Has the Han Dynasty been restored today?

Mianyang, the main hall of the Prime Minister's residence.

General Yuan Lin, Sima Fei Yi, Military Advisor Hu Ji, Military Advisor Cuan Xi, Military Advisor Liu Min, Protector General Jiang Wei, Commander of the Central Army Xu Yun, Military Advisor Du Yi, Military Advisor Du Qi, Military Advisor Sheng Bo, Military Advisor Ma Qi, Military Advisor Wen Gong, Military Advisor Yao Zhou, Commander of the Central Army Shangguan Yong, Military Advisor Yan Yan, Protector General Ding Xian, Chief Clerk Yang Xi, Chief Clerk Dong Jue...

With Yang Yi absent, the entire meeting was conducted and guided by Fei Yi. Chen Zhi and Fei Yi walked side by side, with Liu Yin, clad in armor and holding a staff in both hands, standing behind Chen Zhi. Each time they approached a person, Fei Yi would introduce that person's name, place of origin, and position, and then Chen Zhi would speak with that person for a few words, depending on the situation.

Fei Yi patiently continued introducing the last person:

"Censor Chen, this is Dong Jue, also known as Dong Gongxi, the chief clerk of the Prime Minister. He is from Yiyang, Jingzhou."

"Are you also from Yiyang?" Chen Zhi asked with slight surprise. "I just heard that Military Advisor Hu (Hu Ji) is from Yiyang, but I never expected that there would be someone from Yiyang in the Prime Minister's residence."

Dong Jue, nearing thirty, was slightly overweight with a short beard. He was a little older than Chen Zhi, but unlike Chen Zhi, he lacked Chen Zhi's imposing presence. When Chen Zhi asked him this, he instinctively raised his head and eyebrows, retorting with a defiant glint in his eyes: "What do you mean by that, Imperial Censor Chen? Why can't we people from Yiyang stay in the Prime Minister's residence?"

Wei Yan, whose entire clan had just been executed by Yang Yi, was from Yiyang in Jingzhou. Regional ties were a fundamental link in maintaining relationships among officials, and officials from Yiyang often looked up to Wei Yan. It's likely that in the period following Wei Yan's death, the officials of Yiyang were somewhat uneasy. This was the reason why Chen Zhi, before departing from Chengdu, advised Liu Shan late at night to appease Liu Yong, the Left General of the Central Army, who was from Yiyang.

No wonder Dong Jue reacted so strongly.

Just as Dong Jue was replying, Chen Zhi keenly sensed that the crowd behind him had quieted down slightly. Out of the corner of his eye, Chen Zhi roughly saw someone step into the hall from outside the door.

If this person is not Yang Yi, then who is he?

Chen Zhi did not turn around to greet Yang Yi, but instead spoke calmly to Dong Jue in front of everyone:

"When I was in court, His Majesty mentioned that Yiyang is known for producing many generous and heroic men. Just three days before I departed from Chengdu, I met Fu Qian, a Gentleman of the Palace, in the Imperial Secretariat. He is from Yiyang. His late father, Fu Tong, fought bravely to cover the rear at Xiaoting, dying for the late Emperor and the Han Dynasty. How valiant he was!"

Chen Zhi knew, of course, that Yang Yi would hear these things.

"Imperial Censor Chen..."

Dong Jue, unable to contain his emotions any longer, felt a lump in his throat, his eyes reddening almost instantly, and even glistening with tears. Although Chen Zhi was young and held a low position, he was a high-ranking official. For him to utter those words was enough to make this man from Yiyang stand tall in the Prime Minister's residence.

Some people find these words agreeable, while others do not.

Yang Yi walked heavily behind Chen Zhi, stopped, listened for a moment, and then asked:

"Are you the envoy sent by the imperial court this time?"

Seeing that Dong Jue's eyes changed from excitement to worry, Chen Zhi turned around and politely bowed to Yang Yi.

"Greetings, Chief Clerk Yang. I am Chen Zhi from Runan, Imperial Censor. I have come to Hanzhong with the Emperor's decree to assist in various matters, and I need Chief Clerk Yang's assistance."

A person's magnanimity can be cultivated, but some people seem to be born with it. Chen Zhi was one such person.

Chen Zhi was over eight feet tall, more than half a head taller than Yang Yi. He was very imposing and dignified. With the added weight of the eight-foot staff behind him, he was in no way inferior in terms of aura when he faced Yang Yi, the chief secretary of the Prime Minister's residence, and they talked face to face.

"If you need my help, you should first tell me what His Majesty has asked you to do to assist in managing Hanzhong."

Yang Yi was thin and had a very capable appearance. He glanced at Chen Zhi's face, then sneered, turned around and walked through the many officials of the Prime Minister's residence on both sides. He stopped in front of his desk, stood solemnly facing the crowd with his hands clasped.

"Imperial Censor Chen, among the matters you have mentioned, are there any concerning the Prime Minister's passing? Come, let us first pay our respects at the Prime Minister's memorial tablet before discussing anything else."

Yang Yi's deliberate lateness was a way of asserting his superior status. His current proposal, using the suggestion of bowing to the Prime Minister, is a further attempt to dominate the dialogue.

This was an open scheme, which Chen Zhi couldn't refuse, but he also had ways to manipulate things.

Chen Zhi turned and took the staff from Liu Yin, then walked proudly to the front of the Prime Minister's desk, straightened his robes and hat, and, ignoring the stares of everyone present, said loudly:

"The Emperor's envoy, Imperial Censor Chen Zhi of Runan, arrived at Hanzhong four days after departing from the Jizhou Gate of the palace at the beginning of the morning on the fourth day of the ninth month, carrying the imperial edict and imperial insignia. His Majesty held a sacrificial ceremony for the Prime Minister in the Chonghua Hall on the night of the second day of the ninth month. The envoy also informed the Prime Minister's spirit tablet in Mianyang of this!"

Having said that, Chen Zhi did not pause at all, prostrated himself three times, and then immediately rose with his staff, standing in front of the Prime Minister's memorial tablet, which was also the very center of the main hall of the Prime Minister's residence. He turned to look at Yang Yi, his movements swift and decisive:

"Does Chief Clerk Yang wish to ask what business I have come to assist with?"

Yang Yi had just witnessed Chen Zhi's actions and couldn't understand how this twenty-four-year-old official had managed to uphold his authority. In the Prime Minister's residence, right in front of him, the Chief Secretary, his actions were so sharp and decisive. What gave him the confidence to act so swiftly and decisively?

Do you really think that the staff in your hand can solve everything?

joke!

Yang Yi just killed a false general! And he was the head of all the generals of Shu Han!

Everyone present, including Fei Yi and Jiang Wei, was on edge. Chen Zhi had been so polite and kind when he spoke to them, how could he have changed so drastically since Yang Yi arrived?

Could it be that the imperial court has designs on Yang Yi...?

The atmosphere on the field froze for a moment, everyone lost in their own thoughts.

Yang Yi's face visibly darkened, his cheeks tightened, and his gaze became extremely wary, even harboring a hint of hostility. He forced out a sentence with a stiff expression:

"The Chief Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office inquired of the Emperor's envoy, hoping the envoy would provide clear guidance."

Chen Zhi wore a faint smile, but in reality, he felt nothing. In his eyes, Yang Yi was already a political futures player, and the only difference was whether he stepped down sooner or later.

Chen Zhi nodded and replied, "Reporting to Chief Secretary Yang, I have three matters to attend to in Hanzhong."

"Firstly, he inquired on behalf of the emperor about the circumstances surrounding the prime minister's death."

"Secondly, to assist in the military affairs of the withdrawal of the various armies in Hanzhong."

Thirdly, investigate the details of Wei Wenchang's plot to rebel.

Wei Wenchang... plotted a rebellion...

The officials of the Prime Minister's office in the hall were so focused that they were holding their breath. While they were nervous, they were also worried about the troubles that this meeting would bring to the army and even the Shu Han court.

Even his nineteen-year-old cousin Ayou, who was in Chengdu, knew that the Shu Han dynasty was in danger. How could these loyal ministers in the army, who were determined to launch a northern expedition, not understand?

How the army is doing, how the Northern Expedition is going, how the court is doing... we might find clues in Chen Zhi and Yang Yi's first meeting.

P.S.: Just replying to readers, the update schedule during the new book period is two chapters per day, totaling 4,000 words. This is the usual pace for new books on Qidian. Updating too much will cause the book to fall off the new book rankings early, resulting in no recommendations and making it difficult to participate in recommendation competitions. Thank you!