Volume One, Chapter Two: The Prime Minister Feigns Death to Test the Court!

At the same time, at the Northern Pacification General’s Mansion under Wei Yan’s command.

All of Wei Yan’s subordinates hurriedly gathered there.

Having just returned from Hanzhong to the Shu capital to participate in recent discussions about the northern campaign, Wei Yan had originally planned to return to Hanzhong today. But upon hearing the news of the Prime Minister’s death, he immediately summoned his men.

“Commander! The news has been confirmed!”

In the grand hall, Wei Yan and his officers anxiously waited when a figure clad in full armor, with a long sword at his waist, briskly entered. It was Wang Ping, Wei Yan’s trusted aide.

“General, I personally went to the Prime Minister’s residence just now. The news of his death is true!”

Wang Ping’s voice was filled with disbelief.

Upon receiving the news, Wei Yan had not acted hastily, fearing it might be a test from the Prime Minister, so he first sent Wang Ping to verify the situation himself.

After confirming the Prime Minister’s death, Wei Yan could not help but show a look of astonishment.

Wang Ping continued, “It is said that after concluding the northern campaign discussions, the Prime Minister caught a cold and had not left his residence for days. He suddenly fell ill last night, and the mourning was announced this morning.”

Listening to Wang Ping, Wei Yan furrowed his brows.

“With the Prime Minister in charge, the court respected him deeply and obeyed his orders alone.”

“But now that the Prime Minister has passed without entrusting the court to anyone, the people in his residence—the likes of Fei Yi, Dong Yun—and even Li Yan’s faction all harbor ambitions!”

“From now on, the Shu capital is bound to plunge into chaos!”

Wei Yan sighed, then his tone shifted.

“However, the Prime Minister’s passing could be seen as a good thing. Though he advocated for the northern campaign, he was overly cautious and slow, always advancing carefully without realizing that time waits for no one!”

“At the time, I advised the Prime Minister to lead five thousand elite troops directly to Luoyang, then dispatch forces along five routes to Longxi, Shangyong, Jingzhou, and Nanyang...”

“Unfortunately, the Prime Minister did not heed my advice. Now that he is gone, if I were to take command of military affairs and resolutely push the northern campaign, within three years we would surely swallow up Northern Wei, and in less than six years, our armies could enter Wu, uniting the realm!”

Wei Yan spoke with boundless pride, almost carried away by his own ambition.

At that moment, a subordinate stepped forward.

“Commander stationed in Hanzhong, you understand Cao Wei best and are the Prime Minister’s trusted confidant. It is most fitting for you to inherit the Prime Minister’s legacy!”

“Yes, with your brilliant strategies and talents, you can fulfill the Prime Minister’s northern campaign wishes within a few years!”

“Looking across the court, civil officials are narrow-minded and rigid, most commanders lack experience, Li Yan has always been at odds with the Prime Minister and is not a threat. Only the General truly carries the Prime Minister’s teachings!”

Wei Yan clearly understood his subordinates’ intentions and narrowed his eyes.

“The affairs of Shu Han rest with me, but even more so with all loyal ministers and brave generals. Now that the Prime Minister has passed, our foremost task is to stabilize the court!”

The officers understood Wei Yan’s meaning.

“As long as the Commander gives the order, we will gladly face fire and water without hesitation!”

“We swear to follow the Commander to death!”

Hearing this, Wei Yan nodded, then ordered the doors to be closed as they began analyzing the current situation.

“This happened suddenly; we must plan quickly!”

“Whoever inherits the Prime Minister’s mantle will not be good news for us!”

“Ma Su, the Prime Minister’s subordinate, is straightforward but lacks followers and cannot achieve much. However, since Ma Su was close to the Prime Minister, he might forge an imperial edict!”

“Jiang Wan, Fei Yi, Dong Yun—these people must be watched carefully! They hold considerable prestige among the civil officials and the emperor trusts them. We cannot let them control the court!”

“As for Li Yan, he was always at odds with the Prime Minister. Although the court and military are mostly loyal to the Prime Minister, and he cannot cause much trouble, he was entrusted by the late emperor to guard the state and commands five armies. He has many supporters and cannot be underestimated!”

At that moment, Wang Ping added, “Commander, the Prime Minister’s Chief Clerk Yang Yi has always been at odds with you and must be considered as well!”

Wei Yan sneered upon hearing this.

“Yang Yi is the least of our worries. Though praised for intelligence, he only appears clever. In reality, he is a man of great talent but little ambition and poor execution. Not a threat!”

After much discussion, the generals grew restless.

“Commander, we cannot hesitate! Whoever controls the court first and gains the emperor’s trust will surely purge the other factions. We cannot sit idly and wait for death!”

Wang Ping’s expression grew grave.

“Exactly, Commander, we must deploy troops immediately!”

“Commander, our twenty thousand loyal troops are stationed in Hanzhong. The only forces we can mobilize now are the three thousand garrison troops outside the Shu capital, commanded by our own General Gao Xiang!”

“If we bring them into the city now, everything will be settled in an instant!”

...

Within the Shu capital, undercurrents stirred.

Thirty miles outside the city, in a quiet thatched cottage, a man sat playing a plain zither. Strands of white hair fell from beneath his cloth headband onto his crane-feather cloak.

Clad in fine brocade, a silk cap, jade belt, straw sandals, and holding a feather fan, it was none other than Zhuge Liang!

“Prime Minister, your feigned death must have thrown the city into chaos by now. If something untoward happens, what then...?”

Zhuge Liang paused his playing, stroking his white beard.

“There is no need to worry. Everything is under control.”

Ma Su, still uneasy, asked, “Prime Minister, with the northern campaign imminent, why go to such lengths to stage this feigned death?”

“If someone truly intends to act treacherously now, then...”

Listening to Ma Su, Zhuge Liang lightly waved his feather fan, his expression growing solemn.

“I feign death now to test the court. If anyone harbors ill intentions, I can still intervene.”

“But if I were to perish during the northern campaign, and chaos broke out in the court, what then?”

His voice was heavy with the weight of experience.

Ma Su was momentarily stunned and fell into thought.

“Before departing the Shu capital for the northern campaign, I will use this ruse to test the ministers, to see who among them can shoulder the great responsibility of reviving the Han dynasty after me!”

“To identify a group of able and loyal ministers, so that when I lead the campaign north, I may entrust the affairs of state to them with peace of mind.”

Hearing the Prime Minister’s earnest intentions, Ma Su was moved. After pondering, he furrowed his brow and asked the question in his heart.

“Then... among all the civil and military officials in the city, whom do you most favor, Prime Minister?”

“The Chief Clerk Jiang Wan is steady, reliable, methodical, and diligent—a perfect successor to me.”

“Huangmen Shilang Fei Yi is flexible, intelligent, and sociable, also worth considering.”

“The Hanzhong Commander Wei Yan is capable both in military command and administration, but his overly fierce nature is a drawback.”

“Commander Deng Zhi is the most strategic, Minister Qiao Zhou excels in civil governance, and Attendant Dong Yun is loyal and straightforward—these three are also promising talents.”

Zhuge Liang answered serenely.

For a moment, Ma Su ran through all these names in his mind—Jiang Wan, Fei Yi, Wei Yan—all trusted confidants of the Prime Minister, and the others are key officials of the court.

Then Ma Su asked again, “What about Chief Clerk Yang Yi? He is your close aide as well, isn’t he?”

Zhuge Liang shook his head.

“Though Yang Yi has served me for many years and is loyal and reliable, his court experience is limited and he is somewhat flamboyant. Compared to the others, he is least likely to take on the heavy responsibilities.”

In Zhuge Liang’s view, among all his confidants, though Yang Yi was closest to him, even Wei Yan or Ma Su would be better suited to inherit his legacy.

“I believe that once news of my death spreads, Jiang Wan and Fei Yi will be the first to step forward and stabilize the situation.”