Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 169 3 Pleases 3 Lets

After the first edict of refusal was issued, Xinghuo Fortress did not fall silent; instead, it was plunged into an even more fervent and peculiar excitement. In the eyes of the ministers and subjects, the lord's "humility" was not a retreat, but rather further confirmed his "sacred virtue"—weren't all wise and virtuous rulers of the past repeatedly declining, in order to comply with the will of Heaven and the people?

Led by Jia Wen and Chen Wei, the core ministers began more meticulous and substantial preparations for a "second appeal" to Chen Xing almost the day after his first refusal. This time, it was no longer just a joint petition.

Jia Wen secluded himself for several days, personally composing a lengthy memorial of several thousand words entitled "A Second Memorial Urging Lord Xing to Ascend the Throne." This memorial, drawing upon historical precedents and offering meticulous analysis, progressed layer by layer from three perspectives: "Heaven's mandate cannot be defied," "The people's hearts cannot be betrayed," and "His achievements cannot be concealed." It compared Chen Xing's every accomplishment since his uprising at Xinghuo Fort—defeating the Black Mountain, resisting the northern barbarian cavalry, pacifying Liangzhou in the west, reforming the internal administration, and comforting the exiles—to the actions of ancient sage kings and virtuous rulers, arguing that his ascension to the throne was not only legitimate but also an inevitable move "in accordance with Heaven's will and bringing peace to the people." The memorial concluded with an almost pleading tone: "If Your Majesty insists on remaining humble, it may dampen the soldiers' enthusiasm, discourage the people's hopes, and leave loyal ministers and patriots without a place to turn. Then we can only kneel at the palace gates and await the dawn!"

Meanwhile, Chen Wei and Zhao Tiezhu respectively rallied key figures in the military and political spheres. Within the military camps, petitions urging the emperor to ascend the throne, signed by officers of the rank of centurion and above, were quietly circulated; in various prefectures and counties, petitions urging the emperor to ascend the throne, led by prefects and magistrates and endorsed by local gentry and elders, were also continuously sent to Xinghuo Fort. Generals such as Zhang Heng and Pang De went even further, petitioning loudly again in front of tens of thousands of soldiers after routine drills, triggering a deafening roar of "Please, my lord, ascend the throne!" that echoed across the plains.

Su Xiaoxiao's inner court was not uninvolved either. She cleverly utilized the emerging financial reporting system to combine calls for her ascension to the throne with economic data. At the end of her latest quarterly financial report to Chen Xing, she added a passage in elegant handwriting: "...Now the north is relatively peaceful, granaries are gradually filling, and trade routes are beginning to open. This is all thanks to Your Majesty's virtuous governance, upon which all the people rely. However, without a proper title, the power of rewards and punishments is not evident, and the source of government orders is not smooth. It is like a giant ship sailing on the sea without a bright flag; where will the boatman go? How will onlookers discern? I humbly beseech Your Majesty to consider this." She did not directly urge him to ascend the throne, but rather pointed out the necessity of becoming king from the pragmatic perspective of "administrative efficiency" and "authority building."

Even Murong Mingyue, in a private setting where only the two of them were present, said softly, "My husband, the people's intentions are sincere and their feelings are pitiful, but the situation has already been set. I know that my husband's intention is to be humble, but going too far is not good. Even the courtesy of declining three times should have its limits."

Faced with this second wave of urging him to ascend the throne, which was larger in scale, broader in scope, and more "well-founded," Chen Xing's expression became increasingly solemn at the court meeting, even showing some "trouble" and "unease."

He refused again.

This time, his reasons were even more "profound": "What you gentlemen have said are all loyal words for the country and the people, and I am deeply moved. However, the throne is not merely a source of honor, but a heavy burden. I ask myself, can my virtue match that of Heaven and Earth? Can my talent bring peace to the people? In the past, the people of Xiliang were torn apart by Han Sui's tyranny. Now that they have achieved basic sustenance, would I hastily declare myself king and compete with the people for glory? Wouldn't that be following Han Sui's old trick and only increasing the burden on the people? The southern border is not yet pacified, and the northern threat still exists. I should endure hardship and bide my time, strengthen my army, and make protecting the borders and ensuring the safety of the people my top priority. How can I prioritize empty fame and forget the real dangers?"

His tone was somber as he swept his gaze across the assembled officials in the hall: "I know you all love me. But love should be shown through proper means. To advise me to advance when I am neither virtuous nor capable—is that love? Or is it leading me astray into injustice? Do not speak of this matter again! If anyone does… I will consider them to be harboring personal motives and interfering with the government, and punish them severely without leniency!"

The last few sentences carried a clear sense of rebuke and warning. A hush fell over the hall; many officials looked fearful, some bowing their heads, others exchanging bewildered glances. Was their lord truly unwilling? Or… did he deem their sincerity insufficient?

Jia Wen lowered his eyelids, but the corners of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. Chen Wei, Zhao Tiezhu, and the others also remained calm, showing little surprise or frustration. They understood that this was a "second concession."

After the second refusal, Starfire Fortress seemed much quieter. Public petitions urging him to ascend the throne decreased, and the noisy petitioning activities temporarily ceased. However, a more concentrated and covert force was secretly accelerating its operations.

Jia Wen began frequently visiting the offices of Chen Wei, Zhao Tiezhu, Su Xiaoxiao, and others, holding private talks behind closed doors. The content of these talks remains unknown, but subsequently, the Military Council, the Civil Administration Office, and the Inner Court all began some "preparatory" work: the Military Council secretly adjusted the deployment of some elite troops, moving them closer to the vicinity of Xinghuo Fort; the Civil Administration Office began compiling the latest accurate data on household registration, land, and granaries in various counties and secretly preparing a batch of supplies that might be needed for the celebrations; the Inner Court began calculating the reserves of gold, silver, and silk in the treasury and instructed the Imperial Workshops and government-run workshops to begin "trial production" of some higher-grade, more intricately decorated objects, flags, and ceremonial accessories—ostensibly in preparation for "potentially important festivals" or "future diplomatic ceremonies."

Meanwhile, at Jia Wen's behest, the power of the Censorate was mobilized. News of auspicious omens from Jiangnan, the Central Plains, and even further afield began to circulate in the north through various channels in a more "credible" manner: a renowned scholar from Jiangnan observed celestial phenomena at night and saw "purple aura gathering at the northern wall"; merchants from the Central Plains claimed that a "stone man emerging from the water" had appeared in a section of the Yellow River, with the words "Star Lord's Rise" faintly visible on his back; even merchants from the Western Regions brought with them an ancient prophecy: "A guest star shines brightly in the west, foretelling the rise of a king in the east"...

These messages, some true and some false, were difficult to distinguish, yet they quietly spread among the common people and lower-level officials, further enhancing the atmosphere of "divine mandate".

During this period of relative quiet, Chen Xing himself became even more diligent. He summoned his generals daily to analyze possible attack routes and defensive strategies of the allied forces of the southern warlords; he repeatedly reviewed the budget and material reserve plans for the coming year with Zhao Tiezhu and Su Xiaoxiao; he even took the time to personally inspect the workshops and the newly established "Jinghai Camp" shipyard, monitoring the progress of weaponry and the navy. All of this, in the eyes of outsiders, was clear evidence that their lord "did not pursue empty fame but focused on practical administration," further elevating his image.

Finally, as autumn deepened, after nearly a month of "brewing" and "preparation" inside and outside Xinghuo Fortress, a petition jointly signed by more than 300 people, including Jia Wen, all civil and military officials of the fifth rank and above in Xinghuo Fortress, prefects of various prefectures, and major garrison commanders, along with a "letter of the people" signed by "representatives of the people," was solemnly presented to Chen Xing on a clear autumn morning.

This time, there was no noisy court discussion. The representatives urging Chen Xing to ascend the throne stood silently in the square outside the Hall of Diligent Governance. Key figures such as Jia Wen, Chen Wei, Zhao Tiezhu, Dian Xiong, Zhang Heng, and Su Xiaoxiao, holding petitions urging Chen Xing to ascend the throne and letters from the people, slowly entered the hall and knelt down in unison before Chen Xing.

Jia Wen's voice, though not loud, echoed clearly in the silent hall: "We, your humble servants, along with all the civil and military officials, soldiers, and elders of the North, humbly bow in reverence! Your Majesty's act of yielding credit to those more capable, displaying the utmost virtue and humility, has moved Heaven and Earth. However, Heaven sees as the people see, and Heaven hears as the people hear. Now, the North's hearts are with you, and the people eagerly await your return; the mandate of Heaven and the hearts of the people are plain to see! If Your Majesty continues to feign humility and retreat, it would be going against the will of Heaven, against the will of the people, and disregarding the blood and sweat of the soldiers! We are foolish, but our loyalty to the Emperor and our love for the country are as bright as the sun and moon! Today, if Your Majesty does not give us clear guidance, we will kneel here forever, to prove our loyalty even in death!"

Having said that, he actually prostrated himself on the ground and refused to rise. The people behind him also kowtowed, their silence revealing unwavering resolve.

Chen Xing sat upright, looking at the mass of kneeling officials below the throne. His gaze slowly swept over Jia Wen's graying temples, Chen Wei's steady shoulders, Dian Xiong's bushy beard and hair, Zhang Heng's excited face, Zhao Tiezhu's earnest eyes, and Su Xiaoxiao's straight spine despite kneeling on the ground...

He remained silent for a long time. The air inside the hall seemed to freeze. In the square outside the hall, hundreds of officials, representatives, and even some soldiers and civilians who had rushed over upon hearing the news held their breath, awaiting the final answer.

Finally, Chen Xing let out a long, seemingly extremely heavy sigh.

He stood up, walked to the edge of the imperial steps, looked down at the kneeling ministers, his voice carrying a barely perceptible hoarseness and weariness, yet also a sense of relief and decisiveness after everything had settled: "My lords... why do you have to force me like this?"

He paused for a moment, as if using his last strength to resist, and finally, that resistance turned into a long sigh, dissipating high in the palace.

"...If Heaven's will is so, and so is the people's will, then the will of the people cannot be defied." Chen Xing's voice gradually rose, regaining its usual composure and strength, his gaze becoming sharp and resolute. "If I were to refuse again, not only would I betray the sincerity of you all, but I also fear I would lose Heaven's favor and the people's hopes, plunging the nation into unforeseen calamities. Enough! Enough! Enough!"

He turned abruptly, facing the depths of the hall, and proclaimed loudly: "I, in accordance with the will of Heaven and the will of the people, respectfully inform Heaven and Earth that preparations for my ascension ceremony shall begin immediately!"

"Our lord is wise!" Inside and outside the hall, cheers and shouts of worship erupted like a tsunami, the sound waves soaring into the sky and lasting for a long time.

Jia Wen and the others raised their heads and exchanged knowing glances. The ancient rituals had been completed with three requests and three refusals. Next came the grand undertaking of establishing rites, building an altar to worship Heaven, and formally declaring themselves kings and establishing a kingdom!