Chapter 393

Chapter 393

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Final Volume: The Rise and Fall of Royal Power, Unification of the World, Chapter 393: Ye City’s Response

Belonging to the book:


Can a Strategist Not Ascend the Throne?

Chapter 393: Ye…

Yuan Shao looked up at the Son of Heaven sitting at the head.

A few days ago, when he received the news of Qiao Yan’s ascension, he was so distressed that he almost had a heart attack. But today, hearing the details of the coronation ceremony, his mind was in a state of absolute clarity.

He clearly realized that when Liu Bian uttered the words, “What does the Grand General think?” there was a complex mix of emotions hidden within.

Liu Bian was afraid!

Afraid that Qiao Yan’s ascension would completely signal the end of the Han Dynasty, leaving no room for recovery, and the empire would crumble into dust.

This Son of Heaven in Ye City, though surrounded by old loyalists, had long lost the dignity of an emperor.

He was shocked!

Shocked that none of the courtiers, who should have been loyal to the Han, showed any opposition to Qiao Yan’s usurpation.

If even figures like Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song no longer cared about the legitimacy of the Han, how many in the Ye City court were secretly ready to switch sides?

He was suspicious!

Suspicious that Yang Biao, who currently held no real power, might turn against them because of his son Yang Xiu, becoming a key figure defecting to Chang’an.

Even more suspicious that Yuan Shao, this incompetent Grand General, might follow Qiao Yan’s example and stage a coup, ensuring that all orders in Ye City no longer needed to go through Liu Bian!

But if Yuan Shao were to speak, Liu Bian need not worry.

Given the current situation, Liu Bian’s existence was actually an advantage for Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao replied, “Your Majesty need not worry. The old ministers in Chang’an did not oppose Qiao Yan’s ascension, just as Wang Zishi’s attempt to assassinate her was doomed to fail. It’s because the military power she holds allows her to ignore anyone’s advice. Lu Zigan has returned to Bingzhou from Chang’an, likely detained. Huangfu Yizhen, though Grand Commandant, holds no real military power. With the Duke of Anyi and the Duke of Shanyang in the hands of the rebels, their lack of opposition is likely out of helplessness.”

“The Han Dynasty’s 400-year foundation is here, and the noble families who have enjoyed imperial favor are here. To think she could overthrow it overnight is a joke!”

Hearing this, Liu Bian’s pale face showed a hint of relief. “The Grand General speaks wisely.”

But whether this truly convinced him was unclear. Even if he didn’t say it outright, his tone revealed some doubt.

Liu Bian was no longer the young man who would be overjoyed at being pushed onto the throne by Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu.

In seven years, though he couldn’t move freely like Liu Xie and was confined to the cramped palace in Ye City, Liu Bian’s mind had grown through discussions with courtiers and reading books and newspapers.

Whether Liu Xie and Liu Yu’s abdication was forced, whether Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song’s submission was due to the former emperor being controlled, and whether Yuan Shao’s words were just to boost morale by slandering Qiao Yan, Liu Bian could guess some of it through intuition.

But rather than being comforted by Yuan Shao’s claim that there were still those loyal to the Han, Liu Bian felt a sense of security from Yuan Shao’s current attitude.

Yuan Shao had made it clear.

In terms of civil and military achievements, the Ye City court was clearly lagging behind Chang’an. Liu Bian even wanted to ask why, over the years, they only heard of Qiao Yan expanding territories but never of Yuan Shao gaining even a couple of commanderies, even losing Xuzhou, which was originally on their side.

The only advantage Yuan Shao could leverage was Liu Bian’s legitimacy as the Han emperor.

Even if Liu Xie and the Imperial Seal’s appearance allowed the Han to pass its legacy to Da Yong, many in the world still saw themselves as beneficiaries of the Han.

This was the so-called “400-year foundation of the Han!”

With Chang’an no longer the Han court, some might defect to their side, becoming their allies in this critical standoff.

Thus, Yuan Shao had to firmly grasp the “Han” legitimacy, not making any moves to start anew in this already precarious situation.

And the phrase “noble families who have enjoyed imperial favor” was undoubtedly a reflection of Yuan Shao himself!

Since the release of “Changyan” last year, Yuan Shao, with his background of four generations of high officials, could not have misjudged. Qiao Yan was not only not on the same path as him but was on a completely different road.

He didn’t know where things went wrong, making Qiao Yan, who should have belonged to the noble class, propose such ideas of enlightening the people. Nor did he understand why she suppressed noble families in her initial appointments.

But he knew that those with similar interests, even if currently under Qiao Yan’s command, could become resistance forces at any time.

Yuan Shao would never submit to Qiao Yan after a defeat.

These two attitudes gave Liu Bian some sense of security.

Of course, only some.

At best, it made Liu Bian believe he could still stand united with Yuan Shao.

But if they couldn’t defeat Qiao Yan, the end result would be death together, not finding a way out through this alliance.

Liu Bian couldn’t ignore another event before Qiao Yan’s ascension.

Yuan Shao, taking advantage of Qiao Yan’s return to Chang’an and the apparent rift between her and Liu Yu, launched an attack on the defensive Luoyang.

This wasn’t just Yuan Shao’s action; it included Cao Cao’s assistance from Hulao Pass.

But what was the result?

After a month of fighting, there was no breakthrough, making it impossible for Liu Bian to praise Yuan Shao for seizing the right moment to attack.

True, Luoyang was a tough nut to crack.

If not, during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Emperor Ling wouldn’t have hastily locked the eight passes to prevent the Yellow Turbans from invading.

It was also due to such defenses that after Tang Zhou’s betrayal and Ma Yuanyi’s capture, the Yellow Turban’s closest impact was Yingchuan and Nanyang.

Similarly, with such defenses, even Dong Zhuo’s rebellious actions once blocked Yuan Shao’s forces at Hulao Pass.

But in such critical times, the outcome of battles was crucial.

Yuan Shao couldn’t breach any of Luoyang’s eight passes, wasting manpower that should have been used for spring farming on transporting military supplies. How could this be blamed solely on Luoyang’s defenses?

Moreover, Qiao Yan wasn’t even in Luoyang; Yuan Shao’s forces were up against Xun Yu, a civil official.

Liu Bian couldn’t understand how Xun Yu, the “Talent to Assist a King” who hadn’t entered the court before Liu Hong’s death, could display such prowess, making Yuan Shao’s Zhang He hesitate at Mengjin.

He only knew that Yuan Shao failed to counter Qiao Yan effectively when Chang’an was in chaos, leaving them helpless as Qiao Yan ascended the throne.

“I know everyone’s loyalty to the Han,” Liu Bian said, suppressing his frustration. “But since she has usurped the throne and there’s no opposition in Chang’an, once she reorganizes her forces, she will surely march east, crossing Luoyang’s passes. I ask, how shall we respond?”

Liu Bian had no doubt that in this campaign to unify the world, Qiao Yan would personally lead the expedition.

If she held the authority represented by Liu Yu and Liu Xie’s “Han legitimacy” and crushed Liu Bian’s false court, she would no longer need to worry about anyone questioning her throne’s legitimacy.

Moreover, would Qiao Yan only lead the Luoyang army east?

Impossible!

Yuan Shao hadn’t fully informed Liu Bian of the war situation, but just as there were those in Chang’an dissatisfied with Qiao Yan’s heavy responsibilities, there were also those in Ye City dissatisfied with Yuan Shao.

Years of stagnant territories made some consider replacing Yuan Shao.

Without facing Qiao Yan’s forces directly, some overestimated themselves, thinking the lack of significant achievements against Qiao Yan wasn’t due to her strength but Yuan Shao’s inability to lead.

These people naturally informed Liu Bian of the war situation at the Ji-You border.

The current situation seemed even more dangerous!

Luoyang, Bingzhou, and Youzhou could all march on Ye City. If Yuan Shao couldn’t stop them in time, the Han’s last seeds would be crushed, only a matter of time.

Who would ensure his safety then?

Expect Qiao Yan to have a change of heart?

He even desperately asked Yuan Shao, “In the Grand General’s view, if we send someone from the Qiao family of Liang to Chang’an, could we gain something useful?”

Like the explosives once held by Liu Yang.

Though Qiao Yan only used them to intimidate Zuo Ci and for coronation fireworks, as long as they didn’t appear on the battlefield, Liu Bian couldn’t rest easy.

Who knew if they would become Qiao Yan’s secret weapon or have other uses beyond demolition?

Targeting the Qiao family of Liang was understandable.

Since Qiao Yan separated the Leping Qiao family, her intent to distance herself from her roots was clear. The Yanzhou Qiao family, knowing they couldn’t gain any favor from Qiao Yan and having offended Cao Cao, pinned all hopes on the Ye City court.

With no talented members in the family, they sent some private assets to Ye City, securing a position for a junior in Liu Bian’s Imperial Guards.

Yuan Shao didn’t care about such positions, and Liu Bian heard some gossip from him.

Like how Qiao Yan, passing through her ancestral home during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, showed signs of coldness by not staying long.

Or how Qiao Zhao’s daughter, sent to Leping Academy out of goodwill, chose to cut ties with the family and join the Leping Qiao family. But what use was being affiliated with a branch family? She could only become a doctor.

Or how the Qiao Lan and Qiao Ting sisters, missing after Qiao Rui’s death, suddenly appeared under Qiao Yan’s command, even making a name for themselves in the court.

But the young Imperial Guard member didn’t mention that the Qiao elders had planned their escape, leading to their hasty decision, only saying they fled to Bingzhou for wealth without mourning their father, an unfilial act.

In short, even if Qiao Yan replaced the Han and established Da Yong, with only four members in the royal family, all women, would she still maintain her hostility towards the Qiao family of Liang, not using royal power to balance her subordinates?

Sending someone from the Qiao family of Liang to Chang’an might yield some gains.

But as soon as Liu Bian spoke, Yuan Shao replied, “Your Majesty should abandon this plan.”

Liu Bian didn’t see the mockery in Yuan Shao’s lowered eyes when he proposed this.

This idea of power balance was quite similar to Emperor Ling’s style.

Who knew if…








He has learned a bit about the skill of killing the donkey after unloading the mill.

If it weren’t for Liu Bian’s great usefulness at this moment, Yuan Shao wouldn’t even bother to be so perfunctory with Liu Bian.

But even though he thought this way, when he spoke, he still said, “If it were normal times, using clan members as spies might be feasible, but not now. With the two armies facing off, Qiao Yan would surely be suspicious of anyone who suddenly arrives. Not getting what Your Majesty wants is secondary; if she turns it around and uses it against us, that would be a real disaster.”

As soon as he said this, many people around him showed understanding on their faces.

This situation of being used against them, Tian Feng counts as one, Yuan Xi counts as one, and if we must count, Xin Pi can also be included. No wonder Yuan Shao is unusually alert to this situation.

Unfortunately, at this moment, to counter Qiao Yan, they still have to rely on Yuan Shao, the Grand General. In the court, it’s not the time to joke about colleagues, so they could only laugh in their hearts.

“This… this makes sense,” Liu Bian was stunned for a moment before responding, “I wonder what method the Grand General has to teach me?”

Yuan Shao replied, “Play to our strengths, avoid our weaknesses, and strike at her vital points.”

Hearing the certainty in Yuan Shao’s words, Liu Bian couldn’t help but show joy on his face, “Please, Grand General, elaborate.”

Yuan Shao said, “Since we can’t avoid it, we must fight. Qiao Yan intends to secure the realm with military achievements, so we must rely on Your Majesty’s prestige to stir internal chaos. Your Majesty holds the Han lineage; if you can ascend the high platform in Ye City, raise your arms, and call for the restoration of the Han dynasty, proclaiming a manifesto against Qiao Yan, not only will we have control over four provinces, but other provinces will also have patriots responding.”

“I have ordered my subordinate Chen Kongzhang to write this manifesto, ensuring that Your Majesty will have the momentum and authority when denouncing Qiao Yan.”

Liu Bian was originally thinking that if he had to write this manifesto himself, it would likely be a mess. With Yuan Shao’s words, the boulder in his heart was half lifted.

Chen Lin’s literary skills, in terms of sharpness, in Ye City, no, in Ji Province, if he dares to call himself second, no one dares to call themselves first. The manifesto he writes will surely be majestic, pointing directly at Chang’an.

“When Your Majesty proclaims to the four directions, we will appear to be still stalemated on the Luoyang front, waiting for the wise and ambitious from the world to assist, but in reality, we can take another route over the Taihang Mountains, directly to Bingzhou.”

Bingzhou is also a place easy to defend and hard to attack, and it is the springboard for Qiao Yan’s initial development.

The items stored in Leping Academy and the cotton from Shang Commandery in Bingzhou have been coveted by Yuan Shao for more than a day or two.

It is said that crossing the Taihang Mountains for battle is difficult, but none of Qiao Yan’s troops, who are best at mountain warfare, are stationed there.

It is said that Bingzhou is her place of origin and should be heavily guarded, but it is precisely this misconception that makes it hard to think that Yuan Shao would make this choice.

So—

This is really worth a try.

If it really succeeds, intercepting Qiao Yan’s returning troops wouldn’t be that difficult!

The impact of the Han dynasty still being saved is immeasurable.

This outlined prospect made Liu Bian’s eyes light up, and he immediately replied, “Let’s follow the Grand General’s plan.”

But shortly after the morning court ended, as Yuan Shao walked out of the court, he saw a little eunuch hurriedly running towards him, holding a note in his hand. When the eunuch reached him, he said that the Emperor had another matter that needed Yuan Shao’s attention.

“What new suggestion has this Emperor come up with?” Xu You asked Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao opened the hastily written edict with somewhat sloppy handwriting and saw that it wasn’t Liu Bian suggesting that the Qiao clan of Liang State try to establish a relationship with Qiao Yan, but an order to him.

“He said, let me take action to detain Grand Commandant Yang and others who might have connections with the Chang’an court,” Yuan Shao sneered, “What kind of thing is this? The villainous act of suspecting people is done by me, while this Son of Heaven remains pure and even just acts as my puppet?”

To play such tricks with him, with Liu Bian’s ability, it’s really too naive!

“This is really the second Emperor Xiaoling. Unfortunately…”

Unfortunately, Liu Bian doesn’t have the ability like Liu Hong to gradually seize power, and Yuan Shao won’t give Liu Bian the opportunity to build up forces to oppose him.

But thinking that at this critical moment of opposing Qiao Yan, Liu Bian is still thinking of such chilling matters, while Qiao Yan has already easily shaken off the constraints Liu Yu might have imposed on her, becoming the decisive Emperor, Yuan Shao couldn’t help but feel a surge of envy or jealousy rushing to his head.

For a moment, he couldn’t help but think, if he had done less of those hesitant actions, taken the position of Grand General earlier, secured Youzhou first, then took Xuzhou, would his situation today not be so passive.

Even if his situation were several times better than today, could he, like Qiao Yan, directly shake off the influence of the Han dynasty on him.

No! He’d better not think about these.

Thinking about such nonsense now, besides making his mood worse, has absolutely no benefit.

His mood was already very bad.

Anyone who knows him a little wouldn’t fail to see that he is not as composed as he appeared in today’s court.

What about having Liu Bian proclaim a manifesto against Qiao Yan, attracting loyal ministers and generals who still uphold the Han dynasty?

In today’s world, the only ones capable of opposing Qiao Yan are him and Cao Cao.

The talented people remaining in the thirteen provinces have already taken their stands, where are there any gaps left.

It’s just using Liu Bian’s orthodox name to reassure the soldiers and strategists in Ji and Qing Provinces.

And that attack on Bingzhou…

In the analysis given to him by Xu You and Guo Tu, they have sorted out Qiao Yan’s various forces, but with the previous inability to make progress in Luoyang, Yuan Shao can’t help but doubt whether a tragedy will repeat itself in Bingzhou.

If such a situation really occurs, he will completely lose the ability to turn the tables!

“Ziyuan… do you think we really still have a chance to win?”

Yuan Shao has always been proud of his family background, but no matter how prominent a noble family is, it is somewhat inferior in front of imperial power.

On one hand, after Qiao Yan became Emperor, he changed the title “Qiao Yeshu” to directly calling her by name “Qiao Yan,” on the other hand, he feels that the move she made has pushed him further into a dead end, and the fear of not being able to be honest with his subordinates haunts him like a shadow, making him wish he could escape for a couple of days.

But he knows deeply that he doesn’t have the luxury to be capricious.

What he must do now is to invest all the resources he can mobilize into this east-west confrontation, never letting himself relax for a moment.

How could Xu You not know Yuan Shao’s current mood?

At the moment of hearing the news of the Han dynasty becoming Da Yong, Xu You couldn’t help but think of the scene in Dingzhong Temple where Qiao Yan eloquently spoke and wrote.

Who would have thought that the young phoenix back then would become the Emperor today.

Not just the young phoenix has a clear voice, but the phoenix truly sings in the nine heavens, the phoenix soars in Yong!

This huge sense of disparity, when she was still the Grand Marshal, might have been ignored by convincing oneself with “we are all ministers, who knows if there will be a day of overthrow,” but the moment she stepped onto the throne, this abyss-like difference was displayed in an extremely cruel way!

Perhaps the most accurate description of Yuan Shao’s current thoughts is just this.

Perhaps the only thing that makes Yuan Shao feel a bit superior is that Qiao Yan still doesn’t have a successor.

But thinking that Qiao Yan is only twenty-three this year and has just killed her way in and out of Liu Yang’s ambush, this little bit of superiority is completely gone.

Xu You silently sighed and replied, “If even you, my lord, say such discouraging words at this time, then we really have no hope left.”

Yuan Shao received the encouragement conveyed by Xu You at this moment and said, “You’re right, so I plan to secretly leave Ye City for a trip.”

A flash of determination passed through his eyes, making Xu You suddenly think of the demeanor shown by this Yuan family young master when he chose to support Yuan Shao and work for him back then!

Yuan Shao suddenly showing such behavior means that he hasn’t been completely overwhelmed by the news from Chang’an, but at this moment of hitting rock bottom, he intends to show a posture of a desperate counterattack.

This is the kind of performance we need!

Before Xu You could ask, Yuan Shao continued, “I’m going to Yanzhou.”

The news of Qiao Yan’s formal ascension to the throne, having been discussed in the court of Ye City, has already spread to Yanzhou.

More accurately, it was delivered by Qiao Yan’s messenger, who first rushed to Luoyang to reassure the soldiers and civilians fighting to protect their homeland, then sent all the way to Hulao Pass.

Guo Jia, who was confronting Cao Cao, unexpectedly replaced the Han flag with the Da Yong flag in front of Cao Cao, and without hesitation launched a night raid that night, spreading the news of the change of throne to Cao Cao during the raid.

Whether it was because this sudden change in the world far exceeded what Cao Cao could imagine, or because in this raid, Xu Huang, who had long wanted to achieve another military success, under Guo Jia’s command, caused Cao Cao a significant defeat, it prompted Cao Cao to decisively withdraw his troops from Sili and return to Yanzhou.

But this return doesn’t mean Cao Cao is directly going back to the capital of Yanzhou, Dong Commandery, but temporarily retreating to Suanzao in Chenliu Commandery.

That is, the place where the Suanzao Alliance was formed.

When Chen Gong stepped into the military tent to see Cao Cao, he saw him holding a book, rarely showing a dazed and confused expression, so much so that he hadn’t turned a page for a long time.

Only when he realized someone was approaching did he suddenly come back to his senses, as if trying to cover up by flipping to the next page.

Chen Gong couldn’t help but laugh, “Since the Prefect is pondering philosophy, there’s no need to make such a cover-up. It’s better to say it out loud, maybe I can give you some advice.”

Cao Cao noncommittally said, “I’m just thinking about two questions.”

Chen Gong said, “I’d like to hear the details.”

Cao Cao replied, “The first is, has the Han dynasty really reached a point of no return?”

Just over half a year ago, he had a brief meeting with Qiao Yan under Hulao Pass.

At that time, he threw the question of whether Qiao Yan had ambitions of usurpation to her, and she gave a roundabout answer with the art of language.

She also said that she hoped to be a Han minister.

But Cao Cao never expected that this shocking change would come so quickly and in such a way to complete the handover of the Imperial Seal and the throne.

Qiao Yan did not break her promise to Qiao Xuan, but for the Han dynasty, she is still a rebel!

But Cao Cao couldn’t understand why, under Qiao Yan’s rule in Chang’an, the people who were deeply influenced by the idea of being subjects of the Han dynasty would so quickly believe that neither Liu Yu nor Liu Xie could lead them to the life they dreamed of, allowing them to survive in this chaotic world, to the extent that they even supported Qiao Yan to the throne.

He even more couldn’t understand why Lu Zhi, who fought to protect the Emperor during the chaos in Luoyang, could have used his status as Qiao Yan’s teacher to restrain her actions, but ultimately did not choose this path, instead standing with the main culprit of this change of dynasty.

Has the Han dynasty… really reached this point of being reviled by thousands, with no room for maneuver?

Liu Xie, who has the heart to plead for the people, must still have the shadow of the people in his heart, but it seems that his appearance did not change the tide of this dynasty change, but instead became a person who pushed the wave.

This seems to be using a firm enough tone to completely deny the vitality of the Han dynasty.

It also made Cao Cao, the moment he learned of this news, feel that something he once firmly believed in completely shattered.

“I think…”

Chen Gong had just started when Cao Cao raised his hand to stop him.

“Let me finish, there’s another question.”

His gaze finally moved from the book to Chen Gong’s face, and then he said, “Gongtai, since your support until now, in all matters we have discussed, there has never been any dispute delayed to the next day, the默契 between us as master and servant has long been famous in Yanzhou.”

“But why—”

“Why did you suddenly visit Zhang Mengzhuo this time without informing me?”