Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

On the first day of October, the emperor returned to Shouchun.

The Huai River was calm in winter, and floating bridges had been built on both sides of Shouchun City. The ministers and the Shangshu, Shizhong and other attendants who came to welcome the emperor gathered on the north bank of the Huai River.

According to the experiments of Ma Jun, the chief architect, floating bridges were successfully built across the Yellow River north of Luoyang, across the Huai River north of Shouchun, and between Xiangyang and Fancheng. They were more stable and faster than the old floating bridges. This was also a byproduct of the rapid development of shipbuilding technology in the Wei Dynasty since the fifth year of Taihe.

Ma Jun once suggested that they might consider building a floating bridge across the Yangtze River as a means of advancing southward to attack Wu in the future. However, his proposal was rejected by the Cabinet and the Privy Council before it was submitted to the emperor.

The reasons for the rejection were very simple. Either it was said that the matter was not stable, or there were too many variables, or the pontoon bridge could only serve as a sneak attack. If the Wu army reacted, several warships could block the pontoon bridge.

In the welcoming team, the four cabinet ministers and Minister of State Chen Qun were still standing at the front. Among the five people, only the oldest Dong Zhao got a chair, and the rest of them stood.

Cao Zhen turned to look at Dong Zhao beside him and asked in a low voice: "Why is Mr. Dong wearing winter clothes?"

Dong Zhao said slowly: "It's really cold, I am not as good as you young people, I can live longer if I wear more clothes."

Cao Zhen chuckled: "That's right, I'm still a young man in front of Mr. Dong."

Dong Zhao sat on the chair and stretched his legs. He also hammered his knees with his hands. "Shouchun's weather is wet and cold, it's really not as cold as Luoyang. As soon as September came, my waist, back, and legs all started to ache. I really don't know how to get through this winter."

Cao Zhen had led the army for many years, so naturally he had some hidden illnesses, and every winter he had a hard time. In fact, for most of the ministers of the Wei Dynasty, the most suitable area to live in was still the Luoyang-Yecheng area. If it was a little cold, they could keep warm, and they wouldn't have to endure the bitter cold and dampness in Shouchun.

Cao Zhen also sighed softly: "Don't say that Lord Dong is suffering, I am not feeling well either. I have some tiger bones in my house, which were given to Your Majesty by Duan Zhao from Youzhou and Your Majesty gave them to me. Burning the tiger bones and then boiling them in water to drink is the best way to drive away the cold, Lord Dong, would you like some?"

"I am old and weak, and I cannot afford such strong medicinal herbs." Dong Zhao shook his head: "General, please keep them for yourself."

Cao Zhen nodded: "Well, I will ask Your Majesty later when he will return to Luoyang. It is not good to stay in Shouchun all the time."

"Yeah." Dong Zhao nodded.

After waiting for more than half an hour, the emperor finally arrived. As usual, the emperor first asked questions to the ministers. After a few pleasantries, Cao Zhen asked:
"Your Majesty, I have a question. When will Your Majesty return to Luoyang?"

Cao Rui smiled and replied: "Why, General, are you homesick?"

"No, no." Cao Zhen pointed at Dong Zhao beside him and said, "Your Majesty, please see Mr. Dong. He has put on his winter clothes. Shouchun is really wet and cold this winter. To be honest, I am also feeling a little uncomfortable."

Cao Rui looked up at the others and asked, "Are Situ and Sikong all right? How is Chen Qing?"

"I have always been in good health, Your Majesty." Sima Yi bowed.

"I am fine, but my health has gradually deteriorated in recent years," Chen Qun replied.

Chen Jiao bowed and said, "Thanks to your majesty, although I am not feeling well, I can still do my work without any hindrance."

Cao Rui nodded, then turned to look at Cao Zhen: "Shouchun is indeed wetter and colder than Luoyang. But I am the emperor of Wei, and you are important ministers of Wei, not important ministers of Luoyang. If the environment in Shouchun is not suitable, then we can use some methods to make it more comfortable." "When I went to Liaodong a few years ago, I saw the way Liaodong houses kept warm in winter. Generally speaking, a chimney was built in the house with bricks, and firewood was burned here. The hot air passed through the chimney and heated up the house, which can avoid severe cold and dampness."

"I will ask a cavalry officer to go and tell Bei Yan to bring some Liaodong soldiers who are capable of doing this, and put this thing in the cabinet duty room, Lord Dong's bedroom, and the general's bedroom, and there will be no danger."

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty." Dong Zhao and Cao Zhen thought that the emperor would roughly tell them the time of his next return to Luoyang, or perhaps comfort them a little, or reward them with some warm clothes. However, they did not expect that he would fundamentally change their daily living environment. This could be considered an alternative and unique approach, so the two had no choice but to accept his request.

Cao Rui nodded, looking through the people in front of him and towards Lu Xun who was standing in the back row.

"Boyan, come to the front and get closer to me." Cao Rui waved his hand.

"Yes, sir." Lu Xun walked around the five people, stood beside Chen Qun, and bowed.

"Come closer." Cao Rui waved again: "I haven't seen you for several years, but you haven't changed much."

Lu Xun cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty is even more heroic than before!"

Cao Rui laughed a few times and asked again, "How is Princess Jinxiang?"

Lu Xun said: "Your Majesty, please take care of her. The princess has adapted to the environment of Qishan City and lives quite comfortably there, which is very good."

"This is my oversight." Cao Rui said, "I only thought about letting you come to Shouchun, but forgot to arrange for the princess to return to Luoyang. This is really wrong. Boyan, write a private letter to the princess and ask her to return to Luoyang. I will tell the Shaofu later and find a mansion for you in Luozhong."

"I thank Your Majesty for the reward." Lu Xun bowed.

Lu Xun is now the emperor's brother-in-law, but in terms of age, he seems to be a generation younger than the emperor. However, the emperor always calls Lu Xun "Bo Yan", as if he is older than Lu Xun. Lu Xun would sigh at this natural confidence and kingly demeanor every time he met the emperor.

Cao Rui sighed and patted Lu Xun's arm: "I recalled you from Liangzhou to Shouchun. In the final analysis, it was also to give you a chance for revenge. I also know about the affairs of Boyan's family. You are my brother-in-law, and your brother is like my brother. I also feel something about this matter."

"I promise you today, no matter who killed your brother, I promise you can kill him one day."

Lu Xun's eyes were slightly red, and he bowed down: "If it weren't for your majesty's grace and power, how could my clan be exiled? It is estimated that none of them would have been exiled by now. Thank you, your majesty, for promising me to avenge my grievances in the future!"

"Let's go, let's go." Cao Rui said slowly, "We must look forward to the future. I have decided to attack Wu the year after next, and the day is getting closer. There will always be a chance to do whatever you want. I will entrust my 50,000 navy to you, Boyan, don't let me down!"

"Don't worry, Your Majesty!" Lu Xun answered firmly.

The matter of welcoming the emperor is always complicated. Although Cao Rui has made this clear in recent years, he no longer insists on keeping it simple, but maintains this point. According to Wang Su, etiquette cannot be abolished. Although complicated etiquette will consume some money, the relationship between the monarch and his subjects is in it. For the court and state affairs, overall, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

After returning to the palace, Cao Rui maintained his relationships with Guo Yao and Yang Huiyu respectively. After not seeing each other for several months, they were in love again. The feelings in between were indescribable.

The next morning, more than ten ministers sat on both sides of the study in Shouchun Palace. Four cabinet ministers, Minister of Civil Affairs Chen Qun, General Lu Xun, Privy Councilors Liu Ye and Wang Guan, and four attendants were all present. (End of this chapter)