Cao Song had no idea that his departure would lead him down a path of no return, and that his son would lose the opportunity to take control of Xuzhou in the near future.
At the same time, Liu Bei and his followers began the official ceremony of worship. Led by Liu Bei, they entered through the eastern gate and made their way towards the Jingling Hall.
This time, the people of Taishan abandoned their usual casual demeanor. Dressed in black hemp robes, they followed Liu Bei slowly towards the Jingling Hall. Naturally, Li You was among them.
Ju Shou observed the group closely, noting that Li You, who walked closely behind Liu Bei, did not fully integrate with the others. This observation eased some of Ju Shou's concerns.
None of the others, including Chen Xi, paid much attention to Ju Shou at that moment. The ceremony was significant, and Liu Bei's performance would leave a lasting impression on Ju Shou. As a self-made ruler, Liu Bei's charisma was crucial, and everyone was eager to see what Liu Bei would say and what promises he would make.
Ju Shou watched as Liu Bei slowly approached the altar in front of the Jingling Hall. His presence grew more imposing with each step, transforming from the hesitant Liu Bei who sought beauty but was too shy to ask into the true leader that Ju Shou had envisioned.
"Light the incense!" Zuo Ci commanded as Liu Bei crossed the threshold, instructing his disciple. After the sacrificial offerings were arranged, Zuo Ci handed the incense to Liu Bei. "Please offer the incense, Lord Xuande."
With a calm expression, Liu Bei placed the incense in the censer and looked up at the towering memorial stone. After a moment of contemplation, he stood up, and the civil and military officials followed suit, placing their incense into the censer.
The scene was silent and solemn. Soldiers clad in armor inserted incense sticks into the censers outside the altar. The only sounds were the faint clinks of armor, and the atmosphere grew heavy with reverence. Even Ju Shou, who had been indifferent earlier, was affected by the atmosphere, his expression becoming more serious. Observing from a distance, Zhuge Liang and others also gazed solemnly at the massive black stele, while even Sima Yi, who had previously scoffed at the ceremony, fell silent, his attention fixed on the stone.
"The world is in turmoil, and the Han Dynasty is in decline. As a member of the Han imperial family, I, Liu Xuande, vow to safeguard the Han Dynasty and bring peace to the land. Soldiers are the instruments of expansion and defense, the foundation of the nation. The stability of the Han Dynasty and the prosperity of the nation are ensured by your protection. The peace of the realm and the strength of the people depend on your efforts!" Liu Bei declared, bowing deeply towards the great stele before turning to bow to all the soldiers below the altar.
At Liu Bei's bow, the entire assembly of soldiers knelt in unison.
"I, Liu Xuande, will keep my word. The deceased shall enjoy their honor, and the living shall receive their due. Anyone who dares to deprive the living of their rights or tarnish the honor of the dead shall be punished by death! Every year, at this time, as long as I live, I will hold this ceremony. If I am not here, I will still perform the rites. For the brave men who have shed their last drop of blood for the Han family, I will not allow their families to be mistreated! Heaven and earth bear witness to what I have said today!" Liu Bei spoke calmly, resolved to overcome any difficulties that might arise.
"May everyone under my rule have shelter, medical care, work, and rewards for their labor. May the young be educated and the elderly supported. I, Liu Xuande, will strive for this tirelessly!" Liu Bei shouted. "From today onwards, all children of appropriate age in Taishan and Qingzhou will have access to education. I thank the Zhen family of Jizhou and the Mi family of Xuzhou for providing the necessary funds for this endeavor!"
"Lord Xuande is truly benevolent!" The chaotic shouts of the soldiers gradually unified into a single, resounding declaration. All the soldiers had seen the latest benefits posted, and their greatest fear was that these promises would turn out to be empty. But today, Liu Bei stood atop the altar and swore before heaven and earth that he would follow through on his words.
Ju Shou, standing at the administration area of the altar, felt a wave of awe as he looked up at Liu Bei.
"Zhuge Liang, are you certain you want to stay in Taishan?" Zhuge Jin asked, noticing the determined look in Zhuge Liang's eyes, though he already knew the answer.
"I will stay here. His dream and my ideals are very similar. We share too much in common. A society where the elderly are cared for and the young are educated—that's the kind of world sages have long dreamed of. I choose to believe that Liu Xuande can make it a reality," Zhuge Liang said resolutely. "Tell our uncle that I won't be going to Jingzhou. Rather than waiting for my destined lord like a recluse, I would rather put my faith in Liu Xuande, who stands before me now!"
"Zhongda, what do you think?" Sima Lang asked, his right hand gripping the window frame tightly, his knuckles white from the tension that revealed his own sense of awe.
"The world cannot be conquered by benevolence alone. Where there is light, there is always darkness. Liu Xuande's path is doomed to fail," Sima Yi said as he stared at Liu Bei. Despite his outward calm, Sima Yi felt a spark of temptation in his heart. That brilliance, that warmth—it was like a flame, beckoning him like a moth to the fire.
"Zhongda, what's wrong?" Sima Lang asked, puzzled as he watched Sima Yi slowly walk towards the door.
"I'm leaving Taishan. Liu Xuande's path is doomed to fail, but that light—it's washing away the shadows. I don't want to lose my life for an unrealistic ideal. If I stay any longer, I fear I too will become obsessed with this fantasy. A world where the young are educated and the old are cared for—such a world only exists under the rule of sages. But Liu Xuande is no sage!" Sima Yi cast one last glance at Liu Bei standing atop the altar, then turned and walked away without looking back.
Sima Yi descended the tavern stairs and gulped down a cup of wine, his eyes glinting coldly.
"Only darkness can highlight the light. Since light is destined to fail, I will preserve its dignity. Liu Xuande, don't disappoint me. If you fail to live up to your words today, you'll end up with a reputation as reviled as Wang Mang's," Sima Yi muttered to himself, then walked out into the world alone.
"Zhongda, where are you going?" Sima Lang called after him as he descended the stairs, seeing Sima Yi stepping out the door.
"I'm going to find my teacher. I need to study for a while longer and then seek out a lord who can accomplish great things. Liu Xuande's way won't succeed!" Sima Yi replied, not even turning his head as he strode towards the gates of Fenggao.