But I Am Not Afraid!

Over the past few days, Yang Zong had kept finding things strange.

Lately, his lord's performance had been nothing short of dazzling. Before he had even ascended the throne, he had already sent the Sima Family a whole assortment of grand gifts.

He had even stirred Sima Shi into action.

Yang Zong no longer treated the lord before him as a mere child.

But what Yang Zong could not understand was why his lord still looked as though he had nothing to fear.

He ought to know that Sima Shi had already countered his move to clear their names.

And that move had already aroused Sima Shi's wariness. At any moment, an envoy might arrive to bestow a cup of poisoned wine.

Could he have some other arrangements in place?

Try as he might, Yang Zong could not figure out where Cao Mao's confidence came from.

Cao Mao carried on with his usual life, rising early to practice martial arts with Cheng Ji, then studying under Guo Ze, and occasionally taking Anshi out to enjoy himself in the city.

Naturally, Yang Zong could not have known that Cao Mao's confidence came from Guanqiu Jian.

Cao Mao knew Sima Shi's character very well. Reputation could be used to restrain Sima Zhao, but not Sima Shi.

You wanted to bind a man without morals with moral obligations?

Thus, long before this, he had sent Liu Lu to contact Guanqiu Jian.

Sima Shi surely had people around Guanqiu Jian. For a wanderer like Liu Lu to meet him in secret was simply unrealistic, so Cao Mao had chosen a compromise.

If he could not contact Guanqiu Jian, he would contact his son instead.

Guanqiu Jian's son, Mouqiu Dian, was in Luoyang. His office and rank were relatively low, and he had few people around him, making him easy to contact.

Moreover, this son was just like his father: a loyal subject of Great Wei.

And how could he secure the support of Guanqiu Jian, that loyal subject of Emperor Liezu?

Through clearing Xiahou Xuan's and Li Feng's names, of course.

Both men had been Guanqiu Jian's close friends. Their execution had been one of the main reasons for his uprising.

When he marched against Sima Shi, he had accused him of murdering worthy men renowned throughout the realm.

Cao Mao had risked his life to clear their names to show the realm's loyal subjects where he stood-above all, to prove himself to Mouqiu Dian.

He hoped Mouqiu Dian would wait for him a little longer. Once they met, they could discuss matters in detail, rather than rushing into rebellion.

In history, it had been Mouqiu Dian's letters that hastened Guanqiu Jian's uprising.

Clearing Xiahou Xuan's name seemed to be a way of causing trouble for the Sima Family, but that was only the surface. What lay buried deepest was the effort to prove his stance to Guanqiu Jian.

Cao Mao could not be certain whether Guanqiu Jian would believe and support him when his letter passed from Mouqiu Dian into his hands.

But the chances were very high. As long as Guanqiu Jian expressed his support, Sima Shi would not dare move against Cao Mao lightly.

At this moment, Sima Shi was not confident that he could eliminate Guanqiu Jian completely. The regional commanders appeared more loyal than the next, but each secretly harbored his own schemes. They belonged to the same families as the great clans at the imperial court, each with interests and desires of his own.

Killing Cao Mao would be handing these men a justification for raising troops on a silver platter. Sima Shi would never make such a grave mistake!

This was the source of Cao Mao's confidence all along, and the reason he still dared go out with Sima Yan without a care.

Wang Su forbade him from going out, but with Sima Yan present, no one dared stop him.

Sima Shi had no son, and Sima Zhao had long been acknowledged as his successor.

The turmoil surrounding Sima Zhao's succession in history had arisen only because Sima Shi died too suddenly, not because of any dispute over succession rights.

Sima Shi had adopted Sima Zhao's son, Sima You, to carry on his family line, but that did not mean he could pass his position to Sima You.

If Sima Zhao were dead, the succession might have been uncertain.

But Sima Zhao was still alive. If Sima You inherited Sima Shi's position, how were father and son supposed to deal with each other?

You call me Father, and I call you Lord?

That violated ritual propriety and was impossible. Besides, Sima You was still too young. Even once he grew up, he would not dare contest the succession with his own father.

Filial piety was the only virtue their family could still parade. Could they really kick even that aside?

As Sima Zhao's eldest legitimate son, Sima Yan might not have been untouchable in Luoyang, but here in Yuan City, apart from his maternal grandfather, truly no one dared provoke him.

"Anshi, sorry for the trouble, but please deliver this letter to the General Who Conquers the West for me!"

"Huh?"

The two were sitting in the Gao Family Restaurant in the city, enjoying a meal.

Cao Mao furtively drew a letter from his sleeve, glanced around, and handed it to Sima Yan with great caution.

Anyone who did not know better might have thought he was passing along an imperial decree hidden in a robe sash.

Naturally, Sima Yan was startled too. He could not understand it. Everyone around us is one of my people. What are you guarding against them for?

Still, Sima Yan took the letter and put it away with equal care. He did not know why he was doing that either.

Their clandestine exchange was a success.

Cao Mao pretended nothing had happened and resumed eating.

Sima Yan sat stunned for a moment before asking, "Duke of the Village, what is this letter?"

"Well... the contents of the letter must remain secret."

Cao Mao hesitated, then added, "But you are no outsider, Anshi. Since you have asked, I will tell you the truth."

Cao Mao looked around again and motioned for him to come closer.

Cao Mao said quietly, "This is my secret letter to the General Who Conquers the West, accusing the Grand General of misconduct. I hope the general will uphold justice for me! Uphold justice for the realm and continue the great undertaking of clearing Xiahou Xuan's name!"

"What???"

"Have you lost your mind?!"

Sima Yan abruptly rose, but Cao Mao hurriedly grabbed him. "Keep your voice down! Otherwise, the Grand General will find out!"

"No... Duke of the Village, you do know that the Grand General is my father's elder brother, don't you? His own flesh-and-blood brother?"

"Of course I know!"

"And you still dare write to my father accusing my uncle?"

"Anshi!"

Cao Mao frowned. "The General Who Conquers the West is a loyal and virtuous man renowned throughout the realm! When the Grand General wanted to kill Lord Xiahou and the others, he repeatedly remonstrated and pleaded through tears, but could not stop him."

"I heard that the general strongly supported this latest effort to clear their names as well, but the Grand General still refused!"

"Would such a wise and virtuous gentleman let private affairs obstruct his duty to the throne?"

"The wisdom and virtue of the General Who Conquers the West are known to all beneath heaven. He is someone the realm's scholars can trust."

Sima Yan shook his head like a rattle drum and hurriedly handed the letter back to Cao Mao.

"No, no! You had better burn this letter immediately! You don't understand. My father has always deferred to my uncle and obeyed his instructions in everything. He could never help you. If you send this letter, it will likely land straight in my uncle's hands. It will cost you your life!"

"Anshi."

Cao Mao looked solemnly at Sima Yan. "I have never met the general, but you and I felt like old friends at our very first meeting. To see the son is to know the father. Looking at you, I can imagine what sort of man the General Who Conquers the West is! I believe he will give the realm an answer!"

Sima Yan was so anxious he nearly tore at his hair. "Yanshi! You are thinking far too simply! My uncle will kill you!"

Cao Mao suddenly laughed.

"Anshi has finally called me by my courtesy name."

Was that the point???

Sima Yan was dumbstruck. He glanced around. "Come on, let's return to the residence! Don't say any more here!"

He pulled Cao Mao along and hurried away, heading toward the Cao Residence.

Even after boarding the carriage, Cao Mao still held Sima Yan's hand, soothing him. "Anshi, all men must die. Some deaths weigh more than Mount Tai; others weigh less than a goose feather. What is there to fear in dying for the throne?"

"My eldest maternal uncle died because of me. My heart is so burdened with guilt that I wish I could have gone to my death with him."

"But Lord Xiahou's affair remains unfinished. I cannot bear to follow my uncle down that road just yet!"

"Now, the General Who Conquers the West is the only person left who can see this matter through."

"Anshi, I want to ask a favor of you. If I die because of this, when you inherit the general's position someday, do not forget to clear the names of Lord Xiahou and the others!"

Sima Yan's face was full of helplessness. "Don't talk like that... You really should not provoke my uncle so lightly."

"Everyone beneath heaven fears the Grand General's formidable reputation!"

"But for a righteous cause, I am not afraid!"

The carriage drove into the residence, and the two stepped down as they talked.

When they alighted, however, they discovered that the residence had changed. Elite armored guards stood everywhere, fully armed and bristling with murderous intent, their eyes fixed straight ahead.

And a man stood before them, staring fixedly at them.

He wore a long robe, his frame beneath it thin as kindling. His face was gloomy, and a fleshy growth sat beneath his left eye.

Sima Yan immediately wilted and called timidly, "Uncle..."

At that moment, it was as though a thunderclap exploded beside Cao Mao's ears.

Cao Mao felt a chill pierce his bones, his hair standing on end.

His whole body began to tremble.