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

Chapter 262 The Marquis of Duting possesses a flexible bottom line of loyalty and righteousness.
Blood flowed from the imperial steps, heroes shed tears, the emperor held his hand and asked, all the ministers awaiting his answer.

How to break this deadlock?

Now that things have come to this, the blood of the great Confucian scholars of our time is used to inscribe the name of righteousness, and the overwhelming force is used to crush them.

Cao Cao asked himself, how can I break this deadlock?
His gaze swept over everyone present. The powerful minister, who had been kneeling before the imperial steps without uttering a word, smiled once again.

He realized that this situation didn't necessarily have to be resolved.

The man hadn't set a trap to kill him, but rather a predicament, putting him in a difficult situation and forcing him to do something.

But doesn't this reveal the biggest weakness of the person who devised the plan?

If he wants to kill me, why wait until now? And if he doesn't want to kill me and still wants to use me, why should I be afraid of him gambling with his life?

If you're forced into a predicament, it's just a matter of forcing yourself to compromise. So why not give you a compromise for now?

With everyone watching, Cao Cao finally spoke after a moment of contemplation, bowing with his hands clasped in greeting.

“Yuan is a traitor who is rampant and immoral, deceiving the emperor and disregarding the law. He must be executed to set things right and to quell public anger. We should send troops to punish him immediately.”

To uphold righteousness and quell chaos, and to restore order to the world and establish a proper dynasty.

Of course.

General Liu Bei was personally appointed by His Majesty to train a new army in the Western Garden. However, his troops are not yet fully equipped and his new army is not yet complete. How can he quell the rebellion?

Although I am not talented, I have some knowledge of military affairs. However, I hold the important position of Imperial Censor. At present, the internal traitors in the court have not been eliminated, and Luoyang is not yet at peace.

How could I possibly act rashly?

Cao Cao's words stunned Liu Xie. "Yes, Liu Bei wants to train troops in the Western Garden, and you, Cao Cao, have become the Imperial Censor. These are all words spoken by me."

But the problem is, times change.

Yuan Shu has already declared himself King of Han, so who would bother with this?
Liu Xie's tone turned cold, "Is Prime Minister Cao determined not to serve the Han Dynasty and intends to sit idly by and watch Yuan Shao grow stronger?"

Cao Cao hurriedly replied, "I dare not."

"Cao Cao is a Han official who has received the Han salary for generations. Now that the court is in trouble, if he does not do his part for the country, what difference is there between him and rotten wood and decaying grass?"

Liu Xie frowned in surprise, "Then what does Chancellor Cao mean?"

"I have a great general under my command named Cao Ren, courtesy name Zixiao."

He was a veteran of countless battles, calm, brave and resourceful. In the past, he deployed troops along the Yellow River to resist Yuan Shao in the north, achieving great merit. He was especially skilled in defense.

His generals and soldiers are all elite warriors who have fought countless battles. Now that the country is in danger, I cannot act rashly.

After much deliberation, I believe that if Zixiao were to lead 30,000 troops from Luoyang to conquer Wuguan, it would serve as a protective barrier.

Firstly, it would cut off Yuan Shu's route from Nanyang to Luoyang; secondly, it would allow for the timely conquest of Nanyang, thus demonstrating the righteousness of the imperial court.

Furthermore, I previously recommended Guan Yu, Liu Bei's second brother.

Although Xuande was also untouchable, his second brother was still of useful use, so he was ordered to lead his own 30,000 troops to the Huanyuan Pass.

This would not only cut off Yuan Shu's route north to Luoyang, but also allow for a timely conquest of Yingchuan to recover lost territory.

Both men are loyal and brave, and are also well-versed in military strategy and warfare. They will surely live up to Your Majesty's expectations.

"I humbly request Your Majesty's permission to resolve this matter swiftly, so as to secure the stability of the nation."

Liu Xie was slightly taken aback when Cao Cao said this.

It was said that he was going to war against Yuan Shikai, but in reality, it was just a show of force. In essence, it was still the strategy he had previously proposed: to send Wen Ping and Guan Yu to guard the two passes.

The strategy was indeed correct. With the current military strength of Luoyang, even if all of them were sent to the front line against Yuan Shikai, they wouldn't be able to make much of a difference.

Instead, they dispatched two generals to guard two strategic passes, which would be enough to keep Yuan out of Sili, and they would work hard to govern the country for the future.

However, if the previous strategy were followed and Wen Ping and Guan Yu's armies were all transferred away, it would be to hold him hostage and continue to be a puppet, which he would certainly not comply with.

But now that Wen Ping has been replaced by Cao Ren, the situation seems to be different.

Originally, in Luoyang, the emperor himself had 10,000 imperial guards and his own party in the palace, while Cao Ren led 50,000 Cao troops in Luoyang. Outside Luoyang were the 50,000 troops under Wen Ping and Liu Bei.

If Cao Cao's army attacks the imperial palace, then Wen Ping and Liu Bei's forces will attack Luoyang, thus creating a tug-of-war between them.

However, according to Cao Cao's current plan, 30,000 of Liu Bei's troops and 30,000 of Cao Ren's troops will be transferred to resist Yuan Shu.

Then the situation in Luoyang would become: 10,000 of the emperor's own troops occupying the palace, 20,000 of Cao Cao's troops occupying Luoyang, and 20,000 of Wen Ping's troops outside the city.

Although both sides had lost 30,000 people, the pressure on myself and the Imperial Party suddenly eased!
The pressure of 50,000 people besieging a city with 10,000 people is completely different from that of 20,000 people besieging it.

The 20,000 Wen Pin troops outside the city could also put enough pressure on the 20,000 Cao troops inside the city.

The balance was maintained, and the emperor himself could now act freely in Luoyang.

Although they failed to transfer Cao Cao away, Liu Bei stayed behind.

With Liu Yao, Liu Biao, and Liu Bei, three members of the Han imperial family, by his side, all of whom had served as governors and prefects of the three provinces, he was able to protect his imperial throne.

With 10,000 against 20,000, and another 20,000 reinforcements outside the city, Cao Cao could at most be a powerful minister.

Emperor Liu Xie of the Han Dynasty will once again take control of the court!
Liu Xie was fairly satisfied with Cao Cao's compromises and concessions this time, so he nodded slightly and kindly helped him up.

"The words of Imperial Censor Cao, a wise and experienced advisor on state affairs, are excellent."

He said he would finalize the matter immediately to prevent any changes.

"Imperial edict:"
The traitor Yuan Shu, with his wolfish ambitions, has long harbored rebellious intentions and has now committed the act of usurpation.

He claimed the title of King of Han, but instead seized territory, betrayed his country, rebelled against his superiors, and disregarded the might of the Han Dynasty. He plunged the common people into dire straits and was truly a great thief who stole the country and a major bandit against the Han Dynasty!

Having received the Mandate of Heaven and succeeded to the throne, I cannot tolerate such scoundrels running rampant. I must punish them to restore order and bring peace to the people.

Now, having reviewed the memorial submitted by Imperial Censor Cao Cao, I can see that Cao Ren is unparalleled in loyalty and courage, possesses profound strategic acumen, and has repeatedly achieved meritorious service, making him worthy of important responsibilities.

Cao Ren was specially appointed as General Who Guards the West, leading 30,000 elite troops to guard Wuguan Pass.

We should strengthen our troops, organize our forces, and seize the opportune moment to launch an attack, blocking Yuan Shu's eastward advance and preventing this traitor from crossing Wuguan Pass, thus securing the western barrier of the capital.

Guan Yu was renowned for his righteousness and bravery, possessed exceptional martial skills, and harbored a deep-seated ambition to restore the Han Dynasty.

Guan Yu is hereby appointed General Who Guards the South, commanding 30,000 elite troops to guard Huanyuan Pass.

We should display our might and prepare for battle, cut off Yuan Shu's northward invasion, eliminate the rebels, and defend the southern corner of the country.

I urge you all to obey my command, work together with one heart and one mind, to destroy the rebel party of Yuan Shu and restore peace to the world of my great Han.

Anyone who delays, neglects their duties, or secretly colludes with the traitor Yuan will be severely punished according to military law, which is intolerable to Heaven!

"I hope you will soon report your victory and return in triumph, for then the nation and its people will be fortunate indeed!"

After the imperial edict was read aloud, Cao Ren glanced at Cao Cao, and seeing him nod, he then bowed and accepted the edict.

"Your subject, Cao Ren, thanks Your Majesty for your great favor. Now I am here to carry out the imperial edict to punish the rebels and will not fail Your Majesty's expectations."

Guan Yu squinted, his phoenix eyes narrowed, and no one knew whether he had looked at Liu Bei or not.

But Liu Bei remained expressionless, his face honest and kind, without making any move.

Guan Yu bowed proudly and accepted the imperial edict.

"Your subject, Guan Yu, regards the Yuan army in Huainan as mere targets for sale. On this journey, I will surely slay Ji Ling in battle and present his head to the Emperor."

This scene caused Emperor Liu Xie to frown slightly again, but it was nothing. In his mind, with Cao Ren gone, only 20,000 Cao troops remained in Luoyang.

Cao Cao's power as prime minister was also stripped. If he were given a little time to develop his strength, the tide would turn in his favor.

So he helped Liu Bei up and said to him:

"The nation is currently facing a difficult situation. I urge you, Imperial Uncle, to recruit soldiers as soon as possible to fill the Western Garden. I intend to recruit 50,000 new soldiers, with Imperial Uncle as the commander-in-chief, Wenping as the deputy general, and five subordinate generals each leading 10,000 men."

He served as the emperor's brother-in-law, Fu De; as a lieutenant general, Zhong Ji; as General Zhaoxin, Wu Zilan; and as Marquis of Duting, Wang Zifu.

Seeing Liu Xie talking non-stop, about to finish arranging the 50,000 men he was about to recruit, I wondered, what kind of people are all under His Majesty's command?

Can we really fight a war with these people?

Liu Bei quickly interrupted.

"Your Majesty, and also my sworn brother Zhang Fei!"

"Oh!"

Liu Xie looked as if he had just remembered, and quickly nodded.

"I have heard that he is brave enough to fight ten thousand men, and now he deserves a place in the family."

With all matters settled and compromises reached, it seemed as if they could finally begin to host a banquet to welcome Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and others, and continue the peaceful and prosperous Han Dynasty.

But at that moment, Liu Xie's eyes suddenly caught sight of someone, none other than Marquis of Duting, Cao Anmin!
Liu Xie felt incredibly embarrassed whenever he thought of this man who had almost died, who had already surrendered to Yuan Shao, yet he had still bestowed a title upon him.

Cao Anmin, who had always kept his head down and pretended that no one could see him, saw that the emperor had finally set his sights on him. He knew that disaster was inevitable and that what was coming had finally arrived.

They hurriedly performed a grand salute and shouted to the heavens!

"Your subject is Cao Anmin, Marquis of Duting of the Han Dynasty."

I am also willing to obey the imperial edict to suppress the rebels and quell the chaos for Your Majesty.

Liu Xie: "."

You, a loyal subject of the Yuan clan, have come to me asking for the title of King of Han on behalf of Yuan Shu. You think you can be ordered to punish the traitor?

Do you even believe what you're saying?
Liu Xie was so angry he laughed, and asked Cao Cao:
"Imperial Censor Cao, I do not know this person. What do you think should be done with him?"

Cao Anmin was shocked!
He cried out urgently, "I am not surrendering, I am bluffing!"

Uncle, you know, you have to be my witness.

Your subject, Cao Anmin, has stolen Yuan Shu's latest secrets and returned!

Cao Cao: "."

Well, Cao Cao really wanted to kill his nephew right now, but he was held back by his own previous decree: "Those who surrender to Yuan Shao will have their entire family executed."

This has forced him to now go along with Cao Anmin's words and deny his surrender to Yuan Shikai to the death.

He then bowed to the emperor and said, "I know Anmin's nature."

He was loyal, brave, and fierce, with a generous spirit and intense emotions; he was by no means someone who would surrender to Yuan Shikai.

It is possible that he may have actually stolen secrets from Yuan's camp, and is now redeeming himself through meritorious service; however, this remains to be seen.

"Your Majesty, would you mind listening?"

As he spoke, he looked directly at Cao Anmin, his eyes revealing a murderous intent.

The meaning is self-evident: think it through before you speak. If you can't reveal any secrets, I'll personally kill you.

Cao Anmin shrank back and began to ponder the secrets of Yuan's camp.

After a short while, his eyes lit up, and he replied:

"Does Your Majesty know what the golden book I presented is?"

Liu Xie's face darkened. "It is the 'Memorial to the King of Han' requested by the arrogant traitor Yuan!"
You still dare to talk about it now? Seriously?

Seeing that things were going badly, Cao Anmin quickly tried to explain.

"Your Majesty misunderstands. I was not referring to what is written on it, but rather to the object on which it is written."

As he spoke, he took out some of the papers that Yuan Shu had entrusted to him to use as samples for carrying goods, and presented them to the emperor, Cao Cao, and other important officials.

That's when I began to explain it in detail.

"This is a special product of Yuan Camp, five-colored stationery, which is said to be an improvement on Cai Hou paper."

Judging from its texture, it is lighter than silk, requiring no labor of silkworm rearing, and its colors are brilliant, with five colors complementing each other, which is incomparable to the monotony of plain silk.
In terms of toughness, it is softer than sheepskin, without the pain of tanning, and its texture is delicate, making it easy to roll and stretch, which is unmatched by the coarseness of leather.
In terms of its use, it surpasses bamboo slips, avoiding the hassle of cutting and splitting, while containing a large number of characters. It is also lightweight and easy to carry, unlike the cumbersome bamboo slips.

In the past, silk was expensive and difficult to distribute widely, leather was too rough to be used for writing, and bamboo slips were too heavy to be transported far.

This stationery, now available, combines lightness, softness, convenience, and beauty; it is truly a gem of writing and an excellent tool for conveying the Way, surpassing even the most accomplished sages and worthies of the past.

Upon hearing this, Liu Xie examined the paper closely and found it to be just as Cao Anmin had said. He had also previously noticed something unusual about the golden book, but at the time he was preoccupied with Yuan Shu's desire to become the King of Han and had no time to pay attention to anything else.

At this moment, Cao Anmin reminded him, and upon closer examination of the golden book, he was utterly astonished.

The other gentlemen all received samples distributed by Cao Anmin. After touching and examining them, they realized that these were extraordinary items and began to discuss them extensively.

Taking advantage of the situation, Cao Anmin then began to promote the Four Treasures of the Study to them, saying to everyone:

"Your Majesty, gentlemen, please look!"
This is a writing brush, inkstone, and inkstone, specifically for use with writing paper!
Let me demonstrate for you!

As everyone watched, they saw Cao Anmin write fluently and smoothly on the paper, his elegant and unrestrained style far surpassing that of bamboo slips.

They also had writing brushes and ink, which they often used to write on silk and bamboo slips. However, whether it was silk or bamboo slips, their writing was not very smooth. How could they write as freely and fluently as Cao Anmin?

Immediately, some people took out brushes and ink to try it out, and the effect was just as Cao Anmin had said: it was lighter than silk and softer than sheepskin, and it could pass through bamboo slips. How could everyone not be amazed?

Seeing that everyone was stunned by him, Cao Anmin, who was already drenched in sweat, breathed a sigh of relief.

He hurriedly bowed deeply to the emperor, tears streaming down his face.

"This paper is truly a national treasure, and it can be passed down for thousands of years!"

Yuan Gong plotted to secretly harbor scholars and students in Huainan to win over the hearts of the people.

If Yuan Gong had paper, but the imperial court did not, then what would happen?

How then can aristocratic families maintain their loyalty? How can scholars act as subjects? How can Confucianism and Taoism be passed down? How can literary fame be recorded?

It was so that Huainan had it, but Luoyang did not.

Even if the Holy Emperor possessed the entire world, could he not obtain a single piece of paper?

How could your subjects, Marquis of Duting, Cao Anmin, sit idly by and watch such rebellious acts occur?

Therefore, I secretly stole the paper and brought it to Luoyang, intending to present it to Your Majesty!
I even pretended to serve Yuan and flattered him, temporarily gaining the trust of the traitor Yuan so that I could use my power for personal gain and open up channels for purchasing paper in Luoyang.

Your Majesty, though I am in Yuan's camp, my heart is with Han. I am wholeheartedly devoted to serving Your Majesty!

From now on, all officials of the court and prominent families throughout the land may have me, Cao Anmin, smuggle this paper for them, so that this national treasure will not be monopolized by the traitor Yuan.

Cao Anmin's words, spoken with tears streaming down his face, left everyone speechless, unsure of what to say to him.

You might say he was loyal, but he surrendered to Yuan Shu and even acted as an envoy to request Yuan Shu to grant him the title of king.

You could say he surrendered to Yuan Shikai, but he seems to have genuinely been working hard for everyone!

He actually stole some of the national treasure that paper is so important, otherwise we, living in high positions, would not have known that the traitor Yuan already had such new paper.

Moreover, it seems that everyone can't touch Cao Anmin now. Not only can they not touch him, but they also have to send him back safely.

Haven't you heard anyone say that?
They had already gained trust and established a smuggling route from Huainan to Luoyang.

If Cao Anmin were not here, wouldn't we, the aristocratic families of the Central Plains, have no new paper to use?

(End of this chapter)