The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 306 Li Yi: I'm a father again? And with a seven-year-old son?
Winter of the thirteenth year of Jian'an.

Xuzhou, Xia Pi.

Yuan Ying held Liu Chan and Liu Li's hands and stood in front of the palace gate.

The cold wind whipped at her clothes, but it couldn't dispel the resolute look in her eyes.

Liu Bei stood atop the high platform, his face grim, but he ultimately waved his hand and said in a deep voice:
"Yide, go and escort them to Hebei."

Zhang Fei clasped his hands in agreement, his dark face unusually devoid of any playful expression.

The usually carefree man spoke in a low voice:
"Brother, don't worry, I'm here for you."

"I will absolutely not allow Sister-in-law Wang and her nephew to be harmed."

Liu Bei remained silent for a moment, then ordered his servants to bring out several boxes, saying:
"These gold, silver and valuables are for the purpose of traveling expenses."

Liu Bei was all bark and no bite; deep down, he was very reluctant to part with his wife and son.

Is Yuan Ying short of money?
His father, the Skeleton King, was incredibly wealthy in Huainan, having amassed a fortune by exploiting the people.

Yuan Ying had enough money to live comfortably for the rest of her life.

However, Liu Bei still paid out of his own pocket to give her some travel expenses to help her return to Hebei to visit her family.

Yuan Ying glanced at her coldly, without thanking her or saying goodbye.

She simply pulled the two children into the carriage.

Once the others were a little further away, Liu Bei suddenly grabbed Zhang Fei and whispered a few words in his ear.

"Have you remembered my words, brother?"

Zhang Fei nodded. "Understood, understood."

"Yide, be sure to be careful on your trip to Hebei."

Liu Bei then took out a secret letter from his sleeve and solemnly handed it to Zhang Fei:

"This letter must be delivered to Ziyu personally; it must not be handed to anyone else!"

Zhang Fei nodded, carefully concealed the letter against his body, placed it against his chest, and clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying:
"Brother, don't worry, I, Old Zhang, will risk my life to deliver this letter!"

Liu Bei patted him on the shoulder, but ultimately said nothing more, only taking a deep look at the carriage in the distance.

With a sigh, he turned and returned to the palace, attended by eunuchs.

The following day, Zhang Fei led eight hundred Yan cavalry to escort Yuan Ying and her son northward.

Horse hooves shattered the thin ice, wheels rolled over the snow, and the group slowly left Xiapi.

Liu Shan leaned against the carriage window, gazing at the palace walls receding into the distance, and whispered:

"Mother, can we ever come back?"

Yuan Ying didn't answer, but simply hugged him tighter.

Zhang Fei, mounted on his horse, glanced back at Xiapi and sighed inwardly:

"Brother, oh brother, you clearly can't bear to part with me, so why be so stubborn?"

"It seems you're even less eloquent than I, Old Zhang!"

But Zhang Fei didn't think much of it, he just whipped his horse and shouted:
"Men, quicken your pace and reach the Zhanghe ferry before dark!"

Eight hundred iron cavalrymen marched north through the snow.

……

Yecheng, Hebei.

Springtime filled the warm pavilions of the Prime Minister's residence in Yecheng.

Li Yizheng sat before the jade table, holding a copy of "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu, with a servant on each side.

The eldest son, Li Zhi, dressed in white, held the *Zuo Zhuan* and read it carefully. Suddenly, he pointed to the chapter on "Duke Zhuang of Zheng defeating Duan" and asked:
“Father, since Duke Zhuang knew that Uncle Duan had ulterior motives, why didn’t he get rid of him sooner?”

Li Yi then stroked his hat and laughed:

"This is a strategy of nurturing an enemy to enhance one's own prestige; as for how to deal with the child, please see the following text..."

The second son, Li Ping, however, was restless and drew his sword. Suddenly, he used the pen holder on the table to represent an enemy army formation, with jujube pits as cavalry and apricot kernels as soldiers.

The scene depicting the great battle in Wei is being performed.

Seeing this, Li Yi pointed with his chopsticks and said:
"When I pacified the Wei region, it was as if I had set up my battle formation here."

Before he finished speaking, Li Ping had already captured seven-tenths of the spirit of the character.

Beside the incense burner in the corner of the pavilion, three ladies each possessed their own unique charm:

Mi Zhen held her adopted son Li An in her arms, humming a Xuzhou folk tune, while her silver needle embroidered a sachet with the words "Abundant Harvest of Five Grains" in her hand.

Yuan Ying was peeling an orange when she suddenly stuffed a segment into her husband's mouth.

"Is it sweet?"

"……Um."

Li Yi smiled and nodded, as he was usually busy with official duties.

He rarely gets to spend time with his family like he does now.

As Yuan Ying's eyes darted around, she suddenly noticed that Li Zhi's collar was slightly open, and she quickly called a maid to bring him a sable fur coat to put on him.

Zhen Mi and Tao Hong were whispering to each other, the kind of whispered conversations between women.

Li Yi slowly unfurled the bamboo slips and asked in a gentle voice:
“Zhi’er, put down the Zuo Zhuan for now.”

Do you know what the book in your father's hand is?

Li Zhi answered without hesitation, "This is Sun Tzu's Art of War."

Before Li Yi could reply, Yuan Ying, who was standing to the side, suddenly spoke up with a charming laugh:
"Your father's favorite book is 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu."

"Anyway, I've read it at least seventy or eighty times since I married your father. I wonder if it's really that easy to read?"

Mi Zhen chimed in from the side:

"Not only that, but since I married my husband, he has started reading 'The Art of War'."

"Oh?"

Yuan Ying raised an eyebrow, covered her mouth, and giggled:

"So, my husband has read it at least a hundred times?"

Ha ha.

Li Yi smiled. To be precise, he had read it no less than eight hundred times.

Because his family had him read this book when he was very young.

Because Li Yi was instilled with the idea from a young age that he would inherit the family business in the future.

The business world is like a battlefield, so you have to learn military strategy from a young age.

Not only Li Yi, but many businessmen today also highly regard this military treatise.

For example, Li Ka-shing of Hong Kong, Jack Ma of Alibaba, Warren Buffett, and so on.

It's popular both domestically and internationally.

Even Li Yi himself, his favorite book was "The Art of War".

In Li Yi's view, this book is the best book and is worth studying by everyone, both Chinese and foreign, ancient and modern.

Because the core ideas of this military treatise can be applied not only to the battlefield, but also to the workplace and the business world.

Even interactions between people.

The most distinctive feature of "The Art of War" is that it teaches you how to defend.

Indeed, Sun Tzu, the strategist, actually advocated defense more.

The first two-thirds of "The Art of War" is about how to defend.

This is also why Li Yi's fighting style is primarily defensive.

Furthermore, Sun Tzu didn't teach you how to win, but rather how not to lose.

Winning is considered not losing, drawing is also considered not losing, and even not fighting is considered not losing.

Sun Tzu believed that there are no winners once war breaks out, so he strongly advised against getting into conflicts with others.

That is, "The best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans; the next best is to disrupt their alliances; and the worst is to attack their cities."

If conflict is unavoidable, then wait for an opportunity and strive for a fatal blow.

In other words, war should not be started unless absolutely necessary, and if war is unavoidable, it should be fought to the death.

Sun Tzu's ideas were always regarded as the guiding principle by Li Yi.

This also applies to interpersonal relationships. Sun Tzu believed that one should not engage in conflict with powerful people.

If a conflict does occur, you must avoid his strengths and instead attack his weaknesses.

If he is strong in martial arts, then try to outsmart him.

If he is intelligent and resourceful, then use force.

If he is skilled in both literature and martial arts, then we must look for his weaknesses in other areas.

If you can't find his weaknesses, you must build a good relationship with him and not let him become your enemy.

If he ultimately becomes your enemy, then you can only accept your fate.

"This 'Art of War' by Sun Tzu does not teach people how to win, but how to avoid defeat."

When Li Yi heard everyone mention it, he decided to pass the military treatise to Li Zhi that day.

This child actually enjoys reading, while Li Ping prefers martial arts and often doesn't really understand what he reads.

Li Yi can be considered to have taught according to the students' aptitude.

Li Zhi, eager to find talented individuals, asked with doubt:

"Father, if we do not seek victory, how can we pacify the world?"

Li Yi smiled slightly, lightly tapping the "Strategic Attack" chapter with his fingertip, and explained:
Sun Tzu said: "To win a hundred battles is not the acme of skill."

"To subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest form of skill."

"A victor is not necessarily a good fighter; a good fighter is not necessarily always victorious."

Upon hearing this, Li Ping frowned immediately and interjected, asking:

"If we don't fight, how can we repel the enemy?"

Li Yi then took the teacup, filled it with water until it was full but not overflowing, and said with a smile to the two of them:
"A skilled strategist first makes himself invincible, and then waits for the enemy to become vulnerable."

He gently swirled the teacup, causing ripples but not spilling.

"The art of war lies not in attack, but in defense."

"The key is not in fighting, but in preparing."

Zhen Mi, upon hearing the insightful part, seemed to be deep in thought and couldn't help but ask:

"Does my husband mean that victory or defeat is not determined on the battlefield, but by strategic planning in the temple?"

Li Yi nodded, "Good!"

The Book of Planning states: "He who calculates much will win; he who calculates little will lose; how much less will he lose if he calculates nothing at all?"

He looked at Li Zhi and asked meaningfully:
"Zhi'er, if you become a great general in the future..."

"The enemy outnumbers us, what should we do?"

Li Zhi pondered for a moment and replied:

"Avoid their sharp edge, strike when they are weary and retreating."

Li Yi nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Li Ping and asked:
"Ping'er, what should we do if the enemy is strong and we are weak?"

Li Ping clenched his fist and shouted:

"Those who fight swiftly will survive, those who do not will perish!"

“…Hahaha!” Li Yi laughed helplessly, “He is brave, but he hasn’t grasped the essence.”

What Li Yi wanted to emphasize was that when encountering a powerful enemy, one should not engage in direct conflict with them.

Therefore, Li Zhi's answer satisfied him, while Li Ping's reply seemed somewhat "reckless".

He wasn't just teaching his two sons military strategy.

It's also teaching them how to "protect themselves"!
In Li Yi's view, one must learn to protect oneself, apply military strategy to the workplace, and integrate it into one's understanding.

Then you've already reached the pinnacle of your life ahead of time.

Li Yi then pulled out the "Treatise on Illusion and Reality" and said:

Sun Tzu said, "The skillful strategist brings the enemy to his own ends, rather than being brought to his own ends."

"The victor is not one who fights with brute force, but one who outwits the enemy."

"With your reckless courage, you will inevitably cause trouble sooner or later."

Upon seeing this, Yuan Ying couldn't help but pout:
"My husband is too strict; Ping'er is only seven years old."

"Does this mean his future is sealed?"

Li Yi, with his hands behind his back, said solemnly:

"The key to nurturing children lies in being cautious from the beginning."

"If the sprouting branches are not corrected in time, and they grow too large, it will be difficult to cut them down."

"You must not spoil our children. Although I am busy with military affairs, I will personally check their studies."

"This is not only about the succession of an heir, but also about the continuation of the family line. You should all understand this!"

A child's education should begin from a young age. If a child develops a wrong idea from childhood and it is not corrected in time, it will be very difficult to correct it when the child grows up.

Although Li Yi is very busy, he still emphasizes that he must personally take charge of the children's homework.

This is not only about the future of our children, but also about the future of our family.

Throughout history, there have been countless children who have let their fathers down.

They often only need to say one wrong word to plunge their entire family into an abyss of no return.

As the patriarch of the Li clan, Li Yi had no choice but to consider the interests of his family and relatives.

Upon hearing this, all the wives and concubines bowed in unison.
"I will obey the Prime Minister's 'military order'."

Li Zhi, however, still had some things he didn't quite understand, so he looked up and asked Li Yi:
"Father, what if the enemy doesn't make any mistakes either?"

"How to do this?"

Li Yi stroked his hair and laughed:

Therefore, the "Military Formations" chapter says: "Those skilled in defense hide themselves deep underground."

"Those skilled in attack move from the highest heavens."

"If the enemy does not move, I will lure him; if the enemy does not move, I will exhaust him."

"Military tactics are like water, which has no fixed shape; only those who adapt can prevail."

Li Zhi suddenly realized what was happening and hurriedly said:
"I see! Sun Tzu's intention was not to teach people how to win."

"Instead, it teaches people how to remain invincible and then find the enemy's weakness!"

Li Yi nodded with satisfaction: "Good!"

"If you can think of this, it means that your father has not taught you in vain."

In high spirits, Li Yi quickly called to Tao Hong beside him and said:

"Take the brush and grind the ink!"

This task was usually done by Zhen Mi.

However, since Zhen Mi had just given birth to Li Yi and was still in her postpartum confinement period, Li Yi did not trouble her.

After Tao Hong ground the ink, Li Yi took up his brush and began to annotate the end of Sun Tzu's Art of War.

Or rather, to supplement.

He wrote down his understanding and insights into "The Art of War" over the years.

Then he handed it to Mi Zhen and said:
"This book is entrusted to your wife for safekeeping, so that it may be passed down to future generations after my death."

"Let my descendants read this and remember its principles."

"To ensure the long-lasting prosperity of my family and prevent its downfall."

Mi Zhen carefully accepted the book. Although she couldn't understand military strategy, she could tell from Li Yi's words that it was meant to be passed down as a family heirloom.

It is clearly of extraordinary significance.

"Sister Deer, can I take a look?"

Zhen Mi was very studious, and she wanted to study the texts.

Li Yi smiled and said, "Of course, everyone in my family should read this book."

The book is titled "On the Essentials of Sun Tzu's Art of War," and its content is not long.

It consists of only a few hundred words, all of which are Li Yi's own summary.

The book briefly states:

The Thirteen Chapters of Sun Tzu's Art of War are revered throughout the world, and are not only treasured by the Chinese.

If one only talks about the skills of weapons, how could one enjoy such an honor?
Its immortality stems from two reasons:

The first principle is that the Way is superior to the tools.

Although Sun Tzu lived in an era of chariot warfare, his writings contain many profound military principles.

The methods of maneuvering the enemy in "The Art of Deception" and responding to situations in "Nine Transformations" are timeless principles.

As for techniques like "fire attack," they are now only good for amusement and conversation.

Secondly, it highlights the harmony between literary style and substance.
Its titles, such as "Nine Lands" and "Military Struggle," are simple yet profound.

As for phrases like "There are no constant tactics in warfare, just as water has no constant shape" and "Its speed is like the wind, its stillness like the forest," they are concise yet profound, truly worthy of being called the military classic "Li Sao."

Many people believe that "subduing the enemy without fighting" is a benevolent strategy, but this is a misconception.

The Art of War is based on the principle of benefit and harm, much like a merchant holding a tally.

Compared to the cost and profit, even nuclear troops are worth every penny.

They measured grain and fodder as if they were measuring millet and silk, and observed the terrain and markets accordingly.

To assess personnel, one must distinguish between the wise and foolish generals, and choose wise and foolish ones.

Judging the bravery and cowardice of soldiers is like selecting laborers; assessing the doubts and trust between ruler and ministers is like verifying contracts.

Therefore, the "Nine Changes" speaks of the five dangers facing a general, which is especially thought-provoking.

Those who are destined to die should be killed; such is foolish courage.

Those who are determined to survive can be captured, for they are cowardly in battle.

Those who are quick to anger are easily insulted, for they are impetuous.

Those who are honest and upright may be disgraced, for they value their reputation.

Those who love the people may be troublesome, for they are bound by benevolence.

This is not to teach people to be shameless; it is simply to teach them what is right.

Let go of joy and anger as you would discard fleeting wealth; sever attachments as you would eliminate counterfeit goods.

Therefore, those who claim to "win without fighting" are not benevolent, but rather have calculated every advantage and disadvantage.

This is why Sun Tzu said, "Warfare is based on deception," which is not the proper path for a gentleman.

But in a time of life and death, how can we afford to be impulsive?
……

Li Yi explained the relationship between business and personnel in military strategy from the perspective of a merchant.

The key point to emphasize is that it is not something noble.

In fact, the pursuit of profit by businessmen is inherently incompatible with the "right path".

Li Yi was frank and open, directly and generously admitting that this kind of thing was "selfish".

But the very last sentence also clarifies his view on this—

"But at a time of life and death, how can we afford to be impulsive?"

With the military treatise completed, it was just lunchtime.

The family was getting ready to have a meal.

Suddenly, the gatekeeper rushed in in a panic and reported:

"Report! Queen Yuan Ying, along with Crown Prince Liu Shan and Prince Liu Li, have arrived thirty miles outside Ye City!"

The pavilion fell silent instantly.

Yuan Ying's teacup clattered to the ground, the hot soup splashing onto her skirt without her noticing, and she said in a trembling voice:

"Sister, sister is here?"

Her beautiful eyes were already brimming with tears.

She hadn't seen her sister for many years, except for Yuan Yin.

In a sense, this is her only remaining family in the world.

Li Yi's gaze suddenly sharpened, and his fingers gradually clenched on the table:
"How many people are traveling with you? Are there any generals from Xuzhou escorting you?"

"General Zhang Fei led eight hundred Yan cavalry to see them off, along with twenty maids and ten supply wagons."

"It seems your sister and the king have had a dispute."

Li Yi immediately concluded that the young couple must have had a fight, and she had decided to go back to her parents' home.

However, since Yuan's maternal family had been wiped out, she could only come to find her younger sister, Yuan Ying.

“Therefore, you shall come with me to greet the Queen.”

Li Yi pointed at Yuan Ying, then called to Zhen Mi and Mi Zhen, saying:
"You two shall then construct the Queen's bedroom in the mansion."

"In addition, select a few clever and capable maids, so as not to cause any trouble."

"Here."

The women all agreed and went off to do their respective tasks.

Amidst the wind and snow, Yuan Ying's carriage drew closer.

Li Yi suddenly felt his cuff tighten slightly; it turned out that Yuan Ying's fingernails had dug into his arm.

When the carriage curtain was lifted, Yuan Ying's face looked haggard, and Liu Li was fast asleep in her arms, sucking his finger.

Liu Shan, however, opened his phoenix eyes, which resembled those of Liu Bei, and looked around warily.

"Sister!"

Yuan Ying rushed forward, only to see Li Yi take three steps ahead, treating her with the courtesy due to a state guest.

"Your subject, Li Yi, respectfully welcomes the Queen's carriage."

Glancing at Zhang Fei's dark face out of the corner of his eye, he added:

"The three generals have had a long and arduous journey escorting you; we have prepared warm wine to ward off the cold."

"...Hehe, it's no trouble at all, it's just my duty as an old Zhang."

Zhang Fei touched his nose, still the same carefree and easygoing person he always was.

Yuan Ying gently patted Liu Shan's shoulder and said softly:

"Adou, quickly call your uncle."

The child walked up to Li Yi and called out in a clear voice:
"uncle."

"Hehe, the young master has grown so much."

Li Yi smiled and touched Liu Shan's forehead, "When I left Xuzhou, the Crown Prince was not even half as tall as he is now."

Liu Shan had little contact with Li Yi, so he didn't speak much to him. He then went to Li Zhi and bowed to him.
"I hope my cousin is well."

Yuan Ying approached the topic of family ties because she wanted to emphasize kinship at that moment.

He simply wanted to forget his identity as queen and come to Hebei to relax.

I also hope that Li Yi won't be too reserved.

"Alright, this is not the place to talk."

"I have prepared the sleeping quarters. Please come with me, Your Majesty."

Yuan Ying thanked her and, together with her sister, followed her into the city.

Inside the Prime Minister's residence, the warm stove emitted a fragrant aroma.

A maidservant served tea and snacks, and Yuan Ying accepted the teacup.

He personally poured tea for his sister and said with a smile:

"Sister, try this. It's freshly picked chrysanthemum tea from Hebei. It's good for your mind and eyes."

Yuan Ying took a light sip, and the frown between her brows eased slightly.

"It does indeed have a pleasant fragrance."

She looked down at Liu Li in her arms and said gently, "Li'er, this is your aunt."

Liu Li was still young at the time, but he smiled at Yuan Ying.

Yuan Ying seems to have a lot of affability towards children.

Whenever they cried or made a fuss, Yuan Ying would comfort them and they would stop.

Seeing that Yuan Ying seemed to be deliberately downplaying her status, Li Yi followed up the conversation and said to Li Zhi:
"Zhi'er, take your cousin to the garden to admire the plum blossoms. Don't be shy."

Li Zhi respectfully responded and took Liu Shan's hand:
"Cousin, Father made me a 'building block' set. Would you like to see it?"

Liu Shan's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly.

He immediately followed Li Zhi out.

After the children left, the atmosphere in the hall became more relaxed.

Yuan Ying sighed softly, "...Prime Minister, no! Mr. Ziyu."

"I have come here today not for political matters."

"It's just..." she paused, a hint of sadness flashing in her eyes, "...I'm just a little tired."

Li Yi remained silent for a moment, then finally spoke slowly:

"Now that we have arrived in Ye City, we can rest assured."

“Yingmei often misses her elder sister. Today we are reunited, and we should catch up properly.”

Yuan Ying smiled and said, "Yes, it's been many years since we last met. Today we can finally have some private conversations."

Outside the window, snow fell silently; inside the hall, the aroma of tea wafted gently.

Although Li Yi remained vigilant, he was no longer as formal as before.

He occasionally chimed in, reminiscing about the old days in Huainan, which drew laughter from the Yuan sisters.

That night, inside the Prime Minister's residence in Ye City.

The guard between ruler and subject has weakened, and the affection between family members has gradually deepened.

Here, Yuan Ying experienced a joy and freedom she had never felt during her years as queen.

……

The next day, early in the morning.

As the first rays of dawn pierced through the window screen, Zhang Fei's towering figure suddenly burst into the Prime Minister's residence.

He held the sleepy-eyed Liu Shan under his left arm.

"Sir! Sir!"

The roar shook the dust off the beams, sending it tumbling down. "I, Old Zhang, have something important to say!"

Ripples spread across the teacup between Li Yi's fingers; he wondered what this dark-skinned fellow was up to now.

He was actually rather quiet by nature and didn't like Zhang Fei, who was too boisterous and loud, shouting and yelling in his mansion.

Zhang Fei placed Liu Shan on the jade table, and the seven-year-old child stumbled and nearly knocked over the tortoise-shaped seal.

Yuan Ying rushed over upon hearing the noise, her hair still half-undone.

"Yide, what are you doing so early in the morning?"

"Your Highness, have you remembered everything I told you?"

Zhang Fei whispered a few words in Liu Shan's ear.

Then with a gentle push, Liu Shan's knee slammed onto the carpet with a "thud".

"Cough cough!"

The dark-faced general suddenly clasped his hands in a fist salute and shouted loudly:
"Brother...no! The King of Qi has given an order—"

His copper-bell-like eyes swept over the astonished faces of the crowd. "I request that the Prime Minister adopt A Dou as his godson and make him his father!"

"Dang Cang——"

The medicine cup in Yuan Ying's hand shattered into pieces.

Yuan Ying was so shocked that she covered her mouth.

Only Li Yi frowned, seemingly deep in thought.

Zhang Fei's eyes darted around, and seeing that no one spoke, the atmosphere became awkward.

He then coughed lightly, "Sir, this is what my elder brother instructed me to give you."

After speaking, Zhang Fei took out the scroll and carefully presented it to Li Yi with both hands.

"My elder brother specifically instructed me before he left that this book must never be handed over to anyone else."

"They told me to make sure I personally deliver it to you."

Li Yi took the letter and unfolded it to read.

The book states briefly:

"My dear brother Ziyu:"

"How are things in Hebei?"

"Several years have passed since we parted in Xuzhou."

"Whenever I recall those days, riding side by side with my brother, discussing the world, it feels like yesterday."

"Now I am nearly fifty years old, my temples are already frosty, and I am so busy with state affairs that I have not had a single day of leisure."

"When the night is still and all is quiet, I sit alone in the courtyard and often think of my brother's demeanor."

"I wish I could sit down with him and have a long talk, and pour out my heart."

"Recent events in the palace have truly exhausted my mind and body."

"When A Dou was young, he was unruly and mischievous. When Lu Zijing was teaching him, he would often skip school to play."

“Yuan Ying doted on her son too much and always protected him, which led to arguments between mother and son and unrest in the household.”

“When I rebuked him, Yuan Ying resented me, bringing up my past dealings with his father, and even angrily accused me of being heartless.”

"In a fit of anger, he slapped her."

"Alas! It is easy to govern a country, but difficult to manage a family."

"My foolish brother can rule over all people, but he is unable to teach even one son."

"She can win battles from afar, but she can hardly quell the grievances of women in their boudoirs."

After much thought, I realized that only by entrusting this matter to my younger brother could I resolve this predicament.

"Although Liu Shan was dull-witted, he was kind-hearted by nature."

"If he receives his brother's guidance, he may become a useful person."

"I hope you will remember our past friendship and not refuse."

“We adopted A Dou as our godson and disciplined him strictly.”

"If he achieves great things in the future, it will also be due to my efforts."

"If I ultimately fail to achieve anything, it will be my fault as your foolish brother, and I will not blame you in the slightest."

"Tears streamed down my face as I wrote this, and I knew not what to say."

"Written by my brother Xuande."

……

(End of this chapter)