All in vain

Under gazes filled with shock, fear, or bewilderment, Cao Mao walked up to Hua Biao.

Hua Biao's face was wreathed in smiles.

He had put considerable effort into securing the task of delivering this edict.

Surely the credit for welcoming and enthroning the new sovereign would let me climb another rung?

Just as Hua Biao prepared to present the edict to the new emperor, he saw the new emperor drop to his knees before him.

When the new Son of Heaven raised his head, tears were already streaming down his face.

"I, Mao, an unworthy youth, have done nothing to deserve such favor from the Empress Dowager!"

"The Great Wei Imperial Clan abounds with worthy men. There are men of noble conduct whom I cannot match, men of brilliant literary gifts whom I cannot match, and men of martial valor whom I cannot match. There are those who can guide their kin and friends to live in harmony, and I cannot match them either. I am still young and possess no great ability. How could I dare aspire to the exalted throne of the Son of Heaven?"

"With virtues so meager and talents so ordinary, I have received the Empress Dowager's profound favor and brought you gentlemen here. Mao is deeply ashamed!"

"It is not that I defy the edict or refuse to obey. I simply lack the virtue to occupy the exalted throne of the Son of Heaven. Please return and report this truthfully to the Empress Dowager. For disappointing her generous favor, I am willing to accept punishment!"

"What?!"

Hua Biao was dumbfounded.

He had refused?

It was not just Hua Biao. The onlookers were also left gaping. The news that the previous emperor had been deposed and the Noble Rural Duke would ascend the throne had been explosive enough. Now the Noble Rural Duke had actually refused?

Hua Biao was at a complete loss. He had never imagined such a situation and hastily looked toward Wang Su beside him.

Among the three ministers who had come, Zheng Mao, the Minister Steward who had remained silent throughout, now studied the young man before him again, surprise in his eyes.

Wang Su remained as calm as ever.

He slowly spoke.

"Your Majesty, I have heard that a younger person must not refuse what an elder bestows upon him. To do otherwise is unfilial."

This was the "iron fist of correctness" from the age of the Han, Wei, and Jin.

Both Han dynasties had placed great importance on officials' morality, ranking virtue above talent. Filial piety, loyalty, and trustworthiness had all been part of their assessments.

Wei considered itself the legitimate successor to Great Han and had preserved these standards, though it did not dare proclaim loyalty too loudly.

As for the Sima Family, their oath on the Luo River had turned to nothing but a fart, wiping away the ideal of Ji Bu's promise worth a thousand pieces of gold.

Regicide in the street had made them even less willing to mention loyalty.

And so it had become, "I humbly reflect that our sacred dynasty governs the realm through filial piety."

But no matter the age, the iron fist of filial piety was always useful.

Cao Mao immediately assumed an air of fear and trepidation.

"You are quite right, but that is precisely why I dare not accept!"

"In my residence, I often hear worthy men speak of how my ancestors founded our realm. The three sage sovereigns ushered in the flourishing age we enjoy today, and their example has taught me much. Yet my present abilities are insufficient to carry on my ancestors' undertaking. I fear I cannot unite the realm or sustain this flourishing age."

"If the great achievements of three generations of sage sovereigns were to end in my hands, would that not be the greatest act of unfilial conduct?"

"The Empress Dowager holds me in such esteem and believes I can be entrusted with great affairs, but in truth, I lack that ability. If I strayed from the proper path and accomplished nothing, I would willingly accept the condemnation of all under Heaven. But what would become of the Empress Dowager? If I failed her, how could I bear it? How could I dare speak of filial piety?"

Cao Mao spoke extremely quickly, swiftly delivering his answer.

Cao Mao had been intelligent from childhood. Zhong Hui had assessed him thus:

"His talent equals Chen Si's; his martial prowess resembles Emperor Taizu's."

His learning was like Cao Zhi's, his valor like Cao Cao's.

When it came to verbal sparring, Cao Mao was quite accomplished.

Sure enough, after hearing this, even Wang Su felt a headache coming on.

"I am sorry for troubling you gentlemen to come here. I truly do not deserve the Empress Dowager's generous favor. Please return and inform her that I am willing to accept punishment!"

As Cao Mao spoke, he bowed deeply once more in the direction of Luoyang. After rising, he promptly turned, walked into his residence, and closed the gates.

Outside the gates, everyone exchanged bewildered looks.

Hua Biao helplessly put away the edict and walked over to Wang Su.

"Lord Wang... what are we to..."

Wang Su looked straight at the county magistrate, who was slumped on the ground. "Shu Wan, correct? Find us somewhere to stay."

Shu Wan hurriedly scrambled to his feet. "Yes, yes."

The imperial envoys left, but the onlookers remained.

Today, they had witnessed the most explosive news imaginable.

"The Noble Rural Duke actually refused?"

"I never noticed it before, but the Noble Rural Duke is a man of such lofty virtue!"

"Now that is a true worthy!"

"He has the virtue of Yao and Shun!"

For some reason, they said nothing about the deposition of the previous emperor, Cao Fang, and instead praised Cao Mao's virtue.

For modest deference was also an important part of Great Han's distinctive morality-centered society.

Officials all treated modest refusal as a path to winning fame. Once someone gained a reputation locally, the Imperial Court would send men to recruit him.

If he refused the summons, his reputation would soar.

Even Emperor Wen, Cao Pi, who had shown such great kindness to the imperial clan, had refused the Han emperor's offer to abdicate three times.

To some, Cao Mao's conduct seemed idiotic. To the scholar-official class, however, it undoubtedly met their standards of moral judgment.

And at that moment, inside the residence, Liu Lu was looking at Cao Mao with a complicated expression.

Had Cao Mao not been his lord, he would have dearly liked to ask, "Should I find you a physician?"

That was the throne of the Son of Heaven. How could he simply refuse it?

Guo Ze had his head lowered, his expression dazed.

"Lord Guo?"

Only when Cao Mao called to him did he come to his senses.

Guo Ze raised his head, his eyes full of bewilderment.

"Why must he be deposed?"

"Huh?"

"His Majesty ordered that construction of new palaces and towers be halted, freed government slaves aged sixty and above, established county towns to settle displaced commoners, and remembered to offer sacrifices to the generals who followed Emperor Wu into battle. What crime so heinous has he committed that he must be deposed?"

In all the vastness of Yuan City, it seemed Guo Ze alone still cared about the deposed emperor's fate.

Cao Mao's heart grew heavy as well.

"His fault is that he has reached adulthood. Adulthood brings the possibility of change, so naturally he must be removed."

"In the previous dynasty, young emperors often ascended the throne and used eunuchs to oppose the ministers outside the palace... Great Wei learned that lesson well. It forbade eunuchs from holding high office or wielding real power... The emperor faces powerful ministers alone, without a shred of actual authority. Merely being deposed is already a decent outcome. At least he wasn't..."

Cao Mao did not finish the thought.

Guo Ze said nothing either. His expression was dazed, as though he had suffered an enormous shock.

There was something unmistakably reminiscent of a Great Han scholar about him, a certain hard-to-define, simple idealism.

He even genuinely believed that the Han emperor had willingly abdicated in favor of Cao Mao's grandfather.

Now, however, something was very wrong with him. The usually gentle, courteous gentleman was like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

Liu Lu could no longer hold back. He asked, "Why did you refuse, Lord Cao?"

"What, hoping to earn merit by following the rising dragon? Have I delayed your appointment as General Who Supports the State?"

Liu Lu grinned. "What sort of general could a rough fellow like me become? I was just thinking that if you became emperor, you could stand up for all the common people under Heaven and right their wrongs. Wouldn't that mean there would be no more injustice in the world?"

Cao Mao was momentarily speechless.

"You lout! Stop wagging your tongue and fetch me another pot of wine!"

Lord Yang, lying on the ground, began shouting. Liu Lu muttered a few curses under his breath but obediently left all the same.

With a bitter smile, Cao Mao simply sat down beside Lord Yang.

"Lord Yang, do you have anything to teach me?"

"Oh?"

"What makes you think I have anything to teach you, Lord Cao?"

"Everyone was panicking earlier. You alone said it might be a good thing. Had you already guessed those men had come to escort me to my enthronement?"

"What if I had? What use would it be? Like what you are doing now, it is all in vain."

"How do you know what I intend to do?"

"Do you not simply wish to distance yourself from Sima Shi and preserve your own life?"

Cao Mao's face changed dramatically with alarm. "What do you mean by that? The Grand General is a loyal minister renowned throughout the realm and deeply beloved. I am profoundly grateful to him and never dare forget his kindness. Why would I wish to distance myself from him?"

Lord Yang burst out laughing.

"Very well. As you say, Lord Cao."

"But I must remind you, Lord Cao: Wang Su may look simple and honest, but he is a man of profound calculation. If even I can see through you, he certainly can as well."

"Over this past year, you have been deeply unsettled, living in fear every day and anxiously building up your strength. You even found a band of Wanderers to keep in your residence. It would be no exaggeration to say you were so hungry you would eat anything."

"But let me tell you: it is useless. Utterly useless."

"These hawks and hounds of yours are useless. Your reputation is useless. Your status as a member of the imperial clan is useless as well. If Sima Shi wished to kill you, it would be like slaughtering a fish on the chopping block. Nothing would stand in his way."

"Since you are afraid, you would be better off accepting Wang Su's goodwill without worry and following him to Luoyang."

"Defer to Sima Shi in all things, marry his daughter, and content yourself with pleasure. In another twenty years, follow that Han emperor's example and yield the throne to them. They will surely grant you an exalted position as well, and you can spend your remaining years in peace..."

Bang!!!

Before Lord Yang could finish, Cao Mao slammed his fist into the ground.

Lord Yang turned his head and saw a face twisted with rage.