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

Chapter 411 If one day your brothers fight each other for control of the land, what does the Crown Prince plan to do?
Meanwhile, Zhuge Liang ordered people to spread rumors in Chengdu, saying that Sima Yi was hoarding troops and wanted to establish himself in Hanzhong.

When the news reached Chengdu, Cao Rui, the ruler of Shu, was greatly alarmed.

After careful consideration, Cao Rui finally decided to adopt Cao Xiu's "Yunmengze" plan.

Using the pretext of a military parade, he made a special trip to Hanzhong to see if Sima Yi truly harbored rebellious intentions.

If the allegations are true, then arrest them on the spot.

In the land of Hanzhong, mountains rise one after another, and the Wei army camp stretches for more than ten miles.

Sima Yi sat in the central army, his brows furrowed.

He spread out a map of Hanzhong on his desk and repeatedly stroked the Qishan area with his fingers.

"Report! His Majesty's entourage has arrived thirty li away!"

Sima Yi suddenly looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes:
"Your Majesty has come in person? What brings you here?"

Chief Secretary Qin Mi cupped his hands and said:
"Our army has been fighting abroad for a long time. Perhaps Your Majesty has come to boost morale."

At this time, the Wei army at the front was unaware that rumors were already flying everywhere in Chengdu.

Sima Yi said:

This must be because His Majesty wishes to inspect the appearance of our army.

He then summoned Deng Ai and said:
"Gather the troops, go out of the city for a military drill, and let the King see the might of our army."

Deng Ai advised:

"At this time, deploying troops in formation may increase suspicion."

Sima Yi waved his hand and said:

"My loyalty to the Wei dynasty is as clear as day."

"If we don't display our military might, it will only make us look like we're hiding something."

At this time, Cao Rui's carriage had arrived at the outskirts of Hanzhong. In the distance, he could see the Wei army's banners fluttering and its troops like a tide.

He couldn't help but change color and ask Cao Xiu:
"With Zhongda deploying so many troops, could it be that he truly intends to rebel?"

Cao Xiu stroked his beard and said:
"Your Majesty, do not worry, let me go and find out the truth."

Meanwhile, Sima Yi was directing his troops to deploy their forces when suddenly a rider came galloping towards them.

Holding a staff, it was Cao Xiu.

Why did Zhongda station his troops here?

Cao Xiu asked sternly, his eyes blazing.

Sima Yi hurriedly dismounted and bowed:

"Upon hearing of His Majesty's arrival, we have prepared our troops for inspection."

Cao Xiu sneered:

"It is widely rumored that the Prime Minister is a powerful figure with his army, and seeing this today, it is indeed true."

"If there were no rebellious intentions, why would such a show of force be necessary?"

Sima Yi immediately broke out in a cold sweat and knelt down, saying:
"General, you are wise! This is all a counter-espionage scheme by Zhuge Liang."

"Having received the nation's favor for generations, how could I dare to have any disloyal intentions?"

Cao Xiu stared at him for a long time before saying:
"In that case, you shall come with me immediately to see the King."

Upon arriving before the imperial carriage, Sima Yi prostrated himself and kowtowed:

"Your Majesty, you must not fall for Zhuge Liang's treacherous scheme!"

"My heart is as clear as the sun and moon!"

Cao Rui sat in the imperial carriage, his face grim.
"...Please rise, Prime Minister."

"I do not doubt you, but our army has just suffered a defeat and the opportunity to win has been lost."

"Moreover, I have heard that Zhuge Liang has obtained autumn harvest grain, and his provisions are plentiful. Our army has lost its opportunity."

Sima Yi said urgently:

"Your Majesty! This is nothing but Zhuge Liang bluffing!"

"I have laid a trap, and I am determined to fight Zhuge Liang to the death once again!"

A decisive battle?
Cao Rui's face was covered with a layer of frost.

"Prime Minister Sima, I'd like to ask you something."

"You've put so much effort into this, is it truly out of a desire to recover the Central Plains for the Wei dynasty, or...?"

"For the sake of your Sima family's own private grudges?"

Upon hearing this, Sima Yi immediately broke out in a cold sweat, his clothes completely soaked.

He prostrated himself on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Your Majesty..."

Sima Yi shouted a word and then kowtowed heavily to the ground.

“My entire family, young and old, was killed by the traitor Li.”

"This enmity is irreconcilable."

"However, I have been entrusted with the heavy responsibility by the late emperor, how could I betray my sovereign and surrender to the enemy, let alone hold military power for myself!"

Cao Xiu interjected:
"Does the Prime Minister intend to put His Majesty in a dangerous situation?"

"Since Your Majesty has decided to cease hostilities, then let us cease hostilities here. Why launch another northern expedition?"

Cao Rui finally said:
"My mind is made up; I will withdraw my troops immediately."

"The Prime Minister can organize the troops to retreat slowly and cover the rear of the main army."

Sima Yi was struck dumb, as if by lightning.

After a long silence, he kowtowed and said:

"Your subject...accepts the decree."

That night, the Wei army began to retreat.

Sima Yi stood at the camp gate and saw the torches of the Han army on the mountain like dragons, knowing that Zhuge Liang had already noticed the movement.

"At this moment, Zhuge Liang will surely laugh at me."

"Ugh!"

Sima Yi felt a pang of heartache and let out a long sigh.

He lamented why he couldn't find a ruler like Liu Bei who trusted Zhuge Liang so much and dared to delegate power to him.
The Cao family did not trust him, and the only one who trusted him relatively, Cao Pi, died young.

The Wei state was weak, and even though Sima Yi had many men against few, he was no match for Zhuge Liang.

Not to mention that the gap in national strength will only widen in the future.

Since the fall of Wu, Li Yi had consistently advocated for recuperation and encouraged production.

No matter how hard Sima Yi tried, how could the development of a single province compare to that of the entire country?

Moreover, domestic affairs were not Sima Yi's forte.

In contrast, the Han Dynasty had an abundance of talented individuals.

Even a genius like Li Yi has already stepped down to the second line and rarely gets involved in politics anymore.

They only intervene when faced with major national events like the Hebei disaster that shake the entire country.

"……Ugh."

Sima Yi let out another long sigh:
"...If the ruler suspects his ministers, then the ministers are in danger."

"If we can retreat with our entire army today, it will be extremely fortunate."

Thus, Sima Yi's fourth Northern Expedition ended in failure.

As suspicion continued in the court and Xiahou Shi fell from grace, Cao Shi became even more wary of Sima Yi.

It has become extremely difficult for Sima Yi to mobilize a large-scale army for a northern expedition.

……

In late spring in Kuaiji City, mist and rain shrouded the stone steps of Yuwangtai.

King Liu Li of Yue stood alone on the high platform, gazing at the magnificent scene of carriages and horses outside the palace gates, his brows furrowed in deep sorrow.

Since being granted the land of Wu and Yue two years ago, he has established himself here and started to develop his business anew.

The Yue region was not as prosperous as the Wu region; its terrain was rugged and its agriculture was underdeveloped.

There were also a large number of Yue people causing trouble.

It took Liu Li nearly two years to finally quell the rebellion of the Yue tribes.

But then, rotten wood began to grow on the imperial court—

The sons of those powerful families in Wu and Hui relied on their ancestral privileges to sit in high positions.

Half of them couldn't even fully understand the memorials.

This was also a consequence of the destruction of Wu.

Generally speaking, when a country falls, many of its high-ranking officials and veteran ministers will receive preferential treatment.

Because they have settled here and built up a network of connections.

By treating them well and reusing their talents, the Liu family's rule here can be consolidated.

Conversely, if the rule of Jiangnan is achieved through brutality, purges, and oppression.

That definitely won't last long.

Therefore, for the long-term stability of Jiangnan, both the imperial court and Liu Li's own team believed that...

They should be treated well and their former officials from the Wu Kingdom should be given important positions.

It was precisely because of the support of the locals that Liu Li was able to quell the rebellion of the Yue people in two years.

But this is not without its costs.

When people invest in your company, they are destined to receive shares.

"Your Majesty."

A clear voice came from behind, and the Minister of Personnel, Ji Yan, bowed, holding a jade tablet.

"At today's court assembly, five officials actually pronounced 'Cao Yun' as 'Cao Yun'. I request that the officials of the three departments be investigated."

Liu Li turned around and sized up this official who came from a humble background.

He was around thirty years old, his blue robe had faded from washing, but his eyes shone brightly.

"Do you know that powerful clans such as the Gu family of Wu County, the Yu family of Kuaiji, and the He family of Shanyin are deeply intertwined like ancient vines?"

Ji Yan bowed deeply and said solemnly:

"I have heard that when ancient vines entwine around trees, one does not notice at first, but even after the towering tree withers and dies, the vines remain green."

"The sons of powerful clans now fill the government offices; they will surely erode the foundation of our Yue Kingdom in the future!"

The sound of rain grew heavier, drowning out the young king's soft sigh.

On the first day of the following month, an "Imperial Inspection Order" was suddenly hung in front of the Jianzhang Hall. (Bronze)
The vermilion characters on the plaque were stark and clear:

"...All officials in the three departments must undergo three tests: policy questions, political skills, and arithmetic."

“The inferior are dismissed, and the corrupt are made into military officers.”

The case caused an uproar throughout the court.

Within ten days, more than 600 of the 700 candidates failed the exam.

The most shocking figures in Jiangnan were Gu Cheng, the eldest grandson of the Gu family, Yu Chang, the youngest son of the Yu family, and twelve other members of the Gu family lineage.

He was stripped of his official hat and sent to the camp as a military officer for accepting bribes.

"What a beautiful woman!"

Inside the study of the Gu family mansion, a silver candlestick was slammed to the ground.

Although Gu Yuan, a member of the Gu family, had been retired from officialdom for many years, his white beard trembled at this moment:

"My Gu family has been renowned in Jiangnan for a hundred years, yet we have been humiliated by this cold-blooded scoundrel!"

In the darkness of night, carriages from various mansions quietly gathered at the Yu family's villa.

More than twenty heads of powerful clans removed their usual jade pendants and threw them into a bronze basin to swear an oath:
"Without eliminating Ji Yan, the gentry of Wu and Hui will have no face to stand in court!"

On a night of torrential rain, Ji Yan was organizing files in the government office when an old servant staggered in to report:

"My lord! The chief steward of the Prince's residence has led troops to surround the house, claiming they have found evidence of your bribery..."

"absurd!"

Ji Yan pushed open the window and saw torches illuminating the rain like dragons. She laughed loudly:
"I have only three boxes of memorials hidden under my bed; you may all examine them at will!"

To everyone's surprise, the chief clerk actually took out a box of gold beads from the beam in the study.

Ji Yan's pupils suddenly contracted—

It was clearly sent by Yu Chang three days ago, but he refused it on the spot and then hid it away without anyone knowing when.

What an honest and upright official!

The chief clerk sneered and threw out the imperial edict:

"By order of the King, Ji Yan has falsely accused virtuous people and committed embezzlement and perverted the law; he shall be ordered to commit suicide."

The bronze sword clattered as it was thrown onto the table.

Ji Yan glanced in the direction of the palace, then snatched the imperial edict, unable to believe his ears.

After reading it, he found that it was indeed written by the King of Yue himself, and only then did he accept the fact.

It turns out that the King of Yue wanted to clean up the bureaucracy, but he also needed to give an explanation to the powerful clans.

This was the only way to maintain the stability of the Liu family dynasty.

Only by killing Ji Yan can this turmoil be quelled.

After reading it, Ji Yan looked up to the sky and sighed:
"Those who reformed abuses throughout history have all died for corrupt policies."

"May my blood nourish new trees!"

Having said that, he drew his sword in a resolute gesture.

The following day at court, the officials saw that Liu Li had actually mounted Ji Yan's masterpiece on a screen.

The blood-stained words are still fresh:
"I do not regret my death, but I regret that Your Majesty has the will to endure hardship but lacks the courage of Goujian."

"Today, the powerful clans of Wu and Kuaiji are coercing the emperor as if he were a child. In the future, who in Jiangdong will recognize the banners of the Liu family?"

In the deathly silence of the hall, Liu Li suddenly drew his sword and slashed off the corner of the table:
"Since you have shown your loyalty by dying for me, how can I betray you?"

"From this day forward, Chen Tai is promoted to Minister of Selection, and Zhuge Ke will be in charge of the Imperial Secretariat."

"Chancellor Zhuge Jun is in charge of supervising the assessments! Anyone who obstructs the new policies will be like this case!"

As dusk seeped through the vermilion palace walls, Liu Li returned to his bedchamber, stepping on the fallen petals on the bluestone slabs.

Today, three more officials from powerful families were dismissed.

The gazes hidden behind the official tablets in the imperial court were so cold they could freeze into frost.

"Your Majesty has worked hard."

Queen Chen Yao removed the willow catkins from his court robes and pressed her slender fingers to his temples.

She could always sense the approaching storm in the first hour, just like the earthenware jar now filled with the aroma of minced meat.

It was a deer brisket porridge that had been simmered over a low flame all day.

Liu Li closed his eyes as she massaged him, when suddenly he felt a cool sensation on his forehead—

His wife held the jade spoon to his lips.

The warm porridge went down his throat, but he tasted a hint of bitterness.
"Today, the sons and nephews of the Zhang family of Kuaiji were also dismissed. Old Master Zhang smashed his official tablet into three pieces on the spot."

Chen Yao scooped up another spoonful of porridge, her voice as soft as a silkworm eating leaves:
"I have heard that the Zhang family and the Gu family have been related by marriage for three generations."

"Your Majesty has dismissed so many high-ranking officials at once. Aren't you afraid of a united counterattack from the powerful clans of Jiangnan?"

The jade spoon suddenly tapped against the rim of the bowl, making a clear sound.

Liu Li looked out the window at the deepening twilight:

"The imperial court has recently issued three edicts to clean up official corruption, and the governor's office is keeping a close eye on the Yue Kingdom."

"If we don't express our opinion..."

He swallowed the rest of his sentence, his Adam's apple bobbing, and then began to stroke the jade pendant at his waist:
"The Yue Kingdom was already weak, and if it loses the support of the imperial court, it may not even be able to transport this year's grain tribute."

It wasn't until he actually governed the Yue Kingdom that Liu Li realized how difficult it was to develop a poor and weak country.

Especially since the Jiangnan region had only just been pacified, the imperial court was still monitoring the south.

How could Liu Li, a local vassal king, dare to go against the imperial court's policies?
His vigorous removal of the sons and daughters of local officials was aimed at consolidating his own power.

It was also a way of showing loyalty to the central government.

As for whether Liu Li is afraid of a backlash, he is not afraid at all.

They were just a little wary, after all, it was a wealthy family with hundreds of years of history.

Liu Li acted without restraint because he knew he had the imperial court as his backer.

He has "my emperor father" to back him up.

The palace lantern burst open, illuminating the phoenix hairpin in the queen's hair with a dazzling light.

She suddenly leaned close to her husband's ear:

“My father wrote to us the other day that the Ministry of Revenue has recently received 300,000 hu of salt tax from the East China Sea.”

Before he could finish speaking, Liu Li suddenly sat up straight.

The candlelight danced in his pupils as two clusters of flame:
"Father-in-law, are you serious?"

His expression immediately darkened:
"But the Prime Minister has always advocated for a balance of power in the court; how could he easily..."

"Has Your Majesty forgotten?" Chen Yao took his hand and placed it on her lower abdomen, her eyes gentle and warm like spring water.
“My father always said that when his grandson was born, he would personally bring a longevity lock specially made in Xuzhou.”

She lightly traced a line with her fingertip across her husband's palm.

"I will write a letter tomorrow, saying that all the children in Yue are hoping for my grandfather's blessings."

Liu Li was overjoyed upon hearing this, and grasped his wife's hand in return, his fingertips trembling with excitement:

"With my father-in-law's help, how can the new policies not succeed!"

"I will wait until tomorrow..."

He paused mid-sentence, staring at Ji Yan's blood-written letter on the desk in silence for a long time, finally letting out a long sigh:
"It's a pity that the blood of loyal ministers will eventually be stained with the path of power struggles."

Three months later,
The Prime Minister's special envoy arrived in Kuaiji amidst the misty rain and apricot blossoms.

They brought not only the "Excellent Evaluation of Examinations" stamped with the Phoenix Pavilion's golden seal, but also a fleet of ships fully loaded with grain seeds.

Rumors

The King of Yue, who personally greeted the king at the dock, took the grain sack and stepped barefoot into the spring mud, bowing deeply to the north.

That night at the palace banquet, Liu Li, completely drunk, held his wife's hand and murmured:

"Everyone says I benefited from the Prime Minister's influence, but they don't know..."

Chen Yao lightly covered her lips with her fingertips.

All I could see was the spring rain outside the window, gently nourishing everything and quietly soaking through the fertile fields of Jiangnan.

……

Let me talk about two things.

The summer heat was intense in the Wu Palace, and even the bayberry juice chilled in the ice chest could not quell the anger in King Liu Yong's heart.

When he finished reading the secret report from Yue, the sandalwood table was slammed shut with a deafening roar.

"What a fine Liu Li! What a fine father-in-law of the Prime Minister!"

The silk scroll was written in black ink on white paper:

Chen Deng specially approved the delivery of 300,000 hu of grain to the Yue Kingdom, extended the salt and iron monopoly for three years, and also bestowed upon them 1,000 oxen for plowing.

"What a convenient excuse for 'cleansing up official corruption'!"

Liu Yong threw the secret report down the steps and sneered at the kneeling officials in the hall:
"My younger brother has married a good queen."

"My father-in-law waved his hand, and that's enough for ten years' worth of taxes!"

A slender figure was reflected in the green jade bricks below the steps.

Chancellor Zhuge Jin picked up the secret report and examined it closely, his snow-white beard swaying slightly in the breeze:
"...Your Majesty, please calm your anger."

"I have checked the archives of the Secretariat, and all of the King of Yue's requests are in accordance with regulations—"

"The grain tribute was to make up for last year's insect plague, and the salt and iron rights were to offset the military expenses of pacifying the mountain tribes."

“Oxen were prepared for reclaiming wasteland.”

"Do you think I don't know it's compliant with regulations?"

Liu Yong abruptly interrupted, flipping over the jade cup on the table with his python-patterned wide sleeves.

"But if it weren't for Chen Deng, this father-in-law, would the process have gone so quickly?"

"Could the approval document really be written with such preferential treatment?"

He suddenly lowered his voice, like a viper flicking its tongue:
"No! I must submit a memorial impeaching them for collusion between father-in-law and son-in-law!"

Zhuge Jin suddenly bowed deeply to the ground, the ivory tablet striking the ground with a clear sound:

"Your Majesty, please reconsider! When Prime Minister Chen approved the document, he specifically summoned the Censorate to jointly examine it."

“If you impeach him, he can immediately retrieve the joint documents signed by the thirteen departments.”

Seeing Liu Yong's ashen face, the old prime minister crawled two steps on his knees:
"This old minister will speak frankly—"

"When Your Majesty conferred the title of king, Your Majesty gave you the Wu Kingdom, a land of plenty, but gave the barren land of Baiyue to the King of Yue."

"Now that the father-in-law and son-in-law are legally and legitimately seeking some subsidies, why is Your Majesty so furious?"

"...I understand everything the Prime Minister said."

"But I simply can't swallow this insult!"

Liu Yong gritted his teeth and said bitterly:
"They're both princes, so how come Liu Li is able to...?"

"What can you do?"

Zhuge Jin suddenly looked up, his gaze as cold and deep as an ancient well:
"King Yue dismissed powerful clans and reformed long-standing abuses, even spilling the blood of his confidant Ji Yan on the Yu King Terrace."

"And you, Your Majesty?"

He pointed to the music and singing along the riverbank outside the palace:

"The beautiful concubines sent by the powerful families of Wu are still waiting for you in the harem, aren't they?"

The candlelight crackled throughout the hall, casting a pale light on Liu Yong's face.

He staggered and slumped onto the throne, and after a long while, he hissed:
"But I...I am also Father's son..."

The old minister suddenly touched his forehead to the ground, his voice carrying the gentle warmth of the ancient Wu dialect, yet his words were colder than frost:
"This old minister still remembers that when the King of Yue went to his kingdom, he only took three cartloads of books with him."

"On the day Your Majesty left the capital, you took one hundred and twenty carts of treasures with you."

As soon as Zhuge Jin's footsteps disappeared at the end of the jade steps, Liu Yong smashed the jade pen holder on the table to pieces.

"You old scoundrel! How dare you speak so sympathetically to my brother!"

The trusted eunuch trembled on the ground, not daring to utter a single word when he saw the King of Wu going berserk.

"Bring me paper and a pen!"

"I will show Luoyang what true 'collusion' really means!"

When the candle wax piles up into a red mountain,
A memorial, accompanied by the incense and sealing wax from the palace, was sent by express courier to Luoyang, a journey of eight hundred li.

At this moment, the fragrance of bamboo, a new tribute from Yue, wafts through the air by the Taiye Pond in the Northern Palace of Luoyang.

Liu Bei, barefoot and with his trousers rolled up, fished with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

Li Yi was playing the zither beside him.

Apart from the four people, Liu Feng, the Wing King, quietly peeled chilled melons and fruits.

Although Liu Feng was a prince, he did not have a fiefdom.

However, Liu Feng was already very content.

He was originally from a declining family surnamed Kou, but he gained the appreciation of Liu Bei, who took him in as his adopted son.

He received this royal surname and was even granted the title of king.

That would be an immense honor.

"Father, please look!"

Liu Feng held up the honeydew melon carved into a lotus flower:
"The flesh of this melon is as red as blood. Does it remind you of the time when you swore brotherhood with your second and third uncles in the Peach Garden?"

Before the words were finished,

The Imperial Attendant arrived suddenly, staggering and kneeling as he carried a lacquer box from Jiangnan:
"The King of Wu's urgent message, delivered over 800 li!"

Liu Bei slightly lowered the fishing rod, and the carp took the opportunity to escape.

Zhang Fei's beard was all bristling:

"What a disappointment! These kids from Jiangnan, why do they always have so many problems?!"

Guan Yu slightly opened his phoenix eyes:

"Jiangnan is a matter of national importance; Your Majesty should take a look."

Liu Bei nodded, and the silk scroll was unfolded, revealing that it was indeed written by the King of Wu himself.

His familiar book briefly states:
Your subject, Liu Yong, King of Wu, respectfully reports:

"The heat of summer is at its peak, and the south of the Yangtze River is scorching."

"Whenever I tour the border regions, I see the fields cracked and the crops withered and scorched, and the people of Wuzhong look up to the sky and sigh."

They all said, "The drought demon is wreaking havoc, like being burned alive."

"I am filled with anxiety and cannot eat or sleep in peace."

"However, I recently heard that the rice fields in Yue are stretching to the horizon, and the granaries are overflowing with grain."

"It was because of King Yue's rule that the Prime Minister Chen Deng specially allocated 300,000 hu of grain and 50,000 zhu of gold."

"He also promised to provide 100 new ships for grain transport and 1,000 oxen for plowing."

"This matter has been widely discussed in Jiangnan, and whispered among the court and the public. I have no choice but to risk my life to report it."

“King Li of Yue is my younger brother, and should be a role model for the royal family.”

"However, he sent envoys to secretly visit Prime Minister Chen's residence for the seventh time. Every time it was around the first or fifteenth of the lunar month, the carriages and horses would enter through the side gate at night."

"Last year, the Yue Kingdom suffered a loss of only one-tenth of its autumn harvest, yet now it is applying for double the amount of compensation on the grounds of 'frequent disasters'."

"Although Prime Minister Chen approved the paperwork, there were many suspicious aspects to his correspondence."

“All urgent requests for relief from Yue region were sent directly to the Prime Minister’s residence via the Yue post station without being verified by the Ministry of Revenue.”

"The amount of money approved exceeded the prescribed amount by 30%, and an additional clause was attached: 'The King of Yue is specially permitted to lift the salt ban in the East Sea for three months.'"

"Such matters should be discussed and decided in court."

"To think that they would exchange gifts privately is truly heartbreaking!"

"I dare not speak ill of the prime minister, but when Chancellor Chen first took charge of the key affairs, he always considered himself to be honest and upright."

"The King of Yue obtained more than five times more than usual this time."

“Wu and Yue are originally of the same blood and branches, but now the counties in Wu are plagued by locusts and drought.”

"The roads were blocked by starving people, and the Ministry of Revenue only allocated 80,000 bushels of old grain from the Ever-Normal Granary."

"I submitted a memorial three times requesting an increase in the grain transport, but each time it was rejected by the four words 'insufficient national funds'."

"We are both of noble birth, and we both suffer from the calamity of the scorching summer."

"Such a stark difference in treatment is enough to chill the hearts of all."

"Your Majesty is wise and discerning: Chancellor Chen may be acting in accordance with old rules, while the King of Yue may have his own difficulties."

"However, it is widely rumored in Jiangnan that 'the Yue Prefecture has built twelve new ice cellars, consuming two hundred dan of ice daily to cool melons and fruits.'"

"If they were truly starving and destitute, how could they afford such extravagance?"

"I fear there may be some false reporting of the disaster situation or misappropriation of state funds."

"I humbly request Your Majesty to dispatch capable officials from the Censorate, together with competent officials from the Ministry of Revenue, to thoroughly investigate the actual situation of grain taxes in Yue and the whereabouts of relief funds."

"If what I have said is false, I am willing to accept the punishment of falsely accusing the prince."

"If there is indeed any illegality, I beg Your Majesty to consider the original intention of Emperor Gaozu in enfeoffing the princes."

"To restore order to the court and bring benefits to all under heaven."

"The people of Wuzhong eagerly await the Emperor's grace, like seedlings waiting for irrigation!"

"Tears stream down my face as I write this, humbly beseeching Your Majesty for Your Majesty's decision."

Your subject Yong bows and pays his respects twice.

"June of the thirteenth year of Zhangwu."

Liu Yong's memorial was ostensibly an impeachment of the King of Yue and Chen Deng.

In reality, he was emphasizing his own predicament by comparing the disparity in treatment between Wu and Yue.

In the article, he deliberately obscured the compliance of Chen Deng's approval of subsidies and highlighted the abnormality of the process.

They also exaggerated the King of Yue's normal expenses into extravagance.

At the end, he feigned remorse, but in reality, he was pressuring the court to release the subsidies as soon as possible.

Liu Bei's expression darkened, and he suddenly threw the silk scroll at Li Yi:

"Ziyu, take a look."

As Li Yi read the letter, his brows gradually furrowed.

After reading it, he handed the letter to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

After reading it, the two fell silent.

Liu Bei gazed at the shattered reflections in the pond and murmured:
“I remember when I conferred the title of king, Yong’er took away three hundred musicians from the Wu Palace.”

"Li'er only asked for the books and records in the Wu Palace."

After saying that, he suddenly turned around and stared at Liu Feng:

"Feng'er, tell me."

The Wing King hurriedly knelt down:

"Your subject... Your subject dares not speak presumptuously..."

"I want to hear the truth!"

Liu Bei kicked over the fish basket, and the koi fish struggled and jumped on the bluestone slab.

"They are also my sons."

"One is selling everything he owns to reform the bureaucracy, while the other is using a golden bowl to file a false complaint!"

Upon seeing this, Li Yi bowed and said:
"Your Majesty, although the King of Wu's memorial was excessive, the infighting among brothers may harm the foundation of the state."

"Kunimoto..."

Liu Bei took a deep breath, "Then I will add another foundation to his kingdom!"

As he spoke, he unfastened the jade pendant with a dragon design from his waist and handed it to Liu Feng:

"Feng'er, you shall immediately take three hundred Imperial Guards and escort the double annual allowance to Jiangnan."

"One copy is for the Yue Kingdom, and the other is an extra reward from me to the King of Wu."

"Remember to convey my words, just say:"

"I enfeoffed the two brothers in the states of Wu and Yue in the hope that they could be like lips and teeth, brothers working together with one heart."

"If one's heart is divided, how can the kingdom survive?"

“…Here you go.”

Liu Feng accepted the order and left.

The brothers asked Liu Bei if he wanted to continue playing.
Liu Bei waved his hand and said he was tired and needed to return to the palace to rest.

Let Guan Yu and Zhang Fei continue playing.

The ripples on Taiye Pond gradually subsided, and Liu Bei's figure disappeared into the depths of the winding corridor.

Zhang Fei picked up the fishing rod and threw it down again:

"Damn it! Such a wonderful gathering, and it's over already!"

Guan Yu gazed silently at the shattered moonlight reflected in the pond, then suddenly asked Li Yi:
"Would you like to come with me to the garrison headquarters to test the new crossbow?"

Li Yi bowed and took his leave.

"I came here to accompany Your Majesty, but Your Majesty is weary of me, so I should return home."

After saying this, he stood up to take his leave.

Only Guan Yu and Zhang Fei remained, forlorn in the wind.

When Li Yi, dressed in a green robe, swept across the palace steps, he did not point towards the Prime Minister's residence.

Instead, they turned east towards the brightly lit area—where the Eastern Palace was located.

Crown Prince Liu Shan was brewing tea with his concubine Zhang Xingcai when he heard that his father, the Chancellor, had suddenly arrived. He was so flustered that he almost knocked over the teapot.

The couple came out of the hall to greet them.

"...No need to make any arrangements."

Li Yi stopped the palace servants who were about to announce the start of the banquet, his gaze sweeping over the "Records of the Grand Historian: The Hereditary House of King Xiao of Liang" on the table, and suddenly said:
"This old minister just saw the memorial from Wu and Yue, and suddenly had some thoughts."

Xingcai keenly dismissed those around her and personally brought over freshly roasted Mengding tea.

Amidst the rising steam, Li Yi suddenly asked:

"If one day the princes fight over their territories, what will Your Highness do?"

Liu Shan's hand holding the tea trembled slightly:
"My brothers are all respectful, obedient, and filial; why have they come to this?"

"Take the matter of Wu and Yue for example."

Li Yi dipped his finger in tea and drew the outline of the Yangtze River on the table.

"If the King of Wu accuses the King of Yue of usurping power, the King of Yue will accuse the King of Wu of framing him."

"Both sides have their reasons, what should be done?"

The young crown prince frowned:
"An envoy will be dispatched to verify the matter, and the matter will be handled in accordance with the law."

"What if the law is difficult to judge?"

Li Yicha points out that the key point is Jianye's location:

"The King of Wu controlled the taxes of the Wu region, and the King of Yue gained the respect of the court and the people."

"At that time, it will not be a matter of right or wrong, but a struggle for interests."

A sudden clap of thunder sounded outside the palace, and a sudden summer rain pounded against the glazed tiles.

Liu Shan gazed at the gradually fading tea stains on the table, his voice weak:

"Brothers... how could we..."

"If one day, your brother does something to harm you or the country."

What will the Crown Prince do?

Li Yi stared into Liu Shan's eyes and asked in a very serious tone.

(End of this chapter)