Before Kong Rong came to Xu County, almost everyone under heaven believed that the Son of Heaven in Ye City was the true Son of Heaven, while the one in Xu County was a fake.
The Son of Heaven in Ye City had the recognition of Yuan Shao, Lü Bu, and Liu Bei, as well as the Imperial Seal. These were already enough to establish the legitimacy of his identity.
Of course, Kong Rong could hardly say such things outright. Nor could he decide where he stood before determining which Son of Heaven was genuine.
At these words, the Son of Heaven grew agitated at once, his face full of indignation. "The one in Ye City is a fake!"
"Ever since Chang'an fell, We have been fleeing for Our life. Fortunately, the Grand Minister of Works rescued Us, and only then were We able to move the capital to Xu County."
"The Son of Heaven in Ye City is merely a Pretender Emperor whom that Yuan Thief found to impersonate Us and exploit Our name! We have never left Xu County, so how could We have appeared in Ye City?"
The Son of Heaven felt both furious and wronged. Kong Rong's arrival had finally given him someone to pour his heart out to and vent his feelings upon.
"Now the Han Dynasty is in decline, and disorder rises on every side."
"First came the rebellions of the Yellow Turbans and Dong Zhuo; then Guo Si and Li Jue defied their sovereign. Not long ago, even Yuan Shu, whose family boasted Four Generations of Three Excellencies, proclaimed himself emperor. The realm of Our Great Han is already tossed by wind and rain."
"Of those two Yuan Clan Brothers, one usurped the imperial title, while the other installed a false Son of