Farmers of Shu Han

Chapter 1471 I truly do not know
In May, the air in Chang'an's West Market was filled with the aroma of roasted pork and the sour smell of newly brewed cloudy wine.

In the pulp shop under the locust tree, storyteller Old Wang slammed his gavel onto the mottled wooden table, causing ripples to spread in the pulp in the earthenware bowl.

"Ladies and gentlemen, today we will not recount Lü Bu's shooting of the halberd, but will instead speak of Zhuge Ke of Jiangdong—"

Old Wang's voice was like the sound of an old chime bell, hoarse but not unpleasant to hear. "This person knew a thousand characters at the age of three and was called a child prodigy. In my opinion, he is clearly just pretending to be a phoenix with pheasant tails!"

The butcher, squatting on the bench, grinned, revealing his yellow teeth.

"Blind Wang, how dare you slander Prime Minister Zhuge's nephew?"

Everyone laughed.

Old Wang chuckled: "The Prime Minister is the Prime Minister, and he has his own son. His nephew is thousands of miles away, serving in another country. How can we not make up stories about him?"

As he spoke, he grabbed half a bowl of sweet rice wine from the next table, tilted his head back, and gulped it down. He wiped his mouth and continued:

"Are you all aware of the upheaval in Qiao County half a month ago? Zhuge Yuanxun outwardly sent envoys to make peace, but secretly—"

He slapped his thigh, "They actually hid poison in the funeral artifacts! They wanted to kill Young Master Cao Zhi on the spot!"

Amidst a collective gasp, Old Wang raised his torn palm-leaf fan, shaking his head and swaying his body.

"Fortunately, Grand Marshal Feng was incredibly resourceful and had already dispatched his secret guards disguised as mourning servants—"

The tattered fan suddenly pointed southeast, "When we captured the Wu traitor, guess what? That spy had a silk letter from Zhuge Ke sewn into his crotch!"

The passengers immediately erupted in uproar, and the peddler in straw sandals stamped his feet and cursed:
"You little brat, you're just like Lü Bu, a traitor who served three masters!"

The old woman selling millet cakes chimed in with a Sichuan accent, "Good heavens! They can change faces even better than the official kiln terracotta figurines!"

Old Wang banged the ceramic bowl loudly:

"The most insidious letter was Zhuge Ke's secret letter to Sima Zhao! It said something like 'The fate of the Han Dynasty is sealed'—"

He suddenly adopted a soft, gentle Wu dialect accent, then immediately changed his expression and angrily rebuked:

"Listen to this, everyone! What does this fellow take the six counties of Jiangdong for? What does he take Sun Liang, the ruler of Wu, for? What does he take the officials of the Jiangdong court for? Are they clay figurines worth three coins in the market, to be molded and flattened at will?"

Amidst the laughter, cries of pain rang out. It turned out that the butcher, who was squatting on the bench, had overturned due to excessive movement.

Old Wang followed suit, mimicking the cry of pain:
"Listen! This noise is nothing compared to the commotion in Jianye City! When Wu Emperor Sun Liang heard it, he was so angry that he whipped several palace servants."

……

The absurd and fantastical discussions in the marketplace and taverns are but a drop in the ocean of public opinion surrounding Feng Guiwang.

Having decided to launch a military campaign, Grand Marshal Feng immediately ordered rumors to be spread throughout the nine markets and proclamations to be displayed on major thoroughfares.

An old soldier was playing the zither in the West Market and singing: "Yuan Xun, Yuan Xun, with a silk book hidden in his trousers; today he allies with Wei, tomorrow he will betray Wu!"

Nursery rhymes spread throughout the neighborhood day and night.

Two days later, the court assembly was held in the front hall of Weiyang Palace.

When the emperor arrived at the palace, Grand Marshal Feng replied, "The secret communication with the false Wei regime may be the work of Zhuge Ke. We should wait for their lord's reply to determine the truth."

Before he finished speaking, the old minister Deng Zhi suddenly prostrated himself before the steps, his forehead hitting the gold brick with a sound like shattering jade.

"May I ask, Grand Marshal? Was the Jingzhou Incident of the twenty-fourth year of Jian'an also an act of 'unauthorized action'?"

Zong Yu also slammed his staff on the ground, his white beard trembling like autumn tumbleweed in the wind:

"When the Prime Minister first passed away, the Grand Marshal was stationed in Guanzhong and handled the situation with remarkable clarity and decisiveness. Why is he now so cowardly and lenient towards the Wu dogs?"

"The late emperor's life's work was ruined by a broken alliance. Now Zhuge Ke wants to emulate Lü Meng and Lu Xun, and the Grand Marshal actually wants to emulate the benevolence of Song Xiang?"

Feng Yongfang tried to mediate, but Deng Zhi angrily pointed a dagger at him and rebuked him:

"How can we forget the hatred for our sovereign and father? When our lord died for his country at Yiling, the banners of the Wu dogs were still flying over Jiangling!"

The sound shattered the palace tiles, and all the officials turned pale.

Feng Yong remained silent for a long time, then suddenly lifted his robe and prostrated himself:

"I will humbly accept your instruction."

Order issued immediately:

Zhang Bao was appointed General Who Conquers the East, leading 50,000 troops under Wang Han, Liu Hun, Tuoba Tianli, Xiahou Ba, and others. They advanced to Qiao County and established a camp by the Huai River.
Jiang Wei was appointed General Zhennan, commanding 50,000 troops under Liu Yin, Shi Bao, Guanqiu Jian, and others, and stationed in Nanyang to control the vital passage between Xiangyang and Fancheng.

Fu Qian was appointed as the General of the Right Army, and together with Du Yu, Ma Su and other generals, they led 30,000 troops to gather in the three eastern commanderies of Hanzhong. Their naval forces were ready with ships and boats to await them.
Zhang Yi was appointed General of Annam, in charge of 30,000 troops under Luo Xian, Wang Jun, and others, to reorganize the Yong'an water fortress and repair warships.

The remaining eight armies in Guanzhong are all preparing for battle and ready to march out of Wuguan Pass at any time.

After the imperial edict was issued, the sound of hammers striking the armory in Chang'an continued day and night, like a giant beast grinding its teeth.

A spy from Jiangdong secretly observed that grain carts were coming and going on the official road to Chang'an in an endless stream, and the dust covered the sun like a yellow dragon soaring into the sky. He fled overnight and reported to Jianye.

The fourteenth year of Yanxi, which was the first year of Jianxing of Wu.

As dusk settled, it slowly enveloped the Qinhuai River and the stone city walls like a heavy, dark brocade.

A dusty carriage rumbled from the direction of Fuzhou Mountain in the west and silently glided into the side gate of the palace.

Before the palace gate, the charioteer held aloft the envoy's banner—a red silk base with the character "Wu" embroidered in ink, and adorned with nine tassels and ox tails.

Upon seeing this, the gatekeeper dared not be negligent. After verifying the bronze tally and fish-shaped contract, he personally led the carriage inside.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and a person almost tumbled out. His official robe was wrinkled like pickled vegetables, his crown tassel was crooked, and his face was deathly pale under the palace lanterns. It was Qin Bo.

He clutched a sandalwood box tightly to his chest, and upon seeing the imperial guards, his voice became hoarse:

"Your Majesty...Quickly, quickly take me to see His Majesty! The Emperor of Han has a personal letter instructing me to present it to him in person."

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Qin Bo was already kneeling on the ice-patterned brick floor of a side hall.

The person before me was pale-faced and beardless, with eyes as narrow as slits; he was none other than the eunuch Cen Hun.

He did not rush to take the wooden letter, but slowly used a silver stick to light a goose-foot lamp.

The flickering lights elongated his shadow, casting it onto the palace wall painted with clouds and cranes.

"Lord Qin, you've worked hard." Cen Hun's voice was high-pitched yet steady. "What does the Han Emperor say?"

Qin Bo trembled, as if recalling the icy gaze and piercing words from the Grand Marshal's mansion, and he collapsed to the ground, choking back sobs, his words incoherent:
"The Emperor of Han... the Grand Marshal was furious... and said to the Chancellor that he had betrayed the alliance and allied with Wei. If His Majesty does not clarify this matter, he will send troops south to attack my Great Wu. When I returned, I heard that the trade routes had also been cut off..."

Upon hearing Qin Bo's words, Cen Hun frowned. Was it the Emperor of Han or the Grand Marshal?

However, seeing Qin Bo's disheveled hair and tears streaming down his face, it was clear that he was on the verge of collapse and his mind was in turmoil.

His narrow eyes squinted even more as he bent down to take the wooden box.

He opened it, took out the silk book, and examined it closely by the lamplight.

He read very slowly, as if chewing each word on the tip of his tongue.

Inside the hall, only Qin Bo's suppressed sobs and the occasional crackling of the lamp wick could be heard.

After a long while, Cen Hun gently stroked the words "Zhuge Ke's private alliance with the usurper" with his fingertips before slowly rolling up the silk book, his narrow eyes slightly narrowed.

Then, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, you have worked hard. Please rest here in peace. As for Your Majesty, this old servant will have a proper explanation."

He turned and whispered his instructions to the eunuch standing by, his voice loud enough for Qin Bo to hear clearly:

"Go to the Prime Minister's residence and inform the official on duty: Lord Qin has returned, but he has been tiring on his journey and has been infected by a cold. His condition is serious and the Imperial Physician has sent a physician to treat him."

"Since the King of Qin has entrusted me with the task of presenting the letter to the Han emperor, I dare not overstep my bounds and have temporarily stored it in the palace. It is late at night and the palace gates are locked. Please do not worry, Prime Minister, Your Majesty will personally present it to me at the court assembly tomorrow."

The eunuch accepted the order and left.

Cen Hun watched as Qin Bo was helped to the back hall to "rest," then beckoned to another trusted eunuch, his voice barely audible:

"Go quickly to Lü Zhongshu's residence, through the old gate in the alley. Tell him... 'The silk scroll from Chang'an has arrived; the time has come!'"

In a short while, in the study of Lü Yi's residence, Lü Yi had just finished listening to the whispers of Cen Hun's confidant when a copper seal bearing the inscription "Pingzhun" that he was playing with fell onto the rosewood table with a clang.

The candlelight on the base of the bronze sparrow lamp reflected Lü Yi's ever-changing face.

After a long silence, he finally managed to squeeze out a low murmur that sounded like a mix of crying and laughing:

"As expected...as expected, they've arrived!"

Since Zhuge Ke took power, the authority of the Imperial Academy has been completely diminished.

Currently, he only oversees the Pingzhun Bureau, which, while nominally in charge of trade between Wu and Shu, is in reality like a rat spinning a ball.

Shu brocade, brown sugar, honey, velvet blankets, fine wine, candles, salt, Qiong bamboo...

Eight or nine out of ten of the profits from trade went into the Prime Minister's treasury. If there was any oversight, the Prime Minister would be reprimanded in court as a "corrupt official."

As a secretary in the school administration, I myself have been repeatedly humiliated in public by Zhuge Ke, let alone the other school administrators.
Thinking of all this, resentment and fear flashed across Lü Yi's face, but were ultimately replaced by a ruthless determination born of desperation.

"Zhuge Yuanxun, you treated the Imperial Academy like a straw dog... Today, retribution has come!"

Then he recalled Mi Shiyilang's private words of comfort:

"Lord Lü, power is like the tide, rising and falling in its own time. Zhuge Ke is currently at the height of his power, but extreme rigidity makes one prone to breaking."

"You should be patient and cultivate good relationships, especially with the officials in the palace and the imperial family. If any of them are dissatisfied with Zhuge Ke, they will be your support in turning the tide in the future."

Over the years, Mi Shiyilang's predictions and strategies have been almost flawless, which has dispelled the last trace of apprehension in Lü Yi's heart.

"With the arrival of the letter from the Han state, it must be due to Lord Feng's strategic planning. Since Lord Feng is Lord Mi's elder brother, this time..."

Upon realizing this, Lü Yi felt a surge of excitement:

I want to see how much talent you, Zhuge, have, can match the far-sighted Feng... Feng the Grand Marshal.
I turned my gaze to the deep night outside the window without the slightest hesitation.

He quickly changed his clothes, and instead of going through the main gate, he quietly left through a side gate, his figure disappearing into the shadows of the crisscrossing streets and alleys of Jianye City, heading straight for the residence of General Sun Jun.

When Lü Yi arrived at Sun Jun's residence, Sun Jun was still awake.

The inner chamber was filled with the warm fragrance of a bronze incense burner shaped like an animal, and the curtains hung low, yet they could not conceal the decadent atmosphere of the room.

Sun Jun and Princess Quan, Sun Luban, finally caught their breath.

A trusted servant rushed to report from outside the door, his voice filled with anxiety:
"General! Lu Zhongshu of the Imperial Secretariat has an extremely urgent matter to discuss!"

He was holding the soft, warm Sun Jun in his arms when he suddenly sat up, got off the bed barefoot, and his face was instantly replaced by surprise and doubt:
"Lü Yi came here late at night..."

Princess Quan also sat up, the brocade quilt slipped down, revealing her snow-white shoulders and neck, but there was no trace of shyness in her eyes, and her voice was hoarse from the aftermath:
“Lu Yi must have something important to say at this time. Ziyuan, let him in first and see what he has to say.”

In order to bring down the former crown prince Sun He, Princess Quan once joined forces with Lü Yi through Madam Pan.

The two were not strangers.

Lü Yi was led in, and upon seeing the scene inside, he immediately lowered his head and looked down, but his words came out rapidly like a string of arrows:
"General, Princess, disaster is imminent!"

"Qin Bo returned with a letter from the Han state, in which the Han emperor directly accused Chancellor Zhuge Ke of betraying the alliance and allying with Wei."

"In his fury, the Han emperor intended to send a large army south, but the trade routes between Han and Wu are now completely cut off, and the official letter has been detained in the palace by Eunuch Cen!"

"Please, General and Princess, make a decision as soon as possible!"

"what?!"

Sun Jun gasped, a complex emotion welling up within him that was hard to describe, and then his expression became dazed.

On the day the late emperor was confined to his bedside and concerned about the state of affairs, he was still worried that Zhuge Ke was too stubborn and difficult to control. It was his grandson Jun who stepped forward and did his best to protect him, saying, "No one in the current court can compare to Ke!"

However, after Zhuge Ke took control of the central government and established his own office, he never shared even a drop of water with him.
In the Battle of Dongxing, the Wei forces were defeated on a snowy night. When the news of the victory arrived, everyone in Jianye, young and old, praised the "Divine Martial Prime Minister."

All those monumental achievements and the admiration of Jiangdong were attributed to the Zhuge family.

His past contributions as a member of the imperial family, his important role in assisting the government, and his ability to overcome public opposition have all vanished like morning dew into the sea, leaving no trace in this person's heart.

So callous and ungrateful, they show not a shred of gratitude for your help!

As the past events flashed by, Princess Quan let out a cold laugh, grabbed a robe from beside the bed, put it on, and walked barefoot to Lü Yi:
“Lu Zhongshu, you usually obey Zhuge Ke's orders. Why didn't you go to the Prime Minister's residence to inform Zhuge Ke about this matter, but instead came here in the dead of night?”

Lü Yi slammed his head to the ground with a thud, his voice filled with grief and indignation:
"Your Highness, please understand! Zhuge Ke is tyrannical and domineering, the Office of Inspectors is practically a mere formality, and eight or nine tenths of the profits from the Pingzhun Division go into the Prime Minister's treasury. Your Majesty and Eunuch Cen... truly have nowhere to turn!"

"Now that the Han emperor is punishing us, it is a golden opportunity. We, your subjects, are willing to serve you with utmost loyalty and follow the lead of the princess and the general!"

Upon hearing this, Princess Quan turned and exchanged a glance with Sun Jun, both seeing a burning ambition in each other's eyes.

"Alright!" Sun Jun helped Lü Yi up, his face showing no more hesitation. "Quickly change your clothes, we'll go to the palace immediately! We'll discuss this in detail with Cen Hun!"

The palace gates were closed at night, and no one was allowed to enter without an imperial edict.

But Princess Quan is an exception.

As night deepened, Lü Yi and Sun Jun, mingling among the princess's trusted guards, quietly entered the palace, which was already locked.

Cen Hun was already waiting in the secluded hall where they had agreed to meet. Under the lamplight, the silk scroll from Chang'an lay quietly on the table.

Sun Jun stepped across the threshold, his hurried steps abruptly halting as his gaze, like an iron nail, became fixed on the scroll of silk.

His breathing became extremely heavy, comparable to the panting he had when he was making love with Princess Quan.

After a brief silence, Sun Jun asked hoarsely, "Is...this it?"

Cen Hun nodded slightly and said softly, "This is it."

The four sat around the table, their shadows cast on the wall by the lamplight, twisting and intertwining.

“Look, everyone,” Cen Hun’s high-pitched voice was exceptionally clear in the silence:

"The Han ruler gave two options: either His Majesty is aware of the situation and Wu and Han declare war, or Zhuge Ke secretly colluded with Wei and broke the alliance."

Without the slightest hesitation, Princess Quan extended her nail-painted fingers and gently touched the three characters "Zhuge Ke" on the silk scroll. Her expression was relaxed, but her tone was icy:
"His Majesty is young, how could he know? It must be Zhuge Ke... who deceived the emperor, abused his power, and ruined the country!"

Sun Jun's eyes flashed with a fierce light:

"His alliance with Wei is a fact! Zhongli Mu went to Pengcheng and found out immediately! Does Zhuge Yuanxun really think he can hide it from everyone?"

His chest heaved violently: "If this matter were made public..."

"Make it public?" Cen Hun took over the conversation with a sinister tone, seemingly mocking, "This old servant has questioned Qin Xiao in detail, and the Han Kingdom has more than just rumors in its hands."

He pointed a finger at the silk book and said, “It is a letter written by Sima Zhao of Pengcheng. All of Zhuge Ke’s secret talks with the Wei Kingdom are written in the letter.”

He let out a very soft sneer:

"Zhuge Yuanxun's actions are not only a betrayal of the oath, but also incredibly foolish. This kind of conspiracy has given the enemy country such irrefutable evidence. Isn't this tantamount to handing the hilt of the sword to Feng Yong himself?"

"Moreover, Qin Xiaoshi also said that when he returned, the Han army was already pressing in on the border."

"Now there are no merchant ships on the river. I'm afraid the price of rice in Jingzhou is about to skyrocket again?"

"When public resentment boils over and the nation is in grave danger, it will all be due to his fault alone!"

Lü Yi, who had been listening attentively with her head bowed, raised her head at this moment:
"Now that the official letter is here, Zhuge... Zhuge Ke must be caught off guard. He is probably still sleeping soundly in his mansion at the moment."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the three faces. "So... tomorrow morning court?"

He spoke the last four words softly and quickly.

The discussion was over, and although it was late at night, the group was still in high spirits and did not feel sleepy.

For this matter to succeed, the cooperation of a crucial figure is needed—Sun Liang, the ruler of Wu.

Cen Hun and Princess Quan entered Sun Liang's palace, while Lü Yi and Sun Jun remained outside.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, wake up?"

Sun Liang, who was fast asleep, rubbed his sleepy eyes, his voice still slurred like a child just waking up: "Cen Hun... what is it? I'm sleepy..."

The candlelight was flickered brighter, illuminating the figure sitting by the couch—dressed in simple robes, with her hair loosely styled, it was Princess Quan.

Sun Liang was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously shrank further under the covers: "Sister? What are you doing here?"

Princess Jeon reached out and pulled him, blanket and all, to her side:
“Your Majesty, do not be afraid,” she said in a low voice, “something terrible has happened.”

She took the scroll of silk from her sleeve and slowly unfolded it in front of Sun Liang.

The ink characters moved like ants under the candlelight. Sun Liang was only eight years old and knew very few characters, so he could only barely recognize some of them.

“It was sent by the Emperor of Han,” Princess Quan pointed to a line of text, “saying that Chancellor Zhuge Ke had colluded with Wei and broken the alliance.”

"The Emperor of Han was very angry, saying that if His Majesty knew the truth, it would mean war between the two countries; if His Majesty did not know the truth..." She paused, her voice growing even deeper, "it would mean the Prime Minister was deceiving the Emperor."

Sun Liang jolted awake and was fully awake.

His eyes widened, his pupils reflecting the flickering candlelight and the grotesque words on the silk scroll.

"Why...why?" His voice trembled, his fingers unconsciously clenching the brocade quilt. "Why...why did the Prime Minister collude with Wei?"

"Because he's greedy!" Princess Quan suddenly raised her voice, then immediately lowered it again, as if afraid of startling something:
"Having Huainan is not enough for him; he also wants to ally with Wei to contain Han and claim unparalleled glory! Has he ever thought of His Majesty? Has he ever thought of the people of Jiangdong?"

She turned Sun Liang's face towards her, making him look into her eyes:

"Does Your Majesty remember the late Emperor's dying words? 'Zhuge Ke is talented, but stubborn and headstrong. You are young, so be careful.' Now he has indeed brought about a terrible disaster!"

"During court discussions, has he ever truly consulted His Majesty's opinion? When it comes to dispatching troops and supplies, has he ever knelt down to ask His Majesty for permission?"

With each question she asked, Sun Liang's face paled a little more.

"This time, Your Majesty was almost caught in the crossfire of war! If the Han emperor truly believes that Your Majesty was aware of the situation, a million-strong army could cross the river in a matter of days. What would become of our Sun clan's ancestral temple? What would become of Your Majesty's safety?"

Sun Liang's lips began to tremble, and his eyes reddened.

The Han army was a formidable force, a fact universally acknowledged.

Even if Sun Liang is very young, I've still heard of him.

Sun Liang shrank back, but had no choice but to ask:
"Then...should we summon the Prime Minister to the palace and ask him what exactly happened?"

“Your Majesty, do not worry,” Princess Quan wiped away his tears that were about to fall, her tone suddenly softening as she gently said, “With your elder sister in charge of the internal affairs and relatives assisting you in governing, why bother asking outsiders?”

She rolled up the silk book and tucked it back into her sleeve:
"Moreover, the official letter directly points to Zhuge Ke. If Your Majesty summons him now, how could he possibly admit his guilt? He will surely resort to all sorts of sophistry and claim that Your Majesty is ignorant of matters of state and military affairs. At that time, the Han emperor will be furious, and war will be imminent."

She cupped Sun Liang's face in her hands and emphasized her words:
"But if Your Majesty says 'I truly do not know' in front of all the civil and military officials at tomorrow's court assembly, then the people of the world will know that Zhuge Ke has deceived the emperor!"

"The Han emperor's anger only burns him. The state of Wu can be preserved, and Your Majesty's throne can be secure."

Sun Liang was breathing rapidly, his small chest heaving.

He only half understood what he was hearing, but the heavy words "war," "state," and "imperial throne" weighed down on him like stones.

"What...what should I do?" His voice was barely audible.

A glint of light flashed in Princess Quan's eyes.

She leaned close to Sun Liang's ear and whispered, word by word:
"Tomorrow, when His Majesty attends court, he must appear sorrowful, with his eyes lowered, and must not look directly at Zhuge Ke. When he steps forward, His Majesty should say—"

She paused, making sure Sun Liang heard her clearly, "'Last night I read the Han emperor's letter, and my heart was torn apart. I truly knew nothing of what the Prime Minister did.'"

"Now the Han army is pressing on our borders, and the people are filled with fear. I fear I will fail the late Emperor... I request that the Chancellor... personally explain himself in court."

Sun Liang murmured the same thing over and over.

“If he tries to defend himself,” Princess Quan continued, “His Majesty only needs to shake his head and sigh, saying, ‘I am young and do not understand the complexities of the world; I only wish for the safety of the country.’”

"The rest of the matter... General Wuwei (i.e., Sun Jun) will handle it himself."

The sound of the fifth watch gong came from outside the hall. Cen Hun quietly stepped forward and brought a warm cup of calming soup.

"Your Majesty, please drink this soup and rest for a while," Cen Hun said softly. "This old servant will come at three quarters past dawn to call Your Majesty to change your clothes."

Sun Liang took the jade bowl, his hands trembling so badly that a few drops of soup splashed out, leaving dark spots on the brocade quilt.

Princess Quan tucked him in, her movements as gentle as a real mother's.

“Go to sleep,” she said softly, “your sister will stay here and watch over you.”

Sun Liang lay down, closed his eyes, but his eyelids were still trembling slightly.

He unconsciously gripped the corner of the blanket, the words still echoing in his ears in the darkness—his elder sister held sway over the court, and relatives from the imperial clan assisted him in governing… The imperial letter pointed directly to Zhuge Ke… I truly knew nothing…