Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 201 The Roar of the Tiger in Luoyang (The End)

A red sun slowly rose in the east, shining on Sima Fu and casting a slanted shadow on the ground. At this moment, he was standing on the city wall of Jinyong City, where, due to its high elevation, he could overlook the houses throughout Luoyang City.

The general situation is clear at a glance.

Within Luoyang city, shadowy figures could be seen everywhere, with the banners of the Imperial Guards visible.

Sima Fu frowned slightly, a bad feeling creeping into his heart.

"Zichu (Sima Wang's courtesy name), be careful when we march later."

Sima Fu gave instructions to Sima Wang, who was waiting beside him.

“Uncle, the situation in Luoyang is not suitable for marching. It would be better to return to Luoyang Palace directly through the west side gate.”

The sooner the better.

Sima Wang smiled bitterly.

There are two relatively feasible and effective methods for deploying ambushes within Luoyang City.

The first method, as everyone knows, involves concealing oneself perfectly and launching a sudden attack. Countless troops descend from the heavens like divine soldiers, surging in from all directions. The ambushed troops are completely unaware and are thrown into disarray.

However, such a deployment requires extensive prior preparation, and it's difficult to achieve perfection in a sudden situation. Furthermore, if the ambush is exposed, its effectiveness will be greatly diminished.

But there is a second method.

Since there's no way to hide the troops without anyone noticing, then... why not plant flags all over Luoyang?
If you can make your opponent see that Luoyang is full of soldiers, then you are essentially hiding your true intentions.

This is like painting a blank sheet of paper entirely black; it can still achieve the goal of "purity."

Who says pure black isn't pure?
Now, Sima Zhao's troops are planting flags all over Luoyang. Looking out from the Jinyong City walls, the city is filled with banners, a sight that inspires fear!

It seems that Sima Zhao had hundreds of thousands of men stationed in Luoyang, ready to fight at any moment.

However, Sima Wang knew perfectly well that most of the flags here might only have one or two soldiers nearby, or even just a single flag hanging there. Sima Zhao couldn't possibly have commanded that many troops; this was a deliberate deception!
"Stop saying such things. If you lead your troops directly to the palace, and Sima Zhao brings the real Cao Huan to the Taiji Hall, are you going to conjure up another real Cao Huan?"

Sima Fu, somewhat annoyed, raised his cane, intending to give Sima Wang a good beating.

They sneaked into the Luoyang palace with their troops, even placing a fake Cao Huan on the dragon throne in the Taiji Hall, and were about to hold a court assembly... Wasn't this a test of the intelligence of the central court officials in Luoyang?

That's so damn fake!
The most important thing is to have an armed procession, letting Cao Huan's carriage circle around Luoyang! That's where the legitimacy comes from!
Sima Fu discovered that Sima Wang only had fighting on his mind and had no skills in power struggles at all!
It must be said that Sima Fu's words made a lot of sense. Sima Wang retreated in embarrassment, then ordered his personal guards to open the south gate of Jinyong City and led his troops away from Jinyong City in a grand procession.

He personally guarded Cao Huan's carriage, while the fake emperor was tied up inside the carriage, his mouth gagged with rags, his whole body tightly bound, unable to move or make a sound.

To prevent this guy from messing things up at a crucial moment.

Sima Fu rode at the head of the procession, his horse strutting proudly. Around the carriages, banners bearing the special symbols of the Cao emperors were displayed.

The army from the north of the city also entered Luoyang through the city gate of Jinyong City and joined the ranks, making the army appear even more magnificent!
……

The top floor of Qiyun Pagoda at Baima Temple in Luoyang.

Sima Jun set up his "command post" here and, following Shi Shouxin's advice, planted many flags in the city to create a false impression, making it seem as if Luoyang was full of soldiers.

In reality, Sima Jun's forces were highly concentrated, all gathered near the White Horse Temple west of Luoyang.

Elsewhere, each soldier carried a banner. If they saw Sima Fu sending men to investigate, they would take their banners and leave for another location.

If we only consider absolute height, then Qiyun Tower is the highest point in Luoyang and its surrounding area. Standing here, one can have a clear understanding of the entire city.

It was as if a giant chessboard was laid out in front of them.

At this moment, Sima Jun, Shi Shouxin, and Wen Yang, positioned high above, had a clear view of Sima Fu's armed patrol.

As the sun rose in the east, its rays shone on Shi Shouxin, making him appear as if he were bathed in a golden glow.

"Wen Yang, you can start now. Do you know what to do?"

Sima Jun looked at Wen Yang and asked.

"Right General, rest assured, it all boils down to one word: kill!"

Wen Yang clenched her fists and loosened her wrists.

Shi Shouxin, however, reminded him:
"General Wen, please remember that morale must be boosted, not dampened."

The key to victory in this battle lies in one word: fierce.

It must be unstoppable.

No matter how long this street in Luoyang is, General Wen will fight his way through it from beginning to end. Once you've fought your way through this street, we've won.

These were truly insightful words. Wen Yang had already accepted Shi Shouxin's suggestion in his heart, but he still insisted, "How I fight on the battlefield is none of anyone else's business."

After saying that, Wen Yang strode down the pagoda. The place was extremely narrow and cramped; even Shi Shouxin had to be careful not to bump his head while standing there, let alone a big guy like Wen Yang, who was practically crouching down to talk.

It would be strange if he felt comfortable here!

After Wen Yang left, Sima Jun looked at Shi Shouxin and asked, "How did you know that Sima Fu wouldn't go directly through the west gate of Luoyang Palace to enter the palace?"

He had always been curious: if they lost the bet, their battle plan would be put on the defensive, forcing them to lead the real Cao Huan to attack Luoyang Palace.

If that happens, regardless of winning or losing, it will be difficult to resolve afterwards!
Unexpectedly, Shi Shouxin leaned close to Sima Jun and explained in a low voice, "If we win the bet, the Prince of Jin will benefit. If we lose, the Prince of Jin will be the one to clean up the mess. I'm just going to the table to gamble; what's there to be afraid of?"

Upon hearing this, Sima Jun was initially shocked, but then burst into laughter.

It must be said that Shi Shouxin is a truly remarkable person, and his temperament suits him perfectly.

It was just Prince Jin cleaning up the mess; in the end, this was nothing more than Shi Shouxin playing a game of cards. He wouldn't take responsibility if he lost, and he wouldn't benefit much if he won.

What's there to be afraid of! The real fun is to gamble to the death! Gambling at the table without spending your own money—it's pure bliss!

Perhaps that's why they have a better chance of winning.

Sima Jun sighed. He knew, of course, that concern leads to confusion, and being preoccupied with gains and losses is often the root of failure.

"General Right, let's watch Wen Yang defeat the enemy from here today."

Shi Shouxin crossed his arms and looked out at the street not far to the east, which was the pre-arranged battlefield for the two armies to fight.

……

The street between Guangyang Gate and Qingming Gate in Luoyang City is the widest, has the most nearby residences, and is the most bustling street in Luoyang.

Normally, the sun would be shining brightly at this moment, and the spring morning would be filled with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers, with warm weather—a perfect time to go out, and the streets should be packed with people.

However, as the saying goes, "ducks are the first to know when the river warms in spring," and the wealthy and powerful families in Luoyang had already sensed the impending war. One by one, they kept their doors tightly shut, observing the movements on the street from their own corner towers.

Sima Fu's armed parade, personally leading the way, sensed something was amiss as they turned onto this street. Of course, there was no need to pay much attention, because at the end of the street, a troop of men was already arrayed, blocking their path.

Those people even set up barricades and wooden fences to block the road.

Seeing that things were not going well, Sima Wang rode forward and asked Sima Fu, "Uncle, should we turn north and go directly through the Grand Marshal Gate (the main south gate) into Luoyang Palace? The enemy's line is at the end of the street, so there's no need to confront them head-on."

Before he could finish speaking, Sima Fu swung his cane and struck him!
"When two armies meet on a narrow path, the brave one wins. Do I really need to teach you this principle?"
Lead the troops into battle! Lead the troops into battle!

Sima Fu nearly choked on his own breath, so angry at the son he had adopted out!

If Sima Wang's suggestion to take the west gate of Luoyang Palace was somewhat reasonable...

What he just said was utterly foolish! Even a pig knows to charge forward! To suddenly change course halfway? I'll just call you stupid!

Sima Fu was absolutely furious.

Seeing that the enemy had set up a roadblock at the end of the road, instead of trying to break through the roadblock, they actually planned to turn around and escape in the middle of the road.

Don't they know what this fear of the enemy and cowardice means to the soldiers?

If it were really that effective, why didn't the enemy set up a checkpoint at the fork in the road in the middle of this street?
They're trying to lure you into making a mistake, Sima Wang. Once you lead your team down the wrong path to the Grand Sima Gate, the enemy will pounce and cut off your troops in the middle.

If morale collapses, how can we salvage the situation?

You're such an idiot!
Sima Fu was so angry that his chest heaved violently. Sima Wang had already led his troops to charge into the enemy lines, while he remained on his horse, panting heavily.

As people age, time waits for no one. Looking at these descendants, where is the bravery and decisiveness of the Sima family's elders?

Sima Fu shook his head and sighed.

With Sima Wang leading the charge, his imperial guards followed suit.

In the blink of an eye, the foremost barricades were moved aside by the Imperial Guards. Although some people died, the makeshift barriers were completely ineffective.

Soldiers on both sides, separated by a wooden fence, used their spears to stab the people on the other side, creating a chaotic scene.

However, Sima Zhou, who was holding this position, only had a thousand soldiers under his command!

Seeing that they could not hold out any longer, Sima Zhou hurriedly summoned the hundreds of city guards stationed at Qingming Gate on the east side to fill the gaps in the broken battle line.

Sima Fu, riding his horse in the distance, saw the group of people blocking the road ahead, already in a state of panic, and a cold smile appeared on his lips.

Sima Fu had been planning this for a long time; all that was needed was for the troops to reach Yunlong Gate. Many of the guards in Luoyang Palace were his long-term spies, and they would help open the city gates.

By then, the tide had turned, and for Sima Zhao to turn the tide would be as difficult as ascending to heaven. Once the winds of public opinion have shifted, how incredibly difficult is it to pull them back?

Heh, these spies haven't been used for a long time, all for today.

If Sima Zhao thought that replacing the real Cao Huan would guarantee victory, he was being incredibly naive.

Sima Fu sighed inwardly.

Sima Zhao's response was that a court assembly would suddenly be held in Luoyang Palace, allowing him to bring the real Cao Huan to break the fake Cao Huan's scheme.

Since the emperor is a fake, nothing Sima Fu says this time can be true, so what's the point of saying anything?

Theoretically speaking, that is indeed the case.

However, once Sima Fu had completed his armed parade with the fake Cao Huan, there was no need for Cao Huan to appear, regardless of whether he was the real Cao Huan or not.

Or rather, once the armed parade was completed, in the eyes of outsiders, Luoyang was already under Sima Fu's control. At this point, whether Cao Huan was genuine or not was no longer important.

Sima Zhao, you didn't expect this, did you? Your uncle is still one step ahead!

Sima Fu wore a smug smile.

But soon, his smile came to an abrupt end, like a crowing rooster being choked.

Uncontrollable chaos erupted within Sima Fu's ranks, spreading like a plague from west to east!
From afar, a troop of cavalry charged straight towards them. The Yewang County soldiers behind Sima Fu, caught completely off guard and unable to react in time, were slaughtered, their men and horses falling in disarray!
Their retreat disrupted the previously well-organized ranks on the east side.

"what happened?"

Sima Fu turned his horse around and asked the guards beside him.

Before the guard could answer, a long spear came from the side and knocked him off his horse!

Clad in heavy armor, Wen Yang, like a god of war, routed the armed parade, much like a truck wheel crushing rows of grape-based pastries.

Blood flowed freely, debris flew everywhere, and severed limbs were scattered all over the place. The wide street was instantly transformed into a living hell!

"Are you Sima Fu?"

Covered in blood, Wen Yang looked at Sima Fu and asked.

It's not hard to guess, because people as old as Sima Fu, with wrinkles all over their faces, are rarer than phoenix feathers on the battlefield, almost like aliens.

Sima Fu's advanced age made him so conspicuous on the street that it was impossible not to notice him.

"I'm not."

Sima Fu answered instinctively.

"never mind."

Wen Yang laughed loudly, and swept his spear horizontally, severing Sima Fu's neck with the tip. His head flew high into the air under the force of a strange power.

However, Wen Yang was highly skilled in martial arts, and he wielded the spear as freely as he wielded his arm.

The spear traced an arc in the air, firmly embedding the man's head in its tip.

"Sima Fu is dead! Sima Fu is dead!"

Wen Yang held Sima Fu's head up with his spear and shouted in his hoarse voice.

The enemy ranks were thrown into chaos instantly, especially the troops from Yewang County. Sima Fu was the one who distributed the rewards to them; if it weren't for Sima Fu, they wouldn't have bothered with this task at all.

Upon hearing that Sima Fu was dead, those who had been struggling to hold on instantly lost their spirit, and their army collapsed like a house of cards.

On the long street, a one-sided massacre began.

……

Shi Shouxin and Sima Jun, standing atop the Qiyun Pagoda, had a clear view of everything that happened in Luoyang.

Sima Zhou blocked the road, while Wen Yang charged through from behind—a simple, easy-to-understand, and highly effective tactic. With the exceptionally brave Wen Yang clearing the way, the operation was executed with remarkable success.

However, the fighting on that long street was a bit too bloody and brutal.

Shi Shouxin sighed with a mocking expression, "All men are brothers under heaven, so why the endless strife?"

Sima Jun glanced at him speechlessly, thinking to himself: "Isn't it all thanks to you that they killed so ruthlessly?"

Of course, Shi Shouxin was just the one who came up with the idea; at most, he was just the one holding the knife.

Hands cannot have their own thoughts; it is the brain that controls them.

Wasn't all of this orchestrated by Sima Zhao and Sima Fu? Even without Shi Shouxin in charge, someone else would have done it.

"If I had sided with Sima Fu last night, would Sima Fu have won?"

Sima Jun suddenly looked at Shi Shouxin and asked.

"It's hard to say, but the Prince of Jin has definitely lost."

Shi Shouxin said very conservatively that he actually wanted to say that they would all lose, but he didn't want to spoil Sima Jun's "pleasure", so he changed his words before he could finish.

"I see you are very capable. Have you ever thought about working in my army in the future?"
Whatever you want, I'll give you as long as I can.

Sima Jun also made no attempt to conceal his intention to win over Shi Shouxin.

(End of this chapter)