Chapter 401: I have bloodline, achievements, and virtue, so I have every reason to be emperor! Big brother, we will help you ascend the throne!
The emperor's throne!

Ninety-five Supreme!

Liu Bei never expected that Xiao Fang and all the civil and military officials would push him to the supreme position!

In other words, he did not expect that everyone would choose today to come together to persuade him to join.

He controls the army of Kyushu, has hundreds of thousands of soldiers under his command, and has counselors as numerous as rain and generals as numerous as clouds...

Given the current situation, it would be hypocritical to say that one has no ambitions for the throne.

It's just that he's not mentally prepared yet.

Looking at the ministers who came together to persuade him to ascend the throne, Liu Bei's initial shock gradually subsided, and he fell into deep thought and indecision.

"Your Majesty!"

Seeing Liu Bei's concerns, Xiao Fang once again urged loudly:
"If Your Majesty does not inherit the throne and ascend the throne, then our Han Dynasty will truly perish."

"If Your Majesty does not proclaim himself emperor, how can you rebuild the Han Dynasty and compete with Cao Cao for the hearts of the people?"

"Your Majesty's advancement to the throne of emperor is not just a matter for Your Majesty, but a matter that concerns all civil and military officials, as well as all the people of the world!"

Liu Bei's heart trembled.

Although Xiao Fang's hint was subtle, he could hear the key point:
Compete with Cao Cao for the hearts of the people!
It was impossible for him not to understand the thoughts of these great men of letters and martial arts before him.

Many people follow your original intention, and many people are naturally attracted by your personal charm and your benevolence and chivalry.

Such as Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Xiao Fang, and even Zhao Qu, Sun Qian and so on.

But people are not saints, and personal charm and great ideals cannot make a living.

He was also very clear that more great men of letters and martial arts followed him and went through fire and water for him just to win a title of nobility and a title for their wife and children.

A minister who follows the dragon!

This is the source of motivation that urges them to sacrifice their lives and fight on the battlefield.

But now, Cao Cao has become emperor and established the Qin Dynasty.

This means that people like Guo Jia, Xiahou Dun, Le Jin, and Li Dian all became loyal ministers and founding heroes of the Qin Dynasty.

As long as the Qin State exists, their descendants will inherit their titles and power from generation to generation and enjoy wealth and prosperity forever.

So when Cao Cao became emperor, the people who were most excited must have been the Qin's advisers and generals.

In order to preserve their wealth and glory for generations, they would fight to the death, vowing to defend the Qin State and fight to the death for Cao Cao.

There is no harm without comparison.

By working for Cao Cao, everyone was promoted to a higher position and became his loyal ministers.

We, a group of people, worked for you, Old Liu, and fought hard to conquer the nine provinces for you. Isn't our contribution greater than those of the Qin's counselors and generals?

But now they are all loyal subjects. Why are our positions and powers inferior to theirs?
And the implication of Xiao Fang's words was to remind Liu Bei that if he did not follow Cao Cao in becoming emperor, he would discourage the heroes under his command.

People's hearts have turned cold. Will they still be united as before, fighting for you to the death on the battlefield, destroying the false Qin for you, and rebuilding the Han Dynasty?
This is momentum.

Times create heroes, and times can also create emperors.

As Liu Bei, you have to go with the flow under this general trend. Whether you like it or not, you have to follow the general trend and ascend the throne to become emperor.

After understanding this, the hesitation in Liu Bei's heart disappeared in an instant.

A hint of pride gradually replaced it in his eyes.

Cao Cao dared to usurp the Han Dynasty and proclaim himself emperor, so why can't I, Liu Bei?
At that time, Emperor Gaozu was a village headman, but he destroyed the tyrannical Qin Dynasty and defeated Xiang Yu. Because of his achievements in pacifying the world, he ascended the throne and founded the Han Dynasty.

The former Emperor Guangwu was just a branch of the Liu family, and his family background was not much higher than mine. However, he eventually ascended the throne because of his merits in eliminating all rebels, pacifying the world, and reviving the Han Dynasty.

Both ancestors ascended to the throne through their achievements, not their birth.

I, Liu Bei, have annihilated all the princes, killed all the traitors in the four directions, and recovered nine of the thirteen states in the world. Although my achievements are not as great as those of Emperor Gaozu, they are comparable to those of Emperor Guangwu.

Why can't I be emperor?
What's more, in order to save his life, Liu Xie has abdicated the throne to the thief Cao. He and his descendants are no longer worthy of the throne of the Han emperor.

Looking around the world, who else can I have the bloodline, the strength, and the virtue and reputation except me, Liu Bei?

It is right for me to inherit the throne and ascend to the throne of God. Who dares to oppose it?

Even if it was Cao Cao, he had no right to question!
Countless thoughts and countless considerations are surging in my mind.

The ideal of supporting the people, personal ambition...

Everything, like rivers, eventually converges into an ocean in our hearts.

After taking a deep breath, Liu Bei slowly stood up and glanced at his ministers.

The hall immediately fell silent, and all the ministers looked at Liu Bei expectantly.

Everyone saw confidence and determination in his eyes.

The ministers' hearts immediately rose to their throats, knowing that their King of Chu had made up his mind.

"I came from humble beginnings, originally just a commoner, but as a descendant of the Liu family, I dare not forget my country, even though I am in a lowly position."

"So when I saw the Yellow Turban Rebellion, I had my heart set on the country and joined the army, intending to support the country, revive the Han Dynasty, and bring peace to the world."

"After Dong Zhuo's rebellion, the country fell apart, and many heroes emerged. There were countless traitors like Yuan Shu who wanted to usurp the Han Dynasty."

"As a descendant of the Liu family, I should fight these Han thieves to the death regardless of life or death!"

"Fortunately, God has not destroyed my Yan Han. I have been assisted by a wise counselor like Prime Minister Xiao, and I have been followed by countless civil and military heroes like you. Only then can I wipe out the Han thieves and have the great situation of recovering the nine provinces today."

"But Cao Cao has abolished the Han Dynasty and is plotting to usurp the throne. Our Han country is in danger of collapse and our ancestral temples are in danger of being overturned!"

"As the Prime Minister and you have said, as a descendant of the Liu family and the King of Chu of the Han Dynasty, how can I not step forward and shoulder the heavy responsibility of rebuilding the Han Dynasty!"

"In this case, I will not follow the example of that thief Cao and make the hypocritical move of refusing and asking three times!"

"I will comply with your request, ascend to the throne as emperor, and inherit the Han Dynasty!" A firm, resolute, confident and calm voice echoed in the hall.

Liu Bei finally made up his mind and, as requested by his ministers, ascended the throne to become emperor.

Moreover, he did it happily, with absolute confidence, openly and confidently, and decided to become emperor.

But he was not like Cao Cao, who was guilty of his crime and had to use the trick of refusal and request three times, and he also had to let the Qin's civil and military officials prepare a way out for him.

Lao Liu is so confident:

The throne of the Han Dynasty emperor belongs to me!

I ascended the throne and became emperor with a clear conscience, and no one in the world has the right to oppose me.

Neither does Cao Cao!
Looking at the confident Old Liu, Xiao Fang smiled.

Zhuge Liang, Huang Zhong and other counselors and generals also breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at each other.

...

Seven days later, it will be an auspicious day.

A high platform for offering sacrifices to heaven has been built in the south of Yecheng.

Near noon.

In the wilderness between Yecheng and the altar, war flags covered the sky and weapons and armor blocked out the sun.

One hundred thousand Chu troops, infantry and cavalry, gathered under the altar and lined up in solemn battle formation.

From Xiao Fang onwards, all the civil and military officials in Yecheng also lined up in front of the altar, looking towards the direction of Yecheng.

The auspicious time has arrived.

The palace gates were wide open, and the gates of Yecheng were wide open.

Generals Zhao Yun and Chen Dao, leading the Yulin Cavalry composed of 5,000 Baibi soldiers and Baima Yicong, escorted the imperial chariot that Liu Bei was riding in, and slowly drove out of the palace.

Exit the palace gate, exit the south gate of Yecheng, and go straight to the altar in the south of the city.

From the palace gate to the south gate, the streets of Yecheng were already empty. The people in the city gathered on both sides of the Imperial Street, kneeling to welcome Liu Bei's carriage as it passed by.

When the imperial chariot arrived under the altar, thousands of soldiers and civil and military officials knelt down to welcome him.

When Liu Bei stepped out of the carriage, he saw that the two brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were already waiting in front of the carriage.

The two were originally stationed in Xuchang and Jixian, not in Yecheng, and were unable to attend Liu Bei's coronation ceremony.

But at Xiao Fang's suggestion, Liu Bei issued an edict to recall his two brothers back to Yecheng.

Xiao Fang's intention was very simple, which was to let Guan and Zhang witness with their own eyes the moment when Liu Bei ascended the throne and became emperor.

"Yunchang, Yide!"

The moment he saw his two brothers, Liu Bei called out softly, and countless emotions surged in his heart.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei hurried forward to help Liu Bei down from the carriage. The three brothers looked at each other, their hearts filled with emotion.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were so excited that their eyes filled with tears.

Looking back to twenty years ago, one of them was a fugitive wanted by the government, and the other was just a butcher in Youyan.

And the brother who was about to ascend the throne was just a down-and-out royal descendant who made a living by weaving mats and selling shoes.

The three common people, with the ideal of supporting the Han Dynasty, swore brotherhood in Peach Garden and embarked on the arduous journey of fighting against the rebels and restoring the Han Dynasty.

The hardships, the near-death experiences, the countless ups and downs...

Who knows the bitterness and twists and turns in this story?
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei never imagined that the sworn brother they followed back then would be able to create an empire today, ascend the throne, and become the ruler of the Han Dynasty!
Even Liu Bei himself felt as if he was in a trance and dream at this moment, with a sense of unreality.

"Your Majesty, don't miss the auspicious time."

Although Zhao Yun behind him was also overwhelmed with emotions, he remained calm and stepped forward to remind him quietly.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei finally came to their senses, and quickly put away their emotions and wiped away the tears in their eyes.

"Brother! Let me call you brother for the last time!"

"My second brother and I will help you ascend the throne!"

Zhang Fei wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and supported Liu Bei with a smile.

"Brother, I and Yide will help you ascend the throne!"

Guan Yu was also full of passion and held Liu Bei tightly.

Liu Bei laughed, then helped his two brothers up to the altar step by step.

On the altar.

As the host of the coronation ceremony, Xiao Fang had been waiting for a long time.

Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong, the dragon and the phoenix, served behind him.

When the three men saw Liu Bei ascending the altar, they smiled and bowed to greet him.

"Jing Lue..."

When he saw Xiao Fang, Liu Bei's mood, which had originally calmed down, surged again, and countless emotions flooded his heart.

His memory involuntarily went back to that day ten years ago.

The young man from Jingzhou knocked on the gate of Xuyi City and declared that he would show him a clear way to support the Han Dynasty.

Destiny, it was from that day on, that it began to change quietly...

(End of this chapter)