The Later Three Kingdoms: Slaying Deng Ai, and Reviving the Han Dynasty

Chapter 148 Liu Chen's One-Hit Kill (Third Update, Please Subscribe and Vote)

"Your Highness, I request that Qiao Zhou be executed." Huang Chong had not expected Liu Chen to say this. He had not dared to speak just now, but after hearing Qiao Zhou's words, his expression changed drastically, and he stood up and knelt before Liu Chen.

"Please execute Qiao Zhou." Yang Yong followed, and then Zhuge Zhan and others stepped forward to make the request.

Qiao Zhou has already said that Wei should replace Han, so you should take this opportunity to kill him. Don't let him say another word.

Qiao Zhou's accomplices were stunned, some even feeling a tightness in their chest, their blood churning, as if they were about to vomit blood. They glared at Qiao Zhou angrily, shouting, "Shut up! Your whole family is dead, but we're going to live!"

These words can be spoken in private, but can they be said in the palace? The person in front of me is Liu Chen, not Liu Shan.

Seeing that Qiao Zhou had stood up and blocked Liu Chen's murderous aura, Huang Hao's accomplices breathed a slight sigh of relief, lowered their heads and remained silent, desperately trying to minimize their presence.

Ignoring the advice of his ministers, Liu Chen instead asked, "Where is the Palace Censor?"

Although the censors were also deafened by the loud noise, they instinctively stood up and looked at Huang Chong, Zhuge Zhan, and the others.

Huang Chong, Zhuge Zhan, and the others had no choice but to retreat and sit down, their hearts filled with anxiety.

Liu Chen appeared calm, but his expression was inscrutable. He asked, "Yuan Shu said that Tu Gao was himself, so why do you say it was Wei?"

"Qiao Zhou, like a fighting rooster, is participating in his final battle today. He sneered, head held high, chest puffed out, sitting upright with an imposing aura, and said, 'Cao means many. Wei means great. With many and great, the world will surely unite.'"

"Dangtu Ergao" refers to tall buildings standing beside the road.

Xiangwei refers to a pair of tall buildings outside the palace gates, used for promulgating laws and symbolizing imperial power.

Therefore, it can be interpreted that Tu Gao is Wei.

Qiao Zhou meant that Cao Wei, with its numerous forces, was destined to become powerful, and the power of the world would naturally converge on Cao Wei. In other words, when the Three Kingdoms were unified, the emperor of Wei would surely be the one to rule.

This also explains the inscription Qiao Zhou carved on the pillar in front of the main hall.

A large and numerous gathering, scheduled for the next meeting. All materials are provided; how can this be repeated?

This still refers to the strength of Cao Wei, suggesting it should unify the country. It's not, as Liu Shan believed, that Qiao Zhou was advising him to be diligent in governing and caring for the people, thus preserving the nation.

Furthermore, Qiao Zhou had privately discussed the names of Liu Bei and Liu Shan. "Bei" means "prepared," and "Shan" means "to yield." It implied that the Han dynasty was prepared to be abdicated to Cao Wei.

Liu Chen remained expressionless and calm as he asked, "Because of this prophecy, you believe that Cao Wei is destined to unify the world. Therefore, you want to become a Wei subject ahead of time?"

Qiao Zhou said resolutely, "Zhang Lu of Hanzhong once said, 'I would rather be Cao Cao's slave than Liu Bei's guest.' I am of one mind with Zhang Lu."

Since his entire family was going to die anyway, he was willing to risk everything. He glared at Liu Chen and sneered, "Now Zhong Hui has led 200,000 troops to occupy Hanzhong. If we lose Hanzhong, Bashu will lose its gateway. It's as if it's made of paper."

"Deng Ai led an army of 100,000 through the Yinping Ancient Road, and has already attacked Fucheng and Mianzhu. His forces are now poised to strike Luocheng. He has subdued the strong troops of Yong and Liang, and his advance is unstoppable. You only have a weak imperial guard. Luocheng and Chengdu are about to crumble. Once Wei destroys Shu, it can then command its navy and sail down the Yangtze River to wipe out Eastern Wu. This is a fulfillment of our prophecy. The world will belong to Wei."

Qiao Zhou paused to catch his breath, then suddenly said angrily, "It's just that I won't be able to see that day."

This is clearly the way fate is.

The Ming dynasty was replaced by the Cao Wei dynasty.

The world is clearly about to be unified.

His descendants could have easily held official positions for generations. But then Liu Chen ruined his plans and killed his entire family.

Qiao Zhou was furious and glared at Liu Chen, panting heavily.

Liu Chen stared at Qiao Zhou without speaking. This guy, even on his deathbed, was exaggerating Deng Ai's military strength. Deng Ai clearly only had thirty to forty thousand soldiers.

Liu Chen seemed to have finished asking his questions.

Qiao Zhou has finished speaking.

Apart from Qiao Zhou's panting, there was almost no other sound in the main hall.

Qiao Zhou and his comrades were utterly devastated, their hearts filled with agonizing grief and a burning desire to kill Qiao Zhou. "The more you say, the faster we die! What a treacherous old fox!"

Huang Hao and his faction are feigning death.

Many loyal and virtuous officials were dumbfounded. In the past, many upright people believed Qiao Zhou's theory of hatred towards the country, thinking that Jiang Wei's excessive military campaigns had ruined the country.

I believe Qiao Zhou meant well.

The former Zhuge Zhan and the current Liao Hua, who led troops to the north to support Jiang Wei, are two of them.

Qiao Zhou's true colors have now been fully exposed; he is a man who is desperate to become a minister of Wei.

They felt ashamed and wished they could tear Qiao Zhou to pieces.

The saying "a great villain appears loyal" refers to people like Qiao Zhou.

Huang Hao monopolized the government, which was terrifying.

But people like Qiao Zhou are even more terrifying.

"If Heaven truly intended for Wei to replace Han, then how could Zhaolie have declared himself emperor in Chengdu, with the prime minister governing the country and launching five campaigns against the Central Plains? Doesn't this prove that Han still has Heaven's mandate?" Yang Yong stood up, trembling with anger, and glared at Qiao Zhou.

Qiao Zhou sneered, "That's just the afterglow. If Heaven had favored the Han Dynasty, there wouldn't have been Guan Yu's defeat or Ma Su's loss at Jieting." He then added meaningfully, "Both Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang were skilled at recognizing talent. Liu Bei possessed great talent, and Zhuge Liang was adept at governing. Yet, they both misjudged Guan Yu and Ma Su. Wasn't it Heaven that blinded them, leading to this outcome?"

Qiao Zhou's tone grew increasingly intense. He stood up and said, "Guan Yu's defeat was his own fault. Liu Bei completely lacked the magnanimity of an emperor, stubbornly sending troops to avenge Guan Yu, ultimately resulting in a crushing defeat at Yiling, with tens of thousands dead. If not for this, Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions might have been successful."

"Liu Shan was weak and incompetent, and he favored Huang Hao, making him even worse than Liu Zhang. Doesn't all of this prove that..."

Did Heaven reject the Han Dynasty and instead favor the Cao Wei Dynasty?

Many people turned pale with anger and trembled after hearing Qiao Zhou's words, yet they were speechless.

Steam! He seems to be right.

Huang Chong couldn't stand it any longer and stood up, saying, "At that time, the only great general was Guan Yu. In that situation, Guan Yu flooded the seven armies, his might shaking the whole land. If Sun Quan hadn't attacked Jingzhou, the world would already be at peace."

"As for avenging Guan Yu, isn't it because of Zhaolie's righteousness? They were lord and subject, but their bond was like that of father and son. Zhaolie felt the pain of Guan Yu's revenge to the bone. If Zhaolie didn't avenge Guan Yu, he wouldn't be Zhaolie. If it weren't for Zhaolie's righteousness, there would be no Han Dynasty today."

Qiao Zhou glanced at Huang Chong and sneered, "The Mandate of Heaven is with Wei, so wasn't it destined that Sun Quan would attack Guan Yu?"

""

Huang Chong was so angry that he was trembling all over, but for a moment he couldn't find any words to refute him.

No matter what they said, Qiao Zhou only used one move.

Fate favored Wei. That's why figures like Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu, and Sun Quan repeatedly made mistakes.

They were all deceived by Heaven.

This involves shooting arrows first, then drawing the target. It's also a way of taking advantage of the fact that the Han Dynasty is currently in a state of decline, with only the small territory of Bashu.

The reason is that Cao Wei was vast, occupying six or seven tenths of the country.

This is further compounded by the fact that Zhong Hui is leading an army of 200,000 in Hanzhong, while Deng Ai is leading his troops straight towards Chengdu.

Qiao Zhou's theory that the one to replace the Han dynasty would be the Wei dynasty, this theory of the Mandate of Heaven, is simply unbeatable.

If their conversation were to spread today, officials throughout the land would find Qiao Zhou's words to be true.

They might stop resisting Deng Ai.

It undermines morale.

Since this is destiny, lie down and wait to become a subject of Wei.

Qiao Zhou is vicious. Let's kill him and shut him up.

"Your Highness, this old minister begs to execute Qiao Zhou." Huang Chong could no longer hold back, turned around and knelt down before Liu Chen, his face showing a pleading expression.

Yang Yong, Zhuge Zhan, and many other loyal and virtuous officials stepped forward, knelt before Liu Chen, and begged him to kill Qiao Zhou.

"Hahahaha." Qiao Zhou laughed heartily, feeling smug and self-satisfied.

Yes. I'm about to die. But the Shu Kingdom is about to perish too. We're both going to die, so what's the difference?

Liu Chen remained silent, his eyes fixed on Qiao Zhou. Under his gaze, Qiao Zhou's laughter first subsided, then stopped, finally culminating in a few coughs. He glared at Liu Chen and said, "What are you looking at me for? If you're so capable, why don't you exchange a few words with me?"

Liu Chen readily agreed, saying, "I have heard that the ruler of Cao Wei was killed in the street by Sima Zhao."

Liu Chen added, "Many people saw it. So when they buried the dead, the people all said it was the emperor who was killed the day before yesterday."