Jinting Han people

After a long silence, Sima Yi stared at Zheng Yan's face and finally sneered, "Chief Secretary Zheng, are you joking?"

Zheng Yan was truly remarkable. Under the intense scrutiny of so many eyes, he remained unmoved and calmly said, "Your Highness, what makes you say such a thing? This is my king's order. I am merely relaying the order. How dare I presume to make any comments?"

Both sides were now in a state of pressure. Sima Yi suppressed his anger and said sternly, "The local princes disobey the imperial edicts and want to kill ministers without cause. Instead of mediating, the Grand General is encouraging the chaos. What kind of logic is this?"

Zheng Yan replied calmly, “Justice resides in the hearts of the people. If Your Highness has truly done nothing wrong, why would you have incurred the opposition of two wise princes? I do not understand the reason, I only know that this is the truth. I urge Your Highness to reflect deeply on your mistakes.”

This statement is utterly unreasonable. Does having more people automatically equate to justice? How is this any different from bullying the weak? Sima Yi immediately flew into a rage, cursing Zheng Yan: "You scoundrel! What kind of talk is this? My sixteenth brother and I are blood relatives, brothers with a deep bond. You, as a high-ranking official, do not think of protecting the country from disaster, but instead incite brothers to kill each other?! If you dare to confuse right and wrong again, believe me, I will kill you with one blow!"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yan's eyelids twitched, and he immediately said, "Kill me or torture me, it's all up to you. I'm merely relaying my king's orders. If I die for my king's orders, the world will only praise my loyalty."

"What loyalty? He's nothing but a traitor!"

Sima Yi, unable to swallow this insult, immediately drew his sword from his waist and casually slashed at Zheng Yan's head. In the swift motion, Zheng Yan felt a lightness on his left cheek, as if something had fallen, and a wet liquid trickled down his temple. A sharp pain shot through his ear, and only then did he belatedly reach up to cover his face, wiping away the blood. It turned out that, in his rage, Sima Yi had severed his left ear!
As Zheng Yan screamed in pain and collapsed to the ground groaning, Sima Yi breathed a sigh of relief, then sheathed his sword and said coldly, "For the sake of my sixteenth brother, I'll spare your life. If you ever try to stir up trouble again, you'd better remember today!"

Then he summoned his guards, pointed at Zheng Yan, and said, "Get him out of here!"

Sima Yi's anger was so intense that his eyes were wide open, their pupils almost bursting, as if the glint in his eyes alone could kill. Even his advisors, who were surrounded by such a terrifying demeanor, had never seen anything like it before, and were filled with fear. Therefore, even though they knew Sima Yi's handling of the situation was inappropriate, they dared not offer any advice.

After Zheng Yan was thrown out, Sima Yi's anger subsided somewhat, and he immediately said to Liu You beside him, "Chengbo, help me write a letter. I need to discuss this matter with the General again immediately."

As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately denied it, saying, "No, I will write this letter myself. Everyone else can leave. Ji Gong, Yue Gong, Yang Gong, and Liu Fujun, you can stay and give me your advice after I finish writing it."

Sima Yi immediately summoned pen and ink, and while discussing with Liu Xian and others, he pondered the wording and quickly wrote an article, which is as follows:

"The late emperor, in accordance with the will of Heaven, governed the four seas, worked diligently and selflessly, and successfully established his imperial enterprise. The world was peaceful and prosperous, and his descendants were blessed. Sun Xiu rebelled and overturned the natural order. You rallied the righteous people and restored the emperor to his throne. The King of Qi, relying on his merits, indulged the wicked and rebellious. He withdrew from court without attending court, abandoned his relatives and used his captives, and betrayed the virtuous and appointed the wicked. The emperor was resentful and saddened, and he was soon eliminated."

"You and I are friends with ten others, born into the same royal family, and enfeoffed in the outer capital. None of us have been able to expound the royal teachings or devise long-term strategies. Now you have sent an envoy to Luoyang, your voice spreading throughout the court and the countryside, intending to join the Grand Commandant in raising a large army to kill meritorious officials and harm the common people. The capital region is filled with resentment. I have only ordered generals to demonstrate the power of the state and have no intention of harming each other. If we were to rise up in arms and fight our comrades, the generals would surely be thrown into ditches and the soldiers would be thrown into the mountains and valleys. Tens of thousands would die every day, suffering cruel and unjust deaths. Is it because the state's benevolence is not merciful, or because the use of punishment is constant?"

"The Zheng Yan you sent lacks loyalty to the country. His words are utterly unacceptable. It seems that those who rebel will retreat tenfold for every step they take forward. You should remain in your post to bring peace to the world, ensure your clan's honor, and bring blessings to your descendants. Otherwise, I am mindful of the pain of separation from my family, hence this letter."

In his writing, Sima Yi earnestly emphasized the fraternal bond and blood ties between the two men, earnestly advising Sima Ying to reconsider his actions and avoid bringing profound disaster upon the nation. He hoped that for the sake of the country and its people, Sima Ying would at least refrain from colluding with the Prince of Hejian. Otherwise, both sides would suffer, and who would ultimately be happy?

After writing the letter, Sima Yi immediately sent it to Ye City, hoping to salvage that glimmer of hope for peace. Moreover, to show his sincerity, the messenger he sent was no ordinary person, but Song Hong, who had followed him since Changshan.

But when Song Hong arrived at the outskirts of Ye City, he was met with a desolate and bleak scene.

On the west bank of the Zhang River, northwest of Ye City, the camps stretched as far as the eye could see, resembling an undulating mountain range. The Xuanwu Banner of the Northern Expeditionary Army fluttered in the wind, appearing from afar like a dark cloud overhead, and up close like a flock of migratory birds in flight. Countless armored soldiers moved through them, their long halberds like a forest. On the banks, tens of thousands of horses drank and galloped, their neighing as continuous as the flowing water. Boats were moored densely at the river mouth, and laborers were sweating profusely as they loaded provisions and supplies into the boats.

All these circumstances point to one reality: the Northern Expeditionary Army's campaign against the South has reached its final preparation stage.

After Song Hong entered Ye City, he delivered Sima Yi's letter to the Ye Palace. He did not have to wait long before guards came out to meet him. However, under the guise of guiding him, they actually escorted him. A dozen armored soldiers surrounded him and forcibly led him into the Hall of State Affairs.

Upon entering the hall, one could see over a hundred officials standing on either side, their splendid attire forming a forest. Inside, palace maids and warriors served, the maids holding colorful feathered banners and playing instruments, the warriors carrying red and black bows and arrows, axes and halberds, and three hundred golden-armored tiger-like warriors, forming a grand and imposing guard inside and outside the hall. When Sima Ying, the Prince of Chengdu, entered the hall, a palace maid timely struck a set of chime bells, the clear and melodious sound resonating throughout the hall, inspiring a sense of solemnity.

This was the Nine Bestowments bestowed upon powerful ministers. Although Sima Jiong and Sima Yi had both been granted the Nine Bestowments, they had never used them in daily life. Therefore, this was the first time Song Hong had ever seen them.

He had previously participated in the campaign against Zhao by the two kings and had also met Sima Ying, the Prince of Chengdu. But seeing him again now, he squinted for a long time and almost didn't recognize him. Compared to when Liu Xian met him two years ago, this general who remotely controlled the court had become much fatter. His once handsome appearance now looked somewhat greasy, his belly was protruding, and his legs and feet looked somewhat uncoordinated.

Clearly, Sima Ying did not waste his leisurely years in Ye City; his efforts in seeking pleasure were quite effective.

After Sima Ying took his seat at the head table, a guard handed him a letter. Sima Ying did not take it, but glanced at Song Hong and said, "Read it to everyone."

The guard immediately opened the letter and read its contents aloud to everyone. After the letter was read, the officials in the hall erupted in uproar. General Qian Xiu, for example, loudly rebuked him: "Has the General of the Flying Cavalry not learned his lesson? How dare he criticize His Highness! Has the recent victory in Jingzhou blinded him, making him forget who truly rules the world?!"

Li Yi, the governor of Ji Province, added, "His Highness is the true regent; whoever he wants to die, should die! By what right does the Prince of Changsha dare to disobey his orders?"

General Meng Chao of Weiyuan also said, "He has been in power for half a year and has made the world into this mess. Doesn't he know when to step down? While His Highness is benevolent, he should be sensible and abdicate to a more worthy person as soon as possible! Otherwise, he will end up in an undignified state!"

The commentators were numerous and full of flattery. On one hand, they praised Sima Ying's benevolence and military prowess, and on the other hand, they denounced Sima Yi's shamelessness and overestimation of his abilities. Their numbers and voices were so great that Song Hong was completely speechless.

Amidst such a public outcry, Sima Ying closed his eyes slightly and remained silent, which put the greatest pressure on Song Hong.

But Song Hong had not given up hope; he had not been unaware of this situation before he arrived. However, all the advisors of the King of Changsha who had participated in the campaign against Zhao believed in Lu Zhi's foresight and influence, and were convinced that if he could find a way to intervene, he could definitely turn the tide. Therefore, Song Hong searched diligently for Lu Zhi in the crowd, hoping he would step forward and speak on behalf of the King of Changsha.

Lu Zhi's figure wasn't hard to spot; he stood at the forefront of the officials, displaying his superior status. But even after Song Hong scrutinized him repeatedly, he almost didn't recognize him. The reason was simple: this "Sleeping Dragon of Hebei" looked dejected and indifferent, completely lacking the spirited and approachable demeanor of a few years ago. When he noticed Song Hong's gaze, he merely glanced back indifferently, as if sweeping away a speck of dust, saying nothing in response.

Instead, Lu Ji, who was standing beside him, spoke first. Lu Ji stepped forward and stopped everyone, saying, "Why are you all so anxious? No matter what, the Prince of Changsha is a regent, a brother of the emperor, and His Highness's brother. Whether he is right or wrong, it is not our place to discuss it. This is a matter of great importance concerning the country and the nation. Let His Highness decide for himself."

After he said this, the courtiers could not refute him, so they fell silent and returned to their seats. Then Lu Ji said to Song Hong, "Please wait a moment, Your Highness. After His Highness and I make a decision, we will inform you of the conclusion."

After Lu Ji finished speaking, he turned to Sima Ying and said, "Your Highness, there are some things I would like to discuss in private. I wonder if that is permissible?"

Sima Ying trusted Lu Ji's abilities and naturally agreed, "Alright! Let's go inside and talk."

Therefore, he and Lu Ji entered the inner palace without his permission. Apart from Meng Jiu, who remained with them, none of the other officials were allowed to participate in the private talks. Most of them, along with Song Hong, stayed outside the palace, awaiting the Chengdu King's decision.

This scene greatly surprised Song Hong: It's strange that Lu Ji, a man from Wu, could gain the trust of the King of Chengdu so much. Is this reasonable?
In fact, the officials in the palace all looked embarrassed upon seeing this, and began whispering among themselves, indicating that they had been harboring resentment for a long time.

The reason was simple: they had allied with Lu Ji to oust Lu Zhi out of jealousy of Lu Zhi's power and a desire for a share of it. However, after Lu Zhi was ousted, they didn't get what they wanted. Instead, Lu Ji, an outsider, took over the power of the Privy Council. How could they accept this? Lu Zhi, after all, was a meritorious official in the campaign against Zhao, while Lu Ji, who had made no contribution, held a higher position than Lu Zhi—how absurd!

The reason Lu Ji was so highly regarded was simple: no one who tried to compete with him in talent could match him. From the rise and fall of nations and the prosperity and decline of history, to specific laws, rites and music, official systems and clothing, astronomy, geography, yin and yang and the five elements, he was knowledgeable in almost everything. While others were still gathering their thoughts, he would deliver long speeches to Sima Ying, eloquent and fluent, often with unique perspectives and exceptionally ornate language.

In such a situation, after Lu Ji finished speaking, the others were often speechless, almost unsure whether they should speak. Seeing this, Sima Ying naturally fawned over Lu Ji like never before, asking him about everything.

Even a powerful eunuch like Meng Jiu, who enjoyed Sima Ying's absolute trust, couldn't help but feel a touch of jealousy seeing Lu Ji so outstanding. However, Meng Jiu knew that he couldn't bring Lu Ji down without finding a replacement, so he kept his feelings hidden. But the other unsuccessful officials of Ye City, repeatedly refuted by Lu Ji, couldn't help but harbor resentment and deep hatred for him.

Even knowing that Song Hong was there, some people couldn't help but sneer, "That scoundrel! What can't he say outside? Did he go inside to lick his hemorrhoids?"

This was indeed vulgar, but the scholars in the hall, known for their elegance and refinement, showed no disgust at the crude language. Apart from a few people like Lu Zhi, most of them burst into laughter, which shows how unpopular Lu Ji was.

As an outsider, Song Hong was naturally pleased with the infighting within the Northern Expeditionary Army. However, seeing it escalate to this point, he found it rather embarrassing. He thought to himself: Lu Ji's reason for discussing the matter with the Prince of Chengdu was probably to avoid causing further trouble for these people after revealing his plans.

It's just unknown what Lu Ji's attitude is towards the Luoyang court. Since he's at odds with these clamoring people, is there any chance for things to turn around?

After a while, Lu Ji finally came out from the back hall. He looked apologetic and bowed to Song Hong, saying, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. My king still needs to carefully consider General Piaoji's letter. I'm afraid we cannot send a reply immediately. Your Majesty may return to Luoyang first. In a few days, my king will definitely send an envoy to negotiate with General Piaoji."

Upon hearing this, Song Hong breathed a sigh of relief. Although the King of Chengdu did not immediately reply, such a conciliatory attitude at least indicated that peace was not entirely hopeless. Moreover, even if peace talks failed, he did not want to stay here any longer; the political atmosphere in Ye City was far too tense.

He left Ye City that night and rode back to Luoyang overnight to inform Sima Yi of the matter. Sima Yi was naturally relieved to learn that Sima Ying was still willing to continue negotiations. He said to the princess with relief, "My sixteenth brother is still my brother. If I can't even trust my own brothers in this world, who can I trust?"

So he focused on preparing for the war against the King of Hejian and waited for Sima Ying's reply.

Four days later, Sima Ying kept his promise and sent an envoy to Luoyang, claiming he wanted to negotiate with Sima Yi. However, this time, he did not make a big show of it. (End of Chapter)