Has the Han Dynasty been restored today?

"Ha ha ha ha."

Upon hearing Chen Zhi's words, Sun Quan laughed several times, his face showing appreciation, and pointed at Chen Zhi a few times with his right index finger:

"Minister Chen, you have quite the nerve! To dare speak before me of an uncertain future and the destruction of ancestral temples, you are the first in over a decade! The last one to dare say such things to me was Lü Ziming! Now, Lü Ziming has been gone for fourteen years, hasn't he? It's truly lamentable!"

Chen Zhi bowed deeply and said, "My country is embroiled in the affairs of Wei Yan and Yang Yi, and I happened to witness the Wu Kingdom's military advisors speaking with the Grand General in Wuchang. Therefore, I have taken the liberty of speaking frankly to Your Majesty regarding the friendly relations between our two nations. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"

In short, Sun Jian lived to be less than forty, and Sun Ce died at twenty-six. Cao Cao was sixty-six, Liu Bei sixty-three, Prime Minister Zhuge Liang fifty-four, Cao Pi forty… and you, Sun Quan, were already fifty-three, only one year younger than Prime Minister Zhuge Liang. Did you really think you had a long life ahead of you?

If you fail to conquer Wei, do you think your son can succeed? Where is your Prime Minister Zhuge of Wu? Is it Lu Xun, who is a year younger than you? Or Zhuge Jin, who is almost ten years older than you? Or that pale-faced, plump Zhuge Ke who just went out?

If you fail to attack Wei, then Wu has no hope!

Speaking of fortune and misfortune is a common tactic used by diplomatic envoys, and it was already in use by strategists during the Warring States period.

However, Chen Zhi's words today were rather sharp, to the point of being unpleasant to hear.

Such words can be spoken to a magnanimous ruler, and should be acceptable to Sun Quan, Liu Bei, and Cao Cao. However, if they are spoken to Cao Pi and Cao Rui, then it would be as if they were tired of living.

"It was just a minor matter in Wuchang. Your humble servant lacked discretion and slightly lost his composure," Sun Quan said, glossing over the matter. He then asked, "Minister Chen, now that you've told me all this, do you have a solution in mind?"

As Sun Quan spoke, he kept sizing up the young Han envoy before him.

Chen Zhi was eight feet tall, with a majestic and imposing appearance, exuding an air of authority and indeed possessing the demeanor of a renowned minister. Moreover, it had been a long time since anyone had dared to speak to Sun Quan in such a manner.

In a daze, Sun Quan looked at Chen Zhi's tall figure standing in the hall and suddenly thought of Zhuge Liang, who came from Xiakou to Chaisang to advise him to fight against Cao Cao twenty-six years ago. He also thought of Zhou Yu, who had treated him with the respect due to a subject when they first met thirty-four years ago when he first took control of Jiangdong and was different from others...

Where is Zhou Yu now? Where is Zhuge Liang now?

Only then did Sun Quan truly realize the passage of time. Chen Zhi was right. He was already fifty-three years old, no longer young.

As a ruler, Sun Quan was not afraid of sharp words. If offended, he could naturally use his royal authority to punish the offender. What Sun Quan feared most was that he himself would not hear the truth, and would be blinded by excessive praise and flattery…

That being said, Sun Quan still wanted to see what solutions Chen Zhi could offer. If he merely criticized current affairs and executed Chen Zhi without providing proper burial, what good would that do him? It would be better to expel him as soon as possible!

Chen Zhi bowed again: "In the past, Zhou Yu advised Your Majesty to conquer the world, ally with Liu Bei against Cao Cao, demonstrating decisive wisdom and surpassing all others, and thus succeeded. Your Majesty once said, 'Without Zhou Yu, there would be no emperor.' In the past, Lu Bu offered advice on your bedside, saying that the Han Dynasty could not be restored and Cao Cao could not be eliminated, so Your Majesty attacked Liu Biao, established a tripartite balance of power in Jiangdong, and proclaimed yourself emperor. Afterwards, Your Majesty compared Lu Bu to Deng Yu. In the past, Lü Meng advised Your Majesty to take control of the Yangtze River and advance on Xiangyang, and helped Your Majesty take Jingzhou. Your Majesty regarded him as your confidant."

"The Way should not be lightly transmitted, nor should the Law be lightly bestowed. Your Majesty is in the heart of the country, and those involved are often blinded by their own circumstances. Your Majesty, however, is far away in the western kingdom, yet you have a clear understanding of the situation. Your Majesty asks your foreign minister for advice on how to resolve the affairs of the Wu kingdom, while sitting high in the hall. This is not the proper way to treat a national scholar."

Sun Quan shook his head and chuckled: "Minister Chen considers himself a national hero?"

Chen Zhi's eyes were filled with determination as he raised his head and replied, "Of course, this humble subject considers himself a national hero!"

"The Wu Kingdom was able to establish such a foundation thanks to the assistance of three ministers: Zhou Yu, Lu Bu, and Lü Bu. After Lü Bu passed away, the Wu Kingdom rarely launched any offensives. It faced strong enemies from outside and internal constraints. Its court officials could only defend and not attack, and it was incapable of handling border affairs. Is that not true?"

"Foreign ministers will talk about internal matters first."

"Firstly, Your Majesty desires to establish military achievements on the borders and has repeatedly mobilized large armies, but has been hindered by court officials. Secondly, the Crown Prince is in his prime, yet lacks loyal ministers to assist him, raising concerns about his succession. Thirdly, the nation's power is divided between Jingzhou and Yangzhou, and Your Majesty has deployed defenses along the river, with capable generals each commanding their own troops, in the west rather than the east!"

"As for foreign wars, the victories at Chibi, Xiling, and Shiting were all achieved through defense rather than offense. Your Majesty has attacked Huainan several times over the past twenty years without success!"

"With internal affairs in turmoil, external wars cannot be won. Without victory in external wars, internal affairs will ultimately be difficult to manage. This cycle repeats itself, and Your Majesty's years will be wasted. Your Majesty, I am deeply worried!"

When Chen Zhi spoke of "internal affairs," Sun Quan had already risen from his seat. By the time Chen Zhi spoke of "external wars," Sun Quan's expression had turned solemn, and he was listening intently.

In just a few words, Chen Zhi had thoroughly explained the problems of Wu both domestically and internationally, incisively and clearly, rather than engaging in empty rhetoric about national strength.

Sun Quan took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and slowly walked to within a few feet of Chen Zhi, carefully examining the twenty-four-year-old envoy. While scrutinizing him, he also felt a certain inexplicable expectation.

Chen Zhi was not afraid at all. He looked up and stared at Sun Quan for a moment before bowing again.

Sun Quan was indeed a man of imposing appearance, with blue eyes and a purple beard, and his every move exuded authority...

Sun Quan stared at Chen Zhi for a long time, then bowed deeply to him.

"I hope you will teach me, sir!"

Sun Quan's use of "I" instead of "I" and his courteous manners astonished Zong Yu, the official with a salary of two thousand shi sitting in the hall, and many guards and eunuchs in the hall.

Even after becoming emperor, he still treats scholars with such respect?

While everyone was astonished, Chen Zhi calmly accepted Sun Quan's bow, just as he had received a bow from Liu Shan when he offered advice to Liu Shan in Chengdu.

Chen Zhi was well aware of what he had brought to Sun Quan and the Wu Kingdom. Sun Quan could understand this with just one bow, which was already a huge benefit for Sun Quan!

"Your Majesty," Chen Zhi said without holding back, "Wu is troubled both domestically and internationally, so we should take a two-pronged approach."

"End the dual power struggle between Jing and Yang. The Han emperor personally moved the capital from Chengdu to Hanzhong, dedicating all national strength and military resources to the northern expedition from Hanzhong. Your Majesty should also concentrate your forces in the east, using national strength, generals, and soldiers to conquer Huainan. Now, Wei is no longer what it was in the early years of the Huangchu era. Its military strength in Huainan is already established. Considering its generals, water transport, troops, and navy, Wei will not wage a major war between Xiangyang and Jiangling. Han should attack Wei's westernmost territory, while Wu should attack Wei's easternmost territory. In this way, Wei's power will be divided into two or even three parts, giving Han and Wu an opportunity to take advantage!"

Sun Quan sighed deeply: "I already know what Minister Chen has said. But what if I were to say that this matter is difficult? There are many obstacles within the country, so how can I concentrate all the nation's resources in the east and launch a full-scale attack on Huainan?"