Can I get to the other side?.

Chapter 258 Only the tools and reputation can not be lent to others. I regret that I should not have listened to Ju Su's words!

There was silence in the room.

Only the charcoal fire burning in the stove made a slight crackling sound, and the boiling plum wine in the pot was bubbling and surging - just like Yuan Shao's mood at the moment.

"You untouchable!"

Yuan Shao stared at Liu Xie, slammed the wine glass in his hand, and roared in a low voice: "Everything you have is given by me! If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be here today!"

"You are nothing but a refugee! How dare you turn a falsehood into reality and even try to make me call you His Majesty? You are so bold!"

When he was first captured and brought to Lecheng County and saw other people's respectful attitude towards Liu Xie, he felt a little uneasy in his heart.

Later, when he saw Zhang He obey Liu Xie's orders, this uneasiness deepened a little bit, but he was unwilling to admit or believe the answer deep in his heart.

He chose to deceive himself again and again, refusing to face the reality, and still chose to believe that Liu Xie was loyal to him.

But Liu Xie's cold expression, condescending attitude, and the words he just said made it impossible for him to deceive himself anymore.

The so-called claim that Yuan Xi and Lu Bu held the emperor hostage is completely false! Lu Bu and his men obeyed Liu Xie's orders!

The untouchable before him had actually betrayed him, and used his status as the emperor to win over the hearts of the people, successfully replacing the emperor of Xu County and turning the fake into the real!
"Humph!"

Liu Xie snorted coldly and said, "I have worshipped in the Imperial Ancestral Temple and offered sacrifices to the Heaven and Earth."

"The literary ones under my command are Jia Xu, Guo Jia, Yang Biao, Fu Wan, Sima Yi, Xun Chen, Cui Yan, Chen Gong, and Kong Rong! The military ones are Lu Bu, Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, Zhang He, Gao Lan, Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong, Taishi Ci, and Qu Yi!"

"There are tens of thousands of soldiers who obey my orders!"

"Now I am in control of Xuzhou, Qingzhou, and Jizhou. I have many brave generals and wise counselors! I only need to retake Youzhou and Bingzhou, and I will have the foundation of Emperor Guangwu. Nearly half of the world will be under my control!"

"Tell me, how can I not be the Son of Heaven?"

Liu Xie asked Yuan Shao aggressively.

After hearing this, Yuan Shao felt as if a heavy hammer had hit his chest, making him dizzy.

He knew that what Liu Xie said was true.

This untouchable had actually accumulated such a huge force without realizing it. What made him even more furious was that, except for Xuzhou, the so-called foundation of Emperor Guangwu mentioned by Liu Xie originally belonged to him!
Zhang He, Gao Lan, Qu Yi, Guo Jia, Jia Xu, Xun Chen, Cui Yan, and even Yuan Xi...

These people originally worked for him!
Yuan Shao glared at Liu Xie with eyes full of anger.

Lies don't hurt, truth is the knife.

He simply couldn't accept such an ending!
A vagrant, a pariah who was almost starved to death in the wild, not only took over his foundation, but now he was trying to turn the fake into real, looking down on him with a condescending attitude, and even holding his life and property in his hands!

"Untouchable! You are a traitor!"

Yuan Shao's eyes were red with anger and he wanted to kill Liu Xie, but his hands and feet were tied tightly, so he had no place to vent his anger.

After a long while, he finally gave up struggling and asked through gritted teeth: "How did you get to this point? How did you make Lu Bu loyal to you?"

"Even if I die, I will die knowingly!"

The fact that Liu Xie betrayed him was right in front of him. He had to accept it even if he didn't want to. But no matter what, he had to get all the doubts in his heart clarified!

Lu Bu is a very two-faced person.

Therefore, he simply could not understand why Lu Bu, who controlled Xuzhou and had a strong military force, would willingly be loyal to Liu Xie.

Why?
Liu Xie put away the cold expression on his face, drank a glass of wine slowly, and said calmly: "I just said that I am where I am today, all thanks to Benchu."

"As for Lord Wen... it's because I promised him that when we unify the country in the future, I will make his daughter the queen and his grandson the crown prince."

"In this case, how can he not die?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao was shocked all over, and the confusion in his heart suddenly became clear, and he understood the key.

Although Lu Bu was two-faced, he was by no means as ambitious as other princes. His greatest ambition was to become a general.

Moreover, Lü Bu had no children, so the only ones he could count on were his daughter and grandson. Therefore, if he could help Liu Xie unify the world, his grandson would be the emperor in the future.

Yuan Shao recalled the several times he met Lü Bu, and how Lü Bu had been inexplicably angry with him. He had originally thought that it was because he had taken the position of general that Lü Bu's hostility had come upon him.

But now it seems that the reason is not just that.

It was also because of Liu Xie's promises and instigation to him.

"I see."

Yuan Shao took a deep breath, his eyes complicated, "No wonder Lu Bu didn't accept my solicitation, no wonder he is so loyal to you and works so hard for you!"

"It turns out that he is not conquering the world for you, but for his grandson."

After this biggest question was answered, Yuan Shao continued to ask: "As far as I know, the weapons and equipment of your army were all supplied and made by the Zhen family."

"Not only that, Zhen Shi also supplied food and grass at any cost... If I'm not mistaken, you made the same promise to Zhen Shi as you did to Lu Bu, in exchange for Zhen Shi's full support?"

After confirming Liu Xie's betrayal, many obstacles that were previously puzzling became clear, and Yuan Shao could naturally guess many things.

"Benchu ​​is indeed quick-witted. The counselors around me always like to say that you are indecisive, but I think they have wronged you."

"Yes, I gave the same promise to Zhen."

Liu Xie smiled and nodded in praise.

As he said this, he picked up the wine jar and filled it up for Yuan Shao.

Hearing Liu Xie's words, which were not sure whether they were a joke or a compliment, Yuan Shao snorted coldly, glanced at the wine in front of him, and reached out to take it.

Now that things have come to this, let’s have a drink first.

He drank it all in one gulp, but felt that the Du Kang in his mouth was not as mellow as before. It became extremely bitter after entering his throat, and his heart ached slightly.

"Back then, I wanted that bastard Yuan Xi to marry Zhen Mi, but at the critical moment, a prophecy about Zhen Mi being the Phoenix spread all over the city."

"Is this your handiwork too?"

Liu Xie shook his head, spread his hands and smiled, "I was imprisoned by you in the deep palace at that time. I was always on edge. It's not an exaggeration to say that I was walking on thin ice. How do you plan this?"

"All of this was done by Yuan Shang."

Yuan Shao frowned. He remembered that Yuan Shang had quarreled with him for some time over the issue of Zhen Mi marrying Yuan Xi. But in his opinion, Yuan Shang was too immature and would never think of such a method. Moreover, Yuan Shang himself would not benefit from doing so.

Suddenly, a figure of a young scholar flashed through his mind, and Yuan Shao's eyes suddenly became sharp.

"Guo Jia! He was working for Xianfu at that time!"

He deliberately created competition among his sons in order to hone their abilities. He knew exactly which counselors were there to help his two sons.

But he never took Guo Jia seriously.

"Exactly."

Liu Xie nodded in acknowledgment and said with a smile: "The fact that I can take Zhen Mi as my concubine and get Zhen's wholehearted help is all due to my filial piety." After hearing this, Yuan Shao's face was full of disbelief.

He didn't expect that the prophecy, the reason why Zhen Mi entered the palace, and the reason why Zhen spared no effort to assist Liu Xie were all done by an insignificant little man under his account.

Seeing Yuan Shao's expression, Liu Xie couldn't help but laugh: "Why, in Benchu's heart, Guo Jia is not as good as Tian Feng, Ju Shou, Shen Pei, Feng Ji and the like?"

Yuan Shao snorted disdainfully, his attitude was obvious.

Who could be compared with his trusted advisers?

Even Tian Feng, although his words are unpleasant to the ear, is extremely talented.

Who the hell is Guo Jia!
"Benchu, this is why you became a prisoner. You are too arrogant. Your courtesy to the wise and virtuous is only superficial. You have never really put aside your noble status to seek talents."

Liu Xie shook his head, causing Yuan Shao's eyes to darken.

But before he could open his mouth to speak, Liu Xie chanted softly: "Guo Fengxiao was born, a hero who is the best among all the heroes. He has the classics and history in his belly, and armor and soldiers in his chest. He is as good at planning as Fan Li, and as good at decision-making as Chen Ping."

"I can accomplish great things, and he should take the lead."

Guo Jia was not only the first strategist he recruited, but also the key to helping him pull the whole game together. Without Guo Jia, he would not have everything he has now.

When Yuan Shao heard that Liu Xie had such a high opinion of Guo Jia and even put him on the same level as Fan Li and Chen Ping, his face changed completely.

At this point, there was no need for Liu Xie to lie to him.

Is it true that he was so blind that he missed out on such a talented person?
Is it because of this person that he ended up like this?

Yuan Shao asked with a sullen face: "When you first came to Yecheng, everyone knew that you were just my puppet. Why did he dare to pledge allegiance to you under my nose?"

Liu Xie pointed at the emperor's uniform and said, "Because I am the emperor. Guo Jia is not being used under your command. As the emperor, I respect the wise and humble. How can he not be loyal to me?"

"It's not just Guo Jia, Zhang He and Gao Lan are the same."

After hearing this explanation, Yuan Shao almost vomited blood.

He fully understood the fundamental reason why Liu Xie had so many counselors and brave generals - his status as the Son of Heaven!
The refugee before him was actually using his status as an emperor to win over the hearts of the people and expand his power, perhaps by offering great benefits or treating the wise and virtuous with courtesy.

No wonder he gathered so many talented people under his command in just three years.

However, he was deceived by Liu Xie's flattery and lack of ambition, and he never stood on guard at all, which gave this man an opportunity to take advantage of him!

Yuan Shao drank a glass of wine with a gloomy face.

Bitter wine enters the throat and causes pain in the heart.

"Only the tool and the name can not be borrowed from others."

"I cannot deceive the ancients sincerely."

"I regret not listening to Ju Shou's advice, and I regret not listening to Ju Shou's advice!"

Yuan Shao sighed deeply.

He should not have listened to Ju Shou's advice and established a fake emperor. He should not have ignored Ju Shou's reminder and despised Liu Xie, only allowing Zhang He and Gao Lan, two surrendered generals, to lead the imperial guards to guard the palace.

As Liu Xie said, he was too arrogant.

His arrogance made him completely ignore Liu Xie, who he saw as a refugee.

"Since Jia Xu is now under your command, then this means that the Yecheng Incident, in which Yuan Xi killed his brother and imprisoned his father, was all planned by you and him?"

Yuan Shao looked dejected and asked again.

Today he wanted to take this opportunity to figure out the whole story and solve the mystery in his heart.

He used to think that Jia Xu was born with a cruel heart and chose to instigate Yuan Xi to kill his father for the sake of his future, but now he doesn't think so anymore. This matter is closely related to Liu Xie.

"Jia Xu and Guo Jia, who worked for Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang respectively, sowed discord between the two brothers, causing them to kill each other."

"I wanted to use Yuan Xi to kill you, but Yuan Xi was too kind and just imprisoned you."

"Later, the news of Yuan Xi's imprisonment of his father was leaked, and the city defense army besieged Yuan's mansion. I also borrowed the imperial guards to help Yuan Xi deal with you, but Benchu ​​was worthy of being Benchu, and I finally let you escape."

"That incident was the key to my ascension to the sky. Since then, I finally no longer have to be controlled by you and have completely regained my freedom."

Liu Xiekan recounted the whole story and said with emotion, "Benchu, two years, two whole years! Do you know how I spent those two years under your control?"

"Not only do I have to worry about you discovering my plan every day, but I also have to be submissive and submissive in front of you."

"Since you left Yecheng, I finally don't have to worry anymore and can finally sleep peacefully!"

Yuan Shao became more silent, his eyes complicated.

He had to admit that Liu Xie's forbearance and scheming were far beyond his imagination. If it were him, he would never be able to do that.

"Now that you are free, why don't you leave?"

Yuan Shao frowned, "When I left Yecheng, shouldn't you have chosen to join Lu Bu first? Why did you continue to stay in Yecheng?"

"Aren't you afraid that I will lead my troops back to kill you?"

Liu Xie had calmed down by now, and said calmly, "Why are you leaving? If I leave, how can I seize Jizhou?"

"As the Son of Heaven, I naturally have to take it as my responsibility to unify the world. Without Jizhou, how can I pacify the north and suppress the rebellion?"

"As for you leading the troops back to attack...why do you think Jia Xu went to Gongsun Zan, and why did Gongsun Zan send troops to attack you?"

"All of this is to contain you. Leave me enough time, Benchu!"

Another doubt was answered.

Yuan Shao's face had become extremely gloomy and angry. He wondered why Gongsun Zan was so irrational. There must be something fishy going on!

It’s this untouchable who is plotting behind the scenes again!
He gritted his teeth and said, "No wonder Gongsun Zan could fight me for such a long time. It turns out that you were supporting him from behind! Great, very good!"

He had no idea how much trouble Gongsun Zan had caused him, and he had never understood how Gongsun Zan had the confidence to fight a protracted war with him.

It turns out that he had the support of Liu Xie and the Zhen family behind him.

By now, he no longer had any contempt for Liu Xie in his heart, only deep fear.

"I admit your scheming and tactics, but your identity is fake after all!"

"You are just a fake emperor. Without my support, who in the world would believe you? Forget about that evil creature Yuan Xi. He can't even represent the Yuan family!"

In Yuan Shao's view, it was because he used his own reputation and that of the Yuan family to endorse Liu Xie that made Liu Xie's identity as emperor credible.

Without him, who would believe that this was the true emperor?

Facing Yuan Shao's aggressive gaze, Liu Xie lowered his eyelids, held the wine jar and said calmly: "Benchu, to this day, do you still think that I am... a fake emperor?
(End of this chapter)