"Mr. Yang, come, let me pour you tea!"
Cao Mao stood beside Yang Zong with a smile, holding a pot in his hand. Yang Zong, who originally looked drunk, stood up in a hurry.
No one dared to ask His Majesty to serve him with a teapot.
Cao Mao looked at Yang Zong, who had suddenly sobered up, and pulled him to sit down again.
Cao Mao poured two cups of tea and then sat in front of Yang Zong.
"Mr. Yang, we haven't seen each other for a long time."
"I miss you so much, how could you run away?"
Yang Zong was caught in front of Cao Mao at this moment. When the army attacked Sima Zhao's camp that day, Yang Zong ran away.
It's just that he was not very lucky. He was later discovered by Wen Yang who was searching for deserters, and he was transferred to Luoyang.
Yang Zong just lowered his head at the moment, didn't speak, and didn't look at Cao Mao in front of him.
Cao Mao said with a smile: "I still remember that when I was in Yuancheng, you persuaded me many times, saying that it was impossible for me to succeed, and that no matter what I did, it would be in vain. What do you think now?"
Yang Zong was in a daze. He once again thought of the "hungry" boy in Yuancheng.
Yang Zong, who was under the shadow of failure, really did not believe that Cao Mao could succeed. At that time, Yang Zong's belief had completely collapsed, and everything he insisted on no longer existed. When he saw a weak young man ready to change everything , all he did was laugh, and maybe have some pity.
No one knew better than Yang Zong how weak Cao Mao was at the time.
He was even reduced to hanging out with low-level farmers, rangers, and merchants.
He was like a drowning man, stretching out his hands and struggling wildly, trying to grab any hope of survival.
Cao Mao's appearance was said by Yang Zong to be hungry and not selective about food.
And what he has to deal with is the most powerful general in the world.
Until now, Yang Zong still didn't understand how the emperor won.
At this moment, he finally reacted. He raised his head, looked at Cao Mao in front of him, and said seriously: "Your Majesty is so talented and powerful. Even because of what happened before, Your Majesty is enough to be worshiped in the temple."
Cao Mao shook his head, "As you know, I have never done this for my own fame. Of course, I cannot say that I am completely unselfish, but what I want to do more is to prevent an unprecedented catastrophe."
"So far, my start has been successful."
Of course Yang Zong knew. After all, Cao Mao had given him many instructions and told him that if he died, he would use these to assist Sima Zhao.
Yang Zong let out a long sigh.
"Your Majesty, when you were in trouble, I failed to come to your aid. Later, you gained the love of General Wei, and when General Wei was in trouble, I still failed to help you."
"I am a betrayer of the Lord. I am unfaithful and unjust. To this day, I have no shame to continue to stand in front of you."
"I only ask that your majesty will remember the old minister's insignificant achievements in the past. Xu Chen will die."
Yang Zong was once Cao Shuang's subordinate, then Cao Mao's, and finally Sima Zhao's. Judging from the results, he failed to protect the three kings.
He has been a dead man for a long time, his soul has died long ago, and he is not afraid of the death of his body at this moment.
Cao Mao shook his head.
"Mr. Yang, I don't let you sit here today to humiliate you."
"I just want to discuss some knowledge with you."
"You told me at the beginning that benevolence, morality, etiquette, things that China had in the past are dead and no longer exist. The end of all roads is destruction."
"I have also been shaken, but judging from the current situation, these things are not as dead as you said, are they?"
Yang Zong looked at Cao Mao in front of him. He was not in the mood to discuss knowledge, "What exactly does your Majesty want to do?"
"There are many things I want to do, and the first thing I want to do is to wake up you intellectuals who are drunk and dreaming."
"The scholars of the Spring and Autumn Period were admired by the people of the country. The scholars of the Early Han Dynasty were pioneers for the king and defeated the barbarians! Even the scholars of the Later Han Dynasty were warriors who could not surrender!"
"Why has it become like this now?!"
At this moment, Yang Zong could no longer fight back as calmly as before. The career that the emperor had established now gave him the real capital to say these words. This was no longer the childish talk of the past. This was a man who had just defeated a powerful man. The emperor of the enemy's empire questioned the scholar-bureaucrats.
"I"
Cao Mao's eyes were full of disappointment, "I looked around and saw that the temple was full of chatty ministers. They couldn't do anything except talk. Before doing anything, they had to divination to ghosts and gods. If things didn't work out, they had to drink wine and eat grains. Without distinction, without diligence, nothing will be accomplished!!"
"Is this my scholar from the Wei Dynasty?!"
Yang Zong still didn't dare to refute.
"I am incompetent."
Cao Mao said: "I want to change everything now. Mr. Yang, it is not easy to survive in this world."
"Don't think about dying, don't think about hiding."
“Do something, even if it’s something small.”
"Everyone is going to die, so why don't you do something before you die? To spend this life mediocrely and hide in the mountains and forests to explain your ambitions, isn't this what a man would do?!"
Facing Cao Mao's questioning, Yang Zong just murmured: "What kind of face do I have?"
"I don't know if you have any face now, but if Mr. Yang just hides away, then he really has no face, and I will spurn you."
"When a man is established in this world, he will rise to the occasion of adversity and live to face death. How can he be timid and cower?!"
"Maoxian! See off the guests!"
Cao Mao waved his hand, and Zhang Hua immediately helped Yang Zong stand up and led him out of the Tai Chi Hall.
Zhang Hua just sent Yang Zong all the way to the palace gate, and then let go of his hand.
"Mr. Yang, take care!"
Zhang Hua saluted, then turned and walked into the hall.
Yang Zong was left alone, standing at the gate of the palace, at a loss.
When Zhang Hua returned to the Tai Chi Hall, Cao Mao was looking through letters and memorials from various places. Zhang Hua couldn't help but said: "Your Majesty, Duke Yang has a great talent. If you had just said a few more words, he might have stayed to assist you. .”
Cao Mao shook his head, "Even if we force him to stay, he is just a drunkard. What's the use?"
"If he can figure it out on his own, then I don't need to say more. If he can't figure it out, then I will never force him to stay."
"This tendency to talk, to avoid the world, and to do nothing must be controlled."
"If these people still want to talk, let them go home and talk. I will set up a strict examination school, and all local ministries will conduct inspections. Those who have no talent and a false reputation will be dismissed!"
At this moment, Zhang Hua was shocked and said, "Your Majesty, this is not possible!"
Cao Mao was not the first to realize this problem. The last person to do so was the Ming Emperor Cao Rui.
Cao Rui realized the change in the world's ideological trends, so he dismissed many ministers at once, causing huge controversy.
At that time, the style of chatting was very strong. A large group of high-ranking disciples gathered in Luoyang. They gathered to socialize, criticize people, talk about fame and theory, and in short, they did not do serious things.
Their behavior became popular among the entire scholar group and became the idols of the scholars at that time. The leaders were Xia Houxuan, He Yan, and Sima Shi.
As a result, they were accused of "flashy dating" and were all dragged out to deal with it, which was also known as the flashy case in history.
As a result, many ministers were also unlucky. Zhuge Dan, who was the minister at the time, was dismissed from office.
Nowadays, this situation has developed further. Cao Mao still retains Chen Qian's previous memorial.
In just one Sili and Xiaowei department, there are eighty people who are not doing business!
What about the rest of the temple? What about locally?
He suddenly understood why Cao Rui was so angry.
Zhang Hua also understood the emperor's mood at the moment, but he still said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, you have just conquered the ministers. You can't rush to implement this matter. You can't do it, and your Majesty can't do it."
Cao Mao smiled and said, "Sir Mao, don't worry. I know it. I know who is suitable to do such a thing."
At this moment, in the Shizhong Mansion.
Zheng Xiaotong sat in the study, looking at the unruly young man in front of him, wondering what he wanted to do here.
"Jun Zhong, I wonder what your orders are when you come here this time?"
Zhong Hui looked at Zheng Xiaotong in front of him for a long time, then nodded and asked, "I heard you have a granddaughter?"
Zheng Xiaotong's face suddenly turned dark.
During the Han Dynasty, marriages were usually arranged by mothers or female relatives. However, the eldest father was not considered a father, so Zheng Xiaotong could barely bear it.
"There is a granddaughter, what does Mr. Zhong mean?"
"I heard that your son is weak and sick and has never been an official?"
Zheng Xiaotong's face turned even darker, "So what if you?!"
"That's right. Your granddaughter may be a good match for His Majesty."
Zhong Hui's attitude seemed to be saying, it is your honor to marry your granddaughter to Cao Mao. Come and thank the emperor for his kindness.
Zheng Xiaotong didn't have any objections to the emperor. No matter in terms of personality, character, or talents, Zheng Xiaotong admired the emperor very much. If the emperor wanted to marry his granddaughter, it was not impossible.
However, he has great opinions on Zhong Hui.
Did you come to tell me like this? what you up to? Are you going to rob civilian girls for the emperor? !
Of course Zhong Hui would not feel that there was anything wrong with his behavior. He said seriously: "You can send someone to send your granddaughter to the Queen Mother, let her visit the Queen Mother, and then ask the Queen Mother to give an order to betroth her to Your Majesty. "
"As for you, you can prepare according to the etiquette. Oh, by the way, let all the ministers know these things as soon as possible. By the way, write down the names of the ministers who come to you and leave them to me later! !”
Zheng Xiaotong finally couldn't bear it anymore.
He stood up suddenly, "If this is really the case, the Queen Mother should come forward. What does it have to do with you?! How dare you be so humiliated?!"
"Someone is coming!!"
"see a visitor out!!"
