Chapter 1, A Road Never Imagined
From the prehistoric era of Yao, Shun, and Yu, to the Jin state of the pre-Qin period, and then to the Wei, Zhao, and Han states during the Warring States period, as well as the mighty Tang dynasty that dominated the world, all have grown up on this land
Even if he has to endure it with great difficulty, he must hold on.
But he has already found a direction, a path that had never been imagined, a path that could change his destiny and even alter the course of history
Looking at Liu Xie, who was forcing himself to remain calm, Tang Ji felt a surge of sympathy in her eyes
Having gone through so much, she is now battered and bruised, no longer the naive white lotus she once was
In the face of true strength, all schemes and intrigues are but fleeting clouds
However, the people of Xiliang are not law-abiding citizens and will not be so easily obedient
He does not believe that his experience in political struggles, limited to the office, makes him a mere novice in politics. Having read a few books and watched a few dramas, he thinks he can outmaneuver figures like Emperor Xian of Han and Xun Yu, and has the opportunity to turn the tide.
To subdue them, one can only defeat them with force
In the face of destiny, individual efforts are insignificant and hardly worth mentioning
To establish a foothold in Bingzhou, to be neighbors with the Xiongnu, and even to drive the Xiongnu back to the grasslands, mere eloquence is insufficient; he needs a formidable army
He believes that with Tang Ji's intelligence, she will be able to understand this point
Duan Wei and Zhang Ji have committed relatively minor offenses, and there is still an opportunity for rehabilitation
Liu Xie stood on the loess plateau, gazing at the vast mountains and rivers illuminated by the morning sun, observing the officials and soldiers on both sides of the official road, resembling refugees, and let out a gentle sigh
If all the people from Xiliang cannot be used, then Yang Feng and others cannot be used either, as they are either from Xiliang or former subordinates of the Xiliang people
Tang Ji's complexion changed dramatically, losing her last semblance of composure. Her legs went weak, her whole body felt powerless, and she nearly collapsed to the ground
Liu Xie smiled
In the perception of the vast majority, Bingzhou is certainly not a place where the court should linger
Not only is it feasible, but it can only be done this way
Hedong and Bingzhou, which correspond to the present-day Shanxi Province, are the most suitable places for founding a nation in the Central Plains of China, aside from Guanzhong
Lady Tang would not be so naive as to believe that the revival of the Han Dynasty could be achieved solely through poetry and literature
Are Your Majesty's concerns regarding Duan Wei?
Not long ago, Li Jue killed Fan Chou and then had a fierce confrontation with Guo Si
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The desire to embark on the path of rejuvenation from Hedong is both a coincidence and a necessity
As she raised her hand to wipe away her tears, she inadvertently glanced at Liu Xie, only to find that although his face was pale, his expression remained relatively composed, with a faint glimmer in his eyes
Shan County is the old Hangu Pass, located at a crucial juncture between east and west. Whether returning to Luoyang from the east or heading north to Hedong, it is an essential route.
The first step he considered was to incorporate Duan Wei's army, and if possible, to add Zhang Ji as well
Luoyang is no longer a place to return to, Chang'an is already in ruins, to the south lies the continuous Qinling Mountains stretching for thousands of miles, and both Hanzhong and Nanyang are uninhabitable. He wishes to emulate Liu Bang and Liu Xiu but finds no opportunity, so he can only seek a different path, embarking on a route that has never been envisioned.
Although Duan Wei is from the Western Liang, he still holds respect for the court. For the past few days, everything he has eaten and worn has been supplied by Duan Wei. Compared to Li Jue, who merely uses rotten beef bones to appease the court, Duan Wei is far superior.
Liu Xie bowed slightly in return. "Thank you, sister-in-law"
To win over Yang Feng, one must take into account Tang Ji's attitude
Their greatest motivation throughout their journey has been to return to the old capital, Luoyang. If they cannot return to Luoyang, where else can they go
Historical records from later generations clearly indicate that Duan Wei did not rebel; those who claim that Duan Wei rebelled are spreading rumors
What does it matter if the Son of Heaven has the world in his heart? The world has already collapsed, and no amount of intelligence on his part will be of any help
Reflecting on the current situation, Lady Tang could not help but let out a sigh
Hardly anyone has considered this route, as the current situation in Bingzhou is quite bleak
A king of a fallen nation, devoid of human rights
Perhaps one day, when he opens his eyes, the man whose life hangs by a thread will have perished
Her hatred for Li Jue is second only to her hatred for Dong Zhuo and Li Ru
He is the emperor and cannot allow a young woman to bear the pressure continuously
To speak frankly, if it had not been for Wang Yun's obstinate insistence on exterminating all of Dong Zhuo's former subordinates, forcing Jia Xu to devise a plan for self-preservation, and uniting the Xiliang people against a common enemy, Li Jue and others would not have been able to create such a significant upheaval
Tang Ji felt an indescribable confusion rising within her, a deep sorrow in her heart, and tears uncontrollably streamed down her cheeks
Zhang Ji is indeed a troublemaker
What Wang Yun failed to accomplish, what the original Liu Xie failed to accomplish, he wants to give it a try
Liu Xie observed it all and sighed inwardly, yet he did not feel anxious. "Sister-in-law, do you hate Li Jue?"
Tang Ji's eyes flickered slightly, and she felt a surge of emotions within her
Anyone with a slight understanding of history would not overlook Shanxi
Even with two thousand years of historical knowledge, he does not consider himself a match for Prime Minister Cao.
Strictly speaking, the generals of Xiliang are like a scattered sand, and there has never been a notion of unity and shared purpose among them
Lady Tang gritted her teeth and nodded slightly
In recent days, while taking care of Liu Xie, she has also listened to numerous reports from civil and military officials, understanding that the danger is far from over and the future remains uncertain. The night before last, an unusual phenomenon appeared in the sky, with red gas piercing through the heavens, which further caused widespread panic, leading many to flee.
Liu Xie turned his body slightly and nodded gently
Lady Tang shook her head and said with a bitter smile, "I have limited knowledge and truly cannot guess; I humbly request Your Majesty to clarify."
The true Son of Heaven, Liu Xie, although young, is a composed youth. Over the years of wandering and hardship, he has become increasingly steady and resolute
Historically, Emperor Xian of Han did not lack resistance; however, all his efforts ended in failure
On the road back to Luoyang, two fierce dogs from Xiliang blocked the way, and the pressure in the emperor's heart was undoubtedly immense
Certainly, this path is not easy to traverse
She let out a deep sigh and bowed to Liu Xie. "Only the edict of Your Majesty shall be followed"
Lady Tang Ji looked at Liu Xie with some surprise, remaining silent for a moment. "Your Majesty, the etiquette between sovereign and minister must not be neglected..."
The person who arrived was a young woman of about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a graceful figure and delicate features, her face beautiful. However, her brows and eyes had a somewhat rigid expression, revealing a strong sense of defiance against fate
"He is merely afflicted with a skin disease, nothing to be concerned about," Liu Xie shook his head. "Sister-in-law, please guess again."
Li Jue and Guo Si, these two murderers, should be dealt with; not killing them would be insufficient to quell the public outrage
When Li Jue and Guo Si were causing chaos in Chang'an, Duan Wei and Zhang Ji remained inactive, watching the tigers fight from the mountain. Zhang Ji even persistently urged the court to move east to Shan County, intending to exert control over the emperor and command the feudal lords on his own territory.
Just as it stands before him, he has no confidence that he can do better than the real Emperor Xian of Han
These days, he pretends to be ill and does not go out, simply to avoid revealing any flaws and to give himself some time to adapt
The "Annals of Emperor Xian" records: In the second year of Xingping, on the day of Renyin in October, a visit was made to Huayin. That night, red energy pierced the Purple Palace, thus establishing the strategy for the revival of the dynasty
The combat effectiveness of the Xiliang army is evident to all
Without much hesitation, Tang Ji made her decision
These days have been hard on you, sister-in-law. Liu Xie nodded with a smile
Your Majesty, overthinking is of no benefit; it is better to be at ease. A voice, slightly hoarse yet resolute, came from behind.
Her husband, the Young Emperor Liu Bian, was killed by Dong Zhuo. These individuals are Dong Zhuo's former subordinates, who have committed countless atrocities. They deserve to be subjected to a thousand cuts; how can we still rely on them to restore the great Han dynasty
The talented strategist Xun Yu, loyal to the Han dynasty, could only take his own life in the face of the empty food box of Chancellor Cao
He does not know
In order to persuade Yang Feng to serve him, Liu Xie must secure the support of Tang Ji, and at the very least, avoid any open conflict with Yang Feng.
She is unlike Fushou, who has been overly protected by her family, remaining a flower that has yet to experience the storms of life
Although he may not be considered a master in the political struggles of the office, the extensive knowledge he has acquired in history, geography, and military affairs is not without merit
However, Liu Xie, who has two thousand years of historical experience, finds it feasible
After more than a hundred years of cultural governance during the Eastern Han Dynasty, the policy of appeasement towards the Hu people led to the continuous internal migration of the Xiongnu, Wuhuan, and Xianbei. Bingzhou has become a region that is half Hu and half Han, with some Xiongnu even having entered Hedong, currently stationed in the Pingyang area (Linfen, Shanxi)
Yang Feng was once a subordinate of Li Jue, and Tang Ji has never had a good impression of him
If he shows any signs of weakness, it will surely raise suspicions in Tang Ji
To defeat Li Jue and Guo Si, it is far from sufficient to rely solely on the existing military forces of the court, aside from winning over Duan Wei and Zhang Ji; it is necessary to utilize the Bai Bo army from Hedong and even the Xiongnu.
A glimmer of hope arose in her heart; perhaps the Son of Heaven still had a way
The wild wolf-like Guo Si may strike back at any moment, while Zhang Ji stands in front like a vicious dog, caught in a dilemma. To make matters worse, he is surrounded by a group of civil officials who are adept at internal strife but inept in external battles, and military generals who are brave yet lacking in strategy, as well as being fickle. Can he still escape and reach Hedong?
However, reflecting on the twenty-five years of his puppet life after returning east, he felt somewhat fortunate.
The widow of my royal brother Liu Bian, his sister-in-law Tang Ji
But he is not worried
Sister-in-law, guess again
Liu Xie raised his hand and gently pressed down, interrupting Tang Ji. "Sister-in-law, in times of national ruin and family loss, there is no need to be entangled in those trivial formalities"
Tang Ji was uncertain whether Bingzhou was suitable for establishing a state, but she opposed the idea of accepting the Xiliang people, remaining silent for half a day.
Tang Ji subconsciously looked towards the east. The morning sun illuminated her slightly pale face, adding a touch of brilliance.
Duan Wei and Zhang Ji are both from Xiliang and are former subordinates of Dong Zhuo, but they do not share the same heart and mind as Li Jue and Guo Si, making them potential allies to be won over
Although Liu Xie had no confidence at all, he still tried his best to speak in a calm and light manner, not allowing Tang Ji to detect any flaws
Sensing the weight of Tang Ji's emotions, Liu Xie chuckled lightly once more. He raised his hand and pointed towards the east. "Sister-in-law, do you know what is there?"
Truly, he is the emperor who, at the age of nine, could speak confidently in the presence of Dong Zhuo. Even in the face of life and death, he remains calm and composed, not constrained by the difficulties before him
Liu Xie paused for a moment, allowing Tang Ji some time to think
Whenever he sees her, Liu Xie always thinks of that beautiful and charismatic Sister Wan, who possesses exceptional acting skills
Liu Xie pointed with his hand. "Go to Hedong, go to Bingzhou, emulate the stories of Emperor Gao's retreat to Hanzhong and Emperor Guangwu's seclusion in Hebei, and recreate the great Han dynasty"
Lady Tang once fell into the camp of Li Jue. At that time, Li Jue was unaware that she was the widow of the late emperor, yet he was infatuated with her and was determined to take her as his wife. Later, thanks to the mediation of Jia Xu, Liu Xie was given the opportunity to rescue her from Li Jue's camp
"Brutal individuals should not remain in the world for long." Liu Xie continued, "However, the court currently lacks troops and provisions; how can we avenge this great grievance? Although Duan Wei and Zhang Ji are from Xiliang, they do not possess the same wickedness as Li Jue. If we can recruit them for the court's use, there may be hope for revenge."
However, Sister Wan was portraying Empress Fushou at that time, not Sister-in-law Tang Ji
A dignified emperor has fallen to the point of sleeping on the streets, truly a tragic situation
Yang Feng was originally part of the Baibo Army. Liu Xie intended to recruit the Baibo Army through Yang Feng for reinforcements, and then unite with Duan Wei and Zhang Ji to defeat Li Jue and Guo Si, thereby leveraging the power of victory to enter Hedong in a dignified manner
Fortunately, I have not yet returned to Luoyang; otherwise, I would have truly had no chance at all
Upon seeing Tang Ji, Liu Xie instinctively straightened his back, perked up, and forced a smile.
Liu Xie raised his hand, pointing towards the east. "The east of Guandong is already in chaos, and we cannot return to Luoyang, at least not for the time being."
In recent days, Tang Ji has been by his side, taking care of him and comforting him. After the chaos of loss, countless people were at a loss, yet this young woman quietly bore immense pressure with unexpected resilience
Is that Zhang Ji, who is stationed in Shan County?
As one of Dong Zhuo's former subordinates, General Duan Wei stationed at Huayin, constructing a city on the southern bank of the Weishui River and the northern foothills of Mount Hua, thereby controlling the main road leading to Luoyang
Your Majesty, where do your intentions lie
Yang Feng is inherently sensitive and irritable, prone to explosive outbursts at the slightest disagreement