Chapter 66 If You Want Grain, Bring People in Exchange

The chilling news of Tongguan changing hands and Zhong Hui's rebellion swept through the city of Luoyang like the fiercest north wind, completely freezing the last shred of wishful thinking in Sima Zhao's heart.

Inside the palace, the air was suffocating, thick with the mingle of medicinal herbs and the stench of blood. Sima Zhao leaned sideways against the couch, his complexion sallow, bloodstains still lingering at the corner of his wiped mouth. Yet, his sunken eyes burned with a terrifying blaze—a cold light interweaving shame, furious rage, and ultimate murderous intent.

He forcefully suppressed the roiling Qi and blood within his chest, and with a hoarse yet unquestionable voice, issued consecutive orders for a full-scale punitive expedition.

Sima Wang to launch a fierce assault on Tongguan; Shi Bao to cross the river and capture Puban; Hu Fen to sally forth from Wuguan and strike at the rear of Chang'an! These three massive armies, like three unsheathed swords, pointed directly at the heart of the rebel Zhong Hui in Guanzhong.

What he desired was not merely victory, but Zhong Hui's head, along with the blood of all who had joined the rebellion, to wash away this endless and utter humiliation!

The orders were dispatched at top speed, and the entire war machine of Cao Wei began to operate frantically under Sima Zhao's towering rage.

Meanwhile, in Chang'an, at the Pacifying West General's Mansion, Zhong Hui held the secret missive from Luoyang, a cold and complex smile curling at the corner of his lips. In that smile lay a predicted anticipation of Sima Zhao's reaction, a touch of complacency at the success of his plan, but deep down, a sense of heavy solemnity and urgency born of burning the boats behind him.

"Old thief Sima Zhao, as expected, refuses to heed my words of 'cleansing the ruler's side' and has directly raised troops to attack me."

He put down the silk scroll, speaking to the subordinate generals gathered below him in a calm voice fraught with the oppressive tension of an impending storm.

"Very well, that saves us much idle breath. Since he regards me as a rebel, I shall act the part for him to see!"

Most of the generals in the hall were Zhong Hui's confidants or those with lingering grievances against the Sima clan. Hearing this, their expressions turned stern, while some betrayed a faint trace of excitement. Once the bow was drawn, there was no turning back; they were firmly bound to the same war chariot as Zhong Hui.

Zhong Hui rose and walked over to the massive hanging map, his gaze as sharp as a falcon's.

"Sima Wang leads an army of fifty thousand and will soon arrive beneath the walls of Tongguan. Though Tongguan is a formidable stronghold defended by my younger brother Zhong Yong, Sima Wang is a seasoned veteran of the battlefield with overwhelming forces. Under his fierce assault, the pressure will be immense."

"Shi Bao comes from Hedong. Should he cross the Yellow River and occupy Puban Ford, our flank will be laid wide open, sending tremors through Guanzhong."

"Hu Fen marches north from Nanyang. If Wuguan fails to check his vanguard, there will be no barrier left south of Chang'an!"

His finger darted rapidly across the map, analyzing the threats posed by the three enemy armies, before he began dispatching troops and assigning commanders:

"Order our forces in Longyou to quickly converge on Chang'an, with a primary focus on defending the eastern and northern directions!"

"Allocate ten thousand elite troops to immediately reinforce Tongguan, placed under the command of Zhong Yong. They must hold the position to the death without any error!"

"Dispatch an army to Puban to reinforce the city's defenses and set up watchtowers along the river. Under no circumstances must Shi Bao be allowed to cross easily!"

"Send another commander to lead troops in a dash to Wuguan, utilizing the perilous terrain to wage a retreating defense against Hu Fen and delay his advance!"

Order after order was issued, demonstrating Zhong Hui's exceptional military talent and his composure in the face of danger. The subordinate generals acknowledged their commands one after another and hurried off to execute them.

However, once the crowd dispersed and Zhong Hui was left alone in the study, the confidence on his brow faded slightly, replaced by a deep and profound worry. The three enemy armies were coming with aggressive momentum; though he occupied Guanzhong, his forces were scattered and his foundation unstable. The most fatal point coiled around his heart like a venomous snake: veteran generals and provisions!

He suddenly realized that apart from Zhong Yong, there was no one else around him worthy of trust. Wei Guan was the army inspector; though on relatively good terms with him, his loyalties did not necessarily lie with him. Du Yu and the others were similar, preventing Zhong Hui from placing any trust in them.

Provisions were in an even more precarious state.

The central plains heartland controlled by Sima Zhao was abundant in products and rich in people, with a ceaseless supply of grain and pay. And what of himself? Longxi and Guanzhong had suffered through wars, leaving the people impoverished and stored grain scarce. The previous army that conquered Shu had consumed vast amounts; though some had been plundered from Ba and Shu, it had been left behind in Hanzhong. Much of what was scavenged from the Three Prefectures of Xicheng had to be used to maintain the army and the newly seized territories. To sustain a massive war against the entire Central Plains? It was far from enough!

He took a deep breath and walked over to the desk. Now, the only party capable of rapidly providing a massive supply of provisions was a single entity—someone he had originally intended to use, but upon whom he now had to rely, and by whom he might even be counter-controlled.

Zhong Hui spread out a silk scroll, picked up his brush, pondered for a moment, and finally set the brush to paper. In the letter, he first emphasized the "righteous cause" and mutual interests of their alliance, then detailed the grim situation of Sima Zhao's three armies pressing upon their borders. Finally, shifting his tone, he put forward his core demand:

"...Now the old thief Sima Zhao has sent three swarms of jackal-like armies to invade, their arrogance towering. Though Hui lacks talent, he is willing to lead the loyal and righteous men of Guanlong to grasp the enemy by the throat and blunt their vanguard. Yet, the grain and fodder within the army are truly a matter of burning urgency. I have long heard that the heavenly storehouse of Shu is abundant in grain and riches. I hope that Elder Brother Boyue, bearing in mind our alliance, will urgently dispatch one hundred thousand shi of grain, transporting it to Chang'an via the Xiedu or Ziwu Valleys to relieve our army from its hanging-by-a-thread peril. Such kindness and virtue Hui will engrave upon his heart, and once the Central Plains are pacified, I shall surely richly reward you!"

Upon finishing, he carefully checked the missive, applied the most formal official seal, and summoned an absolute confidant, ordering him to secretly deliver it at top speed to Jiang Wei in Hanzhong.

Hanzhong, the Shu-Han Main Camp.

Jiang Wei received Zhong Hui's plea for help. He read every single word with a calm gaze, as if he had anticipated this development all along.

Naturally, he would not neglect it. The infighting between Zhong Hui and Sima Zhao was precisely the heaven-sent opportunity the Shu-Han had been dreaming of. Regardless of who ultimately won or lost, it would drastically weaken Wei's military strength. Supporting Zhong Hui so that he could stall or even consume Sima Zhao's power for a longer period thoroughly aligned with the interests of Shu-Han.

However, the manner of support required careful calculation.

Jiang Wei immediately drafted a letter and sent a galloping courier to report to Liu Chen in Chengdu, while simultaneously beginning to stockpile provisions for transport to Chencang, ready to move the grain the moment Liu Chen's command arrived.

After dispatching the letter to Liu Chen, Jiang Wei picked up his brush to reply to Zhong Hui.

Jiang Wei's reply was equally courteous and strategic. He first expressed a measure of "approval" and "admiration" for Sima Zhao's lawlessness and Zhong Hui's "righteous deed," followed by an "understanding" of Zhong Hui's plight. Then, his brushwork cleverly shifted:

"...Yet, as Brother Shiji well knows, our lands of Shu have suffered years of warfare, and our official storehouses are hardly overflowing either. One hundred thousand shi of grain is truly no small amount; both collection and transportation require time, and even more so the mobilization of countless laborers, which would sap our national strength. Moreover, with the Wei armies now advancing from three directions, our grain routes face the perilous threat of being severed... Though I strive my utmost to bring this about, there are voices in the court as well, and it will likely be difficult to pacify them."

Having poured out his grievances by way of groundwork, Jiang Wei finally revealed his true purpose, setting forth the actual conditions:

"...Nevertheless, to demonstrate the sincerity of our alliance and our joint resistance against the state's enemies, I am willing to withstand all dissenting opinions and procure provisions for Brother Shiji. I only hope Brother Shiji can appreciate our difficulties. I have recently heard that the people of Guanzhong and Longyou, long yearning for Han civilization, harbor a strong desire to migrate southward. Why not use this as an opportunity? Brother may grant me permission to relocate the people of Guanzhong and Longyou into Hanzhong and Shu to be resettled. For every household relocated, I shall disburse a corresponding amount of grain and textiles as a settlement subsidy, and these funds may likewise be directly converted into military provisions. In this manner, firstly, it will resolve Brother's urgent need for fodder; secondly, it will soothe the people's hearts and display Brother's benevolence; and thirdly, it will lessen Brother's burden of governing the populace, allowing you to focus entirely on military affairs. Is this not a win-win solution for both sides? I hope Brother Shiji will ponder this carefully, and I await your reply."

This letter was written with lofty righteousness, pointing out the difficulties while offering a "solution," packaging a naked population transaction as a mutually beneficial cooperation. Yet the core message was abundantly clear: You want grain? Bring people to trade for it!