The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 315 Return to the Court
The senior generals in the world today include provincial governors, prefects, and even county magistrates from all over the country.

There are almost no people who come from poor families or common people.

They are all children of wealthy families.

Even though Cao Mao nominally subdued these armies, the leaders were still children of wealthy families. The Hebei army was subdued, but the same was true for officials in other places.

Sitting in the carriage, Cao Mao's face was full of helplessness.

Fortunately, many people in the central army have made great contributions this time, and a group of people who have made great contributions can be promoted.

It’s actually easy to deal with the military generals, as we can promote meritorious people from the army, but what about the local officials?

Today's grassroots talents are unable to support the bureaucratic system of the Wei Dynasty.

Cao Mao fell into deep thought. After thinking for a long time, he raised his head and looked at the person sitting opposite him.

"Mr. Zhongfu, how can we quickly implement the policies of the imperial court at the local level?"

Sima Zhao raised his head. If Cheng Ji had not been sitting next to him, he would have really wanted to spit in Cao Mao's face.

How dare you ask me about politics?

Who is your uncle? !

Seeing Sima Zhao's grief-stricken face, Cao Mao sighed deeply and continued, "Zhongfu, how much power do you have left now?"

"Foreign generals from all over the country will never send troops for you, even if it's for a marriage alliance."

"It seems that the one who truly commands the army is Sima Wang from the northwest."

"However, Sima Fu had argued with you before about the division of the family property, and he would not side with you and bring trouble upon himself."

"Besides, he's currently being besieged by Jiang Wei and can barely protect himself, so how can he possibly help you?"

Cao Mao stroked his chin and said seriously, "As for your crimes, you imprisoned General Zhengbei and General Zhenbei, and then led the army to attack Luoyang. This is clearly treason. What is the punishment for treason? The extermination of three generations of the clan?"

Cao Mao's eyes also became sharp.

"General Wei, I can have the Hebei army slaughter your clan in Hanoi, and then exterminate the Sima clan completely, to avenge those who died innocently at your hands!"

"I don't even need to do anything. The thief can complete this task very well."

"No one will even think it's inappropriate. I will return to Luoyang with a great victory and solid evidence. Those ministers will compete to execute you and exterminate your clan to seize the position left vacant by your family."

Sima Zhao swallowed and looked at the emperor in front of him.

The emperor's face was a little gloomy. His eyes were calm, but with some inexplicable deterrence.

Sima Zhao was stunned.

Cao Mao's expression was surprisingly similar to that of his brother in his memory.

Sima Zhao was not so afraid of Cao Mao's threats. He gritted his teeth and said, "Today's defeat at your hands is all my own fault. If you want to kill me, then go ahead. I will never yield."

Cao Mao laughed, "Don't I dare to kill you?"

"Cheng Jun, take him out and beat him into a pulp with the handle of a knife. Then feed him to the dogs. Then take your men back to Wen County and slaughter his clan."

Cheng Ji was stunned, then stood up, grabbed Sima Zhao and was about to get off the car.

"Wait a minute!!!"

Sima Zhao suddenly shouted.

Cheng Ji didn't tolerate him and simply grabbed his collar and dragged him out.

"Your Majesty!! Wait a minute!!"

Sima Zhao shouted again.

Cao Mao then looked at Cheng Ji, "Do you have any last words?"

Sima Zhao's face was sometimes blue and sometimes white.

"If Your Majesty wishes to kill me, then give me poisoned wine. Why humiliate me? A scholar can be killed, but not humiliated!"

"Humiliation? Linghu Yu was already dead. Why didn't you say this when you dug up his body and whipped it?"

"Why didn't you say this when you used the handle of the knife to hammer Li Feng to death?!"

"How many loyal and good people have you killed?! How many people have you harmed?! How many scholars have you humiliated?!"

Sima Zhao's face turned red and he was speechless. He looked at Cao Mao's face again, wanting to know if he was threatening him.

Cao Mao's expression was exceptionally calm, without any hint of "joking" at all.

Did he really want to kill himself with a hammer and exterminate his entire clan?

For some reason, looking at the emperor's calm face, Sima Zhao suddenly felt annoyed and a little breathless.

I'm not afraid of death, but I can't drag my clan down with me.
Sima Zhao said silently in his heart, and then he spoke again: "Your Majesty, I am guilty."

"What did you say?"

"I plead guilty!"

Sima Zhao knelt before Cao Mao.

Cao Mao just stared at him and didn't ask him to stand up.

Sima Zhao kept this posture.

This scene was just like the original Yuancheng, except that the people giving and receiving the gifts were different. "Stand up."

It was unknown how long it had been before Cao Mao finally spoke softly.

Sima Zhao sat in front of the emperor again, but this time, he seemed to have lost his soul.

Cao Mao said, "Zhongfu, you can rest assured. I will not kill you. I need your assistance to govern the country."

"As long as you assist me wholeheartedly, I can swear by the Luo River that I will never murder you."

Cheng Ji stood aside and almost laughed out loud when he heard these words.

Sima Zhao said nothing.

As a loser, all he could do was endure it.

Cao Mao continued, "After returning to Luoyang this time, you will continue to serve as the General of the Guards. I will reward you with a General of the Guards Mansion. You can move in and your family can live there too. From now on, you will assist me in governing the empire."

Cao Mao gave some instructions for a while and then asked Cheng Ji to take the man away.

After Sima Zhao was sent away, Cheng Ji finally said with a smile, "Your Majesty, I'm so relieved! Even I was frightened by your threats just now! He must have believed it was true!"

Cao Mao slowly looked at Cheng Ji. For some reason, Cheng Ji inexplicably felt a sense of oppression.

Cao Mao suddenly laughed, revealing his white teeth, "Yes."

At this moment, many ministers and generals followed the emperor's carriage.

Chen Ben said to Pei Xiu beside him: "Your Majesty is really elusive. Before I could react, Your Majesty had already appeared in front of the tent."

"This feeling."

He didn't continue, but Pei Xiu added: "It looks like a general, right?"

Chen Ben cleared his throat and didn't respond.

Pei Xiu said seriously, "In order to deal with the general, your majesty has been actively trying to understand the general and figure out his behavior. Naturally, he will inevitably be affected."

Chen Ben fell silent.

Pei Xiu said gently, "Don't worry. Your brother is a trusted minister of His Majesty. When you return to the court, he will surely be given important positions."

He then looked at He Zeng on the other side and said, "Your Majesty previously ordered the execution of Gao Situ's three clans, and many people were implicated. I know you had some dealings with Situ Gong in the past, so you must be careful."

He Zeng's face turned pale.

Ma Long, who was in charge of protecting them, listened to Pei Xiu's words with a slight smile on his face.

He knew that Pei Xiu was trying to intimidate the two newcomers.

Although Ma Long did not have much time to assist His Majesty, he knew in his heart that His Majesty was definitely not a person like Sima Shi.

At least, interests are not the most important thing in his mind. How could a person who feels unfair about the fate of his ministers be as cold-blooded and ruthless as Sima Shi?
It’s just that the current situation requires a figure like Sima Shi.

At this moment, Cao Mao set out for Luoyang with great fanfare, while Xiahou Xian and others, following the emperor's order, asked the ministers to come and greet him.

When the ministers heard the news, they were all confused.

You know, during the time when Cao Mao was away, they had been scheming and fighting wits and courage with the emperor!

Ever since the second fight between Wang Xiang and Wang Su began, the temple has become extremely lively.

Cui Zan went to the temple but failed to see the emperor. According to Wei Shu, the emperor was unwilling to get involved in matters of Confucian classics and let the ministers solve it themselves.

Immediately, all the ministers were forced to stand on the side of the Chief Justice and stand with Wang Su with a pinch of their nose. No matter what, this classic power had to be retained.

However, Wang Xiang called on the young scholars, and the two sides started a war of public opinion.

The ministers tried every possible way to deal with the emperor's attack.

Just when they were fighting wits and courage with the emperor and were at a disadvantage, and were beating Wang Xiang and others, Xiahou Xian suddenly sent someone to tell them, "Stop fighting, the emperor is coming back, follow me to welcome him!"

It is hard to imagine how sad and angry the minister must be at this moment.

The emperor is not in Luoyang?
So what are we doing these days?

The most indignant person was Wang Su. He had already gained enough advantages, public opinion was gradually turning in his favor, and Wang Xiang's plagiarism was almost confirmed. And now you tell me that the emperor is not even in Luoyang. This war without a referee is meaningless?
I don’t know what Wang Su’s mentality was at the moment, but he didn’t come out to greet the emperor.

The ministers stood in an orderly manner outside the main gate of Luoyang, and the generals of the central army were also here.

When the emperor's carriage stopped, the ministers finally confirmed that the emperor was not in Luoyang!

Cao Mao slowly got down from the carriage and waved behind him. Suddenly, another person came to the emperor's side. Cao Mao grabbed his wrist and pulled him towards the ministers.

And this person was none other than General Wei Sima Zhao.

When the ministers saw this scene, they were shocked and there was an uproar.

Cao Mao enthusiastically pulled Sima Zhao and walked quickly in front of the ministers.

All the ministers hurriedly bowed to greet him.

"Everyone, this time, General Wei has made great contributions in Hebei. I have specially gone to greet him and bring him back to Luoyang!"

"You all can congratulate General Wei!!!"

When these words were spoken, all the ministers were stunned and looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

At this moment, Xun Yi finally confirmed his guess. As expected, His Majesty and General Wei had joined forces!
When Du Yu first came here, I had a vague guess, and it turned out to be true!
(End of this chapter)