"Wait a moment, General."
Watching Sima Yi accept the order and slowly stand up, Cao Rui called him again: "I have several other assignments, and let Liu Zhongshu draft the edicts first."
"Yes," Sima Yi replied with a bow.
Cao Rui placed his hand on his forehead and looked around at the ministers in the hall, speaking in a low voice, "All of you may sit back. I have something to discuss with you."
As the ministers rose and stood with their hands folded in the hall, they dared not speak a word.
Cao Rui said, "I have some ideas that I originally intended to consider further. Now I will directly explain them to the gentlemen."
"Xiahou Kangren!" Cao Rui slightly lifted his right hand and pointed forward. Xiahou Xian immediately took a half-step forward, bowing as a response.
"I am here!"
Cao Rui spoke softly, "Decree that General Xiahou Xian, the Anbei General, is to be appointed as the Tiger's Tooth General. He is to accompany the main force back to Henan."
"Yes, your majesty!" Though Xiahou Xian did not understand the underlying reasons, hearing the emperor say that he would be returning to Henan meant either taking command of the central army again or governing the states in Henan, which were not bad things in his view.
Having spent two years in Yue Commandery, it is time for him to receive his rewards.
Standing in the hall with his head slightly bowed, Sima Yi felt surprised just like Xiahou Xian. The death of Empress Dowager Ning was unexpected, why did the list of tribute begin with Xiahou Xian?
"Rise, please," Cao Rui said without further elaboration, waving his hand. Xiahou Xian, understanding the cue, got up and stood behind Man Chong.
"Man General, Yuan Zhe."
"I am here!" The two generals, Man Chong and Zhong Fan, bowed together.
Cao Rui said, "Decree that General Duan Zhao, the Commandant of Infantry, is to be appointed as the Commander of the Xianbei Forces, with troops stationed at the Lulong Pass in Youping Commandery. Decree that Marquis Ban Lan, the Marquis of Kaiyang, is to be appointed as the Commandant of Infantry. After completing the mourning rites, he will go to Yecheng to receive his orders."
"Yes, your majesty," both generals answered together.
"Chancellery! Posthumous designation of the great grandmother and great grandfather of the late Great Empress Dowager Ning as Kaiyang Gonghou and Kaiyang Jinghou respectively."
Liu Fang bowed and replied, "I comply with your edict."
Xiahou Xian was present in the hall, and his appointment change could be directly announced by Cao Rui. However, Duan Zhao and Ban Lan were not present in the hall, so it was the responsibility of the chamberlain who handled imperial correspondence, Man Chong, and Zhong Fan, who temporarily led the Five Cavalry Camps to carry out Cao Rui's orders.
Bestowing a posthumous title on Empress Dowager Bing's ancestors is not a major event. However, once the emperor's decree for Ban Lan's appointment was announced, although no ministers spoke out against the atmosphere, many of them showed expressions of contemplation.
Ban Lan, Ban Zichu, is the nephew of Empress Dowager Bing and a standard example of a royal house official.
At the beginning of the year, in Yecheng, Your Majesty appointed Princess Zhen's cousin, Zhen Xiang, as the Commander of the Vanguard Cavalry, to join the main force and head north.
A few days ago, Your Majesty appointed Yongqiu Wang Cao Zhi as the Grand Envoy, and today, You appointed Ban Lan as the Commandant of Infantry. Both are royal house officials and collateral relations. Is it that the wind of the Great Wei has changed?
Cao Rui had observed the expressions of all the ministers present, and he spoke softly: "Do you think that I am using royalty too much?"
Man Chong answered immediately, "According to the old system of the Western Han Dynasty and the early years of the Huangchu period, the posts of the Five Schools were originally mainly held by relatives and close associates of the imperial family. Ban Zichu being appointed as the Commandant of Infantry is in accordance with the old system."
"What Man Chong said is true. There is no major problem with the Commandant of Infantry position," Sima Yi added from the side.
"Although the reason is logical, you are all the esteemed ministers of the Great Wei. I still want to explain my decision to you," Cao Rui said with a slight shake of his head. "Just as I did for the near-kin royal family, first appointing the kings to real posts in Luozhong, and then appointing Yongqiu Wang as the Grand Envoy. The royal house officials are already my relatives, so they should be appointed together."
"In the previous battles, Zhen Xiang led a thousand cavalry troops, wasn't that doing the military affairs well? I have my own judgment and will not let the royal house officials rise to high positions suddenly, and revert to the old system of the Han Dynasty."
"Give them an opportunity, if they perform well in their duties, they will be promoted along with ordinary ministers based on their merits. If they are not suitable for important positions, let them serve in low-ranking posts. The Great Wei can afford these salaries."
The ministers in the hall bowed in respect: "Your Majesty is wise!"
Cao Rui smiled self-mockingly in his heart.
Things like power distribution can only be attempted continuously, similar to using Cao Zhi, Zhen Xiang, and Ban Lan, in order to find a suitable balance.
How could Cao Rui give a perfect answer to something that has puzzled later generations for nearly two thousand years?
The disorder in the royal house during the Han Dynasty led to a lack of order. During the Han Dynasty, it was possible for a common and unremarkable person to be appointed as a Grand General to assist in governing the state, which is impossible in today's Great Wei. As long as it does not involve the highest power and the positions of the royal house officials are directly appointed by the emperor, they are naturally part of the imperial party, attached to the emperor himself.
These princes and collateral relations are first placed in unimportant positions to gain experience. We do not ask for them to be rewarded, but only for them to avoid mistakes. If they truly stand out, they can be used when necessary!
How can one know their abilities without trying? Furthermore, the talents of Zhen Xiang and Ban Lan are already known to Cao Rui, who is aware that their abilities are superior to the average person, which is already enough.
Sima Yi, seeing that the discussion in the hall had paused, spoke cautiously with experience in managing the funerals of Emperor Wu, bowing and suggesting:
"Your Majesty, before I return to Luoyang, there are two matters that must be resolved."
"Yes, Sima Yin reminded me. It must be the title and tomb. " Cao Rui looked at the ministers in the hall: "What title should Empress Dowager Ning be given? Liu Sheng, does Ban Yong's treatise on posthumous titles have any explanation?"
Liu Yu bowed and replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, according to Ban Yong's Treatise on Posthumous Titles, 'piety' is a title for being kind and loving to one's family, 'shun' is for being saintly and widely known, 'yi' is for being gentle and saintly, and 'shun' is for being kind-hearted and harmonious with the people. The title should be chosen from these four."
Cao Rui secretly calculated in his heart.
Cao Cao was the Emperor Wu, so the posthumous title for Empress Dowager Ning should also start with the character 'wu'.
Among the four posthumous titles 'Wu Xiao', 'Wu Xuan', 'Wu Yi', and 'Wu Shun', only 'Wu Xuan' and 'Wu Yi' are acceptable, but Cao Rui does not want to use the character 'yi'.
"I think 'Wu Xuan' is excellent. Is there any objection from the ministers?" Cao Rui asked.
The ministers in the hall all expressed that the words 'Wu Xuan' are excellent.
Such matters would not be picked by anyone. It is likely that they are dissatisfied with their own long lives. Lu Yu is a learned person, and the four words he provided are all appropriate. Let the emperor choose whatever he wants.
Cao Rui calmly said: "As for the matter of burial, Sima Yin will escort the coffin back to Gaoling for burial."
After saying this, Cao Rui stood up in front of all the ministers and walked over to Sima Yi: "This journey is far, so it will be hard work for you as my messenger."
Sima Yi slightly lowered his head: "How dare I say 'weary'? Serving the emperor is my duty."
Cao Rui sighed, "In the twenty-fifth year of Jian'an, Emperor Wu passed away. It was Sima Yin who alone handled the funeral arrangements in Luoyang. It seems that with Sima Yin in Luoyang, the funeral rites will certainly be flawless."
"May this journey be smooth."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Sima Yi bowed, and the Chancellor of the Secretariat, Liu Fang, had already drafted an edict. The edict consisted of three parts. The first was about the posthumous title, the return and burial in Gaoling, and the event of posthumous honor. The second was about assigning Sima Yi as the Imperial Messenger to oversee the funeral rites. The third was about appointing Ban Lan as the Commandant of Infantry.
In the twenty-fifth year of the Jian'an era, after Cao Cao passed away in Luoyang, his coffin was escorted back to his burial site in Gaoling in Yecheng by Sima Yi, Jia Kui, Xiahou Shang, and others. This time, Empress Dowager Bing with the posthumous title Wu Xuan will be buried in Gaoling as well, and Sima Yi and Ban Lan will also travel to Yecheng together.
It's hard to say if we can meet in Yecheng.
The emperor's edict was an urgent national mourning matter, and Sima Yi dare not be the slightest bit negligent. After receiving the imperial edict from the Chancellor of the Secretariat, Liu Fang, he was personally handed off by Emperor Cao Rui from his residence as Governor of Liaodong Prefecture. After a brief organization, within half an hour he rode west with one hundred cavalry and three horses per man.
Over four thousand miles away, it is still possible to cover one hundred and fifty miles a day without regard for the horses' strength. It would take over twenty days to reach there.
It's not just the horses, I'm sure the people will also lose a lot of weight traveling so far.
After riding out of the west gate of Xiangping City, Sima Yi turned and looked at the Xiangping City Gate still showing some traces of wartime, laughing self-mockingly.
How did I end up becoming an expert on funerals!
Just as Cao Rui was about to send Sima Yi out of the front gate of the Governor's residence, he returned to the hall when Liu Fang delivered another sealed report from Wei Zhen.
In front of the curious eyes of the ministers, Emperor Cao Rui briefly opened and scanned the report, then closed it again.
"Archive it!" Cao Rui placed the report in Liu Fang's hands.
"Obey the order." Liu Fang replied.
The emperor did not wish to say more, and no minister asked further questions. As for the contents of the report, it was merely a message about Yan Fu Yin Shu, a talented student who graduated from the Son of the Heaven's Academy in the third year of Taihe, and his intention to serve his country, who had reached Wu.
...
July 15th.
Jia county, southeast of Xuchang city, fifty li away, near the Jia channel.
It was still hot and unbearable in Xuchang in mid-July. Along the nearly two-hundred-mile-long Jia Hou Canal, there were nearly forty construction sites of various sizes.
The prosperity of the Great Wei cannot be separated from the system of settled farming. Xuchang, as the place where Cao Cao first introduced the settled farming system, has the largest number of settled farming families and the most extensive cultivated land in the Great Wei.
In addition to paying a proportional share of their harvest, settled farming families also had to fulfill their obligatory labor service as directed by the state. Previously, this labor service was an additional burden for settled farming families, but since the second year of Taihe, not only was their food provided, but each laborer received several coins every day.
Strength is something that, after being exhausted, will return after a good night's sleep. Moreover, with money to be earned, why not do it? This is a great benevolent policy of the court!
The people are willing to participate in labor service, but the officials responsible for commanding may not necessarily be willing.
At the end of last year, all one hundred graduates from the Son of the Heaven's Academy in the third year of Taihe were appointed by the emperor to serve as the lowest-ranking officials in settling farming in Xuchang and its vicinity.
Simiao and Shan Tao, Shan Ju Yuan, who were related to him, both wore straw hats and commanded the people in the dredging of the river channels.
At noon when the sun was at its hottest, the people were ordered to spread out under the trees for cooling.
Sima Shao wiped the sweat off his forehead and complained to Shan Tao beside him: "Brother Ju Yuan, look at my brother and I, we've been working here for more than thirty days. When will the dredging of the river channels ever end? The common people can take turns to rest, but we have no turns to rest!"
"Lord Dong has gone over it once and said there are no problems, so we can finish up. But then there's this Zhao Official from the state who says that after the river channels are dredged, we need to pile up the soil on both sides into low embankments! This is just idleness!"
"Shouzi, just calm down." Shantao, six years older than Simiao, handed him a clay bowl filled with cool well water: "The heat is unbearable. Drink some first. The Jia Hou Canal is two hundred li long, and Lord Dong can only manage a small part of Yingchuan Prefecture. What matters most is what the state says."
"Perhaps the requirements of Lord Huang are higher, we should just do as we are ordered here." (Chapter ends)
