Chapter 23: The Baited Hook Awaits Its Taker! Guo Jia's Visit!

In Yecheng, at the Emperor’s residence.

Liu Xie stood by the lakeside within the palace grounds, holding a fishing rod with one hand and resting his chin on the other. He gazed absentmindedly at the tranquil surface of the lake.

Suddenly, the tip of the fishing rod twitched gently, snapping Liu Xie out of his thoughts. Quickly, he reeled it in, pulling a small inch-long carp thrashing out of the water.

However, after a brief glance, Liu Xie unhooked the fish and released it back into the lake.

“Your Majesty, why do you always let the fish go?” asked a puzzled young eunuch serving nearby.

Liu Xie glanced at him and replied mildly, “We fish not for the catch but for the tranquility of the moment. You wouldn’t understand.”

With that, he cast the hook back into the water.

The young eunuch scratched his head, then tried to flatter him, saying, “Indeed, Your Majesty is truly profound even in your words.”

Liu Xie pursed his lips, showing no interest in engaging further.

Truthfully, he was just bored.

If this had happened during the early days of his transmigration, catching such a fish would have thrilled him beyond measure. But now, living amidst luxury in the imperial palace with fine clothes and exquisite food every day, how could a mere small fish impress him? Fishing was merely a way to pass the time.

“How tedious…” Liu Xie sighed inwardly.

Acquiring Zhang He had certainly brought him joy for a while, but after the initial excitement faded, he realized it didn’t really serve much purpose.

Zhang He’s talents were meant for the battlefield, yet here he was, humbly serving as Liu Xie’s imperial guard commander. While his role was to protect the palace, most days consisted merely of leading patrols and standing watch.

As for Liu Xie himself, although he moved from the Yuan Manor to the imperial palace, it essentially just expanded his living space slightly. Without Yuan Shao’s permission, he couldn’t venture outside at all.

Being a 21st-century modern man trapped in an era without smartphones, Wi-Fi, computers, or even companionship, Liu Xie felt suffocated and on the verge of illness due to sheer boredom. There seemed to be no means of entertainment whatsoever.

The primary source of his distress, however, was uncertainty.

Damn it, Boss Yuan sure knew how to disappoint; not even providing a few wives for comfort.

While Liu Xie harbored thoughts of secretly amassing power and eventually finding an opportunity to escape Yuan Shao’s control, he had no clue where to begin or how to execute such plans.

He was merely a struggling history major, not some naturally gifted strategist or politician. Bluffing and deceiving others with words came easier than actually taking action - attempting anything substantial would be utterly absurd.

If he accidentally revealed his incompetence, Yuan Shao wouldn’t continue pampering him like he currently does.

“Damn it, why are protagonists who time-travel back to ancient times always so badass in those novels? They effortlessly pull off cunning schemes one after another. Why can’t I come up with even one?”

Liu Xie felt utterly frustrated, realizing the stark contrast between his aspirations and reality.

All these reincarnators around, yet why was he the only unremarkable one?!

Where’s the promised intelligence buff upon reincarnation?

Giving him just photographic memory is damn useless!

Internally venting his frustrations, Liu Xie finally understood why strategists were highly sought-after.

Having a brilliant strategist devise plans without needing to strain your own brain - someone capable of orchestrating everything flawlessly - would be absolutely fantastic, wouldn’t it?

“Speaking of which, where is Zhuge Liang now?”

Whenever Liu Xie thought of strategists, Zhuge Liang immediately came to mind.

This legendary figure could arguably be considered the top strategist of the Three Kingdoms era, renowned for his loyalty, competence, and unparalleled intellect. His name “Zhuge” had practically become synonymous with wisdom due to his extraordinary influence.

If possible, Liu Xie eagerly wished to interact with Prime Minister Zhuge Liang.

Not for any ulterior motives, but simply to witness the brilliance of this timeless statesman, whose legacy has brought countless admirers to tears throughout history.

However, much to Liu Xie’s regret, considering the timeline, Zhuge Liang was currently just a 15-year-old kid, far from reaching his full potential.

However, Liu Bei wouldn’t visit Zhuge Liang’s humble abode until he was 26 years old, leaving an eleven-year gap from his current age.

“Let’s revisit this when the opportunity arises. For now, I can’t even leave the imperial palace, so pondering these thoughts is futile.”

“Perhaps I should focus on recruiting talent under Yuan Shao?”

Liu Xie rubbed his chin, contemplating potential candidates. Through Zhang He, he had learned about the trusted civil officials and military generals serving under Yuan Shao. Among the civil servants were Ju Shou, Tian Feng, Shen Pei, Feng Ji, Guo Tu, Xu You, and others; while the military commanders included Wen Chang, Wen Chou, Chunyu Qiong, Han Meng, Zhu Ling, and more.

Zhang He served as a hidden ace, already secured by Liu Xie. There was another concealed card besides Zhang He - Gao Lan.

Like Zhang He, Gao Lan was originally a subordinate of Han Fu and also served as Zhang He’s deputy general. However, after joining Yuan Shao, neither gained significant recognition.

Just a few days ago, Zhang He recommended Gao Lan to Liu Xie. Surprised that acquiring Zhang He would bring him Gao Lan as well, Liu Xie gladly accepted the additional talent.

These two were renowned as two of the Four Pillars of Hebei!

Now, with Zhang He as the commander and Gao Lan as the deputy commander of the imperial guard, both had become fiercely loyal to Liu Xie.

“As for military generals, there’s not much left to recruit, and even if I tried, it would be futile. Regarding civil officials… aside from Xu You, they seem equally difficult.”

Liu Xie particularly favored Shen Pei, Tian Feng, and Ju Shou.

Tian Feng stood out as exceptionally strategic, often considered Yuan Shao’s top advisor and highly regarded across all Three Kingdoms.

However, Tian Feng’s unwavering loyalty to Yuan Shao made him untouchable.

As for Ju Shou, considering he knew Liu Xie’s true identity as a false emperor, there was no chance of swaying him.

And then there was Shen Pei; similarly, he had once declared, “My lord is in the north, I cannot face southward in death,” making it clear that his surrender was highly unlikely.

At this thought, Liu Xie’s expression turned somewhat peculiar.

“So with such capable ministers and fierce generals under him, how did Yuan Shao manage to lose to Cao Cao?”

“Could he truly be that incompetent?”

Yuan Shao boasted exceptional civil advisors, while although his military commanders were not as impressive as those under Liu Bei, they certainly didn’t fall short compared to Cao Cao’s forces.

Yet, inexplicably, he still lost!

“Hmm, indeed, he must have been utterly useless.” Liu Xie reached a definitive conclusion, offering a fair assessment of Yuan Benchu’s character.

After considering various individuals, Liu Xie ultimately focused his attention on Xu You. Historically, this man had betrayed Yuan Shao, indicating his lack of loyalty. Perhaps there was a chance to sway him.

But how could he convince Xu You to join…?

Liu Xie fell deep into thought.

Suddenly, a clear voice resonated from behind him.

“Your servant Guo Jia greets Your Majesty.”

“Hm?”

Liu Xie swiftly raised his head and turned around.

Standing behind him, unnoticed until now, was a slender young scholar. With a faint smile on his elegant face, he bowed respectfully with hands cupped.

His demeanor truly embodied that of a humble gentleman.

However, at this moment, Liu Xie’s mind was not focused on his appearance; it was consumed by the name he just heard!

Suppressing his shock, Liu Xie hesitantly asked, “Could you repeat your name, please?”

“In response to Your Majesty,” the young scholar smiled slightly, lifting his gaze to meet Liu Xie’s, his eyes shining brightly. “My surname is Guo, given name Jia, courtesy name Fengxiao.”

Liu Xie opened his mouth, feeling his throat go dry.

Just then, he noticed the fishing rod in his hand suddenly twitch. A fish had taken the bait.

Yet, he distinctly remembered not placing any lure on the hook.