After returning to Luoyang from Xuchang, Cao Pi adopted Cao Cao's advice to himself before his death, and reused Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu. He cleverly imitated the way Emperor Xuan of Han dealt with Huo Guang, and gradually deprived Cao Hong of his military power by promoting openly and secretly. At the same time, he promoted Cao Zhen to the general of the Shangjun, general in charge of military affairs at home and abroad, and used the counterfeiting of the quarrels and axes to squeeze Cao Hong out of the core level of military command in one fell swoop. Cao Zhen also became the supreme leader in the military.

In order to promote Cao Xiu, Cao Pi, he also took great pains to promote Cao Xiu. He began to have this idea in 220 AD. At that time, Cao Ren and Xiahou Dun had the highest prestige among the veteran generals. Xiahou Dun was old and sick, and it was difficult to survive the end of the New Year. He admired Cao Xiu very much, so Cao Pi appointed Xiahou Dun as the general. As a result, Xiahou Dun died soon and recommended Cao Xiu to replace him before his death.

All this was exactly what Cao Pi thought, so he followed the flow and appointed Cao Xiu as General Zhennan, and replaced Xiahou Dun in Runan to be responsible for the important mission of resisting Sun Quan. In order to strengthen his majesty, before Cao Pi left Luoyang and went to Zhaoling to take office, Cao Pi himself came to the city gate to see him off, and said to Cao Pi in front of all the officials present:

"General, please let go, and you will leave the defense of the southeast of the Great Wei Dynasty!"

The first thing Cao Xiu did after taking office was to execute the order issued by Cao Pi:

He captured Liyang with lightning speed. Without any preparations in the Eastern Wu side, Cao Xiu was ordered to launch a raid on Liyang. After successfully occupying Liyang City, he personally led his army to avoid the Ruxuwu Fortress, crossed the Yangtze River, which Cao Cao had thought several times but failed, and burned down thousands of military camps set up by Sun Quan in Wuhu.

Sun Quan was extremely frightened when he learned that Cao Xiu had led his army across the Yangtze River and went straight to the rear of his base Jianye.

At that time, most of the outstanding generals in Jiangdong were transferred to Jingzhou, so they could not stop Cao Xiu. Seeing this, Sun Quan hurriedly ordered Lu Xun, who was guarding Jingzhou, to come back to fight Cao Xiu. Lu Xun felt very strange when he received this news, but since the matter was extremely urgent, he led at least 20,000 people down the river from Jiangling and quickly went to Wuhu to annihilate Cao Xiu.

However, the development of the situation made Lu Xun increasingly uneasy, because after Cao Xiu learned that Lu Xun came to deal with him personally, he actually chose to cross the Yangtze River north and return to Liyang to station. Therefore, there was no head-on battle between the two.

Afterwards, Sun Quan was shocked and angry at Cao Xiu's undeclared raid. He wanted to order Lu Xun, who was already stationed in Wuhu, to send troops to retake Liyang, but Lu Xun advised him: "Lord, the last general thinks that Cao Xiu's move is very strange. He should not have a greater conflict with Cao Wei at this time, because the most dangerous enemy at present is still Liu Bei."

Sun Quan had to give up for the time being, but he didn't know at this moment that Cao Xiu's move was not to seize a small Liyang City and burn down those empty camps that had not yet been stationed.

In fact, this was a strategy that Cao Pi had long discussed with Jiang Ji, the attendant of Sanqi, and Gao Rou, who had long ruled the book and enforced the law. The purpose was to force Sun Quan to transfer the commander of Jingzhou Lu Xun to the east to assist, thus giving Liu Bei, who had been looking for a fighter opportunity, and eventually triggering a full-scale war between Sun Quan and Liu Bei.

After the news of Cao Xiu's success reached Luoyang, Cao Pi was extremely happy and immediately issued an edict to move Cao Xiu as General of the East, and to be the governor of Yangzhou, and to be the founding of Anyang Township. At that time, many people did not understand that Cao Xiu's reckless behavior would probably trigger a war between Cao Wei and Sun Quan. Moreover, he retreated after hearing that Lu Xun led his army to support, and did not have significant military achievements. Why was he rewarded by Cao Pi so much beyond the specification? Cao Pi explained to them:

"Let's leave a suspense for now, you'll know in a short while..."

Since Cao Pi established himself as emperor, he should have immediately made a book to establish the empress and crown prince. However, although Cao Pi favored Mrs. Guo twice as much as he had called him a noble concubine after returning from Yecheng, and was very close to the position of the empress, he had not yet confirmed the position of the empress, because he was still thinking about Zhen Mi who was far away in Yecheng.

But Cao Pi was also very clear that their relationship had completely broken down after Zhen Mi learned the truth about Yuan Xi's death.

Queen Guo saw this opportunity and used her confidant to spread rumors in Yecheng, saying that after Cao Pi became emperor, Zhen Mi not only did not be happy for her husband, but instead showed her sad face all day long. Some people even saw her wearing a filial piety dress to worship the Yuan family temple.

These news were all like sharp knives, cutting off the only remaining thoughts of Zhen Mi in Cao Pi.

Especially at this time, Zhen Mi went to worship Yuan Xi, which was undoubtedly the greatest satirical and humiliating to Cao Pi. For this reason, he actually wrote an edict to kill Zhen Mi in anger and sent someone to Yecheng for execution immediately.

At that time, Zhang He, the marquis, was transferred back to Xuchang by Cao Pi from the Chencang front line, and sent him to attack Jiangxia with Xiahou Shang. After winning, he returned to Luoyang to report to Cao Pi. When he learned that Cao Pi was going to kill Zhen Mi, he was extremely shocked and unbelievable, and hurriedly wanted to enter the palace to plead with Cao Pi.

Just as he walked to the palace gate, Sima Yi suddenly blocked his way:

"What does the general mean?"

Seeing Sima Yi stopping him, Guo Huai, who was anxious, didn't care about so much:

"Please move aside! I will ask you to see Your Majesty if you have something important to you!"

But Sima Yi still stood in front of him: "What can we do if the general comes in? What position do you take to plead for her? I'm afraid that not only will Mrs. Zhen not only will she not be able to save her, but the general will have a future that will be ruined..."

"shut up!"

The furious Zhang He lost his control of his emotions. He pulled out the sword from his waist and put it on Sima Yi's shoulder:

"I'll say it again... Get out of here..."

But Sima Yi's eyes were not shaken by the sharp blade at all. He turned his back and advised:

"There is a manipulation of Concubine Guo behind Mrs. Zhen's affairs, and there is no possibility of turning around. Have the general ever thought that if Mrs. Zhen dies, and you are dead, who will assist His Highness, who is isolated and helpless, then!"

Sima Yi's words gave Zhang He, who was almost out of control, a blow to his head. Only then did he remember that Zhen Mi had a pair of children, especially Cao Rui is now the only son of Cao Pi, and naturally the most likely successor to Cao Wei's country. After Zhen Mi's death, she must be Queen Guo. Once she gave birth to another son, Cao Rui's position would be worrying.

Thinking of this, Zhang He reluctantly took back his sword. He lowered his head and turned around slowly walked towards the opposite direction of the palace gate...

Facing the imperial edict and poisonous wine sent by the envoy, Zhen Mi seemed very calm:

"It's true that day is coming..."

She raised the wine bottle on the desk and drank it all. At this moment, when she heard the news, Cao Rui, the Duke of Qi, rushed back to stop him, ran into the house. Seeing that Zhen Mi had been poisoned and fell to the ground, he was dying, and immediately cried and went up to save his mother:

"Mother! Mother!"

Zhen Mi raised her hand weakly and stroked Cao Rui's cheek, tears flowing from the corners of her eyes into her hair:

"Rui'er, it's my mother who's sorry for you... From the beginning, my mother made a decision that would be enough to regret for life..."

After saying that, Zhen Mi closed her eyes forever because of the rapid attack of the potent wine...

As she said at the time of her death, her eyes were filled with bitter tears of regret and self-blame...

After sending the envoy, Cao Pi began to regret it. In addition, the magician's fortune telling signs were that there would be a noble woman in the world who died unjustly. For this reason, Cao Pi immediately sent a second group of fast horses to stop Zhen Mi before she committed suicide.

However, the messenger was still late. When they arrived, Zhen Mi was already dead.

Seeing that they were coming so late, Cao Rui pulled out his sword and killed the envoys one by one in anger. He suddenly felt blood flowing in the hall.

Afterwards, Cao Rui rushed back to Luoyang again, and even had no choice but to clean up the blood, he broke into Cao Pi's palace. At this time, Cao Pi had already received the news of Zhen Mi's death and Cao Rui's crazy killing of the envoy. The former made him sad, while the latter made him angry, especially when he saw Cao Rui standing in front of him with his own eyes, he couldn't help feeling strong ashamed and angry.

What's more, Cao Rui is now at the age of seventeen, and is in his youth and energy...

The cold atmosphere of the long confrontation made it difficult for all the palace servants present to breathe. It took a long time before Cao Pi spoke to break the deadlock. He looked at Cao Rui, who was emitting a bloody smell all over his body and asked:

"Just say anything, what do you want to do with such fierce eyes?"

"My son dare not..."

The humbleness in words does not mean that Cao Rui is consistent. He asked Cao Pi:

"But my son wanted to dare to ask my father what crime my mother committed? She had to issue an order to kill her..."

Facing Cao Rui's direct questioning himself, Cao Pi put down the memorial in his hand heavily, and his slightly angry expression appeared on his face: "Is this your attitude of talking to your father? Who taught you!"

But Cao Rui was not intimidated by Cao Pi's anger, and he still wanted to seek justice for his mother:

"My father forced his wife to death but could not tell the charge. Could it be that he wanted to follow Jie and Zhou?"

“Bold!”

Cao Pi could no longer tolerate Cao Rui's open blasphemy of his majesty as the emperor. He walked angrily to the palace armored soldiers, drew out his sharp sword and quickly approached Cao Rui:

"You rebellious son..."

Just as Cao Pi's sword blade was only half a knuckle distance from Cao Rui's neck, a shout suddenly came from the main entrance of the hall:

"Your Majesty! Please keep someone under the sword!"

When he heard the sound, Cao Pi saw Sima Yi panting and holding the door frame of the hall:

"Although the eldest son is rushing to His Majesty first, it is reasonable for him to pay attention to filial piety as a son. Even if the tiger poison does not eat his son, please do not act impulsively!"

Sima Yi's timely arrival made Cao Pi calm down from his anger. Cao Pi realized that killing Zhen Mi had already made him regret it. Cao Rui was his only son at present. Killing him was not only guilty of Zhen Mi's heroic spirit, but also shakes the foundation of the country.

Thinking of this, Cao Pi slowly moved the sword away from Cao Rui and temporarily gave up the idea of ​​killing him. But Cao Pi did not let Cao Rui go. He ordered Cao Rui to return to his mansion to think about his mistakes and not to take a step out of the mansion.

Cao Pi has always been unsure about how to deal with Cao Rui. This incident had a great impact at that time. Under the leadership of Sima Yi and Chen Qun, many ministers jointly requested Cao Pi, Strive to ask for forgiveness of Cao Rui.

Of course, Cao Zhen, who was in charge of military power, also knew about this. He believed that the general could not interfere in government affairs, so he did not want to be involved in this matter. However, his disciple and counselor Huan Fan strongly advised Cao Zhen to express his attitude on this matter:

"In terms of status, Cao Rui of Qi is the eldest son of His Majesty. Although His Majesty has not yet decided to deal with it because his anger has not yet disappeared, the possibility of Cao Rui's succession in the future has not been completely eliminated. It will definitely be beneficial to your future to pull him at this critical moment. Otherwise, how could Sima Yi and Chen Qun be so active?"

After Huan Fan's reminder, Cao Zhen immediately realized the reason why Sima Yi was willing to make direct advice and also tried to protect Cao Rui: "Sima Yi has always been low-key and conservative in his work. This time, it is indeed very different from his previous style of conduct. It seems that the worry of the late emperor is not completely unreasonable. This person is not simple..."

Later, Cao Zhen also used his skills to quickly reach a consensus with Cao Ren, Cao Xiu, Xiahou Shang and others, and submitted a joint report to Cao Pi with the military generals, requesting Cao Pi to pardon Cao Rui and jointly submit a joint report with the civil officials led by Sima Yi and Chen Qun to form a sharp contrast.

At the same time, Sima Yi and Chen Qun also went to the Qi Duke's Mansion to visit Cao Rui in private.

Cao Rui knew very well that if Sima Yi had not arrived in time in the hall before, he might have probably died under the sword of his biological father. Therefore, in his eyes, there was no difference between Sima Yi and his life-savior. Seeing Sima Yi seemed very friendly, he quickly stood up and bowed to him:

"Thank you, Lord Sima, for saving you..."

However, Sima Yi did not smile because of this. He still said to Cao Rui with a serious expression:

"If Your Highness insists on continuing to compete with Your Majesty, he will probably still be unable to escape death."

Cao Rui seemed to carelessly: "How about that? I watched my mother be killed unjustly. Do I still want me to be blind? In this case, how can I be worthy of my mother's raising me!"

After hearing this, Chen Qun shook his head and said:

"But have your Highness ever thought that if you die, then who can rehabilitate Mrs. Zhen?"

This sentence hit Cao Rui's inner heart. All the hostility on his face gradually dissipated, and his tone also decreased a lot:

"Then what should I do?"

Sima Yi walked to Cao Rui, held the close distance that was close, and used his deep eyes to face Cao Rui's eyes:

"Your Highness should apologize to His Majesty immediately, so that he will be able to escape from danger..."

"But...I'm not willing..."

Cao Rui, who bit his lower lip, still couldn't let go of Zhen Mi's tragic death. Sima Yi was very considerate of his feelings. He patted Cao Rui's shoulder lightly like an elder and said:

"No matter when your Highness must remember, there will be nothing if a person dies..."

Cao Rui was not a reckless and stupid person at a young age. He knew that Sima Yi was advising him to endure temporarily and put the overall situation first, so he bit his finger in front of Sima Yi and Chen Qun and wrote a blood letter to apologize to Cao Pi.
Chapter completed!