Chapter 390

Chapter 390

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Final Volume: The Rise and Fall of Kingly Power, Unification of the World, Chapter 390: The Year of Yuan Zhao

Even though Qiao Yan’s governance abilities were evident in her suppression of disasters, epidemics, and her balancing act against the barbarians, it was her commanding presence, sword pointed east, under the blazing sun that shone on the twelve-tasseled crown and the tip of her long sword, that made everyone feel the martial prowess of this new Son of Heaven, who seemed ready to conquer the world.

In times of chaos, such a backbone is needed!

Over the past century, the Han Dynasty had repeatedly drained its treasury to quell the Qiang rebellions, leaving regions like Yizhou and Jiaozhou in a state of near abandonment by the central government. The southern parts of Yang Province and Jing Province were almost like exile zones. Only after Liu Yu arrived in Youzhou did a turnaround begin, yet even then, areas like Xuantu and Liaodong in eastern Youzhou remained beyond the reach of the Han court.

Yet, these regions had already pledged allegiance to Qiao Yan before her ascension, firmly controlled by loyal generals and officials.

When she declared her intention to unify the world in such an inspiring tone, no one present thought it was an unrealistic dream. Instead, they believed it could be achieved within a few years!

How could it not be achieved?

The nine provinces under Qiao Yan’s control surpassed the Ye City court in population, military strength, resources, and territory.

While her will was being effectively communicated and implemented, the small court in Ye City was still sluggishly controlled by Yuan Shao.

Her ascension at this moment would not cause a sudden upheaval in the Chang’an court.

From the first year of Jian’an to what should have been the fifth year, Qiao Yan, as the Grand Marshal, had already played a crucial role in the construction of various systems and the selection of personnel.

She was merely taking a step forward, not completely shattering the court’s order.

The deaths of Wang Yun and Chunyu Jia were merely the removal of dregs from the court.

Before the coronation ceremony, she had already issued orders that the positions of most officials would not change due to this power transition. At most, the vacant position of Minister over the Masses left by Wang Yun was handed over to Cheng Yu.

This meant that the focus of the Chang’an court was not on balancing potential uprisings but on challenging the Ye City court.

All the accumulated efforts over the years were not in vain but solid steps toward the new Da Yong dynasty, far more powerful than the high platform she stood on.

This was their emperor!

The youthful vigor of the 23-year-old emperor and the calmness cultivated through years of military and political experience blended in a way that inspired heartfelt admiration. A voice calling for “unification of the world” erupted from somewhere, instantly becoming the dominant theme echoing across the Chang’an outskirts.

“Although we know there will still be a gentle reshuffle in the Chang’an court after His Majesty’s ascension,” Yang Zan said to Zhao Qi, “it seems like an inevitable trend of the times. I don’t find it unacceptable.”

“That must be His Majesty’s skill,” Chen Ji chimed in, standing with his old friends.

However, his comment earned him exasperated looks from the other two.

They were discussing how those who couldn’t be promoted when His Majesty was still the Grand Marshal could now be elevated to positions among the Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers based on accumulated merits. Students from Leping Academy were likely to have more opportunities for promotion in Chang’an than those selected from Hongwen Hall. Those who had bet on both sides by holding high positions in the Ye City court couldn’t compare to those who fully supported His Majesty.

Chen Ji didn’t have to worry about such matters, making his comment sound like a boast.

Although Chen Ji’s position as Grand Herald was directly responsible to the former Son of Heaven, Liu Yu, both he and Chen Qun, who was later recruited to Chang’an, were initially appointed by Qiao Yan. Since last year, when Luoyang urgently needed personnel, Chen Qun had been sent there.

In a sense, the Yingchuan Chen family bore a strong mark of Qiao Yan’s influence, making their future prospects almost guaranteed.

Those who truly needed to worry were people like Yang Zan, who had personal ties to Wang Yun and knew of Wang Yun’s hostility toward Qiao Yan, or Zhao Qi, whose descendants were not particularly outstanding and who himself was about to retire.

But when these two saw Yang Xiu and Ni Heng in the crowd, they suddenly felt they weren’t the most troubled.

The Hongnong Yang family…

If Yang Xiu were the head of the Hongnong Yang family, it might not be a big issue. But at this time, the family’s leadership was still in his father’s hands, and Yang Biao held a high position in the Ye City court, while Yang Xiu’s mother was from the Runan Yuan family.

When Qiao Yan was still the Grand Marshal, these issues weren’t significant due to the intricate connections among noble families.

But now that she had ascended to the throne, these would gradually surface as troublesome matters.

However, for now, it wasn’t the time to worry about that.

Today was the day of the coronation, and it was time to immerse oneself in the joy shared by the ruler and his subjects!

After the ceremony of announcing the ascension to heaven, earth, and the people at the southern outskirts of Chang’an, the coronation celebration truly began.

Despite two years of drought and unrest, the people, thinking of the harmonious future promised by the new ruler, temporarily immersed themselves in the festivities.

In the early years when Qiao Yan was the Prefect of Bingzhou, the New Year still followed Han traditions, including the grand exorcism ritual. However, with the theory of human triumph over nature and the emperor’s succession, even though Qiao Yan didn’t intend to disrupt local customs, she chose not to use such methods to enhance the atmosphere.

When the crowd below the high platform heard the clamor of gongs and drums, they saw dragon dance troupes rolling balls from south to north, returning to Chang’an, transforming from silver-armored lines into a sea of red.

As they passed through the gates of Chang’an, the guards handed them a lucky bag.

Inside the bag, a peck of millet and a handful of sesame seeds might seem insignificant, but when every person entering the city could receive one, it amounted to a considerable quantity.

This was a gift for witnessing the coronation.

If seeing the emperor ascend the high platform was already thrilling, receiving this token of goodwill undoubtedly added to the excitement.





They gained another boost of confidence.

But this was not the end yet.

“Quick! Go check the north of the city!” someone shouted in the crowd, and the long line suddenly sped up as people began to flow northward.

They passed through the streets of the city, noticing the colorful lanterns that had been set up for some reason, and headed toward the northern gate of Chang’an, arriving at the banks of the Wei River north of the city.

The management of the Wei River during the Jian’an era had reduced the fear and awe the people of Chang’an once felt toward the river. For them, the more practical significance was perhaps that crossing the Wei River Bridge would take them to Chiyang, where the Chiyang Medical Academy, a place for healing and saving lives, was located.

At this moment, their eyes were fixed on the boats floating on the river.

Those were… items being sent to Chang’an from both upstream and downstream of the Wei River.

The grain reserves from Hanzhong and Shu had been sent to places like Maiwu in Youfufeng seven or eight days ago, loaded onto boats. After carrier pigeons delivered the news to Liangzhou, goods from the Silk Road in the northwest also arrived in Guanzhong via the Jing River Valley.

Now, they were being carried by boats downstream to Chang’an, forming a long line that, while not as awe-inspiring as the cavalry and infantry, was still impressive.

More importantly, these abundant grain reserves were more than enough to replenish what had been distributed as ceremonial gifts and could fill several more granaries in Chang’an.

Even though the weather this year was slightly milder than the previous two years, it was still tending toward drought. Yet, the people of Chang’an no longer felt fear.

From downstream of the Wei River came supplies that had first been transported from Bingzhou and Hedong to Luoyang, and then from Luoyang to Chang’an.

Among these were large quantities of cotton, high-quality seeds, strong liquor, and horses offered by the Xianbei and Xiongnu from the north. Though not as dazzling as jewels or ivory, they still presented a scene of overwhelming abundance.

Oh, and besides horses, there were also elephants.

Elephants that had been kept in Luoyang after Jiaozhou’s submission, spending the winter in a warm valley specially arranged for them, now arrived in Chang’an with the vitality needed for battle, becoming a rare sight for the people of Chang’an.

“Is that the thing the Leping Monthly Report said needed to be weighed by boat?” Yu Niang curiously looked at the strange creature swinging its trunk, wishing she could climb onto its back like the cavalry and experience the view from up high.

“Yes, that’s something only the southernmost Jiaozhou has domesticated,” someone beside her replied.

Years ago, during the reign of Emperor Huan of Han, people from the Roman Empire had landed from the south to pay tribute to the court. But such scenes were not something the people of Chang’an could witness, and with the collapse of the Han Dynasty’s order, it had become a memory of past glory.

But now—

As the items on these boats, except for the live animals, were loaded onto sail carts and transported to Chang’an, though not quite enough, it still faintly gave people a sense of the grandeur of all nations paying tribute!

The phrase “harmonizing all nations” might one day appear before them in an even more spectacular way!

But to some Chang’an residents who had intended to join the army, this scene clearly meant something else.

War horses and elephants that could participate in battle were the mounts of the army.

Millions of dan of grain were the sustenance for the army on the march.

The iron mines of Bingzhou, no longer needed for making well-digging tools, could now produce high-quality weapons more efficiently.

And these sail carts, moving with the wind, were clearly Qiao Yan’s way of telling them that as fast as the army could march, her supply transport could keep up, so there was no need to worry about any problems!

More importantly, these barbarians mixed in the ceremonial crowd, like the Xianbei led by Budugen, would they still dare to seek undue benefits from Qiao Yan, or even covet the lands of Huaxia?

No, they wouldn’t dare!

They should even worry about whether they would be made an example of before Qiao Yan marched against Yuan Shao and Cao Cao.

Such a mighty iron cavalry, isn’t it enough to give people strong confidence and attraction?

It’s enough!

When they first came to the high platform south of Chang’an to witness the ceremony, and then came to the north of Chang’an to see such a scene, as they walked back to the outskirts of the city, dusk finally spread across the horizon, and due to the transition between winter and spring, the sky quickly turned gloomy.

Those who participated in this grand event finally realized that they had been out all day and should have felt tired by now.

But at that moment, red lanterns floated up into the sky against the backdrop of Chang’an’s silhouette, flying high in the wind.

Those were Kongming lanterns, which had appeared in Xuzhou before. After their principle of ascending had been explained, they made a non-magical yet still awe-inspiring appearance, lighting up the night sky.

Then, a series of loud booms followed, making people think of the moment when the gates of Chang’an’s palace were blown open, almost causing them to scatter in panic. But instead, colorful streams of light rose from the northern gate of Chang’an, falling like dazzling meteors.

The night sky no longer seemed like night but like a canvas being freely painted with the flowing lights of the lanterns.

When they mustered the courage to pass through the city gate, they saw that the lanterns on both sides of the street had also been lit, turning Chang’an into a city that never slept.

And now, on the new road of Chang’an, there were some new things.

In the center of the cement road, originally meant for the emperor’s carriage, stood tall paper tubes.

The fireworks bursting from them resembled glowing bouquets, blooming in a way no one had ever seen before.

“What are you thinking about?” Yu Niang stared blankly at the scene ahead, almost unable to move as her companion pulled her forward to take a closer look.

She whispered in reply, “I’m thinking about how to describe this scene with words.”

This wasn’t a colorful scene built with colors, but something indescribable.

It seemed like a new atmosphere, or perhaps the hope that had been hidden in the bones of Da Yong since its founding.

She looked toward the palace gate from afar and saw, amidst the myriad lights, Qiao Yan’s figure in the black and gold emperor’s robes disappearing behind the closing palace gates, accompanied by the emperor’s guards as they entered the highest place in Chang’an.

The next moment, another firework soared into the sky, exploding into a cloud of red.

Though the night was dark, in that instant, a message appeared in everyone’s hearts—

The first year of Yuanzhao had truly entered spring.