Ji Han Liu Zhang

Xudu.

"As long as people's hearts are longing for Han, the Han Dynasty will never end."

When Emperor Liu Xie was talking with Concubine Dong, he suddenly sighed, and the basis of his sigh came from the current situation in the world.

A month ago, Liu Xie learned about the usurpation of power by Yuan Shu in Huainan from the reports of his ministers. He was greatly shocked at that time. The Yuan family had been receiving salaries from the Han Dynasty for generations and had received great favors from the country. How could Yuan Shu commit such a usurpation and establish himself as the emperor in Huainan?

And you know, although the traitor Dong Zhuo was rampant and unjust, he only dared to depose and enthrone the emperor, but did not dare to openly usurp the throne and claim the throne; although Li Jue and Guo Si were rebellious and wanton, they only bullied the emperor and his ministers, and had no intention of usurping the throne.

Dong Zhuo, Li and Guo, who were ordinary people in Liangzhou and did not know how to be loyal and righteous, did not dare to talk about the rise and fall of the country and establish themselves as kings. However, Yuan Shu, a son of an aristocratic family and a minister of the Han Dynasty, disregarded the face of Liu Xie, the emperor, and proclaimed himself emperor in Huainan.

When Liu Xie heard this, he was shocked at first, and then felt sad. The Han Dynasty, when it came to him, turned out to be a rebellious and crazy villain like Yuan Shu. This was because he was not virtuous enough and his holy power was insufficient. That was why crazy people from all over the world dared to covet the sacred artifacts and plot to seize the Nine Cauldrons.

However, what happened next made Liu Xie very happy and he said the above words "People's hearts are thinking about Han, and the Han Dynasty will continue."

Yuan Shu rebelled in Huainan. First, Sun Ce of Jiangdong, who was Yuan Shu's subordinate, sent a letter to break off relations with Yuan Shu. Then Lu Bu of Xuzhou sent Han Yin, Yuan Shu's envoy to welcome his bride, to Xudu to show that the Han and the traitors could not coexist. Now Han Yin was executed in the East Market of Xudu, telling the people of the world the consequences of following the traitor.

The story did not end here. Liu Zhang of Guanzhong and Liu Biao of Jingzhou, both relatives of the Han Dynasty and vassals of the imperial court, issued proclamations to the four seas, calling on loyal people in the country to fight against Yuan Shu and to execute the traitor Yuan Shu in the East Market of Xudu.

As for Yuan Shao of Hebei, as Yuan Shu's cousin, although he did not take any action at the beginning and seemed a little ambiguous, when the whole country was in turmoil and people in the world were condemning Yuan Shu, Yuan Shao also issued a manifesto to attack Yuan Shu. However, as people of the same clan, Yuan Shao's manifesto was milder in words than those of Liu Zhang and Liu Biao. He only criticized Yuan Shu for coveting the sacred artifact, and for returning to the right path early, giving up the title of emperor as soon as possible, and becoming a subject of the Han Dynasty again.

One man rebelled in Huainan, and the whole world came together to punish him.

"Your Majesty, are you talking about Yuan Shu of Huainan?" Concubine Dong was naturally intelligent. Just based on Liu Xie's words "People's hearts are thinking about Han, and the Han Dynasty will continue", she guessed that Liu Xie was commenting on Yuan Shu of Huainan.

Emperor Liu Xie nodded and said with emotion: "I ascended the throne at a young age and have no kindness to the world. Now Yuan Shu has usurped the throne in Huainan, and the whole world is angry about it. Everyone in the world wants to kill Yuan Shu. This is the legacy of the previous emperors of our Han Dynasty, but I have enjoyed it. How lucky I am."

"Although your majesty succeeded to the throne at a young age, your reputation for virtue has spread far and wide. Who knows if people all over the world are waving flags and shouting, wanting to kill Yuan Shu, not because of your majesty." A faint smile appeared on the pretty face of Concubine Dong, and she explained.

Liu Xie shook his head upon hearing this, with a slightly guilty look on his face: "You can only say this in front of me, never in front of outsiders, otherwise I will be ashamed... Since I ascended the throne, there have been disputes all over the world and chaos in the world. In the hearts of the scholars and common people, how can I have a good reputation..."

Concubine Dong stretched out her soft little hand and placed it beside Liu Xie's mouth, pretending to block Liu Xie's self-deprecating words. She comforted him, "Your Majesty, the current chaos is not caused by your Majesty, but by the traitors Dong Zhuo, Li Guo and others. Your Majesty should not say such words... Now that Dong Zhuo, Li Guo and others have been killed, Your Majesty should regroup and make policies that benefit the world."

"I know it." Liu Xie nodded. He agreed with what Concubine Dong said before. Since he ascended the throne, he had not been in power for a long time. The court and local affairs were controlled by villains such as Dong Zhuo, Li and Guo. The current chaos in the world had little to do with him, the emperor. After all, he was helpless.

However, Liu Xie did not quite agree with the second half of Dong Guiren's words. Although he managed to escape from the thieves, he had just escaped from the wolf's den and entered the tiger's den. The current government affairs were under the overall control of Prime Minister Cao Cao. He, the emperor, was just a clay emperor and a puppet pulled by ropes. How could he have the opportunity to personally take charge of government affairs and bestow grace on the world?

However, Liu Xie did not reveal the true thoughts in his heart. He did not tell Concubine Dong. After all, the person in front of him was just a woman from a wealthy family, a noble in the palace. Even if he told Concubine Dong, she would not be relieved and would only add to her troubles.

Just as Liu Xie and Concubine Dong were talking, a eunuch came out from behind the door. He knelt on the ground and said to Liu Xie, "Your Majesty, I wish to see you."

Liu Xie nodded in agreement when he heard this. He ordered the eunuch to lead Fu Wan to the East Pavilion, where he would meet Fu Wan. Then Liu Xie went out with Dong Guiren's greeting and headed towards the East Pavilion.

Soon, Liu Xie arrived at the East Pavilion. After Fu Wan, the father-in-law of the emperor, finished paying respect to Liu Xie, he immediately reported to Liu Xie with a smile on his face: "Your Majesty, when the traitor Yuan Shu heard that Lü Bu had broken off the marriage and had tied up the envoy Han Yin and sent him to Xudu, he was furious and sent his generals Zhang Xun, Qiao Rui and others, and invited his allies Han Xian and Yang Feng to join forces with tens of thousands of troops to attack Xuzhou from seven directions."

"But Lü Bu got Chen Gui's advice and used a strategy of sowing discord to lure Han Xian and Yang Feng, defeated Zhang Xun, captured Qiao Rui alive, and defeated Yuan's seven armies. Now Lü Bu's troops have reached Huaishang and are marching south of Huainan. For a while, Yuan Shu could only flee in fear and hide in Shouchun City, not daring to raise an army to resist."

"Good." Liu Xie clapped his hands and praised when he heard it. There was no news more joyful than hearing that traitors were conquered, especially when a traitor like Yuan Shu who was rebellious and disloyal was beaten. This made Emperor Liu Xie very comfortable.

There is good news and there is bad news, Fu Wan continued, "The court issued an order before, ordering Sun Ce of Jiangdong and Chen Yu of Haixi to join forces to attack Yuan Shu, but Chen Yu disobeyed the order. On the surface, he went to attack Yuan Shu, but in fact he wanted to usurp Wujun. However, Chen Yu acted carelessly and was discovered by Sun Ce. Now Chen Yu was defeated by Sun Ce, and Chen Yu's wife, children, and soldiers, a total of more than 4,000 people, were all captured by Sun Ce... Therefore, the court's original plan of Lu Bu, Sun Ce, and Chen Yu to join forces to attack Huainan and besiege Shouchun did not succeed. Only Lu Bu's troops made some gains and frightened Yuan Shu."

"Lü Bu is a loyal hero of my country and my pillar of support." Liu Xie sighed. He had a good impression of Lu Bu. After all, Lu Bu killed the traitor Dong Zhuo for him, and later fought for him against Li Jue and Guo Si. It was only because Lu Bu was defeated that he was controlled by Li Jue and Guo Si.

……

Xuzhou, Xiapi.

"Just as you expected, Shu's army was defeated by us. Our army has made great gains on this trip to Huai River." When Lu Bu returned to Xuzhou from Huai River, he came to the government office in Xia Pi and shook the hand of Chen Gui who came to greet him, praising Chen Gui's strategies and good policies.

"The great victory in this battle is due to the general's divine power, not the credit of this old man," Chen Gui said modestly.

"Ah." Lü Bu smiled and said proudly, "If it weren't for your advice and the plan to sow discord, Xia Pi would have been broken by Yuan Shu's army long ago. How could our army be so proud and arrogant? This battle is enough to scare Yuan Shu and make him dare not covet Xuzhou again."

"Sir, you deserve the first credit." Here, Lu Bu proudly praised Chen Gui's good plan in front of everyone. Chen Gong's face turned slightly red. As a general and counselor under Lu Bu, he did not make any achievements when Yuan Shu sent seven armies to attack. This made him feel ashamed. In the final analysis, it was because he was not smart enough and could not foresee opportunities, and often made plans after the event.

After returning from a great victory, Lu Bu held a grand banquet in Xia Pi, where he drank heartily and celebrated his victory over Yuan Shu all day long.

Previously, Langya Prime Minister Xiao Jian defended the city and did not interact with Lu Bu, so Lu Bu had no time to attack Jucheng and take over Langya County. Now that he had defeated Yuan Shu and was powerful throughout the country, Lu Bu intended to take advantage of the victory over Yuan Shu to force Xiao Jian to submit to him, so he sent a letter to Jucheng, the seat of Langya County.

After the document was sent, just as Lu Bu had expected, Xiao Jian was afraid of his divine power and did not dare to compete with him. He sent his chief clerk to bring him gifts, five good horses, and the land of Langya belonged to him from then on.

Standing on the top of the city wall of Xia Pi, Lu Bu looked into the distance with a shining look on his face. Since he was defeated by Li Jue and Guo Si and fled to Guandong, he first planned to devote himself to Yuan Shu, but Yuan Shu refused. Later, he defected to Yuan Shao and helped Yuan Shao defeat the Black Mountain Army, but Yuan Shao not only did not reward him, but instead intended to murder him. He had to escape from Yuan Shao.

After leaving Yuan Shao, he joined forces with Chenliu Prefect Zhang Miao, and took advantage of Cao Cao's eastern expedition to Xuzhou to overthrow Yanzhou in one fell swoop, almost taking over the entire Yanzhou. However, he was defeated by Cao Cao and was expelled from Yanzhou.

After leaving Yanzhou, he attached himself to Liu Bei of Xuzhou and seized Xuzhou from Liu Bei. To this day, he is still as powerful as a tiger and fears the whole sea. He has made a career and achieved a great name in the world.

'Xuzhou Mu?!'

Lu Bu seemed to have thought of something, and his happy expression suddenly dimmed. If there was anything he wanted now, it would be the position of Governor of Xuzhou. He had sent Chen Deng to Xudu before, but Chen Deng did not get the position for him.

Now that he has marched to Huainan and conquered the traitor Yuan Shu for the country, he has made great contributions. He thinks that the post of governor of Xuzhou is right for him. Lu Bu thought that he should send an envoy to Xudu to commend his merits. If he takes the post of Xuzhou early, he can sit in Xuzhou and unify the country.

……

Changan.

'Tiger steps in Huainan, unique at the time.'

Liu Zhang flipped through the document in his hand. It was intelligence about the battle between Yuan Shu and Lu Bu. It was delivered to Chang'an in Guanzhong by Liu Zhang's spies stationed in Guandong, and finally placed on his desk for him to read.

The document stated that Yuan Shu sent seven armies to attack Xuzhou because Lu Bu broke off the engagement. The troops were led by Yuan Shu's generals Zhang Xun, Qiao Rui and others, as well as two independent warlords Han Xian and Yang Feng. They were very powerful and seemed to be trying to swallow up Xuzhou.

However, Lu Bu's adviser Chen Gui devised a plan to lure Han Xian and Yang Feng into a rebellion, defeated seven armies of Yuan, and launched a counterattack all the way to Huaibei, where he showed off his military might on the Huai River, ridiculed Yuan Shu, and acted like a tiger marching south of the Huai River.

After this battle, Yuan Shu's power suddenly declined.

"What a mediocre man." Liu Zhang sighed. As a descendant of the Yuan family, Yuan Shu had a good starting point. He was like a fish in water in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He first occupied Nanyang and eyed Jingxiang. However, Yuan Shu was not good at governing. He made Nanyang a mess. The scholars and common people were scattered, bandits rose up, and he was defeated by the combined forces of Yuan Shao and Cao Cao.

Later, Yuan Shu could no longer sit still in Nanyang, and had to flee to Huainan. Huainan had a large population and rich scholars and commoners, and it could be considered a base for competing for hegemony over the world. However, Yuan Shu acted absurdly, arbitrarily talked about the rise and fall of states, and established his own system in Huainan, which made him be attacked by princes all over the world.

No matter whether it is Nanyang or Huainan, as long as Yuan Shu seizes the opportunity, he may be able to achieve the same hegemony as Yuan Shao. At that time, the world will be a battle between the two Yuans in the north and the south, instead of the story of the three powers of Wei, Shu and Wu in the late Eastern Han Dynasty.

As for Yuan Shu's ending, Liu Zhang predicted that it would be the same as in history. Cao Cao would seize the opportunity of Yuan Shao's current weakening power and send troops to attack Shouchun, taking advantage of Yuan Shao's illness to kill him and completely eliminate Yuan Shu's chances of dominating the world.

There were two Yuans in the world, but now only one is left.

However, these were all matters of Guandong. Liu Zhang only understood them. He was more concerned about Guanxi, especially the Longyou area which was now occupied by Han Sui. As long as Longyou was not stable, he would not be able to go east.

"What is Han Sui's recent movements?" Liu Zhang asked Peng Ying.

Peng Ying replied, "My Lord, Han Sui has only been recruiting Qiang and Hu people, gathering soldiers from all over the country, and storing food and grass, but he has not made any move to mobilize troops. It seems that Han Sui intends to recruit enough soldiers and store food and grass for several months before taking any action."

"Are you planning a big move?" Liu Zhang sneered. Han Sui was an opponent who was weaker than him, so he had always looked down upon him. The reason why he did not send troops to Longyou for a while was because he had been fighting for years and was short of food and grass.

"In your opinion, what should Han Sui do in the future?" After a sneer, Liu Zhang asked Jia Xu.

After thinking for a moment or two, Jia Xu replied, "I think Han Sui should stay in Longxi and Jincheng counties and wait for you to come, instead of leading troops to attack Tianshui county."

"First, Liang Province is bitterly cold and wars are frequent. Although Han Sui can recruit Qiang and Hu and gather a large army, the food and grass will be insufficient, and he cannot march to other places... Second, Han Sui can stay in Longxi and Jincheng to extend our army's food supply route and make our army tired from the long journey. This is a strategy that kills two birds with one stone."

"Your opinion is the same as mine." Liu Zhang nodded. As for Han Sui's future actions, he also guessed that Han Sui would most likely stay in Longxi and Jincheng counties and would not lead troops to fight him. After all, the enemy and us have different strengths. Han Sui's side is weak and lacks military supplies, so he will not make an offensive gesture, but will think of defending and counterattacking. Such a move is most beneficial to Han Sui. (End of this chapter)