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

Chapter 254 My Prime Minister is Back?
In the twilight, the city of Luoyang before me resembled a colossal beast crouching in the wilderness, its eerie city gate like a gaping maw ready to devour its prey.

Cao Cao's gaze was deep and unfathomable as he clenched the letter in his hand, his expression shifting between light and shadow.

Has something changed in Luoyang?

I have already recalled Cao Ren, Li Dian, and Yu Jin to provide reinforcements, and Xun Yu is in charge of the overall situation at the central level. What kind of unexpected events could possibly occur?
Looking at the three alarming inscriptions in his hand, Cao Cao's gaze turned solemn.

It was impossible to enter the city without any soldiers, but it was also impossible to bring in Wen Ping and Liu Bei's troops.

Otherwise, if something goes wrong and chaos ensues, and Wen Ping and Liu Bei are out of control, then not only will he be unable to control the emperor in Luoyang, but he himself may also lose his life.

However, if Luoyang has already slipped out of control, and I only bring three thousand men in, I might just be walking into the lion's den, where my life or death would be uncertain.

With this in mind, Cao Cao had already made up his mind!

They used Liu and Wen to protect themselves!

He could have easily invited Wen Ping and Liu Bei, each with a thousand men, to enter the city and pay homage to the emperor.

The main army, on the grounds that foreign troops were not allowed to enter the city, fearing a repeat of Dong Zhuo's past actions, remained outside the city.

With such a large army outside the city, and with trusted subordinates of Wen and Liu in charge, they could immediately attack and provide support should anything happen in the city, which would be a great deterrent.

With this deterrent in hand, Wen Ping and Liu Bei would have something to rely on, and would accompany him to court to meet the emperor.

But neither of them could have imagined that by entering the city together with the Prime Minister, they could share the risks.

If any changes occur in the city, they can rely on their fierce generals, such as Guan Yu, to defend it together.

We can use their large army outside the city as a deterrent, advance and retreat together with them, and fight for survival.

If there were no trouble in the city, the 50,000 troops outside the city would not have been allowed to enter. But since they had already come this far, it was impossible to prevent Wen and Liu from seeing the emperor.

It would be better to let things take their course and bring the two into the city. At that time, whether we win them over with promises of great rewards or use the emperor's authority to suppress them, we can always find an opportunity to transfer the main army to resist Yuan Shu.

Even if the two refused, with only a thousand men around them and no defenses, he could forcibly take them hostage with Cao Ren and his army.

At worst, it's like holding the emperor hostage to command the princes. So what if Cao holds a few more hostages in the future?
After considering this matter, I felt that this was the safest approach at present.

Cao Cao did not hesitate and immediately sent someone to find Liu Bei and Wen Ping, informing them that Liu Bei would lead a thousand men to accompany him into the city to pay homage to the emperor.

Liu Bei's main camp.

After seeing off Cao Cao's envoy, Zhang Fei could no longer contain himself and immediately began to angrily rebuke him.

"What's the meaning?
The main army remained outside the city, with only a thousand men allowed to enter.
Did Cao Cao really think that just because he held the title of prime minister, he could use a chicken feather as an imperial edict and order his elder brother around?
He says a thousand, so it's a thousand? I, Old Zhang, am determined to bring 30,000 troops into the city. Let him try to stop me!
With his paltry three thousand soldiers, if I, Old Zhang, can't take his head in one charge, I'll change my name from now on!

As Zhang Fei spoke, he looked at Liu Bei expectantly.

"Brother, let's do it! Today is the day to eliminate the traitors."

"If you allow me to kill Cao Cao and enter Luoyang today, then I, your elder brother, will shoulder the responsibility of restoring the Han Dynasty."

He took direct action, seized the opportunity to eliminate Cao Cao, entered Luoyang, and restored the Han Dynasty on the spot.
Zhang Fei's words even tempted Guan Yu, but he hesitated, considering how warmly Cao Cao had treated him these past few days.
It wasn't that Guan Yu had changed his mind; he just felt that Cao Cao was a really nice person, so wouldn't it be unfair to betray him like this?
But thinking of his elder brother's great cause, he weighed the moral and loyalty issues in his heart for a moment, and then remained silent.

Everything is up to your decision, brother. If you really want to take action...
Old Cao, you were a good man. From now on, I, Guan, will offer you a toast on the anniversary of your death every year.

So Zhang Fei kept urging him on, but Guan Yu kept his eyes down and remained silent.

Liu Bei paced around the tent twice, a hint of excitement appearing in his eyes, but it vanished in an instant.

He closed his eyes for a moment, then slowly opened them, his mind clearing once more.

Liu Bei slowly shook his head. "No."

With benevolence and virtue spreading throughout the world, and with righteousness proclaimed throughout the nine provinces.

"Now that I have surrendered to Cao Cao in search of refuge, and have only just arrived in Luoyang, how can I, having just surrendered, rebel again and commit such despicable acts while the Emperor is in power?"

Before Liu Bei could finish speaking, Zhang Fei interrupted.

"But brother, we're here to eliminate traitors!"
If this is accomplished, the Emperor will be overjoyed!

"Third brother, you're being foolish!"

Today you can eliminate Cao Cao in the name of national traitors, but who knows if in the future we will be supported by the Han Dynasty and Yuan Shu of Huainan will also condemn us as national traitors and send troops to eliminate us.

Even if we were to actually do this, we would first need to meet with the Emperor, obtain his decree, and then carefully consider the matter.

Liu Bei concluded with the words "consider this carefully," speaking with great earnestness, but Zhang Fei clearly didn't understand.

In his mind, I'm confused? Brother, you're the one who's confused.

We are currently a strong and well-equipped force, but once we enter Luoyang, the city will be filled with Cao Cao's soldiers, and we will only have a thousand men.

If the roles of offense and defense are reversed, wouldn't we be at the mercy of others? How can we then make long-term plans?
Seeing that Zhang Fei clearly didn't understand, Mi Heng, who was drinking nearby, gave him an annoyed look.

"Third General, why can't you understand what our lord is saying?"
Think long term.

Cao Cao, a traitor to the state, despised the emperor and seized power. Heng hated him so much that he wished he could eat his flesh and sleep on his skin.

If we could kill him now, even without your advice, General, I would have already charged out with my sword.

But what is the current situation? Right under the emperor's nose, the city is full of Cao Cao's troops, ready to provide support at any time.

Even outside the city, Cao Cao has 20,000 troops under Wen Ping as reinforcements. Once we launch an attack on Cao Cao, how can he sit idly by?

Given the disciplined formation of Wen Ping's army, do the three generals still have the confidence to take Cao Cao's head in one battle?

"You must understand that this is the heart of Cao Cao's camp. If anything goes wrong, our lives are nothing compared to the potential destruction of our lord's foundation for restoring the Han dynasty. What would we do then?"

As Mi Heng spoke, he took a sip of wine and continued his rant.

"Even if you could do it, and you had taken Cao Cao's head, what would you do next?"

A strong attack on Luoyang would result in a mutually destructive outcome for both sides against Cao Cao's army.

If that's the case, wouldn't that be exactly what that person in Huainan wanted? In that case, he could use the pretext of avenging Cao Cao to lead his army north to "purge the court of corrupt officials." How would the Three Generals possibly resist that?
The situation in Luoyang is currently unclear, the emperor's attitude is ambiguous, and the lord's position is illegitimate. Without any prior knowledge of the situation, he hastily killed the traitor Cao.

Wouldn't this put the great cause of restoring the Han Dynasty on the success or failure of a single moment?

If this plan fails, the attempt to kill Cao Cao fails, and the emperor is defeated and killed, or if both sides are severely weakened and Yuan Shao seizes the opportunity, how can the Han dynasty be restored? How can the state regain its glory?

Zhang Fei was speechless after being asked a few questions, and he became furious.

"If this won't work and that won't work, then according to the strategist's reasoning, are we just going to bring only a thousand men into the city and watch our elder brother be controlled by others?"

As Mi Heng spoke, he stroked his beard and smiled.

"Generals, do not be hasty."

We are constrained by this and that, and are hindered at every turn, making it difficult to make our moves.

But what about Cao Cao?

We fear a mutually destructive outcome that would benefit Yuan Shao's army, but how could that traitor Cao Cao not be afraid of us perishing together, allowing Yuan Shao to profit?

Mi Heng paused slightly, then looked up and smiled at Liu Bei.

"My lord, I think the task of commanding the army outside the city is best left to the Third General."

Unlike his role in guarding Xuzhou, everyone knows that when the Third General gets angry, he's capable of anything. With him by his side as a deterrent, even if our lord only leads a thousand men into the city, Cao Cao will certainly not dare to act rashly.

Liu Bei nodded and smiled, "What you say is true, sir. With Yide here, I have nothing to worry about."

Zhang Fei: "???"

Although it feels like you guys are praising me, something feels off.

"Big brother? Strategist?"

Is there some important task for me to be entrusted with?
"You can rest assured about what I, Old Zhang, do. But you should at least tell me clearly what exactly needs to be done."

Liu Bei glanced at Mi Heng, who understood and said to him:

"Third General, you don't need to do anything. Just be yourself. After we leave, if you get impatient, you can either incite an attack on the city or attack Cao Cao's army."

Even if you pretend to write a letter to Huainan, saying: "The traitor Cao has detained Lord Xuande, please ask Lord Yuan, the loyal and virtuous man of the Han Dynasty, to come to the capital to uphold justice, that's fine."

The more naturally you act in public, the more outrageous your behavior, the more steadfast your lord will be inside.

Liu Bei nodded in agreement, saying, "This is what is meant by brothers fighting within the walls but uniting against external humiliation."

If it weren't for that man from Huainan, Liu Bei would surely have drawn his sword and fought Cao Cao to the death. But the Han Dynasty still has external enemies at its side.

Even if we join forces, we still cannot withstand the advance of the Huainan army. If we fight Cao to the death, regardless of who wins or loses, we will only be doing the work for Huainan.

This principle is clear to both Bei and Cao, therefore, for the trip to Luoyang, all I need is for my third brother to prepare the army outside the city, and I expect there will be no problem.”

Having said all that, and with everything made so clear, Zhang Fei could only sigh helplessly.

"That Cao traitor got off easy, but don't worry, brother, I've got you covered outside the city."

"That traitor Cao dares to insult my elder brother in the slightest; I will not let him get away with it!"

On the other side, Wen Ping also received the message, but unlike Liu Bei, he came to Luoyang to find his lord Liu Biao.

Therefore, there is nothing to worry about. Entrust the army to a trusted confidant and meet with your lord first upon entering the city.

With this in mind, he ordered someone to summon a burly man with a red face.

This man was heroic and valiant, and also wielded a large sword. He bore a striking resemblance to Guan Yu, whom Wen Ping had recently seen under Liu Bei's command.

It was Wei Yan.

At this moment, Wei Yan walked in with his head held high and a slight bow.

"What brings you here, General?"

Wen Ping chuckled and said to him:
"Wen Chang, how have I treated you in daily life?"

"The general has promoted me all the way and made me his side. Yanfang is where it is today. I will always remember this kindness."

Wenping asked him again.

How has your lord treated you?

Wei Yan hesitated slightly this time, but still managed to answer.

"If it weren't for Liu Jingzhou sending someone to recruit me, I would still be a country bumpkin. I will never forget this kindness."

Wen Ping nodded in satisfaction, "I am going into the city to see the lord. The army outside the city will be temporarily under the command of Wen Chang."

If anything happens in the city, my life and the fate of my lord will depend entirely on Wen Chang. I hope Wen Chang will not betray us.

Wei Yan's eyes lit up when he heard about this!

No, is there such a good thing? You've all gone into the city, so from now on I'll be the highest-ranking officer in this military camp?
He didn't actually have any rebellious intentions; it's just that he's a very resourceful person and doesn't like being controlled or restricted by superiors.

Now that his lord and general had entered Luoyang, he felt as if he were free to unleash his full potential, much like he was no longer at home with his elders.

Despite his excitement, Wei Yan managed to maintain his composure and simply nodded in agreement.

"Thank you for your trust, General. Please rest assured that with me here, you, my lord and general, can rest easy in the city."

After both sides had made arrangements for military affairs, Liu Bei, along with Guan Yu and Mi Heng, led a thousand troops, while Wen Ping led a thousand soldiers to join Cao Cao.

Cao Cao, leading his three thousand soldiers, had been waiting for a long time. Upon seeing the two groups of people approaching, he immediately greeted them with a smile.

"Is it Xuande and Zhongye who have arrived?"
"Quickly, invite him to accompany me to Luoyang to pay homage to the Emperor."

After exchanging greetings, the group, totaling five thousand people, marched in a grand procession toward the gates of Luoyang.

The soldiers guarding the city were all recently replaced by Cao Ren's troops, and they naturally did not stop their prime minister from returning.

They opened the city gates on their own initiative, letting their army in, and then immediately closed them tightly. Clearly, they had received orders to guard against the two large armies of Liu and Wen outside the city.

Cao Cao was unwilling for these two armies to enter the city, so he was naturally happy to see it happen. Liu Bei and Wen Ping had obviously anticipated this as well.

It would be abnormal for the central government, where the emperor resided, to be unprepared for external local armies.

What aroused Cao Cao's suspicion was that, logically speaking, since the city was guarded by Cao Ren's army, which he trusted the most, there was no reason why Cao Ren would not come out to greet him after he, the lord, had entered the city.

Even setting aside Cao Ren, none of his many ministers were to be seen at this time.

Thinking of what Wenruo said in his letter about the changes in Luoyang, he felt a chill in his heart. He subtly pulled Liu Bei in front of him, pretending to lead him on a tour of Luoyang.

"Come here, Xuande, it's been a long time since you've been to Luoyang."

Previously, Dong Zhuo set fire to the vast city of Luoyang, turning it into a wasteland. This is the Luoyang that Cao Cao has repaired and rebuilt over the years, and it must be quite different from the past.

"I'll give you a brief introduction, and I'd appreciate your feedback, Xuande. If there's anything inappropriate, please point it out. I'll immediately arrange for someone to rectify it upon my return."

Liu Bei: “???”

Seeing that Cao Cao, the mighty Chancellor of the Han Dynasty, had entered Luoyang, a city under his control, he not only did not act arrogantly but also did not use his military force to hold him hostage.

On the contrary, they were so warm and hospitable that they led me to them and introduced me to everyone.

Such courtesy surprised Liu Bei, who thought to himself that his second brother had been saying recently that Cao Cao was being quite nice. Could it be true?
"Would that trouble you, Prime Minister?"

"Xuande is a hero of the world. It is my honor that he can come to assist the emperor and work together to restore the Han Dynasty."

Today's brief introduction is hardly worth mentioning.

The group continued their introductions and conversations as they made their way to the imperial city of Luoyang.

They chatted and laughed on the surface, but each of them had their own thoughts, which were unknown to others.

Cao Cao, who had been chatting and laughing all the way to the main street, finally saw his ministers who had failed to come to greet him, his mind filled with doubts.

But at the same time, he also saw the emperor walking out of the palace!
Liu Xie!

The emperor seemed to have seen him and suddenly smiled.

"My prime minister has returned."

(End of this chapter)