Wei Ni

Whose official position should we petition for?

And what is the connection between this person and Bu Lin's transfer of military power?

Ding Mi turned her head to examine Xiahou Hui's expression, trying to discern something, but after a moment she picked up her pen again, saying, "Zhiquan, speak."

"Sima Zhao, the second son of the Grand Commandant, is appointed to fill the vacancy of Prefect of Anping. The reason is that the late emperor had once offered Sima Zhao the position of Agricultural Commandant of Hongnong, but the Grand Commandant declined, so the appointment was cancelled. However, it was said that after the counties and prefectures submitted their reports at the end of the year, another position would be offered to him. Later, the late emperor fell ill, and the matter was delayed. Now we should re-appoint him, so that virtuous and talented people will not be left in obscurity."

What kind of virtuous and capable person is Sima Zhao?
Emperor Ming, Cao Rui, was saying that he wanted to find a post in one of the counties around the capital and entrust it with a position with a salary of 1,000 shi (a unit of grain), so why did he have to mention that he started his career with a salary of 2,000 shi?

Furthermore, isn't the current Prefect of Anping Wang Ji, who is on good terms with Xiahou Yiquan? Why is Sima Zhao being asked to fill the vacancy?

Ding Mi held his pen still, staring intently at Xiahou Hui, his eyes full of questions.

"It is so. Today in the East Hall, everyone was discussing the vacancy for the Prefect of Anfeng."

Xiahou Hui quietly recounted the events of the day.

After listening, Ding Mi could vaguely guess that this was a scheme against Cao Shuang, but his mind was still a mess: What benefit could Xiahou Hui gain from this? He had recommended many people for official positions and increased their power. Even if it was a case of "giving before taking," what benefit could compare to the power to control three thousand palace guards?
"Zhiquan, let me sort this out first."

He put down his pen, turned around and looked at Xiahou Hui, and asked tentatively, "When Zhiquan petitioned for official positions for others, his intention was to prevent them from competing for the positions of Commander of the Central Army, Protector of the Central Army, and Governor of Henan, right?"

"That's right."

Xiahou Hui nodded and explained, “I intend for my fourth brother to serve as the Commander of the Central Army, while the position of Commander of the Central Army will be left to Cao Zhao. Last night I spoke with the Prince of Yan and Qin Lang, and the late Emperor instructed the Prince of Yan to value Cao Zhao highly. As for the Governor of Henan, let the officials in the court recommend him. I have no one suitable for the position, so I will not interfere.”

Are you willing to sacrifice three thousand Imperial Guards just for the sake of a single Central Guard?
You already have five divisions of the Grand General's Camp, and you are granted the authority to command all military affairs, both inside and outside the capital. All the central armies stationed in the capital region are under your control. Whoever is appointed as the Central Protector General will have to rely on you.

In contrast, what lies within the North and South Gates is truly beyond your reach!

By handing over these three thousand imperial guards, you've essentially lost control of the palace. Aren't you worried about what might happen if something goes wrong?
Ding Mi almost laughed out of anger.

But he also knew that Xiahou Hui was by no means a fool, so he suppressed his emotions and asked.

Unexpectedly, Xiahou Hui burst out laughing, "Haha~ Yanjing is just too worried. May I ask, Yanjing, if I am willing to hand over the power to command the Imperial Guards, would the Guo family of Xiping dare to take it over? Even if they dare, would the officials and nobles allow them to take it over?"

uh~
That makes sense!
Emperor Wen of Cao Pi decreed that the women of the inner palace should not interfere in politics.

The example of Prince Cao Yu of Yan being dismissed is still fresh in everyone's mind. If the Guo family of Xiping doesn't know what's good for them and accepts it calmly, they will be drowned in the spittle of the officials.

So you're just trying to curry favor with them!
Ding Mi couldn't help but laugh out loud, but Xiahou Hui's next words made his laughter stop abruptly.

"I was merely following the late emperor's previous plan, transferring Cao Zhao to the position of Prefect of Lujiang, and then hastily appointing his close associates to the position of Prefect of Anfeng. If I were to recommend these people for official positions, I suppose he would no longer have any reservations and would then proceed to place his cronies in large numbers."

This is what Xiahou Hui said.

Ding Mi felt a warmth in her heart and her nose tingled with emotion.

With his cunning, he could certainly guess which people Cao Shuang would recommend for official positions.

So he said with a slight sympathy, “Actually, Zhiquan doesn’t need to go to such great lengths. I can now enter and leave the General’s office without any hindrance, and neither officials nor commoners dare to look down on me. Whether I hold an official position or not is not important.”

"This is what I promised Yanjing before, and it is also something I can do for my mother clan within my power."

Waving his hand dismissively, Xiahou Hui gently comforted him, "We are like one body, Yanjing, there's no need to feel awkward or distant. Besides, my going to such lengths isn't entirely to remove Yanjing's obstacles in his official career."

"it is good."

Ding Mi nodded slightly in response, knowing his words were inadequate, and then turned to fulfilling his duties as a staff member, "None of the General's subordinates have received orders from Zhi Quan. We should hurry. If there really is no one to choose from, we can ask the Grand Master of Ceremonies or Bo Quan. Their positions are not prominent, but they have been in the court for a long time." Before he could finish speaking, he paused slightly, patting his forehead with a hint of annoyance, "I was distracted by the memorials and other matters, and I forgot to inform Zhi Quan. Yu Zhonglang came to the office before dusk and was just having dinner with Han Yuncong and others! Zhi Quan, wait a moment, I will go and fetch him."

After saying this, he leaned on the table and stood up, but Xiahou Hui reached out and pressed him down again.

"I'll go. Yanjing, please prepare the two memorials for me first."

"Alright."

Yu Song was outside the office at this time, and had been waiting for quite a while.

He was qualified to invite himself in, but he knew that those who became arrogant because of favor often met with bad ends, and he understood that some seemingly outdated rules and regulations were actually protecting the inferior.

"Since Shumao is here, why don't you come in?"

Xiahou Hui, who had just stepped out of the office, saw him and asked him a question. Then he turned around and instructed the guards on duty, "If Shumao and Fu Lanshi come here in the future, please let me know."

"only."

The attendants bowed in response.

Yu Song smiled and explained, "General, I told him not to report it. I just finished eating and my head is spinning. I want to clear my mind first."

"Shu Mao, just call me by my courtesy name, don't be so formal." Xiahou Hui smiled at this, not exposing his thoughts, and led him directly into the office to sit down. There was no need for formalities, and after sitting down, he asked directly, "Shu Mao, you must have made a decision this time?"

Before sending off the deceased at Gaoping Mausoleum, he sent someone to the Central Guard Officer's Office to inform Yu Song that he wanted to transfer him to the rank of Attendant Gentleman of the Grand General.

"Reporting to the General, yes, Zhiquan, I've made up my mind."

Yu Song, who was about to cup his hands in reply, smiled sheepishly, lowered his hands, and nodded. "If Zhi Quan were to bestow this title upon me as a subordinate, I might be able to accept it with a thick skin, but I'd rather not accept it as a mere Attendant Gentleman. Besides, we can still address each other by our courtesy names, so why would Zhi Quan need me to remain on duty at the General's Office?"

Upon hearing this, Xiahou Hui raised his eyebrows slightly, then burst out laughing, "Uncle Mao, could it be that you've already met Lan Shi?"

"Hehe, that's true."

Yu Song nodded and smiled, "Nothing can be hidden from Zhi Quan. I haven't had many official duties lately, so I met with Lan Shi."

Xiahou Hui had already taken the opportunity to talk to Fu Gu, who was currently serving as a court official.

He also directly informed him that he would not be appointed as a subordinate of the Grand General, but rather that he would look for a suitable opportunity to transfer him to the position of Assistant Minister of Personnel (Selection Officer).

There are two reasons.

Firstly, as one of Xiahou Hui's earliest confidants, Fu Gu would be regarded by the court and the public as Xiahou Hui's mouthpiece and a means of extending his influence, regardless of whether he served in the General's Office or not. In that case, it would be better to place him in a key position that Xiahou Hui would want to control in the future.

The next rank above the Assistant Minister of Personnel is Minister of Personnel.

The selection and evaluation of chief officials were equivalent to controlling personnel matters in the imperial court.

Xiahou Hui's power is not yet fully established, so he has no plans to transfer Lu Yu, but that will be possible in five or six years.
Another reason is that Fu Gu has already gained experience in the Duke's mansion.

He started his official career as an aide to the Minister of Works and had even participated in the campaign in Liaodong, accumulating experience along the way. The only reason he couldn't immediately assume a prominent position was because he was too young. Therefore, Xiahou Hui didn't need to keep him in the General's Office to further his career.

Yu Song's refusal was also based on this consideration.

The so-called training, huh?
Once I've won your loyalty and you've developed feelings for me, I can then send out my henchmen or mouthpieces.

Having already become Xiahou Hui's confidant, he no longer needed to go through the training process, so he wanted to leave the spot vacant for other people Xiahou Hui wanted to win over.

Furthermore, he is still young and really not suitable to serve as the Grand General's Attendant Gentleman.

Among the generals' assistants, the most important positions are the Chief Clerk in charge of administration, the Military Commander, and the two Attendant Gentlemen in charge of planning. At the very least, they must be people who have served as officials with a salary of two thousand piculs of grain.

Of course, if Xiahou Hui insisted on recruiting him, no one would stop Yu Song from accepting the position.

Yu Song will inevitably be criticized and ridiculed for obtaining his position through flattery and ingratiation rather than through his own talent.

"Since that's the case, I won't insist."

After a moment's thought, Xiahou Hui said softly, "Shumao, you can stay in your old position for now. When the time is right, I will transfer you to the position of Zhongshu Lang."

"it is good."

Two days later, in the East Hall of Taiji Palace.

A court meeting, presided over by General of Chariots and Cavalry Cao Shuang and Grand Commandant Sima Yi, was underway, bringing together the Minister of Works, Minister of Agriculture, the Nine Ministers, the Grand Secretary, the Grand Secretary, and the ministers of various departments.

After all the miscellaneous affairs were dealt with, they looked at each other and fell silent.

General Xiahou Hui, who was absent due to his chief secretary Sun Li's visit to Emperor Cao Fang, specifically instructed them to recommend a candidate for the position of Governor of Henan, which had been vacant for nearly a month.

This was not originally a difficult problem.

All that is needed is to act impartially and select the best from among the court officials.

The difficulty lies in the fact that they find it hard to maintain impartiality.
Yesterday, Xiahou Hui submitted a memorial listing the official positions of Sima Zhao, Cao Shuang's three younger brothers, and Guo Zhi and Guo Li. Except for Empress Dowager Guo, who intervened to relinquish Guo Zhi and Guo Li's command of the imperial guards, Emperor Cao Fang approved almost all of the memorials.

Therefore, people couldn't help but wonder: Was Xiahou Hui's move an indication that there were precedents for the Grand General concurrently holding the position of Governor of Henan?
Cao Shuang and Sima Yi were the most deeply affected by this.

Because the political arena is not one of confrontation, but rather one of compromise and reciprocal exchange of benefits.

Since Xiahou Hui has already petitioned for official positions for his family members, shouldn't they also recommend Xiahou Hui's relatives to serve as the Governor of Henan?

"Gentlemen, it is past noon."

Seeing that Cao Shuang remained silent for a long time, Sima Yi came up with a compromise: "Let us each recommend two people and record them in a book. After Minister Lu compiles them, we will submit them to the General for a decision."

It was not spoken aloud, but recorded in a book.

The suggestion was immediately met with unanimous approval from everyone in the East Hall. (End of Chapter)