Has the Han Dynasty been restored today?

Mianyang, nine li west of the city, is the main camp of General Wu Yi.

"My lord, do not hesitate any longer!"

Liu Min's official hat swayed back and forth as she anxiously stamped her feet beside Wu Yi: "My lord, you are so brave and decisive on the battlefield, why are you so hesitant today? I don't need to tell you the principle that delay leads to trouble!"

"The envoy has made it clear. My cousin has already succeeded to the positions of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and Governor of Yizhou. Xiang Juda will also arrive in Hanzhong soon. Where in the court is Yang Yi left with even the slightest place? I can see clearly that the people in the Prime Minister's office have long disliked Yang Yi! All you need to do is lead your troops towards Mianyang, press him a little, and once Xiang Juda arrives in Hanzhong, Yang Yi will surely be captured!"

"Your Excellency is a renowned general of the nation. When the time comes to pacify Hanzhong and lead the troops northward, it will be the perfect opportunity for you to achieve unparalleled merit!"

Wu Yi was already in his sixties, with a long, white beard, a fair complexion, and a plump figure. He wore a blue Shu brocade robe, exuding an air of nobility. At this moment, Wu Yi was facing away from the candlelight, his face obscured by shadow, his brows furrowed, and his voice deep and resonant:

"Don't rush, let me think about it some more."

Seeing that Wu Yi did not respond, Liu Min urged again, "If Your Excellency cannot make a decision alone, why not invite General Wu Ban as well?"

Wu Yi shook his head: "My brother Yuan Xiong always stands with me in times of great importance, so there's no need to ask him."

Then silence returned.

"Sigh!" Liu Min clenched her right fist and slammed it into the air, lamenting, "This is a meritorious deed that saved the nation and turned the tide, and I'm handing such credit to you, but you don't want it!"

"What...what kind of logic is this?!"

Wu Yi said calmly, "Let me think about it some more, let me think about it some more..."

Liu Min let out a long sigh.

It was already midnight, around dusk. Taking advantage of Yang Yi and Chen Zhi's conversation, Liu Min slipped away from the Prime Minister's residence and headed west out of the city, arriving at Wu Yi's camp. However, Wu Yi waited for him for two or three hours before showing up, and even after meeting him, he wouldn't listen to his advice.

All I can say is that everyone has their own perspective on this matter.

In Liu Min's view at this time, after Jiang Wan was promoted to Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and Governor of Yizhou in Chengdu, he had become the de facto successor to the Prime Minister, and the power of the Prime Minister's office should be transferred to Jiang Wan.

With Jiang Wan wielding considerable power, shouldn't his cousin lend a hand in Hanzhong? By involving Wu Yi, Wu Ban, and others in bringing down Yang Yi, they could also establish a connection between Wu Yi and Jiang Wan. Wu Yi could then take control of Hanzhong's military—wouldn't that be a win-win situation?

Wu Yi's stance differs from Liu Min's.

Wu Yi personally had few conflicts with Yang Yi. His cautious deployment of troops between Yangping Pass and Mianyang was to prevent Yang Yi from suddenly seizing military power, a consequence of Wei Yan's death. Wu Yi was the most powerful relative of the Shu Han dynasty and currently the head of the army. What difference would it make to him whether Yang Yi or Jiang Wan came to power?

He is now the Left General, Governor of Jingzhou, and Marquis of Gaoyang!

Dark clouds covered the sky, and the night outside the military tent was impenetrable. Inside the tent, the candlelight flickered, and so did their hearts.

After an unknown amount of time, Wu Yi finally spoke and asked, "Military Advisor Liu."

Liu Min looked up and replied, "Ah, has Your Excellency changed your mind?"

Wu Yi asked, "How did the envoy Chen Zhi, whom you mentioned, carry his imperial credentials?"

"Chen Zhi?" Liu Min shook his head and said, "A twenty-four-year-old minister holding the imperial insignia, not to mention the Shu Han dynasty, you can't find one even if you combine the former Han and the latter Han dynasties! My brother wouldn't send such a person. This Chen Zhi must be holding the imperial insignia because he is a confidant of His Majesty."

Wu Yi continued, "So what is his stance...?"

Liu Min snorted coldly: "I have assisted in military affairs in the Prime Minister's residence for many years and have received much instruction from the Prime Minister. For anything that cannot be understood, one should always consider the worst-case scenario. This person first conducted official business with Yang Yi in front of everyone, but who would have thought that he would later accept Yang Yi's invitation to have a private talk in the back."

"My lord, consider this: at twenty-four, he holds the imperial insignia, yet he remains a mere censor with a salary of six hundred bushels of grain. What would he possibly want? He would surely crave real power! Though I know not his character, if Yang Yi were to use real power to win him over, who can guarantee he wouldn't waver? Who can guarantee he wouldn't speak well of Yang Yi to His Majesty?"

"My lord, are you truly content to watch someone like Yang Yi command an army of 100,000?"

"See, you're in such a hurry again. I haven't finished asking my questions yet!" Wu Yi clicked his tongue, frowned at Liu Min, and said with a hint of reproach in his tone, "I've been leading troops away from Chengdu for many years, and I don't recognize many of the young officials in the court. But you return to Chengdu several times a year. I wonder what kind of person Chen Zhi is?"

Without hesitation, Liu Min replied, "He's Xu Jing's grandson. Xu Jing himself couldn't even surrender properly, so how could his grandson possibly be any better?"

"My lord, do not hesitate any longer!"

Upon hearing Liu Min's words, Wu Yi's thoughts drifted back to twenty years ago. Back then, when Liu Bei entered Shu, he was one of those who had defected from Liu Zhang's camp to Liu Bei's.

"It's getting late, Military Advisor Liu, you should rest first. I'll have my personal guards make arrangements for you. We can discuss anything else tomorrow."

After pacing for a moment, Wu Yi uttered these words, lifted the curtain of the military tent, and strode out.

"Oh, my lord..." Liu Min reached out to stop him, but still couldn't move.

This is Wu Yi's military camp. If he doesn't want to do it, what can I do?

Let's discuss that tomorrow.

Wu Yi stepped out of the tent, beckoned, and summoned his trusted confidant, Fa Miao, who was waiting there.

Fa Miao, courtesy name Zhengming, was the son of Marquis Yi, Fa Zheng, and was in his early thirties.

When Liu Bei entered Shu, in order to stabilize the political situation and win over the people of Dongzhou, Fa Zheng suggested that Liu Bei marry Wu Yi's sister, thus establishing a connection between the two families. After the Northern Expedition, many ministers and nobles in the court wanted to contribute to the expedition, and after Fa Miao entered officialdom, he was invited by Wu Yi to serve as a military advisor.

Fa Miao acted in the same manner as his father, possessing keen insight and decisive advice. Four years ago, Wei Yan and Wu Yi decisively defeated Fei Yao and Guo Huai's army at Yangxi, and Fa Miao also contributed his strategies in this battle.

"Zhengming, did you hear what Liu Min said to me outside the tent?"

Fa Miao nodded: "I heard you."

Wu Yi asked, "What do you think?"

"My lord, Liu Min wants you to pull chestnuts out of the fire for him." Fa Miao snorted lightly: "He and you are talking so loudly here, speculating about Chief Clerk Yang and Imperial Censor Chen, but with your rank and title, do you need to make so many unfounded speculations? Even if you want to do something, you should do it for yourself, not be a pawn for Jiang Gongyan and Liu Jingran (Liu Min).

"My lord, why not have someone invite Imperial Censor Chen to the army camp for a chat?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Yi breathed a sigh of relief and patted Fa Miao on the shoulder: "Zhengming is right. With such a major upheaval in the court, I have no choice but to prepare for the future. You go and handle this matter."

Whether one is an official or a general, choosing sides is the most dangerous matter.

He won't take sides lightly this time. Even if he were to choose, given his influence in the Shu Han court, he can wait until the situation is completely clear before taking a stand!

"Yes." Fa Miao smiled slightly: "This matter should not go through the Prime Minister's residence. I will send someone to Sima Fei's place and ask him to pass on a message in the name of the Marquis."

"Alright." Wu Yi nodded, then pointed into the tent: "What's in there...?"

Fa Miao laughed and said, "The matter between you and Jiang Gongyan should be discussed by you and Jiang Gongyan themselves. What kind of nonsense is it for a military advisor to make decisions on his own?"

"Hahahaha." Wu Yi nodded and laughed approvingly.