Chapter 2572: Abundant Talents
Confucius said: "Don''t worry about few, but worry about inequality." 』
It can be seen from this that the shortcomings of people''s hearts are often due to contrast.
This was the case with Cai Mao back then.
The same is true now.
?During the Battle of Jingzhou, Cai Mao was one of the Jingzhou gentry who firmly supported Cao Cao.
Maybe it was because Cai Mao had some friendship with Cao Cao before, which was deeper than with Fei Qian, or maybe it was because Cao Cao was closer to Jingzhou at that time, and Fei Qian had a dispensable attitude, but no matter how you say it, Cai Hao In the end, he pulled many people together to join Cao Cao, and maintained most of his strength in Jingzhou.
So, Cai Mao''s contribution in Cao Cao''s battle of Jingzhou is not insignificant.
?However, Cai Mao''s "position" in Cao Cao''s political group has always been somewhat embarrassing.
Cai Mao was older and his merits were not small, and he considered himself "loyal" to Cao Cao. However, he was not as good as Xun Yu in terms of ability, not as good as Xia Hou in terms of status, not as good as Guo Jia in terms of intelligence, and was the leader of Jingzhou. After the war, there were basically no opportunities for promotion, and Cao Cao never promoted him.
In fact, on the whole, the members of Cao Cao''s political group have always been a mixed bag of good and bad. Some people are from the Yingchuan gentry, some are those who surrendered halfway, some are opportunistic fence-sitters, and some are superficial. Those who are loyal to the emperor and actually loyal to the emperor...
??Cao Cao knew this, so some local officials with powerful local surnames who were the most greedy and greedy on weekdays were successfully included in the list of officials to be reorganized this time.
Is it just the relationship between nobles and clans? It’s like a spider web.
Among the people who were punished, there were also some who had a closer relationship with Cai Mao and had more contacts...
As a result, Cai Mao could not help but feel some fluctuations in his heart.
After the Battle of Jingzhou in the past, Cai Mao got a new position.
?But it is not enough. Cai Mao is not a person. He is a representative of a family. What is the use of promoting Cai Mao to a false position?
What''s more, it''s just Changshui Xiaowei...
?Of course, the title of Captain Changshui is not small.
Changshui Xiaowei can be regarded as a Forbidden Army establishment. It was first established by Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty. It is one of the eight Xiaowei of the Northern Army. It has a rank of two thousand stones and ranks among the top ministers. It belongs to the officials of Cheng and Sima. The leader, Shui Xuanqu, and Hu Qi, garrisoned the capital and also served as expedition commanders.
But now, Captain Changshui is just an empty shell.
What''s more, everyone knows Cai Mao''s talent in cavalry. How can I put it? Just like that, who would really let a general with special skills in the navy command the cavalry?
So, although he has a rank of two thousand stones, a rank among ministers, and an official position that is not small, but does it compare with Cai Hao''s previous expectations...
Yes, it’s not that I didn’t get any benefits, it’s just that compared with others, I seem to have less!
People''s hearts change, and they are most afraid of comparison. This is the crux of the problem!
People in official circles are most sensitive to changes in their status.
?In recent times, Cai Mao has also clearly felt that his status in the Cao family''s political group is no longer what it used to be. Even compared to when he was under Liu Biao, it was far inferior.
In the past, although Cai Mao was only a local official in Jingzhou, he was basically the second-largest person in Jingzhou after Liu Biao. At that time, even if Cai Mao expressed some opinions that were at odds with Liu Biao, Liu Biao would not easily refute him, and would even make arrangements to arrest him. Only when you get some pigtails or something can you be louder to Cai Mao. And now, how big a figure is Cai Mao in Cao Cao''s camp?
In addition, when Cao Cao was reorganizing the government during this period, some Yingchuan nobles whom Cai Mao knew were eliminated. This also frustrated Cai Mao''s plan to use these Yingchuan nobles to expand his influence in Cao Cao''s political group.
Even getting scared, this old friend will fall out whenever he wants!
With all these things put together, Cai Mao will inevitably have many thoughts in his mind.
?However, because of Cao Cao''s decisive action in this official affairs incident under the gate of Xu County Palace, it really shocked many people, including Cai Mao. Cai Mao did not dare to express his thoughts at the moment, but these thoughts were like a seed, which had been quietly planted in his heart and was gradually growing and sprouting...
People have limited resources, and no one can always think things through.
In recent times, Cao Cao has mainly paid attention to the movements of General Fei Qian, and also considered the affairs of Jizhou and Youbei. He has not paid attention to the changes in the thoughts of the more peripheral Cai Mao in time.
Guo Jia, on the other hand, has always been good at understanding people''s hearts, and he was slightly aware of some of Cai Mao''s actions. However, Guo Jia did not express any direct expression, but just waited and waited. After all, Cai Mao was also considered an "old friend" of Cao Cao. Random speculation without solid evidence is not good.
What’s more, if you just think about it, it doesn’t count. The important thing is whether you have done it or not.
The changes in Jizhou and Youbei that are more important now give Cao Cao some headaches.
Cao Cao summoned his advisers to discuss the relevant situation.
As for these matters, there is actually not much room for negotiation.
It can be said that the Qinglong Temple Discourse really broadened Cao Cao''s horizons, making Cao Cao and his advisers discover that there was actually a war in culture, and Cao Cao and the others had been beaten so hard that they could no longer hold their heads high.
The traditional concept of locality was broken, and the four directions of China were added to it. Cao Cao couldn''t help but wonder if he was the frog at the bottom of the well, seeing only the world in front of him.
Of course, others do not know the specific results of the discussions between Cao Cao and his core ministers, but what is interesting is that before the results of these discussions were reflected, Cao Cao first announced some promotion and promotion lists...
Among them was Cai Mao, who was granted the title of Marquis of Yangting in Han Dynasty.
Hanyang…』
??Cai Mao stared at the sealing edict in his hand and was silent for a long time.
…((￣o￣).)…
At the same time, in the Chongde Hall, Emperor Liu Xie''s heart was also ups and downs, and he could not calm down.
The light in the temple is a little dim.
Liu Xie did not let Xiaohuangmen light more candles. On the one hand, he showed his diligence and simplicity. On the other hand, Liu Xie knew that if it was too bright inside the hall, it would be difficult for him to detect what was happening outside the hall.
??On the contrary, it would be better to be darker inside the hall, and then Liu Xie would be able to notice it immediately if there was a slight flicker of light and shadow outside the hall.
Sometimes, light brings hope, but it is also easy to escape. Darkness brings fear, and sometimes it brings courage.
It is like the contradictory psychology of the emperor Liu Xie.
Liu Xie held a piece of information in his hand and looked a little haggard.
Liu Ruo…』
王图…』
Deng Zhan…』
Liu Xie feels that the core thing he lacks is talent.????Especially the talents in the outer court.
? What he holds in his hand is the list of names that Cao Cao has added during these days. The names he is chanting are some relatively unknown people who have recently entered the court. Some of these people were from poor families, and some were in the military. Basically, the relationship between these people and the Cao family and the Xiahou family was naturally there, but it was not that deep.
If you can identify some useful talents from these people, it will be more or less what you can rely on for the next step. Otherwise, it is really difficult to move forward. Just relying on the power of the Xiaohuang Sect can only be maintained within a small range at most. It simply cannot be expanded.
Liu Xie has developed some small yellow gates in the palace. These eunuchs basically have to rely on the imperial power to survive, especially in the inner palace. Liu Xie is the only person who can immediately decide the life and death of these eunuchs, even if they are Once Liu Xie discovers an outside spy, he can be killed with just one sentence. Therefore, under the absolute authority over the inner palace, some of the eunuchs developed by Liu Xie were loyal, but they could not extend their loyalty.
『Your Majesty, Doctor Xi has arrived...』
Liu Xie put the list into his sleeve and said, "Pass it." 』
Xi Lu came back, with a big bag on his head and a heart full of resentment.
?This time, he is not on the list of rewards.
Some people do not do things when they are doing them, and can even shirk the work that they should have undertaken, but they must be there when eating meat, otherwise it will be a dim system and an unfair court...
Xi Xiu felt that the reward this time was very unfair.
Why doesn’t he?
??Don''t you think it''s hard for him to be traveling around for days? Could it be that he was at fault for not staying in Xu County?
It’s simply incredible and incomprehensible!
After meeting with Liu Xie, Liu Xie, after preliminary greetings, threw out the lists he had been paying attention to for a long time and asked about Liu Ruo, Deng Zhan and others.
Xi Liu roughly guessed what Liu Xie wanted to do, but Xi Liu felt that the people Liu Xie asked were completely different from Xi Liu himself, so he not only did not hide anything, but also talked to him sincerely. Liu Xie said that these people currently have relatively low positions, and even if they are promoted, they will not be able to help in a short period of time.
Prime Minister Cao is rectifying the administration of officials. What does Ai Qing think? asked Emperor Liu Xie.
"Well, haha," Xi Luqiang smiled, "If there is too much corruption, it is not beautiful after all. It is also a good thing for Prime Minister Cao to rectify the government..."
Liu Xie sighed: "Nowadays, it is necessary to have a noble character and not be contaminated by officialdom, but also to have outstanding ability and be able to do practical things. Such talents are really rare... My dear, why are there always those people in the court?" Corrupt officials have higher positions? Qingliu people are often in lower positions. Is it because they lack ability? 』
Hearing the emperor''s question, Xi Liu looked a little embarrassed.
?Because Xi Lu has always called himself "Qingliu", does the emperor mean that his abilities are limited?
If you don''t show that you are quite capable, does that mean that you are actually a "corrupt official"?
However, in the current situation, Xi Liu had to admit that most of the "Qingliu" officials in the imperial court were talkative people with high ambitions and low abilities. If they really wanted to do some practical things, these Qingliu officials would often fail to accomplish anything and fail more than they should. .
After hesitating for a moment, Xi Liu also sighed: "The elites in the court are indeed lacking in ability. Although they have noble character, when it comes to doing practical things, they are indeed not as good as those corrupt officials and treacherous ministers..."
Why is this? Liu Xie asked, "Ai Qing, can you clear up my doubts?" 』
Hearing the question from Emperor Liu Xie, Xi Liu''s expression showed some emotion, and he said slowly: "Human nature is greedy. Throughout the ages, there are only a very small number of people who can restrain their greed." The officialdom is like a vat of fame and fortune, with power in hand, frequent temptations, and lack of checks and balances. Under such circumstances, how many people can stick to their true intentions? The saying goes that people''s hearts are not as old as they used to be, and that''s about it. 』
Emperor Liu Xie had a solemn expression and remained silent, but he nodded and agreed with Xi Liu''s statement.
"Your Majesty," Xi Lu raised his head slightly and glanced at the emperor, then said slowly, "Why are most of the clear streams useless?" Does it appear that corrupt officials can do practical things? But that’s not the case. It’s not that there are no clean officials who are capable, willing to do things, and flexible, nor are they all corrupt from the beginning, but it’s hard to be alone..."
『How to say this? "When the emperor Liu Xie heard that there was something in Xi Lu''s words, he asked.
Xi Lu cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, there is no such thing as being independent in this officialdom. On the contrary, one''s position determines everything!" When ordinary officials enter the official career, most of them start from a salary of between 200 and 400 shi in the county. However, when these people take office, they find that most of their subordinates are corrupt officials, and most of their colleagues are corrupt officials. My immediate boss..."
Xi Xi paused for a moment, and then continued, "Under such circumstances, if he still wants to insist on being honest, he will become a different kind. Naturally, he will be squeezed out and suppressed, and it will be difficult for him to get promoted." If he wants to do something practical, people below him will hold him back, people around him will hinder him, and people above him will secretly make things difficult. As a result, not only will he fail to do things, but he will also give others leverage, and ultimately he will lose his official position and be held accountable... 』
?The emperor pondered for a long time and nodded, "I understand." In this way, upright officials who can do things are suppressed before they are promoted. Those who are promoted often have already chosen to work with others and live in peace... Moreover, these people are more likely to succeed because of the help of their cronies. Then you will have more things to do, and you will have more experience, and you will naturally have the abilities and means, and then your promotion will be just around the corner..."
Your Majesty is wise. ” Xi Lu responded.
Chi Lu not only confused the original mood of the emperor Liu Xie, but also gave Cao Cao a blow. He also blackened the names of the previous ones, leaving only himself who seemed to be an innocent person...
"So, rectifying the officialdom..." Emperor Liu Xie pondered, "Actually, it''s just...ahem, what I mean is that rectifying the officialdom is actually not very effective?" 』
Your Majesty is wise. Xi Lu cupped his hands and said, "This kind of official administration cannot be accomplished in a day." To be honest, officials must have such space from top to bottom. Otherwise, even if there are individual honest officials, they will often be made things difficult for others and have no power. And even if corrupt officials are caught again and again, they will still be caught..."
Xi Xi spread his hands and almost said, "Look, I don''t have any authority in my hands. Your Majesty, don''t think about what I have or don''t have. It''s only right to give me some authority first!"
According to Aiqing, are honest and self-responsible officials completely unable to stand out? Is it necessary to allow evil and evil to run rampant in the temple and become more and more chaotic? "Hearing Xi Lu''s words, Emperor Liu Xie felt a little unwilling and gritted his teeth and asked.
Xi Xi''s expression was a little helpless, "Your Majesty clearly knows that corruption is not new today." It was like this in ancient times, it was like this in the Spring and Autumn Period, and it is the same now. Even if there is some peace occasionally, it can only last for a while and cannot last long... However, if the pure and the turbid can flow together and check and balance each other, like Jingwei, then at least the court can be maintained. Stable, the world is at peace. 』
The clear and the turbid flow together, checking and balancing each other? Liu Xie repeated, "If you have any ideas, please tell me." 』
Xi Lu cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty is wise. If you want honest officials to succeed, the best way at the moment is to expand the Yushitai! 』
Yushitai? Liu Xie frowned.
In the Qin and Han Dynasties, censors were responsible for supervising affairs, and the official offices where these censors lived were naturally called censors'' offices, also known as Xantai. They were responsible for picketing, impeaching officials, and upholding court discipline. The Yushitai is headed by the Yushi Dafu as its official officer, followed by the Yushi Zhongcheng as deputy, who holds positions such as serving the Yushi, serving the Yushi in the palace, and supervising the Yushi.
Exactly. Your Majesty is aware of this. From the perspective of a humble minister, the Yushitai is now empty and cannot be used for any supervision..." Xi Lu said in a deep voice, "According to the law, the Yushitai should have one Yushi Dafu, two Yushi Zhongcheng, and Dafu. He is in charge of the criminal code and corrects the crimes of hundreds of officials. He is assisted by the Zhongcheng. There are three courtyards under him. One is called the Taiyuan, with Shi Yushi as the chief official and in charge of inspecting the upper and lower parts of the Yushi stage. The second is the palace courtyard. The imperial censor in the palace is the chief officer and is responsible for supervising all officials in the court. The third is the procuratorate. The censor is the chief official and is responsible for supervising local officials..."
"He reports on important matters, specializes in small matters, and recruits the best people in the world. If the affairs are complex, he has deputies. He can check the good and evil of officials, check the scattered households, check the lack of diligence in farming and mulberry trees, reduce consumption in warehouses, or check monsters." A cunning thief, doing harm for his own benefit..." Xi Lu had obviously been planning for a long time, and now he found an opportunity, so he started to talk about it, "The place can be inspected, the virtues are filial, the talents are outstanding, the hidden traces of the hidden utensils are in season, Those who use it should also look for cunning officials and powerful clans, mergers and tyranny, and those who are poor and weak and cannot redress their grievances... In this way, the world will naturally be able to curb corruption, clear the court, and sweep away chaos! 』
Xi Xiu spoke very enthusiastically.
It seems to be for the Han, for the court, for the emperor, and for the common people, but the emperor Liu Xie tasted some other flavors from it...
?It’s just that this taste is similar to what Emperor Liu Xie wanted to achieve.
???Cao Cao used the banner of rectifying the officialdom to slaughter the people on a large scale. The party united and opposed the dissenters, and the sound was crackling like the slaughter of pigs and sheep during the New Year and the setting off of firecrackers.
The emperor Liu Xie could only act like a kid who had no money to buy firecrackers. He groped greedily among the remains of the firecrackers that Cao Cao had set off to see if he could find a few dumb firecrackers to make himself a small firecracker and send out some. Come with your own voice.
?Now Xi Wu is suggesting that why go to all the trouble, just make a bunch of firecrackers yourself!
Didn’t Prime Minister Cao want to rectify the administration of officials?
Let''s go with the flow and build the Yushitai!
After all, if everyone does it together, then we are truly black!
Xi Lu almost made it clear to the emperor Liu Xie that he was weak and could only use more people!
Liu Xie''s eyes changed, and he also guessed that Xi Liu must have selfish motives in this matter, but at least at this stage, he and Xi Liu were still in the same direction, so this selfishness seemed to be possible. Within the acceptable range?
"So...very good..."
Emperor Liu Xie nodded, "I will discuss this matter at the next court meeting..."
Your Majesty! Holy Ming! 』
With a clang of green tea, Chi paid homage and knocked it to the ground.
(End of this chapter)