Sima Yue quickly learned the details of the conflict between Shao Xun and Sima Ying.
He didn’t dwell on the minor details but instead focused on Sima Ying’s expression at the time.
Upon hearing that Sima Ying had left with a dark, furious expression, Sima Yue burst into laughter.
“Magnificent!” he exclaimed, kneeling on a cushion and slapping the table in front of him. “Truly, heaven has blessed us with a divine general!”
In his council, there were still some who advised him to abandon Shao Xun, just as they had abandoned Sima Yi.
They suggested finding an opportunity to let Shao Xun “accidentally” fall into the hands of Shi Chao’s men, to curry favor with Meng Jiu and buy more time.
What nonsense! How could he possibly abandon such a fierce general, especially one from his own region of Donghai? How foolish would that be? The princess consort was right—this was a blessing from heaven!
“Reward him!” Sima Yue said, his voice hoarse with excitement.
“My lord, what should we reward him with?” Mi Huang asked softly.
Indeed, what should he give? Sima Yue paused, momentarily stumped.
Promoting Shao Xun wasn’t an option at the moment.
He was still reorganizing the imperial guards, and there were no vacancies.
“Has the selection of filial and incorrupt candidates been completed?” Sima Yue turned to Dai Yuan, his military advisor.
“It will be finalized by May. By June or July, they can officially take up their posts as Commandant Sima and receive their official seals,” Dai Yuan replied.
He had already worked hard to expedite the process.
This year’s selection in Donghai was being handled as a special case, and the speed was unprecedented.
Even so, the Minister of Works had been pressing him, and Dai Yuan couldn’t help but feel annoyed.
Why was Shao Xun causing so much trouble?
But then he remembered Shao Xun’s bold capture of prisoners and shuddered.
If he had been captured like that, he would have been utterly humiliated.
Being thrown to the ground in such a manner would have left him broken.
“Are there any unoccupied mansions in the capital?” Sima Yue asked.
“There is one,” Dai Yuan replied. “After the death of Huangfu Shang, a former advisor to Sima Yi’s council, his family either died or scattered. His mansion was seized by his relatives. When Zhang Fang entered the city, he hunted down Huangfu Shang’s relatives and killed them all. Now, the mansion stands empty. Outside the city, Huangfu Shang also owned a garden, which is also unoccupied.”
Huangfu Shang had been the key figure in the betrayal incident that led to the arrest and execution of Li Han, a trusted general of Sima Yong.
Bian Cui and Feng Sun had also died in the affair, while Zhuge Mei and Qian Xiu fled to Ye City.
Later, Huangfu Shang had traveled west with an imperial edict to seek help from his elder brother, Huangfu Zhong, the governor of Qinzhou.
However, he was betrayed and killed by a relative in Xinping.
Sima Yong had always hated Huangfu Shang and had ordered Zhang Fang to exterminate his entire family and clan.
The Guanzhong army was still besieging Tianshui, where Huangfu Zhong was personally leading the defense, inflicting heavy casualties.
Sima Yong was even considering giving up.
After hearing Dai Yuan’s report, Sima Yue thought for a moment.
Although Huangfu Zhong was the governor of Qinzhou and loyal to the court, he was isolated in the west and unlikely to hold out for long.
With that in mind, Sima Yue quickly made a decision: “Grant Huangfu Shang’s mansion and garden to Shao Xun. Also, allocate a portion of gold, silk, and provisions. You decide the exact amount.”
“Understood,” Dai Yuan replied without objection.
Huangfu Shang’s family was mostly dead, and the mansion and garden would eventually fall into ruin.
It was better to give them away to win people’s hearts.
After rewarding the property, Sima Yue turned to He Lun with a stern expression. “Look at how brave Shao Xun is, while you all are so weak. If we go to battle, would I dare to use you?”
He Lun broke into a cold sweat and repeatedly apologized.
Earlier, he had led two thousand troops in a drill against the Jizhou soldiers, but they had collapsed in less than an hour, making a complete fool of themselves.
Sima Yue snorted but didn’t say more.
He Lun was an old subordinate, and it was best to leave him some face.
Besides, while Shao Xun was brave, it was necessary to maintain some balance.
No matter how incompetent He Lun and Wang Bing were, they could at least serve as a counterweight to Shao Xun, preventing him from rising too quickly.
Maintaining internal power balance was a skill every ruler needed.
Someone like Shao Xun, who stood out so prominently, could be both a blessing and a curse.
After saying this, Sima Yue stood up and gazed at the dark mass of troops on the field, remaining silent for a long time.
He knew that a battle with Sima Ying was inevitable.
In his original plan, he had intended to bring the kingdom’s army into the fight, but now he hesitated.
These troops simply weren’t up to the task.
Perhaps they would have to stay behind in Luoyang to deal with Zhang Fang.
If they marched north to Ye City, Sima Yong in Chang’an would surely send troops east to support Sima Ying, and the commanding general would likely be Zhang Fang.
The main force would head north to engage the Ye troops, while a smaller force would block the Guanzhong army.
That was his plan.
It seemed the kingdom’s army would have to stay behind, but—could they really handle Zhang Fang? In the end, he might have to rely on Shao Xun.
Sima Yue sighed.
Talented people were in short supply.
The reorganization of the imperial guards needed to speed up.
With that thought, he turned his gaze back to the imperial guards on the field.
The only reason they obeyed him now was the simple fact that they didn’t want to be bullied by the northerners and were forced to band together for survival.
If he could command them as easily as moving his own arm—he would dare to charge at Sima Ying right now in this open field!
What kind of hunt was this? Did they really think he was groveling before them?
Sima Ying soon left, taking with him the carriage, robes, and full ceremonial regalia of the Crown Prince’s younger brother.
From then on, Sima Ying could appear on the plains of Hebei with the dignity of the Crown Prince’s younger brother.
In fact, he might even use the emperor’s own pomp and ceremony—he was capable of such a thing.
Shao Xun rarely left the city, but now he was heading home!
He now had two residences.
The one inside the city was small and cluttered with various tools and equipment, leaving little room to live.
Moreover, it had been set on fire by Zhang Fang’s men and was barely habitable without major repairs.
So, he was heading to the garden outside the city.
“It’s not far from the Golden Valley Garden. Huangfu Shang built it just two years ago,” Pei Shiliu said as he rode alongside Shao Xun, who had never been to the suburban estate.
“Two years ago, Huangfu Shang was a close confidant of Prince Qi. After Prince Qi’s downfall, he attached himself to Sima Yi, but by this year, he too had fallen,” Mi Huang, who had come along, sighed.
To be fair, Huangfu Shang had done quite well.
After Prince Qi’s defeat, he had managed to preserve his family, mansion, and wealth, successfully gaining Sima Yi’s favor and重用.
But he couldn’t escape the latest round of political purges in Luoyang.
His family was wiped out, with men, women, and even relatives all killed by Zhang Fang.
His brother, Huangfu Zhong, the governor of Qinzhou, was still holding out, besieged by the Guanzhong army.
His fate would likely be no better.
“Who owns the Golden Valley Garden now?” Shao Xun asked.
Shi Chong had only been dead for four years, and the once-glorious Golden Valley Garden hadn’t completely fallen into ruin.
Surely some noble would have taken an interest.
“It was first reclaimed by the court, then granted to Shi Yan. He’s Shi Chong’s grandnephew and was enfeoffed as the Duke of Leling,” Mi Huang explained. “But Shi Yan had no interest in the Golden Valley Garden. He sold off the valuable items, dismissed the servants, and left Luoyang to return to his fief in Leling.”
“He’s a smart man,” Shao Xun remarked.
“There are many smart people in the world, but understanding something is one thing, and acting on it is another. Shi Yan had no attachment to the splendor of Luoyang or the grandeur of the Golden Valley Garden. He simply wanted to return to his fief and live in peace. He truly saw through it all,” Mi Huang said. “Now the Golden Valley Garden is untended, overgrown with weeds and inhabited by foxes and rats. It’s a pity. Just last month, Shi Chao visited the garden. He’s taken a liking to it and often goes there for no reason.”
“When Shi Chao stays at the Golden Valley Garden, does he bring many attendants?” Shao Xun suddenly asked, lowering his voice.
Mi Huang had clearly considered this as well.
He glanced around and whispered, “He brings quite a few. He also often trains troops there.”
“Then forget it,” Shao Xun said, decisively abandoning the impractical idea.
The Golden Valley Garden was, after all, a mountainous landscape garden with treacherous terrain.
If Shi Chao had been training troops there, there were likely rudimentary defensive structures in place, making it difficult to attack quickly.
But that didn’t mean the situation couldn’t be exploited for gain.
Sima Ying had left fewer than fifty thousand troops in Luoyang, including about eight or nine thousand surrendered soldiers.
These were spread across twelve city gates, meaning each gate was guarded by only a handful of men.
Honestly, it would have been better to gather all fifty thousand in one place.
They would still be a formidable force and less vulnerable to being picked off one by one.
If an opportunity arose, and Shi Chao happened to be at the Golden Valley Garden, a sudden attack could wipe out the tens of thousands of troops Sima Ying had left in Luoyang.
In that case, Shi Chao would have no choice but to flee back to Ye City in disgrace and await punishment.
“Do you have your eye on the Golden Valley Garden?” Mi Huang asked with a smile.
“Even if the Golden Valley Garden fell into my hands, I would only do a few things with it,” Shao Xun said.
“What things?” Mi Huang asked curiously.
“First, I’d clean up those beautiful lotus ponds and raise fish in them.”
“Second, I’d clear the meadows and gardens and raise livestock.”
“Third, I’d make use of every corner of the land to plant fruits and vegetables.”
Mi Huang burst out laughing.
This was truly the response of someone who had no appreciation for elegance.
If someone like Wang Dao, a man of refined tastes, were here, he would speak of the gentle breeze, the drifting willow catkins, the shimmering waves, the misty rain, the serene bamboo groves, the delicate flowers, the elegant music, and the beautiful ladies.
But Shao Xun’s practical approach was a stark contrast to the romantic ideals of the Wei and Jin dynasties.
Did he even understand the refined and carefree spirit of the literati?
Mi Huang couldn’t help but laugh.
The young lord hadn’t yet adapted to the life of the upper class.
If word got out, people would laugh at him.
He would need to be properly guided, or he might never fit into the scholarly circles.
Shao Xun also laughed, mocking himself. “I’m a country bumpkin, unfit for fine living.”
The scholarly class, even including the relatively poor branches and lower-ranking families, made up less than one percent of the population.
Their lifestyle, or what was known as the Wei-Jin风度, was completely different from the other 99%.
In the village of Shihao, the tears of parting couples were more abundant than those in the Palace of Eternal Life.
The elegance of the Wei-Jin era coexisted with a slave society, where tears and blood were more common than romantic scenes.
This was the true Western Jin.
“Generals, we’ve arrived at the garden,” Pei Shiliu said, pointing to a mansion hidden among bamboo and trees.
Shao Xun looked ahead and saw a dozen or so people approaching quickly.
“Who are these people?” he asked.
“General, these are the estate’s guests, attendants, and stewards—eleven in total,” Pei Shiliu replied.
“Old retainers of the Huangfu family?” Shao Xun asked, puzzled.
Hadn’t Zhang Fang killed them all?
Pei Shiliu hesitated for a moment, then leaned in and whispered, “They were sent by the princess consort. Don’t worry, they have no connection to the Pei family. There are also several dozen newly recruited servants in the mansion. The princess consort said, ‘As a Commandant Sima, you must have a full retinue of guests and servants to be considered a proper household.’”
Shao Xun fell silent.
Why was Princess Pei acting like the lady of the house?
Woman, you need to be rational.
If your husband finds out…
Shao Xun instinctively glanced back and saw that Mi Huang had already ridden ahead a dozen paces and was admiring an old tree, nodding and murmuring in appreciation.
Looking further back, Chen Yougen and thirty knights from the training unit had reined in their horses and stopped about seven or eight paces away.
These guys!
(End of Chapter)