Super Cultivation System of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 354: The Tiger Appears
Luoyang, Jingzhao Yin, Sima family residence.

Snowflakes began to fall from the sky. A carriage slowly drove up and stopped at the door. Sima Fang, wrapped in a thick fur cloak, walked out of the carriage.

A man ran to the door and lay under the carriage. Sima Fang stepped on his back, got off the carriage and entered his own mansion.

"Master, you are back."

Sima Fang had just walked into the main hall when a servant came over and took the cloak he had taken off.

"Well, are you guys still studying?"

"Master, the teacher just left and the three young masters are reviewing their lessons. Do you want to go over and take a look?"

"No, it's almost time for dinner. I asked them to come over and test them."

"Here!"

The Sima family was very strict in family management, and Sima Fang had children late. He had his first son, Sima Lang, when he was 22 years old, and his second son, Sima Yi, was born when he was 30 years old. He could be said to have had children in his old age. A year later, he had his third son, Sima Fu, and last year he had his fourth son, Sima Kui.

As the saying goes, "the deeper the love, the more severe the criticism." Sima Fang had extremely high expectations for his four sons. He began to educate them in Confucian classics at the age of five. Now he has even invited a great scholar of Confucian classics to teach them, and he also tests them every day.

Not long after, except for the fourth son Sima Kui who was still in swaddling clothes, the other three sons were led by the servant and came to Sima Fang.

"I've met my father!"

The three children bowed respectfully to their father.

"Ah."

Sima Fang looked at his three sons. Although his expression was very serious, he was very satisfied in his heart.

"In terms of family background, status, and reputation in the court and the country, my Sima family is certainly far inferior to the Yuan family, but when it comes to educating children, I, Sima Fang, am much better than the two Yuans. Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao are just incompetent people."

Sima Fang was just thinking about asking his sons what book they were reading today when his eldest son Sima Lang, who was already fifteen years old, suddenly asked a question.

"Father looks solemn and his thoughts are wandering. Is there something on his mind?"

Sima Fang was caught off guard by this question and looked over with some displeasure.

"I was just about to test you on what you have learned today, but you asked me first. There is an order of seniority, and I haven't said anything yet, so how can I allow you to be so presumptuous?"

"Father, please allow me to speak. I noticed that you have been silent for a long time and seemed to be thinking about something, so I asked you a question. If the elders have doubts or concerns, children should share their worries. This is also the filial piety advocated by the saints."

When Sima Fang heard this, his expression changed from anger to joy.

"Well, it seems that my son has already understood the fundamentals of being a human being. In this case, I would like to tell you about today's events and see what you think of them. I will use them as the test question for today."

"Father, please speak."

Among the three sons, except for the third son Sima Fu who was just six years old and still had ignorant eyes, Sima Yi and Sima Lang looked at their father expectantly.

Sima Fang didn't really expect them to come up with any new insights. After all, what could a few kids understand about such important matters in the court? It was just a spur of the moment idea.

He shouted to the outside of the house: "Everyone, please leave, close the door, and no one is allowed within ten steps of this house!"

The two servants stepped out together and closed the door.

Sima Fang then spoke: "The Yuan family is the head of our family, as you all know. Today, the world is in turmoil, with the eunuchs at home, the relatives of the emperor outside, and the party imprisonment. Your grandfather was also deeply harmed. More than ten years ago, Lord Yuan subdued a foreign minister. Now I recommend this man to lead the army outside, so that he can enter Luoyang in the name of eliminating eunuchs in the future. I also want Lord Yuan's legitimate son to take the power of Liu He of Yanmen and lead 100,000 elite border troops outside to support us, so as to ensure that our family can stand invincible in this turmoil."

Sima Fu, the youngest, was confused and shook his head repeatedly, saying, "Son, I don't know."

Sima Fang didn't say much. After all, he was still too young and it was normal for him not to understand these things. He asked this question mainly for his eldest son Sima Lang.

He looked at Sima Lang, who thought for a moment and then began to speak.

"Father, I think that although the eunuchs have been a scourge to the government for many years and many of our noble families have suffered from them, their power has no foundation and their downfall is only a matter of time. The struggle in the world now depends on the noble families and the relatives of the emperor."

Sima Fang nodded slightly and asked, "Why?" "The power of eunuchs comes from the favor of the emperor. Their power does not lie in themselves, but in the emperor. If the emperor is weak or a new emperor ascends the throne, the power of the eunuchs will be gone. If you want to eliminate them, you only need dozens of soldiers to do it, but it is not the same for the relatives of the emperor. The general is in charge of the left and right Yulin Army and commands the troops of the world, but this person has no ability to govern the country and has the desire to fight for power. He is the biggest threat to the court and the country."

"Well, that's right. So, do you think Mr. Yuan's plan is indeed a good one?"

"Father, the world is in turmoil. If you want to fight for power or protect yourself, you have to rely on money, food, and soldiers. I don't know who the two Yuans recommended, but Liu He of Yanmen has a strong army. If we can get Yuan Gonglu to seize his power and then station troops in Shangdang and Henei, the power of the general will be nothing to fear. At that time, with the Yuan family as the leader, our noble family will assist the emperor to stabilize the world and be loyal to the subjects. Our names will be recorded in history."

Sima Fang showed a happy expression on his face. He stroked his beard and looked at his eldest son, seeming to be very satisfied.

"Yes, every word you said makes sense. Although some details are not well thought out, it is still decent."

"Thank you father!"

The huge stone hanging in Sima Fang's heart finally fell down.

At this moment, Sima Yi, the second son, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke.

"Father, I don't think what you said is true."

"Oh?"

Sima Fang and Sima Lang both looked at Sima Yi, who was only seven years old, with surprise on their faces.

"Why don't you tell me why you don't agree with it?"

Sima Yi was only as tall as Sima Lang's waist, and was rather thin. For a seven-year-old boy, he acted so serious at this moment, which seemed a bit out of place.

"My son doesn't understand the affairs of the family and the country, but he does know one truth."

"Why? Tell me."

"How can I leave my life, my family's honor and disgrace to others? How can I let a general of another surname march into Luoyang while my legitimate son is waiting outside to support him?"

Sima Fang was somewhat shocked. He looked at his son again and again, as if he wanted to confirm that such a profound truth could be spoken from the mouth of such a child.

"But since Lord Yuan values ​​him and has carefully trained him for more than ten years, I believe that this person must be very reliable. Moreover, although he has a large army, his official position, military supplies, food, and equipment all depend on the court. If he has second thoughts, he can be dismissed and his support cut off."

Sima Yi tilted his head and thought for a long time.

"But when my sons are studying, the teacher is very strict. If they slack off, he will whip their palms. My sons have no choice but to obey him, but it is hard to resist the pain. If the lives of our whole family are handed over to others, how can we not give them some food and fodder?"

The little kid tilted his head, his eyes full of confusion, and it was obvious that he hadn't figured out the problem either.

But Sima Fang suddenly stood up.

"Yes! By then, this man's army will enter Luoyang, and everyone in the city will be under his control. I'm afraid we will no longer be able to make decisions in the court, so how can we talk about dismissal and food shortage?"

He looked at Sima Yi with surprise and joy: "With a son like this, the Sima family should prosper!"

He walked out quickly and called out to Da Pao loudly: "Prepare the car, go to Yuan's house!"

Sima Fang hurried out, and just as he stepped one foot onto the carriage, he suddenly stopped.

"No, Lord Yuan is already the head of a noble family. If we let Yuan Shu take over the Yanmen army and personally station in Luoyang, Yuan Shu has always been arrogant and self-righteous. It is hard to guarantee that he will not become arrogant. Although the Yuan family is gaining momentum, our family will inevitably be bullied by it. Moreover, his ability to command troops is far inferior to Dong Zhuo. How can he control such a chaotic situation? If this plan fails, Lord Yuan will definitely blame me, and our Sima family may suffer a devastating disaster."

His eyes moved rapidly as he thought about a strategy.

"Hmph, whatever. If this succeeds, the Yuan family will benefit the most. If it fails, the Yuan family has a large foundation and can still protect itself, but my Sima family will be exterminated. It is better to let them do whatever they want. Whether it is Dong Zhuo or Liu He, what does it have to do with me? I can stay in Luoyang, but if not, I can just go back to Henei. I will make a decision when the situation becomes clear."

After figuring it out, Sima Fang suddenly felt enlightened and breathed a sigh of relief.

"No, let's go back home and prepare dinner."

(End of this chapter)