Chapter 800: Undercurrents Stirring

Ma Teng stared at the slightly disheveled young man before him, noting the resemblance to Sima Boda. This gave him a sense of assurance.

"Sima Zhongda greets General Ma and General Han," Sima Yi bowed slightly to the two generals as he introduced himself.

"Zhongda, what happened to you?" came Sima Lang's voice from outside the tent, brimming with excitement.

"Generals Ma, Han, if my younger brother has been impolite in any way, I ask for your forgiveness," Sima Lang said as he entered the tent, bowing to Ma Teng and Han Sui, worried that his younger brother might have caused some trouble.

"Brother, are you implying that I don't know proper etiquette?" Sima Yi said with a smile. Compared to a few years ago, he had lost some of his sharpness, making it harder for even someone as wise as Sima Lang to grasp his thoughts.

Ma Teng had no interest in finding fault with the Sima brothers, nor did he care much about Sima Yi’s purpose for being there. In his eyes, Sima Yi was still just a child who hadn’t yet grown up.

Sima Lang, likewise, didn’t want to expose his younger brother’s intentions. After a brief display of brotherly affection, he led Sima Yi away to the rear of the camp.

"Zhongda, weren’t you supposed to be traveling beyond the borders with your mentor? How did you return so quickly?" Sima Lang asked curiously. He admired his younger brother greatly, especially since Sima Yi had the opportunity to study under Hu Zhao, a privilege that Sima Lang envied.

"Brother, you've been promoted quickly, rising to the rank of a fifth-grade assistant minister. I wonder if you'll receive another promotion after this mission succeeds. Judging by the current situation, it seems very promising..." Sima Yi said with a smile, but before he could finish, Sima Lang hastily covered his mouth, looking anxious.

"Spit! Spit! Spit! Why are you so flustered, Brother?" Sima Yi pushed away Sima Lang’s hand with a look of displeasure.

"You already know?" Sima Lang realized he had overreacted. There was no need to be so tense—after all, his current identity was as an agent of the Emperor, and Sima Yi’s words hadn’t revealed anything related to Cao Cao.

"An agent of the Emperor might fool Li Jue and the others, but fooling me? You're far from it," Sima Yi sneered. "And the granaries of Guanzhong, restored by the labor of over a million civilians, are truly an impressive feat."

"Securing the Western Qin region requires careful planning. Even with such drastic measures, they must be digested properly; otherwise, they will become an empty effort, only serving to benefit others." Sima Lang replied without hesitation, knowing that both Han Sui and Ma Teng could hear this conversation. But from the Emperor’s perspective, it was all as expected.

"That may not be so. Whether the Western Qin can be secured is still uncertain, but at least the opportunity has presented itself. That’s why I’ve come back," Sima Yi said with a smile. "I wonder, Brother, is there still a place for me in this endeavor? They say that when one man rises to power, even his dogs and chickens benefit. Will you look out for me when the time comes?"

Sima Lang laughed heartily. "Alright, Zhongda, enough playing around. If I gain any merit, half of it will go to you. But don’t just stand there—lend a hand!"

The conversation between Sima Lang and Sima Yi was overheard by Han Sui and Ma Teng. To them, it seemed like Sima Lang was extending goodwill toward them, while Sima Yi’s talk of sharing rewards was only natural.

The news of the events in Longxi soon reached Chang’an, and it wasn’t long before Cao Cao learned that Li Jue had left Zhang Ji in charge of the city. Of course, Li Jue merely saw Ma Teng and Han Sui as unpredictable troublemakers, planning to crush them in one fell swoop and rid himself of future problems. Beyond that, he didn’t suspect anything else.

Upon confirming this information, Cao Cao was overjoyed. Things had progressed to a point where even without a letter from Xun Yu, Cao Cao knew exactly how to capitalize on the situation. The fertile lands of Guanzhong were about to fall into his hands.

Meanwhile, Chang’an, which had been stagnant like a dead pool, began to stir with undercurrents of unrest after Li Jue’s departure. The Yang family, Fu Wan, and Liu Yu were all biding their time, waiting for the right moment to act.

"Gongsun Bogui is dead?" Liu Yu looked shocked as he addressed Yan Rou and Wei You, who had hurriedly traveled south from beyond Youzhou to deliver the news.

"Please punish me, my lord, for acting without your permission," Yan Rou knelt and presented his sword, both to seek forgiveness for his past actions and to show his loyalty. With Gongsun Zan dead, Yan Rou no longer felt bound by his previous vow. Learning that Liu Yu was still alive, he came to personally atone and offer his life.

"Let the past be the past," Liu Yu waved his hand dismissively, uninterested in holding a grudge against Yan Rou for old matters. His time in Chang’an hadn’t been all that bad. Though initially frustrated, he had come to terms with his situation and felt at peace.

"My lord!" Yan Rou pressed his forehead to the ground, unwilling to rise.

"Get up, Huiwen. From now on, you’ll serve as my personal guard. Leave the affairs of the court to Liu Xuande. I have great faith in him." Liu Yu helped Yan Rou to his feet.

"As for Gongsun Bogui, well, the dead are gone. His beliefs weren’t wrong. Tonight, let’s light incense for him. We were once acquaintances, after all." Liu Yu shook his head with a sigh, showing no joy at the news of his rival’s death.

Liu Yu had never been fond of Gongsun Zan, but he couldn’t bring himself to personally wish him dead. Even when he had the upper hand, Liu Yu’s goal had only been to bring Gongsun Zan alive to Chang’an. Both of them sought the well-being of the Han dynasty, but their methods differed so greatly that they could never find common ground.

"Yes, my lord!" Yan Rou rose with a determined expression.

Sigh, Liu Xie, I’ve done all I can for you, Liu Yu thought. I’ll write to Liu Ziyang, and whether you go to Xuande or someone else is no longer my concern. I’ve fulfilled my duty as a family elder.

After suffering so much at the hands of Liu Xie’s advisors, Liu Yu had grown disillusioned with the Emperor. He no longer harbored any deep loyalty, and now, helping Liu Xie was merely a formality, a duty to his family name. As for his obligations as a minister, he no longer cared.

"Xiu’er, don’t leave the house for the next few days. Stay home and focus on your studies," Yang Biao said casually as he sat in the sun, addressing his son Yang Xiu just as the young man was about to step out.

"Hmm?" Yang Xiu frowned, his hand, which had been reaching for the door, pausing on the latch. "It seems I’ve suddenly fallen ill. I suppose I should stay home and rest for a few days. The illness is quite serious—I fear Father may soon have to mourn a black-haired son."

"Rascal! What nonsense are you spouting?" Yang Biao leaped from his reclining chair, his old frame surprisingly spry as he grabbed his cane and swatted at Yang Xiu.

Amidst all this, the undercurrents in Chang’an grew stronger, waiting only for the right moment to erupt.

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