In the blink of an eye, it’s the time of July again.
Calculating carefully, this is already the fifth month since Guan Qiujian was appointed governor of Youzhou.
And just today, Emperor Cao Rui received a memorial from Youzhou.
The table said that just a few days ago, the Gaoguli Palace sent envoys to Jixian County with the heads of Sun Quan's envoy Hu Wei and others.
The school officials under He Zeng also found out the same information recently, which shows that this matter is not just a rumor.
This news shocked Cao Rui. He thought, this Sun Quan is really a difficult opponent. Not only did he secretly purchase officials and horses in various states and counties in the Wei Dynasty, and secretly colluded with Liaodong Gongsun Yuan, but now he actually sent envoys secretly to the north in an attempt to fight with various foreign tribes in the northern territory of the Wei Dynasty. Collusion to cause trouble!
Fortunately, the high-ranking palace of King Gaogouli has self-awareness and does not dare to go against Wei Dynasty. Otherwise, once Sun Quan successfully wins over Gaogouli, the consequences will be really unimaginable.
Cao Rui frowned and suddenly thought to himself, although the current Gaogouli knows that it is weak and dare not act rashly, what if one day it becomes as powerful as the Monan Xianbei?
It seems that the Gaoguli country is also on guard against it.
Cao Rui immediately started writing and began to reply to the memorial sent by Guanqiu Jian from Youzhou.
―――
In the next few months, the northern border was in a state of stability, and nothing happened. Is that it? Autumn has passed and winter has come, and it is already December.
The Sikong Chen Mansion, which was not very lively on weekdays, has actually seen a lot more guests coming and going these days.
The reason is that in recent days, Yingyin Marquis Chen Qun's old illness has relapsed and his health is getting worse. Therefore, talents from various prefectures have come to visit Da Sikong one after another.
Perhaps Chen Qun was seriously ill. He was originally hospitable and did not neglect anyone, but he had sent away many guests these days.
Only those who have friendship with Lao Sikong can meet him occasionally.
"Master Fu, there are guests outside the door again, saying they want to see Chen Sikong." A servant of Sikong's house came to the front hall and said to Fu Gu.
Since Fu Gu came to work in Sikong Mansion these years, he has always been diligent and serious about all matters, big and small. In addition, he is quite talented, so he has always been praised by Sikong Chenqun. Because of this, there is not only a superiority and inferiority relationship between the two, but also a teacher-student friendship.
Therefore, when Chen Qun was unable to move around these days, the responsibility of welcoming guests fell on his eldest son, Chen Tai, and Fu Gu, the chief deputy of Sikong Mansion.
"Oh? Who is this person? If you have nothing to do with the family, then let's get rid of him quickly." Fu Gu was planning to take advantage of the few people at this moment to copy two more volumes. He was writing furiously while replying to the servant's words.
"The person coming seems to be Taiwei Sima Gong."
"Oh? It's Duke Zhongda who's here. Go to the back hall and ask Uncle Xuan "Chen Taizi" to come out. I'll go and greet him right away!" When Fu Gu heard that Sima Yi was visiting in person, he immediately wrote and hurried towards The hall walked away.
"I don't know that the commander-in-chief is here. Fu Gu missed the welcome from afar. I hope the commander-in-chief will forgive me." Fu Gu respected Sikong and Chen Qun very much on weekdays, and Sima Yi and Chen Qun were close friends, so he naturally treated Sima Yi Don't dare to neglect.
"Lan Shi is too polite." Sima Yi raised his hand and signaled Fu Gu to stand up. He carefully looked at the twenty-year-old, calm and intelligent rising star in front of him, nodded and said with a smile: "Lan Shi, When you see me from now on, you don’t have to be so formal."
"Thank you, Lieutenant." Fu Gu bowed to the ground again, then respectfully stood aside to make way for Sima Yi. Sima Yi was not polite at this moment. He stretched out his sleeves and strode into the mansion.
Before he reached the main hall, he saw Chen Tai and Chen Xuanbo, the eldest son of his old friend Sikong Chen Qun and Sanqi Minister, coming to greet him from a distance. Sima Yi thought to himself that although the Sikong Mansion in Changwen was not busy with affairs, it was really a good place for hiding dragons and crouching tigers.
"My nephew has met Uncle Sima. Uncle, please follow Tai to the front hall to have tea." Chen Tai said, then supported Sima Yi and walked up the steps of the main hall.
Sima Yi came to the main hall, held the celadon tea cup in his hand, took a few sips slowly, and then asked: "Uncle Xuan, has your father's illness improved in the past few days?"
Chen Tai, who was supposed to be vigorous and extraordinary in appearance, now looks a little gloomy. First, because he has not slept well these days to take care of his father. Second, because his father's condition is getting worse day by day, and his mood is also a little... low. After hearing Sima Yi's question, Chen Tai felt sour in his heart and couldn't help but choked with tears in his eyes: "Father, he has been unable to eat since yesterday..."
"Can I go see your father and have a conversation with him?"
Chen Tai spread his sleeves and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, nodded, stood up and led Sima Yi to the back hall.
Sima Yi looked at the old man lying on the bed in the hall and couldn't help but be stunned. He suddenly felt sad in his heart at this moment. The high-spirited young talented man who once met with me in the East Palace to assist the late emperor; the famous minister who once carried out reforms and created the ninth-level official law; the old friend who together with me received the imperial edict to assist the late emperor Wen, Today it has long lost its former glory.
The old man on the couch had a sallow complexion and crooked speech, and he had a faint look of death!
Even though Sima Yi had been immersed in court intrigues for half his life and had experienced many years of cold-blooded battlefields, he still couldn't help but feel a little sad at this time.
After all, the thin, dying old man in front of him was his only old friend in the world.
"Zhong... Zhongda..., is it you..." Chen Qun heard someone coming and already guessed who it was. He struggled to open his dimmed eyes and looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar tall figure sitting beside the couch.
"Changwen, it's me, I'm here to see you!" Sima Yi walked to the couch and held Chen Qun's cold and dry hands. The sad and gloomy look on his face instantly disappeared, and he immediately changed to a smile. .
"Zhongda..." Chen Qun seemed a little excited when he saw Sima Yi. He gently broke away from Sima Yi's hand and fumbled randomly from the desk beside the couch. Finally he touched a silk book. Chen Qun trembled. He solemnly put the silk book into Sima Yi's hand, and said with trembling excitement: "Zhongda... Your Majesty has carried out a lot of construction in recent years, and the people... have lost a lot of their farming time... This is my last time... to advise you. Your Majesty... I hope you can help me and hand it over with your own hands... hand it over to Your Majesty..."
The sadness in Sima Yi's heart was a little restrained at this moment. He also took the silk book solemnly and nodded seriously.
"Don't worry, Changwen."
"Zhongda... I'm going to see the late emperor right now... You have to be good, loyal to the Wei... and assist... His Majesty..."
Sima Yi couldn't help but sigh in his heart after hearing Chen Qun's last heartfelt words.
No one in this world can understand me, Sima Zhongda anymore...
Perhaps, no one has ever really understood me. When Sima Yi thought of this, the loneliness and loneliness in his heart suddenly swept over him. This feeling made him, who had always been as hard-hearted as iron, let a muddy tear fall from the corner of his eye.
On the day of Guisi, Sikong Chen Qun passed away at his residence. The emperor remembered Chen Qun's great achievements as a veteran of the three dynasties and gave him the posthumous title of Marquis Yingyin Jing. His eldest son Chen Taize assumed the title of Marquis of Yingyin and became the new head of the Chen family.
―――
In the Zhaoyang Hall of the Imperial City of Luoyang, Cao Rui was holding Sikong Chenqun's final notes and watching silently.
"Your Majesty, Minister Kong Yingyin, Marquis Chen Qunfu Wei: In the past when Yu succeeded to the Tang Dynasty and Yu was prosperous, he still despised the palace and disliked clothes. Now, after the chaos and chaos, the people are at least no more than a large county compared to Hanwen and Jing. . In addition, there are troubles on the border, and the soldiers are working hard. If there are floods and droughts, the country will be deeply worried. Moreover, Wu and Shu have not been destroyed, and the country is uneasy. It is better to wait for them without moving, and to preach military force and encourage farmers. Now I will give up here. If you are in a hurry and sacrifice the palace, your ministers are afraid that the people will be trapped. How will you respond to the enemy? In the past, Liu Bei traveled from Chengdu to Baishui and built many residences, which was a waste of labor. Taizu knew that he was tired of the people. Today, the labor force in China is also the place of Wu and Shu. I wish. This is a dangerous opportunity for your Majesty to consider.
In the past, the ancestors of the Han Dynasty fought with Xiang Yu for the world. Yu was destroyed and his palaces were burned down. Therefore, Xiao He built the arsenal and Taicang, which were all urgent, but they were not as magnificent as they were. Today, the two captives are not at peace, so it is not appropriate to be the same as in the past. Madam has her own way to say whatever she wants. Kuang is the King of Heaven and no one dares to disobey her. If the former wants to destroy the arsenal, it is said that it must be destroyed; if the latter wants to put it away, it is said that it must be put away. If it must be done, it is beyond the scope of your words; if you pay little attention and think back brilliantly, it is beyond your scope. When Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty wanted to build the Deyang Palace, Zhongli gave advice and used his words, which he later repeated. When the palace was completed, he told the officials, "Zhongli, the minister, cannot build this palace." "How can I, the king, be afraid of one of my ministers, who is the common people?" Today, I can't help but listen to the Holy Spirit. It's not as far as I want. The ministers bowed their heads and bowed before His Majesty again! "
After reading the table, Cao Rui was silent for a long time, thoughtfully. In a daze, he seemed to actually see Chen Qun kneeling before him. Cao Rui's heart was filled with emotion at that stooped yet upright back.
Half a month later, Cao Rui still issued an edict to cancel the fortifications of the two newly built palaces north of Luoyang, and all the civilian craftsmen and laborers who had been recruited were sent home.
―――
Fu Gu, who originally served as a vassal in the Sikong Mansion, chose to enter the shogunate of Taiwei Sima Yi and become a disciple of the Sima family after careful consideration.
Of course he knew in his heart that the grudges between his former best friend Xia Houxuan and the Sima family had long become an inseparable knot. After he chose this path, he completely broke with his old friends such as Xia Houxuan, Cao Xi, and Zhuge Dan.
