stonecrandall Chapter 1079 We need civil officials, and we also need military generals!
Chapter 1079 We need civil officials, and we also need military generals!
There are no "what ifs." From the moment he accepted Emperor Wu's entrustment of his son, his fate was sealed. He would either seize power or be devoured by it. He chose the former and had to bear all the consequences.
A gust of wind blew by, and crabapple petals fluttered down. Huo Guang reached out and caught one, but suddenly felt dizzy. He grabbed a pillar, and the scene before him began to spin.
A soft white light suddenly appeared from nowhere and enveloped him. Huo Yu rushed over in terror, only to see his father's figure gradually disappear in the white light.
"Father!" The cry echoed in the courtyard.
As the white light faded, only the crabapple petal slowly drifted to the ground.
In the winter of the eighth year of the Taiyuan era, in Jiankang, at the Xie residence.
Xie An was playing chess against his nephew, Xie Xuan. The game had entered the middle stage, with the black and white pieces intertwined and difficult to separate.
"Uncle, the battle report from the front has arrived," Xie Xuan said casually, placing a piece on the board.
Xie An didn't even look up: "Read it."
"Fu Jian personally led a million-strong army south, and his vanguard had already reached Yingkou. Our army..."
"Continue playing chess," Xie An interrupted him.
Xie Xuan hesitated, but ultimately said nothing. He knew his uncle's temperament; the more important the matter, the calmer he became. But this time was different. The Qin army outnumbered the Jin army tenfold; if they were to fail, Jiangnan would be doomed.
The game continued. Xie An placed his pieces with composure, as if he were truly just playing for amusement. But Xie Xuan noticed that his uncle's hand holding the pieces was more stable than usual—a result of deliberate control.
After the game ended, Xie An won by half a point. Only then did he raise his head and look at Xie Xuan: "Xuan'er, your mind is in turmoil."
Xie Xuan smiled wryly: "With a million troops pressing in, who wouldn't be flustered?"
“When the mind is confused, the mind is clouded; when the mind is clouded, defeat is inevitable,” Xie An said slowly. “Although Fu Jian has a million troops, they are a mixture of various ethnic groups, and their morale is not unified. Although our army is small, we are united from top to bottom, determined to protect our home and country. We have a good chance of winning this battle.”
His voice was calm yet firm, possessing a peculiar infectious quality. Xie Xuan's anxiety was actually alleviated somewhat.
"Go, and proceed according to the established strategy. Remember, the Fei River is the decisive battleground," Xie An concluded.
Xie Xuan bowed and took his leave. Xie An was left alone in the study. He walked to the window and looked at the northern sky. The cold wind howled, and he could almost hear the neighing of warhorses.
He recalled his days of seclusion in Dongshan many years ago. Back then, he spent his days with nature, engaging in refined conversations with renowned scholars, thinking he could live like that for the rest of his life. But fate had not spared him; the responsibilities of the Xie family and the nation's peril had thrust him into this position.
"If Anshi refuses to step forward, what will become of the common people?" Wang Dao's words from back then have now become a reality.
He sighed softly. This battle was a matter of life and death for the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and for the lives of millions of people in Jiangnan. Victory would bring decades of peace; defeat would mean the end of everything.
"Do your best and leave the rest to fate," he muttered to himself.
Just then, a soft white light suddenly illuminated the study. Xie An turned around in surprise, only to see the light grow stronger and stronger, enveloping him completely. He felt a warm power flow through his body, sweeping away years of weariness.
"This is..." Before he could finish speaking, the white light suddenly contracted.
The study was restored to its original state, but the chessboard was now empty.
In the eighth year of Yonghe, in Yecheng, at the Imperial Palace.
Ran Min sat on the dragon throne, gazing at the empty hall. He had been on the throne for three years, establishing the Great Wei dynasty, but he knew that his position was far from secure.
The Jie, Xiongnu, Xianbei... various northern tribes were eyeing him covetously, and although his "decree to kill the barbarians" won the hearts of the Han people, it also aroused stronger resistance from the barbarians.
"Your Majesty, Shi Zhi of Xiangguo has once again assembled a large army, claiming he is seeking revenge," General Dong Run reported.
Ran Min sneered: "Let him come."
His eyes gleamed with a beastly light. From being Shi Hu's adopted grandson to destroying the Jie and establishing the Wei dynasty, his life was spent in slaughter. Sometimes, in the dead of night, he would dream of those who died by his blade—both Hu and Han. But these dreams would soon be replaced by an even stronger killing intent.
"Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts." This was a belief he firmly held.
But could he possibly kill them all? The northern nomadic tribes numbered in the millions, while his Han Chinese army had suffered heavy losses in years of warfare. Even more frightening was the fact that the Jin Dynasty in the south was also watching closely, and could march north at any moment.
"Your Majesty, the people have presented us with a 'Ten Thousand People's Umbrella' (a traditional umbrella symbolizing the well-being of the people)," the eunuch said cautiously.
Ran Min waved his hand: "Put it aside."
He didn't need these empty titles. What he wanted was to survive, and for the Han people to survive. As for how future generations would judge him, whether as a hero or a butcher, he didn't care.
He stood up and walked outside the palace. The winter in Ye City was bitterly cold, but the sun shone brightly. Outside the palace walls, the sounds of the marketplace could be faintly heard. Those people, spared because of his "Order to Kill the Hu," were now living relatively peaceful lives.
Perhaps this was all he meant, Ran Min thought. He wasn't a good emperor; he didn't know how to govern, nor how to appease the people. All he knew was how to wage war and kill. But in this chaotic world, perhaps that was enough.
"Report—urgent military intelligence!" The scout rushed over and knelt down. "Murong Jun has personally led the Yan army south and has already crossed the Yi River!"
A cold glint flashed in Ran Min's eyes: "You've come at the perfect time."
He turned back into the hall and took down the double-edged spear hanging on the wall. This weapon had been with him for many years, drinking the blood of countless enemies. Today, it would be drawn once more.
"Order the entire army to assemble!" His voice echoed in the hall.
The moment he donned his armor, a soft white light suddenly enveloped the entire palace. Ran Min looked up in surprise, only to see the light grow stronger and stronger, completely enveloping him. He tried to struggle, but found himself unable to move.
"What is this...?" Before the words were finished, the white light suddenly contracted.
Inside the main hall, only the double-edged spear remained, quietly leaning against the wall.
In the winter of the third year of Jian'an, at the White Gate Tower in Xiapi.
Lu Bu sat atop the city tower, gazing at the campfires of Cao Cao's army outside the city. The flickering flames, like countless stars, completely surrounded Xiapi.
"Lord Wen, the city's food supplies can only last for ten days at most," Gao Shun said in a low voice.
Lü Bu did not answer. He picked up his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp. The wine was a fine, aged brew, but now it tasted incredibly bitter.
Once upon a time, Lü Bu roamed the world, invincible. At Hulao Pass, even the combined forces of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei could only manage a draw against him; outside Puyang, Cao Cao was so humiliated by him that he cut off his beard and abandoned his robe. How glorious and exhilarating those days were!
But now, he is trapped in a lonely city, abandoned by all. Chen Gong, Zhang Liao... these once loyal subordinates are now utterly disappointed in him. Even his most beloved Diao Chan has worry in her eyes.
"Was I wrong?" he suddenly asked.
Gao Shun paused for a moment: "Lord Wen is the bravest in the world, but..."