The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 50 I'm afraid there will be a river of blood

"Anshi, what do you think is wrong with this reward to the ministers?"

"I don't know why the commander objects."

As Cao Mao spoke, he looked at Sima Wang in front of him.

"What do you think, Zichu?"

Sima Wang hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, rewards must be fair. How can you reward without merit?"

"Furthermore, if Your Majesty bestows titles upon the ministers, the court will have to spend money to support them, and tax revenue will also be reduced. If the court has no money, how can it provide relief to the people? How can it govern the country?"

"That's why my father won't accept it."

Cao Mao suddenly understood.

"I see!"

He excitedly grabbed Sima Wang's hand and said, "Zichu is truly a talented person! With Anshi and Zichu by my side, what else do I have to worry about?"

Sima Yan didn't care, he just smiled foolishly and ate the delicacies in front of him.

But Sima Wang was even more uneasy.

Sima Yan looked at the four eunuchs staring at him from a distance, and suddenly felt irritated. He waved his hand and said, "What are you doing here? Get out!"

"A bunch of filthy eunuchs, ruining our fun!"

Those people were immediately shocked.

Cao Mao, however, advised, "Why do you have to curse? Anshi, you can't do that."

Sima Yan curled his lips and glared at those people. They didn't dare to stay any longer and hurried out.

Since returning to Luoyang, Sima Yan has finally shown his true self.

No longer as restrained as in Yuancheng.

"My father said I couldn't hang around like this anymore. He asked me to follow the Chief Justice Pei Jun, saying I could learn the truth from him."

"That guy is only a dozen years older than me. What can I learn from him?"

Sima Yan also had many worries in his heart.

Probably because of Cao Mao, Sima Zhao discovered many of his son's shortcomings in advance, so he decided to let him learn and improve.

The candidate Sima Zhao found for Sima Yan was the young Chief Justice Pei Xiu.

Pei Xiu was the grandson of Pei Mao, the Minister of the Chancellery of the Han Dynasty, and the son of Pei Qian, the Grand Master of Imperial Households of the Wei Dynasty.

He also became famous at a young age, and was later appointed as an official by General Cao Shuang, and then dismissed from his post due to his involvement in the incident.

Sima Zhao discovered this outstanding young man, pardoned his mistakes, promoted him to a higher position and title, and admired him very much.

Pei Xiu was a rare capable and practical person. In the future, he even became Sima Yan's Shangshu Ling.

Since the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Shangshu Ling has become the real manager of the temple and the person who actually does things.

The politics of the world come from the Secretariat, and the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers are more like a figurehead. Now Sima Shi himself takes the position of Shangshu Ling is the best proof.

Looking at the troubled young Sima Yan, Cao Mao smiled and said soothingly, "Anshi, are you talking about Pei Jiyan? I heard that he is highly regarded by the general and the great general, and they think he has the potential to be one of the Three Dukes. You should learn from him and stop complaining."

"Oh, Your Majesty, you don't know that when I first met him, he actually took off his clothes and ran around the palace."

Cao Mao was stunned. "Go and disperse?"

This symptom instantly reminded him of an old friend.

Sima Yan nodded and said disdainfully, "What can you learn from someone like this? How to take medicine?"

Cao Mao stroked his chin and wondered why all those who had served as Cao Shuang's private ministers liked this.

Could it be that Cao Shuang was the first to surrender? Was it because he was so stubborn when he surrendered to Sima Yi?
Thinking of that old friend, Cao Mao's expression grew more serious. He asked in a low voice, "Anshi, do you know how Guo Jun and Yang Gong are doing?"

Sima Yan looked up and said, "Of course I know. Yang Gong is in Luoyang right now, serving as my father's military officer."

"I heard that Mr. Guo was sent to serve as a county magistrate, but I don't know which county it was."

Cao Mao's eyes widened, "Huh???"

This is somewhat different from what Cao Mao thought.

Yang Zong had already come to Luoyang? And he even became Sima Zhao's military officer?

Participating in the military operations of the General of the Western Expedition is a treatment that is only given to the most trusted members of the army.

Sima Zhao did have his strengths. He could use this person who might have helped the emperor so highly!

Guo Ze's situation was even more unexpected. Cao Mao had thought that Sima Shi would keep him by his side or imprison him, but he was actually appointed as a county magistrate.

Sima Yan asked again, "Your Majesty, are you surprised too? I was also startled when I saw Yang Gong in the palace."

"He even asked me about your situation!"

"I asked him if he needed to say hello, but he covered his face and ran away. He must have worn off his medicine." Cao Mao laughed. Yang Zong probably felt that he could not face himself.

He then asked, "Mr. Yang was already very favored by the general, but Mr. Guo, did he really become a county magistrate?"

Sima Yan said firmly, "Yes! It was Guo Zhi who personally found my father and recommended him. My father even suggested that he join the government, but Guo Zhi said that Mr. Guo's talent was not enough for the government and that being a county magistrate would be enough."

"I remember it very clearly. It happened a few days ago, the day after you ascended the throne."

Cao Mao finally breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems that Guo still listened to what he said. In order to hold on to him, he picked up Guo Ze and did not give up on him completely.

Although they could not be with him, Cao Mao was still very happy to know that they were no longer suffering.

He couldn't help but pull Sima Yan to drink again.

An Shi was an important channel for him to learn about the news from the court in the future. With him here, Jia Chong's people did not dare to get close to him.

Sima Yan and Cao Mao were both drunk, reciting poems and commenting on contemporary figures, looking very happy.

Only Sima Wang still had a stern face and sweat on his forehead.

When the two men left, Cao Mao was very reluctant to let them go and asked them to stay several times, but they could not spend the night with Cao Mao. Sima Yan also left reluctantly.

Sima Wang supported him, his eyes full of helplessness.

"Zhongfu, why are you so distant from His Majesty?"

Sima Yan asked drunkenly.

Sima Wang couldn't help complaining in his heart: Nonsense, my father is not the General of the Western Expedition!

Their family has always stood on the side of the Wei Dynasty, at least on the surface. Sima Wang and Guo Jian were in charge of the palace guards together. They could neither be too close to Cao Mao nor too distant from him.

It is very important to control this distance.

If you are too close, how will you get along with your family in the future?

Is he going to fight against his own family? Or is he going to give up the reputation his father has built up over decades?

This made Sima Wang very embarrassed, and he suddenly began to regret holding such an official position.

It would be fine if it was at the local level. Compared to the open and secret struggles in the temple, he still prefers fighting with real swords and guns on the battlefield.

Among the many sons of the Sima family, Sima Wang was considered to be a relatively capable fighter. In history, he was stationed in Yongliang and resisted attacks from Jiang Wei many times.

Before Sima Wang could answer, Sima Yan was already drunk.

Sima Wang arranged for someone to escort Sima Yan back, while he changed his clothes, hurriedly got on the car, and walked towards his father's residence.

Sima Fu was a frugal and generous person, and had the best reputation in the entire Sima family.

As his son, Sima Wang also had a good reputation.

When Sima Wang came, Sima Fu looked very conflicted and not in a very good mental state.

"Father!"

Sima Wang bowed to his father and then stood aside.

"Alas, the emperor has summoned you to serve again?"

"Yes. It's Anshi and I again, eating and drinking with His Majesty."

Sima Fu's face was full of bitterness. "Why did he target you and me?"

"I really don't know."

"Your Majesty is young and full of vigor, and you are in charge of the palace guards. If His Majesty does something wrong, how will you deal with it?"

Sima Wang was horrified. "Could it be possible that Your Majesty could plot a rebellion in the palace?"

"rebellion?"

Sima Fu was silent for a moment. "How could there be an emperor who would rebel?"

"From now on, if you can avoid seeing each other, then don't see each other. If you can hide, then hide. Never get this close again."

"Father, it would be better for you to submit a letter of resignation and go to the frontier."

Sima Wang had not finished speaking when Sima Fu interrupted him.

"You can't do that yet. You have to understand that your position didn't come easily. It was the general who forcibly plucked it from Guo. If you were to give it up now, Guo would definitely find a way to get it back. In the imperial court, the general still has the final say."

"Oh, Father, I understand."

Looking at his son in front of him, Sima Fu felt even more complicated. He had thought that if he replaced the emperor with a young one, the transition would go smoothly, and he would not have to get involved in too many things and could be a loyal minister with peace of mind.

But looking at the current emperor, there is basically no need to think about a smooth transition. I am afraid that it will take rivers of blood to make him stop.

(End of this chapter)