The Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Tan, intercepted Guo Jia's...

Chapter 74 The Imperial Seal Returns to Lü Bu

Lu Su took a look, and even though he was usually calm, his pupils couldn't help but contract slightly.

The list detailed the approximate amount of gold, pearls, jade, and antiques confiscated from Yuan Shu's palace in Shouchun, the value of which far exceeded his expectations.

"My lord, this..."

"This is one of the smallest gains of this southern expedition."

Yuan Tan spoke calmly.

"Yuan Shu has occupied Huainan for many years, accumulating immense wealth. Now, this is the capital for us to restore the Han Dynasty and bring prosperity to the people! Go ahead and do your work; there's no need to worry about money and supplies!"

Lu Su took a deep breath, his mind at ease, and bowed, saying:

"I understand! With such a solid foundation, I will do my utmost!"

"That's not all."

Yuan Tan's gaze was intense as he continued,

"Scale and efficiency alone are not enough; we need to master tools that others don't have, and tools that we do better than others. Zijing, do you still remember the 'spinning machine' concept I mentioned to you before I went south?"

"I remember!"

Lu Su's expression hardened.

"The sketch drawn by our lord is profound in its principles, allowing one person to operate dozens of spindles. If completed, spinning efficiency will increase more than tenfold! However, the mechanism is extremely intricate, especially the core of the mechanism that drives the spindles to reciprocate through the pulley and connecting rod. We craftsmen have tried and failed repeatedly, wasting a great deal of resources, yet..."

This thing is, after all, a product of the 17th century. Although it wasn't technically difficult to create in the Han Dynasty, breaking through that barrier wasn't so easy.

"It didn't work before because two things were missing."

Yuan Tan interrupted him.

"First, we have enough resources to keep trying and making mistakes; second, we have top-notch craftsmen to overcome difficulties. Now, we have both."

He gestured towards the door, "Please invite Mr. Pu Yuan, and those master craftsmen from the Imperial Workshops who were 'invited' from Shouchun, over here."

A moment later, led by Pu Yuan, several sharp-looking new faces entered the study.

They were the top-notch machinery craftsmen that Yuan Tan "invited" back from Yuan Shu's "Directorate of Works" in Shouchun.

Yuan Tan pointed to the newly arrived craftsmen and said to Lu Su:

"These master craftsmen once created exquisite artifacts for Yuan Shu's court; their skills are superb. From today onward, Mr. Pu Yuan will lead all the craftsmen to do one thing..."

His gaze swept over the craftsmen, and he slowly spoke:

"Concentrate all resources to establish the 'Shogaku Research Institute,' with Zijing as the overall leader and Puyuan in charge of specific tasks. Your primary task is to overcome all the technical difficulties of the 'spinning machine' at all costs!"

I'll provide manpower, funding, and the best materials! I have only one requirement: within a month, I want to see a prototype machine that can operate stably; within a year, I want to produce tens of thousands of textiles in the largest workshop!

Upon hearing this, Pu Yuan and the others felt both immense pressure and immense motivation.

When they were working for Yuan Shu, they never had this kind of status. Now, Yuan Tan has actually made them Lu Su's deputies. That means they are no longer lowly underlings who can be ordered around at will.

Besides, this loom is indeed exquisite and essential. It is the highest honor for a craftsman to be able to develop such a powerful tool for his lord!

They answered in unison, "We will obey our lord's command! We will do our utmost, even unto death!"

Looking at his spirited lord and then at the group of eager craftsmen, Lu Su felt a surge of pride.

He bowed deeply:

"I obey! I will take charge of domestic affairs, workshops, and research institutes, and firmly establish the foundation for our lord's clothing and well-being!"

……

Lü Lingqi was escorting Yuan Shu on the way to Xiapi.

The once invincible "Emperor of the Zhong Family," Yuan Shu, now lies on a couch in a commoner's house, his face ashen and his breath faint.

After being captured by Lü Lingqi, he was escorted back to Xiapi. During the journey, he was already extremely weak due to the change in environment and the sudden onset of anger.

He pleaded with the soldiers escorting him, "I...I am so thirsty, is there any honey water...?"

However, this only earned him the soldiers' sneers:

"In the middle of nowhere, where would we find honey water? We're lucky to have any cool water to drink!"

After days of turbulent travel, lack of medical care and medicine, and coupled with despair in his heart, Yuan Shu's vitality was like a candle in the wind, quickly fading away.

He was nearly unconscious when he was carried into Xiapi.

Upon hearing the news, Lü Bu rushed over immediately. He looked at this "old friend" on the bed...

My heart was filled with mixed feelings: pleasure, disdain, and an uncontrollable restlessness.

He had heard that Yuan Shu was carrying the Imperial Seal of the State!

"Hey Highway Bro, how have you been?"

Lu Bu leaned down, his voice tinged with a hint of mockery.

Yuan Shu struggled to open his cloudy eyes, recognized Lü Bu, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes before turning to ashes.

Knowing his days were numbered, he looked at the equally ambitious "tiger" before him, and a crazy idea formed in his mind.

With his last ounce of strength, he shakily pulled a small object, wrapped in layers of bright yellow brocade, from his bosom and handed it to Lü Bu with difficulty, his voice barely a whisper:

"Fengxian...I...I am dying...This Imperial Seal is ordained by Heaven...I have no heir to succeed me...Now, I bestow it upon you! I hope you...can inherit the great lineage of the 'Zhong Clan,' sweep away all the villains, ascend the throne...and become Emperor...Do not fail...do not fail Heaven's mandate..."

After saying that, he stared intently at Lü Bu, as if he wanted to stuff his unfulfilled dream of becoming emperor, along with this hot potato, into Lü Bu's hands. Then, his head lolled to the side, and he died.

Even in death, a hint of vengeful expectation seemed to linger in his eyes.

He wanted to see how Lü Bu would be put on the hot seat by this "fate"!

Lu Bu instinctively took the package; it felt heavy in his hand.

He quickly opened a corner, and the jade seal with the inscription "By the Mandate of Heaven, May Your Life Be Long and Prosperous" shimmered with an alluring luster in the dim light!

In an instant, an indescribable ecstasy swept over Lü Bu!

His eyes widened, and his heart pounded!

The Imperial Seal of the State! The Emperor's Throne!

Yuan Shu is a piece of trash and doesn't deserve it, but Lu Bu, the invincible Lu Bu, doesn't he deserve it?!

"Hahaha! It's fate! This is fate!"

Lu Bu couldn't help but burst into laughter, clutching the imperial seal tightly to his chest.

It was as if I could already see myself wearing a dragon robe and receiving the homage of civil and military officials.

"My lord! You mustn't!"

Chen Gong, who rushed to the scene upon hearing the news, witnessed the scene and, upon hearing Lü Bu's wild laughter, his expression changed drastically. He hurried forward and, in a low voice, shouted:

"My lord! This is a death warrant, not an auspicious omen!"

Lu Bu's laughter stopped abruptly, and he looked at Chen Gong with displeasure:

"Gongtai, why do you say that? With the Imperial Seal in hand, the Mandate of Heaven has been bestowed upon me. It is the time for me, Lü Bu, to establish an unparalleled empire!"

Chen Gong was heartbroken and pointed at Yuan Shu's corpse:

"My lord, please look! Yuan Gonglu is a cautionary tale! He possessed the rich land of Huainan, with well-trained soldiers and ample provisions. Once he declared himself emperor, he became the enemy of the world. In an instant, he died and his country was destroyed, becoming a laughingstock to the world!"

Although our lord currently holds a strong position in Xuzhou, he is beset by Yuan Tan in the north, Cao Cao in the west, and Sun Ce in the south. His foundation is not yet secure, and he is surrounded by powerful enemies! If he were to overstep his bounds now, he would be handing over a handle to his enemies. Cao Cao, Yuan Tan, Sun Ce, and even Liu Biao and Liu Bei could all use the pretext of "punishing the rebels" to launch a joint attack on Xuzhou!

"At that time, how will you, my lord, defend yourself? With this inanimate object?"

As if doused with cold water, Lü Bu's feverish mind cleared slightly, but he still unwillingly stroked the imperial seal:

"Could it be... that we should just relinquish this throne that we've already obtained?"

"It's not about giving it up, but about making good use of it!"

Seeing that Lü Bu was wavering, Chen Gong immediately said,

"With the Imperial Seal here, it's a rare and valuable commodity! My lord, you may refrain from declaring yourself emperor for now, but you can use Yuan Shu's name to carry out my own actions!"

"Oh? What's your plan?"

Chen Gong slowly spoke:

"Although Yuan Shu is dead, his name remains, and his troops still exist. Liu Xun, the Prefect of Lujiang, is a former general of Yuan Shu. Although he is nominally under your command, his intentions are difficult to fathom. He also has Zhang Xun and other former subordinates of Yuan Shu under his command, making him quite powerful. My lord, you can immediately use this Imperial Seal as proof, under the pretext of following the last edict of the late Emperor Zhong and supporting the Zhong clan, to forge an edict to persuade Zhang Xun to surrender, and order Liu Xun to come and assist you with all his might!"

Upon seeing the imperial seal and hearing Yuan Shu's dying "entrustment," they will surely harbor doubts or even delusions. Even if they don't fully believe it, they won't dare to openly disobey. At the very least, it will prevent them from easily siding with Cao Cao or Yuan Tan! This is the best strategy to gain real benefits by using a false pretense!

After listening, Lü Bu, though still longing for the emperor's throne, knew that Chen Gong's words were a wise and experienced approach to governing the country.

He looked at the imperial seal in his arms, then thought about the catastrophic disaster he might face after becoming emperor. After weighing the options repeatedly, reason ultimately prevailed over fervor.

He sighed deeply and placed the imperial seal heavily on the table:

"Then follow Gongtai's advice! This emperor... it's better to leave him for now! Quickly follow the plan, use Yuan Shu's name to persuade Zhang Xun to surrender and keep Liu Xun in check! Also, give Yuan Gonglu a grand funeral... after all, he gave us a 'big gift'."

"Our lord is wise!"

Chen Gong breathed a sigh of relief and immediately went to make the arrangements.

Soon, Lü Bu's messenger, carrying the "last will and testament" of the "Emperor Zhong" and the imperial seal, rode swiftly to Lujiang.

Upon seeing the imperial seal and hearing that Yuan Shu had "entrusted the country" to Lü Bu, Zhang Xun was filled with mixed emotions. He felt grateful for Yuan Shu's past kindness but was also intimidated by Lü Bu's military might. Ultimately, with Liu Xun's tacit approval, he led his troops to surrender to Lü Bu.

Lü Bu absorbed Yuan Shu's last remaining fighting force in Huainan without bloodshed, greatly increasing his strength.

……

a few days later.

Qingzhou, Linzi.

The main hall of the governor's mansion was imposing with banners and ceremonial guards.

Yuan Tan, dressed in court attire, led his civil and military officials to respectfully welcome the imperial envoy.

To his slight surprise, the one who came to deliver the imperial edict this time was not the usual clerk from the Ministry of Personnel, but a middle-aged eunuch with a fair complexion, no beard, wearing a dark scarlet official robe, and a calm demeanor. He was followed by several junior eunuchs, and the ceremonial regalia was clearly higher than before.

"His Majesty has decreed! Governor Yuan Tan of Qingzhou receives the decree—"

The eunuch drawled out his words, his voice high-pitched yet carrying an air of authority.

Yuan Tan led his men in bowing respectfully: "Your subject, Yuan Tan, humbly awaits Your Majesty's decree!"

He secretly pondered, "In the past, promotions and titles were simply a matter of a document delivered by fast horse. Why is it necessary for an important person to come in person today? Something is amiss."

Guo Jia stood slightly behind him, seemingly sensing his doubts, and whispered quickly in a very low voice:

"My lord, this is no ordinary matter; it is a eunuch of the rank of Attendant-in-Ordinary who has personally come. According to the old system of the Han Dynasty, only high-ranking officials and nobles are given such a privilege. Your Majesty's actions are not only to show special honors outwardly, but also to demonstrate your favor and win your heart. The intention is... to maintain a balance of power."

Yuan Tan's eyes flickered slightly, and he understood.

The young emperor and his close advisors were trying to curry favor with him, or rather, they were trying to find external support under the immense pressure from Cao Cao.

The eunuch unfurled a bright yellow silk scroll and read it aloud.

The imperial edict was beautifully written, first praising Yuan Tan for his "meritorious service in recapturing Shouchun and suppressing the rebellion, and for his commendable loyalty and bravery."

A series of rewards were then announced:

……

Yuan Tan himself was promoted from Governor of Qingzhou to General of the Vanguard, granted the authority to establish his own government and the same rank as the Three Excellencies, and his fief was increased by 3,000 households.

……

Guo Jia was appointed Military Advisor and granted the title of Marquis of Guannei.

……

Lu Su served as the Prefect of Qingzhou, which highlighted his family's prestigious background.

……

Zhao Yun was appointed General of the Right Army, Yan Liang was appointed General Who Subdues Rebels, and Zhang He was appointed General Who Pacifies the Barbarians.

……

Even Louban, the King of Wuhuan, was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Guiyi and appointed as the Wuhuan Commandant because he "led the righteous army and made contributions to the country".

This list of rewards was extremely comprehensive, covering not only Yuan Tan's core group but also barbarian forces like the Lou Ban, making the court appear to be "wise and benevolent."

After the imperial decree was read, the hall was filled with shouts of "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty!"

Yuan Tan respectfully accepted the imperial edict and placed it on the incense table.

After the ceremony, Yuan Tan hosted a banquet to entertain the angels in accordance with etiquette.

During the banquet, the eunuch took the opportunity of toasting to lean close to Yuan Tan, speaking in a very low voice, his face displaying just the right amount of patriotic concern:

"General, His Majesty has sent me to deliver a message to you."

He glanced around to make sure no one was listening before he spoke:

"Your Majesty often laments in the palace that the Han Dynasty is in decline and loyal ministers are hard to find. Seeing the young hero, General, who is loyal to the country, just like Emperor Guangwu and the generals of Yuntai in his time, Your Majesty is very pleased and hopes to write a timeless tale of 'harmony between ruler and minister' with you."

These words were quite blatant, almost explicitly stating the hope that Yuan Tan could become a pillar minister in restoring the Han Dynasty.

Could this young emperor be trying to get his father to come to the rescue?

Looking at the time, it seems that it is indeed almost time for the imperial edict to be issued.

Is the young emperor trying to get me to be his outside helper by saying these things to him?

Thinking of this, Yuan Tan recalled the mysterious actions of Dong Cheng, the emperor's brother-in-law, in history.

I felt that if I followed this group, I would definitely have no future.

Even if Cao Cao were truly expelled, Dong Cheng would still undoubtedly remain the de facto ruler of the court.

What does that have to do with me?

Besides, what close confidants does this young emperor have around him? Who knows if Cao Cao deliberately sent him to test him?

Yuan Tan remained calm and pretended not to hear what the eunuch said, acting as if he were deaf and dumb.

Seeing that Yuan Tan seemed not to understand, the eunuch could only sigh softly, and then said:

"However, there is currently a matter that is causing His Majesty great anxiety and sleepless nights, and is also causing the Prime Minister great distress. The traitor Lü Bu, after seizing the Imperial Seal of the State in Guangling, has concealed it and refused to hand it over, revealing his disloyal intentions!"

The Prime Minister is furious and has resolved to raise an army to punish the traitor. His Majesty and the Prime Minister hope that General Wei will uphold loyalty and righteousness, send troops to assist them, and together they will punish the traitorous rebels, so as to quickly reclaim the imperial regalia and stabilize the nation!

Upon hearing this, Yuan Tan sneered inwardly.

They've arrived! All those generous rewards before were just bait!

Cao Cao is using Lü Bu as a weapon to weaken the strength of Qingzhou!

Lu Bu is brave and fierce, and Xuzhou is a strategically important and fortified region. He is not someone to be trifled with.

This is clearly an attempt to let the fish and the clam fight, so that the fisherman can reap the benefits!

A look of indignation appeared on his face, and he said in a deep voice:

"How dare that traitor Lü Bu! The Imperial Seal is a national treasure, how can it be coveted! Please have the Imperial Envoy report back to His Majesty and the Chancellor that Tan Shi has received the Emperor's favor and will certainly prepare his troops and obey the King's orders! However... the mobilization of troops and the procurement of provisions will require time for Tan to carefully plan."

The eunuch gave Yuan Tan a deep look, knowing that he had not fully agreed, but having received the four words "respectfully obeying the king's command" was enough to give him a satisfactory reply, so he smiled and said:

"The former general is loyal and brave; His Majesty must know this. I will now return to the capital to report back."

(This chapter is still a combination of two chapters!)