Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 195 The Roar of the Tiger in Luoyang (2)

Late at night, in the Jin Prince's residence in Luoyang, the atmosphere in Sima Zhao's bedroom was tense and ominous.

During this period, Sima Zhao feigned illness and did not need to deal with government affairs, so he rested very well.

Even her complexion had a slight rosy glow.

Sima Yan and Sima You knelt by the bed, heads bowed, saying nothing.

“Anshi, Taofu, I am very pleased that you can work together.”

Sima Zhao smiled gently and waved to Sima Yan and Sima You, signaling them to stand up and speak.

Sitting on the bed, Sima Zhao stopped talking about whether or not he was faking illness, and the three people in the room tacitly avoided the topic.

"Have you all read your great-uncle's memorial?"

Sima Zhao looked at the two people by the bed and asked.

"Father, I have seen them all."

Sima Yan and Sima You answered in unison.

"Your great-uncle only wants to take the benefits."

I don't think there's anything wrong with it, but when you inherit the family business, your great-uncle will probably ask for even more.

If he's going to give it, will Jia Chong and the important officials in the court give it to him? Will your uncles give it to you?

"At this point, even if I wanted to back down, I couldn't!"

Sima Zhao said with great sorrow.

Sima Yan quickly stepped forward to comfort him, saying, "Father, just tell us what to do."

Seeing that Sima Zhao was still making polite remarks, Sima Yan became impatient.

What time is it? If you keep dawdling, it won't look right.

"Tao Fu, tomorrow night, go to the palace and bring Emperor Cao Huan to Jinyong City."

Your troops must stay at Jinyong City at all times. You just need to keep an eye on Cao Huan.

Sima Zhao gave instructions to Sima You.

"Father, I will certainly not fail in my mission."

Sima You bowed to Sima Zhao and said.

Sima Zhao smiled and waved his hand, saying, "It's just a matter of being prepared, there's no need to be too nervous."

He then looked at Sima Yan and said, "Three days later, in the Taiji Hall, Li Yin will read out the emperor's abdication edict and pass the throne to you."

"I?"

Sima Yan was both surprised and delighted.

Suddenly I realized that something seemed off.

Even if Cao Huan wanted to abdicate, he should have abdicated to... Sima Zhao, right?

"Father, is this matter...?"

Sima Yan hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

"This is just for your great-uncle's benefit. If he really doesn't take action, then you should become the emperor."

Sima Zhao laughed heartily.

He then patted Sima Yan on the shoulder and said, "I know you have some supporters. You can contact them now and ask them to urge you to ascend the throne at the court assembly in three days! They are not qualified to enter the palace, but they will persuade their father, uncles, and other relatives. Make good preparations! Go and do it now!"

"Yes! Father!"

Sima Yan left the bedroom immediately.

After the prince left, Sima Zhao's smile faded.

Then, he looked at Sima You and asked, "Your elder brother will become the emperor in the future. What are your thoughts on this? Feel free to speak."

“Father, establishing the eldest son as heir is a matter of principle and ethics, and I have no objection to it.”

Sima You answered calmly, showing no sign of resentment.

Sima Zhao nodded in satisfaction and said, "Remember what you said today, and assist your brother well in the future."

"Please rest assured, father."

Sima You quickly gave his assurance.

"Go to the military camp now, lest something unexpected happen between us."

Sima Zhao instructed Sima You to send him away.

After Sima You left, Sima Zhao summoned Li Yin to his bedroom.

Clearly, Li Yin knew far more than Sima Yan and Sima You, and there was no joy on his face at this moment.

"The memorial from the Duke of Chang Le was an insinuation to the Prince of Jin."

Li Yin said with deep concern.

He never expected that Sima Fu would actually jump out.

The fall of a comet is interpreted as the presence of a treacherous official in the court. Who else but Sima Zhao could bear the blame for such a treacherous act?

Even if Li Yin himself went to "claim" this villain, did he deserve it?
You'll only make yourself a laughingstock!

"Alas, the court assembly in three days will be the time when he makes trouble for me."

Sima Zhao sighed.

Of course, this was something he "forced" Sima Fu to do.

If Sima Zhao hadn't feigned illness, Sima Fu would still be an old tortoise, quietly remaining at the bottom of the pond without surfacing.

"Convey my message to Pei Xiu, Zheng Chong, and He Zeng, and tell them to prepare for the matter of urging him to ascend the throne."

Sima Zhao gave the order slowly, his expression revealing neither joy nor anger.

Li Yin simply nodded slightly and said, "To persuade the heir apparent to ascend the throne?"

"Yes, it's about urging the Crown Prince to ascend the throne. Even the Duke of Chang Le has called me a villain, so of course I have to urge the Crown Prince to ascend the throne!"

Sima Zhao said through gritted teeth, this time he was truly enraged!
Li Yin hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

No matter how you look at it, it was not a good idea to put the crown prince on the throne while Sima Zhao was alive.

"How is it?"

Sima Zhao saw that Li Yin seemed to have something to say and asked him in confusion.

"King Wuling of Zhao starved to death in Shaqiu in ancient times. With this as a warning, we must be wary."

When it comes to the inheritance of divine artifacts, there is no reason for even fathers and sons or brothers to back down.

"Please reconsider, Prince Jin," Li Yin urged, mustering his courage.

"You are not as good as Jia Chong in terms of wisdom and strategy, but when it comes to character, Jia Chong is far inferior to you!"
"My purpose in using this scheme was not truly to convene this court assembly."

Sima Zhao sighed, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. He gently beckoned to Li Yin, signaling him to come closer.

"Actually, this time it was for..."

Sima Zhao whispered something in Li Yin's ear for a long time before finally nodding to him cautiously and saying, "This matter is a matter of life and death, and must not be told to anyone, not even An Shi and Tao Fu."

"Please rest assured, Prince Jin."

Li Yin quickly bowed in greeting.

He finally understood what Sima Zhao wanted to do. He had to admit, the Sima family... were indeed ruthless.

Li Yin couldn't help but think of his son-in-law, Shi Shouxin. He then realized that Shi Shouxin truly understood the Sima family perfectly. He knew exactly what the Sima family's bottom line was.

That's why he was able to keep hanging around Sima Zhao, and in the end, he was still alive and well, and even deeply trusted.

As Li Yin left the Prince of Jin's residence, he instructed the coachman sent by the Prince of Jin's residence: "Go to Pei Xiu's residence."

……

Cao Huan could not disobey Sima Zhao's orders. So he issued an imperial edict, ordering a court assembly to be held in three days, and that any matters to be discussed at the assembly.

Therefore, since Sima Fu could bring up the fall of a comet and the rise of treacherous officials, Sima Zhao could also bring up the emperor's lack of virtue and the need for him to abdicate and yield the throne to a more virtuous ruler.

As soon as the imperial edict was issued, all the central officials in Luoyang knew that something big would happen in three days!
The next day, just as night fell, Sima Fu, who had been busy all day, went to the mansion of the Duke of Changle to discuss important matters with his father, Sima Fu.

"How is the army at Fuping Ferry doing now?"

Sima Fu paced back and forth in his study as he asked in a hoarse voice.

Sima Fu reassured Sima Fu, "Father, rest assured, everything is ready, we will cross the river tonight!"

"Ah."

Sima Fu simply nodded and didn't respond.

Just then, Sima Huang hurriedly pushed open the door and entered. Seeing Sima Fu and Sima Fu talking about something, he quickly said to them, "Father, elder brother, Sima You has led the Imperial Guards and taken the Emperor away from the palace, heading towards Jinyong City!"

Seeing that neither Sima Fu nor Sima Fu showed any particular emotion, he asked somewhat reluctantly, "Father, shouldn't we try to stop them?"

"No need."

Sima Fu waved his hand gently.

No need? Is that even a fair statement?

Upon hearing Sima Fu's reply, Sima Huang was utterly dismayed.

"Go and keep an eye on things. Report to me immediately if anything happens."

Sima Fu spoke in his usual unhurried manner.

Although Sima Huang was nervous, he couldn't say anything and could only turn and leave.

After he left, Sima Fu was also somewhat worried, and finally asked, "Father, Sima Zhao has the emperor in his hands, what should we do?"

"Nothing much, we'll use a feint attack tomorrow night."

A smile appeared on Sima Fu's face, and there was even a hint of smugness on his already wrinkled face.

"Father, what do you mean by this?"

Sima Fu was somewhat confused.

However, Sima Fu simply leaned close to his ear and whispered a few words, and Sima Fu's face immediately lit up with surprise.

"Father, this plan is brilliant! Sima Zhao must be thinking we'll..."

Sima Fu wanted to say more, but saw Sima Fu make a shushing gesture at him.

"Don't say anything more. Afterwards, deal with all those people, leave no one alive!"
Do you understand? We still regard the Cao family as the emperor, and the proper order of ruler and subject, father and son, remains.

Seeing that his son was getting carried away, Sima Fu quickly reminded him.

By recognizing the Cao family as the legitimate successors, we can truly uphold the greater good.

As for matters like upholding justice even at the cost of family ties, there's no need to go into detail. Otherwise, the idea of ​​an uncle killing his nephew is still somewhat unsettling.

"I understand, I understand. After this is over, Cao Huan will still be the emperor, and our family will still be the regents."

The high-ranking officials in the court will remain in their positions. We'll address the rest gradually.

Sima Fu nodded and bowed hurriedly, his face beaming with undisguised joy.

Sima Fu nodded, a shadow passing over his face.

His suggestion was resolutely rejected by Sima Yan, and this matter could not be left unresolved.

Sima Yan clearly intended to gradually reclaim the power he had delegated after the change of dynasty.

For example, only descendants of Sima Zhao could be granted the title of king.

There are many similar examples.

Relatives become kin, kin become clansmen, relationships grow increasingly distant, and benefits diminish! In that case, wouldn't all my efforts to save the day since the Gaopingling Incident, working tirelessly for decades, have been in vain?

Back then, he and Sima Yi had arranged things perfectly, with one side playing the bad cop and the other the good cop. Sima Yi's family would take the bigger share of the profits, while his family would take the smaller share.

Now Sima Yan has gone back on his word and wants to renege on his promise. Well, don't blame his great-uncle for flipping the table.

"Who will be the emperor in the future is a matter for the future."

Now, we are simply purging the court of corrupt officials and becoming loyal ministers of Wei.

Don't think too far ahead, understand?

Sima Fu reminded Sima Fu again, because he was genuinely afraid that if Sima Fu lost his mind, he would try to force Cao Huan to abdicate in his favor.

If that were to happen, the world would truly descend into chaos!
……

Sima Fu's plan was indeed quite good. However, as night passed and the sun rose again, at noon, a shocking piece of news almost caused him to suffer a stroke and die!

The imperial court sent a minor official to the Chang Le Duke's residence to inform Sima Fu that the court assembly would be postponed for three days because the original date was not an auspicious day.
It will be held three days from the originally scheduled date!

Three days later, Sima Zhao made a feint, causing Sima Fu's carefully laid plans to fall apart!

The two sides were locked in a fierce battle of wits, and Sima Zhao, who was not playing by the rules, seemed to be intentionally provoking Sima Fu.

He disrupted Sima Fu's strategic plan.

When something is scheduled to start but is suddenly stopped halfway through, it can be very demoralizing.

Sima Zhao had more resources at his disposal, and he was tightening the noose step by step.

Then they hung Sima Fu... on a tree.

(End of this chapter)