Chapter 387

Chapter 387

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Final Volume: The Rise and Fall of Royal Power, Unification of the World Chapter 387: The People’s Choice

Liu Xie said he wanted them to hear the thoughts of the people of Chang’an, and it was no empty promise.

The moment he finished speaking, he immediately held the Imperial Seal and walked out without hesitation.

“Stop him…”

“You can’t stop him.” Someone had just spoken when Huangfu Song interjected.

“Aren’t you afraid he might actually drop the Imperial Seal, turning the recovery of the Imperial Seal into a joke in Chang’an?” Huangfu Song asked.

“…” Of course, they were afraid.

Liu Xie’s intention to imitate Lin Xiangru and his decisive action left no doubt that he might actually do it!

It didn’t seem like just talk.

“But no, the impact of him dropping the Imperial Seal is nothing compared to him saying such things in Chang’an!” The person suddenly had a realization and continued.

But as soon as he spoke, Huangfu Song asked, “Are you daring to offend Marquis Dong?”

“…” Of course not.

Even the current Emperor had to welcome Liu Xie’s appearance. How could he forget that Liu Xie was once a legitimate Emperor, who had taken the throne from Emperor Xiaoling.

If not for his disappearance, Liu Yu wouldn’t have ascended the throne under Qiao Yan’s decision.

If Liu Xie hadn’t made such a shocking statement, he should have accepted Liu Yu’s offer to return the throne and become the Emperor of Han again.

As long as he considered himself a subject of Han, he couldn’t take any action against Liu Xie.

He could only watch as Liu Xie, holding the Imperial Seal, quickly disappeared from their sight after stepping out of the hall.

He couldn’t help but ask Huangfu Song, “Grand Commandant, whose side are you on?”

Although Huangfu Song’s words seemed to state facts, and Liu Xie’s special status indeed couldn’t be touched.

But in the consequences of letting Liu Xie rush out, the beneficiary was clearly Qiao Yan, who had a close relationship with Huangfu Song!

Was there no selfish motive in Huangfu Song’s action?

However, when he looked at Huangfu Song, he saw a look of confusion and distress, gazing towards Qiao Yan’s direction with an unreadable expression. But seeing Qiao Yan chasing after Liu Xie, his gaze turned to Lu Zhi.

Both of them were supposed to be Qiao Yan’s seniors, yet neither expected that they, who had witnessed Qiao Yan’s rise during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, would now witness such an indescribable scene.

Liu Yu intended to return power to Liu Xie, but Liu Xie planned to give the throne to Qiao Yan?

What a bizarre and absurd thing!

But… after Liu Yang and Wang Yun imprisoned Liu Yu and attempted to assassinate Qiao Yan, thinking of Chang’an’s reaction when Qiao Yan retreated to Huayin, Huangfu Song felt this wasn’t entirely incomprehensible.

If Liu Xie really threw the question of succession to Chang’an…

In the exchange of glances between Huangfu Song and Lu Zhi, they both got the answer.

It could work.

It could work!

“What’s happening outside?”

Yu Niang, about to study at the art academy, came to Chang’an with her mother and stayed at a guesthouse in the suburbs. Hearing a commotion outside, unlike the usual noise, she quickly looked out.

During the drought two years ago, her village in Qishan got a chance to dig wells for survival, and she decided to learn skills to understand more from the Leping Monthly Report to help her hometown.

But for people like her, learning such literary skills was incredibly difficult. Even with the promotion of basic texts and the Book of Songs, it was still far behind those with proper education.

Poverty meant she couldn’t find a good teacher like those from wealthier families.

At this point, two paths appeared before her.

Her sister, working in Chang’an, brought back two pieces of news: one was that factories, especially cotton mills directly under Qiao Yan, would offer courses for diligent, outstanding, and eager-to-learn workers; the other was that the art academy and medical school would strengthen cultural education, not just as tool users or medicine memorizers.

Yu Niang was too young for the former but could try the latter.

Perhaps out of curiosity for the well-digging cart and longing for the Leping Monthly Report, and her ability to draw with branches in her spare time, Yu Niang decided to try her luck at the art academy.

This attempt truly gave her a future!

She was admitted.

The small village in Qishan was happy for Yu Niang, who had proposed the well-digging cart method. They told her they would take turns doing her share of farm work, hoping she would help the village after her studies.

Although it shouldn’t be credited to the drought, the disaster indeed bound their fates more closely.

Last year’s Leping Monthly Report was bought by them taking turns, and they gathered to guess its meaning, holding small meetings every month, even involving the children.

Yu Niang’s admission piece was an imitation of a pattern from one of the reports.

The village head gave her that newspaper, allowing her to copy it hundreds of times, opening a door that once seemed distant.

When she returned after her studies, she would repay this favor!

But before her admission, there seemed to be some excitement?

She opened the guesthouse window and saw many students running out of the art academy.

She informed her mother and followed.

While running, she got an explanation.

“The missing Emperor has returned to Chang’an and brought back the Imperial Seal.”

Yu Niang asked suspiciously, “But is this worth your surprise and eagerness to see?”

Who becomes the Emperor, Liu Xie or Liu Yu, holds little significance for ordinary people like them.

Thinking about such things is less practical than considering what to eat tomorrow.

“If it were that simple, it would be fine.” The woman she asked, seeing her young and short, pulled her along.

The wind carried her next words to Yu Niang’s ears, “He said on Chang’an Road that he wanted to represent Han and hand the Imperial Seal to the Grand Marshal. My, isn’t this akin to abdication!”

Though gossips mentioned Liu Xie asked for the people’s opinion, those who heard the news didn’t find the proposal too outrageous, only that the once-in-a-lifetime event shouldn’t be missed!

“There’s a difference from abdication; he’s no longer the Emperor.” Yu Niang’s reply was lost in the wind, unheard by the girl pulling her.

But whether Liu Xie was the Emperor or not didn’t diminish the shock of his announcement on Chang’an Road.

“What would you reply if it were you?” the girl ahead asked.

When asked, Yu Niang suddenly remembered the female official who came to register land.

She mentioned her name was similar to Yu Niang’s, who often dreamed of becoming such an official.

Since that meeting, she hadn’t seen her again, only glimpsed her influence in last year’s agricultural arrangements in Guanzhong.

She was said to be one of the Grand Marshal’s subordinates, working with her for twelve years.

If…

“Why are you daydreaming?” the girl ahead asked again.

Yu Niang quickly replied loudly, “The Grand Marshal benefits all; why not?”

Without the Grand Marshal, she might have starved during the drought or been killed by Qiang invaders.

Either way, Qiao Yan had saved her life.

Qin Yu’s appearance and the Leping Monthly Report’s enlightenment showed her another life possibility, taking her out of the闭塞困苦的村庄.

If asked about her sense of belonging to Han or her understanding of its territory, she might not know much. But if the Grand Marshal she admired were to hold the power of the world, it would be the best news she received this year!

“I think so too, since we agree—”

She glanced around and suddenly brightened, “Come! I’ll take you to a good spot.”

Yu Niang, puzzled, was pulled by the girl to follow a chubby chef.

In their earlier run, they were near Chang’an Road.

The iconic street Qiao Yan had built with cement.

Though the widest in Chang’an, Liu Xie’s news was so shocking that the area was densely packed. Yu Niang doubted they could squeeze in.

But the late-arriving chef easily navigated through, creating a path. Following closely, they managed to get halfway through, just a few people away from the front.

“How… how did you do that?”

Yu Niang thought she saw people making way for the chef, almost mistaking him for a local bully.

But as she asked, her companion pointed out.

Yu Niang raised her hand and noticed a dog on the chef’s shoulder.

“Hey, that dog’s famous; everyone at the art academy knows it.”

“During the Chang’an New Road construction, there was a writing and painting contest. Lu Gong’s son Lu Zijia painted a black dog, winning for seeing the big in the small, making the dog famous. Since this is happening on Chang’an Road, and it’s a big event, who knows if there’ll be a painting record? It deserves a chance to participate.”

“…” Yu Niang doubted the mental state of Chang’an’s people.

But when she was lifted onto the chef’s shoulder, she saw passionate faces, forgetting about the black dog.

Everyone there wasn’t just watching; they were cheering for the Grand Marshal!

They didn’t know if Liu Xie’s inquiry was sincere, but looking around, Yu Niang sensed everyone’s face conveyed a message.

If Liu Xie thought this was a test, they would loudly declare their support!

Why not seize this sudden opportunity to elevate Qiao Yan!

Under the reigning Han Emperor, this seemed a terrifying thought.

But Chang’an’s people, even compared to those in Bingzhou, held no less respect and gratitude for Qiao Yan.

Not just for the life-saving grace during the drought, nor for the various industries that provided employment after the Chang’an court settled, nor for Guanzhong’s recovery, making it feel like home.

But also for the rules.

When Dong Zhuo plagued Chang’an, even issuing Dong Zhuo coins to amass wealth, he destroyed the people’s trust in currency overnight.

Then Qiao Yan came, bringing her steadfast five-zhu coin policy from Liangzhou, quickly circulating currency and goods across three provinces, pulling Chang’an’s economy back from the brink.

This was the rule and trust of money.

Subsequent laws and official selections were rules…








The core is the rule, and the implementation of the alcohol restriction order is also a kind of rule.

These rules do not bind them in rigid frameworks; instead, they protect them in an unconventional way, making them believe that as long as they do not break these rules, they can continue to climb higher with their own hands.

And the end of each rule is held in Qiao Yan’s hands, relying on her civil and military officials and soldiers to enforce them, making them feel more secure in Chang’an than if a Liu clan member were on the throne.

But some people insist on destroying such existence, intending to replace the Grand Marshal’s efforts with those outdated systems!

Even if the method ultimately fails, it does not hinder them from being filled with a fervent emotion ready to burst forth.

If Qiao Yan becomes the ruler of the world, no one will be able to pull her down, right?

They… can continue living like this, right?

So even if they echo Liu Xie’s question and shout “The Grand Marshal ascends the throne,” even if they are accused of treason, what does it matter!

When everyone is guilty, even the most timid among them gains the courage to shout at the top of their lungs!

“The Grand Marshal ascends the throne!”

“We support the Grand Marshal ascending the throne!”

“…”

Yu Niang stared blankly at the scene before her. She hadn’t been in Chang’an for long, and now sitting on a stranger’s shoulder, she should have been more restrained. But who could remain calm in such a situation? Only a god could.

The changes in the Guanzhong region reappeared vividly before her eyes, each event clear and distinct.

So at the peak of this wave of voices, she also shouted at the top of her lungs: “Please let the Grand Marshal be the Son of Heaven!”

This was the most intense response heard by the imperial officials who had originally been in the Zichen Hall when they arrived.

The voices of the Chang’an people, already piercing the clouds, came with an irresistible force, making it impossible to distinguish any single voice.

The only thing they could hear was Liu Xie, standing in the middle after someone made way, looking at them and asking a heart-piercing question: “Gentlemen, do you hear this sound?”

It was many different voices.

But they all seemed to carry the same meaning.

Even Qiao Yan, the one they supported, could not block these voices. At most, she mobilized Chang’an’s military to maintain order, preventing any stampede.

But even in this slightly orderly state, such a scene brought an unparalleled shock to these court officials.

They heard it.

They heard it clearly.

Huang Wan, standing at the front, had already changed his expression.

The wave of voices echoing each other surged into his ears, making him feel not the trend of popular support, but something… indescribably terrifying.

Amidst this fervor, Huang Wan couldn’t help but glance at Qiao Yan.

To him, the protagonist of today’s drama was not Liu Xie.

Liu Xie was just one of the symbols of the Han Dynasty, holding the Imperial Seal.

He was just a trigger for the voices of the Chang’an people!

This role could be played by Liu Xie, but it could also be someone else, like Liu Biao, who was almost obedient to Qiao Yan, or Liu Qi, whom Liu Biao left in Chang’an, or even their Majesty, who had already shown signs of weariness.

So the real protagonist should be Grand Marshal Qiao Yan, who could lead Chang’an and even the entire Nine Provinces, with the people ready to rise at her command!

Even if she seemed to be swept forward by this wave, pushed further in an unexpected way, like a passive participant in this grand drama, her role as the protagonist could not be ignored.

Huang Wan’s gaze through the crowd met hers.

She wasn’t looking at him, but at the people voicing their support for her. But this did not prevent Huang Wan from clearly seeing that in her gaze towards these people, there was not a trace of fear about being pushed to that position.

This should not be!

The act of replacing the Son of Heaven, even with the ancient saying “Are kings and nobles born to rule?” and Wang Mang, who once achieved this goal and established a new dynasty, and the several uprisings during the reigns of Emperors Huan and Ling, had already become an idea that no one who called themselves a “Han official” could possibly have after two hundred years of Later Han rule.

Liu Yan in Shu could have such thoughts because the Son of Heaven, Liu Yu, and even the earlier Emperor Ling, Liu Hong, were merely clan members pushed to the throne. After all, Liu Yan also bore the surname “Liu.”

But such thoughts appearing in Qiao Yan were like a fierce tiger with sharp claws turning from a protector to a hunter, extending its intimidating claws towards the “allies” who had been hiding behind her.

Whether Liu Xie’s appearance and the words he spoke while holding the Imperial Seal were instructed by Qiao Yan had become less important at this moment.

Even if she had not anticipated today’s support, she would surely take the step Liu Xie provided, turning this wave of voices into reality!

Look, even the emperor entrusted to her by the late emperor is proclaiming in such a way that she should not be a subject but a ruler. In this time of upheaval, why can’t she rise with the tide and seize this supreme fame?

Huang Wan had no doubt that if they, who still intended to uphold the Han orthodoxy, made any rebuttal or obstruction, she would decisively use the military power she had reconsolidated in Guanzhong to show them whose authority and prestige were greater in the world, hers or these old stubborn bones.

Wang Yun might not have misjudged her stance.

But he misjudged his own ability.

Because her ambition pointing to the imperial throne could no longer be restrained by anyone present.

So Wang Yun could only meet his death.

Then what about them? Should they follow Wang Yun, using their reputation to shape her image as being slandered, suppressed, and targeted by Han officials, even falling from the Chang’an city walls to only cheers, or—

Should they顺应 the current situation and join this torrent, at least becoming participants in this peaceful evolution?

It seemed that an answer had already formed invisibly.

Those who were enemies with her, as distinguished by Zhong Changtong’s “Changyan,” might still have a chance to make amends.

But those who still stubbornly stood on the opposite side at this stage would not only become outdated sacrifices in this era of change but also targets of intimidation in this dynastic transition!

What Qiao Yan wanted was not just the Liu clan’s inability to rule the world and hand over the throne to her.

Since she could truly ascend to this position, why not let all opposing voices completely disappear?

Look—

Her step-by-step cultivation of the people could fill the gaps left by the fallen noble families in just over a decade.

Her tightly held Leping Monthly Report and book distribution channels could cleanse her of any possible slander, using the power of public opinion to push her further.

The well-balanced armed forces across the regions, mostly won over by her military achievements, would, in a way different from Sun Ce’s actions in Yang Province but undoubtedly more effective, erase those scattered voices.

This was indeed popular support, but also a destination some had to顺从!

This was the tragedy of the Han, but also Qiao Yan’s confidence in victory.

And if Huang Wan could understand this at this moment, how could Liu Yu not?

When Huang Wan’s gaze shifted from Liu Xie to the Chang’an streets now filled with a single voice, and then back to Qiao Yan’s face, Liu Yu’s gaze turned to Zhao Yun, Lu Lingju, and all the Chang’an garrison troops who had come to maintain order.

He had long suspected this, but unfortunately, he was bound by moral constraints and, like now, under the impact of the overwhelming popular sentiment, he had clearly and helplessly seen a future where the Han’s authority would inevitably fall, a fact that the people no longer supported the Han.

Perhaps the only thing he should be grateful for was that when Liu Xie spoke in the hall about the changes seen from the commoners’ perspective, he, who had once stabilized the grain prices in Youzhou, felt not a natural barrier between them, but an indescribable shock.

He had already lost his eldest son in the war, and in the court struggles, he had lost his second son. With such a frail body, he could not bear the responsibility of ruling the world. Perhaps stepping down to become an ordinary citizen would be a kind of happiness.

By then, if he had not died from illness, he might, in a more清醒 manner, understand the thoughts Liu Xie had developed during his years out of the public eye.

In this moment of释然, he suddenly took a step forward.

Dressed in imperial robes, he had already become the second focal point after Liu Xie, who held the Imperial Seal.

Even though most people had only seen him from afar on his coronation day and found him quite unfamiliar, even though his face now looked憔悴, even somewhat惨淡, making one feel he might collapse at any moment, he was still the current Son of Heaven of the Han!

Liu Xie’s existence was already a thing of the past; Liu Yu was the one sitting on the throne.

For these people who saw imperial authority as a fierce beast, if he ordered Liu Xie to be arrested as a fake Dong Marquis and Qiao Yan as a traitor, there would surely be those loyal to the Han who would fight to the death for him, and the wave of voices in Chang’an would instantly turn into a confrontation.

So when he took action, the nearly沸腾 voices fell silent for a moment, waiting for this Han emperor to respond.

But he was not here to refute.

The nearly setting sun cast斑驳 light on Liu Yu’s face, giving him both the暮年 aura of old age and a hint of color on his overly pale face, as if there was still some vitality in him.

He beckoned to Qiao Yan, and as she approached, he first called out “Ye Shu” in a voice only a few nearby could hear, then, as if using all his strength to speak, asked:

“Marquis Qiao—are you willing to take on this responsibility entrusted by the people?”

When Liu Yu spoke, anyone who could hear him knew this was no试探!

In every word was a heavy entrustment!

Liu Xie’s gift of the Imperial Seal, the呼应 of the Chang’an people, the expectations of her subordinates, and Liu Yu’s entrustment of authority were all placed before her in the余烬 of the未至 night.

And as she stood in everyone’s sight, it was like a sharp sword出鞘, showing its unparalleled魄力 after all the ropes were cut.

The urgent situation of Yuan Shao’s attack on Luoyang恰恰 gave her a reason not to perform the three请三辞 ritual.

This almost perfect situation of天时地利人和, if it were to be凑出 again, would not have such a snowballing壮大局面.

Some wanted to see the平稳过度 of the Han dynasty’s rule into her hands, while others only wanted to see her野心 and志向 of shouldering the山河, looking at her with殷切 eyes.

So—

She no longer needed to give a拒绝 answer!

She did not look around, but she clearly knew that Cheng Yu, who had told her about the dream of Taishan holding the sun, was watching her; Ren Hong, who had received her blessing of “Hong Yu does not fly low” and had gone from a Han palace maid to today’s Grand Historian, was watching her; Zhao Yun, who had received her promise of the Hengqu Four Sentences, was watching her; Cai Zhaoji, who would no longer have the “Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute” but would have countless典籍报刊发行四海 under her调度, was also watching her…

And those advisors and generals not in Chang’an but guarding the Nine Provinces for her were all waiting for her response.

This made it even more unnecessary for her to hesitate!

She raised her hand and took the Imperial Seal from Liu Xie, holding it before her.

The entrustment of the throne meant she no longer needed to bow to the emperor as a subject, but in this exchange of glances with Liu Yu, she engaged in a final silent negotiation.

As the落日 in Chang’an completely disappeared behind the city walls, she finally replied: “The people think of me, the elders trust me, my subordinates follow me—I dare not refuse.”