Simaiyi's troops hurried westward. On July 16th noon, Simaiyi arrived at the old site of Jueshi, resting for half a day. The emperor had previously encamped here with his army, and the camps and settlements were ready-made. When moving the people, they had also used it, so there was no shortage of water, food or utensils.
The journey was arduous and distant; without seeking some enjoyment along the way, it would have been too difficult to bear.
Simaiyi and Chen Gui, two of his officials, walked south slowly from the camp, and soon found themselves on the same Jueshi rock where the emperor and his officials had discussed poetry two months ago. The scenery on Jueshi rock was still as usual after two months.
Simaiyi, with his back to him and his head raised, looked out at the white waves on the nearby rock. He sighed softly, "The Emperor Wu had great talent and a poetic spirit. Emperor Wen also liked literature, and the current emperor was also fond of writing. This scene is so grand that it is hard not to be inspired by poetry."
"Zicheng, can you compose poetry?"
Chen Gui, standing by the side, shook his head and said, "My lord, I am not good at writing. I don't know if there are any ideas from the Duke?"
“Yes.” Simaiyi joyfully accepted the steps offered by his subordinate and said, "When I was at Jueshi before, I had some enlightenment in my heart. On the way, I constantly pondered over it. I thought of making it after we returned from the army, but unexpectedly, I received an imperial edict to return to Luoyang."
Chen Gui smiled and said, "Why don't you write it here today, Prime Minister? If you leave it on paper in the camp, with Your Majesty's literary thinking, it might even inspire him to write poetry at Jueshi again. It could turn into a fine story."
"Good news," Simaiyi chuckled. "Good news is fine! Zicheng, this is not a poem, more like a song. I will sing it, and you can write it down for me."
"Yes." Chen Gui nodded in agreement.
Simaiyi looked once again at the scene where the sea met the sky in the distance, listened to the white waves continuously crashing against the black rock reefs, and slowly recited:
"The heavens and earth were created, and the sun and moon shone again."
"Facing destiny, exerting all our strength in distant lands."
"The mountains and rivers tremble, banners flying eastward."
"The Huqia is silent, the barbarians are terrified."
"Three generations of bandits, wiped out in one moment."
"The maps are fully opened, the Jueshi is vast and desolate."
"Cleanse the evil, return to one's hometown."
"Purify the vast expanse of ten thousand li, unite all barbarian lands."
Simaiyi stood on Jueshi with his hands behind his back, reciting the song he had composed, slowly and with a rhythmical rise and fall.
After reciting the song, Chen Gui clapped his hands in appreciation.
"His Majesty believes that the Prime Minister's composition can be considered a masterpiece! The atmosphere is magnificent and the ambition is high!" Chen Gui praised in succession: "His Majesty has already memorized all the songs the Prime Minister recited. After returning to the camp, he will transcribe them down!"
Simaiyi slightly waved his hand: "There's no need. I will write it myself. Just as a prelude for Your Majesty. When Your Majesty arrives at Jueshi, we can produce some great works with the other ministers present!"
......
On July 28th, Wang Chang and Wang Xiong finally received their orders and arrived at the gate of Xiangping City. After entering the city together, they were hurriedly led in the direction of the City Administrator's office by tiger guards.
"Met General Wang, Lord Wang," Xu Shu bowed and greeted the two at the gates of the Prefectural Government.
"Met Xu Zhongshu," Wang Chang and Wang Xiong greeted Xu Shu respectively, and Wang Chang took the lead in saying, "Xu Zhongshu, we heard news of the national mourning on our journey. Should we first pay our respects to the emperor or bow three times?"
Xu Shu thought for a moment and said, "Let's see the emperor first and follow his instructions. Please."
"Thank you."
"Thank you, Xu Zhongshu."
Soon, Wang Chang and Wang Xiong saw the emperor in his mourning clothes in the main hall.
"We, the ministers, pay our respects to Your Majesty."
"Stand up," Cao Rui looked at the two and pointed to the chair next to it, saying calmly: "Two Wang Gentlemen, please sit. It's true that I have been waiting for your arrival here for so long."
"His Majesty is ashamed," Wang Chang bowed and said: "The emperor has entrusted me with the task of coming here. However, I never imagined that I would be able to accept such a heavy responsibility as the commander of the military affairs of Xing state. My position is low and my virtue is shallow, so I hope that His Majesty can withdraw the imperial edict and select another capable minister to lead them in the future."
Cao Rui looked up at Wang Chang: "This matter is not a favor, but a heavy burden. Do you, Wang Gentleman, not wish to share my worries?"
"I dare not," Wang Chang slightly bowed: "Your Majesty has issued orders, and I must comply."
Wang Chang and the emperor engaged in a polite show of formalities, while Wang Xiong did not have to go through the same process. Wang Xiong had previously served as the prefectural administrator of Youzhou, but in the second year of Taiping, due to the emperor's greater trust in Liu Ye, he temporarily gave up his position to Liu Ye and served in Chenliu for two years.
From the position of Prefectural Administrator of Youzhou to that of Yingzhou, it can be said that he is well-versed in the ways of the job.
Cao Rui coughed lightly: "Today, both General Wang and Governor Wang have arrived. I and the ministers have carefully grasped the situation in Yingzhou here, and the major policies have been determined. You two should follow the arrangements of the imperial court."
"General Man," Cao Rui pointed to Man Chong, who was standing to his right and closest to him, and said: "Yingzhou has just come under the rule of the Great Wei, and it is a blank canvas waiting to be painted. The overall strategy will be explained by General Man to you two."
"Submissive," Man Chong answered loudly, and then stood up to look at Wang Chang and Wang Xiong. The two followed suit, bowing their hands in respect to Man Chong.
Man Chong said: "Many details of the event, there are official documents for you two. Today in the hall only talk about strategy."
"Yingzhou has four commanderies and three kingdoms, a total of seven commanderies and kingdoms, which are newly under the rule of the Great Wei. The four commanderies of Liaodong, Xuanwu, Yelang, and Dafang have had people resettled to ensure stability, and the army has been returned to Henan. These matters do not concern you two. In other words, the governance of these four commanderies should be like that of the inland provinces and commanderies."
"Yes," Wang Chang and Wang Xiong nodded in agreement.
Man Chong continued to say: "The three tributary countries of Gokusen, Fuyu, and Baiji will have more things to do. According to the arrangements of His Majesty and the imperial court, there can be three stages for the arrangement of these three countries."
"Three stages?" Wang Xiong repeated softly.
"Three stages," Man Chong nodded: "The first stage, the imperial court has temporarily set a period of two years for Yingzhou. In these two years, the main policy is to soothe and not to over-restrict, but to dispatch more officials to patrol the countries to prevent illegal activities."
Wang Xiong broke in and asked: "Is it like checking the criminal justice of the inland provinces and commanderies?"
"It's not necessary," Man Chong explained. "Whatever you do, just make sure these three countries become familiar with the officials of the Great Wei and strengthen their compliance with the Great Wei's system."
"What about the second one?" Wang Chang asked.
Man Chong replied: "The second stage is still two years. In these three countries, gradually implement the county and township system. Regardless of what the Koreans, the Suyus, or the Baijis create, just let them be equally divided as the inland counties and districts, and they will receive a salary from the state."
Wang Chang nodded, "The theory of form and spirit, first there is the form, then there is the spirit!"
"Correct," Man Chong continued to say: "In the third stage, it is still two years. In these two years, you need to choose the officials in these three countries and report to the court. After approval, they will be sent to work in the inland provinces and commanderies."
Wang Xiong thought for a moment and asked, "Why not serve as officials in Yingzhou?"
Beside him, Liu Ye laughed and said, "Yuan Bo, there aren't many noble but idle positions in Yingzhou for them to fill."
Wang Xiong suddenly understood, turned to the emperor, and said: "Your Majesty, it seems I understand now. For example, the county magistrate of Gokusen in a certain county, who is an official with a salary of 600 cattles, is ordered by the court to become an official with a salary of 1000 cattles. He can serve in Luoyang or other places. The court can also send Han officials to serve as county magistrates in their counties!"
"Gradual progress, gradually let these three countries accept the imperial system, and incorporate them into the Yingzhou's district system of the Great Wei!"
Cao Rui smiled and replied, "Whether we call it gradual progress or layer-by-layer implementation, the point is to take a small step forward each time, so that the people of Gokusen, Fuyu, and Baiji won't have any thoughts of rebellion."
"And you, Wang Gentleman," Cao Rui pointed to Wang Chang, "The family of Song Guan has one person still in Luoyang who reported the crime of Song Can. The other is a eunuch who has been imprisoned for many years. All others have been exterminated by the family. The families of officials in Liaodong have also been transferred to Yecheng."
"I left you with 10,000 troops from the central plains in Yingzhou and Xiangping. I also recruited 2,000 troops from Gokusen, Fuyu, and Baiji. This totals to 12,200. According to the establishment of the camp administrator of Yingzhou with 25,000 troops by the court, General Wang should also select 13,000 troops from the four commanderies."
Before Wang Chang could answer, Man Chong interjected, "The 50,000 troops under Song Can when he was in Liaodong; the court has taken back 5,000 cavalry and 5,000 infantry to Henan. The remaining forces have all been disbanded and sent back to their hometowns to cultivate the land."
"At that time, you need to recruit more troops in Liaodong. How to do it, with your two years of experience in the Military Command Department, you can handle it properly."
Wang Chang bowed and accepted, and then added: "Your Majesty, if Lord Wang encounters resistance in implementing the policy among these three countries, should the subject command troops to deter them?"
Cao Rui nodded: "I have discussed this with the ministers. If there is rebellious behavior in these three countries, and if there is an urgent situation that requires fighting, you, Wang Chang, may lead the army to conquer them. However, as these three countries are now under the administration of Yingzhou of the Great Wei, the degree of severity is left to your own judgment."
"Wang Gentleman has served in the Military Command Department for two years and is generally sensible. Xiangping is far away from Luoyang, more than 4,000 miles, with poor communication. If there is any important matter, you should discuss it with Wang Gentleman and the Wang Governor together. I also assigned Duan Zhao to Yuyong. If there are emergencies, he can provide you with a retreat."
After Cao Rui's instructions, Wang Chang and Wang Xiong rose together, bowed and thanked the emperor for the command. (This chapter is complete)
