"Go on, then." Xiahou Xian waited for Wen Qin to speak.
Stroking his beard, Wen Qin said, "I only heard people mention him while patrolling the streets. I know where his residence is. Would you care to come take a look with me, Prefect?"
Was this reliable?
A question mark suddenly rose in Xiahou Xian's mind.
Still, he agreed. After all, Wen Qin had taken up his post in Huainan a month or so before him. That was at least a little better than desperately seeking any doctor who came along.
He might as well treat a dead horse as though it were still alive.
The two left the prefect's residence and boarded a carriage. Although Xiahou Xian repeatedly asked Wen Qin to ride inside with him, Wen Qin insisted on driving for him.
Unable to persuade him otherwise, Xiahou Xian could only let him have his way.
They chatted as they traveled.
According to Wen Qin, the man had come from Runan, and his father had recently died of illness.
Apparently, his father had been an old acquaintance of Man Chong's, so, seeing how young he was, Man Chong had brought his wife and children along to Huainan.
As they talked, they arrived at the residence Wen Qin had mentioned.
Looking up, they saw the character "Jia" prominently displayed.
The corners of Xiahou Xian's mouth twitched involuntarily, and a faint sense of foreboding stirred within him. He asked Wen Qin beside him, "Zhongruo, do you recognize that character?"
Wen Qin shook his head, looking ashamed. "I know very few characters. I don't recognize this one."
Fine, then. Xiahou Xian sighed and told Wen Qin to knock on the door.
Before long, a young doorkeeper came out. After asking who they were, accepting their calling cards, and going back to announce them, he led them into the residence.
A woman received them. She appeared dignified and composed. Introducing herself as Lady Liu, she had the servants prepare a few simple dishes, then sat upright in her place and said:
"Our humble home is rather plain. Please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality, Prefect. May I ask what brings you here today?"
Xiahou Xian immediately replied, "Not at all, not at all. I am the one imposing on you without notice."
"I heard that your household has a talented man whose fine reputation has spread far and wide since childhood. Having only just arrived in Huainan, I urgently need such a distinguished man to assist me, so I have taken the liberty of calling."
At this, Lady Liu's brows furrowed slightly. After hesitating for a long moment, she began quietly, "To tell you the truth, after my husband passed away, we followed General Man here. There are indeed two sons in this household, but one has yet to reach the age of binding his hair, while the other is still in swaddling clothes. I wonder whom you mean by this worthy talent, Prefect?"
Xiahou Xian quietly turned to glance at Wen Qin, who looked even more bewildered than he was, his expression saying, "What are you looking at me for?"
Helpless, Xiahou Xian could only steel himself and keep the conversation going.
"I see. Then perhaps I merely heard an unfounded rumor. Please forgive my presumptuous visit today, madam."
As he spoke, a young man entered the reception hall, drawing everyone's gaze.
He was quite tall, with delicate features. His hair hung loose as he walked in, apparently unaware of what was going on.
"Chong'er, mind your manners. Hurry and pay your respects to Prefect Xiahou," Lady Liu said at once.
The name sent a jolt through Xiahou Xian. He asked, "This is the Jia residence. Might I ask, madam, whether you are Inspector Jia of Yu Province's..."
"Indeed," Lady Liu promptly replied. "You did not know, Prefect?"
The question left Xiahou Xian looking thoroughly embarrassed. He would have to do his homework in the future. He could not keep blundering around with this fellow Wen Qin.
The young man called Chong'er lifted his head to glance at Xiahou Xian and Wen Qin, then bowed to them expressionlessly.
"I am Jia Chong. My respects, Prefect."
Looking at Jia Chong before him, Xiahou Xian felt rivers and seas churning inside him.
What kind of crackpot adviser was this...
Before Xiahou Xian could say anything, Lady Liu spoke first. "Prefect, this is my late husband's eldest son. He is thirteen this year, and his name is Jia Chong."
Wen Qin interjected from beside him, "He's still a little child! No, no, this won't do. Prefect, we should find someone better qualified."
Xiahou Xian said nothing, but Jia Chong retorted sharply, "Hmph! Isn't a hulking brute with a face full of vicious-looking flesh like you also standing at his side?"
"You brat! Say that again!" Wen Qin immediately lost control of his fiery temper, shouting as he slammed the low table beside him.
"Mind your manners!"
"Zhongruo, mind your manners!"
Lady Liu and Xiahou Xian spoke in unison.
Xiahou Xian glared at Wen Qin. "Sit down."
Wen Qin relented and sat back down.
Lady Liu was considering how to ease the tension, but unexpectedly, Xiahou Xian spoke first. "From what you said, Master Jia, could it be that you know why we came?"
Jia Chong said, "Naturally, you would not visit without a reason, Prefect. I imagine you came for one of two purposes."
"First, to offer condolences for my father's passing, thereby earning a measure of reputation among his former subordinates."
"Second, you have only just arrived, and the personnel at your disposal leave something to be desired. If all your subordinates are illiterate fighting men, how could you govern a province or commandery?"
After hearing Jia Chong's words, Xiahou Xian understood.
Although Jia Chong had an infamous reputation in history, he had to admit that the fellow possessed considerable talent and learning.
In the later generations' Romance of the Three Kingdoms games, if one sorted Wei State's late-period talents by intelligence from highest to lowest, Jia Chong's name would appear very near the top.
Historically, as the Sima family's lackey, he had successfully helped them usurp the throne. To claim that he had no real ability was plainly impossible.
Xiahou Xian truly had no one he could use at present. Although Jia Chong was still young, there had actually been no explicit age restriction on entering official service since the Han dynasty.
For instance, during the Han dynasty, a man named Sang Hongyang had become a court official at just thirteen.
Besides, he had another thought.
If he could turn the Sima family's future lackey into his own trusted aide, wouldn't that indirectly weaken the other side?
Sometimes, struggles in the halls of power were even fiercer than those on the battlefield.
At this thought, Xiahou Xian finally made up his mind. He said, "To think that Lord Jia's son possesses such insight at so young an age. You truly are a brilliant young talent, Master Jia!"
Jia Chong seemed to regard Xiahou Xian's praise as only natural, but he nevertheless cupped his hands politely and returned the courtesy.
With that, Xiahou Xian formally extended an olive branch. "In that case, I wish to appoint you chief clerk of the prefect's office. What do you think, Master Jia?"
Before Jia Chong could reply, Lady Liu tried to dissuade him, her face filled with trepidation. "Prefect, this boy's talents and learning are meager, and he is still young. I fear he might interfere with your administrative affairs."
Xiahou Xian said, "That is no matter. During the Jian'an era, our founding Martial Emperor promoted the policy of 'appointing solely on merit.' For those with talent, neither background nor age mattered-not even moral character."
Without realizing it, Xiahou Xian placed particular emphasis on the words "moral character."
"I see in you something of Marquis Su's bearing in his day-Marquis Su being Jia Kui's posthumous title. I hope you will enter official service soon and strive onward for our Great Wei."
Seeing Xiahou Xian's wholehearted sincerity, Lady Liu no longer tried to stop him. She turned her gaze to Jia Chong beside her and asked solemnly, "Chong'er, what do you think?"
While they were talking, Jia Chong had sat down on his own. Only upon hearing his mother's words did he rise again and walk over to Xiahou Xian's seat.
He first bowed, then declared loudly, "Since Prefect Xiahou has shown such sincerity, I shall accept the appointment."
"However..." Jia Chong suddenly slowed his speech. "I will serve only as an official of the prefect's office. I will not readily acknowledge anyone as my lord."