The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 33 It’s not that easy!
Guo Jian left silently.

He was going to take his people away from Yuancheng.

Sima Yan was still complaining to Cao Mao, "This man should not be made a close friend. My father always said that these Guos are greedy."

Sima Yan glanced at Guo Ze and said to Cao Mao, "Even if he is someone close to you, you must be more careful to avoid harm from him!"

Guo Ze's face looked very ugly.

Cao Mao looked at Sima Yan in surprise.

What a clever strategy of sowing discord!

I wish your uncle were like you!

He is indeed Sima Zhong’s biological father, and his character is still as holy as ever.

Unfortunately, powerful ministers are common, but Sima Yan is rare, and the opponent he has to face is still Sima Shi.

The news brought by Guo Jian was explosive.

Now it was Cao Mao's turn to be stunned. Guo Jian accused him of killing Guo De.

Guo De is Sima Shi's son-in-law. In the temple, except Sima Shi, who else would dare to kill him?

Why did Sima Shi want to kill him?
Isn’t he afraid of completely falling out with the Guo family?
Guo Jian just told me the news today, so this incident must have happened many days ago. How did Sima Shi deal with the aftermath during this period of time?

Cao Mao suddenly woke up. Isn't this the information gap he used before?
Sima Shi returned it to me intact. Is it my turn now to start guessing the situation?
My great-grandfather, this guy is almost dying of illness, but he is still so fierce?
Sima Yan persuaded him for a few words and ordered Cheng Ji to protect Cao Mao before leaving.

Cao Mao pulled Guo Ze back to the inner room.

"Mr. Guo, my uncle was killed."

Guo Ze was silent for a moment, "The Queen Mother didn't write to me again."

"I'm worried that the Queen Mother has also been controlled by Sima Shi."

Cao Mao said sadly:
"Alas, my uncle died because of me."

Guo Ze hurriedly shook his head and said seriously, "Your Majesty, everyone must die. Today, my brother died for such a great cause as Xiahou Gongping's rebellion. This is a worthy death and is by no means something to be sad about."

"I used to think my brother was timid and didn't dare to help the country. Now it seems that I am far inferior to him!"

Guo Ze looked up and sighed.

Cao Mao did not make any comment on this.

If this man was determined to die for the government, he would not have died now. He would have gone on the road with Xiahou Xuan and the others long ago.

Just as the two were speculating on the situation in the court and waiting for news, an old friend returned to the mansion.

That’s right, Yang Zong is back.

When he appeared at the door of the mansion in disheveled and unruly manner, Cheng Ji was shocked by him. This man was simply elusive.

Cheng Ji hated this kind of people, but he didn't make things difficult for him and let him in.

When Guo Ze saw Yang Zong, his eyes were full of anger.

He taunted her, "The crisis isn't over yet, why are you back?"

Yang Zong ignored the silly boy and walked to the shade of the tree he was familiar with, leaned his back against the tree and sat on the ground.

"I'm just out for a walk."

Yang Zong looked at Cao Mao standing at the door, raised his head and said: "I met a few friends on the way, and learned some information about the temple. Oh, I really want to have some wine."

He looked quite proud, as if to say, come and ask me!

Cao Mao nodded calmly.

"The wine is in the warehouse."

After saying that, he turned around and walked into the house.

Only Yang Zong was left, looking at Cao Mao's back, his body disheveled in the wind.

Guo Ze followed Cao Mao in.

"My Lord, it seems that Lord Yang has something to say to you. Although he left earlier, we really need to know the situation in the temple. Why don't you listen to his account?"

Cao Mao shook his head. "It's not because he left, it's just that I don't want to get too close to him."

Cao Mao had already prepared for failure and death, and Yang Zong was his backup plan after failure. If he died, he could still advise Sima Zhao in time. Although Sima Zhao was not as good as his brother, he was willing to listen to advice and might be able to prevent a great catastrophe in the future.

If he gets too close to him now, Sima Zhao may not use him too much in the future.

As for the situation in the temple, what good would it do even if we knew it?

I am in this situation now and there is nothing I can do.

Without thinking much, Cao Mao waved his hand, walked into the study, picked up a book and started reading.

Guo Ze looked at him, hesitated for a moment, and then walked out of the inner room.

Yang Zong sat under the shade of a tree. The weather was getting colder and his whole body was trembling slightly, but Yang Zong didn't care at all. He even deliberately opened his collar and faced the cold.

"Mr. Yang."

Suddenly someone shouted.

Yang Zong raised his head and saw Guo Ze, who was standing aside with a wine bag in his hand.

"you"

Guo Ze opened his mouth twice but was unable to continue.

He had never asked anyone for help in his life, nor did he know how to flatter. He stood there cautiously, completely at a loss as to what to say.

Yang Zong stared at the young man in front of him.

The two were silent for a long time.

Finally, Yang Zong asked angrily, "Is this wine for me?"

"Yes"

Guo Ze hurriedly gave the wine to Yang Zong. Yang Zong took a few big sips and looked at Guo Ze again.

Guo Ze still didn't say anything.

Yang Zong sighed and asked again, "Want me to tell you about the situation in the temple?"

"Yes"

"Look at you two, you're such rude people! Do I have to beg you to tell me?!"

Guo Ze was stunned for a moment, then straightened his clothes and knelt directly in front of Yang Zong, "Please tell me, Mr. Yang."

At that moment, Yang Zong looked a little dazed.

He looked at the pedantic and somewhat foolish young man in front of him and couldn't help but fall into memories.

His eyes were full of complexity and pain.

"Get up! I'm not worthy of your kneeling."

"Sima Shi forced Guo De to commit suicide. He fabricated a charge against him for inciting Cao Gong to redress his brother-in-law's innocence, made him the initiator, appointed Sima Wang as the General of the Guards, and used the entire Guo family to pressure the Empress Dowager, who ordered that the redress not be allowed."

"The ministers are no longer able to submit petitions. You should return and inform Lord Cao that Sima Shi cares nothing for his reputation. Now that he has pacified the ministers, his next move will most likely be to kill Lord Cao."

"Whether Cao Gong is willing to inherit the throne or not, it cannot be changed."

"The only way to survive now is to write a letter to Sima Zhao, requesting that the Prince of Pengcheng be made emperor. Sima Zhao wants fame, and even if it's just to show his tolerance, he'll probably protect Cao Gong, and maybe even grant him a throne and place him under house arrest for life."

"House arrest is better than being killed."

There was no fear on Guo Ze's face. He bowed deeply to Yang Zong again.

"Thank you for informing me."

"From now on, you should think more about yourself. The Guo family will definitely abandon you, and you are considered by the court to be a close confidant of Cao Gong. If Cao Gong can judge the situation, he can still survive, but you, I'm afraid there is no way to survive."

Guo Ze said seriously, "To die for the king is a worthy death."

He stood up and left in a hurry.

Yang Zong looked at the wine in his hand again and drank it.

Guo Ze hurriedly informed Cao Mao of the news.

"You went to see Yang Zong?"

"Since my lord is unwilling to be close to him, I have no choice but to go and ask him myself."

Cao Mao said, "From now on, you must not act on your own."

"only."

The news that Guo Ze brought back was not really good.

Cao Mao didn't expect that Sima Shi would be so ruthless and leave him no chance at all.

He proposed to rehabilitate Xiahou Xuan. Firstly, it was to show his attitude to the loyal people in the world, secondly, it was to cause conflicts in the court, thirdly, it was to gain reputation among the scholars, and fourthly, it was to tie himself to the Guo family and make it difficult for them to get off the tiger's back.

However, Sima Shi directly forced Guo De to death and put all the blame on him, turning the world event of rehabilitating the leader of the literati into a private matter of rehabilitating his own brother-in-law.

He also silenced the ministers through the Queen Mother, forced his own family members into the palace, and divided the power of the Guo family.

He even alienated himself from the Guo family. Judging from Guo Jian's attitude, he seemed to want to eat him alive.

Cao Mao took a deep breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Guo Ze also told Cao Mao the second half of Yang Zong's words.

Hearing this, Cao Mao narrowed his eyes, with a faint smile on the corner of his mouth.

"How could I not know what kind of person Sima Shi is? I never thought that I could restrict him through reputation."

"However, it's not that easy for him to kill me."

"In this Great Wei, he still doesn't have the final say."

"Mr. Guo, I need to write another letter!"

"Who does my lord want to write to?"

"Of course it's Sima Zhao. Didn't Yang Gong tell me to write a letter to Sima Zhao begging for mercy? How could I not listen to the advice of this great sage?"

(End of this chapter)