On the last day of April, Si Tuguang and Grand Secretary Feng Ping hurried to Luoyang together.
On the first day of May, after the grand imperial assembly ended, Feng Ping got off the court and boarded the carriage of Cui Lin, the Grand Marshal, and they went together to the Ministry of Ceremonial.
Cui Lin and Cui De-Ru, born in Qinghe of the region of He State, were related to Cui Yan, his cousin, who once handled the selection of officials in Wei. As two outstanding members of the Cui clan in his generation, although Cui Yan had passed away, he left a lot of connections and legacies for Cui Lin.
Inside the carriage, the two of them merely exchanged a few casual greetings.
Feng Ping asked, "Brother Cui De-Ru, what new things have happened in Luoyang recently?"
"New things?" Cui Lin pulled aside one corner of the carriage curtain, looked at the throng outside, stroked his beard and said: "There is indeed one."
"A few days ago, the Qiuci Kingdom from the Western Regions arrived in Luoyang. They brought some jade articles and precious stones, and also sent two female musicians to the Emperor."
"Hu Ji?" Feng Ping smiled: "I have only seen them in books, but I have never seen them with my own eyes."
Cui Lin looked at Feng Ping: "That's right. You have lived in Yangzhou for nearly ten years and have been in Shuchun since the communication with the West. How can you have had a chance to see them?"
Feng Ping nodded: "The envoys sent two Hu girls, and the Emperor accepted them?"
Cui Lin said: "Yes, the Emperor accepted them. The envoys also received many rewards from the Emperor. I was there at that time, but I did not dare to advise the Emperor on the spot, and only explained to him later that these Western small countries only come to deceive for rewards. Moreover, many people were sent to escort them from Dunhuang to Luoyang, which caused a lot of expenses along the way and was not worth it."
"What happened next?" Feng Ping found it interesting.
"And then," Cui Lin sighed lightly, "The Emperor did listen to me all the way through, but he did not adopt my suggestion."
"Half a year ago when the Emperor went on a campaign to the south, Feng Ping had little opportunity to communicate with the Emperor privately. Now that he has been recommended by the Grand Marshal and appointed as the new governor of Henan, he needs to understand the Emperor's thoughts properly."
Feng Ping continued to ask, "Brother Cui De-Ru speaks in reason! Now it's not like the Western Han Dynasty needs to ally with small Western countries in order to curb the Xuanbei at that time. The Xuanbei are not in shape now, why doesn't His Majesty adopt Brother Cui De-Ru's suggestion?"
Cui Lin asked, "What do you guess why?"
Feng Ping laughed and said, "How could I guess?"
Cui Lin said: "The Emperor said that it's all right to let these small countries take some advantage first. They are taking advantage now, but in the future, they will restore the trade route."
Feng Ping also shook his head and said, "Trade routes, those barren places in the Western Regions can't make much money besides cattle and sheep, can they?"
The two of them chatted like this all the way until they arrived at the Ministry of Ceremonial.
Cui Lin's idea was indeed correct.
However, Cao Rui had another plan in mind. Only when the rumors of Luoyang's prosperity and the generosity of the Great Wei emperor spread throughout the Western Regions, would merchants and adventurers gradually restore the silk trade route that had been cut off for a century.
In the short term, it may incur some losses, but in the long term, how could it not be profitable?
In the Ministry of Ceremonial, Cui Lin dismissed the servants and sat with Feng Ping in the hall.
Cui Lin asked in confusion, "Bai Ying, you arrived late yesterday and only just saw you today. How did the Grand Marshal select you as the governor of Henan? Did the Secretariat agree to let you go?"
Feng Ping remained silent for a moment and said, "Brother Cui De-Ru, I must not deceive you. It was the Steward and the Grand Marshal who wrote a letter. The Steward used Jiang Ji to replace the Grand Marshal as the magistrate of Yangzhou, making Jiang Ji the governor of Yangzhou. The Grand Marshal then pushed me to take over."
Cui Lin said: "But Si Mingzhi did benefit. The court appointed him as an envoy before promoting him to the vacancy of Tai Biao, one of the Nine Ministers."
Feng Ping coldly snorted: "Sim Guozi? How can such people be appointed as one of the nine ministers?"
"Sun Quan was severely injured by Great Wei in Wuancheng in January. How could he benefit from his mission? How could His Majesty not blame him?"
Cui Lin sighed upon hearing this: "Acting as an envoy to Sun Quan is not a favorable position. But the Emperor may not necessarily blame him either."
Feng Ping raised his eyebrows and looked at Cui Lin: "What do you mean by that?"
Cui Lin said: "Several months ago, the ministers in Luoyang only knew that the Emperor was generous. But in the past two months, since the Emperor returned to Luoyang, the affairs of the court have become more and more difficult to understand."
Feng Ping listened quietly on the side.
Cui Lin said: "At present, the ministers can also send out their inspectors and envoys, all government orders must be sent to the palace, and all powers have been concentrated in the hands of the two generals and the Steward……"
Feng Ping coughed lightly: "Brother Cui De-Ru, please be careful with your words."
Cui Lin said: "Let's see how the situation in the court develops. Brother Feng, as your position as the governor of Henan, you should also act cautiously."
......
At this time, in the northern palace study, Wang Lang was reporting to the emperor on what had happened in Yè City.
Cao Rui furrowed his brow and asked, "How could Xuàn Xiāo, the commander of the watch in Yè City, so easily be forced to commit suicide by a single sentence from Zhenxiang?"
Wang Lang bowed and said: "According to the information known to the subject so far, it is indeed so. Xuàn Xiāo committed suicide out of guilt, which should be without any controversy."
Cao Rui said, "Is he afraid of Zhenxiang's retaliation, or is he afraid of my retaliation?"
Wang Lang stopped for a moment and then said: "Perhaps both. Although Xuàn Xiāo is dead, the subject has basically clarified the situation through his two deputies, Wei Ben and Sun Ding."
"Um," Cao Rui nodded slightly, then stared at Wang Lang intently.
Wang Lang said: "Today, I actually have two things to report. One is the Wei Feng case, and the other is related to Queen Wen Zhao. Let me start with Wei Feng case?"
Cao Rui frowned: "There's no need to say anything about Queen Wen Zhao. The Chancellor can write a detailed report for me."
Wang Lang shook his head and said: "I believe, Your Majesty should hear it."
Cao Rui huffed: "Then let's start with the Queen Wen Zhao matter!"
Wang Lang thought for a moment again and shook his head: "I will say both together."
Without waiting for the emperor's response, Wang Lang said in a low tone, "Your Majesty, the common thread between the two cases is actually that during the years of Jian'an, the late Emperor had almost taken over the system of judicial officers in Yecheng."
"After interrogating Wei Ben and Sun Ding, the two secondary commanders of the judicial system, as well as reviewing documents from the judicial system in Yecheng, I have questioned many old officials of the judicial system, almost confirming this conclusion," Wang Lang replied.
Cao Rui asked, "The late Emperor was already the designated successor. But has not the system of the judicial officers always been personally controlled by Wu Di? How did the late Emperor gain control of the system?"
Wang Lang said, "At the end of the years of Jian'an, Emperor Wu often had headaches that made it difficult for him to handle affairs, and the frequency of these attacks increased."
"After killing Lu Hong and Zhao Da under pressure from public opinion, Wu Di also became exhausted, gradually entrusting the authority of the office of the judicial officers to the Secretariat."
Cao Rui squinted his eyes and said, "The Secretariat……After the late Emperor ascended the throne, he changed the Secretariat to the Ministry of Chancellors, right? It's Liushiang and Sunziji?"
"Your Majesty is correct," Wang Lang said slowly. "After Liushiang and Sunziji took control of the central government, they naturally knew about Emperor Wu's condition. Since Emperor Wu found it difficult to handle state affairs and the late Emperor had the title of crown prince, he naturally followed the late Emperor's orders."
"Continue," Cao Rui said. "What connection does the office of the judicial officers have with Wei Feng's case?"
Wang Lang said: "It doesn't have a direct connection to the Wei Feng case. However, using the judicial officers in Yecheng to help Wei Feng 'mislead the masses' or 'build his reputation', as well as fabricating some evidence of his rebellion, has been done."
Cao Rui rose from his chair and began to pace around the study with his hands behind his back.
"They don't worry that Wu Di will find out?" Cao Rui asked again.
Wang Lang looked up at Cao Rui, meeting his gaze: "How can Wu Di possibly know? In the spring of Jian'an 24 years, Wu Di was still in Hanzhong."
Cao Rui remained silent.
In the spring of Jian'an 24 years, Xiahou Yuan was killed by Huang Zong at Ding Jun Mountain, and then Cao Cao personally went to Hanzhong.
In the summer of Jian'an 24 years, Guan Yu besieged Xiangfu and Chuanfu, killing Pang De and capturing Yu Jin.
In the autumn of Jian'an 24, Cao Cao personally took up residence in Xuchang to command the relief of Fan City.
After the winter, in Jian'an 25 spring, after Cao Cao returned to Luoyang from commanding the relief of Fan City, he died not long after.
If this is the case, did the late Emperor Cao Pi have a premonition of these events and therefore act without fear?
Cao Rui stood in the hall and began to carefully contemplate some key individuals.
Cao Cao died in Luoyang, where Jia Kui, Sima Yi, and Xiahou Shang quickly stabilized the situation and consoled Cao Zhi and Cao Zheng. In Yecheng, almost all officials rushed to support Cao Pi as the successor of Wei King.
To be serious, Cao Pi's support did not come from martial commanders like Cao Zhen and Cao Xu, but rather from civilian officials such as Sima Yi, Chen Qun, Jia Kui, and Zhong Yao!
The late Emperor trusted and favored people from Yingchuan naturally had his reasons.
Cao Rui sighed deeply after pondering for a long time.
Cao Rui boasts that in the less than a year since his ascension, he has consolidated his power and won battles, therefore he often undervalues Cao Pi's abilities.
But Cao Pi is the founding emperor, how could so many people support him?
Cao Cao was on campaigns, Cao Pi often stayed in Yecheng.
One after another feast, one after another literary gathering, and one friend after another...
Can only say that no time is wasted.
And Cao Rui also finally realized the biggest difference between himself and Cao Pi.
Cao Rui and his ministers had almost no personal relationships!
Cao Pi loved people with clear-cut preferences and outstanding literary talents, and he had good relationships with both aristocratic families and martial commanders. What he needed to do was to make friends, what he needed to do was to flatter, and these actions all became the steps on his path to the top.
On the other hand, look at Cao Rui? Almost no diplomatic ties with ministers during his time in the East Palace, and after ascension to the throne, almost all actions he took were giving orders from his throne.
A solitary ruler.
Cao Rui deeply inhaled, and continued asking: "After listening to the late Emperor's orders, Liu Fang and Sun Zhi both then took control of the office of judicial officers and continued to hold the central government's key positions?"
Wang Lang said: "It should be that way."
Cao Rui waved his hand: "Then let's talk about the matter concerning Queen Wen Zhao."
After a moment, Wang Lang said: "When I inquired about the judicial officers, I heard such a matter from the office of judicial officers."
"The Guo empress did indeed order the office of judicial officers to frame the Queen Wen Zhao. I know Your Majesty does not wish to pursue this matter, but I want to say that the orders received by the judicial officers in Yecheng were directly issued by the Guo empress from the palace in Luoyang."
Cao Rui thought for a moment and asked, "The interference of a couple in politics is the root of chaos. Which year was the edict issued by the late Emperor? Was it in the second year of Huang Chu or the third year?"
Wang Lang replied, "It was in the third year of Huang Chu."
"Was it in September?"
"Yes, it was in September."
Cao Rui took a deep breath. Cao Pi issued the edict almost at the same time as he announced Guo's ascension to the position of empress. (The chapter ends)
