sjar Chapter 1294 Usurping the Throne and Granting Titles to Princes
Chapter 1294 Usurping the Throne and Granting Titles to Princes
As Yuan Shang drew closer, the twelve symbols on his imperial robes stung his eyes. Liu Xie's throat tightened, and a bitter feeling welled up in his nose: "Ancestors... Your unfilial son Liu Xie... is utterly incompetent..." He closed his eyes, letting tears slide down his cheeks, dripping onto the imperial seal and spreading out a small wet patch.
"If our ancestors have spirits... if Heaven has eyes..." he cried out in his heart, "Slay this usurper! Save the Han Dynasty... save the Han Dynasty!"
Just then, the sky, which had been bright and sunny, suddenly changed. Gray clouds, like spilled ink, instantly soaked the entire firmament. A gust of wind whipped through the air, carrying sand and gravel, causing the banners on either side of the platform to flutter wildly. The people below gasped and covered their faces in alarm. Immediately afterward, a muffled rumble of thunder rolled across the horizon, its deep roar echoing through the clouds, making everyone's eardrums vibrate.
Liu Xie shuddered, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes. Could it be that his ancestors had truly appeared to him? He stared intently at Yuan Shang's back, his heart pounding like a drum, almost leaping out of his throat.
But the rumble of thunder only echoed in the sky, without any actual lightning strike. Yuan Shang frowned, his gaze sweeping to both sides, his expression darkening.
"An auspicious sign! This is an extremely auspicious sign!" Feng Ji reacted the fastest, suddenly kneeling down and shouting, "The thunder from the sky is a sign that Heaven and Earth are responding to the Prince of Ji's abdication and are specially celebrating! This is proof that the Mandate of Heaven has been bestowed upon him!"
Xu You, Wang Yun, and others immediately knelt down, shouting "Long live the King of Ji!" The civil and military officials and soldiers in golden armor below the stage followed suit, kneeling down in a dense, dark mass. The shouts of "Long live the King!" drowned out the wind and thunder, soaring straight into the sky.
The gloom on Yuan Shang's face vanished instantly, replaced by an undisguised smile. He straightened his robes and continued to steadily ascend the platform, each step becoming increasingly firm.
As Liu Xie watched him approach, his legs felt like lead, and he involuntarily took a step back, yielding the main seat that symbolized the supreme position.
Yuan Shang walked to the center of the high platform, turned around and stood proudly. His gaze swept over the kneeling crowd below the platform like a hawk. The jade beads on his crown tassels swayed gently, reflecting the high spirits in his eyes.
Liu Xie took a deep breath, his hands trembling uncontrollably as he held the imperial seal, and slowly knelt before Yuan Shang. His voice was hoarse and dry, tinged with tears, yet he had no choice but to read from the prepared script: "Since I... have ruled the world, my blessings and virtues have been meager, causing turmoil throughout the land and the warlords to fight amongst themselves. Fortunately, the Yuan family is loyal and brave, clearing away the chaos and protecting the people... I know that the Mandate of Heaven has changed, the fate of the Han Dynasty has run its course, and the Mandate of Heaven has returned to the Yuan family. Today, I hereby abdicate the throne to the Prince of Ji, and I beseech you... to accept the seal."
Yuan Shang stared at the seal held high above Liu Xie's head, his fingertips trembling slightly, his eyes gleaming with an almost overflowing greed. He reached out and took the heavy jade seal, then handed it to Feng Ji beside him, his tone deliberately composed: "My Yuan family gained the throne from the Liu family, and we should be grateful." He looked at Liu Xie, who was kneeling on the ground, and slowly said, "I hereby confer upon Liu Xie the title of Duke of Shanyang, with a fief of ten thousand households. He may establish an ancestral hall within his fief to worship the ancestors of the Liu family, ensuring their continued ancestral rites."
Liu Xie prostrated himself on the ground, kowtowing deeply. His voice was unreadable, only saying, "Thank you... for your permission, Your Majesty."
Two eunuchs stepped forward and helped him up. His back was hunched, and the hem of his ceremonial robes dragged on the steps like a withered leaf blown by the wind, slowly disappearing into the shadow of the high platform.
On the high platform, Yuan Shang turned around, facing the swirling sand and the deafening roars of "Long live the Emperor!", and slowly raised his hand. At that moment, the wind in Ye City seemed to stop, leaving only the prelude to a new dynasty, quietly unfolding amidst the muffled thunder and the clamor of the crowd.
The eunuch's high-pitched voice rang out again, carrying an undeniable solemnity: "A new dynasty has been established, and all things are renewed—"
He cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below, and said, word by word: "The Yuan family originated in Ji Province, and their roots have been there for generations. The late King Yuan Shao managed Hebei, and the people were loyal to him; the throne passed to the fourth ruler, Yuan Shang, who inherited his father's will, pacified You, Ji, Qing, and Yan provinces, and his prestige grew daily. Now, having received the abdication of the Han emperor, he ascends the throne and establishes the state of 'Ji' to honor his homeland and to fulfill the mandate of heaven!"
The moment the name "Ji" was chosen, a thunderous roar of cheers erupted from the audience. Jizhou was the place where the Yuan family rose to power. Using "Ji" as the name of the state not only showed that they had not forgotten their roots, but also revealed their determination to firmly hold onto this land, making the people who were born and raised there feel even closer to them.
Yuan Shang stood on the high platform, gazing at the surging crowd below, his hand gripping the imperial seal tightening slightly. "Ji" was both the name of his homeland and a symbol of hope. He wanted this name of the state to be the beginning of peace and tranquility for the world, and for the glory of Ji Province to spread far and wide.
The wind whipped the banners, making them flutter loudly. The rising sun of the new dynasty seemed to be slowly rising from behind the clouds, illuminating the banner bearing the character "冀" (Ji), and also illuminating this land that carried hope and ambition.
The palace walls of Ye City shone with new brilliance in the morning light. The temporary palace hastily built for Emperor Xian of Han, Liu Xie, had long been demolished and rebuilt, replaced by the magnificent Ji Dynasty Palace—an expansion of the original Ji Prince's Mansion. The vermilion palace walls reflected the rising sun, and the glazed tiles shimmered with light, exuding the atmosphere of a new dynasty.
The enthronement ceremony and subsequent bestowal of titles were held here. Yuan Shang, dressed in a black dragon robe, sat on the dragon throne in the newly completed Taiji Hall. His gaze swept over the dark mass of officials below him, and he said loudly, "The name of the nation has been determined, and the rites should be established."
As soon as the words were spoken, the eunuch loudly proclaimed the imperial edict: "The Princess Consort of Ji is hereby conferred the title of Empress, to reside in the Central Palace, and to oversee the six palaces." The Empress, dressed in a phoenix robe, gracefully stepped forward to receive the homage of the officials, her face bearing a dignified smile.
"The edict posthumously honors my late father Yuan Shao as Emperor Wu of Ji, and he shall be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple." Upon hearing this edict, all of Yuan's former subordinates were moved to tears, and the veteran generals who had fought alongside Yuan Shao in the past kowtowed repeatedly, exclaiming, "May the spirit of Emperor Taizu be with us!"
Immediately afterwards, the list of award recipients was announced one by one:
"Xu You, Feng Ji, and Wang Yun are hereby appointed as the Three Dukes, to jointly govern the court." The two stepped forward to express their gratitude, their expressions solemn.
"Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Zhang He, and Gao Lan, with outstanding military achievements, are hereby granted the title of General Who Guards the Nation and are assigned to guard important towns in the four directions." The four generals, clasped in their bright armor, clasped their hands in acceptance of the order, their voices booming like bells.
The other civil and military officials also received rewards, some becoming ministers and others prefects. From the central government to the local level, everyone received a share and everyone accepted the order.
Outside the palace, the people of Ye City had already gathered upon hearing the news. Seeing that the bestowal of titles and rewards was complete, they cheered with joy. Children ran around waving small flags with the character "冀" (Ji) written on them, vendors set up stalls along the streets, and even taverns hung up signs that read "Celebrating the New Dynasty, Drinks Half Price."
Inside the Taiji Hall, Yuan Shang looked at the orderly civil and military officials below the steps, and listened to the cheers coming from outside the palace. He raised his wine cup and said loudly to the court officials, "May our Ji Dynasty be prosperous and peaceful, and enjoy lasting peace!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" The thunderous shouts of worship, mingled with the laughter outside the palace, heralded the beginning of the Ji Dynasty.
Inside the Taiji Hall, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. Yuan Shang sat upright on the dragon throne, listening to Xu You and Wang Yun's detailed analysis: "The new dynasty has just been established. Although the feudal lords in all directions have not openly rebelled, they have made many secret movements. If we suddenly raise an army, it may be difficult to achieve success in one fell swoop. It would be better to follow the example of our ancestors who 'held the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords,' and win them over with high-ranking positions and generous salaries to first appease them and then plan our next move."
Yuan Shang tapped the armrest of the dragon throne with his fingertips, pondered for a moment, and then nodded: "What you two say is absolutely right. Convey my decree, draft a proclamation to announce to the world, and enfeoff the princes."
A moment later, the draft proclamation was placed on the table, and Yuan Shang picked up his pen to make annotations:
"Ma Chao was appointed Grand General and still called the King of Liang, in charge of all the troops in the world—it was just an empty title. He was far away in Xiliang, and his influence was too great. This position was just to let him live a peaceful life."
"Liu Bei was known for his benevolence and virtue. He occupied the Shu region and was appointed General of Chariots and Cavalry, King of Shu, and Governor of Yi Province, which temporarily appeased his mind."
"Cao Cao dominated the Central Plains and wielded considerable power. He was granted the titles of General of the Cavalry, King of Wei, and Governor of Yu Province to comfort him after his hardships."
“Sun Shao of Jiangdong inherited the legacy of his father and grandfather, settled in a corner of the country, was enfeoffed as the King of Wu, and granted the title of King of Wu, which was hereditary and perpetual, thus stabilizing the southeastern half of the country.”
Once the decree was issued, four carefully selected envoys immediately accepted the mission, carrying imperial edicts stamped with the imperial seal and generous gifts, and set off for Chang'an, Xiangyang, Qiao County, and Jiangdong respectively.
Before his departure, Yuan Shang summoned the envoy and gave him instructions: "Ma Chao is fierce, so you must be respectful in your words; Liu Bei is good at deception, so you must be courteous; Cao Cao is suspicious, so you should show him that he is not a threat; Sun Shao is young, so you can promise him the benefits of trade. Remember, what I want is not their genuine submission, but a temporary halt to the war, so that I can consolidate my power before discussing the great cause of unification."
The envoys bowed and accepted their orders, each carrying their mission, and rode swiftly to their respective destinations. In a short time, the banners of the Ji Dynasty shuttled back and forth on the post roads leading to various states, and the imperial edicts of the new dynasty, like invisible nets, were quietly cast across the land.
Xu You watched the envoys disappear at the end of the post road, then turned to Yuan Shang and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, the new dynasty has just been established, and although the rewards have been generous, the hearts of the feudal lords are hard to fathom, and they may not truly be content. In my opinion, we should make early arrangements for military preparedness so that we can be fearless."
Yuan Shang nodded: "What good plan do you have, sir?"
“Shen Pei is already stationed in Youzhou. He is strict in governing the army and can be promoted to Governor of Youzhou, in charge of the military and political affairs of Youzhou and in charge of the border areas.” Xu You walked to the map hanging in the hall and pointed to the Youzhou territory with his finger. “I will also send General Yan Liang, the General of the West, and General Wen Chou, the General of the North, to accompany him. Firstly, to help Shen Pei consolidate the defenses, and secondly, to guard against any movements from Bingzhou. Ma Chao is eyeing Xiliang with hostility. If Bingzhou is lost, it could become a future problem.”
He pointed his finger toward the Central Plains: "Yanzhou is the eastern gateway to our dynasty's heartland. Cao Cao has deep roots in Yuzhou, so we must be wary of him. We can appoint Zhang He as General Who Guards the East and Gao Lan as General Who Guards the South, leading troops to garrison Yanzhou, forming a defensive triangle. If Cao Cao makes any move, we can immediately rush to his aid."
“Qingzhou is adjacent to Xuzhou. Cao Ang is gathering his old troops in Xuzhou. Although his power is not yet strong, he is still a potential threat.” Xu You then pointed to the east, “We can send General Gao Gan and General Chunyu Qiong to Qingzhou to reorganize the military and guard the key points to prevent Xuzhou troops from invading the north.”
Yuan Shang stared at the map, his fingertips tracing the direction Xu You pointed, and his eyes gradually revealed approval: "With such a deployment, there are barriers on all sides. Even if the feudal lords cause chaos, our dynasty can deal with it calmly."
"That is exactly what I meant," Xu You said, bowing. "As long as the defenses are in place, even if they are disobedient, they will have little chance to take advantage of us."
Yuan Shang immediately approved: "Granted. Convey my decree: Yan Liang and Wen Chou are to be dispatched to Youzhou immediately, Zhang He and Gao Lan to guard Yanzhou, and Gao Gan and Chunyu Qiong to go to Qingzhou, each leading their own troops. They must take up their posts within half a month without fail!"
"Your subject obeys the decree!" came the reply from outside the hall.
As soon as the decree was issued, the military camps inside and outside Ye City sprang into action. Bugles sounded one after another, soldiers donned their armor and prepared their horses, provisions and supplies were loaded onto wagons, and column after column of troops marched off, kicking up dust, towards their respective defense zones. Under the sunlight, the "Ji" banner fluttered in the wind, and the first line of defense for the new dynasty was quietly unfolding across this land with the movement of troops.
Yuan Shang stood at the palace gate, watching the army formation recede into the distance outside the city. He knew in his heart that this was only the beginning. The world was not yet settled, and the real contest had only just begun.