Chapter 136

Chapter 136

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 4: The End of Zhongping, The Storm in Luoyang, Chapter 136: The Split Son of Heaven

From Bingzhou to Liangzhou, then through Youfufeng and Zuofengyi, following the tributary of the Jing River, straight to Chang’an!

This is indeed a feasible strategy.

As Yuan Shu said, after Dong Zhuo’s destruction, Luoyang is no longer capable of providing the strategic resources needed to advance to Chang’an. If we rashly collect military provisions from the Sanfu region along the Luoyang-Chang’an route, we might not gain much.

This 800-li military journey is not something that can be accomplished with a simple cavalry charge, because Dong Zhuo is not Budugen, and Chang’an is not the Xianbei royal court.

This is truly a situation that can be described as “the arrow at the end of its flight cannot pierce even the thinnest silk.”

But if we follow Qiao Yan’s suggestion to first take Liangzhou, we can establish a grain transport route.

Under Qiao Yan’s governance, Bingzhou was able to provide military provisions to the Suanzao coalition. It’s hard not to suspect that she can mobilize even more. If we go directly from Bingzhou to Liangzhou, after clearing out the Qiang people and rebels like Ma Teng and Han Sui, we can establish a stable grain transport route from Bingzhou to Liangzhou.

This would limit Dong Zhuo’s ability to recruit more people from Liangzhou and also shorten the distance to Chang’an.

Moreover, while those present are unaware, Qiao Yan knows very well.

She had previously promised Fu Gan to avenge Fu Xie in Liangzhou, so she can leverage some of Fu Xie’s prestige in Liangzhou.

This includes the Beidi County where Fu Xie was active in his early years and the Hanyang County where he served as prefect. This would undoubtedly greatly reduce the resistance she would face as an outsider.

But just the previous reasons are enough to excite Lu Zhi upon hearing this.

“Excellent! We can go through Liangzhou!” A flash of excitement crossed his face.

Huangfu Song’s army is currently stationed in Liangzhou.

Huangfu Yizhen is too blindly loyal! If he receives Dong Zhuo’s conscription order in Liu Xie’s name first, he might very well choose to hand over his military authority to Dong Zhuo and go to Chang’an to throw himself into the trap, simply because Liu Xie is the ruler and he is the subject.

But if Qiao Yan can get ahead and reach a strategic consensus with Huangfu Song to attack Chang’an and rescue the Son of Heaven, with Ye Shu’s eloquence, persuading Huangfu Song is not impossible, in Lu Zhi’s view.

In the past, when Dong Zhuo and Huangfu Song had conflicts while suppressing the Liangzhou rebels, they often fought separately, yet still managed to create a certain level of suppression.

Now, with Qiao Yan and Huangfu Song as collaborators, Lu Zhi can’t help but feel a surge of confidence—

Can they recreate the victory of the Yellow Turban Rebellion?

With this thought, Lu Zhi becomes even more determined to lead some willing insiders to Chang’an to form a temporary court to protect His Majesty’s life.

To his surprise, he hears two particularly important voices.

“If so, I will go too,” Xun Shuang says firmly. “I was one of the Three Dukes promoted by Dong Zhuo. If even I choose to support the formation of a new court, Dong Zhuo might, in his rage, abandon His Majesty and directly carve out a territory west of Chang’an, becoming a disaster for the Han frontier.”

“I am already halfway into the grave. Two years ago, a doctor said that even with good care, I only have a few years left. What does it matter if I become an insider? Xun Shuang unfortunately followed the traitor, disgracing the high court. Should I be buried with such a reputation?”

The latter part of his words sounds reasonable, but everyone present knows that given Xun Ciming’s reputation and his forced compliance with Dong Zhuo’s conscription, no one would blame him.

Instead, his willingness to risk his life is truly admirable.

The second person to speak, who had just stood on Yuan Shu’s side, now chooses to switch sides, which surprises Lu Zhi even more.

Wang Yun says, “I was once trapped by the Prohibition of Factionalists and was forced to resign due to Zhang Rang’s false accusations, wasting who knows how much time. Now past the age of knowing fate, I may not be able to achieve great things, but I still have courage, not tarnishing the reputation of Bingzhou.”

“Marquis Qiao is not from Bingzhou, but as Marquis of Leping and Governor of Bingzhou, she has spread Bingzhou’s fame far and wide. I, Wang Yun, cannot be someone who is only bound by old ties. If there is to be an insider, I will go too!”

His words make Lu Zhi see the possibility of more people supporting his side.

Even though the Yuan family’s disciples are spread across the land, and He Jin as Grand General indeed showed favor to many, Liu Xie, as the heir personally decided by Liu Hong, is the true orthodox of the Han Dynasty!

This is what truly determines people’s stance.

Or, if Liu Bian, the other son left by the late emperor, could show a demeanor worthy of an emperor, it might make some people hesitate.

Unfortunately, he does not.

When he hears that he doesn’t have to stay in Luoyang, his relief is evident to all.

Yuan Shu feels a great sense of foreboding.

With Qiao Yan’s crucial words, the faction advocating for a new emperor, which originally held the upper hand, now finds itself at a disadvantage.

At most, it’s because Dong Zhuo’s brutal actions make people fear for their lives under his rule, slightly suppressing the idea of switching sides.

He then hears He Yong, Huang Wan, and Shi Sunrui supporting Lu Zhi’s decision, further fueling this wave of determination.

Even with the help of Yang Biao and others who had been contacted in advance, it cannot change the fact that the debate in this court meeting is heading towards a conclusion.

Those supporting his plan to install Liu Bian as the new emperor are now only half.

If the legitimacy of Liu Bian’s succession could be supported by the missing Imperial Seal, it might still salvage the situation.

But after Yuan Shu arrived in Luoyang, he searched the Southern Palace, even the Northern Palace, the palaces near the Jiade Hall, and the wells outside the palace, even under the bronze statues outside the Jiade Hall, but still couldn’t find the Imperial Seal.

He can’t help but speculate that this item might have been hidden by Zhang Rang in an even more secret place, buried with his death, or perhaps taken out of the palace by someone during the Southern Palace fire.

However, no matter the possibility, Yuan Shu would never think that the Imperial Seal was found by Qiao Yan in the Southern Palace just a day before he arrived in Luoyang and sent to a place where it would never be found.

As for Bi Lan, who came to join her—

He obviously knows that exposing his eunuch identity would do him no good. With Zhang Rang and Jian Shuo already executed, the best choice for him is to live incognito.

So, although he assisted in the river-crossing battle in Qiao Yan’s army, most of the time he pretended to be a mute, assisting Ma Jun and disguising himself with a fake beard.

After much thought, Yuan Shu never suspected Qiao Yan.

He can only accept one fact.

If he wants to assist Liu Bian in ascending the throne and establish a new court, he will have to form a situation of equal power with the existing court in Chang’an.

Perhaps not even equal.

Yuan Shao’s forces are in the north, and Yuan Shu’s territory is in the south. The location of the new capital becomes a troublesome issue.

Given the population distribution, the north has the advantage.








He, however, preferred to lean more towards the south.

Even before the external enemies were completely eradicated, the two brothers had already started fighting among themselves.

Fortunately, his strategist Yan Xiang advised him that having the Son of Heaven nearby might lead to the problem of familiarity breeding contempt, so it would be better to hand him over to Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao, eager to use the merit of supporting the Son of Heaven to mitigate the negative impact of his late arrival in Luoyang and the public criticism from Qiao Yan, would inevitably owe Yuan Shu a favor. This was something Yuan Shao had no choice but to do.

As the first to propose the idea of establishing a new emperor, as long as Yuan Shu didn’t act inconsistently, he would be a true benefactor to Liu Bian, and it was unlikely that he would be treated poorly in terms of official positions.

With fame and official positions in hand, Yuan Shu could freely expand his influence in the south, while Yuan Shao, being close to the Son of Heaven in the north, would not have such an easy time.

Yuan Shu, swayed by the prospect of such freedom, immediately agreed to this idea.

Thus, at the decision-making meeting the next day, he supported the idea of making Ye City the new capital.

As for how Lu Zhi, Huang Wan, Wang Yun, and others would go to Chang’an, and how Qiao Yan would advance from Bingzhou to Liangzhou, that was their business.

The journey to Chang’an was fraught with danger, and the situation Qiao Yan faced was no better.

With the frequent rebellions of the Qiang people and the internal power struggles of the Eastern Han, Liangzhou was no longer the vital Silk Road passage and gateway to the Western Regions, but a barren land in Yuan Shu’s eyes.

To pass through Liangzhou, one would first have to fight the rebel forces of Xiliang. According to the situation Huangfu Song faced years ago, it would likely take a year to determine the outcome.

With that time, Yuan Shu would have already established himself with the support of the Son of Heaven.

Support for what?

Yuan Shu originally wanted to try for the position of Governor of Jing Province.

But then he thought again. The current Governor of Jing Province, Liu Biao, had already shown signs of allying with the noble families of Jing Province and had the courage to fully control Jing Province when he sent out his troops. So he changed his choice and first set his sights on the fertile land at the junction of Yu Province and Yang Province.

After developing some military strength, he could then deal with Liu Biao!

Being a Grand General close to the Son of Heaven, or a loyal minister like Qiao Yan and Lu Zhi trying to save the Han, how could it compare to the pleasure of being a high-ranking provincial governor!

The more Yuan Shu calculated, the wiser he felt. However, as soon as he stepped out of the meeting hall, he heard Qiao Yan telling Yuan Shao not to forget the agreement to return the military provisions by September next year, and his smile froze on the spot.

Because he immediately heard Qiao Yan say that Yuan Shao would have to supply the food and clothing for a certain “Son of Heaven” in the future, and might not have any surplus provisions left, so it would be better for Yuan Shu to return them. After all, they were family, and it didn’t matter who returned them.

Indeed, with the wealth of Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, they could easily buy these provisions in Luoyang and return them, but if they really did that, they would lose all face in front of Qiao Yan!

Yuan Shu snorted coldly and left in a huff, not knowing that after he left, Qiao Yan didn’t bother much with Yuan Shao about this issue, but was already talking with Sun Jian.

“How is Governor Sun Changsha considering now?” Qiao Yan walked out with him and said.

Since both sides were the first to arrive in Luoyang and were both capable of fighting, they had some common topics and could be said to admire each other. This conversation was much more harmonious than the previous one.

And Sun Jian, who had not experienced the defeat by Xu Rong during the attack on Dong Zhuo, was not as dependent on Yuan Shu.

It was true that he joined forces with Yuan Shu at Luyang and then attacked Luoyang, but there was no need to follow him in the next actions.

Sun Ce looked at the two talking ahead, secretly clenched his fist, thinking that sooner or later he would lead a group of elite soldiers like Qiao Yan, flying freely, instead of following behind like a junior listening to elders’ conversations, with no space to interject.

He heard his father reply, “Since Marquis Qiao plans to attack Chang’an from Liangzhou, taking a steady approach, I, Sun Jian, am not a coward. Why not enter Wuguan through Nanyang as a surprise force to attack Chang’an?”

“Marquis Qiao should know that Zhu Jun previously fled to Jing Province to escape Dong Zhuo’s persecution. Now that Marquis Qiao wants to join forces with General Huangfu in Liangzhou, and Lu Gong is willing to go to Chang’an as a hostage, I will join forces with Zhu Jun, which is exactly the same as the past!”

Sun Jian laughed heartily at this point.

As an old subordinate of Zhu Jun, it was natural for him to think of joining forces with Zhu Jun, taking a side force to echo Qiao Yan.

Qiao Yan naturally had no objection to this, but she added, “Governor Sun’s idea is good, but there is still a problem. The Governor of Jing Province, Liu Biao, is a relative of the Han royal family, but he is far in Jing Province at this time, and it is not clear which side he is on. If he is not willing to assist in the fight against Dong Zhuo with the troops of Jing Province, it might be troublesome. Fortunately, it is not a one-day task for me to go from Bingzhou to Liangzhou, so Governor Sun can discuss more with Liu Biao.”

Discuss?

Sun Jian didn’t know what discussion was!

According to his style of action since participating in the alliance against Dong Zhuo, he dared to kill Zhang Zi who hindered his actions. Even if Liu Biao imposed some restrictions on him, he could kill him directly.

After all, he is just a scholar!

Of course, Liu Biao is a relative of the Han royal family, so it’s not appropriate for him to say such things in Luoyang, let alone in front of Qiao Yan, a friendly ally who offered advice. He just replied, “Marquis Qiao need not worry, I have a plan in mind. Since I am only suitable as a surprise force for a quick raid, I will need a signal from Marquis Qiao and General Huangfu before advancing. When everything is ready, just notify me.”

Qiao Yan nodded and replied, “Naturally.”

She watched Sun Jian lead Sun Ce away, and calculated her performance in the past two days in arguing for Liu Xie as the legitimate emperor, making sure there were no problems, and always standing firm on the path of a loyal minister of the Han Dynasty, finally feeling relieved.

With this, she could finally extend her territory towards Liangzhou!

She could also use the fame gained from this march to Luoyang to prepare for returning to Bingzhou.

Just as she thought of this, she saw a familiar person standing not far away.

After four years, Yang Xiu had changed a lot, but perhaps the only thing that remained unchanged was his arrogance as a smart person.

It also made him look less steady, but with a sharpness of youth. From the look in his eyes, he was clearly here to fulfill the agreement of that year.

But before Yang Xiu could reach her, she heard two calls of “Marquis Qiao, wait” from another direction.

She looked in the direction of the sound and saw Xun Shuang, Xun You, Fu Shou, and a noble-looking woman walking towards her.

Although she had not seen the latter, she could roughly guess her identity.

Sure enough, when the four stood in front of her, Xun Shuang said, “If the princess has urgent business to discuss with Marquis Qiao, please speak first.”

This was Fu Shou’s mother, the wife of Fu Wan, the eldest daughter of Emperor Huan of Han, Princess Yang’an!

Princess Yang’an, seeing Xun Shuang’s courtesy, did not decline, but directly said to Qiao Yan, “Fu Wan has the intention of self-preservation, but establishing a new emperor is actually disregarding the dignity of our Han Dynasty. I want to divorce Fu Wan and take Ah Shou to seek refuge with Marquis Qiao. Would Marquis Qiao be willing to accept us?”

Qiao Yan was stunned for a moment, but then smiled.

This princess is truly a remarkable person!

Her seeking refuge is undoubtedly a pleasant surprise for Qiao Yan!