Cao Rui and Xin Bi looked at each other, immediately realizing that there might be some discrepancies in this.
Cao Rui said, "Master Wei spends all day in the palace. Who is the director of the Ministry of Personnel now?"
Wei Zhen replied, "It's Zhuge Dan. Before Zhuge Dan, it was Yuan Kan."
"Your Majesty, there may be some mistakes in this. Let me investigate and report back to you?"
Cao Rui smiled and shook his head: "Master Wei, please spare no effort to serve the state on behalf of the emperor. The emperor will send Xin Shi to investigate. It just so happens that the emperor has recently appointed a principal of the School Office to be a supervisor, so let Xin Shi investigate it."
"Involving the Chengwen Guan (a cultural academy) and the Shangshu Tai (the Ministry of Rites), if Master Wei were to personally take charge, it might cause too much of a stir."
Wei Zhen was silent for a moment and bowed his hands, saying, "If your Majesty wishes to investigate through the School Office, I believe it would be best to focus on the investigation itself rather than involve other matters."
Xin Pi, beside him, laughed and said, "Master Wei thinks I'm like Liu Kei? The School Office will only handle cases in the future. There will be no private prisons or private punishments. You can be at ease."
Wei Zhen nodded in agreement.
...
The next morning, a mongolian chalice just left the dock outside of Nalu County in Wugong.
An eleven-year-old child watched as the city walls of Lou County receded into the distance, worriedly asking, "Uncle, when do you think we'll be able to return home from this journey?"
Lu Bao touched Lu Yan's head and said, "Don't cry, Yan'er. We will be traveling along the great river to the west this time, and it will take nearly a month and a half on the ship! Aren't you the one who loves to take a boat trip?"
Lu Yan nodded: "Yes! My father and mother always don't let me take a boat trip, but now I can have a good time!"
Lu Bao smiled, "Yan'er, don't cry anymore. Go up to the deck and see the scenery! Uncle will come up to play with you in a while!"
"Okay!"
Lu Yan hopped up and down, pulling open the door, squeezing through the gate guarded by two guards, and going up the wooden ladder to the second floor on his own without anyone stopping him.
Lu Bao is the younger brother of Lu Xun, and Lu Yan is the eldest son of Lu Xun. This time, they received an edict from the King of Wu, and this extremely fast mongolian chalice was specifically sent to pick up the Lu family.
Lu Bao turned and closed the door slowly, Sun's wife sitting kneeling on the stage beside him could no longer hold back her tears, and two clear tears flowed from the corners of her eyes.
"Second uncle, what should we do? Although I am also a niece of the King of Wu, my elder brother has been serving the King of Wu in Wuchang for a long time, and I haven't seen the King of Wu for many years. I am truly at a loss!"
Lu Bao sighed softly and advised, "Yan'er, you can cry if you want to. How can your aunt also cry?"
"The envoy has already said it clearly, my elder brother only temporarily surrendered to Wei and even obtained a position of 2000 stones as the commander of Qiangs in Xiliang!"
Sun's wife shook her head, wiping away her tears with a handkerchief: "You also believe such words, second uncle? The envoy said that my husband went to Xiliang, but why didn't he say he went to Liaodong?"
"My uncle..." Sun's wife raised her head to look in the direction of the cabin door, and then whispered, "The King of Wu is such a person, second uncle. Do you really not know that? If we are defeated and surrender to Wei, we will even die together. What about Yan'er? He is still young!"
Lu Bao consoled, "After all, the Lu family has served Wu for thirty years. Moreover, your sister-in-law is a relative of the Sun family. This trip will definitely go smoothly. Please rest assured."
"Really?" Sun's wife looked up at Lu Bao, asking with half belief and half doubt.
"He will be fine." Lu Bao nodded gently and then asked, "Aunt, after we reach Wuangong, where should we look for your elder brother?"
"I'll go find him then and have him mediate for us."
Sun's wife looked at Lu Bao and thought, You're still not sure in your heart, aren't you? So she cried even harder.
And let's not talk about how Lu Xun's wife and brother are sighing in the boat to the Wuangong, Wu Wang is also working hard for his own destiny.
In the Wu Wang's mansion in Wuchang, the officials of Wu group stood in formation, their eyes focused on Zhuge Jin standing at the front of the hall.
Sun Quan slowly stood up, picked up the purple belt golden seal from the table, descended the steps, and solemnly placed it in the hands of Zhuge Jin.
Sun Quan held Zhuge Jin's right hand, looking into Zhuge Jin's eyes, "Ziyu, the affairs of Jingzhou will be entrusted to you. Don't let me down again!"
"Most respected, Zhuge Jin will never betray your trust!"
After Zhuge Jin returned to his place in the line, Sun Quan also returned to the table behind him and called out loudly, "Where is Zhang Huifu?"
"I am here," Zhang Wen stepped forward and bowed his hands in response.
Sun Quan spoke slowly, "You have twice served as an envoy to Chengdu for Wu, and I am very grateful. Now I will restore your position as the Director of the Selection Bureau, and I will also promote you to the title of Grand Master of Rites."
Zhang Wen was somewhat stunned at this moment, and the Wu officials in the hall were also all taken aback.
The appointment of Zhuge Jin as the Governor of Jingzhou had been anticipated by the officials in Wuangong. Lu Xun had surrendered to Wei, so someone had to take this position.
Regardless of rank, official position, or the closeness to the King of Wu, Zhuge Jin seemed to be the best candidate.
However, Zhang Wen's restoration to the position of Director of the Selection Bureau signaled a change in the wind.
After the Ji Yan case, Zhang Wen's official position was also stripped away, and he was dismissed from his post by the King of Wu. He was practically under house arrest.
But with Zhang Wen's return from his second mission to Chengdu, as Wu and Han formed an alliance, this skilled diplomat of the Great Wu who was on good terms with both Liu Shan and Zhuge Liang gradually became a powerful figure, and his position as the Director of the Selection Bureau was also restored.
Zhang Wen bowed respectfully and said, "I am honored to receive Your Majesty's promotion. My two missions to Chengdu were simply tasks assigned by Your Majesty, and the achievements I have obtained are all due to Your Majesty's wisdom and virtue. I dare not take credit for them."
"Please, Your Majesty, have mercy on my meager abilities and do not burden me with such a heavy responsibility!"
Zhang Wen was declining, and it was also another attempt by him to test the waters with Sun Quan.
After all, Zhang Wen had been intimidated by Sun Quan. After the Ji Yan case, he was placed under house arrest. No one knew if Sun Quan would suddenly decide to fire him from his position again.
Sun Quan sat on the stage, shaking his head calmly, "Zhang Huifu has done great work. Why do you need to decline it? You should accept it. Great Wu now needs people who can get things done, and Zhang Huifu is a capable minister of the state."
Zhang Wen bowed deeply and said, "I, will comply!"
...
Wei, Luoyang.
It seems to be the news of the death of the previous head of the School Office in Luoyang, Liu Ci, which has shocked everyone from top to bottom of the School Office. The School Office is operating at an abnormal high efficiency.
But within half a day, everything inside and outside was thoroughly investigated.
Cao Rui looked at Xin Pi and asked, "How did the School Office conduct the investigation? Did it not involve too wide a range?"
Xin Pi shook his head and replied, "How could it involve too wide a range? Even the Shangshu Tai did not get involved, and we managed to figure out the matter."
"I sent the newly appointed School Officer Captain Pan Xiao to the Shangshu Tai this morning. Pan Xiao asked the current Minister of Personnel Cao Lang, Zhuge Dan, and he explained it right away."
Cao Rui frowned and asked, "What's going on? Did you use force?"
"How could they do this at the Shangshu Tai? Your Majesty, please do not jest." Xin Pi explained, "Pan Xiao led ten School Office officials to the Ministry of Personnel Cao of the Shangshu Tai. He claimed that Your Majesty and Master Wei already knew what he had done."
"After sending everyone else away, perhaps because Zhuge Dan has average psychological resilience or because the notoriety of the Luoyang School Office was well-known, Zhuge Dan couldn't resist and confessed in less than an hour. Pan Xiao and others did not even have to touch him."
"Zhuge Dan confessed willingly. He received the approval from Li Feng on May 10th and was appointed to the position at Chongwen Guan."
"On May 11th, Zhuge Dan submitted the approval list of the Ministry of Personnel Cao for the first ten days of May to the palace. On May 13th, Master Wei made his reply. Therefore, the records at the Shangshu Tai show that Li Feng was appointed on May 13th."
"Moreover..."
Cao Rui frowned and asked, "What else?"
Xin Pi spoke softly and said, "Zhuge Dan was appointed less than two months ago. He frequently evaluated and criticized people. Those who received Zhuge Dan's praise often received good positions."
"This person is using his position for personal gain and seeking a good reputation."
Cao Rui slammed his hand on the table and spoke with anger, "The Shangshu Tai has such a person who seeks fame and fortune by using public office for personal gain! Master Wei, did you know about this?"
Xin Pi shook his head solemnly and said, "Master Wei does not know about this. I sent Pan Xiao to the Shangshu Tai early this morning, and it has not been more than two hours."
Cao Rui said, "Put Zhuge Dan under control at the Shangshu Tai first! Don't let him spread the news, nor let Chongwen Guan know."
"Wang Master is the Right Assistant of the Shangshu Tai and the Minister of Personnel. Zhuge Dan is his direct subordinate, and more importantly, he also holds the position of Si li Xing ce!"
"Order the Right Assistant of the Shangshu Tai, the Minister of Personnel, and the Inspector of the Capital to go to the Shangshu Tai immediately and give him a thorough interrogation!"
Cao Rui used all three positions of Wang Zhen: the Right Assistant of the Shangshu Tai, the Minister of Personnel, and the Inspector of the Capital.
Xin Pi didn't dare to be lax either. He hurried to the East Hall to find Wang Zhen.
The emperor's order was urgent, and Sima Yi was the Acting Minister of the Grand Secretariat, so he had no reason to keep anything from Xin Pi. Therefore, Xin Pi told the matter openly in the East Hall in the presence of both men.
Wang Zhen's chest rose and fell, his face faintly reddened. Clearly, he was angry because of what Xin Pi had said.
Among the twenty-five Cao in the Shangshu Tai, the Ministry of Personnel Cao is the one with the heaviest responsibilities. Zhuge Dan was once a Water Department official, and after returning to Luoyang, Wang Zhen also had a face-to-face conversation with Zhuge Dan before appointing him to this position.
What a big mess!
Wang Zhen knew that the emperor had ordered him to personally handle Zhuge Dan at the Shangshu Tai, which was giving him some face. If the Imperial Court Official were summoned again, the incident would become a bigger deal.
Wang Zhen bowed and said, "Thank you, brother Zhaizhi, for your reminder! Why not have you join me in going to the Shangshu Tai? That way, we can report to the emperor in a timely manner."
Xin Pi nodded and said, "Then I will accompany you, Your Excellency Zhen."
Sima Yi interrupted from the side and said, "Publication, the Shangshu Tai has not seen such evil happen in recent years. If you go, I will not go. You must give His Majesty a clear account!"
Wang Zhen nodded, and then left with Xin Pi together.
It has to be said, "A higher officialdom can crush people." Wang Zhen and Xin Pi's appearance together startled Zhuge Dan half to death.
After reviewing all the relevant documents of the Ministry of Personnel Cao related to Chongwen Guan, four scholars of Chongwen Guan, Bi Gu, Deng Yang, Li Sheng, and Ding Mi, were also found to have issues with their appointments.
By afternoon, Xin Pi and Wang Zhen returned together to the Northern Palace.
In the camp, Cao Rui was archery practice. When Xin Pi and Wang Zhen arrived, Cao Rui didn't seem in a hurry. After shooting the remaining nine arrows in his quiver, he turned to look at them.
Cao Rui asked in a leisurely manner, "You two have returned from the Shangshu Tai? Is there anything that needs to be urgently reported to me?"
Wang Zhen bowed and said, "It is the minister's dereliction of duty, and please, Your Majesty, punish me. Yuan Kan, the former Minister of Personnel and current Minister of Examination Office, as well as Xu Yun, the Minister of Selection Office, have committed the same crime as Zhuge Dan." (Chapter ends)
