Chapter 64, Chapter Twelve: Delay and Observation
Liu Jun's judgment was correct. Unlike the Sima clan, which held absolute power in the past, Suo Lin could not even be considered a true powerful minister.
The reason was simple: he had only been in Chang'an for five or six days, but he had already received more than a dozen visiting cards, including those from high-ranking officials.
In this light, although Suo Lin was arrogant, he was nothing more than a clown.
In his previous life, Liu Jun would probably have already launched an attack, but after observing the situation, he chose to remain still, which puzzled many people.
While many people were looking forward to his fierce battle with Sorin, he instead stayed in seclusion in the shogunate with his troops, spending his days either training soldiers or refusing to see guests.
He was frugal by nature, and he was quite content living in this dilapidated house. He only had the best rooms cleaned up to accommodate his generals and staff, while he chose the quietest and emptier room for himself. One side of the room had a window, another side had a map, another side had calligraphy and paintings, and the third side had a sword hanging on it. He would govern and read here during the day, and rest and sleep here at night, finding great joy in his simple life.
On this day, Liu Jun was discussing the matter of military farming in Guanzhong with his staff in the front hall when Lu Jing came to report that a distinguished guest had come to visit.
Liu Jun frowned, quickly finished explaining the important matter, and hurriedly went inside. "Where is he?"
“At Jushitang.”
When Liu Jun pushed open the door, he saw Sima Ye standing in the not-so-spacious room, looking around with great interest.
"I was unaware of Your Majesty's arrival, Your Majesty..." Before Liu Jun could bow, Sima Ye helped him up.
"Alright," Sima Ye said cheerfully, "I've only ever visited my uncles' homes before; this is the first time I've ever visited a subject's home."
Liu Jun glanced at the scattered papers on the ground and the clothes strewn on the table, then quietly pulled over the screen to cover them up.
Sima Ye turned around at the opportune moment and curiously examined the four maps on the wall. "I've heard that you personally survey the terrain before every battle, and make your own maps when you have time after the battle. I didn't expect it to be true."
"I was young and ignorant, and I knew nothing about military affairs. I could only make up for my shortcomings with hard work and these clumsy methods," Liu Jun said modestly.
Sima Ye had long been used to his hypocritical act and sarcastically remarked, "Only today do you realize what true humility and self-restraint really mean."
Liu Jun smiled.
"I recognize this one, it seems to be Guanzhong, the rest of these..." Because the characters on the map were extremely small and dense, and Sima Ye did not recognize mountains and rivers, he looked at it for a long time but still did not understand it.
Liu Jun glanced at it. "This is a map of the four provinces of Yong, Yu, Liang, and Bing. Your Majesty, look, this is Nanzheng, where my grandfather is currently stationed. This is Jinyang, where my father has been fighting bitterly for ten years. This is Pingyang, where Liu Dan, the Baron of Anzhong County, is still holding out to the death..."
Sima Ye nodded, then looked at the calligraphy that seemed to dance like dragons and snakes, and read aloud: "Departing from Guangmo Gate in the morning, lodging at Danshui Mountain in the evening... Ah, it is Your Excellency's 'Song of Fufeng'."
He read it aloud word by word, until he reached the line, "Floating clouds gather for me, returning birds circle for me. I have been away from home for a long time, how can I know if I live or die?" He couldn't help but choke up a little. "The journey of the Minister of Works has truly been difficult. The fact that Jin still has the world today is all thanks to the esteemed Marquis and his son."
Liu Jun nodded stiffly, worried that he would go on and on about his melancholy, so he quickly diverted his attention elsewhere, "Your Majesty, look, this is the Flying View Sword that you bestowed upon me. In addition, I have also obtained another precious sword, which I will present to Your Majesty if you like it."
Below Fei Jing's sword was a dark blue iron sword, its patterns resembling a hundred dragons coiling around it, its brilliance concealed, clearly a peerless divine weapon.
Sima Ye shook his head, "I know my own limitations in giving a precious sword to a hero, so I will not take it from him."
Finally, Sima Ye walked to the banquet table and sat down. "Why haven't you made a move yet?"
Liu Jun laughed and said, "Couldn't hold back anymore?"
Whether he couldn't help but ask again, or couldn't tolerate the Suo family any longer, he didn't say. Sima Ye said vaguely, "Since you are so sure, why hesitate?"
Of course, Liu Jun couldn't tell him that he thought Suo Lin was unlikely to achieve anything great. Even without him, there were others. It was better to let this fool attract attention first. He could also take this opportunity to win people's hearts and build up his power, and then make his move when Suo had incurred public wrath and everyone wanted to kill him.
“Firstly, my power base is in Bingzhou and Liangzhou, and my position in Guanzhong is weak, so I am not entirely confident. Secondly, if Liu Cong is captured alive, the Xiongnu will certainly not let it go and may invade at any time to avenge our defeat. If there is internal strife at this time, it will give them an opportunity to take advantage of us. Thirdly, although Suo Lin has seized power, he is not yet at the point where he can command a hundred followers or whose word is law.” Liu Jun earnestly said, “It would be better to appease him for the time being and unite with the other lords to resist the invasion.”
“What you say makes sense. I was too hasty,” Sima Ye said dejectedly. “But my life is really hard. I can’t get involved in any political affairs, and I can’t even make decisions about the affairs of the harem. Even purchasing some brocade requires the approval of the Su family. A grown man like me can’t make decisions about anything. I’m not even the head of my own household, let alone the ruler of a country. How pathetic I am.”
Liu Jun knelt beside him and said, “There is plenty of time ahead. Your Majesty is in the prime of life. How many more years does Suo Lin have left to live? Your Majesty only needs to wait patiently.”
Sima Ye knew that he couldn't rush things, so he began to complain in detail about the various faults of the Suo family. Some of the things were so trivial that they made Liu Jun feel sleepy.
When Sima Ye mentioned that Lady Suo forbade him from having relations with other concubines and palace maids, and that he really disliked her and could only stay in the main hall every day, Liu Jun couldn't help but laugh, "Your Majesty is too lenient, being controlled by a woman."
Sima Ye felt somewhat aggrieved. "The Suo family is fierce and will make trouble over every little thing. If I don't comply, they will have her father suppress me. Over time, I have suffered terribly and have no choice but to go along with it and avoid them."
Liu Jun nodded. "Did Consort Du teach you to say that? Why does she think I would interfere in Your Majesty's harem affairs?"
"How could you..." Sima Ye said embarrassedly, "As expected, I couldn't hide it from you. Although it was indeed she who taught me to say this, everything I said is true."
Liu Jun pursed his lips and remained silent. Had Du seen through his scheme to delay? Or was she eager to destroy the Suo family so that she could ascend to the position of empress as soon as possible?
"The world is in chaos, and the people are suffering. Your Majesty is in dire need of restoring order to the land. You should not be preoccupied with such trivial matters." Liu Jun advised him kindly, but then felt that it was indeed inappropriate for him to interfere. "How about this, if I serve in the palace in the future, I will often have late-night talks with Your Majesty by candlelight. Perhaps the Suo family will be more wary of me."
"I was just saying," Sima Ye forced a smile and sighed, "Sometimes I think, if I weren't the crown prince or the emperor, but instead crossed the Yangtze River to the south and became a wealthy prince, wouldn't I be much happier?"
Seeing Liu Jun frown and remain silent, Sima Ye thought of Liu Kun's family, who could have either fled south or surrendered, but instead fought to the death. He couldn't help but feel guilty and said, "I was momentarily disheartened and said some nonsense..."
“No,” Liu Jun interrupted him, “Being emperor is not what you wanted. You are also a human being, with flesh and blood. Your complaints and grievances are from the bottom of your heart. How can that be considered nonsense?”
He reached out and placed a hand on Sima Ye's shoulder, whispering, "But don't say these words to others in the future. Not only will they not understand, but they will also look down on you, despise you, and take advantage of you. They might even betray you, abandon you, or harm or kill you in the future..."
"Can you?" Sima Ye looked at him with misty eyes.
Liu Jun murmured, "Your subject will not."
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