Chapter 38

“Brother Laotie, facing Zhu Jiuzhen’s temptation and still having the guts to crush her—you’re the one.”

The Dragon Heaven Zhang Jie gave the Heaven’s Edge Zhang Jie a thumbs-up.

“Indeed. According to standard procedure, accepting Zhu Jiuzhen wouldn’t harm us.”

“Yet you kept your brother in check, didn’t let your small head control your big one.”

The Water Margin Zhang Jie also greatly praised the Heaven’s Edge Zhang Jie for eliminating Zhu Jiuzhen.

Throughout history, those who accomplish great deeds all have one thing in common: they control their own brothers.

Han Gaozu was merely a township officer, past forty, still fighting roosters and walking dogs in Pei County.

In ancient times, with low average lifespans, Liu Bang at 48 was essentially an old decrepit man.

A man who couldn’t pacify the state with words, couldn’t rally troops with martial skill, of low birth, no reputation, and useless at everything.

Yet seven years after raising his banner against Qin, he broke through Hangu Pass first, entered Guanzhong, and destroyed Qin.

Later, he feigned repairing the plank roads while secretly crossing Chen Cang to defeat the Overlord.

He laid the foundation for the Han Dynasty’s four-century rule—his supreme self-control was absolutely key.

After entering Xianyang, though briefly dazzled by the glittering world,

he achieved a hundred-kill record in Afang Palace, yet under Zhang Liang and Xiao He’s counsel,

he saw reality clearly, sealed the treasuries, pacified the people, and left Xiang Yu with no grounds to strike.

The Grand Historian recorded in “Hongmen Banquet”:

“Now entering Guanzhong, he takes no wealth, shows no favor to women—his ambitions are not small.”

“I sent men to observe his aura—it was all dragon and tiger, forming five colors. This is the aura of a Son of Heaven.”

“Strike quickly, don’t miss!”

Zeng Guofan, regarded by Qing scholars as a “semi-sage” who preserved our Confucian teachings,

in his youth indulged in wine and women; only in middle age did he finally awaken, quit alcohol and lust,

establish the Xiang Army, crush the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and render great service to the Qing.

“A perfect example of someone who couldn’t control his brother? Lan Yu, flayed alive by Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang.”

The Dragon Heaven Zhang Jie gave an example.

“Hmm.”

The Heaven’s Edge Zhang Jie and Water Margin Zhang Jie both nodded knowingly.

Lan Yu was fierce in battle, but too arrogant and unruly.

When he led his troops northward and crushed the Northern Yuan at the Fishing Sea,

he dared to rape a Yuan imperial consort—clearly lost his sense of self.

It’s like a general, backed by national support, captures the capital of a foreign island nation,

fails to capture their emperor, yet sleeps with their empress…

What’s most unbelievable is that Lan Yu ordered Ming troops to attack a Ming frontier pass:

During a northern campaign’s return, Lan Yu’s army arrived at Xifeng Pass at night.

By regulation, gatekeepers must inspect troops before opening the gate.

But Lan Yu thought the gatekeepers delayed him, so he ordered soldiers to smash the gate open and storm in.

Those who know understand it’s just Lan Yu’s impatience; those who don’t think he’s rebelled!

Lan Yu’s death was utterly deserved.

“When talking about failing to control one’s brother, let’s not forget a heavyweight.”

The Water Margin Zhang Jie smiled slightly.

“Oh? Who?”

The Heaven’s Edge Zhang Jie and Dragon Heaven Zhang Jie both perked up, pressing for details.

“In Shu Han of the Three Kingdoms, Jiang Wei used a scheme to kill three worthies after Deng Ai and Zhong Hui conquered Shu;

In Eastern Wu, Zhou Lang devised a brilliant plan that lost the lady and broke the soldiers;

So what did Cao Wei have?”

The Water Margin Zhang Jie didn’t answer directly, but teased them.

“Could it be the iron-chain-linked ships, walking as if on flat ground, then utterly burned at Chi Bi?”

The Heaven’s Edge Zhang Jie ventured uncertainly.

The defeat at Chi Bi shattered Cao Cao’s ambition to unify the realm.

After Chi Bi, though Cao Wei didn’t collapse like Former Qin under Fu Jian after the Battle of Fei River,

it still suffered heavy damage, taking decades to recover.

Had Deng Ai not taken the legendary risk—stealthily crossing Yinping,

bypassing Shu’s defenses and striking at its heart,

the Three Kingdoms’ stalemate might have lasted much longer.

The only thing puzzling him was: though Cao Cao fell for Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu’s schemes,

mistakenly killed the two Cai brothers—experts in naval warfare—due to Jiang Gan stealing the letter,

and failed to see through the iron-chain-linked ships ruse, leading to defeat,

where was the part where Cao Cao couldn’t control his younger brother?

“Idiot, let me explain.”

The Dragon Heaven Zhang Jie gave the Heaven’s Edge Zhang Jie a look of exasperation.

This guy, having once dumped all his stat points into physique,

had, over ten years, grown used to linear thinking.

Even now, after sharing and completing his brain,

he still occasionally acted like his mind had disconnected—when it didn’t matter.

The Heaven’s Edge Zhang Jie shrugged: “Can you blame me?”

Whenever I try to use my super brain to solve problems,

my super brain always says: Go use your super strength!”

Whenever I want to use my super brain to solve problems,

“Oh, go ahead.”

The confused Heaven’s Edge Zhang Jie admitted he was still baffled.

“Of course—it’s Cao Cao’s one cannon shot killing three worthies!”

The Dragon Heaven Zhang Jie patted the Heaven’s Edge Zhang Jie on the shoulder.

“Oh oh! So that’s it!”

The Heaven’s Edge Zhang Jie suddenly understood.

After defeating Zhang Xiu at Wan City, Cao Cao’s old habit of coveting married women resurfaced;

he even asked his subordinates: “Are there any courtesans in this city?”

Upon seeing Zou Shi, the beautiful widow of Zhang Xiu’s uncle Zhang Ji, he lost control,

uttering the now-infamous line all Cao villains revere:

“Madam, would you be willing to share my bed tonight?”

Under pressure, Zou Shi agreed.

To properly comfort the widow Zou and seal the news,

so Zhang Xiu wouldn’t find out, Cao Cao moved from the city into a camp outside.

But no wall is truly soundproof.

Cao Cao’s affair with Zou Shi reached Zhang Xiu, the former lord of Wan City.

Zhang Xiu, enraged, confronted Jia Xu: “Someone has defiled your aunt—can you remain unmoved?”

Then Jia Xu, known as the Poisonous Strategist, offered his plan.

The chaos at Wan City cost not only heavy troop losses,

but also three of Cao Wei’s top leaders.

Because all three were Cao Cao’s most capable generals, later generations mockingly called them the “Three Worthies” of Cao’s camp.

These three worthies were:

One: Cao Ang, Cao Cao’s most outstanding and suitable heir.

He gave his horse to Cao Cao and died fighting alongside Dian Wei.

Two: Dian Wei, Cao Cao’s beloved top general, one of the Three Kingdoms’ supreme warriors.

To protect Cao Cao, he held the gate alone, standing his ground.

With weapons stolen, no horse, no armor,

he wielded two adult soldiers as weapons,

held off the entire Zhang Xiu army, and ultimately died outnumbered.

Wan City’s final song: Dian Wei ascended to godhood—renowned as unmatched on foot, Lu Bu on horse, Dian Wei on foot.

Three: Cao Anmin, nephew, and the steed Jueying—both counted as one worthy:

Wan City’s final song: Dian Wei was deified as unmatched in foot combat, with Lü Bu on horseback and Dian Wei on foot.

Third, his nephew Cao Anmin and the steed Jueying were both esteemed as paragons:

Cao Anmin and Cao Ang both died in Wancheng.

Jueying, Cao Cao’s steed, was a thousand-li horse,

so swift its shadow could not keep up—it also died during the breakout from Wancheng.

The deaths of these three dealt a devastating blow to the Cao Wei faction.

Cao Ang’s death not only caused Cao Cao’s wife, Lady Ding, to break ties with him.

Upon hearing the news of Cao Ang’s death, Lady Ding wept bitterly and cursed Cao Cao, severing all relations with him.

Though Cao Cao made repeated attempts to reconcile, Lady Ding never forgave him.

Even in his later years, when gravely ill, Cao Cao still felt guilt over Cao Ang’s death, sighing:

“In my life, I have never regretted any of my actions. But if there is an afterlife,

and Zi Xiu asks me where his mother is, how shall I answer him?”

Cao Ang’s early death shattered the succession order of Cao Cao’s family,

sparking the struggle for succession between Cao Pi and Cao Zhi.

This, in turn, led to instability within the Cao Wei regime:

After Cao Pi ascended the throne, he was forced to rely on the support of the scholar-official clans to stabilize his rule,

instituting the “Nine-Rank System,” which sowed the seeds for the rise of the Sima clan.

One could say Cao Ang’s death was not merely a personal tragedy for Cao Cao,

but also a turning point in the fate of the Cao Wei regime, profoundly shaping the course of Three Kingdoms history.

And the root cause of all this was largely Cao Cao’s inability to control his younger brother…