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

Chapter 439 The Wei Kingdom is destroyed, and the world is finally unified in Liu Bei's hands.
Meanwhile, the Wei dynasty had been in a precarious situation in Shu for three generations.

自刘备克复洛阳，汉祚三兴以来。

The descendants of Cao Cao, the King of Wei, then moved to Yizhou, relying on the strategic pass of Jiange and the abundance of Bashu, and tried their best to maintain half of the country.

However, Emperor Cao Rui has been in power for more than ten years, and the powerful clans in Shu have outwardly obeyed but inwardly defied him, while the various tribes in the south have sometimes rebelled and sometimes submitted to him.

With no pillar of the court like Sima Zhongda, the empire was already showing signs of decline.

On this day, the north wind whipped up freezing rain and lashed the Chengdu palace. King Cao Rui of Wei sat alone in a side hall, lost in thought as he stared at a volume of "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu.

Li Xiang of Qi highly praised this military book, so Cao Rui also studied it frequently.

He wanted to know what was so mysterious about this book.

By studying it carefully, can I change my current downward trend?

Suddenly, a commotion of footsteps was heard outside the palace. The Grand Master of Ceremonies, without having announced the arrival, stumbled inside, fell to the ground, and wept as he reported:
"Your Majesty!... General Cao Yu has died in battle. He... he died for his country last night!"

……

After a heated discussion.

Just then, the faint sounds of people wailing could be heard outside the palace.

Cao Rui ordered his men to go out of the palace to investigate. He saw that the people of the city, young and old, were rushing south with their valuables, their cries echoing through the sky.

The scout turned back, knelt down, and reported:
"Your Majesty, chaos has broken out in the city. The people are saying that the Qi army will enter the city soon."

"At this moment, all four gates are blocked, and refugees are trampling each other..."

Cao Rui's face was ashen, and he cried out repeatedly:
"Summon civil and military officials immediately! Summon civil and military officials immediately!"

Shortly afterward, a large number of officials and dignitaries gathered at Deyang Palace.

The Minister of the Imperial Secretariat was the first to step forward and offer his advice:
"Currently, Chengdu has less than 10,000 soldiers, and only a few generals remain, including Yue Jin's son, Yue Mao."

"To attempt to confront the enemy would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock."

"We have discussed and decided that it would be better to temporarily abandon Chengdu and flee south to the seven prefectures."

"The mountains there are high and the forests are dense. We can also borrow troops from the various tribes in the south. It will not be too late to reorganize our army and fight again in the future."

As soon as he finished speaking, a gaunt old minister stepped out from below the steps.

Grand Master of Ceremonies Qiao Zhou held an ivory tablet, his voice booming like a bell.
"Absurd! The southern barbarians have long rebelled, and in the past, they were only able to maintain peace thanks to Prime Minister Sima Yi's swift and decisive actions."

"If we go now, it will be like a lamb entering a tiger's den!"

"Moreover, barbarians value profit over righteousness; how could they possibly serve me?"

Grand Master of Ceremonies Du Xi hurriedly said:

"Since that's the case, why not go west to the Kingdom of Ba?"

"The Cong people are brave and their terrain is extremely dangerous. Emperor Gaozu once relied on their strength to conquer the world..."

"That's utterly absurd!"

Qiao Zhou's hair and beard bristled. "Since ancient times, has there ever been a master who lived under someone else's roof?"

"I predict that the Han dynasty is at its zenith today and will surely conquer Ba and Shu."

"If we first submit to Ba, and then surrender to the Han Dynasty after Ba is destroyed, wouldn't we suffer double humiliation?"

"It would be better to surrender directly to the Han Emperor."

“……刘玄德仁德布于四海，老臣更听闻其晚年愈发重视感情，相当仁厚。”

"If Your Majesty seals the treasury at this time and surrenders the entire population of Chengdu to the Han, they will surely treat Your Majesty generously."

"In this way, we can protect the ancestral temples above and safeguard the common people below. I urge Your Majesty to consider this carefully!"

Cao Rui remained silent, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials below the steps.

However, many people, though dressed in Wei official robes, had shifty eyes.

He knew that these gentry from Shu had long harbored rebellious intentions, so he suppressed his panic and said with a flick of his sleeve:

“容寡人三思。”

退入后殿，惟见心腹大臣赵俨候在灯影里。

This veteran official, who served under three emperors—Cao Cao, Cao Pi, and Cao Rui—removed his crown and wore only a plain robe.

"Does Bo Ran know about what happened in the front hall?"

Cao Rui slumped down on the folding chair.

Zhao Yan slowly poured the tea:

"What the Grand Physician Qiao said is indeed a wise and experienced way of governing the country."

"What? Even you..."

Cao Rui suddenly clenched his sleeves. "When Prince Zhuang entered Shu, he made a three-point agreement with the local powerful clans."

"Protect their land and houses, grant them official positions, and forge alliances with their relatives by marriage."

"Decades of painstaking efforts have resulted in this day of betrayal and alienation?"

Zhao Yan gave a wry smile:
“大王可知，三日前成都尹张肃之子张表，已秘密会见汉使？”

"Chen Zhi, Pei Yue, and other former Shu youths had long been secretly communicating with Luoyang."

“These people can offer the king’s head to Liu Yong at any time in exchange for titles and rewards from the new dynasty.”

烛火噼啪作响，映得曹叡面容明暗不定。

He suddenly recalled the sight of the soldiers guarding the city who were starving when he inspected the military camp a month ago.

He also recalled the devastating drought of last year, when powerful families hoarded grain, leading to widespread starvation.

He sighed deeply after a long while.

"This land of Sichuan is ultimately not the land of the Cao family..."

"For many years, the Cao family has always lived here temporarily."

"Your Majesty is wise."

Zhao Yan stepped closer and whispered, "If we surrender now, we can still preserve the Cao family bloodline."

"If we wait until the city falls, we risk repeating the tragedy of Xiang Yu at Gaixia."

Cao Rui walked to the window and saw flickering lights outside the palace walls, and could faintly hear shouts of "Open the city gates early!"

As he turned away, tears streamed down his face.

"It is not that I am afraid of death, but I cannot bear to see the soldiers and civilians of Chengdu make any more unnecessary sacrifices."

"But... the legacy of my grandfather, King Zhuang, and my father, King Wen, spanning three generations, has come to an end with Rui's hand..."

"Does Your Majesty know how Liu Bei treated Sun Quan's descendants when the Kingdom of Wu was destroyed?"

Zhao Yan said softly, "They will all be granted titles and residences, ensuring their prosperity and honor."

"This is because the restoration of the Han dynasty three times was precisely to demonstrate to the world its benevolence and leniency."

As the night was drawing to a close, Cao Rui finally took out a piece of silk and personally wrote a letter of surrender.

Once the ink had dried, he summoned Qiao Zhou:
"Please make a trip, Dr. Lao, and send this scroll and the maps and books of Shu to the Han camp."

On the first day of the twelfth lunar month, the frost was heavy and the fog was thick.

成都北门外十里长亭，曹叡素服白马。

He led his son Cao Yin and more than sixty civil and military officials, all with their hands bound behind their backs, and were carried in a coffin.

The coffin, made of thorny wood, was rough and simple, a symbol of the repentance of a fallen monarch in ancient times.

At 3:45 AM, the Han army arrived in force.

A black-clad general emerged from beneath the central army's banner, his armor gleaming in the sunlight and his banners obscuring the sky.

Wearing a golden helmet and purple robe, he was none other than Liu Yong, the second son of Liu Bei and the King of Wu.

He hurried forward, personally untied Cao Rui from his bonds, and then ordered the coffin to be burned.

"King Wei is a man of great righteousness, who saved the people of Shu from the ravages of war. This is a great merit."

Liu Yong, holding Cao Rui's hand, rode together in the royal carriage and said gently:
"His Majesty has already issued a clear edict in Luoyang that if the Prince of Wei is willing to surrender, he will be treated with great courtesy."

Liu Yong's face remained calm, but he was inwardly overjoyed.

Because he made the right bet, Chengdu had truly lost the hearts and minds of the people, and no one was willing to help the Cao family anymore.

Although Cao Rui was unwilling to surrender, he could not withstand the betrayal and alienation of the Cao family.

Almost all the courageous people of Wei had died on the battlefield.

The rest are all sycophants and opportunists who abandon morality for personal gain.

When the imperial carriage entered the city, the entire city's residents lined the streets and knelt to welcome it.

An elderly man, in his eighties, wept and cried out:
"After forty years of chaos and turmoil, the banners of the Han dynasty are finally seen!"

Upon hearing this in his carriage, Cao Rui closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

"It turns out that the will of the people is predetermined by fate."

Meanwhile, the Han army was taking inventory of the treasury:
They received 480,000 bushels of grain, 2,000 catties each of gold and silver, and 200,000 bolts of Shu brocade.

Liu Yong, clad in golden armor and riding a white horse, received the jade disc when he suddenly noticed an ancient cypress tree by the roadside breaking without wind, and his heart stirred slightly.

He then took Cao Rui's hand and sighed:
"The fall of the Wei Kingdom had nothing to do with Yuan Zhong; it was simply due to the vast difference in national strength between the two countries."

Therefore, Liu Yong appointed Cao Rui as General of the Cavalry and granted him a residence on the site of the former North Palace.

Then, on one hand, he sent people to subdue Deng Ai of Jiange, and on the other hand, he sent people to Luoyang to report the victory.

Let me talk about two things.

Han banners fluttered in the wind atop the city walls of Mianzhu.

Jiang Wei was supervising the manufacture of repeating crossbows when he suddenly saw Mi Wei stagger into the military tent.

The soldier, not even bothering to wipe the sweat from his brow, gripped the edge of the table and said urgently:

"General, you have been reorganizing in Mianzhu for more than ten days. Chengdu is just around the corner. Why are you still holding back your troops?"

"This humble general has just received a message by carrier pigeon. His Highness the King of Wu accepted Cao Rui's surrender yesterday and is currently in Chengdu to reward those who have rendered meritorious service!"

He took out a scroll of silk from his bosom and handed it to Jiang Wei, panting.

"Look, this is a copy of the edict to pacify the people, made by spies in Chengdu. It's stamped with the golden seal of the King of Wu!"

帐中诸将闻言皆变色。

廖化忍不住以拳击柱，震得铠甲铿然作响：

"Since the tunnel was built through Yinping, our army has suffered more than 10,000 casualties."

"Now that all the credit has been taken by others, won't that chill the hearts of the soldiers?"

Amidst the generals' discussions, Jiang Wei slowly unfurled the map, pausing for a long time as his fingertip traced the Fushui Pass.

"Please be patient, everyone."

Jiang Wei pondered for a long time before slowly beginning to explain.

He took out a faded brocade pouch from his bosom. "On the eve of the expedition, Prime Minister Zhuge gave me a brocade pouch."

"Now that Chengdu is about to fall, after conquering Mianzhu, I opened the brocade pouch that the Prime Minister gave me."

Everyone hurriedly asked what was written in the brocade pouch.
Jiang Wei calmly placed the brocade pouch on the table, unfolding the silk fabric.

The four characters “temporarily suspend the advance” were written in ink as if they had been cleaved by a knife and axe.

Everyone stared at the four large characters written on the brocade pouch, exchanging bewildered glances, at a loss for words.

Jiang Wei surveyed his generals, his voice growing deeper:

灭蜀之功震主，蜀道之险割据。”

"Do you gentlemen remember when Emperor Gaozu feigned a tour of Yunmeng?"

Seeing that Liao Hua seemed to be deep in thought, he continued:
"Our army outnumbers Wei's by several times; taking Shu will be as easy as turning one's hand."

"Even so, the imperial court still dispatched Zhang He to lead a large army to garrison Hanzhong. Can't you all see the deeper meaning behind this?"

Everyone looked at each other, speechless.

Everyone tacitly understood that the imperial court's deployment of so many troops in Hanzhong was definitely not intended to deal with the Wei army.

Rather, it was to prevent anyone from entering Sichuan and, taking advantage of the natural defenses of the mountains and rivers, establishing a separatist regime there.

"General, are you saying... that the imperial court fears the generals who will conquer Shu might seize strategic locations and establish their own independent regime?"

Liao Hua couldn't help but ask a question.

"Exactly."

Jiang Wei didn't mince words and nodded, saying:

"General Zhang He was a founding father, utterly loyal to the Han Dynasty, and a former protégé and official of Prime Minister Li."
“The court sent him here ostensibly to provide support, but in reality, he was to supervise the army.”

"If our army enters Chengdu first, even if our loyalty is proven, we will inevitably be suspected by others."

Mi Wei said urgently:

"If that's the case, why did the general tacitly allow the King of Wu to accept Cao Rui's surrender? Could it be..."

Jiang Wei's gaze was profound:

"The King of Wu and the King of Yue have been making many unusual moves lately."

"The reason why the King of Wu made a surprise advance with light cavalry and entered Chengdu before our army is quite intriguing."

"The Prime Minister wants me to temporarily avoid the limelight, precisely so that we can see the bigger picture."

"May I ask, General?" Mi Wei lowered his voice, "what exactly does 'above' refer to?"

Jiang Wei shook his head:

"...This is beyond our control."

“当务之急，是尽快收降剑阁邓艾。”

"Send an order to send an eloquent and persuasive person to deliver my letter to Deng Ai."

After the generals left the main tent, Jiang Wei sat alone by the candlelight and took out the brocade pouch to examine it closely.

Below the words "temporarily suspend advance," there is a line of very small text:

When the stars shift and the constellations change, the time will come.

Just then, a guard came to report:
"The imperial envoy from Luoyang has arrived, already thirty li away."

姜维整衣出迎，心中暗忖：这场大戏，才刚刚开始……

In the depths of winter, Jiange is shrouded in mist and clouds between its cliffs.

Deng Ai stood on the city wall, gazing at the rolling mountains to the north, the military report in his hand crumpled and wrinkled.

"Father, Miwei has been waiting at the pass for a long time."

Deputy General Deng Zhong reported in a low voice.

Deng Ai slowly turned around, his eyes bloodshot:
"Chengdu...has it really dropped?"

"Absolutely certain."

"Cao Rui has been appointed General of the Cavalry, and all civil and military officials have received their titles and rewards."

An uproar erupted in the camp. The generals exchanged bewildered glances, some already unable to contain themselves.
"General! What should we do?"

Deng Ai remained silent for a long time, then sneered:
“Jiang Wei sent envoys to persuade us to surrender, which gave us an opportunity.”

He looked around at his generals and said, "Do you know that although Chengdu has surrendered, there are already undercurrents within the Han court?"

He walked to the map and pointed emphatically at the location of Mianzhu:
"Jiang Wei secretly crossed Yinping, narrowly escaping death, and should have been the first to enter Chengdu."

"Why was Liu Yong able to get there first? There must be something fishy about it."

Deng Zhong asked in confusion:
"What Father means is..."

"Liu Yong, being a son born out of wedlock, has always longed to prove himself."

"Now that he has taken Chengdu before Jiang Wei, he must be very pleased with himself."

Deng Ai's eyes gleamed. "If we side with Jiang Wei, it will only be adding insult to injury."

"If we join Liu Yong, it will be like sending charcoal in snowy weather."

While the generals were still hesitating, Deng Ai had made up his mind and gave the order:

"Pass down the order: reject Jiang Wei's offer to surrender."

“全军整装，奔赴成都！”

at the same time,

Inside the Wu Prince's Mansion in Chengdu, Liu Yongzheng was enraged:

"Well done, Jiang Boyue! You dare to persuade Deng Ai to surrender before I can!"

"Chengdu was clearly captured by me, how dare he accept the surrender of Deng Ai's army!"

Just as Deng Ai had predicted, Liu Yong was eager to prove himself.

The success of Liu Yong's campaign to subdue Cao Rui made him extremely complacent.

He wanted to take Deng Ai's army and horses into custody in one fell swoop.

After all, his two greatest achievements after entering Sichuan were only two.

One was to accept the surrender of Cao Rui, and the other was to accept the surrender of Deng Ai.

The former was the ruler of Shu, which had strong political significance.

The latter, however, commands a large army and holds significant military importance.

Human nature is inherently greedy, and Liu Yong was no exception.

Zhang Jun hurriedly advised:
"Your Highness, please calm your anger. It is still unknown whether Deng Ai will surrender..."

Just then, the scout rushed inside:
"Report——"

"Deng Ai led his entire 20,000-strong army straight toward Chengdu."

“已到城外五十里处！”

Upon hearing this, Liu Yong was both surprised and delighted, and hurriedly led his civil and military officials out of the city to welcome them.

Deng Ai's army was disciplined and arrayed like clouds outside the city.

Deng Ai himself removed his armor and donned white robes, kneeling in the roadside and weeping in worship:
"I have heard that since Your Majesty began your military campaigns in Jiangnan, your plans have been flawless."

"The prosperity of the Liu family is all due to Your Majesty's efforts! Therefore, I willingly submit."

"If someone like Jiang Boyue is to fight to the death, why would he surrender?"

These words struck a chord with Liu Yong.

He had been neglected since childhood because of his status as an illegitimate child, and now that he heard Deng Ai praising him so highly, he couldn't help but show his delight.

Liu Yong personally helped Deng Ai up, patted him on the shoulder, and said happily:
"With the general joining us, we will be like a tiger with wings!"

That night, a grand banquet was held at the Wu King's Palace.

After several rounds of drinks, Liu Yong, his eyes blurry with drunkenness, pointed at the assembled officials:

You are fortunate to have met me; that is why you are where you are today.

"If they encounter him, they will all be annihilated."

All the officials rose to express their gratitude, but Deng Ai alone quietly reminded them:
"Your Majesty, Jiang Wei wants to recruit me into his service; his intentions are despicable."

“如今他在涪城按兵不动，恐有异志，大王宜早做准备。”

Liu Yong nodded in agreement, and the next day he wrote a letter and sent it to Luoyang, in which he tried his best to emphasize Jiang Wei's intention to "hold back his troops and wait and see".

This implies that he harbors rebellious intentions.

If Jiang Wei is eliminated, then the credit for conquering Shu will be his.

有了灭蜀之功，自己的威望也肯定能够水涨船高。

Even the old ministers in the court have to think twice.

The letter arrived in Luoyang just as the first heavy snowfall of the deep winter began.

Crown Prince Liu Shan unfolded the memorial sent by Liu Yong in the Eastern Palace. The memorial briefly stated:

Your subject Yong bows deeply and respectfully reports to Your Majesty the Emperor:

“臣以樗栎之材，荷戟前驱，受钺西征。”

"The previous secret edict regarding the strategy for Yinping was to follow the example of Huaiyin."

“He led his men, who were willing to die, wrapped in felt and suspended by ropes, to carve a path along the cliff, traveling more than 700 li by day and night.”

"At that time, the autumn rains were torrential, and the cliffs were slippery with moss. Two or three out of ten soldiers fell into the ravine."

"I personally carried my spear and crossbow, braved the blades, and finally broke through the natural barrier of Yinping, striking straight into the heart of northern Sichuan."

"On the day of Gengxu in the ninth month, my troops arrived at the old pass of Jiangyou, where Wei general Cao Zhang led an army of 30,000 to provide reinforcements."

“I personally took the drumstick and ordered the soldiers to display many flags as a feint, while I led eight hundred elite soldiers to ambush at Motian Ridge.”

"When half of their army had passed, a sudden attack was launched with a crossbow, and a stray arrow pierced Cao Zhang's left eye."

“His son Cao Kai rushed to his rescue, but I charged into the enemy lines and killed him. I then beheaded him and hung his head at the gate of the camp.”

"When the Wei army saw that their commander had died, their formation was thrown into chaos."

“臣乘势掩杀，斩首万余级，获铠仗辎重如山。”

"The battle was so fierce that the river turned red and the north wind howled."

"On the day of Bingyin in the tenth month, I heard that Cao Ju had gathered his remaining troops in Mianzhu, so I rushed to attack him day and night."

“They relied on the high walls and deep moats, so I ordered my soldiers to carry soil to fill the moats, and I personally drew a strong bow to shoot and kill the commander on the city tower.”

“When lightning and fire strike, I will seize the opportunity to be the first to ascend the tower and personally kill Cao Ju on the enemy tower.”

"The deaths of members of the Wei imperial family at my hands are truly due to the divine power of my father, and the mandate of heaven for the Han dynasty has been bestowed upon us."

"However, there was General Jiang Wei, who commanded 30,000 troops and was stationed in Fucheng, which was no more than a hundred miles from Mianzhu."

"I sent six urgent proclamations requesting reinforcements, but they used the excuse of 'reorganizing military preparations' to sit back and watch the outcome." "When I recaptured Mianzhu, they slowly approached and even tried to divide their troops to guard strategic locations, preventing me from heading south to Chengdu."

"Judging from his intentions, it seems that he wants to follow the example of Han Xin requesting to be enfeoffed as the King of Qi. This is indeed a hidden worry for the country."

“臣既破竹乘胜，遂率锐卒直趋成都。”

"At that time, Cao Rui, the ruler of Wei, knew that his time was up, so he knelt down and presented the imperial edict in white robes and a coffin."

"I believe that Shu has just been annexed and the people are not yet at ease. If we hastily kill the surrendered ruler, I fear it will cause unforeseen changes."

Therefore, he was temporarily granted the nominal title of General of the Cavalry to stabilize the situation.

“此诚如当年高祖封雍齿之义，非敢专擅也。”

"The treasury in Chengdu is now completely sealed, and the palaces are unharmed."

“臣已分兵镇守剑阁、葭萌诸关，更收编魏卒精壮者万人充为前部。”

"However, Jiang Wei's troops still occupy the strategic point of Fucheng. I have repeatedly summoned him but he has not come. I fear he may have other plans."

"I humbly beg Your Majesty to quickly send a senior official to take over the administration of Shu and issue a decree to urge Wei to relinquish his military power, so as to avoid internal strife."

“I am naturally dull-witted, but whenever I think of my father’s kindness in teaching me, I often weep and swear an oath.”

"Today, thanks to the might of Heaven, we have defeated powerful enemies one after another. Even if we were to die a thousand deaths, it would still be insufficient to repay Your Majesty."

"All the merits and deeds of the war are listed in a separate book, and I humbly submit them for Your Majesty's consideration."

"Your subject is filled with trepidation and humility, and bows his head repeatedly."

Liu Yong's memorial to the throne was entirely an exaggeration of his own military achievements.

And it deliberately downplays several important battles commanded by Jiang Wei.

Instead, it emphasizes that after capturing Mianzhu, Jiang Wei remained inactive and refused to send troops to Chengdu.

Liu Yong made a big deal out of this matter, implying that Jiang Wei might have rebellious intentions.

欲效韩信请封齐王之故事，所以才逡巡不前。

不过，刘永忽略了一件事。

That is, Liu Bei's health has been very poor for the past two years.

Many memorials submitted domestically, especially important military reports like Liu Yong's, were reviewed and approved by Liu Shan, who was then serving as regent.

Therefore, Liu Yong's memorial impeaching Jiang Wei naturally did not reach Liu Bei, but instead fell into the hands of Liu Shan.

After reading the memorial, Liu Shan looked at his close attendant Zhou Tai with a puzzled expression and said:
"General Jiang is extremely loyal, and my second brother's words are probably biased."

Zhou Tai bowed and said:
"For such matters of national importance, Your Highness should request His Majesty's wise decision."

However, when Liu Shan arrived at Liu Bei's palace, he was stopped at the door by the attendants:

"The Imperial Physician has instructed that His Majesty needs to rest. Your Highness, please return."

刘禅犹豫片刻，只得转道丞相府。

Li Yi was reviewing memorials when he saw the Crown Prince arrive, and he hurriedly got up to greet him.

"Please take a look, Your Excellency," Liu Shan handed over the memorial, "I really can't understand this letter from my second brother."

After carefully reading it, Li Yi pondered and said:

"Your Highness need not worry, this matter can be handled by this old minister."

Liu Shan immediately beamed with joy:

"With the Prime Minister here, I can rest easy!"

After saying that, he excitedly went to find his friend to play football.

After the Crown Prince left, Li Yi immediately summoned his third son, Li An:

“Take my letter and send it to Hanzhong by express courier, which will take you eight hundred li away.”

"It must be personally delivered to Prime Minister Zhuge."

Ang Lee asked in confusion:
"Father, now that Shu has been pacified, why bother Prime Minister Zhuge?"

Li Yi's gaze was deep:

"It is easy to subdue Cao Rui, but difficult to pacify the Shu region."

"The current system of meritorious service in our military is already solidified; it's time to make a change."

"Is Father going to use this opportunity...to reorganize the military meritocracy?"

Ang Lee seemed to have grasped something.

Li Yi stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the snowy scene outside:
"You don't need to ask any more questions, just go and come back quickly."

Just as Ang Lee set off overnight, the situation in Chengdu was changing rapidly.

Liu Yong adopted Deng Ai's suggestion and appointed his strategist Liu Ji as the governor of Yizhou.

He then lavishly bestowed titles upon his cronies and built a magnificent "Dingding Terrace" in the south of the city, where he hosted banquets for officials from Sichuan every day.

At the banquet that day, Liu Yong, flushed with wine, said in front of all the officials:

“When our father was alive, he often praised my elder brother for his benevolence.”

"Now it seems that if I had not pacified Western Shu, when would the Han Dynasty have been able to unify the country?"

座中诸臣皆变色，这等言论已近僭越。

Deng Ai seized the opportunity to offer his advice:

"Your Majesty's achievements are unparalleled, and you should be promoted even further."

"Now that Jiang Wei has stationed his troops in Fucheng, there is a risk of unforeseen events. It would be better to strike first."

"What brilliant plan does the general have?"

Liu Yong asked, his eyes blurry with drunkenness.

Deng Ai lowered his voice:

"Zhang Jun can be ordered to lead his troops north, under the pretext of assisting in the defense, to take over the defense of Fucheng."

"If Jiang Wei disobeys orders, it will be concrete evidence of treason."

Liu Yong was overjoyed and immediately ordered Zhang Jun to muster his troops and march north that very day.

When the news reached Fucheng, Jiang Wei was discussing matters with his generals.

Liao Hua slammed his fist on the table and stood up:

"Liu Yong is trying to seize our military power!"

Miwei was even more furious:

"While we fought valiantly, they indulged in debauchery in Chengdu!"

"Now you want to steal credit? Where is justice?!"

Jiang Wei remained silent for a long time, then suddenly asked:
"Any news from Luoyang?"

There is still no news.

Mi Wei replied, "However, I heard that Prime Minister Li sent his son Li An to Hanzhong, presumably to see Prime Minister Zhuge."

A flash of understanding crossed Jiang Wei's eyes:
“传令三军，明日拔营，移师梓潼。”

"Is the general going to back down?"

The generals were puzzled.

"It is not a retreat, but a strategic retreat to advance."

Jiang Wei said meaningfully, "The more aggressive Liu Yong is, the faster he will bring about his own destruction."

……

Let me talk about two things.

At the forefront of the army, Zhuge Liang stood alone on the city tower.

Gazing at the winding plank road in the distance, he gently waved his feather fan, but could not dispel the deep worry between his brows.

Twenty years have passed since Your Majesty revived the Han Dynasty three times, and now, undercurrents are surging within Luoyang, making this victory in the south of Shu seem all the more fragile.

"Prime Minister, Li An has arrived with a letter."

The guards reported in a low voice.

Kongming turned around and saw the travel-worn messenger kneeling and presenting a brocade pouch.

Upon opening it, it turned out to be a handwritten note from the late Prime Minister Li Yi.

The letter may be short, but every word carries immense weight:

"Although the Han dynasty was restored, internal strife arose."

"The King of Wu formed a faction, while the King of Yue cultivated retainers."

"Now that Jiang Wei has retreated to Zitong, it is advisable to send Zhi'er to assist him."

"Wei Yan is usable, but he needs to be checked and balanced. This is crucial."

Kongming remained silent for a long time before handing the letter to Li Zhi, a young military advisor standing to the side.

这年轻人虽然年纪不大，但眉目间却已有其父李翊的沉稳气度。

After reading it, Li Zhi's expression changed slightly, and he bowed and said:
"Prime Minister, my father's intention is for me to first serve in General Jiang Wei's army."

Kongming nodded:

"Since the old prime minister has given such instructions, young master, you may proceed."

“那丞相这里……”

Li Zhi hesitated slightly.

Kongming gazed at the distant, mist-shrouded mountains:
"Please don't worry, my lord, I have a plan."

"Now that the Prime Minister has made his decision, you should hurry to Zitong."

After seeing Li Zhi off, Kongming immediately ordered his personal guards to summon Wei Yan.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Wei Yan strode up to the city wall, his iron armor clanging loudly.

He cupped his hands in greeting from afar and said:
"What business does the Prime Minister have summoned me for?"

His voice was loud, yet carried a hint of suppressed dissatisfaction.

Kongming did not rush to respond, but waited until he approached before slowly saying:

Wen Chang, I know you still resent that I entrusted Jiang Wei with your plan to secretly cross Yinping.

Wei Yan was taken aback, not expecting the Prime Minister to be so blunt, and could only reply stiffly:
"The general will not dare."

"Your advice was helpful; how could I not know?"

Kongming lightly tapped the map with his feather fan, "However, Yinping is treacherous and cannot be traversed by anyone but someone as familiar with the terrain as Boyue."

“我也知你立功心切，如今就有一功交给你，若你能成功，将来自有你升腾的机会。”

魏延眼中闪过精光，忙问：
"I wonder what post the Prime Minister intends to assign?"

Kongming pointed in the direction of Zitong:

"Although the Shu region is now pacified, there are still three military forces in Shu."

"The troops of King Liu Yong of Wu, the former troops of Deng Ai of Wei, and the vanguard troops of Jiang Wei."

"My main force still has 100,000 troops, plus General Zhang He's 50,000 troops, totaling 150,000."

“我欲分兵两万与你，前去梓潼驻扎，观察局势，随时待命。”

Wei Yan's eyes darted around, then he suddenly lowered his voice:
"Is the Prime Minister making this arrangement because he is worried that these three armies in Shu may harbor rebellious intentions?"

Kongming nodded slightly:

"...to prevent problems before they occur."

"The King of Wu is Your Majesty's second son, and he has a history of making disloyal remarks."

"Last year, he was impeached by officials in Jiangnan, who said that the King of Wu had connections with the remnants of Sun Wu who had fled overseas."

"Even selling weapons and provisions overseas, all of which were done by the King of Wu taking advantage of the foreign trade arrangements made by the old prime minister."

"But no matter what, the King of Wu's current practice of granting fiefdoms in Chengdu is a serious violation of regulations."

"Although Deng Ai's former subordinates have surrendered, their intentions are difficult to fathom."

"Jiang Wei's loyalty is evident, but many of his soldiers are newly recruited."

"Your mission is ostensibly to assist in defense, but in reality, it is to monitor."

"Only when the imperial court's appeasement policies are implemented will the Shu region be truly pacified."

"Your contribution at that time will be no less than Jiang Wei's sneak crossing of Yinping."

Wei Yan was overjoyed and knelt on one knee:
"This humble general will certainly live up to the Prime Minister's trust!"

After Wei Yan had gone far away, an old general with white hair appeared from around the corner of the city wall. It was none other than General Zhang He, the Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry.

He stroked his long, gray beard and smiled meaningfully:

Why does the Prime Minister deceive honest people?

Kongming feigned ignorance:

"Why do you say that, Junyi?"

Zhang He strolled to the map and lightly tapped the direction of Luoyang with his finger:
"I've spent many years in the capital; how could I not see that the King of Wu and the King of Yue both harbor ambitions to seize the throne?"

"The old emperor valued family ties and was never firm enough in his attitude toward the crown prince."

"That's what will give the two kings hope."

“Now you’ve sent that brute Wei Yan to the front lines. No matter what the outcome, getting involved in the struggle for the crown prince won’t end well.”

Kongming remained silent for a moment, then finally sighed softly:
"Is Junyi going to expose my scheme?"

Zhang He shook his head:

"The Prime Minister's arrangement must have been made at the behest of Prime Minister Li."

“李相爷在朝中经营二十多年，门生故旧遍布天下。”

"Since the Prime Minister has made this arrangement, why should I interfere?"

He paused, then lowered his voice, "I just wonder, which prince is the Prime Minister on?"

Kongming did not answer, but instead asked:
"Does the general believe that Wei Yan's mission will be successful?"

Zhang He sneered:

"Wei Wenchang was brave but lacked wisdom."

“吴王刘永如今收了魏国之众，虽不见得其尽皆归心，但还是不好收场。”

"After all, he is a prince, and our Holy Emperor is the greatest 'benevolent ruler' in history, wouldn't you say?"

Zhang He looked at Zhuge Liang meaningfully and said.

"As for Deng Ai's former subordinates, they are even less benevolent."

"I'm afraid that Wei Yan's trip will not only fail to keep the situation in check, but will also exacerbate the conflict."

"That's why I sent him."

孔明忽然道。

Zhang He was taken aback at first, then suddenly realized:

"So that's how it is! The Prime Minister wants to..."

Kongming raised his hand to stop him from continuing, then turned to his personal guard and said:
"Prepare wine and food; I wish to have dinner with General Zhang."

Soon,
The guards set up a small table in the city tower and served a plate of roasted venison, golden brown, along with a pot of warm wine.

张郃夹起一块鹿肉，细细品味：

"The meat of this six-month-old fawn is indeed tender."

Kongming poured him wine:

"Does Junyi know why he chose a six-month-old fawn?"

Zhang He put down his chopsticks and waited for the next part to continue.

"If it's too tough, the meat will be dry; if it's too tender, it will be tasteless."

“半岁之鹿，刚断母乳，始食百草。”

“肉质既有幼兽之嫩，又有野物之香。”

Kongming said meaningfully, "Governing a country and waging war are the same."

“时机才是最为关键的。”

Zhang He raised his glass:

"Then I would like to hear the details."

Kongming Correspondence Course:

"Junyi commands 50,000 elite troops and is the mainstay of the army."

"Whether Wei Yan succeeds or fails, his mission will restrain the three forces in Shu."

"We'll make a decision after we hear news from the capital."

"What does Prime Minister Li mean?"

"Although the old prime minister did not say it explicitly in his letter, his intention to send his son into Jiang Wei's army was clear."

Kongming took out another letter from his sleeve. "This is a secret letter that arrived this morning."

Zhang He opened the letter and read it, his expression changing several times.

信上只有寥寥数字：“圣体欠安，速定蜀中，回师备变。”

"Your Majesty, he..."

Zhang He asked in surprise.

Kongming nodded:

"Therefore, Wei Yan must go."

"Only if he creates tension in Zitong will we have a reason to pacify Shu as soon as possible and return to Luoyang."

Zhang He sighed deeply:
"What a brilliant strategy! It's just a pity for Wei Wenchang, who is still kept in the dark."

“Those who achieve great things do not dwell on small details.”

Kongming raised his cup, "After pacifying Shu, we will need Junyi to work together with me."

两只酒杯相碰，酒液微漾。

Meanwhile, Li Zhi rode at full speed and arrived in Zitong in three days.

Upon hearing the news, Jiang Wei personally went out of his camp to greet him.

Seeing that Li Zhi looked travel-worn, he couldn't help but ask:

"Why has the young master come in such a hurry?"

Li Zhi presented his father's handwritten letter:

“家父命我前来相助将军。”

Jiang Wei read the letter, his brows furrowing slightly, then he smiled and said:

“……相爷多虑了。”

"Although the situation in Sichuan is complex, it is still under control."

Li Zhi looked around and whispered:

"General, may I have a word with you in private?"

Jiang Wei understood and led him into the central command tent, dismissing his attendants.

李治这才道：
"Before leaving Beijing, my father secretly instructed me to..."

"It is said that King Liu Li of Yue has been frequently contacting court officials and befriending powerful figures in the capital recently."

"There may be some unrest in the court."

“My father is worried that if His Majesty… something unexpected might happen to him.”

"Sichuan has just been pacified, but the people are restless and great changes are bound to occur."

Jiang Wei's expression was solemn:

"...Your Excellency's concerns are absolutely correct."

"However, my troops have mostly recruited soldiers from Shu, and it will take some time to reorganize them."

"Wei Yan led another 20,000 troops to 'assist in defense,' but in reality, it was for surveillance, making their actions even more inconvenient."

“My father was thinking about this very thing,” Li Zhi said, “which is why he sent me here.”

"The Prime Minister will take care of Wei Yan's affairs."

"General, your most urgent task is to quickly integrate your forces, especially to win the support of Deng Ai's former troops."

Jiang Wei shook his head:

"Deng Ai bypassed me and went directly to surrender to His Highness the King of Wu."

"I'm afraid his intentions aren't pure either."

Li Zhi stroked his chin and then said:

"General, please rest assured and reorganize your troops in Zitong. I heard that after you entered Shu, you accepted the surrender of many troops in Shu."

“这些人毕竟是新附之众，其心难测，将军还是要小心防范。”

Jiang Wei nodded, about to speak.

A messenger reported that Wei Yan had already led his army there.

(End of this chapter)