The Three Kingdoms: The Cold Gate World

Chapter 335
Cao Cao's northern expedition to Wuhuan returned triumphantly, and his power shocked the world!
Even Qingliu celebrities who have prejudices against Cao Cao can hardly criticize Cao Cao with harsh words. After all, the victory of the crusade against Wuhuan is beneficial to the nation.

After solving the worries of the north, no one knows Cao Cao's next strategy. Should he fight Guo Jia first or unify the south?No matter what, he will rest and recuperate first.

At this moment, the princes in the world who can fight Cao Cao are nothing more than Guo Jia, Liu Biao, and Sun Quan. Naturally, Guo Jia is not afraid of Cao Cao, but Liu Biao and Sun Quan are already restless.

Liu Biao asked himself that he had never offended Cao Cao. In the Battle of Guandu, he seemed to favor Yuan Shao, but he never intervened in the battle between dragons and tigers. Therefore, he did not think that Cao Cao had any reason to attack him.

In order to show his goodwill to Cao Cao, Sun Quan not only expressed his goodwill to the court, but also sent people to send gifts directly to Yecheng and Cao Cao's doorstep.

Cao Cao had more than [-] sons. If there was a distinction between his son and concubine, Cao Ang, his son, died in Wancheng when he conquered Zhangxiu, and the other sons were all considered as concubines.

Although Cao Ang was not from the Ding family, he is nominally the son of the legitimate son.

The other sons, Cao Pi, Cao Zhang, and Cao Zhi were all born by Mrs. Bian, and Cao Chong was born by Mrs. Huan.

In the name of establishing an heir, these sons are all equal, and there is no distinction between concubines and concubines, at least they were equal before Cao Cao helped Mrs. Bian upright.

Cao Cao and his original partner, Mrs. Ding, have a very good relationship, especially when he was down and down, some of his subordinates wanted to go their separate ways. It was Mrs. Ding who came forward to preside over the overall situation and stabilize the inner hearts, so that Cao Cao did not end up falling apart when his foundation was weak. .

However, Cao Ang's death in Wancheng was an unreasonable confusion. Whether Zhang Xiu gave Cao Cao a counterattack was because Cao Cao slept with his aunt, or because Cao Cao was open and honest to win over his subordinates, or both. Mrs. Ding's most beloved son, whom she regarded as her own son, just disappeared, and the couple parted ways. After that, Mrs. Ding returned to her natal family. Cao Cao's three requests and four requests failed, and even later, Cao Cao could not bear Mrs. Ding was lonely for the rest of her life, and she was allowed to remarry, but Mrs. Ding refused, neither did Mrs. Ding's family members, nor did anyone else dare to marry.

The couple were strangers, but Mrs. Ding did not draw a clear line with the Cao family. When Cao Cao left home for an expedition, the kind-hearted Mrs. Bian would take Mrs. Ding home and treat her well. Before Cao Cao returned home, Send her away again.

Cao Cao knew all these things, and he never set up another wife because of the relationship between husband and wife.

It is also possible that in order not to set up more obstacles for Cao Chong's heirship, Cao Cao, if he made Mrs. Bian his wife, then Cao Pi, Cao Zhang, Cao Zhi, and Cao Xiong (died early) would become legitimate sons.

When Cao Cao used to only have the Central Plains, his sons had no idea what to do with powerful enemies, but after Cao Cao swallowed Hebei and occupied half of the country, the battle for succession will gradually begin thereafter.

It was heard that Sun Quan sent an elephant from the east of the Yangtze River, and all the civil and military men in Yecheng went to watch it. Cao Cao specially ordered people to call his sons.

The well-dressed and gentle Cao Chong was about to leave the gate to see the elephant, but he heard a burst of crying.

Following the sound, Cao Chong saw a servant holding a saddle and weeping bitterly in the warehouse of the mansion.

"Eh? Why are you crying?"

Cao Chong walked over curiously and asked.

The servant turned his head and found that it was Mr. Chong, so he quickly wiped away his tears and knelt on the ground silently.

"What's the matter? Tell me and listen."

Cao Chong's face was gentle, without the slightest arrogance of a rich and powerful son.

After hesitating for a long time, the servant presented the saddle in his arms to Cao Chong, and said in a cowardly voice, "A mouse bit the saddle through this night. If the prime minister knows, he will definitely punish the villain."

Punishment is a trivial matter, and what he fears most is being beheaded by Cao Cao in a rage.

Cao Chong thought for a while, and comforted him: "You don't have to be afraid of this."

When the servant heard this, he thought Cao Chong would intercede for him, so he kowtowed to thank him immediately.

Cao Chong turned and left without saying anything.

If Cao Chong really asked for mercy directly, it would seem a bit unreasonable to make trouble. After all, it was the servant's responsibility to guard the warehouse. If a mouse entered and bit the saddle, it was his dereliction of duty.

Yecheng was very lively today. From the moment the elephant was brought into the city, the people on the street crowded around to watch, discussing and admiring.

There are no elephants in the Central Plains, not to mention the common people, even few officials have seen them.

Cao Cao sat on the steps in front of the spacious government office, accompanied by civil and military officials on both sides. Cao Pi, Cao Zhang, Cao Zhi and other sons had already arrived.

Seeing the huge body of the elephant and the way it rolled up the fruit with its trunk and swallowed it in one gulp was an eye-opener for everyone.

An excited military general ran over to the elephant and compared it with the elephant with his thick arms, which made others laugh.

No matter how powerful the general is, he only looks small when compared with the elephant.

After Cao Chong arrived, Cao Cao called him to his side, pointed at the elephant, and said with a smile: "Chonger, look, this is the elephant sent by Sun Quan in Jiangdong."

Cao Chong was held by Cao Cao's hand and looked down, with a happy face, fixed eyes and curiosity.

Just when everyone was amazed by the elephant's comments, someone suddenly asked a question.

How much does an elephant weigh?
The scene fell silent for an instant, and no one could answer, not even the envoy who sent the elephant.

There is no one in the world worthy of the name of this elephant. How heavy is it?Who knows!

Cao Cao looked around and smiled teasingly. No matter how amazing the talents of these talented people around him were, it was really difficult for him to call an elephant.

Just when everyone seemed to skip this topic, Cao Chong, who was beside Cao Cao, suddenly said: "Father, put the elephant on the boat, carve marks on the water surface of the boat, and then replace the elephant with something else and put it on the boat. Know the weight of an elephant by comparison."

Everyone listens, it makes sense.

Cao Cao couldn't help being overjoyed, and immediately ordered people to do it. First, lead the elephant to the boat, and engrave a mark on the side of the boat, and then use large and small stones to sink the boat until the mark is at the same level as the water surface. Lift the stones up and weigh them one by one, and calculate the total.

After weighing the elephant's weight, everyone present was full of praise for Cao Chong. Cao Cao laughed heartily and was very proud of holding Cao Chong.

After this feast of novelty hunting was over, Cao Cao was still unsatisfied. He wanted to reward Cao Chong, but he didn't see Cao Chong. After asking around, he learned that Cao Chong had returned to the mansion.

In his own room, Cao Chong took out a piece of clothes that he usually wears, cut a hole in the clothes with a knife, and then put the knife away, with a sad look on his face.

"Chonger, Chonger."

Cao Cao's bold laughter came from outside, Cao Chong sat by the bed without moving, still looking at the tattered clothes with sorrow in his eyes.

Cao Cao walked into the room, seeing his expression, his heart tightened.

Did someone bully him?Let him be wronged?

A cold light flashed in his eyes, Cao Cao hurried over and asked with concern: "Chong'er, what's wrong with you? What's bothering you?"

Cao Chong handed over the clothes in his hand, and said in a low voice, "Father, my child's clothes were bitten by mice. Some people say this is a bad omen."

Cao Cao was taken aback, looked down at the dress, and then said to Cao Chong with a gentle expression, "What are you talking about? Nonsense. Only ignorant people would believe this, don't take it to heart."

After Cao Cao's relief, Cao Chong's mood improved, and the father and son talked happily. When Cao Cao left, Cao Chong walked out with Cao Cao.

The servant guarding the storehouse appeared in front of Cao Cao trembling with his saddle in his arms, knelt down and pleaded guilty.

"Prime Minister, the villain is guilty. Rats entered the warehouse and bit the saddle. Please punish the prime minister."

Cao Cao seemed to understand something in an instant, waved his hand casually and said, "It's okay, my son's clothes will be bitten by mice at night, let alone the saddle in the warehouse. Forgive your innocence, go."

The servants who got through the difficulty hurriedly saluted Cao Cao and Cao Chong, and they were more grateful to Cao Chong in their hearts.

Cao Cao walked out of the courtyard and stopped. Cao Chong, who had not yet turned back to the room behind him, turned his head and smiled kindly and gently at the servant.

Cao Cao looked up to the sky and made a decision in his mind.

How could he fail to see that the tear in Cao Chong's clothes was cut by a sharp knife?It can never be the result of rat bites.

I didn't understand it at first, but now it's all clear.

Cao Chong.

A boy who is only 12 years old and already has both ability and political integrity!
For such a son, Cao Cao is willing to pass on the foundation he has worked hard all his life to!
Cao Cao was over fifty years old and had to start thinking about establishing an heir.

When the regime changes from old to new, it is impossible to make plans when the monarch is dying, otherwise political instability may occur when the new monarch takes power.

For example, the downfall of the Yuan family is a good example. Even before his death, Yuan Shao did not formally establish a son. As for the will that was produced when the trial match supported Yuan Shang, all parties disagreed. Even if it was true, it was not enough. To convince the public.

Therefore, Cao Cao should make plans early.

The first question that bears the brunt is not who will lead the next generation of the Cao family.

It is the future path of the Cao family, how should they go!
Cao Cao is a traitor in troubled times. He can suppress the faction of the imperial party, and can play with the gentry and the emperor under his rule, but can his next generation do it?

If the imperial party united with the gentry to counterattack, the Cao family might be hit by thunder after Cao Cao died.

Therefore, Cao Cao no longer considered whether he was a loyal minister or a traitor in the eyes of outsiders.

It doesn't make any sense to think about it.

Because no matter whether he is loyal or treacherous, the Cao family is powerful. After Cao Cao's death, those enemies for political and material interests will unite to overthrow the Cao family.

At least, the enemy cannot be given a justifiable reason to resist the Cao family.

It is also time for the Cao family to truly establish a power system.

An idea sprouted in Cao Cao's mind: Feng Wang!

He is a prime minister, but he is still a minister. The power of a minister is completely different from that of a king. The power a minister can create is even more different from that of a king.

If he is the king, then those who are loyal to the Cao family will not hesitate to listen to the emperor's order.

(End of this chapter)