The North and South Palaces in Luoyang follow the old sites from the Han Dynasty.
Unlike the Han Dynasty, the current Emperor of Wei often lives in the North Palace and seldom comes to the South Palace.
In the spring of this year, the third year of Taihe, an office space about half the size of the Shangshu Tai was built on the vacant land near the Shangshu Tai, called the Privy Council.
The so-called Privy Council is actually a new institution established by the emperor's order in the spring of this year after former general Man Chong took office as the Western Pavilion.
The Western Pavilion leads the Privy Council and is in charge of the military intelligence of the world.
The Dongge was in charge of the Shangshu Tai and was in charge of the political affairs of all prefectures and counties.
The parallel of civil and military affairs seems to bring out the best in each other.
The officials of the Privy Council remained the same as those of the original General's Office.
September 29th, the third year of Taihe.
In the afternoon, the Right Supervisor of the Privy Council Wang Chang and Wang Wenshu were sitting in the duty room, reviewing Qinzhou's winter prevention plan this year.
Just then, a burst of hurried footsteps came from outside, and as they got closer, they started to run.
"Right Supervisor, this is an urgent report from General Anbei from Youzhou."
A clerk in a green robe, about thirty years old, bowed, walked up to Wang Chang, and respectfully handed him the general report.
Wang Chang took the military report, checked the wax seal, and opened it to read. As he read word by word, his brows furrowed tighter and tighter.
The clerk in green robe waited in front of Wang Chang's desk with his hands behind his back, not daring to make any noise.
Wang Youjian was a strict person, and any clerk in the Privy Council who did something inappropriate would be reprimanded by Wang Chang.
There are 'two kings' in the Privy Council.
The Right Supervisor Wang Chang, also known as Wang Wenshu, was strict and diligent. He was selected by the emperor from his post as the Secretary of the Central Secretariat and sent to the newly established Privy Council to take charge of its work.
Wang Weitai, the left supervisor, was kind and generous. He was transferred back to Beijing from the post of prefect of Fanyang. He and Wang Chang were in charge of the affairs of the Privy Council and were well-liked by the officials of the Privy Council.
Wang Chang exhaled heavily, took another look at the military newspaper, then folded it and put it into his sleeve.
After standing up, Wang Chang pointed outside the door and said, "You can go back now. I already know about this matter."
"I'll take my leave." The clerk in green robe said goodbye and walked away in small steps.
At this time, Wang Chang also walked out solemnly.
The North Palace was not far from the South Palace. Wang Chang was tall and strong, and he walked very fast. It only took him an incense stick of time to reach the emperor's study.
"Minister Zhong, please inform His Majesty that I have important military intelligence to report to him." Wang Chang bowed slightly.
"Right Supervisor, please wait a moment." Zhong Yu responded with a bow.
Except for the four people in the West Pavilion and the East Pavilion, the rest of the ministers were polite when they met Zhong Yu.
The current emperor has abolished the post of Palace Attendant, leaving only Palace Attendant. The power of the Palace Attendant has gradually increased the power of Palace Attendant, who is also an internal official.
Perhaps, it is also related to the fact that Zhong Yu has a good father.
After the emperor returned to Luoyang in July last year, he stayed in Luoyang for more than a year until September this year and did not go out.
The third year of Taihe was different from the first and second years in that there were no major border conflicts in any of the four directions.
When Zhong Yu saw Wang Chang’s solemn expression, he had some guesses in his mind.
The last time the Privy Council sent such an urgent report directly to the general, bypassing the Western Pavilion, was in April when Zhuge Liang of Shu invaded Dazhong.
Now I wonder what went wrong?
Cao Rui was sitting behind the desk in the study. He took the military report presented by Wang Chang, read it for a while, and laughed out loud.
"Poor, really poor!"
Cao Rui slammed the report on the table and said with a smile, "Wang Qing, how can Sun Quan be so stupid?"
Wang Chang bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, I think Sun Quan is a serious threat. Although Gongsun Yuan is respectful in words, he is also a thorn in the northeast of the Wei Dynasty."
Cao Rui waved his hand and said, "How could my cheap father-in-law be so unwise? He gave Gongsun Yuan so many things for no reason."
"Uncle Zhi, go and call the people from the West Pavilion and the East Pavilion to discuss the matter." Cao Rui said to Zhong Yu.
"According to the order."
Zhong Yu had just left when Sima Yi came uninvited almost at the same time.
"Your Majesty, Liu Ye, the governor of Youzhou, has reported that Sun Quan wanted to confer the title of Duke of Yan on Gongsun Yuan. Gongsun Yuan killed Sun Quan's envoy and sent his head to Youzhou. Liu Ye has sent the head of the envoy from Wu."
When Sima Yi saw Wang Chang, he probably knew what was going on.
There are two lines: civil and military.
When Youzhou learned of such a major event, Liu Ye and Xiahou Xian both sent envoys to Luoyang. Youzhou was far away, and it was within the borders, so the envoys of both of them set out at the same time and traveled the same route.
However, after entering Luoyang City, one team went to the Secretariat and the other team went to the Privy Council.
Cao Rui nodded and said, "Wang Qing has already told me."
"Please take a seat first, and we'll discuss this once everyone is here."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Sima Yi and Wang Chang bowed together and then sat down.
A moment later, Dong Zhao, Man Chong, and Wei Zhen arrived. Cao Rui stood up and stretched his muscles, leaned back on the recliner, and pursed his lips at Wang Chang: "Wang Qing, please tell us the whole story of this matter!"
"Yes." Wang Chang stood up and said solemnly, "After Gongsun Yuan seized the throne from his uncle Gongsun Gong last year, he thought he could be granted an official title by Wei. But Wei has never recognized Gongsun Yuan's official position, and Gongsun Yuan gradually became anxious."
"Since last year, Sun Quan and Gongsun Yuan have communicated by sea several times."
"In March, Gongsun Yuan sent envoys Su Shu, Sun Zong and others to Jianye to bring 500 fine horses from Youzhou to Sun Quan."
"In late July this year, Sun Quan sent envoys Zhang Mi, Xu Yan and others, carrying gold, jade and other treasures, across the sea to Liaodong, intending to enthrone Gongsun Yuan as the Duke of Yan."
"Gongsun Yuan pretended to be flattering, but he could not bear the inner torment and fear of punishment from the Wei Dynasty. So in early August, he plotted to kill Zhang Mi and Xu Yan, and seized 5,000 soldiers and more than 50 ships from Sun Quan."
"And send the heads of Zhang and Xu to Liu Ye in Youzhou and inform him of the incident. At the same time, ask the Wei Dynasty to confer official titles on them."
Wang Chang bowed and said, "Gentlemen, this is the situation."
"Sit down." Cao Rui waved his hand downwards and said, "Do you think Gongsun Yuan is being loyal?"
Sima Yi cupped his hands and said, "It was not an act of loyalty, but an attempted rebellion. It has nothing to do with loyalty."
Cao Rui smiled and nodded: "I think so too."
"Gongsun Yuan wanted to commit an immoral act with Sun Quan, but halfway through the process, he felt guilty and repented, and sent the head back to Wei."
"How should I deal with Gongsun Yuan?"
Dong Zhao coughed lightly and said slowly, "I think that we should judge by deeds rather than intentions. Liaodong is remote and difficult to control. Your Majesty should take this opportunity to confer an imperial title on Gongsun Yuan and commend his actions."
Man Chong said: "Your Majesty, Gongsun Yuan and Sun Quan are both thieves. Sun Quan is despicable, but Gongsun Yuan is two-faced and committed such an unjust act, so he should also be punished."
"If the name is not right, then the words will not flow. The Wei Dynasty has never conferred an honor on Gongsun Yuan, so how can we give him the title of governing Liaodong?"
"The Wei army has rested for more than a year now, and it is time to use troops in Liaodong to show that it is indispensable to the Wei territory!"
Sima Yi wanted to refute, but after thinking it over, he held back. He sat in the chair without saying a word, ready to see how the emperor would respond to Man Chong's words.
Since Man Chong returned to Luoyang in July last year and entered the Western Pavilion, within a year, he first sorted out the organization of the Central Army for Your Majesty, and then presided over the evaluation and elimination of mediocre people among the foreign armies and military officers of the prefectures and counties.
As he was put to good use, Man Chong became increasingly valued by the emperor.
Whenever Man Chong discussed matters in the study, he would speak passionately and loudly. When he disagreed with the other three cabinet ministers, he would often argue with them.
Your Majesty does not blame Man Chong.
Sima Yi snorted in his heart. How can you mobilize troops just because you want to? Your Majesty's policy of recuperation has never changed. How can you start a war over such a small matter?
Just as Sima Yi expected, the emperor shook his head slightly after listening to Man Chong's words.
Cao Rui looked at Sima Yi and Wei Zhen: "What does Dongge say?"
Sima Yi cupped his hands and said, "I think Gongsun Yuan should be rewarded, but he should not be given a title or sent to fight. Gongsun Yuan has bowed to the Wei, but it is far from the point where he can be rewarded with an official position."
"Liaodong is far away and difficult to attack, and Gongsun Yuan also has difficulty in attacking Youzhou."
“Just maintain the status quo.”
Cao Rui looked at Wei Zhen: "Where is Master Wei?"
Wei Zhen replied: "I agree with what the Minister of Works said."
Cao Rui asked again: "Does the Privy Council have any comment?"
Wang Chang said: "I agree with what the Minister of Works said."
After hearing what Wang Chang said, the four people from the West Pavilion and the East Pavilion looked at Wang Chang's face at the same time.
Wang Chang was stared at by everyone, but he didn't move at all. He remained calm and composed, sitting upright on the chair.
Cao Rui laughed: "Okay, I know what you are thinking."
"I will also tell you my opinion."
The four of them then shifted their gaze away from Wang Chang's face and looked at the emperor again.
Cao Rui was helping Wang Chang out of trouble.
The Privy Council was under the jurisdiction of the Western Pavilion, just as the Secretariat was under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Pavilion.
The power of the Privy Council should have been managed by two people, You Pushe and Zuo Pushe, like the Shangshu Tai.
Dong Zhao was the Weiwei, one of the Nine Ministers, and Man Chong was the Qianjiangjun. Cao Rui did not want to give them the title of Privy Councilor, but instead set up the Left and Right Supervisors to manage the daily affairs of the Privy Council.
Now, Wang Chang openly disagreed with Dong Zhao and Man Chong in front of the emperor. This was like the six ministers of state singing a different tune from Sima Yi and Wei Zhen in front of the emperor.
Wang Chang wanted to be a lone minister and not blindly follow the Western Pavilion, so Cao Rui certainly had to help him. It was a matter of convenience, so why not?
Cao Rui said softly, "Just over ten days ago, in mid-September, when my second son Cao Yan turned one, Sun Quan sent him a ship filled with treasures, money and grain as a gift."
"The memorial Sun Quan wrote to me was extremely respectful. Apart from the actual facts, Sun Quan said all the lies he should have said."
"This happened in mid-September. Sun Quan's letter to me was sent in August at the latest."
"And Sun Quan intended to enthrone Gongsun Yuan. The ship arrived in Liaodong in July, and it would have departed from Jiangdong even earlier."
"Sun Quan is preparing gifts for me and my prince, but on the other hand he wants to confer the title on Gongsun Yuan?"
Cao Rui looked around at everyone and said, "Just now you said Gongsun Yuan was two-faced. Gongsun Yuan said one thing to your face and another behind your back. Could he be as excessive as Sun Quan?" (End of this chapter)
