The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 271 Your Majesty, We Are Family

Zhong Hui ordered his followers to load the wrapped things onto the carriage. These things were very heavy and no one knew what they were.

But Zhong Hui himself was not in a hurry to leave the prison. After leaving Gao Rou, he came to the place where Sima Fu was imprisoned.

Zhong Hui's idea was very simple. He wanted to fleece these people one last time before they died and squeeze out their value.

Sima Fu's condition was much better than Gao Rou's. Although he was also sitting on the ground with a decadent look on his face, his expression was still normal and not dull.

Seeing Zhong Hui coming, he hurriedly stood up and wanted to bow to him, but Zhong Hui hurriedly helped him up.

"You are an elder, how dare I accept your gift?"

Sima Fu was not surprised by Zhong Hui's arrival. This man liked to run into the prison. This was an old tradition. It was the same thing when Xiahou Xuan was captured.

"I didn't expect that Shi Ji would be willing to come and see me now. I really don't have the face to face Shi Ji."

Sima Fu wiped the tears from his face.

Zhong Hui also had a look of sorrow on his face. "Alas, I wanted to find a way to rescue you, but unfortunately, my brother is no longer the Minister of Justice."

"Chen Qian is a cruel person and is unwilling to listen to my advice."

Sima Fu hurriedly shook his head, "Shi Ji, there's no need to do this. Don't let me get you into trouble because of me!"

The two held each other's hands, and the scene was quite touching.

Zhong Hui then spoke up, "What I'm most worried about right now is your son."

"Your son serves as the General of Anxi in Yongzhou. Now that you've been implicated in a major treason case and are facing punishment and going to Liaodong, if he learns of this and becomes anxious and impulsive, wouldn't that bring upon him grave disaster?"

"The six battalions of the Central Army are now all under Your Majesty's command. The Huai and Si armies have sworn to follow you until death. In Yongliang, Governor Chen has served under the General of Chariots and Cavalry for many years, and his men are generally obedient to him. You know Governor Chen best. After that incident, he has always felt guilty and has been unwilling to return to the imperial court. Now is his rare opportunity to clear his name."

Sima Fu frowned and said nothing.

Zhong Hui continued, "So, what I'm worried about now is that your son might betray Wei like Xiahou Ba did."

Sima Fu trembled all over.

Sima Fu knew that given what he and Gao Rou had conspired, being sentenced to exile was already a very lenient sentence, and he couldn't just pretend that nothing had happened.

Sima Fu was acceptable anyway. Although he sacrificed himself, at least his clansmen and children would not be implicated.

It's much better than Gao Rou's execution of three clans.

Sima Fu did not worry too much about his son Sima Wang. First of all, Sima Wang had been adopted by his elder brother Sima Lang as his son. Legally speaking, Sima Wang had no father-son relationship with him.

He also knows his son very well. His son is cautious and has a good understanding of the overall situation. He will not turn against the government for his own affairs.

He will continue to lead the remaining Sima family and truly become a normal aristocratic family.

However, after hearing what Zhong Hui said at this moment, Sima Fu suddenly thought of another possibility.

Surrender to Shu.

This is what Sima Fu cannot tolerate. People at the bottom may not see it clearly, but the old guys with real power in the temple know that Shu and Wu are no match for Wei.

If it weren't for the numerous internal conflicts in Wei in recent years, the changes of powerful officials, and Sima Shi having to deal with internal and external rebels, he would have sent troops to attack these two countries long ago.

Since Emperor Wen began to advocate recuperation, the national strength of Wei has continued to increase. Up to now, the number of soldiers that Wei can mobilize has reached more than 400,000. However, in terms of national strength, Shu and Wu are no match at all.

If his son defected to Shu, he would sooner or later die at the hands of the Wei people, and his family would also be destroyed.

He is not Xiahou Ba. Even if Xiahou Ba surrendered, his clan could not be killed. But if Sima Wang surrendered, it would be the end of him. Even if the emperor did not want to kill him, he had to do it, otherwise he would not be able to convince the people.

Seeing Sima Fu beginning to panic, Zhong Hui suddenly asked, "How about you write a letter to your son?"

"Okay! Okay! I'll write it now!"

Inside the Tai Chi Hall.

"Your Majesty, look at this jade. It's a tribute from Khotan in the Western Regions. It's pure white, like a green mountain underfoot, and feels like fat to the touch. It's truly a rare and exquisite piece. It was given to me by Cheng Yi, the Chief of the Western Regions."

Xin Chang knelt beside Cao Mao with a smile on his face.

He held a piece of beautiful jade in his hands. The jade was made into the shape of a tiger, as big as two fists. As expected, the whole body was white, with some green at the feet.

Cao Mao didn't even reach out to take it. Instead, he turned his head to examine the jade in Xin Chang's hand. He couldn't help but nod and say, "Nice jade! It's truly a treasure from the Western Regions!"

Although Cao Wei had many shortcomings in history, its contributions to Chinese history are indelible. First, it conquered Goguryeo in the northeast, then opened up the road to the Western Regions, established the Office of the Chief Secretary of the Western Regions, and maintained the country's territorial integrity.

During the reign of Cao Pi, countries in the Western Regions came to pay tribute, and Cao Pi was very happy to receive them. He also sent officials to the Western Regions to start farming and governing there, and built post stations along the way, thus strengthening the connection between the Central Plains and the border areas.

Cao Mao didn't know much about jade, but he could tell that the piece of jade Xin Chang was playing with was definitely a priceless treasure.

Xin Chang handed the jade to Cao Mao again, "Your Majesty, please take a closer look."

Cao Mao took the jade and nodded again, "It's good jade."

Xin Chang laughed hastily, "As long as Your Majesty likes it, I brought this beautiful jade here today specifically to have Your Majesty identify it. Look at the skin and flesh, it's not loose at all." "Hahaha, Lord Xin, I can barely tell the difference, but I don't know how to identify jade."

Xin Chang was a little anxious, so he had to change the subject and said, "Your Majesty, I would like to present this jade to you."

"Oh?"

Cao Mao put away the smile on his face.

"How can I keep such a precious thing? Lord Xin should take it back."

Xin Chang hurriedly shook his head. "Your Majesty, we are all family, close relatives. How can you say such things? Feel free to play with it. You are very busy on weekdays. Take a look at the beautiful jade in your spare time."

Cao Mao was a little surprised, "Oh? Close relative?"

In just one night, the offensive and defensive situations changed.

Xin Chang knew that the emperor was venting his anger and making fun of his behavior yesterday, but Xin Chang could do nothing about it.

Who can blame this?
If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for being blind. You actually missed such a good opportunity.

Just yesterday, Cao Mao was holding his hand, saying that we are a family, but Xin Chang shook his hand away, unwilling to be a member of the emperor's family.

But now, Xin Chang began to hold Cao Mao's hand, wanting to become a member of the emperor's family.

With the fall of the Three Dukes, a large number of vacancies appeared everywhere. Because Xin Chang was not grateful, the lucrative position in the Secretariat was directly obtained by Xun Yi.

This made Xin Chang regret it so much.

If I had been more proactive that day and agreed earlier to become a family, then what would Xun Xi have to do with it?
Therefore, after pondering for a whole day in the mansion, Xin Chang came to the palace early today to pay homage to the emperor.

He took the best treasures in his house and wanted to win the emperor's heart again.

Xin Chang was not afraid of whether others would laugh at him. In the current situation, his life was in danger. Although he had not yet been imprisoned in the Supreme Court, he was directly involved in the rebellion and was the specific executor.

If he didn't win the emperor's favor, he wouldn't be able to keep his current position, let alone climb up.

Looking at Xin Chang, who was sweating profusely in anxiety, Cao Mao laughed and put away the beautiful jade.

"Okay, since you've already asked, I'll have no choice but to accept it."

"We are a family. Please don't be so estranged from each other in the future."

Seeing the emperor accept the gift, Xin Chang breathed a sigh of relief. He smiled and nodded, "Your Majesty is right."

Cao Mao stroked his smooth chin and asked, "I heard that your sister's children, Yang Jin and Yang Xiu, are both very outstanding young men, and yet they haven't been recruited yet?"

Xin Chang's eyes lit up and he nodded quickly, "Your Majesty, that's exactly right."

"Well, then let Yang Jin serve as a secretary in the Shangshutai, and let Yang Xiu serve as a eunuch beside me."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!!"

Although Xin Chang himself did not get promoted, his two nephews were recruited, one to become the Shangshu and the other to stay with the emperor. Xin Chang was already very content.

Xin Chang himself had no sons, and his entire family was massacred during the Cao-Yuan War.

Xin Pi had only one son and one daughter. Like Lu Yu, his family went from a large clan to a small one. Xin Chang had no children, and he had always wanted to adopt one from a relative.

At present, the Xin family and the Yang family have extremely close ties and are almost indistinguishable from each other.

Cao Mao smiled and talked to Xin Chang about things in the court.

"Ministers of the court, although there are loyal people like you, Gao Rou is plotting a rebellion this time, and I'm afraid he has many accomplices hidden among the wise men."

"They don't dare to come out now because they fear violence. They might cause chaos in the future."

"I would like you to take a closer look at the ministers and find out those who are doing evil among them."

Just as the two were discussing, Zhang Hua hurried in.

"Your Majesty, Minister Cui Zan comes to see you."

Xin Chang immediately frowned and couldn't help cursing in his heart, this old thief must have come here to please His Majesty!
As a scholar, he doesn't even have an ounce of backbone!

It's really despicable!
Cao Mao nodded and said, "Please ask him to come in."

Xin Chang couldn't help but remind him, "Your Majesty, the ministers must not be gullible. I will keep an eye on these people for Your Majesty, please rest assured."

"Ah."

Xin Bi hurriedly took his leave.

Walking out of the Taiji Hall, he passed by Cui Zan, who looked at his face, as if thinking about something.

(End of this chapter)