Farmers of Shu Han

Chapter 1472 Court Struggle
As the water clock dripped to its last drop at the hour of Yin, three sharp cracks of the whip ripped through the final darkness before dawn.

Civil and military officials filed into the palace and stood solemnly according to their rank.

The throne was set on the high steps north of the palace, with a screen behind it and bells and jade carriages arranged on the left and right.

Officials stood in the east and west wings according to their rank, while imperial guards stood guard on the steps with halberds.

Sun Liang, sitting on the throne, was wrapped in a dark red robe, making him appear exceptionally thin. No one could see that his hands were tightly gripping the fabric above his knees, trembling slightly.

The regular duets proceeded as usual.

Zhuge Ke stood at the head of the civil officials, dressed in a purple court robe with nine imperial symbols, a black jade pendant at his waist, exuding a composed and dignified air.
Production recovery in Huainan is progressing smoothly, dikes in Jiangxia have been reinforced, and summer grain has been stored in Wuchang…

The atmosphere in the hall seemed to relax a little, with occasional officials echoing in hushed tones.

Only Sun Liang kept his head down, occasionally stealing a quick glance at the tall purple figure below the steps.

As the report drew to a close, Zhuge Ke's tone suddenly shifted, and his expression became serious:
"However... Your Majesty, the spies from Jiangbei have reported back in the past two days."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the hall. "The Han Kingdom seems to be making a large-scale troop movement on the border."

It's understandable that there would be personnel changes in Qiao County, given its proximity to the State of Wei.

But what about Nanyang?

“What’s even stranger is that the number of merchant ships traveling between Sichuan and Chongqing on the Yangtze River has suddenly decreased by 70% in three days. Cargo ships are not arriving and sails are not being hoisted. Such an anomaly has not been seen for more than ten years.”

He raised his head to look at the throne, his brow furrowed with deep worry.
"Our Great Wu and the Han Kingdom have been allied for decades. When the late emperor was alive, the Han emperor often sent envoys with gifts to jointly resist Cao Wei."

"Now the Han state is acting strangely for no reason... Could it be that they see our great Wu ruler is young and the country is in danger, and they want to break the alliance?"

These words caused a slight commotion in the hall.

Several senior officials exchanged glances, their faces showing worry.

Sun Jun almost let out a cold laugh.

What a fine example of "a young ruler and a suspicious state"!
What a blatant betrayal of the Han state!
Zhuge Yuanxun, do you really not know what you have done?
At this moment, he's putting on an act of loyalty to the emperor and concern for the country!

Zhuge Ke cupped his hands, his voice growing increasingly earnest:

"Your Majesty, I heard last night that Qin Bo, the envoy to the Han Kingdom, has returned to Jianye and brought with him a letter from the Han Kingdom."

He bowed slightly, "May I have the privilege of viewing the imperial letter? If the Emperor of Han mentions the cause of the border disturbances in the letter, perhaps the misunderstanding can be cleared up and war can be avoided."

As he spoke, his gaze seemed to casually sweep over Cen Hun beside the imperial steps.

The eunuch kept his head down, as if he hadn't heard a thing.

There was silence in the hall.

All eyes were on the throne—the scroll of the Han state's official document lay quietly on the black lacquered table beside Sun Liang.

Sun Liang's small hand trembled slightly, and he subconsciously pressed down on the scroll of silk.

He recalled his elder sister's instructions from yesterday, opened his mouth, and his childish voice sounded particularly weak in the empty hall:

"Indeed, that is indeed the case. Last night... the Han envoy returned and presented the Han emperor with a letter."

He paused, his heart pounding like a drum, and said, “Cen Hun, present the official letter… to all the ministers.”

Cen Hun understood, bowed, took the item, and went into the hall.

The scroll of silk from Chang'an was slowly unfurled under the watchful eyes of the Wu officials.

The shrill voice was particularly jarring in the silence.
"The Emperor of Han writes to His Majesty the King of Wu: I have heard that Chancellor Zhuge Ke of Wu has secretly conspired with a usurper, broken the alliance, and secretly sent an envoy to Sima Zhao of Pengcheng to jointly attack Han..."

As soon as the first sentence was uttered, a suppressed commotion arose in the hall.

"If this action is an edict from the Wu ruler and a decision of the court, then the Wu-Han alliance is now broken, and the responsibility for war lies with the Wu state."

Cen Hun paused, glanced at the officials, and slowly read the last sentence:
"If Zhuge Ke is acting arbitrarily, deceiving the emperor, and breaking the alliance privately, then I urge the Wu ruler to punish him according to the law to appease the world. Do not say that I did not warn you."

The last note faded, but its lingering resonance echoed between the beams and pillars.

Then, Wu Zhu Sun Liang's childish voice rang out again:
"Last night I read the letter from the Han emperor, and my heart was torn apart. I truly knew nothing of what the Prime Minister had done."

"Now the Han army is pressing on our borders, and the people are filled with fear. I fear I will be ashamed before the late Emperor... I request that the Prime Minister... speak out in court."

Dead silence.

The dripping sound of the copper water clock was now eerily clear, drop by drop, striking the tense nerves of everyone present.

The air seemed to have been sucked dry by the scroll of silk, and even breathing became heavy.

At the same time, the officials witnessed a scene they would never forget—

The usually arrogant and eloquent Prime Minister Zhuge Ke swayed almost imperceptibly.

The color drained from his face instantly, and for the first time, a clear look of shock, bewilderment, and even a hint of barely concealed panic flashed in his eyes, which often looked down on the court.

A letter from the Han emperor? Directly accusing me of secretly colluding with a usurper?
Zhuge Ke's mind was in a whirl.

He never imagined that the Han state's official letter would contain such content.

This is not ordinary diplomatic rhetoric, nor is it the usual greetings; it is a heart-wrenching question that goes straight to the heart!
He suddenly looked up and stared intently at Cen Hun, who stood with his hands at his sides beside the imperial steps.

Last night, this eunuch sent someone to the mansion, speaking as respectfully as ever:
"The envoy has returned with a letter from the Han emperor. Because it needs to be presented to Your Majesty in person, he is temporarily staying in the palace. Your Majesty will show it to him at the court assembly tomorrow."

At the time, he thought it was just an ordinary document and didn't investigate it further.

did not expect……

He then recalled that before today's court assembly, not a single person had told him a word of it.

The hairs on the back of Zhuge Ke's neck suddenly stood on end!
His hands clenched tightly, his gaze never leaving Cen Hun's face.

The eunuch, however, kept his eyes down, seemingly oblivious to everything in the palace.

On the contrary, Sun Liang, sitting on the throne, trembled at the sharp gaze, his small body instinctively shrinking back behind Fu Yi.

In a flash, Zhuge Ke had fully understood:

Someone bribed this eunuch in the palace to deliberately withhold the most crucial information, catching them completely off guard!
He forced himself to remain calm, his gaze sharp as lightning, quickly sweeping over the three regents beside him:
General Wei Teng Yin's expression was solemn, his brows furrowed, and his eyes were full of surprise and uncertainty—he had clearly only just learned of the situation and was completely unprepared.

General Lü Ju was stunned and sat up halfway—he couldn't possibly know the truth.

General Sun Jun of the Imperial Guard...

Zhuge Ke's heart sank.

Sun Jun sat with his eyes lowered, his posture seemingly respectful, but there was a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth...

His shoulders were slightly forward, and his back was taut—a posture of being ready to pounce.

Zhuge Ke felt increasingly cold inside; he knew he had stepped into a meticulously planned trap.

Denying the meaning of the official letter?
The thought instinctively popped into his head, but was instantly extinguished by Zhuge Ke.

All the feudal lords in the world could communicate with Wei, but Liu Shan, the emperor of Han, had absolutely no chance!
Why?

Because the legal system of the Shu Han dynasty was based on the eight characters "punish Cao and destroy Wei, restore the Han dynasty".

If the Han emperor were to collude with Sima Zhao to slander foreign officials...

Once this matter is spread, the banner of "Han and traitors cannot coexist" that the Han state has upheld for decades will collapse in an instant.

Not only would he lose the hearts of the people, but Liu Shan's legitimacy as emperor would also become a laughing stock!
Therefore, unless he can produce irrefutable evidence to prove his innocence—but he can't, because he did indeed collude with Wei.

Although the matter of communicating with Wei was kept secret, it was not investigated.

Therefore, denial is useless and will instead constitute the crime of deceiving the emperor.

All that's left is to admit it...

These thoughts, though seemingly complex, raced through Zhuge Ke's mind in just a few breaths.

The officials in the hall only saw the Prime Minister's expression change, from shock to anger, from anger to resentment, then to contemplation, and finally all the waves subsided into a deep pool.

But anyone can see that beneath this seemingly stagnant calm, a turbulent undercurrent is brewing.

Finally, Zhuge Ke raised his eyes, gave Sun Jun a deep look, and made a move that surprised everyone—

He abruptly lifted the front of his purple robe, and towards the throne, he pushed aside the golden mountain and overturned the jade pillar, kowtowing to the ground:

"His Majesty!"

This kneeling made Sun Jun, who was originally preparing to make trouble, freeze in his tracks, Teng Yin and Lü Ju look astonished, and all the officials in the hall hold their breath.

Zhuge Ke touched his forehead to the ground, his voice filled with sorrow and self-reproach:
"I am guilty! I deserve to die!"

He looked up, and there were tears glistening in his eyes:
"My first fault is that I failed to report such a significant diplomatic move to Your Majesty in a timely manner, causing Your Majesty to only learn of it through the Han Empire's official documents! This is a grave offense of neglecting Your Majesty and acting arbitrarily!"

"My second crime is that my plans were not kept secret, and were discovered by the Han state, leading to today's disaster, causing Your Majesty to be alarmed, bringing shame to the court, and causing fear and unease to the people of Jiangdong!"

He kowtowed again, the dull thud of his forehead striking the gold bricks echoing in the hall:

"Your Majesty! I know my sins are grave and dare not ask for forgiveness. However, my sincere heart is as heaven and earth can bear witness."

"I dare not deny that I sent envoys to ally with Wei, but it was by no means an intention to betray the alliance between Wu and Han."

"In fact, since Feng Yong took power, the Han state has become increasingly powerful, occupying Yong and Liang, attacking Hebei, swallowing the Central Plains, and eyeing the world with predatory intent."

"Although our Great Wu has gained Huainan, it cannot stand alone. We must unite with Wei to restrain Han and seek a tripartite balance of power. This is the way to survive!"

Zhuge Ke's tone was earnest and sorrowful:
"Your Majesty! It is not that I am unaware of the alliance between Wu and Han, but between nations, there is only constant benefit, not lasting friendship."

"In the past, my late emperor also allied with Cao Wei to defeat Guan Yu and seize Jingzhou. Why? Because of the circumstances at the time!"

"The Han state has already taken over the lands of Hebei and the Central Plains. Now it is preparing its armor and training its troops, and pacifying the displaced people. When its internal affairs are well-governed and its food supplies are plentiful, then Jiangdong will surely become its prey."

"Now Han is strong while Wu and Wei are both weak. My actions are in imitation of Su Qin's strategy of forming an alliance during the Warring States period and Goujian's wisdom in serving Wu. Both are for the sake of the survival of the state."

“I failed to consider matters thoroughly, which was leaked by Wei; and my plans were not kept secret, which was discovered by Han, thus causing disaster. These are all serious faults.”

Upon seeing this, Sun Jun's expression changed, and he cursed inwardly, "You old fox!" He knew he couldn't let Zhuge Ke continue speaking.

Otherwise, serious crimes might be reduced to acquittals!

Does every powerful minister have to be good at using words?
Zhuge Liang debated with the Confucian scholars, and Feng Mingwen used clever words and flattery. Today, he wants to exonerate Zhuge Ke with his words.

Sun Jun immediately stepped forward, his voice cold and sharp:

"Since the Prime Minister knows he is guilty, he should understand that although the power of diplomacy rests with the Prime Minister, matters concerning the national system cannot be decided arbitrarily without prior consultation."

"Today, the Han emperor's official letter is a scathing interrogation, and the whole world knows that my Wu prime minister has been secretly communicating with Wei, yet Your Majesty has been kept in the dark."

"In my opinion, this is not 'negligence,' but rather blatant disrespect for the emperor!"

He turned to his ministers and said loudly:
"Gentlemen, consider this: if the Han state had not discovered this, would the Prime Minister have intended to keep it from His Majesty forever?"

"If the Wei army suddenly appears in Huainan one day, should we call them 'enemies' or 'friends'?"

Zhuge Ke remained prostrate on the ground, but his voice suddenly rose:
"General, are you trying to kill me? I have already stated that this is a case of poor planning!"

"Furthermore, when the late emperor employed Zhou Yu, did he report everything before the Battle of Red Cliffs? When he employed Lu Xun, were there many discussions in court before the Battle of Yiling?"

"Military and state secrets require swift and secret action! My mistake was in trusting the Wei people too much, not expecting Sima Zhao to be so fickle, which led to today's disaster. It is absolutely not because I had any disloyal intentions!"

"What a blatant lack of foresight!" Sun Jun exclaimed sternly. "Such a policy, which concerns the fate of the nation, should not be approached with utmost caution!"

"If the Prime Minister is truly concerned for the survival of the nation, then those who plan for the country should consider both victory and defeat! Has the Prime Minister really not considered what kind of desperate situation our Great Wu will face once the matter is exposed?"

Sun Jun pointed outside the hall and shouted angrily:

"The Prime Minister imitated Su Qin's strategy of forming alliances during the Warring States period and Goujian's wisdom in serving Wu, but he did not gain a single soldier from Wei, nor did he give Huainan a single grain of rice."

"But all it brought was the Han emperor's fury, the Han army's advance, and the disruption of trade routes! The rice and firewood of Jiangdong were right before our eyes! In return, His Majesty was humiliated and became a laughingstock to the world!"

"Now that this catastrophe has occurred, does the Prime Minister intend to gloss over it with a mere 'plan for the survival of the nation'?"

“This isn’t just a loss of face for you, Prime Minister,” Sun Jun slapped his own face repeatedly, furious. “It’s a loss of face for His Majesty, and for the entire Sun family!”

Upon hearing Sun Jun's words, Zhuge Ke, who was lying on the ground, trembled slightly. For someone as proud and arrogant as him, to suffer such humiliation in front of all the officials was worse than death.

However, he couldn't refute it, because if he continued to argue with Sun Jun, the situation would only get more out of control.

He slowly straightened up, removed his official hat, held it to his chest with both hands, tears welled in his eyes, his face was pale, and his lips trembled.

"General Wuwei's words are absolutely right! I am indeed foolish! I have indeed failed in my considerations! I am indeed... ashamed before the late Emperor and ashamed before Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, I am willing to accept all the blame! However, the most urgent matter is not to execute me alone, but to find a way to quell the anger of the Han and preserve the foundation of Jiangdong."

"Your Majesty, I beg you to strip me of my power, demote me from my post, or even exile me to Jiaozhou, I will have no complaints."

"We only hope that Your Majesty and the court can quickly devise a plan to deal with the aftermath, so as not to allow treacherous people to take advantage of the situation, thus wasting the country's resources and causing unnecessary losses to our soldiers."

Upon hearing this, Sun Jun flew into a rage.

Thief!
The late emperor's edict ordered five people to jointly assist the young ruler, but you, upon taking the throne, first executed Sun Hong, then ousted Teng and Lü, and seized power for yourself.

The entire court is filled with officials in high rank, almost like your private residence!
Now, fools are acting recklessly, bringing about a terrible disaster. The Han army is pressing in, trade routes are cut off, yet they turn around and accuse others of "treacherous people taking advantage of the situation"...

I had a great time playing with your mother on the bed!

He turned around and knelt down with a "thud," using his head to grab the brick:

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty! Zhuge Yuanxun is a swine! If this scoundrel is allowed to remain prime minister, our Great Wu... will cease to exist!"

Seeing the argument escalating, Teng Yin finally stepped forward, his voice weary:

"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister has indeed made mistakes, but his initial intentions are commendable. Now that a formidable enemy is at hand, the priority should be to quell the anger of the Han."

He paused, then looked at Zhuge Ke and Sun Jun, "Your Majesty, I request that Your Majesty reduce the Prime Minister's salary, strip him of his military command, and order him to continue his duties while in disgrace, so that we can deal with him after the storm has passed."

Sun Liang never expected that he would have to make the decision himself in the end, but what ideas could he possibly have?
He looked at Sun Jun pleadingly, but the throne and his ministers were too far apart, so he turned anxiously to Cen Hun beside him.

Cen Hun remained with his eyes closed, seemingly asleep, but his lips moved almost imperceptibly, silently uttering the shapes of three words:

"Princess Long--"

Sun Liang shuddered, then realized what was happening.

He quickly recalled his elder sister's instructions from the previous night, then tried his best to imitate the tone of Princess Quan's teachings, shaking his head and sighing:

"I am young and do not understand complex matters. I only wish for the country to be safe and sound. As for the rest... I will leave it to the General of the Martial Guard."

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Ke felt as if his heart had sunk into an ice cave.

The Eldest Princess!
It was her behind it all!
Otherwise, His Majesty would never have said such a thing.

Thinking of the rumors about Princess Quan and Sun Jun, Zhuge Ke felt a surge of resentment:

If I had known this would happen, I would have killed that harlot long ago!

Sun Jun had been waiting for this moment. A glint flashed in his eyes, and he bowed and replied, "Your subject obeys the decree."

He straightened up, his voice regaining some of the solemnity expected of someone in the imperial court:
"Your Majesty, the Han emperor is furious and has already dispatched a large army to press on the border. If we merely reduce the prime minister's salary and seize his military seal, I fear it will be difficult to quell the Han army."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Zhuge Ke:

"Since the Prime Minister holds the power of exclusive access to diplomatic missions, he should know that sending envoys and exchanging gifts is a matter of national importance! Now he has arbitrarily allied with usurpers and cut off trade routes, causing the Han army to press on our borders. If this power is not seized, the state will not be at peace."

The most important right in diplomacy is the right to trade with the Han state.

This is something I absolutely must get my hands on.

Given the current state of Wu, without financial assistance, even the greatest ambitions would be impossible to realize.

“Your Majesty,” Sun Jun continued, “I request that you immediately send an envoy to Han with generous gifts to personally explain to the Han ruler and promise never to have any secret dealings with Wei.”

He changed the subject, his tone softening slightly:

"Although the Prime Minister has made mistakes, the Dongxing campaign expanded the territory of Huainan and was a great contribution to the country. If the punishment is too harsh, it may discourage the soldiers and show the court's meanness."

He faced Zhuge Ke and bowed respectfully.
"Prime Minister, I have a suggestion: I request Your Majesty to appoint the Prime Minister as the Governor of Xiling, grant him the authority to act on behalf of the emperor, and to oversee the military affairs of the three prefectures of Jiangling, Yidu, and Jianping."

"Xiling is an important town for river defense, bordering the Han state to the west and overlooking Xiangyang to the north. It can only be guarded by a pillar of the state."

"In this way, the Prime Minister's merits will be fully realized, the court's magnanimity will be demonstrated, and the Prime Minister can stay away from the troubles in Jianye and focus on defense. What do you think, Prime Minister?"

Everyone in the hall looked at Zhuge Ke.

Zhuge Ke knelt on the spot, his purple robe falling to the ground.

He slowly raised his head, looked at Sun Jun, then at the bewildered young emperor on the throne, and finally his gaze fell on Teng Yin and Lü Ju.

Teng Yin looked reluctant, but when he saw Zhuge Ke's gaze, he turned his head slightly away.

Lu Ju clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, but his colleagues held him down firmly.

He knew he had no other choice.

"Your subject..." Zhuge Ke's voice was hoarse, yet exceptionally clear, "I am willing to guard Xiling and atone for my crimes through meritorious service."

Sun Jun finally revealed an undisguised smile, and he turned around and said loudly, "Your Majesty, the Prime Minister is a man of great wisdom and righteousness. I request that an edict be drafted!"

Sun Liang nodded blankly.

Cen Hun promptly handed over the silk and writing implements that had been prepared beforehand.

The imperial edict was drafted on the spot, sealed, and read aloud:

"Prime Minister Zhuge Ke acted improperly, causing conflict on the border. However, considering his contributions to Dongxing, he is hereby reassigned as the Governor of Xiling, granted the authority to act on behalf of the emperor, and given command of the military affairs of the three commanderies of Jiangling, Yidu, and Jianping..."

Don't you like to provoke border conflicts?

Go, go to Xiling. I want to see if you dare to really attack the Han Kingdom.