The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 300 Slaughtering the Sima Clan

Jingzhou, Zhaoyang.

Meanwhile, when Zhuge Liang led his troops to pacify Jingnan, all the counties submitted to him.

In addition, Zhuge Liang rectified official corruption, and although most counties did not immediately change their ways, they mostly adopted a more positive attitude.

However, Zhaoyang County was the only one with poor performance.

Local residents reported that the county head was neglecting his duties, drinking, slacking off, and generally being irresponsible.

Upon learning of this, Zhuge Liang dispatched Huang Zhong to investigate the cause.

Huang Zhong led 300 personal guards and traveled to Zhaoyang County.

They caught a county resident and asked him about the internal situation of Zhaoyang County.

The county resident answered truthfully:
"...General, you are wise. This Magistrate of Zhaoyang County, Jiang Wan, has been in office since..."

He spent his days drinking and sleeping, neglecting state affairs.

“The county has a mountain of unsolved cases and a mountain of petitions from the people.”

"But he only played the zither for his own amusement in the back room, and when he occasionally went to court, he did it hastily."

Those around him tried to advise him, but he just laughed and said, 'Why bother with such a small county?'

Upon hearing this, Huang Zhong spurred his horse into the city.

Sure enough, the county government office was deserted, with hardly anyone visiting.

Huang Zhong was furious and went straight into the back hall, where he saw Jiang Wan leaning against the couch reading a book, with a wine pot on the table still warm.

Huang Zhong sternly rebuked:

"Jiang Wan!"

"As the local official in charge of the people, how dare you neglect local affairs and violate the laws of Jingzhou!"

Upon seeing that it was Huang Zhong himself, Jiang Wan remained calm, straightened his clothes, stood up, cupped his hands, and smiled, saying:
"Why is the old general angry? Although I am lazy, I dare not neglect my duties."

Huang Zhong sneered, "Unresolved cases, ignored complaints, and you still dare to argue?!"

Jiang Wan did not answer, but immediately went to court and ordered the bailiffs to quickly bring the recent lawsuit.

He picked up his pen and reviewed the cases, resolving them one by one in a short time.

It is well-organized and appropriately prioritizes key points.

The people were all full of admiration, and the sounds of praise from below the hall never ceased.

Upon seeing this, Huang Zhong was secretly alarmed:
"This person is no ordinary talent; there must be a reason for his previous laziness!"

He then temporarily refrained from questioning them and hurriedly returned to report to Zhuge Liang.

Upon hearing the report, Kongming pondered and said:

“Jingzhou is full of extraordinary talents. It seems that this Jiang Gongyan is also a great talent. We must not underestimate him.”

So he personally led a group of people and went to Zhaoyang.

When Jiang Wan heard that Zhuge Liang had arrived in person, he went out of the city to welcome him.

Zhuge Liang observed that he was composed and spoke clearly, so he invited him to tour the outskirts of the county together.

During the journey, Kongming deliberately asked about strategies for governing the country, and Jiang Wan answered fluently and with unique insights.

Zhuge Liang then tested Jiang Wan on matters of money, provisions, and criminal law, and Jiang Wan was able to pinpoint the crux of the matter and point out the advantages and disadvantages.

Kongming clapped his hands and laughed:

"Gongyan is a man of great talent, a pillar of the state, and far more than a man of limited talent."

"It is my fault that I am now relegated to a small county."

Jiang Wan then confessed:

“It is not that Wan dares to neglect his duties, but that he sees the world is not yet settled and that his great talent should be put to good use.”

"The affairs of a mere county are not worth mentioning."

Therefore, he presented himself as lazy and indolent, hoping to be employed by the central government.

Does Jiang Wan's story seem familiar?

Indeed, the story of Pang ruling the county is actually a combination of Jiang Wan's story and his own.

However, after Pang Tong proved his abilities, Liu Bei entrusted him with important responsibilities, making him almost on par with Zhuge Liang.

But Jiang Wan's situation was much worse.

When he was serving as the magistrate of Guangdu County, he almost got killed by Liu Bei because of his incompetence.

As mentioned before, Liu Bei liked to conduct intensive inspections when governing domestic affairs, and he hated lazy officials who did not perform their duties.

Guangdu was right next to Chengdu, which meant it was essentially just sitting around doing nothing right under Liu Bei's nose.

This naturally infuriated Liu Bei.

Fortunately, Zhuge Liang had a keen eye for talent and recommended him to Liu Bei, saying:

"Jiang Wan governs with the people's well-being as the foundation, not with superficial embellishments. I hope Your Majesty will reconsider this matter."

This saved Jiang Wan's life.

However, although he was spared the death penalty, he could not escape punishment and was dismissed from his post by Liu Bei on the spot.

However, Liu Bei was not present in this world, and Zhuge Liang was quite fond of Jiang Wan.

Not only did they not intend to punish Jiang Wan for his laziness in governance, they also decided to entrust him with important responsibilities.

"A great talent was almost buried!"

"I wish to recruit you as the Eastern Cao Yuan (a minor official position) and retain you in my residence as a military advisor."

"What is your opinion, sir?"

This means that Jiang Wan was promoted directly from a county magistrate to the head of the local inspection team by Zhuge Liang.

This was an absolutely meteoric rise, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a stroke of goodwill.

The reason why Zhuge Liang showed such great favor to the newcomers was not only because he wanted to cultivate his own team.

Another reason is that Zhuge Liang genuinely liked Jiang Wan.

Many people have a stereotype that Jiang Wei was the rightful successor to the prime minister.

The saying goes, "To carry on the Prime Minister's legacy and punish the traitor who usurped the Han throne," and this sentiment has deeply resonated with the people.

However, Jiang Wan was the one handpicked by Prime Minister Zhuge Liang as his successor.

His last words to Liu Shan, the last emperor of the Southern Tang dynasty, were: "If I am unfortunate, my affairs should be entrusted to Wan."

In the "Chronicles of Huayang", historians of the Eastern Jin Dynasty referred to Zhuge Liang, Jiang Wan, Fei Yi, and Dong Yun as the "Four Ministers of Shu Han".

However, only Zhuge Liang served as prime minister in Shu Han, and none of his successors ever held the position.

Jiang Wan was no exception; he had the power of a prime minister, but not the position.

It is worth mentioning that the three great talents mentioned above, who are ranked alongside Zhuge Liang, were all trained by Zhuge Liang.

And all three of them are from Jingzhou.

Therefore, people often question whether there were really any factional struggles in Shu Han.

The reason is that a small country cannot withstand so much internal strife, otherwise it would have been destroyed by Cao Wei long ago.

However, factional struggles exist within any political group.

However, Zhuge Liang was very capable; he managed to subdue his subordinates and unite them into a cohesive force.

Force a united front against external threats.

This led people to mistakenly believe that the Shu Han state was very united.

With Zhuge Liang's death, the internal conflicts that had accumulated in Shu Han for many years were immediately intensified.

"There is still one position for outstanding talents in Jingzhou this year, and I intend to give it to Gongyan."

"I don't know what to do?"

Zhuge Liang then remembered that Jingzhou had not yet produced any outstanding talents this year, so he decided to go all the way and give it to Jiang Wan.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Wan was very humble and immediately prostrated himself and kowtowed.

"Having been promoted to the position of Eastern Assistant, how dare I aspire to the rank of Outstanding Talent in this prefecture?"

"Please forgive my lack of talent and knowledge, sir, for I am unfit for this task."

"Liu Yong and Yin Hua of Lingling were both outstanding figures of their time."

“Pang Yan and Liao Hua of Xiangyang were also outstanding figures in the prefecture and county.”

"Please, sir, choose another capable person!"

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan, silently memorizing the names of these people.

He then issued another book, recruiting them all as well.

But right now, Zhuge Liang is determined to support Jiang Wan as his right-hand man.

Seeing his humility and courtesy, he immediately offered gentle advice:

"Why be so modest, Gongyan? The way of election is to select the talented."

"If we abandon virtuous and talented people to avoid suspicion of kinship, wouldn't that disappoint the people?"

"To abandon virtue for one's own family is a calamity for the people."

"The unrest both inside and outside the government is a sign of the officials' confusion."

"You should display your exceptional abilities to demonstrate your impartiality."

Hahaha……

Just then, Huang Zhong burst into laughter and walked out.

As an official who rose through the ranks like a rocket, Huang Zhong has a lot to say on this matter.

He could also clearly sense that when Liu Bei suppressed the Hebei faction in order to promote him, the people of Hebei were full of hostility towards him.

Liu Bei saw this, so he simply sent him back to Jingzhou.

The meaning is clear: to focus on supporting the Jiangnan region to prevent Hebei from becoming too powerful in the future.

In order to achieve a balance of power between the North and the South.

Having recruited Jiang Wan, Zhuge Liang also sent people to recruit the talents he had recommended.

He appointed Liu Yong as his subordinate and Yin Hua as his chief advisor.

Pang Yan was appointed as the Western Cao Yuan (a minor official), and Liao Hua was appointed as the Rear General's Chief Clerk.

By this time, Zhuge Liang had gradually built up his own team in Jingzhou.

This would enable them to counterbalance the local factions in Jingzhou during Liu Jingsheng's era.

Zhuge Liang's power in Jingzhou became increasingly secure, just as the Five Streams Barbarian King Shamoke had received the gold and pearls.

He immediately agreed to raise an army and attack Wuling Jinxuan.

Upon hearing the news, Zhuge Liang immediately coordinated with his troops to launch a two-pronged attack on Jin Xuan, together with Shamoke.

The nine prefectures of Jingxiang are about to be reunified!

……

Let me talk about two things.

Just as Zhuge Liang was striving to complete another great undertaking in Jingzhou, Li Yi was also completing the complete unification of Hebei.

He decisively defeated Sima Yi's main force at Zhanghe, causing Sima Yi to lose Wei Commandery and flee in disarray to Hanoi.

Li Yi left Zhang Liao to guard Wei Commandery and personally led a large army to continue pursuing Sima Yi.

Hanoi is the birthplace of Sima Yi and the place where the Sima clan rose to power.

When Sima Ang followed Xiang Yu to destroy the Qin Dynasty, he was enfeoffed as the King of Yin and established his capital in Henan.

During the Han Dynasty, it was renamed Henan Commandery, and the Sima family lived there for generations.

So you can imagine how influential the Sima family was in Hanoi, having been there for four hundred years.

The top-tier aristocratic families at the end of the Han Dynasty were the Yuan family of Runan and the Yang family of Hongnong.

Both families have produced four generations of high-ranking officials.
Yuan Shikai had disciples and former officials all over the country, and his political prestige was unparalleled.

The Yang family, on the other hand, was a family of scholars of classical studies and imperial tutors, possessing extraordinary cultural influence.

The Sima family of Hanoi, though not as powerful as the Yuan or Yang families, was still a formidable force.

However, as a powerful clan that rose to prominence through military achievements, they possessed formidable military strength in the region.

Every powerful family has its own armed group.

The Sima clan of Hanoi was particularly prominent in this regard, as their private armed forces in Hanoi were quite powerful.

This was also due to the system of Cao Wei.

Because Cao Cao had a rather lax control over his private army.

For Cao Cao, the principle he always followed was that if he controlled their leader, then their underlings would naturally be his people.

Thanks to this preferential treatment, the Sima clan's armed forces were able to remain in Hanoi.

To some extent, private armed forces can sometimes be more powerful than regular armies.

After all, what they are trying to protect is the interests of their own family.

Sima Yi fled to Hanoi with this idea in mind.

After arriving in Wen County, the clan was managed by the fourth brother, Sima Kui, and the youngest brother, Sima Min.

The eight brothers were known as the Sima Eight Talents. The remaining five brothers had been taken away by Cao Cao to prevent the Sima clan from rebelling.

Sima Yi told his two younger brothers about his defeat and the loss of Wei Commandery.

Sima Kui and Sima Min were both shocked upon hearing this.

Sima Kui immediately advised:

"Cao Cao relocated the money and grain from Guanzhong and moved the people from Heluo, thus abandoning our clan."

"To make us serve as a bulwark for Hebei is nothing but a waste of our clan's resources!"

"It would be better to surrender Hanoi to Liu Bei, so as to avoid sending our clansmen to their deaths in vain."

The younger brother, Sima Min, immediately retorted:

“My elder brother Boda is still a hostage in Luoyang, while my five brothers and I all serve Cao Wei.”

"If we surrender to Qi, given Cao Cao's nature, he will surely harm my brother."

"Our only option now is to hold out to the death!"

The Sima family was very united, and their principle for prosperity was to have a large population.

Because with more people, there are more people who can become officials.

The more opportunities one has to choose sides, the more political resources one can gain.

Historically,
Sima Fang, the clan chief, served as the magistrate of Luoyang and the governor of Jingzhao. He was an absolute royalist and a supporter of Emperor Xian.

His elder brother, Sima Lang, was highly valued by Cao Cao and was directly appointed as the governor of Yanzhou and the chief clerk of the prime minister.

The second son, Sima Yi, needs no introduction; he was a member of the faction of the heir apparent, Cao Pi.

And what about the third son, Sima Fu?

He was recruited by Cao Zhi as a literary aide.

Looking at this list of officials, it's easy to see how shrewd the Sima family members were.

If the Han Dynasty recovers, they will be the heroes who helped the Han Dynasty.

If Cao Wei successfully replaced Han, they would have been credited with supporting the emperor.

The Sima family has bet on both Cao Pi and Cao Zhi, the two people most likely to inherit the Cao Wei regime.

Later, when Cao Zhi's power waned, Sima Fu was promoted to the position of Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, assisting Cao Pi.

Because Cao Pi was a petty and vindictive person.

The Sima family was truly unwilling to suffer even the slightest loss.

Such a shrewd family naturally had heated debates within their ranks.

Should we shield Cao Wei from harm, sending our clansmen to the battlefield only to lose their lives in vain?

Sima Yi's words struck the two brothers like a thunderbolt.

"My two virtuous brothers, let us not quarrel any longer!"

“In the past, I had a falling out with Li Yi, and he was vengeful. Now he is threatening to ‘wipe out my entire Sima clan.’”

"Given the dire situation, we have no choice but to fight to the death."

"Only by serving Cao Cao with utmost sincerity can we preserve our ancestral temple."

Sima Kui and Sima Min looked at each other, completely stunned.

The two brothers looked at Sima Yi with meaningful glances.

It was as if it were saying, "Second brother, look what you've done."

They had long heard that Li Yi was a benevolent and virtuous prime minister, and that the Qi army's discipline was far better than that of the armies of other feudal lords.

What rumors did you spread about him that made him so angry that he wanted to slaughter our entire Sima clan?

"...This! The Qi army is fierce and powerful, and Li Yi is well-versed in military books and has a deep understanding of military strategy."

"With no reinforcements from outside and no more money or provisions inside, I fear we will find it difficult to resist a powerful enemy."

Sima Kui said with great concern.

"Why should we be afraid of him!"

Sima Minchi was the youngest, and was full of youthful vigor.

Born into a wealthy family, he was born with a sense of pride, and his inherent arrogance made him look down on Li Yi.

This disdain is mutual.

He first learned that Li Yi had threatened to exterminate the entire Sima clan, which aroused his resentment and made him want to be his enemy.

“…Amin, don’t be impulsive.”

Sima Kui was much older than him, and at this moment he maintained the composure of an adult.

"Now that my eldest brother is gone, let's listen to my second brother's advice."

After speaking, he turned his gaze to Sima Yi.

Sima Yi was thirty years old at the time. He was the kind of person who became more cunning with age, and his scheming became deeper and deeper in his later years. He was extremely good at hiding his true intentions.

Although he still has some of the bad habits of youthful impetuosity, he is already much better than his peers.

The rapid loss of Wei Commandery, in particular, left him feeling extremely frustrated, prompting him to reflect on his actions.

Knowing that Li Yi is a formidable enemy, we cannot afford to be careless in the slightest.

When his two younger brothers sought his advice, Sima Yi immediately offered a lengthy and detailed plan:
"He who gains the world must first win the hearts of the people."

There are two ways to win people's hearts: one is to win them over with real benefits, and the other is to intimidate them with empty rhetoric.

"Now that Li Yi has declared his intention to slaughter my entire Sima clan, why not take advantage of the situation and spread rumors that he intends to massacre all the people of Hanoi?"

“In this way, the people will be terrified and will surely unite with me to resist Qi.”

Even at a young age, Sima Yi already understood the art of winning people's hearts.

However, in his view, there are two ways to control people's hearts.

One approach is like Liu Bei, who gradually won over the enemy through concrete actions.

Another approach is to manipulate public opinion to induce it to work for one's own purposes.

The two younger brothers listened attentively, nodding as they listened, deeply admiring their older brother's words.

Sima Yi continued speaking:
“At that time, the people’s hearts will be won over, and I can take advantage of the city’s defense to move all the rich and powerful men of Hanoi into Guanzhong.”

"Having loyal soldiers guard the borders and ensuring the safety of the clans within the borders is the best possible strategy."

good!
Great kindness!

Sima Kui and Sima Min both praised Sima Yi's strategy, expressing their admiration.

"There is no time to lose; the plan should be implemented swiftly."

"Don't let Li Yi react!"

This strategy aims to create a time gap, taking advantage of the situation before the people of Hanoi can react.

The goal was to have the Sima family take as many valuable items as possible to Guanzhong.

Therefore, the Sima family devised a plan.

He sent people to spread rumors in Hanoi, claiming that wherever Li Yi's army went, they would slaughter all the people of Hanoi, leaving no chickens or dogs alive.

The Sima clan of Hanoi was a powerful local family that had been in business for generations. Their disciples and former officials were scattered throughout the countryside, and the people had always trusted them. In addition, when the Qi army raised its army earlier, there were indeed rumors that the Qi army intended to slaughter the entire Sima clan.

Due to inconvenient transportation and information asymmetry.

Rumors spread like wildfire, and people were filled with anxiety.

"I heard that Sima Zhongda offended Li Yi, and Li Yi was furious. After the city was breached, all the men were to be buried alive, and the women were to be forced into prostitution!"

"Wherever the Qi army goes, they will not even spare a three-year-old child!"

The people were terrified when they heard this.

People from all districts and villages in Hanoi spontaneously gathered, and able-bodied young men picked up hoes and sickles to join the government army.

Women, children, the elderly, and the weak worked day and night to move logs and stones for the Wei soldiers, and to boil water and cook meals.

Inside and outside the city, the soldiers and civilians were of one mind, vowing to resist the Qi army to the death.

Wei Yan led his vanguard to the walls of Hanoi, expecting to sweep through the city with ease. However, they were ambushed as soon as they reached the outskirts of the city.

The villagers hid in the mountains and forests, and arrows rained down on the Qi army, catching them off guard and causing them to lose hundreds of men.

Wei Yan was furious and led his troops in a fierce attack, only to find the defending troops on the city wall fighting with high morale.

The rolling logs and boulders poured down, causing heavy casualties to the Qi army, forcing them to retreat temporarily.

After Wei Yan returned to camp, he discussed the matter with Zhang He:

"The resistance from the people of Hanoi is far more intense than that of Wei Commandery; there must be something fishy going on!"

Zhang He pondered for a moment, then said:

“What Wenchang said is absolutely right. I will send someone to investigate further.”

He then sent spies to infiltrate Hanoi and secretly investigate.

Two days later, the informant reported back:

"The Sima clan spread rumors that our army intended to slaughter all the people of Hanoi, which aroused the people's anger and made them vow to defend the city to the death."

Upon hearing this, Zhang He sneered:

"This cunning scoundrel Sima is indeed treacherous, using rumors to bewitch people!"

He immediately wrote a letter and sent it by fast horse to Li Yi, the commander-in-chief in the rear.

Li Yi received Zhang He's letter, read it, and then stroked his beard and laughed, saying:
"The art of manipulating people's hearts is something I have rejected!"

"How dare Sima Ruzi show off his skills in front of Ban Gu? He's just a greenhorn, not worth mentioning!"

So he ordered someone to bring paper and pen, and immediately wrote a notice in his own hand.

He ordered all military camps to copy the document, and then instructed them to use whatever means necessary.

We must make sure to spread this message throughout Hanoi.

Upon receiving the order, the soldiers of each battalion used their unique skills to send the proclamation to Hanoi.

The people of Hanoi who were the first to see the proclamation gathered to read it, which read in brief:

—"Li Yi, Marquis of Tan of Han, Chancellor of Qi, and Military Governor of Hebei, issued a proclamation to the people of Henan:"

It is said that "the punishment does not extend to high-ranking officials, and the crime does not extend to their servants."

"Now, Yi is ordered by the king to punish the rebels. Only the Sima clan will be executed, and his servants and retainers will not be punished."

“This is not a personal grudge of Yi, but rather the result of three crimes committed by the Sima family that warrant execution.”

"One crime is to slander a minister."

“Xi Yi fabricated rumors and framed Yi, falsely accusing him of corruption and dereliction of duty, and of using his military power to consolidate his own power.”

"Yi was entrusted with the task by the King of Qi. He worked diligently day and night, and all the inflows and outflows of the treasury were recorded in books."

"Such slander is nothing short of judging a gentleman by the standards of a petty person."

"The two crimes are aiding and abetting the tyrant."

"Cao Cao usurped the throne and slaughtered loyal officials, harboring ambitions to seize power from the start."

"But the Sima family willingly became their lackeys."

"The current Duke Xuande is a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan and the legitimate successor of the Han Dynasty."

"Are you willing to be henchmen of the Han traitors? Are you not recognizing the enemy as your father?"

"The three sins are to disturb people's minds and to reverse cause and effect."

"To protect his own clan, Yi spread rumors that Yi intended to massacre Hanoi."

"I ask you: Since Yiping pacified Hebei, has he ever unjustly killed a single person?"

"Among the people of Wei Commandery who have submitted, has anyone lacked even a single grain of millet?"

After listing the crimes of the Sima clan, Li Yi began to use his traditional skill—offering a reward.

As the saying goes, "A great reward will surely bring forth brave men," and Li Yi wrote:

"I hereby inform you all:"

"Whoever brings the head of the Sima family to be presented will be rewarded with a thousand gold pieces and granted land and a house."

Those who shut themselves away will not be punished for their past actions.

"Those who remain obstinate will be punished the same as the Sima clan when the city falls, and shall be executed according to the law."

"When Emperor Guangwu restored the dynasty, many of the generals at Yuntai were former soldiers who had surrendered."

"Although I am not talented, I am willing to follow the example of King Xiao."

"Upon receiving this proclamation, we urge you to reconsider your actions!"

This proclamation directly states its main point, clearly stating that only the Sima clan will be punished.

They even said they wouldn't punish the servants of the Sima clan, advising them not to aid and abet the wicked.

The announcement caused unease among the people of Hanoi.

Whether they believed or doubted, their resolve to uphold their principles had already weakened.

Taking advantage of the situation, the Qi army captured three cities in succession, and their advance was directly at the Sima family's residence.

Sima Yi climbed the city wall to observe the enemy. Seeing the well-organized formation of the Qi army, he sighed:

"Li Yi's response was so swift, he is truly my match!"

The brilliance of Sima Yi's plan lies in exploiting the time difference to buy as much time as possible for the transfer of family assets.

But with Li Yi reacting so quickly, there was nothing that could be done.

He then urgently summoned Sima Kui and Sima Min to discuss the matter, saying:

"The situation is already perilous; we only need to fight for a few more days."

"We must quickly move the precious books and scriptures to Guanzhong to preserve the foundation of our clan."

It was impossible for the Sima family to preserve their wealth in Hanoi, which had been held for four hundred years.

This time, the only option is to cut losses and save the most valuable assets first.

Sima Kui bowed deeply and said:

"Since the eldest brother is not here, the elder brother shall be the head of the family. He should lead a light cavalry to the pass first."

The implication was that Sima Yi should take the most valuable valuables and books and leave first.

Just as Sima Yi was about to speak, Sima Kui explained:
"The only person Li Yi hates is his brother Zhongda!"

"His talk of massacring the entire clan is nothing but empty threats."

"Given Liu Bei's reputation for benevolence and kindness, and the fact that the Qi army never slaughtered the innocent during their campaigns, how dare we defy the world and exterminate our entire clan?"

"This must be a technique to sow discord!"

Sima Kui believed that Li Yi's claim of exterminating the entire Sima clan was merely political propaganda to coerce his family into submission.

Judging from the Qi army's past experience, they should not do such a heinous thing.

Moreover, given the influence of the Sima family, if they were truly slaughtered, it would certainly cause all the powerful clans in the land to feel insecure.

For the State of Qi, this was tantamount to digging its own grave.

Therefore, Sima Kui suggested:
“Brother Zhongda, you should quickly take gold and silk and go west to Guanzhong. We brothers will lead our clansmen to hide in Dapi.”

"Once you arrive safely in Luoyang, we will send an envoy to mediate and gradually reunite you, so that our family line can be preserved."

Sima Kui believed that they and Sima Yi could completely split into two groups.

Sima Yi took the most valuable items and left first.

The other group consisted of their people, who took all the remaining wealth into the mountains.

After Sima Yi safely arrives in Luoyang, he will negotiate with Li Yi to rescue them.

In fact, if the Sima clan had been ruthless enough, they could have protected their clan members while taking away some of their wealth.

But this also means that the remaining assets will all be left to the people of Hebei.

This was something Sima Kui absolutely could not accept.

This isn't just wasting money; it's betraying one's master and ancestors!
Sima Kui was willing to take a gamble, betting that Li Yi would not dare to massacre the entire clan.

I dare not risk the wrath of the world, or violate Liu Bei's principle of governing the world with benevolence and righteousness, by committing such a brutal act.

Upon hearing this, Sima Yi took his two younger brothers' hands and wept, saying:
How could I bear to live alone?

Although Sima Yi didn't believe Li Yi would act so impulsively, he was willing to accept the plan.

This meant that he was going to abandon all the members of the Sima clan in Hanoi.

But if something goes wrong, only his older brother and a few younger brothers will be left in the family.

Sima Kui said solemnly:
"In the past, Fan Li preserved the Yue state but parted ways; now, only your wisdom allows the Sima clan to survive!"

"I hope you will make your move soon, and do not let emotions weigh you down."

Sima Yi bid farewell with tears in his eyes. That very night, he took his family's classic texts and ten cartloads of valuables, escorted by bodyguards, and headed for Luoyang.

Sima Kui and Sima Min then gathered all their family's wealth and more than 5,000 members of their clan and fled into the Da Pi Mountain overnight.

Among these five thousand clans, many were not members of the Sima clan, but rather their servants.

The most prominent characteristic of these household servants bound to powerful families at the end of the Han Dynasty was their loyalty.

Basically, they follow the family wherever they go.

Because people of low social status like them have no way to survive independently once they leave their families.

From the moment of their birth, they were destined to be slaves, to dedicate themselves to the families they belonged to.

In addition, there were three thousand elderly, weak, women and children.

Most of these people were the family members of the five thousand strong young men.

The Sima clan was very clever; by bringing them along, they ensured the loyalty of their subordinates.

With their strong family background, the Sima clan not only armed all five thousand able-bodied members.

Then they stockpiled another 500,000 bushels of grain, enough to feed their people for 400 days!
In other words, as long as they can hold onto Mount Dapi.

Then they can fight the Qi army until the end of time!
Sima Kui had this confidence because his family had built a fortress on Mount Dapi twenty years ago.

This mountain, resembling a crouching dragon, controls a vital passage on the Qi River, making it inherently easy to defend and difficult to attack.

With its fortified fortresses, even a million-strong army would be no threat.

Because of the treacherous mountain terrain, even if you have a million people, only a few hundred can pass through at a time.

In EU4 terms, the battle range is insufficient, preventing it from being fully deployed.

Sima Kui made meticulous arrangements, ordering Sima Min to lead archers to guard the mountain ridge, where arrow slits were densely packed like a forest.

With such tight defenses, they had no fear of an attack from the Qi army.

As the Sima family members either fled or went into hiding, the people of Hanoi finally realized what was happening.

They were deceived by the Sima family!
Therefore, they refused to act as accomplices to the tyrant and wholeheartedly welcomed the Qi army.

Wherever he went, he was greeted with food and drink, and everyone was delighted.

Li Yi led his army and quickly entered Hanoi, then sent men to investigate the whereabouts of the Sima clan.

The report said that Sima Yi had taken the Golden Jade Book and fled to Luoyang first.

As for the Sima clan, they all hid in the Dapi Mountains.

His generals all volunteered to pursue Sima Yi.

They believed that Li Yi had a grudge against Sima Yi and was definitely targeting Sima Yi.

But Li Yi gave the order:
"Wei Yan and Chen Dao, listen to my command!"

"You two will lead ten thousand soldiers to attack Mount Dapi immediately! Do not let a single member of the Sima clan escape."

"The rest of the people are to take over the counties of Hanoi and pacify the military and civilians."

Everyone was greatly surprised when they heard this order.

Why does it seem like Li Yi isn't very interested in Sima Yi, but rather very interested in his family?
Why is this?

Li Yi explained it this way:
"Sima Yi fled to Luoyang on light cavalry, and could not catch up with him."

"And how can a mere boy be compared to the important city of Hanoi?"

"Although Yi has a personal grudge against Yi, the overall situation in Hebei is of paramount importance. How can personal matters override public duty?"

"Now that Hanoi has fallen, Hebei will be entirely under the rule of the king."

“The Sima clan fled into the mountains and forests, thinking they had succeeded in their plan.”

"Little did they know that if I wiped out their nest, I could punish their entire clan."

"This further burdens Yi with the infamy of 'abandoning his family in a dangerous place,' a punishment from Heaven!"

"Moreover, the gold and silk accumulated over generations were all hidden deep in the mountains."

"How can one abandon a huge sum of money to chase away a useless, stray dog?!"

Li Yi explained it very clearly.

Sima Yi is no match for Hanoi.

Once the Hanoi Commandery is absorbed, the land north of the Yellow River will be entirely under the control of the State of Qi.

Moreover, the Sima clan was not able to escape either; their wealth was piled up in the mountains.

This is a fortune he has accumulated over four hundred years; how could he possibly abandon it to pursue Sima Yi?

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately became excited.

They were all eager to fight.

Once the order was given, officials at all levels got to work.

Li Yi first ordered the collection of books and records from Hanoi, and then devoted himself to reforming the internal affairs and consolidating the land.

Xu Huang and Zhang He, along with their respective troops, were tasked with suppressing the rebellion.

Eliminate the stubborn forces still resisting in Hanoi.

Wei Yan and Chen Dao were given the most arduous task: to attack Mount Dapi!
The tribe soldiers in the mountains were all elites of the Sima clan, well-equipped and with a tenacious spirit of resistance.

Most importantly, they defended their position by the mountains, making it difficult for the Qi army to make full use of its numerical advantage!

After the two arrived at the foot of the mountain, they left the camp and observed the terrain.

But the mountain was steep, the forest deep and the road narrow, and the Sima clan built fortifications on the dangerous terrain.

With towering walls and numerous arrow towers, it was truly a place that was easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Wei Yan reined in his horse to observe, and sneered:

"That scoundrel Sima certainly knows how to pick a spot!"

Chen Dao pondered for a moment and said:
"Wenchang, this mountain has a treacherous terrain; a direct assault would likely result in too many casualties."

Wei Yan nodded and said:
"What Uncle Zhi said is absolutely right. The Prime Minister has ordered that winning hearts and minds is the best approach."

He then ordered his soldiers to cut down trees and build camps to completely surround the fortress, and sent archers to guard key roads to cut off its food and water supply.

The following day, Wei Yan ordered his soldiers, who had loud voices, to take turns shouting into the fortress each day:
"Listen up, soldiers and civilians inside the fortress!"

"The Prime Minister has ordered: Only Sima Benzong will be executed; the rest will be spared!"

“If you are all surnamed Sima, quickly bind yourselves and surrender.”

"If they weren't members of the Sima clan, why would they have to be buried alive with them?"

"Anyone who presents the head of a member of the Sima clan will be rewarded with a hundred gold pieces and granted land and a house!"

For several days in a row, the shouts continued.

The atmosphere within the fortress was unsettled, with many servants and tenants secretly discussing the matter.
"We are not of Sima blood, why should we die for him?"

Upon hearing the news, Sima Min was furious. He personally beheaded two servants who tried to escape, displayed their heads as a warning, and sternly declared:
"Anyone who tries to sow discord among the troops will be executed without mercy!"

However, the soldiers all looked fearful and dared not bring up the matter again.

Seeing that their psychological warfare strategy was unlikely to be fully effective, Wei Yan and Chen Dao gathered in their tent to discuss the matter.

Both men believed that it was impossible to take Dapi Mountain quickly, and that they could only fight a protracted war as originally planned.

To this end, the two men unleashed Qi's ultimate weapon—the trebuchet, also known as a counterweight catapult.

Although this catapult was extremely powerful, it had many limitations.

It is generally only used when attacking a large city and cannot be captured quickly.

Chen Dao said to Wei Yan:

"This was made by the Prime Minister; a single shot can destroy a city wall."

"However, it requires thirty feet of flat land, but the mountainous terrain is narrow, only enough for five platforms."

Five platforms are enough!

Wei Yan said excitedly.

Once the agreement was reached, it was dawn the next day.

The Qi army carved out a platform on the mountainside and erected five enormous objects.

But we see:

Iron arms stretch across the sky like dragons, with massive counterweights suspended in mid-air.

The winch whirred, the wind howled, and the gun barrels swung, their gunfire intensifying.

Wei Yan, shirtless, personally led the charge, holding a red flag and issuing the order:
"put!"

With a deafening roar, five millstone-sized stones hurtled through the air.

They smashed a gap of over ten feet in the east wall of the fortress, sending bricks and stones flying, leaving the defenders covered in blood and gore.

Sima Min was inspecting the west wall when he heard the noise and was greatly alarmed. He immediately led his soldiers to risk their lives to repair it.

He personally carried the timber and stones, shouting:

"How can the Sima family's four-hundred-year-old legacy be destroyed today!"

The clansmen were inspired, and women and children alike carried soil to fill in the wall.

From then on, every day at Chenshi (7-9 AM), Wei Yan would order the cannons to fire three rounds.

Sima Min then led his men to repair the cannons during a lull in the fighting.
Fang Jingcheng's strange tacit understanding:
At the hour of Si (9-11 AM), the Qi army fired cannons, causing the earth to shake violently.

At noon, Sima was repairing the wall, sweating profusely.

At the hour of Wei (1-3 PM), the Qi army searched the mountains for stones, while the Sima clan reinforced their fortifications.

It is:

The cannonballs cleaved the empty city, threatening to destroy it; blood soaked the ruins, a sorrowful scene in the twilight.

A young child carries soil to fill the remains, while an old man holds a stick to guard the ancestral hall.

Nine layers of thunder roar in the wrath of heaven, and a loyal lineage faces peril.

I ask the Sima family in the mountains, for whom do so many wronged souls fly?
The cruelty of war was fully demonstrated at this moment.

At this stage, neither side has it easy.

The Qi army used artillery to bombard Mount Dapi for more than 20 days. At first, the Sima people were able to grit their teeth and hold on.

Sima Min personally patrolled the city walls every day, repairing any collapsed walls and digging any level moats.

They even ordered boys to deliver food and drink, and old women to sew leather armor, thus protecting a desolate mountain as if it were an iron fortress.

However, human strength has its limits.

In the dead of night,

Taking advantage of the soldiers' fatigue, more than ten elderly and weak men lowered themselves down the rope in an attempt to escape down the mountain and surrender to the Qi army.

……

(End of this chapter)