Jinting Han people

When Dong Ai arrived, Sima Jiong was already reviewing other people's suggestions. Seeing Dong Ai take off his shoes and enter, he patted the seats on his left, indicating that he did not need to bow and could take his seat directly. At the same time, he gave a signal to the maid, who immediately placed Dong Ai's favorite dried dates and dried persimmons on the table, and then dismissed the others.

As the most trusted man in Sima Jiong's mansion, Dong Ai was not a traditional scholar. He was eight feet tall, with strong limbs and agile movements. He walked with the force of a wild horse, and when he sat down, it was as if a huge rock had been dropped on him. He looked more like a typical warrior, self-assured in his bravery and arrogant towards everyone else.

However, the thought of Dong Ai's background inevitably creates a sense of contrast. Dong Ai was not from any military family, but rather a descendant of Dong Zhao.

Dong Zhao bullied Emperor Xian of Han and persuaded Cao Cao to abolish the Han system and reinstate the five ranks of nobility, making him a key figure in Cao Wei's usurpation of the Han throne. Therefore, during the Cao Wei period, the Dong family was a powerful and influential noble clan. Unexpectedly, Cao Wei collapsed in just forty years, and the Dong family's failure to align with the Sima clan led to their rapid decline. By the time of Dong Ai, they could no longer maintain the noble image of the scholar-officials and had to seek advancement through military merit, which undoubtedly drew ridicule from other high-ranking noble families.

Fortunately, the successful are not blamed. Dong Ai now seems to have succeeded on this path, once again reaching a high position of power. He does not regard abandoning literature for military service as a disgrace, but rather considers his military experience as his wealth.

After sitting cross-legged, Dong Ai said casually, "What brings Your Highness here?"

His posture was not very polite, even somewhat licentious, but Sima Jiong didn't mind. He just smiled and asked, "Has everything been going smoothly in the palace lately?"

"Nothing major, but it wasn't exactly smooth sailing either." Dong Ai slumped over the table, slapping her forehead with one hand, and complained, "Your Highness, as you know, most of the palace guards are commanded by princes and dukes. How can I possibly command them? They all dare to act arbitrarily when it comes to mobilizing the guards. I've been in the palace for five months now, following your orders and considering the overall situation, but I can't touch anyone. It's truly exasperating!"

Upon hearing this, Sima Jiong sighed and replied, "How could I not know what you're saying? That's exactly why I called you here."

At this point, Sima Jiong took out Zu Ti's memorial and handed it to Dong Ai, saying, "Take a look. This is Zu Shizhi's suggestion. What are your thoughts?"

Dong Ai took the persimmon with one hand and the other, eating and reading at the same time. After eating two persimmons, he finished reading.

Sima Jiong waited patiently by his side. When Dong Ai put down the document, he asked, "Well, what do you think?"

Dong Ai did not reply immediately. He lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then clapped his hands and said, "Your Highness, the idea is certainly a good one, but having experienced the war to defend the king, we should both know that what is written on paper is simple, but in reality, it is a different story."

"what do you mean……"

“Your Highness, if I were certain of victory, I would be willing to mobilize troops. However, the problem lies in the fact that whether we can achieve victory is still uncertain. If we cannot win, the situation will be unimaginable…”

"You mean I can't beat the River King?!"

Upon hearing Dong Ai's words, Sima Jiong was furious. Having already harbored resentment about his own lack of martial skill after reading Zu Ti's memorial, Dong Ai's blunt pointing it out only fueled his indignation. Under Sima You's tutelage, he had studied literature and martial arts since childhood, receiving congratulations and praise from those around him, who hailed him as a prodigy. He had always compared himself to a wise and virtuous king. Now, to be doubted as to whether he could defeat Sima Yong, who came from a collateral branch of the family, was utterly unacceptable to him.

Dong Ai understood that he had probably hurt his lord's pride. But the reason he was valued by Sima Jiong was always because he spoke his mind and never flattered. This was no different now, and he continued his analysis: "Grand Marshal, in matters of war, it's not necessarily true that having more people guarantees victory."

"In the campaign to defend the emperor, our army numbered 400,000, and the formation was magnificent! But in terms of results, it could not compare to the 100,000 vanguard troops in Hebei. And back then, when the Yellow Turban Rebellion was launched, how many more than a million troops were used? Emperor Ling of Han only used 50,000 to 60,000 elite cavalry to defeat them as easily as crushing dry leaves."

"As Han Xin once said, a person's talent is limited, and exceeding the limit is a burden. Even with Emperor Gaozu of Han's skill in warfare, leading 100,000 men to a decisive victory was already the limit. In the Battle of Pengcheng, for example, he led an army of 560,000. How could he possibly cover everything? In the end, he could only abandon his wife and children."

"And in the current government offices, does our army have anyone capable of commanding 100,000 troops? Grand Marshal, if I may be so bold, our army still lacks experienced generals, which is insufficient to fully utilize the advantages of our troops."

"On the contrary, the generals of the Western Expeditionary Army have been fighting against the Qiang and Di peoples for many years, and they are generally more capable than our side. They also have the advantage of terrain, so there is always a chance of victory."

After these remarks, Sima Jiong calmed down a bit. He agreed with Dong Ai's assessment, but was still somewhat unwilling to accept it. He asked, "It's normal for there to be wins and losses on the battlefield. How can we train a fighting army without fighting? I have so many troops at my disposal that I can afford to lose one or two battles. As long as we succeed in the end, who will remember these one or two defeats?"

“Things are different now, Grand Marshal.” Dong Ai didn’t mince words, stating directly, “If you leave Luoyang and suffer another defeat, will Luoyang still belong to the Qi family?”

Sima Jiong immediately realized the danger and repeatedly said, "You're right, Zu Shizhi's suggestion is unacceptable!"

Given the current situation, even with Sima Jiong holding absolute power in Luoyang, he is still facing numerous obstacles and rumors. If Sima Jiong were to lead his troops away from Luoyang and suffer another defeat, wouldn't these rats in Luoyang rebel? They would likely rise up in response immediately. At that point, the army's retreat would be cut off, and they would be doomed without a burial place.

Sima Jiong was already hesitant about sending troops, and upon hearing Dong Ai's analysis, a sense of frustration and annoyance quickly overwhelmed him. He complained, "How many people disregard the overall situation! How difficult it is to achieve peace throughout the land!"

Dong Ai originally wanted to say a few words of comfort to his lord, but Sima Jiong immediately pulled out a document and handed it to Dong Ai, saying, "This is a document from the chief clerk Wang Bao. His proposal is also very interesting. Take a look at it again."

Another one? Dong Ai was slightly surprised. He took Wang Bao's memorial and carefully read it through. At first glance, he couldn't help but marvel, exclaiming, "Grand Marshal, what a bold proposal!"

Wang Bao's memorial was short, only a few hundred words. He first summarized in the text: "I have been thinking that the Jin government has been gradually declining since the Yuan Kang era. No prime minister has ever lived to a ripe old age. This is due to the circumstances, and not necessarily because of any bad things."

This means that since Sima Yan's death, not a single regent has been able to die peacefully, which already demonstrates that the current political situation is so complex that it is beyond anyone's ability to resolve. He then points out Sima Jiong's dilemma: "Now, with his unrewarded achievements and the power to threaten the emperor, he occupies the capital alone and holds absolute power. If he advances, he will regret his overreaching ambitions; if he retreats, thorns will grow in his courtyard. Hoping for peace in this way, he does not know if it will bring him good fortune."

At this point, he finally got to the point, stating: "When King Wu attacked King Zhou, he enfeoffed the feudal lords as two hegemons. The area east of Shan was ruled by the Princess of Zhou, and the area west of Shan was ruled by the Princess of Zhao. By the end of the time, the hegemonic states were no more than a few provinces, and the powerful armies of the four seas dared not covet the Nine Tripods. The reason for this was that the world was accustomed to worshipping them."

"If we can truly uphold and implement the laws of Zhou, appointing Chengdu as the Earl of the Northern State, governing the kings and marquises of Hebei; and appointing Your Excellency as the Earl of the Southern State, overseeing the officials of the Southern Lands. Each should fulfill their duties, reside in their respective regions, cultivate virtue externally, and be loyal internally, leading their respective territories to pay tribute to the court at the end of the year. Selecting capable and virtuous officials to serve as the emperor's court officials will bring lasting peace to the four seas and bring great fortune to all nations. Your Excellency's virtue is as virtuous as that of Zhou and Zhao, ensuring the preservation of the state even in times of crisis and obstruction. However, Your Excellency should consider Emperor Gaozu's acceptance of Lou Jing's strategy and Zhang Liang's insightful plan, avoiding the perilous situation of facing the deepest abyss and securing the safety of Mount Tai. If this aligns with Your Majesty's thoughts, then Chengdu is indeed a suitable candidate."

Wang Bao's strategy was that since the political situation in Luoyang was an unchangeable deadlock, why remain there? He suggested following the precedent of the Zhou Dynasty, forcibly ordering all the princes in Luoyang to return to their homeland, relinquishing all court positions, and then dividing the entire country in two: the King of Chengdu ruling Hebei, and the King of Qi ruling Henan, each independent of the other. The King of Qi would then move the capital to Xuchang or Wancheng.

The core of this strategy can be broken down into three suggestions.

The first provision was to order the feudal lords to return to their respective countries.

The current chaos in Luoyang is largely due to the concentration of royal family members and princes there. These princes possess their own fiefdoms, enabling them to recruit talent and establish private armies, while simultaneously holding important positions in Luoyang. Furthermore, their extra-legal authority has created a complex political landscape in Luoyang, rife with intrigue and making peace impossible to guarantee.

Therefore, to completely eradicate this hidden danger, all the feudal lords and princes should be sent back to their fiefdoms. If they cannot speak in the court, then the new policies and reforms will no longer have so many concerns.

The second option is to move the capital.

When the country was unified, Luoyang, located in the center of the land, was the natural choice for the capital due to administrative efficiency. However, the country's unity is now merely nominal, effectively divided into three parts: Hebei, Henan, and Guanzhong. Luoyang has thus transformed from the capital into the front line, containing various dissenting forces. Staying there is clearly unwise.

In comparison, moving the capital would solve most of the problems. Wang Bao believed that returning to Xuchang, or making Wancheng the capital, would eliminate these troubles. On the contrary, it would allow for complete control over southern China, with officials all being loyal to the Grand Marshal's office.

The third one is to grant land and titles to earls.

Wang Bao's idea was to completely turn the emperor and officials into puppets, just like in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, sending them annual tributes and establishing a nominal court. The King of Qi then acknowledged the status quo, enfeoffing the King of Chengdu as the Earl of the Northern State and himself as the Earl of the Southern State. In this way, Sima Jiong became the de facto ruler of southern China. As long as he accumulated strength and recuperated in the south, he would inevitably achieve final victory.

These three strategies complement each other, and once implemented, they will thoroughly transform the empire from the inside out. Even all the administrative measures taken by Emperor Wu of Jin since the founding of the dynasty cannot compare to Wang Bao's memorial; no wonder Dong Ai called it bold.

After reading it, Dong Ai did not dare to comment immediately. He pondered for a long time before looking up and asking Sima Jiong, "Forgive my bluntness, Grand Marshal, if this document is to be implemented, it will offend tens of thousands of people. Can you make such a decision?"

It's easy to understand Dong Ai's doubts. Since such a suggestion would only benefit Sima Jiong, it would naturally shake the interests of the entire court. From the feudal lords to the civil and military officials, and even the imperial guards of Luoyang, almost no one would escape unscathed. Even within the Grand Marshal's residence, many would likely have objections.

Pushing such a grand undertaking forward would inevitably cause turmoil throughout the court and the country. It's conceivable that simply raising this document to the three ministries would unleash a torrent of opposition. Even further, instigating a mutiny in Luoyang wouldn't be impossible.

This requires those in power to have the resolve to suppress all opposition without hesitation in order to implement the policy.

Sima Jiong understood that he couldn't actually make up his mind, but the thought of success made him excited and reluctant to give it up. So, after much hesitation, he said, "I'm still hesitating, so I'd like to hear your opinion first."

Dong Ai shrugged and said, "Grand Marshal, although I was also moved when I first read it, now that I think about it, I would rather adopt Zu Shizhi's strategy."

The implication is that, compared to Dong Ai's advice, Zu Ti's ideas were probably more practical.

Sima Jiong thought for a while, and finally could only agree with a wry smile: "You're right. Although Wang Bao's writing is good, it's still too difficult to implement. Let me think of another way."

That's what he said, but in the days that followed, Sima Jiong couldn't come up with a better solution. He then thought of Wang Bao's memorial and frequently reviewed it. Unexpectedly, before Sima Jiong could even express his opinion, Wang Bao, who had submitted the memorial, couldn't hold back any longer. He immediately submitted another memorial, reiterating his position and claiming that Sima Jiong was in grave danger, repeatedly emphasizing:
"Moreover, since the Yuankang era, the problems of prime ministers have arisen from crises that emerge unexpectedly, leaving no time for reflection. Secret calamities lurk forth, often escalating into a moment of despair. How can one then expect to live a carefree life!"

Upon reading this, Sima Jiong broke out in a cold sweat and felt even more bewildered. He carefully read both memorials together and finally wrote a reply: "I have received your previous and subsequent memorials, but I still need time to consider their specific meanings."

After finishing the book, before the ink was even dry, a servant announced: "Grand Marshal, His Highness the Prince of Changsha requests an audience."

"Oh? The General of Chariots and Cavalry has arrived?" Upon hearing that Sima Yi had come to visit, Sima Jiong immediately put down his pen and paper and asked the gatekeeper, "What brings him here?"

"His Highness the Prince of Changsha said he came to report on the military situation in Yizhou."

"Alright, alright, I understand. Immediately invite General of the Cavalry over." Recently, the suppression of rebellions in Yizhou has been fraught with troubles, and Sima Jiong has no interest in this matter, so he has asked Sima Yi to handle it.

But hearing the heavy footsteps outside the corridor, Sima Jiong suddenly had a thought: Daydreaming is useless; why not show these two memorials to Sima Yi and test his attitude? (End of Chapter)