Chapter 306: The Imperial Decree for the Expedition Spreads Across the Land

"General Wei, please forgive me!" On the field, Ma Chao cupped his hands to Wei Xu, and after speaking, he set up his stance and attacked toward Wei Xu.

"Well fought!"

Seeing the fist Ma Chao attacked with, Wei Xu praised him, then slightly raised his right hand, extended his palm, and easily blocked Ma Chao's fist.

"What?"

Ma Chao only felt as if his fist had sunk into mud; it was difficult even to pull it out.

Immediately, he swung his other hand to attack Wei Xu, but it was easily neutralized by Wei Xu. The two were simply not on the same level.

Whether in terms of moves, strength, or speed, Ma Chao was completely defeated by Wei Xu.

After the two exchanged ten moves, Wei Xu took advantage of a gap in Ma Chao's defense and defeated Ma Chao in one move.

"I have lost. General Wei's strength is powerful; this subordinate admires you!"

Ma Chao was not someone who couldn't afford to lose, and he felt that Wei Xu hadn't used his full strength; otherwise, he wouldn't have lasted ten moves. He immediately cupped his hands to Wei Xu and said in a low voice.

"Mengqi, no need to be discouraged. You haven't cultivated the Martial Dao technique, yet you have the strength of a first-rate martial general at such a young age. Once you have cultivated, you might surpass me immediately."

Wei Xu thought highly of this teenager with powerful talent.

"Thank you for the reminder, General. This subordinate will cultivate diligently."

"Not bad. Ten days from now will be the time for the army to set out. After you go back, everyone should hurry up and cultivate."

Seeing that this matter was settled, Lü Bu said to the group.

"Understood, this subordinate takes his leave."

Watching the group leave, Lü Bu also walked toward his main military tent. He also had to go back to cultivate to see if he could break through another layer of cultivation in these final ten days.

In the Imperial Palace, seeing that Jia Xu's affairs had been arranged, Xun Yu spoke to Liu Bian:

"Your Majesty, ten days from now is the day of the expedition. The grain and fodder required by the army have all been prepared. Your Majesty can now issue a decree to announce it to the world."

"Hmm, it is time to issue the decree. Now we don't have to fear those warlords coming to cause trouble."

"I will write the imperial decree now. Wenruo, bring it with you when you go back later."

Hearing Xun Yu's words, Liu Bian also felt it was time to issue the decree of conquest. In this way, those warlords who wanted to fish in troubled waters would have no opportunity to take advantage of.

Subsequently, Liu Bian's decree of conquest spread across the thirteen provinces of the Great Han.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Since the rebellion of Dong Zhuo, although I have executed the ringleader Dong Zhuo, the four commanderies of Northern Liangzhou and Bingzhou are still controlled by his partisans. I have decided to send troops to suppress the rebels ten days from now. This decree is announced to the world so that all may know!"

"His Majesty is wise! Good, His Majesty is finally going to take action against Liangzhou and Bingzhou. I heard that ever since Dong Zhuo and the others took control of Liangzhou and Bingzhou, the people there have been living a life worse than death!"

"Indeed! I have a distant relative who fled from Bingzhou to here. I heard that Dong Zhuo's subordinates burn, kill, and loot. If they see something they like, they just grab it, and if you don't give it to them, they kill you!"

"Who says it isn't so! If you ask me, these people are really not human..."

Following the spread of the imperial decree, the people everywhere clapped and cheered.

First, it was Liu Dai, the Inspector of Yanzhou, who was closest, who received the news first.

"Hmph, this little Emperor has a good plan. Once the decree for the expedition is issued, those who want to pick the peaches will have to think carefully. If they want to go, he will have the reason to send troops."

Liu Dai looked at the imperial decree placed on his desk and said coldly to the group.

"Reporting to my Lord, this little Emperor killed Dong Zhuo a month ago and gathered the troops in Dong Zhuo's hands. His current strength cannot be underestimated. Plus, with the Recruitment Proclamation from a while ago, there are not a few people he can use."

"After all, there are many people in this world loyal to the Han Dynasty."

"Furthermore, he is the orthodox ruler of the Han Dynasty and occupies the moral high ground by birth. Liangzhou only has the 40,000 troops of Duan Wei and Xu Rong stationed there, and Bingzhou only has the 20,000 troops of Dong Zhuo's son-in-law, Niu Fu. They simply cannot stop Liu Bian's army."

"Therefore, Liu Bian occupies the right time, the right place, and the right people this time. I estimate that within a month, Liu Bian will be able to recover the two provinces."

Below Liu Dai's desk, the middle-aged scholar sitting in the first seat of the civil officials shook his head and analyzed.

This person was none other than Liu Dai's chief strategist, Wang Yu.

"Then according to your meaning, this Inspector cannot go this time? Do you know that if Liu Bian's brat gets Liangzhou and Bingzhou, he will control three provinces? We will have no chance to contend with him in the future!"

Liu Dai's face turned ugly as he roared at Wang Yu.

"My Lord, please calm your anger. The current situation is indeed like this. Without Liu Bian's imperial decree, we have no reason to send troops. If we raise an army privately, we will definitely be the first to be besieged!"

Wang Yu looked at Liu Dai's face full of coldness and hurriedly stood up to explain.

"My Lord, it is indeed like this. Liu Bian is using a 'bright strategy' this time, and most people are still watching. We cannot move this time either."

"However, I have a different opinion regarding what Lord Wang said about Liangzhou being easy to fight."

"Liangzhou is not that easy to take. If Liu Bian only fights for the four commanderies of Northern Liangzhou, that is naturally no problem. If he wants to attack the six commanderies of Wuwei occupied by Ma Teng, that will not be so easy to fight."

"Ma Teng is a descendant of the Fubo General of the past, and he is exceptionally strong in martial arts. Over the years, he has fought the Qiang people so they dare not invade the border. He will definitely make Liu Bian return in defeat."

"Even if we take a step back and say that even if Ma Teng submits to Liu Bian, don't forget, there is still a Han Sui!"

"Han Sui has half the blood of the Qiang people. He will absolutely not submit to Liu Bian. At that time, Liu Bian will not just be facing Han Sui alone, but the entire Qiang people."

"After all, they also don't want to see the Emperor become powerful; that has no benefit for them at all."

Below Wang Yu, another middle-aged man wearing a Confucian robe said to Liu Dai with a face full of confidence.

"Xu Si and Wang Yu are right. Then let us sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, and see how Liu Bian's brat faces the people of the world when he fails to take Liangzhou! Hahaha..."

After hearing the analysis of Wang Yu and Xu Si, Liu Dai felt his spirit lifted and laughed proudly.

There were not a few people who had the same thoughts as Liu Dai. Some of these people were like Liu Dai, originally members of the Han Imperial Clan.

Such as the Governor of Yizhou, Liu Zhang, and the Inspector of Jingzhou, Liu Biao, and others.

Now that they had tasted the flavor of power, one by one, they all had thoughts they shouldn't have.

Deep inside, a thought arose: You, Liu Bian, can be Emperor; we are all orthodox Han descendants, descendants of the High Ancestor, why can't I sit on the throne?

This is the consequence brought about by a weak ruler and strong subjects.

However, for Liu Bian, who had the help of the system, this was nothing more than a matter of time; no matter how many people there were, the ending would be the same. ===== CHAPTER 307 =====