Chapter 54, Part Two: The Son Is Not Like His Father

Zu Ti led his men through a perilous journey to Liangzhou. Before they even saw the city gates, a scout reported that Liu Jun, the heir of the Marquis of Guangwu, General Zhenwei, and governor of Liangzhou, was waiting outside Nanzheng City with his staff.

Unexpectedly, the other party showed such great courtesy. Zu Ti hurriedly rode to the city gate and saw a young man in a pheasant-feathered hat standing proudly at the head of the procession. As soon as he saw him, the young man immediately came forward and personally took the reins of his horse.

Zu Ti quickly dismounted and greeted Liu Jun.

"Grandfather!" Liu Jun couldn't help but admire Zu Ti, who was indeed as bold and magnanimous as he had imagined. "Since I was a child, I have often heard adults mention Grandfather. Rising at the crowing of the rooster, striking first with the whip, and rowing in the middle of the river, what heroic spirit! Seeing him today, I finally know what a hero is!"

Zu Ti was also seeing Liu Kun's renowned son for the first time. Whether in terms of filial piety, morality, or academic achievements, he was an outstanding figure among the younger generation at that time. Looking at his own mediocre and incompetent son beside him, he couldn't help but sigh, "Only today do I understand Cao Cao's sigh, 'A son should be like Sun Quan!'"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zu Huan's face darkened, and he even secretly glared at Liu Jun, thinking no one had noticed.

Liu Jun noticed this and smiled slightly, "Please invite Grandfather into the city."

After two or three years of management by Liu Jun, Hanzhong is now not considered a land of plenty, but it is relatively peaceful among the northern prefectures and counties. Therefore, although the banquet is not extravagant, all kinds of food and wine are provided.

Strangely, Zu Ti and the others had meat and vegetables, while Liu Jun only had hot soup noodles and a few kinds of fruits and vegetables in front of him.

"Three years have passed since Emperor Huai's death, and the national mourning period has ended," Liu Jun personally served wine to Zu Ti, "but I am in mourning for my grandparents and cannot drink with you, my ancestor. Please forgive me."

In the Han and Wei dynasties, in order not to affect people's marriage and work, people generally did not actually observe a three-year mourning period. For example, Emperor Xiaowen of Han used days instead of years, and the court and the people only needed to observe a thirty-six-day mourning period.

When Sima Yan came to power, in order to highlight filial piety and integrate filial piety with loyalty, he also clarified the three-year mourning period.

However, due to the chaos of war, almost every household was experiencing deaths year after year. If one strictly observed mourning, there was nothing else to do throughout the year except observe mourning.

To achieve something like Liu Jun's is truly remarkable.

The host was a vegetarian, and Zu Ti felt awkward sitting there. Fortunately, Liu Jun was understanding and kept urging him to drink. He then turned to ask Zu Ti about his battles in the south and the various fortified villages north and south of the Yangtze River over the past year. Only then did the meal end with everyone enjoying themselves.

Just then, the sound of horses neighing came from outside the door. Liu Jun listened carefully and said leisurely, "You've come at just the right time. I've come to introduce a few people to Grandfather."

Once inside, the group consisted entirely of imposing young generals. After introducing themselves, they all revealed themselves to be members of the Liu clan.

“Apart from Jingdao, who is the grandson of Liu Qiao, the former Duke of Annam, the others are all my cousins,” Liu Jun said with a smile. “But Jingdao (Liu Dan) and I have been through thick and thin together for four or five years, and we are already like brothers.”

Zu Ti admired the way Liu Yu and Liu Kun had raised their sons and flattered them a few times. Then he suddenly said, "I am not familiar with Liangzhou and I am afraid I will not be able to suppress the local powerful families. I wonder if you would be willing to spare a few talented men to help me out?"

Liu Jun stood up. "I will offer tea in place of wine to thank you, Grandfather. To be honest, this is exactly what I requested from the court before. His Majesty has appointed Liu Qi as the Prefect of Liangzhou. Besides him, there are some other generals who have settled here and do not wish to leave. I urge you to make the best use of their talents and give them your command."

Zu Ti poured a full glass of wine, thought for a moment, and then dismissed all his followers, including Zu Huan. Liu Jun raised an eyebrow at him, then waved away all his subordinates as well, leaving not even a single guard behind.

"What courage!" Zu Ti thought to himself. After all, his swordsmanship was renowned throughout the land, yet the man showed no hesitation in being alone with him, who was carrying a sword. Either he was too trusting of others' character and temperament, or he was confident that his swordsmanship was no less than the man's.

Of course, the most likely explanation is that Liu Jun is absolutely certain that, under the current circumstances, Zu Ti would never dare to make trouble for him.

"My lord is the son of the Grand General (Liu Kun), and was recruited by His Majesty (Sima Ye) along the way, while I was appointed by the Chancellor (Prince of Langya, Sima Rui). We are each serving our own master, and there is no better way."

Liu Jun lowered his head and chuckled, "So, the Prince of Langya already harbors rebellious intentions?"

Zu Ti stared into his eyes. “Let’s not beat around the bush. His Majesty has issued edicts time and again, requesting the princes and various prefectures to send troops. Apart from Sima Bao, the Prince of Nanyang, who responded a few times, where have the other princes made any move? The same goes for the Prince of Langya.”

"Isn't this a case of everyone knowing Sima Rui's intentions?" Liu Jun sneered. "My grandfather also knew that the Prince of Langya wished His Majesty would die immediately, and that the entire north would fall so he could seize the throne and continue living a life of luxury and peace in Jiangdong and Jiangnan. The Langya Wang clan has already established itself in Jiangdong, hasn't it? How much land have they seized from the Jiangdong gentry?"

Zu Ti and Wang Dao were on good terms. Hearing his sharp words, Zu Ti was somewhat displeased but could not refute them. Then he heard Liu Jun say, "The prefecture, county, household, and man under my control were all taken back from the barbarian tribes of Jie, Di, and Qiang. How do they compare to Wang Dao and Wang Dun?"

For a mere youth to compare himself to established figures of the time is truly audacious, yet sitting opposite him, Zu Ti did not find him arrogant at all.

"In his childhood, he followed his father to defend Bingzhou, pacify the refugees, and resist the barbarians; in his youth, he aided allied forces and served the king; in his early twenties, he led a lone army westward and recaptured Liangzhou. Not to mention Wang Dao, throughout history, apart from figures like the Marquis of Champion, few can rival you, let alone the Wang brothers?"

Liu Jun lowered his eyes. "In the past, I was confined to the inner palace and rarely saw many people. I inevitably made the mistake of misjudging people. But after more than ten years of military service, I have seen emperors, generals, princes and dukes as many as fish crossing a river. I am confident that I still have some ability to judge people. Although I have never met my grandfather in person, we have long admired each other. I know that my grandfather is wholeheartedly devoted to the country and has no selfish motives. Therefore, I am at ease entrusting Hanzhong to my grandfather."

"Those in high positions of power, like princes and kings, and those as base and shallow as refugees and commoners, all now want to occupy land and become kings. Why then does my lord abandon Hanzhong and go to Guanzhong instead?"

"Firstly, my lord and father are in trouble, and I have no choice but to help them, both for public and private reasons. Secondly, in this era of great strife, it is not the act of a hero to be confined to a single province. Thirdly, as I have said before, Liang Province is in the hands of my ancestor, and with the assistance of the Chief Clerk, I am very at ease. How can this be considered abandoning Hanzhong?" Liu Jun said with a half-smile.

He neither spoke of those profound and mysterious principles, nor of those pedantic Confucian sayings about rulers and ministers, fathers and sons; all his schemes were laid bare and exposed.

He's right. Not to mention that he left many Liu family members to guard Hanzhong, even if Zu Ti completely controls Liangzhou, after Zu Ti's death, can his descendants like Zu Huan hold it?

In the end, it will most likely end up back in his hands.

With that, Zu Ti had no more doubts and laughed heartily, "I never imagined that Liu Yueshi and I would both be so different from our fathers!"

Liu Jun also laughed loudly, "I hope that you can pacify the Central Plains and restore Ji, and I also hope that I can revive the imperial clan and return to the old capital!"

Unfortunately, all he could restore was the Han Dynasty...