Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

Chapter 637: Theory of Seizing Power
The afternoon sun shone into the courtyard, casting a long and oblique shadow on Zhuge Liang.

Yang Yi held the document in his hand and looked at the crown and belt on Zhuge Liang's head from behind. He hesitated for a long time whether he should say it or not. Thinking of his position as the chief secretary, he calmed down and said:
"Prime Minister, someone must have instigated Your Majesty. It is now the eleventh year of Jianxing. Since the change of the reign title, it has become a routine for the Prime Minister to lead the country's political affairs, and Your Majesty has never interfered..."

"Shut up!" Zhuge Liang turned around, with a look of dissatisfaction between his eyebrows: "Mr. Wei, watch your words!"

Yang Yi was startled, realizing that the word "interfere" was not appropriate. He lowered his head slightly and continued, "Your Majesty never interferes with the Prime Minister's administration. Now that you say Jiang Gongyan is not doing things right, you are actually saying that the Prime Minister is not doing things right. As for your Majesty mentioning that the Prime Minister's residence should be moved back to Chengdu, it is also an abnormal thing."

"What does Lord Wei want to say?" Zhuge Liang stared straight into Yang Yi's eyes.

Yang Yi cupped his hands and said, "Prime Minister, I thought Your Majesty wanted to seize the power of Prime Minister!"

Zhuge Liang remained silent, and stared at the sky with his hands behind his back for a long time before turning around and walking into the hall.

Yang Yi hurried to follow.

Zhuge Liang's mind was also mixed at this moment.

Since the first Northern Expedition six years ago, Zhuge Liang has led troops to the Northern Expedition four times.

The first was also the largest one. He led his army straight into Longyou, but was blocked by the army led by Wei Emperor Cao Rui. Then he was outnumbered by Wei and had to retreat with repeated losses. Not only did he lose Wudu County, but he also lost Hanzhong, which the previous emperor had personally led his army to seize from Cao Cao.

The second and third attacks on Yangping and Dazhong yielded no results. Although they could train the troops, they were fruitless after all, and there was a lot of criticism in the government and the public.

The fourth time they attacked Wudu County, they thought that they could use the opportunity of Wu's containment of Wei's central army in Jingxiang and Wei's lack of food in Guanzhong to deplete Wei's field forces in Guanxi. However, the result was not what they expected. Although they defeated Zhang He and Lu Xun and repelled Cao Zhen, they had to abandon the captured area and return to Baishui because the casualties were beyond their expectations and Wudu was too far away.

According to the propaganda of the prime minister's office and the court, the results on the surface were of course good. The second and third expeditions all defeated the enemy, and the fourth expedition actually captured nearly 10,000 people. The flags, armor, and weapons of the Wei army in the spoils were not fake, and it was also a rare victory of the Han Dynasty over the Wei Dynasty.

But to those who understand military affairs and the basic principles of the court and the country, this victory seems even paler.

The Prime Minister led the army, which was very good. He captured Wujie and entered Wudu County, which was also very good. He defeated Zhang He and Lu Xun and forced Cao Zhen to retreat, which was very good.

But didn't they give up the territory they had seized in the end?
The four expeditions were made while Wei was short of food in Guanxi. Even the soldiers in Guanxi did not go all out, and Cao Rui did not lead his army to attack. Even so, no major progress was made. If Wei was not short of food in the future, what would happen if the central army came again?
This is the most classic difference between battle reports and battle lines.

Zhuge Liang was aware of all the debates in the court and could even feel them happening around him.

For military generals such as Wei Yan, Wu Yi, and Wang Ping, no matter in terms of their positions or stances, or what they expressed to Zhuge Liang in person, their attitude was consistent and firm: fight whenever the prime minister wants, and be prepared for war at all times.

The situation was different for the civil officials in the prime minister's office. No one said that the Northern Expedition should not be launched, but there were huge differences on how to launch the Northern Expedition.

Take the ministers who were closest to Zhuge Liang for example. Yang Yi was eager to fight. He believed that the Han Dynasty's military skills would improve after each battle, and that Yizhou should use all its people's and financial resources to support the Northern Expedition until Yong and Liang provinces were completely captured.

There were many people who shared the same idea as Yang Yi. Most of them were from Jingzhou. They turned a deaf ear to the calls of officials from Yizhou to save people's power, and believed that they could completely replicate the result of Liu Bei's capture of Hanzhong from Cao Cao.

The mature and prudent Jiang Wan also represented some people who were more cautious. They agreed with the view of local officials to recuperate and also agreed that the Northern Expedition should be launched, but they believed that they should only fight after they were absolutely sure. Otherwise, they should wait for the right time and not blindly waste national strength.

The third type of person is like Fei Yi.

They only listened to the orders of the prime minister, believing that the prime minister had his own plans for governing the country and they did not need to worry about it. This can also be said to be an evasion of strategic issues.

Even Yang Yi, Jiang Wan, and Fei Yi, who were closest to Zhuge Liang, had three different ideas. What about other people in the court? What about the ordinary officials in the prime minister's office? Their thoughts were even more unpredictable.

Zhuge Liang sighed again and looked at Yang Yi: "Duke Wei, are you saying that His Majesty wants to seize my power?"

Yang Yi still said bluntly: "This is what I said."

"What power do you want to take away from me?" Zhuge Liang asked again.

Yang Yi answered straightforwardly: "Of course, it is to deprive the prime minister of his power to govern and command the army!"

As soon as he said this, Yang Yi was stunned for a few moments, as if he realized something was wrong. He lowered his head slightly and bowed to Zhuge Liang: "I made a mistake, please punish me, Prime Minister."

Zhuge Liang just sighed: "The Han Dynasty is confined to this half of Yizhou. Even Hanzhong, the place where the previous emperor was enfeoffed, is no longer there. How much power can it still seize? It's just the power of a governor. Is it really a treasure in the world that everyone wants to seize? There has been a saying since ancient times that people are fighting for the Central Plains, but where is the Central Plains? We must first conquer Hanzhong, then recover Longyou, and then pacify Guanzhong. Only then can we enter the Heluo area and touch the edge of the Central Plains..."

"Prime Minister, please calm down!" Yang Yi bowed deeply and said, "It was my fault for speaking out of turn. Please don't be angry about this, Prime Minister!"

"I am not angry, Lord Wei, you are just too narrow-minded." Zhuge Liang said slowly: "Your Majesty is not trying to compete with me for power, and he does not need to compete with me for power. As long as an imperial edict is issued, will I disobey it? I am not a person like Reckless Cao."

"That is..." Yang Yi looked at Zhuge Liang in a daze.

"Perhaps someone in Chengdu said something to your majesty, but it doesn't matter." Zhuge Liang lowered his eyes slightly: "I understand, Lord Wei, your majesty is just uneasy."

"The late emperor and Your Majesty trusted me and placed the power of the country in my hands. I have repeatedly led northern expeditions but have failed. Even if Your Majesty trusts me, even if there is no one in the country who has my talent, how can I tell Your Majesty?"

"Duke Wei." Zhuge Liang called Yang Yi again.

"I'm here." Yang Yi responded repeatedly.

Zhuge Liang said, "You go out first. I will draft a memorial later and you can send someone to deliver it to the palace in an emergency."

"Yes, I'll take my leave." Yang Yi bowed and walked away in small steps. As he walked, he was thinking about what had just happened and almost fell when he passed the threshold.

About half an hour later, a clerk in the palace brought a scroll of bamboo slips and said that this was the memorial to be submitted to His Majesty.

Yang Yi took it, and after saying a few words to send the clerk away, he hesitated for a few moments, and then unfolded the bamboo slips with his hands shaking slightly. The handwriting on the first bamboo slip on the right caught Yang Yi's eyes, and Yang Yi couldn't help but read it out in a low voice: "Please dismiss the Prime Minister's Mansion in Baishui..." The petition was not long, only about two or three hundred words. In addition to saying that the Baishui Prime Minister's Mansion would be dismissed and the government would be moved back to Chengdu, it also said that General Anbei Wang Ping would lead 6,000 people to guard Yinping, General Zhenbei Wei Yan would lead 20,000 people to guard Baishui, and General Zhengbei Wu Yi would lead 8,000 people to guard Baxi, and the rest of the troops would be moved back to Chengdu.

Yang Yi sighed, memorized the contents of the bamboo slips, and then sealed them in a wooden box and handed them to his subordinates to send out. Although it was getting dark, it would not be a problem to set out now and deliver them to the post station twenty miles away before the sun sets.

A few days later, a letter from Baishui was delivered to the Chengdu Palace.

"Your Majesty," Dong Yun, the attendant, walked into the hall and bowed to Liu Chan, "The Prime Minister's memorial was sent by Baishui Xiangfu. I brought it to Your Majesty from the Yellow Gate."

Liu Chan, who was resting with his eyes closed, responded, "Okay, Minister Dong, put it on the table. I will take a look at it later."

"I obey your order." Although Dong Yun looked somewhat helpless, he still put it away as Liu Chan instructed, and then slowly walked out of the hall.

When Liu Chan heard Dong Yun's footsteps gradually fade away, he immediately sat up from the couch, removed the wax from the wooden box, took out the bamboo slips tied with a cloth bag inside, unfolded them, read them carefully several times, and then closed them. After pacing in the hall for a few circles, he walked back to the table, took out the bamboo slips, read them again and again, and then sat back at the table.

It was afternoon at this time, and Liu Chan sat like this for an hour until the sun set.

"Someone come." Liu Chan shouted loudly, his voice, which had not been heard for a long time, suddenly broke.

"I'm here." A eunuch walked in from outside the hall and bowed. It was obvious that he had been waiting by the door.

Liu Chan coughed lightly and said, "Go and invite the Minister."

The eunuch asked in a low voice: "Minister Dong just left. Your Majesty, do you want me to call him back?"

Liu Chan rolled his eyes at him and said, "Don't invite Minister Dong, go invite Minister Guo!"

"Yes, yes." The eunuch received the order and walked out quickly, wondering in his heart that he didn't know how Minister Dong had displeased the emperor again.

There are two palace attendants now. Guo Youzhi is friendly but timid, and rarely corrects others. Dong Yun is more daring and often gives advice, so he is not as lovable as Guo Youzhi in front of Your Majesty. This is a well-known fact.

"Your Majesty, I have arrived in compliance with your order." Guo Youzhi bowed.

"Mr. Guo is finally here." Liu Chan stood up from the couch, straightened his robes, tightly grasped the bamboo slips he had held in his hand for more than an hour, and strode to Guo Youzhi's side: "Come on, Mr. Guo, follow me out of the palace."

"Leaving the palace?" Guo Youzhi couldn't help but wonder: "It's getting dark, why would Your Majesty leave the palace at this time?"

"Go to the Prime Minister's residence to see Jiang Gongyan." Liu Chan pulled Guo Youzhi's sleeve and said, "Guo Qing, please don't ask so many questions. Follow me to the Prime Minister's residence and you will know what's going on."

"I... obey your order." Guo Youzhi had no choice but to follow Liu Chan's footsteps and walk out.

The Chengdu Han Palace was only separated from the Prime Minister's Residence by a street. Under the protection of the Imperial Guards, the two men walked for just over a quarter of an hour before arriving at the Prime Minister's Residence.

The officials in the Chengdu government were good. When they heard that the emperor was coming, they all came out of their offices to pay their respects, and Jiang Wan was no exception. After Liu Chan hurriedly responded with a few words, he took Guo Youzhi to Jiang Wan's duty room and, regardless of Jiang Wan's doubts, stuffed Zhuge Liang's memorial into Jiang Wan's hands.

"This is the memorial that the Prime Minister sent from Baishui to deliver here urgently. Jiang Wan, please take a look at it." Liu Chan said in a low voice. However, before Jiang Wan unfolded the bamboo slips, Liu Chan covered the top of the bamboo slips with his hand again and said, "Jiang Wan, guess what the Prime Minister said?"

What else could it be? It must be because of the letter he sent to the Prime Minister's residence in Baishui a few days ago! Jiang Wan tried to figure out Zhuge Liang's mentality, thinking to himself that the Prime Minister must be explaining how necessary the Northern Expedition was, and explaining the location of the Prime Minister's residence in the memorial.

"I thought it was a response to my previous letter." Jiang Wan said calmly, "Your Majesty has also read my letter. Could it be that the Prime Minister is blaming me?"

Liu Chan shook his head: "No, no. You can take a look for yourself."

Jiang Wan felt completely baffled. After receiving the document, he glanced over it for a few moments before he was horrified:
"Prime Minister really wants to go back to Chengdu?"

"Yes." Liu Chan sat down and said with emotion, "I never thought that the Prime Minister would say this. The Prime Minister did not mention the Northern Expedition in his letter, so I think he would go back to Chengdu to discuss it with me in person. But withdrawing the Baishui Prime Minister's Mansion, such a big thing was decided so quickly, Jiang Qing, does it seem that you and I are forcing the Prime Minister too much?"

Jiang Wan shook his head and replied, "Your Majesty, the Prime Minister's heart is as solid as a rock and cannot be shaken. Since the Prime Minister wants to resign from the Baishui Mansion, he should really do so and will not play tricks with Your Majesty in words."

"However," Jiang Wan looked at Liu Chan, "Isn't this exactly what Your Majesty intended? Although this is my advice to Your Majesty, in the final analysis, Your Majesty is a little uneasy about not seeing the Prime Minister for many years and wants to summon him back."

"Yes, that's true." Liu Chan nodded: "But even if the Prime Minister comes back, I still have to tell him what I should say."

"The last time Mr. Jiang came to the palace to talk to me about this year's Northern Expedition, I expressed my doubts at the time because the direction of the attack was not determined and I didn't know what the Prime Minister's original intention was. After Mr. Jiang left that day, I thought about it and had some different ideas."

"What do you think?" Jiang Wan was actually curious. His Majesty had not been diligent in government affairs before, and had only asked about the affairs of the court in a general way, and had almost never interfered. But he had never thought that he would show so much enthusiasm for government affairs this year.

Come to think of it, it makes sense. When you grow up, you will change. Your Majesty is already 27 years old this year, right? It is time for you to want to rule the country yourself.

Of course, Jiang Wan was still somewhat worried. He was worried about history. Judging from the history of the Later Han Dynasty over the past two hundred years, when an emperor grew up and wanted to rule the country, he would encounter various problems to a certain extent. He was also somewhat worried about whether Prime Minister Zhuge Liang's attitude would be clear.

Liu Chan said, "I think the Prime Minister should not easily launch a northern expedition again!"

Jiang Wan was surprised again: "If the country does not march north, how can it survive? Will it always stay in this corner of Yizhou?"

"No." Liu Chan said with a smile: "Rest and recuperate for a few years before recruiting troops. I think if I can give the Prime Minister 100,000 soldiers, Longyou and Hanzhong will be recovered!"

Jiang Wan stopped talking.

(End of this chapter)