Chapter 384

Chapter 384

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Final Volume: The Rise and Fall of Royal Power, Unification of the World, Chapter 384: Liu Xie Returns to the Capital

The four-hundred-year legacy of the Han Dynasty has reached a point where the people can no longer find a path to survival under its rule. This is ultimately the fault of those in power.

If Liu Xie had not witnessed the evolution of people’s lives as a commoner, he might not have realized this so profoundly. But there are no “ifs” in this world.

Just as he would not face the hypothetical scenario of “what if Qiao Yan were not here to lead and protect,” he would also not face the hypothetical scenario of “what if he had not been abducted by Li Jue and ceased to exist as the Son of Heaven.”

What he needs to do now is make the most correct choice in this already unchangeable situation!

Liu Yu, for the sake of his people, could sentence his own son to death for wrongdoing and write a self-reproaching edict to pave the way for his abdication. Why, then, could Liu Xie not, as the former Emperor of the Han, hand over the Imperial Seal to the most suitable person?

Making this decision was incredibly difficult.

As he held the Imperial Seal, he couldn’t help but think that if he truly made this choice, it would mean the Han Dynasty’s legacy would end with him. It would mean he was viewing the world’s evolution from the perspective of the people, not from the standpoint of the Han royal family.

A hundred years later, when he returned to the yellow earth, how would he explain this to his father, who had chosen him as his successor?

Liu Hong might not have been a good emperor.

To this day, Luoyang still circulates tales of how he oversaw the construction of bronze statues, exhausting the people and draining the treasury.

The fire in the Southern Palace years ago, which caused palace servants to flee, also led to exaggerated and absurd stories about Liu Hong’s behavior spreading among the people. For example, the four white donkeys he rode around the palace and the dogs he dressed in official robes became the subjects of ridiculous jokes in folk tales.

But to Liu Xie, he was a good father.

Now, as Liu Xie resolves to hand over the Imperial Seal, he is also preparing to relinquish the Han Dynasty that Liu Hong entrusted to him despite opposition.

Liu Xie’s fingers traced the gold-edged corner of the Imperial Seal, pulling his thoughts back from the distant memories of Emperor Ling of Han.

Qiao Yan is not Wang Mang, who was struck by the Imperial Seal for attempting to usurp the Han Dynasty.

In her various measures concerning people’s livelihoods, there is none of Wang Mang’s radical overreach.

This is not her concealing her ambitions before taking the next step.

With the nine provinces of the world in her hands, if she wanted to rebuild the rules during a year of natural disasters, no one could effectively stop her.

But she, along with the people she leads, takes each step with great steadiness.

Even though Qiao Yan is not in Luoyang, the legacy of her teachings and will remain here. Even in the face of sudden attacks from Yuan Shao and Cao Cao, Luoyang does not descend into chaos as it did in earlier times.

The people know this is their home, a place they must protect together. They also know that Xun Yu and others left by Qiao Yan, along with the generals guarding Luoyang’s eight passes, will do everything to keep the enemy at bay.

This sense of belief was never seen in Wang Mang during the early days of the Later Han, but the desire for the world to return to the Han became increasingly clear after the restoration under Emperor Guangwu.

But now, things are different.

Even as Liu Xie sits in his room, he can hear the voices of those defending Luoyang gathering in his ears.

This sense of belief lies not with the Liu family, but with Grand Marshal Qiao Yan.

With no one in the Liu clan capable of turning the tide, following the will of heaven is the choice he must make.

He no longer needs to hesitate.

However…

Liu Xie faces another problem.

His adoptive father, to ensure their safe reunion with his adoptive mother, plans to take him back to Hanzhong as Luoyang faces war. How can he explain that he does not intend to return, not because he wants to join the people of Luoyang in defending the city, but because he is the former Emperor of Han?

He truly does not want the simple familial love and peaceful life he could have had to vanish completely with the act of sending the Imperial Seal to Chang’an.

But this seems like a difficult task.

If he says he wants to participate in the defense of Luoyang, his adoptive father will not leave him alone here. In the chaos of battle, who knows what might happen.

If he leaves a letter saying he will disappear for a few days and return after completing his task, his adoptive father will do everything to find him. If something unexpected happens, he will regret it deeply upon his return.

What should he do?

Liu Xie’s eyes flashed, and he suddenly tucked the Imperial Seal into his robe, jumped up from the bed, and rushed out the door.

Hearing his adoptive father ask where he was going, Liu Xie shouted back, “I’ll leave later. I need to say goodbye to the people I’ve met here.”

His adoptive father stood still, not pursuing him further.

But Liu Xie was not going to say goodbye. He was heading straight to a specific place in Luoyang.

Due to the various tasks involved in Luoyang’s reconstruction, the offices Qiao Yan set up in Luoyang were not restricted to the public. As long as one had a reasonable reason to meet an official, they could enter.

The officials in Luoyang each had their own responsibilities, and visitors were guided before entering the area.

Perhaps because of the war at Luoyang’s eight passes, most people were gathered at the recruitment centers. Even if there were matters requiring the attention of officials, people consciously avoided this time, making Liu Xie’s arrival stand out.

Someone immediately approached to ask what business he had.

Looking at these officials who showed no signs of impatience, Liu Xie became even more resolute in his decision.

He said, “Is Yang Xiu here? Tell him an old acquaintance from the Han Palace has come to see him.”

An old acquaintance from the Han Palace?

It had been nearly seven years since Dong Zhuo led his troops into Luoyang.

Liu Xie, appearing before them now, was just a teenager. Seven years ago, he couldn’t have been more than ten years old. How could he be an old acquaintance of Yang Xiu’s from the Han Palace?

But the officials thought about it. Although Yang Xiu had not yet returned to Chang’an and remained in Luoyang after the debate at Dingzhong Temple with Zhong Changtong, he was not an official of Luoyang but more of an assistant. While Xun Yu, Wei Ji, and others were busy discussing the northern defense of Luoyang, Yang Xiu was not as occupied.

He could come out to meet a guest.

If this really was an old acquaintance, it would be a pity to miss the opportunity.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll have someone inform him.”

Liu Xie did not wait long before Yang Xiu appeared in his sight.

The moment Yang Xiu saw him, he was momentarily stunned.

Although Liu Xie’s appearance had changed over the years, traces of his former self remained in his features. His next action made Yang Xiu’s expression change drastically, as Liu Xie straightened his sleeves, stood tall, and took two steps forward.

The deep imprint of Han Palace etiquette in Liu Xie’s memory had not been completely erased despite years of living as a commoner.

The demeanor of a prince, even in the simplest clothing, still carried the shadow of someone adorned with jade and gold.

Yang Xiu could not mistake such a trait!

Absolutely not!

He suddenly recalled the situation last December.

At that time, he had seen a somewhat familiar figure outside Dingzhong Temple. When Mi Heng asked why he was staring, Yang Xiu thought he had been mistaken. But now, seeing Liu Xie in person, he could say with absolute certainty that he had not been wrong.

He quickly approached Liu Xie, pulling him aside and whispering, “Why are you here?”

Liu Xie’s position as Emperor had been succeeded by Liu Yu, and since his whereabouts were unknown, he could not be given a posthumous title. This left Yang Xiu unsure whether to address Liu Xie as the former Emperor or Your Majesty. If anything, he might have to call him Marquis Dong.

Years of fruitless searching and Liu Yu’s stable reign had led most to give up hope of ever finding Liu Xie. So when he suddenly appeared, even someone as composed as Yang Xiu was nearly shocked out of his wits.

What puzzled him even more was why Liu Xie did not look like someone who had just escaped from captivity, but rather like someone who had already found a place to settle.





Is it a choice to appear before him at this moment? What exactly does he intend to do? Where has he been all these years? Why didn’t he return directly to Chang’an to face Liu Yu, but instead appeared before Yang Xiu? If Liu Xie’s sudden appearance was already a complete surprise to Yang Xiu, then his next words truly left Yang Xiu in shock. “Please take me to Chang’an, I have a gift I wish to present to the Grand Marshal.” The gift Liu Xie spoke of, with Yang Xiu’s keen senses, was clearly something of great importance. Even without seeing it, Yang Xiu knew it was no ordinary item. The pain in Liu Xie’s eyes suggested that parting with this gift was a difficult decision, undoubtedly detrimental to the young man’s own interests. To prevent any mishaps, Yang Xiu inquired, “May I ask what this gift is?” “The Imperial Seal,” Liu Xie replied with certainty, “the Imperial Seal of the Nation. But before I hand it over, I need you to accompany me in a performance.” This act wasn’t too challenging for Yang Xiu. Liu Xie wished to conceal his former identity as the Son of Heaven from his adoptive father and needed a plausible reason to temporarily leave Luoyang for Chang’an, rather than following his father to Hanzhong to escape the war. He decided to pretend to be a prodigy discovered during a farewell with friends, staying with Yang Xiu until the northern enemy was repelled, then enrolling in Leping Academy. With Yang Xiu as a witness, his adoptive father would not doubt his actions, seeing it as a fortunate turn of events. The temporary separation was a small price for potential future prospects. Once out of his adoptive father’s sight, Liu Xie and Yang Xiu immediately left for Chang’an. In just two days, they would reach Guanzhong and present themselves before Qiao Yan! Watching Liu Xie step back into the whirlwind of politics, his adoptive father felt a sense of loss, asking a young man beside him, “What arrangements will the Lord have for him?” Years of companionship had made Liu Xie like a son to him. Though their initial relationship was a pretense, genuine affection had grown. He hoped Liu Xie wouldn’t become a casualty in the power transition. “The Lord said, if a lie can last a lifetime, it might as well be the truth,” the young man replied, hinting at a secure future for Liu Xie. “Rest assured, if he wishes to live an ordinary life, no one will hinder him.” Retreating to the mountains after all this might be the perfect ending for Liu Xie. Guo Jia, tasked by Qiao Yan to keep an eye on Liu Xie, appeared now, relieved that Liu Xie’s decisions aligned with their hopes, making him a stabilizing force in Chang’an’s turmoil. Now, Guo Jia could focus on countering Cao Cao’s attack at Hulao Pass! Before leaving, he brought good news to Liu Xie’s adoptive father, “The Lord told me your son has found a wife in Bingzhou. They plan to marry after saving half a year’s wages. You might even attend the wedding when sending the Marquis to Bingzhou for studies.” The man smiled, “No need. We’ve long understood the nature of gain and loss since we nearly perished in a disaster.” Knowing his family was well was enough. Now, he awaited the return of another child. Guo Jia was right; if the lie was never exposed, it became the truth. Whether Liu Xie could sleep peacefully on his way to Chang’an, or felt unsettled by the separation and impending challenges, remained to be seen. Unfortunately, he wouldn’t witness Liu Xie’s true self. But perhaps, only this way could they live out their lives as father and son. Meanwhile, another person was rushing to Chang’an—Lu Zhi. After learning of Liu Yang and Wang Yun’s assassination attempt on Qiao Yan and Liu Yu’s self-reproach edict, Lu Zhi could no longer remain a retired elder in Leping Academy. He regretted not reporting Liu Yang’s schemes earlier, which led to this disaster. The possible use of explosives taken from Bingzhou after Liu Yang’s visit added to his remorse. Why had he turned a blind eye due to Liu Yang’s royal blood? With Liu Yu considering abdication and the potential for chaos in Chang’an, Lu Zhi felt an urgent need to act. Though his loyalty to the Han Dynasty had waned, decades of service had ingrained a stance hard to change. He couldn’t let the empire fall into disorder due to hasty decisions. Lu Zhi, with his military background and improved health, could ride swiftly to the capital, while others like Cai Yong followed by carriage. Another reason for his haste was Liu Bei’s impending execution in seven days, now on the sixth. If Lu Zhi delayed, he would miss his disciple’s final moments. Knowing neither Liu Yu nor Qiao Yan would unjustly execute the already imprisoned Liu Bei, and that the decision was irreversible, Lu Zhi could only bid his final farewell. As the northern wind swept past him, Lu Zhi recalled Liu Bei’s valor during the Yellow Turban Rebellion and his support when Lu Zhi was exiled from Luoyang. News of Xu Zhou’s plea for Liu Bei’s life had once brought him joy, but now… The unpredictability of life showed its cruel face. What could he do now? A bottle of strong wine, warmed by his body heat, sloshed with the horse’s movements, mirroring Lu Zhi’s turbulent thoughts. The wind’s howl through his hair and the thawing Luo River signaled the arrival of spring. As Liu Bei was led from his cell, a warm breeze carrying exclamations reached him. He looked towards the commotion, asking a guard, “What’s happening over there?” Expecting some minor disturbance, Liu Bei was surprised to hear, “Someone claiming to be the Son of Heaven, kidnapped by Li Jue years ago, was rescued and has returned to Luoyang, now brought to Chang’an. He has brought back the Imperial Seal.”