Cao Rui looked at Wang Lang.
After a few moments, Wang Lang also revealed the answer: "From my interrogation, I learned that before the former emperor ascended the throne, Empress Guo assisted him in handling school affairs."
"Therefore, the former emperor did not prohibit Empress Guo from contacting the school affairs."
This all makes sense now.
During the struggle for the position of Crown Prince, Empress Guo offered strategies and plans to Cao Pi, and later assisted him in handling some school-related matters. Years later, she used this authority to harm Empress Wen Zhao Zhen.
Before Cao Pi ascended to the throne, he was able to gain control of the school. Empress Guo issued direct orders to the school at that time. How much control does the school have now?
And last month, Wang Lang's appointment as a "Crown Prince Teacher" and his journey to Yè City was an unexpected event for everyone.
Taking advantage of the discussion on corporal punishment, the emperor went to the residence of Duke Wang to mediate between Grand Professor Zhong and Duke Wang.
Duke Wang left for Yè City the next day.
Upon arrival in Yè City, he first ignored the task of repairing Empress Wen Zhao Zhen's mausoleum and directly interrogated the school affairs.
One incident after another left everyone completely unprepared to react, and it was also an unintended act that blossomed from neglect.
Cao Rui asked in a deep voice, "Can I trust Duke Wang?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Lang stood up and bowed respectfully: "Your Majesty, I guarantee with the lives of the House of Wang of East Sea that you can trust in me."
Cao Rui nodded: "School affairs, I've long wanted to reform them. I want to ask the Duke, if we are to reform, how should we go about it? Or should we abolish them and establish new ones instead?"
Wang Lang said: "Your Majesty, I have heartfelt words to speak."
"Please speak, Duke."
Wang Lang raised his hands in a gesture of respect and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that the school affairs should not be abolished. Although the heads of the school affairs in various places may have ulterior motives, as for the organization as a whole and the majority of officials, there should not be too many problems."
"If it were to happen again, I fear that there would still be many innocent victims and false cases, and people like Lu Hong and Zhao Da might arise. Only after a gradual return to normalcy could such problems be resolved."
Cao Rui said, "Then we will reform it?"
"Yes, it should be changed," Wang Lang said. "During the Han Dynasty, there were embroidered messenger officials, and during the reign of Emperor Wu, there was the School Affairs Bureau. These activities of probing intelligence and supervising illegal acts ultimately need to be carried out by someone."
"During the reign of Emperor Wu, often those from humble backgrounds were chosen as school affairs officials, and their relationship with Emperor Wu was based on personal gratitude rather than public righteousness in the court."
"I believe that if we were to choose someone else to take charge, we should no longer select officials from the grass roots."
Cao Rui looked at Wang Lang and said, "Duke Wang means that Your Majesty should select individuals from the scholar class to be responsible for the school affairs?"
Wang Lang asked rhetorically, "Is there anything wrong with this?"
Cao Rui opened his mouth slightly, just about to say that the relationships among scholars were tangled and convoluted, and using scholars might carry a bias towards favoring them, which could lead to issues in handling affairs.
But before he could speak, Cao Rui realized that these two considerations were actually not conflicting.
When Cao Cao established the School Affairs Bureau, it was mainly to ensure his own smooth power grip and mainly targeted those who supported the Han Dynasty, scholars and ministers.
But there are no more people like that now? They have long been killed in Yè City and Xuanchang.
Cao Rui asked again, "Duke Wang, I believe that the school affairs should not be placed under the supervision of the Central Department."
Without hesitation, Wang Lang said, "The powers of blessings come from the top. Your Majesty should still personally grasp them."
Cao Rui nodded: "Thank you, Duke Wang. At seventy years of age, you've gone to this effort for me."
"The matter of corporal punishment, I have temporarily put it aside. Let Minister of War Hua take the lead. Do you, Duke Wang, begrudge me for this?"
Wang Lang couldn't help but laugh: "Your Majesty, I am already at an advanced age. Whether I do more or less is of little importance to me. As long as there are no mistakes, I am happy to see things turn out well."
At that moment, Cao Rui once again recalled the day at Duke Wang's residence, when Wang Shu stood up straight and said that the principles of learning had problems.
Cao Rui asked, "Are those who were implicated in the Wei Fan case connected to academic opinions?"
Wang Lang nodded: "They are related! But I think this matter should not be pursued further, as those people back then are also loyal and important officials of the current Wei Dynasty."
Cao Rui said, "Send the list to me later. Also, record the details of Duke Wang's journey to Yè City. Send them over together later."
After Wang Lang agreed, Cao Rui added, "After you return to your mansion, have Wang Shu come here to see me."
Wang Lang raised his eyebrows and asked, "Your Majesty, is it not the son of the Duke Wang who will be responsible for the school affairs?"
Cao Rui burst into laughter: "No, no, it's not like that at all. Wang Shu is a scholar, how could such minor school affairs suit his talents?"
Wang Lang also pretended to pat his chest, and the atmosphere in the study lightened somewhat.
Cao Rui said, "It's not for the school affairs. Duke Wang, you returned to Luoyang yesterday, and perhaps you don't know the details. I have already dispatched Liu Ye and Qu Qiqin to tour the border in Yun and Bei."
"There is currently one vacancy for the position of Zhongshou. Why not let Prince Ping Yong serve as Zhongshou at the emperor's side?"
Wang Lang gave a sly smile as he too laughed: "The position of accompanying the emperor is undoubtedly one of the best in the world. I, of course, am willing for him to take it, but Your Majesty still needs to examine him first."
Cao Rui nodded and smiled.
...
Yangzhou, the north of the Yangtze River, Wan City.
The central army left the vicinity of Wan City in February, and within two months and more, a fortress had been built at the mouth of Qiankou.
Wan City is bordered by the Wan River, which flows straight south, turns east at Qiankou, and then flows another ten miles into the Grand River at Wankou. The construction of the Qiankou fortress was also a result of discussions with ministers during Cao Rui's time in Huainan.
At this moment, Sima Zhi was standing outside the Qiankou fortress, looking around at the fortress with a careful gaze.
During the year of Jian'an, Sun Quan still lived in Jianye, which was opposite to the Yangtze River and Guangling.
However, since the Wu-Shu-Yiliang War, when Sun Quan moved his command center westward and toward Jingzhou, and declared himself King of Wu in Wuchang, he spent more and more time there.
In the past, when sending envoys to the State of Wu, they would travel from Huaihe to Rushu and then cross the river to Jianye.
Now, when sending envoys to the State of Wu, the route has changed to travel from Shouchun to Wan City, then cross the river via Qiankou and Wankou.
General Zhan Nanzheng, Jia Kui, guided Sima Zhi and visited all around the fortress.
Sima Zhi asked, "Comrade Liang, to build such a city in just a few months truly deserves my admiration."
Jia Kui smiled and said, "Zi Hua, I am just doing my job here. It is actually the emperor and the other ministers who are the true strategists."
Sima Zhi laughed and said, "Liang still remains so modest."
The banquet had been set up long ago. The Qiankou fortress was not large, and Jia Kui usually resided in Wan City. It was just that he came to inspect the Qiankou fortress today.
The two of them ate and chatted as they went. Sima Yi and Jia Kui had a good private friendship. The two had worked together for a long time, and Sima Zhi was using his brother's reputation again.
After summarizing the several major events that occurred in Luo City and telling them to Jia Kui, Sima Zhi immediately asked, "Brother Liang, I am about to cross the river to Wuchang. I wonder if Brother Liang has anything to teach me?"
Jia Kui replied in question, "Sima Zhi, how did the emperor instruct you?"
Sima Zhi said, "It was just to make Sun Quan submit, along with presenting gifts to him."
"Gifts?" Jia Kui was puzzled.
Sima Zhi explained, "Sun Quan's daughter, Sun Luba, was captured by Cao Tai at Wankou and presented to the emperor, after which she was brought into the palace."
Jia Kui was not surprised: "If that's the case, we should pay more attention to matters of reputation. We must be careful not to let Sun Quan use this as a pretext to make Your Majesty unhappy."
Sima Zhi nodded: "Brother Liang, please rest assured that I will not leave such an opening."
Jia Kui slowly said, "Since Your Majesty has not mentioned it, there is one thing I would like you to help me with, or rather, to take a look at for me."
"What is it?" Sima Zhi asked.
Jia Kui said, "In fact, it is still the aftermath of the great battle at the beginning of the year, which concerns the power structure of Wu."
"According to the previous arrangement, Sun Quan had promised the post of Marquis of Jingzhou to Lu Su, and then had Lu Su defend against Shu at Yiliang, which is now also called Xiling, on the far west side."
"But besides Lu Su, Zhu Han and Pan Jiang have died. Now there are any changes in the official circles and military leaders of Wu, as well as the current situation of the Lu family in Wugong. These can be investigated."
Sima Zhi secretly groaned in his heart.
According to the hints from my elder brother Sima Yi, telling Sun Quan the emperor's words and returning alive would be a great achievement. If anything goes wrong, it can be blamed on Sun Quan.
Isn't it natural for Sun Quan to refuse, be impolite, speak arrogantly, and therefore anger the emperor? He is an enemy!
But Jia Kui's arrangement truly left Sima Zhi at a loss as to how to proceed.
Seeing Sima Zhi's difficulty, Jia Kui smiled and said, "Sima Zhi, don't worry about it. This matter is not urgent. If Sun Quan asks where you came from, just tell him about the situation of Wan City, Qiankou, and Wankou."
Sima Zhi only nodded, but in his heart, he rejected Jia Kui's proposal.
He wouldn't do something so unpleasant.
...
Luoyang, the North Palace.
Cao Rui, accompanied by three ministers, for the first time ever, came to the duty room of the Central Department.
On the desks of Sun Zi and Liu Fang, there were piles of documents from inside and outside, with officials moving between them, giving the impression of a secretariat center.
Both were carefully reading the documents. The passing officials also caught their eye and dared not speak, with Liu Fang being the first to notice the emperor's arrival.
Liu Fang lightly coughed, and only then did Sun Zi react. Both men rose to their feet together.
As the supervisor of the Central Department, Liu Fang was the highest-ranking official in the department. He immediately said, "Your Majesty coming personally today fills me with great reverence."
Cao Rui smiled and waved his hand: "Liu Prefect what have you to be frightened of? Today I have nothing to do, so I came over here to take a look."
After bowing, Liu Fang stood beside the emperor: "May I know what Your Majesty wishes to understand? I will explain it to Your Majesty."
Cao Rui directly said, "In the ordinary days, how do Liu Zhongshu and Sun Zhongshu manage the school affairs?"
Liu Fang turned his head and looked at Sun Zi, who bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the official duties of the school affairs are under my supervision. Liu Zhongshu only assists me in reviewing."
Cao Rui nodded: "I see that there are so many matters in the Central Department. Can Sun Zhongshu attend to the School Affairs Bureau?"
Xu Chong died in Yecheng. Sun Zi probably knew about it no more than a few days later than Wang Lang, and with Wang Lang having returned to Luoyang, Sun Zi has also roughly guessed the emperor's intention.
Sun Zi sighed and pointed to the piles of files on his desk with his right hand: "As Your Majesty can see, every day I am buried in documents. The affairs of the school often don't carry the same weight as major affairs in the government, and there are times when I don't have time to take care of them."
Cao Rui smiled as he looked at Sun Zi and said, "If Sun Zhongshu is too busy, would it be alright to separate the duties of the School Affairs Bureau from those of the Central Department?" (Chapter ends)
