Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

In short, Cao Rui believed that simple fighting among ministers was beneficial, but such fighting could only be limited to the extent that it did not affect the government.

At the moment, it has clearly crossed this line and is approaching the level of political struggle.

Once a fight begins, it will instinctively go in an uncontrollable direction, just like when two villages fight for water sources, it is often just because of some trivial matters, but in the end it can result in the two villages, which are like close neighbors, never to have any contact with each other again.

Cao Rui was sitting in the study. In addition to the four attendants, there was also the Minister of Personnel Huang Quan.

"Huang Qing," Cao Rui tapped the table with his hand, "Chen Jiao and Xu Xuan were fighting openly. Did you see it with your own eyes?"

"I saw it with my own eyes." Huang Quan bowed and replied, "It's just that I saw it from a distance. When I approached, the two of them had already been pulled apart by the ministers of Taizhong."

Cao Rui asked again: "You have been in Taichung for a long time. Chen Jiao said Xu Xuan was a spy of Wu, and Xu Xuan said Chen Jiao was a man of low moral character. You are familiar with both of them. What do you think of their quarrel?"

Huang Quan sighed and said slowly: "Your Majesty, this is an unprovoked fight, which should not have happened. The court is about to attack Wu, and there are many things going on inside and outside. If something like this happens, it will be a waste of time for the central government. These two people should not have argued about who is right and who is wrong."

"What about Li Zhengfang? What does he think?" Cao Rui asked Huang Quan about Li Yan's attitude.

"I know that." Huang Quan shook his head again: "I heard that he didn't leave the guard room, but just sent an assistant to check, and then he didn't take it seriously."

Cao Rui nodded: "I understand. Huang Qing, please go back."

"I'm leaving now." Huang Quan stood up, bowed, and left slowly.

Huang Quan had left, and the four attendants were still in the study.

Before Cao Rui could ask, Wang Su said directly: "Your Majesty, it is not time yet. The court is not in chaos enough."

Cao Rui said, "Your Excellency Wang, are you saying that only a few people from the Shangshutai have expressed their opinions, and the attitudes of other court officials are still unclear?"

"That's exactly what I meant." Wang Su said, "The Secretariat is the fundamental support for the Wei Dynasty to govern the world. Now, except for two old officials from Shu who don't mind their own business, the rest of the Secretariat are following Xu Baojian to refute Chen Jibi. As for whether this reason is really because of 'common hatred against the enemy', it is still unknown."

Pei Qian also said, "Your Majesty, I second your suggestion. Should we call these three people here and question them one by one?"

Xu Shu turned his head and glanced at Pei Qian: "If His Majesty asks them personally, how can they continue to make a fuss? Won't the matter be suppressed again?"

Pei Qian thought for a moment and said, "That's right."

Seeing the attitude of the attendants, Cao Rui did not hesitate and pointed casually: "Go and ask the Minister of Works to come over. I want to ask him."

"Yes." Pei Qian took the order and went out again.

Four of the six ministers and one minister were involved in this matter. If Sima Yi was not behind this, Cao Rui would never believe it, but Cao Rui still did not know what role Sima Yi played in it.

There is no extra reason, just because he is Sima Yi.

This is enough.

Sima Yi walked into the study room in small steps. He seemed to know that the emperor was in a bad mood, so his expression was a little tense:

"I pay my respects to Your Majesty."

"Sikong." Cao Rui also had a stern face: "You are in charge of the Shangshutai. Now that things have become like this, shouldn't you give me an explanation?"

Sima Yi sighed and shook his head: "Your Majesty, I don't want them to make such a fuss. Chen Jibi and Xu Baojian have been feuding for many years, and it is difficult for me to dissuade them at the moment..."

"I didn't ask you about Chen Jiao and Xu Xuan. I've already had the Minister of the Interior reprimand them. I'm asking you about the Shangshu. What do you say when four Shangshu impeached the Shangshu Pushe together?"

Sima Yi answered flawlessly: "Your Majesty, I don't know either. Please allow me to go to the Shangshutai now and meet these four people. I will give you a reply later."

"Go now." Cao Rui said calmly, waving his hand: "I'll give you one hour. After one hour, come to the study to see me. I'll be waiting for you."

"As you wish." Sima Yi replied with a bow.

This was the information gap between Cao Rui and the four attendants. Pei Qian, Wang Su and others had only mentioned that Sima Yi might benefit from this, but they did not find any suspicious points about Sima Yi. But when Cao Rui saw Sima Yi denying that he did not know and wanted to go to Taichung to inquire, he realized that he must be involved in this matter!
"Meet Sikong."

"I greet the Minister of Works." As soon as Sima Yi entered the main door of the Shangshutai, several clerks carrying documents in the courtyard saluted him. Sima Yi just nodded slightly and walked straight to the duty room of Li Yan, the Minister of Civil Affairs.

"What is the matter that has brought you here, Sikong?" Li Yan stood up quickly to greet Sima Yi when he saw him coming.

Sima Yi was quite straightforward: "I know you are a self-reliant person, so I will use your place as a public place. Please call the other five ministers to wait outside the door. I will question them one by one according to your majesty's order."

"Yes." Li Yan simply replied, and then stood up and walked out, not caring in his heart. Li Yan understood his status as a surrendered minister, and watching the Wei ministers fighting was like watching dogs bite dogs.

The six men waited outside Li Yan's duty room as ordered. Li Yan came in first. Sima Yi just casually asked a few questions about what he was doing when Chen Jiao and Xu Xuan were fighting that day, and then let him leave. The same was done to Huang Quan.

After these two people, there is the Minister of Works Sima Zhi.

There was no one else in the room, and the door was already closed, so Sima Zhi did not pretend to be polite. He came to Sima Yi and asked in a low voice:
"Brother, I heard Li Zhengfang say that His Majesty ordered you to come here, but what went wrong?"

Sima Yi said: "Zihua, don't worry. Your Majesty just sent me to ask the ministers about their attitudes."

"After all, it is His Majesty who asked, brother, how should I respond?" Sima Zhi asked back.

Sima Yi thought for a moment and said, "You can just say that both of them have done something wrong, but the incident was caused by Chen Jiao, so impeach Chen Jiao."

"That's a very good idea. Let's do as you say, brother." Sima Zhi replied.

Sima Yi nodded: "Then I will write this down and report it to Your Majesty. Zihua, go now, and call Xu Jingshan back."

"Okay." Not long after Sima Zhi left, Xu Miao also pushed the door and walked in.

After Sima Yi asked, Xu Miao replied: "Please tell your majesty that I, Xu Jingshan, act out of public interest and have no selfish thoughts."

"Okay, let's go to Jingshan and call Wang Boyu over." Sima Yi replied simply.

"I'm leaving." After Xu Miao left, Wang Ji followed him in.

Sima Yi asked the same question, but Wang Ji answered it differently: "Sikong, allow me to ask you a question, what is your Majesty's opinion on this matter?"

Sima Yi stared into Wang Ji's eyes for a few moments, then replied in a serious tone, "Your Majesty has no opinion yet, so you ordered me to come to the Shangshutai to ask questions. How would Bo Yu like to reply to Your Majesty?"

Wang Ji hesitated for a few moments, then bowed and said, "Sikong, is this really appropriate? Although I submitted the petition at the same time as Sikong requested, I have been thinking about it and feel that it is not appropriate. I am worried that it will affect the court's important affairs."

Sima Yi sighed softly: "Bo Yu, Boyu, how can you accomplish great things if you only look ahead and behind? I gave you the Ministry of War because I value your courage to take on responsibilities. Now that you have been impeached, why hesitate? The matter is between Chen Jibi and Xu Baojian, and you are just submitting a petition together, so what are you worried about?"

Wang Ji's position as Minister of War was recommended by Sima Yi. Wang Ji accepted the favor and promised Sima Yi that he would act accordingly. When the ministers submitted the impeachment petition, Wang Ji followed the other three. But Wang Ji still had doubts in his heart, even after Sima Yi's advice.

"Then I will answer." Wang Ji coughed lightly, "I think that regarding the fight between the two, it was Chen Pushe who hit Xu Shangshu first, and Xu Shangshu hit back later, so the main responsibility lies with Chen, and the secondary responsibility lies with Xu."

"As for the impeachment of Chen and Xu, I think the matter is also at the feet of Chen Pushe. If the court does not allow this, please change the inappropriate parts of Chen Pushe and the etiquette and law to make it a ritual."

Wang Ji's attitude had undoubtedly softened a lot. Although Sima Yi was not very satisfied, he did not offend Wang Ji and said, "I have taken note of Bo Yu's words. Please go back and call Xu Baojian."

"Thank you for your hard work, Sikong. I will take my leave now." Wang Ji then bowed and left.

The next person to come in was Xu Xuan.

After Xu Xuan came in, he sighed: "Sikong has always been wiser than me. Now that I am involved in the matter, I can only see it in a fog, not as clearly as before. What should I do now? I still need Sikong's guidance."

Sima Yi said slowly: "Baojian, you will have to get back the blow you received somewhere sooner or later. I promised to help you become the Minister of the Left, and I will definitely do my best to do it."

"As of now, your position must not change. Stick to your previous petition and I will consider other matters for you. You don't have to worry."

"Okay, I'll do as Sikong says." Xu Xuan gritted his teeth and said, "Once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back. I understand this truth, and I hope Sikong will not abandon me."

"I understand." Sima Yi nodded in agreement.

Xu Xuan, Sima Zhi, Wang Ji, and Xu Miao, Sima Yi contacted these four people separately. The four of them were all Shangshu, and they were all people of outstanding wisdom and strategy. After a few visits, they had already guessed that this was Sima Yi's arrangement. No one was absolutely loyal to anyone else. This kind of choice was mutual, and they were all wary of each other. (End of this chapter)