After half an hour, Cao Zhen listened to Xin Zhi's account of the situation in Luozhong, then read several times the imperial letter with seal and stamp he had received.
Cao Zhen put down the letter, sat dumbly on the mat in the main hall of the Grand General's mansion, with a few unblotted tear stains at the corners of his eyes.
"Zo Ji, do you know how painful my heart is?" Cao Zhen's voice was light, as if he had no strength left in his whole body.
Xin Zhi sighed deeply again: "How could I not know? You and Wen Liao have grown up together, as close as brothers. The emperor also knows how deep your feelings are, so he sent me to comfort you."
Xin Zhi was unusually not addressing Cao Zhen by his official title but directly by his character name.
Cao Zhen shook his head and asked, "Then, isn't the emperor going to attack Wu again?"
Xin Zhi did not nod: "Perhaps, who knows?"
"As I said just now, Dong Zhao and Man Chong have been advocating for the southeastern campaign, wanting to persuade the emperor to achieve a victory at Ruyu. The emperor has even agreed with them two, and..."
Xin Zhi sighed again.
Cao Zhen had caught the hint of Xin Zhi's dissatisfaction, and he asked curiously, "What else?"
"And the emperor also followed Dong Zhao's suggestion, sending Chen Qun as the military supervisor of Yangzhou, as if he doesn't intend to establish a military governor there."
Cao Zhen countered, "Zo Ji, are you worried that after the stability of the Western Regions, the emperor will take away my authority as the military governor of Western Regions?"
Xin Zhi did not respond and remained silent.
Among all the generals in the realm, only Cao Zhen and Xin Zhi were the closest friends. Regardless of personal interests or affiliations, in terms of official matters, one being an interior general and the other an exterior one, they could complement each other well.
What's more, Xin Zhi's son-in-law serves here under Cao Zhen.
The increase or decrease of one military governor in the great Wei dynasty has no impact, but it has a significant influence on the families of Cao Zhen and Xin Zhi.
Cao Zhen stared at Xin Zhi for several moments seriously, then said solemnly, "Zo Ji, you know about my friendship with Wen Liao, but you don't know about my friendship with the emperor."
Xin Zhi raised his head and looked at Cao Zhen.
Cao Zhen said, "When the emperor returned to Luoyang from Chenping the other day, he had a heart-to-heart talk with me for a whole night. The emperor's breadth of mind, aspirations, and bearing are a bit larger than what the court officials imagine."
Xin Zhi interjected, "I have always served at the emperor's side. I can roughly guess what the emperor might say. Unifying the four seas, expanding the ancestral heritage, and granting titles to meritorious officials—isn't that right?"
Cao Zhen shook his head. "No."
Xin Zhi's expression was somewhat stunned.
Cao Zhen said, "The great Wei is the Wei of the Cao family, not just the emperor's Wei. The emperor thinks that the path taken by the former emperor in mistreating the royal family was wrong. Governing the country and the military, scholars and soldiers, royalty and outsiders..."
"How to balance the court and allow the great Wei to continue for four hundred years like the Han dynasty, without encountering as many problems as the Han dynasty. The emperor has thought about it a lot."
Xin Zhi calmly asked, "Have you two figured it out?"
Cao Zhen shook his head, "Such a big matter, neither the emperor nor I have many ideas."
"But enhancing the power of the royal family to broaden the emperor's wings has become a settled practice."
"I won't believe the emperor will take away my power just based on the promise he made to me at that time."
Xin Zhi bowed his hands in gesture: "Mutual understanding between a ruler and his minister is very good!"
Cao Zhen took a deep breath and asked, "When did the emperor plan to visit Xuchang?"
Xin Zhi said, "Perhaps after the year. The emperor also mentioned that he wanted to meet with me in Xuchang."
Cao Zhen asked, "With the continuous warfare across the realm, it's really hard on the emperor. The emperor sent you on this inspection tour, do you have any thoughts in your heart?"
Xin Zhi answered, "I have already made a plan."
"First to Chenping, then along the Wei River to Shangguan, then through Qiushan to Tangzhong, then through Xiadian and Nanzheng back to Chenping."
"When I left, I brought two assistant officials from the Secretariat, and they will stay with Lu Sun to carefully record the local geography and topography."
Cao Zhen asked, "What is the discussion in Luozhong regarding the successful defense by Lu Xun and Zhang He against Zhuge Liang in Tangzhong in May?"
Xin Zhi looked at Cao Zhen, "Hasn't the emperor praised Lu Xun and Zhang He?"
Cao Zhen shook his head. "I'm not referring to that. What is the view of this battle in Luoyang and at the court?"
"There's nothing to say."
"Cao Zhen was somewhat surprised and asked, "How can there be no discussion at all? Zhuge Liang, with only two thousand men, invaded Tangzhong. Lu Xun and Zhang He defended the place for two months until they drove Zhuge Liang away. How can there be no talk at all in the court?"
Xin Zhi explained helplessly, "After last year's great victory in seizing Hanzhong, everyone in the court compares Shu to a clay chicken or earthen dog."
"Lu Xun and Zhang He managed to drive Zhuge Liang away in just two months, yet they still criticized them for not being powerful enough as military commanders."
Cao Zhen spat, "These scholars who know nothing about military affairs! They really think that commanding troops is so easy?"
"Cao Zhen exclaimed, "Zhuge Liang's offensive this year has been unusually fierce. With only twenty thousand men, they couldn't hold out with Lu Xun's Qiang troops. Troops were summoned from WuDu and LongYou to Tangzhong, and more than thirty thousand soldiers gathered there. Even I had to go to Xiadian to station there!"
Xin Zhi sighed, "The court doesn't know, let the emperor know."
"Oh, did the Grand General hear the news? Zhao Bo has been appointed as Assistant Administrator of the other department."
Cao Zhen was first taken aback, then he smiled: "When did that happen?"
Xin Zhi said, "That happened in September. Xiahou Xian moved Zhao Bo to Youzhou, and under the pretext of successfully mobilizing troops, reported to the court to promote Zhao Bo."
Cao Zhen's expression finally seemed to improve: "My Zhao Bo, he seems to have a military demeanor, but he's been somewhat soft-hearted since he was young."
"Zhao Bo accomplished something in Yanmen two years ago and was promoted to Assistant Administrator of the other department only recently. This experience is still beneficial to him. Has the emperor mentioned Zhao Bo?"
Xin Zhi replied, "Huan Fan informed the emperor about this. The emperor said that in a year or two, after Zhao Bo has some battle achievements on the border, he will be promoted to Camp Commander."
Cao Shuang left Luoyang in the first year of the Taihe era, initially serving under Tian Yu in the Bing Province, and was later transferred to Youzhou by Xiahou Xian.
During his tenure under Tian Yu, Cao Shuang developed good military skills. When Xiahou Xian was training the county militia in Youzhou, Cao Shuang also made significant contributions.
The two years of experience as a junior military officer, climbing and rolling in the ranks, make a big difference.
Xin Zhi even felt that the saying 'A valiant general must rise from the ranks' was sometimes being said about Cao Shuang by the emperor.
After discussing the political affairs in Luoyang and the latest news until they finished talking about Cao Shuang, the two of them were silent for a while.
The hall inside had reverted back to the somber atmosphere of just a moment ago.
Cao Zhen stood up and looked at Xin Zhi with seriousness and said earnestly, "I want to set up a memorial ceremony for the distant ancestors at Chencang for the Grand Imperial Protector. It will last for seven days!"
Xin Zhi also stood up and said, "That is the Grand General's own matter, and no one will interfere."
"The letter has been delivered. I will stay for the night in Chencang and then set off again tomorrow."
Cao Zhen asked, "Why not stay for a few more days?"
Xin Zhi replied, "By stopping for a few days at each place, I can return to the court sooner."
"To be honest, there have been more and more changes in the court recently. If I can, I will try to return as early as possible."
Cao Zhen nodded, "I'll help you. What do you want to inspect in each place? I'll send someone to monitor the preparation in advance. I'll make sure you won't return empty-handed."
Xin Zhi looked at Cao Zhen, "You go ahead and arrange the memorial ceremony. The long night, I'll have a long talk with you."
"Alright!" Cao Zhen replied.
……
In Luoyang, Emperor Cao Wei, accompanied by Xu She, Pei Qian, and Mian Qiu Jian, first went around the market for a while, buying many handcrafted items, pottery, and small snacks. He had all of them sent to Mian Qiu Jian's home.
After all, it's not appropriate to deliver them directly to the North Palace. You can't say it, can you? The merchants wouldn't dare to sell them.
After leaving the market, Emperor Cao Wei said to Xu She, "I haven't seen Wang Zi Yong for a long time. It would be good if all of you accompanied me to see him today?"
Xu She laughed heartily, stroking his beard, "Your Majesty, no matter where you go, I am just a swordsman. I'll just follow with my sword!"
Emperor Cao Wei smiled but didn't say anything. He steered the reins and continued on foot.
It has been more than a year since Wang Lang passed away. The new Grand Master Chen Qun and his family moved into the Grand Master's mansion, so Wang Shu had to move out.
Fortunately, Emperor Cao Wei had bestowed a mansion on him in Luoyang, ordering him to stay and observe mourning at his home in Luoyang instead of returning to his clan in Xuzhou's Donghai County.
The last time Emperor Cao Wei visited Wang Shu's home was in March, about a month ago. This time, when he saw Wang Shu, the first thing Cao Wei asked was about being offered sacrifices at the Temple of Ancestral Ancestors.
At this moment, the three of them were sitting outside, and it was only Emperor Cao Wei and Wang Shu who were having a private conversation.
Wang Shu slightly narrowed his eyes, thinking, "The Minister of the Imperial Guard Dong mentioned that it should be chosen from the distinguished officials who have served the Wei in great merit, and it should be done twice?"
"That's right." Cao Wei said, "Is it in line with the rites? Such matters, I must consult you first before issuing an order."
Wang Shu bowed and said, "Regarding the matter of the Ancestral Temple, I've also had some thoughts recently. Zheng Xuan's theory of 'the Son of Heaven's Seven Temples' is extremely inappropriate. The Son of Heaven should have nine temples instead."
As Wang Shu was about to explain his complicated theories on Confucian rituals, Cao Wei quickly interrupted him and said, "Wang Qin, you don't have to go into detail. Just give me the formal request for the temple sacrifice is enough."
"Great Wei has only had two emperors up to me, plus the posthumous emperor of Wuyi, making a total of three. The rest are not true emperors. What's the difference between seven temples and nine?"
"I'm only asking if the practice of offering sacrifices is in accordance with the rites."
Wang Shu's lips involuntarily curved into a faint smile, "If the emperor says it is in accordance with the rites, then it is."
Cao Wei squinted his eyes at Wang Shu and asked, "What does Wang Qin mean by this?"
Wang Shu explained succinctly, "The Zhou Li (Rites of the Zhou Dynasty) has not been established, and Zheng Xuan has not commented on it. If Your Majesty wishes to do this, I will certainly find suitable theories to support it."
Cao Wei smiled a few times and said, "You are indeed the great Confucian scholar of the country!"
"Then I'll ask another question. Dong Zhao said to have fewer in the first batch and more in the second. How should we divide them?"
Wang Shu fell silent for a moment: "Does the emperor want more members of the royal family or more external officials?"
Cao Wei thought for a moment and said, "For the first batch, it will still be the same! For the second batch, foreign officials will naturally be more."
Wang Shu replied, "In that case, four should be selected for the first batch."
"Xiahou Yuanrang and Cao Zixiao can be chosen as members of the royal family."
Cao Wei asked, "What about the foreign officials?"
Wang Shu replied, "Compared to these two, none of the foreign officials can be chosen unless they are among the three princes."
Cao Wei looked at Wang Shu with a smile: "How should they be selected?"
Wang Shu replied, "Among the initial three chiefs of the Wei, Jia Wenhe has passed away, and my father has already passed away."
"Does the emperor want to choose Jia Wenhe and my deceased father?"
Wang Shu asked directly, and Emperor Cao Wei replied just as directly, "The late Grand Master Wang is eligible. But I do not wish to choose Jia Wenhe; I do not like him, and someone of the Cao clan was killed by his hand."
Wang Shu replied, "Then we should choose Cheng Yi Chen Zhongde. When the Wei first established itself, the late emperor wanted to appoint Cheng Yi as one of the three high officials, but Cheng Yi passed away at the age of eighty."
Cao Wei thought for a moment: "The Son of Heaven created the empire with great difficulty, maintaining the control over Yuan state and defeating the Yuan family. Cheng Yi made significant contributions. This person is qualified." (This chapter ends)
