The wet ground had a thin layer of water, reflecting the lights in the garden of Taichung. A step across would create ripples and the sound of splashing water.
"Mr. Dong, walk slowly."
Wang Jī stood near the entrance of the Secretary of State's gate, slightly bowing and gesturing towards Dong Zhao. Dong Zhao nodded and indicated to cross the threshold directly towards the east, though it was slow, he didn't stop at all.
That was the direction of the Bureau of State Council, not the way out of Nan Gong Palace. It was already so late, how could Prime Minister Dong have public affairs to deal with? Until Dong Zhao's back was out of sight, Wang Ji came back to his senses, hesitated for a while, and then walked into the government office again to whisper something to Wei Zhen softly.
The Secretariat of State and the Ministry of War are the two most important functional departments of the central government of Great Wei. One is responsible for state affairs across the empire, and the other is responsible for military affairs. There are always duty officers on duty regardless of how late it is.
Dong Zhao walked directly into the value room of the Left Supervisor of the Ministry of War, Wang Guan.
It was late at night, and Wang Guan was still busy with official business. This middle-aged official, who is in his forties, is usually praised as the most benevolent head of the Ministry of War. Previously, when the emperor led the Secretariat of State and the Ministry of War to Xu Chang, Wang Guan stayed in Luoyang to assist Dong Zhao in handling military affairs.
As a result, after a series of events, Wang Chang was summoned by the emperor from Yecheng to Liaodong, and the newly appointed Right Supervisor of the Ministry of War, Liu Ye, was still on his way back from Liaodong. The burden on Wang Guan's shoulders grew heavier as well. There was a constant exchange of documents between Yecheng and Luoyang, and Wang Guan rarely had time to return home on time.
Watching Dong Zhao rush to open the door, Wang Guan surprisedly put down his brush and stood up to welcome him: "Prime Minister Dong, what's wrong? Why are you so urgent?"
Dong Zhao's face was dark: "Great Chamber, do you have Huang Quan's archives in the Ministry of War?"
"Huang Quan, Marquis Huang Heng?" Wang Guan was puzzled: "Isn't he the Governor of Yu Province? Traditionally, he is under the administration of the Secretariat of State. How could he be in the Ministry of War?"
Dong Zhao slapped the table hard and glanced sideways at Wang Guan: "Think carefully! Isn't Huang Quan the General of the South previously? How can he not exist?"
Wang Guan hesitated for a moment, seeing Dong Zhao's fierce expression, he was momentarily puzzled. Just as he was about to get up to look for it, he couldn't help but ask, "Prime Minister Dong, what has happened?"
"What's happening?" Dong Zhao sneered: "A fallen general, fortunately supported by the emperor to be used in Yu State, but has repeatedly wanted to impeach Dong Ji! Great Chamber, do you know that last year Huang Quan ridiculed Dong Ji twice in his memos to the emperor? I swallowed those two times. This year the emperor is not in Luoyang, Huang Quan is causing trouble again."
"I have only one son, and if I can't even protect him, what's the point of being an official up to the rank of the Nine Ministers or the Western Pavilion?" Dong Zhao pointed outside, "Great Chamber, go quickly!"
Wang Guan is indeed benevolent. He has served in the Secretariat of State under Dong Zhao for more than two years, and can be considered a close trusted person. Moreover, Huang Quan is an isolated official with no ties to the officials in Luozhong, so Dong Zhao need not worry that Wang Guan will reveal this matter.
On another level, Wang Guan is from Dongjin in Yuzhou Prefecture, and Dong Zhao is from Jiyin Prefecture, Yuzhou. Dongjin and Jiyin are neighboring prefectures, so they can be considered as same-village people. In this era, same-village relationships are one of the most important types of close relationships.
Huan Fan, also known as Huan Yuanze, was able to be so favored because of his origin from Longqiang in Qiao Commandery, which is a hometown of the Cao family.
Wang Guan had no choice but to leave the table and walked outside. As soon as Wang Guan moved, Dong Zhao himself sat down in front of Wang Guan's table, picked up his brush and dipped it in ink, as if he wanted to write something.
Wang Guan hesitated and said, "I still request Prime Minister Dong to control his anger, the wise choice is to find a solution to this matter...
"It can't be smoothed over!" Dong Zhao said resolutely, "Great Chamber, you haven't reached my age yet, you don't understand. At over seventy, if I don't think about my descendants, what else is there to do in office? Go, go quickly!"
"Yes." Wang Guan nodded and then walked out quickly.
After all, it is the central government of Wei, even at night, within an incense time, Wang Guan has brought back Huang Quan's archives.
"Put it here," Dong Zhao said, writing a letter without looking up and asking, "Is there any news from Yecheng? Where in the newly established Commandery of Ying is there a need for two thousand stones?"
Wang Guan thought for a moment: "Among the four prefectures of Ying, the emperor appointed the bachelor-in-court official Du Wubo as the prefect of Liaodong. Both Yanleng and Daifang are under control of the governor, who continues to serve in his position. They have not been replaced yet. Xuantu selected an old Gokuzhi lieutenant named Chen Ning Chen Yuanli."
Dong Zhao wrinkled his brow: "Camp State even has no vacancies? What about the other border prefectures?"
Wang Guan said: "The newly established Changli Prefecture has not been appointed yet!"
"That will be Changli Prefecture," Dong Zhao nodded slightly, added a few more words to the blank document, looked it over carefully, put down the brush, stood up, and said to Wang Guan:
"The one on the left, give it to the Commandery of Yingchuan. The one in the middle, give it to Zhao Yan. The one on the right, give it to Your Majesty," said Dong Zhao.
Dong Zhao showed no intention of hiding from Wang Guan. Wang Guan walked up and skimmed through the documents, and his face turned pale in surprise, "Prime Minister Dong, why go to such extremes? A trivial matter within a single prefecture should not lead to your retirement."
The three documents on the table were as follows: one was a personal letter to Dong Zhao asking him to apologize to Huang Quan and resign his post; another was a reply to Zhao Yan in Xiangyang; and the third was Dong Zhao's petition to the emperor for retirement, citing his son's inability to perform his duties in Yingchuan as a reason, and recommending him for the position of prefect in the newly established Changli Prefecture, tasked with defending the northern border of Youzhou for Your Majesty!
Dong Zhao said, "Great Chamber, at your age of over forty as the Left Supervisor of the Ministry of War, you are certainly well-employed. But you have not experienced many political struggles in the capital. Today, I will teach you a lesson on this matter."
Wang Guan nodded and agreed even though he didn't understand what Dong Zhao meant. He also moved a chair and sat next to Dong Zhao.
"Prime Minister Dong, please speak, I am all ears."
Dong Zhao stroked his beard and said, "As for political struggles, it is a struggle to win the emperor's favor. A wise emperor in office is very different from an emperor like Huan and Ling who are dull."
Wang Guan continued, "At present, it is a wise emperor who is in office."
Dong Zhao nodded: "During the reign of Emperor Ling, I had already been appointed a state scholar-official and entered the government. Forty years ago, when I was still in Hebei, Yuan Shao appointed me as the Prefect of Julü. Old man like me has seen too many struggles and controversies in the world."
"When an emperor is weak, to engage in political struggles, one must please the emperor and reward his followers. Even great ministers and wise officials can't avoid using these tactics to keep their positions." Dong Zhao looked at Wang Guan and added, "Don't be surprised. Even famous ministers need to use these methods to protect themselves."
Wang Guan whispered back: "It still depends on the times."
Dong Zhao continued, "Nowadays, we have a wise and enlightened emperor, and the struggle is for the emperor's favor. Methods like framing charges are not applicable. The emperor has his own balance to weigh the importance of his ministers. To compete with Huang Quan, I can only use this method openly."
Under the surface? What about secretly? Wang Guan was listening attentively, but did not ask out loud.
Dong Zhao didn't say anything, and Wang Guan didn't ask either. However, the heart he had mentioned earlier was finally somewhat calm.
Although the result of this memorial might be even more severe than a direct impeachment of Huang Quan, at least it's not a direct impeachment, which makes it easier to cover up on the surface.
As for Huang Quan's fate, who cares?
……
The transmission of messages from the border regions is indeed slow, but the transmission of information in the central regions near Luoyang is smooth and unobstructed.
Although it often rained on the way, it only delayed them by more than a day.
On the evening of August 16th, Zhao Yan in Xiangyang received a letter from Dong Zhao in Luoyang.
Like Yangzhou, Jingzhou is also one of the states at the border of the Great Wei. However, in terms of perceived territory, the Great Wei has more land in Jingzhou. In addition to Xiangyang Commandery, there are also Nanyang Commandery to the north, Nanzhang Commandery to the west, and the Eastern Three Commanderies, as well as a small half of Jiangxia Commandery to the east, totaling six and a half commanderies. This is much more dignified than Yangzhou, which only has Lufeng Commandery and a half of Huaihuai Commandery remaining.
The current governor of Jingzhou, Xuan Qiu Xing, was ordered to move the capital from the city of Wuyang in Nanyang Commandery to Yinjiang in Xiangyang Commandery. This makes him a 'comander-in-chief defending the border' and a 'governor defending the border'.
Zhao Yan put down the letter in front of him, looked up at the people in the hall and said, "Dong Zhao and Zheng Zhongshu have gone to request imperial orders. Now what should we do? Who is going to Jianshi?"
Xiahou Ru sighed, "Do not worry, Marquis Zhao. Since the court has not assigned anyone, I will go to Jianshi. After all, I am the General of South pacification. Although my rank does not reach that of the General of Succession, I believe it is sufficient."
Zhao Yan squinted his eyes and thought for a moment. "Jianshi cannot be without someone, and neither can Xiangyang. If you go there, what should we do about Xiangyang?"
"Isn't there Marquis Zhao in Xiangyang?" Xiahou Ru said, "With Marquis Zhao here, the rest of Niujin, Zhu style, Shen dan and so on are all veteran generals. I think it won't be a problem. Jianshi has many soldiers. If Marquis Zhao can't go there, I'll go."
"Ah," Zhao Yan sighed. "Then it's best for Junlin to go. I will stay here in Xiangyang and wait for the next instructions from the court."
Xiahou Ru said: "Since the first year of Taiping, the court has been constantly withdrawing troops from Jingzhou to Menglai. When General Yan was stationed in Chang'an, at that time, Chen Dukang was still in office. Eight thousand troops were drawn from Jingzhou. In the second year of Taiping, the court sent me to lead troops westward for relief, and I took one thousand troops with me. Just before I returned, I tried several times to ask General Yuan for more troops, but was turned down each time. I had to return empty-handed."
"Last year, General Yuan returned 8,000 troops to Jingzhou. Including the previous 22,000 external troops in Jingzhou and 20,000 regional troops, we were able to muster a total of 50,000 troops. However, among these 50,000 troops, the area of Jianshi where General Hou is stationed has an army of 25,000 troops, which accounts for half of Jingzhou's total."
Zhao Yan said, "Then let's go. We will leave tomorrow and do not delay any further. Traveling by land to Jianshi instead of taking a boat, Junlin is a senior general. It is not safe to travel by boat on the Han River."
Xiahou Ru nodded: "If we travel by land, from Fucheng to Caoyang, and then through Anchang and Suixian, we can reach Anlu in three days. However, it is raining heavily recently, so the road may be difficult to travel."
Zhao Yan heard this and put down the writing in his hands. Then he slowly walked out of the door and reached for the eaves under the overhang, catching a few raindrops that were falling. Within a few seconds, his hand was filled with water, and many droplets splashed out.
"Look at this heavy rain, Junlin, do you remember anything?"
Xiahou Yu also stood beside Zhao Yan and sighed, "Even if we can remember something, what can we do here? Marquis Zhao, has the emperor returned to Anyang?"
"What Dong Zhao wrote in his letter says that the emperor should be returning from Liaodong at this time. But the route to Liaodong is far, and I don't know where he has arrived." Zhao Yan shook his head with a helpless expression: "Jingzhou is not like Yangzhou or Rongliang. Besides Junlin, who else can we send to lead troops?"
"Console the official Wen Pei properly. I will submit another memorandum to elevate his son Wen Dai to the position of Assistant General. After all, he is a senior official of the state. If there is any trouble, please send me a letter in time."
"Yes, I understand." Xiahou Yu replied. (Chapter ends)
