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

Chapter 355 A long-awaited greeting reveals my identity; yet I inquire about the madman of yesteryear.

In the fourth year of Zhangwu, at the end of winter.

A fierce north wind howled on the north bank of the Yangtze River.

Cao Cao personally led an army of 70,000 out of Hanzhong, passed through Fangling, and advanced southward with their iron armor gleaming coldly.

When the army reached Dangyang, a scout suddenly flew by with news:

"Reporting to the King of Wei! The rebellion in Jingnan has been quelled, and Chen Deng has built a water fortress at the mouth of Zhijiang."

"What!?"

Cao Cao was greatly alarmed upon hearing this. His army had just been prepared, and he was planning to launch a pincer attack on Jingzhou from the north and south.

How come the Jingnan rebellion was quelled so quickly?
This is also one of the inconveniences of the Sichuan region.

Although the natural barriers of the Shu Road blocked out external enemies, the inconvenient transportation made it equally difficult for the Wei army to break out.

Not to mention the preparation of an army of 70,000.

Cao Cao paused in his grip on the whip, his long beard trembling slightly in the wind, and shouted:

"How did Chen Yuanlong achieve such incredible speed?"

He then sneered:

"Even with preparations, how can they stop my mighty army, which has won countless battles?"

"I do not believe he possesses the abilities of Li Ziyu!"

So he ordered Cao Hong to lead 30,000 troops to clear the way ahead.

Cao Hong led his troops to the riverbank, where he saw:

Amidst the misty river, hundreds of warships appeared and disappeared, their banners fluttering, yet no sign of soldiers gathering.

At dawn the following day, Cao Cao personally went to the front line.

Looking out from the hillside, one can see the Yangtze River like a ribbon, with warships scattered like stars.

Under the green parasol, Chen Deng stood tall and imposing, flanked by Xu Sheng and Jiang Qin, who stood with their hands on their swords.

The five-colored battle flags fluttered in the morning light, forming an eight-gate formation.

Cao Cao sighed:

"How magnificent is the Huainan navy!"

Then he turned to his generals and said:
"Chen Yuanlong has the ambition to conquer the Jiangnan region, and he is my nemesis."

"You should handle this with caution."

As Cao Cao pointed his whip, a deafening sound of drums and horns suddenly rang out from the river.

The southern ships came crashing through the waves like arrows released from a bow, while at the same time, thousands of elite soldiers charged out from Zhijiang Dock, all wielding long halberds.

Cao Cao's vanguard was thrown into chaos.

Cao Cao urgently ordered:

"Hold your ground!"

He saw his own troops retreating like a receding tide, and no matter how he shouted to stop them, he could not.

Suddenly, the sound of thunderous hooves came from the west, and a troop of cavalry charged in from the side.

"Protect the King of Wei!"

Cao Jun shouted loudly.

Cao Cao turned his horse to leave, but two valiant generals from Huainan blocked his way.

"Xu Wenxiang is here!"

"Jiang Gongyi has been waiting for your guidance for a long time!"

The two generals' swords flashed like snow, and a strand of Cao Cao's long beard was cut off.

"Those who invade the territory of the Great Han will be defeated by Sheng!"

It seemed that Xu Sheng was about to capture Cao Cao alive.

In the critical moment, a yellow-bearded general suddenly rode up on horseback:

"Father, retreat immediately!"

It was Cao Zhang who drew his sword to meet the challenge.

The three generals fought for thirty rounds, and sand and stones flew up from the riverbank.

By evening, Cao Cao's army had suffered a major defeat.

Cao Cao fled back to his main camp and first rewarded Cao Zhang with a set of golden armor, praising it as follows:

"Fortunately, I have Huangxu'er, unlike Liu Bei, who only had a fake son to fight with."

After speaking, he angrily rebuked the generals:

"What use are you if you're cowards before the battle even begins? Anyone who retreats again will be executed!"

During the admonition, Cheng Yu offered his advice:
"King Wei is wise; speed is of the essence in war."

"Now that our army has been delayed for so long, Chen Deng has been able to build a water fortress."

"I heard that Sun Quan failed to cross Hefei and that Jingnan has been pacified."

"Originally, we had the advantage of three armies, but now only our Great Wei army remains."

"A prolonged war is pointless; it would be better to retreat to Chengdu temporarily."

Cao Cao frowned. He had expected that the barbarians in Jingnan were unreliable.

But Sun Quan's swift retreat was truly unexpected for Cao Cao.

Didn't he claim to have an army of 100,000?
Why did he withdraw before the main force of the Han army could reinforce Hefei?

Isn't this just dragging yourself down and ruining your teammates' chances?

“孤若现在撤军，必被人耻笑。”

“不可退！”

Cao Cao rejected Cheng Yu's suggestion to withdraw his troops.

The reason was that he cared about his reputation and couldn't be like Sun Quan, who mobilized a large army only to flee back to Jiangdong in disgrace after a few battles.

Otherwise, how could Cao Cao survive in Yizhou in the future?

Helpless, Cheng Yu had no choice but to leave the central command tent.

Cao Cao then lay down on the table and fell into a deep sleep.

忽闻帐外潮声如雷，似有千军万马奔腾而来。

Cao Cao awoke with a start from his dream, drew his sword, and went out of the tent, only to see—

A giant, crimson sun suddenly emerged from the middle of the great river, its dazzling light melting away the frost and snow on both banks.

Looking up at the sky, one can see two bright suns hanging side by side.

正惊骇间，江心红日忽地飞起。

It crashed down on the mountain ridge in front of the camp with the force of thunder and lightning, causing the earth to shake violently!

"The King of Wei? The King of Wei!"

The call of his attendant startled Cao Cao awake, and he realized it was all a dream.

Cao Cao then realized that his forehead was covered in cold sweat, which had soaked through his entire body.

The military officer outside the tent reports:
It is now noon.

Cao Cao patted his chest to regain his composure, slammed his fist on the table, and roared:
"Men! Prepare the horses! I need to scout out the enemy's situation myself."

He then led fifty light cavalrymen out of the camp and headed straight for the mountain where the red sun had fallen in his dream.

Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, a group of people and horses suddenly appeared on the cliff, with Chinese characters on their banners fluttering in the wind.

The leader was none other than Chen Deng.

"Chen Yuanlong!" Cao Cao shouted in surprise, reining in his horse.

On the mountain, Chen Deng, dressed in white, calmly pointed his whip into the distance:

"Cao Cao possessed Sichuan and was extremely wealthy and powerful."

"Why are you still so greedy, crossing the borders of my Han Dynasty again?"

Cao Cao then raised his whip and shouted:
"The people of Jingchu have suffered under Liu for too long! I have come here by imperial decree to punish the traitor!"

"Hahaha!"

Chen Deng interrupted with a loud laugh that echoed through the valley.

"Is this not shameful enough to embarrass the entire world?"

"Our lord is a descendant of the Han dynasty, who followed the example of Yao and Shun, and inherited the great lineage."

"The four directions admire his virtue, and all people are devoted to him."

"In contrast, you, Cao Cao, have defied ancestral rules and usurped the title of king."

"You are the real traitor to the country!"

A sudden gust of mountain wind whipped Cao Cao's battle robes into the wind, making them flutter loudly.

This once-powerful and ruthless leader was speechless for a moment, unsure how to respond.

A moment later, he suddenly shouted:
"Where are the generals? Capture this scoundrel alive!"

Just as Cao's army charged halfway up the mountain, they suddenly heard the deafening sound of drums and horns.

Two generals emerged from the mountain pass on the left—

"Huo Jun of Nanyang is here!"

"Huang Hansheng from Changsha has arrived!"

Xu Sheng and Jiang Qin emerged from the woods on the right, and three thousand archers unleashed a barrage of arrows that blotted out the sky.

Cao Cao's army was thrown into chaos, with Cao Cao himself being struck by three arrows in his helmet, but fortunately, his heavy armor protected him.

"Escort! Escort!"

Cao Zhang wielded his spear like a silver wheel, protecting his father as they fought and retreated.

Corpses littered the mountain path, and blood stained the frosty forest.

When they reached the main road, they suddenly saw a cloud of dust rising.

Cao Hong led three thousand elite cavalrymen and charged in like a whirlwind.

"King Wei, retreat immediately!"

The cavalrymen were all clad in black armor, and their horses were all covered in battle armor; they were Cao Cao's most elite personal troops.

It was also a treasure of the State of Wei.

Upon seeing this from the mountain, Chen Deng gave the following order:
"Don't chase poor bandits."

The Han army sounded the retreat, and their triumphant songs echoed along both banks of the Yangtze River.

That night, Cao Cao's camp was brightly lit.

As the physician removed the arrowhead from Cao Cao's arm, the King of Wei suddenly asked Cheng Yu:
"Zhongde, my dream of the setting sun last night... could it truly be the will of Heaven?"

Just as Cheng Yu was about to reply, he suddenly heard a commotion outside the tent.

Cao Cao stood up and asked the reason.

It turned out that the Han soldiers on the other side of the river were singing a folk song.

Amidst the sound of the river waves, one could faintly hear him singing—

"The virtue and fortune of the Han dynasty will endure, and the false Wei dynasty will eventually perish."

"How dare the people of Qi bully me like this!"

When Cao Cao heard the words "pseudo-Wei," his heart felt as if it had been pricked by a needle.

Because it touched a nerve.

So he ordered the camp to retreat so that the soldiers would not hear the songs of the Han army.

However, the Wei army camp was already in a state of panic, and the soldiers longed to return home.

Cao Cao also considered retreating, but feared being ridiculed by the Han army, so he was undecided about whether to advance or retreat.

The two sides remained locked in a standoff for over a month, engaging in several battles with victories and defeats on both sides.

Until the first month of the following year, continuous spring rains filled all the waterways.

The soldiers were mostly in mud and water, suffering greatly.

Cao Cao was deeply troubled by this, when suddenly someone reported that the Han army had sent a messenger with a letter.

When Cao Cao unfolded it to read, he saw that the handwriting was clear and elegant, like that of a pine tree. The writing briefly stated:

"General Chen Deng, who led the southern expedition of the Han Dynasty, wrote a letter to the King of Wei—"

"Deng and Ming Gong, each guard the borders."

"Instead of thinking about serving the country and bringing peace to the people, Your Excellency raises an army without a just cause, causing immense suffering to the people. Is this the behavior of a benevolent person?"

"The waters are just rising this spring; you should leave quickly."

"If we remain obstinate and do not see the truth, the tragedy of the Battle of Red Cliffs may repeat itself."

"I urge Your Excellency to consider this carefully."

Two more lines were written on the back of the book:

"If you do not die, I will not be able to rest in peace."

The generals in the tent held their breath, all thinking that Cao Cao would go berserk in the face of such provocative words.

Unexpectedly, after reading it, Cao Cao looked up to the sky and laughed loudly, his voice shaking the rafters.
"Chen Yuanlong is absolutely right!"

Therefore, the order to withdraw troops was officially issued.

It turns out that Chen Deng's letter, though seemingly a curse, was actually a veiled insult.

In reality, this was giving Cao Cao a lot of face.

Give him a way out, so he can withdraw his troops normally.

After more than a month of stalemate, both sides felt they were getting tired and didn't really want to continue fighting.

Chen Deng was on the defensive and could only hold out; he had no way to retreat.

Cao Cao, as the attacker, was caught in a dilemma.

Originally, this campaign was intended to consolidate the Wei King's rule in Sichuan and accumulate political capital.

Therefore, Cao Cao did not want to return empty-handed, and besides, retreating was also a sensitive matter.

If even the slightest mistake allows the enemy to seize the opportunity to pursue, a retreat can turn into a rout.

To break this deadlock, Chen Deng wrote this letter to Cao Cao.

It's a diplomatic statement that carries a strong warning and a slightly threatening tone.

A powerful figure like Cao Cao naturally wouldn't fall for that.

However, the phrase "If you don't die, you won't be able to get away with this" indirectly gave them a way out, which was good for both sides.

At dawn, the rain subsided slightly.

Chen Deng stood alone at the arrow tower of the Zhijiang water fortress, watching the Cao army gradually breaking camp on the north bank.

Xu Sheng, with his hand on his sword, remained puzzled:

"Since the general issued a challenge, why did he release the tiger back into the mountains?"

Chen Dengyu did not answer immediately, but simply looked at the broken oar floating on the riverbank.

"Thirty percent of our warships have been destroyed, and we only have half a month's worth of arrows left."

"If the fighting continues, our army will find it difficult to hold out for long."

After speaking, he turned to look at Xu Sheng:
"The imperial court will not provide further support."

"When two tigers fight, one of them will surely be injured."

"If we each take a step back now, there will be plenty of time in the future."

Chen Deng also wanted to preserve the strength of the Huainan army and did not want to continue to waste time with Cao Cao.

Only then did they take the initiative to concede and persuade both sides to cease hostilities.

Three days later, Chen Deng returned to Xiangyang and reassured the local soldiers and civilians.

Then we officially set off, heading back to Shouchun.

The battle of Jingzhou has temporarily come to an end.

……

Incense smoke curled upwards in the Luoyang Palace.

Civil and military officials stood solemnly on either side of the steps.

"My lords," Liu Bei said, stroking his long beard in a deep, slow voice.

"Recently, Jingnan has fallen out of control, and the barbarians are causing trouble, although this is due to the instigation of the traitor Wei."

"However, it was also because the three counties of Shangyong were occupied by Wei that it was convenient for them to send troops out."

"I intend to recover these three prefectures. What do you all think?"

The three commanderies of Shangyong are located southeast of Hanzhong and have very important strategic value.

Because it can block the troops coming from the direction of Hanzhong.

Historically, Liu Bei directly appointed Liu Feng as the governor of these three eastern commanderies, which demonstrates their importance.

Liu Ye stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said:

"Your Majesty is wise."

Shangyong, bordering Hanzhong to the west and Xiangyang to the east, is truly a strategically vital location.

“When Cao Cao obtained these three commanderies, it was like adding wings to a tiger. If we do not take them now, they will become a future problem.”

Previously, Liu Bei lost the Battle of Hanzhong, which allowed Cao Cao to nominally occupy the three eastern commanderies.

Because the three eastern counties were mainly controlled by the brothers Shen Dan and Shen Yi.

They were a local powerful clan, known as "a group of thousands of families".

It possesses considerable strength and occupies a crucial strategic location.

Therefore, he had dealings with Zhang Lu, Liu Biao, Liu Bei, and Cao Cao at the same time.

再参考历史上占据上庸的孟达，他作为魏将，被曹丕宠着的同时。

He was even able to be won over by both Zhuge Liang and Sun Quan at the same time.

He was adrift between the three kingdoms of Wei, Shu, and Wu.

This is enough to prove that Shangyong has an important geographical location.

Liu Bei had long wanted to reclaim this place.

However, his defeat in the Battle of Hanzhong made it difficult for him to bring it up in the short term.

Now that Hefei and Zhijiang have both won great victories, Liu Bei believes it is time to discuss the issue of the three eastern commanderies.

"What Ye Gong said is absolutely right."

Pang Tong stepped forward and echoed:

"However, the three counties of Shangyong are now occupied by the brothers Shen Dan and Shen Yi."

"These two are local powerful figures. Although they appear to be submissive, they are actually two-faced cowards."

"Now that Cao Cao has just suffered a defeat at Zhijiang and his morale is low, this is the perfect opportunity to win over the Shen family."

The Shen brothers leaned more towards a semi-independent force.

On the surface, they submitted to the imperial court, but they wavered between the Han and Wei dynasties.

Taking advantage of Cao Cao's current weakness presents a good opportunity to strengthen control over the three eastern commanderies.

A glint flashed in Liu Bei's eyes, and he nodded slightly:

"Shiyuan's words are very good."

"However, the Shen brothers have long occupied Shangyong, and I fear that words alone cannot sway them."

"Even if they outwardly submit, they will not feel at ease without our army's actual control."

Li Yi stepped forward and offered his advice:
"Your Majesty, I believe that an army should be sent to garrison Shangyong, ostensibly for defense, but in reality for control."

"If the Shen brothers are wise enough to know what's good for them, they will naturally submit."

“若怀二心，亦可雷霆击之。”

"In short, we must at least prevent them from being allowed to pass through Cao Wei so easily, as they have done in this battle."

Liu Bei nodded repeatedly, "Ziyu's words are very much in line with my thoughts."

"I wonder which of you gentlemen thinks should be sent to lead the army?"

The hall fell silent for a moment.

It should be noted that Liu Bei had no shortage of good generals.

However, the meritorious veterans such as Li, Guan, Zhang, and Zhao have all achieved great success.

These founding veterans would not easily take command unless absolutely necessary.

After fighting in the battles of Henan and Guanzhong, Li Yi basically never went to the battlefield again.

Even if a high-ranking official achieves great military merit, Liu Bei will not be able to reward him further.

Therefore, Li Yi and his group of veteran officials basically watched from the sidelines while handling state affairs.

And Liu Bei did indeed prefer to cultivate some young people.

Li Yi bowed again:

"Your Majesty, I recommend General Zhang He."

"General Zhang is a veteran of many battles and his reputation is widespread. He is enough to keep the Shen brothers in check."

"Moreover, young generals can be selected to train with the army, with General Zhang as the commander, which is actually to cultivate the younger generation."

These words sparked a great deal of discussion among the officials.

Zhang He was a veteran general from Hebei, and he was one of the men brought up by Li Yi.

Although Li Yi no longer gets involved in military affairs, he still extensively recommends his own students.

He recommended Zhang Liao first, and then recommended Zhang He immediately afterward.

Isn't this just another way of seeking personal gain?

But Liu Bei didn't care at all.

In his view, what is public and what is private?
To act justly for the state is to act impartially.

Anything that is harmful to the country is selfish.

It is true that Zhang Liao was a protégé and former subordinate of Li Yi, but he did indeed achieve unparalleled military exploits at Xiaoyao Ford.

Zhang He, whom Li Yi is now recommending, is also a figure that Liu Bei greatly admires.

The military action of sending troops to Shangyong was actually more of a show of force.

Therefore, a mature and prudent general is needed even more, and Zhang He is clearly a very suitable candidate.

Moreover, as Li Yi said, the main purpose of this battle was to cultivate young people.

As a veteran general, Zhang He's role was more about maintaining order and stability.

Young up-and-coming talents are the main focus.

Ultimately, Liu Bei adopted Li Yi's suggestion.

He then issued an edict appointing Zhang He as commander-in-chief and Chen Dao as deputy commander.

With two veterans in charge, they're sure to keep things in order.

Because young people are impetuous and inexperienced.

If we rely solely on them, who should we listen to if internal disputes arise?
Therefore, it is necessary to have veterans in charge.

Then, Liu Bei dispatched another 10,000 elite troops, ordering them to set off on a chosen day. This was because the Battle of Shangyong was not a life-or-death struggle, but rather a military operation focused on intimidation.

Many meritorious officials and veteran generals in the court wanted to take this opportunity to give their sons some experience.

Of course, this is only the official version of events.

The real thought, of course, is that they hope their own children can go to the front lines to gain experience and refine their skills.

After all, going there would mean gaining military merit, and upon returning to the capital, one could rightfully become an official.

For a time, powerful and influential people in Luoyang flocked to Zhang He's door to pay their respects.

They would offer gifts or make requests, all in the hope that their own nephews or nieces could join the army.

The area in front of Zhang He's residence was bustling with carriages and horses, and the gate was always crowded with people.

Zhang He is a typical office worker, very good at handling things.

Now that he has also taken command of the military, he has naturally become the object of everyone's flattery.

However, this matter was rather sensitive, so Zhang He had to strictly screen those who sent gifts.

We dare not accept all comers.

However, as time went on, Zhang He discovered that Liu Bei seemed to be turning a blind eye to the matter.

There was no explicit opposition.

With Zhang He's emotional intelligence, he immediately understood Liu Bei's meaning.

Your Majesty is intentionally cultivating the descendants of meritorious officials!

Although many of the old brothers who started the business together have reached the point where they can no longer be sealed off, they still face this problem.

Liu Bei did not choose to discard the good bow after the birds have flown away.

Instead, they wanted to compensate them in another way.

This means tacitly allowing their descendants to obtain more political resources.

Liu Bei possessed a chivalrous spirit at heart, and his actions could very well have sown the seeds of future trouble for his country.

It won't affect his generation, and it may not affect the next generation either.

But the third and fourth generations are hard to say.

After all, the relationship between rulers and ministers in the third and fourth generations is not the same as the friendship forged on the battlefield.

...Alas, His Majesty is still too kind to his old brothers.

After Zhang He understood the crux of the matter, he stopped refusing.

then,

Guan Yu's sons Guan Ping and Guan Xing, and Zhang Fei's son Zhang Bao.

Zhao Yun's sons Zhao Tong and Zhao Guang, and Zhang Liao's son Zhang Hu.

Xu Chu's son, Xu Yi, and others were all placed into the army.

Some of these people petitioned voluntarily, while others were coerced by their fathers.

In short, many high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital sent their sons and daughters to join the expedition to the south.

For a time, this army that conquered Shangyong became a veritable "aristocratic army".

……

Let me talk about two things.

Inside the Prime Minister's residence in Luoyang, a thin mist lingered, and the flowers and trees in the courtyard were covered with dew.

The maids were already busy, moving quietly through the corridor.

Yuan Ying, dressed in a light blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with her black hair loosely tied up, was bending over to organize a bamboo book box.

With deft fingertips, she carefully arranged the scrolls of bamboo slips, writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.

Then he took out a brand new plain-colored student robe and gently smoothed out the wrinkles.

"An'er, be careful today as you enter the Imperial Academy."

Her voice was sweet and charming, and she looked at her young son standing to the side with her eyes crinkling.

"The Imperial Academy is a place where the best talents in the world gather, and outsiders cannot enter even if they want to."

"Don't take your admission to school for granted."

"After you leave, you must study diligently and not disappoint your father's expectations."

Li An was only eight years old when he was born, and he had delicate features.

His eyes were as black and bright as lacquer, bearing a resemblance to Li Yi.

He nodded obediently:

"Don't worry, Mother, I will definitely study hard."

Yuan Ying smiled, then lowered her voice and said:

"There is one more thing: your father dislikes ostentation."

"When you arrive at the Imperial Academy, do not mention that you are the son of the Prime Minister."

Ang Lee blinked and asked:
"Then, child, should say whose son you are?"

Yuan Ying's eyes darted around, and she smiled brightly:

"Just say... you are the son of a wealthy merchant in the capital, your family is in the silk business, remember that?"

Ang Lee nodded seriously:

"I'll remember it, kid."

Just then, steady footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

Li Yi, dressed in court attire with a jade belt at his waist, stepped into the inner room with his hands behind his back.

His face was solemn, his eyes sharp, only a hint of tenderness flashed in them when he looked at his wife and children.

Ang Lee quickly straightened his clothes and bowed respectfully:
"Father."

Li Yi nodded slightly:

"Did you remember everything your mother said just now?"

Ang Lee straightened his back and said in a clear voice:

"Father, I will remember it well."

"After entering the Imperial Academy, you must study diligently and will not speak ill of your family background."

A hint of satisfaction flashed in Li Yi's eyes as he gently stroked the top of his young son's head.

"Very good, very good."

After Li An and his attendants left for their carriage, Li Yi turned to Yuan Ying, a slight smile playing on his lips:

"Madam has taken my words to heart today."

Yuan Ying gave a soft hum, her eyes sparkling with a hint of coquettishness:

"My husband, the way you say that makes it sound like I don't usually take your words seriously."

Li Yi chuckled softly:

"No, it's just that the lady is straightforward and genuine."

“In the past, I was always afraid that An’er would be wronged at the Imperial Academy, and I wished the whole world would know that he was the son of the Prime Minister.”

Yuan Ying's pretty face flushed slightly, her slender fingers pinching the corner of her sleeve, and she muttered:

"I'm just... afraid that he'll be looked down upon."

Li Yi shook his head, his tone gentle yet firm:

“The trees are beautiful in the forest, but the wind will destroy them.”

“An’er is still young. Revealing her identity too early may not be a good thing.”

Yuan Ying blinked, then suddenly took a step closer, tilted her head back, and laughed:

"When your husband left the mountains to enter officialdom, did he ever conceal his family background?"

Li Yi was taken aback, then burst into laughter:

"Back then, I was just a commoner, what was there to hide?"

Yuan Ying chuckled, her eyes sparkling:

"No wonder my husband is so cautious now; he has learned his lesson the hard way."

Li Yi sighed and gently tapped her forehead. "Naughty."

Yuan Ying took his arm and said sweetly:

"Alright, I know I was wrong."

"but……"

Her eyes darted around, "Now that An'er has entered the Imperial Academy, has my husband arranged for someone to secretly watch over her?"

Li Yi's gaze deepened slightly, and he nodded, saying:

"I have a long-standing relationship with Cai Yan, the Imperial Academy Chancellor, and he will surely take care of me."

"Oh? So this is the sister you ransomed from the Xiongnu?"

"Indeed, this woman is the daughter of the great Confucian scholar Cai Yong, and she is exceptionally talented."

"But during the Xingping era, it unfortunately fell into the hands of the Left Wise King of the Southern Xiongnu."

“When I was in Hebei, I asked Zhen Yao to use gold and jade to redeem her from the Xiongnu.”

"Now that the Imperial Academy has been established, appointing her as its Chancellor would be a fitting way to honor her talents."

Yuan Ying was relieved and said with a smile:
"My husband is indeed very thoughtful."

Yuan Ying was leaning against Li Yi's chest, her slender fingers playing with the tassels of the jade pendant at his waist, when she suddenly heard footsteps coming from the corridor.

"Father, Mother, your child greets you."

The two looked up and saw their eldest son, Li Zhi, standing below the steps, his posture upright like a pine tree.

He is now fifteen years old, and his brows and eyes already show the composure of Li Yi, but his eyes still carry the sharpness unique to young people.

Li Yi nodded slightly: "Zhi'er, you've arrived just in time. Have you had breakfast yet?"

Li Zhi respectfully replied, "Father, it has already been used."

He hesitated for a moment, then said:
"I've heard that General Zhang He is going to attack Shangyong. Is this true?"

Li Yi's eyes flickered slightly. "That is indeed true."

"Why, are you interested?"

A resolute glint flashed in Li Zhi's eyes, and he suddenly bowed deeply to the ground:
"I beg to join the army!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Ying tightened her grip on the tassel in her hand and quickly sat up straight:

"Zhi'er, you're still too young..."

Li Zhi looked up, his gaze intense:
“Mother, Gan Luo became a minister at the age of twelve, and Huo Qubing was ennobled as a marquis at the age of seventeen.”

"My son is already fifteen; how can he be confined to the mansion?"

Li Yi raised an eyebrow slightly, put down his teacup, and his tone turned serious.

"Military and political affairs are of utmost importance and not child's play."

"You should stay by my side for a while and gain more experience before we talk about it."

Li Zhi advanced instead of retreating:

My father often said, "Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles."

"Although I learned the classics and history in the Prime Minister's residence, I have never had any practical experience."

"This expedition is a good opportunity for us to gain experience."

The implication was that Li Zhi wanted to enter politics.

This expedition is a golden opportunity to gain merit.

Li Yi gazed at his son for a moment, then chuckled softly:
"Politics is the most difficult subject in the world. Do you really think you can handle it at such a young age?"

How can you know you can't do it if you don't try?

Li Zhi's eyes were sharp. "Even if there are any mistakes, General Zhang will be there to guide us."

"If one is timid and hesitant all day long, is that the behavior of a great man?"

The courtyard fell silent for a moment.

Yuan Ying quietly tugged at her husband's sleeve, only to find that Li Yi was deep in thought.

After a long pause, he spoke slowly:
"...Alright, since you want to go, I'll grant your wish."

"Husband!" Yuan Ying exclaimed anxiously, "He must be sick..."

李翊摆手止住：

"The fledgling eagle must eventually spread its wings."

Then, turning to Li Zhi, he said:

"I will greet General Zhang on my behalf."

"But you must remember—there are no fathers and sons in the army, only superiors and subordinates."

Li Zhi was overjoyed and solemnly bowed:
"I will remember this!"

After her eldest son left, Yuan Ying frowned and said reproachfully:

"On the battlefield, swords and blades have no eyes."

"My son is young and impetuous, how could my husband..."

Li Yi remained silent, but walked with his hands behind his back to the pine tree outside the courtyard.

This was the seedling that Li Zhi gave to him the day after he argued with Aruo.

"...This pine tree was planted by me in the fourteenth year of Jian'an, and now it stands tall and spreading like a canopy."

Li Yi let out a sigh.

He was also very curious to see what kind of young pine tree, Li Zhi, had grown into.

……

Three days later, in Weiyang Palace.

Liu Bei held the black pieces and pondered for a long time, then suddenly said:

"I've heard that your son is also going to join the campaign against Shangyong?"

Li Yi, sitting below, replied respectfully:
"My son is arrogant and has made Your Majesty laugh at him."

"Hahaha!"

Liu Bei made his move and laughed loudly, "What's there to laugh about a young man's lofty ambitions?"

He turned to his servant and said, "Go and fetch that bolt of brocade."

Before long, a servant brought over a piece of shimmering, cloud-patterned brocade.

Liu Bei personally stroked the satin surface:

"This is the newly presented 'Xiatian Brocade,' bestowed upon your son to enhance his journey."

Li Yi quickly bowed in gratitude:

"Your Majesty's generous gift has overwhelmed me with gratitude."

Li Yi asked someone to send the brocade back to Li Zhi's residence, while he continued to play chess with Liu Bei.

Soon, the brocade was delivered.

Li Zhi stood under the corridor, holding the shimmering brocade in his hands.

This brocade is of the finest quality from Sichuan, its cloud patterns woven with gold thread shimmering in the sunlight.

"Young master, the weather is still chilly despite the warming trend; be careful not to catch a cold."

Old servant Li Zhong came over carrying a fox fur coat.

This old servant was originally an unknown person, but he had served the Li family for many years.

He was loyal and steadfast, and therefore was granted the surname Li.

Li Zhi seemed not to hear, his fingertips lightly tracing the intricate patterns on the brocade, and he chuckled softly:

"Uncle Zhong, why is this brocade given to me alone, and not to the other generals in the army?"

"It should be noted that General Zhang and General Chen are both veteran generals in the army."

"Guan Xing and Zhang Bao are also the sons of my second and third uncles."

"This brocade is mine alone."

Li Zhong was taken aback upon hearing this, and replied hesitantly, "This old servant does not know."

But Li Zhi had already turned and gone inside, leaving only one sentence:
"Prepare the invitations; I'm going to host a banquet for Generals Zhang He and Chen Dao."

Half an hour later, the charcoal fire in the East Flower Hall of the Prime Minister's residence was blazing, dispelling the chill of early spring.

Zhang He, clad in armor, stepped into the hall and, seeing Chen Dao already seated at the table, whispered:
"Uncle, it's strange that the eldest son invited only us old generals and not the younger generation like Guan Xing and Zhang Bao."

Chen Dao was wiping his sword when he heard this and smiled:

"Junyi is overthinking it."

“Young master, you are young and know proper etiquette. What’s wrong with showing respect to your elders?”

He sheathed his sword, saying, "Besides, the Prime Minister has many old friends with the generals in the army, so it is only natural that he would host a banquet for us."

Zhang He frowned slightly, about to speak again, when he heard a servant outside the door shout:
"The eldest young master has arrived!"

Li Zhi, dressed in a plain dark robe with only a white jade pendant hanging from his waist, walked calmly into the hall.

"Generals, you have come from afar and have had a long and arduous journey."

Li Zhi bowed respectfully, his voice clear and melodious.

"I am young and inexperienced. I am going to Shangyong with the army this time. I hope that you seniors will not hesitate to give me your guidance."

The generals quickly returned the greeting.

Zhang He glanced at Li Zhi and saw that he was well-mannered and spoke humbly, which reassured him somewhat.

After several rounds of drinks, Li Zhi suddenly ordered his attendants to bring out the imperial brocade.

The brocade shimmered and shone under the candlelight, drawing exclamations of wonder from the generals.

"This is a gift from His Majesty."

Li Zhi gently stroked the brocade, his face showing reluctance, and said:

"However, my qualifications are too shallow to accept such an honor."

"After much thought, I think it would be better to give this to one of the most respected and virtuous generals among you."

The room fell silent.

It turns out that the eldest son invited them to his residence for a banquet because of this.

Zhang He and Chen Dao exchanged a glance, both feeling a chill run down their spines.

This brocade was a gift from the Emperor; to give it away to someone else is no small matter.

Veteran Cao Bao was the first to break the silence:

"Sir, this is wrong."

“Gifts bestowed by the emperor should be treasured and valued; how can they be easily given away?”

"General Cao is absolutely right."

Zhang He replied, "Young Master is the Prime Minister's eldest son; he truly deserves this honor."

Li Zhi hesitated.

"Since you generals are so modest... how about this?"

"My father once created dumplings to serve the soldiers. Today, I have specially ordered the kitchen to prepare mutton dumplings to entertain you all."

He suddenly sighed, "But last year, the north was hit by heavy snow, and countless cattle and sheep froze to death. There is hardly any mutton left in the manor."

Chen Dao put down his wine cup:

"Young master, there's no need to make things difficult. Chive dumplings will suffice."

"General Chen's kindness is deeply appreciated."

Li Zhi nodded slightly, "Therefore, today we can only prepare one bowl of mutton dumplings, and the rest will be filled with chives."

"Whoever is fortunate enough to eat mutton dumplings will own this brocade."

After saying that, he clapped his hands.

The attendants filed in and served each general a bowl of steaming dumplings.

Zhang He's fingers trembled slightly as he held the chopsticks, alarm bells ringing in his mind.

He glanced at Li Zhi and saw that the young master also had a bowl of dumplings in front of him, but he didn't touch his chopsticks for a long time.

Chen Dao bit into the dumpling, and the delicious aroma of mutton immediately filled his mouth.

Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly felt someone lightly kick him from beside the table.

Turning his head, he saw Zhang He wink at him, and then quietly used his chopsticks to move aside the dumplings in his bowl—they were also filled with mutton.

The two looked around and saw that the generals had different expressions.

They were all focused on eating dumplings and no one made a sound.

Zhang He understood immediately and wrote the words "all sheep" in Chen Dao's palm.

"Have you all tried the mutton dumplings?" Li Zhi asked softly.

Zhang He put down his chopsticks and said respectfully:

"Reporting to you, sir, the filling in my bowl is chives."

"This humble general is also a leek (a metaphor for someone easily exploited)."

Chen Dao immediately echoed this.

Seeing this, the other generals followed suit.

Li Zhi looked regretful and sighed:
"So, no one got to eat the mutton dumplings? Then what about this brocade...?"

"It rightfully belongs to the young master!" the generals chorused.

After repeatedly declining, Li Zhi finally accepted the brocade "reluctantly".

After the banquet, he excused himself to read and left, leaving his generals looking at each other in bewilderment in the hall.

Zhang He strode to the head of the table and used his chopsticks to poke open Li Zhi's untouched bowl of dumplings—the bright green chive filling was right there in front of him.

Everyone stared at the single bowl of chive dumplings, exchanging bewildered glances.

"Young master... are you asking us to make a statement?"

The generals remained silent, except for the distinct sound of the cold wind rattling against the windowpanes.

At this moment, everyone understood that this was a carefully orchestrated display of power.

On the surface, it was about deciding who would receive the brocade, but in reality, it was a test of how much the veteran generals respected his authority.

This is a test of political understanding.

Inside the study, Li Zhi slowly unfurled the brocade.

In the candlelight, a deep smile appeared on his young face, a smile that seemed incongruous with his age.

“Father, I finally understand what you left me with.”

He murmured to himself, "These veterans, in the end, still acknowledge me as their 'young master'."

Outside the window, the wind howled faster.

This early spring, with its fluctuating temperatures, felt exceptionally long.

(End of this chapter)