The cypress trees in Zhaolie Temple were dense. Zhuge Liang slowly stepped into the temple, gazing at the portrait of Liu Bei enshrined on the altar.
He closed his eyes, feeling as if Liu Bei’s posthumous portrait was echoing within the Zhaolie Temple, “I originally intended to join forces with you all to eliminate the Cao rebels and support the Han dynasty, but unfortunately, I departed midway, unlike my incapable son, you may establish yourself as the lord of Chengdu!”
Thinking of this…
Zhuge Liang shook his head abruptly. He softly murmured to himself, “My lord, was I wrong? For five years, I sighed day and night, using the meager resources of Yizhou to contend with Cao Wei, but the Emperor is gone, Yun Chang is gone, Yi De is gone, Xiao Zhi is gone, You Chang is gone… one by one, the people around me are gone. There are many bones of those who died in battle on the long plains, and wives who miss their loved ones in the fields…”
At this point… tears trickled down Zhuge Liang’s eyes.
“My lord, when I assisted you in raising troops, it was for the peace of the world, for unification, for millions of common people to have clothes to wear and food to eat. But who could have predicted that things would turn out this way? It is Cao Wei, it is Cao Yu, who has truly brought peace to the world and unified it… The more I dedicate myself, the more suffering the common people endure. If this continues… Shu Han will sooner or later be swallowed by Wei. I have not dared to slacken for a moment, day and night. My lord, can you tell me from the Nine Springs whether what I have done is right or wrong?”
Zhuge Liang gazed at the portrait in the incense smoke. The person in the portrait seemed to be looking at him silently and compassionately. Tears flowed from Zhuge Liang’s eyes. He knelt before the portrait and kowtowed deeply.
Just then…
“Prime Minister, Prime Minister…”
Hurried footsteps interrupted the atmosphere. Wei Yan rushed in.
“Wenchang, do not be presumptuous before the late Emperor!” Zhuge Liang murmured with a tearful voice.
Wei Yan quickly took a step back, “Peishui Pass is in chaos… in chaos.”
Zhuge Liang’s eyes widened. He quickly stood up, signaling not to speak before the late Emperor. He walked out of the Zhaolie Temple with Wei Yan.
“Prime Minister, the Wei army suddenly launched a surprise attack last night. Although Peishui Pass was held, the losses were not small. Also… also…” At the end, Wei Yan’s voice became hesitant.
“What else?” Zhuge Liang asked urgently.
“The soldiers discovered that the Prime Minister was not in Peishui Pass, and rumors spread throughout the army. Some even said that the Prime Minister did this intentionally, that the Prime Minister had secretly defected! In the past few days, people have been fleeing the army every day. The morale of the three armies is low, and there is a hidden risk of mutiny!”
“Bold!” Zhuge Liang’s hoarse voice exploded.
Rarely, at this moment, Zhuge Liang appeared extremely unsettled.
He realized that he had been outmaneuvered by Cao Yu again.
Sima Yi had raised the white flag, Zhen Rong and Huang Hao had instigated the Emperor to summon him back to court… all of this… Zhuge Liang’s heart was filled with an infinite sense of grief.
In terms of warfare, a large nation could afford countless mistakes against a small nation, but for a small nation against a large nation, even one mistake would be irreversible!
“Prime Minister, now…”
“Prepare the horses, muster the troops, and return to Peishui Pass immediately!” Zhuge Liang commanded.
“What about His Majesty…” Wei Yan reminded him.
“There is no time to delay. Have His Majesty go to the city gate. I have a few final instructions for him!”
…
…
Liu Chan, standing in the palace, was shocked.
His legs had almost completely gone weak, and he collapsed onto the ground like a puddle of soft mud. His pupils were almost bursting. At this moment, he was panicked, dumbfounded, and astonished, because from Gan Fu’s mouth, he had heard the “great truth” that made him so shocked that he could not breathe!
“Old Uncle, you mean… my mother is still alive, and she… she lives in the Bronze Sparrow Terrace in Ye City. My father is not the late Emperor, but the Supreme Emperor of Wei—Cao… Cao Cao?”
Even with just one sentence, Liu Chan stumbled three times.
He still felt very astonished. This was too absurd. He, the emperor of Bashu, was… was Cao Cao’s son.
Then… then…
In an instant, a colossal fact struck him like a hammer.
“Doesn’t that mean… I… I… I, the Son of Heaven of Ji Han, am… am the greatest spy of Great Wei?”
Liu Chan seemed to have a sudden realization.
Gan Fu did not answer Liu Chan’s question but began to tell him the entire story.
“Liu Bei repeatedly abandoned your mother. The last time was in Xuzhou, when he fled in panic to Hebei to seek refuge with Yuan Shao. Guan Yun Chang took your mother to Xuchang, where she was received by Cao Cao!”
“After that, there was an accidental encounter. Your mother and Cao Cao, who was then the Minister of Works, fell in love. He was a man of daring love and hate, and she was a true and passionate woman. He was a man who abandoned his wife and children, a cowardly and hypocritical gentleman. It was difficult for your mother not to be moved by Cao Cao… All of this happened without Guan Yu’s knowledge. The capture of Yan Liang and the beheading of Wen Chou was merely a scheme by Cao Yu to distract Guan Yu and help your mother meet her biological father!”
Then…
After a long series of mental deductions, Liu Chan retorted, “Then why am I in Bashu? Why did I become the emperor of Bashu? Shouldn’t I be in Cao Wei? Shouldn’t I have become a prince of the Supreme Emperor of Cao Wei, enjoying glory and wealth…”
Before Liu Chan could finish speaking, Gan Fu’s tone became even more serious, “Your mother requested this herself!”
“Ah…”
“Where in this world is there unearned glory?” Gan Fu said earnestly, “Even as Cao Cao’s son, Adou, do you not know? Haven’t Cao Pi and Cao Zhang suffered tragic fates? Without any merit, how could you find your place in Cao Wei? How could you be a peaceful marquis? Therefore…”
Gan Fu emphasized his tone, “When Guan Yun Chang passed five passes and slew six generals, your mother was already over a month pregnant with you. She sent you here to let you gradually become the king of Shu Han. This was Cao Yu’s plan, and it was the best arrangement your mother and father made for you… A parent’s love for their child is a far-reaching plan, Adou. Your mother is entrusting an immense merit to your hands, making it easily attainable. Can you understand her painstaking efforts?”
—Boom…
—Rumble!
Gan Fu’s voice was not loud, but it struck Liu Chan’s ears like the roar of five thunderbolts.
His pupils widened, he pursed his lips, and he seemed to be still immersed in that immense astonishment. Ten seconds, twenty seconds, thirty seconds…
For a full hundred seconds, Liu Chan could not utter a single word.
The atmosphere in the palace became silent and eerie. The air itself seemed to have stopped breathing, making it suffocating!
Finally…
After a long period of contemplation, Liu Chan opened his mouth, wanting to say something…
But at that very moment.
“Your Majesty… Your Majesty…”
Jiang Wan’s hurried footsteps sounded from outside the hall.
Seeing Gan Fu also in the temporary palace, Jiang Wan quickly paid his respects, then hurriedly turned to look at Liu Chan, “The Prime Minister… the Prime Minister is returning to Peishui Pass. He asks Your Majesty to go to the city gate, as he has a few words… to instruct Your Majesty.”
Liu Chan, who had previously revered Zhuge Liang as a god, timid and fearful, suddenly froze his gaze.
He actually retorted to Jiang Wan, “The Prime Minister is not coming to see me? Instead, he wants me to go and find him?”
Uh…
This sudden question directly stunned Jiang Wan.
His pupils revealed immense disbelief.
Before he could speak again.
Liu Chan’s voice came out, clear and resonant— “Prepare the carriage to the city gate. I will go and see the Prime Minister!”
…
…
Chengdu, the cellar of a wine shop.
The eunuch Huang Hao was held here by Zhao Yun’s men. Waiting for him was Jiang Wei.
“Eunuch Huang…”
“And who might you be?”
“Captain of the Wei Special Forces—Jiang Wei.” Jiang Wei announced his name and even waved, signaling for Huang Hao to be untied.
Several special soldiers untied Huang Hao’s ropes.
Jiang Wei then led Huang Hao to sit at the head of the table.
Delicious food was laid out before Huang Hao, along with a specialty of Pei County in Wei—Jiu Niang Chun wine.
Jiang Wei personally opened it for him and poured him a full bowl.
After all this, Jiang Wei gestured again, “Eunuch Huang, you have been startled. Please…”
Huang Hao
Only then did he realize that the person in front of him… was one of them!
Along with that, he realized an even more terrifying fact.
“So, Changshan Zhao Zilong is also a person of Wei, haha… that’s wonderful, we are all on the same side! Uncle Gan, Captain Jiang, General Zilong, and myself… if we count it up, the unification of Wei is within reach! Ah… hahaha…”
Huang Hao laughed heartily, and as he laughed, he drank the entire bowl of wine in relief.
Jiang Wei poured him another bowl… and said with emotion, “Eunuch Huang, you have suffered grievances… This first bowl of wine is to calm your nerves. This second bowl is by imperial decree, asking me to apologize to Eunuch Huang on behalf of His Majesty…”
“How can I dare accept this?” Huang Hao repeatedly declined, “Whether it is Zhuge Liang or Li Yan, these… are all outsiders from Yizhou. For decades, the local clans of Yizhou have been suppressed by them. Whether it was Liu Zhang or Liu Bei, we have all suffered from these imperial clan members for a long time and have been waiting for a wise ruler from Wei to unify the land and lead us local people to a good life!”
Speaking of which, Huang Hao raised his wine goblet, “When I heard that there was a Consort Gan in the Bronze Sparrow Terrace? And coupled with the Emperor of Wei’s masterful psychological tactics, I had already guessed about eighty to ninety percent. Uncle Gan then confided in me, so how could I not act according to His Majesty’s decree? His Majesty told me to guide Zhen Rong into the palace, so I guided Zhen Rong into the palace. His Majesty told me to cooperate with Zhen Rong to instigate Liu Chan to recall Zhuge Liang, so I instigated him. His Majesty wants to use Liu Chan’s pain of losing Sister Zhen to confess everything to him. How could I not know His Majesty’s earnest efforts? This bowl of wine is not His Majesty apologizing to me, but me pledging loyalty and sincerity to His Majesty.”
Huang Hao blurted out a stream of words while Jiang Wei kept smiling.
After Huang Hao finished that bowl, Jiang Wei smilingly poured another bowl… “Come, this bowl, Jiang Wei toasts Eunuch Huang…”
This…
Huang Hao’s eyes darted around, “Captain Jiang said that the first bowl of wine was to calm nerves, and the second bowl was for apology. Then what is this third bowl of wine?”
At this moment, Huang Hao was extremely curious…
“It’s…” Jiang Wei paused, then his eyes rose languidly to look at Huang Hao. His tone was calm and composed, “It’s for farewell!”
Ah…
At this, Huang Hao, who had been raising his wine bowl, spilled the wine all over the ground. He began to tremble, and he suddenly realized… the atmosphere here was not right, it was somewhat sinister and terrifying!
“Captain Jiang… what do you mean?”
“Heh heh…” Jiang Wei smiled, “His Majesty has an imperial decree to borrow something from Eunuch Huang. As a subject, Jiang Wei dares not refuse to lend it.”
“What… what thing?”
“Eunuch Huang’s head!” Jiang Wei recited coldly.
This…
Huang Hao was completely stunned.
Jiang Wei’s words continued, “Eunuch Huang is a wise man. The local people of Yizhou were indeed suffocated by those people from Dongzhou and Jingzhou, but unless it was absolutely necessary, unless it was a matter of extreme urgency, the local people of Yizhou would not resist. However, if Eunuch Huang were poisoned by Zhuge Liang, then it would be different! The local clans of Yizhou would have a common enemy against Zhuge Liang, and then unite to surrender to Great Wei. This would be beneficial for Great Wei and also for the people of Yizhou!”
“But… but I have committed no crime!” Huang Hao pleaded desperately, “I… my heart is with Great Wei!”
“I apologize…” Jiang Wei turned around, “However, Eunuch Huang, rest assured, His Majesty said that after Eunuch Huang’s death, you will be enfeoffed as a marquis. His Majesty will care for your elderly mother as if she were his own mother, and His Majesty will treat your adopted son as his own. If Eunuch Huang has any ‘food companions’ in the palace, feel free to tell me. His Majesty will not treat you unfairly!”
“I…” Huang Hao still wanted to speak… but suddenly he felt a pain in his stomach. First, it hurt, then his internal organs felt like they were churning violently.
He clutched his stomach, unable to bear the pain.
He opened his mouth wide, but could not utter a single word.
Jiang Wei and a group of special soldiers left the wine cellar, locking the doors and windows.
The sky was clear and cloudless today, with no swirling clouds. Instead, there was the howling and wailing from the wine shop’s cellar.
Coming out of the cellar, Jiang Wei met Zhao Yun…
Jiang Wei was about to cup his hands in salute, but Zhao Yun signaled him not to be so formal.
“Everything is done?”
“Done!”
“Huang Hao is indeed not a good person,” Zhao Yun said with emotion.
Jiang Wei nodded, “His Majesty has always looked down upon such self-proclaimed clever people who are two-faced and fickle. However, considering his contributions, His Majesty’s care for his mother and adopted son is truly benevolent.” “Yes!” Zhao Yun sighed again, “Some people, especially treacherous officials, are perhaps more useful in death than in life, and can live on in posterity!”
…
…
The incense smoke in Zhaolie Temple slowly rose with time.
Zhuge Liang, standing before the gate of Chengdu Commandery, looked immensely weary. Although not old, he appeared much aged.
He gazed in the direction of the Zhaolie portrait and murmured, “I, your subject, will once again depart for Peishui Pass and will certainly do my utmost to recover the lost territory, restore the Central Plains, dedicate myself to the cause, and serve until death!”
After speaking, he solemnly kowtowed three times.
He looked around the imperial road within the city gate and muttered, “Has His Majesty not arrived yet? Is he still angry with your subject because of that Zhen family woman?”
At this moment, on the treetops above Zhuge Liang’s head, orioles chirped and hopped on the branches in the spring sunlight. Dewdrops hung on the tender spring grass, about to disappear in the morning sun. Only a dull, heavy bell sounded, which at this moment was particularly somber.
At the same time…
At the end of the imperial road, Liu Chan’s carriage was rapidly approaching.
Amidst the fluttering banners and the cheers of the Shu army soldiers, Liu Chan quickly alighted from the carriage and walked to Zhuge Liang’s side.
Zhuge Liang was about to bow, but Liu Chan quickly helped him up and pretended to be greatly moved.
“Prime Minister, on this journey…”
…
…