Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 311 The Emperor Descends the Steps, Generals Carry His Carriage, and the Imperial Guards Bow Their Heads
The first day of the third month of the first year of the Hanxing era.

Today is the first day of late spring, and the temperature has warmed up to the most pleasant temperature, which has dispelled the biting chill without making people feel hot.

A four-wheeled cart, its wooden wheels grinding against the ground, made a soft rustling sound as it slowly drove past a group of courtiers who were walking to the Jiade Hall to attend the grand court assembly.

"The Ram!"

"Master Yang, please take good care of yourself!"

"Greetings, Lord Yang!"

Upon seeing the four-wheeled carriage, the court officials made way for it and stood on both sides.

Despite the shouts, everyone bowed to the people on the four-wheeled vehicle, some even bowing deeply without daring to get up.

"Fellow colleagues, there's no need for this. Please rise, please rise!"

Sitting in the four-wheeled carriage was Yang Xu, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, who was being pushed by his second son, Yang Dao. Yang Xu, sitting in the carriage, would occasionally bow to the court officials on either side in return.

However, Yang Xu had a relieved smile on his face, as if he had unloaded a burden that had been weighing on him for many years, and could now return home to enjoy his old age and be with his grandchildren.

However, deep in Yang Xu's heart, he had never longed for the journey from Jiade Gate to Jiade Hall to be longer than he did today.

As the plaque of Jiade Hall finally came into his view, Yang Xu's eyes dimmed, and an indescribable sense of loneliness swept through his heart.

Today marks the last time he will participate in the grand court assembly, and it is also the end of his official career.

The emperor insisted on following the old system, requiring a resignation every nine days, and only after three resignations would the emperor be allowed to resign.

February this year has 29 days. From February 10th to March 1st, it is exactly 20 days. I submitted a resignation letter every other day, and today is the day of the third resignation letter.

Yang Xu sighed inwardly. If he had taken good care of himself after being injured back then, he wouldn't have had to retire at the age of forty-five and miss the chance to witness the revival of the Han Dynasty.

Just as Yang Xu was filled with regret, Yang Dao, who was pushing the cart, suddenly stopped and pointed towards the direction of Jiade Hall, calling out repeatedly, "My lord, there...my lord, look over there!"

Just as Yang Xu was about to reprimand his son for his disrespect in the palace, he looked up and a familiar figure in blue suddenly caught his eye.

He rubbed his eyes, slightly surprised. That figure... dressed in a blue imperial robe, was clearly...

"nation!"

Yang Xu gasped in shock, then his face changed drastically. He frantically pounded on the armrest and cried out, “You brat! Help this old man up! The emperor is standing; how can a subject sit idly by!”

Just as Yang Xu was struggling to get up despite the heavy swelling in his legs, a crisp yet heavy sound of nail plates colliding came from afar, accompanied by the sound of uniform, heavy footsteps. He couldn't help but turn his head to look.

It turned out to be eight officers of the central army, wearing feathered hats, who together carried a sedan chair steadily towards them.

Although no one uttered a word, everyone's eyes were unanimously focused on Yang Xu.

"General Wei, Marquis of Guangyang, Zhu Shuda (Zhu Miao)!"

"General of the Left Guard, Marquis of Fanyang, Dian Junming!"

"General of the Valiant Cavalry, Marquis of Wanshou Pavilion, Lü Buxian!"

"Guerrilla General, Marquis of Xihu Township, Sun Wentai!"

"General of the Central Army, Marquis of Yunting, Huang Hansheng!"

"General of Zhonglei, Marquis of Gaoyang, Gao Xiaofu!"

"Guerrilla Commandant, Marquis of Guanting, Cao Zixiao!"

"The Valiant Cavalry Commandant, Marquis of Hanting, Xiahou Miaocai!"

"We respectfully invite Lord Yang to ascend the chariot!"

A loud announcement echoed in the open space in front of the Jiade Hall.

The eight men carrying the palanquin were all marquises conferred by the imperial court, renowned generals, and even the emperor's maternal uncle, General He Miao, was among them, personally carrying the palanquin and inviting him to take a seat!

Yang Xu was so startled that he waved his hands repeatedly and shrank back, saying, "This...this is unacceptable! I appreciate the kindness of the country and the generals, but please forgive me...hey, what are you doing! Put me down!"

Before the words of refusal could be finished, Dian Wei and Lü Bu exchanged a glance, and without hesitation, stepped forward. The two of them, one on the left and one on the right, lifted Yang Xu from the four-wheeled cart and steadily helped him onto the eight-person sedan chair.

No matter how much Yang Xu cried out and struggled, the two ignored him. Yang Xu, who had already been carried onto the sedan chair, was helpless.

Under the watchful eyes of the officials, the palanquin was steadily lifted, and Yang Xu sat on it. On both sides, the soldiers of the Wuwei Camp, holding spears and swords, bowed their heads in military salute and shouted in unison, "Greetings, Lord Yang!"

Hearing the shouts of the soldiers of the Wuwei Camp on both sides, and looking at the figure in blue on the steps, Yang Xu felt both angry and amused, and a thin layer of mist appeared in his eyes.

This kind of "forceful request" is something probably only an emperor could do.

This is truly... ridiculous... yes, utterly ridiculous!

He doesn't look like a ruler at all, so how could he bear to leave the court in peace?
As Yang Xu walked down the steps to the Jiade Hall, he looked up at the figure on the steps and saw a gentle smile on that handsome face.

The sedan chair began to climb upwards, and the eight people walked steadily, with the sedan chair hardly shaking.

When they reached the last nine steps, the emperor himself descended the steps, walked directly to the palanquin, grasped Yang Xu's hand, and said with a smile, "Lord Yang, the emperor has descended the steps, and the guards have bowed their heads. Isn't that enough to show your worth?"

Yang Xu was slightly taken aback, then slowly shook his head and uttered two words, "Not yet!"

Upon hearing this, the officials not far behind were all utterly shocked.

Liu Bian remained expressionless, his smile unchanged, awaiting Yang Xu's continuation.

If there were no tacit understanding and trust between the ruler and his subjects, why would he bother to arrange such a scene today?
Wei Qing's "the emperor descends the steps, the tiger-like guards carry the sedan chair, and the imperial guards bow their heads" was just a fictional story, but today he is treating him with the real honor of "the emperor descends the steps, the generals carry the sedan chair, and the imperial guards bow their heads."

Yang Xu took a deep breath, his gaze fixed intently on the Emperor, and solemnly said, "May Your Majesty's power and virtue extend to the four seas, encompass the nine provinces, and accomplish the great cause of national revival. Furthermore, I will burn incense to inform Your Majesty in the netherworld, so that your glory may be revealed!" (Note 1)

Liu Bian clapped his hands and laughed, then walked with Yang Xu up the steps into the palace.

However, Liu Bian's courteous treatment of Yang Xu did not end there. His palanquin was carried directly into the Jiade Hall and placed next to the Three Dukes, closer to the throne than the Three Dukes themselves. Yang Xu was granted special permission not to dismount. At the grand court assembly, Yang Xu sat upright in his palanquin, reciting his prepared petition for resignation.

Your subject bows and prostrates again:
I was originally a soldier, and suffered injuries in Xiangyang and Dengzhou, so I had no time to recuperate. Now my old ailments are flaring up frequently, and I am dizzy and unable to cope. The Minister of Works is in charge of the central government, and I, with my frail body, am occupying this position. This will inevitably lead to the collapse of discipline and order, which would be a disrespect to Heaven and a jeopardy to the nation!
I humbly beseech the restoration of the dynasty, and I, a man of humble means, yearn to witness the sun and moon shine once more. Yet my frail body is like a candle flickering in the wind; I fear the netherworld is near, and I will forever depart from Your Majesty's presence! I humbly request to relinquish my official seal and return my remains to my ancestral home, so that this ailing crane may rest in the forest, and my ashes may return to their coffin. Your subject is filled with boundless sorrow and earnest plea, and respectfully encloses my official seal with this memorial, returning them to their rightful place.

Your subject, bowing deeply with tears streaming down his face, kowtowed twice.

"I... approve what Duke Yang has proposed."

After Yang Xu had submitted his resignation three times, Liu Bian approved it. Looking at Yang Xu bowing his head, Liu Bian sighed quietly and said, "I am grateful for Lord Yang's many years of dedication to public service, integrity and competence. I hereby bestow upon him three million coins, fine clothes and carriages, and his daily food and medicine will be provided by the Imperial Household Department."

"Fan A, a physician in the Imperial Medical Bureau, served Lord Yang closely."

Upon hearing this, all the officials were astonished.

Historically, when officials retired due to old age or died in office, the imperial court would allocate funds to provide for their old age and funeral.

According to the Han dynasty system, officials of the rank of two thousand shi (a unit of grain measure) who retired due to old age or died in office were granted one million coins as a form of condolence, to demonstrate the emperor's benevolence and magnanimity. (Note 2)

Three million coins for retirement funds—this is clearly in accordance with the standards for high-ranking officials like the Three Dukes, who command tens of thousands of bushels of grain!

As for attending physicians, it wouldn't be a big deal if they were just ordinary physicians, but Fan A was one of the most outstanding disciples of Hua Tuo, the Imperial Physician.

All the physicians in the Imperial Medical Bureau had been taught by Zhang Ji, the Chief Physician, and Hua Tuo, the Assistant Physician, and could all call themselves his disciples, but only three of them truly received Hua Tuo's true teachings.

Fan A of Pengcheng State, Wu Pu of Guangling County, and Li Dangzhi of Chang'an.

Among them, Fan Ayou was skilled in acupuncture, Wu Puming was good at identifying herbs, and Li Dangzhi was proficient in pharmacology. The powerful and wealthy people in Luoyang City respected these three highly skilled physicians. However, for those without official rank, it was extremely difficult to get a consultation from them.

Yang Xu frowned slightly, about to refuse, but Liu Bian seemed to have expected it, waved his hand to stop him, and continued: "I have already bestowed wealth upon you, and I shall bestow nobility upon you as well!"

“Yang Xingzu, the Marquis of Guannei of Jin, was made the Marquis of Pingyang, with a fief of five hundred households.”

As Jia Xu, the Chamberlain, read out the imperial decree, the officials, who had thought that their acceptance of the honor bestowed upon Yang Xu had reached its peak, were once again shocked.

Pingyang Pavilion is Yang Xu's hometown, located in Bo County, Taishan Prefecture!

Granting the title of Marquis to his hometown and a fief of five hundred households was not only an honor, but also an unparalleled privilege that allowed a meritorious official to return to his hometown in glory!
The angry King Xiang Ji of Western Chu once said, "Wealth and honor not returned to one's hometown are like wearing brocade at night." The emperor has now bestowed wealth and honor upon Yang Xu in their entirety.

Could there really be such grace in this world?

As Liu Bian and the officials expected, Yang Xu declined again, saying earnestly, "Although my family is poor, we still have a hundred acres of fertile land, enough to eat and wear. Why would I need three million coins for retirement? As for fine clothes and carriages, I dare not accept them. I have never liked luxury, and my family has a donkey cart for transportation."

"Physician Fan is a highly skilled physician; how could he waste his time on an old man like me?"

"We implore the government to rescind its decision!"

Liu Bian, however, insisted on such a generous gift.

Although the Yang family of Taishan was a prestigious clan, it was only in the generation of Yang Xu that it became a newly emerging aristocratic family, and its foundation was still shallow.

Only those whose families had held official positions of rank equivalent to two thousand piculs of grain for three consecutive generations could be considered aristocratic families.

Yang Xu's grandfather, Yang Qin, was appointed as the Sili Xiaowei with a salary of 2,000 shi (a unit of grain), and his father, Yang Ru, was appointed as the Taichang Qing with a salary of 2,000 shi (another unit of grain). In other words, Yang Xu himself was just a third-generation entrepreneur who took the family business public.

As for their family assets, as a newly emerging aristocratic family and a family of scholars who passed down ancient texts, the Taishan Yang clan had very few profitable businesses.

Yang Xu was as honest and upright as water. He did not own any property and often used his private salary to help the people and his subordinates. So much so that Yang Xu's wife once had to go to Nanyang County to seek help from Yang Xu, the then governor of Nanyang County, because of the family's financial difficulties. However, Yang Xu was ashamed and avoided meeting her because he could not afford to give his wife any money.

Finally, Liu Bian stated that Yang Dao and Cai Zhenji would be married next year. As Cai Zhenji's brother-in-law, and since Cai Zhenji would be marrying into the Yang clan of Taishan as the principal wife, it was only natural that a grand ceremony would be held.

The money needed for the wedding will likely be a huge expense.

In addition, if Yang Dao and Cai Zhenji have children in the future, the cost of raising them will be a considerable expense.

This three million is well spent!

Seeing that Yang Xu was still hesitant, Cai Yong, his close friend, also whispered words of advice.

Yang Xu was not a pedantic person. Considering that his son's marriage and the expenses of his future grandchildren would indeed bring enormous financial pressure to the Yang family of Mount Tai, Yang Xu accepted the emperor's reward with the ceremony of kneeling three times and kowtowing nine times.

However, with Yang Xu formally submitting his resignation, resigning from his position as Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and handing over the seal of office, Liu Tao, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, was in for a tough time.

The power struggle between Liu Tao and Liu Yan in the Secretariat was not a recent development. Ultimately, it was a power struggle between the two inner and outer court systems: the Grand Secretary, the Vice Grand Secretary, and the Three Dukes.

Fortunately, Grand Tutor Lu Zhi and Grand Commandant Yuan Pang had no intention of getting involved; they remained neutral, discussing the matter objectively without favoring either side. Otherwise, Liu Tao would not have been able to withstand the attack of four high-ranking officials.

However, just vying for power with Situ Liu Yan and Sikong Cui Lie was already exhausting for Liu Tao. Fortunately, he had the help of Yang Xu, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat.

Yang Xu was always upright and outspoken. If Liu Yan and Cui Lie dared to oppose for the sake of opposing in the Ministry of Personnel, no matter what kind of Three Dukes, what kind of elder of the imperial clan, or what kind of famous scholar leader of Hebei, Yang Xu would dare to spit in their faces.

Therefore, Liu Tao was able to contend with Liu Yan and Cui Lie, but the sudden loss of his most capable deputy inevitably increased the pressure on Liu Tao, making him feel somewhat like he was unable to support the army alone.

A few days ago, Liu Yan even bypassed him, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, and directly ordered Liang Hu, the Minister of Personnel, to urge him to compile the list of candidates recommended by various prefectures and kingdoms for the first quarter as soon as possible.

Although this was just a trivial matter, there were no trivial matters in the Ministry of Personnel.

Liu Tao could easily see that Liu Yan was testing the waters, both to gauge Liang Hu's obedience and to probe Liu Tao's bottom line.

If Liang Hu obeys Liu Yan's orders and Liu Tao does not respond with a strong counterattack, then the various ministers, assistant ministers, and officials of the Secretariat will gradually become disloyal to him.

This Secretariat, I'm afraid it will really be under the Liu family name in the future!

(4028 words)
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Note 1: From the "Biography of Lu Su" in the Book of Wu in the Records of the Three Kingdoms: At that time, Zhou Yu was sent on a mission to Poyang. Su advised him to recall Zhou Yu. Zhou Yu was then entrusted with important tasks, and Su was appointed as the Military Advisor to assist in planning strategies. After Cao Cao was defeated and fled, Su returned first. Sun Quan then invited all the generals to welcome Su.

As Su was about to enter and pay his respects, Quan rose to greet him and then said, "Zijing, I dismounted and held the saddle to welcome you. Is that enough to show your worth?" Su hurried forward and said, "Not yet." Everyone who heard this was astonished. After they sat down, Xu raised his whip and said, "I only wish that Your Majesty's power and virtue would extend to the four seas, encompassing the nine provinces, and that you would establish an imperial enterprise. Only then, by sending me in a comfortable carriage with soft wheels, would your glory be truly shown." Quan clapped his hands and laughed.

Note 2: From the *Book of the Later Han*: Yang Xu was summoned to serve as Grand Master of Ceremonies, but before he could take up the post, he fell ill and died at the age of forty-eight. His will stipulated a simple funeral and that he should not accept any funeral gifts. According to precedent, a soldier of the rank of two thousand shi (a unit of grain measurement) would receive a funeral gift of one million shi. The Prefectural Assistant, Jiao Jian, respected Yang Xu's wishes and refused to accept any. An imperial edict praised him and ordered the Prefect of Taishan to bestow the prefectural funeral gift money upon Yang Xu's family.

(End of this chapter)