“`html
“So, can strategists not ascend the throne?”
Chapter 224: Xun Yu Enters the Pass
According to Ren Hong’s respect for Qiao Yan, changing the era name didn’t seem like a big deal.
Honestly, “Jian’an” sounds much more practical compared to the current “Guangxi” and the “Zhaoning” used in Ye City.
To put it simply, it’s all about rebuilding Chang’an.
And just like how “Leping” carries a double meaning, the two characters of “Chang’an” are no exception.
But obviously, that’s not something she could say to Liu Yu.
Such words were not suitable for someone from Lingtai.
As Ren Hong, dressed in the official robes of Lingtai’s attendant, stepped into Chang’an, leading her troops through this city that had only recently recovered from war, she was still mulling over her choice of words for the soon-to-be Emperor.
In the letter sent by Qiao Yan, there was one line that advised them to gauge their interpretation of the celestial signs.
The implication was that they shouldn’t stray too far into the realm of superstition.
But upon meeting Liu Yu, Ren Hong found that he didn’t seem too keen on this era name.
Perhaps due to his lingering illness, she noticed he seemed a bit weary during their conversation.
Upon hearing “Jian’an,” he didn’t elaborate on why he preferred that name—he simply stated, “Regarding the reconstruction of Chang’an, Ye Shu should have made arrangements for you. As the capital, Chang’an is a reflection of the dynasty’s prestige, but given the current circumstances, simplicity is key. Make your ancestral rites and the Observatory for Lingtai at a favorable site, keeping it humble.”
After hearing this, Ren Hong momentarily looked stunned before quietly adding, “The Jian’an era is indeed good; what people desire is simply peace and prosperity.”
Realizing there were others present, Liu Yu refrained from showing any more signs of melancholy and said to Ren Hong, “Please inform Lord Lu and the others of the established era name.”
Since Liu Yu had yet to ascend the throne, it fell upon Ren Hong to relay the message, embedding it within the formal processes overseen by Lu Zhi and others.
As she left the official building, she couldn’t help but glance back.
Years ago, she had seen Liu Hong, Liu Xie, and Liu Bian in the Han palace.
However, this Liu Yu, who was welcomed into the imperial seat by Qiao Yan, seemed quite different from them, almost as if he were at the opposite extreme of Liu Hong’s carefree demeanor.
Ren Hong, with little political experience, thought this could be the calm that comes with age. After all, Qiao Yan chose him for a reason.
Or perhaps—what Chang’an and the realm needed now was a ruler like him, paired with a capable nobleman to help reclaim the territory?
She set this unanswered question aside for now and sought out Lu Zhi to inform him of the new era name.
Lu Zhi stroked his beard and sighed, “I had thought Liu Youzhou would opt for something like ‘Chupei’ since Chang’an was getting back on its feet; I didn’t expect ‘Jian’an’.”
Ren Hong asked, “Is Jian’an not good?”
Lu Zhi chuckled, “I didn’t mean Jian’an is bad. Now is a time to rebuild—it’s certainly fitting for such practical aspirations. Since Liu Youzhou returned to Chang’an, although he hasn’t shown his face much due to illness, having an emperor around has lessened the city’s restlessness. With Jian’an established, I reckon Zhu Long and Zhongde will find it much easier to manage their land reclamation efforts.”
Ren Hong, having spent her earlier years in the palace and moving to Leping after the turmoil in Luoyang, couldn’t fully grasp the people’s sense of belonging.
But since Lu Zhi was a senior official and essentially a mentor to the nobleman, his words carried weight, signaling that it was indeed true.
Moreover, considering the rescue operation in Chang’an and the welcome extended to Liu Yu, even the establishment of an era name was all orchestrated by Qiao Yan, Ren Hong felt a surge of pride she couldn’t put into words.
Liu Yu’s ascension wouldn’t happen overnight; preparations would continue until the end of the year, with the grand event set for the first day of the next year.
The new emperor’s enthronement coinciding with the New Year was certainly a good omen.
In less than two months, it would be known as the first year of Jian’an!
But for the people of today, it was hard to grasp Qiao Yan’s sentiment towards the Jian’an era.
Jian’an was far too renowned.
Among the numerous era names used by Emperor Xian, Liu Xie, Jian’an was the longest, lasting over twenty years. The famous battles of Guandu and Red Cliffs happened during this era, and the prominent Jian’an literature, represented by the “Seven Scholars of Jian’an,” had been passed down through generations—leading to that saying, “Penglai’s writings are the bones of Jian’an.”
This era name thus served as a nostalgic reminder of the poems she had once recited.
Nevertheless, she had no intentions of letting the Jian’an era linger for two or three decades.
Thinking about the situation in Chang’an, she turned to the system and asked, “By the way, is there any achievement tied to influencing the lord in adopting a particular era name?”
This time, the system didn’t stall at her sudden inquiry.
Without hesitation, it replied: 【No way, don’t even think about it! What kind of serious strategist is responsible for suggesting an era name?】
That’s definitely beyond the strategist’s duty.
Even though she felt a bit disappointed about not able to squeeze any extra benefits from the system, Ren Hong shrugged it off, knowing she’d earned plenty of strategist points when she helped Liu Yu onto the throne. Later, as Liu Yu marched north and south, opportunities for achievements would surely come her way. Overall, she was already banking a win.
Even if she wasn’t genuinely pursuing the strategist path, she wouldn’t miss out on the progress.
Just to tease the system, she joked, “A true strategist might need to predict fortunes too—why not support a well-rounded development? You should consider evolving the strategist system with the times.”
【……】As long as the host is happy, the system decided to keep quiet.
Having had her fun with her silly system, Qiao Yan turned her gaze to the imposing pass outside.
Theoretically, the area east of Juyong Pass and south of the Yanshan mountains should be classified as “inside the passes.”
This would eventually be known as what we call Beijing today.
But for now, this place was still a cold and harsh land of Youzhou.
Given the territory managed by Qiao Yan in Bingzhou, she referred to it as “outside the pass.”
With November rolling in, not only were the rivers freezing over, but the place was also blanketed with snow, covering everything from the military’s mountain to the nearby Juyong Pass in a thick layer of white.
Fortunately, they had cotton clothing to keep warm this year, and thanks to coal supplied from Yanmen, the pass was buzzing with activity.
As Tai Shici and Bing Yuan prepared to accompany Qiao Yan back to Bingzhou tomorrow at her invitation, they were also equipped with warm attire.
Compared to the conditions they had witnessed while escaping to Liaodong, this place hardly seemed like a winter garrison at all.
“`
“I guess that’s more chaotic than I thought.”
Due to Zheng Xuan choosing to settle in Bingzhou, Tai Shici and Bing Yuan, both from Qingzhou, naturally had a better impression of Qiao Yan, and after seeing the situation at the fortress, their goodwill only increased.
When Qiao Yan herself made an appearance, the respect shown to her by everyone from Zhang Liao to the common soldiers stirred a curious feeling in people.
The snow in the camp had already been cleared away by the soldiers stationed here, and the new snowfall only added a thin layer on the ground.
As Tai Shici stepped over the light snow, he noticed that the earliest batch of soldiers had carefully placed their cotton clothes under the oilcloth tents, while those running drills in the city were gathering around to warm themselves before putting their cotton clothes back on and topping it with leather armor.
A pot of ginger soup was heating over the charcoal fire, and those properly dressed would take a bowl of ginger soup before heading off for breakfast.
Seeing the satisfied expressions on these busy soldiers, Tai Shici couldn’t help but smile.
As for Liaodong, well, the Prefect there was Gongsun Du, appointed during Dong Zhuo’s usurpation.
Although he’s also a Gongsun, this Gongsun isn’t closely related to Gongsun Zan; he had already served in court since the Jian Ning years, even reaching the position of Ji Province Governor, before finally becoming the Liaodong Prefect.
Gongsun Du is known for his strict laws and clear policies, with a dynamic spirit that offers more long-term potential than the incoming Yuan Shao’s general Tadu or Gongsun Zan, who just seized Guangyang and Yuyang. Yet, the morale of Gongsun Du’s soldiers was still quite different from what Qiao Yan’s side exhibited.
But one couldn’t really blame Gongsun Du.
He took over the Liaodong Prefect position thanks to the recommendation of his old acquaintance Xu Rong, but just after Dong Zhuo’s quick reign in Chang’an, he had already been driven out by Qiao Yan. Xu Rong switched sides and sided with her.
If it weren’t for the difficulties in sending orders from Chang’an to Liaodong, Dong Zhuo would have wanted to remove Gongsun Du from the position.
Gongsun Du was merely relying on his local connections in Liaodong to maintain his position.
However, when Liu Yu recently established his dominance over Youzhou, Gongsun Zan had to retreat to the surrounding areas of Liaodong, causing some friction that forced him to consolidate his power in Central Liaodong.
With Gongsun Zan’s advance westward, Gongsun Du’s situation became considerably more comfortable.
But with Qiao Yan already having taken two commanderies in Youzhou and the tensions between Wuhuan, Gongsun Zan, and Gongsun Du, the outlook still seemed a bit grim.
Tai Shici shook his head, momentarily cutting off his wandering thoughts.
Since he and Bing Yuan were already here, there was no need to dwell on Liaodong’s situation.
He originally intended to escort Bing Yuan without any desire to join the Bingzhou governor’s ranks.
However, now that he was here, he felt that a man should make his mark in chaotic times.
Initially, he fled to Liaodong due to issues at the Qingzhou government but now ought to settle somewhere to be of use.
Though he hadn’t decided whether to serve under Qiao Yan or to seek a role in Chang’an thanks to his prowess and marksmanship, he concluded that he would no longer return to Liaodong.
With this thought in mind, he instinctively looked towards the city wall in the east.
Even from a distance, Tai Shici could easily discern that the two figures on the wall were Qiao Yan and Zhang Liao, so he headed in their direction.
Upon reaching the wall, he overheard Qiao Yan instructing her subordinates, “Bring me my bow.”
By the time he got on the wall, the bow was already in Qiao Yan’s hands.
Tai Shici was quite strong with a long wingspan, fulfilling the typical prerequisites of a sharpshooter, but Qiao Yan was different.
She was tall, but compared to ordinary generals, she appeared a tad too slender and upright.
However, the instant she effortlessly drew the three-stone long bow, Tai Shici suddenly realized he shouldn’t judge this Marquis of Leping by her appearance.
Her sharp gaze, during the moment the string was pulled back, carried a profound chill that surpassed the snowy landscape before her.
A flake of falling snow landed on the arrow tip without causing her eyes to blink.
Even though the arrow hadn’t been released yet, it left Tai Shici with no doubt that her archery skills matched her reputed command abilities.
In the next moment, the arrow shot forth, piercing a boulder one hundred and fifty steps away.
The mighty impact drove the white-feathered arrowhead deep into the stone, shaking loose some snow from the surface, making it appear as if a fresh layer of snow had just fallen.
This was clearly no ordinary arrow!
Qiao Yan, with a calm expression, stored the bow and turned to Zhang Liao, saying, “Wen Yuan, tell Gongsun Zan that east of Juyong Pass is also guarded by the Bingzhou army, and if his men set foot here for even a moment—”
“There will be no mercy in killing!”
This ultimatum directed at Gongsun Zan was precisely the reason Qiao Yan was inspecting Juyong Pass.
After making such a statement, she boosted the morale of the soldiers stationed there before confidently heading to Chang’an for Liu Yu’s enthronement ceremony.
This young Emperor, already of age and with achievements to his name, although he previously lost a skirmish with Gongsun Zan in Youzhou, when crowned in Chang’an, he clearly attracted more ambitious individuals than Liu Bian and Liu Xie.
So Qiao Yan’s intent was far beyond just attending a ceremony.
She needed to discern which scholars and warriors among those who came could be of use to her and which couldn’t, and how to present herself to capture their attention and sway their support from Liu Yu to herself, which was a considerable challenge.
Though holding three provinces had already placed her in a position far above other warlords, she was still a long way from being able to take it easy.
Not nearly enough!
She certainly couldn’t imagine that just because her trusted strategists had shown her their full support she could assume everyone else in the world would share that sentiment.
And while she aspired to contend for the Grand Marshal position as suggested by Xi Zhicai, she also had to maintain a humble and respectful demeanor.
Fortunately, there seemed to be a lot more good news on the horizon.
For instance—
On her way to Chang’an, a young scholar was already standing before Wuguan.
Previously, after persuading Zhuge Xu to take Zhuge Liang to Bingzhou, he had wandered through Jing and Yang provinces due to his confusion about the current situation.
But just as Qiao Yan had said, Sun Ce from Jiangdong could not manage the conflicts with the aristocracy, seizing Yangzhou with mere bravery without stability; Liu Biao in Jingzhou was indeed talented but fell short of his expectations.
Xu Yu originally planned to head north to see Liu Bei from Yu Province and Cao Cao from Yanzhou but heard news about Liu Yu ascending to the throne in Chang’an, so he rushed towards Wuguan, redirecting towards Guanzhong.
This young man, possessing a clear gaze and a graceful aura, looked at the snow on the pass, and a glimmer flashed in his eyes.
Countless thoughts swirled in his mind before entering the pass.
Could the path for the Han dynasty lie here?
Could his path lie here as well?
