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

Chapter 412 Liu Bei, ruling over all nations in China, possesses immense power and is difficult to defeat; Your Majesty must avoid his sharp edge.
Inside the East Palace, the room was filled with the fragrant aroma of tea.

Only Li Yi and Liu Shan remained in the hall.

Li Yi slowly rose, put his hands behind his back, and looked out the window:

"I have heard that the sons of King Wen ate wild vegetables. I wonder if Your Highness understands the deeper meaning behind this?"

Liu Shan smiled slightly and said:
"With brothers all present, they live in harmony and are loving and affectionate."

"My father used to teach me that brothers should be like hands and feet."

Li Yi paced back and forth a couple of times, then put down his teacup. The celadon base made a soft sound as it tapped against the rosewood table.

"If any of the princes develop a grudge against Your Highness in the future, how should we deal with it?"

The Crown Prince paused, then Yu hesitated and said:

"My brothers are all respectful and well-mannered, so why do you have such concerns?"

"I was speaking hypothetically."

Li Yi's eyes were sharp and piercing.

Liu Shan hesitated for a long time before speaking solemnly:
"If this is true, then we should be able to distinguish right from wrong."

"If it is my fault, I will surely carry thorns on my back to apologize."

"If any of my brothers make a mistake, I should also advise and guide them to correct it."

He answered fluently, clearly having memorized the classics.

"What if we can't determine right from wrong?"

Li Yi leaned forward, and a gust of wind suddenly swept through the hall, making the bamboo curtain rustle.

"How could there be no right or wrong in this world?"

Liu Shan asked, puzzled, "Didn't my father teach me from a young age to be able to distinguish right from wrong?"

Li Yi narrowed his eyes and said:

"For example, if someone is tempted by power and position, they will even coerce their own flesh and blood."

The prince's teacup trembled slightly, and ripples spread across the emerald-green tea.

"This... Your subject truly had not considered this."

Li Yi suddenly lowered his voice:

"If someone were to raise an army to threaten you, Your Highness would..."

His fingertips traced across the table. "Clean house?"

"Father!"

Liu Shan suddenly stood up, completely unaware that his jade belt had knocked over a teacup.

"My father often taught me to place my hands on top of my brothers' hands, and my father was present at that time!"

He lifted his robe and knelt down, his forehead touching the cold floor.

"Your subject would rather starve to death on Shouyang Mountain like Boyi and Shuqi than do anything to harm one's own brothers!"

After a long while, a pair of slightly aged hands helped him up.

Looking at the young man's reddened eyes, the old prime minister finally calmed down.

He took a scroll of memorial from his sleeve and threw it into the charcoal stove. The flames instantly engulfed the four characters "King Yue forms a faction".

"Old minister, I know."

He straightened the crown prince's crooked jade crown, his voice filled with unspeakable weariness.

"But Your Highness must remember, the beauty of the pear tree will eventually fade, but the vital instruments of the state..."

Before he could finish speaking, the aroma of food boxes wafted from outside the hall.

Xingcai led her maids to bring over silver thread rolls and camel hoof soup, and served the dishes with a smile.

Li Yi regained his composure, took a bite, and praised:
"Your Majesty has excellent cooking skills."

After eating only a couple of bites, Li Yi got up to say goodbye and went back to his residence.

Liu Shan and Zhang Xingcai personally saw him off.

The Crown Prince watched his father's departing figure.

Suddenly, I noticed that the willow catkins outside the vermilion palace walls had fallen like snow.

……

In midsummer, the sound of horses' hooves on the post road startled egrets.

The news of Liu Feng, the Prince of Yi, on his southern tour, which was ordered to travel a hundred miles away, had already spread like wildfire into Jianye City.

Inside the Prince Wu's Mansion.

Liu Yongzheng was practicing calligraphy when he suddenly received an urgent report.

The wolf-hair brush leaves ink marks on the paper:

"Liu Feng? Father actually sent this adopted son to Jiangnan?"

He threw down his pen and turned to ask the old man below the steps.

"Mr. Ziyu, what is the meaning of this?"

Zhuge Jin stroked his beard and pondered:
"...Your Highness, please be careful with your words."

“Even though the Wing King is not of His Majesty’s blood, since he has come with the imperial insignia, he is acting on behalf of Heaven to tour the realm.”

He gestured to his attendant to present him with a map of Jiangnan.

"The most urgent task is to show the envoy the peaceful and prosperous scene in Wu."

"Does he mean for me to personally greet him?"

Liu Yong sneered, the jade pendant at his waist clanging against the scabbard.

“Back when my father was inspecting the counties in Jingzhou, he was just a halberd bearer.”

"He only managed to win my father's favor and obtain the imperial surname. Does he even deserve to be surnamed Liu?"

"That's precisely why we need to be even more serious."

Zhuge Jin pointed to the newly built Ying'en Pavilion outside the city.

"If my prediction is correct, the Prince of Yi's visit is surely for the sake of the conflict between Wu and Yue."

"How could Your Majesty not have investigated the matter of the King of Wu's memorial impeaching the King of Yue the other day?"

At this point, Zhuge Jin sighed inwardly.

This prince is truly a handful.

We had agreed not to submit a memorial, but he still submitted one behind my back.

Now look what's happened, you've caused trouble!
Of all the people the King of Wu could impeach, he had to impeach Chen Deng.

Who is Chen Dengna?
That is the current Prime Minister, the successor handpicked by former Prime Minister Lee Ik.

You dare to impeach him? Isn't that like lighting a lantern in the toilet—asking for trouble?
After being reminded by Zhuge Jin, Liu Yong finally decided to meet his adopted son.

Three days later, in the morning mist, Liu Feng's convoy arrived in Jianye.

The city gates were wide open, and a hundred guards in brocade robes stood in formation, halberds in hand.

Liu Yong actually stood in the center of the passageway, dressed in a nine-chapter imperial robe.

Liu Feng hurriedly dismounted from the carriage to return the greeting, and the bronze tiger tally under his black court robes was faintly visible.

"King Wu's hospitality is too much for me."

As Liu Feng bowed, his gaze swept over the newly painted walls of the archway beside the road—the scorch marks from the war were still visible against the gray-blue background.

Clearly, this was a temporary decoration.

Liu Yong held his hand and smiled, saying:
"I have prepared a feast of shad, and I am sure the Prince of Yi will want to try it."

Along the way, passing through Zhuque Avenue, one sees shops lined up one after another, with shelves overflowing with silks and satins.

There were even merchants from the Central Asian countries selling coral.

Liu Feng noticed the calluses on the vendors' fingertips and the overly new scales.

Upon reaching the observatory, Zhuge Jin pointed to the rows of tiled houses along the riverbank:
"The three hundred houses destroyed in the war last year have all been rebuilt."

Liu Feng, however, noticed the worn-out linen clothes drying under the eaves and simply replied:

"The rapid recovery of Wu is worthy of being reported to Your Majesty."

After the banquet, Liu Feng took out a brocade box:
"This is His Majesty's personal jade pendant, specially bestowed upon the King of Wu."

Inside the box, a white jade dragon pendant lies on purple velvet, engraved with the four characters "brotherly love and respect".

Liu Yong was about to express his gratitude when he heard Liu Feng say again:
"Your Majesty said: Yong and Li are both my flesh and blood."

"Like this pair of dragon pendants, they represent the harmony of yin and yang."

"If brothers are crippled, the Han dynasty will sooner or later collapse."

Liu Yongzhi was taken aback; his hair turned white, but he still smiled.
"I will remember my father's teachings."

After seeing Liu Fenghou off, Liu Yong turned around and smashed the Yue kiln celadon on the table, roaring in a rage:
"How dare this fake son deceive me!"

"If it weren't for my father taking him in back then, he would have starved to death in the wilderness long ago!"

Zhuge Jin silently picked up the fragments:
"Does Your Highness know that the silverware used at the banquet just now was all borrowed from wealthy households in the city?"

"With the discerning eye of the Wing King, how could he not see through this charade of extravagance?"

"He's in a hurry to go to Qiantang, he must be helping that bastard Liu Li!"
Liu Yong suddenly awoke with a start, “Immediately issue an order to close Tonglu Pass, and say… say that remnants of the Shanyue tribe have been discovered!”

……

The suspension bridge at Tonglu Pass creaked and rose into the morning mist, the sound of the iron chains twisting startling a flock of crows.

Liu Feng's procession was forced to stop in front of the pass, where a cold glint could be seen flashing between the arrow slits on the battlements.

It was poised to be released at full strength.

"Please forgive me, Wing King!"

The garrison commander stood with his hands clasped on the city wall, his iron armor clanging against the battlements.

"The King of Wu has decreed that the remnants of the Yue tribes are not allowed to pass through the pass for three days."

Liu Feng shook his black cloak, holding a nine-sectioned golden axe, and stood on a chariot.

"This is an imperial axe bestowed by His Majesty himself, as if the emperor himself were present!"

"Do you intend to rebel?"

Sunlight swept across the dragon pattern on the axe blade, dazzling the defenders.

The soldiers looked at each other in bewilderment, and then suddenly all knelt down.

The captain kowtowed until his head bled:

“Your Highness is wise! If Your Highness is allowed to pass, the King of Wu will surely exterminate my entire family.”

"If we do not allow them to pass, His Majesty's wrath will be punishable by death."

"Please, Your Highness, have mercy on our insignificant lives and do not make things difficult for us!"

After saying this, he took off his helmet, revealing his graying temples.

"When I fought alongside Your Majesty at the Battle of Red Cliffs, I still had the arrow wound on my back from Jiangdong!"

Just as the stalemate was at hand, the clear sound of bells suddenly rang out from outside the pass.

Ten white horses galloped in, raising dust as they approached. Leading them was a young official in a peacock-embroidered robe, holding a jade tablet and laughing heartily.
"King Yue, upon hearing of King Yi's arrival, has specially dispatched this humble official to greet him!"

The flag embroidered with the character "Chen" in gold thread fluttered in the wind.

The visitor was none other than Chen Tai, a Gentleman Attendant under the King of Yue.

Upon seeing Chen Tai, the garrison commander's expression suddenly changed:
"Minister Chen! This is the border defense of Wu region..."

Before he finished speaking, Chen Tai had already raised his whip and pointed to the pass:

"Although Tonglu Pass belongs to the Wu region, all land under heaven belongs to the emperor!"

"Do you intend to block the Emperor's ceremonial axe?"

The lieutenant on the city wall whispered a reminder to the captain:

"Chen Tai's father, Chen Qun, was in charge of the country's criminal justice system, and the King of Yue was backed by the Prime Minister Chen Deng."

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Tai suddenly threw out a fish-shaped talisman:
"Inspect immediately! This is the King of Yue's travel document, stamped with the official seal of the Ministry of Personnel!"

The bamboo slips were passed from hand to hand, and the people looked at each other in bewilderment.

The captain was sweating profusely when he suddenly saw a cloud of dust rising outside the pass—the Vermilion Bird Banner of the King of Yue's ceremonial guard was faintly visible.

He stomped his foot suddenly:

"Switch! I will take full responsibility for all the crimes!"

As the suspension bridge crashed down, he removed his armor and whispered:
"Please convey to His Majesty, Prince Yi, that Zhao Guang, the garrison commander of Tonglu Pass, shall forever be a subject of the Han Dynasty."

The suspension bridge at Tonglu Pass had just been lowered when

Liu Feng then saw that King Liu Li of Yue was dressed in plain clothes and straw sandals, and personally led ten riders to meet him on the mountain road.

Compared to the grand procession of the nine-tasseled crowns of the Wu region, this third prince simply wore a silver crown.

The sword hanging at his waist was actually a worn-out iron sword.

"Brother Wang, you've worked hard."

When Liu Li bowed, the calluses on his palms rubbed against Liu Feng's knuckles.

"The mountain road is rugged and not as flat as the Wu region. I hope you will forgive me."

This was different from Liu Yong's direct welcome in the capital city of Jianye.

Upon learning that Liu Feng was coming, Liu Li went directly to the border of Wu and Hui to greet him.

Furthermore, Liu Li did not adopt a more subtle approach to addressing Liu Feng, but instead directly and bluntly addressed him as "Brother Wang."

In his view, since Liu Bei had already adopted Liu Feng as his son and bestowed upon him the imperial surname, it was already a good opportunity.

It would be wrong if I didn't treat him with the respect due to an elder brother.

The convoy meandered south along the Fuchun River, where terraced fields on both banks resembled green steps ascending to the sky.

Farmers scooped water shirtless, and waterwheels were connected between the irrigation canals and weirs.

Liu Feng suddenly pointed to the silver ribbons in the mountains:

"This dam appears to be a newly constructed one?"

Liu Li smiled:

"When Zhuge Liang governed Jiaozhou, he extensively dug irrigation canals."

"He also commissioned the creation of the 'Mountains and Rivers Map,' as the Yue region is adjacent to Jiaozhou and has similar topography."

"I then made some slight modifications to this system."

"The land of Yue is mountainous, and only by relying on water power can the people survive."

They arrived at the city of Kuaiji.

There were no guards checking people; only old soldiers were sweeping and cleaning the streets.

Although the market lacked the dazzling silks of the Wu region, it was filled with piles of bamboo ware, hemp cloth, and mountain products.

An old woman carrying a pottery urn chased after the king:

"Your Highness, please try the newly brewed bayberry wine!"

The guards tried to stop him, but Liu Li dismounted to accept the drink and even gave them three five-zhu coins.

"Are the Vietnamese people really that simple and honest?"

Liu Feng stroked his beard and pondered.

Liu Li sighed:

"Last year, a great plague struck, and people had to sell their children to pay taxes."

"My brother and Consort Chen spent all their dowry to buy medicine, which is how they survived."

"From now on, officials and the people will be of one mind, so why is there any need for strict precautions?"

Upon reaching the granary, one sees that although the grain bins are not overflowing, each bag has a wooden tag indicating the date the household pays the grain.

Liu Li pulled out a bag:
"This elderly and widowed household is exempt from taxes, but they are still required to send three bushels of new wheat."

The treasury official presented bamboo slips:

"The Baiyue tribes paid their first grain tax this year, saying, 'The Han people do not deceive us.'"

The banquet was quite simple, consisting of only four dishes and one soup.

Princess Chen personally prepared the chopsticks, with only a wooden hairpin in her hair.

Liu Feng stared at the lacquerware on the table—it turned out to be modified military equipment, with the inscription "Made under the supervision of Wu and Yue in the tenth year of Zhangwu".

"Brother, you flatter me."

Liu Li brushed over the cracks in the lacquerware.

"Last year, 30,000 pieces of military equipment were seized in Wu, and they had to be melted down and cast into farm tools."

"But the Baiyue hunters presented rhinoceros horns, and made a thousand bows, which were then sent to the Northern army."

When Liu Feng was staying at an inn for the night, he suddenly heard the incessant sound of a loom.

Opening the window, one can see hundreds of spinning wheels lined up along the stream, with the old and young all weaving under the moonlight.

The patrol officer knocked on the clapper to deliver a message:

"Empress Chen decrees: Anyone who weaves three bolts of cloth will be exempt from this year's poll tax!"

As the night deepened, Liu Li knocked on the door and entered, bringing a jar of local wine:
"I did not dare to speak my mind during the banquet."

“The Wu region falsely reported the number of cultivated fields and forcibly requisitioned grain to sell to Hu merchants.”

Liu Feng silently took out Liu Bei's jade pendant, and the two dragons seemed to move as if they were alive under the candlelight.

Liu Li stepped back three paces, straightened his clothes, and bowed deeply.
"Please convey this to Father Emperor: Your subject is willing to guard the land of Yue forever, and only hopes that the people of Wu and Yue will share in the Emperor's grace."

Liu Feng remained silent upon hearing this, and after a long while, he finally spoke slowly:
"Your Highness, please rest assured. I will truthfully report what I have seen and heard in the Wu and Yue regions to His Majesty." Liu Li straightened his clothes and thanked him.

The following day, Liu Feng took his leave.

After the caravan had traveled ten miles, Liu Feng looked back and saw dozens of red banners fluttering atop the city walls of Kuaiji.

It turned out to be red hemp cloth spontaneously tied up by the people, which looked like blood and rosy clouds among the green mountains.

On the city wall of Kuaiji, Liu Li stood with his hands behind his back on the watchtower, watching the entourage of the Wing King disappear at the bend of the Fuchun River.

Behind her, the jade pendants jingled softly as Princess Chen Yao of Yue arrived, carrying a plain silk umbrella. Her Xiang skirt brushed against the moss-covered wall.

Why must Your Majesty do this?

She gazed at the gradually disappearing boat shadows on the river and sighed softly.

"The terraced fields that the Wing King saw were still the same as they were three years ago."

"In fact, the 100,000 bushels of grain seeds allocated by the imperial court last year have already been used to cultivate 1,000 hectares of new farmland south of the mountains..."

The pearl on the edge of the umbrella trembled slightly, reflecting the confusion in her eyes.

Liu Li took his wife's slightly cool hand and led her to look down at the smoke rising from the chimneys of the city:
"Does Yao'er know why the lacquerware used at yesterday's banquet was chosen to have cracks?"

He ran his fingertips along the lush wild grass growing in the cracks between the stones of the battlement.

"Although Liu Feng is not the emperor's biological son, since he was appointed by the emperor to come to Jiangnan, he is his eyes and ears."

"Only by seeing this crack can one believe that the Yue region is indeed barren."

Chen Yao frowned:

"I heard that the King of Wu greeted His Majesty with brocade lining the streets, but Your Majesty deliberately feigned weakness..."

"Brother, you are mistaken."

Liu Li suddenly pointed to the women washing clothes by the river.
"Look at the stone that the woman is using to wash clothes, is it just an ordinary blue stone?"

As the sunlight brightened, the stones were revealed to have a faint coppery patina—they were actually abandoned mining anvils.

Chen Yao suddenly realized:

"Did the King deliberately show the Wing King the abandoned copper mine?"

"Exactly."

Liu Li took out a scroll of silk from his sleeve.

"This is a secret letter from my father-in-law, saying that the imperial court intends to reduce the salaries of the princes this year."

"If the Yue region is found to be prosperous, the Ministry of Revenue will first reduce the amount of grain and provisions paid to the people."

He unfolded a map and pointed to the newly reclaimed area in Shannan.

“Only if Father Emperor knows that the people of Yue are starving will those thousand acres of new land be exempt from taxes.”

When Li Yi was in power, he proposed a policy to alleviate poverty.

We should try our best to make those impoverished counties prosperous, so that the people can live a better life.

This has resulted in many impoverished counties receiving substantial policy support and resource allocation.

For example, corvée labor was lighter and taxes were lower.

The government will provide more subsidies for seeds and draft cattle.

Li Yi's poverty alleviation policies, whether in terms of their starting point or their outcome-oriented approach, are undoubtedly positive.

But there is never a perfect policy in this world.

There's a saying: "When there are policies from above, there are countermeasures from below."

Some local officials will certainly take advantage of this loophole.

Although Liu Li is young, he has personally experienced a series of local governance initiatives in the country.

Therefore, he also knew that Li Yi's "poverty alleviation" policy had loopholes that could be exploited.

Of course, he wasn't the only one exploiting loopholes.

It is a place that many counties and prefectures need to visit.

However, this does not mean that Li Yi's policies were bad or wrong.

Again,
Those in positions of power always think about issues from a macro-level national perspective.

Just like Paradox Interactive players, as long as it makes the country as a whole prosperous and strong.

The details of the intermediate process can be disregarded.

In fact, Li Yi turned a blind eye to it.

He believed that whether in business or in governing a country, one should understand the importance of "giving way to others."

People only work hard when they are faced with benefits.

As for who can seize the opportunity, grasp the opportunities of the times, and become the beneficiary of the policy.

That depends on the individual's ability.

Since Li Yi tacitly approved of this behavior, Liu Li naturally had no reason not to comply.

Moreover, it was indeed reasonable for him to accept the government's subsidies.

After all, the Yue Kingdom was indeed quite backward, although agriculture had developed in some counties and townships.

However, the dense forests and swamps remained a major factor restricting the development of the Yue Kingdom.

……

On the shores of the East China Sea in midsummer, a salty breeze carries the exotic aromas of ivory and pepper.

King Liu Yong of Wu and Chancellor Zhuge Jin stood on the top floor of the newly built Wanghai Tower, overlooking the ten-mile-long Citong Port.

The massive warships resembled a flock of whales gathered together, their Persian glazed tiles reflecting dazzling light under the blazing sun.

Compared to the Eastern Han and Western Han dynasties, the Qi-Han state established by Liu Bei was not a state that emphasized agriculture and suppressed commerce.

This was certainly influenced by Li Yi.

Li Yi attached great importance to commercial development, especially foreign trade.

Although navigation and medical fields are not yet very developed.

During the Han Dynasty, people could only do business with merchants from South Asia and Southeast Asia.

However, Li Yi believed that this was still an important trade route that could not be abandoned.

In business, no one can beat the Chinese.

Thanks to their unique geographical environment, the Chinese people have developed a spirit of hard work and perseverance.

This makes them very "curious," from ancient times to the present.

A trade deficit allows a large number of rare and exotic treasures from overseas to flow into China.

Therefore,
The Wu Kingdom, located near the coast and with a strong shipbuilding industry, benefited from the era's advantages.

Overseas trade was quite prosperous.

This has resulted in the Yue Kingdom, despite receiving substantial subsidies, still experiencing a significant wealth gap with the Wu Kingdom over the past two years.

"This year's revenue is expected to triple."

Zhuge Jin unfolded the sandalwood abacus, and the jade beads jingled as he announced the numbers.

"Last year alone, the maritime tax alone collected 500,000 strings of coral coins."

He pointed to the largest two-masted sailing ship in the harbor.

"The diamonds carried by this Indian merchant ship are enough to cover half a year's grain tax in Jingzhou."

Liu Yong stood on the sea-viewing tower at the port, gazing into the distance.

It was late summer, and the sea breeze carried a salty, fishy smell.

The harbor was filled with thousands of sails, with foreign merchant ships and Chinese cargo ships moored side by side.

It was a magnificent sight, a bridge connecting all nations.

"Your Highness, please look. That merchant ship with the sun pattern on its facade is from Yizhou."

The Maritime Trade Commissioner pointed to a corner of the harbor:
"When we first entered the port half a month ago, the garrison thought it was a pirate attack and almost fired rockets to drive it away."

Following the direction, Liu Yong looked and saw more than ten barefoot, tattooed natives unloading bamboo baskets from the boat.

His bronze skin gleamed under the blazing sun.

The most peculiar thing is that they all wore jade pendants around their necks, and the style of the pendants was actually the Wu and Yue style from the Spring and Autumn Period.

"Summon their leader to come see me."

Liu Yong gently stroked the jade belt at his waist, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes.

A moment later, a burly man with his hair tied up and pheasant feathers inserted was led to the pavilion.

Although the man performed the kneeling ceremony, his gaze was fixed on the chilled lychees on the table, and his Adam's apple bobbed incessantly.

"Yizhou is a land of pestilence and disease; how did you manage to cross the sea to come here?"

“The local people do not submit to the king’s rule and are not enlightened.”

How can we cross this river?

Liu Yong pushed the glass cup over, and the lychees shimmered among the ice.

The native grabbed a lychee, shell and all, chewed and swallowed it, the juice dripping from it, and replied:

“In the past, we lived in caves and in the wild, and made a living by hunting.”

“A divine being came from the East Sea and taught the people to burn wasteland and cultivate fields.”

"We use tung oil to build ships, and now we can cross the river to the north every year."

Upon hearing this, the officials in the cabinet all covered their mouths and sneered.

Only the whisk in Zhuge Jin's hand suddenly stopped:

"What is the name of this so-called divine being?"

"The King bestowed upon him the name Sun Gong, and now the state is named 'Wu,' with its capital at Dong'an City."

The native then took out a gold seal with a tortoise-shaped knob from his pocket.
"This is a token for passage, said to be an old item from the past."

When the gold seal was passed to Liu Yong, it was engraved with the four characters "General Who Subdues the Barbarians".

The worn area of ​​the seal button reveals a reddish-gold base color.

The King of Wu's knuckles suddenly turned white, and the jade belt buckle jingled.

"He is a King of Wu, and so am I."

Liu Yong said with great interest.

"Could it be Sun Quan, Sun Zhongmou?"

Zhuge Jin suddenly stood up, his whisk pointing southeast.

"When Jianye fell, everyone said he escaped to the sea on a warship, but it turns out he had fled to Yizhou."

"So he's holed up in Yizhou and become a local tyrant?"

Liu Yong suddenly burst into loud laughter, which startled the swallows flying from the rafters.

"What a Sun Quan, who once dominated the southeast, is now teaching the natives how to farm and build ships in this barbaric land!"

At that moment, Liu Yong ordered his men to bring back coral from the South China Sea, pearls from Hepu, and ten bolts of brocade.

The other precious gifts bestowed upon him are too numerous to count.

Of course, this is just a drop in the ocean compared to the wealth of the Wu Kingdom.

He bestowed it all upon the natives, saying:
"Report back to your lord, I, the king, mindful of the difficulty they faced in expanding their barbarian territories, have granted them permission to come to court every year."

"If you remember the past when you submitted to us, you will surely send an envoy with a memorial."

After the local people bowed in gratitude and left, Zhuge Jin frowned and approached:
"Does Your Highness truly wish to appease Sun Quan? Although he has been defeated and fled, he is ultimately a remnant of the Wu clan."

"...Sir, you are overthinking it."

Liu Yong tapped lightly on the porthole with his fingertips, watching as boatloads of Yizhou spices were unloaded into the official warehouse.

"A tiger returning to the mountain is a menace, but a dog that has fallen into the water and wandered onto a deserted island becomes a tale of heroism."

"Our current emperor is at the height of his power, and it is precisely the occasion of all nations paying tribute to adorn this peaceful era."

"Wouldn't it be better for Sun Quan to submit to Yizhou and pay tribute than to die on that deserted island?"

Suddenly, a seagull swept past the ship, leaving behind a clear, sharp cry.

The King of Wu took off the gold-inlaid crossbow from his waist, casually nocked an arrow, and shot it.

As the white feather pierced the sky, his laughter carried far on the sea breeze:
"Tell the Maritime Trade Office to halve the tariffs for foreign merchants."

“We must teach Sun Quan that being a tribute dog in the Central Plains is much more enjoyable than being a king in the wilderness.”

As the sun set, the merchant ship with the sun pattern set sail.

Zhuge Jin watched the sail disappear into the distance, unsure of what to think.

……

Yizhou is a place bordered by the sea to the east and towering mountains to the west.

The island is covered with verdant mountains and shrouded in mist.

The indigenous people built thatched huts and made a living by fishing and hunting.

Although it is blessed with the essence of heaven and earth, it is lacking in natural resources.

Whenever hurricanes and tsunamis occur, famine follows, and people suffer greatly.

In the eleventh year of Zhangwu, Sun Quan arrived in Yizhou.

I wish to establish a foothold here.

After that, he taught the people to farm and weave, and built water conservancy projects, and Yizhou began to be civilized.

However, compared to the fertile lands of the Central Plains, with their bustling cities and towns, it is far superior.

Yizhou was as dim as a firefly compared to the bright moon, its poverty beyond description.

On this day, the sea breeze carried the sails.

Chief Aman of Yizhou arrived at Dong'an Port with three sailboats.

The ship carried 100 bolts of brocade, 50 pieces of porcelain, 30 pieces of bronze, 10 shi of rice seeds, and several volumes of agricultural books, all bestowed by King Liu Yong of Wu.

Ah Man stroked these treasures, a rosy glow spreading across his dark face.

After landing,
Aman dared not delay and immediately sought an audience with King Sun Quan of Wu.

At this time, Sun Quan was residing in the Dong'an Palace. Although he had lost his foothold in Jiangdong, he still maintained the majesty of a king.

Seeing Aman prostrate himself in respect, he slightly raised his hand and said:

"No need for formalities, you've had a long journey."

Ah Man bowed again and said:

"King Liu Yong of Mengwu has treated me with great kindness, bestowing upon me many treasures, and has instructed me to convey this message:"

"Though the sea is vast, it cannot separate our hearts."

"Although the barbarians and the Chinese are far apart, they can still communicate with each other."

"We wish to form an alliance with Dong'an and engage in trade."

Upon hearing this, Sun Quan breathed a long sigh of relief, and the gloom between his brows eased somewhat.

He knew that Yizhou was a barren land and that it would be difficult to sustain itself by relying solely on local production.

Despite recent efforts to improve the situation, it is barely able to make ends meet.

Compared to the prosperous lands of the Central Plains, it is worlds apart.

"By the way, what is the current situation in Yizhou?"

Sun Quan asked.

Although Sun Quan was located in Yizhou, his main area of ​​activity was Dong'an.

He hadn't been to the other places and didn't know the specifics.

Aman answered respectfully:

“Since being taught by the King of Wu, we have learned to farm, weave, and build irrigation canals.”

"We are no longer as poorly clothed and hungry as we used to be."

"However, the soil on the island is thin, and the rice produced is small and has a low yield."

"The woven cloth is coarse and cannot be compared with that of the Central Plains."

Sun Quan nodded without speaking, already having made his decision.

The next day,

Sun Quan summoned his former officials, including Lü Fan and Shi Yi, to discuss the matter.

Lü Fan advised:
"Since Liu Yong has shown goodwill, why doesn't our lord take this opportunity to submit to Liu Bei and pay tribute?"

"Now Liu Bei commands a million troops, resides in China and faces all nations; his power is immense and difficult to rival."

"If we can establish friendly relations, not only will Yizhou be able to receive supplies, but the soldiers of Dong'an will also have a way out."

Shi Yi also said:

"Since Liu Yong has been enfeoffed as the King of Wu, Your Majesty should avoid using his name and change his title."

"As for the new title, we might as well ask Liu Bei to bestow it upon us as a sign of our submission."

Sun Quan pondered for a long time, recalling the Battle of Red Cliffs where he fought alongside Liu Bei against Cao Cao.

Recalling the later struggle for Jingzhou, he couldn't help but sigh deeply:
"The world, after a long period of division, will inevitably unite."

"For the sake of the people of Jiangdong and the people of Yizhou, it is not unacceptable for me to submit to them and pay tribute."

He then decided to revoke his title of King of Wu and send an envoy through Liu Yong to submit to Liu Bei and pay tribute.

……

(End of this chapter)