The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 411 New Governor

Wang Chang was speechless.

People are planning to commit regicide and rebel here, so it is understandable that the emperor is angry.

If it were during the reign of Emperor Wu or Emperor Wen, if someone dared to do such a thing, being beaten to death would be considered a light punishment.
Cao Mao looked at Wang Chang, who was full of helplessness, and calmed down his anger a little. He said, "Please don't worry, my lord. This time I just want to catch those who want to murder me. Once He Gong catches those people, I will naturally dismiss him and won't let him do this again!"

This time, Wang Chang came as a representative of the ministers to advise Cao Mao on this matter.

After all, even people on Cao Mao's side support benevolent governance. Cruel officials have never been liked by everyone since ancient times. Even people in the same camp will never get close to them.

Those who are hated by everyone are called cruel officials.

Because they are not tolerated by the public, cruel officials will eventually not be able to escape disaster.

It is impossible for the emperor to use only one cruel official and despise the rest of the ministers, especially in front of other trusted ministers.

A confidant like Zhang Hua could still be persuaded with words, after all, the other party was young and inexperienced. However, for ministers like Wang Chang who had their own beliefs and persistence, Cao Mao could not change their minds. He could only suppress the matter as much as possible and let Dao complete what he was supposed to do.

However, a case of treason like this usually takes several years to investigate, which is also an old tradition.

Wang Chang did not try to persuade him any further, as he knew that the emperor must be well aware of the impact of such matters.

Wang Chang also hated these treacherous and rebellious ministers.

Originally, this matter should have been handled by Wang Su, but for some unknown reason, Wang Su repeatedly refused, which made the ministers quite disappointed.

Seeing Wang Chang fall silent, Cao Mao started talking about other things.

"My Lord, of your seven decrees, the only thing missing is the school. I can't say the rest has been completed, but I have made preliminary arrangements. The school issue still needs the attention of the provincial governors."

"Once these seven decrees are completed, the governance of the world will surely become completely different."

Wang Chang smiled bitterly and nodded. He understood what the emperor meant. The emperor wanted him to think more about government affairs and not pay attention to these things.

"Let's wait for tomorrow's court meeting. I have something to say."

Wang Chang walked down the stairs and no longer mentioned He Zeng's matter.

Although Wang Chang disliked He Zeng's approach, it must be said that He Zeng's approach was of great help to Wang Chang's seven decrees.

Apart from anything else, the administrative efficiency of the temple was improved by several levels within this one day.

Those officials who usually just ate and waited for death now dared not even drink tea and started to work continuously. This was because He Zeng punished several officials, ostensibly for their negligence in their work, and it seemed that he was secretly expressing his dissatisfaction because he sympathized with Tao Qiuyi.

The big families are most familiar with frame-up methods like this.

He Zeng was the master of this method. The big families never dreamed that one day they would suffer the same treatment.

This indeed made Wang Chang's work go much more smoothly.

Wang Chang bowed and left.

Cao Mao finished reading the several memorials in his hand before walking out of the West Hall.

He walked to the door of the East Hall calmly, then asked Zhang Hua to stay at the door and went in himself.

Sitting in the east hall was an old acquaintance of Cao Mao.

"His Majesty."

The person sitting here is Sima Wang.

After Sima Wang was brought back to the palace by Chen Tai, he stayed in the mansion and never went out.

His father Sima Fu had been exiled to Liaodong.

Sima Wang stayed here alone, feeling very depressed.

Today, Sima Wang was in the mansion as usual, but was brought here directly by the eunuch.

Sima Wang stood up and bowed to Cao Mao.

After not seeing each other for a long time, Sima Wang looked much more serious than before. His face no longer had the ease and comfort of the past, and there was some confusion in his eyes.

Cao Mao sat in the upper seat and then motioned him to sit down.

"Have you had a good rest these days?"

Sima Wang was stunned and replied, "It's fine."

Cao Mao glanced at him and asked, "Do you miss your father at home?"

Sima Wang shuddered, lowered his head, and did not answer.

His legal father now is not Sima Fu, but the emperor must be asking about Sima Fu.

Sima Wang felt a little aggrieved at the moment. Thinking of his father's miserable appearance before he left, he was even more sad and angry. He had already endured his father's exile, so why did he have to humiliate himself?
Cao Mao said with emotion, "I know you miss him in your heart." "Even the worst father would be missed in the heart, not to mention that your father was good to you."

Cao Mao narrowed his eyes, not knowing what he was thinking of, "I'm quite envious of you."

"Your father was willing to die to save you."

"But until my father passed away, I had only met him a few times. On the rare occasions when we met, he would either scold me or beat me up."

"If he hadn't taken the medicine or drank alcohol, it would have been fine. But if he had, he would have beaten him to death without mercy. The maid who had taken care of me since I was a child was beaten to death by him after drinking in order to protect me."

"Several of his retainers and maids died at his hands. I felt at the time that I would definitely not live to adulthood."

"An auxiliary defense officer was so angry after seeing me beaten to death that he threatened to file a petition to denounce me, forcing him to stop committing murder. He then hastily filed the petition, and the court banished me to Gaogui Township. When I was ten years old, I heard that he had drunk himself to death. When I returned, I didn't even like him."

Sima Wang looked a little surprised. These words, whether true or false, did not sound like something a king would say to a minister he did not trust very much.

Cao Mao looked at Sima Wang and said, "You are a talented person. I don't have many talented people, so your father is not dead yet."

Cao Mao said softly, "He is in Zhuo County now. I have already informed General Yang to keep a good eye on him. Although he cannot go out to meet friends, it should be good for him to stay in the mansion and not suffer from hunger and cold."

Sima Wang was shocked. He quickly stood up and bowed deeply to Cao Mao.

"I thank Your Majesty for your kindness!!!"

"No need. In fact, I should have executed your father for his crimes, but I've already established my authority. It doesn't matter whether he lives or dies. I need you more than him."

"You understand government affairs and military affairs, and you are cautious. There are not many generals in the country who can face Jiang Wei without retreating."

"I allowed Wang Hun to continue serving as the Governor of Liang Province, originally so that I could use his son, Wang Rong. Who could have imagined that such a gifted genius would become so corrupt in just a few months? Therefore, I have decided to replace him."

"You can serve as the governor of Liangzhou."

"You know how to deal with the Qiang and Hu people, how to govern the people's livelihood, and even more so, how to defend Jiang Wei. You are in Liang Province, Deng Ai is in Yong Province, and Jiang Wei has basically no hope of gaining any advantage."

Sima Wang didn't dare to speak at this moment.

Your Majesty still dares to use me?
Cao Mao said, "Duke Xuanwen killed Lord Du's father, but Lord Du became his son-in-law and is loyal to the general."

"Now, I have spared your father's life in the hope that you can achieve more meritorious deeds. If your merits can pacify the entire Liang Province and resolve the chaos there, I will use your merits to pardon your father's crime and allow him to return home to live out his old age in peace."

"Of course, whether to go or not is up to you. I won't force you."

"I am willing to go!"

Sima Wang said without hesitation.

If there were an opportunity for my father to return to his hometown to spend his old age in peace, he would definitely do his best.

He began to speak, "I will never disappoint Your Majesty's high hopes. I will govern Liang Province well for Your Majesty. Your Majesty's kindness is enough for me to die for you. I dare not hope that Your Majesty will forgive my father's sins, but I will definitely do my best!!"

Looking at Sima Wang who had cheered up, Cao Mao suddenly remembered something and reminded him, "You must remember what happened to Wang Hun and Wang Rong!"

During the Wei and Jin dynasties when everyone was corrupt, Sima Wang later became a corrupt official. Although it took him longer than Wang Rong, his actions were no less corrupt.

Sima Wang hurriedly said, "I will definitely remember this!"

Cao Mao then began to instruct him on the specific matters concerning Liang Province.

Cao Mao thought about governing Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Qingzhou, and Xuzhou, but he never thought about governing Liangzhou well.

How to say it, this place that has been in chaos for hundreds of years is simply not something that the current Wei Dynasty can govern well. It is more difficult than governing ten Qingzhous.

After hundreds of years of chaos and turmoil, conflicts between Qiang and Hu, and superstition and witchcraft, it was already very rare to be able to pacify Liangzhou and prevent a rebellion from breaking out there.

Previously, Sima Shi had tried his best to arrange some ministers who were good at appeasing the people to go to Liangzhou. This was also the reason why Cao Mao was not in a hurry to replace Wang Hun. This person might not be able to govern Liangzhou, but at least he would not cause a rebellion in the local area.

that's enough.

Sima Wang was obviously more suitable to be the governor of Liangzhou than Wang Hun, but his identity was slightly sensitive.

However, Cao Mao was not afraid of the Sima family today. He had dismissed almost all Sima family officials and even ministers in various places, leaving only a few truly talented people, oh, and An Shi.

Now Cao Mao is using the power of the Sima family. Sima family's disciples, former officials, relatives and in-laws have even become Cao Mao's confidants.

Such as Deng Ai, Chen Tai, Zhou Tai, Zhong Hui, Hu Zun, Yang Hu, Du Yu, Wang Chang, Zhuge Dan, Pei Xiu, and Wang Su. Cao Mao's current confidants seem to be the general's confidants as well.

Since he has already inherited the estate, why should he be afraid of Sima Wang?
After all, Sima Wang is one of the general's legacies, so he must be used if he can be used. Looking at the entire court, he is the most suitable person to guard Liangzhou.

Sima Wang listened carefully to the emperor's strategy for treating the cold.

The more he listened, the more surprised he became. Finally, he even took out a pen and paper and started taking notes.

(End of this chapter)