Chapter 6, Seven Steps to Poetry

I have already said, no! My decision remains unchanged!" Cao Cao resolutely waved his hand in refusal and shouted, "Speak your second request, and after you finish, I will behead you to avenge my father!

Urgent! Cao Cao was taken aback, realizing that with the composure of Xun Yu and Cheng Yu, they would never send such a messenger at a critical moment when he was about to conquer Xuzhou unless it was a matter of great importance. Immediately, Cao Cao commanded, "Announce! Take Tao Ying to the rear tent and keep a close watch on him!"

"Seven Steps to Poetry? What a coincidence?" Tao Yingxian was momentarily taken aback, then secretly muttered to himself, "No wonder they are father and son; they are indeed cut from the same cloth. Fortunately, I had memorized quite a few Tang and Song poems in order to practice my speeches. I have even read a good number of your Cao the Thief's poems. I should be able to casually pull out a few to get by and buy some time. Damn it, why hasn't that message reached Cao's camp yet?" Fortunately, I had memorized quite a few Tang and Song poems in order to practice my speeches. I have even read a good number of your Cao the Thief's poems. I should be able to casually pull out a few to get by and buy some time. Damn it, why hasn't that message reached Cao's camp yet?

The military forces are not united, hesitating like a flock of geese in flight

No!

The lord has once again been moved by talent. Guo Jia and Xun You exchanged knowing smiles, and Guo Jia thought to himself: "However, this Tao Ying truly possesses remarkable literary talent. He sacrifices himself for the nation's difficulties, treating death as if returning home. Who in ancient times has not faced death? Let his loyal heart illuminate the annals of history. What great literary talent and noble spirit! It is a pity, a pity that he is the son of Tao Qian; otherwise, he would be worth forming a deep friendship with."

"Your father killed my father; the enmity of killing a father is one that cannot coexist under the same sky. How can you still have the face to plead with me for two matters?" Cao Cao laughed coldly and loudly. However, Cao Cao did indeed appreciate Tao Ying's 'literary talent,' so he continued, "Alright, considering you still possess some talent, go ahead and speak."

After a moment, Tao Ying trembled his lips and spoke again, his voice hoarse: "My lord, as a son, I cannot fulfill my filial duty under my father's knees, which is a grave sin. Therefore, I have no other requests but to ask you to escort me to the foot of Xuzhou City, allowing me to bow and apologize to my father there, and then execute me."

As Lord Ming was worried that Tao Ying might take the opportunity to escape, Tao Ying also did not dare to insist. Tao Ying finally shed tears and choked with emotion, saying: "Please allow me, Lord Ming, to pay my respects to my father from a distance, facing the city of Xuzhou as I die"

Please, Your Excellency, propose a topic. Tao Ying, bracing himself, replied, yet his heart was filled with anxiety, uncertain whether the poems he remembered would precisely match the topic set by Master Cao.

With a clang, the sword in Cao's hand fell to the ground, and his eagle-like eyes were filled with shock. The civil and military officials on both sides were also left speechless, hardly able to believe that such extraordinary talent still existed in the world, capable of producing such a fitting masterpiece in the blink of an eye, while also inadvertently highlighting Cao's remarkable achievement in rallying the eighteen warlords against Dong. In the midst of this astonishment, the tent of Cao's army fell into a profound silence, as they almost forgot that Tao Ying was the sworn enemy of Cao, having killed his father. The ability to create such a fitting masterpiece in an instant, while also inadvertently showcasing Cao's extraordinary achievement in rallying the eighteen warlords against Dong, left everyone in stunned silence, nearly forgetting that Tao Ying was Cao's father's murderer.

Suddenly, an urgent voice broke the atmosphere in the large tent. A messenger from the Cao army rushed in, knelt on one knee before Cao Cao, clasped his fists, and reported: "I respectfully inform the Lord, that Mr. Xun Yu and Mr. Cheng Yu have sent a messenger from Dong'e, stating that there is a matter of utmost urgency that requires the Lord's attention!"

"A name among the valiant, not concerned with personal gain. Sacrificing oneself for the nation's peril, viewing death as if returning home! Therefore, Tao Ying is not afraid of death!"

"One should do their utmost; please issue your command clearly." Tao once again gritted his teeth and agreed, but inside he was almost on the verge of collapse—why had that message still not reached Cao's camp?

After the sinister smile, Tao Ying's heart gradually rose to his throat. If his identity had not been exposed, he could say that he was basically safe. But now that his identity had been revealed, whether he could return alive to Xuzhou City depended on the mood of Old Cao—more precisely, it depended on whether Old Cao truly valued talent as if it were his own life.

Among the common people, one in a hundred is lost, and the thought of it breaks one's heart

The sea? The sea! Cold sweat once again trickled down Tao Ying's forehead, as he became so tense that he couldn't recall a single poem related to the sea. Over there, Cao Laoda shouted sternly, forcing Tao Ying to step forward and compose poetry. With no other choice, Tao Ying lifted his leg and began to walk, leaving a footprint with each step inside the tent. By the time he took his fifth step, a poem related to the sea finally surfaced in his mind. Without the time to remember who had composed it, he completed seven steps and began to recite: "Eastward, I approach the Qianshi Rock to gaze upon the vast sea"

"In response to the esteemed official, Tao should do his utmost." Tao once again bowed in acknowledgment, took a step forward, and recited: "The white sun sets behind the mountains, the Yellow River flows into the sea, to gaze a thousand miles ahead, one must ascend another level."

Cao Cao gazed at Tao Ying once more. At this moment, Tao Ying had an idea; with a sense of calm settling in his heart, he no longer felt fear. He quickly showcased the extraordinary skills he had honed through his training, returning Cao Cao's gaze with remarkable composure, his eyes clear and unfathomable, as if he had long since set aside concerns of life and death

Report!

Upon hearing the shameless verses recited by Tao Ying, which were plagiarized from ancient famous lines, Cao Lao Da was indeed taken aback. Unable to restrain himself, he turned to glance at the civil officials of the Cao army on his left. To his surprise, the renowned scholars and literati he had painstakingly gathered from various regions all displayed expressions of astonishment, murmuring the lines softly to themselves. Even the lofty Guo Jia and Xun You, who usually held themselves in high regard, appeared both surprised and approving, nodding slightly in evident appreciation of Tao Ying's 'literary talent'.

How was my identity exposed? In order to overcome the tension and fear within, Tao Ying made an effort to shift his attention to another important issue. The previous Tao Ying lived a reclusive life, rarely showing himself, making it unlikely for him to be recognized by Cao Jun's spies. When I entered the camp, I did not encounter any Cao Jun spies who could recognize me in person. Judging by the sound, there were no troops from Xuzhou sent to rescue me, which did not indirectly expose my identity. Initially, Cao Laoda did not send anyone to capture me right away. How did Cao Laoda come to know my true identity?

The movement of the sun and moon seems to emerge from within; the brilliance of the stars appears to arise from their depths. Old Cao silently recited this exquisite line from Tao Yuanming's poetry, feeling an indescribable intimacy with the books, as if every word and phrase struck a chord deep within his heart, both profoundly familiar and intimately close

"Can or cannot?" Seeing Tao should not speak, Old Cao asked again.

Armored insects, countless lives lost to death

"No!" Cao Cao firmly rejected, proudly stating: "I have already sworn before my father's spirit that I will annihilate all the people of the five counties of Xuzhou to comfort my father's soul in heaven. This request of yours, I cannot agree to!"

The autumn wind is bleak, and the surging waves rise.

"So soon?!" Cao Lao was taken aback, and then quickly came to his senses, exclaiming, "Wait, this poem must have been composed by you earlier, it doesn't count! It must be my prompt; you shall compose a new poem!"

Thank you, Lord Ming. Tao Ying quickly expressed his gratitude, and after organizing his thoughts slightly, he bowed to Cao Laoda and said: "My Lord, I, Tao Ying, am guilty of a thousand deaths. I do not dare to implore you for mercy; I only ask that after you conquer Xuzhou, you treat the citizens of Xuzhou kindly. Do not blame the people for the sins of the Tao family. Please allow the people of Xuzhou a way to survive. The Tao family is willing to die to atone for our crimes."

Just now, your poem mentioned the sea. Xuzhou is adjacent to the sea in the east, so let us take the sea as the theme" said Old Master Cao with a shout

The movement of the sun and moon is as if they emerge from within it

"Damn it, I’m glad I remembered this poem." Tao Ying quietly wiped away a cold sweat, "But who composed this poem? Liu Mengde or Sun Mengde? Why am I so nervous that I can’t remember anything at all?"

In today's world, during the chaotic times of the Three Kingdoms, Tao Ying was also inspired and spontaneously recited: "In the East, there are righteous heroes who rise to arms against the multitude of villains"

"What a pity, why is this child the son of Tao Qian?" Cao Lao Da also sighed and then shouted, "Seven steps to compose a poem, I still think it is slow! Can you respond and create a poem in one verse?"

How fortunate it is, to sing in order to express one's aspirations

At this point, Cao Lao Da paused for a moment and suddenly raised his voice, commanding: "Dian Wei, Cao Hong, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, heed my orders. If Tao Ying's young man fails to compose a poem within seven steps, immediately sever his limbs!"

Tao Yinghe - The expression on his face was blank, with muscle spasms revealing a vividly realistic look of pain and disappointment. His acting was so convincing that even Old Cao couldn't help but think to himself: "This young man cares for the people, speaking from the heart, which is indeed rare."

The initial alliance was formed at Jinyang, with the heart set in Xianyang

Cao Lao Da waved his hand to the four generals of the Cao army surrounding Tao Ying. Dian Wei and Cao Hong understood immediately and raised their swords to point at Tao Ying, ready to sever his limbs at any moment. Cao Lao Da then shouted, "Compose a piece on the theme of the present world!"

The white bones lie exposed in the wilderness, with not a single rooster crowing for a thousand miles

The people in the tent responded in unison, each following orders as instructed. Tao Ying bowed slightly to Cao Laoda to express his gratitude and raised his head to follow the Cao soldiers out of the tent. However, as he stepped outside, a trace of an uncontrollable smirk quietly appeared at the corner of Deputy Director Tao's mouth. A thought quickly flashed through Tao Ying's mind—Lü Bu attacked Yanzhou, captured Puyang, and Cao Laoda was forced to abandon the soon-to-be-acquired Xuzhou, temporarily reaching a truce with Tao Qian and Liu Bei, and leading his troops back to confront Lü Bu.

Mr. Xie praised. Tao nodded in gratitude to Guo Jia, quietly letting out a sigh of relief, and secretly thought: "Damn it, who on earth composed this poem? Why can't I remember it at all?"

Cao Lao Da laughed again. In fact, he was not afraid at all of Tao Ying escaping when he was brought to the foot of Xuzhou. This is because for Tao Ying to escape, he would first have to rely on the troops in Xuzhou to come to his aid. However, whether it was Liu Bei's army or Tao Qian's army, once they left the protection of the fortified city and abandoned the advantage of the terrain to engage in open battle, Cao Lao Da would be able to laugh with a crooked mouth.

Lord Ming!" Tao cried out in a sorrowful voice, tears already glistening in his eyes

After a moment of contemplation, Master Cao smiled and said, "Very well, I can grant your request, but I have a condition. If you can fulfill it, I will escort you to the foot of Xuzhou City, allowing you to pay your respects to the old man Tao Qian before your death. If you cannot, I will have your limbs severed and your heart and liver extracted, to be offered as a living sacrifice to my father"

"Are you going to execute me at the foot of Xuzhou?" Cao laughed and said, "Are you hoping that Xuzhou will send troops to rescue you?"

The trees grow thickly, and the grasses flourish abundantly

Please make it public. Tao Ying bowed in response, but inside he was as anxious as if he were on fire—why had the news not yet reached Cao Cao? Could it be that he had remembered it incorrectly?

The stars are brilliant, as if emerging from within them

After a long time, Cao Cao finally spoke, drawing his sword with a cold smile and said: "I never expected that the selfish and despicable old Tao Qian could actually give birth to a son like you! However, your family has a vendetta against my father, and no matter how much you boast, you will not escape with your life this time!"

"No!" The four fierce generals of Cao Jun responded in unison, drawing their swords together to surround Tao Ying, their eyes glinting like tigers, their momentum even more imposing.

Since ancient times, who has not faced death? Let my loyal heart illuminate the annals of history. Tao Ying shamelessly plagiarized once again, and respectfully said: "Tao Ying, feeling timid, did not dare to proactively announce his name upon entering the camp. Now that my identity has been recognized by the esteemed lord, whether to kill or to punish, I leave it to your discretion. Tao Ying has no regrets in death, and only seeks two matters from you, esteemed lord."

The water is calm and tranquil, while the mountain islands rise majestically.

"Then listen carefully. " Master Cao said, pointing his sword at Tao Ying's nose: "I have heard that you are eloquent and surely well-versed in poetry and literature. I am giving you an opportunity now. If you can compose a poem in seven steps, I will grant your request. If you cannot..."

Self-interest breeds contention, and in the end, it leads to mutual destruction

Cao Lao Da opened his mouth wide, Xun You stared with wide eyes, and Guo Jia was so shocked that even his cough disappeared without a trace. Unable to contain himself, he stood up and applauded, exclaiming: "Wonderful! Great poem! Great words!"

Lord Cao, please investigate this matter thoroughly. While Lord Cao has not yet taken action against the perpetrators, Tao Ying hastily urged with eloquent words: "Currently, the remnants of the Yellow Turbans, led by Zhang Kai, are harming Lord Cao's elder. Lord Cao is raising troops for revenge, and the military and civilians of Xuzhou are in a precarious situation. Liu Xuande has sent a letter to Lord Cao urging for peace, but the military and civilians of Xuzhou, fearing your divine might, do not dare to act. Although Tao Ying fears for his life, as the second son of the Governor of Xuzhou, he has relied on the people of Xuzhou for his clothing and food over the years, yet has given nothing in return. At this critical moment of life and death, if Tao Ying does not step forward, who will?"