Three Kingdoms: Cao Ying's mastermind, from nine to five

In June, the military situation in Hebei and Qinghai was completely stabilized. Xu Zhen returned to Xudu with Cao Cao's Chinese army, and Cao Ren was in charge of the frontline battle.

Xu Zhen established the government office in Qinghe County, which is equivalent to the previous responsibility of the Governor's Department, and built the house step by step.

Rebuild Qinghe City.

This sentence still has a high price to pay.

The one who returned to Xudu before Xu Zhen and others was what he said at the dinner party, inviting Cao Cao to Duke Wei. These words should usher in a new era.

After Yuan Shao came to an end, there would be no princes in the world who could stand shoulder to shoulder with the Cao family. To be precise, there would be no princes who were bigger than the Cao family after annexing Yuan Shao.

So just after Xu Zhen returned to Xudu, before he had time to go back to the mansion to rest, he was greeted by a man in front of the door.

"Shang Shuling Xun Yu! Please come to the mansion to have a talk."

Xun Yu was dressed in a black robe and a crown hat. All these years of hard work in administration had left mottled marks on his face. His face was full of wrinkles, his figure was still thin, his waist was straight, and his face had a sense of fortitude and seriousness.

Xu Zhen was stepping up the steps to enter the mansion, when he heard this, he waved Jia Xu to go in, leaving Xu Chu and Dian Wei as guards, turned around and bowed to Xun Yu, and said softly, "Brother, why are you so polite."

"The occasion is not suitable for closer relations. Inviting the prince to enter the mansion is to discuss important matters. If you come to invite him in person, you may even go with the prince and his subordinates."

"Ok."

Xu Zhen, Dian Wei, and Xu Chu looked at each other one after another. Xun Yu's character was trustworthy in the first place, and he has been kind and virtuous in recent years. Not to mention his hard work, he treated Xu Zhen very well.

Many of the money transfer orders from Xudu were basically issued by Xun Yu himself, so Xun Yu would be a little special, and would not be so formal like other people.

Xu Chu and Dian Wei also respected Xun Yu, not because of his status, nor because of how many disciples the Xun family had had over the years.

He simply likes Xun Yu's style of work, he never fills his own pockets, and he is on the same level as Xu Zhen in terms of self-discipline. Everyone knows Xu Zhen's reputation as a gentleman.

Xu Zhen got into the carriage and followed Xun Yu back to the mansion. Surprisingly, Xi Zhicai and Guo Jia were also there today.

At this moment, Xu Zhen suddenly recalled that he almost forgot all these years. The three of them used to be old friends. When Guo Jia was secretly working in Yingchuan, he secretly made friends with many famous people. Among them, Xun Yu admired them the most. one of his people.

Of course, the two had known each other since they were very young, but at that time it was still a prosperous age, who would have imagined that the two of them would be able to reach the weightlifting place in this world in the future.

After drinking for three rounds during the banquet, Xi Zhicai, Guo Jia, and Dian Wei exchanged cups, while Xu Zhen and Xun Yu just replaced them with tea.

Naturally, everyone understood what this meal meant. Even Guo Fengxiao, the governor of the school office, was here, so of course there was nothing to hide. This might be a very open and aboveboard meal.

When the atmosphere was about the same, Xun Yu moved his mouth slightly, smiled, and said to Xu Zhen, "Bowen, I heard what you said in Yecheng, and I actually wanted to prove it."

"Use Qinghe as the governing body, let Yecheng, and even the whole Wei County be the fiefdom, right?"

"You speak, invite the prime minister to enter Wei Gong, what expectations do you have in your heart?"

In front of this topic, other small talk of course seemed cumbersome, so Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai didn't talk much or drink, just listened slowly.

Xu Zhen thought for a while, but didn't answer directly, and asked instead: "Does my brother have a collection of ancient scrolls at home?"

Xun Yu was silent for a moment, nodded and said, "Yes, if Bo Wen needs it, I can lend you a view."

"Sell me all of them."

Xun Yu didn't understand why he suddenly brought up such a thing on purpose, but Xu Zhen's words calmed him down a little, at least he understood that Xu Zhen didn't want to talk about this topic with him now.

And, maybe there are some other metaphors that are not necessarily.

"Want to buy the books in my house?"

"What do you do when you buy a book?"

"Running a school," Xu Zhen smiled, "Knowledge is hidden at home, so let's talk about what makes the world public."

"It's true that my brother is dedicated to the people of the world, but can the people only farm at home? According to the previous method of farming and farming, they can only be farmers for generations."

"As for the so-called talented and sages, they all come out of a group of people. At most, there are more than [-] million people in the big man, and the fertile ground for literary and military talents is only a million."

"But it has been possible to have a brilliant star 400 years ago. If this fertile land can have tens of millions, would it be better?"

Xun Yu was about to answer a question that in a prosperous age, virtue should be the first, not talent and learning. Xu Zhen waved his hand without waiting for him to answer, and then said:

"It's okay in the prosperous times, but in the decades of troubled times, countless people have died. If these people still come out, how many heroes, civil and military, can be produced in the future."

"There are so many heroes in troubled times. One hero comes out and decides the trend of the world. When there is no one to fight for the front, the affairs of the world can be determined. At that time, brothers, think about whether you should learn from the deep academy or learn from the world. Do the common people reclaim the barren land?"

"The more heroes die in troubled times, it means that the people who will be born next will not be stronger than them, because we have already stepped over the uneven road. For example, it is impossible for a big man to have a second Yuan family, and there is only one less. Four generations and three princes."

"Should the rest of the gentry be crowned and honored because they enjoy exclusive power? We are not fighting for these gentry, so I think it is good to run a school. I plan to wait for the stability of the agricultural business in Jizhou, so I want to start a business to sell domestically. , and then get money in hand, enrich the people and support the people, and educate the people with books.”

Speaking of this, Xu Zhen said with a smile to Xun Yu: "Brother, will you consider that after you retire and return to your hometown, come to Jizhou to be a gentleman, so as to be as spectacular as when thousands of people listened to the lecture?"

Xun Yu nodded and said, "I'll think about it."

Guo Jia immediately interjected, "Why didn't you invite us?"

He was referring to himself and Xi Zhicai.

Xu Zhen said nothing, and Xi Zhicai smiled wryly, "Because we don't look like teaching and educating people."

Guo Jia was about to shake his head, when Xu Zhen quickly waved his hands: "Wrong, I think the two elder brothers will not live to retire and return home."

Guo Jia was stunned.

Xi Zhicai also coughed a few times.

He stared at Xu Zhen dumbfounded, and then glanced at Dian Wei and Xu Chu standing behind him on the left and right sides.

Holding back and saying nothing, Guo Jia took a deep breath and resumed his previous cold appearance.

Well, Xu Bowen, your words are getting better and better every year. What do you mean by not living long enough to retire and return to your hometown?

Curse us both to death.

"What do you mean by that?"

Xi Zhicai asked proudly.

Don't think that I won't dare to say anything about you when there are two guards standing beside you. Don't forget that I caught your strategy and theory at a glance in the vast crowd, and that's what made you what you are today.

Xu Zhen said: "Some people are like this. They got a serious illness at first, and when they got better, they thought it was all right, and they came back to life with a loud cry. Lying down and shouting "Ouch."

"In the end, the illness didn't heal completely, and there were a lot of sequelae hidden, and you still drank it... If you can live to retire and return to your hometown, you will burn the incense."

Xi Zhicai: "..."

Guo Jia coughed lightly, "I agree with this point, I told you to stop drinking a long time ago."

"Bowen, you have made great achievements in battle this time. After Qingzhou is captured, you will also need to arrange governors and officials. Afterwards, you will need a large number of talents to send in the investigation of human affairs in various places. What do you think of the one-year appointment?"

"Okay, brother, you can report this."

"Well, as for the property of the three counties, people will be sent to welcome it during this period of time."

"As for entering Duke Wei, this is only the first time."

Guo Jia's expression suddenly became serious, and the conversation changed to this place again, staring straight at Xu Zhen, "Next, Xudu will become a vortex without tranquility."

"The princes of the Manchu Dynasty will have their own choices because of this, and the emperor will also make preparations for every next step. If the big man has the power to support the sky, he can indeed be a public, but more people still use this to go further and achieve a real great cause. "

"What is the real great cause?" Xun Yu looked back at him coldly, with a serious expression, and the corner of his mouth curled down in displeasure, "The reason why I followed the prime minister was to become a pillar minister who helped the Han and saved the people, and left his name in history."

"The Prime Minister has never had such intentions! Don't speculate on your own, and don't say anything!"

Xun Yu took a deep breath when he spoke, feeling chest tightness, and looked at Xu Zhen begging for help.

Xu Zhen is the youngest person in the class, and he is actually the one who is favored now. He has followed Cao Cao for so many years and won great victories in both battles. He understands Cao Cao's thoughts.

But Xu Zhen just smiled and said nothing, avoiding Xun Yu's gaze, it would be too harsh to say something at this time.

But everyone could see that Xun Yu was also deceiving himself.

Therefore, the scene became quite silent and awkward after speaking.

"My lord's wish is to conquer the west, not to be a thief who seeks to usurp criticism. I invite you here today to express my heart. I always believe that the prime minister is a famous official of the Han Dynasty. I will follow and follow for the rest of my life.”

"So far, no matter how I change outside, I will not change my mind after being invited by the emperor several times. From then on, we should abandon our personal friendship and work together for the prosperity of the great man, everyone! That's all for now!"

Xun Yu stood up and bowed, leaving the three of them speechless for a moment, with mixed feelings for a moment, this is to break their personal friendship.

He didn't say to cut it clean, but said that all the personal relationships of the year were sealed up, and the business was the main thing, so there was no need to worry about it.

Both Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai knew that when these words came out, Xun Yu's heart was as hard as a stone, and there would be no change.

Once the lord enters Weigong, I don't know how he will choose. What I said now believes that the prime minister will not choose to enter.

In fact, it was not Xun Yu's wishful thinking.

Rather, he hoped that Cao Cao would consider his side and make a choice in favor of him.

It should be a silent admonition, so whether you will be able to listen to it in the end is unknown.

His heart is like a stone, and he is afraid that he really can't have a word of persuasion. He only hopes that Xu Zhen can say a word.

Guo Jia can only drink alcohol, and Xi Zhicai puts his hands on the copy.

After being silent for a long time, he still straightened his back, and suddenly raised his hands, this action alarmed Guo Jia and Xi Zhong.

Both of them stared at him with bright eyes, and their faces were slightly expectant. You still have to know how to persuade. Xun Yu looks like warm water. In fact, what he believes is difficult to change. are stubborn.

The three of them came to be guests today, but they actually planned to persuade you one by one, and instead asked about Xun Yu's thoughts, but they didn't expect him to be so firm.

Fortunately, there is Xu Zhen's persuasion at this moment.

Xun Yu looked at Xu Zhen, sighed and said, "Bowen, if you have something to say, just say it."

Xu Zhen nodded in response, and then said: "In addition to the land of the three states, I also want to allocate a sum of money and food from the treasury to stabilize Jizhou, and use it to develop, and at the same time move the surplus population from various places to live in Jizhou."

Xun Yu: "Okay... I will speak in the morning meeting tomorrow..."

He thought Xu Zhen wanted to persuade him... Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai were also speechless for a moment, you lay there like a bird for a long time, and finally these words popped out!

"That's good, then I can rest assured. Since I don't bother you anymore, everyone, take it easy. It's getting late and I have to go back to study."

Xu Zhen walked away.

Xu Chu and Dian Wei came out with them. They have been with Jia Xu and Zhuge Liang for so many years, and they often guard Xu Zhen. Their knowledge and thoughts have also increased a lot.

Today also saw the problem, Dian Wei immediately caught up and pulled Xu Zhen's clothes and asked curiously, "Why, Lord Xun Ling didn't want the lord to enter Duke Wei?"

"Why doesn't he want to!?"

Xu Zhen thought about it carefully, and this thought was really bad. She shook her head and said, "I'm not a roundworm in other people's stomachs. How would I know this?"

"But I understand one thing. He shouldered too many burdens. Most of the officials in Yanzhou, Yuzhou, and Xuzhou that he recommended back then were from Brother Wen Ruo. I am afraid that half of these people came out of the mountain because they were loyal to the Han Dynasty. Shanghai Jiaotong has praised the reputation of the Xun family for so many years, and he dare not go against it."

"Once the lord enters the Duke of Wei, he will be considered to go further, because this is a place of relaxation between the king and the lord. Advance to the Duke of Wei to set up all the officials of the country, and then take the same privileges as the Son of Heaven, and give nine Xi, you can... harm me, let me tell you two what to do."

Xu Zhen gave Dian Wei a white look.

Dian Wei scratched his head, took a step away, and then muttered: "Then you said that, didn't you harm Xun Lingjun?"

"It doesn't matter, I will make a move."

Xu Zhen mysteriously got into the carriage with his hands behind his back. There must be a way for the carriage to reach the mountain, and he would naturally be able to come with Xun Yu at that time. Now it will be several years before that time.

It is far from the time to save lives.

This night's gathering was recorded in the secret records of the school affairs office and sent to the inner courtyard of the prime minister's mansion.

Cao Cao had already heard the news in the middle of the night. The four confidants gathered together to drink and talk about entering Wei Gong. They were supposed to reprimand and warn them, but Cao Cao felt that they hadn't seen enough.

There must be someone who didn't say enough at this banquet, but that's all, this road is by no means so easy to walk, if you can't go on by yourself, you will preserve Wen Ruo's reputation of integrity through the ages.

Cao Cao lay back on the couch, signed the slips and placed them next to the pillow.

A good night's sleep.

……

On the second day, as soon as he went to court, Xu Zhen got into the carriage with a displeased face, and asked the coachman to drive to the military camp outside the city without saying a few words to anyone.

On the carriage, Jia Xu had been waiting for a long time, bowed with both hands, and asked with concern: "Your Majesty, how is the situation?"

"It's not that good, let me find a way. The imperial court can allocate up to [-] shi, and about [-] shi for real food."

Xu Zhen let out a long sigh, looking unhappy.

Jia Xu blinked and understood that there was no money left, and it seemed that she had to find a way to make money by herself.