Cao Mao held Zhuge Dan's hand and looked toward Sima Zhao beside them.
"General of the Guards, the man who can cure your heartache has arrived!"
Had it not been for Cao Mao's earlier words, Sima Zhao would probably have snapped back at him long ago. But by now, his reputation among the ministers was already in tatters anyway. Every matter that displeased them was his doing, and Cao Mao rebuked him without sparing him the slightest dignity. Sima Zhao had come to accept it.
Fine. My heartache, the man I summoned, all my doing!
Zhuge Dan, however, glanced at Sima Zhao with some wariness in his eyes. Zhuge Dan and Sima Shi had been extremely close. They had once been celebrated scholars in the same circle, targets of Emperor Ming's crackdown together.
But he was not nearly as close to Sima Zhao, mainly because, unlike his elder brother, Sima Zhao did not know how to use different methods to win over different people. Sima Zhao always thought money, offices, and titles could win anyone over. Even with these celebrated scholars who valued their dignity, he used the same methods he had used to win over Jia Chong.
Sima Zhao considered this bestowing favors, but to these men, it was naked humiliation.
To put it more simply, Sima Zhao was too direct. Some things required a slight detour; one could not simply tear the skin off a celebrated scholar's face.
Sima Zhao suffered many setbacks throughout his life, yet never changed this bad habit.
Cao Mao hurriedly explained, "General, there is something you do not know. That scoundrel Jiang Wei invaded Yongliang, and I ordered grain and fodder stockpiled. Who would have thought that shortages would appear before the supplies had even set out? The General of the Guards told