Wei Ni

Chapter 23

"Ugh"

A soft sigh rippling in the empty Chonghua Houdian.

After hearing Xia Houhui's words, Cao Rui, the emperor, got up in a dispirited manner, and walked aimlessly in the hall with a wine jug, taking a sip from time to time.

In the crisp autumn and August, the night breeze is already a little bit cool, occasionally swirling in through the open palace door, flirting with the lights of the candlesticks wantonly, and making Cao Rui's shadow on the ground sometimes stretch its teeth and claws, and sometimes shrivel and sleepy.

Just like his mood at this time.

Gein knew that Xiahou Huifang's conclusion on the nine-rank official system was biased.

But it was also because he knew that, that's why he heard Xia Houhui's implication-some words that violated taboos and could not be uttered by courtiers, but he said them in a way of blaming the nine-rank official system.

For example, the nine-rank official system established by Wei Wen and Cao Pi asked Chen Qun to have merit in the earliest days.

At that time, the system of procuring talent for the country in the previous dynasty (elevating Xiaolian) had already collapsed to the point of "raising talents, but not knowing books; promoting filial piety, fathers live away".Gein's family of prefects and nobles at that time had already completely influenced the public opinion in the villages, making the procuratorial system a tool for personal gain.The implementation of the nine-rank official system can allow the temple center to take back the power of the first-ranked personalities, and prevent local gentry and tyrants from gaining power.

But those who are qualified to benefit from the process of Cao Wei's dynasties know that Cao Pi's move is to make a deal with the gentry
Cao Pi needed the influence that these gentry had accumulated in states, counties, and villages as officials for generations, and endorsed the destiny of Cao Wei and the Han Dynasty; and the price was to delegate power to the gentry as a reward through the nine-rank official system.

Everyone takes what they want, and everyone is happy.

However, after a few years passed, it was discovered how much of a threat the nine-rank official system was to the country!
For example, a large part of the talent power that was originally favored by local aristocratic families has been taken back to the temple, but it is not in the hands of the monarch.
Instead, it is in the hands of the family bureaucrats entrenched in the temple!

What's even more embarrassing is that Cao Pi's reign is too short, not to mention, and he is not doing his job properly!
He didn't even think about laying a solid foundation for the country, and didn't think about how to block the power breach he dug himself, and didn't think about how to block it. Instead, he devoted most of his energy to conquest of Jiangdong without self-knowledge!
The congenital deficiencies of Cao Wei Sheji turned into a reason for the gentry family to seize power.

And it is becoming more and more rampant and wanton, and there is a tendency for the power of the gentry to overshadow the power of the monarch!

Just now when Xia Houhui mentioned the Shiqing system in the Spring and Autumn Period, he was vaguely reminding the emperor Cao Rui that in the Spring and Autumn Period, Shiqing had too much power, and there was no lack of restraint, and there were many stories of monarchs being imprisoned, expelled or killed.

And he used his own Xiahou family as an example, claiming that the Xiahou family, which is no different from the imperial family, might not be able to enter the mainstream if they were ordered according to the law, but it was a reflection of the Cao family.

Although the Cao family is in the generation of Wei Wu Cao Cao, they are no longer considered poor.

But if we go back to the source~~
During the Battle of Guandu, Chen Lin, who wrote an appeal for Yuan Shao, gave him a very appropriate title——

Let's be ugly!

An even more contemptible background than a poor family!
That is to say, as the nine-rank official system continues to be implemented, the practice of taking the test of the world will intensify, and I fear that even the Tian family will be secretly despised by the gentry in the future!

In this way, Cao Rui listened, how can he be as calm as Su Xie?
In particular, he knew in his heart that for Cao Wei Sheji, the nine-rank official system was like drinking poison to quench thirst.

If you don't drink, you will soon die of thirst.

Drinking it means going through a long and painful process before ushering in death.

And during the period, maybe we can find a way to resolve the toxicity.

Yes!

The nine-rank official system cannot be abolished.

Otherwise, without the support and endorsement of the aristocratic families, the 400-year prestige of the Han Dynasty; where the sun and the moon shine, and where the rivers and rivers go, are the bloody pride of the Han soil; How can it be that Cao Wei can replace it if he wants to!

The previous model of Confucianism, moral model, and Wang Mang, who was hailed as a saint, all failed!

Is it okay to replace it with a scumbag?

How can He De He can!
The most urgent task is to focus on reality and find out a good solution to alleviate this situation as soon as possible, so as to prevent Cao Wei Sheji from poisoning and dying due to the nine-rank official system.

And Cao Rui's hesitation alone at this time did not stop at this point.

He knew that since Xia Houhui had mentioned it, he would have considered a solution to this point.

That's why he didn't ask any questions.

In the heart of the emperor, there is no absolute good, evil and loyalty.

Before asking how to suppress the gentry family, Cao Rui must first consider Xia Houhui's position, analyze what he wants to get from it, and what he can get; what impact.

It's not that he doubts that Xia Houhui will become a rebellious minister.

But now the power of Cao Wei Sheji is held by the gentry and the clan respectively, which is a relationship of ebb and flow.

Xia Houhui's background is no different from that of the clan, and now he is admonishing to weaken the power of the gentry, even if he is justified, but as the emperor Cao Rui, how can he not have a strategy of checks and balances in his heart?

He, what do you want?

With such thoughts in mind, when Cao Rui was pacing aimlessly in the hall, he would occasionally glance at Xia Houhui from the corner of his eyes.

Xia Houhui was very calm at this time.

Chew slowly and eat a few candied dried fruits, and then take a sip of the wine, so it's not wanton.

It's not that he is heartless, but that he is really hungry.

The hunting in the afternoon was a physical effort, and he returned from the banquet before he had time to eat a few bites.

Furthermore, his remonstrance is out of sincerity, there is no need to worry that the emperor Cao Rui will hide five hundred knives and axemen in the Chonghua Houdian to throw a cup as a name.
You have a clear conscience, so why panic?

As everyone knows, it is his heartless attitude that the emperor Cao Rui admires.

Without him, frankly.

At Xia Houhui's age, Cao Rui didn't think that he was so sophisticated that he concealed selfishness when admonishing, and there was a relationship of sharing weal and woe.

"Children, what do you want to be evil in this life?"

Cao Rui, who returned to his seat and sat down, suddenly thought of something and asked a question.

"Uh?"

Regarding this question, Xiahou Hui was slightly stunned.

Originally, he thought that after the emperor returned to his seat, he would ask how to curb the power of the gentry, but he didn't expect Cao Rui to ask about his ambition?
However, he quickly reacted.

Hastily cupped his hands in salute, and replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, Huiping has two ambitions in life."

How can there be two ambitions?
Hearing this, Emperor Cao Rui raised his eyebrows slightly, with a gleam of interest in his eyes, and urged, "Speak quickly."

"only."

Xia Houhui said without hesitation, "Hui's ambition, one is to settle the affairs of the king and the world, and to win the name before and after his life. To live up to the honor bestowed on Xiahou's family since Emperor Wu; also to live up to this life as a man. Consolation father and brother in the spiritual ear of heaven!"

"Great!"

Immediately, the emperor Cao Rui clapped his hands and praised, "The childish power is worthy of Xiahou's successor!"

After praising him, he raised his wine cup and invited Xia Houhui for a glass, "Such an ambition cannot be strengthened without wine! Come on, childish power, drink to win!"

After putting down the wine cup, he couldn't wait to urge him to say, "Children's aspirations are the two, why?"

After all, the first ambition is already to "solve the affairs of the king and the world"!

Then the second one must be more noble, such as aiming to open up territories and create a grand occasion for the emperor to come to court?
But what Xia Houhui said next left him speechless.

"Return to Your Majesty, Hui Zhizhi, the two of them are rich men."

Moreover, when Xia Houhui explained, he still had a look of regret on his face.

"Originally, Hui Nai wanted to be a son of Gao Liang, who would live his life without worrying about food and clothing, and be at ease. It's just a pity that the talents in the family are as outstanding as the third and fifth brothers, and all of them have no holidays. Hui Yu was also told by the eldest brother when he was young. Fight for the lintel and contribute to the community. Therefore, it is difficult for Hui Shaozhuang to anoint the younger generation, and we can only hope that when he is old in this life, he will be a rich man who does not bother with paperwork."

Well, that's it.

This time, Emperor Cao Rui understood.

Xia Houhui is not pretending to be lofty or pretending to be powerless.

Instead, he is claiming that, as a member of the Xiahou clan, he is willing to serve Cao Wei Sheji wholeheartedly in his life.

If the emperor Cao Rui valued him and treated him as a national scholar, he would not care about personal honor and disgrace, and would be willing to "put an end to the affairs of the king" as a pawn; but if Cao Rui raised him as a mediocre person, he would stay away. After official career, he retired to the mountains and became a rich man who is contented and happy.

It is a bit similar to the pre-Qin scholar's style of "the emperor chooses the minister, and the minister also chooses the emperor".

It is also contrary to the friendship between the two families who share weal and woe, and has a faint offensive meaning of "if you are not wise, I will run away".

However, Cao Rui didn't care about it.

Human beings are born with seven emotions and six desires, especially those who are capable and ambitious, how can they have no temperament?
Moreover, in the current situation where the gentry is in a big position, Cao Rui still hopes that Xia Houhui, who is no different from the clan, has enough ability to lead him on the road to consolidating the monarchy. How can he care about this trivial offense.

Therefore, after a short silence, he continued the previous topic, "Children's power is so different from Emperor Wu's time, what is the third one?"

"The third is the administration of officials."

Hearing this, Xiahou Hui said eloquently, "Your Majesty, Hui secretly thinks that the ups and downs can be known by taking history as a mirror."

"In the prosperity of the former dynasty, first there was the rule of Wenjing, and then there was Zhaoxuan Zhongxing. Go back together."

"The same is true in the period of Emperor Wu. The Jing'an area was followed by officials and cruel officials."

"Gain is a law-abiding official who persuades Kesangnong, follows the law and induces, governs the state and county with the kingly way, and does not cut down the merits and abilities. Although the people are not famous, they have no expectations, and they all follow the law; while the cruel officials are decisive. , Cruel methods can frighten the local area, curb all those who practice the law, and make the arrogant and right-handed and the villain dare not make troubles, and all fear the law."

"Although there is a difference in the history of the two, the official and the cruel official, but as far as the country is concerned, they all lead to the same goal, and they all benefit the good officials of the country! Now, there are many official officials in our country of Wei, but there are no cruel officials! There are no cruel officials, so there are aristocratic families Haoyou is rampant across the prefectures and counties, colluding with treacherous gangsters to bully Li Shu!"

(End of this chapter)