Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 128 Hongmen Banquet (Part )
The next day, Zhong Hui ordered the central army soldiers to go to the Fucheng drill ground for a military exercise. After the exercise, the soldiers were rewarded within the city. Qiu Jian led a team to take all the central army soldiers, except for the personal guards, out of the camp.

No one doubted it, and no one harbored any resentment. Because the so-called drills were just for show. The war was over, no more battles would occur, and everything was merely a facade.

Soldiers who have spent many years in the military understand this best.

The key to this trip into Fucheng lies in the "rewards" after the drills, which, to put it bluntly, means providing wine and meat for a feast!

This action proves that the victory is imminent. They'll soon be returning home in triumph; how could they not be happy?

So everyone was quite relaxed and didn't find Zhong Hui's actions strange. Even though the order was somewhat unconventional, they didn't pay much attention to it.

In the morning, the central army entered Fucheng. After noon, Shi Shouxin led his troops to take over the central army camp and secretly replaced the insignia with those worn by the central army soldiers.

For example, a "scarf" with a red cloth strip around the neck.

With this disguise, outsiders cannot distinguish the real from the fake without careful examination.

Shi Shouxin entered the central command tent and saw Zhong Hui writing a letter. Seeing him arrive, Zhong Hui placed his brush on the brush holder and asked with a smile, "How's the matter going?"

"Preparations are complete. My troops have taken over the central command camp. As for matters within Fucheng, I can only entrust them to Qiu Jian."

Shi Shouxin said in a deep voice, without a smile.

"If things don't go well, go to Jiang Wei's camp to seek reinforcements. If the news leaks out, the troops under the command of the various generals may attack the central army."

"You have too few troops; they might not be able to hold them off."

Zhong Hui sighed softly and said, "In everything, there's always a 'what if' factor."

This is the worst-case scenario: the commanders of each army come to the central command tent for a meeting, and their respective troops, upon receiving news of their generals' detention, fear that they too will be purged, and thus become anxious and uneasy.

If someone stirs up trouble, these people might band together and rush to the outside of the central army camp to demand an explanation from Zhong Hui.

That is, a mutiny.

Shi Shouxin's forces were too small; they could only control the attending generals and their personal guards. They couldn't necessarily stop the others from attacking the central army camp.

"Grand Commander, the arrow is on the string and must be released; it has already come to this point."

Shi Shouxin practically roared, fearing that Zhong Hui would back down at this critical juncture.

"Don't worry, I've already made up my mind. The banquet will proceed as scheduled tonight."

"You can stay here for now. Oh, and bring Liu Shan to the central camp as well, just to avoid any unforeseen complications."

Zhong Hui gave the instructions.

“I will go and bring him here right away.”

Shi Shouxin bowed to Zhong Hui and then turned to leave.

He finally breathed a sigh of relief after stepping out of the military tent.

With his own personal army, he had the resources to make strategic plans.

Whether it's the Feast at Hongmen tonight, the abduction of Liu Shan to Zhong Hui's army, or even taking Liu Yue as a concubine, without a reliable army under one's command, none of these things are possible.

Tonight, we must quell the noise in the military; it's also a step towards turning the tables and making things happen at will!
Shi Shouxin walked towards the headquarters camp, his fists clenched, his spirits high and his fighting spirit full!
……

While Shi Shouxin and Zhong Hui were having a secret talk, Liu Shan and his daughter Liu Yue were also talking, but the atmosphere was somewhat tense and not as harmonious as before.

"My father (Zhuge Liang) taught me to read people by their faces. He said that some women who are obsessed with sex will have a seductive look on their faces."

The Prime Minister said, "I must stay away from such a woman! Otherwise, she will cause trouble because of her neglect of her duties."

Look at yourself now, you're exactly the kind of woman the Prime Minister described. Don't you know any shame?

Inside the military tent, Liu Shan reprimanded Liu Yue with a stern expression, adopting the demeanor of an old father and showing no politeness whatsoever.

To be fair, compared to the messy affairs of the Cao Wei and Eastern Wu royal families, the Liu family, under Zhuge Liang's strict supervision, maintained a very upright family style. During Liu Shan's decades-long reign, there were no major troubles within the family.

The passionate "romance" between Liu Yue and Shi Shouxin these past few days might not be a big deal in other families, but it's quite outrageous in the Liu family. Especially since Shi Shouxin is a general in the Wei army, an invader, and an accomplice in the conquest of Shu.

You, a princess of Shu, are enjoying yourself so much in the bed of an invader. What kind of behavior is that? Don't you think it's despicable?
"Father, should I resist? What if he strangles me?"

Liu Yue retorted irritably, leaving Liu Chan speechless with her retort.

Indeed, as Liu Yue said, given the courteous treatment Shi Shouxin had shown her, how could she not serve him well in bed?
When others are kind to you, you don't appreciate it.

What might happen next is that Shi Shouxin would become enraged and ultimately allow this powerful general to throw her to his subordinates for their pleasure.

It's easy to imagine how terrible it will be then; Liu Shan is just talking without understanding the situation.

In other words, now that things have come to this point, Liu Yue has no choice but to take the initiative.

However, Liu Yue also knew what Liu Chan was angry about. It was the letter she wrote that persuaded Liu Chan, which is why he came over.

When the results came, it was discovered that Zhong Hui was not cut out for great things at all, and Liu Shan immediately felt that he had been deceived by his daughter.

Since he couldn't vent his anger on Shi Shouxin, he could only vent it on Liu Yue. What else could he do?
Saying that men and women shouldn't have sex is just an excuse.

“Father, you should understand what kind of person Shi Langjun is now. I am already his woman.”

We've been having so much fun together these past few days that I might already be pregnant with his child. What can I do now?

From now on, I'll be living with him in Luoyang.

Liu Yue complained with a wronged expression.

She was a weak woman with no other means of making a living. In this world full of wolves, she could only rely on a strong man to protect herself.

To please the other person, one should naturally take advantage of being young and beautiful, and maximize that advantage.

What's wrong with that?
"When you left the Fei family, you were very protective of Fei Gong. How come you've changed so much in just a few days?"

Liu Shan sighed deeply. He still preferred the quiet and virtuous Third Sister of the past. "Father, in the past, your daughter was ignorant and didn't know what was good for her."

After getting to know Shi Langjun, I realized what a true great man is.

Please don't bring up the past, okay?
I genuinely like Shi Langjun; I wasn't forced into it by him.

Father, you don't need to worry. You really won't need it.

Liu Yue said softly, sounding a little shy and embarrassed.

Seeing her "fallen in love" and infatuated look, Liu Chan was stunned.

This scene reminded him of a past event.

Thirty years ago, Hu, the wife of the high-ranking official Liu Yan, went to the palace to congratulate the Empress Dowager on the New Year. The Empress Dowager kept Hu there, and Hu left the palace and returned home a month later.

Lady Hu was very beautiful. Liu Yan suspected her of having an affair with Liu Chan, so he beat her and then divorced her, causing a huge mess.

In fact, Liu Yan's suspicions were reasonable, or rather, he guessed correctly.

On her very first day in the palace, Lady Hu caught the eye of Liu Shan, and the two enjoyed a month of blissful happiness in the harem!

Where would a minister's wife stay for a month to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday? Even a fool could figure out what was going on.

Back then, Liu Shan took a fancy to Lady Hu, brought her into his bedroom, and the two consummated their relationship.

Of course, there's nothing to say about that; men are sometimes like that—they can't control themselves when they see a beautiful woman.

Liu Shan felt that he had only made the mistake that every successful man is prone to make.

It's only human nature.

Strangely, although Hu was slightly reluctant the first time, she became unusually excited and proactive when she was favored later, just like Su Daji.

You would never guess she was a married woman.

Hu Shi not only did not feel ashamed of betraying her husband, but actually enjoyed the affair! She naturally changed her mind and accepted Liu Shan's favor.

Liu Shan originally intended to take Lady Hu as a concubine, but the Empress Dowager strongly opposed it, and Prime Minister Zhuge Liang strictly prohibited it and issued a law prohibiting officials' wives and daughters from entering the palace, so the matter was abandoned.

No matter how beautiful Lady Hu was, she was still just a woman. Liu Shan would not offend the Empress Dowager and Zhuge Liang for the sake of a woman!

Moreover, she was the wife of a minister.

In the end, Lady Hu reported Liu Yan to the authorities, and Liu Shan "had no choice" but to have Liu Yan executed in the marketplace.

Zhuge Liang also took the opportunity to abolish the custom of officials' wives, daughters, and mothers coming to court to celebrate, which can be regarded as nipping a problem in the bud and also cutting off Liu Shan's bad habit of seizing the wives and daughters of his ministers.

When Liu Shan saw Liu Yue today, he was reminded of Lady Hu from back then. Although they came from different backgrounds, they looked remarkably alike.

Indeed, cause and effect are swift and karmic retribution!
Women are born to depend on strong men. Once the men around them fail, they can quickly find new partners and adapt to new lives.

Liu Shan couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Just then, Shi Shouxin lifted a corner of the military tent and looked at Liu Shan, saying, "Come with me to the central command tent, right now."

For some reason, Shi Shouxin showed no respect for Liu Shan, unlike his attitude towards Liu Yue.

Just as Liu Yue was about to speak, Shi Shouxin instructed her, "You stay here and wait for me to come back tonight."

Hearing this, Liu Yue nodded, and seeing the other person's expression, she instantly understood. What to do when you get back tonight? What else can you do besides sex?
Of course, she had no idea that tonight might bring an unimaginable bloodbath, and that a single misstep could result in the deaths of countless people!

On their way to the central army camp, Liu Shan kept trying to say something, such as whether he should treat Liu Yue better in the future, or whether he should follow the army back to Luoyang.

But when Liu Shan saw Shi Shouxin's stern face, he couldn't say a word.

He had a vague feeling that a downpour was coming!
Upon entering the central command tent, Zhong saw Liu Shan and said with a smile, "General Liu, please sit down. How about we play a game of chess?"

The chessboard was already set up; could Liu Shan say no?

He looked flattered and bowed to Zhong Hui, saying, "That's wonderful."

"please!"

Zhong Hui handed the white piece to Liu Shan, indicating that he would go first.

Liu Shan was taken aback, but then concealed his dissatisfaction and did not show it on his face.

When inviting someone to play chess, it's customary for the person being invited to play black pieces first, not the other way around.

Zhong Hui was extremely domineering and had no intention of showing any courtesy to Liu Shan, the deposed emperor.

"Grand Commander, I will go and verify the details of tonight's banquet again."

Shi Shouxin bowed to Zhong Hui and said that he had no intention of standing here watching Zhong Hui play chess.

"Go ahead. If anyone asks, just say that the army is preparing to return to the capital and will hold a banquet to celebrate their victory."

Zhong Hui placed a black piece on the chessboard.

After Shi Shouxin left, Liu Shan asked in confusion, "Grand Commander, is there a banquet tonight?"

"Of course, tonight, we will determine Deng Ai's guilt!"

A cold glint flashed in Zhong Hui's eyes.

Liu Shan shuddered in fright. He had been emperor for decades, how could he not know such things? He was practically licking blood off a knife's edge!
You can make your own noise, why drag me into it?

Just as Liu Shan was about to get up and leave, still racking his brains for an excuse, he saw Zhong Hui ask with a half-smile, "General Liu, why haven't you made your move yet?"

(End of this chapter)