Han Ji

The court officials were abuzz with discussion.

There were those in favor and those against. Opponents argued that the situation in the border region was unique and the Lujiang experience could not be directly applied.

Finally, Emperor Ling made the decision: to first pilot the program in Bingzhou, eliminating the old and weak, and strictly investigating corruption.

After the court session, several ministers surrounded Liu Bei, asking him all sorts of questions, and for a time they couldn't reach an agreement.

Liu Bei answered each question with neither arrogance nor servility.

Lu Zhi watched from a short distance away, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

This student is becoming more and more composed.

In November, Liu Bei received an order to concurrently serve as the General of the Imperial Guards, responsible for training the newly recruited Imperial Guards.

The Imperial Guards were the elite of the Imperial Army, directly under the command of the Emperor. This appointment was of great significance.

Liu Bei understood that the emperor was both grooming him and testing him.

He went to report to the Imperial Guard camp.

The camp was located in the west of the city and covered a large area. There were three thousand newly recruited soldiers, mostly from good families, young and strong, but lacking training.

On his very first day in office, Liu Bei discovered the problem.

Officers were drawing salaries without actually serving, training was lax, and military discipline was lax.

He remained calm and secretly investigated.

Ten days later, the evidence was obtained.

He directly submitted a memorial to Emperor Ling, impeaching the Imperial Guard Commander for embezzling military funds and neglecting training. The evidence was conclusive, and Emperor Ling was furious, dismissing the Commander from his post and ordering an investigation.

Then, Liu Bei began to reorganize.

Dismiss unqualified officers and promote capable ones. Develop strict training plans, personally supervise training, enforce strict military discipline, and clearly define rewards and punishments.

After three months, the Imperial Guards were completely transformed.

After inspecting the site, Emperor Ling praised Liu Bei highly and rewarded him with one hundred taels of gold.

This time, Liu Bei did not refuse and accepted it.

He knew this was the emperor sending a signal: follow me and you'll have something to eat.

The five years of Guanghe have come to an end amidst such busyness.

On New Year's Eve, Liu Bei hosted a banquet in a small courtyard south of the city, inviting Jian Yong, Qian Zhao, and Zhang Wu to dinner.

All three of them drank quite a bit.

Jian Yong blushed and said, "Xuande, you did a great job this year! Left Vice Minister, General of the Imperial Guards—those are high-ranking positions!"

Zhang Wu grinned, "Physician... no, Vice Minister! You've risen so quickly!"

Liu Bei shook his head: "Fast? I think it's slow."

"Still slow?"

"Hmm." Liu Bei looked at the wine in his cup. "There are some things we need to hurry up with."

He recalled Xun Cai's letter, Xun Shuang's investigation, Yuan Shao's attempts to win him over, and the emperor's tests.

time does not wait.

He needs to be faster and more stable.

The new year is coming.

January of the sixth year of Guanghe.

Liu Bei's position as a Feathered Forest Guard General was completed after three months, and he handed over his duties. It was a concurrent post, and once things were settled, he naturally had to return it.

But this incident earned him a reputation within the Imperial Guards. The soldiers of the Imperial Guards all gave Liu Lang a thumbs up when they spoke of him: he was tough in training, but fair in rewards and punishments, and never withheld military pay.

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, a banquet was held in the palace, and Liu Bei attended to the banquet.

At the banquet, Emperor Ling was in a good mood and drank a few more cups than usual. Suddenly, he asked Liu Bei:

"Minister Liu, do you think my empire can last for ten thousand generations?"

The problem strikes at the heart.

The room fell silent, and everyone looked at Liu Bei.

Liu Bei put down his wine cup, stood up, bowed, and said:

"Your Majesty, I have read the history books and found that the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties lasted for eight hundred years at the longest and four hundred years at the shortest. They all prospered because of virtuous governance and perished because of the loss of virtue. Now Your Majesty has received the Mandate of Heaven and is in charge of the people. If you practice benevolent governance, employ virtuous ministers, and keep away from petty people, then the country and the state will surely be secure forever."

His words were tactful, both flattering and subtly offering advice.

Emperor Ling laughed heartily upon hearing this, "Well said! Reward me!"

He rewarded the recipient with a pair of jade discs.

After the banquet, a colleague privately said to Liu Bei, "Xuande, your words were well said. But... will His Majesty listen to them?"

Liu Bei shook his head: "It's just fulfilling my duty as a subject."

He was well aware that Emperor Ling had long since lost his ambition. The sale of official positions in the Western Garden, the eunuchs' monopolization of power, and the deterioration of the court were all futile words.

But it still needs to be said.

This is an attitude.

In February, Xun Shuang once again invited Liu Bei to his residence.

This was a family banquet, with only Xun Shuang, Xun Cai, and Liu Bei present.

During the meal, Xun Shuang inquired about affairs of the court, to which Liu Bei answered cautiously. Xun Cai sat at the lower end of the table, silently serving the dishes, occasionally glancing up to meet Liu Bei's gaze before quickly looking down again.

After the meal, Xun Shuang asked Xun Cai to play the zither.

The melodious sound of the zither is "High Mountains and Flowing Water".

As Liu Bei listened, he recalled the "Yilan Cao" melody played four years ago on the wall of Goushi Mountain. Back then, the music was aloof and rebellious; now, the music was more peaceful, but at its core, it still retained that same refined pride.

When the song ended, Xun Shuang nodded: "There has been improvement."

He looked at Liu Bei: "Xuande, what do you think?"

"Master Xun's zither playing is superb; the student... was completely captivated by his music."

"You were just listening intently?" Xun Shuang laughed. "I thought you could hear something else."

Liu Bei's heart tightened.

Xun Shuang waved his hand: "That's enough. Cai'er, you may leave now."

Xun Cai rose, curtsied, and withdrew. As he passed Liu Bei, he paused almost imperceptibly.

There were only two people left in the room.

Xun Shuang picked up his teacup, sipped slowly, and after a long while, finally spoke:

"Xuande, you're twenty-three this year, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"Not married yet, are you?"

"Never."

Why?

Liu Bei took a deep breath: "Firstly, I am too busy with official duties to pay attention to this; secondly... I have not yet met a suitable match."

"Haven't found a good match yet?" Xun Shuang looked at him with amusement.

"Please sit down."

Liu Bei sat down, his palms slightly sweaty.

"Cai'er is nineteen this year," Xun Shuang said slowly. "In theory, she should have been betrothed long ago. But I've been putting it off. Do you know why?"

"The student...does not know."

"Because I'm waiting." Xun Shuang looked at him, "Waiting for her to grow up, and also waiting... for the right person to appear."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Over the years, many suitors have come to propose marriage. Some are from prominent families, others are talented scholars and famous figures. But I haven't accepted any of them. It's not that they're not good enough, it's just... they're not suitable."

"What Xunzi meant was..."

"What I mean is," Xun Shuang put down his teacup, "that marriage is about matching social status, but it also requires like-mindedness. Cai'er is proud and talented. If she marries a mediocre person, it would be a disservice to her; if she marries a playboy, it would be a waste of her."

He looked at Liu Bei and said, "So I am waiting for someone who is both talented and principled, who is both practical and scholarly."

Having said that, it couldn't be clearer.

Liu Bei's heart pounded like a drum. He rose and bowed deeply.

"I am deeply grateful for Lord Xun's kindness... I am filled with trepidation."

"What are you so afraid of?" Xun Shuang waved his hand. "Whether you succeed or not ultimately depends on yourself."

He got up, walked to the window, and looked at the gradually greening courtyard outside:

"Xuande, you are now the Left Vice Minister, with a salary of 400 shi (a unit of grain), young and promising, but it is not enough."

"The student understands."

"Good that you understand." Xun Shuang turned around. "Go. Do your job well, be a good person. There's a long road ahead, no rush."

Leaving Xun's residence, Liu Bei walked in the night, his heart surging with emotion.

Xun Shuang's words were both encouragement and a spur.

not enough.

He needs to climb higher and walk more steadily.