The Academy's Spring (6): Seek the Blood of the Han Imperial Line
"......I hesitate to say this, but isn't it a bit awkward to put forward a new emperor at this stage?"
"Why?"
"Well, you've already secured the position of Grand General from the current emperor..."
Xin Pi tilted his head briefly, then caught Yuan Shao's meaningful smile and asked,
"It seems there's something I don't know. Is it not yet something you can tell me?"
"That's right."
"...My lord, have you mentioned this to the other advisors?"
"No."
"I see..."
Xin Pi clasped his hands together and bowed deeply once more.
"In that case, I, Xin Pi, will do my utmost to find a bloodline of the imperial family. If I bring back someone satisfactory to you, will you then tell me what you're thinking?"
"Of course."
Yuan Shao drummed his fingers on the table, twisting his lips into a smirk.
"Truth be told, the justification is already in place. If all of you knew about it, the advisors would unanimously approve it."
"...That significant?"
"Yes. Stronger than any justification you've proposed. I chose you for this task because you advocated something related to it."
"......The legitimacy of the Han imperial line."
Yuan Shao nodded gravely. Xin Pi quietly began to organize his thoughts based on Yuan Shao's words.
"...Though I don't know what it is, there must be a grave flaw in the current emperor serious enough to dethrone him immediately."
"Exactly! But even if you've guessed it, don't speak of it carelessly. Not yet."
"Because speaking it now could brand us as traitors?"
"Yes. It would be spreading rumors without proof."
Slandering the emperor without evidence? Even for Yuan Shao, that was dangerous. But with evidence, they could formally challenge him. The current emperor had such a massive flaw.
"However, my lord, isn't there a Liu woman right under your nose?"
"True enough."
Liu. Yuan Shao's latest concubine's surname was Liu. The great Yuan family wouldn't take just any woman as a concubine, so Lady Liu was indeed of imperial blood.
But.
"She's a woman, though."
"Ah, you said to find a man..."
In that instant, Xin Pi froze solid. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead as he began trembling, staring at Yuan Shao.
"Th-that can't be. Even Cao Cao wouldn't do something so insane."
"Indeed. It happened long ago. Well, since you've guessed it, I'll tell you."
Yuan Shao laughed like a child and pointed to his throat.
"Dong Zhuo did it. Must've given Cao Cao a headache. But does it matter? We just use it appropriately."
"We might need to use it more than appropriately. Securing a male Liu would be a huge boon for us."
"That's why I'm telling you to find one. Especially one recognized by the imperial family. Anyone claiming to be an imperial descendant needs court approval, or we can trace the genealogy and pick Liu bloodlines one by one. It'll be a puppet anyway."
Madness glinted in Yuan Shao's eyes.
"If the emperor of Han must carry Liu blood, then it applies to my sons too."
"...As expected, the Third Young Master?"
"Third Young Master? I haven't said anything. Xin Pi, don't think you can force it on me by bringing back Yuan Shang."
"My apologies, my lord."
Xin Pi bowed deeply at Yuan Shao's sharp words.
"Succession is my decision. Like it or not, they're my blood. It's good for them to grow fighting over my command, but the choice is mine."
Yuan Shao approached Xin Pi and gripped his shoulder tightly.
"It's mine. Got it?"
"...My deepest apologies once more."
"Haha, good. That's the posture. I don't care who you support, but don't forget you're my vassal."
Yuan Shao returned to his seat and reclined leisurely.
"Now go find that imperial descendant. Someone of decent age, suitable to yield the throne to my son later."
"Understood. You may have heard, but there's one candidate. Not on par with the late Lord Liu Yu, but meaningful in the north."
"Oh? Someone I wouldn't know?"
"Yes. Recently—well, a few days ago—he truly became imperial blood."
Xin Pi asked cautiously,
"...What about Liu Bei?"
* * *
At that moment, in the Heodo court.
"Oh! Checking the genealogy, you truly are my uncle! From today, I'll call you Uncle Liu Huangshu."
"Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful."
Liu Bei became the emperor's uncle before the assembled civil and military officials. Though not granted a formal office, the recognition alone vastly elevated his authority.
"Stay by my side and protect me henceforth."
"Your Majesty, may this humble subject speak?"
"What is it?"
Liu Bei eyed those behind and before him carefully before speaking.
"The court already has plenty to serve Your Majesty. Heodo is secure, but bandits plague the realm, leaving Your Majesty's people ragged and starving. It's heartbreaking. If you grant me troops, I'll lead them to eliminate the greatest bandit first."
"Yuan Shu?"
"Yes."
"...What say you, General Cao?"
The emperor turned to Cao Cao. She stared piercingly at Liu Bei before speaking.
"Let him go."
"......."
Liu Bei stared back at Cao Cao repeatedly. She wouldn't just release him, he thought, probing for her scheme.
"But departing right after this imperial recognition seems discourteous. Troops are busy sowing and farming now, so why not take time to assemble forces slowly?"
"Ah, yes. Can't trouble the people to suppress bandits. Liu Xuande, bear with us. Let's talk for a while. Haha."
"...I am overjoyed."
Liu Bei stepped aside. The officials' expressions varied wildly, but boiled down to two camps: those under Cao Cao uncomfortable with Liu Bei himself, and traditional courtiers resentful of this sudden upstart claiming the uncle title.
"Right! We must grant Uncle Liu a post. When you lead troops later, I'll bestow the title of Left General."
"......Pardon?"
Even Liu Bei stiffened at "Left General." Not just any general, it held little real power but outranked all in Cao Cao's army save her. Effectively, one decree made him second-in-command of the court's military.
With one caveat...
"Not right now, but later. When you attack Yuan Shu, go with your brothers and show the world this land is still one nation's."
"As you command."
Who would obey the emperor if not his uncle? Liu Bei could only assent.
"And one announcement to the civil and military officials."
As the emperor began, Cao Cao stepped forward, as if prearranged. Officials exchanged glances. Could it be?
"For slaying Lü Bu, who colluded with traitor Yuan Shu, I appoint Grand General Cao Cao as Prime Minister of this realm."
"What?!"
"Unacceptable!!"
Officials surged forward.
"Speak, Dong Cheng."
"Lady Cao's achievements are undeniable. But Prime Minister? It's the head of the court. A woman in that role is against heaven and earth!"
"She slew Lü Bu. Still?"
"Even so!"
Dong Cheng's eyes blazed red. As leader of the emperor's faction—not Cao Cao's—the others raised their voices too. Their consensus:
"We know Lady Cao's loyalty, but a woman cannot be Prime Minister!"
"Your Majesty."
Cao Cao, silent till now, spoke. All mouths clamped shut.
"I obey Your Majesty's will."
With that, she bowed. Officials exchanged awkward chuckles and glances. The emperor nodded and rose.
"Grand General Cao Cao is appointed Prime Minister! No objections! Dismissed!"
Liu Bei, eighteenth-generation descendant of Zhongshan Prince, recognized as imperial blood. Becomes emperor's uncle.
Cao Cao becomes Prime Minister.
* * *
"We must recognize Liu Bei as imperial kin and grant him a title. To keep him caged in Heodo as Lady Cao desires, bind him so he can't move freely."
"Like with Lü Bu. Don't grant the post outright—promise it, then delay. No mere county magistrate; something honorary, high-ranking but powerless."
"That means raising Lady Cao's position too..."
"Prime Minister Cao."
Prime Minister. True second to the emperor, wielder of real power.
"Just becoming Prime Minister signals defiance to Yuan Shao."
We wrote the letters. Soon after they reached court, Cao Cao would adopt our proposals wholesale.
'A plan making her Prime Minister? No way she'd refuse.'
Lock Liu Bei in Heodo's gilded cage; Cao Cao ascends to Prime Minister, unstoppable. It was the underdrawing of her vision; we merely suggested colors she craved. Proposing blue for seas, green for mountains is easy. Matching shades to her taste took our collective wits, but doable.
"With Liu Bei tied to court, what about Xuzhou Inspector?"
"About that."
A chill ran down my spine at the name common to all three letters.
"...You're asking me to persuade this person now?"
Xuzhou native, Zhuge Xuan. Each letter urged appointing him Xuzhou Inspector—he could handle it effortlessly.
"...I'll ask when he returns."
"Xuzhou Inspector? If she marries our Liang, I'll accept."
"Huh?"
Zhuge Xuan's words upon returning from Xuzhou.