Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

After Cao Rui returned to the Northern Palace from Dong Zhao's residence, Dong Zhao passed away that very night.

The cabinet and the Ministry of Rites jointly decided to posthumously confer upon Dong Zhao the title of "Wenxiang". In response, Cao Rui suspended court sessions and wore mourning clothes for seven days to express his grief, deeply saddened.

However, this was not a new occurrence for the people of Luoyang. Luoyang had the most officials in the entire country, so the passing away of the Three Dukes was hardly uncommon.

The Minister of Rites, Xu Xuan, was in charge of presiding over Dong Zhao's funeral. After properly handling the funeral arrangements, Xu Xuan was ordered to report to the emperor at the Beigong Study.

It was already the afternoon of January 12th.

"Your Majesty, the funeral rites are complete. I have come to report to Your Majesty." Xu Xuan bowed deeply and said, "Please do not grieve too much, Your Majesty."

Cao Rui sighed softly: "I am saddened by the departure of my loyal minister, and that I will never see Lord Dong again or hear his loyal advice. But I am not saddened by Lord Dong's passing. He was old and blessed, and his death should be considered a happy one."

"Yes." Xu Xuan didn't know what to say, so he just nodded slightly.

Cao Rui glanced at Xu Xuan for a few moments before speaking, "These past few days I have suspended court sessions in the palace. Although I have not seen any officials from outside the court, I have still managed to review the affairs of the court. The Grand Secretariat and the Ministry of Personnel have already reached a consensus that the ministers of the court should be exchanged with the governors of the various prefectures."

"Minister Xu has always been loyal and capable in the Ministry of Personnel, and I regard you as a pillar of the court. Minister Xu's position should be changed. I wonder what Minister Xu thinks. Does he wish to become one of the Nine Ministers, or does he wish to seek a large prefecture to serve as governor?"

At this point, Xu Xuan immediately bowed down without the slightest hesitation: "Your Majesty, I am filled with trepidation."

Previously, when Xu Xuan and Xu Miao bid farewell to Sima Yi in Luoyang, Sima Yi asked them about their future plans. Xu Xuan replied that all appointments and dismissals were to be decided by His Majesty and Huang Gongheng, and he had no opportunity to speak.

That's what they said, but when it actually came to the emperor's question, Xu Xuan became incredibly anxious. This was an audience with the emperor, a meeting that could determine his future, all within those few words!

"What are you so afraid of?" Cao Rui said calmly, "I have always been frank with my ministers. If I ask you what position you want, just say so. Minister Xu has served in the Ministry of Personnel for many years and has always worked hard, which I have seen."

Xu Xuan's eyes immediately welled up with tears. He was far from being as calm as he had imagined. Instead, he kowtowed on the spot and said, "Your Majesty, I am only doing my duty. It is not hard work. What merit do I have to ask Your Majesty about my position? I only ask to serve Your Majesty. I have no complaints!"

Cao Rui said, "If I ask you, just answer. As for the other ministers, I will still ask them again. The Nine Ministers or the governors of the major provinces?"

"I wish to be appointed to a post outside the capital," Xu Xuan replied.

"Alright." Cao Rui nodded: "Ji Province, Yan Province, Jing Province, which province would you like to go to, Minister Xu?"

For Xu Xuan to hesitate even for a moment on such a question would be disrespectful to the capital of Wei and the fertile lands of Hebei. Ji Province was better than Yan Province and Jing Province, and as for the Nine Ministers, who still cared about them now?

Xu Xuan immediately said, "Your subject is willing to go to Ji Province to take up his post!"

"Very well. Xu Qing, you may go now." Cao Rui said calmly, "I have temporarily entrusted Ji Province to Xu Qing. Return to the Ministry of Personnel, perform your duties well, and do not say anything more. An appointment will be issued later."

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your divine grace!" Xu Xuan accepted the decree and took his leave.

Pei Qian, who was sitting behind a small table on the side of the study, wrote the two characters 'Xu Xuan' after the title of Governor of Ji Province, and then asked:
"Your Majesty, if Xu Baojian goes to Ji Province, what position will Lu Zhao, the governor of Ji Province, hold?" Cao Rui replied, "Jing Province has 90,000 troops stationed there, making it a crucial position. Lu Zhao has served as the governor of Ji Province for many years, pacifying Hebei and guarding the rear without causing chaos. Lu Zhao has made great contributions to the court."

"Let Lü Zhao go to Jingzhou. After we conquer Shu in the future, Lü Zhao can enter the court as a minister."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I have noted it down," Pei Qian nodded and said.

At this moment, Attendant-in-Ordinary Wang Su slowly entered from outside and presented a document: "Your Majesty, Guanqiu Zhonggong has sent a military report from Jiaozhou. Please review it."

"Has the Privy Council seen it?" Cao Rui pointed to the table, gesturing for Wang Su to put it down, and then asked.

"Yes, the Privy Council Military Advisor who delivered the message has already informed me. In October, there was a great rain in Nanhai Commandery. Wu's Governor of Jiaozhou, Lü Dai, was preoccupied with the livelihood issues after the flood and could not fight back. The entire province surrendered. Guanqiu Zhonggong promised to appoint Lü Dai as a county marquis and one of his nine ministers, and promised to make one of his sons the governor of a major commandery."

"The document also states that Lü Dai and the governor of Nanhai Commandery who accompanied him will travel north to the capital in late November. According to the timeline, Lü Dai should have already passed Wuhan by now. The shortest route from Jiaozhou to Luoyang is still through Changsha, Wuhan, Xiangyang, and Nanyang."

"Hmm." Cao Rui nodded slightly and looked at Pei Qian: "Place Lü Dai in the position of Commandant of the Guards."

"Yes." Pei Qian immediately picked up his pen and began making changes to the document, continuing his discussion with Cao Rui and Wang Su. By evening, Huang Quan, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was also summoned, and the appointment and removal of new officials in the Great Wei Dynasty were not basically completed until late at night.

Huang Quan let out a deep breath, put down his brush, and bowed to Cao Rui: "Your Majesty, it is all finished. Shall I read it aloud for Your Majesty?"

Cao Rui said, "Go and have someone prepare some food first. It's already midnight, so you can have a supper with me before you go back."

"Read it."

"As you command." Huang Quan nodded. As the only Vice Minister of the Secretariat in Luoyang at present, and also holding the position of Minister of Personnel, this was simply his duty.

"The list of governors of the seventeen prefectures is as follows: Liu Jing, governor of Yingzhou; Xue Zong, governor of Youzhou; Xu Xuan, governor of Jizhou; Wang Ji, governor of Bingzhou; Liu Fang, commander of the capital region; Ren Hao, governor of Qingzhou; Pei Hui, governor of Xuzhou; Jiang Ji, governor of Yangzhou; Xue Ti, governor of Jiangzhou; Lü Zhao, governor of Jingzhou; Sima Zhi, governor of Xiangzhou; Guanqiu Jian, governor of Jiaozhou; He Qia, governor of Yongzhou; Xu Miao, governor of Liangzhou; Du Xi, governor of Qinzhou; Yang Ji, governor of Yuzhou; and Wang Guan, governor of Yanzhou."

"Your Majesty, is everything alright?" Huang Quan asked.

Cao Rui nodded: "Some important provinces should be sent out by people from the central government. What about the Nine Ministers?"

Huang Quan said: "Wei Dan, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, will remain; Qin Lang will become the Grand Master of the Palace; Lü Dai, who has surrendered from Jiaozhou, will become the Commandant of the Guards; Miao Xi, the Grand Master of the Palace, will remain; Gao Rou, the Minister of Justice, will remain; Cao Zhi, the General of the Warships, will be summoned back to court to serve as the Grand Herald; Cao Ke, the Minister of the Imperial Clan, will remain; Qu Huang will become the Minister of Agriculture; and Ji Liang will become the Minister of the Imperial Treasury."

"The Ministry of Personnel," Cao Rui said, his eyes still closed.

Huang Quan continued, "Wei Zhen will be the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Chen will be the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Li Yan will remain the Minister of Civil Affairs, Sun Zi, the former Governor of Yanzhou, will serve as the Minister of Works, Wang Ling will serve as the Minister of War, Qin Lang, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, will concurrently serve as the Minister of Personnel, Kan Ze will serve as the Minister of Rites, and Liu Shao will serve as the Minister of Justice."

"Your Majesty, this is the list of officials after this reform." (End of Chapter)