The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 537 It was decided from the beginning

General Wei's Mansion.

I don't know when this mansion became empty.

There is no longer the lively scene of the past.

Those who had originally been eager to establish friendship with the Sima family are now eager to distance themselves from them.

After the Sima Zhao incident, no one even came to pay their respects.

The entire Sima family has now been liquidated and can hardly protect itself. The situation has reached its most dangerous moment.

Inside the palace, armored soldiers were stationed everywhere. Even after Sima Zhao died, these soldiers had no intention of leaving.

In this quiet mansion, a person was kneeling quietly in the hall.

He had very long hair and long hands, but his face looked rather haggard, with stubble growing on both sides of his lips.

His eyes were empty as he knelt on the cold ground.

And above it is the spirit tablet of Sima Zhao.

There was no one around him.

Sima Yan's grief at this moment is beyond words.

He lost a lot of things.

Just like in history, he was forced to stand against his best friend.

As early as when Mrs. Wang confessed to him, Sima Yan felt unspeakable pain in his heart.

He has reached the age where he can participate in family affairs, but these family affairs are not so easy to talk about.

Besides, the person on the other side is his good friend.

Sima Yan was eager to achieve great things and accomplish something great.

However, he also hopes that when he achieves success, he can enjoy it with his friends and let them witness his success.

But no one cares what Sima Yan is thinking.

His fate seemed to be determined at birth.

He is the successor of the Sima family and the chosen one.

Heaven gave him an appearance different from that of ordinary people, but did not give him talents different from ordinary people.

He is just an ordinary person who has some ideals, likes to play with good friends, is not very cruel, and likes to have fun.

But he had no way out, as he had an extremely outstanding younger brother who stimulated him all the time.

But many things are not something Sima Yan can decide.

He knew that his father was imprisoned and that his family was ruined, but what was the use of knowing that?
Revolt?

How can he accomplish what his father and so many uncles have failed to accomplish?
He can only try not to think about these things as much as possible and do more things that make himself happy.

But now, my father is dead.

The clan suffered a huge blow.

Sima Yan also wanted to do something, but his mother did not allow him.

Wang told him several times that these things had nothing to do with him and asked him not to get involved and not even to think about it!
Even my grandfather came to him several times and told him directly that he was able to survive entirely because of his friendship with the emperor. What happened to your father and clan was all their own fault, so you should not hold grudges about it.

Sima Yan knew that they were worried about him and also worried that they would be liquidated together.

"The ground is too cold, let's spread out a mat."

A familiar voice came from behind.

Sima Yan shuddered.

Cao Mao was standing behind Sima Yan at this moment, looking calmly at Sima Zhao's spirit tablet above him.

Sima Shi's mysterious skills were now mastered by Cao Mao.

Sima Yan slowly stood up, looked in the direction of Cao Mao, and then bowed in greeting.

Cao Mao frowned.

In fact, Sima Yan was not stupid.

Perhaps he understood everything during the previous major changes.

But he still chose to continue to be with himself.

This is actually the same principle as Liu Chan.

Since there is no way to resist, then naturally you have to choose to leave the Lebusi clan.

If you insist on going against Cao Mao, it will only ruin the entire family.

Sima Gan had been mocking his nephew, saying that he was stupid and did not know right from wrong. He also spent the whole day making friends with Cao Mao, being his knife and being used by him.
But in the end, Sima Gan died tragically in prison, and when he was sent out, he looked unrecognizable as a human.

However, Sima Yan was still safe and sound. In their clan, he was almost the only one left.

It's clear who is more stupid.

Cao Mao looked around and cleared his throat, but there was no movement outside the door.

Cao Mao looked outside the door helplessly, and Yang Zong looked at him eagerly.

"Get me a seat."

Only then did someone prepare a seat for Cao Mao, and he sat down.

The two sat together again.

"Anshi, people will definitely pay the price for what they do."

"Especially when it comes to world affairs."

Cao Mao looked at Sima Zhao's spirit tablet.

"We all gave our all to do these things. If I were the one who failed, I might be the one to be hung up there. Oh, maybe I won't be hung up there at all. I guess I'll have to wait until you take over, and then I'll be hung up there."

"If your clan wishes to achieve great things, then you must be prepared to endure retribution." "This was destined from the beginning, and it is not something I can change."

Sima Yan looked at him and remained silent.

Cao Mao continued, "I have been alone since childhood and have few friends. Later, I gained confidants and close associates, but they do not consider me the emperor's friend. You are still the only one."

"I don't want to harm you, and I won't force you to forget your hatred and continue to stay by my side."

"It's just that what happened in the past can't be changed. No matter how long you kneel here, it won't help. It's better to do something you've always wanted to do."

"You have done a very good job in the Imperial Academy."

Sima Yan finally spoke, "Your Majesty, it's just that my father made a mistake, why do you want to involve the clan members?"

"Xiahou Xuan made a mistake back then, so why were his entire clan executed?"

Cao Mao asked back.

"Xiahou Xuan's grandson was younger than your brother and knew nothing, yet he was taken away and beheaded."

"Why didn't you question your uncle at the time?"

"Anshi, you and your brother are still alive only because I consider you my good friends, so I didn't take action. Otherwise, you would have been the first to be implicated."

"This was all your clan's own choice. When they attacked others, they should have thought that this day would come for them as well."

Sima Yan sighed deeply.

"Anshi, you are simple and compassionate by nature, unlike most people in your family."

"If you want to stay here, then get some more books to read. There are many truths in books. Maybe one day, you can find all the answers."

Cao Mao stood up and walked to the door.

He turned back again, looked at Anshi for a moment, and said, "You can save your clan in your own way."

"Your clan has committed too many mistakes. Even if they achieve great things, they will be cursed for eternity. But you can still be saved. If you can prove with yourself that not all of your clan members are vicious and evil, then it will be a greater help to your clan than kneeling here."

After Cao Mao finished speaking, he turned around and left without waiting for Sima Yan's reply.

Yang Zong hurriedly caught up with him.

He looked at the emperor quietly.

I could actually see a look of disappointment on the emperor's face.

Yang Zong straightened his expression and said, "Your Majesty has done the utmost to be kind to his friend. As for his own decision, it has nothing to do with Your Majesty."

"It is already very difficult for Your Majesty to forgive his mistakes."

Cao Mao nodded, replied perfunctorily to Yang Zong, and got into the carriage.

Yang Zong also got in the car.

The carriage sped towards the Taiji Hall.

"Your Majesty, I suddenly remembered something."

"What's the matter?"

"Sima Zhao's younger brother originally served as a lieutenant in the army, but was later dismissed before the expedition and now lives at home in idleness."

"Oh Sima Jun."

Yang Zong then said, "Your Majesty, I think we can leave one or two people behind, but we can't let them all die."

"Why?"

"It's still useful. Today's powerful clans are intermarrying with each other and colluding with each other, making their power ever greater. After the unification, Your Majesty will definitely oppose these people."

"The Sima family has been wiped out by His Majesty. It would be better to leave a few behind to deal with future troubles."

Cao Mao glanced at him and said, "I thought you were going to persuade me to kill them all."

"In fact, I have always been against the punishment of exterminating three generations of a clan. The registered population in the world is small to begin with, and how can we withstand such a massacre? Even if they are forced to farm or mine for the rest of their lives, it is better than beheading them."

"The ministers have long advocated for abolishing these harsh crimes. Once peace is restored, Your Majesty can revise the laws as appropriate."

"Let's talk about this after the situation is pacified."

Their carriage quickly returned to the Taiji Hall.

Now Yang Zong has replaced Zhang Hua and stays by Cao Mao's side, giving him advice and running errands. However, Cao Mao still misses Zhang Hua very much. The two of them had such a tacit understanding in the past, but he and Yang Zong no longer have that tacit understanding. He has to give orders for everything before Yang Zong will do it.

Memorials from various places have been placed in the West Hall, waiting for Cao Mao to read them.

Yang Zong naturally helped to review it.

Most of the memorials came from Bashu.

Newly pacified areas always have countless problems to deal with.

The rest of the memorials came from Huainan.

From Guanqiu Jian.

Why did the General of Chariots and Cavalry send so many memorials to Cao Mao?

Because the General of Chariots and Cavalry is now in charge of building ships in preparation for the final unification.

The entire southern part of the empire was busy making preparations at this moment. Cao Wei had absorbed a large number of surrendered officials and soldiers from the Wu Kingdom. These people had greatly helped Cao Wei's shipbuilding industry and navy.

Although Sun Chen was no longer with us, Cao Mao still had to thank him for his help.

Cao Wei had a huge advantage in national strength. After Cao Mao ordered all places to build warships, all places began to work hard on this matter.

It is only a matter of time before the number of warships exceeds that of Eastern Wu.

And when the Eastern Wu lost its advantage in naval battles, that was the time for its demise.

Moreover, various small-scale rebellions had already broken out in Eastern Wu at this time.

Cao Mao now had one more person to thank.

Thanks Puyang Xing!
(End of this chapter)