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

Chapter 368 Liu Bei: I don't want to be Emperor Gaozu, nor do I want Liu Shan to be Emperor Wen of Han.
Luoyang, springtime is as deep as the sea.

The pear blossoms inside the palace walls are in full bloom, covering the upturned eaves like snow.

A gentle breeze rustled through the petals, which then fell onto the bluestone slabs in front of the Taiji Hall.

Several orioles hopped on the branches, their melodious songs adding a touch of life to the solemn palace.

Liu Bei had returned from his inspection tour of the counties in Henan, a journey that had lasted nearly three months.

He was in high spirits, not only because the livelihoods of people in Henan had recovered very well.

More importantly, he was pleased to see his two sons managing their fiefdoms so well.

In particular, Liu Li, the Prince of Liang, performed exceptionally well despite his young age.

This made Liu Bei, as a father, very gratified.

At this moment, he was in the pavilion in the back garden, with a rosewood table in front of him.

Several delicacies from the Western Regions were displayed on the table.

A plate of glistening grapes, a dish of candied figs, and a pot of wine.

Two palace maids behind him gently waved fans, sending a cool breeze.

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Li requests an audience."

The eunuch stepped forward quietly, bowed, and reported.

Liu Bei was just picking up a grape and putting it in his mouth when he heard this, and he nodded slightly.

"Xuan."

Before long, Li Yi, dressed in a purple official robe, walked steadily through the flower path.

Upon reaching the pavilion, he straightened his clothes and bowed deeply.
"Your subject Yi pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Liu Bei looked up and a smile appeared on his face:
"Ziyu has arrived, no need for formalities."

"Come, sit with me."

He pointed to the seats opposite him, "Try these grapes from the West, they are very sweet."

Li Yi bowed again to express his gratitude before taking his seat.

Seeing Liu Bei's cheerful expression, he felt somewhat relieved, but dared not rashly bring up political matters.

He simply echoed Liu Bei's words:
"I have heard that grapes from the Western Regions were introduced to the Central Plains after Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions, but their quality has never been as good as that of their place of origin."

"Is what Your Majesty is enjoying today a new tribute from the Kingdom of Kucha?"

"Exactly."

Liu Bei nodded and pushed the glass plate toward Li Yi.

"Ziyu, have a taste too."

"I remember you once said that governing a country is like tasting grapes; one cannot be impatient for quick results, but must wait for them to ripen naturally."

"That's very well said."

Li Yi respectfully took one, savored it carefully, and said:

"Sweet but not greasy, juicy and with a small pit, it is indeed a top-quality product."

He then thought that Cao Pi really liked to eat grapes that were sent as tribute from the Western Regions.

He almost never lets go of the bunch of grapes.

However, the kingdoms of the Western Regions generally paid tribute to the central government.

Cao Pi will probably never get to taste this in his lifetime.

Liu Bei laughed heartily upon hearing this:

"Ziyu's words remind me of the most difficult times in Xuzhou, when even ordinary fruits were hard to come by."

"Now that I possess the world, I find myself longing for those days of poverty."

His gaze was distant, as if he were reminiscing about the past.

Observing Liu Bei's expression and seeing that he was in a good mood, Li Yi carefully chose his words and said:

"Your Majesty is benevolent and virtuous, and the people are devoted to you."

"At the beginning of this year, I was ordered to accompany the emperor on an inspection tour of various counties in Henan."

"The people live in peace and the city is thriving."

"It is quite different from the early years of Zhangwu."

Liu Bei immediately guessed the purpose of Li Yi's visit.

"Yes, the counties in Henan have been restored to their former state."

"Outside Luoyang city, the paths crisscross, and the sounds of chickens and dogs can be heard from one another."

"The city was bustling with merchants and craftsmen competing in their skills."

“Especially in Yingchuan, Runan and other places, schools have been revived, and the sound of scholars reciting scriptures can be heard all the time.”

"The people all say that it is thanks to the benevolent rule of the imperial court that we enjoy peace today."

“Whenever I hear these words, I am filled with emotion.”

As he spoke, he looked at Li Yi with a pleased expression and praised him thus:
"This is all thanks to the efforts of all of you."

"I am merely following the will of Heaven and dare not claim this monumental achievement for myself."

After saying this, he raised his glass and took a sip of wine.

Seeing that the topic was getting closer to the main issue, Li Yi took the opportunity to say:
"Your Majesty is wise. I have come to see you today to discuss the matter of attacking Wu."

He took out a scroll of memorials from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.

"A secret report from Yizhou states that the southern barbarians within Cao Wei territory have rebelled again and captured several counties, including Jianwei and Zhuti."

"Cao Pi was busy deploying troops and generals, and was unable to look north in the short term."

Liu Bei took the memorial, but did not unfold it immediately. Instead, he placed it on a corner of the table and said calmly:
"When the southern barbarians rebelled, the court had already made plans, and the rebellion in the south was swift."

"What does Ziyu mean?"

Li Yi took a deep breath and said frankly:
"In my opinion, this is a golden opportunity."

"With Wei trapped by the southern barbarians, Wu is isolated and without support."

"Our great Han should raise an army to attack Wu and pacify the southeast in one fell swoop!"

The pavilion fell silent for a moment, with only the faint sound of petals falling to the ground in the wind.

Liu Bei stared at the wine in his cup for a long time before finally saying:
"Ziyu, I know you care about the world, but Henan has just been pacified and the people still need time to recover."

"Raising troops at this time is probably not a good strategy."

"When His Majesty toured Henan before, he also saw the people's livelihood there."

Li Yi cupped his hands and said, "Although it is not as magnificent as it was back then, it has basically recovered its former appearance."

"The country's military food reserves are still sufficient."

"Moreover, our army has been resting and recuperating for many years, and our soldiers are eager for battle."

"If we miss this opportunity, and Wei pacifies the southern barbarians and Wu and Wei form an alliance again, then our great Han will once again be caught between two enemies."

"Have you not heard the ancient saying, 'If you do not take what Heaven gives you, you will suffer the consequences'?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei stood up.

I walked up to a pear tree in full bloom and gently touched its petals.

Flowers bloom and fade, how short is life?

"If I can see the world unified in my lifetime, it will not be a waste to have lived a life on earth."

"There are some things that even you, Ziyu, will never understand."

Li Yi also stood up and bowed deeply:
"Your Majesty, extraordinary achievements require extraordinary people."

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures."

"Currently, Cao Wei is in internal strife, and Wu is isolated. This is a golden opportunity."

"If we lose it today, we will regret it endlessly."

Liu Bei turned around, stared at Li Yi for a long time, and suddenly laughed:

“Ziyu, Ziyu, the world says I am stubborn and inflexible.”

"It seems you are much more stubborn than I am now."

He walked back to the table, picked up the half-finished glass of wine, and drank it all in one gulp.

"Very well! Ziyu has come to advise me time and again today. If I do not grant his request again..."

"It would make it seem as if I don't heed loyal advice."

"Tomorrow morning at court, let's discuss the matter of attacking Wu with all the ministers."

Li Yi let out a long sigh and said:

"In that case, I will go and make the necessary preparations."

Liu Bei helped Li Yi up and said gently:
"Not urgent."

"The spring scenery is just right today, let's have a few more drinks together."

Li Yi agreed and sat down to have a few drinks with Liu Bei.

……

The next day, early morning court.

Civil and military officials lined up on both sides. Liu
"Do any of you have something to report?"

Liu Bei spoke calmly, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials.

Li Yi, holding a jade tablet, steadily stepped forward from the ranks:
"I have this memorial."

Liu Bei nodded slightly. "Speak."

Li Yi took a deep breath and spoke in a loud voice:
"Yesterday, Your Majesty and I discussed the matter of attacking Wu."

"Now that Cao Wei is trapped by the southern barbarians and Wu is isolated and helpless, this is truly a golden opportunity."

"Your Majesty, I urge you to make a decision: raise an army, attack Eastern Wu, and strive to unify the world as soon as possible!"

These words immediately caused an uproar in the hall.

Liu Bei remained calm, merely tapping lightly on the chair, his gaze sweeping over his ministers as he asked:
"What do you think, sir?"

The voice just fell,

An official, around fifty years old and with a thin face, quickly stepped forward:

"I believe this is unacceptable!"

Upon closer inspection, it was revealed to be Du Ji, the Prefect of Jingzhao.

Du Ji, courtesy name Bohou.

He came from the Du family, a prominent clan in Jingzhao.

This person is quite talented and knows how to govern.

He was both benevolent and loving towards the people, and also quiet and inactive.

His local achievements are outstanding.

A few years later, he was promoted to the position of Prefect of Luoyang.

Du Ji, holding his official tablet, solemnly remonstrated:

"Our dynasty has only been established for six years. Henan and Guanzhong have just been pacified, and the people's livelihood still needs to recover."

"Raising troops at this time is probably not a good strategy."

Liu Yan, the Imperial Clan Secretary, followed closely behind:

"What Master Du said is absolutely right."

"Wu relied on the natural barrier of the Yangtze River and had a powerful navy."

"Although our dynasty occupies Huainan and Jingzhou, our naval strength is still insufficient to destroy Wu."

"If we forcibly conscript laborers to build warships, it will inevitably lead to widespread public resentment."

Taichang Yangdao also stepped forward to echo this:
"Your Majesty, according to the celestial phenomena, this year is not auspicious for military affairs."

"Moreover, the Sun family has ruled Jiangdong for three generations, and the people are loyal to them."

"Forcibly conquering would be contrary to the will of Heaven."

In a short time, voices opposing the campaign against Wu grew louder and louder in the imperial court.

It seems as if sending troops at this time would be contrary to the harmony of heaven and man.

Logically, after the destruction of Wu, his subordinates should also receive rewards.

This should be a happy event for everyone, so why are so many people against it?
In fact, for the current Qi-Han regime,

Whether it was the destruction of Wu or the destruction of Wei, it was never a military issue.

It's a political issue.

To be precise, it's a problem of power distribution.

For reference, consider the historical event of the Western Jin Dynasty conquering Wu.

After the fall of Shu Han, Sima Zhao set a plan to destroy Wu within three years.

But in reality, the Kingdom of Wu held out for a full seventeen years before being destroyed.

Why is this?
Is it because the Kingdom of Wu was very strong?

But at that time, apart from Lu Kang, there was no one left in the Wu Kingdom who looked like a human being.

It even produced the infamous tyrant Sun Hao, who relentlessly tormented the people.

At that time, the Kingdom of Wu was already in decline.

Later, when the Jin Dynasty launched a military campaign to destroy Wu, it was deeply embroiled in factional strife and internal power struggles, and its administration was a complete mess.

And so it went, and the Kingdom of Wu was still destroyed.

And it was basically a straight push.

That's right, the problem stemmed from the factional strife at the time.

Sima Yan was one of the least prestigious founding emperors.

Therefore, he was eager to destroy Wu in order to enhance his prestige.

However, a group of ministers in the court, led by Jia Chong, Xun Xu, and Pei Xiu, all opposed the campaign against Wu.

This was actually far beyond Sima Yan's expectations.

Because he also believed that expanding territory was beneficial to everyone.

There shouldn't be many people who would object.

As a result, half of the ministers in the court opposed it, and these were even meritorious officials from his father's reign.

Sima Yan, the newly enthroned emperor, was completely unable to control them.

For every person who opposes something, there is someone who supports it.

Apart from Sima Yan, the new emperor eager to establish his authority, the pro-war faction, led by Yang Hu, Du Yu, and Wang Jun, all supported the campaign against Wu.

If you carefully compare the lists of those who advocate war and those who advocate peace, you will not find the clues.

That's right,

Those who opposed the campaign against Wu were all founding fathers of Sima Zhao's dynasty.

They wield immense power and influence within the central government.

Those who supported the campaign against Wu had no say in the court at the time.

It was difficult to shake the influence of Jia Chong and his faction of advocates of peace within the court.

Therefore, the answer to why they opposed the campaign against Wu becomes obvious.

That is, Jia Chong and his gang wanted to defend their vested interests.

If the Wu kingdom were truly destroyed, Sima Yan's prestige would inevitably rise, and his imperial power would be further consolidated.

This is very disadvantageous for these veteran officials who have made great contributions.

Moreover, during the process of conquering Wu, some newcomers will definitely rise in rank and receive rewards based on their military achievements.

Then they would take a slice of the pie from these seasoned veterans.

It's even possible that these veteran officials will have to step aside in front of the new elites.

Therefore, out of a desire to protect their own interests.

The veteran officials in the court collectively opposed the destruction of Wu.

This situation was not unique to the Western Jin Dynasty.

When it comes to people's hearts and interests, people like Jia Chong are actually quite common.

He was a loyal dog in front of Sima Zhao, doing whatever he was told.

After outlasting Sima Zhao, he used his seniority to bully the newly enthroned emperor, who had little prestige.

However, those who are beneficiaries like Li Yi, who are still willing to broaden their horizons for the greater good of the nation and its people, are actually a very small minority.

Of course, Li Yi's vision was indeed far more far-reaching than that of many people in the court.

He sees a lot and thinks a lot, so he is able to give up a lot of things.

But the power of one person is not limitless.

No matter how hard Li Yi tried, he could not change the historical limitations of people in his own time. You cannot criticize the values ​​of people in your own era from the perspective of later generations.

And put yourself in their shoes.
Which vested interest group is truly willing to relinquish their own interests for the sake of the greater good?

It's easier said than done.

Liu Bei started from scratch and conquered the world very quickly.

In his fleeting military career, he crushed one warlord after another.

During this period, a large group of meritorious ministers emerged.

Furthermore, Liu Bei already possessed the strength to destroy Wu and Wei.

But now, he has to slow down.

Because unlike Liu Bang, he didn't have any psychological burden.
They executed all the founding heroes, including Han Xin, Chen Xi, Ying Bu, and Peng Yue.

Regardless of whether these people died unjustly or not, they've been killed anyway.

Therefore, they posed no threat to imperial power and centralized authority.

But Liu Bei was kind and benevolent, so it's no surprise that his men didn't rebel.

Even if they did behave arrogantly, Liu Bei wouldn't necessarily kill them.

This is why the ranks of Liu Bei's military meritocracy were already severely saturated.

The campaign against Wu would mean the breakdown of the existing power structure.

The founding fathers at the top don't want their subordinates to come up and share the spoils.

The newcomers, however, feel that the older generation has been at the top for too long, taking away their room for development.

Ultimately, the total size of the power structure is limited.

No matter how you seal it, or how you change the title of the position.

They can only ever decide and allocate within the scope of their authority.

This is the predicament Liu Bei is currently facing.

He didn't want to become like Liu Bang, nor did he want Liu Shan to have such a difficult ascension to the throne as Emperor Wen of Han.

Does a second-generation monarch have to shed the blood of his own people to ascend to the throne?
Liu Bei didn't believe in this superstition.

He must spend the rest of his life coming up with a good solution.

He wanted to ensure that his old brothers who had followed him in starting the business could enjoy their later years in peace, and also to ensure that Liu Shan could smoothly take over the throne from him.

There was harmony between the ruler and his subjects, and between superiors and inferiors.

Just like Liu Bei and Li Yi.

But when Liu Bei glanced at the younger generation of generals in the court who were already unable to contain themselves, he knew that things were not as simple as he had imagined.

Guan Xing strode forward, his voice booming like a bell:
"My lords, you are mistaken!"

"Wu Gou betrayed his promise and seized Jingzhou, causing immense suffering to the people of Jiangling."

"This hatred is irreconcilable! Now that we have an opportunity, it is time to raise an army and avenge our grievances!"

Zhang Bao also stepped forward:
"Brother Guan is absolutely right."

"We young generals train day and night so that one day we can serve our country."

Now that we have such a good opportunity, how can we let it slip by?

Young generals such as Zhao Guang and Taishi Heng stepped forward to volunteer for battle, causing a stir in the hall.

Liu Yan sneered:
"A mere child, unaware of the dangers and perils of war!"

"A war of annihilation is no child's play."

"Your words are incorrect, Lord Yan."

A steady voice rang out, and everyone looked over to see Zhang Liao, who had been promoted to General Who Conquers the East due to his military achievements.

Although he is over fifty years old, he is still in good spirits.

"I have fought against Wu's army several times and know their strengths and weaknesses well."

"Our dynasty now has well-trained troops and ample provisions, and our soldiers are fighting bravely. We certainly have a chance of winning."

Xu Huang also stepped forward and said:

"General Zhang's words are true."

"Although Wu's navy is strong, land warfare is not their forte."

"If our army can launch a surprise attack, we may not be unable to win."

Zhang He also stroked his beard and nodded:

"Indeed, indeed! If Your Majesty wishes to launch a military campaign against Wu, this old minister is willing to serve as the vanguard!"

Among the military ranks, apart from the younger generation who aspire to rise in rank, there are those who are meritorious but not those who are not.

There was another faction that also longed to attack Wu.

Naturally, these were high-ranking generals with military achievements, led by Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, and Zhang He.

Their military achievements were far from reaching the level of Li Yi, Guan Yu, Chen Deng, and Zhang Fei.

In other words, they still have room for improvement.

Moreover, if they were to actually launch a military campaign against Wu, they would most likely be given important responsibilities.

After all, his seniority is what it is; he can't possibly work as an assistant to a young person.

In an instant, cries of "I want to fight!" rose and fell from the ranks of the military officers.

Liu Bei's gaze swept over the crowd, lingering briefly on Guan Yu.

This man, one of the four founding dukes, had already reached the pinnacle of his official career.

Although he remained silent at this moment, he stroked his long beard, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.

Clearly, Guan Yu remained a straightforward person even in his old age.

He doesn't care about any vested interests.

If a young person wants to take over, he is happy to step down, provided that you can prove yourself.

Upon seeing this, Du Ji quickly gave Xun Chen, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, a wink.

Xun Chen understood and stepped forward to report:

"Your Majesty, this old minister believes that even if we are to attack Wu, we should wait until the time is right before discussing it."

"Although the national treasury is full now, if we launch a large-scale war, it may be difficult to sustain."

"It would be better to conserve our strength for a few more years and wait until our national power is stronger before making a move against Eastern Wu."

Upon hearing this, Li Yi sneered:
"Master Xun's words, though seemingly prudent, are in fact misleading the country!"

“If God doesn’t take it, you will suffer the consequences.”

"Currently, Cao Wei is in internal strife, which presents an excellent opportunity to attack Wu."

"If we wait until they pacify the southern barbarians and then Wu and Wei form an alliance again, our great Han will be attacked from both sides!"

He turned to Liu Bei, cupped his hands, and said:
"Your Majesty, I have ordered the cabinet to calculate that the current grain reserves can supply an army of 100,000 for a year."

"If we control spending and requisition some of the grain stored in the fields, we can have enough to last for two years."

"As for warships, Jingzhou currently has more than 300 warships. If construction is accelerated, another 200 can be added within six months."

"Enough to fight against Wu's navy."

Liu Yan hurriedly retorted:

"Prime Minister Li is mistaken! Forcibly requisitioning grain from the people will inevitably lead to a popular uprising!"

"Moreover, shipbuilding requires a large amount of timber and craftsmen, which will inevitably affect agricultural activities."

"With spring planting just around the corner, how can we let war disrupt agriculture?"

"You are overthinking it, Lord Yan."

Li Yi, unhurried, turned to Liu Bei and bowed, saying:
"I have already made a plan: the grain requisition will only take the grain stored by large households, and will not touch the grain of ordinary people."

"Shipbuilding craftsmen are specially dispatched from Hebei so as not to interfere with agricultural work in the Central Plains."

Hebei was, after all, Li Yi's old stronghold, where he had cultivated his power for many years.

The foundation, connections, students, and former subordinates are all there.

If you want to transfer people, it's just a matter of talking.

Seeing that Li Yi was well-prepared, Liu Yan was speechless for a moment, then suddenly changed the subject:
"Even with ample provisions and warships, how will we settle the surrendered officials after the fall of Wu?"

"How should we govern the new land? The customs of Wu are very different from those of the Central Plains, and I fear they will be difficult to tame."

"What will happen when rebellions break out everywhere?"

Li Yi was prepared:

"It's easy."

"We can follow the example of the King of Qin after he destroyed the six states, and move the powerful families of Wu to Guanzhong, while at the same time relocating the prominent families of the Central Plains to Wu."

"With such mutual checks and balances, they will surely be able to merge within ten years."

The debate in the imperial court intensified, with each faction sticking to its own version of events.

The anti-war faction, led by Xun Chen and Yang Dao, consisted mostly of civil officials and nobles who worried that a successful campaign against Wu would lead to the rise of new elites who would threaten their own positions.

The pro-war faction, led by Li Yi, included both young generals eager to achieve merit and mid-level generals like Zhang He who hoped to advance further.

This even includes veteran generals like Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who, despite already holding high positions, still harbored great ambitions.

"enough."

Liu Bei finally spoke, his voice not loud, but it immediately silenced the hall.

“What you all say makes sense.”

"Whether or not to attack Wu is a matter of national destiny and should not be decided lightly."

"Give me three more days to consider this, and we will discuss it again then."

Li Yi bowed deeply:
"...Your Majesty is wise."

"However, the opportunity to fight is fleeting, and we hope Your Majesty will make a decision soon."

Liu Bei stood up and waved his hand:

"Retreat."

After saying this, he turned and left, leaving the court officials looking at each other in bewilderment.

After the court session, the anti-war faction gathered in the mansion for a secret meeting.

"Judging from His Majesty's expression, it seems that he has been persuaded by Li Yi."

"If we really attack Wu, we will be in grave danger."

"It's alright. His Majesty is getting old and may not have the energy to manage a war that would destroy a country."

"The current crown prince is weak and easily influenced. As long as we hold out until he ascends the throne..."

"The good days are just beginning."

"At that time, as long as we unite as one, even if Li Yi has extraordinary abilities, he will find it difficult to shake the political situation."

"...Indeed, indeed. His Majesty has said more than once that he will not treat his meritorious officials the way Emperor Gaozu treated the Marquis of Huaiyin."

"Even if the Crown Prince ascends the throne in the future, Li Yi will still control the government. How could he dare to disobey the late emperor's words and indiscriminately kill meritorious officials?"

Once everyone had made their decision, they celebrated their success.

On the other side, it was already dark when Li Yi returned to the Prime Minister's residence.

The mansion was brightly lit, and the servants bowed to him upon his return.

As soon as he stepped into the inner courtyard, he saw Zhen Mi standing under the corridor, her bright eyes filled with concern.

"My husband is back."

Zhen Mi stepped forward and asked softly, "How did the court meeting go today? Has His Majesty decided on the matter of attacking Wu?"

Li Yi frowned slightly and shook his head:
"……Hard to say."

"There are many opponents in the court. Du Ji, Liu Yan and others have tried their best to dissuade His Majesty, but he does not seem to be in a good mood."

Zhen Mi sighed softly:
"These people are simply afraid that newcomers will rise to power and take away their authority."

Before Li Yi could answer, Mi Zhen and Yuan Ying had already come out of the inner room.

Mi Zhen smiled gently:
"My husband has worked hard all day. Let's have a meal first. No matter how urgent the affairs of state are, a little extra time won't make a difference."

Yuan Ying playfully took Li Yi's arm and said reproachfully:
"Exactly, even after court, we still talk about politics. Doesn't my husband find it tiring?"

Li Yi chuckled and patted her hand:
"Okay, let's eat first."

The family had just taken their seats and hadn't even started eating when the steward rushed in to report:
"Your Excellency, Generals Zhang He, Xu Huang, Zhang Liao, Chen Dao, and others request an audience!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yi's lips curled slightly:
"Sure enough, it's here."

Yuan Ying pouted:

"It's already this late, and you're still talking about politics?"

Li Yi, however, had already stood up and was comforting the women, saying:
"You all eat first, I'll go see them."

When Li Yi entered the study, Zhang He, Xu Huang, Zhang Liao, Chen Dao, and others had been waiting for a long time.

Upon his arrival, everyone rose and bowed.
"Greetings, Your Excellency!"

Li Yi smiled and waved his hand:

"Generals, there's no need for such formalities. Please be seated."

After everyone was seated, Li Yi noticed their solemn expressions and said:
"I suppose you all haven't eaten yet. Someone, bring up some wine and food."

The servants quickly brought out the wine and dishes, but none of the generals touched their chopsticks.

Chen Dao, being the most straightforward, couldn't help but speak first:
"Prime Minister, today in court, those civil officials were clearly afraid that we military generals would make further contributions and take their positions!"

"I have been following His Majesty in conquering the world since Xuzhou, and I have suffered countless injuries along the way."

"I feel deeply ashamed to have worked with this bunch of pedantic intellectuals for even a day!"

"Hmph! Civil officials ruin the country! Civil officials ruin the country!"

Zhang He coughed lightly and reminded him:
"Uncle, be careful what you say."

He winked at Chen Dao, reminding him that our Prime Minister Li was also a civil official.

Watch your words.

Chen Dao snorted:
"Am I wrong? Their opposition to the campaign against Wu is simply because they fear the rise of younger generations like Guan Xing and Zhang Bao."

"They're afraid we veterans will go even further!"

Zhang Liao said in a deep voice:
"What Shuzhi said was straightforward, but it was not without reason."

Xu Huang also sighed:
"Prime Minister, we have followed His Majesty in battle for many years, and all we seek is the unification of the world."

"Now that Wei is in turmoil and Wu is isolated, this is the perfect opportunity to attack Wu."

"But those civil officials in the court are doing everything they can to obstruct this, it's truly hateful!"

Ha ha……

Li Yi smiled slightly, seeing through it but not saying anything.

Xu Huang, Zhang He, and their group are all typical working professionals.

Having spent many years in the workplace, these seasoned veterans are no more seasoned than those in the imperial court.

The veteran officials in the court were afraid that the newcomers would take over their share of the benefits.

But they dared not say it outright, so they could only oppose it on the grounds of national treasury losses and the suffering of the people.

The same applies to Zhang He and his group of mid-to-high-ranking generals who still wanted to advance.

They certainly couldn't openly say that they longed to go further.

The only reason to advocate war is to hope for the early unification of the world, based on the greater national cause and the moral high ground.

They all have their own agendas and are only acting in their own self-interest.

"Does everyone here advocate for war?"

Li Yi stood with his hands behind his back and smiled slightly.

All the generals rose to their feet, clasped their hands in unison, and shouted:
"We all advocate war!"

"We vow to exterminate the Wu dogs and hope for the early unification of China!"

Ok……

Li Yi nodded slightly, and seeing that everyone had made up their minds, he said:
"Alright, to be frank with you all, I also wish to advocate for war."

"Please go back first, everyone. I will have a plan to persuade His Majesty to attack Wu later."

Zhang He and the others were overjoyed and bowed repeatedly to Li Yi.

He was praised for his profound understanding of righteousness and his towering virtue, comparing him to the Duke of Zhou and Yi Yin reborn.

Afterwards, Li Yi offered everyone a cup of wine as a token of his appreciation, and then personally saw them off at the gate of the mansion.

It wasn't long after it was sent out.

Another servant came to report—

"Your Excellency, Ministers Du Ji and Xun Chen have arrived."

……

(End of this chapter)