Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

On the 30th day of the 12th month of the ninth year of the Taihe era, Cao Rui personally offered sacrifices at the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

On the first day of the first month of the tenth year of the Taihe era, Cao Rui offered sacrifices to Heaven in the southern suburbs of Luoyang.

After the emperor returned to Luoyang, he participated in two large-scale sacrificial ceremonies, which were symbolic for the whole country, signifying either a temporary truce in the country or the emperor's return to the rightful throne.

In conclusion, the tenth year of the Taihe era always gives people a sense that a peaceful and prosperous era is about to begin.

The students at the Imperial Academy in Luoyang often compared the present world to the reign of Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty. At that time, Emperor Guangwu had successively pacified the entire country, leaving only the region of Shu, ruled by Gongsun Shu, unconquered. Emperor Guangwu sent envoys to Shu to discuss the potential dangers and rewards for Gongsun Shu, but Gongsun Shu refused to surrender…

Everyone knows what happened next.

Emperor Guangwu dispatched generals to attack Shu from two directions: Jingzhou and Guanzhong, and Shu was subsequently pacified. Whether it was the insightful people who discerned the general trend or the ordinary officials who followed the crowd, they all believed that with the Holy Emperor in power, the unification of the four seas was already on the agenda.

A sense of prosperity and flourishing.

On January 3, Dong Ping, the eldest grandson of Dong Zhao, the Prince of Xinye, came to the North Palace to pay his respects, saying that his grandfather was nearing the end of his life and he would like to trouble the emperor to come to the palace to see him one last time.

Cao Rui naturally wouldn't refuse Dong Zhao's request. He immediately led the two cabinet ministers, Pei and Wang, and accompanied by Zhen Xiang, the on-duty commander of the Central Protectorate Army, and the Tiger Guards, to visit Dong Zhao's residence.

After returning to Luoyang that day, Cao Rui never visited Dong Zhao's residence again. For such an elderly and frail minister, excessive attention and frequent meetings were inappropriate.

Before his sickbed, Dong Zhao seemed to be in better spirits than before, and his eyes were a little brighter.

"Your Majesty, I cannot rise to greet you. Please forgive me," Dong Zhao said in a low and weak voice.

Cao Rui said, "Lord Dong, there's no need for such formalities. Did you send someone to summon me today because you have something to say to me?"

Dong Zhao forced a smile onto his wrinkled face: "Your Majesty, I have no more requests. As a subject of Great Wei and Your Majesty, my life is nearly complete. What more could I ask for?"

"Your Majesty offered sacrifices to Heaven at the southern suburbs, proclaiming peace to the Yellow Heaven and the Earth God. Although I could not participate in the ceremony, I was honored to share in the glory from my home. I am about to be buried, soon to join Emperor Wu and the late Emperor." Dong Zhao coughed a few times. "Ah, Emperor Wu probably never imagined that an old man like me would become the Grand Commandant of the State..."

"Does Your Majesty have any messages for me to convey to Emperor Wu and the late Emperor?"

Although Cao Rui was saddened, he had seen many separations from his ministers and was quite open-minded about such matters. Moreover, as Dong Zhao said, he had no regrets in his life. He had reached the highest position in the court, been enfeoffed as a marquis and king, and his descendants had benefited. There was no better option.

Cao Rui shook his head slightly: "I have nothing for Lord Dong to say. The Great Wei was founded by them, and I am merely a successor, and ultimately just a passerby. I will do what needs to be done, and I will do my best to do it well."

At this point, Cao Rui smiled and said, "If they can't do it well, there's nothing we can do. They themselves have many shortcomings, so how can we expect more from me?"

Dong Zhao nodded slightly: "Your Majesty is magnanimous, truly a descendant of the Cao family."

As the two men spoke, Dong Zhou, Dong Ping, and Dong Zhang, father and sons, who were standing in Dong Zhao's bedroom, all began to wipe away tears in unison. Just yesterday, Dong Zhou had rushed back from his post as Prefect of Runan. Whether it was Dong Zhao who taught them or not, for officials with little talent, loyalty and filial piety were the only things they could demonstrate to His Majesty.

"However, I have one more thing to ask Lord Dong." Cao Rui glanced around. "You may all wait outside. I will have a moment alone with Lord Dong." "Yes, Your Majesty," everyone replied in unison.

Dong Zhou, Dong Ping, Dong Zhang, Pei Qian, Wang Su, and Zhen Xiang all left and retreated.

Dong Zhao remained silent, but his gaze remained fixed on Cao Rui's face.

Cao Rui sighed: "Master Dong, Confucius said, 'Those who are born with knowledge are the highest, those who learn through study are next, and those who learn through hardship are next again.'"

"Does Master Dong believe that there are people in the world who are born with knowledge?"

Dong Zhao's face remained calm: "Confucius said, 'I am not one who is born with knowledge, but one who loves antiquity and seeks it diligently.' But I believe Your Majesty's talent is a gift from Heaven. I have read all the historical records of the four hundred years of the Han Dynasty. As a successor, no one can compare to Your Majesty."

"What am I?" Cao Rui shook his head self-deprecatingly: "I'm just a bit more diligent, I do everything myself, and I try my best not to make mistakes."

Dong Zhao said, "By not making mistakes, Your Majesty is already better than 90% of the monarchs. Not to mention that Your Majesty personally attends to every matter and commands troops in every battle. In my opinion, Your Majesty is even better than Emperor Guangwu."

Cao Rui shook his head again and said, "How can I compare to Emperor Guangwu? Lord Dong, please don't joke."

"There is something I have been holding back for almost ten years. If I had not met with Lord Dong today, I probably would never have asked it to anyone else."

"Lord Dong, if I have any methods to make the Great Wei strong, do you think I should use them?"

"What?" Dong Zhao frowned, seemingly not understanding.

Cao Rui sighed and said, "Dong Gong said that my talents are bestowed by Heaven, and I do indeed have some talents bestowed by Heaven... Just as bronze was used as weapons in the pre-Qin period, and steel is used as weapons now, it is always better to use steel to defeat bronze. If the current army of Great Wei were to fight against the army of the First Emperor of Qin, the army of Great Wei would surely win."

"I know so much. Since my ascension to the throne, I've only offered some suggestions on ship modifications for the navy, mentioned a few points about the procedures for the Imperial Workshop, and created a telescope to facilitate the army's observation of enemy positions... If I wanted, I could destroy any formidable pass in the land at will, as if it were divine punishment. I even know some doctrines that are more useful than classical studies in worldly affairs, capable of making the Great Wei army stronger, the people richer, and everyone well-fed and clothed. My decrees can be transmitted from Luoyang to Liaodong in an instant. Do you believe it or not, Lord Dong?"

Dong Zhao replied calmly, "Your Majesty's talent is indeed divinely bestowed... I understood three-tenths of what Your Majesty said. Your Majesty knows these things but does not use them. Is it because you are worried that these things will cause changes in the Great Wei?"

"Yes." Cao Rui said frankly, "To be honest, I dare not underestimate the heroes of the world, nor do I dare to let the world change too quickly, lest it exceed the scope of what I can control. As the emperor, I must prioritize stability in all things. I can only pacify the world first, and then consider other matters."

Dong Zhao did not delve into the matter, but instead laughed: "Why should Your Majesty worry about these things? I have heard that a family that accumulates good deeds will surely have abundant blessings."

“At this moment, standing outside my bedroom are my three sons and grandsons. Your Majesty also has sons, and will surely have grandsons in the future. If Your Majesty knows anything, but is unwilling, unable, or wants to do it later, just teach them the matter and let them do it.”

"Heroes and great men emerge in great numbers throughout the world. Even so, how can the affairs of the world be accomplished in one generation? The great cause of the Wei dynasty has taken three generations to complete."

Cao Rui nodded slightly, then remained silent. (End of Chapter)