Three Kingdoms: Ancestors of the Han Dynasty

Beginning in the fifth year of Taihe (231 A.D.), Cao Rui imitated the Han Emperor Liu Chan and went to work in farming in the native land under his name to persuade Nong Sang.

Since the heavy rain in the spring and summer of the fourth year of Taihe, the Yishui, Luoshui, Yellow River, Hanshui and other floods flooded, from October to the fifth year of the fourth year of Taihe, there was no rain for nearly half a year, and there was a severe drought in the Central Plains. Cao Rui led his officials to hold a grand ceremony. Sacrifice and pray for rain ceremony.

In July, the queen gave birth to the prince Cao Yin, and Cao Rui sent an order to amnesty the world to celebrate the festival.

In August, Han Emperor Liu Chan and Wu Emperor Sun Quan met in Xinling to discuss Cao Wei.When it was passed to Luoyang, the officials in the court sighed for it.

In the sixth year of Taihe, in May, the prince Cao Yin died young, and he was given the posthumous title of King Ai of Anping.

In August, the waterway expedition against the Gongsun family in Liaodong failed.

In September, Cao Rui visited Mopi to watch the Qinglong, and sent an order to overhaul Xuchang Palace, build Jingfu and Chengguang Halls, and change it to Qinglong next year.

Cao Rui's heart for reform has been going on for a long time, because Cao Rui started using the Taihe reign, not only did his sons die early, but also suffered repeated defeats in foreign military affairs, even the Gongsun family in Liaodong, so Cao Rui had to feel bad luck.

Therefore, Cao Rui decided to change the yuan to get rid of bad luck after conquering the unfavorable Gongsun family.After all, since ancient times, the yuan has been changed due to changes in the political situation, system reforms, military victories, auspicious disasters, etc.

Sure enough, good news came after the change of the Yuan Dynasty. In the first year of Qinglong (233 AD), Budugen and Kebineng of Xianbei joined forces. Cao Rui ordered Xiaoqi General Qin Lang to lead the Chinese army to conquer. The roots of Budu will vent their return to the mud again.

Therefore, in recent months, Cao Rui went to Xudu happily to check the progress of the new Jingfu and Chengguang second halls.

Cao Rui stepped in the palace, looked at the Jingfu Hall that had begun to take shape, and nodded in satisfaction, pointing out the layout around the Jingfu Hall from time to time.

When Cao Rui walked to the side hall of Jingfu Hall, he suddenly heard the sound of birds singing from the top of the ground.Cao Rui looked up and saw a group of birds nesting on the top.

Cao Rui pointed to the nesting birds and asked, "What is this?"

Attendant Gao Tanglong (surnamed Gaotang) took a look and said, "This is a magpie!"

Gao Tanglong, styled Shengping, was born in Pingyang, Taishan County. His ancestor Gao Tangsheng was a great Confucian in the Han Dynasty.Gao Tanglong is good at grasping the sky, and he is erudite and well-known in the world.He is outspoken, and his character is more upright than Simpi.

Cao Rui looked at Gao Tanglong, and asked curiously: "Qing is good at divination, do you know what this is like? Should I pray according to the etiquette?"

Gao Tanglong pondered a little, and advised him: "The Book of Songs says, 'Wei magpies have nests, and Wei doves live in them'. Today, a large palace is built, and the second hall is built, and magpies build their nests on it. This is an unfinished palace. Your Majesty cannot It is a sign of residence that there will be people with different surnames living there, and this is a commandment from heaven."

"The way of heaven has no relatives, but with good people, we must be on guard and think deeply. At the end of Xia and Shang, they all came to the throne, and they did not respect the clear order of heaven, but followed the slander, abolished virtue and reckless behavior, so Its demise was also sudden. Taiwu and Wuding, seeing disasters and fearing, only obeyed the precepts of heaven, so their prosperity also flourished."

"If you give up the corvee today, frugality is sufficient, respect the emperor, repair the armor, and calm the world, your majesty will be a sage. Although the minister is ashamed and ruined, he is still alive." Gao Tanglong persuaded him earnestly.

Gao Tanglong was blunt, thinking that this was a sign of doves occupying the magpie's nest, and advised Cao Rui that in the last years of Xia and Shang, the emperors all came to the throne through succession, because they could not understand God's will, listen to slander, abandon morality, and perish very quickly. quick.Taiwu and Wuding prospered quickly because they took heaven as their precept.

As soon as this remark came out, whether it was frightened by Gao Tanglong's words or moved by his loyalty, Cao Rui's face was moved.

Cao Rui said with a heavy face: "Wei magpie has a nest, and Wei Jiu lives in it."

Looking at Cao Rui's face, Liu Fang knew that Cao Rui was worried about Shu Han.In these years, Cao Rui regarded the Shu Han as his main enemy, worried about the war in the northwest, and often had trouble sleeping and eating.Especially after Zhang He and Yang Fu died in battle, Cao Rui often missed Yang Fu's good intentions and secretly shed tears for him.

When Liu Fang read the letter from the southeast, he gave Sun Zi a wink, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, Gao Jun was wrong. I heard the sound of crows from the north (Note ①) and hated the sound of magpies, while the magpies from the south The sound is the sound of evil crows (Note ②). There is a cloud in the Tong Gua in "Yi": "The magpie, the yang bird, moves before the object, and responds before the event." Now that the magpie is building a nest, auspicious things are coming in the south."

Gao Tanglong was about to stand up and rebut, but Sun Zi pulled his clothes and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty has been eating less and dreaming more recently, so don't worry too much. Suggestions should be done slowly."

Gao Tanglong sighed and could only remain silent.

As he spoke, Sun Zi responded loudly, saying: ""Huainanzi" says: 'A dry magpie knows the coming but not the going', the magpie knows that there are auspicious things in the south, and moves before things. It corresponds to this sentence."

When Cao Rui heard the words, he slightly relaxed his brows and asked, "What auspicious things are going to happen in the south?"

Liu Fang took out the official document from his cuff, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, Lu Shi, the prefect of Jiangxia, seems to be conspiring with Lu Xun of the Eastern Wu. Secretary Wenxiu wrote a letter stating this. The scouts intercepted the enemy cavalry and captured Sun Quan's letter, which stated that he and Zhuge Liang of Western Shu conspired with our great Wei. Although we don't know the specific details, it can also prepare Guanzhong and the south."

Cao Rui nodded in conviction, and said with a smile, "I will follow what you two say."

Liu Fang handed the official document and Sun Quan's letter to Cao Rui, and said: "Although Lu Shi sent his wife and children to Luoyang, he should not be convinced of his actions. Moreover, there are letters from Wen Xiu and Sun Quan to prove that Soochow wanted to invade the border of our country in the north. The minister thought that Lu Shi could be exempted from the post of prefect of Jiangxia, stay away from the Wu territory, and prevent him from colluding with Lu Xun!"

It has to be said that Lu Shi was unlucky. Lu Shi was framed by Lu Xun, impeached by Wen Xiushangshu, and the letter from Sun Quan and the big man seeking Cao Wei was intercepted by the Wei people.

Therefore, the high-ranking officials of Cao Wei had to suspect that Sun Quan's Northern Expedition was likely to find internal support within Cao Wei. Although Lu Shi, the prefect of Jiangxia, might be loyal, he might also collude with Lu Xun.Not afraid of [-], just in case, you can only remove the Lu Shi to prevent accidents from happening.

Cao Rui nodded, and said: "You can follow your advice and dismiss Lu Shi, and temporarily let Wen Xiu succeed Jiangxia as the prefect. As for Sun Quan's trust, what does Zi Qi (Liu Fang) want to do?"

Liu Fang was born in Fangcheng, Zhuo County. Although he was a relative of the Han Dynasty, he was deeply loved by Cao Rui. Because he was good at writing letters and essays, he was responsible for drafting edicts.

Liu Fang showed a slight smile and said: "You can change Sun Quan's letter, and change the letter to Man Zhengdong (Man Chong), and the words are in line with my great Wei. Seal it up and let the soldiers send it to Zhuge Liang. Divide the alliance between Shu and Wu."

Cao Rui clapped his hands and cheered, and said with a smile: "If you abandon a great talent, you can follow what you say!"

Liu Fang bowed his waist and said: "This is a small plan. It is difficult to shake the Shu-Wu alliance. Your Majesty must let the generals on the border take precautions to resist the enemy. The Chinese army must also prepare for war and rush to help everywhere at any time to rescue the border."

Cao Rui nodded slightly, and praised: "Qing and Sun Qing are indeed people who are loyal to the emperor and patriotic, and I am very relieved."

After a pause, Cao Rui continued: "Chuan Zhao, Zi Qi and Yan Long will be promoted to be servants and doctors Jia Guanglu."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
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①: In the pre-Qin period, crows had dual identities as a fierce bird and an auspicious bird. After the Tang and Song Dynasties, the belief that crows were a bad omen was established.

②: Volume [-] of "The Scholar Playing the Rhinoceros": "Northern people like the sound of crows but hate the sound of magpies, and southerners hate the sound of crows. The so-called dry magpie is also."