I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 520 The Three Kingdoms Period at the End of the Later Han Dynasty

brazen!
Guo Jia wanted to rebuke Liu Miao, asking how he could face the ancestors of the Han Dynasty with such actions.

How could the Emperor of the mighty Han Dynasty cooperate with Yuan Shang, who usurped the Liu family's throne? Is there any justice in this world?
But when Guo Jia thought of Yuan Tan behind him, he could only sigh deeply.

"Fengxiao, don't overthink it. Just deliver the message. But it's best to hurry. It will take me less than ten days to deal with Zhang He and Gao Lan. Once I've reorganized my troops, what I want won't be Hanoi, but Hedong."

You have to look forward to Shu!

Guo Jia suddenly felt that Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu, who created this story, was probably not as perfect as recorded in history books.

The fact that he resembles Liu Miao at least is already a heinous crime!
After Liu Miao finished discussing the important matters, seeing that Guo Jia had nothing more to say, he also warmly wanted to keep Guo Jia there.

"I can already smell the aroma of meat! Fengxiao, would you like to finish your meal before you leave? Otherwise, Mengde might laugh at me for being stingy, not even providing a proper meal! As for Yuan Tan, I'm not worried. After all, when he was in Jiangdong, I took good care of him, making him plump and healthy! Tsk! I wonder if those shops he frequented back then have put up any gimmicks, like signs that say 'The Emperor of Zhao Dines Here'..."

Hearing Liu Miao still mocking Yuan Tan, Guo Jia could no longer stay. He cupped his hands towards Liu Miao and said, "Your Majesty's hospitality last time was already quite lavish. I have important matters to attend to and cannot stay any longer."

Last time?

Liu Miao's expression immediately became somewhat strange.

For once, Liu Miao's imposing manner softened slightly: "Fengxiao, I guarantee that this meat will be thoroughly cooked!"

"There's really no need..."

After Guo Jia left, Liu Miao impatiently ordered the cooks to serve the meal.

But after taking only one bite, Liu Miao reached in to pick at his teeth, prompting him to complain, "Why is it horse meat? No beef or dog meat?"

"Your Majesty, the grain supplies have been almost completely used up. It's already a blessing to have a piece of horse meat to eat."

Liu Miao glared at Lu Su: "What are you saying? Zijing, have you embezzled anything?"

"..."

Lu Su picked up a piece of not-so-soft horse meat, chewed it for a long time, and then swallowed it.

"Your Majesty, Fengxiao has already left, there's no need for this."

"This war involved hundreds of thousands of people and lasted for more than half a year. The reserves in Jiangdong, Jingzhou, and Shu were almost completely depleted, and there was indeed no more surplus grain to be transported."

"And those newly recruited surrendered soldiers also need to eat. With people and horses eating, they can consume half of the county's grain reserves in just a few days."

"Your Majesty's most urgent task is to bring the army back as soon as possible and let the soldiers return to the fields to cultivate the land, so as not to delay the spring planting. Also, give up the habit of eating beef and get the oxen harnessed to the plows and back to the fields to plow."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Liu Miao stopped arguing and obediently picked at the horse meat in his bowl.

When Lu Su saw Liu Miao's expression darken, he suddenly felt a pang of pity.

Just as he was thinking of ways to cheer Liu Miao up, he saw Liu Miao had already devoured his meal and was now hugging Zhou Tai's neck, discussing something with him—

"I remember hearing dogs barking when I passed through a certain place before?"

"Indeed!"

"Let's go! Hunt back some food! I'll give you a dog's leg when the time comes!"

"Here!"

Just as Zhou Tai, that lackey, was about to go out with Liu Miao to cause trouble, Lu Su quickly grabbed Liu Miao: "Your Majesty! What should we do with the 100,000 Yuan troops trapped in Henan?"

Liu Miao was quite puzzled: "What do you mean, what should we do?"

"His Majesty……"

Lu Su shared the same realization as Guo Jia: you can't talk about serious matters with Liu Miao, or you'll shorten your lifespan! Talking with Liu Miao is all about food, drink, and fun; that's how you have a pleasant conversation…

"What should be done with those 200,000 Yuan troops?"

"What do you mean, how will they be settled?"

Lu Su was getting more and more tired.

Liu Miao had already put on his fur coat and put a tiger-skin hat on his head.

"Zijing, I ask you, were those 200,000 Yuan soldiers human beings?"

Lu Su tilted his head to the side.

"No? Zijing, are you stupid? I now know who Fengxiao was talking about."

Liu Miao picked up the horsewhip that had been used to whip Kuai Hang countless times and swung it casually: "They are people, and Han people at that."

"How the Han Dynasty treats the Han people is how they will treat the Han people."

"In the entire Henan region, I estimate that this is the first time in two hundred years that there is more land than people. What are we waiting for if we don't thoroughly implement the equal-field system now?"

But Lu Su's doubts ran even deeper.

"Does Your Majesty mean to treat them as ordinary people?"

"But what if they secretly cross the river...?"

"Zijing, are you joking? How are they going to cross the river in this freezing weather?"

"But it will get hot sooner or later."

"It's getting hot, they all have land, and the ones who acted quickly probably already have wives. Do you think they'd be willing to leave?"

Lu Su suddenly realized.

Liu Miao finally put on his last piece of warm clothing and enthusiastically pulled the bowstring to stretch his muscles.

"It is Gongjin's business not to let these 200,000 Yuan troops go back."

"But how to retain these 200,000 people is Zijing's business." "If they cry and beg to return to Hebei after understanding the true nature of the Han Dynasty, instead of trying to bring their families over, then what are we wasting our time here? Wouldn't it be better to surrender to Yuan Shao sooner and unify the country sooner?"

Liu Miao patted Lu Su on the shoulder with satisfaction: "I believe that Zijing can do this well!"

Lu Su was about to be moved, but he quickly realized something was amiss—

"If I go to settle these soldiers, what will Your Majesty do there? Oh! Your Majesty! Your Majesty! I haven't finished speaking! Come back here!"

……

……

"Someone ran away again last night."

"how many people?"

"Who knows? More than a thousand people, perhaps?"

In a dilapidated barracks by the river, Zhang He looked at Gao Lan, who had just finished counting the soldiers, and sighed wearily.

"With hundreds or thousands of runs every day, how can we possibly resist Liu Miao?"

Gao Lan remained silent, but instead inquired about another matter concerning Zhang He.

Have you heard about Yuan Tan's matter?

Zhang He struggled to open his eyelids, as if this one movement had taken all his strength.

"Of course I know about something this big."

"What do you think?"

"What do you think?"

"Junyi, given our friendship, are you going to pretend to be stupid?"

"..."

Zhang He finally made a move, but the move was nothing more than changing from slumping on the back of the chair to limply resting his arms on his knees and continuing to sigh.

"The eldest son has declared himself emperor in Hanoi, which is a clear indication that he has broken with Ye City."

"Now that the Great Zhao has been defeated by the Han army, and even the late emperor has died on the battlefield, they are still fighting for power and profit. This is clearly a sign of impending doom. What can I possibly say?"

Gao Lan, who came from a prestigious family, sneered, then said, whether in self-mockery or complaint, "As long as they can keep their power and wealth, even if the country falls, it has nothing to do with them."

Zhang He suddenly became agitated: "But don't they know that if Liu Miao drives them to Hebei, they will all die?"

"Heh~ Even if Liu Miao really marches on Ye City, that's a matter for the future. What does it have to do with them now?"

"You know what's going on in the court. If you're slow on one step, you'll be slow on every step. Otherwise, why were you in such a hurry to see the late emperor after Ju Shou died?"

"..."

Zhang He, who had wanted to vent his anger, shriveled up like a deflated pig's belly and fell silent.

Gao Lan also shook his head: "Now that things have come to this, I won't hide it from you."

"These soldiers are definitely not going to be able to be brought back."

“I sent scouts to check, and the Han army has heavily fortified the crossings. Zhang Liao and Gao Shun have even personally stationed themselves at Baima and Yanjin, so there is no hope of breaking out.”

"Originally, I was thinking that although the late emperor was dead, as long as we gathered the remaining troops, we could wait for Ye City to find a way to rescue us. Or we could simply open a passage to the west and enter Luoyang... But with Yuan Tan's actions, the officials in the court must have all turned their attention to other matters. We are completely doomed."

Gao Lan's words were so blunt that Zhang He felt a chill run down his spine.

"That's two hundred thousand people!"

"Even if there are a million people, if they can't get through, they just can't get through."

Gao Lan advised Zhang He not to indulge in wishful thinking.

"I'm noticing the strange looks on the faces of the officers in the camp. They probably want to capture us and send us to Liu Miao to atone for our crimes. If we don't leave soon, it will be too late!"

"and……"

Although Gao Lan was unwilling to admit it, he had to use these words to comfort himself, and also to comfort Zhang He—

"Although Liu Miao is not a good person, he is not morally corrupt. He would never do something like killing prisoners."

"These 200,000 troops will probably be organized into the local militia, and they won't suffer too much punishment."

Zhang He looked up in shock: "You..."

"I'm just telling the truth. After a major battle between Zhao and Han, what do we have to fear?"

Seeing Gao Lan's candor, Zhang He knew that if he continued to hide things, it would be his fault.

I sighed again.

Among these soldiers of Yuan's army, there were countless fierce warriors whom he had personally recruited and trained, yet today, he was about to personally abandon them here...

"Junyi! Let's go!"

Despite his utter helplessness, Zhang He had no choice but to leave this place, to leave the Yuan army that he had almost personally built...

When the Yuan army, which was still holding out, discovered that Zhang He and Gao Lan had crossed the river and left, chaos instantly broke out! The generals who were leading the troops discussed the matter and all felt that there was no chance of victory, so they tied their own arms and went to the front of the Han army to beg for surrender.

Zhang He and Gao Lan returned to Hebei with only a few dozen personal guards and stationed themselves in Liyang. Just as they were pondering what to do next, news arrived from Yecheng—

The second day of the second month of the fourth year of the Taichu reign of Emperor Zhao.

Yuan Shao's third son, Shang, burned offerings to Heaven in Ye, the capital of Zhao, denouncing Yuan Tan for disobeying the imperial edict and forging his own decree. He then declared himself emperor, honoring the late Emperor Yuan Shao as Emperor Xiaowu of Zhao, and establishing the reign title Jianping!
This is the first time since Qin Shi Huang established the title of emperor that three emperors have appeared together on the land of China!

(End of this chapter)