Chapter 21 3. Deterring Zhang He
The Gu Ming Tuo Gu ministers of the Wei State usually have two identities: one civil and one military: they will be commanders when they go out to conquer, and they will be ministers and lords when they enter the court to assist the government.Sima Yi usually only uses his position as "Hussar General" in the outer borders. Who would have thought that he would use the part-time "Censor Zhongcheng" to enter the court to discuss politics!This censor Zhongcheng has great power, in charge of discipline inspection, supervision, correction and impeachment of all civil and military officials across the country, from princes and ministers to small officials in prefectures and counties, everyone is afraid of him.Therefore, when Sima Yi suddenly suggested to His Majesty in his capacity as Yushi Zhongcheng to reiterate the late emperor's edict that the family of the descendants should not be rewarded indiscriminately and took the opportunity to rectify the rules and regulations, he also took the lead in contacting Taifu Zhongyou, Situ Wanglang, Sikong Chen Qun, and Taifu. When Wei Huaxin and other veteran ministers blatantly rejected the Queen Mother Guo's proposal to promote the middle base general and uncle Guo Biao to the Grand Sima, everyone was shocked.Only then did they deeply understand that the former Dong'e king Cao Zhi's praises about Sima Yi's "Quiet, outstanding, upright, majestic, and popular" are indeed true.
Just when the civil and military officials were sweating because Sima Yi had offended Queen Mother Guo openly, the edict of Sima Yi as the commander-in-chief of Guanzhong was quietly and suddenly announced in the court.This was like a thunderbolt from the blue, which shocked all civil and military officials.
Previously, who was appointed as the coach of Guanzhong has always been the "focus" of the ruling and opposition parties.However, just overnight, General Sima refuted the issue of Empress Dowager Guo's son, and became the "focus" of more attention from the court and the public.Surrounding this "focus", a lot of strange talks and strange theories came from the sky: Some people said that it was the Empress Dowager Guo who asked the emperor to send him to fight in Guanzhong in order to defeat the prestige of General Sima, and let the Shu bandits teach him a lesson about this stubborn, stubborn Conceited old minister; some people say that the emperor had no choice but to demote General Sima from the imperial court in order to appease the anger of Queen Mother Guo; The coach is purely going out to protect himself... At least, many courtiers believe that Sima Yi's appointment as the coach of Guanzhong this time, no matter whether he wins or loses against Shu, it will be more or less auspicious.
However, some courtiers were not distracted by Sima Yi's refutation of the Empress Dowager's son.They have been watching the development of Sima Yi's appointment as the coach of Guanzhong with cold eyes, paying attention to the most substantive thing-whether the weight of power in Sima Yi's hands is increasing or decreasing.These people were not very optimistic about Sima Yi in advance, because he had been doing well in Wancheng as his commander-in-chief of the war against Wu, but when he heard the news of Cao Da Sima's death, he flew to Beijing to ask for orders to go out. The style of "who can give up me" is too ostentatious and straightforward, which can easily arouse the emperor's disgust.Coupled with the strong opposition from veteran officials such as Taiwei Huaxin and Sikong Chen Qun, the uncertainty of Sima Yi's military power in Guanzhong has greatly increased.However, to their surprise, no matter how tortuous and complicated the plot was, Sima Yi finally won the battle for military power in Guanzhong and got what he had always wanted.The emperor publicly conferred on him the Huang Yue, which represented the ability to exercise decisive power in the army like an emperor, and at the same time appointed his third brother, Sima Fu, as Duzhi Shangshu who was in charge of military supplies and supplies on the western front and was stationed there. Chang'an is responsible for responding.All of this marks the young emperor's full trust and strong support for Sima Yi as the coach of Guanzhong.Therefore, in the eyes of this part of the courtiers, Sima Yi secretly picked the fruits of victory under the appearance of being full of controversy.And their next step is to keep their eyes open, waiting to see how Sima Yi will perform a wonderful and unusual live drama in the rugged and precipitous land of Hanzhong!
On the second day after receiving the order to be the commander-in-chief of Guanzhong, Sima Yi specially held a banquet in the mansion, sent his sons Sima Shi and Sima Zhao to deliver the invitations in person, and invited Sikong Chen Qun and Taiwei Huaxin to the banquet.
And Chen Qun and Hua Xin were really invited to come to Sima Yi's residence to congratulate him.At the banquet, in the eyes of others, the three world-renowned senior ministers talked and laughed happily, and it was like a reunion comedy of the Wei State version of "Harmony of Generals and Prime Ministers"!Who would have expected that the invisible and silent battles between the three of them in the dark had reached a fever pitch, and it was almost life and death!
This banquet, at least on the surface, was a harmonious and lively meal.However, from the next day, Chen Qun took three days of sick leave and did not go to court, and Hua Xin's hunchback became even more bent, and his skinny hand seemed to no longer be able to hold the imperial gift. The purple bamboo stick was always trembling like a stroke.
Everyone present can understand that in this "reconciliation of generals and prime ministers" reunion comedy, the winner creates this harmony in the attitude of a winner, and the loser temporarily accepts the reality in the attitude of a loser.Now that the rift exists, the wrestling between the two sides is always inevitable, but sometimes it will surface, and sometimes it will sneak into the background.
On March 23, Cao Rui personally led civil and military officials to walk to the main gate of Luoyang City to see Sima Yi off when he went to Guanzhong.This is the first time since Cao Rui ascended the throne that he personally saw off a minister on an expedition. This kind of extremely respectful treatment was never even enjoyed by the Grand Sima Cao Zhen back then.Sima Yi was naturally grateful, thanked him again and again, and expressed his determination to "do not destroy the Shu bandits and will not pay back" with resolute and decisive words and deeds.
After noon, Sima Yi and Sima Shi came out of Luoyang City. They rode their horses for more than ten zhang, but they couldn't help looking back.After all, it is going to the western border to fight against the Shu bandits, and the good and bad things on the battlefield are unpredictable. Every general who charges into battle today may not necessarily see the sun tomorrow.Although Sima Yi has experienced many battles, he is no exception.He looked at Luoyang, with a touch of reluctance and inexplicable melancholy in his eyes.Luoyang, this majestic and majestic capital, was covered with a layer of golden light by the setting sun, silently responding to the gaze of the great general who once struggled in it.At the foot of the city, Sima Yi saw the emperor Cao Rui who had climbed the tower and watched him go, saw the civil and military officials crowding behind him, and saw his second son Sima Zhao standing deeply in the lonely corner of the tower. stared at him.They all looked so solemn and serious, and they saw him off with the most silent attitude.
At the end, he could vaguely see Cao Rui's serious face, and he waved at him violently with his lips pursed and tears in his eyes!During this waving, he seemed to silently wave all his entrustments, all expectations, and all support to Sima Yi who was looking back at the city.
Sima Yi felt all this clearly, he didn't care whether the people on the top of the city saw it or not, he just nodded heavily towards them from a distance, then reined in the reins, let the horse gallop forward, and took Luoyang stayed in the depths of my memory.
The fast horse galloped for a long time before Sima Yi turned around. The majestic capital Luoyang had shrunk to a small black dot on the horizon.He stood on his horse, with a look of deep thought on his face.
"Father..." Sima Shi stopped his horse beside him, couldn't help calling out, and stopped talking.Hearing the sound, Sima Yi turned his head to look at his hesitant expression, and said, "If you have any doubts, just ask!"
"Boy, I heard that the emperor gave you another secret decree before you left Beijing." Sima Shi said seriously, "May I ask if this is true, father?"
"Nonsense!" Sima Yi's expression darkened.
"Father, don't lie to me anymore. The emperor's secret decree requires you to stay in Chang'an with 50,000 horses for him to dispatch at any time. If this is the case, how can we fight with the remaining 50,000 horses against the Shu bandits' 100,000 horses?" Master?"
Sima Yi's face was solemn, and he just stroked his beard while sitting on the horse's back without saying a word.
"Also, my boy has heard a lot of rumors in the capital recently, saying that the relationship between the emperor and Queen Mother Guo is getting worse and worse. Two days ago, the emperor punished Guo Jin, the youngest brother of Queen Mother Guo and the servant of the Huangmen, for the crime of embezzlement. Confiscated his home, dismissed him from office, and demoted him to a commoner. Originally, as Guo Jin, a relative of the emperor, he should not have been punished so severely for those petty crimes..." Master Sima thought Thinkingly said, "In my view, the emperor is so merciless to Guo's children, and the Queen Mother Guo will definitely wait for an opportunity to counterattack. At this time of turbulent and upheaval in the capital, I am afraid that it is best for my father not to go to war, but to stay in the army." Luoyang will wait and see what happens..."
"Idiot!" Sima Yi scowled, his tone was as sharp as a sword, and he reprimanded mercilessly, "Nowadays, the enemy outside the gate of the western border is at stake, and the country is at stake. How can a father stay in the capital and wait for a rabbit to fight for power? I believe that the emperor sent me out of Beijing to crusade at this moment, just to maintain all his expectations on my father, and let my father stand in front of him to block the invasion of the Shu invaders. Only in this way, he can free up his hands to quell the change of Xiao Qiang."
Speaking of this, Sima Yi paused again, and said slowly: "No matter how conflicts there are between the emperor and Queen Mother Guo in the palace, as a father and as a minister who takes care of his fate, we can only work together with the emperor. Externally, how can we have two minds? Empress Dowager Guo has no morals and incompetence, and is greedy for power and money. How can a father join her? Besides, her Guo family is by no means the enemy of the current emperor, and she is bound to perish in an instant! If the Sima Clan does not help the Emperor in times of crisis and make new achievements, he will definitely not get his full support in the court in the future. For the prosperity of the Sima family, and for the long-term stability of the Great Wei State, public and private, As a father, you can only stand on the side of the emperor!"
After finishing speaking, Sima Yi raised his long whip and galloped his horse, leaving Sima Shi who was slowly thinking about his words behind him, and drove away in a hurry.
Disappointment always falls from the sky when you are complacent: it comes so suddenly, and it comes so quietly; it comes so abruptly, and it comes so bluntly.General Zhang Xi, who was privately receiving congratulations from his colleagues in the Chang'an City Mansion, was stunned by the emperor's edict regarding Sima Yi's appointment as the commander-in-chief of Guanzhong, and almost vomited blood on the spot.
Didn't Taiwei Hua and Chen Sikong send secret letters a few days ago, saying that their promotion to the commander-in-chief of Guanzhong is a foregone conclusion?Why did the emperor's will change?Zhang He muttered indignantly in his heart, and at the same time waved to those colleagues who were congratulating him in unison just now, but now they all looked like dead fish, and sent them out of the door in extreme embarrassment .Although Zhang Xi still had a stiff smile on his face, everyone could hear his heart dripping with blood.So, all the guests left in a very knowledgeable and resentful manner, leaving only Zhang Yun alone at the door of his house like a banner that was hit by a strong wind and rain.
Zhang He waited until all the visitors were gone and no one was looking around, then his face suddenly sank, he slammed the door, rushed into the backyard of the mansion, raised his head to the sky and yelled, and at the same time drew his sword out of its sheath, and swung it around!His sword dance is a unique way to vent the oppression in his chest.Every time when he was suddenly frustrated and his mind was agitated, he relied on dancing the sword to calm his mind and get rid of distracting thoughts.Today, he danced the sword in his hand like a round of white light. It took more than half an hour, but he still couldn't calm down the vigorous resentment in his chest!Lao Tzu's status and prestige in the Guanzhong army today are all earned by working hard on the battlefield for 30 years without stopping and without letting anyone get off the saddle. It seems that I will be alone, leading troops like Han Xin to build the Geseki Gong-but he never wanted this so-called hussar general Sima Yi who had only led the army for four years to suddenly rush out halfway and snatch the post of the coach of this Guanzhong!How can you let him swallow this sullen breath?
Just as Zhang Yun was in a tizzy, a servant in the mansion flew in with a letter in his hand, and knelt down in front of him to report: "General, Captain Hua of the capital, and Chen Sikong sent you off on a fast ride of 800 miles. Here is a secret letter, please read it, General!"
Before he could finish his sentence, he saw that the ground in front of his eyes was "washed" brightly, and before he recovered, he loosened his hand suddenly, and Zhang Yun picked up the letter with the tip of his sword and grabbed it in his hand.Zhang He stood quietly for a moment, holding the letter in his hand, and coldly ordered: "Very good. You go down first!" The servant understood, immediately responded and retreated.
Zhang He waited for him to go far away, then put his sword back into its sheath, and gently opened the letter, but saw that it read:
From Hua Xin and Chen Qun to General Zhang He:
Sorry, sorry, the old couple tried their best to help General Zhang He be promoted to the head coach of Guanzhong but failed, my God?Fate?The matter has come to this point, Wanwang General Zhang lowered his heart and restrained his ambitions, kept a low profile, and strived for extension.Sima Yi is a man who is tolerant of others and taboos at home. The city is extremely deep and full of tricks. General Zhang must be on his guard!Now, in the Guanzhong army, everything depends on General Zhang to check and balance Sima Yi.Be careful not to make mistakes.The two old men will continue to deal with General Zhang in the court, and try their best to help General Zhang eventually replace Sima Yi.
After reading it, Zhang He felt his depression disappear.It seems that the two adults, Hua Taiwei and Chen Sikong, have not given up their efforts to be promoted to the coach of Guanzhong.He couldn't help feeling warm in his heart, sighed leisurely, and had no choice but to bear with it for the time being, and then took the opportunity to move.
At this moment, another family member came in to report: "General, the new Guanzhong coach, Hussar General Sima Yi and his son Sima Shi are now outside the residence to ask for an audience!"
When Zhang He heard this, he couldn't help being surprised: This Sima Yi came so fast!When did you arrive in Chang'an?Why did he come to our residence as soon as he entered Chang'an?Did he hear any trouble?While Zhang He was thinking nervously and quickly in his brain, he ordered calmly: "Please meet General Sima in the living room." After finishing speaking, he straightened his clothes and went straight to the living room in the mansion.
Zhang He stood at the entrance of the living room and waited quietly.In the distance, I saw an elder in green robe with long beard fluttering and imposing manner, followed by a young major general with a clear face and a handsome figure walking slowly.Needless to say, the people who came were the Hussar General Sima Yi and his eldest son, Sima Shi, Captain Qianhu.
Master Sima took a long look at Zhang Xi who was standing quietly at the door of the living room, with a trace of dissatisfaction on his face.Originally, according to the military discipline and military regulations, although Zhang Yun, as the deputy commander of Guanzhong, was only half a rank lower than his father Sima Yi, he should go directly to greet him outside the gate of the mansion, not to mention that his father had the yellow ax bestowed by the emperor in his hand. , has the authority of "as if I were here in person"!However, Zhang Yun ignored the military regulations and etiquette, and only greeted Sima Yi at the door of the living room in the mansion, obviously with the intention of fighting against courtesy. It can be seen that he was quite dissatisfied with his father's appointment to preside over the Guanzhong War.Thinking of this, Master Sima couldn't help being very displeased, and thought: My father only wants to be loyal to the country, and he doesn't even bother to fight for power. The "General Taiping" in Wancheng didn't do it, but ran to this bitter cold place in the northwest to personally command the battle against Shu, but you treated my father's gentleman's belly with the heart of a villain, you are really a famous general of a generation!Zhao Guolian still knows how to put aside the power struggle with Lin Xiangru and fight against foreign invaders together. You Zhang He is also a Confucian general who has read poetry, books, classics and history, and you can't even compare with an ancient man!He thought indignantly, and turned to glance at his father.But he saw his father with a smile all over his face, as if nothing had happened, he was stepping forward and heading straight towards Zhang Yun.
Sima Yi walked up to Zhang Yun and said with a slight smile, "Oh! How can this old man dare to ask General Zhang to greet him in person in front of the hall? Thank you, thank you very much."
Seeing that the smile on Sima Yi's face was so peaceful and natural, Zhang He couldn't help being a little surprised, and hurriedly put away the last hint of arrogance on his face, and said, "General Sima is here, what advice do you have?" As he spoke, he bent down and prepared to bow to salute.
Sima Yi hastily waved his hands to stop him from saluting, and said with a hearty smile, "I have no other intentions in meeting General Zhang today. I just want to share my heart with you. I'm ashamed to say that the position of Commander-in-Chief in Guanzhong should be paid for by hard work." It would be more appropriate for General Zhang to take up the post..." Hearing this, Zhang Yun couldn't help but startled, he didn't expect him to say these words so frankly.Seeing that Sima Yi's expression was as usual and unaffected, he continued: "However, the old man has always had the ambition to clear up the world, and he doesn't want to live in the peaceful Jingchu for a long time, so as to avoid the regret that the years have passed and the achievements have not been completed. , I couldn’t help but rush out halfway to beg the emperor to give me a chance to come to this pass! The old man is an extremely human minister, and his reputation is so high that he doesn’t need to use this meritorious service to make a name for himself. Just because his ambition is not paid, the old man He did not hesitate to take the risk and lead the army in Guanzhong to fight Zhuge Liang! General Wanwang Zhang understands the old man's hard work, so don't hold grudges."
Zhang Hezheng was a little surprised when he heard that, Sima Yi waved his hand in front of him again, and said with emotion: "The old man said something beforehand, and today I made an agreement with the general. In this battle against Shu, you and I have the name of commander-in-chief and deputy commander-in-chief. , each lead an army, each set up a village, each makes his own merits, and you will see who you are on the battlefield! After half a year, if you have made more meritorious deeds, the old man will immediately report to the court, resign, and give up the position of commander-in-chief. Here it is; if your meritorious deeds are not as good as mine, then please General Zhang Yun put aside the suspicion, and work together with the old man to defeat the Shu bandits, make extraordinary achievements together, and protect our Great Wei State! What does General Zhang think?"
What Sima Yi said was candid and honest. Although Zhang Xi couldn't figure out how much of his words were sincere and how much was false, he couldn't help but be moved by his clear and crisp words. .In any case, as soon as the general of the hussars came on the field, he showed the ability to be "candid, magnanimous and tolerant" with his subordinates. This is a rare outlier among almost all the bosses Zhang Xi has had since joining the army.Take Cao Zhen, the great Sima who just passed away, as an example. He is usually "half-swallowing" and can't say such grandiose rhetoric!Of course, Zhang Yun had also heard such high-spirited and free-spirited words before, and they were those words spoken by Emperor Wei Wudi, the great ancestor of this dynasty.However, eleven years after the death of Emperor Wu of Wei, Sima Yi actually said these words with the same courage, the same mind, and the same way, which made Zhang Xi feel a long-lost sense of shock—this is a The calm speech and behavior that a real commander-in-chief should have when facing his subordinates!At that moment, Zhang Xi suddenly felt the gap in courage and measure between himself and the General Sima.Maybe, I might really be unable to compete with him!His heart fluttered for a while, and finally he lowered his voice, and said slowly: "General Sima's words are sincere, how dare Zhang Yun have two hearts? How can a snake have two heads? How can an army have two commanders? General Huang Yue In hand, the Guanzhong army will follow orders, and Zhang He will do his best to do the work of dogs and horses." Then, respectfully, he welcomed Sima Yi and his son into the living room.
When Sima Yi stepped into the door of the living room, he said something intentionally or unintentionally: "Fortunately, General Zhang He didn't make an agreement with the old man just now that one half of the people will unite the army. Zhuge Liang's 100,000-strong army is fighting against the enemy, and this old man can't help but sweat in the palm of his hand!" "What? General Sima... what do you mean by this sentence? Don't we have more than 100,000 troops in Guanzhong? Why... ...Why do you say that we only have 50,000 horses at our disposal?" Zhang Yun couldn't help being startled when he heard this, and was stunned behind Sima Yi.
Sima Yi didn't turn his head back, and said to himself: "This is decided by the emperor's secret decree. It is strictly ordered that half of the 100,000 soldiers and horses fighting against Shu must be stationed in Chang'an to wait for his own secret decree to dispatch. At the same time, he Tell the old man that he can only use the other half of the 50,000 soldiers and horses for this battle, and don't count on the 50,000 troops he has stationed in Chang'an." He said, and walked into the hall.
Zhang He stood at the door of the living room in a daze.He never expected that the emperor's appointment of the Guanzhong coach this time would have such a harsh additional condition.If it was someone else who really knew all the inside information, I am afraid that he would not dare to be as excited as he was before taking the position of the coach of Guanzhong.Serving as a general who can only command 50,000 horses is like receiving a large plate of "chicken ribs" bestowed by the emperor.I really don't know what Sima Yi is thinking in his heart, but he still wants to fight for the position of Guanzhong coach with all his strength!
"General Zhang..." Sima Shi's voice brought him back from his confusion to reality.Shocked, he quickly responded, only to see Sima Shi who had followed his father into the living room with a mocking smile on his face, standing at the door and saying to him: "Why is General Zhang He standing at the door and not coming in! Father commander Having said that, General Zhang has been at war with Zhuge Liang for many years, and he must have been familiar with his military tactics. In order to make this Western Expedition a success, my father hopes that General Zhang will not hesitate to teach you, and tell him all he has, it would be a good thing!"
While mechanically agreeing, Zhang Xi reached out to wipe the fine cold sweat from his forehead, and walked into the living room as if stepping on a pile of cotton without exerting any force or touching the ground, looking a little shaky, like a drowning man. Those who have just climbed ashore.