Actually, the conversation between the emperor and his ministers also requires attention to the setting and timing. By using emotions and scenes, one can engage in deeper conversations.
Within the Eastern Storage of the Luoyang Military Warehouse, three precious items are placed on the altar, and the shelves inside the warehouse are densely filled with various weapons. This is enough to create a serious and solemn atmosphere.
What can a subject talk about with the emperor? It's not about specific national affairs or specific personnel matters. How many subjects would willingly discuss such issues of name and reality with the emperor?
Let's take an analogy. How many employees in a company would be willing to actively approach the chairman and point out that the company's current development has strategic problems?
Most people prefer to keep things simple rather than complicate matters.
Dong Zhao mentioned the issues of name and reality, brought up the topic of Wang Mang's reign, and discussed the legal principles of replacing the Han with the Wei. This is a deeply political topic that the emperor rarely hears from his ministers.
At least for Cao Rui, Dong Zhao was the first to bring up such issues.
Dong Zhao was indeed a mastermind for Wei and meticulously planned the entire process of Cao Cao's promotion to Duke of Wei, the establishment of the state of Wei, and later the ascension to King of Wei and the kingdom of Wei.
Dong Zhao persuaded Cao Cao in the following manner at the time: "Since ancient times, there has never been a subject who has achieved such a great contribution to the world. With today's achievements, there has never been a subject who has maintained the power of a minister for a long time."
The gist is that since ancient times, there has never been a subject who has achieved such great accomplishments and yet maintained the position of a minister. Either you must establish yourself as an independent ruler or await being killed, there is no other path available!
Only Dong Zhao dared to advise Cao Cao in this manner, which vividly illustrates Dong Zhao's decisiveness and strategic acumen.
But at this moment, Cao Rui was also filled with vigilance, a kind of alertness that comes from not knowing what Dong Zhao would say, and the need to respond and think with full concentration.
If Dong Zhao could say something useful, he would definitely reward him and his descendants. If it were just empty boasts, then let Dong Zhao continue to serve as the Marshal in his old age.
Cao Rui looked at Dong Zhao: "What does Dong public mean when he says that I don't need to demand name but only reality? What does this name and reality both refer to?"
Upon hearing this, Dong Zhao bowed and asked, "Your Majesty, do you know what 'name' and 'reality' meant during the reign of Emperor Wu?"
Cao Rui remained silent for a moment before saying, "The office of the Prime Minister of Han is a name, and the relationship between the palace and the officials is the reality."
Dong Zhao shook his head slightly: "Your Majesty is absolutely correct, but not entirely so."
Cao Rui was indeed puzzled. Did not the fame of Cao Cao stem from Mao Jie's proposal of 'obeying the Son of Heaven to command the disobedient officials'?
Dong Zhao saw the emperor furrow his brow and continued: "The early and late periods of Emperor Wu's reign were quite different."
"The Emperor Wu, when serving as the Grand Master and Prime Minister of Han, did indeed rule over the four directions under the banner of Han, recruiting members of the scholarly families and able officials as Han officials. This was the case with Shen Yu's appointment as the Chancellor. This was Wu's name at that time."
"The armies under the command of the Xue, Hao, and Cao families all answered to Emperor Wu alone. This was the reality of Emperor Wu at that time."
Cao Rui nodded in agreement, indicating that this was the situation before Cao Cao received the nine sacred gifts and became the Duke of Wei.
Dong Zhao continued: "When Emperor Wu became a Duke and established the state of Wei, Wei was in direct opposition to Han. The 'name' of Emperor Wu before he became a Duke, which he once had control over as the Prime Minister, now began to be in conflict with the 'name' of Wei. The state of Wei, rather than the position of the Prime Minister, is what Emperor Wu's name should be."
"And now, the 'reality' that Emperor Wu holds, though it is called the Bafu (Stronghold) officials, is actually just an institution used by Emperor Wu to command the army. The Bafu officials and the ministers of Wei, such as Zhong Yao, Chen Qun, and Sima Yi, all aspire for the name of Wei. They cannot be relied upon."
"Emperor Wu's reality is still the army under the command of the Xue, Hao, and Cao families."
Cao Rui was still pondering, but he nodded to Dong Zhao and asked: "Does the reality of Great Wei only have the army? Is there no loyal minister for Great Wei?"
Standing across from the emperor, the seventy-year-old Dong Zhao still walked without a sway, his eyes as sharp and astute as ever.
Dong Zhao was born in the second year of Yongshou during the reign of Emperor Huanhe of Han. He was only one year younger than Cao Cao and thus should be of the same generation. At this moment, Dong Zhao looked at the emperor, who was as young as his own grandson, and memories of past events flashed through his mind.
Emperor Xian, Zhang Mao, Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, Cao Wei... These past events are vivid in Dong Zhao's mind. It was Dong Zhao who personally plotted the establishment of Wei. He does not want Wei to go downhill.
Facing the emperor's question about whether there were loyal ministers for Great Wei, Dong Zhao lightly snorted: "Forgive an old subject's frankness. Everyone in the court has witnessed the accession of the former emperor. Those who are willing to die for a dynasty that serves one family, they have already died in Han!"
"The world has been in chaos and divided for a long time. If the Cao family can replace the Han and establish Wei, why can't others learn from them?"
Dong Zhao originally thought that this statement would arouse Cao Rui's sense of crisis regarding power and status. He had assumed that Cao Rui would feel angry as a result, but there were seemingly no obvious changes in his facial expression.
In Cao Rui's memory, the usurpation of Han by Wei and the usurpation of Wei by Jin... For two thousand years since the Han dynasty, beings like ambitious politicians have been the most tenacious species in history, one generation after another, unkillable and uncuttable.
Cao Rui looked at Dong Zhao and said: "What the Cao family can do, others can also do. Who doesn't want to be the emperor of Luoyang? It's just that the Cao family is the strongest."
"Since the former emperor replaced Han and said 'I know about the deeds of Yao and Shun,' who is not aware of what the throne is about?"
"Dong Gong, I'll be candid with you. If I were not the emperor, given the chance, I would also fight for this position."
Dong Zhao was actually quite surprised. Such words could only be said by him, the acknowledged 'flatterer' who helped the Cao family usurp the Han, as well as Cao Rui, the emperor himself.
Dong Zhao nodded: "In my opinion, there are not many loyal ministers for Great Wei. There are loyal ministers who served Emperor Wu because he rose to power with Chenliu and led them to settle the turmoil and use force in all directions."
"The former emperor also had loyal ministers, because the former emperor offered them high offices, generous salaries, and beautiful titles. However, the loyal ministers of the former emperor were not as direct as those of Emperor Wu. The former emperor's connection with the army was much weaker than that of Emperor Wu, so what the former emperor could rely on in terms of reality was also much less."
"Regarding the generals, the merit of Emperor Wu in pacifying the world has been greatly reduced by the time it reaches the former emperor, and now the military leaders under the command of Zhuge Liang are becoming dull. Adding to this, since the former emperor launched three campaigns against Eastern Wu without achieving any significant success, there is even less reality that can be passed on to Your Majesty."
"In short, Your Majesty, compared to the reality, your name has become more important than the reality. This is not right; Your Majesty should personally manage military affairs to grasp this reality."
Cao Rui has been sitting on this imperial throne for nearly half a year now.
Cao Rui had been feeling a sense of instability in his power for some time, but no one had ever explained it to him as clearly as Dong Zhao did for the newly ascended sovereign.
Although Cao Rui has some gaps in his memory, he has made rapid progress in governing the country over these past few months. But to point out the problem so explicitly does indeed require someone like Dong Zhao.
The wind outside the armory grew louder, and Cao Rui looked outside, the sky above Luoyang city gradually began to stir with wind and clouds.
