Mythical Three Kingdoms

Early the next morning, Zhong Yao dispatched a swift messenger from Chang’an, delivering an urgent report: Weiyang Palace caught fire, the Emperor suffered a calamity, nearly nine-tenths of the Han Imperial kinsmen perished, and more than half of the officials were either injured or dead, leaving Chang’an in complete chaos. Liu, Cao, and Sunx were requested to return to Chang’an promptly to preside over the Emperor’s funeral arrangements.

Upon receiving this news, Liu Bei, Cao Cao, and Sun Ce, who had just returned at dawn, were sitting in a row holding bowls and eating together.

When the news arrived, everyone was present. Initially, everyone had put on new clothes today, which, though not coronation robes, were still quite luxurious, and the group was eating and chatting happily.

However, the moment this news came, Liu Bei and Cao Cao jumped up immediately.

”What? A fire in Weiyang, the Emperor suffered a calamity, what did you say?” At this moment, Liu Bei and Cao Cao almost screamed, grabbing the messenger’s hand, nearly crushing his hand bones, ”Everyone, quickly rush to Chang’an with me to investigate the situation!”

”Lord Xuande, Minister of Works Cao, please calm down!” Seeing Liu Bei and Cao Cao lose control, the others were equally shocked by the news, and Chen Xi immediately stepped forward and shouted.

”Calm now? Something happened to the Emperor!” Liu Bei rarely rebuked Chen Xi in anger.

”Exactly!” Chen Xi was also shocked by the news, but his mindset was different from the others, and he quickly adjusted and shouted at once.

It was Chen Xi’s angry shout that truly brought Liu Bei and Cao Cao back to their senses, after which Liu Bei turned his head to inquire of Chen Xi, ”Zichuan, what should we do now?”

”The three armies will camp in place. Lord Xuande, Minister of Works Cao, General Sunx, first lead the generals and 5,000 elite troops to Chang’an. This is definitely not the time to act rashly!” Chen Xi said in a low voice, ”Continue with the previous plan. As long as our three families are not in turmoil, others’ chaos is just a joke. As for the other civil officials, they will follow shortly!”

The civil officials were inherently exceptionally intelligent, and Chen Xi’s low shout had everyone reacting. Xun Yu and others would not let Chen Xi take all the credit.

”My Lord, lead the generals back to Chang’an first.” Xun Yu stood and said to Cao Cao.

”Bofu, you also lead your troops there, and remember, no matter what you hear along the way, the three families must not fall into chaos at this moment.” Zhou Yu said calmly, looking at Sun Ce.

Sun Ce, who had shoved down buns and such, only then realized the Emperor had died, and he immediately jumped out.

”In that case, Zijian, assemble the troops and enter Chang’an with me!” Liu Bei immediately ordered Hua Xiong, and a group of military generals stood up and left with Liu Bei, after which Cao Cao and Sun Ce also exited in succession, leaving only the civil officials in the main tent.

After all the military generals left, Chen Xi detailedly inquired about the situation in Chang’an from Zhong Yao’s messenger. Using Spiritual Secret Technique, Xun Yu and Zhou Yu jointly ensured no sound escaped the main tent.

”What’s going on?” Chen Xi asked everyone, knowing full well that Emperor Liu Xie could not die now; if he did, it would inevitably lead to a fierce battle with nobody in control.

”You’re all silent?” Chen Xi grimly looked at the silent civil officials, ”Everyone has their calculations, I know. Everyone aims to gain some advantage for themselves, but someone tell me what happened here? The Emperor is dead, so who’s next? Was the one responsible a fool?”

”Could it be anyone else besides Liu Xuande?” Cheng Yu sneered.

”Are you an idiot? If the Han Emperor doesn’t die, we return to constitutional rule. With our achievements in the North, though the three families won’t get all benefits, each can secure power through mutual compromise!” Chen Xi angrily rebuked Cheng Yu, ”If the Emperor’s dead, who can ensure survival!”

Chen Xi’s chilling voice brought a sense of dread to everyone. If Liu Bei ascends the throne, the facade will be torn away, meaning inevitable deadly conflict.

As for compromise, how could there be? Liu Bei ascending means subduing Cao Cao and Sun Ce; dare they surrender? If Emperor Liu Xie remains, even if primarily a puppet, his presence allows discussions and political means to stabilize matters.

Then later, with military means determining dominance, a sense of camaraderie would exist, and once Cao Cao and Sun Ce perceive the gap, they would yield under the Han banner, nominally remaining colleagues without disparity.

By then, with Cao Sun convinced, their supporters understanding the gap, even with world maps as leverage, they’d reluctantly comply.

Though many drawbacks exist in this control, it ensures Liu Bei’s influence leads Liu, Cao, and Sunx in outward expansion.

Though inevitable defiance from Cao and Sun might arise post-expansion, the cultural gains in the Han Cultural Circle far outweigh these issues, acceptable to Chen Xi.

As for wholly winning over Cao and Sun to Liu Bei, Chen Xi found no solution since the Yuan Liu Battle ended.

If Cao and Sun fully accepted Liu Bei, unified like one, their combined power might outstrip Chen Xi’s earlier visions by 1.5 times, yet, too difficult, too difficult.

Zhou Yu and Xun Yu nodded at those words, trusting Chen Xi but wary of those behind him, for they might want Liu Bei to ascend now.

”You all!” Chen Xi felt stifled, instantly understanding Zhou Yu’s and Xun Yu’s factions’ trust issues—trust Chen Zichuan but not his backers.

”In that case, Gongjin, handle your civil faction; Wen Ruo, consult yours, I’ll ask others, then the three of us will exchange notes.” Chen Xi said, exhaling, with a grim expression.

Zhou Yu and Xun Yu agreed and communicated with others using Voice Transmission.

”Wen He, how involved are you in this?” Chen Xi got straight to the point.

”I only intended to incite the Liu Clan to revolt and then suppress them, nothing else; this time I truly had no involvement beyond that.” Jia Xu responded calmly.

”It wasn’t me.” Chen Xi asked Guo Jia, who replied directly.

Whether interrogating Liu Ye, Fa Zheng, or Zhuge Liang among others, all except Zhuge Liang had some involvement, yet none targeted the Emperor.

”Zichuan, Wen Ru has the capability to overturn the chessboard, and Huang Kui is Wen Ru’s pawn, though he’s unaware.” Jia Xu informed Chen Xi after his inquiries.