As the years go by, snowflakes like catkins dance in the wind, dyeing the heaven, earth, mountains and rivers into bright white.
In the courtyard of the Lanling Marquis's residence, Wang Suzheng, who had retired from retirement, was sitting alone in front of the hall, holding a scroll of bamboo slips in his hand, looking at the falling snow in front of the court with somewhat blurred eyes.
He was probably upset.
He couldn't read the book anyway, and even the snowflakes that were flying in front of the court seemed messy and disorderly to him at first glance, and at the second glance he still felt disorganized and disturbing.
Alas, it’s all the emperor’s random wedding planning that day!
At first, Emperor Cao Rui suddenly proposed marrying his daughter to Xia Houhui for some unknown reason, but he still had no objection in his heart.
Because after several months of getting along with him, he felt that Xia Houhui's character was acceptable.
Although he sometimes acts a little recklessly, he is still a young man after all.
Understandable.
Once you have gone far in your official career and seen many things, you will naturally become more stable.
However, what he didn't expect was that the marriage process between the two families had just begun, and Xia Houhui had just become a detestable existence after being favored by various families in the capital.
The reason is that he made three admonitions.
The first time was when Shangshu recommended Du Shu and echoed his criticism of the unhealthy atmosphere in the temple.
This time, everyone had a doubt - wasn't it said in Kyoto that Xia Houheng managed the family well and that the eldest brother was like his father? Why did Xia Houhui still look like he had no upbringing from his father?
It is indeed uneducated.
He was born in the Xiahou family, and his position was no more than a Sanqi Shilang, but he actually pulled out Du Shu, who had already claimed to be ill and had lived in seclusion, to make him look down on the officials!
Didn’t you see that Jiang Ji had been introspecting and asked Emperor Cao Rui to reiterate his enthusiasm for cultivating virtue and raising integrity, but the remaining days of the month have completely cooled down with the onset of winter?
Why bring up old things again!
You really don’t like the fireworks of the world, and you don’t understand the slightest bit of official career sophistication!
However, his ministers only slandered him secretly.
Because the emperor did not wait for this matter to ferment in the temple, he made the final decision and once again appointed Du Shu as Zhonglang and asked him to assist Jiang Ji in handling the emperor's favor.
It also made the princes of the temple secretly speculate that this was the emperor's order to promote Enke, so he stopped entangled.
But Xia Houhui's second advice confirmed his reputation as a "stupid young man" in his official career.
It was Man Chong, the former general who was stationed in Huainan. He went to the temple to explain the strategy of the imperial thief Wu. He wanted to demolish the city of Hefei and move it to Jiangjunling more than thirty miles away to rebuild it.
On this matter, all the officials in the temple had different opinions.
The one who opposed the most fiercely was the guard general Jiang Ji.
He once served in Yangzhou Biejia and was very familiar with Jianghuai affairs. He felt that Hefei City had been established for decades and had always been an outpost to resist the Wu thieves. How could it be demolished at the drop of a hat~
The thief Wu has never conquered it, but he took the initiative to demolish it, calling it the strategy of Yu Wu?
It’s ridiculous!
In this regard, Emperor Cao Rui did not have a conclusive statement.
But when I was in charge of the East Hall, I remembered that I had tested all the ministers on Jianghuai affairs before, so I asked everyone to speak freely.
All the ministers know that such important military matters are not something they can comment on now.
Therefore, when putting forward their own opinions, they were very tactful and ambiguous, trying not to get involved in the dispute between the two mainstays, Man Chong and Jiang Ji.
But Xia Houhui is not like that!
He actually shouted that "the thief Wu will be cowardly if he leaves the water", praised Man Chong's strategy, and persuaded the emperor to adopt Man Chong's strategy.
You know, Jiang Ji admired him very much~
In the past few months, Jiang Ji has "inadvertently" claimed time and time again that he is a rising star in the Xiahou family, and that he will definitely restore his father's achievements in the future, giving him a good reputation!
What a kindness it is to be praised personally by an important minister at a time when you are despised and humbled!
Don't you see, when Cao Cao was young, he was judged by Taiwei Qiaoxuan as the man who would bring peace to troubled times in the future, so Cao Cao was remembered for his whole life.
Every time I pass by Qiaoxuan Cemetery, I can't help but offer sacrifices.
Even Wei Wen Cao Pi once offered sacrifices.
And what about Xia Houhui?
It's okay not to care about the kindness, but you still contradict it in the court?
Even if you have a good opinion, you can still keep silent and maintain the superficial harmony~
Reckless husband!
Every time he thought about this matter, Wang Su couldn't help but get angry at him for not arguing with him, and he became very angry for a while.
However, Xia Houhui was lucky enough to escape.
Just when he was full of praise for Wu Fanglue, the favored imperial thief, and before Jiang Ji became angry, General Cao Zhen returned from his station in Chang'an.
And regarding this matter, he stood very firmly on Man Chong's side, allowing the emperor to make a decision.
Well, Cao Zhen came back to plan the attack on Shu.
The upcoming conquest of Shu is nothing new for the Wei government and the public.
Since the emperor Cao Rui succeeded to the throne, Bashu sent troops to invade the country three times in just two years, and also captured Wudu and Yinping counties. This made everyone in the Wei state eager to fight.
Just think about it and you'll understand.
As far as Cao Rui is concerned, the Wei state monopolizes seven points of the world, and Cao Pi did not lose its territory during his reign. If he refuses to attack Bashu in the face of such provocation, where is the national prestige? Where is the monarch's prestige?
As for the important ministers who could discuss military and state affairs in the temple, it was out of consideration for subverting the understanding of Bashu.
At first, Liu Bei, the leader of Shu, died in Yong'an, and the temples of the Wei state thought that Bashu was already declining. At that time, Situ Huaxin, Sikong Wanglang, Shangshu Ling Chen Qun and others also wrote letters to Shu to announce the destiny and personnel, and persuaded Zhuge Liang, who had been left alone by Liu Bei, to raise the country.
Called a vassal.
But what I didn't expect was that just a few years later, Zhuge Liang led his army out of Longyou, and Wei's Nan'an, Tianshui, and Anding counties all rebelled against Wei, causing Guanzhong to tremble!
In this way, if we do not attack Shu to show off the power of the Wei army, how can Yongliang be at peace?
Therefore, when the two counties of Wudu and Yinping were just lost, Emperor Cao Rui often consulted the important ministers in the temple privately about the conquest of Shu.
It means that the ministers have different opinions.
For example, Liu Ye, the servant who was consulted the most, claimed that it was okay when he had a private meeting with the emperor, but claimed that it was not okay in front of everyone, which fully demonstrated his flattering manner.
Yang Ji, the leader of the Central Committee, was opposed.
He thought that Bashu was not advisable because of its solid mountains and rivers and rugged roads, which would make it difficult for Wei's most elite cavalry to display their combat effectiveness.
In November of winter, when General Cao Zhen presented his strategy for conquering Shu, Sikong Chen Qun also clearly opposed it.
Because in Cao Zhen's strategy, he planned to let Guo Huai supervise Longyou's troops into Yinping and Wudu counties, Hussar General Sima Yi would go to the three eastern counties to support him, and he would be the main force of the governor to go to Baoxie Valley to attack Hanzhong.
Chen Qun felt that this strategy was unlikely to succeed.
And the reasons are irrefutable.
When Cao Cao of Wei Dynasty took the Qinling Valley Road and entered the Baoxie Valley that was more than 300 miles long (Han), he failed to enter Hanzhong. Why do you, Cao Zhen, think you can succeed?
Is it possible that Cao Zhen thought he was better at using troops than Emperor Wu?
Emperor Cao Rui conveyed Chen Qun's opinions to Chang'an and gave them to Cao Zhen, which also prompted Cao Zhen to rush back to Luoyang in person.
He once stayed in Luoyang to help Cao Rui stabilize the situation. He knew that if Cao Rui gave up the idea of conquering Shu, he directly issued an edict to shelve the matter for the time being. When he conveyed Chen Qun's words to him, he naturally let him convince himself. Chen Qun and others.
After Cao Zhen returned, he directly revised the strategy roughly and changed it to the main force of his own governor to march from Ziwu Valley, and assigned his troops to the veteran general Zhang Jia to march through Baoxie Valley, forming a four-pronged attack on Shu.
Chen Qun and other opponents did not immediately refute this.
Instead, he re-evaluated the problems of the army's food and baggage supplies after adding an additional route to advance, and planned to seek truth from facts before making any suggestions.
But what no one expected was that Xia Houhui actually went to Shu to remonstrate!
Unaware that he was underestimating his position, he made arrogant remarks about military and state affairs. In thousands of eloquent words, he claimed with reason and evidence that it was not appropriate to attack at this time from various aspects such as the mountains and geography, the morale of the soldiers and generals, the environment and climate, and the comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of Wei and Shu. Shu.
Not many officials originally knew about this letter.
When Shangshu ordered Chen Jiao to see it, he immediately sent it to the East Hall; but after the emperor saw it, he summoned the Zhongshu Supervisor, and after he consulted with his attendants Liu Ye, Chen Qun and others, it was inevitable. spread out.
Anyway, the Wei general's attack on Shu is no longer a secret.
For example, Yongliang's army had already discovered that Zhuge Liang, the Prime Minister of Shu, had already built Seoul City in Mianyang and Lecheng in Chenggu, making preparations for defense in advance.
No one knows what the outcome of the discussion between the emperor Cao Rui and the important ministers was, and what the outcome will be for Xia Houhui, who has arbitrarily discussed military and state affairs.
But one thing is certain.
From the three events of recommending Du Shu, approving Manchu's strategy and arguing about Cao Zhen's expedition to Shu, both the government and the public knew what kind of person Xia Houhui was -
A straight minister who has no party or friends, no family ties, no selfish interests and no career in mind.
That is the so-called lonely minister of society.
Because the way he does things is only from the perspective of benefiting the society, he does not hesitate to offend those who cannot be offended and those who should not be offended.
You know, Xia Houhui should try his best to encourage Cao Zhen to conquer Shu~
It originated from the relationship between Xia Houyuan and Xia Hourong's death in Hanzhong County. General Cao Zhen's expedition to Shu also indirectly avenged Xiahou Yuan; if things go well and Hanzhong County is recaptured, it will avenge the Xiahou family and remove the shame of losing Hanzhong County. !
As a son of man, how can you object?
"Shuzi! If you don't want to repay the hatred between your father and brother, how can you still live in this evil world!"
These are Xia Houheng's original words.
Just a few days after Xia Houhui's appointment, his eldest brother Xia Houheng learned about the incident and became furious and punched and kicked him, scolding him for being unkind.
But Xia Houhui did not give in.
While dodging punches and kicks, he kept arguing, "I am a minister, and I should serve the benefit of the country, so why should I use my private life to abolish public service?"
This attitude of refusing to admit his mistakes also made Xia Houheng, who was extremely angry, make the decision to separate the brothers.
To put it nicely, it means separation.
But everyone knew that it was Xia Houheng who drove him out of the house.
Use practical actions to show everyone that what this traitor says and does in the future has nothing to do with the Xiahou family. If others want to fight, scold or frame him, just do whatever you want, and there is no need to think about the Xiahou family.