Chapter 1130: Even Heaven and Earth Have Flaws

One could say that the rift within the Cao family began to form as early as the death of Cao Ang. After Cao Ang's passing, the seeds of discord were sown, not only between the Cao family and the Xiahou family but also within the family itself. The seven Xiahou brothers remained neutral during the conflict between Cao Pi, Cao Zhi, and Cao Zhang, leaving a thorn in the side of all three contenders.

Moreover, because of Cao Ang’s efforts to maintain stability, he had ensured that the power base of Cao Pi, Cao Zhi, and Cao Zhang was evenly distributed. This meant that all three controlled roughly the same amount of resources.

The fiercest battles in this world are not those between the strong and the weak, but between evenly matched opponents fighting for dominance. In such struggles, even the victor emerges gravely wounded. When Cao Pi eventually employed Chen Qun's "Nine Ranks System," it wasn’t merely due to short-sightedness but more out of desperation, akin to drinking poison to quench thirst.

Thus, although Cao Pi won the title of heir, he also lost almost everything in the process. The seeds of disunity within the Cao and Xiahou clans were planted, and the eventual collapse of their unity was inevitable.

One could argue that Cao Cao's greatest mistake in life was underestimating his eldest son, failing to see that behind Cao Ang’s gentle demeanor lay the heart of a true leader. Unlike Cao Cao's ambition as a warlord, Cao Ang might have been even more capable. Tragically, his death rendered all of his plans meaningless.

"Jianmei." When Cao Ang returned, he saw Xiahou Jian managing the younger children, feeling a sense of relief. Taking care of this rowdy bunch wasn’t an easy task.

"Brother," Xiahou Jian said wearily, clearly struggling to handle the mischievous children. Seeing Cao Ang brought a smile to her face.

"Go and rest. Guan Yunchang, Zhang Yide's sworn brother, has arrived in Chang’an. It’s time for you to give it some thought," Cao Ang remarked. He had seen Guan Yu earlier and knew that Guan Yu would likely visit the Xiahou family. After all, Zhang Fei had publicly proposed marriage to Xiahou Yuan's daughter.

Xiahou Jian blushed but soon regained her composure. She nodded, aware that Zhang Fei, while rough around the edges, might be one of the more reliable prospects in Chang’an. She didn’t see much point in rejecting the proposal.

Meanwhile, after entering Chang’an, Liu Ba was already scheming on how to meet Cao Cao. He was a die-hard supporter of Cao, and he wasn’t about to let this rare opportunity slip by without seeing him.

However, given his current disheveled state, meeting Cao Cao wouldn’t be easy. Fortunately, he had entered the city with Guan Yu, and now he just needed to execute a simple plan to gain an audience with Cao Cao.

Liu Ba was an unusual figure. Despite all the hardships he had endured to get to Chang’an, the logical choice would have been to join Liu Bei. But Liu Ba remained determined to side with Cao Cao. He had made up his mind to attach himself to Cao Cao’s power.

Guan Yu, for his part, didn’t pay much attention to Liu Ba. Although they stayed at the same post station, Guan Yu remained indifferent. After Liu Ba had cleaned up and changed into the Confucian robes provided by the station, his confident demeanor as a statesman returned. By this time, Guan Yu had already been summoned to the imperial palace for an audience.

Technically, the summons was a breach of protocol. Since Guan Yu had arrived late, proper etiquette would have dictated waiting until after the New Year to meet. However, Liu Bei was now the most important member of the imperial clan, and he paid his tributes with exceptional care every year. Upon learning of Guan Yu’s arrival, Emperor Liu Xie decided to grant him a special audience.

In this regard, Liu Xie wasn’t entirely foolish. But due to Dong Cheng’s manipulation, his relationship with Guan Yu was not a good one.

Guan Yu’s proud and solitary nature, combined with his stern expression, made him seem disdainful of imperial authority in Dong Cheng’s eyes. To Dong Cheng, Guan Yu appeared to be a defiant figure who disrespected the emperor.

Fortunately, Guan Yu’s loyalty and righteousness were well-known. Though Liu Xie harbored some dissatisfaction, he didn’t openly express it. While Guan Yu was somewhat displeased by Dong Cheng’s insinuations, he held no rebellious intentions. After all, the interests of Liu Xie, Liu Bei, and the Han dynasty were closely aligned.

As in previous years, after the tribute presentation, officials reported on the governance of their territories, and the emperor bestowed rewards. Since Guan Yu didn’t lack grain or provisions and had no outstanding military achievements, his rank couldn’t be further promoted. Therefore, Liu Xie decided to elevate Guan Yu from General of Rousing Valor to General of the Guards.

Although both were fourth-rank titles, General of the Guards held far more authority, as it involved overseeing the imperial guards. Liu Xie’s intentions were clear: Guan Yu’s reputation was too great to ignore.

Guan Yu hesitated for a moment upon receiving the title but ultimately accepted. However, he immediately made it clear that he could not stay in Chang’an for long. The realm was still unstable, and he was needed to continue his efforts in pacifying the land.

Hearing this, Liu Xie was visibly displeased and almost lost his temper. His good mood soured, and after a few more questions, he impatiently ordered Guan Yu to be escorted out.

"How dare he reject my kindness!" Liu Xie roared, sweeping the white porcelain tribute from Liu Bei off the table, smashing it onto the floor.

"Your Majesty, please calm down! Guan Yu is but a brute; he’s not worth your anger," Dong Cheng quickly stepped in to console the emperor.

"Hmph! If even a subordinate behaves this way, I doubt Liu Xuande is as loyal as everyone claims," Liu Xie retorted, now expressing his dissatisfaction with Liu Bei as well.

"Your Majesty, please don’t be rash. Whether Liu Xuande is loyal or treacherous will soon become clear. For now, we must bear the humiliation and gather strength," Dong Cheng advised humbly.

"These members of the imperial clan were nothing but trouble during times of peace. Now, with the world in chaos, they think only of themselves. As you say, the farther they are, the more distant their hearts become!" Liu Xie fumed. "In the end, it’s only you whom I can truly rely on."

"Rest assured, Your Majesty. We will not fail you. We will help restore the Han dynasty to its former glory!" Dong Cheng and Wang Zifu exclaimed, overwhelmed with gratitude, bowing deeply.

"You are all I have to depend on," Liu Xie sighed, personally helping Dong Cheng and Wang Zifu to their feet. To him, these were the only truly loyal men left in the empire. Everyone else, in his eyes, either had personal agendas or harbored hidden ambitions.

Meanwhile, Liu Ba mentally rehearsed what he intended to say to Cao Cao. He organized his thoughts, comparing the state of affairs under Cao Cao’s rule to that of Liu Bei’s domain, ensuring that his argument was well-prepared for the upcoming audience.

"A warlord may be ruthless, but he is at least real. Cao Mengde’s flexibility makes him a true hero. In contrast, the perfect harmony between Liu Xuande and Chen Zichuan is almost too ideal to be human—it’s simply absurd," Liu Ba muttered to himself as he gazed eastward toward Mount Tai, his heart full of emotion.

Too much perfection leads only to self-destruction. Even heaven and earth have their flaws. Seeking perfection in all things is an unattainable goal. To Liu Ba, the harmonious rule of Liu Bei and the flawless governance of Chen Xi seemed like a prelude to their downfall.

Dressed in his Confucian robes, Liu Ba confidently approached Cao Cao’s residence and handed his invitation to the gatekeeper of the Cao family estate.

"My lord, Guan Yunchang's envoy has arrived to request an audience," a guard reported, presenting the invitation to Cao Cao.

"Let him in," Cao Cao said after a moment’s hesitation, ordering Liu Ba to be brought inside.

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