Jinting Han people

When news of the failed assassination attempt on the King of Changsha arrived, Sima Ying was having a meal with several close confidants, including Lu Ji, Lu Zhi, and Qian Xiu, in the Wenchang Hall.

Seeing that others were present, the envoy leaned close to the King of Chengdu and whispered his report. After speaking, the envoy felt uneasy and glanced at Sima Ying. He saw that the king's expression was normal as he picked up his chopsticks to eat meat, as if nothing had happened. After finishing his meal, he put down his chopsticks and said to everyone, "Li Qiu's assassination attempt on the King of Changsha failed, disappointing my expectations."

Upon hearing this, all the officials present, except for Lu Ji, were stunned and their faces changed drastically. They had been unaware of this matter beforehand, only hearing that the Prince of Chengdu had sent envoys to negotiate peace with the Prince of Changsha. They had been reluctant to do so and had been gossiping amongst themselves, as a successful peace negotiation would mean losing their opportunity to achieve merit. Who would have thought that the Prince of Chengdu's purpose in sending envoys to Luoyang was actually to assassinate his own brother?

The only one with a different opinion was Lu Zhi.

Since being stripped of power, Lu Zhi had learned to remain silent, refusing to utter a word unless Sima Ying specifically asked. But now, a feeling that was neither anger nor sorrow welled up within him, finally making him unable to bear it any longer, and he spoke out, rebuking:

"Your Highness, how could you do such a thing?! No matter what, you and the King of Changsha are brothers. Gongshu Duan was disloyal first, and Duke Zhuang of Zheng lured him to his death, a fact still ridiculed by the world today. And yet you want to kill your brother without cause! If this gets out, the world will all condemn you for being unfilial. Once you lose faith, it is extremely difficult to win back people's hearts!"

Lu Zhi had always wished to cultivate the Prince of Chengdu into a virtuous and enlightened ruler. Especially after the campaign against the Prince of Zhao, when Sima Ying chose to heed Lu Zhi's advice, declining official appointments and voluntarily leaving Luoyang, he was almost infinitely close to achieving this goal. The world praised Sima Ying for possessing the wisdom and virtue of the Duke of Zhou; if he continued to govern diligently in Ye City, creating a peaceful haven amidst the chaos, his status as the emperor's younger brother would undoubtedly make him the popular choice.

However, with Lu Zhi's fall from power, Sima Ying's actions over the years have greatly disappointed Lu Zhi. He completely overturned the grand strategy that Lu Zhi had formulated for him, and instead, for his own selfish desires, he frequently put pressure on the court and repeatedly participated in the conspiracy of the Prince of Hejian, thereby ruining the image of a sage king that Lu Zhi had carefully cultivated for him.

By now, Lu Zhi had resigned himself to his fate, turning a blind eye to the corruption in Ye City and busying himself with civil affairs, hoping to at least maintain Sima Ying's popularity among the people. But how could he have imagined that Sima Ying would plot to assassinate his brother! If this got out, no matter how he tried to explain, it would be difficult to gain the understanding of the people.

But Sima Ying was quite dismissive. He waved his hand and said to Lu Zhi with a grin, "Oh, Zidao, don't be angry. It just didn't work out!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhi became even more furious. He slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "Your Highness, even if it succeeds, you must not do it this way! Otherwise, if everyone follows suit, how can the country enjoy lasting peace and stability?"

Lu Ji then spoke up, "Why must you be so alarmist, Chief Secretary Lu? Your Highness is doing this for the long-term stability of the country. If the army marches south and all troops are mobilized, countless people will die. Rather than so many innocent soldiers and civilians dying, if only the King of Changsha dies, peace can be achieved. Why not do it?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhi immediately knew that this must have been Lu Ji's idea to Sima Ying. The day Song Hong delivered the letter, he and Sima Ying had a secret meeting in the rear palace, presumably discussing this very matter. First, they feigned peace talks, then secretly sent assassins to kill him. It was a clever plan, but the result was that Sima Ying found himself in a disadvantageous position in terms of public opinion.

Thinking of this, he sneered, "With the East and West at war and Jing and Yang in turmoil, it is precisely the time for a sage king to govern all. Your Highness only needs to station your troops outside the pass, enter the court in civilian clothes, display your domineering power, and show the demeanor of a king. At that time, the trend will be irreversible, and how could the King of Changsha dare to resist? Your actions will only force the King of Changsha to rebel, which will truly harm the innocent!"

After a few rounds of arguing, Sima Ying quickly grew impatient. He waved his hand and said, "Both of you are ministers I trust. Why is it like this? Zidao, I agreed to this in the first place, so you don't need to blame Shiheng. If there's any fault, it's all my fault. Blame me!"

He added, "What's done is done, and there's no use in regretting it now. As for what to do next, I would like to ask you gentlemen to find a way to remedy the situation."

What other way could be used to remedy the situation? Lu Zhi was both angry and resentful. What he had just said was in the hope that Sima Ying would realize his mistake, distance himself from Lu Ji and Meng Jiu, and not rush into Luoyang for quick success, but instead focus on governing the people. As long as Sima Ying was not in a hurry to go to the capital, there was still room for maneuver.

But he knew that Sima Ying had no intention of obeying, and neither did the other officials of the Northern Expeditionary Army.

Figures like Qian Xiu, Shi Chao, and Li Yi were somewhat surprised by the Prince of Chengdu's killing of his brother, but upon reflection, they were actually pleased that the assassination attempt had failed. The failed assassination of Sima Yi signified a complete break between the two brothers, which meant that leading an army south to repeat the campaign against Zhao was now inevitable.

This was a golden opportunity for these officials to seize power and make contributions.

Therefore, Qianxiu unusually spoke up for Lu Ji, saying, "Chief Secretary Lu, what you said is not entirely wrong. If you don't do something, someone else will. Take the Prince of Hejian and Liu Huaichong, for example, didn't they also like to plot assassinations? This matter was flawed because of poor personnel selection and flawed planning, but what's done is done, and there's no need to dwell on it."

"In my opinion, the most urgent task should be to plan the southern expedition first."

Qian Xiu spoke with great confidence. In his view, he was the grandson of the famous general Qian Zhao, and since the reign of Emperor Wu, he had often participated in planning battles and had also participated in the campaign against Zhao, making certain contributions. Given that Lu Zhi had fallen out of favor, Zhao Xiang was seriously injured, and Zheng Yan had gone into seclusion, he was undoubtedly the best choice to lead the southern expedition.

Lu Zhi had nothing to say. The biggest lesson he learned from his fall from power was that the will of the people is hard to defy. To achieve anything against the majority, one must have the support of the supreme ruler, but he had long since lost that support and was powerless to change anything. He could only close his eyes in sorrow and ponder how to salvage the situation.

As expected, while Lu Zhi remained silent, Qian Xiu proposed the southern expedition, and the other officials present echoed his sentiments. In their view, war was an opportunity, war was military merit, and the current superior position of the Northern Expeditionary Army was all due to the victory in the last campaign against Zhao. As for the deaths in battle, that had been the case for thousands of years and was nothing to be surprised about.

This scene suited Sima Ying perfectly. With each word of praise from others, he nodded with secret delight, completely ignoring Lu Zhi's disappointed look. He stroked his chin and affirmed, "The people's hearts are in order! We should fight! However, as for how to march south and enter Luoyang, let's discuss it at the court meeting."

The news of the impending southern expedition spread like wildfire throughout the city. Upon learning this, the officials of Ye City frantically pulled strings, hoping to use the opportunity to plead with the King of Chengdu in order to secure a better position in the expeditionary force.

Especially regarding the position of commander-in-chief of this army, everyone qualified wanted to compete for it. As a result, Meng Jiu's door was constantly visited by people such as Qian Xiu, Li Yi, Shi Chao, and Dong Hong, who all presented Meng Jiu with generous gifts, hoping that Meng Jiu would speak well of them to the King of Chengdu.

Surprisingly, Meng Jiu, who was always eager to amass wealth, politely declined the gifts. The reason was simple: Sima Ying had already decided on the marshal for the southern expedition, and it was none other than Lu Ji.

Although Sima Ying ultimately won the last campaign against Zhao, his generals still suffered a defeat at Huangqiao despite their overwhelming advantage, leading to a mutiny and Sima Ying's escape in the middle of the night. This humiliating experience was unforgettable for Sima Ying and made him extremely distrustful of his generals' abilities. Therefore, after entering Luoyang, he was determined to find a new general who could turn things around, and that's why he chose Lu Ji.

As the leader of the Lu clan of Wu Commandery, Lu Ji's father was Lu Kang and his grandfather was Lu Xun. Given his family's profound learning and the fact that this family was the most renowned general during the Three Kingdoms period, there was no reason for him not to believe in Lu Ji's talent. Moreover, in terms of theoretical military strategy, Lu Ji had been unparalleled since entering Ye, and even Lu Zhi was inferior to him.

Most importantly, Lu Ji had indeed accomplished a great deal in recent years. Sima Ying authorized him to rectify military discipline, conduct military drills in the northwest of Ye, lecture on military science, and train the army, all with remarkable results. Sima Ying, seeing this, naturally considered him the only suitable candidate to be the commander-in-chief.

However, when he mentioned this matter to Lu Ji in private, Lu Ji hesitated and did not agree immediately.

After pondering for a long time, he finally said to Sima Ying, "Your Highness, leading troops into battle has always been my dream, but in terms of the essentials of military strategy, I am afraid I am not suitable to be a commander."

Sima Ying asked curiously, "Why is that?"

Lu Ji said, “Sun Tzu said that there are five ways to win: He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot fight will win; He who understands the use of large and small forces will win; He who is united in purpose with his subordinates will win; He who is prepared for the unexpected will win; He who has a capable general and whose ruler does not interfere with him will win. These five are the ways to win.”

"But if Your Highness appoints me as commander in this battle, firstly, I am still relatively inexperienced in Hebei and I am afraid that I will not be able to win the hearts of the generals and achieve the same goal from top to bottom. That is the first point. If the generals do not achieve the same goal from top to bottom, they will fight their own battles. Some of them are eager for quick success and instant benefits and will go into battle without authorization. That is fighting a battle with a precarious situation when there is no one to fight. That is the second point. There are also some arrogant and conceited people who do not know how to fight but claim to know how to fight. That is the third point."

"With these three disadvantages, it will be difficult to win against seasoned warriors like the King of Changsha and Liu Xian." But Sima Ying sensed something was amiss. He laughed and said, "Shiheng has said all this because he's afraid no one will obey military orders! How about this, I'll entrust you with full military authority at the front. You'll have the power of life and death over the generals. Would they dare disobey you then?"

Lu Ji smiled wryly. He was deeply grateful for Sima Ying's trust and reliance on him. However, after spending time together, he also understood what kind of person Sima Ying was: although he was willing to delegate power and listen to opinions, on the other hand, the Prince of Chengdu was extremely easily swayed and lacked perseverance and independent judgment. Don't be fooled by his current good intentions; if someone whispers in his ear and no one offers a contrary opinion, he is very likely to change his mind and break his promise.

It was for this reason that Lu Ji suggested assassinating Sima Yi. He certainly thought it was a bad idea, but only in this way could he ensure his influence over Sima Ying.

But now that the assassination attempt has failed, someone has to take command of the entire army. Lu Ji didn't want to let this opportunity slip away, but he also knew he wouldn't be able to win over the troops. The inner turmoil and hesitation he felt was something he couldn't easily share with others.

In the end, his desire to lead the army overwhelmed all other thoughts, and he finally said to Sima Ying, "As long as Your Highness grants me a few requests, I will agree to lead the army south."

Sima Ying was overjoyed and clapped his hands, saying, "Shiheng, please speak freely!"

Lu Ji wore an extremely serious expression and slowly stated, "I want to establish three rules with Your Highness."

"Firstly, apart from me, none of the other vanguard generals are allowed to communicate with Ye City without authorization. If any such communication is discovered, Your Highness should immediately take action and remove the person from their post!"

"This is not difficult."

"Secondly, although our army appears to have a large number of men, the enemy is also formidable. This is not something that can be resolved in the short term. I hope you will not be impatient and will not urge me to go into battle."

"OK, alright."

"Thirdly, if others say that I have made a mistake, please do not rush to a decision, but listen to the opinions of Jiang Tong and Zao Song."

Upon hearing this, Sima Ying felt that none of them were difficult to do, and readily agreed, "I promise Shiheng that I will strictly abide by these three conditions."

At this point, Lu Ji made up his mind and agreed to Sima Ying's request to serve as the commander of the Hebei army.

On the day of Guiyou in September, Sima Ying formally convened a court assembly. In the magnificent Wenchang Hall, he publicly appointed Lu Ji as the Grand General of Hebei, concurrently serving as the General of the Rear, and commanding the seventy-four armies of Hebei to march south to attack Luoyang!

After the reading was finished, the military officers were in an uproar. Immediately afterwards, Qian Xiu, Shi Chao and others were filled with indignation, and many of them cursed loudly to show that they would never accept it.

Despite this predicament, Lu Ji remained calm. He stepped onto the platform, stood before Sima Ying, and accepted the seal from her. His hand trembled slightly upon receiving it, but he quickly regained his composure. Turning around, his entire demeanor transformed. His eyes shone with a blinding light as he stared intently at the generals below. Most dared not meet his gaze, and a hush fell over the crowd.

Only then did he raise his voice and speak slowly and deliberately:
"Gentlemen! I, Lu Ji, am aware of the many criticisms I have received for accepting this important mission. However, I am also well aware that the upcoming southern expedition is crucial to the safety of the entire land. I am currently walking on thin ice with trepidation!"

"But Lu Ji can assure you all that I will not abandon the army because of the perilous situation; I will not belittle or insult others because of my noble status; I will not prioritize personal gain because of my unique talent; and I will not be greedy for glory because of the soldiers' bravery. Lu Ji is willing to share weal and woe with you all and work together to restore the kingdom. I hope that you generals will give me your full support!"

"From this day forward, all military affairs in Hebei, from the highest heavens to the deepest abyss, shall be under the command of General Lu Ji! If General Lu Ji fails to lead his troops effectively or breaks his oath, His Highness will deal with him accordingly. However, if anyone in the army disobeys orders, General Lu Ji will also punish them according to military law! I will never break my word!"

Having said that, he raised the imperial seal above his head and bowed again to Sima Ying, saying, "Your Highness's will is my promise, and I will follow you to the death!"

These words were truly passionate and resounding, leaving everyone present deeply moved. Qianxiu and the others, who had originally intended to continue their commotion to hinder his inauguration, were now at a loss for words, ashamed of their own inadequacy, and unable to utter a single syllable.

Sima Ying was very satisfied with this. He patted Lu Ji on the shoulder and said slowly, "Shiheng, if you succeed, you will surely be made a Duke and promoted to the Three Excellencies!"

Lu Ji looked at Sima Ying and emphasized again, "Your Highness, in the past, Duke Huan of Qi employed Guan Zhong and achieved the feat of uniting nine states, while King Hui of Yan doubted Yue Yi and ultimately lost his almost completed enterprise. I hope Your Highness will not forget our agreement. Whether things succeed or not depends on Your Highness, not on Lu Ji."

Thus the investiture ceremony concluded, and everyone dispersed like wild geese, each with their own thoughts. Sima Ying, however, was in a relaxed mood. In his view, his task was complete, and the rest was the work of his ministers; he had no need to interfere. Therefore, he immediately ordered Meng Jiu to go to the Bronze Sparrow Terrace that afternoon to enjoy the female musicians.

After lunch, he leisurely arrived at the Bronze Sparrow Terrace, only to unexpectedly encounter an uninvited guest.

"Zidao, what are you doing here?"

Lu Zhi's appearance greatly surprised Sima Ying, because Lu Zhi was usually busy with state affairs and never showed up no matter how grand the banquets Sima Ying held. But at this moment, Lu Zhi was clearly present in front of the Bronze Sparrow Terrace, which was extremely rare.

Lu Zhi and Meng Jiu, who was not far away, exchanged a glance and smiled knowingly. Then Lu Zhi said, "What, Your Highness's banquet? Can't I come?"

"Haha, how could that be? Zidao, please sit down!" Sima Ying recalled all the past events. As long as Lu Zhi didn't stop him from indulging in pleasure, he still liked Lu Zhi very much. He immediately pulled Lu Zhi to sit down and sighed, "Zidao, you've come to complain about me, haven't you? Do you think I shouldn't have given Shiheng such an important position?"

Lu Zhi smiled and said, "How could I blame Your Highness? In my heart, Your Highness has always been the chosen one."

He then shook his head and sighed, “I am only dissatisfied with Lu Shiheng, how could he say such things in public? He actually compared himself to Guan Zhong and Yue Yi, and compared the prince who heavily relied on him to a foolish ruler. Is this how a subject should behave? Since ancient times, when a king commands generals and sends troops, the subject should keep to his place, obey the king above and unite the people below. He has no regard for the king's dignity. What is his true intention?”

Upon hearing this, Sima Ying was speechless for a moment, then became restless and resentful, completely losing interest in the graceful dancing singer before him.

Sima Ying couldn't distinguish between loyalty and treachery, but Lu Zhi understood that this was baseless slander, intended only to undermine Sima Ying's trust in Lu Ji. Lu Zhi had already figured it out: as long as Lu Ji remained in Hebei, his ideals could not be realized, and to get everything back on track, he had to eliminate Lu Ji. Therefore, he would ally with Meng Jiu, just as Lu Ji had done before, inciting the generals to secretly plot against each other, determined to make Lu Ji's efforts futile.

Even if it resulted in a crushing defeat at the front and the deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers, he would not hesitate.

But as he did so, Lu Zhi recalled the vows he made in his youth, and a wave of sorrow washed over him: the principles and bottom lines he had upheld for nearly forty years were now being broken by his own hands. Even he himself had subtly changed; could everything ever get back on track? (End of Chapter)