Jinting Han people

In the seventh month of autumn in the seventh year of the Yuankang reign, the court had still not made a decision on the selection of generals.

However, unlike the selection at the end of the sixth year of the Yuankang reign, the difficulty in selecting a general that time stemmed from widespread underestimation of Qi Wannian, who was believed to have succeeded due to the incompetence of Sun Xiu and Sima Lun. However, as time went on, the Jin army suffered a series of defeats in Fufeng, prompting everyone to realize that Qi Wannian was indeed a formidable opponent.

If this were a purely military matter, it would be easy to deal with. After all, young men are never afraid to risk their lives on the battlefield. But now, they have to pay attention: Guanzhong has been reduced to a near-destruction during the war, and famine is a constant threat. A large number of refugees are roaming back and forth between Yong, Qin, Liang, and Liang provinces, begging for survival. Civil unrest could erupt at any moment. This adds further uncertainty to suppressing the rebellion, and no one can guarantee that it will not escalate into even greater chaos.

As a result, the various kings who had been actively campaigning in Luoyang to lead troops in Guanzhong calmed down. Although they still criticized the Houdang's incompetence, few were willing to go to Guanzhong. The Houdang themselves were also troubled by the selection of generals, as there were too few suitable candidates.

Although from a purely military perspective, there were quite a few people in the court with command capabilities, such as Liangzhou Governor Luo Shang, Ningshu General Liu Hong, Shangshu Zuo Pushe Wang Rong, Shanggu County Duke Meng Guan, and Grand Minister of Agriculture He Pan.

But from a broader perspective, a considerable number of people are difficult to recruit:

There was famine in Guanzhong, and Luo Shang, the governor of Liangzhou, had to be wary of rebels moving south;
Ningshuo General Liu Hong was also unable to spare the time as he had to continue to monitor the movements of Tuoba Xianbei.

Wang Rong, the Minister of the Left, was old and might not be able to endure the hardships of war.

Meng Guan, the Duke of Shanggu, had been in seclusion for several years and was said to have been quite dissatisfied with the court.

Grand Minister of Agriculture He Pan simply declined, saying he was unable to quell the rebellion...

From this perspective, although the country is rich and has many outstanding people, it is not easy to make the best use of their talents.

Just when the court was having a headache over this matter, suddenly someone jumped out and said, "What's so difficult about this?"

This person was none other than Sun Xiu.

Sun Xiu's experience this year was truly full of ups and downs. A year ago, he was first fooled by Qi Wannian, then failed in the political struggle and was dismissed from his post. Then, in September, he was taken back to Luoyang to be tried for his crimes.

According to Jie Xi's testimony, Sun Xiu's crimes were too numerous to list: murder, corruption, poor judgment, desertion from the battlefield, and missed opportunities... Taken together, a sentence of skinning would have been no exaggeration. The court was infuriated, especially among the princes, who claimed to be sacrificing Sun Xiu's head, essentially using it as an opportunity to attack the Hou clan. For a time, public opinion was boiling, with Sun Xiu being considered the greatest traitor of all time.

But Sun Xiu was so calm in the imperial prison that he gave the jailer a hundred gold coins and ate and drank delicious food every day. He even made a bet with the jailer, saying, "Haha, just wait and see. In less than a month, I'll be out of here and reinstated."

Indeed, Sun Xiu, by all accounts, had ties to both the Empress Dowager's party and the Eastern Palace, effectively reaping the benefits. At the behest of his friend Xin Ran, Sun Xiu bribed both Jia Mi and Sima Yi. As the process dragged on, criticism of him faded from the court. Even further, Sun Xiu was acquitted.

The reason for his acquittal was simple: the King of Liang had failed to suppress the rebellion, and there was insufficient evidence for the other charges. In addition, Sun Xiu had made a contribution by recommending Liu Xian, so his merits and demerits offset each other, and Sun Xiu remained the Chief Clerk of the King of Zhao.

During the following period, Sun Xiu used the money he had plundered from Guanzhong and, under the name of Sima Lun, actively currying favor with Empress Jia and her mother, Lady Guangcheng. This resulted in Sima Lun being removed from his position as governor, but he was compensated with the titles of General of Chariots and Cavalry and Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince.

"The world is bustling with people, all for profit. The world is bustling with people, all for profit. Your Highness, if you leave everything to me, I, Sun Xiu, guarantee that one day, even the whole world will be yours."

Sun Xiu made this promise to King Zhao Sima Lun, and then when various forces in the court were confronting each other, he played both sides and maintained friendships.

As for the Queen's party, he guaranteed that the power of King Zhao was given by the Queen and Duke Lu, and he would definitely support the Queen and Duke Lu in governing as long as King Zhao could have a place.

Regarding the Eastern Palace, he guaranteed that the Prince of Zhao was the son of Emperor Xuan, and if he didn't serve the Crown Prince, who would he serve? The Prince of Zhao would definitely support him as long as he had a place in the future.

As for the other kings, he guaranteed that King Zhao was the elder in the royal family and everyone should be close to each other. No matter what, family members should not be estranged. As long as they were united, nothing was impossible.

Logically speaking, with so many bets, one would definitely be politically excluded by the public, as no one would welcome someone without a stance.

But firstly, Sun Xiu handled the situation well. He openly claimed to Jia Mi that the King of Zhao was helping the Hou Party to stabilize the situation, and secretly claimed to Sima Yi that this would allow him to obtain more intelligence about the Hou Party. It was impossible for the two sides to reconcile their accounts, so naturally they could not expose him.

Secondly, King Sima Lun of Zhao was notoriously incompetent, lacking both military and political skills. People already looked down on him, so it was perfectly normal for someone like him to lack a political stance, just as you can't expect an illiterate person to compose poetry.

Thirdly, Sun Xiu was a truly gifted political broker. He knew full well that Sima Lun's strength lay in being looked down upon. Therefore, apart from simple entertainment and drinking, he never actively discussed state affairs. However, he arranged for followers among his maids, bypassing the various princes and actively befriending their retainers. Through this method, within six months, he had a complete and complete understanding of the court's dynamics.

After learning that the court was in a difficult situation of selecting generals, Sun Xiu immediately went to Jingu Garden to meet Jia Mi and proposed to him:

"Your Highness, there's no need to hesitate. We should immediately ask the Duke of Shanggu to come out of retirement!"

Hearing this, Jia Mi looked at Sun Xiu suspiciously for a moment, but he soon couldn't stand Sun Xiu's rat-like face anymore, so he looked away and asked impatiently:
“How much money did Meng Guan give you?”

During the first dispatch of troops to Guanzhong, Zhang Hua had already proposed to Jia Mi that Meng Guan be appointed commander-in-chief to defeat Qi Wannian. However, Jia Mi, wary of Meng Guan's background as a member of the Chu royal party, was deeply concerned about his abilities and had been reluctant to allow him to lead the army, fearing potential disaster. This had become a widely held opinion within the court and the public. But Sun Xiu had unexpectedly recommended Meng Guan to Jia Mi again today. Didn't he understand the taboos?

Sun Xiu smiled shyly and said, "What's the point of money? I'm thinking about your foundation!"

"Foundation?" Jia Mi narrowed his narrow eyes slightly upon hearing this. He calmly turned his gaze back and asked, "What do you mean?"

"Isn't this obvious?"

Sun Xiu opened his mouth and said, "Isn't the court today the domain of the Queen and you? But since ancient times, how many people who have obtained the power of regent have had a good ending? They can be counted on one hand! Either they are princes like Zhou Gong, or they are ministers of small countries like Zhuge Liang. As the ruler of the Celestial Empire, if one day you hand over power to the Crown Prince, can you live in peace?" This sentence immediately hit Jia Mi's heart. However, unlike others, Jia Mi did not think this was something that needed to be concealed. He did not show any panic, but rather felt quite satisfied. However, the necessary procedures still had to be followed. He sat upright on the chair and asked Sun Xiu with squinting eyes:
"Oh? From what you said, do you want me to be the emperor? My family is a loyal minister of the Great Jin Dynasty!"

Sun Xiu naturally went along with it, smiling, "Duke Lu is right. The sacred treasures of the state can only be held by those with virtue. Wasn't Emperor Xuan also a loyal minister of the Wei Dynasty? You can't let loyalty and filial piety bind you and forget the people of the world who are still suffering!"

"Oh? I actually have such virtue?"

"I know a little about physiognomy. The first time I saw you, I knew you had the appearance of a dragon and a phoenix, the appearance of the sun and the moon! Who else but you is qualified to sit in this position?"

At this point, Sun Xiu suddenly changed the subject:
"But you also know that there are too many princes in the court who oppose you, such as the Crown Prince, the King of Qi, the King of Chengdu, and the King of Huainan. They all want to seize your throne... It will not be easy for you to hold on to this position!"

Jia Mi thought this was all nonsense and interrupted impatiently, "So? What do you have in mind?"

"That's why we need you, Duke Lu, to promote talented people! This time when we send troops west, you must use Duke Gu!"

"Don't you know that he used to be the King of Chu's man?"

"Of course I know that, but you also know that the King of Chu is dead. Someone like the Duke of Shanggu, who clings to the royal family, seeks nothing more than rapid advancement. Why wouldn't it be possible for you to subjugate him?"

"What's the benefit of subduing him?"

"As the saying goes, those who are righteous have many supporters, while those who are unrighteous have few. In my opinion, it is actually those who have many supporters who are righteous, while those who are unrighteous have few. If Duke Lu wishes to replace the Jin Dynasty, you must have the support of these humble families. Otherwise, if the kings rise up in rebellion in the future, who will you use to quell them?"

"You misunderstood." Jia Mi waved his hand, leaning back slightly, looking down at Sun Xiu and said, "What I'm asking is, what good will it do you if I subdue him?"

Sun Xiu smiled flatteringly and said, "Of course it's because I know how to be grateful. Everything I have is given by Duke Lu. Without Duke Lu's kindness, how could I have had such a good life in Guanzhong these years? I only hope that Duke Lu will ascend the throne soon and make me his loyal minister. I will definitely repay Duke Lu tenfold, even a hundredfold!"

Sun Xiu's ugly behavior really made Jia Mi laugh. He did not take Sun Xiu's words seriously from the beginning. He could not help but pat the sword at his waist and laughed:

"What can you give me in return? You talk big, but you can't even kill Liu Huai Chong. If we just talk about making money, isn't Shi Chong ten times better than you? You think too highly of yourself."

"Take the recommendation of Meng Guan. Why should I trust him? My request to him is not high. Just come to me, kowtow to me a few times, and I will let bygones be bygones. But he is so self-righteous. For several years, he has kept his door closed and refused to even see me. If I still use him, where is the dignity?"

"Since you haven't taken Meng Guan's money, and you still want to speak for him, are you qualified?"

Despite the ridicule, Sun Xiu remained smiling. He said slowly, "That's why I wanted to accomplish this for Duke Lu!"

"Then go ahead and do it!"

Jia Mi didn't take Sun Xiu's words to heart at all. He said casually:

"My conditions remain unchanged. If he can come to my door, kowtow to me in public, and serve me from now on, I will let him go to Guanzhong."

After Sun Xiu left, Jia Mi forgot about the matter in a blink of an eye.

As the true ruler of the government, Jia Mi possessed his own pride. In his eyes, aside from a few close relatives, everyone else, whether high-ranking officials or commoners, was essentially the same: either slaves or disobedient slaves. As he had said to Liu Xian long ago, everyone in this world is either a friend or an enemy.

Jia Mi would never show any mercy to his disobedient servants. He considered himself a king, and the so-called kingly demeanor meant that his servants would naturally submit to him. As for those servants who refused to submit, Jia Mi divided them into those who could be killed and those who could not. Those who could be killed were naturally annihilated, while those who had a certain influence and could not be directly executed were completely idled and suppressed by Jia Mi.

In short, Jia Mi was unwilling to use even the slightest means of making friends, let alone Liu Bang-style methods of turning enemies into friends. Perhaps only in this way could he achieve such a pure and direct sense of dominance.

But on the other hand, Jia Mi was also kind. He would not get angry with those disobedient servants. If someone came to his senses and was willing to pledge his loyalty again, he would never refuse them.

That's why Jia Mi said that as long as Meng Guan was willing to recognize his status, Jia Mi would agree to choose him as a general to go to war. This was not a lie.

But after so long, Jia Mi also understood that this was difficult to achieve. After all, the servants always dreamed that they were the masters and would not give up until their dreams were shattered, so he did not have any expectations of Sun Xiu at all.

But the result was unexpected. Two days later, one afternoon, Sun Xiu actually brought Meng Guan here.

Meng Guan openly drove his car under the banner of the Duke of Shanggu County, passed through the most prosperous Tongtuo Street, and then stopped in front of the Duke of Lu's Mansion. In front of everyone, Meng Guan got off the car and bowed down, kowtowed three times in front of the door lintel of the mansion.

This move was truly unexpected. He had been out of politics for almost six years, ever since the Chu Prince Rebellion in the first year of the Yuankang reign. While he held no official position, he had already reached the rank of Duke. What more could he ask for? Why would he even attempt to submit to Jia Mi? Even if he did, what would he gain from Jia Mi? Some of these questions are predictable, while others are not.

But no matter what, the result was clear. Meng Guan's reputation as an upright official for years was destroyed in one day, and in return, Jia Mi laughed heartily.

By this time, the commander-in-chief of the Western Expedition had finally been chosen. Shanggu Commandery Duke Meng Guan was reinstated and appointed General of the Crossbows, with the authority to command all the armies in Guanzhong. He trained his troops in Luoyang for a year and was to march out to Guanzhong in July of the eighth year of the Yuankang reign. (End of this chapter)