Sima Yi sneered and said, "What's three days? Don't you, Jiang Zitong, want to go to Shouchun?"
"How can I not go? It's just that there are so many things troubling my heart, and I'm not at ease for the time being." Jiang Ji sighed softly: "This is not why I came to consult you, the Grand Master of Affairs."
The two of them walked into the study room, side by side, and Sima Yi closed the door with a casual gesture.
"What puzzles you?" Sima Yi asked.
Jiang Ji replied, "You see Huang Quan Huang Gongheng, who took the banner of the favorite of the heavenly sovereign and went to Yuzhou, where he was the greatest within its borders. But I am going to Yangzhou, where I still have a Grand Marshal above me."
"This position of Yangzhou Governor was newly established after His Majesty removed the Grand Marshal's post as the Yangzhou Governor. The Grand Marshal has significant power, and I expect it will be difficult to manage things."
Sima Yi raised his eyebrows and asked, "Are you worried about Cao Xiu oppressing you? The King has made it clear that removing the Grand Marshal's post as the Yangzhou Governor and setting up governors instead was the policy. Besides, after removing Cao Xiu's post as the Yangzhou Governor, wasn't he also rewarded with a thousand households?"
"You are only a prefectural governor, and Cao Xiu's temperament should not be so narrow-minded."
Jiang Ji said, "There's nothing between me and the Grand Marshal, but there has always been a conflict between me and his Longshi Feng Ping, that man."
"Feng Ping?" Sima Yi asked.
Jiang Ji nodded: "Yes, Feng Ping. At the end of Huang Chong years, it was Feng Ping who planned the route for our navy when we returned."
"In winter, the water is shallow and there are many places in the central canal where it has frozen over. When our fleet could not proceed in the central canal, there was controversy among everyone about how to get the fleet back."
"Feng Ping suggested to the Grand Marshal that they leave the army there to farm and garrison, in order to preserve the fleet. Jiang Ji spread his hands: 'Later, the previous emperor did not heed my advice. Therefore, Feng Ping lost his merits.'"
Sima Yi frowned: "I have seen Feng Ping several times, and during my time in Yè City, I even had some exchanges with him regarding official business. Could he be so vengeful that he holds a grudge over every slight?"
Jiang Ji said, "It's not entirely Feng Ping's fault..."
Sima Yi looked at Jiang Ji with a cold expression and said, "Were you the one who did something bad to Feng Ping?"
Jiang Ji shrugged his shoulders, displaying a helpless expression: "Feng Ping is so lacking in wisdom that the plan he proposed would only harm tens of thousands of troops. At that time, I presented a table of impeachment against him to the previous emperor."
"Later, I found out that the Grand Marshal had wanted to promote Feng Ping to serve in the imperial court, but just needed one merit, and I had spoiled it. I didn't do it on purpose!"
Sima Yi shook his head and picked up a few rolls of bamboo slips on the table, turning them over and placing them on the bookshelf, while speaking at the same time: "Only now do you realize that others might give you dirty looks?"
"Zitong, be a man."
Jiang Ji sighed, "What am I supposed to do? Who would have thought I could become the governor of Yangzhou now?"
"The Grand Marshal served as the Yangzhou Governor, and all the affairs of Yangzhou were handled by Feng Ping, who assisted the Grand Marshal. Now that I am going to Yangzhou to take away Feng Ping's power, if he doesn't cause trouble, it would be strange."
Sima Yi turned his head and stared at Jiang Ji's face, saying nothing.
Jiang Ji said in a low voice, "Zhongda, Zhongda Gong, the Grand Master! You must definitely help me with this favor."
Sima Yi combed his beard and fell silent for a moment.
After a long while, Sima Yi spoke slowly: "Only you, Jiang Zitong. If others were in this situation, I would not interfere at all."
Jiang Ji's face lit up with a smile: "What brilliant plan do you have, Zhongda?"
Sima Yi said: "What official position did Feng Ping want to enter the capital for at that time? What rank and salary?"
"A large county is still wanted," Jiang Ji said. "I remember that there was a vacancy in the governor of Nanyang at that time, so I'm afraid the Grand Marshal was thinking of placing Feng Ping in Nanyang."
" Nanyang..." Sima Yi asked, "Nowadays, it's definitely not easy to change a large county like that."
Sima Yi walked back and forth in the study for a moment, sorting out his thoughts before speaking:
"What about Luoyang?"
"Luoyang?" Jiang Ji was puzzled.
"I meant the Henan Prefecture, which includes Luoyang." Sima Yi explained.
Jiang Ji exclaimed in surprise: "Zhongda, I am only a prefectural governor of Yangzhou. Can I be exchanged for the Henan Prefecture?"
Sima Yi said coldly, "How can you not? I'm asking you, is the Henan Prefecture a good position or not?"
"Of course it's a good position!" Jiang Ji stood up from his seat: "The Henan Prefecture is responsible for the capital, which is comparable to the position of the imperial secretary during the Han Dynasty. The Henan Prefecture has heavy responsibilities and power, how can it be any worse..."
At this moment, Jiang Ji also realized.
"I understand what you mean!" Jiang Ji said. "Now that Wei Zhen is the Inspector General and is highly trusted by the emperor, the Henan Prefecture, which falls under the supervision of the Inspector General, is completely useless."
Jiang Ji laughed as he spoke: "Although the Grand Marshal doesn't care, it doesn't mean he doesn't care. You are the Grand Marshal, after all."
Sima Yi nodded: "How about that? The Henan Prefecture for the governor of Yangzhou. I'm sure the Grand Marshal will not refuse, and you will also be able to sit firmly in your position as the governor of Yangzhou."
"This deal with Yangzhou is worth it!" Jiang Ji bit his teeth: "Can your clansman listen to you?"
"How could he not?" Sima Yi said. "In Huang Chu II, it was I who transferred Sima Zhi from the position of the Lord of Yangping to the Henan Prefecture."
"Now let him change places, how can it not be done?"
Jiang Ji asked, "To where? There are no large counties available now!"
Sima Yi gently shook his head: "You don't need to worry about that! Since you're leaving tomorrow, just wait for a while. I'll write a private letter to Cao Xiu right now. You can take it with you to Yangzhou."
Jiang Ji's expression also eased: "Thank you, Sir Sima!"
"Take care of Yangzhou! Make a marquess for your descendants."
Jiang Ji grinned and didn't say anything more, standing aside and watching Sima Yi write quietly.
Sima Yi was extremely talented in literature, and he had finished writing the private letter in less than half an incense stick of time.
Jiang Ji picked up the leftover paper and placed it on the small table beside him to air it out.
"Zhongda," Jiang Ji said, "When I go to Yangzhou, you must take care of yourself in Luoyang."
For a long time, Sima Yi has maintained an image of wisdom in front of Jiang Ji. However, just after Jiang Ji finished speaking, Sima Yi sighed softly.
Jiang Ji was puzzled: "Is there anything that this Grand Master should worry about?"
"The emperor just appointed you to the East Gallery of the North Palace. With such favor, even if Wei Zhen interferes, he cannot surpass you!"
"Where do you need to teach me?" Sima Yi said: "It's not Wei Zhen. The emperor has appointed him to share my power, which is also reasonable, as I am an old minister selected by the late emperor."
"Before in Luoyang, Chen Qun and I were both recorded as acting on the matters of the Secretariat, and it was often Chen Qun who took the lead. Now that Wei Zhen has come, he can't change the situation where I am the main person."
"What is it?" Jiang Ji was puzzled.
"I've been thinking about it for two days to find out," Sima Yi shook his head and sighed: "I originally thought that the emperor letting Huang Quan serve as the governor of Yuzhou was just letting him do some work."
Jiang Ji raised his eyebrows and stared intently at Sima Yi's face with his eyes.
"Zitong, I ask you, how many counties does Yuzhou currently have?" Sima Yi said.
"Qi, Huan, Liang, Chen, Yingchuan, Ruenan." Jiang Ji replied.
Sima Yi clenched his fist and gently slammed it on the table: "I just realized, the emperor's intention is to Yuzhou's Yingchuan!"
Jiang Ji also immediately said: "The investigation into the hidden population in Yuzhou, is this for the sake of Yingchuan County?"
"It's not certain, I can't say for sure." Sima Yi said: "Zitong, have you noticed that since the emperor ascended the throne, he has been targeting the people of Yingchuan almost everywhere?"
"I never thought about it in that way," Jiang Ji looked at Sima Yi, "Zhongda, aren't you on very good terms with the scholars of Yingchuan?"
"Is it any different?" Sima Yi said: "I am not a native of Yingchuan! These words were spoken to me by Wei Zhen during his time at the Ministry of the Interior when the emperor was still in Luoyang."
"It's Wei Zhen again..." Jiang Ji frowned.
Sima Yi said, "Zitong, look. The only time the emperor has visited a minister's home since ascending the throne was at Zhong Yao, the Grand Master Zhong."
Jiang Ji nodded: "The emperor is using Zhong Yao, the son of Zhong Yufu, to completely bind Zhong Yufu. After waiting for 60 years to get such a treasure, Zhong Yufu cannot give up his son's future."
"That's right." Sima Yi continued: "Zhong Yao is from Yingchuan, and Chen Qun is from Yingchuan. Taking advantage of the East Wu's invasion of Jiangxia, the emperor drove Chen Qun out of Luoyang."
"At that time, I was wondering why the emperor sent Chen Qun instead of me. Now I see it clearly, because Chen Qun is from Yingchuan."
Jiang Ji asked with confusion: "In the case of the Xun family's rebellion, the emperor imprisoned the Xun family in the Imperial Palace, and Wei Zhen also hasn't been able to close the case. Is this also aimed at Yingchuan people?"
"That's certainly the case!" Sima Yi sighed: "The scholars of Yingchuan have always been led by the Xun, Zhong, and Chen families."
"Zhong Yao has been targeted at his weakest point, Chen Qun lost a battle in Xiangyang, and now there's only one Xun family left, and it's in danger."
Jiang Ji pondered for a moment, chuckled, and pointed at Sima Yi: "Zhongda, you're sighing for the scholars of Yingchuan! Practically half of the literati are from Yingchuan. If you were in that position, would you be able to handle them?"
"Zhong Grand Master is dying, Chen Qun has been driven to a frontier area again, and the Xun family has been completely wiped out this time." Jiang Ji snorted coldly: "From now on, don't the literati of the world just look up to you Sima Zhongda as their leader?"
Sima Yi shook his head: "To lead as the head? A prince over forty is not yet worthy of that. We'll talk about it when I'm sixty."
Jiang Ji said, "Not in a hurry, not in a hurry. There's still plenty of time, everything has an opportunity."
"Zhongda, just now you said that you wanted to make Feng Ping the governor of Henan Prefecture. How long will it take to see if it works? I also want to have a talk with the Grand Marshal."
Sima Yi stroked his beard and thought for a moment: "Within a few months, maybe by the first half of the year."
Jiang Ji nodded, stood up and was about to leave: "I won't ask you how you plan to do it. As our long-time friends, there's no need for more words before you leave."
Sima Yi nodded: "Zitong, take care of yourself! Yangzhou is your hometown. Even though you can't wear silk, it's enough to boast about."
Jiang Ji smiled and then took his leave.
After sending Jiang Ji to the gate, as Sima Yi returned to his study, he began to ponder over his cousin, the current governor of Henan Prefecture, Sima Zhi.
Sima Zhi... Cao Hong...
It's time for him to take on the position.
(The End of this chapter)
