Brother, stop curling up! You're curling up like the founder of the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 189 Liu Bei's Scheme in Luoyang, the Title of Brother in Huainan (Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets)
Although the imperial decree was issued, Liu Bei did not enter the palace to see Liu Xie.

Upon learning that Liu Bei had fallen ill, Liu Xie was both shocked and panicked.

Now that Liu Yu has declared himself emperor, Liu Xie would have no idea how to deal with it without Liu Bei's advice.

"The Imperial Advisor Zhao Yan is quite skilled in current affairs; why doesn't Your Majesty summon him for a consultation?" In a moment of panic, Empress Fu suddenly spoke in Liu Xie's ear.

Liu Xie's eyes lit up: "I had completely forgotten about this person. It is thanks to the Empress's reminder that I have summoned Zhao Yan, the Imperial Secretary!"

Compared to the autocratic rule of Liang Ji, Dou Wu, and He Jin, Liu Bei did not prevent his ministers from offering advice and strategies to Liu Xie.

Aside from necessary security checks, anyone wishing to see Liu Xie was left to their own devices.

In other words, as long as it wasn't a malicious assassin trying to kill Liu Xie, Liu Bei didn't care if others sowed discord and slandered him.

Conversely, if Liu Bei were to kill someone or suppress dissent simply because someone had instigated slander against him, it would only make him appear cowardly and timid.

Liu Bei was not afraid that some villains would imitate the Ten Attendants and plot to assassinate He Jin, because even when Liu Bei went to the palace to see Liu Xie, he would bring Chen Dao and a hundred elite soldiers.

The reasoning was impeccable: the rebels were everywhere, and there were countless rebel assassins lurking in Luoyang. Even the Prince of Hongnong had been assassinated. As the Grand General, I bear the weight of the nation's fate. Shouldn't I always be mindful of my personal safety?

And it was precisely because of this that Liu Bei was impeached by the emperor many times.

Among the officials of Luoyang, there was a group who neither liked forming cliques for personal gain nor vying for power and profit. They preferred to encourage themselves with honest and straightforward advice, and would submit memorials to impeach anyone they disliked.

They don't care whether the other party corrects their mistakes after impeachment; instead, they say: "I think you're wrong, so I'm going to impeach you. Whether you correct your mistakes or not is your business. If you don't correct them, I'll continue to impeach you."

Zhao Yan, a court advisor, was the one who impeached Liu Bei the most.

Upon hearing that Liu Bei had fallen ill, Zhao Yan immediately flew into a rage. Without even writing a formal memorial, he directly impeached Liu Bei to his face: "Your Majesty, the General has always been in excellent health. How could he suddenly fall ill? He must be faking it! This is a crime of deceiving the Emperor. I beg Your Majesty to immediately issue an edict to punish him and uphold the order of the court!"

Liu Xie couldn't help but twitch his lips, and handed the urgent report to Zhao Yan, saying, "Zhao Yilang. Let's put aside the matter of the General's illness for now; I have already sent the Imperial Physician to visit him. What I want to ask you is, Zhao Yilang, how should we deal with Liu Yu's claim to the throne?"

Zhao Yan was taken aback and hurriedly checked the contents of the urgent report. He was so angry that he glared and puffed out his beard: "How dare the traitor Liu Yu usurp the throne and declare himself emperor! Your Majesty, please issue an edict immediately and order the Grand General to send troops to punish him."

Liu Xie could no longer contain himself and asked, "Zhao Yilang, you just asked me to issue an edict punishing the Grand General for deceiving the emperor, and now you're asking me to issue another edict ordering the Grand General to send troops to punish him. Why is that?"

Zhao Yan looked at Liu Xie with surprise and said, "The Grand General's feigned illness is a crime of deceiving the emperor and should be punished; the Grand General is in charge of military affairs, and Liu Yu has usurped the throne and declared himself emperor, so he should be punished. The two are not contradictory, so why does Your Majesty have doubts?"

Seeing Zhao Yan's surprised expression, Liu Xie hesitated, unable to say anything for a moment.

After letting out a long sigh, Liu Xie asked again, "Does Zhao Yilang have any other good strategies? For example, strategies that can be implemented without tiring the General?"

Zhao Yan's expression was even more surprised: "Your Majesty, it is the Grand General's duty to conquer Liu Yu. Why can't the Grand General be made to work hard? Since he holds the position, he should fulfill his duties. Since the Grand General has received a salary and has military power, he should work hard. This is the law of the court. How can he be allowed to hold a position without doing anything?"

That's not what I was asking!

Suppressing his inner turmoil, Liu Xie asked again, unwilling to give up, "What I mean is, if, if the General really falls ill, how should I respond?"

"Your Majesty is mistaken!" Zhao Yan said solemnly, "Now that you know the General is feigning illness, Your Majesty only needs to issue an edict for the General to send troops to conquer the enemy, and there is no need for further anxiety. When and how to send troops are matters for the General to consider. Why trouble Your Majesty with such matters?"

"Since the Grand General has received a salary and holds military power, he should do his best. How can he feign illness and be afraid of trouble? I beg Your Majesty to issue an edict to punish the Grand General for the crime of feigning illness and neglecting his duties, so as to establish the proper order of the court."

Looking at Zhao Yan's serious expression, Liu Xie knew he had asked in vain.

The advisor in front of me, who often impeaches Liu Bei, has no intention of vying for power with Liu Bei. He only adheres to the rules and regulations of the court and criticizes anyone who violates them, including Liu Xie!
With a sigh, Liu Xie dismissed Zhao Yan.

Zhao Yangang took two steps, then turned back.

Just as Liu Xie thought Zhao Yan had a good plan to offer, Zhao Yan took out another memorial, his tone sharp: "Your Majesty, I want to impeach the Grand General, who, despite holding the important position of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, has not entered the Secretariat for ten consecutive days, leaving only the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Jia Xu, to handle all affairs of the Secretariat. This is dereliction of duty! I request Your Majesty to issue an edict to punish the Grand General for his dereliction of duty!"

Liu Xie took the memorial in a daze.

Ten days?

Zhao Yilang, do you have nothing better to do than nitpick at the General?
"Yes. I will issue an edict to punish him. You've worked hard, Zhao Yilang." Liu Xie was no longer willing to speak.

Once Zhao Yan left, Liu Xie could no longer contain himself and said angrily, "Empress, is this the Zhao Yan you said was quite adept at current affairs? He's infuriating me!"

Empress Fu had been listening from behind the curtain the whole time, and she was quite speechless.

Normally, Zhao Yan would come up with a whole set of strategies for dealing with the times, but today he was directly throwing them at Liu Bei.

What the two of them didn't know was that Zhao Yan was also suffering in his heart.

This situation is different from current events; Zhao Yan can't have multiple good solutions for every current event.

Liu Yu declared himself emperor and plotted rebellion. What else could be done but to send troops to suppress him? And how could we send troops to suppress him without relying on the Grand General?

Zhao Yan wasn't unaware of Liu Xie's hint; he was just pretending not to.

Impeachment is one thing, but he's not trying to compete with Liu Bei for the position of Grand General. Even if he did, Zhao Yan wouldn't know how to become the Grand General.

What could be more satisfying than impeaching Liu Bei as a court official?
Why do something you're not good at when you can gain a reputation for speaking out honestly and uphold the order of the court?

Unable to get the answer he wanted from Zhao Yan, Liu Xie had no choice but to settle for second best and issue an edict to the General's Mansion, ordering Liu Bei to send troops to punish the rebel Liu Yu.

The imperial edict was quickly sent from the Ministry of Personnel to the General's Mansion.

"Send troops to conquer? Who suggested this to His Majesty? They really don't know the value of money when they're not in charge of the household." Liu Bei put the edict aside.

Having just exempted seven counties from taxes in the hope of ensuring a bountiful harvest for both the people and the common folk, the decision to launch a military campaign against Liu Yu at this time would only exhaust and wear down the people and the common folk.

Then the public support that was just boosted by the tax exemption will decline again, and may even cause misunderstandings: No wonder they exempted us from taxes, they want us to serve in the military.

This was not the outcome Liu Bei wanted to see.

Moreover, the cold winter month of October is not suitable for launching an attack.

The best strategy is to subdue the enemy without fighting; Liu Bei needed to wait for the reactions of all the various factions.

This year has seen a series of major events.

First, Liu Bei entered Luoyang to contend for power with Dong Zhuo. Then, Liu Bian, the Prince of Hongnong, died, and Dong Zhuo relinquished power.

Later, Liu Bei led 20,000 troops to defeat the rebels of Yan, Xu and Yu provinces. Yuan Shu fled to Huainan, Tao Qian and Yuan Yi were captured alive and beheaded in Luoyang, and the 108 bandits who rebelled in Henan were also beheaded.

Liu Bei used Siyong as his base to control Yu and Xu.

Meanwhile, in the north, Liu Yu, after assuming the position of Grand Marshal, joined forces with Yuan Shao, Han Fu, and Qiu Liju to destroy Gongsun Zan at Yuyang. Liu Yu then seized the opportunity to ascend the throne and declare himself emperor.

Liu Yu, based in You and Ji, controlled Qing and Yan. Both Liu Bei and Liu Yu rose to become the two strongest forces in the land, surprising and instilling fear in officials and commoners of all the states and prefectures.

Most importantly: both sides represent the legitimate successor of the Han Dynasty!

Liu Bei installed Liu Xie as emperor to command those who disobeyed him, while Liu Yu declared himself emperor to command those who disobeyed him.

Anyone with a modicum of insight can see that a major battle is inevitable: whoever wins is the rightful heir, and whoever loses is the traitor.

Apart from Yuan Shu of Huainan.

Liu Yu took the position of Grand Marshal, and Yuan Shu supported him.

Yuan Shu also supported Liu Yu's ambition to become emperor.

Despite Yuan Shu's lack of support, Liu Yu only appointed Yuan Shu as Grand Commandant and granted him the title of Marquis of Shouchun, while Yuan Shao was appointed as Grand General and Marquis of Handan.

The Grand Commandant's position was below that of the General-in-Chief, which deeply humiliated Yuan Shu: "How dare Yuan Shao, a son born of a concubine, insult me?"

"He wanted to be the leader of the alliance, and I didn't argue with him; he wanted to be the General of Chariots and Cavalry, and I didn't argue with him either; it was because I held back Liu Bei that he managed to gain merit by chance, and yet he wouldn't let me be the Grand General?"

"Now you've become ungrateful and treacherous, are you trying to hold the new emperor hostage to command me?!"

After angrily beating Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu immediately ordered his fierce soldiers to drag the envoy Zhang Jin out and beat him with thirty strokes of the military rod, refusing to accept Liu Yu's appointment.

Poor Zhang Jin, who had never failed when serving as an envoy under Yuan Shao and had made great contributions, was now almost beaten by Yuan Shu and could only escape Shouchun by crawling on a carriage.

Although Yuan Shu suffered two defeats at the hands of Liu Bei, he still had a wealth of followers and former officials. Even after fleeing to Shouchun, his residence was still bustling with activity, and people flocked to him to join him.

In contrast, Liu Dai, the governor of Yangzhou, only nominally controlled Yangzhou, even with the assistance of Lu Kang and Sun Jian in Lujiang.

When Yuan Shu arrived, officials, scholars, commoners, powerful families and clans from all over Yangzhou expressed their support for him, directly crushing Liu Dai's arrogance in thinking he had control of Yangzhou.

Currently, under Yuan Shu's command, although there are few civil and military officials with high attributes, the advantage lies in the sheer size of the force.

In just a few months, Yuan Shu had raised an army of 100,000. As for how many of these 100,000 soldiers were eating river clams to stave off hunger, Yuan Shu did not care.

Yuan Shu had no worries about food and drink in Shouchun, and enjoyed singing and dancing every day with endless wine and meat.

Not only that, Yuan Shu also took a new concubine, the beautiful Feng Fang, and was quite pleased with himself.

Yuan Shu rose to power too quickly and became arrogant, looking down on Liu Yu's appointment as Grand Commandant.

Yuan Shu had even greater ambitions.

Zhang Jiong, a sorcerer from Luoyang, delivered a talisman to Yuan Shu.

The talisman was a complete tortoise shell. Zhang Jiong claimed that he encountered a huge wave while sailing on the Luo River, and when he woke up, he had a tortoise shell on his body.

The tortoise shell bears the prophecy: "When the Red Virtue declines, the Yellow Heaven will rise again; when Tu Gao fulfills the prophecy, the Zhong family will rise in power."

The Han dynasty identified itself with the virtue of fire, and the decline of the red virtue signified the decline of the Han dynasty. The yellow heaven also corresponds to earth supporting fire.

The one who will replace the Han dynasty is Gao of Dangtu, a widely circulated prophecy.

Emperor Wu of Han once lamented, "The Han dynasty has faced six or seven calamities, and according to the law, it should receive the mandate again. Who among the imperial family and descendants should be the one to receive this mandate? The one who will lead the Han dynasty for forty-two generations is Gao Dangtu." Gongsun Shu and Emperor Guangwu also had a heated discussion about this.

When Zhang Jiong was persuading Yuan Shu, he said, "Yuan Shu's courtesy name is Gonglu, which is exactly what the prophecy meant."

It is also said that the Yuan surname originated from Chen, and Chen was a descendant of Shun. Shun ranked second among the four ancient sage rulers "Yao, Shun, Yu, and Tang", and "Zhong" means "second". Therefore, the "Zhong clan" could replace the Han dynasty and rise to power.

That is to say, Yuan Shu, as a descendant of Shun, could establish the "Zhong" clan to replace the Han dynasty, in accordance with the prophecy on the tortoise shell.

Yuan Shu was ambitious, and then Zhang Jiong sent him a talisman, which caused Yuan Shu's dissatisfaction with Yuan Shao to erupt completely: I, Yuan Shu, am so powerful, why should I be Liu Yu's subject and be subordinate to Yuan Shao, who was born of a concubine?
Yuan's protégés and former officials are all over the country. Shouldn't they support me, the only legitimate son of the Yuan family, to become emperor?
As this idea grew stronger, Yuan Shu summoned his trusted civil and military officials and, through Yang Hong, proclaimed to them: "Lord Yuan has served as a high-ranking official for four generations. Now that the mandate of heaven is clearly manifest, how can he submit to others? He should obey the will of heaven and rightfully assume the throne!"

Although they were all former protégés and subordinates of Yuan Shikai, everyone has their own selfish motives, and they followed Yuan Shikai in order to seek wealth and status.

Fang today.

The Luoyang court under Liu Xie was quite dissatisfied with by Yuan's former followers and officials due to Liu Bei's new policies.

Those who could become Yuan's protégés and former subordinates were at the very least powerful and influential.

A group of powerful clans had become dominant in their regions by acquiring land and people, but Liu Bei's new policies required them to give up their land and people.

For powerful and influential families, this was blatant robbery, and they were naturally unwilling to accept it.

However, Liu Yu's court in Ye City was too far away, and the Yu and Xu provinces in between were still under Liu Bei's control. Even if they responded to Liu Yu, they would not gain much benefit.

The majority of the spoils went to the powerful families and wealthy clans in Hebei, leaving the southerners with only scraps.

But if Yuan Shu were to declare himself emperor, the situation would be different.

They have rendered meritorious service in supporting the emperor!
According to current public opinion, Liu Xie in Luoyang was established by forging an imperial edict, while Liu Yu in Yecheng was acting in accordance with the mandate of heaven.

Now, Yuan Shu also has a divine mandate. Just as Liu Yu could declare himself emperor, so too can Yuan Shu.

Ever since.

Surrounded by his former subordinates Yang Hong, Zhang Xun, Qiao Rui, Liu Xun, and a large number of newly attached followers and former officials of the Yuan family, Yuan Shu feigned refusal three times, and finally, in his sleep, Yang Hong draped him in the imperial robes.

Yang Hong added, "It's getting cold, please add some clothes for the lord." Looking at the imperial robe draped over his body, Yuan Shu sighed hypocritically, "This is the fulfillment of the mandate of heaven and the command of the people. I dare not disobey. From now on, I am the emperor, and you are all meritorious officials."

He also established Shouchun as the capital, Yuan Yao as the crown prince, Zhang Xun as the general, and Yang Hong as the minister of education. He set up a hundred officials and held sacrifices in the southern suburbs.

Subsequently.

Yuan Shu also issued a proclamation to the whole country, calling on all prefectures and counties to respond to the "Zhong" clan. He even "disregarded past grievances" and sent Sun Jian of Lujiang the seal of "General of Chariots and Cavalry and Governor of Yu Province" and the letter of appointment.

He sent the seal and appointment document of "General Who Conquers the North and Governor of Yangzhou" to Lu Kang, the Prefect of Lujiang, and appointed Zhou Xin, the Prefect of Danyang, as the Governor of Xuzhou, and Zhou Yu, the Governor of Jingzhou appointed by Liu Yu, as the Governor of Jingzhou.

All of Yuan's former students and officials in other prefectures, counties, and districts received rewards and honors.

He further decreed that anyone who could take the heads of "Liu Dai", "Liu Biao", "Gai Xun", and "Xun Yu" would be granted the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households.

Judging from their imposing presence, it seemed as if the four provinces of Yu, Xu, Yang, and Jing were all under Yuan Shu's control.

(End of this chapter)