There is no doubt that Cheng Yu and Tian Feng's power are declining, and the traditional strong political forces of Qing, Yan and Ji are being suppressed.

And Zhang Zhao and Xu Jing are becoming representative figures of the newly emerging forces.

The emperor was dissatisfied with the strong political groups in Qing, Yan and Ji prefectures, and decided to suppress them and support the weak groups.

As a native of Yanzhou and a scholar in a traditionally powerful area, although Mao Jie was a little unhappy, he did not have the fierce opinion of Cheng Yu, Tian Feng and others.

In terms of political stance, he tends to be pragmatic and has a long-term vision.

He had long realized that a political group could not always be strong.

When the power of a political group develops to the point where the emperor is in a dilemma, the emperor will inevitably take action to suppress it.

The better you develop and the stronger you are, the closer you are to your doomsday.

Unless this emperor is too useless.

No emperor with insight and crisis awareness will allow a political group to develop too strongly.

As a person within this political group, Mao Jie saw this trend and believed that it was irreversible, at least for a considerable period of time.

So, Mao Jie saw the infinite possibilities hidden in Zhuge Liang.

Therefore, Mao Jie did not mind investing, not for himself, but for his descendants.

If you have political capital, you can guarantee the bottom line no matter how hard you are, and you will not fall too hard, while your descendants are different. The political legacy you leave may not be enough for them to eat.

They must open up new paths to preserve the Mao family business.

In the foreseeable future, scholars from other regions will surely rise slowly and gradually suppress the traditional powerful group of Qingyan and Ji.

Through this anti-corruption campaign, Mao Jie felt more and more that the choice he had made before was correct.

Maintaining a good relationship between superiors and subordinates with Zhuge Liang gives Zhuge Liang a chance to be promoted. How can this not leave a chance for his future self?

Zhuge Liang had a discussion with Chen Zhen later, and talked about Zhuge Liang's discovery of this major corruption case. Zhuge Liang praised Mao Jie's help to him.

Therefore, Chen Zhen also believed that Mao Jie played an indelible and important role in the smooth resolution of this major case.

Mao Jie was secretly happy about this.

Later, Mao Jie even arranged for Zhuge Liang to serve as a special envoy to assist Chen Zhen in an in-depth investigation at the army's garrison in Yumen Pass, and strictly investigate the corruption within the army, giving Zhuge Liang room to play.

Then, Mao Jie called Sima Yi to Guzang County.

"Zhongda, it's thanks to you for this matter. If you hadn't informed me in advance and let me be prepared, this time, the entire Liangzhou officialdom would have been completely cleaned up."

Mao Jie personally poured Sima Yi a cup of tea. He liked this very expensive tea very much, but he had no place to buy it himself, and the tea was given to him by Cao Cao.

Sima Yi took the cup of tea with both hands and took a sip, only to feel the fragrance left on his mouth.

"It is the duty of the subordinate officials to do things for the emperor, and the subordinate officials are just doing what they can."

Sima Yi seemed very humble.

"Hahaha, don't say that you don't have any duty. We are all your ministers. It is your duty to be loyal to you."

Mao Jie laughed, his eyes turned, and he said, "Zhongda, I heard that you had a very good relationship with Zhuge Kongming when you were in the capital. Is this the case?"

“…”

Sima Yi seemed to realize something, pursed his lips and nodded: "Yes, Kong Ming and I are friends. When I first entered the cabinet, Kong Ming gave me great help. I have always kept these things in my heart. Thank him very much."

"This incident was first discovered by Zhuge Kongming? Of course, he did not intend to inform me at this time. It seemed that he thought I was related to this matter, but you told me about it..."

Mao Jie smiled and did not continue to say it, but Sima Yi already understood the meaning of the words.

It seems that Mao Jie has already figured out everything he should have figured out.

Yes, how could a senior who has been in the officialdom for almost twenty years not understand such a small idea?

However, this is not a betrayal, it doesn't count at all. Zhuge Liang did not suffer any losses because of this incident, but was praised instead, right?

Sima Yi believes so.

"The envoy said it well. Kong Ming discovered this first. After that, Kong Ming informed me of this matter, and I knew the whole process clearly."

"After that, Zhuge Kongming did not intend to tell me about this. He planned to report it to Luoyang directly, but you told me about this. You also went to find Cao Zixiao first and then came to me. I think you have some concerns, right?"

Mao Jie took a sip of tea.

"Because the Xiaguan had an old age with the Cao family, the Cao family had worked hard for the Sima family's career and had no old friends with the envoy. The envoy was worried that the envoy would not believe the envoy and had some doubts about the envoy, so he did not dare to tell the envoy directly about the envoy."

Sima Yi explained a little.

Mao Jie agreed with this explanation and asked: "You did not do anything wrong in this matter, and Zhuge Kongming is not a mistake. However, if Zhuge Kongming knew about this matter, it should not be the situation you want to see for you, right?"

Sima Yi looked at Mao Jie and lowered his head again.

"Kong Ming was not damaged by this."

"It was indeed not damaged, but it made a profit from it, but..."

Mao Jie put down the teacup in his hand and his tone became serious: "If Zhuge Kongming had not had a brother who was the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, if his brother had not had such a good and close relationship with the Minister of Personnel, I would not have been so polite to Zhuge Kongming.

He was just a county magistrate who actually wanted to report the local situation directly to the three officials of Luoyang. Even if it was reasonable and legal, it was a taboo in the officialdom. Once someone was damaged, all the injured people would hate him and fear him, and his career would end here."

Sima Yi felt nervous.

But Mao Jie's words did not stop.

"If I hadn't taken into account that Zhuge Kongming had such a deep background, thinking of his brothers and Zhang Zibu, and thinking that Zhuge Kongming came out of the cabinet like you, maybe Jian was in the Emperor's heart, I wouldn't have been so proud of him.

If I hadn't known this kind of thing first and dealt with in advance, if he was stabbed to Luoyang, what would I face? Zhongda, you should know that if Zhuge Kongming really did it, the entire capital would be filled with blood."

Mao Jie stared at Sima Yi, while Sima Yi's breathing was a little quick.

"The lower official... also knows Kong Ming's identity, so he insists on informing the envoy in advance, in order to avoid such a thing, he can also protect Kong Ming."

Sima Yi insisted that he thought so, and he had absolutely no other thoughts.

Mao Jie stared at him for a long time, and then suddenly laughed.

"Hahahahahahahaha!"

Mao Jie laughed for a long time, which made Sima Yi a little stunned.

"Envoy..."

"Zhongda, I admire people like you very much. You are very smart, and I admire smart people very much."

Mao Jie walked to Sima Yi with a smile and patted Sima Yi on the shoulder: "If you are not as good as others' identity and background, you must learn to take advantage of any opportunities you can use. Otherwise, how can you go up? If you become an official, you will retreat if you don't advance."

Mao Jie's smile was a bit profound, and Sima Yi also understood.

"The emperor understands the teachings of the envoy."

"It's good to understand, Zhongda, I heard that your family has eight brothers?"
Chapter completed!