The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 791 I have seen

This was Cao Mao’s idea.

Learn from Xiaowen, replace Xiaowen, and surpass Xiaowen.

Emperor Xiaowen's sinicization only remained on the surface. In fact, it could have gone further, for example, by solving the issue of ancestral origin.

Of course, there are risks in doing so. If the statement that the Xiongnu are descendants of the Xia Dynasty is officially recognized, it can actually give the Xiongnu a legal basis to rule the Central Plains. However, this thing is the least valuable. Whoever has a stronger army can rule the Central Plains. Even if he is born a beggar or a fisherman or hunter, it will not prevent him from becoming emperor.

Moreover, judging from the current situation, even if Cao Mao died suddenly tomorrow, it would not be the turn of anyone else to rule the Central Plains.

First, we need to prove the relationship between the Qiang and Hu people in various places and the people in the Central Plains, study their historical composition, and then everyone will recognize their ancestors and unite all peoples.
This cannot even be said to be fabricated, and it can withstand various verifications.

Cao Mao asked about the Qiang again.

Ruan Ji immediately spoke again, "Qiang are the remnants of the Shang Dynasty!"

The lips of several scholars around began to tremble again.

Ruan Ji, however, had a good reasoning: "In the past, there was King Cheng Tang. He was from the Di and Qiang tribes. The Qiang were originally a state during King Cheng Tang's time. King Cheng Tang was composed of many states. Doesn't that mean the Qiang weren't the remnants of the Shang Dynasty?"

Cao Mao asked about the Xianbei again.

This is a bit difficult. For example, the Xiongnu, Di, and Qiang can still be verified, but what about the Xianbei?

But Ruan Ji had probably known Cao Mao's idea, and he said seriously: "The Xianbei came from the Donghu. The Donghu Huangbi, Shanrong Rongshu, existed during the Shang Dynasty."

Cao Mao asked a few more questions about the Hu tribe, and Ruan Ji answered them fluently.

Cao Mao was surprised and said, "According to Ruan Gong, aren't the people of all places the authentic Chinese people?"

"There should be no distinction between ethnic groups; they should recognize their ancestors and return to their roots. For example, the Xiongnu, except for those descendants of the Liu family during the Han Dynasty, can restore their ancestral surnames, such as Xia, Si, Chun, etc."

Cao Mao looked at Ruan Ji and said, "Not only that, we should also write a book to record these events and restore their surnames accordingly. Once their names have been changed, their customs have adapted, and they have studied the classics, we can no longer distinguish them."

What Cao Mao wanted now was to leave only one nation, the Chinese nation, with the Wei people in the Central Plains as the main body and the people around them as the extension, without distinction between each other.
Of course, this is just the first step. I don’t know how long it will take to complete this task, but Cao Mao is willing to do it.

Now is the best time.

Perhaps the Rouran and other new forces will appear outside the Great Wall in the future, but Cao Mao only wants to do a good job in the present.

The good thing about this is that the vested interests will hardly be affected.

What impact will the naturalization of the Hu people have on the current interest groups?

Can these Hu people compete with them for assessment places or official titles?
At most, it would just make the aristocratic families who claim to be born noble feel unhappy, but it wouldn't have any actual impact. On the contrary, they might even be very happy to have a large group of farmers who can farm.
Many scholars left one by one with complicated expressions.

Sima Yan looked at Ruan Ji with resentment, then left dejectedly.

Ruan Ji was kept by Cao Mao.

In his early days, Cao Mao was very close to these brothers in the Bamboo Grove and used their influence to attack the Sima family. However, after he came to power, he began to suppress these people.

Because their negative and escapist ideas did not meet Cao Mao's requirements.

But now these celebrities have reluctantly bowed their heads, or at least dare not oppose Cao Mao openly. Among them, Ji Kang has long been a loyal supporter of Cao Mao and became the first celebrity to change.

Ruan Ji's temper was even more stubborn than Ji Kang's.

During these days, he was dismissed several times, transferred several times, and promoted several times, but he was like a rock and was unwilling to cooperate with Cao Mao.

Cao Mao didn't expect that this time, Ruan Ji would take the initiative to respond.

In fact, the person Cao Mao secretly arranged to take over was Sima Yan.

Cao Mao summoned these people just to build momentum and get Sima Yan to cooperate with him. Cao Mao had this idea in mind a long time ago and informed Sima Yan in advance.

This silly kid has been reciting it for who knows how many days, and is just about to show off his skills.

It was intercepted by Ruan Ji.

Cao Mao simply handed the matter over to Ruan Ji.

But Cao Mao was still very surprised at this moment. He wanted to know why Ruan Ji, who had always been unwilling to cooperate, was like this today?
Facing the emperor's suspicious eyes, Ruan Ji remained calm, with no strange expression on his face.

"Mr. Ruan, you've always been quiet, so why are you speaking so actively today?"

Cao Mao asked with a smile.

Ruan Ji replied, "Since the pre-Qin period, the people of the Central Plains have looked down on the Hu people on all sides, and the Hu people, in turn, have hated the Miao people of the Central Plains. The two sides have been fighting and conquering each other for many years."

"Since Your Majesty is determined to curb this chaos and unite the various factions, how can I not contribute?"

"Even if we can't maintain long-term peace, if we can stop the war for a hundred years, it will be a great achievement."

After hearing Ruan Ji's words, Cao Mao said, "Isn't this what I wanted to do before?"

Ruan Ji stopped talking immediately.

Cao Mao smiled and shook his head.

“It’s not benevolent governance, it’s not righteousness, right?”

"It's the same old stuff again. The famous scholars of the world all think I'm unkind and unjust. I forcibly relocated the people, used cruel laws, and often implicated clans. That's why they're unwilling to speak up."

Ruan Ji was silent for a long time, then finally spoke: "Your Majesty, you destroyed Shu and conquered Wu, defeated the Xianbei outside the Great Wall, captured Goguryeo in Liaodong, and your fleets crisscrossed the Japanese islands and Funan. In terms of merit and virtue, Your Majesty's achievements are beyond the reach of previous emperors."

"Your Majesty is wise and kind, but why are you so opposed to benevolent rule?"

"If Your Majesty cannot treat the people with benevolence and righteousness, how can you make the people of the world know benevolence, righteousness, and morality?"

"Your Majesty, if you do this, you may be criticized by future generations." Cao Mao just looked at the other party calmly, not angry at all.

"Your benevolent policies harm the people. I would rather be spat on by future generations."

Cao Mao was not polite at all. Before Ruan Ji could say more, Cao Mao changed the subject.

Let him get back to work. There's nothing much to talk about. The world in his eyes is completely different from the world in Cao Mao's eyes.

What he saw was that after making great contributions, famous and talented people were persecuted by the government and forced to leave their homes.

As for the crying sounds coming from beneath them, they were probably too faint to be heard by these celebrities.

Ruan Ji was also very tactful. He put aside this major contradiction and discussed with Cao Mao many issues regarding writing books and taking surnames.

Cao Mao also took the opportunity to tell Ruan Ji all his thoughts.

The two of them were actually having a good chat at the moment.

It feels a bit like a wise king and good ministers.

After discussing many things, Cao Mao smiled and sent the other party out the door, as if the disagreement between them had never happened at all.

The first month of the fifth year of Ganlu.

The prefect of Qinghe was escorted to Luoyang.

Cao Mao was also full of expectations for this year.

The main reason is that the tax exemption in Shu has finally expired, and the national treasury will usher in another wave of major growth.

Cao Mao was also sitting in the upper seat of the Ministry of Justice at this moment, watching Wei Shu come to interrogate the prisoner Yu.

Zhang Hua was also standing here, listening to their conversation.

Yu was a typical celebrity. His appearance, speech, and even his standard accent all demonstrated his identity as a descendant of a prominent family.

They seemed to be carved from the same mold.

At this moment, facing the interrogation in the court, this person was also very frank.

"I plead guilty. These are all my actions. I dare not refute them."

Although he confessed his guilt, there was no trace of guilt on his face, and he even seemed to be speaking with righteousness.

It seems that Cao Mao is the villain.

And he was a great hero who risked his life to save the people.

Wei Shu carefully asked about his specific actions and even his motives.

The motive given by Yu was also very simple, which was just "pitying his crime but unable to bear it."

This sentence pushed Cao Mao even further towards the position of villain.

But Cao Mao just sat in the upper seat with an expressionless face, looking at something in his hands, and ignored the other party's words at all.

Wei Shu recorded it in detail again.

"His Majesty!!"

"What kind of crime did the Qinghe Zhuwang commit?"

"Why do you treat me like this, His Majesty?"

Yu finally asked.

Cao Mao ignored him, but Wei Shu asked, "Hasn't the evidence been sent to you long ago?"

"They are just minor crimes, why do you want to implicate the whole family?"

Yu was very dissatisfied and said, "Your Majesty! The wise and talented people in the world are all willing to serve Your Majesty. Why do you let them suffer like this?"

Cao Mao finally couldn't help it. He looked at Wei Shu and said, "Minister Wei, tell him."

Wei Shu then picked up another memorial and said seriously, "It's like this. Because you let these powerful families go in Qinghe County, and Cui Yuan, who was from the Qinghe Cui family and served as the prefect of Yingchuan County, also let your people go."

Yu's tough expression suddenly froze, and he quickly said, "I don't know about this. I just..."

Wei Shu shook his head. "Don't deny it. We've intercepted the correspondence between the two of you. You colluded with each other and spared each other's families. The other four county governors are also involved in this matter. The six of you interacted with each other, intentionally sparing each other's clansmen and relatives through marriage in order to protect each other."

"All the evidence has been collected. The other county magistrates are currently being escorted. Once they arrive, we can confront them face to face."

"Well, do you have anything else to say?"

At this moment, Yu's face was pale and he said nothing.

Cao Mao glanced at Zhang Hua beside him with a meaningful look.

Zhang Hua was stunned.

"Mr. Mao, do you understand now?"

"If we can achieve this under current circumstances, what was it like in the past?"

"Have you ever seen a servant from a wealthy family dare to go out on the street and steal a commoner's wife?"

“I have seen it before.”

(End of this chapter)