He was certainly no stranger to the name Guo Jia. One of the most dazzling strategists of the Three Kingdoms, he was hailed as a ghostly genius. Some even considered him superior to Zhuge Liang, claiming, "Had Guo Jia lived, the Sleeping Dragon would never have emerged."
Although that was nothing more than wishful thinking and wild boasting from people ignorant of history, there was no denying that, in sheer strategic brilliance, Guo Jia truly was Zhuge Liang's equal.
But there was one thing... why was he here?
Liu Xie looked at Guo Jia, dressed in plain cloth yet carrying himself with striking elegance, and his mind filled with questions.
He remembered this young man. When he had first taken up residence in the imperial palace and Yuan Shao had led the officials out to welcome him, this man had been among the crowd.
He simply had never imagined that it would be Guo Jia!
But... wasn't he supposed to be serving Cao Cao?
Wait, this is the first year of Jian'an! Xun Yu only recommended Guo Jia to Cao Cao after Xi Zhicai died of illness. At this point, Guo Jia is still with Yuan Shao!
Liu Xie quickly realized what was going on.
He had nearly forgotten that detail!
Guo Jia had not served Boss Cao from the outset. He had first joined Yuan Shao, but Yuan Shao's camp had been overflowing with talent, and Guo Jia had never been given an important role. Only later, through Xun Yu's recommendation, had he entered Boss Cao's service!
Am I really going to scoop him up?
Liu Xie felt his heartbeat quicken.
Guo Jia was an SSR gold card!
And what he lacked most right now was someone who could help him devise plans!
He had to find a way to trick Guo Jia into joining him!
Although countless ideas had flashed through Liu Xie's mind, only a few seconds had actually passed.
Once he had made up his mind, he immediately composed himself and looked up at the SSR... no, at Guo Jia standing before him.
"So you are Master Guo!"
Liu Xie dropped his fishing rod, rose, and stepped forward to clasp Guo Jia's hand, his face positively beaming with warmth.
"I have long heard of your great reputation, sir. At last, I have the pleasure of meeting you today!"
"Come, come, please sit!"
Liu Xie offered up the little folding stool he had been fishing from and firmly pressed Guo Jia down onto it. Then he instructed the young eunuch beside him, "What are you standing there for? Hurry and prepare some tea for our guest!"
"Huh? Yes, Your Majesty!"
The young eunuch hastily acknowledged the order and trotted away.
Having executed that silky little combo, Liu Xie stood beside Guo Jia and asked with utter sincerity, "Sir, is this chair comfortable? Would you like to come into the palace with me and sit there instead?"
"..."
Guo Jia said nothing. He glanced at his hand, which Liu Xie was still holding, and the corner of his mouth involuntarily twitched.
This method of winning hearts... was truly clumsy.
With a soft sigh, Guo Jia withdrew his hand, then stood and said solemnly, "Your Majesty, this does not accord with the propriety between sovereign and subject. I dare not accept it."
"All right..."
Liu Xie reluctantly drew back his hand, feeling somewhat disappointed.
This routine had worked exceptionally well on Zhang He and Gao Lan, yet it had no effect on Guo Jia.
I am the Son of Heaven, after all! I've been this enthusiastic. You could at least give me some kind of response.
Sure enough, scholars are a nuisance.
After grumbling inwardly, Liu Xie put on another smile and asked, "Then I shall not insist. Now, sir, what brings you to see me today?"
There had to be a reason for Guo Jia's sudden visit.
He was very curious about the man's purpose.
"Nothing much, really."
Guo Jia smiled and said casually, "A few days ago, I overheard your conversation with Commander Zhang in the pavilion. It left me with some questions, so I came to ask Your Majesty to enlighten me."
"I see."
Only then did Liu Xie understand. So he had simply come to ask questions.
Come to think of it, what had he discussed with Zhang He in the pavilion a few days ago?
Wait... the pavilion?
Liu Xie's heart gave a sudden jolt, and he stared at Guo Jia with wide eyes.
Guo Jia was looking steadily back at him, an ambiguous smile on his face.
In an instant, Liu Xie felt his scalp prickle.
Because he and Zhang He had only ever spoken in the pavilion once.
And that time, he had spoken to Zhang He about his ideals, his plans, and... how to rebel against Yuan Shao.
Don't panic! He might not mean that day. If I panic now, I'll look far too suspicious!
Stay calm, Liu Xie. You have to stay calm!
Liu Xie shouted frantically in his mind, trying to reassure himself, but his faintly trembling body betrayed his true feelings.
He was afraid.
As a puppet, a false Son of Heaven, he had nevertheless dared to use that identity to win people over. If Yuan Shao learned of it, he would certainly die!
He did not want to die!
"I... I don't seem to remember very clearly. What did you wish to ask, sir?"
Forcing himself to remain composed, Liu Xie asked with a strained laugh.
Guo Jia said, "I wish to ask Your Majesty what you meant by 'the realm is the people, and the people are the realm.'"
The last shred of hope in Liu Xie's heart was shattered.
Yet now that it had come to this, he instead grew calm.
The hand hidden inside Liu Xie's sleeve moved slightly and touched a piece of iron radiating an icy chill.
It was a dagger.
He had asked Zhang He to find it for him.
Solely for self-defense.
Liu Xie gripped the dagger and looked up at Guo Jia again.
He wondered how likely he was to succeed if he struck now.
He wondered whether anyone besides Guo Jia knew this secret, and whether killing him would keep it hidden.
Guo Jia seemed entirely unaware of the approaching danger. He merely gazed calmly at Liu Xie, waiting for his answer.
At that moment, even time seemed to stand still.
But soon, a series of footsteps broke the silence between them.
"Your Majesty! The tea is ready... huh?"
The young eunuch trotted over with the tea on a tray.
But when he saw Liu Xie and Guo Jia standing motionless, staring at each other, he froze.
His Majesty and this gentleman... what are they doing?
Liu Xie stared at Guo Jia for a long time. In the end, he released the dagger hidden in his sleeve, sat casually on the little folding stool, and said coolly, "Master Guo, have some tea first."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Guo Jia smiled faintly and found a rock to sit on.
Although the young eunuch was somewhat bewildered, he still set down the tray and poured tea for Liu Xie and Guo Jia.
"All right, you may leave. You are no longer needed here."
Once the young eunuch had finished pouring, Liu Xie waved him away. Then, sipping tea from his cup, he picked up his fishing rod and resumed fishing.
He completely ignored Guo Jia beside him.
Guo Jia said nothing either, simply watching Liu Xie fish.
After a long while, Liu Xie was ultimately the first to lose patience. Frowning, he asked, "What exactly are you getting at? Does Yuan Shao already know?"
He had decided to lay his cards on the table with Guo Jia!
Chapter 25: On the Realm and the State
Since Guo Jia could ask that question, he must have overheard the entire conversation between Liu Xie and Zhang He.
So Liu Xie no longer intended to keep playing dumb.
Because if Guo Jia truly had been sent by Yuan Shao, any struggle now would be meaningless. Every road led to death.
"You misunderstand, Your Majesty."
Guo Jia took a small sip of tea, then said, "I did not come on Yuan Shao's orders, nor have I ever told anyone else about this."
"I came to see Your Majesty today only to ask you in person what you meant by those words."
Liu Xie was taken aback. "You didn't tell Yuan Shao?"
Guo Jia asked in return, "Why would I tell Yuan Shao?"
Liu Xie opened his mouth, momentarily at a loss for words.
Indeed, Yuan Shao did not value Guo Jia, and Guo Jia likewise looked down on Yuan Shao. Under those circumstances, Guo Jia truly had no reason to inform on him.
So this fellow really had come today just to ask a question?
As though he had seen through Liu Xie's thoughts, Guo Jia set down his teacup and cupped his hands. "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven. Though you are now constrained by another, you wish to await an opportunity to restore the Han Dynasty. This is a blessing for our Great Han. Though I have never drawn a Han stipend, I am still a man of Han. How could I stoop to such a petty act as informing on you?"
"I came today only to satisfy my curiosity."
Before you continue