Jinting Han people

Judging from his appearance, Lu Zhi was a typical Confucian scholar from Hebei.

He was four or five years older than Liu Xian, probably in his early thirties. He wore a very neat blue and white Confucian robe, a Confucian cap on his head, held a feather fan, and had a sword at his waist. His face was like jade, and his eyebrows and beard were sharp. His smile was gentle and mild, but his every move exuded an undeniable heroic spirit. Standing beneath the swaying willow branches and among the disciplined soldiers, he appeared exceptionally dashing.

What impressed Liu Xian most was Lu Zhi's spine. It was so straight and rigid, as if iron had been poured into it. So much so that when ordinary people talked to him, they often had the illusion that they were missing a bone.

Generally, such people exude an undeniable sense of oppression, making them seem difficult to get along with. But Lu Zhi is different, because he has a pair of gentle eyes. His pupils are bright and deep, yet the corners of his eyes droop slightly, seemingly containing a motherly, sublime compassion, as if he might shed tears for the suffering of others at any moment. Even when he smiles, it gives the illusion of tears of joy.

These two seemingly contradictory characteristics endowed Lu Zhi with a unique charm, making him unforgettable at first glance and instantly recognizable, drawing people to him and making them want to get closer and understand him. In fact, Lu Zhi's later experiences proved that he was probably the most popular scholar of his time. Unless he actively provoked others, no one could dislike him, not even his enemies.

Upon hearing Lu Zhi's name, Liu Xian suddenly realized, thinking to himself: So it was him, no wonder!
In fact, Liu Xian had heard of Lu Zhi's name when he was in Luoyang in his early years, mainly because his father and grandfather were all very famous.

Lu Zhi's grandfather was Lu Yu, the Minister of Works of Cao Wei, who was a former official of Emperor Wen of Wei during the early years of the dynasty. He first served as a prefect during the reign of Emperor Wen, responsible for pacifying the people and cultivating land, and achieved considerable political success. Later, during the reign of Emperor Ming of Wei, he served as a Chamberlain, responsible for recommending talented people, which earned the Lu family the reputation of being a "gateway to success".

However, his most important political achievement was the Incident at Gaoping Tombs. At that time, Lu Yu was sidelined by Cao Shuang, so he supported Sima Yi in usurping the Wei throne. As a result, he rose rapidly in rank, becoming Minister of Works, thus establishing the leading position of the Lu clan of Fanyang among the gentry in Hebei.

Lu Zhi's father was Lu Ting, the second son of Lu Yu. As the second son, Lu Ting's reputation and power were not as great as his elder brother Lu Qin, who inherited his father's title, but he was still an important minister during the founding of the Jin Dynasty.

He served as the Prefect of Mount Tai during Sima Zhao's reign, and was promoted to Minister of the Imperial Guard when Emperor Wu of Jin, Sima Yan, established the Jin dynasty. He subsequently held various high-ranking positions, including Minister of the Three Departments and Attendant-in-Ordinary, becoming one of the three prime ministers. Lu Ting was responsible for revising the Tai Shi Code during Sima Yan's reign. It is worth mentioning that he also promoted Zhang Hua, who came from a humble background, to be his deputy.

Lu Zhi was the leader of the Lu clan of Fanyang in this generation. Although he came from a branch of the clan, he was known as a child prodigy at a young age, famous for his photographic memory and literary talent. As soon as he came of age, he was noticed by Yang Jun and recommended as a clerk in the Duke's office. Two years later, he was transferred to the position of Minister of Personnel. At that time, he was not yet twenty years old and was enjoying great success.

Unfortunately, life rarely goes smoothly. When the Three Yangs fell from power, Lu Zhi was implicated and demoted from the capital, serving as the magistrate of Yecheng until now. If Yang Jun hadn't fallen, he probably would have become the prime minister of the Three Departments before the age of thirty, just like Pei Wei!

However, for Liu Xian, there was only one reason why he paid attention to the Lu family of Fanyang.

Lu Zhi's great-grandfather was Lu Zhi, who was the teacher of his great-grandfather Liu Bei.

While Liu Xian was sizing up Lu Zhi, Sima Yi began to introduce his officials to Lu Zhi, and the first one he introduced was naturally Liu Xian.

Upon hearing that the man before him was none other than Liu Xian, the heir apparent to the Duke of Anle and a renowned general who had led the western expedition, Lu Zhi was clearly taken aback. He scrutinized Liu Xian for a long time, revealing a subtle expression—neither a polite smile nor a hostile indifference, but rather a kind of… bewilderment?
After hesitating and agonizing for a long time, he finally said, "I have long admired your name, but I never expected to meet you here."

Liu Xian was also a little nervous. He cupped his hands in return and said, "It is truly an honor to meet Lord Lu today."

To be honest, the two families hadn't had any contact for three whole generations. However, for Liu Bei, who came from humble beginnings, studying under Lu Zhi was a turning point in his life and a guide on his path to officialdom. As for Lu Zhi, he never imagined that this taciturn member of a collateral branch of the imperial family would become emperor decades later, thus bestowing upon him the title of Imperial Tutor.

This created a fated connection that changed not only the fate of one generation, but also the fate of several generations.

Therefore, even though it was their first meeting, Liu Xian and Lu Zhi felt a sense of rapport despite their unfamiliarity. It was as if they should have known each other long ago, or rather, there was none of the usual awkwardness or distance between them; it seemed natural that they should form a special relationship. But what exactly that relationship was, neither of them could say for sure.

However, both of them suppressed their unspeakable emotions and simply greeted each other without saying anything more.

After introducing themselves, the group headed towards the Prince's residence. As guests, Lu Zhi and Sima Yi walked at the front, while Liu Xian followed in the next row, listening to their idle chatter.

Sima Yi asked, "Speaking of which, it's been ten years since I last saw my sixteenth brother (the Prince of Chengdu). How is his health?"

Lu Zhidao said, "Your Highness is very kind. The Prince of Chengdu is doing well now."

Sima Yi sighed again, "That's good. Back in Luoyang, my sixteenth brother often fell ill with a fever every spring and summer, and the late emperor would prepare medicine for him every spring. Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye, and he has grown up and reached adulthood, yet I still don't know what he looks like. It's truly lamentable!"

Lu Zhi said, "This is all the fault of the Empress Dowager. I believe the day when Your Highness and your brother will meet again is not far off."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xian's heart stirred: without the court's permission, princes and nobles stationed in their fiefdoms could not leave their posts at will. What did this phrase, "brothers meeting again," mean?
As he lowered his head in thought, he had a strange feeling that Lu Zhi was watching him. But when he looked up, he only saw Lu Zhi continuing to speak with Sima Yi.

"Your Highness, have you received any new information from the court?"

"Of course not. You know, I've been in Changshan for ten years, and I'm like a plague. Apart from the person next to me, no one from Luoyang has ever come to see me."

Liu Xian felt Lu Zhi was looking at him again, and this time their eyes met—it wasn't a hallucination.

Upon arriving at the Changshan Prince's residence, all other irrelevant personnel withdrew, and the attendees were the same people as before. This time, however, Liu Xian sat to Sima Yi's left, while Lu Zhi sat in the spot where Liu Xian had previously been.

After the previous build-up, Lu Zhi straightened his clothes and finally revealed his purpose to Sima Yi, saying:

"Your Highness, what is your opinion on the matter of the Prince of Zhao serving as regent?"

Liu Xian thought to himself: So it really was about this! Looking around, everyone had the same knowing expression.

Sima Yi considered the matter carefully and said, "To be honest, King Zhao has overstepped his bounds by assuming the title of Chancellor. But how should I put it? He did, after all, make a great contribution to the destruction of the Hou Party."

"Everyone knows that the Queen's crimes over the years have been far too great. Therefore, it is difficult to reward the King of Zhao for his merits." "If he stops here and does not go any further, we cannot blame him."

Lu Zhi nodded slightly and said approvingly, "Your Highness is absolutely right. But there is a saying in the Book of Poetry: 'Before the sky darkens and rains, gather the mulberry leaves and repair the windows and doors.' This speaks of the principle of being prepared for a rainy day and taking precautions against trouble."

"Perhaps we shouldn't criticize the current Prince Zhao too harshly. But Your Highness is of Emperor Wu's bloodline and has the responsibility to uphold the order of the court. Since the court is showing signs of unrest, shouldn't we take some measures to address the situation beforehand?"

Sima Yi smiled and said, "Then please teach me, sir, how to plan ahead?"

Faced with this question, Lu Zhi paused, glanced around, and waited until everyone's attention was focused before he said, "Your Highness, throughout history, all the tragedies of dynasties can be summed up in eight words."

"Which eight characters?" Sima Yi asked.

"Families turned against each other, and members of the imperial clan distrusted one another."

Lu Zhi spoke slowly and deliberately, and then his long-prepared speech flowed out:

"If Quwo had not replaced Yi, how could there have been the division of Jin into three families? If Jiang and Lü had not repeatedly engaged in internal strife, how could the Tian family have had the opportunity to take advantage of the situation? Furthermore, Ying Zheng harmed his relatives more than his enemies and died at the hands of eunuchs, while Emperor Wen of Wei guarded against his relatives more than he guarded against thieves, and the country perished after three generations."

"These are all living precedents! In the current state of the nation, it has come to the point where mothers and children are killing each other. This is against the principles of Heaven and Earth, and it horrifies the people. The signs of national subjugation are too great! At such a time, the only way to achieve anything is through unity!"

"The Prince of Chengdu and you are both of Emperor Wu's bloodline, practically blood relatives. If even you cannot stand by him through thick and thin, who else can he trust? Therefore, His Highness the Prince of Chengdu sent me here to form an alliance with Your Highness. If the country faces difficulties in the future, we should work together with one heart and one mind to fight for our country!"

These words were sincere and thought-provoking, and many people present were taken aback.

Sima Yi nodded in agreement, saying, "Hearing Lord Lu's words has truly made me uneasy. Back when my fifth brother and I were in Luoyang, he was also framed by the empress, while I was caught up in the chaos of war and unable to get help! Thinking about it now, how tragic it is!"

He clenched his right fist and repeatedly struck his left palm, as if in regret. Suddenly, he punched Lu Zhi in the shoulder, smiling as he said to him:
"On the other hand, I know my sixteenth brother's personality. He has been frail and sickly since childhood, so he is also weak-willed. Getting him to make up his mind to oppose the King of Zhao will probably not be so easy, will it?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhi was slightly surprised, as Sima Yi had clearly hit a nerve. However, he didn't try to hide it and immediately smiled and said:
"To be honest, His Highness has not yet made up his mind. He has been in Ye City for less than a year, and the Northern Expeditionary Army is a mixed bag, with many people playing both sides and trying to get the best deal. This has led to a division within Ye City into two factions, and there is still no resolution."

"I came here specifically to see you because I believe that your support will help His Highness make up his mind and also help me suppress those villains."

Hearing this, everyone present was startled again. They hadn't expected Lu Zhi to be so candid, making no attempt to conceal the turmoil and divisions in Ye City, nor his own political ambition—to become the de facto ruler of the Northern Expeditionary Army. But the more he spoke, the more credible his words became. Shangguan Si, standing nearby, spoke up:
"But I wonder what Lord Lu is going to such lengths for? Is it to help the Prince of Chengdu enter the capital after attacking the King of Zhao?"

These words were deeply hurtful, and Liu Xian's heart stirred upon hearing them. He looked at Lu Zhi again, only to see that Lu Zhi's expression was calm and composed as he slowly replied:
"The most important thing in the world is not military force, but the hearts of the people. If the King of Zhao usurps the throne, my advice to the King of Chengdu to attack him would only be to eliminate a small scourge for the country. The Great Jin Dynasty is now riddled with problems. Can eliminating the King of Zhao solve everything? That is impossible. Therefore, to think that you can take control of the capital is far too arrogant."

"My only wish is for peace in the world. The world is in such a difficult time. If we continue to indulge in this way, the world will be overthrown and disaster will spread throughout the land. Millions of ordinary people will suffer. If I am fortunate enough to be able to stop this catastrophe, I will be content."

"Who can enter the capital? It doesn't depend on strategy, but on winning people's hearts and possessing profound virtue. But virtue isn't something you can see, it's something you do. I sincerely hope that this person is His Highness the Prince of Chengdu, who has the wisdom to do so. But if it's not him, but someone else, that person truly possesses virtue as deep as the sea, encompassing all rivers, and is recommended by the world. Whether that person is His Highness the Prince of Chengdu or not, what does it matter?"

Lu Zhi's words were quite frank. He neither denied his ambition to help the Prince of Chengdu take control of the capital, nor did he deny his own ambition to plunge the country into turmoil for the sake of such a small ambition, but rather to prioritize the greater good.

Sima Yi was very impressed upon hearing this, and he exclaimed, "Lu Zidao's words can be described as the right path."

Lu Zhi asked, "Then may I ask Your Highness, about the alliance..."

"Haha, Lord Lu has gone to great lengths." Sima Yi pointed at Liu Xian and said, "Before you came, my new Grand Secretary had already advised me that with a formidable enemy at hand, we should be on good terms with the imperial clan, and the first priority should be to be on good terms with my sixteenth brother."

“There’s no need for Lu Jun to make this trip. I will stand with my sixteenth brother through thick and thin.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhi turned his gaze to Liu Xian again. The two looked at each other for a moment and couldn't help but smile.

"I see." Lu Zhi bowed and said, "When I was in Ye City, I often sighed to myself that in all the world, there were very few people who understood my heart. I never expected to meet one today."

Liu Xian replied, "Brother Lu, you flatter me. It has always been my lifelong wish to work with the esteemed members of the Lu family of Fanyang."

Having established the alliance, Sima Yi immediately wrote a letter denouncing the King of Zhao, encouraging Sima Ying, and reminiscing about the past, entrusting Lu Zhi to deliver it to Ye City. Lu Zhi had come in secret, and after receiving the letter, he did not linger, returning to Ye City that same day. Liu Xian had intended to discuss his talents and aspirations with him, but unexpectedly, he had no opportunity, which he deeply regretted.

Sima Yi, however, had no time to worry about any of that. After Lu Zhi left, he immediately asked Liu Xian, "It seems we've made a good start with our first step. What's the next step?"

Liu Xian said, "Since the King of Chengdu is already making friends with other kings, you don't need to worry about these external affairs anymore. Instead, you should focus on the second step."

"The second step? What is the second step?" Sima Yi asked curiously.

"Training troops, the second step is training troops," Liu Xian emphasized. "Time waits for no one. In the next year, we must seize the time to train a strong army capable of confronting the Imperial Guards." (End of this chapter)