Han Ji

"Loyalty?" Su Gu interrupted, "What were you doing when Li Hui was taking down these accounts? Where were you when Wang Chun sided with Liu Bei?"

Chen Lun trembled, unable to speak.

Su Gu stared at him for a long time, then waved his hand: "Go."

Chen Lun felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He got up and went out, but tripped on the threshold and almost fell.

The study fell silent again. Su Gu stared at the candlelight and suddenly felt a chill, a coldness seeping from his very bones. He got up, took an old fur robe from the cupboard, and put it on. It was one he had bought eight years ago when he first arrived in Hanzhong; the fur was worn thin.

Wearing a robe, he walked to the window. Outside the high walls of the prefect's mansion, he could see the lights of the military camp in the west of the city, one after another, like a galaxy inverted on the ground.

Those soldiers now obey Liu Bei.

What about the officials in the prefectural government? Li Hui is Liu Bei's man, Yang Song has already secretly defected, and Chen Lun... Given Chen Lun's demeanor just now, can he still be used?

And then there were the powerful and wealthy families. Du Xi's son was saved by Liu Bei, Wang Chun's confession was in Liu Bei's hands, and the rest of the families had all received favors from Liu Bei in the past two years, more or less, such as rent reductions, land reclamation, and trade agreements.

What about the people's hearts? The displaced people who built the canals, the salt workers who received pay raises, the farmers who were finally able to grow grain...

Su Gu suddenly laughed, laughing out loud until his shoulders trembled.

Eight years of management and six years of authoritarianism couldn't compare to someone else's little over a year of effort.

It wasn't that Liu Bei was particularly clever; it was Su Gu who was wrong from the start. He thought the political arena was a chessboard, where whoever had more pieces won. But Liu Bei didn't play by the rules. He simply overturned the chessboard, swept all the pieces onto the ground, and then said to everyone: "Look, all these pieces are mine."

Brutal, but effective.

Su Gu did not sleep on the first night.

The next morning, Yang Song requested an audience.

He brought a food box, saying it contained local specialties from his hometown. Inside were some cakes and pastries. Su Gu didn't touch them, just watched him.

Yang Song chuckled awkwardly, "Prefect, last night... Commandant Liu came to see me."

"What did you say?"

"He said... that if the prefect is willing to relinquish power, he can retain most of the personnel in the prefecture." Yang Song lowered his head. "This humble official... this humble official is merely relaying a message."

"To deliver a message?" Su Gu stared at him. "You've come to persuade him to surrender."

Yang Song knelt down with a thud: "Prefect! The situation is hopeless! Liu Bei holds evidence of crimes, military power, and the hearts of the people... If we continue to resist, I'm afraid... I'm afraid..."

"I'm afraid my whole family will be wiped out?" Su Gu finished speaking for him.

Yang Song didn't dare to reply.

Su Gu waved his hand: "Go. Tell Liu Bei that tomorrow... I will give him an answer."

Yang Song left. Su Gu walked into the courtyard. The autumn sun was shining brightly, warming him. He looked up at the sky, which was a clear, bright blue without a single cloud.

Eight years have passed, and it seems he has never really looked at the sky over Hanzhong.

At noon, Chen Lun came again, carrying a bowl of medicine.

"Prefect, it's time to administer the medicine."

Su Gu took the bowl, smelled it, and realized it was a calming soup. He took a sip and frowned at the bitterness.

"What's going on outside?"

Chen Lun hesitated: "Guan Yu's troops have controlled the four gates, and Zhang Fei's troops are patrolling the streets outside the prefectural government. The county troops... the county garrison commander Chen Lü went to the military camp today, saying he wanted to discuss defense matters."

"Discuss defense?" Su Gu laughed. "It's more like handing over power."

Chen Lun lowered his head.

"You're a smart man too," Su Gu said, putting down the medicine bowl. "Have you thought about your escape route?"

"This humble official...this humble official will obey the prefect's orders."

"Me?" Su Gu shook his head. "I can barely take care of myself right now. If you have any connections, go find them yourself. I won't blame you."

Chen Lun's eyes reddened, he knelt down, kowtowed, and withdrew.

On the second night, Su Gu had a dream.

I dreamt that I first arrived in Hanzhong eight years ago. At that time, I was young and full of vigor. Standing on the city wall, I promised the people: "I will make Hanzhong's granaries full and the people at peace."

And then what happened? The profits from the salt wells, the rent from the land taxes, the tributes from the powerful, and Xi Jian's demands... little by little, they turned him into who he is today.

When he woke up, it was still dark. He got up, put on his clothes, went to his study, unfolded the three scrolls of silk, and read them again.

Then he ground the ink, laid out the paper, and picked up the brush.

He wrote very slowly, pausing between each word:

"Your Majesty, I am old and frail, and my health is failing, making it difficult for me to manage the affairs of the prefecture. Commandant Liu Bei is loyal, diligent, and capable; he is worthy of great responsibility. I beg that you entrust the affairs of the prefecture to him, and I request to retire and return to my hometown to care for my parents..."

I'll stop writing here.

Returning to his hometown to care for his parents? Where to? His old home in Chang'an is deserted; his businesses in Jingzhou... Would Liu Bei let him go?

He put down his pen, crumpled the paper, and threw it into the brazier.

The flames leaped up, illuminating his aged face.

The third day, at Chen time (7-9 AM).

Liu Bei rode alone to the prefect's residence. He brought no soldiers, only a personal guard to lead his horse. When he dismounted, the gate was open, and Chen Lun greeted him at the entrance, bowing and saying, "Commander, the prefect is waiting in the study."

In the study, Su Gu was already dressed neatly. He wore a deep-sleeved official robe, his official hat was worn properly, and he even applied some powder to his face to cover up his haggard appearance.

On the table lay the prefect's seal, and beside it was a cup of tea, still steaming.

"Xuande, sit down."

Liu Bei sat down and glanced at the seal of office.

"Has Lord Su made up his mind?"

"I've made up my mind." Su Gu picked up the teacup, his hand steady. "I'll choose the second path. But there are two things you must agree to."

"Speaking."

"First, the salt profits shall be 20%, which must be written into the contract and personally stamped by you. It shall never be changed."

"Can."

"Secondly, none of my relatives or servants will remain. Those who wish to stay can stay, and those who wish to leave will be given travel expenses."

Liu Bei was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Agreed."

Su Gu let out a long breath and leaned back, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

"I will announce it publicly at the prefectural council tomorrow." He pushed a piece of paper over. "This is the personnel list you requested. I have reviewed it. Guan Yu will be the commander of the prefectural troops, Zhang Fei will be the salt commissioner, Jian Yong will be the head of the household administration, Qian Zhao will be the head of the bandit administration, and Zhang Wu will be the military commander of the commandant's office... They are all capable people."

Liu Bei put away the paper: "Then, Lord Su, in the future..."

"I'll keep them here in this mansion." Su Gu looked out the window, "Planting flowers, reading books, and playing with sparrows. Eight years have passed in a flash, and I haven't had a chance to properly see this garden."

He stood up, walked to Liu Bei, and suddenly bowed.

Liu Bei quickly helped him up, asking, "What do you mean by this, Lord Su?"

"This bow is to thank you for sparing my entire family's lives." Su Gu straightened up, his eyes filled with complex emotions. "Liu Xuande, you are a man capable of great things. Hanzhong... is yours to you, I have no grievance."

Liu Bei returned the greeting solemnly.

As Liu Bei left the prefectural government office, the autumn sun was at its zenith. He mounted his horse and glanced back at the high walls of the prefectural government office.

Inside the wall, Su Gu stood under the corridor and waved to him.

Like a farewell.

On the way back to camp, Jian Yong greeted him: "Brother, how did it go?"

"It's settled," Liu Bei said. "The grand meeting is tomorrow. Prepare the necessary personnel. The handover of duties in all departments of the prefecture and government must be smooth."

"Su Gu's former subordinates..."

"Use them if they can, and give them some money to go back to their hometowns if they can't." Liu Bei paused, "Especially Chen Lun, keep him. He is Su Gu's confidant, keeping him will put the other old talents at ease."

"clear."

That night, the prefectural government building was brightly lit.

Chen Lun and his clerks worked through the night to organize the documents in preparation for the handover the next day. Li Hui assisted him, and the two occasionally exchanged glances, their eyes filled with complex emotions, but they remained silent.