Second-hand time travel: Liu Bei, the big-eared bandit

Chapter 246 Ordered to Suppress the Rebellion
"Your Majesty has shown me favor... but this old minister is old and has few days left. Why does Your Majesty not select a tutor for the prince from among the talented young men?"

Yue Yin asked hesitantly.

"Because you are virtuous."

Liu Hong said very seriously, “All the officials in the court are only concerned with their own interests. Where is there anyone who truly cares about the country and the people? You often advise me with your virtue, and I know that only you have a heart of public good. I have no virtue in my life, but I hope that my son can become a virtuous person... Please urge my son to do good.”

After saying this, Liu Hong waved his hand.

A young eunuch led in eight-year-old Liu Xie, who was carrying a string of cured meat.

"Mr. Xie Wenle is of noble character. I humbly request that you impart virtue to me."

Liu Xie struggled to pick up the cured meat and bowed to Yue Yin.

The cured meat looked quite heavy. Liu Xie was small, and after bending down, his arms holding the meat kept trembling, clearly unable to support it.

But he endured it all, maintaining the formality of the apprenticeship ceremony. In just a breath or two, large beads of sweat dripped from Liu Xie's head and onto Yue Yin's toes.

Le Yin couldn't bear it, so he reached out and accepted the money. He turned to look at the emperor, only to see that the emperor was also bowing to him.

Le Yin suddenly understood, sighed softly, but said nothing more, only asking, "Our sect has a rule that we must not use people as commodities... If I were to become the prince's tutor, would the prince abide by this precept?"

“Sir, though I am without virtue, I have never treated people as commodities. Even the eunuchs and palace maids, I have never regarded as slaves. With Master Yue’s instruction, my son’s conduct will surely be better than mine…”

Liu Hong spoke earnestly, and instead of referring to himself as "I," he spoke like an ordinary father.

That's true. Although Liu Hong did many immoral things, someone who could call eunuchs his parents must at least have no prejudice against them.

Moreover, Jianxi Garden did indeed protect those palace maids and concubines; otherwise, most of them would probably have been killed by Empress He.

"I pay my respects to my esteemed teacher."

Liu Xie bowed deeply to the ground in a very conspicuous manner, without using any condescending tone, but instead performing the apprenticeship ceremony directly like a commoner.

Liu Hong and his son had indeed grasped the essence of Yue Yin.

In this situation, it's impossible not to accept it.

……

When Yue Yin returned to his lodgings, he met Qian Zhao and Jia Xu. Jia Xu then mentioned that the emperor might not live much longer, which put him in a difficult position.

"The emperor may have the intention of establishing a young heir..."

Upon hearing Yue Yin mention Liu Xie's apprenticeship, Jia Xu immediately said, "This will inevitably cause chaos. The He family will certainly not stand idly by. This matter is extremely dangerous..."

Yue Yin could actually sense that Liu Hong wanted to make Liu Xie his heir—in fact, anyone who had been in contact with Liu Hong could have sensed it.

Whenever Liu Hong referred to his son as "my son" in the capacity of a father, he was referring to Liu Xie. He only addressed him as Marquis Dong when giving instructions.

Liu Hong always referred to Liu Bian's eldest son as Marquis Shi.

The matter of taking a master involves the struggle over the succession...

The concept of seniority is nonexistent with the current emperor—most emperors of the Eastern Han Dynasty were chosen through imperial selection, including Liu Hong. The emperor himself was neither a legitimate son nor an elder brother of the same generation in the imperial clan, so what was the point of discussing seniority?

"Things have come to this, and I must remain in Luoyang. Zijing, quickly go to Qingzhou to inform Xuande of this matter and let Xuande make his own decision... If anything changes, you need not worry about me. Remember this!"

Le Yin understood that he had already stepped into this vortex, which would inevitably affect Liu Bei's stance.

Qian Zhao shook his head: "This disciple must stay here to protect our master, otherwise it will be even more difficult for you to make a decision, elder brother."

"Given the lord's temperament, his choice is obvious..."

Jia Xu sighed and turned to Yue Yin: "Mr. Yue, if the Liangzhou rebellion is mentioned again at the court meeting the day after tomorrow, please recommend Lord Liu to lead the troops to quell the rebellion."

Le Yin remained silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "It is time to go to Liangzhou... to avoid this matter. Zijing might as well come along."

Jia Xu glanced at Qian Zhao, bowed, and left.

Seeing this, Qian Zhao also bid farewell to Le Yin and left the room.

"Jia Zhizhong ordered my master to send my elder brother to attack Liangzhou... was it so that my elder brother could be ordered to lead the army into the capital?"

Qian Zhao, being observant, noticed this. After all, Liu Bei needed an imperial edict to lead his army to Luoyang.

"Now that things have come to this, if our lord cannot advance his troops into Luoyang, he will be forever held hostage."

Jia Xu nodded and said, "Zijing, Luoyang is in danger now, and things could change at any time."

……

Two days later, the imperial court discussed the Liangzhou rebellion again.

The remonstrating official Yue Yin took the initiative to recommend Liu Bei as the general to quell the rebellion, and the matter was settled on the spot.

Yuan Shao was stunned. He had prepared a whole host of reasons to debate the court, but he couldn't use them at all.

This time, Liu Hong did not delay any longer and immediately issued an edict appointing General Dong Zhuo as his deputy and General Liu Bei as his supervisor, ordering them to lead troops to quell the rebellion.

Since Jia Xu, the governor of Qingzhou, was in the imperial court at the time, the task of conveying the imperial edict was naturally entrusted to him.

The task of conveying imperial edicts should not be delegated to others, but Jia Xu disregarded this rule...

He himself did not return to Qingzhou, but instead sent Qian Zhao to travel along the Yan-Yu South Road again, galloping at full speed to bypass the flood-prone area, racing day and night.

This is currently the fastest route.

Moreover, Qian Zhao was skilled in horsemanship and had excellent riding ability, making him much faster than Jia Xu.

With the imperial edict in hand, no one could stop him. Qian Zhao wore out four horses on the way, but arrived at the plains in just seven days.

Even at the fastest speed, it was already early July when they finally reached the plains.

Jia Xu had Qian Zhao deliver the imperial edict so that he could explain everything clearly.

Liu Bei knew, of course, that the emperor's life was short and that the emperor favored Liu Xie, but this happened a year earlier than he remembered.

This might be because he pacified Qing and Xu ahead of time, or perhaps because Youzhou did not fall into ruin, or even because Dong Zhong died prematurely...

However, in any case, we can no longer remain indifferent to the current situation, and we can no longer simply stand by and watch.

Liu Bei immediately summoned his generals and rearranged military affairs.

Jian Yong remained in Qingzhou to govern, and moved the administrative center to Linzi.

Zhang He took over the defense of the plains and blocked the passes and roads to the north.

Taishi Ci stationed himself in Licheng, Jinan, and blocked the western passage.

Zang Ba also received a message from Liu Bei, asking him to guard Langya to prevent any unforeseen events.

With the autumn harvest approaching, Liu Bei could not take all his troops with him. He only took Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun, along with 2,500 elite soldiers, and headed towards Luoyang.

Liu Bei followed Qian Zhao's route and traveled along the southern route of Yan and Yu.

With guides leading the way to avoid the flood-prone mudflats, and only bringing the truly elite troops, almost every soldier had a packhorse, their marching speed was quite fast.

When they arrived at Yanshi, Liu Bei's troops were blocked by the troops of General He Miao.

"The speed of Liu's troops is truly admirable... But Liu was ordered to quell the rebellion in Liangzhou, so he should have gone straight for Youfufeng. Why is he marching towards Luoyang?"

The leading general stepped forward and asked.

This person was carrying the banner of General He Miao, as well as the banner of "Military Commander Wu," but He Miao himself was not present.

"This man is named Wu Kuang... He was originally the military advisor to the General of Chariots and Cavalry, but he frequently entered the General's residence and privately spoke ill of General He..."

Qian Zhao whispered a reminder in Liu Bei's ear.

"What? I'm here to quell the rebellion by imperial decree. Do I need to report to you every step of the way I take?"

Liu Bei stepped forward and stared at Wu Kuang: "Besides... the rebels may not only be in Xizhou. I think there are quite a few rebels under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Henan as well..."

(End of this chapter)