[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-han":3,"chapter-overthrowing-han-overthrowing-han-chapter-542":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},1223301,1620,"Chapter 542: Appendix 9: A Female-Audience Writer's Diary (Part 2) — sduyiyi","overthrowing-han-chapter-542",542,"\u003Cp>Appendix 9: A Female-Audience Writer's Diary (Part 2) — sduyiyi\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Appendix 9: A Female-Audience Writer's Diary (Part 2) — sduyiyi\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Part Three: The Smoke of War Rises Amidst Clashing Steel\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifteenth day of the third month, Fifth Year of Guanghe (182), Xiangping\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today is a day of double happiness! A-Zhi has added another son to my boy's family, and that Emperor Ling of Han, with money to burn, has actually started stockpiling horses — isn't this just delivering celebratory cash right to my door? Thank you very much! And by the way, a little rendition of \"Liang Liang\" for the wealthy horse merchants over in Zhongshan, haha! What a pity, though — troubled times are just around the corner, making it rather inconvenient for mergers and expansion. Otherwise, hehe...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, military preparedness is still the most important thing. Over the years, I've also unearthed quite a few good iron-smelting methods (really, one mustn't underestimate the wisdom of the ancients! It's just a pity they lacked the scientific spirit, and far too many techniques have been lost for various reasons). Combined with crude impressions like \"double-liquid quenching,\" our ironware research has made some decent progress. Hmm, maybe I'll try forging a \"Green Dragon Crescent Blade\" recently and give it to Yunchang! That authentic Yun-mei is still young, so the Green Steel Sword can wait — how about I just give him a novel I wrote?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking of Yun-mei, my son has actually made quite a bit of progress recently. To think he could stay in Zhongshan for so long and patiently resist forcibly recruiting him — seems like he's hit enough brick walls and is no longer recklessly collecting celebrities like stamps. It's only natural, really; every transmigrator has to go through this phase, and my half-native son is no exception. Remember when I first met Zhang Jian, didn't I also... Anyway, after all these years tempered by life, I've come to understand this truth: these famous people aren't data-characters in a game; you can't just max out their affection by casually giving gifts. On the contrary, these figures who left their names in history are usually smarter than ordinary people and can often see through your little schemes at a glance. So, it's still about being \"people-oriented\"! That is, less artifice, more sincerity — earnestly use your genuine talent and learning to attract people, put yourself in their shoes and empathize to move them. This is what Liu Bei likes to say: \"Only virtue and benevolence can win people's allegiance\" (though of course, the current A-Bei has only just left his chuunibyou phase, so the copyright for this line belongs to me).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First day of the first month, Seventh Year of Guanghe (184), Xiangping\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The year is Jiazi, great fortune under Heaven! The Jiazi year has finally arrived after all...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past few years, while my son was serving as the Grand Administrator of Zhongshan, we had already made quite a few arrangements against the Yellow Turbans. What a pity that he was transferred at this critical juncture!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This transfer at this time is truly a disaster! Most likely some comrade deliberately disrupted our arrangements... He wins! Even I am worried sick now, no wonder my son is so agitated. Ah, after that campaign where my son annihilated Goguryeo, the two of us lost our tacit understanding — otherwise, how could we be so passive now? It's really unjust! This time we clearly intended to respond to the Yellow Turban Rebellion and barely salvage some dignity for the Great Han...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Probably for this reason too, my son, that rebellious youth, has basically locked horns with that menopausal middle-aged man. This time, seizing an opportunity, he's taking the knife to the Lu clan of Fanyang! Of course, the situation is urgent now, and that Lu family kid has a pile of vulnerabilities — it'd be hard not to move against him... Ah, this child's mother passed away early, and his father had to be out there \"serving the country and the people.\" As the sole surviving scion of the family, the old man inevitably spoiled him — an only child plus a left-behind kid, it'd be hard not to have some issues! What's more, surrounded by either obsequious, ignorant serving women or former students and subordinates needing to curry favor with his father, it's hard to avoid developing the typical aristocratic scion's flaws of arrogance, loftiness, and having grand ambitions but little ability. It's not like I haven't warned a certain comrade before, but male compatriots are always careless in this regard, and by the time they notice, it's too late! Personality and habits formed since childhood, concepts and styles developed — how can they be so easily corrected? Take this time, for instance: the economic crisis and consumption downgrade are so obvious, even I am strategically retrenching, yet this kid still thinks it's a good opportunity? Truly in need of an education!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twenty-ninth day of the seventh month, Seventh Year of Guanghe (184), Xiangping\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The world has truly changed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although I've been preparing for this day for nearly thirty years since I transmigrated, now that it's actually here, I can't quite describe the feeling in my heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A certain General of the Household of All Purposes in our family has been quite majestic lately. First pacifying Dongjun, then destroying Zhang Bao — with illustrious battle achievements to his name, he even found time to host the late Han top-star \"Sun-Cao-Liu\" supergroup concert, his limelight steadily overshadowing a host of old generals represented by Teacher Lu. Talk about riding high!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet what's most commendable is that in his letters to me, he didn't just boast about his own battle exploits. Instead, combining the practical experience of this campaign, he reflected deeply on the current situation of the Great Han, analyzing everything with clear logic and sound reasoning. Many of his views coincide with my own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I have to say, Wenqi has truly grown up! Honestly, nowadays only my Wenqi can truly converse with me on the same wavelength — my ideas, Zi Gan can understand quite a bit, but I dare not speak too deeply with this \"loyal minister of the House of Han.\" As for the others, even someone like Lu Fan, I feel like if I spoke, they'd just have a look of \"not really getting it but sensing it's profound.\" So frustrating...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking of Lu Fan, my son's letter mentioned that he, Shen Pei, and Guan Yu are subtly at odds with each other. Ah, more people means more trouble. There are some things my son probably felt too embarrassed to tell me, right? Even if he doesn't say it, I know: some people say that Yang Kai, Lou Gui, Wei Yue, and even A-Yue are all my people! Sounds pretty formidable — feels like with just a little effort, we could rule for ten thousand generations and unify the martial world? But thinking it over carefully, it seems rather meaningless? Even if I learned from that Wu Zetian, according to current customs, my most important supporters — that is, my kin — would have to wait eighteen hundred years, and there's even less of an option for a nephew to become crown prince... Also, oh, they actually missed the most important \"Madam Faction\" — Gongsun Xun himself! Haha! Just as the saying goes: our internal mole is none other than the enemy leader~ Other rumors, like A-Yun and A-Zhi fighting jealously over a cat, everyone thinking Miss A-Yu is a good person, or Little Qin receiving a letter from home saying many relatives and friends in his hometown have died recently and secretly crying all night — those are all minor matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This faction, that clique, all this squabbling — better to just make the pie bigger! For all these conflicts, it's better to channel than to block. If my son wants to contend, then let him contend — at worst, if the skill isn't enough, we'll make it up with krypton gold!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twenty-eighth day of the eleventh month, Second Year of Zhongping (185), Changping\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coming to this Changping, I suppose it counts as returning to the \"capital\"? Though it's still quite far from that well I came through... I wonder how that \"old haunt\" is doing? Before, I yearned day and night to go there; now that I'm close, I've lost the interest to take a look. After all, with such a big family here, how could I, as a mother and grandmother, feel at ease leaving them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, after traveling such a long way, the happiest thing is of course finally seeing my dearest, most adorable A-Li and A-Zhen again! The sight of those two soft, cuddly little darlings pushing our Big Orange is simply heart-meltingly cute! Those two boys, though, were a bit restrained — clearly at a mischievous age, yet forcing themselves to act well-behaved, exactly like mice spotting a big cat. Quite amusing! As for A-Xun — who's A-Xun?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, speaking of which, he's a father to several children now, yet this guy still handles matters so willfully! The original plan was perfectly clear: go together to Liaodong and lie low for a few years, wait until the time is right in a few years, then make a move. Now look — he insists on staying here in Changping and not leaving, completely throwing our previous plans into disarray! This Changping is too far from our power base in Liaodong and Liaoxi, and the time left for us is, at best, only four years. This is simply too rushed! But what can I do? I'm his mother. And what can I do when he's my only child? What else can I do but help him clean up this mess? It's so hard being me!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, after inspecting the work all around, I found that my A-Xun has actually done quite well. I imagine that looking across this entire Great Han realm, the only person who could handle civil administration better than him is probably me, his dear mother! The officials these days just collect taxes, manage public order a bit, at most add some water conservancy projects or promote moral instruction — who else does things as meticulously as our family? And after chatting with him, he also has quite a few of his own ideas, especially in grasping the political situation, where he's even better than me, his mother!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for how to choose correctly in such a chaotic situation? Sometimes it's truly hard to say. Based on my previous business experience, actually, no matter how you choose or what you do, as long as you're not completely reckless, it's better than hesitating and doing nothing. From this perspective, my son can be said to act with resolute decisiveness, and it's not just empty talk when others praise me for raising a good son, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps I can also try to gradually let go? Although I feel I'm still young, I've long since been upgraded from \"Matriarch\" to \"Old Matriarch\"! Oh well, let him go and venture — I'm going back to take care of my grandchildren!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eighteenth day of the twelfth month, Fifth Year of Zhongping (188), Changping\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wuhuan have rebelled! Looks like we won't be able to celebrate the New Year properly this year!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, the Wuhuan were a ticking time bomb; their rebellion was within expectations — the Great Han's economy has collapsed, so weren't the Wuhuan, dependent on the Great Han, the first to be hit and on the verge of bankruptcy? If not for my son being stationed here a while ago, and the blood transfusions from my Anli Company, these Wuhuan...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait! Why did I give the Wuhuan blood transfusions a while ago? Wouldn't it have been better to directly take advantage of my son's presence to bankrupt and restructure them?! It seems at the time I was single-mindedly thinking four years was too short, just muddling through as long as possible — but how could we keep muddling through forever?!! This deal was a huge loss!!! Aiyah, sure enough, I'm getting old... Now look what's happened — Wenqi just set out on campaign to Liangzhou, and upon receiving this news, he'll probably have to rush back to put out this fire before his seat is even warm! It's all my miscalculation, sigh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First day of the second month, First Year of Chuping (190), Jinyang\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I met Lu Zhi today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Theoretically speaking, this counts as our first meeting, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come to think of it, he's only fifty — in \"modern\" terms, that's just middle-aged — yet he looks so old! No wonder, really: he's spent most of his life as a firefighter, toiling half a lifetime to save a nation that's now in this state — how could he not be mentally and physically exhausted? And raising a child alone with no one to look after him... Speaking of which, how could a grand, renowned scholar like him not even bring a single maidservant? Knowing his temperament, he probably finds servants troublesome? Anyway, it couldn't possibly be because of me, could it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, our acquaintance has been immensely beneficial to me. Whether it was the start of the Anli Company or my Wenqi's rise to fame, both more or less relied on his prestige. Even though he later suppressed Wenqi quite a bit due to political disagreements, now that things have truly reached the point of no return, he won't cause us any more trouble. As for knowing me, for him... I suppose it counts as a bit of bad luck? Although I did give him quite a few not-so-reliable suggestions that perhaps inspired him somewhat, those were all public matters — now that Wenqi is openly set on destroying his life's work, that bit of public help isn't worth mentioning. On personal matters, it's even more... My son directly sent his eldest son off to labor reform — does that count as repayment, hmm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wanted him to stay a couple of days, to meet Wenqi and reconcile a bit, or to help him look after this young son. He refused everything, wouldn't even accept a single attendant — truly, the older he gets, the more tsundere! Ah, this debt of personal favor — I'm afraid it can never be fully repaid... Oh, right, I wonder if this child, born from Wenqi's meddling, is actually that Lu Yu from history? Never mind, since I was the one who chose this name, I'll see my responsibility through to the end — I must nurture him into the founder of the Fanyang Lu clan from \"history\"!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Counting from the Yellow Turban Rebellion, with He Jin's death, Dong Zhuo's deposing of the emperor... this grand drama of the \"Three Kingdoms\" that I'm so familiar with can be considered officially opening! Watching the general trend seemingly unchanged, with historical events triggering as they should, who could have imagined that the dazzling new star on the stage, the alliance leader of the coalition against Dong Zhuo, would actually be my son?! It's just... now that my son has become the protagonist, the era of our generation has ultimately passed...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Part Four: Discussing Heroes Over Green Plum Wine\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twenty-fifth day of the seventh month, First Year of Chuping (190), Jinyang\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Wenqi's successful campaign against Dong Zhuo this time, my side has also reaped a bountiful harvest!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First off, I got a granddaughter-in-law, Dong Bai, who also left her name in history, practically for free. It's just that her identity as Dong Zhuo's granddaughter is ultimately too sensitive — will it have a negative impact on A-Ping? Ah, with the warlords about to carve up the realm, this isn't the main point... Anyway, it's a good thing that Wenqi can set a precedent of \"conflict not extending to family members.\" In history, the frequent extermination of entire clans was simply too terrifying and cruel! After all, being in the precarious position Wenqi is in now, it looks glorious, but who knows what the future holds? I don't want to end up like Dong Zhuo's old mother in the original timeline, white-haired and trembling, dragged to the execution ground!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps loving thrilling excitement is just a boy's nature? When it comes to contending for supremacy, they never think of the consequences, each one acting like they've been injected with chicken blood! My son just wrote, boasting about his heroic bearing while berating the assembled ministers before Weiyang Palace! Such majesty... truly makes this old mother's heart tremble! Setting everything else aside, with such arrogance, you're about on par with Dong Zhuo, aren't you? And now, with Wang Yun and Lu Bu both present, do you really dare to take in a Diao Chan as well? Aren't you afraid of triggering some strange historical event?! My son, don't blame your mother for so hastily spiriting away your beauty — your life is truly what matters most! (Speaking of historical events, some are indeed going a bit awry now, like the Sun-Cao-Liu three brothers who just finished their \"Mountain Flower Trio Sworn Brotherhood\" and are probably about to start loving and killing each other right away ヾ≧≦)o)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, right, A-Xun handed over to me the matter of dealing with the hundreds of thousands of refugees caused by Dong Zhuo moving the capital. What should I do about this? Although I've handled refugee migrations before, those were all in the border commanderies, and the people weren't this concentrated — the situation is rather different. How about \"relief through work\"? For the details, I'll ask my little fangirl A-Yan! That girl is quirky and clever, and has seen quite a bit following her father around (though in every aspect, she's nothing like her father...), so she should be able to give some good suggestions. For the others, I'll assign tasks as usual, and the entire Anli Company system needs to be fully mobilized. Later, I'll take them along for a field inspection... Oh, right, this time Wang Can, the foremost of the \"Seven Masters of Jian'an,\" has come! Now we have someone for propaganda work! And Ma Chao... ah, forget Ma Chao — he'd probably only cause trouble. Better to send him off to Changping to study first... The able-bodied men have all been taken away by my son, so I'll just have to mobilize the old, weak, women, and children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nineteenth day of the twelfth month, First Year of Chuping (190), Chang'an\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn't expect that industrial and commercial monopolies had precedents as early as the Former Han. This trip to Chang'an went much more smoothly than I imagined. In this feudal society, they ultimately don't place enough importance on industry and commerce, whereas what A-Xun did is seen as touching the \"foundation,\" so the backlash was inevitably huge — even nursery rhymes have appeared!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now that the knives are in our hands, these aristocratic clans can only play these tricks behind our backs. On the surface, aren't they all still sending their children into my son's White Horse Volunteers cadre training class? Speaking of which, today I actually saw both Yang Xiu and Fa Zheng, those two lads — one with a venomous tongue, the other with a petty mind. Truly a perfect CP of flying sparks! Haha, ever since Lou Gui ran off, I haven't had this much fun in ages!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My mood has been a bit gloomy lately, mainly because Big Orange, whom I've raised for over ten years, doesn't seem to have many days left. He's listless and sickly all day, and it hurts to watch... Besides that, the overall atmosphere from top to bottom is far too slack — that's also worrying! Not only that, some of our own people have actually started stealing credit and throwing tantrums! Do they realize this is a time for celebration? Just destroyed Dong Zhuo and occupied the central government, and it's as if the realm is already in our hands? Little do they know, it's precisely the moment when the wind howls through the tower, heralding a rising storm in the mountains! With the warlords about to carve up the realm, we should be, as in the poem I left in the newly built Stork Tower, putting in extra effort to \"ascend yet another level\"!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifth day of the eighth month, First Year of Jian'an (191), Chang'an\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The destined battle between the Gongsun clan and the Yuan clan has begun! To think that Yuan Benchu has four generations of the Three Excellencies, with former students and subordinates spread throughout the realm... (Wait, this is a diary, not a storytelling draft!) Anyway, Yuan Shao's territory is comparable to my A-Xun's, and on top of that, our policies are naturally at odds with the aristocratic and powerful clans, which gives him quite a bit of extra support. This war won't be easy to fight! Still, after all, we've been preparing for over thirty years, and our Gongsun clan's current strength is far greater than in \"history\" — I doubt we'll lose our family fortune so easily. What's more, this old lady here still has a secret weapon that's been in development for over five years — the Liaodong Navy! When the battle reaches a stalemate, a surprise force striking from the rear... Ha, that should give Yuan Shao a good scare, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking of which, Wenqi should have entered Taiyuan by now, right? I wonder how the frontline battle is going? Here in the rear, I have the golden trio of Jia Xu, Wang Xiu, and Zhong Yao, so I'm not worried — when there's work to do, there's Wang Xiu, diligent and hardworking without complaint, very reassuring! When I'm free, I chat with Old Fox Jia, who's both talented and pleasant to talk to — I absolutely love chatting with him! And when I'm bored, there's that lad Zhong Yao to tease, studying his family's sweating technique, and conveniently having him copy classics or something... As for my son worrying that the three of them might quarrel without someone to make decisions, and wanting me to arbitrate in the middle — that hasn't really come up yet! After all, with so many matters, they can barely manage their own areas, so where would they find the time to bicker? Oh, right, recently during negotiations with a commercial delegation doing Shu brocade business, I also met that Zhang Song — truly as ugly as the legends say! But we still need to entertain him well; he can help open up the map for our family in the future. As for a certain youth crying and shouting to become my grandson-in-law... I'll just pretend he doesn't exist. All in all, peaceful times, so happy I forget about Liao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifteenth day of the first month, Second Year of Jian'an (192), Chang'an\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This year's New Year celebration was truly lively! Just when I was starting to feel a bit bored, with administrative affairs running smoothly and all the court officials keeping a very low profile, even that Grand Palace Grandee Wang Yun, Grand Herald Lu Bu, and the little Diao Chan by my side never sparked any chemical reaction — presumably because the \"honey trap\" can't work on an old lady like me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, this Cao Aman arrived! When I heard earlier that this famously notorious \"Married-Woman Cao\" was coming, somehow, my ears were filled with the tune of \"Song of the Yu River.\" So I decisively had the girl group rehearse a piece, specially waiting for the protagonist of that song to arrive and perform it for him with heartfelt emotion. You know, the performance effect was superb! It moved that Cao Aman to tears on the spot, almost to the point of composing a couple of boudoir-lament poems in response! I just hope that after hearing this song, he might show a bit more restraint in the future when it comes to married women — his original good sons have already been poached by my A-Xun; he shouldn't inexplicably lose his eldest son again, right? By the way, I also watched a famous scene — Lu Bu versus Xu Chu! Tsk tsk... far more thrilling than the fake stuff on TV! In the end, Lu Bu won the mounted bout cleanly with his skill, while Xu Chu relied on brute strength to win the foot combat — \"Tiger Fool\" truly lives up to his name! What a pity that the front lines will soon see a decisive outcome, so they probably won't stay long. That'll mean a lot less entertainment...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twenty-second day of the fifth month, Second Year of Jian'an (192), Chang'an\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I've been busy moving house recently, and it's been rather chaotic! Mainly because, it's only been a few months — Yuan Shao, did you have to collapse so quickly? The backup plan I prepared only had time to make a brief appearance, barely did anything, and it became the last straw that broke his back... But come to think of it, didn't a certain \"Space-One\" gentleman also have vast numbers and superior weapons, yet ultimately suffer defeat like a landslide? In the end, this kind of political-military alliance where everyone harbors their own schemes is ultimately very unreliable!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's not surprising that Yuan Shao died just like that — after all, \"historically\" he collapsed after a single defeat, and this time the loss was far worse, wasn't it? But that Xu You... a man who'd do anything for money — how could he do something so drastic? I'd been observing him for a while and thought he'd make a decent professional manager... Ah, these young people (scratch that) these ancients, including A-Zan, A-Bei, A-Man and the like — every single one of them seems a bit schizophrenic, don't they? I just can't figure them out!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking of A-Bei, I have to say, those pickled green plums he sent as a gift this time are really excellent! I must remember to write back and teach him the recipe for green plum wine! No, wait — by the time the letter arrives it'll be too late. Better to just send him the batch I've already prepared. Who knows, it might even accidentally trigger some famous scene? Playing with memes, teasing the cat — a retiree's life is just so rich and colorful!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second year of Jian'an (192), thirtieth day of the twelfth month, Yecheng\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After waiting patiently for a full month, I finally saw Zhuge Liang in the flesh at the New Year's Eve dinner! I never imagined our Yexia University could reel in such a big fish! But then again, our Yexia University has the renowned Zhang Jian as honorary chancellor, the vast book collection contributed by old man Cai, a safe and stable learning environment, and generous scholarship provisions — isn't it far superior to that Xiangyang Academy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tsk tsk, now that young Liang is here, he can just settle in nicely. As it happens, he's an orphan — later on I'll have him keep company with A-Can, A-Hui and the others, give him some special care during festivals and holidays... perfectly reasonable, isn't it? Honestly, this young fellow truly lives up to being a \"historical celebrity\" — young as he is, his bearing is already steady and measured, far better than certain half-finished products back in the day... and even more handsome than the legends say! More importantly, he's not even betrothed yet!! Now this is what a grandson-in-law of mine should look like!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just wonder how Cao Cao and Liu Bei down south are spending the New Year? Without Sun Jian as their big brother leader (who started that wild rumor that the protagonist of \"Song of the Yu River\" is Sun Jian??), it's actually more convenient for the two of them to unleash their ambitions and express their heroic aspirations! The heroes are gathered, the green plum wine is ready — did they have a \"Green Plum Wine, Discussing Heroes\" session? Ah, they really are a bunch who never let you rest easy... (Come to think of it, why didn't I think to add a little something extra to the wine back then?)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third year of Jian'an (193), ninth day of the ninth month, Yecheng\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zi Gan... he actually...?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Let's not dwell on this. Better to review the first draft of that epidemic prevention booklet I've been working on again! With the pestilence spreading now, I need to speed up distributing the booklet — every life saved is one more saved. That was his wish too, wasn't it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifth year of Jian'an (195), eleventh day of the seventh month, Yecheng\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today I met the famously honest Lu Su and Chen Deng, who's mad about eating raw fish slices. I found that Lu Su isn't nearly as \"honest\" as the legends say. I'd heard he came from a wealthy merchant family and was hoping to chat with him about business, but it turns out his talent for squandering money far exceeds his ability to make it... Of course, for his age, his breadth of knowledge is truly outstanding — it made Chen Deng, who's been holed up in Xuzhou all this time, seem a bit like a country bumpkin by comparison. (I advised the boy Chen Deng to eat less raw fish — I wonder if he took it to heart?) On Liu Bei's behalf, they brought me quite a few Huainan specialties. But compared to the specialties, I'm actually more pleased with the envoys themselves — A-Bei, could you just give them to me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking of which, \"Three Kingdoms celebrities\" have really been popping up in waves lately! Just when I'd picked up that young Zhuge who's been auditing classes at Yexia University, over there emerges that Sima, top of the Mingjing examination, plus the professional poet Wang Zhongxuan, the diligent student Guo Fengxiao, cuju champion Zhang Wenyuan, the famously filial Ma Mengqi, and so on — I've gathered quite a collection of the younger generation's heroes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there are always the ones that slip through the net. Not to mention Cao Cao's pile of outstanding clansmen, he also didn't miss out on the three visits to the thatched cottage, and his Xun Yu is like a fish in water. Liu Bei may have missed his chancellor, but once he settled in Huainan, Liu Ye, Lu Su, and Zhou Yu — not a single one got away! And my son, really — issuing edicts of summons and praising them as the \"Three Talents of Huainan\" and all that — do you actually want these people or are you trying to ruin them? No matter how brilliant these three are, they're still only of \"university student\" age, lacking real work experience! Even now that we've discovered young Liang, we couldn't possibly make him chancellor directly, could we? In truth, low-key nurturing is the truest form of care, but my son's tactic here looks awfully familiar — isn't it exactly the tactic his old mother used in the early days when establishing herself in the clan — \"kill with praise\"? Ha, A-Xun's methods are getting more and more seasoned! With him heading to Chang'an to handle court affairs, I suppose there's nothing to worry about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fifth year of Jian'an (195), nineteenth day of the eleventh month, Yecheng\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A-Mei has taken her own life...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was originally the cleverest, most spirited, and most ambitious of that batch of Sanhan girls — I always appreciated her. Assigning her to Liu Yu's side was mainly just to keep an ear in the court; I didn't give her any dangerous missions. And Liu Yu, having lost his wife, was refined and gentle, with a tolerant disposition — at the time I thought it was a good home for her. How could I have known it would harm her instead! I had heard that Zhang Fei and Li Jin once debated going north or south, caught between advance and retreat — but this foolish girl, imitating those scholars playing hero, actually chose to betray neither side! Truly, A-Mei, with this move you both freed Liu Yu and successfully smeared the little Son of Heaven, helping us greatly — the precision of your timing and grasp of hearts did not betray the high regard I've always held you in. But... where did you place yourself in all this? Today, thanks to you, some scholars have already come submitting memorials urging us to take the throne, but I paid them no heed and burned the memorials outright! You foolish girl, you still don't understand — if my son is to ascend to that position, he will seize it by his own ability. Why would he need your life to pave the way?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Part Five: The Great River Flows East, the Old Warlords\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixth year of Jian'an (196), seventh day of the first month, Yecheng\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After so many years of harem and household intrigue (heavy fog), this old lady has finally today crossed five passes and slain...? Ha, my filial darling son has now proposed posthumously conferring the posthumous title \"Wen\" on his deadbeat father — probably planning to save it for my use later? That's far too thin — how could it possibly showcase this old lady's unprecedented and unparalleled status in the annals of women's history? Hmm, I think that mighty, domineering, long, long title of Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang is quite nice!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although for now we've only established a Yan Ducal State, the territory isn't small, and it's time to set up the necessary organizational framework! The current Han bureaucratic setup is far too chaotic. For the central official system, I recommended the relatively more recent Tang dynasty Three Departments and Six Ministries collective chancellery system, and my son made some revisions based on actual circumstances. This system has been tested through years of practice, so I imagine there won't be major problems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What's more troublesome is the issue of establishing an heir. It's not that I dislike A-Ding — the child actually has a good temperament. Even though his maternal family is somewhat unreliable and their attitude toward us is a bit distant, I see no major problem with making him the heir. It's just that I'm a bit hesitant about which succession system to adopt. If we use the traditional primogeniture system, what if a later generation produces a \"why don't they eat meat\" idiot emperor, and then we replay the \"Rebellion of the Eight Princes\"? Should we perhaps consider the Qing dynasty's secret succession system?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this matter can wait a bit longer. The most urgent task is still to deal with the Nanyang \"reactionary forces\" that Cao Cao and Liu Bei have assembled! I wonder if these two \"Great Han loyalists,\" having recently taken in that chuunibyou little Son of Heaven, are now greatly invigorated and ready to serve the nation loyally and crusade against the national traitor? Hey, even if they're not in a hurry, the military officers under my son probably can't wait any longer — the animal-brand wanted posters are already printed, and a great many founding marquis titles are still vacant!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixth year of Jian'an (196), fifth day of the fifth month, Yecheng\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today was truly busy all day long!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The morning dragon boat race wasn't the first year we've held it, and it looked much more polished than last year. The military parade afterward was rather dull — it can't compare to the ones at Tiananmen in the old days! Besides, much of what was presented this time was just window dressing to deceive the eye — news of the real players should arrive in a couple of days, right? This time, that Sima Yi and A-Can both signed up to participate. Young Liang is a bit too young and may have missed out — will he have to wait for the next batch?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lately, quite a few people have been grumbling, saying the Bronze Sparrow Terrace is too extravagant and such — this is called \"work relief,\" do those laymen even understand?! We've just come into a huge war windfall, and the harvests in recent years have been good — should we leave the surplus grain to mold in the granaries? Of course we should invest in infrastructure to create a linkage effect and boost GDP! It's actually the same principle as handing out various Amway vouchers to the officials this afternoon — come to think of it, why hasn't anyone objected to that? It's all just grumbling from the disgruntled. Later on, just give them a little benefit, and they'll probably be doing face-changes like Kong Rong at tonight's banquet!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only one matter deserves serious consideration — the secret succession system has met with remarkably unanimous opposition from top to bottom! I think I understand the chancellors' meaning now — people's hearts currently yearn for stability, and primogeniture is the best system! Even if an idiot emperor appears, isn't there still the collective chancellery system as a safety net? This reasoning is not without merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixth year of Jian'an (196), first day of the sixth month, Yecheng\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Received the frontline battle report. The western campaign is sweeping all before it — Baima fell in a single battle, and in the next, Cao Cao was routed, fleeing in disarray, and now they're locked in a standoff at Guandu. Everyone is very heartened. Guandu is a familiar place — I always feel it's a bit inauspicious... but with the precedent of annihilating Yuan Shao at Jieqiao, I suppose we needn't fear Cao Cao at Guandu? This battle report's casualty list contains many familiar names. Cao Cao's personal guard, the \"Tiger Fool\" Xu Chu, whom I'd met once in Chang'an, was among them — it stirs a touch of melancholy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixth year of Jian'an (196), twentieth day of the ninth month, Yecheng\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That Jiang Gan, really — after such a serious illness, why not rest a few more days? What's the rush to hurry back to the front lines?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, speaking of Jiang Gan, I myself also feel quite sorry for Zhou Gongjin. Looking at the battle report's account, one can truly say it was \"no fault of his own in battle\"! That move of bringing the navy into the inland river was truly brilliant. If his teammates hadn't been so inept and his luck so poor, that libertine Guo would have capsized for sure. Such a fine, handsome young man — I had thought he might make a good husband for A-Li and the others... It suddenly occurs to me — wasn't that fellow Guo Jia someone I recommended? If I'd known, should I have given a word of warning back then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then, who can ever be certain about matters of war? One of A-Li's husband candidates, Lu Fan's son A-Fu, a seemingly very reliable lad, was just struck dead by a stray cannonball on the front lines! And now, A-Ding and the rest of their \"Crown Prince's Retinue\" have also gone directly to the front — it's worrying... Even here in the great rear, I'm not necessarily safe! Recently I even received a letter from Wenqi, speculating that Cao Cao might very well have sent troops to raid Yecheng where I am... A-Man, you dwarf, you've gone too far! Do you really think I haven't kept a few tricks up my sleeve?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixth year of Jian'an (196), twenty-ninth day of the tenth month, Yecheng\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This October has been utter chaos — so busy that this old woman had no time to write her diary!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, the seven armies Sun Ce led to raid Yecheng completely collapsed before even touching the edge of my city walls... A side result is that, of the seven commanders, the only one I ended up meeting was Huang Zhong, who surrendered last and isn't even that old...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, I really did try my best with this Sun Ce. Given the lessons from the previous few times, I specially gave the secret weapon \"Iron Buddha\" to Taishi Ci, who theoretically should have good compatibility with him, and even hinted to Ziyi to spare his life if possible. But alas, he crossed Ziyi's bottom line. (Afterward, Ziyi rushed back on horseback to ask if I wanted the corpse preserved? Thank you, but that's really not necessary! There's a chasm one thousand eight hundred years wide between you and me...) The others either died in battle or took their own lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few days later, while I was still busy dealing with the heap of surrendered soldiers delivered to my doorstep, an even more astonishing twist arrived — Lu Bu stabbed Cao Cao in the back! This is so very Lu Bu! But hasn't Cao A-Man been just a bit too unlucky? Poor Cao Cao, a hero of his age, died in such a stifling manner (I heard his head actually ended up with that Sima Yi...). Oh, right — we've just fired a batch of fine white porcelain. I'll keep some as burial goods for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the time, when I received the news, knowing my A-Xun's foul temper as I do, I had a vague sense that something was off. Then, before I could even sort out my thoughts, news arrived that Lu Bu had died in the latrine during a banquet... Well, that set Yexia University abuzz for quite a while, and Tian Feng of the Censorate has been walking around with a dark face all day... Such a headache! Perhaps tomorrow I should have someone leak some gossip about the Nanyang petty court's \"emperor-empress clashes\" to divert everyone's attention?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixth year of Jian'an (196), tenth day of the twelfth month, Yecheng\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today I met Cao Ang, Xiahou Dun, and Xun Yu, who arrived at Yexia along with the newly appointed Chancellor Jia. To be honest, getting the Cao clan faction to surrender so smoothly — after all the recent chaos and busyness, it was worth it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's just that they all seem rather emotionally unstable. Cao Ang, that famously filial child, is clearly overwhelmed with grief, seemingly holding on only through the weight of his responsibility as the new family head. (I heard he has a newborn younger brother, just born to Lady Huan...) Xiahou Dun seems fairly steady — with his unyielding temperament, if Cao Ang didn't seem so unreliable, he probably would have followed Cao Hong and the others in suicide long ago, right? (Cao Hong was truly impulsive — wouldn't it be better to come work for my Amway?!) Xun Yu is quite composed, but his very composure honestly gives me the creeps a bit... No, idleness breeds trouble — I must find things for all of them to do! I recently heard that Dian Wei has pulled strings to come to Yexia University as our security captain! Now that's the right idea — what's the point of fighting and killing all day? Ah, lately, so many of these historically famous, named figures have died! If I can keep one more alive, I'd rather keep one more...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventh year of Jian'an (197), first day of the first month, Yecheng\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This New Year was truly lively — the number of people coming to offer this old lady New Year greetings set a new historical high! That's only natural, of course. Now that my son's position rises ever higher, inside and out, top to bottom, the messy contradictions to deal with naturally multiply, while those with whom one can communicate as equals inevitably dwindle — the saying goes, \"it's cold at the top,\" after all... But this is the path he chose himself — who can he blame? Of course, whatever messy thoughts lie beneath, even if swords are about to be drawn, on the surface all is harmony. Back and forth, it's all insipid pleasantries, soporific to hear, truly meaningless. Only one person left a deep impression — a chef from Jiaozhou, said to be of humble origin — such dark cuisine could qualify as the ninth great culinary tradition of our great China!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What pleased me most today, though, was that the marriages of several children were finally settled! Young Liang matched with A-Li — though it may not quite conform to \"imperial\" tradition, and might even somewhat adversely affect A-Liang's official career, but the talented man and beautiful woman — just thinking of it is bliss~~ A-Ding and A-Ping had their wives long ago picked by their father, so I needn't worry. For A-Zhen, after much thought, I still chose Wen Hui. Though he's not a particularly famous historical celebrity, he's someone I've watched grow up — good-natured and intelligent, reassuring. It's just a slight pity about Sun Ce and Zhou Yu... Ah, I wonder where their Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao actually are? Oh, and Huang Yueying, that rare engineering cat of ancient times — I do feel a bit bad for ruining her good match. Hmm, I must make it up to her if I meet her in the future! Haha, I think I have the potential to be a matchmakers' union president — top-notch at pairing people up, far better than my son's random matchmaking! For instance, that pair of Wang Xiu and the young lady of the Cai family (Shuzhi, I've really done him a bit wrong...), the more I think of it, the more perfectly matched they seem! As for that Sima Yi? Plotting to usurp the throne I can understand, but despising one's wedded wife is unforgivable — best he stays a bachelor his whole life!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventh year of Jian'an (197), twentieth day of the eighth month, Yecheng\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those \"Study Hard\" twin swordsmen have truly done great harm! I'll let slide for now the business of gallantly wielding swords, leaning on heaven and slaying dragons — but what's this about entering Shu with a single sword to assassinate the enemy state's leader? I wouldn't even write that in a novel!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, these young fellows are so impatient — don't they have any consideration for these old arms and legs of mine! Now look — the five-year plan I just finished has to be completely scrapped and redone, and so many things have to be accomplished within a single year! No, no, this old woman can't withstand such turmoil anymore. Once this capital relocation business is done, I'm applying for retirement! From then on, I'll just look after the kids, tease the cat, and live a life truly befitting the elderly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>P.S.: Today, while auditing a debate competition at Yexia University, I happened to meet Pang Tong and Fei Yi... Thinking carefully, I've missed quite a few of the Three Kingdoms' famous handsome men, but haven't really missed the ugly ones, have I?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eighth year of Jian'an (198), fourth day of the fourth month, Yecheng\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The era of warlord strife has thoroughly drawn to a close...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Bei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'm not quite sure how to define this name. The tear-loving Big Ears Liu of the romance? The Emperor Zhaolie of history who would never serve under another? An ungrateful betrayer acting only for selfish desire? My son's most important comrade and rival? Or, merely just a child of our own clan, orphaned and struggling from youth, who served me as if I were his own mother?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a child reading the romance, I felt sorry for Liu Bei. When I grew older, I followed the trend and thought him a hypocrite. When I came here and met the real person, I found him to be nothing more than a chuunibyou youth who raced horses and fought dogs, showing hardly any signs of a heroic ruler — it was truly a bit disappointing. Later, our contact was frequent, but it was merely a casual investment, without much genuine emotion. Yet as the seasons turned, year after year, watching him grow and mature step by step, I began to feel as if the pretense had become real. Looking back, over all these years, how exactly did this child end up walking the path he's on now? That ambition and heroic generosity of his, so identical to my son's — how much of it was innate, and how much was influenced, shaped, or even deliberately induced by me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alas! I did not kill Boren, yet Boren died because of me!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah, the only slightly consoling news this time is probably just \"Sima Yi Strips to Battle Zhang Fei\"...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eighth year of Jian'an (198), first day of the sixth month, Luoyang\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday, my son — oh, I should now say the Imperial Son, or His Majesty — formally ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor! And I have been gloriously promoted to Empress Dowager! Though it was indeed a bit hasty, but... it's understandable. Reckless and willful, filled with an unstoppable heroic spirit — hasn't he always been like this from the very beginning?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most gratifying and celebratory thing is that, before the enthronement ceremony, I finally managed to give away Amway — whose current scale even I can't quite figure out — as a gift! The retirement plan is a resounding success! Only, that imperial seal I still kept — in the end, I feel there's something a bit odd about that thing...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>? year ? month ? day, Ji\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I should have burned all this chaotic mess. I destroyed part of it, yet I couldn't bear to part with the rest. I wonder which generation of my descendants you are, the one fated to read these things?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A load of rambling nonsense. It must have been hard for you to find it and read all the way to the end. Since you managed to find this, I imagine the situation is now dire. Whether it is military commanders carving out fiefdoms or civil officials rotting from corruption, building a solid economic foundation and developing science and technology are the top priorities. Beyond that, there are various systems for reference, all the way up to the 21st century — those are in the well beside this. If the cause proves truly impossible, then go with the tide of the era and retreat when it is time to retreat. Each generation has its own mission. Child, take good care of yourself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Volume)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",8382,"2026-06-04T19:42:52.587Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","97d90bc79790f308057b0b579eb23a204f811ad0d177e64a7ba1767e4722e179","overthrowing-han-chapter-543","overthrowing-han-chapter-541",548,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-han-cover.jpg"]