The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 481 How could Zheng Xuan’s grandson not understand
Ministers all aspire to work in departments with real power.

After all, honorary titles are just honors, while real power can bring more benefits and establish more achievements.

But at this moment, Xun Yi expressed his intention to leave the Secretariat.

When he knelt in front of him and asked to leave, Cao Mao couldn't help but persuade him.

"Mr. Xun, why is this?"

"You have been in the Shangshutai for the longest time and are most familiar with its affairs. Without you, what will happen to the Shangshutai? Who will handle it?"

"You can't leave!"

Xun Yi shook his head. In the past, he was eager to take charge of the Secretariat, but now he was eager to leave the Secretariat.

In the past, although the Secretariat was a powerful department, it was not busy. The ministers had many subordinates, and the division of labor among many secretaries was unclear, and there were many people who just wanted to get by.

Xun Yi did not have any talent in governing. He was knowledgeable and talented, but more inclined to be a scholar. In history, when he served as the Secretary of State, he was in charge of the promotion and transfer of officials. The ministers at that time were very satisfied with him and thought he was very fair.

How fair was Xun Yi? The officials he promoted all met Sima Zhao's expectations and were deeply loved by Sima Yan.

Later, he even praised Jia Nanfeng to Sima Yan in person: Jia Nanfeng is "beautiful and virtuous", and is suitable to be the Crown Princess.

To be honest, Jia Nanfeng doesn't fit even one of these four words!
Xun Yi's main focus is on human relationships and social skills. In his opinion, only when the big families help and support each other can everyone have a bright future.

Sure enough, after Jia Nanfeng became the Crown Princess, the Jin Dynasty ushered in a very "bright" future.

Later, when he was the Minister of Works, he discovered many of Wang Rong's crimes. Of course, they also helped each other, and finally he was transferred to another place to continue serving as the Governor.

In short, this person is a typical example of a person whose fame outweighs his talent.

Cao Mao kept him in the Secretariat mainly to appease the ministers from the big families and to ease the conflicts. But now, his power is very stable and there is no need to ease the conflicts in this way.

The Secretariat was busy with many things, and although Xun Yi was knowledgeable and talented, he was more theoretical. He might not be able to handle the practical matters in the Secretariat.

Although Cao Mao tried very hard to keep him, Xun Yi was already determined.

Must go.

The Shangshutai was full of young people, and things were happening one after another. If he didn't leave, he would be carried away.

Cao Mao agreed to his request with great embarrassment and then appointed him as the Grand Coachman.

Xun Yi breathed a sigh of relief and left the Taiji Hall.

At this moment, Cao Mao looked at the Secretariat again.

The position of Pushe is vacant.

There are currently two solutions. The first is to let Lu Qin serve as the prime minister.

He is fair in his dealings, has made remarkable political achievements, is a practical man, and has much in the style of his grandfather.

The second is to let Zhong Hui serve as the Minister of Justice and let Wei Shu replace Zhong Hui.

Both options have their own advantages. After thinking for a long time, Cao Mao decided to let Zhong Hui take over.

This was not because Cao Mao was deliberately suppressing Lu Qin, but mainly for Wei Shu.

If Lu Qin is not in the Secretariat, he can be placed in other positions, but Wei Shu cannot.

There was no place for him in the Shizhong system or the Zhongshu.

Moreover, Zhong Hui may have to participate in more things in the future, and the official position of Pushe will make it easier for him to participate in more things.

As for Lu Qin, Cao Mao thought of where he was going.

Shizhong.

The two current ministers are Zheng Xiaotong and Zhong Hui.

They are responsible for decision-making. Zhong Hui is capable of doing it, but Zheng Xiaotong is really reluctant.

Like Xun Yi, Zheng Xiaotong was the type of person who had outstanding ability in classics but was slightly weak in doing practical things.

Cao Mao also planned to give him an honorary official title.

This department that is responsible for doing practical work should still arrange as many people as possible to do practical work.

Zheng Xiaotong's position may be given to Lu Qin.

Cao Mao thought for a moment and then went out.

Zheng Xian was reading in the palace at the moment. When she heard the news of Cao Mao's arrival, she was very surprised and hurried out to greet him.

Ever since she arrived at the palace, the emperor has been very cold to her, and she has been trying to change her personality. As a peer of Cao Mao, she has been trying hard to pretend to be mature.

However, these efforts did not make Cao Mao look at her more.

"His Majesty!!!"

When Cao Mao walked into the hall, he saw a pair of expectant and excited eyes.

In fact, Cao Mao had no ill will towards Zheng Xian. To be fair, the daughter of a Confucian scholar was more suitable to be the queen, just like Wang Su's daughter married Sima Zhao.

The contribution of classics to a person is still enormous.

Besides, Zheng Xian's clan was very weak. Although he had great reputation, he did not have the foundation of a big family.

However, Cao Mao didn't really have much affection for her. He didn't know why, but after all the things he'd been through, his heart had been hard to shake. Sima Shi had helped him cultivate a very stable mindset, but this also seemed to have deprived him of many of the emotional fluctuations that ordinary people have. Upon seeing Zheng Xian, Cao Mao's first thought was her clan, and the rivalry between the Zheng and Wang schools of thought.

Cao Mao sat in the upper seat and Zheng Xian sat next to him.

"Why is Your Majesty here?"

"I came to see you. Have you been home these days?"

“Never been back.”

"How about I take you back tomorrow?"

"OK!!"

Zheng Xian was overjoyed and immediately said, "Then Your Majesty, please stay with me today! We can go together tomorrow without wasting time!"

Cao Mao's face condensed. Zheng Xian was obviously younger, but she was not shy at all. Sima Yi, who had a child, was
Cao Mao calculated the time of the last time. Well, it was long enough, not too frequent.

Since the other party had already spoken, Cao Mao naturally did not refuse.

Zheng Xian finally breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly sat next to Cao Mao, ready to talk to him.

"Ahem, let's eat something first."

Women in the Wei and Jin dynasties were very unrestrained. The later they were born, the more unrestrained they were. After all, the constraints of etiquette and laws were constantly declining.

Zheng Xuan once studied ancient classics with the great Confucian scholar Ma Rong, but Zheng Xuan cannot be regarded as a member of the ancient classics school. His later knowledge encompassed the great classics, integrated hundreds of schools of thought, and annotated various classics.

It broke the barriers between the past and the present and completed the unification of classics.

If Wang Su's current level of study of classics represents the highest academic level at present, then Zheng Xuan's level of study of classics represents the highest academic level in the Later Han Dynasty.

He ushered in an era of great unification of Confucian classics, although this era did not last long.

Although he first studied classical Chinese, he was not opposed to the various commentaries in modern Chinese, which made traditional classical Chinese scholars such as Wang Su very dissatisfied.

Many people believe that Zuo Zhuan’s later rise was closely related to Zheng Xuan, and he even played a promoting role.

Zheng Xuan's knowledge is still very popular today, but Wang Su is still trying hard to refute him.

Judging from the influence in later generations, Wang Su is still far behind Zheng Xuan.

This may also be because Wang Su has too deep connections with the court, and many things are difficult to study thoroughly.

That night, Cao Mao stayed in Zheng Xian's palace.

For some reason, whenever Cao Mao rose up, he always felt that he was at a disadvantage.

This is much more proactive than Sima Yi.

Zheng Xian seemed extremely happy. She looked at Cao Mao with delight, and for a moment she couldn't tell who was at the disadvantage.

After breaking this layer of membrane, Zheng Xian seemed to be more relaxed and she helped Cao Mao put on his clothes.

"Although my grandfather was good at studying the classics, he wasn't a very serious person. And there's one more thing: he actually didn't like studying the classics. He only studied the classics because it was a family tradition. On weekdays, he would secretly read prose and poetry."

Zheng Xian was helping Cao Mao put on his clothes at this moment, but she had already sold Zheng Xiaotong out completely.

Cao Mao was a little confused.

Ah, Zheng Xuan’s grandson actually doesn’t like studying classics?

How is this possible?
You are Zheng Xuan’s grandson.

Cao Mao asked, "He prefers poetry? He's not serious in private? That's not right. Wasn't Zheng Jingshen an expert on etiquette? How could his grandson not value etiquette?"

Zheng Xian glanced at him and said, "Your Majesty is the great-grandson of Emperor Taizu, isn't he just touching me now?"

Ok? ? ?
The two of them got on the carriage and headed towards Zheng Mansion.

At this moment, in the Zheng Mansion, Zheng Xiaotong seriously ordered the servants not to disturb him, and then walked into the study.

The servants in the mansion watched him walk into the study and whispered, "The master has become increasingly angry recently."

"Yes, Wang Su's knowledge is disrespectful to us. His knowledge is so sought after, how can the head of the family ignore it? He must be studying the classics, thinking of refuting Wang Su!"

Everyone said this with a solemn oath.

After locking the study door, Zheng Xiaotong wiped the sweat from his forehead.

It’s broken!!
It’s not that Zheng Xiaotong doesn’t know the classics. He knows some, but his attainments are not that high. It’s just because of his family tradition that everyone thinks he is a classics scholar and he was born to be one.

His level of knowledge of classics is OK for dealing with students on a daily basis, but if you ask him to go out and debate with Wang Su, that's really a bit too much.
What level is Wang Su at? Even if his grandfather were still alive, he would be able to argue with him.

It was fine in the past. Zheng Xiaotong didn't need to show up at all. His grandfather's disciples would stand up and join the battle.

But now, those people are either too old to stand up or have died of illness.

Wang Su's commotion was getting louder and louder. Everyone was looking forward to seeing a fascinating showdown between Zheng Xue and Wang Xue. On the other side, the founder of the school was stepping forward, while on this side, he, the third-generation successor, was being asked to step forward. What was he supposed to do?
At this moment, Zheng Xiaotong flipped through the many classics left by his grandfather, feeling extremely anxious.

His own reputation was not affected, but his family's classical studies were a matter of course. Everyone was waiting for him to make a name for himself. What should he do?

Just when Zheng Xiaotong was feeling uneasy, an eunuch came hurriedly to report.

The emperor brought Concubine Zheng to visit his relatives.

(End of this chapter)