Chapter 738: Brothers are fighting against each other
It is said that Cao Pi retried Xiahou's death penalty case, and Xiahouyuan's family, including Xiahoujuan, was naturally overjoyed. However, death penalty can be avoided, and living crime cannot be tolerated. The punishment given by Cao Pi turned out to be the severe punishment of being expelled from the family.
The family can be said to be the place where the children of aristocratic families stay. If they are expelled from the family, you can imagine the miserable situation. If you are targeted by the enemy, it will be a dead end.
Xiahou's family members, including Xiahou Cheng, were all devastated. Xiahoujuan's pretty face was as cold as frost. In fact, what Cao Pi cared about was that Cao Zhang could not give orders, and he did not care so much about what kind of charges Xia Houcheng was convicted of. What was important was that he, Cao Pi, could have the final say on major issues.
Cao Pi also felt that the air was stagnant, and nodded slightly: "Good men are everywhere. If you can achieve unparalleled military success, I will personally take you back to the clan." Sima Yi suddenly said from the side: "Uncle Quan, Haven't you ever thanked the Second Young Master for not killing him?"
Xia Houcheng suddenly woke up, turned his head, and kowtowed to Cao Pi to thank him. At this moment, a loud voice suddenly shouted from outside the house: "Wait a minute!"
Everyone was shocked. They really didn't expect anyone to dare to stop Cao Pi and Sima Yi. However, Cao Pi's expression changed drastically, and the smile on Sima Yi's face also solidified. This voice was very familiar to them.
As he spoke, the curtain was raised, and a young man with a smart face walked in first. He was wearing a snow-white Confucian suit made of high-grade silk and embroidered with sparkling sapphire blue flowers, which made him look even more upright. . Under a pair of sword-shaped eyebrows, his eyes were piercing, as if they were emitting a brilliant light, which made people look forward to him with joy. His face was thin and well-proportioned, and he was elegant and had no beard. He was Yang Xiu, the son of the former Taiwei Yang Biao.
Sima Yi's lips twitched, Cao Zhang also grinned and secretly smiled. Yang Xiu was not in a hurry to pay homage to the mourning hall, but held up the curtain cage with one hand. Everyone immediately understood that there was an honored guest behind him, an honored guest who could allow Yang Xiu to carry the curtain for him. Everyone Nature already knows this. Cao Zhang barely looked at the guest at the door and shouted directly: "Fourth brother! You are here too."
A troubled young man appeared like a ghost in the darkness at the door, appearing before everyone's eyes like a European oil painting. I saw that he had fine features, graceful temperament, and a lazy temperament. His face was slightly pale, showing the fatigue from too much nightlife. Although he is not tall, he has a well-proportioned physique. He wears a well-fitting and gorgeous silk dress. The light blue color is quiet and luxurious, which further accentuates his hibiscus-like appearance. His big eyes with double eyelids completely inherited Cao Cao's flaming eyes. This may be why Cao Cao doted on him.
Cao Pi laughed dryly, and Cao Zhang couldn't help but rush over, holding Cao Zhi's hand happily. If it weren't for the ban on laughter in the mourning hall, Cao Zhang would probably laugh out loud. In fact, Cao Pi was well aware of this younger brother's talent, and Shen also liked this younger brother very much, even a little jealous, but Cao Pi loved Cao Zhi.
According to research in official history, the relationship between Cao Pi, Cao Zhi, and Cao Zhang is actually pretty good, not as tense as described in novels and folklore. The so-called seven-step poems and brother poems are just made up by later generations. Before Cao Pi ascended the throne, Cao Cao did consider the issue of successors. The main candidates were Cao Pi, Cao Zhang, Cao Zhi, and Cao Xiong. Among them, Cao Xiong was weak and sick and withdrew from the competition first. When Cao Cao asked the scholars about their ambitions, Cao Zhang made it clear that he was willing to be a general, so Cao Cao sent him to conquer the southern Xiongnu and achieved a great victory. Before Cao Zhang left for the expedition, Cao Pi held Cao Zhang's hand and told him to learn from Cao Ren's strategy. After he came back from victory, he also advised him to be modest and prudent. The original words were: "You have made great achievements, and I will see you in the west now, so don't take it for granted." Cutting, dealing with those who are often inadequate." It can be seen that there is love between brothers.
In the end, a situation actually formed between Cao Pi and Cao Zhi. Since Cao Pi was the eldest son, he had the clear support of many ministers such as Jia Xu and Sima Yi. However, Cao Wei's five major counselors, Er Xun and Guo Jia, were all dead, and Cheng Yu was also old, so Cao Cao's main counselor It became Jia Xu, Sima Yi and Liu Ye. Cao Cao still valued the opinions of these three people.
Although Cao Zhi received the support of Yang Xiu, because Cao Zhi and Yang Xiu lacked experience in political struggle, and the Chronicle of the Three Kingdoms stated that Yang Xiu was Yuan Shu's nephew, Cao Cao disliked him very much, and almost killed Yang Xiu's father, Yang Biao. . Therefore, no matter how talented Cao Zhi is, the ultimate failure of Cao Zhi Group is almost inevitable.
After Cao Pi came to the throne, he first killed Er Ding who helped Cao Zhi, but let Cao Zhi return to the feudal country. This was because he missed his old friendship. Generally speaking, people who return to a feudal country are not allowed to return to the capital at will. Cao Zhi has repeatedly written letters requesting to lead troops to fight and perform meritorious service to atone for his sins. This shows that there is still a lot of mutual understanding and trust between the brothers.
When Cao Cao passed away, Cao Zhang led his troops to Yecheng, which was the capital of Wei at that time, to attend the funeral. In fact, it is very likely that he had the intention to seize power at that time, and was finally persuaded by Jia Kui to hand over the military power. Therefore, it is possible that Cao Zhang was murdered by Cao Pi after his fall.
Compared with Cao Zhang, Cao Zhi outlived Cao Pi and died in the reign of Cao Rui. He even dared to write a quite explicit article criticizing Cao Pi when Cao Zhang died. Therefore, it can be seen that Cao Pi still had a lot of respect for Cao Zhi. To tolerate indulgence. He did not treat him as his political enemy, nor did he kill him. There is a record saying: "In the third year of Huangchu, Wang Ji, the prefect of Dongjun, and Cangji, the Fangfu Li, falsely accused Cao Zhi. Cao Zhi went to Beijing to report the false accusation. Cao Pi refused to listen and exempted Zhi and sent him back to the country. In the fourth year of Huangchu, Cao Zhi He moved to Yongqiu and was appointed by the prison officials, but he was not punished."
Therefore, when Cao Zhi appeared at the door of Cao Song's mourning hall, Cao Pi couldn't help but feel his heart clenching, feeling vaguely distressed. The drama of brotherly feuding has been played out in previous eras, but I never expected that it would happen to me this time.
The slight twitching of Cao Pi's eyes and eyebrows did not escape Sima Yi's eyes, although he didn't even raise his eyelids. Sima Yi knew Cao Pi's character very well, but Sima Yi was more stoic and cruel than Cao Pi. With him behind Cao Pi, Cao Pi couldn't even want to be the heir apparent.
Cao Zhi entered the mourning hall. Although Cao Zhang greeted him affectionately, his eyes met with Cao Pi's from time to time, sparking sparks. The moment when the three brothers gathered together, it was to compete for the reserve position. Although it was not a matter of life and death, it was sad to think about it. Cao Zhi couldn't help but hum softly in his heart: "My husband has ambitions all over the world, and he is still close to his neighbors thousands of miles away. Our love is not lost, and we are close to each other even though we are far apart. Worry makes people sick, but they are not benevolent to their children. Hasty feelings of flesh and blood can not bear the bitterness." pungent?"
If you want to know what happens next, listen to the explanation next time.
