Has the Han Dynasty been restored today?

Going downstream is always easier than going upstream.

Chen Zhi and Zong Yu's group traveled from Chengdu to Jianye in less than a month, but the return journey was nearly twice as long.

While Chen Zhi's boat was still in the river, Xin Pi, the Grand General and Military Advisor of Wei, had already arrived in Chang'an by carriage.

Xin Pi was nearly seventy years old and was a senior official in the Cao Wei state.

In his early years, Xin Pi joined Yuan Shao along with his elder brother Xin Ping. After Yuan Shao's death, he served under Yuan Tan, and later surrendered to Cao Cao. He became a confidant of Cao Pi and was appointed as a court attendant. He was upright, honest, and outspoken, and later participated in military affairs, gaining considerable trust and respect.

Previously, when Sima Yi and Zhuge Liang's armies were locked in a stalemate, the generals requested to fight. Cao Rui sent Xin Pi with imperial credentials to the front line, changing his position from Commandant of the Guards to Military Advisor to Sima Yi's Grand General, to help Sima Yi suppress the generals. Afterwards, Cao Rui ordered Xin Pi to discuss the merits of the generals in detail for this battle.

Sima Yi is still stationed at Meiwu, while Xin Pi has returned to Chang'an ahead of time.

The State of Wei, controlling the north, had the advantage of raising horses and livestock. For Xin Pi's journey back to Chang'an, a distance of less than 300 li, he was escorted by 2,000 cavalry. This was due to both Xin Pi's important status and his substantial family fortune.

The carriage swayed and wobbled, slowed down, and then slowly came to a stop.

Sinpi, who was half-reclining in the car, opened his eyes and asked in a low voice, "Where are we?"

"Reporting back to Lord Xin," the young official accompanying him in the carriage replied cautiously, "we've arrived at Zhicheng Gate."

"Why did you stop the car?" Sinpi asked again.

The young official cupped his hands in greeting: "Please wait a moment, Lord Xin, while I go and inquire."

Xin Pi continued to rest with his eyes closed. The young official got off the carriage and soon returned, bringing with him a man dressed in the uniform of a military officer with a salary of two thousand shi (a unit of grain).

A deep, powerful voice came from outside the carriage: "Lord Xin! Guanqiu Jian has been waiting here for a long time!"

Xin Pi suddenly opened his eyes, sat up, and lifted the carriage curtain. When he saw the person's face clearly, he exclaimed in surprise, "Zhong Gong? What is Zhong Gong doing here!"

"It's a long story," Guanqiu Jian said with a bow, then smiled and said, "Master Xin, there's no need for you to get out of the carriage. May I get in and we can talk?"

"it is good."

Xin Pi nodded, and then Guanqiu Jian, without any ceremony, got into the carriage and sat facing Xin Pi inside.

Facing Xin Pi's scrutinizing and questioning gaze, Guanqiu Jian calmly replied, "To be honest, when His Majesty set out on his expedition in July, he had already issued an edict en route, ordering me to resign from my post as Governor of Jingzhou and return to Xuchang to await his return."

Xin Pi raised an eyebrow and interjected, "Who is the newly appointed governor of Jingzhou?"

"Send Hu Wende (Hu Zhi) there, and also appoint him as General Zhenwei." Guanqiu Jian replied, "After His Majesty arrived in Xuchang, he ordered me to go west to Chang'an. I have two tasks to do: first, to welcome Lord Xin back to Luoyang together; second, to retrieve the Dew-Collecting Plate and bring it back to Luoyang."

"What?" Xin Pi didn't hear clearly at first and asked with a frown.

"A dew-collecting plate," Guanqiu Jian repeated.

Xin Pi frowned even more deeply: "Didn't they build a dew-collecting plate in Fanglin Garden in Luoyang a few years ago? I remember His Majesty even had you and Prince Chensi (Cao Zhi) write an inscription for it. What dew-collecting plate are you looking for in Chang'an this time?"

Guanqiu Jian explained, “This dew-collecting plate is not the same as that dew-collecting plate. Perhaps you do not know, but in the Jianzhang Palace that I just passed by, there is a dew-collecting plate made during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han. It is twenty zhang high, including the platform. On it is a bronze immortal holding a plate to collect dew. His Majesty ordered me to fetch this dew-collecting plate.”

Xin Pi spoke much faster, with a hint of accusation in his voice: "What is Your Majesty doing with this? Last year I advised Your Majesty against building palaces, and I had just taken a break. Now that Zhuge Liang is dead, are you planning another large-scale construction project?"

"Lord Xin, you've misunderstood," Guanqiu Jian explained quickly, lowering his voice considerably. "Lord Xin, you are unaware that His Majesty acquired a sorceress in Shouchun, who claimed to be sent by the gods. She used talismanic water on the sick, and it was often effective. His Majesty brought her back with the army. Later, His Majesty heard that Emperor Wu of Han used a dew-collecting plate to obtain celestial dew, which was not the same as ordinary water. Therefore, he ordered me to retrieve this plate..."

"Absurd, utterly absurd!"

Despite his frail and aged body, Xin Pi clenched his fist and pounded the low table in the middle of the carriage: "Your Majesty has always been discerning; how could you listen to the words of a witch? What kind of witch dares to bewitch Your Majesty? When I return to court, I will surely remonstrate and have this vile woman executed!"

Just as Xin Pi was getting angry, Guanqiu Jian, who was sitting opposite him, not only did not agree with him, but also did not say whether it was right or wrong. Instead, a look of sadness and reluctance appeared on his calm face.

Upon seeing Guanqiu Jian's condition, Xin Pi immediately became alert.

This is not the normal reaction of a loyal minister or close advisor.

Everyone in the court knew that Guanqiu Jian was a trusted minister of the emperor, the kind of minister for whom he wouldn't even worry about being dismissed from his post as governor. Something serious must have happened!

"Zhong Gong," Xin Pi called out in a deep voice.

Guanqiu Jian looked up and met Xin Pi's gaze, but said nothing.

Xinpi stared blankly for a long time, then shook his head and sighed, "Is His Majesty truly unwell?"

Guanqiu Jian still did not answer.

"Alas!" Xin Pi sighed heavily. "Very well, very well, Your Majesty may take it if you wish! Besides this dew-collecting plate, Your Majesty has kept this old man waiting, has that been? What are your orders?"

Guanqiu Jian finally replied: "His Majesty is worried about the situation of the generals in Guanzhong and asked me to ask Lord Xin in Chang'an: Now that Zhuge Liang is dead, what adjustments need to be made to the generals in Guanzhong?"

Xin Pi said, "I understand Your Majesty's intentions. Didn't Your Majesty instruct Sima Zhao to discuss the promotion to Grand Commandant with the General?"

Guanqiu Jian pressed further, "Is the General willing to come?"

Xin Pi shook his head: "It's a long story. But with Your Majesty's wisdom, since you've transferred Xiahou Xian and Qin Lang's 40,000-strong central army back to the west of Tongguan, there's no need to worry for now."

Guanqiu Jian repeated, "Your Majesty is very worried."

Xin Pi was greatly alarmed: "Zhong Gong, you must tell me the truth today. How is His Majesty's health? You and I are both His Majesty's close advisors; there's no need for you to hide anything from me!"

Guanqiu Jian said in a low voice, "Xin Gong is a close and important minister of His Majesty. Since His Majesty sent me here, he probably did not intend for me to hide anything. Two years ago, Princess Yi of Pingyuan (Cao Shu) and Prince Ai of Anping (Cao Yin) died in the same year. His Majesty was so grieved that he fainted several times. Few people know about this, and His Majesty has been troubled by it ever since. In addition, His Majesty himself has some of the illnesses of the late Emperor, and there are also rumors that it is because he has taken in too many women in the harem, so his health has become increasingly poor."

"Ugh!"

Xinpi shook his head and remained silent. After a long while, two lines of clear tears rolled down from the corners of his eyes.

For any country, the health of its supreme ruler is the most critical factor affecting political stability. And for the Cao family of the Wei Kingdom, health was always a major and unavoidable issue.

By the end of the Jian'an period, Cao Cao's health was already extremely poor.

In the twenty-third year of Jian'an (219 AD), Liu Bei attacked Hanzhong in the west, and General Xiahou Yuan was unable to hold out. Cao Cao had no choice but to personally lead a large army west to Chang'an to prepare for another campaign against Liu Bei. However, due to his health condition, Cao Cao was unable to go to Hanzhong and instead received news of Xiahou Yuan's death in Chang'an.

Thus, in the twenty-fourth year of Jian'an, Cao Cao, despite his illness, led his army into Hanzhong, where he fought against Liu Bei for several months before withdrawing.

As soon as Cao Cao arrived in Chang'an, Guan Yu took advantage of the weakened military strength in Xiangfan and led his troops north. Cao Ren was trapped in Fancheng. Cao Cao ordered Cao Zhi to lead troops to rescue him, but Cao Zhi was too drunk to go. Cao Cao could only order Yu Jin to lead the troops.

Then... Guan Yu flooded the seven armies, captured Yu Jin and beheaded Pang De, his might shaking the Central Plains and even causing Cao Cao to consider moving the capital. Fortunately, Xu Huang advanced rapidly and repelled Guan Yu, and Lü Meng launched a surprise attack on the rear of Jingzhou, which led to Guan Yu's defeat and death.