"I would like to listen to the military teacher's teachings!" Cao Zhi said sincerely.

"Since the young master is willing to listen, I will advise you to save people. But I must assure your father that you will completely cut off your relationship with the northern aristocratic people. Otherwise, not only will the person not be able to be saved, but the young master's future will be over. This is a principle, I hope the young master will think twice."

Cao Zhi couldn't speak for a long time. Of course, he understood what Cheng Yu meant. He also knew why his father was angry. It was because the political concepts of the gentry were contrary to the political concepts of his father. Cao Zhi's thoughts were consistent with the respect for emperors and confucianisms advocated by the gentry. In fact, Cao Zhi also opposed his father's poor Legalism. However, this contradiction was always covered up. It was not until this time when the Yang father and son were arrested that the conflict between Cao Zhi and his father's political concepts broke out.

It is easy to break off relations with the northern gentry, but if you really do this, who will support him in the future? The powerful relationship between them made Cao Zhi hesitate and Cheng Yu silent. If Cao Zhi couldn't even do this, it means that he did not have the sincerity to give in. Then why did Cheng Yu wade into this muddy water?

Cao Zhi sighed and said, "I will explain to my father, but no matter what, I will ask the military advisor to help me this time. Cao Zhi will remember it in his heart."

Cheng Yu pondered for a moment and said, "Well! I happened to go to see Mr. Wei in the afternoon. By the way, I will do my best, but I cannot give Mr. Zhi any promises."

"As long as the military advisor does his best, Cao Zhi will be very grateful."

....

Cao Zhi said goodbye and left, but Cheng Yu was still sitting in the guest hall and pondering. At this time, Cheng Wu sent Cao Zhi away and hurried back. He bowed to his father and said anxiously: "Does his father really want to stand up for Mr. Zhi?"

Cheng Yu shook his head, "I'm not going to stand up for him, but he asked for a visit, so I can't refuse it."

"But... this will offend the eldest son. My father also knows that Cao Pi is a man, narrow-minded and concise. Once he ascends to the throne, he will likely cause trouble for our Cheng family because of this."

Cheng Wu said it more implicitly. He didn't say that Cao Pi would cause trouble for Cheng Yu, because Cheng Yu was old and might not be able to take revenge, so their younger generations might not be able to escape. Cheng Yu understood his son's thoughts and smiled faintly: "There are countless people who offended Cao Pi in recent years. How could he take revenge? Besides, with Liu Jing outside, Cao Pi dared not do too much, so you don't have to worry too much. I'm actually my favor to help Yang Biao. I don't have much to do with Cao Zhi, so I have my own sense of responsibility."

Seeing that his father was considerate, Cheng Wu stopped persuading him. At this time, Cheng Yu stood up and said, "I will go to see Duke Wei now, and you can prepare a carriage for your father."

"Don't my father take a nap?"

"The situation is special today. I can't sleep even if I can't sleep. Let's go to see Mr. Wei!"

Cheng Yu went back to the study to get his report, and then took a carriage to the Tongque Palace. Soon after, he came to the palace gate. Cheng Yu stepped forward and said to the palace guards: "Please report to Duke Wei, Cheng Yu asks for a meeting!"

The guard ran away and came back for a moment and said with a smile: "Duke Wei said that the military advisors don't have to wait outside the palace gate in the future. If you have anything to do, you can go directly to the palace, and we will not stop them."

Cheng Yu smiled, walked towards the inner palace, and came to Cao Cao's official room. An eunuch stepped forward and smiled, "Duke Wei is waiting for the military advisor, please!"

Cheng Yu walked into the room and saw Cao Cao standing in front of the window with his hands behind his back, staring at the sky in a daze. Cheng Yu hurriedly stepped forward to salute, "I'm going to see Duke Wei!"

Cao Cao turned around and smiled, "I was wondering who Zhier would go to ask for help plead with him, but he didn't expect that Zhongde was here."

Cheng Yu smiled bitterly and said, "Mr. Zhi has indeed come to me, but I don't want to help him, but I weigh the pros and cons. I think Mr. Wei cannot do things too well and teach the gentry a lesson. If he does it too well, he will directly push them to Liu Jing, which may cause many situations that are unfavorable to us. Please think twice."

"What do you mean by what you mean by the situation that is not conducive to us?" Cao Cao asked again.

"Wei ministers mean that the gentry would transfer property to the Han Dynasty. Most of the gentry were wealthy families, controlling a large number of land and population. Once they were panic, large-scale transfer of property and personnel would inevitably occur, which would damage our tax revenue."

Cao Cao pondered for a moment and finally nodded, "Zhongde is right, I almost lost my mind. So, according to your opinion, how should I deal with this major case?"

"Duke Wei needs to establish his authority and warn the gentry, but he also needs to consider being kind. This requires one degree. The gentle minister suggested that the old ones can be spared and the smaller ones can not only show the generous and benevolent side of Wei, but also severely attack the arrogance of the gentry. It can be said that he can kill two birds with one stone."

Cao Cao laughed, "I am worthy of being a military advisor. I have a good grasp of this degree, so I will follow the words of the military advisor."

Cheng Yu calmed down and took out the report he wrote, "Report to Duke Wei, this is the suggestion made by Wei Minister for Liu Jing's upcoming battle to destroy Hu. Wei Minister's plan is to reduce military equipment externally, practice internal affairs internally, reduce taxes and taxes, increase military garrison efforts, gain time to strengthen his own strength, and lay the foundation for the future battle for hegemony in the Central Plains."

Cao Cao nodded slowly, "What Zhongde said is deeply in line with my heart."

...

In the spring of the 20th year of Jian'an, the case of Yang Cui, who caused a sensation in the Wei Dynasty, finally fell into chaos. Due to the conclusive evidence and great harm, Yang Xiu and Cui Yan were ordered to be executed by Cao Cao, while the Grand Marshal Yang Biao and Sikong Cui Lin were dismissed from the Internet and were ordered to stay at home to think about their mistakes. The hottest case of Yang Cui came to an end.

...

At dawn, the bell sounded at the bell tower. With the shouts of the officers and soldiers guarding the city, "Open the door!" The west gate of Yedu slowly opened, and a group of soldiers ran out of the city and lined up on both sides of the city. Hundreds of vegetable farmers and merchants waiting outside the city couldn't wait to carry the burden and rushed towards the city gate.

This is a scene that happens every day. The soldiers have long been accustomed to it and are indifferent to the chaos at the city gate. As the shouts and scolds aside, people began to flock into the city, and fewer and fewer people outside the city were standing on the official road not far from the city gate. The master was about fifty years old, wearing a flat scarf and a blue cloth robe, with fair and thin skin. He rode on a strong donkey, followed by a young servant of eighteen or nineteen years old, wearing a short collar and a bookcase on his shoulder. The appearance of these two people was very common in this era, and they were the kind of scholars who went to study everywhere.

"Uncle, there are fewer people outside the city, let's go forward!" the young man said impatiently.

The middle-aged man stroked his beard and said slowly: "No hurry, we will enter the city after they are finished."

The middle-aged man was named Wang Chen, who came from Taiyuan. Although he was dressed simply, he was the head of the Taiyuan Wang family among the seven major families in the world. The Taiyuan Wang family was prosperous in the Dong Zhuo era, and was represented by Situ Wang Yun. However, during the Li Kui rebellion, the Wang Yun family suffered a disaster and the Wang family in Taiyuan was also deeply hit.

But it was the first family in Bingzhou after all, with many talents. In just over twenty years, the Wang family in Taiyuan flourished again. Not only did their children spread all over Bingzhou to serve as officials, but some important figures also entered the court to serve as officials, such as Wang Chen's younger brother Wang Ling, who served as the Minister of Wei.

There were also many Wang family members serving as officials in the Han Dynasty. For example, Wang Chen's son Wang Yu participated in the public recruitment of scholars in Xiangyang and was appointed as the county magistrate of Zhijiang. For example, Wang Yun's youngest brother Wang Chun was named the prefect of Hequ County by Liu Jing and served in the development of Hequ in the Han Dynasty.

For aristocratic families, power is not important, inheritance is the first, and power is just a tool for inheritance. Therefore, whether it is an official in Wei State or an official in Han State, it is the same for the Wang family.

This time, Wang Chen personally rushed to Yedu, which was the case of Yang Biao. Yang Biao and his son were arrested, Cui Lin brothers were arrested, and the leaders of the two major gentry were sent to prison. This was undoubtedly a huge shock to the gentry in the world. In order to find the truth, Wang Chen traveled thousands of miles to Yedu.

The soldiers guarding the city gate did not make things difficult for him. After all, there were too many scholars like this who were studying on donkeys, which allowed him to enter Yedu City smoothly. The last time Wang Chen came to Yedu was five years ago, and he had forgotten his brother's mansion.

"Master, I'll go and ask!"

The entourage asked all the way, and after walking several miles, he finally found the mansion of Shangshu Wang Ling. The entourage rushed up the steps, "Go quickly to report to your master, and just say that the head of the family is from Taiyuan!"

Wang Ling was the younger brother of Wang Chen and served as an official in the court for many years. Although he was born into a gentry, he was highly appreciated by Cao Cao. He rose to prominence and became the Minister of Shang after the establishment of the Wei Kingdom. He was of high power. Wang Ling was about fifty years old this year. He was the nephew of the former Situ Wang Yun and the second largest figure in the Wang family in Taiyuan.

Wang Ling never expected that his brother would come to Yedu. He invited his brother into the study and ordered his maid to serve tea. Then he smiled and said, "How come brother suddenly came to come? What happened to Taiyuan?"

Wang Chen took a sip of tea and slowly said: "Nothing happened in Taiyuan, but something big happened in Yedu, which forced me to come."

Wang Lingwei pondered and said, "Brother, are you talking about Yang Cui's case?"

“That’s right, what’s going on now?”

"Yang Biao and Cui Lin have been released and have been demoted to the people, but Yang Xiu and Cui Yan were killed. They were publicly executed a few days ago. The execution was crowded with people and most of the people in Yedu ran out. That scene was so miserable that I still remember it. It was uncomfortable to think of it!" Wang Ling sighed, his tone very sad.

Wang Chen was also sad. After a while, he sighed and said, "Kill the chicken to warn the monkey. Cao Cao killed Yang Xiu and Cui Yan to show us the aristocratic families. He is warning us that if we dare to affair with Liu Jing again, our lives will be difficult to protect."

"Even so, my brother doesn't have to be so excited. He even went to Yedu specifically. The matter is not that serious!"

"What do you mean?" Wang Chen frowned and asked, "What does it mean that things are not that serious?"

"This incident is not only to warn the aristocratic family, but also to Pizhi's dispute. In this battle, Cao Zhi was defeated, and his hope of inheriting the inheritance of Wei State was slim."

"Has Cao Cao announced his prince?"

"Not yet, but it's almost done, and Duke Wei's body will not last a few years."

Wang Chen was silent for a moment and said, "I don't care about the Pizhi dispute. I only care about the fate of our Wang family. This time, the Yang Cui case allowed me to see through Cao Wei and lose the world. Liu Jing will take charge of the world sooner or later. I decided that the Wang family will fully surrender to Liu Jing. I came to Yedu to discuss this matter with you. You can also write a letter! I will take you to Chang'an for you."

"Brother, why not wait a little longer."
Chapter completed!