Cao Shuang is in a bad mood now, very bad. Probably as bad as a certain last monarch more than a thousand years later.
At today's court meeting, Cao Shuang followed his own plan and arranged for a mid-level official to come out when discussing how to stop Shu thieves from invading Yecheng. He briefly mentioned moving the capital to Youzhou to temporarily avoid the spotlight. As a result, this official As soon as he stood up, he was collectively scolded by seven or eight senior officials, and was later kicked out of the hall by everyone.
With that posture, if it weren't for a large court meeting, and the ministers would have to take their status into consideration, this middle-level official might not even be able to walk out of the hall.
The attitude of the courtiers immediately made Cao Shuang realize how much pressure he would face if he wanted to take the emperor to Youzhou.
Even Cao Shuang himself changed his mind for a time. After the court meeting resumed, he asked the court officials if they had any good strategies to defend Ye City and repel the Shu thieves.
As a result, the group of ministers who were so aggressive just now and kicked people out of the hall began to shrink their heads and stopped talking.
Cao Shuang was so angry that he almost cursed on the spot.
With people like you, people are excited about the idea of moving the capital, but there is no plan to retreat from the enemy. In the final analysis, aren't they just unwilling to bear the infamy of abandoning the capital and fleeing to avoid the enemy? ! !
But the question is, when did this happen? The main force of the Northern Route Army of the Shu Thieves was only more than 200 miles away from Yecheng. Even if they marched slowly, it would only take five or six days to reach the city.
How can I have so much time to argue back and forth with you bunch of dragging courtiers? If I don’t leave, I really won’t be able to leave.
For the first time, Cao Shuang felt sincere hatred for the government's procrastination. This was the first time since the war began that he hoped to make a decision as soon as possible.
Just when Cao Shuang planned to ignore these so-called ministers, go directly to the palace to persuade the Queen Mother, and force the move of the capital to Youzhou based on the Queen Mother's order, Cao Xi returned to Yecheng.
When Cao Xi came back this time, he didn't come back with much fanfare. Instead, he secretly returned to Yecheng and Cao Shuang's general's mansion. Then he asked Cao Shuang's confidants to inform Cao Shuang directly that they had something important to discuss.
The so-called important thing is that Cao Xi hopes to persuade Cao Shuang to open Yecheng and surrender to Ji Han.
Cao Shuang was naturally happy to see his third brother back safe and sound, but when he heard the purpose of Cao Xi's return, his expression suddenly changed.
As an important minister of the Wei Dynasty, an auxiliary general, and a clan member of the Cao family, how could he betray the Wei Dynasty and choose to surrender? !
Furthermore, given the relationship between the Shu thieves and Cao Wei, there is no possibility of surrender between Cao Wei and the Shu thieves.
The foundation of the Shu Han Dynasty was to revive the Han Dynasty. Therefore, Cao Wei was directly denounced as the rebellious ministers and traitors who usurped the country. Have you ever seen an orthodox government that would be merciful to the rebellious ministers and traitors who usurped the imperial power? !
The foundation of the founding of Cao Wei was to accept Zen and replace the Han, and to comply with the laws of nature and the people. As for the Shu and Han, they have always been regarded as local ambitions and rebelled against the imperial edict.
Therefore, if Cao Wei destroys the Shu Han, it is possible for the Shu Han to accept the surrender. However, due to the foundation of the country, the Shu Han will definitely not let go of the Cao clan ministers once Wei is destroyed.
This is also the real reason why Cao Shuang has never thought about the option of surrender. Choosing to surrender or not is a dead end.
But this time, Cao Xi brought back a piece of news that gave Cao Shuang some different ideas.
After Cao Xi was captured by Deng Ai, he was not directly executed by Deng Ai, but was received by Deng Ai.
Deng Ai's purpose was to persuade Cao Xi to surrender, and then contact Cao Shuang through Cao Xi, promising benefits to persuade Yecheng to surrender.
To be honest, when Cao Xi heard Deng Ai's statement, he was also extremely shocked. Cao Xi and Cao Shuang actually had the same idea, and neither thought that the Shu thieves would let Cao go easily.
But Deng Ai was not only willing to persuade him to surrender, but also offered conditions that made Cao Xi very excited.
Deng Ai said that if Yecheng is willing to surrender, Cao Fang, the emperor of Cao Wei, can be granted the title of duke and move to Chang'an, the four brothers Cao Shuang can be granted the title of marquis, and the remaining members of the Cao family can retreat to Qiao County, and the Han court will not hold them responsible.
There is one thing to say, and this alone is enough to make Cao Shuang tempted.
Cao Shuang did not suspect that this condition was false. After all, this kind of official surrender condition was certainly not something that Deng Ai, the general who conquered the north, could offer. Without the endorsement of the Shu Han court and Zhuge Liang's approval, the fight would have been impossible. Even Deng Ai would not dare to promise easily.
The conditions given by Deng Ai were indeed generous. Not only did they provide a place for Cao Fang, but they also made corresponding arrangements for Cao Shuang's four brothers and members of the Cao family.
Of course, the point is, if Deng Ai's suggestion is accepted, the four Cao Shuang brothers will definitely not be as powerful as they are today, but not only will they not have to worry about threats to their lives, they will also be able to become marquises and keep their glory and wealth. In fact, it is not something that cannot be considered. .
Of course, the biggest reason for Cao Shuang's heart is that the current situation has reached a point where it is difficult to recover.
The Shu thieves have five or six days before they reach the city, and Yecheng has no troops to defend it. Even if they don't agree to Deng Ai's surrender conditions, they will definitely not be able to survive for ten days.
And Cao Shuang's own plan to move the capital to Youzhou met with such great resistance in the court that Cao Shuang couldn't help but think more about it.
Do you really think Cao Shuang doesn't know what those courtiers are thinking? !
If these courtiers support moving the capital at this time, they will have to bear the reputation of losing the capital and being timid and avoid fighting. However, if they oppose moving the capital, they will have a good reputation of being loyal and outspoken and guarding the capital.
As for whether Yecheng will fall or what will happen to them if it falls, they are not worried at all.
Anyway, whoever becomes the emperor must use people from aristocratic families like them to manage the country. They don't worry about the future interests of their families at all.
Even if you randomly select one or two people in the family, put on a posture of "caring about the motherland and not serving in the new dynasty", and then find someone to praise each other, you can not only gain a good reputation, but also protect the family members. Other children entered the official service.
Do they really care about the survival of the Wei Dynasty, the life and death of the Cao family and the Xiahou family? !
Why are these courtiers all trying to find a way out for themselves, but the people of the Cao clan and the Xiahou clan must die for their country? !
Of course Cao Shuang didn't want to die, otherwise he wouldn't have racked his brains to come up with the idea of moving the capital to temporarily avoid the danger. But now, Cao Shuang has another option of surrendering to the Shu Han, and of course he has to think about it carefully.
As for this matter, Cao Shuang did not choose to discuss it with his group of confidants. After all, the matter was so important that none of them could help. Cao Shuang, a foreigner, was the one who came to discuss this matter. Cao Yu and Xia Houhe.
These two people are completely one of their own. The Xiahou family and the Cao family have been intermarried with each other for hundreds of years, and they have long been a family.
Cao Yu and Xia Houhe were also shocked after hearing Cao Shuang's words.
On the one hand, I was shocked that Cao Shuang actually came to discuss such a treasonable matter with the two of them. Although it was a secret discussion and unknown to outsiders, the fact that he came to discuss it with the two of them showed that Cao Shuang had this idea.
On the other hand, Cao Yu and Xia Houhe did not expect that the treatment given by the Shu thieves would be so high. This was not meant to kill them all.
Combined with the development of the situation in the past few days, as well as the noisy and uncertain courtiers in the DPRK, the two of them were surprisingly able to understand why Cao Shuang wanted to discuss this matter with them.
Of course, they could understand Cao Shuang's intentions, but it didn't mean that the two of them agreed to surrender. To be honest, compared to surrendering to the Shu thieves, they still felt that Cao Shuang's method of moving the capital to Youzhou was more reliable.
Although there are certain risks in doing this, as a clan member of the Wei Dynasty, if you don't fight for the Wei Dynasty at this time, but choose to let it go, you are really sorry for the kindness of the previous emperors and your ancestors.
Furthermore, the conditions given by Deng Ai were so good that the two of them could not believe it easily. What if the Shu thieves really risked the disapproval of the world and went back on their word? !
Therefore, the two of them still urged Cao Shuang, and the three of them went to the palace together to try to persuade the Queen Mother to agree to move the capital. If the Queen Mother did not agree to move the capital, it would not be too late to consider surrender.
(End of chapter)
