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

Chapter 245 I see the sun, but not Luoyang [8000 words, please read on! QAQ]

I can see the sun when I look up, but I cannot see Luoyang.

The prison cart swayed and rattled as it passed through the gates of Luoyang. The streets were lined with rows of buildings, as if the former prosperity had been recreated.

Liu Biao, shackled and disheveled, gazed at the magnificent palace before him, but could not find the Luoyang of his memories.

Yes, that once great Han Dynasty land, the place where the emperor reigned, was burned to the ground by a great fire!
So this is Luoyang, a city inhabited by the Cao family. No wonder Liu Biao didn't recognize it.

Looking back, the name of the Eight Steeds once resounded throughout the land. Dressed in white, they rode lightly down to the south of the Yangtze River. As a young man, he leaned on his sword, watching the sun reflect on the great river. In this prosperous land, they composed a magnificent chapter.

The noble families bowed their heads, sharing the feast of music and song, watching the flames rise and the rivers flow, untouched by the spring waters of Jiangnan.

Ask yourself, how many loyal bones in your heart can withstand being kneaded?

Looking up and down, I feel ashamed before the common people; looking up, I sigh that I cannot see Luoyang.

In this vast land of Han, amidst the chaos of warlords, it was he, who most wanted to protect himself, who was the first to be eliminated.

"This old minister Liu Biao is ashamed before the late emperor, has no face to see Luoyang, and cannot bear to see Your Majesty."

The rumbling of carriages and the swaying of prison carts passed through the newly paved bluestone streets of Luoyang. The people along the way lowered their heads to make way, but on the prison cart, an old man with disheveled hair looked up at the sun and sang to the sky.

"Look at the Luo River, its waters flow vast and wide. When the virtuous arrive, blessings and prosperity abound. With fine horses and shields, they will become the six armies."

Look upon the Luo River, its waters flowing mightily. A virtuous man arrives, his jade pendants gleaming. May this virtuous man live ten thousand years, protecting his family and home.

Look upon the Luo River, its waters flowing mightily. A virtuous man arrives, and blessings and prosperity are shared. May this virtuous man live ten thousand years, protecting his home and country.

(The Luo River flows mightily, its waters never ceasing. Your Majesty has arrived here. You must prepare the six armies, with swords at your waists, to guard our nation for a thousand years, ten thousand years!!!)

The old man's mournful lament, plaintive and heart-wrenching, echoed throughout the long street, drawing the attention of the Han people on both sides who had been displaced and wandering until now, to share in the sorrow of this chaotic world, the grief of the emperor losing his imperial power, and the sorrow of the nation on the verge of collapse!

Ordinary people may not know many important figures, but they have generally heard of the feudal lords and governors of the land.

Moreover, Jingzhou, under Liu Biao's rule, was rumored to be far from the war-torn Central Plains, and its people were wealthy, making it the first choice for most people who longed to flee.

As for Yuan Shu's Huainan, it had long been demonized by Cao Cao's camp. The so-called peace in Huainan was rumored to be a bloody prosperity created by a demonic kingdom where people ate each other.

The poem "Xu Gong of the North City Has Gone" brought back by Jiang Gan is a well-known and popular piece in Luoyang.

In stark contrast to Yuan Shu's political prestige in Huainan, he had been portrayed by the court in the Central Plains as a cannibalistic monster who made children cry at night.

Therefore, the reason why he was able to win every battle was because the cannibal army under his command made the people have no choice but to fight to the death with their swords if they did not want to be eaten.

"Even Liu Bei, the governor of Jingzhou, has been defeated?"

"The land of China is sinking; this is a tragedy for Heaven!"

"The last pure land of the Han Dynasty has now become a ranch of the demon kingdom."

Thinking of the fall of Jingzhou and the defeat of the imperial army once again, how many of the husbands and sons who went to war would be able to return?
Upon hearing Liu Biao's mournful song, people gradually began to hum along to this Luo River Song, weeping for their loved ones who had gone and would never return!
"Look at the Luo River, its waters flow wide and deep. When the virtuous arrive, they will share in the blessings and prosperity."

They carried the burden of separation and loss of loved ones, and were conscripted from Yingchuan to Luoyang to rebuild the city under heavy labor.

The imperial court waged war year after year, and husbands and sons were sent to the battlefield one after another, but none of them ever returned.

They longed for the protection of the Luo River and hoped that the emperor's arrival would bring them blessings and prosperity.

At that time, all people felt the same sorrow and bitterness. In the past ten years or so, they had been helpless in the chaos of the world, suffering from life and death. This sorrow was transformed into a series of songs that rose and fell, and were sung in and around Luoyang. It was that song.

"May a virtuous person live ten thousand years and protect his family and country."

Long live the Emperor! Please protect my country and my homeland, so that we will never suffer the ravages of chaos again.

The entire city wept incessantly, the sound reaching even the highest palace!
Inside Weiyang Palace, the young emperor and his empress held hands, gazing at the towering palace. The palace was closed off, and though they looked towards Luoyang, they could never see the sky.

Suddenly, a mournful, pitiful cry was heard. The emperor frowned and asked, "What is that sound?"

Dong Zhao, who had already been promoted to the rank of Attendant-in-Ordinary, answered from the side.

"The people are making a fuss and causing trouble, but Lord Xun will handle it. Your Majesty, please enjoy your wealth and honor and do not worry about this."

The emperor's gaze turned cold, and he rebuked him:

"Why are the people making such a fuss? I am the Son of Heaven; am I not allowed to govern the people?"

Dong Zhao bowed respectfully and relayed the order:

"If Your Majesty is hungry, please prepare lunch."

The surrounding courtiers all replied, "Yes!"

The emperor was furious. He grabbed the imperial seal and threw it at them, shouting, "You subjects have deceived the emperor! You are all traitors and deserve to die!"

Dong Zhao dared not dodge, letting the seal smash his forehead. Although his face was covered in blood, he remained respectful and polite, instructing the surrounding servants to relay the order again.

"Your Majesty is ill; the imperial physician should be summoned."

The courtiers all exclaimed, "Excellent!"

The emperor was furious, but then laughed bitterly.

"May a virtuous ruler live ten thousand years and protect his family and country?"

"A wise ruler cannot live forever; how then can he protect his family and country?"

He slumped onto the dragon throne, only Empress Fu remained by his side, holding his hand tightly and gently comforting him.

Before long, instead of lunch and the imperial physician, what arrived was a series of urgent calls from outside the palace gates.

"I am the Grand Tutor of the current dynasty, the teacher of the emperor!"

Xun Yu, you dare stop me?

"Grand Commandant Yang Biao requests an audience with His Majesty!"

"Kong Rong, the Minister of the Imperial Household, requests an audience with Your Majesty!"

"General of Chariots and Cavalry Dong Cheng requests an audience with Your Majesty!"

"Xu Huang, the Commander of the Imperial Guards, requests an audience with Your Majesty!"

"Xun Wenruo, are you trying to rebel by blocking us from seeing His Majesty?"

Xun Yu smiled faintly, his manner gentle and polite, and replied.

"His Majesty is ill and unable to see anyone. Are you all forcing yourselves to have an audience with him, intending to assassinate him?"

"nonsense!

"Your Majesty is in good health; why does he need the imperial physician?"

Faced with Yang Biao's rebuttal, Xun Yu simply bowed.

"Has the Grand Commandant seen His Majesty recently? How is he in good health?"

Yu has met him.

Since His Majesty fell into the water years ago, he has been suffering from a hidden illness and has been bedridden for many years, making it inconvenient for him to see people.

It is not that I am isolating the people from the inside and outside, or sowing discord between the ruler and his subjects, but rather that I am truly worried that you have offended the Emperor's health and presence.

Moreover, the assassination attempt was incomplete and has not yet been fully investigated.

"If we let you in, who knows if the traitors who assassinated His Majesty in the past haven't infiltrated this place? If they were to assassinate His Majesty, wouldn't the fate of our Great Han Dynasty perish today?"

Xun Yu meant no harm; his words were simply meant to prevent them from seeing the emperor.

After all, the Prime Minister was away on a military expedition and had not yet returned, and Liu Biao was entering the capital, causing widespread unrest among the people. He did not believe that there was no mastermind behind the scenes pushing things out.

For now, it's just a matter of making up the title of assassin to prevent these people from seeing the emperor and thus avoid causing any trouble.

However, these words took on a different meaning when heard by Liu Yao.

Because he was indeed involved in the assassination attempt that caused the emperor to fall into the water last time!

As the saying goes, a guilty conscience needs no accuser, and Liu Yao couldn't help but feel nervous. So much time had passed, why was Xun Yu suddenly bringing up the assassination attempt? Had he already traced it back to me?

At this moment, he bowed his head deeply, his expression shifting several times. He was about to order Xu Huang and Dong Cheng to draw their swords, lead their troops to kill Xun Yu, rush into the palace gates, and shout:
I'm not an assassin! Who said I'm an assassin? Who! Who is the assassin?!
Fortunately, before he could become nervous, panicked, or anxious, he heard footsteps and sounds of arguing coming from inside the heavy palace gates.

"The affairs of the world are in my hands. What is wrong with me meeting with my ministers?"

"Dong Zhao, you dare to stop me now? Do you think my sword is not sharp enough?"

At this moment, Dong Zhao looked at the emperor, who was holding a sword and had a ferocious expression.

In a daze, it was as if I had returned to the Zhongping era and seen that figure that made all the ministers tremble and dare not speak.

They look so alike!
After all, he was the emperor who was raised by that Grand Tutor.

He might also reply with:
The affairs of the world are in the hands of the Prime Minister and the ministers; my sword has never been unsharp.

But he was not Yuan Shao after all, just as he had not dared to dodge the imperial seal thrown by the emperor before.

How can a subject wage war against the emperor?
If things get out of hand, even the Prime Minister won't be able to protect him when he returns. After all, there are too many people who can do things for the Prime Minister now. In the end, he can just send Dong Zhao out to appease the public anger and then replace him with someone else to watch over the Emperor.

Knowing his prime minister as he did, he might still hold his hand tightly and say, "Zhao, go in peace. I will take care of your wife and children."

Dong Zhao did not want the Prime Minister to help him support his wife, so he sighed and eventually withdrew.

Then the palace gates opened wide, and the emperor walked in, sword in hand.

Dong Zhao followed behind, bowed to Xun Yu and apologized, indicating that he had tried his best, but he really couldn't stop him.

Xun Yu, being a gentleman, naturally wouldn't make things difficult for him. Instead, he personally stepped forward, blocking the emperor's path, and ordered the armored soldiers guarding the palace to draw their swords.

Instead of pointing their swords at the emperor, they turned them on Liu Yao, Yang Biao, and other officials who came to meet the court, forcing them to back down.

"Does Minister Xun also intend to obstruct me?"

Xun Yu bowed with his hands clasped, showing great respect.

"Your Majesty, there are now rebellious ministers and traitors, possibly related to the previous assassination attempt. They are now posing as loyal and virtuous officials, infiltrating among the ministers with the intention of assassinating you!"
For Your Majesty's safety and the well-being of the Han Dynasty, we implore Your Majesty to return to your palace and recuperate.

Emperor: "."

The emperor was both angry and anxious, but he shouldn't panic yet, because someone was even more anxious than him!
Liu Yao: "!!!"

These treacherous officials, perhaps connected to the previous assassination attempt, are now posing as loyal ministers and infiltrating the ranks of officials.

Just say it's me!
Liu Yao's expression changed drastically. He stepped forward and pointed at Xun Yu's nose.

"Traitor! Rebel! Madman!"

We are by no means assassins. How dare you, you scoundrel, distort the truth and deceive His Majesty?

Among us are either high-ranking officials or the three tutors of the court; we are either imperial relatives or trusted confidants of the emperor.

Even if there were rebels, how could they possibly have infiltrated our ranks? We are absolutely not assassins!

On the contrary, it is you, Xun Wenruo, who isolates the inside from the outside world and cries "stop thief!" in the thief's cry. I think you are the traitor who is holding His Majesty hostage!
"Dong Cheng, Xu Huang! Shout to your men to seize this traitor, rescue His Majesty, and restore order to the court!"

"Exactly this!"

"As it should be!"

Xu Huang and Dong Cheng shouted, "Your Majesty, please wait a moment, we will come to your rescue immediately." They then ordered their soldiers to step forward, and it looked like they were about to rush into the palace gate.

Upon seeing this, Xun Yu frowned and sighed, ordering his armored soldiers to guard the palace and absolutely forbid these traitors from offending the emperor or attempting to assassinate him.

Seeing that both sides completely disregarded him, the emperor, and started fighting amongst themselves, he realized that they were talking past each other.

The emperor stepped forward angrily, shouting, "Stop! All of you, stop right now!"

However, they shouted, "Your Majesty, don't worry, we will rescue you right away."

On the other hand, the message was, "Stop these rebels and don't harm the emperor."

In short, no one listened to him and stopped.

The emperor's face turned pale with anger, his eyes became bloodshot, and he charged straight into the crowd, wildly swinging his imperial sword.

The two sides fought each other without regard for their own safety, and no one dared to harm him. As a result, wherever the emperor went, people avoided him like the plague, as he carved a path through the enemy lines and regarded the battle as nothing more than weeds.

Xun Yu/Liu Yao: "."

We're fighting right now, no, Your Majesty, are you really going to join in?

Everyone was speechless. No one expected that the emperor would actually cut a path through them, leading directly to Liu Yao.

Along the way, Xun Yu ordered Cao's soldiers to block their path, but they were met with the Emperor's Sword, which could kill without incurring any consequences.

Since the generals could not bring themselves to attack the emperor and dared not harm him, they were unable to stop him.

After all, if you are killed by the emperor, you will be injured or die without any benefit. If the emperor is captured, you may not be rewarded, and you may even face disaster. Who can stop you?

However, to everyone's surprise, after a chaotic battle, the emperor, who had rushed to the front of the two armies, looked back at the bloody path he had carved out by his own strength, and his expression was inscrutable, as if he had understood something.
This expression only lasted for a moment before he immediately composed himself, feigning anger, and rebuked his closest confidant, Grand Tutor Liu Yao.

After all, even though he fought his way out this time, the entire city of Luoyang was still filled with Cao Cao's soldiers.

In particular, just a few days ago, Prime Minister Cao, who was on his way back, sent a letter to transfer Duan Wei away and brought back Cao Ren's elite troops who were loyal to the Cao family.

At this time, Luoyang was so loyal to the Cao family that it was as solid as a rock.

If Liu Yao is allowed to lead his troops to fight Xun Yu, and Cao Cao's camp arrives to provide reinforcements, defeat is inevitable.

They wouldn't dare harm their own emperor, but eliminating Liu Yao and his loyal followers would be a piece of cake.

Therefore, we must remain patient and not act rashly in important matters. We can only ask the Grand Tutor to endure some more hardship.

The emperor pointed his sword at Liu Yao and angrily rebuked him.

"As the Grand Tutor, Liu Gong is loyal to the country. How could he disgrace the nation by committing such an act of storming the palace?"

Even though I understand your good intentions and know that you are concerned about the affairs of the country, such reckless and impulsive actions will only make the world think of you.

Before Xun Yu could even speak, he immediately gave the order in front of everyone.

"Grand Tutor Liu should be punished with three years' salary as a warning to others. What do you gentlemen think?"

Everyone naturally understood that His Majesty was defining the nature of this incident of breaching the palace walls, punishing the offender while protecting him in secret. Immediately, all the officials bowed their heads and said: "Your Majesty is wise!"
Liu Yao even kowtowed and admitted his guilt!

At this moment, everyone looked at Xun Yu, who was walking slowly from the other side, and the emperor asked him a question.

What does Xun Qing think?

Xun Yu: "."

Did you all discuss this before asking me?
With the emperor personally issuing the order and all officials witnessing and agreeing, Xun Yu naturally had nothing to refute.

If people really insist on dwelling on Liu Yao's breach of palace rules, then they'll start discussing his actions of isolating the inside from the outside world and holding the emperor hostage.

Seeing that everyone tacitly let the matter drop, Xun Yu bowed again with his hands clasped.

"Recently, there have been rebellious plots, and it is not safe outside the palace. For Your Majesty's safety, I request that Your Majesty return to your palace." As the current emperor, Liu Xie had ample experience as a puppet ruler, and he naturally understood that although he had broken out of the palace gates, Luoyang was nothing more than an even larger prison.

If they really fall out and the two sides clash, it will only be a repeat of the old story of Li and Guo causing chaos in Chang'an. Cao Cao's army, which has an absolute numerical advantage in Luoyang, will surely win.

Thinking of this, Liu Xie took two steps closer, personally took Xun Yu's hand, and said:
"My ministers risked their lives to come and advise me. This matter is urgent. If I were to avoid it out of fear of death, I would not be a sage emperor."

Now we should listen to the words of our ministers, handle the matter accordingly, and only return after the matter is settled.

"Minister Xun can stay by my side the whole time, reminding me of everything and correcting my mistakes. What do you think?"

This is a negotiation. They want me to go back, but I've already come all this way, so I can't just leave empty-handed, can I?

Upon hearing this, Xun Yu sighed softly. Although Cao Cao was serving the emperor to punish the disloyal, the emperor was still the emperor.

Liu Xie doesn't want to fall out with them for the time being, so how dare they fall out with the emperor?
Not to mention that with ministers present and under the watchful eyes of everyone, the due respect must still be shown.

This time, the emperor has allowed him to accompany him closely, and he has put it this way. As a Han official, what else can Xun Yu say?

Yu Jin bowed again, his words earnest, half warning and half pleading.

"This is a one-time exception; there will be no next time. Your Majesty, you bear the weight of the law; do not fail my expectations."

The emperor nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Liu Yao and asked him a question.

"Grand Tutor is busy with countless affairs of state, yet I wonder why you have come here this time?"

Liu Yao hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, it is about Liu Biao, the governor of Jingzhou, who has come to the capital for trial."

General Yuan Shu submitted a memorial claiming that Liu Biao of Jingzhou was a rebellious and disloyal ruler who could bear to see the whole country engulfed in war. Instead of serving the emperor, he was indulging in endless military campaigns, causing the people under his rule to suffer and betraying His Majesty's great kindness.

Therefore, he could no longer stand by and watch, so he took action on behalf of His Majesty and sent troops to punish them.

The land of Jingzhou has now returned to the rule of the king and is enjoying peace, all thanks to Your Majesty's benevolence.

As for Liu Biao, this disgraced official, he was, after all, a member of the Han imperial family. He dared not overstep his bounds, so he sent him to Luoyang for Your Majesty's judgment.

He also said that although Liu Biao governed the local areas and tried to protect himself without much achievement, he was capable of handling important tasks in the central government by using his strategic thinking and wit.

Therefore, if Your Majesty does not execute Liu Biao as a warning to others, he wishes to recommend Liu Biao for the position of Grand Tutor, allowing him to atone for his crimes and serve the country.

Liu Xie: "."

Upon hearing Liu Yao's incoherent and even contradictory words, Liu Xie remained silent.

He now has serious doubts about the mental state of a certain general.

And you even said that Liu Biao was a rebellious warlord. You, General, are practically openly rebelling. Do you think I don't know that?
You actually couldn't stand by and watch, and you're going to send troops to punish them on my behalf? Where's your shame?
The land of Jingzhou has returned to the rule of the king and is now enjoying peace? I understand. You've annexed Jingzhou again. I should thank you, General, for this, right?
They even have the nerve to say that Liu Biao was a member of the Han imperial family and that they wouldn't dare overstep their bounds.

You even know he's a member of the Han imperial family! Why didn't you say that when you were on my behalf attacking Jingzhou?

Finally, you actually have the nerve to recommend Liu Biao as Grand Tutor? Unbelievable! Didn't you just convict him and then beat him up?

Now Liu Biao has once again become a loyal and virtuous official of the Han Dynasty, capable of shouldering heavy responsibilities, and appointed as Grand Tutor?
The sheer volume of information left Liu Xie speechless, unsure of what to say in response to Yuan Shu's memorial.

If you call him a loyal and virtuous official of the Han Dynasty, he forged an imperial edict without cause and attacked prefectures and counties on his own.

If you say he was presumptuous and disloyal, he was considerate enough not to overstep his bounds and kill Liu Biao, and instead eagerly sent over talents who could resist Cao Cao to him, recommending him as Grand Tutor.

Seeing that the emperor remained silent for a long time, Liu Yao couldn't help but speak up to remind him.

"Your Majesty, Liu Biao has already entered the capital. The momentum in Luoyang before was precisely because the common people were all loyal to him and hoped that Your Majesty would work hard to govern and protect our country."

The people cried out in unison, their lament reaching the heavens—how magnificent and heroic!

As for their separatist rule, rebellion, and militarism, these were all because Yuan Shao wanted to seize their territory and wanted to find fault with them, so he was willing to use any pretext.

Therefore, we have come here specifically to request Your Majesty to pardon Liu Biao's crimes.

Liu Xie nodded, understanding Liu Yao's meaning, regardless of how Liu Biao came to power or whether he had committed any crimes.

Their arrival in Luoyang means they've gained another great general in their fight against Cao Cao; Yuan Shu has sent them a talented individual.

Putting aside the fact that Yuan Shao attempted to usurp the throne, sending Liu Biao here and recommending him as Grand Tutor was a great help to their imperial faction, a truly loyal act of the Han Dynasty.

There was no other way; the situation was difficult, and for an emperor whose decrees could not be issued beyond the palace gates, the help of a Han imperial relative like Liu Biao, with impeccable lineage, was extremely necessary.

As for Yuan Shu, that traitor? If the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up. When Yuan Shu attacks, the Grand Chancellor Cao Cao will be ordered to punish the traitor and keep the enemy at bay.

Having figured all this out, he naturally understood why Liu Yao and the others were in such a hurry to find him.

Because what they want must be what Cao Cao's camp despises.

If it weren't for the emperor himself intervening, Yuan Shu's edict would have been rejected directly by Xun Yu at the Ministry of Personnel.

Not only is Liu Biao's position as Grand Tutor far out of reach, but he might even be convicted based on the charges in the memorial.

At most, out of consideration for his former ally and Han dynasty kinship, he might be spared, but his chances of making a name for himself in Luoyang are practically nonexistent.

After a moment's thought, Liu Xie had already made up his mind, considering Liu Biao's status as a member of the Han imperial family and his reputation as one of the Eight Steeds, which was renowned throughout the land.

This is crucial to the secret anti-Cao campaign in Luoyang and should not be given up lightly. Moreover, Liu Yao and others have worked hard to secure this opportunity for themselves, so they should make good use of it.

So he immediately ordered, "Gentlemen, follow me to welcome Liu Jingzhou."

All the ministers agreed, saying, "Excellent."

Upon seeing this scene, Dong Zhao hurriedly tugged at Xun Yu's sleeve, "Lord Xun, things have changed. Should we ask General Cao Ren to bring troops to quell the rebellion?"

Xun Yu glanced at him and said coldly.

"Everyone present is a loyal and virtuous man of the Han Dynasty. How can you speak of quelling a rebellion

Dong Zhao lowered his head sheepishly, not daring to say another word.

After Xun Yu finished speaking, he followed along.

Previously, it was one thing for the emperor to reside within the imperial city, but now that the emperor has met with his ministers in broad daylight and under the watchful eyes of everyone, how can he possibly go so far?

Ask Cao Ren to lead troops to quell the rebellion? Quell what rebellion? Publicly slaughtering court officials and taking the emperor hostage?

What's the difference between that and Li Jue and Guo Si? Are we really going to tear off the last fig leaf of the Han Dynasty?
The one in Huainan who's waiting to declare himself emperor will probably be overjoyed and watch them make a fool of themselves.

Anyway, he sent Liu Biao, a burden that was neither useful nor worth discarding, just to cause infighting in Luoyang and weaken Cao Cao's strength.
In Xun Yu's opinion, as long as the emperor was willing to return to the capital and stay there peacefully afterward, it was not worth making a big fuss over Liu Biao and breaking ties with the emperor.

Let alone whether Liu Biao can become Grand Tutor, it's not certain. Even if he does become Grand Tutor, so what?
If he truly possessed such great abilities as the "Eight Steeds of the Nation, whose fame shook the nine provinces," how could he have suffered repeated defeats and been utterly routed in Jingzhou?

Their swift defeat and surrender forced Cao Cao's army to retreat in defeat.

The faction of the Emperor went to great lengths to recruit such a scoundrel, which might actually be a good thing.

"Look at the Luo River, its waters flow wide and deep. When the virtuous arrive, blessings and prosperity will be shared. May the virtuous live ten thousand years, protecting their homeland."

Along the long street, the prison cart moved slowly, and the old minister inside hummed a ballad with all his might, his voice already hoarse.

His performance was not merely a spur-of-the-moment act; it was based on secrets he had received from a bright and intelligent young man outside Luoyang last night.

It was from that boy that he learned that things were different now, and how dire the situation in Luoyang had become for the Imperial Party.

It's no longer the good old days when Liu Yao was born, when remnants of the Yellow Turban Rebellion could hold high positions and control the government.

Yuan Shu's promise of the so-called position of Grand Tutor was nothing but a trap!

Under normal circumstances, news from the outside world could not reach the emperor at all.

If it weren't for the emperor's imperial edict, Xun Lingjun would have made all the decisions in the court with a single word. It would be good enough if he didn't take the opportunity to convict himself. How could he have gotten the position of Grand Tutor?
That's why we're seeing him enter the city today. According to that young man, even if he manages to do this, his chances of getting the position of Grand Tutor are only fifty-fifty.

Success and failure both depend on Xun Yu; whether it was Han or Cao, the outcome hinged on Xun Yu's single thought.

Liu Biao was naturally dissatisfied with this extremely unreliable plan, but as a convicted criminal bound in a prison cart, he had little say in the matter.

The boy explained what had happened and turned to leave without waiting for a reply.

That contemptuous attitude made Liu Biao feel that the other party had made a special trip out of the city overnight because he didn't care about him at all.

But he didn't understand why, if he didn't care about himself, he would go to such great lengths to devise strategies for whether he could become the Grand Tutor.

As for the young man's identity, it only added to Liu Biao's suspicions.

My father, Yang Biao, and I, Yang Xiu (courtesy name Dezhu), pay our respects to Lord Liu.

It was the first thing that young man said to me when we met last night, in an attempt to gain my trust.

In the vast land of the Han Dynasty, the Yang family of Hongnong, ranked second only to the Yuan family, was the son of the Grand Commandant.

Liu Biao was utterly shocked when he saw Yang Xiu chatting happily with Yuan San, the Yuan family retainer who was in charge of guarding him and had led the group, and even giving him some money to bribe him.

Is there anyone in the world who doesn't know Yuan?

I never expected your Yang family to be like this!
Although it could also just be a normal gesture to talk to oneself.

However, Liu Biao, who had personally surrendered to Yuan, was always inclined to suspect others of colluding with Yuan with the utmost malice.

After all, as long as everyone agrees with Yuan, the stain of his surrender to Yuan is nothing.

At this moment, Liu Biao had already been paraded around Luoyang twice in a prison cart. The sun was blazing, his mouth was dry, and he was too exhausted to shout anymore.

He couldn't help but feel despair at that moment.

From the moment he sent Wen Ping to attack Lujiang, which led to Huang Zu's death, he felt like he was struck by bad luck.

From Wen Pin to Huang Zhong, Xing Daorong, and even Sun Quan and Cai Mao, not one of them escaped betraying themselves.

Unexpectedly! Even after surrendering, Yuan Gong is still the same.

The position of Grand Tutor is a lie!
From Yuan Shu to Yang Xiu, is there not a single one of you who is reliable?

If I had known this would happen, I would have been better off asking Lord Yuan to be lenient and let me go to Huangjintai to enjoy my life.

However, at that moment, Liu Biao was astonished to find that the surrounding people were kneeling to welcome him.

Clean water was used to pave the streets, and yellow earth was used to pave the roads!

It was the Emperor himself who came!

When they saw the young emperor in his dragon-embroidered robes, leading a group of officials to greet him.

Liu Biao wept bitterly, and with all his might, he looked up to the sky and cried out in anguish.

"May a virtuous person live ten thousand years and protect his family and country."

On his deathbed, this old minister was able to see the Emperor's holy countenance, and died without regret.

Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!

"I have only just met my uncle, how can you speak of death?"

Liu Xie hurriedly ordered his men to rescue Liu Biao from the prison cart. Seeing Liu Biao with a smile in his eyes, he instructed his attendants to read the imperial edict.

"I have heard that the divine instruments of heaven and earth rely on the wise minister to secure the country; and that emperors, in ruling the world, look up to the virtuous to govern their families and nations."

In the past, Yi Yin assisted the Shang dynasty, and Lü Shang helped the Zhou dynasty; both of them rectified their countries and brought order to the world, their achievements shining brightly in history.

Now there is Liu Biao, courtesy name Jingsheng, who is the General Who Guards the South and the Governor of Jingzhou. He fought fiercely against the bandit Yuan Shao, and was paraded through the streets in humiliation, yet he still cherishes the Han dynasty.

A descendant of the Han dynasty, he was known for his unwavering loyalty and integrity. He inherited the glory of his ancestors and was renowned as one of the Eight Worthies.

He learned literature and martial arts from a young age, always cherishing the desire to save the world. While living in Jingzhou and Xiangyang, he worried about the imperial court. When he took charge of the central government, he worried about the common people.

I, being of meager virtue and young and inexperienced, have suffered many hardships. It is thanks to the protection of you gentlemen that my ancestral temples are safe and secure.

The position of Grand Tutor is as prestigious as that of a Duke, who is in charge of the state's laws and commands all officials. If not you, who can hold this position?

At this critical juncture when the nation is in peril and the Han dynasty is on the verge of collapse, I hereby appoint you as Grand Tutor, granting you the authority to wield the imperial staff and battle-axe, and the privilege of not hastening your departure when entering the court and not being addressed by name during audiences!
He was granted an additional 10,000 households as his fief, 5,000 bolts of silk, and 100 slaves, to demonstrate his merit as a bulwark of the state and to appease the expectations of the people.

I hope you will strive hard and not disappoint me.

"Your subject Liu Biao bows and prostrates himself twice. As a guilty subject, how dare I accept such an honor? I deserve to die!"
I am a distant relative of the Han dynasty, and I am of dull and dull nature. In my youth, I lacked the talent to govern the world, and in my adulthood, I lacked the ability to save the country and the world.

Thanks to the legacy of the late emperor and Your Majesty's wisdom, you have been granted the governorship of Jingzhou and the authority to guard this region.

Since receiving this commission, I have worked tirelessly day and night, fearing only that I might fail to fulfill the entrustment and thus tarnish Your Majesty's wisdom.

Despite my diligent efforts and the prosperity of the people, I was ultimately no match for the powerful neighbors surrounding us. Although I fought with all my might, I could not win and lost the people under my rule.

The nation is in peril, and I have failed to serve the king and protect him; I have failed to govern this region and safeguard the people.

I am already burdened with guilt for my crimes, yet Your Majesty does not punish me but instead promotes me to the position of Grand Tutor. Who am I to deserve such an honor?

I was terrified and sweating profusely; I prostrated myself on the ground, not daring to look up.

Liu Biao lay prostrate on the ground, terrified and unable to rise.

Liu Xie personally helped him up, covering his face and weeping, "The nation is in dire straits, the Han dynasty is crumbling, and even my imperial uncle is going to abandon me and refuse to help me?"

Liu Biao was moved to tears and, unable to refuse, had no choice but to bow again in gratitude.

"I am deeply grateful for His Majesty's great favor and have been granted the position of Grand Tutor. Your humble servants are too incompetent to repay even a fraction of this favor. All we can do is devote ourselves to the country and die for it."

I am filled with trepidation and will not fail Your Majesty's expectations.

Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!

Xun Yu, standing to the side, merely watched this harmonious scene between the ruler and his minister with indifference, paying no attention to it.

Gentlemen, times have changed.

Today, all power and key positions are held in the offices of various feudal lords. In the past, who in the world did not hold official titles and ranks in the Han Dynasty?
The titles of Grand Tutor and Grand Preceptor are long gone. The Emperor is still in our grasp, let alone the Grand Tutor.

Meanwhile, in a private room of a restaurant on the street, the young man also watched coldly.

"Liu Biao is not important, the Grand Tutor is not important, the only important one is you."

Lord Xun, as a subject of Cao, you have been far too lenient with the Emperor.

Han or Cao? It's a matter of a single thought.

　After two and a half months, I finally got another day of recommendations. Eight thousand today! I coded all day, giving it my all, but I still couldn't beat it QAQ
　　I'm adding an extra chapter with tears in my eyes, and I finally have a little bit of face to ask for more reading.

　　Because the first recommendation after the book was released was not effective, it was abandoned and is only being recommended a second time today.

　　But in any case, at least I haven't given up, and neither have anyone else.

　　Seeing everyone's urging for more updates, I also want to update more, but I can't write as fast or as well as others, and I'm afraid of failing to live up to their expectations and writing bad content.

　　I am filled with trepidation and humbly request that you persevere.

　　Since the beginning of the book, I have been updating more than 4000 words every day without taking a day off or missing a day. This has been the case in the past and will continue to be the case in the future.

　　Trust this book, trust everyone. The past is gone, but let's keep striving for the future!
　　Please keep reading, don't let it get abandoned by the recommendation slot again QAQ
　　

(End of this chapter)