Xiao He didn't want to express his opinion, only said, "Who can know the liegeman like your majesty?"
Han Huidi asked him, "What do you think of Cao Can?"
Xiao He and Cao Can were both officials in Pei County in their early years, and fought with Emperor Gaozu. They had a good relationship. Later, Cao Can made many exploits, but his position was not as good as that of Xiao He. Two people are not so reconciled. But Xiao He knew that he was a talented person who governed the country, so when Hui Di mentioned him, he agreed and said:
"There is nothing wrong with your idea. With Cao Can taking over, I will be relieved when I die. "
Cao Can was originally a general. When Emperor Gaozu named his eldest son Liu Fei King of Qi, he asked Cao Can to be King of Qi. At that time, the world had just settled down. When Cao Can arrived in Qi, he gathered more than 100 elders and Confucian scholars from all over the country and asked them how to govern the people. These people have made some comments, but each has its own version, and I don't know which one to listen to.
Later, Cao Can discovered that there was a famous local hermit named Gaigong. Cao Can invited him and asked him for advice. The Gaigong believed in the theory of Huang Lao (Huang Lao refers to the Yellow Emperor and Lao Zi), and advocated that the people who govern the world should be quietism, so that ordinary people can live a stable life.
Cao Can listened to Gaigong and tried not to disturb the people. He has been in Qi for nine years, and more than 70 cities to which Qi belongs are relatively stable.
When Xiao He died, Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty immediately ordered Cao to join Chang 'an to take over as prime minister. Cao Can still uses the method of "changing the work to be quiet", and everything is done according to the articles of association that Xiao He has already set, without any change.
Some ministers were worried about Cao Can's inaction, and some people went to him for help. But as soon as they got to Cao Can's house, Cao Can invited them to drink together. If someone mentions the important affairs of the imperial court in front of him, he always digresses and makes others speechless. Finally, the guest went back drunk and said nothing.
When Emperor Hui of Han saw Cao Guo Xiang like this, he thought he was seniority and looked down on him. His heart is not steadfast.
Cao Can's son Cao Zhuo waited on Hui Di in the palace. Hui Di told him, "When you get home, find a chance to ask your father: The emperor is so young, and all state affairs are presided over by the prime minister. But you drink every day and don't care, then how can you rule the world? See what your father says. "
When Cao returned home, he told Cao Can exactly what Hui Di said.
On hearing this, Cao Can got angry. He cursed and said, "What does a hairy child like you know? It's your turn to make a fuss about national affairs. " As he spoke, he asked the servant to bring the board and hit Cao Cao.
Cao Cao was beaten inexplicably and was very wronged. Of course, he told Han when he returned to the palace. Han is also very dissatisfied with it.
The next day, when Cao Can was in court, Hui Di said to him, "I told him what Cao Cao said to you. Why did you hit him? "
Cao Can confessed to Hui Di and then said, "Excuse me, Your Majesty, who is wiser than Gaozu?"
Han said, "Needless to say, how can I compare with Gao Emperor?"
Cao Can said: "Compared with Guo Xiang Jr., who has the ability?"
Han couldn't help smiling and said, "It seems that it is not as small as it is."
Cao Can said, "Your Majesty is right. Your majesty is not as high as the emperor, and I am not as young as you. Emperor Gao and Xiao set the world and made a set of rules for us. We just need to abide by their rules and not neglect our duties. "
Han understands this.
Cao Can used his theory of Huang Lao as prime minister for three years. Because at that time, after the turmoil of a long war, the people needed stability, and his method did not add more burden to the people. Therefore, at that time, some people wrote songs to praise Xiao He and Cao Can. Historically, this matter has been called "following the rules".