Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 162 Choice is greater than effort
When a person dies, there is nothing.

This statement is not correct in all situations, but it is undoubtedly appropriate when applied to Deng Ai.

Just three days after Shi Shouxin was imprisoned, Shi Bao handed over a case file to Sima Zhao concerning the assassination of Deng Ai.

Upon investigation, it was found that the person who organized the assassination attempt on Deng Ai was named Li Gou'er, a native of Tazhong in Longyou. It is said that his parents died when Deng Ai was stationed in the fields.

As for how he died and how he harbored resentment towards Deng Ai, it was all his own account. The riders who accompanied him in the assassination were all Qiang and Hu people, and they had already disappeared without a trace; catching them would take more than a day or two.

Li Gou'er committed suicide out of fear of punishment while in custody. A prison guard saw it but could not save him.

As for Shi Shouxin, it was merely due to lax supervision, and he had no direct connection to Deng Ai's death. Many people, including Liu Shan, gave the same account.

Anyway, that's how it is. Whether outsiders believe it or not, Shi Bao said he believed it.

Sima Zhao readily accepted Shi Bao's verdict and punished those responsible.

Specifically, Shi Shouxin was stripped of all his previous official positions and ordered to stay at his home outside Luoyang (he could go out but not leave Luoyang) to await the court's selection of officials as a commoner.

He also ordered Xun Yi, the Minister of Personnel, to quickly draft the rewards and promotions for the meritorious officials who had helped conquer Shu.

Then, the dossier submitted by Shi Bao was handed over to Chen Qian, who was responsible for investigating Deng Ai's actions in Shu and handling the impeachments against him by the generals in the expeditionary army.

Clearly, Deng Ai's assassination was just the beginning; the reckoning was underway, not over.

As for Shi Shouxin, he was released after three days in prison and returned to his home in the suburbs of Luoyang. His trusted troops were summoned by an imperial edict to build a large camp in the suburbs, and ordinary soldiers were not allowed to leave the camp to await the imperial reward.

Having not been home for almost two years, Shi Shouxin returned to find his wife and children gone. He took the letter Li Wan had left for him from Xigou, read it, and then let out a long sigh.

The paper mill has been shut down for a long time, but the tenants are still working tirelessly in the fields, only they are two years behind on rent.

It's not that I'm deliberately delaying payment, but I don't know who to give it to.

“My lord, Madam said that you should go to Taishan County to find her after you return.”

"I was going to take this letter to Shu to find you, but when I got to Chang'an, I was persuaded to come back by Yang Gong (Yang Hu) and told to wait for you at home. Also, Shi Chong came to see you and said he wanted to buy our family's land. He wants to build a large manor around here called Golden Valley Garden."

oh?
Shi Shouxin was taken aback, then grabbed Xigou's sleeve and asked, "Does Shi Chong want to build the Golden Valley Garden here? This amount of land isn't enough."

"It's not enough, but Shi Chong said he wants to buy all the surrounding land and connect them into one area. He's currently inquiring around everywhere."

I've heard he's getting along very well with the Prince of Jin's heir and has been buying up land around our house; it seems like there won't be any problems."

The greyhound told everything he knew, down to the smallest detail.

Shi Chong wants to buy land in Luoyang... That's interesting.

Shi Shouxin remained silent, lost in thought.

He actually knew that the farmhouse he owned on the outskirts of Luoyang was a "wedding house" given to him by Shi Bao, and also because of the face given by Sima Zhao.

These were all gifts from others, not earned by Shi Shouxin himself.

Since others can give it, then of course they can take it back. Although Shi Chong was arrogant, he was still straightforward in his actions and not the kind of person who was treacherous and despicable.

In other words, Shi Chong might have attacked someone with a knife in front of Sima Zhao, but he wouldn't have secretly poisoned someone behind his back.

When we go to the Shi residence, we can discuss the price of this land with him. It's a win-win situation. Anyway, Shi Shouxin doesn't plan to stay in Luoyang, and keeping this land would only cause trouble. It's perfect to pass it on to Shi Chong.

"Ah Lang, should we move somewhere else?"

The greyhound asked in a low voice, seemingly reluctant to part.

"Yes, I can't stay in Luoyang any longer. I should leave."

Shi Shouxin nodded, neither denying nor pretending to be something he wasn't.

"By the way, I've always called you Xigou, and I also know that your mother's surname is Li."

I heard you don't take your mother's surname, and I don't even know your name yet.

Shi Shouxin looked at the greyhound and suddenly asked curiously.

“Ah Lang, my mother once said that she was a maid from the Niu family.”

My master's name was Niu Jin, and he was killed by Sima Yi. My mother told me not to tell anyone about this, lest it bring trouble upon myself.

However, the Niu family had already fallen into ruin, so my mother had no choice but to take me to Luoyang to work as a tenant farmer for the Shi family.

So my name should be Niu Gou, Niu as in plowing the fields, and Gou as in living a miserable life.

Unfortunately, my mother has passed away, and I don't know who my father is. He's probably Niu Jin's son; in any case, he's definitely a member of the Niu family.

"Shinged Dog," he sighed, inwardly marveling at how well his name had been chosen.

Toiling like an ox, living like a dog, it would be better to call him a little dog.

"Don't worry, once we get to Qingxu, we'll have a much larger territory and won't be watched by anyone. There are plenty of mountains, rivers, and lakes there. If we want to hunt, we can ride into the forest; if we want to fish, we can go boating on the rivers. We can have fun however we want. Why bother being stuck in this tiny little place on the outskirts of Luoyang!"

Shi Shouxin patted Xigou on the shoulder and laughed heartily.

His participation in the campaign against Shu broadened his horizons considerably. Things he never dared to imagine before, he now not only thought about, but even did!
Once we leave Luoyang, the world is so vast, there's nowhere we can't go.

"By the way, that paper mill by the Luo River, go there quietly tonight and burn it down."

Shi Shouxin leaned over and gave instructions to Xigou.

"Burn it? That's such a waste."

The greyhound asked, puzzled.

Shi Shouxin waved his hand and said, "To prevent Shi Chong from figuring out our techniques and imitating our papermaking methods. When we go to Qingxu, we'll build a large papermaking workshop and sell the paper to Eastern Wu to make money!" Although the land in Luoyang was given by the Shi family, the papermaking workshop was built by Shi Shouxin himself.

The land can be returned to the Shi family, and even if the paper mill is burned down, it won't benefit anyone else.

I just want to warm myself by the river and set up a paper mill to add some fun, what are you going to do about it!

Shi Shouxin had already guessed that Shi Chong's return this time was specifically to get money for Sima Yan!
Of course, they couldn't possibly guess that Sima Zhao didn't have many years left to live. Therefore, as the crown prince, Sima Yan's daily expenses wouldn't be small; how could he possibly ask Sima Zhao for money?
The "Golden Valley Garden" mentioned by Shi Chong should have been Sima Yan's "private club," which also served as a place to "launder money."

Surely no one can think that Shi Chong's land belonged solely to him, right? In a place like Luoyang, how could one get ahead without connections?
Shi Chong's official position as a Gentleman Attendant was actually a "position with no real work," a trusted confidant who provided advice to the emperor, the crown prince, and others, and served as their errand boy.

Sima Zhao handed Shi Chong over to Sima Yan because the two had been friends in the past and were from the same circle, making it easier for them to talk.

This is to cultivate the crown prince's support.

The quick-witted Shi Shouxin easily discerned the structure of the entire power network.

Sima Yan is preparing to ascend to the throne!

They really have taken one step at a time, and their foundation is very solid.

If Sima Yan were given ten years, he could use this network to build his own powerful force and then wait for Sima Zhao to die!
"Go to the Shi residence and deliver a visiting card, saying that I will be visiting my godfather at the Shi residence tonight."

Shi Shouxin spread a piece of paper on the desk in his study, wrote a visiting card, and handed it to Xigou.

Since Shi Chong wanted this land, Shi Shouxin didn't hesitate and sold it to him!

"My lord, are we just going to give our land to Shi Chong like this?"

Xigou was a clever man, and he immediately knew why Shi Shouxin had gone to the Shi residence.

"That's what you don't understand. Face is given by others, but you lose face yourself. Shi Chong came to inquire before, and was even willing to talk to the servants he usually looked down on, saying that he wanted this land. He wanted you to tell me that he absolutely had to have this land."

Rather than letting him ask me for it, I'd rather hand it over to Shi Bao and let him allocate the land. This is a strategic retreat.

Shi Shouxin intended to cultivate Xigou and explained it to him in detail.

The little dog slapped his forehead, suddenly realizing, "So that's how it is. But whether it's shameful or not, I don't know. I only know that my lord is really amazing. No wonder someone as fairy-like as the eldest lady is always revolving around my lord."

"You should settle down and start a family. Stop wandering around all day and be more stable."

Shi Shouxin couldn't help but complain.

"No rush, no rush. Xigou is nothing now. He has no status or ability. Marrying a wife and having children would only make them suffer."

With your help, Ah Lang, I'm sure I'll make it big. Getting married and having children will be a piece of cake for you."

The greyhound patted its chest and assured him.

"It's good that you see things clearly."

"If a man has no ability, even the best wife is just someone else's possession, whom he can take away whenever he wants."

Shi Shouxin said with a sigh.

Li Wan was indeed very good, but when it came to sexual skills, she was far inferior to the Shu princess. Every woman is different, but each has her merits.

These diverse and beautiful women, each with their own unique charm, are like delicious desserts on a table. A capable person can pick them up and savor them with just a few words, or even take them home.

In today's chaotic world, if a man has no ability or status, talking about women is just a pipe dream.

Even a servant like Xigou can see this clearly; some people are even less insightful than servants.

After the greyhound left, Shi Shouxin sat at his desk, feeling utterly empty inside. Returning home from prison, his greatest desire was to spend the entire day in bed with Li Wan, indulging in some intimate moments.

Unexpectedly, this woman actually went to Yang Huiyu's hometown.

Thinking of this, Shi Shouxin felt that his affair could no longer be hidden, and that once he went to Taishan County, it would probably cause quite a stir.

While his mind was filled with all sorts of random thoughts, he heard a servant outside the study announce, "Master, a man named Sima You is requesting an audience, saying he is your friend."

Sima You?
Shi Shouxin quickly got up and pushed open the door, only to see Sima You, whom he had met several times before, standing outside.

After leading the man into the study, Sima You said nothing, but directly took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Shi Shouxin.

Upon opening the package, Shi Shouxin immediately understood why the other party had come.

The letter was written by Yang Huiyu, who, as Sima You's "stepmother," told him: Shi Shouxin is intelligent, of impeccable character, and a close friend of Yang Hu. If you have any problems you cannot resolve, since neither Yang Hu nor I are in Luoyang, you can consult Shi Shouxin; he will do his utmost to help.

Haha, what a great help! Just wait until I get to Qingxu, I'll teach you a lesson in bed!

Shi Shouxin cursed inwardly, not knowing what to say. Yang Huiyu really thought highly of him; Shi Shouxin felt flattered.

With his skinny arms and legs, how could he possibly participate in something like this?
"I really don't want to trouble Mr. Shi, but you should know about what happened recently, and you were also present at the banquet."

I'm also very confused right now and would like to hear your opinion. My mother says you are trustworthy and reliable, so I didn't bring any gifts this time, to avoid being impolite.

A generous reward will be given afterward.

Sima You asked with a sincere expression.

"Is it for the matter of returning to one's ancestral home?"

Shi Shouxin asked in a deep voice.

Sima You nodded, sighed deeply, and remained silent.

(End of this chapter)