Chapter 61: Presenting the Imperial Seal to Liu Bei

On the day Dong Zhuo withdrew from Chang'an, the city was engulfed in flames.

The Xiliang army swept through the region like locusts, looting grain, killing people, and burning houses indiscriminately.

The palace was completely looted, and even the copper nails on the palace doors were pried off.

The officials knelt by the roadside, watching helplessly as the carriages, laden with gold, silk, and satin, sped away.

Liu Xie stood at the palace gate, his face pale as he watched the winding procession heading west.

Only a few old eunuchs and a group of Imperial Guards who didn't know where to go remained by his side.

……

"What? Dong Zhuo escaped? What about Chang'an? Who has taken Chang'an?"

Yuan Shu nearly fell off his horse while on a march.

The scout reported, "General, Chang'an is an empty city. Cao Cao's army has already reached Ba Shang and can enter the city tomorrow."

Yuan Shu released his grip, took a step back, and laughed loudly.

"Good! Good indeed! So what if Cao Cao has occupied Chang'an? The Emperor is still here! With the Emperor in Chang'an, I, Yuan Gonglu, will go to welcome him right now!"

Yuan Shu mounted his horse, lashed out with his whip, and the warhorse neighed and galloped several feet away.

Ji Ling chased after him, shouting, "My lord! The provisions! The provisions haven't arrived yet!"

Yuan Shu didn't even turn his head: "I won't wait! Let the rear guard proceed slowly, I'll take the elite cavalry first! We can't afford to miss this opportunity again!"

Meanwhile, Gongsun Zan, Liu Dai, Kong Zhou, Wang Kuang, Yuan Yi...

One wave after another, like hungry wolves pouncing on their prey, surged toward Chang'an.

……

Outside Chang'an City, in Cao Cao's army camp.

"Report—The Emperor has issued an edict, appointing Liu Bei as the Prefect of Beihai and the Marquis of Yicheng."

Cao Cao was taken aback for a moment, then took the imperial edict and read it carefully.

Xi Zhicai laughed from the side: "Dong Zhuo's move is ruthless. The edict was issued by the Emperor, and the seal is genuine. But this idea must have come from Li Ru. Giving our lord and Liu Bei promotions and titles—what will the other warlords think when they see this?"

Cao Cao said, "They will think that I am colluding with Liu Bei and Dong Zhuo."

Xi Zhicai nodded: "Exactly. In that case, after the feudal lords enter Chang'an, the first thing they will deal with is us."

The sound of horses' hooves came from outside the tent again; another secret report had arrived.

Report—The warlords have passed Hulao Pass and bypassed Luoyang; Yuan Shu's vanguard is less than three hundred li from Chang'an!

Cao Cao stood up and walked to the map.

Xi Zhicai followed and whispered, "My lord, the feudal lords are coming with great force. This time they won't retreat as easily as they did in Luoyang. We need to have a countermeasure."

Cao Cao asked, "What's the plan?"

Xi Zhicai glanced at Xun Yu, bowed, and said, "Send out the Imperial Seal of the State."

"Um?"

Cao Cao turned around abruptly and stared intently at Xi Zhicai.

Xi Zhicai's gaze remained fixed on Cao Cao without flinching.

"The jade seal that our lord obtained is genuine. But in your hands, it's a source of trouble. When the feudal lords arrive, their first target will be the emperor, and their second will be the jade seal. Can our lord defend Chang'an, and can he protect these two hot potatoes?"

Cao Cao frowned.

Xi Zhicai said, "It would be better to give it to Liu Bei. Liu Bei has a good reputation in Luoyang and is supported by the people. Although the warlords of Guandong are wary of him, they have not yet reached the point of fighting each other. Once the imperial seal is in his hands, the warlords will turn their spears towards him. Our lord can stay in Chang'an, welcome the emperor, stabilize Guanzhong, and sit back and watch the tigers fight. When they are tired and exhausted from fighting, we can then come out and clean up the mess."

Cao Cao lowered his head and touched the jade seal in his arms.

To be honest, I'm reluctant to part with it.

But Xi Zhicai was right; having this thing in hand was a recipe for disaster.

Cao Cao asked, "Wenruo, what do you say?"

Xun Yu remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "My lord has already made his decision; why ask me?"

Cao Cao was taken aback for a moment, then smiled wryly: "Wenruo, are you blaming me?"

Xun Yu shook his head: "I dare not. But... this imperial seal should not be used like this."

"Oh?" Cao Cao approached Xun Yu with his hands behind his back. "Then teach me how to use it?"

Xun Yu said, "It should be returned to the Emperor."

Silence fell in the tent.

After a long silence, Cao Cao spoke: "Zhicai, you go and handle this personally. Let all the warlords know who truly holds the Imperial Seal of the State."

Xi Zhicai turned and left the tent, his footsteps gradually fading into the distance.

Cao Cao watched Xi Zhicai's retreating figure, then looked back at Xun Yu.

Xun Yu kept his eyes downcast and remained motionless.

Cao Cao sighed and shook his head, poured Xun Yu a cup of strong tea, and said nothing more.

……

Luoyang.

Xi Zhicai led a group of men to escort the jade seal to Liu Bei's army.

Liu Bei personally went out to greet them, showing great courtesy.

Xi Zhicai took out the brocade pouch and presented it with both hands.

"Lord Xuande, this is the Imperial Seal of the State. Cao Cao said that this item should belong to a benevolent ruler. The people of Luoyang rely on Lord Xuande, and all the people of the world rely on Lord Xuande. Cao Cao is willing to use this seal as a token to support the Han Dynasty with Lord Xuande."

Liu Bei was stunned.

He took the brocade pouch, opened it, and his hand trembled slightly when he saw the four-inch square jade seal.

"This...this is..."

Xi Zhicai said, "The Imperial Seal of the State. It was ordained by Heaven and will live forever."

Liu Bei held the jade in his hands, momentarily disoriented.

He has just been appointed as the Prefect of Beihai and enfeoffed as the Marquis of Yicheng.

Then, he received the Imperial Seal of the State. Was this a blessing from heaven or a calamity from above?

......

The news quickly spread throughout Luoyang and among the armies of the various warlords.

"Liu Bei and Cao Cao were granted titles of nobility? Is that just a joke?"

"The Imperial Seal of the State is in Liu Bei's hands!?"

"Cao Cao gave the imperial seal to Liu Bei!?"

Upon hearing the report, Yuan Shu stood frozen on his horse for a long while before suddenly spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"Cao Cao! Liu Bei! You...you..."

Yuan Shu clutched his chest, his face deathly pale.

Ji Ling quickly supported him, crying, "My lord! My lord!"

Yuan Shu gasped for breath for a long time before finally catching his breath.

"Pass down the order... pass down the order: we're not going to Chang'an! Turn around! Go to Luoyang! The Imperial Seal shouldn't have been in the hands of that straw sandal seller!"

……

Gongsun Zan also received the "bad news".

"What a Cao Cao! He's trying to shift the blame onto Liu Bei. He's using Liu Bei as a shield."

The lieutenant asked, "General, shall we still go to Chang'an?"

Gongsun Zan thought for a moment and said, "Let's go. The emperor is still in Chang'an. Liu Bei has the imperial seal, but he doesn't have the emperor. The imperial seal is inanimate, but the emperor is alive. Let's go and snatch the living one."

Having said that, he lashed out with his whip and continued westward.

……

Cao Cao captured Hangu Pass and Tong Pass in succession, and ordered Cao Ren and Cao Hong to guard them respectively.

Liu Liang was preparing to return to Luoyang when he suddenly heard some news that made his teeth ache – Cao Cao had given the Imperial Seal of the State to Liu Bei.

Liu Liang stood there, feeling a tightness in his chest.

The Imperial Seal of the State.

That was a fake one that he painstakingly made and gave to Cao Cao.

Now things are much better; Cao Cao has given that jade seal to Xuande.

What was Liu Bei thinking as he held that fake jade seal? Could he be harboring other thoughts?

Liu Liang didn't know.

But he knew one thing.

Circumstances are more powerful than people.

Some things are not static.

Given that opportunity and at that point, it's only natural to have those kinds of thoughts.

Liu Liang slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, calming himself down.

Despite his anger, Cao Cao's move certainly displayed the qualities of a powerful ruler.

Cao Cao's decision shows that the fake imperial seal had already taken effect.

To inspire ambition, you don't necessarily need real goods.

Counterfeit goods are the same.

The fact that Cao Cao was willing to give it away shows that he already had a bigger plan in mind.

One imperial seal was no longer enough for him.