Mi Han

Chapter 184

Yecheng, since Cao Cao established the Wei State, has regarded it as the capital of the Wei State.

After making Yecheng the capital of the country, Cao Cao expanded Yecheng on the basis of the original old city.

After the expansion, Yecheng is seven miles from east to west, five miles from north to south, and borders Zhangshui in the north. There are Bingjing Terrace, Tongque Terrace and Jinhu Terrace in the northwest corner of the city from north to south, which can be described as very magnificent.

Yecheng leans against the Taihang in the west, faces the Yellow River in the south, and faces the Hebei Great Plains of thousands of miles of fertile fields in the north. The terrain is very dangerous and can be defended or attacked, which is convenient for Cao Cao to control the Hebei area.

The northern center of Yecheng is Gongcheng District, the west is Yuanyuan, and the east is Qili.

The Jianchun Gate in the east of the city and the Jinming Gate in the west of the city divide Yecheng into two parts, north and south, with a road running from east to west.

At its peak, Yecheng had a population of nearly 40, which was not counted as a garrison, but it was the well-deserved number one city in the north.

In the north of the majestic Yecheng City, there is a resplendent and majestic Wei Palace.

In previous years, Wei Wang Cao Cao was in this palace, controlling the power of the world with his authority.

But unfortunately, with the passage of time, the days when King Wei raised his whip are gone forever.

In the main hall of Wei Palace, there is only one old man who is dying.

Cao Cao is 66 years old this year, and he is the oldest among the three princes in the world.

The pale-faced Cao Cao was lying on the slump in the hall, and below the bright hall were kneeling densely packed ministers of civil and military affairs of the state of Wei.

When Cao Cao withdrew his army from Hanshui dragging his sick body, in order not to affect the morale of the army and to prevent Liu Bei from becoming suspicious, when he led his army back to Yecheng and passed Qiaojun, he specially stayed in Dayan Township of Qiaojun to reward the old man.

The land of Qiaopei is the hometown of Cao Cao, and most of his starting team were from Qiaopei people.

Therefore, although the land of Qiaopei is not very important in the world, it has a special meaning for the Cao Wei regime.

After feasting in the countryside in Qiaopei, Cao Cao led the army back to Yecheng without stopping.

After arriving in Yecheng, Cao Cao, who was relieved in his heart, deteriorated from condition to condition.

Perhaps Cao Cao in this life has supported him for a while because of his heart.

But no matter what, he still had to leave this world he was reluctant to part with after all.

Cao Cao, feeling sick and in pain, glanced at Cao Pi, the crown prince of Wei who was kneeling at the head of his couch beside his couch, with reluctance in his eyes.

His reluctance is not entirely out of his affection for Cao Pi, but more out of concern for the future of Wei.

After he leaves, will Zihuan be able to defend the state of Wei?
Cao Pi is 34 years old this year, which should be the most competitive age for a man. When Cao Cao led the army to quell the Yellow Turban Rebellion, he was about this age.

But it may be because of the battle with Cao Zhi for the heir apparent that Cao Pi exhausted his energy.

At the age of a young and strong man in his thirties, some gray hair has grown between his temples.

Cao Cao looked at the prince in front of him who was not very satisfied, and recalled the figure of another young man in front of his eyes.

The phrase "Father, please get on the horse" is like a single bone scraping knife. He didn't think it was anything before, but as he got older, the bone scraping knife hurt him more and more.

Cao Cao knew that he couldn't get up anymore, so he said with a burst of sadness:
"Today I will not be able to afford it. I have carried out my intentions forward and backward, and I have never felt guilty in my heart.

Assuming that the dead are still alive, if Zixiu asks 'where is my mother', how will I answer! "

Cao Cao's words were full of sadness. He seemed to be talking to himself, but also seemed to be speaking to everyone.

And his words made Cao Pi in front of him bend down a little lower.

He knew that he had never been the most satisfactory prince in his father's heart.

After sighing with emotion, Cao Cao turned his eyes to the officials behind Cao Pi, and ordered: "You all stand down, I have something to say to the prince."

Although Cao Cao's tone at this time was very weak, but because of the silence and special structure in the hall, his king's order was finally passed into the ears of every minister very clearly.

Under Cao Cao's order, all the courtiers in the palace began to retreat outside the palace, even Cao Cao's personal guard Xu Chu also withdrew from the palace.

Soon after, only Cao Cao and Cao Pi were left in the empty hall.

Cao Cao raised his weak hand, calling for Cao Pi to come forward.

After Cao Pi came close to him, Cao Cao looked at Cao Pi expectantly and said, "Now that Liu Bei and Sun Quan have been promoted to the altar, how should you make decisions in this situation after you succeed to the throne?"

"If you want to conquer and fail to follow orders, will you rule Liu Bei first? Or Sun Quan?"

On the second day after Sun Quan and Deng Zhi made the oath, Jiangxia prefect Wenpin, who was close to Xiakou, knew the news.

After learning the news, he immediately ordered the messenger to report the news to Cao Cao.

At that time, Cao Cao was on his way back to Yecheng. When he received the news on the way, he immediately sighed:
"The two southern thieves want to light the stove!"

Not long after Cao Cao arrived in Yecheng, Cao Cao received a letter from Sun Quan, which was full of insults.

Among the three great princes in the world, although Sun Quan is the youngest, he is the crown of the three princes if he is harsh.

In history, he once scolded Mrs. Wang, who had been sleeping with him for decades, to death.

So when the insulting words written by Sun Quan spread to Yecheng, it immediately caused an uproar in Yecheng.

All the ministers were indignant and asked Cao Cao to send troops to attack Sun Quan.

At that time, Cao Pi was also quite indignant. Whether it was out of acting or showing his true feelings, it was impossible for him to remain indifferent to the insult of Junfu.

But in the face of the excitement of the officials, Cao Cao suppressed the matter, knowing that now is definitely not the time to send troops.

He is a mature politician who will not be easily swayed by personal emotions.

Now Cao Cao asked Cao Pi what he should do in the face of the Sun Liu Alliance after he died, just to see his true thoughts in his heart.

Although Cao Pi's position as the crown prince has been stabilized, even if Cao Pi's answer dissatisfied him, he would not change the crown prince for the sake of the stability of Wei Guosheji, but he can still give Cao Pi a point or two before he dies.

Cao Pi knelt down in front of Cao Cao, knowing that Cao Cao suddenly asked him this question in order to test his strategic vision.

Similar examinations have never stopped since Cao Cao took Hebei.

In the past, Cao Cao exhausted Cao Pi's mental energy from time to time, which made him feel bored sometimes, but for the sake of the crown prince, Cao Pi finally persisted until today.

What Cao Pi didn't expect was that at this moment, his beloved father was still thinking about testing him. Could it be that the father still doesn't believe in his ability?
Cao Pi was sad and puzzled, but in order not to give up at the last moment, Cao Pi remembered Jia Xu's teachings, and he respectfully replied to Cao Cao:
"Those who attack will have the right to fight first, and those who build the foundation will respect morality. If in the future the son will come and lead the land, and Sui will treat him with culture and virtue and wait for him to change, then it will not be difficult to level up."

"Although Liu Bei and Sun Quan are poor countries in the south, they rely on mountains and rivers. Liu Bei has great talents, Zhuge Liang is good at governing the country, and Sun Quan knows the truth.

The way to use troops is to win first and then fight, measure the enemy and judge the general, so there are no strategies left behind.If troops are sent out hastily, even though the might of the heavens is upon them, they will not be completely convincing.

In the past, Shun danced with relatives but had Miao clothes. My son thinks that nowadays it is better to put literature first and then martial arts."

Cao Pi knelt down on the ground, and he was full of confidence when he said this answer.

Because Jia Xu taught him this answer in advance, and with Jia Xu's wisdom, what he taught must be in line with Cao Cao's wishes.

Sure enough, Cao Cao didn't show dissatisfaction after listening to Cao Pi's answer, but there was a hint of self-mockery on his face.

He stretched out his hand to touch the head of his son in front of him, but his act of loving kindness before he died made Cao Pi's body tremble a little, as if he was in fear.

Seeing this scene, the self-deprecating look on Cao Cao's face became more intense as he was lying on the couch.

Could it be that the relationship between father and son has been dissipated by the schemes of the past?
Knowing a son is like a father, not to mention that Cao Cao is the hero of the world, he knows that what Cao Pi said just now is not what he thought of.

Cao Cao also knew that the reason why Cao Pi relied on other people's remarks was that he was worried about arousing his dissatisfaction, which would lead to losing the crown prince.

But just now, he just wanted to hear Cao Pi's sincere words. He never thought that even this simple wish could not be fulfilled at the last moment before his death.

But can Cao Pi be blamed for this?

I still remember that when Cao Pi was a child, he respected him very much and knew everything.

But since he won the battle of Guandu, when the issue of establishing a reserve was put on the table, he, who advocates power and strategy, encouraged those who can live there.

This was originally a world of great controversy.

From Cangshu back then to Zijian later, he hoped that his sons would work hard to make progress, and finally win a qualified prince for him.

But in the end, under the exaggeration of his scheming and domineering tactics, the sincere father-son relationship was also worn away.

Today, the father does not know the son, and the son does not know the father.

The last trace of tenderness was put away on Cao Cao's face, even though his physical pain was getting stronger and stronger, but his face had returned to the unpredictable expression in the past.

Although Cao Pi's answer just now was not his idea, but as long as he can listen to the advice of virtuous ministers, then he can be regarded as a qualified successor.

Cao Cao gave Cao Pi a last word: "Reuse clan relatives and guard against aristocratic families."

After saying this, Cao Cao asked Cao Pi to summon the ministers outside the palace to come in.

Under Cao Pi's call, all the ministers outside the hall filed in one after another, and knelt down in front of Cao Cao again.

Cao Cao's thoughts were a little confused, he turned his head to look at the minister who had knelt under him and fought with him for decades, there was stability in his eyes.

These people are the greatest wealth he left for Wei.

When Cao Cao was still awake, he began to issue the last few royal orders in his life.

"After the lonely death, Jia Kui, the admonisher, presided over the funeral, and Sima Yi, the concubine, assisted Jia Kui from the side."

After Cao Cao's royal decree was issued, there were bursts of weeping in the hall.

When Jia Kui and Sima Yi heard Cao Cao's order, Qi Qi came out from among the ministers, both of them had sad expressions on their faces.

After issuing this royal decree, Cao Cao began to talk about his last words:

"I woke up last night and felt unwell. At dawn, I drank porridge and sweated, and took angelica soup.

In the army, I always act according to the law, which is right.

But in the past, I also had small anger and big mistakes in my dealings. I hope that the kings and ministers of future generations will not learn from it. "

When Cao Cao said this, Jia Kui immediately came to the book case next to the bed and began to record Cao Cao's words on the silk book.

"The world is not yet stable, and it is impossible to abide by the complicated system of burial of princes in ancient times.

I have a headache and wear a headscarf all the time.After I die, the dress I wear should be the same as the one I wore during my lifetime, not too extravagant, don't forget.

Civil and military officials should come to the palace to cry for mourners, as long as they cry fifteen times;

After my burial, the civil and military ministers will take off their mourning clothes; the soldiers stationed in various places are not allowed to leave the station;

Officials must keep their duties, wear the clothes they were wearing at the time of encoffining, and be buried on Xigang in Ye, which is close to Ximen Leopard Temple, and there is no hidden gold, jade and jewelry.

My servants, concubines and prostitutes are all hardworking, so I placed them in Tongque Terrace and treated them kindly.Place a six-foot-long bed in the main hall of Tongque Terrace, and hang a spiritual curtain.

Every month's first day and the fifteenth day, from dawn to noon, they are asked to play music in front of the spiritual tent.If you miss me, you can always go up to the Tongque Terrace and visit my Xiling tomb field.

The incense I left behind can be shared with the ladies, do not use incense candles to sacrifice.

The wives, concubines and children who have nothing to do in the houses can learn how to make shoes and sell them.

All the ribbons I have obtained since I became an official are written in the treasury.The clothes I left behind can be placed elsewhere.

If it is not possible, the prince brothers can share it. "

Cao Cao's last words were for the ministers to hear, and even more so for Cao Pi and other family members who were in the palace at this time. He called himself "I" throughout the article, and did not use the honorific title of prince.

It shows that at this moment, he does not regard himself as the mighty king of Wei, but a patriarch who is about to die.

Every time Cao Cao uttered a last word, his breath became weaker. Fortunately, he had already prepared a draft of similar last words in his heart, otherwise, with his current mental strength, he would not be able to come up with this last word in a short time.

After Cao Cao finished his last words, the crying in the hall gradually became louder.

Especially those Cao Cao's wives and concubines, their faces were already covered with tears.

To everyone's surprise, Cao Cao's last words, as a hero of a generation, were not ambitious, but more detailed arrangements for the future of his family and earnest instructions to the ministers.

Perhaps these last words are not in line with the status of King Wei, but they are in line with the emotional Cao Mengde.

At this moment, Cao Cao felt that his thoughts were becoming more and more unable to concentrate. He felt that his eyelids were heavy, and it seemed that they would close completely in the next moment.

At this moment, he could no longer feel the pain in his body, and a huge sense of powerlessness and weakness completely enveloped him.

Cao Cao held his last breath and looked at Cao Pi. He still had a lot to say to Cao Pi, but his body didn't allow it.

At the end, Cao Cao only uttered an inaudible entreaty: "Be kind! Be kind!"

After sending out this entrustment, Cao Cao's eyes were attracted by a huge map in the hall, on which the world was drawn.

Looking at the world in front of his eyes, he wanted to raise his hand to touch the great mountains and rivers that seemed to be in front of him, but he couldn't do it anymore.

After a while, Cao Cao slightly raised his hand and completely landed on the bed.

His eyes were also completely closed.

In this world, no one can take it away.

Cao Pi in front of Cao Cao was the first to notice Cao Cao's departure, and then his mournful cries resounded in the hall.

After Cao Pi's cry sounded, the entire spacious hall was instantly covered by the sky-shattering cry.

King Wei is dead!

What should Wei Guo do next?

(End of this chapter)