Let Qu Qiu Xiu become a doctor?
Cao Rui raised his eyebrows and looked at Qu Qiu Jian: "Why didn't you make him become an Inspector, but instead made him become a doctor?"
Qu Qiu Jian smiled awkwardly and explained with a bow: "My younger brother Shu Cong has loved literature since he was young. At the age of twenty this year, he is still within the He River clan without having had the opportunity to serve in the government."
"Shu Gong is not good at martial arts, nor does he possess the military abilities that I have."
Cao Rui looked at Qu Qiu Jian with a meaningful glance: "Are you born to be good at martial arts? Born to be able to command an army?"
Qu Qiu Jian was momentarily speechless, not knowing how to respond.
The army follows the imperial orders, but fundamentally, it is commanded by layers of officers.
Besides the generals in charge of commanding troops, the lower-level Qubang, Sima, and Xiaoqi, who are officers just starting to touch the 2000-shi edge, do not actually require much talent.
Including some connections doesn't do much harm; on the contrary, it can even make the army's command more smooth.
Frankly speaking, Cao Rui was somewhat disappointed by Qu Qiu Jian's words.
How can everyone be like Xiaohou Hui? When a father is a military general and an elder brother leads troops, when it comes to oneself, should one switch to the role of a scholar?
Does the Great Wei lack these scholars? You, Qu Qiu Jian yourself, are a man of both literary and martial talents. Why can't your younger brother also excel in both?
Why are people always thinking about becoming scholars? Why don't they want to become generals?
Qu Qiu Jian sensed a slight abnormality.
The tone of the emperor's words just now contained a bit more of an interrogative element compared to the ease with which he agreed to recommend Wen Qin earlier.
Qu Qiu Jian roughly understood that the emperor wanted both himself and his brother to become generals, so he bowed and said: "Your Majesty is correct. Please allow my younger brother to serve in the army for a while, and become an Inspector."
Cao Rui said indifferently, "Being an Inspector is fine, but not in the central army. A twenty-year-old is too young to command troops; it would be a harmful act."
"Give him the title of an Inspector and have him serve as a bodyguard by my side! Learn some discipline from the Imperial Bodyguards and temperament-polishing."
Qu Qiu Jian bowed and said: "I represent my younger brother to thank the emperor's grace. I will dispatch someone to He River tomorrow and call him to quickly move to Luoyang."
"Yes." Cao Rui then turned to Huan Fan: "Yuanze, who do you recommend? Think it over first."
Huan Fan was silent for a moment, thinking carefully before bowing and saying: "Your Majesty, my situation is similar to Wen Jian. My family has a small population."
"In the chaotic years of Jian'an, the family scattered and almost became a single household, so there is no one in the family that I can recommend. However, I would like to recommend two scholars who are close to me."
"Scholars?" Cao Rui slightly nodded: "That makes sense. As your position as the central military protector, you are in charge of selecting military officers for the central army. If there are any favored officers you wish to recommend, it wouldn't have waited until today for me to ask; you could have promoted them long ago."
"Say, what do you want to recommend, Yuanze?"
Huan Fan's tone seemed to carry a hint of hesitation, but he still spoke up: "Your Majesty, I want to recommend Xu Yun and Yuan Kan!"
Xu Yun and Yuan Kan were the two individuals who had previously gained notoriety at the Ministry of Ceremonial Affairs and were implicated in the luxurious case. They were first exiled to Youzhou, and then were pardoned after last year's general amnesty following a victory.
Cao Rui chuckled softly: "These two men who gained notoriety, I remember their names. Where do you want to use them, Yuanze?"
Huan Fan respectfully bowed and said: "Your Majesty, Xu Shizong and Yuan Geng are both wise men. They made friends with the wrong people and went astray. After the general amnesty, they have both been temporarily staying in Yè City."
"Since the luxurious case, Xu Yun and Yuan Kan have cut ties with He Yan and others, awakened to their mistakes, and are no longer the ones who sought fame. Xu Yun has written to me several times from Yè City, expressing his aspirations for the country and its affairs, hoping to continue serving the Great Wei and the state."
Huan Fan continued: "Your Majesty also knows that I have always been quick-tempered and few friends. The two of them, Xu Yun and Yuan Kan, are rare people who are good to me. If they were not truly outstanding talents, I would never bring them up."
Cao Rui looked at Huan Fan's sincere gaze and couldn't help but sigh: "Won't they resent the court and me after they were exiled, and then reinstated into office?"
"Not at all!" Huan Fan hurried to explain: "These two men have been forgiven by Your Majesty's great mercy. They are only filled with sincere gratitude towards the emperor, with no dishonest thoughts or words."
"I can vouch for them!"
"More importantly, utilizing past transgressions is more effective than utilizing current merits. If Your Majesty uses these two again, they will surely be even more diligent in their loyalty."
Cao Rui nodded: "The amnesty has already been granted, and Sima Ziyuan has been serving as an officer in Yangzhou. Yet Yuan Kan and Xu Yun are still confined to Yè City."
"What position do you want to recommend, Yuanze?"
Huan Fan bowed respectfully: "I dare not recommend a position. It is already a great blessing for the two of them if Your Majesty can slightly restore their offices."
Cao Rui nodded: "Alright, Yuanze, send them letters and call for their immediate return to Luoyang."
"Xu Yun and Yuan Kan have both served as Minister of the Ministry of Documents, and I want to personally meet them before making any arrangements for their positions."
"Thank you for Your Majesty's great grace!"
The remaining four are only the Attendants-on-Duty.
Hé Yǔ and Xià Huì are new here, such good fortune doesn't even belong to them.
Du Xu bowed and said: "Your Majesty, I have a younger brother named Du Kuan, who is weak and unable to serve as a military officer."
"I would like to request Your Majesty's favor to allow him to enter the Academy of Confucian Studies to study classics and governance, so as to fulfill his lifelong wish."
"Accepted." Cao Rui didn't pay much attention and turned to Zhong Yu.
Zhong Yu looked at the emperor for a moment, a look of wanting to say but unable to, then bowed down:
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your imperial grace. However, I really don't have many friends, and there's no one in my family that I can recommend..."
Since the Yellow Initial Year 7, when Zhong Yu was selected as an Attendant-on-Duty, this young man's daily work has been to follow and serve in the palace, almost no rest throughout the year. Additionally, he hasn't reached the age to enter the Academy of Confucian Studies yet, which is also a helpless matter.
As for the people in his clan, the Zhong family of Yingchuan has its own channels for serving in office. Not to mention that Zhong Yao is the Prime Minister of Officials, the first official in all of the empire. If he wants someone to serve as an official, he can simply issue a public appointment notice.
Cao Rui deliberately teased Zhong Yucun: "How can it be that your family has a residence and can recommend officials, but even the imperial grace is not accepted?"
The emperor's face was smiling, and the people around were much older than Zhong Yucun. They all tacitly looked at Zhong Yucun's face, trying to find something interesting on his face.
Zhong Yucun's face flushed slightly, and after holding his breath for a few moments, he bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, I have a younger brother..."
"Ha ha ha." Cao Rui laughed aloud: "Zhong Yucun, aren't you going to recommend Zhong Hu to the emperor? I even held him when he was young!"
Zhong Yucun hurriedly explained: "Your Majesty, I was just trying to request a position in the Academy of Confucian Studies for him. He is so young, and how can I give him an official position?"
Looking at Zhong Yucun's solemn expression, Cao Rui felt a touch of compassion. Zhong Yucun had been by his side for three years, almost like watching him grow up.
Such an opportunity, and Zhong Yucun still thought of his brother first.
Brotherly love, regardless of whether the younger brother is courteous, the elder brother can be considered sufficiently affectionate.
Cao Rui sighed, "Zhong Hui has his own destiny, and there is no need for you to worry about it. I know about your family's situation. I will grant your mother, Sunshi, a house in Luoyang."
Zhong Yucun was stunned, staring blankly at the emperor.
Cao Rui's expression remained the same: "Today, I bestow imperial grace. If I don't bestow it on you, it's because I'm being biased. Although I never interfere in a minister's family affairs, Zhong Master of Officials was indeed a bit too harsh back then."
"My close ministers should have their mothers near them. What is the point of being far apart? Bring your mother back from Yingchuan."
Zhong Yucun knelt on the ground and kept kneeling, repeatedly bowing: "Thank you, Your Majesty. May I not deceive the emperor. Since my father sent my mother back to the Yingchuan family, I haven't seen her for four years."
Everyone was surprised, not knowing what had happened for a moment.
Cao Rui nodded towards Du Su, indicating for him to explain the matter to everyone. This incident was something Cao Rui had heard from Du Su.
Du Su agreed and briefly described the situation of Zhong Yucun's mother Sunshi in a few words. Those around couldn't comment, so they could only sigh repeatedly.
The Clock Marquis now has two sons at home, Zhong Yucun who is older and Zhong Hu who is younger, and they are not of the same mother.
Zhong Hui's mother is named Zhangshi, and during her pregnancy with Zhong Hui, she was jealous of Sunshi, the mother of Zhong Yucun. Upon hearing about this, Zhong Yao expelled Sunshi from the family.
According to Zhong Yucun and Du Su's casual conversation, it was Zhangshi who slandered Sunshi for poisoning her. However, the archives of the training school in Luoyang say it was Sunshi who poisoned her.
In any case, the current legal principle is that no lawsuit is brought against officials unless there is a complaint from the people.
Since Zhong Yao only expelled Sunshi from the family and did not divorce her, there must still be some affection for her. Moreover, Zhong Yucun misses his mother so much that helping him by oneself is only reasonable.
The emperor does have such a convenient power.
To Emperor Cao Rui, it was no more than a trivial matter, but to Zhong Yucun, it was a great favor that would be etched in his heart forever.
...
As the sun was about to set, Sima Yi returned to his mansion half an hour earlier than usual.
Not for anyone else, but specifically for the brothers Wang Xiang and Wang Lan who were visiting today.
Wang Xiang was over forty years old, only five years younger than Sima Yi.
But Wang Lan was only twenty-three years old, making the age difference between the two brothers over twenty years.
Of course, they are brothers with the same father but different mothers.
Sima Zhao had received a notification to go to Xu Chang several days ago, and it would take two more days before he could leave, so he had nothing to do at home.
Looking at his father who returned home early, Sima Zhao asked in surprise, "Father, why do you place so much importance on these Wang brothers?"
"There are many guests invited to our family banquets, but father rarely returns home early."
Sima Yi glanced at Sima Zhao's curious expression and said with a faint smile, "Today I'm tired. Is it wrong for me to go home early and rest?"
"Why not?" Sima Zhao smiled along with him, "Then father should drink a bit less today."
Sima Yi said with a calm expression, "If I were to say that I want to return home early and tell you about the backgrounds of these two brothers?"
Sima Zhao moved even closer, "Then please teach me. The 'lying on ice to seek carp' and 'Wang Luan arguing for the crow' that father mentioned last time, what are the stories behind them? At that time, father still refused to say."
Sima Yi said, "Then father will tell you now."
The two stories were not long, and Sima Yi finished telling them in a moment. However, after listening to Sima Yi, Sima Zhao had so many questions in his mind that they were about to overflow.
"Father, can these two be idiots?" (This chapter ends)
