[Three Kingdoms] Seven steps into wetness

On the day the three Cao Zhi brothers arrived, Yecheng ushered in the first rain in spring.Hazy, looking a little sad.

This is Cao Zhi's second visit to Ye County.Compared with the previous time, Ye County today is completely different.

In other words, two years after the reform, many places in the north are different from before.

After killing thousands of unfilial people, it is rare to see scenes of father and son fighting each other along the way; most of the children of the gentry study and practice martial arts, and have no time to go out to do evil; and most of the beggars and refugees in the street are forced to arrange Cultivating fertile fields... the city is in order, even if the people who come and go can't get rid of their tired faces, in the long run, it will surely restore the prosperity a hundred years ago.

The three first met with Cao Cao, and then met with their own husbands respectively.

Cao Zhi missed someone in his heart, but he was not in a hurry. Instead, he went to visit Yang Xiu.How did he know that when he went to Yang Xiuyuan, he found Guo Jia and Yang Xiu were playing chess.

From Cao Zhi's perspective, Guo Jia could just see Guo Jia staring at the chessboard with his chin propped up, his eyes focused and gentle.Against the green light rain outside the window, Cao Zhi, who was still a little uneasy at first, was almost at peace instantly.

Yang Xiu has seen Cao Zhi.

He raised his eyes and looked at Cao Zhi who was standing at the door and didn't approach: "The fourth son is standing at the door of the teacher, is he planning to learn to be a statue in the teacher's house?"

Cao Zhi approached from Shan Ruliu, and sat down on the other side of the chessboard to watch the chess: "Sir, you are joking."

Guo Jia raised his eyes.

When he met Cao Zhi's eyes, his eyes were still as gentle and clear as before.He smiled slightly, and said in a very normal way: "You are here, Zijian."

Cao Zhi felt like he was going to float up!

He probably showed a silly smile, and it took him a long time to suppress the almost turbulent mood in his heart, and focus his eyes on the chessboard.

This game of chess is drawing to a close.On the surface, black and white are evenly matched, but in fact, the dark tide is raging.

Yang Xiu dropped his son and turned to stare at Cao Zhi.He seemed to have seen through something, and jokingly raised the corners of his lips: "How kind to you as a teacher?"

Cao Zhi didn't know why.

Yang Xiu flicked his fingertips: "I have invited you, Mr. Guo, here, so that you won't get tired from running around."

Cao Zhi suddenly felt embarrassed: "Sir, you are joking, seeing you, how can Cao Zhi feel tired?"

Guo Jia dropped one word and smiled: "I think Zijian will not only feel tired, but also feel very happy, don't you?"

He didn't wait for Cao Zhi's answer, and his smile deepened: "Brother Dezu, you lost."

Yang Xiu was stunned for a while, then sneered for a while: "Tsk. I lost the chess as soon as the fourth son came, it's really miserable."

Cao Zhi really felt that he was shot while lying down again.

The servants cleaned up the chessboard and brought the tea kettle to them to make tea and chat.Yang Xiu stretched his finger to look at the table, and said calmly: "Speaking of which, I haven't drunk the tea made by Cao Zijian before."

Cao Zhi said helplessly and reservedly: "As long as the master doesn't dislike the bad tea made by the students."

Guo Jia said, "Why don't you come down here?"

Yang Xiu raised his eyebrows: "How can I ask the distinguished guest to make tea?"

Guo Jia heard it, and a smile gradually spread in his eyes.He pushed the tea kettle to Yang Xiu and said with a smile, "Please."

Yang Xiu was stunned for a moment.

After a long time, he sighed and said sadly: "It seems that if you want to bully your students as a teacher in the future, you have to pick a day when Guo Fengxiao is not around!"

Guo Jia smiled and said nothing.

The three chatted for more than an hour, and the rain gradually stopped.After a while, the two stood up and said goodbye.

Yang Xiu only sent them to the door and then turned back to the house, not polite at all.

Cao Zhi and Guo Jia walked side by side.

He noticed that he was half a head short of Guo Jia before, but now he was at the same level.

He's in a better mood.

Of course, the better reason is that he feels that Guo Jia has not changed, not only has there been no change, but there seems to be no blank space for them in the past two years.

Guo Jia said, "How is Yi'er recently?"

"Very good, Yi'er is very diligent, and Master likes it."

Guo Jia sighed: "I see that you are mentioned more and more times in his letters. I'm afraid there will be no father, only senior brother."

Cao Zhi narrowed his eyes and smiled.

Cao Zhi's appearance followed Bian's family, and he was really good-looking when he frowned and smiled.

Guo Jia blinked.

He didn't know what to think of, and sighed for a while.No matter how Cao Zhi asked, he remained silent.

Shortly after this day, Santai in Ye County was completed.

Looking from a distance, these three towers stand tall and towering, facing the Zhanghe River.In the center is Tongque Terrace, which is [-] steps away from Jinhu Terrace in the south and Bingjing Terrace in the north.The Tongque Terrace is ten feet high, with more than a hundred palaces, and the buildings on the platform are continuous, magnificent!

On the day of Taiwan's completion, Cao Cao, dressed in a golden crown and robe, held a banquet to celebrate the civil and military meetings at Tongque Terrace.

This is a feast that no one has ever seen before!

Standing in the crowd, Cao Zhi looked into the distance, and all he could see was the life of the people in Yecheng, and even the soldiers standing proudly on the city wall could be vaguely seen.He looked around, everyone was shocked and moved, as if they were shocked by the scenery below from the Tongque Terrace.

How breathtaking is it?

It turns out that the so-called Ye City is so small, and it turns out that they are just one of the people in the city, and even in the world, they are just a drop in the ocean.

The city is too small, too small!

Guo Jia told him two years ago that you should take a good look at this world.He remembered this sentence in his mind at the time, but he didn't engrave it in his heart.Until this moment, he suddenly had this desire.

——He wants to see the world!

Different from being forced to walk out of the Cao Mansion, or discovering that he has the ability to change the fate of the world, this is a pure and simple ambition.

Picturesque, a moment how many hero.

Cao Cao has ordered scholars to write poems.Cao Zhi was still in a daze about this, and he didn't react until Yang Xiu pushed him beside him.

Cao Zhi glanced at them, and everyone present was either thinking hard, or frowning silently, or whispering... Everyone was holding a pen, and they hadn't been able to write a word yet.

Cao Zhi calmed down his heart that was moved by the sudden broadening of his horizons. He picked up a pen and wrote down the verses that kept flashing in his mind.

"After the Ming Dynasty, I have been playing around, chatting on stage for entertainment."

Since he woke up from the reform fever, he has never had any blockage in writing poetry over the years. Instead, inspiration often erupts, which makes him puzzled all the time.

"See the vastness of Taifu, and see the camp of saints and virtues."

He doesn't know where these inspirations come from.He even felt that sometimes his whole being was divided into two halves, one half was still him, and the other half was another person.

"Jiangao hall is towering, and floating double towers are so clear."

That person is full of talent and literary grace.His body is covered with a strong character, and even just a vague figure makes people feel ecstatic.

"Standing soaring to the sky, the view is here, and the Lianfei Pavilion is almost to the west."

Sometimes Cao Zhi can vaguely capture his traces, and even understand the faint sadness left in his eyes.

Cao Zhi slowly wrote the last line.

"May Sitai be forever, and the music will last forever."

That person is Cao Zijian.

When Cao Zhi paused to write, most people had just had the inspiration to recite poems and compose Fu.He stared at the Yuefu poem he had written, with neat antithesis and flying thoughts.Even the handwriting is flamboyant, different from his usual calmness.

Cao Cao stood in front of them with his hands behind his back, saw Cao Zhi paused and said, "Fourth, is this written?"

Cao Zhi handed the brocade silk to Cao Cao. After Cao Cao read it, everyone praised it.

Cao Zhi stood up with a smile, blushing and humble.

Cao Pi looked at the gentle young man in his twenties in front of him, his eyes were dark and unpredictable, and he just closed his eyes and smiled for a long time.

He looked down at what he had written, "Walking high on the platform. Gao Yixuan, there is water below, it is clear and cold, and there are yellow swans going and turning in it." He said in a deep and indifferent voice that only he could hear clearly, "You've grown up, Zijian."

——You have finally grown up, Zijian.

You are finally no longer the fourth brother.You are no longer as innocent as you were when you were young, and you are no longer dependent on me as you were when you were young.The more sharp you are, the more you attract the attention of the world.You will also marry a wife and have children.Also breed an indelible selfishness to compete with me for those things to which you are also entitled.

I always remember that when you were still young, I held your hand and taught you to write over and over again in your rather plain room; even in Xuchang City, which was a little damaged in the past, I also held you hands, over and over again through those bluestone roads.

Now looking around is full of prosperity, but of course the warmth of the past is gone.

Not only now, but never from now on.

You and I will end up going the other way.

Zijian, I feel sad, sad.Do you also feel so sad?Or, it was just for my brother who was deeply involved in it.

But even so...

I won't give you that position either.

Cao Pi raised his head and stared in front of him.When the four eyes met, he realized that Cao Zhi was also staring at himself.The smile on his lips deepened, and then he raised the brocade in his hand to indicate that he had finished the poem, showing a relieved expression.

After everyone recited poems, Cao Cao ordered the military officers to compete in martial arts, bows and arrows.Among them, Cao Xiu, Zhang Jai and others pierced the Yang with a hundred steps, while Zhang Liao, Yu Jin and other soldiers also showed their skills, and Cao Zhang even fought with the beast with his bare hands, which was thrilling and thrilling!

Between the interlacing of toasts and cups, drums and music blare the sky; there are even songs and dances blowing the ground, making the guests and hosts happy.

Cai Wenji, who was redeemed by Cao Cao from the Xiongnu with a lot of money, was also invited to sing a song "Eighteen Beats of Hu Jia".

"At the beginning of my life, I did nothing. After I was born, Han Zuo declined. The inhumanity of the sky brings chaos, and the inhumanity of the earth makes me at this time..."

Probably suffering from the war, or being captive to the Huns for too long, Cai Wenji's voice was deep and hoarse, and even her pronunciation sounded a little strange.But it was just such a song, sung by this talented woman so eloquently that everyone in Taichung who heard it was actually there, and their clothes were soaked.

In the first month of spring in the 16th year of Jian'an, Cao Zhang was granted the title of Marquis of Yanling, Cao Zhi was given the title of Marquis of Pingyuan, and at the same time, Cao Pi was appointed as the general of the five senses, and he was appointed as the deputy of the prime minister.Soon after Taiyuan Shang Yao and others rebelled in the land of Daling, Cao Cao sent Xiahou Yuan and Xu Huang to lead troops to besiege and break Shang Yao.

As early as after the defeat of Chibi, Guo Jia said: Although the north is now peaceful, it is not of one mind.Gongsun Kangyuan in the north is close to Wuhuan according to Liaodong, while Shang Yao in Taiyuan, Zhang Lu in Guanzhong, and Ma Teng in Xiliang are loyal to the Han emperor, and they are difficult to use for the master, and they are afraid of rebellion for a long time.Therefore, in addition to reforms, the most important thing is to get rid of these scourges.

Now Shang Yao's rebellion is exactly what Guo Jia said, so Cao Cao no longer forbears, and plans to order Zhong Yao to attack Zhang Lu.

However, Zhang Lu did not rebel, so Guo Jia asserted that whenever Zhang Lu was attacked, Ma Chao would definitely rebel.Because Ma Chao is self-respecting and suspicious, he must doubt the purpose of Zhong Yao's trip and take the opportunity to rebel.Cheng Yu and Jia Xu also agreed.So Cao Cao dismissed this plan and decided to send troops to attack Ma Chao in the name of attacking Zhang Lu.

Now the north is unified, but ten years ago the scenery was completely different.At that time, Cao Cao only occupied Yuzhou with Xuchang as the center, but the southwest was divided among the various heroes, with Ma Teng and Han Sui being the most powerful.Later, Cao Cao followed Xun Yu's suggestion and appointed Zhong Yao as his envoy to persuade Ma Teng and Han Sui to submit.

Before Cao Cao's southern expedition, he ordered Ma Teng and his family to move to Yecheng with three thousand illnesses.Before Cao Cao sent troops, Ma Chao would not be suspicious of such a move; but after Cao Cao sent troops, Ma Chao, Han Sui and others would join forces; and Ma Teng in Yecheng did not dare to act rashly, but he must take action.

Therefore, there are many things to consider when sending troops this time.

The first one to fight must be Ma Chao, the most powerful among them. As for how to fight, Cao Cao will use it to test his grown-up sons.He described the current situation, and then asked several people to look at the map, and asked for a long time: "Do you have a good plan?"

Cao Zhang was the first to say loudly: "It's simple! My father handed over five thousand cavalry to my son, and my son rushed into Tongguan within three days, clearing this obstacle for my father!"

Cao Cao glanced at him: "Huang Xuer, you have been reading for nothing these two years!" Huang Xuer was named because Cao Zhang had grown a brown beard over the years, so Cao Cao called him that.

Cao Zhangdao: "I heard that Ma Chao is brave and good at fighting, but since ancient times there has been a saying in the art of war: the military is expensive and fast. I will rush to Xiliang day and night, and I will be able to catch him by surprise. At that time, Xiliang's army will be in chaos, and our army will be like a broken bamboo."

When Cao Cao heard about it, he asked Cao Pi, "What do you think of what the third child said?"

Cao Pi frowned and said, "I don't think so."

"Oh?"

Cao Pi said: "It is true that Xiliang's army will be in great turmoil at that time, but the environment in Xiliang is harsh, and our army will be exhausted after traveling day and night. From this calculation, the odds of winning are only half."

"That's right, the second one is right. The third one, you have already started to think about these things. When you think about all these things, you will not be far away from becoming a general." Cao Cao paused, and said to Cao Pi: "Then what do you think? ?”

Cao Pi said: "Take Ma Teng and order him to coerce Ma Chao into Yecheng on the grounds of his serious illness. I can capture this man without much effort."

Cao Cao smiled and said, "Do you know Ma Chao?"

Cao Pi was silent.

Cao Cao said: "Ma Chao is arrogant, upright and unyielding. Why would he turn against him once he sent troops as his father? Because he is also very suspicious. How can a suspicious person come to Ye and throw himself into the trap at this time? You Thinking, if you defeated Cao Cao, how could Ma Teng be imprisoned in Ye? So once you send a letter to Ma Chao, Ma Chao will definitely turn against him."

Cao Pi bowed.

Cao Cao said, "What do you think, fourth child?"

"My son thought that once my father went to war, Ma Chao would have to occupy Tongguan to resist his father. Therefore, he ordered General Zhang Liao to pretend to be a merchant and lead five thousand elite soldiers to raid Tongguan. If father can occupy Tongguan, Ma Chao will not dare to come to fight. .”

When Cao Cao heard it, his eyes shone brightly: "Oh?"

In fact, as Cao Zhi said, Tongguan in Xiliang is very important.Tongguan was opened by Cao Cao in the past when he went on an expedition. It is adjacent to the Yellow River in the north and on the mountainside in the south. It is easy to defend but difficult to attack.If Ma Chao occupies Tongguan, it will be very difficult for Cao Cao to capture Ma Chao in a short time.

And Tongguan happened to be in the process of hollowing out.This road was originally the road of trade between the Han Dynasty and the Western countries, but it is mostly abandoned due to the wars.

"It's less than ten days from here to Tongguan by this road, and our army will send troops to Hanzhong in seven days. When Ma Chao gets the news, he will join Han Sui to fight against his father. It is difficult to take care of Tongguan, so there must be insufficient guards at Tongguan. General Zhang Liao immediately Captured it, and the follow-up troops arranged by my father also arrived at Tongguan. At that time, the main force will march from the south to the northwest, forcing them to flee to the barren land in the northwest."

Cao Cao smiled.

He patted Cao Zhi on the shoulder, and said to Cao Zhang: "When will you have such insight, I will order you to lead the army and attack Sun Quan alone!" After speaking, he turned and left with a big smile.

Cao Zhang looked at Cao Cao's back, raised his hand and bumped Cao Zhi's chest: "Fourth brother, tell third brother secretly, did the military adviser tell you before?"

Cao Zhi's head was full of black lines: "Why doesn't the third brother believe that this is what the younger brother came up with?"

He said this, in fact, to hear what Cao Pi meant.When Cao Pi heard this, he also smiled gently and said, "Don't make trouble, Ziwen. My father is going to test our brothers. How can the fourth brother know the answer in advance?"

Cao Zhang let out a big sigh.He suddenly had an idea, and immediately put his arms around Cao Zhi's shoulders and said, "Hey, fourth, let's have a discussion, how about this? At that time, you and I will ask my father to go to Sun Quan together, and ask my father to appoint my brother as the general and you as the deputy—you How do you feel?"

"..." Cao Zhi twitched the corner of his mouth, "Not at all."

"You are too shameless!"

"Ha ha."

Cao Zhang pulled Cao Zhi, laughed and left.Cao Pi stayed where he was, staring at the main seat of the hall with his hands behind his back.

After a long time, I slowly closed my eyes.