The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 9: The country is broken and the mountains and rivers are here

Cao Mao just looked at Yang Zong in front of him calmly.

The two officials around him were like the Han Dynasty that had already perished and the Jin Dynasty that had not yet arrived.

A man who is old-fashioned and stubborn, firmly believes in the teachings of saints, has extremely high moral standards for himself, and wants to realize his ambitions, govern the world, and live in peace with the people. He is a pure Han scholar.

The other one gave up on himself, abandoned all his principles, despaired of everything, lived a life of drunkenness and dreams, completely gave up and lay flat, despised all etiquette and rules, was crazy and dissolute, and was a complete madman of the Wei and Jin Dynasties.

Wei, which was located between the Han and Jin dynasties, was able to see both types of people at the same time.

The young Guo Ze comes from the past, while the old Yang Zong comes from the future.

Cao Mao did not dislike Yang Zong. He could understand Yang Zong now, without waiting for the future.

Probably a long time ago, he was also a Han scholar like Guo Ze, with a sincere heart, wanting to display his talents and govern the world with the teachings of saints.

However, after Sima Yi launched a coup, he was completely destroyed.

He found that what he had learned over the years could not explain the behavior before him, and he found that the skills he had mastered over the years could not solve any problems.

He suddenly realized how insignificant he was.

Therefore, he chose to give up everything.

He began to take drugs, drink heavily, and lie in the shade of trees all day, without clothes, doing nothing.

Whenever he saw Guo Ze, he would think of his younger self.

Perhaps, one day, when Guo Ze finds out that what he has learned cannot save the world and suffers a mental breakdown, he will become like Yang Zong today, spending the rest of his life in a daze.

This is the process of the Han Dynasty scholars becoming the Wei and Jin Dynasty madmen.

"Mr. Yang's idea is quite good. I took the initiative to request that Prince Pengcheng inherit the throne, making the choice on behalf of the royal family and standing on Sima Shi's side. Sima Shi has always wanted to gain the support of the royal family of Wei, and he has actively encouraged his younger generations to make friends with the royal family of Cao."

"He actually improved our lives. He removed many of the prohibitions on the princes and reduced the number of changes in titles. At least the royal family won't go hungry anymore."

"I have some reputation among the royal family. I will show my goodwill to Sima Shi and express my stance on behalf of the royal family. Sima Shi will be very happy. Maybe he will even give me some bones to eat."

"I just need to wag my tail, Yang Gong has a great idea!"

After hearing what Cao Mao said, Yang Zong shook his head again.

"Oh, that's what I'm worried about."

"Lord Cao, there's nothing wrong with wanting to stay alive. There's no need to say such harsh words."

"You rejected Wang Su just to save your life, didn't you?"

"You are always so impatient and eat anything you want, isn't it because you are afraid?"

Cao Mao laughed, revealing his white teeth. "I am afraid, and I really want to live, but I don't want to be a dog for others."

"Wanting to survive is certainly not wrong, but surrendering to the enemy and leading them in order to survive is the behavior of an animal!!"

"So what do you want? Do you want to leave your royal family? Do you want to run away? Go to Bashu? Go to Dongwu? Go to the frontier?"

Anger also appeared on Yang Zong's face.

"Do you really think Sima Shi is just a decoration? You are in Yuancheng, where can you run to? Do you think Sima Shi will not care about you if you don't become the emperor?"

"Given his personality, unless you surrender according to my instructions, if you refuse, there's a 20% chance he'll imprison you for life!"

"There's also an 80% chance that they'll send someone to kill you to prevent future trouble!"

Yang Zong said as he slowly stood up, picked up the wine in front of him, and said indignantly: "Life or death, it's up to you to choose! I have done my best!"

"That bastard Guo Ze will kill us all sooner or later!"

"All he keeps talking about is the world, the people, the saints, and the moral Han people who perished long ago!"

Yang Zong cursed in a low voice and left the study without looking back.

Cao Mao was the only one left in the room.

He raised his head and sighed.

Yes, the Han Dynasty has perished.

The idealism of the Han people has been killed by the cruel reality, and finally became a corpse like Yang Zong that no longer has any heat.

Cao Mao originally wanted to get rid of his identity as a member of the royal family, hide his identity, and escape to another place.

But now it seems that the Sima family doesn't even need to take action. Given Cao Wei's defense against the royal family, even if they demote you to a commoner, they will never let you go free.

What's more, the person he is facing now is Sima Shi.

Even if Sima Shi died a year later, there was still Sima Zhao.

Although Sima Zhao was not as good as his brother, he was definitely not a mediocre person. None of the first three generations of the Sima family were easy to deal with.

As a vassal of Cao Wei, in the heart of the empire, how could I possibly escape from the control of the imperial court?

If he could not walk ten miles, he would be hunted down by Cao Wei's cavalry and die without a burial place.

But if I become the emperor, wouldn’t that mean death?
Is being a dog the only way to survive?

"Boom, bang, bang."

Someone knocked on the door, interrupting Cao Mao's thoughts. "My Lord? Someone's here to visit!"

It was Liu Lu's voice outside the door.

Cao Mao stood up and opened the door.

He saw Liu Lu looking at him with a smile, and there were two people standing beside him.

One old and one young.

The old man was the one who had asked Cao Mao for help before, and the child beside him was his grandson.

A smile appeared on Cao Mao's face. "Yes, father-in-law. Please come into the inner room."

The old man shook his head hurriedly, "I dare not, I dare not, a despicable person, I really dare not enter."

"No problem, even Liu Lu comes in often!"

Liu Lu scratched his head. He did not think that he was being looked down upon. Instead, he laughed foolishly.

The two men were brought into the inner room by Cao Mao. As soon as they sat down, the old man hurriedly stood up, led his grandson, and knelt down to pay homage to Cao Mao.

"Get up! Get up!"

"I dare not accept such a gift from an elder!"

Cao Mao hurriedly helped the man up.

The old man was very happy. "Lord Cao, this morning the county sent people to clear my son's name in public and also announced Shuqu's crimes. This is all because of you. I am truly grateful. I have no way to repay you for your great kindness!"

"No need to say thank you."

"But you lost your son, and now you have a little grandson like this. How are you going to live in the future?"

The old man's eyes were bright, and he said confidently: "Don't worry, Lord Cao. I know some carpentry. Although I can't farm, I have the ability to make a living. The two of us don't eat much. Although my grandson is young, he is very well-behaved. In a few days, he will be able to help me with work."

The old man was full of energy at the moment, not at all like the numb and dazed look he had in front of the county government office.

Cao Mao was a little stunned. "You are optimistic. I was a little worried a few days ago."

"Haha, I know. Lord Cao is afraid that I will end my own life, right?"

"I still have grandchildren to take care of, how can I talk about life and death lightly?"

"Besides, my son was not buried with a stigma, and I am already satisfied. Compared to other families, it is much better."

"Ever since you moved to Yuancheng, few people dare to bully us anymore. The people of Yuancheng are grateful for your kindness."

Cao Mao said, "The officials in Yuancheng are truly despicable. Not a single one of them stands up for the people. I heard that there were quite a few good officials here in the past."

"Hahaha"

The old man laughed and said, "I have lived here for decades, but I have never seen any good officials. How can these people take us ordinary people seriously?"

"In their eyes, the common people are probably people like Shuqu. We have no farmland, no houses, and can only be called hooligans. Even if we suffer great injustice, no one has ever stood up for us. You are the first one!"

"I heard someone say that the court wants you to be emperor, and I said, only a true emperor can be like you."

Cao Mao frowned again and didn't speak for a long time.

The old man was a little surprised. He couldn't help but say, "Mr. Cao seems to have something bothering him. Although I am old and weak, and a humble man, if Mr. Cao has any instructions, I can serve you."

"No problem, no problem, it's just that things have been a bit unlucky lately."

"Lord Cao, every family has its troubles and setbacks. There's no need to be so depressed. The prince who lives next door to me had three children and five grandchildren who died in battle in Liang Province, and he's still trying to support his seriously ill wife. Mr. Zhou, who lives across from me, had his legs broken and has to crawl to the fields every day."

"We have never been educated, and we are not as intelligent as you, so we don't understand the truth. But how can the living be troubled by the dead?"

"No matter what the problem is, there is always a way to solve it. Besides, Cao Gong is so kind and virtuous, and God will protect him. Why worry?"

The father-in-law took his grandson away, and before leaving he repeatedly thanked Cao Mao for his kindness.

Cao Mao looked a little confused and dazed.

Suddenly, he reacted.

While Yang Zong was still drinking, he saw Cao Mao suddenly appear in front of him.

Cao Mao grabbed Yang Zong by the collar and looked straight into his eyes.

"The Han Dynasty has never perished!!"

"Ah? What did you say?"

"The country is destroyed but the mountains and rivers remain!"

"The Han Dynasty has been replaced by the Wei Dynasty, and the Wei Dynasty will be replaced by others! However, this land under our feet! The people on this land! They will never change! In another two thousand years, they will still be the same people!!"

"They won't bow to hardship! They won't be defeated! They won't hide away and live a life of drunkenness like you do!"

“I can’t either!!!”

"what???"

(End of this chapter)