Wei Ni

No, you don't need to worry anymore, I do!

Since you're willing to continue in your post, it means Sima Shi will be appointed as the Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. I don't feel like I can sleep soundly if your eldest son isn't under my watchful eye!

It's important to know that in history, Sima Shi was able to raise three thousand elite soldiers in Luoyang without a single one being exposed, and the court and the public were completely unaware of it!
What if you "betray" us in the future?
Xiahou Hui was speechless for a moment.

But there was no way to persuade them any further, lest their intentions be exposed.

Therefore, after thinking it over, he could only settle for second best and said, “Since Lord Sun insists, I cannot force you. However, it is an undeniable fact that there are still many vacancies among the General’s staff. I suppose Lord Sun also knows that I was not in the capital in my early years and had very few social connections. You have been in the court for many years and must know many talented people. Please do not hesitate to recommend a few.”

Uh!
I have indeed served in the government for many years, but my reputation has also suffered.
Upon hearing this, Sun Zi paused for a moment, but had no way to refuse.

Asking him to recommend someone was a sign of Xiahou Hui's trust in him, and also an opportunity for him to do Xiahou Hui a favor. If he refused, he would truly be ungrateful.

"Um"

Lowering his eyelids, Sun Zi stroked his short, graying beard, racking his brains for a suitable candidate.

A moment later, he suddenly opened his eyes and said to Xiahou Hui with a smile, "I am honored by the General's trust and it would be disrespectful to refuse. I believe there is a young man who is very talented and may be able to serve as a clerk in the General's office."

Youth is wonderful!
Not only are they clean-cut, but they are also more likely to cultivate loyalty.

“Anyone who can catch Master Sun’s eye must be an extraordinary person. Please tell me more.”

"Yes. He is Jia Gonglu, the eldest son of the late Governor of Yuzhou, Jia Liangdao, and now a Gentleman of the Palace."

It was Jia Chong!?
Xiahou Hui's gaze was somewhat dazed.

Sun Zi, thinking he was unaware of Jia Chong's identity, began to introduce him, saying, "Jia Gonglu is the son of an old friend of mine. In my youth, I avenged my brother by killing someone and fleeing into the world, which is why I refused Emperor Wu's summons. Jia Liangdao, who was on good terms with me, intervened on my behalf and persuaded me to return to officialdom. Later, Jia Liangdao died young, and Jia Gonglu was still young. I took care of him and learned of his talent and character. He was already known for his filial piety during his mourning period. Before he turned twenty, he served as a court official, responsible for enforcing laws and regulations. Now, at twenty-four, he also oversees the Ministry of Revenue's assessment. Although his experience is still limited, he already has a reputation for competence."

I believe that. In the original historical trajectory, he was far too "daring" to train!
I wonder where the Cheng brothers, Cheng Cui and Cheng Ji, are now?

Xiahou Hui remained silent, lost in thought.

This caused Sun Zi, who had just finished his introduction, to have a strange expression. After raising his eyebrows and considering it for a moment, he suddenly remembered something and continued, "General, although Chong's wife is the daughter of Li Feng, the Grand Master of Yongning, and Feng is on good terms with Xiahou Taichu and others, Chong is not involved in any of them."

Okay.

He thought Xiahou Hui's silence was because he was worried that Jia Chong might have some connection with Cao Shuang.

"Ah? Master Sun has misunderstood."

Having regained his senses, Xiahou Hui waved his hand and laughed heartily, "It's not that I doubt this matter. Rather, I know the whole story of how the former Governor of Yuzhou died in grief and indignation, therefore..."

When Jia Kui's death was mentioned, Sun Zi couldn't help but sigh.

If Emperor Ming of the Ming Dynasty, Cao Rui, had not favored Cao Xiu and had been more impartial in his judgments, Jia Kui might have lived many more years and risen to the rank of high-ranking official.

"This is an old matter and has nothing to do with the General."

Sun Zi nodded and said softly, "Chong is not an unreasonable person, and he has no intention of thinking that all the sons of Xiahou and Cao are arrogant. How about I write a letter to him first, and then the General can invite him to serve in his office in three days?"

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Master Sun."

"I don't deserve it, it was just a small favor."

The two chatted for a while before parting ways.

On his way back to the General's Office, Xiahou Hui still felt that things were somewhat strange.

First, Xun Yi took the initiative to seek an alliance with him in his early years, and now Sun Zi has even pushed Jia Chong over. Why do I suddenly feel that things have changed?

Naturally, he also understood the principle that oranges grown north of the Huai River are bitter oranges, while those grown south of the Huai River are sweet oranges.

Whether it's Xun Yi or Jia Chong, their future achievements depend on them, not on some predetermined fate.

Upon returning to his post, he instructed Wang Ji, the Attendant Gentleman, to draft a document to present to Emperor Cao Fang that Sun Zi had listened to advice and changed his mind, and to reply to Liu Zhong's memorial. He then sent an attendant to inform the Chief Secretary Sun Li that he did not need to bring back the conclusions discussed by the officials in the court, but that he should not sign his endorsement on the memorial presented to Emperor Cao Fang.

Yes, he suddenly had the urge to do something silly.

As he had already guessed, and knew that the lifting of the ban on the extravagance case was inevitable, he still stopped it. While accusing Cao Shuang, he also took the opportunity to test how much respect the officials had for him, the great general.

Know your enemy and know yourself~
Three months have passed since he received the imperial edict. He needs to understand his own importance before deciding how to deal with Cao Shuang's power struggle.

If all the officials and nobles obeyed his orders, he would not mind using Ding Mi's suggestion and emulating Huo Guang's method of deposing Liu He, who had "been the King of Changyi for twenty-seven days and committed more than a thousand crimes," to swiftly depose Cao Shuang and reduce him to commoner status.

Of course, this possibility is extremely slim. So what he really wanted to see was how many of the high-ranking officials were pragmatic and how many disregarded him.

They considered changing the selection of ministers after consolidating their power.

The matter was resolved quickly.

When Zheng Mao's memorial to the emperor was met with widespread discussion and everyone believed that Sima Shi could be granted an official position, Sun Li directly refused to sign his name on the memorial to the emperor.

He represents the General's Office.

Without his signature, it meant that the memorial had not gone through the proper procedures and could not be presented to the emperor.

After all, how could the imperial court make decisions without considering the great general who was entrusted with the care of the young emperor?
Lu Yu, the Minister of Personnel in charge of drafting the memorial, was quite helpless. He was being urged by Cao Shuang's subordinates while also running into a snag with Sun Li.

Besides, what does the outcome of this matter have to do with him?

Finally, pressed by Zheng Mao and others, he privately sought out Sun Li, explained his situation, and asked Sun Li to at least give a reason for not supporting the motion. Having already received his instructions, Sun Li did not make things difficult for him and gave his answer in the court meeting the next day: "The General said that the gentlemen may discuss this matter again."

There's already a consensus, so why does it need to be reconsidered?
Everyone knows what that means, but the result of the reconsideration did not change.

Those who had previously agreed or disagreed continued to stick to their opinions, and no one would label themselves as sycophants because of Xiahou Hui's words; while some old ministers who had previously been ambiguous in their attitudes, except for a few who echoed Situ Weizhen, all clearly expressed their agreement.

The review process was more one-sided than before.

It had almost become an unassailable consensus.

When the results came out, Sun Li didn't say anything else. He simply picked up his pen and signed the memorial in front of all the court officials.

Cao Shuang was overjoyed and greatly encouraged upon learning of the review process.

Not only because his own intentions were achieved,

Furthermore, it reveals that the officials in the court did not have much respect or awe for Xiahou Hui, a general who was only thirty years old, and felt that he was not yet capable of properly handling the affairs of the court.

This is also his opportunity.

In contrast to Xiahou Hui, who spent his early years on the battlefield and struggled to gain the trust of officials in the court, Xiahou Hui, though ranked lower, had always maintained considerable connections and influence in the capital and the court since entering officialdom.
It would also make it easier to consolidate power more quickly and then seize the opportunity to surpass Xiahou Hui!

"This matter should be known to both the government and the public."

After he returned to his residence, He Yan advised him to quickly arrange for his servants to spread the word in the streets of Luoyang about the officials' resistance to Xiahou Hui's intentions, "so that Zhao Bo's reputation will grow stronger every day!"

Cao Shuang agreed wholeheartedly and immediately arranged for his servants to make the arrangements.

He then went even further, instructing his servants to manipulate public opinion, claiming that Xiahou Hui, out of his long-standing friendship with Sun Zi and his lust for power, did not want Sima Shi to be appointed as the Palace Attendant.

However, He Yan's suggestion drew much criticism.

After Emperor Cao Fang approved the memorial, Xiahou Hui went to the residence of the Minister of Works, and held the hand of Minister Wei Zhen, sighing, "Lord Wei, the late emperor has only been gone for a few months, and the government is already in ruins!"

This caused Wei Zhen, who had deep feelings for Emperor Cao Rui, to burst into tears in public and remain unable to control himself for a long time.

This little incident, without needing to be specially spread, was enough to cause a great stir in the streets of Luoyang.

It is said that many high-ranking officials, upon learning of this, felt remorseful and lamented to their sons and brothers, "Now we know why the General ordered us to reconsider! I have served in the court for many years and have received the late Emperor's favor. I am ashamed."

ok~
First, the Minister of Works wept in public; then, the high-ranking officials returned home feeling ashamed.
Cao Shuang, as the regent entrusted with the care of the young emperor, was guilty of arbitrarily dereliction of duty by the late emperor, a crime that could never be erased from the minds of officials and common people alike.

When Cao Shuang learned of the reversal in public opinion, he was stunned.

Many of the servants of the Marquis of Wu'an's mansion disappeared without a trace, and the craftsmen were commissioned to make new screens, tables and chairs, and purchase writing brushes, ink, and other playthings; even He Yan, who used to visit the mansion every day, claimed to be ill and stayed at home for several days.

Xiahou Hui, who had tricked Cao Shuang, was not in a good mood either.

The reason was simple: the result of the review made him realize that he still had a long way to go if he wanted to truly control the government.

He originally thought he was "both qualified and capable," but now he realizes that without replacing all the officials in the court, he will find it difficult to do anything he wants.

Perhaps this is why Emperor Ming frequently rejected his suggestions to reform long-standing problems?
Even a monarch cannot do whatever he wants.

Given that Emperor Wen of Wei, Cao Pi, relinquished power and had his ministers endorse the Wei dynasty's replacement of the Han dynasty, and considering the continued disloyalty of Shu and Wu, and the need for concerted efforts from all levels to achieve unification, Emperor Ming of Wei, Cao Rui, could not avoid compromising with his subordinates. Therefore, he admonished himself that "governing a large country is like cooking a small fish," and that he must consider all aspects and proceed cautiously.

However, Han Fei Zi also pointed out the consequences of ignoring illness and refusing to seek medical treatment in "Bian Que's Visit to Duke Huan of Cai".
If we let it slide for now and do nothing, even if the Wei dynasty eventually conquers the world, it will have reached the point where the disease is incurable.
With this in mind, Xiahou Hui kept his promise to Xiao Quji and took him on a spring outing to the Beiman Mountain Manor. (End of Chapter)