Before Sun Luban could spend some time with her emperor husband, the eunuch Bi Jin came in to report that the Minister of the Imperial Clan Cao Ke had come to the study and was waiting for her.
Sun Luban still had a smile on her face, but she began to secretly hate Bi Jin in her heart.
This eunuch is so tactless, it's always this old servant who messes up things every time!
The last time Your Majesty left me, he didn't even have time to have dinner. You've only been sitting here for half an hour today, why do you have to leave now?
Hearing that Zongzheng was coming, Cao Rui naturally stood up to meet him. When he sat up from the couch and was about to stand up, Sun Luban gently pulled his left hand.
"Your Majesty, are you leaving again?" Sun Luban looked at the emperor with her fox eyes blinking, "You didn't have dinner with me last time. I wonder if you can accompany me and Yan'er tonight?"
Cao Rui had important things to do, so he would not spend too much time on Sun Luban. He said calmly: "I don't know either. If I haven't sent someone to tell you by the beginning of the evening hour, then don't wait for me."
Sun Luban stood up and saluted, then looked at Cao Rui's departing back, and hated Bi Jin even more.
At this time, the Minister of the Imperial Clan Cao Ke was standing outside the study with his hands behind his back, waiting with a smile on his face, and chatting with the Palace Attendant Zhong Yu, who was old enough to be his grandson.
"Minister Zhong, I wonder how Grand Tutor Zhong is doing?" Cao Ke asked kindly.
Cao Ke was about 60 years old, but he was of a very high generation, and could be considered the uncle of Emperor Wu Cao Cao. When he was young, he was selected as a filial and honest official and served as a county magistrate. Therefore, in the first year of Taihe, when the emperor visited Qiao County, he was appointed as the chief of the imperial clan.
Zong Zheng, one of the Nine Ministers, actually did not have a strong presence in the Wei Dynasty.
Except for the two times when Emperor Wen's two illegitimate sons died at the beginning of this year, Cao Ke came to the study to see the emperor. Today was Cao Ke's third visit here.
The scope of jurisdiction under the Zong Zheng covered matters related to the clan, except for matters concerning the ennoblement of clan members and crimes. For most matters related to the clan, the emperor would simply send a Shizhong to inform the Zong Zheng.
The number one marginal person among the Nine Ministers.
Not being familiar with anyone is another way of saying nonpartisan. Such people don't have to worry about sudden disasters, but they also can't get any advantage in the court.
Zhong Yu had a father of such a high status that no matter who he talked to, the first thing he would ask was always about his father.
"My father is in good health, Lord Cao. Thank you for your concern."
Cao Ke continued to smile and asked, "I haven't visited Your Majesty for a long time. I wonder if Your Majesty is in good health?"
Zhong Yu bowed slightly towards the throne in the study and said, "Your Majesty, I hope you are in good health. Lord Cao can pay his respects to you later."
Cao Ke was impatient and continued to greet Zhong Yu: "Minister Zhong has been with Your Majesty for a long time. He is truly a young hero."
"I heard that Mr. Zhong has made a breakthrough in calligraphy in the past two years. I wonder if you can ask Minister Zhong to introduce me to you so that I can choose a day to visit your house and ask for an authentic work of Mr. Zhong."
Zhong Yu sighed inwardly, you are the Zong Zheng, one of the nine ministers of the Great Wei, not one of those insignificant officials. If you want to go to the mansion, can't you just go directly?
Why ask me?
Zhong Yu did have some education: "Mr. Cao is joking. My father's legs and feet have been weak in the past two years, but his handwriting has become more simple and crude."
"If Cao Gong wants to come, he is always welcome."
Cao Ke stroked his beard and asked, "I heard that Minister Zhong is also very accomplished in calligraphy. I wonder..."
Zhong Yu didn't want to continue chatting with Cao Ke.
There is a difference between the inner and outer officials. If others see it, they might think that I have revealed some secrets within the palace.
Zhong Yu had no choice but to interrupt Cao Ke and said, "Wait a minute, Lord Cao. Your Majesty may come from the palace soon. I'll go to the gate and take a look."
"Wait a moment, Lord Cao."
After saying that, Zhong Yu took two steps at a time and walked towards the gate, looking eagerly at the scene. Cao Ke was not annoyed, and still stood there with a calm expression.
Not long after, Cao Rui returned to the study courtyard surrounded by the tiger guards.
As soon as they met, Cao Ke began to bow and greet from a distance of three meters.
Cao Rui had no choice but to step forward and help Cao Ke up. "Didn't I tell you last time? There is no need for such great courtesy when meeting me, Zong Zheng."
Cao Ke stood up and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, I can't help myself and I forgot for a moment. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."
Cao Rui waved his hand gently: "Follow me in and find a seat for yourself."
"When Man Chong sent someone to look for you just now, did he tell you why I was looking for you?"
Cao Ke followed closely behind him, chose the second chair on the left, looked at the size, and only sat on the front half of the chair.
After sitting down, Cao Ke bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, the person sent by General Man to look for me just now only said that Your Majesty wanted to ask about summoning relatives to the Imperial College, and did not mention anything else."
Cao Rui nodded: "That's what I thought, so I asked Zong Zheng to come and ask about it."
Even when facing such a person of a very high generation, one generation older than Cao Cao, Cao Rui treated him as an ordinary official in his words and deeds, and did not consider the seniority in the family at all.
The emperor was the father of the world and the head of the Cao clan, so he was of course greater than all the ministers. The ordinary secular etiquette and laws were not within the emperor's reach.
Cao Ke nodded: "I understand your Majesty's intention."
"There aren't many people in the immediate clan of the Wei Dynasty who are old enough to study. The distant clans are mostly in the Qiao County clan, and there are quite a few candidates, but in terms of intelligence, there is no such amazing talent as Xiahou Taichu."
"Besides, the round trip is long. The nearest ones are in Yanzhou, and the far ones are in Qingzhou and Jizhou. It may take until November to gather them all. I am afraid that I will delay your Majesty's business." Cao Rui said softly: "I know Xiahou Xuan's talents, but not everyone is like him."
"Zong Zheng only said can and can't?"
Cao Ke said: "If your Majesty has an edict, it will surely be accomplished. However, I suggest that your Majesty take this opportunity to summon all the princes of the royal family to Luoyang for an audience."
"This will enhance the kinship of the royal family, and also help expand your majesty's wings and select people who are useful to your majesty."
Cao Rui nodded thoughtfully: "To be honest, I have never studied these things in detail before. Since I ascended the throne, I have received many congratulations from the princes, but most of them I just glanced at and threw aside."
"Zongzheng, how should we discuss the close relatives of the royal family?"
Cao Ke responded, "Your Majesty, if we talk about the close relatives, we should talk about the sons of Emperor Wu and the previous emperor. The rest are far from your Majesty's bloodline and should be considered distant relatives."
"Among Emperor Wu's sons, Cao Zhi, the Prince of Yongqiu, served as an official in Luozhong. Among Emperor Wen's sons, Cao Rui, the Prince of Yangping, and Cao Lin, the Prince of Guantao, also lived in Luozhong but did not become fiefs."
Cao Rui didn't care: "Zong Zheng is still talking about something I don't know."
"As you wish." Cao Ke became more reserved. "Among Emperor Wu's sons, seven are serving as vassal states."
"Baima King Cao Biao, Shanfu King Cao Yu, Juancheng King Cao Lin, Puyang King Cao Gun, Xiangyi King Cao Jun, Julu King Cao Gan, Shouzhang King Cao Hui."
Cao Rui sighed: "Although they are my relatives, I almost forgot what they look like."
"In that case, please call them all back for me, as well as the regents and defense assistants of each country."
"I will take this opportunity to take a good look at their character and abilities. With the example of Prince Yongqiu being able to use them, they will not doubt me."
Cao Ke cupped his hands: "Your Majesty is a true sage!"
"I am the real sage king, so what about the fake ones?" Cao Rui ordered: "Just now the head of the imperial clan said that they may not be able to catch up, so let's not talk about entering the Imperial College for now, and call them all back first."
As soon as he finished speaking, Cao Rui stood up and was about to leave: "Do it today, send the people out tomorrow morning, don't delay!"
"I understand. I respectfully bid farewell to Your Majesty." Cao Ke followed the emperor out of the study and bowed deeply and respectfully behind him.
……
Cao Rui said that he would suspend court for seven days. His words were golden, so he had to act like he was suspending court.
On the first day, I read and practiced swordplay.
On the second day, I practiced calligraphy and archery.
Practice both civil and martial arts every day to cultivate your mind.
On the afternoon of the seventh day, Cao Rui summoned the Central Commander Guanqiu Jian, the Central Guard General Huan Fan, the Left Feathered General Wen Qin, and the two Palace Attendants Du Shu and Zhong Yu to the martial arts field in the palace.
In addition, he also sent people from outside the palace to invite Xiahou Hui and He You to come together.
The scale of the martial arts arena in the palace was of course much smaller than those outside Luoyang City, but it was large enough for the emperor to use for daily horseback riding and archery.
Wenqin was outside the city and arrived a little later.
Among the people who were in the martial arts arena with the emperor at the moment, except for Xiahou Hui and He Chuan, who were a little reserved because they were not very familiar with each other, everyone else was calm.
Cao Rui looked around at everyone and nodded gently: "I asked you all to come here today just to chat and rest after work, there is nothing important."
"But since we are at the martial arts arena, and archery is one of the six arts of a gentleman, I'm afraid I won't be able to pass if I don't shoot a few arrows."
"I would also like to see your archery skills."
After that, Cao Rui pointed to the target in the distance and said, "This is the target I practice on daily. It is 15 meters away, not too far. Just hit the target, no other requirements."
"Come on, Zhong Gong, try first."
"As you command." Guanqiu Jian bowed and smiled, then pulled out a simple bow from the rack beside him. He shot an arrow, then nocked another one in just a moment.
Guanqiu Jian shot five arrows in succession. The first four arrows hit the target, but the fifth arrow seemed to have been deliberately shot off target, and the miss was quite far.
Cao Rui had seen Guanqiu Jian's archery skills in Shouchun before, so he shook his head and smiled without exposing him, and then pointed at Huan Fan.
Huan Fan received the order and hit four out of five arrows from Guanqiu Jian. However, he held his breath for a long time before releasing the bowstring after each shot, and it was obvious that he had done his best to hit four out of five arrows.
Although Huan Fan had led his army to attack in Lueyang in the past, the most important thing for a general is to command the army, and personal bravery is secondary.
"Uncle Zhi, Uncle Wu." Cao Rui said with a smile, "I have never seen your martial arts skills before. Come and give it a try."
Du Shu got one out of five, and the one he got was obviously a guess. Zhong Yu got two out of five, which was better than Du Shu.
"Ziqi (Heju), Zhiquan, you two should try it too."
After He Chuan and Xiahou Hui saluted, they took turns to try their hand at archery. Their scores were almost the same as those of Du Shu and Zhong Yu, both finishing one or two.
Cao Rui was a little disappointed: "It's OK that He Ziqi couldn't shoot, but the son of the General Zhengxi is not good at shooting either?" (End of this chapter)
