Beigong, inside the western pavilion.
General Cao Zhen brought a pile of documents to Dong Zhao's desk and placed them down before patting his hands.
"Lord Dong, I've skimmed these matters briefly. There's nothing particularly urgent."
Cao Zhen said with a smile, "Lord Dong, take a look and let me know if there's anything you want to pay special attention to."
Dong Zhao is getting older, so he has some slight visual impairments.
He originally tilted his head forward to read the words on the documents. After a moment, he glanced at Cao Zhen and shook his head, saying, "These matters should be personally handled by the General. The old man should only check them."
Cao Zhen crossed his arms and laughed, "I've known Lord Dong for thirty years. No harm, no harm."
Dong Zhao faintly shook his head and began to work diligently.
Cao Zhen was also aware that these documents should be personally reviewed by him.
However, in the past at the General's mansion, it was the Grand Secretary who handled such matters.
Cao Zhen has become accustomed to first taking a general look, personally reviewing the most important matters, and delegating the rest to the Grand Secretary.
Habit is hard to break.
However, Dong Zhao was quite content with this arrangement.
Power is like aphrodisiac, as well as an exciting elixir that can make people appear younger.
From the idle title of Guardsman from the Nine Ministries to entering the West Pavilion to oversee military affairs in the empire, Dong Zhao has recently been feeling a sense of elation that his gamble paid off.
Zhong Yu knocked on the door outside and then walked in directly.
After bowing, Zhong Yu said, "General Cao Zhen and Guardsman Dong Zhao, the Emperor invites you both to his study."
Cao Zhen nodded and said, "Wait a moment, we'll be right there."
"Lord Dong, Lord Dong?" Cao Zhen turned to look at Dong Zhao.
Seeing Dong Zhao still trembling as he lowered the brush, Cao Zhen walked over to him and helped him up.
Dong Zhao wasn't that old. However, Dong Zhao was content to let others think he was that old, except for the Emperor.
At over seventy years old, he acts the part of an elderly man seamlessly.
The two slowly walked out. At this time, Zhong Yucci had already run across to summon Sima Yi and Wei Zhen.
Once the four men had gathered at the door of the study, Zhong Yu went in first, and then the four of them entered together.
Sima Zhi was kneeling on the ground, making it difficult for people to see his face at first glance.
"Sit, everyone sit," Cao Rui casually waved his hand.
The four ministers of the West Pavilion and East Pavilion have been staying in their duty rooms or the Emperor's study for the past few days.
The four sat down with practiced ease.
Cao Zhen didn't care who was kneeling on the ground, but Sima Yi, Wei Zhen, and Dong Zhao all had some surprised expressions for a moment.
"Get up, Sima Zihua," Cao Rui said coldly.
"The minister is grateful for your grace," Sima Zhi slowly stood up.
Sima Yi saw his relative kneeling on the ground first, then standing up, and naturally felt some waves of emotion in his heart.
Is the Emperor angry? To be honest, Sima Yi has been with the Emperor for so long that he hasn't seen the Emperor angry very often.
Could it be that the Emperor dislikes Sima Zhi?
Cao Rui pointed to Sima Zhi and said to the other officials, "You all know Sima Zihua, right?"
Sima Yi wanted to ask for more information, but Wei Zhen spoke up before him.
"Your Majesty, I am the Director of the Supervision Bureau, and Sima Zihua is under my direct responsibility," Wei Zhen bowed. "Why is Sima Zihua here?"
Cao Rui said calmly, "Today afternoon, Sima Zihua presented a petition to the Emperor and declared himself guilty in front of the Emperor."
"As for whether Sima Zihua is guilty or not, I want to hear the opinions of you all."
"My Minister of Henan," Cao Rui nodded towards Sima Zhi, "please recount the details of the matter to the ministers."
"Understood the command," Sima Zhi's face showed some signs of anxiety.
For such an event, should the Emperor not reward me? It was just a matter of politeness. How can it be considered my fault?
Sima Zhi suppressed his urge to look at the several ministers and spoke about today's events with eyes straight ahead, slowly recounting the incident.
Unexpectedly, it was Cao Zhen who spoke first.
"Your Majesty," Cao Zhen said, "This matter involves a member of the Cao Hong family breaking the law, not Cao Hong himself. Please spare Cao Hong."
"General Cao," Cao Rui snorted, "Do you think I am going to punish General Wei?" "If there was to be punishment for Cao Hong, it wouldn't be because of something as trivial as illegal sacrifices. Let's not talk about Cao Hong for now, but about Sima Zhi first."
"Other than illegal sacrifices, could it be because of anything else?" Cao Zhen was a bit confused.
Could it be because of Cao Hong's communication with the regent empress within the palace?
Cao Zhen suddenly remembered that at the beginning of last year, which was about a year and a half ago, the late Emperor Cao Pi had been so enraged that he had intended to have Cao Hong imprisoned in the imperial prison.
At that time, Cao Zhen was by the side of the late Emperor.
Last time……It was also the regent empress who saved Cao Hong. Could it be that the Emperor is wary of this?
After Cao Zhen finished speaking, the other three hesitated for a moment and no one spoke.
Wei Zhen was thinking in his heart, as General Cao Zhen had spoken first, he didn't want to speak ahead of the Minister of Public Works.
Sima Yi and Dong Zhao, one in middle age and the other elderly, share some similarities in the matters they are worried about.
Sima Yi bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Sima Zihua is my relative. I should not discuss his merits or demerits, and I request to avoid any suspicion."
"I suppose I've guessed as much," Cao Rui nodded: "Since the Minister of Henan also surnames Sima, it may be related to the Minister of Public Works."
As soon as the emperor's words fell, to everyone's surprise, Dong Zhao also spoke up.
Dong Zhao said, "Your Majesty, Sima Zihua is my niece's husband. I also request to avoid any suspicion."
Cao Rui raised an eyebrow, puzzled and asked, "Lord Dong, how is Sima Zhi related to you? Nephew-in-law?"
"Yes," Dong Zhao bowed, "My younger brother, Dong Fangzhi's daughter, is Sima Zihua's lawful wife."
Cao Rui was somewhat helpless, tapping his knuckle on the table: "Don't avoid suspicion. Today, neither I nor anyone else will avoid suspicion! Go one by one. The Minister of Public Works first!"
Among the four ministers present, two have kinship with Sima Zhi, and the other is Sima Zhi's superior.
If everyone avoids suspicion, how can we have a proper conversation?
"Understood the command," Sima Yi bowed and said.
It was Sima Yi who ordered Sima Zhi to arrest Cao Hong's wet nurse yesterday, and today, he is using this matter as a means to make an issue out of it.
Sima Yi had guessed correctly that Cao Hong's wet nurse would be imprisoned, that Cao Hong would seek help from the regent empress, and even hinted that Sima Zhi should execute the two in the prison in Luoyang County directly.
But Sima Yi had not predicted the emperor's attitude.
The family of Cao Hong was involved in an illegal sacrifice, and to avoid the regent empress ordering eunuchs to interfere, executing the offenders directly, isn't this something worthy of the emperor's praise?
Sima Yi was wrong, but he wasn't entirely wrong.
This scholarly practice that has been passed down from Emperor Han Zhi and Emperor Han Ling, regardless of whether Emperor Cao Wei or Emperor Cao Pi were ruling, was considered an 'able official' and praised.
Who would have thought that the Emperor particularly disliked this scholarly manner?
With his political sense, Sima Yi had already sensed a subtle inclination from the emperor's words just now.
Today's case involving the 'God of Wujiang', there are two points worth discussing:
Firstly, General Wei Hong violated the imperial edict of the late emperor by secretly sending a petition to the regent empress, trying to shield the criminals and exempt them from punishment.
Secondly, the regent empress ordered eunuchs to directly go to the official residence to release the prisoners without involving the government.
Thirdly, the Minister of Henan, Sima Zhi, did not see the eunuch and did not report to the imperial court for illegally executing the criminals.
Sima Yi noticed that when Cao Zhen spoke to defend Cao Hong, the Emperor had said that the matter of Cao Hong would be discussed later, and that they should first discuss Sima Zhi.
The emperor even shows leniency towards military generals, and Cao Hong is a relative of the imperial family and has made achievements in Anfu two months ago. It is understandable to elevate him and then lower him gently.
Just now, when he made it clear that he and Dong Zhao could not avoid suspicion, the emperor had said, "Don't avoid suspicion. Today neither I nor anyone else will avoid suspicion!"
Such contemplation took no more than a couple of moments.
Sima Yi bowed and said, "Sima Zihua didn't see the eunuch, which was either right or wrong. Executing the two suspects of illegal sacrifices directly in the prison by utilizing the power of the magistrate as a form of convenience is actually acceptable."
"Sima Zihua's mistake was not in executing the two suspects of illegal sacrifices in the prison, but in not reporting promptly the regent empress' order for eunuchs to go to the official residence, which led to the emperor worrying about this matter."
Cao Rui looked at Sima Yi and said, "I understand the Minister of Public Works' meaning."
"Cao Hong, you speak!" Cao Rui pointed towards Dong Zhao.
Dong Zhao answered in a straightforward manner, "I believe Sima Zhi is blameless."
Cao Rui nodded lightly and asked, "What's the reason?"
Dong Zhao spoke slowly, "Capturing suspects engaged in illegal sacrifices is part of the Minister of Henan's duties. Although executing the two suspects directly in prison, it is merely two suspects and does not warrant too much attention."
"Not only is he blameless, but Sima Zhi dared to not see the eunuch. This action should be commended."
Sima Zhi's so-called 'crime' is actually only a matter of whether it is necessary or not.
Like Dong Zhao, who directly stated that Sima Zhi was blameless and that the suspects were executed anyway, such statements are instead straightforward and unambiguous.
Just as Cao Zhen spoke up to defend Cao Hong, would the emperor blame Cao Zhen? If Cao Zhen did not defend Cao Hong at all, Cao Rui might instead think that Cao Zhen was unfeeling.
It's not a serious issue like rebellion, so why create a big fuss over it? Looking out for one's family members is natural.
Dong Zhao did not mention anything about the regent empress, while Sima Yi diverted the topic to the palace.
In comparison, the difference between the two became apparent.
"Do you think Dong Zhao believes Sima Zhi is blameless?" Cao Rui turned his gaze from Dong Zhao to Wei Zhen: "What do you, Wei Zhen, say?"
Wei Zhen said, "I believe that law is law. Sima Zhi's failure to report before ordering the execution of the suspects in prison is an improper handling."
Cao Rui nodded and then asked, "Sima Zihua, when did you take office as the Minister of Henan? What position did you hold before that?"
Sima Zhi answered respectfully, "I was transferred to the office of the Minister of Henan in the second year of Huang Chu (221). Before that, I served as the Chief Justice, and also as the Governor of Yangping."
"Chief Justice……" Cao Rui looked at Sima Zhi, "How long did you stay in the position of Chief Justice?"
"Your Majesty," Sima Zhi said respectfully, "I served under Chief Justice Gao for one year."
"Fortunately, you took office as the Minister of Henan earlier," Cao Rui slowly said, "Otherwise, you might have been dragged into the imperial prison for the case of Bo Xun." "If the position of Chief Justice encountered such a matter, how would he handle it?"
Sima Zhi did indeed serve under Chief Justice Gao Ruge before he took office as the Minister of Henan.
The mention of the case involving Bao Xun by the emperor just now filled Sima Zhi with unutterable fear.
(This chapter concludes)
