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

Chapter 453 Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun are entrusted with the care of the young emperor; Liu Bei, the founder of the Han Dynasty, passes away.
Li Yi's "Yes, Your Majesty" was like a heavy boulder thrown into stagnant water.

It stirred up endless sorrow in everyone's heart.

He turned around, his steps steady yet carrying immense weight, and walked towards the entrance of Peach Garden.

Outside the garden, Zhuge Liang and Zhao Yun were the leaders.

Liu Shan, Mi Zhu, Jian Yong, Sun Qian, Yi Ji, Chen Zhen, and other core ministers had already received secret orders.

We have been waiting here for quite some time.

They all had solemn expressions and were dressed in neat attire.

A suffocating premonition filled the air.

When Li Yi appeared at the garden gate, no further words were needed.

Everyone understood everything from his sorrowful yet resolute gaze.

Zhuge Liang paused slightly with his feather fan, while Zhao Yun clenched his fist.

Liu Shan's face turned deathly pale, and his body trembled slightly.

“Your Majesty has summoned me,” Li Yi’s deep and clear voice broke the deathly silence.

"Gentlemen...please follow me inside."

The crowd remained silent and followed Li Yi in order.

I stepped into this peach orchard, which looked particularly desolate and bleak in the cold winter.

Inside the garden, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were still kneeling on the ground, supporting Liu Bei, who was leaning against a four-wheeled cart.

When they saw Zhuge Liang, Zhao Yun, and others filing in.

A faint glimmer seemed to flash in Liu Bei's murky eyes.

Without any orders, everyone felt their hearts ache when they saw Liu Bei, sitting on a four-wheeled cart, emaciated yet striving to maintain the last vestiges of imperial dignity.

They all knelt down on the ground, touching their heads to the earth.

A chorus of sobs immediately filled the air.

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects!"

Liu Bei's gaze slowly swept over these familiar faces.

These were his key advisors who accompanied him through most of his life and together created this resurgence.

He took a deep breath, the breath as faint as a wisp of smoke.

But he tried his best to make his voice sound steady:
"My lords... rise... all of you, step forward..."

The crowd nodded and raised their heads slightly, but no one stood up.

They simply moved forward a few inches while kneeling, getting a little closer to their emperor.

Liu Bei leaned against the back of the carriage, gazing at the gray sky.

His voice carried endless emotion and a hint of barely perceptible weariness:

"I... started my rebellion in Zhuojun, wandered for half my life, suffered repeated defeats, and drifted aimlessly..."

"Fortunately...fortunately, with Ziyu's wholehearted assistance, we were able to find a way out of our predicament."

"To create a new beginning from a desperate situation... and finally achieve..."

"He established an imperial dynasty and revived the Han dynasty three times..."

"However, although I have received the mandate of Heaven, I often feel that my knowledge is shallow and my talents and virtues are insufficient..."

"Though I rise early and retire late, I fear I will fail the expectations of the people..."

"The task of revitalizing China still feels inadequate, and there are many regrets..."

He paused for a moment, his breathing clearly audible.

It was as if every word he uttered had exhausted his strength.

Everyone's hearts tightened.

"However... life and death are preordained, and cannot be forced by human will..."

Liu Bei refocused his gaze, with a solemnity akin to burning the last flame of his life.

His gaze swept over the kneeling figures at the front, "I... am now terminally ill and on the verge of death..."

"The adopted son, A Dou, was weak-willed and mediocre in talent..."

"I... have no choice but to sacrifice the fate of the nation, the future of the people..."

"I entrust this to you, my beloved ministers!"

His voice suddenly rose, carrying with it boundless earnestness and the heavy weight of entrustment:
"Gentlemen... you are all loyal and trusted confidants who have followed me through many hardships!"

"I... have something from the bottom of my heart, and I hope you all... will listen attentively!"

"His Majesty!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was overcome with grief, tears streaming down their faces.

They all kowtowed to the ground, weeping and pleading:
"May Your Majesty take good care of your health and enjoy a long and prosperous life, so as to live up to the expectations of the people!"

"We... cannot live without Your Majesty!"

Liu Bei slowly shook his head, a calm smile of having seen through life and death appearing on his face.

That smile looked especially heartbreaking on his withered face:

"...Heh...In this world...is there anyone who lives forever?"

"I... am seventy years old this year, which is rare in ancient times."

"Looking back, how could a simple man from Zhuojun, weaving mats and selling shoes, have imagined..."

"Will one day I be able to ascend to the throne, sweep away all rivals, and restore the Han dynasty's land?"

"In this life... I am fortunate to have met you all and to have created this unparalleled achievement together."

"I...have no regrets, only...gratitude..."

"What else... could you possibly want?"

He first turned his gaze to Zhuge Liang, who was kneeling at the front, and waved to him:
“Kongming…come closer.”

Zhuge Liang quickly knelt and crawled a few steps to the front of the four-wheeled cart.

Tears streaming down his face, he looked up at Liu Bei:

"Your Majesty! I am here!"

Liu Bei looked at him, his eyes filled with expectation and trust:
"Kongming... although you joined me later than Ziyu, Yunchang, and Yide..."

"However, I am well aware of your talents, which are comparable to those of Guan Zhong and Yue Yi..."

"Since you joined my ranks, you have been strategizing and winning battles from afar."

"In governing the country internally and defending against powerful enemies externally, you have never disappointed me..."

"I... even went against the opinions of the majority."

"So that you may succeed Ziyu as Prime Minister..."

"I hope that you will continue to work diligently and improve yourself in the future."

"Together with all the veteran ministers, we will work together to assist the new ruler..."

"It enables our mighty Han Dynasty ship to avoid hidden reefs and treacherous shoals."

"Continue...forging ahead through the waves..."

Zhuge Liang was heartbroken upon hearing this, and he prostrated himself on the ground, weeping bitterly, his voice choked with sobs:
"Your Majesty! I was originally a farmer from Nanyang, merely trying to preserve my life in this chaotic world, and I do not seek fame or fortune among the lords!"

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty does not consider me lowly or base, but condescends to consult me ​​on the affairs of the world."

"I am deeply grateful and therefore pledge myself to Your Majesty's service!"

"The kindness shown to me is so great that even if I were to repay it with my own efforts, I could never repay even a fraction of it!"

"Now Your Majesty has entrusted the nation to you, your subject... Your subject Liang dares not fail to exert all his strength."

"To uphold loyalty and steadfastness, even unto death?!"

After saying this, he bowed repeatedly, his forehead covered with dust and tears.

Liu Bei nodded with satisfaction, then turned his gaze to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who had been guarding him.

His eyes instantly filled with a deeper brotherly affection, different from that between a ruler and his subject.

Tears streamed down her face.

"Yun Chang... Yi De... come closer..."

"Big brother!"

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei wept uncontrollably, tightly grasping Liu Bei's outstretched, cold hand.

"Second brother, third brother..."

Liu Bei's voice choked with emotion, "The thing I am most proud of in my life... is not the empty title of being a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan and a descendant of Emperor Gaozu..."

"But rather... but rather, back in Zhuojun, I was able to swear brotherhood with my two virtuous brothers, vowing to live and die together!"

"Thinking of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, although they are of different surnames."

"Now that we have become sworn brothers, we will work together to help those in distress and those in danger."

"To report to the nation above and to bring peace to the common people below."

"I do not wish to be born on the same day, month, and year, but I wish to die on the same day, month, and year."

"Heaven and Earth bear witness to this heart; those who betray righteousness and forget kindness shall be condemned by both Heaven and man!"

Liu Bei's lips trembled as he began to recite the oath he had kept in the Peach Garden for his entire life.

"...This vow still echoes in my ears...but..."

"But today, I'm afraid I have to... break my promise..."

"I cannot go to the Yellow Springs with my two virtuous brothers... I'm sorry..."

"Brother! Stop talking!"

"It's because my younger brothers are incompetent and can't share my pain!"

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were devastated upon hearing these words of farewell.

He knelt on Liu Bei's lap and wept bitterly.

The cries were filled with the desolation of a hero's end and the pain of parting forever from his brothers.

Liu Bei stroked the hair of his two sworn brothers, just as he had done back in Zhuojun.

He rallied his spirits and gave the instructions:

"I... hope that you... will not be discouraged by my departure..."

"We need to... pull ourselves together and keep going for this..."

"We served the Han dynasty, which we built together... with utmost loyalty..."

He paused, his breath growing weaker and weaker.

But what follows is crucial and crystal clear:

"I... hereby entrust the Qingxu army (the elite troops formerly from Shandong and Xuzhou)... to Guan Yu for command..."

"The Liaodong and Youyan armies (formerly the elite forces of Youzhou and Hebei)... will be placed under the command of Yide..."

"I hope you two... will be treated well and used with caution."

"Thought that...the rock-solid foundation of the nation..."

Upon hearing this, the ministers kneeling behind him all felt a chill run down their spines!
The Qingxu Army and the Youyan Army are the two most elite and powerful field armies in the empire.

It can be called the lifeline of the nation.

Before his death, His Majesty explicitly entrusted the command of these two elite armies to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, two absolutely loyal brothers who held significant military power.

Its intention is self-evident.

We must leverage their prestige and capabilities to stabilize morale and strengthen border defenses.

At a deeper level, it was probably also to check and balance any potential powerful ministers in the court.

To ensure the stability of Liu Shan's throne and prevent power from falling into other hands.

From this point on, Zhuge Liang took control of the government.

With Guan Yu and Zhang Fei in command of the army, the power structure among the three core regents was already clear.

After giving his instructions to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, Liu Bei's gaze shifted to Zhao Yun, who was also silently watching over him, tears streaming down his face.

"Zilong...come closer."

Zhao Yun, with tears in his eyes, knelt and crawled to the front of the carriage:

"Your Majesty! Zhao Yun is here!"

Liu Bei looked at him, his eyes filled with camaraderie and boundless trust:
"Zilong...we met in times of hardship..."

"You abandoned Gongsun Zan to serve me, and it has been decades since then..."

"We'll weather the storm together, and share the hardships..."

"I never imagined... that we would have to part ways here today..."

"My heart...is truly aching..."

He was panting, gripping Zhao Yun's hand tightly.

"You... are my old friend, as close as brothers..."

"After I leave... I hope you will consider our long-standing friendship..."

"Sooner or later... watch over my son... protect him well..."

"Do not fail...my words today..."

Upon hearing this, countless memories flooded back to Zhao Yun.

This valiant general, who had been resolute throughout his life, could no longer contain himself and burst into tears.

He slammed his head on the ground, making a loud thud.
"Your Majesty! This old minister... This old minister has been deeply indebted to Your Majesty, and even if I were to give my life, I could not repay such kindness!"

"As long as Zilong has a breath left, he will protect the Crown Prince with his life!"

"Even if I am reduced to dust, I will never let the Crown Prince be harmed!"

"Your Majesty... rest assured!"

His voice was hoarse and strained, moving all who heard it.

Although Zhao Yun did not directly obtain command of the army.

However, their duty to guard the palace and protect the royal family has been entrusted with the heavy responsibility of being entrusted with the care of the young emperor.

He became the fourth minister entrusted with the care of the young emperor.

In fact,
In many cases, the power to command the Imperial Guard was far greater than that to command local armies.

Because the Imperial Guards could directly influence the central government and control the central government immediately.

However, local power is easily checked and controlled.

While Zhao Yun may appear to only control the Imperial Guards, his actual power is considerable.

Liu Bei entrusted the most important imperial guards to Zhao Yun precisely because he valued Zhao Yun's prudent and composed approach to tasks.

This, to a certain extent, can directly influence the political landscape of the imperial court.

Four ministers entrusted with the care of the young emperor—

Zhuge Liang, who held the reins of government, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who commanded the army, and Zhao Yun, who protected his lord—their instructions had already been given.

Liu Bei's gaze finally fell on Crown Prince Liu Shan, who was already crying so hard he was almost fainting.

"Adou...my son...come closer..."

With the help of the eunuchs, Liu Shan staggered and crawled to his father's feet.

Clutching her father's clothes, she cried so hard she couldn't speak.
"Father...Father Emperor..."

Liu Bei looked at his son, who was of mediocre ability but not bad at heart, with affection, and his voice became unusually gentle.

It was filled with the helplessness and expectations of being a father.

"I... came from a poor family and did not receive much education..."

"I only have a rough understanding..."

"However, I have also heard the words of the sages..."

"When a bird is about to die, its song is mournful; when a person is about to die, their words are kind."

"...As your father, I have failed...failed to properly teach you..."

"He has no talent in either literary or military affairs..."

"At this moment of eternal farewell... I have a thousand words to say..."

"I want to tell you something... but... I don't know where to begin..."

The image of Liu Yong's crazed and desperate face flashed through his mind, and a deep sense of regret and pain flickered in his eyes:
"Regarding...your second brother Yong'er's matter..."

"I... have been filled with remorse ever since..."

"It was my fault... for neglecting to discipline him and failing to notice his inner turmoil sooner..."

"If he were to make a wrong move, he would be doomed forever..."

"I...hope that you...no matter what..."

"One must maintain a... kind and benevolent heart..."

"This is the foundation of one's character... and one must always keep it in mind."

"Follow the teachings of your father, the Chancellor... and all the ministers who entrusted you with the care of the young emperor..."

"They...are all pillars of the nation, they would never harm you...understand?"

Liu Shan was already crying his heart out, and could only nod frantically, choking out:
"Your subject...remembers!"

"Your subject will... will definitely listen to the Prime Minister and all the ministers!"

"I will never forget!!"

With his last ounce of strength, Liu Yong gripped Liu Chan's hand tightly.

He spoke clearly, word by word:
"I... have no other way to teach you..."

"I'll only give you one piece of advice... You should always reflect on yourself, and never..."

"Do not disdain doing good deeds because they are insignificant... Nor should you... feel that it is harmless to do evil deeds because they are insignificant..."

"'Do not refrain from doing good because it is small, nor do evil because it is small'..."

"Keep these words in mind... Uphold benevolence, govern diligently and love the people..."

"You... will be a... good emperor..."

"Do not refrain from doing good because it is small, nor do evil because it is small..."

Liu Shan pondered these fourteen words repeatedly, imprinting them into his heart like a brand.

He bowed deeply, weeping uncontrollably.

"Your subject...will remember Your Majesty's teachings!"

"I will never forget this!"

After entrusting the crown prince with these instructions, Liu Bei seemed to have accomplished something extremely important.

He appeared slightly relaxed, but his gaze once again swept over the kneeling officials in the garden.

They gestured for all the accompanying officials to be summoned to their side.

quickly,

Mi Zhu, Jian Yong, Sun Qian, Yi Ji, Chen Zhen, and many other civil and military officials knelt down.

Everyone wore a sorrowful expression and sobbed softly.

Looking at these old ministers, most of whom had followed him since he was a nobody, Liu Bei's eyes welled up with tears again.

He struggled and said in a hoarse voice:
"My beloved ministers... I... am but a humble straw sandal seller from Zhuojun..."

"If it weren't for... if it weren't for my beloved ministers not minding my humble origins."

"When I was down on my luck, in dire straits, and wandering from place to place, they followed me wholeheartedly, never abandoning me..."

"He has devoted his wisdom and loyalty to serving us until now..."

"How could I have come to this situation?"

"I...from the bottom of my heart...thank you all!"

As he spoke, he began to struggle.

On a four-wheeled chariot, facing the direction of the courtiers.

Bow slightly and clasp your hands in a respectful greeting!
"Your Majesty! This is unacceptable!"

"You flatter us greatly!"

"His Majesty!!"

The courtiers were terrified upon seeing this.

They all banged their heads on the ground and wailed loudly.

My heart was filled with indescribable emotion and sorrow.

Jian Yong, who was always known for his humor and wit, was now crying uncontrollably, beating his chest and stamping his feet in despair.
"Your Majesty! How can you say such a thing!"

"To be able to follow Your Majesty and participate in this great undertaking of restoring the Han Dynasty is my honor, your subject Jian Yong..."

"It is a blessing we have accumulated over three lifetimes! Your Majesty—!"

Liu Bei looked at these veteran officials and nodded repeatedly.

A smile of relief mixed with sadness appeared on his face:
"Good...good...I understand what you all say."

"I am... greatly comforted..."

He took a few breaths and solemnly declared.

"I... have appointed Kongming, Yunchang, Yide, and Zilong as regents..."

"I hope that all my beloved ministers will... be of one mind and one heart in the future."

"Follow their arrangements... You should know..."

“A group, an army, or even a country…”

"Only when... superiors and subordinates are of one mind, orders are obeyed, and everyone follows the leadership..."

Only then can we...unite our strength, overcome all difficulties...and go further...

"Have you all... remembered this?"

"Your Majesty's teachings will be remembered!"

"We must work together to assist the new emperor and obey the orders of the ministers entrusted with the care of the young emperor!"

The crowd responded in unison, their voices echoing through the empty peach orchard, carrying a sense of solemnity and determination.

After explaining everything, Liu Bei seemed to have exhausted all his energy.

He let out a long, deep sigh of relief.

The breath was so faint that it seemed as if it might be cut off at any moment.

Finally, he turned his gaze to the person who had been standing beside him from the very beginning.

They offered him advice and helped him stabilize his rear.

The most central figure who, together with him, created this period of revival for the Han Dynasty was Li Yi.

His eyes were filled with a trust and reliance that transcended that between a ruler and his subject.

And a complex, indescribable feeling of impending separation.

"Zi Yu..."

Liu Bei's voice was barely audible, yet it carried a strange calmness.

"Finally... take me... on a tour of... this Peach Garden..."

The tears that Li Yi had been holding back finally slipped down his cheeks at this moment.

He didn't say anything, but silently stepped forward and took over Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's positions.

He firmly held onto the handlebars of the four-wheeled vehicle.

Several guards instinctively tried to follow the escort.

"Leave……"

Liu Bei waved his hand slightly, his gaze still fixed on the bare peach grove ahead.

"I... only wish... to take a walk with Prime Minister Li..."

Li Yi pushed the four-wheeled cart slowly forward.

The wheels made a soft "rustling" sound as they rolled over the ground covered with a thin layer of snow.

Behind him, the courtiers remained kneeling on the ground, many with worried expressions.

Fearing that the emperor might be traveling in this deep peach garden, some people instinctively thought of getting up to follow.

However, Zhuge Liang, who had been observing silently, slightly raised his hand at this moment.

His gaze swept over the crowd, and he slowly but firmly shook his head.

He gestured with his eyes: —

Without His Majesty's explicit decree, no one may disturb this final moment of solitude.

Everyone understood the meaning in Zhuge Liang's eyes, despite their immense anxiety and grief.

But he could only suppress the urge to get up and bend down again.

Silently, for a long time, I knelt on that cold ground.

Watching the four-wheeled vehicle, carrying the fate of the empire and a legendary friendship, slowly drive into the depths of the peach grove.

Disappearing between the bare branches and the bleak winter light.

Only suppressed sobs and the mournful whistling of the cold wind rustling through the bare branches filled the air.

Like a silent elegy.

……

Li Yi pushed the four-wheeled cart that carried the last weight of the empire.

The wheels made a monotonous and subdued "rumble" sound on the gravel path covered with remnants of snow.

We slowly drove into the depths of the peach grove.

The surroundings were deathly silent, with only the cold wind whistling through the bare peach tree branches.

It emitted a mournful cry, which only accentuated the vastness and desolation of the world.

The suppressed weeping of the courtiers outside the garden was now barely audible.

It was as if I was completely isolated by the heavy winter twilight and endless sorrow.

Liu Bei leaned against the carriage, his body covered with a thick brocade coat.

Only a pale, paper-white face, marked with the wrinkles of time, was visible.

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze drifting somewhat unfocused over the gnarled, withered branches that pointed toward the gray sky.

It's as if they're trying to recall how beautiful and vibrant their flowers were in spring.

After a long time, he slowly spoke.

The voice was as weak as a candle flickering in the wind, yet it carried an unusual calmness.

This suffocating silence was broken:
"Ziyu...you and I...like this..."

"Just the two of us... quietly spending time together..."

"That happened so many years ago..."

"I...can't quite remember..."

Li Yi pushed the cart with steady steps as always.

Upon hearing this, a complex and indescribable emotion flashed in his eyes.

There is reminiscence, there is emotion, and there is profound grief.

He was silent for a moment before answering in a low voice:

"Your Majesty...indeed...it's been too long."

"So long ago... even I am now in a daze and can hardly remember the exact year and month..."

"I only remember that at that time, we were still in Xuzhou, or perhaps even earlier during our wanderings..." "Only by the campfire, inside the military tent, could I be with His Majesty..."

"In this moment of tranquility, let us discuss the world..."

Liu Bei's lips twitched slightly, as if he was trying to force a smile.

But in the end, he was powerless to complete it, and it all turned into a long, regretful sigh:

"Yes...it's been too long, far too long...if only..."

"To be able to... forever, just like this..."

"You pushed me... as we strolled through this garden..."

"Regardless of national affairs, regardless of the world... it's just you and me..."

"To gossip...that would be...so nice..."

He paused, his breath growing weaker and weaker.

"Unfortunately... Heaven did not grant him long life... Time waits for no one..."

"Fate...in the end...refused..."

"Give me... a little more time..."

Li Yi's knuckles turned slightly white from the force he exerted while pushing the cart.

He pursed his lips and did not respond.

This silence itself is the greatest sorrow.

The wheel rolled forward a little further, crushing a few frozen fallen leaves.

It made a crisp cracking sound.

Liu Bei suddenly spoke again.

This time, his voice carried a sense of long-suppressed curiosity that was finally being released at this moment.

His gaze seemed to clear a bit, and he turned his head to look at Li Yi, who was pushing the cart behind him.

"Ziyu...there is something...that has been buried in my heart for decades..."

"I've always wanted to ask you this..."

Li Yi was taken aback and asked Liu Bei what it was about.

Liu Bei took a few breaths and continued:
"Back then... I was in Xuzhou... by chance."

"I rescued you... from Cao Cao's pursuing troops..."

"At that time... you said... you came from... the nearby mountains..."

"A carefree wanderer...once accompanied...a peerless master..."

"Through cultivation and learning of arts...therefore...I have some knowledge of...strategy and divination..."

Li Yi paused almost imperceptibly as he pushed the cart.

Liu Bei seemed oblivious, continuing to speak slowly to himself:
"However...later...I actually...secretly..."

"He dispatched trusted men...to the vicinity of Xuzhou...to conduct a thorough investigation..."

"That place...though there are hills...there is nothing there..."

"A towering, deep mountain..."

"I have never heard of anyone... who... chooses to live in seclusion..."

"The traces of a peerless master..."

His gaze deepened, carrying a gentle yet undeniable scrutiny.

Looking at Li Yi's profile, which was somewhat blurred due to the backlighting.

"Ziyu...tell me..."

"Where... exactly... do you come from?"

The air seemed to freeze at this moment.

The cold wind seemed to have stopped howling, leaving only the icy, damp air mixed with snowflakes.

It silently permeates everything.

Li Yi remained silent.

His gaze drifted deeper into the hazy, gloomy area of ​​the peach grove.

It was as if I had pierced through the barriers of time and space and seen a place that was extremely distant and already blurred.

a long time,

He then answered slowly, in an unusually calm, even somewhat ethereal tone:
"Since Your Majesty sent people to investigate back then, why are you only asking now?"

"Haha...cough cough!"

Liu Bei laughed twice, then coughed a few times, and explained:

"If I had asked back then... I fear I would have lost you..."

"So I never dared to ask... and this question has remained buried in my heart."

Li Yi fell silent for a moment.

He had lived his whole life, but this was the one thing he had never thought of.

"Your Majesty... Your subject... comes from a..."

"A very far...very far place."

"How far?"

Liu Bei pressed for answers, but there was no coercion in his tone.

There was only pure curiosity and a desire to know more about an old friend who was about to be gone forever.

"It's very far..."

Li Yi repeated, his voice low.

"So far...that I can hardly...remember anymore..."

"What do the mountains and rivers there look like...?"

"So far away... that I've almost forgotten..."

"How...do the people there...talk to each other...?"

This answer is profound and beyond common sense.

However, Liu Bei did not show any surprise or dissatisfaction upon hearing this.

Instead, he slowly and with great difficulty revealed a genuine, gentle, and knowing smile.

The smile bloomed on his withered face, like the last glimmer of light in winter.

"It seems... it really is..."

"A...very...very far away place..."

He murmured, his tone filled with an indescribable sense of relief and acceptance.

He didn't ask any more questions.

Perhaps, based on the wisdom he gained from decades of interaction with Li Yi.

They had long since discerned from the other party's visionary insights and unpredictable methods.

A clue was gleaned from those terrifyingly accurate prophecies about the future of the world.

I guessed that this partner, who was both a minister and a friend, was no ordinary person.

Or perhaps, in the final moments of life.

He felt that none of these things mattered anymore.

The important thing is that this person was there for him through the most difficult years.

It helped him achieve immortal accomplishments.

This gentle silence and understanding stirred up more waves in Li Yi's heart than any questioning.

He stopped pushing the cart.
I parked the car steadily under several particularly thick old peach trees, which must be in full bloom in spring.

Liu Bei's gaze once again focused on Li Yi.

His eyes were filled with an unconditional and ultimate trust that transcended the relationship between ruler and subject.

He struggled to raise his hand, gesturing for Li Yi to come closer.

Li Yi did as instructed, walked to the four-wheeled vehicle, and bent down.

"Zi Yu..."

Liu Bei's voice was weak, yet every word was clear, like a brand.

"Just now... in front of everyone..."

"The four men, Kongming, Yunchang, Yide, and Zilong, were appointed as regents..."

"He entrusted me with...matters of vital importance to the nation...but..."

"My heart... is as clear as a mirror..."

"These four men... some were skilled in politics, some were brave beyond compare in the army, and some were unwaveringly loyal..."

“They are all…pillars of the nation…but…only you…”

“Ziyu…only you…can truly…control them…”

"Coordinating all sides... to make this... colossal ship named 'Great Han'..."

"To avoid veering off course..."

He stared intently into Li Yi's eyes.

It was as if he wanted to infuse his final will and the fate of the empire into it.

"I...hope you... will be the one... beneath this giant ship..."

"The last... person in charge..."

"No need...to be in the spotlight...just..."

"Sit firmly...at the bottom of this swaying ship's hold..."

"Let's keep our direction in mind... shall we?"

Looking into Liu Bei's expectant and entrusted eyes, Li Yi no longer hesitated.

He took a step back and straightened his clothes.

Then he bowed deeply to the bottom, his voice heavy with sorrow yet resolute:
"His Majesty's kindness in recognizing and appreciating my talents, and the weight of his trust in me."

"Though mountains and seas may be high, they cannot compare!"

"Your subject... Li Yi, even if I were to die a thousand deaths, I would have no regrets."

"I will certainly dedicate the rest of my life to serving Your Majesty!"

"We will certainly live up to Your Majesty's trust today!"

Hearing Li Yi's solemn promise, Liu Bei felt as if he had finally unloaded the heaviest burden on his shoulders.

He let out a long, slow sigh.

However, he then raised an even heavier and more sensitive issue.

It could even be said to be a problem that is a major taboo for a ruler:

"Then... Ziyu..."

Liu Bei's gaze seemed to pierce through Li Yi, trying to see into that uncertain future.

"In your opinion... I..."

"This Han dynasty, painstakingly established..."

"How many years...can it last?"

Upon hearing this, even Li Yi, whose will was as firm as a rock, couldn't help but shudder.

He suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with undisguised astonishment!

Since ancient times, which emperor has not hoped that his country and state would be passed down for ten thousand generations?
To inquire so directly about the lifespan of a nation, especially about a subject, is simply unheard of!

This was no longer an ordinary dialogue between the emperor and his ministers.

Rather, it is the ultimate dialogue between two old friends who are about to part forever, about the fate of a dynasty.

"His Majesty!"

Li Yi's voice trembled slightly, "This...this is a matter of destiny concerning the fate of the nation..."

"Your Majesty...how dare I presume to speculate?"

Why has Your Majesty suddenly inquired about this matter?

Seeing his surprised expression, Liu Bei revealed that knowing, calm, and somewhat detached smile on his face.

He slowly shook his head, his tone so calm it was unlike that of a dying emperor:

"I... am not... that Qin Shi Huang who prayed for immortality and sought to pass his throne down for ten thousand generations..."

"How could I... be delusional... to be surnamed Liu for all eternity?"

He paused, his breath growing weaker and weaker.

But the words became increasingly clear: "In this world... is there any country that will not perish? Or any destiny that will not decline?"

"If...future generations..."

"The Liu family has lost its virtue... and is incapable of... nurturing the people..."

"This led to... widespread chaos and suffering..."

"Then...this land...should rightfully belong to..."

"The virtuous... shall reside there..."

"This is... the cycle of Heaven..."

"Though I am reluctant... I also... understand this principle..."

Not all emperors in ancient times were like Qin Shi Huang, believing that their dynasties could last for thousands of generations.

Qin Shi Huang believed that he could rule for thousands of generations because he was the first emperor.

If someone has only read the history of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, they would never dream of—

A unified dynasty was actually overthrown by a peasant uprising.

Before the Chen Sheng and Wu Guang uprising, the power of the people was always underestimated.

After that, people actually had a new understanding of dynastic changes.

For example, Cao Pi explicitly stated, "From ancient times to the present, there has never been a country that has not perished."

Before Cao Pi,

The first unified dynasty to explicitly state that no dynasty can last for thousands of generations.

It was none other than Emperor Guangwu, Liu Xiu, the founding emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Liu Xiu was the founding emperor who dared to explicitly say, "No dynasty in the world lasts forever."

For an emperor in a feudal era to dare to say such things publicly required considerable courage and boldness.

The reason why Liu Xiu was able to realize this so early was...
To some extent, it is also related to the entire Confucian moral thought.

People now believe in destiny.

They believed that the world belonged to the virtuous and was lost by the unvirtuous.

Those who follow the Way gain the world; those who do not follow the Way lose the world.

Just like when Cao Wei replaced Han, why did we have to engage in formalism?
Even though they had completely sidelined Emperor Xian of Han at that time, they still treated him very well.

This was to demonstrate the legitimacy of the Cao Wei regime and to showcase its "virtue".

The Liu family has lost its virtue, which is why I was able to replace the Han dynasty.

Whether it's true or not, you have to play this role well.

Only in this way can we silence the gossip of the world.

It is this idea that has taken root and sprouted in people's hearts.

Everyone feels that their dynasty will inevitably have its moments of immorality.

You have lost your morals, so you should step down.

Even if you are my descendants.

As people often say, the so-called long river of history,
Even kings and generals, one after another, took the stage.

Apart from Liu Xiu,

Among the other unified dynasties, the one who dared to explicitly say that no dynasty is immune to demise was Emperor Kangxi.

Emperor Qianlong also subtly expressed his hope that the Qing dynasty could last for twenty-four generations.

In the end, it was only passed down for twelve generations, with a reduction in the number of generations.

In addition, Zhao Kuangyin also said:

"Within a hundred years, the strength of the people will be exhausted."

Therefore, a feudal dynasty,
The more an emperor is aware that a dynasty cannot last forever, the better he is at doing his job.

The reason is also very simple.

One dynasty, one regime.

Some people, like Liu Xiu, believed that no country in the world is immune to destruction, and that their dynasty would perish sooner or later.

His dynasty will actually last longer.

Or like Qin Shi Huang, who believed that his empire should last for generations, from the Second Emperor to the Third Emperor, and for countless generations.

Would such a dynasty last longer?

Without a doubt, it's the former.

The Qin Dynasty's demise after only two generations is a prime example, because it failed to respect objective laws.

Only the rulers know that my country might perish.

That way, he will work even harder to do things well.

Only then will he care more about the situation of ordinary people.

At least this way it can last a little longer, and not die in my hands.

But some people just think that we will last for ten thousand generations and will never perish.

He's capable of anything.

How can you expect someone like that to do their job well?
Liu Bei was a commoner who rose to become the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty.

He was very aware of how powerful the people were.

Xuande, a man who lived his life with "benevolence and virtue" as his motto.

How can they not realize that once the Liu family loses its virtue, the world will eventually be handed over to someone else?
That's why Liu Bei asked Li Yi such a question at the very end of his life.

Seeing that Li Yi still had a furrowed brow and a hesitant expression, it seemed that he still had some concerns.

Liu Bei smiled gently and asked in a different phrasing:
"Since...Ziyu...has some concerns..."

"Then... how about I... ask it another way..."

His gaze was fixed on Li Yi, with an almost pleading tone.

"You... Li Yi... Li Ziyu... promise me..."

"You...are able to...preserve this Han dynasty for me..."

"How many years?"

He added with difficulty, his tone carrying a final, persistent hope:
"I know...you are different from ordinary people..."

"You say it's possible... then... it definitely is possible..."

"Right now... it's just the two of us... and all around... there's no one else around..."

"You...don't need to...have...any more concerns..."

"Give me... a definite amount... let me..."

"Go... in peace... now..."

Faced with Liu Bei's almost naked plea, filled with ultimate trust.

Li Yi could no longer avoid it.

He stood in the cold peach grove, the swirling rain and snow falling on his graying hair and beard.

It melts instantly, like silent tears.

He closed his eyes, his mind racing through the vast panorama of known history.

Then, thinking about the various changes that have come with my arrival in this era, the future is already shrouded in a chaotic fog.

No one can truly predict it.

However, at this moment.

He needed to give to this dying king, this confidant who was both a ruler and a friend.

An answer, a promise that would allow him to close his eyes in peace.

He pondered for a long time, as if he were waging a silent battle with fate.

Finally, he slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes were filled with determination and resolve.

He raised his right hand, under Liu Bei's expectant, gradually fading gaze.

He held up four fingers.

"Four hundred years."

Li Yi's voice was not loud, but it was like a stone falling to the ground.

With an undeniable power, it resonated clearly in the silent peach grove.

"Your Majesty, I assure you that I will devote all my efforts to this cause."

"For the Han Dynasty...to continue...its reign for another four hundred years!"

This number clearly exceeded Liu Bei's expectations.

He was startled.

Suddenly, a strange radiance appeared on his withered face.

It was a radiance that mixed shock, relief, and even satisfaction.

He murmured, repeating:

"Four...four hundred years?"

Then, he seemed to be calculating something.

A more relieved smile appeared on his face.

That smile even dispelled some of the gloom of death.

"Four hundred years...that's...the combined total of the Former Han and the Later Han dynasties..."

"If we include...my lineage...then...it would be...eight hundred years..."

"It has already become... comparable to... the Zhou Dynasty... which enjoyed eight hundred years of rule..."

"I... am... very... satisfied... with this..."

"Very...satisfied..."

The moment he finished speaking,

The sky was originally just overcast with haze.

At that moment, a cold drizzle began to fall.

It also contains tiny, salt-like snowflakes.

The raindrops fell on the dry peach branches and the two men's robes, making a soft rustling sound.

Li Yi reached out and caught a few drops of cold rain and snow.

Feeling the biting cold, he whispered:

"Your Majesty, it's raining and snowing..."

"It seems that this long winter... is really coming to an end..."

Spring... is coming soon...

Liu Bei's gaze, however, seemed to pierce through the rain and snow.

They looked toward a more distant and unknowable future.

His voice became unusually ethereal and otherworldly:
"No... Ziyu... This isn't... the end of winter..."

"This is...a new...world...is coming..."

His voice gradually faded until it was no longer audible.

Li Yi's heart sank suddenly, and an ominous premonition spread through his body like ice water.

He quickly bent down, leaned close to Liu Bei, and whispered:

"Your Majesty? Your Majesty?"

No response.

Liu Bei maintained his slightly tilted head back, his eyes still open.

Looking up at the gray sky above the peach grove, shrouded in rain and snow.

His gaze seemed to still hold an infinite longing for this vast land, and a hint of vague anticipation for a new world.

However, there was a glint of light in his eyes.

It has completely solidified and dissipated.

Li Yi reached out his hand, trembling, and gently checked Liu Bei's breath—

It was cold and lifeless.

In an instant, immense grief overwhelmed him like a tidal wave.

This old man, who has weathered countless storms and whose heart is hardened to the bone.

At this moment, I couldn't help but shed tears.

He reached out his trembling hand, extremely gently and carefully.

He closed Liu Bei's eyes, which he could not close in death.

"Your Majesty...you...may you rest in peace..."

Li Yi's voice choked with emotion, filled with endless sorrow and a promise.

"I wish...in the next life...we...could still..."

"Reunion...sharing drinks and laughter...working together..."

So far,

He raised an army in Zhuojun and fought for half his life.

After enduring countless hardships, he finally established his imperial dynasty, becoming the restorer of the Han Dynasty three times.

Liu Bei died in the Peach Garden of the Imperial Palace in Luoyang.

He passed away at the age of seventy.

The rain and snow continued to fall silently, covering this peach orchard that held so many memories and trust.

It also covered the entire Luoyang area.

It was as if heaven and earth were grieving together.

To offer a final, chilling elegy for the passing of this legendary emperor.

Li Yi stood alone beside the four-wheeled cart, letting the rain and snow soak his clothes.

The figure appeared incredibly lonely and heavy amidst the vast twilight and flying snow.

An era has officially come to an end with Liu Bei's departure.

……

(With Liu Bei's passing, this book is nearing its end, with only a little content remaining regarding Li Yi's assistance to the young ruler. After Liu Bei's departure, Li Yi faces the loneliest period of his life. Let us accompany Li Yi on his final journey.)
(End of this chapter)