I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 436 Jia Xu Seeks Talent
The appointment of Zhao Zhong again aroused strong opposition from a number of court officials.

However, Zhao Zhong, who had already regarded the rebellious nobles and powerful people in Xuzhou as accomplices of the group in Jizhou that killed Zhao Yan, completely ignored all this. The next day after receiving the imperial edict, he could not wait to take his army on the tower ship on the Yellow River and head eastward.

With Lu Zhi and Huangfu Song supporting him, Liu Bian was able to get rid of the harassment from the ministers, but facing the resentful Jia Xu, Liu Bian felt a little embarrassed.

Needless to say, Man Chong has been highly valued since joining the school affairs department.

When Qian Zhao followed He Jin to inspect schools in various counties and kingdoms, he learned a lot from Wang Lang and Bing Yuan. After returning to Luoyang, he also became Jia Xu's right-hand man.

However, within a month, Jia Xu had lost two capable generals. In addition, Zhang Rang, who had often served as a bridge between him and the emperor, also left. This made it difficult for him to do things that he could easily do with Zhang Rang's name. How could he not feel resentful?

"It was not easy for me. Your Majesty knows that the foundation of the School Affairs Department is weak. It is extremely difficult to train a useful talent. But even so, I still did it."

"But..." Jia Xu became more and more sad as he spoke, "I have no one left to use by my side now!"

Seeing that Jia Xu was just making empty promises, Liu Bian felt embarrassed and simply said, "Wenhe, who do you like? Just tell me!"

Jia Xu immediately stopped his pretense and said, "There is a boy in the Imperial College named Zhuge Liang."

Liu Bian:?
Jia Xu and Zhuge Liang? What kind of combination is this?
Of course, he would not agree to let Zhuge Liang go to the School Affairs Department, but he still asked: "How did Wenhe notice Zhuge Liang?"

Jia Xu explained, "Your Majesty has been staying in the palace for some time. There were rumors in the Imperial College, and many students were discussing it. Only a few people, such as Zhuge Liang, were able to study peacefully and not be disturbed by the rumors. Sometimes students were puzzled and thought that he did not care about the safety of the emperor, but Zhuge Liang was able to remain calm and determined that the rumors were just rumors. Under his influence, fewer students in the Imperial College wanted to knock on the door."

"Aren't there other people who can study with peace of mind?" Liu Bian asked.

"The rest of us have white hair and gray hair."

Liu Bian understood what he meant. This kind of person is really a person who turns a deaf ear to the world outside and just studies hard.

He said: "Kong Ming is indeed good, so let's change Wenhe to someone else."

Jia Xu did not force it upon hearing this, and continued, "The Imperial Court Minister Wang Can."

"Wang Can?" Liu Bian was somewhat shocked. He asked, "Wen He asked Zhong Xuan to go to the School Affairs Department. Aren't you afraid that Zhong Xuan will reveal all the secrets of the School Affairs Department?"

Jia Xu said: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Education needs people with sharp eyes and ears and extensive knowledge! As for the leak, please trust my judgment."

Of course Liu Bian refused.

He still needs Wang Can to continue leading the Han literary world!

Don't turn a great literary master into a spy chief.

But now Liu Bian has probably realized Jia Xu's purpose.

It is impossible that Zhuge Liang, Wang Can and Jia Xu did not want it, but he probably also knew that he could not get it, so he deliberately put their names in front.

Liu Bian guessed that the next one should be the suitable candidate in Jia Xu's mind!
He then asked, "What about the next one?"

Jia Xu replied, "I once met with Chen Qun, the Minister of the Secretariat, and I know that he has talent and can handle important tasks."

Liu Bian looked at Jia Xu and said with a smile, "Wenhe, your true intentions are too obvious!"

Jia Xu did not deny it and asked honestly, "I wonder if Your Majesty will allow it." Liu Bian said, "Chen Changwen is now a minister with a salary of 600 dan. How can you be sure that he will give up this bright future and follow you into the Ministry of Education?"

After all, if a Han official encountered a position he didn't want to work for, he could just claim to be sick and resign.

Jia Xu pointed to his graying hair and beard and sighed, "Your Majesty, I am old. Maybe in a few years I won't be able to serve you anymore."

Liu Bian remembered that Jia Xu lived a very long life.

He smiled and said, "I have learned physiognomy from Shi Daoren before. I think Wenhe can live to be at least a hundred years old!"

Seeing Jia Xu's awkward smile, Liu Bian continued, "If Wenhe can convince Chen Changwen to join the School Affairs Department, I will never stop him, but I will not force Chen Changwen to join the School Affairs Department."

Hearing this, Jia Xu sighed again with a bitter face: "In this case, Chen Changwen has no hope."

He then said: "Why don't I choose Guo Jia? Guo Jia is only a Shangshu Lang, so he can be transferred, right?"

Liu Bian admired Jia Xu's vision and said with a smile: "You should ask the Minister Ma Gong about this. Now Ma Gong has regarded Guo Fengxiao as his successor."

Jia Xu sighed again, and then asked, "If the Shangshutai is not okay, then the officials of the Three Dukes' Offices will be fine, right? I don't want those who have been famous for a long time, I only want young people like Zhao Yan and Du Xi."

Liu Bian looked at Jia Xu speechlessly and asked, "Wenhe, how many people are you going to ask me for this time? I only transferred two people from you!"

Jia Xu said aggrievedly: "Although your majesty has only transferred two people, these two people are enough for me to be ten people, so they are equivalent to twenty people on duty!"

Perhaps guessing what Liu Bian was going to say, Jia Xu continued to add: "Even if Chen Qun has potential, when he first arrived at the School Affairs Department, he can only be regarded as one person. It will take a long time for him to be able to fight ten people with one person. In this case, I deliberately asked for less."

Liu Bian waved his hand and said, "You can recruit these people yourself. If they are willing to leave their posts and go to the School Affairs Department, I will allow them to do so."

After waiting for a long time and finally hearing this sentence, Jia Xu immediately smiled and said yes.

——He can finally go to other prefectures to poach people.

During the years that he was in charge of the school affairs department, there were many people that made him jealous.

"Is there anything else?" Liu Bian looked at Jia Xu, who seemed to be eager to poach people.

Jia Xu was still not satisfied and said: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Education has a bad reputation among officials nowadays. Many people are terrified when they hear the word "Ministry of Education". If you want to recruit more talented people, I'm afraid you need to improve their treatment!"

Liu Bian waved his hands impatiently and urged, "Go quickly. If you have any requests, just bring them up and I'll approve them for you!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Xu immediately retreated in small steps.

In the following days, Liu Bian witnessed Jia Xu's speed of work very intuitively.

What he didn't expect was that the first name he saw was Wang Can. He didn't know what kind of magic potion Jia Xu had given him.

However, considering that even in modern times, there is no drug that can make people obey just by smelling it, Wang Can’s handwritten request cannot be false.

Since this was Wang Can's choice, Liu Bian did not refuse.

(End of this chapter)