Chapter 66 1. Cao Cao's last words

Another five years passed in a blink of an eye, and the winter of the twenty-fourth year of Jian'an arrived in the blink of an eye.Cao Cao, who had already been crowned as the King of Wei, returned to Beijing after he failed to conquer Sun Quan in the east of the Yangtze River. He suddenly fell ill and couldn't afford it. With Cao Cao's sixty-six-year-old age, even if there is an emergency, it is not an accident.In order to prevent any accidents, he released two generals Cao Zhen and Zhang He to the west to guard Hanzhong with all his strength a few years ago, and then released three generals Zhang Liao, Zang Ba, and Xu Huang to the east to jointly garrison Jianghuai, Liu Bei, and Zhang Yun. Even if Sun Quan was about to make a move, he would naturally be defended outside the country, and he would not be able to cause any big disturbances.However, he had to speed up his preparations for what happened behind him.During the period of recuperating in bed, Cao Cao successively issued eight warrants, removing the last batch of post of loyalists of the Han Dynasty, and replacing them all with his trusted ministers.At the same time, Cao Cao quickly mobilized 30,000 elite soldiers from Cao Zhang to station outside the city of Xudu, closely monitoring the abnormal movements in the city.

After arranging all this, Cao Cao secretly summoned his son Cao Pi in the bedroom.As soon as Cao Pi entered the palace, Cao Cao waved his hand and told all the maids and eunuchs in the bedroom to retreat.Then, he looked at Mrs. Wang who was standing beside the sick bed and said, "Go down too!" Mrs. Wang didn't care to wipe the tears from her face, covered her face and wept, got up and retreated. In the huge bedroom, only Cao Cao and Cao Pi, father and son, were left.Cao Pi knelt on the ground and looked at his father quietly. His father was half sitting and half lying on the couch, his face was withered and yellow, and he was no longer as aggressive as a sharp sword unsheathed in the past.Father is really old!And as the eldest son, he finally made it to this day, the day when he is about to ascend to the throne of the Wei family!All the torments and tortures he has suffered in the past will be rewarded when this day comes.He could finally hold the supreme power in his hands, proudly rule the world, and be proud of all heroes, making everyone bow their heads in front of him.What a joy that would be!What a pleasure!

However, Cao Pi's face is not at all comfortable now, and there is no joy in his heart.He knelt down on the ground extremely nervously, not daring to show much emotion, waiting tremblingly for Cao Cao to speak.Before he came to the bedroom, he already had a premonition that his father would tell him the most important words in his life——his last will.And these words will have an extremely far-reaching and significant impact on the future of him and his Wei country.After a long while, Cao Cao finally broke the deathly silence in the palace, and said slowly, "Pi'er, I want to explain a few important things to you now, whether you want to listen or not, you have to write them down first. In my heart."

When he said this, his tone paused, and he raised his eyes to look at the high dome in the palace, as if recalling many, many past events.After being silent for a long time, he said again: "Thirty years...a full thirty years. In the past thirty years, he fought for his father, defeated Yuan Shao in Guandu, destroyed Yuan Shu in Huainan, defeated Liu Bei in Jingzhou, Qu Sun Quan proclaimed himself a minister, destroyed countless enemies, and was majestic on all sides, which can be described as magnificent. I am confident that this achievement is not inferior to that of Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu!

"However, the world is unpredictable, and the destiny is unpredictable. I never imagined that Sun Quan would occupy the land of Jiangdong, Liu Bei would steal the natural dangers of Bashu, and each would stand on one side, and the three kingdoms would stand together! As a father, he wanted to unify the world and then complete the ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains. Completely entrusted to you... Now it seems that it is impossible to do..." Speaking of this, Cao Cao coughed suddenly, stood up suddenly from the bed, stared at Cao Pi with burning eyes, and said: "You are the son of the world now, you must do your best to live up to your father, and give this great river and mountain to you." Take good care of me, father, and take all of this world into my Cao Wei's possession!"

For a moment, Cao Pi only felt that the words of his father's words were very important, like a heavy burden, which was heavily pressed on his shoulders.He kowtowed and replied with a choked voice: "My son, remember it!" Cao Cao panted heavily on the bed, rested for a while, and said, "Father knows that the disease is not serious, and the days to come are not long. Today I will mainly tell you three questions. You must bear in mind! Remember! "One is that in the future, you must be on guard against the powerful families in the government and the opposition. Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. You also know that if it wasn't for Jia Xu, Huan Jie, Zhong Yao, Cui Yan, Mao Jie, and Wang Lang It will be difficult for you to ascend to the position of the eldest son when the aristocratic families jointly recommend you. This makes the father both happy and worried: I am happy that these aristocratic families can strongly support you, and your future ambitions and great achievements will have a solid foundation The backing; what is worrying is that these great families are intertwined, with complex relationships, mutual voices, and great potential influence, which will restrict and affect everything about you! These restrictions and influences are sometimes impossible to get rid of even as a father-will you be able to do it in the future? ?Can you fight against him with heroism and determination like Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty? Being a father is really a burden for you. Pier, only by being self-reliant, self-sufficient and self-sufficient can you not be controlled by others, and you don’t need to ask others for help Hey! The person who helped you the most today may be the person who hurt you the most in the future. You must keep this in mind!"

"My son understands, and I would like to follow my father's instruction." Cao Pi kowtowed and replied. "You really understand? As a father, I hope you can really understand." Cao Cao gave him a half-believing look, "Then, the second question is how you will make a safe choice between Sima Yi and Ding Yi in the future." iambic..." "Sima Yi? Why did the father suddenly mention Sima Yi?" Cao Pi's heart was shocked, and he murmured: "He is just a capable official who is diligent in handling affairs. Why does the father pay so much attention to him? And Ding Yi..."

"Pi'er, don't lie to me. Ding Yi later told my father everything Sima Yi did. Although he also told me that what Sima Yi did was unfounded, I believe what Ding Yi said was true. "Cao Cao said leisurely, "Ding Yi, with a blind and disabled body and an outstanding talent, was relegated to the lower ranks, depressed and frustrated. It was for his father that he was lifted from under ten thousand to above ten thousand. You are very fond of him, just like when King Qi Wei selected Sun Bin as his military adviser, it can be said that he has been cultivated painstakingly. From my father's point of view, Ding Yi is really grateful to me and our Cao family. So you must be in the spirit of 'use The virtuous do not avoid hatred' principle, make good use of him! Back then, Guan Zhong shot Duke Huan of Qi with his own bow and arrow, but Duke Huan of Qi ignored his old enmity and still used him as his chancellor. For me, the eldest son of Wei, we should have Duke Huan of Qi's mind and capacity to respect Guan Zhong!"

Cao Pi's expression froze slightly, he kowtowed heavily and said, "I know." Cao Cao said again: "As for Sima Yi, this man is too deep in the city, too ambitious, too scheming, and too poisonous in means. As a father, I want to get rid of him quickly! He is the only one who fights against such a strong enemy! Alas! In a world of war, talents are rare! Therefore, as a father, I have to keep him to continue working for my Wei family. I hope that in the future he will remember how you have always treated him You rely heavily on trust, and you will not want to be ambitious to plot evil in your lifetime!"

Cao Pi couldn't help being dumbstruck when he heard his father's profound comments on Sima Yi.While he was in astonishment, Cao Cao suddenly said again: "But according to my father, Ding Yi is the only one who can compete with Sima Yi in the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty. For my father, leaving Sima Yi for you is like giving you I left a 'Wang Mang'. But I also left Ding Yi for you as a father, just like I left you a 'Fan Zeng'. You have to learn to use Sima Yi's talent to get rid of the harm, and Na Ding Yi's loyalty To guard against Sima Yi's treachery, you can use both, and you can't neglect it!"

Cao Pi's face was as deep as water, expressionless, showing no likes or dislikes, just kowtowed in agreement. Cao Cao thought for a while, and then said: "In order to prevent you from forgetting this in the future, my father specially summoned Hua Xin earlier, and asked him to monitor Sima Yi and remind you of all abnormal movements of Sima Yi at any time. You must Heed his advice carefully!" "Yes." Cao Pi replied heavily. "The last thing is that all of you, brothers, must unite with sincerity, unite in one heart and one mind, and deal with foreign enemies!" When Cao Cao said this, his face was extremely dignified. Wu, like the sun and the moon in the sky, can intimidate all officials, but Pi'er is in the middle and sticks to the foundation, so what can't be done? What can't the enemy be destroyed? Moreover, Zhi'er has always been humble and chaste. Now that your birthright has been determined, he will definitely Obey filial piety and help you. Pi'er, you must treat them well!" Cao Pi kowtowed blankly and said, "I understand." However, Cao Cao never saw that when Cao Pi's face was raised up, it was full of obedience, but when he bowed down, it was full of disapproval. Three days after Cao Cao had a secret meeting with his eldest son Cao Pi, he died of illness at the age of sixty-six.Cao Pi then succeeded his father as king of Wei. Three months later, Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty was located in Caopi, and the four hundred-year-old Han Dynasty came to an end.Cao Pi ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, changed the name of the country to "Wei", and granted Jia Xu the title of Taiwei who was "below one man and above ten thousand people". Minister of the Ministry of officials. A year later, Cao Pi secretly poisoned his third younger brother Cao Zhang to death with jujube soaked in poison, and relegated Cao Zhi to the remote and barren small county of Juancheng as a little Marquis, and sent someone to strictly guard him.Unable to resolve his personal grievances, he personally issued an imperial edict to kill Ding Yi and Ding Yan brothers, completely contrary to his father Cao Cao's last will, thus laying a deep foundation for the cornerstone of his rule in the Wei Dynasty. Deep hidden danger.