The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 364 From General to Prince
Wang Chang's position was not very clear. When Cao Mao and Sima Zhao sent people to contact him one after another, he repeatedly used illness as an excuse to shirk responsibility.

The consequence of this unclear stance is that it is not taken seriously today.

You were sick when we needed you, and now that we're rewarded, your illness will be cured?
Wang Chang did not receive the same treatment as Zhuge Dan or Chen Tai. The emperor also held a banquet, but it was held in the East Hall.

Only a few important officials from the court came and they chatted together.

Cao Mao was very enthusiastic towards Wang Ji.

Wang Chang also saw this.

Wang Ji was a little flattered. Compared with Wang Chang, Wang Ji was much inferior. Although he was also a high-ranking official, when Wang Chang was the governor, he was just an official.

Cao Mao smiled and asked Wang Ji about his views on the two countries of Shu and Wu.

Wang Ji said truthfully, "Your Majesty, everyone today values Jiang Wei of Shu, but despises Sun Jun of Wu."

"Sun Jun of Wu, though young, only in his thirties, is brave and courageous, shrewd and capable, bold and resolute, and certainly not an average person."

"He had a bad reputation because he instituted cruel punishments to punish his ministers and committed adultery with his harem. However, Sun Jun used Sun Luban to appease the powerful families and used harsh punishments to punish those who violated the law. As a result, the Wu court quickly stabilized. Moreover, he did not build a luxurious mansion for himself, lived a simple life, did not seek profit for his family, and actively communicated with the Shu Kingdom."

"The most important thing is that this person has always wanted to plot against our Great Wei."

"Your Majesty must be aware of this."

Cao Mao listened to his words very carefully. Sun Jun had a bad reputation because of his affair with Sun Luban and his purges of the royal family, but he was indeed an ambitious crusader.

He was unwilling to stay in Jiangdong to protect himself and often thought about sending troops.

But Cao Mao was not that worried about Sun Jun.

Because this General Sun had a very fatal problem. He died young and it seemed that he had less than a year left to live. As for Sun Chen, who succeeded him, it is better not to mention him.

Cao Mao chatted with Wang Ji for a long time. When the banquet ended, all the ministers stood up and said goodbye.

Wang Ji knew that although he was valued, the General of the Southern Expedition was the more important one, so he followed the ministers in bowing and saying goodbye.

Only Wang Chang and Cao Mao were left in the East Hall.

Cao Mao asked, "General Wang, you have served in Jingzhou and defended Wu State for many days."

"Now that I am in power, I want to carry on the aspirations of my ancestors and achieve great unification. I wonder if there is anything you can teach me?"

This was Cao Mao's test of Wang Chang's position.

Because on the issue of unification, the big families maintained an opposing attitude and did not want to send troops, while the wise men around the emperor were eager for unification as soon as possible.

From this question, we can basically determine a person's true position.

If Wang Chang had sided with the ministers and opposed unification, no matter how talented he was in military affairs, Cao Mao would not have used him.

Since the pre-Qin period, the idea of great unification engraved in the bones of the Chinese people will not change.

Wang Chang immediately said, "The great unification lies within, not outside."

"Oh?"

"Isn't it because of this that Your Majesty is now sending people to monitor officials in various places?"

"The issue of great unification depends on the national strength of both sides. Currently, all countries are facing many problems. If we can manage our internal problems well, then conquering Shu and Wu will be a piece of cake."

Wang Chang talked about his many opinions again.

Cao Mao was silent for a while.

Wang Chang still did not express his position, nor did he say whether he was willing to send troops, but simply turned the topic to internal affairs.

From this point of view, Wang Chang seems to be on the side of his ministers.

While Cao Mao was lost in thought, Wang Chang suddenly said, "Your Majesty, unification must be achieved, but we cannot rush it. We can gradually put pressure on Shu and prepare for defense against Wu."

At this moment, he truly expressed his position.

A smile appeared on Cao Mao's face. "General Wang is right."

"The ministers in the imperial court always think that sending troops is inauspicious and forbid it. If it weren't for the great victory before, I'm afraid they would have petitioned us again to force us to go."

Wang Chang said seriously, "Your Majesty, you may not know this, but there are many reasons for this."

"And we cannot govern the country by listening to the advice of these corrupt scholars."

Cao Mao laughed and said, "That's right."

He quickly asked Wang Chang to sit next to him and asked Zhang Hua to bring the tribute tea so that he and Wang Chang could enjoy it together.

Cao Mao's attitude towards Wang Chang changed. Cao Mao asked, "General Wang, what do you think? Great unification starts from within. How should these internal problems be resolved?"

"Your Majesty, I agree with you."

"Everything depends on human effort, so people are the most important. Your Majesty, no matter what policy you want to implement, no matter where you want to attack, you must use people to do it. If you manage people well, everything will go smoothly."

"Isn't it for this reason that Your Majesty is now rectifying the administration?"

Wang Chang said without hesitation, "Your Majesty, I once submitted a memorial to the court, offering five strategies for governing the country. However, things are different now. Today, I would like to offer you seven strategies."

Cao Mao was a little surprised, as he didn't know about these five policies.

Wang Chang spoke seriously and stated his original five political strategies.

He also mentioned two additional points.

The sixth point is to prohibit officials from serving their duties, prohibit them from gathering to drink except on holidays, prohibit them from having frequent and close contacts, and prohibit them from leaving the local area without reason during their term of office.

The seventh point was to standardize local administrative standards. The court should revise the methods and approaches of officials in governing, so that officials across the country could read and emulate them. When Wang Chang finished explaining these seven points, Cao Mao was stunned.

Cao Mao had previously talked a lot with Zheng Mao, including matters concerning examinations, promotions, and many prohibitions.

At this moment, Cao Mao was surprised to find that his ideas coincided with those of the General who Conquers the South.

Many of the ideas of both parties are surprisingly the same!

In fact, Wang Chang thought more than Cao Mao did, and he seemed to see things more clearly than Cao Mao.
After Wang Chang finished speaking, he looked at the emperor in front of him again.

He didn't know whether His Majesty could listen to all this.

Cao Mao was testing Wang Chang, and Wang Chang was also testing Cao Mao.

Cao Mao wanted to find a minister who could help him accomplish great things, and Wang Chang wanted to find a wise ruler who could help him accomplish great things.

Wang Chang was somewhat surprised to see the emperor's expression.

"Your Majesty, relying solely on supervision will not be enough to govern the country. These strategies of mine..."

Wang Chang was about to explain when Cao Mao stood up.

Cao Mao walked a few steps to Wang Chang. In Wang Chang's puzzled eyes, Cao Mao suddenly bowed and saluted.

"Prince!"

Wang Chang was frightened and jumped up suddenly as if he was bitten by something.

"Your Majesty! I don't dare!"

He quickly moved away and then knelt down.

Cao Mao looked a little guilty.

"My Lord, I have previously looked down upon you and have been quite negligent. Please do not blame me!"

"Your Majesty, how dare I blame you? Your Majesty, please don't do this. I am terrified!"

"No, Your Majesty, you don't know that I have been thinking about the affairs of the government these days. Among all the ministers in the court, no one can win my heart as much as you do!"

"When I ask them for advice, they always come to me with benevolent policies and magnanimous principles, saying that if a sage king does nothing, his ministers will be virtuous on their own."

"Just five days ago, I summoned the Minister of Personnel, Zheng Mao, to brief him on the upcoming examinations. Just half a month ago, I instructed Zhong Hui to implement performance appraisals for officials!"

"I haven't had a break for a long time because of these things, and there is no one who can share my worries."

"I just need someone like you to teach me!"

Cao Mao's words were very sincere.

Cao Mao was not lying. Wang Chang was the first person in the era of aristocratic families who dared to call on him to rectify officials. He even realized these things earlier than himself, in the era of King Cao Fang of Qi, and actively sought change.

At this moment, Cao Mao suddenly felt like he had met a close friend. These days, Cao Mao always felt that he was alone. The sadness and happiness he felt when he met someone who shared the same ideas as him was really indescribable.

Wang Chang was shocked.

He was just worried about whether the emperor would listen to his advice, but he didn't expect that His Majesty had also seen all this.

"Your Majesty, I'm late!"

Wang Chang saluted again. This time, Cao Mao stepped forward, helped him up, and held his hand tightly.

"It's not too late, it's not too late. How can it be too late? The revival of the Great Wei should begin today!"

Wang Chang had an indescribable feeling in his heart. At his age, he was actually inspired by the emperor's words.

"Your Majesty, I submitted a petition to the emperor, but few people agreed."

"Hahaha, it won't happen again this time!"

Wang Chang added, "Although I have written a letter outlining my political strategy, I do not have many ideas on how to implement it."

"Although the Tang and Yu dynasties had written laws for promotions and demotions, they lacked a system of examinations. The Zhou dynasty established the position of prime minister, who was responsible for overseeing the governance of officials and for rewarding and punishing them, but there was no system of evaluation."

“Now we want to draft it again, which is not an easy task.”

Wang Chang’s last memorial was also valued by the emperor, but there was no further follow-up.

Therefore, this time Wang Chang made clear in advance the difficulties of the specific arrangements.

Cao Mao looked towards the distance, "Maoxian!"

Zhang Hua walked into the hall hurriedly.

"Send someone to invite General Zhuge, Minister Wang, Minister Zheng, Minister Chen, Minister Zhong, Minister Zheng, and General Xiahou to come here!"

"Let them come now, without wasting any time!"

Zhang Hua took the order and left immediately.

Wang Chang was a little confused about the current situation. "Your Majesty, what is this?"

"Having such a good plan is like a person walking in the desert encountering clear water. I dare not delay even a single night. We will gather all the ministers tonight to discuss this matter, and it would be best if we could begin implementing it tomorrow!"

Wang Chang trembled all over.

It seems that this time it is indeed different.

(End of this chapter)