Chapter 7 Taking Turns on Duty
North Palace, Imperial Study.
Sun Zi hurried along and finally managed to present the summary documents from the 輔臣們 before Cao Rui’s dinner.
Four bamboo slips were spread out on the table. Cao Rui had only read the first slip when his brows furrowed.
In the past, to train his descendants, Cao Cao had Cao Zhen, Cao Xiu, and others live and eat with Cao Pi. Cao Xiu had no interest in classics, focusing solely on practicing horsemanship and battle tactics, and later commanded the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry.
Cao Zhen was slightly better than Cao Xiu, having seriously studied for over a year, but his many years as a military general meant that his literary accomplishments, while significantly better than Cao Xiu’s, were still far from the level of Chen Qun and Sima Yi.
The first few characters on the bamboo slip were “Your Subject, Grand Marshal Xiu,” confirming it was Cao Xiu’s summary.
“Ziyang, come and take a look.” Cao Rui tossed the bamboo slip aside.
Liu Ye, who was standing nearby, picked up the bamboo slip and began to read softly as he looked at it: “The rats of Eastern Wu dare not cross the river. The bandits of West Shu lack the courage to advance north. How great is Great Wei, where the kingly way flourishes.”
Cao Rui shook his head and then picked up the second bamboo slip.
The first few characters on the bamboo slip were “Your Subject, Grand General Zhen.” Cao Zhen’s summary was more detailed. News of Emperor Cao Pi’s demise had reached various regions, and the generals stationed there had sent letters of condolence.
After discussing with the other three Attendants, Cao Zhen believed that, following the example of Emperor Cao Cao’s demise, the local commanders need not rush to the funeral but could set up memorial halls and offer sacrifices for the Emperor in their respective locations.
Cao Zhen only wrote about this one matter.
Next were the reports from Chen Qun and Sima Yi. Cao Rui read them carefully and found that these two seemed to be competing in writing style. They touched upon various aspects of state affairs, but they were only qualitative summaries.
Cao Rui sighed. The Attendants of Great Wei should not be this incompetent. It seemed he, the Emperor, would have to personally intervene and give them a good lesson.
“Central Secretariat, what did you tell the Attendants when you went to the Imperial Secretariat?”
Cao Rui looked at Sun Zi with a frown.
Sun Zi’s heart skipped a beat. He had already seen Cao Rui throw away Cao Xiu and Cao Zhen’s bamboo slips, and he wondered if the Emperor was now going to blame him.
Sun Zi bowed respectfully and replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject told the Attendants to each write a report themselves, and also said that Your Majesty would personally review them.”
Cao Rui snorted. He could, of course, see that the Attendants had written them themselves. Cao Xiu and Cao Zhen’s handwriting was like scribbles; an ordinary scholar would struggle to intentionally write like that.
Thinking of this, Cao Rui decided to personally teach them.
“Sun Zhongshu, draft an imperial edict for me.”
Wei followed the Han system, and the central power structures in the court were largely similar, divided into the Imperial Secretariat, the Central Secretariat, and the 侍中寺 (Shizhong Temple).
Liu Fang, the Central Secretariat, and Sun Zi, the Central Secretariat, these two controlled palace secrets, responsible for drafting and proclaiming imperial edicts, and other such matters, serving as the Emperor’s confidential officials.
Sun Zi quickly sat behind the small desk to the side, picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and waited for Cao Rui’s next words.
“I’ll speak a bit haphazardly; you just note it down first. Organize it before sending it out.”
Sun Zi quickly agreed.
“Have the four of them take turns writing, submitting a brief report to me every five days.”
“Once a month, at the Grand Court Assembly, they will present a major report in front of all officials; this will also be done in rotation.”
“As for the report writing style, it should be divided into three sections: internal affairs, military, and foreign relations. Pick out important matters, clearly stating the cause, development, outcome, and evaluation. Write in detail, and do not recite poetry or compose odes for me again.”
“After writing these three sections, add a summary at the end.”
Seeing that Cao Rui had stopped speaking, Sun Zi took out a roll of silk, preparing to transcribe the content he had just quickly noted on the bamboo slips to serve as the imperial edict.
Liu Ye praised him repeatedly from the side.
“Your Majesty’s move is truly brilliant. When the Attendants write according to Your Majesty’s method, their words will be substantial and supported by examples.”
“With Your Majesty seated in Luoyang, you can oversee the entire Great Wei empire.”
Cao Rui smiled. This practice, scorned in later generations, was considered advanced in the Three Kingdoms period.
Daily reports, weekly reports, quarterly reviews, year-end summaries… Cao Rui had so many methods at his disposal, and now he was only asking the Attendants to write weekly reports.
In the future, he would gradually increase the intensity for them. Since they were all willing to devote their lives to Great Wei, he didn't need them to die; it would be better for them to just honestly work in the Imperial Secretariat.
In the future, if there was a war, Cao Xiu and Cao Zhen would certainly be sent out to command troops. If these two were not enough, Chen Qun could also be sent out, as Chen Qun still held the title of ‘Grand General who Guards the Army’.
As for Sima Yi… Cao Rui would never send him out to lead troops, not in this lifetime.
Sima Yi’s best outcome in this life would be to work day after day, year after year, in the Imperial Secretariat, managing trivial matters for Cao Rui until he was completely exhausted, preferably dying young.
And what about Cao Rui himself? Of course, he should go to bed early and wake up early to take care of his body, cultivate his mind in his leisure time from governing the country, and strive to produce more heirs, aiming to live to eighty.
Allowing Sima Yi to govern the world would not be considered mistreating him for his loyal service to Emperor Cao Pi, would it?
Thinking of this, Cao Rui quickly instructed Sun Zi to add a loophole.
“Sun Zhongshu, add a sentence: The four Attendants will have one day of rest every five days, and they are not allowed to take leave without cause. The person responsible for writing the report will be on duty.”
Sun Zi quickly recorded it in the imperial edict.
Sima Yi probably never dreamed that his remaining life had already been meticulously planned by the Emperor.
Footsteps were heard outside the Imperial Study. Bi Jin went to the door, and a Yellow Gate Attendant whispered something to Bi Jin.
Bi Jin cautiously walked to Cao Rui’s side: “Your Majesty, the Grand Empress Dowager asks you to come over immediately; she says she has an important matter to discuss with Your Majesty.”
“Grand Empress Dowager?” Cao Rui thought for a moment. It was Cao Cao’s Bian, who was also Cao Rui’s imperial grandmother.
Summoned by his grandmother, Cao Rui dared not delay and immediately prepared to depart. Before leaving, he mischievously instructed Sun Zi to proclaim the edict from earlier at the Imperial Secretariat the next morning.
…
Inside the Grand Empress Dowager’s palace.
“Cao Rui greets Imperial Grandmother.”
Cao Rui’s bowing posture remained respectful, but his expression was very displeased at this moment.
The reason was simple. Consort Yu, who had asked Cao Rui for the empress position a few days ago, was now sitting in the Grand Empress Dowager’s palace, weeping.
Family matters are the most difficult to handle, let alone imperial family matters. Bian came from a humble background and was often bullied by Lady Ding, who came from a noble family in Qiao County, when she was in Cao Cao’s residence.
Now, the young Consort Yu was weeping in Bian’s palace, which made the Grand Empress Dowager feel some pity.
Empress Dowager Bian looked at Cao Rui with a benevolent expression: “Rui’er, you are now the Emperor. Your grandmother should not inquire much about the matter of establishing an empress; it should be decided by your mother.”
“But your birth mother passed away early, so your grandmother will ask you here, how is this child, Yu?”
Cao Rui glanced at the kind-faced Bian, then at Yu, who was weeping to the side, and felt a sense of annoyance.
Cao Rui married you four years ago, but that was another Cao Rui’s business. I haven’t even touched you yet, and you, Consort Yu, dare to pressure me by involving Grandmother?
How is this any different from being pressured to marry?
Cao Rui forced a smile: “Imperial Grandmother, the matter of establishing an empress concerns the foundation of the state. Having just ascended the throne, the matter of establishing an empress is not urgent.”
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t establish Consort Yu, did I?” Cao Rui shook his head slightly.
Bian was just an old woman trying to mediate. Hearing this, she advised Consort Yu: “Crying too much hurts your eyes. You’ve seen it, the Emperor didn’t say he wouldn’t establish you.”
Yu looked up through her tears. She had married Cao Rui four years ago, fully intending that as the Emperor’s eldest son, Cao Rui would make her empress upon his ascension.
But now, Cao Rui was refusing so strongly, her hope of becoming empress was clearly gone. It must be that Cao Rui wanted to establish the recently favored Lady Mao as empress!
Yu’s gloomy expression made her pretty face appear particularly distorted by desire at this moment.
“Cao Rui, you definitely want to establish that lowly woman, Lady Mao, as empress, don’t you?!”
Seeing Yu so presumptuous, Cao Rui barely suppressed the anger in his heart, not wanting to argue with her in Bian’s palace.
“Consort Yu, do not make such a scene here. Come back with me, and I will explain it to you slowly.”
“Go back where, to be banished to the cold palace?!” Yu shouted.
“You Cao family always establish lowly women as empresses! You never choose based on virtue, and sooner or later, your country will perish and your lineage will die out!”