Kuangfu Han Dynasty

Chapter 22 Is there... in this city?

Although they are old friends, Cai Mao is still quite uneasy. After all, in the past ten years, the Cai family in Xiangyang has bet all their treasures on Liu Biao, and Cai Mao, as the military advisor of General Zhennan, has assisted Liu Biao to make enemies of Cao Cao many times.

I just wonder if in Prime Minister Cao's mind, this is considered a "betrayal" of an old friend?According to Cai Mao's knowledge, although Ah Man was indeed nostalgic, he still killed his best friend Zhang Miao, who stabbed him in the back, and killed his entire family.There is also Xu You from Nanyang who often played with them when they were in Luoyang. Cao Cao was able to win at Guandu. Xu You who came to defect from Yuan Shao can be said to have made a great contribution. But after successfully capturing Ye City, he could not just kill him. killed!
Therefore, although Cao Cao said that he did not forget his old friendship, Cai Mao did not dare to make excuses at all, and said tremblingly: "Prime Minister, Mao failed to persuade Liu Mu to return to the court early, let alone persuade him to rebel against the invaders and rebel in Nanyang. He is guilty... "

Cai Mao threw the blame on the dead man, but Cao Cao said: "Otherwise, Liu Zhennan had used the people of Jingzhou for a long time. After his death, all the disciples were at odds. Liu Qi was so deceived by Liu Bei that he wanted to fight in the corner. Fortunately, De Gui recognized the Lord with his wise eyes and served him. Liu Cong was the heir, and he persuaded him to submit to the imperial court. Xiangyang and Jiangling were able to submit without a fight, so that the people of Jingzhou could avoid the disaster of swordsmanship."

"I also heard from Kuai Yidu that De Gui was worried about Liu Bei's escape to the south, so he rushed to Jiangling for half a month to gather the navy and closed the granary of the palace to wait for the king's army. From this point of view, De Gui was not only innocent, but also made great achievements! Enough to be granted the title of Marquis!"

After some words to appease Cai Mao, the powerful man who controlled Jiangling's army, Cao Cao personally took his hand and said: "Come, you and I will enter the city in the same car!"

Cai Mao said hurriedly: "I dare not, Mao is willing to hold on to the throne and lead the way for the Prime Minister."

Cao Cao insisted on this and dragged Cai Mao into the car: "Degui, I think back when we promoted Xiaolian in the same year, there were many people working as Langguan in Luoyang, but you and I were the best friends. Later, we were released as Official, I have no choice but to say goodbye. Today I am an old friend and I am lucky enough to see you again in Chudu! Let’s talk about old memories of our youth with me.”

But after sitting down, Cao Cao was not in a hurry to reminisce about the past, but first asked about military affairs: "A few days ago, I ordered the military advisor Du Zixu to come to Jiangling to deliver orders, and asked De Gui to count the navy warships in preparation for entering Baqiu Dongting under the river as soon as possible. Has he already managed to prevent Liu Bei from escaping south?"

Cai Mao responded hurriedly: "Mao has been ordered to make preparations. Hundreds of large and small boats that should be dispatched are moored at the dock. The soldiers are equipped with bows and crossbows, and the rowing crews are also complete. We only need to wait for the Prime Minister's review tomorrow morning before we can set off! "

Cao Cao said, "There are many officials in Xiangyang who rebelled against Liu Cong and defected to Liu Bei and Liu Qi. Are there such people in the Jiangling navy?"

Cai Mao understood what Cao Cao was worried about: "Zhang Yun, the captain of the Marine Corps, was born in the Zhang family of Rang County, Nanyang. He is the grandson of my uncle, the late Zhang Taiwei (Zhang Wen), and Liu Mu's nephew."

"When Liu Mu was arrested due to the party's imprisonment, he fled south to seek refuge. He was protected by the Zhang family and hid in Jingzhou for nearly ten years. Liu Mu was grateful to the Zhang family and married his sister to the son of Taiwei Zhang. Zhang Yun. Therefore, Zhang Yun is a relative of both Liu and Cai. He has admired Wang Hua from the north for many years and supports the surrender of the whole state to the prime minister. He is absolutely reliable."

"The military commanders under his command were all selected by Mao one by one. They all submitted to the imperial court and wanted to serve the prime minister. Their families also lived in Jiangling. However, Du Jun was a shrewd official and invited Gaoling Tinghou (Cao Chun) to go to each ship. Sending more elite tiger and leopard soldiers to supervise the battle will definitely make no mistakes."

Du Xi had already sent a letter to inform him of these things, and Cao Chun had just briefly mentioned them. Now that Cai Mao had assured him, Cao Cao smiled and said, "That way, I have nothing to worry about!"

After the business was over, they started chatting. The Zhu Lun chariot drove forward. Cao Cao took Cai Mao and sat down together: "Degui, you just mentioned your uncle Zhang Gong, which reminded me of something."

Cao Cao fell into reminiscing about the past: "When I was sent to serve as a court official, my family and my family were all separated from Zhang Gong, so that we could be appointed as magistrates."

This was Zhang Wen's return of favor, because he himself was promoted by Cao Teng, Cao Cao's grandfather and the regular servant!At that time, Zhang Wen was already the chief minister of agriculture, and Cao Cao's father was also ranked as the ninth minister, so Zhang Wen recommended Cao Cao to be the order of Luoyang.

Cao Mengde was only in his twenties at that time. It would be great to be the chief official of the first county in the world. However, this good job that he had already obtained was ruined by one person.

Cao Cao cursed and said: "But Liang Hu, who was the minister of selection at that time, actually looked down on my youth and deliberately changed the appointment. As a result, Degui could only start from the county magistrate, and he changed the Luoyang county magistrate I asked for. Became the Northern Lieutenant of Luoyang!"

So there were two young men who were very angry. After drinking and scolding each other, they felt that it was not enough to relieve their anger.At Cao Cao's suggestion, the two of them stole Liang Hu's chariot and horse, drove to Beimang Mountain, pushed the chariot down the cliff, and the horses killed the meat and ate it, leaving only a huge bloody horse head on Liang Hu's face. Outside the home.

Cai Mao nodded hurriedly: "Remember, this is such a joy, how dare you forget it!"

Cao Cao and his young companions had done a lot of similar ridiculous things. Now that they recalled it, they both burst into laughter, and their long-estranged relationship seemed to be getting closer again.

Cao Cao laughed and said: "I heard that after Dong Zhuo's rebellion, Liang Hu also ran south to Jingzhou. This old man actually has the face to come to see you! I also asked for information about him when I was in Xiangyang, but the time was too short. I haven’t found it yet, but I don’t know where it is now?”

Cai Mao had wanted to say it for a long time, and now he quickly answered: "Prime Minister, Liang Hu is in Jiangling City! Hearing that the Prime Minister was marching south, this old man was so frightened that he almost ran south to Changsha, but Mao intercepted him. At this moment, Liang Hu was already there Tie yourself outside the willow gate and wait for the Prime Minister's announcement!"

……

Cao Cao met Cai Mao favorably and rode with him in the same carriage, which was seen by everyone who knelt down and worshiped him for ten miles along the way. The two of them talked and laughed wildly and could be heard by thousands of pairs of ears. This is tantamount to giving him a bad reputation. Prime Minister Cao made an approachable advertisement.

When Cai Mao, an old friend, misses the old friendship, what about the people who have had grudges in the past?

Outside Liumen in the north of Jiangling City, all the civil and military officials looked sympathetically at Liang Hu, who was kneeling in the middle of the road with hemp ropes tied in his hands. This was Liang Hu who had demoted Cao Cao and appointed him. He was over sixty years old. His hair was gray and he hung his head in fear.

As far as Liang Hu knew, Cao Cao was by no means a broad-minded person. Huan Shao, who took the road north from Jingzhou to return to the Central Plains ten years ago, is a living example.Huan Shao and Cao Cao were from the same hometown of Pei State, but because he was a famous person in the state and county, he always looked down on Cao Cao, the eunuch.

Cao Cao opposed Dong Zhuo, and when he returned to his hometown to recruit troops, Huan Shao often sent trippers, and even encouraged Yuan Zhong, the Prime Minister of Pei, who was from the Yuan family in Runan, to arrest Cao Cao.In the following years, Huan Shao often flirted with Xuzhou Tao Qian. Later, when Cao Cao defeated Xuzhou, Huan Shao fled south to Jiaozhou for refuge.However, due to the intense heat and humidity in the south, most of his family members died of illness. He couldn't stay any longer, so he returned to the Central Plains with luck in mind, and apologized to Cao Cao, hoping that he would spare his life for the sake of the Longkanghuan family and fellow Pei people.

Unexpectedly, Cao Cao only said coldly: "Kneeling can cure the evil of death?" and then killed him.

In Liang Hu's view, Huan Shao and Cao Cao are not really enemies, right?Even if he died miserably, what about himself?He was born in the Anding Liang family in Liangzhou, and he did not have any friendship with Cao Cao.

Thinking like this, Liang Hu became more and more desperate. Prime Minister Cao's rolling red wheel seemed to be coming over to punish Liang Hu and grind him into a pulp.

But what everyone never expected was that Cao Cao actually got out of the car and walked up to Liang Hu. When Liang Hu kept asking for forgiveness, he looked around him and sighed: "Liang Menghuang, you are old. ." Then Cao Cao personally untied the hemp rope on Liang Hu's hand: "Menghuang, your hands, especially your right hand, have to be used to write the "eight-point book" that is extremely beautiful and exquisite, and the force is on yellow paper. How can it be How can it be so ruined?"

It turns out that in his early years, the reason why Liang Hu was able to serve as a minister of the Ministry of Education in the Ling Emperor's dynasty, and even served as a local official such as the governor of Liangzhou, was not because he really had the talent to govern the country, but because he could write good calligraphy. , quite favored by Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty.

Liang Hu's voice trembled: "Prime Minister! Hu..."

Cao Cao said: "Did Emperor Meng have a good life these years in Jingzhou?"

Compared with the scenery in Luoyang, it was certainly not much better. Liang Hu wiped his tears and nodded. Cao Cao shook his head and said: "That's natural. Emperor Meng entered the Hongdu School during the Guanghe period. Where was that place? It was deliberately established by Emperor Xiaoling and Shi Changshi to find another way to promote scholars, so as to replace the new learning of the party members Qingliu."

Hongdu Menxue is equivalent to the Han Art School. Disciples do not take the Five Classics exams, but are recommended by the prefectures, counties, and officials to have talents who are good at novels, poetry, or calligraphy and seal calligraphy.Among them, 32 outstanding people, such as Liang Hu, were even ordered to have their portraits painted and posted in recognition by Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty.You may say it's a coincidence, but this number coincides with the 32 famous members of the party, namely Bajun, Bagu, Baji and Bachu.

It was originally a head-to-head match. In addition, this disciple of the Hongdu Sect became a new member of the imperial court. He served as governor of the state and governor of the county, and entered the minister's desk at home. This greatly occupied the position of the Guan clan's disciples, and he would not have to suffer the consequences of the Qingliu Party members. Hate it?
"And Liu Biao is well-known in the world and is one of the 'Eight Heroes'. He is a man of external generosity and internal taboo. Under his rule, Emperor Meng is like a rabbit crawling into a fox's den. How can he be reused?"

Cao Cao pointed at himself: "Therefore, Emperor Meng should not have gone south to Jingzhou, but should have gone to Yanzhou to join me."

Is Cao Cao so magnanimous?Liang Hu was a little unbelievable and continued to plead guilty: "You are so immoral and ignorant. You didn't realize the prime minister's majestic appearance and talents, and you dared to depose him. You are really blind..."

"So Emperor Meng is still worried about that little thing?"

When he was reminiscing with Cai Mao in the car just now, Cao Cao was still worried about not being the magistrate of the first county in the world, but now he didn't seem to care about it at all, and waved his hand easily: "Speaking of this, Emperor Meng said to me Not only is there no resentment, but there is also kindness!”

Cao Cao said sternly: "If you hadn't suppressed me by one level, how could I have been appointed as the Northern Lieutenant of Luoyang? I wouldn't have had the chance to use a five-color stick to kill Uncle Jian Shuo of Xiaohuangmen who violated the ban. Because of that incident, I was able to establish Reputation, let the world know my name as Cao Mengde, and my ambition to eliminate the evil and filth of the Han Dynasty!"

This statement was so resounding that Liang Hu was moved to tears. When Jiangling civil and military officials heard the words, they all admired Cao Mengde's magnanimity.

"Yuan Yu." Cao Cao called out Ruan Yu's name and arranged for this reporter: "From today on, Emperor Liang Meng will enter the Prime Minister's shogunate to record the history of the family. During my stay in Jingzhou, important chapters will be listed. All the essays are written by him."

Liang Hu burst into tears with gratitude. He had completely returned his heart to Cao Cao. He wished he could write thousands of words immediately to praise Cao Cao's kindness. He bowed to the ground and said: "I dare not to accept my fate!"

Everyone was happy about the incident. As an attaché following Cao Cao's chariot, Xu Shu witnessed the whole process nearby.In Xu Shu's opinion, what Cao Cao said to Cai Mao and Liang Hu was not half true, and was all staged for the public to see.But even Xu Shu had to admit that Cao Cao performed these two plays superbly.

Although they were enemies, Xu Shu couldn't help but secretly praise him: "When meeting old friends, he never forgets his old friendship, and when he encounters old enemies, he repays them with kindness. These two things alone are enough to reverse Cao Cao's bad attitude in the eyes of Jiangling officials. He is as smart as Ghost, you deserve to be the hero of the world!"

However, Xu Shu couldn't think about this anymore. He continued to drive into the city with Cao Cao. During this period, his eyes kept falling on the Jiangling civil and military officials who were greeting him on both sides of the road. Who seemed to be looking for him?

But to Xu Shu's disappointment, he never saw the figure of that person. Occasionally, he saw a familiar figure passing by, but then he blinked and disappeared.

Cao Cao's red-wheeled chariot finally stopped outside the gate of the prefect's mansion in the inner city of Jiangling, but he saw that the carved walls here were quite majestic. The vanguard of Cao's army had already taken over the place, and tigers and leopards riding on Dutch armor stood guard outside. The guard was extremely tight.

Han county governor's mansions were often used for both public and private purposes, with the front hall used as an office and the deep house in the backyard used as a residence for family members.Cai Mao said diligently that Du Xi, the prime minister's military advisor, had already taken over the front hall, and he should be counting documents and household registration slips at this moment. Cai Mao also vacated the back house and invited Cao Cao to move in.

Cai Mao said again: "It's just that Mao's wife and children are still stranded in the courtyard, waiting for the Prime Minister to call him."

As a surrendered general, he had heard about Cao Jun's pledge system, and he wanted to take the initiative to send his relatives as hostages.

Cao Cao was quite satisfied. After entering the inner house, he met Cai Mao's wife and concubines as family members. He treated Mrs. Cai Mao like a younger brother and sister. He also talked about the friendship between the two of them in the past.

Finally, Cao Cao graciously expressed that his younger brothers and sisters could continue to live with Cai Mao, and only appointed Cai Mao's eldest son and second son who were adults, and appointed them to be Langguan in Xudu. He said that he would support these two nephews, so he detained them. He took the Cai family hostage.

After leaving the house and entering the mansion, just when Cai Mao thought something was wrong, Cao Cao said something meaningful, which almost scared him to death: "Degui, do you still have your family members in this city?"

Cai Mao was shocked and said that he had all his wives, concubines, sons, and daughters, and he would never dare to hide them secretly.Cao Cao laughed and said, "Degui can't hide it from me!"

"When I arrived in Xiangyang, I heard that the Cai family has become more and more prosperous in the past ten years, and Degui has forty or fifty other businesses in various counties in Jingzhou. One of them is located on the small island of Jiangling. The house is very gorgeous, and there are hundreds of beautiful maidservants in it, aren't these the family members?"

Cai Mao panicked and hurriedly explained: "Prime Minister, these are servants of humble origin. They cannot go to the hall and hinder the Prime Minister's view, so they are not placed in the county government. If the Prime Minister wants to see them, they are still on the island. Rong Mao orders Someone is calling..."

"Hey, Degui misunderstood."

Cao Cao shook his head and said jokingly: "What I mean is, if Degui and I go to the other courtyard together, have a few drinks together, and then talk about the ridiculous things when we were young... And among these hundreds of women, one or two can Can you, a good singer and dancer, entertain us at tonight's banquet?"

What he said was so explicit, how could Cai Mao not understand?Cao Cao's intention was clearly: "Degui, can your maids and concubines share the same bed with me in one or two of them like in the past?"

(End of this chapter)