Jinting Han people

For Shu Han, Qi Han, and even Shi Le, the past year was a year of harvest. But for Zhao Han, who was the first to declare himself emperor, the second year of Yongfeng was not a pleasant year.

At the beginning of the first half of the year, Zhao Han was still the leader of the anti-Jin alliance in the entire north. From Shuofang in the north to Longyou in the west, from Qingxu in the east to Nanyang in the south, there were refugees and barbarian tribes everywhere who flew the Zhao Han banner. The territory he actually controlled once spanned nearly 20 counties in six provinces: Bing, Si, Ji, Yong, Yan, and Yu. Most importantly, they won one battle after another. First, they repeatedly defeated the Jin court's reinforcements in Henan. Then, they besieged Yecheng and won the great victory at Yecheng in Hebei, killing and capturing tens of thousands of people, and capturing Sima Teng, the Prince of Xincai, and a group of officials from the Northern Expeditionary Army. Their power shook the world.

However, in the latter half of the year, the situation subtly changed. First, Shi Le, the Prince of Pingjin, secretly allied with the Tuoba Xianbei, quietly breaking away from the control of Han and Zhao. Then came the defeat at Luoyang, where Liu Yao, the Prince of Shian, and Liu Can, the Prince of Zhongqiu, led 90,000 troops south to Henan, only to suffer a crushing defeat. Although their losses amounted to only about 10,000 men, still within the Zhao Han's capacity to bear, the impact on Zhao Han's prestige was enormous. As a result, many refugees from the Central Plains switched their allegiance to Qi and Han, and Liu Bogen and Wang Mi, without hesitation, took advantage of this momentum to expand their power, allowing Qi and Han to eventually surpass Zhao Han. The so-called Qi-Zhao alliance thus became defunct in name only.

By the first month of the third year of Yongfeng, Zhao Han's power had shrunk considerably. Of the traditional Han territories, only nine commanderies remained: Henan, Hedong, Pingyang, Xihe, Dunqiu, Ji County, Wei County, Yangping, and Guangping, roughly equivalent to Shi Le's power. Although he still possessed the vast land of Shuofang and hundreds of thousands of Hu people supporting him, the situation was completely different from what it had been a year earlier.

Everything was going wrong, and the year was unlucky. At this time, Prime Minister Liu Xuan passed away. After losing this highly respected elder, the whole of Pingyang was plunged into grief. The ministers privately discussed: "The Prime Minister was a rare sage throughout history. He lived to be 130 years old. Wasn't that the will of Heaven? Now that the Prime Minister has passed away and the country is in trouble, does this mean that the Han dynasty has come to an end?"
People spontaneously mourned the Prime Minister, and for a time, white banners were everywhere inside and outside the city, creating a desolate scene when combined with the still-unmelted snow in the mountains outside the city. Emperor Yongfeng, Liu Yuan, also felt the predicament of the war situation. Taking this opportunity, he mourned Liu Xuan while holding a meeting in the palace to discuss the next steps in national policy. The ministers have been gathered for more than ten days and still show no signs of ending.

At midnight that night, several hours after the court officials had dispersed, Pingyang Palace was completely silent. Because the system was still in its infancy, and because Liu Yuan was frugal, the so-called Pingyang Palace was essentially only a rudimentary structure. Apart from the walls and gates, most of the palace was divided into sections but not yet formally constructed. There were few palace maids and guards, and no one was specifically assigned to add oil to the lanterns along the palace paths. As a result, at this time, the palace was pitch black, with almost no light except for the guards carrying lanterns.

Of course, Beigong is an exception.

In terms of layout, Pingyang Palace largely imitated Luoyang Palace during the Later Han Dynasty, divided into the South Palace and the North Palace. The South Palace was where the emperor discussed state affairs, while the North Palace was the residence of the empress and the place for sacrifices. As for the Hehuan Hall, which served as the empress's residence, it was naturally lit up at this time.

What outsiders could hardly imagine was that the man lying on the Empress's bed in the Hehuan Palace was not the current Emperor Liu Yuan of Zhao Han, but Liu Yuan's fourth son, Liu Cong, the Grand Minister of Works of Zhao Han, Commander-in-Chief of the Military Affairs of the Interior and Exterior, Imperial Envoy, Grand Chanyu, and King of Chu.

Liu Cong had just finished his lovemaking and lay naked on the bed, beads of sweat still on his forehead. But this didn't stop him from leaning back on the pillow, gazing at the beauty beside him with the eyes of someone admiring a rare treasure. His gaze traveled from his stepmother's bare shoulders to her smooth, white back, down to her waist, and finally to the full curves of her feet.

The fair, radiant, and voluptuous body of Shan Mingyue was so alluring that Liu Cong couldn't help but think of the "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River," and then teased the Empress, "Her graceful figure makes me forget to eat."

Shan Mingyue was already used to Liu Cong's frivolousness; he had been like that ever since they met.

Although she was Empress, Shan Mingyue was actually a few years younger than Liu Cong. When Liu Yuan married Shan Zheng, the leader of the Di tribe, in Ye City, Shan Mingyue was only sixteen, while Liu Cong was just twenty-three. And when Liu Cong left Luoyang to take up his post in Xinxing County, his stepmother was only twenty-five. At that time, Liu Cong was in charge of the affairs of the five Xiongnu tribes on behalf of Liu Yuan, and also handled household affairs. Liu Yuan then sent the pregnant Shan Mingyue to Liu Cong's side for his care.

Unexpectedly, the two fell in love at first sight. Shan Mingyue was exceptionally beautiful, a true national beauty, and residing in Ye City. She admired the Han Chinese attire and disliked the customs of the non-Han people. Liu Cong, on the other hand, had lived in Luoyang for a long time, possessing an aristocratic air, handsome appearance, and exceptional eloquence. Furthermore, the two were of similar age. As a result, their passion ignited irresistibly, and to this day, their affection remains unchanged. In fact, Liu Cong treats his legal wife, Huyan Shi, with far less affection than he treats his stepmother.

At this moment, Shan Mingyue looked back at Liu Cong. After their passionate encounter, Liu Cong would always scrutinize her like a hunter examining his trophy, radiating the aura of a victor without restraint. His smile was sweet yet dangerous, his passion seemingly tinged with indifference, and his indifference revealing a hint of loneliness. But it was precisely this complex quality that made her infatuated with this stepson, like a flower drawn to the spring glow lingering in the mist.

Therefore, when Liu Cong placed his right hand on her shoulder, Shan Mingyue did not flinch. Instead, she nestled into his arms and reminded him, "Xuanming, it's getting late. When do you plan to leave?"

Liu Cong smiled nonchalantly and said, "There's no need to worry. My lord will rest in the Jian Shi Palace tonight. The palace guards are all my men, so they won't be discovered by others. Even if someone comes, they will pass on the message to me."

"You still need to be careful, these are special times. I really don't understand, how dare you come to me, do you have such audacity?"

In response to Shan Mingyue's question, Liu Cong continued to joke, "Without courage and magnanimity, how could I win your heart? And how could I become the next emperor of the Han dynasty?"

Seeing her beloved so confident, Shan Mingyue was naturally captivated. But at the same time, she couldn't help but express her worries: "But I heard His Majesty say the other day that he still intends to follow the patriarchal system and make the Prince of Liang the crown prince."

The Prince of Liang was Liu He, Liu Yuan's eldest son. Since Liu Cong returned to the capital, the struggle between the two for the crown prince position had intensified. In terms of military achievements, ability, and talent, among the princes, Liu Cong was undoubtedly the most outstanding, and therefore, most of the Xiongnu people and generals supported him. However, Liu He clung to the patriarchal system, constantly attending to Liu Yuan's needs, demonstrating filial piety, and cultivating relationships with scholars, thus winning over a large number of Confucian officials. Therefore, the two engaged in open and covert struggles on various occasions, with no clear victor.

But now, Liu Cong learns from the Empress that his father is finally going to decide on the final choice. However, this choice is not himself, but his eldest brother, Liu He.

Faced with this news, Liu Cong showed no surprise. On this serious topic, he calmly sat up from the bed and said to Shan Mingyue, "You don't need to tell me, I expected this long ago."

"You... expected this?"

“Of course,” Liu Cong said calmly. “His Majesty is considering the long-term future, believing that passing the throne through the patriarchal system will stabilize the people’s hearts and maintain the political situation. If it weren’t for this reason, he would have already designated me as the crown prince. There is no other reason.” “Then… what do you plan to do?”

"There's nothing I can do. I will govern the country with filial piety in the future, and I will not disobey your orders, sir." Liu Cong shrugged and calmed the empress's worries. "It's just that my sir doesn't understand. But I know very well that my brother's filial piety and love are just an act. He is narrow-minded by nature and has long harbored resentment towards those who threaten the throne. Once he ascends the throne, he will definitely strike first and send troops to kill me."

"Ah!" Upon hearing this, Empress Shan was terrified and leaned against Liu Cong's chest, unable to speak.

Liu Cong remained unfazed and laughed, "It's a trivial matter, Mingyue. During my return to the capital, I've already spoken with all the generals and officers, including your father, and they all support my succession. No matter who my elder brother sends, they're just courting death. At that time, I can use the pretext of persecuting members of the imperial clan to force him to abdicate, and then I can legitimately eliminate his remaining faction. Then, besides me, who else can succeed to the throne?"

At this point, Liu Cong couldn't help but inwardly mock his father. These were chaotic times; only truly virtuous people could secure the throne. How could ordinary people handle such a turbulent situation? The Confucian patriarchal system, though well-intentioned, was practically worthless. When did the prosperity of the Former Han Dynasty ever have anything to do with patriarchal clan system?
Emperor Gaozu, considering Emperor Hui weak, was unwilling to make him crown prince, and indeed, Hui proved incompetent after ascending the throne. Emperor Taizong (Emperor Wen) had already decided to make Emperor Jing crown prince before appointing an empress. Emperor Jing, also due to the incompetence of the original crown prince, deposed his eldest son and chose Emperor Wu, which led to Emperor Wu's illustrious military achievements. Emperors Zhao and Xuan, needless to say, were not primogeniture successors. Therefore, it can be said that the succession system of the Former Han Dynasty consistently prioritized merit over legitimacy.

Ironically, once Emperor Yuan of Han ascended the throne according to the patriarchal system, the fortunes of the Former Han Dynasty began to decline rapidly. In just forty years, the power of the empress's relatives and Wang Mang's usurpation of the throne became a stark lesson. Even disregarding the Former Han Dynasty, the current chaos is also a result of Emperor Wu of Jin's decision to establish the legitimate heir rather than the virtuous. Therefore, although Liu Cong understood Liu Yuan's decision, he also harbored resentment in his heart.

But Shan Mingyue, standing to the side, was stunned. Women are always slower to react to politics. She knew that her father, Shan Zheng, supported Liu Cong's struggle for the throne, but she had never imagined that the struggle for the throne would be so brutal. She had always regarded the fratricide among the Sima family as mere gossip, but now she realized that it was happening right beside her, and so close at hand.

This made Shan Mingyue think of something, forcing her to immediately ask, "Where is A-Yi? Can you protect A-Yi?"

The "A-Yi" she spoke of was her only son, Liu Yi, who was only ten years old this year. Liu Cong had previously made an agreement with her that once Liu Cong ascended the throne, he would make Liu Yi the crown prince and the imperial younger brother. But in such a cruel power struggle, could Liu Yi truly remain unscathed and unaffected?

Liu Cong promised, "Don't worry, I won't go back on my word. I will definitely protect A-Yi. I've watched him grow up since he was a child, he's even closer to me than A-Can. What do you have to worry about?"

"really?"

“Really!” When it comes to children, women are always persistent. Seeing that his stepmother didn’t believe him, Liu Cong had no choice but to patiently explain to her, “You don’t need to worry. In fact, after discussing this for so long, the result is almost certain. Father has basically decided that I should lead the army again, with 100,000 troops, to conquer Guanzhong in the south.”

"His Majesty has relented?"

"Yes, it's all thanks to Liu Xian for helping me out!" Liu Cong couldn't help but smile and said, "After the defeat in Luoyang, there was a lot of dissatisfaction from various departments, and they all wanted me to come out of seclusion and lead troops again. But in order to reduce my military power, the lord suppressed it several times and let Yongming (Liu Yao) and Zhongcheng (Liu Li) continue the attack. But the result is like this. In the past six months, not only has the battle in Luoyang gone badly, but several attacks on Guanzhong have also been in vain."

"But this time Liu Xian conquered Jingzhou, which made the Lord uneasy. He finally relented. I estimate that I will leave Pingyang next month to fight in Guanzhong again. What a rare opportunity! Mingyue, I'm afraid we won't see each other again for several months. Alas, this battle concerns the fate of our Han Dynasty. I don't know how many brave warriors will die on the battlefield and return to the Western Paradise in this bitter struggle."

One moment, Liu Cong was outlining his ambitions, but the next, he was lamenting the cruelty of war. Yet his expression was sincere and affectionate, just as he was, in truth, a filial son, but also secretly having an affair with his stepmother. Listening to her beloved's lament, Shan Mingyue stared blankly at his handsome face, her fingertips gently tracing the scars on his arm, and couldn't help but think: Perhaps all the soldiers across the country are as captivated by this contradictory and fickle King of Chu as I am.

For the rest of the time, neither of them spoke. Liu Cong held Shan Mingyue in his arms, his mind preoccupied with the future war.

Although Zhao Han suffered a setback and lost its influence over the Central Plains, it doesn't necessarily seem like a bad thing now. Liu Xian has concentrated his forces to unify Jiangnan. If all goes well, after another year of adjusting personnel and stabilizing the situation, he will head north to the Central Plains and engage in a fierce, all-out confrontation with Qi Han. Regardless of who wins or loses, Liu Xian will inevitably be unable to aid Guanzhong. Even if he does provide support, it will only be a small, auxiliary force.

According to current information, Zhang Gui of Liangzhou has fallen seriously ill. Although the nature of his illness is unknown, it is certain that various factions within the region are stirring up trouble and plotting to seize power. Regardless of whether Zhang Gui can retain his position, his forces will find it difficult to provide sufficient assistance to Guanzhong in the short term.

In contrast, Zhao Han was bordered by Shi Le to the north and Qi Han to the east. Although both harbored ulterior motives and would eventually wage war against them, they would be unable to attend to Guanzhong, at least in the short term. In other words, Zhao Han had no worries about its rear and could devote all its forces to Guanzhong.

Therefore, now is the most crucial window of opportunity to attack Guanzhong. Once Guanzhong is captured, Zhao Han will undergo a qualitative change. At that time, it can hold fast to the interior, launch a westward expedition to Longyou, resist attacks outside the pass, gradually implement reforms, and observe the struggle between Qi Han and Shu Han. It may be possible to bide its time while seizing opportunities to profit. In the end, Zhao Han may even emulate Qin and win the final victory.

However, the generals of Guanzhong were not easy to deal with. How could he possibly win? Recalling what he had seen and heard in the Western Expeditionary Army, the mountains and rivers of Yong and Qin provinces, and the various actions of the scholars from all sides during Zhang Fang's coup, Liu Cong's strategy gradually took shape.

But Shan Mingyue couldn't understand his thoughts. She stared at Liu Cong for a while, but finally succumbed to drowsiness and quickly drifted off to sleep. When she awoke again, it was already dawn, and her pillow was empty. A cold wind blew by, and she couldn't even feel the warmth of Liu Cong's body when he had been there. (End of Chapter)