After Xia Houxuan sent Xun Can and Cao Fu away, he realized that this strategy might not be perfect, and thought that since he had already waded through the muddy water, he would just go through it all.
After looking at the sandalwood copper stove and thinking for a while, he called Gu Ting. After whispering a few words, Gu Ting rushed to Cao Zhen's Dongxiang Hou Mansion in person.
Emperor Cao Pi was seriously ill and had to leave the court for a few days. However, his three ministers, nine ministers, and hundreds of civil and military officials were not idle. Except for Chen Qun, Sima Yi and other important officials of the central government who discussed politics in Lantai, Shangshu, they came early in the morning. , before dawn, a group of ministers, led by Yushi Zhongcheng Bao Xun, knelt in a crowd outside the palace gate.
The ministers came to plead for mercy, but the emperor was still angry and ill, so naturally they could not succeed.
Especially Bao Xun, the censor Zhongcheng. In the early years of the emperor's reign, before he ascended the throne, he offended Empress Guo's brother, and also offended the emperor. In addition, the post of Censor Zhongcheng often impeached and advised, which made Cao Pi extremely disgusted with Bao Xun. Cao Pi became more and more angry, and naturally he could not listen to anyone's words.
Xun Can, who regarded Cao Hong as the father-in-law of Mount Tai, and Cao Fu, Cao Hong's eldest son, came to see the Empress Dowager early in the morning after receiving Xia Houxuan's advice.
Everyone knows that Cao Hong followed Emperor Taizu Wu to conquer all directions and made great achievements. In addition, in the first year of Chuping in the former Han Dynasty, decades ago, in early spring and February, Taizu and the eighteen princes gathered to attack Dong Zhuo. , the fight forced Dong Zhuo to move his capital to the west, but the princes were cowering at the moment and had their own agenda. They only thought about how to carve up the states and counties, and they were not willing to waste time, money and troops to chase the enemy north.
Seeing that the great opportunity to fight was about to pass away, if Dong Zhuo was allowed to occupy the stronghold of Weihan and the fertile wilderness of Guanzhong, the world would not be able to stabilize for some time. Taizu was very energetic at that time and was angry with the selfishness of the princes, so he led all the troops in a rage. Horses—five thousand troops and horses from his headquarters went to pursue Dong Zhuo, but they were defeated by Dong Zhuo’s general Xu Rong in a battle. Taizu lost his horse in the chaos and had to escape on foot. Seeing the pursuers gradually approaching, The situation was critical and in desperation, Cao Hong handed the reins of his war horse to Taizu.
When Taizu was about to refuse, Cao Hongyi said sternly:
"The world can be without floods, but it cannot be without a king!"
In this way, Taizu finally escaped from danger with the help of Cao Hong's "white swan" divine horse, and only then did he have today's Huahua Kingdom.
Over the years, even though Cao Hong was greedy and greedy, Taizu would not pursue him because he was grateful for his great contribution. Queen Mother Bian naturally did not forget Cao Hong's great kindness and contribution to her husband, wife, and descendants.
In fact, even if Xun Can and Cao Fu did not come to see Empress Dowager Bian, how could Empress Dowager Bian just stand by and watch? It's just that there is no good solution for a while.
Xun Can and Cao Fu were sitting upright in Yongshou Palace, while Queen Mother Bian frowned and thought hard. After a long while, she seemed to have finally thought of some countermeasures, and her brows relaxed slightly:
"You two go back and relax, the Ai family has a countermeasure."
Queen Mother Bian always practices what she preaches. After hearing this, the two of them felt relieved. After bowing and saying goodbye, they left the palace under the guidance of the waiter.
It turned out that Queen Mother Bian was thinking hard and suddenly thought of her daughter-in-law, Queen Guo, who had recently been crowned queen. This child has always been scheming, and the emperor has always been willing to adopt her suggestions as early as when he was in the East Palace. If Empress Guo is willing to persuade the emperor this time, Cao Hong may not be rescued.
Empress Dowager Bian had already decided on her plan, so she sent word to her confidant to tell her to deliver a message to the empress:
"Cao Hong dies today, and tomorrow Aijia will order the emperor to depose the queen!"
Empress Dowager Bian, who had a good idea, relaxed her eyebrows and yawned. She hadn't slept well for several days, and now she just wanted to take a good rest for half a day.
——————————
Just when the whole of Luoyang thought that Cao Hong was certain to die, the emperor suddenly issued an edict: Cao Hong would be deprived of his title of Marquis of Duyang, his rank of Hussar General, and the fief he occupied, and he would be demoted to a commoner. All his family wealth was used in the government's internal funds.
Cao Hong finally got his life back. It's just that the original prominent position, a lot of military power, and the wealth that rivaled the country's were all gone now.
In the Heming Pavilion in the east hall of the Marquis's Mansion in Changling Township, sandalwood incense and piano music were playing. Cao Xi, Xun Can and Yu Huan were drinking tea and talking with the owner of the room, Xia Houxuan.
Cao Xi asked in confusion: "Cousin, why did your Majesty suddenly figure it out again?"
Xia Houxuan sipped his tea and smiled, and said calmly: "Maybe your Majesty just suddenly figured it out."
What people don't know is that before Cao Pi figured it out, Dongxiang Hou Cao Zhen, Queen Guo, Queen Mother Bian and others had been begging and persuading for many days, and then the emperor suddenly "figured it out".
For some reason, the mystery in Cao Xi's mind was finally solved, but he didn't feel relaxed at all. Maybe it was because he had encountered so many things during this period that he was tired.
Yu Huan, who is already quite knowledgeable and has experienced many dangerous things, has a lot of thoughts in his heart: Everyone in the world thinks that Splendid Luoyang is some kind of blessed land of gods, but only when you are in it can you know, even a young man who is supposed to be riding a horse to chase rabbits Your son will also suffer misfortunes like Cao Jian, King of Dongwuyang, and he will also be as gloomy and full of worries as His Highness Cao Rui, King of Pingyuan. Cao Lin, the originally domineering and domineering king of Hedong, now began to pack his belongings as a vassal to return home.
In this troubled world, how many people can enjoy the blessing of peace forever?
Xia Houxuan was different from Cao Xi. At this moment, the big stone in his heart finally fell to the ground.
He actually had selfish motives when he asked Xun Can and Cao Fu to find the Queen Mother. He asked Xun Can to bring more words to Empress Dowager Bian, and Cui Sanlang Cui Wenji was exempted from the serious crime and was sentenced to be exiled to Jingzhou.
Dahonglu Cui Lin was extremely grateful to Xia Houxuan because his beloved son was spared. Not only that, he also promised: From now on, whenever Xia Houxuan has any request, the Cui family members of his own lineage will do their best. , help with all our efforts.
Considering this, Xia Houxuan's eyes looking into the distance became much firmer.
Those who have attained the truth will receive much help, while those who have lost the truth will receive little help. Nowadays, there are more and more people who are of the same mind as him, which makes his originally lonely and proud heart suddenly feel endless hope.
The expectations of his father, mother, uncle Cao Zhen, and master Yu Gui for him, the agreement between Yanmen Guanguan and his ambitious general Zhao Zhao, and the emperor's encouragement to him on the Luoyang Palace Palace were all flowing in his heart at this moment.
What few people know is that as a young man, he really wanted to make the Wei Kingdom rich and powerful and dominate the world.
He didn't know when he first had this idea.
Perhaps it was because since he was young, his father was not allowed to reunite with his family in order to guard the war-torn Jingzhou.
Perhaps when I was young, I went to Jingzhou and saw the tragic death of Lu Yan and the death of my master, so I wanted to make the world one family.
Perhaps it was due to the helplessness of seeing the gray-haired old general Yu Jin brought into the loess with all his hard work.
At this moment, he just wanted to make the Wei Dynasty strong and put an end to this troubled world.
Cao Hong, who had been rich and prosperous for half his life and was almost in danger of disaster, no longer had any arrogance. After hugging his two sons Cao Fu and Cao Zhen and crying for a while, Cao Hong immediately wrote a letter of confession and repentance to the emperor. :
"Young man, I can't help but do it. I have done something wrong in human relations, and I have been guilty of stealing for a long time, so I have been robbed. I have no sense of self-discipline and contentment, but I have the quality of a wolf who is insatiable. I am greedy when I am old, and I have violated the national network. I am guilty of three thousand crimes." , instead of pardoning, should be punished, abandoned the city and the dynasty, still thanks to the grace of heaven, the flesh and blood are reborn. I look up to the sky, I am ashamed of my spirit, I look down at the palace, I am ashamed and frightened, I cannot cut myself off by the pheasant sutra, I sincerely Paint the Yanque gate, pay homage to the emperor and express his love."
Even so, the soldiers and civilians in Luoyang who didn't know the inside story still had mixed opinions on this matter.
The young men in the army thought that it was really chilling that His Majesty the Emperor was so mean.
A few days later, under the auspices of Cao Rui, King of Pingyuan, the bones of Cao Jian, King of Dongwuyang, were finally laid to rest.
————
Cao Lin, the king of Hedong, was currently walking with more than a hundred retinues, riding their horses and bridles slowly towards his own territory of Hedong Kingdom. The desolation along the way did not seem to make Cao Lin frustrated and lonely. At this moment, his eyes were still so gloomy and unpredictable, as if he was planning some unknown conspiracy. He is different from the old and dwindling Cao Hong. The setback did not make him depressed, but made him more cruel.
He couldn't help but think of the conspiracy and agreement he made with Sima Yi at the Su family teahouse years ago, when Xia Houhui of the Marquis Mansion in Changling Township had just gotten married.
[The past is vague]:
"Young Master must be thinking that I have a close relationship with the Xiahou family and share weal and woe, right?"
Sima Yi held up the tea and smiled, which made Cao Lin doubtful.
"Isn't that true?"
"That's true of the family, but everything in the world is for profit, isn't it?"
Seeing Cao Lin's doubtful face, Sima Yifeng smiled lightly. He continued:
"What I want is to replace the Xiahou family in your majesty's heart. The master of this capital is getting worse every year, and the young master does not want the Xiahou family, which is not good for you, to continue to control a heavy army. Bar."
"Then what do you want, sir?"
"Xiahou Shang has the emperor's trust, and his military and political achievements are all not to mention. He seems to have no weaknesses, but in my opinion, he is fragile and vulnerable. However, all of this requires the help of the young master and the young master's mother. OK."
"how do I say this?"
"Love is deep and lifeless. Xiahou Shang's weakness lies in love. The young master only needs to say this to Empress Zhaoyi..."
Thinking about this, Cao Lin smiled proudly.
During this year, General Xia Houshang and the Queen Mother's goddaughter Cao Jue stayed in Jingzhou, while her mother Qiu Zhaoyi kept telling the Queen Mother about Cao Jue's "pain", that is, Xia Houshang preferred his concubine Bihan. , so that the husband and wife are at odds. The Queen Mother lives in seclusion and has not seen her goddaughter for many years. She is worried and missing her, so naturally she believes whatever she says.
Cao Lin's heart was full of hostility, and he gritted his teeth and thought: The Xiahou family must pay with blood for the suffering he has suffered!
