Chapter 118: Acting According to Circumstances

Xiahou Mao was excited and Xiahou Hui was suspicious, yet an unexpected turn of events soon followed.

This change stemmed from a single remark by Wei Ba: "My knowledge of Taoist arts is superficial. I have some interest and a few modest insights, nothing more. As for practices like breath-cultivation or achieving immortality, I know nothing of them."

Upon hearing this, Xiahou Mao was disappointed, while Xiahou Hui felt relieved. Interest? In this day and age, who among those with money and leisure—from the emperor down to the commoners—did not have an interest in Taoist arts? Who did not yearn for immortality? But interest alone was not enough; one needed true lineage and instruction, or one would forever remain an outsider looking in. Modest insights? Taoist arts were not something one could grasp with mere trifles; they were profound. Whether it was a learned scholar or a recluse who had practiced for years, achieving immortality was an elusive, unattainable dream.

Xiahou Mao himself possessed many "insights" and practiced them diligently, yet he could not stop the white hairs that sprouted in secret, nor could he prevent his back from aching and his legs from turning to jelly after a night of passion with his young, enchanting concubine.

Modest insights? Alas, it was only fit for idle chatter.

Xiahou Hui was not entirely convinced of Wei Ba’s sincerity, but her suspicions had eased. Regardless of whether Wei Ba’s surrender was real or feigned, he showed no intention of staying in Chang'an. If he were to stage a false surrender, staying in Chang'an would certainly be more convenient than traveling to Luoyang.

Having lost interest, Xiahou Mao waved his hand, signaling for someone to take Wei Ba away to rest. It was called resting, but in reality, it was house arrest, still within the confines of the courier station. The station attendants were surprised to see Wei Ba return. However, while he had previously hitched a ride with Jin Dongliu, this time he had been sent by the General of Pacifying the West, so his treatment improved significantly—he was provided with meat.

In front of Xiahou Mao, Wei Ba had needed to capture his attention and lead him to think of Taoist cultivation, so he had dared not eat. Though he was starving to the point where his stomach clung to his ribs, he had only tasted a morsel. Now, back at the station, looking at the late-night snack brought by the attendants, his mouth watered, yet he resolutely shook his head. Maintaining the appearance of a transcendent sage, he watched with hidden craving as Dun Wu devoured the entire meal.

Dun Wu walked to the door, saw off the attendants, and closed the room door with calm composure. He stood by the door for a long time, and hearing no movement, he looked at Wei Ba, who was still swallowing his saliva, and asked with concern, "Young Master, do you truly wish to cultivate the Tao? Being this hungry is bad for your health."

"I have no choice. To get close to Xiahou Mao, I must endure," Wei Ba replied with a bitter smile. "We lost our lead; first our movements were discovered, then that man surnamed Tian tricked me into revealing my martial skills. Now, the only path left is to get close to Xiahou Mao. Xiahou Mao is of noble status; what could we possibly offer to attract him? Only Taoist arts."

"Did you move him just now, Young Master?" Dun Wu flipped his hand and produced a cake from his sleeve. Wei Ba’s eyes widened immediately; he snatched the cake with one hand and clapped Dun Wu on the shoulder with the other. "Lad, the General was truly wise to send you."

Dun Wu smiled, watching Wei Ba in silence. Back in Hanzhong, to build up his health, General Wei Yan had spared no expense, providing meat at every meal. Never before had Wei Ba shown such interest in a simple cake.

Wei Ba finished the cake in a few quick bites, finally feeling some comfort in his stomach. He gulped down some water, wiped his lips, and continued, "This matter cannot be rushed. Saying it myself is far less persuasive than letting him discover it on his own."

Dun Wu nodded. Having been a scout for many years, he understood human psychology well and grasped what Wei Ba meant.

...

Xiahou Mao yawned so widely he could have swallowed his own fist. Waving his sleeve, he said to Xiahou Hui with a look of disappointment, "Yuanyong, it is getting late. You should go rest as well. I am truly sorry to have called you up in the middle of the night."

Xiahou Hui smiled faintly. "Uncle, you are too formal. I am happy to be of help to you. This little fatigue is nothing; have you not stayed awake as well?"

Xiahou Mao offered a forced smile. He was exhausted, and having just experienced the transition from joy to disappointment, he was in a foul mood and longed only for his bed. Xiahou Hui, however, remained full of spirit. She reminded him, "Uncle, regardless of whether this Wei Ba is truly versed in Taoist arts, if he is indeed the son of Wei Yan, you are a meritorious official. But before reporting to His Majesty, you should verify his identity."

Xiahou Mao frowned and nodded repeatedly. This matter could not be botched; otherwise, it would be a crime of deceiving the Emperor.

Xiahou Hui felt a measure of anxiety. Wei Ba had claimed to have killed Zhuge Liang’s son, Zhuge Qiao. Judging by the timeline, this had happened a month ago, yet Xiahou Mao, as the Governor of Guanzhong, knew nothing of it. It only proved how little he understood the intelligence from Hanzhong. He was, in truth, a far from qualified Governor of Guanzhong.

Had he not shared the surname Xiahou, Xiahou Hui would never have bothered with this. But now, she could not sit idly by. The Xiahou and Cao clans were the military foundation of the Cao Wei regime. The late Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan, along with the likes of Cao Ren and Cao Hong, had once held total military authority and were the right and left arms of the Martial Emperor in building the empire. Now that Cao Ren had passed and Cao Hong had been sidelined for failing to win the favor of the Literary Emperor, only Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu still held military power. The Xiahou clan, meanwhile, had fallen into a steep decline. Following the deaths of Xiahou Yuan, Xiahou Dun, and her own father, Xiahou Shang, the clan had essentially lost its voice in the military. Although Xiahou Mao was only the Governor of Guanzhong and still under the command of Cao Zhen, he was the only major general left from the Xiahou family.

If Xiahou Mao lost his position, the Xiahou clan’s influence in the military would be further weakened. Power is like an heir; it can be passed down through a single line for many years, but it must never be severed. Once severed, it means withdrawal, and once withdrawn, re-entering that circle is an arduous task.

Xiahou Hui had originally held no hope for Xiahou Mao, for his incompetence was plain to see. He had been made Governor of Guanzhong not for his ability, but because he was close to the Literary Emperor, and because after Liu Bei’s death, the Shu state lacked generals and Guanzhong was peaceful. Now that Zhuge Liang had moved into Hanzhong and showed signs of invading Guanzhong, the imperial court was already considering his removal. If nothing changed, Xiahou Mao’s dismissal was imminent.

Yet now, an unexpected opportunity had arrived. Xiahou Mao had not realized it, but Xiahou Hui had sensitively grasped the potential within.

Wei Ba was the son of Wei Yan and an advisor in the Prime Minister’s office; he would know of Zhuge Liang’s plans, or at least have heard rumors. Knowing these plans, Xiahou Mao could act with purpose and set up defenses in advance. Invading Hanzhong was beyond Xiahou Mao’s capabilities, and Xiahou Hui did not have high hopes for him even in defending against the Shu army, but if they knew the enemy’s deployments in advance, everything would be different.

Though she was not familiar with the terrain of Hanzhong, Xiahou Hui knew that attacking Guanzhong from Hanzhong was no easy feat. Otherwise, Han Xin’s famous ruse of "openly repairing the gallery roads while secretly crossing Chencang" would not have been so legendary.

By resting while the enemy exhausted themselves, there was at least a chance for victory—especially considering the opponent, Zhuge Liang, was merely a scholar with little experience in leading troops. The opportunity had grown significantly.

"Uncle, don’t you think Wei Ba is a rare commodity worthy of hoarding?" Looking at Xiahou Mao’s listless demeanor, Xiahou Hui felt truly disappointed. Had it not been for their shared surname, she would have been loath to remind him.

"Yes, indeed. Sending him to Luoyang would be a great achievement." Xiahou Mao forced himself to stay alert, covering his mouth as he yawned. "Of course, before that, we must confirm his identity."

"No, Uncle, I see his value as more than just that." Xiahou Hui had no choice but to patiently analyze it for him. Xiahou Mao, who had been uninterested and longing for sleep, realized the nature of the opportunity before him and suddenly became spirited.

"Then... what should we do next?"

"First, we must confirm whether he is real or fake. Second, we must learn as much as possible about Zhuge Liang’s arrangements from him." Xiahou Hui ticked off the points on her fingers. Xiahou Mao’s eyes lit up as he nodded repeatedly, deciding to make the arrangements first thing in the morning.

Xiahou Hui added a warning: "Uncle, Wei Ba is highly devious. You must be on your guard to avoid falling into his traps."

Xiahou Mao was in high spirits and said half-jokingly, "Yuanyong, in my opinion, there is only one person in my household who can match wits with Wei Ba."

Xiahou Hui curled the corner of her lips, feigning ignorance. "I wonder who Uncle is referring to?"

Xiahou Mao laughed heartily. "Far away yet right before my eyes."

Xiahou Hui shook her head shyly. "Uncle, you jest. I am a woman; how could I confront him directly? If you need it, Uncle, I can assist you, but the specific matters are best handled by you personally."

Xiahou Mao sighed. "It is a pity. Among so many young people in our Xiahou clan, the brightest is a woman. If only you were a man, how wonderful that would be." He paused, then shook his head. "In truth, it is not as if our Xiahou clan lacks extraordinary men; it is just that Heaven has not blessed us. Several geniuses have passed away in their prime, leaving only us useless ones behind."

Xiahou Hui felt a pang of sorrow. As Xiahou Mao said, Heaven had been too unjust to the Xiahou family. For starters, in Xiahou Yuan’s line, there were Xiahou Cheng and Xiahou Rong, both geniuses who had died in their youth. The others who remained were not bad, but compared to those two, they paled in comparison. Xiahou Cheng was skilled in military strategy and had been praised by the Martial Emperor, who held high hopes for him, but he died young at just eighteen. Xiahou Rong was even more talented; at seven, he could write, and he could recite a thousand words a day, never forgetting what he read. He was a prodigy like the young genius Cao Chong, but he died even earlier, falling in battle at Mount Dingjun at thirteen.

Just as the early death of Cao Chong was a heavy blow to the Martial Emperor, the loss of these two men was something the Xiahou clan could hardly bear. If only one of them had lived to this day, the Xiahou clan would not be as downcast as it was now.

Compared to Xiahou Cheng and Xiahou Rong, her father, Xiahou Shang, had also died in his prime, passing away from illness before he even reached forty. What made it even more unbearable was that his death was merely due to his obsession with a concubine, which had cost the Xiahou clan its influence in the military and dealt a severe blow to his reputation, forcing the Literary Emperor to promote Sima Yi instead.

Though she was about to become the daughter-in-law of the Sima family, Xiahou Hui was well aware of the danger of losing military power. After all, the blood of the Xiahou clan flowed in her veins.