Cao Mao came to Zhaoyang Hall with a smile.
Husband Guo hurriedly prayed to see him.
Cao Mao's attitude towards him was very gentle. Logically speaking, in the face of this person's active leaking of secrets, Cao Mao should reward him with money or something else.
But Cao Mao didn't do this.
Because he knew that Mr. Guo was different from other eunuchs. Strictly speaking, this man was a eunuch whose body carried the soul of a scholar.
He is from a wealthy family, or he has aspirations for a wealthy family. He is forced to become an eunuch due to torture or other reasons. He is physically disabled, but in his heart he despises other eunuchs. If such a person is bribed with rewards and money like other eunuchs, That would be considered some kind of humiliation.
In the late Han Dynasty, this type of eunuch was not uncommon. There were many eunuchs who were close to aristocratic families and deeply respected by scholar-bureaucrats.
Well, Cao Mao's ancestor, Cao Teng, the late Emperor Gao of the Great Wei Dynasty and the frequent servant of the Han Dynasty, is one of them.
Cao Mao does not despise these people in the palace. In other words, their appearance is a tragedy caused by the feudal imperial power. Castration has caused great damage to their bodies and psychology. In today's era, even if they are just Even if you are doing your job, you will be resented and blamed for no reason.
The scholars blamed all the mistakes of the late Han Dynasty on the eunuchs.
The foolish emperor who should have taken full responsibility was said by the scholar-bureaucrats to have been deceived by the eunuchs, and the only mistake he made was to get close to these eunuchs.
Eunuchs are accessories to the imperial power, and their actions depend entirely on the level of the ruler. If the ruler is strong, they can open sea routes and make great achievements. If the ruler is mediocre, they can also make wine ponds and meat forests for the emperor.
How ridiculous is it to place all the faults on the eunuchs?
"Husband Guo, could you please go and tell me that I'm here?"
"Thank you husband."
Cao Mao bowed his hands.
Husband Guo's face turned red. For someone like him, saluting was obviously more important than giving money.
When Cao Mao walked into Zhaoyang Palace, Gao Rou had already left. The Queen Mother was still smiling, but her eyes were wandering.
Cao Mao felt helpless.
I had previously said that the three fools of the Guo family were too hasty in making this conclusion. It was my fault and it should be the four fools of the Guo family.
The Queen Mother's attitude completely depends on the attitude of the last person who speaks to her.
This aspect is very similar to An Shi!
"My son is here? He is looking for you! Sit down."
As Queen Mother Guo said, Cao Mao sat next to her. Cao Mao looked very serious at the moment.
"Mom, something big happened."
Queen Mother Guo was about to say what Gao Rou had ordered, but when she heard Cao Mao say this, all the words were stuck in her throat.
She asked in surprise: "What happened?"
Cao Mao frowned and said angrily: "I heard from people in the palace that the prince came to teach me, but the tall man blocked the door and refused to let him in. The prince had a big quarrel with him. He was speechless and just entered."
Queen Mother Guo suddenly realized, "This is actually a matter of fact."
"Mother! What do you think Gao Rou wants to do? Why did he arrange for his son to enter Zhaoyang Palace? If it is just to protect us, why not allow the prince to enter?"
"Isn't what happened this time all because of the prince?"
"Since he entered the palace, how long has it been since you saw the teacher, Duke Chen and other ministers?"
Queen Mother Guo frowned and her expression became hesitant.
Cao Mao sneered and said: "This Gao Rou clearly wants to be the next Sima Shi. He wants to cut off our contact with the ministers. That Gao Dan is watching us! I originally thought that Gao Rou was an important minister in the temple, but he didn't To think that it is so hateful!"
Queen Mother Guo was stunned. She was shaken again and again.
Of course, if Gao Rou saw her later and said different things to her, she might still be shaken.
Cao Mao said seriously: "Mom, there is a lot of chaos in the temple today. I heard that Sima Zhao sent soldiers to surround Luoyang."
"What?!"
Queen Mother Guo stood up suddenly, this time she was really frightened.
"Mother, Gao Rou knew about this but never told you?"
"Really??"
"If you don't believe it, you can summon any minister to ask. This is what my Huangmen official told me, and it will definitely not be false!"
Queen Mother Guo finally reacted and she was very angry, "Why didn't anyone tell me about such a thing?"
"Mother, I have said it a long time ago. In the whole world, we are the only ones who are united. Those ministers all have their own ideas and interests. Like Gao Rou, they just want to take advantage of you. When you suffered, Has he ever been able to help you?"
"The most important thing at the moment is to know what Master Sima and the others want to do. Do they want to attack the palace with a large army?"
Queen Mother Guo's eyes were full of panic, and her hands were trembling.
"What can we do about it?"
"Mother."
Cao Mao gritted his teeth, as if he had made some decision, and said, "I am going to take the Queen to the General's Mansion."
Queen Mother Guo looked at him and said, "You want to go?"
"Go and see what is true. The words of these people are not trustworthy, and the words of Master Sima are even less trustworthy. I want to go and see for myself for my mother to see what their family wants to do."
"If I fail to come back this time, please take care of yourself, mother."
Cao Mao stood up and saluted her.
Empress Dowager Guo shook her head quickly, "No, no, how can I let you put yourself in danger? You can send your close associates to go, but you don't want to go."
"Mother, what confidants do you have now?"
"Do you want the prince to go to Master Sima's residence? If it were me, Master Sima would have many scruples and might not dare to take action. If it were the prince, and he ruined Master Sima's affairs, Master Sima would directly say that he wanted to assassinate him and put him to death. Doesn’t killing mean something bad?”
Queen Mother Guo's expression was very hesitant. She was silent for a long time, and then said helplessly: "Then you must pay attention to your safety, don't argue with Master Sima, and don't anger him. In everything you do, you must ensure your own safety. "
Cao Mao's face was very determined, "Please rest assured, mother."
Cao Mao easily dealt with the Queen Mother and left the Zhaoyang Palace.
After Cao Mao left, Queen Mother Guo lowered her head and didn't speak for a long time. She even lost the interest in going to the palace to show off her majesty.
Sima Yu has not been back for some time since she came to the palace.
At this moment, she also followed Cao Mao's instructions, changed into a set of clothes, and took care of herself a little before walking out.
Cao Mao didn't care about this. He ordered the eunuchs to prepare chariots and horses.
He looked at Zhang Hua and Wei Shu again.
"Don't follow me in. You guys stay outside. If something happens, you can decide for yourself how to act."
Zhang Hua was a little surprised, "Your Majesty, you are alone."
"It's okay. With you outside, I have nothing to fear. If something happens and we are trapped in the General's Mansion together, no one will come to save me."
Cao Mao said it casually, but the meaning behind his words was that he wanted to entrust his wealth and life to the two people in front of him.
Ever since Zhang Hua and Wei Shu arrived at the palace, Cao Mao had no reservations about them. He had extra trust in them and informed them of his affairs and secrets. Now he regards them as his fallback.
Zhang Hua and Wei Shu looked at each other and then paid homage.
"I will definitely live up to His Majesty's high expectations!"
Soon, the eunuch prepared a carriage and horses for Cao Mao. Cao Mao and the queen got into the carriage together, and the carriage drove slowly outside from the Tai Chi Hall.
Gao Dan stared at the carriage slowly leaving, but did not speak.
Cao Mao pulled up the car curtain and stared outside.
"Your Majesty, it's windy outside."
Sima Ku said.
"It doesn't matter that since I came to Luoyang, I have never seen the scene outside the palace. This is the first time I have left the palace."
Hearing Cao Mao's words, Sima Yu was immediately speechless.
The emperor's travel is not a trivial matter, and the general's palace is not far from the palace. On this stretch of road, soldiers have already cleared the road in advance, and no one is allowed to approach. All entrances and exits are guarded, and Cao Mao's carriage is behind and behind. The number of knights and soldiers is even more numerous.
Of course, the person in charge of all this was Yang Hu. Yang Hu was still very serious and carried out everything according to etiquette.
Although Cao Mao left the palace, he could not see the prosperity of Luoyang. All he could see when he rolled up the car curtains were knights passing by in a hurry and soldiers standing guard in the distance. All the houses along the road were boarded up. The locks were locked, and the restaurants and the like were emptied out early. Cao Mao arrived at the general's residence all the way.
The General's Mansion has already received the knight's report and is ready to receive it.
Sima Zhao personally stood at the door of the General's Mansion, with many subordinate officials standing around him, including Du Yu, Xun Xu and others. Even Sima Yan was here, standing behind his father.
The door of the mansion is fully open, which is also the highest standard to welcome the emperor.
Cao Mao and Sima Ku got off the carriage one after another.
Then he looked at the Sima family standing in the distance.
Sima Zhao looked much thinner and calmer than before. He looked at Cao Mao with complicated eyes, but after Cao Mao got out of the car, he took the lead in saluting without thinking.
"Your Majesty Sima Zhao! Meet His Majesty the Emperor!!"
The rest of the people followed him, worshiped together, and shouted in unison.
Cao Mao laughed, walked forward quickly, and personally helped Sima Zhao up.
"Father Zhong, we are all one family, why are you so polite? Get up quickly."
Sima Zhao's heart was extremely complicated at this moment. He stood up and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
The confidants around him were a little shocked when they saw the emperor and Sima Zhao being so close. Sima Yan was the only one whose eyes were full of expectation and eager to talk to Cao Mao.
"I heard that General Zhengxi has many talented people under his command. Are these your subordinate officers?"
Sima Zhao quickly called everyone over and asked them to report their names.
"Chen Du Yu pays homage to His Majesty!"
Cao Mao's eyes lit up, he's looking for you!
