Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 70 Awakening of Insects
After everything was settled, Shi Shouxin left the military tent, filled with suspicion.

After coming out, he found Meng Guanzheng looking around in embarrassment. When he saw Shi Shouxin walking towards him, he quickly lowered his voice and asked, "Commander Shi, did I do something wrong? Should I have hidden that box beforehand?"

Meng Guan thought that his carelessness had led to the loss of the documents he had sent to Deng Ai.

"This matter has nothing to do with you, it's just that Zhong Hui... wants to rebel."

As Shi Shouxin walked, he murmured in a barely audible voice, but Meng Guan, who was beside him, heard it clearly.

They cannot leave yet, because there is a grand banquet tonight.

What kind of banquet did Zhong Hui host? It was probably similar to the Feast at Hongmen.

As Shi Shouxin walked, lost in thought, he bumped his head into a tree, finally stopping him. He rubbed his forehead and noticed Meng Guan looking at him helplessly, so he could only manage a wry smile.

"Commander Shi, let's go sit by the river and enjoy the river breeze."

Meng Guan suggested.

Shi Shouxin nodded; his mind was indeed a complete mess.

The two arrived at the bank of the Jiameng River (Bailong River) and found a large rock to sit on. At that moment, the sky was overcast, without a trace of sunlight.

Looking at the surging river, Shi Shouxin couldn't help but sigh, "Now Zhong Hui is deliberately trying to win people's hearts. He's even trying to win over someone like me who offended him before. It's obvious that he has decided to rebel."

"Commander Shi, is this true?"

Meng Guan was so frightened that he was about to get up, but Shi Shouxin grabbed him.

"Based on my understanding of Zhong Hui, this is true. I stood up to Zhong Hui in front of many people before. Logically speaking, he wouldn't be satisfied even if he killed me ten times."

But these past two days, Zhong Hui has clearly been trying to win me over. Why is he trying to win me over? It's probably because of that matter.

If a rebellion were to truly break out, every single person would need to be courted.

Shi Shouxin explained patiently.

This reason is convincing. Zhong Hui is notorious for his vindictiveness and vengefulness. It would be hard to believe that he could win over Shi Shouxin without some kind of scheme.

Among that stack of letters of denunciation, there was none from Shi Shouxin, so Zhong Hui felt that he could still be "saved".
It's hard to say; Shi Shouxin couldn't figure out Zhong Hui's eccentric nature.

“From this day forward, you will no longer need to stand guard outside the tent alone; we will take turns keeping watch.”

Shi Shouxin said in a deep voice.

Clearly, he has realized the seriousness of the problem.

“Supervisor Shi, following you, I’m really doing something big, but this matter is a little too big.”

Meng Guan sighed helplessly. He did want to make a name for himself, but getting involved in Zhong Hui's rebellion meant that it would be difficult enough to escape unscathed.

"Crisis is a crisis, but there is also opportunity within it. Let's stay calm and think things through first."

Shi Shouxin chuckled coldly, wanting to see how Zhong Hui planned to play the game at tonight's Hongmen Banquet!
……

Military banquets (including lavish parties) are generally held to celebrate major victories, at which point the prohibition on alcohol in military orders becomes ineffective. The reason Zhong Hui held this banquet is said to be to celebrate the capture of Hanzhong, with the court recognizing and rewarding those who contributed.

But Shi Shouxin felt that things couldn't be that simple. Zhong Hui was a man who couldn't be judged by ordinary standards.

Zhong Hui was unmarried and childless, and many people privately criticized him for being homosexual. Indeed, after the banquet began today, not a single woman entered the military tent.

Whether it was pouring wine and serving food, or performing sword dances to entertain the guests, they were all Zhong Hui's personal guards.

Who knows, maybe Zhong Hui really does have that kind of taste?
Shi Shouxin thought to himself.

However, with such a "intense" atmosphere, it was naturally difficult to enjoy the wine or the food. Everyone held their breath, waiting for Zhong Hui to speak.

The atmosphere inside the military tent was somewhat heavy.

"Hu Lie, do you know your crime!"

Suddenly, Zhong Hui put down his wine glass on the table, looked at Hu Lie who was closest to him, and said in a chilling tone.

Hu Lie, holding a wine glass, stood frozen in place, completely bewildered by what had happened.

"Grand Commander, what crime have I committed?"

Hu Lie asked with a puzzled look.

"Don't know? Heh, then I'll make you admit it."

Zhong Hui looked at Wei Guan and asked, "Supervisor Wei, if someone engages in lewd behavior in the army during a campaign, what crime should they be punished according to military law?"

Wei Guan was also stunned, probably not expecting Zhong Hui to be so direct, without any pretense.

As for matters of the lower body, we're all men, we all know what's going on. Being away at war, with wives and concubines far away, indulging a little after a victory—is that something to brag about?
Let's not dwell on Cao Cao's behavior back then. If those above acted this way, what's so surprising about those below being indulgent?
After a long pause, he stroked his beard and said, "This is the crime of the treacherous army; they shall be executed immediately."

"As expected, the military supervisor is very familiar with the criminal law. I admire him."

Zhong Hui spoke slowly, then clapped his hands twice. Soon, the personal guards outside the tent led in a dozen or so young women dressed in brightly colored gauze dresses.

It turns out... they were the wives, concubines, and daughters of the Shu Han generals that Hu Lie and his men had slept with during the conquest of Yang'an Pass!

Upon seeing these people, Hu Lie's expression changed drastically! Cold sweat immediately broke out on his forehead!
Holding a party during military operations is a violation of military law, and anyone caught doing it will be executed.

However, in actual practice, military law couldn't be strictly enforced. After winning a battle, it was common practice to throw lavish parties with the wives and concubines of enemy generals; Cao Cao particularly enjoyed this.

Therefore, although Hu Lie's actions violated military law, they were a taboo "custom" within the army. Everyone enjoyed doing this, but it couldn't be discussed openly!

"Hu Lie, are you still going to try to deny it?"

Zhong Hui asked in a cold voice.

"This humble general... has nothing to say."

Hu Lie sighed, knowing he had been defeated by Zhong Hui this time. "Li Bao, Yang Xiu, and who else?"

Zhong Hui looked around at his generals and asked in a stern tone.

No one dared to answer, or even plead for Hu Lie, let alone Yang Xiu, Li Bao, and others who had participated in the silver party.

The fact that the military was holding a lavish party was something that couldn't be discussed openly. Even if the case were taken to Sima Zhao, the result would be the same. It had to be dealt with as a warning to others!

Hu Lie and his ilk are acting without self-respect, running right into Zhong Hui's line of fire. They have no one to blame but themselves.

"Guards! Take Hu Lie and these other criminals who have committed lewd acts and violated military discipline away!"

Zhong Hui roared, and the curtain behind him was lifted, with dozens of personal guards wielding ring-pommel swords rushing out. Two guards were responsible for escorting each general. Soon, more than a dozen generals who had participated in the silver party at Yang'an Pass, including Hu Lie, Li Bao, Xu Yi, and Yang Xiu, were all taken away.

The already somewhat crowded command tent suddenly had almost half of its people gone!

"Gentlemen, let's continue eating!"

Zhong Hui said without changing his expression, "The remaining generals, including Shi Shouxin, looked around the empty seats in the military tent and felt that the wine in their cups had changed taste."

……

The banquet ended late at night, and the generals filed out, leaving Zhong Hui's command tent.

A trap set specifically for certain individuals has come to an end. Shi Shouxin, a mere bystander, witnessed Zhong Hui entertaining his guests and then suddenly launching an attack to arrest them.

These people all look like the generals who held the silver party at Yang'an Pass, but upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that they were all people who had clashed with Zhong Fang when the plank road was being built on the Baoxie Road.

Except for one Yang Xiu.

Zhong Hui was ruthless and had the upper hand, leaving even Wei Guan speechless. Who told Hu Lie and his group to be so careless and let someone exploit their weaknesses? They only had themselves to blame for being careless.

There are far too many people who know about the Yang'an Pass silver party; it's impossible to fool them.

When Shi Shouxin returned to his tent, it was already late at night. Exhausted, he lay on his cot, closed his eyes, and his mind was filled with replays of the banquet that night.

I watched it over and over again, just like watching a movie.

"No, no, no, this is really wrong!"

Shi Shouxin shook his head nervously, his whole body filled with tension and fear.

He is now certain that this scene would never have occurred in his previous life.

Zhong Hui only turned against Hu Lie and his group after entering Shu! But they're still in Hanshou, so how could... how could Zhong Hui have made a move?
What exactly changed history?

Shi Shouxin stood up and paced back and forth inside the military tent.

His greatest asset in coming into this world was his grasp of the "historical trend," but now, something that shouldn't have happened has actually happened.

So where does the problem lie?

The unknown future filled Shi Shouxin with apprehension, like someone who had always used a cane and suddenly lost it, becoming completely unable to walk.

"Commander Shi, is something amiss?"

Meng Guan, who was standing still to the side, asked, looking at Shi Shouxin who was almost as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, somewhat puzzled.

"It's nothing, I just think Zhong Hui's behavior at the banquet tonight was strange."

Shi Shouxin forced a smile.

Under the dim light of the oil lamp, his face was covered in sweat, whether from the lingering heat of the military tent or from his excessive nervousness, it was hard to tell.

Shi Shouxin took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.

Then reflect on the whole story.

Zhong Hui's actions were clearly aimed at eliminating dissidents and seizing military power. So, with so many generals in the army, who were Zhong Hui's "dissidents"?

Zhong Hui had very few friends in this army; you could count them on one hand. So it was pointless to try to figure out who his confidants were; almost no one was his staunch confidant.

The answer to the problem lies in identifying who Zhong Hui wants to eliminate as soon as possible.

Shi Shouxin thought for a moment. Even he, who had publicly contradicted Zhong Hui, was not considered a "dissident." So how could Hu Lie and others be considered dissidents?
The answer probably doesn't lie in the conflict at Baoxie Road, but rather... yes, it's the informant!
Shi Shouxin was suddenly startled, and his mind became clear!

Yes, it was definitely a whistleblower letter!

At this moment, Shi Shouxin had figured out Zhong Hui's motives. Many of the people who had thrown the party had written letters of denunciation to Wei Guan, asking him to deliver them to Sima Zhao. As for the others being punished as well, that was Zhong Hui's way of covering up his true purpose.

In other words, the unlucky ones who are caught in the crossfire.

Hu Lie, Yang Xiu, and others, all of them wrote letters of denunciation to Sima Zhao. The wooden box containing the letters of denunciation was taken from Shi Shouxin by Zhong Hui's men.

Of course, Du Yu also wrote a letter of denunciation, but he did not attend the silver party. So Zhong Hui sent Du Yu away and then, taking advantage of the situation, had him escort Zhuge Xu back to Chang'an.

Just send it away; there's no need to make excuses to deal with it!

Shi Shouxin is now certain that the so-called dissidents Zhong Hui eliminated were those who wrote letters of denunciation, saying that Zhong Hui was plotting a rebellion!
Shi Shouxin also realized that he himself had not written the letter of denunciation. Therefore, in Zhong Hui's view, this little Karami was someone who could be won over.

Those who wrote the letters of denunciation clearly weren't on Zhong Hui's side! They must be dealt with!

So why didn't anyone write a letter of denunciation in the previous life?
He may have written it, but it was written after they entered Shu. The dislike that the generals in the army had for Zhong Hui was very likely caused by him as the military supervisor!

Because of his previous actions, Zhong Hui's prestige in the army was further diminished, and people rebelled against him sooner, which led Zhong Hui to take action earlier!
The butterfly effect means that even a small change can influence history, let alone such a large-scale action.

This is probably a case of shooting oneself in the foot. Of course, he wasn't the only fool; Wei Guan was also overconfident, never expecting Zhong Hui to be so ruthless.

"Ugh!"

Shi Shouxin plopped down on the cot and let out a long, melancholy sigh.

(End of this chapter)