Has the Han Dynasty been restored today?

In Mianyang City of Hanzhong Commandery, the Prime Minister's residence occupied the very center of the city, nearly half of the area, and was more than a mile long and wide, making it a city within a city.

Although called a mansion, it was actually the power center of the entire Northern Expeditionary Army, and even the entire Yi Province and the entire Shu Han. Within the two-zhang-high walls, the three-courtyard residence of Prime Minister Zhuge Liang himself was located at the northwest end. The remaining pavilions and towers served as offices and dormitories for officials and clerks of all ranks in the Prime Minister's residence. In addition, the eastern half of the Prime Minister's residence was a permanent military camp, capable of accommodating 1,500 elite cavalrymen, known as the "Tiger Cavalry," who were Prime Minister Zhuge Liang's direct guard and were commanded by Ma Dai, the Tiger Cavalry Supervisor.

Since the Prime Minister had passed away, Yang Yi was temporarily in charge of the affairs of the Prime Minister's residence, so he took the opportunity to go to the Prime Minister's main hall to handle official business.

Of course, Yang Yi did not have the courage to sit as Prime Minister Zhuge Liang's successor. He placed the Prime Minister's memorial tablet on the Prime Minister's desk in the main hall, and sat himself in the head seat on the left side of the hall. He had Prime Minister Sima Fei Yi and Chief Clerk Yang Xi sit on the same side as him, and six military advisors with the rank of two thousand shi sat on the other side, to show his impartiality.

Yang Yi was standing at the entrance of the main hall of the Prime Minister's residence.

Upon seeing Yang Yi, the official who came to deliver the message hurriedly bowed and said, "Reporting to the Chief Secretary, the Emperor's envoy has arrived outside the west gate of Mianyang City, and the garrison commander has informed the Prime Minister's office of this matter."

Having a large number of people has its advantages, as it can blur the lines between Yang Yi's decision and the decision made by the Prime Minister's office. However, having a large number of people also has its disadvantages; for example, when the clerk says something, everyone in the hall hears it at the same time.

As soon as the clerk announced the news, almost everyone in the hall immediately became restless. Some put down the bamboo slips they were reading, while others laid down their brushes, all turning their gazes toward Yang Yi and the clerk at the door. So much had happened in the army; Chengdu should have sent someone, but they hadn't expected them to arrive so quickly.

Yang Yi's gaze flickered between light and shadow. He had already heard the rustling behind him, but he resisted the urge to turn around, composed himself, and asked:

"What is the messenger's name? Has the garrison commander of Ximen reported this?"

The official replied, "Reporting back to the Chief Clerk, it is none other than the Imperial Censor Chen Fengzong. According to the Commandant, this man is exceptionally young, probably not even thirty years old, and he is accompanied by more than twenty riders, led by a Commandant of the Imperial Guards."

"And who is Chen Fengzong?" Yang Yi frowned deeply, turning around and glancing around the court. "Do any of you know this man?"

The six soldiers seated on the right either shook their heads or remained silent, indicating they did not know. Seeing this, Fei Yi, who was sitting next to Yang Yi on the left, lightly shook his sleeves, stood up, and chuckled a few times.

"Yang Gong has been working hard in Hanzhong for many years and has not been in Chengdu for many years, so it is not surprising that he does not know this person. I was a little hesitant when I heard the name, but I confirmed it after hearing that he was young. He is Chen Zhi, Chen Fengzong, who once served as His Majesty's tutor and later became a Gentleman of the Imperial Secretariat. I suppose he was temporarily appointed as a Censor because of his mission."

"Oh, it's him, the grandson of Xu Jing's family. I've heard of him. Why did Jiang Gongyan send such a young person?" Yang Yi waved his hand, slightly impatiently saying, "I'll trouble Wenwei to go to the West Gate for me and bring this person into the Prime Minister's residence."

Fei Yi hesitated, not immediately agreeing, and said, "Lord Yang, isn't it a bit inappropriate for me to be the only one to greet the Emperor's envoy?"

Yang Yi looked directly at Fei Yi and replied in a deep voice, "I have things to do and cannot leave. If you are not enough, go to the left wing and call Jiang Boyue to come with you. He is a general with a title and a military commander, so that would be respectable."

"Yes." Fei Yi took a light breath and nodded.

Yang Yi walked out of the main hall without looking back, and didn't tell the people in the hall where he was going, which made everyone look at each other in confusion.

Fei Yi sighed helplessly, glanced around a few times, and said to Yang Xi, the registrar who was in his twenties, "Wenran, quickly order all officials of the Prime Minister's residence with a salary of two thousand shi or above to gather here. The registrar should also come. We will meet together after I receive the imperial envoy into the residence."

"Understood, sir." Yang Xi replied readily and quickly walked out.

Fei Yi had his officers tidy up the main hall a bit, then went out and called Jiang Wei, who was on duty in the left wing outside the hall. The two rode out of the mansion together and headed towards the west gate of Mianyang City. As Fei Yi rode, he told Jiang Wei about Chen Zhi's past.

Jiang Wei's expression was solemn, holding the reins in one hand, revealing neither his joy nor anger: "Brother Wenwei, you are more familiar with Chengdu, so please enlighten me: why did Chief Secretary Jiang send this man?"

"How can you say it was sent by Chiang Kai-shek?" Fei Yi looked ahead with a half-smile and said slowly, "Why couldn't it be sent by His Majesty?"

"Your Majesty..." Jiang Wei raised his eyebrows, pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Your Majesty also manages affairs in Chengdu? As far as I know, haven't you always handled government affairs in your own residence?"

Fei Yi looked over: "Boyue only returned to Chengdu once, right?"

"Yes." Jiang Wei sighed softly and nodded in reply, "In the sixth year of Jianxing, I returned to the Han Dynasty. The Prime Minister summoned me to join the army. I trained the Tiger Step Army for one year and four months. In the summer of the eighth year of Jianxing, I returned to Chengdu to pay homage to His Majesty and was granted the titles of General Who Conquers the West and Marquis of Dangyang. I stayed in Chengdu for three days and only exchanged a dozen or so words with His Majesty. I really know very little about the affairs of the court."

Fei Yi nodded, still smiling, and said, "Whether it was sent by Lord Jiang or His Majesty, you will know soon enough. However, Boyue, things are different now, and there is something I must tell you."

"I humbly request your guidance, Brother Wenwei," Jiang Wei said, bowing slightly.

Fei Yi stroked his long, flowing beard: "Your Majesty is the son of Emperor Zhaolie, and he possesses the fierce spirit of a tiger. Ordinary people in the court cannot understand Your Majesty's intentions."

Jiang Wei narrowed his eyes, a glint of shrewdness flashing within them, nodded in agreement, and said nothing more.

Outside the west gate of Mianyang City, Chen Zhi sat upright on his horse, holding the reins in his left hand and his staff upright in his right, his eyes fixed straight ahead in the direction of the city gate. Liu Yin stood to the side and behind Chen Zhi, leading his horse, while the remaining twenty-seven cavalrymen stood in neat rows, leading their horses.

Fei Yi and Jiang Wei rode out, getting closer and closer to the city gate. As Fei Yi's gaze gradually fell upon the staff Chen Zhi held, his smile froze. Jiang Wei, traveling alongside Fei Yi, had eyes as sharp as an eagle and had also clearly seen the eight-foot staff, and was momentarily astonished.

This is a scepter!

Chen Zhi, Chen Fengzong, a young man who had just been promoted from a 400-stone official to a 600-stone censor, was only in his early twenties. How could he have come here with an imperial edict? What exactly happened in Chengdu?

Jiang Wei was somewhat unsure of what to do, and asked in a low voice, "Brother Wenwei, what is the reason for this?"

Fei Yi gasped: "Ji Han officials don't often carry their imperial staffs, and the Prime Minister and Wei Wenchang don't often show their staffs to others either. The gatekeeper probably doesn't recognize the staff. I'm familiar with Chen Zhi, Boyue, please follow me."

"Okay," Jiang Wei replied readily.