Cao Rui sighed softly: "It's the book written by Xiahou Xuan! I haven't seen him for two years."
After flipping through it for a few seconds, Cao Rui threw it on the table again: "What is Xiahou Xuan's book about?"
Pei Qian replied, "This book by Xiahou Taichu explains Zhuangzi. I don't know much about metaphysics, but my brother said this book is very wonderful and advised me to read it carefully."
Cao Rui said: "Since your brother Pei Hui said so, it seems that Xiahou Xuan has really learned something from his two years of study in Qiao County."
"Unlike some people, I returned to Luoyang in a hurry after I released the scholars involved in the Vanity Case."
Pei Qian was also a clever man, knowing that talking about others in private was the best time to enhance personal relationships.
Pei Qian smiled and said, "I just remember that Sima Ziyuan, the eldest son of Sikong, returned to Luoyang right after he was released. He met with the scholars in Luoyang the next day."
"I heard my younger brother talk about this matter when I came to Luoyang last year. I was quite surprised at that time."
"Why are you surprised?" Cao Rui asked back.
Pei Qian said: "Maybe it's because I'm too young, I'm a little anxious."
Cao Rui said softly: "Everyone has his own ambitions. I can't manage such details. How can the son of the Three Dukes worry about his job?"
"I heard that Sima Ziyuan went to Yangzhou last winter and worked as a clerk in Jiang Zi's Tongzhou Prefecture, where he was quite useful."
Pei Qian said: "The state's recruitment is a national custom and there is nothing wrong with it."
Cao Rui sighed, "Yes, the three dukes have the power to recruit officials, and so do the governors of the prefectures and counties. The country still selects talents based on their personalities."
Pei Qian was already fifty years old, but he was still handsome and his face was angular. After stroking his short beard, Pei Qian replied: "The emperor is the shepherd of his ministers, and the ministers are the shepherds of the people. This is exactly the truth."
Cao Rui looked at Pei Qian and said, "Come to think of it, this is the first time I have had a conversation with you like this."
"Did you know that when I summoned you back to Luoyang to take up your post, there was still some controversy?"
There are rumors everywhere in the world, and Luoyang, as the capital, is a veritable melting pot where all kinds of rumors are running wild, making it difficult to understand the ins and outs of rumors.
Pei Qian pursed his lips and said, "I have heard a little bit about it."
Cao Rui smiled and asked, "What did Pei Qing hear?"
Pei Qian said: "One is the power of the Minister of the Interior. When I first came to Luoyang, I stayed at my brother's house. That night, many people came to my house to give me gifts."
"I cannot refuse your kindness, so I have no choice but to write them down one by one and seal them. When I leave office, I will return them by the same route."
Cao Rui guessed in his heart that Pei Qian said this because he probably really did it.
I just don't know whether he did it out of his own will or deliberately waiting for the emperor to ask about it later.
Cao Rui smiled and said, "When we return home tomorrow, Pei Qing will remove all the seals and keep the gifts for yourself. I have never been averse to these things."
"I am rich as the world, and I cannot let the ministers around me suffer from poverty."
Pei Qian was stunned and didn't know what to say for a moment.
Just as he was about to retort, he saw the emperor's eyebrows slightly raised, and Pei Qian could only bow in agreement.
Cao Rui said: "If there is one, there will be two. Did you hear anything else?"
Pei Qian replied: "Secondly, there are rumors in Luozhong that your majesty is too generous to the people of Hedong and wants to compete with the people of Yingchuan."
"What do you mean?" Cao Rui looked at Pei Qian with a smile.
Pei Qian said: "There is a saying in Luo that there are four prominent families in Hedong. They are Jia, Guanqiu, Pei, and Wei."
As the emperor, Cao Rui could certainly hear these things from the school officials. But it was still quite interesting to hear such things from the people involved.
Pei Qian wanted to speak seriously, but when he saw the emperor smiling, he also laughed: "Jia Zhennan is in charge of the state in Wankou, and there is also Concubine Jia in the harem."
"People in Luozhong say that the Jia family is the best in Hedong."
Cao Rui smiled but said nothing.
The Lady Jia that Pei Qian had just mentioned was none other than Jia Cheng, the legitimate daughter of General Jia Kui, the Southern Commander.
Come to think of it, it’s been three months since I last saw her, right?
There are too many people in the harem, so this is unavoidable. I will go find her tomorrow!
Pei Qian continued, "After the Jia family, there are the Guanqiu, Pei, and Wei families."
"Guanqiu and his son were both provincial governors and commanders-in-chief, and both were trusted by Your Majesty. I am the minister of state, and my brother is a doctor in the Secretariat. As for the Wei family, I am referring to the Minister of Civil Affairs, Wei Ji, Duke of Wei."
Cao Rui shook his head and said, "If I say that when I summoned you back to the court, I did not think of your Hedong origin, would you believe it, Pei Qing?"
Pei Qian bowed and said, "Your Majesty's words are golden, and I certainly believe them."
Cao Rui said: "You just mentioned two things."
"The power of the Minister of State is my intention. As for the governors of each state, I will certainly use people I am familiar with."
"Even if Pei Qing is currently serving as an official in Luoyang, I may have to send you away if time passes."
Pei Qian replied, "Why should I talk about a position when I am serving the country? I will do whatever the court assigns me, that's all."
Cao Rui nodded: "This attitude is correct."
"But I have not been to Jingzhou. I have always heard that Xiangyang and Fancheng are across the river from each other, just like Shouchun and Xiacai on the Huai River."
“Is Xiangfan worth visiting?”
Pei Qian replied: "Xiangyang is a beautiful place, but because it is south of the Han River, there are few people around it. Although the city walls are intact, the city is still in ruins and has lost its prosperity during the Jian'an period." "From the perspective of scenery, it is not worth visiting."
Cao Rui thought for a moment: "Has Xiangyang been burned by Cao Ren?"
Pei Qian said: "That happened in the first year of Huangchu. Cao Zixiao was stationed in Wancheng, and Xiangyang and Fancheng were burned down."
Cao Rui sighed, "I have heard many people say that when Liu Biao was in Xiangyang, the prosperity there was similar to Luoyang in the early days."
"The country was in turmoil for too long during the late Han Dynasty."
"Famous cities like Chang'an, Xiangyang, and Nanyang have long lost their former glory. It's really sad!"
Pei Qian said softly: "Bone bones are exposed in the wild, and no roosters crow for a thousand miles. If only one out of a hundred people survives, the thought of it breaks one's heart."
"This is a poem by Emperor Wu." said Cao Rui.
Pei Qian replied, "I also have a copy of the collection of Emperor Wu's poems published by Chongwenguan last year. I read it often and it always makes me feel new."
Cao Rui said: "Emperor Wu's spirit and poetic talent seem to be gifted by heaven. I can't learn it."
"Emperor Wu was able to write these realistic poems, but I want to write some poems of peace and ease."
Pei Qian said: "After two victories in Wei, the military pressure from all directions has been reduced a lot, and the people have gradually accumulated wealth."
"Sooner or later it will surpass the heyday of the Han Dynasty."
"Is it far superior to the First and Later Han Dynasties?" Cao Rui raised his head and took a breath: "I hope I can accomplish such a feat together with you gentlemen."
"It will definitely succeed." Pei Qian continued.
Cao Rui glanced at Pei Qian and said, "There are two things happening in the court today, one is Liaodong and the other is Shouchun. What do you think?"
Pei Qian knew that the critical moment had come. He calmed his mind and did not dare to neglect it. He immediately replied: "The court has done a perfect job in Shouchun. I have no opinion on it."
Cao Rui asked, "Then what happened to Gongsun Yuan in Liaodong?"
Pei Qian replied, "It is exactly the matter of Liaodong. I think Gongsun Yuan is not as strong as Wu and Shu. Great Wei should not tolerate him and should attack him as soon as possible."
Cao Rui asked in return: "Why? Did Wu and Shu not care?"
Pei Qian said: "It is because we have to take care of Wu and Shu. The country can tolerate Sun Quan and Zhuge Liang, but can it tolerate a mere Gongsun Yuan?"
Cao Rui suddenly asked, "Has Pei Qing come to Luoyang to see Li Yin?"
Pei Qian felt that his palms were already sweating slightly.
Li Yin was the grandson of Li Min, the governor of Henei, and Pei Qian had studied under Li Min. Li Min was killed by Gongsun Du.
Li Yin, Li Min, Gongsun Du, Gongsun Yuan...
How does Your Majesty know everything? Is there anything in this world that Your Majesty doesn't know?
Pei Qian took a deep breath and clasped his hands in response, "I have visited Li Yin and sent him some books. Li Yin is staying at Zhong Gong's home, so I think he should be safe."
Cao Rui said: "Look, judging from Li Min, you, Guanqiu Xing, and Sikong all have the right to kill Gongsun."
"This is different from when we faced Sun Quan and Zhuge Liang. The Wei Dynasty and Wu and Shu were at war with each other, but your grudge against the Gongsun clan is a personal one."
Pei Qian said solemnly: "Of course there are private grudges, but there are also public grudges!"
"I served as the governor of Dai County for three years during the last years of the Jian'an period. At that time, Gongsun Kang, who was still in Liaodong, had held many alliances with the Wuhuan and Xianbei. The Wuhuan and Xianbei invaded the border many times, and it cannot be said that Gongsun's family did not help the situation."
"Gongsun Yuan colluded with Sun Quan this time only because he was afraid of Wei, so he woke up halfway, but it did not delay his crime of separatism!"
"For the sake of the country, the Wei Dynasty, and the people of the world, we must not allow the Gongsun family to run rampant in Liaodong again!"
Pei Qian stood up and bowed: "I suggest that the court should summon Gongsun Yuan to Luoyang for an audience!"
"If Gongsun Yuan comes, we will capture him on the spot, appoint officials in the counties and prefectures, and prevent Liaodong from becoming a separatist regime again."
"If Gongsun Yuan doesn't come, then he will lose his righteousness and reputation."
Cao Rui said: "But you also know that I have to deal with the southeast now. How can I spare the energy to deal with Liaodong?"
"Pei Qing has served in Dai County. Liaodong will only be colder and the place is far away. How can we attack it?"
Pei Qian said seriously: "Gongsun Yuan is different from Wu and Shu. He originally usurped the throne of his uncle Gongsun Gong. He does not hold any official position in the court, and he does not have the slightest reputation for justice."
"It is difficult for Wei to attack Liaodong, and Liaodong is also difficult to attack Wei. What is there to be afraid of?"
"He has no status, and his position is not legitimate. In the long run, civil strife will surely break out! By then, it will be as natural for Wei to take over Liaodong as for a ripe melon to fall off the vine!"
Cao Rui nodded slightly: "Pei Qing has some truth in what he said."
"How about this, tomorrow you come to the study and speak in front of the West and East Pavilions to see what the important officials think."
This was the first time in more than a year that Pei Qian had taken the initiative to propose such a major national policy. His Majesty allowed it to be discussed in front of the emperor, so it was actually possible!
Pei Qian bowed and accepted.
Cao Rui stood up, stretched his muscles and prepared to go out.
When they reached the door, Cao Rui turned around and looked at Pei Qian: "I have no objection to what you said about summoning Gongsun Yuan. It all depends on what others say."
"I understand." Pei Qian replied. (End of this chapter)
