Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1290 The Grand Strategy of the World: Yuan Shang's Delusions

In the winter of 205 AD, the north wind swept across the Central Plains with swirling snowflakes. Three years had passed since Yuan Shao's death. During these three years, Ma Chao was bogged down in the high-altitude war, and the sounds of the Qiang flute and the hoofbeats were trapped in the snowy mountains and valleys, unable to reach the Central Plains for a long time.

Meanwhile, the flames of war in the Central Plains never ceased. Liu Bei personally led a large army into the south, swiftly conquering the counties of Zangke and Yuexi. Zhuge Liang personally went to the barbarian lands, while Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun led separate expeditions, finally bringing all of the southern barbarian lands under his control. When the news of the victory arrived, the people of Jingzhou cheered in the streets, but Liu Bei stood before the map with a furrowed brow—although the south was pacified, his eastward advance was still firmly blocked by the Yangtze River.

The garrison atop Changsha had changed their banners; Liu Bei's "Han" banner fluttered in the cold wind. Yet, standing on the riverbank and gazing into the distance, the warships of Jiangdong lay like silver serpents on the water, while Zhou Yu's command flag loomed faintly above Caishiji. For three years, the Jingzhou navy had trained tirelessly, yet they had still failed to breach the natural barrier of the Yangtze River. Guan Yu had led his troops in several attempts to cross, but each time they were forced back by Zhou Yu's fire attacks, turning the river water crimson, even causing schools of fish to rise to the surface.

In the Jiangdong camp, Zhou Yu, protecting the young lord Sun Shao, silently gazed at the beacon towers on the opposite bank. The Yangtze River was both a protective barrier for Jiangdong and a shackle binding them—to advance north into the Central Plains, they had to first break through the Huainan defense line; to take Jingzhou to the west, they feared Liu Bei's potential counterattack.

In the council hall of Xiangyang, Liu Bei slammed the map of Changsha onto the table. Zhang Fei, unable to contain his anger, roared, "Brother, give me three thousand elite soldiers! I'll swim there and drag Zhou Yu out!" Zhuge Liang, waving his feather fan, sighed softly, "Yide, be patient. The navy is not ready. A direct attack will only result in losses." An urgent report came from outside the tent, saying that Zhou Yu had added three more layers of defense at Ruxu. Liu Bei looked at the map of the Yangtze River on the table, his fingertips tracing the curve of the Yangtze, and finally let out a heavy sigh.

Snow fell on the river and melted instantly. The beacon fires on both banks faced each other from afar. On one side was Liu Bei's vigor in recapturing Changsha, and on the other was Zhou Yu's composure in defending the Yangtze River. Both were developing silently in this standoff.

Standing atop the city wall of Changsha, Liu Bei gazed at the smoke rising from the chimneys north of the river, his mind filled with countless thoughts. He dared not venture eastward with full force, for the shadow behind him grew ever heavier: Cao Cao had completely seized Nanyang Commandery, and Chenliu, Runan, and Xuzhou were connected, forming a pincer movement that was slowly tightening its encirclement of Jingzhou.

"Next spring, we will surely take Qiao Commandery," Liu Bei said, pointing emphatically at the map. His generals roared in agreement, the wine cups on the table rattling. Everyone knew that Cao Cao had been too "peaceful" these past two years: Yuan Shao's Gao Lan held firm in Yan Province, preventing him from advancing even a fraction of an inch, yet Cao Cao had seized Nanyang with lightning speed while Liu Bei was busy conquering the south, even changing the name of Wancheng to Cao's. Now, the beacon towers of Cao Cao's army could be seen in the wheat fields outside Xuchang.

Cao Cao's peace of mind was shattered when Liu Bei returned with his army. He was constantly awakened by nightmares, dreaming of the battle at Xuchang, in which he lost nine generals. Although he had new recruits to replenish his ranks, he could no longer find a general capable of leading independently. In contrast, Liu Bei had taken over Liu Zhang's territory in Shu, recruited civil officials such as Huang Quan and Wang Lei, and had veteran generals like Yan Yan and Deng Xian surrender. With the addition of the Five Tiger Generals—Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong, and Wen Tingjian—he had nearly half as many generals as Cao Cao.

What troubled Cao Cao even more was the undercurrents behind him. Cao Ang was isolated in Xuzhou, and all the civil and military officials of the Cao family knew that Cao Cao dared not be too close to him, yet the second-generation sons were all flocking to him. Cao Cao looked at the white hair at his temples in the bronze mirror, and his cough grew more and more violent. If he made Cao Ang his heir, he feared that Cao Ang would hand over the foundation to others; he wanted to make Cao Pi his heir, but he couldn't stop the increasingly dense wings under Cao Ang's command; he wanted to lead his army south, but he feared that Ma Chao was lurking behind him, ready to come at any moment and drag him into an abyss. This Central Plains, seemingly the hub of the world, had in reality become a battleground on all sides, and even the medicine on the table had taken on a bitter taste.

In those chaotic times, with war raging everywhere, the world order had already been quietly reshaped amidst the clash of swords.

In the northwest, Ma Chao's military banners fluttered, firmly rooted in the Guanzhong Plain. His banners flew over Chang'an, Luoyang, and Xuchang, these three formidable cities acting as iron bridgeheads, controlling the throat of the Central Plains. Gongsun Zan, the governor of Bingzhou, had long since followed Ma Chao's lead, his iron cavalry sweeping across the Taihang Mountains, echoing the northwest. Although he only controlled three commanderies in Yizhou, his ferocity intimidated the Shu region, preventing Liu Bei's forces in Yizhou from making any rash moves. While Ma Chao rarely intervened in the conflicts of the Central Plains, he was like a lurking tiger, lying dormant west of Hangu Pass. The prestige of his iron cavalry was enough to keep any warlord awake at night; everyone knew that once that blood-stained, golden tiger-headed spear was drawn, it could never be sheathed again.

Although Sun Shao inherited his father's power and possessed the natural defenses of the Yangtze River, Jianye, the capital of Jiangdong, remained an enigma. Rumors circulated that this young ruler of Jiangdong secretly maintained connections with the northwest and even regarded Ma Chao as a father figure. If Ma Chao were to march eastward, Jiangdong's warships would undoubtedly sail downstream to support him. Therefore, when the other warlords discussed Jiangdong, they all said, "It is not to be feared, but it must be guarded against," for it was like a sword sheathed, its hilt seemingly held by Ma Chao.

The land of Jingchu was now Liu Bei's domain. Though he had lost Nanyang, he firmly held the heart of Jingzhou and had even brought half of Yizhou under his control. In the thousands of miles of wild and untamed south, he subdued the barbarians with a policy of appeasement, and tribal leaders were willing to die for him. Vast tracts of land were covered with the banner of "Liu." Now, Liu Bei's army was poised to strike Hanzhong, and his five tiger generals—Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong, and Wen Tingjian—were renowned for their prowess, making him the undisputed pillar of the southwest.

In Hebei, the Yuan family's influence remained. Although Yuan Shao was dead, his son Yuan Shang displayed a ruthlessness completely different from his father's. He first subdued Yuan Xi with overwhelming force, seizing his military power; then he led his army to attack Yuan Tan, forcing his elder brother to flee in disarray. The four provinces of You, Ji, Qing, and Yan all fell into his hands, with hundreds of thousands of armored soldiers and mountains of grain. In terms of the vastness of his territory and the strength of his army, Yuan Shang still ranked first among the warlords. Every day, countless counties and prefectures sent envoys to pay tribute in front of the Yuan clan ancestral hall in Ye City.

Cao Cao, situated deep in the Central Plains, faced the most difficult circumstances. His territory of Chenliu and Puyang, seemingly the heart of the realm, was actually surrounded by enemies on all sides: Yuan Shang to the north, Liu Bei to the south coveting the Jianghuai region, Ma Chao's iron cavalry to the west, and the insurmountable Jiangdong barrier to the east. Although he had strategists like Cheng Yu and Man Chong, and fierce generals like Xu Chu and Xiahou Dun, he was trapped in a battlefield, his movements fraught with difficulty. Every troop deployment required careful consideration, as the slightest misstep could result in attacks from both sides. This once prosperous capital of the Central Plains, for him, felt more like a magnificent prison.

In this chaotic world, once a move is made, there's no going back. Yuan Shang's ambitions in Hebei, Ma Chao's mighty army in the northwest, Liu Bei's rise in the southwest, Sun Shao's hidden plans in Jiangdong, and Cao Cao's struggles in the cracks—all these elements combine to weave a complex and unpredictable web of power. And hanging over everyone's heads is the unpredictable thunderbolt that could strike at any moment: perhaps Ma Chao's iron cavalry will breach Hangu Pass, perhaps Liu Bei's warships will sail out of the Yangtze River, or perhaps, in the dead of night, Yuan Shang's secret orders will have already been delivered to the Central Plains by fast horse.

However, at this time in Ye City, Yuan Shang was harboring a thought that could shake the world. Since his campaign against his brother Yuan Tan, his prestige had grown daily, but he lacked outspoken and honest ministers around him. People like Xu You and Feng Ji were all sycophants, which made him even more complacent.

As the year drew to a close, at a banquet in the mansion, some civil and military officials, following his wishes, advised him to seize the throne from the Liu family and replace them.

The candlelight flickered at the banquet, casting an oily sheen on everyone's faces. Xu You, holding a wine cup, leaned close to Yuan Shang, his voice low yet clear: "My lord, look, the Han dynasty is now weak, warlords are rising up, and the emperor's authority is gone. You hold four provinces, with a strong army. If you could follow the will of Heaven and the people, this world should rightfully belong to your Yuan family. If Lord Yuan (Yuan Shao) hadn't made a mistake back then, how could we have reached this point?"

Feng Ji nodded hastily, took out a scroll of silk from his sleeve, and unfolded it to reveal a pre-drawn "Crowning of the New King," which prominently depicted Yuan Shang in a dragon robe. "Mr. Xu is absolutely right," he bowed and presented the scroll, "This world deserves a new master long ago. You, young master, possess both virtue and talent, far surpassing that puppet emperor. The people yearn for a wise ruler as they yearn for rain. With just your command, we will immediately gather our civil and military officials and jointly submit a petition urging you to ascend the throne!"

Wang Yun, who was in the corner, also put down his chopsticks, stroked his beard, and chimed in: "What you two gentlemen say makes sense. The fate of the Han Dynasty has run its course, and it is in accordance with the will of Heaven and the people for you to take its place. Look at the people of Ye City, who doesn't hope that you can uphold justice? If you can really ascend the throne, I, Wang Yun, will be the first to lead the way in supporting you, and I guarantee that all the prefectures and counties will submit to you."

The three men chatted amongst themselves, each sentence veering towards the idea of ​​"taking over," their eyes practically overflowing with obsequiousness. Yuan Shang, flattered, beamed, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table, his gaze fixed increasingly intently on the enthronement painting. He picked up his wine cup and downed it in one gulp, the liquid trickling down his chin and dripping onto his clothes like splattered blood.

"You..." Yuan Shang deliberately dragged out his words, a hint of smugness flashing in his eyes, "Do you know that if these words get out, you'll lose your head?"

Xu You patted his chest reassuringly, "Young master, rest assured, everyone here is one of us, there's absolutely no way this could be leaked!" Feng Ji even rolled up the silk scroll and stuffed it into Yuan Shang's sleeve, saying, "Don't miss this opportunity, young master, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance!"

Yuan Shang clutched the silk scroll in his sleeve, the rough texture of the fabric against his fingertips like countless ants crawling in his heart. He looked out the window; the night was thick and inky, as if hiding countless expectant eyes. The clamor of the banquet continued, flattering words surging like a tide, slowly pushing him toward the precipice of ambition. Below him lay a bottomless abyss, yet the intoxicating clamor in his ears made him forget the danger, wanting only to leap.

A ruthless glint flashed in Yuan Shang's eyes. In terms of ruthlessness, he was even more ruthless than his father, Yuan Shao, but in terms of magnanimity and strategy, he was far inferior.

Unfortunately, he had always looked down on the puppet emperor Liu Xie and showed no respect for the royal family. Now, stirred up by the crowd, his uncontrollable ambition grew wildly like weeds.

Yuan Shang suddenly slammed his wine cup down, splashing wine onto the table and causing the candlelight to flicker. He glanced at Xu You and the other two, a half-smile playing on his lips: "Gentlemen, you've gone too far with your words."

Xu You's smile froze. Feng Ji was about to speak when Yuan Shang waved his hand to stop him. "Although the Han Dynasty has declined, it is still the ruler of all under heaven." He softened his tone, his fingertip lightly touching the scroll of the coronation. "My Yuan family has been favored by the Han for generations, and my father was a member of the 'Four Generations of Three Dukes.' How could we do such a rebellious thing?"

Wang Yun hurriedly said, "My lord, you are mistaken! Emperor Xian is now being held hostage by Cao Cao, and the Han dynasty is already a mere shell of its former self. Your lord's replacement of him would be a restoration of order..."

"Shut up!" Yuan Shang's face suddenly darkened, his voice carrying a deliberately stern tone. "How can the proper relationship between ruler and subject be overstepped? If you dare to say such a thing again, don't blame me for punishing you according to the law!"

The three hurriedly prostrated themselves on the ground, repeatedly saying "I deserve to die," but their eyes secretly glanced at Yuan Shang. Although his eyes were wide open in anger, his hand in his sleeve never let go of the scroll of silk, and his knuckles even turned white from the force.

Yuan Shang stared at their backs as they lay prostrate on the ground, remained silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed, his tone softening: "Alright, you are both loyal. But this matter is of great importance, allow me to think about it some more... Do not mention it again in the future, lest it spread and cause controversy."

The winds of Ye City carried a restless undercurrent, as if a storm was brewing. Yuan Shang tapped his fingers on the table, his calculations growing increasingly blatant. The louder the sycophantic murmurs around him rose, the brighter the fire in his eyes burned—a conspiracy capable of overturning the world was quietly brewing in this seemingly peaceful atmosphere.