Wei Ni

An hour or so after Meng Kang and Guo Biao left, the wounded soldiers who were temporarily under custody were also allowed to return on their own.

And everyone had a look of gratitude on their face.

That was because Xiahou Hui was transferred to the Department of Agriculture in Luoyang and after seeing the huge sum of money sent by Guo Biao, he had two carts of money and grain sent to them to subsidize their household expenses.

Of course, these money and grain are not taken for free.

Zuo Junbo, who was promoted by Xiahou Hui, had a delicate heart under his eight-foot-tall, strong and rugged appearance. When distributing money and food to the wounded soldiers, he often gave them words of warning for not fighting back.

If you scold them, they are all people who have served in the Central Army, how can they not even know the most basic right and wrong. The emperor has issued an edict to investigate the families of scholars, and the powerful and noble families in Luoyang are busy returning the land. Why are you so stupid that you were deceived by the traitors to cause trouble?
Don’t you know that innocent people can be killed under the emperor’s scepter?
Don’t you know that in the military law of the Wei State, it has always been the policy to kill the wrong person rather than let him go?
It just means you are lucky!
I met the Central Guard General who was considerate of his comrades and treated his soldiers well!
If someone else had dealt with you, your heads would have been hung on the outer wall of the manor!
Finally, not long ago, the soldiers in the central army sang the words "Xiahou is Xiahou, Xiahou is not Xiahou", have you not heard it? Don't you know what it means? How dare you believe that someone with ulterior motives came to obstruct the implementation of the emperor's edict? If you are chopped off, you will die in vain, don't you understand?
The cursing warning made the wounded soldiers understand clearly: Xiahou Xian had a grudge against Xiahou Hui, so in order to find a reason to make things difficult for Xiahou Hui, he set up a trap for them to die!

It is conceivable what damage these people will bring to Xiahou Xian's reputation after they return.

After all, how could the soldiers who were still able to live in Luoyang after retreating due to injuries not have some close comrades or relatives and friends?

However, Xiahou Hui did not expect them to create much public opinion.

Those words of warning were actually Zuo Junbo's own initiative and he did it according to the situation.

In order to prevent Xiahou Xian from gaining a foothold in the army, Xiahou Hui placed his hopes on the 500 soldiers under Zuo Junbo. Many of the soldiers in service had connections with other battalions or units, and could also influence the generals at all levels of the central army.

"Alas! Generals die in a hundred battles, warriors return after ten years. I hope that after we are injured and retired in the future, we will not have the same experience as today."

Watching the backs of the wounded soldiers leaving, Zuo Junbo shook his head and sighed, and expressed his longing to the soldiers under his command.

This was Xiahou Hui's private advice.

And the only one.

In the face of facts, one sentence is enough to arouse the emotional resonance of the soldiers.

Since the Qin and Han Dynasties, wars have always meant the success of one general is the result of the sacrifice of thousands of soldiers.

As low-level soldiers, they have become accustomed to and accepted their fate as ants.

But after fighting and bleeding on the battlefield, winning merits for their superiors and returning injured, they are still used as pawns by their superiors to die. This is something they cannot accept in any way.

There has to be a bottom line for getting whatever you want, right?
Others have been exploiting you to the point of no return. Would you be willing to serve under such a person?
Huh~
As for the price Xiahou Hui made Guanjin Marquis Guo Biao pay, it was just to make him target Xiahou Xian's staff instead of Xiahou Xian himself.
The original intention was not as complicated as Meng Kang thought.

He really meant it. He just wanted to take advantage of the situation to kill the aide and clip Xiahou Xian's wings.

Meng Kang, who was marginalized in the court, did not understand the temperament of Emperor Cao Rui, but Xiahou Hui knew him all too well.

As for Emperor Cao Rui, you could say that he was arrogant, extravagant, and acted on impulse, but you cannot say that he was not kind to "his own people" or was not concerned about the continuation of the Wei Dynasty.

For example, when the Wei State saw the decline of royal generals and the lack of successors in Qiao and Pei, Cao Rui, out of concern for the continuation of the country, slightly relaxed the constraints on close royal family members.

In the past, due to the struggle for succession in Wei in his early years, Emperor Wen, Cao Pi, was extremely harsh on the close relatives of the royal family.

The fiefs granted to the princes were all temporary lands, in name only; and it was stipulated that the princes could not go hunting beyond thirty miles, and there were officials such as defense assistants and regents to monitor them, just like monitoring prisoners, making the lives of these princes and princes even more miserable than those of ordinary people.

But after Cao Rui ascended the throne, due to Cao Zhi's memorial and Yang Fu's advice, he changed the title of the princes to states and changed the rule that the princes were not allowed to enter the capital. For example, Cao Zhi, Cao Gun and Cao Biao had all visited the capital to pay homage, and the Prince of Yan Cao Yu was even left in Luoyang to participate in the affairs of the court.

These measures can be regarded as preparations to use the royal family as a barrier.

The situation of the close-branch royal family members who had been treated harshly had improved, and Cao Rui treated the distant-branch royal family members who had always been valued even more kindly.

Xiahou Hui himself is a good example.

In the past, Cao Rui had spoken out against Xiahou Xian several times and contradicted him in person, but he felt sorry for his talent and thought that he could become a pillar of the country in the future, so he was magnanimous and let bygones be bygones. Therefore, even if Xiahou Xian's little tricks were exposed by Guo Biao now, Cao Rui would not delve into it.

Besides, Xiahou Xian is not stupid.

As the most respected young man from Qiaopei who had accompanied the emperor for more than ten years, he knew Cao Rui's character very well. If he wanted to resolve this incident and gain Cao Rui's forgiveness, he only needed to knock on the gate of the palace, apologize and repent in tears, so that Cao Rui would remember their many years of friendship.

Therefore, Xiahou Hui only attacked the secondary chariot this time out of helplessness, not because he was unwilling to do more.

The development of things was roughly as Xiahou Hui expected.

The only difference was that before Xiahou Xian had the chance to go and knock on the palace gate, he was summoned into the palace by Emperor Cao Rui.

Cao Rui was so angry that he didn't want to wait any longer.

However, after the dispute between Guo Biao and Meng Kang over the confiscation of their property and small manor came to an end, the editor Shi Er, who also knew Cao Rui's character very well, did not ask his men to deliver the notes to the palace as he did in the past, but went back in person.

This matter concerns the two Xiahous.
Shi Er couldn't afford to offend any of them, and Emperor Cao Rui would definitely ask him for details in person.

The half hour that he spent with Mianjun that day was the most difficult and terrifying time in Shi Er's life.

Not only did he witness for the first time that Emperor Cao Rui lost control of his emotions and kicked the desks off the steps in rage, causing all kinds of memorials piled on the desks to be scattered all over the floor; it was also the first time that he worried that he might be silenced by the emperor in the next moment while he was present.

But, not bad.

The emperor quickly controlled his emotions.

Not only did he personally put the cases back in place and put away the memorials, he also asked in an unusually calm tone, "After the wounded soldiers have dispersed, will Zhiquan take any other measures? And why not bring over the Marquis of Guanjin's letter of apology as well?"

"Your Majesty, at that time, the Central Guard General returned to Luoyang to manage the Ministry of Agriculture, and there was nothing unusual going on."

Shi Er knelt on the ground, buried his head deeply, and tried to keep his voice steady. "When I entered the palace, I asked the Central Guard if there was any memorial for me to bring to the palace. The Central Guard replied, 'The investigation went smoothly, and there is no memorial for the time being.' As for Marquis Guanjin, he did not come to the palace to plead guilty. It should be because when the Central Guard put all the money he resold into the treasury, he said to him, 'The land and money have been recovered, and you are not responsible.'"

Cao Rui, who was packing up a memorial to the emperor, paused when he heard the words. A hint of surprise flashed across his eyes, and then he let out a deep and quiet sigh.

After a while, Cao Rui, who had packed up, asked his servants to bring him some wine. At first, he sipped slowly, staring blankly at the door of the East Hall, wondering what he was thinking. Slowly, he drank faster and faster, and finally he became impatient and slammed the wine jar in his hand heavily on the table.

"There is nothing to do here, you may leave the palace. Also, summon Xiahou Xian to the palace immediately."

"only."

Shi Er responded quickly as if he had been pardoned, bowed again, stood up, took small steps and walked out.

From the fact that the emperor addressed Xiahou Xian directly by his name, he could sense that the emperor's heart was filled with anger.

After a while, Xiahou Xian arrived.

His sweaty forehead and crooked hat showed that he was in a state of panic.

He already knew what had happened, and when Shi Er went to summon him, he emphasized the word "immediately" to let him know that Emperor Cao Rui was furious.

"I, the sinner, Yin Xian of Henan, bow down to you."

After being informed by the eunuch, he walked into the East Hall with his head lowered, knelt on the ground and apologized. However, before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by a flying wine jar.

"Shut up!"

With a loud shout, Cao Rui strode over and just raised his foot, but he took a deep breath and waved to the eunuchs waiting at the side of the palace gate.

After driving away the outsiders, he kicked Xiahou Xian on the shoulder.

The force was quite strong and Xiahou Xian felt a pain in his shoulder. He then fell to the ground involuntarily, and his heart, which had been hanging in the air, finally settled down.

The best outcome would be if Cao Rui was still willing to beat and scold him.

If he suffers a little physical pain and gets scolded, and sincerely apologizes and repents, the matter will be over.

On the contrary, it means that you have completely given up on him.

as predicted.

As he adjusted his posture in a very awkward manner and continued to bow his head to the ground, the Emperor Cao Rui's angry curses filled the empty East Hall.

"Your grandfather was the only person who could enter and leave Emperor Wu's bedroom at will. After the previous emperor replaced the Han Dynasty, he was the first general of the Wei Kingdom. After I ascended the throne, he was enshrined in the temple of Emperor Wu! Your father married a princess during Emperor Wu's time. During the previous emperor's time, he was stationed in Guanzhong. After I summoned him back to the court, he was promoted to General Zhendong! I ask you, has your family ever suffered any loss since Emperor Wu?"

"Answer me!"

"You entered the palace at a young age, and the late emperor appreciated you and sent you to serve in the Central Army. After I ascended the throne, I promoted you without hesitation, first as the Commander of the Central Army and then as the Governor of Henan! I ask you, aren't these two positions honorable enough? What made you get the position? Was it because of your achievements in conquering and suppressing rebellions or your achievements in governing the country with culture?"

"Answer me!"

"Now, our Wei Dynasty has Shu and Wu as disloyalties outside, and a lot of problems inside. The purpose of investigating the politics of the scholars is to enrich the national treasury for the needs of war. You, as a son of Qiaopei, do not think about benefiting the country, but actually interfere! Let me ask you, if the Wei Dynasty is in turmoil, what will happen to the Xiahou family? When the nest is overturned, will there be eggs left intact?"

"Answer me!"

"Emperor Wu started the business, and the Xiahou and Cao served him! As a descendant who enjoys the fruits of his labor, you should work hard and strive to become a pillar of the country in the future, so as not to disgrace the aspirations of your ancestors! I ask you, you have been in office for nearly twenty years, have you done anything that would make the late general feel happy in the underworld?"

"Answer me!"

"Xiahou Zhiquan and you are from the same clan. You are both the country's minions and generals that the Wei Dynasty can rely on in the future! You are older than him, more powerful than him, and more experienced than him. It would be fine if you didn't help him out of our clan friendship, but you are jealous and maliciously destroy him? I ask you, do you know the meaning of 'respect the elders and love the relatives'? Have you never even read the Book of Rites?"

"Answer me!"

"Xiahou Zhiquan was sent to Huainan when he was only a young man. Since then, he has never shied away from hardships and fought for the country without hesitation. He has stepped on the sword and stained his robe with blood! He defeated the Wu bandits in Huainan and killed Sun Shao, a general of the Wu clan, which changed the decadent mood of Huainan since the Battle of Shiting! When he joined the expedition against the Xianbei, he gave advice to Qin Lang and personally led the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry to attack Macheng at night, destroying the Xianbei reinforcements in one fell swoop, and facilitating the surrender of the bandit chieftain Ke Bineng! Later, he led his troops 4,000 miles to destroy the Gongsun clan, which had dominated Liaodong for more than 50 years, and eliminated the trouble in the north of Wei! I ask you, aren't all these achievements of Zhiquan enough for you to admire? If I send you to Huainan or Jingzhou, can you defeat the Wu bandits and return?"

"Answer me!"

"Xiahou is always Xiahou, Xiahou is not Xiahou! I ask you, why did the generals of the central army gossip about me in private? Do you think that I neglected the affairs of state and the military affairs, and even the descendants of Gaotang Marquis did not know about it?"

"Answer me!"

"I previously asked Minister Yang to take charge of the investigation of the accumulated malpractices of the scholar families, but the matter was left unsolved, causing me to lose face and damage my prestige. Now I am restarting the investigation, and I must succeed! But you let your staff secretly obstruct, inciting the injured soldiers to cause trouble! I ask you, in your heart, which is more important, your personal grudge with Zhiquan or my face and prestige?"

"Answer me!"

"Also, I want to ask you again. Clearing up the malpractices of the scholars and restoring the military farming system of Emperor Wu's time is a good thing for the country, but is it a special honor for the people in charge? If not, I may allocate a thousand infantry and cavalry to you and grant you the power to hold the imperial seal, and you can go and take back all the land that has been occupied by the Department of Agriculture in Hedong or Hongnong County, okay?"

"Answer me!"

Amid the angry shouts of "Answer me", Xiahou Xian shed tears and kowtowed repeatedly. His forehead was already black and blue, and bloodstains were faintly visible.

He had no excuse, and he had no way to make one.

And even if he had an excuse, Emperor Cao Rui didn't want to listen.

The reason why Cao Rui summoned him in a hurry was actually just to vent his anger.

So, when Cao Rui was tired of cursing and felt that he had vented all his anger, he finally returned to his seat. When he picked up the wine spoon and scooped a spoonful of wine to moisten his throat and quench his thirst, he remembered that he had just thrown the wine jar away, so he cursed with some boredom, "Why don't you pick up the wine jar? What are you doing lying there!"

ok~
When Xiahou Xian heard this, he knew that he had finally survived.

He wiped his face hastily, stood up, found the bronze wine jar, and carefully wiped off the non-existent dust with his sleeve. Then he respectfully held it in both hands and gently placed it on the table.

"That staff member must not be kept."

After drinking one or two glasses of wine, Cao Rui, who was completely relaxed, waved his hand and said, "Also, Yunjin, there won't be a next time. Go home." (End of this chapter)