Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

News from inside the palace always arrives much slower than news from outside.

Thick, high walls divided Jianye City into the inner and outer palace areas. By the time those inside the palace reacted, a large contingent of Wei troops had already advanced to the palace gates. The Jianye Palace, which was originally regarded as a forbidden area by the Wu people and their officials, was seen by the Wei soldiers as nothing more than evidence of Sun Quan's usurpation and separatist rule.

Cao Zhi refused even Gu Yong and Zhuge Ke's offer to open the gates, instead ordering his soldiers to use battering rams brought from outside the city to forcefully break open the palace gates.

Accompanied by the soldiers' shouts, the large and heavy palace gate was finally knocked down by the battering ram, falling to its side on the ground, stirring up a lot of dust and shouts of surprise.

The eunuchs and palace maids kept in the Wu palace scattered and fled. Following Gu Ji's instructions, they split into groups of fifty men each and went to various parts of the palace. A total of twenty groups were dispatched. Before sending out the soldiers, Cao Zhi repeatedly emphasized military discipline: looting and killing were forbidden, but anyone carrying a weapon could be killed on the spot. All palace staff were to be arrested and brought to the main gate of Jianye Palace for unified management.

Cao Zhi dispatched a capable military officer, a commander of a thousand shi (a unit of grain measurement), to surround the palace where Sun Quan held court and resided daily. Cao Zhi himself led over a thousand soldiers in a grand procession to the area where Sun Quan's harem and family lived.

The palace was already in complete chaos.

For these palace women, who had never known war, the arrival of the Wei army was less like the onset of battle and more like an unavoidable natural disaster. Their only course of action was to flee in panic. The bolder ones might even take the opportunity to steal some valuable gold, silver, and other valuables.

However, with few exceptions, these people were all caught red-handed by the Wei army at various palace gates.

Sun Quan did not have many wives and concubines. Apart from Lady Bu Lianshi, who was almost the head of the harem, there was Lady Yuan, daughter of Yuan Shu, Lady Zhao, who was good at painting, two ladies of different backgrounds but both surnamed Wang, and less than ten daughters of low status.

The number of children in the harem was also very small. Apart from Sun Luyu, born to Lady Bu, there were only three young children: Sun He, Sun Ba, and Sun Fen.

The Wei army entered the palace, and there was never any news of the Wei army attacking the city. It was obvious that someone in the city colluded with the Wei army from the inside and surrendered the city.

Bu Lianshi was over fifty years old and naturally beautiful. Apart from the wrinkles on her face from years of living a life of luxury, she looked more than ten years younger than her actual age, like a noblewoman in her early forties.

But at this moment, Bu Lianshi's face was full of despair. She searched around her palace for a long time but could not find any weapons. She had no choice but to pick out a slender copper hairpin from her dressing case and wave it tremblingly at her head, as if she wanted to commit suicide.

Sun Luyu quickly walked to his mother's side, and with lightning speed, slapped Bu Lianshi's right hand, knocking the hairpin down.

Bu Lianshi's eyes were filled with tears: "Little Tiger, what's wrong with you? You won't even let me die? Since ancient times, when the palace is breached, how can there be a good ending? You and I are both His Majesty's family members. If we are humiliated by the marauding soldiers, how can we face living in this world?"

Sun Luyu knelt before his mother, his voice choked with sobs, and said, "It's easy to want to die, but it's much harder to want to live! Besides, we are from the royal family. In the past, Xiang Yu captured Empress Lü, the wife of Emperor Gaozu of Han, but didn't he send her back later?"

"Mother, do not despair. If a person dies, everything is lost! Mother, don't forget that my sister is still in the State of Wei! My nephew, your grandson, has even been enfeoffed as a king!"

Upon hearing this, Bu Lianshi became even more grief-stricken, burying her face in her hands on the table and sobbing uncontrollably. It was Sun Luyu, who was usually listless, who, at this moment, began to comfort his mother.

It is difficult to guard against domestic thieves.

Under Gu Ji's initial guidance and with directions from a temporarily sycophantic eunuch, Cao Zhi quickly dispatched troops to arrest Sun Quan's family members. He then personally led his men to the palace where Bu Lianshi, whose rank was comparable to that of the Empress, resided. The eunuch had already informed Cao Zhi that Bu Lianshi and her daughter, Sun Luyu, lived there.

Bu Lianshi was the mother of Consort Sun in His Majesty's palace, and Sun Luyu was Consort Sun's younger sister. This is why Cao Zhi was the first to come here.

Cao Zhi walked this short road without any pressure, but Gu Yong and several other ministers had a very difficult time.

They clearly heard Cao Zhi's strict order against killing or injuring people, yet they also saw Cao Zhi turn a blind eye to the occasional killings of Wei soldiers. Gu Yong even tried to leave twice, but was persuaded to stay by Zhuge Ke's sinister words.

It's fine if you act foolishly, but don't get in my way! Why provoke General Cao at a time like this?

Cao Zhi led his men to the palace gate, but upon hearing the cries of a mother and daughter coming from inside, he hesitated. These two women were related to the Emperor; if not handled properly, they could become a troublesome matter for him.

Zhuge Ke seemed to sense Cao Zhi's hesitation—a fact that anyone with discernment could see—so he took the initiative to approach Cao Zhi and strike up a conversation. Zhuge Ke introduced the evolution of Sun Quan's several capitals, and then went on and on about when the Jianye Palace had begun construction, how it had been expanded and renovated in recent years, and how much labor had been spent.

Handan Jia was also conversing with Zhuge Ke. Well-versed in etiquette, Handan Jia pointed out to Zhuge Ke the violations of palace regulations they had seen along the way, and even mocked the Wu palace's half-resemblance to the Han palace. Zhuge Ke joined in the criticism. It must be said, having such a flattering person made conversation much more pleasant.

At this moment, a steward rushed in from outside, bowed, and whispered a few words in Cao Zhi's ear. Cao Zhi's expression changed, and he looked at Gu Yong:

"Master Gu, how many sons did Sun Quan have?"

"Reporting to the General," Gu Yong replied, "There are five in total. The eldest son, Sun Deng, is in Wuchang; the second son has passed away; and three sons, Sun He, Sun Ba, and Sun Fen, are being raised in the palace. Sun He is the eldest, and is eleven years old." Cao Zhi sighed, "A soldier reported that Sun He, dressed in military attire and carrying a bow and arrow, suddenly shot a Wei soldier in the neck from a corner, killing him instantly. The remaining soldiers, unaware of Sun He's identity, then killed him. Only when the eunuch arrived did they identify Sun He."

"This..." Gu Yong opened his mouth, but his mind was in turmoil. He wanted to express his regret for Sun He, but he himself was indirectly a murderer. He wanted to offer advice to his former master, Sun Quan, but he couldn't utter a single word!
Only then did Gu Yong finally lose his balance, short of breath, and faint. Gu Ji quickly supported his father, and with Cao Zhi's permission, they left the palace under the escort of Wei soldiers to find a doctor.

As Gu Yong and his son Gu Ji walked away, Zhuge Ke approached them from the side:

"General?"

"Hmm?" Cao Zhi glanced sideways.

Zhuge Ke said, "The dead cannot be brought back to life. There is no better way to cultivate virtue than to nurture it, and no better way to cure disease than to eradicate it completely. Since you, General, have already suffered this infamy, you might as well act more decisively, so that His Majesty will not be tainted with a bad reputation in the future."

Cao Zhi didn't speak. He turned around and looked back at the gate of Bu Lianshi's palace. He instinctively felt that Zhuge Ke's words made sense, but no matter how he thought about it, he felt disgusted.

Seeing Cao Zhi's hesitation, Handan Jia also said from the side, "General, think about the stories of Emperor Guangwu and Wu Han."

Zhuge Ke listened to Handan Jia's words, nodded, and remained silent.

Cao Zhi spent his days idly studying the classics and histories at Chongwen Temple. How could he not know such a story?
Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu, dispatched Wu Han as commander-in-chief to pacify Shu. After entering Chengdu, Wu Han massacred the entire Gongsun clan and allowed his troops to loot and burn down palaces. Although Liu Xiu verbally condemned Wu Han, he did not impose any substantial punishment. Moreover, Wu Han continued to be highly regarded in the court and did not lose any of the emperor's favor!

The more someone betrays their former master, the more they harbor the desire to exterminate him. Zhuge Ke then advised from the side, "General, I have heard that after Emperor Wu of Han defeated the Yuan family, Yuan Shao's sons either died in battle or fled to Liaodong where they were killed by Gongsun Kang. War is dangerous and perilous; if we do not do this today, it will be inconvenient to do it in the future!"

Cao Zhi finally couldn't take it anymore and looked at Zhuge Ke solemnly, saying, "I am acting on the Emperor's orders to suppress the disloyal. Sun He's death was due to the war, not an intentional killing. Now that he can be captured, his life or death should be decided by the law and the Emperor. What reason do I have to kill him without authorization!"

"Do not speak of it again!"

Zhuge Ke bowed his head and agreed. But inwardly, he also felt a sense of contempt for Cao Zhi.

It's quite a strange thing that two people who were just having a nice chat have now mentally sentenced each other to death on the political front.

We'll have to go in eventually.

Cao Zhi led the way in, and Sun Luyu immediately stood up to block his mother, shouting in a shrill voice:

"Don't you dare insult me ​​and my mother! My sister is Consort Sun of Wei, and my nephew is the Prince of Chang Le of Wei! Don't do anything rash!"

Cao Zhi chuckled and looked closely. Sun Luyu really did resemble Sun Luban, except that his cheeks, face, and body were thinner, and his eyes appeared larger. Apart from that, there was no difference.

Several years ago, when His Majesty led the Noble Consorts, Consorts, and princes and princesses to Luoyang for a banquet to celebrate the New Year with the Cao family's close relatives, Cao Zhi saw Sun Luban's appearance.

Handan Jia spoke on Cao Zhi's behalf: "Lady Bu, Princess Sun, no one wants to harm you two. The Great Wei is destined to rise, and the Wu Kingdom is destined to fall. This matter is settled, and people should accept their fate. As you said, Consort Sun is currently residing in Shouchun Palace. Shall we go and find a palace servant to lead you there?"

"War is dangerous and the situation is like a turbulent river that is difficult to control. If something happens in the city or the palace, the safety of you and your daughter will be hard to guarantee." Handan Jia pointed to the side: "This is Cao Zhi, Cao Zijian, the general of the Great Wei's warships. His poetry and literary talent are renowned throughout the world. He would never harm you and your daughter."

Having received the promise, Sun Luyu felt relieved and momentarily lost his strength, squatting on the ground and sobbing, covering his face. Bu Lianshi, however, regained her composure and asked, "If my daughter and I go to Shouchun, what will happen to His Majesty's other family members?"

Handan Jia casually made a few excuses. Bu Lianshi looked at the Wei soldiers, then at Sun Luyu who was crying beside him, and sighed and shook his head, saying nothing more.

At this moment, Cao Zhi inexplicably thought of a story he had heard long ago, the truth of which remains unknown to this day.

It was about thirty years ago.

When Emperor Wu of Han, Cao Cao, conquered Ye City, the late Emperor Cao Pi led his army into Yuan Shao's residence first. He saw Lady Liu, Yuan Shao's wife, and Empress Zhen, and fell in love with Empress Zhen because of her unparalleled beauty. He later took her into his room and favored her greatly.

After Emperor Wu entered the city, he heard of Empress Zhen's beauty and ordered his men to summon her from the Yuan residence. However, upon hearing that Empress Zhen had been taken away by the late emperor, he expressed his displeasure.

All those involved are no longer alive, so it's unlikely that such matters can be verified or disproven. (End of Chapter)