Off to Luoyang!

At sunrise, the Noble Rural Duke's residence bustled with activity.

Armored guards constantly came and went through the main gate, looking exceptionally busy.

Before long, several carriages rolled out through the gates.

All of Yuan City was under lockdown. No one was allowed in or out, and local soldiers had sealed off the roads.

Armored guards surrounded the carriages at the front and rear, while mounted riders cleared the way.

Cao Mao looked outside through the carriage window.

This time, they were officially leaving Yuan City for Luoyang.

Sima Shi must have had some scheme in coming here, but Cao Mao still could not guess his purpose.

As he gazed at the familiar scenery outside, an indescribable sadness stirred in Cao Mao's heart.

Once he left, who knew when he would be able to return?

To Cao Mao, Luoyang was a completely unfamiliar place.

No one was allowed to approach the emperor's carriage.

Sima Shi had not even assigned him any servants. Cao Mao remained entirely alone.

Compared with his "first playthrough," his circumstances in this "second playthrough" were even more perilous.

Yet the opening of this "second attempt" was far stronger than the first.

His three refusals had successfully drawn the eyes of the entire realm to this obscure little city.

By clearing the unjustly condemned, he had deepened the rifts within the court's alliance of aristocratic clans, gained Guanqiu Jian's support, and declared his stance to the realm. Under extraordinarily limited circumstances, Cao Mao had already accomplished everything within his power.

The drawbacks were plain to see.

Both Sima Shi and Sima Zhao had become deeply wary of him.

From now on, he would certainly be watched with extreme vigilance. Interfering in military or political affairs, or winning over generals, would be all but impossible. Before Sima Shi left, he would surely try to take Cao Mao with him.

But would he escape surveillance if he did nothing? Would that let him escape his fate of being murdered?

The benefits were equally obvious. At least he now had the right to set up a chessboard. Though he had virtually no pieces in hand, he was no longer merely a piece others expected to submit meekly to their moves.

He did not want Guanqiu Jian to raise an army now.

Even if that took Sima Shi down, the price would be far too high.

This was the only provincial minister who sincerely wished to support the imperial house of Wei. He was an able commander, and he had sixty thousand elite troops under his command. None of that could be replaced.

Men like Zhuge Dan were different from Guanqiu Jian. What Zhuge Dan wanted most was to protect himself and continue ruling his territory like a petty emperor.

Cao Mao absolutely refused to trade Guanqiu Jian for Sima Shi. Sima Shi was in poor health, and his eye condition required surgery.

Many people suspected that Sima Shi had died from inflammation following the operation.

Even without a fright on the battlefield, he might not live much longer. In any case, he would not outlive Guanqiu Jian.

Besides, did a fright necessarily have to come from a battlefield?

Exhaustion, anger, travel-there was no shortage of ways to kill a patient recovering from surgery!

The worthy ministers in the Imperial Court had already been killed off. Cao Mao still had to protect the last loyal minister remaining in the provinces.

First, he would keep Guanqiu Jian calm. Everything else could be planned at leisure once he reached Luoyang.

Sima Shi acted with haste, so Cao Mao ought to act with patience.

Luoyang was different from Yuan City, even though it, too, belonged to the Sima Family.

There were many, many people there.

People of every kind, enough for Cao Mao to continue his schemes.

Why had Sima Shi intimidated him in Yuan City beforehand? Precisely because, once they reached Luoyang, many things might no longer proceed as Sima Shi wished.

He wanted Cao Mao to cause him less trouble.

As he had said, governing a country well was difficult. Cao Mao should simply enjoy himself without a care.

Cao Mao wholeheartedly agreed.

Enjoy myself, was it?

Very well. Let me show you how I enjoy myself.

A stream murmured in the distance, but the children who always played in its waters were nowhere to be seen.

Dust billowed along the road, and the clatter of the guards' armor rang out without end.

Wang Su, Zheng Mao, and Hua Biao followed behind Cao Mao.

Hua Biao looked decidedly displeased.

Gazing far ahead, he gritted his teeth and said under his breath:

"We did all the thankless work and bore all the blame. Why does Jia Chong get to escort His Majesty to Luoyang in the end?"

"He's merely a petty official from the General's Residence! What qualifies him?!"

Wang Su snapped, "Stop talking nonsense! The Grand General personally came to invite His Majesty to Luoyang. What does Jia Chong have to do with any of this?"

Hua Biao pressed his lips together.

Zheng Mao glanced at Hua Biao and added, "The Grand General is traveling to Luoyang with us. The man in the carriage ahead is the Grand General. Do not forget that."

Hua Biao nodded. However little he respected Jia Chong, he did not dare provoke Sima Shi.

Sima Shi had not joined them on the journey back to Luoyang. He had stayed behind, while Jia Chong returned to Luoyang under the Grand General's banner.

He must have had unfinished business in Yuan City.

Cao Mao had long since worn Wang Su out completely. He wanted no further part in any of this, only to return to Luoyang and recuperate properly for a while.

He had no interest whatsoever in what Sima Shi intended to do by remaining in Yuan City.

Zheng Mao, however, was pondering Cao Mao's actions over the past several days.

After hearing some rumors from Wang Su, he finally understood what Cao Mao wanted to do.

He wanted to win over Guanqiu Jian.

Although Zheng Mao did not know why Cao Mao was so eager to win over Guanqiu Jian, he must have had his reasons.

Perhaps he believed that if he did not act now, he would lose all chance of establishing contact with Guanqiu Jian.

Or perhaps he believed that failing to contact Guanqiu Jian now would cause Guanqiu Jian to break with the Imperial Court completely.

Zheng Mao sighed inwardly. In an age of peace and prosperity, this emperor would surely have accomplished great things.

Unfortunately, he had encountered the Grand General.

Zheng Mao knew better than anyone how terrifying the Grand General was.

His Majesty was absolutely no match for him.

Before long, the party reached Yinping.

Jia Chong seemed unwilling to let too many people see the emperor. He even rejected the local county magistrate's request for an audience.

This left the county magistrate quite astonished.

Jia Chong did not care what others thought. He was an exceedingly selfish man. So long as he fulfilled the Grand General's instructions, nothing else entered his considerations.

They did not even enter the city, merely setting up a temporary camp that fell far short of the standards befitting an emperor.

Cao Mao could only eat inside his carriage. After a few bites, he angrily called to the guards outside, "Go fetch Lord Jia!"

Jia Chong soon arrived.

"Your Majesty? What has happened?"

"Lord Jia, before we left, the Grand General told me that once we were outside Yuan City, fine delicacies would be everywhere. But look at what I'm eating now. Is this really the sort of food an emperor eats? It's worse than what I ate in Yuan City!"

"It's not to my taste!"

Jia Chong froze for a moment, then hurriedly said, "I failed to give this sufficient thought. Please wait a moment, Your Majesty. I'll have it replaced at once!"

"Why trouble yourself personally over such a little matter? Just give the order. Come up here and eat with me!"

"Very well."

Jia Chong climbed into the carriage and sat beside Cao Mao.

Cao Mao smiled and took his hand. "To tell you the truth, the first time I saw you, I felt certain that you would be the man to help me pacify the realm!"

"I've heard a great deal about you."

"I hear you are exceptionally filial. You observed mourning for your father at a young age, and your reputation spread throughout the realm. That is truly admirable."

"I also hear you are well versed in the law. While still young, you took part in the great work of drafting laws. You have since held many offices and distinguished yourself in every one."

Cao Mao showered him with praise, but not a ripple stirred in Jia Chong's heart.

He wore a smile, but inwardly he wondered, Just what is this brat trying to do?

That day, Cao Mao ate with Jia Chong, then urged him to stay and share his sleeping quarters. Jia Chong naturally did not dare and repeatedly declined. Cao Mao seemed most reluctant to part with him, holding his hand and praising him all over again.

Over the following days, Cao Mao summoned Jia Chong at every opportunity, whether he had business with him or not, showing him tremendous goodwill.

He often ate with him and invited him every day to stay and share his sleeping quarters.

On the occasional occasions when he stepped out of the carriage, he insisted that Jia Chong support him, demonstrating their closeness.

From time to time, he sought Jia Chong's advice on legal matters and asked about the state of the realm.

Jia Chong grew suspicious. Is this fellow trying to win me over? Or drive a wedge between me and the Grand General?

The thought made Jia Chong want to laugh. What makes you think you can win me over?

And what gives you the nerve to try sowing discord?

Do you take the Grand General for a fool?

The Grand General had instructed him to keep the emperor appeased, and Jia Chong did not mind acting out a show of sovereign and subject united in purpose with Cao Mao.

Yet he failed to notice that the looks his colleagues around him cast his way had already begun to change.