"Can I be afraid of Sunyang's provocation?"
Cao Rui sneered and shook his head: "A pitiful person who has lost the world, lost the ancestors' foundation, lost his wife and children, what can I be afraid of him provoking?"
"I can see it clearly on the map, from Xiawei City to the Choulü City of Shanyang County, it's no more than thirty miles; cavalry could arrive in a jiffy. Later on, all of you will accompany me to the Choulü City to meet this last emperor of the Han dynasty!"
"In compliance with the order." Liu Ye and the other officials all bowed their hands and spoke.
As early as the year Taiping, Cao Rui returned from Nanhu in the south to Luoyang, and during his tour of various prefectures, he had already had the idea of going to see Mount Yang himself in Henan. However, because of the complexity of various matters and this matter was not very important, it was delayed for a long time.
Now, it's only thirty miles away, and the cavalry can reach there in less than half an hour. What is there to be hesitant about?
"Four thousand mounted soldiers were lined up outside the Choulü City, and Cao Qiujian personally led the army into the city to take over the defense of various parts of the Choulü City."
Choulü City is not large, even some squeezed, for example, just passed by Xiawei County to be smaller. The cavalry into the city of this kind of small fortification among like a thunderstorm in clear day, half a point conceal not.
In the court of Marquis of Shanyang, Liu Xie, who is now fifty years old, is dressed in a robe made of hemp, sitting stiffly on the throne that is identical to the one in the palace during the Han dynasty, gazing out of the door in a daze. After Cao Pi ascended the throne through a sacrifice ceremony, he specially sent someone to send this throne from Xuancheng to Shanyang County.
At the age of thirty, Cao Jie, the wife of Cao Jie, walked into the interior from the outside, dressed in a gorgeous gown, and was not very similar to Liu Xie's frugal image. However, Liu Xie's simple attire and Cao Xie's luxurious clothing, the two never had any concerns or disputes.
The country has already been conquered, and a piece of clothing is insignificant. Wear whatever you like!
Speaking of Cao Jie, this woman was married into the royal palace of Xuchang at the age of fourteen, was crowned as the empress at fifteen, and was demoted to the consort of Marquis of Shanyang at twenty, becoming the empress dowager of a conquered nation. Such early life experiences with dramatic ups and downs had made her as indifferent to worldly affairs as Liu Xie.
It's hard not to be indifferent in the face of such things. Otherwise, she would have died long ago.
Fortunately, Cao Pi took good care of Cao Jie, and in the fourth year of Huangchu, he increased 500 households for his young sister as a private property. Cao Jie was Cao Rui's legitimate aunt according to seniority.
"Your Majesty, there are many cavalry outside the city for some unknown reason," said Cao Jie in a hurried tone: "This kind of thing has never happened before, how should Your Majesty deal with it?"
"I've said this many times, don't call me Your Majesty," Liu Xie sighed: "Have you ever seen an emperor trapped in a small county?"
"My brother has promised Your Majesty, so how can't I call you Your Majesty or Your Highness?" Cao Jie bit her lip: "Your Majesty should still think of a way."
"What can I do?" Liu Xie sighed bitterly: "If they want my head, send a guard to take it away, why go through all this trouble to capture me? I'm not going anywhere, just wait here!"
Cao Jie sighed lightly, then knelt down next to Liu Xie, and they sat together.
Soon, a group of armored soldiers entered the door of Marquis of Shanyang directly. The man in front was obviously Cao Jie, the Prime Minister of Wei.
The several old servants standing in the courtyard silently watched as Sima Yi and others entered, without saying a word in greeting or showing any sign, as still as withered trees.
Sima Yi seriously looked at the front of the main hall, there were no attendants or messengers, which was a bit unusual for him. After straightening his clothes, he turned to signal the soldiers to wait in the courtyard and walked in alone step by step.
"My name is Sima Zhongda. I come to pay respects to Mount Yang, and to pay my respects to the wife." Sima Yi walked up to within two catties of Liu Xie and bowed deeply with a very standard gesture.
"It is Marquis Sima who has arrived," Liu Xie managed to force a smile: "Time flies, and it has been ten years since I last saw Marquis Sima. How is your family?"
"Very well," Sima Yi slowly straightened up, his face still respectful: "At home, I have three sons. The eldest son Shu He and the second son Zhao have both entered public service. One is managing grain and provisions in Yangzhou, and the other is managing irrigation in Xu."
Liu Xie lightly nodded: "Irrigation is a legitimate thing. Mount Shao, right? Where is the irrigation conducted in Xu?"
Sima Yi answered with a gesture: "It is in the southeastern part of Xuancheng, near the area of Xinji."
"Very good, very good." Liu Xie asked again: "Is Marquis Sima still serving at the Treasury Department? Where is Your Brother Zhuo, the Third Son of Marquis Sima, serving at present?"
Sima Yi replied with patience: "I am still serving as a Recorder of the Board of Rights and Duties at the Secretariat. At the end of Huangchu years 7, I was granted the post of Grand Councilor. The third son is currently serving as the Administrator of Liang State in Chongzhou, governing at Wuyi."
As the last emperor, Liu Xie could only refer to himself as 'I' and call the other person 'Marquis Sima' when facing his former ministers. Their casual conversation about daily matters was actually filled with melancholy and helplessness.
As a defeated king living in a small county, Liu Xie had no courage to ask about the other person's intention. Could they talk about anything else besides daily matters?
Sima Yi himself felt quite twisted and strange at the moment. It had been ten years since the event, but when facing the old king and being called 'Marquis Sima' directly, there was still some uncontrollable sorrow in his heart, mixed with some sympathy and contempt.
It was Cao Jie who broke the stalemate of the two people's casual conversation.
"Why did Marquis Sima come today? Is there any important matter in the court?" Cao Jie said: "I just heard that a large number of cavalry had entered the city, why are you so serious?"
Sima Yi bowed and said, "Reporting to the consort, His Majesty is returning from a campaign north of Ye City and passed through Xiawei. He wishes to dine with Marquis of Shanyang and has sent me to inform you in advance."
"The king has come?" Liu Xie's rising movement was somewhat hurried, and he almost tripped over himself: "Is the king coming to invite me to a banquet?"
"That's right." Sima Yi nodded.
Liu Xie subconsciously reached out to touch his own head, but found no golden crown or wooden crown, only a simple hairpin securing a makeshift bun.
......
At least, she is the nominal elder, the first thing Cao Rui did after entering the mansion was to chat with his aunt Cao Jie for a while, and he also increased two hundred households as a gift of meeting.
This kind of banquet does not have the qualification for others to participate.
Cao Rui did not ask to sit on the main hall, but instead let Sima Yi prepare the table and sit face to face with Liu Xie. Only two attendants were left for the banquet, one was Cui Quejian, the Right Chief of the Secretariat, and the other was Liu Ye, the Right Supervisor of Military Affairs.
Liu Xie sat alone in the hall. Under the bright lights, the soldiers of the military served up dishes and meals, not precious seafood or delicacies, but ordinary meals Cao Rui used when he was in the military.
Cao Rui walked in front, with Liu Ye and Mu Qiu Jian following behind, all entering together.
Liu Xie stood up, and after carefully looking at Cao Rui's appearance, he gave a profound respect, saying: "Minister Liu Xie greets the King!"
"Zhonggong, please go and help him," Cao Rui whispered in a low voice before looking at Liu Xie: "Mount Shanyang, please stand up. Sir, you are also related to the King. His Imperial Majesty promised you to be treated as usual in Shanyang. Please don't be so formal."
"Today, I come only to visit and not to discuss trivial matters. Since that is the case, when we talk, there is no need to discuss master and servant or age. I will call you Bohe, and you can call me Yuanzhong. Is that all right?"
"Bohe" is Liu Xie's given name.
Liu Xie, although somewhat surprised in his heart, dare not refuse even a bit? The throne and the world have been given away. How can one care about the minor details of age and title?
"Met Yuanzhong," Liu Xie straightened his back gradually and bowed with a gesture. After all, he had been an emperor, and addressing the current emperor by his given name did not seem out of place at all.
"Met Bohe," Cao Rui nodded gently: "Please take a seat, the banquet will start. Today, let's use honey water as a substitute for wine."
After the two took their seats, Guan Qiuxian kneel down next to Liu Xie's table and served the meal, while Liu Ye kneel down next to Cao Rui's table.
"This is Liu Ye, Liu Ziyang. Do you recognize him, Bohe?"
Liu Xie shook his head and said: "Yuanzhong, today's afternoon imperial edict of Sima Zhongda, I can recognize it. This Liu Ziyang used to only hear his name, but I have never seen his face. I guess he also served in the period of Jian'an years?"
Liu Ye's face looked rather peculiar, slightly flushed, but he didn't say a word.
Cao Rui nodded: "Yes, he was serving in the year of Jian'an. Bohe may not know this, but I passed through Shanyang on my way back from the campaign in Liaodong."
"Several months ago, I personally led a force of 40,000 troops and 16,000 Hunnu horsemen to invade and defeat Poo-sun Yuan and his son, Poo-sun Kang, who had usurped control over Liaodong. Subsequently, Poo-sun Kang's son, Poo-sun Yuon intended to establish an independent kingdom. I divided the four districts of Liaodong into three separate states - Gosungryeong, Shuyu and Byeji as garrisons - thereby forming the Camp state."
Liu Xie pondered for a moment: "So these are the four districts and three states?"
"Yes," Cao Rui said.
"Conquering the borderlands and bringing them into one unified country is a great achievement for the nation. Bohe offers his congratulations to Yuanzhong!" Liu Xie raised his right hand with honey water.
"Indeed, it was a great victory." Cao Rui gestured to Liu Xie from across the table and took two sips.
While Liu Ye and Guan Qiuxian next to him both looked a bit unnatural, it was quickly replaced by some fear on their faces. (Chapter Finished)
