"Cao Rui spoke these words, and the room immediately fell into a bizarrely eerie silence."
Liu Fang slowly raised his head and looked at the emperor, then glanced sideways at Sun Zi with the corners of his eyes. Sun Zi stared with wide eyes and stayed there, his gaze unconsciously falling to the ground.
The three grand chamberlains, Xin Pi seemed thoughtful, Chen Jiao frowning, and Yang Fu expressionless, clearly each had their own considerations.
In just a few seconds, Sun Zi's forehead suddenly appeared a layer of fine sweat, his heart pounded violently in his chest, and a faint buzzing sound could be heard in his ears.
Sun Zi has served in official positions for several decades and prides himself on having witnessed many tales of rise and fall among court officials. But when it comes to his own situation, he can't help but panic instantly.
Is it a problem with the inspectorate, or is it a problem with myself?
Sun Zi was thinking through this question in his mind. For more than ten years, he had been trusted by Emperor Wu and Emperor Wen, serving as an important official in the Secretariat and the Central Secretariat, and he couldn't figure out how it could be a problem with himself.
It must be a problem with the inspectorate!
Sun Zi made such a judgment almost instantly, then suppressing his instinctual bodily reaction, he managed to force a smile and bow, saying, "Your Majesty is wise. The Central Secretariat is in charge of the most important matters for the court, and it is inherently incredibly busy. In handling these affairs, I may have inevitably made some omissions."
"I agree with Your Majesty's words. The Inspectorate Office should be detached from the Central Secretariat."
Cao Rui was somewhat surprised that Sun Zi was so willing to give up the power of the Inspectorate Office.
Cao Rui said, "Then, Sun Jun, why don't you tell me in detail now about the current state of the Inspectorate Office of the Great Wei?"
Sun Zi cleared his throat and said, "Then let me start by talking about the personnel allocation of the Inspectorate Office?"
"Yes." Cao Rui simply spoke two characters.
Sun Zi said, "Your Majesty, the current total number of inspectors in the Great Wei is about two thousand..."
Cao Rui interrupted Sun Zi's words, "About two thousand? Why can't you give a more accurate number?"
"Please wait a moment."
"Your Majesty, please wait." Sun Zi turned to the shelf and took out a roll of bamboo slips, unrolled it, and read solemnly, "Up to April of Taihe Year 1, the total number of inspectors was about two thousand one hundred eighty-seven."
"Among them, the inspectors in Luoyang were in charge of monitoring supervision of the Inspectorate Office of Wei State, Yongliang, Yanchang, and Jingchuan, with a total of nine hundred thirty-six people."
"The inspectors in Anyang were in charge of monitoring supervision of the Inspectorate Office of the Heping State, which included Hei, Bing, You, and Qing states, with a total of four hundred sixty people."
At this point, Sun Zi paused in his speech. Last month, the commander of the inspectors in Anyang, Zhao Qu, committed suicide, so one more should be subtracted.
"The inspectors in Xuchang were in charge of monitoring supervision of the Inspectorate Office of Yu, Xu, and Yang states, with a total of five hundred ninety-seven people."
"And the remaining about two hundred people are scattered in various locations of Wu and Shu as spies."
Cao Rui extended his hand, and Sun Zi promptly handed over the bamboo slips in his hand to the emperor.
After receiving it, Cao Rui looked at Liu Fang and said, "Liu Jian previously told me that the materials of inspectors in various places would be sorted out within two weeks. Now it has been two weeks, and I still have to come myself to see it."
Liu Fang was much more calm than Sun Zi: "It was my oversight. I and Sun Zhongshu originally intended to submit it to Your Majesty after the morning meeting."
Compared to Sun Zi, Liu Fang still maintained more decorum.
After a quick glance, Cao Rui asked, "Zhao Qu in Anyang died. I didn't ask about the inspector general in Xuchang."
"I remember that the inspector general in Luoyang was named Liu Kei, right? Where is he now?"
Sun Zi bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, Liu Kei has been in Luoyang all this time. Should I go and fetch him?"
Cao Rui waved his hand and said, "It's okay, let him wait there. I don't have time to see him now."
"I have been on the throne since I came to power, and I haven't used the inspectorate much, so I'm not familiar with it either."
"Xin Shizhong," Cao Rui turned to look at Xin Pi, "Have you had any knowledge of Liu Kei when you were accompanying the late emperor?"
Xin Pi was silent for a moment before looking up at the emperor and saying, "I have heard some names of the inspector general, Liu Chong."
"Tell me more about it," Cao Rui said.
Xin Pi bowed, "Regarding Liu Chong, there is one matter that is almost publicly known among the court."
"From the year of Huang Chu to the year of Huang Chu in the four years from the founding of the Wei Dynasty to the Wei Dynasty, Liu Chong's Inspectorate Office in Luoyang investigated a large number of officials and ordinary people in Luoyang, causing great alarm in the court for a time."
"At that time, Gao Ruan, the head of the Ministry of Judicial Administration, and Gao Wenhui, who was also a member of the same department, strongly advised the late emperor to re-examine these complaints by inspectors. Many miscarriages of justice were corrected as a result, and Gao Wenhui was promoted to the post of Grand Preceptor."
The position of Treatise and Enforce the Law is an official in the Censorate, below the level of the Vice Censor-in-Chief.
The Vice Censor-in-Chief is now the highest-ranking official in the Censorate. In the earlier Han Dynasty, there was a position known as the Grand Censor, but in the later Han Dynasty, it was changed to the Minister of Works, which is now held by Sima Yi.
During the late Han Dynasty and the Wei Dynasty, the three public offices were left vacant without any authority, and Sima Yi's current tasks have nothing to do with the Censorate.
Cao Rui smiled and said, "So did Gao Wenhui become the Grand Preceptor in this way?"
Xin Pi smiled but did not speak.
"Then, did the late emperor eventually deal with Liu Chong?" Cao Rui asked again.
Sun Zi jumped in and said, "What Liu Chong did was also within his duties. The late emperor never punished him."
Cao Rui had a hint of suspicion in his heart.
So what is the role of the inspectors? Is it to monitor all officials to prevent any misbehavior, or is it to constantly create trouble, based on the emperor's will, to decide which officials should stay or leave?"
This is another philosophical question of the black gloves and white gloves.
Cao Rui nodded and said, "Since the late emperor did not deal with Liu Chong, I will not hold it against him for past things."
Cao Rui glanced at the three Grand Chamberlains beside him and said with a smile on his face, "Xin Zhong, Chen Zhong, and Yang Zhong."
Xin Pi, Chen Jiao, and Yang Fu quickly bowed in response.
Cao Rui said, "The power and responsibility of the Inspectorate Office will now be transferred from the Ministry of the Central Secretariat to the Palace Office."
"Among the inspectors in Luoyang, Anyang, and Xuchang, three of you will be in charge respectively. Do any of you have any preferences?"
Xin Pi pursed his lips, about to speak, when Chen Jiao bowed and quickly said, "We, the ministers, are honored to share the burden of the emperor. How could we choose our posts? Your Majesty assigns us to lead wherever needed, and we will certainly not fail Your Majesty's command."
Cao Rui smiled and asked, "What do you think, Chen Zhong? What do you think, Xin Zhong and Yang Zhong?"
Having seen too many of the emperor's 'strange ideas', Xin Pi naturally had no opinion. Yang Fu had just been promoted to Grand Chamberlain, and now he had also obtained the power of the Inspectorate Office. How could he pick and choose?
With Xin Pi and Yang Fu both indicating they had no objections, Cao Rui then went ahead and made the assignments: "That's settled then. The inspectors in Luoyang will be led by Xin Zhong, those in Anyang by Chen Zhong, and those in Xuchang by Yang Zhong."
"How about you, Sun Zhong, do you want to hand over to the three Grand Chamberlains in the next two days? Will three days be enough?" Cao Rui looked at Sun Zhi.
Sun Zi was carefully wiping the sweat on his forehead with the sleeve of his hand, hearing the emperor's question, hurriedly said: "It's not three days, but one day."
Cao Rui nodded: "After the handover is completed, Sun Zhong, you should take a turn as an official outside the capital. Staying in the central government for too long is good for some experience outside."
"The Inspector General of Yanzhou is still in the Central Plains, which is close to the Wei State. How does Sun Zhong like it?" Cao Rui smiled and looked at Sun Zhi.
The gazes of Liu Fang and the three Grand Chamberlains all fell on Sun Zhi. Sun Zhi, who was half-sitting in a chair and slightly bowed earlier, straightened his back somewhat and relaxed visibly in his demeanor.
Since the emperor mentioned that he wants to separate the Inspectorate Office from the Ministry of Central Secretariat, Sun Zhi's heart has been hanging. Only when the emperor said 'the Inspector General of Yanzhou', Sun Zhi finally relaxed and no longer felt anxious.
It can be said to have landed safely.
Sun Zhi smiled and bowed his hands, "Your Majesty, please don't speak like that. Serving the emperor and the court is what a minister's duty is. There is no such thing as being satisfied or not."
"If the emperor intends to use this official for the position of Governor of Yanzhou, once the official takes office, he will certainly not fail to fulfill the imperial favor."
Sun Zhi dared not be dissatisfied.
Being appointed as a governor is already an unexpected joy. When Sun Zhi spoke, he couldn't help but think of his friend Jia Qiew. It would be much better to be sent away as an official than to spend every day in the palace with the emperor, feeling anxious and worried!
For a moment, Sun Zhi only thought of his merits in these years. But the emperor opposite him had completely different thoughts.
Sun Zhi is a man of great talent, otherwise he would not have been able to hold the key positions of the central government with Liu Fang for more than a decade. However, unlike Liu Fang, Sun Zhi occasionally inserted personal opinions into his conversations with the emperor.
Although it cannot be said to be guilty, it would still cause some people to dislike it.
For instance, Sun Zhi often expressed support for Jia Qiew when discussing the conflict between Cao Xu and Jia Qiew.
Moreover, before Wu Zhi returned to Luoyang, Sun Zhi also made several verbal attacks on Wu Zhi.
Of course, Cao Rui could criticize Sun Zhi, but after thinking about it, as the major enemy of Wu and Shu is currently present, Cao Rui does not want to cause any internal unrest in the court.
A little less internal friction, a little more stability.
If Sun Zhi were a waste of talent, then dismissing him would just be a matter of doing so. However, this man's talents are truly outstanding, and during this period of need for personnel, appointing Sun Zhi as the governor of a province is making full use of his abilities.
It also takes into account the dignity of the court.
Seeing Sun Zhi's happy acceptance of the order, Cao Rui smiled and said, "Does Sun Zhong know the current Governor of Yanzhou, Wang Chang?"
"I think I remember, you two are from the same hometown."
Sun Zhi nodded and said, "I am from Taiyuan. When I first entered public service, it was recommended by Duke Wang Yuning, the head of the College of Rites in my hometown."
"Wang Chang, Wang Wenshu, also comes from the Wang family of Taiyuan. I only had some contact with Wang Chang when I was in Anyang, and it's been years since we last met."
Cao Rui said, "During the southern campaign, I met Wang Chang in Shou Chun. He is a man of good talent and knowledge. He also served in the late emperor's camp in the past."
"Lord Liu," Cao Rui looked at Liu Fang, "I will transfer Wang Chang to the Ministry of the Central Secretariat to serve as the 'Minister of the Secretariat' under your leadership. What do you think of this arrangement?"
Liu Fang smiled and bowed his hands, "Your Majesty's arrangement is indeed the best. The talents of Wang Wenshu, Your Imperial Majesty has known for a long time. Putting him in the Ministry of the Central Secretariat and letting him exercise his talents will be exactly what he deserves."
Cao Rui nodded and smiled.
In fact, Cao Rui's intentions were good.
In fact, although Sun Zhi's private opinions were inappropriate, it cannot be said that he committed a crime. During the period of sorting out the affairs of the Inspectorate, it is also reasonable and necessary to send Sun Zhi away as an official, as he can be put to better use.
The emperor wants to leave some dignity for the court, but the officials do not think that way.
Cao Rui and the guards returned to the study first, leaving the three Grand Chamberlains sitting with Sun Zhi to go through the handover.
After leaning back onto the armchair, Cao Rui called over Zhong Yuchi and asked him to inform the officials in the Western and Eastern Palaces about this matter. (The chapter ends here.)
