The Later Three Kingdoms: Slaying Deng Ai, and Reviving the Han Dynasty

Zhuge Zhan, a high-ranking official in the court, had no official business with Prince Liu Chen.

After Zhuge and his wife chatted with Liu Chen for a while, Princess Wuyang finally explained her purpose.

Zhuge Zhan was going to Jiangzhou on official business, and she, feeling restless, decided to go with him. Before leaving, she made a special trip to visit her brothers in the palace.

Liu Chen expressed his concern and asked if there was anything he could help with.

Princess Wuyang smiled and shook her head.

Besides casual conversation, Liu Chen also inquired about Zhuge Shang's studies.

I learned that Zhuge Shang was reading the Spring and Autumn Annals. It's the same Spring and Autumn Annals that the Second Master was reading, one of the Confucian classics. It's a chronological history book.

It outputs Confucian values.

Loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness, etc.

Starting to read the Spring and Autumn Annals at the age of thirteen is quite remarkable.

Liu Chen expressed his satisfaction.

After sitting for a while, Mr. and Mrs. Zhuge took their leave.

Liu Chen escorted the couple to the palace gate, watched their carriage disappear into the distance, and then returned to his study to sit down.

"The Zhuge family." Liu Chen had the eunuch dissolve the ink, dipped his brush in the ink, and wrote three characters on the bamboo slip.

In fact, at this time, Zhuge Liang was not the only member of the Zhuge clan serving Liu Han.

There were also descendants of Zhuge Liang's brothers, Zhuge Jin and Zhuge Jun. However, they were all frail and sickly, and their numbers were very small. The only ones who could be of use were Zhuge Zhan and his son.

"Brother-in-law, nephew."

Next to Zhuge Shi, Liu Chen wrote two small characters. After looking at them for a long time, he picked up a knife and pen and scraped the characters off the bamboo slip.

In this way, the bamboo slips can be reused.

Liu Chen then thought of Zhang Ren's grandson, Zhang Sheng.

He surveyed the heroes of the land, gathering the talents of Sichuan. He was ready to fight Deng Ai.

Liu Chen's eyes gleamed with a sharp light, his blood boiling. After taking a deep breath to calm himself, he got up and left the study to go to his bedchamber to bathe and change.

.......

Three days later.

morning.

The sun was shining brightly, and the air was fresh.

Suitable for outings or hunting.

After making preparations, Liu Chen boarded a palace carriage and, surrounded by guards, left the palace and arrived at the Imperial Hospital.

The Imperial Medical Academy was under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Household Department, and its office was located east of the palace. It had one Chief Physician and several dozen physicians.

They were responsible for the health of the imperial palace, as well as the health of officials and nobles.

This group represents the group with the highest level of medical skills during the Liu Han period.

Upon hearing that Young Master Chen had arrived, the Imperial Physician dared not delay and immediately summoned all the imperial physicians to come out and greet him.

Liu Chen didn't waste words with the Imperial Physician, but instead had him find three of the best physicians and send a carriage to accompany him.

Helping Young Master Chen with some personal chores is no big deal. The Imperial Physician immediately and readily agreed.

After Liu Chen's troops left Chengdu, Liu Chen first sent someone to see Zhang Sheng and tell him that he was coming.

This is called coming with a complaint.

The procession moved forward slowly.

Upon arriving at Zhang Sheng's village, Liu Chen did not find Zhang Sheng there to greet him. However, a village elder, filled with trepidation, came to welcome Prince Chen, saying, "We were unaware of your arrival, sir. We have failed to greet you properly; we are utterly culpable!"

Liu Chen comforted the elder while sitting in the car, and then drove deeper into the village, arriving at Zhang Sheng's house.

Zhang Sheng's wife, Xu, had recovered from her illness and came out to greet him with her two sons, her face full of fear.

Zhang Sheng was at home, but didn't come out.

Many of those who came with Liu Chen were indignant.

But this was within Liu Chen's expectations. He gave Xu a bolt of silk, left the others outside, ordered the imperial physician to treat Zhang Sheng's elderly mother, Wang, and then went into the study alone to see Zhang Sheng.

Zhang Sheng knelt in the main seat, his face dark, neither greeting nor bowing.

"Victory. I know you don't like me, but I've brought someone you can't refuse: three imperial physicians and palace medicines."

Liu Chen walked up to Zhang Sheng with a smile, spread his arms, and sat down cross-legged.

Zhang Sheng was stunned, then his expression became complicated. He sensed something was wrong, but he was also overjoyed. He was extremely filial, a devoted son who had been caring for his mother for a long time. The imperial physician's medical skills were beyond question; perhaps he could cure his mother's illness.

But this means that he accepted Liu Chen's favor.

He didn't want any connection with Liu Chen, and he certainly didn't want to accept this favor.

But my mother's illness...

Zhang Sheng could only remain silent for a moment.

Liu Chen remained silent, smiling without saying a word.

Seeing his smile, Zhang Sheng said angrily, "As expected of Liu... Zhaolie's grandson, you are good at taking advantage of weaknesses."

"Those words may be unpleasant, but it's good that you've spoken. Now that you've spoken, we can have a discussion," Liu Chen said with a smile, not at all angry. Then, he raised his head and said decisively, "As the grandson of Zhaolie, I am deeply proud."

Zhang Sheng looked at Liu Chen's sour face and wanted nothing more than to punch him. But he held back and sneered, "Are you so proud that Zhaolie (Liu Bei) seized the territory of his own clan?" He paused, then continued, "Do you know why the officials of Yizhou were so indignant back then, and even when they only had Chengdu, they still insisted on defending the city and fighting Zhaolie to the bitter end?"

Liu Chen remained silent.

Zhang Sheng's momentum surged even higher as he said, "It was because Liu Yizhou invited Zhaolie to Yizhou. Liu Yizhou treated Zhaolie very well, providing him with troops and provisions. But later, Zhang Song's treacherous plot was discovered, and the officials of Yizhou realized that Zhaolie intended to seize Yizhou, which is why they were filled with righteous indignation. Although many people surrendered, even more wanted to fight Zhaolie to the death."

Zhang Sheng's face contorted with anger, his breathing rapid. After taking a deep breath, he sneered again, "Are you trying to say that Liu Bei's Yi Province is weak and incompetent, and even if Zhaolie (Liu Bei) doesn't seize Yi Province, Cao Cao will get it anyway? In that case, Zhaolie might as well strike first, and then treat Liu Bei's Yi Province better after conquering it."

Liu Chen remained noncommittal, saying, "I didn't say that." After a pause, he composed himself and said seriously, "I admit that my grandfather's usurpation of Liu Zhang's territory was unjust."

"I admit that it was my grandfather who killed your grandfather, Zhang Ren."

Liu Bei was certainly not a perfect person. His usurpation of Liu Zhang's territory was not a virtuous act.

It is one of the few blemishes.

This doesn't mean Liu Bei was hypocritical and treacherous. To truly understand a person, one must consider their entire life, not just what a good person did wrong or a bad person did right.

Liu Bei's life was full of ups and downs. He was generous, talented, and possessed the qualities of a hero.

He was very idealistic and together with the equally idealistic Zhuge Liang, he built the Liu Han dynasty.

Although the conquest of Yizhou is a stain, its merits outweigh its flaws.

Just as Liu Shan's life can be summarized as incompetent and a ruler who brought about the downfall of his country, his entire life cannot be summarized by a single bright spot.

With such a solid foundation laid by Zhuge Liang, Liu Shan's kingdom fell not long after he assumed personal rule.

Liu Chen knew that it was pointless to discuss national and personal grievances with Zhang Sheng; he needed to find a different approach.

Zhang Sheng was caught off guard and was immediately dumbfounded. He had intended to use this stain on his reputation to attack Liu Chen, but unexpectedly, Liu Chen readily agreed.

To avoid offending those in positions of authority or elders.

Shouldn't you say a few words in defense of Zhaolie and your grandfather?

If you try to defend yourself, you'll be labeled a petty person.

"Let me think about how to convince you. Let me think. Right, right. Let me start with this matter. I think it's a good thing that my grandfather killed your grandfather, it's something to celebrate." Liu Chen raised his hand, pinched his chin, thought for a moment, and then clapped his hands and laughed.

Zhang Sheng's face darkened instantly, and he nearly drew his sword to kill someone. "Look at this, look at this, is this even human language?"