Since the Battle of Chibi, Cheng Yu felt guilty that he was incompetent in the Battle of Chibi. Coupled with his old age, he has gradually faded out of Cao Cao's circle of advisers in the past two years, and instead engaged in politics, mainly assisting Cao Cao's eldest son Cao Pi, including

Cheng Yu did not participate in the battle against Liu Jing in Longxi to annihilate Ma Chao, and Cao Cao basically no longer allowed him to participate in the military.

But at this time, Cao Cao was upset and forgot that Cheng Yu was no longer the mastermind, so he habitually asked for his advice. Cheng Yu heard Cao Cao's worries, and he was full of sympathy for his lord.

For a moment, he put aside his idea of ​​not pursuing military affairs and said sincerely to Cao Cao: "If the Prime Minister is willing to listen to the words of my veteran minister, I have a few suggestions."

Cao Cao seemed to have realized something. He looked back at Cheng Yu and saw endless sincerity in Cheng Yu's eyes. Cao Cao's heart was touched. He seemed to have returned to the past when the two of them talked about world affairs together, which made Cao Cao's nose feel sore.

"Zhongde, please speak, I am all ears."

"To deal with Liu Jing, we must use both soft and hard tactics. On the one hand, the Prime Minister can recognize him as a Yizhou Shepherd. This is already a fact. Recognizing him as a Yizhou Shepherd seems generous to the Prime Minister. In this way, both parties have room for negotiation. Liu Jing is not

Lu Bu,

Not even Ma Chao, who aims at the world. Such a person will pay more attention to rules, be more rational, and will not act randomly. Therefore, the Prime Minister cannot blindly use military means to deal with Liu Jing. Sometimes, he must also use political means."

Cao Cao nodded, "Zhongde is right, please continue."

"The so-called political method means that both sides set rules about what can be done and what cannot be done, and everyone openly and honestly draws a bottom line. If this bottom line is violated, then the two sides can only fight each other."

"Like what?" Cao Cao asked thoughtfully.

"For example, he must recognize that the prime minister is the head of the imperial court's civil service and recognize the prime minister's legal status. He cannot use means such as clothing edicts or Qingjun's side."

Cao Cao pondered for a moment and asked: "I heard a rumor that Liu Bei has given the imperial edict on clothing and belts to Liu Jing. Is it true?"

"This must be true. After all, Guan Yu was once captured by Liu Jing, and I got news that Liu Jing seems to be willing to exchange the belt edict for the Prime Minister's recognition of him as Yizhou Mu."

Cao Cao was startled, "What is going on? How could I not know?"

Cheng Yu bowed and said, "I heard that it was the condition put forward by Liu Jing when the second young master was on a mission to Jingzhou. I only heard about it, but I don't know if it is true or not?"

The power struggle between heirs is often the most cruel, not only with tragic results, but also by unscrupulous means. Cheng Yu was making suggestions for Cao Cao at this time, how to deal with Liu Jing? But inadvertently, Cheng Yu had silently given Cao Zhi the throne.

A sharp stab in the back.

Cao Cao's face suddenly darkened. He knew that Cheng Yu was extremely cautious when speaking. He would never say such things casually if he was not sure. This must be the case. "Bang!" Cao Cao slammed the table and turned around to give a stern order.

Said: "Go and find me the Third Young Master!"

Cao Cao had not been so angry for a long time. If Cheng Yu's initial words only disappointed him, but now his son Cao Zhi actually concealed the clothing and belt edict, which made Cao Cao furious.

He could even understand that if the transaction of Yizhou Mud in exchange for the Yizhou Mud Order proposed by Liu Jing could be handled well, maybe Liu Jing would not be so eager for the Northern Expedition, and Xia Houyuan would not die tragically.

He would have time to prepare for war and accumulate strength. If Liu Jing postponed the Northern Expedition for three years, then Cao's army would far surpass the Han army in both military and financial resources, and there would be no need to worry about Liu Jing's Northern Expedition.

However, the more important thing is that Liu Jing's proposal to exchange the belt edict for Yizhou Mu was actually a political recognition of Cao Cao's legitimacy as the prime minister of the Han Dynasty, rather than like Yuan Shao, Liu Bei and others who did not recognize his legitimacy and called him "

Han thieves.

If Liu Jing recognizes his legitimacy as prime minister, then Sun Quan will also recognize him as legitimate, which is extremely important to Cao Cao politically.

However, such important information was concealed by his son, and Cao Cao was furious.

Cao Cao had no intention of listening to Cheng Yu anymore. He stood in front of the window with his hands behind his hands, staring gloomily at the laurel trees outside the window. Time passed little by little, but Cao Zhi still didn't come back. Cao Cao couldn't help but shouted again: "Three

Why hasn’t Young Master come yet?”

A guard said tremblingly: "The third young master is not in the mansion. He seems to be fighting poems with some literary friends in Chixia Tower."

Cao Cao was furious and ordered again: "Where is Xu Chu?"

"The general is here!" Xu Chu's deep voice came from the yard.

Cao Cao immediately ordered: "Immediately lead five hundred cavalry to Chixia Tower to capture the third young master. Anyone who dares to stop him will be killed! In addition, give me a fire to burn down Chixia Tower."

The anger in his heart had already made Cao Cao a little out of control. Cheng Yu did not dare to persuade Cao Cao, so he stood up and saluted: "Prime Minister, I humble my duty and come to see you another day."

"You go ahead!"

Cheng Yu saluted and said goodbye. At this time, Cao Cao tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, feeling an urge to kill in his heart.

........

Chixia Tower is the largest hotel in Yedu, covering an area of ​​nearly 20 acres. It is not only large in scale and high-grade, but also the main gathering place for literati in Yedu. Some famous literati often gather here. Today it is known as

On the thirty-fourth birthday of Wang Can, one of the seven sons of Jian'an, all his literary friends gathered at Chixia Tower to celebrate his birthday, including Xu Qian, Cao Zhi, Chen Lin, Yang Xiu, Ruan Yu and other civil and military officials.

In fact, Cao Cao himself was also a famous writer, and he was not opposed to the promotion of literature and gatherings of literati. However, Cao Cao was more of a politician. He had to consider whether the promotion of culture was in line with the times. Now the Han army in the south is heavily armed and its soldiers are diligently trained.

, Liu Jing had ordered all officials and their family members to be prohibited from wearing silk clothes, opposed extravagance and waste, and actively prepared for the Northern Expedition.

Cao Cao also ordered his officers to strengthen their training, ordered his wives and concubines to spin and weave their own cloth, and take the lead in promoting simplicity. At this time, it seemed very inappropriate for the Yedu literati to hold a poem-fighting and drinking party in a place like Chixia Tower with fireworks.

, Cao Cao had long been dissatisfied with their debauched behavior of drinking and sleeping with prostitutes.

It happened that the behavior of the third son Cao Zhi today offended Cao Cao, and Chixialou became the first target for Cao Cao to vent his anger. He wanted to take this opportunity to severely crack down on the trend of flashy and ****.

Five hundred cavalry galloped down the street, and the pedestrians on the street were so frightened that they stumbled to both sides and rolled and crawled. The cavalry swept past like a storm, with terrifying momentum. In a moment, they rushed to Chixia Tower. The surroundings of Chixia Tower were crowded with good people.

Everyone was craning their necks to inquire about Dou Shi. At this moment, five hundred cavalry rushed in. People were so frightened that they ran away and screamed.

A **** soliciting customers at the door came forward and asked tremblingly: "What can you do, gentlemen?"

"Go away!"

Xu Chu whipped his penis over hard, turned around and shouted, "Come in and drive them away!"

Five hundred cavalry launched and rushed into the lobby of Chixia Tower. The soldiers did not care about the crime and beat them with five-color sticks. The tables were overturned and cups fell to the ground. Dozens of soldiers and guests were frightened out of their wits and screamed.

Get up and hide everywhere.

At this time, Cao Zhi and others who were drinking on the second floor came over after hearing the news. Cao Zhi said angrily at the top of the stairs: "General Xu, what are you doing?"

Xu Chu said coldly: "Third Young Master, please return home quickly! You have offended the Prime Minister. If you don't go back, your life may be in danger."

Cao Zhi was stunned for a moment. What was going on? At this time, several of Cao Cao's guards also arrived. They dragged Cao Zhi away and said urgently: "Young master, please go back quickly! The prime minister is angry and something big is going to happen."

Xu Chu then turned to Chen Lin, Yang Xiu and others and said: "My envoys, please leave Chixia Tower immediately. The Prime Minister has ordered that Chixia Tower be set on fire."

This sentence was like a bolt from the blue. Many people were shocked. After a while, they started shouting like a frying pan. Xu Chu shouted again: "People in the building can leave quickly. The building will be set on fire in a quarter of an hour."

, life or death!"

The Chixia Building suddenly became a mess. The guests fled out of the door, while the slaves screamed and ran to the backyard to pack their belongings. A quarter of an hour later, the cavalry began to set fire to the building. This Ye

The largest **** in the city was engulfed by billowing smoke and eventually burned down.

Although the burning of Chixia Tower was an order issued by Cao Cao in anger, it effectively dealt a blow to the glitz and luxury in Yedu, causing the atmosphere in Yedu to change, becoming tense and tense, and entering a wartime state.

It greatly promoted the Cao army's active preparations for the Han army.

.............

There was a faint smell of alcohol in Cao Cao's official room. Cao Zhi knelt on the ground with a pale face and lowered his head. He listened with fear to his father's storm of scoldings, "I thought it was insignificant, I thought it was just a joke by Liu Jing, this is

Your reason? You disappoint me so much."

Cao Cao was so angry that he almost fainted. He kept banging the table and shouted angrily: "How could I have such a stupid son like you? Apart from being romantic, besides drinking and playing with women, what else do you have? I actually let you

When I went to Xiangyang as an envoy, I was blinded, and I, Cao Cao, died at the hands of a traitor like you!"

Cao Zhi was so sad that he couldn't help crying. Xu Chu, who was standing next to him, saw Cao Cao's anger and quickly stepped forward to persuade him in a low voice: "Prime Minister, after all, you are young and inexperienced. It is understandable that you made mistakes. Please calm down, Prime Minister."

, it’s important to take care of yourself.”

Xu Chu is Cao Cao's confidant bodyguard. He usually does not take a stand on anything and is loyal to his duties. Today he persuades Cao Cao not to speak for Cao Zhi, but because he knows that his lord's body has aged badly in the past two years. If he does not take good care of it, he may be in trouble.

There will be problems. Being so angry will be extremely harmful to his body.

Cao Cao also felt that his vision was getting dark. He held on to the table next to him and calmed down the anger in his heart little by little. He thought that Liu Jing's Northern Expedition had failed and did not cause too serious consequences, so the anger in his heart calmed down a little.

After getting up and walking to the inner room, Cao Zhi knelt on the ground and did not dare to move. After a long time, a guard walked up to him quickly and whispered: "Mr. Zhi, the Prime Minister wants you to come in."

He helped Cao Zhi up, and Cao Zhi walked to the inner room tremblingly. In fact, he had forgotten whether Liu Jing had mentioned the clothing and belt edict. He just remembered that Liu Jing only mentioned it lightly at the end of meeting him.

After saying a few words, he later told his entourage about the matter and laughed at Liu Jing's wishful thinking.

But he never dreamed that his father would take this matter so seriously. Until now, his mind is still confused and he doesn't know why this matter is important.

When he walked into the inner room, he saw his father sitting at the table with a serious expression. His anger seemed to have subsided, but his expression became more severe. Cao Zhi was so frightened that he continued to kneel down and did not dare to say a word.
Chapter completed!