Wait, please don't call me Emperor Zhaolie

Chapter 313: Ju Shou: King of Han, you can't lose to Guangwu
As the sun sets, almost half of the sky is dyed with a faint glow, and the remaining light of the evening shines on the city walls of Xindu, showing its decadence.

The spots on the city wall seem to witness the rise of Emperor Guangwu and the decline of the Later Han Dynasty.

As soon as Yuan Shang gave the order, the sound of the soldiers defending the city throwing away their armor and helmets could be heard everywhere.

Before long, only the Liu family flag was left, rustling in the wind, but this Han was not the same Han.

After a while, the city gate burst open, and several Yuan army knights rode out and shouted to the Han army: "King of Han, don't attack. The Yuan family surrenders! The Yuan family surrenders!!"

After a while, Yuan Shao's son Yuan Shang took off his robe, walked in front, lowered his head, tied his hands behind his back with ropes, faced forward, and held a jade in his mouth to show his surrender.

Yuan Shao's wife, Liu, held a sheep in her left hand and straw in her right hand, and walked forward with her head bowed to apologize.

Behind them followed dozens of Yuan family members, men, women, old and young, including relatives and families of Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi who lived far away in Julu and Zhongshan. Many of Yuan's wives, concubines and children were all sobbing with grief.

Many women looked listless and haggard, worrying about their own future and the future of their children.

Some beautiful maids and concubines who had no children followed at the back, secretly weeping and not daring to cry out loud.

They were even more afraid of their future fate. Whether they were detained in Hebei and used for entertainment by others, or followed Yuan to the freezing cold land of Lelang, Korea, their end would be miserable.

Thinking of the separation from their family members, they all cried and sobbed.

Liu Bei stood on the top of the slope, looking at the Yuan family members tied up with ropes and leaving the city dejectedly. He couldn't help feeling a little funny.

This is the fate of the kings and the losers. He did not exterminate the three tribes, but merely moved the entire clan to the border counties. After all, that place was also part of the 3,000-li river and mountains.

If we can live and multiply peacefully for a hundred years and then expand Lelang County several times, it can also be regarded as a foreign land in the Central Plains. It can also avoid the oppression of the world's gentry and powerful families. Why not do it?

It's just that in this process, many people of the Yuan family might die. However, they were spared the death penalty despite being guilty, and now they are opening up the border for the Han Dynasty, which is already extremely valuable.

At least it is much better than the Yuan family in history.

Liu Bei sighed silently in his heart: "Yuan Shi is lucky to have met me. If it were Cao Mengde and Sima Zhongda, father and son, they would have bullied orphans and widows, and used seduction to gain the world, making the Hu people laugh at them."

Then he waved his hand and ordered Xu Chu to lead the soldiers to bring the first few people of the Yuan family to him, and also to tie up the clerks following behind the Yuan family first.

Xu Chu did not let the King of Han wait too long. Amidst the noise, he brought all the important people of the Yuan family over. They were like deflated wild birds, with their heads hung low and unable to walk with strength.

If there hadn't been a soldier pulling the hemp rope in front of them, these people would have almost collapsed to the ground.

There were also subordinate officials such as Shen Pei, Ju Shou, Xin Ping, and Xun Chen, all of whom had their hands tied behind their backs with ropes, and walked over with their heads drooping and dragging their feet.

Liu Bei looked around and saw that everyone looked panic-stricken and did not dare to look at him. Only a woman in plain mourning robe raised her head and looked at him, tears in her eyes. She looked pitiful, graceful and charming.

This made Liu Bei, who had left his family in Henei County and was busy with the affairs of the King of Han in Luoyang and had not slept with his wives and concubines for a long time, couldn't help but take a few more glances.

I couldn't help but secretly think: "Sure enough, he wants to dress up in mourning!"

But I don’t know who this woman is to Yuan Shao. Judging from her attire, could she be his wife Liu?

Considering that Cao Mengde attacked Hebei many years later than him, even if he conquered Yecheng, Liu was much older. If it happened to be this age, I don't believe Cao Mengde would be able to tolerate it.

After all, Liu Xuande couldn't help but take a few more glances at Liu's outfit, not to mention Cao Aman...

Although Liu Bei was thinking about interesting things in his heart, his eyes quickly passed by Liu's clothes and finally fell on Xun Chen. He raised his whip and pointed at him and said with a smile: "Youruo, I am leading a large army to the city. It will take only a day to break the city and kill the people. Why do you still need to persuade Yuan Shi to surrender? It is superfluous and useless!"

Yuan Shao's widow, Mrs. Liu, was originally delighted that Liu Bei's gaze stayed on her for a while, but when she saw him quickly look away, she thought that the King of Han did not want to lose his composure in front of everyone.

She was still thinking, if the King of Han wanted to make love in bed tonight, should she be reserved first and then let the King of Han do what he wants, or should she just stand up and greet him, go to Wushan together with him.

After all, she is the fish on the chopping board.

If the King of Han cares about his reputation and wants to keep her outdoors, it is not impossible for me to agree to it. As long as she is not forced to suffer in a cold and bitter place, I am willing to do anything.

Liu also persuaded herself in her heart that as long as she could stay in the Central Plains, there would still be a chance for her son to come back.

But before he could finish his daydreaming, he heard murderous intent in the voice of Liu Bei as he talked and laughed.

Liu's reverie came to an abrupt end. Her face turned pale as paper in an instant and she couldn't help but let out a short, trembling scream of "Ah!"

Before everyone looked over, he quickly lowered his head, whimpering softly, and was so frightened that he didn't dare to breathe.

When the other Yuan family members heard what the King of Han said, they also began to sweat and felt like they were sifting through chaff, and their hands and feet became weak.

Yuan Shang trembled even more, and subconsciously wanted to kowtow and beg for mercy, but the rope that bound him was in Xu Chu's hands again.

Xu Chu grasped the other end of the rope tightly and pulled it upwards. Yuan Shang couldn't even kneel down, and his legs were shaking in the air.

Yuan Shang was extremely panicked, but he didn't dare to spit out the jade disk in his mouth. He could only explain to the King of Han hesitantly and inarticulately.

Shen Pei, Ju Su, Xin Ping, Xun Chen and other clerks were even more frightened when they heard the news.

"Your Majesty is loyal, filial, kind, and benevolent. He respects the virtuous and enjoys the company of scholars. Although the Yuan family has been defeated, they still have the strength to fight again. The sons of the Yuan family are not lazy and indolent. They only enjoy music and women and love dogs and horses. How can they be regarded as ants?"

"The surrender of the Yuan family is a sign of the will of heaven, which makes the king feel uneasy. In the past, Wei Zi left Yin and joined Zhou, and Xiang Bo betrayed Chu and returned to Han. They all knew that it was the will of heaven. The king should not vent his anger by killing the whole clan and lose the hearts of the people. Please think twice!"

Xun Chen's hands were tied, so it was difficult for him to bow and salute. In the end, he just knelt on the ground and kowtowed.

At this moment, he was most afraid that the King of Han would suddenly turn against him and want to exterminate the Yuan family. Then, he, who had patted his chest to persuade the King to surrender, would be infamous for eternity.

Shen Pei, Xin Ping, and Ju Su also knelt on the ground, kowtowed repeatedly and advised: "Han Wang, don't forget the story of Emperor Guangwu. Zhu Yu, who had a grudge against his brother, was forgiven. He also swore an oath on the water. The river is here, and he will never break his promise. Your Majesty will be the master of the country in the future, how can you break your promise?"

Ju Su also said anxiously: "Your Majesty has conquered the world with a heart of benevolence and righteousness. He is chivalrous and righteous, and his kindness and wisdom are unparalleled. Wherever your army passes, there is no plundering. You are even better than Emperor Guangwu."

"Even Emperor Guangwu was able to forgive the rebels and surrendered generals. How can Your Majesty, who is carrying on the legacy of Emperor Gaozu, be inferior to him?"

Ju Su finished his words quickly and bowed his head.

(End of this chapter)