Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 36 Anxiety
As the weather grew colder day by day, Shi Shouxin, who had returned to the military camp, continued to study military law.

It must be said that Cao Wei's military law was very...flexible. Not only were the military systems diverse, but the internal military laws also differed among armies with different systems.

For example, the military laws of the Imperial Guard differed significantly from those of hereditary armies that followed their generals. In hereditary armies, the command was essentially absolute, with the general having the final say.

Shi Shouxin came up with the eight-character phrase "focus on the major and let go of the minor, adapt to local conditions".

The military supervisor doesn't manage everything, nor does he ignore everything; there's a very flexible red line involved.

His task as military supervisor this time was actually only one: to keep an eye on Zhong Hui!

Wei Guan would handle everything else; there was no need for him to get involved. The task was practically a "simple task." Shi Shouxin was studying military law so diligently not because it was necessary for monitoring Zhong Hui, but because he wanted to learn the art of military administration from it.

In this world, not having military power is like walking naked in the street. Since there's an opportunity to learn, one must learn it well.

Sooner or later, he will lead troops on his own.

According to past practice, the Shu army should have launched a northern expedition in the autumn. However, this year is strange. The Shu kingdom is very quiet. Jiang Wei has stationed his troops in Tazhong and is preparing for war. Rumors say that he is at odds with the Chengdu court and is staying in the north to avoid trouble. The rumors are very clear, but it is unknown whether they are true or not.

A few days later, Sima Zhao ordered Wei Guan to lead this "supervisory army," which was not under the command of any general (including Zhong Hui) and had only a thousand soldiers, to pack their bags and set off for Guanzhong immediately.

At this time, Yang Xiu had already left the military camp to take over his own troops in Guanzhong. Besides Wei Guan, Shi Shouxin held the highest rank in the military camp.

Wei Guan instructed Shi Shouxin to select a hundred men from the army to form his own force, who might then act independently.

The night before their departure, Yang Huiyu invited Shi Shouxin to his residence. In the study, the two did not embrace or become intimate. Instead, Yang Huiyu was giving Shi Shouxin important instructions, while the latter sat at the table listening attentively.

"The risk of this battle lies not in the outcome, but in the news from the General's Mansion that Hanzhong is sparsely defended. If nothing unexpected happens, the outcome should be clear soon."

The real trouble lies in Zhong Hui's thinking.

Yang Huiyu said solemnly, her eyes filled with worry.

"Please speak, Yu Niang."

Shi Shouxin nodded slightly. Although he already knew the "answer" in advance, this "exam" was a life-or-death test, and there was no room for carelessness.

"After the incident with Ji Kang, the General had already decided to kill Zhong Hui. The problem was that Zhong Hui was also extremely intelligent, and if he knew that the General wanted to kill him, he might rebel."

He would never sit idly by and wait to die.

I now estimate that Zhong Hui may already be harboring rebellious intentions. After the three rebellions in Huainan, his potential rebellion is hardly surprising, is it?
"If Zhong Hui rebels, and he comes with his troops, holds a knife to your throat, and asks if you want to go with him, what should you do?"

Yang Huiyu pointed out a very worrying situation.

“Zhong Hui is extremely unpopular, and his rebellion has almost no chance of succeeding. Following him will only lead to your own destruction.”

If I join the bandits, I will surely be punished by the general afterward. If I refuse, I will die on the spot. It's a difficult situation."

Shi Shouxin muttered to himself, and Yang Huiyu grasped his hand, sighing helplessly, "There's nothing I can do about this; you'll have to rely on yourself."

"clear."

Shi Shouxin nodded. Yang Huiyu had been so open and honest with him, so he naturally appreciated it.

"In addition, Du Yu will also lead an army on his own."

You saved his life, so he will definitely stand by you through thick and thin. As for Yang Xiu... he is usually arrogant and proud, so he may not respect you. Only if you bring Du Yu along and explain the pros and cons to him will he listen to you.

After all, Yang Xiu looks down on Zhong Hui and would never submit to him. If my uncle is willing to go this time, you two working together will surely be safe. Alas!

After saying this, Yang Huiyu shook her head. There were many things she couldn't tell Yang Hu. She couldn't very well say that she had become someone's mistress, could she?

What she is telling Shi Shouxin now are all possible unexpected situations. In Yang Huiyu's view, these are just speculations in her mind. Even if she asks outsiders for help, she has no way to talk about them.

Only Shi Shouxin knew that Zhong Hui... was capable of anything! Yang Huiyu was not exaggerating; on the contrary, he underestimated Zhong Hui's audacity.

"Take care of yourself too. I won't abandon you after starting something."

Shi Shouxin grasped Yang Huiyu's hand and said.

He had already heard Yang Huiyu recount the absurd events of that night, and after understanding the whole story, Shi Shouxin was speechless.

Yang Huiyu came to Luoyang from Wen County. The last time he came was many years ago, when Yang Hu was serving as an official in Luoyang. This time, he came to Luoyang also for the matter of conquering Shu, hoping that Yang Hu could gain something from it.

Ultimately, her ill-fated relationship with Shi Shouxin stemmed from the conquest of Shu.

Shi Shouxin originally thought Yang Huiyu was the kind of lonely woman who had been living alone for many years and wanted to find a man. He never expected that he was the one who started this ill-fated relationship.

Shi Shouxin reflected on it for a while. If Yang Huiyu's various inexplicable closeness in the past was based on that incident, it would make perfect sense and not be surprising at all.

Actually, he had a vague feeling that something was wrong after that incident, but then one big thing after another happened, and he didn't have time to think about it in detail. Now, all he can say is that drinking led to trouble; the ancients were right.

Judging from Yang Huiyu's usual dignified and proper conduct, there is indeed no need for her to lie about such a matter.

"Go home and see your wife, I just got my period today."

Yang Huiyu smiled awkwardly, a hint of loneliness and regret on her face. She felt a fire burning within her, but she lacked the strength to channel it.

"Well, then I'm going back."

Shi Shouxin nodded, then left the study and got into the "special car" that Sima Zhao had prepared for Yang Huiyu.

……

Almost simultaneously, in the study of the General's mansion, Zhong Hui hung a map on the wall. Sima Zhao sat upright at his desk, serious and unsmiling, listening to Zhong Hui explain the plans for this campaign against Shu.

"The scouts report that internal strife is raging in Shu. Huang Hao and Zhuge Zhan intend to dismiss Jiang Wei and replace him with Yan Yu as Grand General. However, Jiang Wei, disgusted by Huang Hao's abuse of power, petitioned to have him executed, but Liu Shan refused. Jiang Wei has no choice but to retreat to Tazhong to cultivate land and maintain his troops in the north for defense."

Therefore, the reason Shu did not launch a northern expedition this year was not because Jiang Wei did not want to, but because he could not.

This analysis was reasonable and well-founded, and Sima Zhao nodded slightly in agreement.

Killing Zhong Hui was a matter for later; now was the time to use him. Sima Zhao showed sufficient "trust" and delegated power to this confidant who acted flamboyantly and ostentatiously.

It looks like a harmonious relationship between the ruler and his ministers.

"General, my plan this time is to divide the army into three routes to attack Shu:"

The western route, led by Deng Ai's main force, split up and attacked Jiang Wei from Didao, targeting Gansong and Tazhong, thus holding back the main force of the Shu army and preventing them from returning to defend Hanzhong.

The central army, led by Zhuge Xu, cut off Jiang Wei's rear route from Qishan towards the bridgeheads of Wujie and Yinping, also to prevent Deng Ai from making any rash moves.

As for the Eastern Route Army, I will personally lead more than 100,000 soldiers, including the Imperial Guards and Guanzhong troops, in two routes from Xiegu and Luogu to advance into Hanzhong, with Hu Lie and Li Fu leading the troops respectively.

The first two routes were feints; the main attack was to capture Hanzhong on the eastern route. Once Hanzhong was captured, troops would be immediately stationed to garrison key locations, and then the main army would return to Guanzhong to rest and regroup, thus ending the campaign against Shu.

The priority should be stability.

Zhong Hui bowed to Sima Zhao and said...

It must be said that although Zhong Hui had many shortcomings, he was indeed talented. This plan was very well-planned and perfectly suited Sima Zhao's political needs.

This is a typical political battle, with a clear objective and no unnecessary burdens or redundancies.

According to this battle plan, barring any unforeseen circumstances, taking Hanzhong should not be difficult, and the success rate is extremely high.

After capturing Hanzhong, Sima Zhao could be promoted to Duke of Jin, receive the Nine Bestowments, and ensure the succession of his family's power. From then on, Sima Zhao no longer needed to worry about what would happen after his death.

If you can't become emperor yourself, then let Sima Yan become emperor in the future. Just trust the wisdom of future generations. That's what Cao Cao did back then.

Suddenly, Sima Zhao wondered if he had wronged Zhong Hui. While Zhong Hui certainly had ulterior motives regarding the Ji Kang affair, his plan to conquer Shu seemed plausible. "Let's settle on this. The main army will first march to Guanzhong, holding back until the enemy is engaged. Simultaneously, we'll clear roads through mountains and build bridges over rivers to establish a clear marching route!"

Sima Zhao said in a deep voice.

He had been preparing for the campaign against Shu for several years, but he didn't want a grand, imposing army marching from Luoyang to Guanzhong. If that were the case, even a fool would know he was going to attack Shu. By the time the army reached Hanzhong, Jiang Wei's troops would have already returned to defend, making the campaign pointless.

"I will now depart for Chang'an. The troops in Luoyang can proceed at a slower pace."

Zhong Hui bowed to Sima Zhao and said.

"Yes, Shiji's plan suits me very well. Let's set off now. I'll be waiting for your victorious return in Luoyang."

Sima Zhao laughed heartily. Zhong Hui immediately accepted the order and left, returning home to pack his bags, preparing to head to Guanzhong on official business.

After he left, Sima Zhao let out a long sigh, releasing a long-suppressed feeling of pent-up frustration, and experiencing a sense of mental and physical relief.

In fact, ever since Cao Huan ascended the throne, this emperor was quite sensible, knowing that he was merely a rubber stamp and a large-scale tool. So, in the year he ascended the throne, he gave Sima Zhao a triple package of usurpation: granting him the title of Duke of Jin, bestowing upon him the Nine Bestowments, and promoting him to the position of Chancellor.

Sima Zhao refused.

A year later, Cao Huan offered him another position, but Sima Zhao refused again.

Cao Huan kept adding to the offer, and Sima Zhao kept refusing. So far, he's added four times and refused four times. It's said that Cao Huan is now preparing to add a fifth time, and Sima Zhao still intends to refuse.

In fact, forcibly ascending the throne is not entirely impossible. It's just that later historical records portray it rather negatively. Moreover, without a foundation of military merit, a forced ascension to the throne would have an unstable foundation and endless potential for future troubles.

The possibility of another rebellion in Huainan cannot be ruled out.

This campaign against Shu can be said to have been the culmination of all of Sima Zhao's hopes and aspirations.

Suddenly, his expression changed slightly as if he had thought of something, and he quickly sent someone to fetch the registrar, Shi Zuan.

A summons in the dead of night is highly unusual. Upon meeting, Shi Zuan, the chief clerk who had served Sima Zhao for many years, asked in a low voice, "General, what urgent matter do you summon me for so late at night? Is there something important for me to attend to?"

Sima Zhao placed a silk scroll that he had just received on the table and gestured for Shi Zuan to read it himself.

"This……"

Shi Zuan almost thought this person was an idiot, but seeing that the signature was Deng Ai, he didn't say it aloud. Deng Ai was actually still trying to persuade Sima Zhao not to send troops to attack Shu, and he even listed the reasons one, two, three, four, five, and so on.

You might call him stupid, but what he said made perfect sense; it didn't sound like he was just arguing nonsense. Every point he made hit the nail on the head.

You might say he's smart, but nowadays any normal person in the court knows that Sima Zhao's campaign against Shu is not just a matter of time, it's already been launched!
Deng Ai was still saying not to send troops; what was he if not a fool?
"Go to Didao and have a good talk with Deng Ai about what I mean. Then, as the deputy general, you can restrain Deng Ai a little and prevent him from acting recklessly."

"Move when you should, and don't move when you shouldn't!"

Sima Zhao gave the order in a deep voice.

Hearing this, Shi Zuan felt a surge of anger. If he weren't facing Sima Zhao, he would have already started cursing. From the darkness in the distance, a voice seemed to whisper: "Take this knife and kill Tang Sanzang and his disciples."

Deng Ai's troops were completely unfamiliar with Shi Zuan. His position as the chief clerk of the general's mansion was parachuted into Longyou as a deputy general. This order was truly complicated.

Deng Ai had been cultivating the land in the Northwest for many years, and the people there were all his trusted confidants. Could Shi Zuan, who went empty-handed, control the army? But when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. Shi Zuan was the chief clerk of the General's Mansion, and his personal future was completely tied to Sima Zhao.

"Understood. I will depart immediately. Please rest assured, General!"

Shi Zuan bowed to Sima Zhao, accepted the military order, and turned to leave.

Sima Zhao quickly stopped him and whispered, "If Deng Ai has any rebellious intentions, you may act as you see fit!"

Sima Zhao breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Shi Zuan leave.

His mood had not calmed down. On the contrary, because all the orders that needed to be given had been issued, he felt an unbearable anxiety between gain and loss.

Early in the morning, Yang Huiyu, yawning, was invited to Sima Zhao's study. She looked sleepy, and her lazy face carried a hint of subtle charm.

Seeing the general's bloodshot eyes, Yang Huiyu immediately composed herself and asked, puzzled, "General, what is troubling you?"

"It's all because of Zhong Hui leading the troops, sigh!"

Sima Zhao sighed deeply.

"Since the General is worried about Zhong Hui, why not lead an army to Guanzhong himself?"

Yang Huiyu asked sarcastically.

Sima Zhao was immediately speechless. He glared at Yang Huiyu with some resentment, said nothing, and just sighed.

Yang Huiyu stepped forward and poured Sima Zhao a cup of wine, comforting him:
"General, leave the affairs outside to others. You must stay in Luoyang to oversee things."

In my humble opinion, among the three armies that launched the invasion of Shu, Zhuge Xu was mediocre in ability and was only there to prevent Deng Ai from acting recklessly.

The competition for the leadership in the campaign against Shu was bound to be between Deng Ai and Zhong Hui.

Since Zhong Hui is powerful, why doesn't the Grand General bestow a title upon Deng Ai now? Once Zhong Hui learns of this, he will surely be jealous of Deng Ai, and the two will be unable to unite to seize control of Shu and establish themselves independently.

When two tigers fight, one will surely be injured. What is there to worry about if the general sits on the mountain watching them fight?

Yup!

Sima Zhao stood up excitedly and paced back and forth in the study, as if he had suddenly figured out many things. He was so excited that he almost hugged Yang Huiyu and kissed her passionately.

Yang Huiyu breathed a sigh of relief. Actually, these words were not what she had thought, but what Shi Shouxin had said to her in bed after they had finished having sex.

"Yes, yes, sister-in-law is right, she's right."

Sima Zhao nodded gratefully, finally finding a solution to his worries.

Yang Huiyu pointed to the cushion in front of the table, indicating to Sima Zhao not to get agitated and to sit down before discussing the matter. After the two sat down, Yang Huiyu sighed and said, "Alas, the affairs of state are worrying. General, you must take care of your health. The matter of conquering Shu depends on mutual checks and balances. It is useless for you to think too much about it."

Upon hearing this, Sima Zhao nodded slightly without refuting it.

He knew that this sister-in-law had always been on good terms with him, especially regarding the suggestion that Sima You be adopted, which effectively sealed off the succession. To put it bluntly, from a darker perspective, it was this second wife of Sima Shi who, in collusion with Sima Zhao and his wife, seized the fruits of Sima Shi's life's struggle!

Sima Zhao's unspoken feelings for Yang Huiyu stemmed from this. "My sister-in-law has half her butt on my lap, why doesn't she sleep under the same blanket with me?"

That's what he thought.

“Your brother is ruthless and merciless. He likes to kill to establish his authority, and he will kill even his closest relatives and loved ones without hesitation.”

General, you are different from him. You are soft-hearted and concerned with your reputation, making you easily swayed. Zhong Hui has already offended too many people; his very existence is meant to make you offend others. He is using you as a tool to carry out his own agenda.

Killing Zhong Hui could salvage some of our reputation; this is something we can't hesitate about, it has to be done sooner or later.

From this moment forward, the General must prepare for this matter. If we don't kill Zhong Hui, are we to let the court be stained with blood in the future?

Yang Huiyu spoke persuasively and logically. On the surface, he was belittling Sima Shi, but in reality, he was subtly praising Sima Zhao's character as far superior to his brother's, a statement that resonated deeply with Sima Zhao.

Sima Zhao nodded, tacitly agreeing with his sister-in-law Yang Huiyu's statement. In truth, many things were obvious, but once that thin veil was lifted, everything changed.

"My sister-in-law is right, we should prepare in advance."

A cold glint flashed in Sima Zhao's eyes; he had made up his mind.

Seeing Sima Zhao's expression, Yang Huiyu's lips curled slightly, and she rose to take her leave. She had done all she could; the rest was up to Shi Shouxin.

(End of this chapter)