Farmers of Shu Han

Chapter 1481 Chang'an and Jianye

Tian Yu just watched Feng Da Sima quietly.

Feng Da Sima simply lowered his head and drank his tea.

After the quiet.

Finally, Tian Yu slowly spoke:
"As soon as the Grand Marshal saw me, he said, 'It's freezing cold, and you must be quite old. You must have had a long and arduous journey.'"

Grand Marshal Feng nodded: "Yes."

"Then inquire about his daily life, diet, medicine, and even the old stories of Youzhou."

"In the end, they said...it was just idle chatter."

He raised his head, his gaze as clear as a mirror, reflecting his image:

"Since the Grand Marshal is so considerate of my advanced age, he went out of his way to summon me to his residence despite the cold; and since he inquired about the past in Youzhou, he said it was just idle talk."

He paused, his voice low and deep, "Is it that you truly wish to use me but dare not? Is the Grand Marshal afraid that I am too old and incapable of serving?"

Feng Da Sima's eyes flickered slightly, but he did not reply.

Upon seeing this, Tian Yu continued to press, "Since the Grand Marshal has brought up the old affairs of Youzhou, what... happened in Youzhou?"

Grand Marshal Feng remained silent for a moment, then finally shook his head: "There is nothing wrong in Youzhou."

Hear these four words.

The long-lost flame that had just ignited in Tian Yu's eyes suddenly went out.

His back seemed to have hunched even more, and he gave a self-deprecating chuckle:
"Yes... I was confused."

He turned to look at the huge map behind Grand Marshal Feng, his voice tinged with desolation, a sigh, and a sense of relief:

"Now the Han army is well-trained and well-supplied, and its power extends throughout the land. The northern barbarians, the Xianbei, and the Wuhuan have submitted. Why would we need an old man like me?"

His voice grew even lower and deeper:

"In my life, I was born in a border region, grew up on the battlefield, and participated in the affairs of the northern frontier for twenty-seven years... I only thought that I could drive away the barbarians for the people and protect the peace of this region."

His voice trailed off, followed by a long sigh:

"I never expected to be ostracized and forced to leave Youzhou, where I was trapped in Runan. In those years, I looked at the water towns of Jiangnan, but they were not what I wanted."

He turned to look at Grand Marshal Feng, his eyes displaying the calm befitting an eighty-year-old man:

"Grand Marshal, at my age, I don't ask for much. It's just that..."

He paused, then finally uttered his deepest regret:

"I'm just unwilling. I'm unwilling to be buried in the yellow earth and not be able to go back to the northern frontier for one last look."

"I am unwilling to accept that the promise I made when I left the late emperor, 'We will meet again someday,' has become an empty word."

Wait, why are you suddenly mentioning the late emperor?

Grand Marshal Feng looked up at Tian Yu's pleading gaze and finally decided to reveal a bit of the truth: "Something has changed in Liaodong."

Before Tian Yu could finish speaking, he heard this question and immediately asked, "Gongsun Xiu has rebelled?"

“No.” Grand Marshal Feng shook his head. “Liaodong… has already fallen to the puppet state of Wei.”

Tian Yu suddenly stood up: "When did this happen?!"

"Just last month, Xiangping fell, and Gongsun Xiu committed suicide by fire."

Feng Da Sima said in a deep voice, "Sima Zhao launched a surprise attack across the sea and captured Xiangping in ten days. Now, the four commanderies of Liaodong have all fallen into the hands of Wei."

Tian Yu's expression changed drastically.

His gaze was fixed on the map, his face filled with disbelief: "How could this be..."

Crossing the sea... ten days...

"Sima Zhao used stone cannons," Grand Marshal Feng explained. "Lord Tian should have heard that our Han army has a unique weapon, a powerful siege weapon."

"In his early years, the secret was leaked to the puppet state of Wei. This time, Sima Zhao launched a surprise attack on Liaodong across the sea, using this kind of siege weapon."

He then recounted Sima Yi's plan to unite the Xianbei, the Three Han, and Goguryeo forces to attack Liaodong.

Tian Yu suddenly realized: "No wonder."

"The most important thing now is Liaoxi. Sima Zhao has allowed the Xianbei Buyao tribe to graze their horses in Liaoxi. In two or three years, the Xianbei in the east will surely become powerful."

“At that time, I am worried that they will plunder Youzhou and bring disaster to the border people.”

If the Buyao tribe gains control of western Liaoning, it will be able to integrate the eastern Xianbei.

For example, the old story of Tuoba Liwei.

Unfortunately, Hebei has not been a suitable place for major military operations in recent years.

All I can say is that Sima Yi, that old scoundrel, couldn't even let people rest in peace after his death.

Therefore, the best solution now is to send a general who was once famous in the northern frontier, preferably one who has killed many barbarians and made the eastern Xianbei afraid to invade easily, to guard Youzhou.

Such a person does not exist within the Han Dynasty.

They could only choose from those who surrendered from the puppet Wei regime.

And Tian Yu is the best candidate.

He had a past relationship with the late emperor and had once been a powerful figure in the northern frontier. He had spent many years in the north and was very familiar with Youzhou.

Unfortunately, he's too old.

Upon hearing Feng Da Sima's words, the flame that had been extinguished in Tian Yu's eyes reignited, burning even more fiercely than before.

He quickly took two steps, arrived at Grand Marshal Feng's desk, knelt on one knee, his movements as steady as a mountain, not at all like an eighty-year-old general:

"Grand Marshal! I request permission to go to Youzhou to guard the northern frontier!"

Feng Yong stepped forward to help him up: "Please get up, sir..."

"Grand Marshal, please heed my words!" Tian Yu remained motionless, looking directly at Feng Yong, tears glistening in his eyes:

"I volunteer not for personal fame or gain, but to... make up for two regrets in my life!"

“Firstly,” he said, his voice trembling slightly, “I met the late emperor in Youzhou when I was young. The late emperor treated me as a national hero, but I was unable to go south with him because my elderly mother was still alive.”

"In the sixth year of Jian'an, I left the late emperor. Although I was trying to fulfill my filial duty, I always felt guilty."

He took a deep breath:

"Although the late emperor has passed away, the Han Dynasty still stands!"

"I have returned to the Han Dynasty, but I have not rendered any service. If I cannot defend the land and protect the people for Your Majesty and the Han Dynasty, how can I face the late Emperor in the afterlife? Grand Marshal, I am already eighty years old, and my days are numbered!"

"Secondly," he reached out and gripped Grand Marshal Feng's forearm tightly:
"A certain garrison guarded Youzhou for twenty-seven years, but due to disagreements with Wang Xiong on political matters, he was transferred away from the frontier and confined to Runan for many years, unable to realize his ambitions."

“Every night I dream of returning to the northern frontier. I am a native of Youzhou, and I cannot return to the northern frontier. This regret is etched in my heart!”

He suddenly kowtowed heavily, his forehead touching the ground:

"Grand Marshal! I am eighty years old this year, and my days are numbered." Tian Yu once again mentioned his age:

"I only wish to return to Youzhou and, with my remaining years and strength, defend the border for my great Han Dynasty once again!"

"If we can deter the barbarian cavalry from spying on our borders, the people can finally sleep peacefully." He looked up, tears already falling, but his voice was incredibly firm:
"Even if I were to die wrapped in a horse's hide and buried in White Wolf Mountain, I would have no regrets!"

"I only ask that the Grand Marshal grant my request!"

The last three words were spoken in a hoarse, trembling voice.

There was silence in the study.

Feng Yong used his strength to lift Tian Yu up with both hands.

He could feel the old man's trembling arms, and he could also feel this decades-long obsession.

Although there may be other reasons, Feng Da Sima is willing to believe that what he said is true.

“I am well aware of your intentions,” said Grand Marshal Feng solemnly. “I am willing to help you make amends for your two regrets.”

"Tian Gong, go back and make preparations first. Tomorrow I will go to the palace and tell His Majesty about this matter, and see how His Majesty decides."

"Thank you, Grand Marshal!"

If the Grand Marshal is willing to lend a hand, the matter is almost certain to succeed.

Who in the world doesn't know that His Majesty is most willing to listen to the Grand Marshal?

Tian Yu bowed deeply and turned to leave, his slightly hunched back now standing straight.
-
The snowstorm in Yanxi in November could not freeze the burning ambition of Chang'an, while in Jianye in the south, the snowstorm was far less severe than in Chang'an, but the chill was extremely penetrating.

The rain and snow fell in a steady drizzle, pattering against the dark blue tiles of the mansion. Snowflakes mixed with rainwater froze into icicles under the eaves.

Wearing a worn-out oilcloth and carrying a sealed bamboo scroll in his sleeve, Lü Yi walked through the many corridors and arrived outside Sun Jun's study.

Two armored soldiers silently pushed open the heavy wooden door, and Lü Yi bowed as he entered, the icy water dripping from his cloak onto the blue brick floor.

The charcoal fire was burning brightly in the study, and Sun Jun was leaning against a low table, playing with a small sword with gold and jade fittings that someone had given him.

Upon seeing Lü Yi enter, he didn't even raise his eyelids, only saying indifferently, "What is it?"

"General, a secret report from Xiling." Lü Yi took out a bamboo slip from his sleeve and presented it with both hands:
"The spies planted by the Imperial Secretariat in Zhuge Yuanxun's residence recorded his conversation with the eunuch Chen Qian."

Sun Jun then looked up, took the bamboo slip, and used the scabbard to untie the rope.

The bamboo slips were unfolded, revealing three passages written in small seal script—the very sentiments of Zhuge Ke when he was ill.

Lu Yi stood with his hands at his sides, but his eyes were secretly observing Sun Jun's expression.

Sun Jun read through the lines:

"I...I have failed Your Majesty, and I have failed Consort Zhang!"

A small note next to it reads: "'The King' refers to Sun He, the Prince of Changsha. Zhuge Ke and the deposed crown prince were in the same faction and their old relationship had not been severed."

Sun Jun snorted coldly and continued reading:

"If I had been more resolute back then and had protected the Crown Prince, things wouldn't have come to this."

The imperial edict reads: "He openly questions the late emperor's (Sun Quan's) decision to depose and install emperors, harboring resentment."

Upon seeing this, Sun Jun's face turned ashen.

He pressed his fingers firmly on the sword hilt and continued reading the last paragraph:
"Now I can barely protect myself, and I've even dragged her into suffering in Changsha... If I had known this would happen, I should have... should have let her live a better life than others when I was in power!"

This sentence has no annotation in red ink.

Sun Jun stared at the words, his brows furrowed at first, and murmured, "'She' refers to Consort Zhang... 'living better than others'?"

Lu Yi stepped forward, his voice extremely low: "General, this 'she'... refers to Consort Zhang."

He paused, his expression quite meaningful:
"Consort Zhang is already the Princess of Changsha, a woman of noble status. If she were to 'live better than others'... what kind of better way would that be?"

"Who could this 'other person' be referring to?"

Sun Jun suddenly realized!

He slammed the jade-hilted sword down on the table with a thud and stood up:

"He means... he wants to make Consort Zhang the Empress?! And make her live even better than the Empress?!"

"I believe that Zhuge Ke intends to do just that," Lü Yi said, bowing his head respectfully.

"General, please consider this: Consort Zhang is the wife of the former Crown Prince Sun He. If she lives a better life than the Empress, doesn't that mean... Sun He should be living a better life than His Majesty?"

Sun Jun's face was ashen, veins bulging on his forehead. He paced quickly through the study, then suddenly turned around, a murderous glint in his eyes:
"You mean, Zhuge Yuanxun...he misses the deposed Crown Prince Sun He! He thinks...Sun He should have been the emperor!"

Lü Yi bowed deeply:
"General, you are wise. Though these words are not explicitly stated, your intentions are crystal clear. Zhuge Ke is unwilling to be demoted and is secretly colluding with the deposed crown prince's faction, plotting treason!"

Sun Jun grabbed the bamboo slip, stared intently at the last unmarked sentence, and suddenly sneered:

Why didn't you mark this sentence?

Lu Yi looked up, his face showing fear: "This humble one dares not."

"Don't you dare?"

“These words are too malicious. If I were to mark them, I fear it would be considered ‘framing a minister.’”

Lu Yi's voice was sincere, "Therefore, I will only record the facts as they are, and leave it to the General... to make a wise judgment."

What a brilliant decision!
Sun Jun stared at Lü Yi, then suddenly smiled.

After laughing, he walked back to the table, picked up the jade-hilted sword again, and slowly ran his fingers over the gold-inlaid kui dragon pattern on the blade:
"Zhuge Yuanxun, Zhuge Yuanxun... You rely on being a minister entrusted with the care of the late emperor, and have repeatedly opposed me."

"I demoted you to Xiling, but instead of repenting, you dared to harbor rebellious intentions and collude with the deposed crown prince..."

He suddenly drew his sword and plunged it deep into the table.

"If this traitor is not eliminated, the country will never have peace!"

Lü Yi's expression became increasingly respectful:

"General, although Zhuge Ke has been demoted, he still has former subordinates in the army and support in the court. If we act rashly..."

"I have my own plans." Sun Jun sheathed his sword, a sinister glint in his eyes, and looked at Lü Yi. "Go back first, and don't make a sound."

"The villain understands."

Watching Lü Yi's figure disappear through the door, Sun Jun didn't delay for a moment. He immediately changed his clothes, quietly boarded the carriage through the side gate of the General's Mansion, and headed straight for the palace.

The side gate of Zhaoyang Palace opened silently upon receiving the order.

Sun Jun walked through the layers of curtains, and Princess Quan was standing with her back to him by the window.

Hearing footsteps, she slowly turned around: "Why are you suddenly going to the palace? What's the matter that's so urgent?"

Sun Jun dismissed his attendants, leaving only two of Princess Quan's trusted maids to guard outside the door.

Only then did he hand over the bamboo slip containing the secret report presented by Lü Yi with both hands.

Princess Quan is over forty years old, but her well-maintained face still shows glimpses of her former beauty under the palace lanterns.

She unfolded the bamboo slips, her expression initially calm, but when she saw the words "I am ashamed before the King, ashamed before Consort Zhang," her brows furrowed slightly.

Upon seeing the phrase "If we were more resolute, we would protect the Crown Prince," the fingers holding the bamboo slip trembled slightly.

When she heard the last sentence, "If I had known this would happen... I should have let her live a better life than others," she slammed the bamboo scroll shut, her chest heaving.

This reaction was similar to that of Sun Jun when he read the secret report.

The only difference was that the gold-embroidered phoenix patterned robe on her chest trembled slightly with her breath.

"Good! What a fine Zhuge Yuanxun!" Her voice was extremely low, yet filled with deep hatred.
"Is he... trying to seek justice for Sun He? Is he trying to defend the Zhang family?"

Sun Jun said in a deep voice, "Your Highness is wise. If these words are spread, those former Crown Prince supporters will inevitably be..."

"It's more than just 'inevitable'!"

Princess Quan suddenly stood up and slammed the bamboo slip in her hand onto the floor covered with a soft carpet.

She took two quick steps inside the hall, then suddenly stopped, turned around and stared at Sun Jun, her eyes filled with undisguised shock and anger, and a hint of... fear.

Sun Jun could see that fear very clearly.

He knew this woman in front of him all too well.

Her old grudge against Sun He's birth mother, Madam Wang, dates back more than twenty years.

Back then, Lady Wang and Lady Bu vied for the emperor's favor in the palace.

Later, during the factional strife in the Southern Lu region, she sided with Prince Sun Ba of Lu and did her best to frame Crown Prince Sun He, ultimately leading to his deposition and enthronement.

The most fatal blow came when the late emperor was critically ill and on his deathbed.

"The late emperor...the late emperor's last few days..."

Princess Quan's voice trembled as she recalled the bedchamber filled with the smell of elixirs and the aura of death:

"He once thought...he once thought of summoning Sun He back..."

She walked up to Sun Jun, her fear turning into fierceness:

“My heart sank! I knelt before the bed and cried, saying, ‘If Your Majesty summons He Di, how will Liang’er live? Will the foundation of the country be shaken?’ Only then did the late Emperor give up.”

She grabbed Sun Jun's sleeve, her eyes fixed on him:

"Sun He cannot be allowed to live! He absolutely cannot be allowed to live! As long as he lives, those old officials, those who cling to the title of 'eldest son', will never give up!"

"Even Zhuge Ke, the very Zhuge Ke to whom the late emperor entrusted his son, dares to say such things. If we continue to tolerate this..."

She didn't finish speaking, but Sun Jun already understood completely.

This is not a simple case of "powerful officials being wary of meritorious officials," but a life-or-death reckoning.

Between Princess Quan and Sun He lies a grudge that spans more than twenty years, a blood feud over the succession, and a chilling fear of the other's resurgence.

Sun Jun asked slowly, "What is the princess's intention?"

Princess Quan released her grip, walked back to the table, picked up the bamboo scroll again, and stared intently at the two characters "Great King" on it.

“Sun He can't stay in Changsha anymore.” Her voice calmed, but it was all the more chilling:
"Although Changsha is remote, it is still a prefecture, with powerful clans, convenient waterways, and not far from Xiling."

"He is there, he is a thought, a tattered flag, but there will always be someone who wants to raise it again."

She looked up, her eyes no longer showing any hesitation: "Let's move to the new capital."

Sun Jun's eyes flashed: "Xindu?"

Princess Quan said through gritted teeth:
“Yes, Xindu! It’s a remote and sparsely populated place with high mountains and dangerous waters. Let’s move him there.”

"I'll confine him to a house, heavily guarded outside and monitored by palace servants inside—I want him to be utterly helpless, unable to cry out to heaven or earth!"

Sun Jun nodded slowly.

He understood that moving the capital to a new location was only the first step; the princess's true purpose was to pave the way for killing Sun Quan.

"What about Zhuge Ke?" Sun Jun asked.

"Zhuge Ke..." Princess Quan pondered for a moment, "After all, this man has made great contributions to Dongxing and still enjoys prestige in the army and the court. Killing him rashly may trigger a major upheaval."

She walked back to Sun Jun's side and whispered:
"First, seize his military power. Issue an edict in His Majesty's name, saying, 'The Commander-in-Chief has worked hard and made great contributions. Now that he has fallen ill, he should return to the capital to recuperate. I will personally inquire about his strategy.'"

"Let him continue as Grand Tutor, with honors and a generous salary. As long as he leaves Xiling and returns to Jianye..."

She didn't finish speaking, but Sun Jun already understood.

Once Zhuge Ke returns to the capital, it will be like a tiger fallen into the plains.

They were just waiting for Sun He to die so they could forge some more letters to match Zhuge Ke's words.

Therefore, Zhuge Ke harbored ulterior motives and was dissatisfied with the late emperor and Your Majesty.

"What if he refuses to obey the imperial edict?" Sun Jun asked the crucial question.

A cold glint flashed in Princess Quan's eyes: "That would be defying the imperial decree."

"At that time, his words of 'feeling ashamed before the king' and 'protecting the crown prince' can also be linked to the crime of 'colluding with the deposed crown prince and plotting rebellion'."

"Then you can mobilize troops to suppress the rebellion, and it will be perfectly legitimate."

But no matter what, the priority is to kill Sun He first, and then kill Zhuge Ke.

For Princess Quan, anyone who dares to help Sun He will be killed.

Sun Jun secretly praised him.

First, relocate Sun He to cut off his external support; then summon Zhuge Liang to lure him into a trap.

If Zhuge Ke submits, he will be trapped like a turtle in a jar; if he resists, then we will send troops to punish him.

In any case, the initiative is in our own hands.

"Your Highness has considered everything carefully." Sun Jun bowed. "I will make the arrangements immediately. As for the matter of relocating Sun He..."

"I will draft the imperial edict," Princess Quan interrupted. "I will speak to His Majesty myself."

"His Majesty won't question an elder brother who's been deposed for many years. As for the court..."

She sneered, "I'd like to see who would offend you and me for the sake of such a disgraced and deposed crown prince?"

Sun Jun nodded and was about to take his leave when Princess Quan suddenly called him back.

“Prime Minister,” her voice softened, yet became even more profound, “this matter concerns our lives and the stability of the Wu Kingdom.”

“Sun He… must die. Zhuge Ke… must also be eliminated. Within and outside the palace walls of Jianye, throughout the Wu court and the countryside, there can only be one voice.”

She reached out, her fingertips gently tracing the gold-embroidered dragon pattern on Sun Jun's official robe, as if caressing the texture of power:
"We're in the same boat. If the boat capsizes, none of us will survive."

Sun Jun bowed deeply: "I understand."

Before he finished speaking, Princess Quan suddenly reached out and pulled him tightly to her chest.

A rapid heartbeat emanated from beneath the furrowed brows of her deep-set robe, mingled with the warm, cloying scent of styrax, wafting towards her.

"Don't leave tonight." Her voice was very low, hoarse from a long absence. "You haven't spent time with me in so long."

Sun Jun's body stiffened slightly, and his heart suddenly tightened—Oh no!
I came in such a hurry that I forgot to bring the secret medicine!

Princess Quan's breathing was already hot and rapid, her slender fingers tightly gripping the collar of his official robe, clearly unable to wait even a moment longer.

Sun Jun had no choice but to bite the bullet and wrap his arms around her waist. His fingertips touched the coldness of the jade belt hook, but his heart was filled with unease.

Princess Quan chuckled and blew out the nearest twin lantern.

The curtains fell like night, engulfing the two figures.

In the darkness, sparks occasionally flew from the charcoal fire, illuminating the disheveled shadows of clothes on the brocade couch, and a short, suppressed rustling sound.

A moment later, Princess Quan's angry voice rang out from the darkness:

"what happened?!"

She sat up abruptly:
"Have you been focusing all your energy on those lowly maids lately?"

Her voice sharpened, "You become a spineless coward when it comes to me?!"

Sun Jun hurriedly got up, bowed beside the bed, and said in a weak voice:
"Aunt...Aunt, please forgive me, the affairs of state have been extremely demanding lately. I have been working day and night, and I am truly...truly feeling somewhat overwhelmed..."

His voice grew softer as he spoke, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

"From now on, when you enter the palace, you are not allowed to touch those lowly maids again. Get out!"

Sun Jun dared not refute, and scrambled out of the curtain, retreating in a sorry state.