It is said that on a dream-like early spring day in the third month, Zhao Yun had been lying on his sickbed for a long time. Suddenly, he regained his strength and ran to the tomb of Emperor Zhao Lie. He grabbed Zhuge Liang and together they drank wine.
In order to avoid idleness, Liu Shimin also came. He lay in front of Liu Bei's tomb, laughing amidst the peach blossoms and white clouds.
After drinking two barrels of wine, Zhao Yun smiled and peacefully passed away.
Zhuge Liang was still unable to achieve his goal and retire peacefully. He went back to Nanyang twice and was captured by Liu Shimin and appointed as Prime Minister in Chang'an. In order to maintain the harmony and friendliness of the Xianbei people and their proficiency in singing and dancing, in the third year of the Zhenguan era, Liu Shimin reopened the Protectorate General to Pacify the Western Regions. One by one, the northern tribes surrendered until the fifth year of the Zhenguan era when all acknowledged his authority.
At the age of thirty, Liu Shimin became the Heavenly Khan once again.
And many, many years later, Zhuge Liang, who had been opposing Liu Shimin in court his whole life, finally departed before him. Liu Shimin, with tears in his eyes, said, "Prime Minister, do you still have any unfulfilled wishes?"
Zhuge Liang smiled weakly and said, "I just wanted to ask, Your Majesty may choose not to answer... Where did that incompetent emperor of mine go? If he were here, what would be the fate of the Great Han and me?"
Liu Shimin fell silent for a moment. He knew that Zhuge Liang had already faintly realized it, but he didn't expect him to ask at this moment.
With tears in the corners of his eyes, Liu Shimin said, "A-Dou, perhaps he went to enjoy a comfortable life in the body of another emperor. If A-Dou had stayed here all along, it would have been very difficult for you after the defeat at Jieting. You launched multiple expeditions to the Central Plains, defeated Sima Yi, but unfortunately couldn't kill him, couldn't pursue and exterminate the north. You faced power struggles due to Li Yan's ambition, inadequate supplies, and had to withdraw your troops reluctantly. During those years, you marched to Mount Qi five times and finally settled in Wuzhangyuan, no longer worrying about provisions, but you personally handled everything, and the heavens didn't give you respite. You died in the autumn wind."
"You are the only Prime Minister in future generations, comparable to Duke Zhou."
He continued, "Jiang Wei inherited your will, launching nine expeditions to the Central Plains, but unfortunately, he didn't have your abilities. With many internal grievances in the country, it was unable to sustain its strength."
"To suppress the power of Cao Wei, the Sima clan assassinated their ruler and ordered Zhong Hui to lead troops south with full force. Deng Ai crossed the Yinping Mountains by stealth and reached the outskirts of Chengdu. A-Dou surrendered and left the city."
Jiang Wei still didn't give up and feigned surrender, plotting to kill Deng Ai and Zhong Hui. He wrote a letter to A-Dou, saying, "If Your Majesty endures temporary humiliation, I will ensure that the state will be restored to brightness and stability."
"In the era without me, it was the era of the autumn wind in Wuzhangyuan, the era when all dreams were shattered, the era when heroes sang and wielded their swords, but it couldn't bring about a prosperous world. In the end
, aristocratic families indulged in extravagance, barbarians invaded from the south, and the common people suffered for hundreds of years."
"I am one of the people who ultimately ended that chaotic era."
Liu Shimin whispered all of this. Zhuge Liang, lying on his sickbed, looked dazed for a moment, and after a long while, a smile appeared on his face.
He said, "So that's how it is."
"This time, I have arrived in Your Majesty's era ahead of schedule."
"I hope Your Majesty will handle it with care and achieve an everlasting legacy."
"Fortunately, none of those things are real. This old subject can now peacefully rest in the netherworld..."
And so, Liu Shimin gazed at Zhuge Liang, who closed his eyes with a smile, feeling a lump in his heart. He burst into tears, mourning for the heroes who had passed away in the past few decades, mourning for the unfulfilled aspirations of his previous life.
After shedding tears for a journey, Liu Shimin lifted his head and saw the boundless road ahead, the same as before. No matter how difficult and dangerous, no matter the storms and thunder, he could still wield his sword to carve out a prosperous and magnificent land.
The end.