Late Han Zhao Tang

Chapter 315 If I don’t write, will I have food?

In May, Zhang Yu led the army westward, preparing to go to Anding first to join forces with Generals Zhang Ji and Yang Qiu. In addition to the troops, he ordered Hu Yan to lead 2,000 infantry and cavalry from Chencang Road to Wudu to meet with Man Chong to help lift the siege of Ji County.

Taking into account the fact that Xu Huang was unfamiliar with the geography of Longyou and that Shanggui County Magistrate Yan Wen was accompanying the army as a guide, Zhang Yu transferred Yan Wen to assist Xu Huang and ordered him to lead 5,000 troops westward, up the Weishui Road, to see if he could capture Shanggui City where Yan Wen was stationed and completely open up the Chencang Weishui Road.

After Yan Wen followed Xu Huang, Zhang Yu ordered the three chief officials of Guanzhong, Dong Zhao, Chang Lin and Sun Zi, to recommend someone who was well versed in the geography of Longyou as a guide.

When the army reached Jingzhao Yin, Dong Zhao recommended Xue Xia of Hanyang County as a guide.

The carts rumbled, the horses whistled, the camels sauntered. The soldiers had bows and arrows on their waists, held spears, carried bags on their backs, and knew the flags.

Tens of thousands of soldiers and horses marched in four columns, looking like a long dragon from a distance, along the Wei River. The cavalrymen who supervised the military discipline galloped back and forth to maintain the military discipline during the march. Because of the strict military discipline, the soldiers did not disturb the people, and many civilians gathered around to give instructions.

Zhang Yu, holding the reins, led his men to the side of the road, where they saw Dong Zhao and the others waiting. However, one person stood out among the crowd. His clothes were shabby and almost faded from washing.

"Zhao leads the Jingzhao officials to pay respect to the general!"

Seeing everyone paying homage, Zhang Yu stopped the reins, looked down at everyone, and said, "I am wearing armor and the military situation is urgent, so I will not dismount and greet you all. Gongren, where is the scholar who you recommended who is well versed in the geography of Longyou?"

"Here!"

"Speak!"

At Dong Zhao's call, the poorly dressed scholars in the crowd hurried out and greeted, "Hanyang's noble relatives Xue Xia and Xue Xuansheng pay their respects to the general."

"Since you know the geography of Longyou, do you know what dangerous places are there on the Longshan Road?" Zhang Yu asked directly.

"My Lord, there are many strategic points along the Longshan Road, including Lueyang, Jieting, Qinting, Longguan, etc., and the two most important gateways are Lueyang and Jieting." Xue Xia said, "If you can control Jieting, you can reach Ji County in the south; if you take Lueyang, you can directly take Jincheng."

"it is good!"

"I will appoint you as my guide. Go with me immediately." Zhang Yu said, "If you have any luggage, you can send the cavalry to take it with you."

Xue Xia took off the bag on his back and said respectfully, "Xia, your bag is here, and you can join the army at any time."

"very good!"

Seeing Xue Xia's words were well-organized, Zhang Yu used his whip to call his men and said, "Let Xue Xuansheng and Zhao Canmou ride in the same car."

"As ordered!"

"Kihito!"

Zhang Yu held the reins and was about to urge the horse to go, when he turned back to Dong Zhao and said, "Gongren has done a great service in recommending the guide, and I will remember it now. When the army defeats Han Sui and recovers Longyou for the country, I will drink a cup of wine with you when we return!"

"I wish you success in your mission!" Dong Zhao led everyone and bowed to Zhang Yu.

"drive!"

Zhang Yu spurred his horse and galloped away, leaving behind only billowing dust, which made everyone look up.

"Your Excellency's actions are as swift as lightning, which is truly admirable!"

"The world is in a race for supremacy, and the one who aspires to rule the world must be a prince!"

Seeing that Zhang Yu acted decisively and without dragging his feet, the officials in Jingzhao were secretly amazed.

Dong Zhao stroked his beard and smiled, saying to the crowd: "Your Excellency has been in the army for ten years, so you are decisive and good at identifying talents. Xue Xia is a child of a poor family, but he is able to be employed by your Excellency because he knows the geography of Longyou and has a rough understanding of military affairs. Most of you are from famous families. If you can serve your Excellency wholeheartedly, you will be appreciated and promoted by your Excellency!"

"Thank you for your teachings, sir!" All the officials responded in unison.

Not to mention that when Zhang Yu passed through Chang'an, he took along the poor scholar Xue Xia from Longyou. Now when he arrived in Huaili, he met Huchuquan and led two thousand elite cavalrymen from the royal court to join him.

"Your servant greets you, my lord!"

Huchuquan dismounted quickly and treated Zhang Yu with courtesy as a subordinate of the Xiongnu, saying, "I know that you will go west to attack the Long Qiang, so I am here with my best cavalry to serve you. I am willing to serve you."

Zhang Yu used the stirrup to dismount, helped Huochuquan up, and said, "You and I are relatives by marriage, so there is no need to be so formal. I wonder how the Chanyu is doing, can the doctor I sent treat him?"

Hearing this, Huchuquan sighed and said, "The Chanyu is seriously ill and the doctors have no cure. When he was dying, the Chanyu was worried that you would go to Longyou in the west, so he ordered me to lead the troops to follow you and serve you at your side."

As he spoke, Huchuquan took out the Chanyu seal from his bosom, presented it to Zhang Yu with both hands, and said: "The Chanyu feels that he will soon pass away. Now he not only orders me to follow you, but also asks me to hand over the Chanyu seal to you. Please choose a talented and virtuous person to be the Chanyu for the Xiongnu."

Zhang Yu reached out to take the golden Chanyu seal, feeling mixed emotions. Yu Fuluo was his benefactor on his entrepreneurial journey. If he hadn't turned against the Baibo Army and helped him defeat the Baibo Army, it would have been difficult for him to sweep across the Bingzhou counties.

Zhang Yu looked at the Chanyu seal for a while and seemed to understand Yu Fuluo's intention. He wanted him to show his loyalty to him and asked him to continue supporting the Xiongnu Chanyu royal family because of their marriage relationship. He also implicitly recommended Huchuquan to Zhang Yu as Chanyu.

"good!"

Zhang Yu was enlightened, and he put the Chanyu seal into his bosom, saying, "I know what Chanyu means. Chanyu is virtuous, and will surely recover. I will return it to him after returning from the Western Expedition. If he cannot accept the seal, I will recommend a suitable candidate to the court to be Chanyu."

"promise!"

Huochuquan looked at the Chanyu seal eagerly, and was disappointed when he saw that Zhang Yu did not give a reply. However, because he remembered what his brother Yufuluo said, Huochuquan remained calm.

After transferring Huochequan's troops to the command of the National Protection Army, Zhang Yu continued to lead the army, intending to reach Anding as soon as possible and then rush to Longyou.

When Zhang Yu led his army to the west, Prime Minister Yuan, who was far away in Wancheng, was depressed by Liu Xie's restlessness.

In the palace, Liu Xie closed the memorial written by Yuan Shu and said dissatisfiedly: "Liu Yao is a relative of the Han Dynasty and has never behaved improperly. Now I have dismissed Liu Yao from his post as the governor of Yangzhou as the prime minister wishes. Why do you push Liu Yao too much and want to persecute him to death!" After Yuan Shu welcomed the emperor, he dismissed Liu Yao from his post and asked Liu Xie to summon Liu Yao to Beijing. Liu Yao knew that he would most likely die if he went to Wancheng, so after contacting Chen Gui in Xuzhou, he gave up the counties in the south of the Yangtze River and retreated to Jiujiang County in the north of the Yangtze River, hoping to rely on Xuzhou for self-protection.

Yuan Shu had been resentful of Liu Yao for a long time. Now he learned that Liu Yao wanted to rely on Xuzhou, so he reported to Liu Xie, saying that Liu Yao had evil intentions, and asked Liu Xie to issue an edict to Xuzhou and lead troops to attack the traitor Liu Yao.

Liu Xie has his own backbone, and he relies on himself as the emperor, so how could he allow Yuan Shu to do whatever he wants? If he issues an imperial decree to attack Liu Yao, I am afraid that no Han royal family will be willing to serve him in the future.

Seeing that Liu Xie was unwilling to be a rubber stamp, Yuan Shu's face turned cold and he said, "If he is not a relative, then he is a loyal minister. Your Majesty, have you seen Liu Yan privately build the emperor's carriage?"

Liu Xie looked at Yuan Shu coldly and said sarcastically: "Liu Yao is not loyal to the royal family, so the Prime Minister must be loyal to the Han Dynasty. Yuan Shao wanted to support the princes to become emperors, but you were unwilling to follow him. In fact, you are more loyal than Yuan Shao."

Hearing this, Yuan Shu became increasingly angry. If he didn't understand Liu Xie's sarcasm, he would be a fool!
"Your Majesty was forced into trouble by Yuan Shao. If I hadn't led the troops to rescue you, I'm afraid Your Majesty would no longer be the emperor!" Yuan Shu said indifferently.

"Don't you think Lord Zhang has no soldiers?" Liu Xie asked in return.

"Ha~"

Seeing that Liu Xie actually naively believed that Zhang Yu was a loyal minister of the Han Dynasty, Yuan Shu could not help but laugh and asked, "Your Majesty, do you know who invited me to lead the army north?"

"That's the Marquis Zhang that Your Majesty mentioned!"

Yuan Shu revealed the secret and said, "In the past, Zhang Yu was worried about Yuan Shao's troops stationed in Chaoge and wanted to welcome Your Majesty, so he wrote to me and asked me to lead the army north to welcome Your Majesty."

Gai did not expect that it was Zhang Yu who led Yuan Shu to the capital. Liu Xie was shocked for a moment, but he quickly reacted and said calmly: "Lord Zhang is just worried about the situation. Why do you slander Lord Zhang?"

Seeing that Liu Xie was so convinced that Zhang Yu was a loyal minister, Yuan Shu felt very depressed. However, considering that he was not here to quarrel with a child, he urged him, "It is up to your Majesty whether you believe it or not. Now I will issue an edict to attack Liu Yao. Please draft it and send an envoy."

"I won't write!"

Liu Xie leaned on the couch and said, "Although I am young, I know good and evil. I will never write an edict to kill loyal and good people."

"Your Majesty, please draft an edict!"

Yuan Shu was already angry, but out of consideration for the dignity of his emperor and his subjects, he reluctantly asked Liu Xie to start writing.

"I won't write!"

Liu Xie seemed to have found a good way to fight against Yuan Shu. He shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, you can do whatever you want, but I will not write it."

Seeing Liu Xie's attitude, Yuan Shu almost vomited blood. Almost no one dared to refuse his request. Now Liu Xie's behavior was really provoking Yuan Shu's emotions.

"Your Majesty, are you really not going to write?"

"I won't write!"

"it is good!"

Yuan Shu sneered and said, "Your Majesty will probably go hungry!"

Seeing Yuan Shu threatening him with a meal, Liu Xie said angrily: "If you are willing to assist the Han Dynasty, then treat me well; if you are not willing to assist the Han Dynasty, then please let me go back to Luo!"

"Clang!"

Liu Bei was worried that Liu Xie might be in danger, so he assigned his trusted warriors to Liu Xie to protect him. But when Liu Xie said this, the tiger soldiers in the hall reacted and drew their sharp blades.

Hearing the sound of the sword being unsheathed, Yuan Shu felt a chill down his spine.

All of a sudden, Yuan Shu remembered something he had forgotten. In the Han Dynasty system, if the three dukes and ministers above led troops into the palace to pay homage to the emperor, the emperor's guards could carry knives with them to prevent the three dukes and ministers from doing anything wrong.

Now his personal guards were outside the palace, but there were eight Tiger Guards in the palace. This meant that if Liu Xie wanted to, the Tiger Guards could kill him on the spot.

Dangerous!

A series of thoughts flashed through Yuan Shu's mind, and in order to prevent Liu Xie from doing anything stupid, he suddenly calmed down and his body went limp.

"thump!"

Yuan Shu knelt in front of Liu Xie in humiliation, looked up at him and said, "I was just confused at the time, please forgive me. Although Liu Yao violated the rules, he has made great contributions and can be transferred to Jiujiang as governor."

Seeing Yuan Shu suddenly surrender, Liu Xie was in a good mood and said, "Since the Prime Minister knows the depth of the matter, I will not pursue it. I hope you will not forget the kindness that the Han Dynasty has shown to the Yuan family."

"As ordered!"

"I still have official business to attend to. Please take your leave now!"

"Is there any food tonight?"

Yuan Shu said humbly: "There is venison to eat!"

"good!"

After Yuan Shu begged for mercy, Liu Xie finally let Yuan Shu leave the hall.

After leaving the hall, Yuan Shu couldn't help but let out a breath. He touched his forehead and found it was covered in sweat. Only then did his rapidly beating heart calm down.

Looking back at the silent hall, Yuan Shu's eyes were fierce, and he was indignant about the humiliation he had just suffered!
(End of this chapter)