Yizhou, a post station five miles north of Chengdu, a group of people coming from the north stopped here for a rest.
Fei Yi walked in from outside and bowed to Zhuge Liang who was enjoying the cool air: "Prime Minister, we have been stopped for half an hour. Is it time for the troops to enter the city?"
Zhuge Liang's face remained serious: "Well, let's prepare to enter the city. After entering the city, Wen Wei and Duke Wei will follow me to the palace to see His Majesty."
Yang Yi stood up and bowed in response, sighing softly, "It takes at least half a month to go from Baishui to Chengdu. The Baishui Mansion is already full of things to do, and Chengdu is not peaceful either."
"I think that after the Prime Minister enters the palace, he should impeach these noisy people at once, so as to teach them that important military and national affairs must be handled by the Prime Minister himself, and are definitely not something that can be discussed by idle chatterboxes like them!"
Zhuge Liang was already in a bad mood. Hearing Yang Yi's words, which were obviously in anger, he slammed the handle of his fan on the table and said, "Shut up! How dare you talk about the ministers behind their backs?"
Yang Yi looked slightly aggrieved: "But they are also discussing the Prime Minister in Chengdu! Li Zhengfang is in a difficult position openly, but Du Boyu, Lai Jingda and others who are colluding to criticize him in private are even more despicable!"
"Secretly connected?" Zhuge Liang looked up at Yang Yi, his intimidating eyes making Yang Yi feel uneasy: "Have you sent someone to investigate Du Qiong and Lai Min?"
Yang Yi's throat moved unconsciously: "I also heard about it from rumors, and I didn't deliberately investigate them. These two people are really..."
Zhuge Liang raised his hand to interrupt Yang Yi's words and pointed to the door: "Duke Wei, please don't follow me into the city. Go back and reflect on your actions immediately. You will be suspended from your duties for a month!"
Yang Yi looked a little confused: "Where does the Prime Minister want me to go back to?"
"Go back to Baishui! Otherwise, how can I let you go back to Xiangyang?" Zhuge Liang's face finally showed some anger, and he slammed the table heavily: "Leave now!"
Yang Yi knew he was in the wrong, so he bowed and said, "I'll take my leave, Prime Minister. Take care."
After saying that, he walked out of the house in small steps.
The team set off again heading south, getting closer and closer to the north gate of Chengdu city.
Fei Yi asked softly, "Prime Minister, although what Yang Weigong said just now was a bit too much, when the Prime Minister returns to Chengdu this time, he still needs to be cautious about the people he mentioned. A gentleman is open and honest, but he also has to be afraid of rumors!"
Zhuge Liang still looked forward: "It's okay, I can handle it myself."
Fei Yi sighed: "Then Yang Weigong..."
Zhuge Liang said, "He has gotten a little too proud of himself. Yang Weigong is in charge of military intelligence in the Prime Minister's Office. It's not that he shouldn't pay attention to Chengdu's movements, but he can't spy on the ministers like this!"
"You and Yang Weigong are both from the Prime Minister's Mansion. Everything you do will eventually be attributed to me. When have I ever asked Yang Weigong to do these things?"
Fei Yi cupped his hands and said, "I understand. After entering the city, shall we go to the palace immediately, or shall we rest for half a day first?"
"No more rest." Zhuge Liang shook his head: "We should return to Chengdu as soon as possible this time. After dealing with things, we should return to Baishui as soon as possible. Let's go to the palace first."
"Yes."
This time Zhuge Liang returned to Chengdu from Baishui with only two military officers, Fei Yi and Yang Yi, and twenty cavalrymen. If he had made a big fuss when returning to the city as usual, I'm afraid many ministers would have come out of the city to greet him, and even the people would have lined the streets of Chengdu to watch.
Getting things done is important.
The rest of the things were definitely not what Zhuge Liang wanted.
Although Zhuge Liang was the prime minister of the Han Dynasty, he still needed to report before entering and leaving the palace, and the etiquette of a minister must not be neglected in the slightest.
"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister is requesting an audience outside the palace." The eunuch Guo Duo walked to Liu Chan's side and reported.
It was afternoon at this time, and the city of Chengdu was unusually hot in July. Liu Chan was taking a nap in the shade of the hall. When he heard this, he stood up suddenly.
"Prime Minister? Which Prime Minister?"
"It's Prime Minister Zhuge. Prime Minister Zhuge has just returned from Baishui and entered the city."
"Please come in!" Liu Chan blurted out, then changed his words and said, "I don't need you, I'll go by myself!"
When he first met Liu Chan, Zhuge Liang bowed deeply and said, "Your Majesty, I, Zhuge Liang, greet you."
Liu Chan also returned the greeting, bowing in the same manner: "I heard that your father has just entered the city. It is hot in July and you are exhausted from the journey. Please come to the palace and rest for a while."
Zhuge Liang said: "It is my fault that Your Majesty has troubled me to come and welcome you personally."
After that, Zhuge Liang extended his hand forward: "Your Majesty, please go first!"
"I am traveling with my father-in-law." Liu Chan noticed Fei Yi, who was saluting behind him, and said, "Oh? Military Officer Fei is here too, so let's go together."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." After Fei Yi responded, he followed the two men about two meters away, and followed them from a distance with the eunuchs.
Liu Chan asked softly, "Prime Minister, you did not send anyone to inform me beforehand when you returned to Chengdu. Is there something important? Is it for Li Zhengfang?"
Zhuge Liang shook his head slightly: "Li Zhengfang is just one of them. This time when I return to Chengdu, I have to explain to all the ministers in the court. Although your majesty trusts important ministers, not every minister will consider the overall situation."
"We should dissuade those who should be dissuaded, and strive for those who should be won over. For those who are really hard to convince, let them not get in the way." Liu Chan sighed softly, "The burden of the country's political affairs is on my father, and I feel guilty. Li Zhengfang is an old minister of the previous emperor. Last time, he wanted to divide Yizhou into Bazhou, but was delayed by the prime minister with the post of Zhongduhu. At the beginning of this year, I and the court just conferred him the title of General of the Guard, but he wanted to open a government office in the same way as the three dukes of Wei."
"He just talked a lot this time, but he didn't really do anything major. In addition, he usually does things properly, and he is in charge of a large army in Jiangzhou, so I am a little embarrassed."
Zhuge Liang said slowly: "Li Zhengfang was a meritorious official in the past."
When Liu Chan saw Zhuge Liang, he couldn't stop talking: "He is a meritorious minister, so I am in a dilemma. Now that the Prime Minister is here, I will leave this matter to him."
"If you count carefully, my father hasn't been back to Chengdu for nearly eight months. I wonder what the situation is like in the north?"
Zhuge Liang said: "In the seventh year of Jianxing, I attacked Dazhong once and Yangpingguan once. Through these two operations, I was able to fully understand the enemy's strength and weakness."
"The strength of Wei's army lies only in the Wei Central Army. The rest are mediocre, Cao Zhen is also a mediocre general, and only Zhang He is worthy of praise."
Liu Chan nodded thoughtfully: "As my father said, if the Wei army was not in the west, there would be an opportunity to fight there?"
Zhuge Liang responded, "Your Majesty is wise, and this is why I have always insisted on forming an alliance with Sun Quan. Before Jiang Gongyan went to Wuchang, I had already told him clearly that as long as he could get Sun Quan to send troops to Xiangyang, he would be in charge of the words and etiquette."
"Jiang Wan is also a man of great talent." Liu Chan looked at the road and extended his hand to introduce him: "Father, please go to the right. There is an attic not far away that is the coolest."
"As you command." Zhuge Liang said, "Although I have persuaded Sun Quan to send troops, this is a matter of benefit to the country, but it is a little unfair to Your Majesty."
Liu Chan smiled bitterly and said, "This is a matter of national importance. Prime Minister, you don't have to worry about my thoughts. It's good that Sun Quan can send troops."
Zhuge Liang nodded: "I heard in Baishui that Wei was short of food in Guanzhong. After much evidence, I finally confirmed it. In my opinion, we can launch another northern expedition this autumn and winter."
The two walked into a pavilion Liu Chan called "Qingliang Pavilion". The trees outside the pavilion were about five or six feet high. The summer breeze was really pleasant.
After sitting down, Liu Chan immediately asked: "Where do you want to march north this time, my father?"
The summer heat was unbearable, but now that it was cool, Zhuge Liang's expression eased a little, and he asked with a slight smile: "Your Majesty, where do you think we should attack?"
Liu Chan handed Zhuge Liang a feather fan and gently brushed off the dust on it: "I want to attack Dazhong!"
Zhuge Liang asked again: "Why Dazhong?"
Liu Chan calmly fanned himself and said, "I want the Prime Minister to defeat Lu Boyan's troops!"
Zhuge Liang was slightly startled, then solemnly bowed and said: "I will attack and destroy this man for your majesty to avenge the old hatred. Your majesty, don't worry!"
Liu Chan said: "Lu Xun is the next best. I have carefully read all the letters that the Prime Minister has sent me. Yangping Pass is a major pass and a big city, I am afraid it cannot be touched for the time being. If we can take Dazhong, it will definitely cut off the arm of the Wei thieves in Liangzhou, so Yongliang can be slowly taken."
"This is what the Prime Minister told me clearly."
Zhuge Liang said with emotion: "Your Majesty sees it clearly, but there are always people in the court who are unwilling to march north. If Your Majesty had not informed me of these people's petitions, I would not have known that there were so many resentments in Chengdu."
Liu Chan sighed softly: "Du Qiong, He Zong, Lai Min, Pei Jun, mainly these four people expressed their opinions. They made it clear in their memorials that they were not unwilling to march north, but they did not want the national strength and people's power to be wasted in this way."
"The prime minister's residence is in Baishui, not in Chengdu. In Chengdu, all the ministers, from the dukes and ministers down, have agreed with these four people. Even the students of the Imperial College have risen up to agree with them, and it has become a political trend."
Often, the presence or absence of the political core makes a completely different difference. Zhuge Liang was in Baishui, and the ministers and local noble families in Chengdu could discuss the matter.
Anyway, you, Zhuge Liang, are not in Chengdu!
Zhuge Liang asked calmly, "Are they saying that we should wait until our national strength is sufficient and then march north to conquer them? Then I will lead the elite troops north to attack, and we will be able to conquer places like Hanzhong, Longyou, and Guanzhong in one fell swoop?"
Liu Chan nodded.
Zhuge Liang asked again: "Your Majesty, do you think their words can be realized?"
"I really don't know." Liu Chan shook his head and sighed again: "It is necessary to accumulate national strength. The country cannot do without savings. The Northern Expedition is also necessary. How can the Han Dynasty be content with a partial peace? It is difficult for me to make a decision on both counts."
Zhuge Liang took a deep breath and explained carefully: "Your Majesty, I know that the Han Dynasty needs to recover its national strength. But I am so eager to train troops in Baishui because I want to defeat the enemy as soon as possible, because the Wei thieves are accumulating national strength faster than us!"
"Comparing the two, if we march north now, we can still win by relying on strategy and people. If we delay for another five or ten years, I'm afraid it will be difficult to change the situation. This is why I am so anxious."
Liu Chan said solemnly: "I understand what the Prime Minister said. Prime Minister, rest assured, I will issue an edict to dissuade Du Qiong, He Zong, Lai Min, Pei Jun and others, so that they can understand the national situation and interests and try their best to support the Northern Expedition!"
Zhuge Liang shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, I can persuade them myself. They are misleading people with their words, and I will refute them with words. This is the correct answer."
"But I have something else to report to Your Majesty. I hope Your Majesty will grant my request!"
Seeing Zhuge Liang's expression, Liu Chan asked in surprise, "What are you talking about, Prime Minister?"
Zhuge Liang stood up slowly and bowed to Liu Chan. "I accuse General Wei Li Yan of being ignorant of the general situation and seeking fame and gain. He used his troops to threaten the court at the critical moment of the Northern Expedition and only cared about his own power!"
"Your Majesty, please demote Li Yan and remove him from office!" (End of this chapter)
