Wei Ni

"Your Majesty, I have no taboos about anything."

Xiahou Hui, who was urged, took a deep breath, bowed his head and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I think that it is a blessing or a curse for the Wei family to have a minister like a saint, just like a blessing in disguise. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me for not being able to make a final conclusion."

At this point, he paused for a moment, "However, when I was young in my hometown, I often went out to study in spring and summer. Once, I went to Beihai, Qingzhou, to listen to Guan Ning's lectures. When I stopped by Langya County, I happened to meet an old man in a cloth robe and a kerchief debating about what a saint is. I was curious, so I sat and listened, and gained a little. If Your Majesty does not mind my stupidity, I will present my humble opinion to you."

"Oh?"

Perhaps because he heard a different answer than he expected, Cao Rui's eyes lit up slightly. He stared at Xiahou Hui with interest and urged, "What did Zhiquan get? Tell me quickly."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I think that if a person does not die, he cannot be called a sage."

"Why?"

"Duke Zhou feared the day of rumors, and Wang Mang was humble and courteous before he usurped the throne. If he had died at that time, who would know the truth about his life? Your Majesty, people eat five kinds of grains and have seven emotions and six desires. It is impossible to make a final judgment unless the coffin is closed."

When Zhou Gong and Wang Mang were mentioned, Cao Rui drooped his eyelids and fell into a long silence.

Xiahou Hui didn't know that Cao Rui brought him to Tianyuan Pond and suddenly mentioned Sima Yi, just to bring up the topic that Wei Zhen would resign as the chief in charge of the investigation of the Shijia military farms and would be replaced by Sima Yi.

This was also the reason why he encouraged Wei Zhen in the Nine Dragon Palace that he would not be disturbed for ten days at most.

Unexpectedly, Xiahou Hui misunderstood his intention and directly pointed out Sima Yi's potential threat to the Wei Dynasty from the perspective of the country.

Some things are insignificant if you don't take them too seriously; but once you take them too seriously, they will be as heavy as Mount Tai.

Xiahou Hui is now being serious.

He also made some remarks that forced Cao Rui to take it seriously.

"Sima Gong is loyal and upright. Can he be called a minister of the state?"

"The hope of the court and the country is unknown."

This is what Cao Rui asked the attendant Chen Jiao when the news came from Chang'an this morning that Sima Yi had given up his military power and returned to the capital early, and this is what Chen Jiao answered.

At that time, Cao Rui felt nothing in his heart and did not try to savor the implication of Chen Jiao's words.

He just asked casually.

I also subconsciously felt that after Wu Zhi praised Sima Yi and belittled Chen Qun, Chen Jiao just didn't want to answer this kind of question.

Now that Xiahou Hui had directly broken the window paper, he began to take it seriously.

In other words, considering the submissiveness and loyalty Sima Yi had shown so far and his flawless character, how could he be maliciously speculated and unfoundedly regarded as a threat to the Wei Dynasty?

In fact, one of the reasons why Cao Rui fell into deep thought and began to think carefully was that Sima Yi had no stain on him.

If he had been appointed governor of Yongliang after Cao Zhen's death, and had followed the example of Wang Jian in seeking land and houses, and Xiao He in being greedy for money and corrupting himself, Cao Rui would have already reprimanded Xiahou Hui for talking nonsense and slandering loyal and good people without reason.

That’s right, the most fundamental reason is that Cao Zhen and Xiahou Shang, who were about the same age as Sima Yi, had passed away long ago.

The Wei State no longer had any royal generals who could suppress Sima Yi.

Moreover, Cao Rui and the common people all over the world knew exactly how the Wei Kingdom replaced the Han Dynasty and what the Mandate of Heaven in the name of abdication was all about.

Besides, didn’t his grandfather, Emperor Wu of Han, Cao Cao, aspire to be the General of the Western Expedition and the Fortress of the Han Dynasty?
The pavilion in the lake remained silent for a long time.

When Cao Rui opened his eyes again, he started to curse Xiahou Hui.

"You are not even 30 years old, you have little experience, but you are so arrogant because of your achievements. How dare you criticize the ministers who were appointed by the late emperor? Do you really think there are no rules in the court?"

"Sima Gong is from a famous family, and has been an important official of the Wei Kingdom for three generations. His achievements are outstanding and his reputation is well-known in the court and the country. How can you discuss saints and sages with Wang Mang's followers? Aren't you afraid that the scholars of the world will rise up and criticize you and label you a traitor?"

"As a son of Qiaopei, you have been given a special honor. You should keep silent and do your best to benefit the country. How can you imitate the people in the market and stir up trouble? You really don't think about the difficulties that your fathers and grandfathers went through in starting a business!"

"Now that Shu and Wu are not loyal and the world is not at peace, the country is in a difficult time. Instead of doing your job carefully, you are just boasting and talking about your experience? You don't know that 'the most difficult things in the world must be done from the easy', and you ignore my hope to grant you the position of Zhonglingjun!"

The more Cao Rui cursed, the more excited he became, and Xiahou Hui, who was listening with his head down, felt more and more relieved.

How is this scolding him?

It was obvious that Cao Rui took his warning to heart.

Therefore, he was implicitly reminding him that his current achievements and achievements could not be compared with Sima Yi, and his status and position could not compete with Sima Yi, so he should not act rashly or gossip recklessly. Given Sima Yi's prestige in the court and the army, if Xiahou Hui was criticized, it would be difficult for Cao Rui to keep his career.

To put it bluntly, Xiahou Hui is not qualified to speak about or participate in such matters now.

Work hard to accumulate merit and prestige, and one day grow into a royal general who can compete with Sima Yi. That is truly thinking about the country, and it will be more effective than anything else.

As Xiahou Hui was extremely obedient in his training, Cao Rui, who felt dry-mouthed, finally told him about Sima Yi's general investigation of military farms. "According to the rules, military farm affairs belong to the Grand Marshal. Now that the Grand Marshal has returned to the court, I can't let Wei Qing continue to take over. And I plan to hand all this over to the Grand Marshal's Office, and Zhi Quan will no longer be involved in it. Do you know the reason?"

Firstly, it is to appease the powerful.

Needless to say, as soon as Sima Yi stepped into Luoyang, the powerful and influential people submitted a petition to the court, asking the court to let Sima Yi be in charge of military farming in accordance with the rules and kick Wei Zhen and Xiahou Hui out.

The court had no reason to refuse this. After all, when the military farms that had been swallowed up by the Luoyang Department of Agriculture were recovered, it was based on the Emperor Wu system.

The other is to appease Sima Yi.

Sima Yi had voluntarily resigned from his duties as the governor of Yongliang, gave up his military power and returned to the capital. Cao Rui couldn't let someone else take over the affairs of the Grand Marshal's Office, right?
If things go wrong, he might be criticized for hiding Sima Yi.

Xiahou Hui was still clear about the relationship between the two, but he couldn't help feeling a little regretful.

If Sima Yi had returned to the capital in June as per the deadline given by Cao Rui, he would have been able to complete the investigation of the Department of Agriculture in all counties within the capital!

Hey~
Checking the military farms is a good thing for me to establish my prestige, but for you, the general, it is a thankless task. You are a man buried up to your neck in the dirt, can't you even understand the benefits and disadvantages of this?

Why are you in such a hurry to come back?
After a while of complaining inwardly, Xiahou Hui replied somewhat resignedly, "Your Majesty, I understand and have no complaints."

"As long as you know."

Cao Rui nodded in satisfaction and continued to instruct, "When investigating the Luoyang Department of Agriculture, Zhiquan acted like a cruel official, and there were many criticisms from the court and the public. You should stay at home and avoid causing trouble these days."

"only."

Responding respectfully, Xiahou Hui stood up and said goodbye, "Your Highness Hui, I'm leaving."

"Wait, I have something else to do."

"Your Majesty, please make it clear."

Cao Rui did not speak immediately, but pondered for a while while drinking, and then spoke as if he had made up his mind, "Hongnong County is the throat of the capital and Yongliang, and it can only be governed by a loyal person. The current governor has deeply disappointed me, and I will never allow him to stay in office. Zhiquan also holds the position of Zhongshu Shilang and is familiar with the affairs of the court, so try to recommend someone."

A position of 2,000 koku, and a large county in Kinki, and you actually let me participate in the recommendation?
The sudden honor made Xiahou Hui surprised and happy for a moment.

When he raised his head and met Cao Rui's half-smile, he realized that this was Cao Rui's commendation for him for speaking frankly about Sima Yi just now, and it was an accidental honor for him.

And as long as the person nominated is not bad, he will definitely be adopted.

Because in Cao Rui's instructions just now, he mentioned that Xiahou Hui was not yet fully developed, while Sima Yi's disciples and former officials were everywhere in the court and the country.

"only."

Restraining his overflowing joy, Xiahou Hui thought carefully before speaking, "Your Majesty, I was previously serving in an outer office, and I don't know much about the officials in the court. For the selection of the two thousand stone officials, I can only recommend people I know."

"Yes. Who?"

"Zhonglang Du Shu, Du Wubo."

"How do you do that?"

"Your Majesty, one reason is that when his father was the governor of Hedong, his achievements were the best in the country, and he seems to have inherited his father's style; and his father died in the service of the king, so he should be encouraged. Another reason is that I, Hui, was once a royal guard with him, and I know that he is a man who does not seek connections, is pragmatic and diligent, and is very talented and learned."

"Zhi Quan has been replaced by someone else. The current governor of Hedong has also been in office for a few years."

Well, it seems that after the prefect of Hongnong requested to resign, the prefects of all counties in the capital area will be in trouble.

I just don't know if it was me who recommended Du Shu to be the governor of Hedong.
"only."

Xiahou Hui once again quickly calculated in his mind.

But after thinking for a full half a quarter of an hour, he still couldn't think of a suitable candidate.

There is nothing we can do about it.

Emperor Cao Rui clearly wanted to give him the opportunity to recommend someone close to him.

But his foundation in the court is almost zero, and there is really no one who can be qualified to be the two thousand stone official!
Chen Qian was a person Cao Rui placed beside him to assist him, so he could not be promoted; Yu Song and Fu Gu were too young and lacked experience; Ding Mi, who had sufficient experience, was still in prison; and Chen Tai, another person who could be promoted out of turn, was in mourning. Even if he promoted talented people regardless of their relationship, his seventh brother Xiahou He could at most be sent to a superior county or a small prefecture now, and he could never even think about sending to a large prefecture near the capital like Hongnong.

Can it be said that even if I was given the opportunity, it would be useless?

After thinking it over in his mind, Xiahou Hui couldn't help but stare blankly.

"Why are you silent?"

Cao Rui must have guessed why Xiahou Hui looked embarrassed, and a playful look appeared on his face. "Could it be that the Central Guard, who often discussed state affairs and criticized ministers, couldn't even be promoted by a mere governor?"

"I am ashamed."

"Hahaha~"

Hearing this, Cao Rui suddenly burst into laughter, laughing very happily.

Because he suddenly felt that Xiahou Hui had not changed at all, and was still as pure as when he first met her.

Just like he couldn't tell the difference between Qin Wangxun and Qi Wangfang just now, just like now he was asked to recommend a governor to help him become a powerful leader, but he couldn't even find a candidate. (End of this chapter)