Just as Cao Mao put Qiao Zhou to work continuing to promote Wang Learning, conducting debates, teaching, and handling various other matters, his trusted aides began returning one after another.
The first to return was Grand Commandant Zhuge Dan.
As commander-in-chief of the campaign against the Shu Kingdom, Zhuge Dan had remained in Chengdu after its fall, helping Zhang Hua settle matters great and small, both internal and external. His achievements were illustrious, and this return to Luoyang was a homecoming in embroidered robes-even Cao Mao had to come out to welcome him.
Despite Grand Commandant Zhuge's great achievements, the ministers at home had very strong objections to him.
The Ministry of War in particular had submitted enough memorials impeaching Zhuge Dan to nearly fill Taiji Hall!
Their main accusations were that he promoted his own trusted aides, arbitrarily bestowed offices and noble ranks, and sheltered his own clan.
This was an old failing of Zhuge Dan's. Like Zhong Hui, he loved his reputation, but Zhuge Dan was simply far too fond of bestowing favors on others.
He could take the rewards Cao Mao gave him and distribute them directly among the officers and soldiers under his command.
In fact, it was not necessarily wrong for generals to do this. When morale was low, the army had no desire to fight, and the men were utterly exhausted, doing so was permissible.
But Zhuge Dan had given the emperor's rewards to generals stationed at the front after the war.
In the eyes of Chen Qian and the others, this was practically open rebellion!
You were a Grand Commandant who did not command troops, yet you dared bestow favors on the outer generals. Just what were you trying to do??
At the same time, Zhuge Dan repeatedly submitted memorials claiming credit for