Chapter 112

Why was this?

It was because the position Cao Cao held was that of the Han Minister of Works! (Promoted to Prime Minister before the Battle of Red Cliffs)

Behind him was the great banner of the Han dynasty.

Yuan Shu openly proclaimed himself emperor.

This was not only challenging the authority of the Han dynasty.

It was also challenging the legitimacy and orthodoxy of Cao Cao, who "held the emperor to command the warlords"!

And now.

Changing to Liu Yan, the same principle applied.

If Liu Yan announced he was emperor, that was not only slapping the face of the Han court, but also openly trampling Dong Zhuo's prestige under his feet!

"No, we must absolutely not let this old guy Liu Yan proclaim himself emperor like this."

"Wenyou, Linzhi, do you have any good methods?"

Dong Zhuo hurriedly asked Li Ru and Gu Yi for advice.

Regarding the military strength of both sides, if they were to fight on a plain, one Dong Zhuo fighting three Liu Yans would probably not be a problem!

But...

Yizhou was simply too easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Under Liu Yan's construction, it was even harder than a turtle shell.

The road to Shu is difficult, more difficult than ascending to the blue sky.

This sentence was not a joke in this era.

This old guy Liu Yan was relying on the natural dangers of the Shu region to dare to put on a posture of intending a northern expedition.

"My lord, actually there is no need to necessarily use troops against Liu Yan for the time being."

"Liu Yan putting on this posture is precisely to test the attitude of the lord and the imperial court."

"If left alone, he will soon put into practice the matter of proclaiming himself emperor."

"But... if internal turmoil occurs in Yizhou, where would Liu Yan have the energy and face to engage in that emperor-proclaiming business?"

Said this by Gu Yi, flashes of shock appeared on the faces of Dong Zhuo and Li Ru.

That old guy Liu Yan was no ordinary person.

Ever since he entered Yizhou, he immediately adopted a bloody policy to quickly integrate the interior of Yizhou.

Most of those who dared to oppose him in Yizhou had already died.

Under such circumstances, how could internal turmoil occur in Yizhou for no reason?

Dong Zhuo and Li Ru, after all, did not understand the detailed situation of Yizhou.

They could only infer the degree of Liu Yan's rule in Yizhou through the snippets of intelligence.

But Gu Yi was different!

Knowing this history well, he knew that this fellow Liu Yan did not realize his emperor dream until the day he died.

Why was this?

It was because Zhang Lu, who was entrenched in Hanzhong, burned the plank roads leading to the Shu region and openly declared independence with the soldiers and civilians of Hanzhong!

In fact, Liu Yan should take full responsibility for Zhang Lu's independence.

Originally, the Five Pecks of Rice Sect in Hanzhong was founded by Zhang Lu's grandfather, Zhang Daoling.

The Zhang family could be considered the true local emperors in this one-acre-three-fen land of Hanzhong.

But very awkwardly, Zhang Lu's father, Zhang Heng, failed to defeat Zhang Lu's uncle, Zhang Wei, in the internal struggle of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect.

This led to Zhang Lu, who was still young, having to flee to the Shu region for refuge.

After Liu Yan entered Shu, Zhang Lu immediately leaned toward Liu Yan.

And by virtue of the old lover relationship between his mother and Liu Yan, he was deeply valued by Liu Yan.

Thus, Zhang Lu obtained military support from Liu Yan and led his army into Hanzhong to counterattack his uncle Zhang Wei.

The Five Pecks of Rice Sect had long been suffering under Zhang Wei's leadership.

Learning the news of Zhang Lu's arrival, those who defected before the battle were countless.

Just like this, Zhang Lu regained control of Hanzhong and killed his uncle Zhang Wei.

But Zhang Lu was also a person with ambition.

How could he always remain under Liu Yan?

He began to be at odds with Liu Yan.

Historically, just when Liu Yan intended to proclaim himself emperor.

Zhang Lu openly declared independence, dealing a fatal blow to Liu Yan's emperor-proclaiming cause!

It is the so-called "The rice thief is in chaos, I must protect myself for Yizhou."

But in the end, the chaos of Zhang Lu was actually brewed by Liu Yan himself.

…….