Blessings come in pairs, and misfortunes never come alone.
The Wei State was unsatisfactory militarily and faced a major political crisis. During the Chinese New Year, rumors spread in Luoyang. Rumors spread in the city that Shangshu Ling Chen Qun, Shangshu Pushe Du Ji, Taiwei Zhong Yao, Shizhong Xinpi and others were secretly colluding with Liu Bei. Want to rebel against Wei.
Cao Pi didn't believe it at first, but rumors are like a TV series, the content is well-written and well-founded, making people have to doubt it.
Several of them are thought-provoking. First of all, Chen Qun was conquered by Liu Bei. There was an old friendship between the two. Even if he really rebelled against Wei and surrendered to the Han Dynasty, it can be called a return to the old master; secondly, Du Ji represented the three auxiliary nobles. Now, Liu Bei has his capital in Chang'an and his military strength is strong. It is natural for him to want to return to his homeland. Once again, Zhong Yao was implicated in the Wei Xi case, so he held a grudge and wanted to defect to Liu Bei. Xin Pi represented the nobles in Hebei, and Cao Cao's interests in unifying the north were seriously damaged. , all aspects were suppressed by the Henan gentry. They rebelled against Wei in order to seek change.
The rumor was spread by people sent by Xu Shu. Since he had the weapon of Yangtze River News, he has been able to skillfully launch intelligence warfare. When Guan Yu and Cao Xiu agreed to a truce, Xiangyang's secretaries turned into refugees, and then detoured to Runan and entered the Central Plains.
At first, it was spread in a small area among the people around Luoyang. However, during the Chinese New Year, the population moved rapidly, and the rumor spread like a virus in Luoyang. Because the people involved were in high positions, the ordinary yamen did not want to and did not dare to take care of it. Finally, Henan Yin Sima Zhi sued On the palaces.
Sima Zhi was born in Wen County, Henan Province, and was from the same clan and hometown as Sima Yi. Although they were from the same ancestry, their branch families had different ups and downs. As a young man, he did not have the good luck of Sima Yi, being able to grow up under the protection of a large clan. In order to escape from the Central Plains He was exiled in Jingzhou during the war. After Cao Cao pacified Jingzhou, he was able to return to his hometown in the Central Plains and enter his official career from Jian County, where laws and regulations were lax and bandits were rampant.
Because Sima Yi had a family legacy, he started his official career as a literary clerk in the Prime Minister's Mansion. He was later sent to Cao Pi as Huangmen Shilang and Yilang, and then returned to the Prime Minister's Mansion as Dong Cao's vassal and chief secretary. These official positions only served Cao Cao and his son, not Cao Cao and his son. People who are close to or from a wealthy family cannot be appointed. If they continue to be promoted, they will be county governors, governors and other powerful officials.
In the five years since Sima Yi became an official, he was promoted to the post of Chief Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office without even serving as the most basic county magistrate. Not to mention how outstanding his personal abilities were, but in terms of his official career promotion path, he was the easiest one. Lu, if he had not been exterminated by Xu Chu, he would have been able to enter the Shangshutai as Shangshu when Cao Pi ascended the throne, and directly enter the core of Wei's power.
On the contrary, Sima Zhi, who is from the same clan, was different. He started his official career as the magistrate of Jian County, and successively served as the governor of Guangping, Ganling, Pei, and Yangping. He was an upright official at the grassroots level, not afraid of power, and was good at judging cases without favoritism. ability and reputation.
At the end of the fourth year of Wei Huangchu's reign, Sima Zhi was promoted to Henan Yin. Not long after he took office, he encountered such a big case.
Sima Zhi remonstrated directly in the palace, and Cao Pi followed his wishes and kept all those involved to prove their innocence, which aroused strong dissatisfaction among several important ministers.
Taiwei Zhong Yao became furious on the spot. He slapped the armrest of his seat and angrily said: "Old minister, my legs and feet are inconvenient. If I really want to betray the Wei Dynasty, do I need to be carried to Chang'an? Yin You of the Sima Prefecture is good at handling the case. Shouldn't he arrest the rumor mongers at this time? Stay. Your Majesty, let us cross-examine him in front of Your Majesty. Apart from humiliating your face, what good will it do to the country and to Your Majesty?"
"Lieutenant, please don't be angry. I have sent people to arrest those who spread rumors and cause trouble. However, the momentum this time is so great. If Your Majesty chooses to ignore it, I'm afraid it will be difficult for other courtiers to deal with." Sima Zhi replied in a neither humble nor arrogant tone.
"I don't want to mention the incident in Yecheng anymore. If Sima Fuyin has real evidence, he can just arrest me." Zhong Yao was so angry that he puffed his beard and glared. After venting his anger, he stopped talking.
"Your Majesty, it is clear to you that this matter was definitely the work of Liu Bei. Only by making our people panic can they have the opportunity to overthrow us, the Wei Dynasty." Du Ji said halfway and looked at Sima Zhi and continued to add: "Sima Fuyin has such a responsibility. For important positions, we should thoroughly investigate how rumors are imported, instead of tormenting us veterans."
"Sima Qing, what do you have to say?" Cao Pi was dizzy from the quarrel in the palace and wanted to end the questioning quickly.
Sima Zhi cupped his hands and said: "I believe in the character of the princes, and I even believe that this is a rumor from the enemy. However, the rumor has been circulating for more than ten days. Hundreds of people were arrested and interrogated, and it was found that they were all ordinary people in Luoyang, and they were not like It's a detailed work of the enemy's infiltration, and it doesn't look like it was instigated, so it's worth pondering. Furthermore, if His Majesty doesn't go through with the formality, this matter will become endless."
Cao Pi frowned: "Does Zihua (Sima Zhi) have any ideas to help me?"
"If your Majesty has no doubts, you can announce it to the officials at the court meeting tomorrow. After your Majesty's personal interrogation in front of the emperor, it has been verified that all the rumors in the city are rumors. If anyone continues to spread them, he will be severely punished. This matter may be solved." Sima Zhi handed over his hand. Offer advice.
"According to Zihua's suggestion, all the ministers should leave the palace first." Cao Pi nodded and waved his hands gently. The people standing in front of him were all important ministers of the Wei State. Even if some of these people really wanted to vote for Liu Bei, he could not say that he had any doubts. The emperor's palace shouldn't be so simple.
"Wei." Several people saluted in unison, and then exited the hall one by one.
Zhong Yao needed to be carried because of his inconvenient legs and feet. When Chen Qun was helping Zhong Yao prepare a sedan bearer for him outside the palace, he was stopped by Gao Miao of Xiaohuangmen and told to stay.
Chen Qun watched Zhong Yao leave and followed him into the palace to see Cao Pi. Seeing that the other party looked very bad, he easily comforted him: "Your Majesty, please take care of the dragon body. Liu Bei used newspapers openly and spread rumors secretly. You just don't have to pay attention to it."
"What the long article said is true. Some rumors are not something to be afraid of, but that is based on the premise of Wei Guoqiang. Now Liu Bei is in Guanzhong and has ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor. Lantian has captured Yangzhou and threatens Huainan. Guan Yu leads the people of Jingzhou to fight against Wen Lie in Nanyang. We If we don't have the advantage all the way now, people's hearts will change." Cao Pi said seriously.
Chen Qun thought for a while and said seriously: "Who would have thought that Soochow was destroyed in three months? It completely disrupted our combat deployment. Now we can only continue to wait and see, waiting for changes to occur before making adjustments. Your Majesty, please rest assured. The army and people of the Central Plains will fight against the enemy with all their strength, no matter which way Liu Bei goes, it will not be enough to break the balance."
"Zidan was in Yongliang to contain Guanzhong, and Wenlie was in Nanyang to resist Guan Yu. I know both of these routes in my heart, but I know very little about Lantian in Yangzhou. Why is this man so powerful? I sent Xiahou Junlin alone, and I have always been aware of it. I feel uneasy." Cao Pi frowned.
Lantian captured Yangzhou and threatened Huainan. Jiang Ji soon asked for help from Luoyang. Cao Pi left Zang Ba in Luoyang to ascend to the throne of King Wu. Cao Pi arranged for the tens of thousands of Taishan soldiers from Huainan to be recruited by Xiahou Ru, and appointed Xiahou Ru as his commander. The governor of Xuzhou led his troops back to Xuzhou, ready to support the Huainan battlefield at any time.
"Maybe it's not that Lan Tian is great, but that Sun Quan himself is too incompetent." Chen Qun comforted in a low voice.
(End of chapter)
