Three Kingdoms: The Kingdom Cannot Be Partial

Chapter 155 Heaven Dislikes Wei De?

Yi River.

official way.

Twelve halberds cleared the way.

The first character is eight, followed by four.

The carriage, pulled by a chariot, slowly made its way towards Luoyang.

The system of the Great Wei Dynasty.

The prefect was provided with eight halberds.

The Nine Ministers and Governors were each given ten sets of halberds.

The Three Dukes, the Grand General, and the Grand Marshal were each equipped with twelve halberds.

Liehou, plus two halberds.

The people along the way gave way to the halberds and spears that cleared the way, without bothering to count how many there were, since they were all nobles they couldn't afford to offend.

Some knowledgeable people, after carefully examining the number of halberds, made a guess that the high-ranking official sitting in the three-horse carriage was either one of the Three Dukes of the court, or a governor or one of the Nine Ministers who had been granted titles of nobility.

So they stepped aside and dared not speak.

They quickened their pace and left as soon as the carriage passed them.

A rider galloped back from the banks of the Luo River, dismounted before the carriage, and exclaimed in horror, "My lord, the Luo River... the Luo River has dried up!"

As the sound subsided, the side curtain of the carriage was lifted.

"What?" Jia Kui, the governor of Yuzhou and the Marquis of Yangli, had his gray and mottled beard fluttering in the wind. His brows furrowed slightly, giving him an air of old age and strength, and a sense of authority without being fierce.

After gazing at Luoyang City, or rather, the Luo River, for a moment, the already uneasy governor of Yuzhou became even more restless.

The prophecy, "When the Luo River dries up, a sage will emerge," had already reached southern Yuzhou, a thousand miles away from Luoyang, a month ago.

The battle for Xiangfan was already extremely urgent. He led the Yuzhou army to provide support, but just as the army arrived in Wancheng, he suddenly received an urgent imperial edict from the emperor summoning him to Luoyang and ordering him to transfer the Yuzhou army to Wuguan to garrison the city.

As a result, he had an extremely ominous suspicion about Sima Yi's war in Guanzhong. At this moment, the Luo River had stopped flowing, coupled with the erroneous prophecy about the Luo River.

—This is a very bad situation.

The carriage traveled north along the official road of the Yi River and soon arrived at the banks of the Luo River.

With halberds clearing the way, the people at the junction of Yi and Luo quickly dispersed.

Dressed in plain clothes, Jia Kui abandoned his carriage and halberd, and with only a dozen guards and servants, he traveled down the Luo River.

After traveling less than two miles, far from Luoyang city, along the banks of the Luo River, hundreds or even thousands of people gathered together, noisily discussing something.

With a serious expression, Jia Kui silently disappeared into the sea of ​​people and sounds along the banks of the Luo River.

Most of the people were tenant farmers belonging to wealthy and powerful families around Luoyang. They had gotten up early today simply to collect water to irrigate their fields, as ordered by their masters. Little did they expect that the Luo River would dry up completely today.

The prophecy "When the Luo River dries up, a sage will emerge" had little practical significance for them, and whether Liu Han or Cao Wei was in power probably made no difference to them.

However, the severe drought is a fact, the Luo River has dried up, and it is foreseeable that the fields will suffer a complete crop failure and countless people will starve to death.

To say that the people cried out in despair and that the place was filled with mourning seems a bit of an exaggeration.

But as these ragged people looked up and down, their numb and blank gazes collided, and an indescribable sorrow and an extremely repressed despair began to spread silently like wildfire.

Those with ulterior motives probably foresaw this sorrow and despair long ago, and hid in the crowd, shouting out the words they had rehearsed countless times in secret.

"Heaven has turned its back on Wei De; drought demons are at work!"

"May Heaven bless the Liu family, and punish Wei!"

"The Luo River dries up, the dragon hides; the Wei River swells, the dragon rises!"

"Welcome back the Han, and the drought will end!"

"..."

Jia Kui hid in the bustling crowd, but he couldn't tell where these malicious voices were coming from.

His guards were about to draw their swords and drive away the group of people spreading heresies to prevent the ignorant people from being misled by their lies, but Jia Kui stopped them.

As Jia Kui continued to slowly walk through the crowds along the Luo River, he quickly gained a general understanding of the undercurrents of public opinion, and his expression became increasingly complicated.

This undercurrent had nothing to do with the ignorant masses, but it became relevant to those with ulterior motives who hid among them and used various things detrimental to the Great Wei to bewitch them.

If these ignorant commoners are truly persuaded and incited to cause trouble, thus angering the imperial court and causing the emperor to unleash a massacre on the banks of the Luo River, then the purpose of those with ulterior motives will be achieved.

What happened today will surely spread throughout the world.

But... so many years have passed since the Han and Wei dynasties changed hands, why are there still so many people who care about the former Han and are pushing things along?

The prophecy "When the Luo River dries up, a sage will emerge" spread to Yuzhou, thousands of miles away, and now, with the seditious saying "Heaven is disgusted with the virtue of Wei, and the Yan Liu will rise," it has become rampant under the guise of the natural disaster of the Luo River drying up.

Even before he, the governor of Yuzhou, received definite news that Sima Yi had been defeated in Guanzhong, the people along the Luo River were already spreading rumors that the pseudo-Han emperor Liu Shan had personally led an expedition, defeated Sima Yi, and restored the momentum of Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, in pacifying the Three Qin regions.

In an instant, the scenes of Guan Yu's awe-inspiring power over China, Wei Feng and Chen Yi's rebellion in Ye City, and Hou Yin and Wei Kai's disturbances in Nanyang reappeared before his eyes.

Jia Kui continued walking eastward along the river.

As I approached the edge of the crowd, I saw a group of ragged, poor people kneeling on the cracked riverbed, kowtowing and praying over the remaining puddles of the Luo River.

An elderly man with white hair, dressed in the robes of the Five Pecks of Rice sect, performed a ritual with his staff, then wept uncontrollably, his voice trembling.
"Goddess of the Luo River, oh Goddess of the Luo River."

"Since the beginning of spring, not a drop of rain has fallen."

"The Luo River has dried up, and the crops have withered."

"If rain doesn't come soon to restore the flow of water, we're afraid there will be no harvest this year, and unspeakable things may happen again!"

"Goddess of the Luo River, oh Goddess of the Luo River!"

May you have mercy on the people!

"The tears of mermaids fall like sweet rain!"
"Send the rain master's chariot to quench the parched earth!"

"..."

The Luo River's flow has ceased only this morning. Before the Emperor of Great Wei could even send people out of the city to expel the people and suppress rumors, the Five Pecks of Rice heretics were already in place.

Just as the Five Pecks of Rice Immortal was still praying for rain, a farmer-looking man suddenly shouted from the crowd:

"When the Han Dynasty suffered a disaster, it dismissed the Three Dukes to appease Heaven's wrath!"

"Nowadays, the three ministers and prime ministers of the Great Wei Dynasty do not practice virtuous governance and levy exorbitant taxes on the people. The Goddess of the Luo River saw that the people were burdened with too heavy taxes and corvée labor, so she sent down this natural disaster to warn the Wei Dynasty!"

Jia Kui squinted at the man, who was clearly not a real farmer.

He summoned guards to keep an eye on the man, and then continued to observe from the crowd.

Just then, someone else shouted:

"The Guandong region is suffering from a severe drought, and the Luo River has dried up. However, the He and Wei Rivers in the Guanzhong region show no signs of drought. This is precisely because the Emperor of the Han Dynasty has entered Guanzhong and his virtue has moved Heaven and Earth!"

"I've heard that the Emperor of Han has recaptured Chang'an from the Wei Dynasty! If we can welcome back the Emperor of Han, perhaps the Goddess of the Luo River will send rain!"

"Who dares to spread rumors and mislead the public!" A furious shout suddenly rang out from the crowd. "Kill them!"

Jia Kui immediately turned his head to look.

But then they saw more than ten warriors rushing menacingly toward the group that had just shouted.

Only after the warriors drew their swords did Jia Kui realize that the swords they were carrying were military swords.

Many of the men's knives were still dripping blood, clearly indicating that they had just killed someone.

"Stop!" Jia Kui shouted angrily.

The warriors paused for a moment, but seeing that the speaker was just an old man in plain clothes, they continued to charge into the crowd with their swords drawn, their clear objective being to capture and kill the leader who had just been spreading rumors.

Jia Kui's guards also drew their swords and rushed forward.

"Who are you people, daring to protect this group of traitors who spread heresies and deceive the public?!" The leader of the group of warriors looked at Jia Kui.

Jia Kui, however, did not answer but instead asked, "Who gave you permission to kill people here? Is killing people in the street the law of the Great Wei?!"

After drinking, I felt indescribably troubled.

The emperor returned to Luoyang in March, and had already killed many people in Luoyang because of the rumor that "the emperor has died and Cao Zhi should be installed." Now that the pseudo-Han has seized Guanzhong, has the emperor completely lost his mind? The leading warrior was taken aback by the question, and then became even angrier: "These people spread rumors and misled the public, committing the crime of treason. According to the law, their entire clan should be executed!"

Jia Kui angrily rebuked:

"Even if your entire clan is exterminated, you should still be handed over to the authorities for prosecution and execution. How dare you commit murder in the streets! What do you consider the laws of the Great Wei?!"

"Who are you?!" The leading soldier was not blind; although the old man in front of him was dressed in plain clothes, he gave off a murderous aura that came from years of military service and constant warfare.

After asking, I suddenly regretted it:
I don't care who you are!

"I have been ordered by the Grand Marshal to eliminate the usurper!"
"If you continue to obstruct us, you will be guilty of the same crime as the thief and will be executed along with him!"

After he finished speaking, the surrounding crowd was immediately in an uproar.

The dozen or so warriors had already identified the few who were spreading rumors in the crowd. Upon receiving their orders, they once again drew their swords and charged forward.

"Stop right there!" Jia Kui shouted angrily.

"The Luo River has dried up, and the people are filled with resentment. Yet you are committing massacres on its banks, disregarding the law of the land. What kind of situation do you intend to put His Majesty in?!"

Cao Xiu's men ignored the order and continued to issue commands, urging their men to capture and kill the rebels.

Is it a crime for the Grand Marshal to punish traitors and rebels?
Although the man in front of me may seem unapproachable, among all the officials and military officers in the court, in terms of prestige, martial arts skills, and closeness to His Majesty, who can compare to Cao Xiu, the Grand Marshal of Wei?
However, just as the thought arose, the man's expression suddenly hardened.

Upon receiving orders, the old man's dozen or so guards drew their swords and engaged in a fierce battle with the dozen or so plainclothes warriors he had brought with him.

What surprised him even more was that the men he brought quickly fell into a disadvantageous position, with three to five of them dying or being injured in just a few rounds.

"On the outskirts of Luoyang, right under the Emperor's nose, you dare to lay a hand on the Grand Marshal's men?! I think you're really tired of living!"

After saying this, he drew his sword and was about to capture the old man.

Just then, a dozen warriors suddenly ran out from the scattered civilians and stood between him and the old man.

A woman dressed in plain clothes and wearing a simple hairpin stepped out from the crowd:

"General, please wait!"
"This is Lord Jia, the Governor of Yuzhou and Marquis of Yangting of the Great Wei Dynasty!"
"His Majesty will probably be leaving the city soon. If there is any misunderstanding, please wait until His Majesty and the Grand Marshal arrive before we discuss it together."

Upon hearing this, Cao Xiu's subordinates' expressions hardened.

He knew about Jia Kui, the governor of Yuzhou.

"Who are you?"

“I am the wife of the Grand Master of Ceremonies and the daughter of the Commandant of the Guards.”

Cao Xiu's subordinates froze again.

Although the Commandant of the Guards was one of the Nine Ministers, the fact that Xin Pi and Xin Zuozhi, veterans of three reigns, held this position made it even more prestigious than the Three Dukes.

After all, the Three Dukes were merely honorary titles, while this Commandant of the Guards often held the imperial insignia to supervise the army across the land and tour the four directions on behalf of the emperor. He had met that Commandant of the Guards several times while serving as the Grand Marshal, and even the Grand Marshal had to be somewhat polite to that Commandant of the Guards.

But... a woman wearing a hairpin made of thorns was actually the daughter of the Commandant of the Guards and the wife of the Grand Master of Ceremonies.
An old man dressed in plain clothes was none other than Jia Kui, the governor of Yuzhou and the Marquis of Yangli Pavilion.
While he was still in a daze, Jia Kui, the governor of Yuzhou, and his men suddenly stepped forward and captured him in two moves while he was still looking bewildered.

"What are you going to do?!" Cao Xiu's men panicked.

"What do I have to do? You've killed people in the streets, disregarding the law of the land. You should naturally be brought before the Court of Justice for punishment!" Jia Kui said sternly, showing no respect whatsoever to the so-called Grand Marshal.

Jia Kui and Cao Xiu had a long-standing feud.

Cao Xiu, relying on his status as a member of the imperial family, always looked down on Jia Kui, who came from a powerful and influential family.

Emperor Cao Pi once intended to grant Jia Kui the authority of a general and appoint him to oversee the military affairs of the two provinces of Yu and Yang.

However, Cao Xiu, the governor of Yangzhou and Grand Marshal, was unwilling to be under Jia Kui's command, so he interfered, saying that Jia Kui was a man of fierce temperament who always looked down on his generals, and that such a person was not suitable to be the governor of a region.

Upon hearing this, Cao Pi had no choice but to temporarily abandon his plan to heavily rely on Cao Zhang, the loyal minister of Wei who had sternly refused Cao Zhang's request for Cao Cao's seal of office and helped him ascend the throne when Cao Cao's coffin was being sent to Ye City for burial.

After capturing Cao Xiu's men, Jia Kui ignored the others who had quickly fled and went to Xin Xianying, Yang Hu, and the others.

"Xianying, is your father in Luoyang or Guanzhong now?" Jia Kui asked with some concern.

Xin Xianying said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Excellency. My husband is in Luoyang."

Jia Kui then asked, "Do you know anything about the war situation in Guanzhong?"

Xin Xianying nodded: "I only heard from you four or five days ago that the General of the Cavalry suffered a great defeat in Guanzhong and Chang'an has fallen into the hands of the puppet Han."

Upon hearing the words "pseudo-Han" from their aunt, Yang Huiyu and her brother Yang Hu exchanged a complicated look in silence.

Jia Kui sighed: "I heard that the false emperor is personally leading the army. Is that true?"

Xin Xianying nodded again.

Jia Kui's heart sank, and he sighed as he looked at the dried-up Luo River before him: "This is truly adding insult to injury."

Xin Xianying nodded without saying a word.

The cessation of the Luo River's flow, fulfilling a prophecy, was indeed adding insult to injury for the Wei Dynasty.

But Jia Kui was clearly referring to more than just this.

Instead, it was Emperor Liu Shan of the Han Dynasty who personally led the expedition and won the victory.

If Zhuge Liang, the Prime Minister of Shu Han, had conquered Guanzhong, the public pressure on Wei would not have been so great. They could still hope that Zhuge Liang was a powerful minister and that there would be discord between the ruler and his ministers in Shu Han, leading to internal strife.

But the victory achieved by the Han emperor in his personal campaign has undoubtedly proven to the world that:
The harmonious relationship between the emperor and his ministers in the Han Dynasty was a facade. The image of a powerful minister that Zhuge Liang cultivated over the past few years, and the image of an incompetent ruler that Liu Shan cultivated over the past few years, were all for the benefit of the people.

The people of the world have all been deceived by this ruler and his minister.

This is truly adding insult to injury.

The Great Wei is facing unprecedented challenges.

The days ahead are probably going to be tough.

Jia Kui and Xin Xianying chatted as they walked towards the south gate of Luoyang.

Before reaching the south gate of Luoyang.

Thousands of armored soldiers suddenly rushed out of the south gate.

The imperial carriage of the Great Wei emperor slowly emerged from the city.

We stopped at the banks of the Luo River.

The golden bell suddenly stopped.

A man stepped out of the carriage, wearing a tall crown, brocade robes, a jade lion belt, and gold-embroidered boots; he was truly of immeasurable nobility.

However, the person's face remained expressionless.

He paused for a moment when he saw the twelve halberds belonging to Jia Kui near the South Gate.

But it was only for a moment, and then he looked towards the dried-up Luo River.

Behind him, the high-ranking officials, including Zhong Yao, Chen Qun, Xin Pi, Jiang Ji, Yang Fu, and Gao Tanglong, were also staring blankly at the Luo River. Their faces were ashen, and their foreheads were covered with beads of sweat.

Jia Kui stepped forward to greet him.

When Cao Rui saw Jia Kui, he was overcome with grief.

Cao Zhen is dead.

Zhang He is dead.

Sima Yi also suffered a major defeat.

Although Jia Kui was skilled in martial arts, he was so old.

The court is filled with officials in red and purple robes, but who in the Great Wei Dynasty can truly serve?

"Jia Qing, Wang Yanglie is dead."

"The eldest son of the General of the Cavalry also died on the battlefield."

"There are still many people... some dead, some captured, what will become of Great Wei... Great Wei?"
"Could it be...could it be that Luo Shen really dislikes Wei De?"

Facing this loyal minister who supported Emperor Wen's ascension to the throne, Cao Rui appeared somewhat weary and helpless.

He had never experienced such a dark moment since he ascended the throne.

(End of this chapter)