Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 42 Simple Yet Complex Game Rules
The next day, Shi Shouxin, waking from a hangover, received a letter from his wife, Li Wan. Of course, many letters and items sent from home were delivered along with the military rations.

To prevent generals from becoming too powerful, the Wei state often separated the hometowns of its generals and soldiers, and the generals' homes were mostly in Luoyang.

Meanwhile, to ensure that generals could focus on combat, writing letters home became a regular practice. With this system in place, it became much more difficult for commanders to recruit others to rebel.

The envelope was made of thick paper produced by Shi Shouxin's family. Li Wan folded it into a beautiful carp shape, and the envelope was dyed light green, making it look like a work of art.

While Hu Lie and others were making fun of Shi Shouxin's wife for being virtuous and having a great sense of life, the person involved discovered something that made him very angry.

The sealing wax on the envelope had already been opened. The person who opened the envelope didn't even bother to restore it properly, as if it was done specifically to embarrass Shi Shouxin!
Fortunately, there were no private words in the letter. Li Wan simply mentioned the situation at home: everything was fine and there was nothing serious. She told Shi Shouxin to be careful in his words and actions when he went to war and not to worry about the family.

Li Wan mentioned at the end that she had made a new robe out of Shu brocade and sent it along with the letter. Wearing Shu brocade in Shu would be more down-to-earth.

Shi Shouxin then noticed that a package had been delivered along with the package.

He hurriedly searched through the pile of letters and goods, and finally found a bundle with his name on it.

Upon opening it, I found a black brocade robe with yellow patterns inside.

However, the robe had already been cut into pieces, turning into a pile of shredded cloth.

“Brother, the Grand Commander and the Military Supervisor can review the letters in the army, but they are generally not opened.”

Zhong Hui is using this as an excuse to make trouble; it's best if you don't pursue it, my brother.

Hu Lie witnessed this and came over to comfort Shi Shouxin. This was clearly Zhong Hui's malicious retaliation, but he also had a "legitimate reason."

Did your wife really write the letters you wrote? Did your wife really sew the clothes you sewed?
Who knows if this contains instructions from the Shu Kingdom? Who knows if there's anything fishy going on?

So it's reasonable for me to open the letter and cut open the clothes to see if there are any problems, right?
Who told me to be the Grand Commander? If the army is defeated, I will bear full responsibility!

Faced with Zhong Hui's malicious provocation, Shi Shouxin really couldn't do anything about it. It wasn't worth flipping the table over something like this!

Zhong Hui deliberately provoked him, hoping that he would act irrationally in anger and thus reveal his weakness.

"It's alright. The fact that Zhong Hui has resorted to such underhanded tactics just shows that he's run out of good options."
A gentleman takes his revenge even after ten years.

Shi Shouxin said casually, seemingly not caring at all.

Revenge doesn't have to wait ten years, not even ten months!

Shi Shouxin sneered inwardly, stuffing the scraps of cloth into his bundle and holding it in his hand. He wouldn't bother arguing with a dying man.

"I'll go back to Xu Yi's army now and see how the Shu army is deploying in the south. Staying here is quite boring."

Shi Shouxin bowed to Hu Lie and said that he was planning to go to the vanguard army to see if there was anything he could do.

This training was somewhat dangerous, because Shi Shouxin knew the outcome of the campaign against Shu, and therefore understood that this was a life-or-death test for the officers who were going to fight in Shu.

How to survive the infighting and return with a full haul was Shi Shouxin's primary concern. If he died amidst the chaos of battle, without even knowing how he died, what good would it do to ultimately conquer Shu?

As for what will happen to Zhong Hui in the end... Shi Shouxin is waiting to see the show.

Let's write a funeral couplet for Zhong Hui when he dies.

……

It's unclear whether it was because of Yang Huiyu's slanderous remarks, or whether Sima Zhao genuinely disliked Zhong Hui. Just after the army officially entered the Baoxie Road, Sima Zhao made a very absurd personnel appointment:

Yang Hu was recruited as the Central Protector General, in charge of managing the imperial guards in Luoyang!
The staff of the Grand General's mansion were terrified by Sima Zhao's capriciousness and refused to stamp the imperial edict no matter what! Even Yang Hu himself was frightened when he learned of this outrageous news.

Yang Hu, who was at home enjoying his New Year holiday and fishing, rushed to the General's Mansion to plead that he absolutely could not accept the appointment.

Sima Zhao said: It's alright, you're family, I trust you.

Yang Hu said: I have no merit.

Sima Zhao said: The Central Protectorate Army is in charge of the deployment of the Imperial Guards. No merit is required, only loyalty is needed.

Yang Hu said: If you give the order, I will resign and return to my hometown in Taishan.

Sima Zhao still disagreed with revoking the order and scolded Yang Hu.

Left with no other choice, Yang Hu went to his sister Yang Huiyu's residence and begged her to go to the General's mansion to persuade Sima Zhao not to be so willful.

This appointment was not a promotion for Yang Hu, but rather putting him on the hot seat.

Yang Huiyu was also at a loss. Accepting the appointment in this matter would be unwise, and it was difficult to persuade her otherwise! She thought of Yang Xiu's mother, Xin Xianying, who was always resourceful and wise, and thought she might have a good solution.

Yang Huiyu wanted to hear Xin Xianying's opinion on the matter.

Upon arriving at her cousin Yang Xiu's house, Yang Huiyu learned that Xin Xianying was unwell and bedridden due to the cold weather, and was not receiving guests. She was immediately disappointed and prepared to leave.

However, upon hearing that Yang Huiyu had arrived, Xin Xianying hurriedly instructed her servants to bring this cousin from her husband's family into the main hall. After waiting for a while, Xin Xianying, despite her illness and wrapped in a thick robe, came to the main hall to speak with her.

"Aunt, why don't you go and rest in your bedroom?"

Seeing that Xin Xianying looked unwell and seemed to be sick, Yang Weiyu quickly stepped forward and held her hands.

"Yang Xiu has gone on a military expedition. Are you here to inquire about the General's decision to appoint your uncle as the Commander of the Central Army?"

Xin Xianying asked with a smile.

Yang Huiyu nodded. Many people knew about this; it wasn't a secret.

She seemed to have planned this in mind, so she looked at Yang Huiyu and said:
"This move is what the general was thinking, or perhaps it was a test. Refusing to accept it is indeed a wise move."

My uncle has no merit, yet he has obtained such a high position and holds a large army. He is bound to be envied by others, which is a sure way to bring disaster upon himself.

If you were to meet the General, you should state frankly that conquering Shu is a monumental undertaking, a matter of life and death for the nation.

The position of the Central Protector General is no small matter. First, one must have a close relationship with the generals, and second, one must have military merits. Otherwise, one cannot command respect from the troops.

I have heard that the former General Who Conquers the West, Sima Wang, was of a kind and generous character and had made great contributions in resisting Jiang Wei's Northern Expeditions for eight years in Guanzhong. This time, when the General-in-Chief is going to conquer Shu, he has appointed Zhong Hui as the Grand Commander and has specially summoned Sima Wang back to Luoyang to await further instructions. He has not yet reported for duty.

"It would be better to suggest that the Grand General grant Sima Wang the position of Commander of the Central Army."

Xin Xianying suggested to Yang Huiyu that Sima Wang replace Yang Hu as the Commander of the Central Army. She said that if they could just speak to Sima Zhao, it wouldn't be difficult to arrange.

Sima Zhao is now insisting on appointing Yang Hu as the Central Protector General simply because he hasn't found a more suitable candidate.

Once he accepts Sima Wang, there will be no need to make things difficult for Yang Hu. "Auntie's words are truly insightful. I will go to the General's Mansion now."

Yang Huiyu was full of praise. Her aunt was known as the "female Zhuge Liang" and was highly respected within the family. Today, she was once again showing her brilliance.

Sima Wang was from a collateral branch of the Sima family; his father was Sima Fu. Sima Fu was Sima Yi's younger brother. Their branch was a bit too far off from seizing power; it was impossible for them.

Sima Zhao's refusal to appoint his younger brothers, such as Sima Zhou, to the position of Commander of the Central Army stemmed from his concerns about internal family conflicts. After all, there was already a precedent of him usurping power from his elder brother, Sima Shi.

Xin Xianying's words perfectly aligned with Sima Zhao's political needs.

"No rush, come with me for a walk in the yard."

Xin Xianying smiled and took Yang Huiyu's hand, leading her into the courtyard.

At this moment, the courtyard was covered with snow, and a few red plum blossoms bloomed in the wind, adding a touch of brightness to the snowy and desolate atmosphere.

Xin Xianying walked up to a red plum tree, cruelly plucked the flower, and then picked off the petals one by one, casually throwing them on the ground.

"Back then, when you married into the Sima family and became Sima Shi's second wife, I watched helplessly as you gradually lost all will to live and became a walking corpse."

Just like the winter plum blossoms, even if they bloomed fearlessly through wind and snow, they will eventually wither away.

Xin Xianying sighed deeply.

Yang Huiyu remained silent; she did not want to bring up those painful past events.

"only."

Xin Xianying paused, her already cloudy eyes fixed on Yang Huiyu's cool and pretty face, and continued, "However, I recently discovered that this withered winter plum blossom has actually regained its vitality and is blooming again in the wind. What an incredible thing this is."

Upon hearing this, Yang Huiyu felt extremely nervous, but she tried her best to remain calm and did not respond.

Xin Xianying smiled and whispered in Yang Huiyu's ear:

"Back then, before I was married, I heard that my family had arranged a marriage for me with Yang Dan from the Yang family. I didn't want to get married like that, so I asked to meet him. After meeting him, I was very satisfied, and I felt reassured and no longer resisted the marriage arranged by my parents."

The expression on your face now is almost exactly the same as the expression on my face back then.

Take good care of yourself.

Xin Xianying patted Yang Huiyu's hand meaningfully, then turned and walked towards the bedroom.

Yang Huiyu sighed. Perhaps she really had disguised herself very well. Perhaps those men whose minds were full of scheming and intrigue had no idea what she was thinking.

However, her current thoughts cannot be hidden from those wise "experienced people".

A flower that was already withering away suddenly regained its vitality; the mystery behind this may already be obvious.

Kind-hearted Xin Xianying chose to see through it but not say anything.

……

Yang Huiyu arrived at the General's Mansion with a heavy heart, only to find Sima Zhao looking worried.

In the study of the General's Mansion, Sima Zhao, sitting at his desk, handed a secret report sent from Chang'an to Yang Huiyu.

"Shi Shouxin, recommended by my sister-in-law, is indeed as good as his name suggests, loyal and dutiful. It's just a pity that before the army even entered Shu, Zhong Hui's ambition was already undisguised. He served my Sima family for many years, but I never expected him to turn out like this."

Sima Zhao sighed insincerely, his desire to eliminate Zhong Hui now completely undisguised.

Yang Huiyu took the paper handed to him by Sima Zhao. It said that Zhong Hui deliberately tried to kill Xu Yi, but was stopped by the supervising officer Shi Shouxin. Judging from Zhong Hui's behavior, something "unknown" might happen, and it was hoped that Sima Zhao would make preparations in advance.

The signature was surprisingly Du Yu.

"Today I am only here to resign on behalf of my uncle. The position of Commander of the Central Guard should absolutely not be given to my uncle."

Suppressing her inner worries, Yang Huiyu pleaded.

This seemed to be exactly what Sima Zhao had expected. The powerful general shook his head and said, "I don't need my uncle to have any military achievements, as long as he's family."

"Sima Wang is the cousin of the Grand General. He has been stationed in Guanzhong for eight years and is highly respected. If he were to become the Central Protector of the Army, the court officials would all be convinced."

It's much better than having one's uncle take over.

"If my future uncle performs meritorious service, it won't be too late for the Grand General to appoint him as the Commander of the Central Army."

Yang Huiyu bowed deeply to Sima Zhao, her stance firm and unwavering; she was not trying to bargain with Sima Zhao at all.

Sima Zhao seemed interested, nodding noncommittally.

Seeing that Xin Xianying's suggestion had worked, Yang Huiyu pressed on while the iron was hot:

"General, I'll say something taboo today. My uncle is my brother, and I know him very well."

If the Imperial Guards remain stationary in Luoyang, he, the Commander of the Central Guard, will likely be safe. However, given Zhong Hui's current predicament, the army tasked with conquering Shu may face serious trouble.

If any unforeseen circumstances arise, the imperial court will need an elite force to quell the rebellion in Guanzhong. Sima Wang is well-regarded in Guanzhong and familiar with the generals in the army that was attacking Shu, making him the perfect candidate to quell the rebellion.

It would be far better for him to command the army, with the Grand General leading the expedition, than for his uncle to be the Commander of the Army.

I urge the General to investigate this matter thoroughly.

Yang Huiyu pleaded desperately.

Yang Hu absolutely cannot serve as the Central Protector General; it would be disastrous for him. Yang Huiyu, his eldest sister, is like a mother to him, and she has worried herself sick over Yang Hu.

"Let's arrange it this way then."

Sima Zhao sighed and accepted Yang Huiyu's advice.

Hearing this, Yang Huiyu breathed a sigh of relief, a weight lifted from her heart.

But the other, even larger stone hangs even higher.

When Yang Huiyu left the General's Mansion, she was in a state of utter confusion.

(End of this chapter)