Cao Rui looked thoughtfully at Xiahou Xian.
He did indeed want to find a suitable opportunity to replace Xiahou Mao, but his stance on the war on the western front remained unchanged.
He believed Shu Han would make no major moves in the near future.
Not long ago, Meng Da of Shangyong had rebelled, hoping to raise his own worth and hold out for the highest bidder.
Cao Rui had acted decisively, ordering Sima Yi to lead troops from Wancheng and march day and night to Shangyong.
Now Meng Da's head had been delivered to Luoyang, and Shangyong was pacified. He did not believe Zhuge Liang would dare send troops now.
Cao Rui waved his sleeve, a faint smile touching his lips. "I understand your meaning. However, I must still discuss affairs of war and state at length with my ministers."
His attitude was fairly amiable. Xiahou Xian naturally understood the emperor's meaning, so he said no more, cupped his hands, and withdrew.
Once everyone had dispersed, only Cao Rui and Cao Zhen remained in the hall.
Cao Rui's smile faded. "What do you think, General-in-Chief?"
"I believe we must guard against Shu Han, but the fighting on the eastern front is pressing. If our Great Wei fights on two fronts, we will surely be weighed down."
"Besides, Luoyang still needs me."
Cao Zhen's words were formal, but Cao Rui understood what he meant.
This was precisely what he had been considering.
After all, he had only recently ascended the throne, had not earned the slightest merit, and his foundations were unstable. Many lords at court were unconvinced of his authority. Thus, Cao Zhen was a general of the imperial clan he had to rely on, and could not readily be sent away unless absolutely necessary.
"Then what do you think of this young man, General-in-Chief?" Cao Rui changed the subject.
"Do you mean Xiahou Fengming, Your Majesty?" After a moment's thought, Cao Zhen praised him. "He has foresight beyond his years. He is worth cultivating."
"Is that so..."
Cao Zhen nodded slightly. At least in his eyes, whether in conversation or military insight, the Xiahou lad was far superior to his own ignorant, unlearned son. Had His Majesty not shown consideration for him, his son Cao Shuang would probably have been the one left without an official post.
The two exchanged a few more casual words before finally taking their leave.
In the carriage on the way back to the residence.
Princess Qinghe looked stern.
Seeing that his mother was displeased, Xiahou Xian tried to ease the atmosphere. "Mother, are you still thinking about what happened today?"
"Why is His Majesty so wary of his own family?" Qinghe said irritably. "Those sons of aristocratic families can be appointed mounted attendants at your age. That son of the Guanqiu family became a gentleman of the Imperial Secretariat as soon as His Majesty ascended the throne."
"And what about the children of our Cao and Xiahou families? I even set aside my dignity to speak frankly to His Majesty, yet he still brushed us off with a few careless words!"
"Mind your words, Mother." Seeing Qinghe grow increasingly agitated, Xiahou Xian hurriedly reminded her.
Only then did Qinghe realize she had gone too far. She quickly fell silent and pressed a hand to her chest to calm herself.
"I think taking a local post would be quite good too," Xiahou Xian said reassuringly.
"Good, my ass!" Before Qinghe had fully calmed down, she grew agitated again. "Do you think everyone has your father's luck? In a local post, you would at most become a county magistrate or someone else's subordinate. Not only would you have little authority, you would find your hands tied at every turn."
"It's not as though you don't know. Great Wei's commandery governors are almost all transferred in from elsewhere. How many gentlemen serving beside the emperor go straight out to take local posts? It would be far too difficult for you to make your own way up locally."
Xiahou Xian glanced at Qinghe. From her every word and action, he could truly feel how dearly she loved him, her son.
So Xiahou Xian voiced his true thoughts. "Who said I wanted to be a county magistrate? I want to serve in the army."
"Nonsense!" The moment Qinghe heard this, her head began to ache. She had only this one son; how could she let him join the army? If that useless husband of hers died, so be it. He did not want Xiahou Xian living a life where he might survive the morning only to perish by nightfall.
Then she recalled her son's exchange with Cao Rui in the hall that day, and understanding suddenly dawned.
"Oh! No wonder you told His Majesty today that the State of Shu was about to invade. Are you trying to get your father recalled so you can take his post yourself?"
Xiahou Xian hurriedly shook his head. "You're overthinking it, Mother. What virtue or ability do I possess to serve as an area commander?"
"Then you..."
"Mother, what are we having for supper?" Seeing that he truly could not explain the reasons to Qinghe, Xiahou Xian hastily changed the subject.
Two months later.
Great Wei entered the second year of Taihe.
Xiahou Xian spent most of his time at the residence during those days.
During that time, quite a few clansmen of his generation and sons of aristocratic families invited him on outings or came to visit him.
Among them were Xiahou Xuan, He Yan, and others. As descendants of men who had rendered distinguished service to Cao Wei, they naturally regarded Xiahou Xian as one of their own.
But Xiahou Xian truly had no interest in their daily pure talk about "mysterious learning" and the like. Whenever the conversation turned to such matters, he could only casually echo a few words.
Moreover, Xiahou Xian knew that Emperor Cao Rui would one day settle accounts with this clique of pure-talk enthusiasts, so he kept his distance from them, sometimes deliberately and sometimes not.
During this time, Princess Anyang actually did invite Xiahou Xian to her residence, ostensibly to exchange insights on military strategy with her two sons.
But Xiahou Xian did not accept. Who knew what she wanted to exchange insights on...
One day, Xiahou Xian was practicing martial arts on the training ground at his residence.
Only after gradually growing familiar with this body did he realize how sturdy and well-muscled it was. The sort of sword he normally wore felt like a weightless toy in his hand.
He believed that one day he would surely fight on the battlefield and win merit. As a member of the Cao Wei imperial clan, if he did not want to be devoured bit by bit by the Sima family, or even by the aristocratic families as a whole, holding military power was the only hard truth.
"Young master! Young master!"
Suddenly, a household servant's urgent voice reached his ears.
"Someone has come from the palace!"
Xiahou Xian immediately went to receive the imperial envoy, then learned that Emperor Cao Rui had urgently summoned him. Without first informing his mother, he hurried to the palace with the envoy, not stopping even to rest the horses.
Returning once more to Taiji Hall, he felt entirely different from before. Uneasy, he was just about to step through the doors when a palace attendant stretched out a hand to stop him.
"Master Xiahou, His Majesty has given a verbal command. Please wait a moment. He will summon you separately after the court session ends."
"Understood." Xiahou Xian cupped his hands toward the attendant in reply.
At that moment, the atmosphere inside the hall was chillingly severe.
After a minister finished reading the military dispatch from Longxi, Cao Rui descended the jade steps and walked slowly among his ministers.
"Nan'an, Tianshui, and Anding-three commanderies surrendered without a fight!" Cao Rui's furious voice echoed throughout the hall.
"What was Guo Huai, Inspector of Yong Province, doing? And what was Xiahou Mao, Area Commander of Guanzhong, doing, hmm? What was General-in-Chief Cao Zhen doing? Didn't they say Zhuge Liang's main army was on the Baoxie Road, its spearhead aimed straight at Chang'an?"
For a moment, none of the civil or military officials on either side dared speak.
"Speak!" Cao Rui raged.
The hall fell silent for a long while before an elderly minister finally stepped forward.
This man was Hua Xin, the current Grand Commandant.
Hua Xin had already resigned because of illness, but with such a grave matter at hand, he had come to court despite his sickness as Grand Commandant. Hua Xin said, "Your Majesty, the Shu troops at Ji Valley are merely a diversion. Zhuge Liang's main army actually took the main road through Mount Qi. His plan from the outset was to seize the commanderies of Longxi."
Cao Rui truly had no desire to listen to this wisdom after the event. He immediately made a decision. "My mind is made up. I will personally lead the campaign to Chang'an!"
These words caused an uproar on the spot, and the ministers offered remonstrance one after another.
"Your Majesty, you must not venture out lightly!"
"I implore Your Majesty to put the greater situation first!"
Cao Rui fixed his eyes on one minister and said coldly, "Then do you mean that you can recover those three Longxi commanderies for me?"
"Well..." The minister was struck speechless.
Cao Rui immediately declared, "My mind is made up. There is no need for further discussion."
Then he walked up the jade steps, one step at a time, before turning around, his gaze exceptionally fierce.
Soon, a resolute voice rang throughout the hall.
"I will never be the ruler who loses his kingdom!"