Wei Ni

"You can't speak nonsense!"

As soon as Xiahou Hui finished speaking, before Emperor Cao Rui expressed his opinion, Wei Zhen, who was calm and composed, immediately became anxious, "An official appointed by the court, a governor of a county with a salary of two thousand stones, how can Zhi Quan easily humiliate him!"

Well, he knows Xiahou Hui too well.

After all, as a descendant of a general and a man who had led troops in many battles, he actually claimed that he could cure diseases. Wei Zhen could guess without thinking what Xiahou Hui was thinking.

It's nothing more than putting the blade on the neck and forcing the opponent with force.

Although Wei Zhen was not very disgusted with this kind of method, and did not care whether a prefect who was frightened to the point of resigning due to illness was wronged, he had been annoyed enough by people begging for mercy in recent days. If someone else forced the prefect to death, he would never be able to accept it.

Yes, the fundamental reason for his rebuttal was that he was worried that the Hongnong prefect might commit suicide.

A gentleman can be killed but not humiliated.

The scholars at this time were still quite strong-willed.

To take a step back, even if the prefect of Hongnong was spineless and did not want to commit suicide, as long as Xiahou Hui went to force him, he would have no choice but to commit suicide.

At this juncture, the Hongnong prefect is no longer alone.

But a bird that sticks out.

It was a point of negotiation between the imperial court and the powerful bureaucrats over the issue of clearing up the malpractices of military farming in the capital.

If the government allowed him to resign, it would be a promise to make some concessions and allow the results of the investigation into the military farms in the capital to be determined through mutual consultation, so as to make everyone happy as much as possible.

And if the government denies it, it means there is no room for maneuver.

Any bureaucrats and powerful people involved in the malpractices of military farming will do whatever it takes to survive.

Therefore, the life and death of the Hongnong prefect at this time was no longer a matter that he could decide alone.

After all, there is no method that can make the court lose face and the monarch suffer more criticism than forcing the two thousand officials to death, right?
Wei Zhen and Pei Qian, three generations of veteran officials from the county magistrates, were very familiar with the pros and cons involved and the tricks that could not be made public. They had just analyzed them clearly to Emperor Cao Rui.

And Wei Zhen knew for sure that Xiahou Hui must also understand all of this.

This was the reason for his worry and his immediate rebuttal - according to Xiahou Hui's style, he would pretend to know nothing!

Anyone who regards Xiahou Hui as a reckless man in the temple is a real reckless man!
Emperor Cao Rui had roughly the same idea.

However, unlike Wei Zhen, after Wei Zhen spoke out to refute first, he actually wanted to listen to what Xiahou Hui wanted to say.

It's not that he was unhappy with Wei Zhen for interfering in other people's affairs, but he knew that Xiahou Hui's starting point was for him as the monarch and for the sake of the Wei Dynasty.

Besides, why not give it a listen?
It doesn't matter anyway, just listen to both sides and you will understand clearly.

Pei Qian, who was present, smiled and stroked his beard, waiting for what would happen next with great interest.

This matter had little to do with him, and he knew that Emperor Cao Rui had his own ideas, so it was most appropriate for him to be a spectator.

"Duke Wei is wrong."

Facing the rebuttal, Xiahou Hui first glanced at the leader, and when he saw that Emperor Cao Rui showed no sign of speaking, he bowed and explained to Wei Zhen, "Although I am crude, I would not do anything to humiliate the governor of a two thousand stone county, right? And I have not yet discussed how to cure the illness of the governor of Hongnong, it is too early for Lord Wei to blame me."

"Whether Wei Qing blames him too early or not, that depends on how Zhi Quan interprets it."

This time, Cao Rui, whose interest was aroused, spoke directly, "If what Zhiquan said is just a sophistry to cover up his faults, I will not let you off easily and punish you for your disrespect for your elders!"

Deliberation is an argument. Can it be related to disrespect for elders?
After secretly complaining, Xiahou Hui said "Yes", stood up and said, "Your Majesty, Duke Wei and Duke Pei, I think the illness of the governor of Hongnong is not in his body, but in his heart. Therefore, if I can make his heart feel at ease, his illness will be cured without medicine."

To give him peace of mind?

How can you give him peace of mind?

Your Majesty even gave Linghu Yu, the General of Agriculture in Luoyang, a break by allowing him to continue serving his sentence, to show that his past was not being pursued, but the Governor of Hongnong still submitted a petition to resign! If you want to make him and the people behind him feel at ease, what else can you do except make concessions and maintain stability?

Could it be that you want to make it worse?

Wei Zhen's heart skipped a beat, he exhaled a breath, and said in a clear voice, "What good plan does Zhiquan have? I'd like to hear the details."

"I dare not occupy it with good strategies."

Xiahou Hui smiled and spoke eloquently, "I, An Hongnong Taishou, just want to tell him that after the investigation of the Hongnong Dian Nong Department, what I will report to the court will be completely different depending on whether he is determined to resign. If his illness is curable, then when I investigate the Hongnong Dian Nong Department, I will do the same as the Luoyang case and submit a memorial to Your Majesty to let him serve on the job while guilty, correct his past mistakes and make up for his shortcomings. If his illness is terminal and no medicine can cure it, then after the investigation, I will submit a memorial to the court to ask the court to carve a monument for this investigation of military farms in various parts of the capital, record the merits and demerits of each chief official during his tenure, and set it up in the Imperial College to serve as a warning to others. Moreover, I believe that promotions and punishments should be made known to the world to show the power of the court. Therefore, in my memorial, I also mentioned the investigation and asked the court to carve a monument in the hometown of those who have made great contributions and demerits to the court officials and record their deeds truthfully."

Monument
This is a scheme to wipe out a family even more cruel than killing the person!
Wei Zhen opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but finally closed it without saying anything.

Pei Qian, who was standing beside him, also drooped his eyelids to rest.

They all knew that if Emperor Cao Rui allowed Xiahou Hui to do what he wanted, the Hongnong prefect would have to "recover" and stay in office even if it meant being condemned by everyone.

Because after his death, his corpse will surely be criticized by pen and ink; and the clan’s official career path will be cut off from then on!

The first thing to consider when selecting talents under the Nine-Rank System is family background.
Let me ask you, if there is a stone tablet with bad comments erected in the village, which upright official would dare to recommend his clan members for official positions, and which prefect or county magistrate would dare to appoint his clan members to official positions?
Moreover, Xiahou Hui also wanted to use his own experience to draw the attention of other court officials and erect a monument to praise or criticize them.

People have seven emotions and six desires, and ministers with good reputations are a minority after all. How many official families would be willing to have a monument erected for their ancestors?
Take the Runan Yuan family, which has three dukes in four generations, for example. If they first establish Yuan An and then Yuan Shu, what will be the result?
Another reason why the two of them remained silent was that the matter had deviated from the topic of investigating military farms.

Xiahou Hui's words were like handing a knife to Emperor Cao Rui.

A sharp sword hanging over the heads of ministers and officials, a bargaining chip to enhance the emperor's power.

Although they all knew that Emperor Cao Rui would not take such measures and could not implement them, if they spoke out to refute, wouldn't it be that they were not sincere in serving the emperor?
"When subjects serve their rulers, it is through loyalty and honesty; when a ruler treats his subjects, it is through kindness and benevolence."

Emperor Cao Rui, who was quite interested in this, thought about it and put away his smile, and criticized, "What Zhiquan said is very inappropriate. The merits and demerits of ministers are determined by the court according to the law. How can we investigate after death? Although I am not virtuous, I know the way of leniency. Zhiquan's original intention was good, but he should also think carefully and act uprightly when advising. Such a policy today should not be mentioned again in the future."

Okay, I know.

When giving advice in the future, even cruelty must be disguised as benevolence and righteousness.

"Yes! Your Highness will keep this in mind."

At first, he immediately bowed his head and obeyed the order. When Xiahou Hui raised his head again, his voice was still excited, "Your Majesty, I made a mistake in my words, not because I disregarded the principle of mutual understanding between the monarch and his subjects, but because I was filled with righteous indignation!"

After refuting, he went straight to explaining the reasons without waiting for Cao Rui to ask any questions.

"Your Majesty, I have heard that 'the way of heaven is to reduce the surplus and replenish the deficiency; the way of man is to reduce the deficiency and increase the surplus'. Heaven has the virtue of loving life, and people must be fed to live. The emperor is the shepherd of the people on behalf of heaven, and it is his duty to make the people live. In the previous Han Dynasty, Emperors Huan and Ling were not virtuous, and they levied taxes endlessly, and increased the land tax. As a result, Zhang Jue raised his arm and called for the eight states to rise up. What is the root cause?"

"Your Highness Hui secretly believes that at that time, the land of the whole country was annexed, and one or two people took away the land of tens of millions of people. Natural disasters, famine and cold came, and the people had no food to survive. They could only survive from death! If heaven and earth are unkind, then humanity will be lost; if the people lose their land, the country will lose its people, and great chaos will inevitably arise!"

"Emperor Wu started the business and established military farms to supply military needs. He never lacked food despite the annual expeditions, and thus conquered the Central Plains and the North. Emperor Wen abolished prohibitions, reduced tariffs, and gave the people a rest. He also wrote in his will that his mausoleum should be located in a deserted place. He set an example and advocated frugality, and thus the Wei Dynasty replaced the Han Dynasty as fate would have it!"

"Now, Emperor Wu's policy of farming has collapsed, and Emperor Wen's spirit of frugality has gradually weakened. Although your position is low and your talent is limited, I am still worried."

"When the spirit of frugality gradually fades, there will be more conscription. If the policy of military farming is corrupted, the country will lose its people. Since the turmoil in the world, only one in a hundred people have survived, and the taxes collected in the national treasury have not been abundant. Now Shu and Wu are not obedient, and they invade the border every year. If the malpractice of military farming is not eliminated, the army will not be able to support itself. If the army is not able to support itself, the land tax will be increased on the people. If the land tax is increased, the people will have difficulty in getting food and clothing, which is the loss of humanity! If it is a year of natural disaster, great chaos will arise!"

"Your Majesty is concerned about the country and the people, so he ordered an investigation of the military farms. This is to be careful and not to allow the lack to be reduced and the surplus to be increased, so as to avoid the loss of humanity. Moreover, Your Majesty is well aware that the military farm policy is corrupt, and it is not a day's cold. Therefore, when dealing with the Luoyang Department of Agriculture, you did not blame the past and only took back the fields and mulberry trees of the people who had previously been in the military farms. How kind you are!"

"However, how can I repay your majesty's generosity?"

"Your Highness has heard that 'there is no greater virtue than to know one's mistakes and correct them'. Your Majesty gave the officials involved in the case a chance to correct their mistakes, but the governor of Hongnong refused to repent and even asked to resign on the grounds of illness! He claimed to be ill at this time and under such circumstances, and in fact he was threatening to resign! He openly defied Your Majesty's edict and put his own selfishness above the country! Is he a loyal minister?"

"If you are a disloyal minister or an unkind official, you deserve to be cut into pieces!"

"This is the reason for the minister Hui's righteous indignation, and also because of his careless words and lack of consideration."

"Your Majesty, I, your humble servant, think that the policy of investigating military farms should not be changed halfway. If it is changed, the prestige of the imperial court will be lost! The ministers' threats to the emperor should not be tolerated. If it is tolerated, your majesty's prestige will be lost, and our Wei family's country will be in danger from now on!"

"As a son of Qiaopei, I should be concerned about the country first; I have been ordered to investigate the military farming issue, and I should be responsible for my duties."

"Therefore, I, your Majesty, implore you not to restrain my power and let me do what I want. If the governor of Hongnong returns to his right path, it will be a blessing for the court; if he is stubborn and unrepentant, I, your Majesty, will bear the consequences alone! If he commits suicide, I, your Majesty, will first erect a monument to record that his crime is attributable to Hongnong, and then submit a memorial to take responsibility. I will not allow the court or your Majesty's reputation to suffer in the slightest."

After these impassioned speeches, the Nine Dragon Hall fell into dead silence, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

When Emperor Cao Rui was listening, a hint of dissatisfaction first appeared in his eyes, but then he was filled with emotion.

Naturally, Xiahou Hui was dissatisfied and criticized him as well.

Because Emperor Wen Cao Pi had one of the few merits, that he promoted frugality by setting an example himself, he was the first to be corrupted.

But when Cao Rui heard "As a native of Qiaopei, I should be the first to worry about the country and the people" and "I will bear it all", he was really moved.

It was a kind of comfort that all the attention and expectations over the years had not been in vain.

In particular, he heard Xia Houhui's subtext -

When Emperor Wen Cao Pi inherited the Mandate of Heaven, he had already delegated a lot of power to those official families and local tyrants. Now, they are not satisfied and have extended their hands to the military farming system. When the incident happened, they even threatened to resign to force the government to make concessions and try to make him compromise. This kind of thing must not be tolerated.

Testing~
If you gain an inch, you can get a foot further.
If you take a step back today, you will be forced to take many steps back in the future.

He still knows such a superficial truth.

With such thoughts in mind, Cao Rui not only let go of Xiahou Hui's various disrespectful behaviors in the past and his practice of putting the country first and the emperor second, but he also felt a rare sense of self-blame: had he gone too far in his previous actions in investigating the malpractices of military farming?
It was obvious that he was worried about the army's inability to continue, so he suggested to investigate the Shi family, but I used my power as a king to force him not to investigate thoroughly and asked him to learn to compromise. As an emperor, it would be fine if I was not as concerned about the country as a minister, but I also suppressed him personally, which was really unreasonable.

Therefore, he pondered for a long time before he said with emotion, "Earlier, Zhiquan once said that the government was not doing well and the policy of military farming was full of problems. I always disagreed with him. Today, I heard Zhiquan's heartfelt words, and I know that he was always thinking about danger in times of peace and had profound thoughts. How can a thousand-mile dam collapse because of an ant hole!" After that, he instructed Wei Zhen and Pei Qian, "I know that Wei Qing has not been doing well recently. Just hold on for a while, it will only take ten days at most. Well, Pei Qing, please write a letter to the governor of Hongnong to reminisce about the past."

"Yes. I obey your orders."

"Yes. Your Majesty, please be at ease. I know how to reminisce about the past."

Both of them stood up, bowed and accepted the order, then left the Nine Dragon Hall, which made Xiahou Hui breathe a sigh of relief.

He had asked Shi Er to thoroughly investigate the details of Hongnong a long time ago, and he also knew that the governor of Hongnong was from Hedong and had been Pei Qian's assistant when he was the Minister of Agriculture. Now Cao Rui asked Pei Qian to write a letter to reminisce about the past, which meant that Cao Rui listened to his advice, but letting Pei Qian speak was more intimidating.

As for Wei Zhen's ten days, he didn't know the reason.

Cao Rui probably guessed that Xiahou Hui would ask questions later, so he explained as he stood up and walked out, "Today, a report came from Chang'an that the Grand Commandant said he had set out to return to the capital. Well, Zhiquan, come with me." (End of this chapter)