The Three Kingdoms: Hindsight is 20/20, and the Three Revivals of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 255 Yuan Shang's actions were as fierce as a tiger; those who obeyed prospered, and those who defied perished (2nd update)
Zhending City.

A swift horse arrived, and Yuan Shang's close general, Han Fan, led a hundred cavalrymen to the scene.

"The General has given the order, and the Chancellor of Changshan, Gao Rou, has received it."

Han Fan was arrogant and didn't take Gao Rou, the ruler of Changshan, seriously at all.

Yuan Shang also had many trusted confidants in Ji Province. In addition to Shen Pei and Feng Ji, there were also civil and military officials such as Su You, Yin Kai, Ju Hu, Han Fan, Liang Qi, Li Fu, Yin Kui, Chen Lin, Ma Yan, Zhang Yi, Guo Zhao, and Shen Rong.

Although they are not as famous as the top-tier civil and military officials, they are still outstanding figures in Ji Province, and most of them come from prominent families in Ji Province.

This is also the source of Han Fan's arrogance in front of Gao Rou. You, a Chenliu native who fled to Jizhou to avoid trouble, how can you compare to me, a native of a prominent family in Jizhou?
Moreover, Gao Rou was merely a chancellor, while Han Fan was a close general of Yuan Shang. Tao Sheng, the chancellor of Zhongshan, was dismissed without a second thought. In Han Fan's eyes, the chancellor of Changshan was nothing more than that.

Gao Rou initially thought it was a military order from Yuan Shao, but upon seeing the name on the document, which was Yuan Shang, she couldn't help but wonder: "Commander Han, is this really a military order from the General? Why is it signed by Young Master Shang?"

Upon seeing Gao Rou's questioning, Han Fan raised an eyebrow and shouted, "The Grand General has officially abdicated in favor of Young Master Shang. Young Master Shang is now the Grand General. Are you questioning me because you are dissatisfied with Young Master Shang's succession as Grand General?"

As he questioned her, Han Fan's right hand was already gripping the hilt of his knife, his eyes fixed intently on Gao Rou.

Gao Rou gasped in surprise, "When did the Grand General abdicate?"

Han Fan was getting impatient: "Why are you talking so much? Since you have received the General's order, then carry it out. Quickly mobilize the Black Mountain bandits as ordered. The General still needs to rush to Bingzhou, and there is no time to waste."

Gao Rou's face darkened: "Commander Han, please watch your words. They are not bandits! Please report to the General that it is too cold to conscript them now."

Han Fan suddenly drew his sword and pointed it at Gao Rou, shouting, "I knew you wouldn't obediently accept the order. Gao Rou, don't forget your place! A mere Chancellor of Changshan dares to disobey the General's orders? I didn't want to take action because you're Gao Gan's cousin, but you're refusing to listen to reason and choosing to suffer the consequences!"

Before he could finish speaking, the guards behind Han Fan had already raised their crossbows and aimed at Gao Rou.

"Commander Han, do you know what you're doing?" Gao Rou ignored the crossbows aimed at her, her tone now tinged with anger.

Han Fan sneered, "I am acting on the orders of the Grand General, and you, Gao Rou, refuse to obey them!" Then Han Fan took out another military order and shouted, "The Grand General has ordered that if Gao Rou disobeys orders, he shall be captured immediately, and I, Han Fan, shall temporarily act as the Chancellor of Changshan. Guards, seize this man!"

Faced with the crossbows of Han Fan's guards, Gao Rou dismissed her personal guards to avoid unnecessary casualties.

"She won't submit until she's beaten, humph." Seeing that Gao Rou didn't resist, Han Fan ordered his men to take away Gao Rou's Changshan seal and surrounded her courtyard, forbidding anyone from entering or leaving.

Subsequently, Han Fan immediately summoned all the civil and military officials in Zhen Ding City and announced his appointment as the Chancellor of Changshan.

Although the civil and military officials had doubts, they dared not question or disobey because they were intimidated by the General's Order in Han Fan's possession and because Gao Rou was not present.

After Han Fan saw that he had subdued the civil and military officials, he immediately ordered the conscription of soldiers from Changshan Kingdom to accompany him on the expedition, and at the same time conscripted the people of Heishan to serve as laborers to escort grain and fodder.

Upon receiving this military order, the civil and military officials, who had initially had no objections, were all astonished and began to whisper among themselves in discussion.

Han Fan, growing impatient, shouted, "Are you going to disobey orders?" A bold clerk hurriedly replied, "It's not that we're going to disobey orders. There's no problem with conscripting soldiers from Changshan Kingdom, but those Black Mountain people belong to the Left General's Office. Apart from the former Changshan Chancellor who also serves as the Left General's Office's Chief Clerk, no one can conscript those Black Mountain people."

"Hehe." Han Fan drew his long sword halfway out: "Liu Bei has imprisoned Gao Gan, the governor of Bingzhou, with the intention of rebelling. The general's trip to Bingzhou is to punish Liu Bei. Tell those Black Mountain bandits that they either obediently escort grain for the general, or I will treat them all as traitors and punish them together."

Seeing the astonished civil and military officials, Han Fan waved his hand, and the guards on his left and right raised their crossbows.

"I don't want to repeat myself," Han Fan said coldly. "Those who want to follow the General for wealth and honor, do as I say. Those who want to follow Liu Bei as traitors, I can make you express your unwavering loyalty to Liu Bei right now."

The civil and military officials immediately dared not utter a sound.

Those who wanted to object were forcibly pulled back by their friends to prevent them from making a fool of themselves. Nowadays, it's obvious that Korean fashion is trying to make an example of someone; anyone who dares to step forward will definitely die.

Seeing that the officials remained silent, Han Fan sheathed his sword again: "Very good! You will all never regret your choice today! Only by following the General can you enjoy wealth and honor."

That night, Yuan Shang also arrived in Zhengding with Feng Ji, Ma Yan, Zhang Yi, Guo Zhao, and the rest of the cavalry.

Since the thousands of soldiers of Changshan were the remaining 10,000 men trained by Liu Bei, Han Fan was worried about a mutiny and suggested that all the generals and officers be shot.

However, Feng Ji quickly rejected this suggestion: "Commander Han's words are reasonable, but when Liu Bei was training his troops, many heroes from Hebei served as officers. These heroes have many followers in the army. If we kill them all, it will definitely cause unrest in the army." He then said to Yuan Shang: "General, you can hold a banquet in your mansion and invite those who are willing to join you in demanding Liu Bei's generous reward. Those who are unwilling can be detained as hostages. In this way, we will not have to worry about a mutiny."

Yuan Shang adopted Feng Ji's suggestion and held a banquet to summon all the generals and officers.

Upon hearing that they were to go and attack Liu Bei, all the generals and officers were astonished.

These are all generals and officers personally promoted by Liu Bei. Are you crazy to send them to attack Liu Bei now?

Not to mention that most of the generals and officers had been accompanied by Liu Bei on long walks and intimate talks, almost to the point of sleeping in the same tent, even if the generals and officers had not received any favors from Liu Bei, they would not dare to draw their swords against a fierce man like Guan Yu!
"really!"

Yuan Shang's face turned gloomy.

Although he had long anticipated that the troops Liu Bei was training were only nominally being trained for Yuan Shao and that he had actually already placed his trusted confidants in command, Yuan Shang was still quite apprehensive when he saw that none of his generals were willing to attack Liu Bei.

Changshan is adjacent to Wei Commandery. If this army pretends to surrender to Yuan Shang and enters Ye City, and then rebels in the city, Yuan Shang will be helpless to capture them.

Seeing the change in Yuan Shang's expression, Feng Ji whispered his advice: "The generals and officers are all dissatisfied, but we can't just kill them directly, lest things get complicated. We should quickly transfer those eight thousand troops to Bingzhou, and then select and promote brave warriors to become generals along the way. As long as we defeat Liu Bei, the generals and officers will have no choice but to obey orders."

Yuan Shang abandoned any thought of winning them over and said bluntly, "I will not make things difficult for you. Those who are unwilling to go will have to hand over their military seals and stay here temporarily; once I and Liu Bei have decided who to support, you will naturally understand. If you do not know what is good for you, then do not blame me for being ruthless."

Seeing Yuan Shang's guards raising their crossbows on either side, the officers and soldiers were indignant but dared not resist. To resist at this moment would be no different from committing suicide.

　Update 2 is here!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)