Super Cultivation System of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 648: Dispute at the Court Meeting
The day after he ascended the throne, Liu He moved his family into the imperial palace. Although Zhang Tong and his wife were granted the title of Marquis of Mingliu Township, they were unwilling to live in their fiefdom, so they just held an empty title and stayed in Luoyang.

For this purpose, Liu He specially selected a quiet palace next to the Empress Dowager Xu's bedroom, invited the two elders to live there, and granted them the freedom to enter and leave the palace. The two elders were very happy.

When he first ascended the throne, Liu He was extremely busy with many things to do. He and Xun Yu and others dealt with government affairs until midnight every day, and sometimes even went to bed until the early morning.

After things finally settled down a little, the first grand court meeting after the new king ascended the throne began.

Liu He knew very well that the three ministers submitted a petition at the same time and requested to hold this grand court meeting for no other purpose than to finalize the recommendation list that had been drawn up long ago so that the hundreds of young men from various families could take up the posts immediately.

After Wang Tong's incident, although Liu He was dissatisfied with it, he really needed a large number of officials to stabilize the local area for him. Otherwise, if he continued to "rule by inaction", many counties would be out of the control of the court.

Secondly, these ministers and families have supported me a lot since the first day I entered Luoyang. It is reasonable for me to give something back.

Besides, it was impossible for him to examine the character and ability of those people one by one. He could only wait until they took office and see their performance and reputation before making a plan. Moreover, Liu He did not just want to give benefits to the ministers in vain. He also began to make his own plans.

With this thought in mind, Liu He officially sat on the throne in the palace hall for the first time.

"The court meeting begins. All officials take off their boots and enter the palace!"

After Gong Saner's sharp shout, all the ministers came in one after another and stood on both sides according to their civil and military ranks.

"Come on and see Your Majesty!"

"Everyone loves you."

As soon as Liu He finished speaking, Yang Biao took the lead and stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, a few months ago, when Your Majesty was the general, you ordered us to recommend talents to fill the vacancies in various places of the court at the Jinyang Palace. Now that Your Majesty has ascended the throne, it is a time of celebration. We hereby hand over the list of names for Your Majesty to review."

Liu He waved his hand, Gong Saner trotted over, took the list and handed it to Liu He.

This list had been drawn up several months ago, and Liu He had read it more than once. Except for Wang Tong, he didn't know most of the others. If there were any problems, he certainly couldn't point them out.

"You are loyal and have made great contributions to the country. Since you supported me to rule Luoyang, you have made many contributions. I have no way to repay you. Now there are many vacancies in the court, from small officials to prefects of two thousand stones. I see that most of the people recommended in this list are county magistrates, county lieutenants, and county chiefs, most of which are insignificant positions. I think that you are all wise and virtuous people. There are naturally many talented people among your nephews or students. Now that the court is recruiting people, we should ignore the old rules and promote people with great talents. Even if they are directly appointed as prefects, what's the harm? After you discuss again, you don't have to wait for the court meeting, and send them directly to the palace. I will approve it immediately."

The ministers all showed their delight.

"We, your Majesty, thank you for your grace. We are willing to repay your Majesty with all our strength and die!"

A county governor was a high-ranking official with a salary of 2,000 stones, and was a real local power holder. Many princes started their armies as governors in their early years, such as Yuan Shao, the governor of Bohai, Yuan Shu, the governor of Nanyang, Sun Jian, the governor of Changsha, and Gongsun Zan, the governor of Beiping. To recommend talents for official positions, one had to start from minor officials such as county lieutenants. Even if one had a great reputation for talent, the most he could become was a county magistrate, or a county chancellor, an official with a salary of 600 stones. To be directly appointed as a governor upon entering office was not something that could be encountered often.

Although the ministers had anticipated this, they were still relieved to hear Liu He say it himself.

Liu He took in their expressions and sighed in his heart: "Being an emperor is not easy. However, you have already eaten the benefits. Humph, it's time for me to collect some things. You can't refuse, right?"

"I also have a few people who followed me in the uprising in the early years. Most of them are now serving in Bingzhou. They have always made great contributions and performed well. Now I am going to discuss with you to promote them as well." The ministers had just received benefits from Liu He, so they naturally knew the principle of "reciprocity".

"Your Majesty is surrounded by talented people, and I have always admired them. The person your Majesty has chosen must be worthy of the title and have both ability and virtue."

Liu He was also very satisfied with their attitude and said, "I intend to appoint General Guan Yu, the Valiant Cavalry General, as the General Guarding the North. General Cheng Liang, the Fierce and Mighty General, as the General Guarding the South. General Zhang Yong, the Fighting General, as the General Guarding the East. General Zhu Ye, the Tiger Guard General, as the General Guarding the West. General Gao Shun, the Bandit-Slaying General, as the General Conquering the South. General Ye Xiang, the Proud and Mighty General, as the General Conquering the West. Zhang Liao, Zhao Yun, Xu Huang and other generals will also be given additional titles."

Although these people had been conferred titles once by Emperor Xian after he defeated Yuan Shao, as a new emperor, he had to reward and commend the soldiers who had helped him conquer the world. Otherwise, the soldiers would feel that as the emperor, all the benefits were given to the ministers, while they were neglected. Wouldn't that be discouraging?
The ministers also understood this point. Moreover, these people had made great contributions and they could not find any reason to oppose it, so they all expressed their agreement.

However, when Gong Saner took out a roll of cloth and read out a series of names, the faces of many ministers gradually became solemn.

"Appoint Xun Yu as Shangshu Ling, Xun You as Yushi Zhongcheng, Cui Jun as Sili Xiaowei, Meng Jian as Henan Yin, Shi Tao as Youfufeng, and Qian Li as Zuofengyi."

"The former assistant secretary of the General's Office, namely Cui Zhouping's brother Cui Jun and Cui Fuping, were appointed as the prefect of Wei County in Jizhou and the prefect of Yunhai County, Xun Chen. Their positions remain unchanged and they also serve as the governor of Bingzhou."

"Zhang Long and Su Mao are the sons of the Zhang and Su families who helped me a lot when I was in Langtiao County. They have been diligent in governing the local area for more than ten years and have made great achievements. They are now transferred to be the prefects of Julu and Changshan. Huo Qing and Huo Zixi were recommended by the prefect of Yanmen when I first arrived in Yanmen. They have served as county magistrates in various counties in Bingzhou. They have worked hard and made great contributions, so they were transferred to be the prefects of Taiyuan."

"Zhan Lian was transferred to be the Minister of Agriculture, in charge of farming and mulberry, and was also in charge of the court army's farming."

"Zhao Jin, the eldest son of the Shangdang Zhao clan and former governor of Henei, has also followed the emperor for nearly ten years. His entire clan was killed by Lu Bu and Zhang Yang, and only a few people are left. I intend to confer him the title of Marquis of Gongchangting, and grant his father Zhao Yu the title of Marquis of Chejinting."

In addition, including Zhao Chang, the animal tamer, Mo Da, the horse appraiser, Zhao Kui, the herdsman, Wu Qin, the county magistrate who resisted Gao Lan in Yanmen Lucheng, Du Xian, the commander of Taiyuan County who resisted Zhang Yan's sneak attack outside Jinyang City, and more than a dozen people who had followed Liu He through life and death over the years, all received promotions and rewards.

The most crucial thing is that the positions or places occupied by these people, without exception, are all important central locations of the imperial court or wealthy places.

For example, the Shangshu Ling, although his rank is not high and he is nominally a subordinate official of the Shaofu, one of the Nine Ministers, but since the time of Emperor Cheng of the previous dynasty, he has had power close to that of the prime minister. Nowadays, this official has hardly been appointed in the court for decades, and most of the three ministers record the affairs of the Shangshu together.

Needless to say, the Chief Censor supervises the provincial governors, investigates the imperial censors in the court, collects memorials from all officials, and monitors the court officials. He holds a high position and has great power. The court has not had an official like this for decades. Even if one is occasionally appointed, most of them are good friends of the officials. Now that a trusted minister of the emperor has come, it is really not good.

As for the Sili Xiaowei, together with the above two, they were called the "three sitting alone" in the court, because during the court meeting, these three people had their own seats and did not sit with other officials. Although they were only two thousand stones in rank, one grade lower than the two thousand stones among the nine ministers, the Sili Xiaowei held some military power, was in charge of the public security of Sili, and had the power to supervise the local officials of Sili.

These three important ministers, like the Three Dukes, all have the right to enter the palace directly to present reports to His Majesty. In addition to Youfufeng, Zuofengyi, Henan Yin, and Henei Taishou, except for Jingzhao Yin who is the current minister, all political and military power in the Sili area and the core of the court are controlled by Liu He.

Taiyuan County, the capital of Bingzhou, and Wei County, the capital of Jizhou, were also Liu He's confidants.

The ministers seemed to realize that they were not the only ones who had prepared for today's court meeting.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report."

A minister stood up. Liu He looked and saw that it was Jingzhao Yin Du Ji. He smiled in his heart: "I knew you would have something to say."

He said sternly, "My dear, if you have something to say, you can tell me."

(End of this chapter)