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

Chapter 421 A Star General Falls, the Empire Loses a Pillar

In the late winter of the fifteenth year of Zhangwu.

Luoyang city was covered in silver.

At the time, the residence of Prime Minister Chen Deng was brightly decorated and bustling with activity.

Today is Chancellor Chen's sixty-third birthday, and all the civil and military officials have come to offer their congratulations.

The banquet was filled with a dazzling array of delicacies.

Chen Deng raised his glass and looked around at the guests; he was definitely a winner in life.

He couldn't help but sigh and said to everyone:
"Gentlemen, you may know that Dengben is a magnanimous man from Xuzhou."

"It is thanks to a wise ruler that we have achieved what we have today."

"However, upon reflection, while a person's destiny depends on their own efforts, it also requires them to conform to the historical trend."

He smiled slightly, slightly tipsy, "Take Deng, for example. He was originally the Governor-General of Huainan, so why did he end up becoming the Prime Minister in Luoyang?"

"This is not something that can be fully measured by human effort."

The guests all laughed, but Li Yi noticed that Chen Deng's face was slightly pale.

When the banquet was in full swing, a servant served a plate of exquisite sashimi.

The fish fillets are as thin as cicada wings and arranged in the shape of a peony.

Chen Deng picked up his chopsticks and laughed:

"This is a specialty of Luoyang, Yellow River carp. Please, gentlemen, try some..."

The voice has not fallen,

He suddenly dropped his chopsticks, clutched his stomach with both hands, and was covered in cold sweat.

Everyone was shocked, and chaos erupted at the table.

"Send it to the doctor quickly!"

Li Yi rushed forward to help Chen Deng.

A moment later, Hua Tuo arrived in a hurry with his medicine box.

After taking the pulse for a long time, Hua Tuo's expression became solemn:
"The worms in Chen Xiang's stomach had accumulated deeply and were almost poisonous."

"This is due to the long-term consumption of raw and fishy foods."

Everyone was horrified.

But then I thought, how could Prime Minister Chen have lived to such an old age after eating raw fish for so many years?

Isn't that a miracle in itself?
Hua Tuo immediately ordered his apprentice to prepare the medicine.

Soon, two liters of dark-colored medicinal soup were served.

Chen Deng took one liter of the medicine, and a moment later drank the rest.

Suddenly, he bent over and vomited, expelling more than three liters of strange red-headed insects.

The insect's body is half fish-shaped and is still wriggling.

Everyone present was astonished, but Chen Deng suddenly felt relieved and laughed:
"The Divine Physician Yuanhua truly lives up to his reputation!"

Hua Tuo solemnly said:
"Prime Minister Chen's body is deeply infested with parasites. From now on, he must never eat raw fish again."

Chen Deng didn't take it seriously:

"I have been eating raw fish for decades, what do I have to fear?"

Many officials tried to advise him against it, but Chen Deng refused to listen.

Seeing this, Li Yi gestured for everyone to leave and sat alone by the bed.

"Brother Yuanlong,"

Lee Ik said softly, "As the Prime Minister, you are responsible for the country's future; you should take care of yourself."

Chen Deng leaned against the couch and smiled:

"Ziyu, I am over sixty years old."

"My children are successful and accomplished; I have no regrets in this life."

"If one loses the joy of life because of dietary restrictions, what difference is there between that and death?"

Li Yi remained silent, recalling when the two of them worked together in Xuzhou when they were young, and how Chen Deng had a fondness for eating raw fish.

He often said at that time:

"In this life, one should act according to one's nature."

Seeing that Li Yi remained silent, Chen Deng continued:

“In the past, Zhuangzi sang while drumming on a basin, saying that life and death are natural.”

"If I were to abandon my lifelong passions out of fear of death, wouldn't that be going against my nature?"

Li Yi sighed deeply:

"However, the world needs Brother Yuanlong."

Chen Deng looked out the window at the falling snow and said leisurely:
"The world does not belong to one person."

"The Crown Prince has begun to oversee the country, and Zhuge Liang is guarding Guanzhong, ensuring the stability of the Han Dynasty."

"Though Deng has departed, there will be successors."

Mrs. Chen, standing to the side, frowned and said sadly:

"Sir, this is a joyous occasion, I should not speak such unlucky words."

Just then, a servant came to report—

Crown Prince Liu Shan sent a birthday gift, which was a jade carp sculpture.

Chen Deng laughed loudly:

"The Crown Prince understands me!"

Seeing Li Yi's worried expression, he continued:
"Ziyu, do not worry, Deng will know what to do."

However, when the banquet resumed...

Upon seeing the sashimi, Chen Deng couldn't resist picking up his chopsticks again.

Li Yi reached out and pressed down on it, and the two looked at each other for a long time.

“The last dish,” Chen Deng said, his eyes sparkling with a mischievous light, “I’ll start fasting tomorrow.”

Li Yi finally let go, shaking his head and smiling bitterly.

He knew that his old friend's temperament was just like his way of governing the country.

He possesses both ruthless methods and an untamed spirit.

After the banquet, Hua Tuo privately said to Li Yi:

Chen Xiang's body is still poisoned by parasites; if he eats raw fish again, his life may be in danger.

Li Yi gazed at Chen Deng, who was chatting and laughing with the guests in the hall, and murmured:

Everyone has their own ambitions, and you can't force them.

That night, the snow fell even heavier, covering the bustling city of Luoyang.

Chen Deng stood under the eaves, reaching out to catch the falling snowflakes, and said to Li Yi beside him:

"Ziyu, I have no regrets in this life for having met a wise ruler and made friends with him."

Li Yi remained silent, keeping the matter deep in his heart.

He knew this founding father.

He is completing the final chapter of his life in his own way.

The next morning, as dawn broke.

As soon as Chen Dengfu got up, he felt dizzy and his stomach ached slightly.

The attendant rushed forward to help him up, but he waved him away.

"It's just that I was tired from yesterday's banquet, it's nothing."

Chen Dengqiang dressed himself, but his face was as pale as paper.

Just then, the gatekeeper came to report:
"Prime Minister Li has come to visit."

Chen Deng straightened his clothes and went to greet him in front of the hall.

Seeing Li Yi arrive with gifts, he couldn't help but smile and say:
"...Ziyu is so busy with affairs of state, how come he has found the time to visit this old man today?"

Seeing Chen Deng's unpleasant expression, Li Yi frowned and said:
Why does Brother Yuanlong look so haggard?

"Yesterday, Dr. Hua advised that rest is essential."

Chen Deng waved his hand and laughed:

"We've known each other for decades, why stand on ceremony?"

"The weather is fine today. I suddenly remembered the days when I was in Guangling, when I often went hunting with Ziyu."

"How about we follow our youthful example and go hunting in the Western Hills today?"

Li Yi initially wanted to dissuade him, but seeing Chen Deng's enthusiasm, he couldn't bear to go against his wishes and had no choice but to agree.

"Since Yuanlong has such an interest, I will gladly accompany him."

So the two ordered horses to be prepared. Chen Deng specially ordered his treasured hunting falcon "Lingxiao" to be brought out, while Li Yi brought out the northern dog "Zhuifeng".

Tai Shiheng led sixty guards to accompany and protect him, and Li Yi's second son, Li Ping, also followed with a steel fork.

It was late winter.
The snow on the western mountain has not yet melted, and the trees are sparse.

As the group traveled into the deep mountains, they saw deer and pheasants running about, and rabbits and pheasants scattering in fright.

Although Chen Deng is old, he is in high spirits.

Galloping on horseback, every arrow hits its mark.

Li Yi followed closely behind. Seeing his old friend's boldness, he couldn't help but recall the glorious years they spent working together in their youth.

The sun was high in the sky,

Just as everyone was about to rest and have a meal, a deafening tiger roar suddenly came from the forest.

Chen Deng's horse was startled, and its front hooves reared up, throwing Chen Deng off the horse.

"Protect the Prime Minister!"

Tai Shiheng hurriedly ordered his guards to form a battle formation.

Suddenly, a fierce tiger with piercing eyes and a white forehead leaped out of the forest and pounced straight at Chen Deng.

At the critical moment, Li Ping charged forward with his fork and engaged the tiger in fierce combat.

The boy was exceptionally brave, wielding the steel fork with incredible skill.

Before ten rounds had passed, he thrust his fork into the tiger's throat.

Li Yi hurriedly dismounted and helped Chen Deng up:

"How is Brother Yuanlong's injury?"

Despite the abrasion on his left arm, Chen Deng laughed loudly.

"Your son's martial arts skills are truly no less than those of Xiang Yu, the King of Chu!"

"To kill a tiger with a single spear—truly a tiger general!"

Li Yi examined Chen Deng's injuries and, seeing that they were only superficial wounds, was somewhat relieved and said:
"The courage of a mere child is not worth mentioning."

"But my elder brother is getting on in years, and such a dangerous situation should not have happened to him."

He then ordered the hunting to cease and the journey home to begin.

Li Ping bound the tiger to the horse, and Li Yi said:
"Tiger bones and tendons are both excellent tonics, perfect for nourishing Brother Yuanlong's body."

Upon returning to the Chen residence, Li Yi insisted on inviting Hua Tuo to treat him again.

Chen Deng, however, insisted on refusing:
"A minor injury, why bother the divine physician again?"

that night,

Chen Deng suddenly felt excruciating pain all over his body, as if thousands of ants were gnawing at his heart, and cold sweat soaked through his heavy clothes.

Madam Chen was greatly alarmed and hurriedly sent someone to invite the legendary physician Hua Tuo.

After taking his pulse, Hua Tuo's expression turned grave:

"Prime Minister Chen already had an internal ailment, and now he has fallen from his horse and is injured."

"When the five internal organs are damaged, the flow of qi and blood becomes disordered."

"I can only do my best."

So a prescription was written and the medicine was prepared. After Chen Deng took it, his pain was relieved.

His complexion grew increasingly ashen.

Upon hearing the news, Li Yi rushed over that very night. Seeing Chen Deng lying on his sickbed, barely clinging to life, he couldn't help but grasp his old friend's hand:

"Brother Yuanlong, you..."

Chen Dengqiang laughed:
"...Ziyu, there is no need to be sad."

"Having lived a life of great achievements, encountered a wise ruler, and made many close friends, I have no regrets."

"I only wish that Ziyu would assist the Crown Prince and continue the legacy of the Han Dynasty..."

The words were not finished.

Another wave of excruciating pain struck, and Chen Deng fainted.

Hua Tuo performed acupuncture to treat the illness, then shook his head and sighed at Li Yi:

"Chancellor Chen's illness has reached the point of no return."

The cold wind howled outside the window, and the candlelight flickered.

Li Yi stood before the bed, gazing at his old friend of decades, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He knew that the Han Dynasty was about to lose a pillar of strength.

In the Luoyang Palace, Liu Bei leaned against the dragon bed.

As Crown Prince Liu Shan reported on Chen Deng's illness, his expression grew increasingly grave.

"Father, Chancellor Chen is terminally ill."

"When I visited him today, I saw that he was barely breathing, and I fear... I fear that his days are numbered."

Liu Shan's voice choked with emotion.

Liu Bei forced himself to sit up despite his illness:

Did Prime Minister Chen make any arrangements for his affairs after his death?

Liu Shan wiped away his tears and said:
"Your subject asks who can succeed Prime Minister Chen after his death."

"Chen Xiangyan said that he could choose from Pang Shiyuan, Liu Ziyang, Xu Yuanzhi, and Zhuge Kongming."

Liu Bei sighed deeply and said to those around him:

"Prepare the carriage; I wish to personally visit the Chen residence."

The eunuch was greatly alarmed:

"Your Majesty is still unwell; how can you go out so lightly?"

Liu Bei angrily said:

"Yuanlong and I have shared joys and sorrows for thirty years."

"Now that we are about to part forever, how can I not see you again?"

Even in the dead of winter, the snow on the streets of Luoyang has not yet melted.

Liu Bei arrived at the Chen residence in a sedan chair, and Lady Chen rushed to greet him at the gate upon hearing the news.

"Your Majesty's presence is truly awe-inspiring..."

Madam Chen knelt on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

Liu Bei helped her up and asked softly:
Where is Yuan Long?

The room was filled with the smell of medicine, and Chen Deng was about to get up when he heard the sound.

But Liu Bei rushed forward and pressed him down:

"Yuanlong, do not move."

Chen Deng, unable to see, said in a trembling voice:

"Your Majesty...Why has Your Majesty come in person..."

Liu Bei gripped the old minister's hand tightly, tears streaming down his face.
"When I first started my career in Xuzhou, would I be where I am today without the devoted assistance of you, Chen family?"

"The land south of the Yangtze River owes its existence entirely to Yuanlong's efforts!"

Chen Deng's breath was weak:

"I was originally a wandering traveler, but I was fortunate enough to meet a wise ruler."

"Having assisted His Majesty in restoring the Han Dynasty three times, I have no regrets in this life..."

The emperor and his minister held hands, weeping uncontrollably.

a long time,

Seeing that Chen Deng was exhausted, Liu Bei told him to rest well.

After leaving the bedroom, Liu Bei said to Lady Chen:

"Take good care of him. If he needs any medicine, just bring it to the palace."

After seeing Liu Bei off, Lady Chen asked her husband softly:

"Would you like some porridge, my husband?"

Chen Deng shook his head:

"I only wish to see Ziyu one last time."

Li Yi was discussing matters at the Prime Minister's residence when he heard the news and immediately rode over.

Seeing that Chen Deng's eyes were cloudy, he couldn't help but feel a deep sadness.

"Brother Yuanlong, Li Yi is here."

He grasped Chen Deng's withered hand.

Chen Deng fumbled under his pillow and pulled out a small white jade bottle, which was the antibiotic that Li Yi had given him years ago:

"Does Ziyu still remember this?"

Li Yi wept:

"How could I forget? When Brother Yuanlong contracted the disease, Yi gave him this medicine."

"This item bears witness to the beginning of our friendship..."

Chen Deng placed the medicine bottle in Li Yi's hand, saying, "I shall return it now."

Li Yi suppressed his grief:

"Brother Yuanlong, is there any unfulfilled wish?"

Chen Deng took a moment to catch his breath:

"After my death, I wish to be buried in my hometown of Xuzhou."

"Furthermore..."

His voice grew weaker and weaker, “My daughter Chen Yao is married to Prince Liu Li of Yue. Although this son is His Majesty’s son, he is not the crown prince of our dynasty.”

“I know you have always advocated consolidating the Crown Prince’s position, but I still hope that in the future… you will not make things difficult for them.”

Li Yi remained silent for a long time. Although Prince Liu Li of Yue was a prince, he was still a potential threat until the crown prince fully inherited the throne.

Chen Deng seemed to sense something and gripped Li Yi's hand tightly:

"No matter what... please keep my daughter safe..."

Li Yi finally nodded:

"Brother Yuanlong, rest assured, from this day forward, Chen Yao will be like my own daughter."

“I will treat it as my own son.”

"As long as I live, I will ensure her safety."

Chen Deng's face showed a look of relief, his breath growing weaker:
"Thus...I will die without regret."

Li Yi covered Chen Deng with the brocade quilt and said softly:
"Brother Yuanlong, please rest well."

As I stepped outside, heavy snow was falling.

Li Yi looked up at the gray sky and recalled the moments he had spent working with Chen Deng.

Now that my old friend is about to pass away, the political landscape of the court is bound to undergo further changes.

He gripped the medicine bottle tightly, feeling as if it weighed a ton.

……

In Chang'an, Guanzhong, the Governor's Mansion was brightly lit with candles.

Zhuge Liang sealed the memorial he had just written and summoned his trusted confidant, Fei Yi.

"Wenwei, this memorial is of great importance and must be personally delivered to Luoyang to be presented to the Crown Prince."

Zhuge Liang's expression was solemn. "The recent movements in the court have been strange. When you arrive in Luoyang, you must secretly investigate the situation."

After Fei Yi left to carry out his orders, Zhuge Liang sat alone at his desk, his brows furrowed.

This was the third time this month that a petition had been submitted requesting an attack on the State of Wei; the previous two petitions had been ignored.

In this memorial, he detailed the recent death of Sima Yi and the internal strife within Wei.

If we miss this opportunity again, it will be too late to regret it.

Half a month later, Fei Yi returned on horseback, his face filled with worry:
"General, there has indeed been a change in the court!"

"His Majesty is seriously ill and bedridden, and Chancellor Chen also fell ill a month ago. Now the Crown Prince is in charge of the country."

“Hua Xin, Wang Lang, Yang Dao, Liu Yan and others frequently entered the palace, seemingly to discuss important matters in secret.”

Zhuge Liang paused slightly with his feather fan, and said in a deep voice:
"As expected... The Crown Prince is young, and there are many meritorious veterans in the court."

"It's no wonder that the court has rejected my petition to launch a campaign against Wei time and time again."

With the court in disarray, it naturally had no time to attend to the campaign against Wei.

Therefore, Zhuge Liang immediately summoned Lu Xun to discuss the matter.

It was already late at night.

Lu Xun arrived in a hurry and saw Zhuge Liang sitting alone in the hall, with a map of Luoyang spread out in front of him.

"Boyan, please look,"

Zhuge Liang pointed to the map and said, "Your Majesty and Chen Tong are both seriously ill at the same time, and the Crown Prince is overseeing the state."

"At this time of chaos in the court, I wish to invite Boyan back to Luoyang."

Lu Xun frowned:
"Xun was ordered to guard Guanzhong; how could he leave without an imperial edict?"

Zhuge Liang took out a document:
"Liang has already prepared a memorial requesting that Boyan be transferred back to the capital to report on his duties."

"Upon returning, we must contact senior officials such as Li Xiang and Shi Yuan to stabilize the court."

Lu Xun pondered for a moment:
“The governor’s concerns are very valid.”

"However, if Xun leaves, the defenses of Guanzhong will be in trouble..."

"Liang has his own plans."

Zhuge Liang sighed, "The opportunity to attack Wei is fleeting, but if there is a change in the court, even if we gain control of Guanzhong, it will be of no use."

The following day, Lu Xun set off with the documents.

Before his departure, Zhuge Liang secretly instructed:
"If you see Prime Minister Li, you can speak frankly about the urgent military situation in Guanzhong."

"The opportunity to attack Wei is fleeting."

"The imperial court needs to make a major decision as soon as possible."

at the same time,

Inside the Prime Minister's residence in Luoyang, Li Yi was reviewing memorials from various regions.

The flickering candlelight illuminated his increasingly haggard face.

"Prime Minister, it's past midnight, you should rest."

The old servant offered a gentle reminder.

Li Yi rubbed his temples: "There are still a few military reports left. I'll rest after I finish reading them."

Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

The Chen family steward staggered in, then collapsed to the ground and wept bitterly.
"My lord! My master... passed away at midnight!"

Li Yi's vermilion brush fell to the ground, splattering ink marks.

He stared blankly at the dark night sky outside the window, and after a long while, he let out a long sigh:
"Yuanlong...is gone..."

He got up and went to the window, recalling that he had discussed the specifics of attacking Wei with Chen Deng the day before.

Little did I know that tonight would be our final farewell.

"Prepare the car, let's go to the Chen residence."

Li Yi gave a deep order, then said to the guards, "Report to the Eastern Palace immediately, but remember not to alarm His Majesty."

White banners have been hung inside and outside the Chen residence, and cries of sorrow are incessant.

Li Yi entered the mourning hall and saw Chen Deng lying peacefully in the coffin, as if he were asleep.

Mrs. Chen wept uncontrollably and handed over a suicide note:
“This was written by my husband before his death, and he asked me to give it to the Prime Minister.”

Li Yi opened the letter and saw that it was indeed Chen Deng's handwriting. The letter briefly stated:

"A suicide note addressed to my younger brother, Li Yixian"

"Dear younger brother Yi, greetings!"

"As I grow old and bow my head, I know that my time has come."

"The candlelight flickers by the window, the smoke from the medicine stove grows cold."

"Half a lifetime of military service seems like yesterday. I only remember the time when I fought fish with my brother in Xuzhou, the night when we watched the tide in Guangling, and the autumn when we rode side by side in Huainan. Now it all seems like a distant memory."

"Alas! The bones by the Bronze Sparrow Terrace are not yet cold, but the soil beneath the Mangshan Mausoleum is already fresh."

"I write with my frail body, entrusting my heartfelt thoughts to my confidant."

“I recall that during the Jian’an era, my brother was in charge of supervising Hebei, and I first visited him on the banks of the Huai River.”

"A frost-covered blade slices through a silver carp, a celadon porcelain cup pours green wine, and my brother laughs as he points to the moon in the sky."

"When we achieve our goal, we will drink together on the summit of Kunlun Mountain."

"Afterwards, the pirates in Guangling became rampant. My virtuous brother led the warships to break through the waves and boarded the ship to help them fight."

"When arrows pierced the sails, my worthy brother shielded the way with his shield, and though his battle robe was stained with blood, he still laughed heartily."

"This scene is so vivid, like a painting on white silk, how could I possibly forget it?"

"However, life and death are preordained. Now, I am frail and emaciated. I have only three things on my mind, and I hope you will listen to my advice."

"Firstly, my daughter A Yao is quite like her mother, gentle in nature but strong in heart."

"In the past, I was granted a marriage by the Emperor to the King of Yue, which was a good match for members of the royal family."

"However, the rift between the Crown Prince and the King of Yue is deepening day by day, and if internal strife breaks out in the future."

"I hope you will remember the promise of fish sashimi in Xuzhou and the camaraderie of our comrades in Guangling, and ensure that A Yao can keep her head intact."

"Even in the netherworld, I will repay your kindness with grass."

"The two are Gan Ning and Gan Xingba, heroes of Sichuan and Chongqing."

“He was born in the Min and Emei Mountains, was well-versed in the dangerous passes of Shu, and was known for his bravery in both naval and land battles.”

"When he was in Pingjiangdong, he once raided the Wu camp with a hundred cavalrymen. He was truly a match for ten thousand men."

"But nature is like a raging fire, easily broken but difficult to bend."

"I hope my brother will be lenient towards his stubbornness and make use of his talents."

"In the campaign to conquer Shu, this man can serve as the vanguard."

"Thirdly, the current ruler of Wei, Cao Rui, is young and easily deceived, Sima Yi is deceased, there are powerful eunuchs within the court and no capable generals to support him from the outside."

"Although Shu and Wei occupy strategic locations, they are like turtles in a jar."

"My worthy brother, who holds the reins of power, should advise His Majesty to quickly rectify the situation regarding the Pixiu."

"In the north, we can send the Bingzhou cavalry out of Tongguan; in the south, we should order the Jingzhou navy to block Xiangfan."

"The day Gan Ning breaches the Jianmen Pass will be the day our dynasty is unified—"

"This unfinished ambition of Deng is now entrusted to my brothers!"

"I choked with emotion as I wrote this, when I suddenly noticed that the white silk on the table still contained the poem I wrote for the Double Ninth Festival last year. My brother's calligraphy was as vigorous as a dragon."

"The wars across the land have not yet ended; let us gaze upon the white peaks together."

"Now I'm heading to Baishan. I only hope you take good care of yourself."

"When the day comes that the captives are presented at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, do not forget to offer spring wine from Jiangnan before the tomb."

"The last stars enter the room, and the night is almost over."

"From this day forward, we are forever separated by the divide between the living and the dead. I only wish that in the next life we ​​can once again enjoy the joy of riding horses in Huainan."

"Brother Deng, this is my last words."

In his suicide note, Chen Deng reminisced about his past friendship with Li Yi.

It also mainly mentioned the hope that he could take good care of his daughter and save the Chen family.

He also specifically stated that the cause of unification should not be delayed because of his own death.

For this reason, he specifically recommended Gan Ning, the general who led the campaign against Shu.

Because he was born in Sichuan and Chongqing, he was familiar with the geography there.

Of course, Gan Ning was Chen Deng's old subordinate, and Chen Deng also wanted to take care of his old brother.

At the same time, Gan Ning had a fiery temper.

Chen Deng was very worried that after his death, Gan Ning would meet a bad end without anyone to protect him.

Therefore, before his death, he specifically entrusted Gan Ning to Li Yi.

Under the guise of recommending him to lead the campaign against Shu, the real reason was to hope that Li Yi could help look after his old comrade.

Li Yi put the letter away and said to Madam Chen:

"Please accept my deepest condolences, Sister-in-law. I will personally handle all the funeral arrangements for Brother Yuanlong."

In the early spring of the sixteenth year of Zhangwu.

The city of Luoyang was shrouded in solemnity.

this day,
It was the day of the funeral of Chen Deng, a veteran of the Han Dynasty's three restorations and the prime minister.

Before dawn, carriages and horses were already streaming in front of the Prime Minister's residence.

All the civil and military officials were dressed in plain clothes and entered in order.

White banners fluttered inside the mansion, and mournful music played softly.

In the main hall, there is a nanmu coffin with the inscription "The Spirit Tablet of Prime Minister Chen of the Han Dynasty".

Li Yi arrived first, dressed in mourning clothes, and personally supervised the funeral rites.

Seeing that everything was ready, he stood alone before the coffin, gazing at his old friend's remains, and couldn't help but shed tears:
"Brother Yuanlong, why did you leave so quickly!"

Soon,
Founding fathers such as Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, and Zhao Yun arrived one after another.

Even the usually carefree Zhang Fei had tears in his eyes, and his voice boomed like a bell:

"How could such a wise man as Chen Yuanlong have passed away so soon!"

Guan Yu stroked his beard and sighed deeply:

"Mr. Yuanlong is full of wisdom and resourcefulness, yet he is as humble as the warm sun."

"The loss of a pillar of the nation is a misfortune for the country."

Zhao Yun silently stepped forward and placed a precious sword before the spirit tablet:
"This sword was once given to me by Lord Chen, and I always wore it."

"Now that the item has been returned to its rightful owner, may you rest in peace in the afterlife."

at this time,

Many court officials, including Hua Xin, Wang Lang, and Chen Qun, also arrived one after another.

Hua Xin saw Li Yi presiding over the funeral rites and approached him, whispering:

"With Prime Minister Chen gone, the position of prime minister in the court is vacant. Prime Minister Li should make plans as soon as possible."

Li Yi coldly said:
"Today we will only discuss the funeral rites, not politics."

Suddenly, a loud shout was heard from outside the door:

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!"

Liu Shan, dressed in mourning clothes, entered the mourning hall surrounded by guards.

Everyone knelt and bowed in respect. Liu Shan went to the altar to burn incense and choked with sobs, saying:
"When the Emperor heard the tragic news of Chancellor Chen's death while he was ill, he wept uncontrollably."

"He was specially ordered to perform the sacrificial rites on my behalf, and was posthumously granted the title 'Huanxuan' and buried next to the imperial mausoleum."

Li Yi frowned upon hearing this.

According to custom, Chen Deng's last wish was to be buried in Xuzhou.

Now that His Majesty has issued this order, there is a fear that something unexpected may happen.

The only option is to come down and discuss this matter with His Majesty privately.

The sacrificial ceremony began with the Grand Master of Ceremonies reading the sacrificial text:
"In the sixteenth year of Emperor Zhangwu, the Han emperor sent Crown Prince Chan with a simple meal of wine and delicacies."

"We offer our condolences to the spirit of Prime Minister Chen... Alas, Prime Minister Chen, whose wisdom surpassed all others."

"His wisdom and talent benefited the world, his loyalty shone like the sun..."

When the reading reached the most poignant parts, the entire room was filled with sobs.

Many of Chen Deng's former students and officials below burst into tears, which made everyone even more grief-stricken.

After the ceremony, Li Yi invited the Crown Prince to a side hall for tea.

Liu Shan said worriedly:
"Prime Minister, regarding the matter of Prime Minister Chen's burial..."

Li Yi said solemnly:
"Your Highness, Chancellor Chen's last wish was to be buried in his homeland."

"If we go against their wishes, we may lose their support."

Hua Xin then offered the following advice:

"His Majesty has decreed that he be buried in the imperial mausoleum, which is an immense honor."

"Moreover, Xuzhou is far away, and I fear something unforeseen may happen."

Li Yi's attitude was very firm, and he said coldly:
"Have you not heard that the dead are of utmost importance?"

"These are Brother Yuanlong's last words, and I have already agreed."

"Do you intend to make me break my promise to my old friend?"

Hua Xin then dared not offer any further advice.

Liu Shan was moved by this and said to Li Yi:
“In that case, I will go to the palace to see the Emperor and humbly request that he rescind his decree.”

Ultimately, Liu Bei, grateful for Chen Deng's achievements and popular support, granted him permission to be buried in Xuzhou.

On the day of the funeral, the people of Luoyang lined the streets to see him off.

White banners fluttered like snow, and cries shook the heavens.

At the head of the funeral procession, Li Yi carried the rope and led the coffin, while Zhang Fei and Guan Yu supported the coffin, and Zhao Yun led the Imperial Guards to protect the procession.

As the carriage reached the outskirts of Luoyang, Li Yi watched the hearse gradually disappear into the distance and murmured:
"Brother Yuanlong, may you rest in peace..."

Let me talk about two things.

The Yue Kingdom's palace was shrouded in twilight.

Holding the urgent letter from Luoyang, Chen Yao's fingertips trembled, and tears streamed down her face.

The letter contained only a few words, yet they struck me like a thunderbolt—my father, Chen Deng, had passed away.

"Father... was not even able to see him one last time."

Chen Yao sobbed uncontrollably, her white clothes soaked with tears.

King Liu Li of Yue gently patted his wife's shoulder and back, and softly comforted her:
"...Please accept my condolences, Your Highness."

"My father-in-law is of advanced age and high moral character. He has assisted the Emperor in achieving great things in his life, and he has no regrets."

Just as the couple were weeping, they suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside the door.

Chen Tai, Zhuge Ke, and Zhuge Jun entered the inner room without being informed.

"Your Highness! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

Chen Tai's voice trembled with excitement.

"With Prime Minister Chen passing away, the Princess Consort, being his legitimate daughter, and His Highness, being his son-in-law, should rightfully return to the capital for the funeral!"

Zhuge Ke then continued:
“Our holy dynasty governs the world with filial piety. If we take this opportunity to return to the capital, it will be perfectly legitimate.”

"Absolutely no one in the court would dare to stop me!"

Liu Li hesitated and said:

"However, we are enfeoffed in the countryside and cannot return to the capital without an imperial edict."

Should we submit a memorial to request instructions first?

"Absolutely not!"

Chen Tai said urgently, "If we ask for permission first, there will surely be ministers in the court who will try to obstruct us and delay the process."

"It would be better to head straight to Luoyang and create a fait accompli."

“In the name of filial piety, even if there are violations of the rules, Your Majesty and the court will find it difficult to punish them.”

Zhuge Jun frowned:
"Isn't this too risky? What if His Majesty disapproves...?"

"His Majesty is seriously ill, and the Crown Prince is weak. If we do not act now, when will we?"

Zhuge Ke's eyes were sharp. "Our Han Dynasty has always governed the country with filial piety. It is absolutely reasonable for me to return to the capital for the funeral."

After pondering for a long time, Liu Li looked at Chen Yao, whose eyes were brimming with tears, and finally made up his mind:

"Prepare the car immediately, travel light, and set off tonight!"

That night, three carriages quietly drove out of the Yue King's Palace.

To avoid attracting attention, Liu Li only brought about twenty trusted guards.

Chen Yao, dressed in mourning clothes, tightly clutched the jade disc her father had once given her, her expression a mixture of sorrow and resolve.

……

(End of this chapter)