Jinting Han people

Sima Yi visited Liu Xian on the afternoon of the Jia-Yin day of the tenth month.

The weather that year was extremely cold. Several days of snowfall had blanketed Xingyang in a silvery white. Although the snow had subsided somewhat that day, the chill in the air lingered. As soon as people stepped outside, the biting wind would numb their faces, hands, and feet. Looking around, the trees were withered and desolate, the dark clouds overhead resembled towering mountains, and the boundless snow piled up like a spider web. This bleak scene made it hard to breathe.

However, the streets were crowded. After all, the war had ended and there were no new military orders, so the soldiers had nothing to do and finally got a day or two of leisure. Some were feasting in taverns, some were gambling and cockfighting in the streets, and some were buying horses and changing clothes at the market, making it very lively. However, when they saw the Prince of Changsha's carriage going out, most of them had strange expressions. Although they did not dare to point or whisper, the whispers and discussions still caught Sima Yi's attention.

Sima Yi naturally knew the reason, which was nothing more than Liu Xian's claim of illness, which made him feel uneasy.

Since the uprising at Changshan, Liu Xian and Sima Yi have been cooperating for four years. Four years is neither a long nor a short time, just 1,500 days. But it must be said that these four years have been turbulent and full of upheavals, from the campaigns against Zhao and Qi to the rebellion of the princes this year, which plunged Jiangnan into chaos. Looking at the history of the Wei and Jin dynasties over several decades, neither the struggle between Emperor Xuan of Jin and Zhuge Liang in the Guanzhong Plain nor the three rebellions in Huainan during the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing could be as thrilling as these four years.

Logically speaking, the two had survived such a difficult four years, and their alliance should have been unbreakable. How could they have turned against each other in just over ten days? Sima Yi himself found it somewhat unbelievable.

However, after numerous political upheavals, after Sima Ying's betrayal, and after listening to Sima Yue's analysis and evidence, Sima Yi could not help but look at Liu Xian with new eyes.

This heir to the Duke of Anle, renowned for his loyalty and filial piety, had spent over a decade navigating the treacherous waters of officialdom, rendering invaluable service to the Sima clan's rule. But was he truly a loyal subject of the Sima family? Was he truly devoid of any desire for power? Sima Yi had never deeply considered this question before, but now, he sensed several ominous signs: Liu Xian's interference in the personnel matters of the Imperial Guards, his almost abnormal bestowal of favors to cultivate prestige, and the subtle connections he maintained with the people of Hedong and Luoyang…

Such is the nature of human relationships: once trust is broken, it is almost impossible to return to what it was before, especially when so much evidence points to one fact. But reality is not just about trust. Even if Sima Yi realized something was wrong, the two were already so closely intertwined that they were inseparable. They were bound together by fate, and the cost of breaking ties was unbearable.

Therefore, this is precisely the time for people to compromise.

Upon arriving at Liu Xian's courtyard, Sima Yi alighted from his carriage and, under the pretext of visiting him, knocked on the door to announce his arrival. Soon after, the gate opened. Faced with Sima Yi's personal visit, Meng Tao and the others were powerless to stop him and quickly opened the gate to welcome him inside. They then led Sima Yi in alone.

Sima Yi then saw Liu Xian on his sickbed, which greatly surprised him.

To confirm his illness, Liu Xian had fasted for four days, leaving him emaciated and withered. The bloodstains on his bedding were also genuine; Liu Xian had cut his arm and repeatedly smeared the blood on the bedding. All these actions resulted in Liu Xian's extremely poor health when Sima Yi visited him; his limbs trembled uncontrollably with the slightest movement, though his eyes remained relatively bright.

Sima Yi knew that Liu Xian was faking illness and had planned to reprimand him in person. But seeing him go to such lengths, he was speechless. He stammered by the bedside for a long time before finally saying, "Please take care of yourself, Lord. The chaos is not yet over, and I will have to rely on you a lot."

Liu Xian remained calm. The feeling of fasting was indeed unbearable, but it also made his mind exceptionally clear. Hearing that Sima Yi had arrived, he was quite pleased. He squinted at Sima Yi and, after looking at him for a long time, slowly said in a hoarse voice, "Your Highness is overthinking it. I am fine and will be better after a few days of rest."

Both were speechless for a moment. Sima Yi, upon seeing him, felt a pang of sympathy, rendering many of his prepared remarks useless. Liu Xian, on the other hand, had much to say, but lacked the strength to speak. However, since they had met, they still tried their best to exchange pleasantries, attempting to ease the awkward atmosphere between them.

This attempt ultimately failed, or rather, both of them clearly realized that the barrier and rift between them was something that could not be bridged no matter how hard they tried. Just like the chilling air outside the door, many words that were originally on their lips condensed into needles, stuck in their throats, unable to be uttered.

After all, this is politics, and people often only have one chance to fail—that is, death. Once a weakness is exposed, failure may follow. Under these circumstances, sincerity is a luxury.

So after talking for a while, the two were still talking about unimportant topics, exchanging riddles and witty remarks, except that Sima Yi did more talking and Liu Xian did less.

Liu Xian first asked Sima Yi, "Your Highness, what is the situation in the south now?" He had been staying at home and refusing visitors for the past few days, so he was somewhat unaware of the latest developments.

When this topic came up, Sima Yi sighed and said, "It's a long story, with both good and bad aspects!"

While the imperial guards in Luoyang were simultaneously resisting the Western and Northern armies, the war in the south was also continuing.

After Liu Hong, the governor of Jingzhou, executed Li Chen, the rebellion in Jingzhou was not yet completely quelled, and there were still displaced people causing trouble everywhere. Political means were urgently needed to pacify and govern the region. Before the displaced people were fully settled, Liu Hong was unlikely to be able to leave Jingzhou and head north.

The situation in Yangzhou remained dire. Shi Bing, the leader of the Restoration Army, had practically seized control of the entire city. After Li Chen's defeat, he dispatched troops to take over the reins of the Shenfeng Emperor and continued his northward advance, his forces poised to strike at Xuzhou. Fortunately, a new force emerged in Shouchun. Commander Liu Zhun submitted a memorial praising Chen Min, a rising star among his generals, a man of both literary and military talent who had repeatedly offered him advice, contacted influential figures in Jiangdong, and effectively amassed troops and supplies. With Chen Min resisting Shi Bing, the Restoration Army was successfully contained in the Huainan region.

Influenced by the Restoration Army, the refugee rebels in Yizhou experienced a remarkable resurgence. Previously, under the combined attack of Yizhou, Jingzhou, and the Western Expeditionary Army, the Yong-Qin refugees were on the verge of extinction. However, with the chaos in Jingzhou and the Prince of Hejian's deployment of troops to Hongnong, two of the three enemy forces were diverted. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Li Xiong's refugee army, under the guise of surrender, launched a surprise attack on the Jingzhou army, inflicting a crushing defeat. They then expanded their territory, restoring the former territory of Li Te and confronting Luo Shang in Chengdu.

Overall, although the state recovered Jingzhou, the situation in Yizhou deteriorated again. The gains and losses are truly difficult to assess.

After introducing the situation in the south, Sima Yi took this opportunity to ask Liu Xian, "When will you be able to recover from your illness and return to work? You are currently very busy with official duties. The court has just taken over Yuzhou and will soon be taking over Yanzhou. We need a pillar of the state like you to share the burden of the country!"

Liu Xian simply shook his head slightly and said, "In matters of governing the people, I am no match for Duke Lingzhou (Fu Zhi). Why does the General ask me?"

Sima Yi, being exceptionally intelligent, immediately understood Liu Xian's implication: Liu Xian still refused to comply with his suggestion to transfer him to the imperial court and still wanted to lead troops to quell the rebellion. This was not the answer Sima Yi wanted to hear, which angered him somewhat, yet he felt helpless. After all, the initiative was now in Liu Xian's hands, and his purpose in coming today was to discuss a solution. After considering this for a moment, Sima Yi decided to first hear Liu Xian's opinions and conditions, and said:

"So what exactly are your thoughts, Lord Prefect?"

Unexpectedly, Liu Xian coughed twice, glanced at Sima Yi, and instead of answering the question directly, suddenly began to tell a fable:

"In the ancient North Sea, there was a mythical beast. When it was young, it was a fish called Kun. Kun was so big that no one knew how many thousands of miles it was. When it grew big, it transformed into a bird called Peng. Peng's back was so big that no one knew how many thousands of miles it was; when it flew in anger, its wings were like clouds hanging from the sky."

This is a story about Zhuangzi that everyone knows, and Liu Xian's sudden mention of it at this moment seems a bit abrupt. What exactly is he trying to say? Sima Yi was somewhat bewildered, so he could only calm down and listen to Liu Xian continue:

"When it takes human form, it will borrow the power of the heavenly winds and seas to soar upwards on a whirlwind, covering ninety thousand miles, traversing the clouds, carrying the blue sky on its back, and then flying south, from the North Sea to the South Sea, another ninety thousand miles. People marvel at the size of the Kunpeng, which blots out the sun, but they do not know why it flies south. Does Your Highness know the reason?"

Sima Yi, of course, did not know, and asked, "What is the reason?"

Liu Xian opened his eyes and said, word by word, "Your Highness, although the North Sea is vast and the sky is boundless, it can only accommodate one Kun and one Peng. When the Kun is young, it roams the sea and the Peng spreads its wings in the sky, so there is no obstruction. But when they grow up and take human form, the two Pengs will fly together in the sky, and then they will be separated by the sky and never see each other again."

Upon hearing this, Sima Yi's expression changed drastically. He abruptly stood up, gripped the sword at his waist, and stared intently at Liu Xian.

At this point, Liu Xian's story's purpose became clear: he likened Sima Yi to a Kun (a mythical fish), and himself to a Peng (a mythical bird), their former alliance being like the Kun soaring through the sea and the Peng flying in the sky—invincible and unbreakable. But now the most critical crisis had been averted, and Sima Yi was no longer the same, having also become a Peng soaring through the heavens. Therefore, the two could no longer coexist. Either they would kill each other, or one of them would leave, ending this alliance.

But political matters can't be resolved so easily, especially during wartime, when people are either friends or enemies. To Sima Yi, this was tantamount to Liu Xian admitting he wasn't a loyal subject of the Jin dynasty. After parting ways, what would their identities be upon their next meeting?
Therefore, Sima Yi did not go on a hunger strike, but his voice became even hoarser than Liu Xian's. After a long silence, he said as if talking to himself, "Can't two roc birds coexist..."

Liu Xian responded with a calm gaze. His purpose in forcing Sima Yi to come over was simply to have a chance to be alone with him. Sima Yi had things he dared not say, but for Liu Xian, it was easy, because his conscience was clear. In the past fourteen years, no one had been more worthy of the Sima family's empire than him. Sima Yi had saved his life, and he had saved Sima Yi's life several times. If it were a matter of life for life, blood for blood, then this debt of gratitude should have been repaid enough.

Sima Yi was fully aware of this. Internal strife within the Jin dynasty, with the Sima clan repeatedly killing each other, led to constant conflict across the land. It was truly unbelievable that Liu Xian, a descendant of the Han dynasty, had supported him to this day. If Liu Xian wanted to leave, not only could Sima Yi not blame him, but even a thousand generations later, no one could criticize Liu Xian.

But that doesn't mean Sima Yi could accept it. Even though he was mentally prepared, he still couldn't accept it when he actually heard those words: the person he had always thought was so impartial and honest actually had his own selfish motives.

Sima Yi silently walked to the window, opened it, and saw the snow piled up in the courtyard outside. Sleet began to fall slowly from the sky again. There was almost no wind, but he could still feel a chill drifting in from outside the window, making Sima Yi's heart tremble.

Sima Yi stood there until his limbs went numb before turning around and asking, "Where will this Kunpeng fly to?"

Liu Xian struggled to sit up and said, "Let's go to the Kunlun Mountains in the west. Ferocious beasts roam there, and there is constant chaos. Someone is needed to deal with it."

Liu Xian had already made up his mind. He planned to return to Hedong with Suo Jing and others, first pacify the Prince of Hejian and Zhang Fang in Guanzhong, and then lead his troops into Shu. In this way, he would also solve the western border troubles for Sima Yi, allowing him to concentrate on consolidating the Central Plains and quelling the rebellions in Jiangnan. From any perspective, this proposal could be considered a win-win situation.

But Sima Yi's heart wavered. The Prince of Hejian was certainly a serious threat, but compared to Liu Xian, who had been exiled, he seemed insignificant. Or rather, in Sima Yi's eyes, none of the rebel armies or bandits in the entire land were as terrifying as Liu Xian. Given Liu Xian's martial prowess and reputation, if he were to exile him, who in the world could possibly resist him? This would undoubtedly be irresponsible towards the Jin dynasty.

But what good would it do to keep him? Liu Xian was practically out of his control. Forcibly keeping him by his side, just as Liu Xian himself said, would be difficult to manage. In the end, it would only result in mutual destruction, benefiting the King of Hejian and his faction. Did he really expect the King of Hejian to revive the dynasty? That was undoubtedly another joke.

Faced with this difficult dilemma, Sima Yi pondered for a long time. Suddenly, he realized something and resolutely said to Liu Xian, "My lord, this roc cannot fly away!"

Liu Xian was startled by this answer; it was not what he wanted to hear. He straightened up to look at Sima Yi, meeting the gaze of the Prince of Changsha, and listened as he spoke:
“I don’t know what ambitions this Kunpeng has, or how high or far it wants to fly, because I am not a Kunpeng. I only know one thing: I am the son of Emperor Wu! I am the current emperor assisting in the government! The state, the ancestral temples, and the vast land all rest on my shoulders. Others may be unworthy descendants of the Sima family, but I cannot. Many things, whether they can be done or not, must be done by me! If I do not do them, no one else will!”

Sima Yi's eyes were like iron, and his words were as sharp as knives. He said, "Lord Liu, you are an indisputable meritorious official. Since you are a meritorious official who is beneficial to the country, I cannot do anything to you. But I can tell you, as long as I live, the Sima family's empire will be as stable as a rock. Even if Cao Cao were to be resurrected, he would not be able to shake the country in the slightest!"

"Soon, the imperial edict promoting him to Grand Commandant will arrive, regardless of whether the Prefect agrees or not, or whether he lives or dies, the outcome will be the same."

This was the pride of the Sima family. The last time Liu Xian felt this kind of unyielding stubbornness was with Sima Wei. Liu Xian also fell silent. Looking at Sima Yi's straight back and thin lips, he felt as if he had returned to the White Horse Temple fourteen years ago. He couldn't help but think: They really are alike. They really are brothers from the same father and mother.

As a result, Liu Xian's plan failed. He did not obtain military power upon his trip to Xingyang, but instead found himself under house arrest.

However, this house arrest did not last long, not even two days. The reason was simple: the very next day after Sima Yi made his decision, news arrived from He Pan in the west: after a long stalemate, Zhang Fang suddenly launched an attack, capturing Yiyang in a single day, and then advancing westward, his army now at the gates of Luoyang. (End of Chapter)