Chapter 20 Section five

Li Yan stared at the complete set of "Six Secret Teachings" in front of him, and was stunned for a long time.He flipped through the bamboo box and asked, "Are all the prime minister's handwritten letters in it?" Lai Min, who was ordered to check the letter paper, replied with a smile, "It's "Han Feizi", "Shenzi" and "Guanzi". Is Zhuge Liang busy?" ? All day long, I just copied these, saying they were sent to the East Palace." "Put it down." Li Yan said suddenly.Lai Min, who has always been frivolous, was also shocked by these words: "Press?" Li Yan nodded: "From Baidi to Chengdu, it is not impossible to lose something. It is hard to say that there is nothing else in these manuscripts..." At this point At that time, Li Yan was fully responsible for the security of Baidi City, which was very trusted by Liu Bei.Lai Min didn't hesitate, and left the whole box behind.Li Yan read it over and over again in the twilight, but couldn't find any redundant words in the document, Zhuge Liang's face was revealed in the ink blots: calm and stable.The emperor's health is getting worse day by day, and the crown prince is not old enough to take on the country; why, as a prime minister, Zhuge Liang can still maintain extreme calm and serenity?Li Yan thought: There must be a tacit agreement with the emperor.What kind of... tacit understanding?

"Your Majesty loves brother Zhengfang so much that he entrusts you with the defense of the other palace." Zhuge Liang said so. Zhuge Liang also said: "Brother Liang and Brother Zhengfang are friends of gentlemen." Thinking of "friends of gentlemen", Li Yan's heart trembled. He didn't quite understand these four words. Although they sound good, is there a water-like indifference hidden deeper?While thinking, suddenly a pair of boys went straight to the hall hand in hand.The older one opened his mouth and said, "Li Yan." "Your Highness!" Li Yan hurriedly stood up.

The person who came was Liu Bei's son: eight-year-old Liu Yong and five-year-old Liu Li, one was named King of Lu, and the other was named King of Liang. "Li Yan promised to make a small bow for Gu." Liu Li pouted. "Okay, okay." Li Yanzheng replied, seeing Ma Su walking in after him. Ma Di came to pass the decree, and Liu Beixuan and Li Yan led the prince who had just arrived at Baidi into the palace to meet him. "It's never been so formal," Li Yan was stunned suddenly, "Could it be...?!" He looked at Ma Di with apprehension, and Ma Di turned his face away. "Youchang..." As soon as he opened his mouth, Ma Su responded, "Master Li, please hurry up."

"Where's the prime minister?" Li Yan asked. "The prime minister entered the palace at noon." Li Yan rushed to the inner court and saw that Liu Bei was not what he imagined.On the contrary, the emperor looked hale and hearty, sitting and talking with the prime minister.On the two-foot-square jade plate, hundreds of black and white pieces fell.In terms of chess skills, Liu Bei is not Zhuge Liang's opponent. Seeing the fierce fighting at this time, I think Zhuge Liang deliberately condescends.The red clouds drifted outside the palace window, and occasionally a cherry blossom drifted in from the Suzaku window. Li Yan looked at Zhuge Liang, and suddenly felt that he was never the same person as himself.Admiration... Li Yan said in his heart: Is this person born to impress others?Heaven wanted to clarify the troubled times, so he was born?Even trying hard to catch up is useless. "I can look at the prime minister, see what he can do, and feel the spring breeze, scorching sun, and chilling autumn air, and my wish will come true..." Zhang Yi's words invaded Li Yan's heart lightly, making him sigh, On the one hand, he tried his best to resist the recognition of Zhang Yi. "Jade people are suffering in Jiangdong..." Li Yan thought, "The thieves tied him to Dongwu with a few hemp ropes."

Seeing the prince, Zhuge Liang was about to stand up and salute, but was held down by Liu Bei. "Come, come!" Liu Bei slapped Bai Zizhong on the chessboard. "Yes." Zhuge Liang nodded lightly. "It's so fast..." Liu Bei muttered, "Don't Kong Ming need to think about it?" Zhuge Liang smiled and said, "I've been thinking about it." "At least put on more airs, haha." Liu Bei beckoned, Liu Li and Liu Yong stepped forward, one left and one right leaned into his arms. "Cao Cao has more than twenty sons, but I only have three." Liu Bei looked at Zhuge Liang with a smile and said, "Three, can Kong Ming take care of them?"

A sunspot fell back into the chess box with a "snap". "I dare not..." "Three children, are they heavier than the country?" Liu Bei said with a laugh. Does the emperor mean that those who are determined to take care of the country will surely be able to take care of the three noble young men?Or... the king should be responsible for the country, but as for the prime minister, it would be fine if he only needs to be responsible to the king?Zhuge Liang hesitated for a moment, got up and stood sideways, bowed and said: "Your Highness Yong, Your Highness Li."

"Prime Minister." Liu Yong took Liu Li back. "Don't do this again in the future." Liu Bei hit another white piece, seemingly casually said. "Father?" "When you see the prime minister, you should be more respectful." Liu Bei knocked on the chessboard, signaling Zhuge Liang to continue making moves, and said, "Yonger, after I die, your three brothers must treat the prime minister like a father." Zhuge Liang was shocked. "minister……" "Don't say you don't dare." Liu Bei pointed at Zhuge Liang's heart, and then pointed at himself, "Be a model of the unity of the monarch and his ministers for the world to see. Go," he pushed his son, "pay homage to Xiangfu."

Liu Li and Liu Yong looked at each other, walked up to Zhuge Liang, knelt down on their knees with a plop, and said in a very childish voice, "Father Xiang." "Louder." Liu Bei said cheerfully. "Father Xiang!" Liu Li said at the top of his voice. This cry made Zhuge Liang's face suddenly sad, and the white feather in his hand trembled slightly, rubbing against the chessboard, making a rustling sound.How strange, what floats in my heart at this time is not panic but sadness!It seems that a best friend is going away and will never come back. I want to see his happy face and hear his indifferent voice in the future, but I have to dream.Monarchs, power, country, contention... all lost weight for a while, that will be a matter of the future, and now there are only some scattered past, floating in Zhuge Liang's eyes.In the small thatched hut in Longzhong, Liu Bei’s eyes were full of enthusiasm; when they fled to Jiangxia, the two stumbled and laughed; in Jingzhou City, a bottle of fine wine was pleasant, Liu Bei handed the wine into his hand, and said with a smile, “drink more” Drink some, drink more...see if Kong Ming will be sexually promiscuous..." In summer, the monarch will even tie a small hat himself, and say in a curious tone: "Put it on and see...haha, the craftsmanship is not unfamiliar. Woolen cloth!"

After that, it was really lonely.Zhuge Liang thought. This thought made him drop a tear on Tian Yuan, which froze and flickered. "I didn't expect the prime minister to shed tears." Liu Bei sighed. It was the first time he saw Zhuge Liang cry. In his memory, even in front of Pang Tongling, although Zhuge Liang was in great pain, he was still polite, and his fingers holding the sacrificial wine did not move. "Yuan Zhi said that Kong Ming is a tougher person than him, so he can do great things." Liu Bei patted Zhuge Liang on the shoulder, "It's too emotional...now."

"You can't be a saint," Zhuge Liang wiped his eyes and smiled, "A saint is ruthless." "No king would entrust the country to a 'sage'!" Liu Bei laughed, "That's not the style of the world. Prime Minister," he stared at him and said, "Your talent is ten times that of Cao Pi." "Oh……" "We will definitely be able to stabilize the country and achieve great things." "minister……" "Does the prime minister want to be emperor?" Before Zhuge Liang could react, Liu Bei said again: "If the prince can assist, please assist him; if he has no talent, the prime minister can replace him."

What is the relationship between the country and the king? Liu Bei waited for Zhuge Liang's answer, answering whether he valued a certain surname in addition to the country.The emperor sighed softly, death is an uninvited guest, it makes the monarch and his ministers have to do some testing.Although Liu Bei doesn't like this, he also doesn't like to see Zhuge Liang's panicked face, that person - should be calm until death, and the neat and tidy white feather fan should symbolize the wisdom and beauty that spread forever!One tear after another, this time, the tears fell directly on the back of the emperor's hand, as if it was going to burn him!Liu Bei shook his hands and saw that Zhuge Liang was smiling, smiling and crying.This stunned him. "No." Zhuge Liang knelt down and said. Zhuge Liang almost prostrated and said: "The prince is talented and intelligent, he must be a wise king! Chen Liang will do his best, work conscientiously, and be loyal until death!" After this prostration, Liu Bei couldn't see Zhuge Liang's face.He couldn't see the expression on his face, he couldn't see his heaviness, sadness and determination.However, the clues could still be heard from the voice. This answer was heard by Liu Bei, and it was like saying: "If you don't believe me, please give me a death sentence." How can death prove it? Only by surviving can the promises be fulfilled one by one. Liu Bei helped Zhuge Liang up, and said in a low voice, "I am relying on Gu, on you and Li Zhengfang." It wasn't until this time that Li Yan stepped forward tremblingly, and those things, those questions and answers just now were heard in his ears and seen in his eyes, which made him feel suffocated.How dare you believe it?An emperor actually said that to the prime minister!It is said that the prime minister can abolish the self-reliance of the monarch? !Is Liu Bei questioning Zhuge Liang's loyalty?Li Yan looked at the emperor with questioning eyes, only to see that his eyes were wet, as if he was moved by Zhuge Liang and himself. "Let the affirmative party stay in Baidi, and I will hand over the internal and external military affairs to you." Liu Bei said. Li Yan was flattered and thanked En. "I lost Sanmu." Liu Bei looked at the chessboard and said. He put away the chess pieces one by one, folded the chess box, and left Zhuge Liang and Li Yan to have dinner in the palace. He also ordered Liu Li and Liu Yong to wear masks, and performed a funny play that was widely circulated among the people. Liu Bei watched it Laughing loudly, Zhuge Liang looked at him, wishing in a trance that all predictions about death were reflections in the water, hallucinations that could never be reached.Tonight, Baidi is very happy, Zhuge Liang thought, leaving traces of sweat on his back.When he walked out of the palace, he pulled his clothes, and the evening wind rushed in, making people shiver. "Kong Ming..." Li Yan caught up with him. "Brother Zhengfang?" Zhuge Liang asked in a low voice. "Your Majesty handed over a country to Kong Ming." Li Yan said with a smile, "From ancient times to the present, I have never seen a subject receive such special treatment." "After receiving the kindness that I have never experienced before, I have to bear the hardship that I have never experienced before. In fact, it started fifteen years ago." Zhuge Liang replied lightly. "Fifteen years ago?" "Three visits to the thatched cottage." He is destined to live in the legend, Li Yan thought sourly. "Where's Huang Yuan?" Suddenly Zhuge Liang asked. "Oh, the two generals Chen Hao and Zheng Chuo captured him alive at the mouth of Nan'an Gorge." "Have you cut it?" "Chopped." "That's good." Zhuge Liang remained calm. A person who treats life and death in this way, what does he mean by "friendship between gentlemen"?Li Yan wanted to ask more and more clearly. It was obvious that Liu Bei would not live long, and Zhuge Liang would soon have, or even already had, the status of "father of the prime minister", so it was very important to have a good relationship with him.It's a pity that this person... is completely different from Fazheng, Pang Tong, and Liu Ba. Li Yan has been with him for many years, and even now he still doesn't know what kind of food or wine Zhuge Liang likes. As for women, Zhuge Liang only has one thing in his heart: His married wife, Shun Ying, is said to have dark skin and blond hair. "Tolerance can make you broad, and you can be strong without desire." Zhuge Liang often reminded others, and he hung a bamboo slip in his room, engraved with: "Smoothness reveals ambition, tranquility leads to long distance." It's terrible... Li Yan said anxiously. "Today is April...?" Zhuge Liang stepped into the building and asked. Li Yan pointed to the round and big moon, which was sticking to the night like a sesame seed cake, and said: "Fifteen." On the one hand, he added in a low voice: "Zhao Zhi said that April is not good for the supreme..." "Catch it!" Zhuge Liang interrupted Li Yan. "what?" "Zhao Zhi offended Shengjia, and he will be imprisoned immediately." Zhuge Liang said solemnly. Although Zhao Zhi was arrested, the prophecy did not come true.Nine days later, Liu Bei died in Yong'an Palace. At that time, he had handed over the edict to Zhuge Liang. At this point in his life, no matter how much he couldn't let go of, he had no choice but to let go.The emperor turned his pupils with difficulty, and his eyes fell on the sword at the prime minister's waist. It was one of the eight best swords of the Shu Han, and the only one that had not yet been named. "Kong Ming..." Liu Bei raised his hand and pointed at Zhuge Liang's sword. This made the forty-three-year-old prime minister slightly startled, thinking that he was being blamed for bringing the sword into the palace. Therefore, Zhuge Liang was specially allowed to hang his sword to meet him. "Zhang, Zhang Wu..." Liu Bei said intermittently, "It is... its name..." Zhang Wu is the country's year name, and it is an era that is about to pass away!Liu Bei moved his fingers, and Zhuge Liang stepped forward knowingly, and when he put his hand next to the emperor's, he squeezed it hard. "Engrave, engrave it... Zhang Wu..." Liu Bei said. "As ordered. Many, many thanks, Your Majesty." Zhuge Liang choked up.Liu Bei smiled.This smile was forever frozen on his old face. "Your Majesty...it's great." Zhuge Liang pulled his finger out of Liu Bei's finger and said with tears. For a moment, Yong'an Palace was drowned in tears. The cries drifted from the panes into the dark night, to the stars in the sky.A small crescent moon curled up in the corner of the night, peeking at the sorrows of the world.Sporadic brilliance sprinkled on the Baidi Trail, and the news of death ran on the gravel road and in the ups and downs of the river.When Liu Li and Liu Yong pounced on their father's gradually cooling body and shouted, Li Yan and Ma Di stepped forward and supported the mourning prince. "Father Xiang!" Liu Li looked at Zhuge Liang with tears in his eyes, "When will... go home?" "Three days later, Your Highness." Zhuge Liang replied.He turned to Li Yan and said, "Baidi City depends on Brother Zhengfang. Three days later, Liang Fuzi Palace will return to Chengdu." At the beginning of May, the prince and all the officials went out of the city for thirty miles to meet the emperor's coffin.The seventeen-year-old boy, Liu Chan, had received Zhuge Liang's "Please Xuan Daxing Emperor's Legacy Form" as early as half a month ago. It is good for the prefects, ministers, captains, and county magistrates of the county to observe filial piety for three days.Although the watch did not directly mention the emperor's enthronement ceremony, when he looked at the words "Daxing Emperor" on the watch, Liu Chan realized that the weight of the country was weighing heavily on his shoulders. "Shu'er is going to be a queen, no longer a princess." Liu Chan said while stroking Zhang Shu'er's flowing hair.The girl turned her face into Liu Chan's arms, and asked in a low voice, "Father's imperial edict, have you seen it?" "No, it's in the hands of the prime minister." Liu Chan said. Liu Chan waited for half a month, waiting for his father's black coffin, waiting for his tearful brothers, and waiting for the prime minister: he was still dressed in a feather fan scarf, plain clothes, with a solemn and sad face.Zhuge Liang knelt down on the dusty road, held a feather fan in his hand and said, "Prince." Liu Chan hurriedly helped Zhuge Liang up. The two were so close that they could clearly see the tears in each other's eyes. "The prime minister is very polite." Liu Chan whispered, restraining himself from crying. "Today's crown prince is tomorrow's emperor." Zhuge Liang followed behind the young man and said, "When you enter the palace, you will submit the edict to Your Highness. A country cannot be without a king for a day. In my opinion, Your Highness should ascend to the great treasure as soon as possible." "Yes..." Liu Chan nodded, "It's all up to the prime minister's arrangement." As soon as Zhuge Liang stopped, he almost wanted to say "Liang is a minister of His Highness", so he endured it, and finally just sighed.Liu Chan was very alert and immediately asked, "What's wrong?" "fine." "The prime minister has worked hard all the way, are you tired?" Liu Chan asked. "Fortunately," Zhuge Liang thought about it, "if the crown prince allows it, Liang hopes to go home earlier." "Of course, of course, it should be!" Liu Chan said repeatedly. After sending the Zi Palace to the inner court, Zhuge Liang returned directly to the mansion.I didn't even eat dinner, took off my coat and sat on the bed with my knees hugged, watching the golden sky darken quietly, and the sun rolled down behind the mountain.The room without candles was filled with coolness, and the fragrance of Strelitzia orchids floated in the moonlight. The servants answered each sentence without a word. The noisy voice made Zhuge Liang feel impatient, but he had no strength to stop them. Many years ago, like the night when I got the news of Suzuki's death, I hugged my body and curled up in my own world, breathing deeply.In this world, there are deep blue lakes, suffocating seas of blood, vast and boundless darkness, and the never-falling North Star that shines in the sky. "Be more firm, give me more courage..." He whispered, a whistle slipped out from his lips, low and thick, and repeated rounds until it disappeared without a trace of sharpness. "Find courage from the heart," Zhuge Liang thought, "At this moment, timidity is more unforgivable than stupidity." Have the courage to face the young king. Facing civil and military officials. Facing the soldiers who were defeated in World War I. Facing the long-awaited Limin people. Have courage - to face and take on the whole country. There are also Cao Wei who gloats in the north, Sun Wu at the two ends of the first mouse in the east, and the aggressive rebel party in the south: Yong Kai, the surname of Yizhou, Gao Ding, the king of Yizhou... With a "squeak", someone pushed the door and entered. Zhuge Liang didn't move. The man approached, and put his finger on the bed, Zhuge Liang's finger fell down, and as soon as he moved, he felt that she hugged him quietly from behind, and pressed her face against his back. With a hug, the complete loneliness and desolation just now melted away like ice and snow under direct sunlight.How warm... There is at least one person in the world who can make Zhuge Liang peaceful and relaxed. "Sorry..." Zhuge Liang said in a low voice. "What?" she asked with a smile. "I should have come back to see you. How is Guoer?" "It's good, she doesn't say it, but she misses you very much." The woman smiled. "Has Shunying always believed in Zhuge Liang?" he asked her. "Yes, always." She replied. "What now?" "I believe it." "Can you stay here?" Zhuge Liang touched Shunying's finger and held it. "Although there is not much difference, I still want you to come back and stay with me." Zhuge Liang explained, worrying about being rejected by his wife. "Okay." Shunying said.Before Zhuge Liang could speak again, she said again: "You...have a son." Judging from the situation, Zhuge Liang is about to be made a marquis; without a son, future generations cannot inherit his title. "A prime minister has three wives and four concubines..." Shunying said with a smile. "Let's adopt one from the eldest brother." Zhuge Liang said quickly, "It's also the blood of the Zhuge family." What's more, the Shuhan and Jiangdong will inevitably restore a wider diplomatic relationship in the near future. The prime minister of one country adopts the son of an important minister of another. Even though it is a private matter between brothers, it can also show mutual "friendship". "Ugh……" Shun Yingcai sighed lightly, and was embraced by Zhuge Liang who turned sharply. At this time in Jianzhang Palace, Liu Chan was also hugging Shu'er, and tears fell on the will: "When I first got sick, it was just dysentery. Later, I contracted other diseases. It seems that it can't be cured. People who live to fifty years old are not considered premature deaths. I have lived more than sixty years. How can I have any regrets? Don't worry about it." I am sorry for myself. I am just worried about you brothers. The prime minister praised you for your great intelligence and your studies are better than expected. If this is true, I will not worry about it! Encourage it! Encourage it! Evil is small. Only virtuous and benevolent can convince people. Read more "Hanshu" and "Book of Rites", and read the philosophers, "Six Secret Teachings" and "Book of Shang Jun" in your spare time, all of which can benefit Wisdom. I heard that the prime minister finished copying "Shen", "Han", "Guanzi", and "Six Secret Teachings" for you, but it was a pity that it was lost halfway before it was delivered, so you might as well look for it yourself to understand the meaning of it."