Wei Ni

"The Qiang bandits are not a threat; we should be prepared for the Shu troops."

These are the words Xiahou Hui noted in the side notes of Xu Miao's memorial, and also the reason why Emperor Cao Rui summoned him to the palace.

Because now, there is a general consensus in the Wei court and among the people that the Shu Kingdom, which had previously frequently waged war, has become impoverished and weak, and there is no possibility of it launching an invasion in the next few years.

Therefore, when Xiahou Hui arrived at the Nine Dragons Side Hall by imperial decree, he saw Emperor Cao Rui feasting.

Besides General Cao Shuang, who was of course present, there were also Prince Yan Cao Yu, He Yan, He Zeng, and even Xiahou Xian, the Governor of Henan. The group toasted each other, enjoying themselves immensely, with dancers moving gracefully among them, and the melodious sounds of string and wind instruments filling the hall.

After Xiahou Hui paid his respects and took his seat, Emperor Cao Rui, whose face was slightly flushed, even propped his chin on his elbow and raised his wine cup, asking, "Now the rebellious Shu is already in decline! Why does Zhi Quan still say that Shu troops will come to invade? Moreover, Zhi Quan also knows that the rebellion of the Qiang and Hu is not a problem, and it can be said that the rebellious Shu has no opportunity to take advantage of. How can he do something without any merit?"

Such a nonchalant and subtly mocking tone, along with the act of inquiring about state affairs during a banquet with favored ministers, immediately irritated Xiahou Hui.

Has the smooth progress of the war in Haidong made you so happy that you've gone mad?
With the four commanderies of Liaodong in hand, which dynasty couldn't crush Goguryeo, Yemaek, and the Three Hans like a dwarf? How could they have fallen so low, like a foolish ruler consulting on state affairs during a banquet!

Immediately, Xiahou Hui, furious at his son's incompetence, rose from his seat, bowed deeply, and loudly begged for forgiveness, "Your Majesty is wise! It was your foolishness, Xiahou Hui, who spoke recklessly about state affairs! I deserve death. I deserve death."

uh~
The loud and clear voice of apology caused the laughter of those at the banquet to pause.

Even Emperor Cao Rui was taken aback.

But he quickly came to his senses, his face first showing embarrassment and anger, then seeing the terrified expressions of the dancers huddled in the corner, he realized something, withdrew his gaze from Xiahou Hui, and waved his hand, "Zhiquan, go to the Lingzhi Pool first."

"only."

After responding, Xiahou Hui got up and strode away.

The banquet, which he had spoiled, naturally could not continue.

Even though He Yan and He Zeng tried their best to talk and laugh, and the singing and dancing were once again enchanting, they could not melt away the gloom on Cao Rui's face.

Therefore, about a quarter of an hour after Xiahou Hui left, Emperor Cao Rui ended the banquet and, accompanied by Prince Yan Cao Yu, led by Cao Shuang and his guards, went to Lingzhi Pond.

Xiahou Hui, who was waiting there, had already calmed down under the gentle autumn breeze.

However, he showed no remorse for having angered the emperor.

Although he had deliberately endured and acted submissively for so long, it was a pity that all his efforts had been wasted now; however, his public image could not be ruined! If he did not show any disrespect even in this situation, then the emperor might look back on this day and think that he had changed—that Cao Rui was merely unrestrained and unconventional, not that he had become muddleheaded.

Therefore, he is currently considering his words, figuring out how to give each other a way out.

Cao Rui was very concerned about his reputation.
Moreover, as the emperor, he could disregard the facts and directly discuss right and wrong.
The same is true.

Perhaps due to the effects of the poison, Cao Rui strode over and, before even sitting down, pointed at Xiahou Hui and berated him, "The victory report from Haidong has arrived, and I am delighted. What is wrong with holding a banquet to celebrate in my leisure time? If you do not enjoy banquets and do not wish to discuss military matters in front of others, you can simply resign. I am not a foolish ruler and will grant your request. Why do you thwart my mood in public? Is this not the way of a subject?"

Are you the one feeling wronged?
When he was confined to his residence by Emperor Wen of Han (Cao Pi) to study in his early years, did he not read the saying, "The ruler treats his ministers with propriety, and the ministers serve their ruler with loyalty"?
Despite being mentally prepared, Xiahou Huifu could not suppress the anger that filled his stomach upon hearing the news, and thus disregarded his earlier consideration of giving each other a way out.

Instead of offering words of apology and remorse as required by etiquette, he took a deep breath before raising his head and bowing to answer, his voice still clear and resonant, showing no fear whatsoever. "Your Majesty," he said, "it is because I, your subject Hui, have read history and have never seen a monarch asking his subjects about matters of state while entertainers and musicians were present. Moreover, I have heard the sayings, 'When the ruler is wise, the ministers are upright; when the ruler is foolish, the ministers are sycophantic,' and 'A wise ruler does not dislike earnest advice to broaden his understanding, and a loyal minister does not shy away from severe punishment to offer honest advice.' I, Hui, deeply agree with these sayings. Therefore, my way as a subject is to serve the ruler with loyalty and integrity, and I know nothing else."

"you!"

"presumptuous!"

Cao Rui, already slightly drunk, had a flushed face, his chest heaving rapidly, and even his hand pointing at Xiahou Hui was trembling.

Prince Cao Yu of Yan stood to the side, head bowed and breathless, his heart filled with helplessness.

He couldn't understand why Xiahou Hui, who was usually quite quick-witted, was acting so tactlessly today.

Emperor Cao Rui clearly realized his rudeness and had already canceled the banquet to come to Lingzhi Pond to discuss matters. If Xiahou Hui had simply bowed his head and admitted his mistake, the awkwardness between them could have been resolved. Why did he insist on being so stubborn?
Do you really expect the emperor to admit his mistake in person?

Cao Shuang, who was guarding not far away, squinted and peeked over, his hands trembling slightly.

It wasn't that he was worried about being caught in the crossfire of the enraged emperor, but rather that he was overwhelmed with excitement. Because at that moment, his mind was screaming: "Your Majesty, issue the order immediately! Send Xiahou Hui to the Court of Justice for the crime of disrespect!"
However, it's a pity.

Cao Rui stared fiercely at Xiahou Hui for a long while, but finally turned around, sat down, and closed his eyes to rest.

This caused Cao Shuang, who had been secretly glancing at Cao Shuang, to widen his eyes and slightly open his mouth in an instant.

No! What do you mean by closing your eyes to rest?
The wrath of the emperor can cause millions of corpses to lie in wait and blood to flow for thousands of miles!

Just because of the saying "A wise ruler has upright ministers, a foolish ruler has treacherous ministers," you're abandoning your authority and letting Xiahou Hui go?!

Cao Shuang could hardly believe it, but he had no choice but to believe it.

Since Prince Cao Yu of Yan saw that the emperor was sitting there sulking, he could roughly guess that the emperor had no intention of punishing him, so he carefully considered his words in an attempt to smooth things over.

Unfortunately, he was in an extremely awkward situation due to this coincidence.

He also wanted to take this opportunity to repay the favor Xiahou Hui had previously shown him regarding the potential dangers of the Five Pecks of Rice sect.

“Your Majesty, a country with upright ministers is a blessing to the nation. Although Zhiquan’s words were inappropriate, they stemmed from his loyal and honest character. State affairs are of utmost importance. Your Majesty should first inquire why the Shu troops are about to be dispatched. If Zhiquan’s words are reasonable, then let his merits outweigh his faults; if he is merely spreading alarmist rumors, then Your Majesty can punish him later.”

He spoke so softly.

Cao Shuang, who was listening intently outside, heard everything clearly and felt indignant and grief-stricken.

He knew that the emperor would definitely listen to the advice of Prince Yan, Cao Yu, and suddenly felt that his past years of working diligently in the palace and serving the emperor with respect and humility were a joke!
After all, Xiahou Hui, who frequently offended the emperor, held a more significant place in Emperor Cao Rui's heart.

In fact, Cao Shuang's guess was correct.

From "later generations mourned him" to "feared water like a tiger," Cao Rui had long been accustomed to Xiahou Hui's frequent outspokenness and had no intention of imprisoning or punishing him. Or rather, since his ascension to the throne, his magnanimity in tolerating honest advice had been widely praised in the court and among the people.

Therefore, after King Cao Yu of Yan finished speaking, he also slightly opened his eyes and turned his head to look at Xiahou Hui.

"Your Majesty, I have spoken without thinking and offended you. I deserve to die."

Xiahou Hui, taking advantage of the situation, readily admitted his mistake.

Now that you've said all you can say, it's time to admit your mistake.

"Shuzi!"

After cursing angrily, Emperor Cao Rui closed his eyes again to rest, and uttered two words, "Speak."

"only!"

Upon hearing this, Xiahou Hui straightened up and first nodded to King Cao Yu of Yan to his side before loudly pouring out all his thoughts.

"The Qiang rebellion had plagued the previous dynasty for over a century, a fact well understood by both Emperor Wu and Emperor Wen. Emperor Wu, through his father's victories in Guanzhong, and Emperor Wen, through the late Grand Marshal's great victories in Hexi, ensured that Yong and Liang were no longer troubled by Qiang and Hu disturbances. This is the basis for my wise words that 'the Qiang bandits are not a cause for concern.' And I suggest preparing for the deployment of Shu troops."

"Indeed, as Your Majesty has said, the rebellious Shu is already in decline, and the mere one or two Qiang and Hu tribes causing trouble do not provide the Shu army with any opportunity to take advantage of. Sending troops would be futile. However, I, Hui, still dare to assert that the rebellious Shu's dispatch of troops is not for the sake of personal gain, but rather for the purpose of preparing for the future!"

"The rebellious Shu has defied the Mandate of Heaven and usurped the title of the former dynasty, making it a mortal enemy of our Wei dynasty. Therefore, although it is now weak, it will not sit idly by and wait for its demise, but will fight like a cornered beast. Since the time of Emperor Wen, the rebellious Shu and the treacherous Wu have allied to resist the might of our nation, but so far, due to their geographical ties, they have never joined forces to launch a simultaneous invasion. In other words, the rebellious Shu cannot rely on the strength of the treacherous Wu. Moreover, Shu is a small country, merely a province. With little land and a small population, it has been militarily aggressive and has suffered repeated defeats, resulting in poverty, weakness, and demoralization. If it were to launch another invasion of our nation in the future, it would inevitably seek external assistance due to its own inadequacy."

"The only forces capable of this are the Qiang and Hu tribes!"

"When Your Majesty ascended the throne, the rebellious Shu launched an invasion, and the three prefectures of Longyou all rebelled. This shows that there are many people in the Guanzhong region who are prone to rebellion, let alone the Qiang and Hu tribes who have been causing trouble for the previous dynasty for a hundred years. Therefore, I, your humble servant Hui, believe that this time, when the Qiang tribe of Shaodang rebels, the Shu army, upon learning of the news, will still send troops to respond from afar, even if they know there is no benefit to be gained. This is because what the rebellious Shu wants is to show sincerity to the Qiang and Hu tribes, and to gain favor and trust in Longyou, so that they can use their strength when they launch an invasion in the future!"

There was a long silence by the Lingzhi Pond.

Emperor Cao Rui still had his eyes closed, but the slight drooping of his head and the gesture of frowning and stroking his beard showed that he had listened and was thinking of a solution.

"While it offers some insight, it is still merely speculation."

After a short while, he opened his eyes and said in a calm tone, "Whether what you say is true or not, we will have to wait for news from Yongliang to come back. I will make a note of your offense today. If the Shu troops do not come out this year, I will punish you."

After saying this, he got up and prepared to leave without waiting for Xiahou Hui's reply.

"Your Majesty, I am filled with fear and will return home to await punishment."

Xiahou Hui immediately stood up, bowed his head, and stood aside respectfully to see him off.

But after Cao Rui had walked only ten steps or so, he suddenly remembered something and quickly caught up with him, bowing and asking, "Your Majesty, I, your subject Hui, have another matter to report." (End of Chapter)