Three Kingdoms: Ancestors of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 498
In 235 A.D., the third year of Wei Emperor Cao Rui Qinglong, Huaili.

In the early morning, a ray of sunlight came in through the window lattice and fell into the house.There are two stoves in the house, burning charcoal for heating.

Cao Rui lay comfortably on the soft couch, with his hands resting on the blanket, his upper body was fully clothed, and his lower body was uncovered, revealing the arrow wound injured by Huo Yi.I saw that the crossbow bolts on the wound had long been pulled out, and now although the flesh and blood were visible, there were signs of recovery.

The doctor next to him took out the well-cut thin straw paper from the medicine bag and spread it out, took out the bamboo tube, and poured the moxa stuffed in it on the fine straw paper.Then add cinnamon, dried ginger, cloves, lovage and other medicinal materials into it, and roll it into a cylinder.

During the movement, the doctor looked at Cao Rui who was lying on the couch, and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, moxibustion may be hot. If Your Majesty thinks it is too hot, please inform Yuchen."

"En!" Cao Rui replied with his eyes closed.

Acupuncture and moxibustion are divided into two types, among which moxibustion is moxa-moxibustion.Moxibustion originated in ancient times. Moxa cones and moxa sticks made of moxa leaves are mainly ignited, and combined with acupuncture, the acupuncture points of the human body are smoked to achieve the purpose of curing diseases.

Cao Rui was hit by an arrow in the thigh, and he rode a donkey cart for hundreds of miles at night, and the cold air entered his body. It can be said that he was extremely tired.That's why Cao Rui not only hurt his thigh this time, but also hurt his vitality.

When the doctor treated Cao Rui, after drawing the crossbow arrows for him, he moxibustioned Cao Rui again and again every day to draw out the poison and expel the heat.

The doctor holds the moxa stick and wraps it around the fire lamp several times, waiting for the moxa stick to ignite and smoke.The doctor placed the moxa stick on the wound on Cao Rui's thigh through the air and smoked it, transferring the medicine in the moxa stick to the wound through heat.

"Hmm!" Cao Rui could not help but snort comfortably as the warm feeling dissipated the pain from the wound.

"Your Majesty~, Liu Shizhong requests an audience." The attendant said through the door.

Cao Rui, who was lying on the couch, came to his senses and shouted: "Xuan!"

"promise!"

After opening the door, Liu Fang had tears in his eyes, walked quickly into the room, knelt beside Cao Rui's couch, wept and said: "I know that your Majesty Wan Cheng is in good health, and I will die without regret!"

Cao Rui couldn't get up, so he could only support his arms, holding Liu Fang's hand that was on the couch, and said with emotion: "Now I know that Ziqi is loyal!"

As he said that, Cao Rui pulled Liu Fang's arm, and hurriedly said: "The ground is cold, just get up and answer. You and I don't need to be so polite!"

Liu Fang stood up and wiped the tears in his eyes with his sleeves, his eyes were red.

"I heard that the ministers discussed my successor yesterday, is there such a thing?" Cao Rui asked lightly, feeling the warmth of moxibustion in his body.

When Cao Rui fled to Huaili, he ran into Chen Tai, who was in charge of the retreat, and asked about the cause and effect, and learned that the officials were discussing the heir behind his back.So he quickly recruited Liu Fang to come back to see him first, and let others arrange military affairs normally.

As for why they didn't recruit everyone back, it was simple, that is, the people they recommended were not in the army.As long as one of them is in the army, Cao Rui will definitely make everyone retreat out of concern for the throne.As for Liu Fang who was recruited first, he was Cao Rui's cronies.

Liu Fang was startled when he heard the words, and said truthfully: "Your Majesty, there is indeed such a thing. Simpi first mentioned it. Wei Zhen thought that the king of the East China Sea could succeed, and Jiang Ji believed that the king of Zhongshan could succeed him."

"Huh?" Cao Rui snorted softly and said, "That's all?"

Liu Fang's face remained unchanged, and he continued: "The general thought that His Majesty had no heirs, so he should adopt the heirs of the same generation as his heirs, and pass them on to the throne. Cao Wuwei felt that His Majesty didn't know whether he was alive or dead, so he couldn't cry."

Cao Rui sighed, and said, "Among the ministers, most of them put state affairs first. But Cao Shuang and Qing Er are the only ones who can have me in their hearts!"

Should Cao Rui be angry?He shouldn't be angry, and he doesn't dare to be angry.I lost the battle, no one was alive, no dead body was seen, so I fled to Huaili alone, leaving everyone in front.Moreover, he has no heirs, so it is normal for everyone to discuss.Cao Rui also knew it well, but there was a little resentment in his heart.

At this time, the physician who moxibustion Cao Rui wiped the sweat from his head and said: "Your Majesty, I have finished treating Your Majesty. I hope Your Majesty will refrain from womanizing, drink less and have fun, and do not work hard. I will come back tomorrow to moxibustion for Your Majesty."

Cao Rui didn't speak, but waved his hand to show he knew.

Seeing this, the doctor hurriedly left this place of right and wrong.He knew what was going to happen next, and he could not listen to it in his capacity.

Seeing the doctor come out, Liu Fang peeped at Cao Rui's face, and said in a low voice: "Although the actions of the ministers today are not in accordance with etiquette, it is not difficult to understand at that time, and this matter should be taken as a warning. But your majesty is thirty-five this year. There is still no heir to inherit the throne. Now we really should consider the prince's affairs, thinking that His Majesty will plan for a hundred years."

Cao Rui put on his clothes and lay down on the couch with Liu Fang's support, without answering.

After being silent for a while, Cao Rui covered the blanket and said, "Ziqi's words are reasonable, I don't know who Qing thinks he should let him go."

Liu Fang put on a dignified expression, and answered with cupped hands: "I think your majesty can accept the general's words. Your majesty might as well adopt the young heir of the same clan as the prince, educate him from an early age, take your majesty as his father, and choose the best one as the prince."

Cao Rui nodded slightly, and said: "According to Qing's words, when returning to Beijing this time, Qing and Zongzheng will handle the matter."

Liu Xin was overjoyed, cupped his hands and said, "No!"

Cao Rui took the herbal medicine brought by the attendant, sniffed the unpleasant smell, and frowned slightly.

"Your Majesty, good medicine can only be cured if it tastes bitter!" Liu Fang said.

Cao Rui was also unambiguous. He drank it in one gulp, and his face became distorted in an instant. He didn't return to normal until he swallowed the candy offered by the attendant.

After resting for a while, Cao Rui exhaled and said, "How is the situation ahead now? Can you keep it?"

Liu Fang pondered for a while, shook his head, and said: "The morale of the generals and soldiers has been broken, and their luggage has been taken away. It is difficult to compete with the Shu army. The Weinan army has lost more than [-] elite troops, and the [-] army has lost all its luggage. Going to Ganting and Huxian County. The Weibei army under the command of the general lost most of its luggage, and it has already crossed back to Qishui, and it may reach Huaili tonight."

After a pause, Liu Fang added: "Now that Your Majesty is seriously injured, he should focus on recuperation. Why don't you go back to Luoyang first, and hand over the battle in Guanzhong to the general."

What Liu Fang meant was that Guanzhong is difficult to defend now, so it is better to go back to Luoyang, throw Sima Yi the blame for losing Chang'an, and get away by himself.

Cao Rui heard Liu Fang's implication. He shook his head and said, "If I go to Luoyang, I am afraid that Chang'an will be lost! Chang'an is one of the five capitals of our Great Wei Dynasty and the old capital of Western Shu. If it is restored by the people of Shu , I, the great Wei Shimin, feel uneasy."

As an emperor, although Cao Rui was greedy for wealth and honor and disregarded the power of the people, he was at least better than Huizong and Qinzong in terms of integrity and cherishing the country.

Liu Fang was silent for a while, and said: "It's better to invite the general and other generals to have an audience, ask him about the war in Guanzhong, and see how he answers."

"You can follow what you say." Cao Rui nodded and said in a deep voice, "Who is guarding Chang'an now?"

Hearing this, Liu Fang's face was not good, and he said: "Jiang Ji led the army to retreat to Chang'an. The soldiers under his command have no fighting spirit and lack of supplies. The generals complained a lot, thinking that Chang'an is difficult to defend."

Cao Rui remained silent, closed his eyes after a while, and said, "I'm tired, so please step down first. I will meet with the general tonight."

"promise!"

Cao Rui, who closed his eyes, was restless. No matter what, the battle in Guanzhong will be very difficult. If he doesn't leave, he will definitely fight Shu Han in Chang'an!If you go...

(End of this chapter)