Has the Han Dynasty been restored today?

Chapter 96 The Imperial Arrival (Bonus Chapter 1/5 for Alliance Leader Man·Liuyun Zhishang)

Liu Shan rode on a magnificent white horse, gazing into the distance for a long time before turning to look at Fei Yi, who was also riding alongside him from the side and behind.

"Master, are we almost at Yangping Pass?"

"Indeed, Your Majesty." Fei Yi nodded in reply. "Zouma Ridge is on the left, the Han River is on the right, and Yangping Pass is just a few miles ahead. Scouts have already reported that the generals and officials of Hanzhong are already waiting for Your Majesty outside the pass."

Liu Shan sighed, "I am the Emperor of Han, with the Han River beside me. I am about to settle in Hanzhong, which is the right path for the country. Let's go, I want to see my ministers."

"Yes," Fei Yi replied.

Banners fluttered inside and outside Yangping Pass. Generals Wu Yi, Gao Xiang, Wu Ban, Deng Zhi, Wang Ping, Meng Dan, and others, along with officials from the Ministry of Personnel and Lu Yi, the Prefect of Hanzhong, were all waiting at the west gate of the pass.

Yangping Pass was the key to Shu, but in reality, it blocked the road from Jinniu Road to Hanzhong. The reason why Liu Bei was unable to enter Hanzhong for so long was because he could not capture Yangping Pass. He was forced to cross the Han River and take a mountain path to Dingjun Mountain, where he was able to change his defensive position and confront Cao Cao's army.

"We don't know when His Majesty will arrive," Wu Yi said, looking at the sky and addressing Wu Ban and Gao Xiang standing beside him.

"It's already past 1:45 PM, they should be here soon." Gao Xiang nodded in agreement, then craned his neck to look west for a few moments before pointing and exclaiming, "Look, the imperial procession has arrived!"

When the imperial carriage was still a hundred paces away from the waiting crowd, the crowd lined up under the command of General Wu Yi, who was standing at the front.

When the imperial carriage was about ten steps away, everyone knelt down and said, "Your subjects respectfully welcome the imperial carriage."

Liu Shan, observing all this from his horse, slowly steered forward, dismounted, and walked before his ministers. He proclaimed loudly, "My lords, now that I have personally arrived in Hanzhong, I swear I will not turn south until the northern expedition succeeds! I urge you all to join me in expanding our territory and restoring the Han dynasty. I will certainly not be stingy with official positions and rewards. My lords, strive on!"

The crowd responded in unison, "We are willing to follow Your Majesty to expand our territory and restore the Han Dynasty!"

"Please rise, gentlemen," Liu Shan said immediately.

Seeing that everyone was gradually getting up, Liu Shan stepped forward and began to talk with the generals standing at the front.

Chen Zhi, one of the ministers standing behind, saw this scene and couldn't help but let out a long sigh. This sigh was both a feeling of relief and a slight satisfaction at having achieved his goal.

They gathered their strength and marched north, reclaiming the Central Plains and returning to the capital.

The indomitable spirit that Liu Bei possessed seemed to have reappeared in Hanzhong today!

Liu Shan conversed with the generals, accompanied by Fei Yi, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, standing behind him. First came Wu Yi, then Gao Xiang, Wu Ban, Deng Zhi, and Wang Ping, followed by the officials from the Hanzhong Regional Administration.

When Liu Shan met Chen Zhi, he only called him "Feng Zong," exchanged a glance, smiled and nodded, and then continued to talk to the next person.

However, Chen Zhi saw trust, respect, and the earnestness of treating Liu Shan as a national hero in his eyes, which was exactly the trust and respect that Chen Zhi needed.

After the meeting outside Yangping Pass, everyone rode along in the imperial carriage to Mianyang. Upon arriving at the former Prime Minister's residence, in the evening, all the generals and officials of the rank of two thousand shi in Hanzhong were summoned for a banquet. During the banquet, the arrangements for the sacrificial rites to the late emperor and Prime Minister Zhuge Liang three days later were announced.

After the banquet ended and the officials dispersed, about half an hour later, a palace attendant came to Chen Zhi's residence, saying that His Majesty summoned him.

Chen Zhi did not delay. After tidying his robes and putting on his hat, he immediately went with the eunuch.

Since it was within the Prime Minister's residence, and Lady Huang and Zhuge Zhan had returned to Chengdu after the Prime Minister's funeral, the former residence of Prime Minister Zhuge had become Liu Shan's current residence. After passing through two outer courtyards, before the inner courtyard gate, waiting there to receive the officials was still the old acquaintance Huang Liu.

Chen Zhi casually asked, "Who else is coming today?"

Perhaps it was the chilly weather tonight, for Huang Liu seemed a little timid as he replied in a low voice, "Tonight, besides Minister Chen, there will also be Minister Fei and Minister Dong. We must wait for all three of you to arrive before I can lead you inside for an audience."

-

Having learned the names of Fei Yi and Dong Yun, Chen Zhi now had a general idea of ​​what was going on.

Dong Yun is in charge of the Ministry of Personnel in the Hanzhong Administrative Office. If Dong Chong is present, it must be related to the official positions and titles of the many officials summoned today.

"Hmm." Chen Zhi stopped, smiling, and casually chatted with Huang Liu: "Which is better, Chengdu or Hanzhong?"

Huang Liu bowed and forced a smile: "To be honest, Minister Chen, I am a native of Chengdu and have never left Shu County. The climate in Hanzhong is a bit cold, and I am not quite used to it."

Chen Zhi nodded slightly: "It's still chilly in early spring, but it will be much better in February. This residence isn't as grand as the palaces in Chengdu, so you'll be on duty outdoors at night, right?"

Huang Liu replied softly, "It is my duty."

Chen Zhi smiled and said, "I don't have any gold coins to give you right now, but I'll send you a leather jacket tomorrow. It will make you much more comfortable at night, so you won't catch a chill and feel unwell."

Huang Liu bowed deeply to Chen Zhi, his face full of gratitude: "How dare I presume to ask for any reward? I am already deeply grateful that Minister Chen would even give me a second glance. Thank you for your kind gift, Minister Chen!"

"It's nothing, it's nothing." Chen Zhi had just nodded when he noticed Huang Liu's expression tense up slightly, and he even took two steps back automatically.

Looking back, the person who came was Dong Yun.

It is clear that Huang Liu was somewhat afraid of Dong Yun. When Dong Yun served as a court attendant, he not only restrained Emperor Liu Shan, but also treated the eunuchs and palace maids with a stern expression and often gave them strict orders and reprimands.

However, after Liu Shan assumed personal rule, Dong Yun was still sent to the palace to serve as the Vice Minister of Personnel. Although he was relieved of his position as Attendant-in-Ordinary, Dong Yun retained his title of Tiger-General of the Central Army and was not removed at the same time.

This was the same situation encountered by other officials of the Ministry of Personnel.

Taking the Nine Ministers as an example, Du Qiong, who became Minister of Rites, still retained his position and privileges as Grand Master of Ceremonies. Similarly, considering the officials of the former Prime Minister's office, Xu Yun, who became Minister of War, retained his position as Lieutenant General, and even Fei Yi, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, retained his position as Lieutenant General.

Chen Zhi's own positions as Yueqi Colonel and Vice Minister of Works did not conflict.

The officials in Hanzhong were originally preparing for the Northern Expedition; they held both civil and military positions, making it convenient for them to lead troops at any time.

"Minister Dong." Chen Zhi took a few steps forward to greet him, bowing respectfully.

"Minister Chen," Dong Yun cupped his hands in greeting, standing before Chen Zhi, "besides the two of us, who else has been summoned today?"

"It must be Fei Pu She," Chen Zhi said casually. "If we wait a little longer, Pu She should arrive soon."

Dong Yun nodded and began chatting with Chen Zhi.

However, during their conversation, Chen Zhi sensed a certain ease in Dong Yun, though he wasn't sure if it was just his imagination.