Has the Han Dynasty been restored today?

Fei Yi and Jiang Wei approached on horseback. Chen Zhi watched their figures from afar, his expression solemn and serious. He remained motionless on his horse, with only the red banner hanging from his eight-foot staff fluttering in the cold autumn wind.

The ministers of the Prime Minister's Office were headed by Yang Yi, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, followed by Jiang Wan, the Chief Secretary of the Chengdu Office, and then Prime Minister Fei Yi. Fei Yi ranked third among the ministers of the Prime Minister's Office, and given that the entire power of the Shu Han Dynasty was controlled by the Prime Minister's Office, he was an important figure that no one could underestimate.

The prime minister usually selects outstanding young talents and does not hesitate to give them real power. Fei Yi, who is thirty-nine years old this year, and Jiang Wei, who is thirty-three years old, are the best examples. Ma Su and Ma Youchang, who were defeated and fled during the first Northern Expedition, are also among them.

Of course, older people are also indispensable.

Prime Minister Zhuge was born in the fourth year of the Guanghe era and died at the age of fifty-four. Yang Yi, the chief secretary of the prime minister, was five years older than the prime minister, and Jiang Wan, the chief secretary of the Imperial Household Department, was three years older than the prime minister. Given their seniority and experience, people in the court usually addressed them as "Lord Yang" and "Lord Jiang".

Fei Yi is a generation younger than Jiang Wan.

Inside and outside the west gate of Mianyang, Chen Zhi, seated on horseback, and Fei Yi and Jiang Wei, riding towards him, gradually approached. Their eyes met in silence, as if they were testing each other. A few moments later, Fei Yi was the first to stop at the threshold of the city gate and dismount. Seeing Fei Yi's action, Jiang Wei followed suit, and the two walked to Chen Zhi's side.

Fei Yi and Jiang Wei bowed respectfully and said, "Prime Minister Fei Yi (General Jiang Wei) greets the imperial envoy. By order of Chief Secretary Yang of the Prime Minister's Office, we respectfully invite the imperial envoy into the city."

The city gate was public land, and Fei Yi and Jiang Wei tacitly refrained from asking why Chen Zhi was given the imperial insignia.

"Very well, please lead the way, you two." Chen Zhi nodded slightly from his horse, then presented the staff in his right hand to Liu Yin. Liu Yin immediately understood, took the staff with both hands and held it flat. Then Chen Zhi dismounted, his face turning to a warm and friendly smile.

"I am a minister holding the imperial staff, sent by the Emperor to Mianyang. Just now I received a salute from Commander Fei and Protector Jiang. Now I will temporarily place the staff at my side. You two are pillars of the Han Dynasty and meritorious officials of the Northern Expedition. I have long admired you. Greetings, Commander Fei and Protector Jiang."

After Chen Zhi spoke with admiration and respect in his eyes, he bowed deeply. Fei Yi laughed heartily several times, stepped forward to help Chen Zhi up, his every movement exuding extraordinary grace, his eyes full of appreciation.

"Fengzong, Fengzong, when I met you in Chengdu three years ago, you had just been transferred from a tutor to a court gentleman. I never imagined that we would meet again today, and Fengzong would arrive carrying the imperial staff, carrying the imperial staff for the Emperor! A gentleman's transformation is truly remarkable!"

Fei Yi was tall and slender, over eight feet tall, almost the same height as Chen Zhi. Although Jiang Wei was not quite eight feet tall, he was very imposing, and with his stern face and deep gaze, anyone who saw him would praise him as having the bearing of a great general.

This is a pillar of the Great Han Northern Expeditionary Army, and someone Chen Zhi truly admires.

Chen Zhi smiled knowingly. Fei Yi was supporting him with both arms, and the distance between them was no more than half a body length. Seeing Fei Yi's friendly gaze, Chen Zhi nodded in response.

"Master Fei's demeanor is even more impressive than before. Meeting you today, I can only marvel at your transformation!"

"Please enter the city." Fei Yi's eyes lit up, and he nodded slightly, smiling as he took Chen Zhi's right arm, clearly indicating that he wanted to walk with him.

At this moment, Jiang Wei also cupped his hands towards Chen Zhi: "Imperial Censor Chen has come from afar and must be very tired. Please come into the city to rest."

"Serving the Emperor is no hardship, General Jiang, please." Chen Zhi replied.

Fei Yi was in the middle, with Jiang Wei and Chen Zhi on his left and right, respectively, and they walked into the west gate of the city. Liu Yin wanted to follow behind, but was told that his twenty-odd riders were not allowed to enter the city, so he had no choice but to hold his staff and follow closely behind the three.

Although Liu Yin was born into a noble family, he lived through a chaotic era during his youth and adolescence. Moreover, he was not a direct descendant of his clan, so he only had a rudimentary understanding of the classics. He spent his time and energy practicing martial arts and working as a minor official to make a living.

To Liu Yin, the conversation between Chen Zhi, Fei Yi, and Jiang Wei just now was nothing more than ordinary pleasantries. It was quite common for Imperial Censor Chen and Military Commander Fei to be somewhat close. Years ago, when the emperor was still the Crown Prince, Fei Yi had served as a Gentleman-in-Waiting for the Crown Prince alongside Dong Yun, serving as close officials to Liu Shan. Furthermore, Chen Zhi was a junior of Xu Jing, and Fei Yi also came from a prominent family; it was common knowledge that Chen Zhi and Fei Yi had known each other since childhood.

However, the most crucial information is often hidden in just a few words.

The prime minister once said privately that the first choice to succeed him was Jiang Wan, and the second was Fei Yi, with no place for Yang Yi in between.

Fei Yi was aware of this matter; he was well aware of his position.

Fei Yi and Chen Zhi have many similarities.

Chen Zhi was skilled in divination and numerology from a young age, and his study of the Book of Changes was particularly profound. The phrase "the gentleman changes like a leopard" that he used comes from the hexagram text of the sixth line of the "Revolution" hexagram in the Book of Changes.

The phrase "君子豹变，其文蔚也" can be interpreted literally as Chen Zhi now holding a prominent and prestigious position. However, the "革" hexagram signifies change and revolution, and the second half of the hexagram containing "君子豹变" is "居贞吉" (remaining steadfast brings good fortune).

Only by living uprightly can one achieve good fortune!

On the surface, it was praising Chen Zhi, but in reality, it was asking Chen Zhi about the emperor's attitude: whether he was neutral and impartial. It was also implying to Chen Zhi that he should remain steadfast in his investigation of Yang Yi's killing of Wei Yan, and should not favor either Yang Yi or Wei Yan!

Chen Zhi's response, "The great man transforms like a tiger," also comes from the fifth line of the "Revolution" hexagram. Chen Zhi's repeated use of the "Revolution" hexagram indicates that he has come for the sake of change. The hexagram text for the fifth line is "The great man transforms like a tiger; without divination, there is no need for faith," meaning that the outcome of this matter will conform to the "great man's" wishes.

In addition, the phrase "the gentleman transforms like a leopard" is located on the sixth line of the "Revolution" hexagram, a yin line in a yin position, indicating that Chen Zhi has confirmed his position as a guest. Meanwhile, the phrase "the great man transforms like a tiger," referring to Fei Yi, is located on the fifth line, a yang line in a yang position, which is appropriate, and it is also in the ninth-fifth position of honor, signifying the dominant and leading position.

In a simple exchange of questions and answers, the two had already shared a great deal of crucial information.

Chen Zhi and Fei Yi both came from prominent families and studied the Five Classics diligently in their youth. Jiang Wei, from the Jiang clan of Tianshui, had also studied Zheng Xuan's classics for many years and was highly learned, which is why he could understand the words of Chen Zhi and Fei Yi.

In this era dominated by aristocratic families and monopolized by classical studies, one could not understand the words of high-ranking officials without studying the classics, and even a superficial understanding would be ineffective. This was true of figures like Liu Yin.

This is similar to the era when internet memes became popular. When you don't understand the memes, you often find it incomprehensible and confusing when you hear people talking.

At this moment, Yang Yi, the chief secretary of the prime minister, had temporarily put the matter of the envoy's arrival in Hanzhong out of his mind. After leaving the main hall of the prime minister's residence, he came to the right wing to find Commandant Zhao Zheng.