The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 740 Anshi, You Are Different From Them

"Hahaha, Shi Ji, you're being a bit disrespectful of the Dianshi Mansion!"

"Do you think these people can keep things secret? Can they handle something like this?"

"The Dianshifu already has the list, so you don't have to worry at all."

Hearing Cao Mao's words, Zhong Hui couldn't help but shake his head. "These traitors are as dumb as cows! Even if we let Zhang Hua deal with them, it would be a humiliation to Zhang Hua!"

It can be seen how much Zhong Hui disdains these people.

Zhong Hui stopped talking about the assassin and quickly started talking about taxes.

During the time that Cao Mao was away, Zhong Hui formulated various measures regarding the equal distribution of the head tax. In this matter, the big families did not dare to object, and the powerful could ignore their opinions. From the perspective of formulation and implementation, there was no problem.

The key is whether the results meet their expectations.

After Zhong Hui finished talking about his achievements in recent days, he hurriedly looked at Cao Mao, waiting for Cao Mao to speak.

Of course Cao Mao was also very sensible.

"I have Shi Ji! He is like a fish in water! Like a tiger with wings! With Shi Ji here, great undertakings will surely be accomplished, and a prosperous era will surely emerge!"

Cao Mao quickly sent out three consecutive compliments.

Zhong Hui looked up and said, "Your Majesty, you are too kind! Your Majesty, you are too kind!"

He was being polite in his words, but looking at his expression, there was no trace of humility at all. It was like he was enjoying himself.

Zhong Hui listened to Cao Mao's whistle for a long time before he spoke: "Your Majesty, there is one more thing."

"Oh?"

"Pei Xiu told me about the title. He said that if you want to rule a great clan, you must break the cycle."

Zhong Hui pondered this for a moment before continuing, "He said that we are now supporting the poor and attacking the powerful. However, after these poor families have made great achievements and have obtained official titles, their official titles will die with them, but their titles will not."

"In this way, the government is constantly creating and suppressing powerful families, over and over again. Therefore, if changes can be made to the titles of nobility, it would be a good idea."

Cao Mao was not surprised by this at all, after all, this thing had appeared since the Wei and Jin Dynasties.

However, the reason for this in history was that there were too many titles, and Pei Xiu felt that if this continued, the country would be destroyed.

As for its current appearance, it is purely for the purpose of striking down the powerful families.

But will Pei Xiu come forward to attack the aristocratic families?
This is as outrageous as Zhong Hui's plan to become sworn brothers with Zhang Hua tomorrow.

Cao Mao looked at Zhong Hui suspiciously. Zhong Hui knew why His Majesty had that expression. He smiled and explained, "I told him that if the school problem couldn't be solved, I would order the abolition of all private schools and make the children of the wealthy families go to the National Academy!"

"After hearing this, the fellow was terrified and immediately brought up the matter of the title!"

Zhong Hui moved closer and whispered, "This guy is just trying to divert my attention by using the title issue. But how can I let him get away with it?"

Cao Mao couldn't help laughing.

He lowered his voice and said again, "That's exactly what we have to do. We absolutely cannot let this fellow off easy! When I summon all the ministers to discuss this matter in a few days, I'll have him come forward!"

Zhong Hui and Cao Mao looked at each other with evil smiles in their eyes.

Then, they laughed like villains, like a pair of villains who had just conspired to do something bad.

The two of them plotted a lot of bad things before leaving.

After Cao Mao finished the work at hand, he immediately went to find the queen and his son.

Cao Wen seemed to have grown a lot, but he was still in the babbling stage. He did not show much enthusiasm for his father who suddenly returned, but instead chose to ignore him.

This made Cao Mao very unhappy.

She forcibly hugged him in her arms and rubbed his head, "You little brat, do you really not miss your father at all?"

The little guy kept trying to get down and run, but Cao Mao held on to him tightly and insisted that he call him "father".

It was not until the little guy started crying loudly that Cao Mao reluctantly let him go.

Zheng Xian and Sima Yi looked at them both with smiles.

Zheng Xian's eyes were full of tenderness, and Sima Yi was also gently stroking her belly, wondering what she was thinking.

Sima Yi's belly was already quite big, and Cao Mao was actually still a little worried about the child.

He certainly wasn't worried about the child's Sima bloodline. He wasn't even afraid of Sima Shi, so why would he be afraid of his own son? He was afraid of Sima Yi.

Sima Yi's current age would be considered an older mother even in later generations, and the situation is even more dangerous now.

In this era, the mortality rate of pregnant women was very high, and infant mortality was commonplace, and even the emperor could not avoid it.

Cao Mao could only hope that his many imperial physicians were good enough.

Cao Mao couldn't help but feel a little worried.

It's rare for a family to get together, so naturally there are countless things to talk about.

These people in the harem obviously had not heard any news about the assassination, otherwise, they would have asked a few questions.

But they only asked Cao Mao about what he saw and heard along the way. It can be seen that the role of the harem under the Wei system was still quite limited.

It is basically difficult to interfere in major affairs of the temple.

In order to solve the harem problems of the Han Dynasty, Emperor Wen of Wei went too far, resulting in the foreign relatives and the queen becoming decorations and basically useless.

Relatives by marriage could not serve as formal officials and could only hold the title of honorary officials.

It adds nothing to the imperial power. Just as Cao Mao was talking to the two of them about their experiences along the way, Man Changwu hurried in.

"Your Majesty, Sima Yan requests an audience."

Cao Mao was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay."

He looked at Zheng Xian and others, asked them to wait for a while, and then went out to meet Sima Yan.

Sima Yan was standing anxiously at the door, pacing back and forth.

When Man Changwu brought him in, he quickly walked to Cao Mao's side, took his hand, and looked him up and down.

"Your Majesty, are you alright?"

When Sima Yan learned that Cao Mao had been assassinated, he was terrified.

He looked Cao Mao up and down, and breathed a sigh of relief after making sure that his old friend had not encountered any accident.

Then, he hurriedly grabbed Cao Mao's hand and said with sweat on his forehead: "Yanshi! I really didn't send anyone to assassinate you!!"

Cao Mao was stunned for a moment, then he laughed, "It's been a long time since anyone called me Yanshi."

"Ah, it was my mistake, Your Majesty!"

"No problem, no problem. Calling him Yanshi is quite pleasant. As for the assassination, why do you think I would suspect you?"

Sima Yan's face was filled with worry. "They said the assassins came from Hanoi, and they were ordered by me!"

"Hahaha, don't worry. You look so scared. Come, sit down."

Cao Mao pulled him to sit down, and Sima Yan was indeed frightened.

After the assassination attempt, many people believed that it was the Sima family who did it. Xiahou Xian even sent troops to Hanoi to prepare to massacre the Sima family again.

As for Sima Yan himself, he was also subject to the highest level of surveillance.

Sima Yan was worried about Cao Mao's situation, and was also afraid that he would be pushed out as the person behind the scenes. He was extremely panicked.

Cao Mao knew how to deal with An Shi. The two chatted for a long time, and Sima Yan's emotions finally calmed down.

"Don't worry. How can the Sima family still have the ability to launch such an assassination?"

"It's just someone borrowing your family's name. Anshi, I don't know what to say about you. How could you plan such an assassination?"

Hearing Cao Mao's question, Sima Yan didn't know whether he should be happy or angry.

He added, "By the way, I heard you killed Shi Jian?!"

"Yes, I killed him. So what?"

Sima Yan sighed deeply and said quickly, "You don't know this. This man is very fair, has great ambitions, and is a strong-willed person. He is a rare wise man!"

Cao Mao glanced at him and hesitated to speak several times.

The girl with long flowing hair, always surrounded by a group of animal friends, and with a male protagonist who helps solve all problems, may not be a Disney princess, but may also be Sima Anshi!
Cao Mao had no idea where Sima Yan made all these friends, and he couldn't find a single one who looked like a human being.

"You'd better stop thinking about these people. Remember when I asked you to make friends with famous people? Don't you know what these famous people are like?"

"I never kill indiscriminately. Anyone who forces me to order an execution is definitely not a good person. You must remember this!"

Sima Yan suddenly didn't dare to speak anymore.

Cao Mao asked helplessly, "Let's not talk about this for now. What did the famous scholars in Luoyang say after I left?"

"Has anyone contacted you?"

Sima Yan nodded, "Yes, it does."

A chill suddenly appeared in Cao Mao's eyes, "Who?!"

"Pei Xiu!"

"what?"

"Why did he contact you?"

"Your Majesty, I suspect Pei Xiu may be the mastermind behind the assassination!"

"You doubt."

Cao Mao rubbed his forehead and took a deep breath. "Tell me, what did Pei Xiu say to you?"

"He said something incomprehensible. He said I could see His Majesty in private. He said that if His Majesty returned, he would let me come to see you. He also said that I was the easiest person to see His Majesty in private. Then he asked me to tell His Majesty that the ministers had strong opinions on the reform of the title system."

"Oh, by the way, he didn't let me tell you this."

"I wonder if Pei Xiu wants to assassinate me and let me bear the blame."

Cao Mao was silent for a long time, then patted Sima Yan on the shoulder.

"Anshi, you should go back and prepare for the exam first. If Pei Xiu comes to you again, tell him that you suspect he is the real murderer. He will never bother you again. Just focus on preparing for the exam at home and don't worry too much about the affairs of the court. These things may not be suitable for you."

Sima Yan nodded and said nothing more.

After seeing Sima Anshi off, Cao Mao walked towards Changqiu Palace with a smile on his face again. It had been a while since he had taken the empress to govern the country.

This time when I come back, of course I have to govern the country for a few days before going out to discuss state affairs!

(End of this chapter)