In terms of status, Yecheng can now almost compete with Luoyang.
Wei County, where Yecheng is located, immediately became Cao Cao's base camp after he took it from the Yuan family.
Later, Cao Cao was called Duke of Wei and King of Wei, both of which used Yecheng as his base.
In the past twenty years, almost all the high officials and dignitaries of Wei State had close ties with Yecheng. Even the families of generals from various places who stayed in the interior were mostly in Yecheng and a small half in Luoyang.
Yecheng undoubtedly became the center of Hebei.
In the afternoon, outside the south gate of Yecheng, Jizhou Governor Lu Zhao and Weijun Prefect Zheng Hun were waiting for Wang Lang's arrival.
Wang Lang's carriage, escorted by a team of cavalry, slowly stopped at the south gate of Yecheng. Lu Zhao and Zheng Hun also went to greet him.
"Welcome Prince to Ye." Seeing Wang Lang getting off the carriage, the two of them bowed and saluted.
"Alas, my old bones can hardly walk any more." Wang Lang sighed softly, "Zizhan (Lü Zhao), Duke Wen (Zheng Hun), both of you should get on my carriage and we can go into the city together."
After the three of them got on the carriage together, Lu Zhao began to greet Wang Lang.
"Your Excellency, you have been traveling so long, and you must have been very tired. I heard from the envoy who came to Yecheng a few days ago that your Excellency came to Yecheng with the imperial seal to repair the mausoleum of Empress Wen Zhao?"
Wang Lang nodded gently: "That's right."
Lü Zhao was younger, having been a minister employed by the late Emperor Cao Pi during the Huangchu period, and was now less than 50 years old. Zheng Hun was older, about 60 years old.
Wang Lang understood that after Wu Zhi, the governor of Hebei, went to Yecheng, Lü Zhao, the governor of Jizhou, was the most senior official in Yecheng. If he, the prime minister, found anything wrong in Hebei, Lü Zhao would be the one to suffer.
Wang Lang looked at Lü Zhao and said slowly, "Zizhan, I have nothing to lose from speaking directly to you two. His Majesty sent me here to inspect the affairs of Yecheng."
Lu Zhao frowned slightly.
What else could happen in Yecheng?
As the governor of Jizhou, the number of powerful families in his jurisdiction was the second largest after the governor. Zhen Xiang had gone to the school many times in the past year to request an investigation, and Lu Zhao was also aware of it.
But this matter is too sensitive.
No one can check, no one dares to check, and no one even dares to mention it.
As soon as Wu Zhi left, did he ask Lu Zhao to write a letter to the emperor, saying that your uncle's family was bullied and your biological mother died unjustly?
Lu Zhao had no choice but to play dumb and try to fool around. If some things were not mentioned, it would be fine as if nothing had happened. If they were really exposed to the court, it would be a disaster.
Lu Zhao cupped his hands and said, "I have something to tell you, my Lord."
Wang Lang said expressionlessly, "What's the matter? Zizhan, tell me."
Lu Zhao paused for a few moments, then said, "It is like this, Prince. Just a few days ago, Zhen Xiang of the Zhen family, the nephew of Empress Wen Zhao, once again went to the school office in Yecheng."
"It took less than half an incense stick of time for Zhen Xiang to arrive at the School Affairs Office before School Affairs Commandant Zhao Qu committed suicide in the lobby of the School Affairs Office."
Wang Lang still had no expression. To him, as the Minister of Rites, there was not much difference between a school lieutenant and an ordinary clerk. "Did Zhen Xiang force Zhao Qu to death?"
Zheng Hun interrupted and said, "My Lord, I did summon Zhen Xiang to ask about this matter. But Zhen Xiang insisted that Zhao Qu was fine when he left, and this matter had nothing to do with him."
Wang Lang asked again: "Why did Zhao Qu die? Do you two have any conclusions?"
Lü Zhao and Zheng Hun exchanged a glance and said, "My Lord, I think it has something to do with the fact that Empress Wen Zhao was sentenced to death by the late emperor."
Wang Lang frowned slightly, showing a hint of worry.
Before leaving Luoyang, Cao Rui told Wang Lang clearly that he was sending Wang Lang to Yecheng to investigate the incident involving Wei Feng, not the incident involving Empress Wen Zhao and Zhen.
Wei Feng has been dead for ten years. Why should we investigate Wei Feng?
In order to successfully inherit the throne of King of Wei, Cao Pi made many promises to his ministers in exchange for their support.
Some of the promises were clearly fulfilled.
For example, Zhong Yao became the Grand Marshal, Chen Qun and Sima Yi served as Recorders of the Secretariat, and Wu Zhi became the Governor of Hebei. These were all visible on the surface.
But those things that cannot be seen are actually hidden dangers.
For example, Cui Yan and Mao Jie died. They selected so many officials during their ten years in office. What were the attitudes of these officials?
For example, Wang Su, the son of Wang Si Tu, clearly wanted to defend his teacher Song Zhong. Cao Pi killed Wei Feng and implicated a series of people. From the perspective of the time, he achieved his goal and frightened many officials. Even Cao Cao was helpless.
But who did they offend?
In short, Cao Rui's intention of asking Wang Lang to come to Yecheng was to find out who in Yecheng, or Hebei, might be potentially dissatisfied with the emperor.
And figure out how these people came to be.
To put it bluntly, it is mine clearance.
Wang Lang gladly accepted the task.
The first three ministers of the Wei Dynasty were Jia Xu, Hua Xin and Wang Lang. In fact, Cao Pi had completely different reasons for appointing them.
Jia Xu was the Grand Marshal because, as Cao Cao's most critical military adviser, he always clearly supported Cao Pi as the crown prince.
Hua Xin was appointed as the Minister of Education because he was a role model of morality and a famous scholar in the court. He had always been a bridge between Cao Cao and the Han court, and had also acted as a thief for Cao Cao and Cao Pi many times. Wang Lang was appointed as the Minister of Works because of his knowledge of Confucian classics and administrative ability.
In other words, Wang Lang was respected by scholars for his attainments in Confucian classics, and was also a capable minister in charge of practical affairs of the Wei State. He was a man with both face and substance.
A typical capable minister.
When Wang Lang came to Yecheng this time, his son Wang Su was still at home.
Cao Rui trusted Wang Lang, and Wang Lang naturally trusted the emperor as well. The emperor was already well-known for his generosity towards his officials.
After the three of them entered Wu Zhi's former governor's mansion and talked for a while, Wang Lang sent someone to call Zhen Xiang.
After Zhen Xiang arrived, Wang Lang dismissed his attendants, asked Lu Zhao and Zheng Hun to leave, and talked with Zhen Xiang alone.
Zhen Xiang bowed to Wang Lang and said, "Zhen Xiang greets His Excellency."
Wang Lang nodded amiably and said, "Bo Ming, His Majesty sent me to Yecheng this time in response to your petition to the court in February requesting the construction of a mausoleum for Empress Wen Zhao."
"You were the first to bring this up. What do you think? Why don't you share it with me?"
When Zhen Xiang saw Wang Lang's friendly expression, the emotions that had been suppressed in her heart for many years were finally responded to, and her eyes began to turn slightly red.
Zhen Xiang bowed and said, "My Lord, in the second year of Huangchu, the mausoleum of Empress Wen Zhao was simply built thirty miles west of Yecheng and north of the Zhang River."
"I think that the first is to offer sacrifices to Empress Wen Zhao in the name of the court, and the second is to rebuild the mausoleum to make it conform to the regulations of the empress."
Zhen Xiang raised his head and looked at Wang Lang's face: "Third, I hope that the Minister of Justice will be fair and help Your Majesty find out who was the accomplice who harmed Empress Wen Zhao."
Wang Lang looked at the indignant young man calmly.
Offering sacrifices and repairing tombs are both natural things.
But if we investigate the accomplices who harmed Empress Zhen, aren't the main culprits the late emperor and Empress Dowager Guo? The late emperor is gone, but Empress Dowager Guo is still alive. Is this going to cause chaos in Luoyang?
Wang Lang decided to find out more about Zhen Xiang first and then discuss other things.
Wang Lang stroked his beard and said, "When I came here, His Majesty had already granted me the imperial seal and the imperial sacrifice to offer sacrifice to Empress Wen Zhao. It was also my duty to rebuild the mausoleum."
"I am old, and the carriage has almost shaken me to pieces along the way. Let me rest for three days, and then go to offer sacrifices to Empress Wen Zhao."
"Berming, what do you think?"
Although Zhen Xiang did not get any promise from Wang Lang, he still had to go to worship three days later, so he temporarily agreed.
Zhen Xiang also asked Wang Lang whether His Majesty was well in Luoyang.
After a brief greeting, Zhen Xiang said goodbye and left.
After Zhen Xiang left, Wang Lang's amiable face suddenly disappeared and became quite stern.
Lu Zhao and Zheng Hun also walked in.
Wang Lang asked in a deep voice, "Have the two deputies of the deceased school official Zhao Qu arrived?"
Lu Zhao bowed and replied, "My Lord, they are already waiting outside."
Wang Lang nodded: "Let them come in. You two should listen with me."
"Yes, sir." Lu Zhao called out, and the official led the two men into the hall.
Although the two school officials had saluted very respectfully, Wang Lang still looked at them rather coldly.
Wang Lang said, "I have already taken a rough look at your resumes. You both started working in the Yecheng School Office in the first year of the Yankang reign (the same year as the first year of the Huangchu reign)."
"Where did you two serve during the Jian'an period?"
The taller school official on the left, Wei Ben, bowed and said, "Sir, I entered the School Office in the 20th year of Jian'an. I was originally in Xuchang, and was transferred to Yecheng in the 23rd year of Jian'an."
Wang Lang nodded calmly, and Sun Ding, the school historian on his right, also spoke up: "Report to the Minister of Education, I have been serving in Yecheng since the 22nd year of Jian'an."
After hearing what the two said, Wang Lang immediately asked, "If that's the case, then in the 24th year of Jian'an, both of you were in Yecheng?"
Wei Ben and Sun Ding both agreed immediately.
Wang Lang nodded and said to the two of them, "I have a general idea of your situation. Please go to the front yard and wait."
After the two of them bowed, they slowly walked out of the hall.
Seeing that Wei Ben and Sun Ding had gone far away, Wang Lang turned to Lü Zhao and Zheng Hun and said, "Zizhan, Duke Wen, I am the Minister of Education and have been entrusted by Your Majesty to come to Yecheng to take charge of important matters. Do you two have any objections?"
Lu Zhao quickly bowed and said, "Your Excellency is too kind. We dare not have any objection, but please give us your instructions!"
Zheng Hun also had the same opinion as Lu Zhao.
Wang Lang then said solemnly: "In this case, I will temporarily detain these two people in this governor's mansion."
"The one hundred guards that your majesty assigned to me are just what you need." (End of this chapter)
