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Chapter 92 The Appointment to Divide Shaanxi (Part 2) (Seeking First Subscription) (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Tickets)

A good strategy?

Sima Yi was speechless for a moment.

I am the Grand General of the current dynasty, and the Emperor did not even consult me ​​before deciding to launch an attack on Liaodong? Now that the army is ready to march, and even the titles of General Guanqiu Jian and Governor of Youzhou are prepared, you come to ask me for a good strategy?

What if I say I refuse to fight?

Sima Yi sighed softly: "If Your Majesty has any questions, then I must answer. Although Wu and Shu are at peace, the two kingdoms have frequently invaded and attacked each other over the past few years, greatly depleting the nation's resources. It is imperative to allow the people to rest and recuperate. I have heard that the court intends to build new palaces in Luoyang, which will also consume a great deal of resources. Is that not true? Emperor Wu once personally led an expedition against the Wuhuan, and upon returning, he still felt the remoteness of Liucheng and the difficulty of traveling the roads in Liaoxi. How much more difficult would it be to attack Liaodong?"

"Although Gongsun Yuan is a menace, he cannot cross Changli to reach Liaoxi. What good is it to tolerate him for now? The enemy of the state lies in Wu and Shu, not in Liaodong. If Wu and Shu are pacified, then sending an envoy will pacify Liaodong without the need for a major war!"

Sima Yi's words left Guanqiu Jian speechless.

Your Majesty asked about the strategy for attacking Liaodong, and you said not to attack? I have already received the seal of the General Who Crosses the Liaodong and the position of Governor of Youzhou, how can I not attack?!

Guanqiu Jian paused for a long time before bowing again and asking sincerely, "Gongsun Yuan is truly a great traitor, two-faced and indecisive. The court has already appointed him Grand Marshal and Duke of Lelang, and has nothing more to appoint him to! Could the court really appoint a King of Liaodong? Wouldn't that just be creating another Sun Quan for the country?"

"I humbly request your guidance, Grand Commandant. If we were to attack Liaodong, what military strategy would be best?"

Sima Yi gave Guanqiu Jian a deep look before replying, "If Your Majesty insists on using force, then you should first eliminate their allies before launching a direct attack. Liaodong is far from the Central Plains, so you should pacify the Xianbei and Wuhuan tribes, raise the troops of Youzhou again, and unite all forces to march eastward, heading straight for Xiangping. A swift and decisive battle is the only way to achieve victory."

"I understand." Guanqiu Jian cupped his hands again: "Your Majesty also asked the Grand Commandant whether it is possible to transfer 10,000 strong soldiers from Guanzhong to Youbeiping in Youzhou to assist the border troops in their battles? I'm afraid the Youzhou troops are not very strong."

Sima Yi's expression grew increasingly serious. He sat up straight and looked up slightly at Muqiu Jian: "Zhonggong, there are also difficulties in Guanzhong. The threat from Shu is not insignificant. I still need to suppress the Qiang and Hu tribes in Guanzhong, so it is difficult to spare troops—"

After a long conversation, Guanqiu Jian and Xiahou Xuan finally left.

Logically, a banquet should be held to welcome the imperial envoy. However, Sima Yi declined the evening banquet on the grounds of being unwell, and instead asked Xun Shen and Wang Guan, two Attendants-in-Ordinary, to host a banquet for Guanqiu Jian and Xiahou Xuan.

Xun Shen, courtesy name Manqian, was the son of Xun or Xun Lingjun, and came from a distinguished family. Wang Guan, courtesy name Weitai, served as the governor of Nanyang and Zhuojun, and was also a high-ranking official with a salary of two thousand shi (a unit of grain) for many years.

Xun Shen and Wang Guan served as Attendants in Sima Yi's General's Office. Essentially, this was the same principle as many high-ranking officials in the Shu Han Dynasty serving as Sima or Military Advisors in the Prime Minister's Office. They were simply holding positions within the government, not indicating that their official ranks were low.

After the banquet, Guanqiu Jian and Xiahou Xuan returned to the guesthouse. Just as they were about to discuss the day's events privately, someone from Sima Yi's governor's office came to the guesthouse, saying that the Grand Commandant wanted to invite Xiahou Xuan to his residence for a chat.

Xiahou Xuan asked someone to wait outside, then returned to his room and sat opposite Guanqiu Jian, both of them looking worried.

After a brief exchange of glances, Guanqiu Jian spoke first: "What worries does Taichu have?"

Xiahou Xuan sighed deeply: "I knew that you were coming to Chang'an to see the Grand Commandant after what happened in Luoyang, so I asked His Majesty for permission to come with you. To be honest, I already discussed all the official business at the Governor's Mansion during the day. What could the Grand Commandant possibly want to see me about now? It must be something private or family."

"Although I came here for this matter, now that things have come to this, I am hesitant and do not know what to say to the Grand Commandant!"

Guanqiu Jian looked at Xiahou Xuan's dejected face and couldn't help but sigh as well.

Xiahou Xuan served as the Imperial Guard Commander. Last year, when Sima Yi was confronting Zhuge Liang in Guanzhong, Emperor Cao Rui of Wei personally led an expedition to Huainan, and Xiahou Xuan accompanied him in the army. However, when Xiahou Xuan returned to Luoyang with the army, he learned that his younger sister, Xiahou Hui, had died in Luoyang!

Xiahou Xuan's father and mother had both passed away, leaving him as the sole head of the household. At the time of the incident, his cousin Cao Shuang was also with the army and not in Luoyang. By the time they returned to Luoyang, Xiahou Hui's tomb had already been erected on Mangshan Mountain!

Sima Shi claimed that Xiahou Hui had always been in poor health, and had caught a cold with a persistent high fever, which unfortunately led to his death. Alas! Although Xiahou Xuan had his doubts, he had no choice but to believe the story when faced with Sima Shi's weeping and melancholy, and given that the two had been friends since childhood.

Who could he possibly ask to verify what was happening in the Sima family's inner quarters?

Sima Yi had been in Guanzhong all along, and it was Sima Yi who had previously proposed the marriage between Sima Shi and Xiahou Hui. Now that Xiahou Xuan had come to Chang'an, the two must have had a discussion about this matter. Xiahou Xuan came to Chang'an for this very reason!

Guanqiu Jian comforted him, saying, "The deceased are gone, Taichu, don't worry too much about it. You should look forward."

"Yes, we should look forward!" Xiahou Xuan wiped his slightly moist eyes and asked again, "General, are you unhappy because you discussed the expedition against Liaodong with the Grand Commandant?"

Guanqiu Jian shook his head: "Yes and no."

Xiahou Xuan then asked, "What does this mean?"

Guanqiu Jian sighed deeply: "Taichu, you are surnamed Xiahou, so we are relatives. I won't hide it from you. Yan Fei is the Prefect of Jingzhao. Don't you think he was being a bit too obsequious to the Grand Commandant today? The Grand Commandant was so strict today, yet Yan Fei still acted the same way, calling him 'Your Excellency' and kneeling in obeisance, spouting 'Your Majesty's power. What prefect in the prefecture needs to act like this? And the Grand Commandant accepted it so readily, as if it were his due!"

Xiahou Xuan remained silent for a few moments, then looked up at Guanqiu Jian: "General, do you find Yan Fei's words today inappropriate?"

Guanqiu Jian nodded: "Of course not!"

Xiahou Xuan shook his head again: "That's not what I meant. Yan Fei is a descendant of Yan Hui, and his deep understanding of Confucianism is known throughout the land. Just now, when he spoke to the Grand Commandant, he said that the Grand Commandant had accepted the imperial decree to govern Shaanxi," and that the Grand Commandant accepted it readily. Do you even know what "the decree to govern Shaanxi" means?"

Guanqiu Jian paused for a few moments, then asked, "Is there some historical allusion involved?"

"Yes," Xiahou Xuan sighed softly. "During the reign of King Cheng of Zhou, the Duke of Zhou assisted in governing, and the Duke of Shao was ranked among the Three Dukes. Afterwards, from west of Shaanxi, the Duke of Shao ruled; from east of Shaanxi, the Duke of Zhou ruled."

"This is the origin of the appointment of the Grand Commandant to govern Shaanxi." Xiahou Xuan looked worried. "General, you are preoccupied with border affairs and are unaware of this precedent. But is it Yan Fei who is unaware of this precedent, or the Grand Commandant? You and I have long served His Majesty. You are an old friend of His Majesty, and I am a close relative. How could we not know His Majesty's worries about the Grand Commandant?"

"I've learned my lesson!" Guanqiu Jian gritted his teeth. "Yan Fei's flattery is now obvious. I will definitely impeach him upon returning to Luoyang and report this to His Majesty!"