gnovel Chapter 1441 Testing the Waters, Self-Recommendation
Chapter 1441 Testing the Waters, Self-Recommendation
Chapter 1441 Testing the Waters, Self-Recommendation
The mud on West Street in Qiao County gleamed oily under the bleak afternoon sun.
As soon as Li Sheng stepped onto the street, a stench mixed with the smell of snow wafted over—it was thawed horse manure floating in the mud.
Upon seeing the muddy road before him, Li Sheng instinctively covered his mouth and nose.
Looking up, I saw that the tung oil dripping from the imperial gold plaque in front of the Grand Tutor's mansion had solidified into yellowish-brown icicles, which were splashing into the black water in front of the steps.
His brows furrowed involuntarily.
If it weren't for the general's orders, he really wouldn't want to set foot in this place.
Remembering the purpose of his trip, Li Sheng had no choice but to lift his brocade robe, wade through the mud, walk to the door, and knock.
After waiting for a long time without seeing anyone come to open the door, Li Sheng had no choice but to push the door open.
squeak-
The door seemed to be breathing its last gasp.
Black mud squeezed out from the hinge splattered onto his soap boots.
The scene inside was even more filthy: the snow in the courtyard had been trampled into a grayish-brown mud, mixed with bits of medicine and chicken feathers.
The people inside the mansion seemed to be startled by the creaking of the gate. Sima Zhao came out of a room and saw Li Sheng standing in the courtyard.
The impatience on Li Sheng's face vanished in an instant, replaced by a broad smile.
But he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and asked humbly:
"But was it Young Master Sima in person?"
Sima Zhao quickly returned the greeting:
"I wouldn't dare. I am Sima Zhao. May I ask who you are?"
For the past two years, Sima Zhao has been busy with the war in Hebei while in Qiao County, and he knelt in front of the General's Mansion more than once.
As one of Cao Shuang's confidants, it was only natural that Li Sheng could recognize Sima Zhao.
Sima Zhao did consider using Cao Shuang's confidants, such as the "Three Dogs of Taichung," to indirectly request an audience, but none of them gave him the opportunity.
At this moment, he felt that Li Sheng looked somewhat familiar, but he did not know the other party's identity or name.
"I am Li Sheng, a military advisor in the General's office. I have been appointed by the General as the Chief Clerk of the Hebei Army and have come here to bid farewell to the Grand Tutor."
Upon hearing this, Sima Zhao's face showed surprise:
"So it's Military Advisor Li! Oh, no, I misspoke, please forgive me! So it's Chief Clerk Li, I failed to greet you properly, what a breach of etiquette!"
Seeing Sima Zhao bowing and scraping respectfully before him, Li Sheng knew that at least half of the reason was due to the great general's prestige, but he was still extremely pleased.
“Oh, Young Master Sima, there’s no need for such formalities. It is I who have come without permission and should be the one to apologize.”
After speaking, he handed over the letter, saying, "I only ask that the Grand Tutor not take offense."
Sima Zhao hurriedly stepped forward to take the letter, his face showing even greater fear:
"Li Changshi, my father has woken up, but he has caught a cold and has a persistent fever. His fever only subsided yesterday, so I'm afraid he is not able to receive guests."
"Is that so?" Li Sheng asked with concern. "Then I must see the Grand Tutor."
After a pause, Li Sheng looked concerned but also somewhat embarrassed:
"To be honest, Young Master Sima, I came here not only to bid farewell to the Grand Tutor, but also on the orders of the General to visit him."
"If I cannot see the Grand Tutor, I fear I will find it difficult to report back to the General!"
Upon hearing Li Sheng's half-threatening words, a flash of anger crossed Sima Zhao's face. He closed his eyes slightly, took a deep breath, and barely managed to suppress his emotions.
Finally, he squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth:
"Please, Chief Secretary Li!"
As soon as Li Sheng stepped into the room, the strong smell of medicine mixed with a foul odor hit him hard, causing him to stumble.
"Chief Secretary Li, please."
Sima Zhao extended his hand to lead the way.
Looking into the dimly lit inner room, Li Sheng held his breath, paused for a few moments, and then steeled himself to continue forward.
"Grand Tutor, Grand Tutor?"
Li Sheng came to Sima Yi's bedside and called out softly.
Sima Yi did not react.
Li Sheng raised his voice and called out several more times. Only then did Sima Yi react, opening his cloudy eyes and asking in a hoarse voice:
"Who...who are you?"
"Your humble servant Li Sheng has come to pay his respects to the Grand Tutor on the orders of the General."
"Li what?"
"Li Sheng."
Who is Li Sheng?
"Sheng was originally a military advisor in the General's Office. He had no other merits, but was unexpectedly favored and appointed as the Chief Secretary of the Hebei Army. He went to the General's Office to bid farewell, but was unaware of the favor shown to him and was granted an audience."
"Sending troops to Hebei? Does the General intend to attack the Han army from the north?"
"It's not that we're sending troops to Hebei, but that Sheng is about to take up the post of Military Governor of Hebei. Therefore, I've come to bid farewell to the Grand Tutor and listen to his teachings."
Sima Yi seemed not to hear, and continued speaking to himself:
"The Han army is powerful, and the Wu bandits are also providing support from afar. If the general does not have a foolproof plan to recover Hebei, there is a risk of being attacked from both the north and the south. We must be cautious."
Li Sheng had no choice but to repeat what he had said aloud again.
Sima Yi finally heard clearly this time: "You wish to take up the post of Chief Administrator of the Hebei Army?"
“Indeed.” Li Sheng looked at the emaciated Sima Yi, and despite their differing political stances, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity, sighing as he said:
"Our lord is still young, and the world relies on you, Your Excellency. How could Your Excellency be in such a state!"
Sima Yi closed his eyes, adjusted his breathing to harmonize his breaths, and then slowly said:
"I am old and seriously ill, and I will die at any moment. I do not understand your words. You have been appointed as the Chief Secretary of the Hebei Army. You are of great virtue and heroic spirit, and you are eager to make meritorious contributions."
"Now I must part from you, for I am growing weak and know that we will never meet again. Therefore, I wish to rely on myself and ask my humble host to help me part from this life and death."
"I wish to have my son Zhao befriend you, so that we may not part, thus fulfilling my humble wish."
Li Sheng also sighed and replied, "I will gladly accept your instruction, but I await your imperial decree."
Sima Yi was already sobbing and choking, his saliva dripping and soaking his pillow.
Upon seeing this, Sima Zhao quickly stepped forward to wipe it clean.
Neither the father nor the son noticed that Li Sheng, standing beside them, seemed to be deep in thought.
If one's limbs are unresponsive and drool is unaware of it, isn't this a symptom of wind-dampness?
Just as he was thinking this, after Sima Zhao finished wiping Sima Yi's face, he turned around and said apologetically:
“Li Changshi, my father suffered from rheumatism in his early years. Although he recovered, he was left with a lingering ailment.”
"I have been overworked these past few years, and my old illness has relapsed. I apologize for my rudeness in front of the Chief Secretary."
Before she could finish speaking, her eyes were already red, and she raised her sleeve to wipe her eyes.
Li Shenglian said he dared not.
Then look at Sima Yi. His eyes are wide open, his pupils are trying to slant towards me, his mouth is slightly open but he is unable to speak, saliva is about to drip from the corner of his mouth, and his face twitches from time to time, making him look rather crooked and slanted.
Without lingering any longer, I excused myself and left.
After leaving the Grand Tutor's residence, Li Sheng did not linger for a moment. He went directly to the General's residence and told Cao Shuang in detail what he had seen and heard at the Grand Tutor's residence.
Finally, it was asserted that:
"Sima Gong is merely a corpse with lingering breath; his body and spirit have departed, so he is no longer a threat!"
Upon hearing this, Cao Shuang couldn't help but slap the table and burst into laughter, then said smugly to those around him:
"I have nothing to worry about now!"
Ding Mi and the others offered their congratulations, but Huan Fan reminded them:
"Sima Yi is inwardly suspicious but outwardly lenient. He is prone to suspicion and maneuvering, so we must be wary of his feigned illness."
Ding Mi chuckled, a hint of disdain on his face:
"Sima Yi was seventy years old. He was defeated in Hebei and humiliated by the world. He died on the city wall and had a fever on his bed. If it were anyone else, they would probably have been dead long ago."
"It's just a relapse of my old rheumatism; I'm already lucky to be alive. How could I possibly have the energy to feign illness?"
Upon hearing this, Cao Shuang found it reasonable and nodded in agreement.
It is rare for someone to live to seventy. Sima Yi was so old, and after being subjected to such torment, it is truly remarkable that he survived.
Huan Fan said in a deep voice:
"When Emperor Wu summoned Sima Yi, Sima Yi was suffering from rheumatism and could not go. It is possible that he was feigning illness to refuse the summons."
The implication is that if Sima Yi could feign illness when facing Emperor Wu back then, he could do the same now.
Ding Mi said calmly:
"So what if they're faking illness? Right now, there's only the father and son in that household, along with a few old servants. They're constantly being watched as they come and go. The entire city is under the control of the General. Do you really think they'll cause any trouble?"
Ding Mi looked down on Huan Fan.
Because in his early years, the Grand General appointed Huan Fan as the Governor of Ji Province, but unexpectedly, he was sent back by Sima Yi not long after, which was simply a joke.
If he weren't from the same hometown as the general, how would he have had the opportunity to sit here and talk to me?
Seeing Ding Mi's disdain for Sima Yi, Huan Fan thought the other party was truly arrogant and frowned, saying:
"The senior officials in the court are all friends with Sima Yi, and tens of thousands of elite soldiers follow his orders dozens of miles outside the city. How can we say we have no worries?"
Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Cao Shuang felt a headache coming on and quickly reached out to stop them:
"Alright, if we can't tell whether he's faking illness the first time, then we'll test him a few more times. You are all my trusted confidants, why argue over an old thief?"
When it comes to Cao Shuang's most trusted confidant, none other than Ding Mi stands out.
Many of the schemes to outwit Sima Yi originated from him.
However, Huan Fan and Cao Shuang were from the same hometown, and Huan Fan held the position of Grand Minister of Agriculture, in charge of the nation's granaries, so he should not be underestimated.
Having stopped the two from arguing, Cao Shuang again told Li Sheng to visit the Grand Tutor in a few days.
Several days later, Li Sheng returned to report:
"The Grand Tutor's condition is deteriorating beyond repair, which is truly heartbreaking!"
As a result, Cao Shuang and his men were no longer on guard.
After being ordered to test Sima Yi, Li Sheng was returning home to prepare to go to Hebei Army to take up the post of Chief Secretary when a servant suddenly reported that a guest had arrived.
After reading the visiting card, Li Sheng couldn't help but feel a little puzzled:
"What is he here for?"
Looking at the gift list that was handed over along with the visiting card, he raised an eyebrow slightly; this gift was no small sum.
After thinking for a moment, he gave the instructions:
"Invite him in."
After straightening his clothes, Li Sheng went to the front yard and bowed to the people waiting in the living room, saying:
"I didn't expect you to come. I was unable to greet you properly. Please forgive me!"
Jia Chong quickly stood up and returned the greeting:
"No, no, it's me who has been presumptuous to come and disturb you. I should be the one apologizing."
Li Sheng laughed heartily and invited Jia Chong to take a seat.
Seeing that Li Sheng had also sat down, Jia Chong then said:
"I have come here today to congratulate you on your appointment as Chief Secretary of the Hebei Army. This is just a small gift, and I hope you will not find it offensive."
Li Sheng quickly waved his hand:
"Oh, you're too modest. That's not a small gift, it's a very generous one! I feel unworthy to accept it, I feel so unworthy to accept it!"
"I'm glad you're pleased."
After exchanging pleasantries, Li Sheng noticed Jia Chong's hesitant expression and took the initiative to ask:
"Gonglu has sent so many gifts this time, it must be more than just a simple congratulatory gift, right?"
Jia Chong quickly stood up and bowed respectfully:
"My lord, you are wise enough to know that you still have some selfish motives."
"Hey, don't be so formal," Li Sheng waved his hand, looking at the generous gift, and said in a friendly tone, "There are no outsiders here, so let's talk about business and personal matters."
"Yes, thank you, Chief Secretary." Jia Chong paused for a moment, as if gathering his words, and then said, "As you know, Chief Secretary, after my father passed away, I, Chong, received great favor and was able to inherit the title."
"However, over the years, although I have the ambition to make contributions, I have been muddled and have accomplished nothing. I am ashamed to face my late father for the generous salary of the Great Wei."
"I have heard that you, Chief Secretary, have been entrusted by the General to go to the remnants of the army in Hebei to appease the people. I am not capable, but I am willing to volunteer to help you and lead the way."
"Oh?" Li Sheng was somewhat surprised. "Gonglu, as a high-ranking official, holds a prestigious position, yet he is unwilling to sit in court and instead wants to face those lowly soldiers?"
Jia Chong smiled bitterly:
"Although he was of noble birth, he was unworthy and dared not inform his father during family sacrifices."
Li Sheng was taken aback, then sighed deeply:
"I have often heard that Gonglu is known throughout the world for his filial piety, and now that I have seen it, it is indeed so."
During the Battle of Shiting, Jia Kui saved Cao Xiu but was publicly humiliated by Cao Xiu instead.
Afterwards, the two submitted memorials simultaneously, impeaching each other.
Although Cao Rui knew that Jia Kui was upright, he needed to rely on his relative Cao Xiu, so he judged that neither of them was at fault.
In reality, the Wei state suffered extremely heavy losses in the Battle of Shiting, with over 10,000 soldiers killed, countless missing, over 10,000 chariots lost, and tens of thousands of livestock such as cattle, horses, and donkeys.
Supplies were secondary; the most important thing was that, after this battle, the State of Wei completely lost the initiative against the State of Wu on the eastern front.
After the shift in power dynamics, the Wu Kingdom launched its annual northern invasions without any restraint. Fortunately, with Sun Quan, the war god of Hefei, the Wei Kingdom was able to prevent the situation on its eastern front from deteriorating further.
However, the western front was under immense pressure from the Shu Han state. After this battle, Wei had no choice but to rely on Hefei to block Sun Quan's invasion.
As a veteran general, Jia Kui had already foreseen the dire situation that the Wei Kingdom would face in the Jianghuai region after the disastrous defeat at Shiting.
The only misjudgment was the performance of the Hefei God of War and the ambition of the Dongwu family.
If it weren't for Emperor Sun, under normal circumstances, the Jianghuai region of Wei might even have fallen to the enemy.
So when he saw that Cao Xiu, who had committed a serious mistake, not only did not receive any punishment, but was even specially sent by the emperor to deliver a decree to comfort him, and the honors and rewards were even more grand, he was so angry and resentful that he died suddenly in the same year.
Although Jia Kui is dead, the grudges between him and Cao Xiu during his lifetime cannot be easily erased.
After Cao Xiu's death, his son Cao Zhao was deeply favored by Cao Rui. He was not only allowed to enter and leave the palace, but also often slept with Cao Rui and could even wear Cao Rui's clothes at will.
But Jia Kui's son, Jia Chong, was different.
Jia Kui had a son late in life, and Jia Chong was only eleven years old when he died. Although he was known for his filial piety during the mourning period, his career was inevitably affected by the feud between his father and Cao Xiu.
In addition, the situation in the State of Wei has been turbulent in recent years, and Jia Chong, after so many years, is still only a minor official.
Jia Kui was orphaned at a young age and came from a poor family. Even as a child, he played around with the regular troops and aspired to become a general and commander.
Compared to his father, Jia Chong thus said, "Whenever there is a family sacrifice, I dare not tell my father."
Upon hearing that the man shared his father's ambitions, Li Sheng immediately became solemn.
Cao Xiu has been dead for over twenty years, and even his son Cao Zhao has died. Now, the Grand General is in power, so naturally, he rejects those former officials and descendants of the previous dynasty.
Therefore, considering the generous gift, Li Sheng was willing to give Jia Chong this opportunity, so he asked:
"I am here on the orders of the General to go to Hebei to reorganize the defeated troops. This is of great importance. Are you aware of this?"
"I know." Jia Chong nodded and said softly, "My wife, Guo, is from Taiyuan and is related to General Guo. If we're being honest, she should call General Guo 'uncle'."
"Now that Taiyuan has fallen, the Guo clan members are scattered and unable to reunite. If you, Chief Secretary, could allow me to go to the army and meet with General Guo, so that my wife can reminisce about our family, I would be eternally grateful on her behalf."
"Hey!" Before Jia Chong could finish speaking, Li Sheng slapped his thigh and stood up, striding forward and grabbing Jia Chong's hand. "I had completely forgotten that Gonglu had such a connection!"
Who is General Guo?
It is naturally Guo Huai.
Guo Huai was Sima Yi's trusted confidant who led the army in Hebei.
If Jia Chong could really help him persuade Guo Huai, wouldn't his chances of achieving his goal this time be much greater?
Thinking of this, Li Sheng tightened his grip on Jia Chong's hand, a warm smile spreading across his face.
“Since Gonglu is so devoted to serving the country, how could I be the villain who obstructs him? Rest assured, tomorrow I will go and report to the General and recommend you as a military advisor to accompany me to the army. What do you say?”
Jia Chong was overjoyed and quickly rose to pay his respects:
"I am deeply grateful for the great kindness of the Chief Secretary in promoting me!"
(End of this chapter)