Characters Yvette did not know about the twists and turns in it.
After reporting the matter to Cao Zhen, Dong Zhao, Sima Yi, and Wei Zhen, the boy's errand was settled.
The West Wing and East Wing tacitly did not look for the emperor, but instead began to discuss among themselves.
Cao Zhen tested the waters and asked Dong Zhao, "Dong Gong, there is something I do not understand, and I would appreciate it if you could enlighten me."
Dong Zhao slowly raised his head at the sound and wrinkles formed on his forehead as if squeezing out a few lines. In a hoarse voice, he said, "What is the general asking of me, old man?"
Cao Zhen coughs lightly: "Dong Zhao, I just don't understand why you need to cut down the power of the Secretariat and fill in the Privy Council."
"What's the big difference between the Secretariat and the Privy Council?"
Dong Zhao thought for a few moments: "There must be a difference. If the Secretariat holds important documents, adding supervision would naturally give it more power. The position of the Gentleman-in-Chief was originally a clear and laid-back position. Adding some power of supervision would make the power not leak outside."
Cao Zhen noticed that Dong Zhao seemed to have more to say, so he continued, "Dong Gong, you seem to have something else on your mind."
"Shall I say it?" Dong Zhao looked at Cao Zhen obliquely.
Cao Zhen chuckles nervously: "Dong Zhao, you are an elder, so please guide me a little."
Dong Zhao lightly shook his head: "If I'm to say anything else, what's it got to do with General Cao?"
"The positions of the Secretariat and the Privy Council, let them fight over them as they please. After all, it doesn't affect the military, so why should General Cao worry about it? The Emperor has merely informed us both."
However, Cao Zhen sighed: "Dong Zhao, your words are like golden treasures! I fear no one else would express themselves to me so directly."
Dong Zhao said: "Are these words unpleasant?"
Cao Zhen said, "They're still better than flattery. In recent years, there have been few who dare to advise me in my household."
Dong Zhao replied, "That's just the consequence of being in high positions."
"Right, General Cao's eldest son Shaoobo, when was it that he is due to arrive in Youzhou?"
Cao Zhen thought for a moment, "It's probably a few days yet."
Dong Zhao picked up a bamboo slab beside him, indicating that he wanted to pass it to Cao Zhen: "General Cao, take a look at this."
Cao Zhen, slightly confused, stood up and walked to Dong Zhao's desk to pick up the bamboo slab. After flipping through it for a moment, he frowned: "Ke Bisu has led his troops to defeat the Si Guni tribe of Western Xianbei. The Si Guni tribe wants to surrender to Tian Yu?"
"Does Dong Gong think we should accept the Si Guni tribe?"
Dong Zhao replied: "Having been defeated and coming to seek refuge, I believe it should be accepted if they are sincere. Tian Yu has written that there is already a Bu Duigen who has long been dependent on the Great Wei for the Si Guni."
Cao Zhen nodded: "In that case, let's arrange for Tian Yu to accept the Si Guni tribe. Report this to the Emperor first and then send a message to Tian Yu."
Dong Zhao said: "I'm not here to discuss these minor matters of the border. Shaoobo has gone to Tian Yu's place, and Tian Yu's place isn't exactly peaceful recently. It depends on what the general chooses."
Cao Zhen squinted his eyes and thought for a moment, humming and saying, "My son Cao Zidan, how could he not go to the battlefield? Let's see how Shaoobo does on his own."
Dong Zhao also laughed: "Who would be a father like that? I'll mention it to Tian Guojian, and tell him to look after him carefully."
Dong Zhao said that, and Cao Zhen didn't stop him.
Meanwhile, on the other side, in the East Wing, Sima Yi and Wei Zhen were quite different from Cao Zhen and Dong Zhao.
After Zhong Yu left, the two remained silent.
Half an hour later, Sima Yi looked at Wei Zhen and said, "Gong Zhen, I will present this to the emperor in a few days."
Wei Zhen thought of something inexplicably and replied, "Qing Po, I will also present this together."
Sima Yi nodded gently.
That evening, Sima Yi invited the Imperial Secretary Gao Rui to his residence.
Sima Yi was indeed on good terms with Gao Rui, but he was not as close as he was with Jiang Ji. The two simply sat in the hall and spoke with the door shut, without entering the study.
Sima Yi said, "Wenhui, have you heard? Sun Zi is to be posted to a position outside the capital."
Gao Rui was surprised and raised his eyebrows, asking, "Is it the Emperor who is sending Sun Zi away? What did Sun Zi do wrong?"
Sima Yi shook his head slightly: "I don't know what he did wrong. But the Emperor appointed Sun Zi as the Prefect of Yuan State, which suggests that it's not a matter of great importance."
Gao Rui sized up Sima Yi's expression and asked, "Then why did Zhongda summon me to his home?"
Gao Rui is five years older than Sima Yi, and the two have known each other for nearly twenty years, so Gao Rui can call Sima Yi's name directly.
Sima Yi spoke slowly: "The Emperor has taken away the power and responsibilities of the Xiao Shi from the Secretariat. Xiao Shi was originally under Sun Zi's leadership, right? It has been divided into three parts."
"After Liu Xie left, there are three gentlemen-in-chief left. Xin Pi has one part, Chen Jiao has one part, and Yang Fu has one part."
Gao Rui frowned: "This Xiao Shi, divided into three parts? According to me, this Xiao Shi is harmful to the country and has no benefit at all. It should be abolished long ago!"
Sima Yi said, "I don't care about Xiao Shi. Liu Fang and Sun Zi often live in the imperial palace as close confidants, thus holding great power. Officials in Luo often hear the name of 'Secretariat', and they often dare not go against it."
"Brother Wenhui, I have sent someone to impeach Sun Zi!"
Sima Yi knew that Gao Rui had always been dissatisfied with the Xiao Shi and had intended to encourage him with these words.
Gao Rui stared at Sima Yi for a while: "Good! I will go and impeach the Secretariat myself. However, Zhongda, whom would you like to send to impeach Sun Zi?"
Sima Yi stroked his beard and said, "Then let Xu Jingshan handle it when the time comes!"
Gao Rui thought for a moment and showed a slight smile: "Xu Miao, Xuan Jingshan? He serves as the Chief Legal Counselor of the High Procuratorate, which was my previous position."
"This position is quite appropriate for impeaching the Secretariat!"
Sima Yi nodded: "However, as Wei Zhen has said today, he also wants to make a report on this matter."
Gao Rui's lips formed a hint of helplessness: "Zhongda, can you control Wei Zhen? Even if he doesn't make a report, what happens if he talks directly to the Emperor? It's more effective than many ministers making reports!"
Sima Yi remained noncommittal in his expression: "I can't control him, and he can't control me. However, considering Wei Zhen's cautious nature, he's unlikely to make any drastic moves."
Gao Rui nodded in agreement.
……
The next day, in the Northern Palace, within the study room.
Only the emperor and Wei Zhen were present, and Wei Zhen spoke rather directly.
Wei Zhen bowed and said, "Your Majesty, yesterday I heard that the Emperor has divided the Xiao Shi, and this has sparked many ideas in me."
Emperor Cao Rui said, "Teacher Wei, please speak your mind. There is no need to be polite."
Wei Zhen nodded and said, "Since the Emperor has brought the power and responsibilities of the Xiao Shi into the palace and personally manages it, it might as well be taken from the position of Sirai Coach."
Cao Rui furrowed his brow and said, "Teacher Wei, what do you mean? The Sirai Coach has the power to investigate and impeach all officials, which is an indispensable position at my side. That's why I appointed you as the Sirai Coach!"
Wei Zhen explained, "Your Majesty, don't you think that the power of the Sirai Coach and Xiao Shi have many similarities?"
"What does that mean?" Cao Rui asked.
Wei Zhen said, "The Sirai Coach investigates and disciplines the officials above and below, and is an ear and eye of the emperor. However, in terms of supervision, there are already three positions in Luo with supervisory powers. This is bound to create chaos."
"Three?" Cao Rui asked: "The High Procuratorate, Sirai Coach, and the Xiao Shi?"
Wei Zhen nodded: "Your Majesty is correct. It is those three institutions and positions. Do you know where the position of the Sirai Coach originated?"
Cao Rui said, "Teacher Wei, please don't keep us in suspense. Please go ahead and say directly."
Wei Zhen said, "The Sirai Coach, although named a camp leader, has the responsibility of a prefectural governor and actually serves as an ear and tooth of the emperor."
"During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, the position of Sirai Coach was established primarily because of the 'Wugu Disaster' involving the Prime Minister and the royal family. The High Procuratorate was not convenient in managing both parties, so a new position was created with power to handle the matter."
"Over the centuries, the power and responsibilities of the Sirai Coach gradually became heavier."
"In the Han Dynasty, during the rule of Emperor Huandong and Emperor Lingbi, eunuchs, maternal relatives, and scholars frequently clashed. In Luo, it was inconvenient to dispatch troops. Often, whichever faction held the position of Sirai Coach could use it as a tool to jail their opponents."
Cao Rui asked, "So Teacher Wei thinks that this position is redundant?"
Wei Zhen retorted: "I actually want to ask the Emperor, why keep the position of the Sirai Coach? Is it not enough for the Xiao Shi to monitor things in the inner court? Why not just rely on the High Procuratorate outside the court?"
Cao Rui silently looked at Wei Zhen, for a moment unsure of what to say.
Throughout history, once a minister gains the emperor's trust, it is common for them to take power onto themselves.
As with Wei Zhen, being a senior official holding the position of the Right Minister and also serving as the Sirai Coach, and wanting to renounce these positions out of a sense of public duty, is a rare and commendable trait.
Wei Zhen explained, "Your Majesty, I'm not saying that I don't want to be the Sirai Coach. It's just that I find this position to be a bit strange."
"Divide its power and responsibilities into two parts. One can be set as the Prefectural Governor of Sirai, which monitors officials in each county and town like the other states."
"The second one can be set as a supervisory officer, responsible for monitoring the officials and noble families in the palace and in Luo."
"What I mean is that the second power and responsibility can be integrated with the Xiao Shi."
Cao Rui thought for a moment and slowly replied, "I cannot comply."
Wei Zhen remained silent, watching the emperor silently for an explanation.
Cao Rui said, "I have been on the throne for less than a year, and I can sort out the powers and responsibilities of the local area. However, the Sirai Coach is an important position that I rely on to protect myself. Therefore, I cannot let Teacher Wei relinquish this position."
"Wei master, what you have just said, I have understood. It is reasonable and possible to do so, but not now." Cao Rui looked at Wei Zhen: "Does Teacher Wei understand what the Emperor means?"
Wei Zhen bowed: "Your Majesty is wise, and it was my misstatement."
Cao Rui waved his hand: "It's alright, truly it is. Teacher Wei is also considering the country."
In fact, Cao Rui was aware that there was some impropriety in the overlapping of such a supervisory system.
For example, in a later dynasty, there were officials and agencies outside the court, such as the Supervisor of the Imperial Secretariat, who investigated officials; and internal agencies like the Green Cloak Secret Police.
There was already the Green Cloak Secret Police, but there was also the East Agency. The East Agency was not enough, so there was the West Agency. The West Agency was not enough, so there was the Inner House……
Cao Rui would not do such a thing.
While the two were talking, Zhong Yu entered to report: "Your Majesty, the Lord of the Judicial Office has sent a memorial for you to receive."
Cao Rui frowned: "Gao Rui, the Lord of the Judicial Office? Why did he not send a memorial through the Secretariat?"
Zhong Yu answered, "Your Majesty, I'm not sure either. Lord Gao came to the palace gate himself and handed over this memorial."
Cao Rui took the letter, unfolded it and looked at it for a long time before throwing it heavily onto the table. (This chapter ends)
