The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 395 Enviable
Cao Mao had already clearly felt the changes he had caused.

This made Cao Mao wake up in an instant.

In the future, when discussing countermeasures, you cannot trust your own prophetic ability too much. With your series of actions, everything has changed, and future developments will most likely not go according to your predictions.

Be sure to stay awake at all times.

Don't be arrogant or complacent.

Don’t forget the lessons of Lu Yu, Gao Rou, Wang Xiang and others!
Hu Zun didn't know what the emperor was thinking at the moment. He was just immersed in the joy of this honor.

Cao Mao specially organized the most grand banquet to entertain Hu Zun.

Hu Zun seemed to be enjoying it very much.

However, the enthronement of Hu Zun became a difficult problem.

According to Cao Mao's original idea, he didn't need to consider this issue at all. The old man might not live to that age. As long as he delayed it a little, he could be posthumously awarded the title of general.

But, the situation seems a little different now.

This old man Hu is full of energy and vitality. How can he look like he is about to die of illness?

It is necessary to confer a title on him, but the position of general is obviously unrealistic, and Cao Wei has no intention of supporting a new general for the time being.

Among the other three generals, the General of Guards and the General of Chariots and Cavalry were both appointed, leaving only the position of the General of Cavalry vacant.

Cao Mao was still thinking.

The banquet is still going on.

Hu Zun's swift suppression of the rebellion this time invisibly boosted Cao Mao's reputation.

The influence of manifestos is hard to explain.

But things like human heads are placed right in front of you, and the deterrent effect is still very strong.

The Qingzhou rebellion lasted only a month, or even less than a month, before it was quickly suppressed by Hu Zun on the side. This was a victory achieved by the governor, who summoned many prefects in the state and led Shi Bao's army.

If it were any other state, I'm afraid they wouldn't even be able to hold out for ten days.

Cao Mao sat in the upper seat with a comfortable look on his face, his head tilted to the side and his eyes slightly narrowed, as if he was taking a rest.

The party was very noisy.

This is probably because there are too many soldiers in the army.

Hu Zun has a rough personality and can often get along well with these people.

The ministers were not restrained either. They drank more wine than the soldiers. After all, most of their main job was to drink.

With the arrival of Hu Zun, the last war zone of the Wei Dynasty also belonged to Cao Mao.

Now, the entire Cao Wei army is under the control of Cao Mao.

Cao Mao had truly secured his position as emperor and became a truly powerful emperor. It took him only over a year to surpass his predecessor, something Cao Fang had failed to achieve in ten years.

The emperor sitting on the throne exudes an invisible aura that is frightening.

Even a rough man like Hu Zun could not help but lower his voice and restrain himself when facing the emperor.

Cao Mao has grown into a grown-up and is no longer the lamb to be slaughtered.

The ministers had different thoughts at this moment. The emperor's power was growing stronger and stronger, and such a terrible rebellion had occurred. The court officials and nobles were only thinking about how to protect themselves, and had no intention of angering the emperor at this time.

The banquet thus became a joyful occasion. Ministers from different factions, backgrounds and regions all drank until their faces flushed and talked happily.

After a long period of fighting among the many factions in the court, a stable and balanced trend finally emerged.

The ministers looked happy, but they were all guessing what the emperor was thinking at the moment.

Cao Mao actually didn't think about anything.

There seemed to be an invisible curtain between him and this noisy banquet.

Cao Mao tried several times to blend in, but he just couldn't fit into this joyful and noisy atmosphere. It was as if there was some barrier on Cao Mao's body that prevented even the atmosphere from getting close to him.

Cao Mao didn't like drinking very much.

For some reason, Cao Mao would blush after taking a few sips of wine, but his mind was extremely clear. However, he really didn't like the taste of alcohol.

He prefers tea to alcohol.

Cao Mao picked up the wine cup, complaining in his heart. Just as he was about to drink it, he was suddenly stunned. When did the wine turn into tea?
He looked to the side, exchanged glances with Zhang Hua, then smiled and started drinking tea.

The banquet went very smoothly. No one was so stupid as to provoke Hu Zun and the emperor at this time. Hu Zun and others were already very drunk. Cao Mao sent someone to send them back to the mansion, and he left with Zhang Hua.

Facing the cold wind, Cao Mao quickly returned to the West Hall.

His distinguished guest Cao Fang was arranged to wait here for the emperor's return, and he did not attend the banquet.

When Cao Mao walked into the hall, Cao Fang stood up in fear, looking at Cao Mao with eyes full of fear.

Different people will have different feelings when reading Sun Yu's manifesto.

Some people were very angry after reading it and felt that Cao Mao was not a human being.

Some people were scared after watching it and felt that Cao Mao was not a human being.

Cao Fang obviously belongs to the latter. Cao Fang and Cao Mao had never met each other. Cao Mao may have some understanding of Cao Fang, but Cao Fang knew nothing about Cao Mao.

Knowing Cao Mao through his anti-traitor manifesto, Cao Fang naturally saw the emperor as a cruel, bloodthirsty, and brutal man, ten times more brutal than Sima Shi. Cao Fang was convinced that only evil could defeat evil.

Cao Mao is definitely worse than Sima Shi!
Cao Mao said nothing, just walked in swaggeringly and sat down in the seat of honor.

"King Qi."

"Come on, why are you standing here? Sit down."

Cao Mao gently waved his hand, but Cao Fang quickly replied, "How dare I, a guilty minister, be in the same rank with Your Majesty!"

Cao Mao shook his head, his eyes full of emotion.

"You have no choice, what crime have you committed?"

"Sit down for a moment."

This time, Cao Fang did not dare to refute and sat next to Cao Mao.

"There are no outsiders here, so there's no need to talk nonsense."

Cao Mao said calmly, "First of all, I won't kill you."

Cao Fang shuddered and his face turned paler.

"I told you I won't kill you, why are you still so scared?"

Cao Fang didn't dare to reply. Shouldn't she keep such things to herself? Could she talk about it directly in person?
Cao Mao patted his shoulder and said, "Don't be afraid. I said I won't kill you, and I definitely won't kill you."

"Look, many people say that my power has surpassed Sima Shi. Of course, I am the emperor, so I have more authority in name only. However, in terms of actual control, I am still not as powerful as him."

"He has many relatives, students, and former officials. These people are spread across mid-level positions. The prefects of various places, and even some major county magistrates, are all considered his close associates."

"It's the same situation in the military."

"As for me, I only integrated the upper echelons. The governors and generals are my people, but looking down from the governors, it's a fog. The situation in the army is better. I can be considered to have integrated the lowest and highest levels. As for the positions in between, it's hard to say."

Cao Mao frowned. "I can handle the bottom and top levels, but if I want to solve the problems at the middle level, I can only follow Sima Shi's example."

"Support your relatives and close associates."

"There are so many of us Cao family members. Logically speaking, our Cao family should be the best in the world. In terms of book collection, resources, connections, and status, no one can compare to us. Unfortunately, the royal family has been tormented so badly since Emperor Wen, and has been completely destroyed."

"I relaxed a lot of restrictions on them this time and allowed them to return to their fiefdom, but they cried the entire way there. They all thought I was going to murder them."

"We can't blame them entirely. Emperor Wen is always like this, always making things worse. Even the best policies become like arrows in his hands."

Cao Mao then looked at Cao Fang and said, "So, you survived."

"From now on, we should get closer. I know you are good at writing, so you can write something to praise our brotherhood. And also talk about my care for the royal family. If you can't write, that's fine. Maoxian's writing is the best in the world. You can just change your name."

After hearing these simple yet rude words, Cao Fang was speechless for a long time.

It’s incredible!
Is this something an emperor could say?

No wonder you were able to defeat Sima Shi, you are not a good person.

However, although Cao Fang was very surprised, the feeling of fear in his heart had disappeared a lot.

Can I survive?

Someone who speaks so bluntly would not deceive himself at this moment.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"No problem, just do your own thing and nothing will happen. Of course, don't even think about returning to Qingzhou in the next year or so. This is not because I'm afraid of a rebellion or something."

"The main reason is that your health is too poor. I'm afraid you'll die on the way, and if the news gets out, I'll be the murderer."

Cao Fang nodded again.

The two of them fell silent, and it seemed that neither of them had anything to say.

At this moment, Cao Fang suddenly asked, "How did your Majesty do it?"

Cao Mao was stunned. "What did you do?"

"Defeat Sima Shi."

"Oh, I just stayed in the Taiji Hall and waited for him to die of illness."

Cao Fang's personality was much more lively than Cao Mao's. Even in this environment, he was still curious and interested in many of Cao Mao's behaviors, and he had no awareness of being a prisoner at all.

Fortunately, Boss Cao did not treat him as a prisoner. Cao Mao confidently asked Cao Fang to write an article to praise him without blushing at all.

Cao Fang looked at the relative in front of her who was much younger than her, her eyes full of envy.

He admired Cao Mao's casual personality. When Cao Fang was emperor, he was walking on thin ice. Even when the powerful ministers did not go too far, there was always a group of people watching his words and deeds. If he said something wrong, he would be attacked by them.

Every time I want to speak, I have to think it over in my mind several times before I can speak.

Later on, even though there were no ministers or censors watching him around him, his character had already been determined. He was cautious in his words and actions and did not dare to be negligent.

But Cao Mao was different. He even dared to criticize and insult Emperor Wen.

This made Cao Fang very envious.

(End of this chapter)