In history, Cao Zhi was the last feudal land of Chen, as the king of Chen, and the position of the vassal was in the state of Chen.

However, not long before he died, Cao Zhi died in his original fiefdom Dong'e, so he was finally buried in Dong'e Yushan.

And now Cao Zhi's fief is in Zhao State, not the historical King of Dong'a, but the King of Zhao, so now he is in Wei County.

The reason for this change is that Cao Zhi has petitioned many times.

In history, Cao Pi suppressed Cao Zhi everywhere, and Cao Cao's other sons were crowned kings, but Cao Zhi has always been a marquis of Anxiang, and he was named the king of Juancheng two years later, which shows Cao Pi's wariness of him.

After Cao Pi's death, Cao Rong succeeded to the throne, and Cao Zhi wrote to Cao Ei impassionedly, asking for a political appointment, and the heart of the fist can move the hard-hearted person, so that even the ruthless Cao Ei almost used him to promote him.

It's a pity that in the end, Cao Rong still held back, and only gave Cao Zhi a verbal reward, without any reuse, and even guarded him strictly, making his situation very embarrassing and delicate, and finally died of depression.

And now the Great Wei is no longer the Great Wei that sits in the entire north, with the repeated defeats on the front, Cao Zhi is naturally very excited, after Cao Pi's death last year, Cao Rong inherited the unification and became the new emperor.

At that time, Cao Zhi was just like in history, thinking that the new emperor would be able to reduce talents without sticking to one pattern and reuse him regardless of previous suspicions, so since the beginning of this year, he has repeatedly submitted a table to Cao Rong and put forward many suggestions on the situation in the south, hoping to be adopted and revived by Cao Rong.

As a result, Cao Rong was even more wary of him, and even did not want him to leave his control area to go to Henan to become a vassal, first named him the king of Gucheng, put him under house arrest in Luoyang in disguise, and after moving the capital to Yecheng, he was named the king of Zhao to stay by his side.

That's why Chen Qun came to him.

Because the rest of Cao Cao's descendants are all in other places, and even many are currently in Henan, some fled to Hebei after the fall of Henan, some disappeared in the war, and some simply surrendered to the southern Han.

As for Cao Zhang?

He died of illness in the fourth year of Huang Chu, and he died for almost six years, and the grass on the grave was afraid to be three feet high.

Therefore, only Cao Zhi is still in the sect.

However, now Cao Rong is about to die of illness and wants to pass on the throne to Cao Zhi, the king of Zhao, Cao Zhi wants to scold his mother in his heart at the moment, and there is something wrong with Chen Qun's eyes.

If he doesn't reuse him sooner, he won't reuse him later, but at this time, he not only reused, but even passed the throne to him.

What do you mean?

Do you wish that the name of this dead king would be pressed on your head?

Cao Zhi almost gritted his teeth and said to Cao Rong: "Your Majesty, the ministers are stupid, how can they inherit the unification?" And Your Majesty still has children, and this must not be the case. ”

Cao Rong's pale face was bloodless, he looked up at Cao Zhi, and said reluctantly: "The country is dilapidated and withered, and those who are not talented cannot live." Of my heirs, there is only one Mu. ”

"The minister is just an idler reading at home, how can He De take on the heavy responsibility of saving the Great Wei from fire and water? What's more, Your Majesty still has a brother, didn't King Ding of the East China Sea return to Yecheng from Qingzhou some time ago? ”

Cao Zhi resolutely refused.

Just kidding, when the country was relatively stable before, he was guarded like an enemy, and now that the country is about to die, I only think of him, isn't this looking for a backbiter?

Cao Rong's voice was already very weak, and he said softly: "Uncle Huang has always been resourceful, and the pseudo-Han is rampant, although this time it is the autumn of life and death, there are still two or three hundred thousand horses in Great Wei, I believe that Uncle Huang can turn the tide and save Great Wei from fire and water." ”

Cao Zhi shook his head and arched his hand and said: "Your Majesty, now that Great Wei, even if Taizu is resurrected, I am afraid that it may not be able to turn things around, let alone me?" And according to legal theory, the minister cannot succeed to the throne, so it is better to ask His Majesty's heir to ascend the throne. ”

Since the Qin and Han dynasties, the inheritance method has been the replacement of the father and the son, not the brother and the brother, not to mention that Cao Zhi is still Cao Rong's uncle.

So according to legal theory, Cao Zhi is the second generation of the Cao family, Cao Ei is the third generation, Cao Ei is dead, and the throne should be inherited by the fourth generation of the Cao family, that is, Cao Cao's great-grandchildren.

This is also why there are still many adult clans in the Cao family in history, but before Cao Yi became seriously ill, he was forced to choose the young Cao Fang as the heir.

However, Cao Rong was furious when he heard this.

Jurisprudence?

At this time, you tell me about jurisprudence?

If you really care about the law, why did you compete with my father, the eldest son, for the position of prince back then?

There was a hint of murderous intent in Cao Rong's eyes, but in a blink of an eye, he thought that he was threatening at this time, even if he forced Cao Zhi to take the position, he might not be able to control him after his death.

After a little hesitation, he dispersed the ferocity and said in a wailing voice: "Uncle Huang. You should know that now Dawei is in danger, if you choose a child to inherit, I am afraid that Dawei will collapse in an instant. ”

"Hmm"

Cao Zhi's face was gloomy, but he was noncommittal in his heart, Cao Wei's collapse was his business?

Cao Rong saw that his face was expressionless, so he continued: "I know that you have hatred in your heart, but now that the country is in danger, do you just watch the country that Taizu defeated and destroy in one fell swoop? ”

This is playing the lover card and the bitter meat trick.

Chen Qun also persuaded: "King Zhao, now that the state affairs are erosive and the south is aggressive, it is impossible for the Ming lord to inherit the unification and save the country." Among the heirs of Taizu, only King Zhao is the talent of Tianzhong, and the rest of the heirs are not in Yecheng. Not to mention the son of His Majesty."

As he spoke, he glanced at the child that Queen Mao had pulled.

Cao Rong had three sons and two daughters in his life, but his heirs all died young, the eldest son Qinghe King Cao Jian died the year before last, Fanyang King Cao Mu died in 229 AD, that is, next year, the youngest son Anping Ai King Cao Yin was born in 231 AD and died in 232 AD, and they have not yet been born.

The child pulled by Queen Mao is Cao Rong's second son, Cao Mu, the king of Fanyang, in history, he died next year, even if he is not dead now, but he is only a three or four-year-old child, basically sitting in the position of the emperor, no different from burying the country.

So Cao Rong has no choice at all, Chen Qun chose Cao Zhi, except for the rest of the Cao family, most of the clans are not in Yecheng, the most important thing is that Cao Zhi is indeed talented, and now he is in the prime of life to sit on this throne.

In the final analysis.

The big families don't care who the emperor is, they care about whether their family interests can be preserved. And they have a natural conflict of interests with the southern Han Dynasty, so naturally they can only support the Cao family.

Now Cao Wei is in ruins and crumbling, but because the family is afraid that the southern Han will strip them of their population and land, they are still supporting Cao Wei, just like the Jiangdong family supports Sun Quan, and now Cao Wei still has more than 200,000 horses.

If Cao Zhi can sit on the throne and rely on the remaining soldiers and horses to fight some miraculous wars and gain respite, then Cao Wei will not be able to survive, and the country can be saved.

But if the Cao family is a three- or four-year-old emperor, the family members know that Cao Wei is going to be finished, so it is better to surrender as soon as possible.

Perhaps now that he has taken refuge in the past, he can also use the sale of the Cao family and the surrender of the land of the vast majority of the population to get an official and a half-position in exchange for someone in the family who is an official in the southern Han Dynasty, so as to ensure the interests of the family to a certain extent.

After all, a talented emperor in the prime of life and a three- or four-year-old child emperor, it goes without saying who can stabilize people's hearts.

Therefore, in fact, with Cao Rong's cleverness, he was able to figure out before he died that if he passed on the throne to his son Cao Mu, Great Wei would definitely lose the country.

So it's better to give up the throne to Cao Zhi, in case he keeps Cao Wei's country?

But it's one thing for them to think so, and it's another thing for Cao Zhi to be willing to take this position now.

Although Cao Ei knew that he was going to die and pass on the throne before he died, everyone knew that the next person to take over the throne would not receive the power to hold the world, but a hot potato.

Because now Cao Wei has reached the verge of extinction, basically whoever takes over this position is very likely to be the king of Cao Wei's demise.

So Cao Zhi was not willing at all.

What's more, he has been suppressed by Cao Pi and Cao Rong and his son over the years, and his heart is also full of resentment, how can he still want to be the scapegoat of their father and son, if the country dies at that time, he will be the king of the dead country in history.

Therefore, hearing the persuasion of Cao Rong and Chen Qun, Cao Zhi still shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, the minister is naturally willing to go to the soup for the Great Wei, but Your Majesty's heirs are still alive, and the throne is passed on to the minister, if the name is not right, how can the world obey?" I still ask Your Majesty to pass on the King of Fanyang, assisted by the pillars of the country such as Changwen, who will be able to bless the Great Wei to tide over the difficulties. ”

"Uncle Huang. Ahem, ahem."

Cao Rong coughed violently, his eyes gradually dilated, his voice was already very weak, and he said almost pleadingly: "Is it true that Uncle Huang wants to watch Da Wei cough cough cough cough I and my father are indeed sorry for you, but Taizu and the Empress Dowager. Uncle Huang really doesn't miss the old love? ”

In the end, blood spilled from the corners of his mouth.

Everyone was shocked, knowing that Cao Rong had really reached the limit, Chen Qun hurriedly persuaded Cao Zhi: "King Zhao, please also ask King Zhao to focus on the overall situation." ”

"Me"

When Cao Zhi saw Cao Rong's pitiful appearance, he became extremely hesitant for a while.

Ask yourself, have you ever longed for this position?

Naturally, there is.

Otherwise, he would not have competed with Cao Pi for the position of prince back then.

But over the years, he has been suppressed by Cao Pi and Cao Ei's father and son, as well as the resentment of his father's later abandonment, which also made him feel too much sense of belonging to Cao Wei.

In addition, he has been perfunctory by Cao Rong from the beginning of this year to the present, and his impassioned praise should not be seen, and he did not think of him until he was on the verge of annihilation, which also consumed Cao Zhi's last bit of patriotism.

So in the face of this mess, Cao Zhi no longer wants to take over, and only hopes to be able to face his fate calmly.

However, when Cao Rong begged him, Cao Zhi was still a little soft-hearted.

Although Cao Pi's father and son are indeed not good things, but after all, this is the country that his father brought down, Cao Zhi has been a powerful son all his life, and he gradually lost his sense of belonging to Cao Wei, but for the Cao family itself, he is still extremely attached to it.

It's not just a matter of glory and wealth, if it's just a matter of greed for glory and wealth, Cao Zhi believes that even if he surrenders to the past, he will definitely be clothed and fed.

The key is that even though Cao Cao is ruthless, he still attaches great importance to family affection.

Cao Cao was remorseful for his own negligence that caused Cao Ang's death, so he basically gave this guilt to Cao Ang, Cao Zhi, Cao Zhang, Cao Chong and others, and they were quite fond of them.

It can be said that he is not a good person, but he is a good father, and Cao Pi and Cao Zhi's great achievements in literature are inseparable from Cao Cao's personal teaching.

Now Cao Rong is using Cao Cao and Empress Dowager Bian to play the family card, which does make Cao Zhi a little embarrassed.

He can blame his brother and nephew, but he can't ignore the Cao Wei Jiangshan created by his father.

Thinking of this, Cao Zhi could only sigh and said, "Alas, that's it. So be it. ”

"Please, Uncle Huang."

Cao Ei's voice was already very small, his eyes were cloudy and finally lost his brilliance, and then he slowly lost his breath.

Almost at the moment of Cao Rong's death, Queen Mao cried loudly.

When the concubines outside heard the sound, they also rushed into the hall, and then the sound of crying resounded throughout the palace.

A large number of officials around Chen Qun, Wei Zhen, Wang Si, Liu Fang, Sun Zi and others knelt on the ground.

An attendant stepped forward to tidy up Cao Ei's body and began to spread the petals.

The death of the emperor and the rest of the royal family had a set of procedures that met the specifications, and the chamberlains arranged it in an orderly manner.

Only Cao Zhi was still standing in place, looking at the wailing concubines and ministers around him and the attendants, eunuchs and palace maids who came and went in and out a little blankly.

Everything around him didn't seem to have anything to do with him.

Cao Zhi didn't know if he had made the right choice, and he didn't know what his fate would be in the future.

But at this moment, he only felt that life seemed to be very absurd, and his spirit was also a little trance.

With a burden on his shoulders, but for some reason, it was easier than ever.

Cao Zhi turned his head and walked out of the inner hall.

He didn't pay attention to the noisy and busy people around him, he just wanted to be quiet at this time.

Chen Qun followed him, and when he approached, he whispered: "King Zhao, oh no, Your Majesty, now the major affairs of the country are all decided by Your Majesty. ”

"Huh."

Cao Zhi sneered, raised his head to look at the sky, and said softly: "I took over this position, but it wasn't for Cao Rong and my brother who harmed me. ”

Chen Qun smiled bitterly: "After all, Great Wei is the Great Wei left by Taizu, Your Majesty is still."

"Long text."

Cao Zhi glanced at Chen Qun slightly strangely and said, "Yingchuan has now fallen, the Chen clan has moved to Hebei, and the land and population in your hometown are gone, what are you still loyal to this Great Wei?" ”

Chen Qun took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "Doing your duty is your duty to be loyal. ”

"I remember that you used to do Liu Bei's work."

Cao Zhi looked at him and said, "Now that the foundation established by Liu Bei is about to annex the world, you feel uncomfortable in your heart." ”

was pierced by Cao Zhi's thoughts, Chen Qun was relieved, and said with a smile: "If the minister surrenders in the past, he can always save his life, but His Majesty surrenders to the past, and the foundation left by Taizu is completely gone." ”

"Hahaha."

Cao Zhi looked up to the sky and laughed, swaggering towards the outside of the palace, leaving only one sentence: "Then try it, if it is done, it will be done, and if it is not done, it will not be done." This Great Wei, life and death, what does it have to do with me. ”

In July of the first year of Wei Taihe, Emperor Cao Rong of Wei died, and it was passed on to Cao Zhi, Cao Zhi did not wait for the old emperor to be buried, nor did he change the Yuan, and after the simple new emperor enthroned ceremony, he personally led the army to go straight to the country, because the Han army had passed through Fukou and killed Shexian.