Han Dao world

Chapter 669
Cao Cao thought about his future, especially after learning that Chen Gong was appointed as the prefect of Jiujiang.

Chen Gong used to be someone he valued highly, but Chen Gong later betrayed him and, together with Zhang Miao, welcomed Lu Bu to Yanzhou, ruining his previous years of hard work.

But he later took back Yanzhou, slaughtered Yongqiu, and turned Zang Hong against Yuan Shao.

Zang Hong served as the prefect of Yanmen.

With such grievances, coupled with the misdeeds of killing Bianrang and Tu Pengcheng, his reputation among Shandong scholars has been irreparable, and it is very difficult in Renzhou County, Shandong.

Promoting Dutian is indeed a way, but it is not the best way.

Governance is not his strong point, nor is it his interest.

He wants to lead the army as a general.

He was good at soldiers since he was a child, and he was familiar with Sun Tzu's art of war. He has used soldiers for many years and accumulated rich experience.Even those who despise him have to admit his ability to use troops.

Furthermore, he can feel at ease when he has military power in his hand.

Regarding Yuan Shu's suggestion, he smiled without saying a word.

Whether Yuan Shu is sincere or trying to trick him, he doesn't care.

He hasn't reached the point where he needs Yuan Shu to give him advice.

The two old friends exchanged pleasantries, had a drink, chatted about past events, and bid farewell.

After sending Yuan away, Cao Cao summoned Cao Ren, Xia Houyuan and others to discuss.

The war is coming to an end, and Yuan Shao will soon withdraw to Hebei. Should we stay in Yanzhou, or ask for an edict to move to another place?
Cao Cao has a basic judgment: Yuan Shao will not be willing to surrender, but when he will raise an army and how large it will be, it is uncertain.If the court's methods are clever and operate properly, it may even lock Yuan Shao in Jizhou, preventing him from crossing the river.

If this is the case, then it is a waste of time for him to stay in Yanzhou.

Surrounded by Bingzhou and Youzhou, condescending, the mission of Yanzhou may be to block the river, and there will be no combat missions.

He is forty-four years old, and he will be old if he doesn't do any meritorious service.

Xiahoudun and Cao Hong did not speak, while Cao Ren, Cao Chun and Xiahouyuan agreed with Cao Cao's opinion.It is meaningless to stay in Shandong, so it is better to ask the edict to move to another place, seize the time to make some military exploits, and then take over the country as a marquis and enjoy the old age in peace.

But they couldn't think of a better place to go.

In desperation, Cao Cao successively invited Mao Jie and Cheng Yu to ask them for advice.

Mao Jie didn't want to leave Yanzhou, so he was vague about Cao Cao's question, and the word "perfunctory" was almost written on his face, which made Cao Cao very dissatisfied.

But he was helpless.

Cheng Yu clearly supported Cao Cao's idea, and planned a destination for Cao Cao, Jiaozhou.

Jiaozhou has been very quiet in the past few years, and I haven't heard much news.That's just because the Central Plains was in turmoil, too busy to take care of themselves, and no one cared about Jiaozhou.

In fact, Jiaozhou has been unstable for decades, a bit like Liangzhou, and there are endless stories of barbarians rebelling.It's just not as fierce and influential as Liangzhou.

Zhu Fu, the former governor of Jiaozhou, was killed by the local barbarians.

Zhang Jin, the current governor of Jiaozhou, does not obey the court's laws, and abandons etiquette and believes in evil ways. The court will definitely not tolerate him.

When Cheng Yu said this, Cao Cao suddenly realized.

Speaking of Zhang Jin, he knew much better than Cheng Yu.

Zhang Jin is his old friend, who used to run with Yuan Shao together.Zhang Jin was Yuan Shao's lobbyist when he persuaded He Jin to kill the eunuch.Zhang Jin is more loyal to Yuan Shao than he is to Yuan Shao.

This is also doomed that the imperial court will not tolerate Zhang Jin, and will transfer him away from Jiaozhou sooner or later.

After thinking about it over and over again, Cao Cao wrote a memorial in his own hand, requesting to go to Beijing to meet him and see Tianyan face to face.

-

Yuan Shao hurried into the tent, and before he could speak, he was almost breathless from the smell of medicine, sweat and body odor.

He took a step back subconsciously, and stood outside the tent for a moment to let himself recover.

Hearing the sound, Chen Dao, who was guarding Zhang Xi's bed, rushed out. Seeing that it was Yuan Shao, he hurriedly bowed to salute.

"Mr. Zhang...what's the matter?" Yuan Shao covered his nose with one hand, and pointed to the unconscious Zhang Xi lying on the bed with the other hand.

"Mr. Zhang has been ill for a few days." Chen Dao said softly, "He just woke up and said he wanted to see the envoy."

"Sick? How did you get sick?"

Chen Dao hesitated for a moment. "Worrying about state affairs, getting sick from overwork."

Yuan Shao frowned slightly.

Zhang Xi became ill from overwork?What is he busy with?Nothing happened to him.Oh, I see, you want to persuade me to join the court and take charge of the government again.

Yuan Shao really wanted to turn around and leave.

Zhang Xi is really confused.

He really has no interest in going to court.Once upon a time, he still insisted on refusing to admit that Liu Xie was the blood of the former emperor, and wanted to establish another clan as the emperor.Now that he is asked to surrender to Liu Xie, he is already very wronged.He still has to enter the court and face Liu Xie every day, he can't stand it.

But he can't go.

Zhang Xi is a former sage in Runan, the only Shandong native among the three lords, and a native of Runan.He represents Shandong scholar-bureaucrats.This time, Zhang Xi was greatly influenced by the order to eliminate the soldiers.Disrespect to Zhang Xi will make Shandong scholar-officials look down upon.

Yuan Shao took a deep breath, walked into the big tent, and came to Zhang Xi's bedside.

Chen Dao brought a beard bed.Yuan Shao sat down and called softly.

"Mr. Zhang, Mr. Zhang?"

"Is it... at the beginning?" Zhang Xi said in a daze, and stretched out his hand tremblingly.

Yuan Shao glanced at the hand with loose skin and brown spots, feeling inexplicably sick.But after hesitating for a moment, he stretched out his hand and took Zhang Xi's hand.

Zhang Xi's hands were cold and wet.

Like a drowning man grabbing a straw, Zhang Xi held onto Yuan Shao's hand tightly, struggling to sit up.

Chen Dao stepped forward, helped Zhang Xi up with one hand, and stuffed a pillow behind Zhang Xi's back with the other.

Zhang Xi took a few breaths. "Uncle Zhi, go out and watch, don't let anyone in."

Chen Dao was taken aback for a moment, a look of disappointment flashed in his eyes, he bowed in salute, retreated, stood at the door of the big tent, and closed the tent behind him.

Yuan Shao almost suffocated.

Feng Ji came in a hurry and stopped when he saw Chen Dao, pointing to the tent door.Chen Dao nodded.Feng Ji understood, turned around and stood aside, listening attentively.

Inside the big tent, Zhang Xi was panting, and his cloudy eyes gradually brightened, making Yuan Shao feel hairy.

"At first, I was running out of time."

"Mr. Zhang, don't say that, the doctor has already said it, you just catch a cold by chance, as long as..."

"At first, I don't have much time." Zhang Xi tugged Yuan Shao's hand forcefully, his voice a bit shrill.

Yuan Shao was startled, and subconsciously closed his mouth.He wanted to withdraw his hand, but failed.Zhang Xi's strength was surprisingly great, and his palms hurt from holding him. He didn't look like an old man at the end of his life at all.

"Listen to me." Zhang Xi stared at Yuan Shao. "I don't have much time, and I'm afraid I won't be able to return to the court. The ministers of the court are either afraid of the majesty of the emperor and dare not speak out, or they are young and eager for success. They don't know why Li Yuanli and Fan Mengbo are willing to risk their lives. Xun Wenruo was originally a Shandong scholar. He is a solid person who can best understand the painstaking efforts of party members, but now he is also blindfolded by fame and fortune, and has forgotten his original intention."

Zhang Xi's face flushed. "At the beginning, you must enter the court. Only by entering the court can you stop the emperor from saving the land, and prevent the court from competing for profit with the people. The court's building of bookstores has already destroyed half of the foundation of the family. If there is no more land, the family will be ruined. Without aristocratic families, there would be no real scholar-bureaucrats, and the rest would be small-minded Confucians, but no gentleman Confucians. Do you understand?"

(End of this chapter)