Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 96 A Word of Wit Scares Away 100,000 Soldiers

On the training ground of Zhao Family Fortress, Meng Guan and Zhao Lun were fighting, their blows landing squarely.

Shi Shouxin, who was watching with great interest, pointed at Meng Guan and asked Li Liang, "What do you think of General Meng's Tongbei Quan?"

"He must have received guidance from renowned teachers from a young age, which makes him quite extraordinary."

Li Liang smiled and said that he had obviously recognized the boxing style Meng Guan was using as the widely circulated Tongbei Quan, which was especially common in the Hebei area.

"It's just that the boxing technique Zhao Lun used is unrecognizable."

Shi Shouxin said thoughtfully, "Zhao Lun looks like a big, clumsy guy. His punches are powerful and his movements are simple, just like a man who doesn't know any boxing techniques swinging his fists."

However, his waist and stance are perfectly coordinated, and his footwork and fist techniques are perfectly matched. He uses the power of his lower body to enhance his fists, making his punches powerful and swift.

Although he threw few punches, each one that landed was enough to make Meng Guan stagger, making it quite a spectacle.

"This is the Western Liang Fist style that came from Liangzhou. Zhao Lun is quite skilled."

Li Liang added from the side.

Unexpectedly, while they were talking, Zhao Lun was punched to the ground by Meng Guan, clutching his stomach and groaning incessantly.

"Looks like he's tired of acting too."

Shi Shouxin sighed, stepped forward, and personally helped Zhao Lun up.

Acting is really tiring. Shi Shouxin could tell that Meng Guan's skill wasn't in his fists, but rather in using weapons. He was no match for Zhao Lun with his bare hands.

"Looking for a place to chat?"

Shi Shouxin looked at Zhao Lun, who was covered in soot, and asked.

"General Shi, this way please."

Zhao Lun gestured for him to proceed.

Meng Guan approached Shi Shouxin, a fleeting look of shame crossing his face, but he didn't say anything.

Although he "won" just now, it's clear to everyone who's really better.

The group arrived at the house where the Zhao family lived. The layout here was very similar to the Shi family mansion that Shi Shouxin had seen in Luoyang, only it was not as large.

The main family and the branch family, the Zhao family and the retainers, all lived separately. The retainers' houses were similar to the communal dormitories in Shi Shouxin's previous life, all single rooms. Those people farmed, ate, and trained together, in a special dining hall.

It can be said that it is highly organized and is essentially an army.

After they sat down, Shi Shouxin looked at Zhao Lun and asked, "Do you have any questions or concerns? If not, I'll give you a day to prepare. We'll return to our Baishuiguan post after a day. If you have any questions, ask them now, don't hold back!"

I didn't expect Shi Shouxin to be so straightforward, without any politeness at all.

Zhao Lun thought for a moment, seemingly hesitant. He glanced at Li Liang, who nodded slightly, so Zhao Lun asked, "I have only one question: after the conquest of Shu, where will the people of Zhao Family Fortress be settled?"

He may seem like a rough man, but his questions get straight to the point.

Shi Shouxin glanced at Zhao Lun with some surprise, thinking to himself: The Zhao family's ability to survive in Hanzhong is by no means a fluke, nor is it solely due to force.

"If nothing unexpected happens, it should be Qingzhou."

Shi Shouxin replied in a deep voice.

Li Liang glanced at him with some surprise; this was the first time he had heard such a statement. In fact, during the negotiations last night, Shi Shouxin had not informed them where they would be placed.

“Our family has five hundred private soldiers at our disposal.”

Other tenants and retainers are not included.

These people are all at General Shi's beck and call.

Zhao Lun said very "humbly". At first glance, it seems very ordinary, but these 500 people are basically off-the-job. They only participate in field work during the busy farming season. At other times, they are training and do not participate in the daily management of the farmland.

“That’s excellent. I’ve already sent General Liu Qin to the Baocheng granary to transport the grain. When he returns, we’ll meet him ten miles east of Yang’an Pass.”

Tomorrow you will bring five hundred soldiers to the Li family to join them, along with supplies and provisions.

Shi Shouxin gave the instructions.

Zhao Lun nodded without objecting. Just then, a loud drumbeat suddenly sounded outside.

Shi Shouxin's face instantly darkened as he looked at Zhao Lun.

The man who was in charge of the Zhao family looked completely astonished, having no idea what had happened.

"What's going on outside? Why is there such a loud drumbeat?"

Shi Shouxin looked at Zhao Lun and asked in an unfriendly tone, on the verge of exploding.

"General Shi, I don't know either. Why don't we go to the top of the wall together and take a look?"

Zhao Family Fortress is incredibly sturdy; it cannot be breached by just anyone.

Zhao Lun said confidently, trying his best to appear calm.

He was actually in a complete panic and had no idea what had happened.

Shi Shouxin neither agreed nor disagreed, and got up to walk outside.

Li Liang anxiously grabbed Zhao Lun, his face showing reproach, but Zhao Lun shook his head and sighed, seemingly wanting to say something but not knowing.

The group climbed to the top of the city wall, which was built of wood and stone, and looked down. They saw a dark mass of Wei soldiers dressed in black uniforms.

The flag bearer carried a huge military flag with a single character written on it: Tian (田).

"The government troops are demanding grain. Open the city gates immediately! Anyone who refuses will be executed, not even a chicken or a dog!"

Someone shouted from the foot of the mountain, their attitude very arrogant.

Shi Shouxin looked at Zhao Lun and asked, "You've gone this far, have you thought about how to end this?"

"General Shi, I really have no idea which group they belong to!"

Zhao Lun immediately groaned in distress, almost bursting into tears. His expression certainly didn't seem feigned.

"Meng Guan, call out to them to send one of them up."

Shi Shouxin gave instructions to Meng Guan.

"Order!"

Meng Guan's expression was subtle; he hadn't expected to be surrounded by Wei troops here. To be honest, neither he nor Shi Shouxin had anticipated this turn of events.

"One of you come up here and speak!"

Meng Guan shouted, and a bamboo basket was thrown down from the mountain path wall one level below the city gate.

There was complete silence below the city; there were no shouts or movements, as if they were discussing something.

"I'll talk to you later. You all step aside and don't say a word."

Shi Shouxin gave instructions to Zhao Lun.

"Uh, okay, okay, I'll do whatever General Shi says."

Zhao Lun stepped aside, pretending to be Shi Shouxin's bodyguard.

Before long, an officer dressed in Wei army uniform and wearing half-body lamellar armor was put into a basket and lifted up. He was not carrying any weapons and was taken to the city wall by Zhao Lun's clansmen.

"Tell me, how much grain do you want to collect?"

Before the man could speak, Shi Shouxin asked in return.

"General Tian didn't say anything, he only asked you to open the city gates so we could take what we needed and leave."

The Wei army officer dared not be presumptuous and spoke cautiously.

That's right, it seems that the Wei army outside can easily flatten this place.

However... that doesn't mean he can return alive. Even if the Zhao family's retainers are weak, killing one of them would be more than enough.

If the Wei army manages to seize the grain but the Wei general himself dies, what is the point of seizing the grain?

What use is a world without him?

"Who is your commander? Tian Zhang?"

Shi Shouxin questioned him without any politeness.

This...this isn't right!
"Yes, this is General Tian Zhang. May I ask who you are...?"

The messenger sent by the Wei army asked with suspicion, "Anyone who can be a messenger must have good judgment. This man in front of me doesn't seem like the head of a local tyrant in Hanzhong."

Or perhaps he'd never seen such an arrogant local from Hanzhong. "Who I am is none of your business!"
I'm writing a letter to Tian Zhang now. Take it back with you and leave immediately!

Shi Shouxin roared at the messenger and turned to leave. Before leaving, he instructed Meng Guan, "Keep an eye on him, I'll be right back!"

After saying this, under Zhao Lun's guidance, Shi Shouxin wrote a letter in his post inside the city gate tower.

After finishing the letter, Shi Shouxin didn't show it to Zhao Lun. Instead, he went directly to the city wall and handed it to the Wei army messenger.

"Take it back and show it to Tian Zhang. You can leave now."

Shi Shouxin gave the order impatiently.

His arrogant attitude made the Wei messenger uneasy. If he didn't have powerful backing, no one would dare to be so cocky in front of him!
"Okay, okay, I'm leaving now."

The messenger spoke as he prepared to head down the mountain.

"Wait a minute."

Shi Shouxin suddenly spoke, and Zhao Lun immediately stepped in front of the Wei army messenger.

"According to Wei military law, give him ten lashes to teach him a lesson. Oh, and remember to take his pants off and beat him right here on the city wall, so everyone below can see!"

Shi Shouxin snorted coldly and turned to leave.

He had no interest in seeing a buttock beaten raw, let alone a man's buttock.

The messenger was beaten with ten strokes of the military rod, limped down the city wall, and was then carried back in a basket.

Zhao Lun, Li Liang, and the others looked at Shi Shouxin with expressions of horror.

That display of power just now was truly effortless and exhilarating, but was it really without any price to pay?
Li Liang leaned closer and asked in a low voice, "General Shi, are you sure there's no problem?"

"Don't worry, when Tian Zhang comes out later, I'll slap him across the face, and he won't dare to fight back!"

Shi Shouxin said nonchalantly.

Slapping Tian Zhang might not be necessary, but displaying an arrogant demeanor is essential.

Right now, in the entire Zhao Family Fortress, only Shi Shouxin is not afraid. The others are already incredibly thick-skinned if they haven't wet themselves in fear.

Half an hour passed, and no one knew what the Wei generals below the city were discussing; they seemed to have been petrified.

They did not send anyone to negotiate, did not return to the camp, did not attack Zhao's fortified village, and even refused to eat or drink.

He just stood there, dumbfounded.

They weren't embarrassed, but Shi Shouxin on the city wall felt embarrassed.

Finally, a Wei general stepped forward and shouted to the city wall, "Lower the basket and pull me up!"

Shi Shouxin raised an eyebrow, turned to Zhao Lun, whose face was covered in cold sweat, and ordered, "Bring him up, prepare a room, and prepare a set of writing implements."

"Order."

Zhao Lun accepted the order and left anxiously, utterly bewildered as to how he was going to clean up this mess. What were those Wei soldiers doing here…? Was it even a question? They were there to wipe out entire families!

Before long, the Wei general reached the top of the city wall. Upon seeing Shi Shouxin, he bowed and said, "This humble general is Tian Zhang. I did not know that Supervisor Shi was here. My apologies. Supervisor Shi, why are you not resting at the main camp? What business do you have at this fortified village?"

His attitude was so humble that it was almost abnormal, which greatly surprised Meng Guan, Li Liang, Zhao Lun and others standing to the side.

"Take a look at this first."

Shi Shouxin handed the letter of appointment given to him by Sima Zhao to Tian Zhang for his perusal.

The official titles of Wei Jun didn't mean much, but the words "acting as an imperial envoy" and "Silitai" made Tian Zhang's scalp tingle.

His already humble expression was now tinged with bitterness.

I didn't check the almanac before going out today, and I actually ran into a brick wall!
Tian Zhang secretly regretted that he had come to Zhao Family Fort today. Why hadn't he come a few days earlier?
"Let's go in and sit for a while."

Shi Shouxin sighed softly and led Tian Zhang into the city tower. The latter, like a child who had made a mistake, didn't dare to utter a sound.

The two men sat down at the stone table, and Shi Shouxin dismissed all other irrelevant people. He looked at Tian Zhang and said with a half-smile, "What's this? The war against Shu is not over yet, and the Grand Commander is preparing to enter Shu, but you're already neglecting military affairs and trying to make a living in various places in Hanzhong?"

Upon hearing this, Tian Zhang was immediately terrified. After a moment's thought, he chuckled and said, "I have elderly parents and young children at home, and the soldiers are all looking forward to rewards. How about Supervisor Shi makes an exception and just pretend I never came today?"

"Look at what you're saying! I have the responsibility of supervising the army and serving as the Commandant of the Capital Region, investigating any illegal activities within the army. You bring so many people out here, so many eyes watching, and then you tell me nothing happened today?"

First, your military mission is to besiege Seoul, so what are you doing here today with so many troops?

Secondly, the Grand Commander has ordered that the powerful clans of Hanzhong should only be dealt with after the campaign against Shu is over. What are you trying to do by acting without military orders?
Third, even if it was plunder, all the people, livestock, wealth, and land obtained had to be handed over to the imperial court for unified distribution.

General Tian wouldn't be thinking of pocketing it all, would he?

Shi Shouxin looked at Tian Zhang with an expression as if he were an idiot and asked in return.

"No, no, absolutely not! Please, Supervisor Shi, show mercy!"

Tian Zhang was truly terrified; all his schemes had been seen through at a glance. The problem was, he hadn't revealed a single thing!

“Write a letter of repentance, sign it, affix your seal and fingerprint, and leave it with me. When you get home, I will put it away carefully and bury it under a tree in my mansion.”

Heaven knows, Earth knows, you know, I know, but the Duke of Jin, the Commandant of the Capital Region, and the Grand Commander all don't know.

However, if I find that you continue to act without restraint, then this letter of apology will be given to the person who should read it.

"You'd better watch yourself then. If there are any problems, explain them to them yourself. Don't come looking for me!"

Shi Shouxin sighed, picked up a calligraphy brush from the brush holder, and handed it to Tian Zhang.

Holding the calligraphy brush, Tian Zhang felt as if his hand weighed a ton. Writing this "confession" meant that Shi Shouxin had leverage over him. This matter might seem insignificant on ordinary days, but it could be fatal in a critical moment!

Just as Tian Zhang was about to start haggling, Shi Shouxin shouted angrily, "Do you believe that in a couple of days the Grand Commander will send men to your army to arrest you? He's just looking for someone to make his name, and I think your head is just the right size! What else do you want to say? Do you want us to split the wealth here 50/50?"

"Supervisor Shi, let's talk this out! I'll write it down right away, I'll write it down right away. I absolutely have no other intentions!"

Tian Zhang was so frightened he almost wet himself. What he had done wasn't a huge deal, but he couldn't afford to give anyone a handle against him. If Shi Shouxin really went to Zhong Hui's side, it was hard to say what would happen to his men, but losing his head was a certainty.

Zhong Hui was just looking for someone to kill! He had long wanted to sacrifice a few military generals!
Not only Tian Zhang knew about this, but almost all the generals in the army also knew about it.

Tian Zhang wrote furiously and finished the letter of apology in no time. Shi Shouxin looked it over and over again, felt there were no problems, nodded slightly, and stamped it with the seal of the Silitai (Imperial Censorate).

This means that the people of Silitai have reviewed it and it is not a false accusation document found from somewhere.

"General Tian, ​​let me just give you a heads-up."

Well, your family isn't exactly a prominent or wealthy one, so I'm not trying to make things difficult for you.

As for military law, if it's a little lenient, I can pretend I didn't see it.

But these wonderful things in Hanzhong have already been targeted. Don't be tempted to touch things you shouldn't.

This is for your own good, understand?

Shi Shouxin patted Tian Zhang on the shoulder and said something, then put the confession into his sleeve.

"Thank you for your reminder, Supervisor Shi. I almost messed up a very important matter!"

Tian Zhang said, still shaken.

If he had harbored any resentment towards Shi Shouxin before, after hearing these words, all hatred vanished, replaced by boundless fear and lingering dread.

"It's alright, after all, we haven't made any mistakes yet."

"If you were Yang Xiu, I wouldn't say this. Anyway, he'd definitely get a share of what's in Hanzhong afterwards. But General Tian, ​​what about you…right? I'll leave it at that."

Shi Shouxin shook his head with a sigh, seemingly feeling sorry for Tian Zhang.

"Supervisor Shi, thank you so much. By the way, your father-in-law is the Censor-in-Chief, this matter wouldn't..."

Tian Zhang remembered that Shi Shouxin's father-in-law was the Censor-in-Chief, who was in charge of impeaching officials, and he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

"What exactly is this matter?"

Shi Shouxin asked in return, looking puzzled.

Tian Zhang suddenly realized what was going on and laughed loudly, "Yes, yes, it's nothing, it's nothing. I was leading my troops on patrol today and we got lost at the foot of Dingjun Mountain. Hahahaha, the marching guide really deserves a beating! Well then, I'll take my leave now."

After saying this, he respectfully bowed to Shi Shouxin, then slunk out of the room and quickly got into the hanging basket.

After Tian Zhang returned to his main camp, the dark mass of Wei troops below the city retreated like a tide, and soon not a single one remained.

Meng Guan, Li Liang, Zhao Lun, and the others on the city wall were dumbfounded. They had no idea what Shi Shouxin had said to the Wei general in that simple house.

I felt that the reputation of Luoyang Shi Gandang was indeed well-deserved.

He actually scared away thousands of soldiers with just his words.

(End of this chapter)