Chapter 60, Chapter 8: Drinking in the Setting Sun

In the end, Suo Lin couldn't let go of his dignity as a scholar. He didn't make a scene on the spot, but he also didn't stay for a meal. He found an excuse to leave in a huff.

Because there were other people around, Sima Ye's forced composure dissipated, and he leaned back against the armchair, his face full of gloom.

Seeing this, Bi Gong, who was standing nearby, wisely led the other eunuchs to take their leave and tightly closed the palace door.

So only the two childhood friends remained sitting opposite each other, speechless for a moment.

Only the dim, indistinct setting sun cast a faint red shadow on the pitted blue bricks, resembling a bloodstain.

Wine was unusually prepared on the table. Liu Jun took two ear cups, wiped them with his own handkerchief, and then filled both of them.

Sima Ye took it, tilted his head back and drank a large gulp. Although his eyes were red, he managed not to shed a tear.

Liu Jun did not rush to drink, but instead held the cup and quietly observed him. "How long has it been since Your Majesty had a good night's sleep?"

Sima Ye's throat bobbed slightly as he looked down at the ripples of the remaining wine. "Actually, I've been sleeping quite well."

"oh?"

"Wish fulfillment only exists in dreams." Sima Ye chuckled self-deprecatingly. "Leaving that aside, for the past two years, I've been confined to this city of Chang'an like a sparrow, yet I've often heard news of you. You truly are a dragon entering the sea, a roc soaring through the clouds, making one envious. The people of Chang'an, when they mention you, all say you are the 'Qilin Zi' of Jinyang."

Liu Jun humbly replied, "I am ashamed, I am ashamed. I was ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth. I relied on Your Majesty's trust and rashly opened my government and raised an army. I was just luckier than others, and only managed to have a small number of soldiers and a place to stand. How could I be worthy of such praise? Your Majesty may not have heard the folk saying, 'Even a unicorn son can hardly defeat a dragon that can turn bones.' Perhaps I am that prodigal dragon that can turn bones."

It was rare for him to be so humorous, so Sima Ye couldn't help but smile and clink his cup with his. "Just now I was so busy feeling sorry for myself that I forgot about hospitality. I should be punished."

After downing his drink in one gulp, Sima Ye asked in a low voice, "Is there any news about the old items from Nanpi that I asked you to find before?"

Liu Jun shook his head, "I have sent three trustworthy people to search for them. They have searched all the remaining members of the Shi clan and their surviving servants. They have inquired about everyone they could find, but there is still no news."

Sima Ye could not hide his disappointment, "With wars raging so frequently, it's troublesome for you to worry about such trivial matters."

"The officials in the court are used to being aloof and detached from worldly affairs. How could they know the hardship of not having these filthy things? War requires provisions, military pay, weapons, and livestock. Military farms require farming tools, good seeds, irrigation, and wasteland. Aren't all of these things built upon these filthy things?" Liu Jun said sarcastically. "If they are so noble, why won't they give up a single piece of land occupied by tenants? Those rock-solid fortresses and those grains that would last for ten years—did they fall from the sky while they were sitting and talking, or did their lofty ideals blow them away?"

Before the Sima clan usurped the Wei throne, they came from a powerful aristocratic family and had all the vices of the gentry, including fratricide and treachery. Sima Ye, perhaps feeling guilty, changed his expression slightly upon hearing this. "That's not entirely true. Look at the Marquis of Fengleting, who came from the Du family of Jingzhao. Yet he dedicated his life to military service and made great contributions. He was not the fame-seeking person you described."

“Du Wuku?” Liu Jun also admired Du Yu, and then remembered that Sima Ye’s favorite was Du Yu’s granddaughter, so he apologized, “Your Majesty, I spoke rudely and spoke ill of the sage. Please forgive me.”

Seeing that Sima Ye's expression had softened slightly, Liu Jun, still with his head down, curled his lips and said, "For example, the recent pacification of Jiangdong is also thanks to the efforts of the Wang brothers of Langya."

Sima Ye was taken aback, then smiled wryly and said, "You're still as sharp-tongued as ever."

"How dare I?"

If Suo Lin was merely a minor threat to Sima Ye, then Sima Rui was a major threat to his heart. The thought that all the powerful families who had fled south supported Sima Rui, and that despite their repeated cries of defiance during perilous times, those south of the Yangtze River remained silent, inevitably frustrated Sima Ye. "My ancestor, Zu Ti, inherited the system of the Langya King, but I never imagined that Lord Liu would be so generous as to hand over Hanzhong, which we had so painstakingly conquered, so easily."

Liu Jun raised an eyebrow. “Your Majesty agreed so readily. I had assumed that Your Majesty had given your approval, so I did not submit a memorial to express my opinion. I did not expect that I had been too thoughtful.”

Sima Ye pursed his lips and remained silent. He had always been a very kind person since childhood and rarely got angry. This was the first time Liu Jun had ever seen him like this, so he found it quite novel and took a good look at him.

Seeing that Sima Ye's brows were tightly furrowed, Liu Jun knew he could not offend him too much, so he stood up, knelt upright, and said solemnly, "Your Majesty, I have three concerns in mind when I asked my grandfather to govern Liangzhou."

This does sound somewhat like a memorial to the emperor, and Sima Ye sat up straight, saying, "I would like to hear the details."

"Firstly, although my grandfather was recruited by Sima Rui, Sima Rui did not provide him with troops or provisions, only some money and silk. He had not occupied Jiangdong for long and had not yet had time to win people's hearts. My grandfather was a gentleman, so it was good enough that he did not harbor resentment. How could he be grateful to him?"

"good."

"Secondly, although I handed over Liangzhou, I left behind many trusted confidants there, especially Chief Clerk Liu Qi, who is my cousin, and more than a hundred other relatives. Even today, I am still very familiar with everything that is happening in Liangzhou. Even if my ancestor were to break his promise and try to harm me, I would still have countermeasures."

"But you have repeatedly mentioned in your previous letters that Zu Ti's strategies and tactics are all top-notch. What if the relatives you left behind cannot suppress him?"

Liu Jun smiled and said, "I trust my grandfather's character. If I have truly been wrong, I will ride back to Hanzhong and clean up the mess."

Sima Ye asked worriedly, "If Guanzhong is in chaos again when you return to reinforce it, what will happen then?"

Liu Jun shook his head and sighed, "Why doesn't Your Majesty worry about the collapse of heaven and earth, and where you will find refuge after death?"

Sima Ye knew he was being laughed at for worrying unnecessarily, but he wasn't annoyed. He continued, "The third one?"

"Thirdly, my grandfather is more than twenty years older than me. If nothing unexpected happens, he will pass away before me. I have observed that none of his sons and nephews are capable of shouldering great responsibilities, especially his younger brother Zuyue, who is ambitious but incompetent and has an unscrupulous mind. He will surely cause trouble in the future."

Sima Ye had completely relaxed and said with a smile, "Hearing your words has dispelled all my worries."

"Moreover, Your Majesty always remembers that your grandfather recruited Sima Rui, but Sima Rui granted him the titles of Governor of Yuzhou and General of Chariots and Cavalry. Now he has left Yuzhou and received the official position bestowed by Your Majesty. It is Your Majesty who has shown him such favor now."

His words made Sima Ye suddenly realize something, and he slapped his forehead, saying, "Oh no, I didn't think this through before, and I was a bit negligent towards my grandfather. Tomorrow I will send someone to Liangzhou to appease him and send some horses and provisions."

“No need for that,” Liu Jun said with a smile. “Hanzhong is a fertile land with a long history, and the harvests have been quite good in recent years, far better than those in Chang’an. If Your Majesty is truly interested, you might as well bestow a jade sword as a token of imperial favor.”

"Excellent!" Sima Ye replied with a smile.

The two drank a few more cups, and Sima Ye asked again, "I've been longing for you day and night, and now that you've finally entered the court, what are your plans for the next step?"