Can I Reach the Other Shore?

The world should not have been like this.

He would fight for a sliver of opportunity for all impoverished scholars to rise in the world!

He would make those arrogant nobles take a good, hard look-just where did children of humble families fall short of people born to privilege?

So even though Liu Xie now had nothing, Guo Jia was willing to take a gamble for that hope. Even if he ultimately failed and died, he would have no regrets.

"Having been drenched in the rain himself, he wanted to hold an umbrella for others."

Liu Xie understood why Guo Jia had pledged his allegiance, and that saying came to mind. It truly suited the situation.

He had not expected Guo Jia to be such a man of feeling. It stirred a measure of respect in him for this scholar, because he certainly would not have done the same in Guo Jia's place.

Of course, from his own perspective, Guo Jia's allegiance was more than welcome.

"I promise you."

"If one day I truly restore the Han Dynasty and regain command of the realm, I will give you my full support in carrying out imperial examination reform and implementing this system."

Liu Xie solemnly agreed to Guo Jia's request.

This time, he meant it from the bottom of his heart.

Unlike Zhang He, whom he had coaxed over with a bluff, Guo Jia was an intelligent man. He knew Liu Xie had nothing, knew how great a risk helping him entailed, and clearly had better places to go. Yet he had given them up and chosen to follow him.

That was an immense act of trust.

Liu Xie might have been somewhat carefree and thoughtless, but he knew good from bad. Faced with such trust, he felt a weight settle on his shoulders.

Perhaps... this was responsibility.

For the first time, Liu Xie felt that he was no longer alone in this world. He stepped forward, clasped Guo Jia's hand, and said with heartfelt affection, "We're comrades now!"

"Com... rades?"

Guo Jia froze. Here was another word he had never heard before.

"Oh, it's nothing. It means people who share the same aspirations. Don't worry about the little details."

Liu Xie waved a hand and moved past the subject. "Since you've decided to follow me, I won't keep anything from you. The truth is, all I have right now is a heart full of passion. I don't have any ideas or plans. I'm simply taking things one step at a time."

"Fengxiao, do you have any good ideas? How should I change my circumstances?"

Liu Xie had always wanted to find a strategist to advise him. After all, he truly could not come up with any good moves on his own.

Now that Guo Jia was here, he could hand these matters over with a clear conscience.

Guo Jia considered briefly, then said, "Your Majesty, your best course now is to restrain yourself and wait for an opportunity."

"What you said earlier was right. Yuan Shao is certainly powerful, but precisely because of that, you are very safe for now. After all, he needs to act in your name. He would not dare do anything to you."

"Signs of chaos have already emerged throughout the realm, and future conflicts will only grow fiercer. Having taken you captive, Yuan Shao will inevitably become a target for the other warlords."

"Cao Cao in particular claims that he has you in his custody. To prove himself, he will surely join forces with other lords to campaign against Yuan Shao."

"When that time comes, your opportunity will arrive."

Guo Jia briefly analyzed the current situation for Liu Xie, then reached his conclusion: lying low was the best choice.

Liu Xie nodded. "Very well. I'll follow your advice."

He had to admit, having a strategist at his side made a difference. Though he had previously intended much the same thing-waiting for Yuan Shao to fight someone else, then fishing in troubled waters-he had always felt uneasy about it.

But now that the same words came from Guo Jia's mouth, they felt completely different.

Certified by a genius strategist-worthy of trust!

After giving Liu Xie further reminders to watch his words and actions, Guo Jia took his leave. It was already dark outside, and he could hardly spend the night in the palace.

That would attract far too much attention.

Liu Xie escorted Guo Jia all the way to the palace gates, then watched him walk farther and farther down the avenue until his figure disappeared at the end of the road. For a long time, he did not look away.

"Your Majesty, who was that gentleman just now?"

Zhang He happened to be leading a patrol past the spot. Seeing this, he could not help asking.

He had little impression of Guo Jia. He only vaguely remembered that the man seemed to be one of Yuan Shao's strategists, but he rarely made his presence felt.

"Our new comrade."

Liu Xie spoke with feeling, patted Zhang He on the shoulder, then turned and walked into the palace, humming a little tune.

He left Zhang He standing there with a thoroughly bewildered expression.

What now?

By the time Guo Jia returned home, it was completely dark.

He went alone to his study, lit the oil lamp, then took a letter from a hidden compartment in the bookshelf.

For Fengxiao's eyes only.

The wax seal on the letter remained intact, showing that it had not been opened.

It was a letter from Xu County.

His good friend Xun Yu had sent it.

"..."

Guo Jia gazed quietly at the letter for a moment, but rather than open it, he held it over the oil lamp beside him.

Flames licked at the paper. Soon, the envelope was engulfed in fire and fell to the floor, burning bit by bit until it finally became a heap of ashes.

Once the letter had burned away, Guo Jia walked to the window and looked outside.

Hazy moonlight fell over the small bamboo grove outside, lending it a faint, indistinct beauty.

Yet Guo Jia's mind was on something else entirely.

Wenruo is utterly loyal to the Han Dynasty. Should I bring him over? Though I'm not valued here, if he came, Yuan Shao would certainly place great trust in him.

Then I could conspire with him to drive a wedge between Yuan Shao and men like Tian Feng and Ju Shou, gradually dismantling Yuan Shao's power. His Majesty would have a chance to replace him and take control of Ji Province...

Guo Jia worked through the plan in his mind, but soon dismissed it.

First, since Cao Cao still dared to announce publicly that he held the emperor captive, he must have a substitute convincing enough to pass for the real thing, one who had even deceived Xun Yu. Getting Xun Yu to believe that the Son of Heaven here was genuine would be very difficult.

Second, Xun Yu did not stand alone. He also represented several powerful clans, and those people would not necessarily be willing to let him join Yuan Shao.

"This matter will have to be considered at greater length..."

Chapter 32: Seventeen That Year, Sitting Like a Lackey

Liu Xie's life did not change much after winning Guo Jia over. The days continued to pass as they always had.

The only difference was that Guo Jia occasionally came into the palace to chat with him and help pass the time, making Liu Xie feel less bored.

A month soon passed like this.

As winter arrived, the year's end drew steadily closer.

The various warlords all settled down during this period. After all, the Spring Festival was the most important holiday of the year. Who did not want to celebrate it in peace?

Besides, winter was ill-suited to warfare. Starting a war at such a time would bring little benefit, and the soldiers would be weary of fighting.

To celebrate the Spring Festival, Yuan Shao summoned the civil and military officials in Liu Xie's name for a New Year's Eve banquet in the palace.

Night descended like a vast curtain falling.

Ye City remained bustling and bright. Lights from countless homes dotted the city, shining alongside the stars and filling it with the lively spirit of the New Year.

Inside and outside the palace, lamps blazed, and carriages and horses streamed past.

The palace was holding its New Year's Eve banquet that night. Yuan Shao's civil officials and military officers, along with their families, all came to attend. Carriages of every kind stopped outside the palace, packing the area so tightly that not even water could seep through.

The banquet was held in a side hall of the palace.

Though it was only a side hall, its quality was far from modest. It was grand and imposing, resplendent with gold and jade. Clearly, Yuan Shao had spared considerable effort when building this palace.

The banquet seating was arranged on two sides, with guests seated together according to their status.

Though not all the guests had arrived yet, everything was ready. Those already present chatted and laughed together, creating a lively atmosphere.

At the far end of the two rows stood the emperor's seat of honor.

Dressed in full ceremonial finery, Liu Xie sat upright upon it.

That day, he wore a crimson-and-black dragon robe, a purple-gold crown on his head, and a jade ornament at his waist. He was already good-looking, and dressed like this, he possessed even more of the Son of Heaven's majesty.

Yet few of those present paid him any attention.

Aside from the occasional assessing or disdainful glance, no one came to bow and greet him, much less offer him congratulations.

Naturally, Liu Xie knew why.

They're just treating me as a mascot?

Liu Xie inwardly curled his lip. These people were not even bothering to pretend anymore.

Though he truly had no power as the Son of Heaven and was nothing more than a title and a symbol, these fellows were making it far too obvious.

He had been sitting there for nearly half an hour since arriving, yet not a single person had come over to greet him. It was enough to chill the whole palace.

Guo Jia was also in the hall, but his seat was near the entrance, and Liu Xie could only just make him out. Zhang He and Gao Lan had it even worse: they were not even qualified to enter the hall and were still guarding the palace gates.

Ignored like this, it was no wonder they would both defect to Cao Cao in the future.

Yuan Benchu's defeat truly would be well deserved.

While Liu Xie's thoughts wandered, the hall suddenly fell silent, and he turned his gaze toward the entrance.

Yuan Shao strode in, followed by Liu, Guan, and Zhang, as well as strategists including Ju Shou, Shen Pei, Tian Feng, and Guo Tu.

They're here.

Liu Xie's heart tightened slightly, and he sat a little straighter.

Yuan Shao led the group into the center of the hall, then offered Liu Xie an apology. "We have arrived late for the banquet. Please forgive us, Your Majesty."