My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

Chapter 252 Liu Bei Wants to Do What Emperor Guangwu Couldn't? Cao Cao: I Bow Down to You, and You Help Me Become King!
Everyone was startled, and their expressions turned serious.

Chen Qun dared not speak too bluntly, but how could these shrewd people present not understand the implication in his words?

Putting aside the Fubing system, the Equal-Field System was about to uproot the Shi family.

If you, Liu Bei, implement the equal distribution of land, and you prevent our powerful families from annexing land, where will we get extra money to expand our families and prosper?

If you don't allow us to annex land, where will we get the financial resources to support our household slaves and private armies?
How do we enjoy a life of luxury?

How can we simplify the writing process, pass on the classics and history, and maintain the advantage of our family's scholarly heritage?
Without all of this, no matter how illustrious your family is, it may decline in less than a century, perhaps only a decade or two.

Dynasties can change, the Han Dynasty can be replaced by the Wei Dynasty, and the emperor can be surnamed Liu or Cao.

but!
No matter who becomes emperor, our aristocratic clan must never fall.

The reason why the aristocratic families could stand firm was their privilege of annexing land.

Emperor Guangwu of that time also implemented a land measurement system, but ultimately had to stop it due to opposition from powerful clans.

Everyone originally thought that Liu Bei's implementation of the equal-field system was merely a temporary measure to compete with Cao Cao for the world.

Hearing Chen Qun say that, it seems Liu Bei is determined to keep going.

Is this okay?

"Liu Bei has acted perversely and made enemies of scholars all over the world. We cannot sit idly by and wait for our doom. We should unite against this common enemy, protect our great Wei, and fight against the false Chu together."

Zhong Yao was the first to step forward and express his opinion.

As a prominent family in Yingchuan for centuries, the Zhong family would be the first to be affected if Liu Bei launched his northern expedition to the Central Plains, facing the danger of Yingchuan falling and the Zhong family's ancestral land being swallowed up by Chu.

Zhong Yao, being both an important minister of Cao Wei and a member of a prominent family in Yingchuan, was naturally extremely anxious.

The scholars and ministers all agreed and echoed Zhong Yao's sentiments, condemning Liu Bei's "perverse actions."

"Liu Bei is acting perversely and wants to put all the scholars and officials in the world to death. I will fight him to the death."

"However, the provinces of Henan are directly facing the enemy forces of the pseudo-Chu, and should therefore devote all their efforts to protecting our Great Wei and resisting Liu Bei."

"But some prefectures and counties are still far from the threat of Liu Bei's army, and may not be as urgently affected as we are..."

Sima Yi's words were suggestive, and his gaze swept over Tian Yu and several other scholars from Hebei.

The implication is that the reason why you, Zhong Yao and other scholars from Yingchuan, are so anxious to resist Chu is because if Chu launches another northern expedition, Yingchuan will be the first to face the Chu army's onslaught.

Even the entire Henan province may be at risk of being lost.

But the gentry of Hebei have the Yellow River as a natural barrier, and the various prefectures of Henan are also in their way. What do they have to worry about?

If you Henan gentry want to go bankrupt to protect Wei and risk your lives against Chu, then go ahead and do it yourselves. Why drag us Hebei gentry into it?

In this situation, with each province in Henan and Hebei harboring their own ulterior motives, how could they possibly work together to protect Cao Wei?

For a time, people from Henan, such as Gao Rou and Du Xi, readily agreed, while scholars from Hebei, such as Tian Yu, remained silent.

"Do not worry, everyone."

Chen Qun interrupted the discussion, stroking his beard and smiling:

"The purpose of this petition is to unite all the provinces of our Great Wei, regardless of north or south, so that everyone can work together to protect our Great Wei. Therefore, we are jointly presenting this Nine-Rank System to the Duke of Wei."

"After you have read this, you will naturally understand the group's good intentions."

The crowd then stopped their discussion, and with suspicion in their hearts, began to examine the scroll laid out before them.

A moment later, the doubts on everyone's faces disappeared, replaced by surprise, and the discussion in the hall resumed.

How could these shrewd people not see what Chen Qun's Nine-Rank System for selecting officials meant?

If this method can be implemented, it means that in the near future, the State of Wei will see a situation where the monarch and the gentry jointly govern the country.

Since the time of the Partisan Proscription, this has been the ideal that scholars all over the world have longed for.

The emperor's power will be limited, the scourge of eunuchs will not be repeated, and the affairs of the world will be decided by scholars...

Just thinking about this scene is exhilarating.

"Changwen's Nine-Rank System has eliminated the drawbacks of the recommendation system in one fell swoop, allowing all the talented people in the world to serve Duke Wei. It is truly a law that will strengthen our Great Wei for ten thousand generations!"

"Excellent! If this method can be implemented, it will surely unite all scholars in the land to protect our Great Wei!"

Zhong Yao was amazed, his face beaming with undisguised joy.

Du Xi, Gao Rou, and other scholars from Henan expressed their opinions, all praising Chen Qun's system.

"The Nine-Rank System proposed by Attendant-in-Ordinary Chen is indeed a good system that will bring peace for generations to come. I believe that if Duke Wei can implement this system, all people of virtue and ambition in the world, regardless of north or south, will surely unite and work together to protect the Great Wei!"

Tian Yu finally expressed his opinion.

Under the Nine-Rank System, all scholar-official families benefited, including the scholars of Hebei, where he lived.

With such great benefits at stake, even though Hebei had not yet directly faced the Chu army's advance, the scholars of Hebei were naturally willing to do everything in their power to support Cao Wei.

Tian Yu was a renowned scholar from Hebei, and his attitude naturally represented that of the scholars of Hebei.

Chen Qun, Zhong Yao, and other scholars from Yingchuan exchanged glances and smiled knowingly.

Chen Qun immediately stood up, smiled, and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to the crowd:

"Since all of you colleagues have no further objections, please join us in submitting a joint petition, urging Lord Wei to implement this system as soon as possible!"

Everyone responded enthusiastically.

...

Three days later, at the Duke of Wei's residence.

Cao Cao frowned slightly, tapping rhythmically on the table with his fingertips, his gaze fixed on the scroll in front of him.

This was a document on the selection of officials, submitted a day earlier by nearly thirty ministers, led by Chen Qun.

"The Nine-Rank System, the Nine-Rank System..."

Cao Cao muttered to himself, his eyes shifting unpredictably, making it impossible to fathom his true intentions.

"What do you think, Zihuan, Cangshu, and Chenqun, do you think I should adopt this Nine-Rank System?"

Cao Cao suddenly spoke, glancing sideways at the two brothers, Cao Pi and Cao Chong. Cao Chong, needless to say, was already Cao Cao's chosen heir apparent.

However, given that Cao Chong's several plans failed during the southern campaign, resulting in the loss of Qing and Xu provinces and the loss of 100,000 Wei troops, he was undoubtedly responsible.

Having committed offenses without achieving anything, Cao Cao naturally couldn't announce Cao Chong's appointment as heir at this time.

As for Cao Pi.

Although his birth mother, Lady Bian, defected, Cao Pi chose to refuse her orders during the Ye City Incident and remained loyal to his father.

This display of loyalty and filial piety caused Cao Cao to change his attitude towards Cao Pi.

That's why he summoned Cao Pi today, and the three of them discussed this important matter concerning the foundation of the nation.

"Father, I believe that the Nine-Rank System, in the long run, does more harm than good and should absolutely not be implemented!"

Cao Chong spoke first.

Our stance is clear: We oppose it!
Cao Cao waved his hand, signaling Cao Chong to state his reasons.

"If this system is implemented, in time, the power to select officials will be entirely in the hands of the gentry, and high-ranking positions from the court to the prefectures and counties will all be occupied by gentry families."

"Your subject is worried that if such a situation arises, the aristocratic families will grow to the point of being uncontrollable, which will inevitably endanger Father's imperial power."

"If that happens, wouldn't the fate of our Great Wei dynasty be in grave danger?"

Cao Chong astutely pointed out the hidden dangers of the Nine-Rank System.

Cao Cao frowned deeply, tapping his fingertips on the table, but did not respond to Cao Chong's words.

Although he didn't speak, Cao Chong had clearly struck a chord with him.

He boasted that he only valued talent and suppressed powerful families for half his life, but in the end he had to give up power to the powerful families.
Doesn't this overturn the political ideals he has upheld for half his life?
"Zihuan, what do you think?"

Cao Cao made no comment, and then looked at Cao Pi.

Cao Pi swallowed hard, his heart suddenly racing.

He knew, of course, that his father had suppressed the Shi family for half his life, and asking his father to relinquish power to the Shi family was tantamount to pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth.

But if we join Cao Chong in opposing it, wouldn't that be seen as parroting others and lacking our own opinions?

Will this help him win the position of heir apparent in the slightest?
Cao Pi's eyes darted around like shuttles, and suddenly he made a snap decision.

"At this point, we have no choice but to take a gamble..."

Cao Pi took a deep breath, cupped his hands, and said solemnly:

“Father, my opinion differs from Cang Shu’s. I believe that for the sake of our Great Wei, Father should implement the Nine-Rank System!”

Cao Cao frowned and gestured for Cao Pi to continue.

Cao Cao's composure gave Cao Pi a glimmer of hope, and he quickly said:

"Our Great Wei suffered heavy losses in its previous southern campaign, losing 100,000 soldiers and the two prefectures of Qing and Xu. We were forced to adopt a defensive posture."

"The traitorous big-eared man has once again refused our peace talks. Once autumn is over, he will surely launch another northern expedition, leaving us no chance to recover our strength."

"If Father implements this Nine-Rank System, he can win the hearts of all the gentry in the land and make them devote all their efforts to protecting our Great Wei."

"In this way, our Great Wei will be able to recover its strength and increase its national power in a short period of time!"

"Father, you now have the opportunity to lead your troops south, recover lost territories, wipe out the false Chu, and unify the world!"

"Therefore, I believe that for the sake of our great Wei dynasty and for Father's great cause of unifying the world, Father should implement the Nine-Rank System!"

Cao Pi spoke passionately and explained his reasons.

This reasoning struck right at Cao Cao's Achilles' heel.

The balance of power between Wei and Chu has shifted, with Chu now stronger than Wei. Liu Bei's northern expedition to conquer Henan is imminent.

To stop Liu Bei's fierce offensive, he had to recover his strength and revive his troops in a short period of time.

This was Cao Cao's Achilles' heel, his Achilles' heel.

The timing of presenting the offerings under the Nine-Rank System was perfect, as it exploited Cao Cao's weakness.

It was with this in mind that Cao Pi decided to take a gamble and strongly advocate for the implementation of the Nine-Rank System.

If successful, it would be a great service to Cao Cao and would also win the support of scholars such as Chen Qun.

Killing two birds with one stone...

Cao Cao was startled, stood up, and began to pace back and forth.

Seeing that there was a chance, Cao Pi pressed his advantage and said:
"Your subject believes that your father's achievements, even with the mere title of Duke of Wei, are insufficient to fully demonstrate his merits."

"Now is the time for Father to follow the will of Heaven and the people and ascend to the throne."

"If Father implements this Nine-Rank System, the scholars of the world will surely be grateful for Father's kindness and will definitely support Father's ascension to the throne!"

Cao Cao suddenly stopped, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

Cao Pi wanted him to implement the Nine-Rank System in exchange for the support of the powerful and wealthy families to ascend to the throne!
Duke of Wei, King of Wei…

He was just one step away from the throne...

Cao Chong became anxious and hurriedly said:
“Father, the title of King of Wei is merely an empty name; how could you…”

Cao Cao raised his hand, interrupting Cao Chong.

As Cao Cao turned around, an air of arrogance shone on his face:
"I have suppressed those powerful families for over a decade. With my abilities, do you think I'm afraid they'll sideline me?"

"I will grant their wish for now and implement the Nine-Rank System in exchange for their unwavering loyalty to my Great Wei, to help me eliminate the false Chu and unify the world!"

Say it.

Cao Cao's gaze fell on Cao Pi:

"Zihuan, please tell them on my behalf that the day I ascend to the throne as King of Wei will be the day I implement the Nine-Rank System!"

PS: This book will be renamed "Three Kingdoms: The Military Immortal of Shu Han Begins with the Surprise Attack on Xiangyang". Please make sure you can find it when you browse your bookshelf.

(End of this chapter)