Chapter 40: An Arrow Through the Heart Sima Yi was cold and calculating, while Jiang Ji was sarcastic and unruly. Perhaps because they are both wise men and can always get to the point when discussing things, the two of them have a sense of mutual respect. In fact, the friendship between the two has been going on for a long time. In Cao Cao's Prime Minister's Office, Jiang Ji was the Prime Minister's Chief Clerk and concurrently a member of the Western Cao. He and Sima Yi, who was also the Prime Minister's Chief Clerk and concurrently a member of the Eastern Cao, were both officials of the Prime Minister's Office. When Guan Yu attacked Xiangfan in the north and Cao Cao wanted to move the capital in panic, it was Sima Yi and Jiang Ji who successfully persuaded Cao Cao. During Cao Pi's reign, Sima Yi was good at government affairs and often planned food and logistics for the army, while Jiang Ji was good at making decisions and often gave advice on the front line. After more than ten years of friendship, the two of them were now able to get along with each other privately and talk freely. They exchanged some private opinions without worrying that the other party would leak or betray them. After the two of them laughed loudly, Jiang Ji stopped smiling and looked at Sima Yi: "Zhongda, how is the current emperor? I have never met the emperor alone." Sima Yi looked around and saw that there was no one else in Jiang Ji's room. The door was open and there was no one outside. So Sima Yi stood up and walked to the door, gently closing the two doors.
Jiang Ji was a little surprised: "Zhongda, what confidential matter are you going to talk about?" Sima Yi sat down and thought for a moment: "From what I see, your Majesty is quite arbitrary. A few days ago, your Majesty ordered Cao Xiu and Chen Qun to go to the local area, but he did not inform us ministers beforehand, which is different from the habit of the previous emperor to consult on everything." Jiang Ji interjected: "Isn't everything like the previous emperor who obeyed you? Is this what you call arbitrary?" Sima Yi rolled his eyes and said, "Zitong, Zitong, you are good in every way except that you have a big mouth." Jiang Ji waved his hand: "I won't interrupt, Zhongda, you continue." Sima Yi said: "Your Majesty is still very concerned about military affairs. Today, when discussing the military situation at the front, Your Majesty also made a special map, saying that the central army is running around and consuming too much energy, and wants to strengthen the combat power of the border troops so that they can resist Dongwu and Shu Han." Jiang Ji responded: "It would be great if we could hold it! But how can we succeed if the border is in ruins? It's just wishful thinking." Sima Yi sighed softly: "So what if it's just wishful thinking? There's nothing wrong with increasing the combat power of the border troops. Since Your Majesty wants to do it, then go ahead and do it." Jiang Ji nodded. He really didn't know how to comment on the emperor's correct but useless words. However, after a moment, Jiang Ji asked Sima Yi another question. Jiang Ji asked, "Zhongda, I am the Minister of Civil Affairs, and I have something to report to you, but I don't know if it is appropriate to do so at this time." Sima Yi looked over and asked, "What's the matter?" Jiang Ji explained: "According to the usual practice, the emperor should start building a mausoleum one year after he ascended the throne. If the mausoleum is to be built next year, then the site should be selected this year." "I just don't know if His Majesty would be sensitive about this matter?" The Shangshutai now has no Shangshuling. This kind of matter can only be checked by Sima Yi, the Recorder of the Shangshu. The Shangshu Ling and Lu Shangshu Shi are just like the Zhong Lingjun and Lingjun Jiangjun. One is standard and the other is over-equipped. They have the same position but different levels. Sima Yi thought for a moment and said, "Our emperor will only praise when faced with advice, but whether he listens or not is another matter." "Renovating the mausoleum is a serious matter. Zitong, how about this? You draft the request and I'll sign it with you. I'm sure His Majesty won't be offended by it." After listening to Sima Yi's words, Jiang Ji took out the document from the table and said, "Zhongda, I have already drafted the document for this matter. Please take a look. If there are no mistakes, please sign and seal it." Sima Yi smiled and said, "So you've been waiting for me for a long time. Zi Tong, ah Zi Tong, you've put all your wisdom into this kind of thing!"
The two looked at each other and laughed out loud. … A few days later, Cao Rui was swimming alone. Swimming in summer is a rare enjoyment that can both exercise and cool down. Several eunuchs were standing outside the swimming pool. Some were holding bath towels, some were holding fruits, and some were walking back and forth with large umbrellas to provide shade for the emperor who was swimming. Sun Zi asked the eunuch and learned that only Cao Rui was swimming. He then found the eunuch and informed him and stood next to the swimming pool. Cao Rui splashed water with his hands and stood up on the bottom of the pool. After smoothing back his long hair that was soaked by the water, Cao Rui looked at Sun Zi who was beside the pool. As the emperor, Cao Rui did not mind meeting with ministers by the swimming pool. But Sun Zi, as the minister of state, was stunned when he saw Cao Rui rising from the water. Cao Rui was indeed born with a good appearance. The good genes inherited from two generations of beauties, Bian and Zhen, made Cao Rui handsome and fair-skinned. Practicing swordplay, horse riding and archery since he was ten years old gave Cao Rui a very strong physique, and even his abdominal muscles were clearly visible. It was the first time that Sun Zi saw the emperor wearing only swimming trunks. It was normal for him to be surprised by Cao Rui's appearance. For a while, he just stared at Cao Rui. Cao Rui noticed that Sun Zi was staring at his upper body. He felt a little uncomfortable being stared at by an old man who was almost 60 years old. It seemed that in the Three Kingdoms era, swimming in swimming trunks was still too avant-garde. Cao Rui raised his chin towards Sun Zi: "Hey, what are you looking at?" Sun Zi bowed his head and saluted: "I saw that Your Majesty was in a very healthy state and was a little distracted for a moment. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me." Cao Rui snorted, "I have been practicing swordsmanship since I was ten years old. How can I not be in good shape? Sun Zhongshu, do you know that the late emperor practiced swordsmanship at the age of six and could ride and shoot at the age of eight?" Sun Zi replied flatteringly: "The late emperor was a man of both civil and military talents, and everyone knows this. But the late emperor was not in the shape of your majesty." Cao Rui nodded: "Yes, the late emperor loved sweets, longan, lychee, grapes, rock honey, and all sweet fruits and foods. The late emperor loved them. It would be strange if he didn't get fat." When talking about the late emperor, Sun Zi had no way of responding and could only stand aside with his hands behind his back. Cao Rui asked: "What is the matter that the court wants to see me about?" Sun Zi hesitated for a moment and replied, "Sima Gong, the Recorder of the Secretariat, and Jiang Ji, the Minister of Civil Affairs, wrote to Your Majesty about the construction of the mountain mausoleum, saying that a site should be selected for Your Majesty's mountain mausoleum." Cao Rui pointed at himself in surprise and said, "Building a mausoleum? I'm only in my twenties." Sun Zi nodded and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me for being blunt, but all the emperors of previous dynasties began to build their mausoleums after they ascended the throne and changed the reign title. If this is the case, then your mausoleum will start construction next year, so you should start selecting a site this year." Cao Rui suddenly felt something was wrong. Mausoleum...Sima Yi...Jiang Ji In an instant, Cao Rui thought of many things, and his right hand involuntarily slapped the water, causing a huge splash. In the original timeline, Sima Yi succeeded in usurping power by launching the Gaoping Mausoleum Incident because Cao Shuang and his brothers took the young emperor out to worship at Gaoping Mausoleum. Whose mausoleum is Gaoping Mausoleum? It is the original mausoleum of Cao Rui! Sima Yi and Jiang Ji were among the most crucial figures in the Gaopingling Incident. Could it be that this was an arrow that Sima Yi shot accidentally, which traveled through more than 20 years and helped him successfully usurp power? "Damn it!" Cao Rui cursed in his heart. (End of this chapter)