Taiheiki

Chapter 209 Acceptance
The change from governor to inspector was not merely a simple change of name. When Emperor Wu of Han initially established the thirteen provincial inspectors, he stated in an edict: "Inquiries shall be made according to the six listed criteria; matters outside these criteria shall not be investigated." This meant that inspectors could only exercise their power within the scope of the six listed criteria; matters exceeding this scope were not to be addressed by local officials.

(Article 1: Powerful clans and influential families exceed the permitted land and residence quotas, using their strength to bully the weak and their numbers to oppress the few. Article 2: Officials of the rank of two thousand shi (a unit of grain measurement) disregard imperial edicts, adhere to established regulations, prioritize private gain over public duty, circumvent edicts for personal profit, exploit the people, and amass wealth through illicit means. Article 3: Officials of the rank of two thousand shi disregard doubtful cases, committing mass killings arbitrarily, punishing the guilty when angry and rewarding the innocent when pleased, causing disturbances, oppression, and the exploitation of the common people, leading to widespread resentment, landslides, and ominous omens and rumors. Article 4: Officials of the rank of two thousand shi appoint unjustly, favoring their own people, concealing the virtuous and favoring the wicked. Article 5: The sons and brothers of officials of the rank of two thousand shi rely on their honor and power to solicit favors from their superiors. Article 6: Officials of the rank of two thousand shi disregard public duty and ally with powerful families, allowing bribery to prevail and undermining government orders.)
It is not difficult to see that the position of governor was initially similar to that of a disciplinary commission or supervisory commission, without administrative power or military command authority, and was not the superior of local officials such as prefects or chancellors. The governor only had supervisory power, not disciplinary power; and the scope of his supervision was limited to the prefects and chancellors with salaries of two thousand shi, excluding other subordinate officials.

However, as the situation developed, the power of the Inspector quickly exceeded the original scope of the "Six Inquiries," and began to expand continuously. For example, it included suppressing rebellions by feudal lords and peasant armies, resettling displaced people, attacking and pacifying barbarians, and offering suggestions when the central government handled state affairs. Clearly, as representatives of central power stationed in local areas, the Inspector was constantly eroding the power of local officials. However, during the Western Han Dynasty, the Inspector and the renamed Governor were still supervisory officials, not local officials.

However, during the Xin Dynasty, the situation changed. In order to suppress local rebellions, Wang Mang expanded the power of the governors, granting them titles and allowing them to command troops, even adding the title of general. Thus, each governor simultaneously held the title of Grand General, while a deputy governor was established to assume the powers of the former inspector. Consequently, the two-tiered system of prefectures and counties in the Western Han Dynasty became a three-tiered system of prefectures, prefectures, and counties, and the governors were transformed into military and administrative officials.

After the fall of the Xin dynasty, the Eastern Han dynasty abolished the position of governor and reinstated the position of inspector, making it a supervisory official once again. However, compared to the inspectors of the Western Han dynasty, the inspectors of the Eastern Han dynasty had a broader scope of power: firstly, their supervisory scope over prefects with salaries of 2,000 shi (a unit of grain measurement) was expanded, no longer limited to the six categories; secondly, they could also supervise the common people; they had the power to adjudicate cases, that is, the power to review cases; they had the power to recommend talented people; and they could command troops to suppress peasant uprisings domestically and fight against barbarians externally.

Clearly, while the Inspectors of the Eastern Han Dynasty were still supervisory officials, they had taken a significant step forward on the path to becoming local military and administrative leaders. Wei Cong's request to become the Governor of a Province clearly indicated his desire to gain the same level of power as during the Xin Dynasty, to leapfrog into becoming the highest administrative and military leader of Jiao Province, rather than merely serving as a supervisory official in the various counties of Jiao Province on the surface.

"How audacious!" Zhang Wen snorted coldly, turning his gaze to Yuan Shao: "Benchu, what does this fellow mean? He won't send troops to attack the Moth Rebels unless he's made governor?"

"No, that's not true!" Yuan Shao said with a smile. "The Governor of Wei has never said that to me!"

"What does he mean?" Zhang Wen asked. "Is this something that a mere governor of Jiaozhou can comment on?"

"Bo Shen!" Dou Wu took the letter back from Zhang Wen and read it again: "Ben Chu, what do you think of Wei Cong?"

"Heroic and resolute, learned and talented, with a magnanimous heart, he can inspire people to fight to the death. He is truly an outstanding man of our time!" Yuan Shao replied without hesitation.

"If that's the case, why do you still do so much for him?" Dou Wu asked. "Don't you know that if this kind of person does evil, he will become increasingly uncontrollable!"

"No other reason than that the Han Dynasty is like a person who has been ill for a long time and can only be saved with strong medicine! And Wei Cong is that strong medicine!" Yuan Shao said in a deep voice.

"A serious illness? A potent medicine?" Dou Wu and Zhang Wen exchanged a glance: "Really, Benchu, you're not exaggerating?"

"My trip to Jiaozhou has truly broadened my horizons!" Yuan Shao said in a deep voice. "Before this, Zhang Pan repeatedly petitioned the court, claiming that the rebels were numerous and had been repeatedly attacked but not defeated. However, these rebels have many connections with the Kingdom of Lin-yi! The King of Lin-yi was far-sighted. On the one hand, he trained his troops, stockpiled grain, and forged weapons, while on the other hand, he secretly sent people to incite the rebels, exhausting our Chinese army. Once our army was tired and weary, we would take Jiaozhou in one fell swoop. After conquering the capital of Lin-yi, we found that its treasury was full, its weapons were excellent, and it had many artisans. Moreover, it had many alliances with Funan and other kingdoms, as evidenced by the hundred war elephants. If it weren't for Wei Cong, the King of Lin-yi's plan would have been mostly successful. At that time, the area south of the Five Ridges might not have belonged to our Great Han!"

“I know he has made a great contribution this time!” Zhang Wen said coldly, “But no matter how great the contribution, it is all in the past. He can be granted a title and a reward, but the matter of becoming governor will have endless troubles, so it is absolutely unacceptable!”

Faced with Zhang Wen's stern words, Yuan Shao did not directly argue, but instead turned his gaze to Dou Wu: "Then what does the General think?"

Dou Wu slowly stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and said, "The imperial court currently has no spare strength to conquer Wei Cong!"

Those present were all intelligent and immediately understood what Dou Wu meant. Politics isn't a math exam with standard answers. Whether to refuse or agree to Wei Cong's request was up to them; the most crucial factor was whether the court had enough leverage to handle any unforeseen circumstances. Since the court currently lacked the leverage to deal with the possibility of a breakdown in relations after refusal, there was only one viable option.

"That fellow really did foresee it!" Zhang Wen slammed his hand on the table, his gaze turning cold as he looked at Yuan Shao: "You, Yuan Shao, must have predicted this outcome long ago, didn't you?"

"Why do you say that, Lord Zhang?" Yuan Shao laughed and said, "In my opinion, this is good for everyone. Whether it's a governor or an inspector, they're just pieces of paper in the imperial court's hands, which can be issued and taken back at will. The most important thing is to quell the Eren bandits as soon as possible, so that there can be no other way, right? When Han Xin asked Emperor Gao for the title of Prince of Qi, if Emperor Gao had refused him in anger like you are now, what do you think would have happened later?"

"You dare compare yourself to Marquis Liu? How arrogant!" Zhang Wen roared, his right hand already on the hilt of his sword.

"Alright, alright! Benchu, Boshen, stop arguing!" Dou Wu quickly stretched out his arm to separate the two. "This matter is already very clear, Boshen. Benchu ​​is actually right. What the court needs now is time. Only after pacifying the E'er rebels can the court control Jiaozhou. As things stand, even sending someone to deliver an imperial edict requires a sea route. What difference does it make whether Wei Cong is a prefect or a governor? Doesn't Jiaozhou belong to him? Who would dare to rebel against him? So it's just a hollow title. We can't worry about that now!"

"General!" Zhang Wen roared, "The imperial appointment is no empty boast. If Wei Cong hadn't obtained the position of Governor of Jiaozhou, how could he have so easily conquered Jiaozhi, Rinan, and Jiuzhen, and achieved such great merit? If others said these things, it would be considered wise and shrewd, but the Yuan family is different: Wei Cong's current position is entirely due to the Yuan family speaking up for him in court. Of course, the Yuan family didn't speak up for Wei Cong for nothing; I heard that the treasures and valuables Wei Cong sent are piled up like mountains, already feeding the Yuan family to their hearts' content!"

"Bo Shen, shut up!" Dou Wu hurriedly stopped Zhang Wen, not expecting him to say such things in front of Yuan Shao. Wei Cong's close relationship with the Yuan family was an open secret. In the end, Wei Cong wasn't the first, nor would he be the last, to use money to gain access to Yuan Wei. Such things were commonplace at the time; who would turn down money? Reputation and integrity were just empty words; actions spoke louder than words. Even a virtuous man like Dou Wu, after becoming Grand General, didn't he first arrange for his own nephews and cronies to join his faction? The affairs of the Han Dynasty were already deeply intertwined, impossible to explain or untangle.

Zhang Wen abruptly stood up, bowed deeply to Dou Wu, and said, "General, I take my leave!" He then turned and left the hall without looking back. Dou Wu's expression was somewhat grim. He sighed, "Benchu, Boshen is an upright man. Regarding what happened in the hall today, when you return home—" "General, please rest assured!" Yuan Shao laughed, "I will not tell my family about today's events!"

"That's good!" Dou Wu's expression softened. "What you said about Wei Cong makes a lot of sense. This time, the Xianbei launched a massive southward invasion, their forces reaching as far as Jizhou and Jinyang, killing and plundering over 100,000 officials and civilians, and countless livestock. Indeed, the court cannot afford to lose Jiaozhou now."

"I understand the General's good intentions!" Yuan Shao's expression changed slightly, and he said in a low voice, "Has the imperial court not sent troops to meet the enemy?"

"How could there not be?" Dou Wu said with a wry smile, "Youzhou and Bingzhou have both sent troops to meet the enemy, but the Xianbei people are strong and well-equipped, and they have suffered many setbacks in battle. Five of the 2,000-shi soldiers have died on the battlefield, and the armored soldiers have also suffered heavy losses. The court has already ordered the recruitment of new troops in Luoyang and Henan, but right now the court has too many things to take care of, and its financial resources are insufficient!"

Yuan Shao nodded. He recalled what he had seen and heard in Jiaozhou. The prosperity there was a world apart from Luoyang at this time, which strengthened his resolve.

"General, we must find a way to get Wei Congming to go north this year. The matter of the Moth Bandits cannot be delayed!"

"Don't worry, I've already made up my mind!" Dou Wu said. "As for you, Benchu, you've gained a lot of experience on this trip south, so you must have some insights into military affairs. I happen to be short of men to recruit, so I'll trouble you to go and do it!"

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The Yuan residence.

"Hmph! Everyone says Dou Youping is a gentleman, but I think it's all an act. Before he came to power, he was an upright gentleman, but after he came to power, he's more cunning than anyone else! He clearly promised to let Benchu ​​be the Marquis of the Northern Army, but now he's gone back on his word! Isn't he treating our Yuan family like fools? Benchu, you should have just agreed to such an important matter. If it were me, I would have given him a good beating!"

"Alright, Gonglu, stop talking!" Yuan Wei sat in the hall, smiling as he looked Yuan Shao up and down. "Not bad, not bad. You've really learned a lot from your trip to Jiaozhou. It seems you made the right choice this time."

"It was all arranged by the General and my uncle. I was just following orders!" Yuan Shao replied with his head bowed.

"Hehehe!" Yuan Wei laughed, "I've heard everything. This time you brought back the King of Linyi and the royal nobles to present as captives at the palace gates. This is a military achievement that the Han Dynasty hasn't seen in many years."

“Wei Cong is indeed a famous general of our time. I just happened to be there!” Yuan Shao laughed. “There is one more thing. I brought three hundred Yi people back with me this time. They were selected by Wei Cong from the captured Lin Yi soldiers. They are skilled in using poisoned crossbows. Consider it a gift to me. I have dared to accept it. Please punish me, Uncle!”

"This is a good thing! Why punish them!" Yuan Wei laughed. "You're going to build a new army this time, and it will come in handy. Although our Yuan family also has guests and retainers, they are not like these barbarians who have no connection with the Han Dynasty and are easy to use. You must show them kindness and win their hearts before you can entrust them with the task of being his henchmen!"

"I will remember your lesson, Uncle!" Yuan Shao said in a deep voice.

"There is another matter, which is a joyous occasion!" A smile appeared on Yuan Wei's face as he looked at his beloved nephew: "You are to be ennobled as a marquis, and the imperial edict will be issued in the next few days!"

"A title of nobility!" Even Yuan Shao, who was usually composed and extraordinary, was stunned: "This, this—, is this really true?"

“Of course it’s true!” Yuan Wei stroked his beard and laughed. “You should thank Wei Cong. He has rendered great service this time. The General has decided to enfeoff him as the Marquis of Buqi (Buqi County, Langya Commandery), with a stipend of 2,700 households. As the military supervisor, you have benefited from his honor and have also been enfeoffed as the Marquis of Dingyuan (Dingyuan County, Jiujiang Commandery), with a stipend of 300 households. Isn’t this a great joy?”

Sitting to the side, Yuan Shu grew increasingly consumed by jealousy. He had always considered himself the legitimate son and both feared and disdained his cousin, who was slightly older, of humble birth, yet superior to him in every way. He had finally secured his position as the leader of the younger generation of gentry in Luoyang after Yuan Shao's exile to Jiaozhou, thinking it was time to make his mark. But a few months later, Yuan Shao not only returned safely but was also granted the title of Marquis—though only a minor one—a fiefdom with hereditary privileges, completely overshadowing him. The thought filled him with uncontrollable rage. He jumped up and stormed out the door without a word.

"Road, road!" Yuan Shao had just realized what was happening and hurriedly stood up to shout, but Yuan Wei stopped him: "Forget about it, let's sit down and talk!"

"But, but!" Yuan Shao wanted to say something more. Yuan Wei waved his hand: "It's good that we brothers have a desire to win. But if we forget harmony and our basic responsibilities, then no one can help us. You don't need to worry about him, just focus on doing your own thing!"

(End of this chapter)