Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3750 Collapse
At Sishui Pass, the setting sun shone on the dilapidated pass walls, and also on these brain-dead former officials of the Eastern Han Dynasty.

On the walls, mottled bloodstains and sword marks were faintly visible in the twilight, but they ignored them.

The banners fluttered weakly in the evening breeze, making a mournful sound, but they paid no heed.

Behind the battlements, soldiers huddled in the shadows, their faces a mixture of exhaustion and fear, yet they seemed equally oblivious...

It's been like this for three or four hundred years, and it remains the same.

Their apparent indifference and deafness do not stem from genuine stupidity, but rather from the fact that these concrete crises are simply not included in their list of problems that need to be addressed.

They were not worried about popular rebellion or soldiers deserting.

Because in their eyes, the people and soldiers of the Han Dynasty were always a disorganized mess!
Who would be afraid of a plate of sand?

The root of the old rulers' influence over the people was that these people were mainly engaged in small-scale farming, and the more deeply they were tied to the small-scale farming economy, the more they were bound to the land.

escape?
How to escape?
The rulers bound the peasants firmly to the land through the system of "registering households and equalizing the people." Although taxes and corvée labor were heavy, as long as they could barely make a living, the peasants could hardly leave the land.

Household registration, household registration!
The old rulers' lack of concern for soldiers stemmed from their overconfidence in their military control system.

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, soldiers were registered separately, and their families were often housed in the rear as "hostages." If they defected, not only would they be wanted, but their families might also be implicated and become government slaves.

The same goes for household registration!

Of course, the deeper logic is that these crises never truly threatened them...

The old rulers' lack of concern stemmed from the inertia of four hundred years of peace, their self-delusion regarding the tools of power, and their utter indifference to the suffering of the common people. They couldn't see the 'anger hidden beneath the surface' of the populace, nor did they want to hear the 'despair in silence' of their soldiers…

Just like Sishui Pass now, after the initial panic, and after the suffocating silence and pressure of the Flying Cavalry did not immediately turn into a thunderous offensive, a bizarre 'confidence' gradually emerged.

This confidence, like a poisonous miasma in a swamp, imperceptibly erodes the reason of every former ruler.

A day passed, and the banners of the cavalry camp outside the pass were fluttering and the moats were deepened, but there was no sign of a large-scale attack on the city.

Two days have passed, and there are still only sporadic exchanges of scouts and cavalry, and the sounds of engineers reinforcing the camp.

Three days have passed...

There was still no sign of the Flying Cavalry attacking.

Soga...

The Flying Cavalry must be too afraid to come!
Smiles returned to their faces.

They could feel the rustling of the wind and the singing of the birds again.

Liu Xie, who was standing on the wall, went from being pale and almost paralyzed to being able to stand steadily without the help of the eunuchs, and even pointing out to the outside world.

Pointing out the country's affairs from the Chongde Hall is nowhere near as exhilarating as pointing out the country in front of thousands of troops.
These are real soldiers!

It wasn't a wooden flag displayed on the emperor's desk; it was a scribbled map!
After his initial fear subsided, Liu Xie's pale face regained its imperial majesty. Standing atop the city wall, he gazed at the cavalry camp, his slender fingers gripping the weathered wall tightly, his knuckles white from the effort, as if he were grasping at his crumbling Han dynasty.

"Your Majesty," Wang Lang's voice was deliberately respectful, yet unable to conceal its obsequiousness, "I observe that although the enemy's camp is fortified, they show no intention of advancing. Is this not out of fear of Heaven's majesty?"

He bowed deeply, his wide court robe billowing in the wind, much like a startled bird spreading its feathers.

Liu Xie nodded slightly, originally wanting to give Wang Lang an encouraging smile, but his gaze involuntarily drifted towards the distant Flying Cavalry camp.

In the setting sun, campfires were already flickering. Like the pupils of wild beasts, they shone brightly in the twilight.

Liu Xie couldn't help but recall the terror of Dong Zhuo's iron cavalry entering the capital, and the humiliation of Li Jue and Guo Si's chaotic rule. Those memories, which had been buried deep in his heart, surfaced like ghosts at this moment. Cold sweat seeped from his palms, but he forced himself to straighten his back and put on an expression of disdain for everything in the world.

He is the emperor, of the most noble bloodline; how could he show weakness in front of these lowly people?
Another elderly man from a prominent family in Yingchuan stepped forward slowly, his aged fingers stroking his white beard: "When King Wu of Zhou attacked King Zhou of Shang, auspicious omens appeared from Heaven, and eight hundred feudal lords gathered unexpectedly. Now, Your Majesty personally leads the expedition, yet the rebel army hesitates to advance. Is this not the will of Heaven?"

The old man's voice was steady, but there was a barely perceptible anxiety hidden in his eyes.

As a member of a collateral branch of the Xun clan of Yingchuan, he was all too aware of the purge that would shatter the century-old foundation of the aristocratic family once the city fell. So when he mentioned "eight hundred princes," he was ostensibly praising Liu Xie, but in reality, he was reminding him that the King of Zhou had "eight hundred princes," and what Liu Xie had now.
Is there a hook or a hammer?

Liu Xie's lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he said nothing.

How could he not know?
If he had the ability to rally the world with a single call now, he wouldn't have ended up in this situation.

But where exactly does the problem lie?

Liu Xie still doesn't understand it.

Not only did Liu Xie fail to understand, but how many rulers of later feudal dynasties could truly comprehend this?
Moreover, understanding is one thing, doing it is another.

So what can Liu Xie do right now?
All that remains is a sigh, and a belief in these illusory comforts.

Like a drowning person, they will cling tightly to even the smallest straw.

Seeing this, the old man silently withdrew, but then a sycophant stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, this is a golden opportunity! Why not send an envoy with Your Majesty's edict to the General of the Cavalry's camp, explain the greater good, condemn their rebellion, and order them to cease hostilities and surrender? If they surrender, Your Majesty can show leniency and pardon some of their crimes, demonstrating the magnanimity of the Emperor! If they do not surrender, it will still demonstrate Your Majesty's utmost benevolence and righteousness, further inspiring our army's united hatred of the enemy!"

This absurd suggestion surprisingly drew a chorus of agreement.

These ministers, who usually schemed against each other, were surprisingly united at this moment.

Perhaps because they all understood that once the city fell, no one could escape their fate, and rather than waiting to die, they would seize this seemingly absurd hope.

Liu Xie was already harboring a sense of侥幸 (a lucky break), and now, after being flattered and misled by these sycophantic officials, his pitiful rationality was squeezed out by his inflated desires and seemed to have been thrown to the winds.

He felt as if he were witnessing the scene of "when the emperor is angry, a million corpses will fall" being replayed in his own life, and he even felt that Fei Qian was truly afraid of him, the "supreme ruler".

Liu Xie cleared his throat, trying to project an authoritative air: "What you all said... is very much to my liking! You may send..."

"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

Xiahou Jie's loud voice interrupted the emperor's ramblings without any politeness.

The general under Cao Cao stood with his hand on his sword, his armor reflecting a chilling light.

"Philippines is no ordinary man; this move may backfire."

His gaze swept over the civil officials. "If they surrender, would you dare open the gates to welcome them? If not… heh heh, where would that leave His Majesty? And what if that traitor Fei invites the Emperor back to the Western Capital?"

Liu Xie's face turned deathly pale instantly.

Xiahou Jie's words were like a bucket of cold water, waking him from his brief reverie. He recalled the years he had been "protected" in Chang'an by Li Guo, nominally the emperor but in reality a puppet.

He was also a puppet under Cao Cao, but he didn't intend to move to Xijing and become a puppet again.

Does this mean I'll be a puppet for the rest of my life?

Seeing this, Wang Lang hurriedly said, "General Xiahou, you are mistaken! His Majesty is the ruler of all under Heaven; how dare a traitor commit such a heinous act? In the past, Emperor Guangwu won over the world with benevolence and righteousness, and ultimately achieved the great restoration of the dynasty..."

"Enough!" Xiahou Jie abruptly interrupted, "I only know that the military situation is critical, this is no time for child's play! If the envoy angers the Fei rebels, the city will fall in an instant, and who will bear the blame?"

His hand rested on the hilt of the knife, veins bulging.

These scholars will never understand how laughable the so-called imperial majesty is in the face of absolute military force.

"If we really have to go..." Xiahou Jie stared at Wang Lang, "why not have Young Master Wang go instead?"

Wang Lang indeed waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "My legs are weak and my limbs are numb... I am truly unfit for such a heavy responsibility... This opportunity, well, such a magnificent achievement, should be given to the younger generation..."

As soon as Wang Lang turned around, Xi Lu immediately said in a deep voice, "Although we are young, such matters require a mature and experienced person to mediate, navigate between different sides, and achieve a smooth outcome! Otherwise, losing our lives... we are naturally willing to accept it, but if we jeopardize His Majesty's important affairs, even a hundred deaths would not be enough to atone for the crime! Therefore, this envoy must be a mature and experienced person!"

"young people……"

"An old man..."

"..."

Amid Xiahou Jie's cold laughter, Liu Xie felt somewhat dejected, his pitiful courage from before completely dissipated.

He reverted to being the terrified emperor, trembling in the shadow of powerful ministers.

……

……

Meanwhile, Cao Cao's army camp was far from the main battlefield at Sishui Pass.

Inside the central command tent, the flickering candlelight cast Cao Cao's long shadow on the tent wall.

Xun Yu stood quietly to one side, his plain white sleeves hanging down without moving, only his slightly furrowed brows betraying his inner anxiety.

"Wenruo," Cao Cao suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse, "in your opinion, will Fei Ziyuan... actually attack Sishui Pass?" Xun Yu shook his head slightly, "Most likely not."

If Fei Qian were a reckless man, like Li Guo, he would most likely have already captured Sishui Pass, or even captured Emperor Liu Xie, or obtained the emperor's corpse...

Then Cao Cao and Xun Yu could immediately announce to the whole world that Fei Qian had "murdered the emperor"!

The saying "the victor is king, the loser is villain" is indeed true. But if you look closely, you'll find that it's not true that "victory" makes one a "king" or "loser."
King Zhou did indeed defeat King Zhou. Oh, some might try to simplify things by saying that winning the war was all that matters, but in reality, how much effort did King Zhou actually put in to smear King Zhou's reputation? Even after King Zhou had committed suicide by fire, they still wouldn't let him go, digging up his body, beheading him, and hanging his head up...

Which dynasty in history has ever succeeded another without a long period of large-scale persecution, even after the new dynasty has been established, and still had to endure two or three generations of continuous pursuit, slander, and extermination?
(Zhu Di looked at Kangxi with disdain, "You little pockmarked boy, you're no good. Back in the day, I went all the way to Southeast Asia! And you? You pockmarked boy only went to Jiaozhi and that was it. You're such a weakling...")
If we don't eradicate them completely, how many remnants of the previous dynasty will still be running rampant?
How many eyes did it attract, and how many ignorant people did it mislead?
If Fei Qian really didn't do any of the preparatory work, and still held the title of a great general of the Han Dynasty, then he was guilty of 'regicide'...

To call it a chaotic mess would be an understatement!
Even within Fei Qian's army, the generals and strategists all sided with Fei Qian, but what about the ordinary soldiers?
What about the people in the rear?
Don't assume that just because Fei Qian is now conducting ideological work, these people will be more determined and make the right choices.

Look at how many people in later generations have been misled, thinking that if they were reincarnated into feudal serf, fishing, hunting, and manor lords, they would be willing to kneel and lick their boots, even if it meant being manipulated by those with pigtails? After all, the benefits of diabetes are something most people don't really understand.

It's hard to say there's no infiltration involved.

So, can the people of Guanzhong under Fei Qian withstand the infiltration now?
Are there any people of the Han Dynasty who wish to return to the feet of the Han emperor?

No?

So, could we create some public opinion, attract attention, stir up controversy, and make some people think that the Emperor of Han is good, handsome, and wise?

And then this handsome, dashing, wise and mighty emperor of the Han Dynasty died, died!
The rest will fall into place naturally, won't it?

Cao Cao's plans were practically laid out on the table.

If you can't resist, don't blame yourself for falling into the trap.

Cao Cao wanted Fei Qian to attack Sishui Pass, and Xun Yu wanted the same thing.

pity……

Xun Yu pondered for a moment: "The Fei clan's military tactics have always been a mix of feints and real attacks. Now they've halted their troops at the pass, remaining as still as a virgin... I fear they... have other plans." He spoke tactfully, but the worry in his eyes deepened.

Cao Cao laughed heartily, then rose and walked towards the hanging map. "I set up this trap to lure you into a snare. However, judging from Fei Ziyuan's actions, he seems rather uninterested in the bait within..."

Cao Zhang remarked from the side, "Perhaps the Fei bandits...are afraid to fight?"

Cao Cao shook his head, "Fei Ziyuan is neither a coward nor a fool. His inaction is not out of fear of the Emperor's majesty, but rather..."

Just then, hurried footsteps approached.

"Report! Urgent military news! Urgent report from Jizhou!"

A hoarse shout ripped through the candlelight inside the tent. In the flickering light, the messenger staggered in, his armor stained with mud and blood, clearly the result of a frantic journey day and night.

"Reporting to the Prime Minister! A large force of elite cavalry... has appeared north of Hanoi Commandery! They... have broken through the Chaoge line! Their advance is aimed directly at Dangyin!!"

All eyes immediately turned to Cao Cao.

Surprisingly, Cao Cao was not surprised but delighted upon hearing this, and smiled broadly.

He clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Excellent! Well done, Fei Ziyuan! Just as I expected!"

Cao Cao's face was filled with a confident smile. "Wenruo, then proceed according to plan!"

Xun Yu responded and went out.

After Xun Yu left, Cao Cao's smile slowly faded in front of his child, replaced by a somber expression.

……

……

Inside the Prime Minister's residence in Ye City, Cao Pi was playing chess with Chen Qun.

The flickering candlelight illuminated the young prince's pale face.

He held the white pieces, his fingers trembling slightly. He held one piece, but couldn't place it for a long time.

"The young master is troubled," Chen Qun said softly, putting the few black pieces back into the chess basket.

Cao Pi forced a smile: "With the enemy pressing in, how can we be at ease? I've heard that Chaoge has fallen, and Ye City may become an isolated island."

He suddenly lowered his voice, "Changwen, does Father really intend to abandon Ji Province?"

Chen Qun remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Our lord's plans are beyond our comprehension. However..."

Under Cao Pi's gaze, Chen Qun calmly met his eyes, saying, "Your Highness should know that true character is revealed in times of crisis. Prince Chong'er endured nineteen years of exile, ultimately achieving hegemony."

The chess piece in Cao Pi's hand landed on the board with a "thud," rolled a few times, and then stopped moving.

Cao Pi stared at the chess piece, remaining silent for a long time.

Chonger!
Damn it...

Was all of this a test?
"Report—!" The servant's hurried footsteps broke the silence. "Ren Zhonglang has led his troops back to the city! They've reached the city gates!!"

Although it's called a command, there aren't many people left.

Most of the troops were left to Cao Hong, while Ren Jun, with his personal guards, bypassed the Flying Cavalry and rushed back to Ye City...

Upon hearing that Ren Jun had returned, Cao Pi hastily pushed the chessboard aside and stood up. His movement was somewhat abrupt, scattering the black and white jade chess pieces everywhere. Ignoring the scattering, he gestured for his servants to quickly clean up, then took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and said, "Quickly, invite him in!"

A moment later, when Ren Jun entered the hall, travel-worn, Cao Pi had already regained his composure. He sat upright in the main seat, his voice steady, "General, you've worked hard… I wonder how the battle is at the pass…?"

Ren Jun knelt down and reported, "The cavalry is still stationed below the pass, but..."

He glanced up at Cao Pi, then lowered his head again. "My lord already has a plan. He has ordered us to defend Ye City to the death, waiting for the enemy to fall into disarray."

Cao Pi's fingers clenched tightly inside his sleeve.

He understood that he had become the most important piece in his father's game of chess...

Is it a viable piece, or a discarded one?

The fallen chess pieces and the scattered chessboard can be picked up, rearranged, and a new game can be played, but what about the people?
If someone is dead and their head is gone, how can you clean up their body?

Cao Pi trembled slightly.

Ren Jun didn't hear anything for a while, so he couldn't help but raise his head slightly. When he saw Cao Pi's expression, his eyes twitched, and he looked at Chen Qun again.

Chen Qun remained silent, offering no response.

Ren Jun had no choice but to lower his head again.

Trying to persuade them is difficult, but not trying to persuade them feels awkward.

Ren Jun muttered to himself, "No matter what, Chen Qun and Chen Changwen are still here, and I rushed back here, but you guys didn't even bother to say anything..."

Fortunately, after a short while, Cao Pi finally recovered. He stood up, still trembling slightly, but was clearly in control.

"Issue the order," Cao Pi said, making his voice as resolute and forceful as possible, "Martial law is hereby declared for the entire city! Anyone who dares to speak of surrender will be executed! All provisions in the treasury will be centrally allocated; anyone who dares to hoard them will be executed! All retainers from each household will be conscripted and centrally deployed; anyone who dares to conceal them will be executed!"

The moment the word "slay" was uttered, the entire hall fell silent.

Chen Qun looked at the Crown Prince, who had suddenly undergone some transformation, with surprise, as if he were seeing this person for the first time.

Ren Jun, in high spirits, clasped his hands in a fist salute, "This subordinate obeys!"

Regardless of whether Chen Qun had done this before, the fact that Cao Pi has now stepped forward to express his opinion is a good sign.

Ren Jun went downstairs.

Cao Pi walked to the entrance of the hall and looked south.

That was the direction of my father's army, and also the direction of Sishui Pass, where the main force of the Flying Cavalry was stationed.

At this moment, Cao Pi finally saw his place in his father's grand plan.

They are not heirs who need protection, but bait that can be sacrificed.

The intertwining of pain and enlightenment, ironically, ignited an unprecedented resolve in him.

In this sweeping upheaval, everyone is a player, and everyone is also a piece.

The only constant is the human life that drifts like grass in chaotic times, and the endless ambition and struggle.