In Bashu, within the Chancellor's Mansion.
Zhuge Liang, wearing a sickness kerchief and with his brows lowered, appeared deeply sorrowful. Yet, his fingers, in stark contrast to his sickly appearance, danced across the strings of his zither, the music resembling a tempestuous storm.
"When phoenixes fly home, they seek their mate across the seas.
Destiny unseen, no path to tread, how did I arrive at this hall today?"
The melody of "Phoenix Seeks Phoenix" reached its crescendo when the music, suddenly beyond his control, grew faster and more frantic.
With a "Zheng," a string snapped. Zhuge Liang irritably pushed the zither away.
"Chancellor..." the surrounding scribes quickly offered words of comfort. "His Majesty is insistent on marching north. Resolving the military grain issue, with taxes at sixty-forty and one in three conscripted, is only natural! Chancellor, you must take care of yourself."
Having perceived the discord in Zhuge Liang's playing of "Phoenix Seeks Phoenix," everyone's mood, much like Zhuge Liang's expression, sank into heaviness.
"Is it 'Phoenix Seeks Phoenix,' or 'Phoenix Imprisoned Phoenix'?"
Zhuge Liang suddenly mused, shaking his head and continuing to play with the broken string.
"When a phoenix finds its mate, it will nest with me and forever be my consort.
Our hearts in harmony, our souls aligned, who in the dead of night will know?"
"With wings unfurled, we'll soar to heights, but without my yearning, who will grieve for me?"
As the final note faded...
Zhuge Liang fell into silence. Closing his eyes, he sighed in resignation, "Even Ziyun..."
"Could not persuade His Majesty to retract his decree? Alas... alas..."
The faint sigh echoed within the residual vibrations of the zither strings, its lingering resonance unceasing for a long time.
"To think, after five years of truce, Shu Han is as precarious as a pile of eggs..."
Indeed...
Precarious as a pile of eggs!
"How lamentable?
How heartbreaking!"
...
...
In Bashu, at the Ministry of Personnel.
Li Yan paced back and forth in his chambers, as if burdened by a troubled mind, restless.
Li Feng, Li Yan's son, approached with a stack of bamboo slips. "Now that Father has regained military authority from the Jingzhou faction and political power from Chancellor Zhuge, it is cause for great celebration. Why is Father still so dispirited?"
"Alas..." Li Yan sighed. "Regaining political power is because Zhuge Kongming is ill. For these past five years, whether it was military affairs, administrative matters, the livelihood of the people, or court proceedings, he personally oversaw every detail. He would fall asleep at the Hour of the Tiger and rise before the Hour of the Dragon, sleeping less than two hours each day. Even an iron man could not withstand this. Five years... Chancellor Zhuge has reached his limit."
In Li Yan's words, there was no trace of elation from defeating a "political rival." Instead, there was a great deal of melancholy.
Truly...
The heavy burden of Bashu had fallen upon his shoulders. He suddenly felt immense pressure, and only at this moment could he truly grasp the profound meaning of the saying, "He who wishes to wear the crown must bear its weight!"
How heavy it was, the burden of Bashu—heavier than Mount Tai...
"Military authority rightfully belongs in my hands, my son. Think, how many troops from our Bashu-Jingzhou forces are there? Barely twenty thousand! How many veteran soldiers does His Majesty have? Only ten thousand. Yet, our Shu forces number over three hundred thousand... Zhuge Liang knows this clearly. Military authority will eventually return to our Dongzhou faction!"
The Dongzhou faction were the "natives" of the Bashu region and held a natural advantage in leading the Shu army.
But...
Li Yan offered a lengthy explanation, yet failed to address the key issue.
Why was he so despondent? Li Feng's eyes gleamed as he continued, "I heard Father proposed 'sixty-forty taxation and one in three conscription.' This way, His Majesty's grain for the northern expedition will be sufficient. However... I recall Father telling me that Father does not agree with His Majesty's northern expedition!"
Li Feng's words made Li Yan glance sideways.
He paused slightly and said, "His Majesty's resolve to attack Wei is firm. Feng'er, do not forget our identity. Although our Dongzhou faction has the most officials and the largest military force in Bashu, we are ultimately surrendered officials. Kongming, on the other hand, followed His Majesty for many years and rendered great service in conquering Bashu. When it comes to matters, he can speak his mind frankly; we cannot! We must act in accordance with His Majesty's wishes, especially when His Majesty and Kongming have differences, we must wholeheartedly stand with His Majesty!"
Li Yan was adept at serving as an official and skilled at understanding Liu Bei's thoughts.
Over the years, his transformation from a surrendered general to the third most important figure in the Bashu court, after Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, was no mere coincidence.
"But Father..." Li Feng still harbored concerns. "If we march north, His Majesty will be facing Cao Yu. He is not only the King of Wei, but also the meticulously calculating Hidden Dragon. In his campaigns over these years, he has attacked both the enemy's forces and their minds, never once suffering defeat. Yuan Shao, Lü Bu, Yuan Shu, Zhou Yu were no match for him. What confidence do you have, Father? If all of Shu's wealth, grain, and troops are poured into the perilous Shu roads, and we fail? How shall we recover?"
"What nonsense is this?" Li Yan became angry.
"Father, you are now facing Cao Yu. Cao Yu has also united Zhou Yu, Ma Chao, Xun Yu, Lü Bu, and others into one force. Do you truly believe that Bashu alone can contend against them?"
"Insolence!" Li Yan suddenly stood up. "They are no match for Cao Yu? Is His Majesty also not? The Great Wei today claims to embrace all, but in reality... its various factions are complex, is there no internal strife? Can the forces from Xiliang, Jingzhou, and Jiangdong truly coexist harmoniously?"
"But... the County Princess of Xiliang and the Princess of Jiangdong... they are also Cao Yu's honored consorts!"
"Feng'er!" Li Yan said earnestly, "Henceforth, such hesitant words must never be spoken again!"
"I..." Li Feng still wished to say something more, but the furious gaze of Li Yan made him swallow his words.
At that moment...
The sound of "tata" footsteps approached from outside the door.
A gatekeeper burst into the chamber to report, "Reporting to the Minister, General Zhao Zilong requests an audience..."
Hmm...
This sudden announcement startled Li Yan. He had not expected... Zhao Yun to seek him out?
After all...
Previously, Zhao Yun's stance was very clear: he strictly followed Zhuge Kongming's orders.
For this reason...
He had deliberately kept his distance from Li Yan, avoiding close contact.
It could be said that for five years, Zhao Yun and Li Yan had no personal dealings.
So... now...
"Quickly... please invite General Zhao Zilong into the main hall! Be polite!" Li Yan ordered, quickly rising to his feet.
...
...
In Luoyang, at the Weiyang Palace.
This was a newly constructed palace within the Great Wei imperial palace, identical to the "Weiyang Palace" that Emperor Gaozu of Han, in the seventh year of his reign, had ordered his trusted minister Xiao He to oversee the construction of, based on the Qin Zhentai in Chang'an City.
However...
The former Weiyang Palace was located on Longshou Plain, the highest point in the southwestern corner of the Han Chang'an city.
The current Weiyang Palace, however, was situated in the position of the former Han Palace's Deyang Hall... it was the center of the Wei Palace, with pavilions, terraces, mountains, and lakes arranged within, soaring into the clouds! Apart from this, this Weiyang Palace was a gift from Lu Yu to Empress Cai Zhaoji of Great Wei.
At this moment, Lu Yu was accompanying the Empress, watching their daughter "Cao Nanxi" practice martial arts, surrounded by fragrant flowers and moonlit evenings.
—Cao Nanxi, a name rich in poetry and literature.
Although Cai Zhaoji was a talented woman of her time, young Nanxi, unusually, did not enjoy reading. Instead, she preferred wielding spears and swords...
In less than half an hour, Nanxi had practiced with a wooden spear, a wooden sword, a wooden halberd... she even wielded a wooden dagger with great vigor.
... This earned Lu Yu's thunderous applause.
Cai Zhaoji, however, shook her head slightly.
"Isn't Nanxi dancing the staff techniques quite well?" Lu Yu said to Cai Zhaoji with a smile.
Cai Zhaoji sighed, "Can she not dance them well? Nanxi's halberd techniques were taught by Consort Lü, her sword techniques by Consort Sun, and her spear techniques by Consort Ma..."
Here, Consort Lü was naturally Lü Lingqi, Consort Sun was Sun Shangxiang, and who else could Consort Ma be but Ma Yunlu?
However, as she spoke these words, Cai Zhaoji's tone carried a hint of loneliness.
"And the dagger techniques?" Lu Yu asked with a smile... "Surely, her own mother did not teach her that?"
Cai Zhaoji gave Lu Yu a sideways glance, "How could I possess such skills?"
This sentence carried a touch of resentment. "I wanted to teach her the Four Books and Five Classics, poetry and songs, but Nanxi has no interest whatsoever and simply doesn't listen. She even clamored to come and practice martial arts, all because Your Majesty spoils her... Sometimes I wish I had given birth to a son, so he could help Your Majesty fight on the battlefield and unify the realm. It is only my own lack of ability!"
Cai Zhaoji's family lineage was steeped in literature, and she had been sensible and learned since childhood. Although Lu Yu had told her many times not to call him "Your Majesty," and to address him as "younger brother," Cai Zhaoji was too mindful of etiquette. She addressed him as she should, never allowing herself to break decorum.
"A daughter is good..." Lu Yu smiled at Cai Zhaoji. "I like daughters!"
Saying this, Lu Yu shifted the topic, "Sister Zhaoji has not yet told me why... Nanxi knows dagger techniques? Who taught her?"
"Lingju..." Cai Zhaoji sighed. "Young girls these days, I don't know what's gotten into them. Nanxi is like this, and Lingju is also like this... It truly worries me and Sister Diaochan..."
"Hahaha..." Hearing this, Lu Yu laughed... he laughed heartily.
Often, after the arduous affairs of the court, it was only upon returning to the inner palace that Lu Yu could experience a long-lost warmth.
"Your Majesty..." Cai Zhaoji continued, "I have two important matters to report to Your Majesty..."
"Sister Zhaoji, you may speak freely," Lu Yu said with a smile. "Sister Zhaoji has never made any unreasonable requests of me since we were young!"
"Pfft," Cai Zhaoji chuckled. "Your Majesty, you've been Emperor for five years, and you're still like a child..."
As the words left her mouth, Cai Zhaoji's expression grew much more serious. "I intend to establish numerous official schools across the regions and also encourage the construction of private academies. With the current vigorous development of papermaking and printing techniques, cultural revitalization has become an urgent matter..."
Speaking of which...
Cai Zhaoji continued, "In fact, for the past five years, Your Majesty has been weakening the influence of aristocratic clans. But in reality, the most terrifying aspect of these clans is not their thousands of acres of fertile land or their intricate connections, but their monopoly on culture. Although the imperial examinations are now widely practiced, many impoverished youths and children of farmers have no environment for studying... Self-taught success is a fine tale, but how many can achieve it?"
Cai Zhaoji's words were reasoned and well-founded, and Lu Yu nodded repeatedly. "Sister Zhaoji's concerns are valid... It is I who have been negligent. However, establishing education is not something that can be accomplished overnight. Five years ago, neither the national treasury nor the resources were sufficient to establish schools nationwide. Now... with the savings of these five years, culture indeed needs to be prioritized!"
Lu Yu looked earnestly at Cai Zhaoji. "Sister Zhaoji, as the Grand Director of the Imperial Academy, if you have this idea, then proceed. I will have the Six Ministries cooperate with you. As for the funds needed for building schools, there is no upper limit. Sister Zhaoji, consider it your personal treasury, take whatever you need..."
Towards Sister Zhaoji, Lu Yu was extremely generous.
However, he also knew that even as Empress, Sister Zhaoji was very frugal.
It was common for her to wear the same phoenix robe for several years. Many times, Lu Yu wished he could persuade her to be more extravagant... After all, if she herself was unwilling to wear it, who else in the harem would dare?
"Then I thank Your Majesty first," Cai Zhaoji gracefully bowed.
"Why speak such formalities with me..." Lu Yu helped Cai Zhaoji up. "Sister Zhaoji still has another matter, doesn't she? Perhaps you can tell me about it together."
This...
Cai Zhaoji's gaze fell upon their daughter, Cao Nanxi.
Lü Lingqi was teaching her spear techniques, and it seemed there was an error in the spear techniques she had demonstrated earlier.
Cai Zhaoji continued to speak to Lu Yu. "Since I gave birth to Nanxi five years ago, for these past five years... among the many consorts in the harem, not one has become pregnant... Yesterday, I checked Your Majesty's daily records and found that Your Majesty has been quite attentive to all. I also checked the medical records, and Your Majesty has no related illnesses. But why is there no news from any of the consorts?"
Lu Yu was startled. How was he supposed to answer this? Had he perfectly evaded and missed opportunities?
Even...
He felt that Sister Zhaoji's words had deeper meaning.
"What is Sister Zhaoji trying to say?"
"Your Majesty..." Cai Zhaoji said, "For these five years, my energy has been focused on Nanxi, and I have neglected Your Majesty... Your Majesty is in the prime of life, yet you must also consider the continuation of Great Wei's lineage. I dare not presume whether it is Your Majesty's problem or that of the honored consorts, but this matter must be investigated. Therefore..."
Towards the end... Cai Zhaoji bit her lip, and a blush tinged her cheeks.
"Instead of letting others investigate, why don't I investigate? Could Your Majesty honor Weiyang Palace tonight? I will help Your Majesty examine... to see if the Dragon Body is ailing."
Uh...
Cai Zhaoji's words left Lu Yu astonished.
This was the effect of an educated woman. Such intimate matters... could be spoken so elegantly and refined, even referring to "Dragon Body's health."
As these words fell, Cai Zhaoji blinked her large eyes repeatedly, as if extremely eager for Lu Yu's answer. It was unclear whether she truly wanted to check the Dragon Body's health or had other intentions.
"These years... I have neglected the Empress. It is my fault," Lu Yu immediately waved his hand. "Issue my decree: tomorrow's morning court is canceled. I will spend quality time with the Empress."
"Yes..." As the eunuch responded, Cai Zhaoji lowered her head further, her cheeks flushing even more.
Morning court canceled...
Was it necessary to be this long? Every time she thought of this, Cai Zhaoji's cheeks grew redder.
As for Lu Yu, he pondered... Could it really be that he had a problem?
After becoming Emperor... had he been too vigorous in his replenishment?
Too much of a good thing, backfiring?
This thought, appearing only for a moment, Lu Yu shook his head vehemently.
—Impossible, absolutely impossible!
—I am in the prime of my youth!
...
...
In Bashu, at the Ministry of Personnel.
Zhao Yun had just reported something to Li Yan.
Li Yan, with his hands behind his back, paced back and forth. His initial expression was one of surprise...
But it was quickly replaced by an even greater astonishment.
"Impressive! Kongming's four points are concise and directly address the core issues. They are reasoned and well-supported... If General Ziyun were to report these four points to His Lordship, then... the outcome of the battle between myself and him would be uncertain... However, there is one thing I do not understand. Why would General Ziyun help me, rather than Chancellor Zhuge? It seems that over the years... the Chancellor has treated Ziyun quite well!"
...
...
Free reading...
.
Niu Nai Tang Tang Tang reminds you: remember to collect after reading.