Has the Han Dynasty been restored today?

Chapter 99 Mianyang

"So, Qiangduan's leg is really lame?"

Jiang Wei sat calmly in his military tent, watching the two Di people bowing before him.

Qiang Duan's second son, Tu He, bowed respectfully and said, "Reporting to the general, my father has indeed developed a tumor in his leg and is unable to ride a horse, so he sent me."

Jiang Wei's gaze swept over Tu He, then turned to Fu Shuang beside him: "Fu Shuang, tell me the truth, is Qiang Duan's leg really lame?"

Fu Shuang dared not look directly at Jiang Wei, and bowed, replying, "Reporting to the General, I know nothing of the forced execution."

"Oh, this is the first time I've heard of someone being unable to ride a horse because of a tumor in one leg." Jiang Wei nodded casually, then asked, "Fu Shuang, the envoy from Yongzhou has come to your unit, hasn't he? They want you to go to Chencang. When do you plan to go?"

"I—" Fu Shuang was stunned for a moment, standing there in a daze, not knowing how to answer, her expression clearly flustered.

Jiang Wei observed all of this, but without asking Fu Shuang any further questions, he pointed to Tu He standing to the side and asked in a calm yet authoritative voice, "Tu He, when does your father plan to go to Chencang?"

Tu He remembered Qiang Duan's instructions to him before he set off, and immediately shook his head in denial, his braid swaying as well: "I don't understand what the general is asking. No one came to find my father to go to Chencang."

Before Tu He could finish speaking, Jiang Wei slammed his hand on the table and stood up, pointing at Tu He and shouting, "I'm asking you to my face, and you still dare to lie to me! Guards, cut off one of his ears!"

"Yes, sir!"

As Jiang Wei gave the order, the four armored soldiers standing behind Tu He and Fu Shuang immediately stepped forward. Two of them restrained Tu He's left and right arms, one held Tu He's head, and the other drew his ring-pommel sword from his waist. Ignoring Tu He's loud shouts, he swung the sword diagonally without hesitation. With a swift stroke, most of Tu He's left ear, stained with blood, fell to the ground. Fu Shuang, who was standing nearby, was terrified.

"Tie this man up and keep him in the army camp," Jiang Wei ordered calmly. "Once I lead the army to Qiang Duan's camp, I will go and confront him."

"Yes, sir!"

The soldier who had just cut off the ear bent down and picked it up from the ground. Seeing that Tu He was still shouting, he stuffed the ear into Tu He's mouth to stop him from shouting, and then dragged Tu He out of the tent.

Only after the tent curtains closed again did Jiang Wei lean on his sword and look at Fu Shuang, calmly asking, "I just asked you a question, but you haven't answered yet. It's only a two-day journey from here to Hechi. Think it over before you speak."

Under Jiang Wei's piercing gaze, Fu Shuang finally could not bear it any longer and prostrated himself on the ground, bowing repeatedly and saying, "This humble servant dares not deceive the general. The state of Wei did send someone, but this humble servant did not dare to accept it! Qiang Duan tried to stop me from coming last night, but as soon as the general summoned me, I came. This humble servant has not told a single lie!"

"You're not bad," Jiang Wei scoffed. "Very well, you'll stay in my camp for now and come with me to Xiabian. Don't wander off, understand?"

"I understand!" Fu Shuang replied repeatedly, feeling a mix of shock and relief.

The next morning, Jiang Wei sent a messenger back to Hanzhong, and then led 6,000 Tiger Infantry to continue northward.

On the same day, February 2nd, in the morning, Emperor Liu Shan set up an altar north of Mianyang City to worship Emperor Zhaolie Liu Bei. Generals and officials from Hanzhong also participated.

There's a story behind Hanzhong.

Back then, Liu Bei confronted Cao Cao at Dingjun Mountain. After Cao Cao retreated, Liu Bei led his army across the Han River to Mianyang on the north bank of the Han River, where he temporarily stayed. He then performed a sacrifice to Heaven and Earth in the north of Mianyang and was granted the title of King of Hanzhong, instead of the usual sacrifice held in the south of the city.

On the one hand, it may be that the Han River is not far south of Mianyang City, and there is not enough open space to set up an altar for sacrifice. On the other hand, it may be that the Han emperor and the old capital were in the south, and the sacrifice in the north was a political gesture.

After offering sacrifices to Liu Bei with his officials, Liu Shan led his ministers south across the Han River to the foot of Dingjun Mountain, where they offered sacrifices again at the tomb of Prime Minister Zhuge Liang.

When Liu Shan was in Chengdu, he offered sacrifices to Liu Bei twice a year. But this was the first time he had offered sacrifices to Prime Minister Zhuge Liang. He hadn't wept in Mianyang, but he broke down in tears at the Prime Minister's tomb at the foot of Dingjun Mountain. He personally read the eulogy for the sacrifice again, and then personally threw the silk scroll inscribed with the eulogy into the bronze cauldron before the altar, watching the flames and smoke extinguish the eulogy—

The document was swallowed up, as if the Prime Minister could receive it.

Liu Shan wept sincerely, but the ministers standing behind him were thinking very different things.

First of all, the Prime Minister passed away several months ago, and the sadness at that time has gradually faded. All the tears that needed to be shed have been shed, and we must face the new political environment. We cannot always dwell on the past.

Secondly, everyone knew perfectly well that the court would be bestowing official titles after today's sacrificial ceremony!

As expected, after everyone returned to Mianyang City in the afternoon, the new general titles and increased fiefs of the generals and the general titles of marquises of the civil officials were all issued with a series of imperial edicts at the court assembly in the city, which was a cause for celebration.

Fei Yi, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, also received the title of Marquis of Guangwu, with a fief of five hundred households, thus transforming himself into a marquis of the Han Dynasty.

Of course, the most illustrious person was Wu Yi, also known as Wu Ziyuan, who was the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Marquis of Jiyang, and Governor of Jingzhou.

No one can be jealous of you—why isn't your sister the Empress Dowager?

This was in Hanzhong, the city of Mianyang was cramped and small, and it was under the emperor's watchful eye that everyone received their rewards and seals of office before leaving Mianyang to return to their respective posts. If this had happened in Chengdu, the generals and officials would have held several days of celebratory banquets at their homes.

Chen Zhi was also allocated a small courtyard house in Mianyang City. Besides the residences of Chen Zhi and Xu You, this courtyard could only accommodate four servants.

It wasn't that Chen Zhi, with his rank of two thousand shi, couldn't afford a large courtyard; rather, the city of Mianyang was simply too cramped and small. Even Emperor Liu Shan himself lived in the former private residence of Prime Minister Zhuge Liang, so who would care about the differences in these residences?

It's still better than the generals living in military camps!

Chen Zhi picked up the bowl, drank the last mouthful of soup, then put down the bowl and chopsticks, and looked at Xu You: "Ayou, the court has already bestowed rewards today, so the affairs of the court and the Hanzhong Regional Administration are temporarily settled. I previously said I would send you to the Ministry of Personnel as a clerk in the Ministry of Personnel. How about you go to the Ministry of Personnel? I was a Gentleman in the Ministry of Personnel when I was a Gentleman in the Ministry of Personnel. If you encounter any problems with your duties, I can explain them to you."

Xu You looked up at his elder brother and decisively shook his head in refusal: "Brother, I don't want to go to the Ministry of Personnel. I've already decided on the way here, how about going to the Ministry of Works where you are?"