Chapter 527: Now the Four Seas Are United as One Home

Like a sandcastle unable to withstand the tide, under the pounding of the era's waves, this resistance movement, which all the rebel forces had placed such high hopes on, was utterly crushed within a single day.

By this point, the disparity in strength between the two sides had truly become disproportionate, not to mention the vigorous drive of the new regime and the accumulated inertia of the old, decaying empire. In comparison, the efforts of Liu Bei and Zhang Fei seemed especially tragic.

To some extent, perhaps it really was just as Gongsun Xun, far away in Luoyang, had wishfully imagined: Liu Xuande, seeing that the House of Han was beyond saving and that he himself had no possibility of achieving hegemony, simply used his own method to cooperate with the Yan army as much as possible, ending everything with the simplest and cleanest conclusion, which could also be seen as repaying some of the past kindness and loyalty.

Of course, this sort of thing cannot be confirmed unless Liu Bei says it himself.

In the afternoon, on the battlefield on the west bank of the Yu River, the Yan army units, having already secured victory, were all slowly searching southward in a strange state. Clearly, they were looking for the sole and greatest prize—the man himself, Han Left General and Governor of Jing Province, Liu Xuande.

But unfortunately, perhaps because too many officers had been killed or wounded, leading to disarray in the Yan army's unit organization, or perhaps because Li Tong, who was covering the retreat for Liu Bei's army, once again staged a tragically fierce rearguard death battle, the search that began at noon remained largely ineffective.

And after Sima Yi returned with Zhang Fei's serpent spear, and Li Tong's head was taken by Jiang Jiong, this situation developed to an extreme—the entire army searched everywhere as if gone mad, from the riverbanks to the surrounding villages, from the reed beds to the dry wells, with tens of thousands of eyes seeing nothing but Liu Bei alone.

Of course, as the carpet search proved futile, gradually, combined with intelligence provided by prisoners, the Yan army finally roughly determined that Liu Bei must have fled wounded, and by now might have already escaped back to Deng County, or even Xiangyang City.

This intelligence made the entire Yan army, from top to bottom, somewhat agitated... After all, Liu Xuande was a regional lord. Leaving aside the need to see him dead or alive, the key point was that if he truly escaped back to a famous, fortified city like Xiangyang, the war might drag on.

But at this moment, there was nothing they could do.

And so, as the sun sank further west, the main army reluctantly began to regroup, reorganize, and then clean up the battlefield. Units whose organization was still intact advanced to sweep forward, attempting to occupy Liu Bei's army's original main camp that very day and press on toward Deng County early the next morning.

As evening approached, the setting sun dipped in the west. Further downstream from the battlefield, the Yu River shimmered with light and shadow, green reeds swayed gently, and waterbirds flew in flocks—a scene of utter tranquility, forming a stark contrast with the chaotic scene of the arduous battlefield cleanup upstream. At this time, Han Dang's five thousand men, who had set out earliest and had virtually no part in the battle on the west bank, had long since successfully crossed the river at the confluence of the Bi and Yu rivers and, according to the original plan, were heading toward the small town of Juju, several li further south.

According to the scouts, Liu Bei's army was short on troops, leaving garrisons only in Xiangyang and Deng County, and Juju was completely undefended. If Han Dang could station his five thousand troops in this small town, on one hand, he could ensure that Liu Bei's main force to the north was isolated and surrounded; on the other, he could establish a forward base for the main army arriving behind them to break through Deng County and Xiangyang, the twin cities separated by the Mian River.

Han Yigong, who had long since ceased to pursue any military glory, naturally accepted this order with pleasure.

Juju was not large, but it had a long history, existing since the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Because of its old city walls, it had maintained a certain scale as an affiliated settlement of Deng County throughout the Han dynasty. Later, as the Yellow Turban Rebellion arose and military turmoil began in Nanyang, the inhabitants gradually fled, leaving it abandoned. However, as it was, after all, a rare traditional city site in the strategic location of Deng County and Xiangyang, from Liu Biao's time onward, it had become a routine garrison post for the Jing Province army—something between a city and a permanent military camp.

When Sun Jian attacked Deng County back then, he had also first occupied this place to gain a moment's respite before making his move.

Returning to the present, Han Dang was a veteran soldier. His five thousand troops, advancing along the river, were surrounded by forward and rear scouts, with banners, gongs, drums, cavalry, infantry, and supply trains all in perfect order. Smoothly and without incident, they arrived before the small town of Juju before sunset.

Then, merely by reining in his horse and observing from a distance, he knew there was truly no army in the town, that it was just an empty city. But Han Dang still prioritized caution, sending a small number of cavalry into the city to search, having infantry seize the outer low walls, watchtowers, and city gates, while the main army circled around to surround it on three sides.

However, just a few breaths after the order was given, shortly after the cavalry entered Juju, before the outer walls were even fully secured, a rider came galloping out, racing up to Han Dang and presenting two items... or rather, a set. With a single glance, Han Yigong recognized whose paired swords they were.

Immediately, he abandoned the main army and hurriedly rode into Juju with the messenger.

Passing through several divisions within the city, then dismounting and skirting the central brick-and-wood main hall, he arrived at the southernmost part of Juju, on a grassy slope beside the Yu River. There, Han Dang saw Liu Bei at a glance, sitting alone with his head lowered on a small stone mound, his armor covered in dried bloodstains.

Beside him, the Yu River flowed ceaselessly; beneath him, the green grass swayed in the wind. In the setting sun, Liu Xuande, hearing movement, struggled to lift his head, revealing a face so pale it was unnatural.

However, upon seeing that it was Han Dang, he actually forced a smile: "So it is Brother Yigong? That you could come here is truly excellent..."

Han Dang, with his vast battlefield experience, knew at a single glance that the man had lost too much blood and was beyond saving.

At this moment, old friends meeting, yet meeting on a battlefield with life and death about to be decided, Han Yigong did not know whether to feel joy or sorrow. He could only advance with his hand on his sword, come directly to the man's side and stand firm, then respond indignantly: "Xuande, how did it come to this?"

"Defeated at the Yu River, I fled alone. I originally intended to return to Deng County, but I suffered too many wounds and the bleeding would not stop. By the time I reached Juju, my strength was completely exhausted, so I came here to sit idly and wait for death... That is how it came to this." Liu Bei spoke slowly, word by word, answering seriously.

Han Dang followed his gaze to the ground and indeed saw a pool of blood congealing in the grass beneath the man, and at the end of one drooping arm, blood still dripped from the fingertips of his leather glove. It was only because it was late spring and the green grass was lush, covering it, that it had gone unnoticed. Not only that, when Han Dang turned and looked across the grass, he clearly saw a dried, brown trail of blood at the far end of the lawn, under the back corridor of Juju's main hall, leading all the way here from the distance, only to be cut off by the green grass.

In fact, this was precisely why the scouts had found Liu Bei so quickly.

Coming back to his senses, Han Yigong had originally wanted to rebuke the other man, asking why, even facing death, he had to be so stubborn. But seeing his state, his body even supported only by his armor, he found it impossible to vent any resentment.

Yet, unable to complain or question, Han Dang instead found himself at a loss for words.

"There are two matters..." Just then, Liu Bei took the initiative to speak.

"Speak," the already powerless Han Dang urged quickly, almost as if relieved of a burden.

"I am a descendant of the House of Han. In these times of turmoil and chaos, I should have done my utmost to restore the Han, yet I have come to this. I am ashamed in my heart. Please, remind my elder brother for me, do not forget the promise he made at the Bronze Sparrow Terrace..."

"Understood." Han Dang felt increasingly agitated, but merely agreed at once.

"Also... I implore Brother Yigong, you must not leave my corpse intact. Take my head, place it in a wooden box with lime, and send it to my elder brother."

Han Dang was utterly exasperated and furious: "Why must it come to this?!"

"This is merely my final request, and a personal one at that. I hope Brother Yigong will not fail me!" Liu Xuande suddenly raised his head, his speech becoming much more fluent. "Please, Brother Yigong, act now!"

Han Dang knew the man was experiencing a final flash of lucidity before death. He let out a long sigh, removed his gloves, and turned to draw one of Liu Bei's own paired swords from the armor bearer behind him.

Unexpectedly, Liu Bei, seeing this, mustered his strength again to speak: "Please, Brother Yigong, use your own sword."

Han Dang, increasingly helpless, could only draw his own sword. He stood beside the man, and after removing his helmet, used his left hand to cradle the man's already limp head by the neck, placing the blade of his sword horizontally beneath his other hand.

But at this point, Han Dang felt utterly drained of strength and simply could not bring himself to do it.

"I have made things difficult for Brother Yigong." Liu Bei's breath was barely a wisp; had he not been in Han Dang's arms, the latter would scarcely have heard. "All my life, I have only brought trouble to you and my elder brother..."

Clearly, even the state of his final lucidity had already passed.

Hearing these words, Han Dang had nowhere left to hide. His left hand tightened slightly, but he still could not help but clench his teeth and, with anger, force out a question: "You brat, tell me the truth—did you ever regret it?"

Liu Bei struggled to open his mouth, and Han Dang clearly felt the slight movement of his Adam's apple through his left hand on the man's neck. For a moment, he held his breath and remained still, waiting for this answer before making his move.

But it was at this very moment, before Liu Xuande could utter his reply, that Han Yigong felt the faint pulse of the blood vessel in the man's neck suddenly cease, and then his entire head slumped down.

At that instant, Han Dang, who had been filled with anger, incomprehension, and doubt, felt his mind go completely blank. Then a pang of sorrow struck his nose, impossible to suppress. Accompanied by a flood of memories of meeting and knowing the man, every little detail from Hebei to Goushi, tears streamed down his face like falling rain.

The surrounding soldiers and officers were all stunned into silence, not daring to speak.

After an unknown length of time, waiting until sunset when all light was gone, Han Yigong finally mustered his strength to swing his sword, taking the man's head right there in his arms.

In the eighth year of Jian'an, on the twenty-seventh day of the third month, Liu Bei died in battle. His head was placed in a box and sent to Luoyang.

On the twenty-eighth day, Mi Zhu committed suicide in Deng County, and Deng County surrendered.

On the twenty-ninth day, the main Yan army crossed the Mian River. Lu Su opened the gates of Xiangyang City to surrender, presenting maps and documents of the various commanderies of Jing Province, along with a list of Jing Province's local magnates written by Liu Bei himself.

The following day, under the pretext of admiring peach blossoms, Lu Fan gathered the twenty major magnate families of Nan Commandery—Cai, Kuai, Zhang, Ma, Huang, and others—in Xiangyang City. He first questioned Cai Mao, Kuai Liang, and others about the past affairs of Liu Biao, then showed them Liu Bei's document. Following Liu Biao's old strategy, he then summoned armored soldiers during the banquet and seized them.

Cai Mao, Kuai Liang, and Zhang Yun were executed on the spot. The remaining dozens of heads of the great Nan Commandery families were all taken into custody and sent to Yinshan. Their clan lands and private properties were all confiscated to serve as compensation and rewards for the preceding battles.

On the third day of the fourth month, Xu Huang, Zang Ba, and Huang Zhong attacked and captured Anlu. The Han General of Chariots and Cavalry, Jing Ze, directly retreated to Sanjiangkou, while Jiangxia had already been thrown into complete panic the day before, when the news of Xiangyang's fall had traveled down the river.

On the fourth day of the fourth month, Liu Bei's head was personally delivered at full gallop by Sima Yi to Luoyang.

Perhaps because he had long been prepared, Gongsun Xun, residing in an old house in the old city of Luoyang, did not lose his composure like Han Dang. He sat upright in the hall, personally received the wooden box from Sima Yi's hands, and then opened it directly.

When he saw Liu Bei's head inside the box, lifelike yet with a face especially pale, and the dried lime beneath the head turned brown, he instantly understood, and then actually broke into a laugh:

"Has my brother been well since we parted?"

Everyone around, from Sima Yi to Ma Dai, and Wang Xiang as well, remained silent, only their hearts pounding violently.

"Bring wine," Gongsun Xun suddenly waved his hand in command. "I wish to toast Xuande."

His attendants, relieved but not daring to be slow, almost immediately fetched a wine flagon and goblet from the rear hall. Then Ma Dai held the flagon and Sima Yi presented the cup, promptly offering a cup of wine to this man who was about to become the supreme ruler of all under heaven.

Gongsun Xun, seated among the gathering, raised his cup toward the wooden casket and was about to speak, but then found himself momentarily speechless. He rose again, holding the cup, intending to pour the wine over the casket, but then abruptly stopped... There was no other reason — Gongsun Xun felt he still lacked something, and feared he would be unworthy of the head within the casket.

In the end, the man simply abandoned the wine without a care, clasped his hands behind his back and rose, issuing a succession of indifferent orders:

"Bury him according to commoner's rites on Mount Beimang! Raise a three-tiered rammed-earth altar north of the city — the terrain must be open! Also, have Yigong and Gongming follow the river downstream to seek out Jingze, and swiftly settle the Jiangxia matter! Demand that Sun Quan's brat bring his entire family to Luoyang to reside immediately — otherwise, let the entire family not come at all! Have Ziheng take over Jingnan at once, then head north together with Shi Weiyan, who is halted at Guiyang! Further, order all civil and military officials at Yecheng to prepare for relocation!"

Having spoken, the man flicked his sleeves and departed, leaving only Wang Xiang behind, his brush flying without pause as he transcribed the orders.

————I am the dividing line that is not yet qualified————

"When Yi obtained Zhang Fei's serpent spear, he returned to pay homage to the Grand Ancestor. The Grand Ancestor said nothing by day, but at night summoned him to hear the full account, then smiled and patted his back, praising him warmly: 'Stripping to the waist to force back Xuande, and battling Yide — truly the seed of a general!' He was then restored as White Horse Protector of the Army." — A New Account of the Tales of the World, Chapter on Appreciation and Praise

PS: Continuing to recommend books.

Han Que — a new work from July

Mo Lin — a new work from Xiaolong

Honestly, I really don't want to recommend them. Why bother? Do these two books even need recommending? Recommending them wounds my pride, but since I'm about to finish the book anyway, I'm not afraid of losing face.

Take this chance to catch up on them!

(End of Chapter)