The tiger guards guarding the emperor's tent were all familiar with Guanqiu Jian, and they did not stop him until Guanqiu Jian walked to the front of the tent.
Guanqiu Jian said, "Sir Zhou, I will not enter the tent. I am here to greet Your Majesty."
The Sima named Zhou Wang smiled and nodded, "Captain Guanqiu, please do as you wish."
Guanqiu Jian nodded slightly, and called softly from outside the tent: "Your Majesty, I, Guanqiu Jian, am here to pay my respects."
After a few moments, there was still no echo in the tent.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty." Guanqiu Jian called a few more times.
There was still no response from within the account.
Guanqiu Jian became anxious and just took half a step forward to push open the tent door, but Sima Zhou, who was in a hurry, grabbed his sleeve and pulled him back with force.
The tiger guards who usually guarded outside the emperor's tent were all of great build. They were the best of the best chosen from the 50,000 troops.
Guanqiu Jian was also a strong man, but he was still almost dragged down. When he was about to look back, he met the unfriendly gaze of Sima Zhou.
Zhou Wang said calmly, "Captain Guanqiu said he would not go in, so I went with you to make it convenient. Why are you changing your mind now?"
Guanqiu Jian pointed inside anxiously and was about to open his mouth to explain. After seeing Zhou Wang's questioning eyes, he calmed down and asked with a folded hand:
"Your Majesty did not answer. As a subject, I should go in and take a look, but you did not allow me to do so. Whose permission should I ask to go in?"
Zhou Wang said sternly, "General Xiahou or Minister Xin can do it. Although Captain Guanqiu is favored, he is an outsider after all. I'm sorry I can't..."
"Stop." Guanqiu Jian stopped Zhou Wang who wanted to show his loyalty.
Ever since Xu Chu intercepted Cao Ren once many years ago and was commended by Cao Cao, the tiger guards before His Majesty have always liked to engage in this art of imitation.
General Xiahou and Minister Xin should be referring to Xiahou Xian and Xin Pi.
Guanqiu Jian asked, "Is it okay for the general to come in person?"
Zhou Wang was stunned and didn't know what to say in response.
Guanqiu Jian didn't waste any words. He turned around and trotted out. After meeting Cao Zhen, he told him the situation. Then the two of them trotted into the big tent together.
When they met Cao Zhen in person, the tiger guards did not need to salute others in front of the emperor's tent according to the rules, but Zhou Wang still bowed slightly towards Cao Zhen to express his apology.
Cao Zhen didn't care about all this, nor did he say a word to Zhou Wang. He just pushed open the tent door and walked in.
The emperor lay on the couch, apparently still asleep.
"Your Majesty, I, Cao Zhen, request to see you." Cao Zhen said loudly.
Cao Rui was still half asleep and half awake. When he heard Cao Zhen's shout, he turned from lying on his side to lying flat on his back and stretched out his hand from under the quilt to wave.
Cao Zhen and Guanqiu Jian hurried forward and came to the front of the couch. Only then did Cao Rui slightly open his eyes and utter a few syllables in a hoarse voice.
Cao Zhen couldn't hear clearly, so he came closer and asked, "What did your majesty say?"
When they got closer, Cao Zhen finally heard clearly, turned to Guanqiu Jian and said hurriedly: "Water! Zhonggong, your majesty wants to drink water!"
Cao Rui nodded very slightly, then closed his eyes and remained silent.
Cao Zhen had lived for half his life, and he understood this situation at a glance. At this time, he did not care about the taboos between the emperor and his subjects, and directly raised his hand to touch the emperor's forehead.
I just felt that the emperor's forehead was very hot.
Guanqiu Jian did not find any hot water, so he poured a cup of cold water from a silver jar and hurriedly brought it to the couch.
Cao Zhen stepped forward and knelt beside the couch, lifted the emperor's upper body and leaned him against himself. Guanqiu Jian stepped forward with a golden cup and fed him some cold water.
Cao Rui had a high fever all night, and his lips had already turned dry and white. He swallowed cold water in big gulps. After drinking a glass of cold water, he felt better and opened his eyes to look at the two people in front of him.
Cao Zhen asked: "Your Majesty, you have caught a cold. Do you know when you started to have a fever?"
Cao Rui was still weak, and whispered softly, "Maybe it was last night, I can't remember clearly, get me some medicine."
Cao Zhen nodded repeatedly: "I will let Zhong Gong serve Your Majesty here. I will go out to summon the imperial physician. Your Majesty, please wait for a moment."
After that, Cao Zhen slowly laid the emperor's upper body flat, bowed, and turned to ask Guanqiu Jian who was pouring water: "Is Zhonggong a loyal minister?"
Guanqiu Jian was solemn, raised his right hand to the sky and said: "I am loyal to Your Majesty!"
"Well then," Cao Zhen said, "Your Majesty has a high fever and it's already 9 o'clock. I don't know how long he has been feverish."
"Zhong Gong, His Majesty is ill, you should serve His Majesty at the bedside. In this difficult time, no one is allowed to get close to His Majesty! Except you, me, and the imperial physician, no one else is allowed!"
"Did you hear that?"
Guanqiu Jian repeated Cao Zhen's words in his mind, and after finding that there were no mistakes, he nodded and said, "Let's do as the general says!"
After Cao Zhen finished speaking, he stood up, bowed to the emperor again, and quickly walked out of the tent.
Outside the tent door, Cao Zhen looked around at the tiger guards standing outside and waved to Zhou Wang.
Zhou Wang took a few steps forward, bowed and said, "Greetings, General."
Cao Zhen stood there with a serious expression. Although he looked up, the majesty in his eyes seemed to be looking down: "Zhou Wang, how many years have you been in the central army?"
Zhou Wang replied, "I have been in the Central Army for twelve years."
Cao Zhen stared into Zhou Wang's eyes. "Zhou Wang, Zhou Boxing, 36 years old, from Neihuang, Weijun. In the second year of Huangchu, he followed me to Yongliang to quell the rebellion. In the battle of Fanhe attacking Zhiyuanduo, he killed a rebel general and beheaded four people!" "In the third year of Huangchu, he followed me to conquer Jiangling. In the fifth year, he was transferred to the Tiger Guards as a Sima."
"Yes and no?"
Cao Zhen told Zhou Wang his resume word for word. Zhou Wang became more and more nervous. He bent his waist slightly and said, "What do you want, General?"
Cao Zhen said: "Your Majesty has caught a cold, you cannot see outsiders, so as not to make your illness worse!"
"Zhou Wang, there's no need to tell me who I am. Guard the tent and don't let anyone in! I'll go find the doctor myself!"
"If any information leaks out, or if any strangers are allowed in, your entire clan will be in danger!"
Zhou Wang's forehead was already covered with sweat, and the burly man didn't know what to say for a moment. As a Sima, he couldn't afford to take on such a serious matter as the emperor's illness.
I could only agree repeatedly.
Cao Zhen personally went to find the imperial physician who was accompanying him and brought him into the emperor's tent to diagnose the disease. Then he went to look for Xin Pi without stopping.
Xin Pi was the Shizhong, an inner court official, and also Your Majesty's confidant.
What's more, Xin Pi was the civil servant that Cao Zhen could trust the most.
As early as the expedition to Jiangling, Xin Pi served as Cao Zhen's general and military advisor.
Now Xin Pi's son-in-law Yang Tan was still serving as a Zhonglang in Cao Zhen's palace, and the connection between the two became even closer.
When Xin Pi heard that Cao Zhen had blocked His Majesty's camp, he was shocked at first, then he frowned and looked at Cao Zhen:
"What does the general want to do?"
Seeing Xin Pi's expression, Cao Zhen quickly explained, "Brother Zuo Zhi, what are you thinking? Don't misunderstand me!"
"This place is far from the capital, and beside you are the Central Army soldiers who have returned from the battles and have not yet received their rewards. Moreover, Your Majesty abolished the position of the Central Army Commander and took charge of the Central Army himself, and the Central Guards were also demoted. Now Your Majesty is lying on the couch, and the Central Army is leaderless!"
"If this matter gets out, there's no telling what kind of trouble will happen! It's better to be quiet than to move. It's better to be cautious!"
"Brother Zuo Zhi," Cao Zhen stared at Xin Pi, "I am the general of the Great Wei, and the regent appointed by the late emperor! If I don't do it, who will? Besides, I'm here to find you!"
Xin Biteng stood up and looked at Cao Zhen for a few moments, then asked directly, "Is your Majesty unconscious? Can you speak now?"
Cao Zhen nodded: "I know what you are going to say. Your Majesty can speak, but he is extremely weak. The imperial physician is already treating him."
Xin Pi asked again: "Did you tell His Majesty not to allow others to get close to him?"
"I told you that I asked Guanqiu Jian to serve Your Majesty." Cao Zhen explained, "It's just that Your Majesty was sleeping for a while and waking up for a while, and he didn't agree or refute what I said."
Xin Pi said seriously: "I am going to see His Majesty now!"
Cao Zhen said: "Of course you can go. But your majesty's condition must be kept secret, but I am hesitant to what extent it should be kept secret."
Xin Pi called out the names, "Among the inner court officials, Liu Fang and I are enough. This is the center of the army, so there is no need to tell the outer court officials. Xu Chu, Cao Hong, and Xiahou Xian are enough."
Cao Zhen thought for a few moments and said, "Including me and Guanqiu Jian, that makes seven people?"
"That's enough." Xin Pi said.
Cao Zhen replied: "Okay, I will send someone to call them here one by one."
Xin Pi nodded: "That's exactly the point."
Soon, the seven men came to the emperor's tent. Guanqiu Jian knelt beside the emperor's couch and watched over him, while the imperial physician Zhang Chun stood in the tent and was not allowed to leave.
"Doctor Zhang, everyone here is an important official of the court, and everyone is loyal to the court. How is His Majesty's condition? Please tell us in front of all of us."
"Greetings, General." Zhang Chun bowed and said, "Your Majesty, you have contracted an external cold, which is why you have a persistent high fever. In addition, your liver is not functioning properly, and your Qi is stagnant, which is why you have liver fire, dizziness, headaches, and are drowsy."
"Fortunately, Your Majesty is in the prime of life and has a strong foundation. I have prescribed medicine for Your Majesty. Take it for seven days and rest after the high fever subsides." Zhang Chun added: "But you must rest and don't worry too much."
"You're worrying too much..." Cao Zhen asked, "Will you definitely get better in seven days?"
Zhang Chun bowed and said, "Auspicious people are blessed by heaven! Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven!"
What Zhang Chun meant by this was that he had no idea. It was all up to luck as to when His Majesty would get better.
"Got it." Cao Zhen said, "General Xu, take him to the next tent and don't leave!"
Xu Chu nodded, walked forward and led the imperial physician Zhang Chun away.
Cao Zhen sighed softly, "Your Majesty has never been ill since you took the throne, but this time you are so seriously ill. Just now, Imperial Doctor Zhang said that Your Majesty is worrying too much, but I don't know how he is worrying too much?"
As soon as Cao Zhen asked the question, everyone fell silent, and after a moment they all said they didn't know.
Instead, Guanqiu Jian was silent for a few moments before he asked, "You are all important officials of the state and are also senior and respected. Why don't you think about your Majesty's age?"
"Your Majesty shouldered the heavy responsibility of an entire country. To save Longyou, you personally led the army from Luoyang to provide emergency assistance, and fought two fierce battles in Lueyang and Chiting."
Everyone looked at him. Guanqiu Jian swallowed his saliva and continued, "After the Battle of Chiting, the general led his army south, and I arrived at Chiting later."
"Your Majesty once mentioned to me inadvertently that the Lueyang offensive was urgent, the Chiting battle was bloody, and the relocation of the people was unbearable."
"In the past, Zhang Zhengxi had fought for forty years and couldn't help but tremble when he saw the battlefield. What do you think, Your Majesty? After all, aren't the military orders issued by Zhang Zhengxi also orders issued by Your Majesty?"
"Your Majesty's talent can be gifted by heaven, but can his character also be gifted by heaven?" Guanqiu Jian looked at the crowd and said quietly: "When you were as old as Your Majesty, could you take on so many things?" (End of this chapter)
