Sunny Luban has just tangled with her imperial husband for a while when the eunuch official, Bi Jin, reported that Cao Kè had come to wait in the study.
Sun Luban still had a smiling face, but in her heart, she began to secretly resent Bi Jin.
This eunuch lacks discernment! Every time, it's this old slave ruining the good things!
My Emperor, last time you left here, you didn't have time to eat your evening meal. Today, you just sat here for half an hour, how could there be something to leave for?
Upon hearing that the Grand Minister had arrived, Cao Rui naturally stood up to greet him. As he was about to rise from the bed, his left hand was gently pulled by Sun Luban.
"Will the emperor be leaving again?" Sun Luban looked at the emperor with her fox eyes twinkling: "Last time he didn't have dinner with his wife, and I don't know if he can accompany me and Yan tonight."
Cao Rui had important matters to attend to and would not waste any thought on Sun Luban. He said calmly, "I don't know either. If by the first mark of the evening, I haven't sent someone to inform you, then you shouldn't wait for me."
Sun Luban stood up and made a bow, watching the back of Cao Rui leave, her heart filled with even more hatred for Bi Jin.
At this moment, the Grand Minister, Cao Ge, stood smilingly with his hands crossed outside the study, chatting amiably with Zhong Yuhan, the cavalry attendant who was old enough to be his grandson.
"Zhong Jianang, don't you know if Zhong Taifu's health is good?" Cao Ge asked with a friendly tone.
Cao Ge was about sixty years old, but he was of a very high lineage. He could be considered an uncle to Emperor Wu Cao Cao. When he was young, he had also taken the civil service examination and served as a county magistrate. Therefore, in the first year of Taiping, when the emperor inspected Caoyuan County, he was appointed as the Grand Minister.
As one of the nine ministries, the position of the Grand Minister actually had relatively low visibility within the great Wei.
Besides the two minor princes of Emperor Wen's concubines died at the beginning of this year, Cao Ge had only visited the study twice to meet with the emperor. Today was his third visit.
The Grand Minister is responsible for the following matters, except for the appointment and punishment of princes, most affairs related to the clan are dealt with by the emperor, who only sends a single eunuch to notify the Grand Minister.
The top marginal figure among the nine ministries.
He is not familiar with most people, which means another way of saying "without a party and without factions." Such people need not worry about sudden misfortune, but they cannot gain much advantage in the court.
When Zhong Yuhan's father is so high-ranking, no matter who he is talking to, his first question is always about his father.
"Answering Lord Cao, my father is still in good health, and it's unnecessary for Lord Cao to worry about him."
Cao Ge continued to smile and asked, "I have not visited the emperor for a long time. I wonder if his majesty's body is healthy?"
Zhong Yuhan slightly bowed towards the throne inside the study: "The emperor's body is healthy, and Cao Gong can pay respects later."
Elder Cao showed impatience and continued to chat with Zhong Yuhan: "Clock Chancellor has been following the emperor for a long time, truly a young and outstanding talent."
"I heard that Zhong Lord has made some breakthroughs in calligraphy in the past two years. I wonder if I can ask Zhong Lord to introduce me, so that I can visit your mansion and seek an autograph from him later."
Zhong Yuhan sighed in his heart. You are the Grand Minister of Wei, not those minor officials. If you want to go to the mansion directly, why not just go?
Why ask me?
Zhong Yuhan still had some cultivation and replied politely: "Lord Cao joked. My father's legs and feet have been unsteady recently, but his calligraphy has become more primitive and rough."
"If Lord Cao wants to come, please feel free to visit at any time."
Elder Cao stroked his beard and asked again, "I heard that your excellency, Lord Zhong, is also skilled in calligraphy. I wonder..."
Zhong Yuhan did not want to continue chatting with Elder Cao.
There is a difference between the court officials and the external officials. If others saw this, they might speculate about what I have revealed about the palace affairs.
Zhong Yuhan had to interrupt Elder Cao's words: "Lord Cao, please wait. The emperor might come from the palace any moment. I'll go and take a look at the courtyard gate."
"Lord Cao, wait a moment."
After that, Zhong Yuhan quickly walked towards the courtyard gate, looking eagerly. Elder Cao didn't get annoyed either. He stood in the same place with a calm face.
Not long after, Emperor Cao Rui returned to the courtyard of the study, accompanied by his bodyguards.
As soon as they met, Elder Cao Ke began to bow and kowtow from a distance of three zhang.
Cao Rui had no choice but to go forward and help Cao Ke stand up: "I said it last time, didn't I? The Grand Minister doesn't need such a grand gesture to see me."
Elder Cao stood up, smiling and said, "I couldn't help myself when I saw Your Majesty. I forgot momentarily. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
Cao Rui waved his hand gently: "Follow me in, find a seat yourself."
"When you were sought by the emperor, did they tell you why they were looking for you?"
Elder Cao followed closely behind, chose the second chair on the left, sized it up, and only sat in the front half of the chair.
After sitting down, Elder Cao Kuo bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, the person sent by General Man was only told that you wanted to summon the prince to the Imperial Academy, and nothing else was mentioned."
Cao Rui nodded: "That's exactly what I thought, so I called the Grand Minister over to ask."
Even in the presence of such a high-ranking figure, someone from a generation higher than Cao Cao, Emperor Cao Rui's speech and actions were as if he were dealing with an ordinary official, without the slightest regard for the clan hierarchy.
As the emperor is the father of all subjects and the leader of the Cao family, he is naturally greater than all his officials. Ordinary secular customs do not apply to him.
Elder Cao nodded: "I understand the emperor's will."
"There are not many members of the royal family suitable for studying in the near branches of the great Wei. The distant branches are in Caoyuan County, and there are indeed many candidates, but when it comes to talent, there is no one as astonishing as Xiahou Taiqi."
"Furthermore, the journey is long and tiring. Those closer are in Yanzhou, while those farther are in Qingzhou. It may not be possible to gather them until November, and I am afraid that it might delay Your Majesty's work."
Cao Rui spoke softly, "I know Xiahou Xian's talents, but not everyone is as gifted as he is."
"Is the Grand Minister only concerned about whether they can or cannot?"
Elder Cao Kuo said: "Your Majesty has the edict, and it will certainly be carried out. However, I suggest that Your Majesty take this opportunity to summon all the near-descendant princes to Luoyang for an audience."
"By doing so, we can strengthen the bond between the royal family and kin, and also broaden Your Majesty's wings by selecting useful people from them."
Cao Rui nodded thoughtfully, "To be honest, I haven't delved into these matters before. Since ascending the throne, I've received congratulatory messages from the feudal princes many times, but I've mostly just glanced at them and put them aside."
"Grand Minister, how should the near-descendant branch of the royal family be considered?"
Elder Cao replied: "Your Majesty, when considering the near-descendant branch of the royal family, it should be considered in terms of the children of Emperor Wu Cao Cao and the sons of Emperor Wen. Others are distant from Your Majesty in terms of blood and should be considered part of the distant branch."
"And among the sons of Emperor Wu, King Cao Zhi of Youqiu is serving as an official in Luoyang. Among the sons of Emperor Wen, Kings Cao Yu of Yangping and Cao Lin of Lintao are also residing in Luoyang and have not been sent to their fiefdoms."
Cao Rui replied modestly: "Your Majesty, please enlighten me."
Elder Cao quickly became more restrained: "Your Majesty, as ordered."
"The Princes of Bai Ma, Shan Fu, Juan Cheng, Pu Yang, Xiang Yi, Ju Lu, and Shou Zhang are the seven sons of Emperor Wu who are living in their fiefdoms."
Cao Rui sighed: "Although they are my relatives, I have almost forgotten their faces."
"If that's the case, Grand Minister, please bring them all back for me. Also, recall the country's watchers and guards."
"I want to take this opportunity to closely observe their characters and abilities. With the example of King Cao Zhi from Youqiu, they shouldn't doubt me."
Elder Cao Kuo bowed: "Your Majesty is truly a wise ruler!"
Cao Rui replied, "If I am a true sage, then there must be false sages as well? Just so, you can now instruct the Grand Minister to recall all those who have not yet returned from their fiefdoms. I will postpone the matter of entering the Imperial Academy until they are all here."
As soon as he finished speaking, Cao Rui rose and began to leave: "This matter should be handled today. Send people out early tomorrow morning and do not delay!"
"I understand, Your Majesty. Farewell, Your Majesty." Elder Cao Kuo followed the emperor out of the study, bowing deeply behind him.
……
Emperor Cao Rui announced that he would discontinue the court sessions for seven days. Since his words are as firm as gold and as pure as jade, it is necessary to act accordingly and give the appearance of discontinuing court sessions.
On the first day, read books and practice swordsmanship.
On the second day, practice calligraphy and shooting.
Every day, combining literature and martial arts to cultivate the mind and spirit.
On the afternoon of the seventh day, Emperor Cao Rui summoned Zhang Qiu Jian, Zhong Huan Jian, Wen Qin, and two scribes, Zhong Yu and Zhong Yuchi, to the martial arts field in the palace.
In addition, he also dispatched someone to invite Xiahou Hui and He Yōu (pronounced yōu) from outside the palace.
The martial arts field within the palace is certainly smaller than the various martial arts fields outside of Luoyang, but it is sufficient for the emperor's daily horseback riding and archery practice.
Wen Qin is from outside the city, so he arrived a bit later.
At the moment, those present with the emperor in the martial arts field, except for Xiahou Hui and He Yōu, who were a bit restrained because they weren't very familiar with him, the rest were in a relaxed state.
Cao Rui looked around at the crowd and lightly nodded, "Today, I have called you all here just for some casual conversation and rest amidst official matters, there is no major business."
"However, since we are here in the martial arts field and archery is one of the six arts of gentlemen, I suppose it would not be appropriate to leave without shooting a few arrows."
"Let the emperor also see how each of you shoot."
After saying that, Emperor Cao Rui pointed to the distant target and said, "This is the target I usually practice with, which is fifteen chi away; it's not too far. Hitting the target is enough; no other requirements."
"Come on, Zhong Gong, let's start with you."
"Your command is followed." Zhang Qiu Jian bowed and smiled, taking a simple large bow from the hanging rack on the side. After shooting one arrow in an instant, he immediately drew another.
Mao Qiu Jian shot five arrows in a row, the first four all hitting the target, but the fifth arrow seemed to be intentionally aimed off-center, and it missed by quite a margin.
Cao Rui had seen Zhang Qiu Jian's archery skills when he was in Shouchun before, shook his head with a smile, and then pointed to Huan Fan.
Huan Fan took the bow and arrows from Zhang Qiu Jian, and also hit the target four times out of five. However, he had to hold his breath for quite some time before releasing the bowstring, which clearly showed that he had exerted his full effort.
Although Huan Fan had once led troops in an offensive during his time in Lueyang, the most important aspect for a general is military strategy and command, with personal bravery coming second.
"Zhi Shu, Wu Bo." Cao Rui smiled and said, "I have never seen your martial arts skills before. Come and try them out for me."
Du Xù hit the target once out of five, and it was probably just by chance. Zhong Yuchi hit the target twice out of five, which was slightly better than Du Xù.
"Ziqi (He You), and Zhiquan, you two also come and try."
He You and Xiahou Hui bowed and saluted before taking turns shooting, with the results similar to those of Du Xù and Zhong Yuchi, all being in the range of one or two hits.
Cao Rui was slightly disappointed: "And Ziqi missed, which is fine. Why isn't the son of the General of the West good at shooting?" (This chapter is complete)
