The change in Sima Fu's expression stunned Sima Zhao. He no longer dared to put on an act and honestly assumed the manner proper toward an elder, asking earnestly, "If he leaves, how should we arrange matters in the imperial palace?"
Seeing Sima Zhao change his attitude, Sima Fu ceased being as forceful as before and softened somewhat.
He offered reassurance. "Zishang, I truly don't understand. You command a Central Army of a hundred and thirty thousand, and with the support of the generals elsewhere, you can muster over two hundred thousand troops. Why are you so afraid?"
"If you feared Guanqiu Jian rebelling, I could still understand. But here in Luoyang, you worry about the emperor rising against you-that is what I cannot understand. What have you to fear? Can the emperor alone match the hundred thousand troops of the Central Army in your hands?!"
Sima Zhao lowered his head, not daring to answer.
Sima Fu continued, "If you're worried about the Empress Dowager, Guo Jian commands only a little over four thousand soldiers. Even all the Guo Family's power combined amounts to fewer than ten thousand men. Do you need to fear him?!"
"I heard you replaced Guo Zhi, the Chief of the Changshui, with Palace Commandant Yin Damu, appointing Yin Damu as Chief of the Changshui."
"Now all the Guo Family has left is Guo Jian's force."
"What exactly are you afraid of?"
Faced with his uncle's questioning, Sima Zhao hesitated for a long time before stammering, "My elder brother told me not to underestimate the emperor..."
"He told you not to underestimate the emperor, not to worry yourself into this state! Our enemy now is Guanqiu Jian. He commands eighty thousand elite troops-that is what you should worry about. What great enemy is that emperor?"
"In