C186. Stepping Down, Abdicated.

C186. Stepping Down, Abdicated.

Zhang Liangdong was left speechless by Yuan Li, his face pale with anger.

After a long pause, he took a deep breath and said in a trembling voice, "The late Emperor made some mistakes, but the current Emperor is not the late Emperor, but the young Emperor Zhou Yan... As long as we teach him well and assist him, how can we not let him become a wise ruler who can stabilize the country? To assist a wise ruler and become a famous minister in a generation, is that not a good thing, Lord Wen?"

The others' faces were extremely grim.

Wasn't he implying that their Lord should bow down to the Emperor and assist him for the rest of his life?

The entire country was built by their Lord with countless efforts and sacrifices over nine years, and now Zhang Liangdong wanted them to give it all up just as they were about to achieve success?

But Zhang Liangdong's question hit the nail on the head. Could they really say it was not a good idea?

Even if they did want a change in leadership, they couldn't outright say they didn't want to be subjects of the Emperor and instead wanted to usurp the throne.

Guo Maodao said, "Master Zhang, forgive my bluntness, but while we admire your intention, how can we dare to interfere in the Emperor's decisions? Do you really believe that rumors of the Emperor voluntarily abdicating the throne are unfounded?"

Zhang Liangdong immediately replied, "I dare not."

Although he said he dared not, he was clearly questioning whether the Emperor was being coerced.

Yuan Li smirked and looked at Zhang Liangdong for a moment before saying, "If you want to see the Emperor, then go ahead. Someone, take Master Zhang to meet the Emperor."

Zhang Liangdong breathed a sigh of relief.

Guo Mao immediately saluted and said, "My Lord, I am willing to accompany you."

"No need," Yuan Li said to Zhang Liangdong, "No need for company. It's better for you to go alone to avoid any misunderstanding that you did something to the Emperor. Let him go on his own."

Zhang Liangdong felt a bit embarrassed as he glanced complicatedly at Yuan Li and then quickly left.

Watching his back, Yuan Li squinted and said to the silent Xiang Hongyun, "You will return to Bingzhou tomorrow and temporarily take over as the Governor. There are not many officials in Bingzhou, so take Wang Qianzhi with you, pick some talented people from the government office that you think highly of, and take over the affairs of Zhang Liangdong and his disciples."

After speaking, Yuan Li patiently watched Xiang Hongyun, waiting for his response.

Xiang Hongyun knew that the Lord was testing him, testing how his student, Zhang Liangdong, would choose. Would he choose to betray Yuan Li and stand by Zhang Liangdong's side, or betray his mentor to serve Yuan Li?

Xiang Hongyun calmly bowed and said without hesitation, "I obey your orders. Please rest assured, I will not disappoint you, my Lord."

Yuan Li's eyes and eyebrows relaxed as she smiled and said, "Good! You are skilled in reforming governance, while Wang Qianzhi is good at laws. The two of you go back and write a plan on how to govern Bingzhou and show it to me. If it is feasible, then we will start implementing it in Bingzhou."

Xiang Hongyun's eyes suddenly lit up, a hint of a smile crossing his lips as he replied, "Yes."

Under the guidance of a servant, Zhang Liangdong arrived outside the Emperor's chamber.

The Emperor, hearing that this Zhang Liangdong wanted to see him again, was truly exasperated. He had initially wanted to refuse, but upon hearing that Yuan Li had sent him, he reluctantly agreed to see Zhang Liangdong to save face for Yuan Li.

Upon seeing the Emperor, Zhang Liangdong's eyes welled up with tears of excitement. Seeing the Emperor looking healthy and in good spirits, he felt relieved and respectfully greeted him, "I, Zhang Liangdong, pay my respects to the Emperor."

The Emperor waved his hand casually, furrowing his brow as he asked, "Why do you insist on seeing me? I told you I didn't want to see you, yet you still come. Speak quickly, I have meals and rest to attend to!"

Zhang Liangdong hesitated, cautiously asking, "Do you really not want to see me, Your Majesty?"

The Emperor, displeased, replied, "I have already said so once, are you so old that you cannot hear me anymore?"

Realizing his misunderstanding, Zhang Liangdong hesitated for a moment before saying, "I have come to request something from the Emperor."

Kneeling down and bowing his head to the ground, Zhang Liangdong spoke heavily, "I plead with the Emperor to reconsider abdicating the throne! The Great Zhou has been ruled by the Qin dynasty for a hundred years, how can it be given away to others? I beg the Emperor to revoke the decree!"

Startled, the Emperor immediately thought that Yuan Li had sent Zhang Liangdong as a messenger to persuade him to refuse to abdicate. Nervously, he shouted, "You don't need to persuade me, I have already decided to pass the throne to Duke Wen, no one can change my mind!"

Feeling dejected, Zhang Liangdong continued to plead with the Emperor, but the Emperor grew more impatient with each passing moment. Finally, pretending to be tired, he had Zhang Liangdong escorted out.

As the doors closed heavily, Zhang Liangdong stood outside, his face filled with bitterness, appearing to have aged ten years in an instant.

He stood there for a long time before slowly leaving.

In his heart, Zhang Liangdong reassured himself that the Emperor simply did not understand the significance of abdicating the throne. Once the Emperor understood, he would surely change his mind.

The next day, Zhang Liangdong arrived early in front of Yuan Li again.

He brought a book, asking Yuan Li to allow him to teach the Emperor to read and write.

Yuan Li glanced at him and casually agreed.

Excitedly, Zhang Liangdong took the book and brought his disciples to find the Emperor, eager to teach him as soon as possible. However, the Emperor was asleep at that time, so Zhang Liangdong and his disciples had to wait outside.

In front of the Emperor, Zhang Liangdong was extremely respectful. To show his respect, he refused the chair offered by a servant and stood outside with his disciples.

They stood there until noon.

When the Emperor woke up, Zhang Liangdong's clothes were already soaked with sweat, and his legs were weak and almost unable to stand. He urged his disciples to help him inside, and when the Emperor saw Zhang Liangdong, he exclaimed, "Why are you here again?"

His tone was impatient.

Zhang Liangdong forced a smile and said, "Your Majesty, I have come to teach you to read."

"Read?!" The Emperor's eyes widened in rejection, his disdain evident, "I don't like to read. Leave now, and don't come back!"

Zhang Liangdong was disappointed by the Emperor's reaction, feeling a bit at a loss. "Your Majesty, since Duke Wen did not restrict you from reading and writing, you should strive to do so! As the Emperor, only through education and wisdom can you govern the realm. Though I may not be talented, I will do my best to assist you."

Fed up, the Emperor covered his ears with the blanket.

One of the disciples couldn't bear it and said, "Teacher stood outside for the whole morning just to teach you to read. How could you—"

"Enough," Zhang Liangdong interrupted the disciple, smiling kindly at the Emperor, "Have you eaten, Your Majesty? While you dine, shall I read to you?"

Unsure of Zhang Liangdong's standing with Yuan Li, and not wanting to completely disrespect him, the Emperor ignored him as though he wasn't there. During the meal, beautiful female attendants served him, and after eating, he prepared to play with crickets and watch singing and dancing.

Zhang Liangdong read aloud beside him, his voice dry and hoarse. He tried to advise the Emperor to focus on studying instead of playing, but the Emperor disregarded his words. By the end of the day, Zhang Liangdong felt mentally and physically exhausted, sighing continuously when he returned home.

The next day, he returned with his disciples.

This pattern continued for seven to eight days.

The more Zhang Liangdong tried to teach the Emperor, the more disheartened he became.

The Emperor had no interest in reading or writing; he played around while Zhang Liangdong tried to teach him. Despite Zhang Liangdong's efforts to show respect, the Emperor's behavior became increasingly absurd. Days passed, yet the Emperor hadn't learned a single word.

Zhang Liangdong's disciples were bright students, and the children they taught were talented. He couldn't understand why teaching one person could be so difficult. Often, he would teach the Emperor a few words, only for the Emperor to forget them entirely the next day.

As Zhang Liangdong grew more tired, sometimes during lessons with the Emperor, it felt like he was a wooden figure, mechanically reciting from the book.

Two days later, one of Zhang Liangdong's disciples panicked and told him, "Teacher, our positions in Bingzhou have been replaced by others!"

It took Zhang Liangdong a while to process this information. After a moment of silence, he said, "Those positions were originally granted by Duke Wen, so be it. I am a subject of the Northern Zhou, not Duke Wen's subject."

"However..." the disciple gritted his teeth, "Our close associates and other officials... have been dismissed."

Zhang Liangdong felt a sharp pain in his heart, suddenly coughing violently. Once he recovered, he hurriedly said, "As long as the Emperor is well, we can do without these things."

The disciples exchanged uncertain glances, their faces reflecting a sense of confusion.

Was it truly worth it for their teacher to go this far for the Emperor?

Could such a stubborn and foolish Emperor really become a wise ruler?

However, the loss of their official positions was just the beginning. Soon, Zhang Liangdong and his disciples' families received letters from Bingzhou, claiming that those who were shunned and dismissed by Duke Wen due to their association with Zhang Liangdong were causing disturbances outside their homes daily, making it unbearable for them to stay there.

Zhang Liangdong's family members also mentioned moving out of the Governor's Mansion.

These officials were assigned accommodations by Yuan Li as part of their benefits. While the new officials took office, Zhang Liangdong's family members did have to move out of the Governor's Mansion.

However, Yuan Li and Xiang Hongyun did not demand their eviction, as it was Zhang Liangdong's family members themselves who felt ashamed and left voluntarily.

Yuan Li did not handle the situation harshly or stoop to forcing out the families of old retainers. Therefore, even though Zhang Liangdong and others were dismissed, their family members were allowed to stay in their accommodations.

Many of those who followed Zhang Liangdong were originally loyalists who opposed Yuan Li's accession. But now, having lost their power and experiencing the consequences of being shunned by Duke Wen, they were the first to regret and change their attitudes.

After the recent events, some had even begun to harbor resentment towards Zhang Liangdong.

Unable to plead for mercy in front of Yuan Li, they unleashed their anger and regrets on Zhang Liangdong and his disciples, making their homes unsettled.

After reading the letters, Zhang Liangdong sat on the ground numbly.

Finally, he began to doubt himself. Did I make a mistake?

Was it wrong to remain loyal to the Emperor?

Was it wrong to stand by the Northern Zhou's reign?

Why did these people, who originally believed that Duke Wen should not replace the Emperor, now regret their choice?

Was the Northern Zhou really going to watch its demise helplessly?

For the first time, Zhang Liangdong felt lost in confusion.

He had brought five disciples with him, and upon hearing the news from Bingzhou, one disciple hurried back to settle his family. Zhang Liangdong remained with two disciples, persisting in teaching the Emperor in hopes of guiding him back on the right path.

This time, Zhang Liangdong once again spoke to the Emperor, advising him to study hard, to secure the throne without abdicating, and other important matters. He also mentioned the threat posed by Lord Wen to the Emperor.

Seeing that the Emperor was indifferent and flirtatious with his maids, Zhang Liangdong suddenly became enraged. He slammed the table hard and said, "Your Majesty! The world needs you now, how can you waste your time like this? Do you really want others to take your throne away from you?!"

The Emperor, already impatient, immediately became angry, flipping the table and throwing the crickets in his hand at Zhang Liangdong, saying, "You won't let me do anything I want to do, are you the Emperor or am I the Emperor? You've been lecturing me day after day like I'm reciting scriptures, it's annoying! Even during the imperial exams, you never interfered with me. Prince Chen never tormented me like this. Why do you think you have the right to control my leisure activities?"

Zhang Liangdong, covered in crickets, couldn't believe what was happening. He said, "Your Majesty, I am devoted to you and to Northern Zhou!"

The Emperor, feeling slightly guilty after seeing Zhang Liangdong hurt, grew angrier when his disciples glared at him. He said, "I said I don't want to be this Emperor! Whoever wants to be can be, I don't want to handle state affairs, or study and write day and night!"

Annoyed, the Emperor smashed a jar next to Zhang Liangdong, causing pieces of pottery to cut his forehead, blood streaming down his face. His disciples gasped, moving to protect Zhang Liangdong and staring angrily at the Emperor.

Seeing Zhang Liangdong wounded, the Emperor started feeling guilty but, provoked by his disciples' anger, he said, "You, old man, you are truly annoying! I said Lord Wen treats me well, but you keep speaking ill of him in my ear. Too bad Lord Wen praises you as a great scholar with outstanding talent! I find your conduct questionable, your talent lacking. You've been reciting big words to me for so long, but I haven't remembered a single one. Your voice irritates me. You better leave and stop making me angry!"

The Emperor then ordered Zhang Liangdong and his disciples to be taken away.

The servants forcefully escorted Zhang Liangdong and his disciples out of the room. Zhang Liangdong's eyes were filled with blood, his disciples supported him, his forehead injury throbbing, but nothing compared to the desolation in his heart.

The Emperor... how could he be like this?

Did he really do something wrong?

As Zhang Liangdong was being supported back to his residence by his disciples, the sky was already dark, with only a few commoners rushing home.

Zhang Liangdong stared blankly at the commoners, watching a few children run past him, looking at the clean road. His eyes gradually filled with bitterness.

Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed a man rushing home, his voice trembling as he asked, "Come, come, let me ask you something."

The man looked at him, startled by the blood on his face, and kindly handed him a cloth to wipe the blood, saying, "Sir, did you hit your face? Quickly wipe the blood and find a physician!"

This unexpected kindness made the current Zhang Liangdong somewhat pleasantly surprised. He thanked him several times and cautiously asked, "Do you know that the Emperor has arrived in Youzhou?"

The man casually replied, "Of course, he came back with Lord Wen!"

After a moment of hesitation, Zhang Liangdong asked again, "Do you know about the rumors, that the Emperor wants to abdicate..."

Before he could finish, the man excitedly nodded, "I've heard about it, but they say Lord Wen doesn't want to be Emperor. The hundred thousand people of Jizhou are preparing petitions to urge Lord Wen to accept the throne!"

Zhang Liangdong was stunned, "Don't you think this is the work of traitors and villains?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the man who had warmly welcomed him earlier suddenly turned cold, snatched his cloth back from Zhang Liangdong, gave him a fierce glare, spat on the ground, forcefully pushed away Zhang Liangdong's disciples who were supporting him, and coldly walked away.

Faint cursing could be heard, seemingly directed at Zhang Liangdong on purpose, "What a heartless and ungrateful person, looking decent on the outside but actually a hypocrite! Enjoying food and warmth in Youzhou, yet still badmouthing Lord Wen, truly unlucky!"

Zhang Liangdong's face turned red with embarrassment.

After a long time, he regained his composure. Zhang Liangdong bitterly smiled to himself, realizing the message conveyed by the people's behavior.

The petition of the hundred thousand people of Jizhou, whether influenced by Liu Jixin and others or not, at least showed that the people were willing to see Yuan Li ascend the throne.

The trend was set, indeed.

Zhang Liangdong walked away step by step, feeling extremely weary with each step he took.

Muttering to himself, "In such a significant event, Ouyang Ting seemed unfazed. When the Emperor followed Yuan Li back to Youzhou, he must have agreed... I never expected Ouyang Ting to approve of such a treacherous act."

He fell silent.

After a while, he sighed and said, "Does Ouyang Ting think this is right? In the end... was I truly wrong?"

Looking earnestly at his disciples on both sides, he hoped they would give him a negative answer. But when his disciples met his gaze, one quickly lowered his head, and the other struggled to speak.

Feeling a lump in his throat, Zhang Liangdong closed his eyes in despair.

The next day, Zhang Liangdong did not come to see the Emperor.

The Emperor was overjoyed; he immediately started drafting the abdication decree, fearing that if he delayed a day, someone like Zhang Liangdong might come and disturb him with lessons on reading and writing, disrupting his leisure.

On the sixteenth day of the eighth month of the eighth year of Zhou Yan, the Emperor wrote the proclamation and edict, clearly stating his inability and thoughtful decision to abdicate, granting the throne to Lord Wen of Wen State, Yuan Li.

In the proclamation and edict, the Emperor's determination to abdicate was evident, filled with anticipation and excessive praise for Yuan Li, even going as far as writing overly sentimental phrases like, "If Lord Wen refuses, I will suffer sleepless nights, weep bitterly, my body and soul will be torn apart."

With the decree and edict, the unstoppable momentum continued to build. Reports of auspicious signs from all over became more frequent, with letters of excitement flooding in almost drowning Yuan Li.

The people gathered in front of Yuan Li's Mansion, pleading for him to accept the edict and fulfill the divine will as the new emperor of the new dynasty.

Everyone awaited eagerly for the abdication ceremony and the founding ceremony, anticipating the day when the new dynasty would officially begin.

But as success drew nearer, Yuan Li remained patient. Adhering to the etiquette of declination, he politely refused the Emperor's offer.

The Emperor, understanding the protocol, was undeterred by the rejection, promptly issuing a second decree and edict.

It wasn't until the twenty-first day of the twelfth month of the eighth year of Zhou Yan, that the formalities of declination were finally completed.

On this day, heavy snow fell.

Yuan Li, cloaked and accompanied by Chu Hechao, hurriedly arrived at the Yuan Mansion.

Their cloaks were covered in thick white snow, prompting servants to quickly remove them and offer hot tea.

Madam Chen tenderly brushed off the snow from Yuan Li's head, "Couldn't you have sent someone to inform us? It's freezing with this snow, are you not afraid of catching a cold!"

Yuan Song stood by watching his son and Chu Hechao, wanting to say something but hesitating. He sighed, quietly instructing a servant to bring a brazier.

Yuan Li smiled at Madam Chen, then discreetly tugged at Chu Hechao's clothes from behind to divert his mother's attention. Chu Hechao purposely remained silent, only coughing after Yuan Li shot him a glare and said, "Madam, rest assured, we had ginger soup before coming, and he is dressed warmly."

"Oh, you have gone through trouble, General," Madam Chen looked at Chu Hechao with concern, asking, "Have you worn enough clothing?"

"He has," Yuan Li quickly interjected with a smile, "Mother, please don't worry about us."

Madam Chen nodded in agreement. Once everyone was seated, she puzzledly asked, "In this weather, what brings you two out in the snow?"

Taking a sip of his tea, Yuan Li chuckled at the puzzled expressions of Yuan Song and Madam Chen, suddenly reveling in teasing his parents with a mischievous tone, "Well, I came to inform you both that I am preparing to become the emperor. You two will be the retired emperor and empress dowager. The founding ceremony and abdication ceremony will be held in Luoyang. I came to ask if you both would accompany me to Luoyang. If you prefer not to, it's fine. I will only reside in the Imperial Palace in Luoyang for a few years until the palace in Jixian County, Youzhou is completed, and then I will move the capital and return here."