Jinting Han people

Liu Xian's worst fears came true. Although Lu Zhi tried to recruit Liu Xian to assist Sima Ying when they parted, it must be said that Sima Ying was simply not a suitable ruler.

Sima Ying's willingness to delegate power was indeed a strength; in this respect alone, few members of the imperial clan could compare. However, Sima Ying's own talents, including his insight, magnanimity, and willpower, were insufficient to support him in achieving hegemony. Even with a capable advisor like Lu Zhi assisting him, if he himself could not distinguish right from wrong and identify who were villains and who were virtuous ministers, the outcome would have been the same.

However, Liu Xian had always believed that even the most foolish ruler would know to cherish and protect someone like Lu Zhi. He never imagined that Sima Ying would be so foolish. His great victory and widespread renown in the capital were entirely due to Lu Zhi's planning. Yet, upon returning to Ye City, he dismissed Lu Zhi from his military post—this was utterly incomprehensible.

Now that Lu Zhi has lost power in Ye City, can Sima Ying still implement his original strategic plans? With the changes in his advisors, will his strategies be subject to change again? Liu Xian couldn't help but have doubts about this.

But the more this was the case, the more important it was to reaffirm the alliance with Sima Ying. Otherwise, without Sima Ying's support, Sima Yi would likely find it difficult to establish himself in Luoyang. The situation in the war against the Prince of Hejian would then deteriorate further.

Therefore, no matter how much he despises corrupt officials who solicit bribes, he would probably have to try to get through Meng Jiu's connections at this point.

He asked Liu Yuan, "Lord Yuanhai, what kind of gifts does Meng Jiu like? Is it certain that a bribe will grant him an audience with the Prince of Chengdu?"

Liu Yuan didn't hold back, advising, "Meng Jiu isn't some kind of scholar or refined gentleman. What hobbies could he possibly have? Just send him some real gold and silver. But given your reputation, I think he's going to try and swindle you out of a lot of money."

"The older one? Me?" Liu Xian asked, puzzled. "Do I have some kind of grudge against him?"

Liu Yuan's eyes were sharp and discerning, and he pointed out to Liu Xian, "Huai Chong, you have witnessed Meng Jiu's ugly behavior, and you also have a very good relationship with Lu Zidao. In his eyes, Lu Zidao's friend is his enemy, so he will definitely target you like this."

Upon hearing this reason, Liu Xian felt as if a thick phlegm was stuck in his throat, making it difficult for him to breathe. He took a deep breath and then said, "Lord Yuanhai, it doesn't have to be like this. You've already reached this position, are you still going to act like a child and be petty?"

Liu Yuan noticed his bad mood and smiled understandingly, saying, "Huai Chong, you and I both know that His Highness the Prince of Chengdu is just a child, and he must like children like himself."

At this point, Liu Yuan couldn't help but feel a little depressed and sighed, "The world is going to the dogs. None of these princes and nobles are truly talented. They have neither literary talent nor martial skills. How can they even compare to Emperor Ling of Han?"

"In times without heroes, even a nobody can become famous!" He lost interest in talking to Liu Xian, gave a short whistle to the white falcon in the tree, and the falcon swooped down and landed on his shoulder guard, making a sound like grinding stones.

Liu Xian then bid farewell to Liu Yuan. After returning to his official residence, he inquired about the location of the Meng family mansion and had Meng Tao deliver his visiting card. This time, he received a concrete response. A servant of the Meng family gave Meng Tao a number plate, and they then lined up to meet according to the number plate.

This infuriated Liu Xian to the point of laughter. The last time Liu Xian had to wait in line was with Wei Guan, the Duke of Ziyang. Who was Wei Guan? A veteran of four reigns, a meritorious official in the conquest of Shu. And what was this Meng Jiu? A eunuch, daring to put on such airs in front of him?

But there was nothing he could do. Since he was the person who could influence Sima Ying the most, Liu Xian could only grit his teeth and continue to wait in line.

Two more days passed in the blink of an eye, and it was finally Liu Xian's turn. Liu Xian brought gifts to pay his respects at the Meng residence, but instead of Meng Jiu, he met Meng Jiu's younger brother, Meng Chao.

Meng Chao looks similar to Meng Jiu. He has phoenix eyes, a fair and delicate face, no beard, and eyebrows that are curved like distant mountains. Apart from being slightly more robust, he also has a light and pretty air similar to Meng Jiu.

Upon first seeing him, Liu Xian quickly guessed the truth: this man was probably like Meng Jiu, also a male favorite of Sima Ying.

Meng Chao displayed an arrogant attitude in front of Liu Xian, treating him as no high-ranking official after meeting him. Upon entering the reception hall, he didn't even greet him, but sat cross-legged and bluntly said, "Lord Liu has come to see my brother, you should know the rules, right?"

Such a contemptuous attitude would have caused Liu Xian to turn on him in the past. But now, Liu Xian was able to calmly say, "I am new here and am indeed unfamiliar with the rules of your household, which has caused me some delay. I have come with gifts and hope that you will forgive me."

Seeing that Liu Xian was so tactful, Meng Chao couldn't help but chuckle, probably mocking him. However, his attitude was at least somewhat better, and he asked, "I wonder what gifts Lord Liu has prepared?"

Liu Xian clapped his hands and ordered his attendant to hand over a gift box containing fifty horseshoe-shaped gold ingots, which was worth four hundred gold coins, as a gift to Meng Chao.

Regarding the prices Meng Jiu demanded for bribes, Liu Yuan had already explained them to Liu Xian: A single meeting with Meng Jiu would cost ten gold pieces; to gain access through Meng Jiu and meet the Prince of Chengdu would cost one hundred gold pieces; in addition, one could pay Meng Jiu to do favors, including buying official positions, pardoning crimes, and obtaining local rank. For example, Meng Jiu had clearly stated his prices for buying official positions: fifty gold pieces for an eighth or ninth-rank official, four hundred gold pieces for a sixth or seventh-rank official, and a thousand gold pieces for a fourth or fifth-rank official…

Since the other party wanted to rip Liu Xian off, Liu Xian didn't need to wait for them to name a price. He proactively quadrupled the price to show his sincerity, thus saving himself a lot of trouble.

After glancing at it, Meng Chao smiled and accepted the gold. He then said, "I have received Lord Liu's gift. I wonder how much my brother's gift is?"

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Yan, who was guarding the side, almost jumped up, but Liu Xian grabbed him and pulled him back, though his expression also turned somewhat unpleasant.

Meng Chao's intention was to swallow the gold and have Liu Xian send another portion to Meng Jiu!
Logically speaking, even if an official in the Jin Dynasty only received a salary and was honest, he would not lack money. Tao Yuanming later said, "I will not bow down for five pecks of rice." Others often thought that the salaries of Jin Dynasty officials were low, but in fact, Tao Yuanming's salary was five pecks of rice a day. This was because he used half of his salary land to brew wine. In those days, it was no problem to say that he had no worries about food and clothing.

However, despite being the Commandant of the Capital Region, Liu Xian actually lived a rather frugal life. Firstly, because he was indeed an incorruptible official, and secondly, because he was good at civil affairs, he spent most of his salary on official business, making it difficult to save any money.

If it weren't for the three windfalls he had acquired through his own abilities, his private treasury would be completely empty. These three windfalls were: one a gift from Sun Xiu, one a present from Li Xiang during the Qi Wannian Rebellion, and one a gift from gentry in the capital who came to curry favor with him after he became the Commandant of the Capital. The first two had been mostly spent, and the third was largely used for the construction of the canal. He only had about two thousand taels of gold left, which he planned to use as temporary funds.

Unexpectedly, they are now all going to perish in Ye City.

Liu Xian understood the principle that troublemakers are hard to deal with, so he suppressed his dissatisfaction and said to Meng Chao, "There are some other gifts that are kept in the official residence. If you like them, I will arrange for them to be sent over immediately."

Meng Chao laughed and said, "Then why don't you round it up to a whole number, so I won't take more than my brother?"

This was a direct demand for six hundred gold coins. Liu Xian sighed and said, "Please wait a moment, Lord Meng." He immediately instructed Zhuge Yan to divert the portion of the gift money Sima Yi had given to Sima Ying and hand it over directly to Meng Jiu. After all, given the current situation, Meng Jiu was acting so arrogantly that the gifts intended for Sima Ying would likely end up in Meng Jiu's hands as well.

After waiting another half hour, when this batch of bribes had been collected, Meng Chao was finally satisfied and said to Liu Xian, "My king is currently admiring the plum blossoms in the Bronze Jue Garden. Lord Liu, please come with me."

It turned out that Sima Ying had been free all along, so Liu Xian took the remaining gifts and hurried to Ye Palace with Meng Chao.

Six months later, upon re-entering the Ye Palace, Liu Xian noticed a significant reduction in palace guards and a considerable increase in palace maids. Before Liu Xian could even ask, Meng Chao proudly introduced them, saying, "These are all orphaned daughters of soldiers who came to the aid of the king. My king, being benevolent, took these orphaned girls into the palace, supporting hundreds of them!"

Upon entering the Bronze Palace Garden, Liu Xian finally met Sima Ying. Three months had passed, and the great general had gained considerable weight. Before leaving Luoyang, he was undeniably handsome and dashing, but now he appeared rather plump, and his former spirit had faded considerably. He wore a long white fox fur coat, held a delicate pink plum blossom in his left hand, and cradled Meng Jiu in his right arm, flirting with a palace maid.

He glanced at Liu Xian, paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Oh, isn't this Huai Chong? When did you arrive?"

It turns out that he was unaware of Liu Xian's arrival in Ye.

After Liu Xian bowed to him, Sima Ying called out to him, "Come, come, I have some honey water made with plum blossom honey. It tastes exceptionally different."

He remained as hospitable as ever. Liu Xian composed himself and bowed to Sima Ying, saying, "How has Your Highness been lately? The General of Chariots and Cavalry specifically instructed me to come and inquire after you."

Sima Ying laughed and said, "Great! What's wrong with me? You've seen it for yourself, I'm enjoying a life of luxury in Ye City, I can't imagine how happy I am!"

He then casually asked, "How is Brother Fifteen doing in Luoyang?"

Liu Xian said, "Recently, things haven't been going well in the court. It seems that the Prince of Hejian has some misunderstandings with the court. Therefore, the Grand Marshal and the General of Chariots and Cavalry miss the General very much. They believe that if you were in Luoyang, there wouldn't be so many troubles."

"Therefore, both princes specifically asked me to inquire after your well-being. Are you doing well in Ye City? Are you still able to return to Luoyang to assist in governing? It is said that when brothers are of one mind, their strength can break metal. If you can return to help, I believe all the troubles will be over."

Sima Jiong certainly didn't say these words to Liu Xian, but Liu Xian was using this method to test Sima Ying's intentions.

If Sima Ying can still refuse to enter Luoyang without Lu Zhi by his side, it means there's still room for maneuver, and Sima Ying can still be trusted as an ally. However, if Sima Ying agrees, it means he's no longer suitable as an ally; it's better to expose his ambitions and prepare accordingly.

Upon hearing this, Sima Ying immediately showed a hint of interest and said, "Fifteenth Brother, and Jingzhi (Sima Jiong), do they really think so?"

But then he hesitated, as if recalling Lu Zhi's instructions from long ago, and said, "What a pity! I want to go back too, but my mother still needs my care..."

Before the words were even finished, Meng Jiu, who had been silent for a long time, could no longer contain herself. She suddenly grabbed Sima Ying's hand and said in a high-pitched voice, "Your Highness's filial piety and benevolence are known throughout the land! I have always said that His Highness of Luoyang will not forget you! How can a wise prince like you not serve the Emperor?"

"But my mother..."

"The Dowager Consort is also a national figure, she will surely understand you and let you share the burdens of the country!"

Hearing this, Sima Ying seemed to have all her doubts dispelled, and said, "If that's the case..."

He was about to agree when a cough suddenly rang out from the flowerbed, standing out prominently in the tranquil garden.

"Is there anyone else here?" Liu Xian's expression changed instantly, and Sima Ying's expression changed as well. Immediately afterwards, a palace maid came out from the flower bushes and whispered a few words to Sima Ying. Sima Ying quickly got up and said to Liu Xian, "Huai Chong, the Dowager Consort wants to see me about something. I'll get back to you later."

After saying that, he pulled Meng Jiu and hurriedly disappeared into the flower bushes. About fifteen minutes later, he returned from the flower bushes, but Meng Jiu was no longer there.

Sima Ying said sincerely to Liu Xian, "I'm sorry, Huai Chong, my mother is unwell and I really can't leave her. If there's anything I can do to help, just have my fifteenth brother and the others send me a message."

This sudden change left Liu Xian somewhat bewildered. He had just been so convinced from Sima Ying's expression that she was about to agree, so why had she suddenly changed her mind? Also, the cough he had just heard was strong and clear, a man's voice, yet it came out as a woman's.
Wait a minute, Liu Xian belatedly realized that the cough sounded too familiar—it was him!
Liu Xian's mind conjured up the image of Lu Ji. He wondered, could it be him here? Was it the one who just pulled Sima Ying back? What were his thoughts? After seizing power from Lu Zhi, did he also want to uphold Lu Zhi's strategy? Or was it a form of self-deception?
Liu Xian was now somewhat confused. He had originally intended to test Sima Ying, but now it seemed that Lu Ji was testing him instead.

Since that was the case, Liu Xian could not linger in the Bronze Jue Garden any longer. He had no choice but to leave the Ye Palace in haste and return to his staff.

The situation is becoming increasingly clear. Although Sima Ying is currently maintaining a neutral position thanks to Lu Ji's mediation, overall, can Lu Ji do what Lu Zhidu couldn't? It's unlikely. Sima Ying is no longer trustworthy, and if he wants to achieve anything in the future, he can no longer rely on the Northern Expeditionary Army. The situation is deteriorating rapidly.

Before leaving Ye City, Liu Xian visited Lu Zhi's family again. The once bustling Lu mansion was now deserted, and the family members looked very dejected. Liu Xian said to Lu Zhi's eldest son, Lu Chen, who was staying behind, "Please tell Zidao for me that life always has its ups and downs. No matter what, please stick to your original intentions."

It must be said that this trip to Ye City was extremely disheartening. Lu Zhi was demoted, Meng Jiu seized power, and the extravagance of the Northern Expeditionary Army greatly increased, with the corrupt atmosphere of the nobility almost surpassing that of Luoyang. Only Sima Ying's failure to completely defect left some room for maneuver. But now that the situation has begun to deteriorate, how long can this room for maneuver be maintained?

The deterioration of people's hearts is like being on a boat and falling down a waterfall; once you lose your reason, it's hard to get back on track.

But thinking about where he was going next, Liu Xian felt a little happier. He stopped thinking about those worries and thought: I still have some people who trust me, and even if I leave for many years, that trust will not change.

He finally arrived at the last stop of his journey—Hedong County. (End of Chapter)