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323 Preliminary Reform

Section

Xiahou Dun was not only a relative of the Cao family, but also the most powerful person among the Cao family. His words are naturally very substantial.

In addition, Xiahou Dun and Wu Fan were sworn brothers. Due to this relationship, Xiahou Dun did not speak until Wu Fan was about to leave, and then he asked.

Wu Fan stopped, pondered for a while, looked at Xiahou Dun and said:

"The fifth brother's question is actually very simple. It can be summarized in four words: everyone has their own aspirations."

After saying that, Wu Fan smiled slightly, patted Xiahou Dun on the shoulder, and left.

Xiahou Dun and other Cao relatives were left behind, and they looked at Wu Fan's departure and were speechless.

A person’s ambition is not permanent, but will change as his own conditions change.

When food and clothing become a survival problem, the ambition may be to eat and wear well. When he lives a life of adequate food and clothing, he may think of women, which is what is commonly said, "food and clothing are thoughtful".

And a person like Wu Fan who lacks nothing, naturally his ambition cannot be measured by ordinary people.

Of course, they are all rich people. Some people are willing to donate their wealth to society and benefit more poor people. While some people enjoy a luxurious life, they are happy with the envious eyes of poor people when they look at them. This can only say that people have different qualities and styles.

From this point of view, Wu Fan obviously belongs to the former.

Besides, Wu Fan, who left Xuanhe Palace, left the hall gate and turned to the right, walked through several courtyard gates, and came to the harem.

He was still thinking about Cao Chong's condition and wanted to treat Cao Chong.

Tongquetai can only be regarded as a larger palace, and is incomparable to the official imperial palace in Luoyang City, regardless of its size or number of guards. Even because Cao Chong is still young and has just become the emperor, there are not even concubines in Tongquetai's harem. Only Cao Chong's biological mother, Mrs. Huan, and his godmother Cai Yan, live here.

In this way, the access control in the harem was not particularly strict, at least for Wu Fan, it was almost unobstructed.

After entering the harem, Wu Fan walked straight towards the Yangxin Palace. It was Cao Chong's bedroom.

But when he walked to the Yangxin Hall, he saw several eunuchs and palace maids standing at the gate of the hall, all of whom were bowing their heads and not daring to come out. And in the Yangxin Hall, a sound was coming out--

"...I won't mention the series of evil consequences that the reform proposed by Grand Sima Wu has brought. Just a few actions to weaken the imperial power in his reform. How can you agree? Those are the powers that originally belonged to you, and they were just stripped away one by one. Not only do you not object, but you also strongly support them. The Ai family really doesn't understand what you think before the reform began, and it's still time for you to take back your sincerity."

The person who spoke was Mrs. Huan. Although Wu Fan had no relationship with Mrs. Huan, he could still hear Mrs. Huan's voice.

Logically speaking, Cao Chong was sick, and even if Mrs. Huan had any questions that she had to disturb Cao Chong who was sick, she should have a gentle and tactful voice. However, the voice of Mrs. Huan heard at this time did not have any gentle and tactful meaning at all, but there was some admonishment in it.

Could it be that Cao Chong is not sick at all?

Wu Fan thought to himself.

He approached the hall gate and booed the eunuchs and palace maids standing at the hall gate. Then Wu Fan stood by the door and looked inside. He saw Cao Chong kneeling in the hall, lowering his head. As for the person who was kneeling, he could not see it, he didn't have to think about it and knew that it must be Mrs. Huan.

Seeing this, Wu Fan knew that the reason why Cao Chong failed to attend court in the morning was that Mrs. Huan suddenly came to question and questioned him. Cao Chong knew the importance of this morning court and could not be delayed, so he asked the eunuch to tell him that Cao Chong was sick and he would preside over the morning court.

Mrs. Huan lives in the palace every day, and Wu Fan does not know her. Today, it seems that Mrs. Huan seems to be quite sensitive to politics, especially when it touches on her son's vital interests, she is even more unscrupulous, so Cao Chong couldn't even go to the morning court.

I don’t know what Cao Chong would answer. In this situation, the new emperor and the empress dowager have a difference, especially the fundamental reason for the difference lies in Wu Fan’s reform. In this case, Wu Fan naturally has difficulty getting in, so he can only stand by the door and listen to the conversation inside.

Next, Mrs. Huan pressed step by step and said something Cao Chong shouldn't support Wu Fan's reform. Cao Chong was speechless when he was silent when his mother's admonition.

Wu Fan listened outside the door, and his heart became heavier - would Cao Chong be persuaded by Mrs. Huan, and then he really went to stop the reform?

Now everything is ready, and even the civil and military officials in the court have supported the reform. At this critical moment, if Cao Chong resigns, Wu Fan will really go crazy.

At this moment, Wu Fan even thought of military advice, but this idea was immediately extinguished by Wu Fan after just a little bit of attention. Regarding the Cao Wei regime, Wu Fan has always been present in front of everyone as a loyal minister, and even became a role model for other civil and military officials to follow. The Cao family's relatives also trusted him. This reform has made the relationship between Wu Fan and the Cao family a little dissatisfied. Unless it was absolutely necessary, they would never have the idea of ​​starting a military advice. In that case, a series of chain reactions will occur, and in the end they have to completely oppose all the Cao family's relatives; even when they meet, they will live to the death.

Just as Wu Fan was worried, another woman's voice came out in the hall, but it was Cai Yan:

"Sister, Chong'er is extraordinary. Although he is still young, his world is not as good as a naughty boy of the same age. Sister, you might as well take a break and listen to Chong'er's opinion on this matter."

After Cai Yan said this, Mrs. Huan finally stopped admonishing and asked Cao Chong to answer.

Cao Chong did not speak immediately, but knelt silently for a while before whispering:

"My mother, the child makes you angry, the child is unfilial."

This made Mrs. Huan feel warm in her heart. What kind of feelings in this world can surpass the relationship between mother and son? No matter what the son did wrong, as long as he sincerely regrets, the first one is to forgive him is often the mother.

However, in order to make Cao Chong feel the pressure from him, Mrs. Huan still had a stern face and said nothing, waiting for Cao Chong to continue talking.

I just heard Cao Chong say:

"The mother wanted to know the reason why her child supported the reform of the eighth uncle, so she told her bluntly: Two months ago, because she was worried that Sima Yi would be unfavorable to the child, the eighth uncle, who was in Yunnan, brought the child who had traveled to Jianning and his godmother to Yunnan. During this period, the eighth uncle took her child to attack the battlefield in Yunnan City and witnessed the scene of our soldiers fighting on the battlefield."

Speaking of this, Cao Chong raised his head and looked at Mrs. Huan and said:

"Mother, you must have never seen our soldiers fighting with the enemy with your own eyes. It is impossible to describe it in just one sentence of tragic heroism. They went on one after another, stepped on the bodies of their companions and rushed towards the enemy city wall without hesitation. Often, before the swords and guns in their hands touched the enemy, they were already taken away by the scrambles of the sky... As for those soldiers who were lucky enough to rush into the enemy group, they had to face dozens of swords and guns that were dozens of swords and guns in an instant, but at the last moment when their lives were about to end, they still used all their strength to swing the weapons in their hands towards the enemy. These soldiers, like us, also have parents, brothers, and even wives and children; they were all looking forward to them day and night to go back to reunite with their families. However, they were sleeping in that foreign land and could never return to their hometown, and they could never see their parents, brothers, wives and children again..."

At this time, Cao Chong's eyes were filled with tears and choked:

"Uncle Eight is right. For this country, the people have been paying without regrets. They pay taxes for the country in normal times and killing enemies in wartime. The people pay a huge price for the country, including their lives, but they just hope that this country can provide them with an environment for living and working in peace and contentment; a humble requirement that as long as the ruler does nothing can be achieved, means not to initiate wars on the outside world. And we enjoy their taxes, enjoy the peace they exchanged for their lives, and live a life of luxury. But what have we paid for this country? The so-called guidance of the country is just to move our mouths. Compared with the price they paid for the country, what is the amount of money they pay for the country?"

Hearing this, Mrs. Huan and Cai Yan were both shocked. After wiping the tears on their faces, Cao Chong continued:

"The child believes that as an emperor, one must seek welfare for the people wholeheartedly. Only in this way can one be worthy of the people's support and everything the people have given to this country. The mother and queen, the child is unfilial, and the child cannot ignore the interests of the people and reject the reform of the Eighth Uncle. The child may not be the emperor, but as long as the child is still the emperor for one day, he will fully support the reform of the Eighth Uncle on this day."

After saying that, Cao Chong silently kowtowed to Mrs. Huan to apologize.

The only one who can enjoy the emperor's kowtow was the gods in the sky. Even though Mrs. Huan was Cao Chong's mother, this end made her frightened. Fortunately, there were no outsiders here, Mrs. Huan quickly stood up and helped Cao Chong up who was kowtowed on the ground. While rubbing Cao Chong's forehead with her sleeves, she shook her head helplessly.

After all, as a woman, Mrs. Huan is limited by her knowledge and vision, and her knowledge is inevitably a bit short-sighted. The fundamental reason why she opposes reform is that there are many actions in the reform that weaken the imperial power, which makes her feel that her son's power is damaged. Moreover, she suspects that Wu Fan may have used his son to be too young and ignorant to deceive Cao Chong with sweet words.

When she heard Cao Chong say so carefully and in a meticulous and orderly manner, Mrs. Huan knew it. Although she had never seen the war scene with her own eyes, she had never been to the battlefield in person; but before she married Cao Cao as her concubine, she was from Pengcheng, Xuzhou. She had heard a lot about the battle between the three armies and Pengcheng, and knew that the war had suffered for the common people.

As a result, Mrs. Huan was quite touched by Cao Chong's statement.

On the other hand, Cao Chong said something very terrible - if he wanted to give up reform, unless he did not become the emperor. Cao Chong became the heir to the Cao Wei regime, which was in accordance with Cao Cao's wishes during his lifetime. With this alone, Mrs. Huan had no ability to change. If she took a step back, she would not let Cao Chong be the emperor. Could it be that Cao Ang, Cao Pi, and Cao Zhi be the emperor? It would be better to let Cao Chong be the emperor. At least the emperor was his own son, not others.

In helplessness, Mrs. Huan silently agreed to Cao Chong's support for reform. However, Cai Yan seemed to have thoughtful expressions and murmured to herself:

"So, Sima Wu, has already made this move..."

Cai Yan's feelings were two months ago. Wu Fan insisted on taking Cao Chong to see the scene of attacking Yunnan City despite her opposition. Cai Yan was still very strange at that time and couldn't figure out what Wu Fan meant to do this. Today, it seems that, especially after listening to Cao Chong's argument, all the confusion was solved.

Mrs. Huan, who was wiping Cao Chong's tears, did not hear what Cai Yan said clearly, and asked:

"What did my sister just say?"

Cai Yan hurriedly retracted his mind, smiled and said:

"Oh, nothing. I just suddenly felt that Chong'er had grown up and was very relieved."

Seeing Cai Yan praise her son Cao Chong, Mrs. Huan was also very pleased. Yes, it was true that she could have such an understanding at a young age, which was not comparable to other naughty children of the same age.

As a result, Mrs. Huan's helplessness was finally diluted by this relief. She looked at Cao Chong leaning in her arms, and a little smile appeared on her face.

And Wu Fan had already left the harem with ease at this time.

Cao Chong's words made Wu Fan very pleased. At that time, Wu Fan insisted on letting Cao Chong go and see the scene of attacking Yunnan City, with the intention of allowing Cao Chong to deeply understand the great efforts made by the people to the country. Now it seems that if Cao Chong had not seen the scene of attacking Yunnan City at the beginning, facing Mrs. Huan's reprimand today, Cao Chong would definitely have to take back the mission of reform.

This move was really the right one.

Next, we will implement each step of the reform.

Wu Fan's expression was hesitant and full of ambition. He looked up at the bright sun in the sky, took a deep breath, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

...

Three months later, Luoyang City.

The city is still the same as the original city, the streets are still the same as the original street, and naturally the pedestrians are still the residents of the city.

It seems nothing has changed.

However, if you look closely at the expressions of each pedestrian, you will find that they are very different from those three months ago. Everyone's face is filled with a hint of expectation, a hint of longing, and an excitement. Of course, there is also a hint of confusion.

Wu Fan's fifteen reforms, like a mountain collapse or a tsunami, quickly swept across the country, Luoyang as the capital, naturally bear the brunt. People, regardless of gender, age, heard about the reforms. People can be seen gathered everywhere in the neighborhoods and alleys, and then expressed their views and expectations for these fifteen reforms.

In the palace, the Senate and the House of Representatives have been established, namely the Zhaoming Palace and the Taihe Palace. This is only a temporary venue. According to Wu Fan's requirements, both courtyards must be designed and built into a circular venue for later generations so that the personnel in the venue can speak, and visualize each other in an intuitive way, etc.

The Supervision Department was also established at the same time, located in Jingming Hall. A total of 50 top students from the ten university schools became the first batch of inspectors. These people all represent the highest image of their respective schools. In order to win the recognition of their respective schools, they pay great attention to their words and deeds; they are even more meticulous in their supervision responsibilities.

Other reforms have also made some initial progress, including the Martyrs' Shrine and the Hall of Fame, which are being built in an orderly manner. However, these two buildings are the only ones that no one opposed to in the fifteen reforms.

It is because these two buildings have profound significance to the country and the people. Not only can they inspire soldiers to be loyal to the country during wartime, but they can also inspire the people to contribute to the country in peacetime.

Neither conservatives nor reformists have any reason to oppose the construction of these two buildings.

At this time, it was the morning court time every day. All the personnel from the two courts and one department entered the palace through the palace gate, and then divided into three routes to the palace where the elders, senators and inspectors were located.
Chapter completed!
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