Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3746 Li Shu
Is it foolish to take chances?

This is difficult to define in this way.

Because sometimes this kind of "luck" can also be called a kind of "hope".

Human beings always need some kind of "hope" so that they can still look up at the light in the midst of pain and darkness.

The same applies to Liu Xie.

He wasn't stupid, but he was hoping for the best, or rather, he had some lingering hope.

There's even a hint of "what's the point" in it.

No matter how outrageous or seductive Fei Qian's proclamation was, or how fierce and skilled his soldiers were, would they really dare to defy the world and raise their weapons against the emperor who represented the glorious Han dynasty and the four-hundred-year legitimacy of the dynasty?
As long as he stands atop that high wall, his very existence is a symbol of destiny!

It is an inviolable law!
So……

If Fei Qian makes a move, even if Liu Xie hides in Xu County, will he be safe?

That's obviously impossible.

Therefore, as long as Fei Qian doesn't make a move!
As long as Fei Qian doesn't make a move, whether he dares not or is unwilling, then the 'three thousand' elite cavalry led by Liu Xie, with their gleaming armor and overwhelming momentum, are an extension of his imperial will!
It thus became the sharp sword he held tightly in his hand, powerful enough to intimidate all demons!

If Fei Qian doesn't make a move, does that mean Cao Cao would dare to?
If we can seize this opportunity to intimidate Fei Qian and force him to withdraw his troops out of fear, we might even be able to use this chance to truly bring these elite "escort" troops under our control...

He turned Xiahou Jie, and even Cao Cao behind him, into his "loyal ministers"...

Then, the dark and dreary puppet life in the deep palace of Xudu, where one is at the mercy of others, will be gone forever, like a nightmare!

He will no longer be the shadow who can only tremble behind the curtain!

He will truly become the supreme ruler who controls the universe and commands the world!

Just like his brilliant and ambitious ancestor, Emperor Wu of Han, and Emperor Guangwu who restored the Han Dynasty!

Once this thought took root, it was like the most stubborn vine, instantly wrapping around his entire heart, spreading and growing wildly, greedily absorbing every last bit of life force in his heart, and instantly overwhelming the fear, helplessness, and despair that had been accumulating for more than ten years!
This sense of luck and anticipation burned fiercely in Liu Xie's chest like molten lava, causing his cheeks to flush an unnatural red and his breathing to become rapid.

He even began to clearly "see" the scene that was about to unfold...

He stood atop the towering Sishui Pass, bathed in the glow of countless rays of sunlight!
Well, maybe it's just something he's imagining...

Then, facing Fei Qian's vast and boundless army of cavalry outside the pass, he only needed to raise his arm and shout, and his voice shook the entire wilderness!

Then, the seemingly indestructible torrent of steel on the other side will collapse as if struck by an invisible giant hammer!
Thousands of soldiers knelt down in unison, like wheat fields swaying in the wind, and their shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" rose to the heavens like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing down!
The once arrogant Fei Qian, his face ashen, prostrated himself on the ground in utter fear before everyone's eyes, trembling as he begged for forgiveness...

And he, Liu Xie, will stand on the foundation built by this unparalleled prestige, stride forward, and reclaim the power he has long lost! He will reign supreme over the world!

Everyone has dreams, even the most unambitious person.

Just like everyone who walks into a lottery shop, deep down they know all too well the slim chances of winning, and the reality that even if they win the jackpot, it could be snatched away by various 'rules' or 'accidents'...

But, 'What if?'

This thought, like the most tempting poison, can easily erode the dam of reason.

What if you get hit?
Wouldn't the luxurious mansions, fancy cars, and wealthy life that I've always dreamed of be within my grasp?

Our fellow student Liu Xie, the 'house' he had his eye on, the 'car' he longed for, were so close yet so far away, tormenting him for over a decade!

More than a decade of imprisonment made the temptation of this "what if" more deadly than the sap of a poppy!

The imperial carriage lurched violently on the bumpy road, causing Liu Xie's body to sway involuntarily. The jade beads on his crown tassels clinked rapidly, making a crisp sound. He instinctively braced himself against the carriage wall, but immediately realized his lapse in composure. He suppressed his discomfort, quickly adjusted his posture, and tried his best to maintain the composure and majesty befitting an emperor.

He took a deep breath of the dusty air, as if trying to inhale that illusory power into his lungs, and then, in a tone that even he himself found somewhat unfamiliar, he declared silently to heaven and earth, 'I—have been commanded by Heaven! At this critical moment for the nation, it is my duty to personally go to the front lines to set things right and to reassure the hearts of the people!'

Sunlight pierced through the thick veil of dust, falling on his taut face. He felt his spine had never been so straight, as if an invisible, intangible force of destiny, which he firmly believed existed, was supporting him from behind, pushing him blindly toward the city gate of Sishui Pass, toward that vague and scorching "what if."

The wheels rolled on, crushing not only the potholed official road, but also his own fragile and illusory bubble called "Emperor".

When Liu Xie finally arrived at Sishui Pass, his initial excitement was slightly cooled by the real scene before him. However, his self-expectation and wishful thinking of "the emperor personally leading the expedition and turning the tide" did not disappear. Instead, stimulated by the environment, it became even more "tragic" and "noble".

The cold wind, carrying the smell of gunpowder and blood, made his black clothes flutter loudly.

Under the meticulous planning of Xi Lu Wang Lang and others, and with Xiahou Jie's "Tiger Army" maintaining order, both sides of the pass were forcibly "stuffed" with people.

Just like how traffic police in the United States in later years forcibly cleared and blocked roads, only qualified citizens could enter the designated area.

The soldiers under Cao Hong and Xiahou Jie, their armor clearly visible, were interspersed among the crowd. They were not maintaining true order, but rather using their sword sheaths and shouts to 'guide' the crowd's emotions at key moments.

The temporary camp outside the pass was packed with a dense, dark mass of people in the narrow passageways and open spaces. Whenever Liu Xie's gaze swept over a certain area, the "Tiger Warriors" there would lead the charge, roaring at the top of their lungs, "Your Majesty's divine might! Protect the Great Han!"

The surrounding people, either infected by the atmosphere or intimidated by the soldiers' imposing presence, also joined in with shouts that, though uneven, converged into a massive wave of sound.

"Long live Your Majesty! Long live the Han Dynasty!"

"We swear to defend His Majesty to the death! We will execute the traitor Fei Qian!"

"With His Majesty here, the enemy troops are sure to be defeated!"

The deafening roar, carrying with it complex emotions of fervor, fear, and numbness, swept over us.

They were roused by a group of people dressed in Confucian robes, or led by servants of aristocratic families or low-ranking military officers, and they shouted themselves hoarse.

Even though these "fierce warriors" before me walked unsteadily and were scattered, they were still regarded as an "elite" force...

Their faces displayed a complex mix of emotions—perhaps excitement, anger, fear, and a blind, incited sense of loyalty…

This includes, but is not limited to, empathy with the "Han Dynasty," a shared feeling with the "Emperor," and the original sin of "every man is responsible for the rise and fall of the Han Dynasty"...

This sight greatly invigorated Xi Lu Wang Lang and the others who were surrounding Liu Xie, and their faces flushed with a sickly redness.

"Your Majesty, look! The people's hearts are with us! Heaven's favor has not turned against the Han!"

The people’s hearts can be used!

The army's morale is good!

He, Liu Xie, was not a lonely figure without any support!
These thousands of soldiers and civilians are his strength!

Xiahou Jie's armored knights stood in formation right at the pass; that silent array was the blade of his will!
He took a deep breath of the cold, blood- and dust-laden air, his chest heaving, a surge of unprecedented power and a sense of mission welling up within him. He even slightly raised his chin, his gaze fixed on the silent fortified wall, as if trying to pierce through Chenggao City and project it onto the other side, silently chanting in his heart: 'Fei Qian, I am here! You traitorous villains, why don't you immediately cease your hostilities and prostrate yourselves in repentance?!'

Xiahou Jie keenly noticed a subtle hint of 'confidence' in the Emperor's expression, and immediately stepped forward, his voice sharp with excitement, "Your Majesty! The hearts of the army and the people are as clear as day! I beg Your Majesty to ascend the city wall immediately to demonstrate Your Majesty's might, to instruct the army, to boost morale, and to terrify the enemy!"

Liu Xie took a deep breath, feeling as if he were possessed by Emperor Guangwu, about to enact the legend of the Kunyang city walls.

He was "escorted," and ordinary people were prevented from contacting him, ostensibly for his "safety." Around him stood officials, aristocratic sons, and Cao family guards, but no ordinary people of the Han Dynasty.

He was carried up the city wall of Sishui Pass. Standing on the crenellations, the biting wind made his thin body shiver slightly. Before him were ordinary soldiers, also carried there, and civilians…

"My lords... soldiers... common people!" Liu Xie's voice trembled slightly at first, but he deliberately raised it, trying to infuse it with a solemn rhythm, as he had done countless times when offering sacrifices to his ancestors at the ancestral temple. He solemnly took out a scroll of silk that had been prepared beforehand from his sleeve...

That was a masterpiece he painstakingly created, revising it again and again before setting off and on the road—

A magnificent text praising the virtues of the Han people and proclaiming the Mandate of Heaven.

"The founding of the Han Dynasty was due to the auspicious mandate of Heaven!"

His voice rose in the wind, carrying a deliberately crafted sense of grand narrative: "In the past, Yao and Shun, their virtue extended to all corners of the land; Yu and Tang rescued the drowning, their merits lasting for ten thousand generations. The illustrious Han Dynasty, Emperor Gaozu wielded his three-foot sword, slaying the white serpent and purifying the world..."

Upon hearing these words, Wang Lang and other former officials, with tears welling in their eyes and boundless admiration, bowed deeply in the direction of Liu Xie, whispering in agreement: "His virtuous rule is awe-inspiring! He is the chosen one of Heaven!"

Wang Lang even wiped his eyes with his sleeve. Although there were no tears, the gesture still moved him deeply, as if he were overwhelmed by the glorious achievements of his ancestors. They were using body language to convey a message to those around them…

Look, the emperor is proclaiming legitimacy!
The Han dynasty's fortune still exists!

As for Xiahou Jie and the Tiger Guards who maintained order, they saw Liu Xie almost every day. Although they maintained a solemn appearance, how much respect did they actually have for Liu Xie?

Therefore, Xiahou Jie's sharp eyes swept over the crowd below the pass and the movements outside, showing little reaction to Liu Xie's recitation, merely mechanically maintaining the posture of "guarding the emperor's countenance." His soldiers, the front ranks still able to stand upright, while those in the back could hardly hide their tension at the impending desperate battle, their eyes frequently drifting towards the dark red, blood-soaked ground within the pass that made them feel uneasy.

"...With divine might, he swept across Kunyang, showering down meteors and crushing the rebellious rebellion! This was beyond human capability, truly a blessing from Heaven and divine protection! Emperor Guangwu, inheriting the glory of his ancestor Gaozu, continued the legacy of the Han Dynasty..."

Liu Xie's voice gradually became more impassioned; the miracle of the Battle of Kunyang was his greatest psychological support. He seemed to want to put himself in the role of Emperor Guangwu, using the glory of his ancestor to ignite his own passion and the fervor of the soldiers and civilians within the pass.

His gaze swept across the pass, trying to find common ground, but unfortunately, the people who had been driven away and brought along couldn't understand what he was saying.

The common people are mostly numb and bewildered.

The terms "Emperor Gaozu," "Emperor Guangwu," and "Kunyang" were too distant for them.

An old farmer looked up blankly at the bright yellow figure on the city wall, then looked down at the calluses on his hands. In the end, he just wrapped his thin, tattered coat tighter around himself, his eyes vacant.

A few elderly villagers who could read a few words wore expressions of trying to understand but still being confused.

The flame of 'loyalty and righteousness' that Liu Xie tried to ignite failed to even produce a spark in the hearts of these people who were shrouded in hunger, cold, and fear.

On the contrary, the sons of the aristocratic families were as if they had been injected with chicken blood. With each sentence Liu Xie read, their bows became deeper, and their words of praise became more and more fervent, trying to infect and stir up the stagnant atmosphere around them with their "fervor".

"Heaven's Mandate rests on the Han! Your Majesty is the next Emperor Guangwu!"

They screamed, their voices sounding sharp and hollow in the cold wind.

"I, having inherited the great legacy of my ancestors and received the bright mandate of Heaven, though facing hardships and dangers, how dare I abandon the work of my forefathers?"

Liu Xie's voice carried a tragic grandeur of desperation. He attempted to place himself alongside Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Guangwu, emphasizing the sanctity of his bloodline and the supreme authority of his power.

"The traitor Fei Qian has usurped the imperial throne and disrupted the order of heaven and earth; his crimes are too numerous to count! Yet, the Mandate of Heaven rests with me, and divine power resides with me! You soldiers and common people are all my children; you should emulate the loyalty and bravery of Kunyang and uphold the might of Emperor Gaozu..."

Just as he recited "the might and valor of Emperor Gaozu," and his emotions were about to reach their peak—

"Woo-woo-woo-woo"

On the other side of Chenggao City, in the direction of Sishui Pass, in the camp of the Flying Cavalry Army, a deep, resonant bugle call, like molten lava surging from the ground, suddenly rang out without warning!

The sound seemed to have a tangible impact, instantly drowning out all the noise inside the pass!

As the horns sounded, the fervent 'loyalty to the emperor' that had been roaring like a tsunami suddenly seemed to be choked by an invisible giant hand!
Absolute silence fell!

All the shouts, cries, and fervor were as fragile as bubbles in the sunlight, bursting in an instant and leaving only a chilling vacuum.

"ah--!"

The silence was broken by a scream, which quickly ignited chaos like a powder keg!
The superficial order that had been maintained under Liu Xie's Han Fu collapsed instantly!

The crowd swarmed like a disturbed hornet's nest, pushing, crying, and fleeing in terror!
What is "loyalty to His Majesty"? What is "loyalty and bravery in Kunyang"? In the face of the threat of death, they are as fragile as paper!

Liu Xie's voice abruptly stopped.

The silk scroll in his hand slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground with a 'thud,' rolling a few times and getting covered in dust.

His subsequent elaborate, inspiring, and ornate language...

For example, the idea of ​​"jointly killing the traitors and rebuilding the nation" is forever stuck in his throat and can never be uttered again.

He stood frozen at the edge of the stack, his face ashen, his lips trembling slightly.

The imperial majesty and tragic grandeur that I had forcibly cultivated while reciting the Han dynasty poems were instantly shattered by the cold war horns and the chaos of the collapse below the pass.

He recited the stories of Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, Emperor Gaozu slaying the serpent, and Emperor Guangwu falling from the sky...

The miracles and achievements of our glorious ancestors seem so pale, so distant, and so laughable in the face of this real chaos.

The destiny, bloodline, and authority he tried to prove were of no concern to anyone and were worthless.

Liu Xie clearly saw that the young Tiger Guard who had just been leading the enthusiastic shouts the closest to him had his excitement freeze instantly, replaced by immense fear. His hand gripping his sword trembled violently, and the chattering of his teeth could be heard. He instinctively shrank back, taking a small step back, trying to hide behind his comrade.

Liu Xie also saw that the middle-aged man who had been crying out "Loyalty to Your Majesty" under the gate was now as if his bones had been removed, slumped on the ground, covered his mouth tightly, trembling all over, with only boundless despair in his eyes.

The few minor officials who had just been shouting "Long live the Emperor!" with tears streaming down their faces by the stone steps were now ashen-faced, slumped to the ground, their eyes filled with bewilderment and confusion...

The faces of Xi Lu Wang Lang and the others who were surrounding him instantly drained of color, their previous excitement and flattery replaced by panic.

Xi Lu himself was trembling, his body involuntarily shrinking back slightly, his eyes darting around. They were like a group of frightened rabbits, instinctively wanting to find cover. As for Liu Xie, the "Son of Heaven" they had personally pushed onto the altar, in their eyes at this moment, he was probably more like a target about to be torn apart by the storm!
boom!
Liu Xie felt a deafening roar in his mind, all his hopes, expectations, self-motivating sense of tragic grandeur, and the illusion of Guangwu's restoration...

At this moment, it was shattered by cruel reality!

What kind of loyalty do the Tiger Warriors have?
What imperial majesty?
What could subdue Fei Qian?
What controls military power?
It's all fake!

These "three thousand elite guards" were nothing more than jailers sent by Cao Cao to watch over him, and perhaps even to push him to his death if necessary!
Those "loyal soldiers" who led the kneeling and shouting "Long live the Emperor" were nothing more than actors performing on orders!

Those "loyal and righteous people" who were incited were nothing more than consumables used by powerful families to fill the city walls, consume arrows, and gain a pitiful amount of "moral" leverage!

And he himself, Liu Xie, the emperor of the Han Dynasty, was the most crucial and expensive prop in this bloody performance! He was a sacrifice used to bewitch people, manipulate public opinion, and extract the last bit of value from the people during his death throes!

These guys don't care whether he can regain power or whether the Han dynasty will continue! What they care about is using his title as "Son of Heaven" and the lives of countless innocent people to delay the arrival of Fei Qian's new order of "dedicated duties" and "all professions being scholars"!

They pushed him into this desperate situation not because they believed he could create miracles, but because they wanted to use his status as "Son of Heaven" and the potential tragedy of "bloodshed before the emperor" to provoke a greater backlash against Fei Qian's "disloyalty"!

He, Liu Xie, was essentially no different from the old farmers, women, and children who were driven out of the pass!
They were all pitiful creatures who could be sacrificed at any time under this utterly corrupt yet frantically backfiring old aristocratic system!

The only difference is that he is wearing the title of "Son of Heaven," which is more glamorous and more likely to stimulate the nerves of the blindly loyal!

Immense grief, utterly devastated anger at being completely fooled, and a deep-seated despair, along with the suffocating sense of absurdity that arose after seeing everything clearly, overwhelmed him like a cold tide.

He stood in the howling wind, on the edge of the violent collision between the old and new eras, where flesh and blood flew everywhere, like a clown stripped of all his finery, facing this cruel truth naked.

(End of this chapter)