Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 136 I was granted the title of General of Chariots and Cavalry!
It was difficult for Liu Bian to interfere much in the matter of selecting filial and honest officials.

Liu Bian rubbed his eyebrows, his expression showing a bit of helplessness.

He relied on the ancient literature school for help to gradually consolidate his position as the crown prince politically, and intervened when the ancient literature school had just reaped its first rewards.

Moreover, these relatives and disciples of the ancient literature school or the prince's party who were recommended as filial and honest people at least have a certain guarantee of loyalty, and are also one of the important sources of officials in the prince's palace.

Fortunately, under his supervision, the Three Dukes and the Secretariat will conduct a formal assessment process, so as not to allow a group of good-for-nothings or famous scholars who can only talk big to enter the officialdom by taking the path of filial piety and integrity.

Nowadays, those who can enter the officialdom through the path of filial piety and integrity either have unique insights into government affairs in the interviews, or have the academic level to serve as a doctor in the Imperial College.

Since he has neither the ability to govern the people nor the skills to study the classics, how can he be considered filial and honest?
If nothing unexpected happens, these people on the list of filial and honest officials will also enter the Prince's Palace to serve.

These people either possessed talents or had experience as county or prefectural officials. Although they were still lacking in experience, they were able to maintain the daily operations of the Prince's Mansion.

"Gong Tai is calm and measured, and now that he's over thirty, perhaps many of his subordinates will enter the palace within the next year or so, and he'll be promoted to the position of Crown Prince's son." Liu Bian glanced gently at Chen Gong, who was processing memorials at the lower right. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile. He said, "When the time comes, you should take care to familiarize them with the many affairs of the Crown Prince's Palace as soon as possible."

Chen Gong gladly accepted the order. The prince's words clearly meant that he, as an elder, should guide the newcomers in the future and help them adapt to the new environment and new jobs. Isn't this the duty of the prince's secretary?
Moreover, the prince praised him for his calmness and moderation. Isn’t this a high evaluation?

Liu Bian looked at Chen Gong's expression of joy and said nothing.

Chen Gong is wise but slow. This evaluation seems to be quite pleasing to the ear. However, if we change the words, it would be good at planning but lacks decision-making.

Chen Gong was a resourceful man, but he was not good at making decisions. This did not mean that the decisions he made were wrong, but that he would not make decisions easily on important matters without thinking them over carefully.

Although the final decision was mostly correct, the timing was missed.

"Ten days from now, have the Xiaolians on the list come to Yong'an Palace for questioning. Invite the Three Dukes, Master Lu, along with Minister Liu, Minister Yang, and the other six secretaries to participate in the discussion."

Now that he has been promoted, he can forget about having a leisurely time. As the crown prince, he naturally cannot do everything by himself. There are more than twenty things that he has asked Chen Gong to take care of personally. As for Wang Lang, Zhong Yan, and Liu Yi, the three people who are usually idle, they also have to devote themselves to their work. Tian Feng, the crown prince's household manager, is so busy that he hardly even has time to drink water.

"Hmm? Where's Liu Zixiang?"

After looking around, Tian Feng went to cooperate with Guo Tu to deposit 70% of the property confiscated from Zhao Rao's mansion into the treasury, and to verify the accounts in the treasury, so he was not here.

Chen Gong, Wang Lang, and Zhong Yan were all reviewing and organizing the memorials that had been preliminarily approved by the Secretariat, but the Prince's warehouse commander Liu Yi was the only one missing.

Speaking of Liu Yi, he was from Yingyin, Yingchuan County, and could be considered a relative of the Han Dynasty. It's just that his lineage was too remote, not much better than Liu Bei, the descendant of King Jing of Zhongshan.

However, Liu Yi's family was quite wealthy, and the Yingyin Liu family had always been on good terms with many aristocratic families in Yingchuan County, and had held the position of 2,000-stone official for generations.

The first time Liu Bian heard this name was when he was on his way back to the capital after suppressing the Yellow Turban Rebellion. He heard that Liu Yi had donated a lot of his family property to help the people who were short of food due to the Yellow Turban Rebellion. At that time, he did not take it seriously, thinking that this was another person who was using this to build up his reputation.

However, he was a relative of the Han Dynasty after all, so Liu Bian asked Jia Xu to investigate. He didn't expect to find out that as many as 800 people survived thanks to Liu Yi's help. When someone from the poor families of Liu Yi's fellow townsmen and clansmen died, he would arrange funeral arrangements for them, and help widows or widowers remarry.

Ordinary people who cultivate their ambitions would not be so meticulous and would only pursue a superficial project.

Liu Yi's acts of charity were so widespread that if the people of Yingyin County received help from an unknown source, they would unanimously attribute it to Liu Yi, who was always willing to help others.

Moreover, when Liu Yi was the Gongcao of Yingchuan County, he showed no mercy to anyone who did evil, no matter if it was the eunuchs or the wealthy families. He also rejected the recommendation of Zhong Fu, the then prefect of Yingchuan County, to be a filial and honest official, and resigned from his post and returned home.

Regardless of whether Liu Yi's action was still suspected of cultivating reputation, a gentleman is judged by deeds rather than by the heart. This behavior has already surpassed countless scholars who claim to be upright.

Later, while on his way to Luoyang with several friends to accept a conscription order from the Crown Prince's Palace, Liu Yi traded all his carriages, horses, and jewelry for money to feed the hungry people he encountered along the way, nearly starving to death. If Liu Bian had not worried that Liu Yi's delay in reaching the capital might have led him to encounter bandits, and had ordered Yuzhou Governor Wang Yun to search for him along the official road, the entire group would have starved to death.

After this incident, Liu Bian was sure that this relative was truly a good-natured person, the kind without any ulterior motives. Otherwise, he would not have helped others to the point of almost risking his own life.

But even after arriving in Luoyang, the good-natured Liu Yi often exchanged his money for food, and often took two servants to the outside of the city to help refugees. If he had not specially sent embroidered clothes to secretly protect him, Liu Yi would have been torn to pieces by the refugees. He did not like to become famous by doing good deeds, so he simply did good deeds in the name of the prince, but spent his personal property.

"It's impossible for Liu Zixiang to pawn his carriage and horses for money and food to help the refugees while on his way to the Grand Minister of Agriculture's Palace, right?" Liu Bian's lips curled up slightly, revealing a hint of ridicule. Then, as if suddenly realizing it, he feigned anger and said, "No, that's not right. The carriage he's riding in is an official vehicle prepared by the Prince's Palace for its officials. If this guy dares to use it to exchange for money, I'll show you how I'll deal with him!"

Chen Gong, Wang Lang and Zhong Yan all chuckled in a friendly manner. They all knew Liu Yi's temperament. Although they thought he was too kind, they would not look down on a kind person for this. They also knew that the prince would not punish Liu Yi for this.

Not long after, Liu Yi finally arrived in a hurry, sweating profusely, but he brought a scroll of memorials with him.

Not long after, Liu Yi returned to the Prince's Mansion in a hurry, sweating profusely, with a scroll of memorials in his hand. He looked panicked, breathing rapidly, and beads of sweat kept rolling down his forehead.

"Your Highness, minister... minister..."

Liu Yiyi, looking breathless, said hurriedly, "Your Highness, please review this memorial."

Seeing Liu Yi in such a hurry, Liu Bian curiously took the memorial from Liu Yi's hand, but when he saw the first sentence, he couldn't help but frowned, and the smile on his face disappeared in an instant.

"I bow my head and shed tears again to report: Your Highness inherited the throne from the imperial concubine, and ascended the throne with an axe on his shoulders. Yet, you murdered your brother in the imperial palace and imprisoned your father in the Northern Palace. These are the actions of a scoundrel. During the reign of Emperor Xiaoyuan, Shi Dan still protected the crown prince; during the reign of Emperor Liyuan, Jiang Chong was still afraid of what people would say. Now, the imperial concubines weep in the dew, and the mausoleums and temples are covered in dust. Even if the Mandate of Heaven rests with you, can you live up to the shame of Dong Hu?
Moreover, men carry books and fight for their hidden treasures, while chapters and sentences are torn apart in stone channels. The students of Qi and Lu were just about to present themselves to their teachers with silk and silk, when Your Highness suddenly changed his ways. Isn't this severing the path for those from humble backgrounds to rise to prominence? Emperor Xiaowu promoted Wei and Huo to the ranks, while Your Highness demoted He Jin to the position of a minister. Jia Xu, sinister and treacherous, occupied the imperial court, while Meng De, cunning and treacherous, held the imperial seal. Furthermore, eunuchs were placed in key positions of power. Is this the behavior of a ruler who upholds the principles of civility?

I have heard that the lesson of the Yin Dynasty is not far away, as it was during the reign of the Xia Dynasty. If we are willing to be close to virtuous ministers and stay away from eunuchs, then even if the Han Dynasty is in danger, it can still be saved. If we let hawks and dogs attack us, I am afraid that the bronze camels in Maoling will be buried in thorns in the future!

Chen Gong, Wang Lang and Zhong Yan on both sides originally wanted to tease Liu Yi about why he was so late, but seeing that the prince's face became increasingly gloomy and his hands holding the bamboo slips were shaking, they all stood up and looked at the prince.

He Suigao, you man, do you want to commit suicide?

He ordered Bian Rang to scold me for being disloyal and unfilial, and criticized me as being like King Zhou of Shang and King Jie of Xia who mingled with treacherous ministers and eunuchs and who would have no face to see the ancestors of the Han Dynasty after their death!

Then persuade me to entrust important tasks to He Suigao, just as Emperor Xiaowu trusted Wei and Huo!

He tolerated He Jin again and again, thinking of the brother-sister relationship between He Jin and Empress He, and also thinking of the fact that He Jin had given in and compromised with the emperor in order to allow him to return to the palace. However, He Jin challenged his bottom line again and again!

Liu Bian was so angry that his body couldn't stop shaking. His hands were clenched into fists, his knuckles turned white, and the murderous intent in his heart became stronger.

"Bring Bian here." Liu Bian suppressed his anger and said in a trembling voice.

Chen Gong, the Crown Prince's illegitimate son, stepped forward, slightly bewildered. Bian Rang was a great scholar from Yanzhou, and he, being a native of Yanzhou, had naturally heard of the name. He cautiously inquired, "Who does Your Highness wish to summon?"

"It's detention!"

Liu Bian roared, stood up suddenly, and kicked over the table in front of him. The memorials on the table fell to the ground. He stared at Chen Gong with a pair of blood-red eyes that seemed to be spitting fire, and roared: "I say to arrest Bian Rang, the clerk of the General of Chariots and Cavalry's Mansion. I mean arrest him, arrest him!"

Chen Gong was so frightened by the prince's roar that his face turned pale and he quickly fell to the ground to apologize.

However, Liu Bian had no intention of paying attention to him. He looked at Dian Wei and Xu Chu and said, "Dian Junming and Xu Zhongkang, leading 3,000 guards from the Crown Prince's Palace, have granted me the title of General of Chariots and Cavalry. No one in their palace is allowed to leave without my order!"

"If anyone resists, they will be killed without mercy, including He Suigao!"

(2861 words)
(End of this chapter)