Chapter 2 Second, the bag of tricks

On June 16th in the third year of Cao Wei and Huangchu, 15 days after Liu Bei's disastrous defeat in Yiling, Cao Pi set up an altar in the southern suburbs of Luoyang to worship Cao Zhen as General Zhengnan, Xia Houshang as General Zhennan, and Cao Xiu as General Pingnan. Shangshu ordered Chen Qun to be his military adviser, leading an army of 300,000 troops, and moved to Wancheng. Before leaving, he issued two edicts, one of which was specially written to Sima Yi who was staying in Luoyang: "I am going to the south now, and I am deeply concerned about future affairs, so I entrusted it to Qing. Although Cao Shen has military exploits, And Xiao He is the most important thing. It is Qing who makes me have no worries about the future!" His edict was written in a blend of reason and ingenuity, no matter how dissatisfied Sima Yi was, he naturally had to respectfully accept it.

Another edict was issued to the harem: "Queen Zhen's words and deeds are surly, and she has repeatedly violated the etiquette. Shizhong Xinpi, Yilang Huanfan, Zhongshu Sheng, Shangshutai and other officials all came forward to express their advice, but it was of no avail.With Empress Zhen Mi being given to commit suicide, Guo Guipin's status in the harem rose from then on and became more prominent.Moreover, in the end, as if she was the future master of the Sixth Court of Sangong, she swaggered to accompany Cao Pi on his journey to the south of the palace. In the evening of this day, the afterglow was like gold, and the wild grass in the courtyard dam of Laojun Temple on the outskirts of Luoyang was luxuriant, trembling in the evening wind.

Sima Yi asked his dead soldiers to guard the four corners of the temple, and walked up to the sixth floor of the "Sanqing Pavilion" in the backyard of Laojun Temple alone.From a distance, he saw a graceful and graceful woman with her back to him, looking out from the window.Her long hair was not wrapped in a ganoderma bun on her head as usual, but was only tied with a plain belt and shaved down her shoulders like a waterfall.Wearing a white dress without any decorations, the waist is lightly bundled with plain brocade, flowing with fragments of delicate luster, which is too overwhelming to hold.The white silk belt on the waist fluttered gently in the slightly cool wind, making her body look extremely light, as if she was about to fly away in the wind.The plain hand caressing on the window rail is as clear as jade, crystal clear.

From the corner of her eyes, she clearly saw: Sima Yi was standing far away at the door of the stairwell, staring at herself for a moment, the corners of her lips twitched a few times, and finally she bent down slightly, He muttered softly, "Your concubine, Sima Yi...you are being polite..." Hearing this familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar voice, Fang Ying's heart ached for a while as if it had been gouged out: This Sima Yi will never forget the restraint of etiquette all his life, after all, he dare not take that difficult step ! She gave a wry smile, raised her head slowly, looked at the round sun sinking into the brilliant golden sea-like sunset, sighed a long time, and slowly chanted:

Pusheng in my pool, how far away are its leaves.If you can practice benevolence and righteousness, no concubine knows it by herself. Many mouths melt gold, so that the king will be separated from life.When Nianjun left me, I was always sad and lonely. I want to see the color of you, and I feel sad.Nianjun is always in pain and sorrow, and can't sleep every night. Don't give up your love because of Haoxian.Don't give up onions and scallions because fish and meat are cheap. Don't use Ma Feng Fu, donate Jian and Kuai.Going out is also painful and sorrowful, and entering is also painful and sorrowful.

There are many sad winds in the frontier, and the trees are not repaired.From the king to be happy alone, to prolong life for thousands of years. Sima Yi listened quietly.He already knew that this poem "On the Pond" was written by Empress Zhen when she was estranged by Cao Pi during her lifetime. The sadness and sadness in it once made him cry when he heard it, and he was deeply moved! At this time, Fang Ying had already finished singing, and the tears on both sides of her cheeks rolled down like broken pearls.When Sima Yi saw it, her heart ached even more, but she said sadly: "What do you say, 'but love is as strong as gold, and heaven and earth will never give up'... I think back when His Majesty met Sister Zhen for the first time in Yecheng , how strong is the love; and now, when His Majesty sends an edict to kill Sister Zhen, how mean is the meanness! Seeing Ying, she is as cold as ice and in danger!"

Hearing this, tears flickered in his eyes, but he lowered his head and muttered silently, almost biting his lips until blood dripped. "Brother, you have to be more careful! Your Majesty treats the relationship between husband and wife so coldly, and the friendship between monarch and minister, and the righteousness of flesh and blood are completely disorganized and unreliable... Back then, he was looking for you, brother, to help him ascend the throne. At the critical moment of his successor, he pretended to be more courteous and virtuous than King Wen of Zhou! I didn’t expect that once he ascended the throne and took power, he would change his face! However, it’s not surprising now that he thinks about it carefully. Naturally, he is used to using all means to protect his power and position, and to use all the means...General Cao Zhang has long obeyed the order of the late emperor and surrendered to him. The poisoned death is the only way to stop; if the third son, Cao Zhi, had not had the Queen Mother Bian pleading for him, I am afraid that he would have escaped His Majesty's poisonous hands! Senior brother, you need to be more careful when dealing with him!"

After Fang Ying finished speaking, Sima Yi slowly opened his mouth, his voice was very firm in the evening wind: "Junior Sister, don't worry - Yi has his own way to keep Cao Pi away from him and dare not do harm! Hmph! I think back then How afraid is Cao Cao of Yi?! Even if he can't help Yi, let alone a mere Cao Pi?" After hearing his confident words, Fang Ying gradually calmed down.She leaned against the window railing and stood quietly for a moment, then said delicately: "Brother Sima... Ying has a secret date with you today, and we have an important matter to discuss. Ying was asked by Sister Zhen's dying entrustment to take care of her son on her behalf. Pingyuan King Cao Rui, daughter Dongxiang Princess Cao Yan... Now that bitch Guo Guipin is trying her best to instigate His Majesty to abolish the elder and establish the younger in the palace, in an attempt to prevent the Pingyuan King from becoming a successor, and to establish another six-year-old son Yuan who was born to Xu Guiren. The city king, Cao Li, is the crown prince, paving the way for her future "curtain regency"..."

"This is her wishful thinking!" Sima Yi sneered coldly, "Cao Rui, the king of Pingyuan, is near the weak crown this year, and he can take on the important role of the state. How can a mere Guo family prevent him from succeeding to the great unification? Right now, it is a battle of war. In a time of chaos, the ruling and opposition parties all know that it is advisable to establish an elder heir to rule the world. This is the aspiration of the people and the trend of the times—even His Majesty himself will hardly go against it! If His Majesty appoints his youngest son Cao Li as his heir, wouldn’t he be willing to hand over thousands of miles of land? Give it up to Liu Bei and Sun Quan? Your Majesty will never do such a stupid thing rashly! Junior sister can rest easy and rest easy, and the king of Pingyuan will never be in trouble!"

"Although the general trend of people's hearts is indeed beneficial to Rui'er, Ying still can't help but worry about him! Senior brother, do you have any immediate and meticulous plans to give to King Pingyuan?" Sima Yi pondered for a while, looked at Fang Ying solemnly, and said slowly: "I have only a few words, please tell my junior sister to Pingyuan Wang—"Don't make foreign ministers, don't discuss current affairs, secretly form internal cliques, and respectfully act like a son." '. Remember! Remember!" After Fang Ying listened, she began to think carefully in her heart: "Don't make foreign ministers, don't discuss current affairs, and respectfully practice the way of the son." These three sentences are easy to understand-Cao Pi himself relied on personal diplomats, cultivated friends, and cultivated wings. , Pretend to be filial and succeed in seizing an heir.Then, conversely, Cao Pi must be extremely sensitive and suspicious of Pingyuan Wang Cao Rui's move to secretly plant the wings of the outer court behind his back-in case Cao Rui "seeks medical treatment in a hurry" because of worrying about the trouble of easy storage in the future, and Zhou Zhang goes to the hospital when he is at a loss Mess with foreign ministers in order to protect themselves, it will be counterproductive, and the harm will be serious!However, what exactly does Sima Yi mean by "subtly forming an inner party"?So, she asked, "Senior Brother Sima, what do you mean by 'hidden inside party'..."

Sima Yi's eyes were slightly drooping, his eyes were sharp and introverted, and he said in a calm tone: "I suggest to King Pingyuan that 'don't make foreign ministers, don't discuss current affairs'. The foreign ministers of Taige will work for the stability of King Pingyuan's position, and there is no need for King Pingyuan to contact him. This is our duty as ministers of the country, as long as King Pingyuan knows it well. "As for the strategy of 'secretly forming an internal party', in my opinion, King Pingyuan does not have foreign ministers, but he has to secretly recruit internal aid from the inner court! Cao Zhen, Xia Houshang, Cao Xiu, etc. are all the clans in front of His Majesty now. The favorite minister is also able to speak well with His Majesty... King Pingyuan can ask for the name of a friend who serves as a servant, and become flesh and blood with Cao Zhen's son Cao Shuang, Xia Houshang's son Xia Houxuan, Cao Xiu's son Cao Zhao, etc. At the time of my acquaintance, I used my in-laws to help fight against Guo's relatives in the East Palace! After all, Guo's intention to "cover the sky with one hand" in the harem will greatly damage the interests of the Cao family's clan, and they will naturally not sit idly by! Junior sister, you What do you think?" "Mm! Brother, your strategy is really ingenious!" Fang Ying stretched her eyebrows and smiled after hearing this, "Junior Sister will definitely remember it firmly and tell Pingyuan King verbatim. At the same time, Junior sister here also represents King Pingyuan, thank senior brother for your conspiratorial assistance!" Sima Yi waved his hand and sighed deeply: "Junior Sister, what are you talking about? Back then, when Empress Zhen and Junior Sister were in His Majesty's Dragon Palace, I will always remember every detail of the kindness of nurturing and supporting me. ... Now that I am very fortunate to have finally reported to the heir of King Pingyuan, how could I deserve your gratitude?" Fang Ying smiled brightly, then frowned again, looked at the golden-rimmed sunset glow in the sky, and said faintly: "Senior Brother, you don't know, since Sister Zhen passed away, Junior Sister has no more nostalgia for you in this dense palace. Dear person, there is nothing more to worry about... After the junior sister has passed on your "tips" to Rui'er, the junior sister will fly away. Sigh, you don't know, the junior sister is really too tired Already... Before, the junior sister and sister Zhen took care of each other in the palace, and everyone could get together to talk and relieve boredom. Now, the junior sister stays in the harem, like staying in a big tomb, almost becoming one 'The living dead'..." Tears flowed down Sima Yi's cheeks, and he was choked with sobs and couldn't speak for a moment.After a long time, he said in a trembling voice: "Junior Sister, you have suffered too much for Yi in the harem over the years... Senior Brother, I have nothing to repay you, but in order to make you realize The wish of 'Zhen He fly away', but the senior brother vowed to do his best to fight for you..." ... One month later, late at night, Fang Ying's bedroom in the inner courtyard of the palace suddenly caught fire and burned for two full hours.The guards and warriors in the palace fought for almost a whole night before putting out the fire at dawn.They later searched the ruins of the dormitory and found the body of a woman in a gorgeous dress who had been burned beyond recognition.The height, fat and thinness of the female corpse are exactly the same as that of Concubine Fang Gui, and on her wrist she still wears the Seven Treasures Lingzhu bracelet bestowed on Concubine Fang by His Majesty - all this proves that Concubine Fang has passed away and died here. In the raging flames...