Chapter 33: Impart

Near the city gate of Yang’an Pass lay a middle-aged general clad in lamellar armor, about fifty years old, sprawled in a pool of blood. He had been pierced by over a dozen arrows, resembling a spiny hedgehog, and a knife was lodged in his abdomen. The manner of his death was extraordinarily brutal.

Hu Lie and others stood silently around the fallen man. Whether out of sorrow for a fallen comrade or hardened by frequent battles, each bore a different expression—countless faces reflecting countless emotions.

Shi Shouxin and Du Yu arrived at the city gate and, entering the crowd, saw the man in Shu military uniform lying on the ground—clearly a general.

“General Hu, who is this man?” Shi Shouxin asked, pointing to the corpse.

“That is Fu Qian, the commander defending Yang’an Pass,” Hu Lie answered with a heavy heart. “Outnumbered and overwhelmed, he fought valiantly and died in combat.”

People often make different choices when faced with the same situation.

Jiang Shu chose to survive by betraying his lord.

Fu Qian chose loyalty and righteousness, fighting to the death.

It is difficult to judge with a single standard whether either choice was right or wrong.

Betrayal for survival is hardly commendable, yet in desperate times, survival is a human instinct that cannot be harshly condemned.

Fighting to the death without surrender earns admiration, but in a Shu Han rife with popular discontent, was Fu Qian’s sacrifice truly worth the cost?

Shi Shouxin thought of the saying: “Each man has his own aspirations.”

“General Hu, you are the supervising officer. How do you think Fu Qian should be dealt with?”

Hu Lie hesitated before asking.

Zhong Hui said nothing, likely unwilling to give explicit orders. Yet Fu Qian’s body could not simply be left unattended.

“Fu Qian died in battle. Burying him with honor will soothe the people’s hearts. If the soldiers and civilians of Hanzhong hear that Fu Qian, who fought to the death without surrender, has been properly buried, there will be no unrest. I believe, General Hu, you should arrange a dignified burial for Fu Qian and pardon his family’s offenses. This is the best way to maintain peace. To disgrace his corpse or hang his head on the city tower as a warning would be petty and small-minded. Some locals might react irrationally out of unease.”

Shi Shouxin’s words were clear and decisive, without any ambiguity. This straightforwardness was why everyone liked to seek his counsel; he was blunt and unpretentious.

Hu Lie nodded. He had thought along these lines but feared Zhong Hui’s reproach. Hearing Shi Shouxin’s firm advice gave him confidence.

“Send someone to give Fu Qian a proper burial,” Hu Lie ordered his guards.

Soon, Wei soldiers carried away Fu Qian’s body, while others busily cleaned the battlefield.

“Brother, come, let’s go celebrate with a feast!” Hu Lie laughed heartily, grabbing Shi Shouxin’s arm. His bodyguards, officers, and cavalry commanders laughed with him, clearly understanding his meaning. They now regarded Shi Shouxin as “one of their own.”

Du Yu and Shi Shouxin, both novices in battle, didn’t understand what was happening and could only smile awkwardly as they followed Hu Lie into Yang’an Pass.

This fortress was built against the mountains, flanked by towering ridges that made crossing nearly impossible. As the first line of defense for Shu territory, Yang’an Pass held immense strategic importance.

Since the founding of Cao Wei, the state had launched three attacks on Hanzhong. The first two never even reached the gates of Yang’an Pass. This third time, they had taken it with ease.

This showed that Hanzhong was now firmly in their grasp—a victory unseen in decades.

With such an achievement, indulging in a celebratory feast tonight was perfectly justified. Even Zhong Hui, aware of it, would not fault Hu Lie.

For there is a saying: one does not offend the wrath of the masses.

The group arrived at the “Hanzhong Governor’s Mansion,” Fu Qian’s former residence. Inside the modest main hall, tables and small stools for kneeling were already arranged.

Hu Lie, bold and commanding, took the main seat and gave brief instructions to his personal guards. Soon, servants brought in food.

Though the fare was rustic—chives, roasted meat, simple staples like bean soup and fermented flatbread—it was rare delicacy in the army.

There was enough variety and quantity, though the cooking lacked refinement.

“Everyone, do not worry. I have already compiled the merit rolls. You will review them shortly, and if all is in order, they will be submitted to the Grand Commander tomorrow. Tonight, no talk of military or political affairs—only… romance! Yes, only romance!” Hu Lie laughed heartily.

Though Jiang Shu had surrendered the city, he was credited with the initial breakthrough at Yang’an Pass. Yet he was absent from this banquet, denied even a place at the table.

Such was the fate of a defeated general who had surrendered—no glory, only disdain, even if survival was achieved.

Shi Shouxin ate quietly, knowing he had no share in the military honors; the more he spoke, the more awkward it would become. Looking around, he noticed Yang Xiu, who had come to deliver the news, now drinking happily, his previous anger completely vanished.

He thought to himself: Yang Xiu is young but strangely familiar with these military shenanigans.

After several rounds of wine, Hu Lie’s cheeks flushed. Squinting, he whispered to his guards. Soon, over a dozen beauties entered, dressed in brightly colored skirts of varying styles.

Their ages varied; some were clearly married women with hair elegantly styled, others appeared to be mere girls of sixteen or seventeen.

“Oh, General Shi, you may choose first,” Hu Lie chuckled, gesturing to the women. The assembled officers laughed heartily, unbothered by the display. Shi Shouxin had helped them greatly during the campaign, and they were grateful.

Shi Shouxin’s expression shifted slightly; he realized what was going on.

This was nothing but a “silver party”—a revelry with women.

“General Hu, the Grand Commander has a temper. If he finds out you took Yang’an Pass without reporting it, he may use it against you,” Shi Shouxin said politely, bowing slightly—a subtle caution about the risks of this indulgence.

Hu Lie pondered, then sobered. “The celebration cannot stop, but not reporting the victory is indeed improper. Here's what we'll do: the report document is right here. You take your own troops and ride swiftly to the main camp to report the victory immediately.”

Hu Lie drew a scroll of prepared commendations from his sleeve. Shi Shouxin accepted it with a bow and left.

After Shi Shouxin departed, Hu Lie sighed, shaking his head regretfully. “Shi Shouxin’s wife is the daughter of Li Yin, the Deputy Censor. No wonder he’s uneasy. If his father-in-law knew about tonight’s party, he’d surely give him a stern lecture.”

Hu Lie felt a pang of sympathy for Shi Shouxin, who refrained from joining the revelry out of respect for his powerful father-in-law. It was not shyness but prudence.

After all, every man is tempted by beauty.

Of course, without Li Yin’s influence, Shi Shouxin, given his modest background, would never be seated here, speaking so freely.

The Hu family was a powerful northern clan, with relatives holding high office under Cao Wei, and closely allied to Sima Yi. After a victorious campaign, Hu Lie throwing a “silver party” was not something Zhong Hui would dare to blame.

Moreover, holding such celebrations after a great victory was an old tradition in the Cao Wei army. When Cao Cao defeated Zhang Xiu, he held a costly silver party, losing Dian Wei, Cao Ang, and Cao Anmin in the process—truly tragic.

“General Hu, today I merely watched from outside the city and did not take part in the assault. To sit here and enjoy this is undeserved. I shall take my leave,” Du Yu rose, bowed to Hu Lie, and left without further explanation.

As Sima Zhao’s brother-in-law, he owed no special favors to Hu Lie.

After he left, Hu Lie commented to the others, “Du Lang comes from a good family but is the Grand General’s brother-in-law and newly married. It’s no wonder he left. Otherwise, how could he explain this to the Grand General after returning to Luoyang? Ha ha ha!”

The hall erupted with laughter, tinged with bitterness and sympathy.

To gain something, one must lose something—that is human nature.

Men like Shi Shouxin and Du Yu might have marriages envied by others and the support of their wives’ families.

Yet they also lost the “freedom” to act recklessly.

No matter how capable a man is, he is to some extent constrained by his in-laws, whose influence in this era was considerable. The family of one’s wife was a crucial part of a husband’s social network.

For men like Shi Shouxin and Du Yu, whose wives’ families held more power than their own, attending a silver party after victory was a delicate matter.

Later, Shi Shouxin went to the stables to find his warhorse, intending to gather his troops—the hundred supervising soldiers.

Looking up, he saw Du Yu strolling inside Yang’an Pass. As dusk had not yet fallen, Du Yu approached. Shi Shouxin hastily greeted him.

“Why doesn’t Yuan Kai stay and enjoy himself longer?” Shi Shouxin asked, surprised.

“Du here is the Grand General’s brother-in-law. There are some things I cannot do,” Du Yu replied calmly, offering no further explanation.

He countered, “Why do you find excuses to leave? Your wife is understanding and reasonable. She would not begrudge such social obligations. When Cao Cao was in the army, everyone behaved this way. What are you afraid of, Shi?”

“These are the families of the fallen Shu soldiers or surrendered generals. I cannot bear to humiliate them,” Shi Shouxin waved his hand.

“The world is like this. It’s commonplace. You did not tell me the truth,” Du Yu shook his head, evidently dissatisfied.

“Alright, the truth is the favors of these beauties weigh heavily on me. My wife treats me with great kindness. In such a setting, I cannot bring myself to act improperly behind her back. Men may sometimes be forced, but when they can choose freely, they should follow their own hearts. Yuan Kai does not want to be the Grand General’s brother-in-law either, but he must for family reasons. If one must endure things, better to endure only what is necessary. Enduring the unnecessary is pointless,” Shi Shouxin replied.

“Well said!” Du Yu applauded and laughed.

He patted Shi Shouxin on the shoulder and lowered his voice. “When you reach the main camp, do not mention tonight’s feast or those women. Only report the victory to Zhong Hui.”

“Rest assured, I know what to do,” Shi Shouxin nodded.

They passed each other. Du Yu suddenly gripped Shi Shouxin’s sleeve and asked quietly, “Are you really not returning to Luoyang? Now is the right time. I believe the Grand Commander would not object.”

This was not the first time he had asked, showing his genuine concern.

“I don’t want to go back—and I have no face to return,” Shi Shouxin sighed, saying no more.

“Then take care of yourself,” Du Yu said before departing.

After Shi Shouxin left, Du Yu couldn’t help but look back at his retreating figure and sighed helplessly.

How many fall in the pursuit of fame and fortune? How many can reach the end?

Recalling Sima Zhao’s last instructions before departure, Du Yu felt the situation was heading in the direction he most feared.