dognovel Chapter 629 Cold Violence Between Ruler and Subject
Chapter 629 Cold Violence Between Ruler and Subject
The relationship between emperors and their ministers is full of contradictions, involving both cooperation and conflict, interdependence and hostility. The core factor determining whether the relationship between the emperor and his ministers is one of interests.
The gentry of the Central Plains supported Cao Pi as emperor for their own benefit. Therefore, after Cao Pi ascended the throne, the gentry of the Central Plains rolled up their sleeves and prepared to fight a major battle with Cao Pi, hoping to obtain the benefits and privileges that they had not obtained from Cao Cao, such as the Nine-Rank System, and so on...
The greedy aristocratic clans rolled up their sleeves, ready to go all out, but Cao Pi simply gave up and didn't take the bait. Their long-prepared attacks all hit cotton, leaving them feeling extremely frustrated.
Now, Cao Pi approves any suggestions made by the gentry instantly, regardless of the harm that implementing them might cause to the court and the country.
When the country is unified and stable, the gentry of the Central Plains would naturally be happy with this, but the problem is that the country is not yet unified, and there is still Liu Bei in Jiangnan who keeps clamoring for a northern expedition.
Liu Bei was diligently governing in Jiangnan, while Cao Pi was lying low and doing nothing in the Central Plains. When Liu Bei launched his northern expedition, what would Cao Pi use to resist? If he couldn't resist, what good would it do for us to gain so much benefit from him?
The older generation of important ministers who followed Cao Cao in conquering the world had not yet completely passed away. These ministers had a vision far superior to that of the cowards in the Western Jin Dynasty. They were well aware of the harm that Cao Pi would cause by continuing to stagnate. Therefore, they took the initiative to enter the palace to advise Cao Pi, hoping that he would cheer up and stop stagnation. The most representative of them was Zhong Yao, the head of the Zhong clan of Changshe and the Grand Tutor of the court.
Zhong Yao's meaning was clear: we recommended you, Cao Pi, as emperor so that you could help us deal with Liu Bei and preserve the privileges of the aristocratic families, not so that you could stay in the palace indulging in sensual pleasures and waiting to die.
What does this mean? It means that when you reach a certain position, even if you don't want to work hard, others will forcefully pull you up and push you forward.
When Zhong Yao entered the palace, he was blocked by Cao Pi's personal eunuch. Instead of retreating, he berated the eunuch mercilessly, threatening to kill him if he was not allowed to see His Majesty. The eunuch was so frightened that he didn't even dare to wipe the spittle off his face and hurriedly ran to report to Cao Pi again.
Cao Pi, who was drunk and confused, suddenly became clear-headed when he learned of Zhong Yao's resolute attitude. He said in a cold tone, "So you finally couldn't hold back anymore, huh? They are indeed more afraid of Liu Bei's Northern Expedition than I am. Tell the Grand Tutor to wait for me in the study."
After speaking, he dismissed the dancers and got up to change his clothes. At this moment, Cao Pi stood up straight, his face grim as if he was about to die. He was no longer the tyrannical ruler he had been before.
Cao Pi was physically weak, not mentally weak. He knew that he could not fight against Liu Bei alone. To withstand Liu Bei's attack, he and his ministers had to work together and the gentry of the Central Plains had to unite. Otherwise, if he was fighting on the front lines while the gentry of the Central Plains were sabotaging him from the rear, it would be better to just surrender.
However, Cao Pi was also aware of the character of the aristocratic clans. These aristocratic clans were a bunch of lowlifes who wouldn't budge no matter how you tried to lead them. If you tried to persuade them to unite and make contributions, they would definitely spit in your face. But if you just gave up and let them do it themselves, they would turn around and urge you to work hard.
So Cao Pi was gambling, betting on whether he or the aristocratic clans were more afraid of death. If the aristocratic clans continued to oppose him despite Liu Bei's threats, he would indulge in sensual pleasures and live a comfortable life for a few years until Liu Bei's northern expedition succeeded and killed him. Anyway, he had the letters left by Cao Cao, and Liu Bei's character was guaranteed. Even if he lost, it wouldn't implicate his family. Only he would die. At worst, he would just die. What was there to be afraid of?
If the aristocratic families want to continue living comfortably, they should obediently follow his arrangements if he doesn't allow Liu Bei's Northern Expedition to succeed. In short, he needs to make the aristocratic families take the initiative to bow down and beg him. If the aristocratic families don't bow down, then they will all perish together.
This is similar to the emotional abuse between spouses; it's a contest to see who can't take it anymore and give in first.
Now Zhong Yao couldn't hold back any longer and took the initiative to beg him, and things took a turn for the better.
Cao Pi ordered his men to change into court robes in preparation for a grand audience. However, upon reaching the door, he suddenly realized something and returned to his room to change back into the casual clothes he had worn while drinking earlier. He deliberately spilled some wine on them and made the clothes look disheveled, trying to appear as if he had just come from a brothel. He then stumbled and staggered toward the imperial study.
His current persona is that of a tyrannical ruler. If he dresses too formally and appears too serious, Zhong Yao might see through his true thoughts. So he should continue to pretend and not let his persona crumble.
Cao Pi staggered into the imperial study, yawning as he complained to Zhong Yao, who had been waiting for a long time, "Grand Tutor, I'm still busy. What's so urgent that we have to talk now?"
Zhong Yao bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Secretariat has just sent word that not only did Lü Dai successfully quell Shi Hui's rebellion, but he also managed to destroy Funan. Liu Bei has appointed Jian Huan, the son of Duke Jian Yong of Yan, as the new Duke of Yan and sent him to Funan to rule as the ruler."
"Oh..." Cao Pi drawled out the last syllable, his face full of confusion, and said, "What does this have to do with me?"
Zhong Yao was so angry at these words that he almost lost his temper. He barely suppressed his anger and said, "Your Majesty, Liu Bei has been busy for the past six months since he ascended the throne. First, he ordered Mi Fang and Fu Shiren to go to sea and occupy Linyi. He then brought back the so-called Xingguo rice cultivation from Linyi. He also sent Ji Jie as an envoy to Japan. Not only did he discover gold and silver mines in Japan, but he also sold weapons to Japan like crazy. Now he has also enfeoffed Funan. In this way, all the external threats to the pseudo-Han except for us have been eliminated by him."
"More importantly, Liu Bei simultaneously promoted land reform in Jingzhou and Yizhou, and publicly disclosed all technologies such as weaving, papermaking, and steelmaking. He also issued an edict to encourage the gentry to build factories. The pseudo-Han regime is now thriving. If this continues for three to five years, once enough troops and supplies are accumulated, Liu Bei will be ready to launch a northern expedition."
The Cao Wei regime did not recognize the Han dynasty established by Liu Bei, but when referring to Liu Bei's dynasty, it always needed a name, so it was called the pseudo-Han.
Cao Pi spread his hands and said, "That's why we don't have much time left. We should make the most of it and enjoy ourselves, or we'll miss our chance."
Zhong Yao was so angry he almost spat out a mouthful of blood, glaring at Cao Pi with eyes so fierce it looked like he wanted to devour him.
Cao Pi continued lazily, "Grand Tutor, don't look at me like that. You've known that 'Big Ear Thief' longer than I have, and you know him better than I do. Even the late emperor couldn't do anything about him, so what can I do?"
Zhong Yao had known Cao Pi for many years and knew that Cao Pi was not what he appeared to be now. He also knew that Cao Pi was deliberately putting on a show of weakness to force the aristocratic families to submit. So he went straight to the point and said, "Your Majesty, the center of the world is in the Central Plains. The Central Plains has the densest population and the most fertile farmland in the world. No matter how hard Liu Bei tries to govern, he cannot make up for the shortcomings in population and farmland in a short time. Our Great Wei has more than twice the population of the pseudo-Han. If the whole country works together, we may not be without the strength to fight against that big-eared traitor."
This is true. The Jiangnan region is mountainous, and its fertile land has not yet been fully developed. It will be a long way before it can surpass the fully developed Central Plains in terms of grain production. Given Liu Bei's age, it is clear that he cannot live to see that happen.
Leaving aside other miscellaneous factors, in terms of overall national strength alone, Cao Wei still held an overwhelming advantage over the pseudo-Han state. If the people were united, they might actually be able to withstand Liu Bei's Northern Expedition.
Cao Pi scoffed, "The whole country working together? What a joke! Grand Tutor, don't make things difficult for everyone."