Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 45: Father and son say goodbye, past grudges are resolved

(I accidentally posted it a few minutes late, I will make up for it as promised)
The first day of August, the sixth year of Guanghe
In less than a month, the imperial court recruited 60,000 good family men from six counties and three rivers into the army.

Liu Bian was also fortunate enough to appreciate the style of Huangfu Song, a veteran frontier general, before going to the battlefield. He reorganized the army at the fastest speed, and first reorganized 20,000 people to be handed over to Dong Zhuo by having old soldiers lead the new soldiers.

However, this army of 60,000 good family men was actually mostly veterans, and the vast majority of them had participated in suppressing the Qiang rebellion in the northwest. This was not the first time they had been recruited by the imperial court.

Therefore, the army's combat effectiveness and familiarity with military regulations were not weak. Dong Zhuo, as the vanguard of the army, was ordered by the crown prince to go north to support Jizhou, the area hardest hit by the Yellow Turbans, and to help Jizhou Governor Lu Zhi to attack Zhang Jue.

Then the remaining 40,000 soldiers were quickly reorganized, with Liu Bian as the commander-in-chief and Huangfu Song as the deputy commander-in-chief. They were preparing to pass through Huai County in Henei and then go south to Yingchuan County.

While Huangfu Song was reorganizing his army, Liu Bian was also watching carefully and learning Huangfu Song's methods of leading troops.

During this period, the most outstanding generals in the world would not be Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Sun Jian and the like. They were not even qualified to be compared with Huangfu Song. The deployment of military equipment for large-scale combat alone was not something that ordinary generals could handle.

The marching route, logistics route, food and fodder dispatch, weapons dispatch, military law handling, etc. If Huangfu Song were alone, it would be difficult to handle them even if he exhausted all his energy.

Therefore, a general must have a complete staff behind him, responsible for assisting the officers in formulating marching routes, logistics routes, etc., just as the Secretariat and the Prince's Secretary assist him in handling government affairs.

But even if the generals only need to make the final decision, the number of soldiers they can command is also linked to their own abilities. It is no wonder that a certain Sun Shiwan repeatedly ruins himself. He often leads too many soldiers due to his lack of ability, resulting in an inability to effectively command and instead becoming a burden.

As for Liu Bian himself, although he might not be familiar with military tactics when it comes to planning marching routes, he can generally handle logistics matters and military law as he is now more and more adept at handling government affairs in the court.

Therefore, Liu Bian forced Sun Jian, Gao Shun and Huang Zhong to study in Huangfu Song's military tent, while he himself returned to the palace.

When Empress He heard that Liu Bian was going to war, her eyes instantly turned red, tears welled up in her eyes, and she looked very haggard.

She walked quickly to Liu Bian, held his hands tightly with both hands, and said in a trembling voice: "Why does my son have to take such a risk? If something happens to you, how can I live?"

She still couldn't understand why they would take risks with their lives when there were good generals in the court and capable officials in various places.

However, Empress He's questioning of Liu Bian was merely a verbal rebuke from a mother to her son, and she did not really want to get to the bottom of the matter.

She also knew that apart from the intrigues in the harem, she was not good at government affairs, let alone military affairs.

And even if she didn't understand anything, her son still understood.

If there were no great benefits, Liu Bian would not have taken such a great risk to lead his troops in person.

However, as a mother, she can sometimes be unreasonable. Empress He held Liu Bian in her arms, tears welling up in her eyes, falling continuously and wetting Liu Bian's shoulders.

As a mother, she only cared about whether her son would take risks, rather than how much benefit the court could gain from her son taking risks.

A mother worries when her son is away from home, let alone when her son is about to face a group of vicious rebels?
"Dian Zhongdun, Xu Weishu, I have no other requests except that you two protect the Crown Prince and do not let him come to any harm."

Empress He was such a proud woman, and she was also the Empress of the Han Dynasty, yet she condescended to bow slightly to Dian Wei and Xu Chu, her eyes full of sincerity, which frightened the two men so much that they quickly moved away and returned the greeting.

Dian Wei knelt on one knee and said, "Your Highness has raised me from humble beginnings. How dare I not repay you with my death!"

Xu Chu also knelt on one knee and shouted, "If it weren't for the Crown Prince, I wouldn't be where I am today. If any thief harms the Crown Prince, I will die!"

Dian Wei and Xu Chu quickly pledged their loyalty to Empress He, though they were both deeply grateful. Neither Dian Wei nor Xu Chu had married, but their mothers were in Luoyang, and Empress He frequently summoned them. Rather than dismissing their mothers as unremarkable women from the countryside, Empress He often summoned them to the palace to greet them and provide them with food, clothing, and medicine. These seemingly small favors were deeply cherished by both men.

"My son, despite your relationship with your father... he is still your father after all." Empress He held Liu Bian in her arms, gently stroking his back. Suddenly, intentionally or unintentionally, she mentioned Liu Hong, "Before you leave, go see him."

Liu Bian looked up at Queen He, a complicated look flashed in his eyes, and then he nodded.

After all, Liu Hong was Empress He's husband and also her father, so he had to see her before leaving.

But when Liu Bian really came to the Beigong Palace and saw this heartless and tyrant emperor blindfolding himself and playing with a beauty, he suddenly felt that it would be better if this father didn't exist.

Empress He was also filled with inexplicable anger, but she still pushed Liu Bian into the North Palace.

However, when the three met, they all sighed at the same time and didn't know what to say to each other.

In the past, Liu Bian thought he would be able to proudly show off to Liu Hong how popular he was and how he managed the country in an orderly manner. However, after actually taking over the Han Dynasty, he realized how difficult it was for Liu Hong.

The father and son were silent for a long time. Liu Bian lowered his head slightly, his hands unconsciously clenching the corners of his clothes. Finally, he spoke first: "Father, I will lead the army to war in four days."

Liu Hong glanced at him sideways and asked coldly, "Auspicious day?"

"The fifth day of the eighth month coincides with the White Dew." Liu Bian nodded and said, "The Grand Historian said that White Dew is the day of extinction, symbolizing the getting rid of the old and the beginning of the new. It is a good time to suppress the rebellion!"

"White Dew, autumn winds blow, and the nights are cooler each night." Liu Hong chuckled, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, with a subtle hint of meaning. He looked at Liu Bian and said slowly, "From the beginning of the White Dew solar term, the monsoon will change, and the summer heat will be gone forever, replaced by the cold air."

Liu Hong turned his head away, a trace of concern flashing in his eyes, and said in a low voice: "Don't forget to tell the Shangshutai and the Da Si Nong to prepare winter clothes for the soldiers."

Liu Bian also turned his head and curled his lips, saying, "I have reflected on myself. There is no need for the emperor to tell me. I have already asked the Minister of the Secretariat Liu Tao and the Minister of Agriculture Cao Song to prepare winter clothes in advance."

"It's the emperor, the father, who has been living a dissolute life all day long. Be careful not to let alcohol and sex drain your body away."

"Hmph, isn't my hollowing out of my body just to help you ascend the throne?" Hong snorted disdainfully, a hint of sarcasm on his face. "I will live a long time, even longer than you, and let you sit on the throne of Crown Prince until you die!"

Looking at this awkward father and son, Queen He shook her head helplessly and sighed softly.

It was obvious that the father was reminding his son to keep warm as the weather was getting colder, but he chose to use the excuse of being concerned about the army's winter clothes. The son knew that his father was concerned about him but was too embarrassed to thank him, and arrogantly said that he already knew it and didn't need his reminder.

Then they showed concern for each other's health, but their words of concern were full of hostility.

This father and son are really awkward.

However, Empress He still covered her red lips lightly and smiled slightly. At least the father and son could still care about each other and did not end up fighting each other.

As Liu Bian was helping Empress He to leave the Northern Palace, Liu Hong's gaze softened at Liu Bian's frail figure. He thought of the child shouldering the immense burden for him. He said softly, "My son, rest assured and go to the battle. Although I am not a wise ruler, I will not hold you back at this moment."

Liu Bian paused, his eyes slightly red, but he did not look back. He just walked forward silently with Empress He who kept looking back, until they completely disappeared from Liu Hong's sight.

(End of this chapter)