Chapter 33: Drinking Wine and Talking about Heroes (Part )
A military post in an outer town?
Liu Gui began to think that this was actually a way to enter the officialdom.
In the official system of the Northern Wei Dynasty, in addition to the officials of the imperial court, there were also princes and ministers who had the power to establish the Three Departments, generals of the outer garrisons who were in charge of the military affairs of various states, chieftains who were appointed by Emperor Xiaowen, and commanders of military states and garrisons on the borders all of which had the power to recruit their own subordinates.
Some of these positions, such as "Canjun", "Jishi", "Zhubu" and "Sima", are also positions with official ranks.
As long as they have made contributions or are recommended by ministers, they can also be directly transferred into the court's official system and participate in promotion.
Those children of noble families who cannot get official positions in the sacred capital Luoyang will, if they have no other choice, choose to be loyal to these powerful people in the court and serve as officials.
Liu Gui sighed and said, "This is also a way, but it is full of dangers. It is safer to be recruited by the court."
Gao Huan was now completely new to the officialdom. He asked, "Since Brother Aze has said that he wants to be an official, wouldn't it be great if he could make achievements in the local area?"
Liu Gui knew that Gao Huan was an ignorant person, so he explained, "The difficulty lies in where to enter the government."
"Does it make any difference?"
Liu Gui said: "Once we become the disciples of important officials, they will become our sponsors. Once the relationship between host and guest is established, it cannot be changed."
“Even if you are recommended or transferred to the court after your meritorious service, the relationship between the sponsor and the guest will still exist. Both sides will prosper together and suffer together.”
Gao Huan asked: "Is it not possible to change the family?"
Liu Gui and Su Ze looked at Gao Huan as if he were a fool, and only then did Gao Huan realize that he had spoken out of turn.
Liu Gui originally thought that Gao Huan was a generous and magnanimous person with a good appearance, so he wanted to make friends with him.
But after meeting Su Ze, he felt that Gao Huan was not as generous as Su Ze, and his vision was far inferior.
Liu Gui still patiently said: "The relationship between the sponsor and the follower is like that between the monarch and the minister, the father and the son, the master and the apprentice. How can it be easily changed? If you betray your master or sell out for fame, who will dare to employ you in the future? How can someone who can betray even his sponsor gain the trust of others?"
After listening to this, Gao Huan said with some disapproval: "In this world, it is not uncommon for ministers to betray their kings, sons to kill their fathers, and students to kill their teachers."
Su Ze looked at the two people with interest. One was Liu Gui, a Xiongnu who was completely sinicized, and the other was Gao Huan, a Han who was Xianbeiized. Liu Gui talked about loyalty to Gao Huan, which seemed absurd no matter how you looked at it.
However, Su Ze still agreed with Gao Huan's idea. In this era of the collapse of rituals and music, the old order is gradually disintegrating, and those things that were originally taken for granted will soon become less so.
Liu Gui wanted to argue, but Su Ze picked up his glass and said, "Brother Gao is right. Come, let's toast to this fucked up world!"
Liu Gui thought about it, and thinking of the contempt he received in the Ministry of Personnel, he also picked up the wine bowl and drank it all!
Su Ze added: "But what Brother Liu said is also correct. Choosing someone to enter the government is related to one's family and future, so one must be cautious."
Liu Gui nodded in agreement. The court of the Northern Wei Dynasty had been turbulent in recent years, with powerful officials changing constantly. Because of this, the children of aristocratic families were very cautious about serving in the government. If their investment failed, at best their future would be ruined, and at worst their family would be implicated.
Liu Gui's father was already dead, and the so-called Zhao Han royal family had been extinct for a hundred years, and the family's descendants had withered away. If he chose the wrong side, the family would immediately fall into poverty, or even worse than poverty. Su Ze had a vague plan, and he guided Liu Gui and said:
"Today, thanks to Brother Gao's wine, Brother Liu, you can speak up if you have any ideas. One person's shortcomings can help three people gain advantages. Let's discuss the matter together."
The relationship between people is like this. Some people have known each other for many years but are still just acquaintances, while some people feel like old friends after just meeting once.
Liu Gui had not met Gao Huan and Su Ze very often, but he admired Gao Huan's boldness and bravery, and now he also admired Su Ze's calmness and wisdom. He had originally considered joining the government, so Liu Gui said:
"There are many important officials in the court who can open their own offices, but there are only a few who can be served by scholars."
If you can establish a government, you can recruit ministers. During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, due to frequent wars, there were many ministers who could establish a government, and it was not as rare as during the Sui and Tang Dynasties.
Some provincial governors and even county magistrates could set up their own governments when they were ordered to do so in times of crisis, but these people had no influence in the court, and it was impossible for a family scion like Liu Gui to serve them.
They were targeting the top ministers, and only by serving them could they get the recommendation opportunity to serve as officials in the court.
Liu Gui counted on his fingers and said, "There are several royal princes in the capital now, with Prince Qinghe leading the Ministry of Internal Affairs as the head of the prime minister. In addition, Prince Gaoyang and Prince Jiangyang are also deeply trusted by the Queen Mother."
The Prince of Gaoyang Yuan Yong and the Prince of Jiangyang Yuan Yi also had extremely large mansions in Luoyang, and they had many staff and retainers under their command.
Su Ze knew that a bloody struggle was about to break out among the kings in Luoyang, so he said tactfully:
"Brother Liu, the princes who serve as prime ministers in the capital of the gods have many retainers and aides. To stand out under them is no less difficult than waiting for the selection in the Ministry of Personnel. Moreover, the ruler is young and the country is in doubt. There are undercurrents in Luoyang."
Liu Gui also nodded. What Su Ze said was right. The Golden Lotus Assassination and the fire in the wooden pagoda at Yongning Temple had also made these children of large families with keen political sense smell danger. It would be extremely risky to cling to these princes now.
Liu Gui understood Su Ze's meaning. After excluding the Grandmasters and Kings, Liu Gui said:
"I heard that the court wants to grant General Li Chong the title of Shang Shu Pushe, General of the Cavalry, Yi Tong San Si, Envoy with Special Envoy, Shi Zhong, and Commander-in-Chief of the Military Affairs of Ding, You, Yan, and Ying Provinces, and send him to garrison Yecheng. Now Li Wohu's gate is crowded with people. What do you think, Brother Su?"
Liu Gui was talking about the "Crouching Tiger" Li Chong who had made great contributions in defeating the Southern Liang army at Fushan Weir. Su Ze said, "If Li Wohu was ten years younger, he could be Brother Liu's benefactor, but Li Wohu's descendants are not good, and no one can bring glory to the family."
Liu Gui nodded repeatedly. Li Chong's age was the biggest problem. When Li Chong returned to the capital, the court offered him an important post in a remote town. However, Li Chong declined the post due to his poor health. This year, Li Chong is already sixty years old, which is an age where he may die at any time in this era.
Su Ze said that Li Chong's descendants were not good. He did not mean that his descendants were unfilial, but that Li Chong's sons and grandsons did not have outstanding talents. The eldest son, Li Shizhe, served as the governor of Xiangzhou, but he only knew how to make money while in office, and his reputation in the court was extremely bad.
Once Li Chong died, the Li family would fall, and it would be risky to surrender to Li Chong.
Now it became that Liu Gui talked about one person and Su Ze commented on another person, just like they were discussing heroes over a glass of wine.
Gao Huan, who was standing by, was stunned.
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(End of this chapter)