Zhong You secretly sighed in his heart.
The current emperor Cao Rui is truly the descendant of the Cao family, similar to his grandfather Cao Cao and his father Cao Pi.
He always uses some little tricks to lure Zhong Yao onto his own bandit ship.
When Zhong Yao protected Emperor Han Xian from Chang'an to Luoyang, he was so important to the emperor that he was appointed as Visiting and attending the emperor, and was given the title of Duke of Dongwuting.
As a scholar, Zhong Yao also had his own spiritual pursuits. Xun Yu, Marquis Xing, liked incense so much that wherever he went, the fragrance would follow. Zhong Yao's preference was for calligraphy.
At that time, the most famous calligrapher was not Zhong Yao, but the father of Cai Ying, a famous scholar named Cai Yan.
Zhong Yao, who returned to Luoyang and settled down, greatly desired a copy of "Caiboye Pen Method" by Cai Yan. Cao Cao, upon learning about this, went to great lengths to obtain the book and invited Zhong Yao to his mansion for a viewing.
Zhong Yao arrived at Cao Cao's mansion in high spirits and indeed saw the "Caiboye Pen Method" book.
However, when Zhong Yao left Cao Cao's mansion with the "Caiboye Pen Method" book, Cao Cao immediately sent people to spread the news that Zhong Yao had accepted Cao Cao's appointment and would be heading to defend Chang'an for Cao Cao, overseeing all affairs in the Western Region.
Zhong Yao could not prove his innocence.
Zhong Yao did indeed go to Cao Cao's mansion and also left with documents, witnessed by many people, so any explanation would be impossible to clarify.
On the other hand, as a loyal minister of the Han emperor who was relied upon and entrusted as a confidant, Zhong Yao accepted Cao Cao's appointment so quickly that it couldn't help but make the pro-Han officials feel cold.
The Yingchuan Zhong family, from this point on, was fastened to Cao Cao's war cart.
Besides Cao Cao, there is also Cao Pi.
The tricks that Cao Pi played were not limited to only one thing, namely asking Cao Zhi to ask for Zhong Yao's precious jade pendant.
After Cao Pi successfully vied for the throne, he was appointed as the Crown Prince of Wei by Cao Cao. At that time, Zhong Yao's position was the Chancellor of Wei.
Does the Crown Prince need to curry favor with the Chancellor? Generally speaking, respectful treatment is sufficient.
However, Cao Pi's position as Crown Prince was not secure, and there was always a possibility that it could be replaced by Cao Zhi.
At this point, Cao Pi's 'respectful treatment' of Chancellor Zhong Yao was indeed a 'grand' gesture, to the point of being disgustingly inappropriate.
Cao Pi had a 'ding' (a type of ancient bronze vessel) cast for Zhong Yao.
Cao Zhi enjoys literature and wrote a piece called "Huangdi Three Ding Praise". The main point of Cao Zhi's writing is that "dings" (a type of ancient bronze vessels) are like a hidden treasure in times of decline, but will emerge when the world is peaceful.
Didn't the Zhou Dynasty cast nine dings? Cao Zhi didn't he say that dings emerge when the world is peaceful? Then who made the current world harmonious?
Of course, it's the Chancellor Zhong Yao and such important national officials!
Therefore, Cao Pi had a 'ding' (a type of ancient bronze vessel) cast for Zhong Yao. To be more precise, to avoid overstepping the boundaries, Cao Pi had a 'gu' (a type of ancient bronze vessel similar to a pot) cast instead, just without the supporting legs.
What's even more interesting is that Cao Pi himself did not cast this 'gu'.
First, Cao Pi wrote an article praising Zhong Yao's merits.
Then, after determining the shape of the 'gu', Cao Pi requested Zhong Yao to manufacture this 'gu' on his behalf, and also asked Zhong Yao to inscribe Cao Pi's written article on the inside of the 'gu'.
After Zhong Yao made the 'gu' according to Cao Pi's request, Cao Pi then publicly presented this 'gu' to Zhong Yao.
In this widely celebrated anecdote, Zhong Yao seems like a donkey pulling a mill.
Helping Cao Pi pull the mill, and also slapping himself on the back.
Cao Cao died, and then Cao Pi also died.
Now Cao Rui has come to Zhong Yao's mansion again. He sent a piece of jade, appointed his eldest son Zhong Yin, and soon he will see his youngest son Zhong Hui.
Why not go to the other noble families besides the Zhong family! The wool is being combed out thin!
But Zhong Yao himself was at fault. He helped Cao Cao and became the Minister of State, and he helped Cao Pi and became the Inspector of the Army.
If he helps Cao Rui again, won't his son Zhong Yin's career be more stable?
"Man is not a god, who can be without desire."
Cao Rui's actions have made it difficult for Zhong Yao to refuse Cao Rui's requests.
Just now, Cao Rui asked Zhong Yao a question: whether students who graduate from the Taixue (Imperial Academy) can be directly granted official positions.
Zhong Yao's answer was that, for the time being, it couldn't.
People tend to daydream when they get old. When Zhong Yao was thinking things through, it indeed looked like he was daydreaming.
After all, he is seventy-six years old, and that can be understood.
Cao Rui saw Zhong Yao finish his long-winded argument and remained silent for a moment, lightly saying, "Taimei, Taimei?"
Zhong Yao suddenly said, "Your Majesty, please forgive my crime. I am indeed decrepit and cannot maintain my vigor."
Cao Rui waved his hand to remind, "It's all right, it's I who have disturbed you, Taifu. Just now I asked you about whether graduates of the Taixue could be directly appointed to official positions. You said that talent and virtue should be considered."
Zhong Yao slowly nodded and said, "Your Majesty, I am speaking the truth."
Cao Rui followed up by asking, "Taifu's words are logical. Can the students of Taixue be given some preferential treatment?"
"For example, during the assessment of their character levels by the central officials, could the experience at Taixue be taken into consideration to moderately enhance their ratings?"
"After all, Taixue is also educating talents for the country!"
Zhong Yao showed a pleased expression: "Your Majesty's words are very reasonable. I have been in charge of Taixue for many years, but I didn't think of such a matter. It is the failure of the old minister."
Cao Rui smiled, "Taifu is a senior statesman of the country. Such a trivial matter does not require the trouble of the Taifu."
Is it not a trivial matter? This is not a small thing.
Cao Rui's meaning was very clear. If a student read Taixue, his character level could be evaluated at a higher rank.
That means they would be eligible for higher official positions.
Taixue equals high rank, equals higher official positions. Taixue equals high official positions.
Such an equation can be easily proven to be true.
This is the beginning of tentatively digging at the roots of the noble families.
Why the noble families support the nine-rank civil service examination system? Because in each state and county, the families of the nobility have served as jinshi, naturally they will give higher rankings to their families.
The evaluation, the imperial court according to convention will not refuse. The power to select talents, in the hands of families in various localities.
If Cao Rui's proposal is followed, graduates of Taixue would have their rankings improved.
Then the person in charge of Taixue admissions naturally influences the careers of a large number of people.
Who is responsible for Taixue admissions? It is the imperial court, the imperial court behind the emperor, not the noble families.
This is clearly an action that targets the roots of the noble families, and it is evident that it will not be opposed by the noble clans.
Why is that? Because most of the students in the Taixue are from noble families. To improve their rankings by studying at the Taixue is naturally beneficial to these noble family offspring.
But……If the Taixue in the future, when recruiting students, if it recruits more children of common families? It's still a matter of the emperor's word.
That would be quite different.
With Zhong Yao's experience of serving in the Han and Wei dynasties, an experienced person like him certainly understands the twists and turns behind this.
But what can Zhong Yao do?
Cao Rui has already shut Zhong Yao up with the post of Chanshi Shilang for Zhong Yin and a jade pendant from Cao Pi. Perhaps he will even add a child named Zhong Hui next.
Zhong Yao is on Cao's bandit ship, too!
Cao Rui has achieved his purpose, and the dialogue between Cao Rui and Zhong Yao is a complete success.
Not long after, Zhong Yin came in, holding a child who was just beginning to speak.
Cao Rui showed great interest in playing with Zhong Hui for a while. This one-year-old child was almost unable to talk, and it was hard to tell from his appearance that he would become a country destroyer in the future.
Cao Rui smiled and said, "The virtue is manifested in Zhong family, Taifu has given birth to two excellent sons."
Zhong Yao could only keep saying, "It's all the merit of the emperor and Your Majesty."
