Has the Han Dynasty been restored today?

The Yueqi Colonel was one of the five colonels of the Northern Army during the Later Han Dynasty. He was a trusted officer of the emperor, holding a salary of 2,000 shi (approximately 6,000 dan) and commanding the imperial guards.

During the chaos at the end of the Han Dynasty, warlords carved up the country and official positions were devalued. The five battalions of garrison cavalry, cavalry, infantry, Changshui, and Shesheng gradually lost their direct command of troops and became typical official positions bestowed upon the emperor's confidants, ranking only below the Nine Ministers.

To obtain this official position is like having the words "the emperor's confidant" written on one's forehead.

The sudden promotion from 400 shi to 2000 shi seems like an insurmountable chasm for an ordinary official. But what does 2000 shi mean to Chen Zhi?

A person in a lowly position wields great power; this is a common political phenomenon.

Jiang Wan held the position of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, which was in charge of political affairs, but his official rank was only 1,000 shi (a unit of grain measure). Yang Yi's Chief Secretary to the Chancellor was also a 1,000-shi official. Both the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and the Chancellor's Chief Secretary held 1,000-shi ranks, not even a Prefect with a 2,000-shi rank, yet who could say they didn't wield power?

Politics is all done by people. As long as he had the emperor's trust, the rank of his official position was irrelevant to Chen Zhi.

Just as Jiang Wan had yesterday volunteered to lead troops north to Jiange and thus gain the title of military commander, was Chen Zhi's vigorous participation merely for a position equivalent to a prefect or governor? What Chen Zhi sought was a legitimate and justifiable right to participate in national affairs!

Once Chen Zhi could intervene in core government affairs, he could do so openly and legitimately through Liu Shan, and eventually remain in the core ruling circle!

Chen Zhi did not agree directly, but replied solemnly, "A subject has his duty. Yesterday, I argued with Lord Jiang in the palace about Your Majesty's military power. After leaving the palace, Lord Jiang, outside Chonghua Hall, directly called my words 'sycophantic talk.' I do not wish to be a sycophantic minister, nor do I wish to seek a salary of two thousand shi. If Your Majesty wishes to promote me, a position as a Supervising Censor with a salary of six hundred shi is sufficient!"

"Fengzong, please rise." Liu Shan silently noted this matter down, then hesitated and said, "I am worried about Fengzong's reputation, but isn't six hundred shi a bit too low?"

Six hundred shi is the official rank of a county magistrate.

Despite his prestigious position as Imperial Censor, compared to the officials of the Prime Minister's office in Hanzhong who held titles such as General and General of the Palace Guard, as well as a group of generals from all directions and generals with various other titles, the Imperial Censor was far too humble.

Chen Zhi stood up and said in a deep voice, "Then please send your envoy with imperial credentials! As the emperor's envoy, I cannot summon the army back and reconcile the generals without imperial credentials. I am skilled in riding a horse. Yesterday afternoon, Lord Jiang sent the Grand Master of Ceremonies, Xiang Lang, to Hanzhong. In just half a day, Xiang Lang, being older, will surely travel by carriage. I am confident that I can get ahead of him and arrive at the Hanzhong army first."

Xiang Lang was nearly seventy years old. He served as the chief secretary to the prime minister during Zhuge Liang's first Northern Expedition. He was dismissed from office due to the case of Ma Su's defeat. He was a senior to Yang Yi and Jiang Wan in the position of chief secretary to the prime minister and was also an old member of the prime minister's system. He was well-known.

Seeing that Liu Shan was still hesitating, Chen Zhi said, "Your Majesty, do not worry. The imperial insignia can be given often or not. It is only for acting on behalf of the emperor and has nothing to do with rank or status. There is no distinction between high and low. After I return to Chengdu, I will return the insignia to the emperor. I am Your Majesty's subject, and I hope Your Majesty will not have any doubts."

"Holding a staff? How can that be..."

Liu Shan wanted to refuse, but before he could even open his mouth, he could only shake his head with a wry smile.

It should be understood that in the present era, unlike the later generations who carefully distinguish between different terms, the three expressions "假节" (jiǎ jié), "持节" (chí jié), and "使持节" (shǐ chí jié) are not ranked in terms of superiority or inferiority; they all mean the same thing: acting on behalf of the emperor.

Since Liu Shan ascended the throne, there have been three people who have demonstrated integrity.

After Zhuge Liang came to power, he held the title of "Imperial Envoy with Imperial Credentials"; when Li Yan assisted in governing the east and oversaw Yong'an, he held the title of "Acting Imperial Credentials"; and Wei Yan, after becoming General Who Conquers the West, also held the title of "Acting Imperial Credentials". All three of these titles were granted for an extended period and were not revoked without due cause.

With Zhuge Liang's death and Li Yan's resignation, two of the three loyalists were gone. The only remaining loyalist, Wei Yan (Wei Wenchang), had his entire family executed along with his mother's in-laws by Yang Yi, the chief clerk of the prime minister, on some pretext.

At this juncture, even Wei Yan, who was acting under false pretenses, has been executed without imperial decree. Is there any need to consider political traditions now? What good would it do to send Chen Zhi with the imperial insignia? This journey north was precisely to have him carry out the emperor's will! The insignia can be revoked afterward!

Liu Shan, as if having made a great decision, nodded heavily: "Very well, Fengzong, I hereby appoint you to go to Hanzhong with the imperial insignia! Do you have any other requests?"

Chen Zhi said, "I only ask that Your Majesty grant me a few dozen skilled horsemen, and I ask for nothing else. I will act according to the circumstances."

"Very well, I will give you thirty men. You may requisition horses along the way as you wish, and Liu Yin will lead them to accompany you." Liu Shan's expression was serious: "Liu Yin, Liu Xiuran, have you heard of him? He is the Thousand-Stone Sima in the Imperial Guard, a native of Chengdu, about forty years old, and extremely capable in his actions."

Chen Zhi replied, "I have not heard of it. Since it was sent to me by Your Majesty, there is certainly no danger. I do not need to ask any further questions."

Liu Shan placed his hand on Chen Zhi's shoulder and shook him vigorously. He spoke slowly and deliberately, "I will now personally write you an edict appointing you and granting you permission to act. Later, Huang Liu will take you to the Imperial Seal Office to receive your imperial staff! As for Lord Jiang and Attendant-in-Ordinary Dong... they certainly hope for some 'sage emperor who rules by doing nothing,' leaving everything to them. But I think Feng Zong is right. How can the emperor be without soldiers? I am the emperor, and they are not the prime minister. I don't need to explain everything to them in advance! I will explain to them later. Feng Zong, do not worry, just go ahead."

Chen Zhi nodded: "Your Majesty, I will first go with Eunuch Huang to collect the imperial staff. I can depart in an hour. This matter should be handled as soon as possible."

"Very well, then Fengzong shall depart."

Seeing Chen Zhi pay homage with great ceremony, Liu Shan gave Chen Zhi a deep look, then ordered Huang Liu to hurriedly bring the imperial edict, silk, writing brush, ink, and seal. He personally drafted the edict, affixed the seal, and handed it to Chen Zhi before tidying his robes and turning to leave.

To be fair, the sooner Chen Zhi leaves, the better.

Liu Shan wanted to know more than anyone what had happened in the Northern Expeditionary Army and what everyone's stance was.

This is his country.

……

Chen Zhi successfully obtained the imperial staff, becoming the fourth person to hold it during the Jianxing era. He temporarily placed the staff with Huang Liu and left with only the imperial edict in his pocket. Afterward, he obtained an imperial horse from the palace and hurriedly rode home.

An hour is not a long time, only eight quarters, so Chen Zhi still has six quarters to make the round trip.

Chen Zhi is twenty-four years old this year and does not yet own a house. In fact, he does not need to own a house.

Among the young officials of the Shu Han court, Chen Zhi was the one with the highest social standing and family background.

In the Han Dynasty's court system, the Grand Commandant, the Minister of Works, and the Minister of Agriculture were the Three Dukes, holding the highest positions and engaging in discussions on state affairs. Families with members who had served as one of the Three Dukes could be called "Duke Clan," ranking among the highest of all aristocratic families.

For example, the Yuan family of Runan and the Yang family of Hongnong produced three high-ranking officials for four generations, with figures like Yuan Shao and Yang Biao being among the most prominent gentry. Similarly, the Zhou family of Lujiang produced three high-ranking officials for two generations, with the Zhou Yu family being a powerful force in the region.

During the Shu Han dynasty, the positions of the Three Dukes were usually left vacant, awaiting the arrival of virtuous men from all over the land.

Only Xu Jing ever served as one of the Three Dukes, namely the Minister of Works.

Xu Jing was a renowned scholar in the Central Plains, famous for his character assessments and hosting of the "Monthly Appraisal." In the Shu Han Dynasty, which lacked a voice, Xu Jing was a rare top-tier scholar who could rival the famous scholars of Cao Wei, or rather, a top-tier mascot.

How top-tier is it?

Even though Xu Jing attempted to betray Liu Zhang and surrender to Liu Bei when Liu Bei besieged Chengdu, and failed to escape the city, Liu Bei still disregarded this and gave him a high position.

After Liu Bei acquired Yizhou, Xu Jing was appointed Chief Clerk of the Left General and General Who Guards the Army. When Liu Bei became King of Hanzhong, Xu Jing served as Grand Tutor to the King of Hanzhong. After Liu Bei became emperor, he retained only one of the Three Dukes, the position of Minister of Works, which Xu Jing was appointed to.

Fa Zheng said, "Jing's reputation has spread far and wide, and he should be respected to dazzle those near and far." Zhuge Liang commented on him, "Jing's reputation is not to be lost, and his name should be used to awe the world."

Xu Jing was friends with Hua Xin and Wang Lang, who had served as three dukes in Cao Wei, and with Chen Ji, the father of Chen Qun, the Minister of Works in Cao Wei. Moreover, Xu Jing's great-grandfather Xu Jing, Xu Jing's son Xu Xun, and Xu Xun's son Xu Lian were three dukes in the Han Dynasty for three generations. The Xu family of Runan was one of the few ducal families in the Shu Han Dynasty.

Chen Zhi was the grandson of Xu Jing's elder brother. Orphaned at a young age, this was not unusual in such turbulent times. Chen Zhi was raised in Xu Jing's household from childhood and was treated like his own grandson. Besides Chen Zhi, the Xu family had only one other descendant: Xu Jing's grandson, Xu You.

Currently, the large Xu family only has two male members: Chen Zhi and his cousin Xu You. Chen Zhi, who receives a salary of four hundred shi (a unit of dry measure), naturally does not need to separate from the family and live on his own. His cousin Xu You is nineteen years old this year and has not yet been appointed to an official position.

From any perspective, Chen Zhi was the official of the Shu Han dynasty with the highest family background, without exception.

This is also why Chen Zhi was able to associate with Liu Shan from the age of ten.

The term "confidant" implies closeness and trust. Being close to the monarch in age and having known them since childhood is the typical resume of a confidant.