Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 122: The bottom overcomes the top (4)

The next morning, Liu Yue was filled with anxiety, worried that Shi Shouxin would send her back to Zhong Hui. However, her fears did not come true, and Shi Shouxin was also very busy, spending all his time in the military camp overseeing troop training, either inspecting the camp or listening to reports, and had no time to talk to Liu Yue at all.

In the evening, Qiu Jian came to find Shi Shouxin and conveyed Zhong Hui's message: Just keep Liu Shan's third daughter; she will be your personal property from now on, and there's no need to return her.

Shi Shouxin instantly understood Zhong Hui's unspoken meaning: I really need your help right now!

"Does the Grand Commander have urgent business to attend to?"

Shi Shouxin looked at Qiu Jian and asked in confusion. The latter nodded and said, "But it's not in the military camp, it's in another place. I'll take you there now."

"Well, let's go."

Shi Shouxin nodded and followed Qiu Jian out of the main camp, arriving at a carriage outside the central army camp. This location was close to the camp yet inconspicuous, making it a good place for a private conversation.

Shi Shouxin was somewhat curious, but he didn't say anything. He simply nodded to Qiu Jian and got into the carriage alone. After Shi Shouxin got in, Qiu Jian stepped back five paces, warily looking around to prevent anyone else from approaching.

Once inside the carriage, Shi Shouxin found Zhong Hui sitting alone. The narrow carriage was lit by an oil lamp, and the atmosphere was somewhat tense.

"Grand Commander, is something important happening?"

Shi Shouxin asked in confusion.

Zhong Hui nodded slightly, handed the silk scroll from his sleeve to Shi Shouxin, and then remained silent.

The letter was simple: Sima Zhao said he would appoint Jia Chong as the Governor-General of Hanzhong, to oversee all military affairs there. You (Zhong Hui) don't need to worry about that. Yang Hu and Sima You will be Jia Chong's deputies, each leading an army totaling 20,000 men. The existing forces in Hanzhong, including Tian Zhang and his 25,000 retainers, will all be under Jia Chong's command! You don't need to worry about that either.

Don't underestimate any single one; these troops combined number approximately 50,000. Their reasons for holding Hanzhong are open to interpretation.

However, for Zhong Hui, perhaps only the idiom "a thorn in his side" could describe his true feelings at this moment.

Sima Zhao neither dismissed Deng Ai from his post nor transferred Zhong Hui's troops. Instead, he deployed a large army in Hanzhong, placing a sharp knife firmly against Zhong Hui's back.

"Grand Commander, Duke Jin probably intends to send troops from Hanzhong into Shu. Meanwhile, all the troops under your command will be transferred away from Shu."

It's like an arrow on a bowstring, ready to be released at any moment.

Shi Shouxin revealed a situation that terrified Zhong Hui, yet was highly probable.

Sima Zhao did not intend to have the army that was going to conquer Shu stationed in the region, as this could easily lead to a situation where the army became too powerful to control. Yang Hu had always wanted to be transferred to a post outside the capital, and now that Sima Zhao had dealt with Zhong Hui and Deng Ai, it was possible that Yang Hu would be sent to Shu.

Given the Yang family's status, this arrangement is quite reasonable.

Shi Shouxin dared not take the history of his previous life as a creed, as everything could change, and he could not afford to be arrogant.

"Then, according to your plan, how should we deal with this?"

Zhong Hui frowned and asked. He had chosen to chat here today because the military camp was crowded and noisy, and the secret letter from Sima Zhao in his hand was somewhat dangerous.

“If Duke Jin only wants to mobilize troops, then he may simply do so.”

They even sent a military order to the Grand Commander, so it's clear that this troop mobilization was aimed at him.

Duke Jin hoped that the Grand Commander would take the initiative to back down and submit a letter requesting to return to Luoyang. If the Grand Commander had no intention of resigning, he should make plans as soon as possible.

Shi Shouxin said in a deep voice, his words already quite blunt.

In fact, Zhong Hui knew everything, but he just didn't want to say it and didn't dare to take that step.

"I know what you're saying all too well, but I just haven't thought of a good way to break this deadlock."

Zhong Hui sighed in a mocking manner.

Shi Shouxin almost slapped him across the face.

"Grand Commander, have you not heard of Lord Chunshen of Chu, who suffered the consequences of indecisiveness? Now that disaster is imminent, Grand Commander, you actually choose to remain silent and observe the situation?"

Shi Shouxin bluntly rebuked Zhong Hui, saying that his words were already excessive.

Given Zhong Hui's past temperament, not drawing his sword would have been considered a sign of his good mood.

However, at this moment, Zhong Hui kept explaining:
"If I want to deal with Deng Ai and lead my troops into Chengdu, what excuse can I use? I can't just bring out Empress Dowager Guo's last edict now, can I?"
What if Hu Lie and his ilk outwardly comply but inwardly defy me, or even defect to Deng Ai and help him arrest me?
If I let Jiang Wei take action, once his troops move, the Wei troops from Luoyang and Guanzhong will definitely move as well, and then I won't be able to control them.

Duke Jin has no intention of dealing with Deng Ai now. If I really start a fight with Deng Ai, what if Duke Jin summons us both back to Guanzhong for questioning and leaves Jia Chong to guard Shu?
After the military order was issued, should I accept it or not?

His rapid-fire questions truly exemplify the ancient saying, "He is good at planning but lacks decisiveness."

Shi Shouxin couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

At this point, why are you overthinking things? Just go for it!
For a moment, Shi Shouxin didn't know how to explain the current situation to Zhong Hui.

No matter what he said, Zhong Hui could always find a loophole. He could never win a verbal battle against Zhong Hui!
Someone like Zhong Hui, who had never experienced the trials of battle, would never understand that decisiveness is far more important than strategic planning. Decisiveness without strategy is a gamble, while strategic planning without decisiveness leads to missed opportunities. Zhong Hui's problem was his inability to make a decision at crucial moments.

"Grand Commander, I have already expressed my thoughts. As for how to break the deadlock, I have no good ideas. I still have military affairs to attend to in the camp. I will take my leave now."

Shi Shouxin bowed to Zhong Hui, then got off the carriage and left alone.

Zhong Hui was upset and didn't chase after him to ask questions. Even if he had, he wouldn't have known what to say.

Back at his own camp, Shi Shouxin had just entered the military tent where he slept when he saw Liu Yue sitting on the bed, seemingly waiting for him.

"General Shi seems to be in a bad mood today."

Liu Yue was dressed much more conservatively today, in the same uniform as the personal guards, which made it easier for her to move around the camp.

"It's just a lament that this young man is not worth discussing things with."

Shi Shouxin sighed, he never expected that Zhong Hui would be so unprofessional in making decisions on the spot.

"Go and rest. You don't need to stay here to serve the emperor."

Shi Shouxin waved his hand gently at her.

Liu Yue opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but seeing that Shi Shouxin's mood was not good, she quietly left the military tent.

Shi Shouxin lay on the simple cot and quickly fell asleep, but he did not sleep well that night, his mind filled with images of blood and swords.

When the moment came, he was under immense pressure! Especially when he encountered someone like Zhong Hui, who only knew how to think but not how to act, he had to be pushed forward.

Shi Shouxin didn't know how long he had slept when he was suddenly awakened by a nightmare in the middle of the night. When he woke up, he found that he was covered in sweat and his clothes on the back were soaked.

He immediately lost his sleepiness and got up to inspect the camp.

Li Liang has returned, and the letter has been delivered to Qiao Zhou, but in such matters, man proposes, God disposes.

Will Liu Shan agree? Will he be betrayed by those around him? Will Deng Ai make preparations in advance? Will Meng Guan's operation fail and he fail to pick up the person?
One problem after another, if you don't think about them carefully, you'll find they're full of flaws. They're all jobs that are either too heavy to handle on a scale of three or four ounces or a thousand pounds.

Shi Shouxin walked with his head down, lost in thought, when suddenly a tent blocked his way.

He looked up and saw that it was a newly pitched tent from yesterday, meant for Liu Yue to live in alone.

After thinking about it, I decided not to go in.

Shi Shouxin patted the guard who was dozing off at the door. When the guard saw Shi Shouxin, he was about to leave when Shi Shouxin made a shushing gesture and then left without saying a word.

This is a matter of life and death; now is not the time to indulge in romantic pleasures.

Although Shi Shouxin was extremely agitated and longed to have some pleasure with a woman, he still restrained his impulse.

He wanted to win; he didn't want to lose all his chips over something so trivial!

Even if Liu Yue were to lie naked on his bed before Liu Chan was brought back to the main camp, Shi Shouxin would absolutely not touch that woman!

The next day, Liu Qin arrived in Fucheng with a thousand soldiers. After Shi Shouxin arranged their camp, he took Liu Qin to see Zhong Hui and reported the situation in Jiange.

When Liu Qin told Zhong Hui that Yang Hu had led 10,000 troops to take over Jiange, the Grand Commander instantly flew into a rage! He threatened to execute Liu Qin for disobeying military orders!
Shi Shouxin earnestly advised Zhong Hui to calm down and not to publicize the matter.

Yang Hu commanded 10,000 troops and carried Sima Zhao's military orders. Liu Qin only had 1,000 troops guarding Jiange. How could he possibly stop Yang Hu?
Behind Yang Hu stood Sima Zhao, while Jia Chong was reorganizing his army in Hanzhong, having already incorporated the 20,000 troops that Zhong Hui had left in Hanzhong to besiege the cities of Han and Le.

Liu Qin was used to being bullied, so when he saw Zhong Hui's fury, he calmly took out Jia Chong's handwritten letter, handed it to him, and then waited aside for his fate.

In his letter to Zhong Hui, Jia Chong said:
I was ordered by the Duke of Jin to take over the defense of Hanzhong and accept the surrender of the Shu army.

Now that Jiang Bin and others in Han and Le cities have surrendered, the situation in Chengdu is said to be quite calm, and there is no need for too many troops to be stationed there.

With over 100,000 troops under your command and no enemies to deal with, you should return to the capital as soon as possible and let Deng Ai take charge of military affairs in Shu.

Staying in Shu would only waste money and resources, a futile effort.

As for civil affairs in Sichuan, the central government will send people to take over; that's not something you need to worry about.

This letter can be summed up in four words: "Discard the millstone after it has served its purpose!"
"Supervisor Shi, Liu Qin has disobeyed military orders. Take him away and give him fifty lashes as a warning to others."

Zhong Hui said weakly to Shi Shouxin, having lost all interest in continuing the conversation.

"Yes, Your Excellency. I will carry it out immediately."

Shi Shouxin secretly gave Liu Qin a wink, and then took him away.

(End of this chapter)