Time flies, and life is like a song.
Ten years have passed since Zhuge Liang subdued the Nanman. During these ten years, Zhuge Liang launched five Northern Expeditions, but all of them ended in failure.
Yunmeng Mountain, Ghost Valley Inner Courtyard.
"Master, Kongming has sent word that he is planning another northern expedition."
Upon hearing this news, Lu Li was startled.
Historically speaking, Zhuge Liang launched six expeditions to Qishan, all of which ended in failure.
This was his sixth Northern Expedition.
After saying that, Dian Wei handed a letter to Lu Li.
When Lu Li opened it, his pupils contracted; it was the "Memorial on Dispatching the Troops"!
This is Zhuge Liang's memorial to Liu Shan before his expedition!
This memorial to the emperor was essentially Zhuge Liang's last will and testament, and Lu Li's brows furrowed instantly.
He knew that if Zhuge Liang launched this Northern Expedition, he would surely die.
"Tiezhu, prepare the horses, and come with me to Yizhou," Lu Li said after a long silence.
Dian Wei was taken aback and asked, "Master, what are you going to do?"
"Stop Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition." Lu Li sighed.
"Alright, disciple will go prepare right away!"
Dian Wei responded and quickly ran off to prepare the horses.
Soon, the two rode their horses towards Yizhou.
…………
Yizhou, Chengdu.
It was already late at night when the steward of the Prime Minister's residence came in and said, "Prime Minister, a guest has arrived."
Zhuge Liang put down his pen and asked, puzzled, "Who could it be so late?"
The butler said, "That person said he was a distant relative of yours and wanted to see you."
Zhuge Liang was puzzled. Where did he have any distant relatives?
He said his surname was Lu!
Upon hearing the name Lu, Zhuge Liang visibly trembled, his eyes widening: "Where is he?"
"It's right outside."
Zhuge Liang quickly picked up his robes and dressed, then hurriedly walked out of the house. The familiar figure made Zhuge Liang's eyes well up with tears.
"Sir...you, you've come down the mountain?"
Since Laifu's death, Lu Li has returned to Yunmeng Mountain and has never left the mountain again.
"Sir, please come in."
After saying that, Lu Li, Dian Wei, and Zhuge Liang went inside together.
Upon entering the study and seeing the room full of memorials to the emperor, Lu Li's heart clenched.
"Kongming, you're getting old."
Zhuge Liang's hair was now completely white and his face was wrinkled. In just ten years, he looked incredibly old.
"Yes, sir, your appearance has never changed."
Zhuge Liang had long suspected something was amiss; who could remain unchanged for decades?
Even Zhao Yun, who is a junior master, now has gray hair and wrinkles around his eyes.
“Kongming, I’ve come here to stop your Northern Expedition,” Lu Li said bluntly.
"Oh? Why?" Zhuge Liang looked at Lu Li in surprise.
Lu Li sighed and said, "Because you don't have long to live!"
Upon hearing this, Zhuge Liang's expression darkened: "Alas, everyone must die eventually. However, I still have many unfinished things to worry about."
"Kongming!"
"I'm not joking with you anymore. If you continue the Northern Expedition this time, you will definitely die!"
Lu Li's words struck Zhuge Liang like a thunderbolt, causing him to freeze in shock.
"gentlemen..."
Zhuge Liang wanted to persuade him further, but Lu Li waved his hand to stop him and said seriously, "You have already done enough for Shu Han!"
Zhuge Liang smiled bitterly and said, "Sir, do you remember when we first entered Yingchuan Academy, you didn't tell us this?"
"To establish a moral compass for heaven and earth, to usher in a new era of prosperity, to continue the lost learning of the sages, and to create peace for all generations!"
"That's what Lai Fu did back then. I, Kongming, am not talented enough; I only wish to unify the Three Kingdoms and bring peace to the people of the world!"
Having said that, Zhuge Liang knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist and pleaded, "Sir, no matter what, and regardless of whether this Northern Expedition will succeed or not, I will do it!"
Lu Li's body trembled slightly, and his breathing became rapid.
He grabbed Zhuge Liang by the collar and said, "Do you know that no matter how hard you try, you can't change the course of history!"
"The Three Kingdoms will eventually perish, and the one who gains the world will not be Cao Cao, Liu Bei, or Sun Quan!"
"No matter how brilliant your wisdom or how skillful your strategies, you still cannot change the inevitable fate of the Three Kingdoms' demise!"
"You cannot escape your destiny!"
At this moment, Zhuge Liang was completely stunned. He murmured, "Sir... what do you mean by that?"
Lu Li seemed to have gone mad. He released his grip on Zhuge Liang's hand and then slowly said, "Do you know what the most tragic thing in this world is?"
"You were born in a chaotic world; everything you do is just to benefit others!"
"You tried, you struggled, you thought about changing things, but in the end you realized that you were powerless to change anything!"
"The wheels of history can never be turned back. We can't even change our own destiny, so how can we presume to change history?"
Zhuge Liang's expression kept changing, as if he was thinking about something.
After a long pause, he raised his head and looked at Lu Li, saying earnestly, "Sir, what you say may be right! But even so, I must try. I must buy more time for Shu Han!"
Lu Li slowly turned his head and looked at Zhuge Liang.
He thought the same way back then, but after experiencing so much, Lu Li seemed to have seen through it all.
Everyone around him had died, leaving him all alone.
Is it worth it?
Lu Li was asking Zhuge Liang this question, but also asking himself.
Yeah, is it worth it?
He wanted to change the fate of the Qin Dynasty's destruction, but ultimately failed.
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