The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 824 All the way north

It was just dawn and Cao Mao hadn't even opened his eyes when he heard a familiar laugh.

Cao Mao opened his eyes helplessly, and sure enough, Cao Liang was sitting next to him, playing with his hair diligently.

"father!!"

When he saw Cao Mao open his eyes, he was so happy that his little face immediately came close to him.

Cao Mao picked him up, threw him beside him, and started teasing him.

The laughter of the father and son could be heard from a long distance away.

"Come down! Why did you wake His Majesty again?!"

Sima Yi hurried in and scolded unhappily.

Zheng Xian followed Sima Yi with a smile.

Cao Mao carried the little guy and got off the bed. "No need to scold me. I was about to wake up anyway."

Cao Mao doted on both of his sons, but he did not have too many requirements for his second son. After all, he was not the heir to the empire, and no one would urge Cao Mao to find a teacher for his second son.

Sima Yi took over Cao Liang, while Cao Mao went to wash and change his clothes. The officials quickly brought up the food.

Cao Mao patted Cao Liang on the head and ordered, "Go and call your eldest brother over!"

Cao Liang jumped up and ran away from there, and several attendants hurriedly followed him.

Cao Mao sat in the upper seat, while Zheng Xian and Sima Yi sat on both sides.

"Your Majesty, I have already met with those ladies."

Zheng Xian smiled. At this moment, her temperament became more noble and elegant. She was no longer clumsy and immature. She spoke calmly, with a bit of the same attitude as Cao Mao when he spoke.

"Everyone is a little worried now. Zhang Hua was too radical in the Ministry of Justice, and this time the Ministry of Justice is also included in the decree. When they met with me, their words were mostly tentative, wanting to know Your Majesty's attitude. Some even cried and begged for my protection."

Naturally, the people Zheng Xian saw were the ladies of the wealthy families.

These people were like frightened rabbits at that moment, and they trembled with fear when they heard Cao Mao's orders.

Zheng Xian took the initiative to deal with the interactions with these families, and from time to time he would report to Cao Mao on the interests and demands of the big families.

At this moment, Cao Mao looked at Sima Yi who was standing beside him.

"I remember back when General Sima was here, these people were incredibly unruly, constantly interfering in our government affairs, causing unrest and making us all miserable."

"To this day, they don't even dare to cry in front of me, and can only let me know through the Queen's mouth."

"If the general were still here, he would surely be pleased, right?"

Cao Mao's words were indeed a bit provocative.

With a bit of show-off.

Sima Yi, however, did not feel angry. She said calmly, "How can General Sima be compared with Your Majesty?"

"He only knows how to use tough tactics to deal with others and increase his power through intimidation, while Your Majesty combines firmness with flexibility and governs with fairness."

"Looking back at all the wise kings throughout history, none has ever been able to compare to Your Majesty."

"The four seas are now subject to Your Majesty, and the people are all loyal to Your Majesty."

Cao Mao laughed heartily and looked at Zheng Xian beside him and asked, "Did I joke with her or did I scare her?"

Zheng Xian's face was filled with helplessness. "Your Majesty, please stop making such jokes."

Cao Mao simply skipped this topic and shifted the conversation to other matters at home.

Cao Mao and Zheng Xian were chatting when they saw Cao Wen appear here holding his brother's hand.

Cao Wen greeted everyone and then sat respectfully opposite Cao Mao, while Cao Liang sat directly next to his mother.

Sima Yi looked at her son with a complicated expression.

Cao Mao's words just now were said as a joke, but in fact they were also a reminder to her.

Of course, this cannot be considered a warning.

Cao Mao's warning will not be expressed only through words.

As Cao Liang grew up, Cao Mao reminded Sima Yi that his love for the children was real, but their special identities were also real, and she should not let things get ruined because of it.

This could refer to many things.

As for Sima Yi, she herself did not have the idea of "wanting her son to become a successful person". It was enough for her to be a happy and carefree vassal king and help her brother more.

I will have to discipline my child more in the future. I can’t let him know that he is special. He should be well-behaved and obedient, so as not to bring disaster upon himself.

Seeing the crown prince seated, Cao Mao couldn't help but ask, "Your brother knows how to come to see me every day, so why are you always nowhere to be seen? Do I have to send someone to invite him?"

Cao Wen explained, "Yesterday I was reading and debating with some of my study buddies, and I got so engrossed that I didn't get up early."

"Reading and debating are good things, but don't stay up all night and go to bed early and get up early."

"only!!"

After scolding the prince, everyone started to eat together.

Cao Mao also put away his seriousness and told interesting stories to his family with a smile.

"When I first came to Luoyang..."

The meal ended with Cao Mao's nonsense, and he left with the prince.

As the two of them walked towards Taiji Hall, Cao Mao asked, "Have you sent a letter to the Grand Marshal?"

"Don't dare disturb him."

"So how's your studies?"

"We dare not delay." The two asked and answered each other, and soon arrived at the West Hall of Taiji Hall.

Cao Mao sat in the upper seat, took out a few memorials and threw them to Cao Wen.

"These memorials are the most important ones I have seen in recent years. Take them back and take a good look at them."

"I'm going out for a while, from the Central Plains all the way to Qingxu, to see the situation in various places, and I'll be back soon."

"During this period of time, you must not go out. Stay in the palace and review these memorials repeatedly."

Cao Wen was stunned. "Father, you're going out? But right now, all places are fighting disasters. Wouldn't your going out increase costs and distract the officials?"

Cao Mao felt even more relieved after hearing Cao Wen's words.

"Yes, it's good that you can think of harming people and money. However, sometimes, some necessary things must be done."

"I am going to Mount Tai to offer sacrifices."

Cao Wen frowned immediately.

Cao Mao did not say anything else and just waited for the prince to ask.

Seeing that his father said nothing, Cao Wen also said nothing. The father and son were silent for a moment. Suddenly, Cao Mao asked, "Why don't you advise me?"

"Father has always advocated Xunzi's teachings. How could he take the initiative to offer sacrifices to pray for fewer floods? When Father said sacrifices, he must have other ideas."

"You are really becoming smarter and smarter."

Cao Mao cursed with a laugh before saying, "I do intend to offer sacrifices, but not to the river god, nor to ward off disasters. I intend to offer sacrifices to Dayu, Ximen Bao, Jia Rang, Wang Jing, and others."

"I will inform the world of their merits and deeds, and then swear an oath to control the flood and prevent disasters, and reward those officials, generals, servants, and soldiers who have made contributions."

"Of course, I'm also here to see what the situation is like on this side."

Cao Wen suddenly became furious.

Cao Mao told him a lot of things.

This trip was not a sudden decision made by Cao Mao.

The last time Cao Mao went to Yongliang, he discovered many problems and dismissed many people. Since then, Cao Mao no longer needed to worry too much about the situation in Yongliang.

Cao Mao had long had the idea of heading east.

After all, in terms of fiefdom, the noble marquis he used to be was granted in Qi.

When I return, I can also go back from Hebei and visit Yuancheng.

Of course, the most important thing is this flood. Cao Mao had to encourage the people on both sides of the river to continue to control the river and not to be afraid or give in.

This flood will last for a long, long time.

Before Cao Mao finished talking with the prince, a minister appeared beside him.

Of course, it was Zhong Hui.

At this moment, Xun Xu and others were all busy with disaster relief.

Even Cao Mao himself attached great importance to this matter and devoted almost all his energy to it. The rest of the matters, of course, were handled by the first minister under the emperor.

Zhong Hui brought a thick stack of documents with him this time, and he was a little surprised to see the prince present.

Cao Wen didn't dare to talk to Zhong Hui, so when he saw him coming, he stood up and was about to leave.

The other ministers were all very respectful to the prince, except Zhong Hui, who was much stricter with him. Sometimes, he even dared to scold him.

Not to mention Cao Wen’s study companions.

Other ministers dared not approach the prince, but Zhong Hui used him as a reputation package.
This made even a generous person like Cao Wen want to avoid Zhong Hui when he met him and dared not have much contact with him.

Cao Mao originally wanted to remind Zhong Hui that anyone who relied on the emperor's favor to abuse the prince's reputation would not end up well.

But when I thought that Zhong Hui was not unaware of this principle, but just unwilling to do it, I was too lazy to interfere.

Just think of it as a test for Cao Wen. You may encounter a tougher opponent in the future, so adapt yourself first.

Zhong Hui placed the documents in front of Cao Mao and said, "Your Majesty, please take a look at the most important ones among these memorials from various places."

"Thank goodness I have Zhong Shiji, so I don't have to worry."

As usual, Cao Mao praised people a few words. Nowadays, writing poems to flatter people is a thing of the past, and people now write fu instead.

But this is enough for Zhong Hui.

Zhong Hui said a lot with a smile, talking about the current governance and major events in the court. In the end, he finally revealed his real purpose.

"I am willing to accompany your Majesty on this trip."

Cao Mao asked, "If we all leave, who will stay in Luoyang?"

Zhong Hui hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, with Lu Qin, Wei Guan, Chen Tai, Yang Hu, Wei Shu and others, you don't have to worry about the affairs of the court. You can temporarily hand them over to Chen Tai. Your Majesty, there are many things to do on this journey. How can I not follow you?"

Cao Mao pondered for a moment.

"Alright."

He also wanted to see the effect of this lineup in the temple.

The current temple system is quite complete. Even without Zhong Hui, the other ministers should be able to do a good job.

The two of them made the decision without having to ask for the opinions of the other ministers.

Three days later, Cao Mao left Luoyang.

There were less than twenty officials accompanying him, and the central army was protected by two thousand knights.

Leave Luoyang and head east.

(End of this chapter)