Chapter 44: Night Conversation in the Tent – Sima Yi and Cao Pi Discuss Cao Ju
Cao Pi was preoccupied while Cao Ju was in the Imperial Guards’ camp, on the opposite side in Sima Yi’s tent. He had been significantly taken aback by Cao Ju’s responses earlier in the day, intensifying his caution toward him. Consequently, he sought out Sima Yi. Cao Pi recounted Cao Cao’s dayti discussion about tigers and wolves to Sima Yi and provided a comprehensive account of their three brothers’ answers.
“Master Sima!”
“Could you analyze which of us three brothers had the superior response?”
In response to Cao Pi’s inquiry, Sima Yi didn’t hesitate, almost as if his answer was prepared before Cao Pi finished speaking.
“Prince Cao Ju’s response is superior!”
“However…A comndable answer doesn’t necessarily guarantee the Pri Minister’s satisfaction.”
“Considering Pri Minister’s disposition…He would likely prefer your response, Prince, as your answer is more astute and resonates better with his sentints.”
Upon hearing Sima Yi’s words, Cao Pi felt slightly joy but grew more puzzled.
“Master Sima, what do you an by that?”
“Why do you say that my eighth brother’s answer was good yet displeased, Father?”
“Because…” Sima Yi glanced at Cao Pi.
“Prince, your father himself places great importance on filial piety.”
“Back in the day, when your grandfather Cao Song suffered under Tao Qian’s rule in Xuzhou, upon learning of it, the Pri Minister was furious and launched a military campaign against Xuzhou.”
“In his anger, he didn’t hesitate to resort to ruthless tactics.”
“The more soone is like this, the more they fear their sons won’t be filial. The ‘tigers and wolves’ topic presented by the Pri Minister was intended to place you and your two brothers in the position of your grandfather back then, wasn’t it?”
“Hence…”
Sima Yi slipped his hands into his sleeves. “That’s why I said that your response would be more pleasing to the Pri Minister.”
“A clever prince would never show off or reveal their true abilities before the Pri Minister.”
“A clever prince would only need to be as shrewd as you, appearing foolish on the surface, concealing their abilities, and adhering to the single principle of ‘filial piety.'”
“Prince!”
“When facing your other brothers, if you can achieve this, you needn’t worry.”
At the right mont, a voice from Cao Pi’s trusted attendant sounded outside Sima Yi’s tent.
“Prince, the Pri Minister has sent a complete tiger skin. Should I bring it in?”
The attendant’s report imdiately caught Cao Pi’s attention. Without continuing the conversation with Sima Yi, Cao Pi promptly responded, “Bring it in.”
Shortly after, Cao Pi’s trusted attendant lifted the tent’s curtain and entered. He hung a complete and colorful tiger skin on a weapon rack in the tent, presenting it to Cao Pi and Sima Yi.
“Did the person who brought the tiger skin say anything?” Cao Pi inquired, and the attendant didn’t dare to hide anything.
“Prince,” the attendant replied, “General Xu Chu sent people to deliver the tiger skin to your tent. When he saw that you weren’t present, he instructed to convey that… This is the Pri Minister’s reward to you for answering his question earlier today.”
Cao Pi wasn’t entirely content with the response. He was more concerned about the rewards his other two brothers had received.
“Other than …What about Zixun and Zimu? What did Father reward them with?”
Fortunately, the attendant, an experienced individual who had been with Cao Pi for a long ti, was well-prepared to handle his temperant.
“Prince, before I ca here, I made inquiries.”
“For Fourth Prince Cao Zhang, the Pri Minister had sent several intact wolf skins.”
“And as for Eighth Prince Cao Ju…”
The attendant’s expression was peculiar, as he seed uncertain whether to convey sothing. This made Cao Pi furrow his brow, sensing an unsettling premonition.
I get the tiger skin!
Ziwen gets the wolf skin!
Most of the beast skins hunted by General Wenji earlier in the day had already been distributed. Could it be that Father gave my younger brother the Green Heaven Sword he usually wears?
After that, the attendant’s voice ca.
“In Eighth Prince Cao Ju’s tent, the Pri Minister sent a bowl of… tiger whip soup.”
“Gah!” Upon hearing the unexpected words from the attendant, Cao Pi emitted a strange sound reminiscent of a duck being choked. Even Sima Yi, who was casually sitting and listening, widened his eyes upon hearing that Cao Cao had given Cao Ju a bowl of tiger whip soup. It was a mont where even soone as astute as Sima Yi hadn’t anticipated Cao Cao’s unusual choice.
For that brief mont…
Sima Yi even thought he had misunderstood Cao Cao’s intentions. After a mont of surprise, Cao Pi looked at Sima Yi with admiration.
“Indeed, everything has been predicted by you, Master.”
“I get the tiger skin, Ziwen gets the wolf skin, and Zimou gets the tiger whip.”
“From this, it’s clear that while my answer might not be as stunning as Zimou’s, it’s very much to Father’s liking!”
“It seems like tonight, I’ll be able to sleep well.”
“With that said, I won’t disturb you any longer, Master.”
With these words, Cao Pi called his trusted attendant and started walking out of the tent.
“Prince, the Pri Minister’s reward of the tiger skin for you is here!”
Seeing Cao Pi about to leave the tent, Sima Yi hurriedly raised his hand to remind him.
“No!” “It’s your tiger skin, Zhongda.”
Cao Pi waved his hand dismissively, his back turned to Sima Yi.
“This tiger skin… I’m giving it to you as a reward for helping unravel this puzzle.”
Sima Yi felt a mixture of surprise and gratification, as he hadn’t anticipated that his interpretation of Cao Cao’s intentions would lead to such a rewarding outco.
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