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

morning.

The General's Mansion.

Jiang Wei, dressed in full formal attire and bearing the imperial seal, boarded a curtained carriage surrounded by attendants and headed to the palace.

Inside the carriage, Jiang Wei knelt with a solemn expression, his left hand gripping the hilt of his sword tightly at his waist.

He rarely rode in a covered carriage before, but now the Han court and the country were in great turmoil, and he was afraid of assassination.

The curtained carriage has a screen, but the palanquin does not.

Although the imperial court prohibited crossbows, there were bound to be people hiding them among the common people. Moreover, Huang Hao was working with Yan Yu, so he might possess military crossbows. If he were hit by a crossbow bolt... he would be forced to ride in a covered carriage.

"I am temporarily not at odds with Qiao Zhou, and Qiao Zhou has not made a move. I am able to concentrate on dealing with Huang Hao, but with little effect. As long as the emperor does not kill Huang Hao, I cannot touch him." Exhausted, Jiang Wei once again considered leaving Chengdu.

He's really not suited to sitting in the imperial court; he's much better at leading troops on northern expeditions. As long as he can win one battle and achieve some results, he can temporarily suppress the demons in the court.

Be close to virtuous ministers.

Distance yourself from petty people.

At this moment, it was as if Zhang Rang and others, the Ten Attendants of the Eastern Han Dynasty, had been resurrected. Jiang Wei was very much like He Jin, no, he was not even as good as He Jin.

Because he couldn't command the imperial guards in Chengdu, he didn't even have the authority to forcibly storm the palace. Besides, he couldn't do that; politics is about rules.

He could not, as a subject, lead troops to attack the palace and coerce the emperor.

Only someone like Dong Zhuo has no scruples.

Jiang Wei had exhausted his options.

The draped carriage carried Jiang Wei into the palace and stopped in front of a side hall. Jiang Wei took a deep breath, composed himself, gripped his sword, and got out of the carriage to wait outside the side hall.

After a moment, he was given permission to enter the side hall.

Huang Hao was not there. Jiang Wei looked around the side hall and saw only two old eunuchs besides Liu Shan; Huang Hao was not there.

He relaxed a little, but not completely. Just because Huang Hao wasn't there didn't mean the other eunuchs weren't reporting to him.

"His Majesty."

"My dear minister."

After the formalities between ruler and subject, Jiang Wei knelt down on the right. The ruler and subject then began their conversation, primarily concerning the rebellion in the south.

Although Huo Yi is in charge, the situation in Nanzhong is...

"Your Majesty, I believe that Huo Yi should be granted a higher title and made governor of six prefectures," Jiang Wei said, bowing.

"Hmm." Liu Shan nodded slightly, and after thinking for a moment, he agreed. When he was the crown prince, Huo Yi was his subject. The bond between the ruler and his subject was much deeper than that between Jiang Wei and Huo Yi.

Thinking of Huo Yi, Liu Shan's face showed a look of reminiscence. Then he sighed inwardly, "I'm getting old; lately I keep thinking about my old ministers."

Jiang Wan, Fei Yi, Guo Youzhi, Xiang Chong, Huo Yi, etc.

Seeing Liu Shan's seemingly nostalgic and gentle expression, Jiang Wei, as if possessed, acted impulsively and recklessly. He suddenly said, "Your Majesty, the current turmoil in the court is all because of Huang Hao. With utmost loyalty, I beg Your Majesty to kill Huang Hao. If Your Majesty does not believe me, you may cut open my chest and take out my heart to see."

Jiang Wei took a deep breath, faced Liu Shan, and bowed repeatedly.

Liu Shan and the two old eunuchs both turned pale.

In Liu Shan's eyes, Jiang Wei suddenly became repulsive. "Kill! Kill! Kill! Let me kill them all! If I lose Huang Hao, who else do I have?" Liu Shan took a deep breath, suppressing his anger and disgust, and comforted Jiang Wei, saying, "Minister Jiang, Huang Hao is merely a minor official in the inner palace. How could he possibly influence court affairs? Besides, even if he commits evil, it would be easy for me to kill him. You need not worry about him."

Jiang Wei's face turned pale for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty is right. I was overthinking it."

Not long after, Jiang Wei took his leave.

He stood for a moment before getting on the train and said, "I'm going to die." After a pause, he added, "I'm going to leave Chengdu."

Jiang Wei stepped onto the curtained carriage on a small stool and ordered the driver to leave the palace and head straight for the General's Mansion.

Huang Hao's residence.

"Traitor! Traitor!!!!" Huang Hao cursed loudly in the room, his face turning red and him panting heavily.

In his rage, he smashed everything in sight. In just a short while, the room was a complete mess. Expensive porcelain was shattered, precious Shu brocade was torn, and jade artifacts were scattered all over the floor.

The eunuchs, including Zhang Da, inside the room were all deathly pale and trembling.

After venting his anger for a while, Huang Hao finally calmed down and sat back down, panting. After thinking for a moment, he raised his head, a fierce look on his face, and said, "Yes. I am a eunuch; I cannot command troops. But what I cannot do, others may be able to do. This country can do without Jiang Wei, but it cannot do without me."

"What Father means is..." Zhang Da breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Huang Hao calm down. Hearing his words, he was moved again and mustered up his courage to step forward and ask.

"I'm going to write to Yan Yu and conspire with him to kill Jiang Wei," Huang Hao said through gritted teeth, his face full of ferocity.

With a "gulp," Zhang Da and the eunuch in the room both swallowed hard, their faces turning pale, sensing the impending storm.

If Jiang Wei were killed, it would be a momentous event that shakes the entire nation.

Yan Yu was from Nanjun in Jingzhou. He was diligent and capable, but his moral character was low, and he flattered Huang Hao.

Similar to Chen Zhi, but far less influential.

Yan Yu once served as the Governor of Yijiang, and was Huo Yi's former superior. He is now the Right General and Governor of Yong'an, guarding the border between Wu and Han.

Yan Yu was a capable minister, but his influence couldn't compare to Chen Zhi's. After killing Jiang Wei, he replaced him with Chen Zhi, making Yan Yu a complete puppet of Huang Hao.

At that time... Huang Hao's power will be unimaginable.

Thinking of this, Zhang Da and the eunuchs in the room were no longer afraid, but instead trembled with excitement.

Is the era of eunuchs wielding absolute power finally about to arrive?

Huang Hao acted immediately upon thinking of it, writing a letter and handing it to his trusted confidant, then sending it to Yong'an by fast horse.

..............

After returning to the General's Mansion, Jiang Wei immediately summoned his trusted confidants to his study.

There were more than ten people, including Lai Zhong, a military advisor; Xiang Chong, the younger brother of the famous general Xiang Chong; and Xiang Chong, the chief clerk of the Grand General. They were all talented people from Bashu and were of one mind with Jiang Wei.

Jiang Wei quickly explained the situation, then looked regretful, saying, "I misspoke. If I stay in Chengdu, Huang Hao will kill me. I plan to lead my troops on a northern expedition. If successful, I will station myself in Liangzhou and not return. If unsuccessful, I will station myself in Tazhong to grow wheat and not return either."

Everyone's expression changed upon hearing this. How could you be so foolish as to directly tell the Emperor in the palace that you wanted to kill Huang Hao? The palace's spies...

But the crowd quickly calmed down, and many people sighed softly.

With the court and the people in turmoil, Jiang Wei could no longer contain the unrest.

I've given up hope.

So, in a moment of impulse, he said those words. He was also hoping for the best—what if the emperor killed Huang Hao?

Then Jiang Wei could organize his forces and kill Qiao Zhou again.

Then the world will be at peace.

But... the emperor forbids it.

Jiang Wei had no choice.

Lai Zhong took a deep breath and said solemnly, "General, Huang Hao will definitely want to kill you when he finds out. He will definitely not let you leave Chengdu."

"The emperor is easily swayed, and it won't be easy for Huang Hao to kill me. Immediately have everyone submit a memorial to the emperor, stating that I want to lead the army on a northern expedition." Jiang Wei gripped the hilt of his sword and said in a deep voice.

Ironically, the emperor was too soft-hearted to kill Huang Hao, and similarly, it was difficult for him to kill Huang Hao.

Although he is in great danger, his life is not in immediate danger.

Lai Zhongyi thought it made sense, so he nodded and replied, "Yes."

As a result, those who supported Jiang Wei or his faction submitted memorials to Liu Shan, requesting that Jiang Wei be allowed to lead another northern expedition to carry on Zhuge Liang's ambition and recover the Central Plains.

In reality, it was to avoid disaster.