Vol 9 Chapter 5 (2/2)

But, I can’t.

Because I am Cao Cao and not Liu Bei. My path has long been decided by myself.

“What do you think, Lord Kong Rong?” I said and closed my eyes. I then smiled and continued in as calm and normal a tone as possible, “I don’t particularly care about the fates of the commoners in the south.”

Every word was steeped in mockery. This wasn’t an act as I really was mocking myself.

“Cao Cao?! How can you be such a crazed warmonger!” As expected, Kong Rong got up angrily and yelled as he pointed at me.

“They are supposed to be subjects of the Great Han. Now that the Great Han is in trouble and the southern feudal lords are unruly, they have the responsibility of punis.h.i.+ng these traitorous officials in the name of justice. Not only have they not done that, they have the audacity to live in comfort. Such subjects ought to be punished as an example to the rest.” I closed my eyes and frowned as I delivered this long speech in one breath. When I opened my eyes, the fat scholar looked utterly bewildered, “Additionally, Lord Kong Rong should mind his manners. I am not close enough with you that you can address me directly!”

“Un, un un un.” Kong Rong muttered as he shook his head and then subsequently nodded, all the while having a look that said ‘how did I only know what you are like today’. You’ve never liked me, why are you acting like this?

“Lord Kong Rong, if you have anything you wish to say to me, please do go ahead.”

“I do indeed have the intent of doing so!” Kong Rong exclaimed, “I now know what you, Cao Cao, are really like!”

Just as I expected.

“What did you learn about me?”

“Your ambitions stretch to the end of the south right?”

“I am an official of the Great Han. Everything I do is for the sake of restoring the governing authority of the Great Han and there are no personal ambitions I have to speak of.”

These words were perhaps the most honest words I’ve said in this conversation so far.

“Shut up!” But clearly, Kong Rong didn’t buy it.

“Cao Cao! You are nothing but an evil treasonous thief! No matter how capable or how intelligent you may be, you are nothing but a villain! A d.a.m.n villian like will only bring harm to the Great Han!”

“Well said!!”

*Pa*!

As soon as he finished, I exclaimed loudly and clapped my hands together, letting out a clear and loud sound that gave Kong Rong a shock. He frowned and looked at me while i returned the gaze with a relaxed expression. After a few moments, I opened my mouth and slowly said, “Lord Kong Rong is truly a virtuous man who thinks of both the nation and its people, as expected of a renowned scholar and official of the Great Han and a descendent of Confucius. Your words before have struck this lowly one deeply and made me feel much anguish and shame.” As I said so, I lowered my posture and looked up at Kong Rong, “Now then, since I am such an evil, irredeemable criminal and you are righteous and awe-inspiring, I think it is a given that you should take my position.”

“… Eh?” Kong Rong frowned as he uttered a sound in a sincere tone that was not steeped in a respectful, polite tone. Unexpectedly, it was a confused ‘eh’ even though what I said was easily understandable.

“I mean what I said,” I said as I got up and took a brush from the side, dipped it in ink and began writing on a piece of blank silk, “I can write a letter of appointment right here and now.”

“Ah… Lord Cao Cao…”

“Presently, Xiongnu, Wuhuan and the Koreans are regularly violating our borders. To the west, there is Zhang Lu; to the south, there is Liu Biao; and to the east, there is Sun Quan. All of these feudal lords pay no heed to central authority and continue to increase their forces day by day. To put it simply, the Great Han is going through an unprecedented crisis with myriad threats, both internal and external, which could spell the end of the dynasty.”

“L, Lord Cao Cao!”

“Unfortunately, my abilities are limited. All I can do is plead with his majesty to let Kong Rong Kong Wen Ju take charge and shoulder the responsibilities of being the Imperial Chancellor of the Great Han. I hope, with all of my heart, that his majesty will listen tp this request and the advice and recommendations from Lord Kong Rong when he takes helm–”

“Umm, Imperial Chancellor Cao–”

“Is there a problem?!” I didn’t hold back at all and roared at Kong Rong while throwing the brush in my hands at him, “Are you saying you can’t do it?!”

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