To be crowned king, one needed to build an altar and make a whole series of preparations. A propitious date was also required.
The newly conquered territories were simply too chaotic at the moment. There was neither the time nor the energy to hold a coronation ceremony.
Thus, the auspicious date could only be set for half a year later. As for why that particular day was the most favorable, the people responsible for such matters could come up with 10,086 reasons.
Leaving so much time would allow them to make preliminary arrangements for the various problems in the newly conquered territories, while also giving the great clans time to prepare.
Wang Xuan did not believe the great clans would behave themselves. In fact, he hoped they would prepare as thoroughly as possible—ideally, allowing all their problems to erupt at once, and as violently as possible. That would give Liu Bei a chance to make up his mind. He still hoped to cut through the chaos with a swift stroke, allowing the three provinces of Hebei to make a fresh start without being dragged down by endless delays.
It was just that he did not know whether these great clans had the nerve to go that far.
Julujun Commandery, Pingxiang.
Within an inconspicuous manor outside the city, three men in their forties sat around a pavilion beside an artificial lake. There was not a single attendant nearby.
The heads of the Fang Family, Liu Family, and Qi Family—the three most powerful great clans in Julujun—were rarely found together like this. Yet today, these three pampered clan heads were personally brewing tea.
"What do the two of you think of what that Wang boy said?"
The head of the Fang Family set down his teacup and spoke unhurriedly. "Though his