Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 153 Those Who Cross the Line Die
In the study of Shi Shouxin's residence in Chengdu, Shi Shouxin and his trusted subordinates sat in a row, discussing important matters. Although it was already late, everyone was in high spirits and had no intention of going back to wash up and go to bed.

"We've got the job done. The next step is to divide the pie!"
"Don't worry, you and your troops will all receive a share."

Shi Shouxin looked around at everyone and said.

Everyone present looked delighted. Although this scene was expected, it wasn't considered settled until Shi Shouxin spoke.

The saying goes, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," meaning that any benefit should be secured before it's gone.

"However, we can't be too greedy now. Besides, a large amount of wealth needs to be transported out of Shu. Not only is the journey long and arduous, but it also consumes a lot of manpower, which would be a losing proposition."

It's definitely a thankless task.

Shi Shouxin continued.

Li Liang and the others nodded slightly without objection.

In fact, many truths are right in front of us. Do they even have a chance to take those easily portable gold and silver valuables?

If we really take it, will Wei Guan have no objections? Will Hu Lie and other Wei generals have no objections? Will Sima Zhao have no objections?
Blocking someone's path to wealth is like killing their parents. If you kill someone's parents, how can you expect them not to trip you up?
Therefore, Shi Shouxin's troops could only take items that were inconvenient to carry, such as grain and cloth (not Shu brocade). They still had to go through the hardship of transporting them to Luoyang.

Isn't it tiring to go through all this trouble?
"So my plan is that we plunder the wealth, but hand it all over to Wei Guan to distribute."

Logically speaking, most people can get a little bit, but it's not the main thing; it's just a small reward for their hard work.

When we return to Luoyang and it's time to reward those who have contributed, we will use the pretext of settling our retainers to seize more territory, as well as the surrounding mountains, rivers, lakes, and marshes.

This is the most important.

As the saying goes, "Where there's life, there's hope." We wouldn't need those gold, silver, and silks.

Once we get the land, we'll build fortified villages and strongholds there, and cultivate fields and orchards.

Watermills were installed in the river channels, and stone mills were installed in the villages to raise cattle and sheep.

Wealth doesn't come rolling in, so why fixate on fleeting riches?

Shi Shouxin patiently explained to his confidants that, in short, rewards should focus on land and property, not on other forms of wealth.

Li Liang chimed in, "Wei Guan entrusted us with the power of oversight. If we amass wealth, how can we gain the respect of the people? We're not taking anything now so that we can acquire more land as compensation for our military achievements when we return to Luoyang. If we take too much now, we'll definitely be questioned later, and then they'll just use an excuse to make amends for our crimes and send us away."

What he said was truly honest, and everyone who thought about it realized it was indeed the case.

"Every soldier will be allocated land and will settle down in a new place. Pass this order down to all the soldiers to reassure them and let them perform their duties well in Chengdu, understand?"

Shi Shouxin looked around at everyone and asked.

“Shi Jianjun, it’s not that we don’t trust you, it’s just that you are trustworthy, but the Sima family may not be.”

What if they pretend not to know and refuse to distribute the land?

While everyone else remained silent, Xi Zuo muttered something, acting as a mouthpiece and voicing the doubts in everyone's minds.

Shi Shouxin's character is beyond reproach; he is a man of his word, always keeping his promises. But everyone is somewhat aware of the Sima family's moral character.

It hasn't been long since the oath was made with the Luo River, and there are still plenty of people alive who witnessed it.

"During the Three Kingdoms period, the people suffered greatly, with seven or eight out of ten households lost, and the country was far from recovering its vitality."

With plenty of unclaimed land to bestow as rewards, how could the Sima family not have land to reward their troops?

However, the Sima family might not be so happy then. The land they allocated might already be being secretly cultivated by others, and they won't let us get it comfortably.

But that's not a big deal.

"When we get there, we'll just bring our knives and take over. What's there to worry about?"

Shi Shouxin said with a disdainful look.

In short, if I have a knife in my hand, there's nowhere I can't go!

"That makes sense. There may not be much fertile land around Luoyang, but there is definitely plenty elsewhere!"

Li Liang chimed in from the side.

Hearing Shi Shouxin say this, everyone finally felt relieved.

Shi Shouxin looked at Li Liang and instructed him:

“Select one hundred clever soldiers from the army and have them go to Chengdu, both inside and outside the city, to investigate and ask around. Find out who has a lot of property and who has a lot of goods in their warehouses. Mark them on the map.”

There's no need to bother the poor; we'll just target the fattest ones. Get it done tomorrow, within two days!

Upon hearing this, Li Liang immediately perked up. He said excitedly, "Please rest assured, Supervisor Shi."

"Now that he's a military commander, calling him a stone commander is the same."

Shi Shouxin couldn't help but remind him.

Goodness, he's already a military commander! Even if it's just an acting position and he'll automatically resign when he returns to Chang'an, he's still a military commander!
Everyone looked at Shi Shouxin with admiration. This was what it meant to be accomplished at a young age and to achieve success at a young age!
"Meng Guan, Ma Long, you are in charge of looting... and questioning wealthy families outside the city, making them pay to avoid trouble."

Spring has arrived. For those who pay, we'll hang a flower wreath on their doorframes, and then we won't bother anyone else.

As for those stubborn and unwilling to part with a single hair, let them know that very night what it means to be a wolf that travels a thousand miles to eat meat!

Shi Shouxin continued to arrange important matters, talking about the robbery without batting an eye.

"Sir Shi, what about those inside Chengdu city?"

Malone asked.

"That's reserved for people with connections. I need to ask Wei Guan what he thinks. We shouldn't get involved in this mess."

It's better not to go; going will be considered taboo.

Shi Shouxin casually explained to Ma Long that some things couldn't be said too explicitly; the key was to avoid going into the city to make a quick buck. Going into the city would easily draw them into the political vortex. For example, if Hu Lie said he wanted to make a quick buck, Shi Shouxin certainly couldn't stop him. He could only tell Hu Lie to go talk to Wei Guan and see which mansion in Chengdu he had his eye on, and then go and make a quick buck on a dark and stormy night.

Although we are all bandits in military uniforms, there is a code of honor among thieves. We can only eat what's in our own bowls, and we shouldn't wave our chopsticks around!

Taking on all the work without leaving any gaps can easily offend people.

"Zhao Lun, you lead your troops to guard the Chengdu Imperial Palace. If there are any books there, pack them up and take them with you. These things don't need to be handed over; we'll keep them for ourselves."

If no one asks about it later, just pretend nothing happened. If the Sima family asks, just hand over some money to settle the debt.

"Handle this matter discreetly. As for what books you need, I'll have Li Liang accompany you."

Shi Shouxin gave instructions to Zhao Lun.

"Please rest assured, Commander Shi, I'll take care of it."

Zhao Lun said cheerfully, and everyone laughed. After receiving Shi Shouxin's promise of land, they all knew what they should do and were in a state of excitement at the prospect of war.

There are benefits to be made, and getting things done is so much more satisfying! A simple promise of land is more effective than any grandiloquent declaration!

"Commander Shi, what about me? I'm quite free, and my troops are also quite free. Commander Shi, please hand over some military affairs to me!"

Xi Zuo pleaded with pleading eyes, saying that he was not afraid of anything else, but he was afraid that whoever worked the best now would get the most land later.

Although Shi Shouxin promised that everyone would have land, ten mu of land is still land, and a hundred mu of land is still land. How can they be divided equally?

"You're coming with me to kill people!"

Shi Shouxin's face turned cold, and he looked murderous.

"Murder? Who should we kill?"

Xi Zuo was stunned. They were already preparing to leave Shu, so why did they still need to kill someone?
"Of course, he deserves to die."

Everyone else, disperse. Xi Zuo, come with me now, muster the troops, and we'll head to the outskirts of the city!

After handing over his military duties, Shi Shouxin stood up and walked out of the study.

The group exchanged glances, knowing that Shi Shouxin was a decisive and efficient person, and they didn't say anything more. They simply went about their own business, with only Xizu following behind Shi Shouxin.

The two first went to the Chengdu Imperial Palace to muster a thousand soldiers, and then went directly out of the North Gate to a farm in the northern suburbs.

At this very moment, Hu Lie's troops, numbering over a hundred, had completely surrounded a large mansion. The leader was a captain under Hu Yuan.

The military system in the Three Kingdoms period was quite different from that in the Han Dynasty. The once powerful and influential military officer had become a very weak position, managing only one hundred to three hundred men. There were even officers who could not command a single soldier and were merely figureheads.

When the captain saw Shi Shouxin arrive with a large army, he was extremely humble and hurriedly stepped forward, bowing and scraping, and asked, "Commander Shi, it's freezing cold, what brings you here? Just give me your orders, and I'll do it without hesitation. It's just a matter of a word."

Shi Shouxin smiled and nodded, giving him a "You know how to handle people, I like it" look. He patted him on the shoulder and said, "You've worked hard. You can all go back to camp now. When you see General Hu Yuan, please thank him for me. General Hu Lie and I are sworn brothers, I won't do anything to you."

"Oh dear, you should have told me sooner!"

The captain immediately greeted him warmly, as if Shi Shouxin had become sworn brothers with him.

He quickly smiled and said, "Commander Shi, then this humble servant will return to camp now. Farewell."

After saying that, he ordered his hundred-man squad to immediately withdraw.

After the bystanders left, Shi Shouxin instructed Xi Zuo, "Surround this house and prepare some white silk."

Without saying a word, Xi Zuo ordered his men to fetch the white silk.

However, before the white silk could be brought, a group of people arrived at the mansion from afar, carrying torches.

Upon seeing Shi Shouxin, the leading general quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Commander Shi, what brings you here?"

"Pang Hui, I'd like to ask you, what are you doing here?"
Who gave you the order to leave the camp? Show me the order!

I don't recall any military order stating that we could leave the camp after nightfall!

Shi Shouxin asked coldly.

Pang Hui immediately looked embarrassed. He had secretly led his troops out to "do dirty work," how could he bring this up in public?

"Sir Shi, why don't we talk in private?"

Pang Hui leaned closer and whispered.

"Say what you have to say right here! My hearing is excellent, I can hear you!"

Shi Shouxin remained indifferent to Pang Hui.

Seeing that he wouldn't budge despite being persuaded, Pang Hui's expression changed from fear to coldness.

He stepped forward, bowed to Shi Shouxin, and said, “Back then, my father, Pang Dening, refused to surrender and was captured and beheaded by Guan Yu. Now is the time for me to avenge my father. Please, Supervisor Shi, make way for me to enter Guan Yu's residence and wipe out the entire Guan family to avenge this irreconcilable feud!”

Upon hearing this, Xi Zuo drew his sword and stood protectively beside Shi Shouxin.

"You are fine!"

Shi Shouxin looked at Pang Hui and said coldly.

After saying that, he drew his sword and used the blade to draw a horizontal line in front of the mansion.

After drawing the line, Shi Shouxin pointed his sword at Pang Hui and his personal guards and said, "Those who cross the line will die. If you're not afraid of death, come and try!"

"Shi Shouxin! I'm being respectful by calling you Shi Sima!"
Isn't he just a despicable little man who keeps jumping around? He has a three-character name, what does he think he is!
I'm determined to cross this line today!

Pang Hui was furious. He drew his sword, pointed it at Shi Shouxin, and began to curse him.

The guards on both sides immediately drew their swords and stepped forward to confront each other! A conflict was imminent!
(End of this chapter)