These two things also began to ferment in Luoyang City.
If the arrest of Zhuge Dan and others from the Secretariat could be covered up a little, the Huben Knights went straight into He Yan's house, and took so many people to the Chongwen Temple first, and then sent them to the Tingwei Mansion.
It has already begun to spread.
Gao Rou, the Imperial Court Judge, sat in the hall and could not stop sighing. He said to Wang Guan, the Imperial Court Judge, "Tai Tai, what's going on in the court recently?"
"First it was the Secretariat, then the Shangshutai, and then the Chongwen Temple. I am increasingly confused by the turmoil in the court."
Wang Guan, who was sitting behind the desk, put down his pen and looked up at his superior: "I think if Lord Gao wants to understand the current political situation, he will only be asking for trouble."
"Mr. Gao is firmly seated in the position of the Minister of Justice. He enforces the law fairly and abides by the law in everything. He will definitely not get into any trouble."
Gao Rou sighed and said, "What Weitai said is true. I am too obsessed with the political situation."
"When I asked Yuan Kan just now, he asked if he could use the 'Eight Discussions'. What should we do about this matter? I really don't want to go to the palace to ask again."
"It seems that Lord Gao is distracted by the recent political situation." Wang Guan shook his head slightly, stood up and took the confessions that Zhuge Dan, Yuan Kan and Xu Yun had just prepared, and placed them flat on Gao Rou's desk.
"Weitai." Gao Rou looked at Wang Guan, "I just can't figure it out. The power of the Secretariat was reduced, and the ministers benefited. In the case of Zhuge Dan and three others in the Shangshutai, and the case of He Yan and others in Chongwenguan, who benefited?"
Wang Guan was about to turn around and leave, but after hearing Gao Rou's words, he said helplessly, "I'm afraid the court judge is overthinking. Couldn't it be that Zhuge Dan, He Yan and others violated the law and were detained? Why do you have to find someone to push them out?"
Gao Rou shook his head and said, "Weitai, I'm not saying that you are young and ignorant. I have been in the Li Cao, Fa Cao and Dali of Emperor Wu's residence for so many years, but I have never seen a major event. There was no one to push it forward."
"Although it is not clear now, I think it will become clear sooner or later as the case goes on."
Wang Guan cupped his hands and said, "No matter what Lord Gao says, we still have to report the matter of the 'Eight Discussions' to the palace, right? How about I draft a draft for Lord Gao first?"
Gao Rou stroked his beard and said, "Then let's do it this way. Weitai, remember not to write any of my biases, just write down the facts as they happened."
"Let your majesty decide these matters."
Wang Guanying said, "I understand. Lord Gao, why don't you go check on He Yan and the others first?"
Gao Rou said, "No hurry! They've already entered the Imperial Court, why should I be in a hurry? Weitai, let someone give them paper and pen first, and let them write whatever they think of!"
Wang nodded in agreement.
……
Inside Sikong Mansion.
In front of the furious Sima Yi, Sima Shi did not dare to hide anything and put all the Five-Stone Powder he had asked for from He Yan's house in front of Sima Yi.
Sima Yi dared to hit He Yan, but when facing his beloved son, he was unwilling to lift a finger no matter what.
Although Sima Shi had no idea why his father was so angry, he still followed his father's orders. In the Sima Mansion, even if he was favored, he did not dare to disobey his father in the slightest.
After listening carefully to Sima Shi's account of his interactions with Xiahou Xuan, He Yan and other famous scholars in Luoyang over the past six months, Sima Yi stared into Sima Shi's eyes and said:
"Ziyuan, did you ask He Yan for this? Or did He Yan give it to you?"
Sima Shi lowered his head slightly and looked at the ground: "It was my son who asked for it."
"Why?" Sima Yi asked.
"My son also heard from He Yan and Zhuge Dan that this substance is the best aphrodisiac and strength enhancer, so he took it home to take."
"How many times have you taken Wu Shi San?"
"Three times. Including the one at He Yan's house, there were only three times in total." Sima Shi summoned up the courage to ask, "Father, what exactly is going on?"
"What's going on?" Sima Yi snorted coldly: "Ziyuan, you and your father have both been badly tricked by He Yan!"
As Sima Yi told the story of what happened with Zhuge Dan yesterday and what happened with He Yan in Chongwen Temple today, Sima Shi began to really panic.
"Are you serious, father? I can't be an official after taking Wu Shi San?" Sima Shi asked in disbelief, his lips trembling slightly.
Sima Yi had calmed down and began to think seriously about the causes and consequences of the matter.
Sima Yi said: "Ziyuan, your father has explained everything to you clearly. Now I have an idea, and there is no one else to advise me at the moment. How about you come and listen to it?"
Sima Shi swallowed and nodded heavily.
Sima Yi stroked his beard and said, "In this matter, both you and I, father and son, are actually involved."
"As for my father, it was the three people from the Ministry of Personnel of the Secretariat, Zhuge Dan, Yuan Kan, and Xu Yun. According to your majesty's actions, my father and Wei Zhen are most likely not able to escape responsibility."
"But after all, state affairs still need someone to manage them. I guess at most they will be demoted or have their fiefs reduced, but their actual powers and responsibilities will probably remain unchanged."
Sima Shi nodded nervously. For this young man, since he could remember things, he had always seen his father being given important tasks and being promoted. Going uphill is not a skill, but being able to walk steadily and clearly downhill is the real skill.
"The key to the matter actually lies with Zhuge Dan, Yuan Kan, and He Yan."
"From the perspective of public affairs, He Yan, Yuan Kan and Zhuge Dan abused their power for personal gain, sought fame and profit, and used the court's public tools to gain personal fame. According to the law, both Yuan Kan and Zhuge Dan, the two Shangshu Lang, should be executed."
"But from a business perspective, this is actually He Yan and his gang forming a clique, flaunting each other, and seeking power and profit. Maybe you, Ziyuan, will also be classified as one of them."
Sima Shi sighed and said, "Father, what can I do? Please save me!"
"madness!"
Sima Yi suddenly became angry: "I didn't scold you just now. It's normal for you to associate with Xiahou Xuan and He Yan. Taking Wushisan is also an unexpected disaster, which has affected innocent people."
"But now you actually want me to save you? Where's your brain?" Sima Yi pointed at Sima Shi's face and said, "You are my eldest son! How can I not save you? How can I not save you?"
Sima Shi hunched his shoulders, knelt on the seat with his lips pursed, and dared not utter another sound.
Sima Yi stared at his son for a long while, but he couldn't bear it anymore and shook his head, saying, "This matter can't be linked to the Five Stone Powder! As a father, I would rather break my promise and link this matter to the Vanity Faction."
"My father is Marquis of Wuyang, Minister of Works, and Recorder of the Secretariat. Even if his position is reduced, it won't take away my three highest positions, right?"
"It's you on the contrary! If you really can't be an official because of the Five Stones Powder, then your future will be ruined for the rest of your life."
"Father..." Sima Shi was already in tears at this time, kneeling on the mat, not knowing what to say.
Sima Yi walked forward and patted Sima Shi on the shoulder: "Ziyuan, you are still young. It is a good thing to encounter some setbacks while your father can still protect you. You can act more cautiously in the future."
Sima Yi lifted Sima Shi's chin with his right hand, looked into his eyes seriously and said: "If anyone else asks you about this matter, you can admit your fault, but remember in your heart that you are not at all wrong!"
"As a human being, you need to be magnanimous to achieve great things! If you can't even tolerate yourself, how can you tolerate the affairs of the world!"
"Yes." Sima Shi nodded repeatedly: "Father, I will remember everything you said."
……
In the afternoon, Beigong.
Without Sima Yi, Cao Rui was unwilling to call over the remaining Cao Zhen, Dong Zhao and Wei Zhen.
At this time, there were only four attendants in the study: Xin Pi, Chen Jiao, Yang Fu, and Wang Su.
Cao Rui leaned back on the recliner, rubbed his brows, and said softly: "The court official asked me whether I can convict him according to the 'Eight Discussions'. What do you four think of this matter?"
After Liu Ye left, Xin Pi had already developed the habit of speaking first. He cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I think the eight discussions, namely, discussing relatives, discussing old friends, discussing the virtuous, discussing the capable, discussing meritorious deeds, discussing the noble, discussing diligence, and discussing guests, may be abused."
"What do you mean?" Cao Rui raised his eyes and looked at Xin Pi.
Xin Pi said: "According to Liu Kongcai's point of view, the Eight Discussions are to discuss whether to spare the death penalty when the above eight types of people commit a capital crime, or to reduce the crime by one level when exiling or below."
"But these eight types of people are too many." Xin Pi counted on his fingers, "Relatives, friends, meritorious officials, nobles, and guests. These five types all have clear standards."
"But judging whether one is virtuous, capable, or hardworking is too subjective and there are loopholes that can be exploited."
Cao Rui nodded gently: "Minister Xin means to delete the three categories of discussing virtue, discussing ability, and discussing diligence, right?"
Xin Pi nodded: "Things like this that don't have clear standards should not be included in the law."
"What do you three think?" Cao Rui looked around.
Yang Fu cupped his hands and said, "I don't think there is any need for these eight proposals. If Your Majesty wants to spare someone's life, just pardon him."
Chen Jiao glanced at Yang Fu and interrupted, "Minister Yang, these two are still different."
Yang Fu was about to ask back, but Cao Rui pointed at Chen Jiao and said, "Listen to what Minister Chen has to say first."
"Yes." Chen Jiao said, "The Eight Proposals are not useless, but a manifestation of applying etiquette to law. The so-called 'no punishment for officials' is just a means for the emperor to win over the royal relatives and ministers."
Seeing Yang Fu turning his head to look at him again, Cao Rui smiled and spread his hands: "Did you see that, Yang Qing? As an emperor, I also need to have good relations with the noble ministers."
Yang Fu nodded in silence, and at this time Wang Su finally spoke: "If you follow what your Majesty said just now, we should only discuss relatives, merits, nobles, and guests."
"Royal relatives, national heroes, nobles, and descendants of the previous dynasty. If you want to win the hearts of the people for your majesty, these four types of people are enough."
Cao Rui nodded and said, "Eight discussions to four discussions? That's fine."
"Then can Yuan Kan, who was reported by the court judge, be awarded the title of 'discussing merit'?"
Wang Su cupped his hands and said, "Yuan Kan's father, Yuan Huan, Yuan Yaoqing, did make contributions to the Wei Dynasty. But whether he can be considered a 'discussed merit' actually depends on whether Your Majesty wants to kill him." (End of this chapter)
