Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

Chapter 10 Focus on State Affairs
Luoyang, Beigong.

It was a hot summer day, and the swimming pool that Cao Rui had been dreaming about half a month ago had been built by the Emperor of Wei and his eunuchs.

Swimming in the summer can not only strengthen the body but also cool down the heat. Cao Rui also needs to exercise. He can't just run around in the North Palace as an emperor, right?

The construction method is also very simple. Four thick walls were built on the flat ground with bricks and stones, and the inside was lined with two layers of thick wooden boards. In other words, a large rectangular ship was built and fixed on the flat ground.

A high hole let water in, and a low hole let water out. The key to making the water flow was a hand-cranked waterwheel operated by a eunuch.

The emperor swam for an hour, and the eunuchs consumed a bowl of corn rice, which was very environmentally friendly. Fortunately, there were no democrats in the Three Kingdoms period who gave suggestions to the emperor.

Cao Rui swam for a few strokes with great interest, and then discovered a fatal problem: there were no swimsuits made of suitable materials during the Three Kingdoms period.

Don't count on linen clothes, they are terribly rough and feel like a hemp rope when tied to the body. They also have great resistance after absorbing water.

The only material available is silk. Even though silk is an expensive material, if it is not close to the body after entering the water, it will still hold water while swimming. The solution is not difficult. Cut the silk to a suitable close-fitting size, so that it is suitable for swimming.

But perhaps Emperor Ling of Han fifty years ago did not have the talent for fashion design to solve the swimsuit problem, so he had no choice but to swim naked with his concubines, which was recorded in history books and he was scolded for two thousand years.

When Cao Rui was drawing on Zuo Bo's paper in the study, Bi Jin smiled flatteringly and said to Cao Rui: "Your Majesty, I think it is too tiring for you to design this swimsuit, so why not let me do it for you."

Cao Rui looked up and glanced at Bi Jin. Bi Jin had been serving the late emperor for nearly ten years, and was now the head of the eunuchs in the Luoyang Palace. He was very familiar with the palace. Since Cao Rui ascended the throne, Bi Jin was afraid of losing favor, and frequently wanted to show off in front of Cao Rui.

Cao Rui asked: "You? You can also make clothes?"

Bi Jin bowed his head and replied, "I am stupid and cannot do such delicate work as making clothes. However, I can arrange for the weaving bureau in the palace to do it. They also have experience."

"Weaving a plan." Cao Rui thought about it and found something wrong.

"Doesn't the Weaving Bureau belong to the Shaofu? Why are you in charge of arranging it?"

"Your Majesty," Bi Jin knelt down in a panic and explained hastily, "I don't have the courage to abuse my power."

"The late emperor had long ago issued an order prohibiting eunuchs from becoming officials, and even had this rule carved on stone. He also dismissed the eunuchs and eunuchs, so how could this old servant dare to have any extra thoughts?"

"The late emperor had just moved to the Luoyang Palace, and the palace's rules were supposed to inherit the Han system, but the palace of the former Han emperor was a mess, with more people holding knives than us rootless people."

"The late emperor was unwilling to trouble the Minister of the Imperial Household to handle these trivial matters in the palace, so in the end, all these tasks fell to this old servant."

Cao Rui nodded, as if he understood what Bi Jin meant. When the Wei Kingdom first established its system, it originally wanted to learn from the system of the Han Dynasty court, but the palace of Emperor Xian of Han was leaky on all sides, and the guards guarding Emperor Xian of Han were almost more than eunuchs. It was not a normal palace at all.

To put it bluntly, this is because it was still a time of chaos, and no one, whether Cao Pi or the ministers of the previous dynasty, had the energy to regulate these trivial matters in the palace.

Cao Rui thought for a moment and said, "Is Chang Lin still the current Shaofu? He is almost seventy years old."

Bi Jin saw that Cao Rui's face had brightened up a little, and he felt relieved: "Your Majesty, it is Lord Changlin. He is... He is estimated to be sixty-seven years old this year."

Cao Rui whispered, "It's not his fault. He's old and virtuous now, so he probably doesn't have the energy to care about these trivial matters."

Bi Jin didn't respond, he just knelt on the ground with his head lowered.

Cao Rui asked, "Tell Zhong Yu to stop copying books and ask him to call Chang Lin."

Bi Jin said yes and hurried out to do his work. Not long after, there were footsteps coming from the room outside. Cao Rui looked up and saw that the person coming was the attendant Liu Ye.

Liu Ye stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, today is the biweekly report before the emperor. The ministers have all come from the Shangshutai and are waiting outside the palace."

Cao Rui nodded: "Then let them in."

Four ministers walked in, Cao Xiu and Cao Zhen were the first two, followed by Chen Qun and Sima Yi.

Seeing the ministers bowing, Cao Rui quickly stood up from his seat and said, "This is a private discussion, not a court session. The ministers do not need to show respect. Please stand up quickly."

"Please take a seat." Cao Rui held up his hands and signaled several ministers to stand up.

"Thank you." Seeing that Cao Rui was polite first, several ministers also responded with courtesy.

Cao Rui smiled and looked at the four people: "This is the first time I have discussed state affairs with you gentlemen. What do you want to teach me?"

Sima Yi bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I was entrusted by the late emperor and I have the responsibility to advise Your Majesty. I heard that Your Majesty built a nude swimming pool in the palace. I wonder if this is true or not?"

Cao Zhen heard the voice and hurriedly tried to smooth things over: "Sima Zhongda, why are you so nosy? Your Majesty is just swimming, why are you making irresponsible remarks here?"

Cao Xiu also interjected, "That's right, what's there to advise? You are meddling in His Majesty's private affairs."

As military commanders, Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu were more open-minded about such personal moral issues. In their values, even if Cao Rui had built a nude swimming pool, or even held a party in it, it would not harm the national dignity.

But from the perspective of Sima Yi and Chen Qun, this matter already has a hint of "the king who lost his country". Why don't you learn from the good sage Emperor Han Wendi, and you are imitating Emperor Han Lingdi?

Cao Rui's expression did not change at all after Sima Yi's first admonition. He was still smiling, and even had a hint of sincerity in his smile.

"I have built a swimming pool in the palace, but unlike Emperor Ling of Han's nude swimming pool, this one requires clothes, and it is only for me."

Sima Yi's eyes widened slightly, which was hard to tell from the perspective of others. Cao Rui's sincere attitude surprised Sima Yi.

According to Cao Rui's words, this swimming pool seemed to be just a place for exercising and cooling off, and it seemed to have nothing to do with luxury or debauchery.

"I...I am not saying that this swimming pool is bad. I just want to say that Your Majesty should focus on state affairs. I hope Your Majesty will not be distracted by such entertainment."

"I understand. It's nothing serious." Cao Rui nodded and looked at Chen Qun: "I see Chen Qing seems to have something to say, too?"

Chen Qun's face showed an obvious desire to speak, but then he paused and pulled out a small roll of bamboo slips from his sleeve.

Chen Qun said, "Your Majesty, all the advice I want to give is written down on these bamboo slips."

Cao Rui signaled the eunuch to take the bamboo slips, opened them and took a look, then laughed softly.

"Mr. Chen is still as loyal and outspoken as Mr. Sima. But why are both of you trying to persuade me to focus on state affairs?"

"I see that you have been handling state affairs in the Shangshutai recently. Aren't you doing a good job?"

(End of this chapter)