Farmers of Shu Han

Chapter 1445 Returning to See the Emperor

"Did Sima Yi really launch a coup and kill Cao Shuang?"

Looking at Grand Marshal Feng, who was laughing so hard that tears were streaming down his face, General Guan's gaze held not only surprise but also a hint of admiration.

After sleeping with her husband for so many years, General Guan realized that even now, she still seemed unable to truly see the person beside her.

It would be one thing to predict something like this in advance, but to actually plan ahead of time is another.

Looking back, every time Sima Yi clashed with A Lang, he either lost his army or his territory, and never gained any advantage.

General Guan couldn't help but feel sorry for Sima Yi; it was truly a tragedy for him to encounter an opponent like Ah Lang.

"Because I don't believe these powerful families would put national interests above their own."

The Later Han Dynasty had long since perished; even the most foolish person should have been able to see through the true nature of these powerful clans.

After laughing enough, Grand Marshal Feng tilted his head back and slowly said:

"Therefore, I don't believe that Sima Yi would prioritize the overall situation."

The Sima clan's foundation in Hanoi was completely destroyed, and they were no longer tolerated by the Han Dynasty.

The entire direct descendants of the family followed Sima Yi across the Yellow River to Qiao County.

If Sima Yi had no chance to turn things around, that would be one thing, but the entire Sima clan declined, became impoverished, and eventually even perished—that was something that could not be helped.

Perhaps we won't have to wait that long—once Sima Yi dies, the entire Sima clan might be wiped out by the three dogs of Taichung.

After all, Cao Shuang was willing to spare the Sima family's life out of respect for the Grand Tutor.

But once Sima Yi is gone, Cao Shuang might be able to disregard the Sima family, but what about the others?
For example, Ding Mi.

Given the grudge between Ding Mi and Sima Yi, how could he possibly leave Sima Zhao as a potential threat?

Therefore, whether for the sake of his son or for the sake of his family, Sima Yi could not simply surrender.

The support of veteran officials in the court, the dissatisfaction of the court and the public with Cao Shuang, and the tens of thousands of elite troops brought back from Hebei were all capital for Sima Yi to turn the tide.

More importantly, his opponent, Cao Shuang, was a complete idiot.

If it were Feng Yong himself, putting himself in their shoes, he would never willingly become someone else's prey for the sake of the so-called "big picture."

Rather than making me worry about the big picture, let me take control of it.

Even if the Great Wei is destined to perish, it would be better if it perished in my hands than in Cao Shuang's.

Human nature and the human heart are inherently like this.

Compared to General Guan's attempt to keep up with Feng's pace, General Zhao's thoughts were much simpler.

He excitedly said:

"Brother, isn't the internal strife in the pseudo-Wei state a perfect opportunity for us? Let's gather our army and march south!"

Grand Marshal Feng took a deep breath, but in the end, he couldn't hold back and slapped Zhao Guang on the back of the head.
"Are you an idiot? Sending troops now, are you just letting Sima Yi consolidate his position?"

Sima Yi had just seized power, and the puppet state of Wei was in a state of turmoil.

Leaving aside whether the Han Dynasty has the capability to send troops, even if it does, sending troops rashly would only put pressure on the Wei regime, forcing the various factions within the Wei regime to unite against the Han Dynasty.

At that time, Sima Yi can take the opportunity to consolidate his internal power.

Why would Feng Guiwang go through all that trouble to travel to Xuchang in this freezing weather?
Was he just trying to benefit Sima Yi?
Upon hearing this, Zhao Guang was immediately greatly disappointed:
"Does my brother mean we should just watch and do nothing?"

Unexpectedly, Grand Marshal Feng continued to shake his head:
"of course not."

Zhao Guanggang was delighted, but Feng Da Sima's next words immediately shattered his hopes:

"Get ready, we're heading back to Chang'an."

"Ah? Why?"

Zhao Guang was somewhat displeased. Not only could he not send troops, but he couldn't even stay in Luoyang to watch the show.
Grand Marshal Feng glanced at him and said indifferently:
"Because I am staying in Luoyang, Guanqiu Jian in Xuchang may not dare to make any rash moves."

Not only Guanqiu Jian, but even Sima Yi might have to be wary of Luoyang when he wants to do anything.

Only if Feng leaves Luoyang and returns to Chang'an can the people of the puppet Wei be put at ease—because only in this way can it be shown that the Han army will not make any major moves in the near future.

Seeing that his elder brother had decided to return to Chang'an, Zhao Guang was somewhat unwilling and couldn't help but scratch his head.

Whether heading south to Xuchang, east to Qingxu, or even Yangzhou, one cannot bypass Luoyang.

Staying in Luoyang, as long as the Han Dynasty takes any action against the puppet Wei, you will surely earn a lot of military merits. How much you can earn depends on your personal ability—background is also a form of ability.

But if he were to return to Chang'an, his Tiger Cavalry would be one of the eight armies in Guanzhong, and the competition would be fierce.

“Brother, didn’t you go to Xuchang a few days ago to persuade Guanqiu Jian to surrender? Now, just as you predicted, the pseudo-Wei state is in great turmoil. Why not take this opportunity to go and persuade Guanqiu Jian to surrender again?”

Grand Marshal Feng shook his head: "Guanqiu Jian will not surrender."

Guanqiu Jian was deeply grateful for the favor shown to him by Cao Pi and Cao Rui, and was a loyal follower of Cao Wei to the death.

They would not easily surrender until Cao Wei or themselves were driven to their doom.

Not to mention that this person still holds considerable military power.

Moreover, this person is probably just observing and waiting to see what Sima Yi will do next.

"My purpose in going to Xuchang was not to persuade him to surrender, but simply to reduce his worries when he rebelled against Sima in the future."

Zhao Guang had nothing to say.

General Guan, however, seemed to have thought of something and hesitated before asking:
"What if Sima Yi, after killing Cao Shuang, wins over the people and intends to revive the puppet Wei dynasty?"

If Sima Yi wanted to revive the pseudo-Wei state, he might not necessarily force Guanqiu Jian into rebellion.

At that point, not only will Ah Lang's plans be in vain.

It might even turn into letting a tiger return to the mountains.

Grand Marshal Feng understood General Guan's implied meaning and continued to shake his head:

"Don't worry, there will never be another prime minister in the world. Even if there is, Sima Yi is the least likely one."

The prime minister that Grand Marshal Feng was referring to was none other than Prime Minister Zhuge.

“When we were locked in a stalemate at Jingxing, I felt that this man’s days were numbered. To this day, I still believe that Sima Yi will not live much longer.”

Mr. Feng does not know when Sima Yi died in history.

But Sima Yi in this historical timeline would probably only last two or three years at most.

According to the news from the pseudo-Wei state, Sima Yi's health had been poor for the past few years, and he was often ill.

Given his age, it wouldn't be surprising if news broke tomorrow that he had died.

Sima Yi's second son, Sima Zhao, was far inferior to his eldest son, Sima Shi.

Even though Sima Yi's successor in history was Sima Shi, the three rebellions in Huainan were still inevitable.

Sima Yi must have known better than Feng the extent of his son Sima Zhao's abilities.

Therefore, in the limited time he has left, he will inevitably carry out a frantic purge to reduce the pressure on Sima Zhao to succeed him as much as possible.

As for the fate of Cao Wei, frankly speaking, it wasn't that important.

Whether Sima Zhao intended to establish himself as emperor or use Cao Wei as leverage to surrender to Han or Wu, the benefits to the Sima clan would be far greater than if they had "considered the overall situation" while in the puppet state of Wei.

Upon hearing Grand Marshal Feng's explanation, General Guan frowned, his face showing disgust.

"If the Sima family father and son truly intend to do so, wouldn't they be traitors?"

Upon hearing this, Grand Marshal Feng smiled faintly and lowered his eyes.

Otherwise, why would I have decided to stay in the Han Dynasty?
Instead of going to Cao Wei, which had a better chance of unifying the country?

Even in the final moments of its demise, the Shu Han dynasty still had idealists who shone brightly for it.

Compared to selfish infighting, it's purer and more relaxed to be with a group of people who share ideals.

Moreover, although Fatty Liu is mediocre, his good character is undeniable!

Compared to the fierce power struggles and palace intrigues between the states of Wei and Wu, the Shu Han state, unless someone brought disaster upon themselves, at least had a basic guarantee of safety.

A safety net is very important. Without a safety net, who would be willing to open their heart and soul?
Even paying money won't work!
Raising his head again, Grand Marshal Feng slowly said:

"Therefore, when I was in Hebei, I never gave Sima Yi the opportunity to defect to the Han Dynasty."

"But if he dies one day and Sima Zhao is willing to support the puppet state of Wei, that would be a different story."

Thinking of the scene when Sima Zhao saw that letter, Grand Marshal Feng couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Compared to Sima Yi's cunning and Sima Shi's ruthlessness, Sima Zhao was much easier to control.

Judging from the information coming back from various sources, Sima Zhao seems to have a kind of inexplicable fear of Feng Da Sima.

The cause is unknown.

But the information is reliable.

Although Lord Mi has completely disappeared from the State of Wei, he has his successor.

The Xiahou clan initially fled Luoyang in two groups: Xiahou Mao went to Chang'an, and Xiahou Wei went to Xuchang—while Xiahou Xuan remained in Luoyang to await his death.

When Xiahou Mao arrived in Chang'an, he was finally able to pursue his favorite career—managing industry.

With the cooperation of Cao Zhi, the Prince of Jibei, the specialties of the Han Dynasty sold extremely well within the territory of the Wei Dynasty, and trade routes were unimpeded.

Xiahou Mao's side was thriving, but Xiahou Wei's side was not so lucky.

With the loss of Luoyang, the false emperor Cao Fang made an eastern tour to Qiao County, and the situation of the pseudo-Wei regime was turbulent, with many people struggling to make ends meet.

Not to mention that after Xiahou Xuan's death, no one in the Xiahou clan could achieve the same level of fame as him.

Most importantly, someone from the Xiahou clan openly defected to the Han state, which was tantamount to undermining the foundation of the Wei state.

It was already quite remarkable that Cao Shuang, out of consideration for their kinship, took care of the Xiahou clan and prevented them from falling into dire straits, which was already a rare act of kindness.

But there's absolutely no chance of him being reused.

Fortunately, Xiahou Mao had not forgotten his brother in the State of Wei. Taking advantage of the opportunity to expand trade routes, he helped Xiahou Wei, who was still in the puppet state of Wei.

With Xiahou Mao's help, Xiahou Wei and the others were able to live a much better life.

However, as the saying goes, "He who eats another's food is bound to him, and he who takes another's money is bound

No matter how much the Xiahou clan declined, they were still the first clan to establish the pseudo-Wei state, and the connections they had built up over the years were unmatched by ordinary people.

When you're down on your luck, those so-called connections can perhaps be ignored.

However, if you have rare items in your possession, it's easy to restore lost connections.

Despite being the last place the pseudo-Wei emperor could make an eastern tour, Qiao County is also the hometown of the Cao family.

But it is also the hometown of the Xiahou clan.

With the cooperation of the Xiahou clan, Qiao County had long been thoroughly infiltrated by the Han Dynasty, like a sieve.

Before Sima Yi launched his coup, Sima Zhao was able to obtain the threatening letter in time because it was delivered by someone sent by Xiahou Shi.

If Sima Zhao can't figure out who sent him the threatening letter, then one day, Feng will let him know.

However, that would only happen after Sima Yi's death.

If that day ever comes, I, Mr. Feng, will be very interested in calculating the area of ​​Sima Zhao's psychological trauma.

Upon hearing that while plotting against Xuchang, Feng had also taken the opportunity to target Sima Zhao, General Guan remained silent for a long time before finally saying:
"Ah Lang, you really are a man of profound foresight..."

Grand Marshal Feng grinned and said modestly:
"You flatter me, my lady!"

General Guan: ...

Hearing that his elder brother had already made plans, Zhao Guang could only reluctantly follow him back to Chang'an.
-
In late February, in Chang'an, the Ba Bridge, with its wooden beams and stone pillars, floated in the misty morning air as the Ba River began to recede.

When Feng Yongle reached the bridgehead, the thin ice beneath his hooves cracked, startling the storks that were hibernating in the reeds.

The deep ruts made by oxcarts on the official road have melted away the mud.

Looking up, in the distant fields, a curved plow is breaking through the frozen soil, and the iron plowshare gleams in the morning light.

The spring breeze gently carries the faint sounds of laughter from the people as they plow the fields in spring.

At this time of day in the past, caravans carrying fine charcoal would pass by with caravans of Liangzhou felt merchants, and the tremors of the Ba Bridge would startle the willow branches and icicles, causing them to fall into the spring water with a soft rustling sound.

Today, however, there are no pedestrians or caravans on the official road.

The Emperor of Han led his officials to the banks of the Ba River to welcome the victorious Han soldiers.

The remaining snow on Ba Bridge was covered by yellow earth, and Liu Shan's dark red and black imperial robes reflected the thin ice of the Ba River.

As the Grand Marshal and his entourage appeared at the end of the official road, the majestic sound of ox horns rang out.

"Woo~"

A hundred imperial guards shattered the thin ice and raised red flags made of Shu brocade, lining both sides of the road.

The flag is embroidered with dragons and tigers in gold thread, and when the wind blows, the dragons and tigers leap and frolic as if they were alive.

As the warhorse stepped onto Ba Bridge and saw the emperor's carriage, Grand Marshal Feng instinctively pulled on the reins.

"Mingwen, why are you standing still?"

Liu Shan's voice could be heard from the bridgehead.

"His Majesty……"

Seeing Liu Shan preparing to walk onto the bridge, the eunuch hurriedly tried to stop him, but was pushed aside.

The emperor's red shoes, originally worn only during sacrifices to heaven and earth, were unhesitatingly trampled into the yellow earth and melted into mud by Liu Shan.

Upon seeing Liu Shan approach, Grand Marshal Feng quickly dismounted and, as he went to greet him, unfastened his sword and handed it to the Imperial Guard beside him.

"Your subject Yong..."

The moment he bowed, Liu Shan quickly took two steps, grabbed his wrist guard, and the tassels of his crown swept across his forehead, revealing Liu the Fat's eyes, which were narrowed into slits with a smile:
"Rise! Rise quickly! It is clearly stated that such a grand ceremony is unnecessary..."

They helped Grand Marshal Feng to his feet, and then the sound of armor plates clashing together rang out, as loud as thunder.

General Guan led his soldiers, striking the left breastplate with his right fist. The armor clattered three times, like thunder, and they all bowed in salute.

Even with all consideration for the dignity of the emperor, Liu Shan couldn't help but feel a surge of pride upon seeing these elite warriors returning victorious from their campaigns for the country. He laughed heartily and exclaimed:
"Good, good, good! Rise! Our soldiers have fought and bled, their merits benefit the nation—guards, bring a golden cup of wine!"

After the soldiers expressed their gratitude, they drank half and drank half, celebrating the survivors and offering sacrifices to the fallen.

"play music!"

"A strong wind rises, and the clouds fly high..."

The music startled birds into flight, their feathers skimming across the thawing Ba River, breaking the reflection of the clear blue sky on the icy surface.

Liu Shan held Feng Yong's hand tightly, insisting that he accompany him.

"Mingwen, are you satisfied with today's scene?"

Grand Marshal Feng smiled wryly: "Your Majesty, I'm afraid you've gone too far."

"Hmph!" Liu Shan waved his hand. "However, not at all!"

Liu Shan slightly raised his head, looked around, and then gazed into the distance, his tone filled with emotion:

"Since I am here to escort the coffin of the Great General (Jiang Wan), it is only natural that I must come to greet you in person."

"The Prime Minister is gone, and the General is gone too. Mingwen, the burden on your shoulders is even heavier now!"

"From now on, you'll probably have to work even harder. This is all I can do for you."

Grand Marshal Feng glanced at the Imperial Guards on either side, pondered for a moment, and then spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"Your Majesty, there is actually one more thing you can do for me."

"Just state the facts clearly."