Three Kingdoms: The Kingdom Cannot Be Partial

Chapter 223 Gun, Pen, and Scale

Before news of the events in Jiangzhou could reach Chengdu, Li Fu, the clerk of the Prime Minister's Office, finally returned to Chengdu with the news of the recapture of Shangyong and the equally exciting news of the imperial court posthumously awarding him the title of Zhonglie (Loyal and Valiant).

The first staff members of the Prime Minister's residence to hear the news were overjoyed and offered their congratulations one after another. Even the minor officials who were busy running around inside and outside the Prime Minister's residence had smiles on their faces and walked with light steps.

Before the news of the victory at Shangyong and the imperial edict of posthumous honors could be announced at Tianmen, the two pieces of news had already overflowed from the Prime Minister's residence like a flood bursting its banks, spreading endlessly and covering the entire city of Chengdu in an instant.

Since the emperor left the capital to personally lead the expedition, victories, both major and minor, have been achieved one after another.

As a result, the wealthy and common people of Chengdu, who did not participate in politics, mostly took a detached look at the recapture of Shangyong without any ripples in their minds.

On the contrary, the unprecedented practice of the imperial court posthumously honoring more than ten loyal martyrs at once caused a great stir in Chengdu.

In every street and alley, those who knew of the matter rushed to spread the word, their voices echoing one after another. Before dusk, the news of the imperial court posthumously honoring him as a loyal and valiant man was known and talked about by everyone in this capital city of abundance.

By the next morning, notices were posted at the four gates of Tianfu.

As soon as the notice was posted, the four gates of the city were like a marketplace, with tens of millions of people gathering to see it.

The streets were deserted as everyone flocked to the area, a scene almost comparable to the day a few months earlier when the news of the great victory, "Guanzhong has been completely recovered and the capital has been returned to Xijing," arrived.

"I fear that my lack of virtue will cause me to lose the hopes of the people."

"Now that Guanzhong has been pacified and Xijing has been recovered."

"Though the world is not yet at peace, generals and officers have fallen at the hands of the enemy."

“If we do not discuss posthumous honors, how can we repay the loyalty and glory of our martyrs and comfort their souls in the afterlife?”

"I hereby specially order the relevant officials to thoroughly examine past glories and to determine a posthumous title."

"So that future generations may know what they have accomplished, and so that the nation may not fail those who have made meritorious contributions, thus ensuring their legacy endures for generations to come."

"...Guan Yu was posthumously honored as the Marquis Zhuangmu."

"...Zhang Fei was posthumously honored as Marquis Huan."

"...Huang Zhong was posthumously honored as Marquis Gang."

"...Ma Chao was posthumously honored as Marquis Wei."

"...Pang Tong was posthumously honored as Marquis Jing."

"...Ma Liang was posthumously honored as Marquis Zhen."

"...Feng Xi was posthumously honored as Marquis Zhongyin."

"...Fu Rong was posthumously honored as the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery."

"...Zhang Nan was posthumously honored as the Marquis of Zhongyi."

"...Cheng Ji was posthumously honored as Marquis Zhonggang."

"...Yang Hong was posthumously honored as Marquis Jingcheng!"

The literate scholars in the inner circle read aloud.

Those who couldn't squeeze into the inner circle and those who were illiterate all discussed this amongst themselves.

Jing'an Tower.

The largest government-run restaurant in Chengdu.

The storyteller who suddenly appeared in recent months and quickly became popular in Chengdu is now sitting behind a high stage and curtain.

With a slap of the ruler, the curtain was drawn back, and the storyteller, gently waving his feather fan, revealed his true form.

Before the storyteller could even utter a sound, dozens of high-ranking officials and nobles in the pavilion, nearly a hundred wealthy people around the stage, more than a hundred talented young men with some means of income on the outer perimeter, and children who wanted to listen but couldn't afford to enter the shop yet couldn't resist the urge to read, all clapped and cheered.

A few moments.

All the noises ceased.

The storyteller, surnamed Liu, rested his left hand on a ruler and lightly waved a feather fan in his right, speaking in a strange, undulating tone:

"Yesterday we talked about the late emperor leaping on his horse in Tanxi and escaping from the turbulent waves, and how Mr. Shuijing recommended him as a famous scholar!"
"Today, let's continue this wonderful story and recount to you the legendary tale of how the late emperor visited the prime minister three times at his thatched cottage in Longzhong, earnestly inviting him to serve in the government!"

"it is good!"

"it is good!"

The room erupted in cheers.

"...The next day, the late emperor, together with Lord Guan and Lord Zhang and others, came to Longzhong."

"Looking out over the mountainside, several people are tilling the fields with hoes, and I compose a song:"

"The sky is like a round canopy, and the land is like a chessboard."

"People distinguish between right and wrong, and contend for honor and disgrace."

"Those who are honored live in peace and tranquility, while those who are disgraced are destined for a life of toil and hardship."

"In Nanyang, there are hermits who sleep soundly, never tiring of their lives!"

"Upon hearing the song, the late emperor reined in his horse, summoned a farmer, and asked him:"
Who composed this song?
The answer was: It was written by Mr. Wolong.

"..."

"..."

The diners quickly became engrossed, listening intently.

Upon hearing that the late emperor had visited the prime minister again but had not found him, everyone sighed and lamented. They also admired and praised the two men, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who were renowned for their martial prowess and unparalleled prestige, and found them to be more approachable.

Just then, a small, black-clad figure from the eatery brought out a luxurious drink that had only been available for three months and had already become a sensation throughout Chengdu, and offered it exclusively to the high-ranking officials and nobles in the upper room.

As is widely known, the imperial court has newly established the position of Tea Official.

Just like the officials in charge of salt, brocade, iron, and copper.

Tea is produced by the tea official.

There are nine grades of tea.

The tea served in the pavilion is said to be a special type of tea reserved for high-ranking officials and nobles of the Han Dynasty.

How does this tea taste?

Apart from the high-ranking officials and nobles living in the attic, no one knew about it.

The wealthy people gathered below the storyteller's stage, even with their immense riches, had no chance to drink.

Often, one has to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to buy a single cup of fine tea.

The fourth-grade tea drink belongs to the rank of prefect or colonel with a salary of two thousand piculs.

The restaurant only serves twenty cups a day, and the highest bidder wins.

The fifth grade of tea drink corresponds to the rank of county magistrate or county head.

Only forty cups are served per day, and they are obtained through bidding among the restaurant's customers.

Only six types of tea drinks are available, with prices set and limited quantities offered at restaurants.

Two hundred cups a day.

A cup costs fifty coins.

This is the price of two shi of grain.

Every single day, they sell out immediately upon being released.

Beneath the pavilion, young tycoons would often spend thousands of dollars just to get a cup of the so-called "Three Dukes and Nine Ministers" tea, hoping to bask in the official air, only to be refused by the restaurants.

Despite being rejected, their extravagant spending of thousands of dollars on a cup of fragrant tea quickly made them famous in Chengdu's wealthy circles.

This has led many young people to follow suit.

But no matter how high the prices offered by these talented individuals, some even offering 20,000 per cup, Sanpin Xiangming still does not sell to anyone outside the pavilion.

In the end, many wealthy young men had no choice but to settle for second best and compete to buy the four-grade tea.

Diners say that this drink is bitter at first but sweet later, which is worlds apart from the bland, tasteless, and bitter well water.

Even the grape wine from the Western Regions has a unique flavor.

What is the concept of "Putao Fine Wine"?
Back then, Meng Da's father, Meng Tuo, presented a bushel of grape wine to Zhang Rang, a court attendant, and soon after, he was appointed as the governor of Liangzhou!
Cao Pi once issued an edict stating:
"China has many precious fruits, and let me tell you about the grape... Just hearing about it makes my mouth water, let alone actually eating it!"

As an emperor, in his edicts, he not only talked about eating and dressing, but also talked about his love for grapes and wine. He even said that just mentioning the name of wine was enough to make people drool, let alone taking a sip himself.

In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that grape wine, like pepper which also comes from the Western Regions, is more valuable than gold.

A single peppercorn is truly worth a grain of gold.

A glass of grape wine is almost as good as a glass of gold.

The fragrant tea that is now popular in Chengdu, especially the tea of ​​grade three and above, has only been around for a few months, but it has already gained the same charm as pepper and grape wine, making many wealthy families willing to spend a fortune on it.

After the first round of bidding for the fragrant tea ended, the storyteller picked up a cup of ordinary sixth-grade fragrant tea from the table, took a sip, and then continued his storytelling:
"It is said that the late emperor visited the prime minister twice but did not find him, so he wanted to visit him a third time."

Lord Guan said: "My lord has visited me twice in person, which is too much. I think Kongming has a reputation but no real learning, so I avoid him. Why are you so confused by this man, my lord!"
The late emperor said: "No, in the past, Duke Huan of Qi wanted to see the hermit of Dongguo, and he went five times before he was able to see him once. How much more so should I want to see a great sage?"
Zhang Hou said: "My lord, you are mistaken. Kongming is just a country bumpkin. How can he be considered a great sage? This time, there is no need for you to go. If he does not come, I will simply tie him up with a hemp rope and bring him here!"
The late emperor rebuked him, saying: "Have you not heard of King Wen of Zhou's visit to Jiang Ziya? King Wen was so respectful to the virtuous, yet you are so disrespectful! You shall leave now, and I will go with Guan Yu."

Zhang Hou then said: "Since our lord and brother have both left, how can Yide lag behind!"

"..." "..."

As the story unfolded, it finally reached its climax. The hundreds of people in the audience were completely engrossed, holding their breath and remaining silent for fear of disturbing the storyteller.

But then the storyteller struck his ruler and clapped his hands in a loud, rhythmic voice, saying:
The late emperor bowed to the prime minister and said: "Although I am of humble origin and meager virtue, I hope that you will not despise my lowly status and will come out of seclusion to assist me. I will listen attentively to your wise teachings!"
"If the Master does not appear, what will become of the people of the world!"

After speaking, tears soaked his sleeves and his clothes.

"Seeing that the late emperor's intentions were very sincere and profound, the prime minister bowed his head and prostrated himself on the ground, weeping as he pleaded:
"Since the general does not abandon me, I am willing to serve him like a dog or a horse!"

Upon hearing this, the audience once again praised the late emperor's eagerness to seek out talented individuals and his courteous treatment of others. They were also moved by the fact that the prime minister and the late emperor had such a story, which explained why the late emperor and the prime minister got along so well and why the prime minister devoted himself to the Han Dynasty.

The storyteller has finished his tale for today.

As is customary, the screen on the stage will soon be drawn, and the storyteller will soon retreat from behind the curtain.

However, at that moment, a talented young man in the audience suddenly shouted in a loud voice:

"Mr. Liu, you've been talking for over three months before you finally mentioned that the late emperor asked the prime minister to come out of seclusion!"

"When will we finally hear about the stories of Fu Zhongyong, Zhang Zhongyi, Cheng Zhonggang, and Feng Zhongyin who sacrificed their lives for the late emperor?!"

"Now that His Majesty has posthumously honored him with the title of Zhonglie, the whole world is honored. Today I will give you 100,000 coins, and I will give you another 10,000 coins, Mr. Liu!"

"Stay here and tell us your stories of loyalty, courage, perseverance, fortitude, and seclusion!"

Upon hearing this, the restaurants erupted in a commotion.

"Yes, Mr. Liu, at this moment of great victory in the campaign against Wu, the humiliation of Yiling being wiped away, and the posthumous honor of loyalty and heroism, why don't you tell us about it!"

The storyteller had intended to leave, but upon hearing this, he stayed.

A short while later, a servant boy came out from behind the curtain, whispered a few words to the storyteller, and then the storyteller clapped his ruler and began:
"Very well, since we are here at this opportune moment, I shall speak with you all!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the young talent who had kept the storyteller there immediately took out a string of jade pendants from his waist with great pride and handed them to the eatery as collateral. He then beckoned to a servant who was fanning him and told the servant to go home and get the money.

By the time the servant brought the money, the storyteller had already reached the most exciting part of the story:
"Now, let's talk about Xu Tui, the commander of the late emperor."

"Fu Zhongyong led a lone army, holding the rear guard for the late emperor, and resisted the Wu traitors!"
"His soldiers, even when their arrows were exhausted, their bowstrings broken, their swords worn out, and their armor tattered, still fought bravely and fearlessly!"
"Those who rush forward with weapons against the Wu traitors, baring their teeth and biting the traitors, are like moths drawn to a flame, one after another without end!"
"When all the soldiers under Fu Zhongyong's command had died, Fu Zhongyong's clothes were covered in blood. He no longer looked like a real person, but rather like a mighty god or ghost."

"When Wu saw this, he was afraid, so he sent someone to Fu Zhongyong's side to make him surrender."

Fu Zhongyong glared and shouted: "Wu dog! What kind of Han general has surrendered!"
"He then brandished his sword and charged into battle again. Even as he was about to die, he still managed to kill more than a dozen Wu generals and officers. He died when he was exhausted and bleeding to death, but his knees could not bend!"

"The people of Wu harbored resentment and wanted to disembowel him and rip out his heart!"
"But Fu Zhongyong was as bold as a bushel and his face was as red as cinnabar!"
"The bandits of Wu were all terrified and dared not fail to preserve Fu Zhongyong's body, so they gave him a proper and respectful burial!"

That was the end of his statement.

Whether it was the high-ranking officials and their sons in the attic, or the young talents of the powerful and wealthy families around the desk, all were stirred by the heroic story of Marquis Fu Tong.

"Even the ancient warriors Ben and Yu are no match for this!"

"This is the right way for a man to establish himself in the world!"

"We, the sons of Han, would rather be broken by a knife than by a knee!"

"..."

After the young talents had calmed down, the storyteller continued to recount the loyal and courageous deeds of generals Zhang Nan, Feng Xi, and Cheng Ji.

"Cheng Zhonggang then returned up the river."

"Some may plead with Cheng Zhonggang: General, please listen to me. Wu Shu's pursuers have arrived, and our boats cannot go back upstream. The only way to escape death is to disembark and flee!"

Cheng Zhonggang angrily retorted: "In my military service, I have never been defeated and forced to flee by the enemy!"

"Besides, Your Majesty is still not far upstream on the great river, how could I abandon Your Majesty and flee?!"

"Thereupon, the rear guard was left to form a wall across the river."

"His fleet consisted of only a dozen or so warships and fewer than a thousand sailors."

"They all faced west, and shouted loudly towards the late emperor's ship and dragon banner, expressing their willingness to die for their country!"
"The sound shook the waves and resounded through the sky. The late emperor had already gone several miles away, but the sound still lingered in his ears, and he wept bitterly."

"Cheng Zhonggang then led his men eastward downstream and used their boats to ram the Wu naval forces."

"The enemy ships were surrounded by ten layers of ships, and arrows and stones rained down upon them."

"Cheng Zhonggang's ship had its masts completely broken and its cabin planks were like hedgehogs."

"Even with broken arms or pierced chests, the boatmen still turned their oars and rowed against the current!"

"At that time, as dusk fell, someone asked:"

"General Cheng, His Majesty is safe and sound. We have done our best, but if we fight any longer, we will be of no use to the country. We might as well take advantage of the night to jump into the river and escape, and perhaps we can survive!"
"Cheng Zhonggang glared and drew his sword to strike the side of the ship."

He shouted sternly: "I have heard that a Han general can die, but cannot flee!"

"The Wu people tried to board the ship, but Cheng Zhonggang fought them with his halberd, and some of the enemy ships capsized."

"When the enemy forces arrived in great numbers, they attacked them together."

"Cheng Zhonggang was wounded dozens of times, his blood staining the river, yet he still held a long halberd and stood at the bow of the boat."

"The thief dared not press him, but circled around and shot at him, the arrows gathering in his chest like hedgehog bristles."

"As the boat sank halfway, Zhonggang raised his arms and shouted: "
"When I die, I will become a vengeful ghost and kill you rats!"

"He then threw himself into the river and died; his body remained standing in the water."

"The men of Wu retrieved the corpse and found it with angry eyes, lifelike!"

No one in the restaurants cheered for it.

However, some praised the bravery and righteousness of generals such as Fu Zhongyong and Cheng Zhonggang.

Some praised the late emperor for his ability to gain the loyalty of those who would die for him.

Some people even hated Wu Zetian with a vengeance, wishing they could eat his flesh and sleep on his skin.

There is more than one such restaurant.

Such a story was not told by just one person.

In markets, neighborhoods, temples, and military camps, the posthumous conferment of titles upon the loyal and valiant is a topic of conversation everywhere.

Even ordinary people who were usually unaware of national affairs stopped hoeing and weaving and gathered together to discuss them.

Once the discussion began, some people began to study the system of posthumous titles.

Between Guan Yu, the Marquis of Zhuangmu, and Zhang Gong, the Marquis of Huan, who is more venerable?

Some well-meaning people might say: Zhuang represents martial prowess in defeating enemies, Mu signifies profound virtue and grace, and Huan embodies the meaning of expanding territory and subduing distant lands; therefore, Zhuang should be ranked above Mu.

Some people also say:

Lord Guan flooded the seven armies, his might shook the land, and his great achievements were undeniable. Therefore, although his posthumous title was second only to the first rank, the people still regarded Lord Guan as the most outstanding.

The loss of Jingzhou was entirely due to Guan Yu. It was not merely a military defeat, but a matter of national destiny. Therefore, the court conveyed this subtle meaning when posthumously awarding him a title.

Similarly, there was Feng Xi, who was posthumously honored as "Marquis Zhongyin".

The phrase "威德刚武" (Wei De Gang Wu) is used to describe someone who is "hidden" or "misguided in his understanding of the country." When Feng Xi was the Grand Commander, he was responsible for the defeat caused by his underestimation of the enemy. The court, in its remedy of his loyalty and bravery, used "威德刚武" (Wei De Gang Wu) to cover up his mistakes.

Before the discussion had ended, further doubts arose:
Why did Yang Hong, the Prefect of Shu Commandery, receive the same posthumous title as Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, Huang Zhong, Fu Yi, Feng Yu, Cheng Yu, and Zhang Fei?
People in the city speculated wildly.

It is unknown who initiated this, but rumors began to circulate that very day:

Before his death, Yang Hong presented a thousand-word strategy for attacking Wu.

He lay prostrate on his couch, saying: "We must attack Wu; the time is ripe."

The emperor read his last letter and wept, and thus bestowed upon him a posthumous title.

By this time, everyone in Chengdu knew that Yang Hong's posthumous title was not related to his military achievements, but rather to his loyalty and strategic thinking. Therefore, he was able to receive the same honorary title as other generals who died in the campaign against Wu, such as Fu Tong, Feng Xi, Zhang Nan, and Cheng Ji.

At this point, everyone in Chengdu knew that the Emperor's determination to attack Wu was firm, and the hearts of the Han people were united.

Before the tomb of Yang Hong, the loyal and virtuous general, the cavalry commander, and the governor of Shu Commandery.

The Prime Minister's wife, the Chief Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office Jiang Wan, the Clerk Li Fu, and Yang Hong's son Yang Jiong burned incense and offered sacrifices at the tomb.

Jiang Wan, holding the emperor's edict, spoke slowly.

"..."

"General Yang Hong, the Loyal and Integrity General, Colonel of the Yue Cavalry, and Prefect of Shu Commandery, died in office."

"Hearing that Hong was about to die, he dared not forget his concern for the country and offered two strategies for attacking Wu."

"His loyalty and integrity can be witnessed by heaven and earth, mountains and rivers, the sun, the moon and the stars."

"According to the posthumous title system, 'Respectful' means being vigilant day and night, 'Respectful' means never forgetting one's ruler, 'Complete' means being vigilant day and night, and 'Complete' means assisting one's ministers to the end."

"I posthumously honor his achievements with the title of Marquis Jingcheng."

"Ji Xiu, His Majesty knows of your loyalty."

"You can rest in peace now."

(End of this chapter)