It is said that Xia Houxuan drank three glasses of wine in response to the last words written on the letter by Sun Deng, Prince Wu, but the glass of wine in his hand was taken away. When Xia Houxuan looked at it, it turned out to be his beloved son Mingyue.
Xia Houxuan was lost in thought just now, so he didn't see Mingyue staggering into Linzhixuan. Mingyue snatched the wine glass from Xia Houxuan's hand and said in a milky voice and slurred speech:
"Father, don't drink anymore!"
Xia Houxuan was also infected by his beloved son's childishness. He picked up Mingyue, smiled slightly, and then said seriously:
"Mingyue, if you meet a wise king like Sun Deng in the future, then even if you risk your life, you must try your best to protect him. Can you do it?"
After hearing this, Mingyue immediately raised her head and promised:
"My child has remembered it! But...who is Sun Deng?"
Xia Houxuan touched Mingyue's bun and said softly:
"You'll know later."
At this time, Huigu entered the study. Looking at the loving father and son, her heart felt warm. She smiled and said:
"What are you two, father and son, whispering? Come with me quickly. It's time to eat. Mother is still waiting."
When Xia Houxuan saw Huigu coming, he smiled and lifted Mingyue up with his left hand, and took Huigu's hand with his right hand. The three of them walked towards the back hall together.
The war in Yangzhou has finally come to an end. Originally, the current situation was extremely beneficial to the side of his cousin General Cao Shuang, but for some reason, Xia Houxuan felt a little uneasy in his heart. This uneasy emotion was more like an intuition, and like a snake diving into the deep sea. Xia Houxuan couldn't catch it or guess it. The more he thought about it, the more he became afraid.
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In the imperial city, in the corridor outside the Tai Chi Hall, Cao Xi and Xun Yi, who had just finished explaining classic poetry with the emperor, were talking about something.
Cao Xi originally looked down on Xun Yi, who was under Sima's sect. Xun Yi originally thought that Cao Xi had no talent and only relied on the power of his elder brother Cao Shuang to reach a high position. However, in the past year, the two of them worked together with the consort He Yan. He spent all his time compiling "Analects of Confucius", and after getting along day and night, he discovered that the other person was indeed talented and a truly knowledgeable person. Therefore, although they did not completely let down their guard against each other, the previous prejudices disappeared.
"Uncle Zhao, how do you think your Majesty's practice of The Analects of Confucius has been over the past few months?"
Although Emperor Cao Fang was only nine years old and still a child, his intelligence and knowledge did not look like a child at all. Cao Xi and other casual knights spent time with the emperor day and night, and had long since discovered the emperor's intelligence. Not only that, in the past two months, Cao Fang's attainments in "The Analects", the basic foundation of Confucianism, have shown extraordinary performance, so Xun Yi asked this question at this moment.
Cao Xi naturally also discovered the emperor's rapid progress. Seeing Xun Yi asking questions at this moment, he said from the bottom of his heart without any flattery:
"To be honest with Jing Qian, Xi thinks that His Majesty's attainments in the Analects of Confucius can be regarded as a person who has gained extraordinary knowledge."
Xunyi nodded and said:
"You and I really have the same view. In my opinion, Your Majesty is now considered to be familiar with "The Analects of Confucius". The "Analects of Confucius" co-authored by you and me, together with the consort He, Zheng and Sun, will be determined in the future. I will be loved by His Majesty!"
When Cao Xi mentioned the "Analects of Confucius" that several people had worked so hard on, a fire suddenly ignited in Cao Xi's heart. He nodded with a smile and said:
"Being able to write books and leave immortal things for future generations is naturally our duty. Jing Qian, I happen to have no official duties at the moment, how about we go to Prince Consort He's house and continue writing books?"
Xunyi smiled and said:
"That's what I have in mind. If you and I work harder, maybe we can complete this book before the Chinese New Year!"
As the two of them spoke, they headed towards He Yan's mansion outside the palace gate.
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The General's Mansion.
After listening to the comments of his third brother Cao Xi and fifth brother Cao Yan about the emperor's talents, Cao Shuang made a decision. He immediately summoned his newly recruited capable talents Wang Ji and Wang Boyu, as well as the young talented Wang Shen and Wang Chudao, as well as Ding Mi, Deng Yang, Pei Xiu, Wang Bi and others to his house, and then exchanged his ideas with them .
In the end, several people made the same decision, which was to support General Cao Shuang's plan to carve stone scriptures for the emperor, and decided to use Confucian classics such as "Shang Shu", "Spring and Autumn", and "Zuo Zhuan" as the content of the carved stone scriptures. .
After discussing the matter, Cao Shuang saw Ding Mi looking thoughtful and hesitant to speak, so he asked:
"Yan Jing, do you have something to say?"
When Ding Mi saw Cao Shuang's question, he stood up, bowed and said:
"General Qi, I do have something to say. I just had some concerns, so I didn't say anything nonsense. But since the general asked, I have no choice but to tell the truth."
Cao Shuang waved his sleeves and said:
"Yan Jing, just say it doesn't matter!"
Ding Mi then said:
"General, in this battle in Yangzhou, the Dongwu prince-in-law Quan Cong and Quan Zihuang destroyed the water of Shaopi, causing a lot of damage to the farmland in Yangzhou. Sun Deda and Zhuge Gongxiu have just settled the affairs of Yangzhou recently. The affairs of Yangzhou There are many people, and there is a temporary shortage of manpower for farmland repair. Mi originally wanted to suggest that the general choose a talent who is good at water control and farmland, and go to Yangzhou to repair the farmland, but he suddenly thought that the most talented person in the court who was good at water control was Sima Yi. Deng Ai and Deng Shizai, the ministers who single-handedly recommended him, if the general does not recommend this person to His Majesty, people will inevitably criticize him, saying that the general is too selfish. If the general recommends this person, he will be making Sima Zhongda's wedding dress, Mi Considering this, this is a dilemma.”
After hearing this, Cao Shuang was indeed in a dilemma. After thinking for a long time, he turned his attention to Wang Ji, a talented person who he valued very much and was known as a virtuous person:
"Boyu, I don't know about this, what suggestions do you have?"
Wang Ji didn't hesitate much at this moment. He stood up and spoke seriously to Cao Shuang:
"I would like to report to you, General. In view of your humble position, the General must advise His Majesty on the farming matter. Not only that, but you must also recommend Deng Ai!"
When Cao Shuang heard this, he had doubts on his face and asked in confusion:
"Oh? Why did Boyu say this?"
Wang Ji continued to explain:
"Firstly, this matter is beneficial to the country and the country. The general's advice on this matter is naturally beneficial and harmless to the general; secondly, Deng Ai is a wizard of the world. Although he was recommended by Sima Taifu, since the general has already advised him If Deng Ai is used for farming, then it will be successful. If this is accomplished, then won't all the credit and fame of serving the country and the people, recommending talents, and appointing people on their merits belong to the great nation? Has the general got it?"
After hearing Wang Ji's words, Cao Shuang burst into laughter. He put his palms in his hands and laughed and said:
"Bo Yu is so wise! The matter has been settled like this. Tomorrow I will go to the palace in person to see the saint, and I will advise His Majesty on the construction of the stone monument and the farming in Yangzhou!"
"General Ming Jian!"
Ding Mi, Deng Yang, Wang Ji, Wang Chen, Wang Bi and other generals in the shogunate saw that the important matter had been discussed and decided, so they bid farewell to General Cao Shuang one after another and left the government.
——————
Early the next morning, Cao Shuang entered the palace early and was received by Cao Fang in the east hall of Tai Chi Hall.
When he heard that a Confucian monument was to be built, Cao Fang was not very interested at first, but when he heard Cao Shuang's specific opinions, his attitude changed. Cao Fang nodded thoughtfully, expressing her willingness to continue listening to Cao Shuang's explanation of the plan.
"Wei Chen thinks that now that His Majesty has mastered the study of "The Analects of Confucius", he should offer sacrifices to the Confucius Temple with the Tailao ceremony to inform the world. In this way, he can kill three birds with one stone. First, he can let the people in the country know that the emperor is the emperor. secondly, it can appease the unstable hearts of the people in the country and eliminate the hidden danger of the Lord's suspicion; thirdly, the late emperor's birthday is coming soon, and your majesty has now accomplished something in his studies and offered sacrifices to the ancestral temple. It can comfort the late emperor’s spirit in heaven.”
[Note 1: Tai Lao Li, a sacrifice used in ancient sacrifices, must be raised in a prison before the sacrifice, so this type of sacrifice is called a prison; and depending on the type of sacrifice, it can be divided into too Lao and Shao Lao. The presence of the three animals of cattle, sheep, and hogs is called too strong. Shaolao only has sheep and hogs, but no cattle. 】
At this moment, Cao Fang fully appreciated Cao Shuang's suggestion. He finally nodded:
"What the general said is very true and is in line with my wishes. A highly respected veteran should be elected to personally preside over this matter. General Lao will take care of the specific matters regarding the construction of stone tablets and sacrifices to the Ancestral Temple and Confucius Temple."
Seeing that Cao Fang agreed to the matter, Cao Shuang immediately took advantage of the situation and expressed his suggestion to recommend talented people to farm in Yangzhou.
"Your Majesty, I heard that the general of Soochow, Lu Xun, built the city of Zhu in the north of the Yangtze River. Our army must be on guard. Not only that, Soochow also dug the East Canal tidal ditch in the Huainan area of Jiangbei. This canal is five feet wide and eight feet deep. And releasing the water from Xuanhu Lake into the Qinhuai River will greatly strengthen the border defense. If Yangzhou does not step up the garrison of troops in the fields, I am afraid that the people in the southern border will not feel at ease."
Cao Fang naturally agreed with this matter. He nodded and said:
"The words of the general are very much to my liking, but I wonder if the general has any ideas about the candidates for this field?"
Cao Shuang was shocked at this moment. Originally, the great talents of the Ministry of Water Resources in the Central Dynasty should be headed by Shang Shulang Deng Ai and no one else. The emperor naturally knew this. According to Cao Shuang's guess, the emperor's childish nature and no city government should be able to directly say Name Deng Ai. But now the emperor has raised this issue to himself. It seems that he has already had the idea of testing. Thinking about this, Cao Shuang couldn't help but break out a thin layer of cold sweat on his back.
"Your Majesty, I believe that the candidate for the field should be Shangshu Lang Deng Shizai first."
Cao Fang nodded and said:
"What a coincidence, General He Zhen has thought of something. In that case, let's teach Deng Ai to go to Yangzhou to handle the farming matters. How to arrange the details in detail, I have to worry about, General."
"Your Majesty is wise, I will do my best to live up to your Majesty's kindness!"
Cao Shuang spoke of Sheng Ming, but deep down in his heart he did not act contrary to it. Because although the emperor at this moment is only nine years old, his ability to respond quickly and understand justice is enough to control his subjects. Cao Shuang believed in his heart that as long as time passes, His Majesty will definitely become a sage king.
As a clan uncle and clan minister, Cao Shuang was naturally very pleased. But deep in Cao Shuang's heart, there was a faint feeling of uneasiness and reluctance.
After all, I am used to being the chief and auxiliary general, and I am still a little unwilling to return the power to him in the future. And the emperor has already used such methods at a young age. Will he conflict with his powerful uncle in the future?
