Chapter 184: Qi is like a gossamer. King Wei dies
Yecheng was regarded as the capital of Wei State after Cao Cao established it.
After making Yecheng the capital of the country, Cao Cao expanded Yecheng on the basis of the original old city.
After expansion, Yecheng is seven miles from east to west and five miles from north to south. It is adjacent to Zhangshui River in the north. In the northwest corner of the city, there are Bingjing Terrace, Tongque Terrace and Jinhu Terrace from north to south. It can be said that it is very majestic.
Ye City leans on Taihang to the west, faces the Yellow River to the south, and looks at the fertile plains of Hebei to the north. The terrain is very dangerous and can be defended or attacked, which is convenient for Cao Cao to control the Hebei area.
The northern center of Yecheng is Gongcheng District, Yuanquan is to the west, and Qili is to the east.
There are Chunmen in the east of the city and Jinmingmen in the west, dividing Yecheng into north and south parts with an east-west avenue.
At its peak, Yecheng had a population of nearly 400,000. This did not include the garrison, but it was the largest city in the north in the world.
In the north of the majestic Yecheng, there is a magnificent and magnificent Wei Palace.
In previous years, it was in this palace that the King of Wei, Cao Cao, controlled the world with his authority.
But unfortunately, as time went by, the days when the King of Wei was able to raise his whip were gone forever.
In the main hall of the Wei Palace, there was only an old man lying in critical condition.
Cao Cao is sixty-six years old this year. He is the oldest among the three major princes in the world.
The pale-faced Cao Cao was lying on the soft floor in the main hall. Under the bright hall, densely packed civil and military ministers of Wei were kneeling.
When Cao Cao withdrew his troops from the Han River while he was sick, in order not to affect the morale of the army and not to arouse Liu Bei's suspicions, when he led his troops back to Yecheng and passed through Qiaojun, he deliberately stayed in the feast village of Qiaojun to give him old gifts.
The land of Qiao Pei is Cao Cao's hometown, and most of his original team were people from Qiao Pei.
Therefore, although the land of Qiao Pei is not too important in the world, it has a special meaning to the Cao Wei regime.
After feasting in the village of Qiao Pei, Cao Cao led his army back to Ye City without stopping.
As soon as he arrived in Yecheng, Cao Cao, who felt relieved, was in poor health.
Perhaps Cao Cao in this life held on for a while longer because of his concerns.
But no matter what, he will eventually leave this world that he is reluctant to leave.
Cao Cao, who was feeling sick and aching, glanced at Cao Pi, the Crown Prince of Wei, who was kneeling next to him at the head of the ministers. There was reluctance in his eyes.
His reluctance was not entirely due to his father-son affection for Cao Pi, but more out of concern for the future of Wei.
After he left, could Zihuan hold on to Wei?
Cao Pi is thirty-four years old this year, which should be the age when a man is most aggressive. He was almost the same age when Cao Cao led the troops to quell the Yellow Turban Rebellion.
But it may be that the battle with Cao Zhi for the right to inherit the throne exhausted Cao Pi's energy.
As a young and prosperous man in his thirties, he already had some gray hair growing between his temples.
Cao Cao looked at the prince in front of him, who was actually not very satisfied. His eyes recalled the figure of another young man.
The phrase "Father, please mount your horse" was like a single bone scraper. He didn't feel anything wrong before, but as he grew older, the bone scraper hurt him more and more.
Cao Cao knew that he could not get up, so he sighed sadly:
"I will not be able to afford it now. I have done my best and have never failed in my heart.
If the dead still have souls, if Zixiu asks, ‘Where is my mother?’, what will I say in reply?”
Cao Cao's words were full of sadness. He seemed to be talking to himself or to everyone.
And his words made Cao Pi's body in front of him bend down even lower.
He knew that he had never been the most satisfactory prince in his father's heart.
After sighing with emotion, Cao Cao turned to look at the ministers behind Cao Pi and ordered: "Everyone, please step back. I have nothing to say to the prince."
Although Cao Cao's tone was very weak at this time, due to the silence and special structure of the hall, his royal order was finally transmitted to every minister's ears very clearly.
Under Cao Cao's royal order, all the officials in the palace began to retreat outside the palace, and even Cao Cao's personal guard Xu Chu also withdrew from the palace.
Soon after, only Cao Cao and Cao Pi were left in the empty hall.
Cao Cao raised his weak hand and called out to Cao Pi to come forward.
After Cao Pi came close to him, Cao Cao looked at Cao Pi with expectant eyes and said: "Now that Liu Bei and Sun Quan have made an oath of alliance, how will you decide on this situation after you succeed to the throne?"
"If you want to conquer the empire and disobey orders, will you go first with Liu Bei? Or with Sun Quan?"
On the second day after Sun Quan and Deng Zhi swore an alliance, Jiangxia Prefect Wenpin, who was within easy reach of Xiakou, learned of the news.
After learning the news, he immediately ordered the messenger to hurry up and report the news to Cao Cao.
At that time, Cao Cao was on his way back to Yecheng. After receiving the news on the way, he immediately let out a sigh:
"The two thieves from the south want to set fire to the stove!"
Not long after Cao Cao arrived in Yecheng, Cao Cao received a letter from Sun Quan, which was full of insults.
Among the three major princes in the world, although Sun Quan is the youngest, in terms of harshness and harshness, he is the top of the three.
In history, he once scolded Mrs. Wang, who had been sleeping with him for decades, to death.
So when the insults written by Sun Quan himself reached Ye City, it immediately caused an uproar in Ye City.
All ministers were aggrieved and asked Cao Cao to send troops to attack Sun Quan.
Cao Pi was also very angry at that time. Whether it was for acting or showing his true feelings, he could not remain indifferent when his father was being insulted.
However, in the face of the excitement of the officials, Cao Cao suppressed the matter. He knew that now was definitely not the time to send troops.
He is a mature politician and will not be easily swayed by personal emotions.
Now Cao Cao asked Cao Pi what he should do when facing the Sun-Liu Alliance after his death, just to see what he really thought in his heart.
Although Cao Pi's position as crown prince was already stable, even if Cao Pi's answer dissatisfied him, he would not change the crown prince for the sake of the stability of the Wei state, but he could still give Cao Pi a few words before his death.
Cao Pi knelt down in front of Cao Cao. He knew that Cao Cao suddenly asked him this question in order to test his strategic vision.
Similar exams have never stopped since Cao Cao took Hebei.
In the past time, Cao Cao's time-to-time exams exhausted Cao Pi's energy and made him feel bored at times, but for the sake of his position as prince, Cao Pi finally managed to survive until today.
What Cao Pi didn't expect was that at this moment, his beloved father was still thinking about teaching him. Doesn't it mean that his father still doesn't believe in his abilities?
Cao Pi felt sad and confused in his heart, but in order not to waste all his efforts at the last moment, Cao Pi remembered Jia Xu's teachings, and he respectfully replied to Cao Cao:
"Those who conquer the country first have military power, and those who build the foundation should promote virtue. If in the future a son comes to lead the country, and he will be treated with culture and virtue and wait for it to change, then it will not be difficult to pacify it."
"Although Liu Bei and Sun Quan are poor countries in the south, they are still blocked by mountains and rivers. Liu Bei has great talents, Zhuge Liang is good at governing the country, and Sun Quan knows the truth and reality. They are in danger and guarding key points. They are boating in rivers and lakes, and it is difficult for them to make plans.
The way to use troops is to win first and then fight, measure the enemy and judge the generals, so there is no strategy left behind. If the troops are sent out hastily, even though the power of heaven comes to attack, there will be no complete momentum.
In the past, when Shun danced with Qianqi and had Miao clothes, my son thought that nowadays it is better to put civility first and then martial arts."
Cao Pi knelt on the ground, he was full of confidence when he said this answer.
Because this answer was taught to him by Jia Xu in advance, and with Jia Xu's wisdom, what he taught must be in line with Cao Cao's wishes.
Sure enough, after hearing Cao Pi's answer, Cao Cao did not show dissatisfaction on his face, but there was a trace of self-deprecation on his face.
He stretched out his hand to touch the head of his son in front of him, but his move to express his love before he died made Cao Pi's body tremble a little, as if he was afraid.
Seeing this scene, the self-mockery on Cao Cao's face became even stronger as he lay on the couch.
Could it be that the relationship between father and son has been dissipated by the machinations of the past?
No one knows a son better than his father, not to mention that Cao Cao is the great leader of the world. He knows that what Cao Pi just said was not his idea.
Cao Cao also knew that the reason why Cao Pi relied on other people's opinions was because he was worried about causing his dissatisfaction and causing him to lose his position as crown prince.
But just now he just wanted to hear Cao Pi's true words. Unexpectedly, he, who had been an all-powerful man all his life, would not be able to realize even this simple wish at the last moment before his death.
But can you blame Cao Pi?
I still remember that when Cao Pi was a child, he respected him very much and told him everything he knew.
But since he won the battle of Guandu, when the issue of establishing a heir apparent was put on the table, he, who believed in power and domineering, encouraged the capable person to take the position.
This was originally a time of great strife.
Cang Shu at that time, and Zijian later, hoped that his sons would work hard and make progress, and finally win a qualified prince for him.
But in the end, under the exaggeration of his power and domineering skills, the sincere love between father and son was completely worn away.
To this day, the father does not know the son, and the son does not know the father.
The last trace of tenderness disappeared from Cao Cao's face. Even though his physical pain was getting stronger and stronger, his face had returned to the unpredictable look it had in the past.
Although what Cao Pi just answered was not his idea, as long as he can listen to the advice of wise ministers, then he can be regarded as a qualified successor.
Cao Cao gave Cao Pi one final instruction: "Use the clan members more important and guard against the aristocratic families."
After saying this, Cao Cao asked Cao Pi to summon the ministers outside the palace to come in.
At Cao Pi's call, the ministers outside the palace filed in one after another and knelt down in front of Cao Cao again.
Cao Cao's thoughts were already a little confused. He turned to look at the minister who had been kneeling under him and had fought with him for decades. There was stability in his eyes.
These people are the greatest wealth he left for Wei.
While he was still conscious, Cao Cao began to issue the last few royal orders in his life.
"After the death of the orphan, Jia Kui, the admonishing doctor, presided over the funeral affairs, and the concubine Sima Yi assisted Jia Kui."
After Cao Cao issued this royal order, there were bursts of faint crying in the hall.
When Jia Kui and Sima Yi heard Cao Cao's royal order, they all fell down from the crowd of ministers and took the order. Both of their faces looked sad.
After issuing this royal order, Cao Cao began to speak of his last words:
"I woke up last night and felt unwell. At dawn, I drank porridge and sweated, and took Angelica sinensis soup.
In the military, I always act in accordance with the law, which is right.
However, I also made small anger and big mistakes in my past dealings. I hope that future generations of kings and ministers will not imitate this."
When Cao Cao said this, Jia Kui immediately came to the writing desk next to the couch and began to record Cao Cao's words on the silk book.
"The world is not yet stable, and we cannot abide by the complicated burial system of princes in ancient times.
I have a headache and have always worn a headscarf. After I die, the dress I wear must be the same as the one I wore when I was alive. It should not be too extravagant. Don’t forget that.
When all the civil and military officials come to the palace to mourn, they only need to cry fifteen times;
After I am buried, the civil and military ministers will take off their mourning clothes; the soldiers stationed in various places are not allowed to leave their stations;
Officials must abide by their duties and wear the clothes they were wearing when they were buried. They were buried on the west hill of Ye, close to the Ximen Leopard Temple, and there were no gold, jade or jewelry hidden there.
My maids, concubines, and servants all worked hard, so I placed them in the Tongque Terrace and treated them well. I placed a six-foot-long bed in the main hall of the Tongque Terrace and hung a spiritual curtain.
On the first and fifteenth day of every lunar month, from morning to noon, they are asked to perform music in front of the spiritual tent. If you miss me, you can always go up to the Tongque Terrace and visit my Western Tomb Fields.
The incense I left can be distributed among the ladies. Do not use incense candles to offer sacrifices.
Wives, concubines, and children who have nothing to do in the house can learn to make shoes and sell shoes.
The ribbons and ribbons I have acquired since I became an official are all kept in the treasury. The clothes and fur I left behind can be placed elsewhere.
If this is not possible, the prince brothers can share it."
Cao Cao's last words were intended for the ears of the ministers, and even more so for the ears of Cao Pi and other family members who were in the palace at this time. He referred to himself as "I" throughout the whole article, and did not use the honorific title of prince.
This shows that at this moment, he does not regard himself as the most powerful King of Wei, but as a patriarch who is about to die.
Every time Cao Cao said his last words, his breath became weaker. Fortunately, he had already prepared similar last words in his mind. Otherwise, with his current mental strength, he would not have been able to come up with this last word in a short time.
After Cao Cao finished his last words, the crying in the hall gradually became louder.
Especially those of Cao Cao's wives, concubines and children, their faces were already covered with tears.
To everyone's surprise, the last words of Cao Cao, a heroic leader of his generation, contained no great ambitions, but rather detailed arrangements for his family's future and earnest instructions to his ministers.
Perhaps these last words were not in line with the identity of King Wei, but they were in line with the emotional Cao Mengde.
At this time, Cao Cao felt that his thoughts were becoming increasingly unable to concentrate. He felt that his eyelids were heavy, as if they would close completely in the next moment.
At this moment, he could no longer feel the pain in his body, and a huge feeling of powerlessness and weakness completely enveloped him.
Cao Cao took his last breath and looked at Cao Pi. He still had many things to say to Cao Pi, but his body no longer allowed it.
At the end, Cao Cao only uttered an inaudible instruction: "Be kind! Be kind!"
After issuing this instruction, Cao Cao's eyes were attracted by a huge map in the hall. The world was drawn on that map.
Looking at the world in front of him, he wanted to raise his hand and touch the beautiful mountains and rivers that seemed to be in front of him, but he could no longer do it.
After a moment, Cao Cao's slightly raised hand completely fell on the bed.
His eyes were also completely closed.
No one in this world can take her away.
Cao Pi, who was in front of Cao Cao, was the first to notice Cao Cao's departure, and then his mournful cries echoed throughout the hall.
After Cao Pi's cry rang out, the entire vast hall was instantly covered by the deafening cry.
King Wei is dead!
Where should Wei go next?
(End of chapter)
This chapter has been completed!