Can I Make It to the Other Shore?

Yang Xiu's face was filled with regret. He thought Yuan Shao's move was truly underhanded.

But as soon as he said this, Xun You, Xun Yu, and Cheng Yu all gave him strange looks.

"What is it? Was I wrong?"

Yang Xiu wondered why the three were looking at him that way. Then he heard a cold voice.

"When did I ever say I intended to command the lords of the realm in the Son of Heaven's name?"

Cao Cao narrowed his eyes at Yang Xiu, a flash of murderous intent passing through them. "Do you intend to follow Yuan Shao's example and slander me too?!"

Startled, Yang Xiu finally realized he had misspoken.

He had been so focused on analyzing the consequences and dangers of Yuan Shao's scheme that he had forgotten some things could not be said aloud.

Just as he was at a loss for how to smooth things over, Xun Yu took up the conversation. "My lord, our immediate priority is to consider how we can respond."

Cao Cao withdrew his gaze from Yang Xiu and replied impatiently, "Yuan Shao is using his reputation to crush me. His words carry more weight than mine. What response could I possibly make?"

Then, seemingly recalling something, he could not help letting out a long sigh.

"If only Xi Zhong were here. He always had a quick mind and a hundred strategies at his fingertips. If he were still alive, he would surely have an answer."

The Xi Zhong Cao Cao spoke of had once been one of his advisers, whose strategic ingenuity surpassed even Xun Yu's and Xun You's.

Unfortunately, he had died of illness several months earlier.

"My lord, whatever else we do, I believe we must first have the Son of Heaven issue a declaration to the realm, explaining the situation and condemning Yuan Shao."

"If we make no response, we will effectively confirm that the Son of Heaven is in Ji Province rather than Xu County. It will also make everyone believe you are a treacherous villain."

Xun You offered the simplest, clumsiest solution, but it had to be done.

Others might not believe an explanation, but without one, they certainly would not believe you.

"I don't want to deal with this. Handle it as you see fit."

Utterly vexed, Cao Cao could not be bothered with such matters. Something else occupied his mind entirely.

He looked at Xun Yu and asked, "Wenruo, do you know of any other distinguished scholars or worthy talents here in Yingchuan? I desperately need capable assistance."

Xun Yu and Xun You were talented in domestic administration and grand strategy, with excellent insight into the overall situation. Cheng Yu, meanwhile, was a military commander. Though hardly lacking in intelligence, he was not a strategist.

As for Yang Xiu, he had a clever mind, but his loose tongue made him hard to like.

There had once been Xi Zhong, whose strategies were outstanding, but sadly, he had died young.

Thus, Cao Cao now desperately sought a strategist.

One look at Yuan Shao's latest scheme told him it had come from an adviser under his command. He knew Yuan Shao; a man of his disposition could never have shown such boldness.

If Cao Cao also had an adviser as outstanding as those serving Yuan Shao, he would no longer need to fear these schemes and underhanded tactics.

"There is one."

After a moment's thought, Xun Yu answered.

Cao Cao's eyes lit up. "Who?"

Xun Yu replied, "His surname is Guo, his given name Jia, and his courtesy name Fengxiao. He is from Yingchuan Commandery. His intellect surpasses others, and his plans leave nothing unaccounted for. I have never met his equal in my life. He could truly be called an uncanny genius."

Overjoyed, Cao Cao hurriedly asked, "Where is he now? I'll go invite him myself!"

Xun Yu rarely praised anyone. That this man named Guo Jia could earn such an appraisal from him was proof enough of how extraordinary he was.

"My lord, he went to serve Yuan Shao several years ago."

Xun Yu gave a light cough as he spoke.

Cao Cao immediately flared up. "Xun Yu! Are you making a fool of me?"

If the man already served Yuan Shao, why even mention him?

Unruffled, Xun Yu said, "Please be patient, my lord. Though he joined Yuan Shao, Yuan Shao has an abundance of talent under his command, and he has never been entrusted with an important role."

"He and I correspond frequently and are close friends. If you wish, my lord, I am willing to write him a letter asking him to come serve you."

Only then did Cao Cao smile again. "Good. Write at once, and make certain you bring this Master Guo here!"

Xun Yu bowed in assent.

Chapter 14: The Son of Heaven's Self-Cultivation

The proclamation Yuan Shao issued sent enormous shock waves throughout the realm. Just as anticipated, many people believed its lies.

Although the Son of Heaven's sudden flight to Ji Province was baffling, Yuan Shao's reputation spoke for itself. Even if some harbored doubts, more still chose to believe him.

For a time, many worthy talents and former officials of the Great Han abandoned their plans to travel to Xu County and headed for Ji Province instead.

Before long, however, another piece of news emerged from Xu County.

This time, it was an edict issued by the Son of Heaven.

Its contents were simple. In short: I have never been to Ji Province. I am safe and well in Xu County. Yuan Shao is deceiving the realm; do not believe him.

Nor was Cao Cao a treacherous villain. Those were merely Yuan Shao's groundless fabrications.

Once this edict appeared, even more people were left utterly bewildered.

"Is the Son of Heaven in Xu County or Ji Province?"

"How did we end up with two Sons of Heaven...?"

"Yuan Benchu comes from a family with Four Generations of Three Excellencies. He is a hero of the realm. Why would he lie? Cao Cao must be twisting the truth!"

"Hmph! Even now, Cao Cao dares deceive people in the Son of Heaven's name!"

"But don't you find it strange? If the Son of Heaven isn't in Xu County, how would Cao Mengde dare say such things?"

"I don't think Cao Cao is lying. The Son of Heaven was already escorted to Xu County. His suddenly appearing in Ji Province is simply too incredible."

"Perhaps the Son of Heaven was never escorted to Xu County at all? Cao Cao merely wanted to misuse his name, never expecting the real Son of Heaven to escape to Ji Province."

"Let's wait and see."

"I still think the real Son of Heaven is in Ji Province."

The matter sparked heated debate at court and beyond. Some believed Yuan Shao, others believed Cao Cao, and each side clung to its own account.

No one could say for certain whether the Son of Heaven was in Ji Province or Xu County.

And various factions were certainly doing their part to fan the flames.

For the other lords, the Son of Heaven's presence in either Ji Province or Xu County was an unwelcome prospect.

Whether Yuan Shao or Cao Cao held the Son of Heaven, he could command the realm in the emperor's name and claim the mantle of rightful authority.

Now both sides claimed to have the Son of Heaven, and truth could not be distinguished from falsehood. That gave the other lords grounds to refuse his edicts.

Ji Province, Ye City, the Yuan Residence.

Liu Xie had no idea how great a stir his appearance had caused outside. He was still in that little courtyard, studying the Daily Conduct Records and learning the Son of Heaven's ceremonial etiquette from Ju Shou.

"Wrong! The Son of Heaven must stand straight, not glance about!"

"Where are you putting your hands?"

"Remember! Walk with your head held high and broad, confident strides!"

In the courtyard, Liu Xie wore a jet-black dragon robe and an imperial crown as he imitated the Son of Heaven's bearing and manner of walking.

Ju Shou supervised from beside him, occasionally calling out corrections.

Only after Liu Xie had walked back and forth several times did he barely meet Ju Shou's standards and earn permission to sit down and rest.

"I'm exhausted..."

Sweat covered Liu Xie's head. He plopped onto a stone stool in the courtyard, then grabbed the teapot from the table and poured water straight into his mouth.

Impersonating an emperor was no easy task, especially with the Son of Heaven's exceedingly intricate etiquette and countless rules.

Over the past month, he had first learned how to speak. That part had been fairly simple; he had a good memory and could just memorize everything by rote.

But imitating the Son of Heaven's words and actions afterward had truly made him feel that death would be preferable.

Etiquette was the most troublesome thing to learn. Standing, sitting, walking, and even eating all had their own set of rules.

In the palace, these rules were instilled from childhood until they became habits. But where would a man from the twenty-first century have encountered such things as a child?

Being forced to change his behavior until he acted exactly like the Son of Heaven was sheer torment.

"Why are you behaving so crudely again? Don't you know to use a cup when drinking?"

Seeing Liu Xie drink straight from the teapot, Ju Shou spoke in displeasure.

After their time together over the past few days, he had completely abandoned any suspicion that Liu Xie might come from a distinguished family. His words and actions bore no resemblance to such a background; he behaved exactly like a rustic villager.

He could not even manage basic etiquette properly.

Liu Xie set down the teapot and rolled his eyes. "Why don't you try wearing this dragon robe and crown while walking back and forth for two hours?"

"My whole body aches now."

Yuan Shao had ordered someone to find this dragon robe, and it was extremely heavy. The imperial crown on Liu Xie's head also weighed five or six jin.

Sitting still would have been fine, but standing and walking back and forth while making sure his bearing never slipped was truly exhausting.

"If you wish to wear the crown, you must bear its weight."

"Being the Son of Heaven isn't so easy."

Unimpressed, Ju Shou reached out and took the teapot from Liu Xie's hands. "Have you rested enough? Get up and keep practicing."

"Your walk is still too stiff. It needs to be more natural. Make it a habit, and maintain it whether you're in public or in private."

At that, Liu Xie sprawled across the table and gave up on the spot.

"I can't do it anymore. I need a proper rest. Let's practice tomorrow. Even if you kill me now, I'm not moving."

"You..."