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

Chapter 149 Liu Chen's Thunderous Voice (Fourth update, please subscribe with monthly tickets)

Liu Chen's words were like a thunderclap, deafening everyone in the hall.

In an instant, the situation was reversed.

The ministers who were initially anxious calmed down, and those who had initially thought Qiao Zhou's words made sense began to doubt them.

Qiao Zhou's smile froze, and his body stiffened immediately, but he was quick-witted and soon came up with an idea, about to speak.

But Liu Chen wouldn't let him speak. He'd said enough for today; the old scoundrel could talk to Zhaolie and the Prime Minister in the afterlife.

"Old thief, you've said everything you wanted to say in this life." Liu Chen turned to look at a soldier of the Imperial Guard. The soldier was slightly taken aback, then understood, quickly stepped forward, and dislocated Qiao Zhou's jaw without saying a word.

"Waaaaah!!!" Qiao Zhou glared at Liu Chen, but couldn't utter a word. You want to debate with me, yet you won't let me speak? How utterly despicable and shameless...

Liu Chen said, "The Former Han, the Middle Han, and the Present Han. Our three Han dynasties lasted for more than four hundred years, but not a single emperor was ever killed in the street."

"How many years did the Cao Wei dynasty last? They already had one emperor deposed and another killed."

"Killed in the street," Liu Chen added.

He paused, then continued, "Moreover, the Sima family has now seized real power in Cao Wei. If you said the Sima family would replace the Han dynasty, you could at least deceive the world. But you say the Wei family will replace the Han dynasty—isn't that utter nonsense?!"

Many of the officials lowered their heads in shame; they were ministers who believed in the saying that the one who would replace the Han dynasty would be the one to rule the Wei dynasty.

Liu Chen continued, "Leaving aside the talk of destiny, the three kingdoms are now standing side by side. If a country is truly destined to perish, shouldn't officials and soldiers fight to the death, loyal ministers shed their blood on the battlefield, and the emperor die for the state, his blood demonstrating the nation's resilience? If a country is destined to perish, everyone should lie down and prepare to become subjects of the enemy."

"What if the Wei Kingdom falls tomorrow, and the Sima clan perishes? Will you, Qiao Zhou, still kneel down? If one day barbarians invade China and declare themselves emperors, will you still kneel down?"

"Then your bones are far too soft."

"Moreover," Liu Chen said, a fierce look appearing on his face. He stood up, gripping his sword hilt, and stared at Qiao Zhou. His voice was loud and clear, resounding with conviction.

He said, "Moreover, how could Cao Wei, which was founded in such a short time, compare with my Han Dynasty? Cao Cao, with his cunning and ruthless power, slaughtered countless people in the Central Plains. In the Battle of Xuzhou, the number of civilians who died was countless. Wei generals were ruthless and slaughtered wherever they went."

"Like this battle. If the country is truly on the verge of destruction, do you think things will be peaceful? If Zhong Hui were to unleash his troops in rebellion, it wouldn't be impossible for him to slaughter 100,000 people in Sichuan and 80,000 in Bazhong. And are you sure you'll be among the survivors?"

"madness."

Liu Chen paused, took a breath, and looked at the silent officials, wanting to speak but unable to utter a word.

He then said, "Is Cao Wei destined to replace the Han Dynasty? Does it even deserve that title?"

Liu Chen stood tall and proud, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly at his waist, and his clear voice rang out: "In the past, our great ancestor, Emperor Gao, was divinely martial and timely, and he opened up a great enterprise."

"Emperor Taizong Xiaowen, with his enlightened virtue, elevated the Han dynasty to a peaceful state."

"Emperor Xiaowu of the Shizong era expanded the territory and expelled the barbarians, making the land surpass the territory of the Tang Dynasty."

"Emperor Xiaoxuan of the Zhongzong Emperor sought out and promoted talented individuals, and many scholars filled the court."

"My ancestors surpassed the Three Kings in virtue and the Five Emperors in merit, therefore, the prophecy states that their reign will be twice that of the Xia and Shang dynasties, and their lineage will surpass that of the Ji clan."

"Our Emperor Guangwu, born with divine martial prowess, restored the great foundation, worshipped the Han dynasty to match Heaven, and did not lose the old artifacts, so that the three luminaries, which had been obscured, would be illuminated again, and the divine regalia, which had been hidden, would be revealed again. Emperor Xiaoming of the Ming dynasty and Emperor Xiaozhang of the Su dynasty, generation after generation, shone brightly again, and their brilliance was once again displayed."

"Cao Cao and his sons were treacherous and rebellious, forcing Emperor Xiaomin to abdicate. It was my grandfather, Emperor Zhaolie, who, with the qualities of a hero, ascended the throne in Chengdu and continued the work of my two ancestors."

Liu Chen was extremely agitated at this point. After catching his breath, he asked again, "Was Cao Wei worthy of replacing the Han Dynasty?"

Liu Chen sat back down, took a deep breath, and said, "Drag Qiao Zhou out of the main hall and trample him to death with horses."

"All sons were cut in half at the waist, and all their grandsons, regardless of age, were beheaded. Female relatives of other surnames were sent back to their maternal clans, while female relatives of the original surname were sent to the inner palace as slaves."

"All adult males of the Qiao clan shall be beheaded, and all young men shall be changed to the surname Li and enslaved. Their family property shall be confiscated."

Liu Chen then said, "Does Chen Zhi deserve to be called a loyal marquis? Seize his marquisate, open his coffin, rebury him with the rites of a commoner, kill his sons, confiscate his property, and exile his entire family to Hanzhong to farm."

"The Grand Tutor Xu Jing was originally incompetent and immoral, and rose to the position of Grand Tutor by sheer luck. His descendants did not uphold the family business with loyalty and virtue, but instead became accomplices of Chen Zhi. Xu Jing's son was beheaded, his family property was seized, and his descendants were exiled to Jiangzhou."

"Following the example of Qiao Zhou, the clans of Huang Hao, Jiang Shu, He Shi, and Ma Miao were exterminated."

Inside the hall, all the officials, soldiers, and eunuchs remained silent. Qiao Zhou desperately tried to speak, but no words came out. This was not the outcome he desired.

He thought his whole family was doomed, not his entire clan.

He regretted it.

Why am I saying all this?

Many people were thrilled and excited after hearing the first part of Liu Chen's speech, and wanted to cheer on the spot.

Well said.

Emperor Gaozu started a rebellion after slaying a white snake, and overthrew the tyrannical Qin dynasty.

Emperor Wen and Emperor Xuan of Han were wise rulers.

Emperor Wu of Han's military achievements were unparalleled.

Emperor Guangwu restored the state from obscurity to prosperity.

Emperor Ming and Emperor Zhang of Han were wise rulers.

My great Han Dynasty lasted for four hundred years, with so many illustrious emperors and so many periods of prosperity.

What did Cao Wei have? Cao Cao was indeed a cunning and ruthless ruler.

Cao Pi was the same.

Cao Rui was wise. But the Cao Wei dynasty only had three emperors with real power, and it lasted for less than a hundred years.

In terms of virtue, achievements, and reputation, Cao Wei was no match for the Han Dynasty in any aspect.

Was it Wei that replaced Han?

If fate truly favors Wei, then this fate must be questioned.

What about the souls of the dead in Xuzhou? What about the famous and loyal ministers of the Han Dynasty who were executed by Cao Cao?

In addition, there was the incident of Sima Zhao killing Cao Mao in the street.

The prophecy that "the one to replace the Han will be Wei" has been proven false.

From the First Emperor onwards, the only emperor to be killed in the street was Cao Mao, the emperor of Cao Wei.

How could Cao Wei, with such a regime, dare to replace the Han Dynasty? How could it possibly replace the Han Dynasty?

fart.

While young ministers like Zhuge Zhan were filled with enthusiasm, veteran ministers such as Zong Yu, Dong Jue, Fan Jian, and Huang Chong were also incredibly excited. It seemed that their aged bodies had regained their vitality, and their complexions had become rosy.

In particular, Zong Yu, Dong Jue, Fan Jian and others had already given up, but now they suddenly felt that they had regained their fighting spirit.

Faith. It is the foundation.

Once faith collapses, even the most powerful dynasty will perish. Moreover, the Bashu region was small, and Huang Hao was causing chaos.

Liu Chen's words were like a giant pillar supporting the sky, lifting up the crumbling Han dynasty and uniting the hearts of the people.

Like the sound of thunder, deafening.

But when Liu Chen angrily declared that he would trample Qiao Zhou to death with horses and that he would deal with the entire clan of Qiao Zhou, Huang Hao, He Shi, Jiang Shu, and Ma Miao in a manner that would almost result in their extermination,

It was like a bucket of cold water being poured over them, chilling them to the bone.

That's too ruthless.

Let them feel a chill run through their bodies.

This is the power of the emperor; when the emperor is angry, millions of zombies will be slaughtered.

Then some people felt that Qiao Zhou deserved his fate and that he had every right to die.

Some people think this approach is wrong.

But at this time.

It was when Liu Chen's authority reached its zenith that a single word revitalized the Han dynasty, and another word led to a massacre of people.

The authority of the law was solemn and imposing.

He is a true emperor.

A true emperor.

Who dares to stand up and say a word for Qiao Zhou?

Aren't you afraid of dying?

Yang Yong's face flushed red and then pale. After a fierce internal struggle, he stood up, knelt before Liu Chen, and bowed, saying, "I beg Your Highness to reconsider."