Chapter 22: Arguing on Strong Grounds

Inside the Wei army's central command tent on the outskirts of Mei County, Shi Shouxin scrutinized Zhong Hui, who sat upright in the commander’s seat.

Zhong Hui appeared impeccably refined and handsome. He wore a heavy cloak over a blue silk robe, with a sable scarf wrapped around his neck—an attire more befitting a noble scion of an elite family than a military commander. His beard was meticulously groomed; he looked nothing like a man prepared for war. Recalling how he and Xu Yi had spent these past days shivering in the freezing wind while overseeing the repairs of the plank roads, Shi Shouxin felt his blood boil.

"Where is the commander of the vanguard?" Zhong Hui asked calmly. He held his head slightly high; the command seat was already elevated, and his posture made him seem even more condescending.

"Xu Yi, the Gate General, is here," Xu Yi replied, stepping forward to bow.

"Guards, drag Xu Yi out and behead him to serve as a warning to the others!" Zhong Hui commanded his personal soldiers directly.

"Great Commander, may I ask what crime I have committed?" Xu Yi asked, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

Wei Guan stepped forward to block the guards, scolding with a hint of displeasure: "Great Commander, to punish a general, there must be a valid reason. Your arbitrary behavior in ordering executions is against regulations."

"Commander of the Western Pacification Army, tell me, what is the duty of the vanguard?" Zhong Hui asked, looking toward Wei Guan.

"To cut paths through mountains and build bridges over water, to never shy away from the enemy, and to report enemy movements promptly." Wei Guan did not bother to look up, speaking flatly while keeping his eyes fixed ahead. Shi Shouxin had a bad premonition; seeing Wei Guan’s demeanor, it seemed he was merely watching how things would unfold, or at the very least, silently acquiescing to Zhong Hui’s excesses.

"Xu Yi, did you hear that? Cut paths through mountains, build bridges over water. You were negligent in repairing the plank roads, leaving them in such a state that tens of thousands of troops cannot pass! Inspector Wei, according to military law, how should this be handled?" Zhong Hui asked again.

"If true, military law dictates execution," Wei Guan replied, his expression unchanged.

"Xu Yi, are you convinced now?" Zhong Hui sneered, looking at Xu Yi as if he were already a dead man. As for Shi Shouxin’s culpability, Zhong Hui had no intention of pursuing it. Why? Because Shi Shouxin was a man who had survived being imprisoned by Sima Zhao and returned to prominence; there was no need to squeeze such a "hard nut."

"I am not convinced! Zhong Hui, you are settling personal scores!" Xu Yi shouted, pointing at Zhong Hui, but it was to no avail. With the inspector Wei Guan remaining silent, no one would stop Zhong Hui. This scene was hardly unfamiliar; it was the same tactic Zhong Hui had used when Ji Kang was imprisoned.

"Hmph, my actions are always just. You violated military law and must be punished to deter others!" Zhong Hui waved his hand. Several guards lunged at Xu Yi like wolves, pinning his arms to drag him away.

"Wait!" Shi Shouxin suddenly shouted, stepping forward.

"Shut up! It is not your turn to speak here!" Zhong Hui pointed at Shi Shouxin and barked.

"Inspector Wei, I am merely curious about one thing. Is it too much to ask in front of all these generals? Or have you already ceded your duties as inspector to the Great Commander, allowing him to decree military law at his whim? Who holds the imperial authority—you or the Great Commander?" Shi Shouxin asked Wei Guan. The question was sharp and calculated; the latter could no longer remain silent.

"Great Commander, there is no harm in hearing what the Departmental Aide Shi Shouxin has to say. It will not take long. He is the inspector for Xu Yi's army and is well-acquainted with the situation on the Baoxie Road." Wei Guan finally looked up, requesting of Zhong Hui.

With Wei Guan having spoken, Zhong Hui could not silence Shi Shouxin without appearing utterly disgraceful in front of the dozen or so deputy generals and commanders present.

"Hmph, speak then!" Zhong Hui snapped, slamming the table in displeasure.

"Great Commander, have you ever built a bridge?" Shi Shouxin asked.

Zhong Hui’s expression stiffened. All eyes were on him. "I have not," he replied impatiently, sensing trouble.

"Then let me ask again: have you ever led an army on a campaign alone?" Shi Shouxin pressed.

"I have not," Zhong Hui said through gritted teeth. Several generals in the tent were struggling to suppress their laughter.

"Since the Great Commander’s record shows neither independent command nor experience in bridge or road construction, and perhaps you haven't even memorized the military code, how can you determine that General Xu’s work is flawed? As the saying goes, 'In the pursuit of knowledge, there is priority; in crafts and skills, there is specialization.' On the matter of building plank roads, you are a complete layman. How can you cast judgment? If you lack the ability to discern whether it is built correctly, how can you use your own whims to cite military law and condemn a great general?"

"I haven't built one, but have you? By what right do you question my decision?" Zhong Hui was frantic, pointing at Shi Shouxin, his composure completely shattered.

"Great Commander, I apologize, but I have actually built bridges. I spent two years working in the Office of the Lesser Treasury, where I built a bridge over the Luo River. There are records in the office to verify this," Shi Shouxin said, bowing with neither arrogance nor servility.

"Insolence! As a fellow inspector, you dare to shield Xu Yi. Guards, drag Shi Shouxin out and execute him according to military law!" Zhong Hui had lost all control.

"Great Commander, Inspector Wei, generals—whether the plank roads are well-built or not, you may all accompany me tomorrow to inspect the Baoxie Road, or we can march troops across them to test them. The truth cannot be hidden. We shall see then," Shi Shouxin said, bowing to everyone present.

He then turned to Zhong Hui, his expression turning cold and severe. He drew the sword at his waist and pointed it at Zhong Hui, shouting: "Zhong Hui! I am also an inspector appointed by the Imperial Court; only the Western Pacification Commander Wei Guan has the authority to execute me! For anyone else to execute an inspector is tantamount to treason! Were you just contemplating treason? Tell the generals loudly—were you contemplating treason? This army is not your private militia!"

At this shout, everyone looked at Zhong Hui with amusement. No one stepped in to mediate; they were all watching the spectacle. Zhong Hui realized he had been led into a trap. If news of this conflict reached Sima Zhao, his life would be forfeit! An inspector could not be punished by a Great Commander; only a higher-ranking inspector could do so.

Seeing the situation teetering on collapse, Wei Guan quickly stepped forward, took Shi Shouxin’s sword, and returned it to its scabbard. He then bowed to Zhong Hui: "Great Commander, whether Xu Yi is guilty will be determined tomorrow when we inspect the roads. If they are poorly built, he can be punished then. There is no need for such emotional disputes now."

Wei Guan’s words were measured. While appearing to mediate, he was clearly taking sides.

"Great Commander, I possess some knowledge of construction. Tomorrow, I can conduct an independent inspection, free from interference, to ensure total impartiality," Du Yu, who had kept a low profile throughout the trip, suddenly stepped forward to suggest.

His suggestion served as a signal, and many others soon agreed that seeing for themselves tomorrow was better than arguing now. Seeing the public anger, Zhong Hui could only flick his sleeves and storm out, not saying a word.

After everyone dispersed, Shi Shouxin was summoned to Wei Guan’s tent. Wei Guan provided hot porridge and flatbread. After dismissing the others, they ate and chatted, the atmosphere surprisingly relaxed.

"Your split-second decision-making tonight was excellent. There were things I could not say, but you said them perfectly," Wei Guan said, his smile fading. He was validating Shi Shouxin’s actions: you did well, and though I cannot openly oppose Zhong Hui, I know you were right.

Wei Guan’s attitude was within Shi Shouxin’s expectations. The reason was simple: this elite army had no particular loyalty to Wei Guan either. He needed to win hearts.

To organize this campaign, Sima Zhao had employed a system of overlapping checks and balances. The inspectors included aristocratic scions like Wei Guan and men of humble origins like Shi Shouxin. The senior commanders included Sima Zhao’s confidants like Zhong Hui, and traditional Sima loyalists like Hu Lie and Li Fu, though none were rooted in the Yongzhou military. The junior officers were "military second-generations" like Xu Yi, who had little love for the Sima family, yet remained unreachable by others. Furthermore, many young elites like Du Yu were gilding their resumes in the ranks.

From top to bottom, this army was a patchwork. No one could use their authority to achieve private ends. Sima Zhao was indeed a master of balance. Of course, this had its pros and cons; the benefit was that no one could easily hijack the army for rebellion, but the downside was constant infighting.

Provoking Zhong Hui tonight was a deliberate move by Shi Shouxin.

"I am merely doing my duty," Shi Shouxin replied modestly.

"I will write to the Great General in Chang'an about tonight’s events," Wei Guan said solemnly.

"That is your duty as an inspector," Shi Shouxin replied, unperturbed.

Wei Guan looked at him, feeling that this man could not be cowed. He smiled mysteriously: "Are you truly unaware of how dangerous Zhong Hui is?"

"I saw his arrogance tonight; I know exactly what he is capable of," Shi Shouxin said dismissively.

"If he had ordered your execution, he would likely have received nothing more than a slap on the wrist upon returning to Luoyang. Do you know that?" Wei Guan asked, wondering if the young man was truly naive or merely playing the part.

"He could have killed me, but I saved Xu Yi tonight. Had Zhong Hui tried to kill me, the other generals would have protected me—if only because they need someone to stand up for them. Zhong Hui has no strength of his own; he relies on his generals. If they refuse his orders, his commands die within this tent. If the others had just watched, they would have deserved it when he eventually turned his blade on them."

"Well said!" Wei Guan clapped. This was a brilliant move. Shi Shouxin had set an example for the generals and stood firm for his superior. He had won over a crowd while dealing Zhong Hui a heavy blow.

Whether this was a net gain depended on how much Sima Zhao truly trusted Zhong Hui. If he was trusted implicitly, Zhong Hui could destroy Shi Shouxin upon returning. If not, this was a masterful stroke.

"Are you certain you can prove the roads are sound tomorrow?" Wei Guan asked, changing the subject. Shi Shouxin’s performance was impressive, but if the roads were flawed, it would all be for nothing.

"Inspector Wei, rest assured. Zhong Hui pressured the vanguard to rush the work in the bitter cold, hoping for slipshod, flawed results he could use to execute someone and assert his authority. He planned to kill Xu Yi without even checking because he expected failure. But I have supervised bridge building in the Lesser Treasury. I know the work; the roads are impeccable. Zhong Hui’s hopes are nothing but a daylight dream!"

Hearing this, a smile finally appeared on Wei Guan’s face—the smile of an old fox. "Very well. Tomorrow, I look forward to seeing the expression on Zhong Hui’s face."