"Long live the Emperor!"
"Long live the Emperor!"
The cheers from below were deafening, each one louder and more unified than the last.
They resonated through the heavens, shaking the very earth!
Cao Cao strode forward with the bearing of a dragon, a heroic spirit emanating from him. He stopped before the high platform and declared in a resonant voice, "Are there truly any in this world who live forever? Only those whose deeds benefit all people. How similar is today's banquet to the victories at Guandu and Chibi!"
"For over a decade, I have pacified the Yellow Turbans, unified the Central Plains, secured the North, campaigned against Wuhuan, annexed Jingzhou, incorporated Bashu, and subdued Jiangdong. Of the thirteen prefectures of the Han, I have gained twelve, thus achieving the unification of the Central Plains today! These achievements are due to the merits of myself and the Crown Prince, but even more so to the united efforts of all you officers and soldiers!"
"However, the world is not yet unified. Bashu remains in the hands of the rebel Liu Bei, and the heavy burden of unifying the realm will eventually be passed to the Crown Prince!"
This final, earth-shattering pronouncement… drew all eyes to Lu Yu.
Lu Yu was also surprised…
He knew of his father, King Cao Cao's, headaches, but to mention entrusting the burden of unifying the realm to him… what did this mean?
Before Lu Yu could ponder further.
Cao Cao's sonorous shouts continued, "I ask you, among the heroes within the four seas, is there anyone superior to me?"
Ten thousand voices rose in unison, "None!"
Cao Cao shouted again, "I ask you again, in this era, who can devise strategies and achieve victory from a thousand miles away, surpassing the Crown Prince!"
Ten thousand voices again responded, "None!"
"Then… should the Crown Prince not be supported by you all? Is the Crown Prince worthy of being the future of Great Wei!"
Cao Cao's words… seemed to be "validating" Lu Yu… officially declaring to everyone that he… was the future hope of Great Wei!
Yet… inexplicably, his words filled all the assembled ministers with a sense of melancholy.
Did the King of Wei's words mean… he intended to… retire?
Seeing no response, Cao Cao once again asked loudly, "Tell me, is the Crown Prince worthy of being the hope of Great Wei!"
This time…
Ten thousand voices surged, like a tidal wave, "He is!"
Xun Yu watched with longing, and could not help but whisper, "The Great King founded Great Wei, and perhaps His Highness the Crown Prince will lead Great Wei to an entirely new height!"
At this moment, Cao Cao laughed to the heavens, and beckoned Lu Yu, "Come, my son, come up!"
I…
Lu Yu was startled. He had only just returned to Xudu City, and had never imagined… that upon his return, he would be participating in a spectacle that felt like King Cao Cao's farewell performance.
He dared not disobey his father's wishes, and thus ascended the platform…
Standing beside Cao Cao under the gaze of all.
Cao Cao smiled and introduced them to the crowd, "Everyone, this is Hidden Dragon, the commander of the Dragon Soar Battalion, the head of the School Affairs Office, the Grand Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, the leader of the Almond Grove, the commander of the Northern Alliance, and the president of the newspaper. He is also the Crown Prince of Wei, my son, and the future King of Great Wei!"
"Nine Heavens Dragon Roar shakes the world, one encounter with Hidden Dragon transforms him into a dragon… When I first entered Yan Province, I heeded his suggestion, and later, under his strategy, subdued thirty thousand Yellow Turban troops, formed the Qing Province Army, and swept through the Central Plains, pacifying Tao Qian, defeating Lu Bu, and annihilating Yuan Shu… In the battle of Guandu against Yuan Shao, to decide the overlord of the Central Plains and the North, the Crown Prince's merits were numerous, attacking the enemy's heart and mind, his plans were flawless, achieving my aspiration to rule the Central Plains!"
"After that, I pacified Wuhuan, conquered Jingzhou, and the Battle of Chibi decided the fate of the world. Now, Jiangdong and Xiliang have submitted, and thirty thousand five-dou-rice cult followers from Hanzhong have relocated to the Central Plains. Which of these accomplishments could be achieved without the Crown Prince's counsel? Can it not be said that one encounter with Hidden Dragon transforms him into a dragon!"
Cao Cao continued, "Thinking back ten years ago, the realm was unsettled, war raged, the common people were in disarray, and the fields lay barren… Even Xudu and Luoyang were so devastated! Without the Crown Prince, how could Great Wei rise? How could the common people endure their suffering? How could the state be secure? With this cup of wine, I toast my son on behalf of the countless soldiers, on behalf of the common people of Great Wei, on behalf of the distressed populace, and also on behalf of the Son of Heaven, and a father who has made mistakes!"
As he spoke… someone presented a wine goblet, and Lu Yu received it!
Under the expectant gazes of Cao Cao and countless civil and military officials, he drained the goblet.
Cao Cao also drank his wine. Along his path, he knew well… the difficulties encountered.
Before meeting Yu'er, he had lost too many companions and comrades… He had been misunderstood and betrayed by too many people…
His pronouncements such as "Forge the Five-Colored Cudgel to beat the powerful"
His declaration of "Demolish heretical cults and restore justice to the people"
His "Memorials to the Emperor," his "Raising an army against Dong Zhu's tyranny"
His "Ambition and heroic words of marching north with the armies while I head west…" all seemed to be gradually fading away…
It was Yu'er who helped him turn the tide from despair.
From the initial resolution of the crisis in Yan Province, to later devising the ten-year strategy for unifying the Central Plains, and then, step by step, annexing the territories of Yuan Shao and Liu Biao!
Even now… of the ten parts of the realm, Cao Cao held nine!
Cao Cao felt that the most reliable thing he had done in his youth was meeting Lu Wenran… and igniting a passionate flame with her… to have a son like Yu'er!
With these thoughts, Cao Cao cast down the wine goblet, his emotions overflowing. Tears streamed down his face as he laughed!
All the assembled officials were moved by Cao Cao's great ambition and spirit, and deeply touched by the father-son affection between Cao Cao and Cao Yu…
Cao Cao's gaze slowly swept across the solemn ministers and generals, and finally returned to his son, Cao Yu. His vision suddenly blurred…
He remembered himself at the age of thirty, the young man who, harboring the dream of being "General who Conquers the West," swore before the gate of the Imperial Academy to be "the Emperor's aid and the nation's pillar."
—Glorious years, brimming with vigor!
Time flies like an arrow. Young people grow so quickly, but with their growth, those glorious years are gone forever, and he was now tormented to the point of near death by his headaches.
In the vast sky above, the sun cast a gentle, yet intense light. Cao Cao suddenly let out a great laugh, seized the treasured sword placed on the high platform, turned his head, and said to Lu Yu, "Yu'er, for your father, I will beat the drum one last time!"
Lu Yu nodded…
He walked to the large drum and raised the drumsticks with all his might!
—"Dong dong dong!"
The thunderous drumbeats resounded, and Cao Cao began to sing and dance.
"Though the divine tortoise is ancient, it too shall see its end; the soaring serpent riding the clouds, will eventually turn to dust.
The old steed in the stable still harbors a desire for a thousand miles; the noble man in his twilight years, his ambition remains undiminished.
The cycle of waxing and waning is not solely determined by heaven; by cultivating peace and contentment, one may achieve eternal youth. How fortunate and profound, to sing and express my will. How fortunate and profound, to sing and express my will."
The song grew louder and louder, and in the end… it was not only Lu Yu beating the drum, but countless drummers joined in unison.
As for the singing…
Xun Yu, Xun You, Jia Xu…
Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Cao Chun…
All the civil and military officials joined Cao Cao in singing in unison.
—"The old steed in the stable still harbors a desire for a thousand miles; the noble man in his twilight years, his ambition remains undiminished."
For a moment, the entire city of Xudu trembled.
However…
Cao Cao suddenly swayed, and with a clatter, his sword fell to the ground…
The guards beside him quickly supported him.
Lu Yu's heart leaped, and he rushed towards his father.
The ten thousand soldiers below did not know what had happened and continued to sing loudly—"The cycle of waxing and waning is not solely determined by heaven; by cultivating peace and contentment, one may achieve eternal youth. How fortunate and profound, to sing and express my will."
…
…
In Xudu City, the Imperial Palace, Deyang Hall.
Because of the banquet at the King of Wei's palace today, the Han Imperial Palace seemed exceptionally cold and desolate.
With the Han Imperial Palace losing its power, many palace attendants went to the King of Wei's palace to join the excitement, seek rewards… and even find new masters.
In the vast Deyang Hall, only the Emperor Liu Xie stood alone, his hands behind his back, as if deep in thought.
Just then…
A woman gracefully entered Deyang Hall.
Her long phoenix robe accentuated her status as "Mother of the Empress."
"Is this Your Majesty's own decision?"
The woman, as if having heard some rumor, spoke softly.
Liu Xie turned around, "So it is the Empress. I was wondering, this news should not have spread so quickly."
Empress Fu Shou lightly bit her lip, "The King of Wei faking his illness, and Your Majesty abdicating to the Crown Prince of Wei?"
As she uttered these words, the teeth biting her lip gained more strength. The pain in her red lips made her keenly aware that this was not a dream, but reality…
Ultimately… after endless struggles and suffering, Your Majesty has taken this step!
"Is Your Majesty's action worth it?" Fu Shou asked.
Liu Xie turned around and slowly sat on the dragon throne, caressing every part of it. There seemed to be a trace of reluctance, but in just an instant, this reluctance was completely withdrawn, replaced by a gaze filled with the desire to break free from the cage.
It was a gaze full of vision and hope.
"Parents plan for their children with foresight. The King of Wei can feign illness and entrust his throne to his son. I am but a puppet. What harm is there in giving up the throne?"
Liu Xie's words held both sorrow and hope…
His words were not yet finished, "There are no two suns in the sky, nor two lords in a state. Rather than the Han lingering on like this, and I being imprisoned, it would be better… to hand this realm over to the Crown Prince of Wei, let him establish a new order, and realize the vision and picture that I wish to see…"
"Your… Your Majesty…" Empress Fu Shou pursed her lips.
Standing in His Majesty's shoes, it was indeed… so.
Only as the Empress… only by being equally "imprisoned" in this imperial palace, could she truly understand the Emperor's pain and struggle over these years! Dafeng Novel Network
"Heh heh…" Liu Xie's words continued, "So many have worked and sacrificed for the Han over the years, and it is not I who brought peace to this realm and the chaotic world, but Cao Cao and Lu Ziyu. The Mandate of Heaven belongs to Wei, and I am merely following the will of heaven!"
This…
Empress Fu Shou was astonished!
Liu Xie seemed to have touched upon a painful spot, yet it was also a happy one!
It was as if relinquishing the position of Emperor was a matter of great joy for him.
"Enough, issue my decree. Summon the Crown Prince of Wei to an audience… If… if he refuses to come, if he still adheres to the so-called 'three admonishments and three concessions,' then… tell him, I will go to him, I will personally go and implore him! Implore him, for my sake, and for the sake of the realm, to accept the throne of Emperor. Let the world curse me if they wish, let the ancestors and the state blame me if they must, I will personally implore him… implore him to accept the position of Son of Heaven!"
Upon saying this…
Liu Xie wept. He became somewhat hysterical, collapsing onto the floor of Deyang Hall.
He sobbed and opened his mouth, "I… if I cannot be the most successful Han Emperor, then I shall be the most failed. Is my reign as Emperor not unprecedented?"
Hearing this…
Empress Fu Shou pursed her lips, her gaze flickered, her eyes filled with tears. After wiping the tears from her eyes with a handkerchief.
She softly said, "Your Majesty… Your Majesty…"
"If… if that Cao Yu can truly establish a different dynasty, then when posterity remembers Your Majesty, they will surely offer more praise… more praise!"
Hoo…
Fu Shou's words brought much relief to Emperor Liu Xie's mood.
"Praise… I, a Son of Heaven imprisoned within palace walls, surprisingly… surprisingly receive more praise because of abdication, haha… hahahaha!"
Unaccountably, Liu Xie laughed…
At this moment, his laughter was filled with carefree abandon and relief!
…
…
Outside the sleeping quarters of the King of Wei's palace, a scene of chaos ensued. Maidservants and eunuchs hurried back and forth with basins of water and towels. Several physicians from the medical office were being hurried inside by eunuchs.
Xun Yu, Xun You, and Jia Xu watched with anxious anticipation.
As for Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan, they had long since disregarded protocol and all rushed inside.
At this moment, Lu Yu arrived with Hua Tuo, anxiously asking, "How is Father? How is Father?"
Xiahou Yuan happened to emerge from within, "Crown Prince, please come quickly. Your father has been thinking of you all morning!"
Upon hearing this, Xun Yu's brow slightly furrowed. He instinctively looked up and around at Xun You and Jia Xu beside him…
Jia Xu closed his eyes, adopting an air of serene detachment.
Xun You quietly said, "The King of Wei previously feigned serious illness, revealing the hidden dangers within Great Wei, and laid the foundation and conditions for Ziyu to become Crown Prince… So… is the King of Wei truly ill this time, or is it a pretense?"
Hoo…
Xun Yu let out a long sigh, "I sent someone to inquire with Madame Gan, Madame Cai, and Madame Du… and learned that the King of Wei's headaches have indeed been occurring more frequently lately."
"Does Uncle mean… the King of Wei's illness is not feigned?" Xun You quickly asked.
Having reached this point in their conversation, Jia Xu finally spoke. "When the false becomes real, the real becomes false; when the real becomes false, the false becomes real…"
Xun Yu and Xun You looked at Jia Xu in shock upon hearing this.
…
Several imperial physicians were busy by Cao Cao's bedside, while Cao Cao's eyes were closed.
His appearance was extremely haggard, as if… the life journey of a generation's hero was finally nearing its end.
Lu Yu rushed to the bedside and grasped his father's hand, but upon doing so, he found that his father's hand did not appear "wasted," but rather, its temperature was normal.
Lu Yu attempted to feel Cao Cao's pulse. Having spent frequent time with Zhang Zhongjing and Hua Tuo, Lu Yu had some knowledge of pulse diagnosis.
Upon feeling the pulse… he immediately sensed something was amiss.
His father was… faking it!
Faking again?
For a moment, Lu Yu's eyes widened like bells, but in just an instant, he narrowed his eyes, and then… began to compose his expression.
With a cry of "Wuah…," Lu Yu wailed, "Father, Father… Yu'er has arrived, Yu'er has arrived! Wake up, wake up!"
Cao Cao slowly opened his eyes. He looked lovingly at his most cherished, most beloved, and most guilt-ridden son, and slowly reached out to stroke Lu Yu's hair.
The physicians around them tacitly withdrew… leaving the room to the King of Wei and his son.
After the last medical official exited.
Cao Cao's pale face suddenly regained its former ruddy complexion.
"Haha…" Cao Cao chuckled lightly, "Whether it's faking illness or faking death, your father has become quite skilled. Yu'er, your father hasn't scared you, has he!"
Cao Cao's words undoubtedly… eased the atmosphere in the room before the serious matters were revealed…
He wanted his son to listen to his subsequent words more easily…
To accept his subsequent arrangements!
…
…