webnovelfull Chapter 1292 Shen Pei's remonstrance leads to his demotion to Youzhou
Chapter 1292 Shen Pei's remonstrance leads to his demotion to Youzhou
Shen Pei raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the cold glint of the two men's armor. His voice was somewhat hoarse: "You've seen it too? The Prince of Ji's ambition to usurp the Han throne has long been impossible to conceal." He slammed his hand heavily on the table. "Back when Lord Yuan was alive, although he didn't put the Emperor in his eyes, he always considered himself a Han subject. Now..."
"Times have changed!" Wen Chou interrupted him. "When Lord Yuan was alive, Hebei was not stable; now that the Prince of Ji has quelled internal troubles and holds four provinces, who among the lords of the world can rival him? The throne should rightfully belong to the strong. Why must the strategist adhere to those old rules?"
“Rules?” Shen Pei suddenly stood up, sweeping the bamboo slips off the table with his sleeve. “Those are Lord Yuan’s entrustment! It is my loyalty to the Yuan family! Lord Yuan treated me with immense kindness back then, and before he died, he held my hand and entrusted me with his affairs. How could I stand by and watch his descendants do such a rebellious thing?”
Yan Liang frowned: "Strategist, you're like a mantis trying to stop a chariot! At the banquet just now, Xu You and the others were talking about 'abdication.' Although the Prince of Ji didn't agree, who couldn't understand the meaning in his eyes? If you try to persuade him now, aren't you just pushing yourself into a fire pit?"
Shen Pei fell silent, the candlelight illuminating the white hair at his temples, suddenly revealing a touch of tragic grandeur. He picked up the bamboo slips from the ground, slowly smoothing out the creases: "I know the general trend is unstoppable, and I also know that this advice may bring about my death." He looked up at the deep night outside the window, "But I cannot forget Lord Yuan's kindness. Now, all the warlords in the world are rising up, and the Yuan family is no longer the only powerful one. Even if we want to achieve great things, now is not the time. I must try my best to persuade him, even if there is only a sliver of hope, I must persuade the Prince of Ji. Even if it is my last effort, I will be worthy of Lord Yuan and worthy of my own conscience."
Yan Liang and Wen Chou exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness in each other's eyes. They knew that their strategist was stubborn and unyielding. Wen Chou sighed, took a wine pouch from his robes, and tossed it to him: "In that case, strategist, take care. If anything really happens... Yan Liang and I..."
Shen Pei gripped the wine pouch tightly, the rough texture of the leather rubbing against his fingertips. He didn't speak again, only bowing slightly to the two men. Once their footsteps faded into the night, he raised the wine pouch and drank it all in one gulp before Yuan Gong's memorial tablet. The wine was pungent, making his eyes sting. Perhaps tomorrow would mean certain death, but some things had to be done.
The candlelight flickered in the wind, casting his shadow on the wall, lonely yet exuding an unyielding spirit.
The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and a thin layer of ice covered the corridors of the Prince of Ji's residence. Yuan Shang had just finished drinking hot soup and was wiping his hands with a handkerchief handed to him by a maid when a servant came to report: "Military Advisor Shen requests an audience."
In the past two years, although Shen Pei was not as obsequious as Xu You, he had also become less confrontational than before. Especially after the pacification of Yuan Tan, he devoted himself to managing the civil administration of Hebei, saving Yuan Shang a lot of trouble. "Oh? He's quite a rare guest." Yuan Shang smiled and waved his hand, "Please invite him in quickly."
Shen Pei entered the main hall in the morning light, his black court robes impeccable. He merely bowed to Yuan Shang in greeting, but his gaze remained fixed on Yuan Shang's face. Before Yuan Shang could exchange pleasantries, Shen Pei spoke first, his tone as cold as ice: "Does Your Majesty harbor any intention of advancing further?"
Yuan Shang paused abruptly, looking at Shen Pei in astonishment—the entire court had been subtly urging him to ascend the throne, but no one had ever dared to be so direct. He composed himself, picked up his teacup to conceal his expression, and said, "What Military Advisor Shen said reflects the sentiments of the court officials, not my own desire."
"Not what Your Majesty wished?" Shen Pei sneered, taking half a step forward. "If Your Majesty had no intention, why have the peach wood tablet from the Zhang River, the water unicorn from the deep pool, and the colorful phoenix from the Zhongshan Kingdom appeared one after another? Did these auspicious omens throughout Ye City simply fly in out of thin air?"
Having his thoughts exposed early in the morning, Yuan Shang's smile faded, and his tone became tinged with anger: "So what if it is? So what if it isn't? Did Military Advisor Shen come here today specifically to interrogate me?"
Seeing that he was angry, Shen Pei softened his tone and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I dare not question you, but I am worried about the safety of Hebei." When he looked up, his eyes were full of sincerity, "Your Majesty, now is not the time."
“Although Hebei is strong, it is not the only power in the world.” Shen Pei stretched out his fingers and listed them one by one: “Ma Chao of Xiliang occupies Chang’an and Luoyang, and his iron cavalry is awe-inspiring in Guanzhong; Liu Bei of Jingzhou has taken over Nanzhong and pacified Shu County, and his five tiger generals are famous; even the slightly weaker Cao Cao occupies the heart of the Central Plains and has a wealth of strategists; Sun Shao of Jiangdong is in a precarious position, but he has the natural barrier of the Yangtze River to rely on.”
He paused, lowering his voice even further: "If Your Majesty were to rashly ascend the throne now, you would be putting yourself in a precarious position. The feudal lords are already looking for a reason to attack us together. They will then launch a full-scale attack under the pretext of 'punishing the traitor,' and Hebei will be besieged on all sides. I'm afraid... I'm afraid we won't be able to hold it."
The wind outside the hall swept through the windowpanes, carrying the remaining snow with a howling sound. Yuan Shang's fingers tightened around the teacup. Shen Pei's words were like a bucket of cold water, dousing most of the heat in his heart, but the unpleasantness of being exposed in public made his chest feel suffocated.
"You..." Yuan Shang was about to retort when he saw Shen Pei kneeling upright on the ground, his forehead pressed against the cold gold brick: "I know that too much talk will lead to mistakes, but Hebei is the result of two generations of the Yuan family's hard work. I cannot stand by and watch it fall into danger! I beg Your Majesty to reconsider!"
Yuan Shang's anger vanished instantly, replaced by a smile. He quickly stepped forward to help Shen Pei up, saying, "What are you doing, Lord Shen? Get up, get up." He patted the man's arm, his tone as gentle as a spring breeze, "How could I not know you were thinking of Hebei? I just lost my temper, please forgive me."
"Although the ministers are urging me to ascend the throne with great enthusiasm, I know what I'm doing." Yuan Shang sighed, feigning a hint of helplessness in his eyes. "The warlords on all sides are not yet at peace, and the world is not yet settled. How can I have the mind to declare myself emperor? Those auspicious omens are nothing but nonsense. I will issue an order to rebuke them and forbid them from spreading them again."
Shen Pei felt relieved by his words, thinking that the king had really changed his mind. He quickly bowed and said, "It was my fault for speaking out of turn today. I beg Your Majesty to forgive me." He looked at Yuan Shang with earnest eyes and said, "This matter concerns the survival of Hebei. I hope Your Majesty will be careful and not act impulsively."
"Don't worry, don't worry." Yuan Shang helped him walk out of the hall, gently comforting him, "It's the New Year, don't let these things spoil your mood. Go back and rest, and we can discuss anything else later."
Shen Pei was reassured by his words and agreed repeatedly. He felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his heart, and his steps became lighter. As he turned to leave, he did not forget to turn back and remind him, "Your Majesty, please remember to be cautious."
As the figure awaiting approval disappeared at the end of the corridor, the smile on Yuan Shang's face froze instantly. He turned around abruptly and kicked the auspicious table by the door. The incense burner and offerings on the table crashed to the ground with a loud clatter, the bronze incense burner hitting the gold bricks with a piercing sound.
"Damn it!" he growled, veins throbbing on his forehead. "Pass on my orders!"
The guard hurriedly knelt down: "Your Majesty's orders."
"From now on, Shen Pei is not to set foot in the palace unless summoned by me!" Yuan Shang said, panting heavily, his eyes blazing with anger. "Also, in Youzhou, Gongsun Zan's troops are stationed on the border of Bingzhou, which is ultimately a hidden danger."
He paced back and forth a few steps, then suddenly stopped, a sinister glint in his eyes: "Transfer Shen Pei to Youzhou to oversee things, and have him keep an eye on Gongsun Zan."
The guard was taken aback: "But can we interrogate the military advisor..."
"Enough with all this nonsense!" Yuan Shang interrupted sharply. "Just say that the military affairs in the north are heavy and require important officials to guard them." He paused, then added, "In a few days, transfer Yan Liang and Wen Chou to Bingzhou to guard against any unusual movements from Ma Chao's side."
The guard dared not utter a word and quickly withdrew, obeying the order. Only Yuan Shang remained in the main hall. Looking at the mess on the floor, his anger gradually subsided, replaced by a cold calculation. Shen Pei's words, though harsh, had awakened him. To ascend the throne, he needed to make an example of someone, first getting rid of these troublesome old ministers, ensuring there were no dissenting voices around him, only then could things proceed smoothly.
Morning light streamed through the window lattice, falling on the overturned incense burner and casting a distorted shadow, much like the undisguised ambition and sinister intent in the heart of the Prince of Ji.
Shen Pei was talking with Yan Liang and Wen Chou around the stove in the mansion, holding a warm wine cup in his hand, with a relieved smile on his face: "...Although I exposed the thoughts of the Prince of Ji today, he listened to my advice and promised to suppress those rumors. It seems that the foundation of Hebei still has some hope."
Before the words were finished, hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard. A messenger rushed in carrying a transfer order and shouted, "By order of the King of Ji, the military advisor is to be transferred to Youzhou immediately to oversee the situation and guard against any unusual movements by Gongsun Zan. There must be no delay!"
Shen Pei's hand, holding the wine cup, trembled violently, spilling wine onto his clothes without him noticing. His fingers, unfolding the transfer order, shook terribly; the few lines of text felt like a red-hot iron, burning his vision. "This...this is..." he opened his mouth, his voice suddenly hoarse, and he staggered back two steps. If Wen Chou hadn't reacted quickly and caught him, he would have nearly fallen to the ground.
"Heaven has forsaken Hebei!" Shen Pei stared at the roof and suddenly let out a long, mournful sigh, tears instantly streaming down his wrinkled face. "He's not listening to advice at all; he clearly thinks I'm in the way and wants to send me far away!"
Yan Liang's face darkened, and the hilt of his sword creaked as he pressed it against his waist: "Strategist, don't be hasty! Wen Chou and I will go see the Prince of Ji and persuade him one more time!"
Wen Chou nodded in agreement: "Exactly! We've followed our old lord through thick and thin, we can't just stand by and watch him act recklessly!"
Shen Pei waved his hand, a bleak smile on his face, and stood up unsteadily: "Forget it, there's no need to go." He looked out at the dark sky, his voice full of despair, "Since he has made up his mind, your going will only make him angrier. In his heart, the foundation of Hebei is ultimately no match for that supreme position."
He straightened his disheveled clothes, gripped the transfer order tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning white from the force: "Youzhou it is. Although Gongsun Zan has allied with Xiliang, he is still a hidden danger in the north. If I go to take charge, at least I can guard the northern gate for Hebei, which can be considered as fulfilling the old lord's trust... I will do my last bit of effort."
Having said that, he stopped looking at the two of them and turned to walk into the inner room, his back hunched, as if he had aged ten years in an instant. Yan Liang and Wen Chou watched his back and then looked at the transfer order. They felt that no matter how bright the charcoal fire in the stove was, it could not dispel the chill that filled the room. It seemed that the weather in Hebei was really about to change.
The night, like a cloth soaked in ink, pressed heavily upon the city walls of Ye. Shen Pei stood before the gate of his residence, gazing at the icicles hanging from the eaves, his breath dissipating instantly in the cold wind. He didn't order his servants to light lanterns, but instead, by the light of the waning moon on the horizon, he stuffed a few old clothes, a scroll of military strategy, and the transfer order into his personal bag.
"Uncle, are you really leaving like this?" Nephew Shen Rong held an oil lamp, the light illuminating his young face, which was full of confusion. "The public opinion has been getting increasingly heated these past few days..."
Shen Pei waved his hand, his voice low and hoarse as if it had been ground against gravel: "No need. It saves me from listening to the 'urging' noise and from bothering certain people." He patted Shen Rong on the shoulder.
The guards silently led the horses over. Shen Pei glanced back one last time at the mansion where he had lived most of his life. The lanterns under the eaves flickered, but they could not illuminate the desolation in his eyes. How many times had he discussed matters with Yuan Shao here until late at night, when the candlelight always carried an upward warmth? Now, all that remained was a desolate courtyard.
"Let's go." He mounted his horse and didn't look back.