Can I Reach the Other Shore?

He would be happy to see either outcome.

Xun Yu frowned and said, "My lord, Yuan Shao is Yuan Shao, and you are you. Whatever his response, you must make your stance clear."

"Otherwise, what will the world think of you? What will the civil and military officials think of you?"

"Choosing to stand by coldly at a time like this would be unwise."

The repeated urging brought a flicker of displeasure to Cao Cao's eyes, and his expression darkened slightly.

Sensing that the atmosphere had turned sour, Xun You considered for a moment before saying to Cao Cao, "Since you do not wish to be the first to send troops, my lord, why not have the Son of Heaven issue an edict ordering someone else to march? You would not need to move a single soldier."

Xun You offered a solution that satisfied both sides.

If they did not want to send troops themselves, why not make someone else do it?

"An excellent plan!"

Delight immediately appeared on Cao Cao's face. Xun You's proposal suited him perfectly, and he asked eagerly, "Who do you think would be most suitable, Gongda?"

"Liu Biao of Jing Province? Sun Ce of Jiangdong? Or Lü Bu of Xu Province?"

But Xun You shook his head. "None of them. I believe we can order Zhang Xiu in Wan City to lead the first attack against Yuan Shu."

"First, Wan City borders Yu Province, and Zhang Xiu comes from Liang Province. The cavalry under his command are elite troops. Yang Province consists largely of plains, ideal terrain for cavalry."

"Second, Zhang Xiu's uncle, Zhang Ji, once took part in a rebellion. My lord, you can have the Son of Heaven issue an edict pardoning his uncle's crimes in exchange for his sending troops."

Liu Biao, Sun Ce, and Lü Bu would not necessarily obey an order.

They needed a target they could keep firmly in hand.

"Zhang Xiu..."

Cao Cao had heard the name. His forces consisted entirely of remnants of the Liang Province army, formidable fighters all. Liu Biao had brought him into his service the previous year as an outlying vassal, and he now held a commanding position in Nanyang Commandery.

But the Great Clans of the Central Plains would never accept a barbarian from Liang Province. His uncle's involvement in a rebellion only made them shun him all the more.

Had his troops not been so fierce, he would probably have been swallowed up long ago.

Still, there was no denying that he would make a suitable blade.

After only a moment's consideration, Cao Cao made his decision and told Xun You, "We shall do as Gongda suggests. Issue an edict ordering Zhang Xiu to march!"

Chapter 45: Liu Xie: I Would Call Yuan Shu the Strongest

Ye City, Ji Province.

It was late at night, but lights still burned in the Yuan Residence. Furious curses and the sounds of smashing objects rang out intermittently from the study, piercing the stillness of the night.

"Idiot! An utter, complete idiot!"

"Yuan Shu, you deserve to die-!"

The murderous intent in his voice almost seemed to take solid form. Even from far away, it sent chills down people's spines.

The servants who heard it did not dare so much as peek inside. They kept their heads lowered and stayed well away from the study, terrified of being caught in the fallout.

Inside the study, Yuan Shao stood amid the wreckage with a sharp sword in his hand, blood staining his body and his eyes crimson as he panted heavily. A corpse lay at his feet, its blood spreading across the floor.

Where was even a trace of the elegance and nobility befitting the "model for all under heaven"? He looked as though he had gone mad.

And in truth, he had.

"My lord..."

The steward of the Yuan Residence called out shakily from beneath a table.

Yuan Shao abruptly raised his head and fixed his bloodshot eyes on him. His savage expression nearly frightened the poor old steward's soul out of his body.

Just then, a rapid succession of footsteps approached.

Tian Feng, Ju Shou, Shen Pei, and the other advisers hurried over. The sight of the study, and of Yuan Shao covered in blood, gave them all a fright.

"My lord, what has happened to you?"

Ju Shou could not help asking. Yuan Shao's appearance was truly frightening, utterly unlike his usual self.

What on earth had happened?

Tian Feng was the most anxious and stepped forward to check on Yuan Shao, but Yuan Shao violently swung his bloodstained sword and roared, "Get away!"

Had Shen Pei not pulled Tian Feng back in time, the blade would have struck his chest.

"Yuanhao, our lord is not himself right now. Do not rush over."

Shen Pei spoke gravely, then turned to the steward.

"What exactly happened? Why has our lord become like this? Explain at once!"

They had all been asleep when servants from the Yuan Residence suddenly came knocking, waking them with news that Yuan Shao had lost his mind. They had hurried over at once.

But they knew nothing of what had actually happened.

Still shaken, the old steward said tremulously, "T-tonight, a scout brought a secret report. After our lord read it, he... he became like this. He even drew his sword and killed the scout, and wounded several servants as well. None of us dared go near him..."

"Where is the report? Bring it here at once!"

"Here..."

The old steward respectfully handed Shen Pei the bloodstained report he had secretly picked up.

Shen Pei took it and began reading immediately, then drew in a sharp breath.

"Zhengnan, what does it say?"

Ju Shou could not help asking.

Guo Tu urged him as well. "Tell us! Stop keeping us in suspense. What does it say?"

A complicated look filled Shen Pei's eyes. He exhaled heavily and said in a low voice, "It says... Yuan Shu has proclaimed himself emperor in Shouchun."

Everyone's face filled with horror.

Proclaimed himself emperor?!

In an instant, they all understood why Yuan Shao was so furious, why his rage had even driven him out of his senses.

The Han Dynasty was in decline, but its allotted fortune had not yet run out, and the people's hearts still belonged to it. The Yuan family boasted Four Generations of Three Excellencies and had received the Great Han's favor for generations. Yet Yuan Shu, its second legitimate son, had dared usurp the imperial title!

This was tantamount to burying all the prestige the Yuan Clan had accumulated over hundreds of years!

How could Yuan Shao, who took such pride in his lineage, not be furious?

And surely he was not alone. By now, every member of the Yuan Clan across the realm must have wanted to grind Yuan Shu's bones to dust and scatter his ashes!

How the fuck did you dare?!

Most importantly, Yuan Shao still held the Son of Heaven in his hands. He proclaimed his support for the Han Dynasty, yet his younger half-brother had declared himself emperor. It was easy to imagine how the world would view Yuan Shao from now on.

They would surely see him and Yuan Shu as jackals from the same hill, no different from Dong Zhuo... no, even more treacherous than Dong Zhuo!

"Yuan Shu! Yuan Shu! You have ruined me-!"

Yuan Shao cried out, then his eyes rolled back and he toppled stiffly backward. The sword in his hand fell to the floor with a clang.

The advisers went pale with alarm. Throwing all caution aside, they rushed forward.

"My lord! My lord!"

"Quick, fetch a physician!"

The following day, at the Imperial Palace.

In the rear garden, Liu Xie ate Palace Pastries as he asked through a mouthful, "You're shaying Yuan Shao fainted from anger?"

Seated opposite him was Guo Jia.

Guo Jia thoughtfully offered Liu Xie a cup of water, then nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty. He lost consciousness last night and has yet to awaken. The physician says rage attacked his heart, and he needs rest."

Liu Xie took a sip of tea and swallowed the pastry in his mouth. Only then did he give his verdict, raising a thumb.

"Badass."

"?"

Guo Jia did not understand what this word meant either, but he was already used to Liu Xie's way of speaking and did not dwell on it. Instead, he turned to the matter of Yuan Shu proclaiming himself emperor.

"It is hardly surprising that Yuan Shao reacted so violently. Yuan Shu's act was far too audacious, and its repercussions far too terrible."

"Your Majesty still reigns, yet Yuan Shu, a member of the Yuan Clan, has defied his sovereign and usurped the imperial title. Such outrageous treason will surely be condemned by everyone under heaven."

"He proclaimed himself emperor a month ago. By now, word has likely spread throughout the realm, and all the regional lords know."

Liu Xie clicked his tongue in wonder. "I rather admire Yuan Shu. He did what others dared not do and claimed the imperial title others dared not claim. Truly a real man of the Yuan Clan."

He, Liu Xie, was willing to call Yuan Shu the strongest.

In fact, Liu Xie had begun wondering long ago whether Yuan Shu would proclaim himself emperor. After all, that was how events had unfolded at this point in history.

He had thought his transmigration and interference with the historical course would delay Yuan Shu's proclamation, or prevent it altogether. Yet Yuan Shu had stubbornly gone ahead and declared himself emperor anyway.

You badass.

"Your Majesty does not seem surprised?"

Guo Jia keenly noticed Liu Xie's reaction. He seemed to have expected this, showing not the slightest surprise.

Liu Xie was about to pick up another pastry and put it in his mouth. At those words, he paused and said, "I'm not surprised. Nothing Yuan Shu does would surprise me. This is exactly the sort of thing he would do."

"Besides, Fengxiao, don't you think Yuan Shu merely did what many lords across the realm want to do but dare not?"

"In that respect, he is far stronger than those lords."

Guo Jia paused, then could not help laughing.

Yet his eyes held a complicated look.

Indeed, how many lords across the realm harbored ambitions of becoming emperor? Could Yuan Shu possibly be the only one?

Of course not.

Those men simply hid it well, or perhaps they did not dare act. However madly they craved it in their hearts, they still had to display unwavering loyalty to the Han Dynasty.