novelSusiti Chapter 53: 8 invitations, 3 people, 1 letter to be sent to Jiangling
Chapter 53: 8 invitations, 3 people, 1 letter to be sent to Jiangling
The bronze seal of the Central Protectorate was pressed down at Chenshi (7-9 AM).
Eight identical posters. Sealed with sealing wax.
Dong Yun knew the time of dispatch two quarters of an hour earlier than Liu Shan.
When Dong Yun entered the imperial study, he was holding a copied list in his hand.
There was no bowing. The bamboo strips were simply placed on the table.
"Li Yan posted an ad."
Liu Shan was reviewing Jiang Wan's job rotation schedule. His pen never stopped.
"A few people."
"Eight."
"read."
"Jiang Wan, Fei Yi, Dong Yun, Yang Yi, Wu Yi, Wu Ban, Wang Ping, Liao Hua."
The pen stopped.
Four civil officials and four military officials.
"Name."
"Discussion on military preparations for the Northern Expedition. Official document from the Central Protectorate. Seal affixed. Tomorrow at noon."
Liu Shan turned the rotation list over and placed it face down on the table.
He picked up the piece of bamboo. He looked at it once. Then he looked at it again.
Military preparations for the Northern Expedition. The Central Protectorate coordinated military preparations—this makes sense.
Bypassing the Prime Minister's residence. Bypassing the Imperial Study. Sending out invitations himself—it doesn't make sense.
"Did anyone else reply?"
Fei Yi did not respond. Yang Yi replied with five words—"Wait to report to the Prime Minister." Wu Yi and Wu Ban did not reply. Wang Ping and Liao Hua were not in Chengdu.
"Send it even if you're not in Chengdu?"
"Also issued."
Liu Shan threw the bamboo strip back onto the table.
He pressed his fingertip against the indentation for a moment.
"Let him drive."
Dong Yun's eyelid twitched.
"His Majesty--"
"The Central Protector-General's request to discuss military preparedness is entirely justified."
There was a pause.
"you go."
"minister?"
"Sit down. Listen. Don't say a word. Come back and tell me—what he said, what he didn't say, who came, and how they sat."
Dong Yun cupped his hands in greeting.
Liu Shan pulled a strip of silk from his sleeve. A line of text.
"Arriving 15 minutes late. Sit in the corner."
Fold it neatly. Tuck it into the gap in the curtain.
"For Jiang Wan."
The curtain was taken away.
-
The next day at noon.
The main hall of the Central Protectorate.
Eight seats were arranged in two rows. The tea was freshly brewed. The pastries were stacked in three layers. The cooks in the manor got up early.
Fei Guan stood at the door.
I was already standing at the end of Chen Shi (7-9 AM).
The sun climbed to its zenith.
Fei Yi arrived. Right on time. He entered, bowed, chose a seat that wasn't too far forward or too far back, sat down, and was served tea. He remained silent.
Another quarter of an hour passed.
Jiang Wan arrived. Upon entering, he immediately apologized.
"I was preoccupied with official duties at the Ministry of Personnel. I'm late."
I chose the seat in the very corner.
He didn't say anything.
Dong Yun arrived last. No explanation was given. He sat down. Tea was served.
Fei Guan stretched his neck three more times.
The sun was half an inch to the west.
The remaining five seats are empty.
Fei Guan turned and entered the hall.
Li Yan sat in the main seat.
The tea has gone cold.
"How many?"
"Three people."
Li Yan picked up the herbal tea. He took a sip. As he swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbed.
The teacup was placed back on the table. Lightly.
"Let's get down to business."
Li Yan stood up and walked to the map in the hall, his back to the three people.
"The Northern Expedition is imminent. Military preparations must be planned in advance. Today we will discuss three matters: troop organization, allocation of weapons, and collection of provisions."
They talked for most of the hour.
From soldiers to weapons. From weapons to provisions. The names of the prefectures can be reported. The numbers can be reported clearly. The mileage of every supply route can be recited from memory.
That's all.
He turned around.
"What are your opinions?"
Fei Yi spoke first.
"What the Protector-General said has much merit."
He paused for a moment.
"However, the strategy for the Northern Expedition is still under review by the Prime Minister's Office. Troop numbers and provisions must be aligned with the overall strategy. I believe that it should be submitted to the Prime Minister's Office for comprehensive planning."
Jiang Wan followed.
"I second that idea. The Protector-General's approach is excellent. The Secretariat is willing to cooperate."
He paused for a moment.
"Procedurally, we must first go through the Prime Minister's office's Northern Expedition plan."
The two people said different things.
It landed in a certain place.
—Let Zhuge Liang decide.
Dong Yun remained silent throughout.
I drank three cups of tea.
Li Yan was still standing in front of the map.
Hands behind the back.
"it is good."
One word.
"Since everyone agrees that we should go to the Prime Minister's residence, I will personally go and talk to the Prime Minister."
"You had a hard day."
The three of them got up to say goodbye.
Dong Yun walked to the door. He glanced back.
Li Yan didn't move.
Hands behind his back. Knuckles clenched so tightly they turned white.
The vermilion line on the map stretches from Hanzhong to Chang'an.
-
That evening.
The Imperial Study.
Dong Yun stood before the desk.
"The Protector-General did not return to his residence after the meeting."
"Where to?"
"East Gate Post Station".
Liu Shan's thumb left an indentation.
"I met a man. He was dressed like a merchant. He spoke with a Jingzhou accent. He claimed to be in the business of Shu brocade and said he came from Jiangling."
Jiangling.
Liu Shan did not look up.
How long will the talk last?
"For half an hour, Fei Guan was kept outside the door. He didn't hear a single word."
"Come out."
Fei Guan asked who that person was. The Protector-General did not answer.
Dong Yun paused for a moment.
Before getting on the train, he left a message: "Write a letter for me to Bu Zhi. Use your personal seal."
The hall fell silent.
Steps of virtue.
The Prime Minister of Eastern Wu.
Liu Shan's thumb sank into the dent. It reached the bottom.
"Did you write the letter?"
"It wasn't written down. The Protector-General said he'll dictate it tomorrow."
Liu Shan took out the diagram from the hidden compartment.
Vermilion brush.
Next to Li Yan. Underneath the word "trapped beast". Two words.
Tongwu.
No question mark.
The atlas was retracted into the hidden compartment. The cover was pressed firmly.
"Go to the Prime Minister's residence."
"Relay my words—"
Liu Shan stood up and walked to the window.
"Please invite the Prime Minister over tonight. Have a seat."
Dong Yun bowed and withdrew.
The hall darkened.
The wick of the bean lamp was shorter than usual.
Footsteps passed by outside the threshold. Heavy. Each step firm. They walked past. Without stopping.
The sound of chiseling could be heard from afar outside the window.
Road construction site. Work hasn't stopped yet.
Liu Shan stood by the window. He tapped his finger on the window frame.
Eight posts. Three people were present.
A merchant from Jingzhou. A letter to be dictated tomorrow.
Private seal.
The private seal of the Protector-General of Shu Han.
[End of Chapter]