The emperor has said it, what else can be done?
Du Xie and Yang Fu naturally accepted the command, and Cao Jing slightly bowed his hands to the emperor with a hint of apology.
"It was my oversight not to have considered this matter thoroughly, and it is my fault for troubling Your Majesty with the trouble."
Cao Rui paid no attention: "It's no problem, as long as it is important state affairs, I have never hesitated to discuss it. The more clear the matter is, the better to handle state affairs."
"Everyone should go back first, Sirs, Xin Zhongshu and Yang Shizhao will stay here and accompany the emperor for a walk."
The crowd gradually withdrew, leaving behind Sima Yi, Xin Pi, and Yang Fu.
Cao Rui stood up and moved his arms, laughing and saying, "I indeed did not guess wrong, their opinions are consistent, and they all thought of it together."
"Was there a previous military dispute with the state?"
Sima Yi remained silent.
Xin Pi said calmly, "There has been no such big controversy before this war."
"The previous Zhaojiang Province Administrator was Guo Hui, who was an old part of Zhang Hei. The two were said to be like family. Whenever Zhang Hei asked for something, Guo Hui would never refuse."
"How can they be such close relatives?" asked Cao Rui.
Xin Pi was in charge of the inspection affairs, so he should be more aware of these things.
Xin Pi said calmly, "Guo Bojie called Zhang Hei's sons and nephews, and repeatedly sent people from Taiyuan to send money to Zhang Hei's home in Anyang."
"Zhang He was fond of the elegant, so Guo Hui catered to his tastes. When they talked privately, they would always address him as 'Zhang Gong.' While in Chang'an, Guo Hui even sent people to write laudatory essays for Zhang He."
Sima Yi listened calmly to the face, without saying a word. He did not know about these things either.
Cao Rui's expression remained unchanged and continued to ask, "Does Zhang Hei greed for money?"
Xin Pi replied, "His fief and rewards are adequate. There have been no findings of Zhang Hei himself being corrupt. However, his sons in Yecheng have received quite a bit of property from Guo Hui."
"What about others?"
Xin Pi continued to reply, "In the past, the middle military families all lived in Yecheng. At the beginning of Huangchu years, five million were moved from Yecheng to Luoyang. There are still more than ten million left in Yecheng."
"Officers from Zhang Hei's old forces would also send gifts to Zhang Hei's family during festivals and holidays. However, these were all within the normal range, similar to what other generals would do."
Cao Rui smiled and said, "Zhang Hei is in Yongliang, and it's not possible to govern his household! At sixty-odd years old, he can just accumulate some wealth for his family."
"Xin Ping, the middle military and external military generals with various titles, if there are such things, will be left in your place for storage and do not need to report to the emperor."
"Since martial officers don't like money, what else could they like?"
Xin Pi nodded and continued to say, "Jiangxi Governor is Pei Qian, who served in Emperor Wu's ruling center in the past and was an old assistant of Chen Qun."
"The two have never had any disputes."
Cao Rui said indifferently, "My ministers are indeed very harmonious!"
"What about Yangzhou?"
Xin Pi said, "Previously, the Grand Marshal also served as the Governor of Yangzhou, and all matters in Yangzhou were handled solely by the Grand Marshal."
"After Jiang Ji and Jiang Zitong became the Governor of Yangzhou, they had a very smooth relationship with the Grand Marshal. There was a good coordination between the state and the army, making it a model."
Cao Rui nodded, "The situation in Huainan is indeed well handled. When did Jiang Ji go to Yangzhou?"
Xin Pi reminded, "Last March."
Cao Rui remained silent for a few moments.
In the third month of last year? After Jiang Ji went to Yangzhou, the former Secretary-General of the Grand Marshal, Feng Ping, came to Luoyang and took office as the Prefect of Henan Province.
Jiang Ji's good relationship with Sima Yi, this was something that Cao Rui already knew.
One left the capital, one came to the capital, and Jiang Ji also coordinated so smoothly with Cao Xu……
Cao Rui suppressed his glance at Sima Yi and replied directly, "Yangzhou indeed is a model."
"Yang Qing," Cao Rui looked at Yang Fu, "Be a bit more upright by my side. I have good temperament. When you take office in Yongzhou, you should learn from Jiang Ji."
Yang Fu bowed, "If that were to be flexible and changeable, then I would not be Yang Yishan."
Cao Rui chuckled softly, not responding: "Let's go. I've been in Chen Cang for two days now, it's about time I took a walk around."
"I remember that over one hundred thousand Yuanhe Qiang people were settled for cultivation between Chen Cang and Rixian County. Is there anywhere the emperor can see it?"
Yang Fu thought for a moment and said, "There is Qianxiang, located fifteen li east of Chen Cang City. I can accompany the emperor there. Should I send someone to prepare in advance?"
"What kind of preparation?" Cao Rui laughed, "If you prepare too much, I won't want to see it. Just let's go now!"
Sima Yi reminded from the side, "There are a lot of Qiang people there. It's better to dispatch 3000 tiger cavalry to accompany the emperor."
Cao Rui shook his head, "This is Chen Cang, not a battlefield, and it doesn't require 3,000 cavalry. A thousand will be enough."
Sima Yi nodded, "Then let me summon Jiang Wei."
Cao Rui said, "All right."
In the afternoon, the emperor, dressed in civilian attire, led a thousand tiger cavalry towards Qianxiang in the eastern part of Chen Cang City.
Sima Yi, Xin Pi, Yang Fu, and Zhu Gai accompanied the emperor.
Zhu Gai has been squatting in Chen Cang for more than half a year, and he is more familiar with the surroundings of Chen Cang, making it easier to take care of.
Following the Wei River from Chen Cang all the way east, the scenery in June in Guanzhong is quite pleasant.
The Wei River is filled with ships transporting grain and supplies for the army, and it is a beautiful sight to behold.
Qianxiang is located next to the Wei River. It's a common sight for troops to be transported, so having a thousand cavalry come by is not out of the ordinary.
Cao Rui nodded towards Zhu Gai, "Currently, there are only a thousand cavalrymen here. Marquis Zhu, you will have to put on an act as a Sima and summon the village chief for me. I need to ask some questions."
Zhu Gai put on a sour face, "Your Majesty, I am almost sixty. How can I possibly play the role of an old Sima?"
Cao Rui glared at Zhu Gai, "Just give the man any position you like. As long as he comes, it's fine."
Zhu Gai smiled, "I'll be back shortly."
After saying that, Zhu Gai led ten riders to gallop off.
Two hundred cavalrymen led the way, followed by eight hundred cavalrymen behind the emperor, slowly making their way along the official road by the Wei River.
Not long after they set off, from the side road along the official road, there were suddenly many figures of civilians visible, at least several hundreds.
Cao Rui gazed in the direction for a while, but couldn't make it out clearly. Based on the principle that "an emperor should not put himself in a dangerous position," he called Yang Fu, who was close by:
" side road is narrow, so I will not go in. Uncle Yang, please go and check for me what these common people are doing."
"According to the order." Yang Fu received the command and still led ten cavalrymen to go.
Cao Rui was here to admire the scenery along the Wei River.
Cao Rui turned his head and looked at Xin Pi, "Uncle Xin, you have done a great job." He continued, "The army is well fed and well supplied thanks to the strength of the Wei River transportation, and also Uncle Xin's efforts in Chang'an."
Xin Pi bowed and replied, "I was only doing my duty, I dare not take credit for any achievement."
Xin Pi pointed to the boats on the Wei River, "The Wei River transportation has a history of hundreds of years. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, an irrigation canal was built from Chang'an straight to the Yellow River."
Cao Rui was puzzled, "There's already the Wei River, why do they need to build an irrigation canal?"
Xin Pi explained, "The original Wei River channel was winding and circuitous. Emperor Wu of Han ordered the diversion of the Wei River through a canal to facilitate both transportation and agriculture."
"Not only does it shorten the transportation time by half, but it also irrigates the thousands of acres of land along the canal, making it a win-win."
"During Emperor Wu's expedition to Hanzhong, the canal was restored again. This time when the army went out on a campaign, they also used this canal for transportation of grain."
Cao Rui sighed, "This is an action that benefits future generations! The two emperors Wu did the work, and the later generations have benefited from their convenience."
"Remind me to send messengers to pay respect to the tombs of the Qin and Han emperors when we pass by Chang'an."
Xin Pi nodded: "I'll remember that."
Cao Rui added, "No need to remember, just let Uncle Xin go for me!"
Xin Pi's heart felt a sense of helplessness, but he had no choice but to agree.
Originally, there were four Lirds serving by the emperor's side, ready to take orders. But during this time, some were reassigned, and others went home. Only Xin Pi was left.
Xin Pi still remembered that it was he who went to offer the dowry when the emperor wanted to take Guo Jieyu as a concubine.
While the group was chatting, Yang Fu led ten riders back in a hurry, and his face was not looking good.
Cao Rui looked at Yang Fu, but did not speak.
Yang Fu paused for a moment to gather his composure before saying, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the place is where some ignorant villagers have privately set up a temple and are performing sacrilegious rites."
What kind of sacrilegious rites?
Cao Rui frowned, raised his whip, and pointed in the direction of the side road just mentioned: "Explain, how did they perform sacrilegious rites?"
Yang Fu's face turned even more somber. He dismounted, bowed deeply, and said, "As the Governor of Yongzhou, this incident occurred under my administration. It is my fault! Please punish me, Your Majesty!"
Cao Rui raised his whip and made a sound in the air, startling Sima Yi and Xin Pi who were beside him.
"Just because you're a prefectural governor, you can't speak your mind directly? What sacrilegious rites are they performing here?"
Bowing with his back bent and a slight sweat on his face, Yang Fu replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the villagers here have set up a temple for Dong Zhuo, and they make offerings and burn incense year-round."
"Dong Zhuo?" Cao Rui narrowed his eyes, his brow already showing anger.
Yang Fu had just taken office in Yongzhou, and he should not have been aware of the sacrilegious rites that took place in a village outside Chen Cang City.
Xin Pi, however, was in Chang'an for half a year, but given the complexity of the logistics and supplies for the army, Xin Pi should have been too busy to concern himself with such matters.
For a moment, Cao Rui didn't know who to blame.
Sima Yi saw the situation and stepped in to smooth things over, "Your Majesty, perhaps I know something about the reason for this matter."
"Say!" Cao Rui said.
Sima Yi took a light breath: "In the regions of Yong and Liang, Han people and Qiang people live mixed together, and there are often military conflicts and wars. As a result, they believe in witchcraft, which has been repeatedly banned but never extinguished for several centuries."
"My brother Sima Lang once served with Dong Zhuo in Chang'an and had some knowledge of the various generals in Dong Zhuo's territory."
"From Dong Zhuo to Niufu, Li Jue, and Guo Si, these Xiyang generals are all believed in witchcraft."
Cao Rui turned to look at Sima Yi, "So what? What does this have to do with the people sacrificing to Dong Zhuo?"
Sima Yi said, "When Dong Zhuo died, Li Jue and Guo Si conquered Chang'an and set up a shrine for Dong Zhuo in front of the palace gate. They often sacrificed oxen and sheep to it."
"After Li Jue and Guo Si's defeat and death, there were some offerings to Dong Zhuo's temple in the vicinity of Chang'an for a while. The court had prohibited such practices during the Jian'an years, but since Dong Zhuo had been dead for a long time, this matter was likely neglected afterwards."
Cao Rui asked, "What relationship does Li Jue's sacrifice have with the common people? How could it become widespread?"
Yang Fu spoke at this time, "The common people are afraid of Dong Zhuo's name and are afraid of bringing disaster upon themselves, so they often worship him." (Chapter ends)
