I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 835 Youzhou, the whole state surrenders (5K6)

It is said that Huangfu Song actually became Su Yao's lobbyist. Not only Liu Yu and others could not have imagined this, even Huangfu Song himself could not have imagined this before he received the imperial edict.

"Youzhou has an army of 100,000. Such precious manpower cannot be wasted by Liu Yu."

Before, in the capital, after learning that Guan Yu had defeated the Xianyu brothers and conquered Gaoliu, Su Yao was happy but also worried.

The good news is that the war is progressing smoothly. With his multi-line operations, the Youzhou defense line is on the verge of collapse.

What is worrying is, of course, that Liu Yu is still resisting stubbornly, which will inevitably lead to a large number of casualties among soldiers and civilians. The manpower of Youzhou will be severely damaged, which will not only affect his siege of Jizhou, but also bring a huge burden to post-war reconstruction.

So, Su Yao hurried to the government hall and directly issued tasks to the officials here.

With Su Yao's reform, the three provinces and six ministries completely replaced the three dukes and nine ministers, completing the transformation of the central institutions of the court.

The newly established Zhengshitang in the Zhongshu Province replaced the Shangshutai and became the core place for the court to discuss military and national affairs.

It is located in the same Nangong Palace in Luoyang as the Shangshu Tai, to the west of the Shangshu Tai, so it is also called Xitai.

The chief officer was led by Taifu Lu Zhi, who served as the Minister of the Secretariat, and the deputy chief officer was Jia Xu, who served as the Minister of the Secretariat. There were also several other officials, such as the Secretariat Sheren and the Jiujiu Sheren.

However, although the Political Affairs Hall was located in the Secretariat, it was the place where the heads of the three ministries discussed state affairs.

This is the core of the imperial government. Therefore, although the heads of these three provinces do not have the title of prime minister, they act as prime ministers in reality. They jointly hold the core power of the court's internal affairs and assist the emperor and Su Yao in handling the government affairs of the world.

Therefore, in addition to Lu Zhi and Jia Xu from the Secretariat, those summoned here by Su Yao also included the heads of the Ministry of Personnel - the Left Vice-Chancellor Xun Yu and the Right Vice-Chancellor Dong Cheng, as well as the head of the Ministry of State Affairs - the Minister of the Chancellery Zhu Jun and others.

These people constitute the core of decision-making in the Han Empire today.

"Although Liu Yu is a bit pedantic, he is also a loyal and righteous man. If I can persuade him to surrender and use him for my own purposes, that would be great."

Su Yao looked around at everyone and collected proposals.

The first person to speak was naturally Lu Zhi, who was both the Grand Tutor and the Minister of the Central Secretariat.

"General, what you said is very true. Liu Yu has been operating in Youzhou for many years and has a deep foundation. If we can persuade him to surrender, Youzhou can be quickly pacified and can be used by us. This is indeed the best strategy."

Lu Zhi nodded slightly, stroked his beard, and said calmly:
"It's just that Liu Yu has a straight character and has always regarded himself as a descendant of the Han Dynasty. Now that the empress is in power, many of the Liu clan princes are dissatisfied, and the local aristocratic families also have many objections to the new policies we are implementing. It may not be easy to persuade Liu Yu to surrender."

"What the Master said is true."

Zhu Jun nodded and said:
"Although Liu Yu is upright, he is not stupid."

"Now our army is advancing like a broken bamboo, and Youzhou is under siege from all sides. If he continues to resist, it will only increase casualties. If we can explain the pros and cons to him, perhaps he will change his mind."

"What Shangshu Ling said makes sense."

Xun Yu nodded in agreement:
"However, Liu Yu is a famous Confucian scholar who values ​​righteousness over profit. Simply explaining the benefits and disadvantages may not be enough to impress him."

"If you want to persuade this man to surrender, you need to start with the words loyalty and righteousness. Let him understand that the general's new policy is not a betrayal of the Han Dynasty, but is for the sake of achieving justice in the world and allowing the people to live and work in peace. This is essentially consistent with the goal of reviving the Han Dynasty that he pursues in his heart."

"And our court is the orthodox of the Han Dynasty. The empress is in accordance with the will of heaven. It is definitely not as treasonous as the outside world says."

"Now that the world is in turmoil, only the general can assist the emperor and implement new policies to restore order and bring peace to the world."

"If Liu Yu can understand this, and with the help of our army's deterrence, he will put aside his prejudices and surrender to us for the sake of the people of the world."

"Wen Ruo's analysis is thorough."

Lu Zhi nodded and said:
"But Liu Yu has been in Youzhou for a long time, and he may have a distorted understanding of the situation in the court and the new policy. We still need to select a person who is eloquent and highly respected to persuade him, so that we can achieve twice the result with half the effort."

"Who should we send, then?"

Su Yao glanced at everyone present.

After going through several previous purges, the people present were basically the only remaining people of high moral character and prestige.

But obviously, these people all have their own tasks and have no time to go to Youzhou.

Besides, the court had not yet reached such a state of decline when the ministers of the time went out in person to serve as lobbyists, and Su Yao could not afford to lose face by doing so.

For a moment, everyone looked at each other, and the room fell into a tooth-wrenching silence.

At this moment, Jia Xu suddenly stood up and said with a folded hand:

"General, I have someone I would recommend who might be able to take on this important task."

Su Yao's eyes lit up and he asked, "Oh? What do you think Wenhe has?"

Jia Xu said slowly: "I think that General Huangfu Song is the best candidate."

"General of the Chariot and Cavalry?"

"Lord Yizhen?!"

When Jia Xu said this, everyone's eyes lit up.

Huangfu Song was a famous general with high prestige. Even Dong Zhuo did not dare to harm him. He was a representative of the famous ministers of the Han Dynasty.

The General of Chariots and Cavalry was a general of high rank, with a rank equal to the Three Dukes and a respected status. Huangfu Song also had a long-standing friendship with Liu Yu, making him the best candidate to be sent as an envoy to persuade Liu Yu to surrender.

"However, General Huangfu is old and has left the court. Will he be willing to take on this important task?"

Zhu Jun looked puzzled.

It is a well-known fact that Huangfu Song was shelved by Su Yao after he defeated Dong Zhuo because of his high prestige.

But everyone can understand it. After all, the old general is nearly 70 years old this year. It would be a good thing to take good care of him and let him return home in glory.

Therefore, Huangfu Song was not dissatisfied with this treatment. He neither made any demands nor complained. He attended court every day and sat quietly when the court was discussing matters. He rarely made any suggestions and never got involved in the court disputes in recent years.

Now, persuading Liu Yu to surrender is not an easy task.

Not only is the journey long, but he also has to cross enemy territory. If he angers Liu Yu during the final negotiations, he might even die on the spot.

Can he accept this task?

Wouldn’t it be nice to just wait patiently for retirement?

At such an old age, do you still want to take this risk?

This is indeed an unknown.

Therefore, Su Yao decided to go there in person to see if the old general had any requests.

However, to Su Yao's surprise, Huangfu Song agreed without hesitation after learning the purpose of the visit.

"Don't worry, General. Although I am old, I understand the general situation of the world."

"Now the country is in danger, the Han Dynasty is in decline, wars are frequent, and the people are suffering."

"As a vassal, Liu Yu defied the central government and put the people in dire straits. Although I am not talented, I am willing to help the general and persuade Liu Yu to surrender, so as to relieve Youzhou's distress and restore peace to the people."

Fu Song's eyes were firm and his expression was calm.

Su Yao nodded slightly and said in a deep voice:

"The old general is very understanding and righteous. Su is grateful to him."

"This trip to Youzhou is fraught with danger. I hope you will be careful. If you can persuade Liu Yu to surrender, you will have done a great deed!"

"General, you are too kind. I will do my best this time."

Huangfu Song clasped his fists and saluted.

"No!"

"Father, you must not do that!"

The General's Mansion.

After sending Su Yao away, Huangfu Song's son Huangfu Jianshou immediately spoke out against it.

His face was filled with anxiety. He quickly walked to Huangfu Song, knelt down with a plop, and his eyes were filled with worry:

"Father, you are old and should be enjoying your retirement. Liu Yu is stubborn and is fighting even though he is trapped. Going to Youzhou this time is full of dangers. If you are not careful, your life will be in danger. How can you take such a risk?"

"I really can't bear it, please reconsider and quit this job!"

"Jian Shou, stand up and speak."

Huangfu Song frowned and reached out to help his son up:
"I understand your filial piety, but now the people of Youzhou and Jizhou are caught in the flames of war again and are suffering. If I can persuade Liu Yu to surrender, I can restore peace to Youzhou as soon as possible and save thousands of lives. How can I retreat because of my own safety?"

"Father, the world is in constant turmoil. You have worked hard for the Han Dynasty your entire life. Why do you want to get involved in this dangerous situation at your old age?"

Huangfu Jianshou still did not give up, and said with tears in his eyes:
"You can rest assured and enjoy your retirement in your mansion, and let those young and strong people serve the court."

Huangfu Song sighed, paced slowly, and looked into the distance: "Jianshou, you don't understand."

"My father has been deeply benevolent to the Han Dynasty. Although the Han Dynasty has gone through many twists and turns, reviving the Han Dynasty and saving the people from danger is my father's lifelong ambition."

"General Su's new policy was implemented with radical means, but you should have heard the praises of the city's citizens and students."

"They are just poor people and untouchables."

Huangfu Jianshou immediately refuted:

"The children of the noble families and the officials of the imperial court, there are countless people complaining!"

Huangfu Song glared at his son. How could he not know?

There are many aristocratic families in the capital. The Equal Field System and the Imperial Examination System have undoubtedly dealt a heavy blow to their interests. There are countless children of aristocratic families who spread rumors in the capital.

but
"Are the poor and the disadvantaged not ordinary people?"

"During the Yellow Turban Rebellion, how many rebels did my father kill? They were almost all poor people!" "But even so, I killed so many people that rivers of blood flowed, and there were still many rebels in the world, and I couldn't get rid of them all."

"Could it be that my father's sword is not sharp enough?"

Huangfu Jianshou was slightly stunned and speechless for a moment.

In the past, my father conquered the Yellow Turbans' nest in Quyang, beheaded more than 100,000 people, and built a Jingguan in the south of the city. He thought that he could deter the bandits and bring peace to the world. However, he never expected that the remnants of the Yellow Turbans in various places are still like weeds, growing again in the spring breeze, one after another.

The constant battles with the Yellow Turban rebels almost exhausted the court's efforts and financial resources.

"Jianshou, you have to understand that killing cannot solve the fundamental problem."

Huangfu Song looked solemn, his tone full of vicissitudes and helplessness:

"It was only later that I realized that the people took such desperate measures and became bandits because they were forced into a desperate situation by the world."

"If they are not given a peaceful meal, they will naturally grab food with knives. This is human nature."

"Although the general's new policies were somewhat drastic, there is no doubt that they helped the poor people to have food to eat."

"Think about it, will there be no more beggars in the city this winter?"

"Have the refugees who used to fill the city disappeared now?"

"Just for this reason, I am convinced by the general's methods. What about you?"

As Huangfu Jianshou listened to his father's words, his mind emerged the cold winter days of the past: the ragged, skinny beggars in the streets of the city, the groups of refugees with desperate eyes outside the city, and the people who sold their children and even themselves to bury their fathers.

Looking back now, this winter is indeed much calmer, and those disturbing scenes seem like just a dream.

On the contrary, there were more people chatting and talking about everything in the streets. Their families had surplus food, and they were happy, discussing the changes in their lives and the situation in the world. There were even many students from other places who came to the capital to seek education and study hard.

"."

Huangfu Jianshou fell silent. Although he still felt unwilling to see his family's interests damaged, he had to admit that there was some truth in what his father said.
"No matter how much I say, Su Yao is still a traitor and a usurper of the throne."

"He supported the empress, which was against morality. As Han officials, we did not think about upholding the orthodoxy, but instead helped him act. I am afraid that we will be despised by future generations."

"That's why I, as a father, have to go through this journey."

"what?!"

"What does Lord Yizhen mean?!"

Youzhou Governor's Mansion.

Liu Yu was shocked when he heard what Huangfu Song said.

It turned out that when Huangfu Song faced Liu Yu, he did not talk about so many nonsense, but directly persuaded him to lay down his weapons and go back to protect the Han Dynasty with other officials.

What Liu Yu and other Liu princes in the world were worried about was nothing more than Su Yao usurping the country, destroying their ancestral kingdom, and ending the inheritance of their ancestral temple.

However, although the current queen is a empress, she is after all the blood of the previous emperor and a legitimate princess. She is married to the general and is now pregnant.

Today, the general's army is powerful and Youzhou is surrounded by enemies. It is impossible to win the military confrontation.

In this case, it is better to keep a useful body and admit your mistake and surrender as soon as possible while you still have bargaining chips, return to the central court, protect His Majesty, and protect the bloodline of the Han family.

"Envoy Liu, supporting the Han Dynasty is not the only way to rely on force."

"You are a famous scholar in the country and a role model of the royal family. If you follow me back to the court and assist the emperor together with Lord Lu, Lord Zhu and others, it will benefit the world and be a truly loyal and righteous act."

"As long as my Han bloodline is still there and the Han ancestral temple is still there, what does it matter whether the emperor is a man or a woman?"

"In the past, Empress Dowager Deng was also a female ruler who ruled the country for sixteen years. During this period, she built water conservancy projects and promoted education, allowing the Han Dynasty to continue to prosper and the people to live and work in peace and contentment."

"The Empress has been here for a long time. She cares about the people and joins hands with General Su Yao to restore the glory of the Han Dynasty. Envoy Liu, you and I are both ministers of the Han Dynasty. We should obey the will of heaven and support the country together, instead of being stubborn and causing more trouble."

After that, Huangfu Song explained the current political situation in the court to Liu Yu in detail.

"Now the general has changed the three provinces and six ministries, and there is no prime minister. Although he is in charge of military and political affairs in his position as the general, he is not like Dong Zhuo who appointed himself as prime minister, or like the previous dictators who monopolized the government and regarded the emperor as a puppet."

"Not only does the current emperor personally govern the country every day, but the governors of the three provinces are also talented and virtuous people. They each perform their duties, check and balance each other, and jointly assist the current emperor and the general in handling state affairs."

"Nowadays, the government orders are well communicated, and everything is done for the welfare of the people and the revival of the Han Dynasty. This kind of court atmosphere is something I haven't seen in decades. I hope that Envoy Liu will not miss this opportunity because of his momentary obsession."

hiss--

Liu Yu took a deep breath:

"You said His Majesty is actually ruling the country personally?"

That’s right, the emperor is in charge of the government.

As everyone knows, Su Yao doesn't like trivial matters. It would be exhausting for him to go to court every day and spend a lot of time listening to a bunch of old ministers mumbling.

Therefore, even when Su Yao returned to the capital, he just waved his hand, pushed his wife out, and sat high in the temple, presiding over the government.

Although Princess Wannian did not receive any proper imperial education since childhood and her political level was limited, she was kind-hearted, open-minded and never stubborn.

A good system is one that ensures that even a mediocre ruler can maintain the normal operation of the court.

Today, the three provinces and six ministries each perform their duties, and all the ministers in the Council of State are capable officials carefully selected by Su Yao. They cooperate with each other and check and balance each other to ensure the orderly advancement of the court's major policies.

Although Empress Wannian was new to government affairs, with the guidance of Su Yao, the education at school and the assistance of her ministers, she gradually developed the demeanor of a wise ruler and won the hearts of all officials.

When Liu Yu heard this, ripples appeared in his heart.

He had always believed that Su Yao was just a foolish military man, and that the powerful empress was just a puppet in his hands.

Now, after listening to what Huangfu Song said, he realized that Su Yao was actually a man of broad mind. Not only did he delegate power to all officials, but the empress was also able to personally attend to government affairs. The court was filled with such a clear and bright atmosphere, which was really beyond his expectations.

For a moment, his determination to resist was shaken.

After a long silence, Liu Yu looked at the gloomy sky outside the Shepherd's Mansion, listened to the whistling cold wind blowing over the high walls, and finally sighed:
"Lord Yizhen, let me think about it again. This matter concerns the life and death of the people of Youzhou, and also the future of my Liu family. I cannot make a decision lightly."

Huangfu Song nodded slightly, his eyes revealing understanding and expectation: "Envoy Liu, time is running out, I hope you can make a decision as soon as possible. The situation in Youzhou is critical now, and making a decision early can prevent more lives from being destroyed."

Liu Yu nodded, turned and walked into the inner room, leaving his staff looking at each other in bewilderment.

They knew in their hearts that Liu Yu's decision would determine the fate of Youzhou and the future of them.

For the next few days, Liu Yu stayed indoors and thought about Huangfu Song's words alone in his study.

He recalled the efforts he had made for the people of Youzhou over the years and the changes in the world situation in recent years.

Now, the Han Dynasty is in decline and the world is in constant strife. He has always believed that he is fighting for the revival of the Han Dynasty, and hopes that his persistence in Youzhou can safeguard the royal power.

However, it now seems that this road has come to an end.

But when he returns to the court, can he do better?
As time went by, Liu Yu was conflicted, but the situation on the battlefield would not stagnate because of his hesitation.

Just when Liu Yu was struggling, the allied forces of Gongsun Zan and Taishi Ci had already set foot on the land of Youzhou and were advancing step by step towards Lulong Pass in western Liaoning.

Along the way, faced with this sudden appearance of the army, except for the county government which had complete defenses, the officials and people of other villages and counties knew they could not defeat the enemy, so they surrendered.

"Envoy Liu, time waits for no one."

Huangfu Song visits again:
"Today, Youzhou still has nearly 100,000 troops. If you return to the capital, you can still hold high rank in the imperial court."

"If Youzhou City is destroyed and the soldiers are killed in battle, you will have to surrender. I'm afraid you can only go with the shackles on."

"By then, let alone making any contribution to the revival of the Han Dynasty, you will not even be able to take care of the welfare of the people of Youzhou. How can you face the ancestors of the Han Dynasty?"

"Hey--"

Liu Yu paced back and forth in the room, his inner struggle surging like a raging storm.

Finally, after considering the situation on the battlefield and Huangfu Song's persuasion, Liu Yu sighed:
"Lord Yizhen is right."

"I, Youzhou, surrender!"

After saying this, Liu Yu took off his crown, removed his seal, and handed them to Huangfu Song.

"Envoy Liu is a man of great righteousness. He is truly a blessing to the world!"

Huangfu Song was overjoyed. He solemnly took Liu Yu's seal with both hands, then immediately picked up a pen and informed Guan Yu, Gongsun Zan, Liu Bei, Cheng Lian and others to stop the attack and prepare to take over the city and pass.

At the same time, Liu Yu immediately summoned his generals and officials and announced his decision to surrender.

Although some people still felt unwilling and dissatisfied, they had no choice but to accept this reality under Liu Yu's insistence.

When the news came out, the tense atmosphere in Youzhou City immediately dissipated a lot. The people breathed a sigh of relief and long-lost smiles appeared on their faces.

At this point, under the leadership of Liu Yu, Youzhou became the first place to surrender to the imperial court.

"Good good!"

"General Huangfu did a great job!"

Mengjin ferry.

Su Yao was also overjoyed when he heard the news on the road.

The accompanying civil and military officials expressed their congratulations, saying that this was a blessing for the Han Dynasty and the people:

"The general is popular and this is a sign of the revival of the Han Dynasty!"

"Yes, yes!"

"As long as we pacify Jizhou, the world will be under our control, and the revival of the Han Dynasty is just around the corner!"

(End of this chapter)