Chapter 441: Appointments of Officials for the Four Provinces

"Wenruo, you shall write the imperial decrees for the appointments of Xu Shu and Ju Shou."

After conferring titles upon the two men, Liu Bian immediately called upon Xun Yu to write the imperial decrees on the spot.

"This humble minister obeys the decree!"

Xun Yu promptly bowed and responded to Liu Bian.

Then, the Eunuch Chief Steward Li Liangcheng brought the imperial decrees to Xun Yu, who wrote them out on the spot.

Soon, Xun Yu had finished writing the two decrees of appointment, and the Eunuch Chief Steward Li Liangcheng presented them before Liu Bian.

After reviewing them and finding no issues, Liu Bian took out the Imperial Seal and stamped it down.

"Your Ministers, as for the remaining candidates for Inspector of Xuzhou and Inspector of Youzhou, do you have any suitable candidates in mind?"

After settling the Inspector of Yuzhou and the Inspector of Jizhou, Liu Bian again addressed everyone, asking about candidates for the remaining Two Provinces' inspectors.

Hearing this, everyone shook their heads slightly and said in unison:

"We ministers are ashamed; we have no suitable candidates!"

After saying this, they all lowered their heads in some shame, not daring to meet Liu Bian's gaze.

And just as everyone's words fell away, Xun Yu suddenly thought of something. He immediately stepped forward and respectfully said to Liu Bian:

"Your Majesty, I still have one more person to recommend. With this person's talents, serving as a State Inspector would be more than sufficient!"

"Hahaha, it has to be you, Wenruo! With such great talent, why didn't you say so earlier? Who is this person?"

After hearing Xun Yu's words, Liu Bian was also pleased and immediately asked him.

"In reply to Your Majesty, the person I recommend is Shen Pei, courtesy name Zhengnan, who has just taken office as Chang'an Magistrate."

"In the one month since Shen Pei has served as Chang'an Magistrate, his talents are no less than Tian Feng's. I believe that with Shen Zhengnan's abilities, he is more than sufficient to serve as a State Inspector."

Facing Liu Bian's inquiry, Xun Yu spoke the name of the person he recommended to Liu Bian and everyone present.

"Shen Pei? That would be acceptable."

After hearing that the person Xun Yu recommended was Shen Pei, Liu Bian murmured as well.

Shen Pei could indeed be considered a man of loyalty and righteousness. In the original history, after Yuan Shao was defeated in the Battle of Guandu.

Shen Pei defended Ye City to the death for several months. Ultimately outmatched, after the city fell, Shen Pei did not surrender but went to his death with resolve.

Although in the original history, Shen Pei's reputation might not have been as great as Tian Feng's, his talents were still quite good.

Having him serve as a State Inspector would be acceptable!

"Since it is you, Wenruo, who recommends him, then I shall trust Shen Zhengnan this once."

"Draft the decree: appoint Chang'an Magistrate Shen Pei as Inspector of Youzhou, official rank from Third Grade, salary of eight hundred shi, to take up the post of Inspector of Youzhou effective immediately!"

After reflecting on Shen Pei's experiences in his mind, Liu Bian immediately decided to have him serve as Inspector of Youzhou.

"This humble minister obeys the decree!"

Once Liu Bian's words fell, Xun Yu immediately responded respectfully, then began writing the imperial decree.

"As for the final position of Inspector of Xuzhou, I intend to have Minister of the Household Chen Gong serve."

After Xun Yu finished writing the decree, Liu Bian looked at Minister of the Household Chen Gong below and addressed everyone.

"Your Majesty, if you transfer Gongtai away, my Ministry of Revenue will have no one left!"

At this time, hearing that Liu Bian intended to transfer Chen Gong to serve as Inspector of Xuzhou, Xi Zhicai immediately said to him with a bitter face.

"I truly have no one else to use. As for your Minister of the Household candidate, just have Wenruo find someone to fill the post."

Seeing Xi Zhicai's bitter face, Liu Bian was also somewhat helpless and said to him.

"I, your minister, obey the decree!"

Seeing this, Xi Zhicai also knew that Chen Gong could not be kept, and immediately responded to Liu Bian.

"Chen Gong, receive your appointment!"

After speaking to Xi Zhicai, Liu Bian turned his gaze toward Chen Gong and said in an authoritative voice.

"Your minister is here!"

Hearing this, Chen Gong immediately rose, bowed with hands clasped to Liu Bian, and responded loudly.

"Appoint Chen Gong as Inspector of Xuzhou, official rank from Third Grade, salary of eight hundred shi, to oversee all civil affairs and governance of Xuzhou, to take office effective immediately!"

After Liu Bian finished the conferment, Chen Gong immediately bowed with hands clasped and thanked him:

"Your minister thanks Your Majesty for your heavenly grace! I shall serve Your Majesty unto death!"

Seeing this, Liu Bian nodded to him in satisfaction.

"Since the inspectors for these Four Provinces all have suitable candidates, there should also be military generals stationed in these Four Provinces."

"I intend to have the military generals under you four ministers, who previously took orders directly, serve in these roles. I wonder if you four ministers have suitable candidates?"

Thinking that these Four Provinces still had no appointed military generals to garrison them, Liu Bian asked Liu Yu, Tao Qian, and the other two.

"Your Majesty, my Grand General Qu Yi has adequate martial prowess and talent for leading troops. I recommend Qu Yi to serve as Garrison Commander of Jizhou!"

After hearing Liu Bian's words, Han Fu thought of his Grand General Qu Yi, who would be well-suited to serve as Garrison Commander of Jizhou, so he immediately said to Liu Bian.

"Right! How could I have forgotten Qu Yi? This fellow's strength is enough to be mentioned in the same breath as Zhang He and the others!"

If Han Fu had not mentioned it, Liu Bian would truly have forgotten about Qu Yi.

"Good, I have indeed heard of Qu Yi. With his talents, he can serve as Garrison Commander of Jizhou."

"Minister Han already has a suitable garrison commander. What about you three ministers?"

After speaking to Han Fu, Liu Bian turned his gaze to Tao Qian, Liu Yu, and the other two.

"Your Majesty, my Grand General Cao Bao is quite valiant. I recommend him as Garrison Commander of Xuzhou."

"Your Majesty, my Grand General Yan Rou under my command has considerable strength and talent. I recommend him as Garrison Commander of Youzhou."

"Your Majesty, I am ashamed; I have no formidable generals under my command!"

Just after the several men finished speaking, Inspector of Yuzhou Kong Zhou spoke up, his voice somewhat low.

At this time, after hearing Kong Zhou's words, everyone's gazes also turned toward him.

Upon feeling the crowd's stares, Kong Zhou lowered his head even further.

This was awkward—the other three each had formidable military generals, yet in his Yuzhou, this vast Yuzhou, they actually could not produce a single formidable general.

He had probably lost face in a big way this time!

Seeing this, Liu Bian also cast a somewhat peculiar glance at Kong Zhou, but thinking of his fate in history, he let it go.

If he had not slain Dong Zhuo and the other rebels, this Kong Zhou would not even have lived this long.

"Since Beloved Minister Kong has no one here to use, then for the Yuzhou Garrison Commander, let your Ministry of War pick someone to take the post, Mengde!"

Seeing that Kong Zhou had no one here, Liu Bian said to the Minister of War, Cao Cao.

"Your servant obeys the decree!"

"But Your Majesty, what rank should the official position of a State's Garrison Commander be set at?"

Upon hearing this, the Minister of War, Cao Cao, promptly accepted the order respectfully toward Liu Bian, then asked about the official rank.

"The Garrison Commanders of these Four Provinces are all newly promoted talents, so their official ranks should not be set too high; but as the Garrison Commander of a State, the rank cannot be too low either—let it be set at Official Rank Fifth Grade general!"

Considering that they were military generals guarding an entire State, the official rank could not be too low; Official Rank Fifth Grade was neither too high nor too low—just right.

"This humble servant obeys the decree!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao promptly responded respectfully.