Zhang Chunhua, leisurely sitting in the back hall of the Si Kong mansion, busy embroidery to kill time, upon hearing the noise from the front courtyard, came out to investigate. To her surprise, she found that the mansion was once again being tidied up.
It was already dark at this time.
Under the lamplight in the courtyard, Zhang Chunhua could see clearly that there were numerous books, a whole carload. Delicate items of clothing, everyday utensils, each neatly packed and loaded onto carts, it wasn't like going out for a stroll but more akin to moving house. Therefore, her brisk pace took her to the study of Sima Yi:
"Husband, where are you going again?" Zhang Chunhua stood outside the threshold, her gaze reaching in: "It wasn't just the other day that you returned from Yong City, why do you have to leave again?"
Sitting at the desk, writing something, Sima Yi was about to scold when he looked up and saw Zhang Chunhua standing outside the threshold, not having entered the house. His attitude softened a little:
"Would I like to be on the move?" Sima Yi replied: "The imperial decree orders so, there's no choice but to obey." "This time I am going to Xuchang."
Zhang Chunhua continued to ask, "Last time you went to Xuchang, you didn't bring this much stuff either; it seems like you were moving house."
Sima Yi furrowed his brow and said, "Last time was the last time, this time is this time. This matter concerns the imperial secrets, I will not elaborate further with you. In short, you will have to stay in Xuchang for some days."
"Then..." Zhang Chunhua thought for a moment and tentatively asked: "Can the family accompany me? I also want to go to Xuchang, and see Zhaor at the same time."
Sima Yi helplessly put down the brush in his hand: "What family can you bring along? It's serious business that I'm going to Xuchang, how can you come with me? Just go back, and don't disturb me while I am working."
"Yes." Zhang Chunhua pursed her lips, and her eyes faintly revealed a hint of melancholy. After a few moments, she didn't wait for Sima Yi to look at her again and finally sighed before turning away.
Zhang Chunhua had not walked far when she saw a man hurrying towards her from the corridor. It was only when he approached that she realized it was Sima Zi, Sima Yi's cousin and the Chief Steward.
There are not many people who can move freely within Sima Yi's mansion, besides his friend Jiang Ji, that is to say, only a few like Sima Zhi and Sima Fu.
"Greetings, sister-in-law." Sima Zhi quickly bowed: "Is my brother in the study? The manager told me to come directly here."
"It's Sima Zhi coming." Zhang Chunhua gave a slight bow: "He is in the study. You can go there yourself, Sima Zhi."
"Okay." Sima Zhi nodded, and then hurriedly walked towards the interior.
Having been Sima Yi's wife for many years, Zhang Chunhua knew well that something serious must have happened in the imperial court; it must be trouble with the Eastern Wu.
During the years of Huangchu, the former emperor Cao Pi went to war, and Sima Yi was in charge of logistics in Xuchang. Such a situation had occurred twice before, and Zhang Chunhua could guess as much. However, the first two times she was allowed to bring family along; why wasn't it allowed this time?
Since she had guessed the situation, Zhang Chunhua walked out slightly helplessly. Unknowingly, she glanced towards the courtyard of her concubine Fu Zhi, and this glance caused Zhang Chunhua's anger to surge, almost making her unable to stand. She had to quickly support herself on the railing.
In the small courtyard of Fu Zhi, the servants were also tidying up their belongings!
...
Inside the study of the Si Kong mansion, Sima Zhi walked in calmly and then turned to close the door behind him.
"Brother," Sima Zhi slightly bowed and found another place to sit: "I don't know why Brother called me here at night. Is something important happening? Just now, in the front yard...?"
"We're going to Xuchang," Sima Yi said expressionlessly. "As a member of the nine ministers, there's no harm in telling you now, anyway, you'll find out tomorrow morning."
"On the tenth day of this month, Sun Quan attacked Xinjiang, and the emperor will personally go to Xuchang to oversee the situation. I will naturally accompany him, as I did last year. The secretariat and the general office will also go, while you, the nine ministers, will remain in Luoyang."
Sima Zhi shook his head: "Brother, I have one thing that I don't understand. I hope brother can give me some clarification."
Sima Yi raised an eyebrow slightly: "What don't you understand?"
Sima Zhi coughed lightly: "If there is an army matter, it would be understandable if the General Office went with the emperor. But why take the Secretariat along every time? For example, this year, the Secretariat went to Xuchang first, then to Yecheng, and finally back to Luoyang in a hurry. During this time, many government affairs were exhausted between Yecheng and Luoyang." He looked at Sima Yi and said: "I can't see what the deep meaning behind this is."
"Deep meaning?" Sima Yi chuckled and shook his head: "There's no need for so much deep meaning. The emperor himself may not even be able to think of this many deep meanings."
Sima Zhi said nothing, looking straight at his cousin.
Sima Yi explained: "There are things you don't know. At the end of last year, Dong Zhao and Man Chong suggested the emperor move to Xuchang to oversee military affairs and grain collection in the Western Region. As long as we leave Luoyang, it's considered a war time, and anything can be associated with the military. The power of the Western Hall and the General Office would naturally increase."
"Why was the Secretariat brought along that year?" Sima Zhi asked.
Sima Yi said, "In my opinion, the emperor simply doesn't want to keep the central government away from him for too long."
Sima Zhi was silent for a moment before speaking: "There's no need for such a big hassle."
"I haven't finished speaking, Sima Zhi, don't be in a hurry." Sima Yi laughed: "But after half a year or so, even though the emperor hasn't spoken clearly, I've also guessed a bit. The emperor has changed his mind, and it's gotten higher and higher."
Sima Zhi shook his head, indicating that he didn't understand.
Sima Yi said, "The Greater Wei has five capitals. Luoyang is in the center of the land, Chang'an, Yecheng, Xuchang, and Qiao Xian are in the four directions. The previous emperor established the five capital system in Year One of Huangchu, with the aim of adapting to the situation of the four directions. What your Majesty is doing now is just making this system deeper."
Sima Zhi's brow gradually furrowed as he understood the situation, and he wasn't a foolish man to be able to guess one or two things. He spoke slowly:
"If the court focuses on the west, Your Majesty and the central government can reside in Chang'an. If it focuses on the north, it can reach as far as Yecheng. If it is engaged in affairs of the southeast, it can be based in Qiao. If it is dealing with affairs in Jingzhou, it can reach as far as Xuchang. When there is no trouble in the world, they are based in Luoyang."
"That's right." Sima Yi smiled and nodded: "From the events of this year's Secretariat and General Office, it can be seen that working in Yecheng is not much different from working in Luoyang."
Sima Zhi opened his mouth and sighed: "Although I understand what Brother is saying, I still don't understand why it's necessary to travel around so much. The Western Han Dynasty lasted for four hundred years. The emperor either resided in Chang'an or Luoyang. Although there were occasional tours, they never left the cities for a long time. How could one go around several cities back and forth? It's improper!"
Sima Yi stroked his beard and said, "That's what I just mentioned, the wise part of the emperor!"
"What does this mean?" Sima Zhi leaned forward slightly, as if eager to hear the result.
Sima Yi said, "The emperors of the Han Dynasty were weak, which is why they didn't leave the capital. Who among Han Wu Di and Han Guang Wu, the great monarchs, was ever held back by the capital? As long as they are not afraid of trouble, can't they just say goodbye and go wherever they want?"
"Sima Yi said, 'With the central army in hand, even the Secretariat and the General Office can be moved at the emperor's will. How could there be any incompetent people in the central government? It's like fish in a pond. If all the water is still and doesn't move, sick or dead fish will mingle with the rest of the school. Change the capital, change the water, and get the whole government moving, and then all the fish in it will be lively and active!'"
Sima Zhi was stunned for a long time, and then he self-mockingly laughed and shook his head: "If it is as Brother said, the emperor only needs to control the central army, the Secretariat, and the General Office. We nine ministers are all useless people, abandoned in the dead water of Luoyang City!"
Sima Yi chuckled and said, "How, do you not want to be one of the nine ministers? Dong Jiu, the Administrator of Yingchuan, has just fled to You Province. Would you like to be the Administrator of Yingchuan? Being the Administrator of Yingchuan is not much different from being the Administrator of Henan!"
"Brother is saying some strange things." Sima Zhi felt a bit embarrassed: "The nine ministers are still better than the Administrator."
"That's it, that's it!" Sima Yi laughed heartily: "Sima Zhi, you are always greedy! This time, Wei Zhen has been sent by the emperor to help the General Commander in Chencang, and Dong Zhao is stationed in Luoyang. You are closely related to him. He is good at protecting his relatives. For those nephews and nieces who haven't served in the government yet, they can all look for some good positions through him."
"Dong Zhao stays in Luoyang?" Sima Zhi's hand was excitedly rubbing as he spoke, but his expression turned dark as soon as he spoke. He smiled bitterly: "How could there be such a good thing? Xuchang is not far from Luoyang, and it's like being in front of the emperor. How could we dare to act like that?"
"Ah." Sima Yi looked at Sima Zhi with disdain: "Dong Zhao was just appointed as a Taixue, hasn't he opened his office yet?"
Sima Zhi nodded: "Brother is right. I understand."
"However, Brother, can you give me some advice? About the current frontal affairs, has the emperor decided to lead the campaign again?"
Sima Yi said, "Nine out of ten, he won't. The emperor had the idea of leading the campaign himself, but was convinced by Wei Zhen. Everyone thought that Wu and Shu would attack from two directions. Sun Quan led troops to attack Xinjiang, while Zhuge Liang led troops to attack another place. They would support each other. How could the emperor send Wei Zhen to Chencang?"
"The RightGuard Commandery led by Cheng Xi in Chang'an has been transferred to Wei Zhen's command, giving him more weight in front of the General Commander. Wang Ling went straight to Xuchang on his way. By the way, just now, the Northern Palace gave Xu Shu an edict, saying that as Xiahou Ru has gone to Jiangxia, Xu Shu no longer needs to go there. He is in charge of the war situation north of the Han River, and even the military camp led by Qian Zhao has been assigned to him by the emperor."
Sima Zhi choked on his breath: "So, Xu Yanzhong has become influential this time? He has been fortunate enough to participate in such important events."
"Who says it isn't so?" Sima Yi said: "Let's take things one step at a time. I will accompany the emperor to Xuchang the day after tomorrow, that is, on the 15th. As you have been the Administrator of Henan, please pay more attention to the affairs in Luoyang."
"Brother, please rest assured." Sima Zhi nodded repeatedly. (Chapter ends)
