Chapter 5: Unifying Hebei, Liu Xiu Proclaims Himself Emperor

"Hahaha!"

"I knew Zhan Hong would aid me!"

Inside Handan City, Liu Xiu was speaking with Gu Xiao and his subordinate generals about the bond between Gu Xiao and himself.

Liu Xiu's current forces were brimming with talent.

Not only did they include some of the Twenty-Eight Generals of the Cloud Terrace, but also capable men native to Hebei.

Such as Ren Guang and Pi Tong.

Fortunately, this was the founding era; had it been any other time,

someone like Gu Xiao, a commoner with no status, would have faced fierce opposition trying to enter the core of a regime.

But in this founding era, things were different.

After all, unrest still plagued every corner of the land; Liu Xiu still needed to conquer the realm.

Upon hearing Liu Xiu describe Gu Xiao's abilities, and after Feng Yi recounted how Gu Xiao had captured him in Fucheng, these men swiftly accepted Gu Xiao.

The entire victory banquet was filled with celebration.

Hearing Liu Xiu's words, Gu Yi immediately smiled and swiftly activated his control over Gu Xiao to reply: "I long knew the General was no mere fish in a pond."

"When we parted at Fucheng, I waited here for your arrival."

"Later, I learned you had come to Hebei."

"I intended to pay my respects, but Liu Lin proved treacherous—I could only wait for an opportunity to assist you in overthrowing this rebel Liu Lin!"

Gu Xiao was a pure warrior.

In warfare, Gu Yi could trust him completely; but in social matters, he was far inferior—Gu Yi had to intervene.

"Excellent! Excellent!"

"Zhan Hong is truly wise and fearless!"

Liu Xiu was overjoyed, and everyone present burst into laughter.

Gu Yi watched as Gu Xiao drank with the others until after three rounds of wine, then spoke again: "General!"

"I told you this before."

"I follow you—not the Xuan Han court."

"Now that you have secured Hebei, your officers are all willing to die for you."

"Liu Xuan is but a mere puppet—how dare he usurp the imperial title?"

"I humbly beg the General, for the sake of the Han, to heed the people's wishes and ascend the throne!"

At these words, the entire banquet's atmosphere instantly shifted.

Everyone was stunned.

No one had expected Gu Xiao to be the first to voice such a thing.

After a brief moment of shock, they all immediately reacted, rising to their feet and bowing to Liu Xiu!

No one wished for Liu Xiu to become emperor more.

Whether the Hebei aristocrats who supported him or the generals who followed him,

they all knew Liu Xiu's ascension would bring them immense benefits!

These were Merit!

"We humbly beg the General, for the sake of the Han, to heed the people's wishes and ascend the throne!!"

Clearly, all of them, like Gu Yi, deliberately avoided mentioning Liu Xiu's official title within the Xuan Han court.

Hearing this, Liu Xiu immediately grew solemn.

He first glanced at Gu Xiao, then at those present, fell silent for a long while, and finally shook his head.

"The realm is in chaos—how could I usurp the throne now?"

"No more talk of this."

His stance was resolute, leaving no room for further argument; he raised his cup, "Come, come, everyone—drink!"

Gu Yi was not at all surprised by Liu Xiu's response.

Liu Xiu had only just taken Hebei.

His current power still fell far short of the strength he would possess when history recorded his ascension.

This was precisely what made Liu Xiu extraordinary.

Everyone understood he would inevitably break from the Xuan Han regime and would inevitably become emperor.

Yet even while his foundation remained unstable, Liu Xiu could fully suppress all his inner emotions—such restraint was exceedingly rare.

Gu Yi was not in a hurry.

He had raised the matter deliberately to make Liu Xiu understand.

Gu Xiao stood firmly on his side—then, now, always!

Although Liu Xiu did not accept the pleas for his ascension, he still rewarded his men based on this achievement!

Gu Xiao was naturally among them.

From a commoner, he was promoted to General of Conquering Enemies!

Though constrained by Liu Xiu's failure to declare himself emperor, the reward was modest, yet it undeniably intensified the festive atmosphere.

The guests resumed drinking and began discussing the current state of the Xuan Han regime.

All were certain.

With Liu Xiu's power growing, the Xuan Han court would surely devise ways to target him again!

Indeed, as expected,

half a month later.

The Han court sent envoys to Hebei, delivering Emperor Liu Xuan's edict to Liu Xiu.

They decided to grant Liu Xiu the title of Prince of Xiao, ordering him to surrender all his troops and return immediately to Chang'an to receive his investiture.

Liu Xiu naturally would not obey such an edict.

Yet he did not follow his subordinates' advice and execute the envoys outright; instead, he stalled them, citing the instability of Hebei.

He needed time to prepare!

But everyone understood that the day Liu Xiu would openly break with the Han government was drawing near.

The Han court, for its part, seemed wary of Liu Xiu's prestige.

So they appointed Xie Gong, who had long been at odds with Liu Xiu, as Governor of Youzhou, placing him in command of all Youzhou troops.

They hoped to use him to spy on Liu Xiu—should Liu Xiu dare to move, Xie Gong would strike him a fatal blow from behind.

Yet on the surface, both sides still maintained a facade of harmony.

Liu Xiu frequently sent envoys to comfort the soldiers under Xie Gong's command.

To lower their guard.

Meanwhile, he secretly mobilized all his forces, ready at all times to deliver Xie Gong a fatal blow.

One must admit, Liu Xiu's strategic judgment far surpassed that of ordinary men.

He did not wait long.

The opportunity arrived!

"Zizhang, the Qingdu army is large—I have decided to lead the troops myself in this campaign."

"I rely on your full cooperation."

Inside Handan City, Liu Xiu faced the arrogant Xie Gong, his face showing no anger—indeed, he appeared almost humble.

"Your might as Grand Commandant will surely crush the enemy!"

Xie Gong frowned and asked: "How, then, do you wish the Governor to assist?"

"The Youlai army!"

Liu Xiu's expression did not change; he spoke at once: "If I defeat the rebels, the Youlai forces stationed in Shanyang will fear being surrounded and flee in panic."

"I ask you, Zizhang, to lead your troops and attack these fleeing soldiers."

"With your overwhelming strength, crushing these broken troops will surely force them to surrender."

"Then Hebei will be secured!"

Liu Xiu's expression was utterly serious.

Hearing this, Xie Gong immediately grew solemn, carefully analyzing every word Liu Xiu had spoken.

If Hebei were truly pacified once and for all,

then Liu Xiu would have no further excuse to avoid returning to court.

If he left, wouldn't all of Hebei fall under my control?

Thinking of this, Xie Gong's eyes flashed with sudden light, and a smile spread across his face: "Good!"

"Grand Commandant, rest assured!"

"I shall fully assist you in defeating the rebels!"

With that, Xie Gong rose and departed.

Liu Xiu then summoned his generals once more.

In truth, Liu Xiu's current strength far exceeded what it had been in the original history.

Thanks to Gu Xiao's unexpected intervention, his campaign against the Zhao Han forces had suffered minimal losses.

And because Gu Xiao had carried out the decapitation strike,

the former Zhao Han troops now all swore allegiance to Liu Xiu.

One could say Liu Xiu had long possessed the capability to act independently—his current restraint stemmed only from Hebei's incomplete stability and the thorn that was Xie Gong!

At this moment, Liu Xiu's command abilities fully emerged.

Though the Qingdu army was still far weaker than his own forces,

he remained utterly vigilant, arranging every detail with precision.

Only after completing all arrangements and dismissing his officers did Liu Xiu turn his gaze to Gu Xiao.

"Zhanhong, I have a great task for you!"

Liu Xiu looked intently at Gu Xiao: "Of all your abilities, this is the one you are best suited for."

Gu Yi instantly understood what Liu Xiu intended.

Ye City.

Again, you want me to carry out a decapitation strike?

Gu Yi sighed inwardly, but he made Gu Xiao speak: "I await your orders, my lord."

"Take Ye City!"

Liu Xiu fixed his gaze on Gu Xiao: "Xie Gong is insatiably ambitious—he will surely follow my plan and lead his troops out personally."

"I want you to wait until he moves."

"Then seize Ye City at once."

"Once Ye City is ours, our great plan will succeed!"

In front of Gu Xiao, Liu Xiu was far more direct.

He revealed the cold light in his eyes without concealment, as if a sharp sword had finally unsheathed its blade.

"Yes!"

Gu Xiao spoke no idle words—he bowed to Liu Xiu, took the military token he offered, and walked out immediately.

The land of Hebei erupted in an instant!

Liu Xiu personally led his main force to launch a direct frontal assault on the Qingdu forces at Shequan and other locations.

And everything unfolded exactly as Liu Xiu had anticipated.

When he unleashed his full power, the commanders of the Qingdu peasant army were vastly inferior to him.

They could not stop Liu Xiu's advance at all!

Upon hearing this, the Youlai forces entrenched around Shanyang instantly collapsed in panic.

Xie Gong, who had already made all preparations, personally led his army in pursuit, leaving Chen Kang to garrison Ye City!

——The moment has arrived!

Ye City.

As a vital stronghold of Hebei, Ye City's defenses were far stronger than She City had been in its time.

But this time,

Gu Yi had no intention of launching a direct assault.

Everything Liu Xiu had done during this period was not in vain.

His popularity across Hebei, and his standing among Xie Gong's officers, were far higher than in the original history.

In the original history,

Ye City had been persuaded to surrender—let alone now.

Gu Yi merely stationed his army before Ye City, demonstrating his military might while sending envoys to urge surrender.

Chen Kang inside the city did not hesitate for a moment.

He immediately bound Xie Gong's wife and opened the gates to surrender.

And Xie Gong, just as recorded in history, was defeated by the Youlai forces, fled back to Ye City, and was killed by Chen Kang!

The ease of these events far exceeded the original history.

But upon reflection, this was inevitable.

After all, Liu Xiu's strength now far surpassed what was recorded in the original history.

Upon realizing this difference, Gu Yi immediately understood this might be the best opportunity!

Gu Yi did not waste words.

He immediately sent Gu Xiao to meet Liu Xiu.

"The realm has been in chaos for a long time; the people are weary of war!"

"Now, across Hebei, various forces are entangled, and great battles rage without end—the people are exhausted."

"If the lord seizes this opportunity to demonstrate his strength, the other factions may surrender at the mere sight of it."

Gu Yi did not need to say much.

With Liu Xiu's ability, he would certainly understand this.

In the original history, Liu Xiu achieved rapid expansion by winning one great victory after another, eliminating opposition while accepting surrenders from peasant armies.

In a short time, Liu Xiu's power grew rapidly.

And eventually unified the entire realm.

The historical Liu Xiu could do it—how much more so the enhanced Liu Xiu of today!

Indeed, Liu Xiu instantly grasped Gu Yi's meaning.

In this campaign against the Qingdu forces, he displayed overwhelming resolve!

Surrender or die!

Those who surrender would be treated equally and their lives would be spared!

Under this absolute deterrence, the Qingdu forces collapsed, and most of their commanders surrendered to Liu Xiu!

At the same time, Liu Xiu sent letters to the leaders of the Tongma, Gaohu, and Chonglian peasant uprisings, urging them to surrender.

Liu Xiu's military strength now far surpassed theirs.

But asking them to relinquish their power was clearly not easy.

Liu Xiu wasted no words—he marched his army forward.

He shattered the combined forces of Gaohu and Chonglian at Puyang.

One battle shook all of Hebei.

The Tongma, Gaohu, and Chonglian uprisings surrendered in succession; the Youlai soldiers bound their own leader and came to surrender to Liu Xiu.

The Daxiong, Tiejing, and Daqiang peasant armies—

Lost all will to resist!

They all surrendered to Liu Xiu!

Hebei was swiftly pacified.

Liu Xiu's rapid rise shocked the realm.

The Gengshi regime, once poised to unify the realm, suffered a massive blow.

The realm once again teetered toward chaos.

The Chiwei Army, which had previously cooperated with the Gengshi regime, rebelled again.

The Chiwei leader Fan Chong proclaimed Liu Penzi emperor at Huayin, changing the era name to Jian Shi.

——Shu region;

Gong Sunshu declared himself emperor, founding the state of Da Cheng, with the era name Long Xing.

——Linjing City;

Fang Wang proclaimed the infant son of the former Han heir as emperor.

And facing such a general trend of the realm, Liu Xiu too was confronted with his greatest choice.

Hao City.

After Liu Xiu once again saw off the crowd urging him to advance.

He also kept behind the generals who had grown ever closer to him during this period — Deng Yu, Feng Yi, Gu Xiao, and the others.

"My lords. The ministers urge me to advance my position and proclaim myself emperor."

"But the realm is not yet settled — to proclaim emperor at such a time, is it not a touch too much like child's play?"

Facing these close ministers, Liu Xiu still spoke out his concerns quite directly.

"My lord, you must not entertain such a thought!"

The generals immediately spoke up, and Gu Yi, controlling Gu Xiao, also stepped straight forward: "My lord, today throughout the realm, anyone with the slightest ability is proclaiming himself emperor."

"If you do not proclaim emperor, my lord—"

"How are the talents of the realm to know where to turn?"

"And looking across the realm today, who is more qualified than you, my lord, to proclaim emperor?"

Once Gu Yi spoke, the generals also chimed in one after another, each more impassioned than the last.

Hearing these words, Liu Xiu's expression too grew solemn.

In an instant he saw through to the meaning behind it all.

And in his heart, he finally made his decision.

—The sixth month;

Liu Xiu proclaimed himself emperor at Hao City, changing the era name to Jianwu, the name of the dynasty still Han.

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(End of this chapter)