The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 26 The most benevolent and righteous
"You don't understand the general at all. He will definitely die!"

Wang Su said firmly.

Zheng Mao frowned and hesitated to speak.

"Do you think he can survive?"

Zheng Mao stood up and saluted Wang Su.

"Prince, I was originally a person of little talent, but was promoted by Duke Xuanwen, and only because of the great general's kindness did I achieve the position of Minister of the Imperial Household."

"This time, the general sent me to Yuancheng again to claim the credit for supporting him. There are some things I shouldn't say."

"But Lanling Chenghou has been very kind to me, and you have always treated me like your own brother. I cannot help but speak."

Wang Su looked around and asked Zheng Mao to sit next to him.

Wang Su inherited the political legacy left by Wang Lang, and Zheng Mao, as Wang Lang's "disciple and former official", was also regarded as one of Wang Su's own.

Just like the Guo family, although Wang Su was a staunch ally of the Sima family, he also had his own interests involved. Perhaps as Sima Zhao said, his surname was not Sima after all.

"Just tell me directly, I won't tell anyone else."

"My Lord, three years ago, when Duke Xuanwen was still alive, the rebellion of General Wang and Linghu Yu failed."

"Duke Xuanwen left their bodies exposed for three days and executed all three clans of those involved. The King of Chu was also forced to commit suicide, and his relatives were exiled to Pingyuan County."

"Do you remember this?"

Wang Su stroked his beard and said, "Of course I remember, but what does this have to do with me now?"

"Just a few months ago, Xiahou Xuan, Li Feng, and others failed in their rebellion, and all those implicated were executed along with their entire clans by the general."

Zheng Mao said seriously, "When Duke Xuanwen executed the three clans of Wang Taiwei and others, it caused a stir in the court and the country. Many ministers were quite dissatisfied, but they were helpless and dared not speak out."

"Now that the general has executed the entire clan of Xiahou Xuan and his men, how can anyone in the court not be dissatisfied?"

"Both Duke Xuanwen and the general were kind and generous, willing to listen to advice and criticism, and would not kill people for their words. Therefore, ministers were often able to speak frankly and the channels for ministers to make reports were not cut off."

"Now that Cao Mao has spoken like this, the wise men in the court will probably write letters to advise him."

Zheng Mao said a lot, but Wang Su only heard a few key words.

The wise men are dissatisfied.

Although both the Sima family and the Cao family usurped the throne, they were somewhat different. This could be considered a great favor left by Emperor Wen.

Since Cao Pi chose to compromise with the powerful families, the status of the aristocratic families has become increasingly higher, and the so-called clan politics has been formed in the Jin Dynasty.

Although Sima Shi was very powerful, it was impossible for him to completely ignore the powerful families in the country.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have thought of ways to check and balance them, and would have killed them long ago.

These aristocratic families don't care who the emperor is, but they care about their own interests. Wang Ling rebelled, so you killed him, which is fair. What's the point of killing his entire family?

If you catch someone in our clan and accuse him of treason, will the entire clan be buried with him?

As early as when Sima Yi killed Wang Ling, the big families had already expressed their dissatisfaction. Although Sima Shi is quite capable now, it is not realistic to say that his reputation is higher than Sima Yi.

He governs with authority, but he is not a reckless man who only knows how to kill. He has to consider whether it is beneficial to him.

Wang Su seemed to understand something. He asked suspiciously, "Could it be that the ministers would protect Cao Mao? Do they dare to do so?"

Zheng Mao shook his head. "They dare not openly guarantee it, but they will certainly find a way to promote this matter. The general has inherited Duke Xuanwen's career for less than four years, but he has already demonstrated extremely powerful abilities, earning the admiration of all the ministers in the court."

Wang Su narrowed his eyes. He knew that Zheng Mao wanted to say that Sima Shi had caused fear and fear among the ministers.

Zheng Mao added, "At this point, I think the general might be more concerned about the ministers in the court, and the person who called the meeting is not that important."

"It would be easy to kill the general, but what's the point?"

"He can die or not. The decision is entirely in the hands of the general."

"But the key to this matter does not lie with the township lord, but within the government, in the hands of many virtuous people."

Wang Su was stunned for a moment, then suddenly spoke again: "In fact, the Xiang Gong is not wrong. It is against the will of heaven to punish a virtuous person and his entire clan just because he has been deceived and disregard his good reputation."

He just said one sentence and then stopped quickly, not daring to say anything more.

He reacted and looked at Zheng Mao in front of him with an extremely complicated look in his eyes.

"Do you think the lord has also considered these things?"

"Does he have the same idea as you?"

"What on earth does he want?"

Zheng Mao didn't say anything this time, but just shook his head, indicating that he didn't know either.

"How about we have Huabiao talk to him again?" "After all, this matter started with us. No matter how the general resolves it, we can't deny our involvement."

Wang Su asked tentatively.

Zheng Mao stood up and said, "I would like to go and have a talk with Cao Gong."

Wang Su was horrified. "Oh, how can we let you go? The general hasn't given the order yet. It's too dangerous to make contact with him rashly."

Zheng Mao smiled.

Wang Su originally wanted him to go and test the waters. How could Wang Su not know what kind of person Hua Biao was? He brought up Hua Biao just to force himself to go.

But Zheng Mao was not afraid. He pleaded, "This matter was caused by us. If we know the truth, we must report it to the general. This is our duty. How can we escape? Please do not worry, Your Majesty!"

Wang Su stroked his beard with satisfaction and exclaimed, "What a gentleman!"

At this moment, in a mansion in the eastern part of Yuancheng, Guo Jian was sitting nervously in the inner room, with all kinds of papers piled in front of him and the ground covered with waste paper.

Guo Jian's mental state seemed even worse than Shu Wan's.

Just at this moment, there was a noise outside the door.

"who?!!"

Guo Jian drew his knife in fear and looked towards the door.

"General, it's me."

"A man wants to see you. He says he has something important to tell you."

"who??"

"it's me!!"

A man suddenly pushed open the door and rushed into the inner room in front of the knight's astonished eyes. Guo Jian took a closer look and was scared to death.

He knew this person. He was the one in Cao Mao's mansion. That mansion was full of bad people!
Guo Jian shouted in horror, "Get out! Get this guy out!"

The person who came was Yang Zong. Yang Zong raised his head and shouted loudly: "Guo Shushi! Do you want to die?!"

"I came to you this time as the Imperial Regent sent by the imperial court, and you actually want to expel me?!"

Hearing this scolding, Guo Jian was immediately panicked, dumbfounded and stunned.

Yang Zong walked in with a swagger and sat opposite him.

"Don't worry. Our situations are quite similar. You may recognize me. I once served as the general's chief clerk, but was later pardoned by Duke Xuanwen. Later, I fell out with the general, but because the General of the Western Expedition was favored, I was spared the death penalty and exiled to serve as an official."

Hearing what Yang Zong said, Guo Jian hurriedly forced a smile.

"It's Yang Gong! I was not able to meet him before."

"Okay, enough nonsense. I was just planning to wait here for the call from General Zhengxi, but I didn't expect to encounter something like this!"

"Do you know? Cao Mao is going to kill us!"

Speaking of this, Guo Jian was on the verge of tears. "How could I not know? Not only will they kill us, but I'm afraid even our entire clan will be in danger! Anyone involved in the rebellion will be executed along with their entire clan!"

"Mr. Yang! Is there anything you want to teach me?"

Yang Zong gently stroked his beard and said slowly, "There's only one way now, use the opponent's force to counter the opponent's force!"

"Now that something like this has happened, the general will definitely think that it was your Guo family who was secretly instigating this. The general is a suspicious person and never trusts others easily."

"If we want to protect our clan, the best way is to make this matter a big deal and let everyone know about it."

"what??"

"You know, the extermination of the entire clans of General Wang and Xiahou Taichang has already caused widespread discontent. The wise officials in the imperial court and the important local officials are all waiting for an opportunity."

"If they are also involved, can the general still kill all the talented people in the world and their entire clans?"

"I think I understand. Then I will write a letter to my brother."

"What time is it now?! By the time your letter reaches Luoyang, your brother's head will have already fallen to the ground! As a man of honor, why are you so hesitant?!"

"Can't you protect the clan on your own?!"

"Send people now! Let all your allies know about this! Make this a big deal! The bigger the better. The more participants there are, the safer we will be!!"

"only!!!"

Yang Zong glanced at Guo Jian in front of him with disdain, took off the wine bag from his waist, and walked out of the inner room without looking back. He tilted his head back and drank it in big gulps.

I've been drinking your wine for so long, this is the last time I'll help you.

I have really done my best this time, and I will never care about these things again!
(End of this chapter)