[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-529":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Overthrowing Han",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1223288,1620,"Chapter 529: Old Ramparts Rustle, Summer Like Autumn (Continued)","overthrowing-han-chapter-529",529,"\u003Cp>\"What exactly is your plan, Jing Qing?\" After a long pause, the silence in the hall was finally broken by the young Son of Heaven, his tone tinged with expectation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, with both sides being so frank, there was no need to beat around the bush any longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Avoiding Han Sizhou is actually very simple.\" Jing Ze had also collected himself, and remained as calm as ever. \"Your servant will delay for a little time on Your Majesty's behalf at Sanjiangkou. Your Majesty need not concern yourself with too much — simply take certain key figures and a letter from your servant, head downstream along the Dajiang, and seek out Han Rui, the Grand Administrator of Lujiang...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Son of Heaven was momentarily stunned, clearly caught off guard by this name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jing Ze, evidently having considered this long before, took the opportunity to explain: \"Prefect Han is an old classmate and friend of Duke Yan. From Prefect of Chang'an to Grand Administrator of Wudu, and then transferred to Grand Administrator of Lujiang early last year, the original intent was precisely because Lujiang occupies a special position, wedged right between Jiangxia, Danyang, and Wu Commandery, requiring someone Duke Yan could trust. Moreover, he is not only Grand Administrator of Lujiang, but also holds the post of General of Hengjiang, overseeing the naval forces of the lower Dajiang. In other words, this man's status is sufficient for him to act on his own authority and immediately escort Your Majesty north.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We know all this...\" The Son of Heaven sighed softly, clearly hesitating slightly. \"But Han Rui has always been rather obstinate toward Us, and holds no particular reverence for the House of Han.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty,\" Jing Ze said with a solemn expression, \"reverence or the lack of it does not matter. What we must guard against now is only Han Sizhou upstream acting on his own authority and recklessly imitating Wu Han — nothing else. And now, Jiangxia is hemmed in on three sides. To the north, Xu Gongming and Zang Xuangao at Anlu are too close to Han Sizhou, and nominally under his command. So going to Anlu to surrender would likely still not allow us to evade General Han. Only downstream can we avoid him!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Xie shook his head slightly, then nodded... Clearly, he still harbored misgivings about Han Rui, but at this moment there seemed to be no other path, hence his reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, set your mind at ease!\" Seeing this, Jing Ze could not help but smile bitterly. \"Back when we fled Chang'an, Prefect Han, who was then Prefect of Chang'an, already had suspicions about your servant's identity — otherwise he would not have singled your servant out and shot him with an arrow. Therefore, as long as your servant writes a letter in his own hand, confessing to being a spy, explaining fully that Duke Yan urgently needs Your Majesty to go to Luoyang to carry out the abdication, and also saying that Duke Yan intends for Han Sizhou to purge Jiangxia and wants Your Majesty to depart early and alone, that man will certainly not grow suspicious, nor will he make things difficult for Your Majesty...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Liu Xie still shook his head hesitantly: \"This plan is not appropriate. Adding this extra measure may indeed ensure that Han Rui swiftly escorts Us north, leaving Us without worry, but it will make things difficult for you, Jing Qing, in the future... If you step forward yourself, isn't that openly telling Han Dang and Duke Yan that you, Qing, suspect them today, or are simply spoiling their plans?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It does not matter.\" Jing Ze also shook his head in response. \"Your servant's original intent was never to believe that Duke Yan intends to harm Your Majesty. Even if such a thing were true, your servant would have no fear, because when your servant came to serve as a spy back then, besides Duke Yan, he also directly received orders from Chancellor Jia. And Chancellor Jia, atop the Bronze Sparrow Terrace, openly and honorably demanded that Duke Yan preserve the Han lineage and repay the Han's grace. With him as a shield, let alone Han Yigong, even Duke Yan would at most be displeased with your servant, but would not go so far as to pursue this matter... At worst, after returning, I will simply live as a man of leisure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the Son of Heaven once again pondered seriously for a moment, and in the end nodded emphatically — for there truly was no other way. This was the only feasible route to evade Han Dang. And after Lu Fan went south to Jingnan to receive Shi Xie, Han Dang was the only one among the many surrounding Yan Army generals with the standing to imitate Wu Han.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, simply avoiding him would suffice. As for...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As for the Imperial Eldest Son.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Jing Ze lowered his head and paused briefly, then continued calmly, \"It is also simple. The imperial prince is young, still in swaddling clothes, and practically unidentifiable... Why not use the old stratagem of the Orphan of Zhao, and have him raised under your servant's name as an adopted son of the Jing clan? That way, naturally, there will be no need to worry about certain unwarranted matters.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Son of Heaven was stunned once more: \"What is the meaning of this? When did you, Qing, have offspring in Jiangxia?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your servant has no biological children here in Jiangxia.\" Jing Youxi sighed. \"But over these years of traveling and fleeing, I have seen countless infants who lost their fathers and mothers along the way. Was there not the Shaxian rebellion just days ago? At Sanjiangkou, your servant has raised at least seventeen or eighteen, both older and younger... It would be better to let the Empress choose one, pretend he is the Crown Prince, and have him travel north to Luoyang with Your Majesty. Then simply raise him as best you can — whether he is raised successfully or not, you will have done your duty... As for the imperial prince, boldly leave him here with your servant. Only Your Majesty and his consort, and your servant and his consort, will know. And because he will be an adopted son, there will be no need to even change his surname. I only fear Your Majesty cannot bear to part with him!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Son of Heaven pondered for a moment, then also sighed: \"This is indeed a method, even more reliable than the plan to evade Han Yigong... As for whether We can bear to part with him — is it not precisely because We harbor worries in Our heart that We took the initiative to seek your counsel? As long as the Empress does not make a scene, We shall have nothing to say. However, since you, Jing Qing, have proposed this, presumably the Empress has already consented?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jing Ze slowly nodded: \"The Empress agreed long ago.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sovereign and minister fell silent at once. After a moment, they took leave of each other in the hall and each returned to make preparations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving aside the young Son of Heaven for now, Jing Ze returned to his residence in Xiling City, washed up briefly, and prepared to retire early, intending to return to Sanjiangkou the next day to settle matters. However, everyone knew that the fate of Jiangxia now rested in the hands of this General of Chariots and Cavalry. Thus, from dusk onward, once it was estimated that he had returned from his audience with His Majesty and finished washing up, visitors began arriving in an endless stream. Among them were quite a few with whom he had associated over the years in this place. He had no choice but to rouse his spirits and receive them briefly, offering kind words of comfort and hinting that the overall situation would soon be settled, that there was no need for excessive worry, and so on...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And when the night grew late and the many guests had all departed, one person remained alone until the very end, lingering for a long time without leaving. Jing Ze, who had already withdrawn to the rear chambers, grew increasingly helpless and could only come out again in person to see. Yet he could not help but feel a sudden clarity — it turned out the one who stayed behind, unwilling to leave, was Cui Yan, Cui Jigui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man had lingered in Jiangxia at Liu Bei's behest, his original purpose being to urge the Shaxian faction to dispatch troops toward Xiangyang. In the end, he had accomplished nothing, and thus found himself here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"General Jing of Chariots and Cavalry.\" Seeing Jing Ze come out alone again, Cui Yan hurriedly rose and saluted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master Cui.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By candlelight, Jing Ze saw that the other man, always famed for his dignified bearing, was now as haggard and gaunt as himself, and could not help but sigh with emotion. \"Please set your mind at ease, sir. With the death of the General of the Left, many of his subordinates have been granted amnesty. The so-called 'clan bandits' only refer to the local magnates of the Jianghan region, and have nothing to do with you... Once the Jiangxia matter is concluded, I will also seek amnesty for you, Master Cui. I imagine Duke Yan will no longer dwell on past affairs.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Yan could not help but let out a hollow, bitter laugh: \"So it seems Jiangxia and the Son of Heaven have already resolved to surrender?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master Cui.\" Jing Ze, helpless, could only counter. \"From the perspective of Han legitimacy, aside from the Son of Heaven and the Imperial Eldest Son still in swaddling clothes, there is no one else who can carry on the line. Must we really resist to the death and bring about the extinction of the Han line? Moreover, the Son of Heaven is, after all, only a youth — he has only just turned eighteen. Why must he be forced to act with such vehemence?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then what of the Han ministers?\" Cui Yan could not help but ask further. \"The Han has nurtured its scholars for four hundred years...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eighty percent of them died during the early years of Emperor Ling's reign.\" Unexpectedly, Jing Ze remained gentle. \"My maternal uncle died at that time. Then came the chaos of Dong Zhuo and Yuan Shao, the westward relocation, the eastern expedition — dragging on until now. How many Han ministers can possibly remain? If Master Cui refers to the Bearer of the Gilded Mace and the Grand Commandant, you would do well to abandon that thought early... The reason the Bearer of the Gilded Mace has vanished is not because he went off to prepare something, but because he had earlier planned to abduct the Son of Heaven, surrender, and seek survival. When he came to discuss it with me, I detained him at Sanjiangkou. As for the Grand Commandant, he long ago prepared boats bound for Danyang, ready to cross the river at once to seek out Tao of Xuzhou. Clearly, he intends to borrow the latter's influence and the opportunity of Shi Weiyan entering Luoyang to secure a peaceful life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Yan fell silent for a time. Having just come from Liu Biao that very afternoon, how could he not know?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is there anything else Master Cui wishes to ask?\" Jing Ze was utterly exhausted and only wished to end this as soon as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Jigui slowly shook his head: \"Nothing more... In truth, a chaotic age is like a great river, where every man struggles to cross. From the very start, we boarded the wrong boat, limited by our narrow vision, and were abandoned by the great trend of the world. So at this point, what more can we hope for? I only wish you, sir, take care of yourself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With these words, the man directly saluted and took his leave, without losing his composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jing Ze thought nothing of it, turned, and went to rest himself. And early the next morning, he set out at once, preparing to return to Sanjiangkou from the ferry crossing by the riverbank south of the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet just as he reached the riverbank, the ferry officer came seeking an audience, bringing with him an old servant. According to the officer, late the previous night, a man named Cui Yan had come bearing the Grand Commandant's documents and borrowed a small boat at the ferry. They had assumed he meant to flee by boat, but instead, the man rowed alone to the middle of the river, and there, beneath only the crescent moon, drank a pot of wine, then directly leaped into the river and vanished, his body nowhere to be found... Only, before boarding the boat, the man had said that if General Jing of Chariots and Cavalry came this way today, his family servant must be sure to thank him on his behalf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Jing Ze was not surprised. He merely calmly beckoned Cui Yan's old servant forward: \"Elder, what words did your master leave?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In reply to the General of Chariots and Cavalry.\" After all, he was a servant who had followed Cui Yan for many years, and he spoke with measured composure. \"My master left only two statements. First, he thanked the General of Chariots and Cavalry for his many times of sincere care. Second, he bade this old one to relay to the General that he was unwilling to surrender — not because he harbored lingering resentment toward Duke Yan, nor because he feared Duke Yan could not tolerate him, but because he had been away from the north for too long. In the future realm of Yan, an old scholar like himself truly did not know in what capacity he could stand. And his casting himself into the river today was not some act of martyrdom, but rather that a chaotic age is like fording a river — truly exhausting. Having reached the riverbank, though he could have clung to life, his strength was already spent, and he was truly unwilling to walk any further.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jing Ze was finally moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The river waters flowed ever eastward. This Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry of the Great Han stood by the riverbank, silent for a long time. By the time he came back to himself, he did not know how much time had passed. Seeing that Cui's old servant was still standing before him with bowed head, he could not help but ask with earnest concern: \"Elder, do you have a place to go?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The General of Chariots and Cavalry need not trouble himself over this old one.\" Cui's old servant replied slowly. \"Though this servant is but a solitary man, the Cui clan still exists in the north. I will wait quietly here in the city. Once the fighting in this region subsides, I can gather my master's belongings and return to our ancestral home in Qinghe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jing Ze nodded at once, then boarded his boat alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as he traveled upstream by boat, returning to Sanjiangkou, he proceeded methodically. First, he wrote a letter for Han Rui, which he had Empress Yuan carry on her person, and personally saw her off downstream with a substitute child to reunite with the Son of Heaven. Immediately after, he summoned his own wife, Lady Yuan, and had her take the dozen or so orphans — including that imperial prince, Lu Bu's posthumous child — along with a letter addressed to his old friend Du Ji, and head toward Anlu to the north. He knew that Xu Gongming was a cautious man who enforced strict military discipline; with this letter to Du Ji, his wife and that group of adopted orphans would certainly come to no harm there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once everything was properly arranged, he waited another three days, until it was roughly certain that his wife's party and the Son of Heaven's party were beyond pursuit. Only then did he send word upstream to Han Yigong at Shaxian, asking the latter to come downstream and take over the Han court's last contingent of troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that very evening after the letter was sent, Jing Youxi released the Bearer of the Gilded Mace, Li Shao, entrusting him with the military tallies and orders. Then, emulating Cui Yan, he rowed a boat to the middle of the river, drank wine, calmly donned his armor, and threw himself into the river, never to return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not have a long, heartfelt talk with Li Shao — not because the other man was unworthy, but because it was unnecessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the reasons for seeking death — there were far too many. For instance, the double guilt toward the House of Han and the State of Yan over that child; for instance, having been a spy for so long, returning and revealing his identity would only make him a laughingstock in the history books; for instance, hoping that his death might earn Duke Yan's forgiveness for the young Son of Heaven and the 'imperial prince' — on this point, Jing Ze believed Gongsun Xun would surely understand, and would surely agree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet none of these reasons were truly the reason. If he had really wanted to brazen it out and keep living, he still could have. The most important reason was, as Cui Yan had put it more thoroughly — life is like a journey, but a chaotic age is far more arduous, like fording a river while bearing a heavy load.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the morality, ethics, interests, values, life, human sentiment, and achievements he bore — these things were far too heavy for Jing Ze, whose natural talents were not outstanding and whose character was somewhat naive. Yet he had stubbornly overestimated himself, wanting to bear more and gain more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, having journeyed this far, even though the opposite bank was right before his eyes, he was already utterly exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the saying goes: \"Of a hundred-mile journey, ninety is but halfway; those who ford a river bearing heavy loads often drown near the bank.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>————I am the utterly exhausted dividing line————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your servant Songzhi notes: At the end of the Han, Yang Biao and Jing Ze bore the mandate of the Han house. When Hebei was entirely lost, they fled to the Central Plains; when the Central Plains were entirely lost, they fled to Jiangxia; when Jiangxia could no longer hold, they sent forth the Emperor, surrendered, and died by their own hand in the river waters. Posterity may mock these two as pedantic and foolish, both dying futilely at Sanjiangkou. They do not understand that the situation had reached a point where there was absolutely no possibility of survival. The two loyal ministers, Yang and Jing, were merely doing all that their hearts could. As the common saying goes: 'To bow and strive until one's dying breath,' is that not fitting?\" — *Dianlue*, Yan Dynasty, annotated by Pei Songzhi\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Thanks to the original seed master for the meng, the 127th meng. Also thanks to the great editor master for the client recommendation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3206,"2026-06-04T19:42:52.587Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","73f494dece6073a130ebdd03c457c8e27f5059cb14ee6614e488dde6a874b827","overthrowing-han-chapter-530","overthrowing-han-chapter-528",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]