The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 355 Regret
"Father."

Sima Wang stared blankly at his tortured old father in front of him, tears immediately rolling down his cheeks.

Sima Fu, once a well-known wise minister, now had his hair shaved off, was emaciated, and his face no longer had the nobility of the past. Judging from his appearance, he looked really pitiful.

But when he saw his son appear in front of him, Sima Fu breathed a sigh of relief.

"You're back, it's good to be back, it's good to be back."

Sima Fu was really afraid that his son would defect to the Kingdom of Shu in anger.

Although Sima Fu was punished, it had nothing to do with Sima Wang. Even if Cao Mao wanted to implicate his children, it had nothing to do with Sima Wang because Sima Wang had been adopted by someone else a long time ago.

Among his many blood relatives, Sima Fu valued Sima Wang the most.

Among the sons of the Sima family, Sima Wang's personal ability can be ranked in the top three. He is obviously not as good as Sima Shi, but compared with Sima Jun, Sima Zhao and others, he is not obviously inferior.

Oh, you are talking about Sima Wang from this period.

In history, Sima Wang guarded Yongliang for eight years, with good political and military achievements. Later, he was also quite effective in resisting the State of Wu.

However, after he became Situ, this person suddenly became obsessed with money and became very stingy, which was completely contrary to his original tolerant and kind character.

It was as if he not only inherited He Zeng's position as Si Tu, but also inherited He Zeng's greedy and money-loving character.

When Sima Wang died, the gold and silk in his house had piled up like a mountain, and he was ridiculed by people all over the world.

Some people think that this is because Sima Wang's mentality changed after he reached a high position, while others think that he was deliberately desecrating himself in order to protect himself.

But given Sima Anshi's character, there is no need to protect yourself as long as you don't openly support Sima You. Of course, it may also be that you are afraid of those "good friends" around Anshi.

What Sima Fu least wanted to see was something happening to his son. If he defected to the Kingdom of Shu, his lineage would be truly ruined.

In fact, these senior figures are all very clear about the power gap between the three countries today.

A military district of Wei State can fight against a country, and Wei State has four such military districts, and a more powerful central military district.
"Father, I'm sorry that I didn't make it back in time, and you suffered."

Sima Wang was extremely upset at this moment. If he had not hurriedly left the central army system and gone to the border army, would this situation have avoided?
When he came back this time, Sima Wang was completely confused.

Chen Tai didn't tell him anything. When he came back, the whole world had changed, and even his father was imprisoned.

Seeing his son's expression, Sima Fu didn't know what to say for a moment.

Among the few people who were sentenced at the beginning, Wang Guan had been sent back to his hometown, and many of Gao Rou's clansmen had been dealt with. Only Gao Rou was left, and it was said that he would be executed in the autumn.

The reason why he did not leave Luoyang was, on the one hand, that Hebei had not yet been fully incorporated into Cao Mao's actual rule, and on the other hand, it was because of Sima Wang.

Now that Sima Wang is back, the General Zhenbei has been replaced by Cao Mao's men, and many officials in Hebei have accepted the emperor's personal rule, I'm afraid he will also go to Youzhou to die.

At his age, there is really no possibility of survival if he goes to Youzhou to serve, and it is even a question whether he can arrive in time.

"Hope, it doesn't have to be like this."

Sima Fu did not seem to be upset or angry.

"It was I who failed to see through Gao Rou's treacherous schemes and was manipulated by him, leading me to commit such a heinous act. Your Majesty, by pardoning my crimes and granting me a lighter sentence, is truly a great favor."

Sima Wang's face darkened. Just as he was about to speak, Sima Fu spoke first, "Du Yuankai's father did something wrong back then."

"But Duke Xuanwen pardoned his fault and only exiled him."

"Later, Du Yuankai was grateful for Duke Xuanwen's kindness and assisted him wholeheartedly."

"My son, you should follow the example of Du Yuankai, not Xiahou Ba."

Du Yu's father also died when he was exiled by Sima Yi, but this did not prevent Du Yu from continuing to assist the Sima family.

No one criticized Du Yu for forgetting the revenge for his father's murder. It can only be said that etiquette and laws have both advantages and disadvantages.

When the restraining power of etiquette and laws declines, although many demons and monsters will appear, some shackles will also be opened.

Just like Deng Ai and others today, if they were in the Later Han Dynasty, Cao Mao controlled Sima Zhao, and then he joined Cao Mao, he would definitely be ridiculed and despised by the people of the world, and people would think that he was not loyal to his monarch.

But nowadays, this is nothing at all and it is only natural.

Do I have to die together with the past monarchs?

Sima Wang hesitated to speak.

Seeing his father in such a situation, it was impossible for him not to be angry, but Sima Wang could also understand what his father said.

Even Sima Zhao chose to bow his head, so what right did he have to challenge the emperor?

Up to now, the emperor did not send anyone to keep an eye on him, nor did he have a bad attitude towards him. He also allowed the father and son to meet alone, which was obviously to give him a chance to choose.

If he chose to follow his father and confront the emperor head-on, his fate would probably be worse than that of other people in the Sima family.

Tomorrow I will follow my father to Youzhou to do hard labor.

Sima Wang's eyes were full of despair. He said nothing and looked listless.

Sima Fu laughed and asked, "Why is my son like this?"

"I committed a grave sin, but none of my clan members were implicated. I lost my dignity, but I wasn't put to death. What's there to be sad about?"

"Besides, His Majesty's allowing you to meet with me alone shows his sincerity."

"Your Majesty has not given me any trouble these days. Anshi has come to visit me several times and told me the news in the city."

"Your Majesty has no hostility towards Sima people. As long as they are talented, they will be given important positions. Even Anshi can be given important positions." Sima Fu sighed.

Among the few people who were punished at the time, he is now living the best. Wang Xiang is under comprehensive surveillance, Gao Rou is still in prison, and only Sima Fu can still live in his own mansion without being humiliated and can even meet guests.

Sima Wang said, "Father, I don't seek fame or fortune."

"How can a man of honor live in this world without achievements and honors?"

"I believe that the current emperor is a wise ruler not seen in hundreds of years. As long as he does not die young like Emperor Wen and Emperor Ming, the Wei Dynasty will surely be revived."

"Assisting such a sage monarch, upholding the rule of the world, and building a name that will never fade from time is what a true man should do!"

Sima Fu said this and then lowered his head again.

"Things have come to this point now, and I have nothing to be unwilling about."

"There's only one thing I can't let go of."

Sima Wang was very sad at this moment. He could see that his father was ready to leave.

Perhaps this was the last time the father and son sat together and chatted.

"Father, is there anything I can do for you that you are unwilling to do?"

Sima Fu slowly raised his head and looked at Sima Wang in front of him.

"You can't do it, so I have to do it myself."

There was some sadness in his eyes.

"When Ziyuan passed away, I was unable to see him for the last time due to important matters concerning the clan."

Inside the Shiqian Hall.

Sima Yi was teaching her son how to read, and Zheng Xian sat beside them bored, occasionally peeking out to look.

Sima Yi asked her son to go back to the inner room to study, and then she looked at Zheng Xian.

She smiled and asked, "Do you want to have a baby too?"

Zheng Xian shook her head. "Your Majesty gets annoyed when he sees me. How can he have children?"

Sima Yi said calmly, "You are the same age as His Majesty, and you are still young. It is normal for you to laugh and play."

"Now he doesn't even laugh or joke anymore. He has a stern face every day. He doesn't look like a teenager at all. He's more serious than my father and won't let me into the Tai Chi Hall at all."

"When I came in, my mother taught me to win His Majesty's favor as soon as possible, otherwise I would suffer in this harem. It seems that I don't have this ability."

Zheng Xian looked a little depressed.

Sima Yi didn't say anything.

The two people's living environments are very different. Zheng Xian has been spoiled by her parents since childhood, and at the same time has been influenced by the current trend. She is lively, bold, and contemptuous of etiquette.

Sima Yi lived under the shadow of her father since childhood.

She is more like a traditional virtuous wife of the Later Han Dynasty, while Zheng Xian is a standard beauty of the Wei and Jin Dynasties.

After entering the harem, Sima Yi remained very quiet and did not participate in any affairs. She would occasionally have someone deliver food to Cao Mao, and the rest of the time she would stay in her own house and do nothing.

But Zheng Xian was different, she was jumping around all over.

Sima Yi looked at the depressed little girl and gave her own advice.

"The current emperor is more concerned about the affairs of the world. If you really want to gain his favor, instead of pestering him, you might as well help him."

Zheng Xian was confused.

"What can I do to help him? He is the emperor."

Sima Yi shook her head. "There are many things that he can't handle, but you can help him."

"Things are not peaceful in the harem, for example, the Queen Mother's side."

"If you can win the Queen Mother's favor, stop her from having these wild thoughts and stop sending people to the Taiji Palace all the time, make her happy every day and praise the Emperor and you endlessly."

Sima Yi paused for a moment before saying, "Then His Majesty's attitude towards you will be completely different from what it is now."

Zheng Xian fell into deep thought. Thinking of the cold-faced empress dowager, she didn't know how to please her.

Sima Yi reminded again: "The Queen Mother is easy to please. I have paid her a visit several times before, and she no longer hates me."

"As long as you respect her enough, talk to her about your bad experiences, seek her help more often, and complain to her often, she will definitely like you."

"Ah? Complain? Ask for help??"

"Why?"

"Well, it's hard to say. Maybe the Queen Mother herself is not living a good life."

Zheng Xian looked at her suspiciously, "Sister, I find that you seem to understand His Majesty and the Queen Mother very well. Why don't you do these things yourself?"

Sima Yi was silent for a long time.

"Excessive ambition can turn a person into a beast."

(End of this chapter)