Chapter 18

Before the court assembly the next day, Yang Feng brought people running to the Mi Family guild office, and had the Mi Family summon Liu Bei.

Afterwards, Liu Bei was gleefully pulled onto his horse by Yang Feng, and Liu Bei had no choice but to bring Zhao Yun, Zhang Fei and the others along to see Emperor Xian.

On the road bringing Liu Bei into the palace, Yang Feng wore a self‑satisfied grin and kept talking nonstop to Liu Bei, directly saying he had not forgotten Liu Bei's kindness, and that Liu Bei must not forget him if any good fortune came his way.

Liu Bei snorted coldly in his heart, then had someone send a box of jewels to Yang Feng, which pleased Yang Feng so much that he grinned showing his teeth.

Although the soldiers in the palace were basically the Western Liang Army, because Li Jue had helped and because Yang Feng himself also had a considerable number of palace guards, Liu Bei's passage was completely unobstructed.

Led by a little yellow‑gate attendant, Liu Bei saw the young emperor anxiously waiting on the hall, with the officials in court robes standing in rows on both sides.

These people looked at Liu Bei with various expressions; among the military officials, the thin man with a rat‑like face at the very front gave him the most malicious gaze, and Liu Bei guessed this person was probably the old villain Guo Si.

Meanwhile, the more burly military officer standing beside the rat‑faced man turned his head and gave Liu Bei a fierce grin, then turned his head away again.

The head of the civil officials, the gray‑bearded old man Yang Biao, had a stern, piercing gaze, as if he wanted to see clearly what Liu Bei was wearing inside today; that gaze made Liu Bei feel a little creeped out.

Liu Bei dared not meet that old man's eyes, only looking straight ahead; but in Yang Biao's view, Liu Bei's unwavering gaze and clear eyes showed he truly bore the bearing of a gentleman.

The rest of the crowd were mostly curious, wanting to catch a glimpse of just who this person was who could make the Grand Marshal and the Grand General, those two rebels, turn against each other.

After the little yellow‑gate attendant read out the edict appointing Liu Bei as Commander of the City Gates, together with the usual enfeoffments, Liu Bei knelt and gave thanks.

Liu Bei, having knelt and performed the rites, spoke loudly:

"Your servant Liu Bei thanks Your Majesty for your great favor."

Emperor Xian waved his hand, looking at Liu Bei with hope, and said:

"Please rise; I have heard you are also a member of my imperial clan—may I ask what your ancestors are?"

Liu Bei rose and replied:

"I am a descendant of the Prince of Zhongshan Jing, the great‑great‑grandson of Emperor Xiaojing, the grandson of Liu Xiong and the son of Liu Hong."

The young emperor clapped his hands and laughed:

"Someone, bring the clan genealogy; I wish to examine it myself."

The Minister of the Ancestral Temple brought the genealogy, began to look it over, and then the Minister read aloud:

"Emperor Xiaojing fathered fourteen sons. The seventh son was the Prince of Zhongshan Jing, Liu Sheng. Liu Sheng produced the Marquis of Lu Cheng Ting, Liu Zhen. Liu Zhen produced the Marquis of Pei, Liu Ang. Liu Ang produced the Marquis of Zhang, Liu Lu. Liu Lu produced the Marquis of Yi Shui, Liu Lian. Liu Lian produced the Marquis of Qin Yang, Liu Ying. Liu Ying produced the Marquis of An Guo, Liu Jian. Liu Jian produced the Marquis of Guang Ling, Liu Ai. Liu Ai produced the Marquis of Jiao Shui, Liu Xian. Liu Xian produced the Marquis of Zu Yi, Liu Shu. Liu Shu produced the Marquis of Qi Yang, Liu Yi. Liu Yi produced the Marquis of Yuan Ze, Liu Bi. Liu Bi produced the Marquis of Ying Chuan, Liu Da. Liu Da produced the Marquis of Feng Ling, Liu Buyi. Liu Buyi produced the Marquis of Ji Chuan, Liu Hui. Liu Hui produced the Administrator of Dongjun Fanling, Liu Xiong. Liu Xiong produced Liu Hong. Liu Hong did not serve in office. Liu Bei is the son of Liu Hong."

The young emperor, following the genealogy, found that Liu Bei belonged to his uncle's generation.

Emperor Xian's face showed delight, and he secretly thought:

"Now Li Jue and Guo Si are rebels, controlling the court and state affairs beyond my control; having obtained such a heroic uncle, I now have support!"

"I never expected you to be of my uncle's generation; therefore I will enfeoff you as General of the Left and Marquis of Yi Cheng Ting, and for now you shall take charge of all the security affairs of the nine gates of Chang'an."

The court officials congratulated Emperor Xian, and then also offered congratulations to Liu Bei; under Guo Si's hostile stare, Emperor Xian again told Liu Bei not to leave after the audience dispersed, saying he intended to set a banquet to entertain him.

Liu Bei knelt and gave thanks; this formalistic morning audience, presided over by a powerless young emperor, naturally amounted to nothing of consequence.

After the officials dispersed, Emperor Xian set a banquet in a side hall and ordered someone to fetch Liu Bei.

Liu Bei was not reserved either, and roughly guessed the emperor's intention; indeed, after they had drunk a few cups, Emperor Xian had the palace ladies and eunuchs withdraw.

Emperor Xian wept and said:

"Please, Uncle, save me; the two villains are oppressing me more and more, I cannot decide anything in court, but now that we have recognized each other as uncle and nephew, it is fortunate that Li Jue and Guo Si disagree."

Liu Bei looked at this tear‑streaked youth and felt a surge of sympathy.

This young emperor, forced onto the throne in chaotic times, truly bears too much. As a bloodline of Han's founding emperor, to say he lacks ambition and lofty goals is false; merely keeping himself safe amidst the rebel armies is already a trouble.

Truly, it is the time and fate!

Liu Bei supported the emperor and sighed:

"Your Majesty need not worry; this time the two villains have already grown estranged. Let them fight like snipe and clam, while we reap the benefit from behind—only then will Your Majesty have a chance to escape their clutches."

Emperor Xian wept and said:

"From now on I will have to rely entirely on my uncle to stay alive!"

Liu Bei continually comforted the young emperor, and by the time he returned it was already afternoon.

After returning to his residence, a servant came to report that the eldest daughter of the Mi Family had sent people several times, apparently having some matter to discuss; thus Liu Bei decided to go himself in the evening to see what Mi Zhen wanted from him—of course that is a later story, not to be mentioned now.

Liu Bei has now become the Imperial Uncle of the Great Han, and the various factions in the court react in different ways.

After Guo Si returned to his mansion, his motley crew of underlings had already been discussing letting Guo Si go find Li Jue, so that the two could together get rid of Liu Bei and Yang Biao, those old fogies.

Guo Si suppressed his anger and ordered his men to prepare horses to go to Li Jue's mansion to discuss important matters.

However, Li Jue was instead gleeful, because Jia Xu had given him an analysis.

"Since the emperor has recognized the imperial uncle, you can use an imperial edict to control Liu Bei—that is legitimate and proper! It's only nominally closer to the emperor; our main priority right now is to take down Guo Si, and having the Grand Marshal unify the Western Liang Army is the most important."

While they were speaking, Guo Si had already brought a large force to Li Jue's mansion; upon seeing each other, Guo Si flared up and said to Li Jue:

"Li Jue, you have opposed me repeatedly these past few days, and today you even went and found that so‑called Great Han Imperial Uncle—what do you mean by this! Don't forget we share honor and disgrace together!"

At this shout, Li Jue felt a bit embarrassed; his big, beard‑streaked face turned red.

"Guo Duo, you are being outrageous! The Son of Heaven seeks out his imperial uncle on his own—what business is it of yours to blame me here!"

Tensions were high between the two sides; in the end Jia Xu ran out to smooth things over, and finally Guo Si left in a huff, taking his men with him.

Li Jue, meanwhile, watched Guo Si's departing retinue with a sinister gaze, his confidence in Jia Xu's advice growing; he resolved to employ Liu Bei to deal with that unreasonable bully Guo Duo!

Li Jue had Jia Xu contact Liu Bei again, this time conveying only one signal: have Liu Bei roll up his sleeves and help me get rid of that Guo Duo; I will certainly do my best to provide convenience for Liu Bei.

Thus Jia Xu hurried to Liu Bei's residence before dinner; the dishes at Liu Bei's house seemed extraordinarily tasty, and the meal he had eaten there last time was extremely delicious!

On the road, Jia Xu watched the hurried pedestrians on Chang'an Street; at dusk the setting sun was like blood, and Jia Xu thought:

In such a chaotic age, if we do not administer a strong medicine, how can we save the myriad people from water and fire!!

Perhaps the best course is to destroy before we can establish!

The realm does not belong to any one person, family, or surname!