Chapter 144: Mysterious Words
Cao Rui shook his head after hearing what Liu Ye said.
Cao Rui asked, "Has Liu Qing also studied prophecies and divination?"
Liu Ye did not expect the emperor to ask him such a question. After a moment's pause, he said, "I have actually learned a little bit. But I am from Yangzhou, and there are not many great scholars who understand prophecies and divinations in the local area, so I do not really understand prophecies and divinations."
In Cao Rui's current view, the imperial court could naturally come up with an official explanation for prophecies like "The one who will replace the Han Dynasty will be Gao" and "The Golden Knife Prophecy", but it could not stop the people from interpreting themselves. Not to mention whether prophecies are useful or not, and whether these miraculous things are true or false. The uncontrollability of prophecies and visions alone is enough to cause trouble.
In fact, it is just a threat to those in power.
Cao Rui then looked at the other three attendants.
"Has Chen Qing ever studied prophecy?"
"I am similar to Minister Liu." Chen Jiao said, "I am also from Yangzhou, and my situation is roughly the same as Minister Liu's."
Cao Rui nodded: "Where is Minister Xin?"
Xin Pi looked at Liu Ye, then at Chen Jiao, and then said, "I have indeed learned some."
Seeing Xin Pi's incoherent words, Cao Rui urged him under the influence of alcohol: "What did you learn? Xin Qing, tell me quickly."
The others also stared at Xin Pi. The Cao clan members who were feasting together in the hall didn't understand why, and they all turned their eyes here.
Xin Pi opened his mouth slightly, but seemed to want to say something, but swallowed it back and couldn't speak.
"Hahaha." Liu Ye seemed to suddenly think of something. He laughed a few times and then drank a glass of wine.
Xin Pi looked at Liu Ye helplessly, then cupped his hands and said, "I have learned some prophecies, but I learned Meng's Yi and Jing's Yi from the Yuan family."
Cao Rui pointed at Xin Pi and said, "Why are you hesitating, Minister Xin? Drink a cup as punishment!"
Xin Pi did not hesitate. After receiving the order, he picked up the wine bottle on the table and drank it all.
Cao Rui smiled and said, "So what if he learned from the Yuan family? Minister Xin was also a follower of the Yuan family. How many people in the court were also a follower of the Yuan family? Where is Yuan Shao now?"
"But I have only studied ancient classics. Zheng's school is very complicated, and Master Zheng and Master Gaotang have only taught me ancient classics. I have heard of Meng's Yi and Jing's Yi, but I don't understand them." Cao Rui looked at Xin Pi: "Minister Xin, can you tell me about it?"
Xin Pi was also a little drunk and replied, "Your Majesty, I know about this. When the late emperor invited Dr. Zheng to lecture on the classics for your majesty, I was also present. It was the late emperor who did not allow Dr. Zheng to teach your majesty the modern text classics."
Cao Rui raised his eyebrows: "What does this mean?"
Xin Pi explained: "Your Majesty, Meng's Yi, Jing's Yi and the ancient text Yijing are actually almost not the same book."
Cao Rui said: "Tell me more details."
"Meng Xi integrated the 'hexagram qi' into the image and number of Yi, mixed it with yin and yang disasters, and used the month, seasons and time to predict good and bad luck. The Yuan family of Runan inherited the Meng family Yi from generation to generation, which is why there were three dukes in four generations."
"On the basis of Meng's Yi, Jing Fang pushed the 'hexagram qi' and 'yin and yang disasters' to the extreme. After the integration of Na Jia, Na Zhi, Eight Palaces, hexagram qi, five elements, flying and hiding, and mutuality into Meng's Yi, it became Jing's Yi."
"Wait a minute." Cao Rui raised his hand to stop Xin Pi: "Xin Qing, please speak more directly. I don't understand."
Xin Pi was quite helpless. He asked me to explain it in detail, but after I explained it in detail, I still couldn't understand it. But who can blame me for the fact that the person in front of me is the emperor? I still have to say what I have to say.
Xin Pi bowed and said: "Your Majesty, Meng's Yi is Yi mixed with prophecies and divinations, while Jing's Yi is all prophecies and divinations."
Cao Rui said: "If Meng's Yi is really effective, how can the Yuan family, who have studied Meng's Yi for generations, not be able to calculate their own fate? It can be seen that it is all nonsense."
Xin Pi said: "It is up to man, not heaven."
Cao Rui nodded: "It seems that the late emperor does not want me to learn prophecies, right?"
"The late emperor never liked these prophecies and divinations," Xin Pi said.
"When Minister Liu first met me, he told me that the late emperor disliked these prophecies and sorcery." Cao Rui looked at Liu Ye while holding the wine jar: "Isn't that right, Mr. Liu?"
Liu Ye nodded slightly in agreement.
"He is a companion of Emperor Xiaowen of the Han Dynasty." Cao Rui took a sip of the wine and looked at Huang Quan: "Where is Minister Huang?"
Huang Quan continued, "My knowledge of the classics is far inferior to that of Minister Xin, but there are also people from my county who have studied Meng's Yi, and they are quite amazing."
Cao Rui smiled and said, "Mr. Huang, please go ahead. Today, I will talk to you about supernatural things."
"I... there is a man from the same county as me named Zhou Shu, who also studied Meng's Yi." Huang Quan said, "But at that time someone asked Zhou Shu a question, asking how to explain 'the one who replaced the Han Dynasty is Dangtu Gao'."
As these popular topics came up one after another, the atmosphere at the banquet gradually became heated, although only Liu Ye next to him had a somewhat stiff expression.
Cao Rui asked curiously: "What did Zhou Shu say?"
"The high one in Dangtu is Wei." Huang Quan said slowly, but then he explained: "Your Majesty, this is not something I made up at the wine table. Everyone in Baxi County knows this."
Cao established the Wei Kingdom, which was consistent with the prophecy. This was the greatest political correctness of the era. Seeing that the Cao family members at the banquet were in high spirits, Cao Rui pointed at Huang Quan and said to everyone: "My lords, this Huang Shizhong, Huang Quan Huang Gongheng, is from Baxi County, Yizhou."
In this era, it is not easy to meet people from other states and counties except Luoyang. It is okay for the nearby Yuzhou and Yangzhou. Yizhou is so far away from Qiao County. If there is a minister from Yizhou at your majesty's banquet today, it will be a topic of conversation.
"Minister Huang has come from Shu Han to submit to Wei, and his righteousness should be honored. Minister Huang, you should drink a cup with my relatives."
Huang Quan stood up with a smile, toasted all the relatives with the surname Cao with a bottle of wine, then turned around and turned the wine bottle to the emperor.
"Okay!" Cao Rui said to Huang Quan, "Minister Huang, please continue."
Huang Quan continued, "Later, Zhou Qun, the son of Zhou Shu, also became famous for divination. When Shu Han wanted to seize Hanzhong in the north, Zhou Qun said that they would get the land of Hanzhong but not the people of Hanzhong. Later, Emperor Wu moved all the people of Hanzhong to the north, and everything Zhou Qun said came true."
Everyone present was surprised. This happened just a few years ago. In addition to the current emperor being very young at the time, Chen Jiao, Xin Pi, and Liu Ye were all people who had experienced that era.
"Minister Huang, is there anything else?" Chen Jiao asked curiously.
Huang Quan nodded and said, "There is another person in Yizhou named Zhang Yu. He once said that in the year of Gengzi, the world will change dynasties. He also said that after Liu Bei took Yizhou, he would lose it nine years later."
"In the Gengzi year, the former emperor replaced the Han with the Wei. Nine years after Liu Bei gained control of Yizhou, he died in Baidicheng."
Even Cao Rui's eyes widened. Could such a divine prophecy really exist? The Gengzi year, the ninth year, could such a precise number be predicted? It was truly miraculous!
"Liu Qing, Liu Qing." Cao Rui turned to look at Liu Ye: "Is there such a magical person in the Central Plains?"
Seeing that the emperor was still consulting him as usual, Liu Ye felt relieved. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I have never heard of such a miraculous person."
Cao Rui nodded and continued drinking with everyone.
The banquet was over and everyone went home drunk. Huang Quan told the most interesting stories today and received the most toasts, so after the banquet was over, he was drunk and had to be supported by Liu Ye.
The four attendants were divided into two groups on a daily basis, taking turns to serve the emperor. Liu Ye and Huang Quan were in one group, while Xin Pi and Chen Jiao were in another. They were used to it after these days.
Qiao County was much better than Shouchun, at least everyone could sleep in their own room. After Liu Ye helped Huang Quan to the couch in the room, he was about to turn around and leave, but Huang Quan grabbed his sleeve.
Just now, when Huang Quan was on his way back, he was still drunk and staggering. But in a moment, there was no sign of drunkenness in his eyes.
Huang Quan raised his chin and pointed towards the door. Liu Ye immediately understood and took a few steps to close the door.
Liu Ye asked with a little surprise: "What does Gong Heng mean?"
Huang Quan sighed softly, "I am not as good as Brother Ziyang in judging people and situations. Today, His Majesty asked you if you have any other extraordinary people, and when Brother Ziyang said no, I found that Brother Ziyang seemed to have something unsatisfactory in mind."
"Your Majesty is far away from you, and I am sitting next to you, so I can see it clearly. Brother Ziyang, please help me solve this puzzle."
Liu Ye shook his head: "How can I help you solve your doubts? I am confused myself."
"What could make Brother Ziyang confused?" Huang Quan asked puzzledly.
Seeing Liu Ye was hesitant and unwilling to speak, Huang Quan urged him, "We agreed that you and I would take care of each other in front of the king. Why can't we say it now?"
Liu Ye sat on the couch and explained, "Speaking of ministers, I am indeed the first person to speak to Your Majesty in private. When Your Majesty summoned me that day, he did ask me about alchemy and the art of sex in the palace."
"The art of sex?" Huang Quan asked in surprise, "You taught His Majesty the art of sex?"
"How dare I!" Liu Ye said, "But after I left the North Palace, Sima Yi and Chen Qun invited me to the Shangshutai and asked me who Your Majesty was."
Huang Quan continued, "What did Brother Ziyang say?"
Liu Ye bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty is not as talented as Emperor Xiaowen of the Han Dynasty."
Huang Quan narrowed his eyes slightly, recalling what the emperor said at the banquet. The emperor seemed to have only said the first half of Liu Ye's words? He didn't say the second half, which seemed to be an intentional reminder to Liu Ye, and he also gave Liu Ye some face.
Huang Quan sighed and said, "Brother Ziyang, is this because you don't dare to talk about this?"
"Yes and no." Liu Ye shook his head: "The key is that he is a mysterious person in the Central Plains. I really don't dare to say it in front of His Majesty."
Huang Quan pointed to the roof: "Related?"
Liu Ye nodded gently: "It's related."
"What can't you tell me in the secret room?" Huang Quan said.
Liu Ye asked, "Does Gong Heng know Zhu Jianping and Zhou Xuan?"
Huang Quan shook his head.
Liu Ye explained: "Zhu Jianping is well-known in Luozhong. He once said at a banquet that the late emperor would live to be eighty years old."
(End of this chapter)
