Compared with Yuan Shao, Cao Cao's reputation was simply abysmal.
Even setting aside his background as a eunuch's descendant, there was his attack on Xu Province several years earlier. After failing to take it for a long time, he had slaughtered a hundred thousand civilians once it fell, dragging his reputation into the gutter.
Slaughtering civilians was a grave taboo, yet Cao Cao had done it anyway-and more than once. In Xu Province alone, he had carried out three massacres! That was proof enough of his deplorable character.
At least, Taishi Ci greatly disliked men like Cao Cao.
"Rest assured. I know where to draw the line."
Kong Rong naturally understood this, which was why he had rejected Cao Cao's overtures that day.
They chatted a little longer before Kong Rong grew tired and said, "Get some rest. I must enter the palace again tomorrow. In a few days, we shall set out for Ye City to pay our respects to the other Son of Heaven."
Once he had asked Yang Biao, Fu Wan, and the other close attendants of the Son of Heaven about the situation tomorrow, he would depart for Ye City.
Three days later, Kong Rong left Xu County.
Although Cao Cao and the Son of Heaven repeatedly urged him to stay, he refused and set off for Ji Province with Taishi Ci.
That day, Cao Cao flew into a rage in his residence. Kong Rong's insistence on leaving infuriated him, and he feared that Kong Rong might stir up unnecessary trouble after reaching Ye City.
Yet despite his fury, there was nothing he could do. He could only let Kong Rong leave.
Surely he could not kill Kong Rong or forcibly detain him?
If he dared do so, once the world learned of it, the