Cao Rui and Xin Ji looked at each other, immediately realizing that there might be some discrepancies in this.
Cao Rui said, "Master Wei spends his days in the palace. Who is the director of the Ministry of Personnel Cao now?"
Wei Zhen replied, "It is Zhuge Dan. Before Zhuge Dan, it was Yuan Kan."
"Your Majesty, there might be some errors in this. Allow me to investigate?"
Cao Rui smiled and shook his head: "Master Wei, please rest assured to take care of the state affairs for the emperor. The emperor will let Xin waiter to investigate. Just now, the emperor just took the school affairs into the visitant, let Xin waiter to investigate it."
"It involves two agencies: Chongwen Guan and Shou Shu Dai. If Master Wei personally inquires, it might cause too much commotion."
Wei Zhen paused for a moment and bowed and said, "If the emperor uses the investigation of school affairs to investigate cases, I think it's best to investigate the case itself, without involving other things."
Xin Pi smiled beside him and said, "Do you think I'm like Liu Ci as well? From now on, the School Affairs will only handle cases, not private prisons or executions. You can rest assured about that."
Wei Zhen nodded and agreed.
……
The next morning, a warship had just set sail from the wharf outside the city of Lou in Wu County.
An eleven-year-old child looked at the city of Lou inching further and further away and worriedly asked, "Uncle, when can we return home again this time?"
Lu Mou patted Lu Yan's head: "Yan, don't cry. This time we have to follow the Yangtze River all the way west, and it will take almost half a month to sail! Isn't it your favorite to sail?"
Lu Yan nodded: "Yes! Father and mother always didn't let me play on the boat, so now I can enjoy it to the fullest!"
Lu Mou smiled and said, "Don't cry, Yan. Go and take a look at the scenery on the upper deck! Uncle will be with you soon!"
"Good!"
"Good!" Lu Yan hopped and skipped, pulled open the door, squeezed past the two guards standing at the entrance, and climbed alone up the wooden ladder to the second floor without anyone stopping him.
Lu Miao is the younger brother of Lu Xun, and Lu Yan is the eldest son of Lu Xun. This time, they were invited by the Wu King, so this fast warship was specially sent to pick up the Lu family.
Lu Mou turned around and closed the door slowly. Sun's wife, kneeling on the bench beside him, could no longer hold back her tears. Two clear tears rolled down her corners of her eyes.
"Second uncle, what should we do? Although I am also a niece of the King of Wu, my brother has been serving by the side of the King of Wu in Wuchang for a long time, and I haven't seen the King of Wu for many years. I am truly at a loss!"
Lu Miao sighed softly and comforted, "Little Yan's crying can be overlooked, but how can you, too, join in the tears, sister-in-law?"
"The messenger has already explained it clearly. My brother-in-law only temporarily joined the Wei kingdom and has been given a position of over two thousand cattles and serves as the Protector of Qianjiang in the Western Regions!"
Sun shook her head and wiped away her tears with a handkerchief: "How can such words be believed by Second Uncle? The messenger said that my husband went to Western Regions, but why didn't he say he went to Liaodong?"
"My father-in-law..." Sun looked up and glanced at the direction of the cabin door, then said in a low voice, "The King of Wu is such a personage, and you're not unaware of that, Second Uncle! If we were to die together for failing and submitting to the Wei kingdom, that would be all right. But Yan is still too young!"
Lu Miao comforted, "After all, the Lu family has served the Wu kingdom for thirty years, and you are also a close relative of Sun. This journey will certainly not be dangerous. Please don't worry too much."
"Really?" Sun looked up at Lu Miao with half doubt and half faith.
"No problem." Lu Miao gently nodded and then asked, "Sister-in-law, where will you look for your brother-in-law after we reach Wujiang?"
"At that time, I will go find him and ask him to mediate a bit."
Sun looked up at Lu Miao and seemed to notice the uncertainty in his words. "You're still not sure in your heart!" She cried even harder.
Meanwhile, whether it is the wife and brother of Lu Xun or the fate of the journey to Wujiang, let's not say it now. At this moment, in Wujiang, Sun Quan is also struggling for his own fate.
In the Wu kingdom, the officials of Wujiang stood in a line, watching Zhuge Jin, who was standing at the front of the hall.
Sun Quan slowly stood up, picked up the purple silk golden seal from the table, walked down the steps, and solemnly placed it in Zhuge Jin's hands.
Sun Quan held Zhuge Jin's right hand and looked into Zhuge Jin's eyes: "Ziyu, the affairs of Jingzhou are entrusted to you. Don't let me down again!"
"I assure the supreme that Zhuge Jin will never betray the supreme's trust!"
After Zhuge Jin returned to his place in the queue, Sun Quan also returned to behind the table and called out loudly, "Where is Zhang Huju?"
"I am here." Zhang Wen stepped forward and bowed and answered.
Sun Quan spoke slowly, "You have twice served as an envoy to Chengdu for the great Wu kingdom, and I am greatly appreciative. Now, I am restoring you to the position of Selection Minister of Personnel, and I am also appointing you as the Marquis of Light and Honor."
At this time, Zhang Wen couldn't help but be stunned, and all the officials in the hall were also surprised.
In fact, Zhuge Jin's appointment as the prefect of Jingzhou was already anticipated by the officials in Wujiang. Lu Xun had surrendered to the Wei kingdom, and this position had always needed someone to fill it.
Regardless of rank, official position, or closeness to the King of Wu, Zhuge Jin seems to be the best candidate.
But Zhang Wen's restoration to the position of Selection Minister of Personnel indicates that the situation has changed.
After the Jì Yan case, Zhang Wen's official position was also stripped away, and he was also dismissed from his post by King Wu, confined to home almost like a house arrest.
However, after Zhang Wen returned from his second mission to Chengdu, when Wu and Han formed an alliance, this experienced diplomat of the great Wu, who was also on good terms with Liu Shan and Zhuge Liang, gradually became a hot commodity once again, and his position as the Selection Minister of Personnel was also restored.
Zhang Wen bowed respectfully and said, "I am honored to receive Your Imperial favor and be appointed as an envoy twice. These achievements are all due to Your Imperial wisdom and power, and I dare not take credit for them."
"I beg the supreme to remember my insignificance and not give me such a heavy burden!"
Zhang Wen is declining the offer and is once again testing the waters with Sun Quan.
After all, Zhang Wen was scared by Sun Quan. After the Jì Yan case, he was almost house arrested. Who knows if you would suddenly become unreasonable and fire me from my post again?
Sun Quan sat on the stage, his expression calm as he shook his head: "Zhang Wen, you have done great service, and why should you decline? Accept it then. The great Wu now needs people who can get things done, and Zhang Wen is a capable statesman for our country."
Zhang Wen bowed deeply: "I, will comply!"
