Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 295 The King of Han Points to the Huai River and Makes an Oath!

During the grand ceremony, following the introduction of the Lingyan Pavilion, Yuan Shu continued to introduce the Hall of Merit to everyone.

In addition to well-known services such as imperial edicts and certificates, many new items have been specially introduced in the Hall of Merit this time.

The most eye-catching item is the adopted son experience card, which is available for one day, three days or seven days.

Using this card, one can enjoy the privileges of being the adopted son of the King of Han for one day, which is a great boon for those who aspire to become the King of Han's adopted son but lack sufficient merit.

When we go out into the world in the future, we'll be proud to have been the adopted son of the King of Han.

Especially since the price is affordable, for the vast majority of soldiers and common people, accumulating enough merit to become the adopted son of the King of Han is an unattainable dream, seemingly a distant prospect.

But it's just a trial card; you can still afford to buy it if you save up.

During the period of use of this experience card, one can enter and exit certain open areas of Shouchun Palace for sightseeing, accompanied by armored soldiers.

Upon entering, specially trained armored soldiers guard the entrance. At this time, the user of the trial card only needs to shout: "My father is the King of Han!" or "My family has produced three dukes for four generations!"

Immediately, the gatekeepers would all bow and shout:

[Welcome back to the palace, young master!]

Inside, there are special study rooms and training grounds for the adopted sons.

The specific sightseeing itinerary for the one-day experience card includes experiencing the Han King's adopted son's studies in the morning, experiencing martial arts training in the afternoon, and a banquet at Shouchun Palace (single person meal) at noon.

The three-day and seven-day experience cards offer a wider variety of performances and experiences.

It can be said that on the very first day of its launch, this adopted son experience card sold out completely due to its affordable price, rich experience, and extremely high emotional value!
Those with merit bought it on the spot and immediately signed up for the experience. Those without merit also waited to make contributions and accumulate enough to get a one-day experience card to experience the life of being the adopted son of the King of Han. Otherwise, wouldn't it be a waste to have come to this world?
In no time, the words "My father is Yuan Gonglu!" echoed throughout the streets and alleys of Shouchun City.

In a sense, the King of Han, both literally and in practice, achieved the highest ideal of a monarch's rule:
I am the sovereign and father, and all the people under heaven are my subjects!

Everyone felt very close to Hanwang because of this wave of adopted son trial cards.

Not to mention those prefectures and counties that are far away and haven't yet built something like the Shouchun Villa (Adopted Son Experience Hall), at least the people of Shouchun are having a very lively time celebrating the New Year today.

Aside from the adopted son experience card, the most popular items among the common people in the Hall of Merit are daily necessities such as salt and rice, which require very little merit and are very inexpensive.

However, the Hall of Merit has a purchase limit for these items. No matter how high the rank or how powerful the background, everyone is treated equally each year and can only exchange their merits for three days' worth of rations to sustain their livelihood.

This was the kind of relief food that could be obtained when someone was starving and had accumulated merit.

In times of disaster, a single bite of food might save a life.

However, the number available for exchange is limited, firstly to prevent aristocratic families and merchants from hoarding and speculating, and secondly because there are too many people in the world.

The Yellow Heaven Responding Origin Manifesting Sage Dao Lord can protect you for three days when you are at your poorest and most destitute. However, if you cannot find a way to make a living through your own efforts after three days, then no matter what kind of god or Buddha it is, they cannot protect you for a lifetime.

Nevertheless, for some people who had just fled from the Central Plains with their families, tears were already welling up in their eyes.

God knows what kind of life they lived before?
All the grain was stolen, and conscripts were being recruited everywhere. Only after working hard all day could one receive a meager ration.

But what happens after crossing the Yangtze River and arriving in Huainan?
The people here are so nice!

The imperial court leased land to wealthy families who were charitable and generous. As long as they worked hard in farming, they could accumulate merit and be promoted to the Lingyan Pavilion.

Even in such a peaceful and prosperous era, the King of Han was still worried that we would encounter natural disasters and man-made calamities, and that we would become so poor that we couldn't afford to eat.

Therefore, at a very low cost, the people of Han were given three days' worth of food rations each year.

Without comparison, there is no harm; when these people brought news of the tyranny of the Central Plains to Huainan.

People of Huainan: The King of Han, it's true, I'm going to cry myself to death.

In addition, the Hall of Merit also offers the [Academy Monthly Pass], [Academy Half-Year Pass], [Academy Annual Pass], [Student Canteen Monthly Pass], as well as various printed books, writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, all at very affordable prices.

Even ordinary people can earn enough merit to buy something by farming diligently for a year.

Afterwards, the cardholder can send their child to the local village or county academy for schooling.

These teachers at the county and township academies were the very people who had failed the imperial examinations in Shouchun.

Although they failed the exam, the King of Han still assigned them the official positions of libationers for the township and county schools.

For these people, their purpose in coming to Shouchun was to seek official positions.

Regardless of what kind of official position it is, at least get the job first.

With an official position, there was always the possibility of promotion, so most people gladly accepted the appointment and were assigned to teach in local areas.

As they expected, as long as their disciples taught well and outperformed their colleagues in student exams, they could be promoted continuously.

The highest possible rank was that of Wang Lang, the current Dean of the Shouchun Academy, a high-ranking official who could attend court assemblies, organize the annual Shouchun Grand Competition, and speak with authority before the King of Han.

For ordinary people today, if sending their children to school costs money and food, most people simply cannot afford it.

But now, all you need to do is collect the extra merits you have each year and redeem them for monthly cards, annual cards, or even cafeteria cards, which saves you money on your child's meals.

The people spontaneously and devoutly bowed before the portrait of the Manifested Sage, shouting: "Savior from suffering, Lord of Peace!"

After all, the children don't spend a penny on schooling, and they can exchange any merit they accumulate. After completing their studies, they can participate in the Shouchun Grand Competition, enter officialdom, and change their fate. There is no one more considerate than the King of Han.

Where do achievements come from? The simplest way is farming, though the income is meager, it is stable.

Secondly, he made significant contributions in bridge and road repair, canal digging and embankment construction, and inventions.

The fastest way to achieve results in an attack is naturally to transport provisions for the army, build fortifications, manufacture weapons, and assist in the defense of the city.

Because the needs of ordinary people are different from those of aristocratic families and high-ranking officials, things like imperial edicts, status differences between the five rings of Shouchun, or license plates for legally driving horse-drawn carriages in the city are meaningless to ordinary people.

It was precisely the "Adopted Son Experience Card," "Three-Day Relief Rations," and "Academy Monthly and Annual Cards" that brought the lofty Lingyan Pavilion and Hall of Merit into their lives, completely binding them to the Han Kingdom on the same chariot.

When the nation prospers and the people thrive, when the nation falls and the people perish, we share both glory and disgrace, and are of one heart and one mind!
If any other warlord dares to imitate Cao Cao and launch a surprise attack on the Han homeland, he will likely face nearly ten million adopted sons of the former King of Han who shout: "Our family has held high office for four generations!"

To facilitate the calculation and redemption of merits, the King of Han announced at this ceremony that merits would be calculated in a unified manner using merit points.

Previously, a minor merit was worth 100 merit points, a medium merit was worth 1,000, a major merit was worth 10,000, and an extraordinary merit was worth 100,000.

After all the matters in the Hall of Merit were announced, Yuan Shu noticed that many aristocratic families looked at him differently upon hearing about the "monthly and annual passes for the academy" and the "printed books."

The King of Han hurriedly invited several representatives of noble families to the stage, grasped their hands tightly, and stood on the altar of the Yellow Heaven and Earth. Pointing to the Huai River below Mount Bagong, he swore an oath:

"All the officials who hold the position of Grand Master of Ceremonies are sons of prominent families, and all the people under heaven are disciples of these families!"

The Huai River flows mightily; I shall share the empire with meritorious officials and ministers. Do not doubt me!

Huai River: "???"

The representatives of the various aristocratic families were deeply moved upon hearing this. Indeed, all those sent by the King of Han to serve as instructors and lecturers were from their aristocratic families, and could only be from aristocratic families.

What they teach each day and how much they teach is entirely up to their aristocratic family.
Respecting teachers and valuing the Way every day will ensure that in the future, students and former officials will be found all over the world, becoming the pillars of a distinguished family!

Who knows, when the battle for the title of the Ten Great Families takes place in the future, the disciples and forces of each family might come in handy and play a significant role?

The key point is that schools are set up in townships and counties, and libations are established. This will create a large number of official positions throughout the Han state. It is possible to send the unworthy children of the family out to teach and become officials, which can be considered as another way out.

If one has a talent for teaching, one might become the headmaster of the Shouchun Academy in the future, and perhaps one day, one's students will be all over the world, and one might even become an official in the imperial court.

Besides, how could our carefully cultivated heir possibly fail the imperial examination in Shouchun, which would be worse than the mud-legged peasants trained by the family's good-for-nothings?
The representatives of the various noble families discussed the matter and felt more and more that the important matter was in their hands. Sure enough, the King of Han still relied on their noble families the most and wanted each of their families to have disciples and former officials all over the world!

He really made the aristocratic families weep!

When the King of Han pointed to the Huai River and swore an oath, expressing his true intentions, all the noble families bowed in unison.

"No sage king or wise ruler could surpass this."

The Huai River flows mightily; we are willing to rule the world for the king!

Huai River: "."

After appeasing the powerful families, he pointed to the Huai River and reaffirmed the united front of the Han King's family with the family representatives.

On the altar, Yuan Shu finally brought today's grand ceremony to its final stage.

"Summon the four kings to an audience!"

As soon as he finished speaking, armored soldiers came out and invited the four kings in turn: King Chen, King Lu, King Liang, and King Pei.

“In the past, Emperor Gaozu of the Southern Tang Dynasty killed a white horse and swore an oath: ‘Anyone who is not of the Liu family and becomes king shall be attacked by all under heaven.’”

Today the empire is in disarray, the Han dynasty is in decline, and the descendants of Liu are unfilial and unable to save the world.

It was a last resort!
Now that I am the King of Han, I shall sacrifice the white horse and, together with the other kings, swear an oath by the Huai River.

Yuan Shu then cordially invited the four kings, each with a different expression, to the altar. He ordered a white horse to be brought, and once again pointed to the Huai River, saying:

"I have heard that the world belongs to Emperor Gaozu, and the state belongs to Emperor Guangwu!"
By the mandate of Heaven, the throne was passed down to the Liu family, but today's Luoyang is no longer the court of the Liu family!

The emperor's decrees were all decided by Cao Cao, and the world was not at peace; this was the beginning of chaos and turmoil.

Cao Cao was the son of a eunuch, a disgrace to the family. He held the young emperor hostage to command the feudal lords and abducted the emperor to wield power and influence!

The emperor's edicts never left the palace gates; loyal and upright officials shed their blood on the streets; palace guards became his henchmen; and imperial relatives and uncles became his wings.

This traitor who stole the country has committed countless evil deeds, even surpassing Dong Zhuo. Heaven and earth are watching, and he will surely be punished!
I was originally a subject of the Han dynasty, and I have no desire to contend for the throne above, nor do I aspire to be king below.

I am deeply saddened by the decline of the Han Dynasty and the suffering of the people. I rise early and retire late, without a single day of rest.

Fortunately, the Princes of Chen, Lu, Liang, and Pei all cherish righteousness and advised me to help the country in its time of crisis and save the nation to bring peace to its people.

On the first day of the new year, the five kings gathered at the Huai River, and all the people bathed in the yellow sky!
There is now a blood-stained edict as proof, in which Cao Cao's atrocities were all written by the emperor himself. Moreover, more than a hundred Han officials, including Grand Tutor Liu Yao, Grand Preceptor Liu Biao, General of the Rear Liu Bei, and General of Chariots and Cavalry Dong Cheng, wrote their names in accordance with the edict!
How could I not weep upon reading this imperial edict? Heaven has not abandoned the Han dynasty; the people's hearts are with me.

He then swore an oath with the four kings of Chen, Lu, Liang, and Pei, pointing to the Huai River, and killed a white horse to swear an oath of blood!

He established a council of princes to decide the political affairs of the realm, denounced Luoyang as a false dynasty, and rescued the emperor from being a puppet ruler.

I have received this throne for the sake of the world and ascended this platform to save the people!

He issued the decrees of the kings, gathered the armies of the land, and mobilized the entire Yangtze River to save the people of the four seas.

"With Heaven above and the Huai River as our witness, all the kings pledge to punish the traitor Cao!"

The four kings of Chen, Lu, Liang, and Pei looked at each other helplessly, stepped forward, and drank the blood wine from the slaughter of the white horse with Yuan Shu, pointing to the Huai River and swearing an oath:
"I am willing to form an alliance with the King of Han to eliminate the traitors, restore the Han Dynasty, rescue the Emperor, and return to the old capital!"

Yuan Shu nodded upon hearing this, and then gave the order:
"The generals prepared their troops and waited. After the spring plowing, they mobilized 300,000 troops, which were called 800,000 in both land and naval forces, and marched north to the Central Plains!"
One battle determined the ruler of the nation, saved the people from suffering, demonstrated the ambition to revive the Han Dynasty, and showed the heart to uphold justice for the world!

"Welcome the Emperor to safety, and the world will be at peace!!!"

Finally hearing about new opportunities to earn merit, with the Lingyan Pavilion and the Hall of Merit already in place, all the generals and soldiers looked on with eager eyes, gazing northwards as if waiting not for Cao Cao's army, but for a series of walking merit points.

The soldiers shouted in unison:

"Since leaving Shouchun, we have been invincible!"
"Restore the Han dynasty, and bring peace to the world!"

The four princes of Chen, Lu, Liang, and Pei, who witnessed this scene, had increasingly strange expressions.

Damn it, why do you, the greatest traitor of our time who keeps calling yourself "I" (朕), act like it's the real deal, as if you're really trying to restore the Han Dynasty?

Yuan Shu held the Imperial Seal of the State, gazing solemnly ahead.

The Han Kingdom is Han!
The King of Han was also a Han!
Tell me, am I not a loyal subject of the Han Dynasty?

Once our 300,000-strong army marches north and storms Luoyang, even the Emperor will have to call me his godfather!

Finally, the grand ceremony for the coronation of the king, which lasted all day, came to a successful conclusion, as the sun began to set and the moon began to appear.

The King of Han looked down at the myriad subjects and officials who had accompanied him throughout the entire ceremony, and said with a smile:

"As we bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new, we celebrate the Spring Festival."

Today we celebrate with all the people; let us feast with all the people!

He then ordered Yan Xiang to bring the dumplings specially prepared for this day and distribute them to all the people.

Before the grand ceremony in the morning, the Taiping Temple on Bagong Mountain had been busy making and cooking dumplings. Now, the dumplings were immediately taken out and sent down the mountain.

Although there were so many people that even booking the entire day wasn't enough to go around, the event was still quite crowded.

Some had four or five dumplings, while others had only two or three. These were mainly gifts from the Han King and cooked at the Taiping Temple. They were called "Taiping Dumplings" to bring good fortune to the people.

Your subjects and all the people ate dumplings with the King of Han to celebrate the New Year, and everyone was overjoyed and celebrated the peace.

Even more fortunate was the son of a farmer in the countryside who, by sheer luck, ate the only dumpling in the entire place that contained a copper coin. The King of Han immediately rewarded him with a mid-level merit, and from then on, he held a noble title, bringing glory to his hometown.

This made the atmosphere of eating dumplings even more lively. Everyone cheered and lit fires, took bamboo sticks to burn, and made crackling sounds like firecrackers. On Bagong Mountain, they celebrated the New Year in a lively and festive manner.

The King of Han even took out a brush and ink, and wrote Spring Festival couplets on both sides of the altar for this grand ceremony:

[Having been entrusted with a critical mission, I had no choice but to become king!]
Heading north to cross the Han River, if this method cannot save the world, who will?

Horizontal inscription: [Loyal and Virtuous Officials of the Han Dynasty!]

(End of this chapter)