Chapter 5 1. Huanfan set up a bureau

On the main wall of the Huanfu study in Luoyang, there is a white silk scroll hung high on it, on which is written a row of dragons, flying phoenixes, vigorous and vigorous "Xunzi" ancient official script: "A gentleman can cultivate his heart without being good at sincerity, sincerity is nothing else." Well, only benevolence is observed, and only righteousness is practiced." Under this banner, Mu Huanfan of Yanzhou was at his desk scribbling his monograph on politics, The Essentials of the World: Those who are at the top empathize with the great virtues of the emperor, and sympathize with the prudence of the subordinates; elucidation and establishment of religion must be based on the way; speech can communicate with the world, and administration can move all things.Think about it in your heart, think about it inside, spread it to the world; put your body on the temple, and transform it thousands of miles away.Although it is closed to the ear, it lives in a hidden screen, illuminates the quiet and expressive feelings, and candles the universe; it moves around and cares about nothing.If you take a pluck, you will think of the labor of the female workers; if you control the grain, you will be sympathetic to the diligence of the farmers; if you never listen to the prison, you will be afraid of being punished; , there must be some persuasion; the evil of punishing the slender mustard must be discouraged.Let the transformation be like the spring breeze, and the luster be like the timely rain; eliminate the withered and dirty people, and remove the frivolous customs; save the disadvantages of the declining world, and reverse the simplicity of the ancients; the ultimate virtue is added to the world, and the benefits are bestowed on the people...

Just as he was writing down the draft he had conceived, holding the tube and splashing ink in one go, the door of the study was knocked several times from outside. "Who is it?" Huan Fan continued to write on the silk without raising his head. "Father, General Cao Shuang of the Wuwei Army, and Xia Houxuan, the leader of the Central Army, are here to ask for an audience!" Huan Fan's eldest son, Huan Chang, said softly outside the study door. "Oh? Then let them in!" Hearing this, Huan Fan couldn't help but put down the brush in his hand and replied outside.

The door squeaked open, and Cao Shuang and Xia Houxuan in casual clothes walked in step by step.Huan Chang followed behind and closed the wooden door of the study tightly. "The two virtuous nephews came to meet late at night, what's the matter?" Huan Fan slowly picked up a cup of tea from the desk, and casually took a sip. Cao Shuang and Xia Houxuan looked at each other after hearing the words, but their expressions were extremely complicated, and they couldn't say anything.As soon as Huan Fan saw it, he saw that there seemed to be something hard to tell between the two of them.When he was secretly wondering, Huan Chang had already lightly pushed Xia Houxuan and Cao Shuang, and said solemnly: "My father has always been upright, and he should not see with others if he has no intentions, and should not share with others about anything. Both of you You said you came here for business, why do you hesitate to say anything when you come here?"

Xia Houxuan listened, pondered for a moment, finally gritted his teeth, and said solemnly: "Uncle Huan, my nephew is here to bother me late at night, it is really for a very important business, and Uncle Wanwang supports it." Huan Fan put down the teacup and nodded, "It's okay. You have business to wait for, but it's okay to talk about it." "Huan... Uncle Huan, do you know what is the real reason behind the fact that you were suddenly called back to Luoyang by His Majesty to report on your duties?" Cao Shuang also mustered up the courage to ask. Hearing Cao Shuang's question, Huan Fan's face froze slightly.The doubts in his heart immediately came to his mind: this time he had done a good job as governor of Yanzhou, but he was suddenly called back to Luoyang capital to report on his duties by His Majesty's imperial edict.Unexpectedly, after arriving in the capital, His Majesty put himself away again, and did not call him into the palace for a long time.He has always been a little baffled by this.

Cao Shuang watched his expression, and continued to ask: "Which ministers have visited you during the period when you returned to the mansion to wait for the summons?" After hearing this, Huan Fan's face froze again.yes!During the eight or nine days when I returned to the mansion to wait for the summons, Dong Zhao, Cui Lin, Gao Rou and other ministers and senior ministers came to my mansion in an endless stream, but because I was determined to write "On the Essentials of the World", He only limited them to a quarter of an hour, and often drove them out of the house without talking a few words.His thoughts changed, and he asked solemnly: "You two nephews, what exactly do you want to talk to this old man? Tell me what you have to say!"

Cao Shuang coughed lightly, then turned to look at Xia Houxuan.Xia Houxuan straightened his clothes, stood up straight, and respectfully said: "Uncle Huan, my late father and Uncle Cao Zhen both left their last words, 'If the country is in trouble, find Mr. Huan; Fan's character is "Yuan Ze")." They all know that Uncle Huan, you have always been a pillar of the imperial court. If the country is in trouble, you must come to ask for your help..." After hearing this, Huan Fan's face changed suddenly: "Is the court in danger?" "Uncle Huan, haven't you noticed?" Cao Shuang said slowly, "In today's imperial court, there are already valiant ministers who have risen within the Xiao Qiang!"

"Minister Ying Yang?" Huan Fan lowered his head and thought for a moment, then said slowly, "Could it be that you mean Sima Zhongda?" "That's right. Uncle Huan, you see, Sima Yi is now a party member all over the world, and his influence has been deeply rooted for a long time. It is no small matter - his old friend Pei Qian is the general of Zhenbei, his in-law Weng Manchong is the governor of Zhendong, his confidants Wang Chang is the general of Zhennan, his younger brother Sima Fu was recently promoted to Shang Shuling, and his cousin Sima Zhi is Henan Yin... It can be said that the military and political real power in the world from outside to inside in all directions of the Great Wei Dynasty has been joined by him and his party members Manipulating. He is not a minister of Yingyang, so who else is?"

Although Cao Shuang's words were convincing, Huan Fan still looked disapproving after listening to him: "Huan is very clear about Zhongda's character. He is not the kind of domineering and powerful minister! Besides, nowadays He has made great achievements in battles in the east and west, and enjoys great blessings, so he can spend the rest of his life in peace. How could he do the things of Wang Mang and Dong Zhuo at the funeral in his later years? You are really worrying too much!" "Uncle Huan, what you said is wrong! According to my nephew, since ancient times, the rise of heroes and tyrants must have great achievements at the beginning. , Subtly shifting the country is invisible. Now, if you look at it with Sima Yi's power, isn't it true?" Xia Houxuan said still stubbornly.

"Sima Zhongda's numerous achievements are not to be feared, but to be admired!" Huan Fan stared at Xia Houxuan, "He is also from a Confucian school, so how could he go against his will and act against his teachings?" "Whether it's 'awe and admiration' or 'respect', if he uses this feat and power to force the palace to take over the Lord, he will be 'convincing'! He already has this aggressive strength now." Xia Houxuan's face was full of pain Zhise, "Did you know? Recently, Dong Zhao, Cui Lin, Gao Rou, Wang Su, He Zeng, etc. have all secretly joined together and signed the persuasion form. According to their rumors, they will jointly recommend Sima Yi to support him. The gift of nine tins, ascending to the position of prime minister..."

"What? There is such a thing?" When Huan Fan heard this, his face changed slightly, thinking of the mysterious and vague actions and actions of Dong Zhao, Cui Lin, Gao Rou, Wang Su and others rushing into his mansion in the past few days. The expression, he suddenly realized!Then, with a stern look, he looked at Cao Shuang and Xia Houxuan: "Why did you come here to tell this old man? Who exactly ordered you?" Cao Shuang and Xia Houxuan looked at each other, and then stood up in unison.Cao Shuang took out a roll of yellow silk from the sleeve of his robe, unfolded it lightly, and said solemnly:

"Huan Fan received the order..." When Huan Fan heard this, he was stunned, and hurriedly responded, and brought Huan Chang to the lower part of the study, facing north, and knelt down: "The old minister leads the dog son, Huan Chang, to receive the order." Cao Shuang read carefully: "The current dynasty has become weak and strong, and the tail is too big to lose. I am very worried about the western affairs, and Huan Aiqing is wise and deep, and I can entrust you with a heavy responsibility. I will devote myself to planning and solving my worries. Here it is!" No matter how ill-informed Huan Fan is at this moment, he also understands who the imperial decree is referring to such sayings as "the stem is weak and the branches are strong, but the tail is too big to lose".However, do I really want to stand up and compete head-on with Sima Zhongda to check and balance?He is his younger brother, his recommender!However, standing on the weighing pan on this side is His Majesty again! "Eat the king's salary, worry about the king's affairs, and die for the king's difficulty", isn't it just the standard of his career in politics for many years?Back then, in order to avoid the world, I deliberately lived in seclusion during the transformation of the Han and Wei dynasties... I thought that after the founding of the Wei Dynasty, I would be able to stay in the Wei Dynasty from now on, but I didn't expect that today I was pushed to the Wei family to compete with the Sima family On the cusp of power competition!Myself...what should I do?When he was thinking hard, Huan Chang pulled the corner of his clothes quietly from behind him, and said softly: "My lord! My Huan family has passed down the way of loyalty and righteousness for generations. If you can turn the tide for Great Wei this time, Solve worries and problems, and you will become the number one honorable official of Zhongxing in our dynasty in the future, and you will be famous forever..." After hearing his son's words that were so naive as to be ridiculous, Huan Fan still remained silent.At this time, Xia Houxuan and Cao Shuang both knelt down in front of him with a "plop", weeping mournfully: "Uncle Huan, nephew Yu, I beg you on behalf of Your Majesty..." Huan Fan listened quietly, with a violent twitch on his face, finally clenched his teeth, kowtowed, and at the same time stretched out his hand respectfully: "Old minister...Old minister accepts the order." Seeing Huan Fan accepting this imperial decree, Cao Shuang and Xia Houxuan seemed to have finally let go of a huge rock in their hearts.The two of them secretly exchanged glances with Huan Chang, and there was a hint of relief between their brows. Cao Shuang straightened his face and asked Huan Fan straight to the point: "Uncle Huan, the situation is urgent now, do you have any tricks to contain Sima Yi at this moment?" Huan Fan held the imperial edict in his hand like holding a red-hot iron, neither holding nor releasing it.Finally, he put it across his knees, and smiled bitterly at Cao Shuang: "How can I have any clever plan at this time? Right now, it is absolutely impossible to find help from within the court to contain Zhongda. Yourselves As I said just now, his party members and minions are all over the world, and they all have their own important positions and hold real power. No one in the court can check and balance him anymore! Before the Shangshutai had not fallen into his palm, but now Sima Fu has taken over the post of Shang Shuling... The last stronghold of the imperial court has almost fallen... Alas! Difficult! Difficult! Difficult!" While he was talking, his eyebrows frowned, and he seemed to think of something again: "But... isn't he fighting against the puppet Zhuge Liang at the moment? If Zhuge Liang can defeat his spirit on the battlefield ahead, he will fight in the future. Those who are restrained in their actions to seek nine tins and phases." "Uncle Huan, you don't know that Zhuge Liang can't dampen his spirit anymore! Ten years ago, Zhuge Liang tried his best to set up an ambush in the Shanganggu battle. Instead of burning him to death, he lost hundreds of thousands of grains in vain. According to me The eyeliner waiting in front of the news came that Zhuge Liang had nothing to do with Sima Yi, but was forced into depression by Sima Yi, and he would be defeated and return to Shu in a few days!" Xia Houxuan told him frankly. "Well...that's really tricky!" After hearing this, Huan Fan couldn't help frowning, stood up, put his hands behind his back, and slowly paced and circled in the study, "Let the old man carefully read the book again." Think about it carefully, is there any other countermeasures!" "Why don't we choose a group of dead soldiers, sneak into the Guanzhong camp, and kill Sima Yi..." Cao Shuang stretched out his hand, straight as a knife, and made a sharp downward movement! "This is absolutely impossible!" Huan Fan yelled, and gave him a cold look, "Sima Zhongda himself is superb in martial arts, and the city is densely guarded and fortified everywhere. The dead soldiers you choose will never get close to him! You injured him for a while, as long as he recovers and seizes this opportunity to counterattack violently, how can you survive? How can the great Wei survive for a long time? Let the old man think about it carefully." Just as Cao Shuang was about to refute, Xia Houxuan said, "Uncle Zhao (Cao Shuang's word is "Zhaobo"), what Uncle Huan said is very true—the last time Zhuge Liang sent such a deadly soldier, didn't they also not hurt Sima Yi at all? We can't do it with this trick!" "This..." Cao Shuang suddenly became speechless. Huan Fan didn't seem to pay attention to all of this, he just buried his head and kept walking and thinking, and he didn't know how many circles he walked in the study, Cao Shuang, Xia Houxuan, and Huan Chang were all drowsy after waiting. , he suddenly cheered and said: "Yes! Yes! The old man finally came up with a plan!" "What strategy?" Cao Shuang, Xia Houxuan, Huan Chang and others couldn't help asking after their spirits lifted. "Your Majesty, please issue an edict immediately to forcibly recruit Liaodong Taishou and Le Langgong Gongsun Yuan to Beijing to serve as the Taiwei, and order Youzhou Governor Wuqiu Jian to force his troops to the border. Wu Qiujian is His Majesty's old official of the Eastern Palace. This matter He should do it..." Huan Fan stared at the three of them with wide and bright eyes. "This... isn't this clearly trying to force Gongsun Yuan back?" Xia Houxuan was startled. "It is to force him, Gongsun Yuan, to rebel!" Huan Fan's eyes were burning like flames, "I have always understood Sima Zhongda's style of conduct, and he likes to be rigorous, careful, and foolproof. This is his The greatest advantage, but at the same time, this is also his weakness. His overall plan at the moment is already airtight, and it is extremely difficult for us to break it from the inside! Therefore, we just want to find another way, beggar-thy-neighbor, and create external Contradictions, temporarily diverting Sima's overwhelming pressure..." "This... Doing so will harm me, Great Wei!" Cao Shuang said worryingly. Huan Fan slowly sat back on his seat, his face was submerged in the reflection of the lamp stand, only his eyes were still shining brightly in the darkness: "Well...Gongsun Yuan was forced to rebel, of course it has something to do with me, Great Wei. It's not good, but it's also bad for the Sima family! Since Sima Yi has regarded Wei as his possession, according to his personality, he will never allow Gongsun Yuan to get involved! After knowing the news of Gongsun Yuan's rebellion, he could only temporarily suppress his ambition to usurp Wei Zili, and took out his hands to go on an expedition to sweep Liaodong... In this way, Dong Zhao, Cui Lin, Gao Rou, Wang Su and others The matter of persuading the Prime Minister of Jiuxi to join the Jin Dynasty must be 'grounded'." "High! High! High! What a brilliant move to disrupt chaos!" Xia Houxuan understood at this time, his eyes lit up, and he looked at Huan Fan with infinite admiration. It's spicy! Cao Shuang praised with a smile: "Uncle Huan's action is really extraordinary!" Huan Fan's expression returned to being as calm as water at this moment, he frowned, and sighed deeply: "Alas...this strategy is not a brilliant move. It treats the symptoms but not the root cause, it is just an expedient measure to delay for a while... ...Where is Gongsun Yuan's opponent to Sima Zhongda? After Sima Yi triumphantly wins over Liaodong's great honor, I'm afraid that will be the real beginning of our Great Wei Kingdom's entry into danger..." "Anyway, the catastrophe in front of me has finally been resolved." Cao Shuang stood up with ease, and looked at Huan Fan with admiration, "After returning to the palace, Shuang and Taichu (Xia Houxuan's words) I suggest that His Majesty appoint you as General Cheqi and Lieutenant Sili. Uncle Huan, Nephew Yu and others should have come to you for help earlier!" Huan Fan also patted the dust on the corner of his robe, stood up, with an indifferent expression, and said slowly: "I am afraid that you all thought that the old man has a sharp personality and is not easy to get in touch with, so you treat the old man Keep it at arm’s length, right? Saying these words now is superfluous... This old man was born as a minister of the Great Wei, and died as a ghost of the Great Wei. I am determined to carry the word "loyalty" to the end! Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will do my best to fulfill the important task he entrusted to me. Can, and strive to achieve success in the end!" When he said this, both Cao Shuang and Xia Houxuan's cheeks felt hot, and the embarrassment between their eyebrows was completely revealed.However, Huan Fan didn't seem to notice their expressions, and continued to speak on his own: "Most of the military power in the world has fallen into the hands of Sima, but fortunately, the power of grain has not attracted their attention... Since the old man really wants to choose a suitable position to assist the imperial court, why not ask His Majesty to let the old man take up the post of chief minister! As long as His Majesty holds the military and civilian granaries of all states and counties in the world, it is equivalent to choking the princes of the four directions. Rice bags and lifeblood! They have no food in their hands, so how can they fight against Sima Yi?"