The Grand General's Methods

Du Yu hurriedly said, "General!"

"You are a minister of Wei. How can you kill a member of the Imperial Clan without cause?"

"The Noble Rural Duke has committed no great wrong. How many people under heaven admire Lord Xiahou? Are you going to kill him simply because he pleaded for Lord Xiahou?"

"How will the people of the realm see you?"

"Clearing Xiahou Xuan's name would harm the Grand General, but killing the Noble Rural Duke would harm you!"

Sima Shi and Sima Zhao played different roles.

Sima Shi primarily flexed his muscles, using slaughter to silence the ministers, while Sima Zhao worked to win them over.

Simply put, one played the red face, the other the white face-the kindly one and the villain.

Take Xiahou Xuan's case: Sima Shi insisted on killing him, while Sima Zhao pleaded for mercy on his behalf.

Sima Shi had no need for an unsullied reputation, but Sima Zhao still did.

In the Sima Family's three-step strategy, Sima Shi had decided that his younger brother would complete the final step and ascend the imperial throne.

Thus, he needed a good reputation and everyone's support. He had to preserve some dignity and look the part of a wise ruler.

Yet in history, Cao Mao had used his own life to shatter Sima Shi's strategy, leaving Sima Zhao utterly disgraced. The Sima Family could only delay another generation and let Sima Yan fulfill that mission.

Sima Zhao naturally understood this reasoning too.

But he remained utterly resolute. "If we don't kill him today, we'll regret it sooner or later!"

Du Yu spoke again. "General, not only must you refrain from killing him, you must also echo his words and agree with him. Most importantly, you must send men to protect him. You absolutely cannot allow anyone with ulterior motives to kill him."

"My fear is that the people who want him dead now are not you, but those in court who harbor hidden agendas."

"The matter of clearing his name has already stirred a boiling uproar. If the Noble Rural Duke suddenly died, I dare not imagine the criticism it would provoke."

"The Noble Rural Duke's death would benefit many ministers in the Imperial Court. You alone would gain nothing from it."

Sima Zhao was furious.

"He's perched on my head taking a shit, and I'm supposed to protect him?"

"I am the General Who Conquers the West... I must..."

Sima Zhao's face reddened with pent-up rage, and he ground his teeth in hatred.

Du Yu said, "The key now is not the Noble Rural Duke. You should deal with the ministers first. Win over one faction, suppress another, and execute a third. Once the matter of clearing Xiahou Xuan's name is settled, no one will care about the Noble Rural Duke's affair."

"At that point, simply enthrone someone else and pay the Duke of the Village no further heed. If you wish to put the great undertaking first, you cannot slaughter members of the Imperial Clan at will."

"Failing to endure a small affront will throw a great plan into chaos."

"When Emperor Taizu of Han founded the Great Han, he first granted his enemy a marquisate, thereby winning the hearts of all under heaven."

"Once everything is settled, you should even grant him generous rewards to show your magnanimity. Only then can you win the love of the realm."

"The Duke of the Village is merely a child. Send a trusted subordinate with a company of troops to keep watch over him, and you will have nothing to worry about. Why insist on killing him and ruining your own reputation?"

Sima Zhao took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, the fury in them had vanished without a trace.

Smiling, he took Du Yu's hand and said gently, "If not for you, Yuan Kai, I would almost have made a grave mistake. I failed to think it through. The Noble Rural Duke seeks justice for a worthy man-he is truly wise. Lord Xiahou's virtuous reputation is known throughout the realm. I ought to help him clear his name!"

Du Yu breathed a sigh of relief.

"You are wise, General! I know you have always admired the Grand General and taken him as your model in everything. But you are not the Grand General, after all. You may study how he handles matters, but you cannot imitate his methods."

"You have your own strengths, ones even the Grand General cannot match. Why imitate him?"

At those words, Sima Zhao immediately laughed.

"You're right! My elder brother still knows nothing about this, yet here I am, hard at work. Clearly, there are times when even he cannot compare to me!"

"Make preparations. Let us go meet those great worthies at court!"

"Yes!"

The imperial palace, Taiji Hall, East Hall.

This was where the emperor and his ministers ordinarily dealt with the great affairs of the realm.

Its decorations were not extravagant. When Cao Pi had built Taiji Hall, he had focused on the main hall used for ceremonies and sacrifices, paying little attention to the East Hall used for business or the Western Hall where the emperor rested.

In Cao Pi's words, sacrifices and ceremonies were important matters honoring Heaven and the ancestors, and therefore had to be grand. Conducting business and enjoying comforts were less important and could be kept simple.

Although Cao Pi had many flaws, he possessed outstanding talent in governing and bringing peace to the people.

The ministers gathered there without speaking to one another, communicating only through their eyes.

They likely understood one another's intentions perfectly. Perhaps they had already reached an agreement before arriving.

Sima Zhao strode into the hall. Many ministers rose to greet him, though some remained unmoved.

Sima Zhao exchanged greetings with each of them, his expression smiling and mild.

The three ministers occupying the highest seats were Grand Commandant Sima Fu, Minister over the Masses Gao Rou, and Minister of Works Zheng Chong.

Though these three held lofty positions, the real work was done by the Secretariat. Sima Shi concurrently held the post of Director of the Secretariat, while Deputy Director of the Secretariat Lu Yu handled affairs in his stead.

Sima Fu was Sima Yi's younger brother and enjoyed an excellent reputation. Great families usually assigned their members different roles, and Sima Fu's role within the Sima Family was probably much like Guo Ze's.

Despite belonging to the Sima Family, he had a fine reputation and was deeply admired by scholars.

Gao Rou was a younger paternal cousin of Gao Gan, the late Inspector of Bing Province. He had started as a minor clerk and served from Cao Cao's time all the way to the present. In history, he was a veteran minister who assisted five generations of Cao Wei rulers... Having supported Sima Yi at Gaoping Mausoleum, he enjoyed the Sima Family's great favor.

Zheng Chong came from humble origins and had been personally promoted by Cao Pi. Yet in government, he had always been an invisible presence, never interfering in anything and seeking only to protect himself.

As for Lu Yu, his background was even more distinguished. He was the son of Lu Zhi, a celebrated minister of the Late Han.

"General, have you heard that the Noble Rural Duke is advocating clearing Lord Xiahou's name?"

The elderly Gao Rou was the first to speak.

Though advanced in years, Gao Rou showed not a trace of decrepitude, and his voice rang out strongly.

Gao Rou was not a dependent of the Sima Family. They were true allies. Having spent many years in the Imperial Court, he had countless former students and subordinates; even Sima Shi would not offend him lightly.

Sima Zhao had expected a few lackeys to launch probing attacks first. Instead, Gao Rou had opened the battle directly, with no intention of testing the waters.

"I have heard. I think it is a good thing. Lord Xiahou only acted as he did because others led him astray!"

Sima Zhao answered with a smile.

Smiles immediately appeared on the ministers' faces.

But Sima Zhao added, "I am willing to petition the Grand General together with you and ask him to clear Lord Xiahou's name!"

Gao Rou was no fool. He frowned. Were these two brothers putting on another performance?

"General, Lord Xiahou's reputation is known throughout the realm. He was implicated because he mistakenly trusted treacherous ministers, but the rebel was not him-it was someone else. Since even the New Son of Heaven is willing to clear his name, how can we ministers turn a blind eye?"

"General, we intend to petition the Empress Dowager and request an edict clearing Lord Xiahou's name. Please lead us!"

With a single statement, Gao Rou sealed off his escape route.

Don't go looking for your brother to put on a show. Come straight to the Empress Dowager with us.

Settle this matter once and for all. Didn't you say you supported us? Then come along!

If you refuse, that proves your support was a sham. We will give you no chance to playact.

Sima Zhao clearly had not expected Gao Rou to be so direct. Momentarily flustered, he hurriedly looked toward Sima Fu.

Sima Fu remained perfectly calm and nodded with a smile. "The Minister over the Masses speaks sense!"

"Yes! Exactly!"

"That is what we should do!"

Everyone began chiming in at once.

Sima Zhao felt unprecedented pressure. If my elder brother were not unwell, would these people dare act so brazenly?

He frantically searched for a way to respond.

Just then, a palace attendant suddenly entered through a side door and walked straight into the midst of the ministers.

Looking at them, the attendant unfolded the edict in his hands and read:

"An edict from the Empress Dowager!"

"Though Xiahou Xuan enjoyed a virtuous reputation, he participated in rebellion. There was nothing improper in prosecuting him under the laws of Wei. Now Marquis of Pingyuan Guo De, out of pity for his wife's brother, has sent men to mislead the New Sovereign and falsely proclaim an imperial decree, unsettling the realm and disturbing the Imperial Court!"

"The state has laws, which cannot be discarded for the sake of any individual. I too cherish Lord Xiahou, but I cannot therefore disregard the laws of the state, lest the state cease to be a state."

"Severely punish Marquis of Pingyuan Guo De for his crime. Let there be no further discussion of clearing Xiahou Xuan's name!"

Having finished, the attendant rolled up the edict.

Everyone stared, dumbstruck.

Just then, another man entered, bowed to the assembled ministers, and reported:

"My lords, upon learning that this affair had disturbed the Imperial Court, Marquis of Pingyuan Guo De was overcome with remorse. He personally wrote a confession admitting his crimes of misleading the New Sovereign and disrupting the Imperial Court, then took poison last night and killed himself."

At that moment, deathly silence filled the entire court.

Even Sima Zhao was dumbstruck.

What? Guo De confessed and killed himself?

And the Empress Dowager personally issued an edict refusing to clear Xiahou Xuan's name?

What was going on?

Had my elder brother made his move?!

But when had he done it?!