[Three Kingdoms] Seven steps into wetness

Before Cao Cao returned to Ye, the emperor ordered Liu Xun to be the shepherd of Yizhou, ordering Liu Bei to return Yizhou to Liu Xun, but Liu Bei refused.

Cao Cao has become increasingly unhappy recently.

In fact, although they broke through Ruxukou, they did not win any victory except for killing thousands of Sun Quan soldiers.Jiangdong is still Sun Quan's Jiangdong, and the people are still under Sun Quan's jurisdiction.Therefore, Cao Cao's return this time is not as proud as it used to be.Hearing Liu Bei's actions like this again, he was even more worried.

He ordered Zhong Yao and Zhang Lu to retreat to Jiameng to guard against Liu Bei.

When Cao Cao returned to Ye, the first thing he did was to call Cao Zhi and ask him how he felt about this position.

Cao Cao actually knew everything about Cao Zhi's ruling period.Before that, Cao Zhi re-planned the city of Ye, stipulating specific streets as places for goods trading, rebuilding houses in some ruins of the outer city, taking in refugees, registering the refugees in household registration, and ordering them to cultivate land for food and other measures. The outer city of Yecheng was a little more prosperous and orderly than when he left.

But these were all mentioned in his reform, not Cao Zhi's own thoughts.What Cao Cao wanted to know more was Cao Zhi's thoughts.

Cao Zhi then talked about what he had seen and heard during the inspection, as well as his thoughts on finding food reserves, improving farm tools, looms, etc. After listening, Cao Cao said indifferently: "Do you think these tools are very important?"

Cao Zhi thought for a moment and said, "My son thinks that my father has stipulated the future development of Yecheng in general, so what I have to do is to deal with the details that my father has neglected, so that my father has no worries."

Cao Cao nodded and said, "Well, you're right."

Cao Zhi continued: "Now the problem that plagues my father is nothing more than how to defeat Xichuan and Jiangdong, and unify the world. However, to unify the world, there is nothing more than a large number of good generals in my father's army, strong troops, and sufficient food and grass. And improving tools can be faster. Farming Cao Cao said: "It's a good idea."

Cao Zhi bowed and said, "Yesterday evening, craftsman Ma Jun improved the waterwheel. I believe it will be simplified and used in various places in the field soon."

After Cao Zhi went out, he habitually went for a walk in Yecheng Street.Since he stipulated the trading area and imprisoned some people who made mistakes for five days and handed over a lot of money, the traders did not dare to commit crimes again, and all set up stalls here.It is also ordered to clean this area every day, so it looks quite prosperous and tidy.

He routinely asked some vendors, and then he heard someone calling behind him: "Zijian."

Cao Zhi's heart skipped a beat, and when he looked back suddenly, he saw the smiling person in front of the vendor.

I haven't seen him for more than half a year, Guo Jia looks pretty good except for being a little thinner.Cao Zhi looked at him greedily for a moment before he calmed down and walked over to him.

When they returned three days ago, Cao Zhi went to greet them, but he did not see Guo Jia.At that time, he calmed down his anxiety, dealt with his father humbly and patiently, handled chores in the county, drank and chatted with his second and third brothers... and did not look for Guo Jia.After all, today is different from the past, and the public contact between them must not be too close.As long as he endured it for a little longer, naturally no one would have gossip.

But I don't know that after the longing swept across, the longing in my heart had already penetrated into the bone marrow.

Cao Zhi's eyes were slightly deep, and he walked to Guo Jia's side naturally, saluted each other, and walked side by side.Then, the hand hidden in the sleeve tightly grasped Guo Jia's.Cao Zhi's palm was dry, and facing his palm, it was slightly cold.Guo Jia was startled, and quickly shook his hand back.

At this moment, the street is full of common people, and they walk in it without any violation.

They have been separated for more than half a year, but there is no stranger to each other.Perhaps even the buffer of the past six months made Cao Zhi no longer embarrassed and embarrassed when facing Guo Jia, but a natural admiration, and the calmness of putting him on an equal footing.

It is no longer a student and a teacher, and it is no longer a junior to an elder.

Guo Jia naturally knew about it.He didn't say anything, just walking slowly through the street crowd with Cao Zhi.

—like walking through the whole road of life.

It's just that life is long, but this street is too short.As soon as he left the street, Cao Zhi let go of his hand, smiled into Guo Jia's eyes and said, "The scenery in Yecheng is pretty good recently. Tomorrow is the students' holiday. Would you like to travel with the students, sir?"

Guo Jia couldn't stop feeling a little lost.

Maybe because I like someone, I always hope to get closer to that person.Even though reason told him that he shouldn't, he couldn't bear the emotion in his heart.

He stared at the young man in front of him, with such a young face, such focused and serious eyes.Then he nodded and said: "Okay, tomorrow we will go swimming in the lake together."

Cao Zhi couldn't help but curled the corners of his lips.

Guo Jia looked at him like this, and joked in his eyes: "I just went to swim in the lake, so Zijian is so happy?"

Cao Zhi stared at Guo Jia's eyes, and said softly: "As long as you are with your husband, no matter what you do, the students will feel happy."

Guo Jia's eyes flickered.

Sending Guo Jia back to the mansion, Cao Zhi occupied it for a while before returning home happily.

Counting it, I'm afraid it could be regarded as his first...official date with Guo Jia, right?

Thinking of the word "official date" and thinking of Guo Jia's gentle face, Cao Zhi felt like a kitten scratching his heart, making the corners of his lips rise uncontrollably.

Hmm... The sun will be shining tomorrow, the center of the lake will be calm and leisurely, and the waves will be rippling below the boat... And since he and Guo Jia have connected with each other, there is nothing wrong with developing something...

However, the next day, when Cao Zhi went to pick up Guo Jia, he saw Guo Jia standing with his hands behind his back...and Yang Xiu and Guo Yi in front of his house.

Cao Zhi had an ominous premonition at the moment.

But he didn't say anything, just looked at Guo Jia silently, very resentful.

Guo Jia narrowed his eyes, hiding the smile in them.He said to Yang Xiu, "Since Zijian is here, let's go."

Yang Xiu raised his eyebrows slightly.He glanced at Cao Zhi, and said calmly: "What is the expression of the fourth son? Look, it seems that I am waiting for you for something."

When Guo Yi heard this, he also looked at Cao Zhi suspiciously, as if he was exploring where his silence originated.

Du Guo Jia smiled and said nothing.Then, winked at him.

Cao Zhi's heart was full of emotions, and there was only an ugly smile on his face: "How could it be? Of course, the more people there are, the more interesting things like swimming in the lake are! The master and the younger brother are willing to come, but the students are too happy..."

Yang Xiu sneered lightly, and climbed neatly into Cao Zhi's carriage.

Cao Zhi watched Guo Jia and Guo Yi turn around and board the second carriage, and turned his head to look helplessly at Yang Xiu who had closed his eyes and meditated since getting on the carriage.

Yang Xiu seemed to feel his gaze, opened his eyes and twitched at the corner of his mouth: "Hehe."

Cao Zhi: "..."

He touched his nose, ordered Luo An to drive to the lake, and said to Yang Xiu, "Mr. looks good today."

Yang Xiu flicked his sleeves and didn't look at him, instead he pointed out something: "Eat and sleep well, I'm not as happy as the Fourth Young Master."

The deep meaning in these words made Cao Zhi inexplicably guilty, and couldn't help coughing dryly.He was about to change the topic when he suddenly thought that Guo Jia reminded him to tolerate Yang Xiu earlier, which might lead to some unfavorable results.He frowned subconsciously, quickly squinted his eyes, and said ambiguously: "Mr. is wrong, it is already summer."

Yang Xiu flicked his sleeves for a moment.

He slowly turned his head to look at the young man beside him.After not seeing him for eight months, he felt that Cao Zhi had undergone some changes—those changes he hadn't expected.He didn't know whether this change was good or bad, but for him, it was very uncomfortable.

He stared at Cao Zhi quietly for a long time, seeing that Cao Zhi's expression was always an impeccable gentle smile, and finally he closed his eyes, speechless for a long time.

The lake the four of them were going to was in the north of the outer city of Yecheng, some distance away from the city.

Guo Yi looked at the scenery outside the car for a while, then put down the curtain and said to Guo Jia, "Father is in a good mood?"

Guo Jia rolled his eyes: "Not bad."

Seeing his appearance like this, Guo Yi felt a little puzzled for some reason.He guessed: "Is it because of the brother's expression just now?"

Guo Jia glanced at him, leaned against the car wall and closed his eyes to rest his mind: "Your intuition is very accurate, Yi'er. But sometimes, your intuition can only tell you the surface of the situation, not the inner truth."

Guo Yi stared at his father who was alive for a long time, and said calmly: "Is it only half expected?"

Guo Jia hooked the corners of his lips and smiled lightly.He didn't care that Guo Yi knew, and even hoped that Guo Yi would know as soon as possible.Even so, he would only talk to Guo Yi. "There are some things, I think you should also know, although, maybe you don't agree with it. You might as well guess again, when you guess right, when will father tell you."

Guo Yi's frown deepened.

To the lake, there are hills not far away, with beautiful scenery.There are many literati here who like to come here to recite poems and compose Fu. Today, there are people playing the piano on the other side of the lake.

The four of them listened for a moment, and then looked around the scene, feeling refreshed.There was a bamboo raft on the shore, so the four of them stepped on the bamboo raft and let the bamboo raft float around slowly with the lake water, chatting about some interesting things among them.

Quite leisurely.

Soon it will be time for lunch.Cao Zhi and Guo Yi propped the bamboo raft back to the shore and prepared to have lunch.But Xu Shi did not expect that Guo Yi, Yang Xiu, and Cao Zhi were not prepared enough, and there was not enough food for the four of them.

Guo Jia only glanced at it, then asked, "Can you fish?"

Cao Zhi and Guo Yi shook their heads, while Yang Xiu nodded: "Yes."

Guo Jia asked again: "Then can you make a fishing rod?"

Cao Zhi and Guo Yi looked at each other, then shook their heads hesitantly.

Yang Xiu sighed, feeling a bit regretful that iron can't be made into steel: "Alas. It seems that Feng Xiao and I have to do all of this by ourselves."

Guo Jia said with a smile: "How can I make them idle? Right now, Yi'er is going to cut two thin bamboos, and Zijian is going to a nearby farm to get some thin needles, knives, and salt."

Guo Yi and Cao Zhi quickly prepared things according to the instructions and made simple bamboo poles.If such a rough bamboo pole can catch fish, it must be a master of all kinds.

Guo Jia and Yang Xiu were fishing, while Cao Zhi and Guo Yi found bamboo rafts, and competed on who could row to the opposite bank faster.

Looking at their young faces, Yang Xiu raised his eyebrows and said to Guo Jia, "Or, you and I will also compete? Whoever catches more fish will win. How about it?"

Guo Jia naturally nodded: "Bet?"

Yang Xiu stared at him, and then slowly said after a while: "Can you grill fish?"

Guo Jia smiled slightly: "Of course it will."

Yang Xiu frowned slightly.He looked Guo Jia up and down, saw that his posture was calm, and his face was even more confident, and his doubts disappeared a little.He shook his head and said calmly, "I haven't thought about it yet. What's your suggestion?" He shook his head when he saw Guo Jia, and said, "It's better for the loser to agree to one condition for the winner."

Guo Jia narrowed his eyes: "Conditions?"

"Don't you dare?"

Guo Jia chuckled lightly.He stared at Yang Xiu, and suddenly had an inexplicable impulse: "The aggressive method is useless to me, but I accept this bet."

Not long after Guo Jia agreed, the result came out.It was Yang Xiu who caught three fish, but he didn't catch any.Looking at the helpless eyes of Cao Zhi and Guo Yi, instead of feeling embarrassed, he said with a smile: "Okay, now that there are fish, you can eat them after grilling them."

Cao Zhi thought it was Guo Jia who was preparing to grill fish, so he couldn't help boasting: "Mr. is so versatile, he can even grill fish."

Guo Jia blinked and spit out three words: "I won't."

Yang Xiu: "..."

Seeing that Guo Jia actually blinked his left eye at him, indicating that he had lied to him before, he subconsciously tightened the fishing rod in his hand, resisting the desire to knock it down, and said calmly: "Then, my request is you Come and grill these three fish."

Guo Jia frowned slightly: "Really, don't you consider other things?"

Yang Xiu raised his eyebrows slowly.He watched Guo Jia pick up the fish, and there was a playful look in his eyes again: "You can test these three fish first, then we can talk about it."

Guo Jia was not entangled when he heard this, but turned his attention to Cao Zhi: "Then, how about Zijian to help me?"

Cao Zhi naturally followed.Yang Xiu frowned as he watched their backs heading to the lake.

Guo Jia is carrying three fish, as if strolling in the garden.Cao Zhi took all this scene into his eyes, quite curious.

Guo Jia squatted down and put the fish on the ground.Seeing that Cao Zhi was still staring at him, he couldn't help laughing and said, "What are you looking at?"

Cao Zhi said: "Ah... a gentleman stays away from the kitchen. I didn't expect Mr. to kill and grill fish."

Guo Jia was noncommittal.He broke open the belly of the fish, discarded all the internal organs, and scraped off the scales awkwardly.

When Cao Zhi saw it, he hesitated and said, "... Sir, do you really know how to grill fish?"

"Do you think I will?"

Cao Zhi said: "...I think sir will, will sir?"

Guo Jia raised his eyebrows, and there was Yang Xiu's usual banter in his eyes: "That's right."

"... Then it will be."

"Then, do you dare to eat my grilled fish?"

Cao Zhi nodded without hesitation: "Why not?"

Guo Jia's smile deepened: "Oh? Aren't you afraid that my roast won't taste good?"

Cao Zhi thought for a moment, and then said: "Actually, I don't have high expectations for my master's craftsmanship. So... I'm fine if the poison doesn't kill me."

Guo Jia raised his eyebrows and smiled at Cao Zhi. "Then, don't worry, Zijian, sir will definitely not poison you to death."

Cao Zhi approached him and said softly: "If you poison the student to death, the happiness of the lower body of the husband will be worrying."

Cao Zhi said such molesting words before.At that time, Guo Jia's reaction was to pour cold water on his face, which was extremely sad, but he didn't know how Guo Jia would react this time?

Guo Jia's smile deepened.He stared into Cao Zhi's eyes, and said meaningfully: "It's okay, I'm fine, that's good." Then, he lowered his head slightly, suddenly raised his knife and cut the fish in half, then raised his head and raised a sinister look at Cao Zhi. smile.

Cao Zhi: "..."

...Why does the person he likes become more domineering every day, not to mention smarter than him?Is this setting really okay? It's completely unreasonable!

After cleaning up the grass carp, Guo Yi and Yang Xiu also picked up dried leaves and branches.Yang Xiu was originally a child of a family, and Guo Yi was well taken care of by the clansmen, and he didn't have to worry about food and shelter, so the two of them spent a lot of energy building a fire.

It was not long before Guo Jia finished grilling the first fish.He glanced at Guo Yi and Yang Xiu, and handed the grilled fish to Cao Zhi.Cao Zhi took it, and took a bite from the first pair of expectant eyes and the other two pairs of doubtful eyes. Under the gaze of the third pair of eyes, Cao Zhi showed a subtle expression. "...It's actually not bad." Except that the taste is a little weaker and the meat is a little older, it's really not bad.

Yang Xiu clapped his hands: "Okay, since that's the case, then you can eat all the fish that Feng Xiao grilled next. Yi'er, Feng Xiao, how about we eat the prepared food and snacks?"

Cao Zhi: "..."

Guo Jia took the grilled fish from Cao Zhi and took a bite.Then he frowned and said lightly: "It's too light, I'll bake another one." After saying that, he handed it to Cao Zhi and roasted another one.

Cao Zhi blushed slightly as he looked at the fish with two teeth marks on it.

Perhaps Guo Jia's movements were so natural that Guo Yi didn't even notice any difference.However, Yang Xiu's face suddenly turned pale. Even though he quickly returned to normal, he couldn't restrain his fingertips in his sleeves, and slowly curled up.

When I went back that day, it was already sunset.

Cao Zhi sent the people home separately, full of satisfaction.

——Although the beginning and the process seem to be a bit... cheating, but eating grilled fish and so on... is still very interesting!

In May, Cao Yu's first birthday.Probably because he inherited the beauty of his parents, Cao Yu grew up to be cuter than Cao Zhi when he was younger.When he was hugged by Cao Cao, he didn't recognize his life. Instead, he boldly pulled Cao Cao's beard and arched on him, making Cao Cao laugh.

Cao Cao held a banquet at home and took the opportunity to meet all his descendants.Now they have been around for many years. Although Cao Cao is not unfamiliar, he is definitely not familiar with them.

After the banquet, he checked the homework of these sons again, but no one satisfied him like Cao Pi and others.

He finally sighed and ordered them to study hard, that's all.

Only Cao Rui, the son of Cao Pi, made his eyes shine.

Cao Rui is now nine years old.He started school at the age of seven. He was born smart, but if he understands a truth, he can draw inferences quickly.When Cao Cao claimed that one of his parents violated the law by stealing other people's property to test his heirs because his parents were critically ill, only Cao Rui's immature voice said that Cao Cao squinted his eyes for a long time, and he could vaguely see the shadow of Cao Chong in the past.

Soon, the emperor sent Chi Chi, a doctor of imperial history, to order Cao Cao to be the Duke of Wei. In July, Cao Cao set up an ancestral temple in Ye County, and Yizhou became a veritable state within a state.

At this time, the Qiang people asked themselves to be the capital of the country.

Cao Cao was furious when he heard this.

This matter still needs to be traced back to after Ma Chao's death, Cao Cao ordered Wu Qiuxing to be the prefect to guard stability.Wu Qiuxing is a man who is good at governing the world but not good at using people.During his more than one year in Anding, he has been caring for the officials and the people internally, and has taken care of the Qiang and Hu externally, which has been quite effective.Not long ago, however, he made a mistake.

——Send school lieutenant Fan Ling to Qiangzhong.

Fan Ling has some talents, some cleverness, and even more ambitions that don't match his talents.He taught the Qiang people to ask themselves to be the vassal state of the Han Dynasty. If successful, he could be the capital of the vassal state.

Cao Cao angrily scolded the envoy, seeing that the envoy was lying on the ground and trembling, so he took a deep breath to suppress the anger in his heart.He also ordered people to call Cao Pi and Cao Zhi to test them on this matter and how to deal with it.

When Cao Pi saw the document, he frowned almost without hesitation and said: "The Qiang people are foreigners. If you agree to the Qiang people, the Hu people and Wuhuan will follow suit. Yi'er thought that my father must not agree to the Qiang people's request! As for that Wu Qiuxing, the disadvantage of employing people and causing such a big mistake should be punished by demotion."

Cao Cao closed his eyes and nodded, and said calmly, "What does the fourth child think?"

Cao Zhi glanced at Cao Pi and smiled: "I agree with my second brother, and should reject Qiang's request. It's just that Wuqiu Xing is a capable minister of the world, and I think it's all right for my father to reprimand him, and there is no need to demote him."

Cao Pi's fingertips, which were held in the sleeves, were slightly bent.But there was no change in front of him, and he still looked at Cao Zhi with a smile in his usual, tolerant, and infinitely gentle manner.

Cao Cao opened his eyes, just in time to see this.He raised the corners of his mouth noncommittally, and said with a half-smile: "The second is right, and the fourth is right." This sentence is affirming the first half of Cao Pi's sentence and the second half of Cao Zhi's sentence.After finishing speaking, he paused and said, "Since that's the case, how do you think we should refuse their request?"

Cao Pi and Cao Zhi pondered for a long time.

What Cao Cao meant seemed to be to send envoys to persuade the Qiang and Hu leaders, rather than directly rejecting them with the emperor's edict.It's just that such a suitable person is extremely rare, but if the mortals don't arrange well, they will anger the Qiang and Hu people. When Ruo Qiang and Hu people enter Xiliang and break through Tongguan, they will face Zhong Yao and Zhang Lu directly, which will be another big trouble.

Therefore, Cao Cao's question is not only to test their understanding of talents, but also to test how the school faces and appeases aliens.

Then choose...

Cao Pi thought for a long time before he found a suitable candidate. He was about to speak when he heard Cao Zhi say, "The current situation is that the Qiang people want to establish themselves as our vassal state. Since they have written a letter to the emperor, they are very firm in this strategy. ...Yi'er thought that no matter who father sent there, it would be useless. Why don't you order the Qiang people to conquer the west, and take their spirits away."

When Cao Cao heard about it, he set his eyes on Cao Zhi just now, and said inexplicably, "Oh?"

But Cao Zhi stopped talking, and just bowed slightly, indicating that he had finished speaking.

The two brothers went out at noon when the sun was at its strongest.Cao Pi squinted his eyes, his expression was quite lazy: "The sunshine in May is really too dazzling."

Cao Zhi looked up, and said to Cao Pi: "Second brother thinks it's dazzling, why do you still look directly at the sun?"

Cao Pi chuckled lightly.

He turned his head, perhaps because he was looking directly at the sun, which made his vision dark for a short time.He blinked, saw Cao Zhi clearly, and then slowly said: "That's right, since it's glaring, it's better not to look directly at it."

After finishing speaking, Shi Shiran went back to his courtyard, leaving Cao Zhi alone to stare at his back with an unpredictable expression.

In the autumn and July of the 18th year of Jian'an, Cao Cao ordered Xia Houyuan to conquer the Qiang people in the west.

In August, Yang Wanwan, king of Baiqing Di, led Qiang and Hu Wanyu to fight.Xia Houyuan hit it, and it was broken!In the ninth month, Xia Houyuan swept away Xingguo Di again, defeated Xingguo Di, and often left the Qiangs. King Yang of Di fled thousands of times.Xia Houyuan saw that the Qiang people had all dispersed and collected their grain, cattle and horses.

In November, Cao Cao again ordered Xiahou Yuanshuai to seek the peace of Yuanhan and Song Jian.More than a month later, he defeated Yuhan and killed Song Jian and his prime minister.He also sent Zhang He and others to Pingheguan and cross the river into Xiaohuangzhong.

Since then, all the Qiangs in Hexi have surrendered.