Chapter 13 For consultation The Wei State's military is now half-crippled. Why is it called half-disabled? The country is weak and it is difficult to mobilize military strength to conquer Dongwu and Shuhan. After Cao Cao lost the Battle of Red Cliff, it was difficult for Cao Wei to launch a major attack on Wu and Shu. It could only defend but not attack, so it was half-crippled. But why could the half-crippled Wei State still remain strong? That’s because Eastern Wu and Shu Han were also half-crippled. After four hundred years of glorious years during the Han Dynasty, various contradictions that had been accumulating for a long time suddenly broke out in the chaotic times at the end of the Han Dynasty. Decades of conflicts among aristocratic families, landlords, warlords and bandits have exhausted China's national strength and people's power. When the pointer of history reached the Three Kingdoms period, it had actually entered garbage time. Cao Wei, Eastern Wu, and Shu Han, the three political entities that occupied three parts of the Chinese land, all fell into weakness at the same time. Just now in the imperial study, Cao Rui and four ministers were discussing military affairs. The reason why the previous emperor Cao Pi returned without success after three southern expeditions during the Huangchu period was ultimately due to the country's lack of strength. There were a total of thirteen states in the Han Dynasty, and Yizhou, Jingzhou, Yangzhou and Jiaozhou were in the hands of Eastern Wu and Shu Han.
Cao Wei still had nine states. Nine mines against four mines, as long as Cao Wei develops steadily and does not lose its composure, it can drag these two forces to death. Unfortunately, the Cao Wei emperors in history were too disappointing. Cao Pi reigned for six years and lived to the age of 40. Cao Rui reigned for 13 years and lived to the age of 36. The lifespan of the two emperors combined was almost the same as that of Sima Yi alone, who lived to be seventy-three years old. The emperor who died young, the young monarch, the overbearing ministers, the lost military power, the incompetent royal family, the external enemy... Only after all these signs of the country's demise were gathered did Cao Wei lose power to Sima Yi. Cao Rui now has only two things to do to prevent all this from happening: first, live longer, and second, accumulate national strength. That's all. This is the truth of simplicity. The best solution to many problems is often the simplest truth. It's just that this is the simplest truth, but people often fail to comprehend it in their entire lives. The backs of the four ministers gradually went away. Cao Rui looked at the several drafts that fell to the ground and wanted to call the eunuchs to pick them up. But thinking of his swimsuit design on the draft, Cao Rui decided to just bend down. Life is about exercise, and his waist, which has been a little sore lately, needs to be moved. Liu Ye's eyes were still looking at the direction where the others left. Seeing this, Cao Rui asked, "What are you thinking about?" Liu Ye came back to his senses and said, "Your Majesty, I was thinking about the battle of Yiling between Wu and Shu." "When Wu and Shu were at war, I suggested to the late emperor that we launch a massive attack on Wu, but the late emperor did not agree." "After the victory of the Eastern Wu, the late emperor raised an army to attack Wu. I tried my best to dissuade him, but the late emperor refused to listen." "I just feel a little sorry." Liu Ye is indeed a man of wisdom and strategy. From the perspective of hindsight, both of his suggestions are spot-on. Cao Rui just glanced at Liu Ye and didn't respond. Liu Ye was a little confused about Cao Rui's thoughts, and was afraid that he had offended the emperor, so he quickly added a sentence.
"Sooner or later, our Great Wei will be able to defeat the Wu bandits." Cao Rui thought for a moment: "During the Battle of Yiling, I remember that Huang Quan of Shu Han surrendered to Wei, right?" Liu Ye said: "That's right. During the Battle of Yiling, Huang Quan was isolated in the north of the Yangtze River due to road obstruction and had no choice but to surrender to our country." "The late emperor was very kind to Huang Quan and appointed him the General of Zhennan and gave him the title of Shizhong." Cao Rui asked: "Where is Huang Quan now?" Liu Ye responded, "I am on duty in the Shizhong Temple. According to the system, I and Shizhong Xin are permanent Shizhong, serving Your Majesty on a daily basis for consultation. And Huang Quan, an extra Shizhong, just stays in the duty room waiting for Your Majesty to summon him." Cao Rui was a little surprised: "If I don't summon him, he has nothing to do?" Liu Ye nodded and said, "There is indeed nothing to do." Cao Rui touched his nose, looking a little helpless. It seems that the Wei court really has a lot of rich and idle people. At this time, Zhong Yu had been waiting outside the door for a long time. Cao Rui called Zhong Yu in and asked, "Why did you come alone?" Zhong Yu bowed respectfully and said, "I am going to Lord Chang's residence. Lord Chang is ill and cannot get up from his bed. He has entrusted me to apologize to Your Majesty." Cao Rui snorted: "He is doing these empty things again. He is already sick in bed. How can I punish him?" "Minister, go ask Liu Fang to draft the decree. The post of Minister of Rites, the head of the Nine Ministers, is vacant now. Let Chang Lin take up the title of Minister of Rites. I have other plans for the post of Minister of the Imperial Household." Liu Ye took his leave. Cao Rui thought about it and decided that since everyone said that Cao Wei’s military strength was not good, and he happened to have some free time, he might as well go and take a look at the Imperial Guards. "Zhong Yu, come with me." Cao Rui said to Zhong Yu who was bowing, and then quickly walked out of the palace gate. Zhong Yu was stunned, and quickly trotted forward to follow Cao Rui. Zhong Yu's father was Zhong Yao, a veteran of the Wei State. Zhong Yao was not only highly meritorious, but also vigorous and strong. Not only did he give birth to his eldest son Zhong Yu when he was 62 years old, but he also gave birth to his youngest son Zhong Hui last year when he was 75 years old. From this point of view, if we were to talk about which ministers of Cao Wei had inherited the true art of sex from Zuo Ci, Zhong Yao would definitely be on the list. Every time Cao Rui thought of the father and son Zhong Yu and Zhong Yao, he was really curious about how General Zhong Yao could remain so strong in old age. Seeing Cao Rui coming out of the door, the eunuch quickly led Cao Rui's imperial horse. After Cao Rui climbed onto the horse by stepping on the eunuch's back, Zhong Yu was still standing behind in a daze. Cao Rui pursed his lips at Zhong Yu and said, "Zhong's kid, what are you doing standing in my palace?" Zhong Yu looked at the emperor blankly. The fourteen-year-old boy's eyes were full of tension and helplessness. Bi Jin stood in front of the horse holding the reins, glanced at the teasing emperor, then smiled and handed the reins in the direction of Zhong Yu. Zhong Yu suddenly realized what was going on and hurried forward to lead Cao Rui's horse. Cao Rui asked, "Do you know where the duty room of the Shizhong Temple is?" Zhong Yu replied respectfully: "I know. When I first entered the palace, Bi Neiguan introduced me to him." Cao Rui said: "That's good to know, let's go." Zhong Yu nodded in agreement, then led Cao Rui's majestic white horse towards the duty room of the Shizhong Temple in the palace.
Cao Rui was sitting on the horse, looking at Zhong Yu who was leading the horse in front of him in an orderly manner, and he just felt it was interesting. The road in Luoyang Palace was paved with bricks and stones. The sound of horse hooves clattering on the road made a clattering sound, and Cao Rui's body rose and fell with the rise and fall of the horse's back. "Zhong Yu, have you ever led a horse for your father, General Zhong?" As they walked, Zhong Yu said, "Your Majesty, I have never led a horse for my father." Cao Rui looked at Zhong Yu in front of him and said, "It is a son's duty to hold the stirrups for his father's horse. But you only hold the horse for me in the palace. It seems that you only care about being an official and not filial piety." Zhong Yu was a little anxious when he heard this, and even slowed down his pace a little. He hurriedly explained: "I have heard that serving the king with loyalty and serving the father with filial piety, loyalty comes before filial piety, so I cannot be considered unfilial." Cao Rui laughed: "Go home and ask your father what he says." Zhong Yu's face turned redder and he quickly agreed. There is one more chapter before twelve o'clock~ (End of this chapter)
