Chapter 138: Imperial Inspection! Vowing to Eliminate Yuan Shao for the Sake of the Throne

How could one describe Liu Xie’s emotions at this moment? As he gazed upon the silent and disciplined formation under the blazing sun, when all the soldiers turned their heads in unison towards him, he felt the awe-inspiring might of the military force!

Unbidden, Liu Xie’s blood began to boil atop his horse. From the ranks before him, he sensed an indescribable yet immense power.

Now, these valiant sons of Great Han awaited their Emperor’s inspection!

“Your Majesty, it’s time to ascend the platform.”

Seeing Liu Xie pause on horseback, Yuan Shao promptly reminded him from behind, feeling a growing concern. Could Ju Shou have been right, that the grandeur of the troops would intimidate the young Emperor?

Just as Yuan Shao anxiously pondered how to salvage the situation, Liu Xie spurred his horse forward. Riding past each regiment neatly aligned, soldiers bowed their heads wherever he passed, expressing their loyalty to the Emperor.

Approaching the towering commander’s platform, nearly ten meters high, Liu Xie flicked his crimson cape. Under the watchful eyes of all the soldiers, he ascended the steps one by one.

As he climbed, two burly men with bare chests pounded the massive tiger-skin drum with thick drumsticks.

“Boom—!”

The drumbeats were deep and resonant, reverberating within their hearts.

With each three steps Liu Xie ascended, the drum sounded once—a precise rhythm.

After nine beats, Liu Xie reached the top of the commander’s platform.

A solemn hush fell over the entire assembly.

Wind stirred up swirling clouds of sand as horses whinnied amidst the silent ranks.

Liu Xie stood tall on the elevated stage, his cape fluttering audibly behind him.

Under countless fervent gazes, he surveyed the formidable army below from atop the platform. In the eyes of these soldiers, he saw fanaticism; upon their faces, unwavering loyalty.

“My valiant warriors!” Under the watchful eyes of all present, Liu Xie spoke with gravitas:

“Since the rise of the yellow turbans, chaos has engulfed the land, and war rages relentlessly. Across the Nine Provinces, traitors abound, placing our nation at imminent peril, endangering lives like a suspended thread!

“Dong Zhuo first disrupted the imperial order, followed by Yuan Shu usurping the throne.”

“Now! Sun Ce of Jiangdong seizes control, carving out his own domain. Cao Cao in Yanzhou falsely proclaims himself Emperor; Liu Biao in Jingzhou defies imperial decrees.”

“This is truly a time of grave crisis for the Great Han, teetering between survival and extinction!

“Endowed by Heaven above and entrusted by the people below, we ascended to the throne amidst adversity, striving tirelessly day and night to revive the Great Han Dynasty!

“We implore you, brave warriors, to courageously vanquish our enemies, aiding us in turning back the tide of chaos and saving the crumbling edifice of our empire!”

Liu Xie’s voice resonated with power, deeply affecting each soldier beneath the commander’s platform.

“Whenever faced with battle, our warriors must fight valiantly, shedding blood and sacrificing their lives for the nation! Even if bones pile high as mountains and rivers run red with blood, there shall be no regrets!”

“The scholars, offering their utmost devotion;”

“The soldiers, risking their lives on the edge of swords;”

“The generals, soaked in blood to their sleeves;”

“The commanders, wielding gleaming blades!”

“Your blood, sweat, and achievements—” Liu Xie clenched his fists and forcefully struck his chest, causing armor plates to clang resoundingly. With emphasis on every word, he declared, “Are forever etched in Our heart!”

Upon hearing these words, tens of thousands of soldiers couldn’t help but well up with emotion, their hearts ablaze with fervor! It was clear that the Emperor acknowledged their deeds!

Liu Xie’s piercing gaze swept across the entire assembly, prompting every soldier under his scrutiny to unconsciously stand even more erect.

“My brave men, will you assist Us in quelling rebellions and subduing disloyalty? Will you follow the Great General fearlessly, to conquer Yi City?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang He and Gao Luan beside the commander’s platform dropped to one knee, shouting loudly:

“We pledge to follow Your Majesty! To crush all disloyalty!”

In response, tens of thousands of Yuan Shao’s troops also knelt on one knee, roaring together:

“We pledge to follow Your Majesty! To crush all disloyalty!”

“We stand with Your Majesty! Crush all traitors!”

The thunderous roar from tens of thousands of soldiers escalated the battlefield’s killing intent and fighting spirit to its peak!

Liu Xie’s eyes gleamed with unwavering determination. “Sun, moon, mountains, and rivers endure forever! The southern lands of Great Han shall prevail forever! Glory to the Han Army!”

“Glory to Your Majesty!”

“Glory to the Han Army!”

“Glory to Your Majesty!”

With fierce resolve, Liu Xie unsheathed the Sword of the Son of Heaven and declared, “March forth—!”

“Clang—!”

In response, the resounding sound of swords being drawn filled the air, accompanied by surging battle fervor.

“Charge!”

Liu Xie held the Sword of the Son of Heaven firmly, his expression resolute as he listened to the nearly frenzied chants echoing around him, feeling his blood boil.

“Yes, that’s it!”

“Remember, your loyalty lies with us, the Son of Heaven and Emperor of Great Han, not Yuan Shao!”

His vigorous efforts today to boost Yuan Shao’s soldiers’ morale were not driven by a desire for performance; rather, he aimed to seize this opportunity to establish his image and authority within the hearts of these troops!

Although only thirty thousand men stood before him now, word would swiftly spread—from ten to a hundred—and soon all of Yuan Shao’s soldiers would know that Yuan Shao serves under the Emperor.

While they may be Yuan Shao’s soldiers, first and foremost, they are the Emperor’s!

Below the commander’s platform,

Ju Yi, Chunyu Qiong, Tian Feng, and others gazed up at Liu Xie with fervent expressions, their spirits stirred by his impassioned speech. They yearned to draw their swords in response!

Only Yuan Shao appeared somewhat stunned, not because Liu Xie’s inspection had been ineffective but quite the opposite—it was too effective!

Even if Yuan Shao himself had addressed the troops, he doubted he could have achieved such an impact!

Firstly, the Emperor’s status carried immense weight.

Secondly, Liu Xie’s speech genuinely resonated deeply with the audience.

Yuan Shao felt his own blood boiling just listening—how much more so must it affect ordinary soldiers?

However…

Yuan Shao glanced at Liu Xie’s commanding figure on the commander’s platform, then at the immensely excited soldiers whose morale soared to its peak, and finally at the equally enthused civil officials and generals standing beside him. With a furrowed brow, he fell into deep thought.

Something didn’t feel right, but what exactly was amiss?

Meanwhile, Ju Shou maintained a grim expression throughout, his face darkening visibly.

At the Marquis Estate in Yi City:

“Report—!”

A scout rushed into the main hall, his expression anxious as he urgently informed Gongsun Zan, “General! Yuan Shao has mobilized all his troops; they’re nearly at our gates!”

The news instantly startled everyone present.

Gongsun Zan’s eyes turned stern, and he rose to ask, “Mobilized all their troops? Did the entire thirty-thousand-strong army move out? Are you certain you didn’t misinterpret anything?!”

The scout nodded emphatically, “General, it is indeed a full-scale deployment!”

Finally, Gongsun Zan could not hide his changing countenance.

For some time now, both he and Yuan Shao had been engaged in probing each other with small-scale attacks, never deploying more than ten thousand soldiers at once. But this time, Yuan Shao had unleashed his entire force against him!

Could it be that Yuan Shao was desperate enough to go all-in?

With expressions shifting rapidly, Gongsun Zan promptly issued orders, “Relay the command for immediate military preparations! Send someone to notify Tian Kai and instruct him to lead reinforcements here!”

“Yes, sir!” The scout acknowledged the order and withdrew.

Without delay, Gongsun Zan led his generals, including Gongsun Fan, Tian Yu, Yan Gang, and Zhao Yun, to ascend the city walls for reconnaissance.

As they stood atop the wall, Gongsun Zan’s heart sank upon taking in the sight before him.

Outside the city, a dense sea of black stretched as far as the eye could see, filled entirely with Yuan Shao’s troops!

An overwhelming sense of pressure washed over them. Even with his extensive battle experience, Gongsun Zan couldn’t help but feel a growing unease.

The sight of this 30,000-strong army leaving their encampment signaled that Yuan Shao was determined to conquer Yi City at any cost, disregarding potential casualties.

At the forefront of his forces, Yuan Shao spurred his horse forward and shouted towards the city walls, “Gongsun Zan! Today, His Majesty has personally led the imperial expedition, marking your imminent defeat!”

Gongsun Zan’s heart jolted with shock upon hearing these words.

The Emperor embarked on an imperial campaign? That fool Yuan Shao actually brought the Emperor to the battlefield!

After delivering his message, Yuan Shao stepped respectfully aside as a youth clad in black armor atop a white horse approached.

“I am Liu Xie, the Son of Heaven of Great Han, leading our mighty forces to reclaim Yōuzhou! If you still consider yourselves subjects of the Han Empire and loyal officials, surrender immediately by exiting the city!” demanded Liu Xie.

“Surrender!”

Yuan Shao’s troops clashed their weapons vigorously, roaring in unison.

Liu Xie maintained a stoic expression, but internally, he felt somewhat bitter. He had initially thought merely showing himself would be enough to boost the morale of the soldiers. To his surprise, Yuan Shao insisted on having him address the defenders of Yi City from the front lines!

“Gongsun Zan, oh Gongsun Zan, you must not surrender; stand firm! We don’t expect you to be a staunch loyalist of Great Han anymore; just keep Yuan Shao occupied,” Liu Xie silently prayed.

This move by Yuan Shao was truly ruthless. Having just inspected the troops, the soldiers were now brimming with fervor, their spirits soaring due to the Emperor’s presence, granting them a significant buff across the entire army.

Meanwhile, within Yi City, the soldiers were devastated upon realizing they had become targets of the Emperor’s wrath.

If they resisted, wouldn’t that make them rebels? The debuff would be overwhelming.

As long as the Son of Heaven remained alive, he was considered divine by the common people!

Even if granted a thousand lifetimes’ worth of courage, none dared to raise arms against the Emperor.

“The Son of Heaven leads the imperial expedition himself! Have we…have we become traitors?”

“Let’s open the city gates and surrender…”

“If we resist, we’ll surely be branded as rebels, facing execution for our entire clans!”

“We must not fight back, no, absolutely not!”

On the walls of Yi City, the soldiers, upon hearing about the Emperor’s personal command of the campaign, fell into utter dismay. Their fighting spirit and morale plummeted instantly, with some even dropping their weapons.

As soldiers and subjects of Great Han, who among them dared to draw swords against the Son of Heaven?

The awe-inspiring authority of Great Han, accumulated over four centuries, had deeply rooted itself in their hearts. They enlisted to earn military merit, climb ranks, and secure wealth, all for a means of sustenance—not rebellion!

“That old bastard Yuan Shao!” Gongsun Zan seethed internally at the sight of his troops’ shattered morale, wishing fervently to shoot Yuan Shao dead with a single arrow.

Yuan Shao’s move was truly vicious, completely demolishing the resolve of Gongsun Zan’s forces!

At this rate, there was no need to fight at all! If Gongsun Zan ordered a counterattack, his soldiers might revolt and turn their swords against him.

Gongsun Fan, Yan Gang, and other generals wore grim expressions, fully aware of the dire situation.

The atmosphere grew increasingly oppressive.

Amidst the silence, Tian Yu stepped forward and asked, “General, do you remember the memorial I wrote detailing Yuan Shao’s crimes?”

“The memorial on Yuan Shao’s crimes?”

Of course, Gongsun Zan remembered. Several years ago, when attacking Yuan Shao, he had submitted such a memorial to the imperial court. This time, anticipating Yuan Shao’s assault, he specifically requested Tian Yu to rewrite another memorial listing Yuan Shao’s offenses.

But what use was it now? The Emperor himself was present!

Tian Yu urgently said, “Our only option is for you, General, to acknowledge the Emperor’s authority. Then declare that Yuan Shao disrespects His Majesty, making him akin to Dong Zhuo—a treacherous villain who even dares to hold the Emperor hostage on the battlefield.”

“Next, publicly enumerate Yuan Shao’s crimes as detailed in the memorial, rallying under the banner of purging traitors from the court. By defeating Yuan Shao and rescuing the Emperor, we can restore morale!”

Initially, Gongsun Zan refused to recognize the Emperor before him, knowing he was merely Yuan Shao’s puppet. However, circumstances left him with no choice but to acknowledge him now.

Since his soldiers acknowledged Liu Xie’s authority, Gongsun Zan had no choice but to follow suit or risk being labeled a rebel outright. Thus, he must forge a new path by raising the banner of rescuing the Emperor from treacherous influence.

“Excellent!” Overjoyed, Gongsun Zan swiftly ascended the city gate tower and knelt on one knee before Liu Xie.

“This humble servant, Inspector of Yōuzhou, Gongsun Zan, greets Your Majesty!”

Outside the city walls, Yuan Shao initially smiled upon witnessing this scene. However, his grin quickly froze as Gongsun Zan, after paying respects to the Emperor, launched into a scathing tirade directed at him:

“Yuan Shao! You despicable traitor, daring to bring His Majesty to the battlefield! With such peril lurking here, how could you disregard the safety of our sovereign? What nefarious intentions do you harbor?”

“Yuan, the traitor, your disrespect towards the Emperor is no different from that Scoundrel Dong Zhuo!”

Well said! Liu Xie’s eyes lit up immediately. Gongsun Zan had brilliantly turned the tables—Yuan Shao, once holding the moral high ground, was now branded as a usurper using the Emperor to manipulate others.

Yuan Shao’s face darkened, and he scoffed, “His Majesty heard of your stubborn resistance and refusal to submit, thus personally leading the expedition. When have I ever held the Emperor captive, General Gongsun?

“Gongsun Zan! Cease your baseless accusations! Surrender forthwith, or when His Majesty breaches Yi City, everyone shall be held accountable for their crimes!”

As he spoke, Cao Cao subtly signaled to Liu Xie.

Liu Xie sighed inwardly but had no choice but to play along. “General Gongsun, indeed, I am not being held hostage by the Great General. Please swiftly surrender and leave the city.”

“Your Majesty!” Gongsun Zan expressed his deep anguish sincerely. “I am well aware that Your Majesty is under Yuan Shao’s control, leaving you compelled to say these words. Fear not, Your Majesty. This subject vows to slay the Yuan traitor and liberate Your Majesty!”

Gongsun Zan glanced at his own soldiers, then turned towards Yuan Shao’s troops, raising his voice:

“This subject presents seven indictments against Yuan Shao before His Majesty, for all loyal subjects of Great Han to bear witness!

“The first indictment: Yuan Shao invited Dong Zhuo to Luo Yang, becoming the root cause of the Scoundrel Dong’s tyranny.

“The second indictment: When Dong Zhuo seized power and held the Emperor captive, Yuan Shao failed to resist him. Instead, he abandoned his duty, fled with disgrace, and neglected his responsibilities as a minister.

“The third indictment: As Governor of Bohai, Yuan Shao prepared military forces to oppose Dong Zhuo without informing his family beforehand, resulting in over fifty clan members losing their lives—a grave act of filial impiety!

“The fourth indictment: After raising an army, Yuan Shao disregarded the nation’s hardships, focusing on expanding his influence across regions, plundering wealthy families, and exploiting common citizens, earning widespread resentment from all.”

“Fifth crime: Yuan Shao and Han Fu conspired to establish their own court, forging imperial edicts with a counterfeit jade seal inscribed with ‘By decree, the Seal of Marquis of Xiang,’ mirroring Wang Mang’s rebellion!”

“Sixth crime: Sun Jian, Governor of Changsha County and acting Inspector of Yuzhou, drove out Dong Zhuo, cleansed the imperial tombs, and achieved great merit. Yet, Yuan Shao ordered Zhou Ang to usurp his position, undermining the grand plan against Dong Zhuo.”

“Seventh crime: Yuan Shao seized control over the Emperor, forcing His Majesty onto perilous battlefields, proving himself a traitorous rebel!”

“Yuan Shao, a deceitful villain, disloyal to the Emperor and defiant towards the Han Dynasty, has committed heinous crimes beyond redemption! Due to my unwavering loyalty to the Han Dynasty, I became an obstacle on Yuan Shao’s path to fulfill his nefarious ambitions, prompting him to attack me. Unable to conquer us swiftly, he has now insanely resorted to holding the Emperor hostage here!”

As Gongsun Zan spoke, he unsheathed his sword, gripped its sharp blade firmly, disregarding the blood streaming from his hand, and forcefully snapped it in two.

“I solemnly swear to slay Yuan Shao and cleanse the treachery surrounding Your Majesty!”

“If I betray this oath, let my fate be as this broken sword!”

His words sent shockwaves through the entire gathering.

Both Yuan Shao’s and Gongsun Zan’s armies were stunned.

Who was truly loyal? And who was the traitor?