Chapter 386

Chapter 386

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Final Volume: The Rise and Fall of Royal Power, The World United Chapter 386 Why Not?

At the moment these words were spoken, except for Qiao Yan who had already received Liu Xie’s decision, everyone else almost thought they were hallucinating.

What does it mean to entrust the Imperial Seal to the Grand Marshal?

From Liu Xie’s tone and expression, no one present could fail to see the underlying meaning.

If Liu Xie merely thought that, due to his facial injury and his past as a puppet under Dong Zhuo’s control, even if Liu Yu was truly incapable of governing the world, the successor should not be him, and thus the Imperial Seal, as a symbol of the Emperor’s authority, should be temporarily held by Qiao Yan, the regent, he would never have said such a thing.

At most, he would have returned the Imperial Seal to Liu Yu first. If Liu Yu had the intention to choose a new successor after abdicating, Liu Xie, who could have ascended the throne, would act as a witness, temporarily holding the seal in Qiao Yan’s hands.

But now…

Now, Liu Xie’s words clearly indicated that he was entrusting the Han Dynasty’s legacy, along with the Imperial Seal, to Qiao Yan!

After disappearing for years, he suddenly made such a shocking statement in the court. If it weren’t for the fact that the Imperial Seal before them was genuine, Liu Xie’s identity had been confirmed by Huang Wan, Yang Zan, Yang Xiu, and others, and there was no sign of coercion or bribery in Liu Xie’s demeanor, even Qiao Yan’s gaze held a hint of astonishment, they might have thought this was a performance by Qiao Yan and Liu Xie to retaliate for the previous palace assassination.

But this was clearly not retaliation.

If it were merely a test of threat, even the most arrogant and domineering relatives of the Emperor in the past would not have elevated themselves to the position of the Son of Heaven, as such an act would undoubtedly invite disaster.

Qiao Yan could not possibly fail to understand this.

When Liu Yu had already executed Liu Yang and issued a self-reproaching edict, Qiao Yan’s return to Chang’an from Huayin was accepting this opportunity to step down gracefully and restore a harmonious relationship between ruler and subject with Liu Yu.

She had no need to take such an additional action, putting herself on the hot seat!

Sure enough, the next moment, everyone present heard Liu Yu ask Liu Xie, “Why do you say this, Marquis Dong?”

Due to his frail health, Liu Yu could not speak loudly, but the questioning tone in his words was clearly conveyed.

Liu Xie should have been the candidate for the Han Emperor, and even if not, he was still a member of the Liu clan. How could he make such a statement without any warning!

The founding of the Han Dynasty and the restoration two hundred years ago were not easy feats. Even if the Imperial Seal had been passed down from the Qin to the Han, symbolizing continuity, he could not disregard the dignity and face of the Han Dynasty by making such a statement.

Observing for a long time?

Observing for ten or twenty years was no reason for him to make such an irresponsible statement.

But facing Liu Yu’s gaze from such a close distance and the surrounding eyes fixed on him, Liu Xie only felt the weight of the Imperial Seal in his hand, without any hesitation or confusion, and replied, “Why do I say this—”

“Have any of you ever viewed the world from the perspective of an ordinary commoner?”

Among those present, the number who could answer “yes” to this question could probably be counted on one hand.

If Qin Yu, who had been transferred to Luoyang by Qiao Yan to assist with agricultural affairs, were still here, there might be one more, but at this moment, it was only Grand Minister of Agriculture Cheng Yu and his subordinate, Tian Chou, the Field Officer.

Even with the selection of talents by the Hongwen Hall and Qiao Yan’s enlightenment efforts through the Leping Monthly Report and printed books, most of those who had achieved academic success by this time were still from scholarly families.

To say that these people could view the world from the perspective of an ordinary commoner was quite difficult.

Just the daily expenses of an “ordinary commoner” would be enough to discourage most of them.

“I have seen it,” Liu Xie said word by word, not giving anyone a chance to interrupt.

He was not wearing the luxurious robes of a prince or emperor, but ordinary cloth clothes, at most with a cotton-padded jacket due to Qiao Yan’s low-cost cotton clothing sales in Luoyang and the still cold weather, making Liu Xie’s attire seem even more sincere and straightforward.

He had already continued speaking.

He had seen it, even experienced it as a woodcutter or fisherman, as one of the most ordinary people in Yizhou, as one of the most insignificant among the people traveling to Luoyang.

Even if it was not the most suffering among the thousands of people, standing in the court as a “survivor,” facing these ministers of Chang’an who only lived on their salaries, he had the confidence to argue his point.

“I once thought today’s meal was excellent because there was an extra egg in a bowl of plain porridge, and having meat to fill my stomach gave me more energy to work. Most of the time, millet was what filled our bellies, at most with wild vegetables and fruits from the mountains.”

“The firewood we gathered from cutting trees could not be used freely by us but had to be carefully calculated for selling at the market to exchange for money and food, along with the medicinal herbs we dried in every possible space to cover the expenses for the next few days.”

“The price of a stone of grain, the cost of a single piece of clothing, how long it took to save up to buy an axe or a hoe from the emergency funds, all had to be carefully planned.”

“In your view, increased grain production means more taxes, enough food for military campaigns, and you count the accumulating grains in the warehouses, seeing only the increase in numbers, and perhaps the need to build another warehouse. But what I see—”

“Is the moment when the price of rice drops with increased production, the people weeping with joy can carefully wrap an extra foot of cloth, patch their clothes to be less drafty, or make their children’s clothes fit better. Then they can use less water in cooking porridge, so it’s not just watery soup.”

“Who turned three stones per mu into today’s seven or nine stones?”

It was Grand Marshal Qiao Yan.

Liu Xie continued, perhaps these words were not rehearsed countless times in his mind, but spoken smoothly because they came from the heart, hence the effect.

“In your view, the reduced population loss in battles, the relief methods during droughts and locust plagues, are merely changes in the population registry, to avoid having fewer people to fill the trenches in the next campaign. But what I see are real people who, instead of being buried, found a chance to survive, familiar faces among neighbors who can still greet each other the next day, or family members who can continue to support each other.”

“Who protected them through these natural disasters and human hardships?”

It was Grand Marshal Qiao Yan.

“In your view, the people only need to worry about daily food and clothing, toiling under the sun, following the numbness of pawns, ending their lives from birth to death. But what I see is that even in the remote mountains of Hanzhong, when the doors to the outside world are opened to these farmers and woodcutters, they can also aspire to look up at the heavens and strive for a leap through the dragon gate. This does not make them stop working, only thinking of leaving for a place where they can rise to the top, but instead, they work harder and save more, hoping to one day grasp the rope to climb up!”

“This awakening of the people’s wisdom is not a burden to the dynasty, but a sign that one out of ten can become a useful talent, and the world will no longer lack wise people to work together.”

“Who is building this possibility step by step?”

It is still the Grand Marshal.

“Last year, Luoyang suffered a great plague, but rumors spread, and the people’s hearts remained unchanged. When war came, the people united against the enemy. This I saw with my own eyes, and it is no lie. You see…”








Perhaps Luoyang is returning to its former glory of a population of millions, serving as an excellent transit point for the front lines. However, what I see is that when Yuan Shao led his troops to attack, there were still people in the northern suburbs of Luoyang digging a well for next year!

Those truly loyal to Luoyang are not panicked by the change of power, unlike when Dong Zhuo controlled the Luoyang court!

They only think about taking one more solid step forward. Even if next year’s weather continues to test them, with hope in their hearts, they can still move forward.

These subtle changes are not just numerical advantages in the confrontation between the two armies but have already formed a shocking momentum, like the sense of changing times Liu Xie felt at Dingzhong Temple. It will inevitably be revealed at its peak, turning into a flood that sweeps away centuries of decay from the Han Dynasty.

Liu Xie’s hand holding the Imperial Seal trembled for a moment. As he spoke each word, it seemed like he was struggling with his own surname, yet he continued without pause:

“Your Majesty has the intention to abdicate, but I have no desire to take over. May I ask, should the Han Dynasty be handed over to my brother, who is only controlled by Yuan Shao, or to some Han royal family member dug up from who knows where?”

“Whether the other party has the ability to govern is still debatable. If the act of killing the donkey after grinding the wheat happens again, how can you ensure the Han Dynasty’s foundation remains peaceful, the Han people do not have to live in fear, the borders are not invaded by barbarians, and someone can shoulder the responsibility when natural disasters strike?”

Only Qiao Yan!

Why can’t we entrust the Han Dynasty’s foundation to Qiao Yan, a reliable person, just like the succession of Yao, Shun, and Yu?

Gender, age, and status are never issues in the face of real achievements!

Liu Xie actually had another sentence he wanted to say, but it was inappropriate from his position as a Han royal family member. Liu Yu’s self-blame and his offering of the Imperial Seal were merely to ensure that the Han Dynasty could maintain dignity while handing over power to capable individuals.

So he wouldn’t say—

Didn’t Empress Dowager Hexi, who supported the Han Dynasty through over a decade of disasters, set an example for the world?

Over a decade of various natural disasters were calmly managed under Deng Sui’s leadership. But once the emperor she supported grew up, he began to seize her power and even purged the Deng family after her death.

This was the Han empress, a close relative of the royal family, with a non-arrogant attitude, who made significant contributions to the Han’s livelihood and expansion, yet ended up with her policies abandoned after her death.

Given such precedents, why do they think that relying on the power Emperor Ling of Han gave Qiao Yan would make her serve the Han Dynasty for so many years, only to be targeted and purged under the new emperor, becoming a sacrificial lamb?

There is no such logic in this world!

Even if Qiao Yan had such a sacrificial spirit, the people of the world would never allow such a thing to happen!

Look at Luoyang today. Because of the suppressed incidents involving Liu Yang and Wang Yun, even the people who served under the Grand Marshal for only two years are eager to march to Chang’an to seek justice for her, turning their anger into motivation against Yuan Shao and Cao Cao’s attacks. When a real upheaval occurs, why should they still consider themselves Han people?

The Han’s legitimacy lies in the people’s hearts, only then can the world be stabilized…

If Luoyang is like this, what about Chang’an? What about Bingzhou, managed by Qiao Yan for ten years? What about Liangzhou, where she ended a century-long Qiang rebellion? What about the lands that have submitted to her rule?

Liu Xie’s eyes shone with determination, exuding an unyielding aura, as he loudly asked, “What is wrong with entrusting the Imperial Seal to the Grand Marshal?”

“Your… Marquis Dong!” Huang Wan quickly interjected.

He had once served under Liu Xie in Chang’an and, in that moment, didn’t know how to address him, almost calling him “Your Majesty” before correcting himself.

“Everything you said can still be achieved with the Grand Marshal as a Han subject. The return of the Imperial Seal, symbolizing the emperor’s legitimacy, is a sign of the Han’s revival. What we lack now is only to take down the false court in Ye City. After the turmoil in Chang’an, we can immediately march east.”

“Why must you have such thoughts?”

Huang Wan also knew that every word Liu Xie said was correct. Without Qiao Yan’s step-by-step reforms, these old ministers would never have been able to sit peacefully in the court, seeing the numerical changes Liu Xie mentioned, comparing them to the eastern court’s performance, and concluding that they could win.

But making Qiao Yan the ruler of the world and having her as the first under the emperor, “upholding integrity and stabilizing the state,” are entirely different matters.

“The Imperial Seal?” Liu Xie looked at the seal in his hand, understanding why Huang Wan thought it was a good omen for the Han’s revival.

Four hundred years seemed engraved in the seal’s edges, and its return was a joyous event for the Chang’an court.

But Liu Xie knew that if he could see such a path, he could have entrusted this item to someone else to deliver, rather than personally escorting it step by step from the streets of Chang’an into the heart of royal power.

Under Huang Wan’s fearful gaze, Liu Xie suddenly raised the Imperial Seal and its box high above his head.

Even though he had spent years helping his adoptive father chop wood and fish, developing strong muscles, everyone instinctively held their breath, fearing Liu Xie might drop the seal in a moment of excitement or carelessness.

Liu Xie looked around at the unwavering gazes fixed on him or the seal in his hand, then turned back to Huang Wan, “Who told you that the seal’s return means you can dispose of it and restore it to the Han throne?”

“In the past, I read Sima Qian’s ‘Records of the Grand Historian’ and was moved by Lin Xiangru’s words about smashing the jade and his head against the pillar. Today, if you dare to stop me, I am not afraid to smash this Imperial Seal against the pillar, emulating his righteous act.”

“The people of Chang’an all know that I escorted the Imperial Seal here under the protection of the emperor’s attendants. If the seal is smashed today, the fault lies not with me, who came from Luoyang, but with you!”

Indeed… as Liu Xie said, while the seal is still in his hands, the authority to dispose of it has not yet been transferred to the Han court.

If the seal had never been found, it would be one thing, but if it were to be lost again after such turmoil in Chang’an, the impact would be no less than the previous incident involving Liu Yang and Wang Yun.

But why must he do this?

Huang Wan knew he could not provoke Liu Xie further and simply watched his seemingly imminent action, asking sorrowfully, “Marquis Dong, are you certain we will accept such a threat?”

What made Huang Wan realize the situation was spiraling out of control was not just Liu Xie’s intent to emulate Lin Xiangru’s act of returning the jade intact, but also when he looked at Liu Yu, hoping he would persuade Liu Xie from the perspective of the emperor and a senior family member, only to see a hint of agreement on his face.

But before Huang Wan could fully understand Liu Yu’s attitude, he heard Liu Xie speak again.

“No, I am not threatening.” The young man holding the Imperial Seal, seemingly ready to destroy it at any moment, maintained a calmness beyond ordinary people.

Such a person, if he became emperor, might indeed save the state from turmoil.

But as Liu Xie said, he no longer sees himself as a ruler but as one of the common people.

He is Bian He of Chu, willing to endure the pain of losing his feet to present the jade, not Ziying, who surrendered to Liu Bang with the seal and military tally.

Lu Zhi, who had just arrived, heard Liu Xie’s answer: “I just want to ask you all to join me in listening to the thoughts of the people of Chang’an!”