Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 225 Stop pretending

Early the next morning, Shi Shouxin left Li's residence on foot and headed to the Prince of Jin's mansion.

He felt completely relaxed at that moment, because he no longer needed to deal with those old Dengs.

Alternatively, one could temporarily leave Luoyang, a place rife with controversy, and escape its nauseatingly murky political atmosphere.

The Prince of Jin's residence was not far from the Li family's residence. Shi Shouxin arrived at the place quickly and was led by his personal guards to the door of Sima Zhao's study. He waited for a long time before he saw Sima Zhao rushing over from the bedroom. Although his clothes were neat, his hair was messy, which showed that he had gotten up in a hurry and had not had time to wash up.

For some reason, Shi Shouxin noticed that the other person's expression seemed a little awkward, as if they had encountered something they couldn't talk about.

After the two entered the study and took their seats, Sima Zhao composed himself and looked at Shi Shouxin, asking, "You've come to the Prince of Jin's residence so early to report on official business. Has something major happened in Luoyang?"

Sima Zhao asked somewhat nervously.

He couldn't afford to be nervous, because it concerned his ascension to the throne, and any small mishap could cause major trouble.

Remembering his plan, Shi Shouxin coughed lightly and said, "It's nothing serious. I've come to resign."

"Resignation?"

Sima Zhao looked suspicious, seemingly not quite understanding why Shi Shouxin would do this.

"You're doing a good job as the Commandant of the Capital Region, why are you asking to resign?"

Sima Zhao pressed for an answer.

He felt that Shi Shouxin was very capable in handling affairs, and it could be said that Shi Shouxin played a significant role in Jia Chong's petition to ascend the throne.

"With the founding of the Great Jin Dynasty and the implementation of its elegant policies, the government is to grant a general amnesty, release capable officials from the Golden Valley Garden, and bring back nobles who have been exiled to Liaodong."

This was the chaos of the previous dynasty, which the new dynasty rectified, thus restoring order to the order.

As the former Commandant of the Capital Region, I was responsible for arresting many people due to the tyranny of the previous dynasty, and naturally I must give them an explanation.

Such a big matter cannot be simply dismissed as a thing of the past. Someone needs to step forward and take responsibility.

Since the King of Jin intends to grant a general amnesty, it is obvious that the cruel officials of the previous dynasty were in the wrong.

If I continue to serve as the Commandant of the Capital Region, then is it I who made a mistake, or is it the person I arrested who made a mistake?
If I, an official from the previous dynasty, am still serving in the new dynasty, wouldn't that mean that the arrest was not a mistake?

We can't just say that everyone is right and then sit together and toast each other at the banquet for the founding ceremony, can we?

What does Your Highness think?

Shi Shouxin raised a very pointed, yet unavoidable, question.

Sima Zhao remained silent, unable to utter a single word for a long time.

“You work for me. If you are purged, who will be willing to work for me in the future?”

Sima Zhao countered with a question.

Shi Shouxin did not answer the question directly, but chuckled and said:
"Your Highness, that is precisely why I am here to resign."

If I do not resign now, the day the founding ceremony is held will be the day my head is hung on the gates of Luoyang.

If I don't run now, am I supposed to wait until the cruel officials arrest me and take me to the Silitai prison before trying to escape?
I am now resigning. After the change of dynasties, I will be nothing more than a commoner.

Promoting a subordinate official to continue governing Qingzhou is an act of great imperial grace. I believe no one will object.

The new dynasty emphasizes lenient governance, and those who resign are not held accountable for their past actions. Surely they won't hold a commoner like me responsible?

Shi Shouxin spread his hands and said.

Upon hearing these words, Sima Zhao suddenly realized that his understanding of the workings of power was far inferior to that of the young man in front of him!
Or perhaps Sima Zhao, having held a high position for so long, had become unable to fathom the complex thoughts and intentions of his subordinates.

Before entrusting Shi Shouxin with the dirty work and grueling tasks, Sima Zhao never even considered how this person should gracefully exit the stage.

At most, they just thought, "I'll definitely protect you," without considering the consequences.

But now, after listening to Shi Shouxin's explanation, I realize there's a lot more to it than meets the eye.

Shi Shouxin was the Commandant of the Capital Region of the Great Wei Dynasty, not the Commandant of the Capital Region of the Great Jin Dynasty. It may seem like there is only a slight difference, but in reality, it is a world of difference.

If the previous dynasty is gone, are the officials of that dynasty still officials?

Shi Shouxin's approach was to do the opposite.

Since the Wei regime is functioning smoothly now, I'll disrupt it and force those old bastards to concede. I'll also let them feel the urgency with which Sima Zhao ascended the throne!
Once you make concessions, then you can sit down and have a proper talk.

Deals are always negotiated, right? The Sima family got the biggest portion, while everyone else had their own delicious food, and everyone was able to eat their fill.

Why not do it?
This is far superior to Sima Zhao's underhanded tactic of "using assassins to create an atmosphere of terror"!
Shi Shouxin placed the waist token of the Commandant of the Capital Region and the tokens of the Sima family's assassins on the table, and bowed to Sima Zhao.

"Are you going back to Qingzhou? It's probably not appropriate for you to leave like this."

Even Liu Shan, a ruler who lost his country, was invited to a banquet by me.

It would be truly unreasonable for you to leave.

Sima Zhao sighed, which was tantamount to acknowledging Shi Shouxin's resignation.

"I will go to Mengjin Ferry to see if a bridge can be built here, and I will conduct an on-site survey."

This can be considered a moment of leisure amidst a busy schedule.

As for the founding ceremony, it is inconvenient for me, a cruel official from the previous dynasty, to participate.

I imagine many of the people I'm arresting will participate; if we encounter them, they will be embarrassed, and Your Highness will be embarrassed as well.

Shi Shouxin's resignation was exceptionally firm and well-founded, leaving no room for argument.

The actual situation is indeed as Shi Shouxin said.

If Shi Shouxin were to attend the banquet following the celebration, Wang Kai and others would also be present.

When all the guests look at Shi Shouxin with hatred, should the banquet be held or not?
Such an important celebration, and the atmosphere is so tense, anyone who didn't know better would think the country was about to perish!
We can't just say we'll get rid of the people who are in our way, can we?
Shi Shouxin's advance resignation meant he was not qualified to attend the banquet. Since he was not qualified to go, there was naturally no question of whether or not to ask him to leave.

"Don't worry, I will definitely make it up to you."

Sima Zhao made this promise very solemnly.

"Now that I have no more worries, I will take my leave."

By the way, Your Highness, my troops are still in Qingzhou. Please do not reassign any local officials there.

I fear my men are unaware of the situation, and if they were to mutiny, it would be disastrous.

Shi Shouxin kindly reminded him.

Sima Zhao then remembered that Shi Shouxin still had several thousand loyal soldiers under his command who did not directly obey the court's orders.

The main reason was that Shi Shouxin was too obedient, always available whenever called upon, and never led troops in a ostentatious manner.

People have forgotten that he was actually a powerful figure who could wield considerable influence in the region!
Shi Shouxin's reminder was indeed necessary, because resigning from office was just a formality, and after the change of dynasties, new official positions would still need to be appointed.

What I fear most is certain fools, like Wang Kai and his ilk. I suggest that Sima Zhao not appoint Shi Shouxin as the governor of Qingzhou!
If Shi Shouxin's troops fail to obtain the land and official positions they desire, won't they rebel?
If that day ever comes, the situation will be completely out of control!
"I can tell the difference between what's important and what's not!"

Sima Zhao couldn't help but rebuke him.

After Shi Shouxin left, the preoccupied Prince Jin went to his bedroom, only to see Wang Yuanji about to leave.

Recalling the humiliation of the previous night, Sima Zhao sighed deeply, unsure of what to say.

Last night, Sima Zhao was in a great mood because of the important matter that was about to happen. After nightfall, he came to the bedroom and saw Wang Yuanji sitting at the table in a daze.

For some reason, the first wife, whom I had grown tired of looking at, suddenly appeared quite charming and alluring under the candlelight.

In a fit of excitement, Sima Zhao pounced on Wang Yuanji and pinned her down on the wooden planks of the bedroom. Whether it was due to his excessive roughness causing her lack of cooperation, or his own physical limitations, after Sima Zhao had painstakingly undressed Wang Yuanji, he couldn't hold back!
Ashamed, Sima Zhao was about to ask Wei Fan for some pills to enhance his pleasure when Wang Yuanji stopped him. She gently advised Sima Zhao: Being the emperor is the most important thing; there's no need to waste time on unnecessary trouble.

Sima Zhao thought about it again and realized that it was indeed the case.

Is a couple going through all that trouble more important than being emperor? If you ruin your health, how can you be emperor? Each lost in their own thoughts, they went to bed without touching each other again.

"Wang Kai has not returned from his exile, and his family members are quite critical of him."

Starting today, I will go back to my parents' home for two days to appease them.

If anything happens, my lord, just send someone to the palace to inform me.

Wang Yuanji held Sima Zhao's hand and said softly.

Recalling the humiliation of last night, Sima Zhao sighed and nodded. It's best to avoid this for a while; otherwise, such things are truly embarrassing and inconvenient to talk about.

……

The officialdom in Luoyang has been quite lively lately.

The day after Shi Shouxin was "forced" to resign, the "suspects" in Jingu Garden were informed by Du Yu, who was temporarily acting as the Commandant of the Capital Region, that they would all be released the day after the founding ceremony and reinstated to their original positions, and there was even a possibility of further advancement.

The commotion in the park immediately subsided, and everyone knew that the rare opportunity had finally arrived.

A new dynasty brings a new atmosphere, new official positions and new benefits—it's here, it's finally here!

Then, Sima Zhao swiftly accepted Cao Huan's "abdication" and issued an edict changing the name of Wei to Jin and granting a general amnesty.

Death penalty commuted to suspended death sentence, life imprisonment commuted to fixed term, and fixed term imprisonment commuted to direct release!

No one in the court or among the people objected. Although he no longer had Shi Shouxin as a scapegoat, Sima Zhao had plenty of confidants and was not short of cruel officials who could arrest people.

With precedents to follow, everyone knows what's going on and no one wants to make a fuss anymore. Anyone who tries to persuade you at this point is doomed!
The upcoming autumn harvest celebration has been officially renamed the coronation ceremony. The entire ceremony has been changed, but it does not need to be redesigned.

Because that was originally a pre-designed "Plan B." The most important matters of state are sacrifice and war. As a founding celebration, it certainly couldn't be taken lightly, nor would it be.

The entire process begins with a sacrificial ceremony, which involves worshipping heaven and earth, paying respects to ancestors, and offering three kinds of sacrificial animals.

Then a minister's representative read the abdication edict on behalf of Cao Huan, and then Sima Zhao's confidant read the succession edict, which meant that the Sima family took over the imperial power from the Cao family.

Instead of some makeshift group where someone occupies a mountain and becomes a king, or a peasant woman and becomes a queen, or a farmer and becomes a general.

Next came the military parade. The new emperor, Sima Zhao, sat on his imperial carriage, surrounded by imperial guards. The parade then circled the city of Luoyang, showcasing the domineering presence of "tiger warriors by his side."

The final step was in the Taiji Hall, where officials serving as eunuchs read out the list of conferments, bestowing titles and appointing officials to the court officials and nobles.

Because there were so many people being conferred titles, it was impossible to read them all, so many minor officials and nobles were automatically omitted from the list.

Once all of this was completed, the founding ceremony officially came to an end.

However, all of this is just superficial; it's all pre-arranged.

The main event was the banquet held in the Taiji Hall after the celebration.

By observing the seating arrangement, the expressions of the many officials, and even the words spoken at the banquet, one could discern how the future political landscape would evolve.

You can usually tell pretty much who the big players are and who sits at the kids' table.

But none of these things concern Shi Shouxin, because... he won't get involved, or rather, he's not even qualified to be involved!

However, Shi Shouxin didn't care about these trivial matters at all. At this moment, he was in the small courtyard that Sima Zhao had arranged for him, drinking and exchanging cups with Zhao Lun and other confidants!

Early that morning, Shi Shouxin, Zhao Lun, and others practiced boxing in the courtyard, exchanging martial arts skills. Because Zhao Lun understood the essence of "playing arcade games with the boss," he thoroughly enjoyed the match, giving Shi Shouxin the illusion that "I'm also quite good at fighting."

After the boxing match, everyone sat down in the main hall and took out several jars of fine wine sent by the Prince of Jin's mansion. Each person took one jar and drank directly from it, without pouring it into a wine cup.

"My lord, we've been so busy with all this, are you really just going to resign like this?"

Zhao Lun asked in confusion, not understanding what Shi Shouxin was up to.

With no outsiders present, Shi Shouxin laughed heartily, "You can't get anything done with those scoundrels. The reason I'm resigning is because I don't want to associate with them."

This was a nonsensical remark, and Zhao Lun scratched his head, unsure how to respond.

The others were equally confused, after all, they were merely Shi Shouxin's personal guards. They were adept at killing on the battlefield, but they couldn't outsmart those old foxes when it came to scheming.

"I am resigning now, so that when the Great Jin Dynasty is founded, I will be just an ordinary citizen, not a remnant of the previous dynasty."

"Attending the founding ceremony, I only stood under the sun for a few hours. Do you find that interesting?"

Shi Shouxin countered with a question.

Zhao Lun nodded slightly. He was a big guy, but not a complete idiot.

Whether or not one attends the celebration is merely a formality. Even for a commoner without official rank, what difference does attending the celebration make?
Will it make me more handsome and smarter, or will it make me gain more weight?

There's nothing there; at most, you can boast about it to the younger generation in the family, and that's about it.

"What you say is absolutely right, my lord. It's better not to go to this lousy celebration."

Zhao Lun snorted and echoed.

"That's right. Even if I resign, after the change of dynasty, the Sima family will still give me every official position that they are obligated to grant!"
Many people are watching the Sima family, eager to see how they will treat the truly meritorious officials.

A cold smile appeared on Shi Shouxin's face, his expression mocking, as he continued:
"The people in Luoyang now are all a burden and a liability."

I originally had 100% of my strength, but if I joined forces with them, I would be lucky to be able to exert 50%.

You don't necessarily need an imperial edict to come to Luoyang.

Once we've made a name for ourselves, we can come and go from Luoyang whenever we want.

They won't care about the opinions of those who eat meat.

Shi Shouxin said meaningfully.

Hearing this, Zhao Lun was secretly surprised. Although he had long known that Shi Shouxin was an unruly person, he really did not expect that this person would not take the Sima family seriously at all.

They have absolutely no sense of awe.

"By the way, I have something to tell you guys."

Shi Shouxin suddenly stopped smiling and looked at everyone.

"Please give your instructions, Your Excellency!"

"The day before the founding ceremony, that is, two days later, you will take off your military uniforms and remove the spearheads from your rifles."

We disguised ourselves as bandits, robbed the market west of Luoyang, and then instead of returning to Luoyang, we took our goods directly to the Mengjin ferry.

The loot will be divided equally among the brothers, as a way to cover the travel expenses for coming to Luoyang with Mr. Shi.

Shi Shouxin chuckled.

Such a good thing? Zhao Lun and the others were so excited they almost jumped for joy!

As if remembering something, Zhao Lun asked again, "Isn't the imperial court going to take care of this?"

"The founding ceremony is tomorrow, so who would care about the affairs of the old dynasty today?"

To prevent some people from lacking martial ethics, we must first show them what martial ethics are.

Most of these merchants in Luoyang were servants of powerful and wealthy people; they could rob without a second thought.

Don't worry, I'll take full responsibility if anything goes wrong. You can just go ahead and grab whatever you want.

"What we can't take, we'll call on the people of the city to help carry it; we'll consider it robbing the rich to help the poor."

Shi Shouxin waved his hand lightly, his face calm and composed.

"We swear to serve Lord Shi to the death!"

Everyone present knelt down in unison, all showing their sincere admiration for Shi Shouxin.

(End of this chapter)