Jinting Han people

Chapter 224: Autumn in Jingu Garden (4k)

It was already late September, and as Liu Xian had said, the Luoyang court was still in chaos.

At the beginning of Qi Wannian's rebellion, the imperial court paid little attention, believing him to be just another Hao San. Military reports submitted from Guanzhong even indicated that Qi Wannian's troops were far less numerous than Hao San's, and that he had merely taken advantage of a surprise attack.

Therefore, the Secretariat did not punish Ouyang Jian who escaped from Fengyi, but only ordered Sun Xiu not to repeat the mistakes of the last rebellion and to quell the situation as soon as possible.

The result was unexpected. Before the Shangshu Province's order was issued, reports of the fall of counties in Guanzhong trickled into Luoyang like snowflakes. Qi Wannian had practically swept through half of Guanzhong, yet Sun Xiu had failed to engage in a decisive battle. The imperial court, enraged by the report, finally agreed to Lie Xi's request and dismissed Sun Xiu from his command of the Western Expedition Army.

They had thought the situation in Guanzhong would improve, but over the next two months, the situation took a sharp turn for the worse. No one had expected that in just two battles, the Western Expedition Corps would lose more than half its troops, a military miracle that even Zhuge Liang had failed to achieve.

The defeat of the Guanzhong Army led to the defeat of the Hou Party in the court.

For five full years, since the suicide of Sima Wei, King of Chu, the Hou Clan had controlled government. While the political situation remained generally stable, the oppressive pressure in Luoyang was suffocating. Almost everyone was striving to curry favor with Duke Lu and the Hou Clan, displaying all sorts of unsavory behavior, yet few could profit from this. Those who offended the Hou Clan were subject to ostracism and oppression at best, and imprisonment and exile at worst. Everyone dared to be angry but dared not speak out. It could be said that public discontent had accumulated to a profound depth.

Now that there is such a legitimate opportunity, the opposition led by the royal family will naturally not let it go.

Sima Jue, the King of Qi, was the first to speak at the court meeting:
"Prince Zhao failed in his duty, Sun Xiu was incompetent, and they missed the opportunity to fight. This led to the complete loss of public confidence in Guanzhong and the rise of Qi. To demonstrate the court's resolve, we must immediately recall these two men and bring them to justice. This will be heard by the entire nation!"

"As for the situation in Guanzhong, it is now as precarious as an egg. We must urgently mobilize troops to the west to support the enemy! We must immediately mobilize troops from Luoyang, dispatch a wise king, send out capable generals, set fire to Chang'an, and fight bravely! If Guanzhong is no longer under the control of the nation, then the destiny of heaven will be overturned, and the country will be in great danger!"

Sima Jiong was the son of Sima You, King Xian of Qi. If Emperor Wu of Jin had chosen to pass the throne to King Qi, Sima Jiong would have been the current emperor. Therefore, Sima Jiong held an exceptional position among the royal family, and his words immediately evoked a response.

His attendant Zu Ti said, "Of all the princes at court, only the Prince of Qi is strict and prudent. He expounds great plans, has far-sighted insights, and is able to respond to emergencies with divine intervention. He has the style of Emperor Wen. If we were to choose a prince from the royal family to lead the army, who else could it be but the Prince of Qi?"

His intention was obvious: he wanted to take advantage of this war to help the King of Qi seize power over the Western Expedition Army.

Of course, the same thing happened to officials of other princes, such as the Prince of Huainan and the Prince of Chengdu. They understood this was a golden opportunity to help their lords rise to power, and they seized the opportunity to recommend their own lords to the court. Ultimately, they couldn't help but attack each other. While maintaining a harmonious relationship on the surface, they secretly squeezed out the other princes. As a result, apart from the consensus on the dismissal of Sima Lun, Prince of Zhao, Sun Xiu, and Jie Xi, the rest of the agenda made no progress at all.

What no one expected was that Duke Lu Jia Mi, who was at the center of the vortex, was currently enjoying himself in the Jingu Garden, as if the heated discussions in the court were worthless to him.

While Jingu Garden is renowned for its stunning spring scenery, autumn also offers a unique charm. On the hill behind the garden, not only are there groves of maples, tallow trees, and sycamores, but there's also a grove of ginkgo trees transplanted from southern China. During this leaf-falling season, the mountain blends red and yellow, as if sunlight is frozen on the treetops. The ground is strewn with fallen leaves of all shapes and sizes, and the autumn breeze rustles over them, creating a poetic atmosphere.

Zhang Hua picked up a ginkgo leaf and said to Jia Mi with emotion: "Life is like a fallen leaf. When the autumn wind blows, you don't know when it will wither and fall to the ground."

Jia Mi stood in front of him with his hands behind his back, glanced back at Zhang Hua, and said with a smile, "Mr. Zhang, are you saying that I am also a fallen leaf?"

"How dare I... I'm like a fallen leaf, about to rot and be buried in the earth."

Shi Chong laughed and said, "Mr. Mao is the pillar of the country. The entire country rests on his shoulders. How could he rot and turn to dust?"

"Hey, Ji Lun, you're joking. Even the greatest men can't resist the passage of time, let alone an old man like me."

Zhang Hua shook his head and sighed, threw away the fallen leaves in his hand, followed Jia Mi's footsteps and continued to climb the mountain path, and continued:
"Besides, the decay of the older generation is the reason for the growth of the new generation. The responsibility of the country always lies with the young people."

Jia Mi's face wasn't looking good. Five years had made his edges more pronounced, and his originally strong feminine temperament had faded somewhat. However, the long period of holding power had made his spirit more flamboyant, and his beautiful face blossomed like a spring flower, making him look even more beautiful. At this moment, he frowned slightly, as if willow catkins were brushing against his face, making him impatient.
"But it's the same with troubles. Once the old troubles are cut off, new troubles will grow back not long after. It's really disgusting."

Although he didn't say it explicitly, both Zhang Hua and Shi Chong knew that Jia Mi was referring to the young royal family members currently causing a stir in the court. The court disputes had been upsetting him lately, so he had come here to unwind.

But it seems that the autumn scenery of Jingu Garden is not enough to make him feel relaxed and happy.

The three of them were silent for a moment. When Jia Mi reached the top of the hill behind and saw the courtyard of the Golden Valley Garden below, he leaned against a sycamore tree and said,
"Mr. Zhang, is there any way to get rid of these clan members?"

The answer was silence. Clearly, Zhang Hua couldn't devise any way to eliminate the current imperial clan. While the Western Jin dynasty's imperial clan still faced significant constraints, they were undoubtedly powerful. There were no fewer than a hundred princes and nobles combined. If one was targeted without a valid reason, the rest would protest. This was undoubtedly a formidable force capable of subverting the imperial court.

After saying this, Jia Mi realized that he had spoken nonsense. He immediately pretended that he had not said this, plucked a sycamore leaf from the branch, and asked again:

"Hey, Mr. Zhang, who do you think is the most suitable candidate for the prince to be sent this time?"

This time, Zhang Hua spoke up, lowering his brows and answering, "Of course, Prince Liang is the most suitable."

"That old fool? Can he really lead troops in battle?"

"The state doesn't count on the vassal princes to lead their troops to victory. The reason they want the princes to be in charge is simply to ensure the court's influence over the military garrisons. From this perspective, Prince Liang has a huge advantage."

Speaking of Sima Rong, Jia Mi's impression of him was that of a skinny old man, as thin as a bamboo pole, and he had no other feelings about him: "Very big, how big is it?"

"His Royal Highness Prince Liang previously held considerable experience in the military garrison and was familiar with many of the generals. While he had never actually fought in battle, he had at least managed some military affairs. This allowed him to maintain unity among the generals while also understanding the decisions of the troops below, preventing them from escaping the court's control. Furthermore, he was of a very high generation, being the eighth son of Emperor Xuan, so the royal family could not object. Most importantly, he had no ambition."

"No ambition?"

"Yes, His Royal Highness Prince Liang is already sixty-six years old this year. He is very old and has only a few years left to live. Moreover, he has no children. If he is sent to Guanzhong, no matter what merits he has achieved in suppressing the rebellion, they will not be passed on to the next generation. Therefore, even if the court gives him some power, it will be taken back in a few years. This is the best choice for you and Her Royal Highness the Queen."

"I see."

Jia Mi thought for a moment and said to Zhang Hua, "Then choose him."

As soon as he finished speaking, Shi Chong bent down and handed Jia Mi a tangerine, smiling and saying, "By the way, Duke Lu, how are the selection of soldiers and generals for this expedition going?" Jia Mi glanced at him, took the tangerine, and replied as he peeled it, "With the chaos in Guanzhong this time, I can't just do whatever I want. The selection of generals has been decided, so don't even think about making money."

Seeing Shi Chong's disappointed look, Jia Mi peeled off a slice of tangerine flesh, swallowed it, and comforted him in a rare gesture: "Sun Xiu has been making a lot of money in recent years. The people are all poor. You didn't have much to exploit in the past."

"Those sent there now are all doing the hard work. The General of Anxi is Xiahou Jun, and under him are Zhou Chu, Suo Jing, Fu Zhi, Wang Quan, and now Lu Bo, as well as some smaller players. You can't stay here."

Shi Chong, whose thoughts were exposed, was not embarrassed at all. He just smiled flatteringly: "So that's how it is."

As a smart man, Shi Chong immediately understood the profound meaning of these personnel arrangements.

Xiahou Jun was the grandson of Xiahou Yuan, a renowned general of the Cao Wei dynasty. His family, through marriage to various princes, including the Prince of Runan and the Prince of Langya, was considered a foreign relative, though not a prominent one. Due to his age and lack of influence, his appointment as General of Anxi effectively served as Sima Rong's lieutenant, a puppet, and a tool used by the Hou Clan to prevent the expansion of the imperial clan's influence.

Zhou Chu had previously served as the prefect of Xinping. He was familiar with the situation in Guanzhong and had conquered many Qiang and Hu people. There was always a strong call in the court for him to lead troops to suppress the bandits.

Suo Jing was a person who was valued by Emperor Wu of Jin, Sima Yan, in his early years and was appointed as the commander of the imperial son-in-law. He later served as the prefect of Yanmen and Jiuquan, and was good at handling conflicts between Qiang and Hu.

Fu Zhi himself was from Niyang, Beidi County, Guanzhong. He was a duke, well-known in Guanzhong, and had rich experience. It was very appropriate for him to be responsible for winning over the people's hearts and stabilizing the military morale.

Wang Quan was a famous honest official in Yangzhou, and his performance evaluation ranked first in the whole prefecture. So letting him join the Western Expedition Army would not be considered a waste of talent.

Lu Bo was the former Chief Clerk of the Prince of Liang and had previously served as a Secretary in the Secretariat. He had good connections with the Empress Dowager's party and possessed considerable talent. Since the Prince of Liang had been confirmed as the Commander-in-Chief, Lu Bo was bound to be given important positions.

These selections all reflect Jia Mi's subtle attitude towards the suppression of the rebellion.

The two commanders, Sima Rong and Xiahou Jun, were not particularly ambitious, and Lu Bo served as a bridge between the commanders and the court. Zhou Chu, Fu Zhi, and Wang Quan were all talented, but they were all upright and difficult to get along with. Neither partisans of the Empress's Party nor any other faction, they were considered marginal figures in the court.

If we look at each individual selection, each one makes sense. But overall, this lineup was completely improvised. Most of the generals don't know each other, and their military experience is low. Even internal unity is difficult to maintain. It can be said that the decision makers are full of luck.

The hope was to not only pacify Qi Wannian, but also curb the expansion of influence of other royal families, and incidentally, to send some troublemakers in the court to their deaths.

But would it really work? Shi Chong couldn't help but harbor doubts. He knew Zhou Chu had repeatedly accused the King of Liang of corruption. Could the two of them truly maintain peace if they were to fight together?
But it is just as Jia Mi said, with these people around, he should not participate in suppressing the rebellion this time, and he should find another way.

After a moment's silence, Zhang Hua suddenly stepped forward and said, "Duke Lu, in my opinion, it would be most appropriate to employ Meng Guan. Based on the military reports, Qi Wannian is no mediocre talent. Among the men you employ, I'm afraid Zhou Chu is no match. Only a military prodigy like Meng Guan can guarantee an 80% to 90% chance of victory..."

"Oh?"

Jia Mi had finished eating the oranges and threw the peels down the mountain, saying casually:
"I don't understand what Mr. Zhang is talking about. I only know that Meng Guan is already the Duke of Shanggu. If he wins the battle, what will we reward him with? And what will the army think of him?"

"Besides, he's a member of the King of Chu's faction. If he quells the rebellion, can Lord Zhang guarantee that he won't be the next Zhong Hui to rebel?"

This was a heart-piercing remark. Zhang Hua remained silent for a moment, then bowed his hands, giving up the suggestion.

In this way, while the ministers in the court were still arguing, Jia Mi decided these important matters during his leisure time.

After the discussion, Jia Mi felt a little better. After having a meal with Shi Chong in Jingu Garden, he returned to Luoyang Palace again, intending to rest in the Secretariat.

Unexpectedly, just as he returned to Luoyang City and was sitting in the carriage with his eyes closed to rest, the carriage suddenly stopped, waking him up suddenly.

"What's the matter? Don't you want to live?" He immediately scolded the coachman.

The groom reported to Jia Mi trembling with fear: "Report to the Duke of Lu, a carriage ahead of us collided with us and blocked our way."

Upon hearing this, Jia Mi was furious, yet also somewhat incredulous: "Who is so blinded by his own ignorance that he dares to block my way?!"

Since the autumn of the first year of Yuankang, Duke Lu's carriage had always been unimpeded in traveling in Luoyang. Even the princes of the royal family would retreat when they saw him. How could someone block his way today?

He couldn't help but stick his head out of the window and saw that the opposing team was huge. Nearly a hundred knights were surrounding a three-drawn green-covered chariot, confronting his own chariot in the middle of the street. Their momentum was quite fierce.

Looking at the word "Chengdu" hanging high on their carriage frame, Jia Mi finally realized: This is the carriage of Sima Ying, the King of Chengdu!

At this time, a knight rode out from the ranks, approached Jia Mi's carriage, and said in a loud voice: "Report to the Duke of Lu, our king is going to the East Palace to accompany the Crown Prince to study. I wonder if the Duke of Lu can let him pass?"

According to the Taishi Code, the Duke must give way to the Prince. However, when the knight talked about this matter in public, he was obviously ridiculing Jia Mi and laughing at him for going against his duty as a subject.

Jia Mi was furious, but he also knew that if this matter was not handled properly, it would easily give others a handle, so he bit his lower lip until blood flowed from the corner of his lip, and then he slowly ordered:
"Make way for His Royal Highness the King of Chengdu!"

As Jia Mi's carriage gave way, the King of Chengdu and his entourage burst into laughter, their laughter seemingly piercing the sky. As the sound of the carriage faded into the distance, passersby pointed and talked about Jia Mi's carriage, clearly trying to determine the relative power of the two.

When Jia Mi heard these mosquito-like noises, he almost wanted to kill everyone present, but he finally held back and just looked at the East Palace angrily with his eyes, like a blade made of autumn water.

He had forgotten Liu Xian by now, instead clenching his fists, a deep hatred for another group of people, wishing to cut them into pieces. He silently recited their names word by word, his face flushed, as if he had already chewed them into powder between his lips and teeth:
"Hehe... Sima Yi... Sima Ying... Sima Jiong... so majestic... hehehe..."

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(End of this chapter)