The emperor said that Chen Qun and Sima Yi were friends of the previous emperor, not his own.
From Wei Zhen's perspective, the emperor's attitude had already become apparent.
The reason why Emperor Cao Rui asked Wei Zhen in such a manner was not only because Wei Zhen was his teacher, but more importantly, because Wei Zhen himself was extremely upright and strict, never engaging in factionalism or favoritism, a fact known to the whole court and countryside.
With Wei Zhen's family background, naturally there is a place for him in the Great Wei court. Why does he need to be close with other heavyweights?
Since the emperor asked, Wei Zhen could only answer truthfully.
Wei Zhen paused for a moment before slowly saying, "I think that Chen Gong and Sima Gong are two hopes for the court. As for the stability of the country, I am not knowledgeable enough to comment on it."
Wei Zhen was telling the truth. Of the four auxiliary ministers, Cao Xu and Cao Shen were in charge of troops due to their Cao family kinship, which the emperor could not or did not need to replace. As for the two editors of the Records of State Affairs, Chen Qun and Sima Yi, they became objects of concern for the emperor, which was not surprising.
Hearing Wei Zhen's words, Emperor Cao Rui sighed softly, "I am just twenty-three years old, and the four auxiliary ministers hold high positions and great power. I am not suspicious of them, but there is a slight unease in my heart."
Wei Zhen nodded and said, "I understand the meaning of Your Majesty, but at present, the court is stable. Your Majesty does not need to be in a hurry. It is necessary to proceed slowly."
Emperor Cao Rui looked at Wei Zhen: "It is correct to plan slowly, but slow planning must have a priority order, military power, administration, personnel management and so on. Who should come first and who should come second?"
After a moment of thought, Wei Zhen said, "The Secretariat handles the administration of the state, and Your Majesty can sufficiently influence it with edicts. The power over administration is not something to worry about."
"As for military power, the troops of the various states and territories are not something to worry about. Zhuo Cao and Xu Hao, as well as other close relations, are leading troops outside. This is in accordance with the old customs of Emperor Wu and the previous emperor, and they have long received great national favors. At present, it is not necessary to weaken them; instead, they should be strengthened."
Emperor Cao Rui interrupted here and said, "What about the central army? How should the central army in Luoyang be handled?"
Wei Zhen slightly shook his head: "Your Majesty must have been aware of General Xu Chu's attitude after visiting the Wuwei Camp a few days ago."
"Although Chen Qun currently holds the position of commanding the central army, the central army has been with Emperor Wu and the previous emperor for a long time, far beyond Chen Qun's control alone."
Moreover, the Grand Marshal and General are currently in Luozhong, Chen Qun is only supervising some daily affairs, it is absolutely impossible for him to do anything else, he has neither the courage nor the ability.”
Upon hearing this, Emperor Cao Rui said, "If I were to remove Chen Qun's authority over commanding the central army, what would be your advice?"
Wei Zhen answered firmly, "Your Majesty does not need to worry about it. Chen Qun already holds multiple positions, and in the future, Your Majesty can replace Chen Qun's actual position of commanding the central army with a virtual one."
Emperor Cao Rui nodded after hearing this: "I understand. In fact, I thought that military power was indeed important, but personnel management is also an equally important matter."
"I wish to promote a batch of my loyal and close ministers as well as members of the royal family for support. I want to bestow titles on officials such as the Commander-in-Chief and the Riding Officer."
"What do you think, Wei Zhen?"
At this point, Wei Zhen was confused instead: "If there is a vacant position, the emperor can select the wise and capable and issue an edict to appoint them. As head of the Office of Personnel in the Secretariat, the emperor's command will naturally be granted without any issues."
Emperor Cao Rui explained, "Of course, I know that an edict can be issued. What I am actually worried about is the system of selecting officials."
"If it is for current affairs, I naturally appoint my close relations to high positions. However, if we consider the long term, we must select wise and capable people."
"Selecting wise and capable individuals, who should be chosen as wise and who should be chosen as capable? You are the Secretary of State for Personnel Affairs. Do you have the ability to directly elect talents from various regions for me?"
Wei Zhen fell silent. The current selection system of the Cao Wei regime is actually in a transitional phase from the system of meritocracy to the Three Grades of Official Candidate (Jiuzhong Zhengshi) system.
In short, local states and territories can rely on moral integrity to recommend filial and upright scholars, and the supervisors of each state can determine people's rankings based on their family backgrounds and behavior.
The results of both the merit examination and the Nine grades assessment system have brought about chaos in the selection system. In other words, if one wants to select young officials, they must either look at their family background or their virtues. The Nine grades assessment system has just been implemented, and at present, there is not much difference in essence from the Han Dynasty.
Emperor Cao Rui himself was certainly aware of the imperial examination system and other such institutions in later times, but in the chaotic world of the Three Kingdoms period, consolidating the ruling foundation and unifying the state was the most urgent task. How could he devise an imperial examination system to push the great clans to the opposite side?
Emperor Cao Rui's question posed a dilemma for Wei Zhen. Indeed, it is difficult to solve this problem within the current framework of the system.
Seeing that Wei Zhen had not replied for a long time, Emperor Cao Rui looked at Wei Zhen gently and said, "What do you think of the Imperial College?"
Wei Zhen was puzzled: "The Imperial College? The Imperial College is a place for studying classics, and the current Imperial College is in ruins, no longer as prosperous as during the Han Dynasty. Your Majesty, what do you mean?"
Emperor Cao Rui asked, "Although the prefectures and circuits are far from Luoyang, the Imperial College is located within Luoyang, and the various situations of the students in the Imperial College can be evaluated in a timely manner."
"If the students of the Imperial College can be appointed as officials, and we select talents from various regions to enter the Imperial College and be evaluated, can't we truly select talented and virtuous individuals?"
Wei Zhen was taken aback. The Imperial College was just a place for studying classics, how could the emperor link it with being an official? These two things seemed to have no necessary connection.
Wei Zhen asked, "If Your Majesty uses the students of the Imperial College to directly select officials, is that something that has never been done before? I am not sure how to proceed at the moment."
Emperor Cao Rui thought for a moment and asked, "Who is currently responsible for the affairs of the Imperial College?"
Wei Zhen replied, "The affairs of the Imperial College are currently being handled by Marquis Zhong Yao, who is also serving as the Grand Marshal."
Emperor Cao Rui nodded and said, "The Grand Marshal Zhong Yao is an elderly and virtuous person, and I need his wisdom and stability as I am newly enthroned. Wei Zhen, how about I visit him at his residence?"
Wei Zhen responded, "The Grand Marshal is the highest expectation of the court. The emperor personally visiting is an act of closeness to his ministers, and I naturally agree."
After some talk, Wei Zhen was ready to take his leave from the emperor and return to the Secretariat. Emperor Cao Rui also rose to see him off.
Just as Wei Zhen was about to step outside, Emperor Cao Rui asked seemingly casually, "Wei Zhen, would you like to serve as the Secretary of the State for me?"
Wei Zhen declined: "Humility is the virtue of a subject. Although I have had educational associations with Your Majesty, I do not wish to suddenly obtain this position. I hope Your Majesty will grant my wish."
Seeing that Wei Zhen was unwilling, Emperor Cao Rui could only nod and say, "I understand."
...
It was Emperor Cao Rui and Wei Zhen who had a private audience just now. Now that Wei Zhen has left, Zhang Yu, a Vice Prefect of the Courier Service Office, enters the study and stands in the corner of the study waiting for the emperor's call.
Emperor Cao Rui glanced at Zhang Yu: "Zhang Yu, how is your father, Marquis Zhong Yao, doing in terms of his health?"
Zhang Yu saw the emperor asking about his father and answered quickly, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern. My father, Marquis Zhong Yao, is in good health, but has had some leg pain due to age recently."
Emperor Cao Rui asked, "The Grand Marshal has leg pain. Does it affect his walking?"
Zhang Yu replied, "Your Majesty, of course it has some impact. My father's walking is not as good as it was in the earlier years."
Emperor Cao Rui nodded and said, "Since that is the case, I should pay a visit to the home of the Grand Secretary. Zhang Yu, lead the way for me."
Zhang Yu was somewhat flustered at this point: "Is it really necessary for Your Majesty to go to my home? Could I please inform my family first?"
Emperor Cao Rui glanced at Zhang Yu and said nothing, then turned and walked out of the door.
Zhang Yu saw that the emperor had left, so he had no choice but to quickly follow him outside.
