In terms of status, the current Anyi City is almost equal to Luoyang.
The Weipu region where Anyi City is located immediately became Cao Cao's headquarters after he took it from the Yuan family.
Later, Cao Cao became the Duke of Wei and then the King of Wei, taking Anyi City as his base.
Within twenty years, almost all of the high-ranking officials and dignitaries in the Wei state had intricate connections with Anyi City. Even the families of regional commanders who remained in the interior were split, with a majority in Anyi City and a minority in Luoyang.
Anyi City undoubtedly became the central region of Hebei.
In the afternoon, at the southern gate of Anyi City, Hepu Prefectural Administrator Lv Zhao and Weigong Administrator Zheng Huen were waiting here together for Wang Lang's arrival.
Wang Lang's carriage, escorted by a detachment of cavalry, slowly came to a halt at the southern gate of Anyi City, and Lv Zhao and Zheng Huen also went to meet him.
"We respectfully welcome Your Lordship to Anyi." As Wang Lang got off the carriage, Lv Zhao and Zheng Huen respectively bowed and greeted him.
“Ah, this old bone of mine is almost too weak to move.” Wang Lang sighed softly: "Zixuan (Lv Zhao), Wengong (Zheng Huen), please come up to my carriage together. We will enter the city together."
After the three of them boarded the carriage, Lv Zhao began to greet Wang Lang.
"Your Lordship has traveled far and wide, it must be tiring. I heard from a messenger who recently came to Anyi City that Your Lordship is here to commemorate the construction of the tomb of Queen Wenzhao?"
Wang Lang nodded slightly: "Exactly."
Lv Zhao is younger and was appointed by Emperor Cao Pi during the Huang Chutian era. He is now in his early forties. Zheng Huen is older and is around sixty years old.
Wang Lang understood that after the commanding general of Hebei Wu Zhi went to Anyi City, Lv Zhao, the Governor of Hepu, was the highest-ranking official in the city. If Wang Lang, as the Grand Secretary of State, discovered any irregularities in Hebei, Lv Zhao would undoubtedly be suffering.
Wang Lang looked at Lv Zhao and slowly said, "Zixuan, there is no need to beat around the bush between us two. The Emperor has sent me here, and there is also an intention for me to inspect Anyi City."
Lv Zhao slightly furrowed his brow.
What can be wrong with Anyi City?
As the Governor of Hepu, the territory under his jurisdiction has the second largest number of powerful families and nobles under the supervision of the Sikong. In the past year, Zhen Xiang has repeatedly gone to the Inspectorate to request investigations, and Lv Zhao is aware of this.
However, this matter is too sensitive.
No one can investigate it, no one dares to investigate it, and no one even dares to mention it.
Just as Wu Zhi left, isn't it too much for Lv Zhao to write a petition to the Emperor saying that your uncle's family has been insulted and the injustice of your deceased mother's death?
Lv Zhao has no choice but to play the fool and try to get by with it. If some things are not mentioned, they can be considered as if nothing happened. If something is really brought up in front of everyone in court, it will really be a disaster.
Lv Zhao bowed and said, "I have something to inform Your Lordship."
Wang Lang replied expressionlessly, "What is it? Please tell me."
Lv Zhao paused for a moment and then said, "This is what happened, Your Lordship. A few days ago, Zhen Xiang, the nephew of Queen Wenzhao, who is also the Prime Minister of Hepu, went to the Inspectorate Office in Anyi City again."
"Zhen Xiang was at the Inspectorate Office for less than half a stick of incense, and the Commander of the Inspectorate, Zhao Qu, committed suicide in the great hall of the Inspectorate Office."
Wang Lang remained expressionless and replied, "Is it Zhen Xiang who forced this Zhao Qu to commit suicide?" Since he is the Grand Secretary of State, an Inspector and a common clerk are of little difference to him.
Zheng Huen spoke up from the sidelines, "Your Lordship, I did indeed summon Zhen Xiang to ask about this matter. But Zhen Xiang insisted that he left when Zhao Qu was fine and that he had nothing to do with it."
Wang Lang asked again, "What was the cause of Zhao Qu's death? Have either of you made any judgments?"
Lv Zhao and Zheng Huen exchanged glances and said, "Your Lordship, it is estimated that there is some relationship with the event in which the Queen Wenzhao was executed by the previous Emperor."
Wang Lang slightly furrowed his brow, showing a hint of concern.
Before he set off from Luoyang, Cao Rui clearly told Wang Lang that this time he sent him to Anyi City was to investigate the Weimen event of that year, not the event involving the Empress Wenzhao.
Wei Fan has been dead for ten years. Why investigate Wei Fan now?
In order to successfully succeed the throne as the King of Wei, Cao Pi made many promises to his advisors and retainers in order to gain their support.
Some of the promises were clearly fulfilled.
For example, Zhong Yao became the Marquis of Taiyue, Chen Qun and Sima Yi became the Recorders of the Ministry of Rites, and Wu Zhi became the Commandant of Hebei. These were all visible to everyone.
But the unseen ones are actually all potential problems.
For instance, Cui Yan and Mao Ji died. During their ten years in office, they selected so many officials. What kind of attitude do these officials have?
For example, Wang Shu, the son of Wang Xun, clearly has a feeling of defending his teacher Song Zhong. Cao Pi killed Wei Fan and implicated a string of people. From the perspective at that time, he achieved his goal and intimidated many subjects. Even Cao Cao himself was helpless.
But who did they offend?
In summary, Cao Rui's sending Wang Lang to Anyi City is to clarify who in Anyi City or Hebei might have potential dissatisfaction with the emperor.
And also to figure out how these people were formed.
In plain terms, it's about defusing landmines.
Wang Lang happily accepted this task.
The initial three Grand Secretaries of the Wei Dynasty, Jia Xu, Hua Xin, and Wang Lang, were appointed by Cao Pi for completely different reasons.
Jia Xu was appointed as the Marquis of Taiyue because, as the most crucial military advisor to Cao Cao, he had consistently and explicitly supported Cao Pi as the crown prince.
Hua Xin was appointed as the Minister of Justice because he was a moral exemplar and renowned scholar in the court. He had always served as a bridge between Cao Cao and the Han court, and had also acted as an informal mediator between Cao Cao and Cao Pi.
Wang Lang was appointed as the Minister of Works due to his scholarship in Confucian classics and administrative capabilities.
In other words, Wang Lang was respected by scholars for his expertise in Confucian classics and also served as a capable minister in the Wei state, handling actual affairs. He was a person who had both face and substance.
A typical capable minister.
Wang Lang's son, Wang Shu, is still at home as Wang Lang comes to Anyi City.
Cao Rui trusted Wang Lang, and Wang Lang naturally trusted the emperor. The emperor is known for his generosity towards officials.
After entering the Commandant Office originally belonging to Wu Zhi, the three of them chatted for a while. Wang Lang then sent people to summon Zhen Xiang.
After Zhen Xiang arrived, Wang Lang dismissed his attendants and asked Lv Zhao and Zheng Huen to leave, conversing with Zhen Xiang alone.
Zhen Xiang bowed towards Wang Lang and said, "Zhen Xiang pays his respects to the Grand Secretary of State."
Wang Lang nodded with a gentle expression: "Bo Ming, this time the Emperor has sent me to Anyi City, which is in response to your petition in February requesting that the tomb of Empress Wenzhao be restored."
"This matter was first proposed by you. What are your thoughts? Feel free to discuss them with me."
Zhen Xiang saw Wang Lang's kind expression, and the pent-up emotions that had been stored in him for many years were finally released. His eyes began to redden slightly.
Zhen Xiang bowed and said, "Your Lordship, the tomb of Queen Wenzhao was originally simply set up thirty li west of Anyi City and north of the Zijing River in Huangchuang year two."
"I believe, first, it should be a royal ceremony to worship Queen Wenzhao in the name of the court, and secondly, the tomb should be reconstructed to meet the specifications and dignity befitting a queen."
Zhen Xiang looked up at Wang Lang's face: "Thirdly, I hope the Grand Secretary of State will be impartial and investigate on behalf of the emperor the accomplices who aided in harming Empress Wenzhao in the past."
Wang Lang watched this young man filled with indignation without showing any emotion.
Both the worship and the reconstruction of the tomb are reasonable.
But investigating the accomplices who harmed Empress Zhen in the past... The main culprits are not the former emperor and Empress Guo? The former emperor is gone, but Empress Guo is still alive. Is this to turn heaven upside down in Luoyang?
Wang Lang decided to probe into Zhen Xiang's intentions first before discussing further.
Wang Lang rubbed his beard and said, "When I arrived, the Emperor had already granted me a seal of authority and held a sacrificial ceremony to worship Queen Wenzhao with the highest offerings. The reconstruction of the tomb is also reasonable."
"I'm an old man, and the carriage has shaken me to pieces on the way here. Let's rest for three days before we go to worship Empress Wenzhao."
"Bo Ming, what do you think?"
Although Zhen Xiang did not get any promises from Wang Lang, he still agreed to go to worship Empress Wenzhao three days later. Therefore, he temporarily consented.
Zhen Xiang also asked Wang Lang about the emperor's health in Luoyang.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Zhen Xiang then took his leave.
After Zhen Xiang left, Wang Lang's friendly expression disappeared immediately, and his demeanor became quite stern.
Lv Zhao and Zheng Huen also came in together.
Wang Lang asked in a low voice, "Have the two deputy inspectors of the inspector who died, Zhao Qu, arrived?"
Lv Zhao bowed and replied, "Your Lordship, the two deputies are waiting outside."
Wang Lang nodded and said, "Let them in. You two also listen in on what I say."
"Understood." Lv Zhao called out to the eunuch, who then led the two men into the hall.
Although the two inspectors had already shown great respect by bowing, Wang Lang still looked at them with a stern expression.
Wang Lang said, "I have already roughly looked over your records. Both of you have been serving in the Inspectorate Office in Anyi City since the same year as Huangchuang year one."
"During the years of Jian'an, where did you two serve?"
The taller of the two Inspectors, Wei Ben, bowed and said, "Your Lordship, we were admitted to the Inspectorate Office in Huangchuang twenty years ago. We originally served in Xuchang, but were transferred to Anyi City in Huangchuang twenty-three."
Wang Lang nodded without showing any emotion. The Sun Ding on the right also quickly spoke up: "Your Lordship, I have been serving in Anyi City since Huangchuang twenty-two."
Upon hearing their words, Wang Lang asked immediately, "So if that is the case, by Huangchuang twenty-four you were both in Anyi City?"
Wei Ben and Sun Ding nodded in succession.
Wang Lang nodded and said to the two men, "I have a general understanding of your situations. Please wait in the front courtyard."
After bowing, the two men slowly walked out of the hall.
Seeing that Wei Ben and Sun Ding had already left, Wang Lang turned to Lv Zhao and Zheng Huen and said, "Zi Zhang and Wen Gong, as Grand Secretaries, I was entrusted by the emperor to come to Anyi City to handle important matters. Do you two have any objections?"
Lv Zhao quickly bowed and said, "Your Lordship speaks too highly of us. How dare we have any objections? But please give us your commands!"
Zheng Huen agreed with Lv Zhao's statement.
Wang Lang then solemnly said, "Since they are like this, I will temporarily detain them in the Commandant Office here."
"The one hundred guards the emperor has assigned to me will certainly come in handy." (End of this chapter)
