The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 581 Youthful Vitality
Luoyang.

There were only Cao Mao and Wang Yuan in the Taiji Hall.

In the past, when Wang Yuan and Liu Lu came to report, Cao Mao had Zhang Hua beside him to listen, but now, there was only Wang Yuan.

This also shows that although they are all close ministers to the emperor, they are treated differently.

Because Liu Lu was away, Wang Yuan was responsible for all the affairs in Luoyang.

With the help of Duke Zheng, the Dianshifu had a very high control over Luoyang. Cao Mao was well aware of the recent movements of the ministers and various conspiracies.

As the power center of the entire empire, Luoyang is simply a vortex of conspiracy and there is no time for peace.

There were open and covert struggles among the ministers, the development of local struggles, and even opposition to himself and criticism of his policies.

All kinds of things happen one after another.

At first, Cao Mao attached great importance to these things and did them personally, but as he experienced more, he knew what to pay attention to and what to ignore.

At this moment, Wang Yuan talked about a major event that happened recently in Luoyang.

Speaking of which, this matter is still related to the education that Cao Mao wanted to promote.

Originally, the big families were indifferent to education, so why were they suddenly interested?

Because they smelled meat again.

According to Wang Yuan's report, just this morning, more than three ministers at the level of Nine Ministers went to pay a visit to Wang Chang and Wang Su.

They went to the secret talks as representatives.

The content of their conversation was to write a letter to offer advice to the emperor.

What good strategies can they offer to Cao Mao?

Of course, it was to share some of the pressure of education for the emperor.

Some officials believe that the current educational work is progressing too slowly because of the mediocrity of local officials, and that it can be directly handed over to the government.

How to proceed?
These Hu people were moved to the Central Plains and properly arranged by the local major clans.

This was a well-planned arrangement, and Cao Mao knew what they wanted to do without even having to listen to Wang Yuan's words.

The men were placed in the houses and farmlands to become their tenants and servants.

The women were arranged into the inner courtyard and outer rooms to become their concubines or belongings.

Then the old one is simply pulled out and disappears.

Cao Mao could hear their calculations in the Taiji Hall.

I've finally started to promote education, but these dogs can't see anything else except their own interests?
If we act according to their ideas, wouldn't there be another rebellion of domestic slaves?
Besides, why do these big families keep so many slaves who can ride horses and shoot arrows?
As soon as Wang Yuan finished speaking, Cao Mao felt furious.

These selfish little people.

He looked at Wang Yuan and said, "Go and keep an eye on these people and see if anyone else agrees with their ideas."

Wang Yuan took the order and hurriedly left the Taiji Hall.

Cao Mao took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and then walked out of the West Hall.

When he walked out of the West Hall, Yang Zong was standing at the door, looking around vigilantly. The cold wind blew, and Yang Zong couldn't help shivering, but he still didn't let down his guard.

Seeing his appearance, Cao Mao felt warm in his heart.

Although Yang Gong was not as smart as Mao Xian, he was also a capable minister who could perform his duties conscientiously.

These days, it's so hard to find people who have even one good thing.

"His Majesty."

When Yang Zong noticed that the emperor had come out, he quickly turned around and saluted.

"Everyone has already left, why don't you come into the hall?"

"It's okay, I'm still strong!"

Yang Zong was talking when he suddenly asked, "Your Majesty looks a little unhappy?"

Cao Mao was very surprised, "Is it so obvious?"

Yang Zong smiled and said, "Your Majesty, there is something I am not sure whether I should tell you."

"Let's talk inside. It's cold outside."

After Cao Mao pulled Yang Zong in, he asked someone to prepare hot tea for Yang Gong to warm up.

Yang Zong sized up the young emperor before him and said, "Your Majesty, I know you were wronged when Sima Shi and his men were in power, and that's why you became cautious. But now, you're being too cautious."

“You always think twice before you do anything.”

"Do you still remember how majestic and heroic His Majesty was when we were in Yuan City?!"

"At that time, everyone in the world was afraid of Sima Shi, but Your Majesty was not afraid. He even said to me, 'The Han Dynasty has been established. Even if the country is destroyed, the mountains and rivers remain. I will die to be reborn!'"

"I still remember that county magistrate. You rushed him into the county government office and he was punished because of you!"

Cao Mao recalled the past and said with a smile: "Yes, we also stole a lot of crossbows from their house at that time. When we used them to pretend to assassinate, we used the crossbows of the Shu family. Until now, no one knows what the crossbows are. The Shu family themselves dare not tell anyone."

Yang Zong said, "Your Majesty is still young, at the most carefree and heroic age. Why are you so gloomy and old?"

"I'm not asking Your Majesty to be presumptuous. I simply want to inform you that Your Majesty is the Supreme Ruler of the world. No one in the Nine Provinces dares to disrespect Your Majesty, much less plot to harm Your Majesty. Your Majesty doesn't need to keep everything to yourself; you should plan and decide later." "Your Majesty, if you act like this all day, you may not feel comfortable, and the results may not meet your expectations."

"Your Majesty, please don't blame me. I have been by your side for many years. I was already by your side before Guo Ze came. Seeing your Majesty now, I miss the old you. Your Majesty, if you have a clear mind, you can achieve everything."

Yang Zong said a lot.

Cao Mao suddenly fell silent.

He picked up the tea in front of him and took a sip.

Then, he said quietly, "Mr. Yang, how could I not know this?"

"I lost my mother at a young age and lacked my father's love. I had no one close to me. When I grew up, I was taken to a strange place and placed under guard. Now I'm in Luoyang. Everyone wants to kill me. There are traps and conspiracies everywhere. I dare not take a wrong step or say a wrong word."

"Even though we have eliminated the traitors, the world has not been unified. External enemies are still rising, and internal traitors are growing stronger."

"How can I dare to be as heroic as I was before?"

Cao Mao spoke these words in a very calm tone, even from a third-person perspective.

Yang Zong sighed.

It's really heartbreaking to say this.

Even though the person in front of him is the supreme ruler of the world.

But Yang Zong knew very well what he had been through. From childhood to now, he had never received any protection. He had to rely on himself for everything and had no relatives in the world, even now.

Empress Dowager Guo could not be his mother after all, and Madam Sima and Madam Zheng always seemed to keep some distance from each other. Cao Qi's eyes were full of fear.

Yang Zong thought for a long time before he said, "Your Majesty, I made a mistake."

Cao Mao shook his head. "No, you're right. Things are different now than they were in the past."

"However, now is not the time to relax. There are still many things waiting for me to take care of."

When Cao Mao said this, Yang Zong did not hear any expectations in his words, but only formal comfort.

He was comforting himself.

In Yang Zong's eyes, Cao Mao had become almost the same as Sima Shi, and had lost many of the qualities that made him a human being. Although the two were completely different, they were both the same kind of work machines.

Sima Shi was a machine for usurping the throne, while Cao Mao was a machine for governing the country.

He seemed to be helpless in the world, had lost his enthusiasm for everything, and his mind was filled with endless things to do.

Yang Zong thought about it and suddenly felt relieved.

Because he knew what could change the boy in front of him, he just needed to wait quietly.

Yang Zong also perked up, "Your Majesty, I wonder what happened?"

Cao Mao then informed Yang Zong of what Wang Yuan had reported. Of course, he did not reveal the news in the Dianshi Mansion, but only told the final result.

When Yang Zong heard these words, he was as angry as Cao Mao.

"Even such a big thing, you want to use it to benefit yourself?!"

"How dare you!"

Yang Zong suddenly remembered something, his face turned pale, and he quickly said, "Not good!"

"Your Majesty, if the ministers in the court have such thoughts, it means that the local big families may have already started to make arrangements and have benefited from it!"

Cao Mao's pupils suddenly grew larger.

"You mean"

"With General Yang in Bingzhou, it's likely that one of the powerful clans in Yongliang and other places took advantage of the situation and recruited a large number of Hu slaves, reaping the benefits. Otherwise, why would three ministers suddenly gather to handle this? If the source isn't in Luoyang, then it must be in Yongliang!"

Hearing this, Cao Mao sneered.

"Mr. Yang, please hold the

Cao Mao suddenly stopped. He wanted Yang Zong to take the imperial seal to Yongliang. However, the weather was so cold now and Yang Zong was old, so it would be very dangerous for him to travel at this time.

Yang Zong was very clever and immediately understood what Cao Mao meant. He said, "If Your Majesty trusts me, please allow me to go to Yongliang."

"I, an old minister, also come from a prominent family. Although I was born out of wedlock, I am very clear about what these people are thinking. I know exactly what they are thinking, what they are planning to do, and what methods they have to conceal it. Your Majesty, don't worry. Leave it to me."

There was a hint of murderous intent in Yang Zong's eyes at this moment.

Don’t underestimate Old Yang, as he is just an old man who takes medicine and drinks a lot. He was once Cao Shuang’s trusted think tank!
Although this sentence sounds like an insult, there was nothing wrong with the strategy he proposed, but Cao Shuang did not implement it. These older generation strategists usually acted ruthlessly and directly, not too complicated, but very deadly.

Cao Mao was a little worried, "I'm afraid your body can't bear it"

"Hahaha, Your Majesty, why are you so dismissive? I, an old minister, have taken in a concubine this year. How can you say I am too old and weak?"

Cao Mao couldn't help laughing.

"Okay, okay, since Mr. Yang has said so, then I'll let you handle it."

"Mr. Yang, nothing else matters. I just want them to stop having such thoughts and stop using my important affairs for their own selfish ends. Since we're going to beat them, then we'll hit them hard all at once, so that they'll feel pain just thinking about it."

"Your Majesty, rest assured. I will make them remember this for the rest of their lives."

(End of this chapter)