Xiahou Hui bowed in a dignified manner and said: "I am not good at archery, but I am good at writing."
"It is not necessary for a minister to be omnipotent in serving the king. It is enough for him to do one thing well and perform his duties to the best of his ability."
Cao Rui smiled and said, "Zhi Quan first studied at Chongwen Temple, and then went to the Imperial College for a year. His speech is quite decent."
"You and your brother Yiquan are both 22 years old. Yiquan followed me to conquer Shu two years ago, and you entered Chongwen Temple two years ago."
"Two years have passed. Yiquan has been promoted from a school lieutenant to a general, and you have also graduated from the Imperial Academy. Tell me, what position do you want to ask me for?"
Xiahou Hui bowed and said: "I am good at writing and I like writing. If I can get your majesty's approval, I would like to be an official in charge of books and regulations."
Cao Rui smiled and said, "Since Zhiquan has such ambitions, then you should stay with me as a cavalry assistant for two years and then study your literature."
After that, Cao Rui turned his head and looked at He Chu: "Zi Qi, what are your ambitions?"
He said straightforwardly: "I would like to be an official in a prefecture or county, to govern the area and benefit the people."
Cao Rui smiled and said, "Why, were you influenced by your father? He served as an official in Luoyang all his life, but was finally sent out by me to serve in other places. Did he talk to you about these things?"
He Chuan bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, my father has discussed this matter with me many times in his letters, mentioning that the court is different from the prefectures and counties."
"The court should focus on the big picture, and the prefectures and counties should start with the details. Neither should be neglected."
Cao Rui nodded slightly: "Your father is right."
"Do you know what I am worried about? I am worried that the central government officials have been in Luoyang for too long, and they are unaware of the difficulties of the prefectures and counties, and ignore the hardships of the people. They make specious decisions in the court, thinking that they have made contributions to the country, but in fact they have made the people suffer."
"I told you a few days ago in the Imperial College that the current policy of the court is to let you, the Imperial College students, see more of the hardships of working in the prefectures and counties."
After that, Cao Rui patted He Chu's shoulder and said, "Tuntian is a good place to go, but it's not the only place. Ziqi, you and Zhiquan will be the imperial attendants together."
"Learn more and watch more beside me."
He Chu and Xiahou Hui bowed together and accepted the job.
However, when He Chu came to his senses, he was a little confused. When the emperor asked about politics at the Imperial Academy that day, he mentioned three names. In addition to himself and Xiahou Zhiquan, there was also Sima Zishang, the second son of the Minister of Works.
Why did you choose yourself and not him?
While they were chatting, Wen Qin, led by the eunuch, hurried to the North Palace's martial arts arena. Behind him was a tiger guard, leading Wen Qin's own warhorse.
Cao Rui waved to Wen Qin and said, "Wen Qing, come here. Today, I and my close ministers are here, and I want to see the armored cavalry you lead."
Guanqiu Jian understood what he meant, took a step forward and introduced He Chuan and Xiahou Hui to Wen Qin.
After several people greeted each other, Wen Qin said, "Your Majesty, I have brought the war horses and armor in compliance with your order. What would Your Majesty like to see?"
Wen Qin not only did not mind the emperor's whim, but was also very happy. The more things that could make him look good in front of the emperor, the better.
In this era when all power in the world revolves around the emperor, only by being close to the emperor can one progress faster.
Cao Rui said, "I have stopped attending court these days and do not want to leave the palace, so I have summoned Wen Qing to come. How about you demonstrate the armored cavalry charging battle formation for me and the other ministers?"
Wen Qin hesitated: "Your Majesty, this place is narrow and I'm afraid the horses can't charge."
"That's fine," Cao Rui said, "Just go slow, and show it to everyone."
Wen Qin thought for a moment and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, since this is a demonstration, why don't you choose someone else to ride opposite me? This way, the feeling will be stronger."
Cao Rui pointed at Guanqiu Jian and said, "Zhong Gong is here!"
Guanqiu Jian nodded in agreement with a hint of helplessness.
It was not that Guanqiu Jian was unwilling, but he really felt that there was nothing to hedge against. Wen Qin's warhorse was wearing horse armor, and there was such a bright large armor on the horse's back. How could he fight?
Light cavalry, heavy cavalry, and armored cavalry are three completely different types of troops.
Guanqiu Jian was used to leading heavy cavalry. The so-called heavy cavalry was just the knights wearing heavy armor, and the horses were not well protected, and they were not wearing the super heavy Ming Guang armor like Wen Qin.
Anyone with a discerning eye can tell the difference.
However, since the emperor had given the order, Guanqiu Jian had no choice but to obey.
The two men mounted their horses, each holding a spear without a tip, and charged at each other at a speed half a beat slower.
As expected, when facing Wen Qin's armored cavalry charging at him, Guanqiu Jian, who was not wearing armor, threw down his spear in despair and hid most of his body to the side of his horse to avoid the attack.
The two men reined in their horses and then returned to the emperor's side at the same time.
Cao Rui looked at Guanqiu Jian and asked, "How does Zhonggong feel?"
Guanqiu Jian sighed and said, "Your Majesty, these armored cavalry can take away the enemy's courage. A thousand armored cavalry are enough to move freely on the battlefield."
Wen Qin laughed and said, "Zhong Gong, you don't know that the ten-foot-long spears here are shorter than the eight-foot-long spears used by our army." As he spoke, Wen Qin actually used the spear to demonstrate: "Just now I held the spear high and stabbed it downward, which is the same tactic used by the central army."
"When using the 10-foot spear, you don't have to worry about the enemy's weapons when wearing a large armor. You can stab forward with both hands or charge forward with the spear under your armpits."
Guanqiu Jian understood immediately and said with emotion: "If armored cavalry were not so expensive and difficult to select, the more armored cavalry there are, the better."
Cao Rui said, "The Privy Council told me that considering the expense of armored cavalry, 3,000 cavalry would be enough for the Wei Dynasty."
After that, Cao Rui looked at Wen Qin again and said, "Wen Qing, when you have trained 2,000 cavalrymen next year, select 1,000 of them and give them to the commander of the Central Army to lead."
"Then the Central Army will lead 1,000 soldiers, the Left Army will lead 2,000 soldiers, and the Right Army will no longer be necessary."
Wen Qin was a little surprised. Could it be that His Majesty asked me to come here today just to ask me to allocate a thousand armored cavalry to Guanqiu Jian?
If this is really the case, can't you just issue an edict directly? Why go through so much trouble?
Wen Qin grumbled in his heart, but he said without delay: "I obey your order. Your Majesty, I think you can let Zhong Gong select a few officers who are used to it and let me lead them to train together."
"It will be more convenient if it is under Zhong Gong's command."
Cao Rui nodded slightly: "Wen Qing is very thoughtful. Zhong Gong, did you hear that?"
Guanqiu Jian bowed to Wen Qin and said, "Thank you, General Wen, for your care."
Wen Qin grinned: "Zhong Gong, you don't need to thank me, you and I are both here for official business!"
Cao Rui watched the two men exchange greetings and sat back on his chair. When the surrounding ministers saw the emperor leave, they came over again and formed a semicircle in front of the emperor.
Cao Rui coughed lightly and said, "I summoned you all here to practice archery and watch martial arts. I am quite excited. Today I will talk to you a little more."
"If you have any talented or loyal people around you, please recommend them to me now."
"I trust you, and I will try to use the people you recommend."
When Cao Rui said this, everyone in front of him was quite surprised.
Your Majesty has never opened the door to favor you, so why is he listening to our recommendations today?
Although I think so, who doesn't have relatives and old friends? If you can recommend someone to be an official, of course you should recommend him.
But no one took the lead.
Cao Rui said with a smile: "I want to grant you a favor, why are you silent? I recommend the virtuous and capable, but I don't have to avoid relatives!"
After that, Cao Rui raised his hand and pointed at Wen Qin: "Wen Qing, you go first."
Wen Qin received the imperial edict, but felt a little conflicted for a moment.
Wen Qin was appointed as a general in the central army because of the favor of his father Wen Ji. Wen Ji was a general who had accompanied Cao Cao in the early days of his uprising and was quite favored by Cao Cao.
When Wen Qin was implicated in the Wei Feng case, Cao Cao made an exception and pardoned Wen Qin because of his father's old relationship.
But Wenqin came from a poor family.
His father was the son of a farmer in Qiao County. Later, he enlisted in the army, starting as a foot soldier and cavalry soldier, and then became a Sima with a rank of 1,000 stones. After being recruited by Cao Cao, he entered the fast lane of life.
Wen Qin has no relatives to recommend!
Cao Rui looked at Wen Qin's dilemma and said with a smile, "Can't you choose Wen Qing? If so, I will treat you as non-existent."
Wen Qin gritted his teeth and said somewhat embarrassedly: "Your Majesty, I have a fellow countryman from Qiao County who I have known for many years. He is brave and loyal. But..."
Cao Rui smiled and said, "Just what?"
Wen Qin said: "He is just of humble origins and was once a guard in the general's mansion. After the general was stationed in Chencang, this man served as a guard in the general's house."
"I have thought of employing him, but because he is in the general's mansion, I could not ask for him. Now that Your Majesty has shown mercy, I think this man is qualified to be a Sima of a thousand stones."
Cao Rui nodded: "Only a thousand stones, approved. Who is this person?"
Wen Qin cupped his hands and said, "This man's surname is Yin, his given name is Zhong, and his courtesy name is Damu."
Cao Rui asked: "Da Mu? Which Da Mu?"
Wen Qin pointed to his right eye: "The word 'broad' means 'big', the word 'eye' means 'eye'."
Cao Rui smiled and said, "He is really not from a high family. How about this, let him report to the Privy Council tomorrow and take up a post as a military officer of a thousand stones in Henei County. After some training, he can be transferred to the central army depending on the situation."
Wen Qin cupped his hands and said, "I thank your majesty for your grace on behalf of Yin Zhong."
Cao Rui waved his hand and looked at the others: "Where is Zhong Gong? You tell me!"
Guanqiu Jian clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, my younger brother Guanqiu Xiu has not yet entered the government. I would like to ask for a favor and let him become a doctor." (End of this chapter)
