Chapter 425

Chapter 425

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Final Volume: The Rise and Fall of Kingdoms, The World United Chapter 425: The Fall of the Han Dynasty

From the book: Can a Strategist Not Ascend the Throne?

Chapter 425: The Fall of the Han Dynasty…

When these words were spoken, it was far more painful for Yuan Shao than if he were to die right now.

For many years, even though he knew full well what kind of achievements Qiao Yan held, he never truly placed himself beneath her.

It wasn’t until she established the Da Yong Dynasty and ascended to the highest position in the world that Yuan Shao reluctantly admitted that he was far inferior to Qiao Yan in both ability and courage.

Yet even so, facing the invasion of Da Yong’s troops, Yuan Shao still clung to a glimmer of hope that he could turn the tables at the last moment.

He refused to believe that someone could win with such a steady mindset, and he especially refused to believe that Qiao Yan, as a woman, could reach this final step.

But now, not only did he have to accept this outcome, he also had to shatter the nobility he had woven from his family background and experience on this court that had already changed hands.

He bore not only his own life but also the hope that the Yuan Clan of Runan would one day rise again.

Could he really place this hope on Yuan Yao, who had long since become Qiao Yan’s subordinate?

No, of course not!

But after reflecting on Qiao Yan’s various performances, this hope seemed so faint that it filled him with despair.

What was even more despairing was that when Ju Hu proposed this strategy to resolve the deadlock of the noble families in Hebei, Yuan Shao, though he didn’t look around, vaguely felt countless eyes staring at his back.

Whether he was willing to agree to such terms was not the most urgent matter. In any case, those who wanted to survive would surely force him to agree and would never give him the chance to seek his own death.

At no moment was Yuan Shao more clearly aware than now that the high status, admiration, and loyalty he had once taken for granted were nothing more than a castle in the air.

Now, this high tower had its foundation shattered by Qiao Yan’s strong soldiers and iron cavalry, collapsing immediately and revealing its true nature.

He was like someone just awakened from a dream, murmuring, “I am willing to follow this method.”

“Good!” Qiao Yan clapped her hands and replied, “If the noble families of Hebei and you, Yuan Benchu, have no objections, then let’s proceed with this method.”

“You have already said that Ji Province is rebellious, and I have led troops to pacify it. The wealth of the noble families now belongs to Da Yong and should no longer belong to you. I will send people to confiscate it immediately.”

“The rest of the labor income will be handed over to the Yuan Clan of Runan for counting and submission until the debt of grain is repaid.”

She suddenly looked towards the back of the crowd and said, “Ju Gongyu and Shen Zhengnan, as the leading scholars of Hebei, should set an example for the rest, right?”

Everyone quickly turned to look and saw that several people had appeared outside the hall, perhaps having watched the scene inside for some time. Among them were Ju Shou and Shen Pei, who had been captured earlier, along with… Yuan Shao’s three sons.

The handful of wheat in Yuan Shao’s hand suddenly fell.

There could be no more awkward situation than this.

Even though he knew that agreeing to this deal was to leave a living force for the Yuan Clan of Runan, being watched by his sons, whom he had always looked down upon, he almost crushed his back teeth on the spot.

However, under the threat of Qiao Yan’s overwhelming victory, even he had no room to resist, let alone his sons.

Instead, Ju Shou pushed aside the people restraining him, walked up to Yuan Shao, helped him up, and said to Qiao Yan, “A scholar can be killed but not humiliated. If Your Majesty of Da Yong wishes to humiliate the scholars of Hebei, you have misjudged our willingness to live and die with the Han Dynasty.”

“In the past, you once said that worms are born in peaches and plums, and it is hard to avoid. How can you take the words of Ju Hu and Shen Rong seriously! Since you are the victor today and we are the fish on the chopping block, we will accept death. There is no such thing as seeking survival!”

This sudden rebuttal caused the expressions of the Hebei scholars present to change.

Ju Shou could sacrifice himself for the country, but why drag them into it!

Fortunately, Qiao Yan did not seem displeased by Ju Shou’s sudden questioning. Instead, she watched with interest the varied expressions of the people present after his words, then asked, “Does Shen Zhengnan share this view?”

Shen Pei stood silently for a while.

If this question had been asked half a month ago, he might have given the same answer as Ju Shou.

Even more extreme, he might have slapped Shen Rong for agreeing to such a survival move.

But when it was thrown at him now, he suddenly hesitated.

He had seen the spirit of Da Yong’s soldiers and how they treated the people after entering Ji Province. This strict military discipline was something only a few units under Yuan Shao could achieve, and their common characteristic was that they received ample pay.

After being captured in Xiaquyang, Shen Pei followed the advancing army and heard many soldiers talking about Bingzhou and Guanzhong, and saw the situation in Yuan Shao’s army in contrast.

When he was escorted into Ye City and saw the bodies of soldiers dragged into the battle, and when he heard that Guo Tu and Feng Ji had been executed by Yuan Shao more than half a month ago to boost morale, the scale in his heart had already shifted invisibly.

So, should he choose to uphold Yuan Shao’s reputation and go to destruction with him, dragging the Yin’an Shen Clan down with him, or choose to defect and seek survival in a new way?

Under Ju Shou’s gaze, Shen Pei finally gave his answer, “Gongyu, we have done enough.”

From the death of Emperor Ling of Han in the sixth year of Zhongping to now, they had spent over seven years helping Yuan Shao and the Ye court establish themselves in Ji and Qing Provinces, only to end up being captured and marking the end of this chapter of their lives.

Even the most critical person could not say that they had been negligent in their duties as Yuan Shao’s subordinates!

But obviously, Yuan Shao did not give them the trust to fight to the end, nor did he have the ability and courage of someone who could contend for the world. With the arrival of this heaven-ordained person, he was gradually forced to reveal his true nature.

“Yuan Gong would rather believe that killing Guo Tu and Feng Ji could win over the noble families of Hebei than believe that we had already given our loyalty when we chose to serve under him, and no matter how high our positions, we never intended to overstep.”

Shen Pei’s tone grew firmer, “Gongyu, I’m sorry, I cannot stand with you now. Besides, you are willing to die to preserve the face of the Yuan Clan and to be buried with the Han Dynasty, but is your lord really willing?”

Yuan Shao probably was not willing.

When Ju Shou jumped out to defend his reputation, Yuan Shao even had a fleeting thought that Qiao Yan, to uphold the beautiful tale of loyalty between ruler and subject, might retract the previous humiliation.

But then he suddenly met Qiao Yan’s gaze.

In those eyes, there was not the slightest hint of being coerced in this manner, just as she did not need to meet Chen Lin before the battle for the sake of a reputation for treating scholars well!

Ju Shou’s questioning was likely not only unable to improve the current situation but would also bring even harsher blows to the noble families of Hebei and the Yuan Clan of Runan.

Compared to living on, counting grains of wheat, Yuan Shao could not accept that the reputation of the Yuan Clan would be spread in an even more disgraceful manner in the Leping Monthly Report, or that he would end up like He Miao, who was ordered by Dong Zhuo to die without a complete corpse!

He slowly released Ju Shou’s hand, grasped the grain of wheat that had not completely fallen from his fingers, and replied, “Thank you, Gongyu, for speaking up for me, but I am willing to accept this decision.”

“My lord…” Ju Shou was about to call out again, but he realized that Yuan Shao’s spirit had already been broken and could no longer bear such a burden. This absurd and pathetic ending was his own choice and did not need further comment from others.

Ju Shou’s heart was filled with complexity, but he finally closed his mouth.

But with Yuan Shao making this choice, where did that leave the Han Dynasty and their subordinates?

As the person in control of the situation, Qiao Yan obviously would not care about his feelings.

She said, “Alright, since that’s the case, you don’t need to force it. The matter of repaying the private debt is settled. Now let’s discuss state affairs.”

Seeing the people below standing like stone pillars, Qiao Yan added, “What, do you think I came to attack Ji Province just to collect this debt?”

She really seemed to think so!

Who could blame them, given the astronomical debt Yuan Shao owed and the method Qiao Yan proposed for repayment, which did not feel like a private matter at all!

Not to mention, the final solution to this debt was to confiscate the properties of the noble families of Hebei who participated in defending the city and turn them into laborers, with Yuan Shao personally counting wheat until he died.

Who could still think this was a private matter?

It was clearly Qiao Yan’s suppression of the noble families of Hebei for their previous wrong choices.

But when she said the words “state affairs,” there was no mistaking the seriousness in her tone!

Only then did everyone belatedly set aside the matter of Yuan Shao’s debt and return to the attack on Ji and Qing Provinces, immediately recalling the state letter Qiao Yan had sent in June.

From beginning to end, the phrase “orders should not come from two courts” was the reason she, as the Son of Heaven of Da Yong, personally led the expedition shortly after her ascension.

The focus was on the existence of Liu Bian, the Son of Heaven of the Han Dynasty, not Yuan Shao!

Damn it! Ju Hu inwardly cursed.

The mistake of the noble families of Hebei was not only supporting Yuan Shao but also charging into battle for Liu Bian as the legitimate heir of the Han Dynasty.

If he hadn’t been so clever earlier to preserve their lives by making such a concession to Qiao Yan, even gaining the approval of those with similar status present, they could have been punished for both crimes or had their penalties reduced gradually, rather than being in this situation…

To resolve the private matter, they had voluntarily handed over their property and even become laborers in Qiao Yan’s military farms, leaving them penniless. Now they had to face punishment for “state affairs,” and all they had left was their lives!

It was just that all the previous moves to preserve their lives had been their own initiative, not some misleading by Qiao Yan. Who could they blame?

Qiao Yan had already spoken from above, “What are state affairs? The false court in Ye City cannot protect the borders and bring peace to the people, causing refugees to rise everywhere; it cannot enrich the country and strengthen the military, leading to incidents of cannibalism during famines; it cannot educate the people, only推行种种愚民手段！朕承袭汉室之交托、民众之厚望，方有今日，何能见二州子民居于水火之中！”

Her gaze had already turned to Liu Bian.

The majesty of an emperor was clearly displayed in this exchange of glances.

Liu Bian, already terrified by the fall of Ye City, now saw that Qiao Yan had no intention of showing any old affection. In his fear, he stepped back repeatedly, and if not for the support of his guards, he would have fallen to the ground.

As soon as he steadied himself, he angrily said, “What do you want to do? I am the Son of Heaven of the Han Dynasty!”

“No…” he suddenly raised his voice, “Even if you consider the Ye court a false court, you should remember that it was my father who recognized your talent and gave you the opportunity to rise. Even if I am not the Son of Heaven, I am the Prince of Hongnong of the Han Dynasty. You cannot kill me!”

“Prince of Hongnong?” Qiao Yan shook her head and calmly replied, “You are mistaken. Among the descendants of the Han imperial family, only the Duke of Shanyang and the Duke of Anyi are recognized by me and treated with courtesy. Where is there a Prince of Hongnong? You can’t think that just because I sent you New Year’s gifts in the past, we have some kind of friendship, can you?”

“But you didn’t see that I sent you the yellow earth from Emperor Ling’s grave to remind you of your filial duty, but you didn’t respond. It seems you wanted to draw a line with him, so there’s no need to mention any personal feelings to me!”

“I also sent you my early study notes, hoping you would broaden your knowledge and cultivate yourself, but I never received any discussion or reply from you. All I saw was your poor judgment in people and your greed for the throne, bringing disaster to Ji and Qing Provinces. How dare you say I cannot treat you in any way!”

Qiao Yan’s words left Liu Bian with no room to refute.

He had indeed received these two gifts from Qiao Yan.

When the yellow earth from Liu Hong’s grave was presented to him, he even thought it was some kind of gesture from Qiao Yan.








The act of insinuating mockery.

No matter how important the notes she sent were considered by others, to Liu Bian, there were still people in Ye City who could teach him, so they were of little use.

How could he have imagined that these two New Year gifts would be brought up by Qiao Yan in such a way, becoming proof of his inability to be taught and unworthiness as a descendant of the Han Dynasty!

Her tone still exuded a confident calmness, but it clearly revealed her murderous intent, making his legs go completely weak.

Qiao Yan continued, “The leader of the false court, Liu Bian, an unfilial descendant of the late Emperor Ling of Han, established a new capital in Ye, falsely collected taxes from the people for seven years, imposed heavy corvée and military taxes, and now that Da Yong has conquered it, he should be beheaded as a warning to others!”

As a warning to others!

To warn the scattered descendants of the Han Dynasty that if they follow the path of Liu Xie and Liu Yu, even if they cannot enjoy the benefits of fiefs and estates, they will no longer face military suppression.

But if any of them insist on being foolish, imitating Liu Bei in assassination attempts or Liu Bian in thinking the Han Dynasty can make a comeback, claiming the title of Son of Heaven and launching attacks against Da Yong…

Then sorry, they can only be killed and beheaded as a warning!

This is the result she has chosen for Liu Bian.

She didn’t give Liu Bian any chance to defend himself. With a wave of her hand, someone stepped forward and, along with the attendant who had helped him stand, dragged him away.

Earlier, to find a place to hide from the Da Yong troops entering Ye City, Liu Bian had to remove his twelve-beaded crown and dragon robe, symbols of his status as the Son of Heaven, and hide in a dry well. When he was dragged away, he no longer had anything to signify his imperial status, looking more like a captured rebel leader.

No, compared to the rebel leaders who declared themselves emperors and generals at the end of the Han Dynasty, Liu Bian might even lack some of their imposing presence.

But regardless of his demeanor, he had temporarily disappeared from Qiao Yan’s sight and from the eyes of those present.

Before Ju Hu could lament Liu Bian’s sudden fate, Qiao Yan’s gaze fell upon him.

This sudden shift made his face pale.

For the people of Ji and Qing Provinces, Liu Bian, who once bore the name of the Han Dynasty’s Son of Heaven, was directly sentenced to death in this “state affair” trial. What kind of verdict would they face?

Simply put, Liu Bian was just a puppet pushed to the forefront by Yuan Shao, fitting the goal of shared governance between noble families and imperial power, hence sitting on the throne.

Perhaps there was some mutual agreement, but the accusations of “incompetence in governing Ji and Qing Provinces,” “imposing heavy taxes on the people,” and “excessive conscription” were actually orchestrated by Yuan Shao’s political group!

“All of you were once Han ministers,” Qiao Yan spoke again, only these six words.

But these six words, in the silent hall, were like a boulder thrown into a still lake, stirring up waves.

She suddenly stood up, speaking in an even more stern tone, “Under my command, there are also Han ministers. Grand Commandant Huangfu Yizhen, who worked tirelessly for the Han Dynasty, first quelling the Yellow Turban Rebellion, then campaigning in the frontier of Liang Province, serving diligently as a general for decades, never tarnishing the Huangfu family name. Others like Lord Lu and Lord Xun, who served the Han Dynasty with selfless dedication.”

“Yet the Han Dynasty declined, and the people’s hearts are with me. Han ministers can also serve Da Yong, all for the sake of peace and prosperity. Whether the world is ruled by the Liu or Qiao family has never been so important to them.”

“But for you, the change of imperial power seems like an opportunity to accumulate authority!”

“Let me ask, in all honesty, why should Ye City be defended?”

This tiny Ye City, is it truly the spiritual stronghold of the Han Dynasty, with wise emperors and saints residing within, compelling people to bow in admiration?

Or are they clinging to their so-called dignity and power, indifferent to how far behind the people under the Ye City court have fallen compared to other provinces.

“I also want to ask, between me and Liu Bian, who is more deserving of the throne, that you, Yuan Benchu, allied with the noble families of Hebei, could resort to assassination in desperation!”

Ju Shou gasped at this.

This was truly unexpected news, and indeed a dirty and disgraceful act.

He didn’t think Qiao Yan had any reason to fabricate at this point, and when he looked at Yuan Shao’s expression and actions, he could confirm it was true.

Although Qiao Yan seemed to brush it off and continued speaking, this unexpected news shattered another layer of Ju Shou’s admiration for Yuan Shao.

“The noble families of Hebei—”

Qiao Yan sneered, “Since my army marched south from Youzhou, east from Bingzhou, north from Yanzhou, and west from Xuzhou, with Guanzhong troops directly reaching Henei, finally converging on Ye City, the number of fortresses and towers seen along the way far exceeded other places. Is your Ji Province trying to replace Youzhou as a frontier stronghold?”

Of course, that’s not possible.

These fortresses, rather than being places to hide in times of trouble, were actually the core command centers for the noble families of Hebei to control the surrounding areas under Yuan Shao’s indulgence.

“For you, wealth can be easily abandoned, because you know that as long as you have the chance to rise again, you can quickly regain it through other means.”

“You owe not just the 50,000 dan of military grain that could feed the people, but also the lives lost due to your poor governance and excessive conscription!”

“And how many died in today’s city defense, not from our攻城, but from your orders not to retreat!”

How many… This is not an easy question to answer hastily.

Even Yuan Shao, who should have only given orders as a leader, drew his sword and killed today, let alone those under his command.

Qiao Yan continued slowly, “Since we’re discussing state affairs, the people are the foundation of the state. Let’s talk about this account.”

“General Ju, the solution you proposed earlier for that private debt was quite satisfactory. What brilliant idea do you have for this situation now?”

Ju Hu wished he had never given that answer before.

This current question… Even if he hadn’t participated in the city defense, it’s hard to answer.

If the punishment is severe, in Qiao Yan’s words, he could vaguely hear the implication of a life for a life, but how many people have died from disasters and wars over the years? It’s impossible to repay with the lives of these noble descendants!

They might have to chop off a few more heads.

He certainly couldn’t say something so offensive, sending all the Hebei nobles to their deaths.

And if this “brilliant idea” is too lenient, it might displease Qiao Yan, putting his hard-earned survival at risk again.

A layer of cold sweat appeared on his forehead in an instant.

But as he hesitated over how to answer, someone stepped forward before him.

Ju Shou bowed to Qiao Yan and said, “Your Majesty, please follow the precedents of Liang Province and Xuzhou.”

The Liang Province incident involved executing the guilty among the four prominent families of Hanyang based on public accusations.

The Xuzhou incident saw Liu Bei spared due to the people’s pleas.

This is indeed the fairest way and gives the people of Ji Province a proper explanation.

When these words came from Ju Shou, it added legitimacy to their execution.

There was no need to ask whether Ju Shou was trying to protect his son or had finally seen the situation clearly and was willing to cooperate with Qiao Yan. In any case, it was good news for her.

The Cui and Tian families serving under her, represented by Cui Lie, Cui Jun, and Tian Feng, were also part of the Hebei noble families. If they were to be completely eradicated, it would cause internal chaos.

Better to kill some and spare others.

And those spared would have to work for her to repay the “private debt” until Yuan Shao finished paying the grain debt!

The people of Ye City had already felt immense pressure when the capital was sealed, fearing the impending war would engulf them.

When they heard the size of the Da Yong army, they were prepared to be drafted into the city defense.

War is merciless, and they likely wouldn’t survive.

Yet they never expected the Da Yong army to breach the city so quickly, leaving no time for the Ye City defenders to reinforce. As they huddled in their homes, fearing disaster, they received reassuring news from the soldiers who entered the city—

“Troops entering the city must not harm the citizens. Violators will be punished by military law.”

After Yuan Shao and his “rebels” hiding in the streets were captured, they gained temporary peace.

But what surprised them even more was the news they heard three days later.

When the gongs rang through the streets, they heard that the emperor of the Ye City court, not established by proper rites and lacking governance skills, was to be publicly executed by Da Yong’s emperor to show the world there is only one legitimate dynasty, Da Yong.

Executing a former emperor was unheard of for the people of Ye City!

But that wasn’t all.

The Grand General who once issued orders in Ye City was now imprisoned, spending his days counting grains to understand the hardship of filling the granaries.

The noble descendants of Ji and Qing Provinces, along with the Yuan clan of Runan, would stand where Liu Bian was executed for a month, accepting accusations or pleas for mercy from the people of the two provinces.

If they were found guilty, they would be executed, following Liu Bian’s fate to join the false emperor.

If they had talent, they would first serve as laborers in Da Yong’s military farms for three years to atone for their crimes.

“With this method, some will inevitably slip through the cracks, won’t they?” Guo Jia mused, watching the crowd gather in the distance.

Qiao Yan stood with her hands behind her back, also looking in that direction, and replied, “Water too clear has no fish, it’s fine. Even if they do slip through, three years of military farm labor should change them. Besides—”

“Three years is enough for them to realize, in this ever-changing world, if they fall behind even a little, they’ll be left behind. And the smart people in this world aren’t just from these noble families.”

Guo Jia nodded, “That’s true. Then I congratulate Your Majesty in advance.”

Whether Ju Shou and Shen Pei would become Qiao Yan’s subordinates in three years wasn’t crucial in Da Yong’s talent-rich environment. What was certain was that the power dynamics in Hebei would undergo a stormy reshuffle.

And the weakened Hebei noble families, to reduce their grain debt, would have to follow Qiao Yan closely, becoming useful talents under her command.

Ironically, both assisting Yuan Shao in repaying the debt and following Qiao Yan’s precedents came from their own mouths.

How absurd and laughable!

But perhaps even more laughable was Liu Bian’s state when he was pushed onto the execution platform—half-mad and half-delusional.

He seemed still immersed in the dream of being the Son of Heaven, mistaking the onlookers for his subordinates and gesturing for them to rise while wearing prison clothes.

But soon, he was restrained by the soldiers and tied firmly to the execution platform.

Qiao Yan might have felt some sympathy for his helplessness, but unlike Liu Xie and Liu Yu, letting him live would only cause trouble.

Moreover, compared to Liu Bian, the common people who still didn’t know the state of the world were more deserving of sympathy.

The midday sun shone intensely on the land of Ye City.

As the axe fell, Guo Jia heard Qiao Yan summarize Liu Bian’s death with one sentence—

“This is the complete end of the Han Dynasty.”