The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 173 Is the Sima family worthy?
Guanqiu Jian looked at the Huabiao in front of him with great respect.

"It's Mr. Hua, no need to be polite, please take a seat."

Huabiao thanked Guanqiu Jian again, then carefully sat down beside him, looking very well-behaved.

Guanqiu Jian looked at him and said with a smile, "When we were in Luoyang, we often saw each other. We weren't friends, but we were old acquaintances. Why are you so reserved when we meet again today?"

"The great general is so powerful. He first attacked the Hu chieftain and slaughtered his king in his city. Then he defeated the Wu bandits and captured tens of thousands of people. Who in the world would not respect him?"

Guanqiu Jian did not answer. Instead, he said sternly, "Back when your father was still alive, Emperor Wen won a great victory over Wu. He wrote in a memorial: 'A state's foundation is its people, and the people's livelihood depends on food and clothing. We should focus on agricultural production and ensure the stability of the people. If we can alleviate the crisis of hunger and cold for the people, and accumulate strength over a period of ten years, the foreign invaders will naturally fall without a fight.'"

"Emperor Wen obeyed, withdrew his troops, strengthened the state, abolished the old system, stabilized the people, encouraged agriculture and sericulture, and greatly increased the power of the Wei state."

"I often read the many memorials of Marquis Boping Jing, and I always find myself benefiting greatly from them."

"Now that you have come to Huainan with an imperial edict, are you here to pacify the people? Or are you here to cause war?"

Huabiao was speechless.

Because Hua Xin was in charge of the abdication ceremony, he did not have a very good reputation in later generations.

However, his reputation in Cao Wei was very high. He had extremely high personal morals, lived a simple life, was fair in recommending and promoting people, and did not form cliques for personal gain. As a member of a prominent family, he even wrote to Cao Pi, arguing that it was wrong to promote officials based solely on their morality, and that they should be tested and their abilities examined before being appointed.

Although knowledge is monopolized by aristocratic families, such selection is still beneficial to the aristocratic families and may not produce a group of thieves who only know how to obey.

At the same time, he also persuaded Cao Pi not to fight wars all the time, and persuaded him to change the military control system of Cao Cao, relax the social environment, and focus on ensuring that the people have enough food.

The reason why Cao Pi had a good reputation among the people of Cao Wei was due to Hua Xin's contribution.

Wang Lang was in a similar situation. He did not have a very good reputation in later generations, but his personal morals were not bad either. He had repeatedly advised Cao Pi to reduce punishments on the people, help the young and weak, and help the people recuperate.

Hua Biao hurriedly said, "General Zhendong, I came here to stabilize the people."

"Oh? I'd like to hear the details."

Hua Biao then said loudly: "General, your contributions are known to everyone in the world. The current court wants to make you the Grand Marshal."

"Well, why bother saying this? You're a gentleman, and I don't want to lie to you."

"Sima Shi's actions are abhorrent to both humans and gods. He asked me to come to the imperial court, isn't it just to take away the elite Huainan troops from me?"

"How can you still say you came here to pacify the people?"

Huabiao was at a loss, hesitant to speak.

He looked at Guanqiu Jian, who was staring at him, and said with a wry smile, "General, I have truly come here to bring peace to the people. Since you have told me the truth, please allow me to answer you truthfully."

"General, because of your personal whims and anxieties, you want to start a war. This will implicate several surrounding states and counties, and the only ones who will benefit in the end are the Shu and Wu bandits."

"I came here this time to quell this war."

"When I came here, the general repeatedly told me that if he had offended you in any way, he could personally apologize to you. As long as you are willing to serve in the imperial court as one of the Three Dukes, he will not speak of the past again. Everyone in your clan will be granted the title of nobility. The general is willing to rule the world with you and protect the Great Wei."

"The general is a benevolent man. He really doesn't want to see our Wei Dynasty fighting against each other, which would give Shu and Wu an advantage for no reason."

"The general has promised to grant you land, give you official titles, marry you, and make your clan equal to the nation. He swears that he will never pursue the past."

Huabiao said these words with gritted teeth.

Guanqiu Jian suddenly burst into laughter.

"Are you going to swear by the Luo River?"

Huabiao was suddenly speechless.

But he couldn't retreat at this moment, so he said again: "General, I can guarantee that the general will never murder you. The general still respects you very much. He has said many times that you are the pillar of the Wei Dynasty."

Guanqiu Jian remained indifferent and just shook his head slightly.

“That’s not what I value.”

Hua Biao asked again: "General, what are you worried about? What do you want? As long as you ask, the general can give it to you."

Huabiao really couldn't understand the person in front of him. Why was he so determined to go against the general?
Fame, official titles, land, generalship, everything can be given to you, why is that?
Guanqiu Jian looked into the distance, recalling the past.

"My father came from a poor family, but Emperor Taizu didn't care about his background and promoted him, so that my family no longer had to worry about food and clothing. Emperor Wen also valued him and gave him an important task, making him govern an entire county."

"After my father passed away, Emperor Wen, seeing that I was young and weak, promoted me to accompany Emperor Ming."

"The Ming Emperor did not care about my limited talents. He trusted me and showed me great favor."

"I am a vassal of the Wei Dynasty. How dare I abandon justice and collude with the traitors who usurp the country?!"

"You ask what I seek. What I seek is to assist the Holy Lord of the Great Wei, to eradicate the traitors, to support the country, to stabilize the people, and to usher in an unprecedented peace!"

Guanqiu Jian lowered his head, looking down at the Huabiao in front of him. "I wonder if the general can give it to me?!"

Huabiao trembled all over, but recalling the general's instructions before leaving, he suppressed his fear and continued, "General, what you said is inappropriate!"

"General, I've heard that destiny isn't set in stone and will ultimately be bestowed upon those with virtue. You're so hostile to the general now. Do you think Emperor Taizu's actions were also usurpation of power?"

"What did you say?!"

Guanqiu Jian stood up suddenly, and Huabiao was frightened and stood up quickly with a terrified look on his face.

"The Han Emperor was incompetent and trusted eunuchs. He sold official positions and granted titles, imposed heavy taxes, and ultimately lost his empire. The Han Dynasty existed in name only!"

"Qin lost its deer, and Emperor Gaozu of Han found it. Han lost its deer, and the heroes chased it!"

"Princes rose up everywhere, wars continued, and many people claimed to be kings in their own countries."

"My great-grandfather, Emperor Wu, rose from humble beginnings, defeated powerful enemies, selected talented individuals, pacified the north, and put an end to the war!"

"My great-grandfather, Emperor Wen, abolished the old system, gave peace to the people, encouraged agriculture and sericulture, brought peace to the people, and made the country prosperous!"

"My ancestor, Emperor Ming, established the Itchy Order, reformed Han law, formulated new laws, reduced corporal punishment, encouraged the people to submit petitions, and punished the powerful!"

"This is called the change of divine tools, it is destiny!"

"Who the hell is Sima Shi? Is he worthy of being on the same level as Emperor Taizu?!"

Guanqiu Jian approached the Huabiao step by step, his expression becoming more and more excited.

"What contributions has his family made to the country?! What virtues do I have?!"

"More wise men died at their hands than at the hands of the enemy!"

"He persecuted loyal officials, betrayed his loyalty, murdered his wife and brother, used brutal means to impose extremely high taxes, turned a blind eye to local tyrants, allowed them to block the road and become bandits, promoted villains and mediocre people, let them cause trouble in the area, implicated his own soldiers, eliminated dissidents, and slaughtered innocent people indiscriminately!"

"How do the people of today, and the strength of our nation today, compare to the times of our great-grandfather and our great-grandfather?"

"Emperor Wen and Emperor Ming both showed great benevolence to the Sima family, yet Sima Shi deposed and enthroned the sons of benevolent rulers, bullied the young emperor, and seized control of the government. He himself has achieved nothing and is a man of no moral character!"

"A villain like this is worthy of being called a virtuous person? How dare you call it destiny?!"

Huabiao kept backing away, not daring to refute. Perhaps out of fear, he fell to the ground.

He raised his head and looked at Guanqiu Jian in front of him, his eyes full of despair. When he saw Guanqiu Jian put his hand on the hilt of the sword, he closed his eyes in despair.

Guanqiu Jian helped him up.

Hua Biao looked at Guanqiu Jian in astonishment, "General, you won't kill me?"

Guanqiu Jian frowned and asked in surprise, "You also come from a clean family, and Lord Hua is respected by the world. Why do you want to follow someone like Sima Shi?"

Huabiao's face turned red, he stammered and couldn't speak.

"Your Excellency possesses both talent and virtue, yet Sima Shi turned a blind eye to them. And now he's sending you on a mission like this again. Were those words just spoken by Sima Shi the teachings of the Master? He's clearly trying to provoke me, force me to kill you, and use your life as a pretext to attack me!"

When Hua Biao heard what Guanqiu Jian said, he was shocked and angry.

Guanqiu Jian then asked him to sit down again, and his expression became kinder.

"Don't assume Sima Shi is certain to win. I already know that he's contacted the five armies! Does he really think they're all determined to follow him?"

"The wise men of the world have long been dissatisfied with his behavior!"

"Sima Shi himself is seriously ill and will not live long. The generals under his command are all drunkards. The Central Army has not experienced a battle in a long time, while the Huainan Army has fought many battles with the Eastern Wu. How can Sima Shi be my opponent?"

Huabiao looked at him hesitantly.

Guanqiu Jian held his hand and said, "I originally wanted to keep you to advise me, but Sima Shi is a cunning man. If I send you on this mission, I will definitely not allow your family to leave. I don't want to harm your family, so I will let you go."

"However, Mr. Hua, since the Sima family has murderous intentions towards you, I'm afraid you will be murdered by them regardless of whether I win or lose."

"Why don't you abandon your evil ways and join me in destroying the Sima family?"

"Although I am not talented, I am well versed in the classics. I am definitely not a villain like Sima Shi. Moreover, if Sima Shi dies, Sima Zhao will not be able to achieve great things. He will not be able to protect this foundation. Why should the officials in the court be buried with him?"

"If you can help me, I swear that I will repay you after I succeed!"

"I am a man of my word, and I'm definitely not a dishonest rat like the Sima family!!"

Huabiao looked at Guanqiu Jian in front of him and felt extremely conflicted.

(End of this chapter)