Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 209 Learning from the Past: A Guide to the Future
Late at night, in the Jia family mansion in Luoyang, the atmosphere in Jia Chong's study was oppressive and tense.

Guo Huai, that big mouth, while criticizing Jia Chong during the day, actually boasted about the engagement between Sima Zhong and Jia Wu, and bluntly said that Jia Bao's marriage was a mess.

Jia Chong, who had been giving in to Guo Huai and not wanting to stoop to her level, immediately flew into a rage upon hearing this!
The couple had a big argument. Guo Huai knew he was in the wrong, so he went to Jia Chong's study that night to plead for him.

"Hey, do you even know what you're doing? Have you lost your mind?"

Jia Chong criticized him without any politeness, but his tone was much softer than during the day.

"Jia Bao has already married Sima You, so what's wrong with letting Jia Wu marry Sima Zhong? What did I do wrong?"

Guo Huai countered with a question.

"It's too late to turn back now, so let's just leave it at that."

Jia Chong sighed, no longer wanting to get entangled in the matter.

If it hadn't happened, things would have been fine. But since it has, going back on one's word would be a slap in the face to Sima Yan. Considering that this man might become emperor in a few years, offending him is really not a good idea.

Fortunately, it's just an engagement, not a wedding. We don't know what the future holds, so let's leave it at that for now.

"So what exactly are you dissatisfied with?"

Guo Huai retorted, undeterred.

She realized that Jia Chong was no longer angry, but with her limited wisdom, she could not understand what the political consequences would be of marrying into the Sima Yan lineage.

No, it should be called a disastrous consequence.

"Let's leave it at that. I'll handle Jia Wu's marriage; I won't make things difficult for you."

Jia Chong waved his hand wearily. They say harmony in the family brings prosperity; if there's constant turmoil at home, all sorts of problems will arise.

Having said all that, Guo Huai didn't want to argue any further. Just as she was about to leave dejectedly, she suddenly heard the voice of a servant outside the door.

"My lord, someone from the Prince of Jin's residence has come to invite you to come over for a chat. The carriage is already waiting outside the gate."

Upon hearing this, Jia Chong casually replied, "I'll go right away."

After saying that, he looked at Guo Huai and earnestly warned him, "The world is different now. Don't bring trouble upon me, understand?"

Guo Huai dared not speak, and could only agree verbally. As for what she was really thinking, that remains unknown.

That's how the Jia family is. Don't be fooled by Guo Huai's domineering and powerful behavior. As long as Jia Chong gets angry or decides to do something, Guo Huai will back down and stop bothering him.

But Guo Huai wasn't truly convinced and kept trying to sabotage the situation.

Sitting in the carriage, Jia Chong was particularly worried about Sima Zhao proposing a marriage alliance. Since Jia Bao's marriage to Sima You had already achieved its purpose, another marriage would be… a bit too much.

However, as it turned out, Jia Chong was completely overthinking things.

Guo Huai and Sima Yan were very careful to keep this matter secret, or perhaps the change of dynasty was imminent and Sima Zhao was so busy that he couldn't care less about such things.

When Jia Chong arrived at the study of the Prince of Jin's residence, he exchanged a few pleasantries with Sima Zhao. Then he discovered that Sima Zhao was simply reminiscing about the past with him, and even talked about how Jia Chong's first wife, Li, was exiled to the frontier, which made him sigh with emotion.

The two chatted while drinking, but the things they talked about were all old news and not worth mentioning at all.

Sima Zhao chatted in circles for half an hour, until Jia Chong finally couldn't sit still any longer.

“Prince Jin, I have been advising you for many years. There are no outsiders here today, so please speak frankly. I will tell you everything I know without reservation.”

Jia Chong bowed to Sima Zhao and inquired.

“Alas, Jia Gonglu, I ask you: If a country is to enjoy long-term stability and security, it must establish various systems at the time of its founding.”

Are there any points I should pay special attention to? I've been racking my brains trying to figure this out, but I can't find a solution. I hope you can teach me how to do it.

Sima Zhao asked earnestly.

This was no longer an act; Jia Chong instantly understood. If he weren't emperor, why would he need to worry about these things? Cao Huan would be eating and sleeping soundly!
However, this question is not easy to answer. If we say too much, Sima Zhao will definitely feel uncomfortable. What if he says something like, "Are you telling me how to do things?"
Jia Chong put in a lot of effort but didn't get any credit, which was completely pointless for someone like him.

But a few perfunctory words wouldn't do. Sima Zhao had specially sent someone to invite Jia Chong to the Prince of Jin's residence to discuss important matters, and to give him only a pittance would be an insult to his intelligence.

However, Jia Chong had long understood Sima Zhao's temperament and abilities. After a moment's thought, he replied, "The saying goes, 'If we don't learn from the past, we can learn from it.' We just need to summarize the successes and failures of the previous dynasty's governance and then fill in the gaps."

This statement was perfectly watertight.

Last time?
Sima Zhao remained silent, pondering repeatedly what Jia Chong meant by those words.

The so-called "previous dynasty" refers to the Cao Wei dynasty! It can't be the Han dynasty, can it?

How did Cao Wei lose control of the country?

It's obvious that this was due to a lack of vigilance towards the Sima clan.

Jia Chong was clever because he didn't say the unpleasant things too bluntly. He couldn't very well say: "Cao Wei lost because they didn't wipe out your family."

"I don't understand what you're saying, Gonglu. I hope you can enlighten me."

Sima Zhao pressed on relentlessly, giving Jia Chong no room to play any tricks.

Since they are "one of us," we should at least have some "intimate conversations." If Jia Chong doesn't clearly explain the eight characters "learn from the past to guide the future," he will have a hard time leaving the Prince of Jin's residence tonight.

"Your Highness, the reason why the Cao family lost the throne was because, after Cao Pi, successive emperors treated the imperial clan members harshly and did not give them power."

If the country is to enjoy long-term stability and security, it is essential to treat the imperial family well to protect the emperor.

Jia Chong offered his "substantial advice," knowing full well that Sima Zhao didn't want to hear the same old clichés.

Sima Zhao seemed unsurprised by Jia Chong's explanation, as if he had expected the other party to say something like that.

He remained silent for a long time. Just as Jia Chong was about to explain why the imperial family should be "treated with preferential treatment," Sima Zhao suddenly asked, "What should be done if someone like Sima Fu is given an important position?"

That's a rather serious question! After all, the chaos in Luoyang happened not long ago, and it was Sima Fu who was tricked by Sima Zhao!

Sima Zhao's worries were not so simple.

If Sima Fu had simply written "I am a traitor" on his forehead, that would have been much easier to deal with.

The key point is that these members of the imperial family usually act like loyal ministers and generals, putting on an air of self-importance and acting as if they are your good helpers.

But if the emperor doesn't offer them concrete benefits, these people will have other ideas.

Members of the imperial clan were bound by kinship and filial piety, so they could not be beaten or scolded.

For Sima Zhao, it was utterly disgusting!

However, Jia Chong seemed oblivious to Sima Zhao's resentment and continued calmly, "If the imperial clan cannot be trusted, then fathers, sons, husbands, wives, rulers, and ministers are all untrustworthy. Your Highness must believe in the will of the people. If the emperor does not lose virtue, how could the imperial clan rebel?"

The moment he said those words, Jia Chong immediately realized he had made a mistake!
If Sima Zhao hadn't committed any moral transgressions, why would Sima Fu have stood up and raised his voice in protest?

Jia Chong realized that what he had just said was a terrible mistake.

As expected, upon hearing Jia Chong's explanation, Sima Zhao's face flushed red and then turned pale, his expression extremely unpleasant. It's said that you shouldn't hit someone in the face, but Jia Chong was blatantly slapping him in the face.

Although he spoke unintentionally, the listener took it to heart. Sima Zhao clearly felt that Jia Chong was subtly mocking him for being "ignorant"!
"Jia Gonglu, it seems you feel sorry for Sima Fu, or do you think I made a mistake in killing him?" Sima Zhao asked rhetorically, his expression unfriendly.

"I had no such intention. Sima Fu brought this upon himself and deserved to be killed."

However, the Cao emperor neglected the imperial clan and deliberately suppressed them, so that no one in the Cao clan could step forward at critical moments, which is indeed a lesson.

Please calm your anger, Your Highness.

Jia Chong calmly bowed and apologized, but the conversation had reached a dead end, and he could no longer easily back down.

Sima Zhao's anger subsided slightly, but his expression remained uncertain.

"I'm tired, you may leave."

Sima Zhao bluntly ordered Jia Chong to leave, leaving him speechless and feeling extremely uncomfortable.

Sitting in the carriage on the way back, Jia Chong suddenly thought of something and then revealed a look of sudden realization.

"The emperor doesn't necessarily have to be a wise and powerful one."

The more foolish someone is, the easier they are to control. If the emperor stops causing trouble, the ministers will have a comfortable life.

Although Guo Huai was foolish and jealous, this incident, ironically, turned out to be a lucky accident.

Jia Chong muttered to himself in a low voice.

He felt that Sima Zhao was not easy to talk to, and that serving him would require some effort.

The person who will become emperor in the future must be someone who is easier to talk to.

For example, Sima Yan was quite easy to talk to, or there was Sima Zhong, Sima Yan's eldest son, who was rumored to be "not very smart".

This marriage seems like a good match.

Back at the Jia mansion, Jia Chong had just entered when he saw Guo Huai scolding Jia Yu, the second daughter of Li Shi, seemingly for something as trivial as breaking a vase. The young lady was crying her eyes out, looking pitiful, but her stepmother was still relentless, chattering on and on.

Seeing this, Jia Chong seemed to understand something, and stepped forward to Guo Huai, saying, "Alright, you've scolded enough, go and rest."

Well, there's now an "unwelcome" person in the house. If this isn't dealt with, something bad is bound to happen in the future.

After saying that, he put his arm around Jia Yu's shoulder and said gently, "Come with me to the study, I have something to tell you."

……

Sima Zhao's dissatisfaction with Jia Chong didn't actually stem from Jia Chong's wrong words, but rather from Jia Chong's absence from Luoyang when Sima Fu's rebellion was suppressed. Sima Zhao felt that Jia Chong was incompetent and somewhat cunning at a crucial moment, leading to his disappointment and subsequent dissatisfaction.

From this perspective, Shi Shouxin, who came from an ordinary background, was actually an "honest man," since he was truly committed when trouble came!

Early that morning, Wang Yuanji left a message saying that she was going to Baima Temple to worship Buddha, and then to visit her younger brother Wang Kai's family. She would not be returning to the Prince of Jin's residence that night.

Sima Zhao, upon learning of this, did not take it seriously. In any case, Wang Yuanji and her younger brother Wang Kai were frequently in contact, but he had never heard of her worshipping Buddha before.

Sima Zhao was focused on changing dynasties, so how could he care about such trivial matters?

Sima Zhao arrived at the study of the Prince of Jin's residence as usual to work. Before he could even settle in, a servant announced that Wang Hun, a Gentleman Attendant at the Palace Gate, was requesting an audience. Wang Hun had previously served as a staff member in the General's office and later became the Commandant of the Yueqi Cavalry, leading the Imperial Guards. He had just returned from Hanzhong.

Wang Hun was in his early forties, a time of great experience and vigor.

Although he was once Cao Shuang's advisor, he had been following Sima Zhao since the time of Gaoping Mausoleum, rather than coming from Sima Shi's side, so he was considered an "old confidant".

Sima Zhao has now entrusted Wang Hun with an important task, instructing him to arrange all matters related to the "Founding Ceremony"!

Wang Hun was also very helpful, arranging everything in an orderly manner. In particular, he proposed a new plan for the defense of Luoyang and the surrounding areas: after consolidating the power of the Imperial Guards, he would establish an Imperial Guard of 100,000 troops, named the Central Army.

We won't assign so many random and complicated designations, lest someone like Sima Wang lead a portion of the Imperial Guards in rebellion.

With these 100,000 imperial guards in command, the country can be assured of long-term stability and security, that's what Wang Hun told Sima Zhao.

Sima Zhao readily agreed and asked Wang Hun to come up with a concrete plan.

This time, Wang Hun did not come alone; he was accompanied by a child of about twelve or thirteen years old.

"Your Highness, this is Liu Yuan, the Prince of the Xiongnu. He is not only exceptionally skilled in martial arts and archery, but also has superb physical strength. He is also diligent and studious, and has outstanding literary talent. He can recite the Zuo Zhuan and Sun Tzu's Art of War."

Wang Hun introduced Liu Yuan to Sima Zhao.

The system of appointing sons to official positions in the Han Dynasty was a system that allowed the sons of high-ranking officials to enter officialdom based on the merits of their fathers and brothers. However, Liu Yuan was a Xiongnu and was staying in Luoyang, so appointing sons to official positions was equivalent to being hostages.

Although Liu Yuan was only twelve or thirteen years old, he was already strong and powerful, far surpassing the average person of this era.

Sima Zhao saw that he had an extraordinary appearance, so he offered him a seat, chatted with Liu Yuan for a few words, and then dismissed the man.

It's not that Liu Yuan's appearance was bad, but Sima Zhao didn't think this guy could cause any trouble at all. He just wanted him to stay in Luoyang, and it didn't matter whether he was given an official position or not.

After sending Liu Yuan away, Sima Zhao looked at Wang Hun and asked in a deep voice, "How is the Emperor in Jinyong City?"

"Reporting to the Prince of Jin, the Emperor is eating and sleeping well in Jinyong City, and there are no unusual developments."

Wang Hun answered truthfully.

"Did he meet with any outsiders?"

Sima Zhao continued to press for answers.

Wang Hun replied, "I did not see anyone."

Sima Zhao nodded in satisfaction, everything was under control.

"How are the arrangements for the grand ceremony going?"

When Sima Zhao asked again, he was incredibly direct, without uttering a single unnecessary word.

Wang Hun replied, "Everything else is easy to arrange, but... we still need a memorial signed by all the ministers in the court, urging the emperor to abdicate."

If the emperor is to abdicate, and it's his final act, then it certainly can't be "without a reason"!

It required a majority of court officials to jointly submit a memorial urging the emperor to abdicate and yield the throne to a more worthy successor. Only then could the emperor issue an edict of abdication, allowing Sima Zhao to "take over."

I became emperor because everyone asked me to, not because I coveted the throne!
The main focus is on being respectable!
"This matter must be handled properly. Anyone unwilling to sign their name should be imprisoned!"

Sima Zhao said solemnly.

Wang Hun looked troubled, but after glancing at Sima Zhao and recalling the Gaopingling Incident of that year, he finally bowed and gracefully took his leave.

I've been a dog for the Sima family for a while now, and I've gotten used to it over time.

With a change of dynasty imminent, years of hard work are about to be "monetized," and it's the perfect time to sit down and enjoy the meal. Even if it offends people, even if it's disgusting, we have no choice but to grit our teeth and do it.

Wang Hun, who came from the Wang clan of Taiyuan, had no hesitation at this moment.

(End of this chapter)