Chapter 20: The Guest Arrives

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Liu Xie had already finished his morning routine.

He found it truly difficult to get used to brushing his teeth with a bamboo stick and charcoal powder—the stick poked painfully at his gums. Glancing at the bamboo brush on the washstand, he silently grumbled to himself.

Having just endured considerable discomfort while brushing, Liu Xie resolved to invent a proper toothbrush to spare his teeth from further suffering.

He then tidied his crown and robes in front of the bronze mirror. Last night, Xia Hong and Qiu Shui had been sent by Liu Xie to attend to Shou’er, so this morning he had to wash and dress himself alone.

As he fumbled his way through putting on his clothes and crown, Liu Xie suddenly found himself longing for the days when he was served by others. It seemed that even a young man of the new era like himself was not immune to the corrupting influence of the wicked feudal society.

Satisfied with his neatly attired reflection in the bronze mirror, Liu Xie nodded and rose, only to find Fu Hu standing outside his door, poised to knock.

Seeing Liu Xie step out looking refreshed, Fu Hu rubbed his eyes in disbelief and peeked into the room behind him.

“Stop looking; there’s no one here,” Liu Xie said irritably, shooting Fu Hu a glance. “What, you don’t believe I can get up this early?”

Embarrassed, Fu Hu scratched his head awkwardly and replied, “It’s just that Your Majesty has never gotten up this early before.”

Liu Xie’s face flushed. Indeed, since arriving in this new world and freed from work’s worries, he had developed the bad habit of sleeping late. Still, it was embarrassing to have it pointed out so bluntly.

Clearing his throat, Liu Xie quickly changed the subject. “Speak, why have you come so early?”

“Oh, yes, Your Majesty. Yuan Shao has arrived in Luoyang with some allied commanders,” Fu Hu reported earnestly.

“So soon?” Liu Xie raised his brows, surprised. He had anticipated their arrival but not this soon—this disrupted his plans somewhat.

As Liu Xie pondered deeply, a guard approached and bowed, reporting, “Your Majesty, Generals Huangfu and Gai request an audience!”

A puzzled look crossed Liu Xie’s face. “The court session is about to start. Why have they come now?”

“Let them in,” Liu Xie waved his hand.

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Before long, two tall and robust figures appeared in his sight.

“Your Majesty! Your calculations are spot on! Yuan Benchu really has brought his men!” Even before they reached him, Huangfu Song’s booming voice reached Liu Xie’s ears.

Liu Xie smiled wryly. “I wondered what wind blew you two here with such a loud voice. Are you afraid my ears have gone bad?”

Huangfu Song and Gai Xun exchanged a glance and simultaneously bowed deeply. “Your Majesty, you truly are a sage! What shall we do next?”

In the letter Liu Xie had previously sent them, he had indeed mentioned that Yuan Shao would come to pay homage after they had slain Dong Zhuo and reclaimed Luoyang, though he had not specified the exact time. Even so, the news still stunned both generals.

Of course, Liu Xie’s predictions were based on historical assessments of Yuan Shao. Though ambitious, Yuan Shao lacked strategic acumen—he could gather men but not use them effectively, often overthinking yet indecisive. This was why he ultimately lost at Guandu.

Liu Xie summed up Yuan Shao in one phrase: “A hero in ambition, yet lacking the bearing of a hero.”

While not particularly clever, Yuan Shao had a keen sense of timing. Thus, Liu Xie was confident Yuan Shao would return to Luoyang but believed, based on historical records that described Yuan as all bluster and little courage, he would not come so soon.

Yet Liu Xie had clearly underestimated Yuan Shao—after all, he was a formidable warlord who dominated the North.

Upon hearing Huangfu Song and Gai Xun’s words, Liu Xie thought for a moment and smiled. “Generals, don’t be anxious. Just follow my instructions shortly.”

The two generals looked puzzled but listened attentively to Liu Xie’s orders.

“You will…”

Meanwhile, outside the east gate of Luoyang, Yuan Shao stood surrounded by his generals, like stars around the moon, undergoing inspection by the city guards.

Though called an inspection, it was cursory at best. Yuan Shao’s eyes betrayed contempt as he noted the laxity.

Feigning casualness, he glanced up and saw the city’s defenders slouching and leaning, hardly resembling a formidable force.

Moreover, fewer than a hundred guards were scattered atop the massive city walls.

The army that had slain Dong Zhuo was no better than this? Yuan Shao’s scorn deepened. Seeing the disdain in the eyes of other commanders, his wariness of Liu Xie, the young emperor, all but vanished.

However, two among the generals displayed looks of doubt. One was a handsome man riding a white horse, seemingly around thirty years old—Cao Mengde, known as Cao Cao, a key figure in the Eastern Coalition.

By this time, Cao Cao had matured beyond youthful zeal for the nation and harbored his own ambitions.

Surveying the imposing city walls and the ragtag soldiers atop them, he felt no contempt, only puzzlement—and beneath that, deep caution.

He knew well the strength of Dong Zhuo’s troops, composed of the battle-hardened Xiliang forces and the capital’s elite guards. Having once served as a captain in the imperial guards, Cao Cao was acutely aware of their true fighting capabilities; these ragtag troops could not be the main force, meaning the real army was hidden.

Why hide? There must be a purpose. Surely an emperor’s intentions are never trivial—otherwise, why kill Dong Zhuo and reclaim Luoyang? This was what Cao Cao feared most.

The greatest threat is an opponent who conceals their true strength—those who play the fool but are actually tigers.

The other man showing doubt was the broad-eared royal uncle Liu Bei. Of course, Liu Xie had no intention of letting such a man be his uncle, but historically, Liu Bei was a great leader who, along with Cao Cao and Sun Quan, divided the realm. He too would not be easily fooled by Liu Xie’s deliberately planted ragtag troops.

If such men could defeat Dong Zhuo, even a mere county magistrate could claim the throne.

Liu Xie never expected his little ruses to deceive true titans like Cao Cao and Liu Bei. Standing atop the distant city wall, watching Yuan Shao and his retinue enter the city, Liu Xie remained unseen by them.

Thanks to his scouts, Liu Xie already knew who had arrived—many of the great warlords of the late Han and Three Kingdoms era were gathered here.

“A true gathering of heroes,” Liu Xie murmured with a smile. “Interesting…”

Behind him, Fu Hu, Gai Xun, and Huangfu Song exchanged glances, none understanding what their emperor meant by “interesting.”

One thing was certain: His Majesty’s inscrutable demeanor surely meant no good.

As Yuan Shao and the others entered the city, Liu Xie withdrew his gaze.

“Come, let us return and put on a show for them!”