Jinting Han people

It was the Mid-Autumn Festival in the eighth month of the third year of Qiming in the Shu Han Dynasty. The fields of Bashu were golden, the banks of the Minjiang River were lined with willows, and orange trees and red flowers were hanging from the branches. A sweet and rich fragrance lingered in the Bashan Mountains. Wild animals and birds came out in flocks, seizing this last time to roam freely.

At this time last year, people would either go on outings to the inner waters, climb mountains to enjoy the view, or release hawks to hunt rabbits, deer, and roe deer—it was a season of abundant harvest and joy. But this year, the fertile land of Xichuan under the rule of Shu Han is already showing signs of tension in preparation for war. Large numbers of soldiers are traveling by boat to Jiangzhou, and piles of grain and fodder, stacked like small mountains, are also being carried downstream by cargo ships. Everyone knows that war is coming.

Most people were optimistic, especially those over forty. They reminisced about how, thirty years ago, when Wang Xiangyang served as the governor of Yizhou, the situation was similar. Back then, the Shu army swept through the land, advancing all the way to the walls of Jianye, forcing Sun Hao, the ruler of Wu, to surrender. They hoped that the King of Han would also achieve great things today.

At this time, General Li Ju had already mustered his troops in Jiangzhou, held a grand assembly of all armies, and taken stock of the various units. Ships built under the supervision of various regions were also gradually gathering under the walls of Jiangzhou, their prows stretching for miles, their sails like a dense forest on the river, almost filling half the river surface, a truly magnificent sight. However, what was strange was that Liu Xian, the King of Han, who was always decisive and efficient, personally overseeing every military operation, did not immediately go to Jiangzhou this time, but instead stayed briefly in Chengdu.

The reason was simple: just as the troops were about to be dispatched, Sikong Laizhong suddenly fell ill and could not accompany the army.

This wasn't actually unexpected, considering Lai Zhong was already over eighty. Although he had always been in good spirits, his age was a factor. As the saying goes, "Life expectancy of seventy is rare," and these days, people who live to seventy are already extremely rare, let alone eighty-two like him. It wouldn't be surprising if he fell ill at any time.

However, for the Shu Han state at present, this was still an extremely important matter, so important that Liu Xian had to temporarily put aside the matter of going on the expedition and personally go to the mansion to offer his greetings.

Lai Zhong's residence was located in the southern part of Shaocheng, Chengdu. It was a mansion personally bestowed upon him by Liu Xian, and its scale was no less than that of Lu Zhi's mansion. At the same time, Liu Xian also exceptionally granted him a thousand acres of land outside the city to commend his hard work and merits. However, Lai Zhong was always frugal and believed that his salary as Minister of Works was sufficient to meet his daily needs, so he distributed all the land bestowed by Liu Xian, keeping only this mansion. Moreover, he often opened the gates of his mansion to help the poor and beggars who passed by, and also inquired about some injustices in the countryside. He was not at all arrogant, so the common people of Chengdu respected him very much and affectionately called him "Old Man Lai".

When Liu Xian came to visit Lai Zhong, the Sikong Mansion was already packed with people offering their greetings. Among them were the elderly, the young, even children, wealthy scholars, and poor commoners. But no one felt alienated because of this; they simply wore sorrowful expressions and whispered among themselves. At this moment, they were all genuinely concerned about the life and death of an old man.

This is not hard to understand. Lai Zhong had garrisoned and governed Zhonglie County for over forty years, taking in countless refugees, many of whom regarded him as their second father. Moreover, he was one of the few surviving generals of the fallen Han army, and naturally earned the respect of all the remnants of Shu Han. It could even be said that, to some extent, Lai Zhong's prestige in the current court was even higher than that of Liu Xian, the King of Han.

Liu Xian certainly wouldn't be jealous of Lai Zhong for this, because he himself sincerely admired Lai Gong. To stand guard is one of the most difficult things in the world, and only by achieving this could people believe that a person's ideals and beliefs cannot be extinguished by life. This means that even if a person's physical body decays, their spirit will become an immortal monument, worthy of being passed down to future generations.

But when he stepped into the inner room and saw Lai Zhong's aged face, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. The old man was already short, and after falling ill, his face naturally became even more withered. Lying on the bed, his sparse, pure white hair only accentuated the many spots on his face. A fire had been lit for him in the room, but when Liu Xian touched Lai Zhong's hand, it was still very cold, and the bony knuckles hurt Liu Xian.

He sent Li Xiu along to visit the sick man and see if she could be cured. But the conclusion was pessimistic. Li Xiu judged that the man was probably suffering from a lung or internal organ ailment, and that the disease had progressed to a critical stage. Although she was skilled in treating external injuries, she was helpless in this regard. The other medical staff accompanying him, including the physicians from the Celestial Masters sect, shared the same view: they could only use some tonics to see if they could prolong his life.

Lai Zhong, however, took it all in stride. Feeling a little better, he said to Liu Xian, "Confucius died at seventy-three, Mencius at eighty-four, and I am eighty-two this year. What more could I ask for? If there is any regret, it is that I did not get to see Your Highness return to the old capital and establish your rule in the Central Plains."

The Northern Expedition to Guanzhong and Longxi, and the conquest of Chang'an, had been the obsession of the old Han army for decades. It was indeed a pity that Lai Zhong did not live to see this day. Perhaps his previous opposition to advancing eastward to Jingzhou was a premonition that he sensed his days were numbered and wanted to fulfill this wish.

But it doesn't matter. Lai Zhong has come to terms with it. This is the work of those who came after him. He can now return to his comrades with a clear conscience and dignity. Even when facing the Prime Minister, the General, and the emperors of the Han Dynasty, he can stand before them with a clear conscience and an open mind.

Therefore, at this moment, he did not ask Liu Xian anything else, but instead asked, "Did Chen Shou tell you about me?"

Liu Xian shook his head and said, "My teacher has always kept his mouth shut, hoping that I can live a peaceful life."

Upon hearing this, Lai Zhong burst into laughter, panting heavily from exhaustion. Then, he said angrily to Liu Xian, "When I see him, I'll definitely give him a good humiliation in front of him. He was the first to desert back then!"

But then his expression changed, and he said with a smile, "But I also forgave him, because he also brought me His Highness."

He finally grasped Liu Xian's hand and slowly said to the King of Han, "Your Highness, the Eastern Expedition is imminent. I have little to say to you, because I know that you would do what I say to bring peace to the world. Therefore, I only have one thing to tell you."

"Please speak," Liu Xian said solemnly.

"Your Highness, before you act, please think of the Great Han Dynasty in your heart. From the heavens above to the netherworld below, all the heroes of the Great Han Dynasty will be watching over you."

"I will definitely try my best, I definitely will!"

"Your Highness, do not stay here with this old man any longer, go soon!" Lai Zhong released the Han King's hand, closed his eyes, as if saying goodbye to Liu Xian, or as if talking to himself: "This is not a farewell. Next spring, the population of the Han Dynasty will be even more prosperous."

The implication is that the old man has completely forgotten about his own life and death, and values ​​the continuation of the Han Dynasty above all else.

Only then did Liu Xian realize that Lai Zhong had no one he knew in this world anymore; he was just a lonely old man, without even a single friend to confide in. He had almost entirely relied on this pure faith to persevere until this day. Liu Xian bowed deeply to Lai Zhong, and upon returning to the palace, he instructed A'Luo to visit him frequently. In fact, Lai Zhong wasn't the only one suffering from illness in Chengdu; other elderly people, such as Xue Yi and Zhuge Jing, had also passed away in the past two years, buried south of Wudan Mountain. They had all barely managed to return to Bashu, but now that their wish had been fulfilled, they had no desire to linger in this world.

These things saddened Liu Xian. He thought to himself: In chaotic times, the only wish of most people is to be buried in their hometown. But who knows how much effort it will take to achieve such a small wish?
However, his time was short, and his sorrow lasted only one night. After bidding farewell to Lai Zhong, Liu Xian packed his bags early the next morning, intending to head to Jiangzhou. His wives and children from the palace all accompanied him to see him off.

A year passed, and Liu Xian grew another year older, while the children grew another year older. And perhaps because of their relaxed mood and comfortable life, both A'Luo and A'Die became pregnant again this year. This was undoubtedly a joyous occasion, and Aunt Fei Xiu was overjoyed when she learned of it, repeatedly saying that it was a blessing from heaven, and sent people to Qingcheng Mountain to pray for their well-being.

However, Liu Xian probably felt even more guilty, because due to this eastern expedition, he would likely miss his children's birthdays again. A'Luo, already used to it, comforted him, saying, "Your safe return is more important than anything else." A'Die, holding Prince Liu Cheng's hand and tugging at Liu Xian's sleeve, said, "If you don't come back by the end of the year, I'll go to Jingzhou and bring you back!"

Liu Xian laughed upon hearing this. He first nodded to A Luo, then joked with A Die, "Alright, once I conquer Jingzhou, I'll definitely bring you over, okay?" He then squatted down, stroked the back of Liu Cheng's head, and slowly said, "General, after I leave, you must listen to your mother and not make her angry, understand?"

Liu Cheng is already three years old. Just like Liu Xian when he was little, he is full of energy and likes to run and climb around everywhere. The maids can't keep an eye on him at all, which makes A Die very worried and keeps an eye on him all day long. But he is very well-behaved in front of Liu Xian. He doesn't say a word, but just nods repeatedly with his eyes wide open.

Then there's the eldest daughter, Lingyou, and her aunt, Feixiu. Lingyou is seven years old this year, and she's very clever and cute. Feixiu loves her very much, so she often stays by her side. Feixiu also likes this harmonious atmosphere of enjoying her retirement. She said kindly to Liu Xian, "Biji, don't worry, I will take good care of the children for you."

Finally, Green Pearl came over. She wrapped a purple indigo dragon patterned collar that she had woven herself around Liu Xian's neck and whispered to him, "Take good care of Fengyao. Swords and spears have no eyes on the battlefield, so don't let anything happen to him."

Green Pearl said this because Liu Lang was fifteen years old this year, and was about to come of age. He was once again going on the expedition with Liu Xian, and because he was getting older, Liu Lang was eager to make a name for himself, so he repeatedly asked Liu Xian to let him go to the battlefield to fight for him. But on the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes, and Green Pearl couldn't sleep for several days after hearing this.

Liu Xian understood Lü Zhu's worries; this matter couldn't be stopped. He had already promised Liu Lang that he could formally join the army. He also gathered some young men from the Han army in Zhonglie County, about four hundred of them, and organized them into the Tiger Guard Battalion. Liu Lang was to join the battalion and train alongside the army, so that he could first understand the hardships of military life and the nature of fighting. They could talk about that later.

Besides Liu Lang, another person from the palace will also accompany Liu Xian: the newlywed Li Xiu. Liu Xian had previously suffered a serious illness, and even after recovery, he still suffered from some aftereffects. With Li Xiu by his side to care for and recuperate, his health would be much better. Moreover, there were many things Liu Xian couldn't easily discuss with outsiders; having a close confidant by his side allowed him to pour out his troubles.

This was the situation at the moment. After bidding farewell to his family, Liu Xian boarded the ship and set sail. On the specially made pleasure boat, instead of resting early, he stood with his hands behind his back at the bow, feeling the rise and fall of the boat while watching the Chengdu landscape gradually disappear before his eyes. Li Xiu, who was tidying up the books Liu Xian was going to read, noticed that Liu Xian's expression was somewhat strange and couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, what's wrong? Is there some unusual scenery outside the boat?"

Liu Xian shook his head slightly, but Li Xiu clearly saw emotions brewing in his eyes. She couldn't help but follow his gaze and saw the rising sun painting the churning sea of ​​clouds with golden light, making the vast Chengdu Plain vividly colored. To the left and right of the pleasure boat, wisps of smoke rose from chimneys along the banks, farmers sang as they hoeed, and the murmuring green water irrigated the dark, fertile fields, causing the pale yellow reeds to sway and revealing glimpses of red-billed gulls, their cries echoing.

This is a very ordinary Mid-Autumn Festival scene in Sichuan and Chongqing, something that can be seen every day. Therefore, Li Xiushi did not understand what feelings Liu Xian had.

When she asked Liu Xian, he smiled and told her, "Shuniang, this is probably the last time I'll see Chengdu. How can I not miss it?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xiu was naturally surprised and asked, "Your Highness, are we not coming back?"

"Yes, it's hard to come back."

Liu Xian was determined to win this eastern expedition. However, once Jingzhou was captured, a new problem would arise: whether Liu Xian continued eastward or launched a northern expedition to conquer the Central Plains, Chengdu would no longer be suitable as the capital of the Shu Han regime.

Therefore, Liu Xian was destined to choose another city in Guandong as his new capital until he unified the country. After unifying the country, Liu Xian would probably never return to Chengdu. So, this would likely be the last time he saw Chengdu in his life, and this period of time would be his last stay in Sichuan.

This was something Liu Xian realized while discussing strategy with Lu Zhi, but to prevent the soldiers from developing war-weariness too early, he hadn't revealed it to anyone else. But now, as Liu Xian left Chengdu, he could no longer suppress the longing in his heart.

He spent three years in Bashu, three unforgettable years in Liu Xian's life. He suffered a serious illness, but also fulfilled his promises to many, established his kingdom, and restored the glory of his ancestors. This brought him joy and satisfaction. But he could not stop there. As a king, he needed to be perpetually vigilant and never complacent. Therefore, he had to bid farewell to this land that had brought him peace and tranquility, to embark on the next chapter of his journey—the destiny of a king.

Standing on the pleasure boat, Liu Xian imprinted the scenes before him firmly in his heart, hoping he would never forget them. Then he thought of Zhong's expectations and the last wishes of the martyrs. Liu Xian realized that his true responsibility was to completely end the war and bring true peace and prosperity to the world. With this thought, an inspiration surged into his mind, leading him to spontaneously compose a five-character poem, expressing his hopes and determination for the future. It read:
"The wind tears the banners of the military governor's office, and the border soldiers sing of gathering wild herbs."

The land is stained with blood, and my homeland has long been without a gate.

May all the shadows of war be extinguished, and may this peaceful harvest be achieved.

Hoeing and clearing thorns, the shepherd returns to the autumn fields. (End of Chapter)