Chapter 426

Chapter 426

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Final Volume: The Rise and Fall of Kingly Ambitions, Unification of the World, Chapter 426: Preparing to Return Home

Although when Qiao Yan ascended the throne, it was already the transition between the Han and Yong dynasties, marking the complete arrival of her era, before the complete collapse of the Ye City court, there would still be some dissenting voices in the world.

The Han Dynasty’s repeated efforts to turn the tide always left people with a glimmer of hope for a comeback, and Liu Bian’s situation was undoubtedly better than that of Emperor Guangwu in his early days.

Who knows if he might have a chance to rise again?

Wait, according to the current timeline, the phrase “rise again” hasn’t been coined yet. Even if there were a Xie An in the future, it certainly wouldn’t be the Xie An from the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

Now that Qiao Yan holds the reins of the world, she will never allow the chaos of the Five Barbarians or the Yongjia Southward Migration to happen.

“Have someone bury Liu Bian’s body.”

In her earlier court speech, she did not acknowledge Liu Bian’s status as the Prince of Hongnong, only recognizing the Dukes of Shanyang and Anyi she had enfeoffed. But now that she has completely extinguished the last ember of the Han Dynasty, it wouldn’t hurt to give him a dignified burial.

If she didn’t show some leniency, the noble families of Hebei awaiting judgment might start thinking she was another Dong Zhuo.

But for the defeated side, the treatment of the Hebei noble families wasn’t too bad.

Those who had chosen the right side early and served under her—Cui Yan, who had been the Inspector of Bingzhou during her time as the Prefect of Bingzhou, continued to follow Zheng Xuan in scholarly pursuits while also holding a position in the Imperial Secretariat as one of the Emperor’s close advisors.

Cui Lie retired in Bingzhou, while his son Cui Jun took up the post of Governor of Yu Province.

Tian Feng, who had been assisting in the strategic planning of Youzhou, was now promoted based on his merits in the campaign against Yuan Shao.

The Zhen family of Zhongshan, who had quickly switched sides during the campaign against Ye City, also reaped many benefits.

The Zhen family hadn’t made their fortune through commerce. Tracing back to the time of Wang Mang’s usurpation, Zhen Han had once held the title of Grand Marshal, and Zhen Feng had been the Minister of Works. However, with the establishment of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the family gradually declined. By the time of Zhen Fu’s father, they had only reached the position of Magistrate of Shangcai, and due to his early death, he couldn’t provide much support to the family.

But thanks to their foresight in defecting and Zhen Yan’s leadership in opening the way for Lü Bu and others to join forces with Zhao Yun, they successfully hitched a ride on the Da Yong war chariot.

Zhen Yan himself became the county magistrate of Xiaquyang, while his sister, who was supposed to become Yuan Xi’s second wife next year, was sent to study at Leping Academy, showing signs of being groomed as a core official of Da Yong.

So, what’s wrong with dealing with the traitors who sided with Yuan Shao in a fair and just manner?

The Son of Heaven of Da Yong personally led the campaign, and the Da Yong army invaded on all fronts—this was certainly not a mission of amnesty!

“However, even though I understand this is the necessary path to eliminate the bad and keep the good, facing such a scene still makes one feel… a bit melancholic,” said Cui Lie, who had just arrived in Ji Province and encountered the second day of the trials of the Hebei noble families.

Considering his age, he should have been considered as having lost his integrity long ago when he spent five million coins to buy the position of Minister over the Masses among the Three Excellencies. Now, he was even more worn out.

Fortunately, he was luckier than most, having been chosen by Emperor Ling of Han back in the day to suppress and protect Qiao Yan, and he wasn’t transferred away from Bingzhou when Qiao Yan became its Prefect. Thus, he could still barely claim the title of Imperial Tutor based on his early “guidance.”

By now, Cui Lie certainly wouldn’t be so foolish as to use this connection to seek favors for the Hebei noble families. But ensuring that the Boling and Qinghe branches of the Cui family survived the transition between Ji and Qing Provinces was still acceptable.

The Cui family had produced many renowned scholars, and apart from his own misstep as a “money-grubber,” their family ethos was closer to that of the Yuan family of Chen Commandery. Even if Cui Lie hadn’t personally intervened, disaster wouldn’t have befallen them.

After all, Qiao Yan owed not just Cui Lie a favor, but also Cui Shi, who had written the agricultural book “Monthly Ordinances for the Four Classes of People.”

But Cui Lie’s personal presence indeed had a calming effect on the Hebei noble families who hadn’t been involved, more so than any official appointments.

Qiao Yan replied to Cui Lie, “The initiative to make a choice was originally in their hands. No one forced them. Yuan Shao, in his efforts to win over the Hebei noble families, didn’t hesitate to kill Guo Tu and Feng Ji to show his determination, which shows their status. It’s said that governance should be based on virtue. Since they have no virtue, why should they govern?”

Cui Lie sighed, “As Your Majesty says, since they brought this upon themselves, their leaders must be executed as a warning to others. In fact, Your Majesty has already shown mercy.”

If Qiao Yan hadn’t kept the assassination attempt under wraps, merely mentioning it in passing as a rebuke to Yuan Shao, the bloodshed among the Hebei noble families would have been far worse.

That was an attempt to assassinate the Son of Heaven!

The wrath of the Son of Heaven could lead to millions of corpses—this was no trivial matter.

Even if Qiao Yan didn’t pay much attention to a failed and laughable assassination attempt, few among her subordinates could tolerate the idea that someone harbored such intentions!

Especially Lu Lingju, who idolized Qiao Yan the most, immediately grabbed her long spear and went to settle scores with the mastermind.

Fortunately, she wasn’t impulsive enough to smash Yuan Shao’s head on the spot but instead left after watching him count wheat for half an hour.

Cui Lie initially thought that Lu Lingju felt Yuan Shao’s fall from Grand General to prisoner was pitiful enough and refrained from kicking him while he was down. But within two hours, two more people appeared near Yuan Shao’s cell.

Both had received wages from Lu Lingju for their tasks.

The first was responsible for eating a feast in front of Yuan Shao while he could only eat prison food, and the other was tasked with counting soybeans—out loud—across from Yuan Shao.

Upon inquiry, Cui Lie learned that the second task was a suggestion Lu Lingju got from Sima Yi.

For a moment, he wasn’t sure whether to pity Yuan Shao for his already miserable situation being made worse or to marvel at the astonishing capabilities of the next generation of officials Qiao Yan had nurtured.

These second-generation officials, still children in his eyes, despite their methods, never disrupted Qiao Yan’s plans or caused her trouble, showing a good sense of propriety.

As Qiao Yan said, for some, living to see Da Yong’s prosperity and enduring these trials was far more torturous than death.

Moreover, could Yuan Shao really protect his three sons as he wished?

Few could hold high positions and still gain as much prestige as Ju Shou and Shen Pei!

Within just half a month, the successive deaths in Ji and Qing Provinces…








The famous execution ground on the long street of Ye City has been almost soaked in blood by the orders of the elite. Initially, the people who rushed to the scene were hesitant, unsure if Qiao Yan’s drastic measures were just for show.

However, the death of Liu Bian seemed to give them the courage to report, and with the first criminal official executed as an example, numerous accusations were submitted to Qiao Yan. Her subordinates took over the records of Ji and Qing Provinces to verify these claims.

Unfortunately, among those sentenced to death was Yuan Shang.

Yuan Shang, the most favored by Yuan Shao, had once asked for ice to cool down when captured by Cao Cao, revealing the extent of his pampered life!

Outwardly, he was the epitome of what Yuan Shao admired—handsome, respectful to elders, and eloquent. But behind the scenes, he was involved in numerous misdeeds, including bullying and land grabbing.

At the moment of his execution, no amount of panic or despair could save him.

He couldn’t expect his father to rescue him, only to see the surrounding commoners clapping and cheering as the blade fell.

Qiao Yan brought the news of Yuan Shang’s death to Yuan Shao.

The once prominent figure now looked several years older, his aging evident not just in his complexion and hair, but also in his slightly hunched back and the momentary pause as he sifted through grains.

But upon hearing that Yuan Xi and Yuan Tan had survived and become laborers, his hands quickened their pace.

This grain-counting task offered no chance for slacking; any slowdown would prompt a “reminder” to speed up.

He avoided looking at Qiao Yan, fearing that seeing her as the undisputed ruler might make him retract his resignation and do something foolish that would doom the Yuan clan. He feared he might not endure the monotonous torment and choose to end his own life.

Instead, he watched the grains flow through his hands, feeling as if he were watching the sands of history slip by, beyond his control.

As Qiao Yan’s footsteps faded, he counted the last grain, the only thing he could still handle.

From then on, the affairs of Ji Province were no longer his concern.

“By the way, Your Majesty, who do you plan to appoint as the new Governor of Ji Province?” Cao Cao asked Qiao Yan after hearing about Yuan Shao’s fate, sighing before speaking.

The position of Governor of Qing Province had been Jia Xu’s for the taking even before Qing Province was reclaimed.

Although Jia Xu’s absence from the meeting in Ye City was partly due to laziness, it was also because he was busy restoring governance in Qing Province.

Thus, only the position of Governor of Ji Province remained vacant.

The influence of the Ye City court would linger in Ji Province for a long time. As Qiao Yan had said, Ji and Qing Provinces were years behind other regions. Appointing someone to govern here required a trusted confidant with the courage and capability to restore order post-war.

Qiao Yan replied almost without hesitation, “I intend to appoint Cao Ang as the Prefect of Hanzhong and recall Xu Shu to take over Ji Province.”

“Moreover, too many personnel were left in Youzhou, originally prepared for the conquest of Ji Province. It’s time to reassign them.”

Having Zhuge Liang, Sima Yi, and Lu Yi all in one province, along with Xun You, was a waste. Sima Yi was already slated to assist Cui Jun in Yu Province, so the other three should be distributed to three different provinces.

Including the reassignment of generals, adjustments should be made upon returning to Chang’an.

Appointing Xu Shu as Governor of Ji Province was not surprising to Cao Cao.

He truly met the criteria of a loyal, capable, and experienced official.

However, appointing Cao Ang as Prefect of Hanzhong was indeed a surprise to Cao Cao.

But when he met Qiao Yan’s gaze, he saw her confidence in making this appointment.

If she dared to appoint Cao Cao as General of the Chariots and Cavalry, why wouldn’t she dare to appoint Cao Ang as an official?

Chang’an, north of Hanzhong, was her base of power. Yizhou, north of Hanzhong, was no longer isolated after the pacification of the southern barbarians. Hanzhong, in the middle, would not lose its authority just because of who was appointed there.

This was the confidence of a powerful emperor!

She continued in a casual tone, “Speaking of too many personnel, there’s an interesting matter. A few days ago, I received news from Qing Province that the Funan ships regularly sent from Jiaozhou in August had arrived at the port of Donglai County. However, Donglai had already been captured by Sun Guan and Jiang Qin, rendering the ships useless. The Jiaozhou scholar who came with them was so anxious he cried.”

“I could only reply that the sea is vast, and beyond the islands like Yizhou and Ryukyu, there are countless territories and species. Perhaps there are crops beyond the ocean that yield a thousand catties per mu and are resistant to drought and locusts. These ships will surely find their use.”

“Mengde, don’t you think so?”

The world may be settled, but her journey is far from over!

Cao Cao couldn’t help but feel a surge of ambition at her words, “It seems the military positions Your Majesty established during the war might not be disbanded so soon?”

Qiao Yan didn’t answer directly, only saying, “That depends on your performance, Mengde.”

In any case, it was time for them to return to the capital!

To Qiao Yan’s surprise, as they were about to leave Ji Province, Ren Hong approached her with an interesting matter.

“A few days ago, among those who accused the wealthy families of Anping County was a thirteen-year-old girl. I happened to meet her and, seeing her intelligence, decided to take her as my disciple and bring her back. But…”

“But what?” Thinking back to when she first met Ren Hong, she had been taken as a disciple by Ma Lun after the Luoyang palace coup and brought to Bingzhou, just beginning to glimpse a path to change her destiny, not yet realizing she could achieve the vision of “the swan’s feathers not flying low.” Now, she was taking on a disciple herself, which brought a sense of fulfillment, like watching a young sprout grow.

“Her courtesy name is quite special,” Ren Hong replied. “The girl’s name is Guo Zhao. Her father was the Prefect of Nan Commandery in the late Han dynasty. Amazed by her early wisdom, he gave her the courtesy name ‘Queen,’ meaning she is the queen among our family’s women.”

So, combining her surname with her courtesy name, it becomes—

Guo Queen.

“Are you asking if her name is presumptuous?” Qiao Yan, seeing Ren Hong’s hesitation, interjected.

Before Ren Hong could reply, she laughed heartily, “Why worry so much? If she truly has the ability to rise to the top and strive to be a queen, then let her try. In a few years, perhaps there will be another woman among the Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers!”