It's really hard to put down!
The saying that a smile can erase enmity between foes only exists between two people of equal status. For brothers to let go of grudges is something that is naturally appropriate after time has passed.
However, for those 'followers' of his eldest brother, Cao Shih has never forgiven them in his heart. If he could also forgive them, then who should be forgiven for the deaths of Yang Xiu and Yang Dezuo back then?
Cao Zhi has heard that it was Shi Yan who persuaded Emperor Wu to kill Yang Xiu in Xu Chang.
They faced each other almost directly, with no way to avoid the confrontation.
Cao Zhi looked at Sima Yi with a complex expression and then bowed his hand and said, "Excuse me, Minister of the Interior."
Sima Yi felt that Cao Zhi's eyes were not kind, but now it was not during the building years, but just a king picked up from the garbage pile of the house, used to make an example to decorate the door. The building years and Huangchu have passed, and now it is Taihe years. What is he afraid of as a chief minister?
Sima Yi's mouth curled slightly into a faint smile, but his eyes showed no expression at all. He bowed perfunctorily with a casual gesture: "Greetings, Marquis of Youqiu."
As soon as the words fell, Sima Yi straightened up and walked away directly towards his eastern pavilion without any detour.
Liu Ye's face was calm and relaxed, but he had witnessed everything.
I suppose, if I mention a few things to His Majesty later on, it wouldn't be inappropriate.
After Sima Yi left, Cao Zhi slightly raised his head without following him. A few seconds later, he also walked directly towards the emperor's study hall, just like Sima Yi did.
"Cao Zhi greets the emperor." Cao Zhi bowed.
"Your Majesty has returned? Sit down." Emperor Rui sat behind the table, looking at the documents, and casually pointed to the chair to his right, "Did you see the Empress Dowager?"
"I have not seen the Empress Dowager for several years. This time, with Your Majesty's permission, I really have to thank Your Majesty's grace." Cao Zhi said.
"Meeting between mother and son is natural." Cao Rui put down the brush in his hand and leaned it against the inkstone: "It's a good thing that someone can be seen."
Cao Zhi was aware of and had heard about the incident where Empress Zhen was framed by Empress Guo, and for a moment, he didn't know how to put it into words.
Seeing Cao Zhi silent, Emperor Rui knew that Cao Zhi was thinking about coming to him, and then said, "Your Majesty hasn't seen you in years. From now on, come to pay your respects once a quarter when you are in Luoyang."
"Will that be all right?" Cao Rui looked into Cao Zhi's eyes.
All right? How could it not be?
Cao Zhi quickly stood up and bowed respectfully, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Sit down, sit down, why did you get up again?" Cao Rui waved his hand: "Today the prince has come here, tomorrow I will issue an edict to announce this Chongwen Guan matter to the court."
Cao Zhi bowed and said, "I understand. But according to the principle of Chongwen Guan that respects Confucianism and values learning, cannot the Chongwen Guan only focus on revising the Five Classics? Are there other matters to be handled as well?"
Emperor Rui smiled and said, "Chongwen Guan, of course, is related to literature. What other things do you think should be done by Chongwen Guan?"
Cao Zhi thought for a while and asked, "I just heard that Liuminister said that the court was studying the issue of revising laws. The Han dynasty's laws were complex, and since Chongwen Guan is related to literature, can it participate in the revision of laws?"
Cao Zhi's logic is not complex. Participating in the revision of laws, doing some textual work, it doesn't involve any power issues.
Just sitting at the back, Liu Ye who was mentioned by Cao Zhi's mention at this moment has a slightly black face.
"Revising laws is not acceptable." Cao Rui shook his head slightly: "Revising laws is a major national matter that will affect the future for centuries. Three senior officials, nine ministers, and each state and county can participate in the matter of revising laws, but Chongwen Guan cannot."
"I established the Chongwen Guan to make it the center of Confucian studies and academia in the Great Wei. The matter of laws and decrees can be handled by other departments of the court."
Cao Zhi understood, and then asked again: "Why not let Chongwen Guan collect the scattered books in the folk, and sort them out according to their superiority and inferiority?"
"That's indeed something that can be done," Emperor Rui said. "After all, the ancient texts and the modern texts have been in a dispute for so long, isn't it because the court has not yet selected an official set of classical texts and annotations?"
"Emperor Rui continued: 'I think there is something feasible, and I would like to ask Your Majesty's advice.'"
"Please go ahead, Your Majesty." Cao Zhi's attitude remained respectful.
"The Han dynasty established the Lantai and Dongguan, both of which were intended to manage classical texts and revise historical books," Emperor Rui said. "However, during the Jian'an years, this matter was largely transferred to the Secretariat due to the turmoil. In the Huangchu years, the Secretariat was changed to the Central Ministry, and revising history was once again put on hold."
"The Han before and after are two dynasties. Ban Gu revised the 'Han Shu' at the Lantai, Your Majesty. Why not have Prince Cao revise a 'Han Shu' at Chongwen Guan?"
Cao Zhi was rather surprised upon hearing this: "Your Majesty, the Wu and Shu regions have not yet been pacified, and many figures cannot yet be determined. How can the court revise history?"
Emperor Rui smiled and said, "Prince Cao, you're overthinking. Writing a 'History of the Later Han' isn't something that can be done in three or five years. Even if Chongwen Guan takes ten years, won't Wu and Shu be pacified by then?"
...The emperor's words straightened up and choked Cao Zhi back, then let it be!
Cao Zhi nodded and said, "Your Majesty is wise. As you said earlier, Chongwen Guan will revise the classics on one hand and history on the other?"
Emperor Rui's mouth curled into a smile: "The term 'literature' should not only include classics and history. I think we can also compile the works of renowned scholars from the folk and collect the magnificent writings of literary figures."
"Literature, building the country and an everlasting achievement." Emperor Rui looked at Cao Zhi and said, "This is what the previous emperor said in his classical works."
"Other people's works aside, I think Emperor Wu, the previous emperor, and Your Majesty's articles can all be compiled and summarized!"
Cao Zhi hastened to refuse, "Your Majesty, what merits or abilities do I have to dare to have my articles collected with those of Emperor Wu and Emperor Wen?"
"Articles are articles." Emperor Rui explained: "I have always disliked making mountains out of molehills when it comes to articles, and I can say so if I want to."
"Oh, Your Majesty vaguely remembers that Your Majesty has written a letter to the administrator of Hebei, Wu Zhi?"
"Yes, I have written." Cao Zhi answered, "Your Majesty has long been familiar with my literary works, and I believe it is also because You have collected them specially. Besides the 'Luoshu Zhi' that I have deliberately hidden before, I believe all other literary works must have been spread out."
"Do you know, Your Majesty, that the previous emperor also wrote a letter to Wu Zhi, whose literary brilliance and profound ideas are better than what Your Majesty wrote?" Emperor Rui looked into Cao Zhi's eyes and said.
"I have no knowledge of this," Cao Zhi replied, his curiosity piqued at this point. "The previous emperor and Wu Zhi had always been close, so they must have written many letters. Your Majesty mentioned one letter; what was the matter it discussed?"
"Have you read 'The Canonization'?" Emperor Rui said.
"I have read it carefully," Cao Zhi replied.
"The letter that the previous emperor wrote to Wu Zhi has points that are quite similar to the 'On Writing' essay in 'The Canonization'," Emperor Rui explained: "At that time, the previous emperor was compiling the collection of essays by Chen Lin and Chen Kongzhang in Ye City, which was in the 22nd year of the Jian'an era."
"Jian'an 22nd..."] Cao Zhi repeated the year in a low voice, and was silent for a while.
The 22nd year of Jian'an was indeed a heavy year.
That year, there was a major epidemic in the Central Plains.
"When the previous emperor was compiling the collection of essays by Chen Lin, he felt nostalgic about Chen Lin, Ying Liang, Liu Zhen, and Xu Gan who had all passed away due to the epidemic, so he discussed literature with Wu Zhi," Emperor Rui said. "This is why he said 'Literature is a great undertaking for the country and an everlasting achievement.'"
"Prince Cao, you were asking about what the previous emperor said, right? I'll pick out two sentences that I can remember and give you a brief explanation."
"Cao Zhi humbly listens to Your Majesty's teachings." Cao Zhi bowed.
"This means that over a hundred years have passed, and we can remain together for a long time. However, in just a few years, most of them have fallen apart, and it makes me sad to talk about it." Cao Rui said. "This is what the previous emperor said about Chen Kongzhang."
"True youth should be seized with all vigor, for once the years pass, what can be done to reach for it? Ancient people think it's a good idea to carry a candle and go out at night, and that's why." Cao Rui looked at Cao Zhi: "This is what the previous emperor said about himself."
"Ah," Cao Zhi sighed deeply, as if remembering his deceased brother: "The previous emperor's thoughts were profound and deep; I am not even a fraction of him."
"Emperor Rui did not respond, but instead looked at Liu Ye."
"Liuminister, how about sending Wu Jizhong to Chongwen Guan? Organizing the articles and being in charge of revising history, that's a good place for him." Emperor Rui asked.
"Your servant dare not speak freely, Your Majesty will decide accordingly." Liu Ye bowed and said: "However, Wu Zhi is powerful in Hebei, and if he is simply admitted to Chongwen Guan like this, the gap between him and the court may be too large, which may cause him to feel resentful."
"How about this, I will promote Wu Zhi to Zhongshou and Guangla, with a salary of two thousand stones, which is not unfair. It's quite a privilege," Emperor Rui said bluntly: "Wu Zhi's talent is not great. His position as the Administrator of Hebei was appointed due to his close relationship with the previous emperor. I think he will understand it as well."
"How do you think, Yang Minister?" For the first time, Emperor Rui asked about a specific court matter from Yang Fu.
"Yang Fu solemnly answered, 'I think it is perfect. Thunder and rain are all Your Majesty's benevolence. As a servant of the court, whatever You arrange is what it is, otherwise it would be disloyalty.'"
Liu Ye nodded in agreement next to him, but he felt that Yang Fu's words carried some subtle hints towards Cao Zhi.
"All right, I'll have the Central Ministry send a letter later," Emperor Rui said. "Liu Minister, you go with Your Majesty's uncle to the Lesser Treasury and select a mansion for him."
"Yes, Your Servant will follow the order." Liu Ye accepted the task.
"I thank the Emperor for his gracious gift of a mansion." Cao Zhi also stood up and bowed.
"No trouble, go ahead," Emperor Rui said softly.
After Cao Zhi and Liu Ye left, Yang Fu spoke directly: "Your Majesty, Your Servant and Liu Zhongshou just sent Mengqi King to the Imperial Great Grandmother's palace and listened in on the discussion with Her Imperial Majesty and Mengqi King."
"You actually went in?" Emperor Rui laughed and said, "A reunion after a long time is a great joy in life."
"Your servant knows it generally," Yang Fu nodded gently. "Her Imperial Majesty and Mengqi King mentioned the rumors in Luoyang earlier this year, as well as the incest case at the residence of the Commandant of the Guards this month."
"How do you know this?" Emperor Rui was curious.
"Your Majesty," Yang Fu explained, "On the way back from the Imperial Great Grandmother's palace, Mengqi King and Minister Liu were conversing, and Mengqi King mentioned that the Imperial Great Grandmother had already informed him about the incest case this month."
"If the Imperial Great Grandmother has already informed Mengqi King about the incest case this month, there is no reason not to inform him about the rumors earlier this year." (This chapter concludes)
