Chapter 8: Proclaiming to the World!

In the grand council hall, Shen Pei, Tian Feng, and others had been waiting anxiously for quite some time.

Apart from them, Feng Ji, Xu You, and Guo Tu were also present.

As Yuan Shao and Ju Shou entered the hall, all eyes turned towards them.

“My lord, where is His Majesty?” Tian Feng inquired.

They had received orders from Yuan Shao to gather at the council hall, expecting a formal audience with the Emperor. Accordingly, each one had meticulously dressed in their finest attire.

However, only Ju Shou and Yuan Shao arrived, with no sign of the Emperor, leaving them puzzled.

Weren’t they supposed to pay homage to the Emperor today?

Yuan Shao proceeded directly to the head seat and addressed the gathering, “The Emperor has endured a long journey and is currently resting in his quarters. It would be inappropriate to disturb him now.”

Initially, he planned to introduce Liu Xie to everyone, but unexpectedly discovering that this Emperor was an imposter forced him to abandon the idea. Every strategist present was astute; allowing them too much interaction with Liu Xie could risk exposing the deception. It wasn’t that he mistrusted his advisors, but when it comes to impersonating the Emperor, less knowledge among the ranks is always safer.

“I never would have imagined that the Emperor could escape from that traitor Cao Cao and reach our lord,” Shen Pei remarked with deep emotion. He then turned to Ju Shou, smiling warmly. “Gongyu, bringing His Majesty back to Yecheng is truly a remarkable achievement!”

In response to Shen Pei’s praise, Ju Shou modestly said, “I was merely out fishing beyond the city walls when I stumbled upon him by chance. The real credit lies in His Majesty’s immense fortune, protected by the heavens, allowing him to safely arrive within my lord’s territory.”

Tian Feng chuckled, “Gongyu, there’s no need for humility; it was indeed your accomplishment.”

As everyone joined in praising Ju Shou, only Guo Tu and Feng Ji wore somber expressions.

They had always been at odds with Ju Shou. Earlier, when he proposed inviting the Emperor to Ji Province, they vehemently opposed it. Yet, unexpectedly, Ju Shou managed to encounter the Emperor while simply going fishing outside the city—akin to how Duke Boqiang famously caught King Wen during his own fishing expedition. Was this coincidence truly plausible?

“Hmph, just pure luck. His Majesty came to Ji Province because he trusts our lord, not due to anything you did, Ju Shou,” Guo Tu scoffed, his tone filled with resentment.

Feng Ji chimed in sarcastically from the side, “It seems I should learn from Gongyu as well; who knew such good fortune could be found while fishing beyond the city walls?”

Ju Shou smiled, choosing not to engage further.

Tian Feng, however, was not one to back down easily and retorted sharply, “Even if His Majesty stood before you, would you recognize him?”

“Gongyu has held prestigious positions such as Chief Secretary of Ji Province, been nominated for outstanding talent, served twice as County Magistrate, and even attended imperial court sessions with the Emperor. And what about you? Who do you think you are?”

Known for his sharp tongue and forthrightness, Tian Feng’s words struck a painful blow to Feng Ji and Guo Tu.

Although all of them were advisors under Yuan Shao, Ju Shou had previously held legitimate high-ranking positions and met the Emperor before joining Yuan Shao’s service.

In contrast, the others were essentially household retainers of Yuan Shao, lacking any direct experience with the Emperor.

“You—!” Humiliated by this rebuke, Feng Ji erupted in anger.

At that moment, Yuan Shao, seated at the head of the gathering, intervened to halt their quarrel. “Silence! I didn’t call you here to argue!”

With Yuan Shao’s command, Feng Ji reluctantly suppressed his fury.

Shen Pei stepped forward to smooth things over. While he did not particularly favor Guo Tu, he maintained decent relations with Feng Ji. He changed the subject, saying, “Regardless of past matters, the arrival of the Emperor in Ji Province is indeed a monumental event.”

“I wonder what my lord plans to do next?”

Yuan Shao must have summoned them for an important announcement. Upon hearing Shen Pei’s question, everyone turned their attention towards Yuan Shao.

Feeling the weight of everyone’s gazes upon him, Yuan Shao hesitated briefly before finally announcing, “I intend to issue a proclamation throughout the realm, revealing Cao Cao’s treachery against His Majesty and detailing how the Emperor escaped to Ji Province.”

“Furthermore, with His Majesty placing great trust in me, he wishes to establish Yecheng as the new capital, reassemble the imperial court, and summon officials of Great Han for audience.” Yuan Shao disclosed his intentions.

Firstly, he planned to inform the world, spreading the news that the true Emperor had arrived in Ji Province. Secondly, by restructuring the imperial court, he aimed to reaffirm the legitimate authority of the Emperor of Han!

Although these actions carried significant risks, it was now akin to an arrow on a bowstring—there was no turning back. If he delayed any further, it would be too late.

Upon hearing Yuan Shao’s declaration, the eyes of those present in the hall lit up.

“My lord is truly wise!” Tian Feng enthusiastically voiced his support first, visibly excited. “The traitor Cao Cao claims to uphold the Han Dynasty yet mirrors Dong Zhuo’s tyranny. Announcing this truth will undoubtedly shock the entire realm!”

“My lord, allow me to draft the proclamation,” Tian Feng continued, determined to expose Cao Cao’s misdeeds publicly.

In contrast to Tian Feng’s excitement, Shen Pei appeared somewhat apprehensive. After pondering with a furrowed brow, he spoke up, “However, my lord, Cao Cao will never admit to such accusations.”

“The Emperor escaped from Cao Camp long ago, yet Cao Cao still claims he resides in Xu County. This suggests that he has some confidence and backing for his deceit.”

“My suspicion is that this traitor may have found someone to impersonate the Emperor; otherwise, he wouldn’t dare be so audacious,” Shen Pei astutely observed, providing a well-reasoned guess.

Upon hearing “impersonating the Emperor,” Yuan Shao’s hand trembled slightly, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead, feeling somewhat guilty.

In truth, their own Emperor was indeed an imposter…

Despite his guilt, Yuan Shao showed no hint of it on his face. Instead, he declared firmly, “And what harm does that pose? A fake remains just that—a fake. Can Cao Cao deceive everyone indefinitely?”

“Yuanhao, draft the proclamation swiftly and disseminate it promptly. It is crucial that the entire realm learns of Cao Cao’s wicked deeds! We cannot let the world remain deceived any longer!” Yuan Shao’s tone resonated with righteous indignation.

Tian Feng’s expression turned solemn as he vowed earnestly, “Please rest assured, my lord. I shall not fail this mission!”

With that, Tian Feng swiftly turned and departed.

“Yuanhao, wait; let me assist you,” Chen Lin hurried after him.

How could writing such a proclamation be complete without his involvement?

Next, Yuan Shao addressed his other advisors, “The Emperor will soon establish Yecheng as the new capital and reorganize the imperial court. Prepare for the necessary ceremonial rites.”

In ancient China, matters of state revolved around sacrifice and warfare. The relocation and establishment of a new capital, along with the restructuring of the imperial court, were crucial events symbolizing divine approval - they must be handled meticulously.

“Yes, my lord!” The ministers acknowledged their tasks and withdrew, leaving Yuan Shao alone in the grand hall.

“I hope nothing goes awry…” Yuan Shao rubbed his temples, feeling somewhat weary.

Deception was indeed no easy feat, especially when attempting to deceive the entire world.

One can only wonder how Cao Cao would react upon hearing this news?

As these thoughts crossed his mind, a hint of amusement curved Yuan Shao’s lips into a subtle smile.