After being assigned the task of inspection, Liu Ye and Juan Qianjian slowly exited the study room.
The emperor's orders always come so quickly that there is no chance for people to react.
After walking several paces away, Guan Qiujian bowed to Liu Ye and said goodbye: "Liu public, I will retreat first. If there is anything you want to entrust to me, please let me know at any time. "
Liu Ye stood still with his hands behind his back, looking at Guan Qiujian: "Zonggong, do you have anything to do today? Why don't you come to my house for dinner tonight? It would be a good opportunity to discuss today's task."
Although there was an invitation from Dankan before, there are still things to be considered in terms of importance and urgency when it comes to being hosted for dinner.
With the imperial edict in hand and an imminent inspection tour, it is indeed more important to reach a consensus with Liu Ye.
Guan Qiujian bowed and said, "Liu Gong's invitation, how could I dare to refuse?"
Liu Ye nodded in satisfaction.
…
Although Guan Qiujian is a two-thousand-copper official, compared to the Beigong, a two-thousand-copper position is merely an unremarkable one.
Guan Qiujian was able to walk to the south gate of the Beigong, but his household staff and carriages were only able to wait outside a street away.
After walking out of the Beigong and across another street, Guan Qiujian called his household servant Xu San over.
"Master, what are your orders?" Xu San asked respectfully.
Guan Qiujian looked around and said, "There are two things I want to order for you."
"Go to the Bureau of Engineering first and find my father. Tell him that I have something to see him this afternoon and ask him not to go out."
Seeing that Xu San was carefully taking notes, Guan Qiujian continued, "After you leave the Bureau of Engineering, go home to prepare a gift for my wife, and then go to the house of Dian Man, the Commander of the guards, and tell him that I have an important matter on imperial orders today and cannot visit."
Xu San looked confused and asked, "How much should we prepare as a gift? Where does the Commander of the guards live?"
Guan Qiujian glared at Xu San: "Tell my wife to prepare a gift according to the usual etiquette for a two-thousand-copper official. Besides, you don't know, do I know? Find someone to ask!"
Xu San scratched his head: "I understand, master, you go ahead slowly."
Instead of taking a carriage, Guan Qiujian pulled over a prepared horse from the side and rode directly to the camp of the five majors.
…
As evening approached and the sky grew darker, Guan Qiujian sat in the carriage, heading towards the residence of Liu Ye, Marquis Dongting.
There were also two silk fabrics from Shu as well as horses in the carriage. According to normal standards, two horses would not be considered much. However, with the current war ongoing, officials' salaries were only about three-tenths of what they were during the Qin and Han dynasties.
Of course, both Guan Qiujian and Liu Ye are Marquis families, and as trusted advisors of the emperor, they have been generously rewarded. No one really lives off their official salary.
Two pieces of Shu silk are nothing special in Luoyang; they are just rare items. What the noble elite use in large quantities is the Xiangyi silk produced in Chenliu County. These items are just a small token of appreciation, not much more than that.
When Guan Qiujian was at the East Palace in Luoyang, his father Guan Xing was still serving in the western border region. That's why Guan Qiujian has been living alone in Luoyang since a young age, even though a few years ago, Guan Xing returned to Luoyang for work, Guan Qiujian and his family were still living separately.
In the afternoon, Guan Qiujian went to consult his father on how to deal with Liu Ye and how to complete the task.
Guan Xing once served as the governor of Liangzhou, and during the rebellion in Liangzhou at the beginning of the Huangchu era, his contributions were almost only second to Su Ze. This man is not lacking in vision or courage either.
After Guan Qiujian finished explaining the whole thing to his father, Guan Xing gave out two pieces of advice.
Firstly, Guan Qiujian should only discuss public matters with Liu Ye and avoid discussing personal friendships as much as possible. After all, Liu Ye is just an old minister of the previous dynasty, while Guan Qiujian is a close associate of the emperor during his time in the East Palace. There is no need to have any personal connections with him.
Secondly, see more, listen more, and speak less. Even if Guan Qiujian is very clever, can he be better at observing people and making judgments than Liu Ye? This time, as the emperor's envoy on the northern inspection tour, Liu Ye is the emperor's eyes. Guan Qiujian is responsible for recording everything that the eyes see completely and accurately.
Guan Qiujian pondered these thoughts as the carriage slowly approached the residence of Liu Ye.
Liu Ye is a two-thousand-copper official, and Guan Qiujian is also a two-thousand-copper official. Although the ranks are different, Liu Ye still personally went out to greet him.
The two of them entered the hall, where there were three tables set up. A young man in his twenties was standing there to greet them.
Liu Ye smiled and introduced: "Zonggong, this is my second son Liu Tao, who is now a scholar at the Three Offices."
As a scholar at the Three Offices, it means that he is a reserved official. The title of a physician is only three hundred copper.
Liu Tao bowed respectfully: "I am Liu Tao. I greet you, brother Zonggong."
Guan Qiujian also returned the greeting: "Is Jiye currently serving as a scholar at the Three Offices? I wonder if it's under the Left, Right, or the Five Departments?"
Liu Tao, who was not as tall as his father Liu Ye, had a rounder face and fewer sharp features. He smiled and said: "Brother Zonggong, you may not know that last month, the emperor changed the titles of the three commanders of the Left, Right, and Five Offices to Director of the Palace. Now they are all referred to as scholars at the Three Offices and there is no difference between them."
Liu Ye added on the side: "Today, I have also been appointed as Director of the Palace by the emperor."
Guan Qiujian smiled, "Liu Gong, as an inner minister, how can you be the same as an outer minister?"
A simple compliment was also quite suitable for Liu Ye.
With Liu Ye's intelligence, he probably already had some guesses. The emperor had transferred him from the position of a supervisor of the Palace to an unknown future position, possibly as a prefectural or governor. But it was still just a guess, and what would happen in the court while he was on mission for a year was still unclear.
Liu Ye said, "Zonggong, please come and take your seat quickly!"
Several people sat down, and Liu Ye and Guan Qiujian sat opposite each other, while Liu Tao sat next to his father's side.
After three rounds of wine, Guan Qiujian initiated the conversation: "I will be touring the northern region with Liu Gong. However, I am not very familiar with the border situation of You and Bing states. I would appreciate it if Liu Gong could enlighten me."
In this era where information was sealed off, if one wanted to know certain intelligence, it was necessary to ask the right people. Liu Ye had been in the palace for a long time, and the information he knew was almost second only to the two officials of the Secretariat.
Liu Ye sipped his drink before putting down the cup and said: "The affairs of Yue and Bian states? There are many officials in the court who know about border affairs, but few who are knowledgeable about the affairs of Yue, Bian, and Liang states. You have asked the right person."
Guan Qiujian said: "Please start by explaining the situation with Xianbei and Wuhuan."
"Let's start with the Wuhuan," Liu Ye said. "In the twelfth year of the Jian'an era, Emperor Wu led an army out of Liucheng for a distant expedition against the Wuhuan. Do you know about this, Zonggong?"
Guan Qiujian nodded: "Of course I know. The Wuhuan chanyu Tandun was killed in battle, and hence the three Wuhuan states were subdued."
Liu Ye counted on his fingers and said: "Liaodong, Liaoxi, and Youping North. After Emperor Wu's return, over several years, the Wuhuan in these three districts gradually moved inward. They mostly settled between Dai Prefecture and Youping North."
"And Yu'an and Shanggu?"
"That's right." Liu Ye said: "Compared to the Wuhuan, the Xianbei are more complicated."
"His Majesty has paid great attention to the affairs of Liangzhou this year. Many years ago, there was a Three Ming in Liangzhou, and one of them was named Zhang Huan."
Guan Qiujian asked, "Are you referring to the Zhang Huan who made great contributions by pacifying the Qiang people and then applied to have his place of origin transferred from Dunhuang to Hongnan?"
Liu Ye said: "Yes, it was him. When Zhang Huan was stationed in the north, both the Southern Xiongnu and the Wu Ruan were afraid of him and submitted to him, but the Xianbei did not submit."
Seeing Guan Qiujian deep in thought, Liu Ye continued: "Later, there was a Xianbei named Tan Shihuai who unified the various Xianbei tribes and frequently invaded. It was around the time of the Yellow Turban Rebellion that Tan Shihuai died. The Xianbei tribes remained in chaos for several decades after his death."
Guan Qiujian asked, "Is it because one leader died that the Xianbei tribes were in chaos for several decades?"
Liu Ye chuckled and said, "Foreigners cannot have much understanding. It's already a blessing that one can produce a person like Tan Shihuai."
"That's the norm on the grassland. They kill and fight over water, grass, cattle, and sheep."
Guan Qiujian nodded and said, "I understand. The Xiongnu and Wu Huan are compliant, but what we need to be on guard against are the Xianbei, especially if another figure like Tan Shihuai were to rise among them."
Liu Ye looked at Guan Qiujian and said: "Zonggong's observation is correct. The Xianbei are now divided into three parts, with the largest leader being Ke Bining, who is close to the Great Wei. The two other major leaders are Budiugen and Suli, who are also close to the Great Wei. They are located in Bing and You states respectively."
"Now, it is handled by the Uhuan Officer, Tian Yu, who is in charge of both the Uhuan and Xianbei affairs."
Guan Qiujian lifted the wine cup: "Without Mr. Liu's guidance, I really wouldn't have known such details."
Liu Ye accepted the cup of wine and smiled, saying: "Zonggong has asked me many questions. Now, I'll ask you a few as well."
"His Majesty has asked you and me to examine from Pingyang to Liaoxi, then to Liaodong's Yueliang and Bandian Prefectures. What are we supposed to look at?"
Guan Qiujian thought for a moment before replying, "I guess that His Majesty wants us to observe the people's livelihood in the border areas, the military preparations of the border prefectures, and the situation of enemy tribes."
Liu Ye asked, "Just these?"
Guan Qiujian thought for a moment more and added, "And the taxation?"
Liu Ye laughed heartily, "Zonggong, today I will teach you how to understand the emperor's intention."
Knowing Liu Ye's intelligence, Guan Qiujan bow respectfully and said, "Please, Mr. Liu, enlighten me."
"To understand is to understand, but ultimately it must be understood by oneself." Liu Ye said: "In today's court, what is the root of everything? It's not in You and Bing states, nor in Liaodong. It's in Wu and Shu states."
"And You and Bing are extremely far from Wu and Shu, making it difficult to supply the finance, grain, and fodder needed even for their own states."
"What His Majesty truly wants us to investigate is whether they will rebel! Will the border regions of You and Bing states, or the Xianbei and Wu Ruan, cause trouble! And will Gongsun Zong in Liaodong attempt a rebellion?"
Guan Qiujian hesitated for a moment and said, "Just this one?"
Liu Ye nodded: "Just this one item!"
Guan Qiujian was taken aback for a moment, then stood up and bowed respectfully to Liu Ye: "Liu Gong's enlightenment has been like a clarion call, clearing away the clouds and revealing the sun!"
Liu Ye had also drunk a bit too much and was laughing as he looked at Guan Qiujian, then pointed to his son Liu Tao beside him: "Zonggong is naturally wise. My son, Jiye, is nowhere near as smart as Zonggong!"
"Whether it's court matters or state affairs, there is always a key core issue. If you handle that well, the task will inevitably please the emperor."
Guan Qiujian nodded, but unconsciously thought of something.
Do the tasks assigned to me and Liu Ye by His Majesty truly align? (This chapter is complete)
