Wei Ni

The capital is the best place, gathering the best talents in the world.

Therefore, there are many people who can guess Xiahou Hui’s true intentions, and his uncle Wang Su is one of them.

On the seventh day after returning to Luoyang, he brought his wife and children to his hometown, the Marquis of Lanling Mansion. After a happy family dinner, he was taken to the study by Wang Su, who warned him about this matter without saying a word.

"Given Zhiquan's achievements and the great favor he has received from Your Majesty, it would be easy for him to find one or two talented people to help him! Why bother focusing on those frivolous people who have already been imprisoned? As the saying goes, advantages and disadvantages go hand in hand. Although Zhiquan can be praised for his achievements, he is suspected of seeking fame. From now on, the upright officials in the court may not regard Zhiquan as a fair and wise minister."

This is what Wang Su accused, leaving no room for Xiahou Hui to quibble.

However, Xiahou Hui did not intend to quibble.

Although his uncle was obsessed with academics, he was ultimately the son of an official and was well aware of some of the ins and outs.

Maybe at first I didn't think about it carefully because I didn't care, but after a few days, I must have realized it.

Especially in the past few days, Ding Mi has been drinking and feasting with others a lot.

As an aide to Ding Mi, what Xiahou Hui was thinking behind the scenes is not known to everyone, but it is obvious!

"That's what my uncle said."

After bowing his head respectfully to receive instruction, Xiahou Hui said leisurely, "It's just that... Hey, I am helpless! First, although I regret it, since Your Majesty has made it clear, there is no reason for me to give up halfway. Second, my uncle also knows that I didn't make friends with people in my early years, and I had a bad reputation in the court. The capital is so big that there are only a handful of people who are friendly to me. Although I have made some contributions to the country, it is so difficult to find one or two talented people to help me!"

Given his son-in-law's respectful attitude, Wang Su initially thought it was excusable.

After all, he witnessed with his own eyes that the emperor was giving orders.

But as he listened, he couldn't help but glare at Xiahou Hui again.

Husband!

I just said it was a piece of cake, and you immediately said it was so difficult. What do you mean?

Are you complaining or slapping yourself in the face?

Wang Su's face suddenly turned dark.

But thinking back to the family dinner just now, when he saw his daughter Wang Yuanji and grandson Xiao Quji were very happy, he took a deep breath, suppressed his annoyance, and then reprimanded them in a tone of disappointment.

"Why is Zhiquan blinded by a single leaf? You are a descendant of Qiaopei, no different from a royal family. Even if you have done nothing, you can still attract countless talented people to write to you and ask to be your aide! What's more, you have made many achievements! Moreover, although you have established your own family, the elders and old friends still don't recognize you as the descendant of the former Western Expedition! If Zhiquan is upright, cultivates virtue and restrains himself, and respects the wise and humble, there will be no need to worry about not having talented people to join him!"

I know what you said is right, but I don’t have that much time to be humble!
Haven't you noticed that Emperor Cao Rui, who was in his prime, now has bags under his eyes, gray hair at the temples, and a dull look, showing all signs of premature aging?

Xiahou Hui felt helpless.

Although he knew that his uncle was doing it for his own good and that his advice was sound advice, he simply could not agree to it.

However, he also knew that he couldn't express his reasons out loud.

As for whether it is possible to pretend to obey but secretly disobey
just forget it.

Now we still advocate keeping one's promise.

If Wang Su knew that he said one thing in front of others and another behind their backs, he would avoid his son-in-law like the plague.

"My uncle taught me with righteous words, and I should have bowed my head and accepted his instruction."

After thinking it over, he stood up and bowed to decline, saying as tactfully as possible, "It's just that His Majesty has entrusted me with something, so I have no time to cultivate my virtue slowly and wait for talented people to come to me. As for what it is, please forgive me for not being able to tell you clearly."

Ok?
Perhaps because of the mention of the emperor, Wang Su frowned slightly and nasally uttered no more criticism.

His expression slowly softened.

Xiahou Hui saw it clearly and said, "Uncle, I am not a treacherous person. Although I am suspected of seeking fame and buying people's hearts, my starting point is to be loyal to the emperor, so I dare not be afraid of fame. In addition, as uncle just said, maybe we can find the children of my ancestors' friends to help. Alas! After my ancestors died in Hanzhong and were notorious by Emperor Wu, my family has almost no old friends and friendly families."

"So I went to the west~"

Wang Su murmured something, then lowered his head and sighed.

From Hubu Guanyou to General Baidi, the entire Wei government and the public knew the right and wrong of the matter and dared not comment.

After a moment of silence, he continued, "Zhi Quan's words are still wrong. The world is in decline, and people are inevitably forgotten, but there are still people who value friendship and loyalty. Moreover, if Zhi Quan wanted to find a talented person to help him, why didn't he ask me?"

you?
As someone who is passionate about academics, what talents can you recommend?
Moreover, Situ Wang has been dead for many years, and his former students and officials who were once promoted have long been promoted to important positions. It is impossible for them to condescend to serve as Xiahou Hui's lackeys!
Xiahou Hui was speechless for a moment.

Only then did he realize that a large part of Wang Su's anger today was because he felt he was being ignored and even despised.

Of course, he couldn't expose it to her face.

He quickly stood up and bowed to apologize, saying, "This is my fault, please forgive me, uncle. It's not that I didn't want to ask for help from my uncle, but later I felt that my uncle was a great scholar of the time, devoted to classics, and I really didn't dare to bother him with these mundane matters."

"Ah."

This time, Wang Su stroked his beard and nodded, revealing a trace of a smile, "It's a family conversation, no need to be polite. Also, don't say such polite words in the future. You and I are uncle and son-in-law, and we should support each other in both words and deeds. Why are you bothering me?"

"only."

Xiahou Hui took a seat as instructed.

Wang Su also spoke slowly and leisurely about the talented people he wanted to recommend to Xiahou Hui.

"Although Zhiquan holds a high position and has made outstanding achievements, he is still young, so I don't think of him as my father's former student or official. In addition, the children of old officials during Emperor Wu's reign had family connections and no worries about career paths, so they are not included in this list."

"As Zhiquan just said, I am devoted to classics and do not pay much attention to official career and personal relationships. Moreover, most of the students under my tutelage are pure and honest people. They have more talent and knowledge than intelligence and wisdom, and they are not able to be driven by Zhiquan, so I do not choose from them."

"So, under the constraints of birth, age, and talent, I can only recommend one person, Zhiquan. I have never met this person before, but he mentioned him unintentionally when a minor official came to ask him about his affairs during a banquet with Lu Zijia half a month ago. Lu Zijia is now the Minister of Personnel, in charge of selecting and evaluating officials. Although there is still a You Pushe above him, Your Majesty often praises his ability to select and recommend talents, which shows that he has a good eye for people."

"The man that Lu Zijia praised was from Chenliu, not too long after his twenties. He had a reputation when he was young, and now he was a clerk, responsible for recording documents and memorials. Once, he wrote a letter, and his literary talent made Zijia applaud. He invited him to talk, and found that he was quick-witted, quite insightful, and had a wide range of interests. Zijia then planned to recommend him to the imperial court, but it happened that the imperial court was recording the merits of the generals who had conquered Liaodong, so he was delayed. However, the man that Lu Zijia admired would not be a clerk for long."

"So if Zhiquan wants to seek it, he should visit it within this year and strive to be before Lu Zijia takes this position. Otherwise, I am afraid that he will get half the result with twice the effort in the future."

His job title was Lingshi, which showed that he was of low birth or his family was already in decline. Not long after he was 20, he was highly praised by Lu Yu and was planning to recommend him personally, which showed that he was a leader of his generation with extraordinary talent and learning.

In other words, this is another Fu Gu who puts his family background aside!

What a coincidence!
Fu Gu will be transferred to the position of Shangshu Lang, and I will be transferred to Zhonghujun soon. The candidate for Zhonglang is just in need of help!

"Friends of my uncle are all virtuous, but more kindness is worse than less!"

Xiahou Hui listened attentively and was overjoyed. He did not hesitate to flatter her, but then he changed the subject and revealed his true intentions. "I wonder what this scholar's surname is? Where in Luoyang does he live now?"

Wang Su smiled and stroked his beard, feeling quite pleased. He then found a letter from the side of the table and said, "Here, all the information about him is here." When Xia Houhui came over to take it, he added with a little emotion, "Originally, I was planning to have someone deliver it to you if Zhiquan didn't come to the house today."

Uh, okay~
Is it my fault for visiting too late?
Xiahou Hui, who understood the meaning of the song, gave a bitter smile, bowed again to apologize, then took the letter and put it into his sleeve. He also tactfully said that after returning home, he would ask Ding Mi not to sit down and socialize with those people. He also turned the topic to the studies of his brothers-in-law and whether they needed his help.

This made Wang Su very happy.

In the minds of official families and wealthy families, marriage is the bond that binds two families together.

He was quite satisfied with this son-in-law. At least among the powerful people in Luoyang, Xiahou Hui was considered a leader. He had earned a lot of face for him and also had the ability to help or support the nephews and nephews of the Wang family.

Now, Xiahou Hui, who finally understands the ways of the world, has formally mentioned this point. How can we not be happy?
Although his sons are still young and don’t need Xiahou Hui’s help yet, they will definitely need it in the future!

With such joy, he became talkative and started talking about his sons one by one and some family matters.

It also made Xiahou Hui feel that time was very unbearable.

Because when you chat with elders who study classics, after just a few words, they will unconsciously put on the role of "respecting elders as teachers" and turn the casual chat into a conversation of imparting knowledge and answering questions.

This kind of job is much more difficult than fighting on the battlefield.

Fortunately, Wang Su didn’t have much time to show off his great scholarly demeanor.

Soon, Xiahou sent a servant to inform her that it was getting late, and if her son-in-law Xiahou Hui did not return home now, he would have to stay in the palace because of the curfew.

As if he had been pardoned, Xiahou Hui immediately stood up and said goodbye.

Wang Su did not try to keep him, but he still did not go back as he wished.

Xiao Quji was reluctant to go home.

When Xiahou Hui was still fighting outside, Wang Yuanji often brought her son back to her mother's house to stay for a few days, so that everything in the palace would be familiar and intimate to the little boy. Today, not long after coming here, he had to go back, and he immediately started crying and tugged at Xiahou's sleeves, refusing to get on the carriage with his mother no matter how much he was coaxed.

"Go back tomorrow."

Just when Xiahou Hui wanted to pick up Xiao Quji and take him away by force, Xiahou Shi, who was holding Xiao Quji with a loving look on her face, spoke directly, "It's rare for Zhiquan to come to our house, so let him stay overnight. Zhiquan, I hope this won't delay you."

How could Xiahou Hui dare to say that there would be a delay?
So he was destined to be influenced by Confucianism tonight.

The next morning.

Xiahou Hui bid farewell to Wang Su and left the palace early, going to Fu Gu's house with a few followers.

He needs Fu Gu's help.

Because the talented person Wang Su recommended to him was Bian Rang's grandson, Yu Song Yu Shumao.

Bian Rang was the governor of Jiujiang in the previous dynasty. Because the eunuchs at the end of the Han Dynasty abused their power and harmed the country, and the scholars all over the world hated them, he also despised Cao Cao, the eunuch who later occupied Yanzhou, and openly slandered him. Later, he was falsely accused by his fellow villagers, and Cao Cao was furious and sent people to kill him and also destroyed his family.

Although times have changed, Xiahou Hui feels that Yu Song will not forget the fact that his mother's family was exterminated, and it is impossible for him to have much good feelings towards the people of Qiao Pei.

If I go over to visit him directly, I might be served tea and sent away before I can even talk for a few words.

The reason why Fu Gu was brought along was to have some room for maneuver.

Fu Gu, who had just been transferred to the position of Shangshu Lang, was about the same age as Yu Song and was more famous. No matter how much Yu Song disliked the people of Qiao Pei, he would not treat Fu Gu coldly.

And Fu Gu is also a good example!
Not long after he was appointed as Zhonglang, he was promoted to Shangshulang by the imperial court. Yu Song would surely not refuse his offer of the title of Zhonglang to him, right?

After all, as the grandson of Bian Rang, he still served in the State of Wei, which shows that he still had ambitions for fame and fortune.

Or perhaps it was the clan behind him that needed him to let go of old hatreds and prevent their family from falling from being a poor family to a single family, or even a commoner.

Another reason was that he didn't want to debate with others anymore.

Although the Fuhua Case imprisoned many people, it could not stop the rise of the Qingtan (Xuantan) trend that followed the Qingyi trend of the late Han Dynasty.

When the younger generation of scholars were at a banquet, they could not help but put forward their own opinions and debate with each other. Fu Gu was one of them.

After a while, they arrived at Fu's house.

Fu Gu was not surprised that Xiahou Hui came without prior notice.

After inviting him into the mansion and sending the servants away, he asked directly, "Did Zhiquan come here to ask the court to temporarily stop the division of households and grant Ding Mi the title of marquis?"

This kind of question, which sounded like a confidant and was very concerned about Xiahou Hui's situation, also made Xiahou Hui laugh happily.

"No."

Waving his hand, Xiahou Hui whispered about his uncle's recommendation and how he wanted to ask him to help recruit Yu Song.

"It turns out to be Yu Shumao~"

As soon as he heard this, Fu Gu gave him a reassurance, "I have met this man several times. I cannot say that I am familiar with him, but I know his character and personality roughly. With Zhiquan's current position, it is not difficult to recruit him. But he is a cautious person. With Zhiquan's current reputation in the court and the public, visiting him directly may be counterproductive. If Zhiquan trusts me, you can leave this matter to me. When the time is right, I will arrange a time for Zhiquan to meet him."

My reputation in the government and the public
Has it reached a point where it is despicable?
Xiahou Hui was speechless.

But he quickly reacted and thanked him, "If Lanshi is not trustworthy, who else can be trusted? I'm grateful to Lanshi for this matter." (End of this chapter)