Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 166: Please send 50,000 troops, Lord Yuan, and we vow to destroy the traitor Cao!
"Grand Tutor Liu, why the rush?"

Cao Cao smiled at the emperor and looked at his ministers.

"What I am saying is that Liu Jingzhou harbors ulterior motives and does not respond to the emperor's edict!"
If he were a member of the Han imperial family, with the ambition to uphold justice and a loyal heart, what more could be said about his decision to send troops to punish the traitor Yuan and bring peace to the world in order to establish the rightful heir?
If he can pacify Huainan, eliminate the traitors, and protect the state, then Your Majesty will grant me the title of Grand Pillar of State, appointing him as a pillar of the nation, and entrusting him with the role of prime minister in court to assist the country. I will have no complaints.

If that is the case, I may resign from my post and return to my hometown to recuperate from my injuries and illness, and no longer concern myself with state affairs.

Emperor: "."

He even said he was being dismissed from office and returning to his hometown, but the key point is that he said it in a nice way. Who would believe that Cao Cao would actually go back to his hometown to recuperate?

The emperor knew that Cao Cao's words indicated his firm resolve not to send troops to fight Yuan Shu again.

Now is not the time to break off relations. Although he is the emperor, he has no power to force Cao Cao, and he cannot sit idly by and watch Yuan Shu grow stronger in the south.

After a long silence, the emperor granted his request.

"Although the Prime Minister is ill, he is still the king's successor and busy with state affairs. All matters, large and small, in the court still rely on you. How can you so easily say that you want to go home?"

As a member of the Han imperial family and the governor of Jingzhou, he governed a region and earned the trust and respect of the court. How could he fear a powerful enemy and be afraid of losing himself?

As the Prime Minister has suggested, issue the imperial edict.

Cao Cao raised his hand in a salute, "Your Majesty is wise!"

After leaving Chongde Hall and returning to the Prime Minister's residence, Cao Cao immediately arranged for Liu Biao to send troops to delay Yuan Shu's advance.

At the same time, he also planned how to get the emperor to transfer Liu Qubei, the Right Wise King of the Xiongnu, to him so that he could travel to the grasslands to send aid to Gongsun Zan in Youzhou in order to delay Yuan Shao.

Furthermore, rebellious officials such as Grand Tutor Liu Yao and Grand Commandant Yang Biao caused considerable obstruction, making matters in Luoyang complicated.

The lack of rest and the mental strain have exacerbated his recent headaches.

Even with capable ministers like Xun Yu and Xun You assisting him, Cao Cao often felt exhausted and had no one to share his burdens.

That night, while handling government affairs at the Prime Minister's residence, he asked Xun You about it.

“I once asked Gongda, after Guo Jia, is there anyone who can succeed Zhicai?”

Gongda recommended him as Sima Zhongda, and had already sent someone to remove him from the post. I wonder what has become of him now?

When Xun You heard him mention this matter, he stroked his beard and smiled, replying:

"Sima Yi? He did not explicitly refuse the lord's summons, but his leg was broken and he could not go, which is why it has been delayed until now."

Cao Cao's expression changed, and he flew into a rage.

"How dare he! His leg could have been broken anytime, but it just so happened that it broke right when I sent people to recruit him."

"You brat, how dare you bully me like this!"

Seeing that he was angry, Xun You quickly tried to explain.

"My lord, please do not be angry. I have already sent people to investigate. He did not lie or deceive us. His leg is indeed broken. The doctor said he needs to rest for more than a hundred days."

Cao Cao was stunned, his anger suddenly faltering, still somewhat incredulous.

"Is it really such a coincidence that my recruitment happened to coincide with his broken leg?"

Xun You responded with a smile, the meaning of which was profound.

"But it may not really be a coincidence."

Cao Cao understood his deeper meaning and was so angry that he laughed.

Ziyun said: "A harsh government is more ferocious than a tiger."

Is the decree issued by Prime Minister Cao now worse than cutting off a leg?
Such a ruthless person, I still insist on recruiting him.

The Sima family in Hanoi isn't far away. Since he has a broken leg, I should personally go and drive my chariot to meet him. In the past, King Wen drove his chariot for eight hundred paces to ensure the Zhou Dynasty lasted for eight hundred years.

I will now drive him from Hanoi to Luoyang, a journey of a hundred li, to see how much of his grandfather's skill he possesses, and whether he can help me turn the world upside down.”

At the same time, news of the extermination of Le Jin's entire clan also reached the Liang Kingdom.

Confined to a side hall of the Liang Kingdom's palace, where he was fasting and abstaining from water to demonstrate his loyalty, Yue Jin was shocked and furious upon hearing this news, finding it utterly unbelievable.

He remained in Yuan's camp, refusing to surrender even unto death. He disregarded Yuan Shu's attempts to win him over, regarding the riches and honors on the Golden Terrace as worthless, and vowed to be mortal enemies with the traitor Yuan!
But, why?
I am ready to fight to the death, but my lord will exterminate my entire clan?

Le Jin didn't understand; he couldn't figure it out!
After confirming the authenticity of the news multiple times and finding that it was not fabricated by the traitor Yuan, Yue Jin sat in the palace all night, unable to sleep.

Thinking of his elderly parents with their white hair, his wives, concubines, and young children, his tears had dried up, and his eyes were about to burst.

He looked up to the sky and cried out in anguish:
"Someone come!
Someone come here!
Someone come here!!!

"I want to see Lord Yuan! Take me to Lord Yuan!"

In the main hall of the Liang Kingdom's palace, a bronze chime resounded, incense smoke swirled, and candlelight flickered.

When the music reached them, they bowed their heads in worship.

"Yuan Gong once said that obtaining Yue Mou was like King Zhao of Yan obtaining Yue Yi. Does that still count?"

Yuan Shu sat high on his throne, appearing and disappearing like a dragon hidden in the mist, his eyes lowered as he looked down.

"General Yue has come to his senses?"

"The traitor Cao boasted of being the prime minister, holding the three highest positions, monopolizing the government, and bestowing titles and rewards at will."

Those who loved him were honored with the glory of five clans, while those who hated him had their entire families exterminated. This tyranny of Jie and Zhou is still practiced today!
Your Excellency is a great general who will revive the Han dynasty!
They followed the Han dynasty in suppressing the rebellion, leading a million armored soldiers, their steps thunderous and their ranks flanking the southeast.

Following the will of Heaven is like wielding a blazing fire to scorch rotten grass; the inevitable trend is like overturning the ocean to swallow firewood and charcoal. Therefore, what city will not be destroyed, what will not be annihilated?
Now I request Lord Yuan to grant me a large army, leading 50,000 cavalry and infantry. I will surely emulate Yue Yi's service to King Zhao, march north to attack Cao and seize Luoyang, assist Lord Yuan in capturing over seventy cities, eliminate the traitors to the state, and achieve great success!

"Cao Cao has exterminated my entire clan; I am his sworn enemy. I am determined to kill this traitor Cao. Please send troops; I will never betray you."

Seeing his earnest words, Yuan Shu smiled and said to him.

"I am very pleased that General Yue has thought this way."

Le Qing, please calm down. You are the General Who Pacifies the East, personally appointed by me. As for the imperial edict in Luoyang, it was not stamped with the Imperial Seal of the State and is therefore a forged edict, which is invalid.

"I will entrust you with the important task of destroying Cao Cao in the future. Now, step down and await further orders."

Although Yue Jin changed his usual behavior and spoke nicely this time, Yuan Shu could not easily lower his guard against him and let him command the army.

Although there is a blood feud involving the extermination of one's clan, there is no guarantee that Yue Jin might be a die-hard loyalist who would support Cao Cao even if his entire clan was wiped out. Wouldn't that be falling into his trap?
Therefore, further observation is needed to see the effects. It will not be too late to let Le Jin lead the troops after confirming that there are no problems.

Now that Yue Jin had made this statement, and with the hatred of his clan's extermination still lingering, he was finally able to move freely in Yuan's camp, much more so than when he was under house arrest.

Yuan Shu's level of surveillance over him was roughly similar to Liu Ye's treatment in Yuan's camp. There were no overt sentries, only covert guards, and correspondence was also secretly checked.

Upon gaining his freedom, Yue Jin immediately called upon Xiahou Ba to write a letter together to Xiahou Dun, who was far away in Yingchuan.

I am a junior scholar and regret that I did not heed Yuan Rang's advice and surrendered to Lord Yuan earlier, which led to this disaster.

I have given you this garment, which has caused you much humiliation. I truly regret my actions and hope that you will forgive my past grievances, remembering that I was misled by the traitor Cao.

I am now burdened with the hatred of my clan's extermination above and the enmity of my family's destruction below. I should stand with Yuan Rang, serve as his ministers in the same court, support Lord Yuan, and swiftly eliminate the traitor Cao!

Words cannot express my feelings; as I write this, tears stream down my face.

Xiahou Dun: "."

(End of this chapter)