The Rebellious Officials and Traitors of the Late Han Dynasty

Chapter 431: The Proposal to Become King
The army advanced slowly on the official road from Bashu to Jingzhou. Although there were many mountainous roads around and the march was troublesome, it was safer. If they marched by water, the few broken ships in Sichuan would not be able to transport so many soldiers.

"Gan Ning has been fooled this time. The Lujiang navy has no strength to fight again." Qin Shou handed the information to Fa Zheng beside him and said, "It's understandable that Cao Cao and Liu Bei joined forces, but who the hell is Sun Quan? He actually joined in."

Fa Zheng took the intelligence, took a look at it, and chuckled, "My lord, it's just a matter of lips and teeth. My lord is a man of great talent and strategy. Once you seize the Central Plains, Yizhou will also be included in the expedition. Sun Quan is just worried about his own position."

"What does he want to do in the small Yizhou? Want to be the king there? What a joke. Yizhou and other places have been part of the Central Plains since ancient times. How can we allow him to be the king? I originally wanted to appease him, but now it seems that he will have to kill him one day."

There was a cold light flashing in Qin Shou's eyes.

Originally, he was planning to let Sun Quan lead his remaining troops to attack Cao Cao from the side and use the Sun family's reputation in Jiangdong to contain Cao Cao. Unexpectedly, that kid Sun Quan actually joined forces with Cao Cao to go against him. How could this work?
"While Cao and Liu were still alive, Sun Quan could still occupy Yizhou and declare himself king. But if my lord unifies the world, the Sun family will probably have no way to survive," Fa Zheng explained.

"If he surrendered, why couldn't he survive?" Qin Shou was puzzled.

"The Sun family kept the imperial seal privately, and Sun Ce even used the imperial seal to exchange for Yuan Shu's three thousand soldiers. How can such a crime be pardoned?" Fa Zheng shook his head.

"It's impossible for the Han Dynasty, but why not for the Tang Dynasty?" Qin Shou said disdainfully: "In the final analysis, they just don't want to give up the idea of ​​ceding land to become king."

Privately keeping the imperial seal is a capital crime in the Han Dynasty, but not necessarily in front of Qin Shou. Sun Quan is a smart man and he would definitely think of this, but he is just ambitious and is just looking for a reason and excuse for himself.

Fa Zheng's eyes suddenly lit up when he heard this.

"My lord has taken over Bashu and controls three-quarters of the world. Such a great achievement deserves no reward other than the title of king." Fa Zheng said hastily, "Now that the war is approaching, if my lord is crowned king, the morale of the army will surely be greatly boosted."

Fa Zheng believed that this was the best time to become king, reward his ministers, boost the morale of the army, and let all his civil and military officials know that they will be rewarded with the credit of following the dragon. Under such circumstances, who would not dare to strive to be the first to win a title for his wife and children!

"Is the time to be king now? No one in the world would disobey me, right?"

Qin Shou stroked his short beard and said hesitantly.

"During the reigns of Emperors Huan and Ling, the Han dynasty was in decline and its fortunes were over. Zhang Jiao's Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, Dong Zhuo, Li and Guo were causing chaos in the government, and Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu and other bandits were separatist in other places. The people were living in misery. Only my lord, with his three-foot sword, could pacify the world. Why can't you be king?"

Listening to Fa Zhengyi's stern voice, Qin Shou nodded. After hearing what the other party said, it seemed that he really should be king. If he didn't, he would be unworthy of his achievements.

"The opponents are nothing more than Kong Rong, Yang Biao and others. These people are good at empty talk and are of no use to the world. How can such people be qualified to assist the king? They only know how to point fingers at the country all day long, but have no practical knowledge. They are all a bunch of incompetents. My lord, don't care about them."

In his words, Fa Zheng severely criticized Kong Rong and others.

Qin Shou nodded. At this moment, it was impossible for him to back down. If he did, not only would he die, but also the people around him would die. His wife, subordinates, etc. would all be killed, and he might even have his property confiscated and his entire family exterminated.

"Let Zhong Yao report this to the court! I believe no one will object."

Qin Shou's face was cold. At that time, even if someone opposed it, it would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. The emergence of a new dynasty meant the decline of the old dynasty and the death of some people.

Whether it was Kong Rong or Yang Biao, anyone who stood in the way of the new dynasty would not have a good end. If these people didn't die, how could the soldiers who followed Qin Shou benefit?

It has been like this since ancient times. Qin Shou even speculated that when the time really came, even Yang Biao himself would have other thoughts. The Han Dynasty was about to be destroyed and a new dynasty was to be established. Would the Yang family go to destruction along with the Han Dynasty?

This is not what a mature politician should do.

In Chang'an city, in the residence of Yang Biao, Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.

The father and son sat across from each other, with a Go board in front of them. Looking at the pieces on it, it was obvious that they had been playing Go for a long time. "When is he going to become king?"

Yang Biao said calmly.

Both the father and the son knew who the person was referring to, but they just didn't say it out loud.

"How could a child know about the Prime Minister's affairs?" Yang Xiu appeared calm on the surface, but a smile on the corner of his mouth betrayed his mood at the moment.

Yang Biao saw it clearly, his mouth twitched, and he wished he could slap his son. It was his idea to let Yang Xiu assist Qin Shou. He was loyal to the Han Dynasty, but he could not involve the Yang family.

Now the time has come, and it is time to reap the harvest.

"Now that Yizhou has been taken, most of the world is in our hands. It's time to become king." Yang Biao sighed in his heart.

Although he was unwilling, he had to admit that the young man Qin Shou still had some means. He had fought against so many princes in the world along the way, but in the end he was the one who had the last laugh.

"Father, are you planning to have me write a letter to the Prime Minister requesting that I be crowned king?" Yang Xiu looked at his father in surprise.

"The situation is like this, even I can't stop it. Believe it or not, if I try to stop it, I will die suddenly in two days. It doesn't matter if I die, but the Hongnong Yang family cannot die because of me, do you understand?"

Yang Biao said dimly.

He waved his hand casually, as if nothing had happened.

Yang Xiu nodded and immediately understood his father's thoughts. He was loyal to the Han Dynasty, but between his own family on one side and the Han Dynasty on the other, he still chose his family.

"In two days, I will take sick leave and will no longer be involved in the affairs of the court." Yang Biao sighed, "Then, you take my resignation letter to the cabinet. Although I can't let go of the Yang family, I will not work for the Qin family either."

"Why bother, father?"

Yang Xiuqun said: "My lord is broad-minded and will not care about these things. He still hopes that my father will serve the new dynasty!"

Yang Biao glared at his son and said, "Remember one thing. In the new dynasty, you must not be arrogant because of your talent. You must be careful with your words and actions. Qin Shou is not a simple person. You and I are father and son in the same dynasty. As long as I am here, you will never be able to make a name for yourself."

Yang Xiu was stunned for a moment, but soon realized that his father was making way for him.

"My child understands."

Yang Xiu responded quickly.

"This is all I can do. Poor Han Dynasty!"

Yang Biao looked into the distance with a bitter face.

The next day, Yang Biao went to the court to pay homage to the Han Emperor. The day after that, he wrote a letter asking to retire, resigned from his post and returned to his hometown to study. He never served the Tang Dynasty again for the rest of his life.

(End of this chapter)