After learning that Sima Yi had voluntarily surrendered his military power and that his two sons had resigned from their official positions, Cao Shuang felt that the threat had been eliminated. As for the war in Xishu, he directly sent some close personnel to deal with it, while he drank and had fun with He Yan and others every day. The clothes and utensils used were no different from those in the imperial court. The rare treasures that were paid tribute by other places were also used first. When he entered the palace, he selected many beauties and filled the palace. Some wanted to curry favor with Cao Shuang. He secretly sent Cao Rui's concubines, about seven or eight of them, to Cao Shuang's house. Cao Shuang selected some women from good families. These women were all very good at dancing. There were thirty or forty people in total who performed for him every day. He could use it at any time for fun, but later he felt that the place he lived in was not grand enough, so he spent money to build a heavy painting pavilion, equipped with some gold and silver utensils, and summoned all the craftsmen of Wei State to work overnight. As for Xishu, Yu Yi was not idle either. He contacted Jiang Wei to continue his efforts to attack Chang'an. He also changed his strategic direction and sent people to guard Wancheng. He rushed with 20,000 horses to prepare to join Jiang Wei's Northern Expedition. Capture Chang'an in one fell swoop and complete the semicircular plan the two set when Kong Ming was still alive.
But He Yan heard that there was a man named Guan Ren in Pingyuan who was very proficient in mathematics, so he invited him to discuss the Zhouyi. Deng Yang was also present at the time and asked: "You think you are good at the Zhouyi, but you can't explain the meaning of the Yi." Why?"
He replied: "The so-called people who are good at the Book of Changes cannot understand the meaning of the Book of Changes."
He Yan smiled and praised: "This answer seems to have been answered, but there is no answer." So he asked: "Then can you please divine for me, can my official function be as high as the Three Lords? In addition, I have often dreamed recently, and in the dream it is ten A blue fly always gathers on my nose, what does this mean?"
He replied: "Yuan and Kai assisted Yao and Shun, and the Duke of Zhou assisted the Zhou Dynasty. They all regarded humility as a virtue, and they would enjoy blessings. Nowadays, the status of kings and princes is noble, but there are few people who are virtuous, and there are many people who are afraid of majesty. This is It is not a way to seek blessings, and the nose is a mountain. The mountain is high, so it will not be dangerous, and you will be rich for a long time. Now, blue flies, with such a foul smell, gather here, proving that people with high status can also be in danger. Why? Aren't you afraid? I hope you will do more good deeds and refrain from doing things without etiquette. Then the three princes will be able to arrive and the blue flies will be driven away."
Deng Yang was furious after hearing this and said: "What you are saying is all nonsense!"
Guan Ren said: "Laosheng is very knowledgeable. People who often talk nonsense only talk nonsense because of their talents!" After saying this, he walked away.
The two of them were not angry after hearing this, and laughed: "What a madman!"
Guan Ren returned home and told his uncle about the incident. His uncle was very surprised and said, "He and Deng have great authority. How can you offend them?"
He replied: "What fear do I have when I talk to the dead?"
The uncle felt strange and asked why, and replied: "When Deng Yang walked, his muscles could not wrap around his bones, and his pulse could not control his flesh and blood. He stood crookedly, as if he had no hands or feet. This is called ghostly appearance. As for He Yan, his spirit is restless, his soul is distraught, his blood is colorless, his spirit is erratic, and his body is like a dead wood. This is the appearance of a ghost, so I infer based on this that the two of them will be killed sooner or later, so I am not afraid!"
After hearing this, his uncle shook his head violently, cursed him as a madman, and then left angrily.
Besides, Cao Shuang once hunted with He Yan and Deng Yang. His younger brother Cao Xi advised him: "My brother is very powerful now and is planning to go hunting. If you are prepared to plot, it will be too late to regret!"
Cao Shuang scolded: "I have great power now, and I also have military power. There is nothing to be afraid of."
After hearing this, Si Nong Huanfan advised him, but Cao Shuang refused to listen at all and asked him to retire early. At that time, Cao Fang, the leader of Wei, made the first ten years of the reform to be the first year of Jiaping. Cao Shuang had always been authoritarian. I didn't know what Sima Yi meant. It happened that the Lord of Wei had removed Li Sheng as governor and sent Li Sheng to bid farewell to Sima Yi and come to inquire about the news.
Li Sheng went to Sima Yi's home. A doorman had already come to report. Sima Yi said to his two sons, "These are the ones sent by Cao Shuang to spy on us." So he messed up his hair, got into bed, wrapped himself in a quilt, and sent two maids. With support, Li Sheng was allowed to enter.
Li Sheng came to the bed, bowed, and said, "I haven't seen the Taifu for a while, and I didn't expect to be so ill. Now the emperor has sent me to be the governor, so I came here to say goodbye."
Sima Yi pretended to reply: "Bingzhou is a good place, you can make good preparations."
Li Sheng explained: "It's not Bingzhou!"
Sima Yi smiled slightly and said, "So you just came back from Bingzhou?"
Li Sheng said: "It's not Bingzhou!"
Sima Yi glanced at Li Sheng, laughed, and said, "I understand, you are from Jingzhou."
Li Sheng looked around and said: "Jingzhou has long been a place of Shu. Tutor's disease must be treated without delay!"
He replied: "The master's ears are not good, he will die!"
Li Sheng said: "I'd better trouble you to get some paper and pen so I can use them."
He took the pen and paper and handed it to Li Sheng. Li Sheng wrote the content, handed it to Sima Yi, and said with a smile: "I know, my condition is very serious, and my ears can no longer hear. Please take care." Pointing to his mouth, the maid gave him medicine. Sima Yi opened his mouth to drink, but couldn't drink it in. The soup wet the bed sheets. Sima Yi suddenly choked up and said, "I'm old now and I'm seriously ill. I will die soon." In this world, two sons are unworthy, I hope you can teach them, and if you see the general, I hope you can say a few words of kindness." After saying that, he fell on the bed full of soup, feeling very sick, and began to gasp for air.
Li Sheng couldn't bear to see this, so he could only say goodbye to Sima Yi, go back to find Cao Shuang, and tell Cao Shuang about Sima Yi's situation. Cao Shuang was very happy after hearing this and said: "If Sima Yi dies of illness, then I will no longer have to worry!"
When it was confirmed that Li Sheng had left, Sima Yi quickly got up, changed his clothes, and prepared to take a bath. When he was free, he said to his two sons: "When Li Sheng goes back, he will definitely report my affairs to Cao Shuang. Cao Shuang will not worry about me anymore. When he If we go out to hunt in the city, we will have a chance to plot something!"
Within a day, Cao Shuang invited Cao Fang, the lord of Wei, to go hunting in Gaoping Mausoleum to offer sacrifices to the late emperor. All the officials, big and small, followed him out of the city. Cao Shuang took his third brother and some confidants, He Yan, and others, and marched side by side with the imperial army. Huan Fan knocked on his horse and admonished him: "My lord is in charge of the imperial army. Brothers should not go out together. If there is a rebellion in the city, what should we do?"
Cao Shuang pointed his whip at him and said angrily: "Who dares to rebel? Stop talking nonsense!"
On that day, Sima Yi was sure that Cao Shuang had left the city and went hunting. He was very happy, so he called together his former soldiers, the assassins he secretly trained, and the warriors hidden among the servants. He also summoned his two sons and prepared to go. Murder Cao Shuang.
