Ji Han Liu Zhang

Under the clear moonlight, Shizhong Liu Ai bid farewell to Grand Marshal Liu Zhang and headed towards his residence in Chuanshe.

Things went smoothly. Liu Ai thought to himself that he wanted to serve under Grand Marshal Liu Zhang and become his subject. Grand Marshal Liu Zhang accepted his offer with all his heart. From now on, he was his subject.

"A good bird chooses a tree to roost in, and a good minister chooses a master to serve."

'If you don't see the opportunity early, you will regret it too late.'

Liu Ai felt that his decision was the wisest. After he had some communication with Liu Zhang at that time, he had this idea when he arrived in Guanzhong last time and awarded Liu Zhang the titles of Grand Marshal and General of Chariots and Cavalry. Now he had finally achieved his goal.

"The Grand Marshal is a wise ruler. Since we have met him, how can we not be his subjects?"

When Liu Ai thought about this, he couldn't help but look up at the bright moon in the night sky. The bright moon was in the sky, and the moonlight was bright, which was very consistent with his current mood, making him happy and elated.

However, although he served under the Grand Marshal Liu Zhang, he was still a minister in public, but in private he was a minister of the Grand Marshal Liu Zhang. He needed to return to Xudu to work as a secret agent, spying on the court's movements and passing them on to Chang'an.

However, it was unknown how long he could hold the position of Shizhong. Liu Ai was somewhat suspicious. He might be stripped of his position of Shizhong when he returned to Xu Du this time. After all, Cao Cao would not let a member of the royal family like him hold the position of Shizhong for too long.

Before, he still held the position of Shizhong, so Cao Cao could not make too many personnel adjustments at once, otherwise it would seem too extraordinary.

You know, in September, Taiwei Yang Biao and Sikong Zhang Xi, who were loyal to the emperor, were both dismissed. It was not appropriate for Cao Cao to be so wanton in dismissing too many officials who followed the emperor to move east within a period of time.

The official residence was not too far from the inn, and Liu Ai, riding a horse, quickly arrived at the inn and came to the house where he lived. Not surprisingly, he saw Shi Huan, the captain of the central army, who had not rested, in the courtyard of the house.

"Captain Shi, it's late at night, why don't you go to rest?" Liu Ai asked Shi Huan who was standing in the courtyard with a calm expression and a hint of concern in his tone.

Shi Huan looked up at the full moon in the sky, but did not answer Liu Ai's question immediately. After a moment, he said, "The moonlight is very beautiful tonight. It would be a pity if I didn't appreciate it. So, in this long night, I have no desire to sleep, so I stand here to admire the moon."

There was nothing wrong with Shi Huan's explanation. The moonlight tonight was indeed beautiful. Liu Ai also approved of Shi Huan's explanation. He nodded and said, "Captain, you are right. Such a moonlight is rare. If you don't appreciate it, you will regret it."

Having said that, Liu Ai disagreed with Shi Huan's explanation. He knew clearly that Shi Huan was here just waiting for him to come back.

After all, he met with Liu Zhang alone. As the deputy envoy, Shi Huan was responsible for monitoring him. He must have been uneasy. How could he sleep well while trying to figure out what he discussed with Liu Zhang?

Soon, just as the attendant Liu Ai had guessed, Shi Huan asked Liu Ai nonchalantly, "The attendant held a banquet for the Grand Marshal, which shows that the attendant is highly regarded by the Grand Marshal. Maybe he has something important to discuss with him."

It was not a blatant question, but just a tentative remark, which earned Liu Ai a natural smirk. He replied frankly, "The court is just beginning to be established, and the rules and regulations are just being established. The Grand Marshal is very concerned about this, so he asked about some matters in Xudu, but there is nothing important."

"Oh." Shi Huan responded. There was neither affirmation nor doubt in his tone. He just responded simply.

Shi Huan changed the subject. He did not intend to dwell on what Liu Zhang and Liu Ai discussed in their private meeting: "I didn't expect that the Grand Marshal would look down upon the title of king and rejected it like a worn-out shoe. He was really straightforward." Shi Huan talked about what happened during the day, that is, Liu Zhang's refusal of the title of king.

"It's normal for the Grand Marshal to refuse, but it will be hard for the captain and me." Liu Ai smiled faintly and comforted Shi Huan.

"You and I have worked hard, what do you mean by this, Minister?" Shi Huan looked suspicious.

"Maybe next time it won't be you or me who comes to Chang'an to issue the imperial edict, but someone will have to work hard anyway." Liu Ai thought about it and changed his words to a more appropriate one.

Seeing Shi Huan's confused expression, Liu Ai explained: "The reward of the king's title is very high. If the Grand Marshal accepts it the first time he is conferred, others will think that he is greedy. The Grand Marshal does not want to be known as greedy. So normally, the Grand Marshal will not accept the title of the King of Shu without three refusal and courtesy."

"So that's how it is. Thank you for clearing up my doubts." Shi Huan thanked Liu Ai sincerely, and then he felt disapproving. He thought Liu Zhang looked down on the title of king, but he didn't expect that there were some tricks in the plan that he didn't know about.

"It's late, Minister, you should go to bed early. I'm a little tired too." Shi Huan said goodbye to Liu Ai.

"Captain, please do as you please." Liu Ai said goodbye to Shi Huan.

……

Nanzhong, Xinggu County.

Starting from Jiaozhi County, passing through Sangguan, and arriving at the border of Xisui County in Xinggu County, Zhang Yi looked very happy, with an expression that revealed an unconcealable delight.

"Yizhou, the Lord is back."

Since the first year of Xingping, he was sent by Lord Liu Zhang to Jiaozhou to look for rice seeds and Jibei. Now, in the first year of Jian'an, it has been three years, and he finally set foot on the land of Yizhou again.

Now that he has arrived in Xisui County, he only needs to go north to Bengu County, then north to Jianling County on the edge of Dianchi Lake, and then go all the way north to return to Chengdu, the city he has always been thinking about.

However, this road was extremely dangerous, with no path for animals or humans to take. It was also known as the "Bird Path". It would take him a long time to complete this journey, and he would not be able to reach Chengdu by the end of the year.

However, the steep roads and inconvenient terrain were nothing to Zhang Yi. He had been groping all over Jiaozhou in the past few years, searching for the rice seeds and Jibei that you mentioned. He had walked countless distances and climbed countless mountains. Now, mountains that only birds can fly over are almost the same as peaceful places to him.

With this thought in mind, Zhang Yi looked at the Nanzhong horse in front of him who was carrying a large bag of things. His eyes were not on the Nanzhong horse, but were staring at the bag on the Nanzhong horse's back. In the bag were the treasures that he had worked so hard to find.

After several years in Jiaozhou, with the help of Shi Xie, the governor of Jiaozhi, Zhang Yi finally found the goal of his trip. Now, he was going to take these things back to Chengdu and present them to his master.

The work was not in vain, the work was not in vain, Zhang Yi was in a good mood and thought that he had gone deep into the wild land and had many interactions with the barbarians. In the end, God rewarded those who worked hard and completed the task assigned by the master. He lived up to the trust of the master. (End of this chapter)