The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 199 Before Power
"Brother, why is he here?"

At the same time, Sima Zhao sat next to Sima Shi, his face full of confusion.

He didn't think that Cao Mao came to form an alliance. If they really wanted to form an alliance, it should be done in private. There was no need to make such a big fuss about it.

Sima Shi was lying on the bed, and his voice became weak. Just now in front of Cao Mao, he obviously did not reveal his true condition.

"He originally came here to intensify the conflict between the big clan and us."

"originally??"

"In other words, he changed his mind when he came here?"

"Well, I scared him a little, and he realized that if I escalated the conflict, I would involve him as well."

Sima Shi endured the pain all over his body and said with difficulty: "He has no intention of taking action at the moment. He probably wants to accumulate his own power."

"Brother, what does he think now?"

"He wants to take over the Sima family."

"what?!"

Sima Zhao stood up suddenly, his eyes filled with anger, "How dare you?!"

Sima Shi grabbed Sima Zhao's hand and said, "Don't be anxious. My father also bowed his head in front of Cao Shuang and endured it. Forbearance is not..."

"Brother, don't worry. I know, I know. You have to be patient."

When Sima Zhao saw his brother's expression, he immediately changed his words.

"Zi Shang, you are no match for the ministers."

As Sima Shi was speaking, Sima Zhao wanted to refute but didn't know how to start.

"Brother, what should we do next?"

"Don't panic. The ministers today are not united. You are safe."

Sima Shi took a deep breath and continued, "I'm afraid you can't keep the position of general, but the Shangshutai, the Shangshutai cannot be let go!"

"When you face the emperor later, you must obey his orders more often and pretend to take him as your leader. You can send Anshi to his side to make him let down his guard."

"If you work for him, don't do anything bad, and do your best. He is very tolerant towards those who are useful to him."

"As long as you have the Shangshutai in your hands, there is hope for a comeback."

"My reputation is worse than yours, but not so. I will personally arrange everything, and you don't have to get involved."

Sima Shi gave instructions seriously.

Sima Shi only spoke for a moment before falling asleep again.

Sima Zhao's expression was very complicated.

He knew very well that his brother had reached the final moment. Now, he was not awake for many days and fell into a coma from time to time. His eye disease became more and more serious, causing unbearable pain. His hands and feet were weak and he could not get up. It was even difficult for him to speak.

In this situation, it would be too much to ask my brother to continue to protect me.

Sima Zhao sat next to Sima Shi and began to think of a countermeasure.

Since he couldn't keep the position of general, could he use the position of general to make some changes in exchange for the Secretariat?

I still have to ask Du Yu and others to see if they have any good ideas.

There are so many talented people around me. Even if I can't come up with a solution, they always can.

Just as Sima Zhao was lost in thought, a guard suddenly walked in and whispered something in his ear.

Sima Zhao frowned and strode out of the inner room.

Sima Yan and Sima Cao Mao were standing outside the door. Seeing Sima Zhao coming out, Cao Mao hurriedly asked, "Is my father-in-law feeling better?"

A smile suddenly appeared on Sima Zhao's face, much more enthusiastic than before.

"Your Majesty, don't worry. My brother is already much better."

"That's good."

"Master, I have something to ask of you."

"Oh, please speak, Your Majesty."

"The Queen misses Ping very much. I think it would be better to bring him to the palace. With the two of us by her side, both mother and son will feel better. Emperor Wu also raised He Yan, Qin Lang and others. I plan to follow the example of my ancestors and keep him by my side and teach him personally."

Sima Zhao hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Okay, that's right!"

"Your Majesty wants to take his child back. Who can say no?"

Cao Mao looked at Sima Zhao in front of him again. It seemed that Sima Zhao asked him to express goodwill to him temporarily?
Cao Mao was overjoyed and grabbed Sima Zhao's hand again.

"Master, speaking of this matter, Ping still needs a teacher to teach him. If he follows me to the palace, I'm afraid there will be no wise men around to teach him."

"How about this? Why don't you let Du Yuankai come with me to the palace and serve as my Imperial Court Assistant. He can come and teach the child when he's free. What do you think?"

Sima Zhao's face changed drastically. Du Yu was his most trusted advisor, so how could he give him to the emperor?
Cao Mao quickly said, "If you have anything to ask, you can summon him during your free time. I usually go to school and study, so I don't need a eunuch. Besides, I already have two eunuchs, so he won't be too busy."

"Your Majesty, there are still many things to do in the General's Mansion. Why don't you change someone?"

"My subordinate, Lord Yang, was once your Imperial Regent. Why not have him accompany you to the palace?"

Cao Mao was stunned. "If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten about this great sage!"

"Master Zhong, please give me these two!"

At this moment, Sima Zhao's mouth was almost crooked with anger.

I'll slap you both!

But the situation was different after all. He still remembered his brother's instructions. Sima Zhao had no choice but to say, "Your Majesty, you have to ask Yuan Kai about this matter. Your Majesty, you may not know that Yuan Kai is a filial son and has often thought about resigning and returning to take care of his mother. I will talk to him and ask him to go to the palace as soon as possible."

Sima Zhao's words were a typical example of procrastination. He held high the banner of filial piety, making it difficult for Cao Mao to say much.

Cao Mao was a little disappointed, but not in a hurry.

This made Cao Mao's desire to control the Sima family even more resolute. The inheritance of Sima Shi and Sima Zhao was really huge. Not only these wise ministers, but also the governors of various places and the generals in the army. If he could get these...
Although he failed to take Du Yu away, Cao Mao was still very happy that he had taken Sima Yi's son away from here.

It might be better for Sima Yi to stay in the palace than in the general's mansion. After taking her son over, she would have no worries.

But Cao Mao really needed Sima Li at this moment. After all, Sima Li represented the marriage relationship between Cao Mao and the Sima family.

In the past, this kind of marriage relationship served the Sima family, but now, Cao Mao can fully utilize this marriage relationship to counter the Sima family.

"Father, something big has happened!"

Gao Jun hurried into the study.

This person is Gao Rou's eldest son, and currently works in the General's Mansion as an official under Sima Shi.

Gao Rou was currently writing something with his head down. Seeing his son so flustered, he shook his head again. "How can I be at ease with the future if you all act like this?"

Gao Jun didn't care about anything else and said directly, "Father, the emperor came to see the general today. They talked a lot in the room, met with everyone, and finally took Sima Yi's son away."

Gao Jun told Gao Rou all these things truthfully.

Gao Rou was very calm. "It's just as I expected. There are many people who want to use the emperor's power. Lu Yu, Sima Zhao, they all want to do so."

"However, the emperor is still young, so there is no need to be so nervous."

Gao Jun was a little surprised. "But my third brother once said that father had a very high opinion of the emperor. Why does he keep looking down on him now?"

Gao Rou raised her head and said angrily, "What are you talking about?"

"The emperor is gifted with wisdom, both civil and military, and possesses extraordinary strategic strategies."

"But he is young and inexperienced after all. I have great power and am a veteran of three dynasties. How can he be my opponent?!"

"I don't have the same idea of usurping the throne as Sima Shi! I just want to govern the world well. Since the emperor is wise, he won't try to stop me!"

"Jun, you have to remember that there are many smart and outstanding people in this world, but in the face of power, these are nothing!"

Gao Situ's eyes were blazing as he continued, "As the Grand General, I will be able to rule the country, conquer Shu and Wu, unify the empire, and establish unparalleled achievements. By then, Your Majesty will have grown up and become a capable person, and I can return power to Your Majesty."

Looking at his father's high-pitched appearance, Gao Jun's eyes were full of astonishment, without any joy or excitement.

My father has lost his mind.

In the face of this enormous power, I almost lost myself.

He frowned, but didn't dare to say anything more. He knew how much his father had gone through in recent days. First, he was murdered by Zhong Hui, which instantly turned him from a leader in the court into a lonely man, and almost ruined his reputation in his later years.

He then tried to fight back, but was defeated several times by Sima Shi and humiliated repeatedly.

Gao Rou was already eighty years old at this time.

At such an age, having encountered all these things, and suddenly seeing the position of general waving towards him, Gao Situ's heart immediately fell.

Gao Rou continued to talk for a long time before saying, "The emperor's affairs can be put aside for now. What I want to deal with now is Lu Yu's matter."

"do you know?"

"That idiot Lu Yu actually went to see Sima Fu."

Gao Rou laughed, "He's courting his own death. Now, his collusion with the Sima family and betrayal of the interests of the ministers will be known to the world."

Gao Jun's eyes twitched, and he said, "Father, I think that since Minister Lu dared to go to the Grand Tutor, he must not be afraid of these things. Besides, the ministers don't want to kill the Sima family. They just want to implement those policies as soon as possible. You are now fully focused on the Queen Mother, but if Lu Yu colludes with Sima Fu and starts to implement new policies in the Secretariat..."

"Then the entire court of civil and military officials will naturally belong to Lu Yu, and all of Father's plans will be in vain."

"Humph! You're just a young boy, what do you know?"

"I've walked more bridges than you've walked roads, and it's not your turn to teach me how to do things!"

"Tomorrow, spread rumors in Luoyang that Lu Yu colluded with Sima Fu, that the Sima family promised him the position of Shangshu Ling, and that he betrayed his ministers for the position."

(End of this chapter)