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

Chapter 179 Eagle's Gaze and Wolf's Eyes
Seeing Chen Gong's ever-changing expression after reading the imperial edict, Lü Bu chuckled and said something.

"Gongtai, as you can see, it's not that I'm deliberately delaying or refusing to agree to the marriage; it's just that His Majesty has offered too much."

Back when I saved Your Majesty in Luoyang, His Majesty's voice and smile were still vivid in my mind. I am a loyal minister who is dedicated to serving the country and protecting Your Majesty. How can I easily betray Your Majesty?
Moreover, although Yuan Shu promised to marry my daughter to his eldest son, I have often heard people say that Shu told Ce, "Your youngest son is often ill; you must encourage him."

It is evident that her son is frail and sickly, and may not live long. If he were to be betrothed but then die of illness, wouldn't that ruin my daughter's life of happiness?

How could a father like Bu bear to do this?

Chen Gong: "."

Seeing Lü Bu's behavior, Chen Gong silently looked at Zhang Liao, who was bowing his head and apologizing without saying a word.

"Wen Yuan, did anyone come looking for Feng Xian today?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Liao did not dare to answer directly. He glanced at Lü Bu and, seeing that he made no attempt to conceal anything, carefully chose his words before speaking.

"Not long ago, General Lü ordered Chen Yuanlong to go to Luoyang to request the appointment of the governor of Xuzhou. After returning, he brought back this imperial edict."

Liao was also present at the time, and heard Mr. Yuanlong say to the general:

Yuan Shu may seem powerful now, but he is actually warlike, ambitious and eager for quick success. He has defeated Cao Cao, forced Liu Bei to retreat, and intimidated Liu Biao. His current success may seem like a temporary triumph, but it is merely a fleeting moment of glory and is unlikely to last.

Looking at all the warlords in the land, such as Cao Cao, Liu Biao, Liu Bei, and Yuan Shao, which one didn't want to get rid of him as quickly as possible?

They have already become the target of public criticism. They are just waiting for the emperor to take the lead and call upon the feudal lords. Then, who among them, Liu Zhang, Ma Teng, Han Sui, Tian Kai, and Gongsun Zan, would not want to restore the Han Dynasty and revive the great cause?

At that time, the whole world will be our enemy, and the world will be besieging us. Yuan Gonglu's death is imminent. General, do you intend to marry into the family of someone who is destined to die, and have your entire family exterminated together?
Furthermore, I have often heard that Yuan Shu's legitimate sons are often ill, yet he has taken in many adopted sons, especially Sun Ce, whom he treats as his own son.

If Yuan Shu's eldest son dies of illness, then even if you marry off your daughter, you will gain nothing. You will offend the world and lose your loyalty. This is what is meant by destroying the country and yourself, becoming a laughingstock to the world, and losing the greater good for the sake of petty gains.

Today, there is still a holy emperor in Luoyang, with famous ministers and virtuous officials assisting him. The imperial relatives of the Han Dynasty still hold the governorships of three provinces. There is no sign of the empire falling apart, and the feudal lords, harboring rebellious intentions, dare not openly offend the Han Dynasty.

Your Majesty still values ​​the General, and there is the old bond of loyalty shown in assassinating Dong Zhuo to protect the Emperor. If the Han Dynasty were to be restored for the third time, why worry about the honors and titles of dukes and marquises? Why ally with Yuan Shu's relatives by marriage, thus following the traitor and joining the rebel?

After tacitly allowing Zhang Liao to roughly repeat what Chen Deng had said, Lü Bu then smiled and said to Chen Gong:
"Gongtai, I think Yuanlong is absolutely right!"

Since the Emperor has already appointed me as General of the Guards and granted me the authority to command troops, if I can achieve meritorious service and be promoted in the future, I may very well be able to be appointed as Grand General.

Since His Majesty has already appointed me as a Grand General, why should I seek a marriage alliance?

Let alone whether Yuan Shu can achieve great things, even if he does, it will be many years before his son takes the throne. If he dies of illness, it will benefit Sun Ce, and all his previous efforts will be in vain.
I was still hesitant about this matter. After all, marriage between the two families would be a win-win situation. If Yuan Shu could negotiate some more terms with me, it wouldn't be a bad thing.

However, since he has been unjust to me first, sending his troops to plunder my counties, then don't blame me for being unjust."

Seeing that Lü Bu had made up his mind, Chen Gong could not say anything more. For him, whether to ally with Yuan or support the Han was just a political choice for the moment.

His only concern was that whoever attacked Cao Cao was politically correct.

Now that Lü Bu has decided to obey the emperor's edict, he also offered his advice at the opportune moment:
"Chen Yuanlong is an outstanding man of his time, and his insights are indeed unique."

However, General, you must know that the current emperor and that Han chancellor are already irreconcilably at odds. Even with the same edict, the difference between supporting the Han and supporting Cao is as slight as a hair's breadth, resulting in vastly different outcomes.

"Rest assured, sir. I have a deep affection for the Emperor to eliminate Dong Zhuo, but I harbor a deep grudge against Cao Cao for seizing Yan Province. I can clearly distinguish right from wrong."

"If we were to support the Han dynasty, sir, tell me, if I could eliminate the traitor Cao Cao for the emperor, just as I eliminated Dong Zhuo in the past, then who else but me would deserve the position of Grand General?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Gong felt relieved and smiled, "No merit is greater than saving the emperor. If you, General, can eliminate the traitors twice and save His Majesty from danger, the greatest merit in the restoration of the Han Dynasty will belong to you alone."

Lü Bu and Chen Gong renegotiated the political correctness for the future, and their conversation went very well.

In reality, Cao Cao in Luoyang was also helpless. He did not want to give Lü Bu the title of Governor of Xu Province, after all, he was quite attached to Xu Province.

But there was nothing they could do; Yuan Shu in the south was too terrifying.

They finally managed to force Liu Biao to join the war, thus hindering Yuan Shu's efforts in the south and forcing Yuan Shu to withdraw his troops to reinforce the south.

The results of it?
Yuan Shu didn't need to send reinforcements at all; the troops he left behind to defend the city defeated Liu Biao and even killed one of Liu Biao's generals.

It's true, Liu Biao's abilities are quite disappointing for Prime Minister Cao!
What's most absurd is that after Yuan Shu withdrew his troops, Liu Biao still had the audacity to send people to Luoyang to demand rewards, claiming that it was all thanks to his efforts in restraining Yuan Shu in the south that he withdrew his troops, causing Yuan Shu to have worries about his rear.

What the hell? You were defeated by Yuan Shu's garrison in the south, and even your general Huang Zu was killed. What exactly were you holding back?
Unfortunately, Yuan Shu was currently very powerful, and Liu Biao, who was always wise to protect himself, was able to send troops to join the alliance. Cao Cao couldn't very well turn his people away.

They gave Liu Biao some extra rewards to appease him for the time being.

At that time, he also met Chen Deng, who had come to Luoyang to ask for the governorship of Xuzhou on behalf of Lü Bu.

Having understood Chen Deng's meaning, he and Chen Yuanlong hit it off immediately and had a pleasant conversation. They decided to agree to the appointment of Xuzhou governor and to include Lü Bu in the cause of resisting Yuan Shikai.

Afterwards, when Prime Minister Cao formally reported the matter to the Emperor, the Emperor was surprised to hear that he wanted to reward Lü Bu, such a loyal and capable minister.

The emperor was immediately delighted and took the opportunity to appoint Wei General and grant him the authority to act as a general.

Seeing this, Cao Cao, who was trying to win over Lü Bu, couldn't very well refute him.

After all, you still need to bring Lü Bu into the alliance. If the emperor were to bestow great rewards upon him, but you, Cao Cao, dissuaded him, and this reached Lü Bu's ears, it would be strange if Lü Bu didn't immediately form a marriage alliance with Yuan Shu.

Having dealt with various trivial matters in Luoyang, the busy Prime Minister Cao finally had some free time. Taking advantage of the fine weather, he summoned Dian Wei and his personal guards, and the group rode swiftly towards Hanoi.

Hanoi, the Sima family.

When the announcement of "Cao Cao, the Chancellor of the Imperial Secretariat, Commandant of the Capital Region, wielding the imperial axe, holding the title of Grand Master of the Three Departments, and Prime Minister, arrives!" resounded throughout the Sima Mansion.

While leisurely lying in bed eating grapes brought by a maid, the second young master of the Sima family was so startled that he almost rolled off the bed.

"The Prime Minister? Cao Cao? Arrived???"

At this moment, his usually calm face turned deathly pale, and his little head was buzzing.

Are you sick?
My leg is already crippled, and you still won't leave me alone? A dignified prime minister of the Han Dynasty, ignoring important matters in Luoyang, comes to arrest a young man like me?

I'm still a child!
Sima Yi simply couldn't believe that Cao Cao hadn't come to arrest him. After all, aside from his previous refusal to serve in the Han Dynasty, the Chancellor of the Han Dynasty could easily have the Sima family do anything by issuing an imperial edict.

Of course, the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty was so respectful and humble that he did not want to travel thousands of miles to invite him in person. Such high regard and favor would make anyone grateful and want to repay the favor with their life.

Sima Yi, however, was different from ordinary people. He liked to be steady, and although he was still a young man, he was as steady as an old dog since childhood.

In his view, with the Han Dynasty in decline and warlords vying for supremacy, this was not a good time to make a name for oneself.

For example, he takes office today and immediately chooses what he thinks is a wise ruler. But tomorrow, his own wise ruler goes out to fight someone and is killed. Where can he find justice?
Of course, at this point, he only had two choices: to remain loyal and die with his wise ruler, leaving his grand ambitions and strategies to die in the womb.

The second option is to surrender, which might allow you to survive, and there's always a chance you can rise again in the future.

But if you surrender, you become a traitor, looked down upon, and considered inferior from birth.

The most crucial issue is that if he surrenders to this master, there's a chance he might lose and get killed when he leads his men out to fight next time!

Could it be that by then there will be three, four, or even five treacherous ministers?
The process of a wise minister choosing a lord is actually quite similar to marriage. The first time is the most selective, and it's not a big deal if you end up with a second or third marriage after losing your husband every day.

Therefore, in the eyes of the ever-confident Sima Zhongda, it was still unknown who would rule the world in the future.

Now, if you go out and work like a slave for others, putting in all your effort, only to end up with a defeat and nothing to show for it, wouldn't you lose everything?
This is not because he lacks faith in his own judgment in choosing a wise ruler, nor in his own ability to assist him.

In his view, right and wrong, success and failure, are all a matter of probability. No matter which faction he chooses, he may win or he may lose.

History is replete with examples of those who, despite having an overwhelming advantage and commanding millions of troops, were ultimately defeated by outnumbered forces, demonstrating the strength of the weak overcoming the strength of the strong.

No one knows whether a figure like Tian Dan will emerge to turn the tide when the opposing camp is on the verge of destruction.

No one could be sure whether their wise ruler, at the moment of victory, would be swayed by divisive tactics and act rashly, ignoring sound advice and insisting on removing Yue Yi.

Therefore, in Sima Yi's view, in chaotic times, one should strive to be competitive and enter officialdom to compete with the heroes of the world.

This is gambling with one's life and future for a chance at wealth; it is unwise, risky, and irresponsible.

This is also why those aristocratic families that have survived for thousands of years are accustomed to diversifying their investments during times of chaos, rather than putting all their eggs in one basket.

In Sima Yi's view, this was the prudent approach. Until the very last moment, who knew who would win or lose?
Was it really necessary for him, the second son of the prestigious Sima family, the most prominent family in Hanoi, to take this gamble?
Is he worried that after the warlords decide the victor, the Sima family will not be able to guarantee his lifelong wealth and status, nor will they be able to help him secure an opportunity to serve as an official?

As for achieving great deeds and becoming a high-ranking official? Conquering the world is difficult, but governing it is even more difficult!
With Sima Yi's talent, why would he worry that after the world is at peace, he will not have the opportunity to realize his ambitions and achieve fame and fortune?
Therefore, others might see Cao Cao's recruitment as an opportunity, and Cao Cao's respect for talent and his personal invitation as a sign of importance and favor.

But Sima Yi, whose vision had already foreseen the reunification of the world, wished he could avoid him like the plague!

My peaceful and wealthy life, my stable and glorious future, have been destroyed in an instant!

I had long heard that Prime Minister Cao Cao suffered from headaches, and it seems he really is ill. Now that he has come all the way to my house, what should I do?

Just as Sima Yi was feeling utterly hopeless, like a salted fish gazing at the heavens, he heard the door being pushed open, accompanied by the forced laughter of his elder brother, Sima Lang.

"Lord Cao, this is my younger brother. He has only suffered a minor injury, and it is a great honor for the Sima family to come and see him in person.

"I have long heard that your younger brother, Sima Zhongda, is renowned for his wisdom from a young age, and that his views have always differed from those of ordinary people."

Cao Cao paused as he spoke, for he saw a young man on the bed, his eyes glazed over, like a salted fish gazing at the sky.

Cao Cao: “???”

This is the talented person you recommended to me, the one who can replace Xi Zhicai and do things for me?

Why does he look like he's not very bright?
Thinking of this, Cao Cao suddenly realized something!
Yes, Xun You wouldn't speak lightly about such an important matter. Sima Yi must have some unique insights. In that case, what should we do now?
Fine, fine! You're pretending to be stupid now that you can't handle the situation yourself, huh? Last time you were lame, are you going to say your brain isn't working properly this time?
Do you really not have any faith in me and don't want to offer me any advice?

His previously friendly smile suddenly turned cold, and his subsequent words became:
“From a young age, his views differed from those of ordinary people. I imagine he must have had a unique perspective on whether or not to restore the Han Dynasty.”

These words nearly scared Sima Lang half to death.

He had unique insights into whether or not to restore the Han Dynasty.
Even if you were to ask Yuan Gonglu, the number one traitor in the world today, he wouldn't dare say he has any unique insights!
Even this Lord Yuan always touted himself as the great general who protected the emperor and made the greatest contribution to restoring the Han dynasty.

My own second brother, with his small arms and legs, wouldn't dare to have any different opinions on this matter, especially not in front of Prime Minister Cao, who is currently in charge of the Luoyang court.

Seeing his younger brother in such a nonchalant state, Sima Lang assumed he was pretending to be stupid. Suppressing his fear, he had no choice but to apologize and explain.

"Lord Cao, please forgive me. When my younger brother broke his leg in the car accident, he also hit his forehead. He's often in a daze and his mind isn't very clear."

"hehe."

Upon hearing that it was indeed a feigned ignorance, Cao Cao laughed in anger, his eyes, filled with murderous intent, coldly fixed on Sima Lang.

“I have recently heard people talk about the outrageous behavior of Yuan Shikai in Huainan, and I have gained some insights from it.”

"What? Does your Sima family think that because the Emperor isn't by my side, it doesn't count as deceiving the Emperor in front of me?"

"Prime Minister, please forgive me!"

Upon hearing Cao Cao's words, Sima Lang was filled with fear and unease, and he immediately knelt down on the ground.

Just then, the young man lying on the bed, looking like a salted fish with his head tilted back, let out a long sigh.

He turned to look at Cao Cao, his gaze like that of an eagle, his eyes like those of a wolf.

“My elder brother is an honest man. Since Lord Cao came to see me, why should I make things difficult for him?”

"The crime of deceiving the emperor was spoken of by Yuan Shao, but the Chancellor of the Han Dynasty cannot utter a word about it. Lord Cao, be careful what you say."

As he spoke, he stood up and bowed deeply to Cao Cao.

"Yi greets the lord!"

(End of this chapter)