Brother, stop curling up! You're curling up like the founder of the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 7: Cao Cao in the South, Liu Bei in the North, Wang Fen Wants to Depose the Emperor
Wang Fen, the governor of Ji Province, has been very irritable lately.

In early March, Liu Yan, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, submitted a memorial suggesting that the title of Inspector be changed to Governor of a Province to emphasize the importance of the position, given the ongoing warfare and banditry throughout the land.

But Wang Fen is not among them!
Wang Fen had initially hesitated about the plan to "depose Liu Hong and install the Marquis of Hefei as emperor," but after learning that Liu Hong intended to appoint another trusted confidant to govern Ji Province, Wang Fen could no longer sit still.

The agreement was to change the governorship to a provincial governorship, so why can't I, the governorship holder, be directly promoted to provincial governorship?
Could it be that you suspect me?
Since ancient times, if the king doubts his minister, he will die.

Unwilling to sit idly by and await his doom, Wang Fen no longer hesitated. On one hand, he wrote letters to famous figures such as Cao Cao, Tao Qiu Hong, and Hua Xin, and on the other hand, he secretly gathered heroes to raise assassins.

No sooner had Inspector Zhang Feng dismissed the "unqualified" officials than Wang Fen invited this group of officials, whom the court had discarded after their usefulness was over, to Ye City and treated them with great courtesy.

He fought for the court to eliminate traitors, but was ruthlessly abandoned by the court. When he was in distress, he was treated with courtesy by the governor of Jizhou and a famous scholar in the country.

As the saying goes, "A scholar will die for one who understands him."

The officials who were invited to Ye City all joined Wang Fen's ranks without hesitation, willing to die for him.

During this time, Wang Fen also heard about the story of Liu Bei, the county magistrate of Anxi, angrily whipping the inspector, which greatly interested Wang Fen.

A mere clerk dared to whip a supervising official in the street, and this supervising official was the adopted son of Zhang Rang, the eunuch!

Normally speaking, even if Liu Bei looked down on Zhang Feng, he should have taken Zhang Feng's adoptive father, Zhang Rang, into consideration.

Liu Bei's courage reminded Wang Fen of Cao Cao.

Cao Cao, who once served as the Northern Commandant of Luoyang, not only set up five-colored rods in Luoyang to punish those who violated the law, but also had the uncle of the eunuch Jian Shuo beaten to death!
Liu Bei's courage was no less than Cao Cao's!

Some busybodies in Ye City even compared Liu Bei and Cao Cao, saying: "In the south there is Cao Cao, and in the north there is Liu Bei. If all officials in the world were as fearless of the powerful as these two, it would be a blessing for the country and the people."

Before Liu Bei even arrived in Ye City, his fame had already spread throughout the city.

In this chaotic world, most scholars and common people pointed the finger at the Ten Attendants, believing that it was their deceit and misconduct that led to the turmoil in the land.

Whenever someone tries to cause trouble for the Ten Attendants, busybodies will always step in to help.

Upon learning that Liu Bei had arrived in Ye City, Wang Fen felt much better and hurriedly sent someone to invite Liu Bei to a banquet.

Wang Fen was well aware that it would be extremely difficult to succeed in deposing and establishing an emperor by relying solely on scholars skilled in literature such as Chen Yi, Xiang Kai, Zhou Jing, and Xu You.

If Liu Hong were to make a northern tour, he would have the Imperial Guards, Imperial Cavalry, and Southern Army guards inside, and the Five Schools of the Northern Army and Tiger Warriors outside. He would need the assistance of a brave and skilled warrior like Liu Bei!
After entering the city, Liu Bei's whereabouts were kept under the control of the state government, and the invitation was quickly delivered to Liu Bei.

"Brother, be careful, it might be a trap!" Guan Yu immediately became vigilant.

It's really strange that the governor of Ji Province would host a banquet for a commoner.

"It's alright!" Liu Bei said dismissively. "I am just a commoner. If Governor Wang intended to harm me, there would be no need for such trouble. Today, I would like to invite all my worthy brothers to enjoy the fine wine and food at the Governor's residence."

Upon hearing about the fine wine and delicious food, Zhang Fei's eyes widened instantly: "Brother, I can go to the governor's banquet too?"

"Of course!" Liu Bei said with certainty, "We are four brothers, and we should share good fortune together. Since we have fine wine and delicious food, how can I not share it with my worthy brothers?" Zhang Fei was overjoyed. He had been riding wildly for the past three days and had thoroughly enjoyed the thrill of speed, but he still found the flatbreads hard to swallow.

Today, the governor is hosting a banquet in our honor, how could we possibly miss it!
After a quick wash, Liu Bei, along with Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun, went to the governor's mansion for a banquet.

Originally, Wang Fen only invited Liu Bei to the banquet, but seeing that Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun were all formidable men, Wang Fen was even more pleased and added three more tables to show his intention to win them over.

After several rounds of drinks, Wang Fen probed, "Xuande has helped the court quell the rebellion and should have been rewarded, but instead he has been persecuted by treacherous people. I feel very indignant. I wonder what Xuande's plans are for the future?"

Liu Bei secretly scoffed: "Offering favors for no reason is either a sign of treachery or theft. You, a governor, would feel indignant for a commoner like me?"
As his thoughts raced, Liu Bei, channeling his inner actor, became indignant: "Since the campaign against the Yellow Turbans, I have fought dozens of battles, large and small. With my merits, I would be more than qualified to be a Cavalry Commandant. But because I had no money to bribe the eunuchs, I was appointed as a minor county magistrate of Anxi, and even my old friends have been implicated because of me!"

"During my three years in office, I did not commit any offenses against the people. I had hoped to be promoted based on my political achievements, but I never expected to end up being eliminated. That Inspector Zhang Feng even had the audacity to ask me for a bribe. If it weren't for the advice of those around me, I would have personally killed this villain!"

After a furious rebuke, Liu Bei's lips trembled. He glanced at Wang Fen's reaction and continued his performance: "I have come south this time only to seek justice in the capital."

Liu Bei's performance was award-winning; from body language to facial expressions to the art of speech, everything was exquisite and flawless.

Wang Fen was completely unaware of Liu Bei's pretense, secretly pleased with himself: This kind of warrior risked his life to earn the position of county magistrate, and now he's been dismissed with a single imperial edict. How could he not resent it? With just a little manipulation, I can surely make him willingly serve me.

So he continued to urge, "Xuande, you are mistaken! Luoyang is a place where eunuchs and treacherous officials are entrenched. Where can you find justice? If you go there, you will not only fail to get justice, but you will also end up in jail."

Liu Bei paused for a moment at just the right time, then feigned indignation: "I refuse to believe there is no justice in this world!"

Wang Fen laughed heartily upon hearing this: "Xuande is truly a man of strong character! However, in this chaotic world, with morality and music in disarray, even if there is justice, it is not in Luoyang."

Liu Bei feigned surprise and pressed on, "If justice is not in Luoyang, then where is it?"

Seeing that Liu Bei had "fallen into the trap," Wang Fen straightened his clothes and solemnly said, "The diviner Xiang Kai observed the celestial phenomena last night and decreed that the heavens were unfavorable to eunuchs. The Yellow Gate Attendants and the Palace Attendants will be exterminated! I, Wang, am unworthy, but I am willing to eliminate them for the sake of the people. If Xuande wishes to seek justice, why not stay in Ye City and plot a great cause with me?"

Damn it! ?
Liu Bei couldn't help but curse under his breath.

Conspiring together on something big?

What great things can you, Wang Fen, possibly plan?
Is this an invitation for me to depose or install an emperor?
Although Liu Bei also believed that the emperor was immoral and that heroes should rid the people of evil, Liu Bei's ultimate goal was to become a leader in the Eastern Hemisphere like Li Er, rather than usurping the emperor's power and taking over a mess.

Yi Yin and Huo Guang sound impressive, but in reality, they faced the pressure of either doing a good job or failing to do a good job.

Liu Bei wasn't so naive as to sacrifice his entire clan for the happiness of the emperor's family.

However, Wang Fen's words also gave Liu Bei an opportunity. Although recruiting soldiers for Guanqiu Yi could bring him merit, it was far less valuable than reporting Wang Fen's attempt to depose and install emperors.

People like Wang Fen, who get easily swayed by sorcerers and impulsively plot to depose an emperor who has reigned for twenty years, are either stupid or wicked.

Liu Bei felt no moral pressure in reporting Wang Fen.

With a timely glint of longing in his eyes, Liu Bei solemnly straightened his clothes and bowed deeply to Wang Fen: "I have long admired Your Excellency's reputation. Since Your Excellency has such aspirations, how could I dare not comply? I am willing to serve Your Excellency!"

(End of this chapter)