Chapter 19: Anxiety

The weather was growing colder by the day. Shi Shouxin, having returned to the military camp, continued his study of military law.

It had to be said that the military regulations of the Cao Wei state were remarkably... flexible. Not only were the military systems diverse, but the internal laws enforced within these different structures varied significantly. For instance, the regulations governing the Imperial Guards differed greatly from those of the hereditary military households that followed specific generals. In the latter, the commander’s word was essentially law.

Shi Shouxin contemplated the principle of "seizing the main issues while delegating the minor ones, and adapting to local circumstances." A military inspector did not micromanage everything, nor did he ignore everything; there was a flexible red line to be navigated. His mission as inspector this time was actually quite simple: keep a close watch on Zhong Hui. Other matters would be handled by Wei Guan, so there was no need for him to intervene.

The reason Shi Shouxin studied the military laws so diligently was not for the sake of monitoring Zhong Hui, but because he wished to learn the art of governance and military command. In this era, possessing no military power was like walking down the street naked. Since he had the opportunity to learn, he had to make the most of it. Sooner or later, he would command troops of his own.

According to past precedent, the Shu army should have launched a Northern Expedition after the autumn harvest. However, this year was strange; the state of Shu was unusually quiet. Jiang Wei was stationed at Tazhong, sharpening his weapons and feeding his horses. Rumors claimed he was at odds with the imperial court in Chengdu and was staying in the north to avoid disaster. The reports were insistent, though their veracity remained unknown.

A few days later, Sima Zhao issued an order: Wei Guan was to lead the "Inspectorate Army"—a force of only one thousand men that was not subject to the command of any general (including Zhong Hui)—to pack their gear and immediately depart for Guanzhong.

By this time, Yang Xiu had already left the camp to take command of his own troops in Guanzhong. In the camp, apart from Wei Guan, Shi Shouxin held the highest rank. Wei Guan instructed him to select one hundred men from the camp as his personal unit, as they might have to act independently at some point.

On the night before their departure, Yang Huiyu invited Shi Shouxin to her residence. In the study, they did not embrace; instead, Yang Huiyu gave him instructions on matters of great importance while he sat upright at the desk, listening quietly.

"The risk in this campaign does not lie in the military situation. According to reports from the Grand General’s office, Hanzhong is lightly defended. If nothing unexpected happens, the outcome should be decided quickly. The real trouble lies in Zhong Hui’s intentions." Yang Huiyu spoke with a solemn expression, her eyes filled with worry.

"Please go on, Lady Yu," Shi Shouxin replied with a slight nod. Although he already knew the "answer," this "exam" was one where his life was at stake, and he could not afford the slightest carelessness.

"After the Ji Kang incident, the Grand General has harbored the intent to kill Zhong Hui. But the problem is that Zhong Hui is exceptionally brilliant; if he realizes the Grand General wants him dead, he might revolt. He would never sit and wait for death. I suspect he may already have treacherous thoughts. After the three rebellions in Huainan, treason is hardly a cause for shock, is it? If Zhong Hui rebels and holds a blade to your throat, demanding you join him, how will you handle it?"

Yang Huiyu posed a deeply troubling scenario.

"Zhong Hui is widely detested; his rebellion has almost no chance of success. Following him would be self-destruction. If I submit to the traitor, I will surely be executed by the Grand General afterward. If I refuse, I die on the spot. It is indeed a difficult predicament," Shi Shouxin muttered to himself.

Yang Huiyu took his hand and sighed helplessly. "I have no solution for this; you must rely on yourself."

"I understand." Shi Shouxin nodded. He appreciated her sincerity, as she was baring her heart to him.

"Furthermore, Du Yu will also lead an army independently. You saved his life, so he will surely stand with you. As for Yang Xiu... he is arrogant by nature and may not think much of you. Only if you enlist Du Yu and explain the stakes clearly will he listen to you. After all, Yang Xiu also looks down on Zhong Hui and would never attach himself to him. If only Shu-zi (Yang Hu) were willing to go; if you two teamed up, you would surely be safe. Alas!"

Yang Huiyu shook her head. There were many things she could not say to Yang Hu. She could hardly admit to being someone’s mistress. What she was telling Shi Shouxin were mere possibilities, guesses in her mind; even if she wanted to seek help from others, she had no way to explain.

Only Shi Shouxin knew that Zhong Hui was capable of anything. Far from exaggerating, Yang Huiyu had actually underestimated Zhong Hui’s audacity.

"Take care of yourself as well. I will not abandon you," Shi Shouxin said, holding her hand.

He had already heard the story of that absurd night from her. Having understood the chain of events, he was left speechless. Yang Huiyu had come to Luoyang from Wen County for the purpose of the Shu campaign, hoping to secure some advantage for Yang Hu. Ultimately, his ill-fated connection with her had begun because of this campaign. He had previously assumed she was a lonely widow from the inner chambers seeking a man, but he never expected that he had been the one to initiate this entanglement.

Reflecting on her past irrational displays of intimacy, it all made sense now. He had felt something was off after that night, but with one crisis after another, he had no time to ponder it. Now, he could only conclude that the ancients were right: alcohol leads to trouble. Given her usual dignified demeanor, she had no reason to lie about such a thing.

"Go home and see your wife. I have just started my monthly cycle today," Yang Huiyu said with an awkward smile, her face showing a trace of desolation and regret. She felt a fire burning within her but lacked the strength to act on it.

"Very well, I shall return then," Shi Shouxin nodded, left the study, and boarded the "private carriage" Sima Zhao had prepared for her.

***

At almost the same moment, in the study of the Grand General’s office, Zhong Hui hung a map on the wall. Sima Zhao sat at his desk, expressionless, listening to Zhong Hui explain the plan for the campaign against Shu.

"Scouts report that Shu is currently plagued by internal strife. Huang Hao and Zhuge Zhan intend to remove Jiang Wei and replace him with Yan Yu. Jiang Wei, disgusted by Huang Hao's corruption, petitioned for his execution, but Liu Shan refused. Jiang Wei had no choice but to retreat to Tazhong to farm and defend the north. Thus, Shu is not launching a Northern Expedition this year not because Jiang Wei doesn't want to, but because he cannot."

The analysis was logical and well-founded, and Sima Zhao nodded in agreement. Killing Zhong Hui was a matter for the future; for now, he needed to use him. Sima Zhao showed "sufficient trust" and delegated power to this flamboyant and high-profile confidant. It appeared to be a case of "a lord and vassal in perfect harmony."

"Grand General, I plan to divide the army into three routes to attack Shu," Zhong Hui said, bowing. "The Western route, led by Deng Ai, will advance from Didao to attack Gansong and Tazhong, pinning down the main Shu force so they cannot retreat to defend Hanzhong. The Central route, led by Zhuge Xu, will cut off Jiang Wei’s retreat from Qishan toward Wujie and Yinping, and also serve to keep Deng Ai in check. As for the Eastern route, I will personally lead over one hundred thousand troops, including the Imperial Guards and the Guanzhong forces, into Hanzhong via Xiegu and Luogu, with Hu Lie and Li Fu leading the vanguard. The first two routes are feints; the Eastern route is the main thrust to capture Hanzhong. Once Hanzhong is taken, we will station troops in key locations and return the main army to Guanzhong to rest. The war will then be over. Everything will prioritize stability."

Zhong Hui’s plan was methodical and perfectly aligned with Sima Zhao’s political needs. It was a classic political military campaign—clear objectives, no excess, and high efficiency. If all went according to plan, capturing Hanzhong would not be difficult. Once Hanzhong was taken, Sima Zhao could ascend to the position of Duke of Jin, receive the Nine Bestowals, and secure his family’s succession. From then on, he would have no concerns about his legacy. He could not claim the throne himself, but Sima Yan could do so in the future; he trusted the wisdom of his descendants, just as Cao Cao had done.

Suddenly, Sima Zhao wondered if he had wronged Zhong Hui. While Zhong Hui had acted out of extreme selfishness in the Ji Kang affair, this military plan seemed reliable.

"Let it be decided as such. The army will first move to Guanzhong and hold its position. Meanwhile, clear the paths and build bridges to secure the supply lines!" Sima Zhao said in a deep voice. He had spent years preparing for this, and he did not want a grand, slow march from Luoyang to Guanzhong, which would give Jiang Wei ample time to react.

"I shall depart for Chang'an immediately. The Luoyang troops can follow at a slower pace," Zhong Hui replied with a bow.

"Very well, Shiji. Your plan suits my intentions perfectly. Depart now; I shall await your triumphant return in Luoyang," Sima Zhao laughed heartily. Zhong Hui took his leave to prepare for his journey to Guanzhong.

After he left, Sima Zhao sighed deeply, releasing a long-pent-up frustration. It felt refreshing. Since Cao Huan ascended the throne, the young Emperor had been very sensible, knowing he was merely a rubber stamp. In his first year, he had offered Sima Zhao the "usurpation package"—the title of Duke of Jin and the Nine Bestowals. Sima Zhao had refused. A year later, Cao Huan offered again, and he refused again. This had happened four times now. It was said Cao Huan was preparing to offer a fifth time, and Sima Zhao still intended to refuse.

In truth, he could have seized the throne by force, but history would record it harshly. Without the backing of a major military victory, his foundation would be unstable and lead to endless trouble—the risk of another Huainan-style rebellion remained. This campaign against Shu represented all his hopes and dreams.

Suddenly, his expression shifted. He recalled something and summoned his Chief Clerk, Shi Zuan, in the middle of the night.

"Grand General, what urgent matter requires my presence?" Shi Zuan asked upon arrival.

Sima Zhao placed a silk scroll on the desk. Shi Zuan read it and was stunned. It was from Deng Ai, still arguing against the campaign and listing five reasons why it shouldn't proceed.

"You are to go to Didao, explain my intentions to Deng Ai, and serve as his deputy to keep him in check so he does not act recklessly," Sima Zhao commanded. "Move when it is time to move, and stay put when it is not!"

Shi Zuan felt a surge of resentment. He was being sent as a watchdog for a man who didn't know him, a move that was fraught with difficulty. But his career was tied to Sima Zhao, so he had no choice. "I understand. I shall depart at once, Grand General!"

As he turned to leave, Sima Zhao called him back and whispered, "If Deng Ai shows any signs of rebellion, you may act at your own discretion!"

Watching Shi Zuan leave, Sima Zhao felt a sense of relief, yet he remained restless.

Early the next morning, a yawning Yang Huiyu was summoned to the study. Seeing the bloodshot eyes of the Grand General, she quickly composed herself. "Is the Grand General troubled by something?"

"It is the matter of Zhong Hui leading the army," Sima Zhao sighed.

"If you are so worried about him, why not lead the army to Guanzhong yourself?" she teased.

Sima Zhao was momentarily speechless and glared at her with mock resentment, continuing to sigh. Yang Huiyu poured him a cup of wine. "Grand General, leave the external matters to others; you must remain in Luoyang. In my humble opinion, among the three forces, Zhuge Xu is mediocre and serves only as a buffer for Deng Ai. The competition for the glory of conquering Shu will be between Deng Ai and Zhong Hui. Since Zhong Hui is dominant, why not confer an honor upon Deng Ai now? Once Zhong Hui learns of this, he will surely grow jealous, and they will never be able to unite to seize Shu and declare independence. When two tigers fight, one is bound to be injured. Why worry when you can sit on the mountain and watch them?"

That was it! Sima Zhao stood up, pacing excitedly. He felt as though a veil had been lifted.

Yang Huiyu felt a sense of relief. These words were not her own, but what Shi Shouxin had whispered to her in bed.

"You are right, sister-in-law. Quite right." Sima Zhao nodded gratefully.

"Alas, state affairs are burdensome. You must take care of your health," Yang Huiyu said, sighing. "The key to the Shu campaign lies in mutual restraint."

Sima Zhao nodded. He knew his sister-in-law had always been on his side, especially regarding the succession of Sima You, which had locked in the path to the throne. From a dark perspective, this widow of his brother, Sima Shi, had helped him seize the fruits of her own late husband’s labor. He had long harbored secret feelings for her, thinking, *If you are already sitting on my lap, why not share my bed?*

"Your brother was ruthless and loved to kill to establish his authority, even among his own kin," Yang Huiyu continued, her voice hypnotic. "But you are different, Grand General. You are kind-hearted and value your reputation, which makes you easily manipulated. Zhong Hui has offended too many people; by keeping him alive, you are letting him use you as a blade for his own ends. Killing him will restore some of your reputation. Do not hesitate—this must be done sooner or later. If you don't kill him, will you let the imperial court run red with blood in the future?"

Sima Zhao nodded, agreeing with her. The situation was clear, but once the window paper was pierced, everything changed.

"You are right. Preparations must be made," Sima Zhao said, a cold glint in his eyes. He had made up his mind.

Seeing his expression, Yang Huiyu smiled faintly and rose to leave. She had done all she could; the rest was up to Shi Shouxin.