I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 493 You're Already a Dead Man
Yuan Ying.

The densely packed tents almost completely covered the plains west of Pengcheng.

There was still a lot of snow piled up on the tent, which weighed down the wooden supports that creaked under the weight.

Occasionally, a "crunching" sound would be heard, which meant that someone had stepped through the snow and arrived in front of Yuan Shao's imperial tent.

"Gongze? How is it today?"

After many days of gloom, Yuan Shao finally smiled.

The snow came at just the right time.

It's no exaggeration to say that this snowfall was like God sending Yuan's army ten thousand elite troops to him!
As for the Han army, they were naturally missing 10,000 elite troops.

With the balance of power, the effects of this heavy snowfall will far exceed everyone's expectations!
Therefore.

Despite the increasingly intense pain in his feet, and recently even a dull ache in his back, Yuan Shao remained in high spirits!

"Your Majesty, it was Liu Miao who wrote this..."

Guo Tu didn't know how to explain what he was holding, so he simply raised his arms and presented it.

"It's just a proclamation, what's the meaning of this, Gongze?"

Yuan Shao smiled broadly.

No matter how eloquently a manifesto is described, it's still just a thin piece of paper.

Given Yuan Shao's status and position, he had long since stopped caring about such things.

Even the well-informed Yuan Shao was stunned when he opened the proclamation.

"Was it really written by Liu Miao himself?"

"Hmm? Your Majesty can tell?"

"With such ugly handwriting, no one but him would have the face to present it before me."

Yuan Shao quickly scanned the text.

In his mind, it was nothing more than Liu Miao cursing him as a "mother's servant" and then scolding him for sending his son Yuan Xi to Langya to act like a coward...

These things could no longer harm Yuan Shao in the slightest.

But when Yuan Shao actually saw the words clearly, he was suddenly stunned.

He then understood why Guo Tu had been stammering earlier, even unsure whether the document was actually a manifesto...

Its language is so crude that it lacks the elegance of the Li Sao, the beauty of Han Fu, and the grace of the Book of Songs; instead, it sounds like the conversation of ordinary people—utterly vulgar! It's hard to imagine that this could be written by the emperor himself…

【Shao, I have a close relationship with General Hou, and I've also married your brother Yuan Ji's daughter. Logically, we're practically relatives. Why must we fight each other? How about you and I surrender, then go to General Hou's tomb and apologize, and we can call it even? Emperor Gaozu enfeoffed Lu Wan as Marquis of Chang'an; I'm not as stingy as him. How about I directly enfeoff you as King of Wu of the Great Han?】

Yuan Shao ignored this absurd greeting.

In fact, what made him serious was not the question itself, but what followed.

[Shao, listen to me, you can't win this battle. You've fought alongside me for so many years, in so many battles, when have you ever won?]

【Aren't you finding this strange? You're clearly a member of the Yuan family's nobility... Even though you were raised by a lowly maid, your status still matters, doesn't it? Plus, the prestige you gained from the campaign against Dong Zhuo, you shouldn't have lost to me under any circumstances, should you?】

Yuan Shao's breathing quickened.

Clearly, Liu Miao's letter had touched a nerve with him.

Why?
Why did he lose to Liu Miao so many times?
Yuan Shao asked himself, "My early life was far more exciting than Liu Miao's! My moral character was far superior to Liu Miao's! Even my talent far surpassed Liu Miao's! So why did I end up losing?"
That's because you're not good enough!

Yuan Shao was so angry at these words that he laughed.

He can't?
Who in the whole world dares to say he can't do it?
From He Jin and Dong Zhuo, to Gongsun Zan and Cao Cao.

All the heroes of the world feared Yuan Shao, but in Liu Miao's mouth, it was not so?
I know you won't admit it, but you might as well think carefully about what you've been doing all these years.

[You want to emulate Emperor Shizu, unite with powerful families, and pacify the entire country from Hebei? Have you considered that nearly two hundred years have passed since the founding of the Later Han Dynasty? Two hundred years! So much has changed in that time, yet you still dream of becoming a second Emperor Shizu. Don't you think that's ridiculous?]

You've surely heard the story of the man who marked his boat to find his lost sword. But now, two hundred years later, you're still searching for that sword. Even if you found it, wouldn't it be covered in rust? Where would its sharpness from two hundred years ago come from?

You think you can become the second Emperor Shizu, but Emperor Shizu was much smarter than you.

At least, I have never seen Emperor Shizu follow Emperor Gaozu's example of entering Guanzhong first, nor did he follow Emperor Gaozu's example of establishing princes of different surnames, much less follow Emperor Gaozu's example of practicing Huang-Lao philosophy.

"I'm in a good mood today, so I'll teach you some real skills—everything in this world is constantly changing. The Gaozu era had its problems, the Shizu era had its problems, and now we have our own problems. You hold a rusty sword and think it's sharp; isn't that even more foolish than the man who tried to find his sword by marking the boat?"

You think you lost to me because of bad luck? Well, let me tell you today—the reason you lost is because you are Yuan Shao.

Even if your opponent weren't me, you would still undoubtedly lose! Your defeat isn't because I'm stronger than you, but because you, Yuan Shao, are destined to lose! For two hundred years of the Later Han Dynasty, powerful clans annexed land, aristocratic families controlled Confucian classics, and barbarians invaded China… Which of these events did you recognize? And which did you resolve?

The so-called Great Zhao, the so-called Yuan dynasty, was a joke from its very inception! You copied the Later Han system entirely, thinking you could obtain the Mandate of Heaven. But if the Later Han system had truly been so perfect, how could it have suffered the calamity of the Partisan Prohibitions or the Taiping Rebellion?

The reason I am still confronting you in Pengcheng is never to defeat you, because I know that you and those powerful clans of Northern Zhao are already a bunch of dead men.

The reason I am still in Pengcheng is to think about how to reduce the number of Han Chinese civilians who die and to lessen the suffering of the people from war.

[If you've come to a conclusion, write back to me immediately. My throne as the King of Wu of the Great Han Dynasty has always been reserved for you!]

Emperor Liu Miao, chosen by Heaven to rule the Han Dynasty!
"..."

The atmosphere inside the emperor's tent was extremely oppressive.

Guo Tu lowered his eyes and looked down at Yuan Shao's feet, staring at that spot without moving an inch.

After reading the letter for a long time, Yuan Shao finally made a move. He did not tear up the scathing letter.

in contrast.

Yuan Shao carefully folded the letter again and again, making sure that every edge and corner was aligned, before putting it into his bosom and placing it in a very deep place.

After putting the items into his robes, a long time passed before Yuan Shao finally asked his first question—

"Am I destined to lose?"

"His Majesty!"

Guo Tu immediately rebuked him!

"However, this is Liu Miao's cunning scheme! How can Your Majesty possibly trust him?"

"People like Liu Miao are the most despicable! He succeeded by sheer luck, yet he thinks he's a chosen one who can boss people around at will. His heart is truly wicked!"

Guo Tu's expression was firm, and his tone was even more forceful!
"Liu Miao said that the story of 'marking the boat to find the sword' is utter nonsense!"

"Back then, Wang Mang did indeed change the laws of his ancestors and do many unconventional things, just as Liu Miao said. But what was the final result?"

"The laws of our ancestors must not be changed! If they are changed, the people will be uneasy, and the world will likely descend into chaos!"

Guo Tu urged Yuan Shao to remain steadfast and not let Liu Miao's ramblings diminish his fighting spirit!

"What Your Majesty is doing now is to set things right, save the country from collapse, rebuild our territory, and restore our great enterprise!"

"If it weren't for His Majesty being like a pillar supporting the sky, stopping the heavens from collapsing, the people of the world would already be suffering! How could Liu Miao be allowed to stir up trouble and commit evil deeds?"

"Liu Miao was able to rise to prominence in the south because of Your Majesty's alliance against Dong Zhuo, which allowed him to cheat and swindle in Jiangdong and expand his power! Now, just because of a few words of Liu Miao's scathing remarks, does Your Majesty doubt that everything Your Majesty and your ministers have done is wrong?"

Yuan Shao's eyes gradually brightened: "So, Liu Miao's words were nothing but words of veiled attack?"

"It must be so!"

Guo Tu nodded emphatically!

"Liu Miao is frivolous and cunning! He will stop at nothing to achieve his goals!"

"This person can even distort the truth of Taoism, which once instigated the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and spout nonsense about the heavens, intending to disturb the heavens! Such a rebellious person would make even the great rulers Jie and Zhou of Shang feel ashamed! Your Majesty listens to such a person and ignores the words of us loyal ministers. Is this what a wise ruler should do?"

Guo Tu's rebuke made Yuan Shao's somewhat confused eyes brighten again.

"Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven who has received the abdication ceremony! He is the one who truly receives the Mandate of Heaven! The Mandate of Heaven must reside in Your Majesty!"

Guo Tu's voice was powerful and resonant, determined to completely drown out Liu Miao's scathing words!

"This heavy snow is the best proof!"

Snow……

Yuan Shao raised his head slightly, as if looking through the dome at the snowflakes that made the Han army tremble and destroyed their crossbow carts.

Yes!

The Mandate of Heaven still rests with me!
This snow is the best proof!

Yuan Shao thought to himself, and couldn't help but feel excited.

But he and Guo Tu completely forgot that it was supposed to snow that day, and it had absolutely nothing to do with who the emperor was...

What happened next greatly excited Yuan Jun and his men!

"Report——"

A cavalryman came from the north, looking hurried and joyful.

"Report! Soldiers have discovered His Highness the King of Qin in Yanci! His Highness the King of Qin is not dead in battle!"

Yuan Tan is still alive!

Let alone Yuan Shao.

When Guo Tu heard the news, his legs went weak and he burst into tears of joy!

God bless the Great Zhao!

Yuan Tan is still alive!

Moreover, he not only did not fall into the hands of the Han army, but he even returned to Hebei!

"May Heaven bless the Great Zhao!"

"May the Yuan family be blessed!"

Outside the tent, the heavy snow that had lasted for several days was gradually thinning out.

Countless Yuan soldiers shook off the snow from their bodies and began clearing the camp and opening up roads.

Yuan Shao, who had not been seen for a long time, was helped out of the tent to see the crimson glow blooming in the east!
“Liu Miao…”

"I will not lose!"

"Absolutely not!"

(End of this chapter)