Wei Ni

Sigh, did you waste your time reading the books of Shen Buhai and Han Fei?

Upon hearing the question, Xiahou Hui, who had returned and taken his seat, couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

He couldn't understand why Emperor Cao Rui, who was usually so discerning and a master of imperial politics, had become so foolish when it came to formulating the examination system for officials.

That's just stupid!

The "Methods for Evaluating Officials" ostensibly set standards for assessing the merits of officials, but in essence, it was a shackle on the system of recommendation and selection of officials in prefectures and counties and the Nine-Rank System, serving as a means for the emperor to centralize power.

Its very nature dictates that it will inevitably provoke resistance from high-ranking officials and nobles.

After all, in the common social situation of family-based rule, vested interest groups always want to solidify their own interests by selectively cultivating and bestowing benefits upon their own people, and continuously expand their own interests on the basis of operability.

Because the total amount of resources is limited, and it is impossible for everyone to receive the benefits equally.

Didn't Cao Rui, who was a member of the imperial family, do the same thing?

Whether in the imperial court or in the military, they try their best to fill or cultivate trustworthy people to take the lead, with the aim of ensuring that their descendants will continue the same lineage for generations.

Among the sons of the Xiahou and Cao families, and the sons of the Bian, Zhen, and Guo families, who were related to the imperial family through marriage, which one was a person of both talent and virtue?
Every person who is granted an official position or promoted does so because of their status!

Even the imperial court was on fire, yet they still thought of preventing the officials who helped maintain the rule from lighting lamps.
Do you really think they're good people?

Furthermore, the constant coming and going of profit is the eternal melody of the world. How many people in the world are truly virtuous and talented, selfless and devoted to the Wei dynasty?
The vast majority of court officials entered officialdom in order to seek profit, fame, power, and so on.

Therefore, the best way to implement a regulation like the assessment method that infringes on the interests of others is to start with something simple and proceed step by step, hoping to gradually reduce the impact.

And you, on the other hand, came out with a whopping seventy-two!
That's really ridiculous!
Of course, despite his inner grumbling, Xiahou Hui still had to give a proper answer when the emperor asked him questions.

After a moment's thought, he cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, there are four reasons why I rely on you."

"Firstly, it is easy to accomplish."

“If the rites are too elaborate, they will be difficult to implement and eventually become books that are abandoned; if the laws are too elaborate, they will be easy to violate and even more serious crimes. Your servant Hui believes that the most difficult things are nothing more than starting well and finishing well. The most urgent task of the assessment law is to put it into practice, so it should not be complicated and add obstacles. If it is simple and subtle at the beginning, it will not be difficult; if more regulations are added later, it will also not be difficult.”

"The next thing is that people naturally have strengths and weaknesses."

"Clear water is used to wash one's hat ornaments, while muddy water is used to wash one's feet; the purposes are different. Officials in the court should be virtuous enough to discuss principles and talented enough to govern, making the most of their strengths. The same applies to the evaluation of officials in the capital: highlight their strengths and avoid their weaknesses, so that policies can be implemented smoothly and everyone can give full play to their talents. That is enough."

"Furthermore, there is no clear right or wrong in the world."

"When I was young, I aspired to a military career and studied military texts. I deeply agreed with sayings such as 'Kill one man and the whole army trembles; reward one man and ten thousand people rejoice.' Now, I am fortunate to have served in the imperial court for many years. I have never judged officials based on loyalty, integrity, virtue, treachery, or sycophancy, but only on whether they can benefit the state. Therefore, I humbly believe that those who bring benefit to the state, even if they are treacherous, can still be employed; those who squander the nation's achievements, even if they are loyal and upright, should be dismissed. A wise ruler governs with a mixture of benevolent and tyrannical methods; the principle of employing people without discrimination is based on the state's interests!"

"Finally, it is to reduce future troubles in the imperial court."

"A virtuous person is open and honest in speech and conduct, benevolent and tolerant, and generous in giving; a wicked person is hypocritical, cunning, ruthless, and selfish. They prioritize self-preservation, and the selfish are even more so than the benevolent. It can be said that if the examination and assessment laws are numerous and complex, it is uncertain whether they can expose wicked people, but they can be used to frame virtuous people without any excuse! Your Majesty has always been straightforward and honest. In the past, you only sought to eliminate evil completely. After Your Majesty admonished you with the saying 'governing a large country is like cooking a small fish,' you have often reflected on yourself and benefited greatly. Now, seeing the numerous regulations in Shao's 'Examination and Assessment Law for Officials,' it is as if you see your own past actions, which were so eager to eliminate evil without considering the consequences."

After his eloquent speech, Emperor Cao Rui fell into a long silence.

After a night of deliberation, he had already come up with a reason why the examination method should not be simplified. He also planned to refute Xiahou Hui, the instigator, today and let him talk to Liu Shaoyuyi, so as not to simplify it too much.

Well, at most fifty items would be enough.

In order to allow Xiahou Hui, Liu Shao, and Yu Yi to act as his mouthpiece and argue with the court officials when the "Examination and Assessment Law of the Capital" was discussed, he was willing to make some concessions.

However, he did not expect that after Xiahou Hui's speech, he would be unable to express the reasons he had prepared.

He couldn't refute it.

Or perhaps, it was Xiahou Hui who surprised him.

When investigating the long-standing abuses of the Shi family, in order to prevent Xiahou Hui from acting recklessly, he did not hesitate to summon Guanqiu Jian, who was far away in Youzhou, back to act as an envoy and use the power of the emperor to force Xiahou Hui to submit.

Cao Rui even remembered how the man had argued so fiercely back then.

Isn't it said that one's nature is hard to change?

Now, only a few months have passed, and when he offered his advice again, he already showed the beginnings of a mature and thoughtful approach to governing the country.

How did he progress so much and so quickly?
Perhaps it was the description of him as a "minister of eagle-like ambition" that made him uneasy.

Therefore, there is the saying: "Those who benefit the state and the people, even if they are treacherous ministers, can still be used; those who waste the country's achievements, even if they are loyal and upright ministers, can be dismissed."

But to be fair, these words deeply understood his heart.

As an emperor, how could he not understand the principle of "uniting the private interests of the masses to achieve the public good of one person"? Without treacherous and sycophantic officials, how could one restrain those whose achievements overshadow the emperor?

At the same time, employing both virtuous and wicked people to check and balance each other is an essential tactic for emperors, and also a means for them to demonstrate their authority through criticism and punishment!

"What does the King of Yan think of Zhiquan's theory?"

In a split second, his mind raced, and he suddenly turned to look at Cao Yu and asked a question.

This startled the Prince of Yan, who had been merely observing, so he immediately rose from his seat and bowed, his tone urgent and pressing, "The late Emperor decreed that princes of the clan are not allowed to participate in politics. Please forgive me for not being able to answer."

"Hey, what is the Prince of Yan doing!"

Cao Rui, who had left his seat to help the Prince of Yan up, said with a smile, “It was just idle talk, Prince of Yan, please don’t take it to heart. Besides, the Prince of Yan and I are blood relatives; Zhi Quan is a trusted minister of mine. Moreover, there are no outsiders here, so why be so formal? Speak freely, and consider it my advice.”

Okay.

With the current emperor in power, the late emperor's decree can be temporarily disregarded.

The Prince of Yan, Cao Yu, rose with a troubled expression, but dared not disobey the order. He could only speak softly, avoiding the main point, "In my opinion, Zhi Quan's suggestion that 'one must begin before one can continue; if one does not begin, there is no end to speak of' has some merit."

Does that mean you agree with his suggestion?

Raising his eyebrows slightly, Cao Rui did not press the matter further. Instead, he instructed Xiahou Hui, "Yesterday in the East Hall, I had Shao and Yi discuss Zhiquan's theory, which has already simplified the assessment method into thirty-two articles. Hearing Zhiquan's words today has been like a wake-up call to me, and it is commendable. So, the next day I will summon Shao and Yi to the Nine Dragons Hall to discuss with Zhiquan again, and after we have simplified the assessment method to within ten articles, we will send it to me for review."

"only."

Upon hearing this, Xiahou Hui rose and bowed, saying, "Your subject, Hui, obeys the order."

"Strange. Lately, for some reason, I've been feeling dizzy and drunk even after drinking less than half of what I used to drink."

Having made up his mind and relaxed, Cao Rui, with a hand on his forehead, showed a hint of pain. He turned and went to the back room. "I will rest for a while. Zhi Quan will drink and make merry with the Prince of Yan on my behalf."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure disappeared into the back room, leaving Xiahou Hui no chance to refuse.

He truly did not want to be alone with the Prince of Yan.

According to the patriarchal clan law established by Cao Pi, princes and court officials were forbidden from associating. Violation of this law resulted in princes being stripped of their titles and reduced stipends, while court officials faced demotion or imprisonment. Therefore, if he were to develop any connection with Prince Yan, Cao Yu, it would likely become a pretext for future attacks against him.

"Zhiquan, thank you very much for earlier."

Whether it was because he had already broken with precedent by discussing politics earlier and therefore didn't mind doing it again, or to avoid the awkwardness of looking at each other in silence, Prince Yan, Cao Yu, took the initiative to express his gratitude.

The sudden words startled Xiahou Hui for a moment before he realized why the other person was thanking him.

He quickly bowed and said humbly, “I dare not accept the King of Yan’s thanks. Just now I advised Your Majesty that you might be more lenient with the policies of the princes, not to speak on behalf of the King of Yan. When I was young, I especially loved literature and often copied and read the works of Emperor Wu, the late Emperor, and the Prince of Chensi to improve my own learning. Later, when I joined the army, I still did so in my spare time. Therefore, when I saw the lines about the Prince of Chensi, such as ‘six changes of title and three relocations; repeatedly encountering barren land and lack of food and clothing,’ I was deeply moved. Today, the time has come, so I have offered my advice to Your Majesty on the grounds of loyalty to the country and the affection between relatives.”

"Zhiquan misspoke."

Unexpectedly, the King of Yan waved his hand after hearing this and explained, "What I thanked him for was that Zhi Quan said it was not appropriate for him to be granted a fiefdom and command troops."

Ok?
Shouldn't you be resenting me?

Xiahou Hui, puzzled, tilted his head, raised his eyebrows, and looked confused.

"Cough~cough cough~"

Clearing his throat with some difficulty, Prince Yan, Cao Yu, lowered his voice and said, "His Majesty summoned me to the capital this time because he wants me to take command of the army. I have declined several times, but I cannot refuse."

What did you say?!
His Majesty actually intends to put you in command of the army, and in the capital no less!
This time, Xiahou Hui was truly visibly shaken.

Although he knew that the Prince of Yan had grown up with Emperor Cao Rui since childhood and had a close relationship with him, and that he was favored by Cao Rui because of his respectful and gentle nature and his avoidance of conflict, he truly did not expect that Cao Rui's trust in him would reach such an extent.
You should know that the Prince of Yan was the son of Emperor Wu of Cao Cao!
Granting him the power to command troops in the capital was tantamount to giving him the opportunity to "inherit the throne".

"Does Zhiquan know about the Five Pecks of Rice Religion?"

Just as Xiahou Hui was still in shock, King Cao Yu of Yan asked another question.

Why the sudden mention of the Five Pecks of Rice sect?

My father and brother died in Hanzhong, how could I not know!
"Know a thing or two."

“I am the son-in-law of the Marquis of Yuan, and I am quite familiar with the Five Pecks of Rice sect, but I have never believed in ghosts and gods. Hmm, Your Majesty also keeps a respectful distance from them.”

Okay, I understand. (End of Chapter)