About Cao Cao's reincarnation as the emperor's uncle

Chapter 8: The Jade Book Bureau, Zhong Chengwo
The remaining dew condenses into frost, and the water lilies curl up like an unopened scripture.

Only the sound of koi carp swishing their tails echoed in the night, startling the whole pond swaying.

On the nine-curve corridor, Liu Fang's silk shoes rolled over the last half of the withered lotus leaves, and Liu Hong's carriage had already stopped at the corner of the water pavilion.

Zhang Rang's voice drifted over like a lotus leaf:
"This old minister will go ahead..."

The end of his words was lost in the night wind blowing through the corridor. Liu Hong looked at the hunched back, the tassels of the crown covering the churning tears in his eyes.

After a while, he took Liu Fang to the chariot, and immediately, the jade-carved horse trampled the jade on the ground into pieces.

The clattering sound of the carriage hitting the blue bricks was particularly clear in the quiet night in the Forbidden City.

Suddenly, there was the sound of a curtain being opened. Liu Hong leaned over the railing and looked out. In the distance, the eaves spread out against the dark blue sky.
"Brother, always think that if you could see a peaceful and prosperous era, you would make me the most comfortable nobleman in the world..."

The voice, mixed with the chill of the night dew, startled a few crows, which flew over the palace wall.

Liu Fang looked at the winding lights on the palace wall through the shark-toothed gauze curtain, and an almost inaudible sigh rolled through his throat, and he just responded as usual.

When the corner door of the side hall creaked open, the warm yellow candlelight streamed onto the ground like golden light.

Zhang Rang was standing at the foot of the altar with his hands hanging down. The glass lamp in his hand illuminated the dust in the hall and revealed the jade tablet of the Zongzheng Temple on the desk, which exuded the fragrance of old sandalwood.

……

Liu Hong's fingertips traced the lineage of the Hejian Kings and stopped at the name "Emperor Xiao Chong Liu Yi":

"Although we are of the same generation and clan, I am still young—"

The two people in front of the case held their breath and waited.

The edge of the jade tablet left a red mark on Liu Hong's palm:
"If you acknowledge him as Emperor Xiao Chong, according to the rites of the Imperial Clan, he should be my uncle. Only in this way can we silence the nobles."

Zhang Rang took a half step forward, the glass lamp illuminating the blurred ink marks on the document:

"Your Majesty wishes to have Lord Ma join the Xiao Chonghuang branch?"

Liu Fang lowered his eyes and looked at his folded sleeves.

"Exactly."

Liu Hong pushed the jade tablet over and ran his fingertips over the seal of Zongzhengling at the end of the tablet:

"After the Zongzheng Temple revises the certificate, we will have the three kings jointly sign the certificate of recognition. This way, no one will be able to question it."

Zhang Rang smiled and walked straight to the secret compartment sealed with wax on the wall.

A few torn silk books could be vaguely seen, all with scorched edges. He picked one of them and walked back to Liu Hong.

Liu Hong's eyes fell on the remnant of silk in Zhang Rang's hand:
"Father, please tell me the story of this thing in detail."

The edges of the silk book were charred as if it had been burned by fire, and words such as "Marquis Liwu died suddenly" and "young son Liu Fang is in swaddling clothes" could be seen in the broken characters.

Zhang Rang accepted the order and spoke attentively:
"In the first year of the Yongxi reign, Liwu Marquis Liu Yi died suddenly, and his eldest son Liu Zhi inherited the title at the age of fourteen."

"The following year, Emperor Zhi was poisoned. Empress Dowager Liang and General Liang Ji welcomed Liu Zhi as emperor, who became Emperor Huan. They posthumously honored Liu Yi as Emperor Xiao Chong."

He traced the traces of the word "sudden death" with his fingertips, and his voice suddenly became hoarse:

"Emperor Huan had three younger brothers. The eldest was Kui, who was given the title of Prince of Bohai. The second was Shuo, who was given the title of Prince of Pingyuan. The youngest was Fang, who was born in the third month of the first year of the Yongxi reign. His father died before he was a month old."

"His mother feared Liang's jealousy and harm, so she secretly instructed the wet nurse to take the young child and hide him, leaving only this silk book as proof."

The glass lamp passed over the damaged part of the silk book, and dark red fingerprints were faintly visible next to the four words "Youngest Son Liu Fang".

"At that time, Emperor Huan had just ascended the throne, and the Liang family was in power. The Prince of Bohai raised his younger brother in the Prince of Bohai's palace, claiming to the outside world that the youngest son was the son of a servant. Therefore, the old records of the clan officials did not record him."

"In the second year of the Xiping reign, King Bohai was executed for treason. His wife and family all died in prison..."

Liu Hong's eyes flickered when he heard this, and Zhang Rang leaned forward at the right moment:

"According to a secret report received by this old minister, before his execution, Prince Bohai wrote in blood on a piece of silk, stating that his youngest brother, Liu Fang, was still alive, and asked Prince Pingyuan, Liu Shuo, to take care of him."

Zhang Rang's fingertips traced the remaining corner of the silk book, then he turned and looked at Liu Fang with a lingering smile:

"At the time, Wang Fu accused Prince Bohai of treason, but the evidence he presented was often far-fetched."

"Liu Kui was like a brother and a father to Liu Fang, and Liu Fang was unwilling to believe that Liu Kui was plotting a rebellion."

"So he used the help of Zhang Rang, the eunuch, to disguise himself as a eunuch, sneak into the palace, and secretly investigate Wang Fu."

"Now that the descendants of Emperor Xiao Chong have appeared in the world, Lord Ma... do you understand?"

Outside the hall, the night watchman's drums rang out, startling the crows that were roosting there and making a few cries.

Liu Fang lowered his head in thought, his palms slightly wet.

Could it be that Liu Hong's previous mention of the abnormality of King Liu Li of Bohai was because of this plan?
Did Prince Bohai have no intention of rebellion? Was he framed and made a discarded pawn in this political conspiracy?
It seems reasonable, but I always feel like something is wrong.

However, what is certain is that Liu Hong had already set up this interconnected scheme.

After all, according to Liu Hong's plan.

Whether it is to directly clear his name or to put him in the forefront.

Or Liu Fang changed from a "peer-generation relative" to an "uncle and nephew".

They will gradually lose their threat to imperial power.

……

"The beauty of this silk book is that it's half true and half false."

Liu Hong took the silk book and ran his fingertips over the burn marks on the edge of the book. This perjury was perfect.

"Born in the first year of the Yongxi reign, entrusted by King Bohai, he entered the palace to hide. Everything can be investigated..."

"The only thing about the youngest son's whereabouts is that it was not recorded in the Imperial Certification because of the Liang family's monopoly of power. This is the most clever move. If there were no flaws at all, it would be a shame."

When his gaze turned to Liu Fang, the tassels of his crown obscured the deep meaning in his eyes:

"As the younger brother of Emperor Huan and the emperor's uncle, if the nobles dare to criticize me, they will disrupt the etiquette of 'respecting the elders and loving the relatives'!"

Zhang Rang took a half step back at the right moment. The glass lamp reflected the wrinkles on his face, which looked like they were cut by a knife.
"Although the title is important, one still needs a reason to act. If Master Ma wants to win the hearts of his people, he must have a righteous cause recognized by the world..."

Liu Fang's fingertips suddenly tightened.

"Clear the emperor's side."

Zhang Rang said in a very soft voice:

"Lord Ma has been lurking in the palace for two years, openly serving as the emperor's close attendant, secretly investigating Wang Fu's framing of Prince Bohai. This kind of solitary loyalty can be used as a justification for the noble cause of 'clearing the emperor's side'..."

Before he could finish his words, there was a slight "clicking" sound from the secret compartment in the corner of the hall, as if a night wind, carrying dew, had penetrated into the room, making the jade tablet on the desk rustle.

really.

In the past, all the rebellions were launched under the pretext of "clearing the court".

Now that he has established himself as the "descendant of Emperor Xiao Chong", he is no longer the "brother of the emperor".

It seemed to elevate his status, but in fact it firmly tied his bloodline to the line of Emperor Huan.

By using the old case of King Bohai, he was able to cut off his possibility of coveting the throne.

Moreover, since Liu Hong has a series of means to prove his identity, he naturally also has means to ruin his reputation.

Forget it, I’ll think about it later.

At least, the primary task has been accomplished—to make it known.

……

Liu Fang tapped the desk lightly with his fingertips and glanced at the remaining sentence on the silk book: "My younger brother Liu Fang is less than a month old."

"So, my brother's birth year is set as the first year of Yongxi?"

Liu Hong clapped his hands and laughed, and the crown tassels collided with each other, making a clear sound:
"He's ten years older, which not only makes up for his youth, but also fits his identity as 'Emperor Xiao Chong's youngest son'."

Liu Fang looked at the emperor who was smiling faintly in the candlelight:

"So from now on, I will distance myself from the eunuchs, and even—oppose my brother?"

"Of course, we have to put on a good show..."

Liu Hongmian's tassels swayed with laughter, making a sound of shattering gold and jade:
"The nobles always say that I delegate power to the eunuchs, so I will be the one to 'set things right'."

Suddenly he leaned forward, the tassels of his crown brushing across the desk:
"Openly impeaching Wang Fu, secretly clipping the wings of the aristocratic family."

Liu Fang nodded, wondering how many layers of scheming this emperor had.

Although the old eunuch's power has declined, Wang Fu's followers are still as entangled as a network, and it seems that they need to be eliminated with justification...

However, looking at the situation, it does not stop there.

This is an open conspiracy. If you want to succeed, you have to follow this path, even if there are traps, you have to step into them.

……

Zhang Rang prostrated himself on the ground and kowtowed, his voice as soft as a mosquito's:
"We are the ones that the world has labeled as 'evil-doers beside the emperor'. If Lord Ma, with the dignity of a royal family, were to impeach us, it would be exactly what the aristocratic family hopes for in their 'contest between the pure and the turbid.'"

Liu Fang stared at the lamp oil swaying in front of Zhang Rang's knees. Amid the crackling sound of the flames licking the blue bricks, he suddenly remembered the words of scholars in previous lives who denounced Zhang Rang for his greed, cruelty and tyranny.

However, the person before him was willing to become a piece of firewood to start a fire, and to be criticized by the whole world in exchange for a legitimate reason for his own cause.

"Father, aren't you afraid that future history books will nail you to the pillar of shame?"

"Empty reputation is of no use! Those so-called clear streams are merely those who indulge in idle talk and indulge in empty reputation."

When Zhang Rang raised his head, a smile filled the corners of his eyes:
"They have been calling us eunuchs for decades. Even if we do nothing, we can't escape the stigma of 'traitors'."

The hall was as dead silent as the underworld, broken only by the occasional crackling of candle wicks.

Liu Fang's eyes moved as he thought about the past from the perspective of King Wei.

From the moment they entered the palace, eunuchs cleansed their bodies of all impurities and severed all ties with the secular world.

Why are the eunuchs so violent?
Firstly, because the palace is a dangerous place, only the strong can survive.

The second one is recorded in history books as a powerful eunuch who had to implement cruel policies for the emperor and bear the infamy.

Third, only by giving yourself the upper hand can you be valued by the emperor.

If the Han Dynasty is about to collapse, people like Zhang Rang will be the first to burn themselves to serve as fuel for the flames.

Just like in the past life...

Thinking of this, Liu Fang couldn't help but think of something.

"Brother, I dare to ask for your permission!"

Zhang Rang and Liu Hong were both stunned. Liu Fang's eyes were sharp as a torch, and he continued:

"There is no need to explicitly state that the imperial court should be cleared of officials. Simply write 'Seek loyal and virtuous people from all over the world to support the Han Dynasty.' I can then carry the imperial edict and tour the prefectures and counties, recruiting righteous men and seeking out virtuous officials, and act with integrity and justification."

Liu Hong clapped his hands and laughed, untied the jade belt, and pulled out the yellow silk lining.

He quickly wrote with cinnabar the eight characters "Liu Fang, a member of the royal family, is on tour on my behalf".

Suddenly he looked up, a gleam in his eyes:
"This edict has no text, only the imperial seal. I rely on you..."

"No, it is only through the Emperor's uncle's oral transmission of the heavenly language."

At this time, Zhang Rang also slowly stood up, smiling without saying a word.

The newly added oil in the glass lamp produced a half-inch flame, which made the figures of the three people appear longer and shorter.

Suddenly, the distant ringing of the palace bell was heard, startling countless insects into flight.

Hearing the flapping of wings, I don’t know whether the night is about to fade away or a deeper and longer night is coming.

...The lamp oil is gone, only the candle wick is still smoking.

Zhang Rang approached the emperor and whispered in his ear:
"Yuan Yi's behavior lately seems different from before."

Liu Hong ran his fingertips across the map and suddenly chuckled:
"It's okay..."

He looked up at the sky, where clouds were rolling in the early morning light.

"He should have flown long ago—"

……

Sleepless.

Liu Fang tossed and turned all night, and suddenly he noticed the window paper turning white.

The morning light has already flooded through the carved window frames.

He leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes.

Outside the palace, I could hear the rumbling sounds of carriages and chariots, mixed with the shouts of vendors and the whispers of passers-by, like an incoming tide.

When she stood up to straighten her clothes, the yellow silk in her sleeves rustled.

He unbuttoned the inner lining pocket and carefully put away the imperial edict. His fingertips touched the half jade pendant that belonged to Cao Cao.

Last night Zhang Rang escorted him to the palace gate, and the two talked for a long time.

At the end, Zhang Rang stroked his back and sighed:

"Death is inevitable. Even if I leave behind a name of eternal reproach, I am but a handful of dust. All I want in life is to fulfill my true desires. Why should I fear the judgment of future generations?"

This statement is heard over and over again.

In front of the bronze mirror, he wore a clean blue shirt and a jade belt across his waist.

He stared at his reflection in the mirror, and seemed to see the past between his eyebrows.

……

I am Cao Mengde.

In the third year of Xiping, he was initially appointed as the Northern Commander of Luoyang.

When his uncle Jian Shuo violated the ban and traveled at night, he was beaten to death.

At that time, the eunuchs were powerful, and it was thanks to Aweng's mediation that he was able to take up the post of magistrate of Dunqiu.

You were still a young man, with the ambition to clear the world.

When the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, he followed Huangfu Song to fight against the rebels in Yingchuan.

He defeated Bo Cai at Changsha and burned the enemy camp at Xihua, and was promoted to the position of governor of Jinan for his merits.

When he arrived in the county, he rectified the administration of officials.

The memorial is free from corruption, and obscene sacrifices are prohibited.

The government and education are in full swing, and the county is peaceful.

However, seeing that the court was divided into factions and the eunuchs still held power, he resigned and returned home.

He built a house outside the city, studied in spring and summer, and hunted in autumn and winter, hoping to support himself by farming and studying.

In the sixth year of Zhongping, Dong Zhuo entered the capital and deposed the emperor, arbitrarily deposing and enthroning him.

I pretended to offer a knife, intending to stab him.

When the matter was discovered, he died, changed his name and surname, and returned eastward.

When he arrived in Chenliu, he distributed his family wealth and raised volunteers.

He was the first to raise the banner of rebellion and sent proclamations to all prefectures and counties to denounce the traitors.

Yuan Shao and other governors of Guandong jointly elected a leader, who was called the Eighteen Princes.

However, the troops were stationed in Suanzao for more than a month and no one dared to advance.

There is no shortage of tricks and strategies!

You all face north, and I face west.

They encountered an ambush by Dong Zhuo and were almost all killed or wounded.

Thanks to Cao Hong who gave him a horse, he was able to escape.

In a gathering of righteousness, all trust and loyalty were lost, and close friends parted ways.

Looking back, the father and son are separated by a lifetime.

Zhang Miao and Chen Gong rebelled and joined Lü Bu, nearly costing us all our property.

Zhang Xiu rebelled in Wancheng, and his eldest son Ang, his nephew Anmin, and his beloved general Dian Wei all died in the disaster.

When Dian Wei fought to the death, he stood with the enemy's corpse in his arms, his eyes bloodshot.

His loyalty and bravery were so great that whenever I pass by his burial place, I will stop my car and cry bitterly.

Chen Gong helped Lü Bu to trap me in Puyang again, and he set fire to the east gate, burning all my hair and beard.

After this battle, I no longer owe Gongtai any debt, nor do I owe anyone in the world any debt.

When he conquered Jizhou, he set up a grand sacrifice in front of Yuan Benchu's tomb.

I remember when we were young, we hunted together in Qiao and drank together in Luo. How long have we been together?

The grass on the grave is withered, the cold wind is blowing, and all the old friends from childhood are gone.

That night I climbed the city wall alone and saw the Big Dipper across the sky, and there was silence all around.

Suddenly I realized that although the world is so vast, there is no one with whom I can share my loyalty.

During the Battle of Red Cliff, I had always believed that the heroes of Jiangnan might remember our old friendship, but I did not expect that fireboats would cover the river and smoke would rise to the sky.

Ma Chao and Han Sui rebelled again at Tongguan, cut off their beards and abandoned their robes and fled. The cold waves of the Wei River shine on my white hair.

At this point, A'man was dead, leaving only an orphan.

When the Bronze Sparrow Tower was completed, Zijian was summoned to the tower and said:
"You write poems for me to record my life's aspirations."

Zhi picked up his pen and wrote the article in beautiful language, but how could he have the ambition to live in the palace?

The only thing I hate is the headaches of Japanese TV dramas. Every night I dream of Dian Wei guarding the tent, and Ang'er crying "Aweng".

I got up in shock and drew my sword, but all I saw was the flickering red candlelight, filling the room with desolation.

Fengxiao followed the army for eleven years, and was able to resolve any major issues.

The frost in Liucheng was cold, and his illness broke out suddenly. His parents held his hand, and it was their farewell forever.

As he was returning with the coffin, he encountered heavy snow on the road and sighed to the sky:

"Alas, Feng Xiao! Painful, Feng Xiao! Pity, Feng Xiao!"

Xun Lingjun came to surrender with his county in the second year of Chuping, and has been in charge of the central government for fifteen years. Military and national affairs are decided in his hands.

In the 17th year of Jian'an, he died in Shouchun for advising against the Nine Gifts.

I went to pay my respects to him, and saw the remaining scroll on the table, with the ink marks still fresh.

Suddenly I recalled the time when we drank together on the city wall of Xuchang and talked about restoring the Han Dynasty. His eyes were as bright as torches.

Now we are separated forever, tears are falling on my clothes, I can't stop myself.

Some people blame me for appointing people based on personal relationships.

Who knew that my life was saved by Cao Zilian's surrender of his horse at the Bian River?

It was Xiahou Yuanrang who saved him by pulling out the arrow and eating his eye without retreating.

These comrades-in-arms, what else could they be but relatives?

How can you risk your life to save someone who is not a relative?
Why does Gu Du love Elder Guan Yu?

His heart is as pure as a newborn baby, and his righteousness is as clear as the sun and the moon without deception.

Once upon a time, Cao Mengde was as loyal and righteous as Guan Yu!

Do you want to be a traitor? Do you want to be a traitor to the Han Dynasty? Do you want to suffer from a splitting headache all day long?

I'm alone and scared!

I was originally a filial and honest official in Qiao County. I once had the ambition to clear the air and wanted to be a good minister of the Han Dynasty.

Initially, he wished to be a county governor, repair the city walls, and make the people live in harmony.

Later, in troubled times, he wanted to be the General of the Western Expedition. It was enough to write "The Tomb of Cao Hou, the Former General of the Western Expedition of the Han Dynasty" in front of his tomb.

Given a choice, who would abandon loyalty and honesty for political schemes?

Who would be willing to abandon the virtue of Duke Zhou and become a master of power and intrigue?

Who would like to be like the King of Wei who lives in fear and suspicion all day long and kills people in his dreams?

In the 25th year of Jian'an, he knew that his end was approaching.

Before his death, he looked north, still hoping for peace and prosperity.

However, God's will is clear, and I am fortunate to have been given this opportunity to be reborn.

Last night I suddenly heard a voice from heaven like thunder, which was like a slap in the ear, awakening me from the confusion of half a lifetime.

Since I have entrusted this body to the world, I must follow the laws of Meng De and carry out the work of restoration.

I only hope that everything I do in my lifetime will fulfill my long-cherished wish. As for being praised in history, that is not worth mentioning!

Note:

1. About the title “Emperor’s Uncle”.

In the official histories such as "Book of Han" and "Book of the Later Han", there has never been any record of using "imperial uncle" to refer to a certain type of royal relative in the Han Dynasty.

In literary works such as "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", the image and title of "Emperor's Uncle" in the late Han Dynasty was created.

The titles of the royal family in the Eastern Han Dynasty were centered around titles and official positions, but for a better reading experience, we choose to continue using "imperial uncle" as the colloquial abbreviation.

Historical facts will be the main focus in all other details, and the characters, events and their timelines are all based on historical materials.

2. The content that is not in the official history is quoted here as a plot.

① Present a knife to stab Dong.

Cao Cao's assassination of Dong Zhuo is a fictional plot in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms and is not recorded in the official history, the Records of the Three Kingdoms. In the first year of Chuping (190 AD), Cao Cao fled Luoyang because he opposed Dong Zhuo, not because his assassination attempt failed.

② Cut off the beard and discard the robe.

The story of Ma Chao severing his beard and abandoning his robe is a fictionalized plot in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, in which he pursues Cao Cao. While official history does show a thrilling confrontation between Cao Cao and Ma Chao at the Battle of Tongguan (e.g., "they were attacked halfway across the Hu River"), the details of the incident are not recorded.

③Pull out the arrow and eat the eye.

Xiahou Dun was hit in the left eye by a stray arrow in the Battle of Puyang (Biography of Xiahou Dun in the Records of the Three Kingdoms), but "pulling out the arrow and swallowing the eye" (pulling out the arrow and swallowing the eye) is an artistic processing in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and there is no such record in the official history.

④Eighteen princes.

When the princes of Guandong fought against Dong Zhuo, there were actually more than ten forces from various states and counties participating (recorded in "Records of the Three Kingdoms" as the "Suanzao League", which involved more than ten princes including Yuan Shao and Cao Cao). "Eighteen routes" is a term used in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".

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(End of this chapter)