Hero's Recognition (2)
As Cao Cao's procession headed toward Heedo, we all caught sight of the vast fields of grain stretching across the outskirts of Ye Province. The expansive view of those fields laid out long beyond the grand plains was truly a sight to behold. This is the scale of the continent.
But then, some common folk who had been quietly tending their farms started approaching us.
"How rude."
The soldiers escorting Cao Cao immediately reached for their weapons. However, the farmers' destination was none other than our Liu Bei forces.
"Lord Xuande!! It's been too long!! Do you remember us?!"
"We've followed you since Xuzhou..."
"Hmph. I've been with you since the Pingyuan days. Xuzhou? That's junior league."
The commoners showed no fear of the soldiers whatsoever as they approached our side.
Interfering with a high noble's procession was normally a grave crime, but Liu Bei allowed the folk to come forward and chat naturally.
'And these people... they look familiar.' Some had followed from Pingyuan, others from his time as Xuzhou governor.
"Kim Gong. Still got that bushy head of yours. No topknot yet?" one of them greeted me.
"How's the farming going?" Liu Bei asked the farmers with a smile.
"Of course! Hehe. We'll bring you some fresh leeks from this summer's harvest, Lord Xuande!"
The farmers smiled, bowed to Liu Bei, and then stepped aside to clear the path.
The entire Cao Cao contingent watched the scene with utter astonishment.
"Whoa, is it always like this?" Xiahou Dun, who had sidled up to me before I knew it, whispered.
"Pretty much." Guess you could call it a knowing wink between us.
"Lord Xuande." Cao Cao called out.
"Ah, Prime Minister. My apologies." Liu Bei immediately put on a regretful expression. The procession had been delayed.
"Those folk... old acquaintances?" Cao Cao asked, his eyes gleaming.
"Ah, yes. Commoners who've been close to me since my days in Pingyuan and as Xuzhou governor. Rain or shine, they follow me all this way." Liu Bei smiled as he spoke.
"...I've heard you're a man of benevolence and righteousness, Lord Xuande, and now I see it's true." Cao Cao let out a hearty laugh.
"With the common folk following you and countless heroes at your side, you truly deserve the title of hero."
Cao Cao seemed to be praising Liu Bei with a smile, but I caught the glint of killing intent in his eyes.
'Shit. He's on high alert.' From Cao Cao's perspective, he'd just upgraded his threat level on Liu Bei.
"I'm deeply honored. This humble villager doesn't deserve such words..." Liu Bei, sensing survival instincts kicking in, bowed his head low.
"Hm. It's been ages since I saw something so heartwarming. Makes the soul feel good! Hehe." Cao Cao laughed and urged the procession onward.
We followed behind in a slightly tense atmosphere.
'What in the world is it?' Cao Cao pondered inwardly.
Considering Liu Bei's history of wandering from place to place due to his lack of power, it made no sense. What did these commoners gain by following such a weak lord? Nothing but a life on the run.
Wisdom dictated clinging to the powerful, yet these folk stubbornly stuck with Liu Bei.
'And... the heroes following him are the same.' Normally, after such repeated defeats, those around him would have scattered. Look at Yuan Shu, barely holding on in Nanyang—most of his talents had defected to Sun Jian or turned bandits.
But this man was different. He still held his subordinates tightly knit.
Human virtue, benevolence—Cao Cao, well-versed in Confucian classics, knew the concepts well. But in these chaotic times, he saw them as empty ideals.
'He's dangerous indeed.' A man with an immeasurable charm that defied logic. In that moment, Cao Cao came to view Liu Bei as a greater threat than Yuan Shao.
'But... he's naive.' At the same time, Cao Cao felt a sense of superiority toward him.
The surest way to expand power in this era was the tuntian system based on universal conscription, which Liu Bei hadn't implemented. Patchwork recruitment wouldn't achieve even his dreamed-of benevolence.
'In the end, it was Legalism, not Confucianism, that ended the Warring States.' Cao Cao saw reality as it was. Deep down, he still considered Liu Bei a greenhorn.
'Coming under me is his fortune.' Liu Bei had the spirit of a dragon, but it grew slowly. Confined in Cao Cao's vast pond, he'd never threaten him.
We finally arrived back in Heedo after so long.
"Long live the Prime Minister!!"
"Long live!!"
The people cheered wildly at Cao Cao's appearance.
Inside the palace, the festive mood was even thicker. It was a rare hunting banquet hosted by the imperial court.
The court officials, who had endured constant sidelining under the Ten Eunuchs, Dong Zhuo, Li Jue, Guo Si, and other traitors, hadn't enjoyed such a leisurely festival in ages.
"Uncle. You've arrived." The Emperor greeted Liu Bei and our group with a frail smile.
"This lowly subject greets Your Majesty." Liu Bei prostrated himself flat in formal salute.
"Oh! Keep the formalities brief. You're my uncle, after all!" The Emperor quickly raised Liu Bei, openly flaunting their kinship.
Cao Cao's eyes sparked with anger at the sight. Liu Bei, sensing the sidelong glare on his ear, wore a slightly uncomfortable expression.
'Well, I didn't expect to get roped into this event.' Heedo's woods held an artifact to claim.
A spirit beast unique to fertile forests: the golden-antlered deer. Brewing its golden antlers into medicine created a panacea for all illnesses.
A miraculous drug that cured any disease in the game. It allowed intervention in events—saving the sickly Liu Qi, the perpetually headache-plagued Cao Cao, or Tai Shici from southern plagues, earning massive favor.
Of course, it couldn't cure old age. Still, extending a key figure's life and altering history made it hugely popular.
'I'll find a use for it later.' Who knew what the future held, but it'd come in handy someday.
Since we were here, the goal was the golden-antlered deer. Random spawn made it tricky, but diligent searching would pay off.
"Mok Lan. Stick with me and shoot the targets I point out." I called over Mok Lan, our archery specialist.
"Ah. Got it." Mok Lan nodded, checking her bow. Her Western Liang origins made her handling of it second nature.
"Mok Lan. Looking sharp." I praised her as she lightly plucked the bowstring.
"Uh, eek... R-really?" Mok Lan fumbled, showing an adorably embarrassed reaction. Ah... shy Mok Lan is cute. Gotta hug her later if there's time. That was me.
Doooong.
At that moment, one of the eunuchs rang a low bell.
"Your Majesty, please receive the imperial bow." An official handed a bow to the mounted young Emperor.
A rare bow obtainable only once in the game, encrusted with gems—clearly top-tier at a glance. Exclusive to the Emperor, it was legendary.
Surprisingly, picking it up yielded little effect. Purely symbolic. Hard to obtain, more for achievement than power.
"Puhihi." Then, a deer burst from the woods beyond, tilting its head.
Normally, wild deer would wary of humans, but this one just blankly stared at our group.
By tradition, the hunt's first shot was the Emperor's.
Shiiiing.
Even so, the young Emperor took a rather stylish stance, aiming the bow.
Piiiing.
The arrow flew straight at the deer.
But it narrowly missed. He'd predicted its path, but the deer stopped dead—perfect stop-move form.
As the arrow whiffed, the officials shouted loudly and mounted up.
"Chase that deer!!"
Just as everyone pursued in formation, Cao Cao extended a hand to the young Emperor.
A blatant "hand over the bow" gesture. Everyone was stunned by the arrogance toward the Emperor, but none dared show it.
The young Emperor looked flustered but yielded the bow under Cao Cao's pressure.
Shiiiing. Fwoooooom!!!!
Cao Cao took the imperial bow with flair and loosed the arrow.
Thuk.
The arrow cleanly pierced the deer's neck.
The deer collapsed on the spot.
But the twist came elsewhere. The imperial bow's arrow was a flashy one with peacock feathers. Officials who hadn't seen the front assumed the Emperor had hit it and cheered.
The cheers spread far and wide.
"Long live!! Long live!! Long live!!! "
The cheers echoed even ahead.
"Long live the Prime Minister!! Long live!!!"
What was meant for the Emperor morphed into cheers for Cao Cao.
Despite the awkwardness, Cao Cao basked naturally in the praise, bow in hand.
Holding the imperial bow as if he were the real Emperor, responding to the adulation.
"..."
Liu Bei and Zhao Yun's faces hardened instantly.
Mok Lan, having lived through something similar, watched Cao Cao with a bitter expression. Seeing the once-ambitious man who'd tried to kill her now corrupted by power stirred poignant感慨.
Clink.
"..."
Zhao Yun gripped his sword hilt with veiled fury. For a man of righteousness like him, such insolence was intolerable.
But survival instincts kicked in—I grabbed Zhao Yun's wrist.
And shook my head at him.
"...!"
Zhao Yun shot me a brief reproachful look, then seemed to grasp the situation.
Nearby were Hejo, the vanguard, Xiahou Dun, and Xiahou Yuan. All had the skill to sense Zhao Yun's killing intent and were eyeing his hand warily.
A fight here would crush us. We were surrounded by Cao Cao's men.
Zhao Yun finally cooled, loosening his grip.
I lightly stroked the back of his hand, signaling he'd done well.
"Hng..."
Zhao Yun's expression softened again.
Fate Point: 'Cao' of the Muddled Lord
I regained my composure too, thanks to the fate point from witnessing the historic event.
"Then let the hunt begin!!!"
As people shouted and drums beat loudly, the hunt kicked off.
The young Emperor looked a bit pitiful with his sullen face, but for now, I focused on nabbing the golden-antlered deer.