Within the Xige, Dong Zhao, Man Chong, and Wei Zhen looked at Sima Yi together.
It is easy to draw lines, but it mainly depends on setting standards.
But where to set the standard for civil and military officials? This is a big problem.
Is it that those who have never been a DuSU (Military Governor) cannot be chosen? Or those who have never served as a title General cannot be chosen?
Then perhaps select from governors, nine ministers, and Secretaries of the Supreme Command?
Beiding is the earliest proposal for "entombed in the Temple of Ancestral Worthy" by Dong Zhao. At this moment, he also spoke to Sima Yi: "To draw a standard is right, but during Jian'an and Huangchu years, frequent changes of official duties, where can be a common standard?"
Wei Zhen agreed, "Either by official rank or by merit."
"If we are to judge by official rank, let's take the first four. Xiahou Yuanranger and Cao Zixuan are all vassal officials, and both are important military commanders in the house of Wei. Wang Jingxing is a member of the Three Public Offices, and Cheng Zhongde can be considered equivalent. No matter how we choose, these four people are all unimpeachable."
"But if we are to consider merit, many people with great achievements may not have reached the rank of governor or title of general, and they might not have lived to see the establishment of the Great Wei. So how should we handle such cases?"
After saying this, Wei Zhen sighed lightly: "It's easy to choose for military officials, but what about civil officials? Should we only choose from the Wei kingdom of Emperor Wu?"
Sima Yi fell silent after hearing this, and Dong Zhao and Man Chong exchanged glances without saying anything.
For they suddenly realized that the task their lord had entrusted to them was actually very difficult to accomplish.
Wei Zhen understood the situation very well, and pointed out three important issues in his words.
The first one is the problem of longevity.
Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren, Cheng Yu, Wang Lang, and these people have died, but many of the old ministers who had started the enterprise with Emperor Cao Cao are still alive.
Taking the late Premier Zhong Yin who once handled the affairs in Guanzhong as an example. He was now eighty years old, but still lived well in Luoyang.
Dong Zhao, who was seated in the Xige, had served as the Governor of Jizhou as early as the fourth year of the Jian'an era.
Cao Hong still drinks and eats every day in Luoyang.
In other words, the era of Emperor Cao Cao, up to the present, still has lingering effects and has not fully ended or been conclusively judged.
The second issue is about the number of people.
The second issue is about the number of people. The emperor said that they needed to select 18 people for the second batch, but it is unclear where the number '18' came from.
How can they just happen to select exactly eighteen people?
The third, and also the most troublesome issue, is about determining the final assessment of individuals.
Starting with military officials, Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren are below, then it should be Xiahou Yuanlang, the General Commanding the Western Campaign.
But Xiahou Yuantai died in Hanzhong due to reckless fighting, and was called the General of White Land by Cao Cao, which caused Cao Cao to personally lead heavy troops to aid Hanzhong. Later, this indirectly led to the loss of the entire Hanzhong region and worsened the situation at Xiangfan, causing near crisis for the capital's move.
Is Xiahou Yuan's merit great or excessive? Can he be selected? It's not clear.
The same is true for civil officials.
When it comes to the founding process of the Cao family, Xun Yu Xue Wenru is an absolute person who cannot be ignored. If his merits are to be erased, the historical records will not accept it.
The entanglement between Xun Yu, the Marquis of Ling, and Emperor Wu has reached the point where everyone knows about it. Not to mention that Xun Yu's sons were involved in a conspiracy to rebel in the year Taihe Yuan, and they were exiled to Liangzhou but not pardoned.
It is difficult to determine the final judgment of Xiahou Yuan and Xun Yu, who are outside of the four selected by the emperor. If both cannot be judged, how can others be selected?
Seeing that no one could make a decision, Dong Zhao, who first proposed this matter, spoke up: "The words of the deputy of Wei are reasonable. So let's have the two of you go back to the Xige first. I'll go to the imperial palace to consult with the emperor and seek his approval."
"It doesn't matter whether it's reported tomorrow or not, there's no rush."
Sima Yi naturally wanted to accompany Dong Zhao, but he restrained himself considering his status as the Vicissitudes of the Supreme Command and fifty years old.
Sima Yi bowed and said: "Then I'll trouble Dong Zhao to go. I'll return with the public vibration first."
"Please go slowly," Dong Zhao replied, and together with Man Chong, he stood up to indicate.
Dong Zhao, having received permission, followed a eunuch, walking slowly towards the Exercise Field.
When Dong Zhao arrived, Cao Rui had just inserted his sword into its sheath.
Cao Rui seemed unSurprised, smiling as he looked at Dong Zhao, "What, Lord Dong, do you have an urgent matter to discuss with me? It's not even half an hour since I left."
Dong Zhao took a few steps forward and bowed, "Report to the emperor, my lords and I have been deliberating difficult issues in the Xige. The 18 people cannot be determined, so we come to seek your intention."
Cao Rui took the silk handkerchief from the eunuch's hand, gently wiped the sweat from his forehead, and asked calmly, "If 18 cannot be selected, can 8 be chosen?"
Dong Zhao shook his head slightly, "Even eight cannot be selected."
Cao Rui nodded, "Let's go. Discuss this with me inside."
Dong Zhao followed the emperor, walking step by step into the room on the side of the exercise ground, which was used for rest.
After sitting down, Cao Rui drank a sip of honey water with a little salt, and asked, "The matter of divided into two batches for the Temple of Ancestral Worthy was proposed by Dong Zhao, and the idea of dividing into two batches was also Dong Zhao's."
"Why are you looking for me now?"
Dong Zhao sighed, "I meant well, but I didn't consider it thoroughly at the time. I didn't foresee the complexity of the matter."
As Dong Zhao gradually stated the issues of numbers, ages, and the final judgment of Xiahou Yuan and Xun Yu, they were presented to Cao Rui one by one.
Cao Rui nodded slightly, "You are right. If we really want to choose the best, it's equivalent to making a decision on several events since the beginning of Jian'an."
"It's not something that can be decided by the Xige or the Dongge."
Dong Zhao slightly apologized and said, "Please forgive me for troubling Your Majesty again."
Cao Rui looked at Dong Zhao, "You are trouble, but I may not be."
"Come, today I will give you a definitive judgment."
Dong Zhao slightly widened his eyes, surprised for a moment before understanding and asking:
"Report to the emperor, Xiahou Yuan and Xun Yu should be considered in what way?"
Cao Rui spoke solemnly, "For the worship in the Ancestral Temple, anyone similar to Xun Yu should be counted according to the time of their death."
"Xun Yu died in the 17th year of Jian'an, and Emperor Wu established the state of Wei in the 18th year and became Wei Gong."
Dong Zhao asked, "Does that mean that anyone who passed away before the 18th year of Jian'an will not be considered for enshrinement in the Ancestral Temple?"
Cao Rui looked at Dong Zhao and said, "The life of a person, you have to consider both his own efforts and the opportunities and fate. If someone died early, it means they didn't have that fortune."
"Understood," Dong Zhao said.
Cao Rui continued, "Regarding Xiahou Yuan, whether the loss of Hanzhong or the unrest on the western front affected the fundamental interests of the Great Wei is irrelevant. However, without Xiahou Yuan's assistance at the beginning of Emperor Wu's entrepreneurial endeavors, could he have succeeded?"
"Xiahou Yuan's merits outweigh his mistakes. He should be enshrined in the Temple."
Dong Zhao nodded and asked, "Your Majesty, should the second batch still be considered in terms of eighteen people? How should the number of selections for civil and military officials be weighed?"
Cao Rui said, "I've understood what Lord Dong just said. There are still many ministers who assisted the former emperor in founding the empire. So, let's decide on the second batch of those to be enshrined later."
"For those who made great contributions during the reign of Emperor Wu, they will be enshrined in the Temple of Emperor Wu. For those who made great contributions during the reign of Emperor Xuanyu, they will be enshrined in the Temple of Emperor Wen."
"Is there anything else?"
Dong Zhao rose and bowed, "I have no further questions, I shall withdraw."
Cao Rui looked at Dong Zhao's departure in the background and silently pondered.
Prior to this, Cao Rui had agreed to the enshrinement in the Ancestral Temple for various reasons, including inspiring his ministers and arousing loyalty among various officials across the regions to the Great Wei.
Since it is difficult to make a decision, it doesn't matter if the matter is delayed for a few years.
The unspoken statement of Dong Zhao was that the emperor was young and vibrant, so waiting until most of the old ministers from the Jian'an era passed away before making a unified judgment would be fine.
Cao Rui deeply agreed.
Regardless of how it is, Cao Xiu, Xiahou Shang, and others will definitely be enshrined in the Temple of Emperor Wen. Others such as Xiahou Yuan, Zhang Liang, Xu Huang, Le Jin, and Li Dian will all be enshrined in the Temple of Emperor Wu.
Once the four persons who will be enshrined in the Temple of Ancestral Worthy this month are announced, the whole world will know about it. The next issue, which remains undecided, will become a bait that keeps people interested.
Fame after death should be judged by one's deeds in life.
It's up to them to make their efforts.
......
The following day, the news of the princes being granted titles and the selection for the Ancestral Temple was announced in court, causing a lot of discussion.
The same was true in the palace.
In the afternoon, all the ladies of the palace gathered together, and both Empress Dowager Bi and Empress Guo also appeared.
When Liu Fang, the Prime Minister of the Ministry of Rites, came personally to the palace to announce the imperial edict, 2-year-old Yè Wang Cao Qi and 1-year-old Changle Wang Cao Yan knelt down and gave thanks for the imperial edict under the guidance of their respective mothers.
Maopin and Sun Zhaoyi were naturally delighted, but beneath the joyous smiles of the other consorts, there was a hidden amount of jealousy and comparison.
The two women first knelt down and kowtowed towards the emperor, then they respectively knelt down and kowtowed towards Empress Dowager Bi and Empress Guo.
Empress Dowager Bi was full of joy and said smilingly, "Both of you have given birth to offspring for Rui, who is a deserving person for the Great Wei and the Cao family."
"Now that your sons have been granted the title of king, this is just the beginning. The road ahead is still long. As an experienced mother, raising a child to adulthood, you still have a long way to go and many things to do. Do not become proud and arrogant."
"It is said that a mother depends on her son's status, but a son also depends on his mother's status. I hope you always remember today's heart."
"Understood?"
"Thank you, Grand Empress Dowager for your instruction," Mao Yan and Sun Lubaun said together, bowing in gratitude.
Cao Rui stood aside, smiling as he watched Empress Dowager Bi give instructions to the two women.
In this respect, Empress Dowager Bi is indeed an expert.
It is often said that there are three thousand beautiful women in the harem. Even if Cao Rui's harem only has about twenty people, it is far from the extent of distributing favor equally among all.
It's like when people go back home after work and have a meal, many people try new restaurants a few times and then it's enough.
The only few stores that can be stably and often visited are those three or five.
The emperor is young, and the consorts are also in their prime. There is no reason to favor someone because of their youth or to dislike someone because they age and lose their beauty.
It is purely a matter of personal preference.
Currently, the only three women in the harem who can enjoy the emperor's favor are Mao Pin, Sun Zhaoyi, and Guo Jieyuh.
The rest of the women, the better ones are fortunate to receive favor once or twice a month, while many others are nearly ignored by the emperor.
The emperor also needs to rest, why should he work every day?
Palace affairs are roughly like this.
After the ceremony came the celebration, and after the celebration came the dinner.
The offspring of Emperor Wu got official positions and titles, and their own offspring also received a title. With the strength of the wide family, they have taken the first and most important step.
Cao Rui drank a lot in the harem, which was rare.
Empress Dowager Bi and Empress Guo left first, leaving time for the emperor and his consorts. (Chapter ends)
