The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 615 Candidates

Wang Su passed away.

It is said that he passed away very peacefully, and explained many things to his descendants and disciples. He then stopped moving while talking.

This should be a happy funeral for him.

When Cao Mao heard the news, he couldn't help but feel heartbroken.

After Wang Su left, Cao Mao really had no other Confucian scholar who could succeed him.

Another person who was barely able to study was Zheng Chong. Zheng Chong had a high level of knowledge of classics, but this was only because he had delved deeply into the classics. This was not enough to make him a great scholar like Wang Su. A so-called great scholar still had to have his own set of theories and propositions.

Regardless of whether this proposition is good or bad, even if it is Zheng Xuan's proposition that requires all people in the world to be slaves of the emperor, it can be considered as something of his own.

Zheng Chong was very familiar with the work of his predecessors and had done in-depth research, but he lacked creativity and had nothing of his own.

The next person who can create something will still be Du Yu.

However, that was the elderly Du Yu. Today's Du Yu is still in the process of learning and has not yet reached the level of becoming a great master.

As for the brothers in the Bamboo Grove, they did have their own opinions, but Cao Mao did not like their opinions. He had always been suppressing their opinions and ideas, and it was impossible for him to use them as official doctrines.

This gave Cao Mao a headache.

However, Cao Mao was not in a hurry to deal with this matter. He sent people to mourn Wang Su and posthumously conferred him a title, hoping that the ministers would give him a good posthumous title, and appeased his sons who were more respectable.

As for Wang Kai, Cao Mao was not going to release him again. This guy was the most unkind among Wang Su's sons and had no brains. Before Wang Su died, he asked him to severely punish his son and pardon his grandson. This was not because he was partial.

It was because Wang Su knew that if his grandson committed a crime, he would definitely be implicated in the Sima family's major events, which would be a crime punishable by the execution of the entire family. But his sons were different. Unless they spit in Cao Mao's face after drinking too much, it would be impossible for them to be punished as seriously as the execution of the entire family. Therefore, he informed Cao Mao implicitly.

Cao Mao arrested Wang Kai, which was also his own way of fulfilling his promise to Wang Su. Wang Su's other sons were fine, but this youngest one was the only one. If there was any problem with his clan, it must be Wang Kai's fault, so he should be imprisoned, given food and water, and kept in captivity.

Anyway, this guy has no ambitions and all he loves in his life is pleasure. With his brothers around, he probably won't live in poverty even if he's stuck with his father.

Cao Mao felt that he had done his best for Wang Su by achieving this. If this guy still refused to obey, then Wang Su could not blame him.

Letters from Youzhou continued to be sent to Cao Mao.

What Cao Mao cared about most was the letter about Goguryeo.

At this moment, Yang Hu only felt that Goguryeo had ill intentions, but Cao Mao knew that they would invade Liao again in twenty or thirty years, which would be when the son of the current Goguryeo king came to power.

Just as Cao Mao was focusing on the affairs of Youzhou, Deng Ai also began to prepare to go to Yizhou.

At this time, Zhong Hui quickly appeared in the Taiji Hall.

"Your Majesty still wants to use Deng Ai?!"

As soon as Zhong Hui entered the hall, he couldn't help but question.

If Cao Mao wanted to be serious, he could have punished him for disrespect.

However, even a man like Sun Hao could tolerate the talented people under his command and forgive their rudeness, let alone Cao Mao.

Cao Mao gestured for Zhong Hui to sit down, and then handed the letter in his hand to Zhong Hui.

"Shiji, take a look. This is what Yang Zhenbei sent."

Zhong Hui put away his displeasure, picked up the letter, and read it carefully. After a while, he finally spoke: "Yang Hu attacked the Yuwen tribe for three reasons: first, to demonstrate his power; second, to increase the population; third, to train the troops. The soldiers in Hebei had not experienced war for a long time; and fourth, to hold the three Xianbei hostages hostage."

Zhong Hui spoke a lot of reasons, Cao Mao thought, maybe Yang Hu didn't think so much.
After Zhong Hui finished speaking, he added, "The Yuwen tribe's location is extremely crucial. If we can build a fortress here, we can simultaneously deter all enemies, including Goguryeo. The Goguryeo people are still ruthless and this is known to everyone in the world."

"However, the strategies for dealing with each tribe should be different. The climate where the Goguryeo live is even worse than where the Tuoba and his people live, and their level of education is far inferior to that of the Xianbei. Therefore, we can defeat them, but we cannot take their land, and we cannot govern them."

"Therefore, a different policy should be adopted towards Goguryeo. Your Majesty, do you know Fan Ju of Qin?"

Cao Mao immediately shook his head, "No."

He knew what Zhong Hui wanted to say. Fan Ju of Qin State had proposed a rather terrible policy, which continuously weakened the vitality of other countries, making their resistance weaker and weaker, and finally achieved great unification.

Zhong Hui wanted to kill Goguryeo's manpower so that they could be eliminated as soon as possible.

Zhong Hui looked at the determined Cao Mao and said, "Your Majesty, benevolent policies can be used to govern the country. We must make choices and not hesitate."

Cao Mao glanced at him. "Shi Ji, Ah Yang sent me a letter earlier, describing the situation over there. They're seriously short of labor, even worse than Liang Province. Whether it's land reclamation, road construction, or anything else, it needs people." Zhong Hui said calmly, "The Xiongnu, Xianbei, Qiang, and Hu people have all been taught by the king for a long time. Your Majesty, if you want to make them the inhabitants of the Central Plains, that's feasible. But the Goguryeo people are nothing more than savages, completely unaware of farming or weaving. How can such people be educated?"

"General Yang knows how to handle this matter."

Zhong Hui was suddenly speechless. He did not continue talking about Yang Hu, but turned the topic to Deng Ai.

"I heard that Your Majesty plans to have Deng Ai replace Zhang Hua?"

Cao Mao said calmly, "I've heard that Zhang Hua, young as he is, has committed many massacres in Bashu, disheartening the nobles. He has also promoted many young men from humble backgrounds, all from Shu. This has displeased the ministers of the Central Plains. Some say he acts capriciously and lacks the talent to govern. Now that the official arrangements have been completed, he should be replaced."

Zhong Hui smiled and nodded.

"Your Majesty is right!!"

"What talents does Zhang Hua have to govern Shu? Your Majesty has shown him too much favor, and he knows nothing about local government. If it weren't for the assistance of General Zhuge, would he have been able to govern Shu effectively?"

"This person lacks the courage to do great things. He can only stay by Your Majesty's side as a small official, concentrating on his work. He is incapable of being a person in charge of the overall situation in the local area!"

Zhong Hui berated Zhang Hua, "What displeases me most is that he has promoted too many Shu people. He claims to be promoting people from humble backgrounds, but which of these humble families doesn't have a powerful Shu clan behind them? After conquering Shu, we should have eliminated the powerful clans there and weakened them while enjoying the victory. But Zhang Hua lacks the courage to do so. I wonder how difficult it will be for him to govern in the future. Your Majesty should punish him for his crimes!!!"

Hearing Zhong Hui's words, Cao Mao smiled and explained, "Maoxian is also here because of my imperial edict. Whether it is the Central Plains or Bashu, they are all my subjects and must be treated equally."

Cao Mao continued, "But as Shi Ji said, he is still too young to govern the area. Therefore, I intend to let Deng Ai go. Do you think this is inappropriate?"

The smile on Zhong Hui's face suddenly froze.

Choose between Deng Ai and Zhang Hua?

Zhong Hui's mood at this moment was very complicated.

It was as if Cao Mao wanted him to choose a better arrow from two piles of arrows.

Zhong Hui fell silent.

Cao Mao did not rush him, but just waited patiently.

Zhong Hui suddenly asked, "Your Majesty, the Great Wei has so many talented people. Why do you have to choose from just these two groups?"

Cao Mao smiled and said, "That's fine. Does Shi Ji have someone more suitable than them? If Shi Ji recommends someone else, I would be more than happy to help!"

Zhong Hui thought quickly, looking for someone who could replace these two people, someone with similar talents, and someone who was free and could not delay other tasks.
When Zhong Hui thought about this, his mind went blank.

Not to mention those who are free, even among those who have important work on hand, it seems that there are few who can compare with Deng Ai and Zhang Hua.

Not everyone is qualified to be hated by Zhong Hui.

Looking at the conflicted Zhong Hui in front of him, Cao Mao just chuckled and waited for his answer.

Zhong Hui exhaled, his expression becoming somewhat casual. "Your Majesty, let me choose this matter. I don't know who to choose right now!"

Zhong Hui would not make a choice between these two people. If he wanted to choose, let Cao Mao make it himself.

Cao Mao knew this would be the result. Zhong Hui didn't want to talk about it anymore and turned the topic to the deceased Wang Su.

Cao Mao couldn't help but sigh, "Having lost the prince, I feel like I have lost an arm in the study of classics."

"There is no other scholar like him in the world."

"Of course, Shi Ji can definitely do it, but Shi Ji is so busy, and the classics are very time-consuming, so I dare not let Shi Ji do it."

Looking at the worried emperor in front of him, Zhong Hui had a smile on his face.

"Your Majesty, apart from me, is there really no other scholar in the world who can succeed you, my Lord?"

Hearing Zhong Hui's question, Cao Mao felt that he seemed to have a candidate.

He asked hesitantly, "Is there anything else you can do to continue promoting Wang Xuezhi?"

Zhong Hui laughed. "Your Majesty just told me that you treat all ministers equally, whether they are from the Central Plains or Shu. How is it that you have forgotten Qiao Zhou from Shu at this very moment?"

Cao Mao suddenly woke up, yes!
Qiao Zhou of Shu was also a great scholar of Confucian classics. He had studied the classics and had previously praised Wang Xue. Moreover, he was a scholar who was not too stubborn like Wang Su. If Cao Mao had any requirements in Confucian classics, he would help the emperor to fulfill them.
He quickly looked at Zhong Hui and said, "Hahaha, if Shi Ji hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten about this person!"

(End of this chapter)