Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 66 Running away
"oops!"

Li Wan, who was embroidering a bellyband in her bedroom, pricked her finger with the needle. Aunt Wu, who was serving her, immediately put her finger in her mouth and sucked on it, making Li Wan blush with embarrassment.

For a moment, I lost all interest in embroidery.

Just then, the voice of a greyhound came from outside the door: "Madam, someone has delivered a letter, along with a large amount of gold, silver and valuables."

Ok?
Unsolicited kindness is always suspicious; someone is either a crook or a thief!
Li Wan immediately became alert and gave an instruction to Aunt Wu. Soon, Aunt Wu pushed open the door and went out, then took the letter into the bedroom.

The person who delivered the gift has already left, without saying whose family they belong to, only saying that they would know upon receiving the letter.

When Li Wan saw the envelope folded into the shape of a carp, she instantly understood what was happening. She told Aunt Wu to leave, and quietly opened the letter. After reading only one page, she turned pale with fright.

The letter stated that Yang Xiu, a member of the Yang family, planned to use the opportunity of conquering Shu to send his old classmate and distant cousin Sima Yan a "gift": the head of Shi Shouxin.

Sima Zhao has now been enfeoffed as the Duke of Jin, and Sima Yan is the heir apparent of Jin. Taking a widow from an official family as a concubine is not a difficult matter.

Sima Yan might not have been capable of such a heinous act, but Yang Xiu seemed utterly unconcerned. It's unlikely Sima Yan felt any remorse afterward.

He won't say anything if someone else does it for him instead of him.

This letter was written by Yang Huiyu. Xin Xianying informed Yang Huiyu of this news much later than she had known about it herself, after she had learned what her son was planning to do and had carefully considered the matter.

It's too late to notify Shi Shouxin now.

In his letter, Yang Huiyu wrote:
After Sima Zhao was appointed Duke of Jin, the world was already theirs; things that were impossible before were now possible.

People eager to curry favor with them will come in droves. Sima Yan is the future emperor, and everyone knows he was obsessed with you back then. It's possible that some people will do some heinous things to please him.

Your beauty captivated me, let alone Sima Yan. I hope you will not let your guard down.

Yang Huiyu also said: Next month, she will invite the wives and young ladies of officials from Yanzhou to a gathering at the Yang family ancestral home, posing as the widow of the Sima family. You bring a personal servant who will pretend to be my distant cousin. After the gathering, don't return to Luoyang; I'll handle the rest. I didn't want to resort to this tactic, but my uncle (Yang Hu) is already out leading troops and can't interfere.

Anyway, the sooner you come, the better, so I can prepare more. If you're coming, go to your uncle's residence in Luoyang; someone will escort you to Fenggao County, Taishan Prefecture. If you're not coming, burn this letter immediately, so as not to give anyone cause for gossip.

After reading the letter, Li Wan fell into deep thought.

To go or not to go?
This could be a trap, and the letter might not even have been written by Yang Huiyu. However, going is risky, and not going is equally unsafe. Xu Ying's near-rape experience made Li Wan realize the terrifying nature of the powerful and influential families.

Sima Zhao has already been enfeoffed as the Duke of Jin. Perhaps, as Yang Huiyu said, the change of dynasty is not an ongoing process, but has already been completed, only with a fig leaf still left to cover it up.

She decided to trust Yang Huiyu this once.

Li Wan walked out of the bedroom, took Aunt Wu's hand and whispered, "We will set off for Taishan County tomorrow. Change into men's clothes now and go to Yang Hu's house."

"You're abandoning your land, houses, wealth, grain, and livestock? And you're not even taking care of your tenants?"

"Aunt Wu asked in astonishment. Shi Shouxin and Li Wan have worked hard to build up their fortune over the years; how could they be so reckless!"

"I don't want any of that. It's just worldly possessions. I'll take the child and a few valuables and set off."

Li Wan waved her hand, her attitude very firm.

She wrote another letter and gave it to Xigou, asking him to go to Guanzhong to deliver a letter to her father, Li Yin, explaining the matter.

Li Wan was indeed very worried about the current situation. Her husband and father were not in Luoyang, and even Yang Huiyu and Yang Hu were not there. If any villains were to do something, she wouldn't even be able to find any help. Going to Taishan County was safer than staying in Luoyang.

……

Starting from Huangjinwei, it took Shi Shouxin and Meng Guan two days to ride at full speed to Yang'an Pass, the westernmost pass in Hanzhong.

Upon arriving at Yang'an Pass, he learned that Zhong Hui had indeed led a large army to Hanshou. The Wei army in Hanzhong was divided into three groups, all under the command of Li Fu.

One force of 10,000 men besieged Hanseong, another force of 10,000 men besieged Rakseong, and Li Fu personally led 10,000 men to set up a large camp outside Yangan Pass. Inside the pass, Du Yu led a force of 1,000 men to organize the defenses.

To be honest, this kind of deployment is a typical example of having no ambition whatsoever, just waiting for the imperial court to issue an imperial edict to withdraw the troops.

Shi Shouxin was busy with official business and didn't want to have any dealings with Li Fu. He went straight into Yang'an Pass, intending to sound out Du Yu's thoughts and rest for the night there.

The two sat down in the residence of a former Shu Han general in Guanzhong. Shi Shouxin noticed a large fleshy growth on Du Yu's neck, which looked terrifying.

Moreover, Du Yu's complexion was also very bad, clearly indicating that he was suffering from acclimatization problems and was ill; even his voice lacked strength.

"Yuan Kai, what's the matter with you?"

Shi Shouxin asked in astonishment. He hadn't been away from the main force for long, so how come Du Yu was so ill as soon as he returned?

"My illness is goiter, which flares up when I'm not used to the local environment; it's an old problem."

"Things will ease up once we get back to Luoyang. For now, let's just take it one day at a time; it's not going to kill us."

Du Yu sighed helplessly, knowing that he knew there was something wrong with his health.

Shi Shouxin nodded slightly, offering no words of comfort. Such comfort was completely useless to the patient's condition and would only make the person more embarrassed and uncomfortable; it was better to say nothing.

"Has anything major happened in the military recently?"

Shi Shouxin asked curiously.

At this moment, Du Yu poured him a drink, but he quickly declined, saying that he had important business to attend to.

"It's precisely because nothing's happening that it seems strange."

Du Yu said thoughtfully.

Shi Shouxin wanted to ask something more, but seeing Du Yu's hesitant expression, he ultimately said nothing.

In fact, the army that was conquering Shu was in great disarray, with numerous factions. The leader of these factions, Zhong Hui, was not one to be content with his lot.

Now that Yang'an Pass has fallen and all the places we should have occupied have been occupied, everyone is thinking about returning to the capital in triumph, so the atmosphere is naturally different from before.

The military had a somber and gloomy atmosphere.

"By the way, it's a bit unusual that Yang Xiu is now secretly sending people to investigate your whereabouts."

Last time he sent someone to Yang'an Pass to ask me if I knew where you had gone. I asked a few more questions, but the man was evasive and wouldn't give a clear answer. After exchanging a few polite words, he left.

Although I don't know what Yang Xiu is up to, I'm certain he has no good intentions.

Du Yu's expression suddenly changed slightly as he asked, "Yang Xiu?"

Shi Shouxin recalled that his interaction with Yang Xiu seemed to be that they went to Wei Guan's military camp together, where Wei Guan put him down.

Nothing else.

What reason could he have for contacting me? Could it be because of Yang Huiyu?

The thought had barely crossed Shi Shouxin's mind when he immediately dismissed it. He knew that if Yang Huiyu wanted to find him, she would do so through Yang Hu or one of Yang Hu's servants.

The two branches of the Yang family, Yang Xiu and Yang Hu, were quite far apart and their political stances were not entirely the same.

Yang Hu and Yang Huiyu favored Sima You, while Yang Xiu was a staunch confidant of Sima Yan.

"Could it be because of Sima Yan? Yang Xiu and Sima Yan were classmates, and they were also distant cousins."

If Sima Yan intended to harm you, then Yang Xiu's actions would be understandable.

Du Yu frowned.

Everyone in the Sima family probably knew about the conflict between Shi Shouxin and Sima Yan, let alone Du Yu, Sima Zhao's brother-in-law.

"By the way, the Grand General has been granted the title of Prince of Jin, the Nine Bestowments, and promoted to the position of Chancellor."

Shi Shouxin suddenly remembered this matter and lowered his voice to say to Du Yu. The news of Sima Zhao's triple strike with a single sword probably hadn't reached the army that was attacking Shu yet, at least not through public channels.

"Damn it, you're in danger! Yang Xiu is going to harm you!"

Du Yu grabbed Shi Shouxin's sleeve, his expression changing drastically.

"I have no grudge against him, so why would he want to harm me?"

Shi Shouxin looked completely bewildered, not understanding why Du Yu had made such a statement.

"He has no grudge against you, but he can take your head to curry favor with Sima Yan! If he kills you, won't your beautiful wife at home become a widow? What difficulty would it be for Sima Yan to take a widow as a concubine?"

After getting what he wanted, Sima Yan would definitely repay Yang Xiu. How could he not kill you?
He has no past relationship with you whatsoever!

Du Yu was getting a little anxious.

"However, Yang Xiu wouldn't have much of a chance to kill me. If he sends someone to intercept me, how can he properly handle the aftermath? I still have a personal letter from the General, which I need to send to the Grand Commander and Deng Ai."

Shi Shouxin waved his hand, thinking that Du Yu was just being overly concerned. Yang Xiu might have ulterior motives, but it was unlikely that he would simply and crudely send assassins to kill people in the military camp. Killing might not be difficult, but cleaning up the mess would be another matter entirely.

"Then don't delay, hurry to Hanshou. Once everyone knows you're in Zhong Hui's camp, you'll be safe. No one can kill someone in front of Zhong Hui."

Du Yu said solemnly.

After thinking for a moment, Shi Shouxin nodded, agreeing with Du Yu's opinion.

There's something I'd like to talk to you about.

Du Yu suddenly spoke up, giving Shi Shouxin no time to refuse, and laid out a rough sheepskin map on the table.

"Yinping is also called Yinpingxing. Dao means a passageway, and Xing means a blocked passageway, but a blocked passageway is still a passageway."

Du Yu spoke in a very serious tone.

Shi Shouxin nodded slightly and did not bring up Yang Xiu again.

"Baishui Pass is a key point for the Shu Kingdom to defend Yinping. If Baishui Pass is still in the hands of the Shu army, then they can support Yinping at any time."

However, Jiang Wei abandoned Baishui Pass and retreated to Jiange, and now Baishui Pass is in our hands.

Du Yu spoke each word carefully, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"Therefore, Deng Ai could start from Yinping, take the Yinping Pass, and secretly cross the Yangtze River to Jiangyou."

Right?

Shi Shouxin asked in a deep voice.

Du Yu nodded and said, "It's so refreshing to talk to Gan Dang. I think Deng Ai will make a move."

He is a man who doesn't show off his talents and isn't good at socializing, but this isn't because he doesn't like to talk or because he's withdrawn.

Du Yu simply doesn't have much to talk about with ordinary people; he feels that talking nonsense is a waste of time.

"While I can't be sure, it's highly likely."

Du Yu sighed and continued, "If Deng Ai successfully crosses Yinping, then we will enter Chengdu together. At that time, I believe Yang Xiu will have many opportunities to kill you."

"If that day ever comes, I won't care about Yang Xiu at all."

Shi Shouxin smiled bitterly.

Then we'll need Jiang Wei too, and together they'll rampage and slaughter everyone. Who does Yang Xiu even matter? He'll be nothing!

"Anyway, you're absolutely right to make plans to go to Chengdu. Deng Ai... will probably be unwilling to see Zhong Hui's smug face. He's already over sixty, and if he doesn't make a final push, his life will be coming to an end."

Even if he loses, he'll only die a few years sooner. Deng Ai would absolutely dare to do it!

Du Yu sighed with emotion.

"I still need to deliver an official document to Deng Ai. I hope I can make it in time. So I set off."

Shi Shouxin got up to leave.

"Wait! Stay in Hanshou for a few more days, don't rush to Yinping. I estimate Deng Ai has already set off."

Du Yu reminded Shi Shouxin, stood up and escorted him to the outside of Yang'an Pass. By then, the sun was already setting.

Du Yu initially considered saying that traveling at night was unsafe, but after thinking it over, he didn't try to persuade Shi Shouxin to stay. Whether the military orders in Shi Shouxin's hands could be delivered to Yinping before Deng Ai set off could very well affect the course of the entire war.

Du Yu didn't want to interfere in these matters. If something bad was going to happen, no matter how much he tried to stop it, he couldn't.

(End of this chapter)