Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 207 Preparation may not guarantee success, but lack of preparation guarantees failure.

Since the last Luoyang turmoil, when Sima Fu ran off to cause trouble, Wei Fan became the exclusive physician of the Prince of Jin's residence, living with his family in a special courtyard within the Prince of Jin's mansion.

He was clearly deeply trusted by Sima Zhao.

Sima Yan and Sima You had already established their own governments and had their own residences in Luoyang.

Sima Yan's new residence was the former residence of Cao Shuang; while Sima You's new residence was the former residence of Sima You's uncle, Sima Wang.

Sima You and Sima Wang held the same official rank and were both in the Imperial Guard, but they belonged to two different units that rotated their duties. Sima Zhao's arrangement was quite meaningful.

After that incident, the two brothers, Sima Yan and Sima You, adopted completely different styles.

Sima You secluded himself at home, refusing visitors, while Sima Yan held lavish banquets and cultivated a faction of supporters.

It's hard to say whether Sima Zhao gave instructions to both of them, but Sima Zhao's important ministers, such as Chen Qian, Jia Chong, and Li Yin, all kept their distance from Sima Yan.

At the same time, signs of "decline" also appeared in the Prince of Jin's residence.

Of course, the "decline" here does not mean that Sima Zhao's lineage will decline, but rather that after Sima Zhao usurped the Wei throne and established the Jin dynasty, he would move to live in the Luoyang imperial palace.

Sima Yan, on the other hand, would reside in the Eastern Palace, where he would also have his own private quarters.

As for Sima You, Sima Zhao would not allow this son to live in the current Prince of Jin's residence, lest it give outsiders any bad ideas.

Therefore, the Prince of Jin's mansion, which has been bustling for so many years, will naturally decline when people leave and the mansion is deserted.

It is very likely that in a few years, or even this year, it will become an office for the imperial court.

On this day, Sima Yan was holding a banquet to celebrate his new house. Many guests who did not hold prominent official positions were present, giving the Prince of Jin a great deal of face.

At almost the same moment, in the Prince of Jin's residence, the physician Wei Fan was taking Sima Zhao's pulse.

“The Prince of Jin’s pulse is weak and his illness is caused by years of mental and physical strain. I’m afraid it will be very difficult to cure him with medicine.”

Wei is not very knowledgeable and can only prescribe some conditioning medicine, which may be of some use, but the Prince of Jin should not have too high expectations.

The Prince of Jin usually eats very little oil and salt, rises with the sun and rests with the sunset, so he will naturally improve gradually. This illness requires nourishing the heart to heal.

Wei Fan said this in a very cryptic way.

Previously, Sima Zhao had suffered a sudden illness, but recovered quickly. He took this opportunity to set a trap and eliminate Sima Fu, a source of unrest.

Is it still possible that Sima Zhao could suddenly fall ill and never recover?

Wei Fan knew perfectly well what was going on, but he couldn't tell Sima Zhao directly, as that would be taboo.

"Given my current position, it would be very difficult for me to cultivate my mind."

Sima Zhao sighed. "Wei Fan was willing to tell the truth, which is why he gained our trust."

But what Sima Zhao said was also true.

He was about to ascend the throne and become emperor, so there was no turning back. Even if it was harmful to his health, he could only endure it.

Is it possible for an emperor to cultivate his character and temperament?

It's just talk.

Throughout history, regardless of whether they were incompetent, wise, or tyrannical rulers, those who could truly "cultivate their character and temperament" were extremely rare.

In any case, Sima Zhao had never heard of anyone who could do it. If others couldn't do it, he naturally couldn't either.

"My illness must not be revealed to anyone, not even the Princess or the Crown Prince, understand?"

Sima Zhao looked at Wei Fan and said, his tone gradually becoming stern.

"Please rest assured, Your Highness, I shall take my leave."

Wei Fan bowed to Sima Zhao and then leisurely withdrew from the study. Once outside, he realized that his back was completely soaked with sweat.

In fact, Wei Fan only said the nice things.

Sima Zhao's health was chronically depleted, and he often stayed up all night due to excessive worry, constantly fearing that someone would stage a coup and overthrow the Sima family's rule.

Given this, it's impossible for him to be healthy; in fact, he's riddled with illnesses, just not yet manifesting them.

Even if Sima Zhao did not faint due to some kind of "sudden illness," his other health problems would still erupt one after another after he ascended the throne.

In other words, this Prince of Jin doesn't have many years left to live! Even if Sima Zhao were bedridden tomorrow, Wei Fan wouldn't be surprised.

What's worse, last night Sima Yan said he wasn't feeling well and asked me to see a doctor. But when I got there, I found out that Sima Yan was perfectly healthy and had no ailments whatsoever.

The prince summoned him only to have him report on Sima Zhao's health period regularly, as he needed to fulfill his filial duty to his father and pay attention to their health.

Treat illnesses when you're sick, and maintain health when you're healthy! All of this is for the sake of filial piety.

Since things had been said to this extent, Wei Fan could only pretend to be confused and readily agree.

Sima Zhao and his son Sima Yan had already begun to be wary of each other.

Sima Yan seemed to have a general idea of ​​Sima Zhao's health, and the fact that this heir apparent was now making moves was not entirely unfounded.

Sima Yan was mentally prepared! Mentally prepared to be emperor!
"Ugh!"

Wei Fan sighed softly, somewhat regretting why he hadn't prescribed a "good medicine" for Sima Zhao when he "treated" him.

Once the medicine is taken, he will sleep soundly, and the physician will be free of trouble.

……

Sima Yan was very displeased when the important minister Jia Chong did not attend the housewarming banquet he hosted.

After the guests left, Sima Yan kept Yang Xiu, Shi Chong, and others behind.

Yang Xiu was alright; he had no connection with Jia Chong to begin with, and in fact, they were quite at odds, since Jia Chong and the Yang family of Mount Tai had never been on good terms. But Shi Chong looked rather embarrassed.

After all, Sima Yan sent him to invite Jia Chong, but the latter did not come, so Shi Chong was somewhat responsible!
"Ji Lun, didn't you invite Jia Chong? Why didn't he come tonight?"

Sima Yan's first words were full of accusations.

Shi Chong sighed, "Your Highness, I couldn't even get through the door! I only managed to send the invitation in. Jia Chong didn't want to see me, and there was nothing I could do!"

This statement seemed to be an attempt to shirk responsibility, but fortunately, Sima Yan was not the type to be aggressive. After hearing it, he simply waved his hand casually, not wanting to pursue the matter any further.

Clearly, Shi Chong's ability to handle "important matters" was far inferior to Shi Shouxin's. If Shi Shouxin had gone to invite Jia Chong, he could have easily brought Jia Chong here.

“I want to arrange a marriage for my son. Among Jia Chong’s daughters, Jia Bao has already married my brother Sima You. Jia Bao’s mother is the daughter of a disgraced official, and her status is not worth mentioning.”

Only Guo Huai's daughter is a suitable match.

Guo Huai has two daughters, the elder Jia Nanfeng and the younger Jia Wu. Which one is better?

Sima Yan looked at the two of them and asked.

Yang Xiu and Shi Chong looked at each other, both thinking "Holy crap!" but unsure whether they should say it.

Shi Chong immediately pretended to be mute and fell completely silent. He hadn't handled things well before, and if he continued to talk nonsense now, he wouldn't be able to survive in the future.

However, Yang Xiu, remembering that she and Sima Yan were classmates and distant cousins, looked at Sima Yan with a puzzled expression and asked, "Anshi, I remember that your eldest son is your second son, Sima Zhong, who is only five or six years old now, right? Is it a bit too early to be engaged now?"

He actually knew some of the inside story, but with Shi Chong present, it wasn't convenient for him to say anything. He still had to consider Sima Yan's feelings to some extent.

Sure enough, Sima Yan looked at Shi Chong with a smile and said, "Jilun, could you help me find some talented people to recruit and have them come to the Prince's residence to see me? All expenses can be covered by the Prince's treasury."

"Please rest assured, Your Highness, I will certainly do my best."

Shi Chong knew that Sima Yan was using this as an excuse to get rid of him, so he quickly got up on the steps to take his leave.

After Shi Chong left, Sima Yan smiled wryly at Yang Xiu:
“Zhishu (Yang Xiu’s courtesy name), we are not only cousins ​​but also classmates, so naturally we can talk about anything.”

There are no outsiders here today, and I want to ask you: Is there any hope for my eldest son?

Shi Chong may not have known about Sima Yan's situation, but Yang Xiu certainly did.

Sima Yan's question must have come from something he had discovered.

People often say, "You can tell what a child will be like at three, and what they will be like as an adult at seven." Sima Zhong now appears to be six or seven years old. Could it be that Sima Yan (Emperor Sima) discerned something from him?
Yang Xiu asked in a deep voice, "An Shi, this matter is no small thing, even more troublesome than the matter of Sima You. Can you tell me the truth?"

Seeing Yang Xiu's earnest words, Sima Yan thought for a moment without speaking, his expression suggesting he was organizing his thoughts.

After a long silence, Sima Yan said somewhat guiltily, "Sima Zhong is just... I can't see where his intelligence lies. But to say he's beyond redemption, or so stupid as to be unable to count, wouldn't be an exaggeration. In short, I can't say for sure, but that's just how he is."

Isn't that stupid?

Yang Xiu recalled her almost prodigy-like performance as a child, and a look of horror appeared on her face.

In front of outsiders, fathers will usually speak well of their children.

Mischievous and naughty, in her father's words, that was being naturally lively.

Those who stay at home and never go out are considered quiet and studious by their fathers.

Even Sima Yan said he couldn't see "where the intelligence" in Sima Zhong, so it seems he really wasn't very smart.

“Anshi, you have more than one son. Even your legitimate son, Sima Jian, is another one.”

Why not let the eldest son, Sima Jian, inherit the family business? Surely Sima Jian can't be that stupid, can he?"

Yang Xiu countered with a question.

Sima Yan waved his hand and said, "No, Sima Jian is very intelligent. Although he is two or three years younger than Sima Zhong, he seems to be more sharp-witted and perceptive."

He said it very cryptically, almost as if he had "Sima Zhong should not have been born" written all over his face.

Yang Xiu was speechless for a moment, unsure whether to speak well of Sima Zhong or say that Sima Jian should be the legitimate son.

“Zhishu, when my uncle Sima Shi passed away, my father was undecided about who should be the heir, while outsiders preferred Sima You to be the heir.”

It was you who advised me to establish the legitimate heir, not the illegitimate one, and the eldest son, not the youngest, as this is the proper order of seniority. That's why I was able to become the heir without any major incidents.

If I become emperor in the future, should I also choose the legitimate heir over the illegitimate one, and the eldest son over the youngest son, when it comes to the matter of choosing the crown prince?
If I were to abandon my eldest son, Sima Zhong, and instead install my second son, Sima Jian, as emperor, how would I explain myself to the courtiers?
"We can't just say that the throne should belong to Sima You, can we?"

Sima Yan countered with a question.

Yang Xiu was speechless; those words were truly too hurtful.

"My wariness of Sima You is the same."

My father has already said that I am the heir apparent, and soon I will be the crown prince, and then the emperor.

I don't need to do anything, I can just wait. There's absolutely no need to guard against Sima You.

My only fear is that after me, if a crown prince like Sima Zhong ascends the throne, will he be able to defeat my uncle, Sima You?

Sima Yan looked at Yang Xiu and asked, his gaze deep.

"So you want to form a marriage alliance with Jia Chong's family... no, with both the Jia family and the Guo family! Is that right?"

Yang Xiu suddenly realized that he had not expected Sima Yan to think so far ahead. He had underestimated his cousin before!

"If we were to form a marriage alliance with the Jia family, I would simply take Jia Chong's daughter, Jia Yu, as my heir's wife."

However, she was born to Li, and taking her into his household would mean severing ties with Guo. This would backfire.

Sima Yan sighed.

His position is actually quite secure; the troublesome thing is what will happen after he leaves. Although that time is still quite far off, as the saying goes, "Those who are prepared will not succeed, but those who are not prepared will surely fail."

If we don't consider the consequences now, trouble is inevitable later. And trouble involving Sima Zhong will certainly be a major disaster!
“Jia Chong’s daughter, Jia Wu, was one year younger than Sima Zhong, which was the right age. As for Jia Nanfeng, she was three years older than Sima Zhong, which was inappropriate.”

Yang Xiu frowned slightly.

If you're already foolish, why would you choose a "tough guy" who's three years older and has three more years of life experience? Isn't that just asking for trouble?
Yang Xiu's statement was consistent with Sima Yan's inner judgment.

“Zhishu, that’s what I think too.”

I want to arrange a marriage between our children right now and settle things.

"We can just follow the established procedures from now on, what do you think?"

Sima Yan inquired, and Yang Xiu nodded slightly, confirming that it was indeed so. An early engagement meant they could leverage Jia Chong's support sooner.

It's really wonderful.

"But Jia Chong isn't coming today."

Sima Yan sighed in great disappointment.

A cunning old fox like Jia Chong wouldn't openly take sides before Sima Yan ascended the throne, or even before he was about to ascend it. Sima Zhao wasn't even dead yet; if Jia Chong were to become intimately acquainted with Sima Yan, what would Sima Zhao think?

When dynasties change, it will be me who ascends the throne, not my son! At that time, Sima Zhao will either deal with Jia Chong or Sima Yan.

Jia Chong, that old wall lamp, would never do something so foolish.

Jia Chong only needs to wait; he doesn't need to take sides at all.

Of course, Sima Yan was not unaware of these intricacies; he simply wanted to try his luck.

What if, what if it succeeds?

Unfortunately, "what if" is just that—a "what if." Jia Chong's attitude towards Sima Yan was very clear: coldness! Keep out of reach!
They won't offend you, but they'll never get close to you either.

“Jia Chong is cunning and treacherous. In my opinion, it would be better to start with Guo Huai.”

Judging from my observation, Jia Chong's second wife doesn't seem to be a cunning person. She's much easier to deal with than Jia Chong!

Once the deal is done with Guo Huai, and if she is willing to marry off her daughter, then even if Jia Chong objects, he will have no grounds to object.

What does An Shi think?

Yang Xiu gave Sima Yan a good idea. The matter should be addressed, but one shouldn't put all their eggs in one basket.

"That's fine then. Will you make the trip?"

Sima Yan nodded and asked in return.

Yang Xiu replied, "There's no time to lose. I'll go now."

After saying that, he got up and left.

After Yang Xiu left, Sima Yan was alone in his study, head bowed in thought, seemingly lost in thought.

Much later, just before midnight, a servant hurriedly entered.

"How to say?"

Sima Yan asked in a low voice.

"The imperial physician said that the Prince of Jin is seriously ill and needs to recuperate; he should not be burdened with state affairs."

Upon hearing this, Sima Yan nodded slightly and said, "Go and tell the physician Wei to make sure to prepare the medicine for the Prince of Jin well and take good care of him."

"Here!"

The servant obeyed and left.

"Ugh!"

Sima Yan sighed deeply; those unspeakable things were gradually becoming reality.

Everything concerning Sima Zhao, himself, and his eldest son Sima Zhong, was heading down an irreversible path.

"If Sima Zhong were a fool, how could he possibly defeat Tao Fu, who was intelligent and well-connected?"

How can one possibly outwit a court full of cunning old foxes?

Sima Yan muttered to himself, as if his mind had been bewitched by a demon.

(End of this chapter)