Chapter 26 The eagle looks at the wolf It's the second watch of the night. It was long past curfew, and the streets of Luoyang, which were crowded with people during the day, were now only filled with patrolling soldiers holding torches. Guanqiu Jian rode his horse and walked slowly on the road. When he was questioned along the way, he did not panic. He showed the badge he had just received from the palace, and four soldiers followed behind him to escort him. The summer night breeze took away the heat. The sweetness of osmanthus wine covers the taste of alcohol, and it tastes better and better the more you drink it, until you are drunk. This was Guanqiu Jian's first time to enter the palace and also his first time to attend such a high-level banquet. In the past, Guanqiu Jian was an official in the Eastern Palace. As the literary official of Pingyuan Hou, he accompanied Cao Rui on a daily basis. Reading, discussing politics, hunting, and writing, the six-year companionship was finally rewarded today. At this moment, Guanqiu Jian was carrying a document with the official seal of the Minister of Personnel. The Commandant of the Yueqi Cavalry was Guanqiu Jian's new position today. Tomorrow morning, he will go to the camp of the Five Colonels and become a real official with a salary of two thousand stones. At the age of 25, he was promoted to a position of 2,000 shi, a goal that many people would never achieve in their lifetime.
The sound of horse hooves could be heard, and after turning a corner, Sima Yi's mansion was in front of them. The lintel of the Sima Mansion was quite high, and the tightly closed door made people feel timid. Fortunately, Guanqiu Jian had drunk wine today, and he was appointed as a 2,000-stone official, which was a time when he was full of ambition and pride. Seeing that Guanqiu Jian had arrived, several patrol soldiers said goodbye and left. "Dong, dong, dong." Guanqiu Jian knocked on the door. After a moment, the main door did not open, but a figure leaned out from the side door. The Sima family's concierge looked at Guanqiu Jian and saw that he was young and dressed in Shu brocade, so he tried to ask, "Excuse me, what brings you to the Sima residence so late at night?" Guanqiu Jian said proudly, "I am your majesty's envoy, the Yueqi Captain Guanqiu Jian, and I have received your majesty's order to come and question Sima Zhenjun." The doorman bowed and said, "Please wait for a moment, angel. I will report to Lord Sima right away." Guanqiu Jian nodded. The concierge gently closed the side door, leaving Guanqiu Jian standing alone outside the door, his face showing no sign of displeasure. It was already past curfew, and the doorman did not dare to open the door without permission. Any visitor had to be reported to Sima Yi. Furthermore, as an angel, the doorman knew that if he wanted to welcome an angel into Sima Mansion, he would have to open the middle door wide and solemnly welcome the emperor's envoy in. Guanqiu Jian was an upright and resolute man. Guanqiu Jian's surname was Guanqiu and his given name was Jian. His father Guanqiu Xing was granted the title of Marquis of Gaoyang Township for his meritorious service. Guanqiu Jian inherited his father's title and was immediately selected by the previous emperor Cao Pi to become the literary official of Cao Rui, Marquis of Pingyuan. Cao Rui was not favored. Cao Pi's attitude towards his eldest son was sometimes high and sometimes low, with the low times being much more than the high times. Cao Pi had previously ordered the death of Cao Rui's biological mother, Zhen. Cao Rui was still a minor at the time and lived in Luoyang, unable to see his mother who had passed away in Yecheng, Hebei. The difficult times passed bit by bit, and during the six years in the Eastern Palace, Guanqiu Jian became a close friend and trusted person of Cao Rui. Since ancient times, ministers serving the prince have hoped most that the prince would ascend the throne so that they could be promoted to higher positions due to their contributions in assisting the Crown Prince. Guanqiu Jian was lucky, he had waited for all this.
Just as Guanqiu Jian was daydreaming, the sound of door hinges creaked, and the heavy middle door of Sima Mansion was slowly opened. Sima Yi was standing just inside the door, but the lack of lighting prevented Guanqiu Jian from seeing Sima Yi's face clearly. Just as Guanqiu Jian was about to take a few steps forward to get closer to Sima Yi, several retainers of the Sima Mansion holding lanterns slowly approached the door from both sides of Sima Yi. The light came from Sima Yi's profile, from the back to the corner of his eyes, and then from the corner of his eyes to the bridge of his nose. The gradually receding shadows outlined Sima Yi's emotionless eyes. Guanqiu Jian was startled, but thinking of the emperor's order, he mustered up the courage to ask. Before Guanqiu Jian could speak, Sima Yi's cold voice came: "Isn't the position of Yueqi Xiaowei vacant? When was it given to you? How come I, the Recorder of the Shangshu, didn't know about it?" Sima Yi was looking at Guanqiu Jian, and a young man behind Sima Yi was also staring at Guanqiu Jian. Guanqiu Jian quickly said, "Sima Gong, I am Guanqiu Jian, and I was previously..." Before Guanqiu Jian could finish his speech, he was interrupted by Sima Yi. Sima Yi said, "Guanqiu Jian, I know you. I am asking when did you become the captain of the Yue cavalry?" Guanqiu Jian was young at heart, with a two thousand stone appointment document on his waist, and he claimed to be a trusted and old minister of the emperor. When Sima Yi questioned him like this, he couldn't help but get a little angry. Guanqiu Jian's tone was a little tough: "Sima Gong, I, Guanqiu Jian, am the captain of Yueqi. It was ordered by your majesty today, presented by the Zhongshu Jian Liu Fang, and sealed by the Minister of Personnel Wei Zhen. The appointment is on my waist, Sima Gong, do you want to see it?" Sima Yi's eyes narrowed slightly. As the Recorder of the Secretariat, Sima Yi, in theory, had to review the appointments of all important officials inside and outside the palace. Guanqiu Jian’s words just now made Sima Yi’s mind start to work rapidly. There are two key points in what Guanqiu Jian said. First, the two thousand stone officials are important officials of the state. The appointment of the Yueqi Xiaowei should be submitted to the Shangshutai and reviewed by him before it can be counted. How could Sima Yi not know this today? Secondly, Guanqiu Jian said that the appointment of the Yueqi Captain today was ordered by the emperor, submitted by the Secretariat, and sealed by the Ministry of Personnel. Sima Yi knew that these people were at the emperor's banquet today! Moreover, this appointment process is completely unconventional. The normal process should be that Zhongshu submits it to Shangshutai, and then Shangshutai approves it. Sima Yi sat in the Secretariat for a whole day, but he had never even heard of this incident! Besides, those invited to the banquet by the emperor today were all his former close ministers and the emperor's close associates. In addition to Guanqiu Jian, how many other people did the emperor appoint? This was the first time that Sima Yi encountered such a big situation since he took charge of the Secretariat after the previous emperor ascended the throne. There were no personnel changes in the Shangshutai! Sima Yi thought for a moment, and his already sharp eyes became even colder. Guanqiu Jian said impatiently: "Sima Gong, I came here today to question Sima Gong on the orders of His Majesty." Sima Yi bowed to Guanqiu Jian upon hearing the voice. As an angel, Guanqiu Jian accepted the greeting as a matter of course. Sima Yi stood at the door. Sima Yi had no intention of inviting Guanqiu Jian into the mansion, and Guanqiu Jian did not say a word and went straight to work. Guanqiu Jian said, "Your Majesty, I want to ask you, Shangshu Sima Fu rejected the order sent by Zhongshu twice today. Did Sima Gong know about it?" Sima Yi was shocked when he heard this. Sima Fu, as Sima Yi's younger brother, had rejected Zhongshu's order twice today, and he was totally unaware of it.
Sima Yi quickly said, "Your Majesty, I, Sima Yi, will reply to your question. I am not aware of what happened today." Guanqiu Jian said again: "Your Majesty, let me ask you again, is Sima Gong aware of Sima Fu's advice today?" Sima Yi said: "I, Sima Yi, reply to your majesty. I really don't know." After finishing his work, Guanqiu Jian did not stop for a moment. He bowed to Sima Yi and said, "I have finished my work. Sima Yi, please go back." Sima Yi nodded, and Guanqiu Jian turned around, mounted his horse, tapped the horse's belly with his foot, and left. Only Sima Yi and Sima Shi, who was standing behind him, were left, the two of them listening to the sound of Guanqiu Jian's horse hooves at the door. (End of this chapter)