Jinting Han people

For a long time, running away has been considered an act of cowardice by the world.

In common parlance, if someone is running away, it's probably because they're afraid of death. But in the eyes of the world, a true warrior shouldn't fear death. After all, a person's most important thing is their own life, and the courage to give it up is naturally great. Otherwise, why would the phrase "To sacrifice oneself for one's country in times of crisis, to regard death as returning home" be so widely circulated?

But nothing is absolute. Sometimes, death is not the most terrifying thing in the world; living is the most terrifying thing.

For a significant number of people who have experienced success and glory, living a life burdened with shame and barely surviving is more terrifying than death; it would be an endless nightmare. One can accept a life that is inherently humble, but not one that has reached its peak only to plummet into the abyss. That means a series of failures, a doubled loss of dignity, hope, and even a loss of self.

Even a powerful ruler like Xiang Yu, who once commanded the entire land, faced the turbulent waves of the Wujiang River. Some advised him to go to Jiangdong to recruit soldiers and start anew. He smiled bitterly, then ultimately committed suicide. In truth, this was what he feared most.

Therefore, those young people who are full of vigor and ambition often have a dream of being a chivalrous knight-errant.

They feared growing old, feared ending up like their parents, toiling in the fields for fifty years until their backs were hunched, their limbs weak, and their eyes clouded. So they said that it was better to live a short but brilliant life, and die a glorious death in battle, than to live a life of mediocrity.

But if someone is not afraid of death, yet is afraid of living a life of failure, isn't that also the behavior of a coward?
A true warrior should dare to face his failures, dare to run away, dare to wander, and then dare to regroup and launch a new challenge to the place where he failed.

If once isn't enough, then try again. Even if the results are more dismal each time, and the disparity in strength grows ever greater, no matter how wretched or miserable the situation, as long as you're alive and have a breath left, you'll never give up hope of making a comeback.

In this process, escaping is an indispensable part, so in a sense, escaping also requires courage.

This was a joke that Liu Xian's teacher, Chen Shou, had made to him long ago. He revealed his cynical nature and teased Emperor Zhaolie to Liu Xian, saying, "What does it mean to be indomitable and never be subservient to others? It actually means to keep running away relentlessly."

Liu Xian was not a person who liked to run away, but thanks to Sun Xiu, the King of Zhao, and the King of Liang, he was forced to flee several times on the battlefield. Although it was euphemistically called a retreat, it was actually running away.

After running away so many times, Liu Xian came to understand that running away is not only a skill, but also a form of warfare, and even an indispensable part of achieving great things.

First, one must determine when to escape.

Running away at the first sign of trouble is indeed the act of a coward, for such a person will achieve nothing. Those who are truly skilled at running away, however, can anticipate the situation and assess their chances of success. If the disparity in strength is too great, and a direct confrontation offers no chance, with the enemy holding all the advantages, then not running away would be nothing short of foolish courage.

The current situation is that Sun Xiu has almost won over most of the political forces in Luoyang. While utilizing the Empress Dowager's faction, he is about to deliver a fatal blow to them and launch a general purge. If successful, Luoyang will completely become Sun Xiu's domain, and Liu Xian will be nothing more than fish in Sun Xiu's hands. His life or death will depend entirely on Sun Xiu's word.

Liu Xian must escape before then.

Secondly, it is necessary to plan the escape route.

Escaping isn't about running around aimlessly like a headless fly; it's about having a purpose and planning a correct route. Only in this way can you maximize your own survival and preserve the opportunity to make a comeback.

During this process, special attention must be paid to the enemy's deployment. The enemy is not a block of wood; they will also consider how to gain the greatest benefit and will not easily let you leave. Therefore, escaping is also a kind of game of strategy with the opponent.

Now that Sun Xiu has seen through most of Liu Xian's intentions, and that his desire to restore his kingdom is no secret, it's impossible for Liu Xian to go to Bashu. Considering his influence in Guanzhong, Sun Xiu will undoubtedly impose strict blockades on the surrounding area. Therefore, Liu Xian cannot go to Guanxi; he can only consider various options in Guandong.

Finally, you need to master the correct way to escape.

There are many ways to escape. Escaping alone in the dark is escaping, mingling with the crowd in the daytime is escaping, retiring with your family in a grand procession is escaping, and even taking an army to occupy a mountain as king is escaping.

There is no best way to escape, only the most suitable way. Those who are good at escaping can always adapt to the circumstances, be bold and innovative, and develop unique and unexpected escape methods.

For Liu Xian at the moment, there aren't many options available.

However, he was now full of fighting spirit, all his thoughts were mobilized, and he began to formulate one escape plan after another. The most perplexing time for a person is when they have no opponent, not knowing who to fight, or what to prove. Liu Xian had been filled with this perplexity for the past few days, but now, that perplexity had vanished.

He rested for another night at the Marquis of Xiangyang's residence, and the next day he bid farewell to Wang Cui and the princess.

Wang Cui was somewhat surprised and asked, "Won't you rest for a few more days? You can wait until you're feeling better!"

Liu Xian laughed and said, "No, my home isn't far away, how could I stay at your house every day?"

"No longer going to hide from the limelight?"

"What's there to hide from? There are princelings everywhere these days, how could it be my turn?"

"Too."

Speaking of this, Wang Cui scratched his head, a rare occurrence for him. These past few days, life had become increasingly difficult for the Empress's faction, with disgruntled imperial guards taking to the streets to cause trouble, demanding the return of the Crown Prince. After ordering the release of officials who had disobeyed the imperial edict to see her off, the Empress's authority had plummeted. Unable to punish the officials, she was even less able to deal with these military officers, and could only order the outer troops to enter the city to maintain order.

During this period, Wang Cui frequently went to the streets to handle these disputes and increasingly realized that the end of the Hou Party was near.

He complained to Liu Xian, "It's strange. When the Crown Prince was in the Eastern Palace, no one moved an inch. But now that the Crown Prince has fallen, everyone's making a fuss. What were they doing before?"

Liu Xian thought to himself, "Sun Xiu is putting the Empress on the spot, forcing her to kill the deposed Crown Prince. Once the deposed Crown Prince is dead, Sun Xiu will act without restraint."

This incident saddened Liu Xian. Foolish people often fail to recognize reality and instead become the driving force behind their own self-destruction, while simultaneously feeling smug about it.

But this was something Liu Xian couldn't stop. People are both the easiest and the hardest to change. The easiest thing for a person to change is a decision they've just made, while the hardest thing to change is their own foolishness. Therefore, everyone can only be responsible for their own decisions. Although Liu Xian felt heartbroken for Sima Yu's fate, he could only respect this outcome.

After he bid farewell to Wang Cui, the princess secretly came to see him off; yesterday's conversation felt like an unbelievable dream. Liu Xian said to the princess:
"Your Highness, thank you. I hope you will be living a comfortable life when we meet again."

Xiu Hua was still somewhat bewildered, but Liu Xian's words were undoubtedly an encouragement, pulling her out of her past self-pity. Only then did she remember to ask the most important question:
"Do you really want to restore your kingdom?"

Liu Xian made no attempt to hide anything, nodding and smiling, "I once swore an oath to heaven and earth that I would build a world that encompasses everyone."

With that, he left the Marquis of Xiangyang's residence. Outside the gate, Zhuge Yan and Zhu Fu were waiting with their carriage, unaware of what had transpired in recent days.

Back at the General's residence, his wife and advisors rushed over to check on him. Clearly, the recent political upheavals and Liu Xian's absence had caused them great anxiety. His wife, A'Luo, examined Liu Xian's injuries for half a day, then burst into tears, scolding him, "Can't you give me a few days' peace of mind?"

Li Sheng, having some idea of ​​what had happened, tactfully advised, "My lord, this incident is a lesson; do not risk your life again."

Huan Yi, Xi Jian, and others felt lost about the future due to the absence of the crown prince, and cautiously inquired, "If Your Excellency has any plans, it would be best to inform us."

Only Zhuge Yan casually remarked, "Having survived such a calamity, one is bound to have good fortune in the future!"

After calming them down a bit, Liu Xian told A Luo to go out first, and then had the staff stay in the bedroom and warm themselves by the fire.

Then, he cut to the chase: "Everyone should be aware of the current chaos in Luoyang; it's far from peaceful. The Crown Prince's deposition doesn't mean the matter is over; new unrest will soon ensue. Are you prepared?"

Fu Chang, Liu Xian's brother-in-law, was the first to ask, "What kind of trouble are you talking about?"

"Of course, it's something that will happen after the kings have passed away. The whole city is in an uproar right now, and it could start anytime soon."

Liu Xian hesitated slightly, then revealed, "In fact, the King of Zhao has already recruited me. He hopes that I will be the vanguard in attacking the Golden Valley Garden."

These words greatly surprised Xi Jian and others, because in most people's eyes, King Zhao was a solid pillar of the Queen's faction, and they never expected that he would secretly overthrow Jia.

Li Sheng's expression immediately changed, and he advised, "You can't agree to this; it's clearly a trap!"

"No matter how heinous the crimes of the Empress Dowager's faction are, they are still a behemoth that has controlled the government for nearly ten years. It is impossible to completely eliminate them. Moreover, Jingu Garden is the stronghold of the Bohai Shi clan, and they have bribed countless literati. If you lead a team to attack Jingu Garden, regardless of the casualties, you will definitely offend many people, and you will probably be slandered by too many people afterward!"

How could Liu Xian not know? But he replied, "I have a reason to go, so I have already agreed."

He continued, "The King of Zhao is a wolf in sheep's clothing, and has no shame. After the deed is done, he is very likely to boast of his great achievements and take the opportunity to usurp the throne. This is a treasonous act, and I must not conspire with him. Therefore, I plan to avenge the Crown Prince, then resign from my official post, leave Luoyang immediately, and sever all ties with him."

"At that time, you may no longer be able to stay in the General's Mansion. What I mean is, please consider your own decision to stay or leave."

These words were truly earth-shattering, leaving everyone present looking at each other in astonishment. They never expected that Liu Xian would bring such momentous news upon his return home, news that could determine the fate of tens of millions of people.

Then a thought popped into their minds: Is chaos about to break out?
Xi Jian was the first to speak up, saying, "Now that we are in the same room, why do you speak so formally, my lord? Although I am overestimating my abilities, I will not associate with treacherous officials and villains."

The implication was that he was willing to follow Liu Xian. His advisors echoed this sentiment.

Looking at the spirited peers and young people around him, Liu Xian felt a great sense of comfort: having come this far, he was no longer alone.

Xi Jian then asked, "What does Your Excellency need us to do? And where do you intend to go?"

Liu Xian shook his head slightly and said, "I can't take all of you with me, so I need most of you to remain in Luoyang and take good care of your three thousand guards. No matter what, you can't let them fall into the hands of the King of Zhao. If you can do this, you will have done a great service."

As for where he would go, Liu Xian said, "I will submit a memorial to the court expressing my desire to serve as the governor of Liangzhou. The court will certainly not agree. But secretly, I plan to contact the King of Huainan. If the court does not agree, I will leave Luoyang alone and go to Huainan Kingdom in Yangzhou to serve as the governor of Huainan."

If we were to say who in Luoyang today could stand against the Zhao King's faction, it would probably only be Sima Yun, the Prince of Huainan.

Although Sima Yun did not hold a legitimate official position or wield significant power in the court, he was, after all, one of the three great regional princes personally appointed by Emperor Wu, and the only surviving one. After Sima Yu was deposed, his status became extremely prestigious, making him virtually the most powerful member of the imperial clan, second only to the current emperor.

He also had the power to appoint officials of the Huainan Kingdom. The Huainan Kingdom encompassed several commanderies and had tens of thousands of households. Although it was not as powerful as a provincial governor, it was far stronger than a typical commandery prefect. As long as Sima Yun could fulfill his previous promise to Liu Xian, this was indeed a suitable plan.

Everyone was convinced by Liu Xian's plan, after all, the King of Huainan had paid a visit, demonstrating their close relationship. Furthermore, the King of Zhao had no reason to prevent the King of Huainan from appointing officials within his own fiefdom; this was perfectly reasonable. Therefore, they could not attack the General Who Pacifies Bandits' residence.

Without further ado, the next morning, Zhuge Yan took the ivory bracelet to the Prince of Huainan's residence and told Sima Yun about Liu Xian's request.

Upon hearing that Liu Xian was unwilling to stay in the capital, Sima Yun was slightly disappointed, but he was indeed a man of his word, and quickly promised: "If he wants to go to Huainan, he can go anytime. After he takes office, I will definitely submit a memorial to the court on his behalf."

At the same time, Zhuge Yan also reminded him: "My master asked me to tell Your Highness that you should also be wary of the King of Zhao. He is not a kind person."

At that time, Xun Song, the scholar of the Prince of Huainan, was standing nearby. When he heard this, he remained expressionless on the surface, but his heart was filled with turmoil. He immediately relayed the news to Sun Xiu.

Before their escape to Huainan even began, the truth had already been revealed to Sun Xiu.

But this was exactly what Liu Xian had expected. He certainly didn't expect to hide it from Sun Xiu, and in fact, he didn't expect Sima Yun to either.

Judging from the current situation, the fact that all the powerful princes in Luoyang have remained indifferent to the major event of the crown prince's deposition suggests that they have reached a deal, or at least a tacit understanding. Liu Xian thought that Sima Yun, as the candidate for crown prince, would certainly have no shortage of spies from Sun Xiu around him.

Therefore, Liu Xian was still using Sima Yun as a cover.

The person Liu Xian truly wanted to rely on was someone else entirely, namely Sima Yi, the Prince of Changshan.

Before leaving the residence of the Marquis of Xiangyang, he entrusted two matters to Sima Xiuhua. One of them was to send a letter to Sima Yi, the Prince of Changshan, hoping that Sima Yi would take him in out of consideration for their past relationship and appoint him as the Prefect of Changshan.

Frankly, this was a gamble. This was their first contact since the first year of the Yuankang era, and in the nine years since, he had had no interaction with Sima Yi. If Sima Yi refused to accept Liu Xian and reported the letter to the court, Liu Xian's political life would likely be over.

However, the advantages are also obvious. As long as he agrees, even with Sun Xiu's immense influence, he cannot infiltrate outside the capital, let alone affect the situation in Hebei. Therefore, this is a life-saving move. This move is enough to help Liu Xian defy fate and temporarily escape the quagmire of Luoyang. Once the Later Party collapses, the situation in Luoyang will be completely out of control. Sun Xiu claims to be a raging torrent, but no one can control a raging torrent, much less prevent the tide from engulfing him.

This period of time will not be long. By then, the world will be in true chaos, and Liu Xian will have a good opportunity to change his ways.

Liu Xian's willingness to believe Sima Yi stemmed from the fact that among Sima Yan's many sons, only Sima Yi was Sima Wei's younger brother, born of the same parents. (End of Chapter)