Has the Han Dynasty been restored today?

September 10th, 2:45 AM.

Mianyang West Gate.

After yesterday's arrest of Yang Yi, the scene in western Mianyang was quite different from when Chen Zhi first arrived. The barracks, wooden fences, and barricades set up by the Tiger Step Army in the west of the city had all been moved away, and the soldiers of Wu Yi's troops who had been patrolling back and forth on the west side had all returned to their camps, no longer displaying the confrontational stance they had previously taken with the Mianyang Prime Minister's residence.

The culprit is already locked up in the carriage! Now, the person in charge of the city is Fei Yi, the Sima of the Prime Minister's Office, so Wu Yi has nothing to worry about. The interests that needed to be discussed the day before yesterday and yesterday have all been settled, and we are just waiting for Chen Zhi to go to Chengdu to report the credit to everyone.

As for why Yang Yi was imprisoned in a carriage rather than a prison cart, firstly, it was to maintain the dignity of the court, since he was a high-ranking official and it was best not to make things too ugly; his basic living conditions still needed to be guaranteed. Secondly, the punishment could only be carried out after the Court of Justice had determined the crime, and Chen Zhi was only a clerk and did not have the power to determine the crime, so it was necessary to maintain a proper status.

In any case, Chen Zhi's trip to Hanzhong has come to an end, and he has completed 95% of his mission. All that's left is to return to Chengdu.

When they arrived, only Fei Yi and Jiang Wei greeted them at the west gate of Mianyang.

When he left, more than a dozen officials of the rank of two thousand shi (a unit of grain measurement) came to see him off.

"Fengzong's journey to Hanzhong has been truly arduous; you can take your time on the return trip." Fei Yi smiled and cupped his hands in greeting. "I hope you have a safe journey."

Chen Zhi chuckled softly twice: "Thanks to Sima's kindness, I originally thought I would return with these twenty-seven riders, but I did not expect Sima to send me another five hundred men. I am truly apprehensive and ask General Jiang to escort me back."

Fei Yi waved his hand dismissively: "Hey, why talk about this? This is official business, not just Feng Zong's personal matter."

Chen Zhi smiled, then nodded to Jiang Wei: "Thank you for your trouble, General. It's a distance of 1,200 li, which will take about ten days to march, right?"

Jiang Wei remained expressionless. After a few moments of thought, he replied, "According to the Prime Minister's military regulations, large armies outside the border are limited to traveling fifty li per day. Within the prefectures and counties, there is no fear of enemy activity, and supplies are plentiful. Moreover, the troops are few in number. With the elite Tiger Infantry, traveling eighty to one hundred li per day is no problem. It should take thirteen or fourteen days to reach the destination."

"In any case, it will be late September." Fei Yi said with a smile, "It's alright if Fengzong is a little slower. Why don't we ask this Sima Liu to go ahead first? Sima Liu is also someone appointed by His Majesty. He can go back to meet the Emperor, so that His Majesty won't be anxious waiting."

Chen Zhi nodded: "Brother Xiuran, it took us four days to get here. I'll give you ten horsemen to return to the capital in six days. Will that be enough time?"

Liu Yin was taken aback. Although he felt a little tired, the thought that he could meet the emperor alone and that his future was promising, plus that six days would be easier than four, made him more motivated. He immediately replied, "If the censor commands, I will obey."

"Very well." Chen Zhi smiled, then bowed to Fei Yi and the other officials of the Prime Minister's residence: "I am deeply grateful for your kind farewell as I return to court today. Farewell!"

"Imperial Censor Chen, please proceed with caution."

"Thank you for your trouble, Imperial Censor Chen."

Be careful on the road.

Everyone offered their reminders.

Fei Yi simply smiled and waved, watching Chen Zhi, Liu Yin, and Jiang Wei's team set off and walk further and further away.

The Jinniu Road has no shortage of supplies, and for the elite Tiger Infantry, finding occasional encampments is not a difficult task.

To the west of Mianyang lies the camp of Wu Yi and Wu Ban, and Yangping Pass is fifteen li away.

Liu Yin and Chen Zhi agreed to part ways after leaving Yangping Pass. When they passed through this section of the road, Liu Yin asked Chen Zhi if he wanted to say hello to Wu Yi again, but Chen Zhi explicitly refused.

However, when Chen Zhi arrived at Yangping Pass, he was surprised to find that Wu Yi and Wu Ban had set up a military tent at the gate of Yangping Pass with their respective general flags. It seemed that they had planned this all along and were waiting for him here!

"Oh, Imperial Censor Chen, come here and have a farewell drink!"

Today, Wu Yi was dressed in a brownish-red Shu brocade robe and a five-beam Jinxian crown. If it weren't for the fact that the decoration on the crown was a bronze frog for military officers rather than a golden cicada for scholars, he would look like a civil official serving as one of the Nine Ministers in Chengdu!

Seeing Wu Yi approach, accompanied by a man dressed in military robes and wearing a pheasant-feathered hat, and two soldiers carrying wine jugs and goblets behind him, Chen Zhi recognized him in a moment as Wu Yi's cousin, General Wu Ban, also known as Wu Yuanxiong.

The Wu family was so illustrious!

Chen Zhi dared not presume, and dismounted abruptly, walking forward to greet Wu Yi and Wu Ban: "Chen Zhi is returning to the court; how could I trouble the two generals to wait here?"

Wu Ban was thinner, and although he was two years younger than Wu Yi and also close to sixty, his hair was grayer and he looked older than Wu Yi.

"Last night, after hearing about Fengzong from my brother, my brother and I decided to give Imperial Censor Chen a proper send-off at Yangping Pass today." Wu Ban laughed and said, "Since you are called by your courtesy name by Commander Fei, we two, being of advanced age, will also call you Fengzong. Come, Fengzong, let's have a drink, and may you have a safe journey."

Wu Yi also said with a smile, "Fengzong, don't refuse! Yes, the one leading the army at the rear is Jiang Boyue, call Boyue over here too!"

"Thank you both, Generals." Chen Zhi replied with a smile, "Brother Xiuran, go and invite General Jiang over."

Jiang Wei was positioned in the middle of the group, overseeing the carriage escorting Yang Yi, and was not originally with Chen Zhi.

After exchanging greetings with the two men, Jiang Wei said with a slight apology, "Generals, please forgive me. I am originally from Liangzhou. I was recruited by the Prime Minister to serve in the court and have received much instruction from him. I have always regarded the Prime Minister as my teacher. Therefore, I am currently in mourning for the Prime Minister and cannot drink alcohol. I hope you two generals will understand."

"There are still matters to attend to in the army..." Jiang Wei pointed behind him, "I must take my leave now."

This means keeping an eye on Yang Yi to prevent him from causing trouble when there are many people around.

Wu Yi and Wu Ban exchanged a glance, then Wu Yi sighed and patted Jiang Wei's shoulder forcefully: "The road to becoming Prime Minister is not easy; you must work harder."

"Yes." Upon hearing this, Jiang Wei bowed to Wu Yi and then said that he would not disturb the others' drinking mood, so he took his leave first.

Mourning is a matter of personal judgment. Observing mourning for one's superior is entirely a matter of personal choice. Chen Zhi is currently an imperial censor and is not under the prime minister's jurisdiction. The two generals Wu are not directly under the prime minister either, so they are not involved in this kind of issue.

When Jiang Wei spoke of mourning for the prime minister, it was partly out of genuine emotion, but perhaps also partly to secure a political patron for himself, an outsider.

After drinking the farewell wine and exchanging a few pleasantries, Chen Zhi made a promise to Wu Ban that his contributions would not be in vain. He hadn't been present for yesterday's memorial, hence its absence from the signature; it seemed Wu Ban was reminding him of this today.

Just as they were about to part ways, Chen Zhi noticed that Wu Yi was smiling at him, the curve of his lips seeming rather meaningful.

Just as Chen Zhi was about to ask, Wu Ban coughed twice, then forced a smile and asked:

"Fengzong, are you currently engaged?"