The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 392 Time has made Prime Minister Li grow old, but the world will not allow you, Prime Minister Li, to grow old!

In late autumn, the dew is heavy, and the palaces of Luoyang are bathed in the golden wind.

Liu Bei sat upright on the throne, his gaze sweeping over the civil and military officials in the hall.

The bronze crane incense burner emitted wisps of blue smoke, yet it could not dispel the solemnity between the emperor and his ministers.

"Report! Vice Minister of Education Pang Tong has returned to court!"

The clear voice of the Imperial Attendant broke the silence.

Pang Tong entered the hall looking travel-worn, his black court robes stained with mud.

After bowing respectfully, he took out a sandalwood box from his sleeve:

"I have been ordered to inspect the army and have returned from Jiangnan."

"General Chen Dengyou, who is in charge of the Southern Expedition, has submitted a memorial."

"Bring it up!"

Liu Bei gestured with his hand.

A young eunuch had already taken the wooden box from Pang Tong and respectfully presented it to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei opened the box and read the memorial. He saw that the words on the silk were full of sorrow and were indeed written by Chen Deng himself.

His memorial to the throne briefly stated:

Your subject, Deng, kowtows again to Your Majesty's wise judgment:

"Autumn is deep and frosty and dew heavy, and the river surface is covered with cold smoke."

"I am stationed far away in the southern border region, and at night I observe the celestial phenomena."

"Seeing the Purple Palace shining brightly, we know that Your Majesty is in good health and the nation is secure forever. This is truly a blessing for all the people."

"However, with my sincere heart, I still dare to ask Your Majesty whether you are sleeping and eating well?"

"Can you still eat three liters of rice and drink a pot of dairy milk every day?"

"I humbly request that you take good care of it, so as to live up to the expectations of all people in the world."

"I was deeply grateful for the Emperor's boundless grace in bestowing upon me the insignia and halberd of the General Who Conquers the South. All my soldiers were moved to tears."

"Your subject led 200,000 elite troops from spring to autumn, and defeated the Wu army at the foot of Jianye City."

"Sun Quan burned the granaries and destroyed the ships, then fled by sea with his remaining troops."

"Now their numbers are less than ten thousand, and they live on a barbarian island."

"They were not properly clothed and were not properly fed."

"They are now like pirates, and have no chance of ever again daring to invade China."

"The prefectures in Jiangnan were pacified by issuing proclamations, but I dare not claim full credit."

“In Danyang, Kuaiji and other places, there are still powerful clans secretly harboring their nemesis.”

"Therefore, please stay in the town for three months, until the prefectures and counties are established and the military farms are set up, so that the king's influence can truly permeate the countryside."

"Currently, statistics show that 48,000 soldiers have surrendered, and a million hectares of fertile land have been collected and transported to Luoyang."

"However, the Jiangnan region is scarred and devastated, a sight that truly evokes tears."

“In the past, the ruler of Wu levied exorbitant taxes, and there were even tragic cases of ‘children being unable to be raised’ among the people.”

"Today, all the rice stalks have been burned in the war, and most of the oxen have been slaughtered for military rations."

“The people looked pale and sickly, and people lined the roads digging up wild duckweed to eat.”

"I humbly request Your Majesty to open the granary, allocate 100,000 bushels of rice seeds and 5,000 oxen for plowing."

"If the survivors can continue to live, then the holy virtue will descend like sweet rain."

"As for the soldiers' hard work, they should be especially considerate."

"Sun Quan fled and burned the treasury, but the gold and silk he obtained were less than expected."

"Today, the soldiers sleep in the frost and dew at night and patrol the miasma during the day."

"If the reward is insufficient, it may cause resentment."

"In the past, Li Guang was unable to be ennobled, which ultimately led to the regret of being confined to Baling."

"Han Xin requested leave from the king, which led to his capture at Yunmeng."

"I dare not coerce the Emperor's will; I am merely pleading for the safety of the three armies."

"I beg Your Majesty to bestow upon us ten thousand catties of gold and three thousand bolts of brocade to feast the soldiers, so that our mighty army may forever serve as Your Majesty's claws and teeth."

"Tears stream down my face as I write this, and I know not what to say."

"The autumn winds in Jiangnan are getting stronger. I still remember when I was serving at a banquet in Guangling City years ago, His Majesty personally roasted venison and gave it to me."

"Although we are now separated by mountains and rivers, this kindness is etched in my heart."

"I respectfully present this letter written in blood and a set of the Wu Emperor's seal and ribbon, sent by express courier."

"Your subject Deng is filled with trepidation and humility, and bows his head twice in reverence."

"In the ninth year of Zhangwu, in the autumn moon at the old palace in Jianye."

Chen Deng's memorial to the throne was extensive in content.

He reported almost all of his work and observations in Jiangnan to Liu Bei in one go.

He first showed concern for Liu Bei's health, demonstrating his duty as a subject.

Then he truthfully reported the results of the battle, mentioned the suffering of the people in Jiangnan, and begged for relief.

It was also pointed out that because Sun Quan burned Jiangnan, the soldiers did not get the expected spoils of war.

The prolonged fighting had caused resentment among the soldiers.

Therefore, it is hoped that Liu Bei can allocate another sum of money to reward the soldiers.

The emperor lightly tapped the jade tablet on the imperial desk, and sighed deeply.
"Jiangnan is in such dire straits, how much grain and fodder do you think should be allocated for relief?"

Before the words were finished, Yang Dao, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, stepped forward first and bowed, saying:

"We are terrified and can hardly provide even a fraction of it."

Before Liu Bei could ask the reason, he had already bowed and explained, holding the jade tablet:

"The southern expedition has already consumed four million shi of grain, and another eight hundred thousand shi have been spent on rewarding the army."

"If we provide further relief to Jiangnan, it may shake the foundation of the nation."

Du Ji then knelt down and echoed:

"It is not that we are stingy, but that the treasury only has enough grain for three months."

“The Jiangnan region covers thousands of miles. To revitalize it, the economy of the entire country will be dragged down.”

Even Sun Qian, the Junior Steward, added tremblingly:

“Last year, three thousand people starved to death in Bingzhou.”

"If we divert grain from the north to the south, it would be like cutting off flesh to mend a wound."

"They are all His Majesty's subjects, how can you feed the bellies of the southern people with the bones of the northern people?"

Back then, in order to revitalize Henan's economy and restore the livelihoods of its people.

Large quantities of grain, fodder, and even people were transferred from Hebei, Qingxu, and Shanxi.

It took several years to revive it.

The officials really didn't want a second "Henan".

and,

Henan is impoverished, but it is, after all, adjacent to the capital region.

It possesses a superior strategic and political position.

Therefore, the government is allocating resources to support this area, and everyone is fine.

Not to mention that the scholars from Henan were already representatives of the imperial court.

But Jiangnan is different.
Once the Jiangnan region is revitalized, wouldn't that mean allowing Jiangnan scholars to seize their voice in the imperial court?
The spoils have already been divided up, and the ministers really don't want any new players to join in.

Therefore, in the face of the decline of Jiangnan,
The court officials all chose a passive attitude.

They do not want Jiangnan to rise, and they especially do not want the new elites of Jiangnan to rise.

However, as emperor, Liu Bei certainly hoped for a balance of power between the north and south.

Allowing the northern forces to become too powerful is detrimental to the imperial power.

So Liu Bei turned to Yuan Yin and asked:

"Is there truly no other way for the emperor's brother-in-law to manage the affairs of the state?"

Sweat beaded on Yuan Yin's forehead, and his ivory tablet trembled slightly.
"Since last year, 2.5 million shi of grain have been transferred from Hebei and Qingxu."

"The story of the starving people in Shanxi is indeed true."

"If we allocate more grain, it might cause a popular uprising..."

Sun Qian sighed helplessly:

"We feel deeply sorry and sympathetic for the plight of the people of Jiangnan."

"But I think we are unable to offer any help to the people of Jiangnan."

At this point, his voice choked with emotion.

The five fingers on the throne slowly closed, the azure dragon patterned hem of the sleeve trembled slightly, and then a long sigh escaped:
"I knew the war would be costly, but I did not expect it to be this bad."

"Just as Sun Tzu's Art of War had predicted!"

"Military affairs are of paramount importance to the state; they are matters of life and death, the road to survival and destruction. They must be carefully considered."

The war involving an army of 200,000 men caused far more damage to the people and the nation than Liu Bei had anticipated.

It's no wonder that Li Yi was extremely cautious about attacking Wu.

Fortunately, the war ended well and was not in vain.

Otherwise, if another tax is levied next year, it will be another calamity for the people.

In response to Liu Bei's sigh, Yang Dao let out a cold laugh:

"If we hadn't dispatched 200,000 troops for the southern expedition, we wouldn't be in such a dire situation!"

As he finished speaking, his gaze seemingly casually swept over the head row of civil officials.

These words were clearly directed at Prime Minister Lee Ik, whose sharp eyebrows furrowed and whose rhinoceros sash clanged against the jade steps.

"Lord Yang! Are you questioning my strategy for the southern expedition?"

"I don't dare, my subordinates."

Yang Dao bowed but refused to accept the offer, saying, "With a force of two hundred thousand, the daily grain consumption reaches six thousand shi."

"If only we had sent 100,000 elite troops back then..."

"presumptuous!"

A thunderous roar erupted from the ranks of the military officials, and Zhang Fei, his beard bristling, roared:
"Could it be that a swift victory has ruined your plans?"

"Now that Jiangnan is pacified, new talents should rise. Are you old ministers afraid of losing power?"

These words struck like a stone against still water, and Yang Dao and the others turned deathly pale instantly.

Some people even dropped their ceremonial tablets, the crisp sound echoing throughout the hall.

"Yide, shut up!"

Liu Bei rose with a flick of his sleeve, his nine-dragon crown adorned with pearls and jade swaying.

"...Prime Minister Li's plans were flawless."

"If we hadn't used the overwhelming force of Mount Tai to force the Sun family to resist stubbornly, the suffering would have been even greater than it is today."

The emperor descended from the imperial steps, his black robes and crimson skirts brushing against the kneeling officials:

"What I am thinking about is not the faults of the war, but the aftermath of the war."

"How could the sobbing of the people of Jiangnan cease to be heard because of the victory or defeat on the battlefield?"

Outside the palace, the autumn wind whipped up fallen leaves, which pounded against the vermilion gate, sounding like the sobs of thousands of starving people.

Liu Bei, with his hands behind his back and brows furrowed, said in a deep voice:
"This means reducing palace expenses by 30% and halving the stipends of members of the imperial family."

"Open the Luokou granary tomorrow and allocate 100,000 shi of grain as an emergency measure!"

"I don't care what you think about Jiangnan, but you all need to remember this—"

"If people starve to death in Jiangnan, I will never forgive those who draw the state's salary but do nothing to benefit the people!"

After the sound subsided, the hall fell silent.

Everyone's expression was very solemn, and no one uttered a word.

After a long while, Liu Bei sat down again.

“Sun Quan fled far away by sea, which was already a minor ailment.”

The emperor's voice carried a hint of weariness.

"However, the descendants of his imperial clan are scattered in Jiangnan. What do you think should be done with them?"

The ministers looked at each other for a moment, and Jian Yong was the first to take up his ceremonial tablet:
"We should treat the descendants of the Sun family with great respect, to demonstrate Your Majesty's benevolence and virtue, and to reassure the people of Jiangdong."

The Chamberlain quickly echoed:

“Benevolent governance to the descendants of a fallen nation can win the hearts of the people.”

The ministers all agreed, and the hall was filled with admonitions to "pacify distant peoples" and "demonstrate the emperor's virtue."

Liu Bei nodded and said gently:
“What you all say is exactly what I thought.”

"By imperial decree, all members of the Sun clan shall be supported by the state."

"They were granted land and houses, and provided with rations."

"His Majesty!"

Liu Yan suddenly stepped forward, his jade tablet trembling slightly in his hand, and said in a loud voice:
"The Sun family can be pardoned, but there is one person... I don't know what to do with him?"

In the silence of the hall, Guan Yu slightly opened his phoenix eyes:
"who?"

Sun Quan's youngest daughter, Sun Luban.

Liu Yan prostrated himself and kowtowed, saying, "Although this girl is young, she is of Sun Quan's blood."

"After all, the Sun family and the Liu family have a blood feud. I fear that raising a tiger will only lead to future trouble..."

"absurd!"

Guan Yu's voice was like a booming bell, shaking the dust off the beams.

"What harm could a ten-year-old girl possibly cause?"

"Your words are absolutely not those of a gentleman!"

Liu Yan frowned and bowed deeply to Liu Bei:
"Your Majesty, I have only presented this to you."

"Even if I die ten thousand times, I will obey Your Majesty's holy decision."

Guan Yu grunted and took a step forward:
"Your Majesty! What crime has the girl committed?"

"If Your Majesty does not reject him, I am willing to take him in and teach him."

"We must ensure that they understand propriety and righteousness, and remain subjects of the Han dynasty for a long time."

Liu Bei gazed at his ministers, then chuckled softly:
"Am I a tyrant who harms children?"

"Since Yun Chang is willing to take on this responsibility, I will bestow upon you the title of goddaughter and raise you well."

"Do not let them go astray in the future."

"Sir, obey the order."

Guan Yu bowed and accepted the order.

Liu Bei stood up and said quietly:

"The southern campaign exhausted the strength of the entire world."

"With the south of the Yangtze River pacified, the war finally came to an end."

The emperor's voice grew deep, "All of you ministers have worked hard and made great contributions. Today... let's adjourn the court."

As dusk filtered through the carved windows, the clear, melodious voice of the Imperial Attendant could be heard from outside the palace, announcing the time.

Li Yi stepped out of the Duanmen Gate, his footsteps treading on the fallen leaves.

The blue silk carriage of the Prime Minister's residence waited quietly in the twilight.

Seeing the deep frown on his brow, the old servant dared not say anything and silently lifted the carriage curtain.

Upon returning to the Prime Minister's residence, they saw servants busy hanging colorful lanterns.

The steward was directing the servants to wipe the bronze animal-shaped incense burner under the eaves when he saw the prime minister return. He hurriedly came forward and greeted him with a smile:

"The birthday banquet has been prepared according to past practice, and a hundred bolts of Shu brocade will be delivered tomorrow."

Li Yi frowned and looked around:

"What's this?"

With a soft rustling of the beaded curtain, the three ladies emerged hand in hand.

Yuan Ying, holding the account book, said reproachfully:

"Your Excellency is truly forgetful; in seven days it will be your fiftieth birthday."

Behind Zhen Mi, a maidservant held a stack of visiting cards and softly added:

“All the high-ranking officials and ministers in the capital sent their visiting cards.”

"In addition, officials from other prefectures, such as the governor of Qingzhou and the deputy governor of Jingzhou, have also arrived in Luoyang..."

Upon hearing this, the Prime Minister flicked his sleeve and waved his hand, saying:

"Refund everything! Keep the birthday banquet simple."

Upon hearing this, all the servants in the courtyard froze in place.

The old butler stood frozen in place, holding the colorful lantern, the golden characters "May you live as long as the Southern Mountain" on the lantern trembling slightly in the wind.

Mi Zhen hurried forward:

"Prime Minister! A fiftieth birthday is no small matter, what brings you here?"

Li Yi shook his hand and pointed southeast, "The starving corpses in Jiangnan have not yet been collected, and famine has broken out again in Bingzhou."

"The national treasury is currently in dire need of funds, and His Majesty has reduced his meals and stopped playing music."

"How can we celebrate our birthdays in luxury?"

Yuan Ying gently touched the sandalwood tray piled high with visiting cards and said with concern:
"However, many court officials have already prepared congratulatory letters, and if we decline now, we may offend people."

"Then tell them that I am ill."

Li Yi untied the jade belt from his waist and threw it on the table, saying, "Bring me an ordinary linen robe."

"The birthday banquet will be a family affair only, and no gifts may be accepted."

People didn't used to celebrate birthdays.

It was only during the Wei, Jin and Northern and Southern Dynasties that people gradually began to have the custom of celebrating birthdays.

However, at this time, the majority of them were still nobles.

After all, in those days, people couldn't even get enough to eat.

Who cares if someone has a birthday or not?

Seeing Li Yi like this, Mi Zhen's eyes were filled with heartache:
"But a fiftieth birthday only happens once in a lifetime."

"Does it mean that once you pass fifty, you can't pass anymore?"

Li Yi smiled slightly, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes as deep as if carved by a knife.

"When the granaries of the world are full, the people will live in peace."

"When my wife celebrates her sixtieth birthday, it won't be too late to have a three-day celebration together."

As dusk deepened, the old servant silently removed the colorful silk.

Zhen Mi suddenly bent down and picked up the visiting card from the ground, noticing a piece of coarse paper underneath—

It turned out to be the daily grain distribution records submitted by the officials of Luokou Granary.

When she looked up, she saw her husband standing on the veranda, gazing at the starry sky, his hemp robe sleeves fluttering in the autumn wind.

"Put the food on the table."

The prime minister suddenly turned around, his tone softening.

"At today's court assembly, Yun Chang adopted the orphaned girl from the Sun family..."

"It reminds me of the bowl of millet rice I found when I was fleeing from Xuzhou."

"Hehe, looking back now, time really flies."

As the candlelight flickered, the family feast began.

It consisted of only four dishes and a soup, yet it was more precious than any grand feast.

The night breeze swept through the courtyard of the Prime Minister's residence, causing the unhanging lanterns to tumble gently, like restless souls lingering on the first autumn night of the Han Dynasty's resurgence.

……

As the night deepened and the dew grew heavy, the stone lions in front of the Prime Minister's residence were suddenly illuminated by torches.

The gatekeeper on duty, rubbing his sleepy eyes, pushed open the side door and was surprised to see the emperor standing alone on the steps, wearing a black cloak.

He was followed by only two plainclothes guards.

The gatekeeper hurriedly reported the matter to the head of the household.

"His Majesty!"

Li Yi hurriedly went out to greet them before he could even fasten his belt properly; the hem of his coarse cloth robe fluttered in the autumn wind.

"The night is cold and the dew is heavy; how can the Holy Body venture out lightly?"

Liu Bei raised his hand in a gesture of support:

"I have disturbed Prime Minister Li's peaceful sleep."

Under the moonlight, the emperor's eyes were sunken, and the majesty he displayed in the court during the day had turned into weariness.

"...Your Majesty's visit to me late at night must be due to matters of state."

"Since it's for the sake of the country, why bother about whether it's a bother or not?"

After saying this, Li Yi invited Liu Bei inside.

Inside the study, candlesticks lit up one by one.

Li Yi personally stoked the charcoal brazier and ordered the cook to warm a pot of Handan yellow wine.

Several dishes of fennel beans and pickled mustard greens were placed on a small elm wood table.

Liu Bei took a sip from his cup and suddenly laughed:
"It's just like when we drank together in Xiapi back then."

"Come to think of it, it seems like it's been quite a while since we've had a drink like this, hasn't it?"

"Hehe, Your Majesty, if you like it, please use it."

The two toasted each other.

After several rounds of drinks, the emperor tapped his fingertips lightly on the table and said in a deep voice:
"There was something I swallowed back during the day in the imperial court."

"Things I haven't fully expressed in court, I dare only confide in you tonight."

"...Is it because of Chen Yuanlong?"

Li Yi gently turned the wine pot, a half-smile playing on his lips, and said:
"With 200,000 troops stationed in Jiangnan, His Majesty is unable to sleep at night."

A glint of light flashed in Liu Bei's eyes:

"My dear minister, you are as intelligent as ever."

"I have indeed been unable to sleep all night because of this matter."

After much thought, I decided to come to the Prime Minister's residence to ask for a drink.

"I don't want to, it's not just that I can't sleep."

"So, Ziyu, you haven't gone to bed either."

Li Yi thought to himself, "Don't you have any idea why he hasn't gone to bed yet?"
Li Yi slowly poured the wine:

"...I already know."

The autumn wind howled outside the window, as if carrying the lamentations of the people of Jiangnan.

"I am willing to guarantee with the lives of my entire family that Chen Yuanlong has no ulterior motives."

"If we deploy troops now to defend ourselves, it will only force loyal ministers to rebel!"

"I hope Your Majesty will prioritize the overall situation and refrain from creating further trouble and throwing your own plans into disarray during this turbulent time."

Liu Bei said in a deep voice:

“I am not a suspicious ruler, and I understand Chen Yuanlong’s character.”

"However, history books are incomplete..."

"The achievement of destroying Wu still has 200,000 troops on the front lines."

"Although I do not want to doubt, this reality alone is enough to make me restless and unable to eat or sleep."

Before he could finish speaking, the sound of a night watchman's drum suddenly broke through the air.

It was past midnight when the last sparks popped out of the charcoal brazier.

"My dear minister, you are very perceptive, but you must understand."

Liu Bei's eyes gleamed, and his expression was very serious.

"I am the ruler of the country and the master of all people."

"We can no longer act on emotion like before."

"I must consider the interests of the nation and its people."

"Logically speaking, I shouldn't be saying these things to you."

"But you and I are like brothers, and I have never doubted you."

"With your talent, maturity, and composure, I would find it difficult to find another person with whom I can have a conversation."

At this point, Liu Bei sighed again.

He slumped down, rubbing his forehead, looking utterly overwhelmed.

"His great achievement in defeating Wu earned him two hundred thousand Pixiu."

"If they harbor disloyal thoughts, Jiangnan may once again be plunged into a sea of ​​blood!"

"In the past, you strongly advocated destroying Wu first. Now that Wu has fallen, what should we do?"

Li Yixu poured the hot wine:

"Although Wu was destroyed, the remaining people in Jiangnan still ate chaff and bran, and five or six out of ten were poorly clothed."

"I believe we should open the granaries to relieve famine and plan for the future later."

“This is not an excuse.”

Li Yi solemnly offered the wine.

"It is easy to conquer the world, but difficult to maintain it."

"Nowadays, the families of Wudi are secretly entangled, and the mountains are far from being visited by guests."

"If we hastily reclaim military power, a major upheaval may occur."

"I beseech Your Majesty to grant me three months' grace, which will surely win the hearts of those in Jiangnan."

The moonlight made Liu Bei's hair and beard appear completely white.

What will happen after three months?

"...At least let the people of Jiangnan get through this winter first."

After a slight pause, Li Yi seemed to remember something.

"...Since Your Majesty has come to see this old minister."

He slowly put down his wine cup, the celadon base tapping softly on the sandalwood table.

"This old minister also has important matters to report."

Liu Bei poured wine for the prime minister, and the amber-colored liquid rippled in the cup.

"Please speak freely, Minister Li."

Li Yi took out a scroll of silk from his sleeve:
"A few days ago, the King of Liang and the King of Lu had a dispute in Wen County, and almost came to blows over whether or not to execute Sun Luban."

He unfolded the secret report and carefully presented it to Liu Bei.

"The King of Lu advocated immediately executing the princess of Wu to deter the remaining rebels in Jiangdong."

"King Liang strongly advised against it, saying that killing those who surrendered was inauspicious, and the two drew their swords at each other in court."

"Oh? Is this happening?"

Liu Bei chuckled softly, tapping the table lightly with his fingertips.

"My two sons are nominally military supervisors, yet you've had someone keep an eye on them, my dear minister?"

Li Yi suddenly looked up, his silver beard swirling like snowy waves in the candlelight.

"Hasn't Your Majesty also sent embroidered-robed envoys to monitor the front lines?"

"They must have known about this already."

"I was merely reporting this matter as an opportunity."

He leaned forward, the wine cup swaying slightly in his palm.

"May this old minister ask Your Majesty, what is your opinion on the matter of the two princes' overstepping their bounds?"

"It's normal to be impetuous when you're young."

Liu Bei took a sip from his cup, his gaze drifting south through the window.

"Back when I first met Guan Yu and Yide in Zhuo County, didn't we often argue heatedly about military strategies?"

"But decades have passed, do you see if the affection between the three of us brothers has diminished in the slightest?"

"No, it has not!"

"It only becomes deeper."

"If this is how it is between people who are not related by blood, how could brothers fight each other and do such beastly things?"

"However, the two kings actually intend to fight each other!"

Li Yi suddenly raised his voice, causing the candlelight on the table to flicker.

"If Chen Yuanlong hadn't seized the sword in time to stop it, I'm afraid... it would have caused a great disaster."

Before he could finish speaking, Liu Bei waved his hand to cut him off:
"In the end, they didn't make a move, did they?"

He swirled his wine cup and pondered:
"The great cause of conquering Wu is not yet complete. It is better for these two men to have some ambition to win than to be mediocre and inactive."

"Didn't Prime Minister Li often say in court, 'Only when catfish compete can the turbid be cleared and the pure be promoted'?"

The hall fell silent for a moment, with only the dripping of the water clock breaking the silence.

Li Yi stared at the flickering lamplight in the wine, unsure how to answer.

Clearly, both Liu Bei and Li Yi had sent their spies to the front lines.

Therefore, the two kings actually knew about the dispute immediately.

But Li Yi was certain of one thing,

That means Liu Bei definitely knew far less information than he did.

What information is missing?

That was the time when the two kings were arguing.
King Lu once mentioned terms such as "crown prince" and "the throne".

These words are quite sensitive.

Liu Bei's spies would absolutely not dare to report these details to him.

Even Li Yi's informants only dared to reveal these contents to him in a very subtle way.

After a brief silence, Li Yi continued to ask:

"Now that Eastern Wu has been pacified, the two kings' duties as military supervisors have long since ended."

"Why doesn't Your Majesty order them to return to their respective fiefdoms?"

"Henan..."

Liu Bei sighed softly, got up and walked towards the hanging map of the world.

“Back then, Feng Li’er was in the State of Liang, and Yong’er was in the State of Lu.”

"I originally pitied their youth and their need for my care, so I left them in Henan, which is close to Luoyang."

"Now the Central Plains have recovered, and the people live in peace..."

He stroked the land south of the Yangtze River with his palm, saying, "Prime Minister Li, look."

“The land of Wu and Hui was ravaged by war, and thousands of miles of fertile fields were turned into weeds.”

Li Yi frowned and pondered:
"What is Your Majesty's intention?"

"I intend to reassign the two princes to the south of the Yangtze River."

Liu Bei's fingertips emphasize Jianye and Kuaiji.

"After my death, the Crown Prince will govern the Central Plains, while the two princes will develop the Southeast."

"The three brothers stood together, supporting the Han Dynasty—"

What does the Prime Minister think of this strategy?

The candle flame crackled.

Li Yi remained silent for a long time before finally speaking:
"When the Duke of Zhou was in charge of the government, Guan and Cai rebelled."

"Emperor Wen of Han was magnanimous, yet the Seven Kingdoms still faced their calamity."

"This old minister fears..."

He suddenly raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp, then sighed:
"I fear that His Majesty's benevolent heart may not be able to foresee the internal strife that may occur."

Liu Bei laughed heartily upon hearing this, and poured more wine for his old minister.

"Prime Minister Li is overthinking it! My sons... I..."

He suddenly fell silent halfway through his sentence.

Only the wine in the glass rippled slightly.

Liu Bei was already familiar with the example Li Yi had just given.

Liu Bei didn't take it to heart until Li Yi pointed it out again.

Upon closer examination, however, one can sense that something is amiss.

Finally, Liu Bei changed the subject, raising his cup in invitation:
"Let us drink this cup—"

"At tomorrow's court assembly, we still need Prime Minister Li to draft an edict to change the title."

Two wine cups touched lightly in the air, their clear and melodious sound lingering in the air.

A sudden autumn wind blew outside the window, carrying fallen osmanthus petals past the palace lanterns.

Liu Bei strolled past the rosewood bookshelf, his fingertips brushing against the neatly arranged spines of the books, then suddenly stopped and laughed:

“I remember when I came to the Prime Minister’s residence three years ago, I still saw half bamboo slips and half silk books.”

"Now the shelves are full of paper books. Prime Minister Li's promotion of papermaking has truly yielded remarkable results."

He pulled out a copy of "Strategies of the Warring States" and gently twirled the pages. He noticed the ink seeped through the paper without blurring, and nodded in agreement.

"The current trend of book collecting among the people has led to a drop in paper prices in Luoyang, which is now a thing of the past."

Li Yi approached with a candle, the dim yellow light rippling across the pages:

"...Your Majesty's wise judgment."

"Nowadays, all the official schools in various prefectures and counties are equipped with paper books, and the cost of books for poor students is only one or two tenths of what it used to be."

He placed the candlestick on the table, his silver beard trembling slightly with his excited breathing:

"Now that the papermaking and education initiatives are complete, this old minister dares to offer his advice—"

"The imperial examinations will be held next spring."

"Oh? Has the time truly come?"

Liu Bei suddenly turned around, his black robe sleeves stirring up a gust of wind.

“The prominent families of Yingchuan and Hongnong, such as the Xun family and the Yang family, have always been against this matter.”

Before he could finish speaking, Li Yi interrupted him with a gesture of courtesy:

"The aristocratic families' rebellion is never-ending."

"However, Your Majesty has just conquered Eastern Wu and your power extends throughout the land. It is the perfect time to take advantage of this momentum to carry out reforms."

In Li Yi's view, this would provoke a backlash from these powerful families no matter when.

It's just a matter of how intense their reaction is.

With Your Majesty's conquest of the Wu Kingdom, your prestige has reached a new high.

This is the perfect opportunity to promote the imperial examination system.

Li Yi took a list from the bookshelf and presented it to Liu Bei.

“All the talented individuals from humble backgrounds in various prefectures and counties have been recorded here, awaiting Your Majesty’s wise decision.”

The candle flame crackled and popped as Liu Bei stared intently at the flickering flame:

"I will be sixty next year, and I don't know how many more years I have left."

He gently stroked the scroll and sighed:
"I only wish to do more practical things for the people in my remaining years, so that I may have no regrets for future generations."

Saying,

But seeing Li Yi silently bowing his head, I couldn't help but smile:
“My dear minister, you often said that the rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every citizen.”

"I am still striving, how can the Prime Minister be thinking of stepping down?"

Liu Bei noticed that Li Yi wasn't very interested in the matter, so he deliberately said this to put him in a bad light.

Li Yi tilted his head back and drank the rest of the wine in his cup, then sighed:

"This old minister dares not speak of retiring, but is truly old and frail."

"Last year, I could still manage to review memorials until midnight, but now I feel dizzy and unable to keep up until 9 pm."

He pointed out the window to the duty room:

"Young officials like Zhi'er often worked through the night without losing their energy."

"This world ultimately belongs to the young."

“If we old guys don’t retire, the young people will never get a chance to rise to the top.”

Before he could finish speaking, Liu Bei suddenly asked:
"Can Zhi'er inherit your mantle?"

"The magistrate is wise and capable in governing the country."

The wrinkles around Li Yi's eyes gradually smoothed out. "Although I dare not say that I have surpassed my predecessors, I am more than capable of maintaining the status quo."

“When dealing with the Qingzhou canal transport dispute the other day, I came up with a new method of paying the canal workers with paper money.”

"This matter was handled properly, and His Majesty praised it at the time, didn't he?"

"good!"

Liu Bei clapped his hands and laughed, "It's good that you don't make mistakes."

He picked up the jade paperweight from the table and stroked it, saying, "I've been thinking about this a lot these days."

"Although Liu Shan was kind and benevolent, he ultimately needed good ministers to assist him."

"If we could have a talented young man like Zhi'er to assist us, that would be even better."

"only……"

The conversation paused abruptly here, as only the sound of the water clock could be heard.

Liu Bei stood up and stared into Li Yi's eyes.

"As I just said, I will turn sixty next year."

"I have no idea how many years are left."

"My dear minister, you say you are exhausted, but I see that you are light and healthy, and your senses are sharp."

"Ha, at least they are much stronger than me."

Speaking of which,

Liu Bei's brows furrowed even more deeply, his expression revealing a deep unease.

"The old ministers who fought alongside me to conquer the world back then have had their ambitions worn down."

"They don't want to fight anymore, they just want to enjoy the present."

"This is only human nature. Even I enjoy listening to music and hosting banquets, so I don't want to criticize them for anything."

"After all, they have sacrificed a lot for me in the first half of their lives, and this is what they deserve."

"However, the country still cannot function without them."

"My dear!"

Liu Bei suddenly turned to Li Yi and said to him earnestly:

"Do you... understand what I mean?"

……

(End of this chapter)