That night.
Under the cover of darkness, certain unknown matters—matters that nonetheless concerned the fate of the realm—were quietly unfolding.
Around 1:00 a.m. by modern timekeeping, inside Cao Cao's command tent. The camp was brightly lit, with shadows of people everywhere. Below Cao Cao stood Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Xiahou Yuan, Xiahou Dun, Li Dian, Yue Jin, Li Shuangmu, and the other generals, all armored and gripping their sword hilts, their expressions grave. Cao Cao alone paced back and forth before his desk, clearly unable to settle his mind. Even Cao Cao understood perfectly well how immense an impact the events about to unfold would have on him. It was truly "one step to heaven, one step to hell"—how could he possibly remain composed? The other generals stood like statues. With Cao Cao present, all they needed to do was obey orders.
Only Li Shuangmu, like Cao Cao, had something on his mind. Earlier, the Hidden Guards had reported that an Eastern Japanese ninja had infiltrated Cao Cao's tent, then left unharmed after staying for twenty minutes. Because security had been so tight, Li Shuangmu had no idea what exactly the Eastern Japanese ninja had come to discuss with Cao Cao. Nor had the Hidden Guards been in a position to intercept him. Over the following two hours, Cao Cao repeatedly summoned his trusted generals for secret meetings. Li Shuangmu had also been summoned, but the task he received was merely to hold his own unit in position. Clearly, Cao Cao was about to make a major move. What concerned Li Shuangmu most, however, was the matter of the "Eastern Japanese ninja infiltrating Cao Cao's tent." He was eighty percent certain that it had something to do with Yin Kuang.
During that time, Cao Cao sent Li Shuangmu on another