The Only Candidate

Luoyang, the Grand General's residence.

"Elder brother."

Sima Zhao bent at the waist, holding his bow.

Sima Shi lay on his side on the couch, his expression dark and grim. Even Sima Zhao, his own younger brother, felt afraid when he saw the look in his eyes.

"Since Guo De's death, the ministers have stopped submitting memorials."

"I'm preparing to build support for the Prince of Pengcheng. While the Empress Dowager is still in a panic, we can force her to issue an edict and enthrone him. I've already decided who should lead the effort. I intend to have..."

"Foolish."

Sima Shi cut his younger brother off.

"If we enthrone the Prince of Pengcheng, the Guo Family will lose all its power, and the Empress Dowager will no longer be the Empress Dowager. She would sooner die than let you do that."

Sima Zhao froze. "Wasn't enthroning the Prince of Pengcheng your idea?"

"I proposed enthroning the Prince of Pengcheng to force the Guo Family to give ground and compromise, so that Wang could become General Who Protects the Palace and share command of the Palace Guards with them."

Understanding dawned on Sima Zhao. "So that was it. You never actually intended to make the Prince of Pengcheng emperor. No wonder you backed down on this matter."

"But, elder brother, you've already offended the Guo Family beyond measure. With Guo De dead, there's no possibility of reconciliation between our families. Why not simply remove the Empress Dowager and make the Prince of Pengcheng emperor..."

Sima Shi remained expressionless.

"Families deal with one another through mutual interests," he said coldly.

"The Cao family once nearly exterminated the entire Guo Family. Yet what happened afterward? Didn't the Guo Family still shed tears of gratitude toward them?"

"What does killing one Guo De amount to? Give them enough benefits, and they can still become your trusted confidants."

"Besides, I killed him. What does that have to do with you?"

Once again, Sima Zhao saw the light.

"Elder brother, surely we can't still enthrone Cao Mao?"

"That brat may be young, but the way he conducts himself borders on the monstrous. What will he be like once he grows up? We absolutely cannot make him emperor. Better to have him die and cut off all future trouble!"

Sima Shi gave a cold laugh.

"You've finally said something right for once. But you cannot kill him. Only I can."

"As for the candidate for emperor, Cao Huan, son of Cao Yu, the Prince of Yan, is young and intelligent. He can carry on the sacrifices to Emperor Ming..."

"Good, then we'll enthrone him as the Son of Heaven! But, elder brother, when will you act against Cao Mao?"

"There's no hurry. Once the new emperor ascends the throne, the Duke of the Village can die of illness."

Sima Shi waved a hand. "Go make the preparations at once!"

Just as Sima Zhao accepted the order, someone hurried in through the doorway.

It was Zhong Hui.

Zhong Hui was very close to Sima Shi, who treated him with great indulgence. Sima Zhao would never dare barge into Sima Shi's study, but Zhong Hui dared to do just that.

"Grand General! Something has happened!"

"Oh?"

"Guanqiu Jian, the General Who Guards the East, has sent someone to request an audience with you."

Sima Shi abruptly sat up, a flicker of astonishment finally crossing his eyes.

Sima Shi had already brought the Imperial Court into line, leaving not a single minister who dared oppose him. In the provinces, however, he still had concerns.

Cao Wei's institutions carried on those of the Great Han, with its forces divided into the Central Army and the Outer Army.

The Central Army, naturally, guarded Luoyang and protected the emperor, while the Outer Army "oversaw military affairs in the provinces, with their commanders subsequently granted one of the four conquering or four guarding general titles."

The Outer Army was still a central force, not part of the Provincial Troops. It could be regarded as a central army stationed across different theaters of war.

As Grand General, Sima Shi nominally had authority over both the Central Army and the Outer Army. Whether they were willing to obey him was another matter.

Among these Military Governors were both trusted supporters of the Sima Family and loyal servants of Cao Wei.

Guanqiu Jian was a particularly volatile factor.

His prestige rivaled Xiahou Xuan's, and his connections were extensive, with friends both at court and beyond. He was also an outstanding commander, having achieved the finest results of any expedition from China into the Northeast. Under his command were sixty thousand elite troops, all veterans who had fought alongside him for years.

Even Sima Shi treated him with the utmost courtesy, because Sima Shi was not entirely confident he could eliminate him.

If he allied with the Wu Kingdom and called upon the realm's Military Governors to campaign against Sima Shi, while Jiang Wei led Xiahou Ba out of the Shu Kingdom to strike through the opening, the Sima Family might truly face grave trouble.

"Change my robes and headgear!"

Sima Shi hurried to make himself ready.

When Guanqiu Jian's envoy entered the study, he saw a splendidly dressed, vigorous Sima Shi.

Though a trace of cruelty still lingered between his brows, he looked imposing and showed not the slightest sign of serious illness.

"Grand General!"

After paying his respects, the man promptly handed Guanqiu Jian's letter to Sima Shi.

Sima Shi read the letter, his expression shifting between light and shadow.

"Very well. I understand. I will write a reply to the General Who Guards the East shortly. You may wait in the residence for a while."

The man bowed again before leaving.

Once he had gone, Sima Zhao and Zhong Hui entered.

Sima Shi's expression was deeply unpleasant. Sima Zhao was about to step forward to inspect the letter, but Zhong Hui snatched it up first and began reading it.

Sima Zhao frowned but said nothing.

As Zhong Hui read, he too turned pale with shock.

Guanqiu Jian's letter concerned Cao Mao.

In the letter, he stated:

Cao Fang, the King of Qi, has indeed committed certain wrongs. Grand General, your aspiration to emulate Huo Guang is commendable, though such actions inevitably invite criticism.

Fortunately, the New Son of Heaven you intend to enthrone is intelligent, kindhearted, generous, and appreciative of worthy men. He is entirely fit to rule a nation.

I admire him greatly and fully support your decision.

I have already conveyed this good news to Guo Huai, the General of Chariots and Cavalry; Sima Zhao, the General Who Conquers the West; Zhuge Dan, the General Who Guards the South; Hu Zun, the General Who Conquers the East; Wang Chang, the Grand General Who Conquers the South; Shi Bao, the General Who Rouses Martial Might; and others. Most have also expressed their approval.

The Grand General is wise indeed. With the New Son of Heaven ascending the throne, the Great Wei will surely flourish.

The remainder consisted of ordinary pleasantries.

After finishing the letter, Zhong Hui's eyes were filled with shock.

"How is this possible? Guanqiu Jian has always been profoundly grateful to the Founding Ancestor and wished to repay his kindness. I predicted earlier that deposing and replacing the emperor might turn his thoughts toward rebellion. He could never approve of it, so how could he now support Cao Mao?"

Only then did Sima Zhao snatch the letter from his hands and read it through.

"He wrote to me too? Why do I know nothing about it?"

Sima Shi ignored his younger brother and looked only at Zhong Hui, his eyes narrowed. "Why would Guanqiu Jian speak up for Cao Mao? Even if someone raced to Huainan with news of Xiahou Xuan's affair, he couldn't possibly have sent an envoy here so quickly."

"Unless someone contacted him beforehand and told him of their plans."

"Impossible! Our informants around him said no outsiders have visited him during this time. Only his son sent him a letter..."

Zhong Hui offered this in defense.

Sima Shi froze, then suddenly began to laugh.

It was the first time Sima Shi had laughed, and when he did, his face became even more frightening and sinister.

"So he contacted him through his son."

"Clever brat. I truly thought he had no fear of death. It turns out he had prepared everything long ago."

Shocked and uncertain, Zhong Hui said, "This absolutely cannot be Cao Mao's doing! He's only a child of thirteen or fourteen. How could he devise such a scheme? He has a great worthy advising him!"

"Guo Ze is a dullard, not worth mentioning. This must be Yang Zong's plan!"

"Yang Zong once devised schemes for Cao Shuang and opposed you, Grand General. You pardoned his crimes, yet he still stubbornly refuses to see reason! Grand General, kill him at once!"

"You must not!"

Sima Zhao hastily said, "Lord Yang is a man of great talent. I have a use for him. He must not be killed!"

"What do you mean by that, General? Are you trying to shield a traitor?"

"How dare you speak to me like that?"

The two immediately began arguing. Sima Shi watched them through narrowed eyes and shook his head again.

"There is no need to argue."

"We cannot afford to treat Guanqiu Jian's affairs carelessly. We are not yet ready. In the west, I hear Guo Huai is bedridden with illness. In the south, I hear Zhuge Dan has grown somewhat displeased with Guanqiu Jian..."

"But for now, Guo Huai is still alive, and Zhuge Dan is still Guanqiu Jian's closest friend."

"If we act rashly, we cannot withstand armies coming from all three directions."

Sima Zhao frowned. "You mean we still have to enthrone Cao Mao, elder brother?"

"He's already stirring up the realm until not even the chickens and dogs have peace. If we make him emperor, won't things become even worse?"

Sima Shi said calmly, "There is no need to worry."

"Deceit and trickery cannot serve as a foundation... A yellow-beaked fledgling is hardly worth mentioning."

"The one we should deal with now is not Cao Mao, but Guanqiu Jian. Until Guanqiu Jian is dead, my heart will know no peace."

"Shiji, go to Yu Province on my behalf."

"Yes!"