Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

"Chen Jiao?"

Cao Rui sat behind the desk, thinking while tapping the wooden desk lightly with his knuckles, making a thudding sound.

There was no one in the study to disturb them, so the knocking sounds became louder and louder, as if they were about the same frequency as a heartbeat.

Sima Yi's heart was still in a knot, and his calm expression could not hide the turmoil in his mind.

"Okay, let Chen Jibi come." Cao Rui said lightly, and raised his head to look around: "Let Chen Jibi fill the vacancy, do you think it is inappropriate?"

Cao Zhen, the general, was the first to answer: "Your Majesty is wise."

Dong Zhao also said: "Chen Jibi should be able to take this task."

The Privy Councilors and the Imperial Secretariat also echoed their agreement.

Sima Yi felt relieved.

However, if viewed from a third party's perspective, Sima Yi's recommendation of Chen Jiao was indeed a mature, prudent and impartial act.

Chen Jiao served as Shangshu Ling during the Huangchu period. Although Chen Qun and Sima Yi were more powerful than Chen Jiao at that time, he was still Shangshu Ling, a formal Shangshu Ling of the Wei Dynasty!
With such qualifications, and the fact that Chen Jiao had served as a Shizhong, a governor for many years, and now the Inspector of the Sili Army, he was almost the highest-ranking person under the cabinet ministers.

There is nothing wrong with it.

Cao Rui waved to the Secretary Liu Fang who had just delivered the imperial edict and the imperial seal to Xin Pi, "Secretary Liu, please come closer. I have an imperial edict."

"Yes." Liu Huan walked forward slowly and stood about ten feet away from Cao Rui.

Cao Rui spoke slowly, "Replace the Sili Xiaowei Chen Jiao as Shangshu Pushe and Recorder of Shangshu Affairs. Order him to come to Shouchun from Luoyang the same day after receiving the imperial edict."

"As you wish, I'll take note of it." Liu Fang still had a photographic memory.

At this time, Cao Zhen seemed to have noticed something was wrong and whispered, "Your Majesty, it should be the Minister of the Left, right?"

Everyone in the study also pricked up their ears, trying to hear the emperor's reply.

The title of Shangshu Pushe that Cao Zhen asked about was only one character different from Shangshu Zuo Pushe, which was not a big deal. But the "recording Shangshu affairs" after the four characters "Shangshu Pushe" was a bit big.

Isn't this equivalent to Sima Yi's duties as Sikong, Lu Shangshushi, and Shangshu You Pushe?
Cao Rui took a breath, his face showing some surprise: "Didn't I just make it clear to Secretary Liu? Is there any problem with Shang, Shu, Pushe, and She? I didn't dismiss Xin Zuozhi from his position as Shang Shu Zuo Pushe!
"I am sorry for being rude and misunderstanding your majesty's intention." Cao Zhen bowed and apologized with a slightly apologetic look.

"It's okay." Cao Rui waved his hand nonchalantly.

As a general, he should ask questions at such times. If he is always as indifferent to such matters as clay sculptures or wooden carvings when he is in a high position, he will lose the emperor's favor and the respect of his colleagues.

The meeting gradually came to an end, and the ministers said goodbye to the emperor and returned to their offices.

The area of ​​Shouchun Palace is not as large as that of the North Palace in Luoyang, and is even smaller than that of Xuchang Palace. Therefore, the West Pavilion and the East Pavilion in Shouchun still work in the same room, just like the cabinet in Xuchang.

Cao Zhen, Dong Zhao, and Sima Yi entered the cabinet duty room together. Sima Yi glanced at Xin Pi's desk casually. It was still as messy as when he left. Xin Pi definitely hadn't come back. It seemed that this man really didn't care about his life after receiving the emperor's order. He even dropped what he was doing and immediately threw himself into his new job.

Sima Yi tried hard to control his expression, as usual, trying not to show any abnormality.

Why did Xin Pi keep the post of Shangshu Zuo Pushe when he was already headed for Qinzhou? Was Xin Pi really favored by the emperor?

And Chen Jiao... Thinking of Chen Jiao, Sima Yi felt even more depressed, but he couldn't explain it to others!
In the court, there have always been rules for recommendation and promotion.

Or they promote each other's younger generations. You recruit my son as an official and I recommend your son as a filial and honest official. This is a common form of relationship exchange.

Either the boss promotes the subordinate, and the promoted person accepts the favor and must stand on the same front with him when facing many issues in the future. This is a manifestation of not forgetting the favor and valuing friendship. But now Sima Yi recommended Chen Jiao to the emperor, Chen Jiao jumped up and became the recorder of Shangshushi and Shangshu Pushe! They are both recorders of Shangshushi, who is more noble than the other? Is Shangshu You Pushe more valuable than Shangshu Pushe?
As for the title of Sikong, if he did not hold other duties concurrently, the Three Dukes would only be a status respected by others. After their death, they could eat more cold meat offerings, but it was not of much practical use.

He wanted to promote Chen Jiao, but ended up making Chen Jiao the same as himself?
"Oh." Sima Yi sighed lightly, shook his head and stopped thinking about it.

On the other hand, Xin Pi went home to get some clothes and luggage, and set out with Yang Dan an hour later, intending to travel along the road of Shouchun, Luoyang, Chang'an, Chencang, and Qishan.

This is the first time in several years that the father-in-law and son-in-law have traveled in the same car.

"Sir," Yang Tan finally couldn't help but ask, "I'm still a little confused. Why did His Majesty send you to Qinzhou? Couldn't he send a minister or a secretary?"

"No." Xin Pi shook his head and replied, "Since your majesty established the importance of the cabinet minister position, the world knows the importance of cabinet ministers. Zhang He has been in Guanxi for many years, and he is like a pillar that cannot be easily moved. Whether he lives or dies, whether he is blessed or cursed, we must find someone of higher rank to see. It is not possible to let the ministers, they are not qualified."

"I understand." Yang Tan suddenly realized: "Just as discussed in the study, the general should not be moved lightly. Mr. Dong is old, and the Minister of Works is in charge of the Secretariat, so we can only let the adults go on a tour."

"But your Majesty just asked you who will succeed you, why didn't you tell me?"

Xin Pi said: "You have been outside the court for a long time, and you don't know His Majesty very well. Sometimes it is more useful to say less than to say more."

"Then will Your Majesty understand what the adults are thinking?" Yang Tan was puzzled.

Xin Pi closed his eyes slightly: "Your Majesty's wisdom is far beyond the imagination of the world. Your Majesty will know what he should know."

"Oh, I understand." Yang Dan asked again, "I have been in Chencang for a long time, and there has been little news from Luoyang. I wonder how my niece is doing in the palace?"

Xin Pi suddenly opened his eyes and glared at Yang Tan for a moment: "Why are you and Xin Chang acting the same way? What does the palace have to do with you? Can a woman really make our family rich?"

It was rare for Yang Dan to see his father-in-law angry, so he could not help but bow slightly to express his apology and did not dare to ask any more questions.

Several years ago, when Xin Pi, as the Shizhong, was delivering the betrothal gifts to Guo Yao's home on behalf of the emperor, Xin Pi's son Xin Chang asked him whether Yang Huiyu could enter the palace.

Yang Huiyu's father was named Yang Xin. Yang Xin's second and third children, Yang Dan, were brothers from the same father and mother. Therefore, Yang Huiyu was also Yang Dan's niece.

However, a few years later, Yang Huiyu was sent to the palace by Empress Dowager Guo, and had no connection with anyone else. According to the seniority of ordinary families, Yang Dan was one generation older than the emperor, and Xin Pi was two generations older than the emperor...

But the royal family has its own rules. The emperor is the father of all the subjects in the world. Except for the closest relatives and elders in the royal family, the emperor's seniority will automatically become the highest in front of everyone, and they cannot be treated equally.

……

On February 28th, Chen Jiao, who had received the imperial edict, arrived in Shouchun by carriage from Luozhong. As soon as he entered the city, he was received by Lu Yu, the attendant sent by the emperor to the city gate. He went straight into the Shouchun Palace, took up his new position, and successfully entered the cabinet as the Recorder of the Secretariat and the Shangshu Pushe.

On the second day, Chen Jiao's eldest son Chen Bencai returned from Luoyang.

Everyone has his own aspirations and his own friends.

As one of the first scholars to graduate from the Imperial College, Chen Ben was familiar with people like Xiahou Xuan, Sima Shi, and Jiang Wei. In addition, he had served as a palace guard, been to Japan, and served as a censor of the seas. His father Chen Jiao's position became more and more important, and Chen Ben also jumped up several levels like a top scholar.

Chen Ben was also greeted by someone.

After Chen Ben entered the city, he found the Minister Pei Qian to report the emperor's order. Pei Qian told him that he should go to the Navy Room of the Privy Council to be on duty, not anywhere else. Chen Ben followed the order and went to the Navy Room to report to his immediate superior Liu Xia.

In the evening, a group of young officials in Shouchun City gathered together and held a banquet to welcome Chen Ben's return.

"Oh, Ziyuan, why make it so grand? What have I done to deserve this?" Chen Ben was a little surprised to see so many people gathered in the small hall.

"If Xiuyuan (Chen Ben's courtesy name) had not gone to Luoyang as soon as he returned to Shouchun with the fleet, we should have held a banquet for you that day. Now it has been more than a month late." Sima Shi smiled cheerfully: "My humble abode is not big, so I will prepare some wine. Eight or nine close friends, come and listen to Xiuyuan's experiences on the sea and in Japan!" (End of this chapter)