Chapter 6: The Arrival of Liu Bei

Yes, while they were all hailed as elite warriors, capable of holding their own against ten men, to say that one of them could stand against a hundred was implausible. To face a thousand, or even ten thousand, would be to speak of a god of war—such feats were beyond them.

Yet Liu Xie shook his head with quiet confidence.
"Gentlemen, do not be impatient," he said.
"I promise you, in time, each of you will be able to stand alone against ten thousand."
"Of course," he added, "when I say so, I do not mean that you will literally fight ten thousand men at once. Rather, I mean that you will be able to take the head of an enemy general from among a myriad, as easily as reaching into a bag."

His words stirred a restless excitement among the men. Liu Xie was the emperor, and it was said an emperor’s word was law—though, to be fair, he hardly looked the part these days. Still, he was the Son of Heaven.

"Enough," Liu Xie continued. "To become such warriors is not a matter of words, but of strength. For the foreseeable future, you will undergo a regime of training harsher than any you have known."

He was no longer the image of an emperor, but a drill sergeant in the midst of his camp. The twenty men looked at him, dazed. This emperor was unlike the legends.

"Now, I want you to excavate an underground fortress," he ordered. "From this very spot, beneath the wine cellar, dig out a subterranean palace. You have half a month to complete it."

"As for the size, I want one qing."
"One—one qing?" The group was dumbfounded. One qing—one hundred mu! To dig out such a palace underground in half a month—how could it be possible?

"Yes, one qing," Liu Xie confirmed. "And when your time is up, I expect to see a clean, orderly underground palace. Begin."

With that, Liu Xie turned and departed, leaving the twenty men staring at one another in disbelief. Some suspected he was deliberately making things difficult. Twenty men, half a month, a palace spanning one hundred mu—was it possible?

Afterward, Liu Xie reverted to his role as a negligent ruler—drinking and making merry, showing no interest in the affairs of state.

"Your Majesty, are you truly going to ignore state matters completely?" Fu Shou approached and asked in a low voice. She knew he was putting on a show to deceive Cao Cao, but she was genuinely worried that Liu Xie might become lost in this role.

***

In the grand hall, music and dance filled the air as Liu Xie drained his cup.
"State affairs?" he scoffed. "Is there even such a thing as state affairs anymore?"

Why had he left everything to Cao Cao? Because, at present, there was only a court, not governance. The lords of the realm had carved out their own domains—each acting as their own master, paying him no heed, nor caring for his decrees. Rather than cling to what little, pathetic power remained, he had given the reins to Cao Cao as a gesture. If they would not obey the emperor, why would they obey Cao Cao?

Just then, a eunuch hurried in.
"Your Majesty, word from the Prime Minister’s residence—Liu Bei has arrived in Xuchang," he whispered.

"Liu Bei?" Liu Xie arched his brow. By his reckoning, it was now October 196. According to history, a month prior, Lü Bu had overrun Liu Bei’s position at Xiaopei, forcing him to flee, abandoning wife and child, and a month later he had sought refuge with Cao Cao. According to the records, Cao Cao would soon appoint him Governor of Yu Province, and the two would work together for a time.

Another eunuch rushed in.
"Your Majesty, Lord Cao Cao is here," he announced.

"Heh, he’s quick," Liu Xie remarked.
"Carry on as if nothing has happened," he instructed the servants. "Leave the rest to me."

By now, the palace eunuchs and maids were loyal to Liu Xie; Cao Cao received no tidings from the palace, but news of Cao Cao’s movements was often relayed to Liu Xie.

Before long, Cao Cao led a tall man with large ears into the hall. Liu Xie recognized Liu Bei at once.

"Your humble subject Liu Bei greets Your Majesty!" Liu Bei knelt and bowed with utmost respect, while Cao Cao looked entirely unconcerned, clearly not taking the emperor seriously. At Cao Cao’s entrance, the music and dancing ceased.

"Eh? Who told you to stop?" Liu Xie slurred. "Play on, keep dancing!" He appeared thoroughly drunk.

Music and dance resumed. Liu Bei remained kneeling for a long while before Liu Xie looked his way.

"Uncle Liu, rise," he said. "So, Lord Cao and Uncle Liu—what brings you here?"

Liu Xie’s tone was calm and indifferent.

***

Liu Bei glanced at Cao Cao, then at Liu Xie, and finally, with a heavy heart, lowered his eyes. Liu Xie saw the sorrow in Liu Bei’s face. He knew full well that Liu Bei could not bear to see the emperor so lost in dissipation. In the early years of the Three Kingdoms, whatever came later, Liu Bei had been loyal to the Han.

"Oh, Uncle Liu has come to the capital to pay his respects to Your Majesty," Cao Cao explained.

"Have you finished your courtesies?" Liu Xie asked. "If so, be on your way—do not spoil my mood."

He cast an impatient glance at Cao Cao. Cao Cao could only sigh inwardly and hold his tongue; with Liu Bei present, it would not do to make his manipulation of the emperor too blatant.

"Your Majesty, how can you so indulge in pleasure? It is said you no longer attend to state affairs," Liu Bei remonstrated, taking the tone of an elder uncle and speaking with a note of reproach.

"State affairs?" Liu Xie laughed bitterly. "Uncle, you worry too much. I have already entrusted governance to Lord Cao. With him in charge, I am at ease." He made a show of helpless resignation.

"Enough, if you have nothing more, you may leave," Liu Xie said impatiently.

Cao Cao and Liu Bei withdrew. But as they left, the faintest smile played about Liu Xie’s lips.

That night, Liu Bei came to Liu Xie in secret, without Cao Cao’s knowledge. Liu Xie was still awake. He remembered that, in history, on this very night, Liu Bei and the emperor had spoken at length, and it was that night that steeled Liu Bei’s resolve to restore the Han.

"Your Majesty, how have you come to this?" Liu Bei knelt, his voice filled with anguish.

Liu Xie let out a sigh of feigned helplessness.
"Uncle, do you not see why I remain in Xuchang? Do you think I wish to live this way?" He played the part of a heartbroken emperor, nearly moved to tears.