The Duke of Shu Han began guarding Jingzhou in place of Guan Yu.

Chapter 134 Each to Their Own Duty
Li Yan had fantasized countless times about entering the capital city.

The emperor's envoys greeted them outside the city, officials bowed in welcome, and common people lined the streets.

Ultimately, the emperor would personally set up an altar to appoint generals or prime ministers.

But none of these fantasies have ever been as desolate and cold as this one.

Before entering the city, one must even remove one's official seal and sword, and guards are not allowed to accompany one.

Aside from not being put in the jailer's car, what difference is there between me and a criminal?
"Master Li, how have you been?"

A familiar voice came.

Li Yan looked closely and recognized Yang Hong, who had once served as his subordinate as a clerk and was now the governor of Shu Commandery, holding a position with a salary of two thousand shi (a unit of grain).

Li Yan: "Of all the old friends from years ago, I never expected that only Ji Xiu would come to greet me."

Yang: "Li Gong once recommended me, this is just a matter of courtesy."

"When foreign generals escort prisoners of war into the city, the local prefect should take over their duties; this is the law."

"You always keep public and private matters separate," Li Yan sighed softly.

"Are you going to question me next about why I received the imperial edict but delayed setting off for nearly ten days?"

Yang Hong replied solemnly, "This is a matter of national importance."

Li Yan immediately lost interest.

Seeing Yang Hong's businesslike demeanor, he could only bite the bullet and say:
"I unfortunately contracted dysentery, and then pursued the enemy to the territory of Qianwei while ill. It took more than half a month to finally defeat the enemy... Did Mi Shishan and Zhang Boqi not report this to Your Majesty?"

Yang Hong shook his head and said:
“Mi, Zhang and others were ordered to handle the affairs of Hanjia County. Apart from sending Ma Zhongdong to Jianwei to pacify the local area, they did not mention Li Gong at all.”

Upon hearing this, Li Yan was overjoyed and immediately straightened his back slightly, saying:
"I have captured the barbarian chieftain Gao Ding."

Yang Hong remained noncommittal, but ordered his men to bring forward the barbarian chieftain that Li Yan had mentioned.

Pointing to the man, Li Yan asked:

"Is this the Gao Ding?"

Li Yan: "Exactly!"

Yang Hong: "How can you prove it?"

Li Yan's expression changed, and he said unhappily:
"You suspect I'm faking it?"

Yang Hong: "This matter is of great importance and should not be taken lightly."

Li Yan was furious, but knowing he was in the wrong, he fabricated a story:

“His wives and concubines testified that they were also among the captives.”

Yang Hong: "How can you prove she is a wife or concubine?"

Li Yan: "Sleeping together under the same quilt, how can that not be?"

“Barbarians are rude, and their wives and concubines may not be true wives and concubines.”

Yang Hong shook his head.

"Very well, since Lord Li cannot produce any more evidence, then I will prove it."

He immediately ordered his men to bring in the Gaoding tribesmen whom Mi Wei had captured in the southern part of Shu Commandery.

Li Yan's heart sank. He made up his mind that no matter who came, he would accuse Mi Wei and others of bribing witnesses and slandering him.

But the next moment.

But he saw an angry, barbarian man break free from the soldiers' restraints.

He rushed to the "haute couture" he had brought, taking two steps at a time.

He kicked the latter to the ground.

And he shouted at the top of his lungs:
"Li Qiucheng, you dog! I asked you to use my flag to draw away the government troops, and you actually took the opportunity to seize my wives, concubines, and daughters..."

Then this person swore a lot of vulgarities, which were incomprehensible but could be clearly heard from the tone of the voice.

However, Li Yan had already lost interest in paying attention to it.

By this point, he was well aware that his carefully crafted lie had long been exposed.
Yang Hong's actions just now were more like official business.

Rather, it's more accurate to say that he used official business as a pretext to give himself one last chance to confess and repent.

They really do care about our past relationship.

Unfortunately, I still wasted it.

With his spirits broken, Li Yan collapsed to his knees with a thud.

Upon seeing this, Yang Hong quickly stepped forward to help him up.

"Quarterly break!"

Li Yan grabbed Yang Hong's hand.

"Tell me, where exactly am I inferior to Mi Shishan?"

Yang Hong thought to himself that the difference was huge.

But after much thought, if we really had to pinpoint what caused their current divergent futures, it would probably be their difference in "capacity."

Then he said truthfully:

“I have long known that Lord Li aspires to become a high-ranking official.”

“However, those who hold a position of ten thousand shi (a unit of grain) often have the power of a prime minister, even if they do not have the title.”

"Does Lord Li know the Prime Minister?"

"How could I not know?" Li Yan replied.

The former Chancellor of the Former Han Dynasty said: "The Chancellor assists the Emperor in regulating Yin and Yang, in accordance with the four seasons, in nurturing all things, in pacifying the barbarian tribes and feudal lords, and in fostering close ties with the people, so that all officials can fulfill their duties!"

Yang Hong: "That's exactly right!"

"Please ask yourself, Lord Li, can you truly bring peace to the feudal lords, win over the people, and ensure that all your ministers fulfill their duties?"

Li Yan was slightly taken aback, then honestly shook his head.

Yang Hong said, "But Master Mi is skilled."

Li Yan exclaimed in surprise, "You think so highly of him?" "It's not that I think highly of him," Yang Hong sighed.

"Now, from the emperor to the common people, from the Han and Mian rivers in the east to the Shu River in the west, everyone who has come into contact with Mi Shishan has benefited from him! Everyone is impressed by his magnanimity!"

"Ultimately, those who govern, from the people below to the emperor above, all have to deal with people."

"If one lacks the capacity to tolerate others internally and the heart to be fair externally, how can one gain the trust of the masses?"

"If, in addition to this, one can also help others succeed, so that everyone, from top to bottom, can make the most of their talents and each gain something, then that is the ultimate good!"

Li Yan was stunned and speechless.

After a long while, he sighed softly and exhaled:
"My son hasn't been replying to his letters lately; I suppose he's lost heart to him?"

Yang Hong nodded heavily.

Li Yan finally fell completely silent.

……

"In the blink of an eye, it's harvest season again!"

The elk and stag horse walked slowly along the road.

Looking out over the plains where golden ears of grain stretch as far as the eye can see.

My mood is as refreshing as the clear autumn weather.

After all, he made a small contribution to this season's success.

Just then, a rider came galloping towards them.

It was Ma Zhong and Ma Dexin who returned north before him.

Because of his meritorious service in pacifying the local people of Jianwei, and with the recommendation of Mi Wei, Ma Zhong was promoted to the Central Army and appointed as Military Commander.

Wang Ping was also promoted.

However, because he needed to assist Mi-wi in pacifying Han-Gia County, he did not return with Mi-wi until this time.

After exchanging pleasantries, Mi Wei asked:

"I returned in haste by imperial decree and am unaware of the affairs of the people in the south. Has the court offered any explanation?"

Ma Zhong: "A few days ago, on the first day of the month, an imperial edict was issued."

"Chen Zhen and Chen Xiaoqi, the prefects of Wenshan, were transferred to be the prefects of Jianwei and concurrently served as the Right Governor of Yijiang."

“Chen Xiaoqi is a capable minister; replacing Li Zhengfang with him is indeed appropriate.” Mi Wei nodded. “Anything else?”

Ma Zhong: "The imperial court plans to establish more county temples in Maoniu to assimilate the barbarian people."

"Zhang Boqi was recommended by the Commandant and became the county magistrate, concurrently serving as the deputy commander of the right governor of Yijiang. He was in charge of opening up the old Maoniu Road, assimilating the southern barbarians, and connecting the north and south."

Mi Wei shook his head: "Bo Qi's promotion was mainly due to his own efforts; my recommendation was just going with the flow."

Ma Zhong hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

But he patiently continued:
"The imperial court conferred the title of King of Maoniutian Goupi upon Langlu and appointed his uncle Langli as prime minister and regent."

"Of course, both of them must obey County Magistrate Zhang Boqi."

This was expected.

Mi Wei nodded and asked, "Is there anything else?"

Ma Zhong thought for a moment and then said, "Huang Yuan and Li Yan have been demoted to commoners, but their crimes have not extended to their relatives."

"The former was corrected in time, and the latter was due to the merits of his son, Li Feng."

"Li Feng then entered the court as a physician."

"Then Gong Lu, the prefect of Bazhou, was appointed as the prefect of Hanjia, succeeding Huang Yuan."

"In addition, the general consensus is that Ma Youchang has made great progress and can be appointed as a junior official in the Ministry of Personnel. However, His Majesty said that one should finish what one starts, so he will wait until he has served as a junior official for a full year before entering the cabinet."

"In addition, Fei Yi, the magistrate of Dangyang in Jingzhou, and Pan Mi, the Attendant Gentleman of the General, have both achieved good results in their respective localities. Next year, they will also be appointed as Gentlemen of the Imperial Secretariat."

At this point, Ma Zhong finally couldn't help but say:
"All of the above were recommended by the Commandant."

"Does the Commandant know how nursery rhymes are sung in the capital these days?"

As long as it's not "a thousand miles of grass, how green they are."

Mi Wei muttered something to himself and gestured for Ma Zhong to continue.

Ma Zhong chuckled and sang:

"A government vehicle is not as good as a personal carriage, a salary is not as good as knowing how to recognize a deer, doing good deeds is not as good as teaching good deeds, and official power is not as good as the power of a deer!"

Mi Wei felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this.

Who the hell is trying to flatter me to death?!

He asked urgently, "Who made up this rumor?"

Ma Zhong had meant it as a joke, but he hadn't expected Mi Wei to react so strongly. He clasped his hands and said:

"His Majesty sings that during court assemblies too..."

what? !

Mi Wei felt even colder inside.

This is terrible, this clique-forming and self-serving behavior is a serious offense!
I should have known better than to recommend so many people.

I was hoping to curry favor with someone powerful, but who would have thought that recommending someone would lead to their hiring?
Old Liu is really something.

If you don't like it, just say so. You don't have to use it... Oh well, I might as well take this opportunity to resign and go home to my wife, kids, and a warm bed.

Since Lao Liu didn't even kill Li Yan, my survival shouldn't be a problem.

Hmm... let's start by having a baby.

As they pondered, a "public vehicle" responsible for recruiting people to North Korea slowly drove up.

The official in charge of the imperial carriage relayed the imperial edict, ordering Mi Wei to immediately enter the palace to meet the emperor.

　Thank you to [Little One Piece] for the 100 Qidian Coins!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)