Can I Reach the Other Shore?

Ju Shou was both startled and delighted, and hurriedly bowed to thank him for his grace.

Liu Xie then waved at the maids. "You may all withdraw. Without my permission, no one is to enter this courtyard."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The maids answered respectfully, then left with their meal boxes.

Only Ju Shou and Liu Xie remained in the room.

With no outsiders present, Ju Shou no longer needed to pretend to be a subject. His expression returned to normal, and he simply found a chair, sat down, and smiled at Liu Xie.

"You're quick-witted enough to realize I wanted to speak with you."

He had thought he would need an excuse to stay, but Liu Xie had taken the initiative to ask him to remain and even dismissed the servants.

Liu Xie chuckled. "If you didn't need something from me, my lord, why would you come all this way just to bring me a meal? I have that much discernment."

"Heh."

Ju Shou smiled without warmth and gave Liu Xie a penetrating look.

That look made Liu Xie's skin crawl a little.

What was going on? Had I said something wrong? Was being quick-witted a crime now?

While Liu Xie was puzzling over this, Ju Shou said, "My lord asked me to find someone to teach you the Son of Heaven's ceremonial etiquette. But after thinking it over, I decided that would make it too easy to expose your identity. From now on, I will teach you myself."

"Today, my lord publicly announced the Son of Heaven's arrival in Ye City. In the Son of Heaven's name, he also declared that Ye City would become the capital and the Imperial Court would be reorganized. He has already ordered a proclamation drafted. Before long, it will be announced throughout the land."

"When that happens, Han subjects and officials across the realm will come upon hearing the news."

"You have only one month. You must make your every word and action identical to those of the true Son of Heaven."

Liu Xie felt immense pressure after hearing this.

He was no professional actor. Sitting there and keeping up appearances was one thing, but how could he possibly make his every word and movement exactly like the Son of Heaven's?

"My lord, isn't that asking too much? I've never even seen the Son of Heaven. How am I supposed to behave exactly like him?"

Liu Xie spoke with considerable difficulty.

Ju Shou smiled, took a book from his sleeve, and set it on the table. By the dim yellow candlelight, Liu Xie made out the words on its cover.

"Daily Conduct Records."

"Good grief, you even got your hands on this?"

Liu Xie was genuinely astonished. Ju Shou was far too efficient-he had managed to obtain this thing so quickly.

The Daily Conduct Records were journals recording the Son of Heaven's words and actions. With this volume, learning most of Emperor Xian of Han's habits would be no problem.

"This is only one of many volumes of the Daily Conduct Records. I've already sent people to search for the others. Read it carefully and memorize every word and action of the Son of Heaven recorded inside."

"The Capital-Transfer Heaven-Worship Ceremony will take place soon. You will not only have to face numerous officials of Great Han, but also perform the Heaven-Worship Rite before them all. Nothing must go wrong!"

Ju Shou gave Liu Xie these instructions and handed him the book.

Liu Xie accepted the Daily Conduct Records from Ju Shou, glanced at them, then put them away and nodded. "All right. I understand."

His calm response puzzled Ju Shou. "Why do I get the feeling you're not nervous at all? Are you that confident you can play the Son of Heaven?"

Liu Xie was picking up some food with his chopsticks. At the question, he shrugged. "I am nervous, and I'm not very confident either. But it's not as though I have a choice, is it?"

"Since things have come to this, I might as well eat first."

As Liu Xie shoveled food into his mouth, he looked at Ju Shou in puzzlement and asked indistinctly, "Aren't you eating?"

Ju Shou: "..."

Chapter 10: The Realm Trembles

With Yuan Shao deliberately pushing it along, news of the Son of Heaven's arrival in Ji Province soon spread from Ye City to every corner of the realm.

Spreading alongside it was the proclamation Tian Feng had written.

"...The traitor Cao Cao has long styled himself a loyal and virtuous subject, yet close scrutiny of his deeds reveals this claim to be utterly false. He stormed Luoyang, escorted the Son of Heaven away to establish a new capital in Xu County, and claimed to uphold the Han Dynasty. In truth, he harbors Dong Zhuo's ambitions, seeking to hold the Son of Heaven hostage to command the lords and usurp the foundations of Great Han!"

"With the savage ambition of jackals and wolves, he secretly nurtures ruinous schemes, humiliates the imperial house, destroys law and order, holds the Son of Heaven captive, and monopolizes the affairs of state. Titles and rewards follow his whims; punishments and executions fall at his word. Those he favors bring glory to five branches of their families; those he despises see three clans exterminated. Those who speak openly are executed in public, while those who dissent in their hearts are slain in secret. The hundred officials clamp their mouths shut, and travelers on the roads speak only with their eyes. The secretariat merely records court assemblies, while the ministers and nobles serve as nothing more than placeholders."

"Yuan Shao, Governor of Ji Province, comes from a family that has held office as the Four Generations of Three Excellencies. Having received Great Han's favor for generations, he has always cherished the desire to repay the state. Upon hearing of the Son of Heaven's plight, he grieved day and night, unable to sleep or eat in peace."

"By Heaven's blessing, the Son of Heaven escaped and, after an arduous journey, finally reached Ji Province. With worthy subjects now assisting him, the chance to Restore the Great Han is within sight. He intends to establish his capital in Ye City, restore order to the court, and secure the foundations of the state..."

"...It is said that enlightened rulers contemplate dangers to counter upheaval, while loyal subjects consider adversity to establish their authority."

"Let all men of aspiration throughout the realm, and all subjects of Great Han, hasten to Ye City to pay homage to the Son of Heaven and together uphold the state. Thus shall extraordinary merit be achieved."

"This proclamation is now issued throughout the realm, that all may know of the captivity and oppression suffered by the sacred court. Let it be obeyed as law!"

The proclamation's contents could broadly be divided into three points.

First, Cao Cao was a traitor whose purpose in receiving the Son of Heaven was to hold him hostage and command the lords, making him no different from Dong Zhuo.

Second, the Son of Heaven had escaped Cao Cao and was now in Ye City, safe under the protection of their lord Yuan Shao. He intended to reestablish the Imperial Court and secure the foundations of the state.

Third, all men of aspiration throughout the realm, as well as former subjects of Great Han, were asked to hasten to Ye City, pay homage to the Son of Heaven, and discuss the campaign against the traitor.

The news and the proclamation swept across the land like the wind.

For a time, the entire realm trembled.

Only recently, Cao Cao had announced that the Son of Heaven would establish his capital in Xu County and summoned Great Han's subjects to an audience. How had the Son of Heaven suddenly ended up in Ji Province?

And how had Cao Cao suddenly gone from a loyal subject of Great Han to a rebel like the traitorous Dong Zhuo?

Everyone was left utterly bewildered by this sudden news.

Xu County, Yingchuan Commandery.

The Cao Residence bustled with excitement that day. To celebrate the Son of Heaven establishing his capital in Xu County, Cao Cao had prepared a grand banquet and invited all his civil officials and military officers to pay homage.

Inside the great hall, the young Son of Heaven occupied the seat of honor.

Yet the central figure in the hall that day was not him, but the short, stocky man seated below him to his left.

Dressed in a brocade robe, the man was short and ordinary-looking, yet every movement carried a bold, commanding air.

He was Cao Cao.

With a single raised hand from Cao Cao, the noisy hall fell silent. Holding his wine cup, he rose and smiled. "Gentlemen, now that the Son of Heaven's Arrival in Xu County has taken place and he has established his capital here, the foundations of our Great Han may rest secure!"

"Join me in raising this cup to His Majesty!"

Holding his cup, Cao Cao turned toward the Son of Heaven, bowed, then drained his wine in one gulp.

"To His Majesty!"

The assembled subjects in the hall rose as well.

At this sight, the Son of Heaven, seated in the place of honor, could not help being deeply moved. With tears in his eyes, he said, "That I have found Mengde is truly a blessing for Great Han!"

"With this cup, I toast Mengde and all you loyal subjects!"

"You are all the pillars and mainstays of our Great Han!"

(To make them easier to distinguish, the genuine emperor will be called the Son of Heaven from now on.)

Having finished speaking, he too drained his wine in one gulp.

After so much time spent fleeing from place to place and enduring humiliation under Dong Zhuo, he had been forced to swallow his grievances just to survive. Only after coming to Cao Cao had he finally received the dignity an emperor deserved.

Being treated with such respect filled him with a hundred conflicting emotions.

"Your Majesty is too generous. Upholding the Han Dynasty is simply our duty as your subjects. Rather, I should feel ashamed for failing to rescue Your Majesty sooner and allowing you to endure so much humiliation."

Cao Cao spoke solemnly, his face filled with self-reproach.

The Son of Heaven was even more moved. He descended from his seat and took Cao Cao's hand, his eyes brimming with tears. "Your devotion alone is enough, Mengde. Alas, our Han Dynasty has fallen into decline, and I possess nothing at all. Otherwise, I would surely reward you richly."

"What are you saying, Your Majesty? How could rewards be what I seek?"

Cao Cao spoke with righteous conviction.

"No, you must be rewarded!"

The Son of Heaven still insisted. After a moment's thought, he said, "Though I have no treasures to bestow upon you now, Mengde, I can still grant you higher office."

"I hereby decree that Mengde shall be appointed Minister of Works, exercising the duties of General of Chariots and Cavalry. All officials shall attend to their duties under his direction."

The office bestowed by the Son of Heaven was no small honor.

Within the Han official hierarchy, the Minister over the Masses handled government affairs, the Grand Commandant controlled military affairs, and the Minister of Works supervised the hundred officials. These three offices were the Three Excellencies of the commonly named Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers, and were immensely prestigious.

As for General of Chariots and Cavalry, it ranked below only Grand General and General of Agile Cavalry. Its standing equaled that of the highest ministers, or even the Three Excellencies, and it was a position with real power!

Although the Son of Heaven currently wielded no power and his rewards were merely titles, this was still an exceptional honor beyond the reach of ordinary men.

After all, this was an office personally conferred by the Son of Heaven!

It meant that Cao Cao would henceforth formally rank among the Three Excellencies and could legitimately wield the state's military and political authority!

"I thank Your Majesty for your boundless grace!"

A faint gleam passed through Cao Cao's eyes. Naturally, he would not refuse such a reward, and he immediately knelt to give thanks.

"Please rise, Mengde."

The Son of Heaven reached out to help Cao Cao up, then looked toward the assembled subjects in the hall. "Nor must the other loyal subjects be forgotten. I shall reward everyone today."

The Son of Heaven knew this was the only thing he could still do.

He could grant everyone official positions in his name as the Son of Heaven.

"Your Majesty, there is no urgency in this matter. After I return, I will draw up a list based on each official's merits. Your Majesty may then confer the rewards."

Cao Cao smiled faintly and rejected the Son of Heaven's proposal.

He could decide who received rewards, but the Son of Heaven could not. Otherwise, the whole affair would take on a different flavor.

"Very well. We shall do as you suggest, Mengde."

The Son of Heaven sat down awkwardly, a flicker of dejection passing through his eyes.