[Three Kingdoms] Seven steps into wetness

In November of the 20th year of Jian'an, Sun Quan personally conquered Hefei.

Before that, Cao Cao ordered Zhang Liao and others to station in Hefei, and left a letter.According to the arrangement in Cao Cao's letter, Zhang Liao and Li Dian went out of the city to attack Sun Quan, and happily entered to defend the city.Zhang Liao charged into the enemy's formation first, beheaded the second general, and charged directly to Sun Quan's command, repeatedly charging and killing.Sun Quan's army was seriously injured.

In February of the 21st year of Jian'an, Zhang Liao led his troops to raid Sun Quan again.Sun Quan fought Gan Ning, Lu Meng, Ling Tong and others to the death, and escorted Sun Quan back without success.

In February, when spring blossoms in Yecheng, Cao Zhi personally plowed the land for the third time.

In his subconscious mind, he should have never tried farming in his previous life, because he knew nothing about how to grow food before he became the prefect of Ye County.After going to the field in person, plowing and sowing are also very awkward and unfamiliar.Fortunately, the learning ability is strong enough. After planting a season of grain, the movements can gradually become proficient.

Generally, the sons of princes and princes do the farming by themselves, but they just want to fool the people to show the court's concern. It is rare for someone like Cao Cao to personally lead the soldiers to farm for a whole season.As Cao Cao's son, Cao Zhi naturally could not give up halfway.

Moreover, Cao Zhi was originally a gentle and elegant person, even if he is now the East Duwei, he has no official airs towards the common people.Therefore, Cao Zhi is now very popular among the people in Ye, and their enthusiasm for farming is also extremely high when they see Cao Zhi present.In addition, when most people see him, besides saluting respectfully, they will also ask him if he is thirsty, if he is tired, and if he needs a rest.

Cao Zhi thanked them one by one.

In May of the 21st year of Jian'an, Cao Cao was King of Jin and Wei.

This matter had been revealed as early as when the emperor ordered Cao Cao to go to court like Gaozu was to Xiao. As for today, Cao Cao's status has finally been raised to the top of the non-royal family, and the world has no doubts or criticisms.

Cao Zhi thought of Xun Yu inexplicably.

Anyone who wants to change this decadent and rotten world, and anyone who wants to protect those who want to protect, must stand at the top of this world and have unique rights in the world, otherwise what is the qualification?

Jin Feng's decree has been issued to the world.At this time, one man, Yang Xun, posted an article, which was full of hundreds of words of gorgeous rhetoric, all in praise of Duke Cao's merits.It's a pity that the wording is too exaggerated and hypocritical, which has attracted countless scribes to ridicule.

This is not a big deal, because when a person stands at a place that he cannot look up to, then he naturally only has reverence in his heart, and flattering becomes a matter of course.But I don't know if it's because there are no major events in Yezhong for a long time, and some people are bored, so I read Cui Yan's book because of this matter.

——Probably because Yang Xun was recommended by Cui Yan to give him a chance to become an official.

This is not a big deal, there has never been a precedent in which a famous person of high moral standing was pulled down by virtue of a eulogy in the struggle between factions in the DPRK and China.So Cui Yan is also very calm.Not only was he calm, but he also wrote a letter to Yang Xun.

The main idea of ​​the letter is: "You wrote the letter because you did a good job! There will always be changes in this era."

The meaning of this sentence is to satirize those who criticize good things. They only see the surface and don't think that Cao Gongjin was originally worthy of praise, so the condemnation of Yang Xun seems completely unreasonable.But it can be said that there is no wind and waves, this letter from Cui Yan actually brought him a catastrophe!

Someone reported to Cao Cao: "A proverb once said, 'It's all about having a daughter'. 'Just' is not a good word. 'There will be a change', and the meaning is extremely disrespectful. Cui Yan's letter is just for you Cursing with dissatisfaction and resentment!"

Cao Cao was furious immediately!Cui Yan was removed from the post of Shangshu and punished as a disciple.

When Cao Zhi knew about this, he was discussing court affairs with his subordinates.

Hearing this, he hurriedly went to visit Cui Yan, seeing his calm and calm face, he knew in his heart that his father was in a fit of anger at the moment, seeing Cui Yan like this, he might be extremely angry, and if he did something irreparable wrong, he would treat Cui Yan Yan said helplessly: "Lord Cui, can't you pretend to be in a state of despair, so that father can calm down?"

Cui Yan was silent for a long time, before he said: "Thank you Your Highness, but Cui Yan has a clear conscience about this matter. Whatever Your Highness can think of, Cui Yan naturally thought of it. Even if it is death, Cui Yan will never give in!"

Cao Zhi suddenly felt dizzy.

He could only go to Cao Cao to intercede.

"Release Cui Yan and resume his original job?" Cao Cao sneered, "Do you know what he looks like now? He is calm and indifferent, as if nothing happened, and he is clearly unrepentant!"

Cao Zhi resolutely said: "Lord Cui just has a clear conscience."

Cao Cao was furious: "Cao Zhi, do you want to disobey me?"

Cao Zhi ignored Cao Cao's anger and said in a loud voice: "Father, the world is in trouble now, Kyushu is divided, Sun Quan and Liu Bei are the kings of their own enclosures, but the people are still not full enough to eat and not warm. Floating corpses are everywhere! I haven't heard that after you were entrusted to the Jin Dynasty, you took benevolent government as your goal. Is it that the people of Ye County expected this to be shown to you by taking the lead to visit the people and save them from the fire and water, but to care about some unfounded slander and regard it as the top priority?"

Cao Cao's expression darkened: "Cao Zhi! Do you know what you're talking about?"

Cao Zhi narrowed his eyes: "Father, I know that these words may be treasonous, but I still want to say them. During the period when Lord Cui Yan was your vassal, he was elected together with Lord Mao Jie, and all of them were upright and talented people... Even if Yang Xun This move is a bit exaggerated, but everything he did during his official career was more righteous than those who laughed at him. Shangshu Cui Yan is now assisting me in managing Ye County. I see that he is fair and honest, and he is very popular with the people here... If father only listens to some bad words and must deal with him, I am afraid the people will disappoint you!"

Cao Cao suddenly said coldly: "Cui Yan respects the elders and the young, and has asked to isolate Zihuan as his son several times. Cao Zhi, do you know that a stubborn person like him will never change his position easily just because you saved him. "

Cao Zhi was slightly taken aback.

It was only then that he remembered what Cui Yan had done, whether it was persuading Cao Pi to work hard or hoping that Cao Cao would make Cao Pi his son, it all showed that Cui Yan never wanted him to be his son in the future.But maybe he felt so guilty for Cui Yan's niece that when he heard the news of Cui Yan's relegation, he forgot about it and wanted to rescue him wholeheartedly.

He sighed slightly, and said helplessly: "Even so, you can't dispose of Master Cui just because of such a reason." After speaking, he paused for a moment, and then raised his head to look directly into Cao Cao's deep eyes: "What's more, The position of the son of the world... no matter who it is, only the person that the father thinks of is the orthodox one."

Cao Cao suddenly burst out laughing.

There was no trace of anger in his eyes, instead his expression was very happy.

Cao Zhi was slightly startled, and only whispered worriedly: "Father?"

Cao Cao couldn't stop smiling.He patted Cao Zhi on the shoulder, and said gently: "Forget it, forget it. You don't need to say any more, Gu will order Cui Yan to restore the title of Shangshu. I won't kill him today, but people like Cui Yan will die in the In his bullish temper."

Cao Zhi opened the corner of his mouth and smiled.

Cao Cao held his shoulders and led him a few steps: "Cao Zhi, you are smart and kind enough. I used to worry that you were too soft-tempered and easy to be misled by others. So I asked you to start from the bottom, little by little. Train your mind."

"You've done a good job over the years."

"Diligence in government and love of the people, wide acceptance of honest advice, conscientiousness... You have done a good job. But the better you do, the more I hesitated. At the beginning, I asked you to manage Ye County—did I do something wrong?"

When Cao Cao said this, he closed his eyes tiredly: "You and Cao Pi are both my sons, and I can see what you are thinking and hiding. I have no objection to this. But, Cao Zhi."

"But, Cao Zhi. I want you to remember."

"If——if one day I make your second brother the eldest son, I want you to never fight with him. Even if there are countless people supporting you at that time, you can't fight!"

Cao Zhi stood there dumbfounded.His eyes shrunk slightly, and a chill appeared all over his body, and he clenched his fists uncontrollably.

Cao Cao seemed to have never seen him.

He only squeezed Cao Zhi's shoulders tightly, and whispered in his ear: "Cao Zhi, did you hear that?"

Cao Zhi came back to his senses.

He lowered his head slightly and stared into Cao Cao's eyes, only to realize that he was already so much taller than Cao Cao.His eyes were bloodshot, whether he was old or tired.When had his father been so old, even like an ordinary father, worried that they would compete for the family property?

After all, Cao Zhi's lips moved slightly, and he nodded slowly under his hopeful and trusting eyes.

Cao Cao closed his eyes.

He let go of the shackles on Cao Zhi, and slowly lay back on the bed: "...Go back."

Cao Zhi withdrew.

Ye County in May is always sunny.Covering Cao Zhi's body, it seems to be able to slightly dispel the coldness in his heart.

He suddenly wanted to see Guo Jia, and when he came back to his senses, he was already standing in front of Guo Jia.

Guo Yi was about to go out to visit his friends, when he saw Cao Zhi standing there blankly, as if he was about to poke a hole through the door of their house, he was speechless: "I didn't even know, so senior brother, you like basking in the sun so much."

Cao Zhi smiled, stepped in, and passed Guo Yi.

Guo Jia is studying chess records.Seeing Cao Zhi, he hooked his fingers: "Come here, and accompany me to see how this chess game is solved."

Cao Zhi sat down peacefully.

The two studied for a long time, until now they couldn't find a solution from the chessboard, Guo Jia said calmly: "Tell me, why are you looking for me?"

Cao Zhi was a little helpless: "Why do you have to have something to find Mr.?"

Guo Jia smiled: "The time is wrong." Cao Zhi usually came to him every few days, but not at this moment.

Cao Zhi sighed: "Mr. is always so sober, it really makes me sad."

Guo Jia raised his eyebrows noncommittal.

After hearing Cao Zhi tell everything, Guo Jia said: "My lord said that, in my opinion, there are the following meanings."

"He said this, first of all, to remind you that you did too much last time; second, to tell you that although you have talents, he is also hesitating in his heart, but you may not get what you want because of your age. In the end, if you can give up your thoughts and concentrate on assisting Cao Pi, then not only can you solve the problem of the lord, but also win a good minister and stabilize the world, wouldn't it be better?"

Cao Zhi was startled.

He thought about a lot of things along the way, but he never pointed out the key point like Guo Jia.

Guo Jia looked up at him.

"So the meaning of the lord is indeed telling you, either stop or go forward." His eyes are clear and bright, just as touching as when he first saw him. Don't stick to one style, make good use of your whimsy... everything you have now, you can no longer get more recognition in the heart of the lord."

"There's only one thing you're missing right now."

Cao Zhi held his breath: "...what?"

"Zijian, you need a war, a victory."

"You need an opponent who is not weak, a perfect victory, an almost overwhelming victory."

In July of the 21st year of Jian'an, Shanyu Huchuquan of the Southern Xiongnu entered the Kingdom of Wei.Cao Cao feared that the population of the Xiongnu would spread and it would be difficult to control, so he left Nandanyu in Yecheng, and sent Youxian King to live in Pingyang to supervise his country. They live separately in the counties of Bingzhou, and each department has a commander, and the Han people are Sima to supervise each department.

In October, Cao Cao marched south to conquer Sun Quan.