Chapter 1031 Changes in the Palace (2)
“Where to go?”
Cao Shuang asked somewhat confused.
Sun and Liu did not answer, but looked at Lian Zhao:
"Shang Shulang, we remembered that there are still some things that have not been reported to His Majesty. As the saying goes, one thing does not bother two masters. Could you please Shangshu Lang to report to Your Majesty again for us?"
Lian Zhao said hesitantly: "Well, your Majesty's edict, let me declare it..."
Unexpectedly, before Lian Zhao finished speaking, Liu Fang signaled:
“Shang Shulang, please, please go back to the palace and inform me?”
Lian Zhao said with a somewhat embarrassed smile:
“Liu Zhongshu, your Majesty asked me to...”
"Hey, it doesn't matter. We have something urgent to report to Your Majesty now. This matter for Cao Changshi is not urgent at the moment."
"Even so, it won't be too late to go find Chang Shi Cao after Shang Shulang has finished informing us. I believe His Majesty will not blame him."
Sun Zi also spoke up.
The two of them seemed to be asking, but in reality they were forcing them.
Lian Zhao seemed reluctant, but in fact he breathed a sigh of relief, turned around and walked towards the palace again.
Cao Rui, who was waiting for Cao Zhao to enter the palace, heard that Cao Shuang and others had left and returned, and couldn't help but look at Lian Zhao with questioning eyes.
Lian Zhao knew what he meant and said with some hesitation:
“Your Majesty, I just walked outside the palace and met two secretaries. I wanted to avoid it quietly, but I was discovered by General Cao..."
He said it cleverly, not mentioning that he did not avoid it in advance, so Cao Rui only said that Liu Fang and Sun Zi deliberately stayed outside the palace.
When he heard Cao Shuang again, Cao Rui's eyes became a little gloomy:
“Have you told them?”
Lian Zhao moved his lips a few times, his face full of shame: "I am guilty, and I am sorry for Your Majesty. The two lieutenants pressed me again and again, and I..."
Cao Rui sighed: "Forget it, I've embarrassed you."
Hearing these words, Lian Zhao breathed a sigh of relief again. He knew that he had finally passed this hurdle.
"The two Zhongshu and General Cao are still guarding the door. Have you seen Your Majesty yet?"
Lian Zhao asked cautiously again.
"The two Zhongshu have gone and come back. I think they must have something important to do. How can I not see them?"
Cao Rui closed his eyes, his tone was erratic, and he couldn't tell whether he was happy or sad.
Hearing this, Lian Zhao turned around and went out to invite Liu, Sun and Cao into the room.
After the ceremony, Cao Rui asked:
“You guys, do you have something important to do this time?”
"Your Majesty," Liu Fang was the first to stand up, "I and the other three people wanted to say goodbye at the palace gate, but suddenly they heard the cry of wild geese. It turned out that a group of wild geese were flying above."
“That cry of wild geese is made by the leading goose, calling other geese to follow closely and don’t fall behind.”
Cao Rui just looked at them quietly, showing some confusion.
It’s winter, you told me there are still wild geese?
Could it be that at this time, you still want to wish me good luck?
However, the fact is that Cao Rui thinks too much.
I saw Sun Zi also stepping forward:
"Your Majesty, birds still know that they cannot fly without a head. Since your Majesty has decided that General Cao will be the general, I would like to ask your Majesty to issue an edict as soon as possible and announce it to the world."
"In this way, we can calm down the minds of all ministers as soon as possible, so that no one will have ambitions that they shouldn't have."
Hearing this, Cao Rui suddenly opened his eyes.
Growing ambitions that you shouldn’t have?
who? !
"Your Majesty, there should be no hesitation or repetition on such a major matter. For the sake of the country, I sincerely request your Majesty to issue an edict immediately."
“I beg your Majesty to issue an edict immediately!”
Sun and Liu said this and kowtowed together.
Seeing this, Cao Shuang quickly followed suit and fell to the ground.
Cao Rui looked at the three people on the ground with complicated eyes.
He knew that in this dispute over the auxiliary ministers, Liu Fang and Sun Zi were making a statement, firmly siding with Cao Shuang, not Cao Zhao.
If you force Cao Zhao to be the general, without the cooperation of Sun and Liu in the future, how easy will it be for Cao Zhao to control the overall situation?
Thinking again of the current situation of internal and external troubles in the Wei Dynasty, Cao Rui finally sighed:
“That’s all, go get the yellow paper.”
Hearing this, Lian Zhao took out the yellow paper and pen and ink.
Cao Rui reluctantly wrote the edict, and when he was about to order the seal, Sun Zihu said again:
“All the foreign ministers know that your Majesty favors and trusts King Yan Cao Changshi and others. I am afraid that some people may misunderstand that your Majesty intends to let him assist the government. Your Majesty, this matter must be investigated!”
Cao Rui lowered his eyes, as if he was drowsy, and asked feebly:
“Then according to Sun Zhongshu’s opinion, what should I do?”
"According to your opinion, Your Majesty can order the King of Yan to return to the country and relieve Cao Zhao and others from their regular duties. In this way, the ministers will understand your Majesty's intentions."
Hearing this, Cao Rui shook slightly and said vaguely:
“I am so exhausted that I can hardly write, so I need to take a nap first…”
After finishing speaking, he was about to give up his pen, but Liu Fang had quick eyes and quick hands. He stepped forward and held Cao Rui's hand tightly:
“Your Majesty, it’s not too late!”
Cao Rui was shocked:
“What do you want to do?”
“I prepare an edict for Your Majesty.”
Liu Fang said, holding Cao Rui's hand, half forcing Cao Rui to write the edict, and then let Lian Zhao help Cao Rui lie down.
Cao Rui's face was already gray at this time, and he didn't know whether it was because he had really exhausted all his strength or for other reasons.
He looked at Sun and Liu:
“Cao Changsi is a man of meritorious service, and he is also a clan relative, so he should not be treated lightly, otherwise he will lose the respect of his subordinates.”
Sun and Liu responded:
“Since Cao Changsi has inherited the title of Marquis of Changping and is rich in food and salary, how can he say that he is poor?”
Cao Rui felt relieved after receiving the two men's promise that they would not kill them all.
After stamping the emperor's seal, the matter was finally settled.
The next day, Sun and Liu summoned the ministers in the name of the emperor, read out the edict, and relieved Cao Yu, Cao Zhao and others from all their posts in the court.
Cao Yu returned to the country as a king, and Cao Zhao returned to the country as a Marquis of Changping.
At the same time, King Cao Fang of Qi was officially enthroned as the crown prince.
He also made Cao Shuang a general, with the title of "Jiejie Yue", the commander-in-chief of all military affairs at home and abroad, and the recorder of affairs.
The imperial edict was further sent to Sima Yi, the Grand Sima, to move into Taifu and assist the Crown Prince.
Although Cao Rui wanted to belong to Cao Zhao, when he was seriously ill, he knew that he could no longer control the situation in the entire court.
Coupled with the need to stabilize people's hearts as quickly as possible and reduce internal strife, he had to make concessions.
Between the country and personal affairs, there may be emperors who choose the latter, but Cao Rui is not included.
At the last moment of his life, what he was thinking about was the overall situation of the country.
The true determination of the future power structure of the court not only shocked the court officials, but also had a huge impact on the harem.
After learning that the emperor had announced the establishment of the crown prince, Empress Mao immediately went to Cao Rui's ward to request a visit, but was not allowed.
In desperation, she wanted to ask people around Cao Rui about her condition.
Who would have expected that when Cao Rui learned about this, he directly ordered the execution of more than a dozen palace maids and Xiao Huangmen who served him that day.
After this, he still did not give up, and issued an edict to hang Queen Mao on the pretext that Queen Mao had "ultimate intentions".
Cao Rui's move frightened the concubines in the harem.
The emperor and the queen will be killed at will, so who knows how many people His Majesty will let follow him to the yellow soil in the future?
At this time, Cao Rui was no longer in the mood to care about the concerns of thousands of women in his harem (only Xuchang Palace).
Yu Guibi and Empress Mao are both from Hanoi.
But the origins of the two are very different.
Empress Mao was born in a humble background, and her father was just a lowly official.
But Yu Guifei was a real daughter of a noble family. When Cao Rui was named King of Pingyuan, Cao Pi personally proposed to marry him.
When Cao Rui was established as the crown prince, Yu was also promoted to the crown prince.
Who would have expected that after Cao Rui ascended the throne, he would make his concubine Mao the queen. As the main wife, the Yu family was full of joy only to find nothing.
Later, Wei suffered successive defeats on the western battlefield, forcing Cao Rui, who originally intended to weaken the aristocratic families, to actually rely more and more on the aristocratic families in the Central Plains.
In this case, the Yu family, who was demoted to Yecheng by Cao Rui, was invited back to Luoyang. The worse the defeat of Wei, the higher the status of the Yu family.
In the end, she was promoted to the position of concubine, just below the queen.
"I know that I have neglected you a bit in recent years, but you and I are finally married, and the late emperor asked me to marry you. I think you understand the reason for this."
Cao Rui knew that there were some things he said about the Yu family, and there was no way to hide them. He could only say them clearly.
Yu Shi just looked at him expressionlessly.
"I also know that this queen's position belongs to you. How about I give it back to you now?"
Mrs. Yu looked at the emperor on the couch who was originally aloof and aloof. Now he was not only tortured by the disease, but also became so humble.
She couldn't help but sigh.
She had already seen through the emperor's ruthlessness.
But as the emperor said, she knew that she was actually a tool, a link between the Cao Wei royal family and the Hanoi family.
No matter how resentful you are, what can you do?
Having persisted for so many years, why should we give up at such a critical moment?
“What does Your Majesty want me to do?”
"The prince is only eight years old. Although he is assisted by auxiliary ministers outside the country, he is still a child after all. He has not seen the dangers of the world. I am worried about it, so I want to find virtuous and virtuous people in the harem to raise him."
virtuous and virtuous?
Although he was mentally prepared, Mr. Yu still wanted to laugh.
At that time, this man once demoted himself to Yecheng for the sake of Mao.
Now that Mr. Mao is old and waning, and he is not helpful to the prince, he kills the prince at any time. He is so cold and heartless, what does he say to himself about the love between husband and wife?
What is virtuous and virtuous?
Isn’t it because of the power and resources represented behind him?
Yu Shi didn’t bother to point out Cao Rui’s hypocrisy:
“Could it be that the virtuous and virtuous people your Majesty talks about are concubines?”
“Exactly.”
“Your Majesty has given you too much praise, and I don’t dare to be my concubine.”
"There is no one in the harem who is more suitable to raise the prince than you." Cao Rui looked at Mr. Yu steadily, "And this matter is also of great benefit to you."
In other words, it is also of great benefit to the Yu family in Hanoi.
Yu Shi lowered her eyes:
"Your Majesty has said this. If I don't agree to it anymore, won't I become a ungrateful person?"
Although he expected that Mrs. Yu would most likely not refuse, Cao Rui was relieved when he heard her personally agree.
So he ordered the prince Cao Fang, who had been waiting outside for a long time, to come in and ask him to kowtow to the Yu family.
After Cao Fang finished kowtowing, she heard Cao Rui say to the prince again:
"I will ennoble Yu Guifei as the queen. From now on, she will be your aunt's mother. From now on, you must obey your aunt's instructions in everything and must not violate it."
The eight-year-old prince was a little confused. He looked at Mr. Yu and then at Cao Rui, not knowing how to speak.
“You still don’t call me Queen Mother?”
Under Cao Rui's repeated urging, Cao Fang timidly shouted: "Mother?"
Facing Cao Fang, Mrs. Yu's expression finally softened, and she nodded in response.
After receiving the news that Yu was appointed queen, Sun Zi couldn't help but feel a little happy:
“Our Majesty, it’s really not easy. If the timing hadn’t been right, our actions would not have been so easy.”
Liu Fang nodded:
"Your Majesty used the excuse to kill Queen Mao, but it turned out that he wanted to make Concubine Yu your queen. From now on, the Yu family and the Sima family in Hanoi may have their own agendas."
“Those things have nothing to do with us. Besides, the overall situation in the DPRK and China has been decided, so we can just watch the show.”
"Too."
…
Guanzhong, Tongguan.
The dangerous pass that Ma Chao once used to resist Cao Cao's army has now been turned into ruins.
Sima Yi led the army to withdraw from Guanzhong before the river completely froze.
Before leaving, he ordered Tongguan to be completely destroyed, leaving only the ruins of the walls and ruins for the Han Dynasty.
After it snowed again, the river was finally covered with a thick layer of ice that was so strong that the cavalry could even run back and forth on the river.
After inspecting Hedong and arranging various matters, Governor Feng braved the severe cold and crossed the river from Fengling to Tongguan Pass.
Looking at the dangerous pass that had been deliberately destroyed, Governor Feng wrapped himself in a woolen coat, exhaled a white breath, and asked:
“When did the last thieves leave?”
“Return to the king, six days ago.”
Governor Feng kicked the blackened soil with his cowhide boots and looked around again.
Tongguan is not a gate city, but a general name for a military defense system built on a loess plateau that runs from north to south and is more than ten miles long.
To the east of the Loess Plateau, there is a forbidden ditch that also runs north-south and extends from the Qinling Mountains to the edge of the river.
The forbidden ditch is deep and wide, with steep walls. Even in winter, the snow cannot completely cover the bushes and vines at the bottom of the ditch.
From this we can imagine how dense the vegetation at the bottom of the ditch is on weekdays.
If the enemy attacks from the east, they must first find a way to cross the forbidden ditch, and then climb up the nearly vertical valley wall.
Or in front of the ten-mile-long loess plateau cliff, find a way to find a path and climb over it.
When they finally reached the Loess Plateau, they had to face a heavily guarded barrier gate.
This is why Xian Yufu, who was guarding Hexi at the time, saw Feng Jishi leading his army southward and arrived at Fenglingdu, and concluded that the Han army's main attack direction was not Fenglingdu.
Because after the Han army crossed the river, they faced Tongguan and other places that were difficult for apes to cross. At most, they could cut off the connection between Tongguan and Luoyang.
With defenders, it is impossible for the enemy to attack the Loess Plateau.
What Xian Yufu didn't expect was that Feng had too many cards and he actually had a plan.
According to the terrain of Tongguan, its greatest role is to block enemies coming from the east.
If the east of the river is not lost, and combined with the natural dangers of the river, Tongguan can also play a role in facing the enemies in Guanzhong to the west.
But who would have thought that in this battle of Guanzhong, Hedong would actually fall before Guanzhong.
Sima Yi had to abandon Tongguan after his desperate attempt to catch turtles failed.
Looking at the loess plateau covered with snow, which looked like a white dragon lying across the north and south, Governor Feng asked again:
“Have you carefully scouted the terrain around here?”
The captain next to him looked embarrassed:
“Your Majesty, this place is more than ten miles long, the terrain is complex, and now it is covered with heavy snow. We have no time to grasp the specific situation. We can only roughly inspect the various original Guancheng ruins in this area.”
Governor Feng nodded:
“Tongguan has a dangerous terrain and is the gateway to Guanzhong. We must not take it lightly. We must find a way to check it out as soon as possible so that we can rearrange our defenses.”
)
After briefly explaining a few words, Governor Feng kept looking to the west, seeming a little absent-minded.
I don’t know how long it took, but a black spot suddenly appeared in the distance, which was very conspicuous on the white land.
The black spots gradually grew larger, and it turned out to be a group of cavalry.
Governor Feng took out his binoculars, and when he saw the person clearly, a silly smile appeared on his face.
ˆ PS: Well, I am indeed married to a tiger girl, and she was born in the year of the tiger.
From now on, I have to work hard to save money for milk powder...
I will definitely work hard to update more.
(End of this chapter)