Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

"Your Majesty." Chen Jiao took a half step forward, bent down and bowed to the ground. The eyes of everyone in the study fell on him at the same time.

Chen Jiao calmed himself down and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I am guilty. Your Majesty's teachings and Mr. Dong's words today have completely awakened me. I have been greatly favored by Your Majesty to serve as a cabinet minister. I should have helped Your Majesty to solve problems, but today I have caused Your Majesty to worry about me."

"Mr. Dong's words are very good. I ask to resign from my position as a cabinet minister, and I ask Your Majesty to dismiss me and investigate me as a warning to others!"

Cao Rui stared at Chen Jiao's face for a few moments, shook his head and sighed, "Dismiss him, dismiss him! All the affairs of the world are in the hands of me and you ministers. The higher your position, the more power you have. It's your job to share my worries! Dismissing him is easy to say!"

Chen Jiao also lowered his head and remained silent.

Obviously, now that the three cabinet ministers Dong Zhao, Cao Zhen and Chen Jiao have expressed their opinions, it is Sima Yi's turn to speak.

When listening to Dong Zhao's advice just now, Sima Yi kept cursing in his heart.

If an old man refuses to die, he is a thief!
Dong Zhao is nearly eighty years old and has lost his ambition to make progress. It is better to dismiss him as a cabinet minister than to let him go. At the same time, he can leave a good impression in front of Your Majesty that he helped to reform the court.

But I am completely different from him. I am not even sixty yet, and it is the right age to work hard and strive to do great things! Nowadays, the court attaches great importance to cabinet ministers. If I become a cabinet minister, which position should I take to make contributions to the conquest of Wu?
The prince, who had gradually become clearer, was getting farther and farther away.

Sima Yi was extremely reluctant and wanted to persuade His Majesty not to dismiss these cabinet ministers. He believed that there was still room for improvement and they could still be of great use as cabinet ministers.

But just as Sima Yi was about to open his mouth to refute, Cao Rui asked Chen Jiao:
"Mr. Chen, I want to ask you something."

Chen Jiao bowed his hands honestly and said, "Your Majesty, please ask me."

Cao Rui said, "You just mentioned a few things about Sikong, but are they true? I remember you mentioned three things, and the last one was about Sikong, you and Jiang Zitong? Is this true?"

Sima Yi instantly broke out in a few drops of cold sweat on his forehead.

Chen Jiao glanced at Sima Yi and replied calmly, "Your Majesty just told me to keep my dignity, so I can't answer this question. But if Your Majesty wants to know, I am here. Just call Jiang Zitong over and ask him. There is also Sima Shi's work as a state official. In addition to Jiang Zitong, the four ministers jointly impeached me. Your Majesty can summon all four of them to the imperial court and question them one by one. I don't believe that these four people will lie to Your Majesty at the same time!"

Cao Rui listened to Chen Jiao's words, and looked at Sima Yi's obviously nervous expression, and he understood. Sima Yi was Sima Yi, and he was still the same person. After seven years of living together during the Taihe period, it was difficult to change a person's nature.

Employment, trust, and dedication to the king's affairs were just smokescreens that temporarily covered up the problems between the monarch and Sima Yi.

But if there were only these things, there would be no question of dismissing Sima Yi from office. Chen Jiao could have his own story, and Sima Yi could also turn around and accuse Chen Jiao of framing him. It would not be good to continue the verbal battle.

Looking at Sima Yi who was still in shock, Cao Rui said slowly: "It is difficult to be confused about the affairs of the world. You are all my loyal ministers. If I completely deny you, it would be equivalent to denying the harmony between the emperor and his ministers during my years as emperor. I don't want to do this."

"I am willing to give you some dignity."

After that, Cao Rui looked up at Sima Yi again and asked, "What did Sikong want to say just now?"

Sima Yi cupped his hands and said, "If Your Majesty believes Chen Jibi and not me, I will have no excuse. Now the three ministers are about to resign from the cabinet, and I second the proposal. Please dismiss me as the three ministers to thank the world!" Cao Rui knew that Sima Yi was playing the victim, so he shook his head and said, "How noble are the three ministers? Since the founding of the Wei Dynasty, there has never been a case of dismissing the three ministers because of words. I don't want to do such a thing."

"Your Majesty!" Sima Yi knelt on the ground in front of everyone and kowtowed repeatedly, shedding tears as he kowtowed. Not only Cao Rui was shocked, but everyone around was also shocked. Chen Jiao's face showed confusion at first, but then he looked extremely disgusted.

If Cao Rui just stood by and watched Sima Yi behave like this, it would only be disheartening.

Cao Rui sighed softly, stood up from behind the desk and walked to Sima Yi's side, supporting him with both hands: "Sima Kong, please get up quickly, how can this be? We are all ministers of state!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Sima Yi stood up, wiping his tears.

Just as Sima Yi was wiping his tears, Cao Rui heard a very faint humming sound from behind. Cao Rui turned his head and saw that the person was actually Wang Su, who was always well behaved. Cao Rui immediately glared at Wang Su, who then lowered his head and stopped talking.

"Sit down, everyone. Please don't apologize to me one by one, and don't play the victim. Today, we, the king and his subjects, have something to discuss."

"Yes, I obey your command." Sima Yi wiped his tears again and walked back to his chair with red eyes.

Cao Rui said, "Just now Lord Dong said that cabinet ministers should not hold concurrent posts. I have thought about it and I think what Lord Dong said is indeed reasonable. The benefits are not for the present, but for future generations. This is a matter of system. The four of you just asked to resign, and I have approved it."

"But the system is the system, it is just a change, it does not involve you. But Chen and Sima acted like this in front of me today, if I do not deal with them, it is really unacceptable."

After that, Cao Rui's voice gradually turned cold: "I am talking to you about my feelings. This is a matter between me as the lord and you, my confidants. But I am also the emperor, and the emperor must have the emperor's laws. If I don't deal with it, it is really unacceptable."

"Chen Qing."

"I'm here." Chen Jiao bowed in response.

Cao Rui said: "This matter all started because of your title, and it will all end today."

"Chen Ben was once my Imperial Guardsman, and he also took risks on long voyages for me. I like him very much. But I also sympathize with you, an old minister of this country. The Minister of Works just mentioned your six major sins... six inappropriate things. Do you dare to say that you don't have them?"

"I am ashamed." Chen Jiao said with a look of shame: "I am indeed guilty. Your Majesty, please dismiss me from my post!"

"You are dismissed from office again. Are you quitting your job?" Cao Rui glanced at Chen Jiao and continued:

"This farce should end. Your original title of county marquis was 1,200 households, but I will make the decision today. I will take away your fief of 300 households and reduce it to 900 households. Didn't you always tell me that you would die? If you are gone, I will split your title in half. Chen Ben will be reduced to a county marquis with a fief of 500 households, and Chen Qian will be reduced to a pavilion marquis with 400 households. Moreover, I will give them fiefs in Liangzhou and Liaodong respectively. Are you willing?"

"Your Majesty has made long-term plans for me. I am deeply grateful for your kindness. I will follow your arrangements. I am very fortunate!!" (End of this chapter)