Chapter 222: The Decision to Succeed
When Qiao Yan heard this, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
If Liu Yu had been born in a stable time and became an important official in a barren land, he might have been able to develop this place into a prosperous one with his love for the people and his talent in governing the people's livelihood.
However, it was a time of chaos, and his lack of talent in commanding troops made it difficult for him to move forward. It was inevitable that he ended up in the situation he is in today because of his improper command.
Earlier, he was commissioned by Emperor Ling of Han to quell the rebellion of Zhang Ju and Zhang Chun. He was able to win favor through his attitude towards the Wuhuan people and offer a reward for the leader of the rebels, thus disintegrating the rebels in another way, so that this flaw had not been exposed so obviously.
But when he faced Gongsun Zan in a frontal battle, this became an extremely fatal point for him.
Gongsun Zan would not care about any feelings or legal principles, nor would he care about any moral character.
Nearly ten years of military experience also enabled him to develop a very personal fighting style.
Gongsun Zan's humble origins enabled him to be flexible when necessary. The restrictions on the number of troops he could command over the years and the use of cavalry made him extremely adept at surprise attacks where he could defeat a larger force with a smaller one.
This ambush on Liu Yu happened to take place in such a special environment as Binhai Road, when Gongsun Zan had to rely on winning this battle to maintain his command over Tadun!
From this perspective, Liu Yu’s defeat was not unfair.
In Qiao Yan's opinion, even if they wanted to pursue Gongsun Zan and Tadun who were fleeing to the east at that time, they should never have the idea of deciding the outcome in one battle, or using the number of people to deter others in order to reduce casualties.
These soldiers have not yet been sufficiently coordinated, and having just experienced the shock of Gongsun Zan's attack on their camp, they will instead expose countless loopholes in front of Gongsun Zan.
But for Liu Yu, who had just experienced the pain of losing his son, it was better not to say these words.
Qiao Yan just looked at Qu Yan beside him with a serious expression, "It is difficult to describe the current situation in the military report. I rushed here from Jinyang. The situation in Youzhou should have changed a bit. How is it now?"
Seeing that Qiao Yan had no intention of blaming him, Qu Yan felt relieved.
He originally went into battle with the idea of achieving merit.
When Gongsun Zan attacked the camp, he only injured him but failed to kill him, which made Qu Yan very depressed.
Now that Gongsun Zan has made a comeback, he is even more worried that he will be implicated again.
Fortunately, Qiao Yan didn't seem to have that intention.
He replied, "Before you came, Wenyuan had just received new news. After he retreated to Juyong Pass, Guangyang County and Yuyang County fell into the hands of Gongsun Zan. A large number of Wuhuan troops came to Yuyang and stationed there. Gongsun Zan incorporated the prisoners of war captured on Binhai Road into his own troops and dispersed the garrisons along the border with Jizhou. He himself stationed his elite troops in Changping."
Qiao Yan pondered for a moment, "This move is intended to prevent Yuan Shao from invading, and also to prevent Liu Youzhou's old subordinates from being unable to follow his arrangements, which would give Wen Yuan an opportunity to counterattack. Gongsun Zan is indeed a good fighter."
Qu Yan added: "In addition, according to the scouts sent by Wen Yuan, a group of elite troops under Gongsun Zan and Wuhuan cavalry went south."
Going south?
Qiao Yan considered the significance of Gongsun Zan and Tadun's act of turning enemies into friends, and the reasons why Gongsun Zan might have persuaded Tadun to serve him, and estimated the possibility of Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao joining forces at this time.
Or maybe this can't be called a union.
Gongsun Zan's ambition and the strength he demonstrated made Yuan Shao wary of him.
But Gongsun Zan could ask for a title for himself and Tadun, so that the two sides would not interfere with each other temporarily.
With the victory of Binhaidao, Gongsun Zan could further consolidate the power of Youzhou, but he still lacked the name of orthodoxy.
Compared with his expansion to the south, his primary conflict was the confrontation with Zhang Liao and Qiao Yan behind him.
Then Yuan Shao could indeed have a temporary talk with this evil neighbor. 1
What's more, it's not just Gongsun Zan who needs to discuss treatment, there's also Tadun.
Qiao Yan's mind turned, and he immediately said to Liu Yu: "If Gongsun Zan wants to make an alliance with Yuan Shao to restore his reputation, we now have only two choices."
"First, I will immediately mobilize Bingzhou troops to attack Changping. Although the Jue Zhangnu is still in Guanzhong and has not been sent back to Bingzhou, it cannot be relied on in the battle against the Youzhou cavalry. In this battle, I will order Lü Fengxian, Ma Mengqi and others to go out of Suiyuan City, go around to the Yanshan Mountains, and then go south to attack Gongsun Zan's rear. At the same time, I will order Wenyuan to go out of Juyong Pass to join forces with them, which may make it difficult for Gongsun Zan to take care of both ends."
Before she finished speaking, Qu Yan's eyes lit up.
This method really works!
What Gongsun Zan had to guard with all his strength at this time was the direction of Shanggu Juyongguan. He never thought that the place that was originally a gap for the Xianbei branch to move south would suddenly change and become a place for enemy invasion.
With the strength of Lu Bu and Ma Chao, as well as the Dayuan BMWs equipped by Lu Bu, it is indeed not difficult to make this journey to the outside of the Great Wall.
If Qiao Yan and Liu Yu had not been talking at the time, Qu Yan would have wanted to interrupt and say that he also wanted to go.
But what he heard was Liu Yu saying in a still weak voice: "No need."
Seeing that Qiao Yan was eager to fight, Liu Yu was also tempted.
But he couldn't help but think of the losses caused by the previous rash attack, and also thought that if he went to war according to what she said, Guangyang and Yuyang would inevitably be caught up in the flames of war. What would happen to the people in these two places?
What's more, Wuhuan had formed an alliance with Gongsun Zan at that time. If Qiao Yan failed to eliminate the threat, Wuhuan might counterattack at any time.
By that time, it would be a real disaster for Youzhou.
Although Liu Yu had witnessed with his own eyes how Qiao Yan employed the Qiang people of Liangzhou and stabilized the people's livelihood, the shadow of the previous battle still made him subconsciously think in a pessimistic direction.
Furthermore, the situation of Guanzhong being leaderless when the central government was initially established was what Huang Wan said when he was persuading him to take the position, and it is indeed the reality today.
If the forces of Bingzhou and even Guanzhong were invested in the war in Youzhou, no one could guarantee that these seemingly pacified places would not stir up new public grievances.
In the original battle of Youzhou, Liu Yu not only received assistance from Qiao Yan's subordinates, but most of the troops and material supplies came from Youzhou. He did not have that much guilt for holding others back.
But what about now?
As he was being sent from the Youzhou front to Bingzhou in a trance, the first thing he thought of was not revenge for his eldest son Liu He, but -
He couldn't let Youzhou fall into such a situation again.
He slowly added, "We can't let them suffer for me anymore. We are in a truce for now, and with Ye Shu ready to march in from Bingzhou, Gongsun Zan shouldn't dare to let his soldiers plunder civilians, but should govern Youzhou properly."
If Qiao Yan were to comment, this statement... is really naive.
Gongsun Zan's methods of dealing with crises were indeed remarkable, but he was by no means a man who could get off his horse and start working on the management of people's livelihood.
The characteristics that he reveals in his bones are nothing more than two: expansion and attack.
The alliance with Wuhuan was just a necessary compromise for him to achieve these two goals.
So asking him to develop infrastructure in Youzhou sounds like a joke.
However, Qiao Yan did not refute Liu Yu's words, but decisively turned to the second option.
She said, "If the first method doesn't work, then please return to Guanzhong as soon as possible to take the throne. If you are a little slow, if Yuan Shao wants to compromise with Gongsun Zan, he will definitely ask the King of Hongnong to appoint Gongsun Zan as the governor of Youzhou and Wuhuan Tadun as the Chanyu of Wuhuan, and give him the title of king."
"he……"
Liu Yu had just begun to speak when he was interrupted by Qiao Yan. "You mean Yuan Shao shouldn't do such a treasonous thing? After all, you are the governor of Youzhou appointed by the late emperor, and you are also the minister entrusted with the care of the orphan. Although Yuan Shao appointed the King of Hongnong as the emperor of Yecheng, he should not deprive you of your title, otherwise his claim of respecting the late emperor from afar will be untenable."
"But this restriction can be broken. He can do another thing after Gongsun Zan is appointed as the governor of Youzhou!"
She said in a serious tone: "You have already lost Binhai Road. It is not difficult for him to join hands with Gongsun Zan to throw dirty water on you. There are many things in this world that can melt gold and destroy people. So as long as you don't take back Youzhou, this bad reputation will accompany you. It will also turn Gongsun Zan from a traitor to a Youzhou governor who can stand on his own feet."
"The only way to deal with this is for you to quickly go to Guanzhong and take the throne. In this way, the actions of Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan will be seen as a normal part of the confrontation between the Eastern and Western Dynasties, and not a real problem of character."
Liu Yu hesitated for a long moment before replying, "But I am a sinner who just suffered a defeat at Binhai Road. How can I be qualified to take the supreme position?"
"You are wrong." Qiao Yan asked, "When the late emperor was showing off his troops in the western suburbs camp and selecting the general to cross the Liao River, did he really want him to be proficient in riding and shooting and command troops?"
Not necessary.
Liu Hong had been in the Forbidden Palace for many years. He was afraid that he could not even understand the command flags used for military command, let alone send troops to fight.
But this did not affect the fact that under his command he had capable and brave men such as Lu Zhi, Zhu Jun and Huangfu Song.
It did not affect the fact that Liu Hong at that time could give himself the title of "Supreme General".
Qiao Yan asked again: "Let me ask you one more question. If you were the emperor, would Chang'an and even Guanzhong be able to completely get rid of the influence of Dong Zhuo's rebellion under your rule?"
Although Liu Yu did not speak, he nodded.
Judging from the results he achieved in stabilizing grain prices in Youzhou, he does have this ability.
Qiao Yan: "If you were the emperor, would you guarantee that you would never repeat the mistakes of the previous emperor who sold official positions and titles, and that the government would be cleaned up and the government's orders would be implemented?"
If we have to say it, this sentence is actually a straightforward condemnation of Emperor Ling of Han.
But this is something that Qiao Yan could really say.
When her grandfather Qiao Xuan held the position of Grand Marshal, the practice of buying official positions in Xiyuan had not yet begun.
She herself was able to be promoted to the position of Governor of Bingzhou by relying on her own strength and achievements.
Precisely because she and her elders have never done this, they can criticize it with confidence.
And when Liu Yu looked into Qiao Yan's eyes, he sensed a determination to defend this bottom line.
He replied, “Of course.”
He responded calmly.
If he had wanted to make money while he was the governor of Youzhou, he could have accumulated a lot of wealth long ago. Why did he have to recommend other talented people to the central government and ask the emperor to choose another one when the late emperor wanted to entrust him with the position of Grand Marshal before his death because he had no money left?
If the power of decision-making was really in his hands, he would certainly try to clean up the atmosphere and change the government and the public.
Hearing his decisive answer, Qiao Yan smiled: "If that's the case, why do you have to shirk your responsibility by saying you're a criminal? If you lose to a rebellious minister, you're also a criminal. General Huangfu was also unable to deal with the Liangzhou rebels. Does that mean he's also a criminal?"
Qiao Yan bowed to him and said, "Mr. Liu is a man of high moral character. He is a role model for the royal family and a leader for the world. We all follow him. Why should we judge a hero based on his success or failure at a certain moment?"
Upon hearing the news of Qiao Yan's arrival, Yanmen Prefect Guo Yu also hurried over. He did not hear the previous analysis of the battle situation, but heard Qiao Yan's words of persuasion.
When she shot the governor with an arrow, Guo Yu had the great judgment to "go along with the crowd". Today, he also judged in an instant the pros and cons of this matter for Qiao Yan, Bingzhou, and even the world.
Without Qiao Yan giving him any instructions, he responded loudly: "Please let Liu Youzhou take the throne!"
Qu Yan added a sentence belatedly to help support the situation.
When Huang Wan, who had retreated to Bingzhou with Liu Yu, also rushed over after hearing the news, he heard Qiao Yan tell him that Liu Yu was willing to go to Guanzhong.
However, Liu Yu also added that his ascension to the throne was a last resort under the current situation. If Liu Xie could be found, he would abdicate immediately and return the court to Liu Xie without hesitation.
"..." Huang Wan didn't know for a moment whether she should be happy that the goal was finally achieved, or feel a little weird.
So what was the significance of his coming to persuade Liu Yu? He seemed to be of no use at all.
But what matters at the moment is the enthronement of the emperor and the restoration of order in Sili, rather than worrying about whether his trip was in vain.
Qiao Yan said to him, "Please send Lord Liu back to Chang'an first. I will go to Juyongguan first to ensure that the defense here is safe before entering Guanzhong. Before that, please discuss the etiquette and other matters with Lord Lu, Lord Xun and others."
"Luoyang is too close to Yecheng, and is still not suitable as the capital in the short term. I'm afraid the capital will have to be Chang'an. Fortunately, Lord Liu has always been a simple man, so the palace in Chang'an doesn't need much repair."
Since the matter of recommending the emperor had come to an end for the time being, Huang Wan could not help but tease, "Is this also the reason why Ye Shu recommended Lord Liu as the emperor?"
Qiao Yan smiled but didn't answer.
Today, the finances of various places are not prosperous. Only when there is an emperor who advocates simplicity in power can the people below follow suit, right?
Now that the decision has been made, things should be done as quickly as possible.
Although Liu Yu was still ill, his illness was a mental one and did not affect the bumpy journey south to Chang'an.
Huang Wan went with him.
Qiao Yan said that he wanted to go to Juyongguan first, or he should complete the promotion of the emperor's ceremonial guard first, and let these Bingzhou cavalrymen escort Liu Yu to Guanzhong properly.
Looking at the receding figures, she then spoke to Xi Zhicai who was beside her.
She brought him with her when she came to Yanmen, in case Liu Yu was not convinced by her words, and he could give her some advice at that time.
Fortunately, Liu Yu was persuaded by her, so they didn't have to work any harder, so Qiao Yan asked another question now. "From Zhicai's point of view, after Liu Bo'an ascends the throne, will I have a chance to take the position of general?"
Earlier, both the Chang'an court and the Yecheng court had offered her the title of General of Cavalry, but because the former was under the control of Dong Zhuo and the latter was a pseudo-dynasty established by Yuan Shao, she would not accept the appointment from either side.
But now that Liu Yu has ascended the throne, as the first person to advocate this matter, she can naturally get promoted from it.
The general holds the power over all the military forces in the world. With this title, she doesn't have to ask for the opinions of the court all the time when she is on a campaign. In theory, she is naturally Qiao Yan's first choice.
However, Xi Zhicai replied: "I think that the Lord should try another position."
Facing Qiao Yan's gaze, Xi Zhicai calmly gave this answer:
"Da Sima."
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