Shu Yan thanked Wei Guan and Wang Rong, and asked impatiently: "I wonder if Duke Wei came to me because of the severe drought in the four northern states?"

"What about the severe drought in the four northern states? I came to you because Goguryeo sent envoys to pay tribute yesterday, and I want you to write a reply."

"Oh, this is simple." There was polished ink on the desk. Shu Yan picked up the pen, thought about it a little, and brushed it. After a while, he wrote the reply and handed it to Wei Guan. Wei Guan took it and read it, nodding.

Smiling, Shu Yan asked: "I wonder what the imperial court said about the disaster relief in Liang, You, Qing, and Jizhou?"

"The imperial court is also aware of the drought in the four states, so where is the need for disaster relief? According to the report, it is just that there has been no rainfall in some places for several days in a row, so it is not that serious?"

"Isn't it serious? Hum, these high-ranking officials in the court only care about living in temples, and local officials only care about having fun. They don't know the suffering of the people." Shu Yan then told Wei Guan, Wang Rong and others about what he saw and heard on the road.

People said it.

After hearing this, Wei Guan said: "It turns out it's so serious. Without further delay, we'll go see the emperor right away."

"Hasn't the Emperor already retired?"

"It's a coincidence that today, although the emperor has retired from the court, he is still in the side hall of Taiji Hall."

When Shu Yan heard that he was going to see the emperor, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous. Although it was normal for a minister to answer questions in front of the emperor, he was a low-ranking official after all, and it was his first time to see the emperor, so he was a little flustered. He followed Wei Guan, Wang Rong and others

People came to Jianlimen,

While preparing pens, inks, paper and inkstones, a maid had already brought a piece of chicken tongue incense to Shu Yan. Chicken tongue incense was a must-have item in the palace, and the courtiers had to take one before meeting the emperor.

When I talk to the emperor, my breath is fresh and has no peculiar smell.

Shu Yan swallowed the fragrance of chicken tongue and suddenly felt that his seven orifices were unblocked, his energy was high, and most of his panic disappeared. He followed Wei Guan and others into the Tai Chi Hall. Along the way, Wei Guan taught him the etiquette of audience, and Shu Yan taught him one by one.

Write it down.

At that time, when courtiers were to see the emperor, they had to take off their shoes at the entrance of the main hall, and those with swords had to take off their swords. They walked in small steps and bowed down before the emperor, and then said their names. This etiquette was to show the courtiers' respect for the emperor.

The emperor is superior and his ministers are inferior. However, there are exceptions, that is, when the emperor bestows the honorary qualification of "going to the palace with swords and shoes, participating in the music without fame, and entering the court without following". People who are given this qualification can

There is no need to take off your shoes, untie your sword, walk in small steps, or say your name, but just walk directly into the hall in a generous manner. Of course, there are very few people who are granted this qualification. Although Wei Guan

He did not have the above-mentioned special honors, but he was one of the three nobles, so he was naturally different from others. He walked in first, followed by Wang Rong and others, and finally Shu Yan also bowed down in front of Sima Yan according to etiquette.

Sima Yan looked at Shu Yan and said, "This is not a formal court meeting. You don't need to be formal and you can calm down."

Shu Yan stood up, but still did not dare to look up, and nodded. Sima Yan was discussing matters with several ministers. He waved his hand, and Shu Yan and others stood aside.

Shu Yan slowly raised his head and saw the emperor sitting on the throne, wearing a five-beam Jinxian crown and a royal robe. He was about fifty years old.

, extraordinary. Behind the emperor were two maids holding treasure fans, and there were several people standing in front of the throne. Among them were Shi Chong and Shi Hui. Shu Yan glanced at it and lowered his head hurriedly.

It turned out that the founding emperor of the Jin Dynasty, Sima Yan, was in his twilight years, and the succession to the throne had been put on the agenda. Although he had established a prince long ago, the intelligence of this prince, Sima Zhong, was too low. Sima Zhong was the son of Sima Yan and Queen Yang Yan.

The second son, but the eldest son died early, so he became the eldest son. At the beginning of establishing the crown prince, Sima Yan also wavered, but the ministers such as Jia Chong in the court tried their best to maintain it, and Queen Yang and Sima Yan

Yan was married and had a deep relationship, so he reluctantly kept the crown prince position. At this time, Sima Zhong was already in his thirties. After being the prince for so many years, he had not seen much improvement in intelligence, let alone

In terms of governing the country, the prince was dull and none of Sima Yan's other sons were outstanding, so the ministers in the court hoped that Sima Yan's half-brother, Sima You, King of Qi, would succeed to the throne.

Sima You's life experience is not simple. He almost replaced Sima Yan and became emperor. Because after the death of Sima Yi, the founder of the Jin Dynasty, his eldest son Sima Shi succeeded him. However, Sima Shi had no son, so he sent his younger brother Sima Zhao to him.

One of his sons adopted him as his stepson, and this son was Sima You. Sima Shi

When he died, Sima You was supposed to succeed him, but Sima You was still young at the time, so Sima Zhao succeeded his brother. Sima You had loved scriptures since he was a child, and he was good at writing and was good at giving to virtuous people.

On the right side of his brother Sima Yan. Sima Zhao liked him very much and often held him on his knees. Every time he saw Sima You, he always touched him with his hands.

He looked at his throne and said: "This was originally your seat." He also said to others, I sit on my brother's world, and when I get old, I will definitely return this seat to my brother's son to inherit. Of course, Sima

Zhao was not stupid. He knew that no matter who succeeded him, it would be his son. But later, when he established the crown prince, Si

However, Ma Zhao broke his promise and did not make Sima You the crown prince. Instead, he made his eldest son Sima Yan. Compared with his elder brother Sima Yan, although Sima You was a bit more talented, Sima Yan was magnanimous, wise and kind.

He was a strategist and capable of deciding big things, but he surpassed Sima You in this aspect. Therefore, it was not too aggrieved that Sima You had not competed with his elder brother.

Different from the battle for the throne twenty years ago, this Sima Zhong is really very different from his father Sima Yan. If the throne is handed over to such a person, the Jin Dynasty will be over. There are more righteous ministers in the court.

They, such as Wei Guan, etc., all want to abolish Sima Yan.

The prince was replaced by Sima You. Although Sima Zhong was not worthy of being the emperor, he had the influence of his grandfather's Yang family in the court. In addition, now that Sima Zhong had married Jia Chong's daughter Jia Nanfeng, he also had the influence of the Jia family.

, undoubtedly added a lot of chips to Sima Zhong.

Sima Yan also had concerns about passing the throne to Sima Zhong. He knew that after his death, a reliable person should assist his foolish son, but he had no idea who to choose. Although he knew that Sima You no longer cared about the throne at this time.

If he had extravagant wishes, it would be perfect for him to have Sima You assist him in the government. But he could not stand up to the prince. Party people turned a deaf ear to him, and he himself was soft-hearted, so he could not make up his mind on this matter.

I heard Xun Xu, the Supervisor of Zhongshu, say: "Nowadays, most of the ministers in the court are loyal to King Qi. After your Majesty's long live, the prince will definitely not be stable. If your Majesty doesn't believe it, you can ask King Qi to leave the capital and return to his vassal country. If

All the officials in the court have remonstrated and tried their best to retain the King of Qi, so my words will come true."

Chariot General Yang Jun was the prince's grandfather. After hearing this, he immediately said: "Xun Zhongshu is right. His Majesty once issued an edict to let all the kings with fiefdoms return to the vassal state to guard one side.

Wei Jingshi, and among all the kings, the closest one is none other than King Qi, King Qi should set an example."

Wei Guan heard this and knew that this was the prince. The party people were squeezing out King Qi and trying to transfer King Qi from the core of power. He said: "Your Majesty is old now, and the prince has no experience in political affairs. King Qi is your majesty's closest relative, and he also

When he is in his prime, he holds the position of general of the army, prince and tutor, he should stay in the court, assist your majesty, assume the responsibility of prime minister and assistant, and share your worries for your majesty. How can you be transferred away from the capital?"

Sima Yan looked at the people on the left and right and thought to himself: "On the surface, these opinions they put forward are for the sake of the imperial court and the country, but in fact, most of them form cliques for personal gain and fight openly and secretly for their own selfish interests, especially those in high positions."

minister

Thinking of this, he suddenly set his sights on Shu Yan. These powerful officials from wealthy families all have their own factions, but this little Shang Shulang comes from a poor family. He is definitely not qualified to get involved in political struggles.

Come on, why don't I ask him?

"Are you the Shu Yan that Wei Sikong said?"

Shu Yan didn't dare to raise his head, "Wei Chen is right."

After seeing this, Sima Yan said to everyone: "This man is dignified in appearance and generous in manners. What Wei Sikong said is indeed true."

Shi Hui came closer and replied: "Your Majesty, this person is from Ruyin. His deceased ancestor once served as a doctor of imperial studies in Cao Wei. He was an old man from the previous dynasty. He was loyal to Cao Wei until his death. His father was determined to farm and study.

, don’t want to be an official.”

"Well, really? Since your grandfather was so loyal to the previous dynasty and your father was determined to farm and study, why do you want to be my minister in the Jin Dynasty?"

Shi Hui listened to the holy words, figured out the holy meaning, and hurriedly said: "Confucius said: If you have not changed your father's ways for three years, you can be called filial. Shu Yan, you violated your father's will, is this unfilial?"

Sima Yan just asked casually, but Shi Hui meant to accuse. Shu Yan became calmer after hearing this, and said calmly: "What Confucius said does not mean that future generations must follow their ancestors completely.

The behavior and career must change with the times. What he said is "Tao"

'It is a way that conforms to the way of heaven and keeps pace with the times. Whether you are filial or unfilial depends on whether you change the way of your father and ancestors to a reasonable or unreasonable way. In the past, Shang Dynasty was tyrannical. If King Wen and King Wu of Zhou did not change the way of their fathers and ancestors, they would not go away.

To defeat Zhou, how many more ministers will King Zhou kill? How many more people will suffer as a result?

?On the contrary, if their descendants, King You and King Li, continued to follow the way of King Wen and King Wu to govern the country and love the people, how could they ruin the eight hundred years of the Zhou Dynasty? If Dayu was controlling floods, if he continued to follow his father's method of 'blocking'

, how can we successfully manage water resources without adopting the method of 'drainage'?

Problem? There is also Confucius himself. If he continued to follow his father's way and became a general, how could he become the most holy teacher? If he did not become the first teacher, his sentence "Three years without changing the way of his father" can be said to be

"Filial piety." How could it be known to future generations? Even His Majesty changed the ways of the late emperor."

Sima Yan listened to Shu Yan's eloquence and thought it was reasonable. He was smiling and nodding, when he suddenly heard "Your Majesty" being called, and thought to himself, Hey, why do I have anything to do with him?

"How dare you talk nonsense about His Majesty!" Shi Hui scolded hurriedly.

"How can I dare to say nonsense? Your Majesty has indeed changed the way of the late emperor, but this change is very good and should be done very well. Emperor Wei is incompetent and deviant, and God will not bless him. Your Majesty's valiant strategy and blessings from heaven are aimed at

Dajin. If your majesty disobeys

When the sky is right, I will not surrender to Wei, but continue to be a minister like the late emperor to serve the incompetent Wei Emperor. How can I calm the world, make all directions surrender, and create a prosperous era where the world is peaceful and the people live in peace?"

Originally, Shi Hui wanted to see Shu Yan's joke, but he didn't expect that he actually flattered the emperor. Sima Yan was naturally more happy after hearing this. But Shi Hui was still unwilling, so why did he say: "Since you know God's blessing

Da Jin and Cao Wei are incompetent, so why don’t you advise your father and ancestors to serve me in Da Jin?”

Shu Yan sneered and said: "Shi Zhongzheng, don't you hear it? Confucius said: When you serve your parents, you have to give advice. If you don't follow your will, you should respect it without disobeying it, and work hard without complaining. He also said: When you serve your parents, you can do your best, and when you serve the king, you can do your best.

As for me, my father and ancestors were born in the previous dynasty, so they were naturally loyal to the former dynasty, and I was born in the Jin Dynasty, so I am naturally loyal to the Jin Dynasty. Is this wrong?"
Chapter completed!