The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 31: Aboveboard
Wang Su rushed to the scene.

The county lieutenant was following behind Wang Su at this moment.

The prefect was extremely efficient. Shu Wan had already been detained and was waiting for the order from the imperial court, at which point he would be put on a prison cart and sent to Luoyang.

When Wang Su heard the news that Cao Mao had been assassinated, he was really scared.

If anything happened to Cao Mao, his good reputation would be ruined.

For people of this era, building reputation is for becoming an official, and being an official can continue to build reputation. This is a beneficial cycle.

But at Wang Su's level, cultivating reputation is no longer for the purpose of becoming an official, but for leaving a name in history and for the benefit of the clan.

The higher Wang Su's reputation is now, the more likely his descendants will be recommended. A good reputation can protect several generations of the family.

If his reputation is ruined and remains infamous for eternity, I'm afraid that one day his descendants will be kicked out of the ranks of the top clans by the other aristocratic families and fall into the lower ranks.

Therefore, when he led everyone into the mansion, the first person Wang Su looked at was not his own grandson, but the noble lord who was related to his own reputation.

Fortunately, Cao Mao was not injured.

Wang Su's uneasy heart finally calmed down.

Afterwards, he looked at his grandson and asked about his situation.

"I'm fine, it was your Majesty who protected me."

Sima Yan spoke in a low voice, looking at Cao Mao with a complicated look.

At first he just thought this person was weird, too close, and even a little scary.

Later, because of the disparity between his past and present, I felt a little pity for him.

Now, he began to feel some affection for this eccentric local lord.

Wang Su looked at Zheng Mao, "Who did this?!"

Zheng Mao shook his head, "I really don't know."

Cao Mao smiled bitterly and said, "I have always been honest with others and have never had any enemies. I really don't know who wants to attack me."

"I don't have many people in this mansion. If the assassin comes again, I'm afraid I won't be able to stop him."

A knight said, "We heard the noise and entered, only to see several men with their faces covered, fighting with Lord Guo. Upon seeing us, they hastily fled. They seemed very familiar with the area and had already made arrangements. We were unfamiliar with the roads and were unable to catch up with them."

Sima Yan frowned. "The elite troops in the army can't even catch a few shady rats?!"

The knight pursed his lips and said nothing.

Cao Mao was shocked. "He's familiar with the mansion? Could he be a thief?"

"Could it be the rangers I dismissed?"

Wang Su was suddenly speechless.

Why are you still trying to steal words?

Shouldn't we be the ones to doubt this?

Wang Su ordered, "Send men to search the city. Also, leave twenty men behind to protect Lord Gaogui. Don't let anyone harm him."

"Thank you, my Lord!"

Cao Mao hurriedly saluted.

Ever since he wrote a letter requesting the redress of Xiahou Xuan, these people no longer dared to call him "Your Majesty".

Cao Mao felt that this was his greatest achievement so far.

Wang Su had a stern face and just returned the greeting to Cao Mao, but was unwilling to pay any attention to him.

But Cao Mao obviously did not want to miss this good opportunity. He hurriedly said, "My Lord, I have come to see you several times these days, but I was not allowed to enter."

"But what have I done to offend you that makes you so angry?"

"When I was young, I took Xiahou Gong, Lanling Chenghou and others as my role models, emulating their character and conduct. I also have a special respect for you."

"I know you're a great scholar of classics, and I'd love to learn from you, but since you came to Yuancheng, you've never given me a chance to meet you."

"Lord, why is this happening?"

Cao Mao's eyes were full of sadness, and he portrayed the feeling of being rejected by his idol vividly.

Wang Su just felt creepy.

Oh no, this guy is trying to ruin my reputation!
As a qualified head of a large family, Wang Su was very sensitive to these aspects. Cao Mao's words sounded like an expression of his admiration for him and his sadness at not being able to meet him.

In fact, it is easy to associate it with another meaning.

That is, Wang Su was afraid of vindicating the former literati leader Xiahou Xuan, so he did not dare to meet Cao Mao.

Of course, this is true. Wang Su really doesn't want to be involved in this matter, but at least on the surface, he can't show it. Even Sima Zhao has to pretend, let alone him?
"The old minister is terrified."

Wang Su said: "It's not that I refuse to see you. These days, I have been busy with the rebellion of Duke Xiahou, writing letters to the court and informing many relatives and friends, so I have not been able to meet you. I hope Cao Gong will forgive me." At this time, Wang Su could only express his position.

This was exactly what Cao Mao wanted. He laughed and said, "Your Excellency is a great sage! Your virtue can be a model for the world. I will definitely follow your example! Please accept my greeting!"

"teacher!!"

Wang Su felt dizzy for a moment, and after hastily speaking a few words, he fled from here.

Sima Yan was criticizing the knights who had failed in their duties.

Zheng Mao stood beside Cao Mao.

Zheng Mao hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "Lord, we are foolish and don't know who the assassin is. But there are many talented people in the court, and the general is very wise. He must know."

"That would be great! If the general knew, he would definitely be able to catch the real culprit for me! I wouldn't have to worry anymore!"

Cao Mao said happily.

Zheng Mao was suddenly speechless. After saying goodbye to Cao Mao, he left with Sima Yan.

Only after they all left did Cao Mao follow Guo Ze into the inner room.

As soon as he entered the inner room, Guo Ze said sternly with a stern face, "My Lord!"

"Ok?"

"Such deceitful and despicable tactics are truly not something a gentleman should do."

"Why would a gentleman, who is honest and upright, do such a thing?"

"I had to do this because of your instructions, but I will never do such a thing again."

Cao Mao laughed and said, "How can this be considered a treacherous tactic?"

"This is an upright method. You don't think the Sima family can't see it, right?"

"Even Wang Su can see that this crude trick can only fool people like Sima Yan and my uncle."

"But I'm not worried about whether he can see it."

"What's important isn't who sent the assassin, but what the impact will be if I die."

"Even if Master Sima doesn't care about his reputation at all, he still has to consider the consequences of my untimely death, right?"

"Besides, Sima Shi is a very terrifying person. My ordinary methods are probably unable to shake him. Therefore, we must constantly give him shocking news to keep him from having peace!"

"Thinking about how the Sima family wants to kill me but doesn't dare to, and has to carefully send people to protect me, I feel so happy!"

"Zi Shou, my Cao family may not have gained the throne legitimately, but we have our own integrity. This half of the country was conquered by my great-grandfather!"

"And the prosperity of the north today was created by my grandfather and uncle!"

"We are different from the Sima family. We are not rats who only know how to deceive!"

"I've always been frank in what I do. Whether it's Xiahou Xuan's matter, Ci Rang's matter, or even today's assassination attempt, I'm not afraid of others knowing the reason behind everything."

Guo Ze asked, "But what if the Sima family is pushed too far and they disregard all this and insist on killing you?"

Cao Mao looked at him and blinked.

"Mr. Guo, do you know what the biggest weakness of a rat who only knows how to deceive is?"

"Please let me know."

"They have made no contribution to the country. Everyone only surrounds them out of fear or self-interest. They are unpopular and unpopular, so they can never achieve complete control."

"It's easy for them to kill me, but after killing me, they have to be able to deal with the subsequent situation."

"Just wait, the impact of this matter is far more complicated than this."

After this incident, the lives of the king and his minister returned to the past, the only difference was that there were more knights in the mansion to protect them.

Cao Mao was a man who didn't like to be idle. He chatted with these knights every day and invited them to have dinner with him.

Of course, the knights did not dare to get close to him and deliberately kept their distance. However, they could not resist Cao Mao's talkativeness and eventually became familiar with him.

Although they were still very indifferent, Cao Mao had a certain understanding of them.

For example, the leader of these knights was also the knight who first knocked on the door.

His name is Cheng Ji.

He is the younger brother of the deputy general Cheng Ji.

He currently serves as the cavalry commander of the General of the Western Expedition's Mansion, commanding the knights in the mansion.

ps: The number of collections has reached 67,000. I don’t know if it can exceed 100,000 before it is put on the shelves. This result is much better than what I expected when I first started writing the book. It gives me great motivation!

(End of this chapter)