It's gotta be said, my dear old dad is quite frugal.
There were many reasons why Cao Cao could unify the northern regions. One of the minor reasons was that Cao Hong had saved Cao Cao's life and also provided him with several thousand troops.
Cao Hong was richer than Cao Cao.
As soon as people become rich, they are often approached by their relatives asking for loans. And in this story, Cao Pi plays the role of the relative borrowing money.
Cao Pi has many friends, enjoys drinking, hunting, and literature. The lavish lifestyle he leads is completely beyond the salary of his official position as General of the First Cavalry Command.
Then, there's no choice but to borrow money.
As the son of Cao Cao, Cao Pi thought it would be easy to borrow some money. However, Cao Hong refused, and his words were not polite.
This resulted in a grudge.
Early this year, when Former Emperor Cao Pi was ill, a man from Cao Hong's household committed a crime, and Cao Pi intended to involve Cao Hong as well, planning to execute him too.
Cao Hong is an old minister and a member of the imperial family. Is this still the Cao family's world? As the emperor, you arbitrarily assign high-ranking positions to people from Yingchuan, and you punish the crimes of imperial relatives so severely?
This caused a stir.
This led to an uproar, but it was Empress Dowager Bian who stepped in to mediate, saying, "Without Zi Lian (Cao Hong), there would be no today for us between Liang and Pei."
Empress Dowager Bian also had Guo Queen ask for mercy from Cao Pi, warning her that if she failed to deliver, she would be removed from power by the emperor.
The Cao family used both their inner and outer courts to exert pressure. As a result, Cao Hong's life was saved, but he was demoted to a commoner, stripped of his official title, hereditary title, and all his property.
It was only through the personal intervention of Empress Dowager Bian that Cao Pi returned all of Cao Hong's properties.
To be honest, it is quite heartbreaking.
Thinking of this, Cao Rui looked at Huang Quan: "What is Cao Hong doing now?"
Huang Quan was feeling a bit weary at this moment: "I didn't catch that, what is it about Cao?"
Cao Rui yawned and said, "Cao Hong, Cao Zizian."
Huang Quan thought for a moment and said, "Cao Hong is currently idle in Luoyang and has no other affairs."
Cao Rui said, "Mark down Cao Hong for me. Remember to remind me tomorrow to appoint him an official post. The late emperor was unfair to Cao Hong."
It might be helpful to start by dealing with the members of the imperial family more gently, and see how the other imperial family members respond.
With the mention of the late emperor, Huang Quan could only nod and agree.
After reporting to the court, Huang Quan returned home, and Cao Rui also planned to stay in the study all night, not intending to return to the palace chamber.
Cao Rui does not have a reading habit and has no desire to become a virtuous ruler. If he could let go and enjoy himself, he would certainly not spend every day in the study.
But what can one do? As the emperor of Wei, how can one ignore Sun Quan's attack on Jingzhou? How can one not clarify the internal and external armies? How can one neglect the balance of power in the court?
It's all about people, and people are pushed into situations by events.
As the night deepened, the candles in the study were extinguished. Cao Rui lay on his bed, thinking of Mao Lün before going to sleep.
It's not just a simple thought of women.
After confirming the news by the imperial doctor, it was discovered that Mao Lün was pregnant, which was indeed good news for Cao Rui.
In the original history, the reason for the fall of power in the Cao Wei dynasty could be attributed to Sima Yi as an external factor. However, when it comes to internal factors, the early death of emperors and the lack of successors are more significant.
Now, Mao Lün is carrying Cao Rui's first child, which is enough to prove that there is hope for the future of the Cao Wei dynasty. If they can have two children in three years, the Cao Wei royal family will be even more prosperous.
Of course, Mao Lün has made great contributions, and so has Cao Rui. After all, it's a case of yin and yang complementing each other.
Tomorrow, I'll go and see Mao Lün. As Cao Rui thought about it, he gradually drifted off to sleep.
...
The next day, in the study.
If we really count it, Cao Rui has been in the study for over twenty-four hours now.
Only Emperor Cao Rui was still in the study, while Liu Fang had left to be replaced by Huang Quan, and then Huang Quan had been replaced by Cao Zhen and Sima Yi.
After a good night's sleep, Cao Rui woke up refreshed. After getting up in the morning, he summoned Cao Zhen and Sima Yi from the Imperial Secretariat.
It has to be said that Cao Rui really does enjoy holding meetings. Whether it's with the members of the palace secretariat or with the advisors, holding meetings to gather information is indeed much more convenient. Plus, with regular reports and summaries, the workload for ministers has increased significantly.
However, no one in these days of officials would mind the emperor holding meetings frequently. Entering the palace and meeting the emperor is a symbol of favor and status.
It can be said that one person wishes to strike, and a group of people wish to bear the blow.
Cao Rui looked at General Cao Zhen and said, "General Cao, may I trouble you to brief us on the military situation?"
Cao Zhen held the latest military report from Yangzhou and Luoyang, unfolding it and saying, "Your Majesty, in the eastern region, the Military Regent Sima Yi has reported that the local magnate Peng Qi in Poyang has risen in rebellion, sending messengers across the river to report. The Military Regent believes it would be possible to attack Yan'an City on the north bank."
Cao Rui did not speak, simply nodding to indicate for Cao Zhen to continue.
Cao Zhen continued, "In Jingzhou, after General Chen arrived in Xiangyang, he led the garrison to repel Zhuge Jin. By the way, there's some good news from Jiangxia."
Cao Rui asked, "What kind of news?"
Cao Zhen smiled and said, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Inspector you sent from Luoyang to console the garrison commanders at various fronts had a subordinate named Xun Yu. Do you remember him?"
Cao Rui thought for a moment. "Xun Yu from the Xun family? He went to Jingzhou."
Cao Zhen smiled and nodded. "When Xun Yu was on his way to Jiangxia, he heard that the Wu army had invaded. So he gathered the militia of all the counties along the way."
"Xun Yu, after gathering nearly a thousand men, arrived near the city of Jiangxia. He managed to scare away the Wu troops outside the city and proved to be mere rats from Jiangdong. At that time, Wen Pei was leading his troops in Liyang County within Jiangxia, with his main army not in the city."
Cao Zhen was smiling, but he noticed that Cao Rui's face had not shown any smile, and his expression gradually became somber.
Cao Zhen asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, is there something wrong?"
Marshalls Sima Yi on the side also looked slightly puzzled.
Cao Rui asked, "Do you think this is a good thing? As an imperial inspector, Xun Yu's duty is to console the soldiers garrisoned at the borders, not to lead troops in battle!"
"Could it be that Wen Pei is incompetent? General Cao Zhen reported the situation to the court while he failed to notify nearby counties and prefectures?"
Cao Zhen fell silent for a moment: "General Wen Pei has been in Jiangxia for eighteen years. I believe he is not this incompetent."
Cao Rui said, "Indeed, I also believed it wasn't the case. Since Wen Pei had notified them, then Xun Yu, as a scholar, must have merely coincidentally encountered the assembled troops from various counties while passing by."
"Even Wen Pei. As the Governor of Jiangxia, Wen Pei should have been able to repel Xun Yu's forces of less than a thousand men, yet he praised the scouting party that led the attack!"
Cao Rui's perspective was truly unique, leaving both Cao Zhen and Sima Yi momentarily at a loss for words.
Cao Rui asked Sima Yi, "Sima Yi, what do you think? Is Wen Pei just trying to please Xun Yu?"
Sima Yi fell silent for a moment and then said, "After pondering over it, I recognize Xun Yu as well. He is not capable of leading troops either. It seems that the true situation is indeed similar to your guess."
Cao Rui nodded: "Wen Pei, as the General of the Rear and the Marquis of Xinye, does he really need to curry favor with people from Yingchuan?"
At this time, Cao Zhen reacted: "Your Majesty, if what you said is true, then it should not be punished for the two. The front is in a state of emergency and needs more people."
Cao Rui sighed lightly: "Indeed, it's the time to make use of manpower. I'm more than eager to reward them. I just feel a bit nostalgic, wondering if the generals of Wei are now all like this?"
