Wei Ni

Changping Marquis Mansion.

After reading the handwritten letter, Cao Zhao passed it to He Zeng and Bi Gui with a puzzled look on his face, "Ying Kao, Zhao Xian, please take a look at this letter from Cao Zhaobo. Does he mean that he wants to renew our old friendship?"

Cao Shuang's handwriting consisted of only two or three words, and the two of them finished reading it in just a glance.

After exchanging glances, He Zeng was the first to speak up and answer, "That should be the case. Besides, Zhao Bo is a self-disciplined person, and Chang Si had no previous disagreements with him."

"As we have discussed before, he cannot win against Changsi!"

Bi Gui's words were more explicit and straightforward. "He wrote this letter today because he knows that he has no hope. He is worried that he will be angry about what happened now after returning from Liaodong. So he came to curry favor and try to restore the old friendship. Humph, this is no different from the behavior of a villain!"

The words were like those of a nagging woman, which made Cao Zhao frown without leaving a trace.

Although he knew that what Bi Gui said was very right, now they were discussing something, so if they had any opinions or suggestions, they should just say them directly. If they didn't have any, they shouldn't make a fuss. What's the point of venting everyone's emotions?

Of course, he wouldn't criticize.

It was only after He Zeng's repeated persuasion that Bi Gui chose to follow him at the beginning of this year.

It's not yet tamed, so it still needs to be treated with courtesy.

He also knew that Bi Gui's sudden resentment was mainly because he had been excluded by people who were attached to Cao Shuang, such as He Yan, Deng Yang and Li Sheng.

When the Fuhua case broke out, Bi Gui was sent to Bingzhou to take up a post early, thus avoiding imprisonment, because he was an old friend of Emperor Cao Rui.

At that time, He Yan, Deng Yang and others felt that Bi Gui was no longer the same kind of person.

We can't share weal and woe.

When Bi Gui returned from office after being impeached by Jiang Ji, he was disliked by Emperor Cao Rui and could not be reinstated for a long time, which was tantamount to being imprisoned. Naturally, they could not help but gloat over his misfortune. When Bi Gui took the initiative to approach them, they rejected him with sarcasm.

This is why Bi Gui chose to rely on Cao Zhao.

Naturally, because of his hatred for He Yan and others, he also had some resentment towards Cao Shuang.

This is what Cao Zhao was worried about.

He was willing to renew his old friendship with Cao Shuang, even if it was only on the surface.

Just as He Zeng said just now, he and Cao Shuang did not have any hatred towards each other, but there were just some small misunderstandings.

How to accept Cao Shuang's goodwill and prevent Bi Gui from becoming alienated?
Cao Zhao, who wanted to have his cake and eat it too, was thinking silently in his heart.

They must have been together for so long that they had a tacit understanding. Seeing Cao Zhao speechless for a long time, He Zeng suddenly said, "In my opinion, since Cao Zhaobo has given you a plum, Changsi should also return it with a peach."

At this point, he raised his hand to signal Bi Gui to calm down, and then continued, "If the jade has a crack, no matter how much it is carved and polished, it will be useless. The old friendship between Cao Zhaobo and Changsi is like this. What I am worried about is that Changsi will go thousands of miles away, while Cao Zhaobo is still by your majesty's side. Rather than making enemies, it is better to pretend to be friendly with him first."

Cao Zhao remained silent.

The approval in his eyes already showed his decision.

"Ugh!"

Bi Gui, who was also silent for a long time, finally sighed, "I am not a person who cannot distinguish between benefits and losses. Ying Kao's worries are not unreasonable, and Chang Si should take them into consideration. In addition, in order to establish our achievements in Liaodong, we also need to take Xiahou Zhiquan into consideration."

"Childhood?"

Cao Zhao raised his eyebrows, slightly surprised, and said without thinking, "Mr. Zhao may not know that there is no grudge between me and Zhiquan, and my brother Desi and Zhiquan got along quite well when we worked together in Huainan before."

In response to this, He Zeng narrowed his eyes, poured himself a drink and pretended that he had not listened carefully.

Bi Gui lowered his head slightly and lowered his eyelids to avoid the contempt in his eyes being discovered.

It had been some years since he was dismissed from his post and returned to Luoyang. He had also been bullied by He Yan, Deng Yang and others for a long time. The reason why he accepted He Zeng's unremitting persuasion and chose to attach himself to Cao Zhao this year was because he looked down on Cao Zhao.

I feel that it would be difficult to accomplish anything with his talent and intelligence.

No grudges?

Having been in such a high position for such a long time, how could he still be so naive?

All the clan members of Qiaopei eat meat from the same pot. Will Xiahou Hui allow you to eat more just because he has no grudge against you?

Don't forget, it is Xiahou Ba who is guarding the four counties of Liaodong now!
You are now petitioning the Emperor to be allowed to go out and serve as Guanqiu Jian's deputy, which is equivalent to stealing Xiahou Ba's meat!

In a moment, Bi Gui's mind was filled with a thousand thoughts and was pent up in his chest.

But he had already boarded the ship and was looking forward to the ship taking him on a long voyage, so he suppressed his contempt and carefully analyzed the reasons to Cao Zhao.

Immediately, he made a plan, "Zhi Quan has always refused requests. To avoid making things worse, I think Chang Si can gather friendly people in the court to support Xiahou Zhong Quan's request to lead troops to attack Han Wei." "This is a very good move!"

Cao Zhao, who finally understood, clapped his hands and praised, his face beaming with joy, "Zhaoxian's insightful views are like the sun shining through the clouds, and my mind is suddenly enlightened! Although I am dull, with Yingkao and Zhaoxian's guidance, there is no need to worry about not achieving great things!"

According to the ancient system, the court was held every five days.

Emperor Cao Rui, who no longer followed the ancient system after the fall of Gongsun of Liaodong, rarely held court in the Taiji Main Hall today, making the ministers and officials appear unusually active.

Various reports came in one after another, including reports on the autumn harvest in various states and counties, the upcoming year-end imperial examination, reports on the resettlement of the people in the four states that had previously suffered from floods, preparations for winter clothing for the garrisons in various places, and so on. You made your reports and I took my turn.

Even the twelve pearl and jade tassels could not hide the impatience in Emperor Cao Rui's eyes.

It’s not that he neglected his government affairs.

Instead, major military and national affairs were often decided by convening a few people in the East Hall, and only minor and unimportant matters were discussed with the public.

Or in other words, the so-called listening to the morning sun was born for the purpose of announcing decisions.

But today is a little different.

Perhaps Emperor Cao Rui had given instructions in advance, for the Minister of the Central Secretariat Sun Zi actually announced in the palace the military intelligence that Guanqiu Jian had conveyed yesterday.

It is a military report on the war that took place in Xuantu County.

After Koguryo and Wu captured Xi'anping County, they turned their troops to the Xiaoliaoshui (Hunshui) River Valley, intending to attack Xuantu County. However, because Wu's other two armies did not achieve their expectations and could not attract the attention of Liaodong troops, Wei Gong led his troops out and approached Xigaima County and Goguryeo County.

Wang Qi, the governor of Xuantu, led his troops to resist them, and suffered casualties on the battlefield.

When the cavalry of Zhang Hu and Qian Hong sent by Guanqiu Jian arrived, they patrolled nearby and waited for an opportunity to attack, making Goguryeo feel uneasy and afraid to attack the county again. The two sides began to confront each other. Later, when the news that Han Ye was defeated and the dangers of Lelang and Daifang counties were resolved came, Wei Gong withdrew his troops and returned, saying that the first opportunity was lost and it was useless to fight again.

The war in Liaodong was thus ended.

When Sun Zi finished relaying the military report, there was no need for Emperor Cao Rui to speak out and set the tone, so many ministers came forward and advised that troops should be sent to Goguryeo and Han Ye to pacify the border and protect the people.

Moreover, everyone is indignant and righteous, and their reasons are similar.

It is probably because it is difficult to conquer the rebellious Wu Kingdom now, but the Wei Kingdom is not something that can be provoked by small countries like Goguryeo and Han Ye!
Now they have invaded without any reason. If we do not raise an army to fight them, I am afraid that the people in the court and the public will criticize the emperor and his ministers, and they will also be nailed to the pillar of shame in the history of future generations.

There were also some quick-witted people who took the opportunity to mention Guanqiu Jian's previous petition for war and suggested that the emperor should accept it.

This gave Cao Zhao and others an opportunity.

They immediately stepped forward and advised the emperor to approve Xiahou Ba's request for battle.

This also made the court officials look at him in awe - since when did Xiahou Hui and Cao Zhao have such a good relationship? !
After a while, their doubts turned into admiration: they never expected that Cao Zhao, who usually accompanied the emperor in his entertainment, was actually a man of great talent and well versed in political tactics!
Because soon, Emperor Cao Rui accepted the advice and followed the wishes of his ministers, and decided to announce to the world that he would send troops to attack Goguryeo and Han Ye to demonstrate the country's prestige.

Guanqiu Jian and Xiahou Ba's requests for battle were both approved.

Moreover, he sent envoys back with imperial seals, granting them the power to act at their discretion, and ordering each of them to lead the troops under his command to wait for the right time to suppress the rebellion.

The difference is that Guanqiu Jian could recruit the surrendered Wuhuan and Xianbei tribes to help in the war, and Cao Zhao, as a deputy, led a thousand infantry and cavalry from the Luoyang central army to obey his orders; while on Xiahou Ba's side, the court selected thousands of soldiers and horses from Qingzhou and sent them across the sea.

The most eye-catching person was Tian Yu, who had just returned to the capital Luoyang a few days ago.

The new post of Protector of Haidong made all the officials realize that the emperor was determined to incorporate the lands of Goguryeo and Hanye into the territory of Wei. It also meant that the people who followed Guanqiu Jian and Xiahou Ba this time were going to participate in a war to destroy a country and expand the territory!

No wonder, when the Minister of the Central Secretariat Sun Zi read out the Liaodong battle report, his face flushed and his eyes were burning!
He saw the dawn of his second son Sun Fengfeng's title of Marquis~
I finally understood why so many court officials who were friendly with Cao Zhao unanimously supported Xiahou Ba's proposal to go to war.

He did that so that he could live in harmony with Xiahou Ba and each of them could get what they wanted!
Cao Shuang, who was also in the hall, was stunned when he heard Emperor Cao Rui's arbitrary decision to establish the Haidong Protectorate. Even his eyes turned red in an instant.

Various emotions such as regret, jealousy, unwillingness, and resentment were mixed in his heart, making him feel it difficult to breathe.

If he had known this would be the case, he would have asked the emperor for the opportunity to serve as Guanqiu Jian's deputy in the East Hall that day, even if his tears had dried up and his head had been bruised!
How stupid~
I actually handed over this achievement that will go down in history to Cao Zhao
How hateful!

Your Majesty actually gave such an opportunity to Cao Zhao alone, and didn't even bother to give me a single cent.
Cao Shuang was so distracted that he didn't even notice the court was over until the guards came to remind him. He left the Taiji Hall in despair. With hope and resentment, he suddenly felt that he had been on duty for too many consecutive days and should go home to rest for a few days and talk to Xiahou Xuan.

It is no coincidence.

After the court was adjourned, the Minister of the Central Secretariat Liu Fang also returned to his office feeling frustrated.

He was also stunned by the news that the emperor announced the establishment of the Haidong Protectorate.

What made him even more unbelievable was that Sun Zi, who had shared weal and woe with him and supported each other for nearly twenty years, had just played a tacit double act with the emperor.

Did he already know this? (End of this chapter)