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

Chapter 377 Li Xiang has done enough. What else do you want?

In late winter and early spring, the snow on the official road outside Luoyang City began to melt.

Horse hooves pounded the muddy road, splashing up tiny droplets of water.

Liu Bei wrapped his fox fur cloak tighter around himself and gazed at the rising mist over the Yellow River in the distance.

His brows held both the majesty of an emperor and a hint of barely perceptible worry.

"Your Majesty, Pingjin Port is just ahead."

Prime Minister Lee Ik lightly spurred his horse and rode alongside Liu Bei.

Li Yi's three long strands of beard fluttered in the wind, and his purple robe and jade belt stood out against the snow.

Liu Bei nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on the faintly visible sails in the distance:

"Ziyu, I reviewed the naval reports last night, and I still feel uneasy."

"When it comes to horsemanship, our Han army is second to none."

“But naval warfare is not the forte of the Han army.”

"I am worried that the Huainan navy alone may not have the strength to destroy Wu."

Defeating the Wu army is not difficult, but destroying the Wu kingdom is definitely not an easy task.

Although Wu's army was quite inept at fighting against external enemies, it was remarkably strong at defending its home base.

The most typical example is not the Battle of Red Cliffs.

After all, the Battle of Red Cliffs could be excused by saying that the Wu army had Zhou Yu.

The most typical example is actually the Battle of Yong'an.

At that time, the State of Jin had already destroyed the State of Shu, but due to the successive rebellions of Deng Ai and Zhong Hui, the Shu region was actually in a state of great chaos.

Therefore, Sun Xiu, the ruler of Wu at that time, wanted to take advantage of the chaos.

Wu sent 30,000 troops to besiege Yong'an.

As a result, Wu's army besieged the city from February to July but could not conquer it.

You might think that ancient siege warfare was inherently difficult, especially since the Shu region had natural defenses.

However, at that time, the Shu army only numbered a few thousand, and the garrison commander was only Luo Xian, the former governor of Badong of Shu Han.

And who is the general on Wu Jun's side?
It's Lu Kang!
One of the strongest generals in the late Three Kingdoms period.

This shows how incompetent Wu's army was in foreign operations.

As a result, the famous Battle of Xiling broke out a few years later.

At that time, Wu Jun faced three Jin armies that outnumbered him several times over, yet he still managed to achieve a great victory that "continued the dynasty's life."

Although the Jin Dynasty at that time was able to muster an army of 500,000, it was still no match for the Wu army in terms of naval power.

Although Qi Han benefited from Li Yi's good governance, he had a certain naval foundation.

But it certainly can't compare to Wu Guoquan's naval and military science departments.

The campaign to destroy Wu mobilized more than 600,000 people.

Liu Bei certainly wanted to ensure that nothing went wrong.

If he fails, he certainly won't be able to launch a second war to destroy Wu during his lifetime.

"The Eastern Wu navy has dominated the Yangtze River for decades. Although our army has a large number of troops, naval warfare is not our forte."

"I don't know if it will be too late to train the navy on the banks of the Yellow River now."

Li Yi cupped his hands and said:
"...Don't worry, Your Majesty."

"Since the capital was established in Luoyang in the first year of Zhangwu, I have ordered people to train the navy on the Yellow River and the Huai River."

"The newly built warships at Pingjin Port are now complete. Your Majesty, please take a look and you will understand."

Liu Bei followed suit and rode alongside Li Yi.

After turning a mountain ridge, the Pingjin Port suddenly opens up into a bright and open space.

On the surface of the Yellow River, masts stood like a forest, and sails blotted out the sky.

Hundreds of warships were lined up neatly, creating a magnificent sight.

The riverbank was bustling with artisans, their work chants rising and falling, creating a lively scene.

"This……"

Liu Bei reined in his horse, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes. "It's actually this large?"

Li Yi smiled slightly and pointed his whip at a giant ship in the center of the harbor:
"Your Majesty, please look at that ship, the 'Hanwei.' It is 120 paces long and can carry more than 2,000 people."

"Build a wooden city wall and erect watchtowers."

"With doors on all four sides, warhorses can gallop freely on the ship."

"This was designed by the master craftsman Ma Jun and a surrendered general from Jiangnan, and it can be called unparalleled in the world."

Liu Bei looked closely and saw that the giant ship was as majestic as a mountain.

The hull was painted with vermilion lacquer and decorated with various exotic and ferocious beasts, intended to intimidate the river gods.

A two-story city gate was built on the deck, with densely packed arrow slits and fluttering banners.

The bow of the ship is adorned with a bronze animal head, which gleams coldly in the winter sunlight.

"Good! Great good!"

Liu Bei couldn't help but clap his hands in admiration, "The magnificence of the boats and oars is unprecedented in history!"

"Although I command a million troops, my navy is no match for that of Eastern Wu."

"Now that I see such a warship, I understand Ziyu's good intentions."

As early as when he established his country and proclaimed himself emperor, Li Yi proposed to restore Pingjin Port and build a Yellow River naval force there.

Of course, the main task was to build warships.

As mentioned before, the Huai River basin has a well-developed water system that can reach directly to the south of the Yangtze River.

This is why Eastern Wu was so confident and dared to dedicate all its military science to the navy.

It's not that they intend to stay confined to one corner; it's that they only use online trolls.

From a military perspective, it is also possible to march into the Central Plains.

Therefore, even warships built on the banks of the Yellow River could be transported to the south of the Yangtze River.

When Li Yi proposed this plan, Liu Bei didn't think much of it at the time.

They allocated him a sum of money and put him in charge of training the Yellow River naval forces.

Unexpectedly, in less than seven years, the prosperity of boats and ships has far surpassed that of the Han Dynasty.

The two dismounted and boarded the ship, where the naval commander Xu Huang was already kneeling to greet them at the gangway.

Although this valiant general is over fifty years old, he still stands as straight as a pine tree.

However, the waterproof leather jacket over the armor looked somewhat incongruous.

The Yellow River naval force was actually formed temporarily, mainly composed of Hebei troops.

After all, it was Li Yi who was in charge, and it was also to prepare for the campaign against Wu.

So it's like trying to cram at the last minute.

"I will see your Majesty at last!"

Xu Huang's voice boomed, "The 30,000 soldiers of the Yellow River Navy are training day and night without daring to slack off!"

Liu Bei personally helped the old general up, and seeing the calluses on his hands, he was deeply moved:

"Gongming is a famous general from the north. It is truly remarkable that he is now training me in naval warfare."

Xu Huang grinned:
"Your Majesty, rest assured, although I was born in Hedong, I have lived and worked with the soldiers for the past six months and can now walk on the boat as if it were flat ground."

Just then, a long bugle call was heard.

Dozens of warships on the river changed formations, sometimes spreading out like geese, sometimes coiling like long snakes.

On the deck, soldiers practiced with bows and crossbows, the sound of arrows piercing the air never ceasing.

Li Yi led Liu Bei to the highest point of the warship and pointed out:

"Your Majesty, please look. These new warships are all equipped with paddle wheels, making it easy for them to go upstream."

"The hull is lined with iron to protect it from fire."

"Each ship was equipped with three catapults, with a range of up to two hundred paces."

Liu Bei, leaning on the railing, gazed at the warships shuttling back and forth on the river, and suddenly sighed:
"In just seven years, Ziyu has been able to build such a warship."

"Sir, you are as amazing as ever."

Li Yi replied solemnly:

"This is precisely why I have always advocated a gradual approach to conquering the Wu region."

"At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, our army had only a little over a thousand warships."

"If we hastily send troops, we will surely repeat the mistakes of Cao Cao."

"Now that we have been recuperating for a year, and the craftsmen are working day and night to build, we can gather more than 4,500 warships by next spring."

"Although Wu's army is well-trained, it only has a little over five thousand ships, so the difference is not significant."

As he spoke, he took out a scroll of silk painting from his sleeve and slowly unfurled it on the table.

"Your subject and General Chen Deng devised a strategy of 'advancing by land and water, taking advantage of the current'."

"The Huainan navy set out from Hefei and sailed downstream to Jianye."

"The Yellow River navy entered the Huai River from Runan to provide support."

"On the land route, General Gao Shun and General Zang Ba traveled to Henan."

"With five routes advancing simultaneously, Wu's army will find it difficult to defend both ends."

Liu Bei stared at the map, his finger slowly moving along the Yangtze River, then suddenly stopped at Jianye.

“Sun Quan moved the capital here, so he must have heavily guarded it.”

"If we cannot capture the city after a prolonged siege, what should we do?"

"Your Majesty is wise."

Li Yi pointed to several marks on the map, "I have already ordered people to secretly build pontoon bridge materials on the upper reaches of the Huai River. Once the war starts, more than ten pontoon bridges can be erected in three days."

"At that time, our northern cavalry can continuously cross the Yangtze River and march south. No matter how strong the Eastern Wu navy is, it will be difficult to stop a million-strong army."

As they were discussing this, a fast ship suddenly approached, carrying a commanding general who looked very imposing – none other than Zhang Liao.

He leaped onto the deck and knelt on one knee:

"Your Majesty, I have been ordered to practice naval battle formations. Please inspect them!"

In preparation for the campaign against Wu, everyone was trying out the Xishui River.

Liu Bei was overjoyed:

"Wen Yuan, please rise! Begin your performance immediately!"

As the command flag was waved, war drums thundered on the river.

Zhang He led twenty warships out in formation, the ships connected by iron chains to form a floating city wall.

Sun Li led dozens of light boats, shuttling among them, simulating enemy harassment.

Suddenly a bugle sounded, and Zhang Liao's troops attacked from the flank, raining down rockets.

In an instant, all the "enemy ships" were on fire.

"it is good!"

Liu Bei slammed his fist on the table and exclaimed, "I never imagined that a northern general could employ such tactics in naval warfare!"

Li Yi explained with a smile:

"This is the 'chained fire boat' method that I created myself."

"Fire is needed on the great river, and it will certainly come in handy during the southern expedition."

As the sun began to set, the inspection was completed.

Standing at the bow of the ship, Liu Bei gazed at the endless rows of warships on the Yellow River, filled with emotion.
"Back when I was weaving mats and selling shoes, how could I have imagined that one day I would be able to lead such a mighty army?"

"Ziyu is truly a minister of the nation and its people."

Li Yi bowed deeply.

"Your subject dares not accept such an honor."

"This is all due to Your Majesty's great fortune; the Han dynasty has been restored three times, and it is the mandate of Heaven."

"Now that the warships are completed, we can launch a major eastward advance as soon as the ice and snow melt next spring."

Liu Bei leaned on the railing, gazing into the distance, his eyes seemingly piercing through the heavy mist, looking towards the distant Jiangnan region:
"By imperial decree, Li Yi is hereby appointed as Grand Commander-in-Chief of the Expedition against Wu, in charge of all naval affairs."

Li Yi opened his mouth to speak, but Liu Bei waved his hand to interrupt him, saying:
“I know that Ziyu has taken command of the five armies that attacked Wu, but the Yellow River Navy was built by you.”

"Naval affairs depend on your overall leadership."

The implication is that Liu Bei did not temporarily appoint Li Yi as the naval commander.

Instead, he wanted to manage all naval affairs nationwide.

Because Li Yi had previously said that he would be in charge of both the military and political affairs of the entire country.

But the "military" in it actually refers more to the army.

Online trolls may not be able to be commanded.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Liu Bei both increased and reduced his power.

This was clearly aimed at the Huainan army.

Upon hearing this, Li Yi pondered for a long while before bowing to express his gratitude.

Liu Bei nodded and then gave the following instructions:
"Further rewards will be given to Xu Huang, Zhang He, Zhang Liao, and Sun Li: one hundred taels of gold and fifty bolts of brocade each."

"Order the Ministry of Works to expedite the construction of warships, ensuring that 4,500 ships are completed before the spring!"

"My lord, take the order!"

Li Yi bowed solemnly, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.

He looked southeast, as if he could already see the magnificent sight of thousands of sails racing in the spring of next year.

As dusk settled, the warships' drills on the Yellow River had concluded.

Just as Liu Bei was about to return to the palace, Li Yi stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said:
"Your Majesty, please wait. I request that Your Majesty move your carriage to see the shipbuilding site."

"Warships are good, but the people who build them are even more worth seeing."

"Oh?"

Liu Bei raised an eyebrow and joked:
"Could it be that this giant ship was not made by the gods, but by a skilled craftsman?"

"……Hahaha."

Upon hearing this, Li Yi couldn't help but laugh:
"Your Majesty will know once you come with me."

The group left the port and walked along the muddy path for no more than two miles when they suddenly saw bright lights in the valley.

Hundreds of sheds were built against the mountain, stretching for miles, with the sounds of hammers and chisels never ceasing.

In the center of the valley, a dozen or so unfinished warships lay prostrate like giant beasts, with craftsmen swarming over them like ants.

"Well……"

Liu Bei's eyes widened. "A shipyard of such scale!"

Li Yi pointed to a blue brick building at the highest point.

"That is where the Imperial Workshop is located. The person in charge is named Ma Jun, courtesy name Deheng, and is from Nanyang."

"Although this person cannot speak, he is extremely clever and resourceful, no different from the ancient Gongshu Ban."

Ma Jun was a famous inventor during the Cao Wei period.

Li Yi also had a keen eye for talent and promoted him.

He was given full trust and was given full authority to oversee the construction of the warships.

Just then, a thin figure emerged from the shed and stumbled over.

The man was about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, dressed in coarse cloth shorts covered in sawdust, his face smeared with soot, but his eyes shone with an astonishing brightness.

"Prime Minister!"

When Ma Jun ran closer, he was shocked to see Liu Bei in his imperial robes. He was immediately at a loss and knelt down with a thud.

"Your Majesty, I was unaware of Your Majesty's arrival; I deserve to die!"

Seeing that he stammered and acted clumsily, far removed from the image of the master craftsman he had imagined, Liu Bei couldn't help but smile.
"Minister Ma, please rise."

"I have heard of your merit in shipbuilding, so I have come to see it."

Ma Jun, however, did not get up, but instead banged his head on the ground.

"I, I am guilty!"

"Three of the new propellers broke again yesterday during the sea trial..."

Li Yi smiled and helped him up:

"Why should Deheng be afraid? Trial and error is the norm."

"Didn't we already resolve the bearing overheating issue the day before yesterday?"

Ma Jun then looked up, his eyes glistening with grateful tears.

"It is all thanks to the Prime Minister's help that I was able to complete this task."

Seeing the two men's exchange, Liu Bei was amazed and asked:
"Does Ziyu and Ma Qing seem to have a past friendship?"

Li Yi replied:

"It's not really about old friendships; it was just a chance encounter that led me to see Deheng's improved loom, which doubled the efficiency of textile production."

"Although he was not good with words, he always had ingenious ideas."

"Therefore, I was transferred to the Directorate of Works to be in charge of the improvement of military equipment."

As Li Yi's workload increased, he had little energy left for research and invention.

However, he remains happy to promote young people with ideas and creativity.

Encourage invention and innovation to improve productivity.

Ma Jun said loudly:

"If it weren't for the Prime Minister's support, I would be nothing more than a carpenter."

“An Neng… An Neng…”

At this point, he choked up and could not speak.

A scholar dies for a confidant.

Although Ma Jun was not good with words, he knew that Li Yi was his benefactor.

If it weren't for the Prime Minister's appreciation, trust, and patience, he wouldn't be where he is today.

The initial stages of shipbuilding were not very smooth, with repeated failures.

During this period, Li Yi preferred to stay in the cabinet rather than send anyone to urge him.

Such an understanding client is rare, both in ancient and modern times.

Ma Juncai was able to build the new type of ship.

Liu Bei was moved and said gently:
"Minister Ma, please show me this shipbuilding site."

Ma Jun hurriedly got up to lead the way.

Upon entering the largest workshop, one could see the keel of a half-finished warship mounted in the center.

It is about eighty paces long, with a graceful curve like a fish.

Dozens of craftsmen are installing the ribs, their movements as skillful as flowing water.

"Your Majesty, please take a look."

When Ma Junyi talks about his profession, his speech becomes surprisingly fluent.

"This ship uses the 'segmented assembly' method, first building the keel, then installing the ribs, and finally covering it with wooden planks."

"Compared to carving from a single piece of wood, it saves more than half the time."

Liu Bei stroked the smooth hull of the boat and asked:

"Where did such a large tree come from?"

Li Yi chimed in from the side:

"I ordered men to cut down trees in the Taihang and Wangwu Mountains and float them down the Yellow River."

"A hundred kilns were set up in Luoyang to produce iron nails, copper rings and other items day and night."

Ma Jun added:

"The most difficult part is the tower ship."

"I tested it seven times before I found a suitable mortise and tenon structure."

As he spoke, he pointed to a pile of discarded models in the corner.

Liu Bei examined the failed attempts closely; some had collapsed, and others had cracked.

Only the newest one is flawless.

I couldn't help but praise:

“Construction is not my forte.”

"But I understand that only by striving for perfection can one achieve great things."

"Minister Ma's intentions are truly commendable!"

Ma Jun suddenly knelt down:

"I dare not take credit! Without Your Majesty's permission to try and fail, and without the allocation of funds and provisions," "Even if I had a hundred ideas, they would be difficult to implement."

"Last year, during the test of the watertight chamber, we failed twelve times in a row, costing a fortune, but the Prime Minister never blamed us..."

Li Yi waved his hand to interrupt:
Why should Deheng underestimate itself?

"Your Majesty is wise. In the past, King Goujian of Yue spent ten years building up his strength before finally destroying the powerful state of Wu."

"Now that our great Han Dynasty desires to unify the world, how can we be stingy with research and development funds?"

Liu Bei was overjoyed upon hearing this:

"Excellent! Ziyu's words are exactly what I wanted to hear."

"Minister Ma, you have made great contributions to shipbuilding over the years. I hereby confer upon you the title of Marquis of Guannei."

"A hundred catties of gold and a thousand bolts of silk shall be bestowed upon him!"

Ma Jun stood there stunned, then suddenly burst into tears:
"Chen...chen..."

He couldn't utter a complete sentence, he just kept kowtowing.

Li Yi explained with a smile:

“Deheng ate and lived with the craftsmen on weekdays and did not return home for three years.”

“His wife once wrote to him to scold him, but he replied, ‘If the ship is not built, how can I have a home?’”

Liu Bei was deeply moved and personally helped Ma Jun up.
"Minister Ma is truly a national hero!"

"I will bestow upon you the first residence and bring your family from Nanyang to the capital for a reunion."

Ma Jun was even more moved and bowed his head again to express his gratitude.

It was already late at night when we left the shipyard.

Liu Bei, in his imperial carriage, sighed:

"I always thought Ziyu was good at politics, but I never expected that his ability to recognize and use people is also so outstanding."

"If it weren't for Ziyu's discerning eye, wouldn't Ma Jun's talent have been buried among the common people?"

Li Yi rode alongside, and humbly said:
"Your Majesty has given you too much praise."

"I am merely following Your Majesty's instruction to 'appoint only the talented'."

"Now that we are about to attack Wu, we need to gather the best talents in the world and put them to use."

Liu Bei suddenly asked:

"How did Ziyu know that Ma Jun was capable of undertaking such an important task?"

Li Yi pondered for a long time before replying:
"When I observed that he improved the loom, he did not follow the old methods, but took a different approach."

"What's even more remarkable is that he was willing to sit on the sidelines for three years before finally making a breakthrough."

"This kind of mindset is the foundation of research and development."

"Wonderful!"

Liu Bei slammed his fist on the table and said, "I have heard that Qin employed Shang Yang and Han employed Zhang Liang, both because those who employed people were able to tolerate what others could not do."

"Now, Ziyu uses Ma Jun, just like that!"

As they were talking, they suddenly saw that the city walls of Luoyang were brightly lit, just like daytime.

Li Yi smiled and said:

"Your Majesty, please look around. Among these myriad lights, there are countless talents like Ma Jun waiting to be discovered by Your Majesty."

When the word "talent" was mentioned, Liu Bei suddenly remembered something.

"I observe that the number of students from impoverished families has increased by 30% this year compared to previous years. Did Ziyu secretly exert his influence?"

Li Yi stroked his beard and smiled:

"I am merely increasing the number of candidates from poor families to five for the 'filial piety and incorruptibility' category."

“The governors of each prefecture knew in unison that His Majesty valued those from humble backgrounds.”

"...Yes, good."

Liu Bei nodded and smiled:
"Is this the strategy of 'boiling a frog in lukewarm water' that you always talk about, Ziyu?"

"but……"

He changed the subject, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

"Is Ziyu testing the limits of these aristocratic families?"

Li Yinai lowered his voice and said:

"Your Majesty is extremely discerning."

“Since the restoration of the Ming Dynasty under Emperor Guangwu, powerful clans have controlled the selection of officials for two hundred years.”

“Now I am taking two more people from each prefecture, and they can still tolerate it.”

"If the imperial examination system is suddenly implemented... it is easy to provoke a desperate response."

"Indeed, when you proposed that three of the candidates for the 'filial and incorrupt' award must be from poor families, it drew a lot of opposition."

“I know you are under tremendous pressure to implement this policy.”

Liu Bei responded, his gaze becoming distant.

"Wang Mang's reforms back then failed because he was too hasty."

"However, Ziyu has always been a man of deep thought and foresight; he must already have a complete plan?"

Li Yi nodded and explained to Liu Bei methodically:

"Your Majesty, I request that you view this painting."

As he spoke, Li Yi took out a scroll of silk from his bosom.

Liu Bei bent down to look and saw a map of the Han Dynasty's territory.

The locations of the school and paper mill were marked on it.

From Youzhou in the north to Jiaozhi in the south, there were hundreds of such places.

This is the result of Li Yi's work over the past few years.

Li Yi pointed to the markings on the map.

“I have established eight paper mills in Jizhou and Nanyang. Now the price of a copy of the Analects has dropped from a thousand coins to a hundred coins.”

"Students from poor families no longer need to borrow books to copy."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei stroked his chin, seemingly lost in thought.

After a long pause, he smiled and said:
"No wonder a minister submitted a memorial last year, saying that 'the proliferation of paper may spoil the elegance of bamboo slips.'"

Liu Bei suddenly burst into laughter, "So these old foxes were just indirectly accusing me!"

Li Yi also laughed:

"Yes, there are many powerful and influential people in the capital."

“They often own thousands of acres of fertile land, and many families specialize in making bamboo for bamboo slips.”

“Once the paper mill opens, they will lose 100,000 coins every year, which will naturally hurt them.”

The laughter subsided, and Liu Bei stared intently at Li Yi, asking:

"Does Ziyu plan to implement the imperial examination system after destroying Wu?"

"Your Majesty is holy."

Li Yi said solemnly, "After the conquest of Wu, Your Majesty's prestige is at its zenith."

"At that time, the world will be united and the people will be of one mind, which will be the perfect opportunity for reform."

He paused, then added, “Furthermore, I estimate that in another two or three years, paper books will cover 70% of the counties.”

"Knowledge is no longer monopolized by aristocratic families, which provides a basis for the implementation of the imperial examination system."

The vigorous promotion of papermaking technology expanded the reach of books.

This would break the monopoly of knowledge held by aristocratic families and lay the material foundation for the imperial examination system.

After conquering Wu, Liu Bei was about to reach a new peak of prestige.

That would also be the time when national cohesion was at its strongest, and the most suitable historical juncture for implementing the imperial examination system.

On his way back to the palace, Liu Bei could faintly hear the sounds coming from the eaves of the Imperial Academy, even from outside the palace walls.
The sound of students reciting their lessons could be heard from there, clear and melodious.

"To lay the foundation for ten thousand generations is a merit that will last for a thousand years."

"There are some things that I ultimately need to do with you."

Liu Bei frowned; he too was aware of the drawbacks of the recommendation system and the progressiveness of the imperial examination system.

However, the obstacles he faces are beyond what Li Yi alone can bear.

Liu Bei also did not believe that his successor could provide much help to Li Yi in this matter.

Therefore, he must take advantage of his remaining energy and fight Li Yi one last time!
When they returned to the palace, the water clock had already struck midnight.

Liu Bei returned to the Xuan Shi Hall through the remaining snow; the candles on the lampstand were almost burned out.

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince has been waiting in the side hall for quite some time."

The young eunuch knelt before the steps and reported softly.

Liu Bei took off his snow-covered cloak, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Is A Dou still waiting so late?"

After a moment's thought, he said, "He must have something to say. Summon him in."

As the palace gates opened, Liu Shan carefully stepped over the threshold, holding a ceramic pot in his hands.

He was already an adult and had a kind face.

The chill caused the tip of his nose to turn slightly red.

"My son, I pay my respects to my father."

Liu Shan attempted to kneel and pay his respects, but the pot hindered his movements, making him appear rather clumsy.

Upon seeing this, Liu Bei's lips unconsciously curled into a smile:

"What are you doing carrying a pot in the middle of the night?"

Liu Shan placed the earthenware pot on the table, lifted the lid, and a refreshing aroma of mutton immediately filled the hall.

"Your Majesty, I heard that you and the Prime Minister went to Pingjin to inspect the navy today. You must be tired."

“Remembering that my father’s favorite dish is braised mutton, I specially ordered the cook to make it and send it over.”

Liu Bei was stunned.

Under the candlelight, the pot of mutton was covered with a layer of milky white fat, with scallion segments and ginger slices floating halfway up and half sinking.

He reached out and touched the edge of the pot—it was already cold.

"How...how did you know I like to eat this?"

Liu Bei's voice was somewhat hoarse.

Liu Shan rubbed his fingers together, pondered for a moment, and then replied:
"It was I who...inquired about it myself."

"Your Majesty, I will go and heat it up right away."

Just as the servant was about to reach for the pot, Liu Bei stopped him.

"No need."

"It's late at night, and everyone is very tired."

Liu Bei picked up the meat with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.

The cold mutton was a bit tough, but as you chewed it, you could actually taste a hint of sweetness.

"Good! Very good!"

He ate several pieces, as if it were the most delicious thing in the world.

Liu Shan's eyes gleamed with joy, and he suddenly said:

"Father, I have a favor to ask of you."

"speak."

"Last month, the Governor of Henan reported that a peasant uprising had broken out in the Yingchuan area due to the requisition of grain."

"Your subject wishes to... wishes to inspect the disaster area."

After Liu Shan finished speaking, he looked at his father nervously.

Liu Bei put down his chopsticks and carefully examined his son.

When did this pampered rich kid, who was playful and lazy, develop such thoughts?
Why do you want to go?

Liu Bei asked calmly.

Liu Shan took a deep breath:

"The Prime Minister instructed his son, 'A ruler should know the hardships of the people.'"

"Now that our army is about to attack Wu, if chaos breaks out in the rear, it will be detrimental to the country and the state."

"good!"

Liu Bei was overjoyed, saying, "It's rare to find someone with such a heart."

"Although the unrest in Henan has been quelled, its aftereffects have not yet subsided."

"I hereby order Zilong to lead three hundred Tiger Guards to escort you on your journey."

Liu Shan was overjoyed:

"Your subject will certainly go deep into the villages and understand the people's conditions!"

"remember."

Liu Bei got up and walked to Liu Shan, straightening his collar.

“Your father made a living by weaving mats and selling shoes in his early years; he started from nothing.”

"When you arrive at your destination, do not have a large entourage; go among the people."

"Your subject will remember this."

Liu Shan solemnly agreed, then advised, "It's late, Father. You have court early tomorrow, so please rest early."

Liu Bei waved his hand and said in a deep voice:

"...I will approve a few more memorials."

"Go back and prepare, do not delay, we will set off tomorrow."

After Liu Shan withdrew, Liu Bei sat back down at his desk.

The candle wick popped, and he looked out the window—

The snow started falling again, swirling and fluttering down onto the old plum tree in front of the palace.

Liu Bei glanced at the half-cold mutton soup on the table, then suddenly looked up and asked the eunuch beside him:

"Who has the Crown Prince met these past two days?"

The young eunuch trembled and knelt down to answer:

"Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince has recently been spending much time hunting and feasting with young masters such as Qin Lang, the Cavalry Commandant, and He Yan, the Gentleman Attendant."

"Or perhaps they play football or pitch-pot in the courtyard and have never seen anyone else."

Liu Bei tapped the table lightly with his fingers, producing a dull thud.

"A Dou was always obedient, but he lacked decisiveness and loved to play."

A glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes, "Tonight, he suddenly offers mutton soup and requests an order to inspect the county. Isn't that suspicious?"

The hall was eerily quiet; even the dripping of the water clock could be clearly heard.

Liu Bei suddenly slammed his fist on the table:

"Summon Zhang Shun, the Crown Prince's close attendant!"

Before long, a young eunuch dressed in a green robe entered the hall tremblingly, his forehead pressed to the ground, not daring to lift it.

“You serve the Crown Prince day and night.”

Liu Bei's voice, though not angry, carried an imposing authority: "Do you know whose idea it was tonight regarding the mutton soup?"

Zhang Shun's voice trembled:

"This is...the Crown Prince's filial piety..."

"Filial piety?"

Liu Bei remained outwardly calm, his face clouded with frost.

"I will ask you one more time, who taught the Crown Prince?"

"He Yan? Or Qin Lang?"

"This servant doesn't know! This servant really doesn't know!" Zhang Shun banged his head on the ground, making a thud.

Liu Bei slowly rose, his sword sheath touching the ground:
"The crime of deceiving the emperor is punishable by the extermination of three generations of one's family."

"Your Majesty, spare your life! Your Majesty, spare your life!"

Zhang Shun broke down in tears, “Yesterday…yesterday the Crown Prince did indeed meet with Prime Minister Li alone…”

The sword sheath remained suspended in mid-air.

Liu Bei's pupils contracted slightly, and he hurriedly asked:
"When? Where?"

"At the third quarter of Shen time, in the Lantai of the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace..."

"The Prime Minister dismissed his attendants and they talked for about half an hour..."

Zhang Shun wept uncontrollably, “The servants waited outside the palace and only vaguely heard words like ‘mutton’ and ‘Henan’.”

"I really don't know anything else."

Liu Bei sheathed his sword and remained silent as iron.

After a long silence, he finally opened his lips and spoke:
"You must not mention my summons tonight to anyone, understand?"

"If you leak even half a word, you know what the consequences will be."

"I understand! I didn't hear anything!"

Zhang Shunru was granted a pardon and scrambled out of the hall.

The candlelight flickered, casting an unpredictable shadow on Liu Bei's face.

Seeing this, the young eunuch cautiously approached and asked:
"Your Majesty, would you like some more mutton soup?"

Liu Bei stared at the oil condensation on the surface of the soup, a complex expression flashing across his face.

"...Take it down."

Liu Bei waved wearily, his voice suddenly sounding much older.

The wind and snow outside the window intensified, and a plum blossom was blown down, sticking to the window frame like congealed blood.

"You may all leave. I wish to be alone."

"Here."

All the attendants responded and withdrew.

After everyone had left, Liu Bei gazed at the snow falling outside the window and couldn't help but sigh softly:

"Ziyu, Ziyu, you are truly my destiny."

"It can be resolved, but it cannot be resolved..."

Liu Bei's face showed a mixture of emotions.

He was naturally grateful to have met Li Yi in this lifetime.

Sometimes, this wise minister would manage to annoy him at just the right time.

Liu Bei had to admit that Li Yi was smarter than him, and that what he did was definitely the right thing to do.

But the price of never making a mistake is that this person completely loses his humanity.

Li Yi was too domineering; his strong desire for control did not allow him to make mistakes, much less allow him, as the monarch, to make mistakes.

Although there is an old saying, "A family with a stubborn son will not ruin the family, and a country with a valiant minister will not perish."

It wasn't until he became emperor that Liu Bei gradually understood why so many monarchs throughout history had favored sycophantic ministers.

Liu Bei cannot have any personal desires, because Li Yi will definitely stand up to stop him.

They tell you that doing it this way is wrong, or that doing it that way is not good.

Before he became emperor, things were fine, but after he became emperor, Li Yi began to offer more and more advice.

Because he believed that the emperor, as the Son of Heaven, must set an example for all people.

Liu Bei truly admired Li Yi; he was a very self-disciplined man who was not burdened by emotions at all.

But you...

Sometimes, Liu Bei really wanted to tell Li Yi a piece of his mind.

Not everyone can be like you and not pursue material enjoyment at all.

If you struggle for most of your life and don't enjoy some things, wouldn't life be too tiring?

Li Yi was strict with himself and lenient with others.

But his "generosity" was not found in himself.

“…Ziyu, you have done more than enough.”

What else do you want?

Liu Bei reached out and caught Xi Xue, then sighed.

(End of this chapter)