Thank you to Kat for the ko-fi~ ♡⸜(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⸝♡
On the thirteenth day of April, Liu Yuan passed away, and Crown Prince Liu He ascended to the throne. On that night, the new emperor summoned General Liu Meng, Prince of Anyi Liu Qin, and General of the Left Guard Ma Jing into the palace to discuss the elimination of the various princes. Liu Meng hesitated to take action and was killed by the Commander of the Guards, Liu Rui. On the second day, the emperor’s personal troops surrounded the residences of Prince Qi Liu Yu, Prince Lu Liu Long, and North Sea Prince Liu Yi. In just two days, the princes’ residences were breached. Liu Yu and Liu Long perished, while Liu Yi was taken into the palace, and imprisoned together with Empress Dowager Dan.
The news of the late Emperor Liu Yuan’s death remained sealed within the walls of Pingyang City. The entire court was in a state of anxiety.
Wearing his blood-stained armor, Huyan You, with large strides, entered the courtyard. He had been ordered to attack the princes’ residences, and now, with the two princes dead, he had earned great merit for protecting the emperor and suppressing the rebellion. Initially, the late emperor did not appreciate his approach and even issued an edict preventing him from advancing in rank. Now, however, he had finally ascended to a high position.
Entering the courtyard, Huyan You’s face brightened with joy as he loudly proclaimed, “The High Minister has achieved great deeds; His Majesty must surely be pleased. Having killed Prince Qi and Prince Lu, the situation is now settled!”
Addressing him as the High Minister, a man in his thirties, with an unremarkable appearance, stepped forward. His facial features were prominent, suggesting some non-Han ethnicity. This man was named Zhi Mingfa, reportedly a third-generation disciple of the renowned monk Zhi Qian from the end of the Han Dynasty, inheriting the teachings of the Moon Zhi Buddhist method. However, to Huyan You, what made this man truly remarkable was not his skills in preaching and teaching.
Zhi Mingfa took a step forward, clasped his hands together, and said, “The Grand Minister’s accomplishments are remarkable, and His Majesty will surely be delighted. However, this matter is not yet complete. Prince Qin and his elite cavalry must be dealt with as soon as possible.”
Hearing this, Huyan You calmed down and asked, “May I inquire about the venerable monk’s wise counsel?”
The fifty thousand strong army under the command of Prince Qin Liu Yao was indeed a headache. After all, they were the elite forces of the Han state, and if they were wiped out cleanly in a single battle in Shangdang, it would shake the foundation of the dynasty. However, allowing Liu Yao to continue leading troops posed a significant threat to Liu He. The key was how to win over the soldiers and execute Liu Yao, which was crucial for Liu He.
“The news of Prince Qin being away on a campaign is not widely known. Why not send a messenger to inform him that His Majesty is critically ill and has ordered him to withdraw his forces? Once Prince Qin returns to Pingyang and visits the imperial city to inquire about the emperor’s health, how can he bring his troops? In this way, we can separate him from his elite troops.” Zhi Mingfa spoke calmly, and his strategy was indeed ruthless.
Is it really so easy to withdraw troops on the eve of battle? This alone may result in a considerable loss of elite soldiers. When Liu Yao leads his troops back to Pingyang, there will be more conspiracies and traps waiting ahead. Employing a dual strategy, with the combination of military and scheming, the fifty thousand elite troops won’t suffer complete casualties, and this formidable threat can be easily resolved, making it a simple and decisive move.
And it doesn’t end there; Zhi Mingfa continued, “We also need to tightly control information about Wang Mi and Shi Le’s forces, preventing them from returning with their armies. Once Your Majesty completely secures the situation in Pingyang, gather the forces and relocate the capital to Chang’an.”
“The venerable monk’s plan is indeed ingenious! I will now go to the palace and inform His Majesty. If we can eliminate that traitor, Liu Yao, the venerable monk will be credited as the first contributor!” Huyan You praised.
Initially, he welcomed the high monk into his residence solely because of the monk’s proficiency in Buddhist teachings, which could ward off illnesses and evil spirits. Who would have thought that the monk possessed such strategic talents? Without his counsel, how could Liu He have trusted his arrangements? In just a few days, Huyan You had risen from the position of Zongzheng to Grand Minister, with future responsibilities assisting the emperor in governing the state. Wasn’t this comparable to the role of Huo Guang back then? Feeling content and self-satisfied, Huyan You laughed heartily, ignoring the need to change into fresh clothes as he headed towards the palace.
In his triumphant state, with eyes focused only on himself, he naturally did not see the cold smile that flickered across the lips of the monk.
At the same time, in Shangdang, Liu Yao, who was stationed there, began to feel uneasy.
“Why is the enemy launching an attack now?”
After a month-long stalemate, just when the harvest season was approaching, instead of retreating, the forces from Bing County not only maintained their positions but also initiated an offensive. This was beyond Liu Yao’s expectations. Could it be that they were determined to forgo the harvest this season? His army consisted mainly of cavalry, while the enemy had a substantial infantry force. By circumventing the cavalry causing interference, couldn’t they easily penetrate deep into the heart of Shangdang?
Although the idea sounded plausible, Liu Yao was cautious about dividing his forces too hastily. Having clashed with Bing County forces several times, he knew their cunning nature. Could this be another trap or some trick to lure him into making a mistake?
However, the enemy wouldn’t give him time to contemplate. In just one day, the enemy forces advanced significantly, forcing Liu Yao to break camp. Shortly afterward, there were movements in the Liang household as well. Ten thousand troops assembled in Gaodu, seemingly preparing for a coordinated encirclement.
They truly intended to launch a pincer attack! Liu Yao quickly realized the situation and felt a surge of anger. Did these Bing County forces think he was as naive as Pu Hong, allowing himself to be slaughtered? Perhaps it was better to break through the encirclement and set Luoyang ablaze!
At this critical moment, a messenger arrived from the palace.
“What did you say? Grain supplies have reached Luoyang? The Emperor is seriously ill?!” Liu Yao leaped up from his seat in astonishment, cold sweat immediately forming on his forehead!
No wonder they were launching a joint siege on Shangdang; they simply didn’t care about those provisions! Could it be that even Liu Yuan’s illness had been discovered by Bing County spies?
He had to return as soon as possible. If his fifty thousand troops suffered a setback, Pingyang might be in jeopardy!
With a clear plan in mind, Liu Yao didn’t retreat recklessly. After all, cavalry was far superior to infantry, and as long as he wanted to retreat, there were countless ways to do so. The only thing to guard against was Bing County’s light cavalry. However, considering the numerical difference between the two armies, it wouldn’t pose a significant obstacle. Liu Yao, well-versed in battlefield strategy, skillfully maintained a safe distance from the enemy, steadily pulling away.
As long as he retreated past Gaodu, he could withdraw his entire army from Shangdang.
At this moment, another confidential report arrived at the main tent.
“Prince, His Majesty has passed away! The Crown Prince has ascended the throne, and in one night, he has executed Prince Qi and Prince Lu, and imprisoned Prince Beihai in the palace!”
The scout’s face was covered in blood, tears streaming down his face. Liu Yao’s mouth opened for a long time before he squeezed out a sentence, “What you said, is it true? When did His Majesty die?”
“Absolutely true! It’s information sent desperately by spies in the city! His Majesty passed away five days ago!”
Liu Yao’s body swayed, almost falling to the ground. Liu Yuan had already passed away? Liu He had executed several princes? Then, whose hand issued the edict sent yesterday?
A bone-piercing chill penetrated his body. This was clearly an attempt to kill him! Liu He couldn’t tolerate his own blood brothers, let alone him as an adopted son. Moreover, if the Han court moved its capital to Chang’an, it would be on his own turf, and Liu He would never feel secure!
What to do?!
In the next moment, he said in a deep voice, “Order the left army as the vanguard to break through the Gaodu defense line, and General Jianwei will lead five thousand troops to cover the rear!”
Now was not the time for delay; the sooner he returned to Pingyang, the more opportunities he would have. Only by taking advantage of Liu He’s belief that he had everything under control and launching a surprise attack on the city could he catch him off guard. Liu He wouldn’t rest easy if the capital moved to Chang’an, especially with Liu Yao’s presence!
Life and death hung by a thread, and Liu Yao’s command swiftly spread. The Xiongnu cavalry began to move.
On the other side, Sun Jiao said, “General, are you really not going to stop these people?”
Although they had assumed an offensive stance, his troops had not exerted their full strength, and one could even say they had left an opening, allowing the enemy to escape. Such a strategy was not very satisfying.
“The enemy has fifty thousand elite cavalry; it won’t be easy to stop them all.” Yiyan’s expression remained unchanged. “Order the Valiant Army to stop the enemy’s charge. Minimize casualties as much as possible, and let the remaining enemies go.”
Zhang Bin’s plan was known to Yiyan, and he was well aware of the current situation of the Xiongnu. Internal strife among the enemies was preferable to expending their own energy. After taking Si County, the military strength of Bing County was further dispersed. To restore its former glory, it would take at least another year. The internal chaos in the Xiongnu was the perfect opportunity for them to gain this year.
Understanding the situation, Sun Jiao no longer complained and quickly issued orders. It would require considerable effort to safely swallow the bait thrown by the enemy.
On that day, the Han forces launched a fierce attack, breaking through the encirclement at Gaodu and losing over ten thousand troops.
The remaining thirty thousand troops hurried back to Pingyang under the cover of the night. Seeing the success of the strategy, Liu He issued an imperial decree in the tone of the emperor, commanding Liu Yao to enter the palace for an audience. Liu Yao did comply with the order, but he was not the only one who entered the city. Taking advantage of the unguarded city gates, five hundred guards forcibly seized control, followed by thirty thousand elite riders charging into the Xiongnu’s capital!
“Prince Liu He poisoned the Emperor, and plotted against the princes; these are heinous crimes!” Liu Yao loudly declared, “Follow me into the city to rescue the Empress Dowager and Prince Beihai!”
This was an excellent pretext and the awaited massacre in Pingyang. Although the guards were valiant, Liu Yuan’s death was too abrupt, and the news had been sealed, causing unrest. Moreover, which prince did not have marriage ties with the noble families of the Xiongnu? Killing them made everyone feel endangered. Liu Yao’s spark ignited the raging anger in everyone’s hearts!
The situation began to reverse, and the shouts of killing soared like flames reaching the sky.
In the residence of Huyan You, Zhi Mingfa changed into servant attire, calmly put on a wig, and successfully incited Huyan You, creating internal chaos. The task of causing internal strife had been completed, and all the information had been successfully conveyed to Liu Yao. Regardless of who emerged victorious between these two, it no longer concerned them.
“With the Tiger Token in hand, retreat!” A covert signal spread, and more than a dozen hidden scouts in the residence of Liu He’s faction quietly left. However, no one knew how many hidden hands ready to steal the token remained in the burning city of Pingyang.
After a day of fierce battle, Liu He met his demise. The rebels led by Huyan You were all captured and executed as a warning.
Covered in blood, Liu Yao walked into the palace, “Queen Dowager, I am late!”
For the past few days, Queen Dowager, shocked, almost burst into tears. He called her Queen Dowager; this meant that his son Liu Yi was going to ascend the throne!
“Prince Qin, please rise quickly! Your efforts in suppressing the rebels this time are commendable!” The Queen Dowager hastily said.
“It’s all the duty of a subject,” Liu Yao stood up, glanced at Prince Beihai standing beside him, and smiled, “Fortunately, Prince Beihai is unharmed. Please, Your Highness, ascend to the throne quickly and stabilize the hearts of the people!”
After experiencing this chaotic battle, Liu Yi didn’t dare to agree immediately. Who knew what this Prince Qin, bold enough to charge the imperial city, had in mind?
However, Liu Yao’s attitude was extremely respectful, “Your Highness is the legitimate son of the late emperor and should inherit the throne! Once Your Highness ascends, immediately move the capital to Chang’an. Our Han Dynasty will surely overcome this difficulty under your reign!”
Move the capital! Queen Dowager exclaimed, “At the time of the emperor’s death, there was a dying wish. It was precisely to move the capital! Yi, Prince Qin is loyal and can be a valuable general to assist our Great Han!”
Watching Liu Yi’s still timid expression, Queen Dowager grabbed her son’s arm, and her long nails dug into his flesh, “Yi, a nation cannot be without a ruler for a single day!”
She knew that holding significant military power and having long been in control of Chang’an, Liu Yao was equally dangerous. However, the mother and son were now without support. The only thing they could grasp was the phrase “legitimate succession”! Liu Yao was not the biological son of Liu Yuan but an adopted kin; in terms of inheritance, he could never surpass Liu Yi and arrogantly declare himself emperor. Therefore, whether he aimed to be like Huo Guang or Cao Cao, he had to ensure the safety of the mother and son.
Stay alive, and there is hope!
Liu Yi opened his mouth but couldn’t utter a single word. Amidst the lingering miasma of blood and haze that had not yet dissipated in Pingyang Palace, another young emperor ascended to the throne. The news of Liu Yuan’s death spread along with it.
