Transmigrating to the Three Kingdoms as Lu Bu: I Have a Pseudo-Apocalypse System

Yang Biao's words caused an uproar in the hall.

Although everyone knew this day would come, it was still shocking to hear it in person.

Liu Xie's face turned ashen as he looked at the other veteran officials.

Zhao Wen stepped forward: "I second that proposal! The Grand General's achievements are unparalleled; he should be promoted to Duke and granted the Nine Bestowments!"

Zhang happy: "I second that!"

Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun: "We second that proposal!"

Zhou Zhong and Shi Sunrui also seconded the motion.

Seeing that these leaders of the literati were acting in this way, even if their students, former officials, relatives, and cronies did not understand, they could only step forward and second the motion.

Jia Xu, Guo Jia, Cao Xing, Hao Meng, and other close associates of Lü Bu all cried out in unison, "Your Majesty, please grant our request!"

Liu Xie was trembling all over.

Only then did he understand why Lü Bu had acted so leniently, punishing only a few palace eunuchs while letting go of Yang Biao, Zhao Wen, Zhang Xi, Huangfu Song, Zhu Jun, and others who were actually discussing the secret edict. It turned out that he was waiting for this.

Lü Bu spared their lives in exchange for their help in pressuring Liu Xie to abdicate, demanding that Lü Bu be granted the title of Duke of Jin.

Bingzhou was formerly known as Jin. Lü Bu was from Bingzhou. This time, he led his troops to conquer Bingzhou and it seems that there is no problem in promoting him to Duke of Jin. However, in reality, since Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu set the rule that, apart from the two kings and three guests, meritorious officials of different surnames could only be enfeoffed as marquises (county, township, and pavilion levels), dukes of different surnames had become extinct (historically, this rule was not broken until Cao Cao was enfeoffed as Duke of Wei).

Liu Xie sat on the throne, gripping the armrests tightly with both hands.

He felt a wave of dizziness – these old ministers who usually claimed to be loyal to the Han Dynasty had now joined forces to force him to grant Lü Bu the title of Duke!

"Your Majesty?" Yang Biao urged again when he saw that Liu Xie did not answer for a long time.

Liu Xie took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

He knew that if he opened this door today, Lü Bu's next step would be to become a king, and the next step after that...

"The ancestral rules cannot be violated." Liu Xie's voice trembled, but he tried to be clear. "Since the reign of Emperor Guangwu, apart from the two kings and three honored guests, no meritorious officials of different surnames have been granted the title of duke. This is the ancestral rule, and I... I dare not disobey it."

He looked at Lü Bu and mustered his courage to say, "I am well aware of the great achievements of the General. However, matters concerning titles are related to ancestral rules and cannot be changed lightly. I may increase the General's fief to 30,000 households and bestow upon him the titles of Grand Marshal, Director of the Secretariat, and Commandant of the Capital Region, which is sufficient to show his honor and favor."

This was said euphemistically, but the meaning was clear: the Duke was out of the question, but other things could be discussed.

The main hall became even quieter.

Everyone looked at Lü Bu.

Lu Bu's expression remained unchanged as he slowly stroked the hilt of the sword at his waist. This sword, named Qinggang, was originally a royal treasure, and now it hung at his waist.

At that moment when you could hear a pin drop, one person suddenly stepped out from the ranks of the Nine Ministers.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

His voice was as loud as a bell.

Everyone looked and saw that it was none other than the Imperial Servant Han Rong.

Han Rong was over sixty years old, with white hair and beard, yet he maintained a straight back. He was a renowned scholar who had served as Grand Herald and Grand Master of the Palace, always by Emperor Xian's side. Even when Li Jue and Guo Si were in power, he dared to rebuke them to their faces, making him a well-known tough guy in the court.

At this moment, he strode into the hall, first bowing deeply to Liu Xie, then turning around and pointing at Lü Bu:

"Lü Bu! As a Han official, you have seized power and usurped the emperor's authority—this is disloyalty! Today, you have instigated the court officials to force the emperor to abdicate, attempting to be promoted to duke—this is treason! Even Dong Zhuo and Li Zicheng and Guo Si did not dare to be so arrogant. You dare to break ancestral rules and usurp the throne. Your entire clan should be executed as a warning to others!"

Each word was like a knife, each strike resounding with force.

The entire hall erupted in uproar.

Yang Biao, Zhao Wen, Zhang happy, and the others stared in disbelief at Han Rong, as if they were looking at a madman.

What's the situation now? Lü Bu has just pacified the northern frontier and recovered Bing and Liang, commanding over 100,000 elite troops, and has control of Guanzhong. The emperor is under house arrest, and you, Han Rong, a mere palace servant, dare to curse him in court?

Don't want to die?

Han Rong really doesn't care about his life.

His beard and hair stood on end as he continued his furious rant: "Gentlemen, you are all subjects of the Han Dynasty, receiving the Han's bounty and favor. Today, you have aided and abetted the tyrant, forcing the emperor to abdicate. How can you face the court? How can you face our ancestors?"

Yang Biao's face flushed red. He wanted to retort, but he felt ashamed of himself.

Zhao Wen lowered his head, not daring to meet Han Rong's gaze.

Zhang happy took a half step back.

Lu Bu finally made his move.

He loosened the hilt of his sword, slowly walked down the steps, and came to stand before Han Rong.

The two were no more than five steps apart.

Han Rong stood tall and proud, showing no fear.

"Master Han," Lü Bu spoke, his voice calm, "you accuse me of usurping the throne?"

"Exactly!" Han Rong sneered. "Your actions of killing Dong Zhuo and expelling Li Zicheng and Guo Si seem meritorious, but in reality, they were attempts to seize power. Now you've sidelined the emperor and monopolized the court—how are you any different from Dong Zhuo? Today you even want to be promoted to Duke, the next step is King, and the next step after that is to usurp the Han throne and establish yourself! Your wolfish ambitions are crystal clear!"

Lü Bu nodded and turned to Liu Xie: "Your Majesty, did you hear what Han Rong said?"

Liu Xie's heart pounded, but he gritted his teeth and said, "Master Han is right. The laws of our ancestors cannot be abandoned; this is an act of loyalty to the emperor."

He must protect Han Rong—he is now the only old minister who still dares to speak up for him.

Lü Bu laughed.

That smile was cold.

He slowly drew the Qinggang sword from his waist; its blade was long and narrow, its cold light reflecting off his calm face.

"In Your Majesty's opinion," Lü Bu said, stroking his sword, his voice growing deeper, "was my killing of Dong Zhuo and expulsion of Li Guo an act of usurpation? Was my northward campaign against the Hu, beheading Kebineng and capturing Qubei an act of treason? Was my reconquest of Bing and Liang and the pacification of Han Sui an act of wolfish ambition?"

He said, slowly and deliberately, "Your Majesty, please enlighten me."

Liu Xie looked at the sword and felt a chill run down his neck.

He recalled the cup of poisoned wine that Dong Zhuo used to kill his brother Liu Bian, and the night when Li Jue and Guo Si forced him to abdicate with knives. And now... Lu Bu's sword was only ten steps away from him.

Courage receded like the tide.

"The Great General is naturally... naturally a pillar of the nation, with unparalleled merit..." Liu Xie's voice trembled, almost incoherent.

"And what about Han Rong's words?" Lü Bu pressed, "were they not slanderous remarks about meritorious officials, disruptive behavior in the court, and attempts to sow discord between the emperor and his ministers?"

Liu Xie opened his mouth, but could not utter a word.

Jia Xu stepped forward at the opportune moment and said loudly, "Your Majesty, Han Rong has groundlessly slandered a high-ranking official, disrupted the order of the court, and sowed discord between the emperor and his ministers. According to the law, he should be executed! I beg Your Majesty to issue an edict to execute this traitor and uphold the law and order of the nation!"

Guo Jia immediately seconded the motion: "Han Rong's son, Han Yan, previously embezzled grain and salary while serving in Taicang, and was demoted and fined by the Grand General. Today, Han Rong slanders the Grand General in court, surely out of personal revenge, neglecting official duties for personal grudges! Moreover, the father is to blame for the son's misbehavior; Han Rong has allowed his son to act out of personal favoritism, and now he has neglected public duty for personal reasons, slandering a high-ranking official. His crime is even more serious! I request Your Majesty to execute this man immediately as a warning to others!"

The two worked together to pinpoint Han Rong's crimes.

Liu Xie grew anxious: "Master Han is loyal to the country; how could he let personal matters interfere with public duty? This matter..."

"Your Majesty," Lü Bu interrupted him, his voice turning cold, "Since Your Majesty is unwilling to execute this traitor, then I have no choice but to do it in your stead."

He turned and shouted towards the outside of the hall, "Guards!"