Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

Chapter 845 Appointing Sima
The Yangtze River stretches for thousands of miles, with the Jingjiang River being the most winding, making the roads along the way rugged and difficult to travel.

Summer marches are difficult enough, but marching on the edge of the Yunmeng Marsh, in a place with a dense network of waterways, is even more challenging. The logistical supplies, provisions, and weapons required for an army of 100,000 were an enormous quantity, making it impossible for the entire army to travel by boat. Cao Zhen's 60,000 troops had to march by land, a military problem that the Wu Kingdom had never encountered before.

Nearly four days after setting off from Baqiu, the army received a grain transport fleet sent from the direction of Wuhan. Accompanying the fleet to the army was a letter of recommendation from the fleet's commander, Sima Shi, and his father, Sima Yi.

In the military tent at dusk, Attendant-in-Ordinary Pei Qian handed over the letter of recommendation, hesitating to speak:

"Your Majesty, the Minister of Works recommends his own eldest son for a position... isn't that somewhat improper?"

Cao Rui glanced at Pei Qian sideways: "If Minister Pei can recommend your brother Pei Hui for the position of Director of Works, why can't the Minister of Works recommend his own son?"

"I am ashamed," Pei Qian said, slightly embarrassed, and bowed.

Cao Rui laughed and said, "As the emperor, it is a good thing for my subjects to ask me for something. They are just asking for official positions. Since the Minister of Works has asked, how could I refuse?"

As they spoke, Cao Rui opened the letter of recommendation written by Sima Yi himself. Seeing that it stated he wished to recommend Sima Shi for the position of military advisor, he chuckled.
"This is good news. Minister Pei, summon Minister Sima Shi to my residence."

"Your subject obeys the decree." Pei Qian accepted the order and left.

Before long, Sima Shi, led by the Tiger Guards, bowed and walked slowly into the emperor's military tent.

Even from a distance of three zhang (approximately 10 meters), Sima Shi knelt down and paid his respects with great ceremony:

"Your subject, Sima Shi, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

Apart from the time when His Majesty discussed politics at the Imperial Academy at the end of the seventh year of the Huangchu era, this was the second time that Sima Shi had been so close to the emperor.

As the saying goes, familiarity breeds contempt. Sima Shi had a powerful father, Sima Yi, who personally educated him. From a young age, Sima Shi heard nothing but the private affairs of the late Emperor Cao Pi and the infighting among the princes and ministers. More than a decade ago, he lost all reverence for power and those in authority, possessing only a deep-seated thirst for it.

His time at the Imperial Academy, his studies at home during the extravagant scandal, his years managing official affairs in Yangzhou, and his three years of experience as a Gentleman of the Ministry of War... Sima Shi's temperament became increasingly composed, but his concept of power remained unchanged. He believed that those in high positions of power were only of average ability. The many achievements of the Great Wei during the Taihe era, given its national strength and vast territory, could have been accomplished by anyone placed on the throne.

An emperor is just one person; how could he possibly do so much on his own?
On the ship from Wuhan to the imperial court, Sima Shi had mentally rehearsed his audience with the emperor countless times. He anticipated that the emperor might agree, question him, embarrass him, or even make things difficult for his father…

But he never expected that the emperor's first words to him would be like this.

"Ziyuan, you've arrived? Rise." Cao Rui smiled and beckoned to Sima Shi: "The last time I saw you was when you were at the Imperial Academy. Nine years have passed, and your classmates Xiahou Taichu, Jiang Boyue, and others have all taken on important responsibilities. I've also heard a bit about what happened to you in Yangzhou. Come here recently so I can have a good look at you."

'Is Your Majesty and I that familiar?!'

Sima Shi was utterly astonished. Hearing the emperor's words, his mental defenses crumbled, and he felt a sense of panic as he rose to his feet.

"The minister obeys the order."

Sima Shi slowly walked to a spot one zhang away from the emperor, bowed again, and remained bent over.

“Sima Langzhong, His Majesty wishes to see your face; you should stand upright and greet him respectfully,” Pei Qian, as a court attendant, reminded him. Sima Shi then stood up straight, his anxiety growing even greater.

Cao Rui nodded slightly, raising his right hand holding the letter of recommendation: "Ziyuan, the Minister of Works requests that I grant you the position of military advisor. I have heard about the duties you have performed over the years. Now I want to ask you, what are your aspirations?"

"Raise your head and look at me."

Sima Shi's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. He raised his head and met the emperor's gaze for a couple of moments before subtly lowering his eyes to look away, then cupped his hands in a respectful reply:
"Your Majesty, I have always wished to serve as a prefect of a county with a salary of 2,000 shi (a unit of grain), to promote agriculture and sericulture, to develop water conservancy, to educate the people, and to bring prosperity to the region."

Sima Shi's heart pounded faster and faster. He couldn't remember the exact image of His Majesty when he first met him nine years ago, but he vividly remembered the feeling of His Majesty's divine presence back then. Nine years had passed, and His Majesty had grown a beard, his imperial aura even more imposing than before... to the point that Sima Shi dared not look directly at him.

Upon hearing Sima Shi's words, Pei Qian couldn't help but laugh, then bowed to the emperor in apology. Seeing Pei Qian's reaction, Cao Rui pointed at him and also chuckled, a rare occurrence for him.
"Ziyuan, I have heard Xiahou Xuan speak of your talent many times. You are also the eldest son of the Minister of Works. How can your ambition be so short-sighted? When I appointed Xiahou Xuan as the governor of Danyang, he clearly stated in his letter of thanks to me that he was determined to eliminate the long-standing abuses of the world."

"Think it over carefully, don't rush, say it again."

"Your subject obeys the decree." Sima Shi hadn't expected his audience with the Emperor to turn out this way; he was completely flustered, his mind a jumbled mess. Indeed, asking for a salary of two thousand piculs of grain was a bit too conservative…

"Your Majesty, I wish to serve as a governor, to patrol and govern a region for the Emperor, so as to bring blessings to the people and all the people!"

Cao Rui shook his head, still smiling, and said, "I'd rather be a governor, that's more like it."

"Now that the dynasty has newly established several prefectures, Yangzhou and Jiangzhou have been recovered, and Jingzhou, Xiangzhou, and Jiaozhou are about to be recovered. There are plenty of opportunities for you students of the Imperial Academy to use your talents. As my students, you should take it upon yourselves to save the world and bring peace to the country. Ziyuan, if anyone asks you again in the future, just answer with the four words 'save the world and bring peace to the country.'"

"Your subject... understands," Sima Shi replied, bowing.

Cao Rui nodded: "To be the governor of a province, one should understand the people's livelihood and political affairs, as well as military strategy. From this perspective, it is right for the Minister of Works to appoint you as his military advisor."

“If I remember correctly, this is the first time that the Minister of Works has proactively recommended a relative to me for an official position, and I cannot refuse his kindness. For you… the position of military advisor seems a bit too small.”

Sima Shi stood there, unsure of what to say.

Cao Rui continued, "If you don't want to be a military advisor, then be a Sima. Ziyuan, General Guanqiu Zhonggong will lead 20,000 troops south to pacify Jingnan. If Jingnan is recovered, we will go on to pacify Jiaozhou."

"Commander Guanqiu is in dire need of someone knowledgeable in civil administration to assist him. You have served as the granary official in Yangzhou for several years and have also gained experience in the Ministry of Personnel. I hereby appoint you as the Commander-in-Chief's Sima. Set off south tomorrow morning to find Zhonggong!"

"Your Majesty, I obey! I thank you for your grace!" Upon hearing the emperor's words, Sima Shi immediately knelt down and kowtowed in gratitude.

Within an army, there is no limit to the number of military advisors; there can be many. Their rank is slightly higher than that of the chief clerk. Besides the commander-in-chief, the highest-ranking officer in an army is the chief clerk, and below the chief clerk is the military commander.

Sima Shi knew that Guanqiu Jian's army did not have permanent chief clerks or military advisors. To appoint him as the military advisor to a general would be a much higher promotion than simply serving as a military advisor!
Although... although this is Guanqiu Jian, Sima Shi still remembers the arrogant face of Guanqiu Jian when he came to Sima's residence to deliver the imperial edict and ask questions nine years ago, his family and Guanqiu Jian seem to have no conflict!
This is a really good job!

(End of this chapter)