The Youthful Scholar Cai Wenji
In addition, Long Chen appointed military strategist Guo Jia as the head of the Nine Ministers, holding the title of Grand Minister of Ceremonies.
The first reason was to reward Guo Jia for his brilliant and cunning strategies during the recent campaign. His tactics had turned the tide of the war, and it was his masterful planning that led to the victory over Cao Cao. In many ways, Guo Jia's contributions even surpassed those of Lü Bu, whose brute strength alone would not have been enough to secure the win.
The second reason for this appointment was to consolidate power. Long Chen was well aware that control over key government positions would ensure the stability of his reign and allow him to manipulate the court, thereby achieving his larger goal of ruling from the shadows while the emperor remained a figurehead. Although he trusted the emperor for now due to Empress He's relationship, he couldn't fully trust the other ministers who might be hiding their true ambitions.