Is Cao Xiu seriously ill?
Is Grand Marshal Cao Xiu seriously ill?
When Cao Rui heard this news, he could not believe his ears for a moment.
Cao Rui grabbed Bi Jin's clothes with his right hand and said, "Tell me clearly, what is going on?"
Bi Jin replied with a trembling voice: "Just now, after Your Majesty returned to the harem, the Privy Councilor Wang Youjian returned and brought with him the envoy from Shouchun, a man named Cao Qi, who was waiting outside the palace."
"Wang Youjian met General Man, and General Man and Lord Dong called the eunuchs to look for Your Majesty. The eunuchs in the study came to look for me..."
Cao Rui shook Bi Jin off and angrily said, "I didn't ask you these questions! How much do you know about the Grand Marshal?"
Bi Jin became even more panicked: "I don't know. The eunuch who came to report the news said that the West and East Pavilions are waiting for your Majesty."
Since both the West Pavilion and the East Pavilion are waiting, then this must be true.
Cao Rui didn't stop for a moment, and walked out directly: "I know, I'll go to the study now."
Sun Luban, who was standing behind him, saw Cao Rui was eager to leave and asked hurriedly, "Your Majesty, it's windy outside, you should put on your outer robe to avoid catching a cold."
Cao Rui had already taken a few steps, waved his hand without looking back, went outside the hall, mounted the imperial horse, and immediately headed towards the study.
The late autumn wind blew across my face, and I felt a bit of chill. The white horse under me galloped, and the sound of its hooves echoed between the walls of the palace.
Who wouldn't recognize the emperor's white horse? The palace maids and eunuchs walking on the road gave way and saluted.
As they got closer to the study, Cao Rui's heart gradually calmed down as he was blown by the cold wind.
Now the Wei Dynasty has two important generals stationed outside the country, the General Cao Zhen in the west and the Grand Marshal Cao Xiu in the east.
At the beginning of the first year of Taihe, Cao Rui personally led the central army and raised a large army to attack Huainan.
It was partly to establish prestige after ascending the throne, and partly to prevent the defeat of Shi Ting in history.
Cao Rui roughly remembered that in the original history, Cao Xiu died of illness after his defeat at Shiting in the second year of Taihe.
Now it is the end of September of the third year of Taihe. It is more than a year late. Is it still unavoidable?
Cao Rui rode a white horse, went straight through the courtyard gate and entered the front of the study.
As expected, Dong Zhao, Man Chong, Sima Yi, Wei Zhen and the Right Supervisor of the Privy Council Wang Chang were standing in front of the study, whispering something with serious expressions.
Cao Rui reined in his horse and looked at them for a moment, and couldn't help but smile bitterly at himself.
How could it be possible to allow Zhao Yun of Shu to die, and Lü Fan and He Qi of Wu to die, but not allow anything to happen to one's own important officials?
There is no such thing as this in the world.
Be sure to ask clearly!
Seeing the emperor coming in person, the five ministers bowed in greeting.
Cao Rui dismounted and walked in front of everyone without wasting words: "Everyone follow me in! Wang Wenshu, tell me the details of this matter!"
Everyone followed the emperor, and Wang Chang said as they walked, "Your Majesty, according to Cao Qi, the military officer of the Grand Marshal, eight days ago, the Grand Marshal was hunting in Bagong Mountain outside Shouchun."
"When returning to Shouchun near dusk, the warhorse under the Grand Marshal suddenly lost its front hoof and the Grand Marshal was caught off guard and fell off the horse, hitting the back of his head on a hard rock on the ground."
"Everyone sent the Grand Marshal back to Shouchun City, but he was still unconscious. He was still not in good condition the next day, and was barely breathing."
"The officials of the Grand Marshal's Office discussed with the Yangzhou Governor Jiang Zitong and sent the military officer Cao Qi to Luoyang to report urgently. It took seven days and nights to arrive in Luoyang."
Cao Rui's face was gloomy. "So, the latest news was seven days ago? Luoyang has no way of knowing what the Grand Marshal's current condition is?"
Wang Chang nodded silently.
Cao Rui said, "Where is the messenger Cao Qi? Call him in immediately! I want to question him in person!"
Zhong Yu took the order and ran out quickly, and Cao Qi was brought in a moment later.
"I want to ask you." Cao Rui stared straight into Cao Qi's eyes: "You set out from Shouchun early in the morning seven days ago, right? How was the Grand Marshal's condition at that time?"
Cao Qi knelt on the ground, kowtowed three times in a row, leaned forward and choked with sobs as he replied, "Your Majesty, the Grand Marshal's face was pale and his breath was barely moving. He died in a split second!"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I am afraid that the Grand Marshal is in imminent danger!"
Dong Zhao looked at the frowning emperor, took a half step forward, and said, "Your Majesty, the Grand Marshal is now unconscious in Shouchun, and the southeastern armies have no commander for the time being. We should make plans quickly."
Cao Rui ignored Dong Zhao and continued to ask Cao Qi: "Look up! Tell me, who sent you to Luoyang?"
Cao Qi raised his head, wiped the tears from his cheeks and said, "Your Majesty, the fact that the Grand Marshal is seriously ill is also a top secret in Shouchun. Only the Grand Marshal's family members who are still in the city, Cao Zhendong, and Yangzhou Governor Jiang Gong know about it."
"It was Cao Zhendong who sent a minister here secretly."
General Zhendong Cao Tai?
Cao Rui nodded: "Uncle Zhi, take the envoy to the West Pavilion to wait."
"Call the four ministers, and invite the general and minister of ceremonies as well!"
"Go quickly!"
After Zhong Yu accepted the order and bowed, he led Cao Qi out.
Cao Rui turned to look at Dong Zhao: "What did Lord Dong want to say just now?"
Dong Zhao said firmly: "Your Majesty, the Grand Marshal is seriously ill, and state affairs cannot be abandoned because of one person. We should decide on a strategy as soon as possible!"
Dong Zhao and Cao Xiu were ministers in the same palace. Without him, someone else could take his place. He could say this from the perspective of an outsider. Cao Rui sat behind the desk, listening to Dong Zhao's words, but his mind was a little dazed, and a wave of sadness surged in his heart.
Non-vegetation, ruthless Practice makes perfect?
According to Cao Qi, Cao Xiu was already on the verge of death when he set out from Shouchun. Isn't this just a euphemism for "dying soon"?
Seven days have passed. Is Cao Xiu no longer alive?
The scenes of my time with Cao Xiu in Luoyang and Shouchun flashed through my mind.
Cao Rui always put state affairs first, and Cao Xiu played an extremely important role in Cao Rui's plan.
It is not that Cao Xiu had much wisdom and military strategy. When Cao Xiu was alive, Cao Rui only used his prestige and qualifications to stay in the southeast.
Although there was no expectation that Cao Xiu could really defeat the State of Wu or kill Sun Quan, but in the key place of Shouchun and Huainan, Cao Xiu, as the Grand Marshal of Wei and the head of all the generals of the Cao clan, made a completely different situation with or without him.
Not to mention the Luoshui oath of the past...
Cao Rui really thought that if he conquered Wu in the future, people like Cao Xiu could be granted the title of king. How could such an accident happen?
The emperor sat behind his desk, his mind racing, while his ministers also looked solemn and said nothing.
Since Your Majesty said to wait until the Minister of the Interior and the Three Dukes arrive, then let's wait until they arrive before discussing it.
The first to arrive were the two attendants Xin Pi and Lu Yu.
At this moment, Cao Rui sighed and said to himself: "Eastern Wu has not been pacified and the Grand Marshal is seriously ill. What can I do?"
Sima Yi also sighed: "The Grand Sima is indeed a pillar of the country. How can the southeast of Wei be without him?"
Everyone had taken their seats except Xin Pi and Lu Yu, who had just come in and were still standing.
Xin Pi heard what Sima Yi said. After a moment, he stood up straight in the middle of the study and loudly refuted, "What is this that Sikong is talking about?"
Sima Yi was stunned. He looked up at Xin Pi with confusion in his eyes and forgot to speak for a moment.
I was just trying to appease His Majesty and say a few words, why are you criticizing me?
Everyone's attention in the study was attracted to Xin Pi.
Xin Pi saw the emperor looking at him, and he said, "In the old days of Huangchu, Cao Zixiao and Zhang Wenyuan died one after another. How do their power compare to that of the Grand Marshal?"
"He is just a general. The country will prosper and there will be capable officials to succeed him. What is there to worry about?"
"Your Majesty, please do not lower your ambitions and show weakness to others!"
Cao Rui's eyes softened as he looked at Xin Pi, and he said softly, "I know what Xin Shixin means. Please take a seat first."
"I was just feeling emotional, just thinking about the time I spent with the Grand Marshal, and I felt a little sad. I wonder who can succeed the Grand Marshal."
After Xin Pi heard the emperor's words, he realized that the emperor had understood his intention, so he sat down in his seat and kept silent.
Sima Yi certainly knew Xin Pi's good intentions.
But Xin Pi had used him as a comparison out of thin air, and even showed off his power in front of His Majesty. His Majesty didn't care about Xin Pi's words, and in this atmosphere, he couldn't refute it, so he naturally felt a little resentful in his heart.
The study was silent.
Dong Zhao rolled his eyes and asked softly, "Your Majesty, please forgive me for being so rude, but why do we need a governor?"
In the study today, shocking words came one after another.
"Why does Yangzhou need a governor?"
Cao Rui repeated it softly, but still did not understand what Dong Zhao meant.
If someone else said this to Cao Rui, Cao Rui would just think that person was crazy. But if Dong Zhao said this, he must have a deeper meaning.
Governor...
Cao Rui had a rough idea in his mind, so he asked, "The Grand Marshal is seriously ill. I have to choose a successor just in case, right?"
Dong Zhao said: "The three governors of Jingzhou, Yongliang and Yangzhou were established by the late emperor in the third year of Huangchu."
"Before this, only when the late emperor first ascended the throne as King of Wei did he appoint Cao Ren as the commander-in-chief of the military forces in Jing, Yang, and Yi provinces, and Zang Ba as the commander-in-chief of the military forces in Qing province. These were the only two people."
Cao Rui listened to Dong Zhao's words, thoughtful.
In just a few words, Dong Zhao had made his meaning clear.
The position of commander-in-chief of a state or even of all states' military affairs has only been in existence for less than ten years. It was created by the late Emperor Cao Pi during the Huangchu period.
Should the position of governor exist? Is it necessary? Is it possible not to have this position?
Cao Rui suddenly realized that his thoughts seemed to be stuck in a fixed pattern.
Yongliang should have a governor, let Cao Zhen be stationed in Chencang. Jingzhou should have a governor, let Zhao Yan supervise the military affairs of Jingzhou.
Now that Cao Xiu is in trouble, does Yangzhou have to appoint another governor?
Are all existing systems reasonable?
Cao Rui asked, "Mr. Dong, do you think that Yangzhou can do without a governor?"
The ministers in the study were also thoughtful.
It can be said that Dong Zhao’s thinking is indeed unique, and he can find angles that ordinary ministers cannot think of.
Dong Zhao replied: "I have not made a final decision. Whether Yangzhou has a governor or not is not something I can decide."
"But I still want to ask Your Majesty, whether it's Yangzhou, Jingzhou, or Yongliang, why do we need a governor?"
"Didn't Your Majesty dismiss Wu Zhi from his post as governor of Hebei in the first year of Taihe?" (End of this chapter)
