Cao Thief

Chapter 284

Entering midsummer, the drought is getting worse.

The light rain in late spring seemed to be a joke made by God.It was precisely because of this light rain that many people relaxed their vigilance.Even Cao Hong, including Cao Hong, slowed down the work of digging ditches after the light rain.So that when the drought occurs, everyone is caught off guard.Even though Cao Hong dug ditches to store water, the water volume of Langtang Canal has dropped sharply...

In May, the drought spread throughout Yuzhou.

Peiguo, Chen County, Runan, have rushed to Xudu; Yingchuan is not too bad because of the dense rivers, but even so, there are some places that have experienced droughts in different situations due to the lack of water in the rivers.Xu Du is also in jeopardy in this severe drought.

As a last resort, Cao Cao had no choice but to stop his plan to attack and fight Yuan Shao.

Began to face the drought in Yuzhou with all our strength.

In the middle of May, Emperor Han offered sacrifices to heaven and earth at Yuxiu Terrace and prayed for rain.

And Cao Cao ordered all over the country to dig ditches to alleviate the drought.

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The sun is scorching and the temperature is getting higher and higher.

Clear blue sky, cloudless.

The air is filled with hot and dry air, which makes people feel restless.Even sitting in the shade, I still feel the intense heat.

Cao Cao was wearing a thin white shirt, sitting in the room, reviewing official documents.

In the house, there are more than a dozen ice niches, which contain ice cubes taken from the cellar.The ice cubes emit wisps of frost in the ice niche, making the flower hall extraordinarily cool.But even so, Cao Cao was still sweating profusely, taking a damp cloth to wipe his body from time to time to relieve the scorching heat.

The drought is getting worse.

If this situation continues, the entire Yuzhou is likely to have a complete harvest situation.

It is almost late summer, and it is also a critical time for grain growth.If there is no more rain, the situation will only become more severe.

Cao Cao put down the pen in his hand, got up and wandered around the house.

Faced with this situation, neither Cao Cao nor Xun Yu had a good countermeasure.Man's wisdom is indeed infinite, but in the face of natural disasters, there is nothing he can do.The only thing he can do now is to order ditches to be dug for drinking water for irrigation.If there are more rivers, it may be relieved, but in places where water is scarce, it is inevitable that there will be extremely terrible disasters.

Also, the flow of many rivers is decreasing.

In this way, the water level of some rivers has dropped below the horizon.

It is also very troublesome to divert water for irrigation, and it is often half the effort.But even so, Cao Cao has no other way, continue to dig ditches and divert water for irrigation...

"Sikong!"

Just as Cao Cao was racking his brains for the drought, a soft call came from outside the door.

Two beautiful women appeared at the entrance of the flower hall.One is Mrs. Huan, holding Cao Chong in her arms; the other beautiful woman is holding a boy in one hand, followed by Cao Pi.This beautiful woman is Cao Pi's mother, Mrs. Bian.The appearance of the two ladies at the same time made Cao Cao startled.Especially when they saw that they were all with their children, I couldn't help being even more curious.So he stepped forward to meet him.

"Are you going out?"

Looking at the dresses of the two ladies, Cao Cao can guess the clue.

Mrs. Huan said with a smile: "Xiaozhen said, there is a new gadget in Longshan, let us take a look at it.

Anyway, I have nothing to do, so I told my sister and planned to take the children there.My sister said, Sikong has been working too hard these past few days, and he is busy with official business all day long, so it is not a long-term thing, so I want to invite Sikong to go with us, I don't know what Sikong will do? "

Mrs. Huan's voice is soft and soft, which is irresistible.

Mrs. Bian also said: "Yes, Sikong... You haven't played with the children for a long time. Zhang and Zhi both said that they miss you."

After Cao Ang's death, Mrs. Ding turned against Cao Cao and went home.

So Mrs. Bian became a big woman in the mansion.

There are two boys beside her, one is Cao Cao's third son, Cao Zhang, who is nine years old, and is called "Yellow Beard" because of his slightly withered hair bun; His name is Cao Zhi, and he is the fourth son of Cao Cao. He is seven years old this year.

Cao Cao was also a little bored, and after hearing the persuasion of the two wives, he immediately nodded in agreement.

"Xiaozhen, what interesting things happened in Longshan?"

Xia Houzhen followed Mrs. Huan, and quickly replied: "It was Yueying who wrote to me, saying that she had made a good thing, and asked me to see it. I saw that the wives are free, so... I ask Sikong to forgive me. "

Xia Houyuan was still stationed in Chenliu, and his wife, Mrs. Huan's younger sister, was really lukewarm towards Xia Hou.

Fortunately, Mrs. Huan was very close to Xia Houzhen, and often let Xia Houzhen come and walk around the mansion.

"Yueying?"

"...is Captain Cao's fiancée."

"Captain Cao? You mean Cao Peng?"

"Exactly."

"Is he engaged?"

"Back to Sikong, Sister Yueying is Lieutenant Cao's confidant, and we have known each other since the first year of Jian'an.

Sister Yueying had a dispute with her family because of Cao Duwei, so she came to Xudu alone... Now she lives in Cao's residence, with Cao's sister. "

"I don't want to learn from Youxue, but I'm a sentimental one!"

Cao Cao couldn't help laughing.

However, Mrs. Huan found that when Xia Houzhen mentioned Yueying, a look of disappointment flashed in her eyes.

Her heart moved, and her eyebrows frowned.

Cao Cao changed his clothes and got on the chariot.

Mrs. Huan discussed with Mrs. Bian, hugged Cao Chong, and boarded Cao Cao's chariot.

"Xiaohuan, is there something wrong?"

Cao Cao looked at Mrs. Huan in surprise, and asked strangely.

Mrs. Huan asked Cao Chong to play in the car, then took a peek at Xia Houzhen outside the car, and said softly, "Sikong, have you noticed that Xiaozhen is a little unusual recently?"

Cao Cao was stunned for a moment, "What's unusual?"

"Compared to before, Xiaozhen seems to be more cheerful... But when no one is around, he seems to be preoccupied."

"so what?"

"Don't you think Xiaozhen is old enough to talk about marriage?"

Cao Cao was stunned, thought for a while, and said softly, "Xiaozhen is going to be fourteen this year."

"Exactly."

"Speaking of it, it's not easy for us to ask about this matter. But Miaocai is away all year round, and your girl seems to be a little bit towards Xiaozhen...Why, do you have a suitable candidate? If so, we can ask about it. After all, you Speaking of which, she is also Aunt Xiaozhen."

Mrs. Huan said, "Don't you think, Sikong, Xiaozhen was a little weird when he mentioned Captain Cao?"

"You mean Cao Youxue?"

Cao Cao nodded slightly, "In terms of age, Youxue and Xiaozhen are a good match. But you heard just now that Cao Youxue already has a marriage contract. By the way, the woman Youxue is dating is from the Jiangxia Huang clan?"

"Exactly."

"This, it's not easy."

Mrs. Huan said, "It's easy, what shall I tell you?
Sikong, this kid Xiaozhen is quite pitiful.Miaocai marches and fights all day long, but she is not at home, so no one cares about her.After her mother passed away, she was depressed all day long.Now it's hard to feel a little happy now, so it's hard to make her sad again.Anyway, you have to help her. "

Cao Cao pondered for a long time, then nodded.

"Don't worry about this, I will take care of it.

How about this, let Xiaozhen not go home recently, just live here.Another day, I will look for an opportunity to find out what Junshi has to say, and then make plans. "

Mrs. Huan was overjoyed when she heard this.

"I knew Sikong would definitely take pity on him."

Looking at Mrs. Huan who was smiling like a flower, Cao Cao couldn't help but feel a little relieved.

Just like that, the convoy left Xudu and headed straight for Longshan.

Longshan, to the west of Xudu, beside Yingshui, the terrain is slightly low-lying.This is a plain, and at the foot of Longshan Mountain is Dianjiawu Fort.

Cao Cao and his team arrived at noon.

Under the bright sun, a group of craftsmen are assembling something by the river, which looks very large.

When the convoy arrived, Dian Wei, who happened to be on a break, got the news, hurried forward with Dian Man, and asked in surprise, "My lord, why are you here?"

"I heard that there are new things here, so I came to have a look."

Cao Cao glanced wide, and was surprised to find that there were still many old acquaintances on the shore of Yingshui.

"Wen Ruo, Zi Yang, are you all here?"

"Sikong, have you heard that too?"

"What did you hear?"

Xun Yu laughed and said, "Jun Shi and Zi Yang designed a sharp weapon some time ago, which might be able to alleviate the drought."

Liu Ye quickly said: "This matter has nothing to do with me, I just helped Junshi find some information."

"What information?"

Liu Ye said, "Sikong still remembers Bi Lan?"

Cao Cao was taken aback, "Is it Bi Lan, the ten-time attendant?"

"It was him...Bi Lan created a watering cart back then. Jun Shi somehow became interested in this thing, ran to my side, and found the flipped cart that Bi Lan made back then from the treasury. He came out, and asked me to help him find many craftsmen. Junshi is really talented in this area, and he actually transformed a waterwheel according to the overturned cart, which can draw water from the river to irrigate the farmland."

"Is there such a thing?"

Cao Cao couldn't help being surprised when he heard this.

He also ignored Mrs. Huan and Mrs. Bian, and hurriedly followed Xun Yu and Liu Ye to the embankment.

Mrs. Huan, Mrs. Bian, and several sons, naturally someone will take care of them.After Xia Houzhen said a few words to Mrs. Huan, she hurried into the crowd.

When Cao Cao boarded the embankment, he found a huge monster standing not far away.

Cao Ji and a girl in an emerald green dress each hold a blueprint in their hands and direct the craftsmen to construct.Beside the two of them, more than a dozen people followed, passing orders from time to time.That huge monster is like a huge dragon crawling on the bank, the tail of the dragon enters the water, and the head of the dragon stands gracefully on the embankment.Below the embankment, there is a huge reservoir, together with dozens of flume ditches of various sizes.

"Well, I vaguely remember that the overturned car built by Bi Lan was set up in the west of Tianjin Bridge.

But compared to this, it is much smaller... By the way, how does this thing draw water?Yingshui is lower than the ground. "

Suddenly, someone shouted loudly: "Captain Cao, it's done!"

Cao Ji chatted with the girl in green, nodded, and signaled the craftsman to leave.

Then, he ordered people to bring three cattle and tied them to the wooden compass under the waterwheel.Drive away all the craftsmen, and then order people to drive the cattle.The cow pulled the crutch and turned it, making a creaking sound.Immediately afterwards, the wheel shaft of the waterwheel turned accordingly, driving the blades in the trough to scrape the water upwards. After a while, a clear stream spewed out from the dragon's mouth and poured into the water trough below the embankment...

"Brother Kan, open the slot."

The girl called softly, and a young man next to the pool stepped forward to lift a sink baffle.

The water flowed out slowly along several ditches and poured into the fields in the distance...

In an instant, bursts of cheers came from the embankment, and the fields, which had been dry for a long time, were watered and nourished by the river water, and immediately burst into vitality.

The cattle turn the turntable, and the river water flows into the pool continuously, and then flows into the fields in an orderly manner...

Cao Cao couldn't help being very pleasantly surprised, pointing at the waterwheel, he was speechless for a while.

"Have you figured it out?"

Xun Yu hurriedly asked the attendants beside him.

"Returning to the servant, according to this situation, there must be three rotations a day, one waterwheel, running all day, requires six to eight cattle... the amount of water, it is estimated that after tonight, this field can be completely irrigated. Beizhi calculated just now, if 120 water trucks, it can ensure that most of the fields around Xudu will not be affected by the drought... If it is extended to the whole Yuzhou, it needs to be calculated separately."

There was a smile on Xun Yu's thin cheeks.

Standing on the embankment, Cao Cao was ecstatic to see the river flowing continuously into the fields.

He thought quickly in his mind, and suddenly said after a while: "Zi Yang, I have something to discuss with you."

Liu Ye was stunned and said, "What's the matter with Sikong, but it's okay to say."

"I want to separate the Zhuye Mansion from the Shao Mansion."

"what?"

"I intend to merge Mincao and Zhuye Mansions, and set up Mincao Duwei, in charge of craftsmen, smelting, water conservancy and other affairs. Jun Shi was originally good at Zhuye, and now he has designed this kind of artifact, which can serve as Mincao Duwei... Well, it will be under the rule of the Sikong Mansion, and he will serve as Sikong Cao Cao."

For Cao Cao, the keel waterwheel and Zhuye affairs are extremely important.

Better to be under his control...

Sikong Cao Yu directly obeys Cao Cao's orders, and Min Cao Duwei is like a scope of authority.

Compared with the captains of Zhuye before Cao Ji, the salary is similar, but it is the rank of Qianshi from Qianshi, which belongs to the second class of Qianshi's salary.Further up, Zhenqianshi's salary is usually the deputy of Jiuqing, such as Shaofu Cheng, Sikong Cheng, Ting Weizheng and other official positions.

Don't look at only half a level, but for many people, this half level may not be able to pass this step in a lifetime.

Especially for subordinate officials under the rule of the Sangong Jiuqing, unless they have experience of being sent to the outside world, if they are only in the capital, they will be extremely difficult if they have not been promoted half a step.

Liu Ye felt somewhat uncomfortable in his heart.

It was not easy to have such an outstanding subordinate, but now he was going to be poached away again.

For Liu Ye, the separation of Zhuye Mansion from the Shao Mansion is equivalent to reducing a huge benefit.

But since Cao Cao said it, Liu Ye could only nod even if he was dissatisfied.Since the Dong Zhuo Rebellion, many official positions have changed. For example, Cao Cao added the captain of Tuntian and the general of Tuntian Zhonglang, which were established separately according to specific situations.Therefore, even if the Civil Cao Duwei was established, it would not be considered a derailment.In the final analysis, Civil Cao Duwei is similar to a vacant post, and no one can speak.

"Sikong has such a plan, how dare Ziyang refuse to do so."

The smile on Cao Cao's face grew stronger.

Over there, Xun Yu had already finished his calculations and ran up excitedly.

"Sikong, please order immediately to build this bus."

"what?"

Cao Cao was startled, "Mr. Cao?"

"Yeah, I just sent someone to ask Junshi what is the name of this artifact? He replied that it was Cao Gongche."

Cao Cao laughed out loud, pointed at Cao Ji, shook his head and said, "This Cao Junshi has also become dishonest, and he has learned to do such flattery."

Liu Ye and Xun Yu despised him in his heart at the same time.

Just pretend, maybe you will be so happy in your heart.

There is Cao Gongli in front, and Cao Gongche in the back.

Why can't this Cao Junshi be renamed Liu Gongche and Xun Gongche?
Xun Yu looked at Cao Cao and couldn't help slandering him.

"Who is that girl next to Junshi?"

"Oh, that's the fiancee of Junshi's son Cao Peng."

"Is that the daughter of the Jiangxia Huang family?"

Liu Ye nodded and said softly: "This woman has a great talent. According to Jun Shi, she first proposed the idea of ​​the Cao bus, Cao Peng gave advice, and finally Jun Shi participated in the design. The father of this woman, It is Jiangxia famous scholar Huang Xun and Huang Chengyan, who are very talented."

"Is there such a thing?"

Cao Cao looked at Huang Yueying, and then saw Xia Houzhen, who ran to Huang Yueying's side and held Huang Yueying's hand, smiling happily, with a thoughtful expression on his face.

It seems that this matter should be considered in the long run!
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In the hot summer, the heat is unbearable.

Zhu Zan dragged his tired body back to the official office.

After dinner, he played with his youngest son for a while, then walked into the study alone.

After placing the jug, he sat down behind the case, took out the official document, and began to read and process it.Cao Peng has been away from Luoyang for nearly three months, but there is no clue about the murder case of pushing someone into the water.Zhu Zan ordered people to search for [-] miles upstream and downstream of Luoshui, but no body was found.So much so that Luo Yangling was extremely dissatisfied with this, thinking that Zhu Zan was a waste of manpower and material resources.Even Zhu Zan thought that maybe Cao Peng was delusional.After all, Cao Peng drank alcohol that night... However, the cart and the testimony of Xia Houlan and others that day proved to be true.This also caused Zhu Zan a headache, and he didn't know where to start...

From the case, he picked up a roll of official documents, took a sip of water, and opened it.

These documents are some old documents extracted from the yamen. Zhu Zan hopes to check whether there are similar cases from the past documents.

Outside, it's quiet.

Under the solitary lamp, Zhu Zan looked it up carefully.

Suddenly, there was a cramping pain in his stomach, and his face suddenly turned pale.

"Come on, come on..."

Zhu Zan stood up and shouted loudly,

But before he finished shouting, a mouthful of blood spurted out, and he fell to the ground.

Mrs. Zhu was next to the flower hall, and when she heard Zhu Zan's shout, she put down her work and ran over in a hurry.

As soon as he entered the flower hall, he saw Zhu Zan lying on the ground, and Madam Zhu screamed in fright: "Come on, come on..."

She rushed to Zhu Zan and hugged Zhu Zan in her arms.

"My husband wakes up, my husband wakes up!"

In just a short while, Zhu Zan was already on the verge of dying.

However, his eyes were bright, and he seemed to have noticed something, and said softly: "Madam, you are confused... Madam, you are confused..."

Before he finished speaking, he spat out another mouthful of blood, which wet Madam Zhu's skirt.

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There is only one update today!

The state is not very good, and the train of thought is a little confused.

Cao Peng is about to appear again, and the next plot is also extremely important.

So Lao Xin had to pause for a while, sort out the following plot clearly, and present a more exciting story for everyone.

(End of this chapter)