Three Kingdoms: Prince of the Great Wei, Prime Minister Cao

Chapter 3: Does Liu Xie Possess the Aura of Emperor Xuan of Han and Guangwu?

In the dimly lit room, Cao Ju maintained silence. The ongoing discussion concerned whether Cao Cao could meet Xun Yu’s expectations of “yielding or not yielding.” Despite Xun Yu’s hopeful anticipation of Cao Cao’s concession, Cao Ju introduced another influential figure into the conversation – Emperor Liu Xie of the Han Dynasty.

Not only did he mention Liu Xie, but he also brought up Liu Xie’s actions after ascending to power— an “advance” followed by “gradual encroachment” and a “major reckoning.” Hearing Cao Ju’s words, Xun Yu’s expression subtly changed, and he promptly countered, “Impossible!”

“Absolutely impossible!” He added, his urgent tone indicating that this brilliant strategist had lost his composure or was fervently defending Emperor Liu Xie.

Though Xun Yu could endure Cao Ju’s probing into his actions and intentions, he subconsciously rejected Cao Ju’s “assault” and “slander” against Emperor Liu Xie.

Staring at this version of Xun Yu, Cao Ju sneered, “So, Your Majesty Liu Xie possesses virtuous and benevolent qualities?”

“Does he have the aura of Emperor Xuan of Han and Guangwu?”

“Sir, if you were to place these words upon Liu Xuande, who was once struggling in the besieged lands of Western Chu, I might find them somewhat acceptable.”

“After all, the benevolence and righteousness of Uncle Liu are known throughout the realm. Although I am labeled in his words as the rebellious son of the Han Dynasty, I still deeply admire his struggles that eventually led to the foundation of Jing Province.” These words were undoubtedly sincere from Cao Ju’s perspective.

As a time traveler, Cao Ju’s impressions and evaluations of the three factions—Cao, Sun, and Liu—remained distinctly clear:

Cao Cao, the Martial Emperor of Wei, displayed a domineering nature in all his actions. He could be hailed as a ruthless hero of chaotic times.

Liu Bei embodied benevolence and righteousness, upholding the principles of the king’s path. He stood as a hero of his era. Unfortunate circumstances hindered Shu Han’s romantic beginnings, and its romance ended similarly.

And as for Sun Quan of Jiangdong…

An Eastern Wu Emperor? No, merely a rat from Jiangdong! There’s no intention to vilify Liu or Cao. It’s just his disdain for Sun Quan!

After quietly retracting this line of thought, Cao Ju looked up and met Xun Yu’s gaze, a hint of mockery flickering in his eyes.

“But to use these words to describe the current Emperor.”

With a faint tone of contempt, Cao Ju’s expression suddenly shifted.

“I beg to differ! Does he, Liu Xie, deserve it?!’’

“Emperor Xuan, Liu Xie’s revered ancestor, held deep affection for his sword even in his final moments. While seated on the imperial throne, he didn’t forget the hardships of his early days and married his concubine from those times. He dared to reject the Ho family’s daughter and instead chose Lady Xu as his empress.”

“Emperor Guangwu reforged the empire’s destiny, but he never resorted to the tactics of the crafty hare and the cooking dog, as Emperor Gaozu did. His twenty-eight generals of the Cloud Terrace all met honorable ends.”

“Heh, and now we have this reigning Emperor?” In front of Xun Yu, Cao Ju at this moment, did not hide his disdain for the current Emperor, Liu Xie.

“In the past, during the turmoil caused by Dong Zhuo, when chaos plagued the court and afflicted the realm, Minister Wang Yun, through the hands of Lu Bu, restored order and saved the Emperor from the hands of the rebels.”

“Back then, despite his pride in his accomplishments, his achievements were considerable!”

“However, During the turmoil in Changan, what did the Emperor do?”

“Faced with the demands of the rebel generals Li Jue and Guo Si, who wanted Minister Wang executed, what did His Majesty the Emperor do?”

“One side represented the rebels’ demands, while the other was a loyal subject. Amidst the two choices, who could have anticipated that our Emperor would hesitate and remain silent?” Cao Ju’s voice grew somber as he spoke.

“Is this choice really so difficult?”

In his words, Cao Ju’s voice lowered.

“Wang Zishi (Wang Yun’s style name), as a loyal subject to the state, eliminated traitors and braved national crises. His loyalty and righteousness were intense. Born as a Han minister, he died as a Han spirit.”

“But it was this very person!”

“At the moment when tens of thousands of troops were facing him, the monarch he remained loyal to abandoned him.

“Perhaps, when our Emperor maintained his silence, Wang Zishi, by the Emperor’s side, had already understood the Emperor’s choice.”

“His heart died along with it!”

“And so, with that leap from the Xuanping Tower in Chang’an, the tragic separation of ‘sovereign’ and ‘traitor,’ accompanied by bloodshed.”

“After his death, under the Emperor’s cold gaze, Wang Zishi’s corpse was left to be trampled by the Western Liang’s mighty steed. Not a trace remained.”

“A subject’s whole heart for his sovereign! Yet, why did the sovereign forsake the subject?”

“A loyal subject. What crime did he commit!!!”

Cao Ju shook his head gently, feeling the injustice on behalf of Wang Yun. And as his words came to an end…

“Boom!”

The windows suddenly burst open with a howling wind. As it extinguished the room’s oil lamp, lightning also entered. Amid the flash of lightning and the roar of thunder, Cao Ju’s question, “What crime did he commit?” left Xun Yu momentarily dazed and disoriented.

In an instant, Xun Yu felt as if he was facing Wang Yun as if he was there in person. He saw Wang Yun sternly questioning him, and though he tried to speak, his throat only felt dry. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.

Cao Ju’s words echoed softly at this moment, “I ask, sir. Does such an Emperor truly possess the benevolence of Emperor Xuan and the righteousness of Guangwu? Truly an insult to both!”

“Emperor Xuan, Liu Xie, when facing Huo Guang’s actions to depose and enthrone emperors, was able to grant him the highest posthumous honors after his death. He gave this powerful minister an imperial burial. Had it not been for the misguided actions of Huo Guang’s family that led to the poisoning and rebellion of Lady Xu’s mother and child, even the Huo clan might not have faced punishment.”

“Even so, during the three years of Ganlu, Emperor Xuan welcomed the return of the Xiongnu to Han. Reflecting on the past achievements of his loyal ministers, he still did not forget Huo Guang’s contributions. He placed him at the forefront of the Qilin Terrace Eleven Accomplished Men.”

“With the accomplishments on the Qilin Terrace, who could match the grandeur upon its steps? In terms of a king’s generosity, could our yet-to-reign Emperor, who, over a decade ago, instigated the ‘Cloth Belt Edict,’ conspired with Liu Bei, Dong Cheng, Zhong Yao, Wu Zilan, and others to hastily plan the assassination of my father in secret, compare to Emperor Xuan of Han?”

“Even before ascending the throne, our Emperor’s murderous intent was glaring. If our Emperor gains control and authority in the future, what hope of survival does my father, my Cao family, have?”

“True, the predicament my father faces today is partially due to the ‘pressure’ from those strategists and generals loyal to him, but there are also some… Isn’t it also due to our heartless and ungrateful Emperor’s ‘pressure’?”

Cao Ju understood this very well. Being in a high position, one faced the biting cold and a path with no retreat. Just as Cao Ju had mentioned to Xun Yu earlier, even if Cao Cao wanted to retreat, people would be “pressuring” him forward. Those people, some were his allies. Some, ironically, were his enemies. Except for a few “exceptions,” most of the emperors of the Han dynasty were ungrateful and unappreciative individuals.

The “Cloth Belt Edict” was not the origin of the young emperor’s murderous intentions toward his father, Cao Cao, who was far away in Xudu. Cao Ju, who was well-versed in history, knew this. This young emperor would again conspire with Fu Shou in two years, causing another unexpected event. It can be said that Emperor Liu Xie’s intent to eliminate Cao Cao never extinguished, and he never afforded Cao Cao the opportunity to be his “Duke Zhou” or “Huo Guang.”

If he were in Cao Cao’s position, facing such circumstances, he would never dare to relinquish authority so lightly because doing so would be akin to choosing death.

His father, Cao Cao. This man, who had initially been fiercely loyal to the Han Dynasty, was a cunning hero in times of chaos. As of today, seated in a high position, he could no longer retreat. The man who, in the past, had been devoted to the Han Dynasty daringly assassinated Dong Zhuo alone out of loyalty to the Han, who held back and preserved his strength among the eighteen vassals and resolutely led his army to attack and killed the Western Liang troops—Cao Mengde, had now in this turbulent and murky age, been forcibly “pressed” to his death!!!