Hearing the emperor's words, Lu Yu almost froze in place, with an expression of disbelief.
Xu Shu was obviously more relaxed, casually bowing to accept.
No wonder Lu Yu was surprised.
Although Lu Yu had served as a county magistrate before, the county magistrate was not the same as the county magistrate. Only counties like Wei, Chenliu, Yingchuan, Nanyang, and Heyang were comparable to the provincial officials.
According to Lu Yu's age and experience, it would take a long time for him to reach the level of a provincial governor. However, now he was appointed as a Visiting Scholar by the emperor, as if he had taken a shortcut.
The position of Visiting Scholar during the Taihe era was a world apart from that during the Han dynasty and the early years of the Great Wei. It was a completely different matter!
Just take the West Conquering Campaign this time, besides Wang Zheng who was on mourning leave, Yang Fu and Chen Jiao both served as a state governor. Yang Fu was later recalled by the emperor to Luoyang, where he became one of the nine ministers holding the post of Guanglu.
Not to mention the two previous figures, Liu Ye and Huang Quan.
The government and public have been discussing this for a long time. In the future, one cannot become a state governor as a Visiting Scholar. Although Lu Yu is upright, why did he not aspire to be a high official?
Scholars also strive for achievements!
Xu Shu had served as the Minister of Works, understanding that official positions and duties are determined by the emperor's favor or disfavor. The transition from the nine ministers to the position of Visiting Scholar did not cause him too much psychological upheaval.
After chatting with Xu Shu for a while, Cao Wei smiled and looked at Lu Yu: "How, Lu Gentleman, do you not want to respond?"
Lu Yu finally realized and answered: "The subject wishes to serve as a Visiting Scholar to accompany the emperor on his left and right. The subject has been tired of making laws lately, with poor spirit and sudden shocks from hearing heavy responsibilities, please forgive the crime.”
Cao Wei said, "Rest for a few days if you're tired, don't work so hard. I see you have a dark circle around your eyes."
"The task of revising the laws is not something that can be done overnight. As Lu Gentleman becomes a Visiting Scholar, it will also be helpful for me to keep an eye on the matter."
"And Xu Gentleman," Cao Wei looked at Xu Shu: "You also need to keep an eye on the matters of landholding. The system is starting to show some improvement, and it must not be neglected!"
Xu Shu replied, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, all matters concerning landholding throughout the empire are deeply in my heart."
Sima Yi laughed on the side and said, "Your Majesty has sharp eyes to recognize talents. You have chosen two excellent Visiting Scholars from the government. Xu Gentleman specializes in affairs and is proficient in his duties, while Lu Gentleman is quick to think and clear in judgment, both of them are outstanding talents of the Great Wei."
Cao Wei nodded: "That's right. Xu Gentleman and Lu Gentleman's abilities, I have known for a long time. The Visiting Scholar should have four people, but now there are only three, one is still lacking."
" Why don't you gentlemen guess? Whomever guesses correctly will receive a reward from me."
Looking at the smiling expression of the emperor, it was clear that he was in a good mood today. The people present also joined the emperor in guessing.
Xin Zhi guessed Zhaoyan, Sima Yi guessed Pei Qian, Dong Zhao guessed Wang Ling, and Xu Shu guessed Cui Lin.
Wei Zhen openly stated that he would not guess, while Lu Yu guessed Wang Chang.
Cao Wei laughed and clapped his hands: "Listening to your gentlemen's words, I am truly delighted. It is not because of the pleasure of games, but because I feel that there are abundant talents in the Great Wei, and I have so many intelligent people to choose from."
Cao Wei pointed to Sima Yi: "The Premier is still the one who knows the emperor's mind. The emperor has in mind to recall Pei Qian back to Luoyang."
"How did the Premier guess it?"
Sima Yi shrugged and said, "I just noticed that the Visiting Scholars have been repeatedly sent out as provincial governors. At this time, there is a vacancy in the position, so it's inevitable that a provincial governor will be used to fill it."
"And currently in each province, Yongzhou has Chen Jiao, Qinchuan has Pei Qian, Liangzhou has Sima Fu, Youzhou has Liu Ye, Yu Province has Huang Quan, Yongzhou has Sun Zhi, and Yangzhou has Jiang Ji. All of them have been sent out from the court in the past two years."
"The only one without any news is Qingzhou Wang Ling, Xuanzhou Lv Yan, Jingzhou Pei Qian, Ji Province Lv Zhuang, and Bingzhou Liang Xie. There are five people."
"Among the five, only Pei Qian is the most distinguished for his virtue. Therefore, I guessed Pei Qian."
Cao Wei nodded and then swept his eyes over the crowd: "That's why I often regard the Premier as my brain trust; it's because the Premier is full of wisdom and strategies, the best in the court!"
Sima Yi embarrassedly smiled: "I was just speculating in my heart, but I happened to guess correctly. It is not my ability alone."
Cao Wei picked up a jade paperweight on the table, extended his hand to Sima Yi. After receiving it, Sima Yi naturally thanked for the award.
The movement was smooth and flowing like water.
Cao Wei laughed and said, "The Premier is indeed capable, why be modest? After recalling Pei Qian to Luoyang, let Tuanqiu Xing take on a position in Jingzhou."
"Tuanqiu Xing?" Sima Yi asked: "Can he also be a provincial governor?"
Cao Wei looked at Sima Yi: "What do you think of this person, Premier? Is it due to a lack of talent or shortcomings in character?"
Sima Yi shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, I didn't mean that. Tuanqiu Xing was originally the Grand Administrator of Works and has not held a position in a prefecture or a county for many years. His son, Tuanqiu Jian, just became the Inspector of the Central Garrison."
"Father and son both for important and crucial tasks, it may not be good to establish this custom."
Dong Zhao, upon hearing this, seemed a bit displeased and interjected, "As they are both loyal ministers, I suppose it should be fine. Besides, it's also a good story for father and son to serve as officials of the same rank in the same court."
Sima Yi smiled and said, "Dong Zhao, you are also right. I forgot that your father and son are also officials of the same rank."
Dong Zhao was not a kind-natured person. His eyes narrowed and he stared at Sima Yi, lifting the corners of his mouth in a provocative manner and said, "Father and son are both officials of four thousand stones, but how can that compare to brothers who are officials of twelve thousand stones? That is too powerful!"
"One is a tripmister, the other is a provincial governor, both shining the family name!"
Sima Yi's eyes darkened for a moment, but thinking of not losing face in front of the emperor, he promptly turned around and looked away, no longer looking at Dong Zhao.
Cao Wei rarely saw such a scene, and at this moment, he also laughed and said: "Appointing talents is not avoiding relatives. How can official appointments be any different? If you two say this, will you not embarrass the revered Sir Huwa of the Sima family?"
"I remember. The wife of Sima Zhi is Dong's niece and also the cousin of the Premier. That being the case, you two are actually related!"
The emperor gave the Premier a chance, and Sima Yi was younger than Dong Zhao, so he was polite and bowed to Dong Zhao: "I spoke without thinking, please forgive me, Premier Dong."
Dong Zhao's change of face was also fast, and he said happily: "I said the wrong thing. Please forgive me, Premier Sima."
In fact, when Sima Yi spoke just now, he truly had no trace of sarcasm towards Dong Zhao. It was Dong Zhao himself who was too sensitive and made an association. He also harbored some discontent towards Dong Zhao in his heart.
Dong Zhao was also thinking the same thing. Maybe after the emperor pointed out their original places of origin in the East Hall, he showed some signs of nervousness?
Fortunately, the two men only argued for a couple of sentences before the emperor intervened and separated them like he was acting as a mediator.
Dong Zhao, believing himself to be the emperor's confidant and with his age advancing, becoming less constrained, no longer concealed his thoughts in speech.
Sima Yi also considers himself to be the emperor's brain trust. As Chen Qun was removed from holding the office of recording the imperial officials, he was first promoted to a triumvirate, then increased his title to Grand Admiral and gained over a thousand households and lands through campaigns, so he is full of confidence.
Especially…
With the intelligence of Sima Yi and Dong Zhao, they implicitly agreed that arguing in the presence of the emperor would actually be better.
*Sighs*
Rough matters can be delegated to subordinates to handle.
By afternoon, Emperor Cao Wei returned to the imperial harem.
Emperor Cao Wei originally wanted to practice swordplay or archery, but he was advised against it by the attending physician Zhang Chun. Zhang Chun reported that resting and replenishing vital energy would take a hundred days, and he was not to engage in any further physical exertion.
Emperor Cao Wei also readily accepted the advice, and therefore he had the carriage taken to the palace of his mother-in-law, Ning's great empress.
There is still one matter that needs to be discussed with her.
"Your Grandmother." Cao Wei bowed courteously towards Bian's family.
"How come you have time to come to me today, Rui?" Bian smiled and stood up to greet.
As a typical lonely elderly person, Bian was quite pleased to see Emperor Cao Wei.
Grandchildren are different from sons, and they never argue with him. Moreover, since they have released Zhi Er, Bian is very satisfied with Cao Wei.
Cao Wei sat down on a chair by himself, waved away the palace servants attending in the hall, and then asked:
"There is a matter I would like to discuss with Grandmother."
Bian was somewhat surprised: "I am already old and feeble, how can I possibly offer any advice to Rui?"
Cao Wei shook his head and said, "Does Grandmother remember Niang Shi? She has been in the cold palace for two years, and her family has repeatedly asked through Mao's concubine."
"Niang Shi has spoken ill of me, Grandmother, of you, and of the Great Wei. I do not wish to make peace with her. She was imprisoned for two years because of her words, and now that there is an amnesty, it should be time to release her."
"If we release Niang Shi from the cold palace, we don't know how to deal with her. We can't just send her back home to Huanhe."
Bian was silent for a moment and sighed softly: "Rui wants to kill her?"
Cao Wei shook his head and said, "I do not want to do that. The harem is the home of me and Grandmother. There is no sense in killing someone at home."
Bian looked up, slightly praising his eyes at Cao Wei: "As a ruler, one needs to establish achievements and have a heart of compassion. When the Great Emperor was alive, he always treated the people in the harem with tenderness. And during the Great Emperor's decades of campaigns outside, the harem never caused him any trouble."
"The point you've made, Rui, is correct. There is no sense in killing someone at home. Therefore, let's exiled Niang Shi to the palace in Yan City and give her a secluded pavilion to live in."
Cao Wei nodded: "As you say, Grandmother. Let's send Niang Shi to Yan City to live in leisure."
Bian nodded with a gentle expression, but seeing that Cao Wei did not show any joy, she suddenly felt a bit surprised in her heart.
Bian thought that Cao Wei was reminded of the incident with Wen Zhuo Zhen after hearing his refusal to kill Niang Shi in the palace, hence his reluctance.
At this moment, Cao Wei, upon hearing the mention of Yan City, remembered the appointment of the military officer in charge of Yan City. Since the western expedition, Yang Fu and Chen Jiao had resigned, and the position of military officer had fallen entirely into Xin Bi's hands.
It's also about time to divide the power of the military officer in charge of Yan City into three parts.
It can be said that the two were not on the same wavelength at this time.
As a grandmother, Bian was wise enough not to ask about military or state affairs but merely inquired about Cao Wei's health.
Only after hearing that there were no major issues did Bian feel satisfied.
After leaving, Cao Wei also visited Guo's palace to pay respects and greetings. Then he went to the palace where Sun Luban lived.
That's right, with the relatively small number of concubines in Emperor Cao Wei's harem at the moment, Sun Luban, as a pregnant Jieyu (a rank lower than Consort), was still able to have her own smaller palace.
Indeed, it's best to become famous early on, even if it's as a concubine.
Given the example set by Mao's concubine, Emperor Cao Wei was also more adept at pacifying women who were with child. As they ate their evening meal together, Cao Wei brought up the topic of Luo Xun again.
Sun Luban put down her ivory chopsticks and asked, "So it seems that Luo Xun has established great merit for Your Majesty this time?"
Cao Wei nodded and said, "Luo Xun led the Qiang horse to encircle the enemy from the rear, which allowed me to win more quickly at Chixing."
As the daughter of Sun Quan and having studied together with Sun Deng, Sun Luban was a rare woman with military and political insight.
Emperor Cao Wei doesn't need Sun Luban to be of any help, of course, and he wouldn't listen to her advice either. Having a close person to discuss these matters with is enough for an emperor who is all alone. (Chapter ends)
