Chapter 723 Yuan Shao becomes king!
Youzhou is vast and the cold wind is blowing fiercely.
Yan Lin, the King of Yan, stepped forward. He was bearded, tall, and in armor. He rode forward and slowly opened his arms. Snowflakes fell on his infatuated face, bringing a slight chill. He seemed to be chanting or singing a poem. The Emperor Wu said with a poetic meaning, "Is this the snow in the south?
It’s really warm.”
snowflake.
warm.
When these two words are linked together, they sound so strange, but when they come from the mouth of the King of Yan, it makes people feel that he is really sincere.
Yan Lin raised the sword in his hand high and said loudly: "Men of Dayan.
It's warmer in the south.
I will obey the decree of heaven and give you the best land and beauties.
We will get everything.
southward!
go home!"
His voice was like thunder, and he rode his divine horse in front of the army. The most elite guards of Yan State followed him and ran wildly in front of the formation.
"southward!"
"go home!"
Countless voices rose and fell in the Yan army.
What exactly is contained in those sounds?
But that kind of vigorous intention, that kind of roar from the bottom of the heart, is the most shocking, just like the autumn wind and falling leaves, sweeping away everything.
In the Hebei army, Yuan Shao's complacent expression became completely solemn. Luo Yan rode his horse to Yuan Shao's side and said in a deep voice: "My lord, you must be careful. This Yan State is not comparable to Gongsun Zan."
Yuan Shao looked at his Hebei soldiers who were a little tired after fighting for several years, and a trace of worry flashed in his eyes. The soldiers' held breath dissipated the moment they defeated Gongsun Zan.
The sudden appearance of Yan State was extremely bad.
But Youzhou!
Yuan Shao took a deep breath and said solemnly: "Everyone, the Yan people are waiting for the enemy to tire themselves out. Our army is exhausted, but the enemy is strong. This may be the way to defeat the army.
Youzhou.
This is the barrier of Hebei. If we don't seize Youzhou, we will have to station a large army in Hebei at all times to guard against it. If Yan occupies Youzhou, will our army ever be able to march south?
I, Yuan Shao, dare not even think about it!
I'm worried.
If we retreat today, we will have to wait patiently for the attack from Yan State in Yecheng!
I am determined to fight to the death with the State of Yan here, and I will never sit and wait for death. Are you willing to go with me?"
The pressure Yuan Shao was under was so great that everyone could see that his hand holding the sword was shaking, which had never happened before when facing Gongsun Zan.
The morale of these Yan people was too high, their fighting spirit was too strong, and the momentum of the Yan king was too fierce, so Yuan Shao had to be cautious.
Luo Yan bowed and said generously: "I will die if I want to. I am willing to fight with you!"
No matter what conflicts there were among the people of Hebei before, they all spoke out in unison at this moment.
Yuan Shao closed his eyes and slowly opened them again and said, “Everyone.
Victory in war depends not only on generals, but also on soldiers.
Please inform our soldiers in Hebei.
The battle is over, win or lose.
In addition to the rewards that our soldiers deserve, I, Yuan Shao, am willing to spend all my wealth and distribute it to the soldiers, and then grant them the land of Jizhou, Youzhou, and Qingzhou according to their merits, just like the good families in the six counties of the early Han Dynasty.
Please also inform the soldiers in Hebei.
I, Yuan Shao, will not retreat a single step in this battle, right here on this great banner.
If Sheng survives, we will return to Hebei together and drink a toast to celebrate our victory.
If I lose, I, Yuan Shao, will die on the land of Youzhou. I only hope that the soldiers in Hebei can wrap my body with a big flag with the word "Yuan" on it and send me back to Yecheng.
That's it, generals. Please tell me."
"My Lord!"
"My Lord!"
No one could have imagined that Yuan Shao would actually say such a thing. What if he really lost?
Yuan Shao looked at the crowd who wanted to open their mouths to stop him, and he said solemnly: "Oh, the sacred Luo River that runs through the Xia Dynasty, Your Majesty, the noble Goddess of Luo River, if I, Yuan Shao, violate the oath just now, please grant me death!"
A moment of silence!
The oath of Luoshui!
Irreversible!
Luo Yan knelt on one knee on the ground, raised her head and said solemnly: "Father, you have made a vow, and the Goddess Luo will watch over you until the vow is fulfilled."
This is the first time Luo Yan calls Yuan Shao father.
Yuan Shao had a relaxed smile on his face. "Ayan, if Hebei is defeated, you must return to Yecheng and choose a brother who you think can assist you to collect my body. I don't want to be buried in Youzhou."
"My Lord!"
Ju Shou, Shen Pei, Yan Liang, and Wen Chou all came forward crying, but Yuan Shao held a sharp sword in his hand and said in a strong voice: "In the face of a powerful enemy, don't act like children. Hebei will not be defeated. We have won every battle, and this one is no exception. Fight!"
…
The setting sun is like blood, and the ground is covered with red blood.
Under the tall banner, Yuan Shao was gasping for breath to relieve the tension brought by the threat of death. Yan Liang rode his horse into the formation, and Luo Yan was lying on the horse beside him, with blood dripping from her.
Yuan Shao felt as if time had slowed down all of a sudden. He stood up and ran past almost instantly. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Yan Liang hurriedly say, "My lord, Master Yan is injured."
Injuried.
Fortunately, fortunately, it was just an injury, and Yuan Shao's heart suddenly relaxed.
Several people put Luo Yan down from the horse, and saw blood flowing from her waist.
The armor on Luo Yan's waist was damaged, and there was no chance to repair it after a long battle.
What worried Yuan Shao the most was that Luo Yan was also injured from the cheek to the chin. She was really lucky. If the wound was a little deeper or a little more to the side, Luo Yan would have died on the battlefield.
In the camp.
The faces of the officials in Hebei all looked somewhat bleak. Wen Chou and Qu Yi both went to recuperate because they were too seriously injured.
Luo Yan insisted on attending the meeting, so she leaned on the right side of the tent, her face as pale as paper.
Yuan Shao's face was also pale, and he felt a spasm of pain in his stomach, but he forced himself to laugh and said, "Everyone, Yan State is also in trouble. The current situation is the result of the unity of Hebei Province. I, Yuan Shao, would like to thank you all."
Tian Feng was in a dilemma and said with a stiff upper lip: "My Lord, I think that perhaps agreeing to Lord Yan's conditions is a good option. If we continue like this, Hebei will be wiped out.
Liu Bei and Cao Cao are still eyeing us covetously. "
As soon as Tian Feng finished speaking, several voices rang out, sternly saying, "No!"
But when Tian Feng heard these voices of objection, he was surprised. He turned around and looked at Ju Shou, Xun Chen and Luo Yan who had not spoken, and saw that they all had noncommittal expressions on their faces.
Guo Tu and the others also looked at Luo Yan and the other two and asked in disbelief: "Master, my dear, you guys..."
Luo Yan said weakly with a pale face: "What Yuan Hao said makes some sense, my lord, you may want to consider it."
Hearing that Luo Yan actually agreed to Tian Feng's suggestion, Guo Tu and others were shocked and murmured, "How can we agree to this?
This is to cut yourself off from the Han princes!"
Ju Su said calmly: "Without the present, what is the point of having a future?
If we can’t survive the next five years, how can we talk about the next twenty years?
Live towards death.
That’s it.”
The chief strategist Xun Chen also whispered: "Yan has already won strategically. The current outcome is the result of Hebei's bloody battle. Yan is afraid of making a move on Hebei, so it proposed such a condition. Otherwise, Yan's cavalry would have swept through long ago."
Yuan Shao walked down from the top and came to Luo Yan's side, looking at the knife wound from chest to waist, which was still oozing blood.
He recalled the experiences of these days and the heavy losses suffered by Hebei.
He closed his eyes slightly and said slowly: "Send an envoy to the Yan camp. I agree to the Yan Lord's request and send an envoy to Bingzhou to invite Lü Fengxian to participate. If he is unwilling, invite him to come and watch the ceremony."
Xin Ping and others wanted to persuade him, but they were speechless. Which one should they choose, a bright future or an immediate death?
Hebei has no choice!
When Yuan Shao's envoy entered the Yan camp, there was a thunderous cheer. Yan Lin said to Gongsun Zan with emotion: "Bogui, your defeat to Yuan Shao is not unfair."
The faces of the Yan State's ministers also showed deep agreement, but also a hint of relief, as it was finally over.
…
In front of the thousands of troops, the Hebei Army and the Yan Army were both filled with murderous intent, but there was also deep fatigue in their eyes and brows.
Especially the soldiers in Hebei, who have not returned home for several years.
If Yuan Shao and other high-ranking officials in Hebei had not lived and ate together, and had not shared the same values as those who believed in "dying for one's friend", they would have collapsed long ago.
But humans have their limits, and it is not advisable to keep the string taut day after day for years.
Yuan Shao and Yan Lin both rode forward, while Luo Yan and Yan Mu each followed their lord.
Yuan Shao looked at the King of Yan who was almost going to destroy the foundation of Hebei, but he did not feel much anger in his heart. He clasped his fists and bowed, remaining silent.
Yan Lin returned the greeting.
Both of them were dressed in gorgeous clothes. A few hundred meters to their left, there was a high platform built with rammed earth. The soldiers prepared the sacrificial items on the platform.
Yan Lin looked at the high platform and couldn't help laughing. He said, "Envoy Yuan, please come in."
Yuan Shao looked at the high platform with a complicated expression and said in a deep voice: "Please go first, Lord."
Yan Lin rode forward and said with a smile: "Then I would be disrespectful to refuse. You and I will go together."
After saying that, the two men walked forward at the same time. Every step Yuan Shao took was very difficult, as if there was a man-eating beast ahead.
But the journey was so short that we finally reached the platform.
The soldier brought an old yellow ox, gently wiped its neck, took out the ox's blood, and two men smeared the ox's blood on their lips.
Yan Lin picked up a sacrificial utensil and said in a loud voice: "Since our ancestors were exiled to the Great Xianbei Mountain in Liaodong, I, a Han Chinese from Liaodong, have struggled to survive. With the blessing of God, I am where I am today.
Today, the Han Dynasty is in decline, social ethics are weakened, and the Mandate of Heaven is lost. Our Yan State in Liaodong was originally a descendant of the Miao people of the Xia Dynasty, not a vassal state of the Han Dynasty. Now that there is no emperor in the world, our Yan State has no supreme power. The ruler of Yan State is neither fish nor fowl, and cannot correct the hearts of the people of Yan State. Today, Yan Lin prayed to Heaven and ascended to the throne of Emperor, intending to tell the people of Yan State that the royal family of Yan State is determined to move southward, intending to tell the world that our Yan State will be independent of the Han Dynasty from now on, and will be the two suns in the sky and the two masters on earth. Everyone knows this!
The most exalted and noble Su Wang, the supreme heaven, the Emperor of Great Yan worships him!"
boom!
The moment Yan Lin finished speaking, all the soldiers of the Yan State cheered loudly, with one wave louder than the other, and the passion contained in them seemed to overturn the entire sky.
Yan Lin laughed wildly, this was indeed the plan made for him by his think tank. The failure to conquer the Hebei army for a long time was fatal to Yan Lin. Since he could not achieve a decisive victory in the military, he must win without winning politically.
There is no benefit for Yan State to be promoted to emperor, because Yan State does not obey the orders of Han Dynasty. It may even be disadvantageous to Yan State, as it will arouse hostility from all the princes of Han Dynasty.
But it was a huge benefit to Yan Lin. His identity had changed. He was now the emperor of Great Yan. In the eyes of the people of Yan, this was Yan Lin's toughness towards the princes of the Han Dynasty, and it was another favorable proof that Yan Lin wanted to lead the people of Yan to the south.
Judging from the army’s reaction, Yan Lin’s prestige is rising rapidly again and his position is even more solid.
Yuan Shao looked at Yan Lin's high spirits and restrained all his expressions. Now that things had come to this, he said solemnly: "Hasn't it been the destiny since ancient times?
Has there been any dynasty that has lasted forever since ancient times?
Has there been any family with one surname that could remain prosperous forever since ancient times?
Since ancient times, has there been any king who did not obey the will of heaven and rule over his subjects on earth?
Emperor Ling brought disaster to the world, and thus the Han Dynasty lost the Mandate of Heaven.
Emperor Xiaomin should have inherited the Mandate of Heaven again, but he was murdered by a traitor. This is truly proof that the Han Dynasty could not continue.
Liu Xie!
He was only established by a thief, but he stole the throne. I, Yuan Shao, obey the will of Heaven and am unwilling to serve this false emperor.
Over the past decade or so, wars have been frequent throughout the world, and people are living in misery. Isn't this caused by the fact that he is still on the throne even though the Han Dynasty has ended?
I have a great wish to bring peace to the world. Now I respectfully worship the heavens. Today I take off the clothes of a Han official, wear the crown of the Yuan family, call myself king, take Zhao as my title, and become a brother country with Yan. "
After Yuan Shao finished speaking, he felt his heart suddenly relax. Now that the task was done, he no longer felt so much pressure.
This was the condition that the State of Yan required Yuan Shao to agree to, to become emperor together with the State of Yan, or at least to be a king. In fact, under the constraint of the White Horse Alliance that only Liu could be king, there was not much difference between being a king and being an emperor.
The State of Yan wants Yuan Shao and itself to become outliers in the world!
This was certainly a very bad outcome for Yuan Shao and Hebei, but it was better than fighting with the State of Yan and suffering mutual losses.
Yanlin and the State of Yan had reasons to declare themselves emperors.
If Yuan Shao did not agree, Yan Lin would really dare to drag Yuan Shao and Hebei to destruction together.
Yan Lin had already changed into the emperor's robes and smiled at Yuan Shao, "How are you, my king? Would you like to go with me to sign the letter of credence?"
Yuan Shao also changed into a set of crown and robes of a prince and said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, please."
Luo Yan looked at this scene with a full sense of déjà vu. He recalled the meeting between the kings during the Bang Zhou period. The sacredness of the Zhou emperor's crown began to fall from that moment.
The same is true for the Han Dynasty today. When the princes of the world begin to claim to be kings and emperors, what value does the throne of the Han Dynasty have?
————
Shao proclaimed himself king and attached himself to the Emperor of Yan. When he returned to Hebei, Shao sighed and said, "From now on, I will be the target of criticism from all over the world. How sad."
This is remarkable. Shao had no choice but to do so. ——"Book of the Later Han: Biographies of Yuan Shao and Lü Bu"
(End of this chapter)
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