Chapter 38: Opening the Champagne at Halftime

The news of the great victory in Hanzhong brought by Shi Shouxin made Sima Zhao extremely excited, almost to the point of breaking into a song! Even though it was already deep in the night, his still-unsettled mind kept him discussing matters with Jia Chong in his study.

The title of Duke of Jin, the Nine Concessions, the advancement to the position of Chancellor—this three-piece set of usurpation shortcuts had finally been completed!

Even if the ritual was not yet finished, it was a settled matter with no twists or turns left. This "tiny step" actually carried monumental significance for Sima Zhao.

It meant that he could now legally "pass on" his position to the next generation. Next would come the test of "the wisdom of posterity," with no need to rush things at the moment.

For the remaining time, Sima Zhao could look forward to ascending the throne as emperor. If he failed to complete it, he would simply let his son succeed him, with no fear of capsizing the boat.

The blood curse cast by Cao Mao had already been half-broken by Sima Zhao!

"Lord Duke, Hanzhong is already within our grasp; we must not delay taking the next step further.
It would be better to return to Luoyang tomorrow, then receive the enfeoffment, accept the Nine Concessions, and assume the position of Chancellor.
Such an important matter cannot be handled in Chang'an; we must return to Luoyang to do it."

Jia Chong poured a bucket of cold water over Sima Zhao's enthusiasm.

"What you say makes sense. We shall return to Luoyang first, and after the enfeoffment, we will come back to garrison Chang'an."

Sima Zhao nodded, his composure slightly restored. Running back and forth was indeed quite a hassle, but it was all worth it. The weaker one's prestige, the more one had to pay attention to ritual details; not a single skippable step should be omitted.

"Only... having just conquered Hanzhong, the morale of the army is at its peak. If we pack up and head straight back home, I am afraid there will be gossip."

Jia Chong continued.

"Indeed, what you say is correct."

Sima Zhao did not deny Jia Chong's assessment.

He sighed and said, "As for the expeditionary army returning to Guanzhong, there is no need to rush it for the moment."

Taking Hanzhong meant that the campaign to conquer Shu had succeeded. This was an unprecedented grand achievement for the Sima family since they usurped supreme power, and the stone in Sima Zhao's heart finally landed on the ground.

Therefore, all other matters were now "trivial details" that could be handled leisurely. Everything else was negotiable and open to compromise.

"Zhong Hui loves fame; we might as well reward him with higher official titles and ranks to stabilize him.
The various generals in the army should also be rewarded according to their merits, and this should be handled together with the matter of the Nine Concessions, issuing the imperial edict through the Son of Heaven.
In this way, it won't appear too abrupt."

Jia Chong, living up to his name of being full of resourcefulness, continued to flesh out the details. By binding the military officers of the Shu campaign together with Sima Zhao's own acceptance of the Nine Concessions, none of the vested interests would raise objections anymore.

"Very well, you shall draft the edict. But what official post should be bestowed upon Zhong Hui?"

Sima Zhao asked again.

Jia Chong thought for a moment. Although he felt deeply uncomfortable in his heart and loathed seeing Zhong Hui receive promotions and fiefs, he still suggested, "This subordinate believes that bestowing upon him the rank of Minister of Works and a fief of ten thousand households will suffice."

This reward was already quite substantial, and Sima Zhao was originally somewhat reluctant to part with it.

However, remembering that this scion Zhong Hui was doomed never to return alive to Guanzhong, he decided there was no need to be so petty.

It was indeed pointless to quibble with a dying man.

"Let it be arranged thus."

Sima Zhao waved his hand, signaling Jia Chong to withdraw.

After Jia Chong left, Sima Zhao finally clenched both fists in excitement, dancing around in his study with joy.

"First the Duke of Jin, then the Prince of Jin, and finally... change the dynasty!"

Sima Zhao muttered to himself, his entire face displaying an irrepressible madness, his features twisted out of shape.

Long afterward, Sima Zhao finally calmed down, plopping heavily down in front of his desk, his mind racing with thoughts of the next steps.

Over the past ten years, Zhong Hui, acting as the Sima family's political glove, had done plenty of dirty work and learned far too many things he shouldn't have known.

With Zhong Hui's cleverness and wisdom, he surely understood the logic that once the cunning hares are slaughtered, the good hunting bows are stored away.

Therefore, Zhong Hui would definitely rebel, or at least stir up trouble. But what if Zhong Hui truly did nothing and obediently returned to Guanzhong?

Sima Zhao fell into deep thought.

If Sima Yi had never existed in this world, then upon returning to Guanzhong, Zhong Hui would have been sidelined and eventually met a dignified end.

Yet those stratagems of retreating in order to advance had already been played out by Sima Yi!

As the son of Sima Yi, how could Sima Zhao not know how dangerous a man like Zhong Hui truly was?

Even if he retired now, relying on his family's deep-rooted foundations, Zhong Hui would eventually make a comeback. As for the timing of that comeback, it would surely be right after Sima Zhao's death, when Sima Yan could not yet control the political situation.

And then he would become the next Sima Yi.

Therefore, a man like Zhong Hui could not be kept alive! No matter what he was thinking, he had to die!

Sima Zhao unfolded a large sheet of paper, wrote the two characters "Zhong Hui" upon it, a flash of murderous intent passing through his eyes.

Next, he wrote the two characters "Deng Ai."

This man occupied a high position in the northwestern army, was not one of his own people, and was getting old; it was time to make arrangements and have him moved elsewhere.

Of course, unlike Zhong Hui, Deng Ai posed no direct threat to him, and his influence was limited, so there was no need to exterminate him completely.

Pondering further, Sima Zhao successively wrote down several more names on the paper. These individuals were all to be dealt with as a top priority once the campaign against Shu concluded.

Suddenly, Sima Zhao thought of Shi Shouxin, who had delivered the message back this time.

He stood up and said to the personal guards standing watch outside the door, "Go and summon that Shi Shouxin, who is staying in Yang Hu's guesthouse, to this place."

By now it was long past the hour for rest, but when had Sima Zhao ever cared whether others were asleep or not?

In less than half an hour, Shi Shouxin, fully dressed and groomed, arrived at Sima Zhao's courtyard.

"This subordinate pays respects to the Great General. I wonder why the Great General summoned me in the dead of night?"

Shi Shouxin stepped forward, cupping his hands in a bow as he asked.

"Tomorrow, you will take my personal letter to Hanzhong and deliver it to Wei Guan. Do you dare to go?"

Sima Zhao asked in a deep voice, not offering Shi Shouxin a seat, just staring straight at him.

"Great General, if this subordinate may speak bluntly, returning like this is no different from marching to one's death. You might as well find an excuse to execute me now, sparing me the trouble of fleeing."

Shi Shouxin replied neither servilely nor overbearingly.

Such a suicidal order was something he hadn't heard in a long time.

Shi Shouxin simply found it impossible to agree.

"In this campaign against Shu, there is also a secondary force in the east numbering about two thousand men. Do you know of it?"

Sima Zhao stroked his beard and asked with a smile.

"I know of it. It consists of the commandery troops under the command of Wei Xing Administrator Liu Qin, who came out through the Ziwu Valley to rendezvous with Zhong Hui's main army, though they are not under Zhong Hui's direct command."

Shi Shouxin replied with a calm expression.

Sima Zhao nodded with satisfaction, pointed to the soft mat opposite his desk, and said, "Sit and talk."

After Shi Shouxin took his seat, Sima Zhao sighed and said, "You will first go and deliver the letter to Wei Guan, and then proceed to Liu Qin's camp, remaining as the military inspector. However, you will no longer be under Wei Guan's jurisdiction, but will take orders solely from me. Should any issues arise, you may consult with Liu Qin. No, you may directly order Liu Qin to act on your behalf."

With that, Sima Zhao pushed forward the letter addressed to Wei Guan, along with a new appointment certificate and a tally pass.

On the front of the tally pass: Bureau of the Colonel Director of Retainers.
On the back: Attendant Historian.

The appointment certificate was an imperial edict stamped with the imperial jade seal, which read: Appointing Shi Shouxin as Attendant Historian of the Bureau of the Colonel Director of Retainers, dispatched on official business to oversee the army in the Shu campaign, and Liu Qin's forces are to cooperate unconditionally, et cetera.

In addition to this, there was one more crucial keyword: Holding the Tallies!

Even Liu Qin, the Administrator of Wei Xing, did not hold tallies, yet Shi Shouxin, a mere military inspector, was granted them! This was a classic case of using the small to control the big; usually he would mind his own business, but at a critical juncture, he could step forward and take responsibility!

In this era, holding tallies meant: ordinarily possessing no right to punish people, but during wartime having the authority to execute those who violated military orders. Sima Zhao bestowing tallies was not a true official post at all; it was out of a desire for Shi Shouxin to step up and bear the brunt if trouble arose, while if nothing happened, he wouldn't be able to make any waves anyway.

Simply put, Wei Guan's earlier move of sending Shi Shouxin to scout the path had also made Sima Zhao realize how unreliable such slippery characters were.

In other words, in Sima Zhao's eyes, even military inspectors needed someone to inspect them!

At any rate, this carried at least some negative side effects born of the balance of power. If Sima Zhao had personally led the troops to conquer Shu, none of these problems would have existed.

"This subordinate will set out tomorrow, and whatever tasks the Great General has entrusted to me, I will surely accomplish."

Shi Shouxin stored the letters and tokens away, only to find that his "tallies" did not come with the actual bronze tally staff. He had seen one previously with Wei Guan; it was about as long as a flute, adorned with red tassels at one end.

Wei Guan was an official holding tallies, hence he possessed the staff.

Yet upon second thought, he felt relieved. If holding tallies required carrying a staff, wouldn't fully accredited commissioners need to carry two, otherwise how could the distinction be shown?

Superiors simply wished to avoid the proliferation of tally staves, hence the usage of the character "temporary" or "provisional" in granting such powers. For instance, in this campaign against Shu, Deng Ai held tallies, and Zhong Hui also held tallies, each operating independently without interfering with the other.

"Very well, go."

Sima Zhao spared no further words, nor did he make any gesture of "treating worthy scholars with courtesy," directly signaling Shi Shouxin to leave the courtyard.

Shi Shouxin's return with the message this time had demonstrated a strong grasp of the current political situation, making it necessary to test him further. Sending him back to serve as a nail planted within the Shu expeditionary army was quite an intriguing endeavor.

Of course, if Shi Shouxin were to be heavily relied upon in the future, firstly he had to return safely, and secondly, since he held tallies, his journey would certainly not be peaceful; he would have to display genuine talent to ensure his own survival.

Now that Sima Zhao held absolute power in his hands, he no longer needed to painstakingly unearth usable men like Shi Bao as Sima Yi had done decades ago.

The next day, Shi Shouxin watched as Sima Zhao took the Son of Heaven, Cao Huan, along with a retinue of trusted aides, departing from Chang'an. He watched the long procession stretch far into the distance toward the east, feeling deeply unsettled within.

Meng Guan, standing beside him, had no idea what had happened and could only stand silently without speaking.

"Those of humble station must obey orders and act accordingly, never masters of their own destiny. We are toyed with by others like marionettes dangling from strings."

Shi Shouxin sighed, a look of profound melancholy washing over him.

At that moment, how he wished he could follow Sima Zhao back to Luoyang to see his wife and children.

Even just going home for a brief visit would have been good.

Yet there was no helping it; his itinerary had already been arranged by Sima Zhao, leaving no room for negotiation.

"Once the expeditionary army returns to Guanzhong, you are bound to secure an official post or rank."

Shi Shouxin patted Meng Guan's shoulder and said.

"Alas, I haven't really contributed much; I truly feel unworthy of such rewards."

Meng Guan shook his head, a look of disappointment written across his face.

"Heh, isn't it simply because the time hasn't come yet? What do you think Zhong Hui will feel when we return to the main camp? What will Wei Guan think?"

Shi Shouxin sneered.

Awakened by these words, Meng Guan's expression instantly soured into a bitter, tearful grimace.

Leading their horses westward, the two men chatted idly along the way.

Meng Guan lowered his voice and asked, "Inspector Shi, when Zhong Hui learns that you have returned to the main camp, he is bound to harbor deep misgivings, and Wei Guan will likely feel the same. But the most tricky part is that even though they have guilty consciences, they cannot voice it and must pretend to be completely unaware. Once you go to Hanzhong, I'm afraid none of those people will let things rest."

Meng Guan was now deeply worried for Shi Shouxin, as well as for his own future.

"Who is to say otherwise? With this thing to protect me, Zhong Hui certainly cannot kill me, but... oh well."

Shi Shouxin pulled the imperial-sealed appointment certificate from his sleeve and handed it to Meng Guan, leaving the latter dumbfounded.

"Inspector Shi, you... you've even been granted tallies?"

He was exceedingly astonished.

Generally speaking, those granted tallies were commanders of an entire army. Shi Shouxin possessed neither military power nor any official rank bestowed by the imperial court.

His status was, in truth, deeply awkward.

"Sima Zhao, you see, has completely decoupled official ranks from actual political power, bestowing them upon different people.
Those who lead troops into battle have no command authority. Those who govern and marshal troops have no routine administrative authority.
And then there are the military inspectors, who can only speak up when a major crisis breaks out in the army, yet ordinarily cannot command even a single soldier.
Whether one holds tallies, whether one possesses discretionary decision-making power, and whether one holds a formal military post—there are simply too many intricacies involved in all this."

Shi Shouxin explained to Meng Guan.

"Inspector Shi, you are truly formidable. If the Great General had bestowed the same appointment upon me, I certainly wouldn't have dared to accept it.
I wouldn't even be able to escape Zhong Hui's butcher knife."

Meng Guan said with lingering fear.

"If everything in this world could go according to one's desires, where would there be so much sorrow?"

Shi Shouxin muttered offhandedly in complaint.

Such was the nature of the times; how could he possibly have a choice!