Sima Yi's Three Kingdoms Collection Collection

Chapter 174 Collecting public opinion and helping Cao Cao rise to power (10)
Sima Yi lay on the floor and listened quietly. He didn't expect that his simple answer would attract such a lengthy speech from Prime Minister Cao.He was muttering to himself in the bottom of his heart, when suddenly a flash of light flashed in his mind. It turned out that Prime Minister Cao's long speech was not just for himself, but for himself to resign from the position of Minister of the Ministry of Finance, to talk about it. To all the officials in the prime minister's mansion.Right now, the city of Xudu looks calm on the surface, but there is an undercurrent of turmoil in the dark.If Cao Cao hadn't acted in time to "knock the mountain and shake the tiger", there would be no guarantee that the people in the mansion would fluctuate and the overall situation would be messed up.

He seemed to be a little tired after all the nonsense, and leaned on the back of the chariot for half a cup of tea, and then asked seriously after he had a rest: "Now let's get down to business. Sima Zhongda, did you have a meeting yesterday?" Tiao Chen said that he wanted to conduct a "watching and inspection" of Sifang Prefecture and County in the Central Plains. The truth is that I came here today to ask you, what kind of "wind" do you people from the Dongcao Office want to observe in Sifang Prefecture and County? What are you patrolling? check'?"

When Sima Yi heard Cao Cao's words, he was so cunning and fierce that he didn't dare to be careless. After thinking about it for a while, he still talked with the scriptures according to the reason he had prepared earlier: "My lord, The function of the Dongcao Office is to judge and select talents for use by the country. There is a saying in ancient books: "The foundation of governing the country lies in obtaining talents, the foundation of obtaining talents lies in judging, the foundation of judging lies in verifying the truth, and the foundation of verifying truth lies in impartiality." 'The subordinates think to themselves that they have no other advantages in their lives, but they can only admire the noble character of the prime minister, and imitate your "public" character and work hard to serve the country."

Hearing his words, Cao Cao couldn't help but see a flash of light in the depths of his eyes. He raised his head slightly to glance at him, and said indifferently: "Since you are thinking about the word 'gong' wholeheartedly, it is naturally the best. However, you Why do you have to go to Sifang Prefecture to "watch the wind and inspect" during this time of war? Are you really not afraid of any accidents on the way?"

"My lord Prime Minister reminded me, I am waiting to thank you for your concern. However, under the governance of your lord Prime Minister, the counties in the Central Plains have long enjoyed a happy life for the people, peace and prosperity, orderly, no robbers and bandits, and a revival. The prosperous weather in Shengping. I will go to watch the wind and inspect it, so it will be very safe." Sima Yi thought for a while, and then replied with great respect, "According to my subordinates, the prefects and governors of Sifang prefectures and counties, He is an official who is close to the people. He obeys the decrees of the prime minister and the hundreds of thousands of people in the pastoral area. He can be called the cornerstone of our country. There is a saying: "If the foundation is not strong, the whole house will be uneasy." Dongcao Office follows the convention, It is supposed to go deep into the states and counties of various states and counties on a regular basis to "observe the wind and inspect", timely observe the talents and abilities, reward the good and eliminate the evil, and prevent the erroneous. Enlightenment, discipline, raising the people, training military equipment, and supplying food. These five subjects are the five-handed 'measurement ruler' to measure the achievements of the governors of the states and counties in guarding the soil. Those who have made meritorious deeds will be recorded by the Dongcao Office and returned to the prime minister. Your Excellency praises it; if there is something wrong that can be seen, the Dongcao Office also puts it on the record and returns, and still asks the Prime Minister to demote it. The subordinates are just the heart of the people, and the eyes and ears of the people as the prime minister. Your Excellency is just judging the case impartially, how dare you act recklessly with selfish motives?"

Cao Cao listened carefully, thinking over and over in his heart, and felt that what he said was reasonable and restrained, and he couldn't find any flaws for a while.He pondered for a while, and finally made up his mind, stood up, looked straight at Sima Yi, and said slowly: "Well... I am planning to choose an opportunity to conquer Sun Quan recently. In order to avoid my worries, let you Dong Cao go down and deal with the Quartet It's good to have a "watching and inspection" in the prefectures and counties. When you go this time, you must remember that firstly, don't disturb the people, and secondly, don't disturb the officials. You should seriously be the eyes and ears of the truth, and take what you should see , Everything that should be heard, nothing is missed, and it is just brought back to the truth verbatim."

"My subordinates would like to obey the orders of the prime minister." Sima Yi and Wang Chang hurriedly knelt down and preached.

As if thinking of something again, Cao Cao stretched out his hand and brushed off the dust that was not on his black robe, and said casually: "That Nanyang prefect Zhu Hu has done some beautiful things recently. The truth checks him out and sees what he is capable of. But don’t listen to one side or believe it. Some Nanyang gentry also wrote something to accuse him of being dishonest. The truth will let Simpi tell The things they wrote were forwarded to your Dongcao Office. You should also check them against each other, so as not to deceive others, it will damage the knowledge of the truth.”

"Your subordinates will obey your orders." Sima Yi and others replied respectfully.

While listening to Sima Yi and the two's answers, Cao Cao walked over slowly with his hands behind his back, and came straight to stand in front of them.He suddenly sighed leisurely, and said in a calm manner: "There is an matter in the court today, which is related to the way of doing things. Let me tell you about it. Mr. Xun Ling...Of course you all know it. He You all have to learn from that loyal and meticulous heart towards the imperial court!

"During the early court today, His Majesty was worried about the epidemic in Bingzhou, Yuzhou and other places, so he took out a large box of rhino horn powder from the harem, and with Yilang Hanji as the special envoy of the imperial envoy, he led special personnel from the household department and the imperial hospital to transfer the rhino horn powder Send it to the homes of the sick people in the plague-stricken area to take food and cure diseases. Hehehe... Rhino horn powder is a rare and rare detoxification spirit! It is said that His Majesty put the rhino horn belt he wore, the rhino horn comb used by Empress Fu and all the concubines. They were all donated, developed into medicinal powder, and specially given to the common people to treat diseases and detoxify. The most regrettable thing is that he also gave a rare treasure "rhinoceros horn cup" that has been handed down since the time of King Xuan of Zhou to the people. It's smashed... Your Majesty doesn't care about the dragon body, but he always cares about the common people in the world - he is really the king of benevolence and virtuousness! The famous scholars and bureaucrats in Xudu city heard about this and loved him even more It’s a layer of deepening, thinking that he will definitely be able to rejuvenate the Han Dynasty..."

Speaking of this, Cao Cao's words couldn't hide a little bit of complicated meaning, there was not only faint ridicule, but also a little bit of jealousy.There was a sudden pause in his voice, his eyes sank, he glanced at Sima Yi's face, and said slowly: "Later, I heard another saying that this 'rhinoceros horn cup' was actually an ancestral cup from the residence of Lord Xun Ling." Treasure, he offered it to His Majesty on his own initiative to help the common people. Take a look, how sublime and ingenious the way of Xun Lingjun's serving the emperor is! The ancients said: "When the bud is not moved, and the signs are not seen, Clearly seeing the opportunity of survival, the key to gain and loss, and preventing the lord before it happens, the one who makes the lord stand in a place of glory and make the world beautiful is a holy minister.' According to the truth, what Xun Lingjun did was just Be worthy of the reputation of being the number one holy minister in ancient and modern times! You should learn from him diligently, you must not neglect it, and you must also be the 'holy minister' in my prime minister's residence!"

Hearing Cao Cao coming slowly, Sima Yi's heart skipped a beat, and his face changed slightly.It turned out that Xun Lingjun actually dedicated the ancestral "rhinoceros horn cup" he gave to his majesty, which made his majesty the reputation of "the king of benevolence and virtuousness"!It seems that Prime Minister Cao already knew that it was he who gave the rhino horn cup to Xun Yu... No wonder the atmosphere was a little off when he entered the Eastern Cao Office today, and he must be secretly dissatisfied with himself.Thinking of this, Sima Yi secretly raised his eyes and saw that Cao Cao was staring at him fiercely. He knew that if he didn't express his position at this moment, the consequences would be unpredictable, so he bowed his head on the ground and knocked heavily with a "bang". With a ringing head, he shouted loudly: "Sima Yi always remembers the orders of the Prime Minister, and will definitely learn to be a 'holy minister' in the Prime Minister's mansion wholeheartedly.

Seeing Sima Yi's sincere and terrified look, Cao Cao thought to himself: This Sima Yi, say he is loyal, and he has a teacher-student relationship with his political opponent Xun Yu in the court, and he has been parting with him; Soon after, he rejected Xun Yu's invitation to serve as Minister of Duzhi and stayed in his own mansion to serve—does he still want to step on two boats between my Cao family and the Han Dynasty?But judging from his usual wisdom and wisdom, he shouldn't have such a stupid move, right?But then again, Xun Yu's Confucian style and sage's talent, even he is deeply impressed, let alone Sima Yi?How can one who does not respect his teacher be loyal to his master?From this point of view, it is understandable for Sima Yi to act like this.Alas... Sima Yi's heart and mind are unpredictable, but there is no turning back when he speaks and behaves.He had no choice but to let him stay in the mansion to see the effect later.Thinking up to this point, he stopped thinking, turned his body around, and let out a series of loud laughter that shook the roof tiles, and instead of getting on the chariot, he raised his sleeves and stepped out as if no one else was around. Tang Shi ran away.

Sima Yi and Wang Chang hurriedly fell to the ground respectfully, not daring to utter a word, until Cao Cao and his party had gone far away, then slowly stood up.

Looking up at the courtyard outside the hall gate, Sima Yi stood quietly like a stone statue, motionless.After a long time, he turned his head, his eyes were full of desolation.He said to Wang Chang solemnly: "My lord, go and prepare some fruits and incense candles. I will make a good sacrifice to Uncle Cao later... Also, go to Sifangzhou County to watch the wind and inspect. Set off!"

(End of this chapter)