Chapter 42 The Oath of Luo Shui
After Cao Zhen finished reporting the military situation in Yangzhou, he began to report the military situation in Jingzhou.
Cao Zhen said: "Since the end of August, when Sun Quan retreated from Jiangxia and Zhuge Jin and Zhang Ba failed in their attack on Xiangyang, there has been no fighting along the border of Jingzhou. Chen Qun wrote to the court, asking when he could return to Luoyang."
Chen Qun wanted to return to Luoyang? Cao Rui sent him to Jingzhou to get Chen Qun out of the Secretariat and to consolidate his power. How could he let Chen Qun come back now?
Cao Rui said without hesitation, "Let Chen Qun stay in Jingzhou! I want to strengthen the border troops. The matters about Jingzhou's military farms, navy, and military equipment discussed before must be supervised by Chen Qun in Jingzhou. Wait for one or two years before we can talk about it."
Whether Chen Qun returned to Luoyang or not naturally didn’t matter to Cao Zhen.
Cao Zhen responded: "Then I will reply to Chen Qun like this."
Cao Rui nodded.
Seeing that Cao Zhen had finished his report, Sima Yi also spoke up. Sima Yi said, "Your Majesty, two days ago, the governor of Nanyang reported that there might be an epidemic in Nanyang. I have dealt with it according to the usual practice."
Cao Rui frowned and said, "Maybe there's an epidemic? What does this maybe mean?"
Sima Yi explained, "It's just that in a village outside Nanyang, dozens of people have fallen ill recently, all with symptoms of diarrhea and weakness. Fortunately, this village is close to an important road, and the scope of the epidemic has not yet expanded. The governor of Nanyang did not dare to neglect it and has sent troops to surround the village and urgently reported it to the court."
Cao Rui said, "It is correct to surround the village to prevent the disease from spreading as people move around. Will it cause a major epidemic this time?"
Sima Yi shook his head slightly: "I think it is unlikely. The last major epidemic was in the fourth year of Huangchu. The epidemic first broke out among the army that was conquering Jiangling, and when the army returned north, it spread to Wan and Xu."
Cao Rui asked: "How much did the last epidemic cost?"
Sima Yi thought for a moment and said, "More than a thousand soldiers died, and if you add the civilians in Wan and Xu, there may be tens of thousands of people dead."
Cao Rui sighed softly: "Epidemic is a natural disaster. What can human power do? Tell the governor of Nanyang that it is not enough to just surround the village. The soldiers must also pay attention to cleanliness to prevent the epidemic. Let the people in this village who are not sick take care of the sick. If there is any shortage of salt, grain, etc., send them from the county. Do not let anyone starve."
Sima Yi cupped his hands and responded, "Your Majesty is benevolent."
Cao Rui said: "Sima Qing, spread the message to all the counties and states. If we encounter an epidemic again, the first thing to do is to isolate them! Secondly, pay attention to the cleanliness and diet of the isolated people, and also ensure the living needs of the isolated people."
Sima Yi nodded in agreement.
While they were talking, the team had slowly reached the bank of Luo River. Not far away was a floating bridge that crossed the Luo River.
Cao Rui pointed at the floating bridge and asked, "When was this floating bridge built? Is it stable?"
Sima Yi responded: "It has existed since the Former Han Dynasty. People on both sides of the Luo River used to travel by floating bridge."
Cao Rui nodded and slowly reined in his horse. Seeing the emperor climb down from the horse, Cao Zhen, Sima Yi, and the officials accompanying him also dismounted.
Cao Rui pointed at the Luo River and said with a smile: "Do you know that the Luo River produces carp? The Luo River carp is delicious, tender and has few bones. You must try it. Next time I will order the Imperial Household to send some to all of you."
Cao Zhen smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. The Luo River is so close to Luoyang City. I'm afraid the fish will still be alive and kicking if we send them to the city."
Cao Rui nodded: "That's right. If it's according to the Imperial Order, the golden plate of carp sashimi I ate only took two hours from the time it came out of the Luo River to the time it was ready and served on the table." An autumn breeze blew, and a few leaves slowly fell from the trees on the river bank. When they floated to the Luo River, they were driven downstream by the waves.
The Luo River meanders like a jade belt, gently tying a long knot in the long river of history. Occasionally, a few water birds fly over the river, stirring up waves.
Cao Rui looked at the Luo River being blown by the autumn wind, and he seemed to have a lot of feelings in his heart. For a moment, he was dazed looking at the water surface. How many true or false oaths have been witnessed by the waves of the Luo River?
Sima Yi and Cao Zhen were standing closest to the emperor. Cao Rui turned around and saw Sima Yi standing next to him.
Cao Rui asked, "I remember that there seems to be an allusion to the Luo River. Does anyone among you remember it?"
As an important official in the court, how could there be someone who is uneducated and unskilled? The emperor stood by the Luo River and asked questions about allusions, and everyone agreed and said they knew them.
Cao Rui moved his gaze to Sima Yi's face: "Sima Qing, please speak for me."
Sima Yi nodded, not finding anything unusual. Sima Yi had been familiar with classics and history since childhood, so this question was not difficult for him.
Sima Yi said slowly: "As I recall, this happened during the reign of Emperor Guangwu of the Former Han Dynasty."
"In his early years, Emperor Guangwu of Han followed his elder brother Liu Yan in starting an army. As Liu Yan captured Wancheng, Liu Xiu defeated Wang Mang's elite troops of more than 400,000 at Kunyang City. The brothers Liu Yan and Liu Xiu were envied by Emperor Gengshi Liu Xuan."
"At the instigation of Li Yi and Zhu Yu, Liu Xuan arrested Liu Yan and killed him."
"Guangwu personally led the main force of the Han army of more than 200,000 soldiers from Handan to the south, preparing to capture Luoyang. However, due to Zhu Yu's desperate resistance, the Han army failed to capture Luoyang after months of siege."
"Since the attack failed, Guangwu planned to persuade Zhu Yu to surrender. Guangwu sent Cen Peng to Luoyang to persuade him to surrender. Cen Peng was originally a lieutenant under Zhu Yu, and Zhu Yu had recommended Cen Peng."
"When Cen Peng arrived at the foot of Luoyang City, he asked Zhu Yu to meet him. Zhu Yu was on the top of the city wall, and Cen Peng was on the bottom. They comforted each other and talked happily as usual. However, Zhu Yu was worried that Guangwu would harm him because he had harmed Guangwu's brother."
"After Cen Peng returned to Emperor Guangwu's camp to report, Emperor Guangwu, in order to appease Zhu Yu, swore by the Luo River that he would never kill Zhu Yu. Zhu Yu was later promoted to a marquis and was also given the title of Shaofu."
Sima Yi slowly stated the story, then bowed to Cao Rui and said, "Your Majesty, this is the story of Emperor Guangwu that I remember."
Cao Rui said: "The promise that Emperor Guangwu of Han made to Zhu Yu must be here by the Luo River, not far from us now."
Cao Rui looked at Sima Yi and said, "I am a little curious. Is there any record of what Emperor Guangwu said that day in the history books?"
"This..." Cao Rui's question stumped Sima Yi. Sima Yi had always been practical in his reading, the type who absorbed the essence of the book, not seeking to understand it in detail, as long as he could understand it. Now that Cao Rui asked him for the specific details, Sima Yi couldn't remember it clearly for a while.
Sima Yi could only bow awkwardly and said, "Your Majesty, I really can't remember."
Cao Rui nodded: "It's normal that I can't remember clearly. I couldn't remember clearly before. I only remembered it after I memorized it on purpose."
Cao Rui looked at everyone and said slowly: "A man who builds great things does not mind small grudges. If Yu surrenders now, his official title can be kept, not to mention the punishment. The river is here, and I will not break my promise."
Cao Rui looked at Sima Yi and said, "Sima, what do you think of Guangwu's oath at Luoshui?"
(End of this chapter)
