Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 261 Cao Cao: There are always loyal ministers who want to harm me

"Kong Beihai!"

Liu Bei knelt before the emperor's steps, the steps stained with hot blood. He gazed at Kong Rong, the light in his eyes gradually fading, and tears streamed down his face.

"When we first met in Beihai, Kong Beihai was already famous throughout the world and was a great Confucian scholar of his time."

Having spent half his life wandering aimlessly, he was astonished to hear of the plea for help and exclaimed: "Does Kong Beihai even know that Liu Bei exists in this world?"

The scene from that day is still vivid in my memory, and I dare not forget it.

Unexpectedly, on the day of our reunion, before we could even drink and sing, we were separated by death.

He sighed sadly, and, speaking slowly and deliberately, bowed to the emperor, saying:

"Your subject is Liu Bei, General of the Rear of the Han Dynasty."

"I am willing to obey the imperial edict to suppress the rebels and quell the chaos for Your Majesty."

Besides Liu Bei, many others present also wept for Kong Rong. They had been friends with Kong Rong for many years, and they never imagined that this great Confucian scholar would be so generous and passionate. Before they knew it, they were separated by life and death.

"The mandate of heaven changes, but who can alter it?"

The glory of the Han dynasty has faded, and I will now die for it.

Kong Beihai sought benevolence and attained it, but how are we supposed to conduct ourselves?

"How could it have come to this! Has the state of the nation really deteriorated to this extent?"

"A subject dies for his lord's disgrace?"
Kong Rong died for his country, and his name should be recorded in history, passed down for a thousand years to come, but this makes us, the living, feel extremely awkward.

All those with discernment present sighed with regret and sorrow.

This is really difficult!

It is precisely this word, "difficult," that is the point.

[At that time, all of you will have a future!]
Do I still have a future?
Is there any hope for the Han Dynasty?

With just three sentences, the emperor drove the Han officials present to the brink of despair.

Unlike Cao Cao, who had previously only suspected that there were collaborators from Yuan Shao's camp present, the Emperor's words were practically a direct question to the assembled officials:

Are you still Han officials?

Kong Rong's death was a response to the emperor's question.

Since Your Majesty doubts that there are no loyal and upright officials in the court, I will be the one to be loyal and upright!

He was willing to die to repay the emperor's kindness. Was there anyone in the world more loyal and upright than Kong Rong?
He was demanding the posthumous title of "Loyal and Upright," wanting to be remembered in history like those famous figures from the pre-Qin period, his name etched in the annals of time!
Even if the Han Dynasty falls in the future, and the Yuan family truly has the ability to change the world, Kong Beihai will be listed as the last loyal and upright martyr since the Han Dynasty, and will be praised by the new dynasty.

He who seeks benevolence will attain it! What is the highest pursuit of a civil official? With a lasting reputation before him, how could he possibly let go?

With the revered Confucius above and the upright and loyal Kong Rong below, the Kong family is destined to endure for countless dynasties and generations, its lineage continuing for millennia.

The intricacies of this matter are incomprehensible to outsiders, but how could the other prominent Han scholars from the surrounding aristocratic families not understand them?
Invitation to name names!
As a child, he shared pears to demonstrate filial piety and brotherly love; in the face of danger, he sacrificed his life to uphold loyalty and righteousness!

With loyalty, righteousness, filial piety, and brotherly love, Kong Rong fulfilled the Confucian ideal. After his death, his biography was to be enshrined in the Confucius Temple, following in the footsteps of the disciples of the most revered teacher.

During the late Han Dynasty, the pursuit of fame was so prevalent that these scholars were no longer limited to sharing pears and oranges, but gradually risked their lives and fortunes in this grand feast of fame.

Kong Rong died, ending everything and gaining eternal fame, but he put the living in a difficult position.

Kong Rong died to repay his lord, and before he died, he turned back and glared at them angrily: Do not do unjust things.

What can the people do now? Follow you, Kong Beihai, and shed blood in the palace?

But you've taken all the advantages of being first. When it comes to seeking fame, only the first person to do it ever gets the benefit.

As they were both renowned figures, they naturally had an unspoken understanding: when seeking fame, they couldn't undermine each other; instead, they had to flatter one another.

Otherwise, when it's your turn to seek fame, others will also try to undermine you, and their game of fame will become unsustainable.

This is why no one stopped Kong Rong when everyone realized what he was about to do and that he was determined to die.

Those who seek benevolence will obtain it. If you obstruct Kong Beihai's pursuit of fame and enlightenment today, you will become his mortal enemy tomorrow.

While the courtiers and scholars were sighing, lamenting, or in a dilemma, Liu Bei, who was particularly sensitive to his own reputation, knelt before the imperial steps with lightning speed.

He mournfully called out the name of Kong Beihai, recounting their first meeting in Beihai, thus fulfilling the bond of friendship.

He lamented the decline of the Han Dynasty, speaking with absolute certainty, and vowed to fight the traitors on behalf of His Majesty.

[Yuan Shikai's power is immense; the Prime Minister dares not, the ministers dare not, but Liu Bei dares!]

This is true loyalty and integrity.

Imagine if, when history records the deeds of Kong Rong, the last loyal and upright man of the Han Dynasty, another chapter would be added to the annals of history.

What about the first general to be moved by Kong Rong's death and willing to fight for the country and quell the chaos?
What a loyal and righteous Liu Bei!

However, regardless of what the courtiers thought or how they viewed him.

Liu Bei remained obstinate, his slender figure kneeling before the imperial steps, upright as a pine tree.

Having lost Xuzhou and suffered several defeats in Yuzhou, he had nowhere else to turn but to seek refuge with Cao Cao, becoming a dependent of him.

Little did he know that the Han dynasty had fallen so low that the emperor in Luoyang would be forced by his ministers to personally lead an expedition to punish the traitor.

Kong Rong even shed his blood in the palace, using his passionate blood to awaken loyalty and righteousness among the officials.

As one of the few people who did not underestimate himself during his life of wandering, Liu Xuande could not let his friend's blood be shed in vain.

Everyone in this hall today is obliged to serve in the mission of "Supporting the Han Dynasty"!
The Han dynasty has lost its luster and has no successor?
Then Liu Bei will fight to the death for the Han Dynasty!
With Kong Rong's death, Liu Bei knelt down!
That one sentence: "Your subject, Liu Bei, General of the Rear of the Han Dynasty."

"I am willing to obey the imperial decree to punish the traitors and quell the chaos for Your Majesty." This resounded throughout the hall.

Every single official in the palace was bound to a rack called "Loyalty and Righteousness," and subjected to burning as if their bright and beautiful feathers were being burned to ashes bit by bit.

In a short while, the two men, as if they had planned it beforehand, knelt behind Liu Bei and shouted:

"Your subject is Xu Huang, Commander of the Imperial Guards of the Han Dynasty!"

"Your subject is Dong Cheng, General of Chariots and Cavalry of the Han Dynasty!"

"I am willing to obey the imperial edict to suppress the rebels and quell the chaos for Your Majesty."

Then came Liu Yao and Liu Biao!
Following Yang Biao and Fu Wan.
More and more people knelt down, and the figures behind Liu Bei gradually formed a long dragon.

"minister!

"I am willing to obey the imperial edict to suppress the rebels and quell the chaos for Your Majesty."

The shouts rose and fell, never ceasing, gradually resounding throughout the entire Luoyang Palace City.

Later, inside and outside the main hall, from high-ranking officials and nobles to courtiers and soldiers, everyone was in tears, kneeling and calling for the Han Dynasty.

Only Cao Cao's men, standing here, seemed particularly out of place.

As the questioning gazes of the Cao camp men turned toward him, Cao Cao sighed, slowly stepped forward, faced the imperial steps, and knelt beside Liu Bei.

"Your subject is Cao Cao, the Chancellor of Han!"

"I am willing to obey the imperial edict to suppress the rebels and quell the chaos for Your Majesty."

Ever since.
"Your Majesty, I am Xun Yu, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat!" "Your Majesty, I am Xun You, the Military Advisor!"

"Your subject is Cao Ren!"

"Your subject is Cao Hong!"

"I am willing to obey the imperial decree to quell the rebellion and bring peace to the chaotic world for Your Majesty!!!"

The calls to quell the rebellion and suppress the bandits were incessant, and from Cao Cao onwards, a long line of people knelt down in protest.

Gradually, apart from the emperor, only one person remained standing alone in the entire hall, and that was Cao Anmin.

Looking at the generous and loyal sentiments filling the hall, he felt deeply out of place and even more afraid that the emperor, holding a precious sword, might suddenly remember him and come to kill him.

Cao Anmin shrank back and quickly knelt down among the officials, pretending that no one could see him, and mumbled indistinctly as he tentatively called out.

"Your subject is Cao Anmin, Marquis of Duting."

"I am also willing to obey the imperial edict to suppress the rebels and quell the chaos for Your Majesty?"

Cao Anmin: "QAQ (Seriously scratching my head)"

Hearing these cries of condemnation against the traitors, and witnessing the endless "dragon" kneeling throughout the entire hall, both inside and out, as far as the eye could see.

Why wasn't Liu Xie weeping? Was he happy or sad?

The Emperor's Sword in his hand had fallen to the ground at some point. He strode forward, descended the imperial steps, and held Liu Bei's hand in one hand and Cao Cao's hand in the other tightly.

"Prime Minister! Imperial Uncle!"

The Han dynasty is in decline, and traitors are rampant!

The central government issued a document demanding the name of the King of Han, showing utter disregard for me, the Son of Heaven, and disregard for the four-hundred-year reign of the Han dynasty.

"If we do not send troops to punish them now, I ask the other feudal lords of the world, how will they view the Emperor? How will they view the Han Dynasty?"

His words were deep and increasingly sorrowful, and tears welled up in his eyes, streaming down his face.

"I only wish that the Prime Minister and the Imperial Uncle would work together to punish the traitors of Han!"
May all officials and ministers unite in hatred against the enemy and together restore the Han dynasty!

Cao Cao and Liu Bei shook hands with the emperor, both showing signs of being deeply moved.

Liu Bei had already shed tears in the long street, lamenting:

"Your Majesty has shown me such favor. If I do not vow to fight to the death to punish the traitors and restore order to the world, I will be unworthy of being a member of the Han imperial family and unworthy of being called a human being!"

Seeing Liu Bei's statement, the ministers dared not respond, because everyone understood that if they sent troops to fight Yuan Shu to the death at this time, they would have demonstrated the integrity of the Han dynasty, but it would be like throwing an egg against a rock, how could they survive?

This principle was understood by everyone, from the court officials to Emperor Liu Xie.

Yuan Shu disregarded the imperial court, requesting to be granted the title of king, blatantly trampling on the dignity of the emperor.

At this time, he was also being burned at the stake by Yuan Shu, who called it the "Han Dynasty." He had no choice but to express his determination to die and to send troops to fight against Yuan.

At this point, the best outcome for him would be to send Cao Cao and his army out to wear down Yuan Shu.

In this way, they could maintain a righteous cause and also prepare for war and expand their influence in the rear.

But Cao Cao would certainly not accept such a best outcome for him as the emperor!
This led to the two factions arguing, with Kong Rong proving his loyalty with his death, and Liu Bei using the loyalty of his ministers to the Han dynasty to pressure Cao Cao.

At this moment, after Liu Bei finished expressing his stance, all eyes and pressure were focused on Cao Cao.

This whole scheme, from the Emperor drawing his sword, Kong Rong seeking fame, Liu Bei continuing the scheme, and the ministers cooperating, was all for this moment, for forcing the question: "Lord Cao, are you still a subject of Han?"

If you are a Han official, then we will send troops to attack Yuan; if you are not a Han official, then all the officials will attack you!
Cao Cao remained silent.

He knew that if he made a statement like Liu Bei did, the emperor would immediately order him and Liu Bei to each lead troops south to quell the rebellion.

At that time, there is no need to seriously attack Yuan Shu or fight him. Just raise your banners and lead your armies to guard the border.

This allowed him to fulfill the emperor's righteous cause of punishing Yuan Shu, while also transferring himself, the Chancellor of Cao, and his army out of Luoyang to the front lines of the resistance against Yuan Shu.

In this way, Liu Xie in the rear would be unrestrained, and with the large army of civil officials under Liu Biao, he would be able to control Luoyang and gradually plan for development.

Looking at myself, I have to defend against Yuan Shu's attacks every year, and my food supplies are controlled by Luoyang. I'm afraid I really have to become a loyal subject of the Han Dynasty.

Cao Cao was startled and realized that the danger and treacherousness of the place was far greater than the previous joint execution by his ministers.

Although the situation just now was dangerous, he and the emperor had a tacit understanding that he was unwilling to fight the emperor, and the emperor also understood that this was not the time for internal strife.

Therefore, compromise is the only option between the two sides.

But that's not the case right now!

No one wants to kill him; they just want to drive him away!
With righteousness as fuel and loyalty as the blazing fire, we must burn him until he personally begs to lead troops out of Luoyang and become a bulwark for the Han dynasty!
There was no fighting or internal strife between the two sides; it was all "voluntary"!
If the Han dynasty could resist Yuan Shikai without losing a single soldier, and thus the restoration of the Han dynasty could be achieved.

They use the infighting among the ministers to control the emperor, the emperor to control Kong Rong, Kong Rong to control the ministers, and Liu Bei to control me!

What a clever tactic! Using righteousness as a pretext, they forcefully exert their dominance!

Even Cao Cao, when he opened his mouth to speak but could not answer, suddenly realized how cunning and vicious the plan was.

Who set me up?

Cao Cao remained silent. From the emperor to his ministers, everyone was waiting for him to speak, waiting for him to utter the words that he was bound to say because he was bound by the greater good.

Cao Cao's hesitant gaze swept over everyone.

Is it Yuan Shu?
No, regardless of whether there is that memorial requesting the appointment of the King of Han today, as long as I return, the struggle between the Emperor's faction and Cao's faction will inevitably erupt. The internal contradictions have accumulated to this point and are already irreconcilable!
Is he the emperor?
That's not right either. As long as the two parties are locked in an irreconcilable dispute, the ministers will argue endlessly and create a noisy uproar.

The newly enthroned emperor was bound to feel the difficulties of the country. In order to quell the conflict between the two factions and prevent them from turning against each other and causing chaos in Luoyang, he had no choice but to draw his sword and angrily rebuke his ministers!

Liu Bei?

Even more wrong!
He only came back with me today, how could he know the inside story of Luoyang?

In this situation, even without Liu Bei, there would be Xu Huang and Dong Cheng who could have stepped forward and forced him into this predicament.

Thinking of this, Cao Cao couldn't help but feel secretly annoyed!
Outdated! Foolish!
Liu Bei, without any prior knowledge, willingly entered the game as a pawn, wanting to fulfill that person's wish, exchange one for one with him, and leave Luoyang together to continue the cause of reviving the Han Dynasty and restore the Han imperial family!
Once Cao Cao understood this, he became furious when he looked at Liu Bei. How could anyone in the world be so pedantic?

Without knowing anything about the situation in Luoyang, he willingly became a sword in someone's hand and a knife in someone's palm, just because of Kong Rong's words: "Do not do unjust things." He entered the game himself and became a pawn.
Yes! It's Kong Rong!

Everything here happened logically, except for Kong Rong, who was a variable!
If I return to Luoyang, the Emperor's faction will surely launch a campaign to eliminate Cao Cao. I will not submit to execution, and the two factions will inevitably fight to the death, which will eventually lead to war.

If war breaks out, Luoyang will collapse and the Han Dynasty will decline. The emperor will not sit idly by, but he is powerless to stop it. The only option is to question his ministers in the name of the greater good of the Han Dynasty!

Right here!
If a Kong Rong were to appear here, willing to die for his sovereign and uphold the name of loyalty and integrity for the entire Han Dynasty, then no one could stand in his way under the banner of righteousness.

At this moment, even without Liu Bei, Xu Huang, Dong Cheng, or anyone else, a simple statement from any of them could be used to manipulate the will of Heaven and the people, and they could exchange one for another to march out of Luoyang and punish the traitors!
Even Yuan Shu was helping him. A memorial to the throne to confer the title of King of Han appeared at just the right time, and the Marquis of Duting, who was on the verge of death, ignited the great cause of restoring the Han dynasty in the hearts of the emperor and his ministers, and the flame burned brightly and never went out!

At the beginning of this battle, the officials' call to kill Cao Cao was a ruse. At this moment, their real intention was to force themselves to volunteer to leave Luoyang and fight a bloody battle on the border against Yuan's army.

It's both power and coercion!

At this moment, given the greater good, if I do not volunteer, can I still be considered a Han official?
If he is not even a Han official, why keep him around?
Then the initial plot to kill Cao Cao will become real, and he will kill himself in court, gambling the fate of the Han Dynasty with Cao Cao!
If I volunteer to lead the expedition, I will be trading one for one with Liu Bei, and the emperor will gradually take control of Luoyang. I might really end up like Cao Hou, the General Who Conquers the West of Han.

If the chess player is the emperor, then Cao Cao has nothing he wouldn't dare to gamble on, since he has the emperor firmly in his grasp and would never want Luoyang to be thrown into war and internal strife.

The biggest problem here is that he doesn't even know who this person is who is willing to gamble his life on the fate of the Han Dynasty, so how can he dare to place a bet?

Kong Rong was utterly lacking in courage, righteousness, and loyalty. So who was it that seduced him with the idea of ​​sacrificing himself for a place in history?
Who is it again? Setting me up for this scheme.

(End of this chapter)