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

Chapter 369 I will neither kill meritorious officials nor allow them to engage in acts of self-degradation like Xiao He and Zhang Liang's reclusion.

Since Li Yi proposed the campaign against Wu, the court has been divided into two factions.

Led by mid- to high-ranking military officers such as Zhang He and Xu Huang, as well as emerging generals such as Guan Xing, Zhang Bao, and Zhao Guang, they all advocated destroying Wu.

Because they want to go further, to climb higher.

Meanwhile, the vested interests, led by Xun Chen and Yang Dao, and the old aristocratic forces, were worried about what would happen after the war to destroy Wu.

A large number of new recruits will rise through the ranks based on their military merits, thus vying for their share of the spoils.

It's possible that these veterans might have to make way for the newcomers.

Therefore, many conservatives in the court opposed the campaign against Wu, arguing that the country was newly established and it was not advisable to wage a large-scale war.

Not long after Li Yi saw off Zhang He, Xu Huang and other military generals, the gates of his mansion were still open.

The steward then hurriedly came to report:

"Your Excellency, Ministers Du Ji, Xun Chen, and Liu Yan request an audience!"

Li Yi raised an eyebrow slightly, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips:

"Oh? You've arrived quickly."

He straightened his clothes and gave the order:

"Please invite the three of them inside and prepare tea."

Before long, Du Ji, Xun Chen, and Liu Yan arrived together.

Their faces were all adorned with warm smiles as they bowed with their hands clasped in greeting.

"I apologize for disturbing you so late at night, Your Excellency."

Li Yi rose to greet him, his smile warm and gentle.
"Why do you say that, gentlemen? Please, have a seat."

As everyone took their seats, a maid served tea, its fragrant aroma filling the hall.

Liu Yan took a sip of tea and spoke first:
"Your Excellency, today in the court, the debate over whether to attack Wu is incessant."

"What is the Prime Minister's opinion on this?"

Li Yi smiled slightly and tapped his fingers lightly on the teacup:

"This matter is of great importance, and Your Majesty will make your own wise decision."

"We, your subjects, only need to do our duty faithfully."

Du Ji's eyes flickered slightly, and he slowly said:

"The Prime Minister's noble character is admirable."

"only……"

He paused briefly, then said, "Now that the country has been newly established, everything is in need of rebuilding."

"Since His Majesty ascended the throne, he has reduced taxes and levies, allowing the people to breathe a little easier."

"If we were to launch an attack on Wu now, it would not be a good opportunity."

Although many ministers in the court opposed the campaign against Wu, they were afraid that a new person would rise to power and seize their rights.

However, there were indeed people who opposed attacking Wu at this time, purely out of consideration for national stability.

For example, Du Ji, to prove his virtue, earned a pure reputation throughout his life.

Although he served under Liu Bei for a shorter period than veterans like Jian Yong and Mi Zhu.

However, his local achievements were outstanding because he liked to inspect the counties under his jurisdiction from time to time.

If any filial sons, virtuous women, or obedient grandsons are found, an order is issued to exempt them from corvée labor.

Encourage them to work hard and live well.

In terms of agricultural production, Du Ji urged the people to work hard in farming and weaving, and to raise more cattle and horses.

Even small matters like raising chickens, pigs, and dogs were of great concern to Du Ji, and he always had a set of rules and regulations for them.

Thanks to Du Ji's efforts, the economy of the Gyeonggi region quickly improved.

The people worked hard in agriculture and had plenty of food and clothing, while the government also accumulated a large amount of grain and fodder.

After solving the problem of food, Du Ji began to advocate for education.

He not only encouraged the establishment of schools, but also personally served as a professor, teaching Confucian classics.

This aligns with Li Yi's policy of vigorously promoting education.

He relied on his outstanding political achievements, actively catered to the court's policies, and maintained a highly politically correct attitude.

Within a few years, Du Ji was promoted to Prefect of Jingzhao.

It's equivalent to the mayor of the capital city.

His status goes without saying.

Du Ji wielded considerable influence in the court.

Now that they've come knocking, even Prime Minister Lee Ik can't afford to be negligent.

Liu Yan, standing nearby, echoed Du Jidao's words:

"Indeed! The Prime Minister's previous policy of 'selecting three people from humble backgrounds for the civil service examination' has already drawn criticism from powerful local families."

“If war breaks out again, local powerful families will surely harbor resentment, which may lead to unrest.”

Li Yi's expression remained unchanged; he merely sighed softly.
What you gentlemen have said is not without reason.

Seeing that Li Yi seemed to be softening, Du Ji seized the opportunity to speak:

"Your Excellency is wise."

"The imperial court is currently reforming the currency and building schools."

"If we launch another long-distance expedition, the national treasury may not be able to support it."

"If the war drags on, and internal and external troubles arise, the nation will be in grave danger!"

Li Yi pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded:
"Master Du's wisdom and foresight are truly admirable; I, Li, have learned a great deal."

Xun Chen was delighted to see Li Yi's attitude soften and continued:
"The Prime Minister is a pillar of the nation, and his word is as weighty as gold."

"If we can persuade His Majesty to postpone the campaign against Wu, it would be a blessing for the nation."

Liu Yan quickly chimed in agreement:
"Exactly! Your Excellency's prestige is well-established. With just a little appeasement, the generals will certainly not dare to disobey."

Li Yi picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and seemed to be deep in thought.

After a long while, he smiled.
“I deeply admire your sincere dedication to the country.”

"In that case, I will speak carefully when I meet the Emperor tomorrow."

"I advise Your Majesty to prioritize the well-being of the nation and postpone the campaign against Wu."

Du Ji and the others were overjoyed upon hearing this, and they all stood up and clasped their hands in greeting:
"Your Excellency is a man of great wisdom and integrity; you are truly a blessing to the court!"

Li Yi also rose to return the greeting:
"Gentlemen, you are too kind. It is the duty of a subject to share the burdens of the country."

After seeing Du Ji and his party off, Li Yi stood with his hands behind his back in the courtyard, gazing at the deepening night, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

Zhen Mi had appeared behind him unnoticed and said softly:

"What you just said, my husband, was it truly your intention?"

Li Yi smiled slightly:
"What does Madam think?"

Zhen Mi shook her head:

"My husband has always advocated attacking Wu. How could he change his mind because of what Du Ji and others said?"

Li Yi chuckled softly:
"You are the one who truly understands me."

He turned and looked towards the palace, and slowly said:
The reason for opposing the conquest of Wu was simply the fear that after the conquest, new nobles would rise and shake their power.

"Their visit today is both a test and an attempt to win them over."

The word "lure" is cleverly used.

In fact, many ministers in the court did not understand why Li Yi would support the campaign against Wu.

After all, Li Yi had already reached the highest position in the court, and there was nothing more he could be granted.

If the campaign against Wu were to begin, Li Yi would absolutely not be able to participate in the war.

When a newcomer with the merit of destroying Wu comes to power, it will certainly threaten Li Yi's prestige and influence in the court.

Instead of directly replacing Li Yi.

But at least it won't be like before, when Li Yi suppressed everyone so completely that few dared to speak up in protest.

It was practically a two-person show between Li Yi and Liu Bei; Li Yi made the suggestion, and Liu Bei gave the final approval.

The courtiers were completely just there to create atmosphere.

However, if the campaign against Wu succeeds, the existing power structure will certainly be broken.

Logically speaking, Li Yi, as the biggest beneficiary of the existing system, should be the one to maintain the status quo.

The campaign against Wu would certainly not be of much benefit to the Li family.

On the contrary, it has the disadvantage of easily offending conservatives who want to maintain the existing order.

At the same time, when the new elites rise to power, they will no longer allow the Li family to rule the court with absolute power.

But Li Yi is just that kind of eccentric.

As a top-tier aristocratic family in Qi and Han, it is highly likely to become the largest family in the country in the future.

However, he adopted a series of measures and policies to suppress powerful families.

If this isn't a weirdo, then who is?

Zhen Mi's eyes flickered slightly:

"My husband just now..."

Li Yi said calmly:
"The campaign against Wu is inevitable."

"But if we reveal our intentions too early, it will only provoke the full-scale obstruction of the conservative faction in the DPRK."

"It would be better to show weakness first and let them lower their guard."

Zhen Mi understood and said softly:

"My lord, could it be that you intend to..."

Li Yi nodded, his gaze deep and unfathomable.
"The outcome will be clear in court tomorrow."

After saying this, he turned to Zhen Mi and smiled:

"Before it's time for bed, my wife, why don't you play a tune for me on the zither?"

Zhen Mi's eyes flickered, and she smiled softly.
"My husband, you've seen so many people today, are you truly done with your work?"

Li Yi stood with his hands behind his back, looking relaxed.
"I've seen everyone I needed to see and said everything I needed to say, so I'm sure no one will bother me anymore."

Zhen Mi shook her head and said softly, "Not necessarily."

Before the words were even finished, the manager had already rushed over:

"Your Excellency, General Guan, General Zhang, and General Zhao have come to visit us together!"

Zhen Mi chuckled and looked at Li Yi with brimming eyes.

Li Yi shook his head with a wry smile and spread his hands, saying:

"Madam's mouth is probably blessed."

After speaking, he straightened his clothes and said, "Please come to the front hall to meet the three generals."

Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun all arrived dressed in ordinary clothes.

As founding fathers, they had already reached the highest ranks of officialdom, yet they remained extremely respectful to Li Yi.

Upon meeting, the three of them bowed to each other in unison:
"Meet sir."

Li Yi quickly returned the greeting:

“I am deeply honored that the three generals have visited so late at night. Please take a seat.”

Zhang Fei, with his most impatient temper, slammed his hand on the table as soon as he sat down and said:
"Sir! Today in court, I, Old Zhang, was utterly enraged!"

"Such a good thing as attacking Wu has been ruined by those pedantic scholars!"

Guan Yu stroked his beard, nodded, and said in a deep voice:

"The Eastern Wu regime has been divided for a long time, spanning three generations."

"If we continue to delay, it may become too big to handle."

Zhao Yun also pondered and said:

"When you made the suggestion during the day, we did not immediately express our opinion because we sensed that His Majesty seemed hesitant..."

Li Yi poured tea for the three of them with a teapot, smiling but saying nothing.

Zhang Fei said urgently:

"Sir, please stop beating around the bush! What exactly is your stance?"

Li Yi gently pushed the teacup towards the three of them:
"Generals, please state your positions first."

"you still need to ask?"

Zhang Fei's tiger-like eyes widened, and he shouted:

"Of course we should fight! Back then, Wu betrayed our alliance and launched a sneak attack, almost causing the loss of Jiangling."

"This hatred is irreconcilable!"

Guan Yu narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly, "I also advocate war."

Zhao Yun sighed softly:

"Although I cannot bear to see war again, the longer the world is divided, the more the people suffer."

"If Eastern Wu continues to maintain its separatist rule, it will only cause the people of Jianghuai to suffer even more from the chaos of war."

"A short pain is worse than a long one; it's better to unify sooner rather than later."

A glint of light flashed in Li Yi's eyes:
"Have the three of you thought this through? Are you truly committed to war?"

The three men stood up simultaneously, clasped their hands in a fist salute, and said in a resounding voice:

"I am willing to follow you and work together on this great undertaking!"

Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun didn't have that many thoughts on the matter.

Everyone hopes that the world can be unified as soon as possible.

Of course, if we really want to attack Wu...

Their son will surely go to the battlefield as well.

When the time comes to destroy Wu, their families will naturally share in the credit.

"Alright, since everyone has this idea."

"Then this matter will not be difficult to handle."

The group exchanged bewildered glances, then asked:
"Sir, you already have a plan?"

"I've got it! With you all here, I have an idea."

Li Yi smiled slightly.

……

Inside Weiyang Palace, Liu Bei sat alone in the Xuan Room, reviewing memorials by candlelight until the third watch of the night.

Suddenly, a eunuch lightly knocked on the palace door and reported:

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Li, General Guan, General Zhang, and General Zhao request an audience outside the palace."

Liu Bei paused slightly, his brow furrowing.
"Oh? It's rare to see all four of you here."

He put down his pen, rubbed his sore eyes, and said, "Send it."

Before long, the palace gates opened, and Li Yi entered first.

Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun followed in single file behind him.

All four were dressed in court attire, their jade belts gleaming warmly under the palace lanterns.

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects."

Li Yi was the first to bow, his voice clear and resonant like jade striking each other.

Liu Bei raised his hand in a gesture of support:

"...All of you, rise."

"You have come to the palace so late at night, is there something important you need to do?"

Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun all turned their gazes to Li Yi.

They clearly wanted him to speak first.

Li Yi, however, did not rush to state his purpose. Instead, he stroked his beard and smiled, saying:
"I recently heard an interesting story and have come to share it with Your Majesty."

"Oh? What interesting thing happened?"

Liu Bei frowned slightly, thinking to himself that the four men were all high-ranking officials with great influence in the court.

A visit late at night, surely not just to catch a glimpse of something.

So Liu Bei pricked up his ears and listened carefully to the interesting story Li Yi told him.

"...Recently, it was said that an old farmer raised three oxen for plowing, but only used two of them during the spring plowing season, leaving one tied to a tree."

When a neighbor asked him why, the old farmer replied, "When those two old oxen are exhausted, this strong ox will take their place."

"As a result, during the autumn harvest, the strong ox, having not been used for plowing for a long time, could not even pull the plow."

There was silence in the hall for a moment.

Liu Bei initially listened with a smile, but suddenly his expression shifted slightly, and his gaze swept across the faces of the four men:

"You gentlemen have come here for the matter of attacking Wu, haven't you?"

Guan Yu slightly opened his phoenix eyes, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said:
"Your Majesty is wise."

"Eastern Wu broke its promise and seized Jingzhou; this enmity is irreconcilable."

"Now that our army has rested and recuperated for several years, with well-trained soldiers and sufficient supplies, it is time to press on with renewed vigor."

"Unify the Jiangnan region as soon as possible."

Liu Bei stroked his beard and tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

"There is a great deal of opposition in the court regarding the campaign against Wu."

He looked around at everyone and said, "If the four of you come together, the opinions of those scholars in the court are not a concern."

"So you all sneaked into the palace at night because you wanted my opinion, didn't you?"

Given the prestige of Li, Guan, Zhang, and Zhao in the court, if they really wanted to exert pressure, the court officials certainly wouldn't be able to oppose them.

But ultimately, only one person makes the final decision: the emperor.

Whether the campaign against Wu can be finalized ultimately depends on Liu Bei's approval.

The biggest difference between the Qi-Han conquest of Wu and the Western Jin conquest of Wu in history is that the Qi-Han conquest of Wu was the Western Jin conquest of Wu.

The emperor's attitude differed.

Sima Yan was extremely eager to destroy Wu.

Liu Bei, however, was not very interested in the matter of destroying Wu.

The reason is also very simple,
Sima Yan, the new emperor, suffered daily mistreatment from Jia Chong and other veteran officials of the previous dynasty.

He hoped to establish his authority and enhance his prestige by destroying Wu.

As the founding emperor, Liu Bei's prestige had already reached its peak.

He could keep the old ministers who were the founders of the dynasty in check, but given Liu Shan's kind and benevolent nature...

It's hard to outmaneuver these seasoned veterans.

Moreover, after the destruction of Wu, a large number of new nobles will emerge.

These are all things that Liu Bei needs to consider carefully.

The arrival of four important ministers late at night was something Liu Bei had already somewhat guessed.

Seeing that Liu Bei remained silent, Zhang Fei finally couldn't hold back any longer. His leopard eyes widened, and he shouted:
"Brother! How heroic you were when you angrily whipped the inspector back then!"

"Now that he's become emperor, he's become timid and hesitant!"

"Could it be that sitting on this dragon throne for too long has worn away even the once boundless courage and ambition?"

"Yide!"

Guan Yu quickly pressed him down and sternly shouted to stop him.

"One must not be disrespectful before the Emperor!!"

Liu Bei's expression darkened, and he said to Guan Yu in a deep voice, "Yun Chang, take Yide down to sober up first."

He then said to Zhao Yun, "Zilong, you may also step aside. I wish to speak with Prime Minister Li alone."

After everyone had left, only the dripping of the water clock remained in the hall.

Liu Bei got up and walked to the window, gazing at the moon hanging from the eaves.

He shed his imperial demeanor and suddenly changed his form of address:

"...Ziyu, there are no outsiders here, only you and me, ruler and subject."

Liu Bei suddenly turned around and stared intently at Li Yi.

"I have a few words to say from the bottom of my heart."

Li Yi relaxed his upright posture slightly and quickly stood up to bow.

"Your subject listens to Your Majesty's instructions."

"No gift."

Liu Bei waved his hand, gesturing for him to sit down.

"To be honest, I'm already past the age of knowing one's destiny, almost sixty."

"At my age, I don't know how much longer I can live."

"His Majesty!"

Li Yi's voice trembled slightly, "Your Majesty is in the prime of life and will surely enjoy a long and healthy life."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei burst into laughter, his voice echoing through the empty hall.

"Ziyu, we've known each other for over twenty years, why bother with such flattering words?"

He shook his head, a hint of melancholy flashing in his eyes.

"We are all adults here. How could I not know that there is no one in this world who lives forever?"

Li Yi remained silent.

He looked at the man before him, a once spirited and ambitious warlord of a chaotic era, who now, though he had ascended to the throne, showed signs of weariness in his eyes.

“What Yide said is not entirely wrong.”

Liu Bei walked to the window and gazed at the stars in the night sky.

"Since becoming emperor, I have felt that many things can no longer be done the way they were before."

"As the ruler of all under heaven, I must be extremely careful in everything I do."

"The more you gain, the more concerns you have."

"My energy is indeed not as vigorous as before. There are many things I want to do, but I am powerless to do them."

"What I hope for is to do some things that need to be done while I still have the strength."

Li Yi listened attentively, carefully considering his words, and said:

"Your Majesty bears the heavy responsibility of governing the country, so you must think carefully before acting."

"This is the way of a wise ruler."

"A wise ruler? Ha!"

Liu Bei smiled wryly:
"My ministers are not only my assistants, but also my brothers and friends."

"They all depend on me for their livelihood, so I will never mistreat my brothers."

"I'm sure you understand this better than I do."

As the ancients said, one cannot have both fish and bear's paw.

"But I wanted both. There were things that would be better if I did them, but I couldn't bear to do them."

Li Yi sensed a hidden meaning in the words and probed:

"Is Your Majesty worried about the campaign against Wu?"

"My dear minister, you truly understand me."

Liu Bei turned around, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

"You must have noticed it as well, those in the court who oppose the campaign against Wu."

"The fear is that new elites will come up and take their places."

"Whether it's attacking Wu or destroying Wei, these are not military issues."

"I do not believe that the traitors of Wu and Wei still have the strength to contend with the Celestial Empire."

"However... as the ruler of a country and the head of all people, I need to consider other matters."

Liu Bei's expression froze, and he let out another long sigh.

“A Dou is a kind and benevolent child. If he were to ascend the throne, I would be very worried that he would not be able to control his ministers.”

Li Yi nodded.

Liu Shan is seventeen years old this year. Although he has been taught by famous teachers, he is too docile and lacks the ruthless spirit of his father.

"...You saw it during the day too."

"Although I have not expressed my opinion, there is a great deal of opposition in the court, and Liu Shan has not experienced any great storms like I did when I was young."

“He will be intimidated if the ministers put pressure on him.”

Liu Bei frowned.

Liu Bei truly did his best to ensure that A Dou became a qualified ruler who could maintain the status quo.

He personally educated them, and had Lu Su and Meng Yugong Xu Qiu educate them as well.

They were then sent to Hebei to be educated by Li Yi.

So many years have passed, and everyone has done their best.

Fortunately, A Dou was not a bad person; on the contrary, he was very kind.

This aligns with Liu Bei's political principles of benevolence and virtue.

However, there is one thing: Liu Shan (A Dou) has a people-pleasing personality and is somewhat of a "yes-man".

It seems they hope that you, I, and everyone are doing well.

But is there anything in this world that is perfect?
"Some things cannot be avoided at all costs; the Crown Prince must eventually face reality."

Li Yi said softly, "You can't protect him forever."

“Ziyu is right.”

Liu Bei gave a wry smile:
“I still remember entrusting Liu Shan to you for education for several years. You truly know how to teach according to aptitude and to give full play to strengths and avoid weaknesses.”

"It brought out the best in A Dou's kind and benevolent nature."

Li Yi recalled the time he taught Liu Shan. The child was not particularly gifted, but he was kind-hearted and extremely respectful to his teachers.

He once tried to teach him the art of political maneuvering, but found that Liu Shan often showed a look of pity in his eyes.

This may also be related to Liu Shan's upbringing.

His life was incredibly smooth; he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and never experienced any setbacks.

No matter what difficulties are encountered,
His emperor father, his empress mother who came from a family of four generations of high-ranking officials, his godfather who was the second-in-command of the country, his second and third uncles who were marshals, and his uncle Zhao who was in charge of the central guard forces would all help him.

Despite the many measures and methods taken,

But how can someone who was born at the top be allowed to experience the feeling of climbing to the top step by step from the beginning?
The ugly duckling can become a swan not because of its hard work, but because it was a swan to begin with.

Which is more important: hard work, background, or talent?
A: Anyone can work hard.

But not everyone has the background and talent.

Many people work hard their whole lives, only to reach the starting point that others were born with.

Some things really can't be forced.

"It seems that I have placed too many unrealistic expectations on this child, A Dou."

Liu Bei continued, "This child must be under a lot of pressure."

"He's seventeen now, so he's probably already settled down."

"No matter what the future holds, at least we... did our best."

There was silence in the hall for a moment.

The night breeze stirred the candlelight, casting flickering shadows on their faces.

"I think what Prime Minister Li said just now is very true. In the end, simply running away is not a solution."

Liu Bei suddenly became serious.

"So the reason I kept you behind is to ask you a question."

Li Yi held his breath and waited.

"If I were to pass away one day, could you protect the Han dynasty?"

The question struck like a thunderbolt.

Li Yi's body trembled, and his fingers under his sleeves trembled slightly.

He immediately rose from his seat, bowed deeply, and said:
"I will risk my life to protect my Han dynasty!"

"I don't want you to die a martyr's death."

Liu Bei's voice was unusually calm, "I'm asking if you can hold out."

Li Yi touched the ground with his forehead, feeling the coolness of the bluestone floor.

At this moment, memories of the past twenty years flashed through my mind like a revolving lantern—

The heroic and spirited appearance of Liu Bei when they first met in Xuzhou;

The figure who stayed up all night studying the map during the decisive battle of Shouchun in Huainan;
A figure walking with a sword in hand during the Battle of Guandu;
As we chase after the past, scene after scene unfolds, over and over again.

"minister……"

Li Yi took a deep breath and answered loudly:

"Your subject will do everything in his power to protect the Han dynasty that Your Majesty and I fought together to establish."

In both answers, Li Yi did not say that he was certain he could hold the line, but rather that he would do his utmost.

But in his last sentence, Li Yi deliberately emphasized the Han dynasty's rule, which they had fought together for.

The four words "let's fight together"
This was not an ordinary question and answer between a ruler and his subject, but a promise made between two people bound by life and death.

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei's eyes seemed to glisten with tears.

They met in times of hardship, and they were determined to share both adversity and happiness.

"well."

Liu Bei did not press the matter further.

He simply said "good" twice and reached out to help Li Yi up.

"With your words, my dear minister, I am at ease."

The two exchanged a smile, and many unspoken words were contained in that smile.

By the time Liu Bei reached that age, he had already achieved great success.

How many monarchs have ended up being known as incompetent rulers in their later years?
He destroyed all the reputation he had built up in the first half of his life.

At present, Liu Bei hopes to land smoothly.

He did not want future generations to criticize him for treating his brothers poorly.

Liu Bei would never do something like killing a founding hero.

He forced his subordinates to follow the stories of "Xiao He's self-defamation" and "Zhang Liang's reclusion."

Liu Bei would never do something like "discarding a good bow and cooking a hunting dog."

But any politician with even a modicum of maturity knows that if some powerful ministers aren't dealt with...

That would definitely affect the imperial power.

Faced with this, Liu Bei could only choose to trust the wisdom of later generations.

However, Liu Shan was a kind-hearted person, and he was probably easily "bullied" by his subordinates.

Therefore, Liu Bei could only place his hopes on Li Yi.

Li Yi was, after all, much younger than him.

His prestige, connections, and abilities were unparalleled during the Qi and Han dynasties.

Most importantly, Liu Bei trusted Li Yi as much as he trusted himself.

"Since you strongly advocate attacking Wu, I will certainly grant your request."

Liu Bei, with his hands behind his back, sighed:
"However, I still have one question—"

"Those in the court who strongly opposed the campaign against Wu were all worried that their own interests would be harmed."

"Now that you are in court, your word carries immense weight. After the conquest of Wu, new officials will surely emerge to share your power."

"Why do you still insist on attacking Wu?"

Li Yi's lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile.

"What is there to be happy about in gaining, or to be sad about in losing?"

He spoke softly, his voice low but each word clear.

"His Majesty once said that when he first started his business, he never expected things to turn out this way."

He raised his head, his gaze passing over Liu Bei, as if looking towards the distant past.

"In truth, since I began following Your Majesty, I never imagined things would turn out this way."

"If all my men were like you, my dear minister, able to take things on and let them go."

"Then I wouldn't be in such a difficult position."

Liu Bei sighed deeply, his eyes revealing an unusual weariness.

"It's a pity that there can't be more Li Ziyus in this world."

Li Yi shook his head and said seriously:
"I am merely fulfilling my duty."

He looked directly at Liu Bei, his gaze resolute.

"Now that Your Majesty has restored the Han Dynasty three times, it is your turn to fulfill your historical responsibility."

"Historical responsibility..."

Liu Bei murmured these four words repeatedly, suddenly feeling an unprecedented weight on his shoulders.

"Hahaha, good!"

Liu Bei suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter filled with heroic spirit.

"Then let us old folks work harder and strive to secure a clean land for future generations!"

"good!"

Li Yi smiled too.

"Please allow us, these old folks, to exert our meager strength once more to create a pure land for future generations!"

The plan to attack Wu has finally been finalized, and it is now late at night.

When Li Yi returned to the Prime Minister's residence, he was just about to rest.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of horses neighing outside the gate, so he got up to go and see.

It turned out that a letter had been delivered from Huainan.

Delivered in the dead of night, it must be an urgent matter.

When the steward saw Li Yi arrive, he bowed and said:
"These are trivial matters; Your Excellency need not trouble yourself to leave the residence."

"I'll take it to your room."

Li Yi said it was alright, since he hadn't gone to sleep yet anyway.

So he opened the letter and, sure enough, it was written by Chen Deng.

The book states briefly:

"Dear Brother Ziyu, greetings!"

"Six years have passed since we parted in Luoyang."

"Brother, although you have not made any significant achievements in Huainan, the land and water are very suitable, and the fish and rice are plentiful, so you are quite content."

“Every time I climb the city tower of Shouchun and look south to the Yangtze River, where the waters are vast and misty, I cannot help but recall the days when my brother and I rode side by side, discussing the affairs of the world.”

"Today, fishermen on the seashore present a strange fish, its flesh like solidified fat, exceptionally fresh and tender."

"Brother once cooked sashimi, served with ginger and vinegar, and the flavor was superb."

"He was specially ordered to be stored in an ice box and sent to Luoyang overnight."

"I hope my brother can also taste this delicacy from the rivers and seas, to ease the longing of our separation."

Upon reading this, Li Yi glanced at the box next to the envoy.

I wondered to myself, in the middle of summer, how could the icebox not melt when it's delivered?
The envoy, seeing what Li Yi was thinking, quickly explained:

"Your Excellency, please rest assured. After receiving Chen Zhengnan's orders, I traveled day and night to Luoyang."

"At each post station, they would change their clothes in the cellar."

"The fish should not have spoiled yet; this is Chen Zhengnan's kind gesture."

Ok……

Li Yi nodded slightly and said to the steward beside him:
"Take him to store the box in the ice cellar, and then take him to the treasury to claim the reward."

"Here."

The steward bowed and said to the messenger:
"This way, sir."

Li Yi also turned and went back to his residence, even though he had been maintaining correspondence with Chen Deng.

But it was rare to see Chen Deng writing urgent letters to himself late at night.

There must be something else important inside, so I continued reading by candlelight.

"I have recently heard that there are discussions in the court about attacking Wu. This is indeed a matter of national importance, and I dare not speak rashly."

"However, my brother has been managing Huainan for more than 20 years, and the navy and ships have been trained day and night without ever slacking off."

“If the emperor issues an edict, brother, you should lead your troops downstream and head straight for Jianye. You will certainly live up to the court’s trust.”

“Your brother holds a key position and participates in the planning of the court. He must know in detail about the timing of the attack on Wu and the strategy for advancing the troops.”

"If you would not mind, I would appreciate a little something."

"This allows my brother to prepare provisions and fodder in advance, and to organize the navy, thus avoiding any delays in military operations."

"Furthermore, I humbly request—"

"If the court needs to select a general for this campaign against Wu, I hope you will strongly recommend me before the Emperor so that I may be granted the authority to lead the campaign."

"When we previously campaigned against Runan, the court sent an envoy with imperial authority to oversee all the armies."

"However, the lack of coordination in command and control led to missed opportunities in the battle."

"Furthermore, there have been instances of discord between generals and commanders."

"If you were to gain command of the forces in Huainan, you would surely exert all your strength to pacify the southeast for Your Majesty."

"I have long known of your aspirations, and I earnestly hope you will grant them!"

"The letter is short but the sentiment is deep; I eagerly await its arrival."

"When the fish sashimi arrives, I hope you will savor it carefully, as if we were having a feast together."

"Brother Deng bows again."

Throughout Chen Deng's letter, he never used any official titles, always referring to each other as brothers.

He also knew that appealing to Li Yi's emotions was the most effective method.

The newly rich in Luoyang court were eager to rise to higher positions, and the generals in Huainan were no different.

Sweeping across the Jiangnan region had always been Chen Deng's lifelong ambition.

He's already fifty-five this year, well past the age of knowing one's destiny.

If he didn't seize this last opportunity to attack Wu, he would surely die with regrets for the rest of his life.

"The campaign against Wu involves the interests of too many people."

"Is this what Your Majesty is concerned about?"

Li Yi took a deep breath and sighed softly.

(End of this chapter)