The design of Chongde Hall is too amazing.
Sunlight streams in through the gate and courtyard, and Cao Rui looks at the gathering of officials in the hall, where light is abundant and every move is clear. The subjects look up at Cao Rui sitting on the throne, but they are obscured and cannot see the details.
In other words, right now, Cao Rui is the head teacher of the officials of the Great Wei, and no one skipping class or passing notes can escape his notice.
At this moment, Cao Rui really wanted to call out the craftsman who designed Chongde Hall, personally praised him, and then rewarded him with ten taels of gold.
"My mother, Zhen Shi, was dignified and beautiful, and her virtues were distinguished; therefore, let us posthumously title her as the Cultural Shining Empress Dowager."
"Your Majesty is wise." Cao Zhen, Cao Xu, Chen Qun, and Sima Yi all answered in unison.
Cao Rui looked at them: "The four regents have done great work and deserve to be rewarded."
"Prime Minister of the Secretariat." Cao Rui was calling out to Liu Fang.
Liu Fang held a roll of bright yellow silk fabric and walked in front of the four regents, began to read.
The four men all fell to their knees, and the officials in the hall also followed suit. From Cao Rui's perspective, there was a special sense of symmetry and beauty to this scene.
"The Secretariat: There are the Eastern Commanding General Cao Xian, the Central Commanding General Cao Zhen, the Garrison Commanding General Chen Qun, and the Reconciliation Commanding General Sima Yi, who have established merits for Wei household and contributed to spreading glory across China."
"I think that a well-governed state is maintained through literature, and turbulent times are controlled by military prowess. The regents are indeed the pillars of the court and the bulwark of the nation."
"By special order, Cao Xu is promoted to Grand Marshal and enfeoffed as Marquis of Changping, Cao Zhen is promoted to Grand General and enfeoffed as Marquis of Shaoling, Chen Qun is enfeoffed as Marquis of Yingyin, and Sima Yi is enfeoffed as Marquis of Wuyang. The four regents are all granted their own government offices, with each receiving an additional 500 households in their fiefdoms. Be reverent."
After receiving the mandate and bowing in gratitude, the four regents slowly got up.
The scene play has ended, and it's time to arrange the formal part now.
Cao Rui smiled at the four regents: "Although I am now in full power, military and state affairs still require your assistance. I hope you will not spare any effort."
Cao Xian nodded respectfully: "Your Majesty, I am a member of the royal family and have received great favors from the late emperor and Your Majesty. How could I not pledge my loyalty and exert myself for Your Majesty?"
Cao Zhen also joined in: "I have the same intention, only hoping that our Great Wei will be prosperous, and we will soon suppress the rebellious robbers of Xishu and Dongwu."
Chen Qun and Sima Yi also bowed together: "We are willing to wholeheartedly serve Your Majesty."
"Ha ha ha." Cao Rui laughed, then continued: "Since the four regents are so loyal, I can entrust state affairs to you with confidence."
Cao Rui then rose from the throne, descended the steps, and slowly approached the four ministers.
Cao Xu is slender, while Cao Zhen is chubby. Both may be dressed in court attire, but they cannot hide the aura of martial prowess inherent in their stature.
Chen Qun has a round face and is honest and trustworthy. Sima Yi has more distinctive features, with thick eyebrows under which there are sharp eyes, which is known as the "eagle-eyed wolf-looking" appearance.
Cao Rui stepped forward and took the hands of Cao Xu and Cao Zhen.
"Uncle Wenlie, Uncle Zidan, the legacy of Emperor Wu and Emperor Wen has come to me. The E family's realm depends on the two uncles."
Cao Xu and Cao Zhen seemed a bit flustered, and they hurriedly responded to Cao Rui's words. In this era, when the emperor shook hands with his officials, it was a rare honor.
Cao Xu said, "I am willing to die for Your Majesty and for Great Wei."
Cao Zhen echoed, "I am the same."
Cao Rui turned to look at Chen Qun and Sima Yi. For a moment, they couldn't tell if Cao Rui was genuinely sincere or just putting on a show in the court.
"With so many state affairs, I will rely on Chen Qun and Sima Yi."
Chen Qun and Sima Yi nodded in agreement repeatedly.
Cao Rui smiled, then walked back to the throne. For an emperor, it is indeed abnormal to walk to the center of the hall and shake hands with officials during a meeting.
Cao Xu and Cao Zhen didn't think much about it. After all, one had become the Grand Marshal, and the other had become the Grand General, with no further promotion available in their careers as ministers. They were still full of ambition and satisfaction.
But Sima Yi watched Cao Rui's back, and his eyes narrowed slightly.
Sima Yi has seen the three generations of Cao family emperors. Cao Cao was bold and magnanimous but always suspicious and easily angered. Cao Pi was mild-mannered, a refined gentleman, but he occasionally went to extremes.
What Cao Rui just did was another display of character, whether sincere or insincere. Sima Yi thought for a moment and then realized that the word that best describes Cao Rui is "light-hearted" or "flippant."
That's right. It's a feeling of indifference to everything, even though he is the emperor.
At this moment, Cao Rui was not in a hurry to send these four regents away.
Before the court meeting, Cao Rui sought advice from the Prime Minister Xin Pi. In simple terms, Xin Pi's answer was to kick out all the regents.
Send Cao Zhen to Yongnan, send Cao Xu to Yangzhou, send Chen Qun or Sima Yi to Changyang.
Only one regent remains in the court, diligently serving Cao Rui as an old ox. Cao Rui himself holds the reins of power.
Cao Rui had just been calculating what kind of reason he could use to oust the three regents.
However, during the enfeoffment and conversation, Cao Xu, Cao Zhen, Chen Qun, and Sima Yi all made their loyalty known one by one, making it hard to doubt their sincerity.
Cao Rui is eager to see how loyal they are to Cao Rui.
"Grand Marshal, in Luoyang, is the southeastern border peaceful?"
Cao Xu patted his chest and said, "Your Majesty, do not worry. The southeastern frontier is as strong as a fortress. The forces of Sun Quan in the eastern lands are like a child's play. It would take them a century to breach the city of Hefei."
Cao Rui then turned to look at Cao Zhen.
"General, is everything peaceful in Yongliang?"
Cao Zhen bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. Last year, the country sent troops to conquer the south and middle regions, and the war exhausted its strength. Even Han City has become somewhat weak."
Cao Rui nodded and showed satisfaction.
"Since there is no concern regarding military affairs, Grand Marshal and General will remain in Luoyang to assist in governing the state."
Cao Xu and Cao Zhen were speechless, and even Chen Qun, who was usually as calm as a mountain, was surprised to open his eyes wide.
"Where is the head of the Palace Secretariat?"
Chen Jiao, the head of the Palace Secretariat who had no presence under the suppression of Chen Qun and Sima Yi, stepped forward and bowed to Cao Rui.
"Find a big house in the South Palace. The best house available will do. It can be located within the Ministry of Palace Affairs or next to it."
"Let the four regents work together in one office. In the future, all military and state affairs will be jointly deliberated by the four regents."
"I have thought and pondered, and I fear that the late emperor's behest must have been meant to imply this!"
Chen Jiao still thought that Cao Rui had found him for some important matter, but little did he expect it to be about arranging a house. No matter how the four regents were arranged, he himself, as the head of the Ministry of Palace Affairs, couldn't do anything about it.
But at this moment, the four regents were confused by Cao Rui's "mad command".
From the perspective of Cao Xu and Cao Zhen, becoming the Grand Marshal and General in name allows them to command military power across the nation. Staying in Luoyang to assist in governance also means they can control half of the Palace Secretariat's authority, an unexpected stroke of luck from heaven.
From the perspective of Chen Qun and Sima Yi, the priority of the Wei state is military affairs, which is an opportunity to interfere with military matters. Although they are to be given half of the authority of the Ministry of Palace Affairs, wasn't it just moments ago that someone stood before all the officials and vowed to die for the emperor? It's hard to refuse.
Cao Rui then added another sentence: "Emperor Wu and Emperor Wen were both renowned for their literary talents. Out of filial piety, I will need to spend more time carefully studying my ancestors' works. State affairs will depend on you four!"
After a moment of silence, the four men expressed their support for the emperor's wise decision in turn.
Chen Qun bowed and asked, "Your Majesty, when we four make decisions together and there are disagreements, how should we handle them?"
Cao Rui smiled slightly and said, "Chen Qun, have you heard of voting?"
"In case of undecided matters, a vote can be held. If three are against one, the majority's opinion will be followed."
"If it's a tie of two against two, you can ask me to arbitrate."
"How does this arrangement sound?"
