"How can the Emperor wield such a strategy at this time? Embarking on a tour is the optimal choice. The fall of the Huns’ orthodoxy under the Emperor’s reign is a sign of resurgence. The Han Dynasty has yet to wane; seizing this opportunity to travel will naturally bring great momentum. How can one opt for such a lesser strategy?" Lub Su reproached angrily.

Then Lub Su suddenly realized and coldly glanced at Li Youu.

"Li Wenru, don’t you go too far!" Lub Su slammed his hand on the table and roared. He wasn’t a fool. Despite handling affairs in the central government all year round, Lub Su was not without strategic acumen!

"Heh." Li Youu chuckled as he looked at Lub Su. "I didn’t do what you think. I just sent a map, arriving at this point isn’t my doing."

"But without you, it absolutely wouldn’t have reached this point!" Lub Su stared at Li Youu’s smiling face, as if wanting to see through his thoughts, but Li Youu merely smiled lightly.

"Not necessarily as you think, even without my influence." Li Youu didn’t bother to hide his intentions. They were the only two people left in the room—both no fools; such petty strategies were obvious.

"You!" Lub Su was genuinely thinking of confronting Li Youu. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Alright, alright, calm down, calm down. Haven’t you noticed that the Northern Barbarians, Xianbei, Wuhuan, Jie Clan, Fuyu, all of them are done for, and the Qiang People have been assimilated? There’s only one trouble left." Li Youu pushed Lub Su down into his chair. Lub Su realized that Li Youu, who seemed thinner than him, had more strength.

Li Youu pushed Lub Su into his chair, adopting a repentant posture of offering tea, forcing Lub Su to take it despite having a bellyful of rage, unsure of what to say as he accepted the teacup Li Youu handed him, taking a deep breath to suppress his anger.

"But do you know what you are doing? Do you intend to replay the events of Luoyang in Chang’an?" Lub Su drank the tea in his cup and then whispered.

"Rest assured, a replay of those events is impossible. Don’t underestimate the individuals stationed in Chang’an; Zhong Yuanchang’s decisiveness is unmatched by ordinary people." Li Youu shook his head slightly in response to Lub Su’s warning.

Just as Lub Su was about to speak, Li Youu interrupted him. "On one hand, we cannot divert too many young and strong soldiers; on the other hand, at this point, we can’t leave any hidden dangers. Even if the Hu People have been subjugated for centuries, distrust remains because they aren’t of our kind."

"You’re trying to pull the Emperor down from his position!" Lub Su dramatically questioned Li Youu, feeling helpless.

"Do you not think that if the opposition remains, how much can we accomplish?" Li Youu asked Lub Su. "Thirty percent or fifty percent?"

Lub Su poured himself another cup of tea, staring at the still tea leaf in the light green water, pondering quietly.

"But you’ve been too harsh." Lub Su thought for a moment and slowly raised his eyes to look at Li Youu, with a hint of coldness.

"If not ruthless, how can he be pulled down from his position? Furthermore, without using this method, they wouldn’t dare move." Li Youu looked at Lub Su calmly.

"But acting this way, where is the dignity of the Han Dynasty?" Lub Su no longer entangled himself in Liu Xie’s issues.

"Without destruction, there’s no establishment; with him on the throne, we can’t take a step forward. Zijing, don’t pretend you can’t see the outcome if power returns to the current Emperor. Lord Xuande, who is now unsuitable to claim the throne, and currently still requires a Emperor to sit in the Central Plains, hence the plan this time is not merely to strip you of dignity but to degrade you into a clay sculpture." Li Youu warned Lub Su with a subtle caution.

"..." Lub Su fell silent. He was not a fool. Given Liu Xie’s temperament, once in power, he would inevitably begin clearing out dissidents and any threats. Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sunx Ce—these people would surely be targets for elimination, followed by the likes of them.

No matter how capable one is, or how significant one is to the realm, Liu Xie’s reign would eventually usurp and eliminate all to establish his authority and legitimize his rule.

"So, leaving that position vacant is better. The paths we need to take require too many resources, and we cannot tolerate someone meddling around. Instead of waiting for power to return to the sovereign and descending into regicide, we should accomplish it in one step, saving my hands from blood." Li Youu looked at Lub Su with eyes unhidden by foxiness.

"Alright, handing it completely to you. I know nothing. Just ensure you aren’t implicated." Lub Su found two earplugs nearby, plugging his ears while saying, "I didn’t see any secret letter today, just heard about land granting matters."

Seeing Lub Su like this, Li Youu didn’t say much. He was the only one who could accomplish this, and the matter couldn’t be traced back to him.

[If not for the reason Lord Xuande now being unsuitable to become the Emperor, and the present need for an Emperor to sit the Central Plains, this plan was not simply aimed at making you lose prestige, but to degrade you to a clay sculpture.] Li Youu thought coldly.

The current situation in the Central Plains needs an Emperor as support. Even if he can accomplish nothing, as long as there’s an Emperor, it’s feasible.

If now the Emperor disappears, then Sunx Ce and Cao Cao wouldn’t trust Liu Bei at all.

In future, if the three families merge, they would initially never revere Liu Bei as their leader. The Emperor serves as a guise, and for Cao Cao and Sunx Ce it’s a stepping stone; even if Liu Bei issues orders, as long as the Emperor remains, there’s no problem.

So, although Liu Xie can fall out of power, he cannot die, which is Li Youu’s goal.

[What happens next relies on the Emperor’s performance, and as for that map, there’s no need to destroy it now; just leave it be. When Cao Mengde and Sunx Bofu go to Chang’an to sacrifice at the Grand Ancestral Temple, they will see it—a masterpiece of antiquation, I’m quite reliable in this regard...]

Li Youu briefly considered his strategies, finding no flaws. Although Xun Yu, Zhou Yu might suspect, there’s no evidence, and even if Xun Yu and others could find something, ultimately, the conclusion would be Liu Xie’s own choice.

[The human heart is essentially a toy for manipulation; whether it sees through or not doesn’t matter. What’s vital is that this is Liu Xie’s own choice; I’m just curious what expression Xun Wenruo would show upon seeing Liu Xie’s decision.] Li Youu mused with a quiet laugh.

"Report..." Just as Li Youu contemplated the deployment, another messenger hurriedly rushed in.

"What is it?" Li Youu glanced and interrogated, quickly realizing something was amiss; these weren’t the messenger’s garments. "Which troop division are you from?"

"Under General Taishi’s command." The messenger clasped his fists and saluted.

"What has occurred?" Li Youu took a deep breath and inquired.

Previously, when Gan Ning conveyed news southward, Li Youu felt it was overly perilous. Now with a soldier under Taishi Ci reporting, Li Youu felt uneasy; if there was any report from Gan Ning, typically either he or Mi Fang would come personally, why send a minor soldier from Taishi Ci’s command?