The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 333: Li Yi Leads the Court of Ministers in Advancing to the Throne; Liu Bei Assumes the Throne with the Dragon Robe.

In the first month of the seventeenth year of Jian'an, spring began.

Due to the unfavorable situation in the Hanzhong campaign, Liu Bei hastily ended the war in order to minimize losses.

They led their exhausted troops back to Luoyang to set up camp.

As for the rest of the combat troops, they went to the quartermaster, received their rewards, and returned home to recuperate.

The soldiers received their reward, and their complaints ceased; they each expressed their gratitude.

I'm going home now, no need to elaborate.

However, Liu Bei did not lead his troops from Xuzhou back to Xiapi.

Not only did he not return himself, but he also sent orders to a group of high-ranking officials, including Li Yi, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Chen Deng, telling them that they did not need to rush back to their respective territories.

The reason given was that Luoyang was the former capital of the Han Dynasty, and the State of Qi had always taken it upon itself to restore the Han Dynasty.

Since you are all high-ranking officials in the country, and have come to this sacred place, you should pay your respects and learn from it.

Therefore, the group of high-ranking officials temporarily stayed in Luoyang.

During this time, old friends who are usually separated by distance are able to reunite.

Examples include Chen Deng, Li Yi, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei.

In their spare time, they would go out and socialize with their friends, riding horses across the plains, and they had a few rare days of leisure.

Until the end of February.

A month has passed since the Battle of Hanzhong ended.

In other words, the State of Qi had basically recovered from the shadow of defeat.

In fact, Liu Bei had always intended to downplay the impact of the defeat in Hanzhong.

He also publicly claimed that he simply didn't want Hanzhong anymore and was giving it to Cao Cao.

Instead of being defeated by Cao Cao.

This reason is perfectly valid; after all, Liu Bei suffered heavy losses in the Battle of Dingjun Mountain.

However, they still had 80,000 troops at their disposal and were not truly defeated by Cao Cao.

Despite the low morale at the time, continuing the fight risked a complete rout.

However, Liu Bei was able to cut his losses in time and use this as an excuse to silence outside criticism.

That day, while Liu Bei was accompanying his ministers on a hunting trip, he suddenly said to Li Yi:

"Luoyang is the former capital of the Han Dynasty. Now that it has been restored, how can we allow the emperor to remain in a remote corner for long?"

Li Yi immediately understood, bowed to Liu Bei, and said:
"Your Majesty is wise! Your subject will immediately send an envoy to welcome you."

Li Yi immediately wrote a letter in his capacity as prime minister, issuing orders directly to the local authorities.

The emperor was ordered to be escorted back to the capital by Kong Rong, who was in Linzi, Qingzhou, where he had sought refuge.

To ensure everything went smoothly, he also ordered Minister Wang Lang and Imperial Censor Hua Xin to accompany him.

The two men accepted the order and immediately headed to Linzi in Qingzhou.

At that time, Guan Yu was not present, so Kong Rong temporarily took charge of the affairs of Qingzhou.

He was playing chess with Sun Qian in his residence when a servant suddenly came to report:
"Minister Wang, Imperial Censor Hua has arrived."

"Oh? Please, please come in!"

Kong Rong respected Wang Lang and Hua Xin even more than Li Yi.

Because these two were veteran officials of the Han Dynasty and highly respected scholars.

They were from the same circle of scholars as Kong Rong, so Kong Rong respected and liked both of them.

As soon as Wang Lang's carriage came to a stop outside the city gate, Hua Xin jumped off the carriage impatiently.

The two men were travel-worn, their official robes still damp with spring dew.

"Brother Wenju!" Wang Lang bowed, "How have you been?"

Kong Rong returned the greeting, saying, "Brother Jingxing, Brother Ziyu, you have come from afar and must be tired."

Hua Xin cut straight to the point, "How has Your Majesty been lately?"

Kong Rong sighed and spread his hands helplessly:

"Since His Majesty arrived in Qingzhou, he has spent his days reading behind closed doors and rarely sees anyone."

"That's just right."

Wang Lang took out an imperial edict from his sleeve. "The King of Qi requests Your Majesty to return to Luoyang, the capital, and rebuild the ancestral temples of the Han dynasty."

hiss……

Kong Rong was immediately thrilled upon hearing this.

Then he and Sun Qian took the initiative to lead the two of them to the temporary palace to pay their respects to Liu Xie.

After entering the hall and paying his respects, Wang Lang respectfully presented the imperial edict:

"The King of Qi misses Your Majesty and has specially ordered us to welcome Your Majesty back to the capital, Luoyang."

Liu Xie did not accept the imperial edict, but instead asked:
"What does Luoyang look like now?"

"Return to Your Majesty."

Hua Xin stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"The King of Qi has ordered the palace to be rebuilt."

"Deyang Hall and Baihu Temple are both under reconstruction."

"Moreover, even if Your Majesty has any needs, wood, stone, bricks, and tiles can be provided in a few days."

“The construction of the palace will not take more than a month.”

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, the Qi Kingdom is extremely wealthy and will certainly be able to complete the construction before Your Majesty arrives in Luoyang."

Liu Xie's fingers unconsciously caressed the Luban lock around his neck. For some reason, he asked a question as if possessed:
"Were these palaces truly built for me?"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of Wang Lang, Hua Xin, Sun Qian, Kong Rong, and other ministers all changed.

The atmosphere in the hall froze instantly, and everyone's face showed an unusual expression.

After a long silence, Hua Xin finally spoke first:
"The world belongs to the Han Dynasty, and Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven of the Han Dynasty."

"Luoyang was the capital of the Han Dynasty, and the palaces built there were naturally constructed for the Han emperors."

Was it built for the Han emperor...?
Liu Xie's lips curled up slightly, revealing a helpless smile.

He slowly rose and glanced outside the hall.

"Tell the King of Qi..."

Liu Xie's voice was very soft, "I... grant permission."

That night, Liu Xie sat alone in the palace.

He neither played with the "Mo Nai He" in his hand nor spoke; he just sat there.

His expression was eerily calm.

"His Majesty……"

Empress Fu came up from behind and gently took his arm.

"Queen..."

Liu Xie glanced at Fu Shou and gently stroked her cheek.

"You have suffered all these years following me."

Fu Shou was taken aback for a moment, then knelt down beside Liu Xie and gently took his hand.

"Why do you say that, Your Majesty? It is my honor to serve Your Majesty."

Liu Xie gazed at the nearly extinguished oil lamp on the table, his fingers tracing the rough fingertips of Fu Shou.

“I remember when Dong Zhuo forcibly moved us to Chang’an, the two of us were huddled together like this, surrounded by corpses.”

There is no food available.

Fu Shou's eyes welled up with tears. She and Liu Xie had gone through so much to get to where they were today, yet it felt like they hadn't gone through anything at all.

They've just been led by the nose by others all along.

Like a rootless duckweed, it goes wherever the wind blows.

Wherever the waves roll, that's where they will go.

"His Majesty!"

Fu Shou suddenly grabbed Liu Xie's hand, "How about we don't go to Luoyang?"

"Just say... just say that I am ill..."

Liu Xie smiled wryly and reached out to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"Nonsense, look around this palace, how many of our people are left?"

He pointed to the faintly visible dark shadow outside the window.

"Those guards are ostensibly there to protect, but in reality they are there to monitor."

Fu Shou choked up as she said:
"Isn't Liu Bei a member of the Han imperial family? Shouldn't he support His Majesty in restoring the Han dynasty?"

"Why should we imitate the likes of Dong Zhuo and Guo Si?"

"He is much smarter than Dong Zhuo and Guo Si,"

Liu Xie gently stroked his wife's hair, saying, "It is precisely because Liu Bei is a member of the Han imperial family that the Han dynasty will prosper whether it is in my hands or in his."

"Back then, Cao Cao and Liu Bei welcomed me into Chen, which allowed me to maneuver between the two powerful forces."

"Now that the Cao family has been utterly defeated, Liu Bei has taken sole control of the court."

"Given his popularity in the court and among the people, what does the Empress foresee I will experience on my journey to Luoyang?"

Fu Shou's heart skipped a beat; it turned out that her husband had always understood.

He understands everything!

"If Cao Cao wins, he will hold the emperor hostage."

"But if Liu Bei wins, he will usurp the throne."

"Hehehe."

Liu Xie let out a helpless, bitter laugh and looked at his wife beside him.

"Shou'er".

He called her by her childhood nickname for the first time, saying, "If we go to Luoyang, I will no longer be the emperor."

"You...you are no longer the Empress...you will..."

Before she could finish speaking, Fu Shou looked up and, through her teary eyes, saw her husband's red-rimmed eyes.

She suddenly broke free from his embrace, took two steps back, and solemnly bowed deeply.

"Fu Shi Ashou greets her husband."

She banged her head on the ground, her voice trembling but resolute.

"Whether my husband is the emperor or a commoner, I will always be his wife."

"If Heaven does not grant me a long life, even on the road to the Yellow Springs, I will still hold a lamp to guide my husband."

Liu Xie was trembling violently as he recalled his wedding night twenty years ago.

The petite young girl knelt before the wedding bed, timidly saying:
"Your Majesty, I am willing to share your joys and sorrows."

At the time, he took it as just polite talk.

Who would have thought that after a lifetime of suffering, Liu Xie would be blessed with an angel sent to his side by heaven?

It's hard to say whether he was lucky or unlucky.

"stand up."

Liu Xie, his voice hoarse, personally helped his wife up.

Fu Shou could no longer hold back and threw herself into her husband's arms, bursting into tears.

She wept for the years of fear and anxiety she had endured, for the loyal ministers who had been poisoned, and for the crumbling "Han Dynasty" that no longer belonged to them.

Liu Xie held his wife tightly, letting her tears soak his clothes.

Outside the window, a cold moon quietly hid behind the clouds, as if it couldn't bear to watch over this couple who had gone through so much hardship.

After a long while, Fu Shou raised her tear-stained face:
"Your Majesty, let me comb your hair one more time."

Fu Shou's hands were trembling violently.

She had styled the emperor's hair in the Chaoyun bun for twenty years, but from now on she would have to get used to styling it in the topknot of commoner men.

As she combed her hair, a hot tear fell onto Liu Xie's neck.

"Don't cry."

Liu Xie held his wife's hand.

"At least tonight, let's not be the emperor and empress, but just Liu Xie and Fu Shou, shall we?"

Fu Shou nodded with tears in her eyes and took the wooden hairpin from her hair.

She carefully tied up her husband's hair, just as a wife in ordinary times would do for her husband every day.

"Shou'er".

"Ok?"

"If there truly is an afterlife..."

Liu Xie's voice was as soft as a sigh.

"I will never again be involved with an imperial family; I only wish to be an ordinary husband and wife with you."

"I till the fields, you weave the cloth, and we'll have a bunch of children..."

Fu Shou hugged him from behind, pressing her cheek against his thin back:
"Then Your Majesty must promise me that you will not give up on yourself and abuse your body again."

She suddenly stopped.

Unbeknownst to them, Liu Xie was already in tears.

Fu Shou then took out a set of coarse cloth clothes from the bottom of the trunk:
"Your Majesty, try this."

Those were commoner clothes she secretly bought with her own savings.

After Liu Xie put on the robe, Fu Shou took two steps back to examine him, then suddenly burst into laughter through her tears:

"His Majesty looks just like a schoolteacher."

Liu Xie smiled and took his wife's hand, leading her to the bronze mirror.

The man and woman in the mirror, dressed in plain clothes, showed no trace of their former imperial bearing.
"That's great."

Fu Shou leaned on her husband's shoulder.

"No burdens of power, no deceit, no backstabbing..."

"You don't have to live such a tiring life..."

Just then, the sound of a night watchman's drum suddenly came from outside the window; it was the third watch of the night.

Liu Xie's smile gradually faded.

He slowly took off his plain clothes and changed back into his emperor's everyday attire, then had Fu Shou help him re-style his hair in a high bun.

"His Majesty?"

"It's time to prepare to set off."

Liu Xie's voice returned to its usual calm, "Go to Luoyang."

Looking at her suddenly unfamiliar husband, Fu Shou finally understood.

Even if there is an abyss ahead, her emperor will walk in with his head held high.

Because this is the last act of integrity of the Han dynasty, a descendant of Liu Xiu.

Although Liu Bei could also represent the Han Dynasty.

But everyone understands that Liu Bei represents neither Liu Bang's Han nor Liu Xiu's Han.

Instead, it was a completely new, imposing man.

The fable says—

The World Tree has grown back, and a new world has arrived.

……

Thirty miles outside Luoyang, banners and flags obscured the sky.

Liu Bei led his civil and military officials to line up and welcome him.

The left column features Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, and other formidable generals.

The list includes strategists and advisors such as Li Yi, Chen Deng, and Pang Tong.

Three thousand armored soldiers lined up along the roadside, their spears and halberds gleaming coldly in the spring sun.

At three quarters past Chen hour, a cloud of dust rose in the distance.

First came twelve dragon flags to clear the way, followed by imperial guards carrying golden maces, axes, and stirrups.

The emperor's imperial carriage slowly approached, pulled by eight pure white horses.

Twelve jade tassels hung from the canopy on the roof of the carriage, tinkling in the wind.

These carriages and jade tassels were naturally prepared for him by Liu Bei.

Even the Imperial Guards were temporarily filled by soldiers from the Qingzhou Army.

But no matter what, this was definitely the grandest spectacle Liu Xie had ever experienced in his life.

He was put on the throne by Dong Zhuo when he was young, and was later humiliated by the two traitors Li Jue and Guo Si.

He was then sent to the small state of Chen, where he lived in a daze for several years.

This was the first time in Liu Xie's life that he had experienced what it meant to be the emperor's grandeur and to rule the world.

Liu Bei stepped forward and bowed in greeting:
"Your subject, King Bei of Qi, respectfully welcomes Your Majesty's arrival!"

The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing Liu Xie in a ceremonial robe with twelve imperial symbols and a crown reaching to the heavens.

His face was calm, but his eyes were sharp.

He slowly got out of the car and reached out his hand to help him up.

"Your Majesty, rise."

Liu Xie's voice was neither humble nor arrogant, showing neither fear nor resentment, but rather a transcendent composure.

Liu Bei was slightly taken aback and looked up.

Liu Xie appeared calm, with even a faint smile on his lips.

"Your Majesty has come a long way and must be tired," Liu Bei said.

"King Qi's wars for his country are the real hardship he endured."

Liu Xie spoke calmly, his gaze sweeping over the civil and military officials behind Liu Bei.

"My beloved ministers are all pillars of our great Han Dynasty, and I am very pleased with them."

He walked up to Guan Yu and nodded slightly:

"I have long heard of Guan Yu's might that shakes China."

Guan Yu slightly opened his phoenix eyes, clasped his hands in return:
"Your subject dares not accept such an honor."

Liu Xie then looked at Zhang Fei:
"Yide is the bravest general in the army, truly a tiger general."

Zhang Fei scratched his head, looking somewhat awkward, and followed his second brother's example, clasping his hands in return:
"Your Majesty, thank you very much."

Liu Xie then went to Li Yi and encouraged him:
"Minister Li is a prominent figure in our great Han Dynasty today."

"When I arrived in Qingzhou, I learned that the local people all called you a talent fit to assist a king."

"Everyone says that without Prime Minister Li, there would be no peace and tranquility in the country today."

"I vividly remember when Li Jue and Guo Si rebelled, it was Minister Li who personally came to Hedong to save me."

"If it weren't for Minister Li, I might have already fallen back into the hands of the bandits."

Everyone was taken aback, thinking to themselves, "When did this little emperor learn to be grateful?"

Didn't you always dislike us guys back then?
They completely forgot that we were the ones who rescued him from Liang Ni's clutches.

Li Yi smiled slightly and returned the greeting, replying:

"This is my duty."

That was all.

Liu Xie nodded, and then went to Pang Tong, Chen Deng, Ma Chao and others, encouraging them one by one.

His words were sincere, and his demeanor was dignified.

It was as if he were still the emperor who ruled the world, rather than a puppet about to be sidelined.

The ministers looked at each other in dismay, all of them shocked, wondering if the young emperor had gone mad.
Do you know who these people in front of you listen to?
A flicker of surprise crossed Liu Bei's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and smiled:

"Your Majesty has had a long journey. I have prepared a banquet at the Southern Palace to welcome you back and wash away the dust of your journey."

Liu Xie nodded, "Thank you for your trouble, King Qi."

With that, he followed Liu Bei into the palace for a banquet.

At the banquet, Liu Xie naturally remained in the host's seat.

Liu Bei was in second place.

During this time, Liu Xie remained as composed and at ease as before entering the palace.

He even took the initiative to inquire about the war in Qi and praised Liu Bei's achievements.

The assembled officials were secretly surprised and suspicious, but Li Yi remained calm, drinking with a smile.

Chen Deng asked in a low voice:

"...Hey, Ziyu, don't you think this little emperor seems a bit different from before?"

Li Yi chuckled softly:

“It’s not that things are different now, it’s that he has already figured out his own path.”

"Oh? What do you mean by that?"

As soon as Chen Deng asked the question, he already guessed the implication behind Li Yi's words.

Furthermore, Liu Bei left all of these regional officials in Luoyang.

It was even rumored that a group of important border officials, including Lü Bu, Tian Yu, Qian Zhao, and Jia Xu, were also on their way to Luoyang.

Then the king's intentions become obvious.

Just as Chen Deng was about to strike up a conversation with Li Yi, he suddenly saw Li Yi lift his robe and stand up. "Hey, Ziyu, where are you going...?"

Seeing Li Yi walk straight toward the emperor, Chen Deng immediately shut his mouth.

"His Majesty."

Li Yi bowed and said, "This spring is in full bloom, and just ten days ago, the King of Qi had already set up a hunting ground east of Luoyang City."

"After we had eaten our fill, all of our ministers were present."

"Why doesn't Your Majesty join us on a hunting trip, so that we may receive Your Majesty's favor?"

Upon seeing this, Liu Bei smiled and said to Liu Xie:
"Your Majesty, please do not be offended. It is only because the war has just ended and the soldiers and civilians are exhausted."

“I then took them hunting every day, riding across the plains and making friends.”

Liu Xie said with a half-smile:
"Is this the righteous path of the emperor, where a falcon leads a dog?"

Li Yi replied:

"Your Majesty is mistaken. Ancient emperors would search for crops in spring, hunt in summer, hunt in autumn, and hunt in winter."

"They went out to the suburbs in all four seasons to demonstrate their military prowess to the world."

"At this time of turmoil across the land, it is the perfect time to use hunting as an opportunity to hone military skills."

Liu Xie then said:

"Since you ministers are in such high spirits, how could I possibly spoil your enjoyment?"

Therefore, he immediately ordered people to select fine horses, famous eagles, and excellent dogs.

Once the bows and arrows were ready, the troops were assembled outside the city.

In the springtime hunting grounds, the sky is high and the clouds are light, and the vegetation is lush.

Liu Xie rode a gentle white horse, walking side by side with Liu Bei.

Behind him followed Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Li Yi, Chen Deng, and a host of civil and military officials.

The Imperial Guards led the way with their flags, creating a grand and imposing spectacle.

Suddenly, the grass in front of us rustled slightly.

A stag leaps out, its antlers like branches, shimmering with a golden luster in the sunlight.

"Your Majesty, please."

Liu Bei reined in his horse and took a step back, signaling Liu Xie to shoot first.

Liu Xie smiled slightly, took the longbow from the attendant, nocked an arrow, and drew the string.

He took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the deer in the distance, and loosened his grip—

The arrow veered off course, grazing the deer's back, startling the deer into leaping up.

Liu Xie remained calm and fired another arrow, but it missed again.

The third arrow was fired, but it still missed.

Upon seeing this, the deer raised its head and stood tall, its eyes gleaming as if in defiance.

Upon seeing this, Liu Bei cupped his hands and said:
"Your Majesty, why don't you allow me to give it a try?"

Liu Xie glanced at him, his smile undiminished: "Alright."

After saying this, he handed his own imperial bow to Liu Bei, saying, "King Qi, you may use my bow."

Liu Bei was taken aback, but quickly accepted it.

Nock the arrow, draw the bow to its fullest extent, and let the arrow fly like a shooting star—

"Whoosh!"

An arrow pierced its throat, and the stag fell to the ground.

Wang Lang, quick-witted and agile, disregarded his high rank and personally went to the deer, only to find that it was the emperor's arrow.

He then raised his arms and shouted:
"His Majesty hit the target! His Majesty hit the target!"

"Your Majesty is a master archer! Your Majesty is a master archer!"

Upon seeing this, the courtiers all knelt down and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"

The sound echoed throughout the hunting grounds, startling countless birds into flight.

It is worth noting that Liu Bei was standing right next to Liu Xie.

While the officials appeared to be kneeling before Liu Xie and shouting "Long live the Emperor!", they were actually addressing Liu Bei.

Liu Xie sat on his horse, watching this scene, and simply smiled.

There was neither anger nor sorrow in his eyes, only a sense of relief.

Liu Bei frowned slightly, spurred his horse to the deer, and said in a deep voice:
"Gentlemen, you have misunderstood. Although I shot the deer."

"But the bow was a gift from His Majesty, and this deer should rightfully belong to the Emperor."

Liu Xie raised his hand to interrupt him:
"King Qi is mistaken."

"Since you shot the deer, it should naturally belong to you."

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear, as if he were talking about something perfectly ordinary.

Chen Deng gazed into the distance and sighed softly to Li Yi:

"Brother, you're so smart. It seems the little emperor really understands everything."

Zhang Fei scratched his head and leaned closer to ask:
"What are you saying? I don't understand."

Li Yi smiled without saying a word, gesturing for Chen Deng to explain.

Chen Deng lowered his voice and said:

"Have you ever heard this saying, Generals—"

"When Qin lost its mandate, the whole world chased after it?"

"Now that the emperor has given up his own deer and even handed over his imperial bow to the King of Qi, isn't the meaning obvious?"

Zhang Fei was stunned for a moment, then suddenly slapped his thigh:
"I understand!"

His voice was so loud that it drew the attention of those around him.

Guan Yu grabbed him:

"Third brother, be quiet!"

Zhang Fei awkwardly shut his mouth, but his eyes were already full of excitement.

In the center of the hunting grounds, Liu Bei and Liu Xie were still staring at each other.

A gust of wind blew by, swirling a few fallen leaves between the two of them.

Liu Xie suddenly smiled:
"King Qi, it's getting late, let's return to the palace."

Liu Bei gave him a deep look, then cupped his hands and said:
"According to the order."

That night, the moon was bright and the wind was gentle.

The Prime Minister's residence was brightly lit, but the doors and windows were tightly closed.

Li Yi sat in the main seat.

A host of important officials, including Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Chen Deng, Ma Chao, Pang Tong, Wang Lang, and Hua Xin, were seated in turn.

Almost all the high-ranking officials in the country came to the Prime Minister's residence.

So many national elites and key personnel gathered together.

Anyone who didn't know better would think they were about to do something big.

However, Liu Bei, as the lord, was unaware of this gathering.

This meeting was initiated by Li Yi, who invited all the high-ranking officials of the State of Qi.

Only Liu Bei was unaware of this matter.

Everyone held their breath, their expressions solemn.

"You all witnessed what happened at the hunting grounds today."

Li Yi spoke slowly, his voice low and deep.

"When the emperor yielded the bow, the courtiers shouted 'Long live the emperor!' This is the will of Heaven and the hearts of the people."

His gaze swept over the crowd:
"Now the Han dynasty is in decline and the world is in turmoil. Only a great ruler can stabilize the situation."

"King Qi's benevolence spreads throughout the four seas, and his achievements cover the world. Today's deer hunt is a sign of divine favor."

After a pause, Li Yi said in a deep voice:
"Li believed it was time to take that step."

The room was completely silent, with only the flickering candlelight.

Everyone held their breath, not daring to make a sound.

Even the usually carefree Zhang Fei was now as obedient as a child, silently waiting for Li Yi's words.

Li Yi's gaze was sharp as lightning, and he said sternly:

"Who is in favor and who is against?"

Wang Lang was the first to stand up, cupping his hands in greeting:
"Your Excellency is wise! The ways of Heaven are changing, and the divine artifacts are being replaced."

"King Qi is destined by Heaven, and we, your subjects, are willing to serve you like dogs and horses!"

Hua Xin followed closely behind:

"That is exactly right! Back then, Emperor Gaozu started his rebellion by slaying the white snake, and today, King Qi receives his mandate by shooting a deer."

"This is the cycle of fate; we should follow the will of Heaven and obey the will of the people, and must not go against Heaven!"

Guan Yu closed his phoenix eyes slightly, pondered for a moment, and finally nodded:

"I, Guan, will obey my elder brother's orders."

Zhang Fei slammed his fist on the table and stood up:

"I, Old Zhang, have been waiting for this for ages!"

"Nowadays, the world is ruled by the surname Liu, and my brother's surname is also Liu."

"To be the emperor of the Han dynasty is a matter of course!"

Chen Deng, Ma Chao, Pang Tong, and the others exchanged glances and said in unison:
"I second the motion."

Upon seeing this, Li Yi's lips curled into a slight smile:
"Okay, that's settled."

Wang Lang stroked his beard and asked:

"What are the Prime Minister's plans?"

Li Yi was confident:

"Judging by the time, Lü Bu and Tian Yu will arrive in Luoyang tomorrow."

"The association will arrange for them to be stationed in Pingjin. At that time, we will ask King Qi to come out of the city to welcome them."

He glanced around at everyone and said:

"Please prepare your dragon robes in advance, when King Qi meets Marquis Lü Wen."

"Then you all stepped forward and draped the cloak over the King of Qi."

Wang Lang clapped his hands and laughed:

"Excellent! At that time, with the people's support, King Qi will certainly not be able to refuse!"

Hua Xin frowned and said:
"But... what about the Emperor...?"

Li Yi's gaze turned cold:
"This is the important matter that I am entrusting to you two."

He stared at Wang Lang and Hua Xin.

"The two of you will enter the palace to meet the Emperor first thing tomorrow morning."

"Explain the advantages and disadvantages to the emperor and persuade him to abdicate."

Upon hearing this, Wang Lang and Hua Xin's expressions changed slightly.

Li Yi slowly stood up, walked to the two of them, and whispered:
"This most difficult task is entrusted to you."

He patted the two men on the shoulder, "Don't let Li down."

It's considered the most difficult because it's something no one can easily do.

Once he does it, his political career will essentially be over.

Therefore, it was not appropriate for Li Yi and other ministers who held real power to personally take charge of this matter.

But Wang Lang and Hua Xin, both over fifty years old, are very suitable.

Even if you don't care about yourself, you should think about your future generations.

Because Li Yi's implication was that he would compensate the two of them in other ways later.

Wang Lang's forehead was covered in sweat, and he quickly bowed:
"Rest assured, Prime Minister, we will certainly live up to your expectations!"

Hua Xin also hurriedly expressed her opinion.

"Your Majesty, I will do my utmost to persuade you to obey the Mandate of Heaven."

Li Yi nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Wei Yan.

"Wenchang, tomorrow you will lead your personal guards to guard the palace gates in case of any unforeseen events."

Wei Yan clasped his hands in a fist and said, "I understand!"

With the arrangements complete, Li Yi raised his glass:
"Gentlemen, after tomorrow, the situation will be settled."

"We are both subjects who have followed the dragon!"

"Respectfully, everyone."

Everyone raised their glasses and drank them down in one gulp.

Meanwhile, Lü Bu and Tian Yu, who were heading towards Luoyang, also received a messenger from Luoyang.

The two opened it and found that it was Li Yi's own handwriting.

The book states briefly:

“A letter from Yizhi Fengxian and Guorang.”

Yi Bai:
"The Han dynasty is about to change, and the Mandate of Heaven is in Qi."

"Now, the ministers have discussed and decided to support the King of Qi to succeed to the throne in order to secure the state."

"When the two gentlemen arrive at Pingjin tomorrow, Yi will personally lead the King of Qi to welcome them."

"At that time, there will be a ceremony where the emperor is 'adorned with the dragon robe,' and we hope that you two will lead your troops and the masses to jointly urge him to take the throne."

"Extraordinary achievements require extraordinary people."

"The two gentlemen have worked hard on the frontier. If they accomplish this great task, they will be meritorious officials who encourage the emperor to advance to the throne."

"To have one's name recorded in history, is that not wonderful?"

"Remember, remember."

"In the spring of the seventeenth year of Jian'an, in the third month."

After the two finished reading the book, Lü Bu was greatly shocked:

"So that's why the King of Qi summoned us back to Luoyang!"

Tian Yu, however, seemed to have expected this, and asked, "What do you think it is?"

Lü Bu scratched his head:
"Bu Dangzhen thought that the King of Qi was grateful for our hard work on the frontier and wanted to reward us."

Tian Yu rolled her eyes, thinking to herself that this was all the gist of her being.

"In short, we two must act according to the circumstances tomorrow."

"understand!"

……

The next morning, Li Yi tidied his clothes and went inside to pay his respects to Liu Bei.

"Your Majesty."

Li Yi cupped his hands and said, "I just received an urgent report that Lü Fengxian and Tian Guorang have arrived in Pingjin and will soon reach Luoyang."

Liu Bei nodded upon hearing this:

"These two men have served the border with great merit and hard work, and we should send an important official to welcome them."

Li Yi, however, said:

"I believe that Your Majesty should personally go to Pingjin to welcome him, so as to show your great honor."

"Beijing-Tianjin?"

Liu Bei frowned slightly, "This journey of several dozen miles is too far."

"otherwise."

Li Yi said solemnly:
"Lord Lü Wenhou's might shook the borderlands, and Tian Guorang pacified Youyan; both were pillars of the state."

"If Your Majesty can personally welcome them, it will surely inspire the soldiers and ensure the eternal security of the border."

Liu Bei pondered for a moment, then finally nodded:
"You are right."

"However, this matter should be reported to the Emperor first."

Therefore, Liu Bei went to the palace to meet the emperor.

At the time, Liu Xie was reading in a side hall when he heard that Liu Bei was requesting an audience, so he immediately summoned him.

Liu Bei entered, bowed, and explained his purpose.

Upon hearing this, Liu Xie did not hesitate for a moment:
"The soldiers on the frontier have worked hard, and it is only right that the King of Qi personally welcomes them."

He rose to see them off, but as they reached the palace gate, he suddenly stopped and said meaningfully:
"My dear minister, you must return soon."

Liu Bei was taken aback, not understanding his meaning.

He thought to himself that the round trip from Luoyang to Pingjin would take at most half a day.

Why did Liu Xie say this as if he would never see him again, as if it were a final farewell?
Liu Bei didn't think much of it, taking it as just a routine instruction, and bowed in response:
"Your subject will remember this."

The spring breeze is gentle, but the Yellow River is muddy.

Liu Bei and Li Yi stood on the shore, gazing at the dust and smoke on the opposite bank.

Before long, a troop of iron cavalry arrived, their two leading generals being none other than Lü Bu and Tian Yu.

"Fengxian! Guorang!"

Liu Bei quickly stepped forward.

Lü Bu dismounted and knelt on one knee:
"This humble general, Lü Bu, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

Tian Yu also bowed:

"Your subject, Tian Yu, pays his respects to His Majesty the King of Qi!"

Liu Bei personally helped the two up:

"You two have worked hard guarding the border, please rise quickly."

In the midst of exchanging pleasantries, they suddenly heard the thunderous sound of horses' hooves.

Liu Bei looked back and saw Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Pang Tong, Mi Zhu, Cao Bao, Chen Deng, and dozens of other important civil and military officials leading more than a thousand elite soldiers rushing towards him.

"Yun Chang? Yi De?"

Liu Bei was taken aback. "Why have you all come here?"

The crowd did not answer, but dismounted and knelt down in unison.

Li Yi stepped forward and said loudly:
"The ways of Heaven have changed, and the divine instruments have been replaced, and they have been given to the virtuous. This is the natural order."

"May Your Majesty, in accordance with Heaven's will and the people's will, ascend to the throne!"

Liu Bei was greatly surprised: "Why do you say such things!"

Before he finished speaking, Guan Yu presented a dark gold dragon robe and draped it over Liu Bei's shoulders without saying a word.

He then retreated into the crowd and knelt on one knee:

"I beseech my elder brother to succeed to the throne!"

"May Your Majesty ascend the throne!"

Everyone shouted.

Liu Bei shouted:
"This is an outrageous act!"

Li Yi kowtowed and said:
"Since the reigns of Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling, the Yellow Turban Rebellion has raged, and the world has been in turmoil."

"When the reigns of Chuping and Jian'an came down, Dong Zhuo rebelled, and Jue and Si continued the tyranny."

"Yuan Shu usurped the title in Shouchun, and Yuan Shao became the hegemon in Ye."

"Liu Biao occupied Jingzhou, and Gongsun Du swallowed up Liaodong."

"Thieves rise up like swarms, and treacherous heroes soar like eagles."

"The nation is in grave danger, and the people are in dire need of help."

"And the king swept across the six directions and conquered the eight wastelands."

"The people are devoted to him, and all directions admire his virtue."

"It was not obtained through power or influence, but was truly ordained by Heaven."

"With the king's divine wisdom and martial prowess, he has succeeded to the throne, in accordance with Heaven and the people."

"This is precisely the principle of following the example of Yao and Shun, is it not the will of Heaven and the people?"

"And what then constitutes utter treason?"

"May Your Majesty ascend the throne!"

As soon as he finished speaking, more than a thousand soldiers immediately shouted in unison, their voices echoing across the fields.

"May Your Majesty ascend the throne!"

Liu Bei looked around at everyone and saw that they all had firm expressions.

After a long silence, he finally asked:
"You all acknowledge me as the Son of Heaven, are you willing to obey my commands?"

"I will obey your orders!"

The crowd responded with thunderous voices, without hesitation.

The Yellow River laps against the shore, and the spring breeze unfurls the dragon flag.

Liu Bei's dragon robe fluttered in the morning sun, shining like a blazing fire.

Finally, he couldn't help but sigh:
"Alas, you have truly caused me great suffering."

……

(End of this chapter)