The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 88 We won’t lose!

No, Sima Shi must have some unknown thoughts!

Cao Mao thought for a long time and had many guesses in his mind, but he didn't dare to be completely sure.

Cao Mao could see through most people's thoughts, but he could not see through Sima Shi's.

This guy never plays by the rules. Even if Sima Shi suddenly appears outside the door the next second, Cao Mao will not be surprised, because this is just the kind of person he is. He always takes the unexpected.

Cao Shuang probably never dreamed that Sima Shi could produce 3,000 men.
While Cao Mao was still thinking about this matter, Guo Jian had already fallen into his own carnival.

"Sima Zhao is far inferior to his brother! He's not worth mentioning!"

"From now on, just stay in this palace and I will drive out those who are staring at you!"

"With your uncle here, you don't have to be afraid!"

Guo Jian's words became more and more outrageous, but Cao Mao sneered in his heart.

Even though Sima Zhao was not as good as his brother, he was not someone that his uncle could try to take advantage of. Compared to his uncle, he was a second-generation leader with great talent and strategy.

Of course, Cao Mao was just thinking about it in his heart, and he still looked grateful.

Apart from people like Guo Jian, no one else would take the bait easily.

Judging from the current situation, the longer Guanqiu Jian keeps his troops inactive, the greater the pressure on the Sima family will be, and the safer he will be.

The challenges that the Sima family is facing now are still very daunting. They are facing internal and external troubles and are in a dilemma. It is unknown whether the general can defeat these powerful enemies again.

With such a wise king like me fully supporting the general, I think he will definitely succeed!
Guo Jian boasted a lot and was in a very good mood after listening to Cao Mao's flattery. Finally, he took Cao Mao's hand and walked out arrogantly, which obviously meant that he wanted the emperor to send him out.

Cao Mao felt that if Guo Jian switched places with the Sima family, he might become even more domineering and even more hateful than Sima Zhao.

When they walked out of the West Hall Gate, there was a man standing outside.

Cao Mao was startled and almost thought that it was Sima Shi who was guarding here. After taking a closer look, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

This man has a handsome appearance, hands that reach below his knees, and long flowing hair. He is not Sima Shi.

Guo Jian subconsciously let go of Cao Mao's hand and wanted to say something, but after thinking about it, he endured it.

He raised his head and walked past Sima Yan rudely, as if he didn't see him.

Sima Yan watched him go away in surprise, then stood beside Cao Mao and asked, "What is this fellow doing here?"

"He said he had successfully brought the Guo family into power and wanted me to see it."

"Just him??"

Sima Yan's eyes were filled with contempt. He said disdainfully, "If it weren't for my father's kindness, he would have been dragged out and executed long ago. If it weren't for the Queen Mother, he would be nothing but an unlearned fool."

Cao Mao pondered for a moment and said, "Uh... okay."

"Why did Anshi come here suddenly?"

Sima Yan then looked at Cao Mao with some sadness in his eyes.

"My uncle may not be able to make it."

"My father was more irritable than ever. He stayed awake at night, guarding my uncle's door, beating and scolding me. I even saw him secretly crying. I thought, maybe my uncle is really dying."

Sima Yan's voice was a little low and he was in a very bad mood.

Although he is a little fierce, he is my uncle after all.

Cao Mao sighed deeply, took his hand, and said soothingly: "Don't worry, General, you are a lucky man. God will take care of you. Everything will be fine. I believe in you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Everyone in the court and the country says that Your Majesty and the General are not on good terms. How could they know your true feelings?"

"Alas, the people in the court and the public love to gossip. Let them talk as they please. I will definitely offer sacrifices to the gods for the general and obtain his protection."

Cao Mao comforted Sima Yan with a few words before he calmed him down.

The reason Sima Yan came this time, in addition to having a heart-to-heart talk with Cao Mao, was mainly because of what Cao Mao had said last time about finding a wise man to build momentum for him.

Sima Yan was still young and not old enough to participate in family politics.

However, under Cao Mao's guidance, he became extremely wary of his younger brother Sima You. Of course, Sima Yan would not go so far as to murder his own brother.

He is not that cruel, he just wants to increase his power faster.

Because he was too young, it was difficult to go through normal channels, so he could only do as Cao Mao said and find a wise man to build momentum for him.

In fact, this is also a common tactic used by today's wealthy families. They praise each other's young children and build up their reputation before they officially enter the officialdom.

During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, almost every minister had a reputation for intelligence and genius when he was young, and this reputation must have been given by a minister himself.

The wealthy families rely on this method of commenting on each other to gain fame.

Cao Mao expressed his thoughts.

"We can hold a banquet in the Taiji Hall and invite the seven talented people to the palace." "As long as Anshi can become friends with them, drink, sing and compose poetry with them, your fame will naturally rise."

"From now on, many scholars will be willing to support you."

"The emperor summoned the city's wise men to ask for advice. This has been a practice since ancient times. What's more, since you are personally asking them, they will surely not dare to disobey."

In history, Cao Mao often held banquets in the East Hall to entertain celebrities. Cao Pi and Cao Rui also often did so in the past, so this is not an exception.

But Sima Yan seemed a little hesitant. "Your Majesty, how can you be sure that they will really come?"

Cao Mao laughed. The Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove could be divided into two groups: those who were loyal to the Sima family and those who were loyal to the Wei Dynasty.

Sima Yan went to invite them, and the location was in Taiji Hall. Whether they were pro-Sima or pro-Wei, there was definitely no reason to refuse.

"An Shi will go back and tell General Zhengxi what happened. If General Zhengxi shows up, they will definitely not dare to refuse."

Upon hearing Cao Mao's words, Sima Yan hurriedly shook his head.

"impossible!"

"My father would never agree!"

Sima Yan helplessly explained, "Your Majesty, my father wouldn't even allow me to bring those friends into our mansion, so how could he possibly allow me to hold a banquet with them in the Taiji Hall?"

"impossible."

"Mr. Ruan might be okay. He's a Palace Attendant and can enter the palace. But how can the others be qualified to sit at a banquet in the palace?"

"If I tell my father that I'm bringing so many irrelevant people into the Taiji Hall to drink and have fun with you, he'll beat me to death!"

Hearing Sima Yan's words, Cao Mao was not panicked at all. He smiled and asked someone to get some tea for himself and Sima Yan.

"Anshi, you are the eldest son, what are you afraid of?"

"Afraid of my father."

"Anshi, you're worrying too much. If you want to inherit your father's position, being the eldest son alone isn't enough. You need to be equally courageous! Go to the general now and tell him you want to recruit talented people. He won't make things difficult for you."

"He will definitely be very happy and pleased, and he might even reward you."

"Reward? Reward me with ten military sticks?"

"I'm afraid my butt will be beaten to pieces."

Sima Yan didn't quite believe this.

Cao Mao sighed deeply. "Anshi, would I ever murder you? If this plan succeeds, you'll have a good reputation among the scholars and gain their approval. Even if it fails and you're punished, they'll see you're being punished for trying to get close to the wise."

"Think about it, isn't this more beneficial to you?"

Sima Yan touched his chin.

I always feel like something is wrong, but what he said seems to make sense.

Cao Mao tempted him again, "Think about it, if a beating could earn you the recognition of so many talented people and the respect of scholars all over the world, wouldn't that be worth it? They would be so touched. You'd actually risk your own ass for them!"

"But."

"Think about it carefully. Isn't that the truth? Which is more important, your butt or the position of general?"

Sima Yan gritted his teeth and pondered for a long time.

"Okay! I'll go and tell them!"

"If I get beaten, Your Majesty must tell Ruan Ji about it and let him know that I got beaten because of them!"

"No problem! Anshi, you're a real warrior!"

Cao Mao looked at Sima Yan with great satisfaction, "An Shi sacrificed himself for the talents of the world today. Such a heroic act will surely win the love of scholars all over the world!"

"Whether it succeeds or not, we won't lose anything."

Sima Yan gritted his teeth, mustered up his courage, said goodbye to Cao Mao, and left in a hurry.

Cao Mao saw him off and then looked at the people around him.

During these days, Cao Mao became familiar with the people around him again. Because Wang Su could no longer continue to teach him, Cao Mao returned to his old way of wandering around.

In this mode, Cao Mao once again got to know a lot of people.

Whether it was the four eunuchs, the eunuchs, or even some ordinary soldiers, Cao Mao remembered their names and could always say a few words to them when he met them.

These people probably encountered such an enthusiastic emperor for the first time, and they were all a little flattered.

But the person Cao Mao wanted to capture most was Cheng Ji.

(End of this chapter)