Wei Ni

Does he make you feel at ease?

You are now the Grand General who oversees all military affairs, both inside and outside the capital. Moreover, the late emperor has assigned several thousand elite infantry and cavalry selected from the Central Army to your five battalions under the direct command of the Grand General. Are you still not at ease?

Do you really need to transfer the half of the palace guards under Cao Shuang's command to your hands before you feel at ease?

For a moment, Guanqiu Jian was completely speechless, and a look of shame and annoyance appeared on his face—if Xiahou Hui insisted on having the authority to supervise the forbidden positions in the palace, it would mean that he had been making excuses for him all along.

"Brother Zhonggong, please don't misunderstand, let me explain clearly."

Seeing the change in his expression, Xiahou Hui could guess that his words had been misunderstood, so he comforted him and continued, "What I want is for Zhao Bo to submit a memorial proposing to thoroughly investigate the long-standing problems of the military farms; and when I implement the policy of reforming the selection of talents in the country, he must not obstruct or hinder it."

"Zhiquan, these are two separate matters!"

Guanqiu Jian, whose expression had softened slightly, couldn't help but criticize, "If the goal is to resolve the rift, then we must be honest and trustworthy with each other. How can we resort to sophistry and deception?"

"How can you accuse me of sophistry?"

Xiahou Hui could not hold back any longer and retorted directly and righteously, "Implementing the policy of selecting talents for the state is a matter of benefiting the country! I do not need his advocacy or support, I only need him not to obstruct it, how can that be considered a matter? Could it be that Cao Zhaobo is not a loyal minister of the Wei court, nor a minister entrusted by the late emperor?"

Guanqiu Jian opened his mouth, but then closed it again.

It wasn't that he was at a loss for words to refute Xiahou Hui's sophistry, but rather that he knew the purpose behind Xiahou Hui's actions.

It was nothing more than forcing Cao Shuang to draw a line between himself and the scholar-official families led by Grand Tutor Sima Yi, so that he wouldn't have to worry about facing a joint opposition from the two regents in the future.

Of course, Guanqiu Jian did not immediately agree.

After careful consideration, he tactfully advised, “I do not deny that both matters are beneficial to the country, but I also think that it is too hasty to implement them now. At present, with Shu and Wu being disobedient to the outside world, and the country being in doubt due to the young emperor, Zhi Quan, as the head of the government, should prioritize maintaining stability.”

“Brother Zhonggong, your words are sophistry.”

Upon hearing this, Xiahou Hui mercilessly pointed out the flaws in Guanqiu Jian's words, "Indeed, there are still Shu and Wu that are disloyal. But when the late emperor was still alive, he summoned the Grand Tutor back to the capital from Yong and Liang. Why? Because the rebellious Shu was small and sparsely populated, and had long been impoverished and weak due to its previous aggressive military campaigns. It no longer had the strength to contend with our Wei for the Mandate of Heaven! As for the enemy Wu, although its national strength was still greater than that of the rebellious Shu, it was riddled with internal contradictions, its military campaigns had repeatedly failed, and its soldiers and generals had long lost their fighting spirit. How could it have any hope of conquering the Central Plains? It was just a group of people who relied on the natural barrier of the Yangtze River to maintain their position. They were not worth mentioning!"

After saying that, he let out a sigh of relief, his expression softening as he continued.

“I know that Brother Zhonggong is loyal to the Wei dynasty. It is not that I am stubborn and unwilling to listen to Brother Zhonggong’s words, but I feel that now is the right time to restart the investigation of the military farms. Brother Zhonggong is away fighting and may not know that this year, the agricultural departments in various places reported that the agricultural department in Luoyang increased production by 30% compared to last year, while there was little change in other places.”

"A staggering 30%?!"

"How could I possibly speak carelessly about matters concerning the autumn harvest and its storage?"

After his initial surprise, Guanqiu Jian fell silent.

He had served as the Agricultural Commissioner in Luoyang in his early years, and was very clear about the problems caused by the military-agricultural colonies.

Furthermore, when Emperor Ming of the Ming Dynasty, Cao Rui, ordered Xiahou Hui to thoroughly investigate the Ministry of Agriculture in Luoyang, he specifically summoned him back from Youzhou, so that Xiahou Hui would clearly know that the number of households in the Ministry of Agriculture in Luoyang had decreased by 20% compared to when he took office.

With fewer households but higher output, the problem is self-evident.

Seeing his silence, Xiahou Hui thought for a moment and then began to speak frankly with him.

"When the late Emperor was still alive, he implemented the system I proposed in Huainan, allowing military families to redeem themselves through military merit, which proved quite effective. I have no intention of changing it now, but the problems caused by civilian settlements have reached a point where they cannot be ignored. Since Emperor Wu promoted civilian settlements, our Wei Kingdom has been able to wage war on all sides without worrying about food supplies. However, during the time of the late Emperor, whenever the central army rushed to the aid of the enemy, did the court officials ever try to dissuade us because of the insufficient food supplies in the local areas? For example, on the Jingxiang front, the current food reserves in the army are not even enough for a hundred days!"

"Therefore, the Grand Minister of Agriculture, Sima Zhi, once said to the late emperor that the officials in charge of the military farms were driving away the farmers and merchants for personal gain, and neglecting agriculture and sericulture. Furthermore, when my fourth brother was in Yanzhou, he saw that the local military farms were subject to endless levies and taxes, and it was common for the government to produce 70% to 80% of the annual output while the farmers produced only 20% to 30%. The farmers suffered greatly and fled incessantly, preferring to hide in the mountains and forests as bandits."

“During the Han Dynasty, the tax rate was one-thirtieth or one-fifteenth. Later, the country was in chaos, and Emperor Wu established the military farms. The tax was split 50/50 between the government and the people, which was a temporary measure. Now, the north is stable, and the people all want to return to their hometowns to live and work in peace. However, the court keeps them confined to the military farms, where they are responsible for managing granaries, tying bridges, transporting taxes, removing road beams, and plastering houses all year round. They are engaged in agricultural work every day. Is this appropriate? Is this a good policy for the long-term benefit of our Wei Dynasty? This is what is meant by ‘laws gradually become corrupt over time.’” "In my view, the prosperity of a nation depends on the well-being of its people. It would be better to abolish the military settlements and distribute land to the people, allowing them to register as households and cultivate it themselves. This would increase the population and thus expand the nation's tax revenue. Furthermore, too many officials will disturb the people, and too many regulations will deprive them of their benefits. If the military settlements are abolished, the positions of Agricultural Commandant or General of the Household can be changed to other posts. The laws and regulations of the prefectures and counties and the clerks can be simplified, and the salaries of court officials can be reduced, so that the people can live in peace. This is a policy that benefits both the country and the people."

"Finally, the emperor has not yet assumed personal rule, and all government orders are issued from the General's Office."

At this point, Xiahou Hui spoke earnestly, "If the policy of abolishing civilian settlements is implemented, although it may benefit the country, it will inevitably attract slander from petty people and infamy from both the court and the public. This is why my words are timely. The matter does not involve the emperor, and I will bear the infamy myself. This is my duty to repay the late emperor and benefit the country!"

"Zhi Quan's words were a wake-up call."

Upon hearing this, Guanqiu Jian immediately stood in awe, bowed deeply, and said with deep emotion, "Zhiquan's actions, which only seek to benefit the country and are willing to suffer infamy, are something I, who have received the late emperor's great favor, dare not say again! Zhiquan, rest assured, no matter what, I will urge Cao Zhaobo to submit a memorial to re-investigate the military farms!" After speaking, he paused, then added with a touch of self-deprecation, "I was so foolish as to think that Zhiquan's early advice to the late emperor to thoroughly investigate the military farms was for the sake of power. I am ashamed, I am ashamed."

uh~
You are not stupid at all.

However, it seems that my pursuit of power and benefiting the country are not in conflict.

A hint of embarrassment flashed in Xiahou Hui's eyes. Having achieved her goal, she didn't want to dwell on the topic any longer and instead turned to another matter.

"Brother Zhonggong just claimed that keeping Cao Zhaobo silent in the reform of the national talent selection system is another matter, so let's leave that aside for now. In my early years, I studied in my hometown and read the 'Changyan' written by Zhong Changtong, a former official of the previous dynasty who served in the Prime Minister's office under Emperor Wu. I have also seen many examples of powerful and influential families arbitrarily determining the status of their local communities. This is why I cannot agree with the point in the 'Nine-Rank System' that ranks people based on their family background."

"Judging character by family background will inevitably make it difficult for children from poor families to enter officialdom; even if they do, promotion will be extremely difficult. Not to mention that in the long run, virtuous and talented people will inevitably be left behind in obscurity; moreover, children from poor families will inevitably harbor resentment towards the court and lose their will to die for their country. Moreover, if they are fortunate enough to be granted an official position, they will either eagerly flatter and fawn for promotion, or, with no hope of advancement, they will not think about cultivating virtue and reputation, but instead devote themselves to extorting money from the people to enrich themselves. In this bustling world, how many virtuous people truly cultivate themselves and refine their character? It is human nature to desire wealth when poor and nobility when rich."

"Furthermore, the stability of the state depends on checks and balances. For example, the late emperor initially selected five people to be entrusted with the regency: the Prince of Yan, myself, Qin Yuanming, Xiahou Yunjin, and Cao Zhaobo. All of them were members of the imperial clan or sons of meritorious officials from Qiao and Pei. Why? Because Emperor Wen established a system that prohibited relatives of the empress and eunuchs from interfering in politics. When the late emperor was in power, he was always worried about the state's instability and the loss of power. Now, the state selects talents based on family background. Given time, the high positions in the court will no longer be filled by people of humble origins, and Your Majesty will find it difficult to find loyal and capable men to serve as your advisors."

“Brother Zhonggong, I know such a statement is inevitably biased, and there are indeed loyal and devoted sons of noble families, but I am by no means exaggerating. During the reign of Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling of the Former Han Dynasty, the recommendation system was implemented, and there was a saying during that time: ‘Those recommended as outstanding scholars are illiterate; those recommended as filial and incorruptible have fathers who live separately. The poor and honest are as muddy as mud, while the high-ranking generals are as timid as chickens.’ Our Wei state has implemented the Nine-Rank System, and I fear that in the future there will be the saying: ‘The upper ranks have no poor families, and the lower ranks have no powerful families.’ Moreover, at that time, even if the sons of powerful upper-rank families are foolish and dull, they can still hold high-ranking positions, right?”

“Well, Brother Zhonggong, let me give you an inappropriate example: We are both old friends from the time when he was a prince, but Brother Zhonggong now holds a gold seal and purple ribbon, while Wang Wenshu, the governor of Yangzhou who entered officialdom earlier, still only holds a silver seal and blue ribbon. What is the biggest reason for this?”

Because Emperor Wen and the previous emperor had different reign periods.

If Emperor Wen had reigned for more than ten years, allowing Wang Chang to hold various positions and have ample opportunities to lead troops in campaigns, he would have already been a high-ranking official with a gold seal and purple ribbon.

Guanqiu Jian silently answered in his heart.

He knew that Xiahou Hui wasn't evaluating his and Wang Chang's abilities, but rather implying that relationships matter and people are human; he was alluding to the fact that scions of powerful families with connections would find it easier to rise to high positions in the government. This was to corroborate his earlier prediction that "the high positions in the government no longer see the poor and humble."

To be honest, he was deeply shocked.

Especially the saying, "The highest ranks are not for the poor, and the lowest ranks are not for the powerful."

He felt that Xiahou Hui was exaggerating and wanted to refute him, but a voice inside him told him that this was very likely to happen in the future.

Oh well, never mind.

Let's focus on the present and stop Zhiquan and Zhaobo from fighting. We can deal with the future later.

After much deliberation, he finally decided to focus on the present.

"In the early years, when the military farms were investigated, the late emperor admonished him with the saying, 'Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish.' Now that Zhiquan and Zhaobo have resolved their differences, there will be no more obstacles to the investigation of military farms in the court. In my opinion, Zhiquan should not bring up the change of the national talent selection system again during the investigation of military farms, so as not to cause any unforeseen complications. Hmm, I will go to pay my respects to Cao Zhaobo the next day."

He abruptly stood up, bowed, and turned to leave.

Xiahou Hui did not try to stop him, but her gaze as she watched his departing figure was filled with complex emotions.

He used his personal interests to undermine his public good. (End of Chapter)