Wei Ni

"Your Majesty, I have a hard time changing my character, so I have gained nothing."

As soon as Xiahou Hui finished speaking, Emperor Cao Rui, who was expecting something, immediately felt displeased.

Since you have gained nothing, why are you still bringing this up?

Are you kidding me?
However, before he could say anything to blame him, Xiahou Hui added, "Privately, I have gained nothing; but publicly, I have found someone who can benefit the country."

It turns out that this is just for the sake of lifting~
Cao Rui suddenly realized who Xiahou Hui was going to recommend, so he turned his head back to stare at the floating feather (fish float) trembling slightly on the water, and asked casually, "The person Zhiquan is talking about should be Ma Jun, the attendant, right?"

"Nothing can be hidden from your Majesty."

Xiahou Hui was not surprised at all that Cao Rui guessed it was Ma Jun.

After all, he had spent most of his time in Chongwen Temple talking with Ma Jun, so it was no secret. So he said, "Your Majesty, I think that with Ma Deheng's skill, if the court can make use of him, it would be no less than adding 50,000 tiger and wolf troops to the State of Wei!"

Are you accusing me of not being able to select the right people for the right positions?
Although he had long been accustomed to Xiahou Hui's offensive words, Cao Rui still felt unhappy.

Especially when he lifted the fishing rod, he found that the bait on the hook had been taken away long ago.

He held the fishing rod upright at his side, asked the eunuch beside him to put the bait on it, and threw it into the lake again. Then he said leisurely, "I know that Ma Deheng is known as the 'world's most famous craftsman'. But Zhiquan comparing him to an army of 50,000 tigers and wolves is a bit exaggerated."

Exaggeration
Well, this is to let you refute, so that I can also talk nonsense and shake my lips~
Xiahou Hui laughed inwardly and argued hastily, "As Your Majesty said, if we only talk about the weapons improved by Ma Deheng, then I am exaggerating. However, the reason why I dare to say that Ma Deheng is like a national treasure is because he can make our Wei Kingdom have enough food and soldiers!"

After saying this, without waiting for Cao Rui to ask further questions, he continued to explain.

"Your Majesty must know that since Dong Zhuo's rebellion against the Han Dynasty, the country has been in chaos, the people have been displaced, and the fields have been barren. Although Emperor Wu unified the north and brought stability to the people, and Emperor Wen reduced labor service and taxes to give the people a rest, the population and cultivated fields of Wei are still barely half of what they were in the previous dynasties."

"Therefore, I, your servant, think that it would be better to let Ma Deheng improve the machinery and agricultural tools and spread them to the local counties. With the help of machinery, the people can achieve 10% of the work with 90% of their effort, which will be a blessing for the Wei Dynasty! Because if the people have surplus labor, they will reclaim wasteland; if the people have surplus food, they will have more children. And the increase in land tax can enable the country to repair more armor and soldiers, and the increase in population can make the country have sufficient military resources."

"The light of a few thousand grains of rice can rival the bright moon; the power of one part of the people can surpass a thousand pounds. If the State of Wei had enough food, taxes, and soldiers, then the mountains and rivers of Shu would not be a problem, and the dangers of the Yangtze River would be difficult to overcome. In this way, it can be said that the one who laid the foundation of the Wei Dynasty was Emperor Wu, the one who revived the Wei Dynasty was Emperor Wen, and the one who accomplished the great cause of the world must be Your Majesty!"

After Xiahou Hui's heartfelt speech, Cao Rui remained silent and continued to stare quietly at the floating feathers on the lake.

He is not indifferent.

Because the floating feather had already sunk deeply, even the fishing line was pulled diagonally and stretched straight, but he seemed unaware of it.

I think he has listened to it, but he is still thinking about whether it can be implemented?
Seeing this, Xiahou Hui was secretly thinking.

He wasn't in a hurry either.

If Ma Jun still cannot be used by the court today, then he will have to wait until the future, when he can go into battle himself.

It doesn't matter how little time is wasted.

"Yeah, it slipped away again."

After a long time, Cao Rui finally came to his senses and raised the fishing rod again. He looked at the shiny fish hook and muttered to himself before turning around and saying, "Since Zhiquan praises me so much, I will let Ma Deheng take charge of the Junior Supervisor of the Works and set up an independent office to specialize in water conservancy equipment and farm tools. If his skills can be of benefit to the country in the future, I will certainly praise him; if not, I will hold Zhiquan responsible for making unnecessary noise today and causing me to lose the fish."

"I am deeply troubled. But I am afraid that the fault of your Majesty losing the fish cannot be attributed to me."

"Oh, why?"

"This pond is within the palace, and it belongs to your majesty. Even if the fish can escape the hook thousands of times, how can it escape your majesty's grasp? So it can be said that your majesty has never lost a fish."

"Hahaha~ You're such a flatterer!"

Cao Rui laughed heartily. After the eunuch put on the bait and continued to throw it into the lake, he waved to the young man on the other side of the fishing platform to come over.

"This boy has some talent and is worthy of training. He will be under Zhiquan's command for the time being and serve as a Zhonglang official."

He said so.

When the young man in fancy clothes came over, he bowed to Xiahou Hui and said, "I am Zhen De, honored to meet you, the Central Guard General."

It turned out to be Pingyuan Hou Zhende!
Xiahou Hui nodded and smiled in return, but a sense of vigilance arose in his heart.

Because Zhen De's real name was Guo De, with the courtesy name Yansun, and he was from Xiping. He was the cousin of Cao Rui's favorite concubine, Mrs. Guo.

In terms of law and etiquette, he is Cao Rui's grandson.

In the sixth year of Taihe, Princess Cao Shu died, and Cao Rui was extremely sad. He personally attended the funeral regardless of etiquette, and even arranged a ghost marriage for her with Zhen Huang, the late nephew of Empress Wen Zhao (Zhen Ji), and chose Guo De to be her heir.

De then changed his surname and inherited the title.

Because he was a relative of both the Zhen and Guo families, he was highly favored.

And now everyone in the court and the country knows that Madam Guo will soon become the queen.

Just a few days ago, Cao Rui and other concubines including Madam Guo visited the back garden, and they forbade their attendants to let Queen Mao know. However, Queen Mao, who had already fallen out of favor, still found out, and the next day she asked Cao Rui if he enjoyed visiting the North Garden. Cao Rui was furious.

More than ten people around him were executed on the charge of leaking secrets, and Queen Mao was ordered to be executed.

After the news spread, there were many people in the court and the public who secretly spoke up for Queen Mao and criticized Cao Rui - how was Cao Rui's action different from Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty, Cao Pi, who sentenced Concubine Zhen to death in his early years?

Of course, no matter how much people complain in private, no one is stupid enough to give advice.

On the contrary, many people were like flies smelling stench. Thinking that Madam Guo would be the mistress of the harem, they began to actively seek opportunities to make friends with the Xiping Guo family.

This of course does not include Xiahou Hui.

After all, since Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty, Cao Pi, established the system, the power and status of the imperial relatives have been far inferior to those of the royal family members from Qiao and Pei.

Therefore, it is not surprising that Xiahou Hui's first reaction was not favor but vigilance, as Emperor Cao Rui suddenly created a new post of Zhonglang and sent the young Zhen De to the Zhonghuojun Office.

If you want to get something, you must first give it.

But Xiahou Hui couldn't figure it out. It seemed that he didn't have anything to plot against Cao Rui.
It can't be said that the emperor wanted to reward me for predicting that the bandits Wu and Goguryeo would invade Liaodong and suggesting the establishment of the Haedong Protectorate, right?
Even if he did not participate in the battle of Liaodong, he would certainly have a share in the merits of future battles. Even later history books did not forget to add a sentence when talking about this battle: "The conquest of Goguryeo, the defeat of Han Ye, the expansion of thousands of miles of territory, and the establishment of the Protectorate of Haidong were all Hui Ben's plans." Therefore, although he seemed to have no chance to participate in the merits of destroying the country and expanding the territory, he had actually "made great contributions" a long time ago.

How can we reward him now?

"Yan Sun is young, and I gave him this responsibility because I really want him to have some experience. Zhi Quan can teach him more."

Emperor Cao Rui gave Zhen De this instruction, waved his hand and sent him away, then continued to ask, "Does Zhi Quan know Huan Jia, the son of the former Minister of Rites?"

Huan Jia, the son of the heir to the throne Huan Jie and the husband of Princess Shengqianting.
Of course I know him.

Now that he is mentioned suddenly, does it mean that he will be transferred back to the capital to take up a post, and is it related to me?
Xiahou Hui, who had some guesses in his mind, replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, I was away from home in my early years and only met him once."

"It's good to have seen it."

Nodding slightly, Cao Rui continued, "The former Taichang Zhenhou was a great hero of the Wei Dynasty. The late emperor regarded him as a minister entrusted with his life, but he did not live long enough. Since I ascended the throne, I have always felt that I do not have enough talents to assist me, just like the late emperor's regret. I will not hesitate to promote him. Now, Asu has gone north to guard the Hetao area, and the position of General of Cavalry is vacant. I want to fill it with Huan Jia, and he will also serve as the Sima of the Central Guard Army. Zhiquan should get along with him and do not disappoint me."

"only."

Xiahou Hui responded in a clear voice, "Your Majesty, please be at ease. Although I am reckless, I am not a person who does not know the importance of things."

Naturally, his doubts grew even more.

Sending Zhen De to serve under him has nothing to do with Huan Jia succeeding as General of Cavalry and concurrently commanding the Central Guard Army Sima.
Besides, he had no right to comment on personnel appointments, so why would Cao Rui tell him?

Too busy?

"Ah."

Nodding, Cao Rui threw down his fishing rod and sent his attendants far away, then whispered, "The next day, if the court makes a decision, Zhiquan must not submit a memorial to advise. You must not speak of it in private either."

Uh!
To block the channels of communication, is this your purpose of letting Zhen De be the Zhonglang Officer?

And what exactly is it that made you not hesitate to invite me into the palace and condescend to give you advance warning?
Upon hearing this, Xiahou Hui was stunned.

"Um?!"

Cao Rui, who did not see Xiahou Hui's answer, looked serious and asked, "Did Zhiquan not hear clearly?"

"only!"

Xiahou Hui quickly stood up and bowed respectfully, "Your Majesty, I will remember your words and will never disobey you."

"Go home."

"Yes. Your Majesty, I will take my leave."

After leaving the palace, Xiahou Hui went to the Central Guard Officers' Office first.

After informing Yu Song that Huan Jia and Zhen De would be working in the office in the future and that he would be taking a three-day break, he returned to his own residence. Since Emperor Cao Rui claimed that something would happen in the court the next day and also warned him not to get involved, he might as well stay at home for a few days and ignore what was happening outside.

Things come to you as they should.
There's no need to be too curious, right?
Moreover, the emperor asked him to pretend to be deaf and dumb because he didn't want him to speak out directly, not because the matter involved him. So, why not act submissive and reassure the emperor?

Not to mention, he had already started planning for the future and no longer had the heart to speak out against the emperor.

With no distractions in his mind, he rode his horse slowly back to Lingzhi Marquis's mansion.

After handing the reins to the escort who had come to greet him, Xiahou Hui immediately went to find the steward Sun Lou and asked him to send someone to his elder brother Xiahou Heng's house to inform his nephew Xiahou Zhuang that he would come to the house the next day.

The reason is that Xiahou Zhuang and Zhen De are roughly the same age, so they should be able to get along well. (End of this chapter)