Three Kingdoms: The Kingdom Cannot Be Partial

Chapter 190 Wang Zhi of Sheqiu Composed a Poem for the Han Emperor

The sixth year of Jianxing in the Han Dynasty.

The second year of Taihe in Wei.

July, early autumn.

After more than a month of fermentation, the news that Liu Shan, the emperor of Shu Han, had seized Guanzhong and restored the capital to Chang'an, with the momentum of Emperor Gaozu's conquest of the Three Qin regions, had spread from the westernmost desert to the easternmost sea, from the northernmost Yan and Ji regions to the southernmost Jing and Jiao regions.

The world was shaken.

Along with this earth-shattering news, the prophecy "When the Luo River dries up, a sage will appear" and the fact that the Luo River stopped flowing on May 22nd also spread throughout the world.

Although the Wei court used various means such as government offices and children's rhymes to refute the rumors among the people, saying that there were Shu bandits and traitors who had sided with Shu building dams to block the flow of the Luo River upstream.

Even in remote prefectures, counties, and villages, well-informed people still received rumors that the Luo River had not resumed its flow from May 21st until mid-June.

However, the interruption of the Luo River's flow did not last long.

It happened on the first day of July.

After six months of extreme drought, the Kanto region finally received its first rain.

heavy rain.

It lasted for more than ten days.

The waters in the Guandong region swelled dramatically.

Many places even experienced flooding.

By July 15th, the Great Wei court had symbolically allocated relief grain from Hanjia Granary in Luoyang to aid impoverished people in the surrounding counties who were suffering from both drought and floods.

at the same time.

A five-character poem by the great writer Cao Zhi, the Prince of Sheqiu, praising the timely rain, spread like wildfire from Sheqiu in Jibei to the counties and prefectures south of the Yellow River, including Qing, Xu, Yan, and Yu.

Even the people of Wu in Jingzhou and Yangzhou had heard of it.

Luoyang.

Miyagi.

Deyang Hall.

A letter on bamboo slips was tightly held in the hands of the Emperor of Wei.

Grand Tutor Zhong Yao and Grand Commandant Hua Xin were carried into the palace in palanquins by the Tiger Guards.

Zhong Yao suffered from knee ailments, making it difficult for him to kneel and rise. Hua Xin also suffered from numerous illnesses due to his advanced age. Therefore, Cao Rui specially arranged for these two elderly ministers to be carried in palanquins by the Tiger Guards to their seats when they came to court.

A short while later, Chen Qun, Jiang Ji, Liu Ye, and several other important officials, including Xin Pi who had just returned from Hedong, all entered Deyang Palace.

Emperor Cao Rui of the Great Wei, who had been sitting upright at the head of the hall without uttering a word, then handed the memorial in his hand to his attendant.

Bixie took the bamboo slips, went to the hall, and presented them to Grand Tutor Zhong Yao, who was sitting at the upper left.

Zhong Yao presented it.

But it turned out to be a five-character poem, "Joyful Rain," written by Cao Zhi, the King of Yongqiu... no, the King of Sheqiu.

"In the second year of the Taihe era, a severe drought occurred, resulting in a complete failure of the wheat harvest, and the people suffered from famine."

"How vast is the sky's cover!"

"May this multitude of life be nurtured!"

"Abandoning it will only lead to its decline, while favoring it will bring it prosperity!"

"Auspicious clouds arrive from the north, and abundant tales unfold of the southwestern expedition!"

A sudden rainstorm descended in the middle of the night, and a long clap of thunder echoed through my courtyard!

"Fine seeds sown in fertile soil will yield a bountiful harvest in autumn!"

After reading the poem, Zhong Yao remained silent.

"Gentlemen, please take a look," Cao Rui said casually, sitting at the head of the table.

Upon hearing the emperor's words, Zhong Yao handed the bamboo slips in his hand to Chen Qun in front of him.

Liu Ye, Xin Pi, and other ministers all gathered around Chen Qun.

After a short while, the emperor slowly spoke:

"I have never been fond of poetry or literature, nor have I achieved any mastery of it, so I cannot understand the profound meaning of this poem."

"Gentlemen, tell me, what is so wonderful about the work of the King of Snake Hill?"

"How could it have spread throughout the Central Plains and become known to everyone in just half a month?"

The emperor's somewhat languid voice echoed in the rather empty hall.

Once the echoes faded, the sound of a pin dropping could be heard in the hall.

Since it concerned the affairs of the imperial family, none of the court officials dared to speak lightly.

Seeing this, Cao Rui looked at the elderly man sitting at the upper left and said:
"Grand Tutor, your knowledge is profound. I wonder if you could try to analyze this for me?"

Zhong Yao sighed inwardly and said to the emperor from his seat:

"His Majesty.

"A severe drought struck Northeast China, resulting in a complete crop failure of wheat and barley, and widespread famine among the people."

"The poem of joy for rain by the King of Sheqiu begins with the exclamation, 'How vast is the sky's cover!' It directly praises the grace of heaven in nurturing all things and all living beings."

As for "Abandoning it will lead to its withering, while favoring it will bring prosperity."

"One must and one rule."

This clearly shows that Wang Zhi of Sheqiu had a deep reverence for and reliance on Heaven.

"In my opinion, this poem about the joy of rain is merely King Sheqiu using the rain as a metaphor to express his aspirations."

"I wish to rely on Your Majesty's presence and hope that Your Majesty will bestow your grace and nurture me. I have no other intentions."

Upon hearing this, Chen Qun, Xin Pi, and the others all held their breath and secretly watched to see how the emperor would react to Zhong Yao's explanation.

What is the meaning of Cao Zhi's poem?
Zhong Yao's explanation is also correct.

How vast is the heavens!
—Nurturing all living things!
If it abandons all things, then all things wither and suffer; if it bestows grace upon all beings, then all beings flourish and prosper.

Isn't this just praising the might and virtue of the Great Wei Emperor and begging for his mercy?

"Oh, is that so?" Cao Rui looked at Zhong Yao with a hint of amusement.

"Then what does the phrase 'Auspicious clouds come from the north, and abundant clouds recount the southwestern expedition' mean?"

Zhong Yao was slightly taken aback, and after a moment said, "Auspicious clouds drifted in from the north and stretched endlessly towards the southwest."

He paused, glanced at the emperor's uncertain expression, and then continued:

"A timely rain fell in the middle of the night, and a long thunderclap swept through my courtyard."

“Fine seeds grow in fertile soil, and a bountiful harvest is achieved in autumn.”

"The words of the King of Snake Hill are like thunder and rain, all expressions of the Emperor's grace."

"In my humble opinion, the King of Sheqiu wrote this poem hoping that Your Majesty would send down a timely rain, invite him to the court as an inner attendant, or perhaps send him to defend the borders of the country."

In fact, Zhong Yao had already seen this poem the day before.

Naturally, it was also known that, with the help of those with ulterior motives, this poem had spread almost throughout the entire Central Plains.

It's estimated that it won't be long before the whole world knows.

This became irrefutable evidence of discord within the Wei dynasty's imperial family, a source of ridicule.

This further enhanced the prestige of the Shu Han emperor, who was already infamous after conquering Guanzhong and whose illustrious reputation was further amplified by the fulfillment of the prophecy at Luoshui.

if not?
The Han emperor seized Guanzhong, and the Luo River stopped flowing.

Not long after, heavy rains fell in the Kanto region.

What does it mean that Cao Zhi would compose a poem called "Joyful Rain" at this time?
People who hadn't initially associated the heavy rains in Guandong with Liu Shan immediately started making a fuss about this celestial phenomenon.

As for the question the emperor just asked: "Auspicious clouds come from the north, and the southwestern expedition is in full swing."

You may have truly meant to say: Auspicious clouds drifted in from the north, stretching endlessly towards the southwest.

But what's being said outside right now?
The troops, money, and provisions of the Great Wei were continuously sent from north to south to the southwest!

Auspicious clouds drifted from north to south, praising this southwestern expedition to all living things under the vast sky!
And those last two sentences.

A sudden rainstorm descended in the middle of the night, and a long clap of thunder echoed through my courtyard!

"Fine seeds sown in fertile soil will yield a bountiful harvest in autumn!"

What's being said outside?
When the times are dark and the heavens send down timely rain, then the thunderous wrath of the Great Wei emperor will surely descend upon my courtyard, Cao Zhi.

The seeds sown by Cao Wei's campaign in the southwest will bear abundant fruit and bring a bountiful harvest when autumn arrives after my death, Cao Zhi!
Aren't you just asking for trouble?!

Hearing Zhong Yao trying to defend Cao Zhi, Cao Rui's face still showed disapproval, but a shadow had quietly settled over his eyes.

Upon seeing this, Zhong Yao sighed inwardly. But after all, he was a founding father and a veteran minister of three reigns, so he did not feel any fear in the face of this emperor who was somewhat rational in his actions.

After all, although one should be loyal to the emperor even if one is paid by the emperor, the vast majority of the salary Zhong Yao received in his life was bestowed by Emperor Taizu.

Now that I am old and nearing death, if I can say a few words for Emperor Taizu's worthless fourth son and save his life, it would be to preserve the reputation of the Wei dynasty for Emperor Taizu and for the current emperor.

At this point, the seventy-eight-year-old Zhong Yao, now frail and elderly, addressed the emperor again:
"I humbly request Your Majesty's wise judgment."

"This old minister...this old minister humbly believes..."

"King Sheqiu, relying on his talent, often boasts of his poetry and prose. Now, he even uses the poem about the joy of rain to presumptuously claim that he wants to share Your Majesty's worries and hear about the country's major plans."

"However, looking at the life of King Sheqiu..."

"In terms of practical matters, he has never personally experienced battles and is unaware of the dangers of the frontier."

"In terms of talent, although his poetry and prose are skillful, they are limited to idle talk and empty discussions."

"If even a prefect of a county cannot perform his duties, he is not worthy of being employed in the imperial court or on the frontier."

"This old minister believes..."

"This will allow the King of Snakehill to enjoy the honor of his royal title and live out his days in his fiefdom of Snakehill."

"In this way, the bonds of kinship are preserved, and the laws of the court are not disregarded."

Seeing that Zhong Yao had single-handedly taken all the lightning strikes, Liu Ye, Hua Xin, and Xin Pi, veterans of three dynasties who had been silently watching the show for a long time, all breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Led by Chen Qun, everyone stepped forward one by one to try and find a way to explain Cao Zhi's poem, convinced that it was exactly what Zhong Yao had just interpreted.

In the center of Deyang Hall.

Cao Rui listened silently to the words of the veterans from three dynasties who were trying to exonerate Cao Zhi, without uttering a single word.

The imperial authority he had built up over two years was now facing challenges.

In mid-March, he returned from Chang'an.

Because of the rumor that "the emperor has died and the King of Yongqiu should be established," a large number of people were executed.

Even though General Cao Zhen had already lost his army and died, the people of the court and the public remained silent about his massacre.

Even though he demoted Cao Zhi to the King of Sheqiu, no one dared to speak up for Cao Zhi.

But after Guanzhong fell into the hands of Liu Shan, and after that ridiculous prophecy about the Luo River came true, even though Cao Zhi's poem "Joyful Rain" had already stirred up a storm and made the already precarious Wei Dynasty even more gloomy, these upright and loyal ministers still had to speak up for Cao Zhi!
Cao Rui's anger was raging like wildfire, but his face remained as cold as ice.

After experiencing a series of great victories, or rather, a series of great defeats for the Great Wei, Liu Shan's temperament seemed to have become more resilient than before.

At least I no longer need to rely on drinking and taking drugs to numb myself and escape reality, as I did when I first learned that Guanzhong had been lost.

When Chen Qun again persuaded him, he suggested that Cao Zhi's son, Cao Zhi, could be summoned to serve in the palace.

Cao Rui, who had not uttered a word, gave Chen Qun a deep look. After a moment, he finally stood up and went behind the screen.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the empty Deyang Palace, gradually fading into the distance until it disappeared completely.

Zhong Yao, Liu Ye, Xin Pi, Hua Xin, and other elderly elders looked at each other, at a loss for words.

A moment later, all the veteran officials from three dynasties turned their gazes toward Chen Qun.

Cao Miao, the legitimate son of Cao Zhi, the King of Sheqiu, died young, and Cao Zhi was his illegitimate son.

He was studious from a young age, just like his father, and was known for his talent and conduct. He was also skilled in riding and archery, and was approachable and simple. He had lofty ambitions and was well-known to the world.

Cao Zhi praised him, saying, "This is a worthy protector of the family."

He then established him as his heir.

Zhong Yao, Chen Qun, and others left Deyang Palace.

Once they reached the steps outside the palace, Zhong Yao dismissed the tiger-like guards who were carrying his palanquin, so that no one could hear him, and then said to Chen Qun:

"Changwen, if I remember correctly, you're fifteen years younger than me, how can you be more confused than me?"

Chen Qun was slightly taken aback, then let out a long sigh:
"Yuan Changgong.

"My original intention was to summon the son of the King of Sheqiu to be held hostage within the palace, so as to protect the King of Sheqiu and prevent infighting among the royal family."

Who would have thought...

"Alas, I am indeed getting senile."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Yao shook his head helplessly, feeling somewhat uneasy.

When the emperor was the King of Pingyuan, he had a son named Jiong.

After Emperor Shao succeeded to the throne, he enfeoffed his eldest son, Cao Jiong, as the Prince of Qinghe.

As a result, less than two months later, the newly appointed Prince of Qinghe met with misfortune.

Now, the emperor has no sons.

You, Chen Changwen, and all of you veterans of three dynasties, have been trying to find fault with Cao Zhi all this time.

Now they even want to invite Cao Zhi's son, who is "possessing both literary and martial talents and has always had lofty ambitions," to the palace.

What exactly are your intentions?!
It should be noted that since Emperor Wen succeeded to the throne, all members of the imperial clan, without exception, were sent to various prefectures and counties, and were ordered to be strictly supervised by the prefects, magistrates, and other officials.

The so-called "prohibition, prevention, obstruction, and isolation are the same as imprisonment."

What are we defending against?
It was to prevent members of the imperial family from vying for the throne!

Why should we take precautions?

Where does experience come from?

The experience lies in Cao Zhi, a member of the imperial clan who once vied most fiercely with Emperor Wen for the throne!

Zhong Yao, Chen Qun, Liu Ye, and others originally intended to save Cao Zhi's life.

it's good now.

Not only were Cao Zhi and Cao Zhi in danger of losing their lives.

Even these veterans of three reigns probably have a rift with the emperor.

Although there was already a gap between them.

But things are different now than they were then.

After Chen Qun, Zhong Yao, Hua Xin and others had all left the palace, Jiang Ji, the Central Protector General, returned.

We arrived at the North Palace via the covered walkway.

In front of the Zhangde Hall, he saw the emperor sitting cross-legged on the steps.

"Your Majesty, Grand Tutor Zhong and Minister Chen probably didn't mean that."

As a confidant of the emperor, he was still able to exchange a few intimate words with the emperor.

Cao Rui looked at Jiang Ji and said:

"Central Protector General, I have heard from the magistrate of Sheqiu that Sheqiu has suffered from floods and is now experiencing a plague."

"Take my imperial seal and go to Snake Hill."

“Cao Zhi, the Prince of Sheqiu, was moved to Youzhou and made the Prince of Yongnu. He was ordered to move his entire family to the county immediately.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ji paused for a moment, then quickly bowed and accepted the order:

"only!"

...

Jingzhou.

On the Han River.

A grain transport fleet consisting of nearly a hundred cargo ships, dinghys, and warships, escorted by several thousand Wu infantrymen, arrived north of Xiangyang.

After a ten-day boat trip, Deng Zhi stepped onto the ferry and looked around at the scenery.

The mountains, the water, and even the trees and grass here are all so strange yet so familiar.

He was from Xinye.

Unfortunately, when the late emperor was staying in Xinye, he had already fled to Sichuan to escape the chaos. He could not meet the late emperor in Xinye early on, nor was he fortunate enough to witness the grand scene of the late emperor leading the people to cross the river in this place.

Even after the late emperor's death, he continued to work diligently in silence, believing that he would one day return to his homeland.

After the emperor returned to Chang'an, this once seemingly unattainable wish suddenly became something within reach.

However, I really didn't expect that the day of returning to my homeland would come so soon.

If it were in a different form, instead of coming here to discuss matters with Sun Quan, it would be even better to come here to recover lost territory.

Sun Quan, who hadn't been able to put down his feet for several days, heard from his five-story ship that his old friend Deng Zhi had arrived, so he hurriedly put aside his military affairs and went to the dock to greet him personally.

"Bo Miao, Bo Miao, how have you been?" Sun Quan laughed heartily upon seeing Deng Zhi and greeted him warmly.

(End of this chapter)