Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

After asking three people in succession, the answers he got were either vague or they didn't dare to speak. Cao Rui was already feeling a little unhappy.

Cao Rui's expression gradually turned cold, and he sighed:
"Today I am in the North Palace, in this Chongde Hall, hosting a banquet for you. The wine is warm, the dishes are hot, but my heart is not as warm as the wine and dishes. You are my trusted brothers and sisters, my loyal ministers, and the pillars of the Wei Dynasty. Why do you keep shirking responsibility when I don't ask about the selection today?"

"Does this really make me a lonely person?"

Cao Zhen looked a little embarrassed, and Qian Zhao and Dong Zhao didn't know what to say. At this time, even the general and the general Dong were being teased by His Majesty in disguise. If anyone interrupted at this time, wouldn't they offend both of them?
"It is my fault." Cao Zhen replied with a bow.

"I just spoke out of turn." Dong Zhao also bowed.

Cao Shuang, who was sitting behind Cao Zhen, turned his head slightly to look at Jiang Wei, who was sitting diagonally behind the emperor's desk. The two were completely unprepared for the rapid change in the atmosphere at the banquet.

"You guys," Cao Rui sighed slightly, "are always too cautious in front of me. Why is it so?"

Cao Zhen stood up and saluted: "Please calm down, Your Majesty. It's not that we can't speak, but the selection of Shangshu Zuo Pushe is too important. Your Majesty is often on the battlefield, and Wei Gongzhen is in Luoyang to manage the logistics and internal affairs as Zuo Pushe. Only the pillars of the country should not take on such important responsibilities. It seems unsafe for us to make recommendations on such personnel in just a few words."

Dong Zhao also stood up and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I second the motion. The two ministers in the East Chamber are You Pushe and Zuo Pushe. Zuo Pushe has a heavy responsibility, and I dare not recommend anyone for the time being."

"General and Grand Commandant, please take a seat. I will not make it difficult for you two." Cao Rui smiled and raised the jade wine cup in his hand: "Come on, gentlemen, have another drink!"

"Raise the white!"

"Raise your mouth!" Cao Zhen and Dong Zhao sat down together. Everyone responded to the emperor's request and drank another cup together.

According to common sense, Cao Rui would raise a question, and the ministers would recommend some names, and Cao Rui would then choose a favorite one from them, and everyone would be happy.

Perhaps it was because Cao Zhen and Dong Zhao had not seen the emperor for too long and a rift had developed between them, or perhaps their positions were too important, making it easy for them to be suspected of forming cliques for personal gain, and it was also easy to see who was whose faction or acquaintance.

The caution of Cao Zhen and Dong Zhao just now was not without reason.

But how could what the emperor really wanted to do be stopped by a few words?
After Cao Rui put down the wine bottle, he smiled and looked at Cao Zhen: "General, what you said makes sense, but I also made sense to ask you to recommend talents. How about this, everyone present here today is a general or a military officer, and each of you recommends one person, isn't it appropriate? No one is allowed to be left out!"

This is what everyone needs to pass.

"Zhao Bo." Cao Rui smiled and pointed at Cao Shuang behind Cao Zhen: "You speak first!"

Cao Zhen only felt that the emperor in front of him was more steady than his previous impression, but also as oppressive as a mountain and would not tolerate any rejection. This was completely different from the relaxed feeling he had when practicing martial arts.

"Your Majesty..." Seeing that all the ministers in the Jiade Hall were looking at him, Cao Shuang was so nervous that beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. Just as he looked around and didn't know who to recommend, Cao Zhen turned around and shouted in a low voice:

"Cao Shuang, if His Majesty asks you, just speak frankly!"

Cao Shuang suddenly felt helpless and asked, "Let me speak frankly. Aren't you and General Dong the ones who refused to speak frankly just now?"
Cao Shuang had no choice but to think of a solution in a hurry. He said, "Your Majesty, I have been serving in the frontier army for the past few years, and I am not very familiar with you in the court. But when I was in Youzhou, I heard about the reputation of Liu Shumi, the then governor, so I recommend Liu Shumi to be the Shangshu Zuo Pushe!"

As soon as he finished speaking, there were some laughter in the hall. Cao Zhen's face turned a little gloomy, and Cao Shuang even lowered his head.

What else can I say? Cao Shuang only feels that life is difficult. You can't let me just recommend someone who has a high reputation in the court just because I heard about it, right?

Cao Rui smiled and glanced at Cao Shuang, then pointed at Liu Ye:

"Do you, Mr. Liu, want to be the Minister of the Left?"

Liu Ye was the most speechless person. Hearing this, he quickly stood up and bowed: "Your Majesty, please allow me to report. I have only been working in the Privy Council for a few months and have no intention of working in the Shangshutai!"

"General." Cao Rui looked at Cao Zhen again.

Cao Zhen had no choice but to stand up and bow, saying: "I recommend Du Xi Du Zixu to be the Zuo Pushe. He is a talented and perseverant man who can see the big picture from the small details. He is qualified for the position."

"Du Xi?" Cao Rui nodded: "I know."

"General Wei." Cao Rui looked at Cao Hong again.

"I recommend Guanglu Xun Yang Fu, Yang Yishan." Cao Hong thought the emperor would not ask him, but after being named, he tried hard to win back some points for himself: "Yang Yishan is upright and has outstanding talents. Although I have been reprimanded by him before, if I can think of someone who can take on this important task, he is the first one I think of."

"Okay, I understand." Cao Rui asked again: "Does Lord Dong have anyone to recommend?"

"I recommend Qinzhou Governor Chen Jibi, who was once the Minister of the Chancellery, to serve as Zuo Pushe, which is reasonable."

Cao Rui nodded slightly.

As the questions were asked one by one, the answers in everyone's mind gradually came out. Man Chong recommended Xin Pi, Liu Ye recommended Wang Guan, and Wang Guan recommended Huang Quan. Qian Zhao recommended Xu Shu, Xu Shu recommended Pei Qian, and Zang Ba recommended the Minister of Works Fu Xun. As for the generals of the central army, they all recommended their own. Guanqiu Jian recommended Xin Pi, and Huan Fan recommended Huang Quan...

Cao Rui sat behind the desk and nodded with a hint of satisfaction.

Although it seems to be a mess, with everyone recommending different people and no one candidate being supported by the majority, but with this operation of calling out names one by one, even though everyone has different thoughts, it is enough to verify some of the ministers' tendencies.

"Bo Yue, draft the edict." Cao Rui said softly.

"As you wish." Jiang Wei stood up and walked to a small table nearby. He dipped the brush in ink skillfully and placed his wrist slightly above the silk cloth used to write imperial decrees.

"The emperor ordered the Minister of the Left, the Guards of Guanxi, Wei Zhen, to be in charge of the military affairs of Yong, Qin, and Yizhou, and to be the General of Chariots and Cavalry. He was dismissed from his previous post and led his troops to station in Chencang. All generals from Zhang He, Lu Xun, and Guo Huai onwards were to be under his command."

"Yes." Jiang Wei agreed immediately, and after thinking for a few moments, he began to write on the silk. The so-called "General of Chariots and Cavalry" meant that he was temporarily in charge of the General of Chariots and Cavalry. It was thought that Wei Pushe would still be useful in the court in the future.

After Jiang Wei finished writing, Cao Rui did not stop for a moment and said slowly:

"I order the general's military advisor Du Xi to be the lieutenant of the Sili Army and to leave Chencang and return to Luozhong to take up his post today."

"The emperor ordered Yang Ji, the Minister of Personnel, to be appointed as the Governor of Yuzhou, and Huang Quan, the Governor of Yuzhou, to return to Luoyang to serve as the Minister of Personnel."

"The Imperial Guard Xin Pi is appointed as the Minister of the Left."

As Cao Rui spoke one point after another, everyone in the hall fell silent and gradually became serious.

Everyone had made recommendations just now, and the only person who could truly match your majesty's thoughts was the former general Man Chong who recommended Xin Pi. But Man Chong had nothing to be happy about, as he had no personal relationship with Xin Pi and acted entirely out of public interest.

The emperor always made decisions on important positions in the court, and this had become the norm. People were used to it and didn't think much about it. But these personnel arrangements were more interesting, and they could reveal a little bit of the emperor's thoughts.

Did Xin Pi finally get the position of Shangshu Zuo Pushe?

If we carefully examine Xin Pi's resume, we can draw an obvious conclusion.

In the first year of Taihe, when Huainan attacked Wu, Wei Zhen was in charge of the aftermath in Luoyang, while Xin Pi followed the army as a minister. In the second year of Taihe, when fighting with Qinzhou of Shu, Wei Zhen still stayed in Luoyang, while Xin Pi stayed in Chang'an, taking full charge of the logistics of the army.

When Your Majesty personally led the expedition to Liaodong this year, Xin Pi stayed in Quanzhou City, Yuyang County, and was responsible for the logistics of Liaodong's military operations.

It seems that Xin Pi was appointed as Shangshu Zuo Pushe, perhaps in order to order him to be in charge of logistics in the future war, just like before.

Cao Zhen nodded imperceptibly. From his point of view, Xin Pi had a close relationship with him, so it was a good thing for him to be the Minister of the Left. Moreover, His Majesty's appointment of Xin Pi would be helpful to the military and more stable in personnel matters.

As for Du Xi's appointment as Sili Xiaowei, at least in Cao Zhen's view, this was somewhat considerate of his face. And Huang Quan's exchange with Yang Ji was nothing to say. The Minister of Personnel was the head of the six ministries, and the next level was Shangshu Pushe. It seemed that Huang Quan really won the emperor's favor as rumored.

"Xu Qing." Cao Rui looked at Xu Shu.

"I'm here." Xu Shu stood up from the table and bowed.

"Come closer." Cao Rui waved with a smile.

"As you wish." Xu Shu walked slowly to a distance of about two meters from the emperor and bowed again.

Everyone in the hall looked at Xu Shu at the same time. He had just issued several personnel decrees, and now he kept calling Xu Shu to come closer. Perhaps he was going to make some assignments for Xu Shu?

Cao Rui said: "Xu Qing previously commanded the Jingxiang war for me and made many achievements in military affairs. Now that Weiwei Xin Qing has been transferred to the position of Shangshu Zuo Pushe, I will dismiss you from your position of Ningyuan General and transfer you to Weiwei."

"Would you like to serve as one of the Nine Ministers while serving as the Minister of the Court?"

Xu Shu was stunned for a moment when he heard the emperor's words, then he bowed with great respect and said, "I am willing to serve your majesty and the court with all my strength! Thank you for your grace!"

"Okay." Cao Rui smiled and said, "Xu Qing has been awarded a good position today. Come over later to toast me. I will drink one bottle, but you must drink five bottles!"

Xu Shu also showed a smile on his face: "A few bottles are fine. I am ready to get drunk in this Jiade Hall tonight!"

As a minister in front of the emperor, it is extremely important to behave properly. Xu Shu had previously served as the Chief Censor, and before serving as the Minister of the Court, he had also served as the Minister of Agriculture. There was nothing special about the important post of the Minister of the Court.

But the most important thing is the order to concurrently serve as the Weiwei.

It has always been other positions that have concurrently held the position of Shizhong. When will Shizhong be allowed to concurrently hold other positions? It seems that Your Majesty is using Xu Shu as an example and setting a precedent, which indicates that the closer the position is to Your Majesty, the more important it is. In addition, the Nine Ministers will also have their powers gradually merged and returned to the Shangshutai. (End of this chapter)