Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3882 Harmony without Diversity
Inside Sishui Pass, undercurrents surged.

The cavalry retreated as instructed, raising a cloud of dust that filled the sky.

Even those who couldn't climb the walls to witness it firsthand felt as if they were affected by the billowing smoke and dust; everyone was somewhat shocked.

Almost simultaneously with the dust and smoke rising from the retreating cavalry, rumors began to circulate that Fei Qian had invited Cao Cao to a meeting at the pass...

People with different stances and calculations began to act openly or covertly based on their own interests and judgments.

In a relatively secluded place, Liu Ai, the Imperial Clan Minister, and Liang Shao, the Chamberlain, unexpectedly met.

Only one oil lamp was lit in the room, casting a dim light that illuminated the solemn faces of the two men.

Liu Ai stroked his beard and said in a low voice, "The General of the Cavalry has actually retreated... This General Fei has invited Prime Minister Cao to a meeting... In my opinion, if the two can truly take this opportunity to temporarily cease hostilities and sit down to talk, it might not... it might not be a bad thing. At least, the war might be temporarily averted, and the Emperor could have some peace."

Liang Shao picked up the rough earthenware teacup in front of him, but didn't drink. He simply ran his fingers slowly along the rim of the cup, his eyes deep and unfathomable. "Lord Liu harbors benevolence; how could I not know that? But this peace talk… how easy is it to come by!"

Liang Shao sighed and shook his head. "Prime Minister Cao and General Fei are like two tigers that cannot share the same mountain… Prime Minister Cao has held the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords for years, wielding immense power… General Fei rose to prominence in Guanzhong, his influence overwhelming the Central Plains. His ambitions are no less than Prime Minister Cao's. The struggle between the old and new, the fight for power, has long been irreconcilable, a deep-seated enmity… Add to that the previous bloody battles in Hedong, Heluo, Jizhou, and Youzhou… Even today, with their armies facing each other at Sishui Pass, the blood debts are already immense. How can a mere conversation resolve this? In my opinion… alas, true peace talks… are difficult, extremely difficult!"

Liu Ai sighed: "What Liang Shizhong said is certainly insightful about the current situation... However, as long as there is even a sliver of possibility to avert this bloody war, to spare the Emperor from turmoil and fear, and to reduce the suffering of the people of the Central Plains... it is always worth a try... After all, the safety of the Emperor and the survival of the state are of paramount importance... As for the rest... that is left to those who come after..."

These words were spoken with a sense of righteous indignation.

Upon hearing this, Liang Shao gave a complex, bitter smile, gently setting down his teacup. "The successors? Lord Liu, your loyalty is undeniable… but… look at these past hundred years, since Emperor Guangwu's restoration, when has the Han Dynasty ever truly revived? Relatives of the empress, eunuchs, powerful ministers, local tyrants… Heh, the court is like a marketplace, the emperor practically a puppet! Forget about restoring the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing, or the might of Emperor Wu; even a semblance of peace like during the reigns of Emperors Ming and Zhang is a pipe dream… The successors? Who are the successors?"

Liang Shao's words were quite bold, almost criticizing the late emperor, but they also expressed the long-standing sentiments of some insightful people.

Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu relied on powerful clans in Hebei and Nanyang to gain power and established his capital in Luoyang. This was largely due to considerations of balancing and appeasing the forces in Shandong, which indeed brought hidden dangers to the later centralized power.

To eliminate potential risks, people in the Central Plains of Shandong have tried many methods, with some even suggesting directly ceding areas like Liangzhou in Hexi to reduce the burden and expenses...

Liu Ai remained silent. Although Liang Shao's words were harsh, they were not unfounded.

The two remained silent, with only the occasional soft popping of the lamp wick in the room.

Just then, a servant outside the office whispered that Xi Lu had come to visit.

Liu Ai and Liang Shao exchanged a glance, both somewhat surprised.

How could Xi Lu have sensed their private meeting?

Liu Ai gestured for Liang Shao to calm down, then rose and went outside to ask, "What brings Imperial Censor Xi here?"

A slightly obsequious voice came from outside the door, "Greetings, Minister Liu... I am Xi Lu, and I apologize for the intrusion, but I have important matters to discuss with you... and Minister Liang..."

Actually, it wasn't exactly a secret that Liu Ai and Liang Shao met in private.

On the one hand, Sishui Pass itself is not very large, and the two could not possibly meet in some secluded corner, so it would be easy for someone with ulterior motives to notice. On the other hand, Liu Ai and Liang Shao were obviously not professionals, nor did they have any particularly discreet methods...

Although Xi Lu served in the same court, he had always been closer to Wang Lang, Hua Xin, and others. He belonged to the "pure stream"—a group adept at currying favor and observing the political climate—and was not on the same path as officials like Liu Ai and Liang Shao, who were more focused on practical matters or claimed to have independent opinions. They did not interact much on a regular basis. What was his purpose in suddenly visiting at this moment?
After a moment's hesitation, Liu Ai welcomed Xi Lu in.

Liu Ai considered himself to be open and honest, and he had nothing to hide from others. Even when they disagreed on political views, he did not treat Xi Lu too rudely.

Xi Lu was not wearing official robes, but only ordinary deep robes. His face showed great sincerity, but also a hint of anxiety. Upon entering the room, he first bowed to Liu Ai and Liang Shao, keeping a very humble posture.

"No need for formalities, Imperial Censor Xi. May I ask what you wish to teach me?" Liang Shao asked in a calm tone, getting straight to the point.

Xi Lu rubbed his hands together, forcing a smile, but then, seemingly realizing it was inappropriate, quickly composed himself and adopted a worried expression. "Lord Liu, Attendant Liang, I know you two are both loyal to the country and devoted to the people. In the past, perhaps due to slight differences in political views, our interactions have been distant, but I have always admired your integrity and character..."

Liu Ai frowned. "Imperial Censor Xi, please speak frankly."

"Yes, yes." Xi Lu nodded repeatedly, subconsciously leaning closer and lowering his voice, "I have come here truly out of concern for the Emperor and the nation! You two gentlemen understand the situation beyond the pass better than I do. Although the General of the Cavalry has temporarily retreated, its momentum has not diminished. General Fei's invitation to Prime Minister Cao... is truly a crucial moment!"

Xi Lu quickly glanced at Liu Ai and Liang Shao's expressions before continuing, "This humble official... this humble official may have made mistakes before, but my loyalty is as clear as the sun and moon! Now, upon reflection, regardless of the grudges between Prime Minister Cao and General Fei, if we can use this meeting as an opportunity to temporarily cease hostilities, even if it only achieves some... well, ha, but it can ensure the Emperor's stability, the survival of the court, and prevent the Han dynasty from collapsing in an instant, then that would be a blessing for the world and a boon for all people!"

Xi Lu spoke these words in a grand and dignified manner, as if he were a completely loyal subject.

Liu Ai and Liang Shao listened without showing any emotion.

Seeing that the two remained silent, Xi Lu grew anxious and added, "I believe... that Prime Minister Cao... may have reservations about the meeting... but at this critical juncture, how can we allow personal grudges to jeopardize national affairs? The Emperor's safety hangs in the balance! If you two gentlemen could prioritize the nation's well-being and the Emperor's well-being, step forward to advise him, and... and strongly advocate for peace talks, striving to turn hostility into friendship... then you would be turning the tide and saving the collapsing edifice! Your merit would benefit the present and future generations! You two would be unparalleled in your time! Your names would be etched in history!"

Xi Lu finally revealed his true intentions...

He came as an envoy, to persuade Liu Ai and Liang Shao to convince Cao Cao to negotiate peace with Fei Qian...

Liu Ai and Liang Shao exchanged a glance.

Xi Lu's performance, seemingly righteous and awe-inspiring, was actually driven by selfish motives.

Liang Shao sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly composed, slowly saying, "Imperial Censor Xi's concern for the nation is admirable. However, Prime Minister Cao is a man of great talent and ambition, and has his own plans. How can we, mere mortals, presume to interfere in matters of state and military affairs? Furthermore, this meeting is fraught with danger and unpredictability; it is only natural for the Prime Minister to be cautious..."

Xi Lu hurriedly replied, "Lord Liang is too modest! Who doesn't know that Lord Liang's words in court today hit the nail on the head, leaving even General Xiahou speechless?! Both of you are highly respected in court. If you were willing to prioritize the greater good and offer your honest advice to Prime Minister Cao... he would surely listen to your words... after all, this is for the safety of the Emperor and the continuation of the Han Dynasty! I am but a humble official, and my words carry little weight, but I hope to follow in your footsteps and do my utmost!"

Xi Lu constantly spoke of "the safety of the emperor" and "the continuation of the Han dynasty," as if these were irrefutable banners of righteousness. At the same time, he lowered his stance, indicating his willingness to follow Liu Ai and Liang Shao in their advocacy.

Liu Ai pondered for a moment, then said, "We understand Imperial Censor Xi's meaning. This matter is of great importance and requires careful consideration. It is getting late; Imperial Censor Xi, please return now."

Seeing that the two had not explicitly refused, Xi Lu felt somewhat relieved. He considered saying more, but since he had already hinted at his point, further words would only arouse suspicion. Therefore, he could only bow again and say, "Yes, yes… This humble official takes his leave. I earnestly hope that you two gentlemen will consider the fate of the nation!"

After saying this, Xi Lu bowed deeply again before leaving.

The office returned to silence.

Watching Xi Lu depart, Liang Shao couldn't help but sneer, "That fellow, he changes his tune quickly!"

Liu Ai remained silent for a long time before sighing, "People's hearts are scattered, each harboring their own schemes... However, what they said... if peace talks can be achieved, there is indeed a glimmer of hope for the emperor and the people."

Liang Shao shook his head and said, "A chance of survival? Perhaps... but it's more likely another trap... This person came here not out of genuine concern for the country, but merely seeking an escape route, or perhaps just opportunistically, seeing the situation turning unfavorable..."

Liang Shao sighed, "Let alone whether Prime Minister Cao will agree to a meeting... even if he does, after the meeting, how will we... conduct ourselves? How will the Emperor conduct himself? These two words, 'peace talks,' are easy to say, but in reality, they are probably more dangerous and unpredictable than fighting..."

Liu Ai nodded silently.

Within Sishui Pass, human nature is unpredictable and complex.

Everyone is trying their best to adjust their position and calculate their way out in the face of the impending storm.

As for who is truly loyal, who is truly working for the Han Dynasty, and who is genuinely concerned about Emperor Liu Xie's life and future...

It's hard to say for sure. The retreat of the Flying Cavalry did not bring much-needed peace to Sishui Pass; instead, it triggered deeper and more intense undercurrents...

Unlike Xi Lu's probing and questioning of Liu Ai and Liang Shao in their respective offices, there was a unified atmosphere of solemnity and indignation in another heavily guarded residence inside Sishui Pass.

The younger generation of Cao and Xiahou descendants, including Cao Shuo, Xiahou Jie, and Xiahou Wei, all wore expressions of barely concealed anxiety and anger.

Fei Qian's retreat was originally intended to give them a chance to catch their breath, but who could have imagined that the news of Fei Qian's invitation to meet would be like an invisible giant wave, stirring up a tremendous storm in the small Sishui Pass.

"My lord!" Xiahou Wei could no longer contain himself. He had been humiliated by Liang Shao's words in court that day, and now his eyes widened in fury. "Those pedantic officials within the pass, and those two-faced cowards, seeing the rebel army retreat, they start clamoring for 'peace talks'! Bah! They keep saying they're doing this for the Han Dynasty, for the Emperor, but who has truly considered these things? Aren't they all only thinking about their own lives, land, and official positions?! A bunch of hypocritical villains!"

Xiahou Jie's face was also grim. He interjected, "Ji Quan is absolutely right! These court officials, who usually speak grandly and claim to be loyal and righteous, are actually two-faced. When things are going well, they flock to us to share the power! Now that the situation has turned slightly unfavorable, they're all looking for a way out! And now they're stirring up trouble behind the scenes! Their so-called 'peace talks' are nothing more than a way to sacrifice our lord to save themselves!"

Cao Shuo's tone became even more urgent, revealing his deepest fear: "Father! You must not believe such talk of peace! Fei Qian, that treacherous villain, has invited us to a meeting, harboring malicious intentions! Every word in his memorials mentions returning the capital to Chang'an! If Father truly meets with him, whatever is discussed, the world will believe that Father tacitly approves of the Emperor's return to the west! And one day, when the Emperor's carriage enters Guanzhong and falls into Fei Qian's control, then... then our Cao and Xiahou clans will become fish on a chopping block! At that time, Fei Qian only needs an edict, or even... even just a jailer, to exterminate all my brothers and sisters from Qiao and Pei, wiping out our entire clan!"

The four words, "extermination of the entire clan," pierced the hearts of everyone like ice picks, causing their faces to turn pale.

This is their deepest, and most inescapable, fear.

Their power, glory, and even their lives were already tied to Cao Cao; they shared both glory and ruin.

If the emperor were to slip out of Cao Cao's control, Cao Cao would lose all his political capital, and those who depended on him would inevitably face retribution.

"Those ministers can surrender, they can switch allegiances, and perhaps they can still save their lives and families! But what about us? We are surnamed Cao! We are surnamed Xiahou!" Xiahou Wei pounded his chest and roared, "My lord! We must not negotiate with a tiger! That traitor Fei Qian has never given up on his desire to destroy us!"

The crowd was filled with rage, anger at the betrayal, and fear of destruction.

They hoped Cao Cao would give a strong response to completely dispel any illusions of peace talks, and that they would prepare for a decisive battle with the Flying Cavalry, perhaps offering a glimmer of hope.

However, Cao Cao, who sat in the main seat, remained silent.

He closed his eyes slightly, as if listening, or perhaps deep in thought...

This silence lasted for quite some time, long enough to make Cao Shuo and the others feel uneasy. The angry clamor gradually subsided, and everyone looked at Cao Cao, waiting for his decision.

Finally, Cao Cao slowly opened his eyes.

Everyone stood up straight with anticipation, waiting for Cao Cao's instructions.

Cao Cao's gaze first fell on Cao Shuo, then he asked a question that seemed unrelated to the current topic, "Shuo'er, the poems and eulogies I previously ordered you to collect and organize about the loyal and valiant people of Yingchuan and other places who resisted the cavalry and even risked their lives to uphold their principles... have they been presented to His Majesty for review?"

Cao Shuo was taken aback, not expecting his father to ask this. He quickly replied, "Your Majesty, I have already followed your instructions, selecting the best writers, binding them into a book, and sending it to His Majesty through the eunuchs three days ago."

"Your Majesty... has there been a reply? Have you read it and expressed your thoughts?" Cao Cao pressed, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

Cao Shuo's face showed some frustration and confusion. "I haven't heard of that... According to the eunuch, His Majesty simply accepted it and placed it on his desk, without saying a word in reply, nor mentioning it in public."

"Oh," Cao Cao responded softly.

In that sound, one could not discern joy or anger, but rather a hint of understanding.

Cao Cao remained silent for a moment, then slowly spoke, his voice low and deliberate, as if analyzing the situation, or perhaps muttering to himself, "Fei Ziyuan...this action..."

Cao Cao's gaze swept over the crowd. "This invitation to a meeting seems to offer a way out… but it's a dead end for us! Once this news spreads, in Shandong, those counties still observing, those powerful clans who harbor doubts about the General of the Flying Cavalry yet fear his military might, those commoners already weary of war and seeking peace… will feel a sense of complacency, a sense of relief… They will think, perhaps we won't have to fight? Perhaps we can negotiate? As long as we compromise with the General of the Flying Cavalry, we can live in peace? In this way, the will to resist will naturally vanish…"

Xiahou Wei said urgently, "Then we won't talk! We refuse outright!"

Cao Cao glanced at him, and that look sent a chill down Xiahou Wei's spine.

"Not going to talk?" Cao Cao's lips twitched, a half-smile playing on his lips. "What if I resolutely refuse to meet? Fei Ziyuan can easily issue a proclamation to the world, saying that Cao Mengde is stubborn and self-willed, disregarding the safety of the Emperor, rejecting the request for peace, and single-mindedly provoking war, causing widespread suffering! Then, he can portray himself as a loyal minister who has done everything in his power and yearned for peace but could not obtain it, while depicting us as the culprits of warmongering and wreaking havoc on the world! Where will the clamor of public opinion then point? Where will the already wavering hearts turn?"

Cao Cao paused, his voice growing even colder, "In the balance of power, the authority to speak seems to be in my hands, but in reality... he has already seized the majority of it... This is the General of the Cavalry's open scheme..."

The courtyard fell into a deathly silence.

The anger I felt just now has been replaced by a chilling sense of near despair.

Cao Shuo and the others suddenly realized that they were faced with a dilemma...

Peace talks could be political suicide, handing over the throne to another and bringing about one's own demise; while refusing peace talks would incur the infamy of disrupting peace and exacerbating war, further losing popular support and accelerating internal disintegration.

Cao Cao looked at the pale and bewildered faces of his sons, nephews, and generals, and sighed inwardly.

These young people are courageous and loyal, but they don't have a deep enough understanding of the global situation and the struggle between people's hearts.

Fei Qian's plan is a combination of overt and covert strategies, and its seemingly upright nature conceals a sharp edge, making it something that cannot be measured simply by the outcome of a battle.

It's a pity that Fengxiao is still here...

"Enough," Cao Cao waved his hand, seemingly trying to temporarily dispel these chaotic thoughts. "Regarding the meeting... allow me some more time to consider it. You all go and prepare the troops, appease the soldiers, and ensure that the defenses are never relaxed. Whether we talk or not, the morale of the soldiers must remain in our own hands! As for the discussions among those court officials..."

A cold glint flashed in Cao Cao's eyes. "I know what I'm doing."

Although Cao Shuo and the others were unwilling and full of worries, seeing that Cao Cao was already showing signs of fatigue, they dared not say anything more and could only bow and take their leave.

Once again, only Cao Cao remained in the courtyard.

He sat alone in the deepening twilight, his shadow stretched long and narrow.

To the west of Sishui Pass, the faint dust and smoke from the retreating cavalry and the high platform under construction...

To the east of Sishui Pass, however, lies a restless world of unsettled hearts and hidden agendas...

Behind Cao Cao lay the emperor's silent desk and unspoken rejection...

Before Cao Cao, however, were the fearful yet expectant eyes of his relatives and kinsmen…

Caught between a rock and a hard place, surrounded by dangers on all sides.

This was perhaps the most difficult decision Cao Mengde ever made in his life.

Agreeing to the meeting is like walking on thin ice; one wrong step could lead to utter ruin. Refusing the meeting might offer temporary relief, but it could mean losing the last chance to win hearts and minds and salvage the situation.

Fei Qian's "meeting invitation" truly cornered Cao Cao, forcing him to take the next step on a knife's edge!
And this next step, no matter where it leads, is destined to be bloody...

(End of this chapter)