Three Kingdoms: The Kingdom Cannot Be Partial

Chapter 221 Taking Charge in Chengdu
Jiangzhou South City.

The most central, tallest, most luxurious, and most numerous mansion with servants, guards, and carriages was the Li Mansion.

"Mother, your son is back." Li Feng forced a smile, trying to make his voice sound somewhat lively.

His mother had prepared a table full of dishes and was arranging them when she heard her son's voice. She turned around happily, her face beaming, and hurried toward Li Feng.

"You're back just in time. You must be hungry after such a long journey. Eat, eat. I've cooked all your favorite dishes today."

His mother looked up and down at her son, who was dressed in plain clothes, travel-worn, and much darker and thinner than she remembered, with a loving smile on her face. Finally, she tugged at her son's sleeve and led him into the house.

"Didn't your father go out of the city to welcome you with great fanfare? Why didn't he come back with you?"

His mother was overjoyed. Although she noticed that her son's expression was a little strange, she thought it was just the grievances and longing of a wanderer who had suffered a lot away from home and was finally returning to see his mother.

"Mother... His Majesty has also arrived. Father just came out of the city to greet him, and now... he is probably boating on the river with His Majesty."

Li Feng appeared relaxed.

Its mother's color changed suddenly.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty is coming in person? Your father never told anyone that His Majesty would be coming..."

At this point, his mother suddenly paused.

After a moment, a look of realization crossed his face, the strange light in his eyes vanished in an instant, and he nodded slightly, forcing a smile as he spoke:
"The food at His Majesty's place is definitely much better than what your mother cooks. Since he eats alone, we don't have to wait for him."

"Come, come, sit down. Let's eat first, otherwise the food will get cold and won't taste good."

"This was made by your mother. Ever since you went to the front lines to fight alongside His Majesty, I have never set foot in the kitchen again."

"Your father has asked me to make this honey-roasted finless porpoise for him countless times, but I ignored him. So he had the cook make it for him, but he always felt that it tasted far inferior to what your mother made..."

Perhaps it was the first time in her life that she had been separated from her son for so long. Overjoyed at their reunion, Li's mother, who was usually quiet and reserved, kept talking and serving her son food, but she didn't touch a single bite herself.

Li Feng listened silently to his mother's rambling without saying a word.

His mother served him food, and he ate it in big mouthfuls like a starving ghost.

When his mother accidentally picked up a piece of honey-roasted fin porpoise from the bowl with her chopsticks, and then, without realizing it, went to pick up another piece, he finally put down his chopsticks and looked at his mother.

But his mother seemed dazed and didn't notice his gaze.

"Mother...why aren't you eating?" Li Feng asked.

His mother remained silent for a moment before regaining her composure:
"Ah...what? Oh...oh, Mother isn't hungry, Mother isn't hungry. Mother didn't know you were coming back and had already eaten dinner long ago." His mother smiled again at the end.

Li Feng could no longer keep up the act.

He took a few steps back and knelt heavily before his mother, as if he wanted to knock a hole through the bluestone floor: "Mother...your son is unfilial! Your son is unfilial!"

His mother quickly stepped forward and helped him up.

They looked at each other, and Li Feng, a grown man, could no longer hold back. He bowed his head and wept bitterly, tears streaming down his face.

His mother gently put her arm around his shoulder, waved her hand, and dismissed all the servants around the room.

"It's alright, it's alright, son." His mother, who had been in a daze just moments before, now put all her worries aside and gently comforted him while patting his back.

“Mother…it’s my fault that I harmed Father. I deliberately handed over all the letters Father gave me to His Majesty. Your son is unfilial…”

"It's alright...it's alright. Your initiative to report your father is a good thing for him, and a good thing for our family as well."

In an era that emphasized "fathers concealing the wrongs of their sons, sons concealing the wrongs of their fathers, and relatives concealing the wrongs of each other," not only would one be condemned for upholding justice against one's own family, but according to Han law, one would also be imprisoned and punished.

His mother did not know what letter Li Yan wrote to Li Feng, nor did she know what crime Li Yan would be punished by the emperor in the end.

However, she was not saddened or angry when her son "deviated from the norm" and exposed his father's crimes; instead, she expressed understanding and comfort.

Li Feng finally stopped crying. He never expected that his usually gentle mother would be so calm and tolerant in the face of such a dramatic change.

"Your father relied on his high achievements and popularity, and was also a trusted minister entrusted with the care of the young emperor by the late emperor."

He often claimed that he had made great contributions to the Han Dynasty, defended the borders and established a great career, and that his achievements were unparalleled in the world.

"However, he was not successful and was ostracized by the prime minister and a group of important officials in the palace."

“It was nominally a border defense post, but in reality, it was an exile, so he often harbored resentment towards the court.”

"It is normal to have such jealousy, but your father does not know how to restrain himself. Instead, he often speaks out his resentment and jealousy, wishing that everyone would know."

"I knew this day would come."

"But... I really didn't expect this day to come so quickly, so suddenly."

"I never expected that you would lend His Majesty a helping hand."

Li Feng was stunned.

After a long silence, he finally spoke:

“Mother… Before I became His Majesty’s Attendant and spent day and night with His Majesty, I always stood firmly on Father’s side.”

"At that time, I also thought that it was indeed the Prime Minister and a group of important officials in the palace who were ostracizing Father and deliberately keeping Father away from the central government."

"But as I spend more and more time by His Majesty's side, and as I have more and more face-to-face and close contact with His Majesty, the Prime Minister, and General Zhao, I will be able to do so."

"I gradually came to understand that not everyone is like my father, like me, who would scheme and plot for so-called fame and fortune."

"Now that the Prime Minister is far away in Guanzhong, Your Majesty is going to Baidi to guard the gate of the Han Dynasty."

"I am truly afraid... truly afraid that Father will do something foolish, causing the flame of revival that the Han Dynasty has so painstakingly rekindled to be extinguished once again, and making the great Northern Expedition a failure."

At this point, Li Feng lowered his head in shame:

“Mother, according to the principles of the Spring and Autumn Annals, it is the worst form of filial impiety for a son to inform his father.”

"If a son conceals his father's crime, even the laws of the Han Dynasty would allow it."

"I tell you today that I am a son and will be abandoned by my fellow villagers and friends in the future."

"I truly do not know how to face my father, or how to face the people of the world."

Li's mother held Li Feng's hand and shook her head, saying:

"Your Majesty's northern expedition has been a great success, and Your Majesty's power is growing daily."

"Whether you report it or not, now that His Majesty has personally come to Jiangzhou, he will surely take advantage of the great victory to deal with the threat of your father, so that the soldiers on the front lines will have no more worries."

"As for what crime your father committed?"
"If it is a heinous rebellion, His Majesty will probably abandon the campaign against Sun Wu and take this opportunity to execute your father and have him executed in the marketplace."

Even if doing so would incite resentment among your father's trusted generals, or even lead to rebellion.

"But... to repel external aggression, we must first secure internal stability. If internal stability cannot be achieved, then the events of Mi Fang and Fu Shiren may very well be repeated in Jiangzhou."

"But if it is just greed and the petty tricks of fighting for power and profit."

"His Majesty will most likely strip your father of his military power and bring him back to court."

"No matter what crime your father committed, by voluntarily exposing him, I don't think I'm harming him, but rather saving his life and the lives of the Li and Zhuo clans."

"As for your statement that you would be rejected by your fellow villagers and old friends if you told your father about it."

“Your father once served the country well, but his narrow-mindedness has turned him into a parasite on the nation. If you remove him for His Majesty, you will be eliminating one of the scourges of the Han Dynasty.”

"No matter what others say behind your back about your filial impiety, you need not heed them. Just fulfill your duties, serve His Majesty well, and serve the people well."

Li Feng was completely stunned and at a loss.

He never knew that his usually gentle mother possessed such insight and character.

"Do you know what crime your father committed?" Li's mother was becoming increasingly frank.

Li Feng pondered for a moment and replied:

“My father is not a rebel, but His Majesty will probably punish him for crimes such as slandering the court, holding military power, and harming the public interest for personal gain.”

Slandering the court and amassing military power are self-evident, but as for harming the public interest for personal gain... it probably refers to his deliberate actions of causing Li Feng to delay and miss the appointed time when he learned that the emperor was personally leading the expedition and summoned Li Feng to the north.

Li's mother sighed:
"These charges can range from minor to serious."

"Now... it depends on whether your father remains obstinate or confesses his crimes and accepts punishment."

"If he confesses his guilt and submits to the law, relinquishes his military power, and takes the initiative to appease the hearts of the generals and officers in Jiangzhou so that the soldiers can unite to attack Wu."

"Then your father will not only be spared from death, but may even receive a nominal title of one of the Three Dukes, return to Chengdu to handle affairs, and retain some dignity."

"If they remain obstinate and refuse to confess their sins... then we should prepare several coffins in advance to bury your father and the others."

Li Feng remained silent for a moment upon hearing this, and finally said:

“Mother, His Majesty… His Majesty says he intends to appoint me as the Protector-General of Jiangzhou.”

The Protector-General is ranked below the Governor-General.

The governor-general was in charge of all military and political affairs in Jiangzhou, while the protector-general was in charge of the military but not the finances.

Furthermore, according to regulations, he only controlled a portion of the army.

In other words, if Li Yan is dismissed, Li Feng will take over the protection of the officers and soldiers who were originally under Li Yan's command.

Li's mother nodded, her eyes softening slightly.
"His Majesty trusts you so much that he is probably willing to give your father a break. Now, it depends on what your father does."

"If your father is beheaded, it is because he deserves to die. You should vindicate the Li family and make them famous in the future."

"If your father survives... then only you will be able to save his life."

"No matter what, you must not betray His Majesty and the world like your father did."

Li Feng was in a daze, tears streaming down his face.

Looking at Li Feng, Li's mother sighed softly:
“Feng’er, your talent is only average, not even as good as your father’s. Even if you have His Majesty’s trust, don’t think about making achievements or competing with people like Guan Anguo and Zhao Pijiang.”

"His Majesty has appointed you as the Protector of Jiangzhou, so you shall protect Jiangzhou. Do not stand out, and do not make any mistakes."

"Ensuring that the supply lines to the front lines are uninterrupted and that there are no worries about the rear is already something that requires your utmost wisdom and effort."

"If you can do these things and be a good minister, your Li family will still have hope of revival in the future."

Li Feng was momentarily stunned, and finally said in astonishment:

"With such wisdom, Mother, how could Father have come to this?"

"Your father thinks too highly of himself, how could he possibly listen to the words of a woman like me?"

Before they could even clear the leftovers from the table, Li's mother, along with Li Yan's mother and Li Feng, left the mansion. They sent servants to the market to exchange for plenty of rice, meat, wine, and other food. Finally, they took this food to the dock to entertain the troops and boarded the emperor's fleet.

The household had many servants, and the steward's trusted confidant gave them money, silk, and provisions to send them away, leaving only a few close attendants who had served him for decades.

Li Feng decided to donate all the remaining wealth and provisions to the imperial court to reward the soldiers fighting on the front lines and to provide relief to the orphans.

On the great river.

A person stepped out of the ship where the emperor's dragon banner was located.

"What are you doing?!"

"I was boating on the river with His Majesty, and you led your troops out without His Majesty's permission. Are you planning a rebellion?!"

"Guards, arrest Generals Hu Zhong and Cheng Fan and behead them as a warning. Let's see who dares to act recklessly before His Majesty!"

On the Changjing, Hu Zhong, the military advisor who came to rescue Li Yan, and Cheng Fan, the military protector, looked at each other in bewilderment.

"What's going on? Has the governor gone mad?" Hu Zhong asked in astonishment.

Cheng Fan was also at a loss.

"What are you all standing there for?! Do you think I'm joking?!" Li Yan angrily rebuked the captain and commander behind the two generals.

"If you don't take action now, don't blame me, Li Yan, for being ruthless! I will definitely prosecute you for treason and exterminate your entire clan!"

Upon hearing Li Yan's words and seeing that his furious appearance was not fake, the generals and officers who rescued Li Yan must have been in a panic.

Finally, several captains and officers mustered their courage and stepped forward to capture Generals Hu Zhong and Cheng Fan.

However, Generals Hu Zhong and Cheng Fan did not resist.

The look in their eyes went from confusion to terror.

"Commander, it's a misunderstanding!"

"We came here because...we came here because...we thought His Majesty wanted to invite the Governor back to Chengdu to take up his post. We really couldn't bear to part with the Governor, so we came to ask His Majesty to allow him to stay!" Hu Zhong's mind came to a head.

Li Yan immediately burst into curses: "I've raised you all for so many years, and now that I'm going to Chengdu to take charge thanks to His Majesty's grace, you want to stop me? What are you really up to?!"

Generals Hu Zhong and Cheng Fan were completely bewildered.

What is this scenario?
Could it be... a misunderstanding?

Does Your Majesty truly intend to heavily rely on the Commander-in-Chief, sending him to Chengdu to counter the Prime Minister who is far away in Guanzhong?
Just as the generals were wondering what was going on, Liu Shan stepped out of the boat.

"Alright, Li Qing, it's all a misunderstanding. There's no need to get so angry."

He then addressed the two generals, Hu Zhong and Cheng Fan:

"I now intend to appoint Minister Li as Grand Tutor and General of the Guards, to be stationed in Chengdu."

"But General Wei can't do without troops, and it's even worse to be stationed in Chengdu without troops."

"Just now, Minister Li told me that you two generals were just confused for a moment, and I can also see your loyalty to Minister Li."

"I hope that you two generals can lead your six thousand soldiers to accompany Minister Li to Chengdu. What do you think?"

Will they both be stationed in Chengdu?
Upon hearing this, Generals Hu Zhong and Cheng Fan had no more doubts.

If only Li Yan is allowed to return to Chengdu, it might be considered house arrest.

But now they are being asked to return to Chengdu together, along with six thousand soldiers.

what is this?
This is to give Li Yan military power so that he can suppress Xiang Chong, Jiang Wan, and the governor of Shu Commandery, in order to better control the central government!
Everyone knows that whoever has troops in the capital calls the shots!

At that time, wouldn't these six thousand men become the Imperial Guards of the Han Dynasty?!

However, at this moment, Li Yan stepped forward with a look of fear and bowed to the emperor:
"Your Majesty, I believe this is unacceptable!"
"Your Majesty has made up your mind to attack Wu. Now is the time to use troops and manpower. How can we bring another 6,000 soldiers back to Chengdu?"
"Moreover, Hu Zhong and Cheng Fan knew that His Majesty was here, but they set sail and mobilized troops without His Majesty's permission!"
"His heart is despicable; he has committed a heinous crime!"
"If they are not punished, how can we appease the people's hearts?!"
"In my opinion, these two should be sentenced to death!"

"The Governor?!" Hu Zhong was both surprised and furious.

(End of this chapter)