Chapter 120: Worldwide Attention - Crisis Looms as Fake Emperor's Identity Risks Exposure

Few noble clans could rival the Yuan family.

However, the Kong clan was undoubtedly among them.

Kong Rong, being the twentieth-generation descendant of Confucius himself, boasted unparalleled lineage and heritage. Arguably, no other family could match his prestige.

The mere title of Confucius’ descendant alone overshadowed all others!

From a young age, Kong Rong gained renown as a prodigy. During the reign of Emperor Ling, he served at the residence of Grand Commandant Yang Chi. In the early years of the Zhongping era, recognized for his exceptional abilities, he became an Imperial Censor before joining the Sikong’s staff as an aide. Later, he was appointed General of the Household, then promoted to General of the Household with Tiger Standard.

In the first year of Chuping, after opposing Dong Zhuo, he was reassigned as a Counselor and sent to serve as Administrator of North Sea, where the Yellow Turban movement was most prevalent. Henceforth, he became known as Kong Beihai.

Whether considering his birth, moral character, or experience, Kong Rong was impeccable. Coupled with the aura of being Confucius’ descendant, he surpassed even Yuan Shao in stature!

“Excellent!”

“Kong Beihai is indeed perfect!”

“Wonderful!”

“A brilliant choice!”

Yang Xiu’s suggestion immediately garnered unanimous approval from Xun Yu and the others.

At this point, there was no one more suitable than Kong Rong throughout the Great Han.

Cao Cao also believed Kong Rong would be fitting, especially since none of his trusted advisors objected. Feeling quite elated, he declared, “I shall promptly meet with His Majesty and request an imperial decree summoning Kong Rong to Xu County!”

With Kong Rong’s endorsement, Yuan Shao would pose no significant threat. Even combined recognition from four generations of high officials and Lu Bu’s approval couldn’t outweigh the influence of being Confucius’ descendant!

As expected, the imperial decree was promptly issued without any opposition, even from Yang Biao.

The current situation posed significant challenges for the Emperor.

Despite Yang Biao’s dislike for Cao Cao, he had to acknowledge that if they didn’t find a way to legitimize the Emperor soon, his position would indeed be usurped.

Having Kong Rong, a descendant of Confucius with immense prestige, confirm the Emperor’s identity to the world seemed like the best solution at hand!

On that very day, the imperial edict left Xu Capital and headed towards North Sea Commandery.

Simultaneously, Cao Cao orchestrated a publicity campaign. He ordered the announcement of Kong Rong’s impending visit to Xu County to be widely disseminated across all provinces and commanderies.

Instantly, this news captured the attention of the entire realm.

Cao Cao and Yuan Shao had been disputing over the legitimacy of their respective Emperors for quite some time, a matter known by all under heaven.

However, no one dared to definitively declare which Emperor was genuine or false.

Upon hearing the news, regional warlords, each commanding their own forces, cursed vehemently. They had previously exploited the existence of two Emperers as an excuse to avoid following decrees from either Cao Cao or Yuan Shao, claiming uncertainty about whom to obey.

But once Kong Rong authenticated the true Emperor and spread the word throughout the land, they would lose this convenient shield.

Unlike these warlords, ordinary citizens were not burdened by such concerns; instead, they buzzed with private discussions.

“What is Cao Cao trying to achieve by inviting Kong Beihai to Xu County and that fake Emperor? Doesn’t he fear being exposed on the spot?”

“Could it be an attempt to win over Kong Beihai’s support for deception?”

“Kong Beihai is a descendant of Confucius, revered for his integrity and unwavering moral character. How could he aid in such deceit?”

“I too trust Kong Beihai’s integrity.”

“Cao Cao seems so confident; could the Emperor in Xu County actually be genuine?”

“But the jade seal of the realm remains in Yecheng! The Emperor in Xu County must be a fraud!”

“At first, I believed the Emperor in Yecheng was the true one, but now… let’s see if Kong Beihai goes to Xu County.”

Kong Rong held immense influence, and once the news spread, many who initially believed the Emperor resided in Yecheng began to waver.

When Yuan Shao received this information, his face paled with shock, revealing unmistakable panic in his eyes.

“Is Cao A’man truly inviting Kong Rong from North Sea?” he asked incredulously.

Shen Pei nodded beside him. “The message from Qingzhou confirms it. Cao Cao submitted a memorial to the Emperor, summoning Kong Rong to Xu County, and the news has already spread widely.”

“However, given that Cao Cao falsely claimed an Emperor, daring to invite Kong Beihai suggests some confidence… Why does my lord seem so alarmed?”

Noticing Yuan Shao’s panic, Shen Pei felt deeply puzzled.

The Emperor in Xu County was a fraud; wouldn’t Kong Rong’s visit expose Cao Cao’s lie? Why should his lord be anxious about this?

Apart from Shen Pei, Tian Feng and Xu You also looked at Yuan Shao with confusion.

Realizing his lapse, Yuan Shao panicked but found himself unable to explain it coherently.

Ju Shou promptly came to his rescue, speaking gravely, “Although the Emperor in Xu County is indeed fake, for Cao Cao to invite Kong Rong must mean he has some undisclosed scheme prepared.”

“If he employs coercion, bribery, or other underhanded tactics to make Kong Rong willingly deceive the world on his behalf, it would greatly disadvantage our cause, my lord.”

“Surely, this concern is what troubles you…isn’t it?”

Yuan Shao, seasoned by countless trials, quickly regained his composure after that brief moment of disarray. He seized upon Ju Shou’s words, responding somberly, “Exactly, that is precisely my worry.”

“Kong Rong’s reputation spans across the land. If Cao Cao coerces or deceives him into endorsing the false Emperor in Xu County, people might no longer trust me.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Pei’s expression grew serious as well. “My lord speaks wisely. Cao Cao must have some leverage to dare take such action.”

Tian Feng disagreed, unconvinced. “You all worry too much,” he said dismissively. “Kong Beihai is upright and incorruptible, with lofty aspirations and unwavering integrity. If he dared defy Dong Zhuo back then, why would he now fear Cao Cao? Rather, I am concerned that Cao Cao might deceive him using a doppelganger resembling the Emperor.”

“My lord, you should also request an imperial decree summoning Kong Rong to Yecheng. By comparing them side by side, we can immediately discern the truth.”

Tian Feng’s suggestion made perfect sense.

If Cao Cao could invite Kong Rong, why couldn’t they? This would be an opportunity for Kong Rong to determine who the true Emperor was, allowing them to expose Cao Cao’s crime of setting up a false ruler once and for all!

Even some advisors who typically disagreed with Tian Feng nodded in agreement this time.

However, none of them noticed the sharp twitch at the corner of Yuan Shao’s eye when Tian Feng mentioned the word “doppelganger.”

As the advisors pressed for summoning Kong Rong, Yuan Shao feigned weariness. “Let me discuss this matter with the Emperor first… We shall leave it here for today; I feel quite tired.” He rubbed his temples, displaying signs of exhaustion on his face.

Though puzzled, the advisors did not dwell on it further and began taking their leave. They could never have imagined that the one guilty of impersonating the Emperor was not Cao Cao but Yuan Shao himself!

After the advisors departed, Yuan Shao retreated alone to his study, sitting silently behind his desk.

“My lord.” Shortly after, Ju Shou entered the room.

Hearing his voice, Yuan Shao opened his eyes, his expression so gloomy it seemed to drip with rain. He gritted his teeth and cursed vehemently:

“Cao A’Man! You cunning bastard!”

“To think he’d resort to such tactics to turn the tide!” Each word was squeezed out between clenched teeth, brimming with fury.

Kong Rong of North Sea, a descendant of Confucius, was renowned for his wisdom.

It was said, “For martial prowess, there’s Lu Bu; for scholarly intellect, Kong Rong stands alone.”

As the foremost intellectual figure of their time, Kong Rong held immense influence among the literati who controlled public opinion. His prestige far surpassed anyone else’s!

If Kong Rong endorsed Xu County’s Emperor as genuine, Yuan Shao would forever bear the stigma of proclaiming a false ruler—a colossal scandal!

To make matters worse, this coincided with Yuan Shu’s unauthorized declaration of emperorship. The world would undoubtedly view them both as birds of a feather.

At that point, not only would the Yuan clan’s reputation be utterly tarnished, but even Yuan Shao’s established foundation might crumble.

Ju Shou sighed deeply. His confidence in advising Yuan Shao to establish a puppet Emperor relied heavily on the Yuan family’s prestigious four-generation legacy as high officials.

Yet unexpectedly, Cao Cao found a way to counterattack precisely where Yuan Shao was weakest—in terms of reputation.

Moreover, this counterattack left them utterly defenseless.

After composing himself slightly, Ju Shou said, “My lord, we have not yet reached a dead end. If Cao Cao invited Kong Rong, then so must we.

The two Emperors look nearly identical; even Lu Bu, Liu Bei, and Jia Xu couldn’t discern any flaws. It’s unlikely that Kong Rong will be able to expose him either.”

Over time, Liu Xie had become increasingly convincing in his role as Emperor, leaving Ju Shou unconcerned about him being exposed.

Yuan Shao shook his head, expression grave. “However, here we lack close advisors of the Emperor, let alone the Empress Dowager.”

It wasn’t that he doubted Liu Xie’s appearance or acting skills, but rather, he feared that a fake remains just that—a fake.

In Xu County, Kong Rong would have numerous imperial advisors and the Empress Dowager to validate the Emperor’s identity, while Yuan Shao relied solely on his own reputation.

His renown was both his greatest safeguard and his most significant vulnerability. Once this safeguard failed, he would have nothing else to prove the Emperor’s legitimacy. And clearly, Kong Rong would not be swayed by reputation alone.

“For now, our only hope lies with that refugee,” Ju Shou admitted, momentarily lacking a better solution. He urged Yuan Shao, “My lord, the immediate priority is to swiftly deliver the Imperial Decree to North Sea.”

“If Kong Rong arrives at Yecheng first and acknowledges our Emperor’s identity, he won’t proceed to Xu County afterward. This would solidify our control over the throne here in Yecheng, rendering any future doubts irrelevant.”

“Handle this promptly!” Yuan Shao snapped, his frustration reaching its peak.

Noticing Yuan Shao’s foul mood, Ju Shou bowed respectfully, then silently turned and left the study.

Yuan Shao paced restlessly within the room, his expression shifting between calm and barely concealed murderous intent.

He debated whether to send assassins after Kong Rong.

“No! Attempting to kill Kong Rong at such a critical moment would be akin to confessing without a fight. The entire world would suspect me…”

After much deliberation, Yuan Shao ultimately abandoned the ill-conceived plan to assassinate Kong Rong.

Killing Kong Rong would undoubtedly lead to relentless accusations from Cao Cao.

Keeping him alive, however, offered a sliver of hope.

In the worst-case scenario, even if Kong Rong deemed the Emperor in Xu County as genuine, Yuan Shou could still resort to cunning arguments.

Ultimately, once Cao Cao was defeated, having both the true and false Emperors under his control, it would merely come down to who Yuan Shao declared legitimate.

With this thought, Yuan Shao felt slightly reassured.

After leaving the Yuan Manor, Ju Shou headed straight for the imperial palace.

He relayed to Liu Xie the news of Cao Cao inviting Kong Rong to Xu County to authenticate the true Emperor’s identity.

“Once Kong Rong arrives in Yecheng, you must be extremely cautious and vigilant. Under no circumstances should you reveal any inconsistencies before him.”

Seeing Ju Shou’s grave expression, Liu Xie recognized the severity of the situation.

If Kong Rong declared him genuine, nobody would dare question his legitimacy again. However, if Kong Rong deemed him a fraud, his days of comfort would likely come to an end, potentially even risking his life.

Ju Shou, noticing Liu Xie’s lack of panic, couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you at all afraid?”

Liu Xie, facing away from Ju Shou, replied calmly, “Given the circumstances, what good does fear serve now? All we can do is our best and leave the rest to fate. After all, when I chose to collaborate with you, I was prepared for the possibility of losing my life at any moment.”

Ju Shou stared intently at Liu Xie, his expression somewhat complex. He then briefly summarized Kong Rong’s background before turning to leave.

Shortly after, Gao Luan approached.

“Your Majesty, Ju Shou has departed the palace.”

“Um… You may retire for now. We wish to be alone.”

After receiving his orders, Gao Luan withdrew.

Liu Xie’s expression instantly turned grim.

Earlier, when confronted with Ju Shou, he appeared composed only because the news had left him utterly stunned.

Kong Rong, known for humility and wisdom, “No intact eggs under a collapsed nest,” one of the seven literary masters of Jian’an… Even before his transmigration, Liu Xie was well aware of Kong Rong’s reputation.

If Kong Rong were to expose him as an imposter, everything would crumble.

“Damn that treacherous Cao!”

Liu Xie felt like crying but couldn’t muster tears, cursing Cao Cao in impotent rage.

His grand plan to pass off as the true Emperor, along with his secret ambitions to usurp Yuan Shao’s legacy, all threatened to vanish like bubbles!

The Emperor’s identity was his sole reliance. Once exposed, Guo Jia, Gao Luan, Jia Xu, Lu Bu, Liu Bei, even Zhen Mi, would abandon him without hesitation. Worse still, there was a high chance Lu Bu might kill him out of fury!

“What should I do now?”

At this moment, Liu Xie was more anxious than Yuan Shao himself, desperately seeking a solution amidst the chaos in his mind, yet unable to formulate any viable plan.

Since his transmigration, Liu Xie had meticulously built upon his false identity, gradually amassing power and influence around it. Honestly, deep down, he felt immensely proud, believing himself truly exceptional.

Look at how he had effortlessly deceived brilliant minds like Guo Jia and Jia Xu, even a dominant figure like Yuan Shao fell for his charade. Lu Bu and Zhen Mi were completely under his spell, unable to discern reality.

For days, Liu Xie believed himself to be the true destined protagonist of this era!

The heroes of the Three Kingdoms? They were merely NPCs to him.

All just stepping stones and tools for Liu Xie’s rise to power!

However, within mere days, his pride was shattered.

Ju Shou’s news delivered a harsh slap, jolting him back to reality.

His success wasn’t due to his brilliance or being from the future but solely because of his identity.

Without the aura bestowed by the Emperor’s title, what significance did he hold?

No one would spare him a second glance!

Essentially, until he truly became the Emperor, he remained nothing more than a destitute wanderer, constantly on the brink of starvation!

After a moment, Liu Xie took a deep breath, composed his thoughts, and summoned Gao Luan.

“Immediately bring Guo Jia and Jia Xu to the palace. We have urgent matters to discuss with them!”

Sensing the gravity in Liu Xie’s tone, Gao Luan felt a chill run down his spine. He swiftly acknowledged the command and hurried away.