Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 354 Your Majesty, don't lose points! Cheer up! Well done!

In the palace of Prince Chen, despite Liu Chong’s efforts to adopt a humble and respectful attitude under Luo Jun’s advice, even referring to himself as a “student” and seeking advice from Xu You, Xu You still keenly noticed the resentment deep in his eyes that he could not completely conceal.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Liu Chong threw the difficult question directly at me, saying, "Sir, the situation is critical. The strategy that I discussed with the two prime ministers is to hold our ground and wait for the right time. I wonder if you have any good ideas to teach me?"

Xu You sneered inwardly. Liu Chong's actions, seemingly a request for advice, were actually a test.

The "wisdom" of this "wise king" was more of a performance of power tactics for outsiders than a genuine display of magnanimity and wisdom.

He clearly needed something from him and invited him with the attitude of being courteous and respectful, but he was unwilling to entrust him with his trust. He did not play the humble role to the end, but instead tested and provoked him in this way.

They can't even put on a proper show; they just give you half a performance, leaving you feeling stuck and frustrated.

Since that's the case, Xu You didn't bother with pretense and simply adopted his usual arrogant demeanor, asking in return, "Your Majesty, if I may be so bold as to ask, what is this 'change' that we are waiting for in this strategy of holding firm and waiting for change?"

Liu Chong's expression changed slightly, and his lips moved, but he was unable to give a clear answer.

Xu You's lips curled into a mocking smile. He turned his gaze to Luo Jun and Xu Yang beside him, his words dripping with sarcasm and sharp as knives. He said, "I have long said that these two are short-sighted and lack wisdom, and now it seems that this is indeed the case. Their nonsense has misled the country and its people, and has even misled the King!"

"Nonsense!" Xu Yang's temper was far more volatile than Luo Jun's. Seeing that Xu You not only rejected their strategy but also spoke so rudely, Xu Yang, who had always been at odds with Xu You, could not hold back any longer and retorted sharply, "Instead of holding firm and waiting for the situation to change, are we going to launch an attack and throw eggs against rocks? In the past few years, I have personally supervised the fortification and repair of various cities. Chen Kingdom has many strong cities. Yangxia was attacked by Huangfu Song for more than a month, but it is still as solid as a rock! Even if the imperial army is at the gates of Wanqiu, what can they do to me?"

Xu Yang became more and more agitated as he spoke, taking a few steps closer to Xu You, his finger almost poking Xu You's face, and said, "Wanqiu City has been expanded and fortified, and the city has ample food and military supplies. It can hold out for a year or two without any problem! You say I am harming the country and the people? I think you are a spy secretly colluding with the court!"

Xu Yang's words were quite scathing.

The atmosphere inside the hall instantly became tense. Everyone held their breath and their eyes darted back and forth between Xu You and Xu Yang.

Faced with the accusations, Xu You merely sneered and retorted, "What the Right Chancellor says is stale and outdated, like rotten grain in an old granary, not even worth a laugh. Tell me, which of Fule, Xiangxian, Ningping, Wuping, Kuxian, and Zheqiu wasn't a fortified city? Why were they so quickly breached?"

"That's because there were spies inside the city working together to trick us into opening the city gates!" Xu Yang retorted angrily, veins bulging on his forehead.

Xu You stared at the anxious Xu Yang and slowly uttered a question that everyone knew but no one dared to point out: "If that's the case, what makes the Right Chancellor so sure that there aren't any spies from the imperial court in this vast city of Wanqiu? Is it based on those powerful families who can't even find excuses to attend military meetings these days?"

Xu You paused, his voice growing even colder, and said, "At this point, the Right Chancellor is still speaking out of personal grudges, disregarding the overall situation. Isn't that absurd? Who exactly is the spy?"

As Xu You revealed this bloody truth that no one wanted to expose, the hall fell into a deathly silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Xu You turned to Liu Chong, bowed, sighed, and said, "Your Majesty, it is not that I intend to disrupt the morale of the army or sow discord among my colleagues. I simply cannot bear to see Your Majesty misled by mediocre people. I must make Your Majesty understand how critical the current situation has become, and it cannot be covered up by a few words of comfort!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Chong's eyes flickered, a mixture of surprise, anger, and a hint of fear at having his secret exposed, as he stared intently at Xu You.

After a long while, Liu Chong took a deep breath, slowly stood up, and walked down the steps one by one. He personally helped Xu You up and said in a deep voice, "What you said... though unpleasant to hear, is the truth. I am deeply moved by it, so there is no need for you to worry."

"Thank you for your leniency, Your Majesty." Xu You nodded and straightened up, saying, "But please allow me to say a few words that may boost the morale of the enemy. Now, it is we who cannot afford to drag this out, not the imperial army. The imperial court has ample food and supplies and no worries about logistics, so even if it takes three or five years, it will not matter."

"If we simply hold Wanqiu and wait for the imperial army to arrive at the city, we are only scattering our forces across various cities, delaying our demise, and waiting to be defeated one by one by the imperial court. In the end, when morale has plummeted, we will be trapped in an isolated city and it will only lead to our death."

Seeing Liu Chong listening attentively, Xu You emphasized, "Moreover, a city is not necessarily more fortified the larger it is. On the contrary, as the size of the city increases, the area that needs to be defended also increases, and naturally, the vulnerabilities also increase. If one day the imperial army comes to the city, I fear... those wavering aristocratic families will not only fail to cooperate in defending the city, but will instead collude from within and without, open the city gates, and offer up the heads of Your Majesty and your ministers as well!"

Liu Chong's face grew increasingly ashen. Xu You knew that these words had struck a chord with Liu Chong, so he added fuel to the fire, saying, "Why should Your Majesty bear the risks while those two-faced cowards can sit back and watch the success or failure unfold, and even use Your Majesty and your ministers' heads to exchange for their own riches and glory? How can there be such injustice in the world!"

Xu You's words grew increasingly impassioned, and the loyal ministers in the hall were gradually infected by the emotions in his words, their faces showing indignation.

Yes, why should we?

Luo Jun, standing to the side, glanced at his indignant colleagues, his unease growing stronger, yet he couldn't pinpoint the source. He simply frowned and said, "In that case, Your Majesty should not easily leave Wanqiu City to engage the enemy in a decisive battle in the open. Otherwise, if Wanqiu falls, morale will inevitably collapse, and how can the soldiers at the front fight with peace of mind?"

Xu You seemed to have anticipated this question. A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes as he said decisively, "Gather evidence of the crimes committed by all the powerful families in Chen! From bullying men and women, concealing people, seizing land, and evading taxes, to how they funded the King's uprising, collect and list all their crimes, big and small, one by one!"

"For those powerful families who have already surrendered to the court, make a copy of their incriminating evidence and send it to the court! We want to see how that young emperor will handle it! But no matter what he decides... severe punishment will discourage those who want to submit; leniency will undermine the credibility of the law. For us, both are beneficial!" "Your Majesty!" Xu You turned to Liu Chong, his eyes burning, "This plan is to cut off their escape route and force them to join us in this struggle!"

However, from Liu Chong, Luo Jun, and Xu Yang to the other ministers present, everyone was shocked and looked at Xu You in astonishment.

No, it was less a shock and more like watching a madman.

If this is done, not only will these powerful families be cut off from their future, but their own future will also be completely cut off, leaving them with no room for maneuver.

This is clearly a mad gambler who wants everyone to fall into the abyss with him.

"Isn't this...isn't this too...too radical?"

Liu Chong's voice trembled slightly, and he subconsciously swallowed.

He felt fear, but mixed with that fear was an indescribable excitement.

Xu You's plan was like a cup of poisonous wine, tempting in color but deadly intoxicating. He knew that drinking it might lead to his utter destruction, but the allure of taking the plunge was like the sweet aroma of fine wine, enticing him to reach out.

Xu You held Liu Chong in contempt in his heart.

How dare you, a radical, call me radical?
You dare to rebel against the imperial court in a mere prefecture of Chen? Who in this world is more radical than you?
"What?" Xu You seemed to see through the cowardice and scheming in some people's hearts. He did not respond to Liu Chong directly, but instead sneered. His sharp gaze swept over the hesitant colleagues, and he said with sarcasm, "Do you all... think we have some way out?"

"Master Yan once said, 'A true man either lives to eat from five tripods or dies to be cooked in five tripods.' Since you have chosen to follow the King in this uprising, do you not even have this much courage?!"

The hall was silent. No one responded to Xu You. All eyes were finally drawn to the silent Liu Chong.

Everyone was well aware of the Chen Kingdom's gradual decline, but no one was willing to openly acknowledge it.

Xu You's words, though sharp and harsh, laid bare the bloody reality before everyone.

"Whether we perish now or launch a great campaign, we will still die. Since we are going to die anyway, is it not better to die for our country?"

Liu Chong murmured softly, his expression shifting between light and shadow, repeating a passage from the *Records of the Grand Historian*, as if questioning the crowd, yet also as if trying to convince himself.
Seeing that Liu Chong was already interested, Xu You added the last bit of firewood without hesitation and said solemnly, "I have heard that Your Majesty is brave and strong, and skilled in crossbow shooting, hitting the target ten times out of ten, and all the hits are in the same spot. I am willing to lead the horse and hold the stirrups on your left and right, but I do not know if Your Majesty can still ride a horse and shoot arrows now?"

Xu You looked up at Liu Chong and said, "Your Majesty, don't lose points!"

Liu Chong's gaze toward Xu You became unusually complex, containing admiration, resolve, and perhaps even a trace of guilt for past suspicions, but more than anything, it was fueled by a surge of pride and fighting spirit: "Is Ziyuan testing me?"

Liu Chong took a deep breath, straightened his back, and revealed a long-lost smile with a hint of arrogance: "How could I possibly disappoint you?"

Liu Chong's gaze swept over Luo Jun, Xu Yang, and other trusted former officials, and he asked, "I wonder if you are still willing to stay by my side?"

This was perhaps the happiest time Liu Chong had ever laughed since he harbored thoughts of rebellion, and it also reminded former officials such as Luo Jun and Xu Yang of the wise king who had once made them determined to follow him.

This moment was perhaps the most hearty laugh Liu Chong had ever had since he harbored rebellious thoughts. It also made Luo Jun, Xu Yang, and others vaguely see the former Prince Chen, who was generous, righteous, respectful to the virtuous, and somewhat idealistic yet still charismatic.

He disliked extravagance, was generous and righteous, befriended the poor and needy, opened his granaries to provide relief during famine years, and used his private property to help refugees... However, power and ambition eventually eroded him.

But at this moment, at least for now, Liu Chong has put aside those calculations and briefly regained his former glory.

Upon seeing this, Luo Jun, Xu Yang, and the others bowed down and shouted in unison, "Your subjects swear to follow Your Majesty to the death!"

The crowd in the hall was in high spirits, but Xu You remained like an outsider, no longer joining in the shouts. He simply lowered his head slightly, a faint yet chillingly sarcastic smile playing on his lips, which vanished in an instant.

Yes, don't lose points, keep your spirits up, well done!
(3236 words)
(End of this chapter)