Chapter 211

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“Is it really impossible for a strategist to ascend the throne?”

Chapter 211: Guanzhong Arrangements

Yuan Shao must be regretting playing matchmaker for Qiao Yan and Liu Yu now.

Even though these two were both entrusted by the late Emperor Ling of Han, before Liu Yu headed to Liangzhou, their relationship was practically non-existent. They barely knew each other’s names.

Yuan Shu couldn’t help but snicker at Yuan Shao’s predicament.

With powerful enemies lurking nearby, whether he could establish a foothold was still uncertain, so he found a sliver of superiority in Yuan Shao’s misfortune.

As he pondered this, Yuan Huan, whom he consulted, replied, “We intend to recognize Liu Yu as the Son of Heaven, but that doesn’t mean we’ll write to Chang’an to express our stance. Instead, we should send our message towards Youzhou.”

Seeing Yuan Shu’s confused expression, Yuan Huan elaborated, “If you send a letter to Chang’an, it will definitely reach Qiao of Bingzhou first. It would be unclear whether you’re acknowledging Liu Yu’s right to the throne or bowing to Qiao for help.”

“Qiao’s control over Liang and Bing means that if he advances toward Luoyang, Runan will surely become a vassal. If we contact her first, we lose the initiative.”

Yuan Shu nodded in agreement.

This was a situation he wouldn’t allow himself to be stuck in.

“But if we send the letter to Youzhou, the situation changes significantly,” Yuan Huan continued.

“Regardless of Liu Yu’s intentions to ascend the throne, he bears the task entrusted to him by the former emperor. If he were to hastily claim the throne amidst this chaotic time, that would be presumptuous, and he would need support from multiple parties.”

“This shows that we stand on the same front as Qiao of Bingzhou and pushes Liu Yu to make a decision. It’s much wiser than writing to Chang’an.”

Yuan Shu’s eyes lit up, clapping his hands in approval: “You’re absolutely right!”

This was another pathway to gain glory!

After losing face with Yuan Shao in Runan, he definitely wanted to reclaim it here.

By supporting Liu Yu, known for his benevolence and virtuous reputation, he was also picking up a bit of that shine for himself.

If this plan succeeded, even if his title as Governor of Yuzhou came from the rebel Li Jue, it wouldn’t stop him from joining Liu Yu in assuming rightful control of Chang’an.

However, just as he felt a bit triumphant, Yuan Huan calmly interrupted: “Also, it’s better to send the letter via Bingzhou’s route. If Yuan Qingzhou intercepts it again, we would be back to square one.”

Yuan Shu’s smile froze on his face.

The last letter he sent to Gongsun Zan was intercepted by Yuan Shao, which made Yuan Shao angrily send Liu Bei to attack Yuzhou. He certainly couldn’t afford to make that mistake again.

Given Yuan Huan’s practical advice mixed with his barbs, Yuan Shu found it hard to complain considering the Yuan family was supposed to be united.

He wrapped up the letter with the help of Yan Xiang and others, and once the subordinate left, he reminded Yuan Huan: “Next time, just whisper me this kind of stuff quietly.”

Yuan Huan agreed, but how it would be executed remained unclear.

At the same time, in Yang Province, Zhou Yu suggested a similar plan to Sun Ce.

To rightfully control Yang Province, just holding the title of Prefect of Kuaiji wouldn’t cut it.

They were in the final stages of dealing with Yan Baihu.

Unless Yan Baihu jumped into the Yangtze River, he would meet his end under Sun Ce’s siege.

But defeating Yan Baihu didn’t mean they had quelled dissent in Wu Commandery.

After the deaths of Xu Gong and Wang Sheng, many opposing forces continued to lurk, and the mountainous terrain in the south made them difficult to eradicate.

Thus, Sun Ce needed the title of Governor of Yang Province to carry out decisive purges.

However, given his age and experience, securing this position wouldn’t be easy.

His only opportunity was to make a timely statement during this change of emperor.

But his situation was different from Yuan Shu’s.

For instance, Zhou Yu suggested that Sun Ce send out two letters.

One letter would be sent to Chang’an to congratulate Qiao Yan on her successful advancement.

Zhou Yu said, “For you, this is a show of gratitude to Qiao of Bingzhou, akin to the relationship between a lord and his loyal retainer. You might skip the gifts, but all formalities must be observed.”

Speaking of which, Zhou Yu held a favorable view of Qiao Yan’s efforts against Dong Zhuo.

If not for Dong Zhuo’s tyranny in Luoyang, his cousin would never have died prematurely while visiting his ailing father. Qiao Yan was essentially avenging him.

But the suggestion was framed with Sun Ce’s interests in mind.

The other letter was also an encouraging letter to Liu Yu in Youzhou.

While Liu Yu was busy regaining control of Youzhou with the assistance of Qiao Yan’s officers, he was stunned to hear about Huang Wan’s visit while standing off against Gongsun Zan in Yuyang County.

In Liu Yu’s mind, Huang Wan ought to be in Chang’an, serving as a loyal minister protecting the emperor, rather than here.

When he had his people welcome Huang Wan, he suspected Huang Wan had come as an envoy from Dong Zhuo.

However, after hearing the good news of Dong Zhuo’s downfall and Li Jue’s escape, Huang Wan hit him with a bombshell.

Huang Wan suddenly left his seat, bowed deeply, and said, “Before Li Jue fled Chang’an, he also kidnapped the Son of Heaven, and we’ve been searching high and low for him since. We’re anxious, but we must heed one principle: the country cannot be without a ruler for even a day.”

Liu Yu’s face shifted dramatically.

Though Huang Wan hadn’t finished, his presence and those seven words spoke volumes.

Huang Wan continued, “Thus, the ministers in Chang’an propose that Liu Yu assume the role of the Son of Heaven to stabilize the central authority.”

“Absolutely not!” Liu Yu shot back.

Liu Yu meant every word.

Given his governance style in Youzhou, it was evident that his approach was focused on enlightenment and moral cultivation—he wasn’t suited for the throne.

His vehement “absolutely not” expressed surprise rather than joy.

With Qiao Yan’s decisive advance in Chang’an, Liu Yu felt a flicker of hope for the Han Dynasty, yet he had never considered that this anticipated hope would land on his shoulders.

The descendants of the Donghai Gong clan have generally distanced themselves from the throne’s competition, viewing themselves as loyal Han officials; Liu Yu was no different.

Liu Yu looked at Huang Wan, his expression unreadable: “Your words, Grand Minister, leave me wondering if you’re a harbinger of doom or a bearer of good tidings.”

Years ago, he had left because of Yuan Shao’s efforts to stir up rumors about Youzhou; he had avoided the rising tide of public support for an emperor. Now, Huang Wan’s words put him on the hot seat.

Huang Wan wasn’t surprised by Liu Yu’s reaction.

Before being reassigned back to the center, he had served as the regional governor of Qingzhou under Emperor Ling and had previously worked alongside Liu Yu.

However, as Qiao Yan stated in the court, choosing Liu Yu for the emperor’s role was not intended to mimic the Yuan brothers, but was instead the most pragmatic choice given the current circumstances.

With Dong Zhuo gone, the reverberating effects of the chaos he wrought in Guanzhong—and indeed the entire Inspectorate—had not yet fully dissipated.

What was urgently needed was a trusted Son of Heaven to assure them that the Inspectorate was still the heart of the Han Dynasty and retained its position as the official custodian of the people.

Liu Yu’s ascension to the throne had a legitimacy not weaker than that of the emperor in Ye City and raised no questions about a lack of authority—he was well-suited for the imperial seat.

Huang Wan couldn’t help but admire Qiao Yan for giving up the power that was almost within her grasp to let Liu Yu take charge, showing a truly sagacious sense of loyalty to the realm. Hence, he had to lay out the stakes clearly to Liu Yu.

Calmly, he replied, “I’m not a harbinger of doom, but a spokesperson for the revival of the Han. Emperor Ling’s recommendation of me by the former Grand Commandant, Yang Gong, reinstalled me first as the Governor of Qingzhou and then the Governor of Yuzhou, both high-ranking roles. Hence, Liu Yu, you have a duty to uphold the former emperor’s conduct, so how can I not fulfill mine?”

“Please listen to my three reasons before you refuse.”

What are these three reasons?

Chang’an’s populace, Liu Xie’s orders, and the state of the world!

Huang Wan stood among the three ministers not merely because Dong Zhuo needed to strip him of his title before he was removed from power in Luoyang; Liu Yu clearly caught the insinuation that if he didn’t ascend, it could be treason against the realm.

Half a month later, two more letters arrived at Youzhou. Upon reading, the messages contained nothing but encouragement to ascend to the throne.

One letter came from Yuzhou and the other from Yang Province.

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“So, your intentions are now out in the open for everyone to see?”

At the moment Liu Yu received those two letters, his first thought wasn’t about the uncanny coordination between those two or whether he should follow Huang Wan’s suggestion. No, it was simply —

“Is your purpose for coming here now public knowledge?” he asked Huang Wan.

Huang Wan shook her head, responding, “This kind of bold move is obviously not my style but rather Qiao Yan’s doing.”

Only she would pull off such a commanding stunt.

However, looking at Liu Yu’s bewildered expression, Huang Wan countered, “We all know you’re concerned about the battles in Youzhou, but you can’t just leave the people of Chang’an fretting over the missing Son of Heaven indefinitely.”

“So, we might as well cut to the chase.”

Indeed, it was a classic case of asking for forgiveness instead of permission.

While Yuan Shu and Sun Ce were busy sending their letters pushing for Liu Xie’s elevation, Qiao Yan had already started recalling the search teams looking for his whereabouts.

The chances of Liu Yu agreeing to the throne anytime soon were slim, yet order in Guanzhong needed to be restored promptly.

She also needed to reallocate personnel from Liangzhou, Bingzhou, and Guanzhong.

Time was of the essence.

If it weren’t for the impracticality of some actions, she would’ve loved to simply make a cutout of Liu Yu and place it in Weiyang Palace, acting on the so-called “will of the Emperor,” rather than merely broadcasting his return to the local powers as he had suggested.

Fortunately, with help from loyal ministers like Lu Zhi, Xun Shuang, and Huangfu Song, pushing her agenda wasn’t looking too difficult.

As for her own personnel arrangements, it was merely a matter of a few directives.

With the autumn harvest bustling in Liangzhou, it would soon wrap up.

Qiao Yan ordered Zhao Yun to swiftly lead five thousand troops back to Liangzhou to supervise the grain storage in Wuwei Commandery.

This arrangement signified a solid commitment to the military outpost by the Lu River.

However, this wasn’t just a simple assignment since the troops selected were some of the elite forces involved in the campaign against Chang’an.

As the soldiers thundered across the fertile land of Liangzhou, it was meant to send a message: Qiao Yan had conquered Guanzhong without losing a single man and definitely had no intention of relinquishing control over Liangzhou!

If the previous tribulations faced by the four prominent families of Hanyang weren’t enough of a lesson, she’d be more than willing to stage a dramatic reenactment for them!

Accompanying Zhao Yun was none other than Yan Xing, who had been “captured” by Zhao Yun.

To outsiders, Yan Xing had previously betrayed Qiao Yan to support Han Sui, causing her some troubles, but due to Qiao Yan’s kind treatment of his parents, he returned from the dark side.

Utilizing this guy would undoubtedly become a benchmark for evaluating Qiao Yan’s tactics.

Thus, she decided to reuse an old trick.

With Xu Rong as the primary commander and Yan Xing as the deputy, they would be stationed in Dunhuang County, Liangzhou.

These two were responsible for ensuring that the prominent clans in the Four Commanderies of Hexi sided with Qiao Yan, while also managing the Silk Road trade.

Among those Qiao Yan assigned to this unit, there were individuals from both the Qiang and Han tribes who were linguistically gifted, including Jiang Tang.

This unit didn’t yet need to take on the responsibility of the Protectorate of the Western Regions; it was more about keeping peace along the border, but it also served as one of her signals.

Logically speaking, she had shown Yan Xing ample mercy for a turncoat.

Furthermore, her second directive to Zhao Yun was that after he finished with the Wuwei military outpost, he should differentiate the stationed Xiliang troops from the troops recruited in Chang’an, bringing the latter back to Guanzhong to establish a new military outpost in Chencang.

Before he left, he merely needed to place the responsibilities of the Wuwei military outpost under Xu Rong’s control.

With the assistance of the Duan, Zhang, and Yan clans in Wuwei, and the gradual integration of the Lu River Qiang people, Xu Rong had minimal pressure on him.

At the same time, Zhao Yun was to inform Cheng Yu that the responsibilities of the Jincheng military outpost would be handed over to Duan Wei.

Duan was to oversee the area, keeping it secure from the Qiang people, as a promise he made to Qiao Yan after dealing with Dong Zhuo and his family decently.

He might not wage war on behalf of Qiao Yan without reservations, but like his cousin Duan Qiang, he could act as the guardian of order in Liangzhou.

This time, however, he was using Qiao Yan’s methods.

After settling Dong Zhuo and his family in Longxi County, he could take up his new position immediately.

As for Guanzhong, the newly established military outpost in Chencang would be managed not by Zhao Yun, but rather by Guo Yuan, who had originally worked alongside Cheng Yu at the Jincheng military outpost.

He had come back with Zhao Yun to this place.

As Qiao Yan’s colonel of agricultural affairs, he had experience in managing agricultural matters in Liangzhou, so moving him here wouldn’t leave him flustered and could be considered a good training opportunity for him.

Zhao Yun’s job then was to safeguard the four vital paths leading from Sanguan to Chang’an that were coming from Yizhou.

This included Sanguan Road, Xieguxu Road, Luogugu Road, and Ziwugu.

Since Xu Shu had already been put in charge of Yizhou affairs prior by Qiao Yan, he had effortlessly become Zhao Yun’s military advisor while Yang Feng acted as Zhao Yun’s lieutenant, assisting in the protective duties.

Basically, they were reverting Zhao Yun back from a temporary civilian role to a military one.

In Chang’an’s vicinity, the agricultural responsibilities from Maiwu to Huayin had been handed over to Cheng Yu.

Of course, by the time Cheng Yu arrived in Chang’an, it had already been a month since Zhao Yun had returned to Liangzhou with that command.

Qiao Yan had also long since discussed the scopes of agricultural and military lands within the boundaries of Guanzhong with Lu Zhi and Wang Yun.

At this point, a chart compiled by officials in Chang’an was handed directly to Cheng Yu.

Flipping through it, Cheng Yu remarked, “It seems you don’t plan to take full control of the entire Sili area just yet.”

The lands indicated in this chart were only limited to the three auxiliary areas, culminating in the Tong Pass between Chang’an and Luoyang.

Qiao Yan replied, “Others may think I can do this, but there’s a difference between what they believe I can do and what I should actually do. With the rebels of the three auxiliary areas wiped out, our territories have unnecessarily expanded; being at the borders of Yanzhou and Yuzhou isn’t necessarily a good thing either.”

In his response, Cheng Yu observed that Qiao Yan hadn’t been swept away by the success of the Chang’an campaign; rather, she remained composed and strategic. Even in dealing with neighboring relations, she knew exactly when to be aggressive and when to take a step back.

This was a good sign.

In light of this, Cheng Yu should also keep a cool head.

From initially managing Leping, to becoming the deputy of Bingzhou, assisting in managing the Liangzhou military outpost, up to today’s assignment in this heartland of the Han Dynasty, it seemed like Cheng Yu’s youthful aspirations were on the verge of converging with reality.

But in truth, the time wasn’t right yet.

This dream was still just a dream.

Meanwhile, his current oversight still bore the title of deputy of Bingzhou and not the Grand Minister of Agriculture of the Chang’an court.

This was an undeniable distinction.

Qiao Yan added, “There are two things I need you to pay special attention to, Mister Zhongde.”

As she spoke, Cheng Yu quickly tucked away his unrelated thoughts and focused on her words.

“First, in the north of Chang’an, Gao Ling, Li Jue’s nephews have been completely eradicated. Zi Ning has now arrived at Gaoping Chi Yang from Shangjun, where he will be safeguarding the connection between the three auxiliary areas and Bingzhou. With the surrounding mountains and treacherous passes, I plan for him and Yao Chang to be your military aides. It’s crucial to know how to best utilize these two forces while deciding when to expand toward Henan and Hongnong, Mister Zhongde, keep this in mind.”

Zi Ning refers to Chu Yan.

Among Qiao Yan’s captains, many lacked personal titles, but they took pride in having Qiao Yan name them, including Chu Yan.

Qiao Yan picked the character “Ning” for tranquility, symbolizing harmony, which fit nicely with her intent to keep peace.

For someone like Chu Yan, who had once been a renegade, serving under Qiao Yan could now be seen as a “tranquil” choice, and he gladly accepted the title.

In this campaign for Chang’an, while Qiao Yan was deploying troops from Chencang, he also came from the north to directly strike Gao Ling, earning himself some military glory.

Now, as Cheng Yu’s appointed commander constructing defenses in Chang’an, he was perfectly suited for the role.

Qiao Yan continued, “Secondly, I had instructed Guo Daxian and others to venture into Shu to establish trade routes, they should already be in Chengdu by now. When they return, please assist me in welcoming them.”

Cheng Yu nodded, “Of course.”

Building an intelligence network was an essential task for Qiao Yan’s upcoming strategies. It wouldn’t appear in public, but its significance was not to be underestimated.

Lu Yuan and Xi Zhicai were aware of this matter, and as Cheng Yu was also a trusted confidante, he understood the urgency.

At this moment, he asked, “May I ask what the current plans are for you, Lady?”

With how Qiao Yan distributed tasks, it was clear she intended to be away from Chang’an for a while.

This retreat, prior to Liu Yu giving his agreement to the throne, mirrored her earlier decision to not move into Luoyang.

Cheng Yu didn’t need to inquire about the reasons; he only needed to be aware of the outcomes.

Qiao Yan smiled as she responded, “Don’t you remember? It’s the end of September already, and the cotton in Bingzhou is nearly ready for harvest.”

So, she wanted to witness the creation of those winter blankets firsthand.

This was the very foundation of the people’s livelihood!

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