Du Yu stared at Cao Mao before him in astonishment.
For a moment, he could not speak.
Du Yu had seen Cao Mao's many earlier actions clearly. He had always suspected that what the emperor truly cared about was neither his own power nor the restoration of Great Wei, but the rise and fall of the realm.
And today, Cao Mao's answer confirmed his suspicions.
Here was a man who dared to stake his own life on bringing peace to the realm.
Du Yu was deeply torn.
For governing the realm and upholding the Altars of Soil and Grain were also Du Yu's ambitions.
He truly admired such an emperor, such a sovereign.
Many believed the emperor was a Sage King like Emperor Wu and Emperor Wen, but Du Yu felt that he might well surpass those two enlightened rulers and become a true Sage King.
Yet Du Yu dared not speak.
Sima Zhao treated him very well, regarding him as a trusted aide, heeding his every word and counsel, and trusting him completely.
If he chose to betray his lord at such a time, could he still call himself human?
Such was the political system left behind by the Eastern Han: there were lords at every level. A county magistrate was called a County Lord, and those within the county treated him as their own sovereign. This was even more true of a Governor: the commandery was treated as a state, and its Governor was its lord and honored master.
Within the imperial court, a recommender was the lord of the man he recommended. When the emperor came into conflict with their own lord, no small number of men sided with their lord.
Cao Cao had used precisely this method to hollow out the imperial court's authority, establishing his