The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 126: His Majesty taught me

"Your Majesty, let Sima Sanqi stand up!"

"Sima Sanqi has been kneeling in the ice and snow for three days and three nights, refusing food or water. His behavior is truly touching, and I cannot bear it."

"Please be merciful and let him get up!"

"Such a virtuous person in the government shouldn't be treated like this. We feel guilty!"

Mr. Xu persuaded the emperor with a sad face.

During these three days, Cao Mao remained indifferent and didn't care about Sima Yan outside at all. During this period, many people came to persuade him.

From Sima Xun, to Sima Hui, to the guard Cheng Ji, many people came to persuade him, but without exception, they were all scolded by him.

These people were very happy when they were scolded.

Being scolded like this by the emperor would make you famous all over the world.

All the ministers in the court were helping Sima Yan to build momentum, and even if these people just showed up, they could gain a good reputation.

Even Cheng Ji was standing at the door with a silly smile on his face, in a good mood.

When Cao Mao asked him to persuade him, Cheng Ji was still a little confused. After being scolded by Cao Mao, he already felt dissatisfied.

But when he found that the people around him suddenly changed their attitude towards him, and even some scholars took the initiative to visit him and interact with him, Cheng Jile went crazy.

He never dreamed that this day would come true.

Because of his humble background and because his official title was entirely due to his brother's military achievements, Cheng Ji had no chance of breaking into the high-end scholar circle.

But at this moment, those high-ranking scholars would also bow to him and call him Cheng Jun when they saw him.

Cheng Ji had to suppress his inner excitement and, as the emperor instructed, wiped away his non-existent tears, explaining that he was unable to help Sima Yan and expressing his guilt.

The scholars became even more enthusiastic towards him and would hold his hands to comfort him.

Even the elder brother benefited from this incident. He wrote a letter to praise his younger brother and said that he was proud of his younger brother's deeds.

Cheng Ji had lived for more than thirty years, and this was the first time he was praised so highly by his brother, and also the first time he was treated with such courtesy by so many people.

He stood at the entrance of the temple, almost floating up.

Cao Mao listened to the eunuch's advice with an angry look on his face.

He hesitated for a long time before he said helplessly, "Ah, let An Shi come in!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!!"

As everyone was talking, someone immediately rushed out of the West Hall.

Cao Mao sat in the West Hall and waited for a long time, but Sima Yan still couldn't walk from the Taiji Hall to the West Hall. Hmm, didn't this guy come to the palace earlier? Was he going to come from the General's Mansion?
After waiting for an unknown amount of time, Sima Yan finally walked into the West Hall.

He was wearing undergarments, shivering with cold, his cheeks flushed, and steam coming out of his mouth. He walked tremblingly to Cao Mao and hurriedly bowed to greet him.

"His Majesty!!"

"Hey, Anshi, get up."

Cao Mao took the initiative to help him up and asked helplessly, "Why did you do this?"

"I am Your Majesty's attendant. I should serve Your Majesty and advise Your Majesty to implement benevolent and righteous policies. If Your Majesty can withdraw this order, I will die without regrets!"

"Anshi."

Cao Mao's eyes were filled with emotion, and he quickly took off his coat and put it on Sima Yan.

"I understand. Even the eunuchs around me are moved by your actions. How could I not know your feelings? From now on, I will devote my heart to state affairs, so you can rest assured."

The king and his minister looked at each other affectionately, and everyone around them was moved.

Cao Mao then looked at everyone and said, "Go out and tell everyone that I have already promised Anshi! Tell them not to worry!"

"All of you, get out! I want to discuss state affairs with Anshi!"

Everyone then bowed and said yes, then left.

Cao Mao and Sima Yan waited quietly for them to leave. When Mr. Xu closed the door, Cao Mao pulled the coat off Sima Yan and quickly wrapped it around himself.

"I'm freezing to death."

"I'm cold too. Your Majesty, please let me put on some clothes for a while. I walked all the way here from Taiji Hall in my underwear."

"There's a stove over there! Go and roast yourself!"

After being together for such a long time, Cao Mao became increasingly rude to Sima Yan, and no longer had the "gentleness" and "favor" he had in the past.

She used to take such good care of him, but now she bullies him from time to time.

But Sima Yan didn't think there was anything wrong with it. From childhood to adulthood, no one had ever been so casual and close to him, not even Zhuge Liang.

Sima Yan sat in front of the stove and smiled the same smile as Cheng Ji.

"Hahaha, your majesty is very clever!"

"I'm truly famous this time. Maybe I can even become the most famous scholar in the Wei Dynasty!"

"Your Majesty, you don't know that these past few days, the whole court has been in chaos."

"The ministers are all trying to gain fame for you, flatter you, and build momentum for you, right?"

Sima Yan was stunned. "Your Majesty knows?" Cao Mao asked seriously, "Anshi, why do you think they did this?"

"Is it because we disguised ourselves too well?"

"Heh, do you think they'll believe that it's okay for a person to kneel naked in the snow for three days and three nights?"

Sima Yan scratched his head and said, "Maybe he's afraid of my father's power."

"Anshi, they are afraid, but not of your father, they are afraid of your brother."

"What does it mean?"

Cao Mao said calmly, "They want you to inherit your father's position, but it's not because they believe in your ability, but because they believe you lack it. If they want to compete for their interests, they need a weak general. Your brother is too good."

Sima Yan's face turned red instantly, even redder than before.

"them."

"Anshi, that's why I say that fame isn't the most important thing. You need to see these people for what they are and never be fooled by them. Tell me, what does it feel like to kneel naked in the snow?"

“I feel like I’m dying”

"Anshi, what you're experiencing is exactly what the people of the world are feeling right now. In the Wei Dynasty, countless people are unable to afford clothes, have no homes, are starving, huddled in the snow, desperately begging for help from the gods. But who among the ministers in the court cares about this?"

Sima Yan's eyes were a little confused, "How could it be? This is a prosperous era."

"Whether it's a prosperous era or not, it's not up to them to say. You have to see it for yourself."

"If you have the chance, take a few trusted people with you and drive to those suburban villages privately to take a look. Once you get there, you'll know if this is a prosperous era."

Sima Yan nodded thoughtfully.

Cao Mao smiled and patted his shoulder. "Alright, let's not talk about this for now. We did a great job this time. You'll be seriously ill for the next few days, okay? You've been kneeling for three days. During this time, all the famous people in Luoyang will come to visit you."

"If you want to be the most famous scholar in Wei, you must build good relationships with these people and praise them more. Only when everyone praises each other can you become a famous scholar."

"When the time comes, you will tell them that the emperor is so close to eunuchs because he doesn't have wise men like you around him. Then invite them to the East Hall. We will set up a regular program in the East Hall. In a few days, we will gather a group of celebrities. Everyone will drink and eat meat, and comment on the world's celebrities. In this way, it won't be long before your reputation will surpass those great celebrities."

Sima Yan quickly agreed to his request.

Following Cao Mao's suggestion, Sima Yan limped out of the West Hall, was helped by several people into the carriage, and left.

Shortly after Sima Yan left, Cheng Ji walked into the hall.

Cao Mao cared less and less about the two eunuchs who were monitoring him.

Jia Chong would take great pains to keep an eye on the emperor and record Cao Mao's every word and action. Although Jia Chong was a villain, his villainous behavior was really a natural nemesis for Cao Mao. In his time, although he could send blessings to the general regularly, Cao Mao was completely unable to talk freely with his subordinates. What he said today would appear in front of Jia Chong tomorrow.

Moreover, Jia Chong would not evade the question. He would definitely read it carefully and analyze it calmly.

This kind of opponent who lacks martial ethics is Cao Mao's biggest enemy. Today's Zhong Hui is more difficult to deal with than Jia Chong, and his danger index is far higher than Jia Chong. But the problem is that his tactics are more gentlemanly, or in other words, he disdains to use too low-end means.

He couldn't lower his status to watch Cao Mao's every word and action.

This gave Cao Mao a good opportunity.

Cheng Ji was standing beside Cao Mao at this moment with a smile on his face.

"Your Majesty!! Today I finally experienced what it's like to be a human being!!"

"Oh?"

"When His Majesty scolded me, I felt a little resentful and thought His Majesty looked down upon me. Now I realize that I was wrong about His Majesty!"

"Hahaha, these past few days, more and more scholars have come to visit me, and my brother even wrote letters to praise me."

"Your Majesty, I never thought I should have followed you sooner. I've followed that bastard Sima Zhao for nearly ten years, but I haven't gained a single benefit. No one in his palace respects me; they all treat me like a dog!"

"Your Majesty!! From now on, I will do whatever you ask me to do!"

Cheng Ji was very excited.

Cao Mao laughed, "Mr. Cheng, what's this? This is just the beginning. There will be many more opportunities like this in the future. I said at the beginning that you will definitely have a place among the three highest officials in the future."

"However, the enemy is still strong at the moment, so you need to be more patient."

Cheng Ji said bluntly, "Your Majesty, I am a crude man, and I don't know any strategies. All I know is killing people. From now on, whoever you tell me to kill, I will do it!"

"Great!! To accomplish great things, we need warriors like Cheng Jun!!"

At the same time, Sima Yan also returned to his own mansion and appeared in front of Sima Zhao.

Sima Zhao looked at his son with great satisfaction and let him sit on his left for the first time.

"Not bad!"

"very good!"

“My son has such a great reputation!!”

Sima Yan was stunned and replied dully: "Father, reputation is not the most important thing. It is just a means. Such things cannot be done often to see through the true nature of those celebrities."

Sima Zhao's eyes widened as he looked at Sima Yan suspiciously, "Who taught you this?"

"It was taught by His Majesty!"

"what???"

(End of this chapter)