Brother, stop curling up! You're curling up like the founder of the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 88 He Jin is anxious, Liu Bei has heroic ambitions (Seeking first subscriptions and monthly votes)
Xu You did not go directly to He Jin, but instead found Zhang Jin, a retainer of Yuan Shao, on South Street.

Both being renowned scholars from Nanyang Commandery and having served under Yuan Shao, Xu You and Zhang Jin had met several times.

"You're saying Liu Bei has a secret edict from His Majesty?" Zhang Jin stood up in astonishment, half believing and half doubting.

In an instant, Zhang Jin thought of many things, including Liu Bei's secret edict and the Western Garden Army supporting Liu Xie as the crown prince in Luoyang.

As a retainer of Yuan Shao and a guest of the Grand General's mansion, if Liu Xie becomes the crown prince, Zhang Jin's long-term efforts will be in vain.

"Don't get agitated." Xu You gestured for Zhang Jin to sit down, his expression calm: "Although Commandant Liu has His Majesty's secret edict, it doesn't mean that Prince Xie can become the Crown Prince. Everything is negotiable."

Zhang Jin understood the implication in Xu You's words and quickly sat down again to ask, "Ziyuan, do you know what Liu Bei wants?"

"What Commandant Liu desires, the General can also provide." Seeing Zhang Jin captivated by the secret edict, Xu You whispered, "I know that Brother Zhang enjoys the General's deep trust. Please introduce me, Brother Zhang, so that I may speak with the General in person."

“I can take you to see the General,” Zhang Jin replied. Then, changing the subject, Zhang Jin asked, “Ziyuan, I don’t quite understand. What benefits did Liu Bei offer you that made you prefer to help Liu Bei rather than Yuan Gong? If Yuan Gong knew that you were working for Liu Bei, he would probably be very angry.”

Xu You disagreed, saying, "What we scholars seek is nothing more than fame and fortune. Yuan Shao and Meng De were both military commanders, one a Central Army Commandant and the other a Military Commandant, yet they were both kicked out of the Western Garden Army by Commander Liu. This shows Commander Liu's ability. I know clearly that what Yuan Shao cannot give me, Commander Liu can give me, and that is the reason."

Zhang Jin sighed softly, "Everyone has their own ambitions, and I won't try to persuade you. Since Liu Bei wants to negotiate with the General, then we are not enemies for the time being. Come with me, and I will take you to see the General."

If Xu You went to the General's mansion alone, he might not be able to meet He Jin; but with Zhang Jin's introduction, meeting He Jin was a piece of cake.

With Zhang Jin, a fellow townsman, by his side, Xu You was not worried that his sharp words might anger He Jin and cause a rift.

This is true.

Upon learning the news, He Jin immediately put aside all his affairs and had Zhang Jin invite Xu You into the cabinet.

"What did His Majesty write in the secret edict he gave to Liu Bei?"

Upon meeting Xu You, He Jin immediately questioned him about the contents of the secret edict. Considering Liu Hong's urgent summons of Liu Bei and Liu Bei's relaxed and carefree demeanor outside the palace, He Jin had no doubts about Liu Bei's secret edict.

Without a secret edict, Liu Bei would never have dared to send someone to negotiate so arrogantly.

Xu You didn't put on airs and chuckled, "The General should be able to guess the contents of the secret edict. The gist is that His Majesty has promised in the secret edict that as long as Commandant Liu supports the Crown Prince to ascend the throne, Commandant Liu will become the Governor of Yongzhou."

"Ascend to the throne? You mean ascend to the throne? Not establish Prince Xie as the crown prince?" He Jin was shocked. Ascending to the throne and establishing a crown prince were not comparable.

If it's just about establishing a crown prince, even if one is established today, he can be replaced tomorrow; but if he ascends the throne, it means that even if Liu Bian becomes the crown prince, he cannot become the emperor.

How could Your Majesty show such favoritism towards Prince Xie?
So what if Lady Wang died?

Your Majesty, if you desire, I, He, can send you a hundred or a thousand Consort Wangs. Why must you favor that lowly servant, Prince Xie?

Prince Bian is also your own son!

Anger surfaced on He Jin's face. Subconsciously, He Jin wanted to have the physician add something to Liu Hong's medicine so that Liu Hong would die sooner, and then, before anyone could react, have Liu Bian succeed him.

Once Liu Bian ascends the throne, everything will become easier.

But right now, Liu Bei has a secret edict that can directly support Liu Xie to ascend the throne as emperor!

With the emperor's secret edict and the addition of 8,000 well-equipped Western Garden troops, Liu Bei intended to use force to support Liu Xie's ascension to the throne, and He Jin could not stop him!

“I can also grant the title of Governor of Yongzhou!” He Jin took a deep breath and said, “Last time, I made an agreement with Commandant Liu that as long as I could help Commandant Liu become Governor of Yongzhou, he would support Prince Bian as Crown Prince. A person cannot stand without integrity, and Commandant Liu should not go back on his word.”

Xu You smiled and said, "I didn't expect that the General would still remember this matter. If Commandant Liu knew, he would be overjoyed. But more than ten days have passed now, and it is not right for the General to keep delaying. Admittedly, the General could make Commandant Liu the Governor of Yongzhou; but after the Crown Prince ascends the throne, he can not only make Commandant Liu the Governor of Yongzhou, but also make Commandant Liu the Grand Commandant, Minister of Works, Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, and General."

He Jin's expression changed, and he snorted, "If Commandant Liu is really so confident, why would he send you to discuss this with me? Based on my understanding of His Majesty, His Majesty must have given Jian Shuo a secret edict. If Commandant Liu is arrogant because of his merits, Jian Shuo can simply follow the edict to eliminate him. I have a deep understanding of His Majesty's cold-hearted nature after ruling for twenty years."

"The He siblings helped him secure his position in the empire, yet now even their nephew is unwilling to be made crown prince, and they have even formed the Western Garden Army in an attempt to erode the He siblings' power. This is clearly an attempt to emulate Goujian's 'killing the hunting dog after the rabbit is caught.' Commandant Liu must have seen through His Majesty's cold-heartedness, which is why he wants to use the secret edict to gain benefits, right?"

Xu You clapped his hands and praised, "General, you are wise. That's right, Commandant Liu is indeed unwilling to carry out the secret edict to support Prince Xie to ascend the throne. However, Commandant Liu has made many enemies. If Prince Bian were to ascend the throne, countless people in the court would want to get rid of Commandant Liu. Therefore, Commandant Liu is determined to become the Governor of Yongzhou."

"Lieutenant Liu is a brave man, and his three sworn brothers are all fierce warriors. Now, with the strong support of valiant warriors such as Zhang Liao, Zhang Yang, and Xia Mou, the eight thousand soldiers of the Western Garden Army have all benefited from Lieutenant Liu's teaching. If Lieutenant Liu believes that assisting the prince is certain death and defending the prince is also certain death, then there should be no one in Luoyang who can withstand Lieutenant Liu's military might."

"After all, Commandant Liu is also surnamed Liu, and is a descendant of Liu Sheng, the Prince of Zhongshan, of Emperor Jing of Han. This identity has been known throughout Luoyang since Commandant Liu wrote a poem at the post station last year. Back then, Emperor Guangwu broke with Emperor Gengshi completely because he was not tolerated by Emperor Gengshi and eventually proclaimed himself emperor in Hao City. Guangwu could do it, and so can Commandant Liu."

Zhang Jin, standing to the side, exclaimed in surprise, "Liu Bei is not a descendant of Emperor Guangwu, how dare he be so rebellious? Although he is surnamed Liu, his clan has long since declined, and he has offended eunuchs and scholars one after another. If he dares to usurp the throne and declare himself emperor, who would support him?"

Xu You laughed loudly: "Brother Zhang, that's a pedantic view. Although Commandant Liu has offended the eunuchs and scholars, these people cannot represent the whole world. As long as he is given enough fame and fortune, people will flock to him. If Commandant Liu achieves great things, those who follow him will bring glory to their ancestors. Who will care whether Commandant Liu is a descendant of Emperor Guangwu or whether he has offended the eunuchs and scholars?"

"General, Commandant Liu's current ambition is merely to become the Governor of Yongzhou to avoid danger and then use his talents to pacify Liangzhou, march into the Western Regions, reopen the Silk Road, and make a name for himself in history. We mustn't let Commandant Liu really become desperate and develop ambitions to rule the world."

Zhang Jin's expression was complicated: "Ziyuan, aren't you afraid that saying this will bring trouble to Commandant Liu?"

Xu You didn't take it to heart: "Brother Zhang, why do you say such things? Today's words, once spoken by me, enter the ears of the General and Brother Zhang, and are known only to Heaven and Earth, but no one else. Considering the General's position and interests, if my words were to be known by others, it would be forcing Commandant Liu to develop ambitions for the world."

"Don't forget, when Captain Liu was just a county magistrate, he dared to whip Zhang Rang's adopted son; as soon as he arrived in Luoyang, he beat up Wu Kuang, a subordinate of the General-in-Chief's office. He can kill Bao Hong without hesitation, beat Chunyu Qiong without hesitation, and even Yuan Shao and Cao Cao have to avoid his sharp edge. If you really provoke Captain Liu, anything is possible."

Both He Jin and Zhang Jin fell silent upon considering Liu Bei's long-standing reputation.

He is decisive and unconventional in his actions, and he will overcome any schemes or tricks with force.

If such a person is truly driven to desperation and develops ambitions to rule the world, it remains to be seen who will ultimately rule. "Hahahaha—"

He Jin laughed loudly several times, easing the tense atmosphere.

“I will not break my promise to Commandant Liu. I will also tell Commandant Liu that after His Majesty’s passing, I will have Prince Bian ascend the throne before the coffin and publicly appoint Commandant Liu as the Governor of Yongzhou.”

"Of course. Of course." Xu You glanced at the sky and said, "It's getting late. I've heard that the General's Mansion has fine wine and food, as well as beautiful women singing and dancing. I'd like to see it for myself."

After finishing the business, instead of hurrying back, they actually lingered and refused to leave?
Although he was very unhappy, He Jin still asked Zhang Jin to stay and keep him company, lest Xu You go back and talk nonsense after being wronged.

If Liu Bei were to mistakenly believe that the country was at its wit's end and unleash his troops into chaos, the losses would far exceed what could be compared to a feast or a few beautiful women.

Xu You didn't stand on ceremony.

While following Liu Bei in Ping Le Guan meant being able to eat and drink to one's heart's content, fine wine and beautiful women were extremely rare experiences.

A self-important and arrogant young man like Xu You, who has little family wealth, cannot do without wine, women, wealth, and power.

After eating and drinking his fill, Xu You slept until late the next day. His confidence and composure made He Jin even more convinced of what Xu You had said the night before.

Influenced by Liu Bei's secret edict, He Jin had no choice but to accelerate his efforts to win over the officials.

If Liu Bian were to succeed to the throne before his death, the support of the court officials would be necessary. Otherwise, those who were stubborn would argue that Liu Bian was only a prince, not the crown prince, and that succeeding to the throne before his death would violate ancestral laws.

Visiting the palace.

Liu Hong's health deteriorated day by day, and even with tonics to prolong his life, it was difficult to repair the decaying foundation.

On the seventh day of the fourth month, Liu Hong felt that his time was coming to an end, so he ordered that he be moved to Jiade Palace.

Jiade Hall is one of the core palaces of Nangong Palace. It is located inside the Nine Dragon Gate of Nangong Palace. Originally, it was the front hall of Nangong Palace. Later, due to Emperor Guangwu's expansion of Yuntai Hall, its use was changed, and it served as the residence of the Empress Dowager for a long time.

Empress Dowager Dong and Emperor Liu Xie resided in the Jiade Palace.

"Father."

The gentle call brought a sense of comfort, like a spring breeze, to Liu Hong's aching nerves.

Looking at the gentle young man before him, Liu Hong couldn't help but think of the deceased Lady Wang.

Wang Meiren was not only beautiful and voluptuous, but also intelligent, quick-witted, and exceptionally talented. She was skilled in accounting, and could handle both formal and domestic tasks.

Compared to the strong-willed and jealous Empress He, Consort Wang completely overwhelmed Empress He in almost every aspect. Even Empress He's proud appearance paled in comparison to Consort Wang's figure.

The deceased is gone, leaving only sorrow.

Thinking that his own time was also coming to an end, Liu Hong couldn't help but feel a deep sadness.

How could a prince who had just turned nine years old survive in a pack of wolves?

Although Liu Hong also ascended the throne at the age of eleven, he still feels deeply saddened when he recalls the hardships he endured.

The reason Liu Hong was able to kill powerful eunuchs and ministers in the past was not because Liu Hong was particularly clever, but because the powerful eunuchs and ministers did not take Liu Hong seriously, nor did they expect that a member of the royal family of Hejian who ascended the throne at the age of eleven could have far greater forbearance and ruthlessness than ordinary people.

However, Liu Hong's experience is not replicable, and Liu Xie's predicament is also different from Liu Hong's.

Liu Hong at least succeeded to the throne smoothly, while Liu Xie still had to compete with Liu Bian for the throne. Only those who seized the throne had the right to talk about forbearance and ruthlessness; those who failed to seize the throne were not even guaranteed to live!
Summoning Liu Xie to his side, Liu Hong asked affectionately, "I had you read the biography of Duke Wen of Jin. Did you gain any insights?"

Liu Xie nodded: "Both Shen Sheng and Chong'er were forced by Li Ji. Shen Sheng, unable to bear the persecution, committed suicide; Chong'er fled to the Di state, but restored his country and ascended the throne. Father Emperor asked me to read the biography of Duke Wen of Jin, to tell me that my current predicament is like that of Duke Wen of Jin in the past. Even if I am framed again, I should not follow Shen Sheng's example and commit suicide, but should endure like Chong'er and wait for the right time."

"My son is indeed intelligent!" Liu Hong exclaimed with delight.

The fact that a nine-year-old boy could have such profound insights, while related to the treacherous environment in the palace, also highlights Liu Xie's intelligence and talent.

He pondered for a long time.

Liu Hong suppressed his smile and said to Liu Xie, "My son, I have given secret edicts to Jian Shuo and Liu Bei respectively. If I am gone, Jian Shuo will first help you kill He Jin and let you succeed to the throne before my coffin. If this is successful, my son can summon Gai Xun, the governor of Yongzhou, to Luoyang to take charge of the overall situation. After the situation stabilizes, Liu Bei can use him if he is capable, and kill him if he is not."

"If Jian Shuo fails to kill He Jin, you may not trust anyone, but you must trust Liu Bei. As long as Liu Bei is still alive, the Han Dynasty will still exist. Even if there are villains who want to overthrow the Han Dynasty, Liu Bei will definitely help my son to defeat them."

Liu Xie was somewhat taken aback: "Forgive my ignorance, but why does Your Majesty instruct me to use Liu Bei if he is useful and kill him if he is not, while at the same time instructing me to trust Liu Bei?"

Liu Hong's tone was slightly stern: "Liu Bei once wrote a poem at the post station in Luoyang: 'With pen in hand, I can bring peace to the world; with horsemanship, I can conquer the universe. Who can surpass me in strategy? I am the only hero of all time.'"

"At first glance, I thought Liu Bei was exaggerating on purpose; but now I see that, in terms of literature, martial arts, and strategy, Liu Bei is worthy of the title of hero. Since ancient times, those who can be called heroes must have lofty ambitions, good strategies, the ability to encompass the universe, and the ambition to swallow the heavens and earth."

“If Jian Shuo succeeds in killing He Jin, Liu Bei will certainly not be content to be subordinate to my son. If he gains power, he will surely surpass He Jin. That is why I said, use him if he can be used, and kill him if he cannot.”

Perhaps because he had spoken too much at once, Liu Hong couldn't help but cough violently again.

After a long pause, Liu Hong continued, "If Jian Shuo fails and is killed by He Jin, then only Liu Bei, who has received a secret edict, can help my son. Once Liu Bei gains power, only trust can restrain his heroic ambitions."

(End of this chapter)