Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 356 You have already chosen your own death!
August 26th, the second year of the Han Dynasty.

Chen State, Wuping County.

The wind blowing across the open fields carried a refreshing coolness. As autumn deepened, the lingering heat of late summer gradually receded, replaced by the coolness of late autumn. The autumn sun slanted across the open fields outside Wuping City, gilding the withered yellow grass with a layer of gold. The sparse trees near and far swayed gently in the wind, casting increasingly longer shadows.

Wang Yun, the governor of Yuzhou, dressed in military attire and covered with black armor, led the governors, commanders and dozens of officials of various prefectures in Yuzhou, standing solemnly at Luting, ten miles west of Wuping City, with his hands folded in front of his abdomen in preparation for welcoming the emperor, his eyes looking straight ahead.

To outsiders, Wang Yun appeared quite calm and composed, as if he had seen it all before. However, they were unaware that beneath his calm exterior lay a turbulent inner world.

From April of the seventh year of Guanghe (620 AD), when the emperor, who was then the crown prince, appointed him as the governor of Yuzhou, two and a half years have passed without him realizing it.

During his term, he acted swiftly and decisively, cracking down on powerful local magnates, surveying land, uncovering hidden households, and collecting taxes. His performance was rated as top-notch for two consecutive years. Logically, his position should have been promoted, and it was time for him to return to the capital for a promotion.

If being sent to a remote area was not to deal with an emergency in that place, it was to accumulate political achievements and enrich one's resume in order to obtain a higher official position in the capital.

The emperor clearly trusted him greatly and placed high hopes on him.

However, last year, due to the personnel changes of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, the position of Guanglu Xun became vacant, but it was not given to him. Instead, Deng Sheng was appointed as Guanglu Xun.

It would be impossible for him not to harbor some resentment, but who can blame him when he is Deng Sheng?
Wang Yun's eyes darkened slightly at the thought of Deng Sheng.

With a resume sufficient to serve as one of the Three Dukes, he was appointed as the mere Grand Master of Ceremonies. Especially since Deng Sheng was Wang Yun's mentor and recommender, even if he was unwilling, he could not show any dissatisfaction. Instead, he had to smile and host a banquet for his colleagues and scholars to express his joy that Deng Sheng, who had served as his mentor, recommender, and former master, was appointed as Grand Master of Ceremonies. He congratulated Deng Sheng on his promotion and praised the emperor's ability to recognize talent.

However, this is nothing. In this vast world, there are countless people with qualifications and backgrounds, but there are only twelve positions for the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers. There will always be people performing on the stage, and there will always be people watching the show from below.

Wang Yun took a deep breath and suppressed his distracting thoughts.

What troubled him more at this moment was not simply the matter of promotion.

Having been ordered to quell the rebellion, he proceeded steadily and cautiously, step by step, seeking no extraordinary achievements but only avoiding mistakes.

However, in such campaigns to quell rebellions, as long as one does not deliberately slack off, being without fault is considered a merit.

Moreover, the State of Chen comprised eleven counties. As the commander-in-chief, he led the troops of Yuzhou Commandery and conquered the three cities of Zhe County, Wuping County, and Ku County from the eastern part of the State of Chen. In other words, he recovered nearly a quarter of the territory of the entire State of Chen, which was naturally a great achievement.

His promotion and return to the capital were almost inevitable.

But what will happen after we go back?

The only way for a prefect to rise in rank is to return to the capital, but Wang Yun doesn't know which direction to take.

Currently, the health of the three dukes and nine ministers is generally good, and there are no vacancies.

Although Guanglu Xun Deng Sheng seemed to have been unwell since the beginning of autumn this year, he was bedridden at the end of July.

Wang Yun had felt jealous of this person who had guided him on his official career and even his life path, but in the end he still hoped that he could live a few more years and watch this former subordinate official, whose life he had guaranteed, climb to the same mountain peak as him.

However, regardless of whether Deng Sheng dies in office or is dismissed due to illness after being unable to perform his duties for three months, it will not affect Wang Yun's decision.

If one were to be appointed to one of the Nine Ministers, one would simply be appointed as the Grand Master of the Palace, a candidate for one of the Nine Ministers.

What truly troubled and perplexed Wang Yun was the choice of his future path.

Although it may not seem obvious at the moment, Wang Yun, who was concerned about the official system of the court, keenly perceived the undercurrents in the power structure of the court.

Power is gradually flowing from the hands of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers to various government departments!

Before Wang Yun could continue his thoughts, a dull tremor came from the ground, and in the distance, banners appeared like a forest.

Wang Yun suddenly looked up and saw dust rising on the official road. Among the many banners, the most prominent was the black dragon banner with a border, symbolizing the emperor's majesty. The dragon banner fluttered in the autumn wind, exuding a chilling aura.

Immediately afterwards, a long, dark red line emerged from the smoke and dust, becoming increasingly clear.

That's the Left Guard Battalion of the Central Army!
Wang Yun's eyes twitched slightly, and he immediately composed himself, straightening his back ramrod straight.

As the emperor's procession drew near, the first troop of cavalry thundered with their hooves, only slowing down when they were more than ten paces away.

Wang Yun dared not be negligent. He took a few steps forward and then stopped in place. He then knelt down and performed the kneeling ceremony. The nail plates clinked together, making a crisp sound. He then proclaimed, "Your subject, Wang Yun, Governor of Yuzhou, respectfully welcomes Your Majesty!"

Dozens of prefects, military commanders, and their subordinates behind Wang Yun knelt down in unison, their robes rustling as they shouted, "Your subjects respectfully welcome Your Majesty!"

Liu Bian reined in his warhorse, lightly tapping its belly with his rhinoceros-hide boots, and stopped five paces away. His gaze swept over the kneeling officials, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on his lips, clearly indicating his satisfaction with their performance.

Liu Bian then nimbly dismounted, took a few steps forward, and personally took Wang Yun's arms with a concerned expression, saying, "Zishi, you are wearing armor, why do you perform such a full ceremony? Please get up quickly."

Wang Yun rose with the emperor's help, bowed his head and responded to the emperor's polite words, saying, "The etiquette between ruler and subject cannot be abandoned. Although I am fifty years old, I can still ride a horse and gallop freely. I am not an old man who cannot perform the full etiquette when wearing armor."

Wang Yun spoke calmly, but his mind was as clear as a mirror.

Wearing armor, I dare not kneel; please greet me with military honors.

Haha, although this comes from the "Quli Chapter" of the Book of Rites, which says "those in armor do not bow", meaning that those in armor can perform a half-kneeling and half-squatting "cuò" to show flexibility.

When Shusun Tong of the Former Han Dynasty formulated court etiquette for Emperor Gaozu, he also believed that military generals were exempt from all the rites because their armor was heavy, making it inconvenient to put on and take off and difficult to kneel.

But as a high-ranking official stationed in a remote region, having not seen the emperor for a long time and still in charge of nearly ten thousand soldiers, shouldn't he try to perform the full ceremony?
The previous example of Zhou Yafu, who shouted, "This humble general is in armor and dares not kneel. Please greet me with military honors," serves as a cautionary tale. If it weren't for his outstanding talent and Emperor Xiaowen's benevolent heart, Emperor Xiaojing probably wouldn't have needed to take action.

Only if the emperor exempts you from performing the full rites can you request to be received with military honors.

He won't give it to you; you can't make the decision on your own.

Otherwise... when the emperor uses you and loves you, that's a sign of a "good general".

When the emperor abandons or despises you, that is when "you have already made a way to die!"
Even though he knew that the emperor was a benevolent ruler and would not care about such a trivial matter, Wang Yun did not like to take the risk and did not want to leave the emperor with the impression of Zhou Yafu, who held military power and was self-important.

Wang Yun noticed that his political posturing had caught the emperor's eye, and the emperor's undisguised smile put him at ease. He then stepped aside to let him pass and said with a smile, "The country must be weary from its journeys. Why don't we enter the city and rest soon?"

Liu Bian waved his hand dismissively, saying, "I arrived in Jiwu County of Chenliu Commandery on the 24th, and on the 25th, I toured Jiwu County with Junming. Jiwu is only twenty-seven routes away, which is only half a day's journey for the army. How can you say I'm tired?"

Liu Bian's tone was quite relaxed, even somewhat leisurely, as if he were not on a battlefield, but on an ordinary inspection tour.

He did not hide the reason why he had stayed in Jiwu County the day before. He was the emperor and did not need to consider the feelings of others in everything he did.

This posture reflects both confidence in the war effort and a deliberate display of composure to the troops, further demonstrating his certainty of victory in the upcoming battle.

The news that Liu Chong had gathered troops in Chen County and was heading north out of the city was already widely known, clearly indicating that he was about to engage in a strategic decisive battle with the imperial court.

The formidable strength of the Han army is well-known, an insurmountable mountain in the eyes of the people. Relying on this powerful army, the more composed and even playful the emperor appears, the more it inspires his soldiers.

Of course, winning is what truly signifies imperial power and composure.

To lose is to be foolish and ruin the country.

(2452 words)
(End of this chapter)