Chapter 95 A clear conscience Cao Rui understood that the so-called vernacular during the Three Kingdoms period referred to the daily communication language used by people in the late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms of Wei, Shu and Wu, which was different from the vernacular used by people in later generations. But no matter what, vernacular is always much easier to understand than classical Chinese. The spread of culture follows certain rules. First of all, in terms of the medium, printing technology and cheap paper are the two factors that drive the circulation of books. Secondly, in terms of content, the Wei State now uses Confucianism and the Five Classics as standard textbooks, so promoting the Five Classics is the current focus of promoting education. The principles of printing and paper are not too difficult, not to mention that there is already good Zuo Bo paper. After the southern expedition is over and the army returns to the court, we can order people to improve and manufacture it. Even if we had paper and printing technology, isn't it more important what is printed on the book? The current Five Classics and the annotations of famous scholars over the past few hundred years have raised the meaning of the classics to a level that cannot be understood without a famous teacher. Didn't Cao Zhi have free time and talent? Why not do something that truly promotes education? Sun Zi bowed and asked, "Your Majesty, I roughly understand what you said. Your Majesty wants Prince Yongqiu to explain the Five Classics in vernacular Chinese and compile a book to make it easier for scholars to learn and read?" Cao Rui nodded: "That's right. I don't trust anyone else to do this kind of thing, so let Prince Yongqiu do it slowly by himself."
"By the way, education is an important matter for the country. If Prince Yongqiu can accomplish it, it will be a great achievement. When Prince Yongqiu starts translating books for me, I will double his salary, so that he won't be accused of mistreating me." "He should be doing his job at his desk, not making nonsense claims about going on an expedition with me!" Sun Zi nodded repeatedly, then turned his horse's head behind the emperor, ready to contact the school officials to handle the case and draft an edict for Cao Zhi. Regarding how to deal with Cao Zhi, Cao Rui's decision this time has shown goodwill as much as possible. According to the law, the princes were not allowed to leave the capital, and the regents were not allowed to gather information for the princes. Any action must be reported. This time, Cao Zhi obviously used some tricks to send people to gather information and intended to participate in politics, which Cao Rui would never allow. Cao Zhi was in his thirties and was the biological son of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Cao Cao. His mother, Empress Dowager Bian, was still sitting in the North Palace. Under such circumstances, it was really a good thing to allow Cao Zhi to display his talents and write books. The Five Classics are just a starting point, not an end. Now that the Five Classics are finished, can the books of other philosophers be translated into vernacular Chinese? Does Ban Gu's Book of Han need vernacular annotations? Should we revise the Book of the Later Han, and after we have done so, do we need to annotate it? Just let Cao Zhi stay at his desk in Yongqiu and concentrate on his studies! …… At this time, Cao Rui was heading to Qiao County, and at the same time, Lu Xun was also sailing on the vast river. After Zhang Wen came to Xiling yesterday, although Lu Xun drove Zhang Wen out of the city that day, what Zhang Wen said made Lu Xun think for a long time. Lu Xun could command thousands of troops to decide the victory between two camps, and once he had made up his mind, what was there for him to hesitate about? Lu Xun ordered the army to prepare the ships the night before, and they began to board the ships early the next morning, preparing to sail downstream to Wuchang to assemble. This is the benefit of stabilizing and controlling the river. Whether going downstream or upstream to the west, a lot of time and resources can be saved through water transportation. For example, several years ago, Xu Sheng, who had just defeated Liu Bei in Yiling, the westernmost part of Wu State in August, was able to reach Guangling, the easternmost part of Wu State, in September to fight against Cao's army. The benefits of water transportation are evident. Lu Xun was not just a general, but an all-round talent with both civil and military skills. Although he had guarded Xiling for many years and had never thought much about it, he quickly understood the truth in his heart after being reminded by Zhang Wen yesterday. Although Lu Xun's role at this stage is mainly a military general and Sun Quan rarely summons Lu Xun back to the court, Lu Xun has a lot to say about state affairs, and even takes the initiative to take sides on certain major events that occur in the court. For example, the Ji Yan case a few years ago.
Three years ago, Zhang Wen, who was on a diplomatic mission to Shu Han again yesterday, recommended Ji Yan to King Sun Quan of Wu as the Minister of Selection of Cao. Xuan Cao is naturally the department responsible for selecting officials. Ji Yan, while serving as the Minister of Selection of Cao, carried out drastic reforms to the personnel system of Eastern Wu. When it comes to politics among the Three Kingdoms, Eastern Wu can be said to be the most chaotic one. Although Shu Han was a small country with a small population, it had a clear political situation and was full of vitality under Zhuge Liang's rule. Cao Wei has always been a centralized power. No matter what major policies Cao Cao, Cao Pi or Cao Rui want to implement, they can always be promoted as long as they are determined. If nothing else, Xun Yu, who died during the Jian'an period, can prove this. The most powerful aristocratic family is the Xun family. Did they prevent Cao Cao from monopolizing power and becoming the King of Wei? But the politics of Eastern Wu was in a mess. It was not that Sun Quan did not want to make drastic reforms, but since nothing he could do could change the situation, he could only "check and balance" various parties to stabilize the country. Although Ji Yan was recommended by Zhang Wen, without Sun Quan's approval, how could Ji Yan have chosen Shangshu Cao to be in charge of personnel elections in Eastern Wu? The situation Ji Yan faced when he took office was dire. The war between Cao Wei and Eastern Wu had cut off the border, and no more Huaishui elites from Jiangbei, such as Zhuge Jin and Lu Su, could come south. The various government offices in the court were naturally filled with the children of various noble families and generals in the Eastern Wu, and most of them were mediocre in talent. After Ji Yan got the approval of Sun Quan, he began to rectify the three most noble offices, which also had the most second-generation officials. The three offices were a general term for the five official offices, the left office, and the right office. They were the places where the "preparatory officials" stayed after they were filial and honest and before they took up specific official positions. Since most of the people in the three offices are scum, just go back home! Ji Yan conducted an examination, and less than one-tenth of the officials could pass the examination and continue to stay in the three offices. Among those who were eliminated, if there were people with bad conduct or who were corrupt for personal gain, Ji Yan would demote them to military officials. Military officials were despised by scholars in the Eastern Wu. Ji Yan's behavior naturally caused an uproar in the Eastern Wu. Sun Quan also received numerous impeachments against Ji Yan, but they were all suppressed by Sun Quan. But gradually, Sun Quan found that he could no longer suppress the situation. Sun Quan ordered Zhang Wen and Ji Yan to lead the personnel reform. After much investigation, they found that the person was Sun Shao, the first prime minister of the Eastern Wu. Sun Shao himself did use his power for personal gain in the election, and he was straightforward enough to submit his resignation to Sun Quan. However, in the eyes of the government and the public in the Eastern Wu, this was a naked humiliation. Zhang Wen and Ji Yan, two officials in their thirties, actually forced the sixty-year-old Prime Minister Sun Shao to resign just because they had the power to select officials from the King of Wu? Although Sun Shao and Sun Quan are not relatives, Sun Shao's real surname is Sun! This caused a huge uproar. Sun Quan still couldn't resist the pressure and questioned Ji Yan. Ji Yan didn't want to die unclearly like Chao Cuo, so he committed suicide decisively. You have entrusted your trust to the wrong person. Just accept it. The worst that can happen is that I will compensate you with the life of King Wu. However, Ji Yan died, while Zhang Wen, who recommended Ji Yan to the position, was still alive. This aroused Sun Quan's jealousy, and he was placed under house arrest. Yesterday, when Zhang Wen passed by Xiling, he didn't mention Ji Yan at all, but it seemed like every sentence he spoke was about Ji Yan. Because at that time, Lu Xun was also one of the people who wrote to oppose Ji Yan's reforms. Ji Yan worked for the King of Wu, but the King could not withstand the pressure from both the government and the people, and forced Ji Yan to death. And you, Lu Xun, don't you know that your role is actually similar to Ji Yan's? The King of Wu has used you to lead the army, and I don't know how long he has been suspicious of you. If you fail to win the battle, I'm afraid you will also be dragged out to sacrifice to the gods! The fleet sailed downstream. Xiling, where Lu Xun guarded for several years, was actually originally named Yiling. It was changed to Xiling after Sun Quan won the Battle of Yiling.
Xiling became famous in later generations not because it was the site of a war between the Eastern Wu and Shu Han states, but because of the Three Gorges. At this time, one of the Three Gorges was Guangxi Gorge, the second was Wu Gorge, and the third was Xiling Gorge. Xiling or Yiling was located at the east entrance of Xiling Gorge. Guangxi Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge stretch for hundreds of miles from west to east. The rivers are restrained by peaks and ridges along the coast, making the riverbed narrow, the rapids raging, and dangerous rapids dotted. The roads on both sides of the river are also rugged and difficult to travel. But after the river flows out of Xiling, the river surface changes from narrow to wide. Sailing downstream from Xiling, one feels that "the tide is low and the two banks are wide". Lu Xun stood at the bow of the ship. The cold winter wind blew over the vast river, making Lu Xun's cloak rustle. Traveling along the river from Xiling, ahead is Lexiang, where Zhu Ran, the governor of Jiangling, is located, and Gong'an, where Zhuge Jin's troops are stationed. Ever since Zhang Wen left, when Lu Xun looked at the river and the mountains and rivers, it seemed as if he had an additional perspective. Lu Xun's defense zone, Xiling, is at the westernmost part of Wu. If you want to go from west to east, you must first pass through Zhu Ran's defense zone, and then pass through Zhuge Jin's defense zone. Zhu Ran once studied with Sun Quan when he was young, and he had a close relationship with Sun Quan. There is no need to say more about Zhuge Jin. When Liu Bei attacked Wu, Zhuge Jin was in Nanjun. Some people slandered Zhuge Jin, saying that he exchanged information with Liu Bei, and the rumor was very widespread. Lu Xun also submitted a petition to assure Zhuge Jin that he had no such intention. Sun Quan replied to Lu Xun, "Zi Yu and I have been together for many years, and we have made a vow to each other for life and death. Zi Yu and I can be said to have a 'spiritual bond' that cannot be separated by others." Both Zhu Ran and Zhuge Jin had such a good personal relationship with King Sun Quan of Wu. I have been leading troops in the army for a long time, and my relationship with the King of Wu is just about official business, with more respect than personal feelings. The King of Wu used Zhu Ran and Zhuge Jin to defend behind me. Could it be that he had been on guard against me for a long time? The river breeze blew across Lu Xun's face, and Lu Xun sneered and shook his head. I have a clear conscience, so why should I be afraid of the King of Wu's vigilance? I have become a minister of the Eastern Wu. If the King of Wu orders me to lead the army to fight, I will do so. If the King of Wu orders me to return to the court to govern the country, I will also be willing to take off my armor. He was loyal to his subjects and knew when to advance and retreat. How could he expect to encounter disaster when facing the King of Wu with such an attitude? As he thought about it, Lu Xun turned back to look at his fleet. All of his 5,000 troops had been transferred from Xiling and were ready to rush to Wuchang to prepare for battle. Just have no regrets. (End of this chapter)