Has the Han Dynasty been restored today?

When Chen Zhi, Liu Yin, and the thirty riders set off, it was only a quarter past the hour of Yin (3:45 AM), and the sky was still dark, so they had to travel by torchlight.

By daybreak, Chen Zhi and his party had arrived at Xindu, forty li northeast of the palace. They hurriedly ate at the post station, watered and fed their horses, and continued northward along the Golden Ox Road without stopping for even a moment.

The Shu Han state had been established for fourteen years, or twenty years if counted from when Liu Bei occupied Chengdu.

During these twenty years, first Liu Bei and Cao Cao fought for Hanzhong, with "men fighting and women transporting supplies," and then Prime Minister Zhuge Liang launched five Northern Expeditions, which became national wars that mobilized the entire nation's resources. Almost all officials of the Shu Han dynasty were involved. To prepare for such wars, all the troops, resources, provisions, and weapons in the heart of Shu had to be transported north through the Jinniu Road, so almost everyone knew the specific details of the Jinniu Road.

Heading north from Chengdu, one passes through Xindu and Luocheng in Guanghan Commandery, then enters Zitong Commandery via Fuxian County. Passing the four perilous passes of Jiange, Jiameng, Baishui, and Yang'an, one enters Hanzhong Commandery via Yangping Pass. In terms of distance, the journey from Chengdu to Mianyang County in Hanzhong Commandery, where the Prime Minister's residence is located, is a full 1200 li.

The route is well-equipped with rest stops and facilities, and if one disregards the loss of horsepower and manpower, it can be reached in as little as three days.

Although Sichuan is short of horses, it is not difficult to draw a few dozen skilled riders from the Imperial Guards; the shortage of horses is not that severe.

Throughout the first day of the journey, Liu Yin maintained a consistently aloof attitude. Although Chen Zhi wanted to strike up a conversation, he didn't want to risk Liu Yin's coldness and could only silently follow the group.

When they arrived in Fuxian County in the evening and checked into the inn, Chen Zhi took the initiative to communicate with Liu Yin and offered to take the night watch for the first half of the night. This made Liu Yin's icy attitude soften a little.

They set off again at dawn the next day, and after a whole day of non-stop travel, they entered Jiange Pass an hour and a half after sunset. For the last ten miles before entering the pass, a cold rain began to fall in the mountains. Chen Zhi and the others were extremely exhausted and could only hurry north, rushing to enter the pass in the darkness.

The climate is gradually shifting towards winter. If one were to be caught in a cold rain in the heart of Sichuan in late autumn, even an iron body would find it difficult to withstand, let alone Chen Zhi and Liu Yin's group, who were on a mission heading north and had already traveled 800 li in two days. It would be an extreme test of their riding skills, physique, and organizational abilities.

After entering the pass, getting some hot food, warming themselves by the fire, and drying their clothes became the most important things. Apart from the two who had fallen behind, there were about ten soldiers in each barracks. Chen Zhi and Liu Yin, who held official positions, received special treatment and shared a guest room.

After settling all the trivial matters, Liu Yin rubbed his cold hands, pushed open the door, and entered the room. He knelt down in front of Chen Zhi, sat down beside him, and, in a rough voice, took the initiative to start a conversation: "Imperial Censor Chen, have you been to Jiange before?"

Chen Zhi raised an eyebrow and exchanged a glance with Liu Yin, then smiled and said, "What's going on? Why is Commander Liu taking the initiative to chat with me?"

Liu Yin smiled awkwardly: "I just had nothing to do, so I asked."

"I have been to Jiange before." Chen Zhi said with a smile: "In the sixth year of Jianxing, Prime Minister Zhuge launched his first Northern Expedition. The year before, in the fifth year of Jianxing, the Prime Minister went to Hanzhong to establish his government and ordered all the sons of the ministers in the court to enter the army as officials and transport grain on the Jinniu Road. I was seventeen years old at that time and worked as an official transporting grain on the official road between Jiange and Baishui Pass."

Liu Yin seemed to suddenly realize something, and continued Chen Zhi's words, saying, "I remember now, there was such a thing. Wasn't Prime Minister Zhuge's eldest son, Zhuge Qiao, still sick and dying on the road at that time?"

"Yes." Chen Zhi showed a hint of regret. "I met him. Zhuge Bosong was a man of excellent character and talent, a true gem. It's a real pity. After his death, Prime Minister Zhuge was heartbroken for a long time, which caused his health to deteriorate... That's how governance is. For the sake of the country, there's no way to sacrifice yourself and your family."

Liu Yin frowned: "How could this be?"

Chen Zhi shook his head and chuckled: "How could it not be like that? The Prime Minister has just established his government in Hanzhong and ordered the prefects of various counties to transport troops, military supplies, and provisions to Hanzhong. Most of the officials in the counties and prefectures are lax and cannot provide the full amount. The Prime Minister had no choice but to take Zhuge Qiao as an example and send the sons of the ministers in the court to the army to supervise the transport of provisions as a model, so as to show that the people of Jingzhou and Dongzhou are united with those of Yizhou. Only then could he barely raise enough military supplies."

Liu Yin seemed somewhat surprised: "At the time, I was serving as a cavalry commander under Zhao Zhendong (Zhao Yun) in Hanzhong, and I was unaware of these stories!"

Chen Zhi sighed softly, took his hands out of his sleeves, and placed them on his knees: "Is state affairs so simple? At that time, the Prime Minister was training troops in Hanzhong to prepare for war and was transferring grain from various counties. We couldn't count on the poor and remote counties of Nanzhong, Badong, Fuling, Hanjia, and Wenshan. Only the seven counties of Shu, Zitong, Jianwei, Jiangyang, Guanghan, Ba, and Baxi were available."

"The Prefects of Shu Commandery, Yang Hong, and Zitong Commandery, Zhang Yi, were both known for their diligence. In addition, Lü Yi, the then Prefect of Ba Commandery, exploited the local powerful families, providing them with the most money, provisions, and troops among all the commanderies. The Chancellor then seized the position of Prefect of Hanzhong from Wei Yan and appointed Lü Yi as Prefect of Hanzhong. The remaining four commanderies—Guanghan, Jianwei, Jiangyang, and Ba—were far inferior..."

Chen Zhi picked up the bowl of water, moistened his throat, and continued, "With Lü Yi as a role model, the Prime Minister was able to punish others. The four prefects of Guanghan, Jiangyang, Jianwei, and Bajun were either transferred or dismissed. Only then did the prefectures become orderly, and officials at all levels took the Northern Expedition and the transport of supplies as the top priority. Only then was Prime Minister Zhuge able to go north to Longyou the following year."

Liu Yin suddenly realized, stroking his short beard: "So that's how it is. If Imperial Censor Chen hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known there were such twists and turns involved."

Chen Zhi smiled and said, "Then I must ask Commander Liu. When you departed from the palace at dawn yesterday, Commander Liu refused to speak to me. Why did he come to find me today?"

Liu Yinqian chuckled a few times, rose slightly from his kneeling position, and bowed solemnly to Chen Zhi: "Yesterday morning I heard that Imperial Censor Chen had been promoted and given the imperial insignia so hastily, and that he was still so young. I had wasted many years in my post as a Thousand-Stone Sima, and I felt a little resentful, hence my dissatisfaction. Yesterday and today, we marched for two days, covering eight hundred li, which was quite arduous. Yet Imperial Censor Chen was in no way inferior to me and the other soldiers. His horsemanship and physique are first-rate, which is why I have developed respect for him. Just now, I also heard about Imperial Censor Chen's past experience and extensive knowledge, and I am truly impressed."

"I beg the Imperial Censor's forgiveness!"

Chen Zhi did not presume, and immediately bowed in return, then helped Liu Yin up: "Liu Sima and I were both ordered by His Majesty to travel north, and should have helped each other. What crime have we committed?"

"But Sima Liu just mentioned that his career has been delayed for many years. What exactly caused this setback?"

Liu Yin sighed heavily, his eyes filled with melancholy: "During the Prime Minister's first Northern Expedition, I served as a cavalry general and separate commander in Zhao Zhendong's army. The Prime Minister's main force was in the west, while Zhao Zhendong led his troops out of Jigu Valley to fight against the Wei general Cao Zhen, but unfortunately suffered a defeat and retreated. The following year, Zhao Zhendong died of illness, and I was recalled to the Chengdu Imperial Guard, missing the subsequent four Northern Expeditions, which is why my position has not advanced at all."

"Let's not talk about that. Since His Majesty has entrusted me with this task, I will repay him with my life." Liu Yin forced a smile again. "I was just about to ask Imperial Censor Chen, since it's raining tonight. According to Commandant Feng of Jiange, at this time of year, with rain, the mountain roads will likely be difficult to travel for two days. What should we do about our journey to Hanzhong?"