Huang Chengyan asked this question very deeply, and Zhuge Liang also knew the difference in the names of the two.

And we can also vaguely guess the difference in future between being a Wei official and being a Han official.

"The son-in-law knows that his brother is also a Wei official, not a Han official, and Duke Wei is the king of Wei. Naturally no one can criticize him for choosing Wei officials in such a way as a ritual of talent discussion."

Zhuge Liang replied like this.

"Well, it's good to know, then do you know what the difference between Wei Guan and Han Guan is?"

Huang Chengyan looked at Zhuge Liang.

"The Wei officials are loyal to Duke Wei, but the Han officials are not."

Zhuge Liang thought about it and answered carefully.

"Then do you know what is the difference between being a Wei official now and being a Han official now?"

Huang Chengyan asked again.

Zhuge Liang was silent for a while, pursed his lips, and whispered: "What does father-in-law mean is Wei Guan more promising than Han Guan?"

Huang Chengyan's mouth curled up slightly, and he did not answer this question positively.

"It has been more than a year since the late emperor collapsed at Hongnong. Duke Wei was busy fighting in all directions and had no time to establish a new emperor. Duke Wei ended the war, and the matter of establishing the emperor was probably put on the agenda. At this moment, he was going to convene a ceremony to select Wei officials. Do you understand what the meaning here is?"

Zhuge Liang was a little confused about his mind.

"Please help my father-in-law solve the problem."

"Kong Ming, you actually understand it in your heart. I won't tell you about this. If you think about it slowly, you will understand it."

Huang Chengyan shook his head, feeling that he had already known what Zhuge Liang should know. Then, despite Zhuge Liang's doubts, Huang Chengyan talked to him about something else.

"You have lived in Jingzhou for a long time and don't know much about many things that you will know after entering politics. Your brother is not old. If I don't tell you some things, your brother may not be clear about them."

Huang Chengyan took Zhuge Liang's hand and asked his son-in-law to sit down with him, slowly teaching Zhuge Liang some precious life experiences.

"Do you know what is the group of people under the command of Duke Wei who are most favored and have the highest status and authority?"

"I don't know."

Zhuge Liang shook his head.

Huang Chengyan said slowly: "It was all the people who followed him when Duke Wei was the prefect of Shanggu County, including scholars and military generals. Duke Wei first followed Duke Lu of the Taiwei, and then led his troops independently to serve as General Huwuwan, and had the first people to follow him.

At that time, those people were all relatives of Duke Wei. Duke Wei was from Yingchuan, but he grew up in Qiao County, Pei State and was close to Xiahou, a local powerful Cao family in Qiao County, Pei State. The wife of Duke Wei was the daughter of the Cao family. The first person to follow Duke Wei to fight, and the members of the Xiahou family now occupy high positions under Duke Wei.

General Cao Ren and Cao Hong and Xiahou Yuan, Wei Prime Minister Cao Cao, and Runan Prefect Xiahou Dun were both trusted ministers of Duke Wei, as well as civil servants, with a small number of people. They also belonged to the Guo family of Yingchuan, Gu Yong from Jiangdong, Mi Zhu from Xuzhou, and Zao Zhi from Qiao County. They were all the first people to follow Duke Wei.

These people are already powerful veterans, each with their own power, not something you can touch. You are not the first person to follow Duke Wei, so when you go to Duke Wei, the most important thing is to find the right way. For you, the so-called way is to find a group of people in the right place of your hometown."

Zhuge Liang nodded while listening. At the end of the day, he asked, "So, the way the son-in-law needs to find is from Xuzhou?"

"Yes, you are from Langya County, Xuzhou. You understand why you can't even be a filial piety in Jingzhou, because you are not a native of Jingzhou. But if you go to the command of Duke Wei, you will not have such troubles. Masters from all over the country under Duke Wei."

Huang Chengyan nodded and said slowly: "In addition to the group of people who followed Wei Gong first, if the people who followed him later wanted to ensure their status and power, the most effective behavior was to hug people of the same origin and form a village party, thinking of assistance in the officialdom.

It is necessary to know that the officialdom is dangerous and it is hard to support it alone. Without the help of the village party, things will never be accomplished. Especially under the command of Duke Wei, the scholars and generals of various states all agree with each other. If you want to join Duke Wei, you also need to gain a foothold. Now, the Xuzhou people with the highest position and greatest power under Duke Wei should be Mi Zhu."

"Governor of Qingzhou, Mi Zhuzizhong."

Zhuge Liang said softly.

"Yes, the governor of Qingzhou, Mi Zhuzizhong."

Huang Chengyan smiled and said, "This person was also one of the first people to follow Duke Wei. He relied on his home business and trade routes in Xuzhou to sell war horses from northern China to Huainan and Jiangnan, making a lot of profits. The huge amount of money he received was for Duke Wei to raise soldiers and people.

Mr. Wei was grateful for his contributions, so he took his sister as his first concubine under his wife. He thought he was a noble concubine and promoted him from the county magistrate to the county magistrate. He also gave him the position of governor of Qingzhou, which he personally served as governor of Qingzhou in his early years. It was a great honor and favor."

"I see."

Zhuge Liang nodded: "The people of Xuzhou have been in power under the command of Duke Wei for a short time, so their status is generally not high. Only Mi Envoys took over the command of Duke Wei early, so Mi Envoys are the most powerful Xuzhou people under Duke Wei."

"That's right, not only that, Mi Zizhong is also a relative of Duke Wei and is trusted."

Huang Chengyan said seriously: "Although Mi Zizhong was born into a businessman, since he became a relative of Duke Wei, his status was transcendent and his achievements as Yuan Cong, his future prospects were limitless. If he seized the opportunity, it would not be impossible to transform from a merchant family to a scholar family."

Zhuge Liang took a deep breath and probably figured out some things.

"In addition, there are also famous Xuzhou scholars Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong who joined the army of Wei Gong and serve Wei Gong. However, the time is still short and the power is not obvious. They also have a good relationship with Mi Zizhong. You and your brother are from Xuzhou, so remember to be close to Xuzhou people."

Huang Chengyan passed on his life experience to Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang was deeply moved, but although he understood it in his heart, he was still a little uncomfortable.

"Since ancient times, it has been not the right way for officials to form cliques. Why did my father-in-law teach me this?"

"The emperor is not happy, but for those who are ministers, they are helpless in order to save their lives."

Huang Chengyan shook his head: "You don't form a party, but if you have a political enemy and your political enemy forms a party, your political enemy gathers his accomplices to attack you, you are alone, how can you protect yourself?"

Zhuge Liang didn't know what to say.

"There are not so many sayings about the right path and evil path in the officialdom. You don't understand it now, but when you really become an official in the future, you will know why. Kongming, ask your brother more about everything. Your brother is older than you and has more knowledge than you. Don't take your own actions."

Huang Chengyan patted Zhuge Liang's back of his hand: "The world's general trend is becoming clearer and it is a foregone conclusion that scholars from northern regions return home. Everything your uncle did in Jingzhou is probably not countable, but this is not your uncle's problem, but the world has become too fast, making everyone unable to react."

Zhuge Liang was silent again. He felt very uncomfortable when he thought of Zhuge Xuan's hard work and trembling efforts.

"But if you can do something under the command of Mr. Wei, I think it will not disappoint your uncle's hard work."

Huang Chengyan sighed: "The world's general trend is all in the hands of Duke Wei. This is an irreversible situation. You only need to climb this last ladder to clear the clouds and see hope."
Chapter completed!