novelAbuy Chapter 1478 Trapped Dragon on the Beach
Chapter 1478 Trapped Dragon on the Beach
Chapter 1478 Trapped Dragon on the Beach
Just as Lü Yi was lost in thought, he heard Grand Marshal Feng continue speaking:
“Over the years, my wife and I have stayed at home every year on the anniversary of my maternal uncle’s death, burning incense and offering sacrifices, weeping blood. Whenever I see my wife like this, my heart aches and I cannot control myself.”
As he spoke, he raised his sleeve to wipe the corner of his eye.
Upon hearing this, Lü Yi was greatly surprised.
No, so that's what the Grand Marshal wanted to say?
I thought……
He quickly stood up, bowed, and said:
"The Grand Marshal is a man of deep feelings and empathy. General Guan, a hero of his generation, has passed away suddenly. Not only the Grand Marshal and his wife, but also the scholars of Jiangdong often sigh with regret upon hearing of this."
Grand Marshal Feng waved his hand, covered his face with his sleeve, and seemed unable to speak.
After straightening up, Lü Yi said cautiously:
"During the Jian'an period, the world was in chaos, and everyone was fighting for their own master. It was inevitable that there would be regrets amidst the fighting. These were all tragedies of the times, which were beyond human control."
"Fortunately, the world is now divided into three, and Wu and Han have been allied for decades, jointly destroying Cao Wei, which is a blessing for the people."
"If old grudges are rekindled because of past wars, I'm afraid it would not be General Guan's wish in heaven."
Grand Marshal Feng lowered his sleeves, his eyes slightly red, gestured for Lü Yi to sit down, and sighed:
"How could I not know? We cannot let personal matters interfere with public affairs. With the two countries in good relations, it is impossible for war to break out again. I have often used this to comfort you, Madam."
Lü Yi breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself: That's good. The Grand Marshal is a reasonable person after all.
Unexpectedly, Grand Marshal Feng suddenly changed his tone:
"But it would have been better if I hadn't tried to persuade her. Instead, my wife scolded me and even called me a 'traitor who forgets his family and betrays his principles' in a fit of anger."
Lü Yi was taken aback.
Is this Guan family's fierce daughter truly so strong-willed?
What surprised him even more was that, with Grand Marshal Feng's current power that shook the world, he could actually tolerate such a rebuke.
"Grand Marshal, this... the lady..."
Lü Yi stammered, not daring to offer further advice.
But in his heart, he was already considering again: it seemed that it was indeed necessary to acquire several more villas in Chang'an.
Jiangdong... I wonder if there are any beauties whose names are known to the world at this time?
We need to find out more about this.
Grand Marshal Feng sighed deeply:
"Yet she insulted me so badly that I was speechless. Does Lord Lü know why?"
Lü Yi had no choice but to ask, "Why?"
"The lady pointed at my face and questioned me sharply: 'Have you forgotten the Battle of Yiling, where Lu Xun burned down the enemy camps, and my uncle led his troops in a desperate battle to cover the late emperor's retreat, ultimately dying from exhaustion?'"
No!
Grand Marshal, let's not talk about Jingzhou or Yiling, okay?
Others can bring it up, but you absolutely must not...
Lu Yi's face was deathly pale, his underwear was soaked, and he almost collapsed to the ground.
"Grand Marshal..." Lü Yi's voice trembled, and he almost knelt down, "This is all...this is all due to the war between the two countries, each fighting for their own master..."
"What a fine 'each serving their own master'!" Grand Marshal Feng slammed his fist on the table, his voice breaking with grief.
"It is this 'each serving their own master' that makes me, every time I go to the ancestral hall alone on the anniversary of my father's death, and face the empty coffin, I feel an urge to take up arms and fight Lu Xun to the death!"
"Lu Xun! Lu Xun! The upheaval in Jingzhou and the fire at Yiling were all orchestrated by this man! As a son, I cannot avenge my father; as a son-in-law, I cannot avenge Yue Fei. This thorn is in my heart, piercing my soul day and night!"
"Grand Marshal," Lü Yi prostrated himself on the ground, mustering his courage to remind him, "Lu Boyan has been dead for many years!"
He had also wanted to say that even when Lu Xun was alive, he, as the secretary of the Imperial Academy, was at odds with him and had repeatedly tried to frame him.
But he swallowed those words in the end.
Grand Marshal Feng suddenly laughed, his laughter filled with sarcasm:
"Yes, Lu Xun is dead, but his son Lu Kang is still alive."
Lü Yi was taken aback.
Grand Marshal Feng walked to the desk, leaned down, and stared at Lü Yi:
"Moreover, Lu Kang is now an official holding the rank of General Fenwei, stationed in Shouchun, which is only a little over a hundred li away from Qiao County of our Han State."
"Lord Lü, do you know?" He lowered his voice, his eyes burning with anger, each word uttered through gritted teeth:
“Whenever I read the Huainan military report and see the name ‘Lu Kang,’ I think of the Jingzhou Incident, the fire at Yiling, and my father’s empty coffin… Tell me, what kind of feeling do I have?”
Lü Yi finally understood.
Grand Marshal Feng's elaborate scheme was not intended to break the alliance and attack Wu, but rather to use someone else to kill and settle personal scores!
fine!
Easy to say!
As long as the alliance between the two countries is not violated, everything is negotiable.
Having figured this out, Lü Yi hurriedly looked up, her voice low but her speech rapid, afraid that if she spoke too late, Grand Marshal Feng would lash out again:
"Grand Marshal, Grand Marshal, please calm down! Please calm down! Please allow me to explain!"
"If the Grand Marshal wishes to deal with Lu Kang, I will devise a plan and make sure the Grand Marshal gets his wish!"
"Huh?" Grand Marshal Feng's eyes widened suddenly—I haven't finished my act yet!
"Sit, sit, Grand Marshal, please sit down. Please sit down first, and I will explain in detail."
Lü Yi rose, helped Grand Marshal Feng sit down, poured him hot tea, and then spoke:
"Does the Grand Marshal know why Lu Kang was able to garrison the important town of Shouchun? It is because he is related to Zhuge Ke by marriage."
"Lu Kang's wife, Zhang, was the sister of Zhuge Ke's wife. Therefore, Zhang called Zhuge Ke 'uncle' from childhood, and the two families were related by marriage."
"Therefore, when Zhuge Ke was in power, he specially promoted Lu Kang to the rank of General Fenwei and sent him to garrison Shouchun."
He lowered his voice:
"Now that the Prime Minister has brought down Zhuge Ke, how can he allow his relatives by marriage to hold a large army and be stationed in a key location? The Prime Minister has already secretly ordered the Office of Military Affairs to investigate Lu Kang's movements."
"All his dealings with Zhuge Ke's former subordinates, his personnel appointments in the army, and even the allocation of provisions are all secretly recorded by the Military Affairs Office. We only need to find any errors, and then..."
Lü Yi made a "pressing down" gesture.
Upon seeing this, Grand Marshal Feng's eyelids twitched.
Back then, they only thought that the Imperial Academy could disrupt the internal affairs of the Wu Kingdom, so they tried to protect it if they could.
Unexpectedly, things have turned out this way...
Grand Marshal Feng remained silent for a long time, his anger gradually subsiding, replaced by deep thought:
"Lu Kang is, after all, a general. If we frame him with fabricated charges, wouldn't that... greatly damage Prime Minister Sun's reputation?"
"Grand Marshal!" Lü Yi exclaimed urgently, "This is not a frame-up, but a precautionary measure!"
“Lu Kang is the son of the Grand Marshal’s enemy and is stationed on the border. If he harbors his father’s ambitions and plots rebellion, and follows his father’s example to destroy the alliance between the two countries, wouldn’t that be a great calamity?”
Feng Da Sima gave a deep look at Lü Yi, who was even more anxious than himself.
For a moment, he couldn't tell whether this person's heart belonged to the Han Dynasty or to the Wu Kingdom.
Seemingly persuaded by Lü Yi, Grand Marshal Feng nodded:
"Then... I'll leave this matter to Lord Lü?"
Upon seeing this, Lü Yi was overjoyed:
"You can rest assured, Grand Marshal, about what I do!"
"Good!" Grand Marshal Feng suddenly stood up, perhaps too excited, and even stepped over the table, grabbing Lü Yi's arms and laughing loudly:
"Since Lord Lü and Prime Minister Sun are so sincere, how can I, Feng, allow myself to be looked down upon?"
He released his grip and said seriously:
"Next spring, I will order Xinghan Association to raise the purchase price of raw sugar and raw silk in Jingzhou by 10%."
"In this way, when Lord Lü returns to Jianye to report back, he can also gain prestige in front of Prime Minister Sun."
Upon hearing this, Lü Yi's face lit up with joy, and he bowed repeatedly.
"Thank you, Grand Marshal! Thank you, Grand Marshal!"
The raw sugar and raw silk of Jingzhou are not only related to the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people, but also a major source of revenue for the Wu government treasury.
This mission not only fulfilled the alliance between Han and Wu, but also brought this unexpected joy.
I imagine the Prime Minister would be overjoyed to hear this.
As for saying things like Guan Zhong's old wisdom, or the deer plot and the silk robe plot...
Are you going to make up for the deficit in the Great Wu's treasury?!
Can't it be fixed?
If you can't make it up to me, what are you talking about?!
Anyone can talk.
In Jingzhou, sugarcane and mulberry fields cover the mountains and plains, and how many people, from ordinary folks to wealthy families, rely on them for a living?
Go and tell them to cut down all the trees and plant millet and rice instead.
See if they're cutting you down or cutting down the trees.
"Oh, thank you too soon." Grand Marshal Feng pressed down on Lü Yi's hand, leaned slightly forward, and lowered his voice to a whisper, almost inaudible:
"Another matter: the price of all raw sugar and raw silk handled by the School Affairs Office will be increased by another 10%."
"Huh?" Lu Yi was both surprised and delighted, staring straight at Grand Marshal Feng, wondering if he had misheard.
But then Grand Marshal Feng's lips curled slightly, and he said softly:
"This is a secret account, known only to the School Affairs Office, and unknown to outsiders."
Lü Yi trembled all over.
He swallowed hard, his lips moved several times, and then asked in a trembling voice:
"Grand Marshal... Lu Kang was merely a General of Valiant Might, his life... is not worth so much..."
Even with the influence of his father Lu Xun, how could Lu Kang, a mere individual, have come to this?
Or... Grand Marshal, could you list a few more names?
Otherwise, even if one gets the money and silk, one will still feel uneasy.
Grand Marshal Feng smiled slightly, tightening his grip slightly.
"The price is to teach him to never rise again and to live a life of poverty."
He paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes:
"If we take his life... we'll add another ten percent."
"Pfft—cough cough cough!" Lü Yi choked and coughed repeatedly. If he hadn't been forcibly suppressing it, he would have almost cried out.
If it weren't for the Lu family of Wu Commandery, a prominent clan in Jiangdong, standing behind Lu Kang, and if it weren't for the thousands of private soldiers under his command...
It's possible that Lü Yi was already considering whether he could find a henchman with a large sum of money to carry out that desperate attack!
Grand Marshal Feng released his grip, returned the table to its original position, and regained his composure.
"Lord Lü, this matter is settled. As for Lu Kang..."
"Understood! Understood!" Lü Yi replied hastily. "After returning to Jianye, I will do my utmost to ensure that the Grand Marshal achieves his wish!"
He took a deep breath, calmed himself, and bowed solemnly:
"I am deeply grateful for the Grand Marshal's generous gift. If there is any need in the future, the entire staff of the Imperial Secretariat will be at your disposal."
Grand Marshal Feng nodded:
"Master Lü, you flatter me. We each get what we need; it's a win-win situation."
"Just remember this: secret accounts are known only to heaven, earth, you, and me."
"Nature! Natural!"
When Grand Marshal Feng personally escorted him out of the mansion, Lü Yi's steps were unsteady, as if he were dreaming.
Before boarding the carriage, he turned back one last time, as if to confirm or as to assure, and whispered to Grand Marshal Feng:
"Grand Marshal, regarding the matter of Lu Kang... I will do my utmost to ensure everything is handled properly, and I will make sure it is worthwhile for you."
Feng Da Sima smiled without saying a word, only waving his hand gently.
The carriage started moving, the wheels rumbling like the clinking of gold and jade.
Back inside the mansion, someone wrapped their arms around his waist from behind, their soft skin pressing against his back.
A gentle, soft voice sounded in my ear:
"My lord, with such a high profit, will Lü Yi truly be devoted to you?"
Feng Yong smiled slightly, patted the round figure behind him, and said calmly:
“Cruel officials love money like flies craving blood. Such a lucrative position isn’t just for him. If he doesn’t work hard, someone else in the Secretariat will want his position.”
Breathing immediately became rapid in my ear, and hot air rushed towards it.
"My lord, send someone to fetch that Lady Yang. How about I accompany you with her?"
Feng Da Sima's smile froze.
No, General Guan, are you... going to repay kindness with enmity?
The fourteenth year of the Yanxi era of the Han Dynasty, the first year of the Jianxing era of the Wu Dynasty.
Zhuge Ke resigned from his position as prime minister in June and took office as governor of Xiling in July.
This former prime minister of Wu, though now holding the title of "Governor of Xiling," actually only commands the military affairs of the three prefectures of Jiangling, Yidu, and Jianping, and is subject to constraints at every turn.
Despite being demoted, Zhuge Ke remained spirited and eager to make a difference.
The first thing he did after taking office was to inspect the defenses.
However, wherever they went, what they saw and heard was shocking.
On the walls of Xiling, the garrison soldiers were few and far between, their armor rusted and their bowstrings loose.
A military roll call revealed that of the three thousand soldiers listed on the roster, only fifteen hundred actually arrived – the rest were "ghost soldiers".
What alarmed him even more was that, thirty miles outside the city, there wasn't a single acre of rice or millet in the farmland he saw.
The fertile land along the riverbank is not planted with crops, but with endless sugarcane fields.
The hilly slopes are covered with mulberry orchards, with silkworm racks standing in rows, and farm women can be seen picking mulberry leaves from time to time.
The more Zhuge Ke looked at it, the more worried he became. No wonder that a few years ago, when the Han state slightly tightened the grain trade, the price of grain in Jingzhou skyrocketed.
"Can these sugarcane and mulberry plantations feed us? What can we exchange them for?"
The old military officer explained in a low voice:
"Governor, these can produce raw sugar and raw silk, which can be transported to Jiangling for trade with the Xinghan Association of the Han Kingdom."
"What we got in return, besides grain, included brown sugar, candles, mead, Shu brocade, and velvet blankets... These are the things that wealthy families in Jiangling use."
Zhuge Ke's face turned ashen: "How can military garrisons consist entirely of these things? If the Han state attacks, where will our military provisions come from?"
The military officer smiled bitterly: "The Han state has never invaded our borders in recent years. On the contrary, the harvest of sugarcane and raw silk in one year is equivalent to three years' worth of grain tax."
How could Zhuge Ke possibly listen to such words?
Thinking of how the Han Kingdom had deployed troops to the border recently, threatening to cut off aid, even though he was the Prime Minister of Wu, he had no choice but to relinquish his position.
Upon assuming power, Sun Jun was even more eager to send envoys to the Han Kingdom, ostensibly to establish an alliance between the two countries, but everyone knew that it was nothing more than an apology to the Han Kingdom.
What a shame!
Why?
So what if the Han state strangled us?
If this continues, and if the Han state were to sail down the river one day, Jingzhou would likely surrender without a fight.
Since no one wants to change the predicament of the Great Wu, then I will be the one to start!
Three days later, Zhuge Ke summoned the governors of the three commanderies and military generals to discuss matters.
Order: "From now on, 30% of the military farmland will be used for planting grain, all those who are not paid will be eliminated and replaced with men from good families, and the armory will be repaired every half month."
The Prefect of Jiangling rose and replied:
"Governor, you are wise enough to agree that the conversion of military farms into commercial farms was approved by the former Governor-General Zhuge (Zhuge Jin) at the time."
"You once said: 'Trading with the Han Dynasty would benefit the country and its people, and could ease border conflicts.' Now you are changing this abruptly, which may go against your original intention."
Upon hearing his father's name, Ke's expression changed, and he forced a smile, saying, "Times have changed..."
Liu Cheng, the Prefect of Xiling (a confidant of Sun Jun), immediately rose, cupped his hands, and said:
"The governor-general is in charge of military affairs, while land reclamation, taxation, and commerce are all local government affairs. According to regulations, prefects should govern themselves, and governor-generals should not overstep their authority."
Whispers rippled through the crowd below.
Knowing that the matter was beyond saving, Ke angrily withdrew from the discussion.
Ke was unable to organize defenses and was also troubled by food and supplies shortages.
The monthly grain shipments from Wuchang were consistently insufficient, consisting mostly of stale or inferior millet.
When summoned, the grain official replied, "In recent years, there have been floods in Jiangdong, and the granaries are not full. Moreover, the Prime Minister has ordered that the 3,000 garrison soldiers of Xiling be supplied with grain as usual."
Ke slammed his hand on the table: "How many examples are there?"
He said, "Two thousand shi of millet per month."
Enraged, Ke laughed: "Three thousand soldiers, eating only three liters of millet a day, requiring four thousand shi a month! Are you trying to starve my army to death?"
He then wrote a letter to Wuchang questioning him, but received no reply for half a month.
He wrote another letter to Jianye, but it was like throwing a stone into the sea.
Zhuge Ke was unwilling to give up, so he sent people to Xiangyang to meet with the Huang family (Huang Yueying's family) and other prominent clans to discuss the matter of changing mulberry trees to rice paddies.
Huang politely declined, only saying that if the governor's army lacked provisions, Huang could provide assistance.
On October 23, the autumn rain continued.
Upon learning that even the Huang family did not support him, the proud and arrogant Zhuge Ke, in a fit of anger and anxiety, finally fell ill.
Overwhelmed with grief and anger, he caught a cold, developed a persistent high fever, and coughed up blood.
In his dazed state, he seemed to return to the Jianye Palace, sitting on the Prime Minister's throne, surveying the land...
Suddenly the image shattered, transforming into Sun Jun's cold face, the mocking eyes of the court officials, and the rusted swords and spears on the city walls of Xiling.
"The late emperor... Ke... failed in his trust..."
He muttered to himself, but no one heard him.
At this moment, a person arrived outside the mansion.
Huangmen Chen Qian, carrying the official seal of the Prince of Changsha (Note: Sun He had been demoted to Prince of Changsha at this time), claimed to have come to visit his maternal uncle on the orders of Consort Zhang.
Consort Zhang was the wife of the former Crown Prince Sun He and the niece of Zhuge Ke.
Chen Qian entered and saw that Zhuge Ke looked sickly and haggard, and couldn't help but shed tears:
"Governor, Consort Zhang is in Changsha and is worried about her uncle day and night. Hearing that her uncle has arrived in Xiling, she specially ordered this old servant to send him ginseng and deer antler medicine, as well as a fur coat to keep warm."
She then instructed the old servant to convey a message: 'Uncle, take care. I am in Changsha, praying for your well-being day and night.'
Zhuge Ke struggled to his feet, grasped Chen Qian's hand, and tears streamed down his face:
"I...I have failed Your Majesty, and I have failed Consort Zhang!"
"If I had been more resolute back then and had protected the Crown Prince, things wouldn't have come to this."
In the past conflict between Nanlu, Zhuge Ke's eldest son, Zhuge Chuo, was involved. He was convicted of colluding with the Prince of Lu and was poisoned by Zhuge Ke.
Recalling the past, Zhuge Ke became even more sorrowful.
"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!"
These words were spoken with sorrow, filled with regret and resentment.
Chen Qian also wept, and after repeatedly comforting him, he left behind the medicine and clothing, bid farewell, and departed.
(End of this chapter)