I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 421 What Happens After Death?
Liu Miao's resolute decision in Yizhou shattered the hopes of those who were still observing and harboring illusions.

Even in the vast region of Shu, Liu Miao resolutely completed the reforms.

Even though the ruler of Shu was a member of the Han imperial family and a relative of Liu Miao, Liu Miao still showed no mercy.

The appearance of "Shu Ke" in particular shattered everyone's psychological defenses.

Once the imperial examination system was formalized and completely replaced the recommendation system, Liu Miao would have brought about a complete change of the world!

Such things are not allowed.

"Liu Miao, this is because you always implement these wicked policies that have alienated the people!"

Once Chen Deng had this thought, he no longer hesitated and wrote and sent out many more letters...

Langya.

After receiving Chen Gong's letter, Zang Ba immediately ordered his men to travel by boat to Jinling to report, and at the same time, he also ordered the soldiers of Langya to reorganize!
Over the years, Zang Ba not only turned Langya into the largest horse ranch in the Qingxu area, but also successively renovated many defensive works on the site of the Qi Great Wall, making the northern part of Langya virtually impenetrable!

A cunning rabbit has three burrows.

If Zhou Yu could even think of implementing a step-by-step defense in the Central Plains to slow down the advance of Yuan's army, how could he not be more vigilant in the Qingxu area?
When Zang Ba delivered the letter to Jinling, it was midday, with the sun high in the sky.

During Liu Miao's campaign against Shu, the palaces in Jinling were completely completed.

To the northeast of the Ziwei Palace lies the Forbidden Garden, where the Empress, concubines, and other ladies-in-waiting mostly lived. Zhang Zhao, adhering to ancient customs, still named the Empress's palace Jiaofang Palace.

The pepper powder was mixed with soil to make a coating that was applied to the walls, creating an aromatic layer that gave the walls a unique pink hue, which always filled Liu Miao with a sense of wonder whenever he visited the place.

"This empress's palace is quite charming!"

Empress Yuan glared at Liu Miao, then twisted her waist and turned her back to him, giving him a disapproving look.

Just as Liu Miao was about to go up and pat it, he heard a sob and had no choice but to give up the idea.

Empress Yuan became even more anxious upon hearing this sound. She quickly walked to a palace maid and carefully looked at the child in her arms.

"What happened to Li Zhu?"

"He's probably just hungry... or maybe His Majesty's voice was too loud and startled His Highness."

Empress Yuan tenderly took the child in her arms, then turned around and gave Liu Miao a big eye roll. She then began to undress, but hesitated for a moment: "Turn around!"

"What! Are you afraid I'll see?"

This was the first time Liu Miao had learned his child's name after having had the child for so long. He leaned over and took a look, his face contorting in disbelief: "What an ugly child!"

Empress Yuan spat and said, "It's all because his father is ugly!"

Seeing that Li Zhu was crying so hard, Empress Yuan didn't care that Liu Miao, that old rogue, was right next to her. She directly took off her clothes and began to feed her.

"Hmm~"

"what happened?"

"It's definitely bigger!"

"Liu Miao! Are you trying to die?"

"Hahahaha!"

Liu Miao waited until Empress Yuan finished feeding the child before taking the baby from her.

Two eyes, as black as grapes, were fixed on Liu Miao. Although Liu Miao had only met the child a few times, firstly, the child was not shy and stared straight at Liu Miao; secondly, although the child seemed a bit ugly at first glance, upon closer inspection, Liu Miao could see that there was a certain dashing and heroic air about him in his brows!

"Tsk! Come on! Let Daddy see how good I am!"

When Liu Miao forcibly pulled down Liu Lizhu's pants, he immediately showed his displeasure upon seeing the disheveled appearance of the pants.

"How come there's only this much?"

Liu Miao turned Liu Lizhu around, raised his hand high, and then gently lowered it.

"Snapped!"

A crisp sound was met with a loud cry.

"what are you doing!"

Empress Yuan, like a lioness protecting her cubs, quickly stepped forward and snatched the child away, holding it firmly with both hands while looking at Liu Miao warily.

"I believe that if we fight from the back, the front will be bigger!"

"Ha! Then let me kick you in the back and see what happens?"

"Then thank you very much, Your Majesty!"

"Um??!"

Liu Miao burst into laughter again. Pointing at Liu Lizhu in Empress Yuan's arms, he exclaimed, "This boy is just like his mother; he cries the moment he's spanked! Hahahaha!"

"Oh!"

Empress Yuan couldn't move her hands, so she could only kick Liu Miao hard to express her anger.

"Tsk! What a shrew!"

Liu Miao lamented the fleeting nature of time.

I still remember how shy I was when I barged into Yuan's room in the middle of the night. Now, it's the same person, but it feels like a world of difference!

A mother's power is great.

Liu Lizhu, who had been made to cry by Liu Miao, nestled in Empress Yuan's arms for a while before falling into a deep sleep again.

Liu Miao seized the opportunity and finally stepped forward to try and get intimate, but was warned by a look from Empress Yuan and could only stop in frustration.

"Wait a minute."

Just as Liu Miao was about to leave, feeling bored, Empress Yuan handed the child back to the palace maid and then quickly walked over, lifting her skirt.

"Hmm~"

Empress Yuan fell into Liu Miao's arms, her cheek naturally pressing against his chest.

Liu Miao originally intended to give her a little pinch, but he suddenly realized that Empress Yuan was holding her back tightly with both hands. So Liu Miao smiled knowingly and gently patted Empress Yuan's thin back.

"Is Your Majesty going to war this time?"

"When have I ever gone out to fight a war?"

But this time is different!

"..."

No, of course they're different!
In the past, if we lost a war, we could fight again. But this time, if we lose, we'll lose everything.

This time, it's either Liu Miao who kills Yuan Shao, or Yuan Shao who kills Liu Miao.

Their personalities dictated that neither of them would hide in some corner and eke out a living after losing this most crucial battle.

However, Liu Miao hadn't expected that Empress Yuan, whom he thought knew nothing, would actually be able to perceive this. Indeed.

On one side was her husband, and on the other was her uncle's family; they should have some kind of connection.

"Will you win?"

Empress Yuan's warm breath slowly soaked into Liu Miao's chest.

"It's bad luck to say these things before a battle!"

Liu Miao finally couldn't resist and slapped Empress Yuan's buttocks hard, which, though not large, were unusually perky.

"Stretch properly! Don't be lazy! I noticed last night that you weren't quite up to it!"

Empress Yuan let out a soft moan, but still refused to let go.

Liu Miao could only smile helplessly: "What I mean by saying this is that I will definitely come back!"

Empress Yuan's arms, which resembled those of an octopus, finally relaxed.

However, the redness around her eyes was even more pronounced.

They're clearly family, so why are they fighting to the death?
Empress Yuan's not-so-bright mind obviously couldn't come up with this question.

However, when faced with her family and loved ones, Empress Yuan still made a choice.

She was, after all, the Empress of the Han Dynasty!

Liu Miao raised his arm and rubbed Empress Yuan's head like he was rubbing a kitten's head.

"Don't touch me! I'm the Empress! What if someone sees this?"

"What empress! She's clearly my wife, Liu Miao's wife!"

Liu Miao kissed Empress Yuan on the lips: "I'm leaving!"

Although they had been married for a long time, such behavior in public still made Empress Yuan feel somewhat uncomfortable, and her mind went blank.

By the time she came to her senses, Liu Miao had already walked a very, very far away.

……

"Lord Zhang, I have something to entrust to you!"

Zhang Zhao remained in charge of Jinling.

Zhang Zhao is not actually old now, but there is not a single black hair left on his head.

"Your Majesty, please speak."

"This is the imperial edict appointing the Crown Prince. If there is anything that needs to be done, I would appreciate it if you could help me with the arrangements."

Zhang Zhao frowned deeply.

"His Majesty."

"Over the years, I have done my best to do whatever Your Majesty has asked me to do."

"But this time, I dare not agree to Your Majesty's request. I am only waiting for Your Majesty to do this matter personally."

Liu Miao was speechless.

Seeing Zhang Zhao's still stubborn expression, Liu Miao shrugged and actually withdrew the imperial edict.

Now, it was Zhang Zhao's turn to be somewhat surprised.

"After arriving in Guanzhong this time, I paid homage at the Changling Mausoleum of Emperor Gaozu."

"..."

"When I first saw Changling, I could hardly believe it! The legendary Emperor Gaozu of Han actually fell into such a state of decline."

Liu Miao recalled the ruins and the backfilled tomb-raiding holes.

"So it is only now that I understand what Emperor Gaozu said before he passed away."

"It's not that Emperor Gaozu wasn't afraid of death. I believe everyone is afraid of death, but Emperor Gaozu had seen the coldness and warmth of human relationships and knew that even someone as great as him couldn't control what happened after he was gone."

"I understand that as well."

"Let's not even talk about what will happen after my death. Just in this world, how many things can I possibly manage?"

Liu Miao remained calm.

"In my great Han Dynasty, is there still anyone starving to death? Are there still wealthy young men bullying men and women? Are there still people secretly seizing land and committing illegal and disorderly acts?"

Yes, definitely.

Liu Miao gestured to Zhang Zhao, who was eager to retort, to calm down.

"I am not questioning the efforts of Lord Zhang and the central government officials. But there are some things that I cannot hear just by covering my eyes and ears."

"You cannot deceive me, and I cannot deceive myself either."

"Therefore, I don't really care about what happens after I'm gone. Even if I did care, I couldn't change anything, and it would only be a waste of my energy."

Liu Miao wasn't pessimistic, he just didn't care.

"Even if I defeat Yuan Shao and return to Jinling, and die of old age and am buried in some Zhongshan Mausoleum, I still have no say in what happens after I die. So I am just giving my instructions. If Lord Zhang is unwilling, then I have no complaints."

Zhang Zhao looked helpless: "Your Majesty, is it really necessary to do this before the battle?"

Liu Miao nodded: "It must be this way!"

"I can see that Yuan Shao has come to me this time with the determination to die; so I must also meet him with the determination to die."

"Otherwise, if there is even the slightest hesitation, I will be the one to lose!"

Zhang Zhao looked at Liu Miao, finally let out a long sigh, and took the imperial edict from Liu Miao's hand.

Upon seeing Zhang Zhao accept the imperial edict, Liu Miao burst into laughter: "In that case! I'll have to trouble you, Lord Zhang!"

"By the way, I heard that Lord Zhang's son, Zhang Cheng, has also joined the Imperial Guard. I have kept him here..."

"Let him go!"

Zhang Zhao interrupted Liu Miao at this moment, his tone leaving no room for refusal.

"Otherwise, I will tie him to a warhorse and send him to the front lines!"

"..."

Liu Miao stood up: "I understand!"

"Rest assured, Lord Zhang! I will surely win this battle!"

(End of this chapter)