Shuhan

Inside the Tai Chi Hall, the morning light was just breaking, and the golden sunlight filtered through the carved window lattices, sprinkling onto the smooth jade marble floor, casting patches of mottled light and shadows.

The atmosphere in the side hall was exceptionally peaceful and solemn. The air was filled with the faint scent of ambergris, which intertwined with the occasional bird calls outside the window to create a harmonious picture.

The imperial throne hangs high, crafted from golden nanmu wood, and covered with soft brocade cushions with colorful and intricate patterns, fully displaying the royal style.

At this moment, Liu Chan was sitting upright on the throne, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe with an embroidered five-clawed golden dragon on it. The dragon looked lifelike, as if it could take off into the sky at any time.

His face was slightly round, with a look of leisure and indifference between his eyebrows, but his eyes sometimes flashed with wisdom, revealing an unknown depth.

At breakfast time, the imperial table was filled with a variety of snacks and delicacies, which were dazzling to the eyes and fragrant to the nose.

There are not only traditional court delicacies, such as exquisite cakes and soft and glutinous porridge, but also soy milk, fried dough sticks and steamed dumplings that became widely known in later generations. These foods, which are very common in the eyes of modern people, seem particularly novel at this moment.

Liu Chan held the ivory chopsticks and tasted them one by one, with a satisfied smile on his face, as if at this moment, all his troubles were dissolved by this simple delicacy.

After the meal, Liu Chan wiped the corner of his mouth, then picked up the mountain of memorials beside him and began a day of state affairs.

As he read through the memorials one by one, his brows gradually furrowed, and his eyes revealed more and more dissatisfaction.

Among those memorials, some were urgent reports from the border areas requesting reinforcement of troops; some were performance reports from local officials reporting on the sufferings of the people; and even more were letters from many people pleading for mercy on behalf of Yichou.

Liu Chan's fingers tapped lightly on the table, making a dull sound.

The case of revenge against Iran involves a wide range of people.

And he did not seize the opportunity he gave to Duryodhana.

At this time, the eunuch Huang Hao came forward quietly. He was wearing a dark purple official uniform and a tall hat. He had a shrewd face and a clever look in his eyes.

Seeing that Liu Chan looked unhappy, he tactfully poured a cup of warm tea and gently placed it beside the imperial desk. He raised a flattering smile and said softly, "Your Majesty, who has angered Your Majesty again? Why not tell me and let me share your worries."

Liu Chan heard this and laughed, with a hint of helplessness and self-mockery in his smile. He looked up at Huang Hao and said, "Someone doesn't want to live anymore and dares to openly challenge my authority."

After that, he pointed to the pile of memorials, his eyes firm, "Go, ask the people from the Shangshutai to pick out all the petitions for Yichou. I want to review them personally."

Upon hearing this, Huang Hao immediately nodded and bowed, then turned around and gave orders.

Soon, several officials from the Secretariat came in hurriedly. Holding the lists, they checked carefully. It only took them about a quarter of an hour to pick out twenty-five letters of plea for Yi Chou from the mountain of memorials.

These memorials were neatly placed on the imperial desk, standing out from the crowd.

Liu Chan looked at these memorials with flickering eyes.

Among these people who begged for mercy, there were some who were genuinely concerned about Yichou, but most of them were probably motivated by considerations of their own interests.

He was silent for a moment, then said to Huang Hao: "Summon the Jingzhao Yin and Shaofu to come in. I want to discuss this matter with them personally."

Upon hearing this, Huang Hao immediately accepted the order, turned around and walked out of the side hall quickly. After a while, he hurried over with two important officials, Jingzhao Yin and Shaofu.

They were dressed in official uniforms and had serious expressions, and it was obvious that they knew the purpose of this summons.

Liu Chan looked at them with a serious expression and spoke slowly: "The Yi Chou case concerns the laws and disciplines of the country. I have made up my mind that he must be severely punished. But considering the feelings of my colleagues in the court, I am willing to listen to your opinions and see if there are other appropriate ways to deal with it."

Dong Yun had a gaunt face, and his brows revealed an unquestionable righteousness.

He stepped forward, clasped his hands in front of his chest, saluted to Liu Chan, and said in a firm and clear voice: "Your Majesty, Yi Chou's crime is indeed serious, his sins are obvious, and cannot be easily forgiven. However, the people in the empire who instigated behind the scenes are even more guilty, and they must not be let off easily. Du You, this person, contacted court officials and formed a faction. The disaster of party imprisonment is vivid in our memory. Your Majesty must investigate and guard against it!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Chan frowned and a sharp light flashed in his eyes.

"Then on what charge was Duryodhana arrested?"

Dong Yun had already made up his mind. He bowed slightly and said in a firm voice: "In the past few years, the Jingzhao Du family has been doing many evil things and has committed no less than ten murders. Now, they are even planning a rebellion. This crime is truly unforgivable!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Chan narrowed his eyes slightly, revealing a deep and complex light.

If the crime of treason is proven, not only will Du You himself be doomed to death, but the entire Jingzhao Du family will also be severely damaged and may even be unable to recover.

He did not want to see such consequences.

Of course, as the king of a country, he knows better that the laws and regulations of the country cannot be violated.

If he turned a blind eye to Du You's crimes, how could he face the people of the world and how could he maintain the stability and prosperity of the Han Dynasty?

Liu Chan was silent for a moment, and finally spoke: "If it is a crime of treason, then not only Du You, but also the Jingzhao Du family will be seriously injured. I think of the Jingzhao Du family's past merits. The crime is only between Du You and his three generations, so it is not appropriate to impose more punishment."

Dong Yun heard this and said, "Your Majesty is wise. This move can not only demonstrate the power of national law, but also take into account the feelings of court officials. It is really a strategy that has the best of both worlds."

Liu Chan looked at Jingzhao Yin Guan Xing who was standing beside him.

"Jingzhao Yin." Liu Chan's voice was low and powerful.

"You must take my edict immediately and arrest Du You and his family. Hand them over to the three courts for trial and execution at a later date!"

Guan Xing was shocked when he heard this. He immediately bowed his hands and said firmly, "I obey your order!"

On that day, in the Du family mansion.

At this moment, Du You was leaning on a carved pear wood chair, playing with a string of emerald green jade beads in his hand, his face filled with fantasies of future power and wealth.

His eyes flashed with greed and ambition, as if the whole world was under his control.

However, the tranquility was soon broken by a burst of hurried and heavy footsteps.

A group of soldiers from the Jingzhao Yin government office, wearing black armor and holding spears, rushed into the mansion like a storm, their faces full of seriousness and determination.

Duyou's face turned pale in an instant. He stood up suddenly, and the jade necklace in his hand slipped out of fear, making a crisp sound and scattered all over the ground.

"Who told you to arrest me? Who dares to arrest me?" Duyou's voice became sharp with anger. He tried to intimidate these soldiers with his former majesty, but this time, his authority seemed to have lost its former effectiveness.

At this moment, Guan Xing, wearing the official robes of Jingzhao Yin, rushed into the house in a hurry.

His official robe was embroidered with a golden tiger head, which sparkled brightly in the sun.

Guan Xing's eyes were as sharp as an eagle's. He strode up to Duyou and shouted in a loud voice: "I dare to catch you!"

As he spoke, Guan Xing took out a golden imperial edict from his arms and slowly unfolded it.

The imperial edict, written in vermilion ink, listed the emperor's will, including Duyou's crimes of forming cliques for personal gain, colluding with enemy countries, wreaking havoc in the country, and attempting to rebel.

With every sentence he recited, Duyou's face became paler, and his eyes flashed with fear and despair.

"It's unfair! It's unfair!" Duyou suddenly shouted, his voice full of reluctance and despair. He tried to struggle and to defend himself, but the soldiers had already tied him up and he couldn't move.

Guan Xing looked at Du You coldly and sneered. "I gave you a way to live, but you don't leave. Then you will die."

No matter how Duryodhana defends himself, it cannot change the fact that he committed a crime.

Guan Xing ignored Du You's cries and directly ordered the soldiers to take him to the Chang'an prison.

On the way to Chang'an Prison, Du You was closely escorted by soldiers, his face full of humiliation and anger.

He tried to look back at his mansion, but it was out of reach.

He knew that his wealth and glory had vanished at this moment.

Chang'an Prison was dark and damp, and the air was filled with a suffocating smell of mold.

Duryodhana was pushed into a small cell, his hands were chained tightly, his feet were bound tightly, he sat powerlessly on the cold ground, his eyes flashing with despair and helplessness.

At this moment, Duyou finally realized that his previous ambition and greed had pushed him into an abyss of no return.

He regretted and was afraid, but nothing could be undone.

perhaps
He should not have gone against His Majesty from the very beginning.

A month later, summer was in full swing in Luoyang City. Within the palace walls, flowers were in full bloom, but they could not conceal the intrigues and schemes going on deep in the palace.

Deep in the imperial palace, Cao Rui sat on the dragon throne, dressed in a luxurious dragon robe. The golden silk threads sparkled brightly in the sunlight. His face appeared particularly deep in the interweaving of light and shadow. His eyes held both the majesty of an emperor and a bit of imperceptible cunning.

At this time, a eunuch hurried into the hall, holding a secret report in his hand, and respectfully presented it to Cao Rui.

Cao Rui slowly unfolded the letter, which recorded the news that Du You was executed and that although Yi Chou was pardoned, he was not reused in the Han Kingdom.

An imperceptible smile gradually formed at the corner of his mouth, which contained both contempt for his opponent and pride in his own plan.

Cao Rui's eyes fell on the teacup beside him. It was a blue and white porcelain cup, its glaze as warm as jade, and the tea clear to the bottom. He gently turned the teacup as if he was enjoying a silent dance, but his heart was full of ups and downs.

"The aristocracy and imperial power are natural rivals." Cao Rui whispered to himself. Although his voice was light, it revealed an unquestionable firmness.

"Liu Gongsi, that man's desire for power is almost overflowing from his eyes. And our Great Wei can share power with the noble families. Throughout history, only our dynasty can do this. But our dynasty sharing power with the noble families will also become history in his hands."

He would not share the power of the empire.

Yi Chou's surrender to the Han Dynasty was a drama carefully planned by Cao Rui behind the scenes.

He wanted the Wei nobles to see with their own eyes that once the world fell into the hands of the Han, the power and status they had accumulated over generations would be like a candle in the wind, and could be extinguished at any time.

Cao Rui knew very well that only by making the gentry feel a real threat could he force them to unite more closely around him, fight against foreign enemies together, and safeguard the Wei Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, Sima Zhongda requested to lead troops to cultivate land. I wonder what your Majesty thinks?" The eunuch Bixie stepped forward at the right time, his voice low and respectful.

Upon hearing this, Cao Rui raised his eyebrows slightly, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

Sima Yi, this name brought him both admiration and vigilance.

Sima Yi had made great military achievements in suppressing the rebellions of Kebineng and Gongsun Yuan before. His ability and prestige were rising in the army, which forced Cao Rui to be cautious.

However, the current situation is delicate, the Han Kingdom is watching covetously, and the country needs stability. Sima Yi's talents should not be underestimated.

After thinking for a moment, Cao Rui slowly spoke in a steady and powerful voice: "I know Sima Yi's talent very well. As long as he does not hold military power, he will not pose a threat. Our Great Wei is in a troubled time, and talents are hard to come by. How can we sacrifice public interests for personal gain? Since he has this wish, I will allow him. But remember, you must send someone to secretly monitor him and do not let him have too much power."

When Bixie heard this, he was startled and quickly agreed.

Cao Rui put down his teacup, stood up, and looked through the window lattice at the vast world in the distance, his heart filled with endless passion and ambition.

"The general trend of the world is that after a long period of unity, there will be division, and after a long period of division, there will be unity. If my Great Wei wants to prosper forever, I must control the nobles, and at the same time, there must be checks and balances. The Yi Chou incident is a reminder to everyone that no matter who it is, if they want to challenge my authority, their end will not be good."

the other side.

In the capital of Wei State, the spring sunshine lazily sprinkles on the bluestone paved streets. The breeze blows by, bringing a hint of coolness, but also mixed with the prosperity and bustle unique to the capital.

In a corner of this city, there is an ancient and solemn mansion, which is Sima Yi's residence.

Outside the mansion, tall locust trees stand tall with dense branches and leaves, as if guarding the tranquility and mystery of this land.

The vermilion door was closed, with servants occasionally rushing in and out. It seemed extremely busy, yet orderly.

On this day, the atmosphere in the mansion was slightly different.

Sima Yi was wearing dark court robes and standing in the center of the main hall. His face was as calm as water and his eyes were deep, as if he could see into people's hearts.

Inside the hall, several landscape paintings are hung on the wall, and the brushwork reveals the owner's indifference and lofty ideals.

On the table, a cup of tea was emitting wisps of hot steam, forming a sharp contrast with the tense atmosphere.

Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps broke the silence in the room, and a eunuch dressed in gorgeous clothes hurried in, holding a roll of yellow silk in his hand. It was the emperor's edict.

The eunuch looked solemn, and finally fixed his gaze on Sima Yi. He said in a shrill voice: "General Sima, accept the order!"

Sima Yi leaned forward slightly, clasped his hands in front of his chest, and looked respectful and solemn.

As the eunuch read out in a rhythmic voice, the roll of yellow silk slowly unfolded, and every word was clear to the ear - the emperor appointed Sima Yi as the prime minister in charge of military farming affairs.

After hearing the imperial edict, Sima Yi immediately accepted the order and expressed his gratitude in a steady and powerful voice without any hesitation.

After sending away the eunuch who announced the decree, the expression on his face remained calm, as if all this was within his expectations.

However, beneath the calmness, Sima Yi had a deep thought.

He knew very well that as a member of the Wei family, he, like many of his colleagues, had long been feared by the emperor.

Military power, the power that once made him so powerful, is now out of reach.

But Sima Yi was not discouraged by this. Instead, he became more determined in his belief - even if he was not in the army, he could still influence the Wei court in his own way.

Sima Yi was alone in the study room of the mansion. Outside the window was a well-tended garden. The fragrance of flowers wafted in with the wind, but it could not calm the waves in his heart.

He walked slowly, his fingers gently stroking the ancient books on the bookshelf, his mind full of thoughts. The land reclamation in the world is a difficult task, which requires not only ensuring sufficient food, but also preventing corruption among local officials, and balancing the forces of all parties to ensure the stability of the country.

This is a tough job, but it is also a good opportunity to extend power to local areas.

No matter what, having something to do is better than sitting idle at home. (End of this chapter)