Has the Han Dynasty been restored today?

One of the important reasons why the gentry were able to survive was through marriage.

I will marry my daughter to your family, you will marry your daughter to his family, and then he will marry his daughter to my family. I will recommend your son for an official position, and you will recommend my son for a position as a filial and incorruptible official…

This cycle repeats itself endlessly, and this is what constitutes the aristocratic class.

Sima Yi was a typical aristocratic family member. During the chaotic end of the Han Dynasty, his father, Sima Fang, arranged for him to marry Zhang Chunhua, the daughter of a county magistrate from the same hometown.

In their early years, the couple had a harmonious relationship and had three sons and one daughter over the years.

However, after Sima Yi began to seek a marriage for his eldest son Sima Shi, he often lamented his own unfortunate early marriage and how he suffered a lot of hardship at the beginning of his official career due to the lack of support from others. As a result, he became even more concerned about his son's marriage.

Xiahou Hui was a woman whom Sima Yi arranged to marry for Sima Shi, a woman who could be described as "perfect".

Xiahou Hui came from a distinguished family. His father was Xiahou Shang, the General Who Conquered the South and Marquis of Changling, who was also the nephew of the late General Who Conquered the West, Xiahou Yuan. Xiahou Hui's mother was the adopted daughter of Cao Cao and the younger sister of the late General Cao Zhen, the Lady of Deyang. His elder brother was Xiahou Xuan, a leading scholar in Luoyang, renowned for his bright and clear mind. Xiahou Hui himself was also intelligent, virtuous, and kind…

Has such a perfect marriage now vanished into thin air?

Sima Yi's hands, holding the letter, trembled.

Even three years ago, when Sima Yi fought against the Shu Kingdom and suffered heavy losses, including the death of Zhang He, his hands had never trembled this much.

Seeing the slightly messy handwriting that read, "Xiahou Hui secretly spied on this letter, and I have already poisoned him," Sima Yi was completely panicked.

What kind of son did I give birth to?

How could he dare to do such a thing? How could he possibly do such a thing?!

Sima Zhao, who was kneeling below the hall, waiting to ask his father for praise, did not receive any praise from his father. He frowned and looked up, only to see his father in a state of panic.

"Sir, what's wrong?"

"Get out!" Sima Yi snapped back to reality upon being called by Sima Zhao, and pointed angrily towards the outside of the hall: "Get out! Have Chen Sima summon all generals of rank above 2,000 shi! If they are not here within an hour, they will all be punished according to military law!"

"Yes……"

Sima Zhao was completely confused about the situation and dared not refute or ask questions, so he could only bow and leave in a hurry.

Seeing Sima Zhao leave, Sima Yi hurriedly got up, threw the letter written by Sima Shi into the brazier, watched the silk burn to ashes, and then crushed the ashes before slumping back onto his couch with a sorrowful expression.

How dare he do that!

Regardless of Sima Yi's somber mood as he sat alone in the hall, following Sima Zhao's message, General Sima Chen Gui, who was outside, immediately ordered a messenger to be dispatched on three horses to the surrounding military camps.

Previously, Prime Minister Zhuge Liang led his troops out of Baoxie Road and stationed them near Xiegukou and Wuzhangyuan to confront the Wei army. Sima Yi set up his main camp at Meiwu on the south bank of the Wei River.

As the Han army retreated along the Xie Valley, Sima Yi once led his troops in pursuit, covering nearly half the distance along the Baoxie Road until they reached the vicinity of Chian, where they encountered an ambush and resistance from the Han army, and only then did they retreat northward.

Due to the unclear situation, the lack of knowledge about the Han army's next move, and the absence of an imperial edict to withdraw troops, Sima Yi did not withdraw his army. Instead, he continued to deploy his forces near the Wei River North Plain, Xiegukou, Wuzhangyuan, and Meiwu.

Indeed, this Mei Fortress is the very same Mei Fortress that Dong Zhuo ordered to be built. Although dilapidated, it can still serve a defensive purpose after being repaired, becoming an important defensive stronghold on the battlefield.

Moreover, this location is close to the Wei River, making it convenient to transport grain and supplies via the canal. Considering all factors, it is more economical and less costly to concentrate troops here.

The messenger cavalry had already been dispatched, and in less than an hour, all the generals had rushed to Meiwu, and not one dared to slack off.

When everyone gathered in the hall and saw Sima Yi's cold and stern face, which was as sculpted as stone, no one dared to even breathe loudly.

This is the central command post, where the commander-in-chief's authority is almost limitless; every word he utters becomes an absolute order that determines life and death.

Sima Yi's gaze swept over them one by one. There were over sixty generals and colonels of the rank of two thousand piculs, and not a single one was absent. Standing at the very front were two faces: on the left was Guo Huai, the Governor of Yongzhou and General Yangwu, and on the right was General Xiahou Xian. Behind them were generals Qin Lang, Niu Jin, Fei Yao, Dai Ling, Hu Zun, and others.

Only after Sima Yi had examined everyone's faces did he coldly speak:

"Today I received His Majesty's edict, authorizing the army to disband and withdraw. Xiahou will lead his troops back to Luoyang, Qin's troops will move to Tongguan, and the remaining troops will be placed under my command."

"His Majesty is wise and his grace is boundless. He has decreed that Lord Xin should assess the merits of all the generals. How should these merits be assessed? Since receiving the decree, I have been racking my brains for two hours in the central command hall of Mei Wu, but I still cannot come up with a way to assess the merits! Lord Xin is not here, so I have summoned you here to ask you in person how you should assess the merits!"

"Are you satisfied with how the war has turned out?"

"Um?"

"Lord Guo? General Xiahou? General Qin? General Hu? General Fei? General Dai?"

"Um?"

"And you lot, all of you with salaries of two thousand piculs, tell me, how should we reward those who have rendered meritorious service?"

"Shame on you, everyone!"

Sima Yi, one hand on his hip and the other pointing at the generals below, said: "From me, the Grand General, to all the generals and captains present here, a total of sixty-three of you, shouldn't you be ashamed? The Shu army has retreated, but what does that have to do with us? From spring until now, it's already winter, how much have our army accomplished?"

"Lord Guo," Sima Yi called out Guo Huai's name again, pointing at him, "Tell me, how should we reward those who have rendered meritorious service?"

Guo Huai was speechless for a moment, and could only bow and say: "I have made few gains, and am ashamed to talk about my achievements."

"And you?" Sima Yi pointed at Xiahou Xian again, then looked at Qin Lang: "And you guys?"

Xiahou Xian and Qin Lang lowered their heads and remained silent.

Sima Yi sighed deeply: "His Majesty has shown us great favor, even issuing an imperial edict to appoint me Grand Commandant… I am ashamed to accept this position and will submit a memorial to the court to refuse it. As for you… if you feel you have rendered meritorious service, then go find Lord Xin later and speak at length about your achievements. Let His Majesty see how many victories the army has made in Guanzhong, and how great your contributions to the country are!"

……

After a barrage of reprimands and instructions, the generals all walked out of the hall with their heads down, each riding their horses back to their respective camps.

Qin Lang and Xiahou Xian prepared to send orders to their respective armies to make preparations and set off eastward along the Wei River the next day, before returning home.

Meanwhile, Guo Huai, the governor of Yongzhou and General Yangwu, was riding side by side with his eldest son, Guo Tong, towards the camp northwest of Meiwu and north of the Wei River.

When they reached the Wei River pontoon bridge, Guo Tong gestured for his cavalry to step back a little, and he and his father, Guo Huai, reined in their horses and stopped in the middle of the bridge.

"Father, what is the General's intention today? He himself holds the highest position and has made countless contributions, yet he won't let your father achieve any merit?" Guo Tong's words were full of dissatisfaction. "Moreover, today he even used your father as an example for the other generals! It's truly despicable!"

Guo Huai looked up at the sky and sighed deeply, "Perhaps there is something we don't know, otherwise they wouldn't have said that. It's just a pity that I've been the governor of Yongzhou for thirteen years, yet I'm only half a governor!"

Yongzhou covers a vast area. The four prefectures of Tianshui, Nan'an, Longxi and Guangwei in Longyou to the west belong to Yongzhou, as do Jingzhao, Fufeng and Fengling in Guanzhong.

Over the years, Guo Huai, the governor of Yongzhou, has almost always been stationed in the four commanderies of Longyou. The minister stationed in Chang'an has changed from Xiahou Mao to Cao Zhen, and then from Cao Zhen to Sima Yi. Now the court has offered Sima Yi the position of Grand Commandant, but Sima Yi has refused in front of the generals, putting on airs, as if he is unwilling to leave Chang'an!

It's been thirteen years!

Therefore, Guo Huai was resentful and only referred to himself as half a governor!

Guo Huai craved merit, but Sima Yi could not satisfy him!