The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 225: Asking for the General's Conquest of the West

Both Cao Mao and Zhong Hui were people who acted on their words.

Zhong Hui left the place directly, saying that he was going to find Zheng Mao and prepare to take up the position of Zongzheng.

Cao Mao did not want to disturb the empress dowager again, so he let her rest for a day to calm her inner fear, and then talk to her about these appointments tomorrow.

Cao Mao knew that now was the best opportunity for him to arrange manpower.

The officials in the temple were now like a pile of loose sand. The death of Sima Shi, the local unrest, and their internal struggles for interests had made them completely lacking cohesion. In this situation, Cao Mao could act recklessly.

But once they calmed down and began to unite, it would be difficult for Cao Mao to do anything.

The power formed by the ministers will be stronger than Sima Shi, and they will surround Cao Mao from all aspects. Originally, Cao Mao liked to drag out the fight with Sima Shi, and the longer it dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would be for Sima Shi.

But now, the longer it is delayed, the more disadvantageous it will be for the emperor.

Fortunately, Sima Shi helped. His final attack caused heavy casualties to many clans, especially the big families in Hebei, which were almost wiped out. The most important thing is that this will trigger the next wave of infighting among the ministers, and they will try to seize the inheritance left by these big families.

Of course, don’t even think about land and population.

At this moment, the clan territory is still centered on geography. As a family from Henan, it is impossible for you to interfere in Hebei. Even if you marry into a Hebei family, you cannot get in. The locals will fight you to the death.

The Great Wei has its own unique regional politics. People from different regions are hostile to each other, and various regional gangs are rampant. Everyone helps each other and supports each other. When the local big families fall, other small families will rise, but outsiders will never be allowed to interfere.

What they are going to inherit will be things like official titles, classics, and even titles.

Well, because a clan will have several branches, if the main branch falls, the secondary branch will naturally seize the "claim" of the main branch and become someone officially.

For example, Zhang Yi and Zhang Hua of Shu were both descendants of Liu Hou. If the situation was not divisive and Zhang Hua's clan was strong enough, the title of "Descendant of Liu Hou" would belong to Zhang Hua. Zhang Yi could not say so to the public and would have to say that he was the descendant of Liu Hou's son or grandson. But once Zhang Hua was gone, Zhang Yi suddenly became the descendant of Liu Hou!

Anyway, there were a lot of things left for them to rob, so Cao Mao was not afraid that they would not fight.

Zhang Hua looked at the emperor in front of him. The emperor had a dazed look on his face and was lost in thought. No one knew what he was thinking about.

He looked at Wei Shu beside him, and Wei Shu looked the same.

This is not surprising, he has always been like this.

Zhang Hua just felt a little embarrassed. Looking at the two people in a daze, he hesitated for a moment, and then began to fall into a daze.

“Father!!”

Guo Ping's shouting came from outside the door.

The two people in the room finally woke up, but Wei Shu couldn't wake them up.

Cao Mao looked at them with a smile and nodded, and Zhang Hua and Wei Shu left.

Guo Ping soon appeared in front of Cao Mao, and Sima You also appeared with him.

"Father! Look!"

"I made the armor!"

Guo Ping held up the wooden armor in his hand. Cao Mao couldn't help laughing. "The snowman has melted, and you've only just finished this armor?"

Guo Ping said seriously, "It's okay. Can't we just wait until next year?"

"But next year, if the snowman grows up, will he be able to wear your armor again?"

Cao Mao asked with a smile.

Guo Ping frowned, "Yes, I should have done it bigger, but I was negligent!"

Sima You couldn't help but chuckle, but when he noticed Cao Mao was looking at him, he quickly returned to his serious and well-behaved appearance.

Compared to his brother, Sima You is a very smart child. At such a young age, he has already learned how to hide his inner thoughts. These days, he always runs to Cao Mao.

However, the feeling this child gave Cao Mao was not as pure as Sima Yan's.

He is clearly still just a child, but most of the time he lacks the innocence of a child.

The Sima family seemed to want to train another Sima Shi.

When Cao Mao saw the young Sima You, he could somewhat understand Sima Shi's growth process.

The future of the entire clan is entrusted to one person, when anything superfluous will kill everyone around him. If things continue to develop according to the Sima family's original plan, will he be the next Sima Shi?
Cao Mao stared at the child in front of him and suddenly waved to him.

Sima You lowered his head and slowly walked to Cao Mao's side.

"Go back and tell your mother, your biological mother, that I want to see her."

Sima You was stunned for a moment, then quickly agreed.

"The armor Ping made is a little small. Go and help him make a bigger one."

Sima You looked at him blankly, then looked at Guo Ping beside him, "This is..."

"This is the emperor's decree. If you don't complete it, you will be arrested and made a eunuch."

Sima You was startled and agreed again.

Cao Mao then laughed and let the two go out and continue playing.

In Gaorou Prefecture.

Gao Rou's eyes were filled with disdain. Why are these filthy people here again?

Gao Rou deliberately left them alone for a while before walking out of the inner room calmly. After walking out of the inner room, Gao Rou's expression suddenly became listless, and she trembled like a candle in the wind.

When the ministers in the courtyard saw Gao Rou coming out, they all bowed to him and subconsciously forgot their previous rude behavior.

Xun Yi hurried to greet him: "Is the Minister of the Interior well?"

"Not dead yet!"

Gao Rou, holding a cane, frowned and glared at them unkindly, "What brings you here, young men?!"

Everyone present here is an old man in his sixties or seventies. No matter what, they have absolutely nothing to do with the young people. But there is no way, after all, Gao Rou is the oldest.

If he says you are a young man, then you are a young man.

Xun Yi hurriedly said, "This time, we are asking Situ Gong to go to the Shangshutai and take over the position of Shangshu Ling."

Gao Rou's face darkened.

Come again? ?
It’s not over yet, right?

Do you really not take the three ministers in the temple seriously? This is too much!
Gao Rou was about to curse when Xun Yi hurriedly explained, "Lord Situ, Lu Yu can no longer serve as the Minister of the Chancellery. Only you can save the Wei Dynasty."

Gao Rou noticed that Xun Yi called Lu Yu by his name. He was stunned for a moment, then gestured for everyone to follow him into the inner room.

The ministers were crowded in the small inner room, almost sticking together, but the matter was urgent and they had no intention of complaining.

"What happened?"

"Lord Situ, a major incident has occurred in the region, and it's all because of Lu Yu. Lu Yu can no longer serve as the Minister of the Chancellery. Let's go find the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother said we can come and discuss this matter with Lord Situ."

A smile appeared on Gao Rou's face.

Oh? Something happened to Lu Yu?
He asked more calmly, "What happened?"

"As Minister Situ said, Lu Yu controlled the Secretariat and maliciously delayed agricultural and military supplies, causing civil unrest in various places."

Xun Yi informed Gao Rou in detail of what had happened in various places.

Gao Rou was not worried about his clan. His clan was in Henan and was not affected at all.

After hearing what Xun Yi said, Gao Rou immediately understood what had happened and felt particularly relieved.

Thinking of Lu Yu's arrogant face a few days ago, Gao Rou almost laughed out loud. Of course, she couldn't laugh. After all, so many big families had suffered the disaster of being wiped out. It was somewhat immoral to laugh now.

Gao Rou looked at everyone and softened his attitude.

"Alas, why has it come to this?"

"I said before that Lu Yu's actions were harming the Great Wei. The Secretariat is the institution that governs the entire country. How could they act this way?"

"For his own selfish desires, he caused chaos in all directions and killed so many innocent people."

"Does Lu Yu still have the nerve to call himself the Minister of the Chancellery of Wei?!"

Xun Yi lowered his head. At this moment, facing Gao Rou's questioning, he didn't dare to say anything more. Who could have thought that Hebei would become chaotic so suddenly and even affected the Central Plains. Fortunately, the Northwest was still relatively peaceful. If something happened in the Northwest, it would be a big problem.

"This is all our fault."

"We mistakenly trusted the bad guys."

The Shangshu Ling, who was in control of the Wei Dynasty's government a few days ago, has now become a villain. With this happening, Lu Yu has completely lost the hope of rising again.

What he had to think about now was not how to continue to be the Minister of the Chancellery, but how to protect himself from those angry Hebei clan forces.

Now, no one knows how to quell the anger of the Hebei clan. They will not let you go just because your entire clan was wiped out. After all, this is all a big trouble that you caused.

Gao Rou was very proud. Seeing that everyone was looking down, he asked, "So what did you come here to discuss?"

Xun Yi then said, "General Zhengbei He Zeng submitted a memorial, reporting that 100,000 rebels in Hebei have spread across the provinces and counties, and are unstoppable. Yanzhou Governor Deng Ai has also submitted a memorial, reporting that rebellions have broken out across the Central Plains, and that there has been a mutiny within the army!"

"Lord Situ! The world is in crisis. If we don't handle it properly, the Wei Dynasty will..."

"Please lead your ministers to quell the rebellion!!"

"What did you say?"

"I'm going to quell the rebellion?"

Gao Rou's eyes widened as he looked at these "young people" in front of him. "Can you please have some shame? You are always hostile to me and have repeatedly come to trouble me. Now that the rebellion is so strong, you want me to suppress it?"
Do you think I'm old enough to lead an army to fight and suppress a rebellion?
I'm going to quell the rebellion, what are you dogs doing here? Go back home and drink milk?

Gao Rou shook his head, "I don't know anything about military affairs."

"We need to choose someone more capable."

Gao Rou no longer had any thoughts of fighting for power at this moment. If the rebels appeared in the Central Plains, the situation would be different. His clan was also in the Central Plains, and the task of suppressing the rebellion had to be handed over to a reliable person.

"Why not let General Zhengxi come forward and command the generals from all over the country to organize the army and go quell the rebellion!!"

Xun Yi couldn't help it immediately.

When he spoke these words, everyone was shocked.

(End of this chapter)