Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3935 Liu Bei Entrusts a Secret Plan by the Riverbank, the Han Emperor Is in Peril in His Imperial Robe

Outside Jiangling City, on the banks of the Yangtze River.

The winter river breeze, carrying damp and cold moisture, rushed towards Liu Bei, fluttering his robes.

The river water is turbid and surging eastward, flowing day and night, as if it has been so since ancient times, witnessing the rise and fall of countless heroes and the prosperity and decline of dynasties.

Liu Bei stood on the bank with his hands behind his back, gazing at the rolling waters of the Yangtze River.

Compared to the mighty river, the lone boat moored on the shore appears so insignificant...

This time, it was Sun Qian who went to Jiangdong again.

There was no ceremonial procession or many attendants; only a few trusted guards accompanied him.

Looking at this scene, Liu Bei was suddenly overwhelmed with memories of wandering and parting from old friends. These images overlapped, filling Liu Bei with endless emotions.

He thought of the crooked tree in his hometown of Zhuojun...

He recalled the passionate camaraderie he shared with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei when they swore brotherhood in the Peach Garden...

It also reminded me of the hardships and displacement experienced by various warlords...

I also recalled my seemingly peaceful but actually precarious time living in Jingzhou...

At the same time, I also recalled my experiences of being forced to march south to Jiaozhi and recover Rinan...

And the helplessness of previously feigning compliance with Sun Quan...

The past is like smoke, drifting away on the rolling river, leaving only a heavy, complex feeling in my heart.

"Gongyou, this journey to Jiangdong is fraught with peril and danger, no small matter," Liu Bei spoke slowly, his voice low yet drowning out the howling river wind. "The strategy I offered to Xu Gongming was to gain his trust, and also a way for me to survive... But Gongyou, this time you are going..."

Liu Bei turned around and looked at Sun Qian. This was a subordinate, friend, and confidant who had followed him since Xuzhou, enduring countless hardships and tribulations, yet always smiling and seemingly carefree...

A complex emotion flickered in Liu Bei's eyes.

There is entrustment, there is honesty, but also deep-seated pain and struggle.

Liu Bei slowly said, "This time, Gongyou went east to contact the Gu and Lu families and to spread rumors among Sun Quan. With Gongyou's abilities, there's no need for me to say more... However, this matter... is half true and half false..."

Sun Qian was taken aback upon hearing this, and couldn't help but glance back in the direction of Jiangling City. He lowered his voice and asked, "My lord, what is this...?"

"Gongyou knows me... I am Liu Bei." Liu Bei sighed deeply, each word deliberate and low, "Emperor Gaozu rose up with his three-foot sword, slaying the white serpent, and established a four-hundred-year dynasty. Emperor Guangwu restored the Han dynasty, continuing its reign... This bloodline, this surname, I can never change in this life, nor dare I forget..."

Sun Qian listened quietly, his expression solemn.

Liu Bei turned his gaze back to the Yangtze River, and after a moment of silence, said, "Sun Zhongmou is a suspicious and fickle man... Whether he sees through us or not is entirely reasonable. Gongyou, you must adapt to the situation..."

Truth contains a hint of falsehood, which makes it more believable; if it's all lies, it's easily exposed.

Liu Bei leaned closer, lowering his voice to almost blend into the sound of the river breeze and water, "If... Gongyou should at least maintain some... backup plans with Jiangdong... whether it's Sun Quan or any of the major families in Jiangdong..."

Upon hearing this, Sun Qian's body trembled slightly, and a look of astonishment flashed in his eyes before turning into realization.

He got it!

This was by no means a simple matter of wavering between two options, but rather a difficult choice made by Liu Bei under extremely complex circumstances.

"My lord..." Sun Qian's throat was a little dry.

Liu Bei raised his hand to stop him, a bitter smile tinged with helplessness on his face. "Does Gongyou think... that I am a man of deep thoughts and fickle nature?"

Liu Bei sighed, "I too am afraid of death and cling to power... Alas! The Han Dynasty has fallen so low, the Emperor is in disgrace, and his future is uncertain... The world is in turmoil, what has the Emperor done wrong! I am a member of the Han imperial family... If I were the General of Chariots and Cavalry... Sun Quan, though he is only ruling a corner of the country, is still a Han subject, and there are also loyalists in Jiangdong... If the Emperor truly has something he cannot bear to say..."

Liu Bei reached out and patted Sun Qian on the shoulder, "Gongyou... this matter... is fraught with difficulties and dangers. A slight misstep could lead to utter ruin... If you are unwilling, speak up now, and I will not blame you. I will find another way..."

Sun Qian looked at Liu Bei.

He had followed Liu Bei for many years, witnessing Liu Bei's benevolence, resilience, and despair, as well as Liu Bei's struggles and forbearance in dire straits. To say that following Liu Bei brought him a life of enjoyment and privilege would be a lie, but at least one thing is certain: it is why Sun Qian is still willing to stay by Liu Bei's side to this day...

That is honesty.

Even though it was a matter of life and death, and could even be considered a core secret, Liu Bei entrusted it to him without reservation!

Sun Qian suddenly threw his head back and laughed heartily, his laughter momentarily drowning out the river breeze. "My lord, what are you saying! I have followed you since Xuzhou, enduring countless hardships without ever abandoning you. I am neither capable of governing the country with my words, nor of slaying generals and capturing flags with my martial prowess; all I possess is this silver tongue and a little skill in reading people and maneuvering. If even my lord entrusts me with such a matter of life and death, and I shrink back in this matter of national importance, what trace will I bear in the annals of history? I will be nothing more than an insignificant nobody, a drifter with the tide! Who else but me can shoulder this heavy responsibility?!"

The laughter was filled with the generosity of those who would die for their confidants, and also with the eloquence of those who sought to realize their own value in a chaotic world.

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei's eyes reddened slightly, and he said no more. He straightened his clothes, took a step back, and solemnly bowed deeply to Sun Qian.

This bow is a bow to entrust life and death, a bow to share the burden of morality, a bow to that faint yet unyielding spirit of seeking hope for the future even in adversity.

Sun Qian quickly stepped forward, helped Liu Bei up, his face regained its composure, his gaze became firm, and then he turned around and boarded the ship that was about to sail into unknown dangers.

The boatman cast off the mooring lines, the long pole touched the shore, and the passenger boat slowly left the shore, sailing into the turbid and surging river, heading downstream towards the land east of the river.

Liu Bei stood on the shore for a long time, letting the river wind tousle his beard and hair, watching the sail gradually disappear into the vast expanse of misty waves.

The mighty river flows on, its roar unchanged; only Heaven knows what lies ahead.

……

……

Unlike Liu Bei's melancholy at seeing Sun Qian off, the air inside Sishui Pass seemed to have solidified into lead, so heavy it was suffocating.

The heavy sound of war drums, like muffled thunder, echoed from beyond the pass. Even from afar, it sent shivers down one's spine and chilled one's heart.

This time, it wasn't some sporadic harassment, nor was it the preparatory work of engineers and craftsmen. Instead, it was the earth-shaking, uniform steps, the friction and collision of countless weapons and armor, and the thunderous start-up of a massive war machine!
The cavalry army is calmly unfolding below the pass, like a giant steel clamp slowly tightening, aiming to crush and destroy Sishui Pass, and also to crush the throats of everyone inside the pass!
Inside the emperor's temporary residence, the last batch of simple luggage had been loaded onto the vehicles.

Of course, the emperor's carriages these days are hardly luxurious...

Several pale-faced, trembling eunuchs, along with some guards, stood by the carriage, staring expectantly at the entrance of the hall, waiting for Liu Xie to come out.

Cao Cao was not lying; he did indeed give Liu Xie a way to escape.

Once Liu Xie boards this carriage, Cao Cao will arrange for soldiers to escort him out of Sishui Pass through the prepared east gate...

Liu Xie stood in the hall. To avoid any unnecessary situations, he had changed into an inconspicuous dark cloth robe, making him no different from an ordinary nobleman's son.

He stood before the throne, stroking the imperial throne he had brought from Xu County, remaining silent for a long time.

There's definitely no way to take this thing with you...

The increasingly loud and close sounds of war drums and horns from beyond the pass crashed against Liu Xie's taut nerves like waves...

Should we run away?

Run away.

If I escape, maybe I can live a few more days?

Like Xi Lu, and like countless others who had already fled, they hid their identities and tried to survive in the chaos of the world...

But is escaping really what Liu Xie wanted?
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty! 』

A eunuch's urgent voice came from outside the hall, "The time has come... Your Majesty... Please depart immediately!"

"Your Majesty, please depart immediately!"

"Set off immediately..."

The sound, carried on amidst the chaotic drumbeats, seemed to have been fragmented in time and space, chaotic and repetitive.

Liu Xie hesitated, then turned around, left the dimly lit hall, and walked towards the light at the door.

The eunuch outside the door quickly bowed his head, gesturing for Liu Xie to step forward. But just as Liu Xie was about to board the carriage, he suddenly stopped!
It was as if something suddenly pulled him!
Liu Xie slowly turned around, looking at the empty, dimly lit hall, at the throne he had abandoned in the gloom...

The gloomy winter light pierced through the windowpanes and fell on the dim gold ornaments inlaid on the throne, reflecting a cold and stubborn glimmer.

"No... I'm not leaving..."

Liu Xie's voice was dry, yet exceptionally clear.

"Ah!" The eunuch standing beside the carriage, who was already ready to drive, was suddenly stunned.

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty?" The eunuch thought he had misheard.

"Unload the carriage, and move everything back." Liu Xie took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, yet also feeling as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted, and left the carriage. He walked towards the dimly lit hall and ordered, "Unload the carriage... Go and fetch my imperial crown and robes..."

Everyone was taken aback, but dared not disobey, and quickly complied.

The news quickly reached Cao Cao's ears, who was urgently adjusting the defenses on the city wall.

Cao Cao was taken aback at first, then gave Cao Ren a few instructions and hurriedly returned.

Inside the hall, Liu Xie had changed back into his imperial robes and stood quietly.

The imperial robes haven't been received yet; loading, unloading, and dismantling luggage isn't a simple matter...

Cao Cao stepped into the hall, his armor still carrying the chill of the city walls.

Cao Cao glanced at Liu Xie, then at the eunuchs unloading the carts, and asked, "Your Majesty... is this... not going?"

Liu Xie didn't look at Cao Cao, but instead raised his head, his gaze seemingly piercing through the walls, landing on the distant void. "Ha! Is the Prime Minister suggesting that if I leave, perhaps I can survive?"

"Hmm... If we stay, we'll most likely die..." Cao Cao stated a cold, hard fact.

Liu Xie withdrew his gaze and turned to Cao Cao.

Cao Cao stood calmly, meeting Liu Xie's gaze without flinching.

The two stared at each other, neither looking away.

This is a rare occurrence between the two.

Most of the time, Liu Xie would appear timid and quickly avert his gaze, but this time he looked calmly at Cao Cao, a sharp glint in his eyes. "Minister Cao," he said, "when Dong Zhuo wreaked havoc, burned Luoyang, and moved the capital west to Chang'an, the allied forces of the Guandong warlords hesitated to advance…why was it only you, Minister Cao, who led your troops westward, pursuing them alone?"

Cao Cao's eyes flickered slightly, but he did not answer the question. It was as if the passionate pursuit that day, and the subsequent bitter anger of defeat, had all settled into the turbidity in his eyes.

Cao Cao asked Liu Xie in the same calm voice, "When Dong Zhuo poisoned the Prince of Hongnong and arbitrarily deposed and installed emperors, forcing Your Majesty to ascend the throne... all the court officials trembled, and no one dared to speak... Your Majesty, why... did you sit on that throne?"

Liu Xie's lips seemed to twitch slightly, as if in a smile, yet also as something else. "Minister Cao, you built your empire from Qiao and Pei, pacified the Central Plains, and held the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords. You have painstakingly cultivated this foundation to its current state… If this battle is lost, your foundation will crumble, your clan will be destroyed… Will you not regret it?"

Cao Cao stared at Liu Xie and asked again, "Your Majesty, if General Huo Qubing were to break through the pass today, establish his rule in the Central Plains, and implement his policies... perhaps he could end the chaos and bring temporary peace to the people... However, if his methods are implemented, the Han dynasty's authority may ultimately become meaningless, and all old laws and regulations may be altered... At that time, the world may have gained another Wang Mang, but there may not be another... Emperor Guangwu... Your Majesty, do you not regret it?"

Liu Xie remained silent for a moment, gazing outside the palace, seemingly able to sense the approaching killing intent. "Minister Cao, how long can you hold this pass?"

Cao Cao also looked in the same direction, as if observing something, or perhaps assessing something, before slowly withdrawing his gaze and fixing it on Liu Xie. "Your Majesty," he said, "this empire, since the reigns of Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling, has accumulated deep-seated problems and has collapsed to this point… how long can it be maintained?"

Neither of them answered the other's question.

Each question is like a mirror, reflecting the questioner's deepest dilemmas, choices, and costs.

They were both asking each other questions.

But the question itself is the answer.

In the clash, there is no winner or loser, only a profound understanding of each other's situations.

This is the helplessness of being caught in the torrent of history.

This is a lament from someone on the edge of a precipice.

Suddenly, Liu Xie laughed. At first, it was a low laugh, but it grew louder and louder, even carrying a sense of relief and joy.

Cao Cao also laughed heartily, but his laughter lacked its usual domineering air; instead, it contained a sense of relief and composure.

The laughter gradually subsided.

Liu Xie straightened his robes, faced Cao Cao, and solemnly bowed three times.

"Minister Cao, please accept my three bows!" Liu Xie proclaimed loudly. "First, I bow to Minister Cao for his valiant pursuit of Dong Zhuo at the Bian River. Though defeated, he was still honorable, displaying the loyalty and integrity of a minister during a time of national crisis! This is a meritorious deed in saving the Han Dynasty!"

"Second bow..." Liu Xie bowed again, "I thank Minister Cao for marrying his daughter to me, thus establishing a marriage alliance. Although we are constrained by the times, he still intends to support me... This is the grace of marrying off my daughter!"

"Hoo..." Liu Xie let out a long breath, bowed deeply, and said, "I bow three times to Minister Cao for his years of service as Prime Minister. He has overseen the administration of the court, defended against powerful enemies abroad, and pacified the people at home, enabling the Han dynasty to continue to this day... This is truly the merit of the Prime Minister!"

After bowing three times, Liu Xie stood up straight and looked at Cao Cao with clear eyes.

Cao Cao's facial muscles twitched slightly, his eyes swirling with complex and indescribable emotions.

After a moment, Cao Cao took a deep breath, stepped back, and solemnly returned Liu Xie's three bows.

"This bow," Cao Cao said in a low voice, "pays homage to Your Majesty for enduring humiliations that ordinary people cannot bear and shouldering burdens that ordinary people cannot shoulder since the Zhongping era, maintaining the unwavering will of the Han dynasty amidst the turmoil of a chaotic world!"

"This second bow," Cao Cao bowed again, "is to thank Your Majesty for your kind and benevolent nature, for treating others with compassion and forgiveness, and for refraining from cruelty and tyranny even in times of hardship, thus preserving the hopes of the people!"

Cao Cao straightened up, looked at Liu Xie, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he only bowed deeply, and never said what the purpose of the third bow was...

Then Cao Cao resolutely turned around, his armor clanging, and strode out of the hall into the thunderous sound of war drums...

Liu Xie watched Cao Cao's figure disappear outside the door, his face showing neither joy nor sorrow.

Liu Xie turned around and shouted at the several pale-faced eunuchs carrying the heavy imperial robes: "Change your clothes!"

Just then—

"boom!!!"

A deafening roar, far more muffled than a war drum, yet even more awe-inspiring, suddenly came from beyond the pass!
It was as if a thunderbolt had struck the earth, and the entire Sishui Pass seemed to tremble!
Dust fell softly from the beams and pillars, and the young eunuch was so frightened that the heavy crown in his hand tumbled to the ground...

"Cannons...cannons! They're the cavalry's cannons!"

The eunuch's face turned ashen, and he trembled violently, almost collapsing to the ground.

After a slight sway, Liu Xie raised his head again, looked at the flustered eunuchs, and without anger, simply shouted in a deep voice: "What's the panic! Pick it up! Help me change!"

Liu Xie's voice wasn't particularly loud, but it seemed to infuse these eunuchs with some energy.

The cannon fire from beyond the Great Wall did not stop; instead, it began to rumble rhythmically, one after another. Each loud bang made the beams and pillars of the hall tremble slightly, and dust fell in a flurry.

Amidst the earth-shaking background noise of cannon fire, Liu Xie spread his arms, allowing the eunuchs, who were barely able to steady themselves but whose hands were still trembling, to dress him layer by layer in the black robe symbolizing the emperor's highest authority, and to put on the heavy crown with twelve white jade beads hanging down.

Liu Xie demanded meticulous attention to every detail, even smoothing out the wrinkles in his robes himself and instructing the eunuchs to tie the silk tassels tighter...

As the last ribbon was tied and the last string of jade pendants was properly hung, the cannon fire was interrupted by a brief pause.

The hall was deathly silent, save for the heavy, uneasy breathing of the crowd.

Liu Xie carefully straightened the crown and adjusted the slightly swaying tassels on his cheek.

Then Liu Xie turned around, no longer looking at anyone, and walked steadily, step by step, toward the high throne.

The cannon fire temporarily ceased, but the war drums roared up, as if countless people were shouting, stirring up a violent wave that crashed between heaven and earth and struck Liu Xie, as if trying to push him down.

Liu Xie gritted his teeth, straightened his spine, and walked forward step by step until he slowly sat on the throne, like the last lonely peak of the four-hundred-year Han dynasty, silently welcoming the impending torrent.

There will be more later.