Wuxia: The Super Slave Master

Page 385

Xu Da knew the power of artillery; once artillery was added, it would be far more than just a "probing attack." Adding artillery could quickly create a breach in Cao Cao's defenses. However, Luo Chen didn't think that far ahead. He had calculated that Huo Qubing, leading the artillery, would achieve remarkable results. This would force the Wu army in Wancheng to send scouts to investigate, then relay the information to Sun Quan, giving him leverage in negotiations. He wanted to show Sun Quan the strength of Luo's army and dispel his misplaced local military advantage.

Unexpectedly, Luo Chen hadn't considered what would happen next. What followed was Huo Qubing's unstoppable attack. Leading an army of 100,000 and an artillery column with nearly 300 cannons, he launched a fierce bombardment of Luoyang's walls and interior. Xun You felt despair for the first time; these weapons were simply too powerful, leaving even his brilliant mind utterly helpless. Panic gripped the city's soldiers and civilians; many houses were hit and burned. A single cannon shot destroyed a tower on the main city wall, completely shattering the morale of the defenders.

Xun You, being quite astute, immediately organized a retreat. If Luoyang fell, the surrounding towns would naturally be indefensible. Xun You ordered the surrounding troops to retreat hastily to Hulao Pass, while a portion were routed by Huo Qubing along the way and fled into Mount Song. Luoyang was quickly captured by Huo Qubing, and Xun You hastily retreated back to Hulao Pass. Approximately 70,000 to 80,000 men of the Luoyang defense line were captured, while another 70,000 to 80,000 retreated into Hulao Pass, some scattered into Mount Song, and others later rejoined their units.

Chapter 227 Luoyang Stalemate

The Battle of Luoyang utterly shocked Cao Cao. Hulao Pass was the last line of defense for Luo Chen's army as they entered Xuchang. Originally, they should have been able to maintain a stalemate with Luo Chen around Luoyang, but unexpectedly, Luo Chen captured Luoyang in three days. Xu Da urgently ordered Huo Qubing to halt his advance and immediately occupy Luoyang to gather supplies and prepare for the long term. At the same time, he urgently reported to Luo Chen. Xu Da also had to mobilize a portion of his troops who had just retreated from the grasslands, ordering Ma Chao to lead approximately 100,000 infantry and cavalry to scatter and garrison in Hongnong, Caoyang, and Mianchi to prevent Huo Qubing from being surrounded by the enemy. Even cannons would be useless then, because cannons lack bayonets.

Huo Qubing was quite dissatisfied with Xu Da's restrictions on his offensive. However, the messenger encountered Luo Chen on his way to Chang'an, and Luo Chen immediately changed course, heading straight for Tongguan. Luo Chen issued a handwritten order to Huo Qubing to occupy Luoyang and cease the offensive, while simultaneously ordering Xu Da to deploy his troops and consolidate the control of the Luoyang area. Luo Chen knew that since Cao Cao's army had not yet reacted, Huo Qubing would inevitably be able to advance unimpeded, perhaps even breaking through Hulao Pass and reaching the walls of Xuchang. However, Huo Qubing carried limited supplies, and if Cao Cao's army adopted a scorched-earth policy and resolutely blocked Hulao Pass, the consequences would be unimaginable. Huo Qubing's cavalry would inevitably be defeated due to cold and hunger, and his artillery column might be destroyed.

Luo Chen himself was utterly exhausted, and he was well aware of the fatigue of his soldiers. Having just defeated Zhong Ping on the grasslands, Luo Chen hadn't rested a moment before immediately heading south to Jiangxia. After taking over Liu Bei's group, he rushed to Chaisang to negotiate with Sun Quan. He then traveled north by boat to meet with Shi Lang and others. Just as he was preparing to return to Chang'an to rest, he had to immediately go to the Tongguan front to command the battle. It was as if he had taken a huge detour.

The court and the public in Xuchang were shocked. Just as Liu Bei had predicted, Cao Cao immediately summoned his generals back to the capital. He also immediately ordered Zhang Liao to go north to Hulao Pass to await orders. Simultaneously, the entire North China Plain and the Jianghuai Plain began to mobilize. Large numbers of laborers and civilians were armed and trained in preparation for battle. Because Cao Cao's main force had suffered more than half its losses in the Battle of Red Cliffs, his remaining fighting force was severely depleted. Although Cao Cao's territory was densely populated and had ample resources, it was impossible to quickly rebuild an army as powerful as before.

After arriving at Hulao Pass, Zhang Liao organized 100,000 men and boldly marched out to attack and occupy nearby Yiyang. Ma Chao's command post was located in Mianchi; although Yiyang was nominally under his control, how could he possibly capture it? Moreover, the garrison in Yiyang numbered less than 10,000. Zhang Liao led 100,000 men, and the garrison offered only token resistance, realizing they were outmatched, and retreated overnight to nearby Luoyang. Zhang Liao cautiously refrained from pursuit. As Zhang Liao had predicted, Huo Qubing adopted a defensive posture, focusing solely on protecting Luoyang and refraining from attacking. Zhang Liao emerged unscathed from Hulao Pass, calming the previously apprehensive Cao Cao, who greatly praised Zhang Liao.

Now Cao Cao clearly understood. His army had just suffered a defeat and was severely weakened, unable to fight a major battle, but Luo Chen also needed a period of rest. This was merely a probing attack, and Huo Qubing dared not venture too deep into enemy territory alone. Xu Da had deployed 200,000 troops within the Luoyang defense zone, 100,000 of whom were exhausted, and it was not impossible to defeat them. Cao Cao immediately ordered Xiahou Dun to lead 100,000 troops out from the north of Hulao Pass, approaching Luoyang and Mianchi from the north.

Luo Chen arrived at Tongguan soon after, where he was greeted by three generals: Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, and Ma Dai. Xiahou Yuan remained on the grasslands, assisting Yesuo with the aftermath. Huo Qubing and Ma Chao had led their troops out, while Lü Bu had taken his army south. Luo Chen urgently summoned three captains from the south—Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun—north to Tongguan to alleviate the shortage of generals.

A significant division had clearly emerged within the Luo Chen army. Huo Qubing, Chang Yuchun, and others advocated for an immediate decisive battle. Although the Luo army was exhausted, it still comprised over 600,000 regular infantry and cavalry, all battle-hardened veterans. They were more than capable of handling Cao Cao's army of around 300,000. Cao Cao's hastily assembled army was clearly a joke. Xu Da, however, believed the time for a decisive battle was not yet ripe. It was the dead of winter, and supplies of food, firewood, and the soldiers' strength were insufficient. They feared Cao Cao's scorched-earth policy, which would be disastrous. Furthermore, the soldiers had been fighting on the grasslands and deserts for a year, and were extremely fatigued. Many were quite thin and needed immediate rest to replenish their strength during the winter. Moreover, fatigue, cold, and hunger would negatively impact morale.

After much deliberation, Luo Chen chose a defensive posture. Under his mobilization, another 100,000 men, led by Chang Yuchun, were stationed in towns surrounding Luoyang. Luo Chen assured them that although they were stationed at the front lines, they would still get rest. Indeed, due to the sheer size of Luo Chen's army, their supply lines were secured. Zhang Liao and Xiahou Dun hesitated to act, forced to request troops from Cao Cao. Their goal was to bring Cao Cao's forces to a stalemate with Luo Chen's locally, thus enabling them to bypass Luoyang, defeat the exhausted troops scattered around the city, and achieve a decisive victory.

Cao Cao gritted his teeth and decided to gather troops from the north and Xuchang. The news immediately reached Luo Chen through the intelligence network. Xu Da and the others exchanged bewildered glances. Indeed, Cao Cao still possessed considerable strength. Now, both sides seemed to be caught in a piecemeal battle. And once enough troops were gathered in the Luoyang defense zone—six or seven hundred thousand—a decisive battle would be inevitable. Although neither side had any intention of a decisive battle.

Luo Chen lowered his head in thought. Clearly, there was only one way left: to open up other battlefields, tying down Cao Cao's forces and preventing him from diverting them. Luo Chen looked at the map (okay?), and there were obviously two directions. One direction was for his army to attack Bingzhou and other places from the north, then move south to take Hanoi, and then east into the North China Plain, cutting it in two. Although an attack from the rear couldn't directly attack Xuchang due to the natural barrier of the Yellow River, it would still greatly hinder Cao Cao, as Yuan Shao's former territory might fall. The other direction was to incite Sun Quan to launch a northern expedition from Hefei and Shouchun, forcing Cao Cao to divide his forces to resist.

Xiahou Dun's 100,000 troops leaving Hulao Pass and approaching Luoyang made Luo Chen uneasy, because Cai Yong lived on a river island north of Luoyang, and there was a possibility of trouble. He ordered Ma Dai to immediately lead 10,000 light cavalry to bring Cai Yong to Tongguan.

As for the north, Luo Chen didn't hesitate to choose a ruthless method: sending Yesuo with his fearsome steppe wolf army into the Central Plains.

Chapter 228 Massacre of the City

Sun Quan was a shrewd man. From the moment news of Luo Chen's capture of Luoyang in three days spread, Sun Quan strongly felt that the fear Luo Chen instilled in him was instantly greater than the fear Cao Cao had instilled in him. Now, Cao Cao was causing Luo Chen some trouble, which seemed like a good thing. Lu Su was even more anxious, practically urging Sun Quan to immediately mobilize the entire nation, because at this rate, Luo Chen could easily defeat Cao Cao, and the future of Eastern Wu would not be easy. Clearly, Luo Chen's mobilization of 200,000 troops from the north and Yizhou into Jingzhou to train his navy clearly indicated his intention to dominate the south.

The young Lu Xun even wrote an article that circulated widely in Jiangdong. Intelligence gathered about it and reached Xu Shu, who was quite surprised and even somewhat worried. Lu Xun's article was titled "On Allying with Cao Cao Against the Decline." Soon after, Sun Quan summoned Lu Xun, appointed him as an advisor, and sent him north to negotiate with Cao Cao.

When the intelligence report reached Luo Chen, he was annoyed, because Sun Quan seemed to be no ordinary man. He could easily see through some of Luo Chen's cunning plans and even had the courage—clearly a great deal of political courage—to send envoys north to negotiate with Cao Cao and seek an alliance just over a month after the Battle of Red Cliffs. However, Luo Chen wasn't particularly worried. The second artillery column had recently been completed and stationed at Tongguan, waiting for an opportunity. Luo Chen knew about the steppe wolf army to the north; Cao Cao's army would be powerless against them. Luo Chen planned to completely crush Cao Cao within a month. Even if Cao Cao and Sun Quan allied, it would be useless, because Xu Shu had assured him without hesitation that he could fight the Wu army without any support and gain a certain advantage, easily keeping the Wu army tied down in the south, unable to move. Furthermore, Cao Cao and Sun Quan were geographically too far apart, their forces couldn't be combined, and they lacked strategic strength, so they naturally couldn't pose a fatal threat to Luo Chen.

Luo Chen stayed at Tongguan, waiting for Ma Dai to bring Cai Yong over so they could celebrate the New Year together. After the army had rested and recuperated in the spring, they could then march straight in and defeat Cao Cao. Then, they could seize the opportunity to march south, conquer Jiangnan, and unify the country. However, Ma Dai brought him a different message.

The messenger rushed to Tongguan, his face drained of color. Luo Chen was in the command room when Xu Da and others entered with grim expressions, accompanied by an unfamiliar soldier. Luo Chen recognized the messenger's uniform. The messenger stammered, "General...General Ma Dai..." Luo Chen sensed something was wrong. "What happened to Ma Dai?"

"General Ma Dai reports... Mr. Cai Yong... has passed away."

These words were enough to strike Luo Chen like a thunderbolt, leaving him feeling lightheaded and limp as he collapsed onto his seat. "My lord!" Several generals knew something was wrong, "Medics!"

However, Luo Chen still sat up on his own, his eyes still somewhat dazed: "When did Mr. Cai Yong pass away? Why didn't you tell me..." The messenger lowered his head and dared not answer. Luo Chen became even more furious and shouted: "Why!" which startled the messenger.

In no time, Ma Dai arrived. The messenger, seeing Ma Dai, was overjoyed and ran off immediately. Luo Chen looked up at Ma Dai as he slowly approached, asking no questions, simply waiting for his report. Ma Dai slowly handed over a will:

After his death, he should not be given a funeral; he should be simply buried in Longzhou.

The grassland wolf army is not allowed to enter the Central Plains.

All systems and blood drinkers coexist with the Fallen Dust; when the Fallen Dust disappears, all will disappear.

Longzhou Residence Basement

The handwriting was still familiar, strong and vigorous. The cloth was slightly yellowed, clearly indicating it had been written long ago. The first three sentences of the will were simple causative phrases, while the last sentence was just a simple noun phrase indicating a place. Obviously, Luo Chen would definitely have to go there.

"When did he pass away?" Luo Chen asked in a hoarse voice.

“It’s been over a month already,” Ma Dai said.

Luo Chen remained silent, staring at the simple words "Bury." Then, instinctively, he read on, "The Grassland Wolf Legion is forbidden from entering the Central Plains." As he read, it seemed as if he understood the meaning of the sentence for the first time, and he suddenly stood up. "Damn it!"

Everyone was shocked.

"Immediately issue the order! Yeso's Prairie Wolves must cease their attack on Bingzhou! Immediately cease their attack on Bingzhou! Retreat!"

The messenger immediately took the order and rushed off. Luo Chen was just stunned; he was somewhat worried about whether this Yesuo could really control these grassland wolves.

"I have to go," Luo Chen said. With that, he rode his horse and led Gao Jianli at breakneck speed northward.

But it was too late. When Luo Chen arrived, the wolf pack stopped in their tracks and frantically attacked, silently gathering together. Luo Chen, expressionless, coldly surveyed them. The burly Yeso collapsed to the ground.

The entire Bingzhou was stained red with blood. Not only the blood of the defenders on the city walls, but also the blood of the city's inhabitants. The wolf packs were slowly but surely slaughtering their prey. The bloodstains at the city gates had dried, but those in the city center were still fresh. Tens of thousands of Bingzhou soldiers and civilians, with nowhere to retreat, were surrounded in the city center, awaiting their final moments.

When Yesuo marched south, he brought with him fewer than ten thousand Xiongnu cavalry and approximately one hundred and twenty thousand large wolves. The wolf army displayed their extreme cunning, ferocity, and cruelty. A city couldn't possibly be so finely fortified; these enormous wolves managed to find a hole and squeeze in like dogs—or perhaps they dug it themselves, who knows? The city gate opened in an extremely bizarre way, and all the soldiers at the gate had their throats bitten out. Luo Chen saw it all clearly, as if it were happening right before his eyes. He knew all too well the fighting methods of these steppe wolves. Using them to attack a city was far more effective than cannons.

"I, Luo Chen, have committed atrocities," Luo Chen murmured. "To think that the blame for massacring a city would fall on my head..." He gave a bitter laugh. He suddenly felt an immense sense of meaninglessness. He had fought in the south and north, he had fought against foreign invaders to bring peace to the borders. He had dealt with powerful clans and noble families to improve the lives of the peasants, he had fought against warlordism to restore peace to the country as a whole as quickly as possible. Yet, he had massacred a city! The shameful term "massacre" would become a stain that Luo Chen could never wash away.

"Kill all the alpha wolves." Luo Chen turned around and looked coldly at the tall and muscular alpha wolves standing at the front.

Gao Jianli, standing nearby, found it odd, but still drew his sword, as Luo Chen seemed to have given him an order. Gao Jianli could tell these wolves were formidable, but one-on-one combat was certainly no problem; he could kill any large wolf in a few moves, and even two-on-one was manageable. But this pack of wolves seemed far too numerous… As Gao Jianli hesitated about how to proceed, he heard a chorus of trembling, agitated sounds from the pack. He looked up; Luo Chen's gaze was icy, sending a chill down Gao Jianli's spine.

Gao Jianli could tell that the wolves were afraid and trembling.

Luo Chen didn't order him to act. He seemed to use some kind of will to force the eight or nine wolves together, then coldly uttered, "Explode!" With a deafening roar, the wolves were blasted into the air, their flesh mangled beyond recognition.

Chapter 229 The Flying Serpent Riding the Mist, Ultimately Turning to Ashes

The events in Bingzhou shocked everyone; such an act, which only non-Han people could commit, was utterly repulsive to the people and soldiers of the Central Plains. Luo Chen was clearly enraged; he executed all the alpha wolves. Although Yesuo tried his best to stop the wolves' slaughter, his own strength was insufficient, and the pack had already spiraled out of control. The wolves were subsequently sent back to the desert to prevent them from impacting the civilization of the Central Plains, in accordance with Cai Yong's will.

Now that the wolf pack was gone, the captured Xiongnu soldiers were in for a rougher time. Yesuo urgently mobilized 100,000 cavalry from the grasslands to continue leading the southward campaign.

As expected, the Xiongnu swept south with unstoppable momentum, destroying numerous towns in their wake. Further south lay the foothills of the Taihang Mountains; after capturing Hanoi, they could then attack Hulao Pass to the south and advance eastward into the fertile North China Plain. Cao Cao hastily mobilized 100,000 troops, ordering Cao Hong to command them and firmly defend Hanoi. At this point, Cao Cao had already confined almost all of his main forces to the narrow area near Hulao Pass.

Luo Chen spent an unpleasant New Year at Tongguan. The winter chill lingered, the air remained dry and cold, yet Luo Chen had already ordered a general offensive. A few days prior, Cao Cao and Sun Quan had formally formed an alliance, issuing a proclamation declaring Luo Chen a traitor who had seized control of the emperor and was using him to command the other lords. Luo Chen felt that if he didn't attack immediately, Cao Cao and Sun Quan's coordination would strengthen further. Therefore, he decisively ordered a general offensive. Although the weather was freezing, the ground was firm; if spring rains came, the ground would become muddy and unusable for battle. Moreover, after about two months of rest, Luo's army was ready for large-scale warfare.

Guan Yu and Ma Dai each led 100,000 troops, while Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun each led 100,000, totaling 200,000 men. Under Xu Da's unified command, they entered the Luoyang defense zone. The narrow Luoyang defense zone now contained 500,000 local troops and 200,000 Cao Cao troops, totaling 700,000 men. Xu Da chose to attack Xiahou Dun's forces first, while maintaining a defensive posture against Zhang Liao. The four generals, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Ma Dai, with their 200,000 infantry and cavalry, approached Xiahou Dun. Sensing impending doom, Xiahou Dun immediately prepared to flee. However, the range of Luo Chen's cannons far exceeded his expectations. After being bombarded by the cannons, Xiahou Dun's army collapsed, scattering across the extremely narrow area between Luoyang and Hulao Pass. Cao Cao, on Hulao Pass, abandoned the gates, allowing the scattered, fleeing soldiers to escape in panic outside the pass. Only a few, including Xiahou Dun, managed to escape inside.

Xiahou Dun's army mostly surrendered. Zhang Liao's army, seeing this, rushed into the pass that very night, but Xu Da had already anticipated this and laid an ambush right under their noses at Hulao Pass. Zhang Liao's army suffered a crushing defeat, but due to their swift action, about half of them managed to escape into Hulao Pass.

However, this was of little use. Luo Chen then assembled two artillery columns, totaling over six hundred cannons, and blasted the walls of Hulao Pass to smithereens. Luo's cavalry swept through the rubble and debris, surging into the vast North China Plain. While Hulao Pass fell, Hanoi, across the river, resolutely defended it under Cao Hong's leadership, greatly infuriating Yesuo. However, this was to no avail, because after the fall of Hulao Pass, Luo's 500,000-strong army besieged Xuchang. Seeing the dire situation, Cao Hong led his army to abandon Hanoi and march eastward to find a way out.

Cao Cao felt resentment and fear. This was entirely understandable, as artillery and melee weapons were indeed not in the same league, and the Luo Chen army's artillery fire was extremely fierce, often proving ineffective in breaching cities. Once a city fell, the formidable Guanzhong cavalry would advance unimpeded, and even the most well-trained Cao army would crumble like a pheasant army. If the fierce Xiongnu cavalry fared so poorly, what chance did Cao Cao's army have?

Luo Chen gazed at the gray city of Xuchang beneath the gray sky. The late spring chill remained, the wind howled fiercely, and the weather showed no sign of clearing. Luo Chen had summoned over a hundred large wolves, placing them before the battle lines. The soldiers were fascinated, terrified, and loathed these terrifying beasts. The Cao army defenders on the city walls, however, were completely different; they were utterly terrified. The massacre of Bingzhou had occurred before them, and the bloody scenes had been repeatedly recounted.

"Tell Cao Cao that if they do not surrender within three days, the city will be massacred," Luo Chen said coldly. His icy tone sent chills down the spines of the generals beside him.

Three days later, the gates of Xuchang slowly opened, and Cao Cao committed suicide, instructing Zhang Liao to open the city gates before his death. Luo Chen watched as this most powerful and cunning separatist force in the Central Plains fell so easily to his sword, and couldn't help but sigh.

· ·Requesting flowers····· ······

What was Cao Cao's poem again? "Though the divine tortoise lives long, its life must end. The soaring serpent riding the mist, in the end, turns to dust." Like a ridiculous dream, it collapsed in an instant. Only the poignant line, "An old steed in its stall still aspires to gallop a thousand miles," still lingers, expressing the grand ambition and talent of a hero.

As for Zhang Liao, Xiahou Dun, and others, Luo Chen naturally wouldn't kill them. With a simple, "Let them live ordinary lives...", he released all these generals, large and small. After the news spread, the generals defending various regions, including Cao Hong, also surrendered. Luo Chen gave Cao Cao a grand funeral, and Cao Cao's generals, large and small, wept bitterly at his farewell.

...... ...... ...

With Luo Chen having defeated Cao Cao, Sun Quan naturally trembled in fear. Moreover, Sun Quan had originally intended to resist this powerful monster, Luo Chen, by quickly forming an alliance with Cao Cao. Unexpectedly, Luo Chen had defeated Cao Cao in just half a month, as easily as taking something out of a bag; how could he not be alarmed? After the battle with Cao Cao's army in the north, Luo Chen immediately ordered Ma Chao and Huo Qubing to each lead 100,000 light cavalry south to attack Han Dang's forces in Jingzhou. Han Dang's Wu cavalry was small, and in land combat, they were no match for Luo Chen's army. Huo Qubing and his men advanced rapidly, routing the Wu army and capturing Han Dang alive. They swiftly recovered northern Jingzhou.

By this time, the number of infantry and cavalry gathered in Jingzhou had reached 470,000. Shi Lang's navy also numbered nearly 100,000.

This operation, commanded by Xu Shu, saw the army and navy advancing eastward along the river with unstoppable momentum. Lu Su, Lü Meng, and others rallied the Wu navy, seemingly preparing for a decisive naval battle. After all, Cao Cao's forces had previously outnumbered Cao Cao's, and victory seemed possible. However, luck wasn't on their side. Before the Wu fleet even approached, it was sank and destroyed by a hail of cannon fire, resulting in a complete rout and annihilation of the Wu army. Following this great victory on the naval front, Luo Chen's army advanced through Chaisang and other locations, capturing the capital region of Eastern Wu. Sun Quan and his officials surrendered. Luo Chen, naturally unwilling to kill them, released them as they were, never to be employed as officials again, and allowed them to live ordinary lives as commoners.

Chapter 230 The Sun Also Rises

Luo Chen defeated Cao Cao and Sun Quan in a single month, it all seemed like a dream, even surprising Luo Chen himself. Now it's time to take a good look at the last few paragraphs of Cai Yong's will: All systems and blood drinkers coexist with Luo Chen, and all will disappear when Luo Chen disappears; basement of Longzhou residence.

This will tells Luo Chen a crucial piece of information: anything that has drunk his blood, or sprang from the system, will disappear along with him once Luo Chen vanishes. They exist dependent on Luo Chen. How will Luo Chen disappear? The last will makes perfect sense; the answer is obvious: Luo Chen will go to the basement of his residence in Longzhou.

Luo Chen suddenly recalled the young man reclining on the library sofa reading, that version of himself, so vague and distant from his present self.

Among the high-ranking officials of Luo Chen, few are unrelated to the system and the bloodline of Luo Chen. Xu Shu is one, Zhuge Liang ("330") is one, and Yesuo is one.

History won't change because of one person—this phrase echoed repeatedly in Luo Chen's mind. In fact, he could foresee the course of history. He had temporarily resolved the ethnic conflicts in the north, relying on what? Technological superiority. Once Luo Chen and his group disappeared, all artillery technology would vanish with them, because it was too far removed from this era, the gap too vast, too out of touch with the times. It could be said that in the future, if Ye Suo encountered any problems, the Xiongnu in the north would inevitably return. And the north now had a multitude of ethnic groups. As for the Qiang people, they had been badly defeated by Ma Teng, but after Ma Teng left, who could guard that vast and rugged frontier?

Luo Chen suddenly understood the meaning of "There are no great generals in Shu." These once-powerful figures died one after another within a mere decade or two, leaving behind only those with petty cleverness, cunning, and an insatiable appetite for extravagance. Such people lacked true intelligence, yet believed themselves to be clever. They mistook cunning for wisdom and extravagance for pomp. These individuals appeared shrewd and cunning, never suffering losses, but the country was ruined within a few years of their rule. Therefore, the honest and magnanimous spirit of the Han and Tang dynasties was the foundation of their nation-building.

But Luo Chen couldn't change the situation. What he had to do was use his existing authority to arrange good positions for his important ministers, so that they wouldn't be embroiled in this tragic and cruel struggle.

Luo Chen first met Xu Shu, because Xu Shu was considered kind and honest. Luo Chen was quite sincere and personally went to Jiangdong. After Xu Shu led his troops to conquer Jiangdong, Luo Chen immediately appointed him as the governor of Jiangdong. Xu Shu was somewhat surprised to see Luo Chen come in person, while Luo Chen's expression was quite solemn.

"Mr. Xu Shu, I am retiring," Luo Chen said calmly.

Xu Shu was shocked and speechless. How could the lord who led them to unify the world suddenly tell him in such a serious tone that he wanted to retire? The country had just been unified, and there was no problem for Luo Chen to ascend the throne as the emperor.

"I'm definitely retiring," Luo Chen sighed. "The political climate in the court will change drastically then, and some scheming people will come to power. Sir, you are kind and wise, so you should make plans early. That's all I have to say." With that, Luo Chen got up to leave.

"My lord! If you are going to retire, then take me with you!" Xu Shu suddenly said firmly from behind.

For some reason, upon hearing these words, tears suddenly welled up in Luo Chen's eyes. This proved that he, Luo Chen, could have loyal and trustworthy ministers by his side without relying on his own blood or the system.

“Sir…I can’t take you with me…” Luo Chen didn’t turn around, tears welling in her eyes. “Take care, sir.” With that, she quickly walked out, leaving Xu Shu standing behind her, staring blankly.

Luo Chen then went to Yizhou and said the same thing. As for Yesuo, Luo Chen thought it over and over again, and only sent him a letter, telling him to be careful and to prioritize his own safety should anything happen in the Central Plains. Yesuo received the letter, pondered for a long time, and still could not fully understand what Luo Chen meant, so he carefully put the letter away.

Not long after Luo Chen returned to Chang'an, he received the resignations of Xu Shu and Zhuge Liang, both claiming that the country had been unified and they wanted to live in seclusion in the mountains and rivers. When the court sent people to check on them, the two had already disappeared, their whereabouts unknown. The court was in an uproar. No one knew what had happened, and some even coveted their prestigious positions.

After the coup in Chang'an, Luo Chen summoned his ministers once more, but this time not to show off his power, but to announce the disbandment of the National Intelligence Agency, which greatly alarmed Zhang Juzheng. Luo Chen didn't answer, only shaking his head and saying, "Zhang Juzheng, you will ultimately follow me… and if this intelligence agency falls into the hands of others, it's better to disband it." Zhang Juzheng was bewildered, not understanding Luo Chen's meaning, but Luo Chen's statement that Zhang Juzheng would follow him reassured him; as long as he followed his lord, there would be no problem. Subsequently, Luo Chen ordered a reduction in the army, retaining only the basic troops, while the rest were released and land was distributed according to the equal-field system. The equal-field system had been well implemented in the Guanzhong Plain and Yizhou, but other regions had their own specific circumstances, and Luo Chen had neither the time nor the opportunity to address these issues.

Everyone understood that this meant a period of rest and recuperation for the people. Therefore, they all agreed. Luo Chen simply sat calmly to the side, announcing one important decision after another. The ministers listened with bowed heads, as if Luo Chen were the emperor, and in fact, he truly was.

"Sima Yi, I've heard that your two sons, Sima Shi and Sima Zhao, are very intelligent," Luo Chen said slowly.

Sima Yi's heart skipped a beat, and he had no choice but to step forward and answer. Ever since Luo Chen called his name last time, Sima Yi had become even more cautious and dutiful, always trying to be an honest man. Unexpectedly, Luo Chen had called him again this time. "Could you bring it up so I can see it?"

Sima Yi's legs trembled slightly, unsure of Luo Chen's intentions. The unfathomable look Luo Chen had given him last time remained a haunting shadow in his heart—terrifying, as if it were constantly watching him. Sima Yi had no choice but to call his sons over. Luo Chen sat reclining in a chair, his gaze cold and stern.

"Study hard, study hard, read the books of sages and learn great wisdom..." Luo Chen said, seemingly casually. However, his cold gaze swept over them. Luo Chen struggled to control himself, telling himself it was useless; if one Sima was lost, another would appear, and history wasn't just one person's history.

As he spoke, Luo Chen suddenly stood up and handed his military command seal to the drowsy Emperor Xian of Han, who was sitting on the platform. At the same time, a decree from the Prime Minister was issued throughout all the military camps: the Prime Minister would retire, and the army would unanimously support the Han Emperor. Of course, the order was absolutely effective while Luo Chen was present, but its effectiveness after he left was unknown.

After the transaction was completed, Luo Chen left the hall without looking back.

The next day, Emperor Xian summoned his officials to court again as agreed. Zhang Juzheng, Xu Da, Chang Yuchun, and other prominent figures who had previously graced the court were all nowhere to be seen. Emperor Xian was stunned for a long time before finally asking, "Where is the Prime Minister?"

A man below showed Emperor Xian Luo Chen's handover order: the Prime Minister would retire, and the army would support the Han Emperor. Emperor Xian looked at his ministers with a blank expression, seemingly unable to understand what it meant.

The cloth slipped numbly from Emperor Xian's hands; it represented the weight of power he could not bear.

The sun rises as usual, and history flows on relentlessly.

(The Finale).