Wait, please don't call me Emperor Zhaolie

Chapter 486 (Extra) Liu Bei: Am I dazzled?
"The cold winter has gone, and the early spring has returned... It is difficult to be young again in life!"

In the North Palace of the inner city of Luoyang, the aging Liu Bei stood with his hands behind his back. Looking at the spring rain outside the palace, he could not help but sigh with emotion.

Apart from anything else, ever since I turned 60, I’ve felt pain all over my body whenever it rains.

The imperial physicians all shook their heads after examining the condition and said there was no cure. They could only use herbal medicine to provide some relief, and the rest depended on enduring it.

Liu Bei personally braved arrows and stones and fought in battle many times, and his injuries were greater than those of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. He could only relieve his bone pain by soaking in hot springs more often.

Seeing that the Queen, Cai, Gan, Huan and Guan often shed tears secretly because of his injuries, Liu Bei smiled and comforted them, saying that pain was the merit of the winner, while for the loser even feeling pain was a luxury and they would turn to dust early.

"It's raining heavily in spring now. Your Majesty should pay more attention to your health."

Queen Yin Jun came behind Liu Bei at some point, put the cloak on him, and helped him tie it up carefully and gently.

As time passed, many wrinkles appeared on Yin's face, and she no longer had the beautiful appearance she once had.

Whenever Liu Bei wanted to kiss her, Yin Jun would become flustered and shy like a new bride.

Liu Bei could not help but marvel at it. After all, the Queen knew his thoughts so well that she did not let the love between the couple fade away. The two of them knew what was going on between them, but still kept silent.

"My dear, I am just expressing my feelings for the moment. Wenruo and Gongda passed away several years ago. My health has not been as good as before, and I feel very tired today."

"Back then, Meng De's poems inspired me to shake off the decadence and reorganize the administration. I also conquered Buyeo, Goguryeo and the Three Han, and sent ships to erect monuments at Yamatai and Yizhou."

"An old horse in the stable still has ambitions to run a thousand miles, and a martyr in his old age still has ambitions..."

"It's a pity that Meng De has also passed away three years ago..."

Liu Bei recalled that when Xun Yu and Xun You were seriously ill, they also held his hands tightly. With tears in his eyes, he said that he could no longer support the Han Dynasty in this life. He was born with a wise ruler, so what else did he ask for?

Wen Ruo even recommended Zhuge Kongming, who had always been estranged from him, to be the Minister of the Chancellery before his death. When Liu Bei asked him why, Xun Yu replied: "I have seen many young people, such as Gao Wenhui, Sima Zhongda, Pang Shiyuan, Fa Xiaozhi, Zhuge Kongming, Liu Ziyang, etc., only Kongming has both virtue and talent, is magnanimous, governs people by law, and has a clear mind and a clear ambition, without extravagance and waste."

"I was also worried that Kong Ming would become like Wang Mang and Yuan Shao, so I kept my distance from him and secretly observed him for several years. I saw that he was always consistent in what he said and what he did, and he was calm in everything he did. I knew that he was a man who could govern the world."

"Your Majesty is busy with state affairs, so you must temporarily establish Shangshu Ling and Zhongshu Ling. However, these two positions have great power and must be abolished after two dynasties. Otherwise, it will lead to great disasters. I hope the country will take note of this."

"I have done my best while I am alive, and I will be sad for my whole life after I die. I will close my eyes in peace now."

Liu Bei did not expect that the last time Xun Yu recommended a talent for him was to recommend Zhuge Kongming to replace him.

Xun Yu also knew that Liu Bei valued Zhuge Liang very much. If it weren't for his recommendation, he would probably have promoted him to be the Minister of the Chancellery in the future. However, in this case, the issue of qualifications would definitely cause resentment and hinder national affairs.

It would be better to let him recommend it again, so that he can bear the bad reputation and take the abuse to the grave.

I have known Your Majesty for thirty-two years, and have worked diligently every day for decades. How could it be all for wealth and fame and to leave a name in history?
Xun Yu and Liu Bei were not only monarch and subject, but more importantly, close friends with similar ideals. A gentleman would die for his friend, and he was willing to do so even if it would lead to criticism.

At that time, a smile appeared on Xun Yu's old face and he blinked at the emperor.

It was the first time that Liu Bei saw this look on the gentle and elegant Xun Wenruo.

"Wen Ruo, Wen Ruo..."

Liu Bei came back to his senses and couldn't help laughing and shaking his head.

It turns out that Xun Yu's personality is also repressed and he has been pretending for so many years, but his true colors are finally revealed.

He said that anyone who could become good friends with Guo Fengxiao, wear spices every day to remove the smell, and could tolerate Liu Xuande's chivalrous style and never advise him, must be of the same mind as him.

The same is true for Xun Gongda, who is good at using troops and making plans. How could he be bound by common sense?

With the concerted efforts of Xianhe, Zijing, Yunchang, Yide, Zilong and others, he was able to modify the Han system and suppress the aristocratic families so that they would not be led astray by the noble families with false reputations.

Just then, footsteps were heard, and a palace servant came in quickly, saluted and said, "Your Majesty, the Minister of the Chancellery Zhuge Liang requests to see you." Yin Jun saw that the Minister of the Chancellery must have an important matter to discuss, so he took his leave and left.

Liu Bei watched her leave, then turned around and waved to the palace maid, "Let Kong Ming come in."

After a while, Zhuge Liang, who was nearly fifty years old, stepped into the palace and immediately bowed to the emperor: "Your Majesty, I am Zhuge Liang!"

Seeing that Kong Ming's cloak was wet from the rain, Liu Bei ordered the palace servants to bring a new cloak to the Shang Shu Ling. Then he asked with a smile, "Why did Kong Ming come here?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for the robe!" Zhuge Liang bowed to express his gratitude, then gathered his thoughts and said, "Let me report to Your Majesty. I came here for three reasons. First, the Western Regions Protectorate sent a document stating that Persia wanted to form an alliance with the Han Dynasty to fight against the Huns who migrated to northern Persia."

"Secondly, the seven cities in Yanmen, Daijun, Shanggu, Yuyang, and Youbeiping have been built one after another, which can contain the dangerous places. If the Hu people ride south in the future, they can be stopped."

"Third, the three states of Jing, Yang, and Jiao have now reclaimed 674,386 hectares of arable land and harvested 6,232,822 bushels of millet and wheat."

Liu Bei took the document from Zhuge Liang, looked at it carefully, smiled and said, "After 30 years of hard work, I am very satisfied with the progress I have made. Without the help of my ministers, how could we have achieved this today?"

His attention was focused on the latter two things. As for forming an alliance with the Persians to fight against the Northern Huns, it would be impossible unless the other party could provide enough money and food.

Otherwise, even if they sent troops from the grassland to fight and support the war, such a long distance would be enough to cause trouble for the Han cavalry.

The garrison in the Western Regions is also used to guard against and deter the Kushans and cannot be easily mobilized, so the Persians can only wish for the best.

After that, Liu Bei looked at Zhuge Liang, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Kong Ming, you have known the prince for many years. Although the prince is very smart, he is lenient to others. He is likely to encounter people with ulterior motives. You need to keep an eye on him!"

"Don't repeat what happened to Xiaohui and Xiaoyuan..."

"Your Majesty, I will do my best to repay the emperor's kindness in promoting me!" Zhuge Liang was about to kneel down and kowtow, but Liu Bei held him back.

"Kong Ming, no need to be so polite. Don't you know my temper after all these years?"

Liu Bei smiled and said.

"I feel very exhausted today. If you don't have anything else important to do, please leave first. I want to take a rest."

Zhuge Liang heard this and looked up at Liu Bei. He had never heard the emperor say that he was tired of governing. For some reason today...

But he didn't think much about it, and immediately bowed in return, saying: "Your Majesty, please have a good rest. I will take my leave now."

"Go!" Liu Bei waved his hand and said.

After Kong Ming left, Liu Bei went to a side hall to take a short rest. He slept until it was getting dark before waking up from his sleep.

He looked up and saw the palace was brightly lit with candles, and immediately asked, "What time is it now?"

"Your Majesty, it is now the hour of Chen!" the palace servant replied respectfully with a bow.

Liu Bei looked outside the palace and frowned, "Didn't I ask everyone to leave? Why are there still so many people standing at the entrance of the palace?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Bei discovered that there seemed to be something wrong with these people's clothes. The robes on their bodies looked particularly familiar, just like the crown and robes he wore during sacrifices.

Damn it, who is so bold and not afraid of exterminating his entire clan?
And why are some people so similar...

"Your Majesty, there is no one at the palace gate except the soldiers guarding it." Seeing this, the clerk of the Secretariat hurriedly replied.

Not only were the palace servants puzzled, but even the soldiers who stood with their heads held high were at a loss as to what was going on and looked at each other.

At this moment, the emperor suddenly opened his mouth and shouted angrily: "You... Gaozu... Guangwu... damn Huan and Ling, you actually have the nerve to come to see me!"

(End of this chapter)