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

Chapter 350 If you don't accept it, how can the Prime Minister accept it? If the Prime Minister doesn't accept it, how can His Majesty accept it? How can we make progress?

In the third year of Zhangwu, in Liangzhou.

After Han Sui's defeat in Guanzhong, he moved to Jincheng and joined the tribe of Di King Yang Qianwan.

Jincheng, inside the Di king's tent.

The autumn wind whipped up yellow sand and lashed against the cowhide tent, making a dull thud.

Inside the tent, the charcoal fire burned dimly, illuminating Han Sui's deeply furrowed face.

He was seventy-three years old, and his hair and beard were all white.

But his eyes remained sharp as a hawk's, fixed intently on the map on the table.

"Although Ma Chao won a battle, he helped Liu Bei reclaim Guanzhong."

Han Sui's withered fingers traced the Longshan Mountains. "But not all the generals in Guanzhong are willing to submit to Liu Bei."

Di King Yang Qianwan sat at the lower end, his brows furrowed.

"Lord Han, Liu Bei has now received the Mandate of Heaven and succeeded to the throne."

"The people are loyal to them, and their power is immense."

"Now that Guanzhong is pacified, raising troops again at this time would likely cause trouble."

"What are you afraid of?"

Han Sui suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with cold light.

"Although Liu Bei was victorious, his foundation remained in the Central Plains, and the hearts of the people in Guanzhong were not yet with him!"

"As long as the Qiang and Di tribes rise up together, and the Xiliang cavalry marches out again, they may very well be able to retake Chang'an!"

He slammed the wine cup outside the tent, the wine splashing onto the snow, as glaring as blood.

"This Guanzhong region should have been set ablaze long ago!"

For a long time, the Liangzhou issue was a headache for the Eastern Han government.

As mentioned before, the Yonghe Qiang Rebellion alone cost the Eastern Han government eight billion coins in military expenses.

The Liangzhou issue is a legacy of history.

Therefore, most of the generals born in Liangzhou harbored ambitions of separatism and wanted to become local emperors.

In particular, the central government's control over this area has been weakening year by year.

Now that Liu Bei is reviving the Han Dynasty for the third time, he naturally wants to recover Liangzhou for the country.

Han Sui was a typical warlord.

His worldview is that...
If you can't achieve fame and success, then just wreak havoc on all sides.

The son has a son, and the son has a grandson.

Their descendants will be endless.

Therefore, generals from Guanzhong such as Ma Teng and Ma Chao, as well as Han Sui, did not have the ambition to conquer the world.

He only wanted to carve out a territory and become a local tyrant.

This is contrary to Cao Cao and Liu Bei's ambition to unify the world.

This is the limitation of frontier warriors.

At Han Sui's insistence, Yang Qianwan finally accepted Han Sui's proposal.

They began plotting a plan to incite a rebellion in Guanzhong.

Soon, all the powerful families in Longxi received Han Sui's superstitious teachings.

The letter read:

On the night of the new moon, the city gates were opened and fires were lit.

In a short time, various warlords in Longxi responded one after another.

……

Chencang, the main camp of the Han army.

Ma Chao was reading through military reports when he suddenly heard a commotion outside the tent.

The guards rushed in in a panic:

"General! Overnight, all the cities in Longxi and Tianshui have rebelled, and flames of war have spread across the land!"

"what?!"

Ma Chao suddenly stood up, overturning the table.

"How dare that old scoundrel Han Sui—"

Although Ma Chao pacified Guanzhong in one battle and helped the country reclaim the old capital Chang'an.

However, as mentioned above, Guanzhong has very serious historical problems.

The area is inhabited by both Qiang and Hu peoples, making it a very chaotic place.

There were more than a dozen warlords with known names.

Therefore, after Liu Bei bestowed honors upon Ma Chao, he sent him to Guanzhong, using the term "pacification".

The implication is that it is enough to ensure that nothing goes wrong there and that it does not jeopardize the safety of the capital region.

"Report! The Qiang tribes have cut off the Chencang Road, and our army's supply line has been severed!"

Another fast horse galloped over.

Upon hearing this, all the generals were filled with worry, saying:
"Our supply lines have been cut off, and we may not be able to hold out in Chencang for long."

"Please, General, retreat to Chang'an immediately."

Ma Chao gritted his teeth and said bitterly:

"I'll remember this grudge!"

Left with no other choice, he ordered the Han army in Chencang to retreat back to Chang'an overnight.

There has always been a debate about who was the true leader of Liangzhou: Dong Zhuo, Ma Teng, or Han Sui?

These three individuals were from the same period, making a direct comparison entirely possible.

In fact, Dong Zhuo followed a completely different path from Ma Teng and Han Sui.

Han Sui and Ma Teng were from Liangzhou, and their only development was in Liangzhou; their roots were there.

Dong Zhuo, on the other hand, was part of the Beijing social circle and dealt with figures like Yuan Wei, who held high-ranking positions.

Therefore, he cannot be compared horizontally with the two of them.

Han Sui had been operating in Liangzhou for nearly thirty years and enjoyed extremely high prestige in the area.

His name is almost always associated with "rebellion".

The Eastern Han government was too preoccupied with its own problems to deal with Han Sui.

Now that we've reached the Qi and Han dynasties, things are different from what they used to be.

When news of Han Sui's rebellion reached the capital Luoyang, Liu Bei immediately reacted.

Instruct Ma Chao, who is in Chang'an, to immediately muster his troops and quell the rebellion.

On the one hand, he ordered the cabinet to urge the supply of provisions and support Ma Chao's campaign against Liangzhou.

Clearly, Han Sui's act of instigating a rebellion had thoroughly enraged Liu Bei.

He not only had to quell the rebellion in Guanzhong, but also had to take Liangzhou in one fell swoop!
The first snow of Chang'an had just fallen, and a thin layer of frost had already covered the bluestone slabs in front of the General of the Cavalry's mansion.

Ma Chao knelt on one knee in front of the hall, the ice crystals on his armor gleaming coldly in the glow of the charcoal fire.

The Chamberlain unfurled the yellow silk edict, his voice exceptionally clear in the biting air.

"His Majesty has decreed that the old traitor Han Sui has instigated a rebellion among the Qiang people, and General Ma Chao is hereby ordered to suppress the rebellion immediately."

"No mistakes!"

"My lord, take the order!"

Ma Chao clasped his hands in a deep fist salute, and as he stood up, he caught a glimpse of the grain transport convoy winding like a dragon outside the mansion gate.

Those were all millet allocated from Luoyang, which were being continuously poured into the granaries.

"General of the Flying Cavalry, His Majesty has specifically ordered the transport of grain from Shandong and Hebei for this attack on Liangzhou."

"General, you must not disappoint His Majesty's high expectations."

The Chamberlain closed the imperial edict and said to Ma Chao with a smile.

Ma Chao repeatedly bowed his head in gratitude and immediately mustered 20,000 troops to march out of Chang'an.

On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, the banners of the Han army emerged from Sanguan Pass like clouds.

According to scouts, Han Sui had stockpiled 100,000 shi of grain in Xianqin, so Ma Chao immediately decided to attack Xianqin directly.

Someone might suggest:
"Han Sui allied with the Qiang people and commanded tens of thousands of troops."

"A risky flanking maneuver would likely be difficult to execute easily."

Ma Chao slammed his fist on the table and stood up:

"I have received great favor from Your Majesty, and now I am thinking of how to repay it."

Why do you hesitate?

He then ordered the three armies to eat their fill, and immediately set out on the expedition after offering sacrifices to the flags.

The Han army marched a long distance and set up camp thirty miles outside Xianqin City.

Military recruit Yang Fu offered a suggestion:

"This city has ample food supplies; if we capture it, we can use it for military purposes."

"How do we retrieve it?" Ma Chao asked.

Yang Fu then bent down and gave him a secret plan.

Ma Chao agreed, and that night ordered Pang De to lead his troops in a feigned attack on the east gate, while he himself led his elite troops to secretly cross the Wei River.

It was past midnight when a fierce snowstorm raged, but the garrison remained unaware.

Ma Chao personally climbed the cloud ladder, was the first to reach the city wall, and killed more than ten people with his own hands.

The Han army swarmed in, catching the Xianqin garrison off guard, and was captured in one fell swoop.

Upon hearing the news, Cheng Gongying, a general under Han Sui, immediately led his troops to the rescue. Seeing that the city walls had been changed to Han banners, he hurriedly ordered the granaries to be set on fire.

Standing atop the city wall, Ma Chao saw flames soaring into the sky and sneered:

"This is exactly what I wanted!"

They did not put out the fire, but let it burn.

The generals were puzzled, so Ma Chao explained:

"Only by burning our boats can we fight to the death!"

"Our army has only enough rations for ten days. You must fight to the death to return to Chang'an and receive your rewards!"

So he took only light cavalry and launched a night raid on the Changli Qiang village.

The Qiang people were drinking and making merry when suddenly they heard shouts of killing that shook the heavens.

Ma Chao charged ahead, and wherever his silver spear went, rivers of blood flowed.

The old Qiang chieftain slumped down in front of his tent and pleaded:

"General, spare my life! I was forced by Han Sui."

Ma Chao sheathed his spear and shouted:

"If you can persuade the various tribes to surrender, I will spare your life!"

The Qiang chieftain kowtowed repeatedly.

When Han Sui heard that Changli had been attacked, he hurriedly led more than 10,000 troops to its rescue.

The two armies met on the banks of the Wei River.

Han Sui stood at the front of the battle line, his white beard flowing, and shouted sternly:

"Horse! You once carried your father away, and now you've come to die?"

Ma Chao was furious and ordered Ma Dai to fight.

Ma Dai, spear in hand, leaped onto his horse and charged straight at Han Sui.

The two generals fought for more than twenty rounds, and Han Sui was exhausted.

Suddenly, a great drumbeat was heard from all sides, and Pang De's hidden troops came out in full force.

The Qiang cavalry were thrown into chaos, trampling each other in the process.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Han Sui turned his horse and fled.

Ma Chao pursued Han Sui for over twenty li, and only when he saw Han Sui flee into Xiping did he withdraw his troops and return to camp.

Han Sui was defeated and fled back to Xiping City in Longxi.

This defeat greatly damaged Han Sui's prestige.

After all, it was Han Sui who insisted on rebelling against the Han Dynasty. Now that he has been defeated, you, as the leader, must take responsibility.

The sound of armor being struck outside the door rang out, and Cheng Gongying strode inside:
"My lord, Tian Le secretly received the Han envoy last night!"

Han Sui slammed his wine cup down, splashing the amber liquid onto the table.
"Tian Le has been with me for twelve years..."

Before he finished speaking, shouts of battle suddenly arose outside the city.

The guards burst through the door, blood streaming from their foreheads.

"Tian Le has betrayed us! He has already attacked the East Gate!"

Han Sui was greatly alarmed and drew his sword.

He walked into the courtyard and saw flames soaring into the sky to the east, and arrows flying like locusts.

Tian Le led several hundred of his men in a fierce attack on the government office, shouting:

"Slay the traitors and welcome General Ma!"

Cheng Gongying urgently dispatched his personal guards to defend the city to the death.

The two sides fought a bloody battle until dawn, and the rebels were finally defeated.

Han Sui stood on the dilapidated city tower, watching Tian Le lead more than ten riders to defect to the Han camp, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword so tightly that it creaked.

"A great man in distress is betrayed and abandoned by all!"

Cheng Gongying stepped forward and whispered:

"The young servant of the Tian family is at home... Is it you, sir?"

Han Sui suddenly turned around, his white hair dancing wildly in the morning breeze:
"Do not act rashly! Send troops to protect them!"

Unlike the traditional image of brainless barbarians from Xiliang.

Han Sui was actually a rather cunning old fox.

Historically, Cao Cao executed all of Han Sui's descendants in the capital and personally wrote a letter to Yan Xing.

This indicates that Yan Xing's father is imprisoned, and this is used to threaten Yan Xing.

When Han Sui heard that Yan Xing's father was still alive, he wanted to kill him as well, in order to strengthen Yan Xing's resolve.

So he forced his youngest daughter to marry Yan Xing, and Yan Xing had no choice but to marry Han Sui's daughter instead.

As a result, Cao Cao indeed became suspicious of Yan Xing.

The same applies to Tian Le's family.

In Han Sui's view, if he were to take his anger out on Han Sui's family because of Han Sui's betrayal, he would kill them.

That would definitely strengthen Tian Le's resolve to fight against him.

Conversely, protect it.

This would make Tian Le hesitate and have reservations when opposing him.

"Here!"

Cheng Gongying accepted the order and then asked:

"The people are restless right now, and everyone in Liangzhou has their own ulterior motives."

"What does Lord Han intend to do?"

Han Sui said somewhat dejectedly:
"Now I intend to take my family and flee to the southwest to Shu, to seek refuge with Cao Cao."

"How does Gong Ying see it?"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Gongying's expression changed, and she knelt on one knee, advising:

"No! Your Excellency has been leading troops for thirty years, and your power has shaken Longyou."

"How can I submit to my enemies because of a minor setback?"

Seeing Han Sui remain silent, he then spoke up:
“Ma Chao’s army is deep in enemy territory and is running out of supplies; he cannot hold out for long.”

"Besides, Liu Bei cannot come in person, so what is there to fear?"

"In addition, there are still our old troops in Qiangzhong, so it is not impossible."

Han Sui followed his advice and did not abandon Longxi.

Continue to contact the local Qiang chieftains and organize forces to counterattack the Han army.

Let me talk about two things.

Inside the Han army's main tent, candlelight flickered.

Ma Chao was discussing matters with his generals when suddenly a personal guard came to report—

"Tian Le, the rebel general from Xiping, has led more than ten cavalrymen to surrender!"

The generals all advised:

“This is a traitor who has betrayed his master and is fickle. He should not be trusted. It would be better to behead him and show his head to the public.”

Ma Chao replied, "Now that they have come to us in dire straits, we must not refuse to use them."

So he ordered someone to receive Tian Le.

The curtain was lifted, and Tian Le, disheveled and barefoot, entered, his forehead slamming heavily against the blue bricks.

"This humble general is willing to serve as your vanguard and assist you in recovering the three counties of Hanyang."

Ma Chao was overjoyed and said:

"The general has been in power in Liangzhou for twenty years, and he has been there to help him."

"A monumental undertaking is about to be accomplished!"

After saying this, Tian Le was immediately chosen as the vanguard.

In the stillness of the night, someone might hold a candle and speak:
“Tian Le’s family is all in Xiping, and I fear his heart is not sincere.”

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao indeed became suspicious.

The next morning, as the drums had just ceased, Ma Chao summoned Tian Le to the training ground.

Tian Le arrived in armor, only to find that the guide's banner had been changed hands, so he asked in surprise why.

Ma Chao stood with his hands behind his back:

"Considering that the general's family is in enemy hands, I dare not use it lightly."

"General of the Flying Cavalry!"

"A true man should act with due importance."

"Since ancient times, loyalty to the country and filial piety have been mutually exclusive. Now that I am happy to serve the country, how can I consider personal feelings?"

"As for my wife and parents, let's just pretend I never had them!"

Fearing that Ma Chao still did not trust him, he ordered someone to bring his concubine over.

"This woman's rebellious son is currently in Han's camp!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Tian Le drew his sword, a flash of cold light.

The concubine screamed and fell to the ground, her blood staining the yellow earth.

The surrounding generals were all astonished.

Ma Chao then trusted Tian Le's loyalty and used him as his vanguard and guide, leading his troops in a great advance.

The soldiers of the three commanderies of Hanyang were all afraid of the Han army's strength.

With Tian Le as his guide, Ma Chao did not have to exert too much effort to successively recover the three commanderies of Hanyang, Fufeng, and Anding.

This can be considered as recovering a small part of Liangzhou for the country.

However, the most important place for the Han Dynasty is Longxi, where Han Sui is currently located.

Because Longxi has a natural advantage over the Guanzhong region.

By controlling Longxi, one can then take the opportunity to threaten Guanzhong.

This is why when Zhuge Liang launched his Northern Expeditions, Longxi responded, causing a stir in Chang'an.

Adhering to the principle of pressing the attack in one fell swoop, Ma Chao took advantage of his great victory in recapturing the three counties of Hanyang.

Pressing their advantage, they launched a fierce attack on Longxi.

Unexpectedly, they encountered fierce resistance from Han Sui and the Qiang people.

With the harsh winter approaching, the Han army was suffering from hardship.

Ma Chao had no choice but to regroup his troops and retreat to Chang'an.

Regardless of the circumstances, this battle at least undeniably recovered the three prefectures of Liangzhou for the country, thus contributing significantly to its national interests.

Liu Bei issued an edict praising Ma Chao and then richly rewarded his army.

However, conquering a country is easy, but maintaining it is difficult.

Liangzhou is not difficult to conquer; the difficulty lies in stabilizing the area.

A unique geographical environment and special ethnic ties.

If the ruler mismanages the situation even slightly, another large-scale rebellion will break out.

If troops are sent to quell the rebellion and recapture the territory, only for the rebellion to recur again, it will create a vicious cycle.

The money and manpower spent in the process were wasted.

Therefore, it is often said that the Liangzhou problem was the most troublesome issue for the Eastern Han government.

The imperial court was unable to decide for the time being who should govern Liangzhou.

Those who are highly capable are unwilling to go.

Those who are willing to take lower-level positions may lack the necessary skills.

Therefore, the matter of "Liangzhou" was temporarily shelved in Luoyang.

……

On this day, in Luoyang, it was late spring.

The peach blossoms have faded, and the willow catkins are flying everywhere; it is the perfect time for all things to grow.

Li Yi returned from court, dressed in official robes with a jade belt around his waist.

His face was solemn, and there was a hint of fatigue between his brows.

As soon as the carriage arrived in front of the mansion, a dispute broke out.

"His Excellency has ordered that no gifts be accepted. Please leave!"

The servant Lao Zhao's voice came through, full of energy.

"Sir, I am not offering a bribe, but merely expressing my sincere gratitude..."

A middle-aged man explained in a humble voice.

Li Yi lifted the sedan curtain and saw a man in a blue robe being stopped outside the door.

He held a brocade box in his hands, his face filled with anxiety.

Seeing that the person in the sedan chair had an extraordinary bearing, the man quickly bowed and paid his respects.

Old Zhao turned around and saw it was Li Yi, and hurriedly knelt down:
"The Prime Minister is back!"

"This person insisted on giving gifts, and I tried to stop him according to your rules, but he kept pestering me."

Li Yi slowly stepped down from the sedan chair, his gaze lingering on the man for a moment before he smiled and said:
Confucius said: “Is it not delightful to have friends coming from afar?”

"Anyone who comes is a guest, so why keep them at arm's length?"

"Please come into the residence for a chat."

Both the man and Old Zhao were taken aback.

Old Zhao hesitated and said, "Prime Minister, this..."

"It's alright." Li Yi waved his hand. "Prepare tea."

Upon entering the hall, guests and hosts took their seats.

A maid served tea, and only then did Li Yi take a closer look at the newcomer.

He appeared to be about forty years old, with a thin face and large finger joints, clearly someone who had worked hard all year round.

"My name is Zhang Cheng, the owner of a timber shop in the west of Luoyang. I am truly apprehensive about disturbing Your Excellency."

The man rose and bowed again.

Li Yi took a sip of tea and said gently:
"No need for such formalities, Mr. Zhang."

"May I ask what brings you here today?"

Zhang Cheng looked troubled, hesitated for a moment, and then said:
"To be honest, my timber business has recently been requisitioned by the government, who say it is to build a detached palace for the royal family."

"This was supposed to be a glorious event for our family, but unfortunately the government's funding is less than half of the cost."

"Although I have some wealth, if this continues, my whole family will probably end up homeless."

Li Yi frowned slightly:

"Has this matter been reported to the relevant authorities?"

"I appealed several times, but all my appeals were ignored."

Zhang Cheng smiled wryly, "I've heard that Your Excellency is upright and honest, and loves the people like your own children, so I dared to come here..."

At this point, Zhang Cheng presented the brocade box he was holding.

"This is a family heirloom jade pendant. Although it is not a 'precious' item, it is a token of my goodwill. I hope that Your Excellency will take good care of it."

Zhang Cheng deliberately downplayed the word "precious".

But anyone with a discerning eye could see that this jade pendant was quite valuable. Zhang Cheng knew Li Yi's reputation, which is why he deliberately said it was just an ordinary jade pendant.

Li Yi's gaze fell on the brocade box. After a moment's hesitation, he suddenly reached out and took it.
"I am already aware of this matter, and I will order someone to investigate it tomorrow."

"Master Zhang, please go back with peace of mind. You will receive a reply within three days."

Zhang Cheng was overjoyed and kowtowed repeatedly:
"Your Excellency's kindness and virtue are unforgettable!"

After seeing Zhang Cheng off, Li Yi sat alone in the hall, tapping the brocade box lightly with his fingers, lost in thought.

Suddenly, the tinkling of jade pendants was heard, and a faint fragrance wafted over. It was Madam Mi Zhen emerging from the inner room.

"Why did you accept a gift today, my husband, as is usually the case?"

Mi Zhen frowned slightly, her voice tinged with doubt.

She wore a light green silk dress and her hair was styled in a high bun.

Although she is over thirty, she still retains her former charm.

Li Yi gestured for his wife to sit down and personally poured her a cup of tea.
"Please sit down, Madam, and allow me to explain slowly."

Mi Zhen took the teacup, but did not drink it; she simply gazed at her husband.

“Since following my lord in Xuzhou, my husband has always been honest and upright, and our household has always been clean and tidy.”

"I truly cannot understand your actions today."

Mi Zhen was born into a wealthy family; ordinary wealth could not possibly move her heart.

Therefore, she fully agreed with Li Yi's rule of refusing gifts. Their family didn't lack such things anyway; accepting them would only give others cause for gossip.

Li Yi smiled slightly, his gaze drifting to the darkening sky outside the window:
"Does Madam remember when I was in Xuzhou, I became famous for refusing to accept a hundred taels of gold from a powerful man?"

"Naturally remember."

Mi Zhen nodded, "At that time, His Majesty had just taken control of Xuzhou and his power base was not yet stable. My husband's actions won him countless hearts of the people."

He stood up, paced back and forth, and said in a deep voice:

"However, the situation today is not what it used to be."

"Our lord has inherited the throne and is now the Son of Heaven."

"I am the Prime Minister, second only to the President."

"It would be inappropriate to remain as cold and unapproachable as before."

Mi Zhen's eyes showed even greater doubt:

"how do I say this?"

Li Yi turned around and looked directly at his wife:
"Madam, consider this: if ordinary people cannot even express their gratitude to the Prime Minister, how can they feel at ease?"

"Given my strictness, how could the officials in the court dare to overstep their bounds in the slightest?"

“If this continues, the top and bottom will be isolated from each other, and government orders will be difficult to implement.”

He picked up the brocade box and slowly opened it.

A piece of mutton-fat white jade lay quietly inside, its surface smooth and lustrous like water.

"Water that is too clear has no fish, and a person who is too discerning has no followers."

"Those in power should understand this principle."

Mi Zhen seemed to be deep in thought, "My husband means..."

“I am not greedy for wealth.”

Li Yi put the jade pendant back into the box, saying, "It's not about giving the people of the world a way to survive."

"If the Prime Minister's residence is deserted, officials will not dare to approach it."

"When the people have nowhere to voice their grievances, that is truly inhumane and unjust."

He walked to his wife's side and gently patted her shoulder:

"Furthermore, I am now the Prime Minister."

"If we continue to flaunt our incorruptibility as before, wouldn't we appear even more aloof than His Majesty?"

"This is not the way of a subject."

Li Yi meant that specific problems should be analyzed in specific ways.

He used to be in Xuzhou, with no connections, no power, and no influence.

He is seen by many as someone who rose to power by relying on his wife and is a "gold digger".

Li Yi could only bury himself in hard work and try his best to prove himself.

By refusing any gifts, they demonstrate their noble and unyielding character.

Ultimately, it was all about better integrating into the scholar-official circle of Xuzhou.

Because they wanted to market the image of "noble and upright people," the scholar-official circle accepted this.

But now, Li Yi is already famous throughout the world.

There's no need to "put on a show" like before.

On the contrary, if we continue to be as inhumane as before, it would be too unfair to our subordinates.

Such a leader inspires awe, and subordinates dare not get close to him.

Over time, communication between superiors and subordinates decreases, which inevitably leads to problems with government policies.

Furthermore, there's what Li Yi just said.

The emperor is a sage, a supreme being.

As a subject, how can my virtue be higher than that of a sage?
Accepting the gift is good for everyone.

Upon hearing this, Mi Zhen's expression softened:
"My husband is so thoughtful and far-sighted, while I am so foolish and dull that I never thought of this."

Li Yi smiled and said:

"Madam, there is no need to blame yourself."

"From now on, the government may appropriately relax the restrictions."

“It is appropriate to accept valuable gifts, but there is no need to refuse all ordinary social gifts.”

Mi Zhen rose and bowed:

"I have written it down."

Actually, there's no need to directly link gift-giving with "corruption".

Social interactions have always been an essential part of the functioning of society.

For the simplest example,

If you have two openings and you give them to two capable young men under your command.

The former bought some fruit and delivered it to your door afterwards to express his gratitude for your kindness.

The latter didn't say a word and just kept doing his own thing.

If there's one more spot available, who would you prioritize giving it to?

If you say, I'll give it to whoever is more capable.

That only proves that you've never truly possessed power.

Just then, they heard the beaded curtain rustle and a fragrant breeze wafted over.

A young woman dressed in a pale yellow gauze dress moved gracefully, her laughter preceding her arrival.

"Oh, Prime Minister, you've suddenly become enlightened today! It should have been done long ago!"

Li Yi turned around and saw that it was the Second Madam Yuan Ying. He couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle.

Despite being a mother of two, Yuan Ying still has almond-shaped eyes and rosy cheeks, and her gaze is radiant.

Her personality remained as lively as ever.

Li Yi guessed that it was probably because he hadn't used the "etiquette" of the current dynasty to restrain her too much.

Therefore, her current personality is entirely due to her nature.

Yuan Ying walked closer, took Li Yi's arm, and said sweetly:

“When my father was in Huainan, carriages and horses were constantly coming and going in front of his mansion.”

"Since marrying into the Prime Minister's mansion, the area in front of the gate has been so deserted that even birds don't want to land there. It's so depressing!"

"Now that the Prime Minister has come to his senses, that's the best possible outcome."

Mi Zhen frowned upon hearing this:

"Sister, be careful what you say."

"The Prime Minister just said that it's just a matter of relaxing the restrictions appropriately, not that we'll accept all comers."

Li Yi patted Yuan Ying's hand and said gently:

"You're always so extreme."

“I only said that giving gifts was allowed, but I didn’t say that we had to accept them.”

"Who can accept the gift, and what gifts can be received? The appropriate measure must be carefully considered."

Accepting gifts means having to do favors, and political resources are limited.

Even corrupt officials cannot accept every gift without question.

Yuan Ying stuck out her tongue playfully and said:
"Yes, yes, whatever the Prime Minister says goes."

As she spoke, her eyes darted around and caught sight of the brocade box on the table.

"This jade pendant is of good quality, but it's still not as good as the one my family has in their collection."

Li Yi chuckled: "You..."

Before he could finish speaking, Old Zhao outside the door suddenly announced loudly:
"Your Excellency, an urgent official document has arrived from the Cabinet!"

Upon receiving the official document, he saw that it was an approval document for Zhang Cheng Timber Company.

Li Yi pondered for a moment, then picked up his brush and wrote a few words, instructing:

"Send it to the household registration office immediately and order them to do so."

That's often how it is.
You've been running around pulling strings and trying to get things resolved, but it still hasn't been done in months.

Sometimes, a single sentence from someone else can solve the problem.

Since Li Yi personally handled this matter, the cabinet naturally dared not neglect it.

As soon as the message was delivered, an approval was immediately given.

Three days later, Zhang Cheng's matter was indeed resolved satisfactorily.

The government not only replenished the money, but also gave an extra three cents of interest as compensation.

Zhang Cheng was overjoyed and prepared generous gifts to visit the Prime Minister's residence again that very night.

This time, Old Zhao didn't dare to stop him and led him inside directly.

Zhang Cheng knelt and kowtowed:

"Your Excellency's kindness is beyond my ability to repay!"

Having said that, he ordered his attendants to bring in two camphor wood chests.

"This is just a small token of my respect, but I hope Your Excellency will accept it with a smile!"

Li Yi was about to decline, but then he saw Yuan Ying peeking out from behind the screen, her eyes full of anticipation.

Looking again at the box, which contained only silks and delicacies, he nodded and said:

"Mr. Zhang is very kind."

Zhang Cheng thanked him profusely before taking his leave.

Within ten days, rumors were spreading throughout Luoyang.

The Prime Minister's office has been opened to business; Prime Minister Li is now willing to accept gifts and do his bidding!

At first, it was just some wealthy merchants who tentatively sent gifts, but when they saw that they were not rejected, they became bolder and bolder.

In just over a month, the gates of the Prime Minister's residence were filled with carriages and horses, and people came in an endless stream from morning till night to bring gifts.

Seeing this magnificent scene before them, Mi Zhen, Zhen Mi, and the other beauties were momentarily at a loss for whether to be happy or sad.

They couldn't help but recall Li Yi's saying, "If the water is too clear, there will be no fish." Now, however, the "water" has come alive.

But what swims among them, is it a koi or a crocodile?
"Let's go to court first," Li Yi said in a deep voice, straightening his clothes. "We'll discuss this again when we get back."

Li Yi ordered the acceptance of gifts to be allowed, but the sudden increase in the number of people giving gifts was certainly not his intention.

The carriage traveled along the long street, with carriages and horses waiting to deliver gifts on both sides.

Li Yi lifted a corner of the sedan curtain and saw people carrying brocade boxes, holding scrolls, and even carrying heavy boxes.

When the Prime Minister's sedan chair arrived, everyone knelt down and kowtowed, their eyes filled with anticipation.

"Your Excellency, the crowd has blocked the road, making it difficult for carriages and horses to pass."

The coachman turned around and said to Li Yi.

"Order the warriors to lead the way; ignore them."

Li Yi's solution was to ignore the situation.

Weren't you going to give gifts?
Let's get in line!

I'll do things for you whenever it's your turn.

The summer days in Luoyang are exceptionally hot and humid, amidst a crowd of people giving gifts.

An official from Jingzhou wiped the sweat from his brow and looked at the long, winding convoy in front of him.

His Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

He waited from dawn until noon, but the gate of the Prime Minister's residence was still out of reach.

This person was none other than Li Yan.

He was appointed as the Prefect of Jingzhou for his meritorious service in defending Jiangling.

This should have been a great job.

However, Chen Yuanlong gained military and political power in Jiangnan.

Chen Deng would definitely give priority to people from Huainan.

The status of Jingzhou gradually declined.

Furthermore, Zhuge Liang was demoted to Jiaozhou, leaving Jingzhou leaderless.

This left Li Yan with no hope of making progress.

So he made a bold decision: to give up his official position in Jingzhou and hope to be transferred to the capital.

It's not easy to get into Beijing's elite circles; countless people are desperate to break into them.

Therefore, Li Yan had no choice but to give up his original high-ranking official position and generous salary, and was demoted three ranks.

He then pulled strings everywhere before finally managing to get transferred to the capital.

In the end, he only managed to get a sinecure as Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

The establishment of the cabinet divided the power of the Nine Ministers.

The position of Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices is no longer as prominent as it once was.

"Brother, are you also here to seek the position of Governor of Liangzhou?"

A round-faced official in the carriage in front turned around and struck up a conversation.

Li Yan forced a smile. "How did you know?"

The round-faced official laughed and pointed to the convoy in front and behind:

"Eight out of ten vehicles in this convoy came for this purpose."

"I've heard that although Liangzhou is in a remote area, it's a very lucrative place!"

"Now that the imperial court has recovered the three prefectures of Liangzhou, it has not yet decided on the personnel to be sent to Liangzhou."

"Those with seniority are unwilling to go, while those with less seniority are not qualified."

"His Majesty asked Prime Minister Li to put forward someone, and now everyone is vying for this position."

Li Yan's heart sank. He had been in the capital for half a year and had not yet found a suitable opportunity for promotion.

Now that I heard the position of governor of Liangzhou is vacant, I thought it was a good opportunity to turn my career around, but little did I know that there were as many competitors as fish crossing a river.

"Judging from your appearance, you're probably new to the capital."

The round-faced official squinted at Li Yan, "I am Wang Hun, Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial. May I ask your name?"

Li Yan quickly cupped his hands in greeting:

"So it's you, Wang Shaoqing. My apologies for not recognizing you sooner."

"This humble official is Li Yan, Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices."

"The Court of Imperial Sacrifices?"

A hint of disdain flashed in Wang Hun's eyes, but he quickly put on a smile.

"Li Sicheng is young and promising, but..."

He lowered his voice, "When giving gifts in front of the Prime Minister's residence, there's a proper order of arrival."

"Those of us who are at the back of the queue probably won't even be able to send gifts."

Li Yan looked in the direction Wang Hun was pointing and saw several high-ranking officials in purple robes standing next to the luxurious carriages at the front of the procession, chatting and laughing.

"The gifts they gave were all priceless treasures."

Li Yan touched the gift list he had prepared in his sleeve—

An inkstone and two bolts of Shu brocade are considered a generous gift in Jingzhou.

But in the eyes of high-ranking officials in the capital, it is probably not worth mentioning.

Just as they were hesitating, the side gate of the Prime Minister's residence suddenly opened, and a steward-like man quickly walked up to the high-ranking officials at the front.

After bowing respectfully, they were led into the mansion one by one.

The officials queuing behind them only received one sentence:
They dismissed him with, "Your Excellency is busy today, please come another day."

Wang Hun sighed:

"...Sigh, looks like I've wasted my time again today."

"Li Sicheng, we lowly officials should not entertain such unrealistic thoughts."

On the way back to his residence, Li Yan was still troubled.

He recalled the glory days in Jingzhou, when he was Zhuge Liang's deputy and everyone respected him.
Now that they've arrived in the capital, they've fallen to the point where they can't even get into the Prime Minister's residence.

Was leaving Jingzhou really a mistake?
Suddenly, a brilliant idea flashed in Li Yan's mind, and he came up with a plan.

He has no power or influence in Beijing's social circles, so he certainly can't win against other high-ranking officials.

Since he couldn't even get an audience with the Prime Minister, why not change his approach and bribe one of his servants?

So, the next morning.

Li Yan changed into his most presentable official robes and arrived at the side gate of the Prime Minister's residence.

The gatekeeper was yawning, and when he saw Li Yan, he didn't even bother to lift his eyelids.

"The Prime Minister is not receiving guests today."

Li Yan calmly took out a string of Jingyuan coins, the highest denomination coins, from his sleeve:
"You've worked hard, young man. This is just a small token of my appreciation for the tea."

The servant's eyes lit up, and he quickly slipped the money into his sleeve, his tone immediately softening:

"Lord Li, you are too kind. It's just that the Prime Minister is indeed..."

"It is not to request an audience with the Prime Minister."

Li Yan smiled and said, "I was just passing by and saw that you all had worked hard, so I wanted to express my gratitude."

Upon hearing that Li Yan didn't actually want to see Li Yi, but was simply trying to curry favor with us...

That made things much easier; all the servants in the Prime Minister's residence gladly accepted Li Yan's offer.

For more than ten days in a row, Li Yan came every day without fail.

They would either bring some snacks for the gatekeeper or a jug of good wine for the coachman.

Every servant in the Prime Minister's residence, from the cooks to the gardeners, had received bribes from him.

Over time, Li Yan's family fortune gradually ran out.

It cost him a lot of money to be transferred to the capital.

He only managed to get a sinecure as Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, with very little salary.

During this period, he spared no expense in giving gifts to the servants of the Prime Minister's residence, to the point that he went bankrupt.

Li Yan returned to the courtyard and looked at the desolate scene on all four sides, and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

The former prestige of the Prefect of Jingzhou has long since vanished, and now he can barely scrape together enough reward money for the servants of the Prime Minister's residence.

"Master, there's only half a bushel of rice left in the kitchen..."

The old servant, his back hunched, replied.

"It seems your salary for this month won't arrive for another ten days, I'm worried..."

"understood……"

Li Yan waved his hand, saying, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

Now, he is making one last gamble after abandoning everything!

If you win, you'll live a life of luxury and never have to worry about food or clothing.

If we lose, the worst that can happen is that we lose a couple of ounces of belly fat.

Suddenly, a commotion arose outside the door.

Upon opening the door, they found seven or eight servants from the Prime Minister's residence standing outside, with the steward Zhao An leading them.

"Li Sicheng."

Zhao An cupped his hands and said, "We are deeply grateful for your generous gifts these days, and the brothers in my household feel truly indebted to you."

"Please do not hesitate to ask if you need anything."

Zhao An and the others heard that Li Yan had gone bankrupt and was now destitute in order to give them gifts.

They felt bad about it, so they came to Li Yan's door specifically to ask if he needed anything.

Li Yan was secretly delighted, but outwardly declined:
"You all flatter me."

"I, Li, merely offered my humble assistance because I saw how hard you all have worked; how could I possibly ask for anything in return?"

Zhao An exchanged glances with the others and sighed:

"Li Sicheng is truly righteous! But we brothers feel unworthy of such a title."

"If you don't make any requests, we would never dare to accept this gift in the future."

Li Yan pretended to hesitate for a long time before saying:
“In that case… I do have a small favor to ask of you.”

"Please speak, Vice Minister Li!"

"If I go to the Prime Minister's residence in the future, you all only need to bow and kneel to me in front of everyone."

Zhao An was taken aback. "It's that simple?"

Li Yan nodded with a smile, "It's that simple."

Zhao An immediately agreed.

It's just kneeling on someone, isn't it?
That's what they do, so this is a piece of cake for them!
Three days later, the area in front of the Prime Minister's residence was still bustling with carriages and horses.

Li Yan, dressed in a worn-out official robe and carrying a shabby gift box, appeared at the end of the line, drawing a chorus of sneers.

"Oh, isn't this Li Sicheng?"

Wang Hun, the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, scoffed, "What kind of 'living gift' are you preparing to send this time?"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding officials burst into laughter.

They knew Li Yan was from out of town, and they all laughed at him.

What level are you? You're asking for the same prime minister as me, and you're standing in the same line?
Li Yan didn't take it to heart and just quietly waited in line.

Suddenly, the main gate of the Prime Minister's residence swung open, and Zhao An led more than ten servants out quickly.

Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, Zhao An announced loudly:
"Li, the Vice Minister, has arrived!"

Before he finished speaking, more than ten servants knelt down in unison and bowed deeply to Li Yan.

Zhao An personally stepped forward, took the gift box from Li Yan, and respectfully said:
"Mr. Li, you have come a long way and must be tired. Please come with me to your residence to rest."

The officials present were all dumbfounded.

Who doesn't know that the servants of the Prime Minister's mansion have always been arrogant and do not even respect officials of the rank of 1,000 shi?

Now they actually show such great respect to this mere Assistant Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices!

The palm-leaf fan in Wang Hun's hand fell to the ground with a "thud," and he stammered:

"Brother Li, when did you become so familiar with the Prime Minister?"

Li Yan smiled without saying a word, and walked proudly into the Prime Minister's residence surrounded by his servants.

In the eyes of the servants, they had ruined Li Yan's family fortune.

Even with such a small request, we must provide him with excellent service.

But as soon as Li Yan left, an uproar broke out behind him:

"No wonder Li Sicheng is dressed so simply; he disdains to associate with us!"

"This person must have had a past relationship with the Prime Minister!"

"Quickly, prepare the gifts! I'm going to pay my respects to Minister Li!"

To know,
Normally, those servants in the Prime Minister's mansion are all arrogant and domineering.

Even if one were to meet an official, such a grand ceremony would not be performed, nor would such extraordinary courtesy be shown.

Who exactly is this Li Yan, and why does he have such a powerful backer?

Within half a day, news of Li Yan being greeted by kneeling servants at the Prime Minister's residence spread throughout Luoyang.

That night, Li Yan's courtyard was bustling with activity as officials from all walks of life vied to visit, bringing gifts that filled half the courtyard.

Everyone thought, since we can't see Prime Minister Li...

Then let's settle for second best and try to curry favor with Li Yan!

Li Yan greeted everyone politely, accepting all gifts and gifts.

After everyone had left, he looked at the room full of treasures and said to the old servant with a smile:

"Prepare the carriage tomorrow and send all these gifts to the Prime Minister's residence."

The following day, when Li Yan visited the Prime Minister's residence again with dozens of boxes of gifts.

Zhao An greeted him at the gate early and personally led him inside.

As Li Yan passed by the front yard, he noticed that the officials who had once mocked him now had eyes full of awe and envy.

Inside the study, Li Yi was reviewing official documents.

Seeing Li Yan enter, he put down his pen and said meaningfully:

"Li Qing, you have quite the skills."

"You've bribed all the servants in my residence?"

Li Yan calmly knelt down:

"I don't dare, my subordinates."

"This is just a small token of my appreciation for the hard work of all the servants, day and night."

"...Heh, when you came, Zhao An and his gang said a lot of good things about you."

Li Yi chuckled softly:

"They even said you were the most generous among all the gift-givers this time."

"I was wondering how someone like you, an official transferred from Jingzhou, could come up with such a generous gift."

"I wanted to see you."

Li Yan acted as a shady intermediary and successfully met Prime Minister Li.

As a result, the servants in the Prime Minister's mansion made a fortune.

It's a win-win situation.

Only those outside the door suffered losses; they willingly gave money to the shady brokers.

Even after arriving, I still didn't understand what was going on.

"I am already aware of the specific details."

"Li Qing is indeed skilled; it's a waste of his talent to be a mere Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices."

Li Yi said calmly.

Li Yan had never intended to hide it from Li Yi, so he simply admitted it openly:
"I dare not accept such praise! My meager tricks are no match for the Prime Minister."

Wow, you're quite the smooth talker.

Upon hearing this, everyone around the Prime Minister's residence chuckled.

(End of this chapter)