Only the profound, only the few, only the divine.
What Fa Yan said just now was actually borrowing from the original words in《YiJing》(The Book of Changes).
In his last sentence, He Yan said, "Only the divine one, not fast but swift, not moving but present. I've heard of it but have not seen it."
What is being said about "the profound" is about Xiahou Yuan. What is being said about "the few" is about Sima Shi. And "the divine" refers only to hearing their words but not seeing them in person — isn't this describing He Yan himself?
Using the three aspects described in《YiJing》(The Book of Changes) to include Xiahou Yuan, Sima Shi, and He Yan himself in a very exquisite design.
If we use more practical words to describe it, Xiahou Yuan's insight into worldly affairs, Sima Shi's focus on practical matters, and He Yan's deep thoughts — that's what it roughly means.
Xiahou Yuan clapped and praised, "It seems that Master Ping Xu is even more proficient in the principles of the Book of Changes."
He Yan smiled and said, "If it is renewed every day, it becomes renewed every day, and it becomes renewed again. The YiJing is always new with constant reading."
Sima Shi subconsciously nodded.
He Yan looked at Sima Shi: "Ziyuan, what do you think of my three comments just now? You, I, and the three of us are all listed together in Tai Chu. I'm sure that's enough to give you fame."
Sima Shi bowed deeply and performed a courtesy bow: "What Master Ping Xu said is indeed beyond my abilities, I am truly embarrassed and unable to accept it."
"What is there to be embarrassed about?" He Yan laughed out loud: "Even if we do not consider Ziyuan as the brilliant talent of Luozhong, just relying on your identity as the son of the Chief Councilor of the Han Dynasty, how many people dare to speak out against you?"
"By the way, Ziyuan," He Yan asked, "In a few days, I'll be dining with Li Feng and Zhuge Dan. Why don't you and Tai Chu come along as well? Moreover, Du Ru, Marquis Du Wu, has also come to Luoyang. It's a good opportunity to meet him too."
"Du Xu? Is he from the Jingzhao Du family?" Sima Shi asked.
He Yan laughed and said, "Ziyuan, you don't know this? Du Xu is the son of the late Secretary of State Du Ji, Marquis Du Bo. This time, he was recommended by your father, Sima Si, the Chief Councilor of the Han Dynasty, to serve as a Clerk at the Secretariat."
Sima Shi finally understood.
The so-called tangled roots and knots among the scholarly families refer to the fundamental role of official positions and academic knowledge, intertwined with many complex political, marital, and colleague relationships.
For example, Du Xu's father, Du Ji.
Sima Yi's father, Sima Fang, who served as the Administrator of Luoyang during the reign of Emperor Lingbi of the Eastern Han Dynasty, once recommended Cao Cao as the Official in Charge of the Northern Part of Luoyang, providing an initial guidance for Cao Cao's career.
After Sima Fang was transferred to the position of Marquis of Jingzhao, Du Ji became an old subordinate under Sima Fang. Later, Du Ji came to Xudao and was recommended for an official position by Xun Yu. After Du Ji's death, by the year Taihe (237), Sima Yi recommended Du Ji's son, Du Xu, and thus Du Xu came to Luoyang from his hometown Jingzhao.
"Promoting talents without fear of kin, who can say otherwise? This has been the way for the Later Han for two hundred years."
A is an old subordinate of B, B is a hometown friend of C, C and D are both friends and colleagues, and D marries A's daughter.
In this manner, the children of the gentry do not worry about getting official positions, at least serving as civil officers in a state or a county is not an issue. Power reproduces, after all!
Xiahou Xuan interjected and asked, "When did Zhuge Dan return to Luoyang?"
He Yan glanced at Xiahou Xuan: "When Zhuge Gongxiu was serving as the Assistant to the Water Department, he once tried out boats with the Secretary of State Du Bo, also known as Du Xu's father Du Ji, at Taohe River. After an encounter with rough waters, Du Bo drowned in the water while Zhuge Gongxiu was saved. As a result, he was demoted."
"This time, he came here with Du Xu, recommended to the Secretariat by the Chief Councilor."
Xiahou Xuan nodded. Zhuge Dan is also well-known, and he has never had the opportunity to meet him before. It seems that he will be able to fulfill his wish now.
Sima Shi listened to the conversation between the two, and for a moment, he felt somewhat dazed.
Why is He Ping Xu willing to promote my name for me — is it because of my talents and character, or because Xiahou Tai Chu persuaded him, or because of all the students and former subordinates my father has cultivated?
Sima Shi hesitated for a moment, but quickly realized. As he wasn't an empty vessel, he felt that there was nothing to be ashamed of in accepting some fame. He agreed to it!
How can the Eight Dragons of Xun family from years ago all become dragons again?
The way He Yan promotes others' fame is probably a first in this world, far surpassing the style of being called a 'Divine Lord' or something like that.
Only the profound can accomplish worldly matters, Master Sima.
If I can achieve a position as a Chief Councilor like my father, I should also be able to claim that I have "accomplished the affairs of the world," right?
...
In the afternoon, after finishing the archery practice, Cao Rui set off for Wang Lang's Shizhi mansion.
As usual, Cao Rui rode a horse to his destination, not fond of riding in a carriage. In addition to Liu Ye and Yang Fu, who were on duty today, Wei Zhen was also summoned along.
Cao Rui asked sideways, "Shi Zhen, what do you think about the issue of flesh punishment? Is it as important as what Lord Zhong and Lord Wang claimed?"
As serious as Wei Zhen usually was, today he also joked, smiling and said: "Does the emperor think this matter is important?"
Cao Rui saw that Wei Zhen was speaking with a smile, which surprised him as well: "To be honest, I believe that whether the resumption of flesh punishment is important or not is not the main issue. But Lord Zhong and Lord Wang have been discussing it for a long time, and I'm not sure if there's some deeper meaning behind it."
Wei Zhen nodded and said, "Your Majesty, I have two guesses, one good and one bad. Which one should Your Majesty prefer to hear first?"
"Ha ha ha," Cao Rui laughed, "Good or bad, it's just a punishment. Master Wei, please start with the good guess first."
"According to your order," Wei Zhen said, "It's possible that the reason for resuming corporal punishment is indeed due to too many executions, in order to reduce the number of deaths and increase the people's strength."
Cao Rui listened silently to Wei Zhen's words, and the three words "perhaps" in Wei Zhen's words already indicate his attitude very clearly.
All of them have begun to ridicule, how can they still agree?
"What about the bad guess?" Cao Rui asked.
"The bad guess," Wei Zhen rubbed his beard and said, "I'm afraid it's about the process of enforcing laws and punishments."
Cao Rui frowned: "Procedure? What's the relationship between corporal punishment and procedure?"
Wei Zhen looked at the emperor calmly: "Your Majesty, it's not the procedure of corporal punishment that's problematic, but the death penalty."
It's a very simple matter, and Your Majesty just needs to think about it for a moment.
The term "flesh punishment" means that magistrates in various regions can pass judgment, and the court usually does not interfere.
However, the death penalty requires approval from the court and the imperial nod before it can be carried out.
During the reign of Emperor Cao Pi, when Xiahou Shang was extremely trusted by him, he had issued an edict granting Xiahou Shang "the power to make people live and die, and to wield authority arbitrarily." At that time, Ji Jiu strongly advised Cao Pi against granting such powers to a minister, which forced Cao Pi to revoke the edict.
Cao Rui squinted his eyes at Wei Zhen, who now understood the emperor's intention and nodded in response.
It's simple! If flesh punishment is implemented, then a considerable number of sentences of exile and death, which require imperial approval, would become decisions that can be made by local states, or by the administrative organs of the central government through flesh punishment.
That's exactly the same as giving the power to "make people live and die" to be decentralized!
If it were just about legal matters, Cao Rui might still have doubts. However, when it comes to power, Cao Rui was wide awake!
Ah, now I see!
The team slowly arrived at the gate of the Shizhi Mansion, where Shizhi Wang Lang and his eldest son Wang Su were also waiting to welcome them.
Cao Rui pulled the reins of his horse, seeing Wang Lang and the person behind him bowing respectfully, he smiled and asked while sitting on his horse, "This is the first time for Emperor to visit the Duke of Shizhi."
"Shizhi Duke Wang, who is this person behind you?" Cao Rui pointed with his horsewhip at the person standing beside Wang Lang.
"Your Majesty," Wang Lang answered, "This is my eldest son, Wang Su, Prince Guang."
"Guang, come and greet the emperor!" Wang Lang turned around and said.
Wang Su then bowed deeply: "I bow to Your Majesty."
Cao Rui nodded, then dismounted from his horse and asked, "Please rise. The Duke's son used to serve as a rider on a spare horse, right? Now he resides at home?"
After rising, Wang Su replied, "Your Majesty, I am now at home studying."
"Reading? What books are you reading?" Cao Rui smiled and asked.
To Cao Rui's surprise, Wang Su listed a long series: "I read the Five Classics, I read augury and astrology, I read mathematics, I also read Tai Xuan. I not only read ancient texts but also modern ones, and I also read books of Daoism."
Cao Rui was quite surprised, his eyebrows raising slightly. It sounds like Wang Su's reading habits are similar to those of Zheng Xuan, the renowned scholar of classics.
But Cao Rui did not ask, instead he said two words in a casual tone: "Very good."
Wang Lang led the emperor and his entourage into the mansion, and soon after, several people took their seats in the hall.
The emperor sat in the center of the hall, while Wang Lang, Wei Zhen, Liu Ye, Yang Fu, and others sat at the lower end. Wang Su simply stood behind his father, Wang Lang.
Cao Rui doesn't waste time, and directly asks: "Shizhi Duke Wang, I heard about your dispute with Lord Zhong this morning."
"Why does the Duke oppose the restoration of corporal punishment, and why is this more right than what Lord Zhong said?"
After a moment of silence, Wang Lang bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, Lord Zhong's ideas and mine indeed differ."
"Lord Zhong believes that there are problems with the severity of punishment. Many common people commit crimes, either being sentenced to imprisonment or death, and there is a lack of a intermediate punishment between these two."
"But I believe that sages and ancient wise men established laws to promote education and thereby implement virtue governance. Emperor Wu of Han abolished the flesh punishment, leaving benefits to the world for hundreds of years. If Your Majesty wishes to be a saintly ruler, it is truly inappropriate to restore corporal punishment."
Cao Rui nodded: "What Duke Wang just said actually boils down to a matter of principle?"
"That's right. It's a matter of principle," Wang Lang replied. "If the death penalty is considered excessive, reducing it and increasing sentences of imprisonment and exile would be sufficient."
"Similarly, in order to reduce the number of dead, why not increase the duration of imprisonment for criminals instead of cutting off hands and feet?"
"I believe that this is not virtuous governance," Wang Lang said.
Cao Rui continued to ask: "As the Duke said, prohibiting corporal punishment is virtuous governance. Does this virtue truly matter so much?"
Wang Lang answered seriously: "Your Majesty, in today's world, the situation is still uncertain. Firstly, the restoration of corporal punishment will cause dissatisfaction among the common people. Secondly, corporal punishment will give Wu and Shu enemies an excuse for 'console the people and punish evil.' Thirdly, corporal punishment will prevent people from other countries from joining Wei."
"Your Majesty, this is the virtue of not implementing corporal punishment. I hope Your Majesty will be cautious and even more cautious."
Wang Lang's words seem reasonable, but Cao Rui noticed that Wang Su, standing behind Wang Lang, seemed to have a slight worried expression. (Chapter End)
