The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 149 Bullying goes too far
Empress Dowager Guo was speechless for a long time.

What Cao Mao said was not a lie. The royal family of Cao Wei was definitely the worst-off group of people in the entire aristocratic circle.

Even a powerful official like Cao Shuang, who came from a royal family, did not forget to suppress other members of the royal family when he was in power.

Cao Mao, who came from a noble family, could best understand the feelings of the royal family.

Empress Dowager Guo said helplessly, "Mao, that's all in the past. You're the emperor now, so you should consider the empire first. The royal family is not what they used to be, so how can they become our support?"

Empress Dowager Guo had a very rough understanding of Cao Mao's words.

She believed that Cao Mao was recalling his experiences in Yuancheng and therefore wanted to remove the shackles from the royal family.

Cao Mao said seriously, "Mother, the power of the imperial clan cannot be underestimated. The Great Wei is now filled with imperial clansmen. Besides the princes, there are also many imperial clansmen in the army and in the local areas. If they were useless, why would Sima Shi gather most of them in Hebei and Yecheng, daring them not to travel elsewhere?"

"Are the royal family members who can make Sima Shi so fearful really that useless?"

"Mother, the reason the royal family appears weak is because of the restrictions imposed by the imperial court. Firstly, they restrict their abilities, and secondly, they arouse their discontent, making them unwilling to help the imperial court."

"I think if Mother could pardon the many royal families in Hebei and allow them to return to their respective fiefdoms, then I could step in and gradually abolish the restrictions on the princes and royal families and improve their treatment. Even a powerful family like the Sima family would surely be terrified by us."

"Mother, which family is the most powerful in the world?"

"Of course it's Sima."

Empress Dowager Guo suddenly realized, "It's the Cao family."

Cao Mao laughed. "In terms of the number of our children, the official positions they hold, and the titles of our ancestors, who in the entire Wei Dynasty can compete with us?"

"The Cao family is the most powerful family at the moment, and the Sima family is only second."

"If we want to regain power, we must once again make use of our own family members and think like a true aristocratic family. Only then can we defeat the Sima family."

Empress Dowager Guo was still a little worried, but Cao Mao's words sounded so reasonable.

Empress Dowager Guo said, "You should first ask your teacher and hear his thoughts."

"only."

When Cao Mao walked out of Zhaoyang Palace, he felt a slight pain in his forehead.

These days, he had so many things to do and wanted to do that Cao Mao felt a little tired.

But now time is urgent, and I heard that the court has promoted Sima Fu to the position of Taifu.

Then the next step would definitely be to promote Guanqiu Jian to the position of Grand Commandant.

This was the announcement of the start of the war. Cao Mao had made a lot of preparations in recent days, but everything would be decided through this war. If Guanqiu Jian was defeated, Sima Shi would immediately turn around and kill him without mercy, eliminating all those who could threaten his brother.

If Guanqiu Jian won, Sima Zhao would immediately take action and kill himself to avenge his brother.

Cao Mao could only cheer up and speed up the process, and get more amulets for himself before the two sides officially started fighting, so as to better intervene in the war.

Cao Mao hurriedly ate a meal and rushed to his next work site.

Today, he will summon the Minister of the Interior Zheng Xiaotong, as well as the Palace Attendant Ruan Ji, Palace Attendant Wang Shen, Palace Attendant Pei Xiu, Palace Attendant Sima Yan, Palace Attendant Gao Guang and others to the West Hall.

Cao Mao liked these people very much.

As soon as he saw them, Cao Mao smiled and said, "Mr. Wenji is here!"

Several ministers looked at Wang Shen.

Wang Shen quickly saluted and said, "I dare not."

Cao Mao liked these talented cavalrymen under his command very much and gave them different nicknames. Wang Shen was called "Mr. Wenji" and the newcomer Pei Xiu was called "Mr. Rulin".

Such attention touched both of them.

Cao Mao and other imperial guardsmen also paid their respects to him.

Zheng Xiaotong's attitude towards Cao Mao was obviously somewhat close. Cao Mao's previous performance seemed to have impressed the grandson of Zheng Xuan. He looked at Cao Mao with such gentle eyes, as if he was looking at his junior.

Ruan Ji narrowed his eyes, still looking so aloof.

Pei Xiu yawned and kept scratching his body.

Sima Yan looked worried, and he was obviously afraid that these people would gather together to talk about academic matters again.

Gao Guang was the most embarrassed. He mixed in the crowd, lowered his head, and did not dare to look Cao Mao in the eye.

Wang Shen maintained his elegant image, sitting respectfully beside Cao Mao with a kind smile on his face.

Cao Mao looked at these people and couldn't help sneering in his heart.

Don't be fooled by Wang Shen's decent appearance. In the first week, Cao Mao treated him as his confidant and showed him great favor. However, Wang Shen was awarded the title of Marquis of Anping for his merit in informing Cao Mao, and Cao Mao died tragically.

Gao Guang and Pei Xiu were both chosen by Sima Shi as future pillars.

The two of them, one was Sima Yan's Shangshu Ling, and the other was Sima Zhong's Shangshu Ling.

In other words, among Cao Mao's cavalry, only Ruan Ji can be trusted, and the rest are not trustworthy, including Zheng Xiaotong.

Historically, Zheng Xiaotong was poisoned to death by Sima Zhao.

He went to pay a visit to Sima Zhao, who happened to be in the toilet, leaving important documents on the desk. When he came back, he asked Zheng Xiaotong if he had seen his things. Zheng Xiaotong said no, but Sima Zhao still decided to kill him and said to him: I would rather betray you than have you betray me.

Even though he was also killed by Sima Zhao, Cao Mao did not dare to trust him easily. After all, he had never shown his position in history. Besides, why would he, a minister, go to see Sima Zhao instead of accompanying him?

Cao Mao looked at everyone and slowly said, "I have summoned you all here today for an important matter."

"What's your majesty's order?"

Sima Yan immediately asked.

Sima Yan would accept it as long as it was not a discussion of academic matters.

Cao Mao said seriously, "When I was debating with many famous scholars before, I accidentally discovered that the current classics are really confusing and complicated, with many different types and contradictory views. I want to summon scholars to re-edit the classics and bring justice to the classics!"

"What?! No way!!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zheng Xiaotong's face changed drastically and he spoke quickly.

The Eastern Han Dynasty had just experienced a fierce debate between ancient and modern literature. His grandfather Zheng Xuan was a leader of the ancient literature school. At this time, if Your Majesty said anything about upholding the justice of Confucian classics and establishing a set of official schools of Cao Wei, the war of Confucian classics would have begun immediately.

The academic atmosphere is different now. Metaphysics is popular, and the modern literary school has gone a step further in superstition, making the academic environment extremely complicated.

If we were to have a war of classics now, the situation would be out of control!

Cao Mao looked at the people in front of him. Zheng Xiaotong was the most nervous, Ruan Ji was dismissive, Pei Xiu had already started to unbutton his collar. If Cao Mao said another word, this guy would start running naked, Wang Shen was eager to try, and Sima Yan was the most confused.

Cao Mao said seriously, "I am not trying to start a debate among the schools. On the contrary, I am trying to integrate all the schools, establish a clear outline, end the previous chaos, establish a classic and just doctrine, and pass it on to future generations!"

Zheng Xiaotong frowned, "Your Majesty, even if you think so, once something like this begins, it will inevitably cause disputes. Integrating so many classics is simply not feasible at the moment!"

Zheng Xiaotong immediately cited the Eastern Han Dynasty as an example and told Cao Mao the consequences of doing so.

Cao Mao asked everyone for their opinions one after another.

People's reactions were also different.

Wang Shen actually agreed with Cao Mao's opinion. Perhaps, he thought that such a thing could give him an opportunity to stand out?

Just as everyone began to discuss and argue, Cao Mao looked at Ruan Ji helplessly.

"Don't you agree with this?"

Ruan Ji shook his head. "Classics vary from person to person. How can they be universally applicable?"

"This is for the sake of the world."

Cao Mao sighed, and suddenly sat down next to Ruan Ji. "How many people do you think will agree with this?"

Ruan Ji was stunned for a moment and shook his head. "Except for fools, no one would agree."

Wang Shen seemed not to hear what he said and continued to argue with Zheng Xiaotong.

Cao Mao suddenly asked in a low voice, "Then why don't you ask Ji Shuye?"

Ruan Ji's eye twitched, and before he could react, the emperor had already stood up. He returned to his seat again, interrupting the debate between Zheng Xiaotong and Wang Shen, and said helplessly, "Forget it. Since neither of you is willing, let's talk about it later."

Everyone said goodbye to the emperor and left one by one.

Zheng Xiaotong repeatedly warned Cao Mao not to have such thoughts and not to disrupt the current academic atmosphere.

Everyone left, but Sima Yan didn't leave yet.

"Your Majesty, what are you planning to do?"

"Anshi, there is a huge merit at this moment, do you want it?"

Sima Yan touched his buttocks and said, "I have just recovered from my injury. How about Your Majesty take it yourself?"

"General."

Sima Shi knelt in front of the desk with disheveled hair and a pale face. In front of him was the content of the debate between Cao Mao and his ministers yesterday.

When someone came in to report, he didn't even raise his head.

He continued to look at the contents in his hand and asked, "Tell me, what happened?"

"A wise man informed me that His Majesty summoned many of the imperial guards today to discuss the integration of many classics, a matter of justice for the classics."

"What did you say?!"

Sima Shi suddenly raised his head, and the blue veins on his forehead became more and more obvious.

The servant felt his legs trembling as Sima Shi stared at him.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead, suppressed his fear, and said, "Since none of you agree, your Majesty's efforts are in vain."

"Hehehe~~~"

Sima Shi suddenly laughed, and the laughter seemed to come from his chest, which, combined with his stiff expression, was very creepy.

"First you disturbed the locals, then you disturbed the imperial court, and now you want to disturb the scholars of the world?"

"Does this matter need those people's consent once it is spread?!"

"What a wise ruler, what a holy king!"

(End of this chapter)