The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 400 This is the Great Wei

Cao Mao found a restaurant, which was privately run. It was actually a simple house that had been slightly modified. Everyone sat in the courtyard to eat, and several rooms inside were used as kitchens.

The restaurant is simple and the people who come here are not rich.

When they saw Cao Mao leading people in, everyone who was chatting suddenly became quiet and said nothing.

The young man who was running around to greet everyone was now horrified and fled back to the kitchen in fear.

Cao Mao looked at the fear in everyone's eyes and was not surprised. He sat aside casually.

He had seen this situation many times when he was in Yuancheng.

However, he didn't expect that the situation in Luoyang was even more serious.

The children of wealthy families who have lost their moral restraints are as ferocious as wild beasts, and are even more brutal when dealing with the people.

The people were extremely desperate for a group of lunatics who lost their minds after being disbanded.

Ordinary big families are fine. As long as you don't offend them, they won't make things difficult for the people for no reason. But those young scholars who have just been dismissed from their posts can do anything, and no one dares to stop them.

When the common people met them, they didn't even have the courage to fight back. They were beaten and humiliated for no reason, and they were afraid that they would be injured by the beating. This is even better. If they met someone like General Shi Bao's son, who took pleasure in killing and did not care about human life at all, it would be the most desperate.

The lives experienced by the people of this era can be called a horror movie.

Others can take away their lives and everything they cherish without being blamed.

There is no legal sanction, let alone moral restraint.

Cao Mao looked at the quiet courtyard, lost in thought.

Soon, an old man came to Cao Mao's side. He looked at Cao Mao as if he were looking at a demon that could kill him at any time. He took a deep breath and asked, "Sir, what do you want?"

"I want to eat something. Do you have anything delicious here?"

The father-in-law's eyes became more and more terrified. It was obvious that this person did not come from an ordinary background. Whether it was his temperament, clothes, or appearance, he must have come from a wealthy family.

He didn't smell of alcohol.

Why would they come to a place like this to eat their food?

Could it be that he just took the powder?
The old man trembled and said hurriedly, "Sir! How can you eat the food here? I'm afraid it will pollute your mouth and is not worthy of serving you!"

Cao Mao laughed and pointed at the people around him, "Aren't there so many people here to eat? It must taste good."

He took out the money and put it aside.

"Don't be afraid. I've never taken medicine. I've lived in the palace since I was young and never left. I enjoy the various ways of the people. I'm also well-versed in the books of sages. I would never do anything to oppress the people."

The old man hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said, "A gentleman certainly wouldn't do that. A gentleman is a man of high moral character. I'll do it for you right away, right away."

The father-in-law went back into the house again.

The dozen or so people in the courtyard were very quiet at this moment.

Sitting directly opposite Cao Mao was a woodcutter who had settled here. He had been busy for half a day and had no wife or concubines at home, so he came here to have a meal. Unexpectedly, he ran into a young man from a wealthy family who came to pick a fight.

He didn't even dare to eat. He wanted to just leave the money and go, but he was afraid that taking the lead would anger the gentleman.

He clearly remembered that just a few days ago, when he was carrying firewood back to the city, he was stopped by several drunken scholars who accused him of cutting down trees and damaging the road. He did not dare to explain and let those people take away his firewood.

He didn't understand why such a rich man would steal his firewood. He was clearly following the rules and didn't steal.

Sitting next to Cao Mao was an old man.

The old man looked dull and his eyes were empty. He just numbly put the food into his mouth.

He was also one of the few people who didn't care about Cao Mao and just went ahead to eat.

The old man had been a soldier in Cao's army and a military household for generations. He himself had participated in the Battle of Hanzhong.

His sons also successively became border soldiers of Cao Wei. However, they died in battle one after another. Later, the lieutenant who delivered their belongings took out an IOU, saying that his sons owed money and robbed his house.

He was no longer able to make fire and cook for himself, nor could he participate in farming. He could only make a living by helping others read and write letters with his limited writing skills.

He no longer cared whether he could continue to live.

Sitting behind Cao Mao was a father and son.

The father looked at Cao Mao in the distance and couldn't help but sigh, he really has a good appearance.

Looking at his son who was eating in an ugly manner, he couldn't help shaking his head.

I am obviously very good-looking, and my daughter is also pretty, so why is my son like this?

With my son's appearance, if he doesn't grow up to be a mature man, how can he become an official?
The father was an official, a local official. Because several of his superiors had been killed, he came to Luoyang to report on his work. His son was dull and a little stupid, so he brought his son here.

The original intention was to broaden my son's horizons and make him less dull and stupid.

However, his status was too low. When the officials learned that he came from a poor family, they directly kicked him out of the inn that received local officials.

Those people were too lazy to pay attention to a petty official like him, and he kept running into obstacles everywhere, and couldn't find anyone to report the local situation to.

When he wanted to enter the Censorate, the gatekeeper asked him for a bribe.

What kind of world is this? Do I have to bribe just to get in to report on my work?
My father frowned, his face full of resentment. Although we are not from a wealthy family, my family has been educated for generations. Does it mean that I will never be able to succeed just because I have talent?
Sitting in the innermost seats were a few people dressed like businessmen.

Their faces looked very ugly.

Is this person here to stare at me?
They came here from Bingzhou to sell horses, and they were always worried along the way, afraid of thieves, government officials, and scholars.

Along the way, they have to be wary of everyone.

Even if they are robbed, few people will stand up for them.

Previously, they were robbed in Hanoi and reported the case to the court, but were tied up by the county magistrate. The county magistrate angrily shouted: You shameless profiteers are all villains who only care about your own interests. You are useless to the country and cruel to the people. How dare you make such a fuss?
Then the county magistrate beat each of them with fifty strokes of the cane and threw them out.

Thinking of the minor officials under the county magistrate who were similar in build to thieves, the merchants left the place silently.

What kind of world is this? Those who earn some money to support their families are considered bandits, but those who openly rob people on the road are considered gentlemen and virtuous people?

Cao Mao was waiting when the old man walked out trembling.

The old man was very frightened. His son was playing on the street before and was hit by a scholar in a chariot. If his son had not run fast, the scholar would have caught his son and taken him to see the officials. Since then, they have been hiding this matter.

Could it be that this matter has been discovered?

Are you here to test the waters?

Cao Mao picked up the food with a smile and was about to eat, but Cheng Ji took the food first and started eating. He tasted several dishes carefully and drank their water.

Cao Mao sat aside without saying a word.

Seeing this scene, the father was stunned, and then there was a look of surprise in his eyes. Wait, who is this person? ?

Cao Mao watched Cheng Ji eating and finally couldn't bear it anymore.

"Leave some for me too!"

Cheng Ji finally reacted and wiped his mouth with a smile, "Junzi, you are right, it is indeed delicious!"

Cao Mao rolled his eyes at him and then started eating.

They are all very ordinary meals, just millet, wheat, and some wild vegetables, with almost no meat or fish, but, you have to say, they have a different taste.

I don’t know if it’s because of the roughness of millet and wheat, or because of the unique taste of wild vegetables, or because of the taste of the market.

Cao Mao quickly finished the meal and took out some money with a smile, saying, "This meal is really good. Let's make some more for these people so they can have a taste too!"

Cao Mao was referring to the many guards including Cheng Ji.

They were a little frightened and didn't dare to sit down. Only after Cao Mao gave repeated orders did these people find a place to sit nearby.

The father who was looking at this place was even more suspicious at this moment.

This behavior doesn't seem like that of a child from a wealthy family, but more like...
Cao Mao had no intention of joking with the people around him or livening up the atmosphere, as that would make these people think he had some ulterior motive.

The reason he came out this time was to take a look around Luoyang and see the country under his rule.

He did see it.

The moment I came in, I saw fear and panic in everyone's eyes.

This really shouldn't happen.

There is a reason why the Wei and Jin dynasties perished so quickly. If such a dynasty did not perish, it would be an injustice for what it had done.

Now, Cao Mao could finally understand why rebellions broke out one after another in various places decades later.

There were even cases of Hu and Han people colluding to rebel in various places.

The only ones who could have formed the Hu-Han joint rebellion were the princes, generals and ministers of our Great Jin.

Sooner or later, we will kill all these insects and return the world to a pure land.

After Cao Mao and everyone finished their meal, Cao Mao left some money. Although the other party didn't dare to take it, Cao Mao still left with a smile.

Cao Mao then wandered aimlessly in Luoyang until Cheng Ji came to him dragging someone.

Cao Mao looked at the man in front of him, and then looked at the ugly child beside him.

Cheng Ji said, "Gentleman, this man actually followed us and was apprehended by the guards."

"Aren't you the one who was eating in the restaurant just now?"

"Is something wrong?"

The father hesitated for a moment, then asked, "But is His Majesty in person?"

Cao Mao was stunned. "Who are you?"

The man was horrified. It was indeed the case. He hurriedly tried to salute, but Cheng Ji held him back. "If you dare reveal that His Majesty is here, I will exterminate your entire clan!"

Cao Mao smiled and asked Cheng Ji to let go of his hand.

"I am the Emperor of Wei. What do you want?"

(End of this chapter)