"In ancient times, the emperor used archery to select princes, ministers and officials." [Li·Sheyi]
Weiyang Palace, Qingliang Palace.
When Cao Cao was led in by Mu Shun, the emperor was wearing military uniforms, bowing and shooting arrows in front of the palace. He closed one eye, his body was like a pine tree, stood silently for a few breaths, and then shot an arrow, hitting the center
Bullseye.
Mu Shun hurriedly left Cao Cao behind and walked over quickly, praising him nonstop.
The emperor ignored him, turned sideways, looked Cao Cao up and down, then took an arrow from Mu Shun's hand, put the arrow on the bow without pulling back the bowstring, and moved his eyes to the bull's-eye: "Look
How is my archery skill?"
Cao Cao bowed his hands and bowed, casually glanced at the archery target, and said: "I have long heard that your Majesty practiced riding and shooting martial arts diligently in the past, and he was constantly practicing martial arts. Now his archery skills are of course great. Even if you raise him,
It's even worse than a base one."
"You compare me with them?" A faint smile appeared on the corner of the emperor's mouth.
After realizing it, Cao Cao lowered his head and said: "I made a mistake, your Majesty is naturally unparalleled."
"I don't want to hear you say such nice things." The emperor held the arrow with two fingers and rubbed the feathers at the tail. There was a leisurely look in his eyes, as if he was angry not long ago when he learned that Fan Chou had closed his camp to defend himself.
There is a general saying: "When the autumn air is clear in August and the wild animals are fat, you can follow me to Shanglin Garden to shoot deer."
"I am extremely frightened." Cao Cao was still respectful.
The emperor turned his head and glanced at him, but this time his eyes did not move away: "Tell me how you dealt with it."
Cao Cao then explained the matter in general. During this period, the emperor was playing with the bowstring with his two long and powerful fingers. He responded noncommittally and asked: "Who do you have left outside the city to guard the military camp now?"
"They are my nephews Cao Xiu and Cao Zhen." Seeing the emperor asking about it, Cao Cao naturally introduced him: "They have been fighting with me for many years, and now they are both army commanders and horses, and they are in charge of fine cavalry.
Fan Chen entered the capital under the imperial edict, but he did not bring any generals with him, so he had to temporarily use them."
"Oh..." the emperor muttered, pinched the arrow feathers in his hand, and thought about it for a moment: "Afterwards, you can recommend one of them to be the Emperor's Yulin Lang."
If this was to reward Cao Cao for this action, Cao Cao quickly thought of a candidate. Although both of them were rising stars in the Cao family, regardless of their closeness or ability, he was optimistic about Cao Zhen, the adopted son he had cultivated with his own hands.
"That's right." The emperor was about to raise his bow when he seemed to suddenly react: "Did you kill Fan Chou?"
Cao Cao confessed.
"Who asked you to kill him?" The emperor's tone was a bit colder.
Cao Cao took a step back slightly, cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. The evidence of Fan Chou's crime is as follows. If he stays in the army for a moment longer, the morale of the army will not be stable for a moment. In order to settle the situation early, I will kill him or not."
"Yang Kongqu has just taken office, and now he is busy sharpening his sword." The emperor glanced at him: "You are so bold and kill without announcing it. Aren't you afraid that the Tingwei will punish you?"
It doesn't matter whether there was an edict first or whether he executed without announcing it and made his own decisions. It all depends on what the emperor wants. Cao Cao didn't say anything. Compared with this intimidation, which was not a threat, he cared more about what the emperor really wanted to say.
if.
"Fan Chou is dead and this matter cannot be settled. What are your plans next?"
Cao Cao moved, as if he had planned it: "Shang Shuo ordered Wu Shuo to submit a memorial." :(/
"Forcibly seize women from the common people, expropriate wealthy families, annex land, cultivate party members..." the emperor said contemptuously, slowly drew the bow, took aim, and finally shot out the arrow he had been playing with for a long time, all in one movement: "Take these crimes."
It's not impossible to cure him, but is this your original intention? If these are just the crimes, why do you need to kill Fan Chou first without permission?"
After being told by the emperor, Cao Cao couldn't help but swallow his saliva. He knew what it meant. The red line Dong Cheng violated today would be his red line in the future. As for how wide the scope of this red line was, the emperor seemed to draw this line.
Certain powers were given to him.
"There is something that I have not yet told Your Majesty." Cao Cao felt his mouth was dry and he tried to calm down, then he raised his head and said.
"Well, tell me." The emperor said casually. He had already started to pick up the third arrow and stroked the soft feathers.
Cao Cao further said: "After I interrogated Fan Chou in the army, I found out that someone was secretly instructing him to close the camp and defend himself. After questioning, it was found that Fan Chou was in cahoots with the hussar general..."
"You said Dong Cheng was going to rebel?" The emperor raised his eyebrows, looking quite disbelieving.
"Although there is no truth, it is true." Cao Cao said conclusively: "The Taiwei Liu Gong once heard that Dong Cheng secretly hired alchemists in his house to perform witchcraft and blessings, harming the emperor's heirs..."
The emperor snorted coldly, secretly pinched the handle of the arrow, and interrupted Cao Cao's vague words: "I will discuss this matter after I find out."
Cao Cao was not afraid, but said: "Now that Fan Chou is removed, how can Dong Cheng survive alone? Your Majesty, please think more."
The emperor suddenly nocked an arrow and bent his bow. The arrow cluster flashed a cold light and pointed directly at Cao Cao's face.
Mu Shun was startled, his hands loosened, and the handkerchief he was holding fell to the ground. The people serving around him also knelt down. Among the few who were still standing nearby, the Huangmen Minister was also shocked by this sudden incident.
The situation was overwhelming.
"Your Majesty..." Attendant Zhong Yao couldn't help but want to say something, but when he saw the cold and stern look from the emperor, he couldn't help but stop speaking.
The emperor was pulling a strong bow equipped in the army with a strong draw force. He did not practice riding and shooting often, so he felt weak after pulling this kind of bow a few times. This time he fully drew the bow and hit it head-on.
When Cao Cao was holding Cao Cao, his hand strength was a little weak, and the whole bow trembled slightly, as if he would loosen the bow string due to exhaustion in the next moment and let the arrow fly out and pierce the opponent's head.
"Are you going to be like Dong Cheng?" The emperor's tone sounded as if he would let go at the next moment.
"I don't dare." Cao Cao didn't take a step back this time, he bowed his head and said.
"I don't dare, I still can't." The emperor still drew his bow and arrow.
Zhong Yao glanced at Cao Cao worriedly. His answer almost determined his life.
"I don't dare." Cao Cao did not change his answer.
"Okay." Now that he has come to this step, the emperor will naturally not change his mind midway. However, he still has some concerns in his heart and is inconvenient to explain it to the other party in detail. After hearing this, the emperor shook his head and said: "From now on, you will
As the captain of the Sili school, it is up to you to investigate the matter of Dong Cheng's rebellion." Fastest update on mobile phone::
With that said, the emperor let go of the tight bowstring and lowered the bow and arrow steadily: "You'd better know what you're going to do, don't let me down."
Then, he handed the bow and arrow to Cao Cao, turned around and left.
Cao Cao immediately accepted the order: "I sincerely promise you."
After the emperor left, a group of attendants followed him, leaving Zhong Yao behind for a while. He said to Cao Cao: "Meng De, why are you..."
Cao Cao did not speak. Instead, he played with the bow and arrow handed to him by the emperor with a serious expression. Then he drew the bow with a solemn expression, and easily hit the target with a "shoo" sound.