Sima Shi returned to Luoyang with Lu Yu in late October as a representative of Yangzhou in the capacity of Yangzhou Cangcao.
After staying in Luozhong for more than twenty days, it was time for Sima Shi to return to Shouchun.
Although his immediate superior Jiang Ji doesn't care, he is still the son of Sikong after all. There may be many people watching him in Luoyang, so he still needs to pay attention to some impact.
They were going to set off tomorrow, so after Sima Yi returned home in the evening, he chatted with his eldest son in the study.
Sima Zhao still has no place.
As usual, Sima Yi talked about the affairs of state, including the appointment of Lu Qian and the reform of the official system.
"Ziyuan, what do you think about this?"
Sima Shi has been in office in Yangzhou for more than a year. This 21-year-old young man has grown a lot compared to when he was in Luoyang last year.
After thinking seriously for a moment, Sima Shi shook his head and sneered, "Father, do you think this will really work? The emperor is from Yuzhou, the capital is in Sili, and Jizhou is the root of Hebei. How can he be willing to give it up?"
"Besides, can selecting people based on their place of origin prevent the chaos of the bureaucracy? It is just a futile effort."
Sima Yi listened to his son calmly and asked, "Ziyuan, do you think this is just for your own amusement? It's useless and can only be used as a solace?"
Sima Shi said: "How can it not be? Should we govern a country according to its place of origin?"
Sima Yi asked: "How is it governed?"
Sima Shi was slightly stunned, then shook his head and said, "With the standard of law, with the clearness of government, with the prudence of taxation, and with the victory of military operations."
"What does a simple matter of one's place of origin mean?"
Sima Yi sighed: "It is just as I expected."
Sima Shi asked in doubt: "Father, what are you talking about?"
Sima Yi glanced at his son and said, "Father is talking about you!"
"Last year, your father allowed you to take up a post in Yangzhou, just to make up for your imprisonment for more than a year and let you do something practical."
"But now it seems to me that you seem to be too focused on practical matters and have set your sights even lower."
This surprised Sima Shi a little.
From any perspective, this is not a good thing to say.
Sima Shi also asked: "I am a little confused, what does father mean?"
Sima Yi said: "What do you mean? State affairs have their own way of handling state affairs, and state affairs have their own way of handling state affairs. One focuses on the overall situation, and the other focuses on the specifics. They cannot be equated."
"I want to ask you, regarding the laws, administration, taxation, and military operations you just mentioned, is there anything missing from your Majesty?"
Sima Shi pursed his lips and said, "There is nothing wrong with it."
Sima Yi said: "Then I suggested to Your Majesty that the proportion of officials in the four states be reduced, and Your Majesty also agreed. What's wrong with that?"
Sima Shi muttered quietly: "My son just thinks it is of little practical use."
Sima Yi sighed softly: "You are doing practical things in Yangzhou every day. How to collect money and grain, how to allocate them, how to manage warehouses, these are all things you can see the results of immediately after you do them."
"It's not like that with the court. A drop of water wears away a stone, and success comes only after a long time. This is how the court handles most matters."
"If the imperial court just issued orders and made decisions on everything, the world would have been in chaos long ago!"
Sima Shi cupped his hands and replied, "My son, I didn't think it through properly."
Sima Yi sighed, "Your father let you serve as an official in Yangzhou to accumulate experience and build up connections for you, not to keep you busy with trivial matters in the state every day."
"Last year you went to Yangzhou to be an assistant official, and I didn't tell you a lot. Now that you are an official in a state, I should give you some advice."
Sima Shi sat up straighter: "I hope father can give me some advice."
Sima Yi said: "You don't need to worry too much about the daily affairs of the state. Jiang Zitong will not make it difficult for you in the evaluation. Just do your job well and not be ridiculous. I know your talents well."
"What should you do in your position as the warehouse manager of Yangzhou? You should use this as a window to observe the operating system and power structure of the entire state and cultivate your own abilities."
"For example, after the documents from the Shangshutai were sent to Yangzhou, how did the state implement them? How did the governor divide up the tasks? How did the officials divide the work? What were their concerns and considerations?"
"For example, in the state government, who has been in office for a long time, and what is the basis for their holding the position? Who has a low position but great power, and how do they act and make decisions?"
"How to face your superiors, how to make friends with your colleagues, how to win people's hearts, how to drive others to do things for you." Sima Yi looked at Sima Shi: "This is what you should study every day."
"If you can only manage affairs but not people, then your limit in life is to be a prefect of a large county. Ziyuan, what you should learn is how to manage people. Don't be fooled by He Pingshu's empty words that 'you may be able to accomplish the affairs of the world'."
Sima Shi listened carefully, nodded slightly unconsciously, and said: "Father, you are right. I am a little trapped by the state affairs, and I don't have time to think about other things."
"Father, is it more suitable for me to work in Luoyang?"
Sima Yi shook his head: "I haven't told you yet, have I? Your Majesty will go to Xuchang in January next year to prepare for the war against Wu. I don't know when you can return to Luoyang. What are you still doing in Luoyang?"
"You are in charge of the warehouse in Yangzhou. When it comes to the collection of grain and fodder and the logistics supervision, you will have the opportunity to perform meritorious deeds." "Just be at ease."
Sima Shi nodded thoughtfully, and then seemed to think of something else: "Father, do you have anything to say to Envoy Jiang?"
Sima Yi said in a deep voice: "Just tell Jiang Zitong about the Three Mutual Methods that your father just told you. You don't need to say anything more."
"Yes, son knows." Sima Shi replied.
……
The third year of Taihe passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye it was late December.
The news that the emperor would stay in Xuchang had already been announced. Not only the entire central army was to go to Xuchang, but also the Secretariat, the Shangshutai, and the Privy Council were to go together.
At the end of the year, Luoyang City was bustling with activity.
Near the end of the year, Cao Rui received gifts and congratulatory messages from King Sun Quan of Wu in Wuchang, just like last year.
Inside the study, Grand Herald Cui Lin, in front of four cabinet ministers, spent quite a bit of time reading out the gifts on Sun Quan's gift list one by one.
Pearls, tortoise shells, corals, ivory, etc. were all common items. The gift list even included two elephants, one male and one female, and four elephant slaves who were specially trained to feed the elephants.
According to the envoy, the two elephants were transported from Jiaozhou to Wuchang this summer. They were specially transported by water from Ruxu to the north, passing Chaohu Lake, Hefei, Shouchun, the Yellow River, and Luoshui, and finally delivered to Luoyang.
Ever since Sun Quan presented an elephant as a gift in the early years of Jian'an, people in Henan have not seen an elephant for a long time.
Cao Rui naturally didn't value this thing, but it was obvious how much Sun Quan cared about it.
Cao Rui smiled and looked at everyone: "My lords, they say that courtesy is not a problem. I have seen it today. I am embarrassed to send troops to fight him."
Dong Zhao bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Sun Quan has sent the annual gift and the gift for the enthronement of Prince Changle together, so it is inevitable that they are more generous."
"However, the Wei Dynasty has already seen Sun Quan's character clearly over the past twenty or thirty years. He pretends to be submissive just to buy time in order to restore the people's and military's strength."
"If you need to fight, you have to fight."
Cao Rui smiled and nodded: "I know, I know everything. But I still think it's a little funny."
"Sun Quan has been sending me gifts and letters constantly, and I have also given him annual gifts. The exchanges between the two countries' envoys are like a real alliance between Wei and Wu."
Man Chong said: "Sun Quan led Jiangdong when he was young. His strong will and persistence in separatism are far beyond the reach of ordinary people."
"The Wei Kingdom is accumulating the people's strength, and so is Sun Quan. The two sides are exchanging greetings, but it is just a mutual confusion before the war comes."
Cao Rui nodded: "I know this. All the money and treasures that Sun Quan has contributed have not been put into the inner treasury. All of them have been handed over to the Privy Council for use as military supplies."
"We will set off in ten days. How are the preparations of the Secretariat and the Privy Council going?"
"Your Majesty," Man Chong replied, "The Privy Council has determined the order of the troops."
"On December 25th, the Xiaowei Army will set out first. On the 26th, the Wuwei Army will set out next."
"On January 1st of next year, after Your Majesty offers sacrifices to heaven and earth in Luoyang, the remaining 30,000 cavalry will march at the same time."
"There has been a military camp outside Xuchang City. Since October, the Privy Council and the Shangshutai have jointly decided to order Yingchuan Governor Dong Zhou to recruit corvée labor and settlers to repair the military camp."
"The conscription was carried out in turns, and the prefectures and counties also provided subsidies to the people who performed the corvée, so the people had no complaints and were very happy to earn a share of the food."
Cao Rui nodded: "The order of the troops is fine. When will the officials of the Privy Council march out?"
Man Chong cupped his hands and said, "We plan to march on the same day as the main army."
Cao Rui looked at Sima Yi and asked, "Where is the Shangshutai?"
Sima Yi said: "The Shangshutai is also the same."
Cao Rui nodded: "Well, I will not pay attention to these trivial matters. From Luoyang to Xuchang, each minister needs to travel at least three days. You must ensure that all matters are not delayed."
Sima Yi said: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, there will be no mistake in this matter."
Man Chong is also a general statement.
Cao Rui nodded: "Then I have nothing to worry about."
"By the way, have the annual festival rewards for the garrison commanders been distributed? Have they all arrived on time?"
Man Chong cupped his hands and replied, "Your Majesty, the first batch of rewards was sent out from Luoyang in mid-November, and was destined for Xiahou Xian in Youzhou and Lu Xun in Qinzhou."
"The rest of the places also sent them out in late November and early December."
"If my prediction is correct, the garrison commanders in various places should have received your majesty's reward today."
Cao Rui nodded and said, "The third year of Taihe is the year with the least war since I ascended the throne. There was no trouble in the southeast, and Zhuge Liang's invasion in the west was also resisted by the generals."
"Next year, the fourth year of Taihe, the Wei Dynasty will be busy again." (End of this chapter)
