a try?”
Lü Bu said, “Please.”
As soon as Cao Cao mounted the horse, it tossed its tail and refused to let him ride.
Lü Bu observed and said, “Cao Cao, this horse has a fiery nature. If you want it to obey, you need to show some heroic spirit. Why not try shouting at it?”
Cao Cao yelled, and the horse immediately began to gallop at great speed.
At that moment, Cao Cao’s heart raced, just like the swift horse, eager to escape the residence as quickly as possible!
Lü Bu came back to Dong Zhuo’s residence, and Dong Zhuo told him that Cao Cao had just presented him a treasured dagger. This dagger could cut through iron like mud, and with a single stroke, the copper mirror was split in half.
Hearing this, Lü Bu became incredibly curious about the dagger and asked Dong Zhuo if he could take a closer look at it.
Dong Zhuo handed the dagger to Lü Bu, who carefully examined it. Seeing how sharp the dagger’s blade was, Lü Bu repeatedly praised it, saying, “A precious dagger, a precious dagger!”
Dong Zhuo told Lü Bu, “This dagger is called the Seven-Star Dagger.”
Lü Bu said, “I have heard that there is also a Seven-Star Dagger in Lord Wang Yun’s residence, a family heirloom passed down through generations. Could this be the same one?”
Dong Zhuo, somewhat puzzled, replied, “Cao Cao just told me that when he went to wish Lord Wang Yun a happy birthday, Wang Yun had him thrown out of the residence. If that’s the case, why would he give me this family heirloom?”
Dong Zhuo thought for a moment and suddenly realized that Cao Cao’s visit had been an assassination attempt on him! He turned to Lü Bu and said, “Earlier, Cao Cao was acting in a panic, and his hand was trembling when he presented the dagger. And if he truly wanted to offer me the dagger with sincerity, why didn’t he present it when we first met? Why wait until I was dozing off before offering it to me? If it weren’t for the blade’s reflection in the copper mirror, and my shout, that dagger could have ended up in my back. Cao Cao’s intention was exposed, and he pretended to offer this dagger.”
Dong Zhuo immediately ordered his soldiers to summon Cao Cao to see him.
At that moment, Cao Cao had already ridden his horse to the vicinity of the city gate but was stopped by Dong Zhuo’s gate guard.
Gate Guard: “Who goes there? Dismount for inspection!”
Cao Cao: “I am Cavalry Commander Cao Cao, sent by the Chancellor on urgent business. Let me through immediately!”
Gate Guard: “Show me your pass, let me see.”
Cao Cao: “Time is pressing. If you delay me and miss the Chancellor’s urgent matter, aren’t you afraid of losing your head? Let me through!”
With no choice, the gate guard allowed him to pass.
The guard, however, did not idle. He immediately ran into Dong Zhuo’s residence to report to him that a messenger, claiming to be sent by the Chancellor on urgent business, had just passed through the east gate.
Dong Zhuo asked, “Who was it?”
The guard replied, “The person claimed to be Cavalry Commander Cao Cao.”
Now, with clear evidence, Dong Zhuo was certain that Cao Cao had come to assassinate him. He immediately ordered 5,000 armored soldiers to be sent out of the city to hunt down Cao Cao.
Lü Bu asked Dong Zhuo for permission to personally lead the cavalry to capture Cao Cao. Seeing Lü Bu constantly admiring the Seven-Star Dagger in his hand, Dong Zhuo, knowing that Lü Bu liked it, decided to grant it to him. However, Dong Zhuo made one condition: Lü Bu must personally use the Seven-Star Dagger to cut off Cao Cao’s head.
At this point, Cao Cao’s fate was uncertain.
