Sima Yi's Three Kingdoms Collection Collection

Chapter 74
"Brother said, in fact, he only knows one thing, not the other!" Sima Yi frowned, "My little brother thinks that the most important purpose of Cao Cao holding this celebration banquet is to force the high officials in the court to treat him. Abolishing the Sangong and taking the power of the prime minister' expressed his approval - he held such a grand celebration banquet, just to show everyone that with his majestic achievements and illustrious dignity, he is fully worthy of enjoying all the glory and wealth in this world !"

"According to what the second brother said, Prime Minister Cao has become a ridiculous person who 'wears the monkey and crowns'?" Sima Lang shook his head slightly, "How can he be so superficial?"

"Brother, Cao Cao is not a 'monkey', he is 'dressing people and crowning'! 'Washing people and crowning, brocade clothes day walk' is just a trick he has carefully used!" Sima Yi said slowly, "Brother, have you forgotten that in the fifth year of Jian'an, Cao Cao was congratulated by the officials when he hunted in the outskirts of Xudu for being good at acting as the emperor?"

"Hmm... You mean he's making his own enemy again and leading snakes out of their holes?" Sima Lang's eyes couldn't help but light up.

"That's right. Didn't Dr. Kong Rong be 'led' out by him at today's celebration banquet?" Sima Yi cast his eyes deeply on the car window, "Just like Dong Cheng and Wang Zifu in those days. He was "led" out just like the others. This time, Dr. Kong had no choice but to step forward, and Prime Minister Cao might not be able to hold him tenderly and tolerantly..."

"However, that Dr. Kong is the descendant of Confucius! Back then, the great general He Jin was so arrogant and noble, and he was scolded by Dr. Kong for his incomplete body—He Jin was so ashamed that he shut himself up and thought about it for three days and nights. Doctor Kong hated him so much that his teeth were itchy, and he didn’t dare to do anything to Doctor Kong in the end?” Sima Lang was startled, “Even what He Jin didn’t dare to do back then, Prime Minister Cao dared to do it today. Is it tricky?"

Sima Yi just silently glanced at his elder brother and didn't answer.

From Sima Yi's deep look, Sima Lang also understood immediately - the meaning in his eyes told him clearly: What a brave and decisive master Cao Cao is, how could it be that He Jin, who is ambitious, talented and lacking in courage and lack of plan Comparable?As long as Cao Cao is determined to do something, is there anything he can't do?

For a while, the carriage fell silent, only the sound of wheels outside could be heard "rumbling".

After a long time, Sima Yi let out a long sigh to break the silence: "Starting from tonight, there will be no peace between the inner court and the Prime Minister's Mansion! When Cao Cao reached the peak of his achievements, he has also attracted the real rival in his life. .”

A real rival?Who is Cao Cao's real rival in his life?Could it be Doctor Kong?How could Dr. Kong, a Qingliu literati, be Cao Cao's real rival?Sima Lang could only feel his thoughts turbulent, and he still couldn't make a clue.When he wanted to question his second brother again, Sima Yi was already leaning against the wall of the car like a sleeping eagle, closing his eyes and resting silently.

Kong Rong made a "big trick"

Under the shade of dense green shadows, the main hall of the Shangshutai Mansion Office looks unusually cool and pleasant.

Xun Yu has been crouching at his desk since morning, reviewing all kinds of documents from the court, and he is so busy that he can't even breathe.In the official system of this dynasty, the Shangshuling he served was the head of the inner court officials, and his status was extremely prominent-"With all the opportunities, he is in charge of power".On weekdays, don't talk about those high-ranking officials in the Han court. Even Cao Cao, as the prime minister, should listen to his opinions attentively and respectfully when he is making decisions.

However, although Xun Yu is in a high position and holds a lot of power, he is extremely frugal, honest and honest.Cao Cao once led the ministers of the Han Dynasty [-] times to jointly petition the emperor to ask Jin to confer Xun Yu the title of "Three Lords", but he refused all of them.However, Xun Yu himself is modest, self-motivated, and indifferent to famous nobles, but he treats the wise and talented people in the government and the public as his family and loves him as his life, and spares no effort to promote them, just as Cao Cao sincerely praised "Xun Lingjun's goodness, if you don't make progress, you will never stop." .In this dynasty, Zhong Yao, captain of the Sili school, Xi Li, the imperial official, Hua Xin, the secretary of the official department, Wang Lang, the advisor, and Guo Jia, a strategist, were all distinguished by Xun Yu's insight and promoted to high positions.Cao Cao personally wrote a plaque with sixteen gold characters "Benevolence establishes morality, enlightenment promotes the virtuous, righteousness inspires the people, wisdom helps the world" and presented it to Xun Yu, and praised him as "a sage through the ages, a peerless Confucianist".

At this moment, although the air in the main hall of the Shangshutai was chilly, when Xun Yu leaned over his desk to read the text, his forehead was already sweating slightly.He felt that he was indeed a little tired, so he stretched his waist, stood up from the couch, and prepared to take a walk on the boulevard outside the hall to relax.

At this moment, there was a sound of light footsteps at the gate of the palace.Xun Yu looked up and saw that it was Yilang Zhao Yan who had just returned from His Majesty's palace, holding a stack of memorials reviewed by Emperor Xian, standing there, ready to bow to him.Zhao Yan is the special envoy sent by the Imperial Palace to Shangshutai, who is responsible for the transmission of documents and memorials between the imperial palace and Shangshutai.Of course, Zhao Yan was able to serve as this special envoy, and it was also recommended by Xun Yujian on the basis of his loyalty and prudence.

"Sit! Sit! Let's rest for a while before we talk!" Xun Yu pointed to a couch on the left side of his desk, and told him to sit down first, "Choose a few memorials that His Majesty is most concerned about here and tell me Sit and listen."

Zhao Yan hastily thanked him, picked up a pottery pot placed beside the couch, drank a few gulps of cold water, moistened his throat, and then said: "About the Prime Minister's Mansion planning to transfer the farmers and farmers from all states in the Central Plains to The "client"'s land rent, tax and grain payment, from five tenths to six tenths, His Majesty was a little puzzled, so he asked Lord Lingjun: Now that Yuan Shao has been destroyed, the Central Plains has been settled, and the people of the world have nothing to do. It’s not as good as getting rain after a long drought. I’m looking forward to relieving myself from the heat and recuperating—and the prime minister is eager to increase the amount of tax and food. Isn’t it a burden for the common people? Over the past few years, the common people’s tax has reached five tenths. It is already exhausted; if it increases to six-tenths, how can the people suffer?"

"Well...Your Majesty is really a benevolent king! You can never forget the hardships of people's livelihood, and your benevolence and kind words are very touching!" Xun Yu nodded slowly, and said in a slow voice, "I have made a note of this matter. Let’s add an explanation. What else does Your Majesty think about the other memorials?”

Zhao Yan said again: "Prime Minister Cao asked His Majesty to issue a decree to ban alcohol. His Majesty originally agreed, thinking that the prime minister's prohibition of alcohol meant saving military rations and avoiding wasting food by brewing. At the same time, Your Majesty also has another understanding. Prime Minister Cao Prohibition of alcohol is to accumulate grain, and grain accumulation is to prepare for war. He asked his subordinates to ask Lord Lingjun: The three thieves Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, and Lu Bu have been wiped out, and there is no serious trouble in Kansai. Prime Minister Cao is still anxious to accumulate grain to raise troops, but wants to Where do you refer to? Are you going to launch an attack on the Jingzhou Mu Liu Biao, Yizhou Mu Liu Zhang and other clans?"

"This..." Xun Yu couldn't help but froze when he heard the words, "I believe that Prime Minister Cao's request to the court to issue a ban on alcohol must be an old-fashioned way to seek the country. Prime Minister Cao is clarifying the administration of officials and cultivating morality with frugality. Also, I have decided not to implement the statement proposed by the Prime Minister’s Mansion to increase the land tax and grain payment of the common people to six-tenths. If there is any objection, I will go to explain it to calm down. What do you think, Mr. Zhao?"

"Zhao is just conveying the words of His Majesty's inquiry according to the facts, and I have no other opinion. However, in terms of rejecting the statement that the Prime Minister's Mansion raised the common people's land tax and grain payment, Zhao believes that the Lord Lingjun's "guiding the emperor with benevolence, It can be said that the wind of sages and sages has been born by the common people!" Zhao Yangong said respectfully, but a strange light suddenly flashed in his eyes, "However, please forgive Zhao for speaking bluntly, you have not directly answered His Majesty just now. The second question."

After hearing this, Xun Yu stood in the hall, but was speechless for a while.Zhao Yan waited for a while, seeing that he didn't answer, he stretched out his hand to straighten his clothes, and was about to speak solemnly.At this time, Xun Yu raised his head and looked at the Yinyin green shade in the courtyard outside the window, and said slowly: "Although the three thieves Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, and Lu Bu are destroyed, and the Central Plains are settled, the four seas have not yet been settled, and the princes are still divided. To do this is also to learn the motto of 'If you forget the battle, you will be in danger'! You must not speculate."

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty also asks: Now Liu Biao, Mu of Jingzhou, and Sun Quan of Jiangdong have sent special envoys to pay tribute...and Ma Teng, General of the Western Expedition, will also come to Beijing to report on his duties..." Zhao Yan continued to follow the instructions of Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty. "What's your opinion on this?"

"I believe that the special envoys sent by Liu Biao and Sun Quan to Xudu are all in the name of entrusting tribute to the outside, but the fact that the insiders wait and spy is not enough." Xun Yu replied leisurely, "Only General Ma Teng, who previously followed Zhong Yao to pacify Guo Yuan, Gao Gan and other rebels, and now he has come to the court to meet with His Majesty in person, is finally different from Liu Biao, Sun Quan and others who "talk but don't do it". Your Majesty must pay attention and pay more respect to Majesty. Teng—Mr. Zhao must remember to report the old minister's words to His Majesty, and not to vent it lightly to others."

As soon as Zhao Yan heard it, he immediately restrained his face and said solemnly: "The lower official will definitely remember it and not let it out, and live up to the entrustment of Lord Lingjun."

"Jiangdong Sun Quan, his father and brother are famous for their loyalty, and I have always been optimistic about him before, thinking that he can be a minister of the Han Dynasty." Xun Yu said lightly, "Let's say this time he sent an envoy to Beijing to pay tribute— —I thought that he would send Zhang Zhao as an envoy before, but unexpectedly he sent a Jianghuai man named Lu Su. From this point of view, Jiangdong Sun Quan may not be a pure minister of the great Han..."

"How did Lord Lingjun see it?" Zhao Yan asked in astonishment.

"Zhang Zhao is a straight scholar who is loyal to the Han Dynasty; Lu Su is a warring country strategist who can adapt to the times." Xun Yu looked solemn and said decisively, "Sun Quan sent Zhang Zhao or Lu Su to Beijing to pay tribute As a salute, the intentions of the two are completely different."

"My lord Ling Jun has a high vision and sees far and wide, and I admire you so much." Zhao Yan couldn't help but bowed deeply after hearing this, with a look of admiration on his face.He didn't expect that Xun Lingjun could understand the subordinates of the Sun family far away in Jiangdong as if he could read lines on the palm of his hand. !
But Xun Yu sighed leisurely: "In times of troubled times, it is so rare and precious to be able to live among the turbidity without losing its purity! The father and brother of the Sun family in Jiangdong have been loyal for two generations, but it was not pure when it was handed down to Sun Quan. The integrity, not the end of its virtue... lamentable! lamentable!"

After hearing this, Zhao Yan felt his heart flutter, he opened his mouth several times in a row, but closed it again and again.Suddenly, as if he remembered something, he hastily took out a copy from the pile of memorials, put it on his palms, stood up very respectfully, presented it to Xun Yu, and said, "Master Lingjun, this It is a secret memorial presented to His Majesty yesterday by Kong Rong, a doctor of the Taizhong. Your Majesty thinks that this is a big matter, so he specially ordered the officials to bring this secret memorial to discuss with Your Majesty."

Xun Yu took a deep look at him, but did not immediately reach out to take it, and asked calmly, "When did Doctor Kong present this secret report to His Majesty yesterday? Why didn't Shang Shutai know about it?"

(End of this chapter)