Chapter 105: The Imperial Edict Orders the Retreat of the Hundred Thousand Troops (Seeking Recommendations)

  Upon receiving the message from Lü Bu, he learned that Niu Fu and Zhang Liao were engaged in a fierce battle with Yang Feng near Anping. Liu Bei immediately issued an order to rush to Anping and join forces with Niu Fu and Zhang Liao to attack Yang Feng together.

  Five thousand elite cavalry, passing in front of Guo Tai's large camp, like rolling thunder. Banners and flags were flying high, people were as fierce as tigers, horses were as powerful as dragons, the Yellow Turbans inside the camp looked at each other in dismay. Especially when three hundred knights wearing crimson cloaks escorted Liu Bei from their front, many people forgot their identities, rushed to the camp gate, and vied with each other to catch a glimpse of the true appearance of the Son of Heaven.

  Liu Bian suddenly had a movement in his heart, waved his hand to signal a halt. With one order, the three hundred cavalrymen simultaneously reined in their warhorses, forming a neat and uniform line.

  Liu Bian beckoned and called over Shi A, instructing him: "Go to the front of the camp and shout out a message. Say that I have something to say to Guo Tai, and ask him to come out of the camp for a chat."

  Shi Ah listened and was about to leave when Yang Xiu weakly called out: "Wait!"

  Liu Bian looked at him in confusion. Yang Xiu urged his horse to walk to Liu Bian's side, cupped his hands: "Your Majesty, let me go."

  "Your illness hasn't healed yet."

  "It doesn't matter." Yang Xiu smiled strongly: "I'll go, I'm more persuasive than Shi A, and also safer for Your Majesty."

  Liu Bian sank into thought for a moment, then nodded. He turned his horse's head and walked towards Guo Tai's large camp, stopping two hundred steps away and looked at it for a while before bowing to show respect. The crowd didn't understand what he meant, only Yang Xiu understood his intention, signaling the guards holding the imperial flag to tilt it forward three times.

  Everyone was like falling into the fog, unaware of what Liu Bian was doing. The big flag leaned forward and bowed to the enemy, which was already rare on the battlefield, let alone Liu Bian as the emperor, bowing to the rebellious Yellow Turban soldiers, what did this mean?

  Not only did the Yellow Turban soldiers not understand, but even the officers beside Liu Bei did not understand. Liu Bei stood up straight and sighed softly: "The young master is not virtuous, as the Son of Heaven, he cannot nurture the people, causing the people to flee and the officials to rebel against him. Now that swords are crossed, I am ashamed and have no place to hide. In this urgent moment, it is difficult to express my intention, I dare to offer a single ritual, apologizing to all living things for my sins. If Heaven's will is benevolent, please protect me in pacifying the rebellion in Shandong, seeking fortune and prosperity for the people, and making up for past mistakes."

  His words were half literary and half colloquial, but the generals around him were all well-versed in writing and understood Liu's meaning, and couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

  Liu Bian's words were an oral edict of self-reproach.

  It is already a rare thing for an emperor to issue an edict of self-reproach, and no emperor will easily admit that he was wrong, even if he was terribly wrong. Even when issuing an edict of self-reproach, it would be carefully worded and veiled in multiple layers, who would openly admit his mistakes like Liu Bei?

  Liu Bian was the first in history.

  At this moment, who would suspect Liu's sincerity? Who would think he was showing off? He didn't need to do that at all. If he really wanted to show off, he could have asked those talented scholars with beautiful writing skills to write a magnificent article for him to promulgate to the world, rather than standing in front of the army and apologizing to these ordinary Yellow Turban soldiers who were like ants.

  The surrounding generals were moved, but also felt a twinge of shame. As the emperor's personal guards, they could not quell the rebellion and had to watch as the emperor apologized to the rebels - this was their humiliation. A fire burned in their hearts, scorching their faces and boiling their blood.

  Liu Bian sensed the emotions of the soldiers around him but said nothing. He ordered Shi Ah to protect Yang Xiu's safety and rode off on his horse.

  Yang Xiu sat on horseback, thought for a moment, and then made some modifications to Liu Bian's previous words, teaching them to Shi A, and letting Shi A rush to the front of the camp. Shi A remembered, slowly urging his horse to come to the front of the camp, shouting loudly: "The Han Emperor's tiger guard, on behalf of the Emperor's edict, conveys his intention to the officers and soldiers in the camp. You are all diligent common people, forced by your livelihoods, rising up with spears, it is not your fault, but rather the court's improper actions, using people unclearly, causing officials to oppress the people and rebel..."

  The whole camp was silent, no one spoke, and everyone held their breath listening to Shi Ah speaking.

  The Son of Heaven showed them great courtesy from the front, and self-blame from the back, making each one of them extremely surprised. Under shock, they did not know what to do, and all stood there stupidly.

  Guo Tai, in the central army, couldn't hear what Shi Ah was saying. When someone repeated Shi Ah's words to him, Guo Tai's face changed greatly and he shouted loudly: "This is a plan to confuse our military heart, seize Shi Ah and Yang Xiu!"

  "General, do not. Xun Yu let out a light sigh: "What use is it to capture Shi A and Yang Xiu? Shi A is just a lone swordsman, but Yang Xiu is the son of the Yang family's four generations of high officials. The Emperor himself takes responsibility in front of his troops, precisely so that they can see his sincerity. If you kill Shi A and Yang Xiu, are you going to kill all the soldiers who heard these words as well?"

  Guo Tai was speechless, unsure of what to say, and after a long while, he stuttered: "Th-then... how should we proceed?"

  "We should have launched a surprise attack, not allowing the Emperor to fully assault General Yang. Now it seems we shouldn't make any rash moves and just defend our camp." Xun Yu hesitated for a moment: "Perhaps now is a good opportunity to retreat back to White Wave Valley."

  Guo Tai's eyebrows rose, and he said sternly, "No way, Yang Feng has made a mistake. How can I explain it to General Zhang?"

  Xun Yu smiled: "Since the Emperor has shown benevolence to the people, how can he bear to kill General Yang? Moreover, their total strength is only 7,000 or 8,000 men. To think of swallowing General Yang's 30,000 troops in one mouthful is no easy task! It is not easy for General Yang to win, but it is also not difficult for him to retreat. You can send a message to General Yang and tell him the situation here. After crossing the river, you can also go west to meet him, without delaying major events."

  Guo Tai thought for a moment, and with a sigh of relief, he smiled. The Emperor had made this move, the morale of the White Wave soldiers was low, and he did not want to fight again. But he also could not bear to watch Yang Feng being sent to his death without doing anything, Xun Yu's plan had resolved his dilemma, both attacking and defending, indeed brilliant.

  Kuo T'ai no longer hesitated, and while sending someone to inform Yang Feng, he set up a floating bridge, preparing to withdraw to the north bank of the Chuan River. At the same time, he sent someone to bring in Yang Hsiu and Shih A.

  Standing in front of Guo Tai, Yang Xiu sized him up for a moment and smiled weakly: "General Guo is named after Tai, is he admiring Jie Xiu Guo Linzong?"

  Guo Tai was taken aback, not knowing how to respond. Guo Tai of Jiexiu was a banner in the scholarly community, and he, a Yellow Turban bandit, dared to be mentioned in the same breath as him? This high hat Yang Xiu wore was really something he didn't dare to accept.

  "What about the great general behind?" Yang Xiu looked around with a serious expression: "Why don't we invite him out to meet?"

  "What's so great about him?" Guo Tai said with a lack of confidence.

  "Hmm, since there's no superior person, then your recent achievements are all due to the general's plans?" Yang Xiu waved his hand weakly and said: "I'm still recovering from my illness, can the general let me sit down first, and then discuss the current situation?"

  Xun Yu walked out from behind and said in surprise: "Yang Dezu, how did you get so sick?"

  Yang Xiu raised his head, looked at him and smiled: "It's really you."

  Xun Yu smiled: "Was that last move your idea?"

  Yang Xiu shook his head: "I originally thought you were a worthy opponent, but it turns out you're just a foolish person who can't see the obvious." He paused for a moment, then continued: "Those are His Majesty's most sincere words from the bottom of his heart."

  It's Monday again, recommend and collect!