The Three Great Han Dynasties: Awaken Liu Bei with a scolding; you weave mats and sell sandals.

Chapter 187 Winter Snow Falls, Rise and Fall

"With snow falling this winter, I wonder how much longer the Han Dynasty can enjoy peace."

Liu Hong spoke slowly, a deep emotion flashing in his eyes.

Although he has temporarily suppressed the ambitions of the gentry, once he falls, chaos will surely ensue.

With a young and inexperienced ruler, the country was rife with doubts. The young emperor was ignorant and naive, and Empress Dowager He ruled from behind the curtain, acting foolishly and incompetently. She was truly unfit for any important task.

Even Empress Lü Zhi back then had a better vision than her.

Without Liu Hong, Liu Bei alone could gather the Liu clan members in Youzhou and win some people's hearts with his benevolence, but he might not be able to suppress the ambitions of the Yuan, Yang and other aristocratic families.

Because the Liu family of Youzhou had already set an example and was showing signs of changing the world, these clans clung to the Liu family's banner, hoping to share in the credit for their success and usher in a new round of glory for their families. That's why they held back for the time being.

All of this is within the rules of the game of power; only in this way can peace be maintained for a moment.

Madam Xu fetched a soft velvet cloak and gently draped it over Liu Hong, her face filled with gentle worry: "I'm afraid that once this snow falls, countless people outside Luoyang will freeze to death."

Although she was the wife of a great general, she never forgot the suffering of the lower classes, and her kind and compassionate heart remained untainted.

Liu Hong patted the back of her hand, then turned his gaze back to the wind and snow outside the window: "At least the imperial court will provide disaster relief, which is much better than going to war."

"Uh-huh.

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Madam Xu nodded slightly, understanding in her heart.

If it weren't for Liu Hong, who knows how many people would have already declared themselves kings or emperors.

The biggest difference between Liu Hong and Cao Cao in history is that Liu Hong's surname is Liu.

As a member of the Han imperial family, even if there were a real change of dynasty, it would only be an internal change within the royal family, which is completely different from an outsider usurping power.

That's why.

Those loyal ministers who were originally loyal to the Han Dynasty continued to submit to the Liu family of Youzhou. In their eyes, the Liu family of Youzhou was the future imperial family of the Han Dynasty, which was an indisputable fact.

The Han Dynasty's four-hundred-year reign ultimately laid a solid foundation in the hearts and minds of the people.

During the court assembly, the snow had not yet melted, and the chill had already permeated the main hall.

"A great disaster has struck, and the cold this year is even worse than last year. The court should immediately send relief to all prefectures and counties. Only in this way can we ensure the safety and well-being of the people and the peace of the world. I implore Your Majesty to make this decision."

-

An old minister stepped forward to make a request.

Empress Dowager He, speaking through the curtain, asked with some hesitation, "What is the General's opinion on this matter?"

"Disaster relief supplies are of utmost urgency and there can be no compromise."

Liu Hong responded immediately and made the final decision.

He knew full well that this matter concerned the hearts and minds of the people, and that there was absolutely no room for delay or scheming.

Empress Dowager He remained silent for a long time behind the curtain before finally nodding.

Even if she were foolish, she would understand the importance of disaster relief to the country, the people, and the nation, and would not dare to use it as a bargaining chip for power calculations.

Otherwise, Liu Hong and the entire Liu family clan would never have stood by and watched her act recklessly.

Even Wu Zetian, who once held immense power and ascended the throne, could only rule the world as a woman by acting within the rules tacitly approved by various forces.

Empress Dowager He had neither the wisdom nor the foundation of Empress Wu Zetian, so she naturally dared not act rashly.

She never intended to groom an emperor; this woman deep within the palace was ultimately unfit for such a great responsibility.

After the court assembly, Grand Tutor Yuan Wei strolled over, his gaze falling on Liu Hong, his brows furrowing slightly: "General, if the disaster relief funds are allocated, I'm afraid my Yuan family members and soldiers will also profit from it, otherwise we'll suffer a loss."

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He spoke with such confidence and without any attempt to conceal his true intentions.

In his view, the marriage between the Yuan and Liu families was already arranged, and they should grow together and share the spoils.

Liu Hong sneered inwardly but did not point it out. He simply replied, "The Yuan family can profit from the disaster relief funds, but they cannot go too far. They must adhere to a red line."

This bottom line is both a constraint and a test.

Yuan Wei felt a sense of relief.

His purpose in coming here was to test Liu Hong's intentions and the sincerity of the two families in cooperating.

Liu Hong's willingness to share profits with the Yuan family signifies a solid foundation for cooperation.

He bowed respectfully, his tone becoming more sincere: "Please rest assured, General, my Yuan family will take good care of our clansmen in each prefecture, and will also allocate some grain and funds to relieve the disaster victims. After all, the lives of all people are precious."

Liu Hong nodded slightly, without saying anything more.

Both he and Yuan Kui were politicians, and their cooperation was based on mutual interests. Their occasional feigned concern and pronouncements of "benevolent governance" were merely empty words and should not be taken seriously.

After Yuan Wei left, Wang Yun, Yang Biao, and others came to him, subtly mentioning that their clansmen wanted to profit from the disaster relief funds.

Liu Hong knew what was going on.

All forces that stood on the same side as the Liu family of Youzhou turned a blind eye.

Only by letting these people experience the benefits can relief food ships reach the states as quickly as possible to help the victims.

The saying "to save the people, first save the officials" may sound absurd, but it was a desperate measure that was put into practice in chaotic times.

If officials and soldiers are not allowed to share the spoils, the disaster relief efforts will likely be delayed and shirked, ultimately causing even greater chaos and adding to the number of deaths.

Back at his residence, Liu Hong suddenly had a flash of inspiration, and a new idea took shape in his mind.

He immediately sent someone to summon Liu Bei and asked him bluntly, "Xuande, would you be willing to take charge of the disaster relief efforts in Luoyang and the surrounding areas?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei immediately replied, "Of course I would."

But then he thought that with the wedding date approaching, it might cause unforeseen circumstances if he were to step away to preside over disaster relief. He added, "It's just that with the wedding date so close, it might be inappropriate for me to leave in person."

It would be better to entrust this matter to our retainers.

They are all former wandering knights, well-connected and highly capable; I suppose I won't need to do anything for them myself.

Liu Hong looked at him with a hint of expectation in his eyes: "What if I want you to take charge of this matter personally? Don't worry, it will not delay the wedding date. You only need to stay in Luoyang and the vicinity of the capital to coordinate and manage the affairs."

That's right, Liu Hong was about to push Xuande off the cliff.

Only when the other party truly breaks free from the shackles and soars away, truly witnessing the darkness and intricate web of officialdom, can they be considered to have truly taken root in the Liu family and become a capable member of the clan.

Otherwise, they are nothing more than parasites raised under the wings of their parents.

How can a person truly grow up if they lack the ability to stand on their own?

Moreover, Liu Bei was the future lord of the Liu family, destined to be different from ordinary people and to shoulder the heavy responsibility of his clan.

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei could no longer refuse and nodded in agreement. His eyes had become clearer, as if he had finally understood his father's intentions.

When Liu Bei went about his business, he always had Guan Yu and Zhang Fei by his side, and this time was no exception. However, in addition to the two of them, there was one more person accompanying him.

"Greetings, young master; greetings, Yide and Yunchang."

Bo Cai smiled and respectfully bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.