Today's senior generals include governors, prefects, and even county magistrates from various places.
Almost none of them came from poor families or common people.
They are all descendants of wealthy families.
Even though Cao Mao had nominally conquered these armies, the generals were still sons of wealthy families. The Hebei army had been conquered, but the same was true for officials from all over the country.
Sitting in the carriage, Cao Mao's face was full of helplessness.
Fortunately, there are still many people in the Chinese army who have made great contributions this time, and they can promote a group of people who have been killed with merit.
This military general is actually okay, and he can promote meritorious people from the army, but what should we do with this local official?
Today's low-level talents cannot support the bureaucracy of the Wei Dynasty.
Cao Mao began to think deeply. After thinking for a long time, he raised his head and looked at the person sitting opposite him.
"Father Zhong, how can the temple's policies be implemented quickly in the local area?"
Sima Zhao raised his head. If Cheng Ji hadn't been sitting next to him, he would have wanted to spit in Cao Mao's face.
How dare you ask me about politics? ?
Who is your second father? !
Seeing Sima Zhao's sad and angry face, Cao Mao sighed and continued: "Father Zhong, how much power do you have left now?"
"It is impossible for foreign generals from all over the country to send troops for you, even if it is a marriage alliance."
"The one who really commands the army seems to be Sima Wang from the northwest."
"However, Sima Fu argued with you before and separated the family. He will not stand on your side and cause trouble for himself."
"Besides, he is now being besieged by Jiang Wei and cannot protect himself. How can he help you?"
Cao Mao stroked his chin and said seriously: "Based on your crime, you imprisoned the two generals Zhengbei and Zhenbei, and then led the army to attack Luoyang. This is obviously rebellion. What is the punishment for rebellion? Kill the three tribes?"
Cao Mao's eyes also became sharp.
"General Wei, I can completely let the Hebei army slaughter your clan in Hanoi, and then slaughter all the Sima surnames to avenge those who innocently died in your hands!"
"This doesn't even require me to take action, the thief can complete this task very well."
"No one will even think it is inappropriate. I returned to Luoyang with a great victory. The evidence is conclusive. Those ministers will compete to execute you and kill your clan to rob the vacancy left by your clan."
Sima Zhao swallowed and looked at the emperor in front of him.
The emperor's face was actually a little gloomy, and his eyes were calm, but with some inexplicable intimidation.
Sima Zhao was stunned.
Cao Mao's expression was actually somewhat similar to that of his brother in his memory.
Sima Zhao was not so afraid of Cao Mao's threat. He gritted his teeth and said, "Today's defeat at your hands is all because of my own fault. If you want to kill me, you can kill me. I will never bow my head."
Cao Mao laughed, "Don't I dare to kill you?"
"Chengjun, take him out and pound him into a pulp with the handle of a knife, then feed him to the dogs, then take his people back to Wen County and slaughter his clan."
Cheng Ji was stunned for a moment, then stood up, grabbed Sima Zhao, and was about to get out of the car.
"Wait a minute!!!"
Sima Zhao suddenly shouted.
Cheng Ji didn't tolerate him, so he grabbed his collar and pulled him out.
"Your Majesty!! Wait a minute!!"
Sima Zhao shouted again.
Cao Mao then looked at Cheng Ji, "Do you have any last words?"
Sima Zhao's face was sometimes green and sometimes white.
"If Your Majesty wants to kill me, give me poisonous wine. Why do you want to humiliate me? A scholar can be killed, but not humiliated!"
"Humiliation? Why didn't you say this when you dug up Linghu Yu's body and whipped him when he was already dead?"
"Why didn't you say this when you used the hilt to hammer Li Feng to death?!"
"How many loyal people have you killed?! How many people have you harmed?! How many scholars have you humiliated?!"
Sima Zhao's face turned red and he was speechless. He looked at Cao Mao's face again, wanting to know if he was threatening him.
Cao Mao's face was exceptionally calm, and he didn't mean to be "joking" at all.
Did he really want to kill himself and his clan? ?
For some reason, looking at the emperor's calm face, Sima Zhao suddenly became upset and breathless.
I'm not afraid of death, but I can't drag my clan to death
Sima Zhao said silently in his heart, and he spoke again: "Your Majesty is guilty."
"What did you say?"
"I plead guilty!"
Sima Zhao knelt down and worshiped in front of Cao Mao.
Cao Mao just looked at him directly and did not ask him to get up.
Sima Zhao always maintained this posture.
This scene is just like Yuancheng's before, except that the people giving the salute and the people receiving the salute have become different.
"Get up."
I don't know how long it took before Cao Mao spoke softly.
Sima Zhao sat in front of the emperor again, and this time, Sima Zhao seemed to have lost his soul.
Cao Mao said: "Father Zhong, you can rest assured that I will not kill you. If I want to govern the world, I still need your assistance."
"As long as you help me with my heart, I can swear on Luo Shui that I will never murder you."
Cheng Ji stood aside, listening to these words, and almost laughed out loud.
Sima Zhao said nothing.
As a loser, all he can do is endure.
Cao Mao continued: "After returning to Luoyang this time, you will continue to serve as General Wei. I will reward you with a General Wei Mansion. You can move in and your family can live in it. From now on, you will assist me to govern the world. "
Cao Mao gave instructions for a moment and then asked Cheng Ji to take the man away.
After Sima Zhao was sent away, Cheng Ji said with a smile: "Your Majesty, you are really relieved! Your threat just now shocked even me! He must have thought it was true!"
Cao Mao slowly looked at Cheng Ji. For some reason, Cheng Ji felt an inexplicable sense of oppression.
Cao Mao suddenly laughed, showing his white teeth, "Yes."
At this moment, many ministers and generals followed the emperor's carriage.
Chen Ben said to Pei Xiu on the side: "His Majesty is really elusive. I didn't even realize that His Majesty had already appeared in front of the camp."
"This feeling"
He did not continue, but Pei Xiu added: "It's very much like a general, right?"
Chen Ben cleared his throat and didn't answer.
Pei Xiu said seriously: "In order to deal with the general, your majesty has been taking the initiative to understand the general and ponder the general's behavior. Naturally, it will inevitably be affected."
Chen Ben fell silent.
Pei Xiu said gently: "You don't have to worry. Your brother is His Majesty's confidant. You will definitely be reused when you return to the temple."
He looked at He Zeng on the other side and said, "Your Majesty previously ordered the execution of the three clans of Situ, and many people were involved. I know that you have had dealings with Situ in the past, so be careful."
He Zeng's face turned white.
Ma Long, who was responsible for protecting them, listened to Pei Xiu's words and raised the corners of his mouth slightly.
He knew that Pei Xiu was intimidating the two newcomers.
Although Ma Long only assisted His Majesty for a short period of time, he knew in his heart that Your Majesty was definitely not someone like Sima Shi.
At least, profit is not the most important thing in his heart. How can a person who feels unfair for the treatment of his ministers be as cold-blooded and ruthless as Master Sima?
It's just that the current situation requires someone like Sima Shi.
Cao Mao set out towards Luoyang with great fanfare at this moment, while Xiahou Xian and others followed the emperor's order and asked the ministers to come to greet him.
When the ministers learned the news, they all looked at a loss.
You know, during the period when Cao Mao was away, they had been scheming and fighting with the emperor!
Ever since the second battle between Wang Xiang and Wang Su started, the temple had become extremely lively.
Cui Zan went to the temple, but failed to see the emperor. According to Wei Shu, His Majesty was unwilling to participate in the study of Confucian classics and left it to the ministers to resolve it themselves.
Immediately, the ministers were forced to side with Ting Wei, holding their noses and standing with Wang Su. No matter what, this classic power must remain.
But Wang Xiang called on young scholars, and the two sides began a war of public opinion.
The ministers tried every means to deal with the emperor's attack.
Just when they were outsmarting the emperor, gaining the upper hand, and beating Wang Xiang and others on the head, Xia Houxian suddenly sent someone to tell them, stop fighting, the emperor is coming back, follow me to greet him!
It is hard to imagine how sad and angry the minister would be feeling at this moment.
The emperor is not in Luoyang? ?
So what are we doing these days? ?
The most sad and angry person is Wang Su. He already had enough advantages, and public opinion gradually turned to him. Wang Xiang's identity as a plagiarist was almost confirmed. But now you tell me that the emperor is not in Luoyang at all. This situation A war without a referee means nothing? ?
I don't know what Wang Su's mentality is at this moment. Anyway, he didn't come out to greet the emperor.
The ministers stood neatly outside the main gate of Luoyang, and the generals of the Chinese army were also here.
When the emperor's carriage stopped, the ministers finally confirmed that the emperor was really not in Luoyang! !
Cao Mao slowly walked out of the carriage. He waved behind him. Suddenly, another person walked up to the emperor. Cao Mao grabbed his wrist and pulled him towards the direction of the ministers. .
And this person is none other than General Wei Sima Zhao.
When the officials saw this scene, they were shocked and the scene was in an uproar.
Cao Mao enthusiastically pulled Sima Zhao and walked quickly in front of the ministers.
The ministers hurriedly bowed to see him.
"Everyone, this time, General Wei has made great achievements in Hebei. I specially went to greet him and take him back to Luoyang!"
"Everyone, please congratulate General Wei!!!"
As soon as these words came out, the officials were stunned and looked at each other, not knowing what to say.
Xun Yi finally confirmed his guess at this moment. Sure enough, His Majesty and General Wei have joined forces!
When Du Yu came here, he had some vague guesses, and it turned out to be true!
