Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

Yanzhou? January?
As soon as Cao Rui finished speaking, eight imperial attendants, including Man Chong, Pei Qian, Lu Yu, and Xiahou Xuan, all turned their eyes to Sima Yi.

Sima Yi's expression remained unchanged. He stood up, clasped his hands, and asked:

"Your Majesty, if I go to Yanzhou to supervise the abolition of military farms, and if I disagree with Governor Sun, will you allow me to make the decision on the spot?"

Cao Rui looked at Sima Yi seriously, nodded and said: "Sikong is an important minister of the country. Since I asked Sikong to go, he should be the leader. If Sikong encounters any problems in Yanzhou, he does not need to report everything to Xuchang, and can make his own decisions."

"In short, I will meet with Chenliu County, Dong County, and Jiyin County in Yanzhou this winter to start promoting this matter."

"I accept your order." Sima Yi bowed and said without delay: "May I ask Your Majesty, when do you want me to set out?"

Cao Rui stood up, walked calmly to Sima Yi, and said softly: "Sorry to bother you, Sikong. If it was an ordinary matter, I wouldn't have asked Sikong to come in person. But military farming is different. Emperor Wu's founding and the prosperity of Wei were all due to military farming. It has been forty years and it is difficult to change."

"If there is no reliable and important official like Sikong to go in person, I always feel a little uneasy, which means that Sikong will be troubled. When does Sikong want to leave?"

Sima Yi bowed his head slightly and said, "Your Majesty has given me an order. How dare I not do my best? I still have some political affairs to deal with. The day after tomorrow, which is October 7th, I will set out from Xuchang, okay?"

"Very good." Cao Rui said.

Man Chong sat aside and felt that the scene was familiar.

Last year, the third year of Taihe, was around this time.

Chen Qun and Chen Changwen, who served as Si Tu in the Luoyang court, were in the study of the North Palace in Luoyang when His Majesty said just a few words to them and sent them to Shouchun to stabilize the situation in Yangzhou after Cao Xiu was seriously injured. After Cao Xiu's death, he continued to supervise the military affairs of Yangzhou.

At that time, Man Chong still hoped that he could be sent to Yangzhou to lead the troops, and he was a little disappointed that His Majesty had chosen Chen Qun. But after thinking about it quietly, Man Chong gradually realized that His Majesty's move to send Chen Qun to Shouchun was really unstoppable.

A year later, the same scene happened again in the Xuchang Palace.

More than four years ago, none of the four ministers of state appointed by the late emperor Cao Pi are in the court now.

Cao Xiu has passed away, Cao Zhen is leading troops to garrison in Guanxi, Chen Qun is in charge of all the troops in Yangzhou, and Sima Yi has also been sent to Yanzhou today.

In fact, when it comes to central authority, Your Majesty has long been as stable as a rock.

Taking advantage of a great victory in Huainan at the beginning of the first year of Taihe, he lavishly rewarded the generals of the central and foreign armies, thus basically stabilizing the army.

In the second year of Taihe, he personally led the central army to rescue Longyou, established Qinzhou, recovered Hanzhong, and his prestige grew.

In the fourth year of Taihe, Liaodong was pacified and Yingzhou was newly established. The imperial court, the central army, the Secretariat, the Privy Council and the Nine Ministers of Luoyang were completely separated to ensure that they were only under the control of Your Majesty.

As expected, the best way to gather power and establish prestige is through military exploits. The history of the Han Dynasty over the past 400 years fully proves this point.

After the matter was settled, the ministers gradually dispersed.

Sima Yi returned home by carriage. As soon as he entered the mansion, he called his second son Sima Zhao into his bedroom. The father and son sat on either side of a black lacquered square table and talked in a low voice.

After listening to his father's story, Sima Zhao spoke with a hint of dissatisfaction:
"Father has just been in Xuchang for half a month, why are you asking him to go to Yanzhou again? This year he went from Xuchang to Liaodong, and then from Liaodong back to Luoyang and Yecheng. He just arrived in Xuchang and he has to go out again. How can your body bear it?"

Sima Yi stroked his beard calmly and said:
"To be loyal to the king, one must not hesitate to endure hardships, which is the duty of a minister. Moreover, what your majesty said is not wrong at all. The military farming system has lasted for forty years and has long been full of problems and needs to be rectified urgently. If your majesty does not let me go, but lets Sun Yanlong do it himself in Yanzhou, even I am a little worried."

Sima Zhao said: "I am just worried about my father's health, and I have no other intentions."

Sima Yi smiled and said, "Sir, are you worried about me? I am actually worried about you. I am in good health, no different from ten years ago."

"Zi Shang, look at you. Others who go to farm are suffering, but you have gained weight. You'd better be more restrained."

Sima Zhao was a little embarrassed and lowered his head and said, "This is not something that my son can decide. Father is right, I will just pay more attention to it."

"My son will be returning to the farming area in Xinji tomorrow. It is cold in winter, so please put on more clothes."

"Don't worry, Zishang." Sima Yi said, "According to this speed and your majesty's determination, I'm afraid it will be Yingchuan's turn to farm next year or the year after. By then, the court should have other arrangements for you."

Sima Zhao was surprised and asked, "Other arrangements? Father, what should my son's future career be like? Should I serve as a palace guard, or should I serve in Yangzhou like my brother?"

Sima Yi said, "I can't see clearly for the time being. But Duke Wen of Zheng Hun will soon arrive in Xuchang to take over as governor of Yingchuan. I will inform him and ask him to take care of you."

"Thank you, father." Sima Zhao thanked him from the bottom of his heart.

Sima Yi just smiled slightly and didn't say much.

……

Xuchang is not as big as Luoyang, but after all, Xuchang was once the capital of the Han Dynasty, so the palace is smaller and not cramped. However, since they were all palaces of Liu Xie in the past, Cao Pi came to Xuchang every time after he became emperor and lived in the Xuchang Palace. He gradually renovated half of the area, but now nearly half of it is still vacant, left there abandoned and unused.

As a result, the actual liveable area is much smaller than Luoyang Beigong.

Cao Rui had no plans to renovate the palace, and he went out of the palace more often than when he was in Luoyang.

The new governor of Yingchuan, Zheng Hun, Duke Wen of Zheng, arrived in Xuchang yesterday. Today, after Cao Rui saw Sima Yi off at the palace gate, he took a group of ministers to the top of the Xuchang city wall to look into the distance, with Zheng Hun also accompanying him.

On the city wall, soldiers were stationed every five steps, fully armored and on alert. The flags planted on the battlements on both sides fluttered in the wind.

Cao Rui looked towards the west for a while, and said with a little emotion: "Recently, I feel that Xuchang is more important than Luoyang."

Man Chong stood at the side and responded calmly:
"If we are in Xuchang, we can control Yangzhou in the east and Jingzhou in the west. However, this situation is likely to result in Hebei being stable and Guanxi being worry-free. If Wu and Shu are to be conquered in the future, I think the emperor should still stay in Luoyang."

"Luoyang is the heart of the country, indeed." Cao Rui smiled and turned to look at Zheng Hun. "In the past, Emperor Wu appointed you as Jingzhao Yin. Xuchang is not as vast as Yecheng. Now I have transferred you from Yecheng to here. I will ask you to govern Yingchuan like Weijun."

Zheng Hun, however, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty has entrusted me with the responsibility of governing Yingchuan County, and I shall do my utmost to repay Your Majesty. However, after I arrived in Xuchang yesterday, I also heard some things, and I would like to give some advice."

Cao Rui took a breath and looked at Zheng Hun with half surprise and half joking:
"Why, Mr. Zheng, are you going to teach me a lesson when you first come to Xuchang? It's been a long time since anyone has advised me. I want to hear what Mr. Zheng has to say."

Man Chong, Pei Qian, Lu Yu, Guanqiu Jian, Bei Yan and others who were accompanying him also looked at Zheng Hun who was standing with his back straight.

Zheng Hun cupped his hands and replied, "I came to Xuchang yesterday and heard that Your Majesty personally ordered the rectification of official documents. On the one hand, I was touched by Your Majesty's sacred intention and felt that our emperor was very insightful. On the other hand, I deeply felt that Your Majesty was too hard-working. It was really my fault that Your Majesty personally took care of such a small matter."

Cao Rui chuckled: "It's the minister's fault? Who do you think is at fault, Mr. Zheng?"

Zheng Hun said sternly, "The official document is a trivial matter. Your Majesty is in charge of the world. How can this matter make Your Majesty worry? I impeach the Shangshutai for dereliction of duty and negligence. I cannot escape the blame!"

"The Secretariat? Is it the Sikong and the Minister of Civil Affairs?" Cao Rui asked.

"That's right." Zheng Hun said firmly.

It had been four years since the Taihe era, but this was the first time that Cao Rui had seen someone impeach Sima Yi and the Shangshu Tai. Previously, the central government had been too harmonious. Looking at Zheng Hun's appearance, Cao Rui gradually felt something new.

According to Zheng Hun's resume, he had been working in local positions for most of the past few decades and had no connection with the ministers at the central level. It was interesting that he directly stated his position when he was transferred to a new position.

I just don't know whether this person is trying to take advantage of the situation or is really a loyal minister.

Cao Rui smiled and said, "I understand. But as the Son of Heaven, how can I ignore government affairs?"

"Zheng Qing has been a governor for a long time, so he should understand this feeling. Once he manages one thing, he wants to manage more. Just like hating evil as an enemy, when I see that officials have not done a good job, I, as an emperor, am no exception. Of course, I have to give some advice."

"However, what Zheng Qing said is not without reason. How about this, from now on, when I encounter trivial matters, I will try not to personally inquire about them, and let the cabinet ministers, the Secretariat, and the Privy Council handle them. Is that okay for me to have some free time?"

Cao Rui spoke in a relaxed tone and did not mention any dereliction of duty by the Secretariat.

Zheng Hun seemed to have not understood what he meant, and he cupped his hands and said, "I understand. Since I am the governor of Yingchuan and I am in charge of the imperial court for Your Majesty, I will also speak about my duties."

"The palace in Xuchang is now in ruins, and Your Majesty lives in a small and narrow place in the palace. The palace is not magnificent and cannot show your power. I think we should repair the palace in Xuchang and rebuild the city wall of Xuchang so that Xuchang can be like Luoyang and Yecheng."

Cao Rui glanced at Zheng Hun and said, "If you want me to stop toiling and not to worry about trivial state affairs, I can accept your advice. But if you want me to repair the palace and rebuild the city wall, I cannot agree to it for the time being."

Zheng Hun raised his head slightly and looked at Cao Rui.

Cao Rui said: "I think Zheng Qing has been in Hebei for a long time. Yecheng has been prosperous for more than 20 years. It is not difficult to mobilize the people and gather money nearby."

"But Xuchang is located in Yuzhou, close to the battleground between Jingzhou and Yangzhou. Everything comes first with the war, and I can't take care of these things."

Zheng Hun took a half step back and bowed solemnly, startling the surrounding officials:
"I am already sixty years old. Today, I am serving Your Majesty and I know the great virtue of Your Majesty. Your Majesty is as brilliant in martial arts as Emperor Wu of Han. You are as frugal and benevolent as Emperor Wen of Han. Your Majesty is as virtuous as the heaven and will surely protect the Great Wei for thousands of years!"

"Ten thousand years?" Cao Rui laughed dumbly: "Ten thousand years is too long, Zheng Qing, please don't flatter me."

"Have you not read the late emperor's 'Final Rules'? It clearly states: From ancient times to the present, there has never been a country that has not perished, nor a tomb that has not been dug up. I am already grateful to God for blessing the Great Wei Kingdom for being able to last for a hundred years, so how can I talk about ten thousand years?"

Man Chong said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. We will certainly devote all our energy to repaying the Wei family. Not to mention a hundred years, eight hundred years would be fine."

Cao Rui just smiled and said, "Okay, I won't talk to you about this anymore. Follow me to the north city. Today is a rare opportunity to climb high and enjoy the view."

After that, Cao Rui went northwards on his own, and the others followed him. Zheng Hun walked with his head down, not knowing whether what he had just said was useful or not. (End of this chapter)