Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 23 Secret Mission
Yang Hu was a cautious man who planned things out carefully before acting. Therefore, the Yang clan members did not like to consult him on important matters.

This is actually easy to understand. It's like someone feeling that an entrepreneurial opportunity is right in front of them, with a success rate of almost 90% or more, so they are determined to gamble their entire fortune and go all in.

As a result, he consulted a relative, who said: "The risk is still too great, you need to wait."

What will that person think? They'll probably be utterly disappointed.

When people seek advice from others, they often don't actually want any specific opinions; rather, they hope that others will agree with their ideas to boost their confidence.

Therefore, over time, whenever there were major events within the Yang clan, they would generally consult with Yang Hu's elder sister, Yang Huiyu. She was not only intelligent but also a widow of the Sima family, which provided her with protection against being purged.

More importantly, she can also represent the opinions of the Yang Hu clan.

Rumors of an attack on Shu intensified, despite opposition from many ministers in the court, including veterans of three reigns such as Chen Qian and powerful ministers such as Jia Chong, who were core members of the Sima family and did not support the attack.

However, various military preparations continued to progress steadily.

On this day, Yang Xiu, son of Yang Dan, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, received a secret message from Sima Yan: Sima Zhao had decided to send Zhong Hui to lead troops to attack Shu, with Hanzhong as the target!
Yang Xiu and Sima Yan had a very special relationship; they were classmates at the Imperial Academy and had a very close personal relationship. Sima Yan's maternal grandmother was also a woman from the Yang family.

Yang Huiyu's grandfather, Yang Xu, and Yang Xiu's grandfather, Yang Mi, were brothers, representing different branches of the family.

If we only consider blood ties, the two families are not actually very close. If Yang Huiyu has offspring, then there is no taboo for this son of the Sima family to marry the son of Yang Xiu who also has the surname Yang. In fact, this kind of marriage is common among aristocratic families.

However, now the sons of both families are working under the Sima clan, and they are more like political allies. Therefore, they often interact and help each other, which has long transcended the relationship between distant relatives of ordinary families.

Upon hearing this news, Yang Huiyu, who was temporarily staying at Yang Hu's house, was invited to visit Yang Xiu's house.

Ostensibly, it was just a casual chat, but in reality, Yang Xiu's family was seeking Yang Huiyu's opinion on whether or not to participate in the campaign against Shu.

According to Yang Xiu, Sima Zhao's "imperial edict" to attack Shu had already been written, but it had not yet been issued. The general was still observing the political climate in the court, and the matter seemed to remain unresolved.

Meanwhile, he secretly mobilized troops to Guanzhong to prepare for war. It was a classic case of feigning one move while secretly making another.

However, there are no secrets in the General's Mansion. Even which woman Sima Yan takes a fancy to is no secret here.

Before Sima Zhao's transfer order was even issued, almost all the staff in the General's Mansion already knew many details! As a newly recruited staff member, Yang Xiu was naturally also partially aware of the situation.

He was delighted to be able to participate in the war and earn military merits, but he was also worried about Zhong Hui's leadership of the troops.

Inside the main room of Yang Xiu's house, the family was discussing important matters. Yang Xiu poured wine for Yang Huiyu and complimented her, "Cousin, you look better than ever. Is something good happening soon?"

Upon hearing the word "good news," Yang Huiyu's expression became somewhat unnatural. He then coughed lightly and took a sip of wine.

That was truly a good thing. It's fortunate I didn't get a clear look at the "real deal" that night, and I didn't dwell on it much; it's all in the past now.

However, after meeting him at his younger brother Yang Hu's house, he saw him clearly and gained a partial understanding of his character.

So the fence of the stable in my heart was torn down, and now there are thousands of horses galloping!

Recalling Shi Shouxin's words and actions at Sima Shi's tomb, Yang Huiyu felt her face flush and her heart race. Upright and righteous, meticulous and methodical! This was completely different from the sinister and ruthless masculinity of Sima Shi!
The more Yang Huiyu tried not to think about it, the more she thought about it, about that night's kiss, about Shi Shouxin's righteous and awe-inspiring words, her heart filled with mixed feelings of sweetness and sourness.

An unspeakable thought kept growing like weeds.

"Cousin?"

Seeing Yang Huiyu lost in thought, Yang Xiu called out softly.

“Uncle (Yang Hu’s courtesy name) heard that Zhong Hui has decided not to participate in the campaign against Shu. I was just weighing the pros and cons.”

Yang Huiyu offered a half-hearted explanation. She wasn't really thinking about that; she was thinking about her lover!

Upon hearing this, Yang Xiu's mother, Xin Xianying, was shocked and hurriedly asked, "Yu Niang, is this true?"

"Yes, it is indeed true. My uncle has already written his resignation letter, and he is just waiting for the general's transfer order to come down before he will submit it and return to his ancestral home in Taishan."

Yang Huiyu nodded slightly.

Yesterday, Yang Hu had already discussed this matter with Yang Huiyu. They both agreed that Zhong Hui was ruthless and intolerant. The campaign against Shu was of paramount importance, involving too many conflicting interests. After much deliberation, Yang Hu decided not to get involved in this mess.

Unless the commander-in-chief of the campaign against Shu is replaced by a highly respected person, they will not consider participating in it.

For these aristocratic Celestial Dragons, the authority of the law is almost non-existent; they can easily evade punishment even if they commit a crime!
Therefore, the importance of virtue becomes apparent.

This campaign against Shu will be a grand feast initiated by Sima Zhao, led by Zhong Hui, and attended by a large number of second-generation elites of the Celestial Dragons!

The leader of the army is a matter of life and death for these Celestial Dragons.

There is no room for complacency.

"Yang Xiu, you're not participating either, are you?"

Xin Xianying's aged face was now filled with sorrow.

"Mother, this..."

Yang Xiu was somewhat unwilling.

But Xin Xianying immediately explained, "Zhong Hui faithfully carries out the General's orders, acting without considering the consequences. If the war goes well, all will be well; but if it doesn't, something will definitely happen in the army. At that time, you'll be like standing under a crumbling wall, which is ultimately too dangerous. Wealth and status can be sought at any time, but life is only given to you!"

Xin Xianying was a renowned sage. If she hadn't foreseen Sima Yi's plot to seize Gaoping Mausoleum and hadn't chosen sides in advance, the Yang family might have been wiped out.

Yang Xiu had great faith in her mother's judgment. Moreover, Yang Huiyu was no fool; she was the pillar that stabilized the relationship between the Yang family and the Sima family!

How could they not have some wisdom?
"Alright, I'll write my resignation letter now."

Yang Xiu nodded, not insisting on her own opinion.

He glanced at his aged mother, then at Yang Huiyu, who showed no signs of aging, and felt a pang of sadness. In truth, Xin Xianying was only about ten years older than Yang Huiyu, but childbirth would severely deplete a woman's youth.

Yang Huiyu, who had never given birth, still looked like a charming and beautiful young woman. If it weren't for her status as the widow of Sima Shi, many men would probably have wanted to marry her, a widow, because of her beauty, but Xin Xianying was already an old woman.

Managing the family business was so demanding and exhausting that it made her age quickly.

His mother had sacrificed so much for him, and Yang Xiu knew how grateful he was and couldn't bear it. To repay his mother's kindness in raising him, he stopped being stubborn.

In fact, Yang Xiu had already promised Sima Yan that she would participate in the campaign against Shu and gain military merit. Breaking her promise to a friend was very inappropriate, and Yang Xiu was still thinking about how to explain it to Sima Yan.

Back then, Sima Yan was not the heir apparent, and the competition between him and Sima You was fierce, but the conflict was not made public.

It was Yang Xiu's in-depth analysis of the pros and cons and his advice to his old classmate that enabled Sima Yan to successfully become the heir apparent.

With the campaign against Shu imminent, Sima Yan was making preparations in advance, hoping to place Yang Xiu in a high position as soon as possible!
When Sima Shi was in power, Sima Zhao had his own faction, among whom Zhong Hui and Jia Chong were core members.

With Sima Zhao now in power, Sima Yan is also preparing his own faction. If nothing unexpected happens, the position of crown prince will be his sooner or later.

He's become the crown prince, and becoming emperor won't be far off; he needs to cultivate trusted confidants beforehand. Yang Xiu thought about it and decided not to tell his mother or cousin, Yang Huiyu, about it.

……

Shi Shouxin and Pei Kai had a very pleasant conversation and considered each other close friends, but unlike Hu Lie, they did not become sworn brothers. Pei Kai, after all, was a cultured man who valued the so-called "gentleman's friendship is as light as water," unlike the simple and crude nature of a warrior. After the two parted, Shi Shouxin went to Jie County in Hedong, where Ji Kang had lived in seclusion.

He went to the county town to inquire, and was immediately struck by a bolt from the blue: Ji Kang had moved his entire family and disappeared without a trace!

It turns out that when Zhong Hui visited Hedong last time, he brought generous gifts to invite Ji Kang to serve in the government, promising him high rank and generous salary.

But Ji Kang completely ignored him.

Afterwards, perhaps out of fear of retaliation from Zhong Hui, or simply out of concern for being harassed, Ji Kang moved away from Hedong without informing anyone.

As for where they went, probably no one knows for sure now.

The wasted trip left Shi Shouxin feeling extremely frustrated. If he had known this would happen, he would have been better off staying home and playing with his wife. Li Wan was such an interesting young lady; wasn't she much more enjoyable than his long and arduous journey to Hedong?
Shi Shouxin took out two recruitment letters and sighed helplessly, feeling that the silk scrolls were heavier than bricks.

Since we can't deliver Ji Kang's recruitment notice, let's go find this guy named Lü Xun and send him Sima Zhao's recruitment notice to join the General's Mansion.

However, before that, Shi Shouxin hadn't forgotten what Shan Tao had told him: he was going to take a tour of several large granaries in Hedong.

Previously, Cao Wei had the Office of Investigation and Statistics, which was specifically used to gather intelligence internally and also to conduct overt and covert investigations of local government offices.

After Sima Yi seized power, he immediately abolished the Office of Imperial Censors. The reason was actually quite simple: at that time, the Office of Imperial Censors was a sharp weapon that the Cao family used specifically to deal with Sima Yi.

There were a lot of people inside who didn't get along with the Sima family!
However, although the School Affairs Office was abolished, its functions could not be abolished.

The Sima clan's power base is unstable, making it all the more necessary for a secret service agency to monitor all officials!
Therefore, the function of internal surveillance should not only not be abolished, but should be greatly strengthened!
Shi Shouxin took out a wooden waist tag hidden at his waist. The front of the tag read "Silitai" and the back read "Jia Zuo" in large characters. There was also a "Quan" character in the upper left corner.

"Quan" means "temporary" or "temporary," and "Jia Zuo" refers to a secret agent under the jurisdiction of the Sili Xiaowei. Simply put, Shi Shouxin is currently a secret agent under the temporary Sili Xiaowei, responsible for investigating cases.

Who is the current Commandant of the Capital Region?

He is Shi Shouxin's godfather, Shi Bao.

The Commandant of the Capital Region, through Shan Tao, entrusted Shi Shouxin with a secret mission: to check whether the military rations in Hedong were up to standard, in preparation for the conquest of Shu.

Of course, the idea that it was used to attack Shu was just Shi Shouxin's own guess.

This matter is not difficult, but it is very important. If there are no problems with the military rations from Hedong during the campaign against Shu, the credit for this inspection will be attributed to Shi Shouxin.

To be promoted, one must have achievements.

The reason Shi Bao did not give instructions privately was because he wanted to avoid suspicion. He needed to find a trustworthy "witness" to dispel Sima Zhao's concerns.

If Sima Zhao wanted to investigate afterward, he could simply summon Shan Tao and ask him a question; he wouldn't even let Shi Bao know!
If the facts are later verified, Sima Zhao will trust Shi Bao even more; if they are not true, then Shi Bao will be in big trouble.

Should we deliver the letter first, or check the accounts first?
Inside the guest room at Puban Post Station, Shi Shouxin fell into deep thought, having to choose one of the two options.

After much deliberation, he decided to check the military rations first. The conquest of Shu was something Sima Zhao was deeply concerned about, and if anything went wrong, that man was not one to be trifled with.

After a few days of hurried travel, Shi Shouxin arrived at Anyi, the capital of Hedong County, with his greyhound. After inquiring around, he discovered that the situation there was indeed quite complicated.

The geography of Hedong is somewhat unique, which has led to a fierce and unruly local culture, as well as powerful and wealthy clans. The Pei family of Wenxi, the Liu family of Jiexian, the Jia family of Pingyang, and the Wei family of Anyi are all top-tier families in the area.

Simply put, it was a large household in a county—no, it can no longer be called a large household, it should be called a mega-household.

These wealthy households, if they had any major matters to discuss, would go to the government office in Anyi, the seat of the prefecture, and follow the instructions of the governor of Hedong. They would also pay some taxes on a regular basis, but far less than those of other directly administered prefectures and counties.

However, within each county, minor matters were generally handled by the wealthy households themselves, and the county magistrate had to be mindful of their wishes. The county offices of Cao Wei did not have enough personnel or energy to manage local affairs.

Here, the foundation of Cao Wei's rule was very weak; in essence, it was sharing power with powerful clans.

The rule of law? That doesn't exist.

However, since Hedong was able to remain stable and was not completely devoured by local powerful clans, Cao Wei naturally had a plan and was confident in its ability to do so.

Starting with Cao Cao, he continuously implemented reforms in the Hedong region, which can be summarized in one sentence: recruiting civil officials and establishing military settlements.

The civil service examination system was easy to explain; it involved continuously recruiting cultured individuals from prominent families to serve as officials in the central government and even become their confidants.

Wu Tuntian, on the other hand, needs to be discussed in detail.

Anyi was not only the seat of Hedong Commandery, but also a military settlement area managed by the Agricultural Commissioner. The so-called military settlement area was actually a series of military camps of various sizes and designated reclamation areas.

The soldiers and their families also lived there. They went out to work in the fields during the day and returned to rest at night, under military-style management.

The sons of the garrison soldiers were still garrison soldiers, and several generations had passed. The grain and fodder stockpiled in Anyi City did not need to be transported to the front lines, unless the war became so urgent that everyone had to stick together for warmth.

If they can't even do this, then they don't deserve to be called great families.

However, the grain depots in the settlement area were exclusively for military supplies.

The two systems operated in parallel, taking into account the interests of local powerful families and clans while also ensuring the supply of military provisions.

Shi Bao deliberately avoided specifying which granary to inspect, likely to test Shi Shouxin's judgment. The adoptive father wanted to assess his adopted son's abilities before deciding how to maintain their relationship.

Tests are fine, but there's no need to make things difficult for him. Therefore, this mission is definitely one that Shi Shouxin can complete without any external assistance!
The investigation of the granary in Anyi Prefecture was useless; that pit was bottomless, and anyone who came out was a handcuff of a powerful family in Hedong.

The granaries in the settlement area must be thoroughly investigated, leaving no stone unturned.

We will investigate everything that can be investigated and should be investigated!
You can't check what you shouldn't check, and you absolutely can't touch it!

Sima Zhao hoped that there would be no problems with food supplies and logistics during the campaign against Shu. The Hedong region would only need to fulfill its allocated military food quota.

There's no need for Shi Shouxin to act as a woodpecker and deal with the local powerful clans of Hedong. If he really found out that these aristocratic families were embezzling from the granaries, would Shi Shouxin really hand these powerful figures over to Sima Zhao for punishment?

He doesn't have that ability either!

These things are all obvious. If he breaks any taboos, Shi Bao can't help him. He can only be considered hopeless and not cut out to be an official. He should just stay at home with his wife, children, and a warm bed.

"Ah Lang, you don't look too well."

At the gates of Anyi, Xigou looked at Shi Shouxin and asked. Logically, they shouldn't have gone into the city; they should have just gone to the military settlement office.

"I've heard that the Agricultural Commissioner of Hedong is Xie Zuan, a fellow townsman of the Sima clan. Guess what the General thinks of this fellow townsman?"

Shi Shouxin looked at Xigou and asked.

"These are all official matters; how would I know?"

The greyhound scratched its head, feeling that Shi Shouxin had overestimated it.

"Let's go check the accounts."

Shi Shouxin snorted coldly.

He turned his head and headed towards the administrative center of the military settlement, showing no intention of entering the city.

(End of this chapter)