Transmigrating to the Three Kingdoms as Lu Bu: I Have a Pseudo-Apocalypse System

Next, the group discussed many more details.

For example, the issue of Liu Xie's treatment after his abdication.

The final decision was: Liu Xie was enfeoffed as the King of Hanzhong, with a fief of ten thousand households. His royal residence was to be located in Chang'an, guarded by officials appointed by the imperial court. Liu Xie was permitted to retain the ancestral temples of the Han dynasty to worship his Liu ancestors.

For example, the issue of the reign title after Lü Bu ascended the throne.

The final decision was made: no reign title would be used; the Han calendar would be used instead. It was initially decided that the current emperor, Liu Xie, would abdicate on the 30th day of the 12th month of the 397th year of the Han calendar, and Lü Bu would ascend the throne on the 1st day of the 1st month of the 398th year of the Han calendar, marking the beginning of a new era and a fresh start.

For example, the issue of adjusting the official system of the imperial court.

The final decision was to retain the cabinet system with six ministries, while the duties of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers would be gradually merged into the cabinet and the six ministries.

The group discussed the matter until late at night before finalizing all the details.

When the meeting adjourned, everyone wore happy expressions.

Shi Sunrui walked out of the council hall, looked up at the snow falling all around him, and let out a long breath.

He murmured, "The Han Dynasty, which lasted for four hundred years, has not perished."

Mid-November, Ji County, Youzhou.

In the governor's mansion, Xun Yu sat in his study, holding a letter in his hand.

The letter was sent by Xun You from Chang'an; it was a thick stack of letters, more than a dozen pages long.

Xun Yu read it once, then read it again, and then read it once more.

Then he put down the letter, stood up, and walked to the window.

Outside the window, snowflakes fluttered down, turning the entire Jixian County white.

Xun Yu stared blankly out the window, motionless.

He was thirty-four years old, in the prime of his life, but a few strands of white hair had already appeared at his temples. Over the years, he had assisted Cao Cao and then submitted to Lü Bu. Although he had always held a high position, the thorn in his heart had never been removed.

He was a Han official.

From a young age, he studied the classics and learned to be loyal to the emperor and serve his country. His cousin Xun You and his fellow townsman Chen Qun were both Han officials. No one said it, but everyone knew in their hearts that Lü Bu would eventually overthrow the dynasty.

What will they do then?

To follow Lü Bu in changing the dynasty would be to betray the Han dynasty. But if I don't follow Lü Bu, will all my life's learning go to waste?

Xun Yu was constantly struggling between these two options.

He governed Youzhou diligently and conscientiously, bringing order to the region. He reduced taxes, resettled displaced people, built water conservancy projects, and encouraged farming and weaving. The people of Youzhou were all grateful for his kindness.

But he knew in his heart that the reason he was fighting so hard was not only for the people, but also to prove that the Han Dynasty still had people.

But now, Xun You's letter has shattered his last bit of resolve.

"The world belongs to all people, not to one family or one clan."

Xun Yu murmured these words, a bitter smile on his face.

He had to admit that Lü Bu was right.

The world has never belonged to the Liu family alone.

When Liu Bang raised his army, he did so under the banner of "punishing the tyrannical Qin and bringing peace to the world."

He gained the empire thanks to his meritorious officials and generals, the people, and the support of Lü Gong and Lü Hou. Without the support of the Lü family, without Xiao He, Han Xin, and Zhang Liang, and without the countless ordinary people, could Liu Bang have won the empire?

But what about Liu's descendants?

During Emperor Ling's reign, eunuchs wreaked havoc on the government; during the reign of the late Emperor, Dong Zhuo again seized power; later, warlords carved up the land, plunging the empire into chaos. Of these descendants of the Liu family, how many were capable of standing up to bring peace and stability to the realm?

On the contrary, it was Lü Bu, a warrior from the border region of Bingzhou, who launched a counterattack on Chang'an in the third year of the Chuping era, and in just a few years swept across the land and unified the world. Under his rule, the people had food to eat, clothes to wear, land to cultivate, and hope for the future.

If someone like that doesn't ascend the throne, who will?

Xun Yu returned to his desk, picked up his pen, and began writing a letter to Lü Bu.

He wrote: "I have read your words, my lord. The world belongs to all people, not to one family or clan. This statement is profound and thought-provoking, and I deeply agree. The incompetence of the Liu family's descendants has led to chaos and displacement of the people. My lord, with your own strength, has swept away all the warlords, unified the world, and brought peace to the people. Such achievements are unprecedented. Although I am unworthy, I am willing to serve you with utmost loyalty and assist you in creating a prosperous era. As for the Liu family, I dare not speak of them again."

After he finished writing, he put down his pen and read it again.

Then, he picked up his pen and added a sentence: "Your Majesty still uses [Han] as the name of the country and reforms the era. This is a virtue unprecedented in history. Yu bows in admiration."

Xun Yu sealed the letter and handed it to his eldest son, Xun Yun: "Send someone with urgent delivery over 800 li to Chang'an."

Xun Yun took the letter and whispered, "Father, have you... come to your senses?"

Xun Yu smiled bitterly: "Whether I understand or not, what can I do? My lord is right, the world belongs to all the people. If the descendants of the Liu family are incompetent, then the capable should be allowed to rule. My lord, as a descendant of the Lü family, ascended the throne and still used [Han] as the name of the dynasty, which is already more than enough. If I, as his father, continue to be so stubborn, then I will be considered pedantic."

Xun Yun bowed deeply: "Father is wise."

Xun Yu waved his hand: "Go."

Xun Yun left the study.

Xun Yu sat alone by the window, gazing at the falling snow outside, and murmured, "May the Han dynasty be forever secure, may its history continue forever, and may the most capable person in the land rule. If this can truly be achieved, then the King of Jin should be the ancestor of the Han dynasty!"

On the tenth day of the eleventh month, in the Hanzhang Hall of the Chang'an Imperial Palace.

Liu Xie sat alone by the window, holding a copy of the "Great Han Xunbao" in his hand.

This newspaper was just delivered by Shi Sunrui, and it contains Lü Bu's statement that "the world belongs to all people, not to one family or one clan."

Liu Xie looked at it once, then again, his expression shifting constantly.

He is sixteen years old this year, and has been emperor for seven years since he ascended the throne at the age of nine. In these seven years, he was first Dong Zhuo's puppet, then Wang Yun's puppet, then Li Jue and Guo Si's puppet, and now he is Lü Bu's puppet.

He never truly held power.

But he always thought that he was at least an emperor, at least wearing a dragon robe, and at least sitting on a dragon throne.

But now, even that last bit of hope is gone.

"Shi Sunqing." Liu Xie put down his newspaper and looked at Shi Sunrui sitting to the side.

Shi Sunrui rose, cupped his hands, and said, "Your subject is here."

Liu Xie asked, "Prince of Jin, are you really going to ascend the throne?"

Shi Sunrui was silent for a moment, then said, "Yes."

Liu Xie said, "So... you've come to persuade me to abdicate?"