Shu, Chengdu, the Prime Minister's Residence.
In the afternoon, as sparrows and orioles chirped, sunlight spilled into the quiet courtyard.
This was the Prime Minister's Residence, located to the west of the Ji Han imperial palace. The owner of this abode was naturally the Prime Minister of Shu Han – Zhuge Kongming.
At this moment, a heavy burden pressed down. Zhuge Liang bore the weight of the entire Shu territory almost single-handedly. His every move affected the lives of hundreds of thousands, and determined the fate of Shu.
"Prime Minister, these are the troops recruited from all parts of Shu, along with the expenditures from the national treasury. I beg the Prime Minister to review them."
The speaker was Li Yan, the Minister of Personnel and the Central Protector General of Shu Han.
Much like the Department of Personnel in the Great Wei, the Minister of Personnel served as a bridge between the Son of Heaven and all officials, while the Central Protector General commanded the central guard forces of Han, holding immense power.
Historically...
During the Battle of Red Cliffs, Zhou Yu was the Central Protector General of Jiangdong.
"Zheng Fang..." Zhuge Liang unfurled a bamboo slip, looking up at Li Yan. "You are too respectful to me, bringing every detail for my review. This respect... makes me wonder, why would a figure like Li Yan be so respectful to me?"
Li Yan appeared humble. "My subordinate's respect for the Prime Minister stems entirely from admiration for your person. His Majesty and Great Wei have a five-year truce agreement, and it has been more than four years now. The Prime Minister has governed Shu so well that no one picks up lost items on the road, and doors remain unlocked at night. Shu, with a population of only a few million, has recruited five hundred thousand well-trained soldiers. My subordinate is extremely impressed, and naturally, much admiration arises from my heart..."
"No need, no need..." Zhuge Liang waved his hand. "You and I serve the same lord. Furthermore, our positions are equal, without higher or lower status. It is better to be more relaxed. This way, you are comfortable, and I am comfortable!"
"Yes... Prime Minister!" Li Yan was as humble as ever.
"Cough... cough cough..."
Suddenly, Zhuge Liang felt unwell and coughed violently...
He covered his mouth with his hand, only to find blood couching up.
"Prime... Prime Minister... What is... what has happened?" Li Yan rushed to support Zhuge Liang.
"I... I have a tight chest and cannot breathe!" Zhuge Liang clutched his chest, looking as if in great pain.
"Quick, someone..." Li Yan put on an act of utmost concern. "Quickly summon the imperial physician, quickly summon the imperial physician..."
On the surface, Li Yan showed extreme concern.
But in reality...
The moment he keenly noticed Zhuge Liang coughing blood, the corners of his mouth twitched, revealing a meaningful, fleeting smile.
"Quick... quickly summon the imperial physician, quickly summon the imperial physician!"
Shu, the Imperial Palace Grand Hall.
An eight-year-old boy was reciting something to a fifty-year-old man.
"Six times six is thirty-six. There is strategy within numbers, and numbers within strategy. The principles of Yin and Yang transform; the key lies within. The key cannot be forced; if forced, it will not succeed. The first stratagem, 'Deceive the heavens to cross the sea.' When preparations are thorough, vigilance wanes; when things are commonplace, they are not doubted... not doubted..."
The eight-year-old boy was trying his best, but ultimately, he couldn't memorize it...
This was none other than the Crown Prince of Shu – Liu Chan! Liu Adou!
Who else could be on the dragon throne, testing his knowledge, but his father, the Emperor of Shu, Liu Bei?
"When things are commonplace, they are not doubted!"
Liu Bei reminded him...
Liu Chan quickly continued reciting: "When preparations are thorough, vigilance wanes; when things are commonplace, they are not doubted! Yin, Yin, Yin, Yin..."
"Yin is within Yang..." Liu Bei reminded him again. He closed his eyes, his eyebrows twitching slightly... but it seemed to be for just a moment, as his brow quickly returned to normal... as if he had grown accustomed to his son's stumbles when reciting.
"Yin is within Yang, not the opposite of Yang... The sun, not the moon. The sun... is it the moon or the sun?"
Liu Chan scratched his head, seemingly unable to decide.
Just then.
"Bang!" Liu Bei slammed the document in his hand onto the table. This sudden action startled Liu Chan...
Liu Chan trembled all over...
Liu Bei spoke in a tone of frustrated disappointment. "Adou, when Cao Yu was your age, he could already compile this 'Thirty-Six Stratagems,' astonishing everyone. Yet, you've been reciting it for three months and still can't even memorize 'Deceive the heavens to cross the sea'?"
Liu Bei seemed utterly speechless...
In truth, he had realized a serious problem. He and Cao Cao were both over fifty. Cao Cao had retired to the mountains, detached from worldly affairs. How much longer could Liu Bei persist? The future of the world belonged to the children!
Although there was a gap between Liu Bei and Cao Cao, the gap between Liu Chan and Cao Yu was undoubtedly even wider...
It was like an insurmountable chasm!
"Your son is truly foolish. No matter how hard I try, I cannot memorize it," Liu Chan's voice came at the opportune moment.
"Foolish?" Liu Bei's tone was one of despair, akin to a heart that had died. "Pitch-pot, various amusements, falconry, dog racing – these you grasp instantly. Come here..."
Liu Chan seemed to realize something. He glanced up at Liu Bei helplessly, then lowered his head and walked forward.
"Extend your hand..."
"Father..."
"Twenty strikes!"
"Father..."
"Fifty strikes!"
Hearing the number of strikes jump from twenty to fifty, Liu Chan dared not resist. He extended his chubby little hand. As the sound of "slap" fell, Liu Bei showed no restraint...
In just a few strikes, his hand swelled up...
"Ah... Ah..."
A series of cries erupted. Enduring the intense pain in his hand, Liu Chan trembled, his hand swelling more and more.
On the side, Grand Tutor Gan quickly pleaded, "Xuan De, Adou's hand is still swollen from yesterday's beating. It's not suitable to hit him again today. Let's just note it down for now. Please don't hit him anymore..."
Grand Tutor Gan's plea had a decent effect...
"Alas..." With a sigh from Liu Bei, he waved to Grand Tutor Gan. "Take Adou away. I have troubled the Grand Tutor with Adou's studies. A child beyond teaching, a child beyond teaching!"
Saying this, he glared coldly at Liu Chan. "Continue reciting. If you cannot memorize Cao Yu's 'Thirty-Six Stratagems,' you will be beaten together tomorrow! No one's pleading will matter..."
"Understood, Father..." Liu Chan fled as if he had been granted permission.
Grand Tutor Gan followed.
After they had both gone far away...
From behind the curtain, Sun Qian slowly emerged.
Seeing Sun Qian, Liu Bei lamented, "Gongyou... this child is mediocre and incapable. After my hundred years, what will he do? I am not even a match for Cao Ziyu. If Adou has to face him... I fear he will be toyed with! The foundation of Shu Han... will one day be as precarious as a pile of eggs!"
"My Lord..." Sun Qian advised, "The Crown Prince is young. He will be better when he grows older!"
"I hope it is as you say..." Liu Bei uttered this, but he did not believe it himself.
Speaking of which...
Liu Bei continued to muse, "Gongyou, you have been with me for no less than twenty years, at least a dozen! Besides Yun Chang, Yi De, and Xian He (Jian Yong) who accompanied me from Zhuo County, you have been with me the longest!"
"It has indeed been over a decade..." Sun Qian sighed.
"More than a decade has passed in a flash..." Liu Bei continued to lament. "Of the brothers who were under my command, there are not many left... In these years, against Cao Wei, especially against Cao Yu, I have won less than I have lost... how many times have I been in dire straits..."
Liu Bei did not finish his sentence...
But Sun Qian understood Liu Bei too well. The moment Liu Bei opened his mouth, he knew what Liu Bei wanted to say... "Your Majesty, the art of victory and defeat is often fleeting. Did not Cao Yu, when assisting Cao Cao in his rise in Yan Province, take a few crucial steps correctly? Now, Your Majesty has far more troops and fortified cities than in the past. Back then, Your Majesty did not fear Cao Cao; today, Your Majesty should not fear Cao Yu either!"
Although he knew Sun Qian's words were meant to comfort him, Liu Bei still smiled...
Sun Qian always managed to make him happy.
"The five-year agreement is almost up. I made a grand vow in the past to launch a northern expedition against Cao Wei after five years," Liu Bei sighed again, though his voice had become somewhat melancholic.
The grand promises made during the sacrifice to heaven had to be fulfilled after five years!
The Shu roads are difficult – that is for the attacking party!
If it were a northern expedition, the difficulty of the Shu roads would be for Liu Bei himself.
Alas... Alas!
...
...
Hearing this, Zhao Yun's eyes flickered. "This is a good thing! If that's the case, it might make Adou dislike his 'father' even more!"
Grand Tutor Gan nodded. "Zi Long, rest assured, I know what to do... But speaking of which, the five-year truce is ending. The decisive battle between Shu and Great Wei... will likely commence soon, won't it?"
"Yes..." Zhao Yun's eyes narrowed.
He could understand that Cao Yu had postponed unification for five years for the sake of the common people and to spare the people of Shu the suffering of war...
Now, five years later...
The gap in strength between the two sides had further widened!
Just then...
"Report... Grand Tutor..." a young servant arrived outside the room where Zhao Yun and Grand Tutor Gan were conversing and reported in a low voice, "Prime Minister Zhuge is ill..."
Hmm...
The Prime Minister Zhuge is ill at this time?
Upon hearing this news, Grand Tutor Gan and Zhao Yun exchanged glances. After Grand Tutor Gan dismissed the servant, Zhao Yun lowered his voice and said, "Misfortune comes not without cause. After I confirm with the female spy placed in the Prime Minister's Residence by the Sparrow Gate, we can then discuss the matter!"
...
...
Luoyang City, the Overlord's Residence!
For more than four years, with the reforms of the three provinces and six ministries, the only institutions retained from the Great Wei's original structure were the Office of the Censor and the Overlord's Residence.
Unlike the Office of the Censor, which supervised all officials, the Overlord's Residence was responsible for coordinating and deploying the empire's military operations.
This overlapped with the Ministry of War in some aspects, but the Overlord's Residence held a higher status, somewhat akin to the "Grand Council" of later generations!
As for the officials within the Overlord's Residence, they encompassed the most outstanding talents of the entire Wei Empire.
Civilian officials included – Xun Yu, Gou You, Jia Xu, Xi Zhicai, Cheng Yu, Xu Shu, Zhou Yu, Ju Shou, Tian Feng, Sima Yi, Yang Xiu, and others...
Military officials included – Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Hong, Cao Ren, Li Dian, Yue Jin, Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, Yu Jin, Zhang Bu, and others...
Truly a gathering of eminent individuals.
At this moment, with only a few months remaining until the five-year truce agreement expired, the focus of discussion in the Overlord's Residence naturally turned to the decisive battle between Wei and Shu.
"Your Majesty...." Yang Xiu reported first. "Thirty-odd generals have jointly trained the special forces battalions, graduating a total of one hundred and thirty men. They have undergone over twenty subjects including wilderness survival, jungle warfare, aquatic combat, infiltration and assassination, and are proficient in eighteen martial arts. Each person is equipped with a fire mirror and a Zhuge crossbow, possessing the ability to operate behind enemy lines. Among them, the most outstanding performer is Jiang Wei from Tianshui..."
Lu Yu was not surprised by Yang Xiu's report.
Jiang Wei's outstanding performance was also within expectations.
Lu Yu nodded slightly, indicating his acknowledgment, but did not assign any tasks to the special forces battalion for the time being.
Sima Yi, seated at the far end of the Overlord's Residence, stood up and continued his report. "Your Majesty, what I wish to discuss is the perennial issue: there are two main routes into Shu. One enters Shu from Yiling and proceeds westward, and the other descends from Hanzhong!"
As Sima Yi reported, there were indeed two main routes for descending into Hanzhong...
While hot air balloons could fly short distances over mountains and ridges, they could not traverse a continuous mountain path of five hundred li...
Zhilin, referred to by Li Daoyuan in his "Commentary on the Water Classic" as "the western gateway of Chu," was the vital pass where Shu culture and Chu culture converged. Capturing Yiling... would open the eastern gate of Shu, allowing for a direct advance towards Chengdu.
Hanzhong, however, was more complex...
Sima Yi was reporting: "I hear Zhuge Liang has mobilized seventeen thousand troops to encamp at Yiling, with Guan Yu as the commander and Ma Liang as the strategist. They intend to block our army's advance on the eastern front. As for the northern route... there are three paths descending from Hanzhong: the first is the Jinniu Pass, the second is the Micang Pass, and the third is the Lizhi Pass!"
Just as Sima Yi was about to elaborate on these three passes...
Lu Yu spoke, giving Sima Yi no opportunity to finish. "Besides these three passes, there is another..."
Hmm...
At these words, everyone was taken aback.
It was known that the Overlord's Residence and the generals had been studying the descent into Shu for a long time.
It could be said that they were intimately familiar with all the routes for the descent.
During the southward march, aside from the "Jinniu Pass," "Micang Pass," and "Lizhi Pass," it was believed that not even a bird could pass through, let alone a human.
For a moment, all eyes turned to Lu Yu.
Lu Yu calmly reminded them, "There is another route from Longnan that leads directly to Shu. The path requires passing through Qishan, and its name is – Yinping!"
The so-called – "Crossing Yinping stealthily, and directly seizing Shu Han!"
This was the Yinping!
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