Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 89 My Father Sima Liang

The night raid was a success, and tactically speaking, it was executed almost perfectly. Even in actual combat, it would be difficult to find such execution.

The soldiers used every ounce of their strength to make money, and they were incredibly skilled at scaling walls and kicking down doors.

Strategically speaking, however, the battle was somewhat "started strong but ended weakly" because Shi Shouxin did not conduct sufficient background research beforehand, assuming that having a large family meant being richer than a country.

I never expected there would actually be such a tough time.

At this very moment, in the main hall of Xijia Village, Shi Shouxin, Ma Long, and Meng Guan were gathered together, along with more than a dozen personal guards, filling the place to the brim.

Several members of the main family of the Xi clan, their hands bound, stood in the center of the hall, their eyes filled with terror.

"May I ask... which faction do you heroes belong to?"

A young man who looked to be in his early twenties from the main family of the Xi clan looked at Shi Shouxin and asked him. He could also tell that the group in front of him was led by Shi Shouxin and that the team that attacked Xi Family Village probably numbered around a thousand.

"Are you asking us where we came from because you want revenge later?"

Shi Shouxin gave the man a half-smile and asked in return.

"Absolutely not, absolutely not. We were just, just curious, asking casually, just asking casually."

The young man chuckled sheepishly, saying he'd been given the cold shoulder.

"Tell me, where is the wealth? The Xi family is so large and powerful, surely their storehouses aren't empty?"

"The brothers stayed up all night to come to your house; they can't go back empty-handed, can they?"

Meng Guan drew his sword, placed it on the shoulder of the man who had just spoken, and smiled maliciously.

This time, Shi Shouxin led his troops in a surprise attack and achieved a complete victory. Only two soldiers were wounded, and no one died.

As for the Xi family, since most of them were woken up from their sleep by the beating, only the dozen or so guards on the wall were injured, and no one died.

This is why the two sides can still talk calmly here. If they were to kill each other, it would create a blood feud that would not be resolved without retaliation.

“We have no money left; we’ve used it all to buy food to get through the famine. You bandits only know how to bully the poor.”

A pretty girl standing behind the young man started cursing at Shi Shouxin.

Her skin was slightly dark, but her face was extremely delicate and petite, giving her a unique and striking beauty.

Shi Shouxin glanced at the beautiful woman beside the woman who looked very similar to her, and then at the burly old woman beside the young man who looked somewhat similar to him. He seemed to understand something.

These are probably half-siblings; the brother was born to the first wife, and the sister was born to a concubine, someone of unknown origin. However, the head of the household has passed away, and the one whose word carries weight is his son, the one who just spoke.

There were several other male members of the Xi family, who were probably this man's half-brothers, but they were all born to concubines and it was not their turn to take the lead.

As for this person's uncles and aunts, they were all from collateral branches and were not qualified to live in the wooden village. Those people are probably still squatting outside the village with their heads in their hands.

"you shut up!"

The young man yelled at the girl, who took a step back looking aggrieved, but didn't talk back, seemingly having little status at home.

"My name is Xizuo, and this is my younger sister, Xichun. May I ask your name?"

Xi Zuo looked at Shi Shouxin, bowed and asked in a very humble manner.

"My father is Sima Liang."

Shi Shouxin was talking nonsense with a straight face.

Sima Liang? My father?

Upon hearing this, Meng Guan and Ma Long almost burst out laughing!
The members of the Xi clan present looked puzzled. They seemed to have never heard of this name before. They only knew that the current general of Wei was Sima Zhao.

Oh well, let's just treat it as some random cat or dog.

Xi Zuo mentally scoffed, then bowed and greeted Shi Shouxin, saying:
"I guess you are soldiers of the Wei army. Logically speaking, now that your army has arrived in Hanzhong, we should offer you money and provisions to support the army, but we really don't have the resources at home."

"How about this? There are some wealthy families in Hanzhong. Tomorrow, I'll guide you and bring the villagers of Xijia Village to help you with your affairs. However, after it's all done, I'd like to lead the villagers to join the army and become part of your force. What do you think?"

Huh? You can play it like that?
Shi Shouxin and Meng Guan both looked at Xi Zuo with curiosity. To be fair, this wealthy man from Hanzhong had some good judgment.

They were able to pinpoint their identities with just a few words.

"How do you know we are government troops?"

Shi Shouxin countered with a question, implicitly admitting what the other party had said.

"Reporting to the general, Wei troops plundering the local area...isn't that a common occurrence? Currently, there are 10,000 Wei troops besieging each of the cities of Han and Le. It's not surprising that Wei troops are coming to plunder Nanzheng."

"Nobody from anywhere else dares to cause trouble here."

Xi Zuo smiled wryly. He didn't understand whether these people in front of him were truly confused or pretending. Logically speaking, when the Wei army plundered the local areas in the past, they didn't seem to feel embarrassed at all.

In fact, Zhong Hui had issued a military order this time, strictly prohibiting all Wei troops from looting Hanzhong.

But the local tycoons in Hanzhong didn't know that!

They had only heard about Wei's past practices, so this "leading troops to the countryside" operation was perfectly normal.

“Brother, how can we cooperate with bandits? What you just said was…”

Xi Chun, standing to the side, tugged at Xi Zuo's sleeve and questioned him in a low voice, "You have no right to speak here. Father has spoiled you. You need to understand your place!"

I'm the head of this household! The Xi family has been in the military for generations. Now that Wei has occupied Hanzhong, are we going to refuse to join their ranks and just wait to be besieged?

Xi Zuo reprimanded in a low voice, seemingly very dissatisfied with Xi Chun's attitude. However, he did not act as badly as he appeared, and still explained the reason to Xi Chun.

If you really don't like this girl, why bother with all the talking?
Upon hearing Xi Zuo's words, Xi Chun immediately shut her mouth, because she knew what kind of status the Xi family held.

The Xi family had been in Hanzhong for a long time, even earlier than figures from the Three Kingdoms period such as Liu Zhang and Liu Bei. By the Eastern Han Dynasty, they had already been Sinicized, becoming a powerful local force, and many had military experience.

When Liu Zhang first came, his men besieged them. The Xi family had no choice but to submit and work for Liu Zhang. Xi Zuo's great-grandfather followed Liu Zhang, and the family became Liu Zhang's subordinates as hereditary soldiers.

Later, Liu Bei arrived, and his men also besieged them because they were Liu Zhang's retainers. Xi Zuo's grandfather followed Liu Bei and became a general of Shu in Hanzhong.

After Liu Bei's death, Liu Shan succeeded him. Xi Zuo's grandfather also died later, and Xi Zuo's father was appointed as a "border general" by Liu Shan, the emperor of Shu. Of course, the Shu Han court did not provide them with food and supplies; they were simply given a territory to fend for themselves.

Later, after Xi Zuo's father passed away, his family was no longer willing to guard the frontier for Shu Han, so they withdrew from the Shu army and became a local powerful clan.

Now that the Wei army has arrived, it seems that the Shu Kingdom is also doomed. How could Xi Zuo possibly let this opportunity pass?

Of course, you should jump ship immediately!
If Xi Zuo does not become a general in the Wei army, and his family's retainers do not become Wei army retainers, once the Shu Kingdom is destroyed, what awaits them is the Wei government's oppression and purge!
There's absolutely no doubt about it! These nouveau riche from the previous dynasty, wielding knives, can't possibly escape!
Shi Shouxin gave Meng Guan a wink, and the latter grabbed Xi Zuo's arm and headed towards the house behind the main hall. Meanwhile, Ma Long, along with his personal guards, stayed inside the main hall to keep watch over the other members of the Xi family.

Shi Shouxin and his two companions arrived at an empty side room. He looked at Xi Zuo and said in a deep voice, "Right now, I need men. Take your men and visit the wealthy families in the surrounding area for us, and we will believe in your sincerity. You should know what to do, right?"

He extended an olive branch.

Meng Guan sheathed his sword and threatened from the side, "We came here without killing a single person. But if you're not sincere, we might as well go on a killing spree. In these chaotic times, death is all too common."

"I don't know what your name is?"

Xi Zuo looked at Shi Shouxin and asked, this was the second time he had asked.

"Shi Shouxin, courtesy name Gandang, was the military supervisor of the Wei army during the campaign against Shu, and was granted the authority to act on behalf of the emperor!"

Shi Shouxin said succinctly.

"Are you Shi Gandang from Luoyang?"

Xi Zuo looked surprised, but his words were full of joy.

"If you are referring to the one who accompanies the emperor, then it is I."

Shi Shouxin nodded.

“Alright, I’m willing to lead my clansmen as guides to help you break into the homes of the wealthy families around here, but we won’t rob you. You can take as much as you want.”

Xi Zuo nodded, seemingly indicating that Shi Shouxin's reputation was the basis for his decision.

Upon hearing this, both Shi Shouxin and Meng Guan breathed a sigh of relief.

They were undeniably culpable for how things had turned out this way, and they couldn't explain themselves to their soldiers. If they were to offer an explanation, they would have to slaughter the entire Xi family and everyone in the surrounding area to vent their anger!

If they don't get the money, they'll kill someone; otherwise, their trip would have been in vain. There's no such thing as a thief leaving empty-handed.

Only if Xi Zuo, being sensible and discreet, leads his men to accomplish the "task" and allows Shi Shouxin's imperial guards to obtain what they desire, can this matter be resolved amicably.

Once the knife is drawn, it must draw blood! This is an ironclad rule! And a warning to those who wield the knife!

"Commander Shi, the matter you mentioned is perfectly fine with the Xi family, but there is one condition!"

Xi Zuo said solemnly.

"Speaking!"

Shi Shouxin nodded, indicating that the other party should speak frankly. In fact, it would be quite strange if the Xi family didn't mention their conditions!
“My younger sister, Xichun, will become your concubine. Only then will I feel at ease serving you.”

"The world is so chaotic; I simply can't trust you unless you become your child's uncle."

Xi Zuo said, word by word.

Shi Shouxin and Meng Guan exchanged a glance, both showing expressions of "I knew it."

Warfare is a dangerous profession, and without kinship ties, who would dare entrust their back to another? Especially someone they barely know and have just met!
Even Shi Shouxin couldn't guarantee that Meng Guan wouldn't betray him in the future, so how could he possibly trust Xi Zuo?
Unless... we're all family, then it's fine.

Shi Shouxin looked at Meng Guan, wanting him to take the blame, but this personal guard who had followed him the longest said with a wry smile, "Supervisor Shi, even if I were willing, others wouldn't be."

“Commander Shi, if you don’t agree, then I can’t persuade the clansmen.”

Xi Zuo said solemnly.

“My father-in-law is the Imperial Censor of the Wei Kingdom.”

Shi Shouxin spoke up, his intention being to tell Xizuo that his wife's family would be very powerful.

Unexpectedly, Xi Zuo was overjoyed to hear this. He had been somewhat hesitant, as he loved Xi Chun very much and was reluctant to part with her.

Unexpectedly, Shi Shouxin's father-in-law was actually a high-ranking official in the imperial court!

Then there's nothing more to say, just send it over.

(End of this chapter)