The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 165 It’s You! Zhong Hui!
The government did not announce this news in the court meeting.

An envoy was sent to inform Wang Xiang directly of the appointment.

Wang Xiang never told anyone else. Apart from Sima Zhao, who issued the edict, and the Secretariat, which was responsible for drafting the edict, the only person who knew about this was probably Lu Yu.

After receiving the order, he came to see the emperor immediately. How did the emperor know the news so quickly?

He asked about the candidate for the Inspector of the Imperial Guard, which obviously meant that he already knew that he had been promoted to the Minister of Rites.

Wang Xiang had always thought that Sima Yan had accidentally revealed the important information, but the problem was that Sima Yan was now serving in the central army and was not in the palace at all.

Wang Xiang was quite frightened at this moment.

Does the emperor have other ministers in the palace?

Is it in the Secretariat?

Or in the General's Mansion?

No, officials from the General's Mansion couldn't easily get close to the emperor, but officials from the Secretariat could stay in the palace. Could it be that Meng Kang from the Secretariat was...
Wang Xiang widened his eyes, and had an extremely terrifying guess in his mind.

When the secret of Zhuge Dan was leaked, Wang Xiang was very surprised. He did not think that this was something Jia Chong could do.

And now, there is a man who knows the whereabouts of the general. He can meet with the emperor at any time. He even defended the emperor many times and was rewarded by the emperor. He participated in all the conspiracies against the emperor and even promoted his own appointment process.
Zhong Hui?!
Cao Mao was very surprised. Wasn't he just a minister of rites? How could such a humble person become so unruly?
He didn't answer his question and just stared at him.

For a moment, Wang Xiang felt that countless thoughts flashed through his mind. He looked at Cao Mao in front of him again. For a moment, he felt that this person was surrounded by a thick fog, unfathomable, and he could not see through it at all.

If Zhong Hui was not arranged by the emperor, it only means that the emperor was too terrible and had seen through everything long ago and predicted that he would succeed.

If Zhong Hui had really surrendered to the emperor, it would only mean that the emperor was even more terrifying than he thought, and had gathered enormous power behind his back!

Wang Xiang quickly calmed down, saluted Cao Mao, and carefully sat down opposite Cao Mao.

"Your Majesty, I have just received the imperial edict. I have not yet heard of the selection of the Inspector of the Capital."

Cao Mao suddenly realized that it seemed that Sima Yan brought the news directly from the General's Mansion.

He thought he had already announced it to all the ministers.

Wang Xiang asked calmly, "Your Majesty, do you have any thoughts about this position?"

Cao Mao laughed and shook his head. "What ideas can I have?"

"My Lord, if the court recommends the Grand Administrator Wang Jing to be the Inspector of the Imperial Capital, you can then speak up in support."

Wang Xiang thought for a moment and quickly remembered who Wang Jing was.

Wang Jing was not from a prominent family, but his sponsor was quite remarkable: Cui Lin, a famous official in the past.

This person's reputation is not very loud, and his relationship with the Sima family is not very close. Why would the court allow this person to be the Inspector of the Imperial Guards?

Moreover, what benefits would it bring to the emperor if this person became the Inspector of the Imperial Capital?

Wang Xiang couldn't understand it at all at the moment. If it were in the past, he would definitely ask a few questions, but now, for some reason, he nodded and agreed without asking any more questions.

Wang Xiang continued his usual conversation about the problems of governing the country, then suddenly changed his tone and asked, "Your Majesty, is away from home, or do you have other helpers?"

Cao Mao was originally fascinated by what he was listening to, but when Wang Xiang said this, a hint of surprise flashed across Cao Mao's face, but then quickly disappeared.

Although the surprise was only a fleeting moment, Wang Xiang watched closely and took in the changes in Cao Mao's expression.

Cao Mao was naturally surprised, because no one knew anything about Jiao Bo, Yin Damu and others.

Could it be that something went wrong on Ji Kang's part?
Cao Mao asked in a low voice, "Why do you ask this, Your Excellency?"

"Oh, I just thought that Your Majesty, though in the deep palace, could know what was happening outside, so I asked."

Cao Mao finally breathed a sigh of relief. He said, "I only heard the cavalry occasionally talk about the situation outside."

Wang Xiang could not deny this, but he was certain in his heart that Cao Mao also had confidants outside, and that this confidant's status was not low.

Cao Mao continued, "My Lord, I would like to make tomorrow's banquet in the East Hall a lively one. Could you please invite more ministers to attend?"

Wang Xiang frowned and said worriedly, "Your Majesty, this banquet is already very grand. If you use it as an excuse to summon the ministers, I'm afraid it will alert the Sima family and be detrimental to the cause!"

Cao Mao said calmly, "It's alright, don't worry. The General and the General of the Western Expedition will not be here to take care of these matters. They have more important things to do now."

"This is the last chance, we can't miss it."

"Don't be afraid. I'm not asking you to invite the ministers of the Secretariat. I'm just asking you to find some of the Nine Ministers."

This is not because Cao Mao despised the Nine Ministers, but because compared with the Secretariat, the Nine Ministers' powers were not as important, and most of them were there for retirement and transition.

Cao Mao wanted to promote the reform of the Zhengzhong system, but he did not tell Wang Xiang directly, and did not even specifically ask Wang Xiang to find Chen Qian.

Because he knew that although Wang Xiang was courageous, he would not bring his entire family to participate in such a gamble. He would find the right time to take action.

Now was clearly not the best time to promote the Zhongzheng system. Sima Shi had already decided to kill Guanqiu Jian. If Cao Mao jumped out now, he might be labeled a traitor and executed directly by Sima Shi. Therefore, Cao Mao wanted to meet with Chen Qian and use him to promote this matter. Chen Qian was more courageous. If he did not meet Chen Qian at the banquet, Cao Mao would take the risk and directly ask the Queen Mother to summon Chen Qian.

Now we have to race against time to push these things forward.

Wang Xiang did not refute, but instead talked about what happened during the court meeting.

"Xun Yi suddenly spoke up in support. Zhong Hui was very displeased."

Cao Mao was still not surprised.

His plan was an open conspiracy. Even if Sima Zhao saw through it, what could he do? If he didn't do it, Cao Mao would take over. If he did, it would cause a fight. He didn't expect Xun Yi to jump out so quickly. However, thinking that these people were all beneficiaries, Cao Mao could understand their anxiety.

Zhong Hui wanted to take back the power to interpret classics to the government, but it would be strange if these powerful families would allow it.

Cao Mao spoke a few more words to Wang Xiang, and then the two said goodbye.

Wang Xiang left this place, but he kept recalling Cao Mao's expression in his mind. He was not surprised at all. Could it be that Zhong Hui was really loyal to the emperor?
That poem dedicated to Zhong Hui, is it truly from the heart of your majesty?
Cao Mao naturally didn't know what Wang Xiang was thinking at the moment. After finishing the course, he rushed to Zhaoyang Palace.

When Cao Mao arrived outside Zhaoyang Palace, Mr. Guo was still guarding there.

Seeing the emperor coming, Mr. Guo hurriedly stood in front of him.

"The Queen Mother is meeting with distinguished guests."

"Oh? Who is it?"

Mr. Guo hesitated for a moment and whispered, "It was Guo Li and the others. Your Majesty, don't believe these people. They told the Queen Mother that you were secretly colluding with the general, hanging out with Sima Yan all day, alienating the clan, and placing Sima Yan's cronies in the family."

After he finished speaking, he immediately raised his head, his face solemn, "Your Majesty, do you want me to go in and report?"

Cao Mao was very happy.

Sure enough, the alienation he had been trying to create over the past few days had some effect. As members of the Guo family, Guo Li and his men were so rude to the punished clansmen and treated them as a disgrace to the family. So don't expect them to be loyal to you.

Cao Mao nodded towards him and said, "Thank you very much."

Mr. Guo's face trembled, and he turned and walked into Zhaoyang Palace.

At this moment in Zhaoyang Palace, Guo Li was sitting next to the empress dowager, his face full of grievance.

"My Queen Mother! We have all watched you grow up!"

"Ever since your father passed away, I have treated you as my own daughter."

"But now, you don't trust us relatives just because of an outsider?"

Guo Li gritted his teeth and said excitedly, "Cao Mao has been lying to you all along. How can he be a puppet emperor? Sima Yan was always by his side. Don't you know their relationship?"

"If he had no collusion with the Sima family, why would Sima Zhao's eldest son be by the emperor's side all day long?"

"Has he suffered any persecution these days? Jia Chong, who bullied him, is dead, his teacher has been appointed Minister of Rites, and he spends his days hanging out with famous scholars. Zhong Hui has personally promoted his reputation, and Xun Yi has even spoken up for his people. Queen Mother! Wake up!"

"We are the only ones who have suffered losses. Now that you no longer trust us, Ade has been killed, and Jian's military power has fallen into the hands of outsiders!"

"The Sima family is not a good family, what about the emperor?"

"How could we possibly go to the Sima family? We are a family!"

"Why do you trust the emperor so much?"

Guo Li said earnestly.

Empress Dowager Guo's expression actually showed some hesitation.

At this moment, Mr. Guo walked into the hall and informed the news of Cao Mao's arrival.

Guo Zhi sneered and said, "The Emperor got the news really quickly! A young emperor actually received the news as soon as we arrived and came to question us. Queen Mother, is this normal?"

Empress Dowager Guo was a little upset by them and immediately frowned, "You all should go out first!"

She looked at Mr. Guo again and said, "Go tell the emperor that I am not feeling well today and will not see him."

Guo Li and Guo Zhi looked at each other, with obvious joy in their eyes.

When they walked out of Zhaoyang Palace feeling aggrieved, their expressions changed immediately.

Cao Mao clearly saw the pride in their eyes.

This made Cao Mao almost laugh out loud.

Sima Shi was going to attack Guanqiu Jian, so he would definitely attack himself next, as an important part of Sima Shi's plan to kill the king.
How long can you live?

(End of this chapter)