Chapter 5 5. The final entrustment

In November of the sixth year of Huangchu, Cao Pi took Cao Xiu as the vanguard general and led a mighty army of 280,000 to conquer Sun Quan all the way east. As a result, he fell into a stalemate with Wu Jun in Hefei and Lujiang.After waiting in Qiaojun for fifty-five days, he saw that the battle situation between the two sides was still inextricably linked, so he had no choice but to drive back to Xuchang City to prepare for the New Year's Day and chat to relax. However, on the seventh day of the first lunar month in the seventh year of Huang Chu, the news that Zhennan General Xia Houshang was seriously ill and hard to recover came suddenly like a thunderbolt from the clear sky, which touched all his nerves and heartstrings!Now, there are fewer and fewer brave generals in the Cao clan. Cao Ren, Cao Hong and others passed away one after another last year. Now Xia Houshang is reported to be critically ill. How can Cao Pi not feel like "losing his arm" ?

Along with the news that Xia Houshang was seriously ill, it was Xiahoushang's urgent appeal form. In the memorial form, he clearly mentioned that he had a particularly important posthumous matter that he had to present to Cao Pi face to face, and begged Cao Pi to report it in time. Allow it, otherwise he won't have the chance to show up in the future!When Cao Pi saw it, Dang even put aside the military affairs of the Eastern Expedition, and with a large group of court doctors, hurriedly drove overnight to Wancheng where Xia Houshang retired to recuperate, preparing to bring dead wood to Xia Houshang at the last moment. The miracle of rejuvenation!

The sky is covered with snow, and the courtyard of the Zhengnan General Administration Office located in Beifang, Wancheng is covered with silvery white. Walking in it, you feel as if you are in a hazy world of crystal glass. The curtain of the back hall of the administrative office is heavy and drooping.The air was filled with the pungent bitter taste of concoction.Xia Houshang was half lying on the sickbed, his complexion was yellowish and blue, with a very obvious sickness. "Your Majesty is here!" The voices of the guards outside the door, which contained deep surprise and fear, echoed one after another, echoing in the corridors of the back hall.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty..." The haggard Xia Houshang suddenly opened his closed eyes, brushed off the quilt on his body, moved his lips violently, and supported himself on the edge of the couch with his elbows desperately. Panting roughly, he was about to get up and meet him. "Boren! Boren!" Cao Pi was sitting on a chariot with red lacquer inlaid with gold and carved dragons, surrounded by a group of tiger and ben warriors from the Habayashi Army and rushed towards him like smoke!Before the chariot stopped, he jumped down with a "boom", rushed into the lobby and shouted to Xia Houshang with concern: "Boren, you are not in good health - don't move around!"

Then, he turned his head and repeatedly ordered to the imperial doctors who were following behind him: "Quick! Quick! Take the pulse of General Xiahou and treat him with medicine!" "Please slow down, Your Majesty!" Xia Houshang gritted his teeth and played heavily, "I have an urgent matter to play!" "Boren, let's talk about your memorial later! I visited you this time because I specially brought a group of imperial doctors with the best medical skills in the palace... The most important thing is to diagnose your disease Ah! You should diagnose the disease first!"

"Your Majesty! Please accept the treatment of the royal doctors after Rong Weichen has finished playing this important matter!" "This... alright!" Cao Pi glanced at Xia Houshang, who was coughing and wheezing, and his face was ashen. Knowing that he had made up his mind, he had to wave his hand, making all the tiger warriors and imperial physicians all look at him. retreated. For a while, the back hall of the administrative office became empty, leaving only Cao Pi and Xiahou Shangjun and his ministers sitting opposite each other. "Your Majesty... Your Majesty!" Xia Houshang sat upright, bowed his head and said to Cao Pi, "The one who is sick today is the one who will take the post of General Zhennan in case something happens to me. The matter of his successor..."

"Hey! Boren! Look at what you said—you are just suffering from a cold now, and you will recover in a short time! Isn't it too early to discuss your successor for the post of Zhennan General? some?" "It's not early, it's not early. It's the right time for this minister to discuss this matter with His Majesty! This matter can't be delayed at all!" Xia Houshang said with a little hissing, "Jingzhou under the control of this minister is It is the hub of the Great Wei's confidant. In the east, there is Sun Quan in Wuchang, and in the south, there is Lu Xun in Changsha. If it doesn't happen, Jingzhou will be in danger!"

Cao Pi frowned tightly, and squeezed out a deep word "Chuan" between the seals: "According to Qing's opinion, who can take over this position?" Xia Houshang stared at Cao Pi with burning eyes, and said every word as if it burst out from between his own teeth: "Your Majesty Qizuo, according to my humble opinion, among all the officials in the court, only Sima Zhongda is both civil and military, capable of planning and fighting, and can take on the role of Jingxiang!" "Sima Zhongda? Boren... Do you also suggest that Sima Zhongda take over the position of General Zhennan?" Cao Pi's eyes sparkled like sparks, "This, except for him , you don’t have any other suitable candidates? Can’t Jia Kui do it? Can’t Pei Qian do it?”

"Your Majesty, although Jia Kui and Pei Qian are also capable of commanding soldiers, they are both brave and sharp but not strategic. How can they be the opponents of the treacherous Sun Quan and the resourceful Lu Xun? Therefore, according to my opinion Come on, only Sima Zhongda is the only suitable candidate to take over the position of General Zhennan!" Xia Houshang replied decisively. Cao Pi's face became gloomy, his eyes drooped slightly, as if he had fallen into deep hesitation. "Your Majesty, I know that you think that Sima Zhongda is not a relative of my Cao family, but a foreign minister with a different surname, so you dare not let go of your trust. But the situation in Jingzhou is so critical now. If there is no Zhongda to guard the Xiangyang Fortress, it will be inevitable in the future. It was captured by Sun Quan and Lu Xun!"

Cao Pi's face was gloomy, but he remained silent.He secretly thought in his heart: Could it be that Xia Houshang got some benefits from Sima Yi in private and was bribed by him——that's why he strongly recommended Sima Yi?Or maybe it was the superficially warm relationship between Sima's family and Xiahou's family that blinded him, Xiahoushang?Sima Yi's faint threat to my Cao family Jiangshan, he actually didn't see it... Amidst his miscellaneous thoughts, Xia Houshang spoke again out of breath: "I implore Your Majesty to think more carefully. Although Sima Zhongda will take up the post of Jingzhou in the future, he will be supported by Wen Lie." Bing Jianghuai and restraining him, Xiyou Zidan holding a battle ax and imprisoning Yongliang—even if he has different ambitions in his heart, but he is restrained left and right, what is the benefit? Your Majesty can use him with confidence!"

After hearing Xia Houshang's words, Cao Pi secretly dispelled his doubts about him at this moment.His face relaxed, showing a touch of emotion: "This... Boren, you just need to rest assured and recuperate. I will seriously consider your suggestion. In Jingzhou, in my opinion, let Pei go first for the time being." Qian and Niu Jin, let’s face it first! Although their ability to advance and expand their careers is insufficient, they should be able to stick to their ability to protect themselves, right?” "Your Majesty... How can Pei Qian and Niu Jin have the ability to defend themselves in the face of a formidable enemy like Lu Xun? I don't know how many copies of their urgent help documents have been sent to Wei Chen in the past few days! I'm afraid they will try their best. You may not last long with all your strength—you must make a decision on this matter quickly! This matter is closely related to the life and death of Jingzhou, and it must not be delayed!" "I... I know..." Cao Pi murmured in agreement.In his heart, he secretly calculated: Now that Cao Xiu is fighting Sun Quan in the Jianghuai area, it can be said that he has been in the limelight in recent days, and he seems to have become a little arrogant!Right now, Xia Houshang seems to be in danger, and it will be even more difficult for Cao Zhen to check and balance Cao Xiu alone in the future... For the current plan, it may be possible to release Sima Yi, the "tiger", to faintly frighten Cao Xiu, so that he can understand The way of humility!Otherwise, his tail would almost go up to the sky... While he was thinking, Xia Houshang was still nagging and said: "Your Majesty should be familiar with the nature of this minister. This minister always cares about public affairs and will never play favoritism. This minister and Meng Dasu have always been brothers and sisters." , but I still suggest that Your Majesty should take strict precautions against him and not trust him. This is what His Majesty has heard and witnessed; I have a marriage relationship with Sima Zhongda, but I still ask Your Majesty to use him wisely today. Take precautions, don't take it lightly! Everything that I think and do is for the sake of my Huanghuang Great Wei's foundation, which can be passed down from generation to generation!" Hearing this, Cao Pi couldn't help holding his skinny hands tightly, tears streaming down his chest, and choked up, saying: "Boren! Your loyalty, I will never forget it..." Xia Houshang's face was flushed, and he also held Cao Pi's hand tightly, struggling to come forward, almost approaching Cao Pi's ear, and played in a low voice: "Your Majesty, I am here to tell you a secret. : The daughter of Weichen, Xia Houhui, is a strange woman who understands righteousness, is brave and resourceful. Although she has become Sima Yi's eldest daughter-in-law, she is still a member of the Cao family and Xiahou family of our Wei family... After she came out of the cabinet On that day, Weichen entrusted her with the top-secret task of 'surveilling the Sima family'! She made a solemn oath to take up this top-secret task with a lifetime commitment. If Sima Yi's family really has any "transformation" with ulterior motives, they will definitely hide it. But hers! As long as she stays lurking in the Sima Mansion, our Wei family will always have a pair of 'eyes' that can monitor Sima Yi's family most quickly and accurately at all times...Your Majesty, in this way, you can control Sima Yi under your control Among the..." "Boren! Boren... Hui'er understands righteousness so well and sacrifices her life for the country. I really didn't expect it! Alas! For the safety of the ancestral temple of the Great Wei Dynasty and the solidity of the country for thousands of generations, Hui'er has suffered so much... ..." Xia Houshang's bloodshot eyes were also full of tears.He coughed and panted for a long time, then held Cao Pi's hand tightly, and said word by word: "Your Majesty, there is an old saying, 'When a bird is about to die, its cry is mournful; when a man is about to die, his words are sincere' I have some words that have been lingering in my throat for many years, and I have no choice but to report them directly... Your Majesty must listen to them with all my heart!" "Speak! Boren, just speak up! I will definitely listen carefully..." Cao Pi also urged him earnestly. Xia Houshang opened his eyes wide and looked straight at Cao Pi: "Your Majesty, after the unfortunate passing of my minister, Sima Yi will leave the town of Jingzhou sooner or later, and then the position of servant shot he previously held will be vacant - Weichen At the end of his life, he risked his life to suggest that His Majesty restrain his personal grievances, focus on the ancestral temple and the country, develop it with open-mindedness, encourage it with fairness and sincerity, and summon Dong'a Wang Cao Zhi to return to Luoyang to serve as a minister! So, Then the foundation of the Great Wei will always be as safe as a rock! If this is the case, then the death of the humble officials will be in peace!" Hearing Xia Houshang's words, Cao Pi was stunned as if someone had hit some acupuncture point—the expression on his face suddenly became as complicated as it could be!He was silent for a long time, and slowly broke away from Xia Houshang's grip on his hand, slowly turned his face away from him, and said in a cold tone: "Boren! You probably I'm really a bit sick and confused, actually persuading me to call back Cao Zhi to serve as a minister? Hmph! How he pushed me too far when he was competing for an heir! In order to please those shameless literati, I even went to Wang Can Pretending to be a donkey and braying in front of the tomb to show courtesy to the corporal! I will never forget those shames! Those cruel disputes, you are an outsider, how can you feel the pain of my skin back then! Don’t say any more! I just agree Hand over all the military and state duties to him, Sima Yi, and will never entrust him with Cao Zhi!" After Xia Houshang listened silently, his face suddenly turned pale.He suddenly slumped down on the high pillow of the couch, the corners of his mouth twitched slowly a few times, but in the end he still couldn't utter a word.With a deep sigh, he tilted his head, a cloudy teardrop slipped down from the corner of his eye, fell on the boxwood floor with a "click", and shattered into a splash of translucent grains ! On April 26th of the seventh year of Huang Chu, Cao Pi's one-year-long campaign against Sun Quan, which was fought on and off, ended again in vain.On the way back to Xuchang City from Guangling City on the front line, he was suddenly ambushed by two thousand daredevils led by Soochow Generals Sun Shao and Gao Shou. The guards suffered more than 600 casualties.Fortunately, Jiang Ji, who joined the army in Zhengdong, advised Cao Pi to sneak in the auxiliary car of the imperial driver in advance. Only then did he avoid the danger of being assassinated by Wu Bing.But this sneak attack still frightened him strongly, and it also triggered his old chronic angina pectoris, which made him bedridden after he hurriedly fled back to Luoyang, the capital. In the midst of a serious illness, he learned from the pain, and with such a poem, shyly and half-concealed, he drew an unsatisfactory end to his nearly seven years of fighting career with many defeats and few victories: Watching soldiers facing the river, what kind of soup is the water flowing!Ge spears form mountains and forests, and Xuanjia shines in the sun.The fierce general is full of rage and courage.Who has a vast river?A reed can sail!If you don't fight and surrender to the enemy, you will be called a virtuous soldier.Qiyi, the ancient mansion, actually began to cut Yin and Shang.Meng Xian camped in a tiger prison, and Zheng people were afraid of being punished.Filling the state affairs with farming and planting, first zero and self-destruction.In Xingnong Huaisi, the building capital is Xu Fang.Quantity is suitable for transportation and strategy, and the Sixth Army is happy and healthy!Is it like "Dongshan Poetry", so long and sad? All the military and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty could see that this was a magnificent and obscure "Edict of Luntai" written by him in the form of poems and poems: stop the campaign of conquest, vigorously promote the industry of farming, deeply rooted and solid. , Rest and recuperate, first make yourself invincible and then wait for the enemy to take advantage of. Another half month later, a strange thing suddenly happened in Xuchang City, the accompanying capital: its Suzaku gate collapsed in broad daylight for no reason, crushing to death and injuring thirty-nine innocent people on the spot.This ominous omen was immediately circulated inside and outside the state of Wei—even many folk warlocks came out to analyze: Xuchang City is the capital of the Great Wei Dynasty; Suzaku Gate is the hub of Xuchang City's opening and opening.The pivot of Kaitai, the capital of the Great Wei Dynasty, collapsed for no reason, which indicates that the emperor of the Wei Dynasty will collapse suddenly! In the face of these rumors and rumors one after another, all the councils and pavilions of the Wei court showed a surprisingly intriguing calm and indifference: no officials stood up to respond, no officials stood up to stop them, and no one Stand up and guide.It seems that the "answer" is already self-evident without debate, self-obvious without concealment. On the day of Dingsi, there are three drums in the morning, the sky is full of cold stars, and the dawn moon is like a hook.The eaves corners of the long corridor in the palace were lit up with pine branch-shaped glazed palace lanterns everywhere, illuminating the cypress floor with clear silver lights rippling everywhere. The warriors of the Habayashi Army standing beside the two rows of colonnades stand like nails until the end of the field of vision, with their chests and abdomens outstretched. Sima Yi, Chen Qun, and Cao Zhen were all summoned from their beds overnight by imperial envoys.For the first time ever, they rushed to the front hall of the Jiafu Hall in a chariot under the support of the eunuchs, only to see Taiwei Zhongyou, Sikong Wanglang, Yushi Dafu Dong Zhao and a few Yuan Laogongqing had already sat down. I waited on the red silk seat cushion inside. Sun Zi slowly walked over from the door of the back hall, staring at Sima Yi with bright eyes like candles without blinking, but the words in his mouth seemed to be directed at the three of them in a low voice: "Three My lord, please wait here for a moment, His Majesty is summoning Situ Hua to discuss matters in the secret room of the back hall." Sima Yi met Sun Zi's eyes and nodded secretly to express his understanding, and followed Chen Qun and Cao Zhen and sat down beside Zhong Yao and the others as if nothing had happened.He stared straight at the two dark doors of the secret room in the back hall, but he couldn't help clenching his fists secretly: when Cao Pi was dying, Hua Xin was the first one to call in for a secret talk?Could it be that he wants to use Hua Xin, an "old monster", as the chief minister of Gu Ming?But this Hua Xin is over seventy years old, and his energy is low!How could he let Hua Xin be the Chief Minister of Gu Ming? He was speculating on the outside, but Hua Xin in the secret room in the back hall knelt in front of Cao Pi's sick bed, holding Cao Pi's hand and crying so hard that he couldn't make a sound! Cao Pi comforted him for a moment, endured the pain, and slowly asked: "Hua Aiqing, please give me some advice, who should I appoint as Gu Ming's assistant minister?" Tears dripped from Hua Xin's white beard and beard: "Your Majesty...Your Majesty, don't make false statements about this—your dragon's body will surely recover smoothly..." "There is no immortal tree in the world, and there is no immortal person in the world - I am not as greedy for longevity as Qin Shihuang and Han Wudi, and I have long thought about this... Sigh, it's just that I didn't expect this day to come so soon!" Cao Pi smiled indifferently and waved his hands, "Tonight, before my mind is in a mess, I will hurry up and make arrangements for these behind-the-scenes matters..." As he spoke slowly, he took out a letter from under the high pillow on the couch, and handed it to Hua Xin tremblingly: "This is a letter Sun Zi and Liu Fang received from the school office the day before yesterday." The letter is said to be a letter of sympathy that Cao Xiu secretly wrote to Cao Zhi after the Suzaku Gate in Xuchang City collapsed for no reason...Hua Aiqing, please take a closer look for me, is it Cao Xiu’s own handwriting? When Hua Xin heard this, her heart beat wildly: How dare Cao Xiu go to have a private conversation with Cao Zhi at such a sensitive moment when Cao Pi is seriously ill and bedridden?This violated the taboo in Cao Pi's heart!But Cao Xiu might not be so stupid, right?He tremblingly held the letter and looked at it for a while, and finally he could only answer: "Your Majesty, the old minister is really old and dim now, and he can't see clearly... You can recruit someone who is familiar with Cao Dadu's handwriting." Some clan cronies helped to identify them." "I asked Cao Zhen to read it carefully yesterday. He said that the handwriting on the letter does look like it was written by Cao Xiu, but it's a big matter, so he can't be sure." Hearing what Cao Pi said, Hua Xin didn't dare to wade into the muddy water, and hurriedly replied, "This...just to be on the safe side, His Majesty can issue an imperial edict to order Cao Xiu to come back to Beijing to confront him!" Hearing this, Cao Pi raised his eyes and stared at Hua Xin quietly: "Do you think Cao Xiu will be able to come to me from Hefei in time to confront me in these two or three days? I originally had this idea. It's a pity, now I'm afraid I won't be able to last until the day when I can finally clarify this matter... Forget it, forget it, no matter whether the handwriting on this letter is Cao Xiu's handwriting or not, I don't have time to pursue it..." When he said this, his eyes became bright in an instant: "I have already decided not to list Cao Xiu as the candidate for Gu Ming's assistant minister..." When Hua Xin heard this, he was secretly surprised: This Cao Pi is really suspicious!Just because of this "unnecessary" letter of sympathy, he was dubious about Cao Xiu... This is too suspicious! "Of course, I didn't list Cao Xiu as a candidate for the assistant minister, and it's not because of this 'condolence letter' alone. You should know that Cao Xiu is the nephew of Emperor Taizu Wu and my cousin. Unlike Cao Zhen, who was adopted by Emperor Taizu Wu since he was a child... If he becomes a minister of Gu Ming and takes advantage of his patriarchal status to act recklessly, who can restrain him?" Cao Pi looked up. Looking at the tall algae well on the roof, he said intermittently, "Not including him as a candidate for the assistant minister does not mean that I will not use him again. I will leave this favor to Rui'er... I will Tell Ruier to confer Cao Xiu as the Great Sima immediately after he ascends the throne, ranking above the three princes! This can also be regarded as giving Ruier a chance to win over him... Cao Xiu will not be the Minister of Gu Ming and Assistant Government in the future, he should only resent me This late emperor will not take his anger out on Rui'er. In the future, after he is granted the position of Great Sima, he will appreciate Rui'er's knowledge of people even more, so he will be loyal to my Wei family to the end..." "Your Majesty is so wise, the old minister is really amazed." After hearing this, Hua Xin hurriedly kowtowed deeply in praise. "Hua Aiqing, today I called you into the secret room first to listen to the decree. In fact, I am going to entrust you with a very important matter - that is, I hope that you will continue to monitor Sima Yi in the court as always!" Cao Pi Turning his head to look at him, biting his lips tightly, he said solemnly and forcefully, "This time, I have no choice but to appoint him as the auxiliary minister and the governor of Zhennan!" "Your Majesty! Have you forgotten the last emperor's will? Sima Yi has no military power! If he has the military power this time, as long as he has time, he may be even more powerful than Cao Xiu. Who can check and balance him!" "Hey! Then, according to your opinion, Situ Yihua, who can take over the important task of the governor of the southern town? At noon yesterday, I just received an emergency military intelligence report from the Ministry of War. Sun Quan will dispatch Zhuge Jin from Xiakou City. , Lu Xun came from Changsha County in two directions, attacking from east to west, and came straight to Xiangyang!" Cao Pi took a long breath when he said this, and stared at Hua Xin with bright eyes, "Who...who ...Can you survive this catastrophe for my enemy? You recommend such a talent to me!" "This... this..." Hua Xin lowered her brows, and couldn't answer anymore. Cao Pi looked at Hua Xin's helpless appearance, the light in his eyes could not help but gradually extinguished, and there was a faint gloomy look between his brows.He was quiet for a while, with his eyes lowered, and said slowly: "Jingzhou is a fan screen in the hinterland of the Central Plains. In the north, there are the Luoyang Jingji Imperial Guards at the back, in the west there are Cao Zhen's troops on the right, and in the east, Cao Xiu's troops are at the left. ——Sima Yi is restrained there, even if he really has different ambitions and actions, there should be no trouble! Hua Aiqing, what do you think?" Hua Xin put his head on the table, and after a moment of dejection, he finally answered: "Since Your Majesty has such a strategy of restraining and balancing, the old minister has no objections." Cao Pi also stared at him for a long time, then said solemnly: "I will write a will later and promote you to be the Taiwei of this dynasty. In this way, you can use your position to monitor Sima Yi from time to time... At most Sima Yi can only mobilize the soldiers and horses in the south camp of his town. In my opinion, with the mere 100,000 Jingxiang soldiers alone, he can do it No big deal!" Hua Xin couldn't help being so moved that tears fell like rain: "Old... this old minister would like to thank His Majesty for his sincere trust! It's just that this old minister is old and weak, and I'm afraid he will fail His Majesty's trust... This old minister is really sincere and fearful..." "Hua Aiqing, don't refuse. I believe you can do it." Cao Pi's face was calm, but he waved his sleeves to persuade him of his humility——Looking at Hua Xin's body, it should be Can it last for another six or seven years?After six or seven years, Sima Yi will be in his fifties, and Ruier is old and strong, so he can control Sima Yi... "Your Majesty, after thinking hard, the old minister has a suggestion: In order to prevent Sima Yi from gaining his own prestige in the camp south of the town, it is better to wait for the opportunity to plant a 'wedge' in the middle of his subordinates and generals, and implement a 'bottom-up approach' against him." 'The spying on..." Cao Pi listened, a deep smile slowly swam across the corner of his lips, and he just responded calmly: "Hua Aiqing, your suggestion is very good. In the future, you can freely follow this advice when you are in the position of Taiwei." Act according to plan, we can't let Sima Yi monopolize power in the army... I will leave everything to you!" Although he said so, in fact, he had already made arrangements in secret before, and the more than ten thousand Jingxiang Among the garrison, the 30,000 "Tiger and Leopard Battalion" soldiers are the most elite main force.As long as the "Tiger and Leopard Camp" is still in the hands of the Cao clan, Sima Yi will not be able to make any big waves in the south of the town.In view of this, Cao Pi followed Xiahoushang's suggestion before he was alive, and promptly transferred Xiahoushang's cousin Xiahouru to be the captain of Xiaoqi who commanded the "Tiger and Leopard Camp", and gave him the right to do it at a low price equivalent to the deputy commander of the Zhennan Camp. . Thinking of this, Cao Pi felt like he was relieved.Now, I have painstakingly monitored Sima Yi up and down, left and right, inside and out, even if he intends to raise troops to rebel, I'm afraid he won't be able to make a name for himself!So, with a smile on his face, he cheered up unexpectedly, and said to Hua Xin smoothly: "Hua Aiqing—you go out first and call Sima Yi in. There are some things that I should talk to him when I arrive." It's time to talk face to face..." Hua Xin responded repeatedly, and as soon as he retreated to the door, Cao Pi suddenly raised his upper body and waved his hand: "Hua Aiqing—wait a minute!" Hua Xin hurriedly turned around, but saw Cao Pi looking at him with a half-smile, with anticipation in his eyes, but he didn't speak. With a secret shock in his heart, Hua Xin thought for a moment, suddenly felt relieved, bowed his head respectfully and said: "After the old minister goes out, he will use his neck blood to help His Majesty establish the posthumous title of 'Emperor Gao Zuwen'!" Only then did the smile on Cao Pi's face become brighter. He leaned on the back of the dragon bed, closed his eyes slightly, and waved his hands outward, letting him go. As soon as Sima Yi stepped into the secret room in the back hall, the door behind him was silently closed.He raised his eyes and looked forward, only to see Cao Pi half leaning and half lying on the dragon bed, staring at him from a distance——the brilliance of the ancient bronze lamp with many branches like a precious tree, which flickered on and off, illuminated him The slightly swollen cheeks had a faint blue color, revealing an indescribable gloomy meaning. Sima Yi's heart trembled, he secretly held his breath, started from the door of the room, knelt down, and walked forward slowly. "Zhongda, come here quickly!" Seeing him coming in, Cao Pi burst into a smile on his face, and waved to him with difficulty. "Your Majesty... Your Majesty..." Sima Yi immediately pretended to be worried, and almost scrambled to the edge of the dragon bed, looking up at Cao Pi, with tears in his eyes. Although Cao Pi was still smiling, tears were streaming from the corners of his eyes, he stretched out his hands tremblingly to support him, and panting with difficulty, he said, "Zhongda, you stay flat..." Sima Yi straightened his upper body from the ground, and while weeping and weeping, he said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, don't worry too much about state affairs, let's get rid of distracting thoughts and recuperate in peace in the high-lying palace! All the affairs of the world, there are ministers who will do their best." The work of dogs and horses will be settled! After a few days of recovery, Your Majesty will be able to reign over all kingdoms and make a name for himself in the world..." "Hehehe... Zhongda! Why do you deceive Zhenkong to be happy like this?! The Suzaku Gate in Xuchang City collapsed by itself for no reason. Aiqing Zhou Xuan calculated my fate for me, and my end is approaching. It's over..." Cao Pi waved his big sleeves, and continued to speak while hissing and coughing, "Zhongda! Thank you for taking so much pains to comfort me—it's rare for you to be so loyal!" At this point, he After a pause, he took a meaningful look at Sima Yi, "I know exactly what my condition is. Zhongda! If something happens to me, I will thank you for helping me..." "Your Majesty, why did you say such a thing? My minister is willing to sacrifice his own life and pray for your long live..." "Hey! Long live? Who can really live to be 10,000 years old? Forget it, forget it, let's not talk about that. Today, I really beg you to take care of my great Wei Sheji—'I, Cao Family and Sima Families have become close friends from generation to generation, to divide the world equally, and to rule the world together!' I have always kept this promise in my heart, and I will never forget it!" Cao Pi's expression froze, and he stretched out his hand to hold Sima Yi down. On his shoulders, his eyes were shining brightly, and he stared closely at him, "I have decided: appoint you as Gu Ming's assistant minister and the governor of Zhennan, and command the troops and horses of the Jingxiang camp with integrity!" Listening to Cao Pi's scalding blood-like words, a ray of tears suddenly flowed down the corner of Sima Yi's eyes.His heart fluttered lightly at first, and then fell heavily—he had been thinking day and night and racking his brains to seek the right to command the army for five or six years, and finally got it!But the tide of ecstasy in his chest just rushed through, and the reef of reason rose slowly.As far as he knows, this military power of "controlling the army and horses in the Jingxiang camp with integrity" is not a light thing, just like the burning red sword just taken out of the furnace, it is really hot--Jing In the area of ​​Xiang, there are currently two armies from Eastern Wu, Lu Xun and Zhuge Jin, attacking from east to west. The situation is extremely urgent, and it has become a dangerous situation that cannot be resolved!This Cao Pi really dragged down the situation in the southern border to the point where it couldn't be worsened, and then he pretended to be generous and handed over the military power to himself... He secretly concealed the turmoil in his heart, and pretended to be a little numb: "Your Majesty... I have never had any military achievements, how dare I pretend to be Your Majesty's kindness? How dare I pretend to be the governor of Zhennan? Your Majesty, please." Take it back!" "Zhongda! Don't refuse!" Cao Pi took a deep look at him, coughed a few times, and said hoarsely, "Jia Taiwei and Xiahou Zhennan both recommended you to me that day. Han Xinbing You are talented. If you ascend to the position of the governor of Zhennan University, no one will be dissatisfied... In fact, how could I not know that you have such talents in both civil and military affairs? It can be said that I understand you first than everyone else What a skill! Your strategy of war is many times better than that of Lu Xun's son! It's just because of the needs of the state affairs in the past few years, I had to let you temporarily take the position of Xiao He, the people in the town, and the military supplies outside ...That is also the top priority of the imperial court, so I don’t feel at ease entrusting it to others!" Sima Yi listened to his unbelievable lies, lowered his head, gritted his teeth secretly, and after a while, he slowly replied: "Your Majesty trusts this humble minister so much, it's hard for this humble minister to be broken into pieces." Just in case!" His tone sounded like weeping, and tears fell from his eyes! Cao Pi held his hand tightly, and murmured: "Aiqing Zhou Xuan once told me that you, Sima Zhongda, were my 'God-sent nobleman'--the fact is true, if you were not here in the past With all the help behind the scenes, how can I have the honor of being enthroned and proclaimed emperor today? Looking back at the source, all of my foundations were created by you, Sima Zhongda, who worked hard for me! Therefore, I, the Cao family and the Sima family have passed on for generations. The promise of being close friends, dividing the world equally, and governing the world together' is actually my heartfelt words, which can last forever! Not only do I want you to be my 'God-sent nobleman', I also implore you to be my Ruier's 'Heaven-sent nobleman', help him to become a generation of Mingjun with all your heart!" "Your Majesty! Your Majesty's words really killed this humble official!" Sima Yi was sweating profusely as he said this, and kowtowed his head heavily on the cypress floor, "To repay Your Majesty's kindness, this humble official is here I swear to the heavens, I will live as a minister of the Great Wei, and die as a ghost of the Great Wei, and I will serve the country faithfully and forever, without any second thoughts!" "Zhongda, stop here!" Cao Pi waved his hand, making him stop kowtowing, and suddenly leaned forward, looking straight at him, "You may not know, I am standing upright this time. My son is the crown prince of the Eastern Palace, in fact, most of the factors are due to your relationship... You and Empress Zhen, Concubine Fang Gui and the others have been old friends before, and I have always been very clear in my heart..." Hearing this, Sima Yi's heart skipped a beat: What a Cao Pi!Sure enough, he has some tricks - he even found out such important secrets as this seat... With a thought in his mind, all the muscles in his whole body tensed up with a "huh"! "In the past two years, there have been people who have been 'blowing' in my ears, trying to abolish the elders and establish the younger ones, abandon the heirs and take the concubines, and replace Cao Li, who was born to Xu Guifei, as the heir. I have tried my best to resist. I I know, Zhong Da, you will be able to help me, Great Wei Sheji, only if Ruier is appointed as the crown prince of the Eastern Palace. Thinking about it, with your old friendship with Empress Zhen and Concubine Fang as a bond, you will definitely be loyal to Ruier to the end of……" When Sima Yi heard Cao Pi's words, a wave of heat surged in his chest, making his heart that had been as cold as iron for a long time slightly burnt, and tears rolled down his eyes in an instant: "Your Majesty's words are really too flattering!" I am a humble minister... How dare I not feel at ease to help my great Wei country? No matter who my great Wei prince is, I will be loyal and dedicated, serve with all my heart, and die..." Cao Pi didn't seem to be listening to what he said seriously, his faint eyes glanced at his face, he raised his head and looked up at the high roof caisson, and murmured to himself: "Alas! Four years ago, I gave a speech to Queen Zhen. The disposition was indeed too arbitrary and hasty... Zhou Xuan once warned me that "the blue rainbow is shining through the sun, this is a warning from the sky, and there should be noble women in the world who will be slandered"... I went against the sky, and this retribution came too soon Hurry up! Alas! I also regret it very much—Ruier is the one I am most worried about now! Both his parents died at his age, and his only sibling, Princess Dongxiang, died last year. He is really lonely and pitiful... ..." Speaking of this, the tears on his cheeks were like beads, and his clothes were wet—suddenly he turned his head and stared at Sima Yi: "Zhongda! I hope you will treat the prince as your own son and treat him with all sincerity; I also I will tell the crown prince to treat you like a father, and to respect you... When you two monarchs and ministers are in love with each other, I can rest in peace under the Nine Springs..." In the early morning of Dingsi Day in the seventh year of Cao Wei and Huangchu, Cao Pi died in the Jiafu Hall of the imperial palace at the age of forty. He was buried in Shouyang Mausoleum with the posthumous title of "Emperor Gao Zuwen".他在临终之际，召集了京中所有二品以上的卿僚到场，公开宣读了自己的亲笔遗诏： ……曹真、司马懿、陈群自少至长侍从御驾，与朕素有金玉之交，尽诚竭节、劳苦功高，可谓'入为心腹，出作股肱'。今朕不幸中道而别，命也奈何！特此托以六尺之孤，寄以天下之命，授以辅政监国之任，谨封曹真为中军大将军兼征西大都督、司马懿为抚军大将军兼镇南大都督、陈群为镇军大将军兼司空，望其各尽王事，共扶社稷！ 司马懿，终于在他四十七岁那年“化鲲成鹏”，得到了他一直梦寐以求的持节掌兵之重权！