Chapter 25 Deal with it as usual Sima Fu, as Sima Yi's younger brother, advised Cao Rui and rejected Cao Rui's will. The mere fact that his last name was "Sima" was enough to make Cao Rui wary of him. The ministers in the hall were discussing the matter, and voices criticizing and accusing Sima Fu rose one after another. The ministers all looked at Cao Rui, who was sitting at the top of the hall, waiting for the emperor to speak. At this time, Cao Rui had calmed down and began to seriously think about how to deal with Sima Fu who gave him advice. Sima Fu was just a Shangshu. As the emperor, Cao Rui had many ways to deal with Sima Fu, but the consequences were different. Sima Fu could be executed. The consequence would be that the court officials would be afraid to speak out and would try to conceal things that Cao Rui could conceal, as less trouble is worse than more. The nobles who were on good terms with the Sima family would also distance themselves from the emperor. Sima Fu could also be convicted. All he had to do was to have the Chief Justice put him in jail. The charges were ready-made, such as obstructing government orders, or being rebellious and treacherous. Any one of them would do. Sima Fu could have been spared punishment. Encouraging ministers to give advice to the emperor was something every "wise ruler" would do. Three options, three different consequences. How to deal with Sima Fu was just a multiple-choice question for Cao Rui.
Was Sima Fu scolding Cao Rui? Yes and no. Sima Fu was scolding Cao Rui, the emperor, but he had never even met Cao Rui in person, so it was not like he was targeting Cao Rui himself. There were only political differences, no personal grudges, although Sima Fu was indeed hateful. At this moment, after Emperor Cao Rui figured out the key point, he instantly understood what he should do. You should choose the option that is most beneficial to your status as emperor. Sima Fu? He was just a minister on the emperor's blacklist. He will never be able to make any splash in his life. Cao Rui glanced around the hall, and the expressions of the ministers were either indignant or solemn. Finally, Cao Rui's eyes were fixed on Wei Zhen. As a veteran minister who had served three dynasties, Wei Zhen, with his prudent stance and elegant demeanor, would definitely suggest Cao Rui to let the matter of Sima Fu go. That's exactly what happened. Cao Rui said, "Master Wei, this afternoon you advised me to commend Sima Fu for his courage to remonstrate. Now Sima Fu has written a letter to refute my will for the second time. What do you have to say now?" Everyone looked at Wei Zhen. Wei Zhen lowered his head and thought for a moment, then slowly stood up and bowed to Cao Rui, ignoring the other people's gazes. Wei Zhen said: "Your Majesty's talent and virtue are worthy of being a sage monarch. A sage monarch should encourage the advice of his subjects, even if they are wrong, and at the same time teach them where they are wrong, so as not to block the way for loyal advice from the people of the world." Cao Rui nodded gently: "Master Wei's advice is wise and prudent. I will follow Master Wei's advice." All the ministers in the palace followed Cao Rui's statement and echoed him. Concubine Mao, who was sitting next to Cao Rui, and her brother Mao Zeng, were basically just background figures. It was not their turn to discuss state affairs. Several young relatives of the Cao clan, such as Cao Xiu's sons Cao Zhao and Cao Zuan, Cao Zhen's son Cao Shuang, and Xiahou Shang's son Xiahou Xuan, all looked indignant. Cao Rui's old ministers in the Eastern Palace, He Zeng, Guanqiu Jian, Bi Gui, Li Feng and others, had convinced expressions on their faces. After all, they were Cao Rui's confidants, and it was normal for them to support Cao Rui's decisions. As for the other ministers close to the emperor, the three attendants Liu Ye, Xin Pi, and Huang Quan, and the two secretaries Liu Fang and Sun Zi, there was some unspeakable meaning in their eyes when they looked at Wei Zhen.
Facing such an angry emperor, even the bamboo slips of advice were thrown on the ground, but he still listened to Wei Zhen's advice and did not punish Sima Fu. This shows the emperor's trust in Wei Zhen, an old minister. Some people's eyes were full of envy, while others showed a little fear. Cao Rui saw the different expressions on everyone's faces and smiled softly, "Master Wei is right. He is just Sima Fu. It is not worth it for me to be angry with him." "Minister of the Secretariat, bring pen and ink and draft the decree here!" Cao Rui said to the Minister of the Secretariat Liu Fang. Liu Fang took the order and after a moment he took back the pen, ink and seal and sat at the table to prepare to write. Cao Rui said: "The Secretary, please write my will again, and write it here." Liu Fang did not dare to delay. He used a pen to neatly and quickly copy Cao Rui's decree from yesterday on silk, and then asked Cao Rui for instructions. "Your Majesty, do you want to use the seal now?" Cao Rui chuckled and said, "Of course I do." Without any hesitation, Liu Fang raised the seal of the emperor's draft with both hands, and then pressed it down hard on the edict. Cao Rui saw this and asked, "Master Wei, where is your seal?" Wei Zhen solemnly cupped his hands and said, "Of course I carry my seal with me." Cao Rui said, "Well, you stay here and check my edict and draft the appointment order for everyone. Secretary Liu, pass the edict to Minister Wei." Liu Fang held the imperial edict in both hands and slowly walked to Wei Zhen's desk. Wei Zhen now understood what Cao Rui was going to do, so he took the imperial edict, the pen and ink, and began to write quickly at his desk. Cao Rui looked at his ministers and said, "What's the difficulty in this matter? I asked the Secretariat to draft the edict, and the Secretariat passed it to the Minister of Personnel, who then issued the order with his seal. Doesn't this matter violate the law and rules?" Everyone in the hall burst into laughter. Cao Shuang, who had the best relationship with Cao Rui, stood up and laughed. Cao Shuang laughed and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty, what you have done is naturally in accordance with the law. No matter how rebellious Sima Fu is, what can he say this time?" Cao Rui also smiled and did not answer, but waved his hand to signal Cao Shuang to sit down. The palace maid had already filled everyone's wine cups with osmanthus wine. Cao Rui raised the wine cup in his hand and said: "Everyone here is either a relative of the royal family or an important minister. We are gathered here today, so we must get drunk." "I recently composed a piece of music, and I'll use the last few lines to toast you all." All the ministers in the hall raised their glasses and looked at His Majesty the Emperor in the hall. Cao Rui slowly chanted: "The universe is infinite, but human life is finite. To achieve merit and fame is up to you. The sages and wise men are the ones who can achieve the Tao." "Come on, everyone, raise your hands!" All the ministers heard the voice and shouted, "Raise your glass!" Then they raised their heads and drank the osmanthus wine in the cup in one gulp. Only Zhong Yu, due to his young age, was unable to finish the drink in one gulp. He took the half-drunk cup away from his lips, secretly glanced at Huang Quan beside him, and then frowned and drank the whole cup. To drink the wine in the glass is actually to drink up all the wine in the glass and then turn the glass upside down to show that you have finished it in one gulp. …… The banquet was almost over and the moon was already high in the night sky. Both the host and the guests were in great joy, and all the old and close ministers present received their appointment documents during the banquet.
Just when everyone was bidding farewell to Cao Rui and were about to go home, Cao Rui took advantage of his drunkenness to keep Cao Zhao, Cao Shuang, Zhong Yu and Guanqiu Jian. Cao Rui said, "Changsi, Zhaobo, go back and ask your fathers for me. Aren't they in the Shangshutai? Why did they allow Sima Fu to act so recklessly today?" Cao Zhao and Cao Shuang bowed and accepted the order. Cao Rui continued: "Zhong Yu! Can you still walk?" Zhong Yu, who was attending such a formal banquet for the first time, seemed a little unsteady, but he still pulled himself together and bowed: "I can walk. Please give instructions, Your Majesty." Cao Rui smiled and said, "Well, you go ask Chen Qun for me tonight. Guanqiu Jian, you go ask Sima Yi!" "Tomorrow, I will go to the Shangshutai in person!" Everyone took their leave after receiving the order. Cao Rui was already a little drunk. When he saw the few people leaving, he stared at Guanqiu Jian's back. Guanqiu Jian...Sima Yi... I wonder what kind of drama will happen? There is one more chapter before twelve o'clock (End of this chapter)
