Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 180 Killing Without a Knife
In the main hall of the Shi Mansion in the eastern part of Luoyang, a group of guests were feasting, and dancers were performing.

Although the guests were completely absorbed in the experience, the main seat in the lobby remained empty.

In Shi Chong's study, Sima Yan sat at his desk with a displeased expression. Beside him sat Yang Xiu, whose expression was equally unpleasant.

The person sitting opposite Sima Yan was Wang Shen, who had just been humiliated at Shi Shouxin's house.

He pleaded with Sima Yan, "Your Highness, Shi Shouxin is pretending to be confused and refuses to admit that my son has been kidnapped by him. Only you can resolve this."

After saying this, Wang Shen knelt down on the ground, almost bursting into tears.

Actually, he didn't like Wang Jun either, but he was his only son and had no other choice.

If you can't protect your only son, the family business will fall to your brother. After a lifetime of hard work, the family fortune is inherited by your brother; no one could remain calm in that situation.

Today, the original intention was to have Wang Jun make an appearance, paving the way for his entry into the officialdom of Luoyang.

With fifty personal guards and Yang Xiu in charge, everything seemed foolproof.

Unexpectedly, Wang Jun actually exposed his buttocks!

“Wang Chudao (Wang Shenbiao's courtesy name), there are some things that I really shouldn’t have said.”

But your only son is truly oblivious to social cues and incredibly arrogant. Today, I went with him, and... well, let's not even go there.

I've never seen anyone as stupid as your son!

This is Luoyang, right under the emperor's nose.

He thought he was still in Jiangbei, and relying on the fact that he had dozens of personal guards, he went to someone else to snatch people.

Thank goodness it wasn't my Yang family, otherwise Wang Jun's head would be hanging on the city gate by now.

I think Wang Jun is in grave danger. If you have the time and energy, why don't you find a few more beauties and try again to see if you can have a few more children?

Brother Chudao is young and energetic; it's not impossible for him to train another one.

Yang Xiu sneered from the side, showing absolutely no respect for Wang Shen. He had been humiliated by Wang Jun today, and now he was taking it out on Wang Jun's father, Wang Shen!

However, faced with Yang Xiu's sarcastic remarks, Wang Shen could only shake his head with a wry smile.

Wang Jun was born to a maidservant and had little experience of the world as a child. It was only because Wang Shen had no children that he was chosen as the heir.

Therefore, Wang Jun, who suddenly became rich, always thought that his father, Wang Shen, was a local tyrant who was omnipotent.

“Anshi, no matter how unworthy Wang Chudao’s son is, he is still one of ours.”

Even if it costs a fortune to buy his life, or to establish a promise and integrity, Your Highness, you cannot stand by and watch him die.

Shi Chong leaned close to Sima Yan's ear and whispered his suggestion.

That's the truth.

Even if Sima Yan was so angry that he kicked Wang Jun to death afterward, he still had to get this guy out of trouble right now.

Otherwise, who will believe Sima Yan's political promises in the future?
Sima Yan nodded, but his expression remained noncommittal, and he did not give a direct answer.

Shi Shouxin insisted that he had never met Wang Jun and had only caught some "thief".

If Sima Yan were to retrieve the people, it would confirm that Wang Jun was a thief. Then, his story of leading troops to forcibly enter civilian homes and attempting to abduct women would no longer be plausible.

This is a classic case of someone being completely unresponsive!

"Jilun, what do you think we should do?"

Sima Yan asked in a low voice.

Wang Jun's current situation is neither good nor bad; he doesn't want to get involved, but he can't ignore it either.

"Chen Qian has a high reputation in the court and is one of the Three Dukes. Why not let him take charge?"

Just find any excuse to send Chen Qian to Shi Shouxin's house to pick up Wang Jun.

"And incidentally, to test his attitude towards the Crown Prince—killing two birds with one stone."

Shi Chong said in a low voice.

It must be said that Shi Chong was incredibly shrewd, especially when it came to interpersonal relationships, where he had a profound understanding of them.

Sima Yan nodded slightly and gave a few instructions to one of his attendants. Then he looked at Wang Shen and said, "I have already made arrangements. Your Highness, please go home and wait for news."

Having botched things, Sima Yan gave Wang Shenyi a cold shoulder.

His "three-step slap in the face" plan has already failed miserably after only the first step. Now, using connections to get Wang Jun out is already giving Wang Shen face.

After Wang Shen thanked him profusely and left the Shi residence in a dejected manner, Shi Chong then led a young man in a white robe into the study and introduced him to Sima Yan.

This person was actually the one Shi Shouxin had met this morning but hadn't left his name with.

"My name is Guo Yuan, and I come from the Guo family of Taiyuan. I have come here to pay my respects to the Crown Prince."

"I have come to Luoyang to request an official position from the Crown Prince; I hope he will grant me one."

Guo Yuan spoke with great composure, showing no shame whatsoever in seeking an official position.

His words impressed Sima Yan. Seeking an official position was not shameful; he could openly and honestly say it, which was much better than some self-righteous people.

Sima Yan immediately became interested in this person.

Although both were from the Guo clan of Taiyuan, he didn't follow Guo Huai's connections but instead relied on Shi Chong's network, clearly indicating that his background wasn't particularly impressive. If members of a large family don't hold official positions within three generations, they are no different from ordinary people, and as a minor branch of the main lineage, they can't gain much support.

"Well, what are your strengths?"

Sima Yan asked with a smile, his smile harmless and very approachable.

Shi Chong quickly replied, "Guo Lang is skilled in literature, knowledgeable in yin and yang numerology, and adept at physiognomy and character analysis."

The smutty scene for tonight's meeting is finally here!
Shi Chong gave Guo Yuan a wink.

"Reading characters and fortunes are both ways of revealing heavenly secrets and will incur divine retribution."

Guo is young and can handle it; Your Highness, please ask as you wish.”

Guo Yuan made a generous gesture of invitation.

"Alright, alright, I think you're a good match. Come and sit down."

Sima Yan laughed heartily and pointed to the cushion next to him.

Guo Yuan walked over and sat down. Sima Yan patted him on the shoulder and asked in a low voice, "Since you are so confident, then let me ask you, how long will the Great Wei Dynasty last?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's eyes turned to Guo Yuan.

This isn't a word test, it's a brain test!
But whether Guo Yuan was too straightforward or simply bold and daring, he actually said to Sima Yan, "A character has multiple interpretations. A person who interprets a character must write it down before it can be used."

Having probably not encountered a fool for many years, Sima Yan ordered someone to bring him pen and ink, laid the paper on the table, and wrote a crooked character for Wei.

Guo Yuan chuckled upon seeing the character "Wei" written on the paper: "The character 'Wei' written by the Crown Prince has a sharp edge at the top and a missing heart at the bottom. The ghost shape resembles a tortoise or snake, with branches growing out of the joints. I think this Great Wei Kingdom has neither weapons to protect itself nor the support of its people, and it keeps making trouble. It is already doomed!"

You really dare to say that!

Sima Yan and the others looked at each other in bewilderment. They suspected that they had been tricked by Guo Yuan, but they had no evidence.

This was a "political bias test," and Guo Yuan's answers were passable.

Sima Yan laughed heartily and said to Guo Yuan, "I was just joking. Now, please interpret a character for my son, Sima Zhong."

He wrote the character "衷" on the paper.

"Since Sima Zhong was the eldest son, does he wish to have his career fortune predicted?"

Guo Yuan asked.

Sima Yan nodded, appearing to be in a good mood.

After tonight, he will definitely grant Guo Yuan an official position. Of course, he can only advise Sima Zhao on this, but it will most likely not be a big problem.

Many of the veterans in politics today are still former officials of the Cao Wei dynasty, and the Sima family is keen to promote newcomers. "Hmm, let me see this character."

The character 衷 (zhōng) is located within clothing; clothing represents the exterior, the outer layer; 中 (zhōng) represents the heart, the inner self.

Judging from the way the crown prince wrote this character, it means that he is trapped inside by the outside, and has only the outward appearance, which is merely the meaning of clothing and hat.

Extremely bad omen! You may be manipulated by someone!
Of course, if one is judging a person but not an event, then there is a saying that one's words and actions are consistent, which is the mark of a true gentleman.

Guo Yuan spoke frankly and openly. Upon hearing this explanation, Sima Yan's expression changed from sunny to cloudy, but he did not blame Guo Yuan.

He has that much tolerance. Besides, he seems to have taken some of what he said to heart.

Sima Yan forced a smile and said, "I won't analyze your character; let's look at your face instead."

He pointed at Yang Xiu and asked, "How many years does he have left to live?"

Sima Yan and Yang Xiu had a very close relationship, so he wouldn't take such a joke seriously.

However, Guo Yuan seemed to know how to handle people at this moment. He just smiled mysteriously and said, "The Duke of Yang will pass away before the Crown Prince."

Yang Xiu died before you!
So you don't need to be wary of him anymore! So he can go without worry!

This argument seems a bit unreasonable at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it's quite ingenious, as it offends no one.

Sima Yan and Yang Xiu both burst into laughter.

Sima Yan nodded and said in a slightly reproachful tone, "Guo Lang dares to speak frankly when interpreting characters, but he's quite cunning when it comes to physiognomy."

With a mischievous grin, he pointed at Shi Chong and asked, "Then tell me, when did he pass away?"

Guo Yuan carefully examined Shi Chong, the ruthlessness in her eyes hidden so well that no one noticed.

"Master Shi lived a long life, which is beyond the reach of ordinary people. We probably won't live to see him pass away."

"Then you'll have to ask a genius."

Guo Yuan said with an envious look on her face.

Sima Yan and Yang Xiu exchanged a glance, then looked at Shi Chong.

The originally cheerful atmosphere in the study turned somber and oppressive after Guo Yuan made a thoughtless remark.

An official who had been involved in politics, came from a very prominent family, and was exceptionally long-lived.

One is fine, but having three is a bit...unusual.

A flash of anger crossed Shi Chong's face as he glanced at Guo Yuan.

However, when Guo Yuan saw the anger on Shi Chong's face, she showed surprise, as if she did not realize that she had said something wrong.

Just then, the servant who had gone to invite Chen Qian to the residence entered and reported to Sima Yan, "Your Highness, Lord Chen said that although he is one of the Three Dukes, it is inconvenient for him to interfere in the local affairs of Luoyang. He will not come here tonight to disturb Your Highness's enjoyment."

Unsurprisingly, Chen Qian rejected Sima Yan's request. Or rather, he rudely ignored the heir apparent.

However, given that Chen Qian has always been a slippery character, it's not surprising that he rejected Sima Yan.

"Go and invite him again. If Master Chen refuses again, ask him what to do."

Sima Yan was somewhat annoyed and ordered his attendants to investigate further.

Clearly, Wang Jun is very important. If Wang Jun dies, the Jiangbei Governor will no longer be one of their own.

It may not be apparent now, but its impact will be significant in the future.

After his entourage left, Sima Yan smiled at Guo Yuan and said, "Alright, go back and rest. You will be granted an official position soon."

Guo Yuan quickly bowed and took his leave, but just as he turned to leave, Sima Yan called him back.

Sima Yan wrote the character "婉" on a piece of paper and said to Guo Yuan, "Help me take a look and determine if I am a beautiful woman."

It's unclear whether Guo Yuan was getting impatient or genuinely had nothing to say.

Guo Yuan actually said something directly:
“Wan means woman; Wan means missing hand.”

"捥" means to turn things around; if it refers to a woman one has not yet succeeded with, then there is no way to reverse the situation, and it is all in vain.

After saying that, he left without looking back.

The people in the study looked at each other in bewilderment. After a long while, Sima Yan finally let out a long sigh.

It seems I lost several hundred million at the casino tonight.

"Your Highness, how about I arrange for a few stunning beauties to serve you in bed?"

Seeing that Sima Yan was feeling troubled because of a certain woman, Shi Chong quickly offered some advice, as if prescribing a remedy.

"That's fine too. By the way, the lead dancer from the last performance was pretty good, the one with the long legs."

You can make the arrangements.

Sima Yan waved his hand listlessly.

"Your Highness, that dancer... accidentally fell into the water and drowned yesterday."

Shi Chong said with an embarrassed expression.

Sima Yan had always looked down on dancers, so who knew he would suddenly become interested today?

"I see. Then Yang Xiu and I will head back now."

Sima Yan said with a regretful expression, then turned and left, showing no interest in staying any longer.

……

The seemingly calm night is not actually calm at all.

In a military camp on the outskirts of Luoyang, Wang Shen sat restlessly in his tent. Chen Guangqin beside him stood motionless, like a statue.

Just as Wang Shen was about to stand up, Chen Guangqin coldly reminded him, "Although there are only a thousand men in the camp, if Commander Wang dares to send even one out of the camp tonight, I, Chen, will risk my life to report you to the imperial court!"

Wang Shen slumped down, sighing deeply at his desk. After all, he wasn't a hereditary general; his position as Commander-in-Chief of the Military Affairs of Jiangbei was granted by the Sima family, and his soldiers were recruited by the Sima family as well.

If you dare to make any rash moves, your whole family might end up on the road!
"Governor Wang, you have returned to Luoyang to report on your duties."

After you finish your report, it's hard to say whether you'll still be the Governor of Jiangbei; you might even be transferred.

Everyone turned a blind eye to Wang Jun leading his troops out of the camp.

Now that something has gone wrong, Governor Wang cannot afford to make another mistake.

Please don't bring up the idea of ​​sending troops to rescue them again, lest we damage our relationship.

Chen Guangqin reminded Wang Shen of something, something very important:

His tens of thousands of troops in Jiangbei were Sima family troops, not Wang Shen's troops!
If he were to lead his troops to attack the outskirts of Luoyang tonight, there would be no way to explain it afterward.

Even officials from top to bottom in the military camp would be completely stripped of their titles by Sima Zhao!
Chen Guangqin stepped in to stop Wang Shen not because he liked the Sima family so much, but because if something happened, none of them would survive!
He was a high-ranking official, not anyone's lackey!

"Then, according to your plan, what should we do?"

Wang Shen asked in a hoarse voice.

"Let Mr. Chen make the contact tomorrow. If I'm not mistaken, the imperial court can't let this matter remain unresolved."

Chen Guangqin bowed to Wang Shen and said.

"Can they really save them?"

Wang Shen asked in confusion.

The upright Chen Guangqin sneered, "When you allowed Wang Jun to act arrogantly and domineeringly outside, did you think about the consequences?"

(End of this chapter)