About Cao Cao's reincarnation as the emperor's uncle

Chapter 9 A Life Without Flaws: Huangfu Song
Liu Fang stood by the window, his eyes becoming clearer and clearer.

Although he hadn't slept all night, he didn't look tired at all, but instead looked more relaxed than ever before.

It was like a huge stone was lifted from my heart, and like two souls were finally reunited.

Whether it is his original body Liu Fang or his previous life Cao Cao, they are ultimately the same kind of people.

I have never dared to slack off in my life, for fear of letting down this chaotic world.

Suddenly looking back.

Seeing that the person in the mirror was only in his twenties, he couldn't help but laugh.

God is merciful and allows the old Cao Mengde to regain his youthful days.

How can the sixty years of illness and decadence in the previous life compete with the eighteen years of vitality in the present life?

He is now the uncle of the Emperor of the Han Dynasty and the manipulator behind the Taiping Dao.

He is the uncrowned king of the underworld in the Thirteen States of the Han Dynasty, with spies all over the deep palace.

He is a reborn person who knows the future, and a hero who has experienced eighty years of vicissitudes in two lives.

Even if the current emperor wants to do it, what is there to fear?

Thinking of this, his face suddenly brightened, and a happy smile that he had never experienced in two lifetimes overflowed from the corners of his eyes, and even the vicissitudes of life quietly faded away.

When he looked at himself in the mirror again, he saw that the boy's eyes were full of sharpness, without any trace of old age.
……

A gentle breeze blew across the desk as he picked up a wolf hair brush and carefully reviewed his plans for the past two days.

No matter what happens next, all of Liu Hong's plans for him are still based on brotherhood.

Or rather, at present it was just his instinctive balancing act as an emperor.

To be honest, he had no intention of replacing it, at least not now.

Liu Hong is a good shield. That position is a huge constraint for him, which is tantamount to being trapped in a prison with too many restrictions.

While Liu Hong still trusts him, he wants to make the most of the convenience of imperial power.

Liu Hong's secret decree is different from that of his son Liu Xie.

The four words "Touring on my behalf" were clearly visible on the yellow silk on the desk.

What does "touring on my behalf" mean?
The imperial tour was originally a ceremony carried out by the emperor himself, just like Emperor Wu's southern tour to Kuaiji and Emperor Guangwu's northern tour to Zhongshan...

Inspection of official administration, pacification of people's livelihood, and military preparations are all within the scope of the imperial inspection tour.

Liu Hong used the "Xingxi", one of the six seals, to stamp the seal. This seal was usually used to enthrone princes and send envoys to foreign countries.

Especially since this edict has no written text, he can only convey the heaven's message orally.

That is to say, as long as he was not in the palace, wherever he went, it was as if the emperor was present in person.

Even if he has his own army, this edict can serve as a legitimate excuse.

He still couldn't change his suspicious habit. Perhaps Liu Hong had other plans, but he was no longer afraid.

With all the advantages I have now and this imperial edict, if I still can't accomplish something earth-shattering...

If she is really a good girl, will she be safe?

It is better to wash up early and go to bed.

Even if I really want to take the throne in the future, what difficulty will it be?

As for whether he got the position legitimately, he didn't worry about that at all.

What does Liu Fang’s usurpation of the throne have to do with Cao Cao?
Of course, this is a joke.

If he really were to revive the Han Dynasty for the third time, who would dare to say in history that he came to power illegitimately?
……

If you just look at his thoughts, Liu Fang seems like a different person.

But this transformation seems to be instantaneous, and it is difficult for outsiders to understand.

It sounds mysterious, but it is just a matter of thought.

As the saying goes, I have been dealing with myself for a long time, and I would rather be myself.

There are so many people in this world who, even if they have read thousands of books and traveled thousands of miles, are still trapped in the fog and cannot find their true heart.

He was reborn into the world, and while guiding the young Cao Cao to pursue his dream of becoming the "Han Dynasty's Western Expedition General", he also found an opportunity to reconcile with himself in the process.

His conversations with his younger self were like those between a strict father and his young son.

But if you look closely, they are similar, but completely different.

Looking back on his previous life, he placed all his ambitions on Cao Ang, hoping that he would inherit his ambitions.

But in the battle of Wancheng, the old man had to send the young man away.

Cao Pi was too thoughtful, Cao Zhi was arrogant because of his talent, Cao Zhang was brave but not smart, and his favorite Cao Chong died early.

After many trials and tribulations, he finally understood.

Even if they are connected by blood, their children and grandchildren have their own destiny, and no one else can fulfill their wishes on their behalf.

Last night, Zhang Rang's words were like a loud bell ringing in my ears, like an epiphany that enlightened me.

As the saying goes, a word can awaken a dreamer.

He sat alone at his desk, sleepless all night, his past obsessions peeling off layer by layer like a spider web.

When the morning light first appeared, he stood in front of the bronze mirror and suddenly felt that his shackles were broken.

Perhaps I can borrow a sentence to describe his mood at the moment.

"I have untied the old shackles of the past, and now I know who I am."

Liu Fang was very lucky, not only because God blessed him with rebirth, but also because he was able to suddenly realize the mystery that had troubled him for half his life.

This sudden realization not only makes up for the regrets of youth, but also fulfills the new life in the present.

……

When Liu Fang's mind became clear, he looked at the dusty world and felt that it had taken on a new look.

The dark clouds between the papers and the calculations in the political schemes were like sunflowers to him, blooming happily for the first time.

The morning breeze blew through the window lattice, ruffling his drooping hair, and his fingertips stroked the undried ink on the desk.

I couldn't help but feel a bit unrestrained, wanting to paint and point out the world.

The decadence in my bones was swept away, and the youthful spirit surged in my heart.

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and he flipped through the secret letters on the desk, his eyes falling on the three letters that Feng Yan had presented before.

"Huangfu Gui is about to die"

"Great Defeat of the Xianbei"

"Liu Kang wants to be crowned"

Giant Deer with Zhang Jiao

……

Thinking back to when Huangfu Gui passed away suddenly in his previous life, he had no fame and was not even qualified to pay his respects.

Huangfu Gui was a man who had studied military tactics in depth since he was young. At the age of twenty, he was able to lead 800 soldiers to repel the Qiang army. He spent the rest of his life defending the border and ensuring the safety of the people.

He was also a man of both civil and military talents, and wrote 27 articles including "Strategies for Selecting Virtuous and Upright People", and was respected as the "Great Confucian Scholar of Guanxi".

He is famous for his upright, honest and loving character, and is known as one of the "Three Ming of Liangzhou" together with Zhang Huan and Duan Xing.

His family, the Anding Huangfu clan, has guarded the northwestern frontier for generations.

Although they are both aristocratic families, they are very different from the Confucian classics families such as the Yuan family of Runan and the Yang family of Hongnong.

Children from Confucian classics families often study classics such as "The Book of Changes" and "The Book of History", taking "generations of Confucian classics" as their foundation.

For example, the Yuan family of Runan has passed down the Meng family's study of the Book of Changes. Family members have taken the path of "mastering the classics and becoming officials", and their students and former officials are spread all over the world.

The Huangfu family rose to prominence since the reign of Emperor Wu due to their military achievements, and gradually formed a tradition of "serving as frontier generals for generations, and passing on loyalty and bravery from generation to generation."

During the heyday, the Huangfu family had five marquises, three generations of famous generals, and two generations of great scholars.

Huangfu Gui had a nephew named Huangfu Song, whom Liu Fang was very familiar with. In his previous life, he followed Huangfu Song to fight against the Yellow Turbans.

Huangfu Song was the chief meritorious official in suppressing the Yellow Turban Rebellion. He used fire attack tactics and took advantage of the wind to defeat the enemy army in Changsha, beheading tens of thousands of enemies.

When he turned to attack Guangzong, he fought fiercely with Zhang Liang for more than a month. Seeing that the Yellow Turban Army had become slack due to their consecutive victories, he launched a surprise attack at night.

At cockcrow, he rushed into the enemy camp, killed Zhang Liang, and burned Zhang Jiao's coffin to intimidate the enemy. In this battle, he killed more than 30,000 people and forced 50,000 enemy soldiers to jump into the river and die, thus destroying the main force of the Yellow Turbans in one fell swoop.

During the Liangzhou Rebellion, when Chencang was besieged, he rejected Dong Zhuo's proposal of "quick rescue" and held the city for more than 80 days.

After the rebels retreated in exhaustion, he led his elite troops in pursuit, defeated the enemy army, and beheaded more than 10,000 people.

As the saying goes, "The world is in chaos and the market has become a ruin. Mothers cannot protect their children and wives have lost their husbands. Thanks to Huangfu, we can live in peace again."

Throughout his life, he never failed.

When talking about the famous generals in the late Han Dynasty, Huangfu Song should be the leader. He was of great use.

We should use the death of Huangfu Gui as an opportunity to plot against the Huangfu family and Huangfu Song.

……

Liu Fang held the secret letter about "Huangfu Gui's death" and pondered with a pen.

The wolf-hair brush had been soaked in the inkstone for too long, and the ink had trickled down the shaft, spreading an irregular blob across the plain silk, resembling a miniature map of Liangzhou. Ever since Emperor Wu established the four Hexi prefectures, the Huangfu clan had stood guard over this land.

In the past three generations, there was General Huangfu Ling who intimidated the Xiongnu, and Commander Huangfu Qi of Fufeng who guarded the pass and built fortresses.

By this generation, Huangfu Gui, the Protector of the Qiang, and Huangfu Jie, the Prefect of Yanmen, had engraved the family's reputation into the dust of the frontier.

"The Protector of the Qiang, holding the imperial seal and axe, is equivalent to a rank of 2,000 stone..."

Liu Fang muttered to himself, and drew an arc on the west side of the map with his wolf hair brush.

The Protector of the Qiang may seem inferior to the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers in the official system of the Han Dynasty, but in fact he is the uncrowned king of the northwestern frontier.

They had the power to report directly to the emperor, bypassing the three ministers.

He held the imperial seal and axe, and was in charge of life and death. He could resolve disputes among the Qiang people, supervise county politics, and mobilize and command the prefects, commanders, and garrison troops of border counties.

When Huangfu Gui was stationed at the frontier, he was highly respected and all matters concerning the frontier were under his control.

Even when the Qiang people rebelled, they could send troops without the court's approval and enjoy the right to act at their own convenience.

It is said that "when the Qiang people saw the flags and drums, they all surrendered." This was the deterrent power accumulated through decades of kindness and force.

Moreover, this old general was not only a warrior wielding a sword, but also the spiritual leader of the Kansai samurai.

He taught at Pingliang Academy for fourteen years and trained more than three hundred students.

He forcibly raised the banner of "farming and studying to pass on the family tradition" in Guanxi, where martial arts was prevalent.

Ma Rong and he were close friends in their early years, and their views on how to deal with the Qiang rebellion were particularly similar.

Although the two later had different political positions, all of Ma Rong's disciples should treat him with respect.

Among them were Zheng Xuan and Lu Zhi, who later became famous throughout the world.

Even Wang Fu, who wrote "Qianfu Lun", was his close friend who "went out to greet him in his sandals, without even wearing a belt."

Although he has passed away for many years, his disciples are still in their prime.

There is also Zhang Huan, who is also one of the "Three Mings of Liangzhou". He was recommended by Huangfu Gui as the General of Du Liao.

If Zhang Huan had not led the troops to kill General Dou Wu, how could Liu Hong have sat firmly on the throne?

These complex networks of connections represent immense wealth.

"What a pity, the hero is in his twilight years..."

Liu Fang put down his pen and looked out the window.

Now he is bedridden, and the imperial seal of the Huqiang Commandery has been handed over.

But those "sharp warriors" who had fought with him for many years are still at the border.

These elite soldiers who have fought in hundreds of battles are the most precious legacy of the Huangfu family.

They are familiar with the direction of every stream in Liangzhou and can identify directions in the vast expanse. The ring-handled swords in their hands have tasted the blood of countless barbarians.

To the east of the map, he marked the location of Yanmen County with a red dot using cinnabar.

Huangfu Jie, Huangfu Song's father, was the prefect of Yanmen County.

He defended against the Xianbei and Wuhuan here for decades.

Liu Fang remembered that when Huangfu Jie died in his previous life, the people of Yanmen closed their trade for three days, and even the Xianbei leader sent envoys to express condolences.

This is the character of the Huangfu family that is respected by even the enemies.

Especially these two brothers, who have been guarding the border for half their lives and are well versed in the art of military farming. This inheritance is crucial for the future.

The Huangfu family had always been at odds with the Confucianist families such as the Yuan family of Runan and the Yang family of Hongnong, which was also a necessary condition for winning over the Huangfu family.

The handwriting on the silk paper has six lines:
"Classics, scholars, frontier troops, military farms, students, and former officials."

After Huangfu Gui died, Huangfu Jie probably wouldn't live long either.

All these resources belonging to the Huangfu family need someone to take over.

As the leader of this generation of the Huangfu family, Huangfu Song naturally took on the responsibility.

Huangfu Song should be around 30 years old now. He is a little too perfect.

He inherited loyalty and bravery from generation to generation and never suffered a single defeat in his life. He was ruthless towards his enemies and had a kind heart towards his people.

Throughout his life, he considered himself a loyal minister of the Han Dynasty.

At the beginning of the chaos in the world, he held a large army and occupied wealthy areas such as Jizhou. He had the strength to establish his own regime and even change the dynasty.

When his counselor Yan Zhong used the example of "Han Xin" to persuade him to take advantage of the situation, he flatly refused on the grounds that he "dared not harbor any second thoughts" and insisted on "remaining loyal and steadfast."

Afterwards, he even took the initiative to hand over his military power to the court and returned to Luoyang to take up his post.

When his nephew persuaded him to attack Dong Zhuo, Huangfu Song was the Left General at that time and had 30,000 elite soldiers in Guanzhong under his command. He refused on the grounds that "As a minister of the court, how can I raise troops privately?"

Instead, he obeyed Dong Zhuo's false edict, insisting that "the emperor's order cannot be disobeyed", and rode alone to Chang'an, where he was imprisoned and almost died.

When Dong Zhuo moved the capital in the name of the emperor, he asked Huangfu Song to dismantle the defensive fortifications around Luoyang, and Huangfu Song did so.

Even at the moment of his death, he still adhered to the doctrine that "a subject must not disobey orders."

It is sad to see such loyalty.

"But precisely because of this, there is an opportunity..."

Liu Fang sighed softly and looked up, recalling the figure from his previous life.

Amidst the billowing smoke of war, General Huangfu, clad in blood-stained armor, never forgot to provide relief to the people...

Huangfu Song was not a qualified heir to the family, and the Huangfu family almost perished at his hands during the turbulent times.

However, he demonstrated his loyalty to the Han Dynasty with his almost flawless life.

Liu Fang was unwilling to call himself blindly loyal. This might be a fatal weakness in the eyes of many people, but it was his best trademark.

For Huangfu Song, this secret decree was enough.

What he had to do was to help Huangfu Song gather together Huangfu's disciples and former border troops who were scattered across the counties of Guanxi.

Moreover, Huangfu Song must go to the border.

He absolutely could not be present during the Taiping Dao Uprising, or else, given his character, he would have to surrender.

"Within ten months, the great disaster was eradicated." If he had been allowed to quell the Yellow Turban Rebellion in another month, it would have been disastrous.

Moreover, with Huangfu Song guarding the border, the Han Dynasty will have no external worries, and he can concentrate on resolving internal troubles.

At the same time, Huangfu Gui was framed many times for speaking out and impeaching the powerful. After his death, the Huangfu family rarely had peace.

Although this was also a point he intended to take advantage of, it at least helped the Huangfu family stay away from the vortex of the court.

……

"It's the timing and the momentum."

Liu Fang put his pen on the table, his eyes fixed on the frontier fortresses lined up on the map, a sad smile appeared at the corner of his lips, a little desolate.

Huangfu Gui's impending death was a painful loss for the Han Dynasty, but an opportunity for Liu Fang to seize the opportunity.

When the old general who was repeatedly slandered in the court died, and when the border soldiers were confused and sad.

He only needed to hold Huangfu Gui's last will and the emperor's edict, and appear before the mourning hall, and he would be able to take over the Huangfu family's flag that was soaked with generations of blood and tears.

And the troops under the general's banner, who had fought many battles, cultivated fertile land, and had fine horses and powerful cavalry...

Note:

①Huangfu Regulations
"Book of the Later Han": "Achievements were made among the Rong and Di peoples, and the family was kept safe."

The Book of the Later Han records: "In the third year of Xiping, he was recalled due to illness, but died in Gucheng before he arrived. He was seventy-one years old."

Due to plot requirements, slight adjustments were made and the location was changed to Luoyang.

② Huangfu Song
There are relevant records in the "Book of the Later Han".

1. Defeat Bo Cai, defeat Peng Tuo, and behead tens of thousands of people.

2. Captured Bu Ji and beheaded more than 7,000 people.

3. In the battle against Zhang Liang, 30,000 heads were captured, 50,000 men were killed by jumping into the river, and more than 30,000 taels of gold were burned in the chariots.

4. After burning Zhang Jiao, they opened his coffin, mutilated his body, and sent his head to the capital.

5. He killed Zhang Bao, captured more than 100,000 people, and built a Jingguan in the south of the city.

6. Emperor Dezong of Tang established the Temple of Martial Arts, among which Huangfu Song was one of the sixty-four generals.

7. Song Huizong established the Temple of Martial Arts, and Huangfu Song was again selected among the seventy-two generals, ranking alongside famous generals such as Bai Qi, Sun Bin, and Huo Qubing.

8. Historians in the early Tang Dynasty ranked him alongside Wei Qing and Huo Qubing.

9. "Biographies of One Hundred Generals in Seventeen Histories" of the Northern Song Dynasty: "...his fame resounded throughout the world."

10. According to the Ming Dynasty's "Biographies of Famous Generals," his military prowess was hailed as "the best in the late Han Dynasty."

11. Qing Dynasty’s “Twenty-Two Histories Notes”: “…his achievements are unparalleled in the world”

12. The Book of the Later Han Dynasty praised:

"His achievements have brought peace to the world and his name is known throughout the world."

"To work diligently day and night is the utmost loyalty."



(End of this chapter)