Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 146 Destruction and Rebirth (4)

Snowflakes fell one after another, first like willow catkins, then like goose feathers, dancing in the air.

On the morning of New Year's Day, a sudden and unexpected heavy snowfall blanketed the ground in white.

Shi Shouxin, draped in a black cloak, walked towards the Chengdu Imperial Palace, leaving deep and shallow footprints on the ground. Li Liang, dressed in a green Shu brocade robe, followed closely behind him, half a step behind.

Both of them remained silent, their faces bearing faint smiles, but clearly somewhat stiff.

Thinking about what might happen today, even the most composed person couldn't remain calm.

As they approached the palace, they were greeted by Xi Zuo, who was clad in leather armor. Behind him, the soldiers were also fully armored and carried swords, giving them a solemn and dignified appearance.

"Supervisor Shi, it is my duty to search you."

Xi Zuo spoke in a feigned manner, not to Shi Shouxin, but to Hu Lie, who was slowly approaching from behind Shi Shouxin.

"This sword is quite valuable, so you'd better take good care of it."

Shi Shouxin handed the sword that Shi Chong had given him years ago to Xi Zuo, his words carrying a double meaning. Xi Zuo placed it on a flatbed cart behind him and gestured for him to proceed.

The soldiers blocking the way made way, and Shi Shouxin led Li Liang forward with great strides.

Hu Lie sighed, handed his sword to Xi Zuo, and hurried after him.

"My dear brother, do you think anything might happen today, the New Year's Day?"

Hu Lie leaned closer and asked in a low voice.

"With me here, you'll be safe."

Shi Shouxin waved his hand gently, his face calm and composed.

Hu Lie sighed and said with some worry, "If you say that Zhong Hui is doomed, I will believe you without a doubt and sleep soundly. But if you say that we can survive before he dies, then I am a little worried."

"Brother, your son Hu Yuan is already in the army camp, ready for battle. What are you worried about?"

Shi Shouxin asked a pointed question.

Hu Lie chuckled but didn't respond. If he didn't even have this much caution, he wouldn't be fit to work in the army.

"Today should be a close call, but no real danger."

Shi Shouxin calmly comforted Hu Lie.

The two had arrived at the palace gate. Jiang Wei was on duty at the gate. When he saw Shi Shouxin and Hu Lie approaching, he calmly bowed and his attitude was very indifferent.

Hu Lie noticed that every soldier under Jiang Wei had a red silk ribbon wrapped around their right arm! This was standard equipment for launching a mutiny, used for friend-or-foe identification!
"Jiang Wei, all your soldiers have red silk wrapped around their right arms. Are you planning a mutiny at the banquet later?"

Hu Lie looked Jiang Wei up and down with a cold smile, and asked in an unfriendly tone.

"Take off the red silk!"

Jiang Wei gave the order to the guards behind him. Then, the guards watching the palace gates all untied the red silk ribbons from their right arms, a sight that made Hu Lie's old face turn bright red.

Shi Shouxin quickly smoothed things over, saying, "Jiang Boyue will also be participating in the New Year's Day celebrations. If he were to stage a coup, wouldn't he also die in the chaos? With so many people attending the banquet, even if everyone is unarmed, they could easily strangle him."

These words, seemingly meant to defuse the situation, were actually instigations. Jiang Wei said nothing, but gave Shi Shouxin a meaningful look before ordering his soldiers to make way.

Before leaving, Hu Lie placed his right hand across his neck, making a crude throat-slitting gesture towards Jiang Wei, a direct provocation. But Jiang Wei acted as if he hadn't seen it, leaving Hu Lie feeling embarrassed and departing dejectedly.

The group arrived at the Taiji Hall inside the palace, only to find Zhong Hui already seated on the dragon throne, his back ramrod straight, exuding solemnity and majesty. Although he was not wearing a dragon robe, he already possessed the bearing of an emperor.

If someone unaware of the fall of Shu Han saw this scene, they might think it was Liu Shan holding a grand banquet for his officials.

Li Fu and the others had arrived long ago. The Taiji Hall was filled with tables and desks, and many people were already seated. Shi Shouxin found the table with his name on it and sat down casually, letting Li Liang sit beside him as his attendant.

The passageways on both sides of the main hall were shaded by curtains made of Shu brocade. A cold wind blew, lifting a corner of the curtain, revealing faint shadowy figures moving behind it.

Those who had arrived included Zhong Hui's staff, generals of the rank of Yamen General and above, Liu Shan and his sons, as well as some former officials of Shu.

There were no fewer than a hundred people attending the banquet in the main hall! Not only that, but people kept coming in from outside to take their seats, and soon there were very few empty seats left in the Taiji Hall.

Seeing that almost everyone had arrived, Zhong Hui looked at Qiu Jian beside him and asked, "Is it time?"

"Reporting to the Grand Commander, it's time."

Qiu Jian reported in a low voice, his expression somewhat tense. After all, he lacked composure, and his worry and concern were openly displayed in the face of today's life-or-death struggle.

"Let the musicians and dancers in, then lock the palace doors!"

Zhong Hui spoke loudly, making sure everyone in the entire Taiji Hall heard him clearly.

Dancers in brightly colored gauze dresses braved the cold and filed in. As soon as they heard the musicians begin to play and the sounds of strings and pipes filled the air, they began to dance as if by reflex.

Zhong Hui sat on the dragon throne without saying a word, while Qiu Jian's personal guards, acting as palace eunuchs, brought out delicious dishes, which were then divided into small plates and placed on small tables in front of everyone in the hall.

Dining in public avoids the possibility of poisoning and is done openly and honestly.

Seeing this, everyone in the hall felt relieved and began to drink and eat meat.

"Commander Shi, something's not right here."

Li Liang smiled and whispered something in Shi Shouxin's ear. In fact, not only him, but most of the other generals also had an attendant with them, and they were all talking to their attendants at the moment.

The sounds inside the hall were mixed and echoed, making it impossible to hear what was being said unless you got very close.

"Invite them to dinner, behead them, or take them in as dogs."

We're only at the first step.

Shi Shouxin took a sip of wine and spoke casually, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

There's a play going on inside the main hall, and there's another play going on outside the main hall!

It could even be said that how well the performance outside directly affects the outcome of the performance inside the main hall.

With the palace doors closed and the underfloor heating turned on, the temperature in the entire Taiji Hall was slowly rising. Before long, many generals felt they were wearing too much and took off their outermost cloaks or robes.

They were all blushing, and many were even sweating profusely.

Seeing that the time was almost right, Zhong Hui immediately clapped three times.

Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!
The musicians' drumming stopped immediately. The dancers' dance seemed to be paused, frozen in place.

"Go back!"

Qiu Jian shouted something to them.

Soon, the dancers and musicians left through the passageways on both sides of the hall. In the instant the curtain was lifted, the cold glint of weapons was faintly visible.

The passageway seemed to be teeming with axe-wielders, quite a few of them.

"Everyone, listen to me."

Zhong Hui spoke, drawing the attention of everyone in the hall.

He swallowed hard, noticing everyone staring at him, but the words he wanted to say remained unspoken.

Finally, Zhong Hui stood up, raised his wine glass, and shouted, "To celebrate the New Year!"

"Respectfully, Grand Commander!"

Everyone stood up, and seeing that Zhong Hui had drunk his wine in one gulp, they also drank their wine in one gulp.

However, Zhong Hui did not sit down. Instead, he poured himself another glass of wine, raised it, and said, "Let's celebrate for the soldiers of the three armies!"

"Respectfully, Grand Commander!"

Everyone drank another cup.

But that wasn't all. Zhong Hui poured himself another cup of wine and said, "Let's celebrate the recapture of Shu!"

Now, Liu Shan and his ministers of Shu were utterly humiliated.

Celebrating the Wei army's "recapture" of Shu territory is tantamount to celebrating the fall of Shu! This is a blatant slap in the face to Liu Shan and the former officials of Shu!

This is intolerable! If I drink this wine, my spine will be broken, and I'll never be able to stand up straight again!
Zhong Hui finished his drink, the Wei generals finished theirs, but Liu Shan and his men were reluctant to drink.

Killing someone is acceptable, but destroying their spirit is not. Zhong Hui is deliberately bringing up a sore spot and trying to sow discord among Liu Shan and his followers.

Of course, this is also a test of obedience. Anyone who doesn't drink is considered rebellious and must not be allowed to stay!

Jiang Wei, standing to the side, clenched his fists under the table, the veins on his arms bulging beneath his Shu brocade robe.

However, he was the only one among the former Shu kings and ministers who drank the wine.

Aren't you going to drink?

You are disrespecting me, and disrespecting the more than 100,000 Wei soldiers?
Liu Shan, you have no manners!

Zhong Hui looked at Liu Shan and the former officials of Shu beside him, his expression grave, and asked in a tone that already carried ill intent.

It was an almost undisguised threat.

"Congratulations! Congratulations!"

Oh dear, Liu was just lost in thought. He'll punish himself with three drinks! He'll punish himself with three drinks!

Liu Shan wore a sheepish smile and downed the wine on the table in one gulp. However, the wine tasted unbearably bitter in his mouth.

This feeling is similar to that of a student who only scored 200 points on the college entrance exam, and then hesitates between New Oriental and Lanxiang Vocational School after receiving their score.

As the saying goes, "How much sorrow can one have? It's like a river of spring water flowing eastward!"
At this moment, countless rivers were surging in Liu Shan's heart, one wave after another!

Shi Shouxin secretly observed them for a while and couldn't help but feel contempt for them.

Is it a little too late to show off now? If you want to show off, you should do it like Zhuge Zhan on the battlefield. Even if you die, it will be a spectacular death, and you'll still earn the enemy's respect.

A man should die on the battlefield, not be beheaded by the enemy while begging for mercy.

You don't show off on the battlefield, but when you lose a battle, your country is destroyed, and your family is ruined, what are you showing off for?

Does a prostitute stop being a prostitute if she struggles in bed?

Shi Shouxin disapproved of Liu Shan and the manners of those around him. However, he was too lazy to say anything, after all, Zhong Hui was just a dead man in the futures market.

"Hypocritical and disgusting."

Li Liang whispered something in Shi Shouxin's ear.

"Apart from Jiang Wei, the true tough guys of Shu are not in this hall."

Shi Shouxin said meaningfully to Li Liang that they were all speaking in hushed tones, and no one else could hear them.

With Liu Shan taking the lead, his sons and other former officials of Shu also drank the wine without further refusal.

Fortunately, Zhong Hui did not pursue the matter.

Seeing that the banquet was about to end if he didn't speak up soon, Zhong Hui finally stood up again and coughed lightly twice.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please listen to what I have to say."

Zhong Hui looked around at everyone and shouted. The whispers in the hall immediately stopped.

"Emperor Wu (referring to Cao Cao) founded the country, overcoming numerous obstacles. Emperor Wen governed the country, and it flourished. Emperor Ming continued this legacy, making the country strong and prosperous."

However, the Sima clan usurped power, turning the world upside down, which aroused the wrath of both gods and men.

Zhong was forced to enter the fray by order of Empress Dowager Guo, and in order to resist the Sima clan, he had to compromise and wait for the right opportunity.

The time has come. I intend to raise an army in Shu to fight against the Sima clan and restore the Cao Wei dynasty!

Gentlemen, are you willing to follow me, Zhong, to fight the enemy?

Zhong Hui drew his sword, looked at everyone in the hall, and asked in a stern voice.

blah blah blah!

Hu Lie dropped the chopsticks he was holding onto the table, his mouth agape in an "O" shape. Everyone in the hall exchanged bewildered glances, completely stunned by Zhong Hui's words.

Only Shi Shouxin, Qiu Jian, and Jiang Wei remained unfazed and continued eating.

(End of this chapter)