Chapter 4: Cao Cao and Loyalty, Chen Gong and Betrayal
In previous chapters, it was told that Cao Cao had failed in his plot to assassinate Dong Zhuo and fled the capital. Dong Zhuo began putting up wanted posters demanding Cao Cao's head. His crimes were listed as Attempted Assassination of the Prime Minister, Theft of Imperial Property, and Being Sexier than Dong Zhuo.
Cao Cao was fleeing to his home country, but he stopped in a certain town to steal some candy from a small child. The local guards recognized him and captured him, bringing him before the Magistrate of that area. When asked his name, he responded that he was an honest merchant named Sum Gai.
"But when I was in the capital, I knew you as Cao Cao," replied the Magistrate. "Why do you try to fool me?" He locked Cao Cao in a cell.
Later that night, the Magistrate had Cao Cao brought to his room. He asked him, "Why did you betray the Prime Minister?"
"He took my job!" shouted Cao Cao, shaking his fist angrily.
"...but you're not the Prime Minister yet," replied the Magistrate.
"Oh. Right. Well then, because he squanders the bounty of Han and holds the Emperor hostage. I failed to kill him this time, so I was going to return to my home country and call on the lords of the land to remove him from power."
The Magistrate released Cao Cao from his bonds and bowed to him. "My name is Chen Gong, and I only serve Dong Zhuo because the right master has not yet come along. Let us leave this place and return to your home."
"You will serve me then?" asked Cao Cao.
"Of course. Do you think I would serve a fool?" said Chen Gong.
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Lu Bu sneezed loudly.
"What's the matter, Lu Bu?" asked Li Ru.
"Someone is talking about me again."
---
So the two left by cover of nightfall, and set out for Qiao. Three days later they began to become tired and sought a place to stay for the night. Cao Cao pointed to a path leading into the woods.
"Down that path lives Lu Boshe, my father's sworn brother. Let us seek shelter with him."
They went to the house, and Lu Boshe greeted them and let them in. Before long Lu Boshe said he did not have enough wine, so he left to get some. Cao Cao and Chen Gong retired to their rooms. Soon they heard the sounds of knives sharpining.
"You know, he is not my real uncle," said Cao Cao.
"I know. You told me already," said Chen Gong.
The two went to the doorway to listen. Presently they heard a voice saying, "Bind before killing, eh?"
"I know what's going on here," said Cao Cao. "Why did I not see it before? They're preparing a banquet for us, and in all the stories I've read, somebody dies at one of those. Let us make the first strike!"
They drew their swords and run out, slaying everyone in the house, eight people in all. Then they searched the house, and in the kitchen found a pig bound and ready to kill.
"You fool! Your half-baked scheme has cause us to kill innocent folks," said Chen Gong.
They quickly mounted their horses, and fled from the house. But Lu Boshe was traveling in the other direction with the new jugs of wine, and they met along the road. Lu Boshe was taken aback at seeing them leaving.
"You did not stay for dinner? Where are you going?"
"Wanted men dare not linger for long," replied Cao Cao.
Lu Boshe suddenly stuck out his arm in the other direction, shouting, "Look! who is that coming along the road?" Cao Cao, fearing that he had left one of the people at the house alive, fearfully turned his head to look. Then Lu Boshe dropped all his wine jugs but one, and threw that one at Cao Cao. It struck him in the head and he fell from the horse.
Shocked, Chen Gong asked, "What is this? Why did you hit him?"
"I am working for Dong Zhuo, and I wanted the reward from sending him in. I was going to kill him at my banquet, but this will suffice."
"But it is not right to fight your own family," protested Chen Gong.
Lu Boshe raised his sword high and declared, "Better for me to betray Cao Cao than for Cao Cao to betray me!"
Chen Gong drew his own sword, and the two battled until Chen Gong managed to slay Lu Boshe. Then Chen Gong took Cao Cao and traveled with him to a nearby temple. He left Cao Cao lying on the floor in front of the shrine.
"Cao Cao's in-laws are crazy. I'm staying the hell away from him," thought Chen Gong. So he took his steed and left Cao Cao at the temple.
Cao Cao's further actions will be discussed in later chapters.