Second-hand time travel: Liu Bei, the big-eared bandit

Chapter 352 Igniting the Altar
"Your Majesty is here!"

Outside the camp, a large convoy, carrying the imperial regalia, came from the direction of Fenggao County.

Fenggao is the county closest to Mount Tai. The emperor would not stay at the military camp. He would use Fenggao County as a base for his travels. However, the restricted area in the middle of the military camp was where the emperor would stay.

The emperor's entourage was quite large, numbering in the thousands.

However, it seems that there are not many soldiers protecting the emperor, but there are quite a few officials and attendants.

The procession will drive directly into the camp, and at sunrise, a fire will be lit at the altar to raise the altar and announce the ceremony.

The ancestral worship ceremony is not performed on the mountain, because it is not a Fengshan ceremony.

Only after the ceremony at the altar was completed would Liu Xie follow the path taken by Emperor Wu of Han when he first performed the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai, and walk on Mount Tai.

This means walking the same path that Emperor Wu of Han and Emperor Guangwu of Han once walked, signifying that later generations are following in the footsteps of their ancestors.

Before the world is at peace, it is certainly very dangerous to hold such a ceremony.

Especially after the emperor's carriage entered the camp...

"The emperor's guards are few in number. Once the altar is lit, we will storm into the camp and seize the emperor..."

In the shadows, someone was giving instructions to their subordinates.

"The altar was built with your help; all that's needed is for it to be raised and the fire lit, and then you all rush in..."

This is a different group.

……

Xun You was outside the camp at the mountain pass of Mount Tai.

Liu Bei and Liu Xie were also here.

Zhao Yun and Zhuge Liang are both here.

Liu Bei once again led Liu Xie away from the emperor's carriage, secretly climbing the mountain alone...

For Liu Xie, this was more like an outing. Liu Bei did not make him wear those elaborate ceremonial robes and crowns, but only plain clothes.

After all, one should wear plain clothes when offering sacrifices to ancestors.

As for the imperial carriage in Fenggao... there was no one in it at all.

Zhuge Liang originally planned to put on another act, but Liu Bei grabbed him by the ear and dragged him down...

There's no need for anyone to act; since no one can see whether there are people in the emperor's carriage, there's no need to take any risks.

Once the imperial carriage was inside the curtain, it could not be seen; only the ceremonial guards could be seen, as the emperor's ceremonial guards were designed to completely conceal the people.

The area covered by the curtain, which Xun You had set up and spanned three hundred paces in length and width, was the pre-designated kill zone. Zhang Fei had been lying in ambush inside. Although the number of troops accompanying the emperor appeared small, Zhang Fei's forces were quite formidable...

“My paternal uncle persuaded the families in Yingchuan to leave, but the Chen family of Dongjun, the Gao family of Chenliu, the Xue family of Shanyang, and the Xu family of Runan all harbored ill intentions.”

Xun You reported: "I have made an agreement with each family, and we will lead our army to attack the altar as soon as it is lit... They have many people lying in wait around the altar, but I am not sure which ones are theirs. We can only wait for them to make their move. Moreover... they are not using their own names."

"Chen Gong, Gao Huan, Xue Lan..."

Liu Bei jotted down names in his notebook: "Are these the families? Who's in charge of the Xu family? Do you know anything about the details?"

"Yes, but none of them are here... and their true intentions go beyond simply kidnapping His Majesty. If they can kidnap His Majesty, they will; if they cannot, they will frame and sow discord."

Xun You explained in detail: "Gao Huan has joined Cao Zhengdong's faction, and Chen Gong and Xue Lan are also doing this in Cao General's name. Even if they fail, it will still cause Cao General to become an enemy of Xuande Gong."

"The arrival of Xu's retainers is likely at the behest of Prefect Liu of Yangzhou and Prefect Xu Gong of Wu Commandery... They mentioned the execution of Liu Dai and the Xu family. Prefect Liu and Xu Gong may be seeking revenge against General Cao. Although they are not on the same side, Xu Gong's men are also acting in General Cao's name..."

Liu Dai's head was given to Cao Cao by Bao Xin and Chen Gong as a pledge of allegiance. Liu Yao did indeed have a grudge against Cao Cao, but Xu Gong had an even greater grudge, as Cao Cao converted all of Xu's land into military farms.

Liu Bei nodded: "They're all after Cao Cao... Does Cao Cao know about this?"

"They probably don't know..."

Xun You shook his head: "My paternal uncle didn't know about this either. They only brought it up after I volunteered to be an inside agent..."

"Then let's go and talk to Cao Cao about this matter... Zilong, take good care of His Majesty."

Liu Bei sent Zhao Yun to take Liu Xie to climb the mountain, while he himself took Xun You into the camp.

Inside the camp, officials were already lined up outside the altar, with Cao Cao and Tao Qian, among other high-ranking officials, in charge of the procession.

Because Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shu, and others were still fighting each other in Nanyang, many officials from Luoyang did not come. Most of those who did come were powerful local officials such as prefects and commandants from various counties. Liu Yao, the governor of Yangzhou, was also there.

Liu Bei then went directly to Liu Yao and asked, "Brother Zhengli, how about you light the fire and ascend the altar?"

"I?"

Liu Yao was a little confused: "This...the ascension to the altar should be Princess Xuande's responsibility..."

Lighting a fire at the altar is similar to announcing the arrival of the gods to Mount Tai, making the event visible to heaven and earth, but the main purpose is still to worship ancestors, somewhat like offering incense to them.

It's probably something like... calling your ancestors.

Liu Xie would not come out before the fire was lit, because it would be awkward to wait on the stage, and waiting there before the fire was fully lit would affect the emperor's prestige.

The raising of the tent and the ascension to the altar are announced only after the fire is lit; the moment the fire is lit is when the ceremony officially begins.

That is, Liu Xie will only go on stage and chat with his ancestors after the phone call is connected...

Only after the altar is ascended will the curtain be opened, allowing the officials to enter below the altar.

But since this was an ancestral worship ceremony, only members of the Liu clan were qualified to light the fire and raise the altar.

Logically, this matter should be handled by the Imperial Clan Head, but since the Imperial Clan Head didn't come... then it should indeed be Liu Bei, the emperor's guardian, who takes charge.

However, Liu Bei felt that it was best to let someone else do such a dangerous job, and Liu Yao was quite suitable.

Who told him and Xu Gong to plan a scam?

If you want revenge on Cao Cao, just trick him! Why fan the flames and try to make Cao Cao fight you?

If Liu Bei liked to light fires, then he had to get Liu Yao to do it: "I need to accompany His Majesty. His Majesty is weak, and it's cold and windy right now. Don't keep His Majesty waiting... Don't miss the auspicious time, go quickly."

After saying this, Liu Bei directly pushed Liu Yao into the curtain.

Liu Yao did not refuse again and went directly to the altar. He seemed a little surprised, but he clearly did not reject the matter.

Then Liu Bei turned to Cao Cao and asked, "Brother Mengde, when will we be able to defeat King Chen, Liu Chong? It's not going to be a matter of the whole world joining forces to attack him, is it?"

"Why bring up this matter at today's sacrificial ceremony, Xuande?"

Cao Cao may have gotten a bit cocky lately; he started talking to Liu Bei with a frivolous smile and stopped addressing him as "Duke."

"Hmm... It's a festival today... but it looks like someone's planning something, Mengde. Could someone be trying to harm you?"

Liu Bei had Cao Cao watch Liu Yao on the platform.

Liu Yao clearly lacked experience in arson. He managed to light the torch with great difficulty, but just as he was about to take it onto the stage, it was almost blown out by the wind. He was now carefully moving forward step by step...

"...Intentions to harm me? Oh...the matter of Liu Dai."

Cao Cao looked at Liu Yao and nodded: "Why is Liu Zhengli ascending the platform?"

No sooner had he asked the question than Liu Yao set the pile of firewood on the platform ablaze.

The pile of firewood contained ignition sources such as saltpeter and sulfur, and it burst into flames in an instant.

Liu Yao walked to the center of the platform and shouted, "Ascend the altar!"

The soldiers guarding the emperor's ceremonial guard dispersed and lined up, lifting the curtains around them to indicate that the officials could enter the platform.

"Lord Xuande, it is time to invite His Majesty to the stage."

Cao Cao asked Liu Bei to walk ahead, but Liu Bei grabbed him.

Liu Bei shook his head: "Your Majesty's ancestral worship ceremony is not held here..."

Cao Cao's expression immediately turned serious.

Liu Bei pulled Cao Cao's arm and retreated to the outer perimeter.

Zu Mao and his guards also surrounded Liu Bei at this time and retreated to the outer camp.

Just then, shouts rang out from the hidden area beneath the altar, and a group of burly men emerged, brandishing knives.

At this moment, many people emerged from the camps on both sides of the altar and rushed towards the emperor's ceremonial guard behind the altar.

(End of this chapter)