“Can strategists really not ascend to the throne?”
In the seventh year of Guanghe, after the Yellow Turban Rebellion was quelled, I made my entrance into Luoyang, and now it seems over twelve years have passed since then.
Twelve years…
From that initial arrival to now, having conquered Yecheng and assumed control over thirteen provinces, this journey appears to have been filled with triumph after triumph, yet it’s been fraught with storms and dangers.
If there had been a moment of oversight, she could have met her end in the fierce competition for power!
Fortunately, whether it was gaining the trust of Emperor Ling of Han back then, consolidating military power in Bingzhou and Liangzhou into her own hands, or commanding the various forces across the nine provinces, she has successfully survived to this final chapter of unifying the realm with the battle for Yecheng.
Regardless of her opponents or allies, whether they would see this grand occasion or not, this celebration, marking the end of a united world, would certainly draw crowds.
Interestingly, among those who welcomed her back then was Bi Lan, a eunuch, skilled but viewed merely as an accomplice in a treacherous trade. Now, he had transformed into a prominent figure in managing the riverworks since that Dragon Bone Waterwheel project.
With the support of Yanzhou, Ji Province, and Qingzhou, repairs on the Yellow River’s waterworks were about to start downstream. He happened to be in Luoyang, collaborating with Fu Shou on fortifying the ten-mile watergate, just in time for the festivities.
Back then, there was also Yuan Shao, a man from a noble family, but his current situation is vastly different from what it was back then.
As a prisoner still supposed to be counting, he would miss this spectacle.
“It’s a pity we still need some stationed troops to prevent any slip-ups during this preparation period of half a month to a month; not everyone can attend,” Ren Hong said, a bit regretfully.
If everyone were gathered, witnessing the sheer number of capable individuals under the Emperor would surely be a breathtaking sight, a moment worthy of being recorded by historians.
Sadly, those who couldn’t come simply couldn’t come.
For example, Lu Yuan was presently returning to Liangzhou with Yu Fan and Zuo Ci. Stationed at the border, he had significant responsibilities in strategizing for the western territories, so he couldn’t just reverse and attend this celebration.
The time wasted on the journey back and forth would be crucial during the ongoing battles in the outer territories; nobody could say for certain whether they’d miss a golden opportunity.
Then there’s Xun You, who’s currently holding the fort in Youzhou.
Zhuge Liang could come south due to his transfer to Ji Province, but Xun You had to transmit news of pacifying Ji and Qing provinces back to Youzhou, to prevent any small-scale disturbances that might threaten the vast region of Youzhou.
Also absent would likely be Jia Xu.
However, for him, these large gatherings might not be very necessary; he might end up discussing old schemes he pulled against Dong Zhuo during his stay in Changan if someone came to chat with him.
Better to stick with officials from Qingzhou and find out their hidden backgrounds.
Among those attending this event, the most eye-catching would probably be Lü Bu.
Actually, Guo Zhao didn’t initially recognize Lü Bu when Ren Hong brought him along. But on this journey from Yecheng to Luoyang, Lü Bu’s pride was so evident that she couldn’t pretend not to see it.
She couldn’t help but whisper to Ren Hong, “With the wisdom of His Majesty, he must know the principle of ‘full moon wanes,’ so why allow General Lü to be so… flamboyant?”
Ren Hong shook her head. “This is His Majesty’s wisdom in managing his subordinates. For the likes of Yang Dezu from noble families, the Emperor must temper their enthusiasm and teach them to act cautiously. However, for leaders like Lü Fengxian, as long as they remember they have a true leader above them during their exploits, they’ll only be a blade for others. Besides, look at what he’s proud of?”
Lü Bu’s straightforward nature was clearly not because of his accomplishments in the campaign to the south; after all, it was Lü Lingju who snatched that battle glory when he defeated Gao Shun at Beiping County. He could only see it as a loss.
What he was relishing was finally not missing this opportunity to participate in this awarding ceremony, after previously missing the Emperor’s coronation.
As Guo Zhao deliberately slowed down near the cavalry led by Lü Bu, she overheard him tell his subordinates, “Back then, when I saw His Majesty returning with his guards, everyone atop their proud steeds, all bearing the heads of various foes, it was an awe-inspiring sight! I thought to myself, a true man should achieve such grandeur.”
“Thinking back now, I really have good foresight.”
Lü Bu wasn’t like Xiang Yu; he didn’t aspire to dominate the world, at most he was just an exceptional sword that required a stronger warrior to wield it effectively, and when he met a wise lord, he became the perfect tiger general.
And among Qiao Yan’s leadership, there were more than just one or two capable generals or strategists that could have been appointed suitably.
Yang Xiu, trusted by Yang Biao, representing the powerful Yang family in court, was one.
Chuyan and Yao Chang, both currently making a name for themselves in Yizhou, also counted.
Ni Heng, whose talent was more of a weapon against his rivals, could be counted as half.
…
Then, when this grand procession reached Luoyang, it was Xun Yu, serving as magistrate, who came out to greet them.
His hesitation during Qiao Yan’s campaigns in Liangzhou and Guanzhong, the step-by-step approach while she held the title of Grand Marshal, and the decision he ultimately made as a classic representative of noble families as she was about to ascend further, all turned into his bow of submission to the emperor at this moment.
His talent for governance, like that of Wang Zuo, might not just be for the Han House to rise again but for Da Yong’s territory to thrive peacefully and orderly.
As the troops established their camp in the northern outskirts of Luoyang, many locals gathered in that countryside between Mang Mountain and Luoyang, filled with eager anticipation in their eyes from Xun Yu’s perspective.
This made Xun Yu reminisce that when Yuan Shao sent Zhang He and Xin Pi to attack Mengjin previously, these Luoyang citizens had also rushed to assist in defending Luoyang, ready to impede Yuan Shao’s forces from entering.
This obvious show of support had far more impact than previously muttered words of “Han people” at this critical time.
What is true popular support? This is it!
Last year, their reactions to the celestial signs, their support during the recent upheaval in Chang’an, their responses to conscription calls, and the myriad discussions when the noble families’ prison carts passed through Yanzhou, all culminated in this moment, turning into the tender “I’m not at ease” response from Qiao Yan.
It is precisely because…
She was uneasy about handing over these people, who had barely escaped from suffering, to someone else. The citizens under her care had developed a keen concern for her as well.
In October, the weather started to cool down a bit, but the excitement that rose to a peak with Qiao Yan’s arrival wrapped Luoyang in a blazing wave of enthusiasm.
Xun Yu bowed deeply to the victorious troop.
This was the most formal gesture of submission since the last discussion of “Loyal Rulers and Faithful Ministers.”
Luoyang officially kicked into gear thanks to the tight preparations for this celebration.
Unfortunately, Liu Xie had temporarily gone to Leping with his adoptive father. Thanks to Qiao Yan’s “help,” he could pretend to be a lucky ordinary boy who got noticed by Yang Xiu and was able to attend the academy. Otherwise, he would have seen how busy his former neighbors were in recent days.
Luoyang’s North and South Palaces had both been burned before, which was not a great omen. It was thanks to the unity of the Luoyang citizens against the enemy that this place could replace Qiao Yan’s hometown of Leping and her capital city of Chang’an as the venue for this celebration.
They certainly couldn’t drag their feet on the image now.
“Unfortunately, Luoyang doesn’t have the newly paved concrete roads like Chang’an, so your Majesty’s heavy cavalry probably can’t just parade through the city; they might have to stay outside.”
Just as the man muttered this, he suddenly got flicked on the head.
“If you’re thinking you can slack off on cleaning just because of that, see how you explain that to the neighbors.”
The man looked around and noticed several others cleaning outside also glancing at him.
He quickly raised his hands in defense, “Hey, I’m just curious if the city outside needs help. I can’t afford to be lazy with this Luoyang makeover. Didn’t the Majesty say, with winter coming, we need to make sure everything’s clean inside and out to prevent any sudden outbreaks?”
“The Majesty brought back soldiers from Guanzhong; what do you need to worry about the situation outside for?” teased a neighbor.
They weren’t just concerned about the construction for this celebration.
The grains from Guanzhong and the meats from the North were still being delivered steadily to Luoyang.
This year’s harvest, despite the army’s consumption, still left plenty to support Qiao Yan’s intended tax cuts for next year.
Even though this order would probably be announced in January next year instead of now, the arrival of tens of thousands of soldiers didn’t disturb the citizens’ lives, and food prices didn’t increase, which was good news for them.
There was even a fresh batch of cotton arriving just in time due to the autumn harvest, allowing them to buy winter clothes at relatively low prices before winter set in.
The man looked down to see his child touching the new clothes and asking, “Dad, will there be fireworks at the Luoyang celebration?”
Probably.
Those were only seen by the folks in Chang’an, while others could only hear about it from others’ narratives or paintings.
Now it was their turn.
Seeing her father nod, she asked, “Will the fireworks fall on our new clothes?”
“Of course not!” Just as she asked this, a passing female general shouted back, “The Majesty watches over the people, so the fireworks will be set off with people in mind.”
The little girl nodded in a half-understanding way.
But she couldn’t quite grasp why the female officer walking with this general suddenly turned dark-faced upon hearing this and they walked away exchanging louder words.
“Can you not lead the little kids astray like that?” Huang Yueying sighed and rubbed her forehead, “What if she really believes the fireworks will magically steer clear of people and ends up in trouble? That would be a big headache.”
Don’t underestimate a kid’s curiosity!
Lu Lingju, rarely serious, replied, “You’re overthinking it. We follow the Majesty’s military orders, whether breaking enemy camps or ensuring safety during this celebration. If we let the child get close enough to get hurt, then we might as well quit.”
“Besides, when that child asked questions, wasn’t she still touching her new clothes?” Her previously playful gaze showed a fleeting hint of nostalgia, but Huang Yueying felt this wasn’t a mistake on her part, “Don’t worry, she won’t get too close.”
“Instead of worrying about that, how about thinking if the fireworks in Luoyang can be more impressive than the ones in Chang’an? And whether the textile machines can be improved or scaled up to provide another pair of clothes?”
Huang Yueying was about to praise Lu Lingju for how much she had grown over the years, but then she suddenly shifted her tone, “But speaking of clothes, I just remembered something: is the Majesty planning to wear armor or the imperial crown for this celebration?”
Huang Yueying: “…Why did you suddenly think of that?”
Lu Lingju replied, “Who said the Majesty mentioned this is the celebration for the conquest of Jiqing? It’s also the case that she is the commander. Since she wore armor when calling the troops from Chang’an, it shouldn’t be wrong to wear it today.”
“But since it’s a celebration announcing peace across the seas, don’t you think wearing the imperial crown and ceremonial robes would be more suitable?”
“How about both—wear the crown of twelve tassels and the armor?”
Huang Yueying had nothing to say to that.
She tried hard not to let her expression slip at this moment and asked, “Do you think that looks good?”
She could bet that if Lu Lingju dared to bring this up in front of Qiao Yan, she would probably be looking for a fight…
But then again, maybe this kind of cluelessness would actually earn the Majesty’s favor?
Huang Yueying pondered for a moment and decided not to comment.
Ultimately, what attire would be worn for this celebration was not the main focus of this gathering in Luoyang.
She thought about something the Majesty had already entrusted to the Ministry of Works two months ago, and a smile unavoidably crept onto her face.
It was a particularly special “merit book.”
Just like Xun Yu and Zhuge Liang made contributions in governance, like Guo Jia and Sima Yi strategized, like Zhao Yun and Lu Lingju would fight in the field, like Lu Yuan and Wang Yi held the borders, or like Zhaoji held tightly to the medium of culture, none of those were paths she could tread.
But with her mind and her hands, she could carve her name upon it, and that was the meaning of her being here today.
And—
That was the significance of this Luoyang merit celebration!
