Three Kingdoms: The Kingdom Cannot Be Partial

Chapter 182 Shining brightly like the sun at its zenith, towering majestically like Mount Tai pressing down.
The official road along the Wei River.

It is seven or eight li west of Chang'an.

A convoy appeared on the horizon.

"Gentlemen, we have arrived at Chang'an!"

At the very front of the convoy stood General Fu Qian, Marquis of Gushi, who was ordered by the Emperor to escort a group of great scholars, court officials, and important figures from Hanzhong to Chang'an. He roared loudly from his horse, displaying his boundless pride.

Upon hearing the heroic words of this valiant orphan and beloved general of the emperor, a group of learned scholars and court officials from Hanzhong and Shuzhong hesitated for a moment before getting off their carriages and gathering on the banks of the Wei River.

"Chang'an...have we arrived?"

"This is...this is Chang'an?"

Filled with a complex mix of emotions—curiosity, excitement, nostalgia, and trepidation—a group of Confucian scholars and court officials gazed into the distance at the ancient capital of the Han Dynasty, which had been established by Emperor Gaozu, endured over four hundred years of trials and tribulations, and finally returned to the hands of Emperor Liu Yan.

At this moment, Xiao He's words, "The emperor takes the whole world as his home, and without magnificence, there is no way to demonstrate his authority," became completely tangible in the minds of the group of great scholars and court officials who had never seen Chang'an before.

Even though it is several miles away and has endured hundreds of years of vicissitudes, this ancient capital of the Han Dynasty still exudes a magnificent and awe-inspiring presence that makes people tremble.

This magnificent atmosphere, coupled with Xiao He's saying "The emperor takes the whole world as his home," further highlights how the Han emperor, who personally led the six armies to fight the enemy and ultimately recovered Guanzhong and returned to the old capital, became even more unpredictable and awe-inspiring.

In fact, ever since the emperor personally led the expedition and devised the plan, beheading Cao Zhen in one battle, and the news of Ma Su's defeat at Jieting spread to Hanzhong, Shuzhong and even Nanzhong almost simultaneously, his fame has thoroughly resounded throughout the entire southwest region.

The chaos and rebellion that had been brewing due to the departure of the emperor and prime minister from the capital have all subsided.

The prefects and magistrates of the various counties, who had been on high alert and in a state of constant fear, were all relieved at the same time, feeling both excited and exhilarated.

As for his subsequent slaying of Zhang He, and finally his personal command of the imperial banner to enter the battle, where he decisively defeated Sima Yi and returned the Han imperial banner to Chang'an, the fame of this Han emperor had already reached its zenith, as majestic as Mount Tai pressing down upon him.

That being the case.

So, on the eve of this emperor's personal expedition, after a series of ominous signs followed, including a solar eclipse, an earthquake, the destruction of imperial statues, and magpies circling overhead...
The "great Confucian scholars of Sichuan" and "traitors" who had been creating panic, spreading rumors, and even openly debating the Mandate of Heaven with important officials such as Jiang Wan and Dong Yun in front of the temple of the late emperor began to feel uneasy, confused, and even terrified.

only……

The emperor seemed to take them completely insignificant.

At first, when the emperor disregarded the unrest in the surrounding areas of Sichuan and forcibly escorted some great Confucian scholars and rebellious officials to Hanzhong, many people thought that these people would probably be sent to the front lines and would likely be buried with the Shu Han dynasty if the emperor was defeated.

But the emperor only escorted them to Hanzhong, and then took no further action.

When news arrived that Cao Zhen had been beheaded and the Han Dynasty was out of danger, some people openly said that the emperor would probably take them to Wuzhangyuan, both to show off his power and to punish them according to their crimes. In short, they probably didn't have many days left to live.

As it turned out… none of these imagined events happened at all.

The emperor didn't even send an envoy to satirize or condemn them.

The crowd then began to feel confused, uneasy, anxious, and resentful.

This emperor... seems to have completely disregarded them.

Then, Zhang He was executed, and the emperor and the prime minister joined forces in Guanzhong. The prime minister led an eastern expedition to Chang'an, while the emperor himself was at Wuzhangyuan supervising the transport of grain and fodder, focusing on agricultural settlements.
When they suddenly appeared on the battlefield of Xinfeng and accomplished an unparalleled feat that astonished the world, these uneasy scholars and treacherous officials were completely speechless.

This emperor truly has a destiny bestowed upon him.

This emperor truly didn't take them seriously.

But not taking them seriously is one thing, and why they weren't taken seriously is another.

The first reason is obvious: this emperor, who personally led the expedition, had only national affairs in his eyes during the war and could not tolerate any other trivial matters.

The second one is probably the story of this emperor, who had a illustrious reputation, was blessed with the Mandate of Heaven, and was "as splendid as Emperor Gaozu," who imitated Emperor Gaozu by pardoning Yong Chi's crimes and bestowing upon him the title of marquis.

These Confucian scholars and court officials who could become "chaotic figures" by stirring up trouble, since they were able to sit in this position, you could say they were bad, but few of them were really stupid.

If the emperor's personal campaign fails, all of these people will likely have to "die for their country."

But the emperor won, won completely, won in a way that convinced and terrified everyone. So, to spare the lives of these troublemakers, keeping the executioner's blade constantly hanging over their heads to observe their future actions, is the proper art of imperial rule.

However… judging from the things this emperor has done since his northern expedition, he is almost identical to that prime minister who governs the country with strict laws and a system of rewards and punishments.

The principle of rewarding merit and punishing crime applies to both cases. Therefore, it is conceivable that while these individuals may be spared the death penalty, they are unlikely to escape punishment.

Otherwise, how can we uphold the law of the country and maintain the dignity of the emperor by allowing them to hold high positions and be regarded as great Confucian scholars, and to arbitrarily use their words?
Now that the war in Guanzhong has been settled, they were "escorted" to Chang'an.

Undoubtedly, the goal is to see if these unruly individuals can serve the purpose of "pardoning Yong Chi and calming the people's hearts."

Lai Min, whose nephew betrayed Wei in the face of battle and was ultimately beheaded by the emperor as a warning, had a strong will to survive.

Seeing the tiger cavalry "protecting" them nearby, he squinted and gazed at the majestic Chang'an in the distance, saying:

"The Cao family committed usurpation and treason, destroyed the Han dynasty, seized the imperial regalia, and usurped the imperial title."

“Thirty-three years have passed since the beginning of the Jian’an era.”

"I never imagined that I, an old man, would see the old capital of the Han Dynasty again."

"If it were not for His Majesty's heroic and wise decision to personally lead the expedition, personally command the six armies and personally lead the troops to fight the enemy, how could we have the day to stand on the banks of the Wei River and look out for Chang'an?"
“We hold high positions but do nothing. In times of crisis, we not only fail to contribute anything, but we also take auspicious omens as signs of disaster, sowing fear and shaking the foundation of the court.”

“If we remain standing in the court as before, and the people regard rebellious words as idle talk and delusional arguments as profound insights, how can the laws of the country be established? How can the emperor’s authority be demonstrated?”
“Your Majesty is wise and has spared our bodies. I dare not continue to hold such a high position. After meeting with Your Majesty, I will return the seal of the Grand Master of the Palace.”

"If Your Majesty punishes me and executes me, I will have no regrets if I die in Chang'an and am buried in Nanshan. I only regret that I am ashamed to face my ancestors and the late Emperor."

Upon hearing this, everyone inwardly grumbled and looked on with disapproval.

Lai Min was the descendant of Lai Xi, the great general who defended Lueyang for half a year with only two thousand men and made great contributions to Emperor Guangwu's conquest of Longyou. He was also the son of Lai Yan, the Minister of Works during the reign of Emperor Ling.

Because of his family background and prestige, which were highly regarded in his time, he was appointed as the Tiger-General of the Central Army by the current emperor after he succeeded to the Han throne.

When the Prime Minister was stationed in Hanzhong in the north, he appointed Lai Min as Military Advisor and Assistant General.

As a result, this fellow repeatedly obstructed the Prime Minister's Northern Expedition, publicly spouting things like "the late emperor has passed away, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei have died, the country has lost a general capable of fighting, and has no soldiers to use."

If the Prime Minister abandons Shu and insists on going his own way, wanting to conquer the greater with the lesser, the Northern Expedition will not only be fruitless, but will also destroy the foundation laid by the late emperor.

It's better to maintain a temporary peace and wait for the world to change before taking any further action...

As a result, he was dismissed from his post and demoted back to Chengdu by the prime minister for his outrageous remarks and attempts to sow discord among the people.

Just as the Northern Expedition was about to begin, the Prime Minister submitted another memorial to the Emperor, granting him the sinecure of Grand Master of the Palace.

On February 21, a series of events occurred, including a solar eclipse, an earthquake, the collapse of ancestral temples, and the destruction of imperial statues.

While the emperor was still in a coma, this man was the first to utter wild words, saying that all sorts of ominous signs indicated that the prime minister's northern expedition was bound to fail.

Unexpectedly, this guy was the first to stand up and express his opinion at this time, which can be described as a strong desire to survive, but also revealed his ugly side.

Grand Minister of Agriculture Meng Guang gave a disdainful snort:
"Grand Master of the Palace, it is said that your nephew, who betrayed the Han and surrendered to the Wei in the face of battle, said before he died that you often told your relatives and friends at home that the lineage of the First Emperor was not a true descendant of the Han imperial family..."

"Nonsense!" Lai Min exclaimed in alarm.

“My family has been fed by the Han dynasty for generations and has received the Han’s favor for generations. How could I possibly say such treasonous words?”
"The lineage of the late emperor is clear, and it is fitting that he inherits the legitimate calendar of the Han Dynasty! Your Majesty's receiving the Mandate of Heaven from the Han Dynasty is further proof of this!"

"As for that Laiyi, I once advised the Prime Minister:"

"Lai Yi is not worthy of his name; he values ​​profit over righteousness and should not be given important responsibilities."

"It is a pity that the Prime Minister did not heed my advice, which ultimately led to his betrayal of Han and defection to Wei. "This is all my fault as the clan leader for failing to properly educate and guide them. I should go to the capital to apologize to His Majesty."

"However, his false accusations on his deathbed were truly unexpected, and I should submit a memorial to His Majesty to plead my case!"

Grand Minister of Agriculture Meng Guang couldn't help but chuckle, but said nothing.

He was different from Lai Min, Li Miao, and Zhou Qun, the great prophet who dared to say "the cuckoo steals the soul, Emperor Wang loses Shu, the cuckoo usurps the magpie's nest, a sign of national ruin."

He was outspoken and had no reservations. That day, while with a group of scholars, he spoke frankly because he knew that eclipses, earthquakes, and other natural disasters would cause great unrest in Shu, while there would be no major changes such as a change of regime in Cao Wei. Therefore, he said that it was not advisable for the Prime Minister to launch a northern expedition at this time.

It is also said that the best time for the Northern Expedition would have been when Cao Pi had just died and Cao Rui had succeeded him, but that opportunity had already been missed. It would be better to wait until Sun Quan launched an attack on Cao Wei first before launching the Northern Expedition.

Now that Guanzhong has been recovered and the emperor's authority is growing stronger, the Grand Minister of Agriculture, who holds a nominal title but no real power, is extremely delighted and excited.

He was born in Luoyang and was a cousin of Meng Yu, the Grand Commandant of the Later Han Dynasty.

Emperor Ling's family had served as lecturers in the Ministry of Education. He was well-read and had read all kinds of books, especially the three histories: the Records of the Grand Historian, the Book of Han, and the Eastern Han Annals. He was also well-versed in the ancient classics of the Han Dynasty.

He liked the Gongyang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals but criticized the Zuo Commentary. Lai Min, who had just argued with him, also liked the Zuo Commentary, so he often debated with Meng Guang.

When Zhaolie pacified Yizhou, he appointed him as a consultant.

After Liu Shan (A Dou) succeeded to the throne, he served as the Imperial Seal Officer, the Commandant of the Cavalry, and the Junior Steward of Changle Palace. When the Chancellor left Hanzhong, he was promoted to the position of Grand Minister of Agriculture.

Liu Shan's secretary, Lang Xi, often consulted with Meng Guang.

Meng Guang asked Xi Zheng: What is the Crown Prince's temperament like? What does he like and dislike? What books does he read?

Xi Zheng cautiously replied: "The Crown Prince is devoted to his parents, working tirelessly day and night, displaying the demeanor of an ancient heir apparent. As for receiving his officials, his actions are always benevolent and forgiving."

Meng Guang was dissatisfied with Xi Zheng's answer and said:
What you say applies to both large and small households. What I want to ask now is to know about the Crown Prince's strategies and tactics.

Xi Zheng cautiously replied: The way of the crown prince is to fulfill his wishes and enjoy his life to the fullest, and not to act rashly. Moreover, he should keep his wisdom and strategies in his heart and use them in accordance with the times, and not make preconceived or arbitrary decisions.

Meng Guang was still dissatisfied and said:

"I am outspoken and do not shy away from anything. I often discuss advantages and disadvantages, which often draws criticism from the world. I know you do not like my words either, but I will still speak out."

"With the world still unsettled, strategy is paramount."

While intelligence and resourcefulness may be innate, they can also be cultivated through effort.

"The Crown Prince should not emulate us by reading extensively in preparation for an audience."

"Fu Shibo possesses a remarkable memory and excels in examinations and discussions, but his only aim is to obtain a noble title."

"The Crown Prince should focus on his studies, especially on the most urgent matters."

In other words, he advised A Dou not to read the Four Books and Five Classics, but to read history books, the Book of Lord Shang, military books, and learn the art of governing people.

Now that Liu Shan has personally led the Northern Expedition and won a great victory, he finally understands that what Xi Zheng said back then was true.

Wisdom and strategy should be kept in one's heart, and tactics should be used when the time is right; one should not make preconceived notions or rash decisions.

On the banks of the Wei River, a group of high-ranking officials with nominal and prestigious positions, as well as influential Confucian scholars, were still chattering incessantly, completely abandoning their usual decorum.

Some people say: "The First Emperor avoided mentioning Bei, and the Later Emperor avoided mentioning Shan. This is because the Han dynasty was built on Bei, and it should have been Shan's turn to abdicate to Wei." I remember you said this, how could you forget it?
Some people said: "At that time, there was a solar eclipse and an earthquake. The late emperor sacrificed himself to protect the people of Chengdu from disaster, but you said it was heaven punishing the Yan Liu dynasty. And you few who echoed him, in my opinion, you should resign from your posts and ask His Majesty to exile you to the far reaches of the earth."

Those who had previously echoed the cliché "The one who will replace the Han is Tu Gao, and Tu Gao will replace the Wei" were also called out at this time.

Despite being quite old, his memory is exceptionally good.

...

Fu Qian, who was in charge of escorting everyone to Guanzhong, ignored the commotion on the banks of the Wei River and rode his horse to the middle of the group.

He stopped about twenty paces away from a not-so-luxurious carriage and dismounted.

He then stepped forward and addressed a young scholar responsible for guarding the carriage:
"Your Excellency, please be patient for two more hours, Lady Zhang. We will be arriving in Chang'an soon."

"Is that Chang'an?" Zhang Shao, a vice minister who had just turned eighteen and had not yet come of age, stared at the majestic city in a daze.

Fu Qian nodded affirmatively, then exchanged a few pleasantries with Zhang Shao before spurring his horse to continue towards the back of the group.

After Fu Qian had gone far away, Zhang Shao walked to the side of the carriage and whispered to the person inside that they were almost in Chang'an.

A clear, melodious female voice came from inside the carriage:

"Second brother, tell me, why did His Majesty choose to appoint me as a concubine at this time? And why did he welcome me to Chang'an at this time?"

Zhang Shao thought for a moment and said:
"As the Empress, my elder sister is the mother of the nation and it is not appropriate for her to leave Chengdu."

"The reason why His Majesty wants to marry my younger sister as a concubine, according to my elder sister, is that His Majesty wants to form a marriage alliance with a powerful family in Guanzhong."

"But marriage is marriage, His Majesty still thinks of the Zhang family."

"One reason is to introduce A-mei as a noble lady and welcome her to Chang'an, so that Zhang can take charge of the Chang'an harem."

"Secondly, in my humble opinion, His Majesty probably hopes that the imperial heir will come from my Zhang family, rather than from a woman from Guanzhong."

After speaking, Zhang Shao gazed thoughtfully at the city of Chang'an.

His elder sister, Empress Zhang, has been engaged as the Crown Princess for seven or eight years, but has yet to bear a child.

Even his elder sister's personal maid had been favored by the emperor and taken as a concubine, but she still had no children.

In May of this year, his younger sister came of age, and the emperor betrothed her to the position of Consort. This likely indicates that His Majesty still intends for the imperial heir to come from the Zhang family.

His Majesty has treated Lady Zhang with exceptional kindness.

The last in the line.

After giving some necessary instructions to the soldiers escorting the convoy, Fu Qian was about to turn around when he suddenly saw a rider coming from the west at a galloping speed from four or five miles away.

A short while later, when the cavalryman carrying the urgent postal order flag on his back approached, Fu Qian spurred his horse forward to meet him.

Upon closer inspection, they turned out to be General Zhao's personal guards.

When the guard saw that it was Fu Qian, he stopped and dismounted.

"What's wrong?" Fu Qian asked in surprise.

"General Who Subdues the Barbarians! A messenger from the General of Chariots and Cavalry has delivered an urgent document to His Majesty! General Zhao said that if he encounters the General Who Subdues the Barbarians, he should have the General deliver this document to His Majesty!"

"An urgent dispatch from 800 li away?" Fu Qian took the bamboo slips, which had been sealed with ink by the General of Chariots and Cavalry, from the Tiger Cavalry.

Because they were escorting Consort Zhang to Chang'an, they did not take the plank road, but instead took a long detour, entering Guanzhong via the Longdi Avenue, a journey that took a total of twenty days.

This caused him to miss out on Zhao Cheqi, who had just returned to Hanzhong from Baoxie Road a dozen days earlier and was preparing to march into the three eastern commanderies to force Shen Yi to surrender.

"Could it be Sun Quan?" Fu Qian suddenly thought of something.

Of the three eastern commanderies, the one closest to Hanzhong was Xicheng Commandery, whose governor, Shen Yi, was essentially just waiting to die.

Aside from Sun Quan, who was still in a standoff with Cao Wei in Xiangyang, suddenly interfering, Fu Qian couldn't think of anything else General Zhao could possibly need to be urgently sent to Chang'an.

(End of this chapter)