"Wei Yan, you are reckless! How could you possibly understand the Prime Minister's military strategies?" Yang Yi roared.
"Heh heh!" Wei Yan sneered. "The Prime Minister's strategies are nothing more than playing it safe. In doing so, he is far too cautious. Many times, our army could have struck first and won with speed... At worst, I would have ended up like the Prime Minister, defeated and retreated to Fushui Pass!"
As he spoke, Wei Yan's tone grew increasingly proud.
Within the tent, many showed looks of approval towards Wei Yan... Wei Yan had spoken the words they wished to say but dared not.
Zhuge Liang took in everyone's expressions, a flicker of worry crossing his mind, yet he stroked his beard and smiled, "Is the Great General joking?"
Wei Yan disdainfully replied, "Emperor Cao Yu of Wei is skilled at psychological warfare. How could the Prime Minister not foresee his schemes? But does the Prime Minister know his tricks? How can one win without taking risks?"
Seeing Wei Yan's increasingly audacious words, Yang Yi quickly interjected, "Before the Prime Minister, do not speak carelessly and disrupt the morale of the army!"
Zhuge Liang did not look at Wei Yan's challenging gaze. He slowly rose and said, "Warfare is a grave matter of the state. All the might of our Shu Han is here now. How can we seek a mere sliver of victory through reckless gambles?"
Wei Yan released his clenched fist, turned his head away in defiance, and muttered to himself, "They've already stolen to our doorstep, and you, Zhuge Liang, are still proceeding by the book. No wonder we're losing!"
Yang Yi agreed, "What the Prime Minister says is very true. What are the Prime Minister's plans?"
Zhuge Liang pointed his feather fan at Sima Yi's encampment on the map. "We must force him out one more time. It's about seizing opportunities to survive!"
—Zitong.
Dark clouds hung heavy over the imperial palace's aerial view. The guards stood in strict formation. Upon seeing Lu Yu, all the Huzhen Army and Longxiao Army knelt on one knee, their movements precise, yet silent.
Lu Yu's previously carefree mood quickly subsided, his expression turning sharp and solemn. He strode in and took his seat on the dragon throne. Dian Wei loudly announced, "Presenting matters!"
In the palace, the assembled civil and military officials, who had been waiting, reported in turn.
Guo Jia spoke first, "Your Majesty, the Emperor of Shu, Liu Chan, is aware of his identity. He has personally sent a letter to Your Majesty, stating his willingness to submit to Your Majesty and cooperate with all of Your Majesty's actions, requesting only that Your Majesty allow him to see Miss Zhen Rong."
"I cannot promise that. I must ask Miss Zhen Rong's wishes!" Lu Yu replied. Zhen Luo was also present in the palace.
Because the matter involved a great deal of intelligence gathered by the Zhen family, even as a woman, she was permitted to attend the court.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, my fourth sister once wrote to me, regarding Ah Dou as her own brother. Ah Dou harbors no improper intentions towards her, and my fourth sister would not mind seeing Liu Chan again."
Having said this, Lu Yu turned his gaze back to Guo Jia. "See? This matter is resolved, and it's a great merit for the Zhen family!" "Your servant has noted it," Guo Jia bowed. As the son-in-law of the Zhen family, Guo Jia felt a sense of honor.
"…Thank you, Your Majesty." Zhen Luo bit her lip slightly, a hint of shyness on her face. "Your Majesty…" Next was Zhang Qiying's report.
Similarly, although Zhang Qiying was a woman, her identity as the Saintess of the Five-Peck-of-Rice Sect, whose followers were spread throughout Bashu, was the reason Lu Yu had specially permitted her attendance at court.
"Saintess, please speak your mind freely."
Lu Yu did not address her as "Imperial Concubine." The title of Saintess of the Five-Peck-of-Rice Sect was far more appropriate in the current palace setting.
"Your Majesty, your servant has secretly dispatched sect members to repair the roads of Yinping Pass. Currently, aside from the need for some time to ascend Motian Cliff, Yinping Pass is generally clear. Many relay stations have been established along the route to facilitate logistical support, allowing the army to pass through at any time!"
"Good…" Lu Yu looked at Zhang Qiying with considerable satisfaction, then his gaze turned meaningfully towards Xiahou Yuan. "In the Great Wei army camps, who doesn't know that my father-in-law marches three hundred li in three days, six hundred li in six days, and in ten days… can my father-in-law deliver fifty thousand troops to Chengdu?"
"Hahaha…" Xiahou Yuan burst into laughter. "Your Majesty's command is absolute. Let alone ten days, if Your Majesty ordered five days, I would not be a day late. Within ten days, there will be fifty thousand elite troops of our army in Chengdu!"
Lu Yu continued his orders, "Not only must we enter Chengdu city, but we must also capture Mianyang Pass, leaving Zhuge Liang with nowhere to retreat!" "Understood!"
After receiving the command, Xiahou Yuan did not linger further in the palace and immediately went to make arrangements.
Though he had said five days, in reality, even ten days… time was still tight. Boasting was one thing, but everything still had to be grounded in reality.
"Your Majesty…" This time it was Yang Xiu reporting. "Zhu Long has sent word, mentioning that Liu Chan has ordered Zhu Long and the special forces to implement a series of actions, including contacting the local clans of Yizhou and controlling the officials… I wonder, will doing so alert the enemy?" "Heh heh…"
Hearing Yang Xiu's words, Lu Yu was amused. He chuckled and remarked, "This Ah Dou actually has such courage? I never expected it… It's fine, let him do it, let him act boldly. Even if he fails, it's not a problem, as he has me, his elder brother, to cover for him. After all, he is my brother! Moreover… people are like this; once they have a grand goal, they won't remain like salted fish anymore!"
The grand goal Lu Yu referred to was "Zhen Rong!" And for Ah Dou of Wei, it was the prosperity of his later years. "Understood!" Yang Xiu bowed.
The Intelligence Department, which he was in charge of, also bore significant responsibility in this operation. After saying all this…
Lu Yu had a map of Peishui Pass unfurled and asked with interest, "What about Sima Zhongda's situation?"
"Ever since Zhuge Liang returned, Sima Zhongda has only defended and refused to come out. Even when Zhuge Liang taunted him, he did not emerge," Xu Shu reported truthfully. "Heh heh…" Lu Yu couldn't help but sigh and laugh, "This brat is truly good at being patient!"
At this moment, he couldn't help but recall how Sima Yi in history had worn down Zhuge Liang to death. Such a disposition was truly admirable!
Just then…
"Report…" a messenger burst in from outside the palace.
Dian Wei rebuked, "Can't you see His Majesty is in session?"
"Yes…" the messenger stammered. "It's a letter from the Empress…" Hmm… The Empress!
The current Empress of Great Wei was none other than Cai Yan, Cai Zhaoji.
As the Empress's voice was heard, the entire palace fell silent, utterly still, showing how much prestige the current Empress of Great Wei held in the minds of the officials.
Lu Yu narrowed his eyes slightly. Dian Wei, understanding, took the letter and placed it on the dragon desk. The entire palace became quiet. No one else reported, and everyone waited for Lu Yu to finish reading the letter.
The Empress Cai Yan's status was evident from this. Hooo…
Lu Yu, however, let out a slight sigh after reading the letter.
"Your Majesty… is it about Luoyang?" Guo Jia tentatively inquired.
"Luoyang is safe," Lu Yu waved his hand, explaining, "It's just some old fellows who are restless and want to test the waters on the battlefield… So, they've united to petition the Empress. The Empress found it difficult to refuse their requests, so she sent a letter and brought one person!"
"What can they do?" Xiahou Dun waved his hand. "I've fought battles my whole life and still stumbled under this Zhuge village scoundrel. Have they ever fought? Are they going to learn from Zhao Kuo and Ma Su's paper strategy?"
Xu Shu's eyes narrowed. He asked, "May I ask who the Empress has sent?" —"Minister of Works Wang Lang!"
Lu Yu murmured the name, and it reminded him of a popular online phrase from before his transmigration: "I have never seen such a shameless person!" followed by the infamous animation of Wang Lang spitting blood and dying, which had become a widely discussed anecdote among netizens in later generations.
He was going to find Zhuge Liang to "argue" with… wasn't this seeking death? However…
Lu Yu thought of something else. Was there a possibility that in this… debate, Wang Lang might win against Zhuge Liang? Of course…
—Who's the best talker in the Three Kingdoms? Zhuge Liang can claim the throne! It's difficult to win against Zhuge Liang in a debate…
However…
With the atmosphere built up to this point, Lu Yu genuinely wanted to give it a try. —"Have Minister of Works Wang wait in the side hall. I will summon him later!"
…
…
Jiang Wan galloped towards the deep mountains outside Chengdu.
Halfway through, he stopped again. He concealed himself behind a mountain and carefully observed if anyone was following him. He repeated this process… until he finally reached a temple in the suburbs.
The people in the temple were alerted by the sound and walked towards the entrance, looking around. "When did the Chief Clerk become so panicked?"
Jiang Wan wiped the sweat from his forehead, saying fearfully, "Quick… quickly send a carrier pigeon to the Prime Minister, tell him… tell him to bring his troops back. Something has happened in Chengdu?"
The people in the temple were stunned. "This… this is no laughing matter!" "Do I look like I'm joking with you?" Jiang Wan was almost crying with anxiety.
The reason for this… was that for the past two days, Jiang Wan had felt that something was amiss in Chengdu. The palace guards had all been replaced, but that was not all… even the city defense guards everywhere had been changed.
Moreover, many of the captains among the guards were people Jiang Wan had never seen before… and their accents were not local. This was very strange.
What was even stranger was that His Majesty had summoned artisans to repair Motian Ridge! Jiang Wan had requested an audience with His Majesty three times, but he had not been able to see him even once.
He then went to see General Zhao Zilong, who was in charge of the garrison, but Zhao Yun remained tight-lipped about the summoning of artisans and the replacement of guards… This was very telling.
Jiang Wan, in brief, explained these matters to the people in the temple…
The people in the temple asked, "Does the Chief Clerk mean that General Zhao Zilong has defected?"
"If it were only him who had defected, I would be thanking my lucky stars!" Jiang Wan said with great pain. "What I fear most is… it is…" At the end, Jiang Wan choked with fright!
"What is it?"
"Because the Prime Minister expelled Miss Zhen, His Majesty resents the Prime Minister. Now… now even His Majesty may have defected!" Jiang Wan's words were filled with immense sorrow…
His heart was burdened with endless worry and pain. Hooo…
The people in the temple let out a long sigh and then quickly gave orders for the carrier pigeons to be released.
These carrier pigeons were specially trained and could fly directly to Fushui Pass…
Not long after, five or six pigeons took to the air, their wings beating. The stone in Jiang Wan's heart finally settled.
Who would have thought… "Swoosh swoosh swoosh…" The sound of whistling arrows followed. Before the carrier pigeons could reach the sky, they were shot down by arrows…
Jiang Wan watched in horror as the carrier pigeons fell to the ground. His mouth fell open, and at that moment, he was somewhat stunned and at a loss.
And almost simultaneously…
A saber was placed against his neck.
"I have long heard that the Administrator of Shu Han, Cao, has a meticulous method of communication. It seems I have finally found it!" The speaker was none other than the "Kirin Child of Tianshui" — Jiang Wei!
"You…" Jiang Wan uttered a word. A suffocating sensation overwhelmed him. He closed his eyes slightly and said softly, "When did you start tracking me!"
"Two days ago!" Jiang Wei's voice was as cold as ice. "From the moment you requested to see the Emperor of Shu Han…" Jiang Wan's voice became even more sorrowful. "I… I was completely unaware!"
Jiang Wei said nothing. How could the tracking methods of the special forces be easily discovered? "I apologize, but you must understand that you can do nothing now!"
The cold words came from Jiang Wei's mouth once again…
At this moment, Jiang Wan deeply realized that perhaps… Shu Han… the era belonging to the Prime Minister, had passed!
Wang Lang—a great scholar of classical studies.
Talented and learned, he was also meticulous and generous, with a rigorous and magnanimous personality. Emperor Wu of Han had promoted "dismissing all other schools and exclusively revering Confucianism." Lu Yu's advocacy was the opposite; he advocated for the contention of a hundred schools of thought and the blooming of a hundred flowers.
And under the leadership of the literary elites of the realm, the Great Wei Empress Cai Zhaoji, Great Wei had indeed begun the blooming of a hundred flowers and the contention of a hundred schools of thought!
For example… the study of the Book of Changes used Wang Lang's *Commentary on the Book of Changes* as a specific assessment criterion. The thought promoted by Wang Lang was known as "Wang Xue."
It could be said that he was a rising star in the academic circles of Great Wei. At this moment, Lu Yu was summoning this "brilliant" star!
"Your Majesty…" Wang Lang spoke. "Previously, General major defeated our army and severely dampened our morale. After much deliberation, I have decided to use a speech on the battlefield to make this Zhuge Liang bow his head and surrender!"
"Zhuge Liang is a man of what caliber? Can he be made to surrender with a few words on the battlefield?" Lu Yu asked with great interest.
Wang Lang was extremely confident. He stood up with a smile, adopting the demeanor of an old scholar. "If Your Majesty does not believe me, you may watch from the front lines, and you will see the outcome for yourself!"
This…
Lu Yu blinked his eyes and suggested, "Minister of Works Wang, how about this… since tonight is free, why don't we spar a bit? I will be Zhuge Liang, and you will be the Minister of Works of Great Wei. Let us engage in a debate, and let me see… Minister of Works Wang's masterful technique!"
Hmm…
Wang Lang was stunned. Evidently, he had not expected… His Majesty to make such a suggestion. "Your Majesty, I dare not!" Wang Lang immediately bowed…
"What is there to dare not?" Lu Yu laughed. "Could it be that Minister of Works Wang feels I cannot debate well and is too disdainful to debate with me?"
"Your servant… does not mean that!" Wang Lang immediately became somewhat solicitous and fearful. "It's just that some of the words I have prepared are meant to humiliate that Zhuge village scoundrel. Publicly debating with Your Majesty would inevitably break the rules."
"I grant you absolution. Moreover… if you can refute me, I will personally write a golden plaque for your 'Wang Xue.' How about it?" This…
Wang Lang blinked his eyes repeatedly, his eyes shining. Such an enticement—a plaque personally bestowed by His Majesty's brush—was too great. "Then your servant… will take my leave!"
Immediately, Wang Lang stood up… and began to speak the words he had prepared. Lu Yu, on the other hand, refuted…
The two engaged in a war of words…
Until finally, when Lu Yu uttered the phrase, "I have never seen such a shameless person…"
Wang Lang staggered, falling to the ground. How could he have imagined that His Majesty, speaking in Zhuge Liang's tone, would attack his every weak point, making him tremble and almost suffocate!
"Quick, quick, bring some tea for Minister of Works Wang…" Lu Yu quickly called out…
He was genuinely afraid that the man would gasp for breath and faint away.
After drinking the tea, Wang Lang swallowed with a gulp and looked at Lu Yu with utmost apprehension. "Your Majesty… your servant… your servant…"
"Minister of Works Wang, please take a moment to compose yourself," Lu Yu said with a smile, refilling his tea. "Minister of Works Wang, what I said just now was a bit harsh, but Zhuge Liang's words would only be ten, even a hundred times more severe than mine…"
"Your servant, a mere firefly, should not attempt to contend with the sun and moon…" Wang Lang conceded.
Lu Yu, however, advised, "Not at all… Minister of Works Wang, actually, I have already prepared a set of phrases for you. This set of phrases, 'using his own method to return it to him,' will surely make Zhuge Kongming feel ashamed!"
—"Minister of Works Wang, please listen and remember. In a few days, I will personally stand on the front lines to bolster Minister of Works Wang's courage!"