Han Ji

Chapter 167 The Storm in Luoyang

Chapter 167 The Storm in Luoyang

"Nine points..." Xun Cai murmured.

She walked over to Liu Bei and looked at Chengdu on the sand table.

"What will happen after my husband goes to Chengdu?"

"Pacify the people, appease the soldiers, establish military farms, and train the troops," Liu Bei said. "Yizhou is a land of plenty, with fertile fields stretching for thousands of miles, but this chaos has severely damaged its vitality. It will take three years to recover."

"What about three years from now?"

Liu Bei did not answer.

But Xun Cai understood.

Three years later, with a well-trained army and ample provisions, we can conquer the world.

The rain outside the tent grew louder, pounding against the tent like war drums.

Chengdu, the rear garden of the imperial palace.

The rain lessened a bit, but didn't stop. The garden was overgrown with weeds, and a few plum trees were in bloom, their pink and white petals falling to the ground and mixing with the mud.

Ma Xiang sat alone in the pavilion.

The pavilion leaked, dripping water that accumulated in a small puddle on the ground. He clutched an empty wine jug in his hand, but still held onto a 0.

The dress she was wearing was half-soaked, and her cape was dragging in the mud, the yellow silk turning a muddy yellow.

He has been on the throne for three days.

The emperor he imagined was not like this.

There should be civil and military officials shouting "Long live the Emperor!", the people supporting him, and the world at peace.

But what about reality?

The officials were just there to make up the numbers, the people were weeping, and the world... only Chengdu and a few other cities were soaked to the bone by the rain.

"His Majesty."

A voice came from behind me.

When Ma Xiang turned around, it was Zhao Zhi.

Zhao Zhi held up an oil-paper umbrella, his robe splattered with mud, but his expression remained calm.

"Prime Minister," Prime Minister Ma's voice was hoarse, "What is it?"

"General Wang has once again ordered his troops to plunder." Zhao Zhi walked to the pavilion, closed his umbrella, and said, "Three wealthy families in the south of the city have been completely looted, seventeen people have been killed, and eight women have been abducted. The people are blocking the palace gates and crying out in protest."

Ma Xiang closed his eyes.

"understood."

"Your Majesty," Zhao Zhi stared at him, "we cannot continue to tolerate this. With military discipline lax, we have lost the hearts of the people. Once the Han army attacks..."

""

.

"Where did these Han troops come from?" Ma Xiang interrupted. "Xi Jian is dead, the prefectures and counties have scattered, who dares to come?"

Zhao Zhi remained silent.

After a long silence, he whispered, "Liu Bei of Hanzhong."

Ma Xiang's hand trembled, and the wine pot fell to the ground and shattered.

"Liu Bei?"

"Yes," Zhao Zhi said. "The scouts report that Hanzhong is conducting daily drills, and provisions are being transported along the rice granary road. Liu Bei has already submitted a memorial to the court, requesting permission to quell the rebellion. The court... will most likely grant it."

Ma Xiang stood up and then sat down again.

He felt cold.

"How many soldiers does Liu Bei have?"

"I don't know, the spies are still investigating."

"Will he... come?"

"Yes," Zhao Zhi said coldly, "and very soon."

The rain intensified, pattering against the pavilion roof like arrows.

Ma Xiang stared at the broken porcelain shards on the ground for a long time.

Then he looked up at Zhao Zhi: "Prime Minister, do you have a solution?"

Zhao Zhi bowed and said, "Strengthen military discipline, stockpile provisions, and defend the city to the death. At the same time, send people to contact the counties in Yizhou that have not yet fallen, offering them official titles and ranks to encourage them to rise up in support. As long as we can hold out for three months, the court will surely change course, and those in power will not sit idly by while Liu Bei enters Yizhou."

Ma Xiang nodded: "Okay, go and do it."

"But what about General Wang..."

""

"I'll go tell them," Ma Xiang stood up. "Summon Wang Rao."

Zhao Zhi withdrew.

Ma Xiang sat alone in the pavilion, watching the rain.

He thought of Liu Yong, the accountant who delivered money and letters.

Liu Yong said: After the matter is accomplished, we will share the wealth and honor.

Wealth and status are here, but why does it all feel so... hollow?

The sound of footsteps thumping echoed; Wang Rao had arrived.

He wasn't using an umbrella, and he was soaked to the bone, but his face was flushed, clearly indicating that he had just been drinking.

"Your Majesty!" he grinned, "What brings you here?"

Ma Xiang stared at him: "Wang Rao, from this day forward, you are forbidden to allow your troops to plunder any further."

Wang Rao's smile froze.

"Your Majesty, our brothers risked their lives to rebel, only to enjoy themselves for a few days..."

"I said no!" Ma Xiang slammed his hand on the stone table, his palm trembling. "If you steal again, you'll be court-martialed!"

Wang Rao's face darkened.

He stared at Ma Xiang for three breaths, then clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes."

He turned and left.

The footsteps were heavy, splashing rainwater.

As Ma Xiang watched his retreating figure, he suddenly realized that this emperor might not last long.

The rain grew heavier and heavier, turning the world into a vast expanse of white.

Like funeral paper money, it was scattered all over the sky.

February 20th, Luoyang, Nangong.

Before dawn, the snow on the palace walls reflected the pale light of the sky, and the morning mist blurred the outlines of the palace buildings. At three-quarters past dawn, the officials were already waiting in the square outside the palace, standing in dark squares according to their rank, their breath forming a cloud of white mist. No one spoke, only the crunching of boots on the snow and the occasional suppressed cough.

Today is the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month, a day for grand ceremonies.

At the exact hour of Chen (7-9 AM), bells and drums resounded. The palace gates slowly opened, and officials filed in, passing through the long corridor and entering the Deyang Hall.

The hall was warm with charcoal braziers burning inside, but the atmosphere was colder than outside.

Emperor Ling, Liu Hong, sat on his throne, his face pale, with heavy bags under his eyes, looking as if he hadn't slept well. He yawned and waved his hand, "Speak to me if you have something to report."

The first to step forward was Situ Yuanwei.

He was in his sixties, with a long beard and wearing a dark purple court robe. His voice was loud and clear: "Your Majesty, the selection of the governor of Yizhou has been pending for more than half a year. Liu Yan is loyal, diligent, capable, and well-versed in the affairs of Shu. I believe that a decision should be made as soon as possible."

As soon as he finished speaking, several ministers echoed his sentiments.

"I second that opinion."

"Liu Yan is indeed a good choice."

Emperor Ling hummed in agreement and looked at Liu Yan, who was standing at the head of the civil officials.

Liu Yan stepped forward, bowed, and said in a steady voice, "Your Majesty trusts me greatly, and I dare not be ungrateful. However, Yizhou is remote and inhabited by both barbarians and Han Chinese. Governor Xi has served in this position for many years and I fear it will be difficult for him to leave so soon. I request that we discuss this further later."

That was well said, humble, and with the big picture in mind.

Just as Emperor Ling was about to speak, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall.

A palace attendant stumbled in and knelt down with a thud: "Your Majesty! An urgent report from Yizhou, eight hundred li away!"

The whole hall fell silent.

Emperor Ling straightened up: "Read it."

The Vice Minister unfolded the silk scroll, his hands trembling violently: "The bandits of Mianzhu and Mianxi are of opposite sides. They have gathered several thousand men, killed the county magistrate Li Sheng, opened the granaries to distribute grain, and proclaimed themselves General of Heaven."

""

The sound echoed in the hall.

Dead silence.

Then, with a buzzing sound, it exploded.

"Rebellious?!"

"Ma Xiang? Who is that?"

"Mianzhu... is only two hundred li away from Luoxian!"

The ministers whispered among themselves, their expressions varying. Some were alarmed, some frowned, and some... their eyes darted around.

Liu Yan stood there, his face completely drained of color.

His hand clenched tightly in his sleeve, his nails digging into his palm.

wrong.

The timing is wrong.

The signal Liu Jun agreed to hasn't arrived yet, so why did Ma Xiang go against it? And so much earlier than expected?!

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart, stepped forward, knelt down, and cried out in grief and indignation, "Your Majesty! Xi Jian's moral failings have led to this popular uprising! I beg you to send troops immediately to quell the rebellion and secure the nation!"

Before Emperor Ling could react, Zhang Rang sneered, "Lord Liu, when Ma Fanxiang was discussing your appointment as Governor of Yizhou, wasn't that a warning from Heaven?"

That's a harsh statement.

It directly points to Liu Yan as "inauspicious".

Liu Yan looked up, staring at Zhang Rang with cold eyes: "What do you mean by that, Attendant Zhang? Do you think that Ma Xiang is acting on my orders?"

"This old servant wouldn't dare," Zhang Rang shook his head. "It's just that the coincidences are too numerous, raising suspicions."

The two locked eyes, sparks flying.

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