The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 449: Taking Charge of the Government
"Zishou, this is all my fault!"

Cao Mao held Guo Ze's hand tightly. This time, Cao Mao felt really ashamed.

He had too much contact with those cunning people and forgot how to interact with a gentleman like Guo Ze.

He always felt that Guo Ze would be like those scholars and would immediately start opposing him after learning the truth.

He never thought that Guo Ze could say such words.

Guo Ze is still the same Guo Ze.

Stubborn, obstinate, pedantic, but absolutely believes in and supports his own Guo Ze.

But Cao Mao was no longer the same Cao Mao as before. He was scheming against villains and became a bit hypocritical.

Cao Mao shook his head, as if trying to get rid of all the complicated emotions in his mind.

Cao Mao took Guo Ze's hand and said, "Over the years, I have only encountered cunning villains. I dared not tell them the truth. Now that I have met Zi Shou, I am still the same. I feel deeply guilty. Please forgive my mistakes, Zi Shou!"

Guo Ze was also panicked when he saw the emperor was about to apologize to him. He quickly took a few steps back and saluted Cao Mao.

"Your Majesty, I have spoken out of turn. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me!"

"However, Your Majesty, please understand that not all people in the world are selfish, and not all those who are familiar with the classics are cunning."

"When I was in Yuancheng, Your Majesty told me that not all children of wealthy families are cruel, and not all children of poor families are hardworking. One's background has nothing to do with who one is."

"Your Majesty, ruling the world, should be governed with benevolence, righteousness, and justice. This mighty force is beyond the reach of any sinister villain!"

"How can a harsh law benefit the people? The sage said: The people are the most precious!"

"If He had slaughtered innocent people indiscriminately, leaving nine out of ten houses empty and the people fleeing everywhere, I would have been the first to submit a petition, threatening death as a warning."

"But this time when I went to Luoyang, what I saw along the way was that the people lived and worked in peace and contentment, the officials governed diligently, and the people were happy!"

"How could I possibly collude with those villains and oppose Your Majesty for some unworthy reputation?!"

Hearing this, Cao Mao felt even more ashamed.

Cao Mao took a deep breath and helped Guo Ze in front of him up.

"Zi Shou, you are right."

"These bastards keep talking about benevolence, righteousness, and integrity all day long. I almost forgot that these are good words."

Cao Mao looked into Guo Ze's eyes seriously and said:
"I have heard the ancients say: Use history as a mirror to understand gains and losses."

"Now, I use you as a mirror to understand myself!"

"Zi Shou, you don't need to go anywhere else. From now on, stay by my side and be my mirror. If I do anything that is not in line with benevolence, righteousness, and justice, you will come and admonish me."

"The thieves of the world are treacherous, I should be kind!"

Guo Ze looked at the emperor in front of him, his face full of emotion.

"His Majesty."

"Zi Shou."

Cheng Ji was a little confused as he looked at the two people in the distance. He approached Zhang Hua and asked, "What's going on?"

Zhang Hua smiled and replied, "This is exactly what a wise ruler and loyal minister should be like!"

Cheng Ji looked at his hands and thought, if he just put his hands together and clenched them, he would become a wise minister?

He looked a little jealous and couldn't help but say, "I've seen Mr. Guo before. It's been many years, but he hasn't changed at all."

Zhang Hua couldn't help but sigh, "For people like this, the most difficult thing is not changing."

At this moment, Cao Mao called out to the two of them.

As they hurried over, Cao Mao ordered them to prepare the carriage as he was going to the Secretariat.

Cheng Ji was stunned. "Your Majesty, are you going to make him the Minister right after he arrives?"

Cao Mao glared at him, "What Shangshu?!"

"Servant?"

"No, I'm going to record the Shangshu affairs directly!"

Zhang Hua couldn't help laughing. He said to Guo Ze: "Mr. Guo, please don't misunderstand me. Mr. Cheng is a straightforward person with some military style."

Guo Ze nodded, "It's like an old friend of mine."

Cao Mao went to the Secretariat to do some business, which had nothing to do with Guo Ze. However, there was one more person in Cao Mao's travel group.

Cao Mao and Guo Ze were sitting in the carriage, and Cao Mao couldn't help boasting:

"The current Shangshutai is full of talented people!"

"I have gathered all the wise men in the world in this Shangshutai. They are all busy with the affairs of the world. You will understand when you get there!"

Cao Mao praised his own Secretariat with all his might as they arrived here. He led them into the place in a swagger.

"If we're going to do it, we have to do it all at once. Otherwise, how are we going to handle the performance evaluation? Wouldn't that just be a complete mess?!"

Xun Yi asked angrily.

Lu Zhi said calmly, "What I'm talking about now is the issue of military farming. This is a major issue concerning the country, how can we be careless?"

"If you want to promote it, you should choose good places and then roll it out in batches to see the results first."

Zhong Hui immediately raised his objection. "Minister Lu is overthinking it. This is what we're researching, so there won't be any problems. If we're going to implement it, we should do it together!"

Xun Yi really didn't expect that he would be able to hear a human word from Zhong Hui's mouth in this life!

Even in the Shangshutai, the two of them were extremely at odds with each other.

Zhong Hui scolded Xun Xi for favoring his relatives. Xun Xi said that Zhong Hui was well-versed in the Book of Changes, but he couldn't even do basic divination.

Zhong Hui scolded Xun Yi for his flattery. Xun Yi said that Zhong Hui was well versed in the Book of Changes, but he could not even do basic divination.
Zhong Hui scolded Xun Yi for not having the ability to govern. Xun Yi said that he could not even do basic divination.
This time, Zhong Hui actually took the initiative to stand on Xun Yi's side, which surprised Xun Yi very much. Although this guy couldn't even do basic divination, he could actually speak human language sometimes?
Chen Tai also joined in at this moment.

"I think what Minister Lu said is right. For such a major event, we cannot just push it forward directly. We should first find a place to see the results, and then promote it. This is the right thing to do."

"What does Chen Pushe know about government?!"

Zhong Hui started attacking as soon as he opened his mouth.

Xun Yi was furious and glared at Zhong Hui, "What are you talking about? If he doesn't understand government affairs, who else can?!"

Xun Yi was Chen Tai's uncle. He was his biological uncle.

How could he sit still when he saw Chen Tai being insulted?

Chen Tai spoke first and asked, "Mr. Zhong, aren't you in charge of the assessment? The county examination has already begun. Why are you getting involved in the military farming instead of focusing on these matters?"

Zhong Hui scoffed, "How can a wild donkey that can only travel ten miles a day possibly know the distance a precious horse that can travel a thousand miles a day can cover?"

Du Yu cleared his throat and said, "Everyone, I think..."

"Minister Du! You should have some time to participate in these matters! Why hasn't the Ministry of Works given me the books I need yet?!"

Pei Xiu was furious, "Do you know that if I don't do my job well, He Zeng will harass me!"

Du Yu quickly replied: "The Ministry of Industry has limited craftsmen. You can find a printer privately to print what you need."

Pei Xiu was furious. "If I could use private labor, why would I need to look for you?!"

He looked at Zhong Hui in the distance. Zhong Hui seemed to know that he would be looking at him and said very bluntly: "No, it's against the law!"

When Cao Mao confidently brought Guo Ze to the Secretariat, this was the scene he saw.

The ministers were shouting and cursing at each other, and each of them felt like they were about to start a fight at any moment.

As for Shangshu Ling Wang Chang.

The old man was sitting in the upper seat with a smile on his face, watching everyone quarreling, as if he was enjoying it.

Wang Chang was the first to see Cao Mao. This old man was also a bad guy. He just stood up and hurriedly left. Everyone thought he was going to "change clothes" and ignored him. Wang Chang walked out of the main hall where important matters were discussed, came to the emperor with a smile, and bowed to him.

"My Lord, your Chancellery is bustling with activity! The ministers are about to start a fight."

Wang Chang laughed, "Your Majesty, this is what heated negotiations look like."

"I didn't stop them. Instead, I allowed them to discuss things openly, identifying and addressing any shortcomings. Only then could we avoid mistakes."

Just picking on each other?
Cao Mao and Wang Chang stood at the door and listened.

Sure enough, just as Wang Chang said, although they quarreled constantly, they gradually reached a consensus on many things during the quarrel.

For example, regarding the issue of cultivated land, we finally used what Lu Zhi said as the standard, first found a place to try it out, and then promoted it to other places.

The same is true for most of the other departments.

When their discussion was about to end, Cao Mao led everyone into the Secretariat.

"His Majesty!!"

Everyone hurriedly stood up and bowed to greet him.

Cao Mao returned the greeting with a smile.

Zhong Hui now approached the emperor and said, "Your Majesty, there are ministers in the Secretariat who are close to each other and colluding with each other. One of them should be removed."

You are worthy of being me. No grudge will last overnight.

Cao Mao cleared his throat and said, "Shiji, I know that Shangshu Ling Wang Gong is related to you, but you are both talented people."

Zhong Hui suddenly realized that the Shangshu Ling should call him Zhongfu.

But when he looked at Wang Chang, Wang Chang narrowed his eyes and did not look kind.

Cao Mao took the upper seat and said, "My lords, the Wei Kingdom has defeated the Shu and Wu bandits in succession. These two bandits no longer have the strength to invade us. Now is the time to focus on rectifying our internal affairs and governing the empire. The long-cherished wish of our ancestors for a unified China will surely be fulfilled in our hands."

As usual, Cao Mao painted a big picture for everyone.

Then he said, "From now on, the imperial court's decrees will no longer need to go through the Nine Ministers, but will be subject to the Secretariat."

"From now on, the Secretariat will set a date to discuss government affairs, and there will be no need for outsiders to come."

After hearing this, some ministers were stunned for a moment.

Isn't this the same method Gao Rou and his men used to try to decentralize the government? They simply turned the court meeting into an internal meeting of the Shangshutai.

Your Majesty is a real quick learner. He is going to completely abandon the old ministers in the temple and start governing the government on his own with the Secretariat as the foundation.

The ministers stood up immediately.

"only!!!"

(End of this chapter)