Afternoon, Cao Rui wore a thin robe and walked around the palace.
The eunuch Bì Jìn held a copper plate in both hands, and on the plate was a string of purple grapes that were very tempting, with water droplets hanging from them.
Cao Rui tossed a grape into his mouth, chewed for a moment, puffed out his lips, spat the grape skin onto the ground, and soon an eunuch came to pick it up.
"The grapes of this era are not sweet enough; they are still good for making wine," said Cao Rui to himself.
"What did the late emperor say in his writings?" Cao Rui turned to look at Liu Yè.
As a person, you should keep your word. More importantly, as an emperor, you should uphold your promises.
In recent days, Cao Rui has indeed been sorting through the writings of Cao Cao and Cao Pi with two of his attendants.
To this end, they have specially summoned Zhong You, the son of Zhong Yao, a famous calligrapher, as an irregular messenger. Zhong You inherited his father's excellent calligraphy and is like a human printing machine. With the best Zuobo paper and well-arranged books, they can be preserved as art pieces.
Liu Ye has an eidetic memory: "Your Majesty, the original text of the late emperor reads as follows: 'During the time of the Red Summer transitioning into autumn, there is still some residual heat. Drunk or sober, with dewy food. Sweet but not greasy, sour but not crisp, cold but not chilly, long in flavor and juice-rich. It can dispel anxiety and quench thirst.'”
Cao Rui laughed, "The late emperor really didn't get to eat much good food."
Liu Ye has been accompanying Cao Rui lately, and knowing that the emperor is not one to be fussed over small things and can also make some jokes, he followed Cao Rui's words to respond.
"I am not aware that there are fruits better than grapes in this world?"
Cao Rui thought to himself: 'Of course there are; it's just that you haven't had the opportunity to see them.'
After a moment, Cao Rui seemed to have thought of something and spoke up: "Bi Jin, take two catties of grapes from Liangzhou and distribute them between Liu Zhongsheng and Xin Zhongsheng. Also, send two catties to the auxiliary ministers."
Bi Jin bowed and agreed, and then instructed his assistant, the young eunuch, to arrange for it to be done.
Liu Ye made a gesture of gratitude and said: "I thank the emperor for the gift. With the fortune of your imperial favor, my family can also taste the taste of grapes."
Cao Rui waved his hand: "Oh, how long have the four auxiliary ministers been working at the Secretariat?"
Liu Ye replied, "Since the grand imperial assembly, it's been seven or eight days. The auxiliary ministers have been working at the Secretariat two days after the assembly. Calculating, it's been exactly five days."
Cao Rui said: "It's about time to send someone to inquire. I have been keeping a low profile lately, and I don't know how the four auxiliary ministers are managing the affairs of the state."
Liu Ye said: "I have heard that the two Cao generals are becoming increasingly impatient while sitting in the Secretariat."
Cao Rui chuckled: "It's indeed hard on them. Who should we send to ask?"
Liu Ye whispered a reminder: "Communication through proclamations is the responsibility of the Ministry of Communications."
Cao Rui looked at Bi Jin: "Go and invite the Minister of Communications."
Cao Rui then continued to say to Liu Ye, "Liu Jun, have you been exercising your physique lately?"
Liu Ye shook his head.
Cao Rui smiled and said: "Liu, in accordance with my will, this place is quite spacious. A swimming pool should be dug out."
Liu Ye was puzzled: "What is a swimming pool?"
Cao Rui gestured with his hands to the empty land: "Right here, this piece of empty land has shade from the trees. Dig a square pool, tile the sides and bottom with clay bricks, and fill it with water."
"In the summer heat, you can swim in the pool to cool off and also exercise your physique. Isn't that a win-win situation!"
Liu Ye hesitated: "Your Majesty has truly extraordinary ideas. I heard that Emperor Han Lingdi also dug a pool in the northern palace. If Your Majesty also builds a swimming pool, it might cause controversy among the officials."
Cao Rui snorted: "I am aware of Emperor Han Lingdi's story. The Ten Eunuchs built a nude swimming pool in the northern palace to please him."
"My pool will be for wearing clothes, and I am not as foolish as Emperor Han Lingdi."
"I spoke improperly, please Your Majesty punish me."
"It's okay, it's always good to speak up."
A series of hurried footsteps were heard in the distance, which slowed down as they approached Cao Rui.
The person bowed and made a gesture: "Minister of Communications Sun Zi pays his respects to the emperor."
Cao Rui was in a good mood and smiled at Sun Zi, saying: "The Minister of Communications, go to the Secretariat and see the four auxiliary ministers for me. At the same time, send some grapes over."
Sun Zi replied, "I will comply with your command, Your Majesty. Do you have any words for the four auxiliary ministers?"
Cao Rui said: "There's nothing specific to say. By the way, the four of them should have dealt with a lot of things these days. Ask them to write a summary."
Sun Zi questioned: "May I ask Your Majesty, how should the summary be written?"
Cao Rui answered: "Let them figure it out themselves, and bring them to me when they're done. Minister Sun, go quickly; if you wait any longer, they'll be off work and heading home."
Sun Zi bowed and withdrew.
……
Secretariat.
Facing the pressure from the four auxiliary ministers, in the end, it was Minister Chen Jiao who alone shouldered all the responsibilities.
After Cao Pi replaced the Han Dynasty, he chose Luoyang as the capital. The large-scale renovation of Luoyang, which took place today, has been happening for about six to seven years.
The South Palace, where the Secretariat was located, was almost reduced to ruins in the chaos of the Luoyang rebellion led by Dong Zhuo. For about twenty years thereafter, it remained in ruins.
In the 24th year of Jian'an, when Guan Yu attacked Yangling, Emperor Wu stationed troops in Luoyang to fortify the city defenses. He used the construction waste from the ground of the South Palace, reutilizing it to build city defenses as if to put an end to waste.
During the six years of the late emperor's reign, the South Palace was only considered to have been cleaned up. Apart from a few imperial pavilions, there was only the Secretariat that could be used.
Thus, Minister Chen Jiao had to be put in a difficult position. Chen Jiao gave up his own residence, which was converted into a large open space, to be used by the four auxiliary ministers for their office. The Secretariat gave this room a name, called "Auxiliary Governance Pavilion."
Ironically, Chen Jiao had to move in with the Chancellor of the Secretariat Wang Si.
Over here, Sun Zi arrived at the Secretariat with the grapes sent by Cao Rui.
Inside the Auxiliary Governance Pavilion, the four people were sitting at their respective desks. Chen Qun and Sima Yi were working diligently at their desks, while Cao Xiu and Cao Zhen had their legs resting on the tables.
Upon seeing Sun Zi's arrival, Cao Xiu and Cao Zhen stopped their idle chatter and went to the door with smiles on their faces to greet him.
Cao Xiu said, "Minister of Communications, has the imperial edict arrived?"
Sun Zi put down the food basket in his hand and bowed respectfully to the four auxiliary ministers. Chen Qun and Sima Yi also stood up from their seats.
Cao Zhen said, "Yanlong brother, why are you being so formal? What is it that you have?"
Sun Zi replied, "The emperor sent me here to the Secretariat to deliver some grapes to the four auxiliary ministers."
After the four auxiliary ministers bowed in gratitude, Sun Zi began to ask the main question.
"The emperor also said that the recent affairs of the state should be summarized and submitted by the auxiliary ministers."
Cao Zhen said loudly from the side, "The emperor wants us to write a summary, but what kind of summary? How should it be written?"
Cao Xiu also chimed in, "Yes, I have read many documents from various regions and armies. However, the documents were written by my Chief of Staff. Can someone else write this summary?"
Chen Qun stood on the side, faceless, while Sima Yi's lips curled into a smile, as if watching a joke.
Sun Zi replied, "The emperor's exact words were to have the four auxiliary ministers write a summary together. I would like to ask the four ministers to understand the emperor's meaning themselves."
