North Palace, study room.
"Although Xu Gongming has gone, his position as a southern general is too high for you to bear with your current credentials."
"Moreover, the title of General of Annan was given to Han Zong who defected from Dongwu, but he died in Huaiyang. Let's keep this general's title on hold for a while to ward off bad luck."
Cao Rui looked at Xiahou Ru: "You have been promoted as the Middle-Strength General, so it would be reasonable for you to become the General of Southern Plains, right?"
Xiahou Yu knelt on one knee, bowed to the emperor, and said, "I assure Your Majesty that I will definitely hold the Jingxiang region for You."
"That's very true." Cao Rui looked at Xiahou Yu and said, "I entrusted you with the task of holding Jingxiang because I knew you were capable. Expanding our territory is something that cannot be done alone."
Although the emperor spoke the truth, Xiahou Yu felt a bit awkward at the moment.
"I understand the bounds and will not initiate military action in Jingxiang without cause," Xiahou Yu replied.
"Get up, there are chairs over there. Sit down first before we talk," Cao Rui pointed to the side.
"I thank Your Majesty for the offer of a seat."
Xiahou Yu rose and sat down on the chair to the right of where the emperor had pointed. There were four chairs in total to the right, and sitting too close to the emperor seemed disrespectful, while too far away was also not appropriate.
Xiahou Yu sat down carefully in the second seat.
"What are your plans after you take command of Xu Yang's troops?" Cao Rui asked.
"Your Majesty," Xiahou Yu said, "Xu Gongming is known for his strict and disciplined military tactics. As I take command of his troops, I will surely continue to uphold this approach to military governance..."
"Wait." Cao Rui interrupted Xiahou Yu.
"I'm not asking you these things," Cao Rui said, "You have been in the military for twenty years. This doesn't require telling me."
"I truly don't understand what Your Majesty means," Xiahou Yu was somewhat puzzled.
"The emperor did not ask me to keep Jingxiang well. If it's not about military governance, then what are you asking?"
Cao Rui spoke slowly, "Last year, I let the General of Feihu Chen Qun go to oversee Jingzhou, but Chen Qun has always held office in the court and has not made many contributions to military affairs."
"At the beginning of the year, Xu Huang fell ill, and Chen Qun, upon taking over the command, easily retreated after being defeated by the Wu army as they advanced along the Han River."
Cao Rui looked at Xiahou Yu and said, "In the beginning, I intended for Xu Huang to fill in the gaps in Chen Qun's military capabilities. However, now that Xu Huang has passed away, this responsibility falls on you."
"Xu Huang's military tactics were already stable. You should lead his troops in Jingzhou in the same manner as he did, anticipating failure before victory. You must not easily engage in military actions or lightly deplete your military strength."
"Did you understand?"
"Xiahou Yu replied, 'I have understood, Your Majesty. I will remember your command,'"
Cao Rui nodded: "After you go to Jingzhou, who among your subordinates can you recommend to succeed the Zhongjian Camp?"
"Your Majesty, please allow me to think about it."
After a moment, Xiahou Yu said, "Your Majesty, I think that Xiahou Xian can take on this responsibility."
Xiahou Xian? He has been leading the Tiger Guards in front of me, so it's not bad. But who will take charge of the palace guard if Xiahou Xian goes?
Cao Rui smiled, "If Xiahou Xian goes to the Middle Strength Camp, what about my Tiger Guards?"
"Your Majesty, Qin Yuming may be able to take on this responsibility," Xiahou Xian replied.
"Qin Lang and Qin Yuming?" Cao Rui nodded, "I have not seen him for several months. I will talk to Geng Lang first and ask him if he is willing to take on this responsibility."
Xiahou Yu also smiled and said, "Qin Lang has been idle in Luozhong for a long time and has long had ambitions to serve as an official."
"Let's give it a try," Cao Rui said. "Commanding the Tiger Guards does not require special skills, but loyalty, courage, and caution are the most important."
"After leaving here, go to the West Pavilion to inform the General of the Army. Depart for Xiangyang within three days."
"Understood." After bowing in the hall, Xiahou Yu retired slowly.
However, when Xiahou Yu saw Cao Hong standing outside the courtyard, he noticed that there were a few sweat marks on Cao Hong's face.
"What's wrong with General of the Guards?" Xiahou Yu asked in surprise.
Both of them were colleagues in command of the central army: Xiahou Yu led the Middle Strength Camp, and Cao Hong led the Middle Fort Camp. They were already very familiar with each other.
"Junlin, go first. Don't ask me," Cao Hong said with some impatience, pointing in the direction of the courtyard gate.
Xiahou Yu was confused and did not understand what was going on with Cao Hong today. Anyway, he was about to leave Luoyang and head south, and there would be nothing in the capital for him anymore.
At this moment, Zhong Yu came in and said, "Your Majesty, General of the Guards is waiting in the courtyard."
"Let him in."
"Understood."
Shortly thereafter, Zhong Yu led Cao Hong into the room.
The March heat in Luoyang was not very hot, but there were already sweat stains on Cao Hong's round face. Perhaps it was due to nervousness or maybe Cao Hong's physique caused him to sweat easily.
Cao Hong's mind was filled with unease.
Last year in the early days, Cao Hong was threatened with execution by Emperor Cao Pi due to a crime committed by one of his household guests. It was only after the great grandmother dowager, Empress Dowager Bian, pleaded tirelessly and had Empress Dowager Guo whisper many things into Emperor Cao Pi's ear that he managed to save his life and property.
Now it's his own family that has committed a crime.
And it died in the county jail of Luoyang.
Although Cao Hong was the General of the Guards, he had been bitten by a snake once and feared a rope for ten years, so he dared not ask at this time.
Of course, General Cao Zhen did not reveal any information from the emperor's study yesterday to Cao Hong.
General Cao Zhen's personality would not have done something like this.
To say a few words in defense of Cao Hong and confirm that the emperor will not severely punish him would be enough to resolve the matter. As for minor punishments or warnings, is the dignity of a General of the Guards too much for him to bear?
There's no need to interfere.
However, Cao Hong did not expect that the first words the emperor spoke directly caused him to shed tears.
"The Governor of Henan executed your wet nurse in prison," Cao Rui said softly, "When I learned of this, it was too late. General of the Guards, please take solace."
Cao Hong originally thought that the emperor would be as strict as his father and that he might lose his official position and title.
When Cao Hong heard the emperor's words, his emotions were no longer in control, and tears immediately began to flow from his eyes.
The tears and sweat on his face mixed with the stubble, making him look rather disheveled for a moment.
Cao Hong had also been in and out of life and death for several decades, and he was not a person who indulged in sentimentality.
But the death of his wet nurse deeply saddened the sentimentally inclined Cao Hong.
In this era, wet nurses were not just servants or ordinary family members, but were widely regarded as respected elders in the family.
More significantly, during the reign of Emperor Han An, his wet nurse Wang was bestowed the title of Ye Wang, who once held immense power and influence over the court, exploiting her position for personal gain.
At sixty years old, Cao Hong's wet nurse, Chen, was almost eighty. Such feelings of sadness, Cao Rui could somewhat understand.
"Your Majesty, I... I am truly heartbroken, and I lost control. Please forgive me."
"Punishment, what punishment?" Cao Rui frowned at Cao Hong. "I ask you, did you know before that there was someone in your family who was being sacrificed to the 'Wujian God'?"
Cao Hong bowed and said, "I dare not deceive you, Your Majesty. I do know something about it. However, I truly did not pay attention to the matter. I have never encountered anyone in my family worshiping this deity."
Cao Rui shook his head, "Since you know it and have not forbidden or reported it, I cannot let you off lightly as it would be hard for me to gain the trust of the people if I were to pardon you."
"Didn't you just get three hundred households for the southern expedition?" Cao Rui said, "I'll reduce two hundred households from your count. Do you accept this?"
"Your Majesty, I deserve this punishment," Cao Hong said bowing.
"Deserved?" Cao Rui shook his head, "You still don't understand what I mean."
Cao Hong was surprised and looked up.
"The family name of the emperor is Cao, and your family name is also Cao," said Cao Rui, pointing to his own chest and then to Cao Hong's face.
"Since I am the emperor, why should there be anything that cannot be directly reported to me? Why must you submit an official report to the Empress Dowager and incur the blame of communicating with the palace?"
Cao Hong widened his eyes and didn't know what to say for a moment.
Cao Rui sighed lightly, "The two hundred households that are being taken away, one hundred are for the matter of lewd sacrifice in your household, and the other hundred are a punishment for your communication with the harem without coming to me directly!"
"I ask you, did you include in your report to the Empress Dowager that she should send someone to reduce the punishment for your wet nurse?"
Cao Hong nodded and said, "I did indeed have such thoughts."
"Do you know that, in her haste, the Empress Dowager sent a Yellow Gate official to find the Governor of Henan and wanted him to release your wet nurse directly?" Cao Rui slammed his hand on the table.
"Your Majesty, I... I only learned about this later," Cao Hong said with a humble response.
Cao Rui shook his head slightly, "The harem must not interfere in politics and must not communicate with officials from the outer court. It's obvious common sense, why can't you understand this?"
Seeing the emperor speaking so solemnly, Cao Hong knelt down to confess his sins, "Your Majesty, I was just in a hurry at the time and truly had no intention of letting the harem interfere in politics."
"Stand up!" Cao Rui glared at Cao Hong. "Don't do this kind of thing again. You've trapped the Empress Dowager this time."
Cao Hong got up and said, "It's all my fault..."
"You have sinned, and you must accept the punishment," Cao Rui said. "From now on, don't look to the Empress Dowager as a backer. I am here; there is no need for you to seek others. I will make calculations in my heart, why should you seek out others?"
"I am the backer for the Cao family." Cao Rui looked into Cao Hong's eyes, "General of the Guards, do you understand this?"
Cao Hong bowed deeply and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I understand."
Cao Rui waved his hand and said, "Go back and deal with your affairs as soon as possible. I will not keep you now."
Cao Hong bowed and left, but when he was about to reach the door, he suddenly turned around and came back.
"Your Majesty, there is something I suspect in my heart that I feel compelled to say," Cao Hong said, bowing.
Just now, when Cao Rui said he would be the backer for the Cao family, this kind of thing has been said out, so Cao Rui has to endure listening to Cao Hong's explanation for a while.
"What is it?" Cao Rui asked.
"Your Majesty, I suspect that someone is secretly plotting against me," Cao Hong said, his tone slightly angry.
"Oh? Who wants to harm you?" Cao Rui asked, puzzled.
"I suspect that it is Sima Yi who has harmed me!" Cao Hong said directly.
Cao Rui furrowed his brow, "Why would the Prime Minister want to harm you?"
"Your Majesty, there is something you don't know," Cao Hong stepped forward a few steps and spoke in an urgent tone, "When Sima Yi entered the service, I needed to see him for something. At that time, he was ashamed to associate with me."
"In these years, there have been several conflicts between me and Sima Yi."
"I am not beloved by the former emperor, and that is my fault. But when the former emperor wanted to execute me, I knew for sure that Sima Yi must have been fanning the flames!"
(This chapter is completed.)
