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

Chapter 62 Liu Yao: Cao Mengde must not be allowed to live!
Faced with Cao Cao's army pressing forward with swords and spears, Liu Yao was terrified, but in the eyes of his ministers and officials, this member of the Han imperial family was full of righteous indignation.

"Cao Mengde, are you plotting a rebellion?"

"I think it's Liu Yangzhou who's trying to force all the loyal and righteous people in the world to rebel on behalf of Yuan Gonglu."

"Stop beating around the bush. Does Yuan Gonglu need to do such a thing?"

Liu Yao sneered, "What do you mean by forcing the world to rebel? Yuan Gonglu has already murdered the emperor and rebelled right in front of me!"
But when Cao Cao heard this, he only said: "Well done, Liu Yao, you are indeed speaking up for Yuan Shu."

"Whether Yuan Gonglu would do such a thing or not, probably no one present knows better than Liu Yangzhou."

"I know Yuan Gonglu very well."

The thought of being inexplicably implicated in a major plot of regicide and treason filled Liu Yao with hatred.

Throughout the entire Han Dynasty, probably no one understands Yuan Shu's disloyal intentions better than him.

During their exchanges, Cao Cao led his troops to confront Liu Yao's officials, and the atmosphere became increasingly oppressive.

Just then, the door was pushed open, and the Imperial Physician slowly walked out, shaking his head and sighing as he looked at everyone.

"His Majesty has awakened. As long as he takes his medicine on time, he will be fine for now. However, this illness may leave a lasting effect."

He dared not say anything more, but simply relayed the emperor's decree to the people.

"I know that you gentlemen are loyal and righteous, but now is not the time for internal strife. I summon Cao Cao to come in for a talk."

Cao Cao stared coldly at Liu Yao, who was blocking his way. Under the gaze of the officials, Liu Yao forced himself to appear fearless, yet forced to retreat under the emperor's command.

Cao Cao slowly walked past him, only whispering a sentence as he passed by, a sentence he believed only the two of them could understand.

“I am fully aware of your plot with Yuan Gonglu. Liu Yangzhou, you should take care of yourself.”

Did Liu Yao understand?

Of course he understood! After all, these were words that only the two of them could understand.

Feeling guilty, he appeared calm on the surface, but inside he was terrified!
Oh no! He found out about the assassination attempt on the emperor! He's going to use it to blackmail me!
No, we must not let others have this leverage over us!

Liu Yao was filled with hatred and malice. He knew Cao Cao could not be allowed to live and that he should be eliminated sooner or later, just as he had eliminated Li Le.

He decided to feign compliance for the time being, consolidate his leadership position among the officials, and wait for the opportunity to eliminate Cao.

After Cao Cao left, Yang Biao stepped forward and whispered to him, "I saw Cao Mengde whispering to you, I wonder what he said?"

Liu Yao lowered his eyes slightly, pondered for a moment, and then lowered his voice meaningfully.

He said that if I helped him become the prime minister, he would make me the grand commander and put me in charge of the affairs of the secretariat.

"What? What a traitor! Does he treat our Great Han Dynasty like a child's game?"

Yang Biao's expression changed drastically. He had never been angrier than he was now, because he was now the Grand Commandant and the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat.

Seeing that Liu Yao was just smiling at him without saying a word, Yang Biao immediately understood that regardless of whether Cao Cao had said these words or not, they must have been said by Cao Cao.

Otherwise, Liu Yao, whom they put forward as their leader, might defect.

Yang Biao understood the deeper meaning behind this, looked at the assembled officials, and said to them:
"We should jointly elect Lord Liu as Grand Tutor and put him in charge of the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel, so as to jointly resist the traitors of the state."

Do you all agree?

Liu Yao immediately slammed his fist on the table and stood up, displaying great righteousness.

"Cao Mengde is attempting to seize the emperor hostage. How can we, the loyal ministers of the Han Dynasty, sit idly by?"

All the ministers agreed, saying, "Excellent."

The house was simple and poor, clearly belonging to a poor commoner. Cao Cao pushed open the door and entered, only to see the emperor lying weakly on his bed, his face flushed from the fever that had just subsided, struggling to look up at him.

"Minister Cao, we meet again. Do you still have the same heroic spirit you had when you assassinated Dong Zhuo?"

Hearing the argument outside from his sickbed, Liu Xie called Cao Cao in because he still had a sliver of hope and trust in him.

In the past, when he was controlled by Dong Zhuo and lived in constant fear, he heard about Cao Mengde's story of presenting a knife to assassinate Dong Zhuo. It was like the first ray of light in the dark night, letting him know that there was still loyalty and righteousness in the Han Dynasty!
Benevolent and righteous people will surely rush to his rescue in times of crisis.

He had been disappointed by Li Jue, Guo Si, Li Le, and the Xiongnu far too many times. But today, he had finally met Cao Mengde!
Cao Cao did not disappoint him, and respectfully bowed down in greeting.

"Your subject, Cao Cao, Governor of Yanzhou, respectfully wishes Your Majesty good health."

"To save Your Majesty, I would gladly die ten thousand deaths, let alone assassinate Dong Zhuo."

Despite his illness, Liu Xie replied with a bitter smile.

"I am tired. I will entrust the important matters outside to Minister Cao and the other officials for discussion. We should return to Luoyang as soon as possible."

He thought Cao Cao would take his leave, but to his surprise, Cao Cao bowed deeply and refused to rise.

"Your Majesty is unaware that the world is in disarray and the state is on the verge of collapse. A traitor named Yuan Shu is taking advantage of this situation to cause chaos."

He disregarded Your Majesty's grace and, while I was there to rescue Your Majesty, secretly attacked Yingchuan.

He forged an imperial edict and ordered all the feudal lords of the realm to form an alliance to attack me, which is a crime against Heaven and Earth and cannot be punished.

Your Majesty, I request that Liu Bei be appointed Governor of Yu Province, to assist Your Majesty in suppressing the rebellion of the disloyal Yuan Shao.

Upon hearing this, Liu Xie was stunned into thought. After a long while, he looked up at Cao Cao and smiled with a hint of sadness and a profound meaning.

"Is that so? But what do you mean by attacking Yingchuan while you're away?"
Cao Qing, aren't you the governor of Yanzhou? Tell me, is Yingchuan your prefecture?

"What do you mean by 'all the feudal lords of the land unite to attack you'? I issued imperial edicts ordering the feudal lords to enter the pass and defend the emperor, but Minister Cao blocked them from coming. How could they not attack you?"

"I am terrified."

For a time, the only trust between the emperor and his ministers was like a small boat on a great river, easily capsizing in the turbulent waves.

Cao Cao prostrated himself on the ground, his attitude respectful, but his voice was extremely firm and brooked no refusal.

"All the prefectures and counties under Heaven are Your Majesty's prefectures and counties, and I am merely governing them on your behalf."

Yuan Gonglu has deceived the emperor and assumed the position of Grand General. He has been attacking Your Majesty's prefectures and counties on his own initiative and seizing territory. His intentions are despicable!
Your Majesty, I again urge you to appoint Liu Bei as the Governor of Yu Province to quell the rebellion; otherwise, I fear it will discourage the soldiers from their long-distance raid to rescue Your Majesty.”

After he finished speaking, the sounds of soldiers shouting and fighting could be heard faintly outside the house.

"How dare you!"

Before Liu Xie could speak, Xu Huang, who had been guarding him the whole time, was furious and was about to draw his sword.

Liu Xie hurriedly stopped him, but Cao Cao was not alarmed but rather pleased.

"Is it Xu Huang, the man who rescued the emperor from the water?"
Cao Cao has long admired your great name. Now I should petition for your merits, General, and recommend you for the position of Assistant General of the State. What do you think?

"The Emperor has appointed me as the Grand Master of Ceremonies, to protect and guard you."

How dare you insult me!

Cao Cao was stunned. So this is how he appointed the Nine Ministers?
Somewhat bewildered that the emperor was appointing officials faster than he was, he thought of Li Le, Han Xian and others from before, and fell silent again.

Liu Xie stopped the two from arguing, and when he looked at Cao Cao again, his gaze had turned cold.

He was well aware that Yuan Shu had forged imperial edicts and issued orders, revealing his disloyal intentions. But now, did he, Cao Cao, truly intend to be a loyal and virtuous ruler?
From hope to disappointment and then to despair, Liu Xie understood better than anyone the true faces of these warlords who were shouting to restore the Han Dynasty.

Only by letting them fight each other incessantly, preventing any one faction from becoming too powerful, and by letting them attack and weaken each other, can he have the opportunity to revive the Han Dynasty.

Then he looked at Cao Cao and smiled inscrutablely.

"How could you, Minister Cao, know that my previous edict did not appoint Minister Yuan as Grand General?"
However, your suggestion is good. I have also heard of Liu Bei's reputation. According to seniority, I should call him Imperial Uncle.

Appoint him as the Governor of Yu Province, which is excellent. Ask him to take up his post immediately and take charge of the entire territory of Yu Province. Anyone who disobeys him shall be punished by him personally.

Gongming, order your ministers to come in and convey the imperial edict.

Cao Cao: "."

Meanwhile, after Yuan Shu occupied Yangdi in Yingchuan, he also followed Jiang Gan's advice and divided his troops into 30,000, ordering Ji Ling to conquer the entire territory of Yuzhou.

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(End of this chapter)