Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 287 Liu Bian: Master Lu, from now on you will call me the country, and I will call you Brother Lu!
December 2nd, the first year of the Hanxing era.

The case of Zhu Jun's rebellion seemed to have been completely forgotten by the emperor.

Yes, the Court of Justice detained Zhu Jun on charges of "treason." Those families who had been promised by Zhu Jun the opportunity to enter the army for a prestigious position were also imprisoned on charges of "treason," including the Jin family of Jingzhao, the Miao family of Lanling, and the Xiao family of Lanling.

However, those imprisoned were mostly members of collateral branches, not direct descendants. Even though the court now values ​​military merit, these powerful families would never send their direct descendants to the south to risk the dangers of malaria to gain military achievements.

After the three rounds of torture, the jailers did not conduct a fourth illegal interrogation, but no one was released, and they were detained in the Tingwei prison.

However, this actually eased the anxieties of the families of these convicted officials somewhat.

After all, the emperor did not seem to have any intention of executing them. Otherwise, if they were really punished for "treason," given the emperor's temperament, the powerful families involved would probably have been uprooted long ago, and they would not have had time to worry.

Guo Tu is the one who's suffering. He's locked these people up in cells, and he can neither torture them nor release them. He's practically treated like royalty!
Guo Tu had to have the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau examine these people every three days. He also had to worry about them catching a cold at night. The coarse cloth quilts were replaced with warm cashmere brocade quilts. In recent days, even their food has been improved a bit.

Hey, if you don't give me meat, I'll go on a hunger strike!
If it were an ordinary prisoner, Guo Tu would have instructed the jailers to treat them well using methods that would not reveal their injuries.

"You won't eat, huh? Then you won't get any sleep either." Every 15 minutes, he would knock on the cell door with a wooden halberd. This was the most stubborn person Guo Tu had ever seen. He couldn't hold out for more than three days before he confessed to his crimes, only begging with tears streaming down his face to be able to get a good night's sleep before he died.

However, the emperor never intended to execute these people for "treason." Guo Tu was not afraid that the deaths of these officials in prison would cause him any trouble, but rather worried that it would ruin the emperor's plans.

Therefore, the coarse bean rice was replaced with relatively refined wheat rice, and the three meals had more oil and salt. A few spoonfuls of fermented black bean sauce and a small bowl of bone broth were also added. Meat could be eaten once every three days and vegetables and fruits once every seven days.

However, these convicted officials also understood that they had already done more than enough for Guo Tu, and if they were to push their luck, there was no guarantee that this mad dog Guo Tu would do something crazy.

This sense of propriety made Guo Tu particularly uncomfortable. On the one hand, as a Legalist "cruel official," being threatened by convicted officials like this was a disgrace to him as a Legalist scholar. On the other hand, the Court of Justice's budget was insufficient this year, and he had already started to pay out of his own pocket to provide food for these convicted officials.

Therefore, Guo Tu had no choice but to take his newly recruited prison guard, Man Chong, to the Yuntai Pavilion to pay homage to the emperor and request his instructions on how to handle the matter.

The emperor seemed to have not yet made a decision, so he kept Guo Tu and Man Chong for a meal at Yuntai Pavilion.

At noon today, the Chinese chef prepared a chicken soup with an old hen. The soup was delicious, but after finishing the soup, the emperor's gaze fell on the chicken ribs left in the soup bowl in his hand. He stared at them for a long time, seemingly lost in thought.

Guo Tu didn't notice the emperor's gaze fixed on the chicken rib, assuming the emperor was deep in thought. After a long while, Guo Tu took the initiative to speak, seeking the emperor's opinion on the follow-up handling of the Zhu Jun case. He saw the emperor gently pick up the chicken rib with ivory chopsticks, a faint smile playing on his lips, and murmur, "Chicken rib."

Guo Tu was slightly taken aback, then looked up and asked, "What did you say, State?"

“A chicken rib,” the emperor repeated, his gaze still fixed on the chicken rib held between his ivory chopsticks.

Guo Tu looked bewildered, then his eyes lit up as if he suddenly understood something. But then his expression turned to helplessness. He sighed softly and shook his head slightly, saying, "Your subject understands. Your subject will maintain the status quo: no killing, no torture, no release."

Just before leaving the pavilion, Liu Bian called out to the sensible Guo Tu, saying, "Don't forget the banquet tonight."

"only!"

Guo Tu turned around and bowed to the emperor.

After leaving Yuntai Pavilion, Man Chong, who was following behind Guo Tu, was puzzled. He had not yet come of age and did not understand how Guo Tu had understood the emperor's intentions. He had not even realized how the emperor had expressed his intentions.

"Teacher, please teach me!"

Man Chong solemnly bowed to Guo Tu as a disciple. He had always thought that being a cruel official was easy; strictly enforcing the law and not fearing the powerful and wealthy was all it took to become an excellent cruel official. Only today did he realize that this was merely the most basic requirement for a cruel official.

“This is what Bo Ning needs to learn.” Guo Tu glanced at Man Chong but didn’t explain further. He simply said calmly, “Chicken ribs are like meat—they’re not very tasty, but they’re not very delicious either.”

Guo Tu's tone turned somber as he said, "Being a cruel official is not simply a matter of strictly enforcing the law and not fearing the powerful. A cruel official must be able to protect himself even if he meets these two prerequisites; otherwise, no matter how upright and incorruptible he is, he will not escape death."

Guo Tu thought highly of this young man; otherwise, he wouldn't have accepted him as a disciple.

Although Man Chong had not yet come of age, he was known for his strict enforcement of the law and never showed leniency. Even those who defied orders from their superiors were punished, which made him feared by the people of Shanyang County.

Prefect Liu Hong saw this opportunity and appointed the eighteen-year-old Man Chong as the supervisor. At that time, powerful figures such as Li Shuo in Shanyang County each had their own troops and were harming the people.

Liu Hong, the governor of Shanyang County, sent Man Chong to investigate. Upon hearing the news, Li Shuo and others came to apologize and said they dared not do evil again.

"To be a corrupt official, one must be cunning; to be an honest official, one must be even more cunning. It is easier to be a cruel official in this dynasty than in the past. The Holy Emperor is an unparalleled emperor who values ​​loyalty and righteousness. As long as you enforce the law, even if your actions are impeached by many people, you can still have a good ending, rather than becoming a pawn for the emperor and his ministers to reconcile."

Guo Tu patted Man Chong on the shoulder and said earnestly, then chuckled and walked past him, got into the carriage, and said nothing more.

At night, the Yuntai Pavilion was warm and cozy. Liu Bian summoned his former officials from his former residence in the capital, along with their families, to a room where husbands and wives sat together, while their children sat in a separate side hall with a steaming copper pot in front of them. The atmosphere was lively and cheerful as they chatted and laughed.

Hmm... They were eating hotpot and singing songs, but no bandits dared to rob them.

Even with bandits, there were still generals like Lü Bu, Sun Jian, Huang Zhong, Gao Shun, Dian Wei, and a series of capable generals such as Zhao Yun, Zhang Liao, Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Gao Lan, Zhang He, Cao Ren, and Xiahou Yuan.

Which bandit would dare to venture into this den of dragons and tigers?

The only pity was that Xu Chu went with Dong Zhuo to Ji Province to suppress the Black Mountain bandits, Liu Bei was serving as the governor of Jiangxia County, and Xun Yu, Tian Feng, and others were also not there, so in the end, not everyone could be gathered together.

In the depths of winter, a rich broth made from lamb bones from Bingzhou simmers in a copper pot, garnished with spices such as dogwood and Sichuan pepper. Thinly sliced ​​beef and mutton, cooked in the boiling broth, are quickly dipped in sauce and eaten. A sip of warm pepper wine brings warmth and savory flavor straight to the stomach.

The feeling is hard to describe.

Seven months pregnant, Liu Qing sat gracefully at the table. The emperor was personally cooking several slices of beef for her, carefully dipping them in her favorite sauce, and then feeding them to her. She didn't even have to lift a hand; she was practically being waited on hand and foot.

"The nation truly dotes on Consort Liu."

Sun Jian's wife, Lady Wu, gazed at the emperor's tender care for Liu Qing, and a trace of indescribable envy swept through her heart.

Even though this era did not have the vast disparity in status between men and women that would become so prevalent in later times, the husband's meticulous and hands-on care for his pregnant wife's diet was truly exceptional.

Liu Qing's calm and composed demeanor, the unspoken understanding between him and the emperor, and the genuine happiness radiating from his slightly fuller face compared to a few months ago all caught the attention of the crowd.

In particular, since Liu Qing could not possibly become the principal wife's concubine, and Liu Bian was the emperor, such behavior was all the more commendable.

As a woman herself, having already given birth to two sons, she naturally knows how sensitive and prone to anxiety and insecurity can be during pregnancy.

When Lady Wu was pregnant with Sun Ce, she strongly urged her husband to marry his own sister, so that the sisters could share one husband, also because she was worried about losing his favor.

Liu Qing's value to the emperor was merely proof that the emperor possessed the ability to reproduce.

Since the emperor is capable of having children, it doesn't matter who he has children with, so why take such good care of Liu Qing?

"I've heard the saying among the common people that 'sour for a boy, spicy for a girl,'" Liu Bian took out a plain handkerchief from his bosom and gently wiped the oil stains from Liu Qing's lips. Seeing her slightly lowered head and shy appearance, he couldn't help but laugh and said, "My beloved concubine has been craving spicy food for the past few months. I wonder if she will give birth to a little princess for me?"

The ministers' eyes flickered slightly as they turned to the emperor, who was chatting and laughing.

The Emperor's words, spoken during a banquet in front of all the former officials from his time as a prince, indicated that he did not mind the birth of a princess, demonstrating the depth of his affection for Consort Liu. However, some more astute individuals grasped another meaning, their eyes gleaming.

A glint flashed in Wu's eyes, and she immediately looked at Sun Jian beside her.

But her husband seemed completely oblivious to the deeper meaning, still focused on drinking and eating meat with his head down.

Wu felt a surge of anger, and quietly reached out with her slender hand to pinch Sun Jian's side hard.

"Hiss—!" Sun Jian was caught off guard and almost jumped up in pain. His knee slammed heavily on the edge of the food counter, causing some hot pot soup to splash out.

Sun Jianqiang endured the pain, looking at his wife with a hint of resentment in his eyes. He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "My lady, this is a banquet before the emperor. Please give your husband some face in public."

Wu almost reached out to pinch him again, but she suppressed her anger and whispered a few words in his ear.

Sun Jian's face first showed suspicion, his brows furrowed, and he hesitated before asking, "Will the state... agree?"

Madam Wu sighed inwardly, looking at her somewhat hesitant husband, and said in a low voice, "Husband, you are qualified to be called 'Yuan Cong' among the old officials of the Emperor's former residence. You are a dignified general with a salary of two thousand shi and a fief of twelve hundred households, the Marquis of Xihu Township. You have fought in the north and south for many years and made great military achievements. Don't you even have the right to ask for it? Even if it doesn't work out, it will just be a joke and be laughed off. But what if it does work out?"

Sun Jian's expression shifted rapidly. Finally, he gritted his teeth, abruptly rose from his seat, strode into the hall, bowed deeply to Liu Bian, and said in a loud voice, "If Consort Liu has indeed given birth to a princess, I dare to ask Your Majesty for the opportunity to marry a princess for my son, Sun Quan. I wonder if Your Majesty would be willing to grant me this honor?"

Upon hearing this, the former officials from the Prince's residence who were still hesitating or planning to privately petition the Emperor after the banquet almost simultaneously slammed their fists on the table, their faces filled with regret and urgency, almost ready to unleash a string of profanities!
broken!

Sun Wentai beat him to it!
Liu Bian was taken aback. He had no intention of asking his ministers to propose a marriage alliance to strengthen the relationship between the emperor and his subjects; he had only mentioned it casually.

Liu Bian was taken aback upon hearing this.

He was just mentioning it casually, and had no intention of suggesting that his ministers propose a marriage alliance to strengthen the relationship between the emperor and his subjects.

If it weren't for the need to pass on the throne, he would have preferred to have a few more princesses.

He still remembered how mischievous and annoying he was as a child. If he had a son who was just as annoying as he was as a child, he was afraid he would develop high blood pressure at a young age.

Liu Bian frowned slightly, his gaze falling on Sun Jian, and asked, "Wentai, which son are you referring to?"

"My unworthy son, Sun Quan!"

Liu Bian remained silent.

Sun Quan... The phrase "my unworthy son" is hardly a humble expression when applied to Sun Quan.

Of course, it was just a joke.

Although Sun Quan made many "miraculous moves" in his later years, in all fairness, Sun Quan's personal abilities were actually quite good. Many things were just made foolish by the fan filter and memes of later generations. But to say that Sun Quan was wronged is not entirely true.

Perhaps... he can nurture this seedling, which has just fallen to the ground and has not yet sprouted, into a towering tree that protects the Han Dynasty.

Just as Liu Bian was pondering, Qian Zhao, the Commander of the Imperial Guards, quickly rose from his seat, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty! Liu Xuande's eldest son, Liu Yong, nicknamed A Dou, was born on the third day of the ninth month this year. I am sworn brothers with Liu Xuande, and his son is my son! I wish to ask Your Majesty for an opportunity to marry a princess on Liu Yong's behalf!"

what?
Upon hearing this, Liu Bian was momentarily dazed.

Was Liu Yong's nickname A Dou?
He knew about Liu Bei's marriage; the woman was the daughter of the Zu family of Zhuojun, and was a relative of a certain future descendant who would "rise at the crowing of the rooster."

This marriage was arranged by Lu Zhi. At that time, Liu Bei was only twenty-four years old. The Qiang rebellion in Liangzhou had not yet broken out. As a member of the imperial clan who was highly regarded by the emperor and had made outstanding contributions, he was the Marquis of Yicheng with a fief of four hundred households. Most importantly, he had not yet married or had any concubines!
As a disciple of Lu Zhi, even if Liu Bei's understanding of the Zuo Zhuan was not profound, he would still be qualified to inherit the Zuo Zhuan, thus becoming a distinguished family of the ancient literature school.

Such a promising stock should be bought immediately!

The Zu family of Zhuojun readily agreed, and the daughter who married Liu Bei was his legitimate daughter.

Liu Bei married Lady Zu after the Qiang rebellion in Liangzhou ended, before he took up his post as the governor of Jiangxia Commandery.

With his fiefdom increased to eight hundred households, Liu Bei's potential became increasingly apparent. At that time, Liu Bian, who was still the crown prince, also came to the mansion to attend the ceremony, congratulate Liu Bei on his marriage, bestow upon him a pair of jade discs to wish the newlyweds happiness and bliss, and also bestowed upon him ten bushels of pearls to wish the newlyweds many children and blessings, as well as many other rewards.

Moreover, Liu Bian did not allow the newlyweds to be separated so soon after their marriage. He specially permitted Liu Bei to take his wife, Lady Zu, to his new post. Then, in September of this year, Liu Bei sent a private letter to Liu Bian to announce the good news of the birth of his eldest son, who was named Liu Yong.

However, the letter did not mention "A Dou's" nickname.

Liu Bian's gaze swept across the table and landed on Cao Cao's wife, Lady Ding, and her eldest son, Cao Ang, whom she regarded as her own. Cao Ang was twelve years old this year, which was definitely inappropriate.

I heard that Cao Cao took his most beloved concubine, Lady Bian, to take up his post in Youzhou. Lady Bian gave birth to a son last month, named Cao Pi.

Fortunately, even though Lady Bian was favored, she was still only a concubine. Lady Ding's father, Ding Gong, was, after all, a Grand Master of the Palace with a salary of two thousand shi (a unit of grain), and there was still a chance for him to rise further. Therefore, Cao Cao dared not favor his concubine over his wife, and on behalf of his illegitimate son Cao Pi, he requested that the princess marry him.

Otherwise, things could get really messed up.

So all three kingdoms fell to the Liu family?

Immediately afterwards, Dian Wei also asked for a wife for his five-year-old son, Dian Man.

Who in the capital doesn't know the Emperor's favoritism towards Dian Man?

The jade pendant that the emperor wore when he was young was given to Dianman when he was four years old. Now Dianman is five years old, only six years younger than the fetus in Liu Qing's womb, which is still within the appropriate age range.

Subsequently, Cheng Yu, for his one-year-old eldest son Cheng Wu, Dong Zhao, for his six-month-old eldest son Dong Zhou, Jia Xu, for his two-year-old youngest son Jia Ji... even Lü Bu, who had just had a son, rose from his seat and squeezed into the hall for his wife Yan's baby boy Lü Zhuang, who was born last month, and made a request to the emperor to marry a princess!
These officials, who were originally late bloomers, had an astonishingly fast rate of having children during a relatively peaceful period, especially in the year after Liu Bian ascended the throne.

"You lot, you were enjoying your drinks, and now you're all eyeing my little princess!" Liu Bian looked at the group of people in the center of the hall who had just been clinking glasses and were now scheming for his son's little princess. He was both amused and annoyed. He pointed at them, paused, and said with a hint of helplessness, "When I said 'sour for a boy, spicy for a girl,' it was just a joke. Not to mention, it's still unknown whether the baby is a prince or a princess..."

Liu Bian's eyes darted around, his gaze sweeping over Lu Zhi, who was drinking heartily, cup after cup, enjoying the rare opportunity to drink freely. Suddenly, he raised his hand and pointed directly at Lu Zhi, proclaiming loudly, "My teacher's wife just gave birth to a son this year, named Lu Yu. To be honest, if Consort Liu were to give birth to a princess, I would rather strengthen the kinship with my teacher, Lu!"

The assembled officials in the center of the hall were all slightly taken aback, completely unexpected that the emperor wanted to strengthen the ties between himself and Lu Zhi, and they couldn't help but envy Lu Zhi even more.

But then I thought, if the emperor had chosen any one of them, they would inevitably have been dissatisfied with each other; only Lu Zhi... that deep bond between teacher and student and between ruler and subject was something that no one could rival.

"Master Lu!" Liu Bian looked at Lu Zhi, a mischievous smile playing on his lips, and said, "If A Yu marries the princess in the future, you will call me 'the country,' and I will call you 'Brother Lu.' From then on, we will be equals, how about that?"

Lu Zhi gripped his wine cup tightly. He knew this brat was trying to use him as a shield to avoid the ministers' marriage proposals, but seeing Liu Bian's frivolous demeanor, which resembled that of a "tyrannical and foolish ruler," a surge of anger rushed to his head. His beard and hair stood on end, and he glared at Liu Bian, shouting without any politeness, "You brat! You are not fit to be a ruler!"

Yes, there's absolutely no acting skill involved; it's all genuine emotion!
(5138 words)
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P.S.: Waaah, I'm so tired from working overtime these past two days!

So I'm in a really bad mood, and I'll just add a short update of 1100 words.

Dear readers, please give me some extra monthly votes in recognition of the extra 1100 words I've added!
(End of this chapter)