Chapter 91, Part 2: Ambiguous and Unclear
Zu Yue's rebellion caught everyone off guard. The court officials gathered in the Xuan Shi Hall and discussed it for most of the day, but they couldn't come to a conclusion.
The reason is simple: Liu Jun had already returned to the shogunate. He had conquered Liangzhou and had never given up control of it over the years. No one dared to overstep his bounds unless he gave a clear order.
Sima Ye found it boring and was about to dismiss the court and return to his palace before dusk when he noticed that none of the officials had left. Even Du Dan was still sitting there hesitantly. "Perhaps we should wait for the Minister of Works to return..."
Sima Ye nodded, unable to quite describe his feelings. "Very well, I'll go review the memorials first, and we'll discuss it again when he returns."
Upon returning to his palace, Sima Ye did not take a rest. Instead, he ordered someone to bring him an archery target and began to practice his archery skills with great concentration. However, after practicing for most of the hour, he was drenched in sweat, but he still managed to hit the target with very few arrows, let alone the bullseye.
He threw down his bow and arrows in frustration, unable to help but think of Liu Jun. Liu Jun had practiced martial arts since childhood, especially emphasizing archery and horsemanship after the Yongjia era. Even now, as one of the Three Dukes, he still practiced diligently every day. Like his father, Liu Jun was tall, imposing, and powerful. Before he grew up, he could draw a large bow with a draw weight of 1.4. After years of fighting, he now used a bow with a draw weight of 1.8. Hearing that some people were urging him to imitate Lü Bu's shooting of the halberd at the gate, Liu Jun couldn't resist the people's persuasion and agreed with a smile. However, he didn't shoot the halberd, but instead had someone bring a stone tiger there and shot the helmet plume from 150 paces away.
This matter circulated widely in the army. Sima Ye had also secretly asked Liu Jun about it. The latter smiled without saying a word, only saying lightly, "Helmet plume? Why would I make him wear a helmet? I just let him stand there with a tiger on his head."
The admiration of that time has gradually turned into bitterness. Sima Ye, exhausted, threw his bow and arrows to the palace servants behind him and returned to review the memorials without saying a word. However, most of those memorials were drafted by the Director of the Imperial Secretariat, who was supposed to be in charge of the decision-making, but in reality, where was there any room for him to speak? The Du brothers and Du Lihua kept urging him to choose relatives and friends of the Sima clan of Hanoi, such as the Wang clan of Langya and the Yang clan of Hongnong, but everyone knew that although they had managed to stabilize the broken country in recent years, apart from one who was legitimate, everyone knew that the emperor was just a figurehead, no different from Emperor Hui and Emperor Huai.
If only I had half of Liu Jun's talent, perhaps I could also become a great ruler who could reclaim lost territories and rebuild a new dynasty.
Lost in thought, he said, "Your Majesty, the Minister of Works and his ministers have arrived at the North Palace."
That's Liu Jun for you. He's always so quick-witted, always able to sense the emperor's displeasure immediately and then adopt the most appropriate posture.
Liu Jun prepared a plan at the headquarters and rushed back to the palace. As soon as he arrived at the Xuan Room, he heard that the emperor had already returned to the palace.
"Is Your Majesty tired?" he asked Wen Qiao, frowning.
Wen Qiao smiled, "With the Minister of Works absent, this matter cannot be resolved for a long time..."
Liu Jun raised an eyebrow, then instantly adopted a submissive demeanor, "It is my fault for keeping Your Majesty waiting."
He then looked at the remaining officials, "I dare not trouble Your Majesty to go to the Xuan Room again. I intend to go to the Taiji Hall in person to report this. I wonder if you gentlemen..."
A moment later, Sima Ye saw the officials walking in and sitting respectfully in the hall.
"May Your Majesty enjoy boundless happiness." Just hearing his footsteps from afar, Liu Jun was the first to kneel and pay his respects.
Sima Ye wasn't surprised, but he raised his hand in annoyance, "How did the discussions go, my lords?"
Liu Jun remained silent, but Wen Qiao, who was standing to the side, said, "We believe that Zhuge Yong can be appointed as the governor of Liangzhou and lead troops to quell Zu Yue's rebellion."
Sima Ye's brow twitched, and when he looked at Du Dan beside him, he saw that Du Dan was not surprised but was also quite displeased. Then, when he and Liu Jun looked at each other, he met Liu Jun's eyes, which were darker than the average person's.
His frustration subsided in an instant. Why should the Du family of Jingzhao and the Wang family of Taiyuan place all their bets on a puppet emperor who was neither good at literature nor martial arts? Their instigation of him to fight against Liu Jun was nothing more than a scheme to reap the benefits.
As for the Sima family of Hanoi, Sima Ye smiled. If it weren't for the power struggles and fratricide that had turned the world into such a mess, would he, Sima Ye, have been able to sit on the throne?
He smiled and said, "I think Liu Qi, the former Prefect of Liangzhou, is skilled in government affairs and has a high reputation among the people. Why go to such lengths to seek a more suitable option?"
The emperor's words caught everyone off guard, and many members of the Liu faction were wondering if this was a warning from the still-unstable emperor to the equally unstable Minister of Works.
Wen Qiao glanced at the two of them and smiled with relief.
“Your Majesty,” Liu Jun looked into Sima Ye’s eyes earnestly, “Liangzhou is crucial, bordering Bashu to the west and Jingxiang to the east. I have not yet ascertained whether this matter is related to Li Xiong or Wang Dun, and dare not act rashly. Liu Qi is young and inexperienced, while Zhuge Liang is mature, prudent, decisive, and quick-witted, and also has the advantage of family background. He is more suitable. I beg Your Majesty to consider this carefully.”
Sima Ye pondered for a moment, "Very well, after the rebellion of Zu Yue is quelled, we can recall Liu Qi back to the court, and Yan Shi will have another right-hand man."
Liu Jun bowed, "Your Majesty, I thank you in advance."
Ignoring Du Dan's astonished expression, Sima Ye stood up and stretched. "Once the imperial edict is issued, someone will handle it. Yanshi, there's no need for you to do it personally, is there?"
Liu Jun wanted to say something more, but then he heard Sima Ye say, "Hunting will be banned soon. A few days ago, I took some time to hunt some game in Shanglin Park. I would be honored if you would come and join me, sir."
Shaking his head helplessly, Liu Jun gave Wen Qiao a wink, "Yes."
Dinner was indeed plentiful, including not only venison and stewed rabbit, but also wild duck soup.
"It seems Your Majesty has had a fruitful hunting trip," Liu Jun personally poured him wine. "The chef's skills have also improved. If I am not mistaken, he should still be that Xianbei?"
Sima Ye was slightly tipsy, with a faint blush on his cheeks. "I must say, these barbarians' roasted meat is indeed better than that of my Jin people."
"Just as their cavalry is stronger than the Jin people's." Liu Jun frowned again, thinking of the shortage of horses.
Sima Ye couldn't help but reach out and smooth it out. "You keep talking about state affairs and court matters. No wonder the court officials don't want to invite you to banquets. It's such a downer."
Liu Jun looked at him and smiled, "Our dynasty has no shortage of handsome men as beautiful as the moon in the clouds and the wind under the pines. Why would we need a rough man like me to entertain you gentlemen and add to His Majesty's enjoyment?"
"A boor?" Sima Ye looked at him with his chin in his hand. "If you are a boor, then there are probably not many refined scholars left in this world. The other day I was reading miscellaneous notes and came across a saying that people said that Lord Pei (Pei Kai) was 'like being near a jade mountain, reflecting people'. I think that our dynasty's style is not bad either."
Liu Jun had little affection for this traitor of Cao Wei, and changed the subject, saying, "Lord Ling is handsome and dashing, how could I dare to compare myself to him? However, the words 'Mao Tou' are vulgar, and it feels like an insult to Your Majesty's imperial decree to utter them."
"Imperial Concubine?" Sima Ye stood up, swaying as he leaned closer and whispered in his ear, "It's about your body. Haven't you defiled it enough in your daily life?"
Liu Jun, holding the wine vessel, looked at him with a half-smile, "Your Majesty, I am guilty and beg for your punishment."
Sima Ye was already unsteady on his feet and fell onto him. Liu Jun quickly caught him and casually waved his other hand, and the palace servants scattered in an instant.
The vermilion gate was closed.
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