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

Chapter 292 Choosing the Lesser of Two Evils

It has to be said that the older Pan Jun gets, the clearer his mind becomes.

No wonder he was able to hold the position of one of the Nine Ministers of Eastern Wu for a long time in history until his death.

With a sigh of relief, Miwei decided to give Old Deng a heads-up:
"Cao Pi is about to die; this is an opportunity we must not miss."

Pan Jun's eyes widened instantly upon hearing the first four words.

It's not that I'm surprised by this news.

Because the news had reached Chang'an long before Liao Li caused trouble.

Rather, it refers to Mi Wei's short sentence.

This is in conjunction with Zhuge Liang's deliberate act of allowing Liao Li to attack him.

Pan Jun instantly understood what this meant.

Another war is about to break out!
The reason I say "again" is...

This was because only a year had passed since the recapture of Chang'an.

It had only been a little over six months since the complete eradication of Guanzhong and the implementation of the new policies.

It was a time when everything was in ruins and needed to be rebuilt.

If it weren't for Cao Pi's impending death bringing an additional, and extremely rare, opportunity...
We should rest and recuperate for two or three years, and wait until the people inside the pass have completely submitted before discussing war again.

But then again.

No matter how rare this opportunity may be, it only applies to the imperial court.

For the people and people in Guannei who have suffered from war for many years.

Of course, we should avoid war if possible.

If we can postpone the fight for a few years, we should postpone it for a few years.

Even if you're loyal to the emperor and want to serve your country, you still need to fill your stomach first, right?
This is a structural contradiction that naturally arises from the historical situation in Guanzhong.

It cannot be resolved in a short time.

The only option is to try to mitigate the situation.

Pan Jun pondered for a few breaths and said:

"I don't agree with Prime Minister Liao Liyan's deliberate indulgence of his son in making enemies of his allies. After all, without a powerful leader, the cowards of Jiangdong are bound to live such a wretched life."

"But after the Sun family refused to send troops, I thought the Prime Minister would persuade the generals to back down, but I didn't expect that he would eventually decide to send troops."

Upon hearing this, Miwei shook his head slightly and said:
"Actually, it's not just the generals who want to send troops."

"In the past, the prime minister often provided ample food and troops for the late emperor in the rear, so people always thought he was Xiao He of the current dynasty."

"In fact, the Prime Minister followed the late Emperor in his early years and was deeply influenced by him. If it weren't for the fact that he was the only one who could be appointed to the rear, he might have wanted to be a Cao Can who was both literate and skilled in martial arts!"

Pan Jun opened his mouth slightly, somewhat surprised.

However, I finally became certain of what I had in mind.

Suddenly realizing and sighing:

“When troops are dispatched out of season, the generals are constrained by public opinion and their actions are inevitably hampered.”

"But now, because of Liao Li's arrogance, the focus of discussion in the court and among the people has shifted to the Prime Minister. In the short term, General, you can actually act more freely!"

"In terms of strategy and tactics, this matter is a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils."

"In terms of human relationships, it means sacrificing oneself for the sake of the world... Such magnanimity is truly worthy of being called a virtuous person!"

"To be blunt, if the late emperor were still alive, the prime minister should not have been made to bear the brunt of public criticism!"

The implication is that this sophisticated operation of diverting conflicts between superiors and subordinates for the generals should be done by the emperor himself.

However, it is clear that Xiao Liu is far less prestigious than Lao Liu.

Only Zhuge Liang could shoulder this responsibility.

Mi Wei shook his head and said, "It would be undesirable to force growth. Besides, His Majesty's cooperation with the Prime Minister's plan and the selection of you to handle this case is enough to repay the Prime Minister's sacrifice."

"Too……"

Pan Jun sighed softly and said solemnly:
"If the Prime Minister is willing to risk his reputation, why should I care about my later years? We should try our best to cover up this matter in the future."

"The future will ultimately be determined by the outcome of military battles."

"If we win, Liao Li's false accusations will fall apart on their own."

He then pointed to the map that had been deliberately rolled up on the table and said:

"I won't ask about the specific details, such as which general led the expedition or how the battle was fought."

After saying this, he got up and took his leave.

Mi Wei personally escorted it.

The two walked outside. Pan Jun looked at the still magnificent, albeit dilapidated, city of Chang'an and stopped, saying:
"While the Prime Minister's method can solve the immediate problem, in the long run, public opinion will eventually turn to the issue of sending troops."

"If the imperial court wants to appease those within the pass, it will probably have to make some concessions, right?" "Of course," Mi Wei nodded.

"This morning I submitted a memorial to Your Majesty, mentioning three matters."

"Firstly, if the war goes smoothly, the land rent and household tax in the interior can be reduced or exempted for several years to increase the savings of the people."

"Secondly, the positions of Tiger Guard and Feathered Forest Guard could be re-established in the palace, following previous precedents, to strengthen the palace."

"This year's batch will prioritize children from within the Great Wall."

These were all expected, and Poon Chun was not surprised.

"Thirdly, my father petitioned to retire due to old age and illness, and the court has granted his request."

"In this way, the position of Minister of Works will be vacant, which is a good opportunity to recruit talented people from within the pass to fill the position."

Upon hearing this, Pan Jun once again showed a surprised expression.

After a long silence, he sighed:
"To be frank, there are very few people in my life whom I truly respect."

"The late emperor is one, and the prime minister is another."

"From this day forward, Minister Sikong will also be included."

After seeing Pan Jun off, Mi Wei returned to his residence.

The servants were tidying up the things on the table, but no one touched the rolled-up map made of silk.

Miwei stepped forward and gently opened it.

As the cloth was unfolded, the words "Hedong" (河东, meaning "East of the River") came into view.

……

"As expected, they still chose to send troops to Hedong."

Jiang Wei gazed at the supply train winding northward across the Wei Bridge, then looked at his exquisite armor and subconsciously tightened his grip on his sword hilt.

Ten days ago, the imperial court adopted the suggestion of General Mi Wei and officially re-established the positions of Tiger Guard and Feathered Forest Guard.

Among them, the Tiger Guards were filled by the sons of meritorious officials and the sons of gentry families within the pass. Guan Xing, the former Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant, was transferred to the position of Tiger Guard General, in charge of all Tiger Guard positions.

The Imperial Guards continued to follow the old practice, selecting men from good families in the six prefectures who were skilled in riding and archery to fill the positions.

Jiang Wei was appointed as the General of the Imperial Guards due to Mi Wei's recommendation.

The latter was thus promoted to the rank of official equivalent to two thousand piculs of grain.

Jiang Wei was naturally grateful to Mi Wei.

After all, this prestigious and important position within the Forbidden City is something many people desperately want and yearn for.
On the other hand, because the position of Yulin Zhonglang General was within the palace, it was only available to the emperor in person or through special appointments.

Otherwise, there would be almost no possibility of killing enemies and achieving merit on the battlefield.

And this young emperor of the current dynasty doesn't seem like the type to be a ruler who rises from humble beginnings...

My feelings were a bit complicated.

"Boyo!"

The sound of horses' hooves came from behind, interrupting Jiang Wei's thoughts.

Looking back, it was Deng Ai, who had just returned from a hunting trip.

Several wild pheasants and rabbits were tied to the horse behind them, indicating a very successful haul.

It is worth mentioning that, considering he was about to enter a period of mourning for his father, and in order not to delay everyone's future, Mi Wei actually recommended all the talented assistants under his command at the same time.

Even if someone lacks talent, as long as they are of good character, they can still find a job that allows the other person to make a living.

Deng Ai is naturally included in this.

Mi Wei recommended him for the position of Prefect of Fengyi Commandery.

However, unlike Jiang Wei's recommendation, it was adopted directly.

The competition for the position of Prefect of Fengyi was extremely fierce, and in the end, the imperial court chose She Yuan, who had more seniority.

Jiang Wei thought Deng Ai would be depressed for quite some time because of this.

But looking at the other party's relaxed appearance, are they completely unaffected?

Out of curiosity, he rode forward.

Deng Ai casually handed over a few wild rabbits as a gift, then turned his gaze to Jiang Wei's back.

The Imperial Guards knights naturally recognized Deng Ai and Deng Shizai, who were under General Wei's command, and they all stood tall and proud.

Deng Ai couldn't help but exclaim in admiration:
"Six, the sons of the six prefectures are mostly skilled riders, their reputation is well-deserved."

"Uncle, with such a powerful army at your command, perhaps you can achieve even greater feats!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wei's expression darkened.

(End of this chapter)