Chapter 399 The emperor and the scholar family rule the world together! What? You actually hid it from me and became a traitor?
“Have to adopt it?”

Chen Qun looked up at Sima Yi, his eyes filled with confusion.

Cao Cao is so domineering and always does what he wants. Who can force him to do something he doesn't want to do?
"If we follow your nine-rank official system, all the talented people will come from scholar families. If our Great Qin implements this system, then from the court to the counties, from the nine ministers to the county magistrates, all will come from scholar families."

"If this system is implemented, it would mean that the King of Qin and the Shi family would rule the world together, something that has never happened since the founding of the Han Dynasty."

"Such a good system will surely win the full support of the scholars of the four states of Great Qin, and Your Majesty will also win the support of the scholars of the four states until their death."

"Even the noble families in the states of Chu will yearn for our Great Qin."

"The world today is ruled by the nobles and scholars. Whoever wins the nobles and scholars wins the world!"

"Brother Changwen, do you think that the king will refuse to implement such a good system that can win over the scholars of the world, given the current situation where Chu is strong and Qin is weak?"

Sima Yi spoke incessantly, eloquently stating his reasons and judgments.

Chen Qun suddenly realized what was going on, and hurriedly picked up his "Nine-Rank Official System", examining it again with an excited look on his face.

His original intention in establishing this system was actually to prevent the chaos in the country, which led to the interruption of the township evaluation on which the system of recommendation relied, thus causing the system to become ineffective.

Therefore, he targeted the shortcomings of the recommendation system and, in light of the actual situation, came up with the "Nine-Rank System".

The purpose of this system was only to select talented people for the Qin State and Cao Cao.

As for the conspiracy theory that it would benefit the scholars, or even that "the King of Qin and the scholars would rule the world together", he had indeed never thought about it.

However, he did not expect that the Sima Yi in front of him had such sharp insight that he could see the profound meaning that even the original creator himself could not see.

"Zhongda, Zhongda, I didn't expect that you understand the Nine-Rank Official System more thoroughly than I do. I am so ashamed."

After Chen Qun laughed at himself, he couldn't help but nodded slightly:
"As Zhongda said, Qin is weak and Chu is strong. If the king wants to defeat the strong with the weak, he needs to win the support of the scholars in the world."

"From this perspective, my Ninth Rank Official Law is really helpful for Your Majesty to win the support of the Scholars."

"Your Majesty, if you value our country, it is possible that you will implement this system!"

Chen Qun showed delight on his face, and instantly gained more confidence in his masterpiece. He picked it up again to examine it carefully.

Sima Yi stood up and walked outside the hall, stood with his hands behind his back, and looked towards the Central Plains.

"Liu Bei, do you think that if you destroyed the Yuan family and stole the three states of Hebei, you can swallow up the world and support your Han Dynasty?"

"You exterminated my Sima clan, so I, Sima Yi, will exterminate your Liu clan sooner or later and make you pay for your blood debt with blood!"

...

Liangzhou.

The seat of Tianshui County was Ji County.

In a hall of the county government, Xun Yu was sitting in the hall, flipping through the grain books, land registers and other county-related data.

A month ago, he was entrusted by Cao Cao with the important task of inspecting Liangzhou, and he left Chang'an and arrived in Liangzhou.

Over the past month, he has worked tirelessly and conscientiously to inspect all the counties in Liangzhou, from Dunhuang in the west to Wudu in the south.

Tianshui County was the last county he visited on this trip.

"Tianshui County is the richest county in Liangzhou, with the largest population and the most fertile land. Forty percent of Liangzhou's grain tax comes from this county."

"The amount of grain stored in this grain book is obviously not enough. Send your governor Xiahou here."

Xun Yu tapped the account book with his fingertips, his tone and eyes revealing obvious dissatisfaction.

The Xiahou Prefect he was referring to was Xiahou Shang, a member of the Xiahou family and the nephew of Xiahou Dun. He was appointed as the Tianshui Prefect by Cao Cao, and as a clan relative, he was stationed in Longxi and monitored the entire Liangzhou.

"Reporting to Lord Xun, the angel Dong Zhao has arrived in Jicheng to announce the decree. Governor Xiahou is currently in the front hall waiting for the decree. I'm afraid he won't be able to come for a while."

The assistant officer standing by looked embarrassed.

Xun Yu suddenly raised his head and looked at the assistant officer in surprise.

The emperor's envoy Dong Zhao has arrived in Jicheng?
Also announce the decree to Xiahou Shang?
As the Minister of the Han Dynasty and an important official in the court, even if Dong Zhao was delivering the decree to Xiahou Shang, Xiahou Shang should have invited him over to listen to the decree.

Why did Xiahou Shang hide it from him and go alone to meet the envoy and receive the imperial edict?

This is against the rules...

Xun Yu frowned, his face darkened, and he suddenly had a bad feeling in his heart.

"Snapped!"

After putting down the account book, Xun Yu stood up and went straight to the front hall despite the assistant officer's attempt to stop him.

When he rushed to the front hall, he immediately saw that something was wrong.

The Han flags that were originally hung inside and outside the hall had now all been replaced with flags with the word "Qin" on them.

The soldiers were coming in and out, busy replacing all the exhibits with the word "Han" in them with the word "Qin".

Xun Yu’s brows furrowed even deeper, and his ominous premonition became stronger and stronger.

Although the four states in Guanxi were actually under the control of Cao Cao, they were still states and counties of the Han Dynasty in name.

From the imperial court in Chang'an to the local counties, local officials were nominally Han officials, and the flags used were a combination of Han and Qin flags.

Xiahou Shang suddenly withdrew all the Han flags from the county. What did he want to do?
"Xiahou Taishou, the angel came to announce the decree, why didn't you ask me to come?"

"Also, why did you suddenly remove all the Han flags from the county government?"

Xun Yu stepped into the hall and questioned Xiahou Shang who was chatting and laughing with Dong Zhao.

When Xiahou Shang and Dong Zhao saw Xun Yu arriving, they looked at each other, and there seemed to be some kind of tacit understanding in their eyes.

Xiahou Shang then slowly stood up and replied calmly:
"Duke Yongchang has abdicated the throne to the current emperor. The Han Dynasty has fallen and my Qin Dynasty has been established. As the governor of Tianshui of the Qin Dynasty, I naturally have to remove the Han flag."

Xun Yu was stunned. The Duke of Yongchang, abdication, the Han Dynasty had fallen, the Qin Dynasty had been established...

He could recognize this series of unfamiliar words separately, but he had no idea what they meant when they were put together.

"Is such that."

Dong Zhao stood up and said with a smile:
"Taifu Xun, you may not know that during the few days you were inspecting Liangzhou, the Emperor of Han had already abdicated the throne to the King of Qin."

"Several days ago, the King of Qin built an altar in the south of Chang'an to offer sacrifices to heaven, ascended the throne and proclaimed himself emperor. He announced to the world that the country was named Qin and demoted the Emperor of Han to the Duke of Yongchang."

"Zhao has come here today on the orders of the Emperor of Great Qin to come to Liangzhou to read out the Emperor's will to change the dynasty and announce it to the prefectures and counties."

"On the day the emperor ascended the throne, he conferred titles on all his ministers, and appointed you, Xun Lingjun, as the Grand Tutor."

"This Taifu is above the Three Dukes and is the head of all officials. This shows the favor that the emperor has for Taifu."

Dong Zhao told the truth with a smile.

Every word was like a sharp blade cutting into his heart.

Xun Yu staggered back half a step, covered his aching heart, and sat down.

He got it.

Why did Cao Cao suddenly order him to inspect Liangzhou in the name of the emperor?

It turned out that the inspection was just an excuse. Cao Cao deliberately sent him away so that he could force the emperor to abdicate while he was away from Chang'an, so as to achieve a change of generation and ascend the throne to become emperor.

"King Qin, you have finally come to this point."

"Have you really forgotten your ambition to support the Han Dynasty?"

"You actually did something that neither Dong Zhuo nor Yuan Shao dared to do."

"Are you really not afraid of how history will write about you, or how people in the future will call you a traitor and usurper?"

"Where did Cao Mengde, who was full of passion and loyal to the Han Dynasty, go?"

Xun Yu covered his chest with his hands, looked towards the direction of Chang'an, and uttered sad questions in his heart.

Xiahou Shang and Dong Zhao looked at each other, and there was some kind of communication in their eyes, as if the two of them had received a secret decree.

"Teacher Xun, this is the seal of the Master bestowed upon you by His Majesty himself."

Dong Zhao took the seal from his attendant and held it in front of Xun Yu.

Xun Yu's body trembled slightly. He stared at the seal, clenched his fists secretly, and his teeth trembled slightly, but he did not make a move.

"Master Xun, please answer it."

Seeing Xun Yu hesitate, Dong Zhao could not help but urge him.

Xun Yu stared at the seal for a long time, his heart in turmoil and his eyes changing constantly, as if he was engaged in some fierce ideological struggle.

After weighing the pros and cons for a long time, Xun Yu took a deep breath and pushed away the seal in front of him.

"I want to go back to Chang'an first. I want to ask the King of Qin in person who persuaded him to abolish the Han Dynasty and establish his own regime, and which treacherous minister wanted to put him in a disloyal and unjust situation!"

Dong Zhao's body trembled and his brows furrowed.

Xun Yu's attitude in these words couldn't be more obvious:

I do not acknowledge that the Han Dynasty has perished, nor do I recognize you, Cao Cao, the so-called emperor of Qin. It is even more impossible for me to accept your title and become your so-called Grand Tutor of Qin.

"Ugh--"

Dong Zhao put away the seal, shook his head and sighed with great regret.

It seemed that he had foreseen Xun Yu's attitude and was not shocked.

After sighing, he looked at Xiahou Shang, with a cold light flashing in his eyes.

Xiahou Shang understood and beckoned to his personal guards.

The personal guard placed an empty food box in front of Xun Yu's desk.

Xun Yu, who was filled with grief and anger, was startled when he saw the food box in front of him and looked up at Xiahou Shang.

Xiahou Shangyi bowed and explained:

"The emperor thought of the hard work of Grand Tutor Xun during his inspection tour of Liangzhou, so he sent someone all the way from Chang'an to bring some delicacies to comfort the Grand Tutor."

"We will not disturb you, Master, and will take our leave first."

Xiahou Shang and Dong Zhao looked at each other and left, and the guards on both sides also withdrew.

In the empty hall, only Xun Yu's lonely figure was left, staring at the food box with confused eyes.

Ever since Cao Cao returned from Yizhou, he had clearly noticed that Cao Cao's attitude towards him was becoming increasingly cold.

Now he was sent away again, and the Han Dynasty was abolished and the emperor was proclaimed emperor without his knowledge. It can be said that his attitude towards him is not only cold, but also wary and fearful.

It has come to this point, and he still has the heart to send a food box from thousands of miles away to comfort me?

A chill ran down Xun Yu's back, and an ominous premonition came over him again.

After taking a deep breath, he slowly opened the food box with trembling hands.

empty!

The food box is empty, there is nothing in it!

Cao Cao actually traveled thousands of miles to send him an empty lunch box?

What does this mean?
(End of this chapter)