Cao Rui also followed Liu Xie's gaze and looked at his two trusted ministers. Youqiu Jian was better, while Liu Ye had sweat droplets on his forehead:
"Still hope Master He gave guidance."
Said, Cao Rui turned and walked back to his desk. Sitting down, he glanced at Liu Xie's awkwardness: "No one is saying anything to you; wipe the sweat off."
"Submissive to the command." After Liu Xie received the order, he quickly used his sleeves to wipe away the sweat.
Facing across the table, Liu Xie also spoke after Cao Rui sat down: "The Han Dynasty has produced many eunuchs with power, but only Meng De and Zi Huan can change dynasties. Yuan Zhong knows why?"
Cao Rui said, "The transfer of the sacred objects is easy, but the natural way is constant. This is a common truth in the world, and only those with virtue can accomplish it."
"What is virtue?" Liu Xie asked for clarification.
Cao Rui laughed lightly: "The ability to control the army, manage the people, and stabilize the country is virtue."
As soon as he said this, Cao Rui's eyes narrowed: "Continue to speak, Master He, and please do not waste words."
For ten years, Liu Xie had been isolated in Zhuolu City, Shanyang County. Today, with Cao Rui's visit and the banquet filled with respectful conversation, Liu Xie had received great mental enjoyment. It was something that could not be shared with outsiders. At this moment, Liu Xie finally decided to share his own "insightful views."
Liu Xie said: "In the Western Han Dynasty, there were countless eunuchs with power, but those who could change dynasties were only Meng De and Zi Huan. Master He knows about Liang Jing?"
Cao Rui nodded: "Liang Jie, the rebellious general, I am aware of this man."
Liu Xie continued: "During the reign of Emperor Yuanjia of the Han Dynasty, when Liang Jie was attending court, he wore a sword on his waist. At that time, Zhang Ling, the Secretary of the State, scolded him in front of everyone. The Palace Guards took away Liang Jie's sword, and he was eventually punished with a one-year salary reduction."
Liu Xie said, pausing for a few moments and looking at Cao Rui, as if trying to gauge whether Cao Rui could understand the implication in his words.
After a moment of thought, Cao Rui sighed deeply and said, "Emperor Huande's action towards Liang Jie for that matter, Master He would have dared to do the same to Emperor Wu in those days."
Liu Xie nodded: "Considering Liang Jie's rebellion, he could not even disrespect the royal authority in the capital. Meng De and Zi Huan, on the other hand, treat the Han Dynasty as nothing. It would be more accurate to describe them as bandit-like military cliques rather than eunuchs in power."
"I agree with this statement," Cao Rui said. "Without the presence of Dong Zuo, the dignity of the Han court would not have fallen to such an extent."
Liu Xie said, "Who can say that the first to start a bad custom will have descendants? During the Han Dynasty, powerful ministers still showed some respect for the imperial power. But with Meng De and Zi Huan setting the precedent, if there were also powerful ministers in the later Western Wei Dynasty, they would naturally follow suit."
Cao Rui's expression slightly did not please: "I also recognize this."
Liu Xie glanced at Cao Rui's expression and continued, "Master He may not know that when Emperor Huande killed Liang Jie, the Guards of the Palace and the five North Korean armies were all under the control of Liang Jie's family. But Emperor Huande used the 1,000 troops belonging to the Master of Glory and the troops of Zhu Biao, who was appointed as the Constable of Lianghua by Grand Preceptor Zuo Gongmin. They surrounded Liang Jie's mansion, and Liang Jie committed suicide."
"Even Liang Jie couldn't control all the troops in Luoyang," Liu Xie said, and as he spoke, he picked out the golden words of wisdom from the pile of old papers, his eyes lighting up with enthusiasm: "At that time, the troops in Luoyang included the inner guards led by the eunuchs of the Middle Yellow Gate, the palace guards under the supervision of the Master of Glory, the soldiers responsible for palace city gates under the Minister of Defense, the patrolling troops led by the Inspector General in charge of Luoyang, the troops garrisoned at five schools in the Northern Army, the troops under the Inspector General, and soldiers at city gates under the City Gate Commandant. And these troops did not belong to any one command."
Liu Xie inhaled deeply: "But in the middle army of Emperor Huande in Luoyang, it is all one from top to bottom. When taken more closely, there are only a few people, such as the Commandant of the Central Army, the five academies, and a few other officials."
Not only did Cao Rui's expression change, but Liu Ye and Guan Qiujian were also all respectfully silent. After Liu Xie had finished speaking, he lowered his eyes to the ground.
The words of summary and heart's blood from the last emperor of the Great Han Dynasty, heard by Cao Rui, the second emperor of the Great Wei, were also quite shocking.
Since Liu Xie had spoken to this point, if Cao Rui still didn't understand, he could directly jump into the Yellow River.
A powerful minister controlling all the troops in the capital is a basic condition for actions like those of Cao Cao and Cao Pi.
Compared to previous eunuchs, Cao Cao not only obtained a disregard for imperial power during the chaotic times, but also gained full control over military power.
The royal power being disregarded and demystified was a bad precedent set by Wang Mang, which Cao Cao and Cao Pi learned from. Once the arrow is out, there is no turning back, and Cao Rui cannot change anything. He can only let it go.
The control of all military power in the capital was the core issue that Liu Xie and Cao Rui were talking about.
Less than ten years after the founding of the Great Wei, in order to ensure smooth command and control, or out of trust in the loyalty of his ministers, nearly all the military forces in the capital were concentrated in the central army.
During the reign of Emperor Huande, there were still military commanders such as the Middle Yellow Gate, the Inspector of the Palace, the Master of Guards, the Inspector of Rites, the Commandant of the Northern Army, and the Inspector of City Gates who could not be controlled by a single authority.
The emperor could easily order a specific or several military forces to be moved out alone with the help of emblems and envoys, while the rest of the troops could be completely unaware. However, during the process of replacing the Han Dynasty with Wei, the Middle Yellow Gate was eliminated, and the military power of the Inspector of Defense, Master of Guards, Inspector General in charge of patrolling in Luoyang, and Inspector General at city gates was taken away. The five academies in the Northern Army were merged into the central army, and the Inspector General at city gates became a supervisory position.
All military power was centralized in the central army.
In the year 426 of the Wei Dynasty's Taihe era, as the "advisor" of the emperor, Xiguai would naturally give orders to the Secretariat, which would then send orders to the Ministry of War to carry out those orders.
Then comes the question.
If, in the future, there were a powerful minister like Cao Cao who wanted to hold all the military power in Luoyang, they wouldn't need to place their trusted men in all these high-level positions such as the Middle Yellow Gate, Master of Guards, Inspector General in charge of Rites, Inspector General of Lianghua, and Inspector General at city gates. They would only need to send one person to become the Right Monitor of the Secretariat.
It is truly terrifying.
When the military power of the capital was highly integrated into one person's hands, once a powerful minister took control, the emperor had no countermeasures and could only use some surprise attacks or assassination methods.
There are too many such records in history, and they can't be counted one by one.
Everything has its pros and cons, and the disadvantage of the central army's high concentration of command is what Cao Rui realized in Liu Xie's words.
Bei Zhao, Sima Yi, Liu Ye, Man Chong, Wei Zhen, and so many wise men in the court could not point out this point to him. The height from which they stand is different, and the scenery they can see is completely different.
After all, he had been an emperor for several decades. In these years of solitude, longevity, and endurance, he had managed to distill some true gold.
Liu Xie's words had already made Cao Rui's visit worthwhile.
Cao Rui took a deep breath and also got up to bow to Liu Xie: "Today, when I came to Shanyang, I received enlightenment. Prince Shanyang, I offer you my respects."
Liu Xie was completely unprepared for Cao Rui's bow, and considering that Cao Rui had also used the word 'I' just now, restoring their status to that of sovereign and subject, Liu Xie hurriedly got up from his seat and bowed in return:
“The emperor has treated me with sincerity, and I will return the favor with sincerity. How can I accept the emperor's courtesy?”
Cao Rui nodded: "Please rise."
"Today, I came to Shanyang and had a long conversation with Shanyang. The sky is getting late, and I also have to return to camp for the night. I will be leaving for Luoyang early in the morning. Shanyang, do you have any requests? If they are not excessive, I can accept them."
Hearing this, Liu Xie stood up straight and bowed and said: "I am already fifty years old, with no other desires. I only wish to preserve the ancestral temple in Shanyang County and continue the lineage. Emperor Wen previously promised me, and today I have the opportunity to see Your Majesty's face. I hope to seek a favor from Your Majesty."
Cao Rui slightly nodded: "After I return to my camp, I will have the Secretariat draft an edict and issue a decree. The edict will be inscribed on metal and stone. The rites of the two kings and three filials are immutable through ten thousand generations. Shanyang's fief and ancestral temple will not change for generations."
"I thank Your Majesty for Your grace," Liu Xie said, kneeling immediately with relief: "Being able to receive Your Majesty's words is enough to allow me to spend the rest of my life in peace without any regrets."
"Get up." Cao Rui looked at Liu Xie's face. Although Liu Xie was only fifty years old, he looked pale and swollen around his eyes. Given that Liu Xie was also a skilled physician, the only plausible explanation was that he had carried too much weight on his mind.
"If Shanyang has any free time, I would also like to arrange a task for you to take on."
After Liu Xie stood up, his eyes slightly widened. This was already the sixth time Liu Xie had been surprised tonight: "Your Majesty, are you asking me to do tasks? As a suspect, what can I do for Your Majesty?"
"When I return to Luoyang, I will appoint you as the Academician of Congwen in Mount Guanshan, and dispatch four scholars to Shanyang County." Cao Rui looked at Liu Xie and smiled: "Shanyang first served as an emperor, and then retired after several decades. No one else could have had the perspective of looking at the end events of the Han Dynasty as Shanyang did."
"Please, Shanyang, would you be willing to record all your experiences here, for the sake of future generations to remember? We can call it the 'Record of Prince Shanyang.' Once this record is completed, I will come to Shanyang County's Zhuolu City to dine and feast with you."
Liu Xie stood there in place, his mind filled with thoughts. Cao Rui did not hurry, and only after a long time did Liu Xie bow and respond:
"Since the sixth year of Zhongping, when I was proclaimed Emperor by Dong Zhuo, until the first year of Yankang, in over thirty years, I have experienced many events and met various people. It is indeed necessary to record these things. Without Your Majesty's enlightenment, I never would have thought to generate such a desire."
"I understand Your Majesty's intention. Once Your Majesty sends someone, I will definitely complete this record as soon as possible and present it to Your Majesty for your inspection."
Cao Rui nodded: "This matter that I have entrusted to Shanyang is not an urgent one. Take your time to think about it and write it slowly, without the need to rush at once."
"For forty years, the home and country, eight thousand miles of land and rivers. Phoenix pavilions and dragon halls reach up to the Milky Way, jade trees and jade branches make a misty curtain. Write slowly, I am waiting for your masterpiece."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Liu Xie bowed respectfully, and then, as he watched Cao Rui's receding figure, he couldn't help but shed tears.
(Chapter completed)
