Luoyang served as the capital city primarily for its function as the administrative center of Da Wei, serving the emperor and departments such as the Six Departments and Nine Ministries.
Road closures and security alerts are common occurrences.
The roads leading to the North Palace were guarded by tigers, and Cao Ren returned to the North Palace with heavy protection. Upon entering the courtyard where the study was located, he went straight to look for Dong Zhao.
Upon hearing footsteps approaching, they looked up and saw the emperor himself arrive. Dong Zhao and Man Chang were both surprised and stood up at once.
"Your majesty," Dong Zhao noticed the emperor's somber expression and couldn't help but be puzzled, "Are you not supposed to be going to the Academy today?"
Man Chong, who was quite astute, moved over a chair for the emperor. Cao Ren nodded and sat down, looking at Dong Zhao and saying, "I just received news that the Grand Imperial Minister has passed away."
Dong Zhao was momentarily taken aback, but his composure quickly returned, bowing and saying, "This incident was indeed unforeseen, but life's events are unpredictable, which is a certainty. The state's affairs come first, followed by one's health. Your Majesty, please be spared from excessive grief and sorrow."
Man Chong also chimed in, "The welfare of the nine states and myriad people depends on Your Majesty alone. I hope Your Majesty will take good care of your health."
Cao Ren sighed and said, "Two days ago, I first received news of the Grand Imperial Minister's serious illness. At that time, my primary concern was to maintain stability."
“The Assistant to the Master of War, the Prefect of Henan, and the Imperial Secretary have all been dispatched. Mr. Dong also suggested that I go to Xuchang, and I have agreed to do so.”
“But now, when I truly hear the news of the death, my heart feels that those matters seem rather distant, and there is more sorrow and disappointment within me.”
“On my way back from the Imperial Academy, the memories of the past relationship and scenes with the Grand Imperial Minister all came flooding back, constantly in my mind.”
Cao Ren's eyes were slightly red: "I do not want to lose my composure in front of the officials at the Imperial Academy. After much thought, I can only come here to the West Pavilion and have a talk with you two."
Dong Zhao also sighed softly, walked over to the edge of the warm stove inside the room, picked up a pot, and poured a glass of warm water in front of the emperor.
Cao Ren saw Dong Zhao offering him water, took a sip, and then put it back down.
Dong Zhao said, "Your Majesty, please be spared from excessive grief."
"The Grand Minister was a distinguished state official, a respected general of the clan, and the heart and pillar of Your Majesty."
"Now that he is no longer with us, does Your Majesty feel as if you have lost an important assistant?"
"Yes," Cao Ren nodded, "When the Grand Imperial Minister was alive, I did not notice any difference. Now that he has passed away, I am not sure who can replace him."
"Mr. Dong suggested that I go to Xuchang and retrieve the Ruyu area and the north of the river, isn't that also along those lines?"
Dong Zhao said, "I agree with this. However, as Your Majesty is present today, I still have some words I would like to say."
Cao Ren took another sip of warm water: "Mr. Dong, please go ahead and speak."
Man Chong quietly got up, closed the door, and then sat back down, saying nothing.
Dong Zhao said, "In my opinion, the most important aspect of the Grand Minister's duties were his status as a respected general of the clan."
"Now that the Grand Minister is gone, among the various Cao and Xiahou generals, only the General can be used. The rest of the Cao and Xiahou generals are either mediocre individuals or reckless warriors who are not suitable for heavy responsibilities."
"And those younger princely commanders are still not capable of handling their own realms."
Cao Ren nodded: "Yes, that is true."
Dong Zhao said, "Your Majesty has been on the throne for three years. Observing Your Majesty's use of people, the most important consideration is their abilities, and the second most important consideration is whether they have some personal connections."
"Either they are relatives, connected by bloodline, or they are close friends, known through personal ties."
"If they do not meet either of these two criteria, Your Majesty is unwilling to use them."
Cao Ren sighed lightly: "Mr. Dong, the wisest man in the world, has revealed Your Majesty's thoughts in just a few words."
"Lu Xie, Chen Jiao, Huang Quan, and these people, none of them are not those I dispatched during my tenure as the Imperial Secretary. The generals who are in charge of guarding the four directions, they are mostly those whom I observed during great battles."
Dong Zhao nodded: "Your Majesty, this is the demeanor of a wise ruler. However, Your Majesty is a wise ruler, but not all officials in the world have personal connections with Your Majesty."
"Officials and military officers in the world are countless, how can everyone have personal connections with Your Majesty? Three cohorts of students have just graduated from the Imperial Academy, and only one cohort has graduated from the Military Academy."
Cao Ren asked back, "What can be done about it? I am the emperor; time must pass year by year. I cannot get done in one year what would take ten years."
"Honestly speaking, except for the Grand Minister, I do not want to entrust the ten thousand soldiers in the southeast to others. This is also why I agreed to Mr. Dong's proposal and decided to personally go to Xuchang and Sucheng."
Dong Zhao said, "Perhaps I can solve Your Majesty's concerns."
Cao Ren's furrowed brow relaxed slightly: "Mr. Dong, speak quickly, as that is exactly what I have been waiting for."
Dong Zhao said, "I have three plans, please allow me to present them one by one before Your Majesty."
Cao Ren said, "Agreed!"
Dong Zhao bowed and said, "Firstly, based on the current situation in Jingzhou and Yangzhou, it is advisable to change the military governor system to a military inspector system."
"The military governor holds the highest military authority in a region, while the military inspector only has the power to inspect and command defense during times of war. Within the military inspector's jurisdiction, the generals do not have a hierarchical relationship, and there is no commander or subordinate."
"The Grand Minister, the General, and the former Xiahouboren are all people who ate, lived, and grew up together with the previous emperor."
"The previous emperor could use the military governor system, which was a temporary measure. It was suitable for the previous emperor, but it has not been suitable for Your Majesty."
Cao Ren slightly nodded with a thoughtful expression.
Dong Zhao said, "The military governor and the military inspector are similar to the state governor and the prefectural governor. The military governor has more power, while the military inspector has less power. The state governor has more power, while the prefectural governor has less power."
"The military governor is like a regional ruler, and the military inspector is like an envoy of the emperor."
Man Chong whispered softly, "If the military inspector becomes a fixed system, then during major battles, will the court or Your Majesty not have to personally go to the front line?"
Cao Ren turned to look at Man Chong: "For the sake of national affairs, I certainly would not hesitate to make sacrifices. Moreover, Wu and Shu have not become strong enough to completely eliminate foreign troops."
Man Chong smiled awkwardly, "I apologize for my outburst."
"It's all right." Cao Ren turned to look at Dong Zhao: "What are the other two strategies, Mr. Dong?"
Dong Zhao said, "The second strategy is that although the relatives and outsiders of the Zong family lack talent, their loyalty to the Cao family and Your Majesty is commendable. If we plan for the long term, Your Majesty should relax the strict control over relatives as imposed by the previous emperor."
"Use those who are capable. For those relatives who lack ability, we should invite scholars to assist and instruct them."
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty is the direct descendant of the previous emperor and the direct grandson of the Great Emperor. With your youth, high prestige, and ample accomplishments, there is no need to worry too much."
Cao Ren did not respond, "I understand, what is the third strategy?"
Dong Zhao paused for a moment before saying, "The third strategy is to win the hearts of all the officials and subjects under Your Majesty."
"The great Wei Dynasty was established for less than ten years, and if all the officials and subjects of the land were to be loyal to the Wei family, then some heart-warming measures must be taken."
"I beg Your Majesty to issue an imperial edict ordering that the Great Temple of Ancestral Worship pay tribute to the distinguished subjects who made significant contributions to the founding of the Great Wei Dynasty. If this is done, all officials and subjects of the land will surely be devoted to Your Majesty and the Wei family, striving for eternal fame after death!"
Cao Ren was somewhat taken aback upon hearing these words, "Ancestral worship in the Grand Temple? There has never been such a system before?"
Dong Zhao also had some confusion about the emperor's intentions, "There was no such custom during the Han Dynasty, only the precedent of being buried next to the imperial tombs."
Seemingly to prevent the emperor from misunderstanding, Dong Zhao explained, "Your Majesty, I merely recalled the event involving Yin Yi of the Shang Dynasty and therefore proposed this suggestion. I have no intention of excessively exalting my fellow officials."
Cao Ren said, "I know that Mr. Dong has good intentions, and I fully understand the matter of sharing the temple honor."
"The three strategies proposed by Mr. Dong, I will agree to all of them."
"Currently, Zhao Yan is in Jingzhou, and Chen Qun is in Yangzhou. The military inspector system already exists in fact. Maintaining the current situation is sufficient; there is no need to proclaim it loudly on the imperial throne."
Dong Zhao bowed: "Your Majesty is wise."
"Changing the military governor system should be done discreetly. If it were done through grand displays in honor of Cao Xiu's death, not only would Cao Zhen in Chenchang have concerns, but also people all over the land might question this decision."
Cao Ren continued, "Regarding the second strategy proposed by Mr. Dong, I have already loosened the reins for close relatives in recent years."
"Those like the Marquis of Youqiu, who have literary talent, can be in charge of literary matters at the Cultural Observation Pavilion. But most people are still ordinary."
"If we must use these people, I think it is more convenient for the imperial consort to use them. The family of Empress Dowager Bian, Empress Queen Zhen, and the families of many of the ladies in my harem can be utilized."
"Consorts, when they should be used, they are used. When they shouldn't be used, their dismissal is fine. It is up to me. But using relatives is not as free and easy."
Dong Zhao bowed: "It was my oversight."
Cao Ren said, "However, Mr. Dong has reminded me. Starting from the fourth term of this year, for all the imperial descendants who are suitable in age and have been granted fiefs, I will send them to the Imperial Academy."
"If there is true talent, I will definitely use it. If they are not capable of great tasks, I will not force them."
Man Chong interjected, "Your Majesty is wise. The fourth term of the Imperial Academy is set to begin tomorrow. Shouldn't the edict be issued quickly to notify the various regions?"
Cao Ren nodded, "Send someone to summon the Imperial Regulator now. I will speak with him personally."
"Following Your Majesty's command." Man Chong departed after receiving the order.
Although Cao Rui did not intend to distract Man Chong, objectively, he had achieved that effect.
Cao Rui opened his mouth and asked, "Who has the qualifications to be worshipped in the Grand Temple, Mr. Dong? How should they be selected?"
Dong Zhao laughed and said, "I am now over seventy years old, and I don't have many more years to live. If Your Majesty grants me permission, I would like to ask for such a position from Your Majesty."
As Dong Zhao said, he is indeed old now, and there is nothing to be ashamed of in saying such a thing.
Dong Zhao did not mind, and Cao Rui did not hesitate either: "Mr. Dong, as our rulers and officials, we know each other well. If such a day comes, there will certainly not be a shortage of Mr. Dong's seat."
Dong Zhao stood up to give thanks, but Cao Rui reached out and stopped him: "Mr. Dong, do not be in a hurry. I asked a question just now, and Mr. Dong has not answered it yet."
Dong Zhao calmly replied, "As for who should be chosen and who should not, it is not proper for me to speak privately with Your Majesty on such matters."
"But one thing is certain, only great contributions can justify the sharing of honor in the Grand Temple. The great Wei Dynasty has been established for a short period, and many descendants of officials still hold prominent positions. Moreover, the three public offices, nine high-level officials, the Imperial Board of Scriptures, and the Directorate of Imperial Letters, all have their own ideas."
"I think, Your Majesty might as well set a quota and let the officials in the court discuss and compete among themselves, so that the value of sharing the temple honor becomes apparent."
Cao Rui laughed and said, "Mr. Dong, you have a hundred and one schemes. How many should we set?"
Dong Zhao laughed out loud: "Your Majesty might as well set a smaller number this year and a larger one next year."
Cao Rui slightly shook his head in admiration, smiling but not saying a word. (Chapter ends)
