Chapter 16: Chapter Sixteen: Poisonous Scholar Wen He

In the throne hall, the young Han Xian Di watched the two noisy generals below, and for a moment he dared not breathe, shrinking and curling up on the dragon throne.

The other civil and military ministers below also dared not speak; in the vast hall, only these two continued to clamour.

These two were the commanders of the two largest forces of the Western Liang Army: Li Jue and Guo Si.

Now Li Jue had proclaimed himself Grand Marshal, while Guo Si proclaimed himself Grand General, and the two roamed the hall unchecked.

The two were quarrelling incessantly over the post of City Gate Colonel, because each side now wanted its men to control the gate's defenses. Though they were cooperating at present, a deck still needs its big and small jokers, doesn't it?

Whichever side commanded the gate's garrison could, at a critical moment, dispatch troops into Chang'an the fastest. Though Li Jue and Guo Si were not very bright, they understood this.

At that moment, Yang Feng in the crowd recalled the God of Wealth who had come from afar, and seeing Li Jue and Guo Si's greedy faces, he could no longer hold back, stepped forward a large stride and shouted loudly:

"Your Majesty, I recommend one person who can surely fulfill the duties of City Gate Colonel."

Grand Commandant Yang Biao, whose beard was white with age, stood at the front of the civil officials with his eyes closed, meditating. Upon hearing the words, he opened his cloudy, aged eyes. Yang Biao saw Yang Feng emerging from the crowd, a spark of brilliance flashing in his eyes, then he closed his eyes again to continue his meditation.

Li Jue and Guo Si glared viciously at Yang Feng, but the simpleton Yang Feng was not very afraid of them. "You may have many troops, but they're all outside the city; besides, I'm not a piece of dough you can knead, am I?"

Han Xian Di, intending to muddy the waters, had long been dissatisfied under the heavy pressure of Li Jue and Guo Si, and hurriedly said:

"Yang Qing, whom do you recommend that can stand in this throne hall?"

Li Jue and Guo Si both turned their heads and glared at the young emperor, who jumped at once and tucked his neck.

These two bastards, though lacking Dong Zhuo's skill, have his cruelty. They've learned Dong Zhuo's killing methods inside out, and are even more brutish than the corpulent Dong.

"This man's name is Liu Bei, styled Xuan De, a descendant of our Han's King Jing of Zhongshan, who once participated in the coalition against Dong Zhuo. He is now a wealthy merchant; if he were recruited into the court, the people of the world would surely praise the Emperor's wise name."

Li Jue, after listening, strained to recall and finally remembered.

Isn't Liu Bei the fierce man who, with his two brothers, defeated that brute Lu Bu? And now he's merely a petty merchant? If such a powerhouse were to join my ranks, wouldn't I be able to suppress Guo Si from behind?

Thus Li Jue cheerfully said to Liu Xie

"Your Majesty, I think it's entirely possible! Liu Bei indeed has the ability to take on this role."

Guo Si glared at Li Jue and Yang Feng, and shouted

"You two casually recommend a rustic to the court; what is the reasoning? Is it that our great Han has no one?"

Old Yang Biao finally opened his eyes at this moment and spoke

"Grand General, since Liu Bei is a descendant of the Han emperor and has merit in opposing Dong Zhuo, his appointment to office is entirely reasonable!"

Yang Biao, one of the three elders in the court, has always held high prestige among officials; at this moment, many echoed his words.

Guo Si saw his side at a disadvantage, and Li Jue this time disagreed with him, so he stormed out of the hall, truly showing he paid no heed to Han Xian Di.

A hint of melancholy flashed in young Liu Xie's eyes, yet hope still shone in his gaze. Having endured several cataclysmic upheavals since childhood, he had long learned how to survive in the cracks; now, held hostage by the two thieves Li Jue and Guo Si, Liu Xie still hoped a capable minister could save the great Han from peril.

Li Jue, this time unusually on this side, at least presented an opportunity!

Thus the young emperor said rather happily

"Then have the old Grand Commandant Yang draft an edict to recruit Liu Bei into the court. Yang Feng, you personally lead men to fetch him."

Everyone bowed and dispersed the court, while the protagonist Liu Bei sat at home, unaware that an official was coming from the court.

Liu Bei had drunk quite a bit last night; though the alcohol strength of this era was low, overindulgence still gave him a headache, and he pressed his hand to his head as he entered the courtyard.

"Ding dong, system notification to the host: the current Han emperor wishes to appoint the host to office; the host has two choices."

"First, laugh heartily to the heavens and go out; we are but humble folk. If the host enters the court and fights a good bout with the two thieves Li Jue and Guo Si, the reward is a fine chestnut-colored steed."

"Second, a true man lives between heaven and earth; he cannot languish forever beneath others. The host may stir the winds and clouds, then return to Xuzhou to slowly plot great undertakings, earning the reward 'Life Healing Technique*5'. System note: when the target's HP is below 10%, the Life Healing Technique can be used in emergencies on anyone, restoring health to 100%."

Whoa, that's awesome!

So that means, as long as the head hasn't been cut off, the injury can generally be healed, right?

Alas, I originally wanted to be a loyal and filial minister, but this system keeps tempting me to do mischief.

Li Jue felt he must win over Liu Bei, the fierce general, so he certainly had to be full of sincerity!

Thus Li Jue ordered someone to summon the most cultured of his subordinates, the one adept at gift-giving—Jia Xu.

Li Jue sat at the table and gave Jia Xu instructions; Jia Xu agreed, then took two chests of treasure and dozens of fine Western Liang horses to court Liu Bei.

Jia Xu left Li's mansion, and in the carriage wore a cold sneer.

These idiots of the Western Liang, now that I'm mixed with them, have a rather foul reputation; it's hard to find a patron at the moment, otherwise who would want to associate with a bunch of guys whose heads are all muscle?

Recruiting Liu Bei, but seeing that Liu Bei and his two brothers could drive Lu Bu away, can a rough brute like you, Li Jue, attract such a powerhouse?

Not even a splash of piss to show you, Li Jue, what that looks like!

Liu Bei was studying the newly unlocked map in the system when a guard came in to report that the Grand Marshal had sent someone to visit.

When Liu Bei led his men out to receive them, he muttered to himself, wondering which of the court was the Grand Marshal; the house he lived in was a property of the Mi Family, how did they know?

As Liu Bei stepped out the doorway, he saw a short, stout middle-aged man with a friendly face and a goat-beard, smiling brightly at him.

"I am Jia Xu; I presume you are Lord Xuan De. I come bearing the Grand Marshal's orders to visit you."

What a shock, it's this guy!

Liu Bei was quite shocked; among the top strategists of the Three Kingdoms, it's hard to say who is the best, but if you ask who is the most poisonous schemer, it must be this guy.

The Western Liang Army's counterattack on Chang'an, the chaotic state affairs, can be said to have been orchestrated single-handedly by him.

Looking over Jia Xu's life, his offered strategies generally have few boundaries, are harmful to others, beneficial to himself, and exceedingly poisonous.

Liu Bei clicked open the system.

"Jia Xu: Strength 38, Intelligence 98, Politics 95, Leadership 91, Health 98, Loyalty to Li Jue 31."

Sure enough, this fellow despises the brute Li Jue, and his high stats are intimidating!

Liu Bei's heart almost shouted; since that's the case, Wen He, why not follow me!