Wei Ni

"The recovery of farmland is the key to success, and no one should ask about other matters, nor should they exhaust the officials in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture."

When Xiahou Hui finished speaking, the three people present had different reactions.

Guanqiu Jian, who was just a spectator, felt relieved and thought that it was not in vain that the emperor summoned him back from thousands of miles away.

Wei Zhen, who seemed calm and focused in secret, sighed again in his heart.

Just now, when he heard that Xiahou Hui bluntly said that he would not avoid the powerful and powerful, and forcefully take back the land of the Department of Agriculture that was seized by officials, relatives and powerful people, he still had a glimmer of hope in his heart! But then he said "no other questions", which made him realize that it was impossible to eliminate the accumulated malpractices of the scholar family during the reign of the current emperor.

A superficial check only treats the symptoms and not the root cause.

In stark contrast to his reaction, Emperor Cao Rui, who was listening attentively, immediately relaxed his brows and nodded repeatedly. Even the slight displeasure he had just felt when he heard the word "relatives from outside the emperor's family" disappeared in an instant.

He was really relieved.

It was not only because Xiahou Hui made it clear that everything would be done according to his wishes, but also because his authority to get whatever he wanted was once again demonstrated.

"Good! What Zhiquan said really struck a chord with me."

Cao Rui clapped his hands and praised, his tone extremely happy, and he also looked at Wei Zhen and Guanqiu Jian with a smile, and said jokingly, "Did Wei Qing and Zhong Gong see this? The former 'unsophisticated officials' now know the truth that 'governing a big country is like cooking a small fish'!"

In response, Wei Zhen and Guanqiu Jian also smiled and echoed a few words.

No further words were said.

Since Emperor Cao Rui praised it, they naturally would not raise any other opinions or objections to Xiahou Hui's move to investigate the scholars.

Because even if I mention it, it’s the same as not mentioning it.

Xiahou Hui, who was being teased, also smiled along. She was not embarrassed at all, but very happy instead.

He was waiting for the moment when Cao Rui would smile.

While everyone was laughing, he bowed again and continued, "Your Majesty, I haven't finished speaking yet. I intend to report to the imperial court after investigating the Luoyang Department of Agriculture. I hope that the imperial court will reiterate the policy of the imperial court during the reign of Emperor Wu, prohibiting the government from assigning miscellaneous labor and forbidding the officials in charge of military farms to drive the imperial court to run the business for profit, and issue an edict to all prefectures and counties to set up military farms as a law. This is one."

Hearing this, Cao Rui stopped smiling and stroked his beard with one hand.

He was not angry, but was considering the feasibility of this move.

Although Xiahou Hui's proposal included the problems imposed by the royal family on the scholars, such as palace labor, additional taxes and levies, and delays in farming season, he still listened to it.

The reason is that the palaces have been built almost completely in recent years and are sufficient for use.

Moreover, the situation of Shi family being unable to have children and fleeing in groups was getting worse and worse. Considering the food and fodder for future wars, he also felt that it was time to let Shi family recuperate and benefit in the future.

Killing the chicken to get the eggs is not advisable, right?
Furthermore, based on his understanding of Xiahou Hui, since the first purpose was to restrain the royal family, the second purpose was to check and balance the officials.

as predicted.

Seeing that he did not say anything, Xiahou Hui continued, "The second is to strengthen supervision. When Emperor Wu of Han set up the policy of military farming, the scholars were pleased, but now they hate it. The reason for its collapse and change is nothing more than man-made disasters. Therefore, I, Hui, will submit a memorial to the court later, asking the court to consider increasing the number of military farming supervision measures to prevent the treacherous people from enriching themselves and repeating the situation during Emperor Wu's conquest of the four directions without food and fodder!"

Additional inspection measures?

That means it is legitimate to increase the authority over school affairs?

Cao Rui was secretly pleased, but his face remained calm. He just uttered a slight "hmm" and then turned to look at Wei Zhen and asked slowly, "Do you think Zhiquan's proposal is feasible?"

Well, he asked Wei Zhen to express his opinion.

After all, the person in charge of investigating the Shi family was Wei Zhen. If Xiahou Hui submitted a memorial at that time, he would certainly not be able to avoid Wei Zhen.

Hearing this, Wei Zhen hesitated for a moment.

He wholeheartedly agreed.

The reason was not because he felt sorry for the plight of the Shi family, but because he knew very well that exempting the Shi family from palace services, heavy taxes and levies, and not harming farming would allow the Wei state to have sufficient military rations to meet the needs of the conquest.

Yes, as a veteran minister who had served three dynasties, he simply wanted to see the State of Wei become stronger.

And he also knew that this was the best result Xiahou Huineng could strive for.

However, in order to gain the emperor's approval, Xiahou Hui still included a suggestion to increase the authority of the school, which made him very upset.

Didn't you always say that you only wanted to benefit the country?

Why are we starting to discuss power politics?

Instead of following the upright path of kingship and hegemony, you are advocating the art of fraud and deception?
How can this be so!

"Wei Qing?"

Cao Rui, who had not received a reply for a long time, could not help but urge him, and said considerately, "If Wei Qing feels that it is inappropriate, there is no need to be shy and just speak frankly. Although I am quite tempted, I will not make a decision with just one word."

Having said that, Wei Zhen had no choice but to express his opinion.

"Your Majesty, I have no objection."

He finally agreed to the lesser of two evils.

After reaching a preliminary consensus, the atmosphere became much more relaxed. The four emperors and their ministers discussed some more details, and Xiahou Hui and Guanqiu Jian took their leave first.

To be precise, it was Guanqiu Jian who left first.

There are all kinds of people in the capital, so the news of his return cannot be concealed.

Therefore, he had to report to the emperor in person the next day and present congratulations on the change of the reign title and the establishment of the new lunar calendar. Then he returned to his mansion to have a good rest and deal with the ways of the world and other matters.

But Xiahou Hui simply felt bored.

If he continued to stay in the manor, he would not be able to gain any benefits, and he had to be on guard against the possibility that Emperor Cao Rui might come up with other ideas. So he simply resigned along with Guanqiu Jian.

Wei Zhen, feeling somewhat disappointed, had no mood to stay in the manor to feast and enjoy singing and dancing with the emperor.

But he couldn't leave.

When Guanqiu Jian and Xiahou Hui were leaving together, Cao Rui watched their backs and suddenly asked, "Duke Wei, do you think these two can be the pillars of the Wei Dynasty in the future?"

Wei Zhen was immediately shocked.

The title Duke of Wei was what Cao Rui called him when he was still in the Eastern Palace.

It also means that Cao Rui is now speaking to him from the heart and talking to him about personal matters, rather than just criticizing him during casual conversations at a banquet.

Therefore, he pulled himself together, and after carefully thinking it over in his mind, he answered solemnly, "Your Majesty, I think that given time, these two people will live up to your Majesty's grace of promotion."

"Yes, Lord Wei and I agree."

Cao Rui nodded, poured himself a drink, and murmured with some regret, "In time. In time, ah! It should be said that in the future, I can only look forward to these two people."

It means that among the royal family, the heroes of Qiao and Pei, and the old friends in the palace, only these two people can be of great use, right?
Wei Zhen had a vague understanding.

In line with his duty as a subject, he spoke up to persuade, "Your Majesty, our Wei State controls seven-tenths of the world, and talented people have emerged from generation to generation. It can be said that there is no shortage of wise men! If Your Majesty pays attention to promoting them, you will definitely find ministers who can benefit you."

"There is no shortage of virtuous people in the world. I know that."

Unexpectedly, his advice made Cao Rui smile even more bitterly, "But who can be like Zhonggong and Zhiquan, who are willing to die for the country!"

Wei Zhen was speechless.

It’s not that he can’t find such a person.

But such a person did not have the background that Cao Rui was willing to trust.

After all, everyone knows that the Wei royal family's generals are dying out, and the governors of Qiao and Pei are in a period of transition. He can't recommend a son of an aristocratic family to comfort Cao Rui, right?

More than 20 years ago, the imperial family was not named Cao.

Moreover, Wu and Shu are still powerful and have been sending troops to invade year after year!
Fortunately, Cao Rui did not let him answer, but just sighed and continued, "Zhonggong is capable and has gained experience both inside and outside the country. I intend to let him stay in Youzhou for a while to appease the soldiers and civilians in Liaodong and assimilate the barbarians on the border. When there is a vacancy in the command of Huainan or Jingxiang, I will fill it. He may not be as good as Sima Zhongda, but he can be compared with Xiahou Boren in the past. And Zhiquan is better than Zhonggong in both family background and talent, so I have higher expectations. But... Alas! Zhiquan is still too young, and because he returned to his hometown in the mountains for many years, he still cannot see the way to make changes in the court."

Zhiquan doesn’t know how to adapt?
Wasn’t what you just said a “flexibility”?
Wei Zhen hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Your Majesty, I think that Zhiquan may not be unable to see through the intrigues of the court, but he is so sincere and enthusiastic about the country that he does not care about anything else."

"Haha~ I still don't know what Zhiquan is like!"

Cao Rui sneered and waved his hand. He was about to say something, but then he seemed to remember something and asked, "Duke Wei, have you paid attention to the changes that have occurred in the capital since Zhiquan took office as the Central Guard General?"

misfortune?

Is there any change?

Cao Rui's sudden question made Wei Zhen, who was already at a loss for words, even more confused.

After pondering for a while, I realized that Cao Rui was referring to the transfer, appointment and dismissal of many middle and low-level officers in the Luoyang Central Army. Following this line of thought, I roughly understood what Cao Rui meant.

"Your Majesty, I also heard about it at that time."

Wei Zhen nodded slightly in response, and tried to ask, "I, your Majesty, would like to ask, do you mean that Zhiquan is a person of strong character and too radical behavior, and may not be tolerated in the court, and will be slandered and framed by everyone in the future?"

"Yes, it is hard but easily broken."

Cao Rui nodded approvingly at him, "Zhi Quan is upright and hates evil, and he does not care about his own safety. Hasn't the Duke of Wei seen Zhi Du of the former Han Dynasty and Yang Qiu of the former Chao? If Zhi Quan does not change, I am afraid I will not be able to stop him from following in his footsteps."

Zhidu and Yangqiu~
These two people were talented and loyal but were unjustly killed and did not have a good end.

To be honest, Xiahou Hui's current style of doing things is quite similar to theirs.

At this moment, Wei Zhen finally understood Cao Rui's thoughts, "So, Your Majesty did not accept the advice of this old minister, and insisted on calling back Guanqiu Zhonggong, and used his power to force Zhiquan to hold back when investigating the scholars' families, all for the sake of..."

"Correct."

Before he finished speaking, Cao Rui confirmed, "Since I started building the palace, the court officials have advised me and the people in the market have said that the scholars suffer from labor service in the palace. Who in the capital doesn't know this? Now I have decided to investigate the scholars again. It is clear to the world that the royal labor service has repeatedly caused the scholars to miss the farming season. So what? I am the emperor who has the whole world, so I don't lack this little bit of face!" (End of this chapter)