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

Chapter 297 Memorial to the Throne

"If Your Majesty is in good health, Zhang He will naturally comply."

"But Yuanzhi wrote earlier saying that His Majesty is on his deathbed... Who in Luoyang can force Zhang He to go north?"

Wu Zhi's expression immediately changed:
"Why are you only telling me now that it's so important?"

Sima Yi said with a half-smile:

"If I had told you a few days earlier, would you still be preparing for the battle with the same dedication?"

Then, pointing to Wu Zhi, whose face looked embarrassed, he said:

“Look, even a general like you, leading troops in the field, finds it difficult to concentrate on the war because the emperor’s carriage is in danger. How much more so the gentlemen in Luoyang?”

"In my opinion, Chen Changwen is mostly just giving me the runaround right now... Xu Yuanzhi, on the other hand, is at least willing to tell me the truth, so my trust in him is not in vain."

As he spoke, Sima Yi looked up at the sky and exhaled a long breath, saying:

"That's fine."

"As you said, my horse has reached the foot of the mountain. Is there any other way out? It's just a matter of giving it my all."

"Besides, if we are in trouble, isn't Zhuge Liang also in trouble?"

"According to Xu Yuanzhi, he has risked his entire life's reputation for this battle. If he fails to capture Hedong, he will have difficulty explaining himself to his superiors and subordinates in the future."

"If I can hold out in Hedong for half a year, even if I ultimately fail, I will have lived up to the court's expectations and can return to Luoyang with my head held high!"

After saying this, Sima Yi spurred his horse forward and caught up with the army.

Wu Zhi glanced back at the direction of Henan, gritted his teeth, and spurred his horse to follow.

……

This is thanks to Zhuge Liang's hands-on approach to everything.

The Ministry of Works efficiently completed the grain and fodder allocation in just half a day.

The Tiger Warriors and the Imperial Guards are also fully prepared to set off.

However, just when everyone thought that the reinforcements from Hedong would stop there.

Wei Yan abruptly transferred military power in Henan to Guan Ping.

He personally led eight thousand elite troops westward from Hongnong by boat.

The fleet then passed Tongguan without entering, drawing a sharp arc across the river in every sense of the word, heading straight for Puban.

This move immediately shocked the government and the public.

The so-called Shaanxi County will fall soon.

The so-called distrust of Zhang Fei.

Why did all those excuses suddenly disappear?
Before everyone could ponder it, a copy of the "Memorial on Dispatching the Troops" was presented to the emperor.

And it was promulgated to the world at Liu Shan's behest.

The people of Chang'an finally understood.

Zhuge Liang, in his capacity as Prime Minister, was determined to personally go to Hedong to oversee the battle, coordinate the various armies, and verify the battle achievements.

Wei Yan's concerns about Zhang Fei naturally disappeared.

Could one possibly question Prime Minister Zhuge?

"The late emperor worked diligently to establish the dynasty, deeply considering that the Han and the rebels could not coexist and that the royal cause could not be secured by a partial peace. Therefore, even in his sixties, he still personally went to the battlefield. This is what the sage meant by 'dying before he was done.'"

"...The world is now divided into three, with the rise of the Han dynasty and the decline of both Wei and Wu. This is truly a golden opportunity bestowed by Heaven."

"...General Mi Wei is humble and modest, discerning in people and affairs. He was tested in the past, and the late emperor praised him as 'good.' Therefore, the people unanimously elected Wei as a general."

"...The reason why the Later Han Dynasty declined was because it favored petty men and distanced itself from virtuous ministers. When the late emperor was alive, he often discussed this matter with me, and he never failed to sigh and lament the actions of Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling."

"...General, Minister, Vice Minister, these are all loyal and virtuous ministers who would die for their principles. I hope Your Majesty will be close to them and trust them..."

"...I was originally a commoner, farming in Nanyang, barely surviving in this chaotic world, and did not seek fame or fortune among the lords."

"...The late emperor knew of my prudence, so he entrusted me with important matters before his death."

"Since receiving this commission, I have been filled with worry day and night."

"...This is how I repay the late emperor and fulfill my duty to Your Majesty."

"As for weighing the pros and cons and offering loyal advice, that is the responsibility of Youzhi, Yun, and Yi."

"Now that I am about to depart, tears stream down my face as I write this, and I am at a loss for words."

As he finished reading, Yang Xi, the chief secretary, put down the official gazette and suddenly felt his vision blurring. He rubbed his eyes.

Then look at General Mi Wei in front of him.

But the other person was standing with their hands behind their back, gazing out the window, their eyes deep and unfathomable, as if deep in thought.

He turned around after a moment and said:

"There are too few guards in the Forbidden City. Transfer half of the soldiers in the mansion to the palace and hand them over to His Majesty for disposal."

Yang Xi agreed while taking notes.

Mi Wei: "Keep a close eye on Liao Li and Li Ping... You can have Deng Shizai handle this matter. He'll have some free time after the army goes to war."

Yang Xi continued to agree and write it down.

Mi Wei: "Has my letter recommending Xu Jingshan (Xu Miao) been delivered to the Prime Minister's residence?"

Yang Xi looked up and said, "It was delivered to your residence the day before yesterday."

"However, Hu, the chief clerk, said that Xu Gong is not a man of great talent. If the Prime Minister can recover Hedong in this battle, there will be vacancies in the prefectures and counties. It would be appropriate to appoint Xu Gong as a prefect with a salary of two thousand shi in a prefecture, so as to show the court's determination to value the virtuous and capable. Therefore, he has not been appointed to office yet."

Hu Zhubu was none other than Hu Ji, the chief clerk of the prime minister.

Mi Wei nodded slightly and said:
"The Prime Minister has considered everything carefully. Send someone to relay these words to Lord Xu verbatim."

Yang Xi took notes again.

Miwei: "Is there anything else that was overlooked?"

Yang Xi thought for a moment and said:
“There is a son of the Ju family in Hanchang, Bazhou, named Fu, courtesy name Xiaoxing, who claims to be skilled in archery and horsemanship and knowledgeable in military affairs. Yesterday, he sent his visiting card.”

Mi Weidao:
"I remember Ma Dexin (Ma Zhong) was once the magistrate of Hanchang County?"

Yang Xi nodded and said:
"General Ma did mention a strong man in the county named Ju Fu. But Ju Xiaoxing did not mention his old friend, probably because he was worried that if he was not employed, it would tarnish the reputation of his old friend."

"He does know how to consider others." Mi Wei nodded.

"Zhan Jun is old and his old illness has flared up. He had previously asked me to let him retire. I have already agreed to let him transfer to the position of gatekeeper of the General of the Guards' mansion and retire in Chang'an."

"We happen to be short of a scout commander right now, so let Ju Xiaoxing give him a try."

"If he lives up to his name, then let him succeed Jiang Boyue as the commander under his command."

Yang Xi solemnly wrote it down, but it wasn't just a handwritten copy; it was a formal appointment.

The seal of General Wei will be affixed later.

Mi Wei sighed slightly:
"Now that the central government has moved to Chang'an for more than a year, scholars from all over the country who still have the Han dynasty in mind are flocking to Guanzhong to join them, and Yizhou is no exception."

“In the past, the late emperor treated virtuous and capable people with great kindness, and only one in ten scholars from all over the country came to serve him.”

"Since our dynasty took control of Guanzhong and the court returned to the old capital, it has only been a year, but the number of scholars who have come to join us has increased several times over, so there is no worry about not having enough people to employ."

Upon hearing this, Yang Xi paused slightly while writing.

Miwei glanced sideways and said:
"What, Wenran, have some old friends coming to visit you too?"

Yang Xi was slightly taken aback and said:

“My friends all have their own futures, so I don’t need to worry about them.”

"I heard some time ago that there is a scholar named Qiao Zhou, courtesy name Yunnan, from Xichong in Brazil, who intends to join the Prime Minister's household."

"Who would have thought that Guan Xing, the Tiger-like General of the Central Army, would tell everyone that this man was more trouble than he was worth. Qiao Zhou was ashamed and indignant at this opinion, so he threw his name card into the well and left in a huff."

Mi Wei's eyes finally showed a hint of emotion.

Where is Qiao Zhou now? Can he still be brought back?

Yang Xi asked, "Does the general wish to recruit this man?"

Miwei nodded:
"Even if it's just to salvage Anguo's reputation, I have to do something."

Yang Xi smiled upon hearing this and said:
"If that's the case, it's not difficult."

"To be honest, I have a good friend named Cheng Qi, who is the son of Cheng Jiran, the Chief Instructor of Yizhou. He is from the same prefecture as Qiao Zhou."

He once suggested that Qiao Zhou come and join the general.

"But Qiao Zhou told him that the general is both a scholar and a warrior, well-versed in the works of various philosophers, and also deeply knowledgeable in apocryphal texts. His talents are of little use to the general. Unless the general intends to recruit him, he dares not try to show off his skills in front of an expert, lest he make the general laugh."

Mi Wei's expression became completely uneasy.

(End of this chapter)